Today, I had my first dance class of the new year. I signed up for a two-week trial at a discounted price to test out the studio and see if I liked the vibe before committing to a full membership. It was an exciting opportunity to ease back into dancing and get a feel for the environment.

The class was everything I hoped for and more. Me and the other dancers were breaking a sweat, moving to the beat, and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. By the time we got to the solo group part of the class, we were absolutely killing it. It felt amazing to be back in a choreography setting, and I was soaking up every moment, mingling with the other dancers after class and savoring the experience.

But then, the mood shifted. Enter the sales pitch.

The director of the studio came in to congratulate us on a great first class, which felt nice at first. She then asked the new dancers to share their thoughts about the experience. Naturally, we all expressed how much we enjoyed it. But almost immediately, the conversation turned into a sales pitch.

She began urging us to sign up for a membership that day, offering a $10 discount if we committed right then and there. I was taken aback. Isn’t the whole purpose of a trial to give potential customers the time to evaluate whether the service fits their needs? Instead, I felt like I was being rushed into a decision I wasn’t ready to make.

Feeling uncomfortable, I tried to sidestep the conversation by mingling with another dancer I had just met. But as I was leaving the studio about five minutes later, the same director approached me again. She reiterated her pitch, insisting I sign up that day to take advantage of the discount. I explained that I needed more information about the membership packages, but she continued to press me, even pulling up details on her phone while insisting that I sign up immediately. At that point, I was beyond turned off.

This experience motivated me to write this blog post because it highlighted a key issue in business: being too pushy can do more harm than good.

Why Pushy Sales Tactics Don’t Work

This type of aggressive sales approach is one of the worst strategies a business can employ. Here’s why:

1. It Breeds Distrust
   The whole point of a trial is to give potential customers a no-pressure opportunity to experience your product or service. By trying to rush the decision-making process, you’re undermining the customer’s ability to build trust in your brand. For me, the studio’s pushy tactics damaged their credibility.

1. It Ignores the Customer’s Experience
   Customers need time to evaluate whether something is the right fit for them. When you don’t respect that process, you’re essentially saying you value the sale more than their satisfaction.

1. It Feels Manipulative
   People don’t like feeling coerced. The more you push, the more likely they are to pull away—even if they were initially interested.

What You Should Do Instead

To avoid alienating potential customers, consider these better practices:

• Let the Trial Run Its Course
  Allow customers to fully experience your product or service before presenting them with the next step. This gives them the chance to naturally fall in love with what you offer.

• Provide Clear Information
  If you’re going to pitch, make sure customers have all the details they need to make an informed decision. Rushing someone into a commitment without transparency is a surefire way to lose them.

• Focus on Building Relationships
  Instead of hard selling, take the time to connect with your customers. When people feel seen and heard, they’re more likely to want to support your business.

The Bottom Line

We as humans don’t like being sold to. If we like something, 9 times out of 10, we’ll support it because we genuinely want it. Having a thoughtful sales process and actively listening to your customers can make all the difference.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to make a sale—it’s to build trust and create lasting relationships with your customers. Don’t let pushy tactics ruin what could have been a loyal and enthusiastic customer base.

Xoxo,

The Girl Boss Recipe 💋