Sales

Articles, strategy guides and expert advice on the art and practice of sales. From the small business archive.

Getting Online

Bad websites threaten SMEs

Poor quality websites are scuppering the trade of small businesses, finds research.

Finding and selling to customers

The customer – how to spot and ride their wave

Ken Thurber, author of new book Big Wave Surfing, Extreme Technology Development, Management, Marketing and Investing, explains how change can be an opening to opportunity.

Finding and selling to customers

Secrets of sales

Four seasoned sales experts tell SmallBusiness.co.uk what their experiences have taught them.

Business management

10 Fast Growth Businesses

There are smaller companies in the UK which are increasing sales and improving margins. SmallBusiness.co.uk finds out how they're making it happen.

Finding and selling to customers

How to turbocharge your businesses by refocusing your sales strategy

Entrepreneurs tell us how they've turbocharged their businesses by refocusing their sales strategy.

Finding and selling to customers

Negotiating on price as a small business owner

As many as one-third of owner-managers say they do not see themselves as natural negotiators, according to a recent survey. But you don't have to go in with all guns blazing to achieve more favourable terms.

News

Going green doesn’t help SMEs in the red

Environmental concerns have been pushed to one side as the recession has forced small businesses to refocus their priorities.

News

Retailers score from World Cup sales

Excitement over the World Cup and better weather boosted high street sales last month.

Finding and selling to customers

The winning sales pitch

Success in a sales meeting often needs a subtle touch. Here three entrepreneurs give us their top tips on how to close the deal.

Finding and selling to customers

Seven surefire ways to boost sales

These key sales strategies will help you increase top line growth in good times and bad.

Blog

Patrick Forsyth, author of 100 Great Sales Ideas

Whatever kind of small business you have, you probably didn't start it because you wanted to sell things. Perhaps you have technical expertise, design flair or a bright idea. Yet people won’t beat a path to your door unless you tell them about your business and do so convincingly.

Marketing

Turn business leads into sales

British businesses spend millions of pounds every year on various marketing tools including advertising, direct mail, exhibitions and PR, but it’s just as important to follow up the enquiries and know where they came from, as it is to obtain them in the first place.