In the world of sales, establishing a personal connection with your customers is key. One of the best ways to do so is by sharing your interests. Believe it or not, by being open about your hobbies, passions, and pastimes, you can actually sell more. This may sound counterintuitive, but it works. In this article, we’ll explore why sharing your interests can help you sell more and how you can use this strategy to your advantage.
Why Sharing Your Interests Matters
The first reason why sharing your interests can help you sell more is that it humanizes you. When you’re talking to a potential customer, they don’t want to feel like they’re talking to a robot or a sales machine. They want to know that there’s a real person behind the product or service they’re considering. By sharing your interests, you’re showing them that you’re more than just a salesperson – you’re a human being with your own passions and quirks.
Secondly, sharing your interests can create common ground. If you and your potential customer have something in common, it instantly makes the conversation more interesting and engaging. It also helps to build a sense of trust and credibility. When you share your interests, you’re essentially saying, “Hey, I’m just like you. We have things in common. Let’s talk about them.”
Thirdly, sharing your interests can help to establish your expertise. Let’s say you’re selling hiking gear. If you’re also an avid hiker and you share stories about your favorite trails and gear, it will naturally make your customers view you as an expert in the field. They’ll trust your recommendations and advice because they can tell that you have firsthand experience.
How to Share Your Interests Effectively
Now that we’ve established why sharing your interests is important, let’s talk about how to do it effectively. Here are a few tips:
1. Make it natural – Don’t force your interests into the conversation. If it feels forced, it will come across as insincere.
2. Find common ground – Look for ways to connect your interests to your customer’s interests. For example, if you both love dogs, you can talk about your furry friends and then transition into talking about how your product can benefit their dog.
3. Use stories – People love stories. If you can incorporate your interests into a story that’s relevant to the conversation, it will help to make the interaction more memorable and engaging.
4. Be authentic – Finally, be yourself. Don’t try to pretend to be interested in something you’re not. People can tell when you’re being inauthentic, and it will undermine the trust you’re trying to build.
Examples of Sharing Your Interests Successfully
To illustrate how effective sharing your interests can be, let’s look at a few examples:
– A real estate agent who is also a huge fan of craft beer. During a showing, they might casually mention a local brewery they visited over the weekend. This could lead to a conversation about the craft beer scene in the area and create a sense of camaraderie with the potential buyer.
– A salesperson at an Apple store who is also a huge fan of photography. They might strike up a conversation with a customer who is considering purchasing a new iPhone by talking about the camera features and sharing a few tips and tricks they’ve learned from their own photography hobby.
– A nutritionist who is also a marathon runner. During a consultation, they might mention a recent race they ran and how they structured their diet in preparation for it. This could create a sense of rapport with the client and help to establish the nutritionist’s credibility.
Conclusion
Sharing your interests may seem like a small thing, but it can actually make a big impact on your sales. By humanizing yourself, establishing common ground, and showing your expertise, you can build trust and credibility with your customers. Just remember to keep it natural, find common ground, use stories, and be authentic. Who knows? Your interests just might help you seal the deal.
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