7 expert tips for selling online

Mastering the art of online selling is one of the most crucial skills to develop in the 21st century. That's why I'm sharing 7 tips from the author of the book 'The Digital Marketing Plan...'

Undoubtedly, the internet is becoming increasingly vital to our daily lives and the way we conduct business, regardless of our profession. Therefore, mastering the skill of selling online is paramount in the 21st century. Julián Castañeda, author of the bestseller "The Digital Marketing Plan: 7 Simple Steps to Attract Customers to Your Business," shares some tips for attracting qualified prospects and converting them into customers.

1. Now is the time to embrace the digital era: First and foremost, it's essential to understand the historical moment we're living in. This new era of technology and the internet provides us with a significant advantage, as the investment required for online selling is mostly lower than establishing a physical business. Julián suggests that another positive aspect is seizing the novelty present in Latin America and being among the first to delve into online sales, securing a space amidst the competition, which will inevitably grow over time.

2. Embrace mistakes: In the 20th century, mistakes were often viewed negatively, associated with failure in school or getting fired from a job. However, one of the great advantages of the internet is that experimenting and making mistakes is much cheaper. Many of the top online sellers succeeded after several attempts. Making mistakes is entirely normal, especially if you fail cheaply and quickly at the beginning until you find the right formula and start investing larger amounts.

3. Focus on the first sale: A common mistake among those venturing into online business is focusing on the big picture, believing they will make millions of dollars in a few days just because others have done it. However, this perception is entirely wrong. Successful individuals initially focused on making a single sale because if they could sell once, they could sell twice, then four times, then ten, and so on, until reaching thousands of sales or more.

4. Define who you're talking to, their pain points, and what they seek to solve: It's crucial to understand who your audience is, put yourself in their shoes, know what keeps them up at night, and what solution they're seeking that you could provide.

5. Create a prospects magnet: Once you've identified your target audience, their pain points, and the solutions they seek, it's the perfect time to offer them something valuable for free in exchange for their data. This allows you to make a great first impression and makes it easier to present an offer to them later on.

6. Build a relationship: Imagine you're at a party and you see a very attractive woman. If you approached her and said, "I'm the best man in the world, I'm faithful and fun, marry me!" she'd probably give you a well-deserved slap. But what if you approached her in an interesting way, had a conversation with her, and then asked her out? She'd be much more likely to say yes because the commitment you're asking for is much smaller. The same principle applies to selling online: you need to build a relationship with prospects before presenting your offer. First, earn their trust by providing them with a lot of value.

7. Make an offer: Once you've identified a qualified prospect and gained their trust, it's time to make them an offer for your product or service, preferably using the scarcity technique, meaning there's a consequence if they don't take action in the next few hours or days. This encourages them to take action. If a prospect doesn't buy from you, remember to continue providing value, as they may become your customer later on.

"The Digital Marketing Plan..." is a process that Julián explains in detail in his frequent virtual seminars. It's true: we currently live in a time with many opportunities to sell to customers worldwide 24 hours a day. There are already individuals and companies making a lot of money online every day, but the most important thing for selling online is to take action.