Looking to increase forklift sales? You’ve come to the right place!
As a forklift dealer, you play a crucial role in various industries by supplying essential equipment. Unfortunately, even so, reaching potential forklift buyers remains challenging. We understand this can be frustrating, which is why we’ve created this blog—to offer you valuable insights and tips on how to increase forklift sales and grow your business.
Forklift Sales: Current Economic Overview
Before we get into how to increase forklift sales, let’s first take a look at the current state of the material handling industry.
The US economy is experiencing varied growth driven by different consumer demographics and market segments. Take a look at a summary of key trends and forecasts within the material handling landscape. (Source: MHEDA)
- Consumer Spending: Higher-income consumers are spending a lot, helping to keep the economy going strong. This is good news for forklift dealers, as demand from bigger companies remains steady.
- Economic Growth: The overall US economy might slow down a bit in 2024. Retail and service sectors will grow slowly, but government spending will help the economy stay afloat.
- Business Investments: Many businesses are hesitant to spend on new equipment due to high borrowing costs. Forklift dealers might see fewer new orders as companies hold back on big purchases.
By understanding these trends and preparing accordingly, forklift dealers can better navigate shifting dynamics.
Related: 8 Tips for Selling in Tough Times
Understand Your Target Market
With the current state of the industry in mind, it’s clear that if you want to make more sales, you need to understand your target market. Knowing WHO your customers are and WHAT they need is crucial for closing sales. Forklift buyers typically include warehouse managers, construction site supervisors, and logistics companies. Don’t just lump all of these decision-makers together, understand each of their pain points and tailor your sales strategies to meet their specific needs.
- Warehouse Managers: These professionals prioritize efficiency and reliability. They need forklifts that can handle heavy loads, navigate tight spaces, and operate smoothly for extended periods. Emphasize the durability and efficiency of your forklifts, and highlight any features that reduce downtime and maintenance costs.
- Construction Site Supervisors: For these buyers, ruggedness and versatility are key. They require forklifts that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions and perform various tasks. Showcase the robust construction and adaptability of your forklifts, and provide examples of how they perform in challenging environments.
- Logistics Companies: Speed and precision are vital for logistics firms. They need forklifts that can quickly move goods with minimal errors. Focus on the speed, accuracy, and advanced technology of your forklifts, such as automated systems and user-friendly designs that improve operator efficiency.
Understanding your target market and tailoring your sales strategies can help you close more deals and build lasting customer relationships.
Related: Top 5 Tips to Reach B2B Decision Makers
Top 8 Tips to Increase Forklift Sales
Now, let’s get into what you really want to know—how to increase forklift sales. Here are 8 practical tips you can implement today to boost your sales and grow your forklift business.
1. Leverage PPC Campaigns
So, what does leveraging PPC campaigns mean exactly for forklift dealers? And how can it increase forklift sales? Good question. Well, to increase forklift sales, you should invest in online advertising through Google Ads and social media to reach a wider audience. PPC is a type of online advertising method where advertisers pay a fee each time one of their ads is clicked. Using this digital marketing tool, you can tap into a pool of leads effectively and efficiently.
Consider these Compelling Stats:
- 47% of the total global purchases are completed online.
- In a survey, 51% of shoppers said they used Google before making a purchase online.
- PPC has an average of 200% return on investment (ROI)
- 76% of social media users have bought something they saw on their feed.
Best PPC Platforms:
- Google Ads
- Bing Ads
- Facebook Ads
- LinkedIn Ads
By investing in PPC campaigns, you can drive targeted traffic to your website and increase your chances of converting visitors into customers.
2. Make Use of Content Marketing
If you want to increase your forklift sales, you’ll need to implement strong content marketing. Content marketing is all about creating high-quality content assets related to your business or industry and distributing them via your website, blogs, newsletters, videos, graphics, and more.
Produce informative and engaging content that showcases your expertise. For example, how-to guides can help educate your audience and build trust in your brand. Remember, the goal of content marketing is to give your forklift buyers helpful information that can help educate them to make an informed decision (hopefully on your product/service).
Content Marketing Stats:
- According to 74% of companies, content marketing increases lead generation
- Articles with at least one video received 70% more traffic than articles without.
- 61% of companies that succeed at content marketing conduct at least two content audits each year
3. Utilize Social Media
Your buyers are on social media. Your buyers are on social media. Did we mention, that your buyers are on social media? Yes, one of the best ways to increase forklift sales is via social media.
Did you know that on average, Americans spend about 5 hours and 24 minutes on their phone…EVERY DAY? While this isn’t too shocking given that you may be reading this article on your phone, it’s a good reminder that your buyers are also constantly on their mobile devices. Thus, leveraging social media can significantly enhance your chances of reaching them. Engage with your audience on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and more. Share industry news, success stories, and promotions to keep your followers interested and informed.
The best advice we can give you is to use social media to your benefit to build deeper relationships with prospects and build brand recognition. Regular interaction with your audience helps build a community around your brand and can lead to increased customer loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.
Social Media Stats:
- 77% of businesses use social media to reach customers
- Facebook is used by 75% of sales reps to find leads, followed by Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube.
- B2B buyers use social media for research before making purchases 40% of the time.
4. Optimize Your Website (SEO)
Ensuring your website is search engine optimized (SEO) is crucial for driving organic traffic and increasing forklift sales. Here’s how you can optimize your website:
- Keyword Research: Identify and use relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for, such as “forklift sales,” “buy forklifts,” and “forklift dealers.”
- On-Page SEO: Optimize your website’s content, including titles, meta descriptions, headers, and images, with targeted keywords.
- Technical SEO: Improve your website’s loading speed, mobile-friendliness, and security.
- Content Creation: Regularly update your website with fresh, high-quality content that incorporates targeted keywords. Blog posts, articles, and guides can help attract and retain visitors.
- Backlinks: Build a strong backlink profile by getting links from reputable websites in the industry. Quality backlinks can improve your website’s authority and search engine rankings.
By optimizing your website for search engines, you can improve its search engine ranking, attract more organic traffic, and increase your chances of converting visitors into customers.
5. Attend Industry Events and Trade Shows
A great way to increase forklift sales is by attending forklift events and trade shows. Whether exhibiting or attending, you’ll be surrounded by people in your industry. While there you can gain valuable insights and connect with prospects. We advise to always have a pitch ready, and trade show postcard assets handy.
Material Handling Trade Shows:
- MHEDA
- Modex
Related: Trade Show Tips: How to Network Like a Pro
6. Leverage Customer Testimonials
Want to know a secret? Customer testimonials are highly valued by potential customers. If they can search up a company and read nothing but rave reviews, they’re as good as sold.
If you’re looking to increase forklift sales, start by leveraging testimonials from current or past satisfied customers to build credibility and trust. Real-life success stories can influence potential buyers and demonstrate the value of your forklift service.
In addition, don’t let your testimonials just sit on Google or in email campaigns, display testimonials on your website, social media, and marketing materials. Make it known that you are a business people trust.
7. Enhance Email Marketing Campaigns
Email marketing is a top choice in the digital marketing world for increasing sales. Developing a targeted email campaign can keep your audience informed on new forklift products, promotions, and industry news.
If you want to increase forklift sales, don’t just send out generic emails. Create personalized emails to help nurture leads and convert them into sales. By segmenting your email list, you can deliver relevant content to specific groups of customers. Increasing engagement and response rates.
Email Marketing Stats:
- Email is used every day by 88% of the population.
- Compared to unsegmented emails, segmented emails drive 30% more opens and 50% more clickthroughs.
- A whopping 87% of brands believe that email marketing is very important to their business success.
Related: How to Write a Follow-Up Sales Email that Closes the Deal
8. Use a Digital Marketplace
A digital marketplace is a great resource for dealers looking to increase forklift sales. But what exactly is a digital marketplace? A digital marketplace is an online platform where buyers can go to get quotes for products or services. Think of it as an online matchmaking service specifically for forklifts and other heavy equipment.
Here’s how it works: Buyers visit the digital marketplace to specify what kind of forklift they’re looking for. The platform then connects the buyer with the best forklift dealer that matches their needs. This not only simplifies the buying process for the customer but also provides more exposure for forklift dealers.
Digital marketplaces offer a centralized location for buyers and sellers to connect. Here are some benefits of using a digital marketplace:
- Increased Visibility
- Ease of Use
- Credibility and Trust
- Cost-Effective
- Qualified Leads
By joining a digital marketplace, you can expand your reach, attract more potential customers, and ultimately increase your forklift sales.
Final Thoughts on How to Increase Forklift Sales
Increasing forklift sales requires a strategic approach that combines taking into account the current economic state of the industry, understanding your target audience, and implementing various digital marketing solutions. By implementing the practical tips we’ve shared, you can position your business for success. Remember, the key is to stay flexible and continuously refine your strategies to meet the evolving needs of your customers.
Increase Forklift Sales with 360Connect
Ready to take your forklift sales to the next level? 360Connect can help! With our expertise in connecting suppliers with high-quality buyers, we provide the tools and resources you need to reach forklift buyers effectively.
Get started with 360Connect today and see the difference we can make for your forklift sales.