We all know the sound of an ice cream van jingle – it’s a childhood memory that’s hard to forget. But have you ever wondered why exactly they play that tune? Many people might assume that it’s to attract children or let people know that the van is nearby. However, there’s a more strategic reason behind it. In this sales training article, we delve into the surprising reason behind this iconic jingle and what it can teach us about sales.
The real reason that ice cream vans play their familiar jingle is to sell more ice cream. It’s really that simple. The sound is recognisable and catchy, which makes people more likely to take notice of the van as it drives by. Additionally, by driving the same route and parking in specific places, the van has a routine and creates expectation among potential customers. Essentially, the ice cream van is using every tool at its disposal to make it easier for people to buy from them.
Get the word out
So, what can we learn from this approach? The key lesson is that it’s not enough to simply have a great product or service – you also need to make sure that people know about it and understand its value. This means focusing on marketing and sales efforts that help get the word out. It might mean using catchy taglines, offering promotions or partnering with other businesses to reach new audiences, or attending live events or keynotes to grow your networks and ultimately get your name out there.
This isn’t always easy. As salespeople, it can be frustrating when we feel like we’re doing all the right things but still not getting the results we want. However, it’s important to remember that building awareness and trust takes time. Just like an ice cream van needs to make regular appearances and offer consistent quality to keep customers coming back, we need to stay committed to our sales strategies even when we don’t see immediate results.
Build your reputation
One effective way to increase visibility and credibility is through networking and building relationships with potential clients or partners. By attending industry events, connecting with others on social media or email, and offering valuable insights or resources, we can start to build a reputation as a trusted expert in our field. This, in turn, can lead to new sales opportunities and referrals. This goes together with prospecting, as without it you would have very few potential clients to build relationships with in the first place.
Ultimately, the lesson of the ice cream van jingle is that getting noticed is key to making sales. Whether it’s through catchy marketing tactics or simply showing up (prospecting) regularly and consistently, it’s essential that people know who you are and what you offer. By leveraging the same sales training strategies that have made the ice cream van successful, we can help increase our own sales and build stronger relationships with customers.
In conclusion, the familiar jingle of the ice cream van is much more than just a catchy tune – it’s a carefully crafted tool for selling more products. By driving specific routes, parking in certain places and playing a recognisable sound, the van makes it easy for people to find and buy ice cream. As salespeople, we can learn from this approach. By focusing on marketing, networking, prospecting, building relationships, and staying committed to our strategies even when it feels like nothing is working, we can increase our own visibility and ultimately make more sales. So, the next time you hear the ice cream van jingle, remember the lessons it can teach us about being successful in sales.
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