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

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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

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Posted by Chris | Posted on 22-09-2011

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

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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!

copyright Chris Carroll 2011

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

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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.

Copyright Chris Carroll 2011

Keeping Your Focus While Working Your Home Based Business

Posted by Chris | Posted on 15-08-2011

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

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

Working from home has its blessings and its curses. Many people think that working from home is easy. You are just going to pump out so much work, it will be insane! Then reality hits… Your To Do list is growing instead of shrinking and you feel like a wild animal running in circles. Most of us that work from home have had those days and can relate. So, how do you keep your focus when you are working in your home based business?

Losing focus can come from many different things. Distractions would be number one, I would think. Kids need you, dog needs out, spouse needs something… whatever it is, your concentration just got broken. One of the easiest ways to deal with distractions is to set office hours. Sit down with your family and figure out when you will be working. During that time frame that they helped you set, they cannot bother you unless there is blood.

It is easy to lose focus when you forget a task or project and all of a sudden you have to handle it so you put aside what you have been working on, incomplete. Get in the habit of using your calendar and set yourself auto reminders, if you have to. Write everything down and make sure you are using your to do list. You have to know what is coming up so you can schedule your time appropriately.

Some people find that setting blocks of time for certain tasks helps them keep their focus on the job at hand immensely. If you have business calls to make, give yourself 15 minutes a day to complete those calls. Maybe you have blog posts to write. Again, set blocks of time for writing. Whatever your job consists of, break it up and set a timer. Learn to work within the time limits. What people find is that if they know they have 1 hour to get their newsletter completed, then they work like heck to get it done within that time frame and maybe even start on the next one. The time blocking goes for social media and email too. These are both big time and focus suckers.

Becoming more efficient at your job creates a lot less time spent jumping from this duty to that duty. Once you start a job, make yourself complete it all the way through. Soon you will find you are spending less time actually working your home based business because your focus is laser sharp and more time with the family enjoying what you worked so hard to provide.


Copyright Chris Carroll 2011

Business Cards Still Pack a Powerful Punch for Marketing Your Business

Posted by Chris | Posted on 13-08-2011

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

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

Many people think that business cards are a thing of the past. They have been around for years and years and haven’t really changed that much. Many, and I may even go so far as to say, Most people with internet business don’t even have one.. do you?

But here is the drill. Business cards still pack a powerful punch when it comes to using them for marketing your business. If you have an online or and offline business, you need a business card. Why?

Here are a few things to think about regarding this little piece of precious cardstock.

* You are out running errands and run into an old friend who has lost your number and you really want to get back together with her… pull out your business card

* You meet a new friend at the college class that you are taking and want to meet for coffee later in the week… pull out your business card

* You have a friend that knows a friend that wants your products or want to learn more about your business… give her several of your business cards

* You are recommending a friend to another associate and want want the associate to know where the lead came from… give them your business card

* You have a business associate interested in networking with you… swap business cards

* You really want to grow your business both offline and online… have business cards

* When it is hard to describe all of the things you do in your business… have business cards to offer so people can checkout your site

* When you want to promote your business by growing your customer base… use business cards with discount codes on them

* You are at a professional marketing event…. you better have business cards

* You are out networking in your community… you better have business cards

Do any of these scenarios sound like something you have been involved in?

As you can see, these little pieces of paper happiness really carry a powerful impact for your business. You can use them to tell the world about you and your business, regardless if it is offline or online.

You think cards are boring? Spice them up! Get creative! I have seen business cards made in the shape of a circle, in bright colors, out of magnets, in a funky font, use glitter, use leopard print, printed vertically instead of horizontally… whatever you want to do to your business card the better.

Besides it needs to reflect you and your business. So if you want to make an impact, get some business cards and market the heck out of your business!


Copyright Chris Carroll 2011

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