How to Sell Without Feeling Icky
Cozypreneur Episode 24
If the thought of selling makes you cringe, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle with sales, worried about being too pushy, feeling awkward, or simply not knowing how to talk about their offer without overwhelming their audience. But here’s the truth: sales don’t have to feel gross. In fact, selling can be natural, effective, and even enjoyable—when you do it in a way that aligns with you.
In this post, we’ll cover how to shift your mindset around sales, why sales and marketing go hand in hand, and how to make selling feel more like a conversation than a pitch.
Why Sales Feels Hard (and How to Make It Easier)
One of the biggest reasons sales feel uncomfortable is pressure—especially if you’re in a slow season or just starting out. When every conversation feels like it must lead to a sale, that stress seeps into your messaging and makes it harder to connect with your audience.
The best way to relieve that pressure? Give yourself some financial breathing room. Whether it’s a side hustle, savings, or part-time work, taking the weight off sales allows you to show up with confidence instead of desperation. For example, I started pet-sitting when I was growing my business, and it made all the difference. I no longer felt like I had to force sales—I could let them happen naturally.
When you remove that urgency, sales becomes an opportunity rather than a survival tactic. It’s about helping people, not convincing them.
Sales is Just Communication
Many people associate sales with high-pressure tactics, but at its core, selling is just about clearly communicating how you help people.
You don’t need a rigid sales script.
You don’t need to follow someone else’s sales process.
You don’t have to force yourself into uncomfortable strategies.
Instead, find an approach that feels good to you. If you prefer deep conversations, you might enjoy sales calls. If you love casual chats, DM sales might be a better fit. If you thrive in content creation, your marketing can do the heavy lifting.
When you stop thinking of sales as selling and instead focus on helping your audience find the right solution, the process feels a lot more natural.
How Sales and Marketing Work Together
Think of marketing as the conversation starter and sales as the invitation. Your marketing helps people see their challenges, imagine what’s possible, and recognize that change is available to them. Your sales process guides them to the next step.
A big mistake entrepreneurs make is either:
Not talking about their offer enough. If you’re posting great content but never mentioning your services, people won’t know how to work with you.
Talking about their offer with no context. Simply listing your services without explaining the transformation they provide won’t resonate.
Instead, tie your offer into your audience’s journey:
Validate their experience—acknowledge the problem they’re facing.
Highlight why now is the right time to take action.
Show them what’s possible when they solve that problem.
Present your offer as the bridge to get them there.
When you position your offer as a solution rather than a sales pitch, people feel more naturally drawn to it.
Building Relationships Leads to Long-Term Sales
Not everyone will buy immediately, and that’s okay. In fact, the online space is shifting, and people are taking longer to make purchasing decisions. Instead of chasing quick wins, focus on staying top of mind and nurturing relationships over time.
Show up consistently (but in a way that feels sustainable for you).
Prioritize an amazing client experience—happy clients lead to more referrals.
Consider long-term contracts to create stability in your business.
When you build genuine relationships and trust with your audience, sales become a natural next step rather than a hard sell.
The Power of Following Up
Following up isn’t annoying—it’s helpful. People are busy, and sometimes they genuinely forget to respond. A simple check-in can be the reminder they need.
And if they don’t respond? That’s okay too. A “no” doesn’t mean “never.” Keep showing up, keep building the relationship, and when the time is right, they’ll know where to find you.
Selling Doesn’t Have to Feel Gross
At the end of the day, sales is about connection. It’s about helping the right people find the right solution.
So, if you’ve been hesitating to talk about your offer, take this as your sign to start. The more conversations you have, the easier it gets.
And if this resonated with you, I’d love to hear about it! DM me on Instagram with your thoughts or let me know what sales questions you still have. 😊
Connect with Stacy:
Instagram: @stacybragacopy
Credits:
Podcast edit by: Chelsea Koenigsknecht of KC Virtual, Instagram: @KC_Virtual
Music by: teodholina, teodholina - Pixabay
