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Direct Sales Tips: Getting Back on Track After a Holiday Rush

DirectSalesGuy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:30:13 +0000

So you had a great holiday income with your direct sales business… that is GREAT! But don’t let this great holiday season of sales set you back. How, you ask? Well, sometimes a person will be so excited about the huge money they made for the prior month that they will relax for a few weeks or not get back to work as soon…

Don’t let this be you! You need to get right back to work in building your direct sales business, building your customer base, and advertising your company! A great holiday season of sales and commission can put a kink in your progress so don’t fall into this trap. It’s a new year and time for new goals.

Write down a list of your goals for the new year, for your direct sales business. Write down three goals for the year, three goals for the month, and three goals for next week.

Stick to these goals and keep on working on your direct sales business. A good month is a good thing, but don’t let your guard down… you need to keep at it!

Direct Sales Opportunity: Great College Student Jobs

DirectSalesGuy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:45:10 +0000

When taking college courses, living on campus, and studying, there is always need for more money as a college student. Regardless of how much the average college student claims to study, they always have some downtime. Most college students will take up jobs such as pizza delivery, customer service, or grocery store jobs. The problem with these jobs are they are not usually very flexible with a college student’s schedule.

When going through college, you have an ever changing schedule and most college jobs aren’t this flexible. This is why I feel that a direct sales business is perfect for college students. Direct sales businesses are the most flexible income you can make, in college or out. You set your own schedule and your own hours. This means, if you are a college student and have to join a study group last minute, you don’t have to worry about your employer not allowing you the time off.

Another GREAT reason that working in direct sales as a college student is that direct sales business thrive in social atmospheres. When working direct sales in college, you will have an endless supply of leads and customers if you are in the correct direct sales business. Your friends, classmates, roomates, and dorm mates will all either be interested in the products or know many friends and family that are interested.

So, to summarize this opportunity for direct sales in college, you get the best of both worlds. Great flexibility and endless supply of customers and leads. On top of this, you can make great money in direct sales. No bosses, no schedules, good money…. sounds like the college dream.

PS: If you are a business major, you will easily be able to turn your direct sales business into a self-employment opportunity that creates a great income and flexibility until you want to retire! Now that’s a great start in life!

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Do you have “Natural” Direct Sales Skills

DirectSalesGuy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:09:11 +0000

When you purchase something… a car, a boat, clothes, new electronics, or anything else along those lines, do you tell everyone about them? Do you call your friends or family members or go visit them just to tell about your purchase and show them? Do you try to sell them on the same features that helped make the decision for you to purchase? Has anyone bought something because you told them about it or talked them into it?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you have natural direct sales skills. These are the same skills that a good direct sales representative or consultant have and use everyday in their business. To simply the role of a good direct sales rep, the above is how you make sales. You talk to people about the product or service, and tell them why you own it and why they should own it. You bring your excitement with you into the conversation and you send that excitement to your customer or client.

Direct sales is really that simple. Of course, there are some nuances of conversing with clients and customers, but it comes with time and will work it’s way into your own sales skills over time.

If you answered no to the questions in the first paragraph, well, don’t worry. If you are interested in direct sales, you can learn these skills. They are very easy to learn but it could take more time if you are an intravert. But don’t let this discourage you, hard work will pay off in the end!

The Perfect Direct Sales Representative

Direct Sales and Social Networking Websites

DirectSalesGuy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:18:25 +0000

Everyone knows of the top social websites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and the list goes on. How can these websites help with direct sales, or can they help at all with something like direct sales? Of course they can!

I have used these websites for direct sales myself and can tell you from experience that they do in fact work but you must use them correctly. You will have limited success by just “spamming” your products and services on these websites. Don’t expect this technique to generate anything more than mere annoyance of your friends, family, and network friends.

What these websites are better for is letting your “network”, which includes your friends and family, that you are now a representative of whatever company you are selling for. Tell them about the company, what products they offer, how they are useful and general information. Then, let your network of friends know that they can join your team and you can help them with it and help them make money and be successful after joining your team.

The reason these social websites are better for building a team rather than selling products is because you will have better luck generating sales in front of people in person where they can see, touch, and experience the products. On the other hand, when hearing of your direct sales position and how it is helping you earn extra money, they will often be interested in checking it out themselves.

We all know Twitter is the most impersonal version of these social websites, so try to interact with your twitter followers and the people you follow in hopes that they will then notice when you tweet about your direct sales position and how joining your team can help them.

So use these social websites as a vehicle for recruiting your team rather than trying to make a few quick sales. As I have previously stated… a good team will bring income multiple times over whereas a quick sale is a one time shot in the dark.

Good luck and happy socializing!

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The Perfect Direct Sales Representative

DirectSalesGuy — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:37:00 +0000

When it comes to direct sales, it can pay in the long run to be aggresive and forward with your product or service, but it can also hurt your image and sales. How aggressive is too aggressive? There is a fine line, when it comes to direct sales, of being too forward and pushing potential customers and clients away and having just the right amount of aggressiveness to make sales to the customers that are “on the fence”.

Be honest and let your emotions show your customer why the product or service you are selling is a necessity to them. Don’t just start a conversation with a total stranger with the reasons your product or service is the best and why they need it. Your approach should be very light and a way to get some information from the person. You need to build up an “arsenal” to use as a way to introduce your product or service. During first contact, you should listen 80% and speak 20%. This is your chance to find out about them and incorporate why they should need your product or service.

Direct sales representatives that listen the majority of the time are the few that will become very successful in direct sales. If your idea of selling to a total stranger is bombarding them and pushing them to purchase, you should think about your approach and why it is too aggressive. Do you notice how pushy car salesmen are? This is why you see so many people looking at cars on lots AFTER the dealership has already closed… they don’t want to deal with the car salesman. These people that wait to search for cars after the dealership closes are going to find the car they want to purchase, and then they are going to go to the dealership when it is open and probably buy it through the salesman that stands out to them as kind and caring, not pushy and aggressive.

Don’t be “that” direct sales representative. If you push a customer into a purchase and they are not happy that they purchased it later on, who are they going to tell the product about? No one! What they will tell people is that they shouldn’t deal with you and to stay away. People are much more willing to tell friends, family, and even strangers about a bad sales experience than they are about a good sales experience.

With direct sales, you want people to be happy because they will spread the word and you will get referrals and friends of that customer coming to you to purchase. Family members and friends of your existing customers will provide a lot of your future business, so pushing them will just be detrimental to your future business. The customers of a pushy direct sales representatives will be much more inclined to spread the word of why NOT to deal with you and your sales business.

Remember, when it comes to being the perfect direct sales representative, you want to listen more and speak less. Find out about your customer and then find ways to show them that they have need or use for your product or service. This is the key to running a successful direct sales business from day one.

What do you think? Feel free to comment below!

Direct Sales Opportunity: Is It Right For You?

DirectSalesGuy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:24:13 +0000

Working as a direct sales consultant, direct sales rep, or whatever else direct sales companies call their salespeople, is not for everyone. Direct sales does take commitment, dedication, and time. Then why would someone want to take a position in direct sales? What is the direct sales opportunity?

The opportunity that direct sales position brings to the table is the flexibility of time, schedules, income, and management. As a direct sales consultant, you have the flexibility to set your own hours, work on your own schedule, and not have an official boss to answer to. On the other hand, this flexibility can be what hurts your success as a direct sales representative. If you have a hard time with commitment, working when someone isn’t watching you, or just motivation in general, then this flexibility could be detrimental to your direct sales career.

In order to have success in direct sales, and create a business that provides you with a full time income and beyond, you must have some drive and motivation that will keep you working even when you don’t have anyone to answer to. Actually, you do have someone to answer to: yourself. If you can stay on track, and work when needed and be an outgoing and personable direct sales rep, you will have success in direct sales.

Let’s look at the benefits of flexibility when it comes to direct sales. You set your own schedule and hours. If you need time for an appointment, a day off for a short vacation, time to yourself… you can take this time and not have to request it off or schedule it around what your boss will allow. Also, if you want to work more hours and make more income each month, you can do this as well. With direct sales, you will make more money with the more work you put in. At a normal 9 to 5 job, you are going to make the same amount of money each month if you work hard or work just enough. With direct sales, your income will increase if your commitment and dedication increase.

Another benefit of direct sales is that you can do it part time and still make a decent amount of extra money each month. You can work a few hours each week with your direct sales business and receive a decent commission check each month as well as free products, depending on your direct sales company’s compensation plan. You can work your direct sales for a few hours each week and build enough business and income to allow yourself the option of deciding to quit your regular job and move into a full time business that gives you the greatest flexibility.

Direct Sales Representative: Overcoming Competition

DirectSalesGuy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:48:37 +0000

Direct Sales Representative: Overcoming Competition

There has been a major increase of individual direct sales representatives over the past couple of decades. The reason for this increase is because people are looking for ways to avoid a traditional 9 to 5 job and want to control their own income. Direct sales is a way to avoid dealing with a boss or a set schedule, and a way to work from home and even love what you do!

With this increase of individual direct sales representatives on the loose, selling has become more competitive. The good news is that there has always been a huge market for direct sales agents. The convenience and quality of using the direct sales method to purchase products or services has created this market. Techniques that worked well for direct sales two decades ago still work today, but the popularity of the internet and other information delivery vehicles have given direct sales representatives new ways to accomplish their sales goals.

Mail marketing, print ads, and bulletin boards can still do wonders for your direct sales business, but there is competition out there and it is increasing. It is imparative that you stay creative in your marketing and try new ways to get yourself into the public with your products or services. Sure, you can just use the old techniques you have always used, but you may notice your sales go down, and the sales of your team go down slowly. Creativity can be what puts you above the rest in your area and creates the success you are striving for.

The internet has become the best way to market your team and recruit a solid group of direct salespeople under you. With some work and creativity, you can build a team across the world that is making you money. 20 years ago, it was rather difficult to build a team without filling your own territory with tons of competing salespeople. Now, it is easier than ever. Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and all the other social networks online today can be one of your greatest assets when building a team. If you are already using these services, great! You have a jump start on the competition. If you are not already utilizing these services then start now, they are free and they will help immensely.

If you are in direct sales already, then you must remember that as the world advances and new technologies are introduced, you must embrace them and utilize what they have to offer. If you don’t use these new ways to promote yourself, your products, or your team, you are missing out because other people in direct sales ARE going to use them and leave you behind. Learn to adapt to your environment, whether it be technology or mentality. Use what you can to improve your marketing and sales generation no matter how new or old the methods are. Results are what matters and you should do whatever it takes to create more sales and more leads each and every day.

What is Direct Sales?

DirectSalesGuy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:36:14 +0000

What exactly is Direct Sales?

Direct sales is a method of selling a consumer product or a service, person-to-person and away from a fixed retail location. These consumer products are sold through in-home product demonstrations, “home parties” and one-on-one selling by salespeople. Such products or services are usually marketed to customers by independent salespeople or teams of salespeople. Depending on the sales company structure, the salespeople may be called consultants, distributors, representatives, or a number of other different titles. Direct sales can be a part time job or a full time business, depending on the needs and wants of the salesperson. Direct sales is one of the oldest sales methods still going strong today.

Industry representative, the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), reported that its 59 regional member associations had accounted for over US$114 Billion in retail sales in 2007, through the activities of over 62 million independent sales representatives.

According to the WFDSA, consumers and customers benefit from direct sales because of the high quality of service, convenience, delivery method, and the satisfaction gaurantees provided. A major benefit to an individual that wants to begin a career in the independent direct selling business is the usually low startup costs. Most companies require little or no required inventory or other cash commitments to begin. If a company you are interested in joining does require high costs for inventory and startups, be very careful. These companies may actually be pyramid schemes, not direct sales companies.

Research by the United States Direct Selling Association (DSA) reported that in the year 2000, 55% of adult Americans had at some time purchased items or services from a direct sales consultant and 20% reported that they were currently(6%) or had been in the past(14%) a direct sales consultant.

Direct sales is different from direct marketing because it is focused on individual sales agents contacting, networking, and dealing directly with clients and customers. Direct marketing is business organizations more focused on seeking a relationship with their customers without going through a salesperson or retail outlet.

Direct sales companies also usually offer a multi-level compensation plan that greatly benefits the individual consultants. Not only does the company pay commission to the salesperson for their own individual sales, but they will also pay bonuses on sales of other salespersons that were introduced and trained by that particular salesperson. Not only can someone make decent income by networking and selling the services or products, but by building and training a large successful team of individual consultants.

Direct sales can be the key to running your own business and being able to control your income. With a successful direct sales company and a well thought out plan of attack, Direct Sales can be your ticket to freedom from bosses, commutes, and time restraints.