How to Sell NFTs, VR Real-Estate, AI Tools, and Other Emerging Tech Solutions, According to Tech Sales Pros

Work better. Faster. With more accuracy.

It's a goal many companies have. And new technology, like AI and VR, aims to do just that.

Selling emerging tech is an exciting venture — but not an easy one. In many cases, people don't fully understand these tools, their capabilities, or how they work.

To sell effectively, you need a mix of patience, persistence, and a solid strategy. Here, we'll dive into 11 tips for selling AI tools, NFTs, and VR real-estate.

How to Sell Emerging Technology

Tips for Selling AI

AI is a relatively new, exciting industry. But its "newness" is also its greatest weakness. People are skeptical. Your average seller doesn't completely understand AI, or what it can do for them. Maybe they take the movie Blade Runner to heart.

In any case, selling AI has its unique challenges. Here are a few tips to ease uncertainty and tailor your approach.

1. Focus on the customer, not the technology.

All too often, salespeople focus on selling the bells and whistles of a product instead of the problems it can solve. It's like selling a book based on its dimensions instead of the story inside.

The same is true for AI. Having product expertise is great — but how well do you know your customers and their needs? Are you able to articulate the value you can add?

If you uncover their primary concerns, you can show them just enough of your product to solve those problems without going overboard with irrelevant details.

2. Provide evidence.

To put it plainly, people are unsure about AI — unsure of what it is, what it can do, and how it works. As with any emerging technology, this type of reaction is normal.

To ease minds, you need to provide clear and persuasive evidence about its positive benefits. Do you have any case studies to share? Or convincing research? Even if people are open to AI, they still need compelling (and practical) reasons for it to play a greater role in their business.

3. Tailor your approach.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to selling AI. What works for one company may not work for another. Rarely, if ever, will you find two companies with the same goals, pain points, and challenges.

Even though you’re selling the same product, your messaging should be specific to each buyer. Figuring out who your ideal customer is is a great place to start. This may seem obvious, but it can be a difficult question to answer as you dig deeper.

For example, you don't want something too broad, like "I target the healthcare sector." Instead, you could say, "I target healthcare companies that need technology to detect tumors faster than they can."

4. Avoid AI jargon.

Buyers want to do business with someone human — not someone who sounds like a talking brochure. This means cutting out the confusing jargon and meeting people at their knowledge level.

Keep this in mind before sending an email or pitching to a lead. In some cases, using industry-specific jargon — like backpropagation and hidden layers — can prove your expertise. But with others, getting too technical can leave them stumped.

Tips for Selling NFTs

NFT sales exceeded $17 billion in 2021. It's become a digital gold rush, and for good reason. Making money with NFTs is relatively simple — but not easy.

Ultimately, there are many ways to sell your art and collectibles. However, your success depends on how well you market them. Here are a few tips to do just that:

1. Leverage social promotion.

When it comes to selling NFTs, outreach is the name of the game. In other words, to succeed in this community, you need to actively engage with it. Many sellers use Twitter, Reddit, and Discord as vehicles to share their work, give and receive feedback, and get the ball rolling. In the process, you build social proof and open the door to connecting with the right people.

2. Don't underestimate utility.

NFTs are essentially an investment — and just like any other investment, holders want benefits. It's why almost all the top NFT collectibles come with membership perks. For example, Bored Apes Yacht Club (BAYC), a collection of NFTs, offers members access to the "Bathroom" — a collaborative graffiti board where buyers can paint anything.

While your artwork may stand on its own, don't underestimate the power of utility and its ability to add more value.

3. Tell your story.

Generating interest in your art is important — especially in the weeks leading up to an auction. One way to do this is by providing a back story. What's your creative process? What inspires you? How does your work come together?

Consider sharing time-lapses, fragments of your work, or behind-the-scenes content to generate buzz. While self-promotion may feel uncomfortable, it's an essential part of marketing yourself in this space.

4. Use hashtags wisely.

Millions of conversations happen on social media every day. To join the right ones, you need to leverage hashtags. This increases your chances of being seen by collectors and other artists.

According to Domestika, the top six most popular hashtags are #nft, #nftart, #nftartist, #nfts, #nftcollector, and #nftcommunity. It's helpful to add hashtags to your profile description — as well as the content you share on Twitter and Instagram.

Tips for Selling VR Real Estate

According to a study by Goldman-Sachs, an estimated 1.4 million realtors will be using VR technology by 2025. And, companies like Zillow and Compass have already adopted this technology —allowing buyers to "tour" properties without physically being there.

If you're considering VR for real estate, check out the following tips:

1. Get the right equipment.

Getting the right equipment is essential for a positive VR experience. When it comes to buying a VR viewer, you have many options on the market today, ranging from $20 to over $1,000. But perhaps the cheapest VR viewer is the one you already have — your smartphone. Just make sure you have enough storage for videos.

In addition, you'll also need a portable camera stand and the right program to upload and edit the footage. The right program should be able to handle high-res content and large media file sizes.

2. Choose the best navigation type.

Your VR tour should be intuitive and easy to navigate. Today, there are two popular types of navigation:

• Floor plan navigation: Viewers see a floor plan and can click on different rooms on the property. This is a great way for viewers to get a feel for the property's layout. However, it's not as immersive as other options.
• Visual navigation: This option allows viewers to click throughout a home incrementally. Google Street is an infamous example of this navigation type. While the first-person view is immersive, it requires the user to click more to get from one room to another.

The type of navigation you choose can impact the technology and software you need to buy, and how you go about filming the tour.

3. Prioritize quality over everything.

The goal is for potential homebuyers to feel like they're "walking" through a property without actually being there. But if their VR experience is low-quality — or you forget to film certain rooms or small nooks — they won't get a complete or accurate view of the property.

In order to effectively use virtual reality, you need to get the right equipment, record thorough tours (including the interior and exterior), and produce crisp, high-res footage.

If all that sounds overwhelming, you could also hire a third-party company specializing in VR tours. Make sure to check their portfolio and references to get a feel for their work.

Back To You

There's a lot of hype around emerging tech — but that doesn't mean it's an easy sell. Use these tips to sharpen your pitch, connect with the right people, and upgrade your selling strategy.