This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of sales from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Sales

There are different methods businesses use to increase their sales.

What are the different ways companies use to increase sales?

Which one is the most effective?

There are a variety of methods employed by businesses to grow their sales revenue. In my opinion, these typically relate to marketing and innovation, with the latter being the most effective.

Most companies choose to target increased sales through advertising campaigns and new products. Marketing and advertising are self-evidently important. Nearly every major company reserves a substantial portion of the budget for television advertisements, online marketing, billboards, and so on. Companies that excel with viral marketing, such as Starbucks, are able to dominate the competition through brand awareness and grow sales consistently. Furthermore, the introduction of new products is also a key catalyst. This can include new menu items, such as the recent popularity of Popeye’s new chicken sandwich or technological advances like the electric vehicles produced by Tesla.

Though advertising can be extremely persuasive, there is no substitute for a truly revolutionary and unique product. The best example of this would be the most successful consumer electronics product in history, the iPhone. When it launched there was no comparable product, with Blackberry phones being the closest analogue. The iPhone allowed users to make phone calls, send message, take photos, check email, and use the internet. These are routine features now but at the time these innovations drove rapid revenue growth and countless other companies raced to replicate their success. This model applies to a range of industries as a novel product can drive demand while a company need only focus on maintaining their supply chain.

In conclusion, sales figures rise as a result of marketing strategies and successful innovation, with the latter the single greatest method for generating more revenue. Companies must balance both techniques yet prioritize new ideas whenever possible.

Analysis

1. There are a variety of methods employed by businesses to grow their sales revenue. 2. In my opinion, these typically relate to marketing and innovation, with the latter being the most effective.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Most companies choose to target increased sales through advertising campaigns and new products. 2. Marketing and advertising are self-evidently important. 3. Nearly every major company reserves a substantial portion of the budget for television advertisements, online marketing, billboards, and so on. 4. Companies that excel with viral marketing, such as Starbucks, are able to dominate the competition through brand awareness and grow sales consistently. 5. Furthermore, the introduction of new products is also a key catalyst. 6. This can include new menu items, such as the recent popularity of Popeye’s new chicken sandwich or technological advances like the electric vehicles produced by Tesla.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Start a second method.
  5. Keep developing it fully.
  6. Finish with another example if you have another idea.

1. Though advertising can be extremely persuasive, there is no substitute for a truly revolutionary and unique product. 2. The best example of this would be the most successful consumer electronics product in history, the iPhone. 3. When it launched there was no comparable product, with Blackberry phones being the closest analogue. 4. The iPhone allowed users to make phone calls, send message, take photos, check email, and use the internet. 5. These are routine features now but at the time these innovations drove rapid revenue growth and countless other companies raced to replicate their success. 6. This model applies to a range of industries as a novel product can drive demand while a company need only focus on maintaining their supply chain.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  5. Develop the example fully.
  6. Finish with a strong statement.

1. In conclusion, sales figures rise as a result of marketing strategies and successful innovation, with the latter the single greatest method for generating more revenue. 2. Companies must balance both techniques yet prioritize new ideas whenever possible.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

There are a variety of methods employed by businesses to grow their sales revenue. In my opinion, these typically relate to marketing and innovation, with the latter being the most effective.

Most companies choose to target increased sales through advertising campaigns and new products. Marketing and advertising are self-evidently important. Nearly every major company reserves a substantial portion of the budget for television advertisements, online marketing, billboards, and so on. Companies that excel with viral marketing, such as Starbucks, are able to dominate the competition through brand awareness and grow sales consistently. Furthermore, the introduction of new products is also a key catalyst. This can include new menu items, such as the recent popularity of Popeye’s new chicken sandwich or technological advances like the electric vehicles produced by Tesla.

Though advertising can be extremely persuasive, there is no substitute for a truly revolutionary and unique product. The best example of this would be the most successful consumer electronics product in history, the iPhone. When it launched there was no comparable product, with Blackberry phones being the closest analogue. The iPhone allowed users to make phone calls, send message, take photos, check email, and use the internet. These are routine features now but at the time these innovations drove rapid revenue growth and countless other companies raced to replicate their success. This model applies to a range of industries as a novel product can drive demand while a company need only focus on maintaining their supply chain.

In conclusion, sales figures rise as a result of marketing strategies and successful innovation, with the latter the single greatest method for generating more revenue. Companies must balance both techniques yet prioritize new ideas whenever possible.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

variety different kinds of

methods ways

employed by used by

grow make bigger

sales revenue money made from selling stuff

typically relate to usually have to do with

marketing advertising

innovation new ideas

latter mentioned second

most effective more impactful

target focus on

advertising campaigns marketing plans

self-evidently important obviously crucial

nearly almost

reserves sets aside

substantial portion a lot of

budget money that can be spent

television advertisements commercials on TV

online marketing ads online

billboards big signs up outside

excel do well

viral marketing popular posts

dominate the competition through brand awareness be stronger than other businesses because people know about your company

grow sales consistently increase revenue a lot

furthermore moreover

key catalyst crucial grower

recent popularity now common

technological advances new technology

electric vehicles produced by cars without gas made by

extremely persuasive very compelling

substitute replacement

truly revolutionary totally new

unique special

most successful consumer electronics product in history biggest selling product ever

launched premiered

comparable similar to

Blackberry phones an early smartphone

closest analogue nearest comparison

routine features normal abilities

drove rapid revenue growth increased sales quickly

countless lots of

raced to tried to beat each other to

replicate their success copy their ideas

model applies example also works for

range variety

industries businesses

novel new

drive demand push up the need for

maintaining their supply chain keeping production up

as a result of because of

strategies ways

generating creating

balance keep equal

techniques ways

prioritize consider more important

whenever possible if it can be done

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

vəˈraɪəti 
ˈmɛθədz 
ɪmˈplɔɪd baɪ 
grəʊ 
seɪlz ˈrɛvɪnjuː
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li rɪˈleɪt tuː 
ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ 
ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən
ˈlætə 
məʊst ɪˈfɛktɪv
ˈtɑːgɪt 
ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ kæmˈpeɪnz 
sɛlf-ˈɛvɪdəntli ɪmˈpɔːtənt
ˈnɪəli 
rɪˈzɜːvz 
səbˈstænʃəl ˈpɔːʃən 
ˈbʌʤɪt 
ˈtɛlɪˌvɪʒən ədˈvɜːtɪsmənts
ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ
ˈbɪlbɔːdz
ɪkˈsɛl 
ˈvaɪərəl ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ
ˈdɒmɪneɪt ðə ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən θruː brænd əˈweənəs 
grəʊ seɪlz kənˈsɪstəntli
ˈfɜːðəˈmɔː
kiː ˈkætəlɪst
ˈriːsnt ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪti 
ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪk(ə)l ədˈvɑːnsɪz 
ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˈviːɪklz prəˈdjuːst baɪ
ɪksˈtriːmli pəˈsweɪsɪv 
ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt 
ˈtruːli ˌrɛvəˈluːʃnəri 
juːˈniːk 
məʊst səkˈsɛsfʊl kənˈsjuːmər ɪlɛkˈtrɒnɪks ˈprɒdʌkt ɪn ˈhɪstəri
lɔːnʧt 
ˈkɒmpərəbl 
ˈblækbəri fəʊnz 
ˈkləʊsɪst ˈænəˌlɒg
ruːˈtiːn ˈfiːʧəz 
drəʊv ˈræpɪd ˈrɛvɪnjuː grəʊθ 
ˈkaʊntlɪs 
reɪst tuː 
ˈrɛplɪkeɪt ðeə səkˈsɛs
ˈmɒdl əˈplaɪz 
reɪnʤ 
ˈɪndəstriz 
ˈnɒvəl 
draɪv dɪˈmɑːnd 
meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ ðeə səˈplaɪ ʧeɪn
æz ə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv 
ˈstrætɪʤiz 
ˈʤɛnəreɪtɪŋ 
ˈbæləns 
tɛkˈniːks 
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz 
wɛnˈɛvə ˈpɒsəbl

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

There are a v__________y of m__________s e_____________y businesses to g______w their s_______________e. In my opinion, these t_____________________o m____________g and i____________n, with the l_______r being the m____________e.

Most companies choose to t________t increased sales through a_______________________s and new products. Marketing and advertising are s_______________________t. N_______y every major company r_________s a s_________________n of the b_______t for t________________________s, o_______________g, b______________s, and so on. Companies that e_____l with v_____________________g, such as S____________s, are able to d______________________n t________________s and g_________________________y. F______________e, the i______________n of new products is also a k_______________t. This can include new menu items, such as the r___________________y of Popeye’s new chicken sandwich or t_________________________s like the e______________________s p______________y Tesla.

Though advertising can be e_____________________e, there is no s______________e for a t___________________y and u_________e product. The best example of this would be the m____________________________________________________y, the iPhone. When it l__________d there was no c____________e product, with B__________________s being the c________________e. The iPhone allowed users to make phone calls, send message, take photos, check email, and use the internet. These are r________________s now but at the time these innovations d__________________________h and c_____________s other companies r________________________________s. This m_____________s to a r_________e of i________________s as a n________l product can d_____________________d while a company need only focus on m_______________________________n.

In conclusion, sales figures rise a_____________f marketing s_______________s and successful innovation, with the latter the single greatest method for g_____________g more revenue. Companies must b___________e both t___________s yet p____________e new ideas w________________e.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.thestreet.com/technology/history-of-tesla-15088992#:~:text=was%20founded%20in%202003%20by,properties%20of%20rotating%20electromagnetic%20fields.

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Buying

  1. Which item do you buy the most?
  2. Do you care about the price when buying an item?
  3. What was the last thing you bought?
  4. Are good products always expensive?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some people think that there should be a complete ban on all forms of advertising.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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