Winning Internal Support for Virtual Experiences as Part of Your Sales Strategy
Incorporating virtual experiences into your sales funnels and processes can open up a world of opportunities, but getting the green light to use them from bosses and higher-ups may seem like a challenging task.
In this blog post, we will explore strategies to internally sell the idea of using virtual tasting experiences to improve sales and foster a prosperous future for your business.
In today's fast-paced digital world, businesses are constantly exploring innovative ways to engage their audiences and elevate their sales strategies. One exciting new tool that has emerged as an avenue for doing so is virtual tasting experiences.
Such experiences, like virtual wine tastings, cocktail courses, and beer and spirits tastings, provide a unique and immersive way for prospects to interact with sales professionals, improving engagement and helping imprint your brand on those prospects’ minds.
Getting the Green Light: How To Sell the Idea of Using Virtual Experiences To Higher-Ups
Highlight the Power of Immersive Marketing
Traditional marketing strategies often involve one-way communication where brands talk at potential customers, rather than with them.
In contrast, virtual tasting experiences offer an immersive approach that actively involves prospects in conversations, whether they be part of webinars, product demos, or any other type of online event, making it easier to get more meetings with prospects down the road.
By creating a sensory experience, these virtual tastings allow participants to feel more connected to the product and the brand providing them, leading to increased engagement and emotional resonance.
In order to sell the idea of incorporating virtual experiences like tastings and other hands-on experiences to higher-ups, focus on demonstrating how similar types of immersive experiences have already proven successful for other businesses.
Emphasize the positive impact on brand loyalty and customer retention achieved through immersive marketing, as well as the potential for increased sales.
If possible, share case studies or success stories related to immersive marketing to help make your case for incorporating virtual experiences into sales processes.
Showcase Cost-Effectiveness
Traditional in-person events and tastings can be costly affairs, requiring substantial investments in venues, logistics, and staff. On the other hand, virtual tasting experiences eliminate many of these expenses, making them an attractive and cost-effective alternative.
Prepare a detailed cost comparison between traditional and virtual tasting events, showcasing the savings potential. Highlight the ability to reach a broader audience without geographical limitations, which can result in higher returns on investment.
Additionally, stress how incorporating virtual experiences into virtual events like webinars and demos can even lead to higher event registration, making them more cost-effective overall.
Address Adaptability
The pandemic brought about significant disruptions to conventional sales and marketing practices, leading to an increased reliance on virtual solutions. While the world is gradually recovering, it's essential to acknowledge the need for adaptable strategies.
Discuss the resiliency of virtual tasting experiences during the pandemic and how they provided a viable means for businesses to continue engaging with customers.
Emphasize the importance of future-proofing the company’s sales strategies by integrating virtual experiences into the sales funnel, catering to both current and potential future scenarios, such as another pandemic.
Mention Measurability
One of the advantages of virtual tasting experiences is that it’s easy to measure their success and effectiveness when it comes to improving sales.
From measuring consumer preferences and engagement levels to buying behavior patterns, virtual experiences offer insights that can be invaluable for refining marketing strategies and understanding customer preferences.
When pitching virtual experiences to your bosses, highlight how data analytics from virtual experiences can contribute to more informed decision-making and optimized sales approaches.
Organize Internal Virtual Tasting Events
A picture’s worth a thousand words, and the best way to demonstrate the potential of virtual tasting experiences is by organizing internal events for your bosses and higher-ups to see how they work in person.
Invite stakeholders to participate in virtual wine tastings, cocktail courses, or beer and spirits tastings (or things like virtual coffee tastings and mocktail courses for the non-drinkers).
Ensure these events are professionally conducted and well-prepared. Treat the tasting experiences as you would if they were external sales events and provide the attendees with comprehensive information about the benefits of virtual experiences.
Encourage feedback and facilitate discussions to gauge your higher-ups’ reactions and address any concerns or hesitations they may have.
Showcase the Competition
In the competitive business landscape, staying ahead of the competition is crucial, and chances are your higher-ups aren’t going to want to miss out on incorporating virtual experiences into sales processes if your competition is already doing it.
So, research and compile a list of key competitors who have already embraced virtual tasting experiences in their sales funnels. Identify their recent successes and highlight the potential consequences of falling behind in this aspect.
Presenting a comparative analysis can create a sense of urgency, motivating decision-makers to explore and adopt virtual tasting experiences to maintain their market position and stay relevant to consumers.
Conclusion
Incorporating virtual tasting experiences into your sales funnels and processes can be a game-changer for your business — you know it, and now all that’s left is to get all the stakeholders on board.
By stressing the benefits of immersive marketing, the cost-effectiveness, the adaptability, and the measurability of virtual experiences, as well as demonstrating how they work in real life through internal events, you can effectively sell this idea to your bosses and higher-ups.
Remember to showcase any competitors that are already using virtual experiences as part of their sales strategies to drive home the importance of staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Obtaining internal support for virtual tasting experiences will pave the way for increased customer engagement, brand loyalty, and improved sales, positioning your business for sustained growth and success in the modern age of digital-first customer experiences.