Take Your Direct Sales Business Online
Online Marketing Tips And Techniques For Direct Sales
Here are some quick tips on how and where to start online. Even if your company does not allow online marketing, no worries - there are still some things you can do.
Contents at a Glance
- Free Bookmarking And Backlinking
- Essential Online Tools For Direct Seller...
- Why Use A Blogging Platform For Your Dir...
- Your Time On The Internet
- Direct Sales Resources
- A Customer Blog For Your Direct Sales Bu...
- How To Build A Social Networking Profile
- Social Networking - The Good, The Bad, a...
- Where to Network Online
Essential Online Tools For Direct Sellers
You Must Have These...
-
Personal Website
This is the ideal tool to brand you. A personal website can tell the world about you, your products, and your company. And if search engine optimized- on site and off-site- properly, this website could bring prospects to you. Keep your company's guidelines in mind. If marketing your company online is restricted, you'll need to build a business site about yourself without mentioning the company. -
AutoResponder/Contact Manager
This is a necessity to keep in touch with prospects who arrive at your website and your customers. For direct sales, the best are the ones with the built in contact manager. You can record retail and fundraising all under one tool. The drawback for this type of system is the inability to track online responses. If you are engaged in internet/affiliate marketing as well as your direct sales company, you'll want each tool separate.
Why Use A Blogging Platform For Your Direct Sales Website
I started out in 2001 building static sites for my direct sales business. Eventually I added a blog or two. About four years ago I discovered that a Wordpress blog can manage your content and blog at the same time. Wordpress.org allows for extreme flexibility and customization. I have used Blogger and still do on a limited basis, but do realize they can change their terms and lock your blog.
Your Time On The Internet
Direct Sales Resources
A Customer Blog For Your Direct Sales Business
Hands Down The Best Use Of The Internet For Your Business

Perhaps the best use of a blog for direct sales is a customer focused blog/CMS. A blog can give your customers information and service without your presence being required. Write about products, give helpful tips on using products, relay information on related topics. For example, if your product line is centered on wellness, have a healthy recipe section of your blog. You may want to list party and hostess information as well. Always have a contact form that links to a newsletter. If your customer focused blog is fun and informative, you will have made it easy for your customers to recommend your services.
How To Build A Social Networking Profile
Social Networking - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The internet can be an excellent resource for those involved in direct sales. Networking online can be useful in gaining sales as well as new recruits for your business. It is also a place for you to build your reputation as a business owner. With that in mind, you need to be aware of the various rules of the places you visit on the net. Usually blatant advertising is a no-no, but a well formed signature line at the end of posts is fine.Good "behavior" in online communities include: offering solid advice and encouragement, having a positive attitude, making a contribution.
Bad behavior: being only interested in promoting yourself, company, or products; plagiarizing another's articles, saying bad things about another's company
Ugly behavior includes: getting into arguments, spamming, being offensive, calling names
In everything you do online, be aware that what you may write now will be seen by a prospect Goggling your name in the future!
Where to Network Online

Online forums are excellent places for people in direct sales to network while online. Wahm.com and internetbasedmoms.com are two great places to start. You'll meet and network with moms that are very successful with their businesses as well as moms that are looking for a business to start and lots of moms somewhere in between.
You might also want to visit forums related to your niche or personal interests. Just remember to abide by general forum etiquette and do not spam or blast your message across the boards.
This has truly exploded! For those of you that haven't heard, Twitter is a micro blog (you are limited to 140 characters). If used correctly, Twitter can be used to meet new people or keep in touch with team members and customers. A little bit of personal goes a long way. I do not need to know your every daily movement. A blend of personal and business is good.
Bet you didn't know that Squidoo is a social network! Yes, you can create lenses, (like this) which are basically short articles on any topic that you care to write about. There are also many social networking groups here at Squidoo. Find some related to your lenses.
Great way to connect with people you know and haven't seen in a while.
More Direct Sales Ideas
Keeping Your Direct Sales Team Happy and Motivated Long Distance

You can include words of encouragement to get your team members excited about their business, offer tips like theme party ideas and maybe even let your team send in ideas that have worked for them. If you have a team website or blog, you can post it there.
Use these to train, motivate and connect the team. FreeConference.com is a good to try starting out with a small to medium size group. GoToWebinars.com is a popular webinar company. Record the call if possible for those who can't attend.
These can be done one on one or in small groups. With your personals or key players on your team. To keep things on track, it's wise to use a preset agenda or accountability tracking form for those attending.
You can buy these, use a card service, or get post cards from VistaPrint.com. Send them to welcome someone to the team, congratulate for sponsoring a consultant, landing a fundraiser, achieving a new leadership level.
More Information On Online Marketing
So Your Direct Sales Company Doesn't Allow Online Marketing...
If your company does not allow online marketing, the best thing you can do is to brand yourself. Create a blog about starting your business without mentioning the company- use generic terms. Blog about self-development, direct sales in general, marketing, etc. Develop a newsletter and post an opt-in on your blog. If your business is travel write about destinations. If your business is health and wellness, there are many health issues you can blog about. Get creative.
Website Resources
Wordpress.org
1 point
Blogger.com
0 points
Facebook.com
0 points
Download the FREE Autoresponder Plugin for Wordpress.
A free autoresponder plugin for Wordpress. Easy to more...0 points
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About The Author
How To Build Your Direct Sales Business Online
This UpMarket page written by
mmkellis
Deluxe. Remarkable. Creative. Unusual. Successful. Upmarket businesses push the envelope -- does yours?
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