Holding Your First Direct Sales Party
The popularity of having parties at home continues to grow and direct selling home party companies are a very lucrative business. Whether you like to sell food, adult products, dishes, toys, books, purses or jewelry there is something out there to satisfy everyone.
Once you have your niche and are enrolled in the company you’ve chosen, you’re ready to hold your first party. Having your first party can seem a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Ask your direct sales leader for help and ideas. Invite plenty of family members and friends. Having people you know and that you’re comfortable with attend the first party especially, versus complete strangers, will give you added confidence.
Invite two to three times as many people as your guest list is made out for. This will fill your meeting space even if you have some no-shows and hopefully land you some new customers as well. Be sure to invite anyone you’d like to recruit for your down line, too.
Life gets in the way and we all have other obligations. Sometimes guests won’t be able to make it. By inviting an additional guests you won’t have to worry about short-falls on your guest list.
Be sure to give your guests advance notice of your party. Doing so will help them to plan their schedules accordingly and you’ll have a better chance at a full house. If you give someone a month’s notice, they’re likely to forget. Giving two to three weeks notice is plenty of time for them to pencil in your party date.
Be sure to follow up with a phone call since you want to make sure everyone got their invitations. A good time to call is a few days after sending out the invitations. Then call again a few days prior to the date of your party to remind everyone and get an idea of who plans to attend.
Talk about your products to everyone. In direct selling, many companies push the phrase, “The Power of Three.” Every day venture out and talk to at least three people about your product. Show excitement. Let everyone know how wonderful your products are and how happy you are to be with the company.
Hand out business cards and invite people to a home party. If they’re unable to attend, give them a catalog so they can be ready for future parties and orders.
Serve light refreshments at your party. Most home parties last a couple hours. So make sure your guests are comfortable. Keep it simple and basic. Tea, coffee, bottled water, and soda allows something for everyone and isn’t too much work.
If your direct sales party requires cooking then your food is already taken care of. For others, it’s nice to have a snack for your guests. Again, keep it simple. A cheese and cracker tray or a vegetable and dip tray, or a pan of brownies are great.
Providing games is a fun way to increase sales. Start off with a “Get to Know Me” game. Doing so will allow you to customize products that are most beneficial for your guests. Games like Bingo and How Well Do You Know your Hostess is a nice way to offer product samples and everyone enjoys that.
The main thing to remember is to have fun. Enjoy yourself and your guests are sure to do the same. That will lead them to want to come to your next direct sales party… and even host one of their one!
Getting Started in Direct Sales
Been thinking about getting involved in this lucrative business of direct sales? Looking for a fun way to make some extra cash? This could be just the thing for you.
Starting your own direct sales business can open a door of opportunity that will allow you to surround yourself with something you love and make extra money doing it. Whether you want to start throwing purse parties at your home, start cooking demonstrations, or sell jewelry online through a website, direct sales could be the perfect business that you’ve been looking for.
Direct sales is simply selling products or services directly to the consumer, rather than to a business. It can be done through face-to-face contact or online, through catalogs only, or by holding home parties.
Anyone who loves dealing with people and has passion for helping them find the products they need at an affordable price can build a great business in direct sales. This is a business that women, in particular, find very appealing. That’s because it can be done from home and can be built around busy schedules filled with taking kids to school and extra-circular activities and just being a mom.
The amount of income earned in a direct sales business is completely dependent upon you. There’s no pressure to sell, so it makes a great part-time income for some, or just a nice way to earn nice bonuses and free products for simply throwing parties.
After becoming more comfortable with your business and seeing the potential for real income, many people turn this part-time business into full-time so they can earn all the bonuses and incentives the company offers.
You may wonder what you should sell when you decide that direct sales is for you. This is a big decision. There are hundreds of opportunities available, from holding candle to lingerie parties, or selling kitchenware through cooking parties. If there is a hobby or interest out there, there’s a direct sales opportunity associated with it. This doesn’t mean that you should enter into direct sales selling just anything.
In order to be successful at direct sales, you need to really be passionate about what you’re selling. You’ll make the most profit in direct sales if you enjoy people and feel comfortable talking to them.
Catalogues, parties, and sales supplies make it easy for direct sales consultants to share their products and services. But a shining attitude and a true enthusiasm for what you’re selling with take you a long way. After all, if you don’t believe in the product, why should anyone else? If you’re excited about the products you’re offering, that excitement is bound to rub off on customers and prospects. So make the decision about what company to join based on what you can really get excited about.
There are a huge volume of direct sales opportunities. Sadly, some direct sales companies are more concerned about profiting from new recruits than they are from actual customers.
Most direct sales companies are completely legitimate and can provide you with the means to earn a great income. But just like with anything else, there are some less reputable companies that take advantage of new consultants by requiring huge sums of money upfront. Not to say you shouldn’t invest anything! You probably should. Just be cautious of what you’re getting in return.
Reputable companies will can be found by asking around, reading the fine print on consultant agreements and calling the Better Business Bureau. Be sure a company has been in business awhile and that they don’t have a lot of customer complaints against them before you sign up.
Starting your own direct sales business can be fun and very profitable. Just think about what you’d like to do, take some time to check out a company before you sign up, and be prepared to give it your best effort. With a plan like that, you’re sure to be a success with direct sales!
Coaching Your Direct Sales Hostesses
Having a good hostess is one key to a successful direct sales business. It’s your hostess that your customers will deal with and ultimately, your hostess who will sell the product. The hostess has a stake in sales, too, since she’ll benefit from bonuses, incentives, and lower costs for getting sales.
Every hostess needs a good motivator. Being a hostess can be a tough job sometimes, especially if someone is doing it on a regular basis. Here are some tips for coaching your hostess to ensure that she’s always smiling, always ready to host a party, and always ready to sell your product.
Getting your hostess ready to sell will begin the first time you meet her. Make sure you give her with some good words of advice and support, and a packet of things she’ll need when talking to people about her party. This packet should include catalogues, some order forms, forms for collecting addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, and a wish list for her to start compiling a all the bonuses and incentives she wants to receive.
An unprepared hostess will feel uncomfortable because she won’t have the materials to help her when dealing with customers. Customers will pick up on this and won’t be confident in your company or products. So arming her with a simple starter packet will relieve tension and stress on her end, and give you peace of mind that the right information is getting out to customers.
From the first meeting with your hostess until the big sales event, it’s important to coach your hostess and give her the support she needs. Set gentle deadlines for her to have things such as her guest list confirmed, her wish list filled out, and a party checklist completed. These deadlines will give your hostess a clear-cut outline to follow and will make her feel more confident as she’s going through the party planning process.
During the party, collect contact information, order forms, and other important information from your hostess for each of the guests if you haven’t already. Once the hostess has completed a few events with your help, she’ll know to provide you with this information, but ensuring you ask for this information will help to ensure she doesn’t forget to give it to you.
At some point during the party, be sure to thank your hostess in front of the guests. Being a hostess is great and has its perks but it’s also hard work. Your hostess needs to feel appreciated so she’ll want to throw another party. Letting your guests know that she has worked hard for this party and that you appreciate it will go a long well to helping your hostess feel motivated.
While thanking your hostess, mention any free gifts or discounts she received for hosting the party. This might interest one of the guests to host their own party and you might just find yourself coaching another new hostess soon.
When you get a new catalogue or new products, you can hold a Hostess Appreciation Party at your home. This party would be just for previous hostesses and would be a great way to show them just how much you do appreciate all their hard work. Hostesses are your contact with customers so treat them just as you would want to be treated.
Set out samples of your new products and allow your hostesses to feel, smell, touch, and look at them. Getting your hostesses “up close and personal” with new products will give them a good knowledge and encourage them to have another party for you.
And any knowledge your hostess has will be passed right along to your customers. At the end of the party, make sure you have a small gift for each of them to show your appreciation in a tangible way.
Hostess coaching may take some effort, but it’s not difficult and the results you achieve will be well worth your time and energy when your sales continue to grow from successful home parties.
Successful Online Direct Sales Parties
Holding an online party can be a great boost to your direct sales income. In fact, the more the merrier, for added sales! If you’re considering this option to build your direct sales business, keep these ideas in mind as you prepare.
• Plan your party in advance. As with any other event, your direct sales online parties should be planned at least 1-2 weeks in advance. This gives you and your hostess plenty of time to invite guests, book a chat room, and get your games and prizes in order.
• Create a theme for your party. You can use graphics on your invitation to fit the theme, play games that tie in, and even offer prizes related to your theme. Possible theme ideas are unlimited, but consider holidays, seasons, specific products (such as candles, even though you sell other items), and more.
• Use social media to promote your party. Post about your event on Facebook and MySpace. Tweet about it (often) on twitter. Tell everyone you know online about your party and invite them to attend. Be cautious, though, to never SPAM or post inappropriately!
• Include some great sales the day of the party. You can either add them to your website or have guests order directly through you, but be sure to have some discounts that are only available to guests.
• Organize yourself and your party. Set up an agenda that you can follow so you know what comes next. Keep the ball rolling so your guests don’t get bored and offer lots of fun and activity for the most participation–and them most sales!
• Keep a positive and attitude. There’s nothing that can turn off a customer quicker than rudeness. Be sure there’s not even a hint of impatience or irritation in your dealings with your customers and guests for the most positive impact. Become known as the friendliest direct sales consultant around!
• Have fun! Remember… this is a PARTY! Make it feel like one! Don’t get so wrapped up in the business of the party that you forget to enjoy yourself and help your hostess and guests to do the same.
• End on time. If you say your party will end at 2:00, stop at 2:00 not 2:10 or 2:15. Your guests will be happy to know you kept your word and stayed on schedule. And they’ll be much more likely to attend the next party you hold.
• Send a follow-up note to everyone who attended. Thank your hostess for her help and participation. And thank your guests for attending. Ask them if they’d like to be on your mailing list to be informed of future parties. If not, be sure you honor their wishes, by not sending additional invites. But thank them for attending this time, anyway.
Holding online parties can be fun and extremely profitable for your direct sales business. Try your hand at this lucrative event and see if you don’t discover an additional sales strategy to build your customer base.
Direct Sales Tools: The Presentation
One of the key methods to becoming a successful direct sales person is learning to conduct a good presentation. Often direct sales consultants aren’t seasoned or professional sales people so they never receive training to help them improve in this area. Below are some tips to help you prepare and create a winning presentation every time to ensure you never lose a sale because of a poor presentation.
• Know Your Product
Since many direct sales consultants don’t get proper training from their upline they’re often thrown out into the field their with canned presentation materials and methods that were created by the company. As a result, the consultant may not know how to think on her feet and edit or customize the presentation for each prospect. And they often rely so heavily on the company presentation format that they don’t really learn the product which would give their presentations depth and charisma.
This is why it is so important to use, know and believe in the product you’re selling. This will give you great and relatable stories to tell during your presentation, and more passion for what you’re doing. You’ll also be able to customize your presentations and answer questions easily. There’ll be some products or items that your company sells that you’ll know more about. That’s ok. Your goal will be to know at least the basics about everything you offer so you can speak intelligently about the products.
• Don’t “Throw Up” on Your Prospect!
This is good advice when taken literally, but here it’s used as a metaphor! When you make your presentation, don’t just rattle off endless information about your direct sales products. This sounds like common sense, but many direct sales consultants use this method every time they present. Most consultants start by selling to their friends and family who are very tolerant, want to be supportive, and will most likely buy anyway. But if you’re in this to make a solid income, then you’ll soon exhaust your list of personal contacts and begin presenting to people you don’t know.
The best advice for you is to Listen More, Talk Less. Most of your presentation should involve you listening to the needs of your potential customer and seeing how your product can help him, or make him happy. This way you can tailor your presentation for the receiver–giving the highlights of what your product can do for him, how it can fulfill his needs, and how it can make his life better. Doing this will answer the big question all customers are secretly asking… WIIFM – “What’s In IT For Me!”
• Use Relationship Marketing
Relationship marketing is about long-term connections, not just transactions. In direct sales, you want to build a bond with your prospects so they’ll become long-term customers and advocates for your business. Your presentation needs to be about your customer, not you. This means asking questions, listening, being respectful and sincere. In other words, build your relationships deep, not wide.
Each prospect can become a customer or a part of your team, and they can bring you referrals, or become a winning sales person themselves; each of these scenarios will benefit your business. Getting to know the people you present to has so many advantages, such as loyalty to your product and you, fun interactions, added sales, and more. So, go deep rather than wide with relationship marketing and build off of each prospect. This is much more effective than trudging along simply looking for people to sell your products to.
• You’re Unique, So Be You!
Remember that “people buy you, not your product.” Sounds crazy, but it’s true. If you’ve been in sales for a bit, you will have experienced or heard of a situation where a direct sales person meets with a prospect, has a presentation, follows up, and does all the right things, but no sale. Then another rep comes along from the same company and “Bam!” gets the sale.
Looking at this you might say that the first sales person warmed them up or got them ready to buy and the second sales rep just took the order. That kind of thinking is okay for young consultants or those just starting out in direct sales, but once you’ve been around for awhile, you need to hold your ego in check and see that you can’t sell or build a relationship with everyone. And that’s okay!
Most times when you start a direct sales venture, you begin by meeting the top sellers in the company. Your first thought is ‘if I can be them then I will be successful.’ Wrong! You have your own unique selling style, you just need to find it and use it.
Start out by using the best practices and methods you’re given by your upline or company, then add your own style and flair in baby steps, if needed. This will make your sincerity, passion, and charisma shine through and these are sales presentation musts.
Frustration due to lack of sales is one of the reasons many direct sales consultants quit. Master these basic, but crucial concepts, and you’ll not only see your sales increase, but you’ll be less nervous and more confident when making a presentation.
Creative Ways to Generate More Direct Sales
Obviously, generating sales is the heart of any direct sales business. Without selling product you may as well give up and go wrap presents at Sears. But finding new and innovative ways to gain new sales can be challenging. Here are some ideas to help you get your creative juices flowing and start finding added product sales.
• Start a fixed term membership site for your target audience. Jimmy D. Brown is the creator and expert on fixed term membership sites. Read his articles, visit his Websites and learn all you can from the master.
The idea is to create a membership site where you periodically send out messages via autoresponder to your subscribers offering them valuable information that they can’t get anywhere else–for which they pay.
This technique is often used by Internet marketers, but can easily be adapted to provide information for any target audience or niche market. Think about what you could offer, then get busy creating some great content to build your product sales.
• Start a monthly auto-ship program. Have customers sign up to automatically receive a new product each month without the hassle of manual reordering. If you sell candles, you can offer a different scent each time. If you sell scrapbooking supplies, you can create a new page kit each month. If your company already provides a monthly product, that’s great. If not, create your own so you don’t miss out on this profitable sales strategy.
• Offer free classes for people who purchase your products. Whatever you sell, you can probably come up with some kind of class that will tie in with your products. Home decor items–try home decorating classes. Kitchen products–opt for cooking classes. Books–host a monthly book reading club. Whatever you sell, put some thought into creating a free class and you’re almost guaranteed to sell more product to those who want to attend
• Create a Frequent Shopper Card. Use a business card template and print cards with your company name and information along with a row of dollar amounts. For instance, list $10 about 10 times at the bottom of the card. Every time the customer spends that amount, you punch or initial the card. When all the amounts are marked off your customer earns a free gift.
• Sell gift certificates. Create a simple three-to-a-page certificate that has a place for the recipients name, the gift amount, an expiration date, and your signature. You can offer set amounts such as $10, $25 or $50, or offer any amount a buyer wants. The buyer pays you for the certificate, then gives it to whoever they choose. The bearer orders from you and–possibly–orders more than the certificate is worth. Can’t beat a deal like that!
• Offer layaway. By allowing a customer to pay a deposit and then make weekly payments, you can let her pay for products “on time” without having to come up with all the money at once. You’ll need to be sure the product she orders will be available when she finishes paying for it. You may want to go ahead and order it to have it on hand, as long as you can return it should she fail to pay it off.
You’ll also want to have her sign a simple Layaway Agreement stating that she is agreeing to buy the product and what will happen if she cancels. Some companies that offer layaway charge a cancellation fee, the choice is yours.
• Let your customers know you appreciate them. Send them thank you cards, birthday cards, get well cards, or just thinking of you cards. Keep in touch with them and let them know you value their business. They’ll reward you by being loyal customers and continuing to shop with you.
There are any number of ways to sell more products and create added income for your direct sales business. Start looking at options today to increase your income.
Sample Scripts to Help You Book Parties & Recruit Consultants
New direct sales consultants often struggle with what to say when they approach people to book a party, become a consultant, or even place an order. That’s why veteran direct sales consultants have learned to use scripts! Having a script helps you know in advance what you’ll say so you can focus on being yourself while still getting your point across.
A script doesn’t have to be rigid, nor should it be! Make it your own, adlib, and be yourself. These ideas for scripts for various circumstances will help you prepare your next “speech” and give you the confidence to work your business like you want to without worrying about what you should say!
• New Business Kick-Start Dialogue
Hi_________, this is____________, and I’m really excited about something! Do you have just a minute? Cool! I don’t know if I had told you, but I just started my own ___________________ [company] business helping others _______________ [benefit such as “care for their skin,” or “prepare healthy meals for their families,” or “create a warmer environment in their homes”]. During my initial start-up, I’m offering 20 people the opportunity to book a home party to help me get the business off to a solid start. I could really use your help! Would you invite a few of your friends to a ____________________ party and allow me to give you a special gift as a thank you? I don’t know about you, but I love to receive gifts! If you’ll grab your calendar, we can go ahead and set a date right now. What day of the week would you prefer?
• Tentative Booking
A lot of times a party guest will tell you she would like to book a party, but isn’t sure she can because of her schedule, or her friends’ schedules, etc. When that happens, here’s your script:
Why don’t we do this, _____________. If you go ahead and book tonight, the hostess will get credit for your booking–if we wait, she may not. So, let’s go ahead and set a tentative date and if we need to change it later we can. How’s that?
As soon as the tentative is date it ceases to be tentative because you can then coach your hostess to turn this into a firm date and ensure a party!
• Party Booking Approach 1
At every party I hold, I always look for a couple of guests who seem the most likely to become future hostesses. Today, I’ve selected you because [compliment such as: you look like you’re really enjoying yourself, you seem to really like our products]. Is there any reason you couldn’t open your home one evening and allow your friends and family to come over for a party? Of course, you’d get some great gifts. You’d be a terrific hostess!
• Party Booking Approach 2
_________, at every party I hold I choose two guests I’d love to work with. Today you’re my first choice! You have been the most exciting person here. And I love to work with exciting people! Let’s book a party so you can open your home to a few of your friends and earn some great gifts! I would love to work with you, _________. You obviously had a great time this evening. Would a Tuesday or Thursday be better for you?
• Thank You Gift Order Approach
You’ve been [so helpful, so thoughtful, so supportive]! As my way of saying thank you, I have a small gift for you. I’m a consultant with _________________ and I would love to give you a $5 gift certificate. You can host a party and earn more free gifts while you’re at it! Or I can just bring a catalog by for you to browse through. If you’ll just just jot down your name and number, I’ll call you in a couple days to set a date and time for you to spend your certificate. [Have a business card or appointment card, and pen ready]
Call two days later to confirm and say:
Hi __________, this is _________, with ______________. We met the other day at _______. Thank you, again, for ____________. I wanted to call and confirm a time for you to spend your gift certificate. Grab your calendar and let’s set a date! You know, if you invite a few friends over, you can earn those free gifts I mentioned. Would you prefer to do that or go one-on-one? That’s great! Will Tuesday or Thursday work best for you?
• Booking a Catalog Party
If you have a potential hostess who lives in another town, someone you’ve meet online, or someone who doesn’t really want to host a party in her home, have her schedule a catalog party.
__________, how would you like to earn some free products without having a home party? Cool! You just take orders from your family and friends over the next week and you’ll earn the same amount of free products as you would if you hosted the party in your home. You can send an email and invite people to order on my website, and you can take catalogs and order forms with you to work as well. Let’s get started!
• Booking a Recruiting Interview
I recently decided to move into leadership in my _________________ business, and I am so excited! The first thing I need to do is choose five other people who love the products just like I do, and I thought of you. You’re so [compliment: outgoing, sharp, exciting, fun to be around]! Can I take just a couple minutes to share the information about our career opportunity with you? You may or may not be interested, I understand. But I would appreciate it if we could we just sit down and let me share the facts with you and get your opinion? Thank you! We could do this one on one at your home, or if you prefer, you could come to an open house I’m having in my home on Monday and hear all about the company there. We’ll play a couple games, talk, have coffee and then I’ll share about the company for just a few minutes. Which would you prefer?
Of course, any time you use a script, you want to make it sound like you. Never use a script word-for-word, but choose the one that is closest to your own personal style and adapt it as needed. Practice it until you are completely comfortable with it, then get on the phone and get busy making it work to build your business!
Presentation Skills for Home Party Plan Consultants
One thing that isn’t often mentioned by direct sales trainers or home party plan consultants is the need to give a decent presentation during a home party. You must inform and entertain your audience so they will believe what you say about your products and be enthused enough to buy them from you!
This is such an important aspect of a successful home party plan business that it’s surprising there’s not more discussion about it. In an effort to fill the void for presentation training information, here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for your next home party product demonstration.
According to Peter Urs Bender in “Secrets of Power Presentations,” there are five key components to delivering a successful presentation. They are:
1. The Speech: This is the actual presentation itself, the language and words you use. Your verbal expressions. How well you write and/or communicate your message.
TIP: Write out your script, or at least some notes, on 3″ x 5″ index cards so you can stay on track with what you want to say during the entire presentation. Include an introduction, a word of appreciation to your hostess, the story of how you came to be a consultant, games, product demonstration, business opportunity, questions and answers, order taking and anything else you need to say.
2. Body Language: This is how you stand, the gestures you make, whether or not you make eye contact with your audience, and even how you dress. This can include underlying fear, over-confidence, and other perceptions that come through whether consciously or subconsciously.
TIP: Look your best and you’ll be more confident. Wear something you like, in a flattering color that looks good on you. Navy is a good color for a more professional appearance, red will make your audience “stand up and take notice.”
Keep your make-up to a minimum, hair well-kempt but not overdone. Wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be standing for awhile. And above all… SMILE! It does wonders for your face.
Also, don’t overdo hand gestures, don’t fidget, and don’t whisper. A well-modulated, well-controlled voice in a pleasant tone is ideal.
3. Equipment: This relates to the kind and type of audio visuals you use, overheads, microphones and even helpers, if applicable, and how well you use them.
TIP: If you use posters or placards, be sure they’re laid out in order before the demonstration starts. Jot down notes on the back of any visuals you use so you know what they are and can show them without having to “peek around” or turn them over to explain.
4. Environment: This involves the choice of location for your presentation, the lighting, room set-up, temperature, noise level and other aspects of the physical environment where you’ll make your presentation.
TIP: Arrive early to set up your display table and products. Be sure to take a table of your own, even if the hostess offers one to ensure you have enough space, and include a tablecloth for added appeal.
Ask your hostess to adjust the temperature if needed so that guests don’t get too warm and fall asleep, or too cold and want to rush out the door. Also ask her to hold refreshments until after the demonstration so guests can focus on you and the products.
5. Preparation: This, of course, if how well prepared you are. Whether or not you’ve studied your script, prepared handouts, rehearsed introductions, presentation speed, and anything else associated with advance preparation.
TIP: This is the portion of your demonstration that you have full and complete control over. Dedicated preparation will make a huge difference in the success of your presentation.
Practice everything you will say and do until it becomes second nature. Practice does make perfect. And while the first demonstration may feel stilted and uncomfortable, if you hang in there, the fifth or sixth will be much easier. By the tenth, you’ll feel like an “old pro.”
Presentation skills can be learned. This isn’t necessarily something you’re born with, though “natural talkers” will–by nature–be more at ease presenting in front of a group. But even those who are naturally shy can learn to put on a good demonstration and present their products in the most favorable light in order to increase their home party sales.
Keep these ideas in mind as you prepare your next home party product demonstration. Planning for each aspect will help ensure you come across as a knowledgeable professional and will give you the confidence you need to make your next–and each following–home party a tremendous success.
10 Ways to Kick-Start Your New Direct Sales Business
You’ve searched long and hard and finally found a direct sales company you want to build a business around. So you signed up as a new consultant, got your starter kit, and you’re ready to go. Now what? You need to get busy, get some sales and some bookings to build your momentum! Here are 10 things you can do right away to get your new business off to a great start.
1. Order business cards. If the company you’ve chosen doesn’t provide them, order from a local printer or VistaPrint, but don’t neglect this important marketing tool. Once you have your cards in hand, pass them out everywhere you go. There’s a reason people have been using business cards for decades: they work!
2. Create a flyer. Include a product highlight or an offer for a free catalog, along with your phone number, email and website address. Print a bunch or have them copied onto colorful paper and post them everywhere you can. Many businesses around your town will have bulletin boards for this very purpose. Make the most of them and get the word out.
3. Buy a plain muslin tote and applique paper for your printer and create your own personalized tote. Or have one made. Be sure your logo is big and your website address is included. Then fill it with catalogs, brochures, samples and order forms and carry it everywhere you go.
4. Does your company offer a fundraising program? Then call your local PTA, clubs, churches and other groups who could use your services. You could become known as the fundraising gal and make a business just doing fundraisers! If your company doesn’t have a fundraising program, create your own. Offer a discount so groups can make a profit, design a flyer outlining the program and get busy making those calls.
5. If you’ll be doing home parties, create a list of everyone you know and book as many parties as you can during the first three weeks. Call family, friends, neighbors, teachers, co-workers and anyone you “used to know.” Offer an added incentive to anyone who books one of your first shows.
6. Ask for referrals. Ask every one of those people you called to book a party if they can refer three people who may be interested in doing the same. Assure them you’ll treat those names and phone numbers like gold and not SPAM or abuse the contact. Then begin to call your referral list and offer the same booking incentive to each of them. You should be well on your way to a full calendar by now!
7. Join a local business leads or networking group (or start your own). These groups only allow one representative from each industry, so any referrals for what you sell would be directed to you. Read up on business networking to make the most of your efforts. Finding the right group can give your business a huge boost in sales almost immediately.
8. Send out a press release. If you can’t write a professional release, hire a writer to do it for you. It needs to be well-written, not a sales letter, and it needs to address a unique aspect of your business. Done properly, a press release can generate a tremendous amount of free publicity for your new business so it’s worth the effort and small cost it may require.
9. Write an article (or two) about your industry and submit it to article directories, ezine publishers, print newsletters, your local newspaper, and webmasters. Be sure to make it entertaining and informative so readers will want to learn more from you. Include a link to your website or a contact email address at the bottom and add a free offer to generate the greatest response.
10. Create goodie bags to hand out to people you meet. Place a business card, coupon, sample product, brochure, piece of candy and anything else you think will work inside a zipper bag. Place a label on the front with full contact information and hand them out all over town.
Use your creativity and the excitement you feel when your business is new to generate quick sales and your business will start growing immediately. That, in turn, will add more excitement, which will bring in more business. You’ll be a successful direct sales business owner before you know it!
Creative Ways To Advertise Your Direct Sales Business
There are so many ways to spread the word about your direct sales business, products and business opportunity. The key is to continually look for new methods of promoting your business so you can increase sales and add new recruits. Here are some ideas you may not have thought of yet.
• Buy a large bag of miniature Payday™ candy bars and add a label on the back that says, “Ask me how every day can be a Payday!” and include your phone number and website address. Give one to everyone you meet. Leave one on the table with your tip at restaurants. Give one to cashiers and bank tellers.
• Buy miniature candy bars to give out at Halloween. Include a label on each piece with your direct sales company name and full contact information. It not only makes parents feel safer letting their kids eat the candy, it’s great advertising for your business as well. Mom and Dad eat a lot of candy the kids bring home on Halloween!
• Create advertising filler packs and give them to every person you meet, everywhere you go. Take several with you when you go to a ball game, run errands, get your hair cut, go to a restaurant. If you’ll be around people–women, in particular–take some filler packs with you and hand them out. Need fillers for your packs? Get them from non-competing direct sales consultants and other small and home based business owners, and give them yours for their filler packs.
• Create mint books. These are cardstock designs that look like just like matchbooks only they have a mint inside. Print your direct sales company information, website address and a discount code on them. These are great to hand out wherever you go or include in your filler packs. You can even keep some in a bowl on your kitchen counter and encourage friends and family to take some and share them.
• Cut out tulle circles, place a few Hershey’s Kisses™ in the center, and tie with a ribbon. Attach a business card to the ribbon and distribute to secretaries in area offices along with a catalog and a word of appreciation for all they do.
• Donate a prize to a local radio station. In return they’ll mention your name on-air when they give the prize away. Or better yet, bake a batch of brownies or cookies and take to the DJs. Include a card of appreciation for their hard work, and be sure to sign the card with–not only your name–but your business name as well.
• Donate discontinued items to a local women’s shelter. When the women get back on their feet–and many of them will!–they’ll remember you. You might even find some recruits there if your business opportunity is flexible and doesn’t cost much.
• If your direct sales company will allow it, register a domain name and start your own website, aside from the company site. Even if you have to link to the company site to sell products, you can offer free articles and information about your company and opportunity on your site, which will typically allow you much more flexibility in promoting your business.
• Join together with other direct sales consultants and home based business owners to create a welcoming committee for new neighbors. Have each member contribute fillers and samples to create welcome gift bags. Then keep an eye out for people moving into the neighborhood. When they do, drop off a gift bag and let them know you’re glad they moved in.
• Print labels with your direct sales company name, website address, email and a discount code. Stick one on the back of every single envelope you mail. You’d be surprised how many people–postal workers included!–will see your URL and visit your site.
• Put an ad in your local high school yearbook. These are typically inexpensive and will last virtually forever since most everyone keeps their annuals and looks at them again over and over!
• Send out a postcard to your entire mailing list whenever your direct sales company comes out with a new catalog or brochure. Have them printed with something like, “Call me for a New Catalog and get a 15% discount off your first order!”
• Sponsor a local restaurant’s menus. Offer to pay for a portion of their menu printing cost, or their carry-out menus, in return for an ad for your direct sales business on the back cover.
• Start a local business networking group with one representative from each company. Meet every week and share business leads, business building tips and referrals.
• Submit your website URL to search engines, directories, online shopping malls, and anywhere else you can. Also take part in link exchanges and free advertising to get the word out about your website.
• Teach a seminar or class at your local library. Design a class based on your direct sales business. Make it fun and informative. Don’t try to sell! But be sure to provide plenty of flyers and business cards so students can contact you for additional products or more information.
• Offer one-on-one classes. This would work the same as a class you would teach at the library, but you’d provide it to individuals who prefer more specialized training, or who don’t learn as well in a classroom setting. Create a “kit” of products that will complement the class outline and let your students know that the class is free when they buy the kit.
• Use your answering machine to tell anyone who calls you about your business. Include your website address or information about upcoming specials or sales.
Have other ideas that work to promote your direct sales business? Leave a comment and share what works for you!
