4 Things to Think About Before Joining a Direct Sales Business

Posted by Chris | Posted on 10-05-2011

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

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With the economy such as it is, many families are looking to home based direct sales business to supplement or replace an income. If you are looking for a direct sales or home based business, there are a few important things you need to consider before choosing a company to work with. You want to make the right choice the first time, so take is slow and so some research.

Although it may seem like working at home is a dream come true, it is actually quite difficult for some. Blending in family, household and work can be a challenge. Here are some tips for you to decide if this is right for you.

1. Depending on your product line, you may have evening parties. Are you and your family flexible enough to handle this? You can double book and hold several on weekend days, but many weekday eves are party nights.

2. You will have to allow time for trainings and meetings with your manger and her team. This is especially important when you are first starting your business. You need a much support as you can get! Can you manage to include this in your schedule?

3. Part of your profits will be spent on supplies, so while you may be thinking you are making 40 or 50% in reality you will be making less. You need to manage your expenses and keep them low in order to make a good profit.

4. You are the CEO of your new business that will entail a lot of work on your part. This will include finding customers, hosting parties, selling product and advertising your business. If your business is local, it may also include deliveries and many more tasks. Make sure you have time enough to handle all of the work so you will soon get overwhelmed.

Does this sound like something you would enjoy and have time for? Study this list well and think of other things that will be involved once you decide on a business. Your manager can help you. Yes, a direct sales business is fun, but it is also something that you have to manage and incorporate into your family as well.

Now Hiring!

Posted by Chris | Posted on 25-01-2011

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

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I have a big issue with these two words! Especially when you are talking about a work at home business, MLM or direct sales business. I have addressed this issue before about using “Now Hiring” writing business ads on a blog post located here. I was not seeing it as much for a while, but now it is cropping up again. I was on Facebook the other day and saw a National Corporate Direct Sales Business, whom shalll remain nameless, use “Now Hiring” in their recruiting Ad!

Are you serious??

What in the heck is a INDEPENDANT REP supposed to think when they are “hired”, by paying their money, for a job?

“Ummmm HELLO? Where are my leads? Where is the money you say I would make? Oh, I have to do this alone? But You “Hired” me!”

WHAT THE HECK??
Yes, I know I am “yelling”. But this really ticks me off. I cannot believe that in this day and age, we are still seeing this blantant type of deceitful advertising. Hopefully, most people know that they are not reallying hired; they are starting their own business, but you never know!

I, for one, think this practice needs to stop immediately.

Just my .01 cent worth…
hrumpf

The Challenges of Direct Selling

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Posted by Chris | Posted on 20-01-2011

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

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Those of us that are in the direct sales profession know that there are some challenges that come with the territory of developing this type of home based business. We work hard to overcome some of the hardships and the stigma that tends to come with being a direct seller. Sometimes that is not always possible, but those looking to get into this business should know that it exists and be prepared to deal with it.

One of the main challenges that exist is the fact that the direct sales industry has been hit hard in the past by past claims of huge income in a short amount of time. Most companies now prohibit the claims of huge riches and admit freely that this is an industry where you have to work hard to succeed. Can it be done? Oh yes it can. There are hundreds if not thousands of direct sales reps and MLM reps out there making full time wages and even more. They are earning money through the sale of product and through recruiting team members. So if they can do it, you can do it.

Another challenge is the stigma that being in direct sales can have with some people. You may get the “look” of disgust and the “oh, you are selling that? WHY?” Never let the turkeys get you down! You know your why and stick to it. You love your product and you made an informed decision to join that company. Never try to sell to someone that has emotionally given you the cold shoulder when you talk to them about your product. Well, unless you like annoying them, so that could be fun.

Challenge number three could be the actual growing of your business. It is a well known fact that you will have to work at your direct sales business. If you plan your work in sections of your day and stick to your plan, you can grow the business quickly. Start off with sales of products as that is where your immediate cash flow will come from. And that cash flow is a necessary thing when growing your business. It will help pay for books, ads and supplies. Along the way you can add in bringing on team members and recruiting. This will add an additional income stream that is different from your sales of your product. As you continue to grow your business, you will see your income continue to grow as well.

These are three of the biggest challenges you will see when starting your direct sales business. But if you focus on the answer of how to bridge the challenge, it does not have to be a difficult at all. Be informed and be successful.

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Copyright Chris Carroll ~ All Rights Reserved

Chris is a work at home mom that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing information and tips with others. You can find her at her business site Direct Sales Talk . She has also partnered with Shelly Hill on a product review site for small business owners at Two Classy Chics .

5 Traits of a Great Direct Sales Consultant

Posted by Chris | Posted on 22-10-2010

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

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Picture your favorite direct sales consultant. What qualities immediately come to mind when you think of this person? What makes you call her when you run out of your favorite product? Do you continue to hold shows for her over and over? Why? You can be just like her. Yes, you can learn to be a consultant that is as good as, or even better than, she is.

Below you’ll find a list of the five most important traits one needs to in order to become a great consultant. Some of these may already be a natural part of your personality or you may need to put forth some effort in order have these traits. The goal is to not just possess them, but to make them become second nature.

Honesty - First and foremost, a great consultant is honest. A successful consultant is honest in every area of her life. It’s obvious this person did not join the direct sales company just to make a buck. She is a consultant for a specific organization or company because she truly loves the product she is selling and honestly believes in it. The consultant’s integrity shines through in everything she does. Her customers never feel “snowed” by this type of consultant and they can rest assured she will always tell the truth in every situation.

In Depth Knowledge & Understanding of the Product - Extensive product knowledge is a must for every great consultant. She must be able to answer any questions that arise during shows or a consultation. If you don’t know your product, get to know it. Get sample sizes if possible and try everything out; feel it, touch it, smell it, taste it, read about it or whatever is appropriate in order for you to know your product inside and out. If you are asked a question about a new product that you don’t know the answer to yet, find out. Don’t waste any time in getting the answer to your customer either. If you hesitate too long, you risk losing the customer’s confidence in you, not to mention potential sales!

Organizational Skills – A great consultant is one who is organized. This is a trait that can be learned by those who were not born with the gift of organization in their genes. Organization is important no matter what type of business you are in because it helps you become more efficient. You don’t want to appear in disarray to your customers. They will lose confidence in you if you can’t find a sales order form or don’t have your catalogs organized and ready for a show. Getting organized does take time, but once you get there it actually saves you time! If you find it difficult to get things in order, find someone who enjoys organizational tasks to help you get organized. This can be a friend, family member or even a professional organizer, whatever it takes to get things in order. This person can help you organize your business files, products, brochures, customer files and receipts. Getting yourself organized is the hardest part of the battle. It’s much easier to keep yourself organized once you get that way first. Don’t be afraid to ask your helper to teach you how to STAY organized too. It won’t do you any good to become organized just to make a mess of everything again in a week or two.

Manage Your Time Wisely – Time management is a skill every great consultant must own. Again, if you are not good at time management take some courses or have someone you know teach you how to manage your time effectively. Time management is so important in direct sales because you need to be punctual to your shows, when interviewing potential new recruits and so on. If you are continually late to shows, or worse, cancel shows because you’ve double booked your clients will lose their confidence in you and in turn, you’ll lose business.

Enthusiasm & Motivation – And the final trait every great consultant will possess is excitement and motivation. Have you ever been to a show where the consultant was dull and boring? Did you want to buy anything? Being excited about what you’re doing and selling is one of the greatest “sales tools” you can possess. Your excitement will bubble over into your show and to your guests and they will be more likely to buy from you if you appear happy and excited about what you’re doing. If you are not a naturally outgoing person, you can learn to overcome shyness by practicing being enthusiastic. You read right; you can learn to be enthusiastic about what you do. Think about what you do, what you sell. What really motivates you about the product, what do you love about it? Think about those things when you are showing the product and the enthusiasm will naturally come out. As I said in number two, knowing your product is important and goes hand in hand with being excited about it.

You can be a great consultant by learning these traits and putting them into practice in every area of your life. By doing so, they will become natural to you and your clients will trust and love you. This in turn will lead them to you over and over again when they need something. Not only that they will also recommend friends and family to you, helping grow your business.

Where are Your Habits Leading You?

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Posted by Chris | Posted on 19-05-2010

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

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I have a guest Blogger today. Bill Bell is one of my upline and he wrote such a great article I had to share it with you all! Thanks for the inspiration, Bill!

Where are Your Habits Leading You?

Copywrite 2010 ~ By Bill Bell

You are an accumulation of your habits. From how you get out of bed to how you shower; how you dress; how you walk, sit and talk; how you respond to the world; how you act in front of others; and how you think, you are living out your habits. Habits are necessary. They free up your mind so that you can concentrate on how to survive every day. You don’t have to think about how to drive your car so you can be on the lookout for danger while you are driving. You don’t have to think about how to walk so you can concentrate on where you are going.

Unfortunately, habits can also keep you locked in self-destructive patterns, which will limit your success. To become successful, you will need to drop bad habits and develop new ones that are in line with the life you want to live. People do not suddenly appear in the life they want to live—habits determine their outcome! What are the habits you have that are keeping you from achieving your goals? Are you always running late? Do you return phone calls within 24 hours? Do you get enough sleep? Do you speak clearly and look people directly in their eyes? Do you eat healthy meals? Ask others what they observe about you and make a list of all the behaviors that keep you from success.

Imagine what your life would be like if all those habits were their productive counterparts. What would your life be like if you ate healthy meals, exercised and got enough sleep? What would your life be like if you saved money, stopped using credit cards and paid cash for everything? What would your life be like if you stopped procrastinating, overcame your fears and began networking with people in your field? Write down the more productive habits and visualize your life as it would be if they were your habits right now.

Decide to develop four of your new habits each year, one for each quarter. Create a method that will support your new habit. What will keep you motivated? How will you remind yourself of your new habit? You could write it down on a card that you keep with you and read over several times a day. You could make it a part of your daily visualization. You could enlist the help of an accountability partner who also has habits to change. Be specific about the steps that you are willing to take in order to drop an old habit and adopt a new one. Do not be vague about how you will change your habits. Spell it out for yourself so that you can recognize situations that call for you to act out your new habit.

Once you have picked your habit for that quarter, make a 100 percent commitment to stick to it. Do not tempt yourself by making it optional every time a situation arises. If your new habit is to go to bed by 10 p.m., then go to bed at 10 p.m., even if you are not feeling tired. Just go there and relax, read a book, visualize or meditate, but don’t compromise on your new habit. If you make an exception once, you are more likely to make an exception the next time, and soon you will be back to your old habits.

Even four new habits a year will dramatically shift your life to be more in line with your vision. And the more in line it becomes, the easier the other habits are to replace because your perspective is shifting and you see more clearly how your old habits are not serving you anymore. You can do it!

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