During this economic rough ride these last few months, I feel that many businesses have forgotten what their primary responsibility is...sales. Whether you have a small business or a multi-million dollar business, when things get tough, sell more!

If you're one of those people who think they they're not a salesperson and don't like it, I have some bad news for you, you're in sales. I began my career in sales and to this day, it has provided for me very well. If I were in a situation where my finances were struggling, my first piece of business would be to sell more or find something to sell. Every business relies on selling and if you have a stigma about selling and talking to people about your product or services, try these helpful tidbits;

Dos:

• Develop a five foot rule. If someone is within five feet of me, I intend to talk to them. Strike up a conversation about what they're wearing, their dog, the weather or the type of detergent in their grocery cart.
• Learn a few anecdotal stories to break the ice. Once you have struck up a conversation, a nice story is great in keeping the attention of your prospect. Even better, if your story can circle around about what you do or a product you sell.
• Keep up with current events or sports. There is nothing worse than not being able to respond to a question regarding current events. It is generally accepted if you don't follow sports.
• Humor rules. People love to laugh and even more, they love people who make them laugh. Jokes are good, but keep them short, clean and non-biased. This comes with a qualifier; if you are not good at telling jokes, don't!
• Relax. Be yourself, don't force it. People want to know you, not who you think you should be. Besides, people can tell when you're faking it, so why try. Be unique and authentic, remember that your first encounter with a potential client is not when you sell; it's when they get to know you.