make sales

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make sales" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts related to business, marketing, or sales activities. For example, "Our goal this quarter is to make sales increase by 20%." Alternative expressions include "generate sales," "drive sales," and "achieve sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They don't make sales".

The New York Times

You might even make sales calls.

The New York Times

What he does is make sales calls.

The New Yorker

Work with organizations that farmers already trust to make sales.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They heard me on the phone, begging to make sales".

The New York Times

How did you make sales grow that quickly?

Harvard Business Review

I will then make sales but each of those sales I'm making a loss on.

Yale University

I even found it difficult to find time to make sales calls.

The New York Times

Bank officials acknowledge that their ability to give out mortgages does help them make sales.

The New York Times

Sony's 4,100 "Lifeplanners" would visit homes and offices to offer advice and make sales.

The New York Times

The booms and busts of the semiconductor business make sales and profits highly cyclical.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sales efforts, use "make sales" in conjunction with specific strategies or actions. For example: "To make sales, focus on building strong customer relationships."

Common error

Avoid solely focusing on the number of sales without considering profitability and customer satisfaction. Sustainable growth requires balancing volume with value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make sales" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of generating revenue through transactions. Ludwig confirms that it's a common and grammatically sound expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make sales" is a very common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of generating revenue through transactions. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and business. To enhance communication, consider using alternatives like ""generate revenue"" or ""drive sales"". When using the phrase, focus on describing specific strategies or actions to achieve sales goals while balancing sales volume with customer satisfaction. Avoid the common mistake of overemphasizing quantity over quality, as sustainable growth depends on both aspects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generate revenue

Focuses on the outcome of selling, which is revenue generation.

drive sales

Emphasizes the effort and action taken to increase sales.

boost sales

Highlights an increase or improvement in sales performance.

increase revenue

Focuses on growing the financial intake.

close deals

Highlights the finalization of sales agreements.

secure purchases

Emphasizes the act of obtaining or guaranteeing sales transactions.

acquire customers

Focuses on gaining new clients who will generate sales.

convert leads

Describes turning potential customers into actual buyers.

finalise transactions

Stresses the completion of trading activities.

ink deals

Suggests finalizing agreements or contracts that lead to sales in a more informal way.

FAQs

How can I improve my ability to "make sales"?

Improving your ability to "make sales" involves honing your sales techniques, understanding customer needs, and effectively communicating the value of your product or service. Continuous learning and adaptation are key.

What are some alternatives to saying "make sales"?

You can use alternatives like "generate revenue", "drive sales", or "boost sales" depending on the context.

Is it better to focus on "making sales" or building relationships?

While "making sales" is important for immediate revenue, building strong customer relationships is crucial for long-term success and repeat business. Balancing both aspects is ideal.

How does marketing contribute to our ability to "make sales"?

Marketing plays a vital role in creating awareness, generating leads, and nurturing potential customers, all of which directly contribute to the ability to "make sales". Effective marketing strategies can significantly increase sales volume.