Direct sales is something you can dabble in for a little extra spending money, or something you can take seriously enough to be able to make a living off of. Of course, how much success you have with a direct sales line of business is dependent upon several factor: your level of commitment, the type of product you are selling, and the market you have to work with. If you do some of even all of your direct sales online, you will obviously have the advantage of reaching a global audience. But don’t discount the earning potential from local sales, either. Some of the most successful Avon and Mary Kay sellers got to where they are simply from directly selling to customers within their communities.
First, you will want to eat, breathe, and sleep direct sales. This means connecting with industry experts like Cydcor and following their email newsletters, blogs, social media postings, etc. The more you learn about direct sales, the more you can make direct sales work for you. Use a planner or a personal organizer to jot down important notes and ideas for your own direct sales.
Know that you will have to hit the ground running with direct sales. Put the word out by all means necessary: business cards, flyers, pamphlets, posters with your number and email address on tear-off strips, etc. Advertise in your local community with these paper products, then turn to your vehicle as a way of advertising while on the go: use magnets and bumper stickers to promote your business to the people driving next to you, behind you, or parked adjacent to you in a parking lot.
After a few successful sales, figure out who is interested in your product, and work harder to market to them directly. Come up with pitches and promotions that flow with the calendar – for instance, romantic pitches in the weeks before Valentine’s Day, summer getaway pitches for late spring, and holiday gift ideas for the fall.
Advertise and promote, but don’t spam. This is a fine line to walk, but generally, here’s what’s acceptable no matter what you’re selling: heavily promote once, then send a polite follow-up. If you hear nothing more, give those people a six month “rest”, and then try once more. If you still don’t hear anything, you can safely assume that they are not interested, and cross them off your list.
Find out if there are any other local direct sales people, perhaps in your neighborhood or at your bank, and see if you can’t hook up with them to “learn from the masters”, so to speak. Offer to do consults and parties together, as a way of promoting both of you at the same time. You’ll each have more help, and you’ll each benefit financially. It’s a win-win!
Finally, go into the business of direct marketing with a positive outlook, but don’t be surprised if it takes a while to grow your business. Even the more successful direct sale businesses can take an average of one to two years to really get off the ground. In the interim, soak up as much information as you can, and just keep trying.
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