10 Effective Business Negotiation Tips

Did you know that everything is negotiable in business and in life? This is true about negotiations in all aspects of your world today. It pays to negotiate, debate, and even argue to ensure you are getting the best terms at all times. 

Here Is How To Build Your Own Big Business

But this past year only 30% of workers negotiated their salary with their employers. Most entrepreneurs don't negotiate their prices and rates with customers or clients. Even spouses are too afraid to negotiate the terms of their marriage or household responsibilities. Discussions and debate just do not take place when they should. 

Many people are hesitant to negotiate, not because they don't think they are worth it or deserve more, but because they don't know where to start. If this sounds like you, you have come to the right place to improve your arguments, debates, and points.

Read on for 10 top negotiation tips that will help you get what you want in any situation. Whether you are trying to get a lower insurance premium or a raise at work, these ten effective negotiating strategies can work for you. 

10 Simple Ways To Improve Your Negotiating Skills


1. Approach With Positivity

Some people assume that to be a good negotiator, they have to go into every conversation with guns blazing. In reality, though, you are more likely to get what you want if you remain calm and approach the situation from a positive place.

Instead of getting on the phone riled up and ready to yell about your increasing cable price, try starting the conversation in a polite, courteous way. The person on the other end will already be in a better state of mind and more inclined to assist you. That is how you negotiate to dominate!


2. Do Your Research

It is always helpful if you go into a negotiation feeling prepared. Do some research before you enter the meeting or get on the phone. Look up what other people in your position are earning or find comparable insurance rates from other companies in your area.

If you have this information readily available, it will be easier for you to make a strong case for yourself. Jot down notes beforehand so you don't forget any important details. Practice your negotiations ahead of time if you can as well for a higher chance of success. Negotiating can be nasty so you need to be prepared for any question, counterpoint, or even insult during your quest to argue your case.


3. Know What You Want

Have a clear goal for yourself when you begin negotiating, too. Know what kind of salary you want to earn or what you want to pay for your cable.

This will help you to be decisive and confident. It will save you from getting a "deer in the headlights" look, too, when the person working with you asks you what you would like to earn or what it will take to get you to stay with their company. It pays to know your numbers when negotiating!


4. Listen More Than You Talk

Are you a nervous talker? Do you tend to chatter during stressful situations, such as negotiations? If so, this negotiation tip is for you.

Make an effort to listen to the person on the other end of the conversation more than you talk to them. Ask open-ended questions to keep them talking, too. This helps you learn what they are looking for, and it will help them to feel respected.


5. Be Willing to Walk Away

Never start a negotiation without options. You need to be willing to walk away if necessary.

If you are counting on this job or you are in desperate need of a lower interest rate, the person with whom you are negotiating already has all the power. You need to have a backup plan in place or another option that you can pursue instead. This helps to give you leverage and makes you more valuable to the other person. 

Desperation is obvious, so you must be willing to walk way to win the negotiations.


6. Don't Rush

Remember that negotiations can take a long time. Don't go in expecting the other negotiator to give you what you want right away without first putting up a fight.

It might take hours or even multiple conversations over several days for you to get an outcome that works for you and the other party. Be patient, though, and trust that you deserve what you are trying to get from them. If you don't rush them, you will have a greater chance of seeing a positive outcome.


7. Show Them What You Have to Offer

Be clear about what you are bringing to the table, too. This is especially important during salary negotiations. If you want a higher salary, you need to show your employer what benefits you provide to the company.

Come in with concrete details regarding the ways you have helped the company to grow and the value you provide. The more specific you can be, the better.

Don't be wishy-washy, either. Know your worth and value and stand by it. If you don't believe in yourself, why should your boss give you a raise?


8. Always Tie a String

Sometimes, during a negotiation, you will have to make compromises. Before you give anything away, though, make sure you are getting something in return. In other words, make sure there are always strings attached.

If you can't get the lowest price possible for your cable bill, consider accepting a slightly higher rate. Make sure they throw something in to sweeten the deal, though, such as additional channels. 


9. Don't Fear Silence

If you already identified yourself as a nervous talker, this tip will also work in your favor. In addition to listening more than you talk, don't be afraid of silence and gaps in the conversation. Instead, use them to your advantage.

If you are quiet and pause for a moment after you receive an offer, the person with whom you are negotiating has time to second-guess themselves. They might hear that the offer is not ideal and be more willing to give you something better, all because you paused before responding.


10. Don't Take It Personally

It doesn't matter if you are trying to get a quote for a lower insurance premium or want a higher salary. In any situation, remember not the take the other person's behavior personally.

If you get offended or emotional based on the way they are acting or something they say, you will have a harder time implementing these other negotiation strategies. You will also be less likely to get the kind of outcome you are wanting. It pays to develop a thick skin during discussions, debates, and decision-making.


Try These Negotiation Tips Today

You might have thought that you don't have what it takes to be a good negotiator. For many people, though, it just takes the right advice and a bit of practice. Next time the negotiations will go differently thanks to these ten strategic tips!

The next time you find yourself in a negotiation situation, put these 10 negotiation tips to the test. They will help you speak with confidence and get what you want out of the exchange.

If you have been negotiating to try and save money, do you want to learn more tricks you can use to lower your bills and keep more in your bank account? If so, check out the rest of our website today for more advice. And always remember, everything is negotiable! It is time to negotiate now.

20 Top Business Presentation Tips For 2025

Presentations in business or other organizations are a big deal, and you only get one chance to make a first impression or seal the deal. No matter your role in a company, at some point you will be required to present your ideas or sales pitch. Every top business leader knows the potential power of a presentation or pitch. Convincing, persuading, and selling your ideas are all critical skills, whether you are presenting to a small team in a video conference or on a venue stage in front of thousands of people. A business presentation can even make or break your career, especially these days in the age of everything being recorded and shared on social media.

Today’s entrepreneurs know quite a bit about the art of presentation, so we asked them to share some of their best tips and techniques. Here are some of the highlights on top presentation tips from business leaders around the world in 2025. 

20 Top Tips For Powerful Presentations In 2025

First Impressions Matter Most

The first few moments of a business or sales presentation are critical. You can either set the stage for success or cause everyone in the audience to immediately think “how long is this going to take?” You only get one chance to make a good first impression while presenting. 

“The best tip for having a successful presentation is to start strong,” said Ajay Mehta, CEO of Birthdate Candles. “The beginning of your presentation is what draws your audience in, so be sure that you start off in a strong way. Grab your audience’s attention by using an image, video or joke. This will entice them into your presentation and keep them interested throughout.” 

Even more important than gimmicks is a strong presentation presence and tonality that conveys confidence from the start of your presentation or sales pitch. 

Slim Down The Presentation 

When you look over your presentation, is there anything that can be removed or simplified? The last thing you want to do is overcomplicate things during presentations and lose interest from the audience. 

“Carve out excessive words and slides - this will make things easier for everyone,” said Brandon Monaghan, Co-Founder of Miracle Brand. “Better to speak slowly and clarify your points. It is not a race or a competition to cram the most content into one presentation.” 

Even if your business presentation addresses complex topics, aim to simplify the speech and support your points with visuals. 

Explain Why The Audience Is Here 

Unless you are already a celebrity, audiences will want to know who you are and why your message is important. Make a connection early on so that everyone is invested. 

“When you are a public speaker, the first thing you need to accomplish is showing why the audience should see your presentation as relevant,” said Travis Killian, Owner and CEO of Everlasting Comfort. “There are a growing number of professionals trying to make their mark on the webinar, seminar and convention scenes. But, not everyone has the credentials to lend their advice. Tell a little bit about yourself, establish a connection and briefly explain how you achieved your own success.” 

Avoid acting like a know-it-all, and just be real about who you are. Being genuine is key as a business presenter in 2025 and will be in 2026 also. 

Make The Connection To Our Audience

Some of the best public speakers don’t present themselves as perfect or flawless. Often times it is more effective to show your human side and connect with others in a real way. 

“Always be sure to show your passion and connect with your audience when giving a presentation,” said Tri Nguyen, CEO of Network Capital. “Great presenters know how to be honest and connect with their audience to get their point across. You can do this by injecting your passion and enthusiasm into your presentation. Your audience will feel this and stay connected to your presentation throughout its duration.” 

Authenticity can go a long way for keeping audiences engaged and getting key points across. 

Psych Up The Crowd 

Even if you are speaking on a serious subject, try to get the crowd excited with positive energy and enthusiasm from the starting gate. Use technology to fill in the gaps and punctuate your points. 

“Getting people excited and engaged in your presentation can help boost morale and lead to better results if you are looking for a call to action at the end,” said Cody Iverson, Co-Founder and CEO of VisCap Media. Videos, infographics, and other visually appealing material breaks up talking and photos. 

This helps a great deal on Microsoft PowerPoint slide decks. Get people involved in the presentation by asking the room questions or getting suggestions for answers, depending on what your presentation is about.” 

We all know that meetings aren’t the most exciting events, so put in some extra effort to break the monotony. 

Storytelling 

You can only go so far with facts, figures, and charts during a presentation. Mix things up with stories throughout the session to keep audiences captivated for the less entertaining parts. 

“Tell a story when presenting,” said Omid Semino, CEO of Diamond Mansion. “Stories help people pay attention, connect, and remember things. Storytelling will help your audience engage in your presentation. So think about what you are presenting and how you can create your presentation to tell that story.” 

Stories don’t have to be thrilling to be effective – it is all about the delivery. 

Any Questions? 

It is best to not take questions throughout your presentation, since this disrupts its flow and effectiveness. Wait until you have made your points and take questions after. 

“Leave some time for Q&A at the end of your presentation, because people will have follow-up questions and want to say their piece,” said Kelli Lane, CMO at Genexa. “Be accommodating and do your best to answer questions. If you don’t know something off the bat, connect with them later and follow up.” 

Remember to thank everyone for their company presentation questions and put a memorable twist on your answers if you can. 

Simplify Everything 

If you could effectively transmit one key idea into the mind of every audience member, what would it be? Pinpoint this idea and make it the central focus of your presentation. 

“A great tip for having a successful presentation is to keep it simple,” said Alex Czarnecki, CEO of Cottage. “Focus your presentation on the core message that you wish to convey. This will allow you to communicate the core message effectively to your audience. If it doesn’t apply to your core message then do not include it in your presentation.” 

This is a good tactic to trim down your presentation and make it more impactful. 

Not So Fast 

Everyone tends to rush when they reach the stage or get to the floor for a presentation. It is in our nature to speed up, but you need to fight that urge and take it slow. 

“Slow and steady wins the race,” said Vincent Bradley, CEO and Co-Founder of Proper Wild. “If you speak too fast, it will be difficult for your audience to understand what you are trying to say, and it will make you appear nervous. By consciously slowing down your speech, you will project confidence and calm. This will also force you to make your presentation clear and concise. So instead of trying to fit thirty minutes of content into a fifteen-minute presentation, you will have to prioritize information and intelligently choose your words in advance.” 

Try practicing with timers or video yourself to make sure you maintain a slow and even pace. 

Tech Wizard 

When the presenter is fumbling around with technology in front of an audience, that is not going to instill much confidence. Learn the tech inside and out so that you avoid being that person. 

“Know the software that you will be using during your presentation like the back of your hand,” said Bill Glaser, CEO of Outstanding Foods. “Especially during remote and hybrid work, knowing tips and tricks for presentation software like Zoom and Google Meet can level-up your communication abilities. For example, Zoom shortcuts can make your presentations run seamlessly, and knowing which buttons perform which actions can help you avoid unnecessary technical difficulties.” 

Watch tutorials, read blogs, or simply practice as much as possible with these platforms, because it will pay off. 

Audience Specific 

You never want an audience to feel like they are receiving the same, automated speech you have made a thousand times before. Mix it up and personalize the presentation for the people in front of you. 

“Know your audience and address them with details that would only be relevant to the room at the present moment,” said Dr. Livingood, Founder and CEO of Livingood Daily. “People can tell when you are being generic – or worse – disingenuous.” 

No need to overhaul your whole presentation. Just add some flourishes to make things more personal where it is appropriate. 

Vocal Mastery 

Watch some classic speeches from CEOs, politicians, and motivational speakers. They are a commanding presence on the stage, and use their voices effectively as well. 

“Start thinking about what you sound like,” said Celebrity Vocal Coach Roger Love. “Your voice is the most powerful communication tool you possess. A 2017 Yale study proved that we have learned to lie with our words and our body language, but the sounds of your voice reveal authenticity and truth. Learn how to use melody, volume, pitch, and pace to create sounds that move people emotionally.” 

It is always weird to record yourself and play it back, but this is how the best speakers master their craft. 

Research Heavy 

Charisma is a key trait when presenting to an audience, but you will also need to back up what you say with facts. Research is the key to a well-rounded presentation. 

“There is no better way to become a better presenter than to do your research,” said Timmy Yanchun, Co-Founder of LTHR Shaving. “Nothing can replace data when you need a go-to reference or point, and it also serves for excellent after-seminar or webinar downloads. Have all of your information in order, backed with slides that will make it simple to introduce a point and then elaborate.” 

Even if your presentation isn’t exactly a fireworks show, the research will make it worthwhile for anyone listening. 

Give The Audience What It Wants 

You know your mission as a presenter: send the right message and make persuasive points. But have you considered what audience members want from this exchange? It is worth thinking about if you are presenting something important. 

“The number one tip for a great presentation is to focus on your audience’s needs,” said John Levisay, CEO of The Pro’s Closet. “Build your presentation around what your audience will get out of your presentation. Keep the audience’s needs in mind as you create your presentation and while giving it. This will make it easier for them to understand and respond.” 

Be sure to hit your main points while catering to the needs of the audience, too. That is the winning formula for professional presenters. 

Solution-Oriented 

Since the first caveman stood on a rock to explain how to make fire, one thing has always been true about presentations: they need to solve real problems. 

“Being a presenter has changed dramatically since the pandemic, with so many regular speakers learning to adjust to a computer screen and the challenges of webinars vs. in-person events,” said Heidi Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at Because Market. “However, one positive thing is that most speakers have learned to find ways to really connect with their audience - even if they are halfway across the globe. Everyone loves solutions to common problems. So, make an effort to provide those, along with actionable steps to never experience those challenges in the first place.” 

If your presentation doesn’t identify a problem and offer a solution, consider a new angle. 

Show, Don’t Tell 

If there is a way to make your points with visual aids, before-and-after photos, or straight facts and figures, do that. Nothing is more effective than clearly showing the audience what you can do for them. 

“Vividly paint a picture,” said Michael Port, CEO of Heroic Public Speaking. “All world-saving performances are transformational experiences for your audience. Start out by showing, here is what you have got today, and here is how it could be. This builds immediate rapport and hooks the audience’s interest. You know them. You understand them and their pain points. You have got their back, and you have got a better way to solve their problems.” 

Not every message needs a visual component, but this strategy can emphasize the points that matter most. 

Chill Out Before The Presentation

It is totally normal to be nervous before a big presentation, even if there are just a few people in the room. Be prepared, keep it together, and use some mental tactics to stay on point. 

“Having relaxation techniques to help calm your nerves right before you present can help you look more professional and confident while giving your presentation,” said Eddie Huai, CEO of Luna Blanket. “Being too nervous, or even talking about how nervous you are, can actually give off the impression that you are unprepared if speaking with people who don’t know you, so acknowledging it with yourself and handling it beforehand can help with that. Breathing techniques, visualization, and other quick methods are easy ways to relax before a big presentation.” 

Do some research on relaxation methods and find a way to calm down quickly before you go on. 

Follow A Format 

It can be tricky to map out a presentation from scratch, especially if you are new to the medium. Use an established blueprint at first and make adjustments as you figure out the format. 

“When you are giving a presentation, always remember to follow the 10-20-30 rule,” said Jim Beard, COO of Box Genie. “This rule states that to have a presentation that contains no more than 10 slides, it should last no longer than 20 minutes and have a font size of no less than 30 points. This will help keep you from overloading your presentation with too much information on the slides. Remember the slides are there as a guide, while the presenter elaborates on the points to allow full understanding of the topic.” 

Do a few presentations based on a familiar structure, and you will get the hang of it in no time to become a perfect presenter. 

No Nerves 

Nervousness is often just a sign that you are unprepared for the task ahead. Have a healthy sense of self-confidence, but put in the work as well so that you feel emboldened when the time comes to present. 

“Early preparation is the best thing you can do for yourself if you are nervous for a presentation,” said Meghan Maupin, Co-Founder and CEO of Atolla. “That way, you can tell yourself that you have gone over everything you need and can walk into the room with confidence that you will succeed in your presentation. I like to try to remember key points for each slide, rather than memorize a script where you could get stuck on a single word.” 

Skilled presenters have the confidence to freestyle away from their carefully crafted PowerPoint pitch deck when needed, and preparation is what allows them to improvise effectively. This is especially crucial when answering colleague or prospect questions at the end of presenting or taking questions from the audience after speaking on a Power Point slide deck.

Break The Ice 

You can spend hours perfecting a business presentation, but you will stumble out of the starting gate if you don’t have a great intro to propel you forward. 

“The best way to create an engaging and successful presentation is with a strong introduction,” said Jack Mason, CEO of Jack Mason Watches. “Many use this as an opportunity to tell a quick story or joke that engages the audience. Setting the tone in the presentation from the start, tells your audience what to expect from the rest of your presentation. If done correctly, you will hook your audience in for a great presentation that they will watch the entire time.” 

Presenting Powerfully Conclusion

Some business professionals love seizing the opportunity to make presentations a special event, while others dread presenting completely. But one thing is certain, if you are going to present your pitch, it needs to be powerful in at least one way. Hopefully our top business presentation tips will offer something for everyone and take their public speaking skills to the next level. Pitch perfect, ensure your speaking is peaking, and make your powerful presentation profitable in 2025!

How To Create A Laser Targeted Lead Generation Strategy

If your business is struggling to find clients, then you need to develop your lead generation abilities. You know you are the best in your niche and you have a great product or service, but unless people know about it and order them, it doesn’t matter.

The key to business growth is not only generating leads for your business but qualified leads that have a high chance to convert. Targeted lead generation is vital to your business, but how do you do it? We have provided you with a guide on great ways to develop B2B lead generation for your business. 

Read on to learn more about targeted lead generation strategies for your company. 


Targeted Lead Generation Begins with Your Website

Inbound marketing is when customers come to you because they have found your company in search results and other methods and consider you an authority. Your website is the hub of lead generation.

Creating content that is optimized for search engines and contains expert information. It answers common questions and provides explanations of common problems. These are what your leads search for when they need your service.

They may not know they need your service at the time, but after reading your content, they will.

If you want to rank well on search engines such as Google, then you need to have content that has the expertise, authority, and trustworthiness.


Lead Generation Companies Drive Leads to You

Don’t let your salespeople spend all their time going after cold leads when hot ones are available for purchase. Some companies have large databases of companies that need your business and you can buy leads from them.

These leads are already far down the sales funnel and ready to commit, but they need to find the right company for the job. That company is you. Your salespeople don’t need to push hard for a sale and the conversion rate is far higher than cold calling.

This site offers some of the best leads around, so check them out.


Be Active in Social Media

Everyone has social media, whether it is Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Social media pages rank well on search engines and by being responsive and interactive with potential clients, you are turning them into qualified leads.

Social media allows you to create a personality for your business. You can show them you are not just a corporation, but a business made of real people with knowledge, professionalism and a sense of humor.

When people have questions, they will message you on social media or comment on a post. Being responsive and having great customer service can convert them into leads.


Provide High-Value Offers

Everyone likes a great deal, so if you tweet or send out information about a sale, use language such as limited and high demand to show a sense of urgency. People want good value so offering them a free e-book, free trial or other benefits can real them in and generate targeted lead generation.


Your Business Needs Sales Leads

A small business needs targeted lead generation if it is to survive in this competitive environment. Use these targeted lead generation methods to drive customers to you and increase your overall conversions and sales.

For more information about B2B lead generation, visit the Marketing sections of the Frugal Finance Blog. We have plenty of helpful articles on inbound marketing, sales funnels, lead gen tactics, landing pages, and content marketing.

5 Tips To Be A Good Sales Professional

Working in the line of sales can be an incredibly difficult career path. After all, your success depends entirely on your ability to convince consumers to buy your products or services.

While this leaves a lot of room for growth and potential income, there's no safety net. If you are terrible at converting leads into sales, you're going to have a rocky year.

Fortunately, your future is in your own hands. You can learn how to be a good salesman to increase your sales and make more money. To do so, you must invest in yourself. 

Keep reading for our top five tips on how to increase sales.


1. Know the Buyer

One of the most important marketing tips is identifying your target audience. At whom do you want to direct your advertising?

Similarly, in sales, you must know the buyer. Why do they need your products or services? What problem are you solving for them?

Once you understand the buyer's wants, needs, and problems, you will gain valuable insight into how to sell to them.


2. Know the Product or Service You're Selling

However, learning how to be a good salesman also means knowing your products or services inside and out. The more you can tell a lead about how the product or service will improve their life, the more likely you'll be able to convince them they need it.

Knowledge about your product bolsters your confidence. It grants you the power to be firm, but not pushy.


3. Understand the Sales Process

One of the most important tips for being a great salesman is researching the sales process. This includes everything from when the consumer first hears about the product to when you're closing a sale. 

For example, most people won't immediately buy a product or invest in a service the first time they see an ad for it. It takes repeated nudges through digital marketing, traditional marketing, the sales process, and other promotional tactics such as custom buttons, t-shirts, etc.

Finally, you need to lock down your own sales technique. It needs to be measurable, repeatable, and well-rehearsed.


4. Make the Buyer Feel Heard

Learning how to be a good salesman also means learning how to become a good listener. Active listening is the art of genuinely listening to everything a person is saying. Using this in sales leads to forming a bond with a potential customer. 

The more you give a prospect your full attention, the more you'll understand their nature. This leads back to point number one - knowing the customer. You can't know a complete stranger without taking the time to listen to them.


5. Be Personable

Lastly, you must be a likable person. You need to be charming, helpful, attentive, and knowledgeable. These personality traits will help you gain credibility and trust with potential customers (even if you have to fake them).

Being personable isn't an inherent quality in all salesmen. However, it is a common denominator in all successful salesmen.


Looking for More Tips on How to Be a Good Salesman?

We know how difficult the sales game can be. For many salesmen and small business owners, the number of sales you make directly affects your income each month.

If you're looking for more advice on how to be a good salesman or any other social selling matters, be sure to check out some of our other articles before you go in the Sales section of our blog.

How To Build A Sales Funnel That Converts Leads

Want to sell more products or services and increase revenue? 

Do you need to take your sales volume to the next level?

Sales funnels are one of the most powerful tools a business can use to achieve success. Without a well-designed modern sales funnel, your business can fall behind the competition and lose valuable leads or customers. 

To avoid this, if your company does not have a sales funnel established, you need to change this fast. But before you do that, you must also understand how to build a sales funnel.

So, all of you who are not interested in bigger profits and booming business, get out of here—and the rest of you buckle up for some super actionable info on building sales funnels.


Analyze Your Target Customers

The first step to creating a sales funnel is to analyze your target customers. Target customers are the people that your offering is designed for and to whom it will sell most easily. 

For example, if you sell a solution to a specific problem, then your target customers will be the people that have this problem and have enough money to buy your product/service.

To sell your site is offering like hotcakes, you need to figure out where these people are hanging out. Are they on Facebook? Are they Googling for solutions? Or are they Instagram and TikTok consumers that buy what influencers are selling? 

You also want to pay attention to how potential customers behave when they land on your site. What pages do they view the most, and at what points do they click away? Analyzing our potential customer’s movements was crucial to fix errors and smooth out the customer’s experience in our early days.

Once you have compiled data on who your target customers are, where they can be found, and how they interact with your page, it is time to move onto the next step. 


Get Their Attention with Content and Ads

Now it is time to get the attention of these target customers. 

To do this, you need to set up a system of content creation that broadcasts across any platforms where your target customers can be found. This can take the form of blog posts, videos, live videos, podcasts, white papers, ebooks, emails, and social media posts. 

If you want to ramp it up a notch and get more fast-paced results, you can also invest in advertising. 

Advertising will allow you to target people who are potential leads across the web. You also won't have to wait for your social presence to grow before you see traction. 


Lead Them to the Perfect Landing Page

Once you have the attention of a potential lead or target customer, you need to take them somewhere. 

This is where your landing page comes in. The landing page that you direct leads to shouldn't just be the front page of your site. Instead, it should be a page that is tailored to the ad that is leading to it, and to the lead who lands on it.

In most cases, the landing page also shouldn't be trying to sell the customer anything right off the bat.

But wait—isn't the whole point of a sales funnel to sell your product?

Yes, it is, but according to research, 92% of people visiting a site are not yet ready to buy. If you try to sell a new visitor something on the first page they land on, they will most probably click away out of annoyance. 

Instead, offer something on your landing page that will provide value to your leads. For example, you could offer them a free e-book for their email address. 

The more valuable the free offer is to visitors, the more likely they will be to enter their email address, and ultimately the more successful your sales funnel will be. So don't skimp on the offer.


Build a Relationship via Email and Woo Your Leads

Once you have the email address of a lead, it is time to send them an automated series of targeted emails. This is termed a drip campaign in the sales world.

Once again, don't hard sell too often or too soon. At this stage, you are building a relationship with your lead and impressing them with the fact that you are the one to buy from if they ever got a product or service like yours. 

The way to do this is to provide leads with amazing content. 

Be sure not to overdo it, as nobody likes to be bombarded with emails. One to two emails per week is considered an effective but non-invasive amount. 

Once your drip campaign is complete, its time to make an offer. Again, make it a good offer. If there isn't that much value for the customer in the offer, then they are more likely to ignore it and fall out of the funnel. 


Don't Forget to Up- and Down- Sell

Make sure you up-sell and down-sell to the leads that click on your offer. Up-selling offers customers the option to go bigger or better on whatever you are offering. Some customers, who can afford it, and trust your brand by that point, will go for the up-sell offer, meaning you make a bigger sale. 

Down-selling means offering customers a less powerful and smaller version of the product or service that is cheaper. This is great for customers that clicked on your sales link but might drop out before purchasing because of budget constraints. 

Guess what sellers?

This is the end of the sales funnel, the place where your hard work pays off! 


Rinse and Repeat

After the point of sale, don't forget about your customers. You can begin again by making them part of another drip campaign, targetted to customers who have already made a purchase.

Keep up the relationship and then later on down the line make them an offer they can't refuse, once again. 

If you want to learn even more about how to build and maintain a killer sales funnel, you can get more info in the Sales section of our blog.


Now You Know How to Build a Sales Funnel!

Congratulations seller! You are all set to create one of the most powerful sales system that a business can operate. Because you now know how to build a sales funnel that converts more leads!

A high performing sales funnel takes time to set up and tweak to perfection, but it is well worth it.

If you enjoyed this article on sales funnels, share it on social and bookmark this site for more informative reads. Also make sure to visit the Sales section of our blog right now for more tips on lead generation and selling online!

POS Technology Maintenance Guide For System Protection

Nothing will drop your business like malfunctioning Point Of Sale (POS) technology.

Just ask Starbucks. Several years ago they suffered an outage, rendering their POS technology useless for a short period of time. This outage forced baristas to hand out thousands of free drinks to satisfy irritated customers. 

Regular maintenance on your POS will keep it running longer and smoother.

Understanding the POS management system installed in your store helps you know how to maintain it properly. Maintain your POS technology with these simple steps. Keep reading to learn more about Point Of Sale tech for your business!


Know Your POS Technology

Understand how your POS technology works. Read the manual from cover to cover to familiarize yourself with it. 

Then conduct an inspection regularly. Keep an eye out for dirt or dust buildup that could cause problems to your Point Of Sale system. 

Your eyes are your first line of defense for problems. Regularly inspecting the POS will help you see a problem before you have one. 


Keep It Clean

POS management systems are particularly susceptible to the filth that will compromise their effectiveness. Grease, grime, and dust clog pores.

If you run a restaurant, your POS will shut down more quickly than other businesses. You must keep it clean.

Start with the manual. Read it. Do not do anything to your POS that would void its warranty.

So even if you read that you should use vinegar on your POS, see what your manual says first. 

Next, turn off the components. You want nothing on while you clean the POS. This means you should clean the POS either before you open for the day or after the last customer has left.

Then, start dry. Begin with a dry cloth to dust the POS. Use small tools to scrape out any crevices where grease and gunk have gathered.

Try to find a microfiber cloth. These have special fibers that basically suck up dust. They attract the dirt you're trying to remove.

Once you've thoroughly dusted your machine, break out the distilled water. Use only distilled water if you use any to clean the POS. 

Then dry your POS system thoroughly. 

Remember to clean the inside of your computer. Dust can accumulate and then cause your point-of-sale system to overheat.

Remove the buildup from finger sensors with a piece of tape and wipe your POS technology inside and out. 


Keep It Cool

Overheating will cause your POS technology to shut down. Sometimes overheating will cause damage beyond repair.

For these reasons, you need to keep your POS well ventilated.

Keep your POS in a cool area. Do not place it against a wall or anywhere that would block the flow of air through the unit. 

Most units already have some sort of cooling fan. Unfortunately, most need more than the fan they come with. So keep them in a place with cool air movement. 


Keep It Consistent

Use the POS consistently. This means you need to train staff on how to use the system, but do not let everyone use it.

Make sure you train them thoroughly in the proper protocol. Make sure they know how to use your system.

Have a staff in-service or meeting to train new staff on how to properly run the POS technology. 

Create a manual of protocol or cheat sheets near the system. This way your staff can see how to run the machine.

Use the basic methods of teaching to teach your staff how to use the system:

1. Show them how to use it.
2. Have them practice using it with you watching.
3. Have them use it alone.

Encourage them to not just mash buttons when they get confused. Instead, they need to ask questions. 

If a staff member breaks your POS technology, you will lose business. Take time to train them well. 

In that training, make sure they use their fingers and not a pen.  Teach your staff to not just touch the screen with a pen.

Engineers designed touch screens with pressure sensitivity. They respond best to fingers until someone uses a different tool. Use your fingers.  


Keep It Up to Date

Begin with reliable POS software. You will spend a big chunk of change on this software. You want something you can trust.

Then, as you maintain it, consult experts. Use a point-of-sale system repair service should your POS system go down. The software engineers and technicians know best how to keep your POS running and keep you in business. 

You can troubleshoot some on your own as well. Begin by rebooting your system regularly. Try to do this daily when your business is not open. 

Make the reboot a regular part of the closing checklist for your employees. Put it somewhere between "clean the bathroom" and "shut off the lights." 

In addition to rebooting, you should back your system up regularly. If you are not already using a back up for your data, use one.

You can use an external hard drive or an off-site data storage company. This way if something happens to your business, your data will still be safe. 

To back up your system regularly, you need to purge data as well. Get rid of what you do not need. If you do not know if you'll need the data, send it to that off-site database. 

Check your system regularly for updates. Then download those as soon as possible. Updates keep your POS technology running bug-free. 

An old system will not run efficiently. So when you purge data, back up the system, and update the system, you will have smoother running POS technology. 


Keep Your POS Technology Running

Successful businesses thrive on the details. POS technology maintenance qualifies as some of those details. Payment is always a top priority for businesses to survive and thrive.

Dusting, cleaning, updating, purging, and backing up your POS technology will keep it up and running. And you can rest easy knowing you will not lose a sale with your properly function Point Of Sale system.

10 Tips on How to Get More Leads Generated

While consumer confidence has dipped slightly due to recession scares, for the most part, this year's economy has been extraordinary. There are still a lot of leads out there for your business.

Given that fact, if you have had a soft year, you shouldn't have. There is more opportunity to grab new customers than ever before and things are going to get a whole lot harder as we push further into the digital age.

Fortunately, the year isn't over yet. If you want to pick up some new leads and finish the year strong, look no further than our lead generation suggestions below. We will lead the way...


1. Lock Away Your Premium Content

If you provide well-researched content on your website that is targeted at B2B audiences, don't just give that information away for free. Make people exchange their email information for access to your business content.

Getting a B2B representative's email address means that you have the opportunity to market to them for years to come which could prove to be lucrative for your company. What is better is that most people don't put stock into the value of their email address which means that they will willingly share it in order to see a case study, whitepaper, or another premium piece of content. To learn more about B2B Startup News strategies and industry trends, visit our marketing section on this blog.


2. Start Getting Published in 3rd Party Publications

Most business owners have a blog where they post valuable content for their customers. If you have already checked that box, great! In order to expand your reach, you are now going to want to start publishing on other businesses websites.

When people write blog content for another website or blog, it is called guest posting. While guest posting may not be mentioned as much as it was a decade ago, it is still an excellent way to get in front of a new audience and score backlinks to your website which can improve your Google rankings.


3. Advertise on Facebook

Google used to be all the rage when it came to digital advertising. While Google is still a good place to invest some of your advertising dollars, we have to say that our preference these days is to buy Facebook ads.

Facebook has richer data on its users than Google does which means that if you're targeting odd interests like movie preferences or political affiliations, you can. Also, we find Facebook's ad tools to be a lot easier to work than Google's, especially for beginners.


4. Optimize Your Landing Pages

All of the Facebook ads in the world aren't going to get you new leads if your landing pages are poorly done.

For the uninitiated, your landing page is where you send a prospective lead when they click on one of your ads. In theory, your landing pages should get your prospect hyped on a product or service that you're selling which will hopefully lead them to buying.

A great landing page is one that's concise, motivational and has clear call to actions that seamlessly guide your target towards an intended action. There are a number of great landing page optimization guides online that you can sift through to help streamline your page's performance.


5. Launch a Referral System

Word of mouth recommendations are incredibly powerful when it comes to bringing people into your business. The problem is that most of your customers are too busy to go around telling people about your company. In order to incentivize satisfied customers to spread the news about you, reward them through a structured referral program.

A good referral program is one where the person that refers somebody to you gets a reward for bringing a customer through your doors and your new customer also gets a reward for coming in. Rewards can be anything from discounts on services to gift cards.


6. Invest in Personal Marketing

Given the amount of digital clutter that's out there, many of the most successful marketers are transitioning towards personal marketing. Personal marketing is any means of marketing that is tailored to a specific customer.

For example, companies look at who their top customers are and regularly send them postcards thanking them for their business and offering them special coupons to make another purchase. When attracting new customers, you might modify that strategy and write hand-written letters to members in your community letting them know about what you are doing and asking them to support your goals.

Anything that makes a piece of marketing feel like it is intended for somebody and not for anybody can go a long way in grabbing people's attention.


7. Make Sure You Are SEO Optimized

It is the digital age of lead generation. Your online presence should be SEO optimized by now.

If you have no idea what we are talking about, read our guide on SEO to start getting on good terms with Google. With good SEO in your corner, you'll notice that the number of passive leads that pour into your website go up dramatically.


8. Add a Chatbot to Your Website

If a customer lands on your website outside of business hours and has a question, how can they get them answered? If your answer is for them to "wait until tomorrow morning", you're losing business.

Chatbots are digital assistants that can answer most customer's general questions 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. That additional support can go a long way in netting fringe leads that are looking to make an impulse buy but need a push.


9. Work With an Agency To Load Up On Leads

Getting new leads can be tricky business. If you're not well versed in today's tech-focused landscape, you may find yourself spending a lot of money to roll out a lead generation process that never picks up steam.

To make sure that the time and money you spend on getting leads actually lead to results, consider hiring a marketing agency to help you with your B2B and B2C marketing efforts.

While agencies will set you back a few bucks, the extra investment for guaranteed traction is worth the spend. 

10. Purchase Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising 

Pay-per-click advertising like Google Ads, Bing Ads, YouTube Ads, or Facebook Ads are about bidding on certain search or content keywords to drive relevant visitors to your website landing page. 

Once you figure out your target keywords and conversion rate, you can begin to create a lead generation and sales machine. You want to get to the point where you bid $5 on ads and earn $10-15+ in the end after lead conversion so your online ads are always profitable.


Get New Leads and Give Your Business New Life

Nothing reinvigorates a business quite like landing new leads! Use our tips to get your lead generating efforts cooking and feel free to check out more of the content right here on our blog if you would like additional business advice. 

Visit the Sales section of the Frugal Finance Blog to learn more about lead generation and sales strategies. Lead the way!

8 Important Invoicing Terms Businesses Must Know

Nobody gets very excited about invoices and bills, even if you are the one giving them out and expecting prompt payments. Invoicing can be tricky, especially if you are new to it. And nobody really enjoys invoices and billing even when they do fully understand it. There is some terminology to learn along with the stress of actually paying the invoice or ensuring it gets paid. 

But don’t worry, billing doesn't have to be a bore or an overly complicated matter for companies. Below we will share with you the 8 most important invoicing terms to help businesses understand the process much better. 

8 Important Invoice Terms Businesses Need To Know

1. TOS: Terms Of Sale 

As the name suggests, it is the terms used when customers make a sale or purchase anything. In the Terms of Sale, you must mention what is expected of the buyer when they are willing to buy. It must also define what is needed of you as a seller. 

Hence, the TOS must define your products or services, expected time of delivery, acceptable methods of payment, information on guarantees, warranties, and who is responsible for fees and taxes. 

2. Invoices Or Recurring Payments 

If you have frequent buyers, it is best to establish a recurring model of payment. Popular brands like Amazon, Netflix, and others do this often to earn consistent subscription payments. 

Recurring payments are important if you are not automatically subtracting payments from the bank account of customers or their credit or debit cards. Also, recurring payments can be set up bi-weekly, monthly or weekly. Such a set up helps you better assess monthly income consistently. 

3. Estimates and Quotes 

Most of the businesses are aware of such terms as quotes or estimates are sent regularly. However, make sure you don’t use quotes and estimates interchangeably. There is a difference between the two. 

Estimates reflect what service or product may cost. It is not the actual price. There is a possibility that estimate may differ from the actual price that a person gets. 

Alternatively, quotes are handy. They are detailed and outline items that a customer can avail. Quotes often define the exact amount of the product. 

4. 2/10 Net 30 

Might be you have a Net 30 payment plan with clients but you wish to encourage customers to pay before. 

In such a situation, you can establish a 2/10 Net 30 plan. Within the arrangement, you enable clients to pay the invoice earlier than 30 days to avail the discount. For example, if they make payments within 10 days, they can gain a 2& discount offer on the bill. 

Depending on your preference, you can establish different variations like 2/7 Net 20 and more. Include the same on the invoice as a reminder so they are encouraged more to avail the offer. 

5. Net 30 

This is another common and vital invoice term used commonly by bigger companies. The term states that the buyers are allowed to make payments against the invoice within 30 days. 

An important thing to note is that this setup is not feasible for every business. Hence, depending on your business set up, you may choose distinct arrangements like Net 15, Net 7, and more. It all depends on how long you can allow your customers to pay more. 

Make sure you pick a plan that works well for you as well as your clients. 

6. Payment On Receipt 

If you don’t want to offer your customers weeks or days to pay the invoice, you can create receipts, which demand payment instantly. It is a common practice for medium or small businesses and for freelancers. 

The term is useful for retail business where you need immediate payment before shipment of the product. Using this term lets you create a consistent flow of cash. Do mention the penalties if the arrangement is broken. 

7. Invoice Factoring 

It is difficult for invoices to be paid, especially when you depend on cash flow to maintain inventory. Hence, use invoice factoring to get instant money in your account. 

It occurs when you sell the unpaid receipts to third-party companies. They purchase your debt and let you maintain a steady flow of cash. 

8. Invoice Interest 

This invoice term is used when charging interest to the clients. The interest can be used to penalize clients that make late payments. It is important to let the buyers know in advance that they will experience a penalty charge for payments due after the date.

It is best to breakdown the interest fee you charge with each invoice. Also, you can establish interest rates on a monthly or weekly basis. 

The Bottom Line On Bills

It is vital to know about these invoicing terms, especially when you are managing or handling invoices. Hope this list is useful for the invoices you deal with! If still, you have any questions Contact us to avail a streamlined invoicing process for you as well as your clients.

How To Get More Sales

If everything was ideal in business, then you would have a limitless budget when it came to your marketing campaigns. That would make it much easier to get new customers and increase sales. However, that's not the case in the real world where you have a frugal budget. 

A lot of small businesses have to compete with massive companies that have a lot of money. This means that you need to become more creative down the line if you want to build a fraction of their audience. Since they have a lot more money, they can buy a lot of offline, as well as online advertising, and have promotions that are ongoing for the entire year. 

Many startups can't afford that because they don't have the resources to do it. That is why they put more brainpower into the mix and have fantastic ideas on how to sell their commodities better and then have more visitors. The main question that small businesses are asking is where to begin when it comes to looking for additional consumers. 

That skill is a talent, and you need to cultivate it. A couple of decades ago, sales teams used the phone book and dialed every number, hoping to get a customer. Now selling methods have advanced, and there are new approaches to smarter sales. 

You don't have to take on the persona of the sleazy salesperson to make profits. Instead, you can get email leads that give you access to specific types of people, and you can slowly integrate them with frequent offers. Another approach is improving your SEO rankings so you can increase website traffic for relevant keywords. 

That will bring more people organically because you will position yourself as an authority or an expert in your niche. Now, we are going to look at a couple of different steps you need to take before you become more effective in your sales endeavors. 

Know Who You Want To Reach 

Before you acquire new customers, you need to know why the current ones are using your services or products. Here is an interesting example. The founders of Instagram created an app before making it a multimillion-dollar giant. Their first application was called Burbn. 

The main premise of that application was to specify the location where you are at the moment, attach an image, and you can share it with your friends. You can visit https://www.clickfunnels.com/blog/sales-funnels/ for more info. They had more than half a million dollars to use for marketing campaigns, and the initial launch only brought in a few hundred users. 

Instead of hitting themselves on the head of why more people aren't using their app, they went to their users and asked them what is the main reason they've downloaded Burbn. The answer was that it was an easy way to share pictures with their friends, and they didn't care too much about the location setting. 

The answer sheds new light on the problem, and in the next eight weeks, they worked on Instagram. At that moment, the application amassed more than a million users in a month, which was more than they ever expected. That's one of the reasons why you need to pay a lot of attention to the market and see what kinds of gaps exist. 

This will give you a new point of entry where you can try to provide solutions. Getting more sales always comes down to listening to the requirements of your users instead of giving them something they didn't want. There are thousands of problems that need to be solved right now, and there are people willing to pay for the solutions. If you're the first one to provide quality answers, you'll be making lots of profits. 

How Can You Define A Market? 

You should know that markets are influenced by people. Look at what's trending at the moment and see the demographics of people that are paying attention. You can always find some influencers in the niche you're trying to dominate. 

This means that you are going to have to change up your sales tactics to keep up with the times. There are plenty of celebrities that are being outperformed by macro and micro-influencers. These are the types of people that have a loyal fan base that trusts them. Try to reach out to the end-user by choosing different routes. 

When someone new sees that you are an expert and an authority figure in your branch, they would be more willing to give you money and buy products. Every market is different, and they all care about different things. That's why you need to weigh in the features and the advantages. 

Before all, you need to provide value which is the thing that everyone cares about most. If your services don't offer a good solution to the problem of your customers, they're not going to have a positive opinion about your business. 

In the end, it all comes down to word of mouth. You're always going to trust your friends more than someone on TV or on the internet. That's why using a combination of evergreen strategies, and modern tools can work well when used properly. This can help you locate a new audience and enhance your revenue. 

What Can You Do To Generate More Leads And Sales? 

The first thing you can do is telemarketing. Instead of thinking of it as cold calling, you can think of it as calling on a whim. There's a reason why so many companies are utilizing call centers to get feedback and improve sales. 

Hearing the voice of another human being ensures more trust. Anyone can build a website and write some text. It takes dedication and perseverance to go for leads using a phone. A lot of people are cautious, but with enough motivation, you can make this a useful addition to your business. 

The next thing to work on for boosting sales is professional networking organizations and events. Community groups are great for meeting new people to generate fresh leads and close deals. 

The same thing is true about all types of gatherings, dinner parties, and groups. Meeting people in person is a crucial method when it comes to scaling and improving your sales process. Even though online platforms are trending, nothing can replace the first impressions and the facial expressions of your future customers. That's how you sell smarter!