soft sell

noun
1.
a method of advertising or selling that is quietly persuasive, subtle, and indirect (opposed to hard sell).
Origin
1950-55

soft-sell

[sawft-sel, soft-] /ˈsɔftˈsɛl, ˈsɒft-/
verb (used with object), soft-sold, soft-selling.
1.
to promote (a product, service, etc.) using indirect or gentle persuasion:
an advertising campaign to soft-sell a new perfume.
adjective
2.
(of a sales technique) quietly or indirectly persuasive:
a soft-sell approach to marketing.
Origin
1950-55
Examples from the web for soft sell
  • It's a soft sell, because the world of work is becoming a global market whether or not you operate in other countries.
  • Most churches that bother to put on a haunted house are not interested in such a soft sell.
  • Cooper explained it is a soft sell and simply an additional choice made available.
  • Introduce yourself via a phone call, e-mail or letter, but make it a soft sell.
British Dictionary definitions for soft sell

soft sell

noun
1.
a method of selling based on indirect suggestion or inducement Compare hard sell
Slang definitions & phrases for soft sell

soft sell

noun phrase

Selling or advertising in a nonstrident, noninsistent tone

[1955+; modeled on hard sell]


Idioms and Phrases with soft sell

soft sell

see: hard sell , def. 1.