Eight Ways to Increase Sales (Even Without Customer Reviews)
Positive reviews are essential to driving new customers to your business, as customers are more likely to buy something if they know plenty of others have tried and liked it before them. But when you’re just starting out, you don’t yet have any reviews to give you credibility, and this can be a major roadblock when it comes to getting your sales numbers off the ground.
So what can a new business owner do to elevate brand awareness? Below, eight business leaders from Rolling Stone Culture Council offer their best advice to new entrepreneurs on how to encourage sales with few or no reviews and get their businesses started on the right track.
Get the Crowd Curious
Think of yourself as the new guy in a legendary band. No one’s heard your tunes, but you’ve got that electric guitar and swagger. Don’t just wait in the shadows; step up to the mic. Host live sessions, showcase your making-of moments and share your journey’s beat. Get the crowd curious. Soon, they’ll be humming along, and your fame will rise. Be the song they can’t get out of their head. – Arvin Khamseh, SOLDOUT NFTs
Offer a No-Questions-Asked Return Policy
Help customers trust you by standing behind your product or service. If you are confident in the quality of your products, give customers a 7-day no-questions-asked return policy. Yes, some people may take advantage of this, but a vast majority of shoppers will not. If possible, I encourage all founders to send out as many free product samples as they can. – Harrison Bard, Custom Cones USA
Highlight How Your Product Solves a Problem
Communicate how your offer solves a problem or fulfills a need for your potential customers. Develop compelling messaging that highlights the benefits, providing them with confidence. Then, leverage social proof from other sources. Even if you don’t have customer reviews yet, you can still share testimonials from industry experts or influencers who have experienced success with your product. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
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Get Your Product in Front of Customers
Make the drive to give product demonstrations. Take the trip for an introductory business meeting that could have been a Zoom call (The chances of closing in person are much higher for most). Attend conferences and showcase your product guerilla-style without a sponsorship. Conference ticket too expensive? Get creative. Starting a blog or being a freelance writer will usually get you a free press pass. – Lyle Maxson, GeniusX
Offer Up an Incentive
One suggestion would be to offer a different product for free with a great review or their money back within 14 days if they don’t like it — be sure to limit this to the first 25 customers. You can also offer a one-day-only 30-percent-off code, or a buy-one-get-one or “gift with purchase” (which is a high-ranked hashtag). Most people also ask family and friends to rate them first. – Susan Johnston, New Media Film Festival®
Work Closely With the Clients You Do Have
One tip I recommend is to actively listen to and work closely with the first few clients. Ensure you thoroughly help them all along the process—from start to finish. Once the business is complete or has some results in motion, feel free to ask the clients for some reviews. Be confident in what it is you’re offering. If you’re not confident, why should someone else be confident in you? – Chris Bianchi, CB Entertainment
Share Your Unique Story
Continue to tell your story no matter what. The sales and customers will come, but only when they are interested in what you’re doing first. The unique story behind your product, service or personality provokes reviews the most, so utilize creative social media strategies to engage with potential clientele. – Cynthia Johnson, Bell + Ivy
Do Good Work and Be Yourself
For the first several years in business, all of my clients came via word-of-mouth. Doing good work, living your values and making genuine connections with new and prospective clients can help you build a positive reputation within your industry without the need for a large number of reviews. – Evan Nison, NisonCo