Balloons never sold a car

Balloons don’t sell cars, people do.

It’s an age old saying but people really do buy from people and the more human you can make the buying experience for a consumer the more successful you and your store will be.In this world of on-line marketing, social media blitzing and web site dazzle we tend to get away from the personal touch. People buy from people, we need to remember that, always.

So, that being said how can we get back to a human touch and how can we more personalize the interaction? Here are five tips that will make your customers feel warmer, feel more trusting of you and in the end be a less combative and easier to close consumer.

1. Put a face and add personalities onto your web site. If you don’t have one already create or add a “Our Staff” page or “Meet our Staff” page. This is very effective in breaking down walls and building a bridge of emotional connection with prospective customers. In fact, a well-known Review web site will allow you to do this so you may be able to utilize that feature instead. This leads us into the next tip…
2. Get reviews and spread them wide and far. It has been proven that over 80%of the buying public read and trust reviews. In fact, they trust them more than the words of advice from family and friends. Consumers trust other consumers so having a review culture in your dealership is very important to building trust.
3. Buy and use thank you notes. In my past some of the best sales advice I was ever given was to treat everyone as if they were your Grandmother. In the home and businesses I was raised in thank you notes were written after every birthday or Christmas. The art of hand written notes or letters needs to be reawakened. You may not choose to send one to each and every customer but, keep in mind those whom you worked with in your store who you feel would appreciate it and send them one. Just a quick note will do: “Thanks for your business, it is much appreciated” is all you need to write inside—it’s the action that will be most remembered.

If you are so inclined, track the results from those who you send them to. I will bet you a dollar that these are the folks who will send others to you to work with personally.

4.  Add your photos to your email signature. Not all formats will allow this but, adding this image has been seen to have great effects. There may be the odd time that someone will need to right click on the box to see it but, they will look. They will see your smiling face and they will have the “I like this person” chemicals start to flow in their brains.

5. Be social. Send out invites to your customers and prospects to join in on your various social media avenues. Here again, this may not be something you want to do with everyone but for those whom you do it will prove to be a great idea. We are communal by nature, we are interested beings and the majority of us want to belong to something. Inviting them to join will allow you to build a greater bond with your client base. Not all will accept, but again, as with the thank you note it is the effort that will be remembered.

These may seem to be very basic ideas and they are but, in the day to day grind; trials and tribulations of commerce and making deals happen we usually get away from the basics. We need to get back there, we need to find ways of making the on-line linear interactions feel and be more personal…Try it you will like it and you will turn more of your prospects into buying customers-Good luck!