Teaching students how to foster relationships with customers is critical for mastering the art of sales. Ask each student to create a brand and to list the types of products that they will be promoting. Tell them to write three letters. One letter will introduce the company and its new products to potential customers. The second letter will target current customers, stating how important they are and thanking them for their business. The third letter will be an email or e-card, inviting customers to attend an exclusive VIP sale.
Ask each student to write a phone script to be used in promoting a brand that the student also creates. Have students memorize their scripts, then act out the calls with other students playing the role of customers. Student customers can act polite at first, allowing the student sales agents time to warm up. The mock customers can transition into being rude or difficult, asking tough questions or being indifferent. The students who can demonstrate the ability to handle the toughest customers in a professional manner -- and still make the most sales -- will earn the highest grades. Emphasize the importance of being ethical, genuine, having integrity, being passionate about your brand and especially being familiar with the product. Emphasize to students that it is vital to build and maintain trust with customers; trust not only drives sales, it keeps customers happy, loyal and increases referrals.
Ask your students to create a hypothetical product and to design an original ad campaign with a vision that will effectively boost sales. The advertisements will be launched through various social networks and technology, such as Facebook, Twitter and text messages. Ask the students to critique each others' ads, then vote for their favorites. The ads with the most votes get the highest grades. Have the students discuss why marketing strategies employing social media and technology might be more effective than traditional methods.
Analyzing the most successful advertisement techniques helps students understand the most effective ways to boost sales. Present the students with award-winning advertising campaigns and discuss why were effective. Ask each student to create a presentation that displays the leading print advertisements that were successful in promoting sales and to list the top reasons why consumers purchase products. Ask the students to vote for their favorite ads and student presentations and to explain why each advertisement was a golden marketing strategy.