Selling with Heart (An Honest Approach to Sales)

“I need to learn how to sell… but it’s feels so awkward!”

If you've ever felt that uncomfortable twist in your stomach at the thought of promoting yourself, you're not alone. I’ve felt it too!

I dreaded selling for so long. I hoped and prayed that customers would magically appear, and sales would just happen somehow… without me having to utter a single sales-y word, or talk about my offers at all.

The truth is, you don't need to transform into a sales guru to be great at selling… but you do need to harness your existing strengths – your empathy, passion, and unique perspective – to connect on a meaningful level with your next clients and guide them to their next step.

In this post, I’m sharing a whole new approach to selling that's not only effective at welcoming in new clients + customers, but also genuine to your values.

So say goodbye to the awkwardness, and hello to heart-centered selling that resonates with your audience! Because once you understand how to harness these skills, you'll be amazed at how they can transform your business. Ready to dive in? Let's go!

This is for you if:

You want to start making sales in a way that feels AUTHENTIC.
You’d rather SERVE than sell.
You want to feel CONFIDENT in your sales strategy.
You want to sell your offers to people who genuinely want and NEED them.

Start with Passion + Vision

Passion isn't just a buzzword; it's your secret weapon! Your excitement and conviction are contagious and can become a magnet that pulls likeminded people into your world.

Take a page out of Apple's playbook. They don't just sell gadgets – they sell a big idea. They lead with the message, “We believe in thinking differently” because it’s a way better starting point for a sale than “We make expensive computers.”

If you love the concept of thinking differently, and consider yourself an out-of-the-box thinker, you’ll be interested in anything Apple offers – computers, phones, watches, etc.!

It's not about pushing products, friend.

It's about sharing a vision that resonates with people.

So, what do YOU believe in? When you infuse your passion and vision into your sales approach, you're not just selling a product or service; you're sharing a piece of your heart.

Tune into your own passion and the impact YOU want to make, and that will naturally attract the people who feel the same.

“People don’t buy what you do. They buy WHY you do it.” – Simon Sinek

Try this: Write down a few sentences describing your customer’s situation. Then write down five truths that you believe in related to their situation, that you are so passionate about you could deliver a TED talk tomorrow. Pick one to share in your content this week!

Connect through Storytelling

Storytelling is in our blood! It’s been an essential part of the human experience going back… well, almost forever. Through stories, we can walk in someone else’s shoes, feel what they felt, make sense of the world around us, find order in the chaos, and even reimagine what’s possible in our own lives.

Plus, they cut through the clutter and speak straight to our hearts – like emotional magnets, sparking intuitions and feelings that you just can't get from a textbook!

Now, imagine this storytelling magic in your hands.

YOU have the ability to reach your dream clients – not just through words, but by whisking them away on a journey.

Share a snippet from your life or a client's journey, and suddenly they're in the driver's seat as the hero of the story. It's like showing them a sneak peek of the future they could have!

In this noisy world of marketing, storytelling bridges the gap between your customer’s problem, their goal, and how you can help them get there. So go ahead, craft those stories that make your dream clients lean in, nod, and think, "Hey, this is exactly what I need!" ✨

Try this: Think about how your ideal client feels in their situation. Then remember a time when you felt similarly – and write down what happened. What was the turning point? What did you realize about yourself or your situation? What happened next? Share it with your community!

Invest in Your People: Deliver Service + Value

Alright, let's dive into this next game-changer: delivering massive value to your audience. This is the secret sauce that separates the shady salesman from the trusted advisor.

Ready? Let’s roll:

Investing in your audience by serving them well is about creating trust and a connection that's stronger than a double espresso – by giving them an open invitation to learn from you and see your perspective, your values, and your approach to their problems.

You show the way you think, how you do things – and the core beliefs that fuel your journey.

And guess what happens when they see all this in your content? They make a choice. They either nod and say, "Hey, this is my person!" or they give a friendly wave and move on.

And you know what? Both responses are golden.

You're not in the business of convincing everyone. You're in the business of finding your kindred spirits—the ones who resonate with your vibe.

Just like dating – not everyone's your soulmate, and that's perfectly fine! Some folks will choose a different path. But others will love what you’re all about – and you’ll build a community of likeminded souls who truly see eye to eye with you.

So here's the action plan: Show up!

Share content that's like a friendly pat on the back, guiding your dream clients toward insights and inspiration. It's not about bending over backward to cater to everyone. It's about nurturing that warm circle of folks who say, "Hey, you're speaking my language!"

And when they're ready to buy, they won't think twice about who to turn to.

So offer value that's more than skin deep, and watch as your audience becomes your community. 🌟🙌

Try this: Think about one problem your ideal client is having lately. Then, write down an unhealthy belief they may have about the root cause of that problem. (e.g., If the problem is dating trouble, they may be thinking, “There’s something wrong with me.”) Next, what do YOU see as the real root cause of the problem? Share it with your community this week, to help them understand the problem from a new angle!

Walk the Talk with Social Proof

Let's talk about your flashlight in the dark corners of doubt: social proof.

Imagine standing at a crossroads, unsure which path to take. Suddenly, someone pops up and says, "Hey, I took this path, and it led me somewhere awesome!"

That's social proof in action. A beacon of possibility that guides your potential clients toward making confident, informed decisions!

And it's not about convincing anyone. It's about inspiring.

You're not in the business of arm-twisting – you're in the business of lighting up the path.

Testimonials, client reviews, and success stories show your dream clients that transformation isn't a fairy tale — it's a reality.

So next time you're sharing a story of transformation, remember that you're not just building a case for your offer. You're building a bridge between uncertainty and the bright possibilities ahead.

So your dream clients can walk that bridge with a newfound confidence, knowing that they're not alone on this journey.

Try this: Chose a testimonial you’re especially proud of, and share it with your community this week! If you don’t have testimonials, reach out to 3 people who’d be willing to beta test your offer in exchange for a testimonial about their experience.

Show the Behind-the-Scenes

Next, let's dive into showing what's brewing behind the curtain. Think of it as inviting your audience into your creative kitchen, where the magic happens…

Ever heard that 90% of consumers prefer brands that share their inner workings? Your audience loves a backstage pass to your hustle and heart! It's like letting them into your creative dojo, where you're honing your skills and making magic happen.

So here's the deal: Open the doors to your business – offer a sneak peek at your products, services, how they work, and what your customers and clients are experiencing (while respecting their privacy, of course!)

Even better – share your daily experiences, and the projects you're tackling head-on. Vulnerability is your secret weapon. The more you embrace it, the more your confidence shines through. The more people trust you, because you’re being real with them.

When you let people in on the unfiltered ride, you're showing that you've got nothing to hide. You're confident, genuine, inviting them to be part of your adventure.

So see how honest you can be about the challenges you face and the progress you're making – and the lessons and insights you’re learning along the way. Look for opportunities to turn your experience into teachable moments your whole community can benefit from!

Because people don't just want the picture-perfect end product; they crave the journey, the grit, and the realness.

Imperfections? Let’em shine!

And let's make a deal: embrace the truth, the messy middle, and the untamed creativity. Open those doors wide, and let your audience see the magic unfold. Because authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's the glue that bonds you with your community.

Try this: What’s one challenge you’ve had lately that your ideal client could relate to? How are you navigating it? Share a video this week explaining what’s coming up in your journey, and the approach you’re taking to navigate it skillfully.

Offer a Solution-Focused Approach

This is a must for anyone looking to sell with heart! Focus on the PROBLEM your customer is dealing with, and offer your perspective on the best way to solve it.

It’s all about meeting your dream client exactly where she is, and in the situation she’s dealing with, and creating an offer that connects the dots between her problem, and how she can move forward with your help.

For example… let’s say I’m struggling to sell a new offer, and I see an offer for a 6-week sales course. That may be enough for me to sign up… but it could be even more powerful if I know the philosophy applied in the program, which could be:

Learn how to agitate people’s pain points, stoke their fears, and convince them they need your product or they’ll fail at their goals.
Learn how to inspire and ignite people’s hopes and ambitions, and gently support them in moving past their fears to say YES to their goals.

…I know which one I would be more excited about!

By focusing on the problem first, you’re grabbing her attention and then meeting her where she is, and showing that you understand, that you know what she’s going through, that you’re on her side, and that you care about her situation!

Then by sharing the solution, you offer what you see as the best way solve the problem. The one single piece of advice that can help her beat the problem in a healthy, constructive way.

Finally, you get to the offer – the actual service or product that can help her apply the solution.

So the solution and the offer are two different things: The solution is like the heartfelt advice you’d give your best friend! The offer is what will help her apply the solution.

Try this: Consider the problem your offer solves, and the solution your industry keeps pushing on your customer. (e.g., If your offer helps someone live more frugally, maybe your competitors say they need to cut out everything fun in their lives.) What do YOU see as a better path forward?

Recap!

There you have it! The basic rules for selling with heart:

Start with passion and vision.
Connect through storytelling.
Deliver service + value.
Offer social proof.
Show the behind-the-scenes.
Solve a problem.

Swipe my free

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Hey! I’m Ashley.

I’m all about growing your mission-driven business with heart and intention! If you need help connecting authentically with your dream clients, you’re in the right place!

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