Let's say you've got your own business and things are starting to move. You've got some potential customers in the door with your advertising. You've piqued their interest with your competitive prices. Now you have to close the deal. What a lot of successful business people do to "seal the deal" is to not only sell their products and services, but also sell themselves to their clients.

Sometimes a great product might be a flop because of the person who is selling it. Other times, a poor product sells great because the salesperson is so convincing and personable. Either way, a product can only sell itself so much. You have to seal the deal yourself. Here are five ways that may help you sell yourself and reap the rewards:

Keep your ears open, your eyes on your customer and your mouth closed. It's funny that people who consider themselves good communicators are just good talkers. What you might not know is that listening is the most effective selling technique. When you listen, your client knows that you're interested in them and you're focusing on them. Listening makes the listened-to person feel good, and if you make somebody feel good, you're selling yourself. And make eye contact. One of the worst feelings for a customer is when they're talking to a salesperson and they're looking over their shoulder at another customer. You might as well tell them that they're not important when you do that. Next time you are in a meeting with a client or potential client, listen very carefully, keep your eyes on them (don't stare, but maintain eye contact) and ask at least one question, just to further convey your interest.

A little self-confidence goes a long way. Have complete confidence in your expertise -- but don't let it get too out of hand. There is a fine line between being confident and cocky. Answer any questions with quick, concise and informative answers. However, don't get too wrapped up in a boastful display. It will make the client feel inferior and that's bad for business. And never bad-mouth your competition. I recently met with a potential business partner who not only put down his competition, but also used profanity when doing so. Not very professional or impressive.

Think like you're part of a team. Don't consider yourself the leader with your employees and customers down the ladder. The team approach gets everyone involved, creates more useful ideas, and makes your client feel more involved in the process. Try to position yourself as a partner with your client so that you both benefit. While the customer is king, conveying the "we're in this together" impression makes them feel more at ease.

Don't hold back your expertise. Some businesspeople will hold back information. Big mistake. Open up to your client. When you share knowledge with people, it's amazing the amount of gratitude you get from them. If you have something you would prefer kept secret, make a light-hearted quip like, "That's a family tradition we keep under lock and key!"

Build business relationships wherever and whenever you can. Build relationships with everybody -- that means everybody at your client's site, your neighbors, your friends, your relatives and even your kids' teachers. Don't just concentrate on what you consider to be the business circle. It's amazing where a business opportunity might pop up!

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