by 18 people |
I love what a Direct Sales home business can do for a mom and her family. But I also know that it can get to be overwhelming.
This lens will focus on some great tools, ideas and helps to streamline your Direct Sales business both online and off so you can have your business AND your life!
Must Haves For Direct Sellers
- DSWA Build it Big Books
- I think this should be mandatory reading for any serious direct sales rep. These Build it Big books by the DSWA are focused books on making all aspects of your business a success. And now they're running a special for over $500 in bonuses when you order using this link. Do it now!
- Save time with an Autoresponder
- My autoresponder with aweber is my all time best investment for my direct sales business, hands down. With unlimited list capabilities, you definitely want this autoresponder to help automate your business and free up precious time.
Aweber has a 10 day free trial which is just great and will give you an idea of how it works. - Article Marketing Course
- Although much of this course talks about internet marketing, ALL of it can be applied to your direct sales business as well. Particularly useful for those reps in companies who don't allow any type of online advertising, this is a great "around" for you to get your name out there!
- Build a mailing list and drive traffic to your website
- Much of my success in Direct Sales comes from the traffic that I drive to my company and personal website. And I learned from the master in this inexpensive membership club. You must must must give this a try. You won't be sorry!
- Set up a Blog for Business
- Get a FREE 6day ecourse pdf in your inbox right away. Lynette has great tips on blogging and how to make your blog profitable! Enjoy! And thanks Lynette!
- Free "Using Audio in your Direct Sales Business" Ecourse
- Enter your name and email into the boxes when you click on the link above and you'll get a free 5 day ecourse in your inbox on how and why to use Audio in your direct sales business! I love audio and I think you will too!
- The edirectory of home based careers
- Are you still looking for the best home based direct sales business for you? Check out this edirectory for some great ideas!
- Easy Internet Survey
- A fabulous new program where you can create short surveys to find out more about what your customers, recruits and downline need so you can change your marketing plan to meet those needs!
This is an easy, fun an inexpensive program to help set you up above the competition in your direct sales business. - Great idea for referral and keep in touch marketing
- In this day of unending email spam communicating with your customers, hostesses and downline via email by itself just doesn't cut it. I'm a big fan of automating things as much as possible and this system at www.directsalescards.com is brilliant in helping you stay in contact with everyone in your business (and personal life) automatically. Just set up the system once and with the click of your mouse, your virtual "virtual card assistant" sends the mail for you...personalized and everything. I avoided getting this for a long time thinking I could just do it myself...and when months went by and I wasn't sending anything, I decided to give it a try. Can't live without it now!
Hire your kids in your direct sales business
Hiring your children in your business can be a great tax savings strategy, as well as a way to teach your children about business and money.
Wages paid to your children (between the ages 7 and 17) are a valid business deduction, as long as they do bona fide work, and they are compensated fairly.
Your children can earn up to the standard deduction amount before they will owe any income tax. Because you are getting a business deduction for the wages paid to your child, this is income that you also will not pay taxes on.
In addition, if your children are under age 18, you don't have to pay payroll taxes on them. This is a huge tax savings since you would have to pay these taxes on any other employee you hired.
Hiring your children does not raise a red flag with the IRS, but you should document your children's salary and services provided to audit-proof your tax return. To do this, keep a time sheet showing the date, hours and services provided by your children, and write them a check for their wages.
In addition, you will need to prepare and file a W-2 for your child at the end of the year. Your child may need to file a tax return as well.
You can learn more about hiring your children in your business by reading IRS Publication 15, Chapter 3, Family Employees.
Click here to learn more about how hiring your children in your own business can help minimize your tax bill.
Wages paid to your children (between the ages 7 and 17) are a valid business deduction, as long as they do bona fide work, and they are compensated fairly.
Your children can earn up to the standard deduction amount before they will owe any income tax. Because you are getting a business deduction for the wages paid to your child, this is income that you also will not pay taxes on.
In addition, if your children are under age 18, you don't have to pay payroll taxes on them. This is a huge tax savings since you would have to pay these taxes on any other employee you hired.
Hiring your children does not raise a red flag with the IRS, but you should document your children's salary and services provided to audit-proof your tax return. To do this, keep a time sheet showing the date, hours and services provided by your children, and write them a check for their wages.
In addition, you will need to prepare and file a W-2 for your child at the end of the year. Your child may need to file a tax return as well.
You can learn more about hiring your children in your business by reading IRS Publication 15, Chapter 3, Family Employees.
Click here to learn more about how hiring your children in your own business can help minimize your tax bill.
Hire Your kids!
Take advantage of great tax benefits too!
My friend Kristine just put out this fabulous report on hiring your kids in your home business. There are some great tax benefits - check it out!
Direct Sales Quick Tips
Helping you work your business smart
Find out more details on each video at DirectSellersUniversity.com
curated content from YouTube
Other great sites to help you with your Direct Sales Business
Visit today
- DirectSalesMentoring.com
- Free courses, articles, resources and more to help make your direct sales business fun and profitable!
- Squidoo for Direct Sales
- Learn how to use Squidoo lenses (like this one that you're looking at!) to help promote your direct sales business. It's a great direct sales tool!
- Direct Sales website on Squidoo
- Another Squidoo lens to help you set up your own website and web presence to establish credibility and set you apart in your direct sales business.
Free Organizing ebook
My friends at Mom Masterminds have created this great little ebook that's perfect for direct sellers looking for ways to keep organized in business. Enjoy!
- Organizing Minds Free Ebook
- Enjoy this pdf ebook. Just click on the link on the link to start the download or to open the pdf in your browser.
Part time or Full time or just ALL THE TIME?
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The Recruit Interview
Take your recruiting to the next level with these tips!
The recruit interview:
Ask the top recruiters in any direct sales company and you will discover that they attribute much of their recruiting success to using the recruit interview. Email is a fabulous tool and can be used to the maximum for your business but there is nothing like the telephone or personal meeting to take your recruiting from average or below to super recruiter.
Whether on the phone or face to face your chances of closing your potential new recruit are best if you spend most of your voice to voice time listening and asking questions and less time telling about your opportunity and spilling your story.
So here are some ideas for questions you can ask your new inquiring potential recruits that will get HER talking more and help you determine what she's looking for and how your direct selling business can help!
***Read the rest of this article CLICK HERE***
Ask the top recruiters in any direct sales company and you will discover that they attribute much of their recruiting success to using the recruit interview. Email is a fabulous tool and can be used to the maximum for your business but there is nothing like the telephone or personal meeting to take your recruiting from average or below to super recruiter.
Whether on the phone or face to face your chances of closing your potential new recruit are best if you spend most of your voice to voice time listening and asking questions and less time telling about your opportunity and spilling your story.
So here are some ideas for questions you can ask your new inquiring potential recruits that will get HER talking more and help you determine what she's looking for and how your direct selling business can help!
***Read the rest of this article CLICK HERE***
Audio Tools for your Biz
Take your customer, hostess and downline communication to the next level with Audio!
Tired of having people ignore, delete or just skim your emails? Worried that your print newletter is getting stuck in the "maybe later" pile? Want to make sure your message is HEARD? Check out these links for more info on using AUDIO in your business!
- Audio Acrobat
- By far the easiest and most flexible way for you to record and upload audio for your business. You're gonna love this one!
- Skype.com
- Skype is a great interent phone service where you can set up up to 10 phone numbers with free voicemail. A great way to leave voice messages for your downline or hostesses, and you have the option to even answer these numbers via your computer! Cool!
- ILife 06 by Apple for Macs including Garageband
- I use a Mac computer and use Garage Band to record my audios and convert them to MP3s to upload to my websites. If you have a mac, ILife can't be beat. Check it out and see what you think!
Things I love and you will too
- Build an easy website here!
- Many of you can't promote your company website on line, but you can build a gorgeous "side" website in about 5 minutes using this tool that can tell people about you (without mentioning your company) and give you a place to gather names for your mailing list, etc. There's a free trial too... give it a whirl!
- WAHM Talk Radio
- I never miss a week of listening to Kelly McCausey and her WAHMTalkRadio podcast every Monday!
She's got great tips for all moms who work at home and it's just plain fun! You'll get ideas about promoting your business and more!
Enjoy! - Chele's Treasures Promo NotePads
- These little promo notepads are great for fillers or just to give out to your regular customers and hostesses. Can't beat the price either!
- The DSWA - Direct Selling Women's Alliance
- Join this great organization to not only help support our fabulous profession but to get great ideas, inspiration and more. You'll get discounts on products, articles to use in your downline and customer newsletters, tremendous training calls and other opportunities.... it's really great!
- Mom Masterminds Free 9 day ecourse
- One of the best investments I ever made in my business was joining a great group of moms called Mom Masterminds. It took me about a year to jump in and try it because it was pricey in my mind, but now that I'm "in", I know that it's well worth every penny!
That said, the ladies there have created a great 9 day free course for you to give it a whirl. Click on the link and have fun!
More great books and resources
again...never stop learning!
I know, I'm an info junkie but I'm telling you that 99% of the success I've had in direct sales is because I spend a big ole chunk of time reading and listening to other people and applying the information I hear and read.
Never stop learning!
Never stop learning!
- The Accidental Millionaire
- I've got this book in my "travel bag" in the car for those times I'm sitting in a doctor's waiting room or waiting while the kids are at a practice, etc. Excellent read with really fabulous ideas to go from ordinary to spectacular!
- Magnetic Sponsoring
- Sign up for this free 10 day bootcamp and learn all you can about getting potential recruits to come to you!
- VistaPrint
- Most direct sellers already know about vista print but I'd be remiss if I didn't put the link here for you. Great resource for "sizzle" cards and other inexpensive promo materials for your business.
Direct Mail for Direct Sales
by Annette Yen
Although I love the possibilities of the Internet for marketing and building your direct sales business, there's nothing like the good old mail system for getting your name around your community and in front of your customers. Here are some tips for a successful direct mail marketing campaign for your direct sales business.
1. Get a system. Before you even start with the first mailing, think about your plan of attack. Think through your mailing budget, your goals for the mailing, and your system of follow up, etc. Without a good plan and system, direct mail campaigns can really be just a major waste of money. Sit down right now and write down:
a. Your goal for your mailing: What are you promoting and what do you hope to happen when someone receives your print piece? Are you looking for a new customer? A recruit? People to attend an open house? Your goal here will determine your audience as well as your follow up plan.
b. Your budget: How much do you want to spend on this campaign? Factor in postage, printing costs, etc. If, for instance, your goal from this campaign is to get 10 customers to attend an open house, you'll need to mail out at least 30 print pieces. Decide now if that should be a post card, flyer or full newsletter.
c. Your timeline: What all needs to happen after you send out the mailing? In our open house example, for instance, you would want to allow for print time, mailing time, follow up calls and event planning time once you know your attendance. Chart all of this on a calendar so you know exactly when that print piece needs to be in the mail and follow your timeline to make sure you don't miss any steps.
2. Don't forget follow up: As with anything in direct sales, the money is in the follow up. If you're not planning to follow up after you've mailed your print piece then you may as well not waste your time or money doing it at all. People are busy these days and often your flyer or postcard will end up in the "I'll look at that later" pile, never to be looked at again until it's too late. If, however you follow your timeline above and follow up with the folks to whom you are mailing your print piece, you provide another contact point and a better chance of sealing the deal.
3. Be a generous direct mailer: Somewhere on your print piece should be a free incentive for taking action. Offer a free gift for RSVPing, a free sample when they call for more information, a free ANYTHING to encourage them to call. Mention it on your follow up call as well. People respond to "free" and it helps to build confidence in you as a direct sales rep.
4. Use your company materials. Whenever possible, use your company printed materials in your direct mailings. Most direct sales companies offer fabulous professional print pieces that, again, help to build confidence in your potential customers and recruits when they see the quality of those flyers or post cards. If your company does not have a preprinted glossy brochure, post card or flyer that will work for your campaign, take the time to make a professional looking piece. Post cards and flyers from online vendors are usually very inexpensive and look much better than something you'd just print off the PC. Saves ink too!
Whatever direct sales business you are in, consider doing some direct mail campaigns this year. Make a plan and timeline and stick to it. You'll be pleasantly surprised at this relatively inexpensive way to advertise your business.
One new way that I've found to maximize the benefits of direct mail and still manage my life is to use the system created at Send Out Cards. Visit DirectSalesCards.com to find out more about it or send us a quick email and we'll walk you through how this can boost your business into high gear!!!
1. Get a system. Before you even start with the first mailing, think about your plan of attack. Think through your mailing budget, your goals for the mailing, and your system of follow up, etc. Without a good plan and system, direct mail campaigns can really be just a major waste of money. Sit down right now and write down:
a. Your goal for your mailing: What are you promoting and what do you hope to happen when someone receives your print piece? Are you looking for a new customer? A recruit? People to attend an open house? Your goal here will determine your audience as well as your follow up plan.
b. Your budget: How much do you want to spend on this campaign? Factor in postage, printing costs, etc. If, for instance, your goal from this campaign is to get 10 customers to attend an open house, you'll need to mail out at least 30 print pieces. Decide now if that should be a post card, flyer or full newsletter.
c. Your timeline: What all needs to happen after you send out the mailing? In our open house example, for instance, you would want to allow for print time, mailing time, follow up calls and event planning time once you know your attendance. Chart all of this on a calendar so you know exactly when that print piece needs to be in the mail and follow your timeline to make sure you don't miss any steps.
2. Don't forget follow up: As with anything in direct sales, the money is in the follow up. If you're not planning to follow up after you've mailed your print piece then you may as well not waste your time or money doing it at all. People are busy these days and often your flyer or postcard will end up in the "I'll look at that later" pile, never to be looked at again until it's too late. If, however you follow your timeline above and follow up with the folks to whom you are mailing your print piece, you provide another contact point and a better chance of sealing the deal.
3. Be a generous direct mailer: Somewhere on your print piece should be a free incentive for taking action. Offer a free gift for RSVPing, a free sample when they call for more information, a free ANYTHING to encourage them to call. Mention it on your follow up call as well. People respond to "free" and it helps to build confidence in you as a direct sales rep.
4. Use your company materials. Whenever possible, use your company printed materials in your direct mailings. Most direct sales companies offer fabulous professional print pieces that, again, help to build confidence in your potential customers and recruits when they see the quality of those flyers or post cards. If your company does not have a preprinted glossy brochure, post card or flyer that will work for your campaign, take the time to make a professional looking piece. Post cards and flyers from online vendors are usually very inexpensive and look much better than something you'd just print off the PC. Saves ink too!
Whatever direct sales business you are in, consider doing some direct mail campaigns this year. Make a plan and timeline and stick to it. You'll be pleasantly surprised at this relatively inexpensive way to advertise your business.
One new way that I've found to maximize the benefits of direct mail and still manage my life is to use the system created at Send Out Cards. Visit DirectSalesCards.com to find out more about it or send us a quick email and we'll walk you through how this can boost your business into high gear!!!
Keeping your team strong!
Communicate with your downline and watch your team soar!
Congratulations! You've got a strong direct sales downline or are beginning to build one! This is one of the best parts of being a direct sales consultant, - the fact that you can share your passion for your business with others, help them to earn a little extra money and get paid for helping grow your company as well.
Now that you are a leader of a team, you'll need to build a strong relationship with downline members to not only help them stay strong in their business, but to help your business grow stronger as well. A strong downline relationship will be one that's mutually helpful and everyone benefits.
But you may be wondering how to insure that downline members feel cared for while still maintaining some type of balance with the rest of your life. Here are 5 easy tips for maintaining a great upline/downline relationship.
1. Start off with a bang. When a new recruit first signs up, it's vitally important that you communicate often with her. One thing that I have found very helpful here is to develop a series of emails to send to new downline that talks them through those first days "on the job". It will help them feel like they are connected to the company and to you. Each day while your new recruit is waiting for her kit she should hear from you. This is very easy to do with an autoresponder system, but can also be done by just copying and pasting into an email message every morning.
2. 15 minutes a day. Set aside fifteen minutes of each workday for downline phone calls. Use those minutes to call one to five members of your group for a quick "just checking in" call. Leave a message if you get voicemail. The idea is to let them know that you're thinking of them and giving them a chance to hear your voice. This is a great time to ask how they're doing with their non-business life as well and get beyond your direct sales company to show you care about them.
3. A downline website. Creating a simple website for my group has been the best thing, by far that I did to keep communication open and strong with my group. The site was created through www.myfamily.com and it's password protected so they all know that it's special, just for them. We have weekly topic discussions, contests, upload important files and just have fun with the whole group. Through this many relationships between members of my group have blossomed just because the website allowed them to "break the ice".
4. Meetings and/or conference calls. This is another great way to foster unity and strong relationships within your group. Many of you probably have downline that are out your area, so have a quarterly conference call with everyone just to touch base. There are many free teleconference services via the internet like www.freeconference.com that make it very easy to do. And if you can, have a face-to-face meeting once in a while as well. Some group leaders have meetings monthly or quarterly. Others do a once a year get together with everyone.
5. Ecards. I love ecards for celebrating birthdays, achievements etc. First of all it's FREE, which is great, but it's so convenient and just plain fun. Use one of those Internet calendar functions to keep track of birthdays. Once a month go through the upcoming month and set up the ecard deliveries for the birthdays and company anniversary dates for the next month or more. You can set these up to deliver up to a year in advance! It's a wonderful thing. My personal favorites are the "Hoops and Yoyo" cards at www.hallmark.com, but I know there are hundreds of sites for free ecards on the Internet.
The key? Communicate in any and every way that you can. You will find that your direct sales team members will stay with your company much longer when you've fostered a strong relationship by keeping in touch! Have fun and happy team building!
Now that you are a leader of a team, you'll need to build a strong relationship with downline members to not only help them stay strong in their business, but to help your business grow stronger as well. A strong downline relationship will be one that's mutually helpful and everyone benefits.
But you may be wondering how to insure that downline members feel cared for while still maintaining some type of balance with the rest of your life. Here are 5 easy tips for maintaining a great upline/downline relationship.
1. Start off with a bang. When a new recruit first signs up, it's vitally important that you communicate often with her. One thing that I have found very helpful here is to develop a series of emails to send to new downline that talks them through those first days "on the job". It will help them feel like they are connected to the company and to you. Each day while your new recruit is waiting for her kit she should hear from you. This is very easy to do with an autoresponder system, but can also be done by just copying and pasting into an email message every morning.
2. 15 minutes a day. Set aside fifteen minutes of each workday for downline phone calls. Use those minutes to call one to five members of your group for a quick "just checking in" call. Leave a message if you get voicemail. The idea is to let them know that you're thinking of them and giving them a chance to hear your voice. This is a great time to ask how they're doing with their non-business life as well and get beyond your direct sales company to show you care about them.
3. A downline website. Creating a simple website for my group has been the best thing, by far that I did to keep communication open and strong with my group. The site was created through www.myfamily.com and it's password protected so they all know that it's special, just for them. We have weekly topic discussions, contests, upload important files and just have fun with the whole group. Through this many relationships between members of my group have blossomed just because the website allowed them to "break the ice".
4. Meetings and/or conference calls. This is another great way to foster unity and strong relationships within your group. Many of you probably have downline that are out your area, so have a quarterly conference call with everyone just to touch base. There are many free teleconference services via the internet like www.freeconference.com that make it very easy to do. And if you can, have a face-to-face meeting once in a while as well. Some group leaders have meetings monthly or quarterly. Others do a once a year get together with everyone.
5. Ecards. I love ecards for celebrating birthdays, achievements etc. First of all it's FREE, which is great, but it's so convenient and just plain fun. Use one of those Internet calendar functions to keep track of birthdays. Once a month go through the upcoming month and set up the ecard deliveries for the birthdays and company anniversary dates for the next month or more. You can set these up to deliver up to a year in advance! It's a wonderful thing. My personal favorites are the "Hoops and Yoyo" cards at www.hallmark.com, but I know there are hundreds of sites for free ecards on the Internet.
The key? Communicate in any and every way that you can. You will find that your direct sales team members will stay with your company much longer when you've fostered a strong relationship by keeping in touch! Have fun and happy team building!
Please sign my guestbook!
Let me know what you're looking for in your Direct Sales Business!
Sign my guestbook and then... Put me to work!
I want to know what Direct Sellers need for their businesses to thrive. So here's a place for you to say, I could really use something to help me do "this" better, etc. Thanks for the feedback.
submit
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- najjab najjab Aug 19, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
- Hey nice lens there is alot of great info. I also would recommend some good social marketing courses and/or video marketing course to your resources.
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Reply
- quantumguy quantumguy Jun 24, 2009 @ 11:54 pm
- Nice lens! I know from
experience the most important aspect of succeeding online in the direct selling & sales
industry is to join with a top
income earner so they can show you how to start earning fast!
-
Reply
- quantumguy quantumguy Jun 24, 2009 @ 11:37 pm
- Well done! Great information for the Direct Selling industry!
-
Reply
- moneymakingsystemsreviews moneymakingsystemsreviews May 29, 2009 @ 12:42 am
- A lot of ideas for home business here, thanks a lot for the informative lens!
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Reply
- easy-internet-income easy-internet-income Mar 30, 2009 @ 11:16 am
- This is a very informative lens. There is a great deal of information that any work at home mom (or dad) can use to build their business. Thanks for sharing! :D
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Great Stuff on Amazon
Check out these books for Direct Sales Representatives
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 12/05/2009) 
The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 12/05/2009)
Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking, Revised Edition
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/05/2009)
The Never Cold Call Again Online Playbook: The Definitive Guide to Internet Marketing Success
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/05/2009)
The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 12/05/2009)
Everything Techy - all the time
Lynette Chandler's Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGrow your vocabulary
with a Word of the Day
Never stop learning! :-)
A list of reasons why I love being a Direct Sales Work at home mom
...the best "job" out there!
- I can sleep in if I want to
I get to work with my daughters
I can turn off the computer and the phones on Sunday and just rest
I determine how much money I make by the amount of effort I put in
I get to work with fabulous women across the country
I get to network with fabulous women across the world
I make new friends every day
I can eat M&Ms while IMing
I can work in my pjs if I want to (but I don't)
I can stop at any point during my day to do housework,
play or garden
I can take a vacation without asking anyone for permission
Where to find Annette
So you don't have to write it down!
- Direct Sales Mentoring
- This is my Direct Sales Mentoring site with more helpful tools for your Direct Sales Business - sign up for a couple of free ecourses or contact me to find out how one-on-one mentoring with me can help you in your business.
- Help your kids to become entrepreneurs
- My daughters and I have worked our direct sales business together as long as we can remember so my friend Nicole Dean and I put together this free resource site. We both love working at home together with our kids and see the value of helping our kids to learn how to start their own businesses too. Great ideas to help your kids get going toward being young entrepreneurs! This is a free resource too!
- The Expo-Connector - online networking
- I love networking with my friends at the Small Business Referral Network. Here's my expo "table" and you can get one too! Networking is a great way to build your business and the added links that an expo table bring helps draw more traffic to your company site!
- My Direct Sales Company Website - Noah's Ark Workshops
- Ok, I've been in direct sales a LONG time and this is a fabulous business. If you're looking for a direct sales business where you can work with your kids, it's ideal. Pop over and check out my website, sign your kids up for the birthday club (free give-a-way every month for kids clubbers) and sign yourself up for more information on the business. Come play with me!
I'm a Pooh - How about you?
Learning from the Hundred Acre Wood
When my girls were growing up we absolutely adored reading the Winnie the Pooh books together. In fact, now that they're 13 and 15, we actually still love the original series (not the Disney remake books) and often will just pick them up for fun.
There is benefit, however, to reading Pooh as a direct seller too. Hang with me here, I'm very serious. Pooh and his friends from the hundred acre wood provide a metaphor for the people in our lives in general and more specifically to our direct sales teams.
So let's have some fun and explore a bit more about Winnie the Pooh and his friends and see if you have someone on your team or a potential recruit that looks like:
Pooh himself: Pooh is pretty much the eternal optimist. He looks at every opportunity of life as a chance to get more honey and won't be shy about asking for honey when he sees it nearby and if his tummy is a little rumbly. He cares about his friends, sings while he's walking and basically is fun to be around. Though not always the brightest bulb in the lamp, what Pooh lacks in street smarts he makes up in caring and optimism.
Direct Sales Poohs - Poohs make great team members because they are pretty teachable. It might take a little bit longer for a Pooh to catch on to the system, but overall they're so fun to work with because of their cheerfulness and their willingness to try, that you enjoy the interaction and long for more. Poohs will usually see problem issues as bumps in the road and rarely make much of a fuss beyond "oh bother!" :-)
Piglet: Nervous little piggy Piglet thinks he's smaller than he really is. He has his moments of being brave, but for the most part, prefers to have Pooh hold his hand and lead the way. Though faithful to the core, anything new makes him nervous and he'll make a point of letting everyone know that he's a "very small animal."
Direct Sales Piglets: You can't miss the Piglets in our business because they're very needy. Even though they know the answer they don't trust themselves enough to go with it so they'll call, email or IM you every time a situation comes up when they're working the business. Some direct sales Piglets will be too tentative to ever really give the business enough of a chance and will quit, but others could turn out to be your shining stars. They'll be the ones whose life will be so amazingly altered because of their involvement in direct sales that they'll be featured in company publications.
Rabbit: Mr. Type A personality through and through, Rabbit is organized and can get things done. Though slightly lacking in the warm and fuzzy department, he's the go to guy when they need to come up with a plan and actually implement it. Rabbit's strong personality sometimes scares the other hundred acre wood animals, but they depend on him nonetheless.
Direct Sales Rabbits: Though teeming with potential, direct sales Rabbits sometimes are so focused on being organized, planning and vision that they don't ever really get their business going, because once they've finished organizing their desk or their schedule, there's not enough time to actually sell the product or the opportunity. Once you can help a Rabbit focus, however, they could well be your powerhouse sellers and recruiters.
Owl: Wise old owl has an answer and a story for everything. He can talk his way out of any situation - either by confusing or boring them to death. Unfortunately many of Owl's stories are a bit exaggerated - or completely made up. Owl thinks it's important to look smarter and act like he knows more than he really does.
Direct Sales Owls: The Owls on your team want to be superstars so much that they'll actually craft stories or embellish what happens in their business appear like the person they hope to be in the future. Owls, too, can turn into superstars if you capture the enthusiasm that drives them to be storytellers and help them to use that skill to share the business with others in an honest and straightforward way.
Eeyore: If Pooh is the eternal optimist, Eeyore is the eternal pessimist. To him, everything that can go wrong will go wrong. And so, unfortunately, Eeyore rarely will even try to do anything at all because there is no hope of it succeeding. If something does happen to go right for him, he'll somehow dwell on the fact that it'll probably go wrong somewhere else down the road.
Direct Sales Eeyores: If you've made it this far in this article you've probably got several names in mind that qualify for Eeyore. Every time this team member calls you it's to complain about something that probably doesn't even affect her because she's not even had a party or placed an order yet and is determined not to until your company makes the situations better. The problem is this person will then have found another problem to complain about. Direct Sales Eeyores are pretty tough to turn around and can often drain your energy. Don't let them. Encourage them in their positive steps, coach them to action and if nothing helps, be strong and walk away.
This was all in fun, but just like other "personality type" tests and assessments, the Winnie the Pooh list can be helpful in realizing your own Direct Sales style as well as the personality types of your team. Once you can identify certain characteristics of team members you'll know how to coach and encourage them to success.
Annette Yen loves direct sales. With 22 years experience under her belt she's met many a Pooh, Eeyore, Rabbit and more. Find free tools and ecourses for encouraging the members of your team on her website www.directsalesmentoring.com.
There is benefit, however, to reading Pooh as a direct seller too. Hang with me here, I'm very serious. Pooh and his friends from the hundred acre wood provide a metaphor for the people in our lives in general and more specifically to our direct sales teams.
So let's have some fun and explore a bit more about Winnie the Pooh and his friends and see if you have someone on your team or a potential recruit that looks like:
Pooh himself: Pooh is pretty much the eternal optimist. He looks at every opportunity of life as a chance to get more honey and won't be shy about asking for honey when he sees it nearby and if his tummy is a little rumbly. He cares about his friends, sings while he's walking and basically is fun to be around. Though not always the brightest bulb in the lamp, what Pooh lacks in street smarts he makes up in caring and optimism.
Direct Sales Poohs - Poohs make great team members because they are pretty teachable. It might take a little bit longer for a Pooh to catch on to the system, but overall they're so fun to work with because of their cheerfulness and their willingness to try, that you enjoy the interaction and long for more. Poohs will usually see problem issues as bumps in the road and rarely make much of a fuss beyond "oh bother!" :-)
Piglet: Nervous little piggy Piglet thinks he's smaller than he really is. He has his moments of being brave, but for the most part, prefers to have Pooh hold his hand and lead the way. Though faithful to the core, anything new makes him nervous and he'll make a point of letting everyone know that he's a "very small animal."
Direct Sales Piglets: You can't miss the Piglets in our business because they're very needy. Even though they know the answer they don't trust themselves enough to go with it so they'll call, email or IM you every time a situation comes up when they're working the business. Some direct sales Piglets will be too tentative to ever really give the business enough of a chance and will quit, but others could turn out to be your shining stars. They'll be the ones whose life will be so amazingly altered because of their involvement in direct sales that they'll be featured in company publications.
Rabbit: Mr. Type A personality through and through, Rabbit is organized and can get things done. Though slightly lacking in the warm and fuzzy department, he's the go to guy when they need to come up with a plan and actually implement it. Rabbit's strong personality sometimes scares the other hundred acre wood animals, but they depend on him nonetheless.
Direct Sales Rabbits: Though teeming with potential, direct sales Rabbits sometimes are so focused on being organized, planning and vision that they don't ever really get their business going, because once they've finished organizing their desk or their schedule, there's not enough time to actually sell the product or the opportunity. Once you can help a Rabbit focus, however, they could well be your powerhouse sellers and recruiters.
Owl: Wise old owl has an answer and a story for everything. He can talk his way out of any situation - either by confusing or boring them to death. Unfortunately many of Owl's stories are a bit exaggerated - or completely made up. Owl thinks it's important to look smarter and act like he knows more than he really does.
Direct Sales Owls: The Owls on your team want to be superstars so much that they'll actually craft stories or embellish what happens in their business appear like the person they hope to be in the future. Owls, too, can turn into superstars if you capture the enthusiasm that drives them to be storytellers and help them to use that skill to share the business with others in an honest and straightforward way.
Eeyore: If Pooh is the eternal optimist, Eeyore is the eternal pessimist. To him, everything that can go wrong will go wrong. And so, unfortunately, Eeyore rarely will even try to do anything at all because there is no hope of it succeeding. If something does happen to go right for him, he'll somehow dwell on the fact that it'll probably go wrong somewhere else down the road.
Direct Sales Eeyores: If you've made it this far in this article you've probably got several names in mind that qualify for Eeyore. Every time this team member calls you it's to complain about something that probably doesn't even affect her because she's not even had a party or placed an order yet and is determined not to until your company makes the situations better. The problem is this person will then have found another problem to complain about. Direct Sales Eeyores are pretty tough to turn around and can often drain your energy. Don't let them. Encourage them in their positive steps, coach them to action and if nothing helps, be strong and walk away.
This was all in fun, but just like other "personality type" tests and assessments, the Winnie the Pooh list can be helpful in realizing your own Direct Sales style as well as the personality types of your team. Once you can identify certain characteristics of team members you'll know how to coach and encourage them to success.
Annette Yen loves direct sales. With 22 years experience under her belt she's met many a Pooh, Eeyore, Rabbit and more. Find free tools and ecourses for encouraging the members of your team on her website www.directsalesmentoring.com.
What Does Wikipedia have to say?
Multi-level marketing (MLM), (also called network marketing)
is a term that describes a marketing structure used by some companies as part of their overall marketing strategy.
The structure is designed to create a marketing and sales force by compensating promoters of company products not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of other promoters they introduce to the company, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation in the form of a pyramid.
The products and company are usually marketed directly to consumers and potential business partners by means of relationship referrals and word of mouth marketing.
What Does Wikipedia have to say
Direct selling is a retail channel for the distribution of goods and services. At a basic level it may be defined as marketing and selling products, direct to consumers away from a fixed retail location. Sales are typically made through party plan, one to one demonstrations, and other personal contact arrangements. A text book definition is: "The direct personal presentation, demonstration, and sale of products and services to consumers, usually in their homes or at their jobs."Michael A. Belch George E. Belch Advertising and Promotion: An Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective, 7/e., McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2006
Industry representative, the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), reports that its 59 regional member associations accounted for more than US$114 Billion in retail sales in 2007, through the activities of more than 62 million independent sales representatives.WFDSA - What is Direct Selling?
According to the WFDSA, consumers benefit from direct selling because of the convenience and service it provides, including personal demonstration and explanation of products, home delivery, and generous satisfaction guarantees. In contrast to franchising, the cost for an individual to start an independent direct selling business is typically very low with little or no required inventory or other cash commitments to begin.
The United States Direct Selling Association (DSA) reported that in 2000, 55% of adult Americans had at some time purchased goods or services from a direct selling representative and 20% reported that they were currently(6%) or had been in the past(14%) a direct selling representative.DSA - What is Direct Selling
Most direct selling associations, including the Bundesverband Direktvertrieb Deutschland, the direct selling association of Germany, and the WFDSA and DSA require their members to abide by a code of conduct towards a fair partnership both with customers and salesmen. Most national direct selling associations are represented in the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA).
Direct selling is distinct from direct marketing because it is about individual sales agents reaching and dealing directly with clients. Direct marketing is about business organizations seeking a relationship with their customers without going through an agent/consultant or retail outlet.
By far the majority of direct selling companies use a multi-level compensation plan, where the agent is paid not only for their own sales but also a percentage of the sales of other representatives they introduce into the organization and help train.Direct Selling by the Numbers - 2007
Direct Sellers-
How to Motivate Your Team - by Jane Deuber
It is a well-known fact that managers who focus on the number of shows being held by their team have higher monthly sales. By learning early in the month how many shows are already on the books, you will discover how you can support your team members to achieve more success.
For example, a team with lots of shows scheduled will need guidance on hostess coaching and reducing postponements. On the other hand, a team with fewer shows may need a short-term booking challenge or ideas on how to schedule shows.
Here are just a few ideas for coaching your team:
1. Be informed. Prior to the first of the month, ask each team member to share how many shows they have booked. Give lots of appreciation and praise and offer guidance on how to book additional shows.
2. Offer a booking challenge. Challenge each Consultant to ask for a booking from five people every day for one week and watch her schedule fill. Because this challenge depends on the "honor system" keep your reward small but give it with lots of praise.
3. Reward results. Offer a "Consistency Award" to anyone on your team who holds one show a week for two consecutive months. These are potential stars.
4. Get the bigger picture! Record your team's shows on one big show calendar! This helps you project group sales and provide support to help ensure their success.
5. Know your team show average. Helping your team members increase their show average is just as important as helping them book more shows. Since hostess coaching has the greatest impact on sales, ask Consultants to complete a Hostess Coaching Checklist for every show.
6. Emphasize sponsoring. Take advantage of the fabulous recruiting opportunities at shows by challenging your team to discuss the opportunity during their presentation and then offer it to every guest while writing up their order. Make sponsoring a natural part of your team's shows and you will soon see results!
7. Lead by example. This is perhaps the most important tip we can offer because your team will follow your lead when it comes to holding shows and sponsoring. Be sure you are setting a good example by consistently holding shows of your own!
Jane Deuber is a Co-Founder of www.mydswa.org (the only association dedicated to the needs of the independent party plan and network marketing professionals). Discover what makes the DSWA so unique. Listen to three motivating and informative free teleseminars by visiting www.mydswa.org/tele_class.asp
For example, a team with lots of shows scheduled will need guidance on hostess coaching and reducing postponements. On the other hand, a team with fewer shows may need a short-term booking challenge or ideas on how to schedule shows.
Here are just a few ideas for coaching your team:
1. Be informed. Prior to the first of the month, ask each team member to share how many shows they have booked. Give lots of appreciation and praise and offer guidance on how to book additional shows.
2. Offer a booking challenge. Challenge each Consultant to ask for a booking from five people every day for one week and watch her schedule fill. Because this challenge depends on the "honor system" keep your reward small but give it with lots of praise.
3. Reward results. Offer a "Consistency Award" to anyone on your team who holds one show a week for two consecutive months. These are potential stars.
4. Get the bigger picture! Record your team's shows on one big show calendar! This helps you project group sales and provide support to help ensure their success.
5. Know your team show average. Helping your team members increase their show average is just as important as helping them book more shows. Since hostess coaching has the greatest impact on sales, ask Consultants to complete a Hostess Coaching Checklist for every show.
6. Emphasize sponsoring. Take advantage of the fabulous recruiting opportunities at shows by challenging your team to discuss the opportunity during their presentation and then offer it to every guest while writing up their order. Make sponsoring a natural part of your team's shows and you will soon see results!
7. Lead by example. This is perhaps the most important tip we can offer because your team will follow your lead when it comes to holding shows and sponsoring. Be sure you are setting a good example by consistently holding shows of your own!
Jane Deuber is a Co-Founder of www.mydswa.org (the only association dedicated to the needs of the independent party plan and network marketing professionals). Discover what makes the DSWA so unique. Listen to three motivating and informative free teleseminars by visiting www.mydswa.org/tele_class.asp
The Balanced Direct Sales Mom
If you're already in direct sales, you know that it's not always easy to keep the priorities straight. Particularly when your business is just starting, but also when you get things going at a good clip in your business, direct sales can take on a life of its own and quickly cross the boundaries of happy home life. Here are 10 quick tips for helping to keep the Mom part of your life at the forefront while still running a successful Direct Sales business.
1. Plan - Sit down with your calendar and write out everything non-direct sales business related first. Decide which of those things are non-negotiable no matter how many people want to do parties on that day. And then keep them non-negotiable! Write in kids events, date nights with hubby, vacations, birthdays and birthday parties and plain old "just because" family time.
2. Power Hour - One of my favorite speakers in the direct sales field is Belinda Ellsworth. Her power hour is a tremendous way to manage your business life. It's simple too! Here's the quick rundown: Take 4 manila folders. Mark 1 as recruiting, 1 as booking, 1 as customer service and 1 as downline management. Decide on an hour in your day when you are going to work the phones for your business. Take your folders, set a timer and work each folder for 15 minutes only. When the 15 minutes is up, move to the next folder. As you interact with customers, recruits and downline put the information in these folders until the next time you sit down for your power hour. You will be amazed at how much work you can really accomplish when you are focused for that hour of time.
3. Office door - Use it! After you are done with your power hour or email time or whatever, walk out of the room and CLOSE the door! Or if you're working with the laptop (see below) turn it off and close the laptop.
4. Get a laptop. A laptop with wireless Internet is a great tool for moms. You can get them pretty inexpensively now too. While the kids are doing their homework, pop open the laptop, sit WITH them and do your emails then. When they're done with the homework, close the laptop and be done with your work as well.
5. Freedom Friday - Decide on one day in each week where you will be "off". This can be Friday or any day, but decide on it and then actually do it. Commit to it with your kids, put it on your calendar and enjoy it. You'll love it and the emails can wait! Once your customers and downline understand that this is your day off, they will respect it.
6. Use the "open date card "concept. Determine which days of the weeks you'll be doing parties and write those down on a separate booking calendar or individual party date cards. When you are at your parties and getting future bookings only book parties on the dates that you set in advance on that calendar or on the cards. If someone needs a different date than you have available, find her another consultant (preferable in your downline!) to take the party.
7. Automate - Use the tools of the Internet to automate as much of your business as you can. Use an auto-responder for your recruit email packets and your downline training. Have a voicemail message available with a 10-minute presentation on your business that potential recruits can call before they call you with questions. Do conference calls with your downline so that you can address issues with the whole group rather than one on one with each of them, etc.
8. Involve your kids - Make your direct sales business a family affair. Employ your children to help with putting labels on catalogs, filing your paperwork, packing up your supplies for your parties, making the bank deposits, etc. As they get older their work responsibilities can increase too. You can even pay them tax-free and write it off as a legitimate business expense. Talk to your accountant about this great home business benefit.
9. Hire a maid. If your business is really on a roll and you need to spend more time on business, don't take that time away from your family, take it away from other parts of your life, like the housecleaning instead. Hire a maid to do the big housecleaning jobs and use the time you'd normally be doing that to hang with the kids. It'll be worth every penny.
10. Have fun - remember that your kids are only young once. They need you to be mommy FIRST and businesswoman second, even if your family does need the extra money your Direct Sales business brings in. Work smarter, not harder and enjoy your kids while you can.
About the Author:
1. Plan - Sit down with your calendar and write out everything non-direct sales business related first. Decide which of those things are non-negotiable no matter how many people want to do parties on that day. And then keep them non-negotiable! Write in kids events, date nights with hubby, vacations, birthdays and birthday parties and plain old "just because" family time.
2. Power Hour - One of my favorite speakers in the direct sales field is Belinda Ellsworth. Her power hour is a tremendous way to manage your business life. It's simple too! Here's the quick rundown: Take 4 manila folders. Mark 1 as recruiting, 1 as booking, 1 as customer service and 1 as downline management. Decide on an hour in your day when you are going to work the phones for your business. Take your folders, set a timer and work each folder for 15 minutes only. When the 15 minutes is up, move to the next folder. As you interact with customers, recruits and downline put the information in these folders until the next time you sit down for your power hour. You will be amazed at how much work you can really accomplish when you are focused for that hour of time.
3. Office door - Use it! After you are done with your power hour or email time or whatever, walk out of the room and CLOSE the door! Or if you're working with the laptop (see below) turn it off and close the laptop.
4. Get a laptop. A laptop with wireless Internet is a great tool for moms. You can get them pretty inexpensively now too. While the kids are doing their homework, pop open the laptop, sit WITH them and do your emails then. When they're done with the homework, close the laptop and be done with your work as well.
5. Freedom Friday - Decide on one day in each week where you will be "off". This can be Friday or any day, but decide on it and then actually do it. Commit to it with your kids, put it on your calendar and enjoy it. You'll love it and the emails can wait! Once your customers and downline understand that this is your day off, they will respect it.
6. Use the "open date card "concept. Determine which days of the weeks you'll be doing parties and write those down on a separate booking calendar or individual party date cards. When you are at your parties and getting future bookings only book parties on the dates that you set in advance on that calendar or on the cards. If someone needs a different date than you have available, find her another consultant (preferable in your downline!) to take the party.
7. Automate - Use the tools of the Internet to automate as much of your business as you can. Use an auto-responder for your recruit email packets and your downline training. Have a voicemail message available with a 10-minute presentation on your business that potential recruits can call before they call you with questions. Do conference calls with your downline so that you can address issues with the whole group rather than one on one with each of them, etc.
8. Involve your kids - Make your direct sales business a family affair. Employ your children to help with putting labels on catalogs, filing your paperwork, packing up your supplies for your parties, making the bank deposits, etc. As they get older their work responsibilities can increase too. You can even pay them tax-free and write it off as a legitimate business expense. Talk to your accountant about this great home business benefit.
9. Hire a maid. If your business is really on a roll and you need to spend more time on business, don't take that time away from your family, take it away from other parts of your life, like the housecleaning instead. Hire a maid to do the big housecleaning jobs and use the time you'd normally be doing that to hang with the kids. It'll be worth every penny.
10. Have fun - remember that your kids are only young once. They need you to be mommy FIRST and businesswoman second, even if your family does need the extra money your Direct Sales business brings in. Work smarter, not harder and enjoy your kids while you can.
About the Author:
Annette Yen is a successful direct sales consultant and mom to two lovely daughters. Find more details about the ideas above at her website: http://www.directsalesmentoring.com .
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