What is selling?

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What is selling?

Selling is an act in completion of a commercial activity. Selling is the way that you help customers to buy products and services from your business. You need to be able to meet the needs of your customers and provide value for money solutions.
The selling process makes up part of the overall marketing process. The selling process involves creating a relationship with customers, identifying the customer's needs and wants, providing possible solutions that meet their needs and wants and closing the sale. It may also involve ongoing management of the buyer and seller relationship.
In most cases, the purpose of operating a business is to generate a profit. Businesses make a profit by developing, manufacturing and delivering products and services to consumers. Selling is the process of helping customers to buy the products and services that you offer at a price that generates a profitable return for your business.
There are a number of common selling techniques that businesses can utilise to meet the needs of their customers, including:

• Direct selling - salespeople deal directly with customers face to face.
• Retail selling - products are offered through a shop that customers can visit.
• Agency selling - an agent sells products and services on behalf of the supplier.
• Telesales - products and services are sold directly on the telephone without face to face contact.
• Door to door selling - salespeople visit potential customers in their homes and sell to them directly.
• Business to business selling - businesses sell directly to other businesses.
• Business to government selling - businesses develop solutions and sell to government agencies and departments.
• Mail order selling - customers buy directly from a catalogue without seeing the product firsthand.
• Online Selling - products and services are sold directly on the internet.

The success of your small business is dependent on your ability to meet the needs of your customers and sell your products and services in a way that is sustainable. Effective selling can make a significant improvement to the profitability of your business in both the short and long term.