When one survey asked women what they liked best about
man of their dreams, most replied "he makes me laugh." We don't often think of laughter as one of life's most important necessities, but it is.People of every age and culture love to laugh. Studies show laughter lowers your blood pressure and generally increases your life span.
You can bring home a lot more sales if you learn to make customers laugh. It sets customer at ease and immediately sets you up as someone who is fun to be with. You don't have to be Jerry Seinfeld to do it. Here's how:
1. Don't go for belly guffaw. Trying to put customer on floor in stitches can fall flat. Instead, go for much easier smile. A quick quip or witty observation can do trick. Once she smiles, you're half-way to a sale.
2. Make fun of yourself. Self-depricating humor lets folks know you are down to earth. It can also tell people you understand their situation. You've been there yourself.
For example, if you sell shoes, develop a quip about your big feet. Sell computers? Have a funny story on how hard it was for you to install your first printer.
3. Be very careful about who your humor makes fun of. Almost all jokes and one-liners are at expense of someone. You don't want to seem insensitive or accidentally insult a person or group your customer cares about.
Reconsider old favorite jokes before retelling them. A line that was hilarious in 1980s might be inappropriate today. A joke that worked fine in Oklahoma City could get you stared at in San Francisco.
