ife. Your prospects need to know you are a real person just like they are. But don't over do it. Remember, your prospects are more interested in your expertise.

(4) Recommend. Rather than hard selling, simply recommend. Bring out the benefits of your product/service and explain how it wil

Stop selling? I bet that statement caused some raised eyebrows especially since you're in the business of getting people to buy your offer. But consider this:

Most of us are NOT salespeople. We have not been trained to use just the right words of persuasion. And, although these techniques can be learned many of us will never master them.

So, what is a marketer to do? The answer is learning how to connect with your audience. Some call this "relationship marketing." Here are 6 easy tips to help you implement this strategy.

(1) Find out what your audience needs and then give it to them. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by conducting a survey. Offer your prospects a free gift in exchange for answering your questions. Check out Survey Monkey. They offer a basic, no cost service which allows up to 10 questions and 100 responses.

(2) Follow up with your prospects regularly to stick in their minds. Publish an ezine or simply email a series of messages. Use these vehicles to announce special sales, contests, discounts, changes in your business, etc.

(3) Make your follow up messages personal. Share tidbits about your personal and business life. Your prospects need to know you are a real person just like they are. But don't over do it. Remember, your prospects are more interested in your expertise.

(4) Recommend. Rather than hard selling, simply recommend. Bring out the benefits of your product/service and explain how it wil

be learned many of us will never master them.

So, what is a marketer to do? The answer is learning how to connect with your audience. Some call this "relationship marketing." Here are 6 easy tips to help you implement this strategy.

(1) Find out what your audience needs and then give it to them. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by conducting a survey. Offer your prospects a free gift in exchange for answering your questions. Check out Survey Monkey. They offer a basic, no cost service which allows up to 10 questions and 100 responses.

(2) Follow up with your prospects regularly to stick in their minds. Publish an ezine or simply email a series of messages. Use these vehicles to announce special sales, contests, discounts, changes in your business, etc.

(3) Make your follow up messages personal. Share tidbits about your personal and business life. Your prospects need to know you are a real person just like they are. But don't over do it. Remember, your prospects are more interested in your expertise.

(4) Recommend. Rather than hard selling, simply recommend. Bring out the benefits of your product/service and explain how it wil

t to them. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by conducting a survey. Offer your prospects a free gift in exchange for answering your questions. Check out Survey Monkey. They offer a basic, no cost service which allows up to 10 questions and 100 responses.

(2) Follow up with your prospects regularly to stick in their minds. Publish an ezine or simply email a series of messages. Use these vehicles to announce special sales, contests, discounts, changes in your business, etc.

(3) Make your follow up messages personal. Share tidbits about your personal and business life. Your prospects need to know you are a real person just like they are. But don't over do it. Remember, your prospects are more interested in your expertise.

(4) Recommend. Rather than hard selling, simply recommend. Bring out the benefits of your product/service and explain how it wil

r prospects regularly to stick in their minds. Publish an ezine or simply email a series of messages. Use these vehicles to announce special sales, contests, discounts, changes in your business, etc.

(3) Make your follow up messages personal. Share tidbits about your personal and business life. Your prospects need to know you are a real person just like they are. But don't over do it. Remember, your prospects are more interested in your expertise.

(4) Recommend. Rather than hard selling, simply recommend. Bring out the benefits of your product/service and explain how it wil

ife. Your prospects need to know you are a real person just like they are. But don't over do it. Remember, your prospects are more interested in your expertise.

(4) Recommend. Rather than hard selling, simply recommend. Bring out the benefits of your product/service and explain how it will help your prospects.

(5) Personalize your email messages by addressing your prospects by their name. Saying "Hi, Karin" is a lot more intimate than saying "Hi, Friend." Using your prospects' name appears you are writing only to them. Most autoresponders have codes you can insert into your messages that will personalize them.

(6) Give away valuable information such as articles, an email course, e-books or a list of resources you've found helpful.

Most of us would love to introduce our product and service to potential customers and have them buy the very first time. But for most of us making a sale is a process which involves establishing a relationship first. So, stop selling and instead get up close and personal with your prospects by employing the techniques described above and watch the sales roll in.