Direct Sales Work At Home Business Tips

How to Get Over a Setback in Business

Posted by Chris | Posted on 05-05-2012

Category : Direct Sales Work at Home Business Tips, Small Business Tips

Tags: direct sales business, small business, work at home tips

Have you ever suffered a setback in your business? It happens every so often and sometimes it can be tough to get back on the proverbial horse. It can happen and you may have lost confidence in yourself and your abilities. However, the longer you wait to start working your business, the harder it will be to get going again. The following are some tips to help you overcome a setback and get your business back on track!

Stay Structured
A structured schedule is important in your small business. It can serve as both a reminder and motivator to help you move forward. As the old saying goes “plan your work and work your plan”.

Learn New Skills
Learning new skills can help motivate you. You may choose to take a class that will further develop skills you already have or learn something new entirely. There are many options for how to expand your skills and training. Look at formal classes at your local college, listen to conference calls and teleclasses, or simply buy a business-related book at the bookstore.

Hire a Business Coach
A business coach can help you evaluate your business, as well as your strengths and weaknesses. Every small business owner should have someone that can help you stretch. Coaches can help you formulate a plan to get back into action and provide motivation to help you succeed.

Outsource Tasks
If there is a particular task that you do not enjoy and you find it becoming a hindrance to your business, outsource the task to a professional. The task will be completed on a regular basis quickly and efficiently so you can move on to work you enjoy.

Check Your Work Environment
Mixing up your work environment can energize you and breathe new life into your business. For instance, if you tend to work exclusively online with clients, try finding some local ones to work with. This also will apply to where to you too. Do you work in an enclosed room or office? Change things up and grab a laptop for working at a coffee house or outside a few hours a day. It will bring a new perspective.

Try a Joint Venture
Look at teaming up with someone on a joint venture. This can bring some excitement and fun back into your business and it can also be a great way to get over a setback. You will be able to dive back into a project, but will have another person to share the work with. This can help alleviate any pressure you feel about your tasks. Having a partner to bounce ideas off and brainstorm with can add a fun element to your business.

Use Your Strengths and Skills
Think about what your strengths are and use those skills in your business. If you work on activities that you don’t feel you do particularly well, you may end up feeling challenged and unsuccessful. People tend to excel when doing tasks they are good at. It will make your work a lot more enjoyable when you work consistently on things that you do well.

Reward Yourself
Don’t lose your momentum when you have a setback. It is easy to sit back and blame yourself, but don’t beat yourself up. It is a learning experience. Look what you did that was not effective and improve it. You do not have to be an overnight success, but once you get to success levels in your business, make sure to reward yourself for a job well done!

Tips for Using Twitter to Market Your Direct Sales Business

Posted by Chris | Posted on 31-01-2012

Category : Direct Sales Work at Home Business Tips, Social Media for Direct Sales

Tags: direct sales marketing, social media training

If you are in a direct sales business using social media is becoming a valuable method of marketing your business. There are many different platforms that you can use and Twitter has become a very strong one to use for business. There are some right and wrong ways to use it properly so here are some tips on how to use Twitter for marketing your direct sales business.

First of all, make sure your profile has a picture of you and your page has information about who you are and what you do. On Twitter, people still want to work one on one so it is important to follow people you are interested in so they want to follow you too. A picture makes it more personal.

When you are on Twitter, talk to people. How else will you get to meet new people and learn about their business? Be a Re-tweeter of others tweets too. This shows that you are interested in what they have to say and want to share it with your following.

Never sit on Twitter and just tweet out links to your products or sales. Your tweets need to be something of interest most of the time and a few links to your products some of the time. People will need to trust you first before they buy so show that you are informative and helpful. Show yourself as someone that wants to bring information to others. This will gain your followers.

If you want to find other direct sellers or have them find your posts, you can include what is called a hash tag or a # sign. The direct sellers usually use #dstips or #directsales hash tag when they are posting links, tips and information that a direct seller would be interested in. This helps narrow the field and allows someone to find your tweets long after something has been tweeted.

This is only a basic tutorial to get you going on Twitter. There are so many other tips and tricks to using Twitter to enhance your direct sales business. In order for your Twitter page to be a success you do need to commit to posting several times a week at various times to gather followers and interest. But once you get going you will find it a bit addictive yet a great tool for a direct sales business.

It’s Not to Late to Reach Your Goals! Finish the Year With a Bang

Posted by Chris | Posted on 17-12-2011

Category : Direct Sales Tips, Direct Sales Work at Home Business Tips, Home Party Plan Tips

Tags: sales goals

The end of the year is looming! Are you on target with your goals?

It’s not too late to reach your goals!

If increasing your sales is on your goal list this year, make sure to bring your books, samples of your products or at the very least business cards when you are visiting family and friends during the holiday break. IN your general chit chat you can mention what you are working on. Every one loves looking at catalogs and you can get some sales. Many ladies get Christmas cash they may want to spend on something just for them! Why not spend it with you.

If increasing your team is on your goals this year, chat up how great your business is and ask everyone to join your business. You never know who needs extra cash especially with Christmas bills to pay in January. IT is an excellent time to start a new business!

These are just 2 of the more popular goals that direct sales reps have on their radar each year. What other pressing goals do you have on your list? Do something before the end of the year to work towards making a difference with them.

Be proactive right up to December 31 and you can attain what you want.

Its Never to Early to Get Ready for Holiday Sales in Your Direct Sales Business

Posted by Chris | Posted on 22-09-2011

Category : Direct Sales Work at Home Business Tips, Home Party Plan Tips

Tags: direct sales tips, holiday sales, party plan tips

Copyright Chris Carroll and DirectSalesTalk. If you see this on any other site without my byline, please let me know.

I know it is scary to think about it, but the Holidays are really right around the corner. With October knocking on our door, 3rd quarter is when direct sales and party plan businesses can really make an impact on sales. Starting to plan your sales now means you can make some serious cash and take your business to the next level.

Many of the direct sales businesses have their holiday books out or shipping very soon. One of the first things you want to make sure that you do is to purchase any demos you need now, before they are sold out. Holiday product are in limited supply since your company does not want left overs so your demos are in limited supply too.

Next get your calendar ready. Mark out your party days, plan your Open Houses and get prepared to sell. Check your supplies and work ahead in the next few weeks gathering items for drawings or special promos that you may want to incorporate into your parties or Open House.

Get your lists ready for invitations to your Open House and any special events that you are attending or holding. Work on any special mailings needed for post card or flyer announcements and order supplies for that or work on your graphic if you are printing them yourself. Also place your holiday card order so those can go out early so remind people of your services.

Order your cello wrap for gift baskets and products so you can wrap purchases as gifts, if that is a service you offer.

Start booking your Holiday parties now before the crush in on. Let you hostesses know that booking now will guarantee them the perfect spot and some great gifts too. Lots of new items to excite them! Get your new catalogs in to the hands of your customers now so they can be excited too and plan their purchases.

Talk to people about starting their business now in time for the holiday sales. By adding recruits before the holiday is here, you are setting them up for success. Big sales during the holidays help make it harder for people to leave or slow down after the holiday is done not to mention they love making money for Christmas!

By taking some time now to plan for your busiest sales quarter, you are going to be ahead of schedule and have no stress going into the big Holiday push. Plan your work and work your plan will mean serious success in growth and sales in your direct sales party plan business this holiday season!

Keep Your Work at Home Business Out of Debt

Posted by Chris | Posted on 15-08-2011

Category : Direct Sales Work at Home Business Tips

Tags: budgets, business expenses, business tips

Copyright Chris Carroll and DirectSalesTalk. If you see this on any other site without my byline, please let me know.

We all know that the reason so many of us work from home is to earn money, but it is critical to our business health that we keep our business finances in black and put some away for a rainy day as well. We need to keep our business account out of debt.

We work hard and celebrate when our business makes money. It is important to pay ourselves with some of the proceeds on a weekly or bi weekly basis to validate your hard work. It is also just as important to save a portion of your income for other expenses, such as taxes, business expenses like hosting, graphics creation, and other issues such as returns, if you sell product. I think it is important to keep a slush fund as well for any unexpected expenses that can pop up.

One great thing about having our work at home business is that we can add to the family income and take over a specific bill or two just to alleviate the pressure. We also need to make sure that we are using part of our business income as savings for the family as well. Setting yourself a business budget can really make a difference in how you look at your business.

First, pay yourself and your family. If your income varies on a weekly or bi weekly basis, set a percentage rate that you should take for your payday. It can be 60-70% of your income. Next set aside at least 20% for your expenses and an additional 10-15% for taxes. Whatever is left over, leave it in your account to accrue. You never know when additional expenses will pop up and that 5-10% can really come in handy to cover some of that. After 6 months or when you have a nice slush fund built up, transfer it to a savings vehicle for your family and continue to save in your business account.

If you sell product, set a limit on how much you can spend on yourself. Yes, it’s nice to be able to save by getting your goods at a discount. But remember, if you spend it, then that is less that you are paying yourself in cash each week.

By following these suggestions, you will soon be seeing some money adding up in your account. It will feel nice to know that you are covered in case expenses come up and it will impress your spouse as well! Running your business in the black and debt free is a great feeling. Turn your business into a healthy savings machine today and reap the benefits tomorrow.