mind blownOne of the most important decisions I made for my business was to start selling products (“Wow what a revelation Chris. Create a business that sells products – you’re a genius” is what you are probably thinking).

Sarcasm aside, this decision applies to all aspects of my business from the Kindle books I write about marketing, to the software products I spend tens of thousands of dollars developing and the products I’ve created in other non marketing niches.

I wasn’t always comfortable selling and most certainly not in the beginning.

Why are you too afraid to sell?

There are a number of reasons that might prevent you from creating and then selling your first product – in whatever niche – and from my experience almost every reason for inaction is internal and thus more easily changed.

When I started…

1. I was afraid that the first version of my product wasn’t perfect

2. I was afraid that people wouldn’t want to pay for what I created

3. I was afraid that once people bought the product they may not like it or me

4. I was afraid that people would be upset when I tried to sell what I created

Rejection – that’s what we all fear. From our friends, our family, our customers.

The reality that will set you free

1. The product doesn’t have to be perfect with 100% of every feature you ever wanted. You can always improve it later.

2. You’re right, some people won’t buy what you’ve created. Focus on the people that do buy.

3. Yes a small group of the people that do buy won’t like your product. Take any feedback they provide then give them a refund and wish them luck.

4. Yes a small but sometimes very vocal minority of people will be annoyed when you try to sell them something – regardless of how you approach your sales process.

These freebie seekers believe that you should work for free but simultaneously believe that the work that they put in at their 9 – 5 is worth being paid for.

Should you inform these people that your work wasn’t created by unicorn farts* and pixie dust? No. Instead, simply ignore them.

They aren’t your customers and they never will be your customers. Who cares.

Haters always gonna hate

hatersgonnapandaI love this meme because it’s so applicable for so many situations in life, but that’s really what it boils down to.

No matter what you create, you can’t please everyone.

No matter how you approach your sales process someone will hate it.

Then down the road when some people see your success (no matter how big or how small the success) they may hate you.

Spoiler alert: They just hate themselves

It doesn’t matter.

When you create your first product just focus on pleasing the customers that do buy your products while providing them as much value as possible.

What can happen if you do decide to start selling

my half hour lunch break

My half hour lunch break today (Not every day is like this… yet)

Or

Non marketing Kindle niche

Non marketing Kindle niche . Released last week.
(I didn’t write or even read this book. Outsourced it all and then sold to the audience.)

Just sell.

*My good friend Nick introduced me to “Unicorn Farts” he knows who he is hah hah…