Struggling to Make Sales? Practical Sales Strategies for Small Businesses
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Struggling to Make Sales? You’re Not Alone.
If you’re a small business owner and sales feel slow right now, I want you to hear this first — especially if you’re part of our Boujee Okie VIP community:
You’re not failing.
You’re not doing it “wrong.”
And you are absolutely not alone.
I work with small businesses every single day, and many of them are right here with us. I hear the same concerns over and over:
“I’m stocked up, but nothing is moving.”
“I feel stuck.”
“I don’t know what to try next.”
So instead of vague advice like “just post more,” this series is about practical, realistic sales strategies — shared from one small-business owner to another.
No pressure. No hype. Just help.
1. Stop Selling the Product — Sell the Use
Most people don’t wake up wanting a product.
They wake up wanting a solution.
This is something we talk about often in the VIP group, and it’s one of the biggest mindset shifts that helps.
Instead of only listing what something is, show:
- how it’s used
- who it’s perfect for
- when someone would actually need it
For example, instead of just posting a product photo, think more like:
“Need a $10 gift that doesn’t feel cheap? 👀
These work on cups, mirrors, notebooks, car consoles…”
👉 One product = multiple uses = multiple reasons to buy.
Sometimes sales don’t stall because the product is wrong — they stall because customers can’t immediately picture how it fits into their life.
2. Price for Impulse (Yes), Not Perfection
A lot of small businesses — especially those who care deeply about what they sell — price based on emotion, comparison, or fear of “getting it wrong.”
Impulse-friendly pricing often looks like:
affordable add-ons
simple bundles
“grab one more” pricing
Common sweet spots include:
- $8–$12 items that are easy add-to-cart
- bundles like 3 for $20 or 5 for $30
- “add one more for $5” offers
This isn’t about racing to the bottom or undercutting yourself.
It’s about making it easier for someone to say yes without overthinking it.
💡 People love bundles because it feels like a win — especially right now.
3. Create Urgency (Even If You Can Make More)
If everything is always available, customers feel no rush to buy — and that’s not a failure on your part.
Constant availability quietly kills urgency, and this catches a lot of small businesses off guard.
Try:
- limited drops
- small restocks
- time-based availability
- Simple examples:
“48-hour restock”
“Only 20 available”
“Once they’re gone, they’re gone till next month”
Even if you could make more… you don’t need to say that 😉
Urgency gives people permission to decide now instead of “someday.”
Urgency creates action — and action creates sales.
4. Show Your Product in Real Life (On Something)
Perfect mockups don’t always stop the scroll the way they used to.
Customers connect more with:
- products in use
- everyday settings
- real lighting and real spaces
Examples:
- a cup in a car cupholder
- a mirror decal on a bathroom mirror
- a cup sitting on a messy kitchen counter
Real life sells — messy counters included.
📸 If buyers don’t see it in use, they have to imagine it… and most won’t take that extra step.
5. Borrow Trust Until You Build It
You don’t need hundreds of sales to look legitimate.
You can build trust by sharing:
- customer messages
- reposted customer photos
- order packing photos
- small wins
If you’ve ever wondered whether small wins “count,” they do. Every business starts somewhere, and confidence builds one step at a time.
Even a caption like:
“Only a few orders going out today, but I’m so thankful 🫶”
…goes a long way.
Small still sells. Progress still counts.
6. Make Buying Easy
If someone has to ask how to order, you’re probably losing sales — even when interest is there.
Make sure:
- links are easy to find
- instructions are clear
- calls-to-action are obvious
This isn’t about selling harder.
It’s about removing obstacles.
7. Talk to ONE Person, Not Everyone
A lot of posts fall flat because they’re trying to speak to everyone.
Instead, pick one:
- moms
- teachers
- teens
- coworkers
- gift buyers
Then post like you’re talking directly to them:
“Teacher friends — this fits perfectly on your morning coffee cup ☕️”
Specific always connects better than broad.
8. Daily Engagement > Daily Posting
Sales don’t come from posting constantly — they come from visibility.
A simple daily rhythm:
- comment on 5 posts
- reply to all comments
- share one thing to stories
🧠 The algorithm rewards conversation, not perfection.
Final Thoughts
Slow sales don’t mean your business isn’t working.
They mean it’s time to adjust — not quit.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or discouraged, know this: you’re not behind, and you’re not alone.
This blog series exists to support you, encourage you, and give you tools you can actually use — especially during the tough seasons.
We’re in this together. 💛