All Good Business People Must Sell

 One thing I read frequently on the message boards that I visit for work at home moms, or for moms who want to start a business, is this: I want to own my own company but I don't want to be involved with sales. What would you suggest? 

My response: Don't get into business!

Whether you want to own your own company or work from someone at home, chances are you must sell.

I have a service oriented business. I sell a service to other companies: Websites, copywriting, graphic design. Seems like I wouldn't need to sell. I mean, I don't stock products. I don't cold call.

And yet the majority of my day is spent doing just that: Selling.

In order to gain new clients, particularly in the beginning of a business, you must sell yourself. You have to show people what you can do and why they should choose you, especially if your portfolio is not large.

As I've gained more work and been able to diversify my jobs so that I can showcase sites built in a  variety of ways (artistic, conservative, ecommerce, etc) I'm no longer needing to do 'hard' selling. Yet I still have to get out there, meet people, tell them what I do and why I can do it better than anyone else they may be speaking to.

A good business person knows how to sell what they do and who they are.

If you want to get into business for yourself and you are uncomfortable with the sales aspect, take a class, join a networking group, or do something else that will get you out there connecting with potential clients. And while being online is a help with this, you have to learn to do this in person as well.