A select few have conquered the realms of success of Billionaire entrepreneurs; they leave a trail of awe-inspiring achievements in their wake. Enter the league of extraordinary billionaire entrepreneurs: the unstoppable forces of Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson!

These trailblazing visionaries didn’t just rewrite industry rulebooks and amass unimaginable wealth, but they also mastered the art of sales.

In this SMarketing Lowdown, we’ll delve into the remarkable sales strategies employed by these iconic figures.

  • Elon Musk: Bold Vision and Category King

As the driving force behind Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk has an unparalleled ability to fuel our imagination.

Musk pushes the boundaries of what we believe is possible and goes into unchartered water to create a new market and become category king. His go-to-market strategies are unheard of; Tesla has no car showroom garage and doesn’t spend a dollar on advertising. He generates enormous free publicity by being the first to enter a market and from the personal brand he has built.

Musk’s secret weapon lies in his unwavering belief in a world transformed by innovation and sustainable solutions.

Top Tip: Sales isn’t just about selling a product—it’s about selling a vision! Find a market where you can be first and category king. Break the norms of go-to-market strategies.

  • Richard Branson: Magnetic personal brand and underserved markets

Sir Richard Branson is often considered the maverick entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group. Branson’s magnetic persona and powerful personal brand have played a pivotal role in his diverse ventures, ranging from music, airlines, and trains to space tourism.

Branson’s personal brand is characterised by his adventurous spirit, PR stunts, and innovative thinking. Branson is willingness to take risks and push boundaries.

However, don’t be fooled; there is more to Richards’s success than PR stunts; he strategically chose markets with a poor lacklustre customer experience and ripe for disruption. Virgin Group is often the underdog challenging the market leader.

Top Tip: We follow people more than brands, become a PR magnet and build your personal brand. Look for underserved markets ripe for disruption.

  • Jeff Bezos: Obsess Over Customer Experience

Who doesn’t love Amazon? Jeff Bezos, the man behind this powerhouse, owes much of his success to his relentless obsession with customer experience. Lightning-fast shipping, competitive prices, and a mind-boggling selection—Bezos makes customers feel like royalty!

Bezos has raised the bar in the industry, making it hard for others to compete with often same-day or 24-hour delivery. He knows that speed is a sales superpower!

The relentless pursuit of excellence is at the core of Bezos’s customer-centric approach. From when a customer places an order to when it arrives at their doorstep, every aspect of their journey is meticulously designed to exceed expectations.

Top Tip: Prioritise the customer experience; in a 24/7 instant world focus on speed and raise the bar to where others struggle to compete.

  • Bill Gates: Find the hidden value and put users first.

Bill Gates, the genius co-founder behind Microsoft, has an incredible superpower—spotting the hidden value and creating a user-first model.

Whilst IBM was focusing on the hardware (PC), Microsoft understood the real value was the software.

Bill also understood that success in sales begins with a deep understanding of your target market’s needs. Microsoft has a user-first policy that guides product development. Continuous improvement based on user feedback has been a secret weapon to sales success.

Top Tip: Look beyond the surface for the hidden opportunity and create a user first culture to inspire product development.

Let their stories ignite our entrepreneurial spirit and remind us that with determination, perseverance, and unwavering commitment, we, too, can leave our mark on the world.