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soft sell
noun
: the use of suggestion or gentle persuasion in selling rather than aggressive pressure compare hard sell
Examples of soft sell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Netflix picked up a beloved small studio with a knack for narrative—a soft sell for a company wanting to highlight storytelling on streaming services.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 19 July 2023
How is the soft sell done?
—Kj Callihan, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021
People prefer a soft sell.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 9 June 2022
Low-stress, loyalty-building sales techniques are preferred in these times Less direct sales techniques such as the soft sell are proving to be a winning strategy in this new principled environment.
—Kj Callihan, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021
But the longevity and staying power of the Charles Heidsieck brand — nearly 200 years later — required deeper roots than those indicated by a soft sell delivered from white gloved hands.
—Cathy Huyghe, Forbes, 7 July 2022
And the occasional soft sell for Botox and fillers feels at odds with its otherwise impeccable ethos of healthy aging.
—Susan D'arcy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2020
These promotions are the soft sell behind the softest of purchases.
—Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2019
Netflix specializes in the soft sell, expecting viewers to stumble across its original films while scrolling through menus of suggestions.
—Bruce Fretts, New York Times, 13 July 2018
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illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Word History
First Known Use
1953, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near soft sell
Cite this Entry
“Soft sell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft%20sell. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
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