How are you getting your message out so customers can learn what makes you different? In today's world you have to get the word out about who you are and what you do... you have to get above all the noise that distracts your customers on a daily basis. As some would say, if you're not going to honk your own horn, what's the point in having a horn?

Customers can do business anywhere, with anyone they choose. But you and I both know the best person for them to do business with is you and your company. But why is that? What makes you different than the other 15+ salespeople on your sales floor? What makes you different than any of the other salespeople at the other dealerships selling cars just like yours?

If you can't answer those questions with confidence, and with some passion and conviction then maybe you should start right there and give these points some thought. Once you have a clear personal branding message you want to get out, you need to fully commit to it and let people know!

For me I have built my personal brand on a few key values. I work hard to offer my customers a hassle free, transparent, and professional experience each and every time.

Buying a car should be an enjoyable process, where in the end the customer drives off completely satisfied with their experience with you, the dealership, and of course with their new ride. Buying a vehicle truly doesn't have to be a dreadful experience.

So what are some things that I started doing that have helped me?

One of the best things someone new to sales can do for personal branding is establish a social media presence. I created a business page on Facebook a couple years ago to promote my personal brand to prospective customers as well as current customers. I use this page to deliver quality information to my followers, stay in contact with my customer base, help prospective customers get to know me better, and keep all customers informed of opportunities happening in real time in the dealership that might benefit them and save them time and money!

Creating and running this page has been a learning experience for me, and over time my efforts have evolved and gained momentum. I'm now seeing leads being generated more consistently from the page. I get referrals through the page, and I make sales because of the page. But, my point is that you have to start somewhere and be willing to fail, learn from the failure, and then try again as many times as you have to in order to succeed!

If you don't start and you don't take action, nothing will happen for you.

What will happen if you don't start taking action with social media is you will get left behind. Actually, some studies have shown that salespeople who use social media outsell their peers who don't by more than 78%! [source] That right there is reason enough to get on social selling!

Another great idea to establish personal branding when you are new to sales is to start a blog. I have started a simple blog and use it as a way to communicate my messages to customers. I bring a ton of added value to what I do because I create content that is useful for my customers. I am seen as a current voice in my industry, and more of an authority in my field.

For example I sell Honda Autos, so it would be smart for me to write a blog about why the All-New 5th Generation Honda CR-V is a great choice for families, it would also be an excellent way to communicate with customers who have families that are shopping for a Crossover SUV. Blogging gives you a way to reach your customers without being all about sales. This is a great way I bring value to my customers that other salespeople don't.

Another point to remember about developing a blog and posting your own content is that the content stays online working for you long after you post it. It's not just one day and done with blogging. Potential customers can come across your content weeks, months, and even years down the road as they do specific searches online that your content may rank for in the search engines. Don't underestimate the power of a blog and what it can do to drive traffic and turn readers into leads, and potential customers!

One last thing to think about if you really want to get your message out there and promote what doing business with you is all about, is Customer Reviews!

Customer reviews are absolutely huge in today's world of online browsing, researching, and shopping. Knowing how to get your customer to leave reviews and how to leverage them for personal branding is critical! Customers read reviews and many studies on this show customers can find them to be one of the biggest motivating factors to why they choose a brand, dealerships, or even a particular salesperson.

Actually, did you know that 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation? [source] That's huge because we all know how strong referral business is and reviews can do this for you!

The goal here is to make sure you deliver on the experience both online and in store. Then you need to assume responsibility for getting the review you and your business deserve, as well as help the customer get a review out there on a platform that benefits you the most.

You can try telling a customer you've met for the first time how great you are to do business with, but it's more powerful when you can show them hundreds of positive reviews written by customers who have already decided to do business with you.

These stories, or reviews, will mean more than your words do... trust me on that one! Be sure to encourage your customers to tell their story in their reviews, and of course be sure to share the reviews with other customers. But you also have to make sure you stay consistent and continue getting reviews. In fact, if reviews are older than 90 days 73% of consumers say the reviews are no longer relevant to them! [source] WOW!!

So think about all the things you do, everything that makes doing business with you and your dealership better than the other guy, maybe make a list for yourself. Think about why doing business with you is different than the other guy or gal they could buy from. Then, get the word out and make people aware of it!

Use the Free social platforms available to you, get creative and create some of your own content with blogs or videos or even better both. Make sure you bring a ton of value to everything you do so you continually receive positive online reviews. If you do this, you will be giving yourself a tremendous advantage over your peers and you will experience a successful career in sales!

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