Entrepreneurs successful at building a Sit Means Sit operation did not necessarily come to us from a sales and marketing background. What they lacked initially in selling skills is offset with drive and determination.
It is not a prerequisite that a prospective SMS franchise owner know all there is to know about sales and marketing. Of course, the ultimate success of a SMS franchise is in direct proportion to an owner’s ability to develop and maintain consumer patronage. While having the underpinnings of leadership, will surely prove helpful when a focused entrepreneur sets out to grow their SMS business, executing techniques proven successful by other owners in other markets, will win the day.
If you have these marketing-related skills, you are likely to be successful with an SMS enterprise. Other marketing-related skills like publicity, advertising, and direct mail are skills you can develop over time.
- Networking
Circulating in all types of gatherings will uncover sales leads. In the early stages of your enterprise, you’ll devote a great amount of time networking to build awareness of the availability of your service.
Wherever there is a group, there is potential for sales. “Working a room” is a skill best honed through practice but you have to want to do it. Do you have an aversion to talking up strangers in an effort to develop sales leads? If so, challenges await in your quest to build a SMS franchise. - Public Speaking
It’s likely you’ll be giving a demonstration of your dog training to prospective clients every day. You will be taught obedience training by SMS and given ample learning opportunities during your certification, to speak in front of groups. However, we do not provide formal public speaking education. One should recognize the value of knowing how to interact persuasively with prospective clients and make it a personal priority to attain a level of confidence and excellence in public speaking. In the event there is any hesitancy in that arena, your desire to succeed must overtake any insecurity or fear of public speaking. - Negotiating
You sell a service at a premium price. Because there are other trainers competing for the same client, it is probable customers will want to haggle price. While it is not a prerequisite to be a master negotiator in order to be licensed by SMS, people with an aversion to hearing a clients bantering on about the price or staying the course the execute the closing of signing contract, won’t find it easy to build their enterprise. Thick skin is a natural element in this position, but the good news is the SMS product has a long standing reputation of doing the work of convincing the client of it value. Even with this arsenal on your side it is imperative to “close” - Enterprising Entrepreneurs look for opportunities to sell. If there is a concert in a park, for example, the driven professional inquires if a booth can be erected and flyers passed out. The sales slogan, “ABC: always be closing” is a hallmark of entrepreneurs determined to increase sales. If you are not inherently curious about ways to build a business, you won’t find building a SMS franchise to be quick or simple and very importantly fun.
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