Or will you?

If you choose to work from home, then you have a a business that needs consistent, forward activity in order to thrive.  Let’s face it, your last minute holiday orders came in with little effort (at least compared to off-season) – as you had scheduled events and hopefully marketed yourself well.  Therefore, by now you should be thinking about your game plan for 2012. Actually should have been long thinking about it before the ball drops in twelve hours.

Will your home based business be offering any special promotions for January such as limited time product offerings, special host benefits or recruiting specials? If so, don’t wait until January to start spreading the word about these specials.  Promoting January during January is too late.  Do it now. Of course if you’re just  now reading this and it’s already January then it’s a little late, but better late than never I guess. You can plan better for next year.

What about Valentine’s Day? That’s less than 10 weeks away.  Do you offer a product that men would love to give their sweetheart?  It may be a little early to start advertising for Valentine’s Day but it certainly is not too early to start planning.  Perhaps you can do a shopping day during lunch hour at a business that is heavy on male employees.  Have you checked to see if there are any vendor events you can book during this time?

There is a fine balance between looking ahead too far and missing out on sales and business partners who may be right in front of your face.  The key is to consistently project forward. If you do that, then you’ll already have your December and January calendar booked; so your focus will be on February.  After New Year’s Day start thinking about your Spring action plan.

It’s not much different than when you drive your car.  If you were to just look at what was immediately in front of you, you may miss that detour or oncoming traffic.  You need to constantly look ahead of the vehicle and always been looking side to side as well as up ahead.  Same is true for your home based business.

What is your action plan for 2012?  Have you started implementing it yet?  If not, do it now.

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a Michigan work from home mom and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping men and women start and maintain a home based business in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Deutschland, Ireland and the UK.  To download a FREE Start Up Guide which provides more details about how to start a small business as well as to learn about our compensation plan go to http://www.thrivingcandlebusiness.com/how-to-start-a-candle-business/

For example, take the word No. Not too many of us like to be told no when there is something we want. This afternoon Bella wanted to get up on my favorite mid-century Danish Modern chair. I told her No. Then in a more “This time I mean it” voice, I told her no again.

She thought better of the idea and walked away looking somewhat defeated.  A short while later I returned to the living room to see Bella Bella Short and Swella sitting in The Chair.  “Get Down, NOW!” I tried to utter in a low but commanding voice. She slowly lifted her droopy eyes, looked at me and eventually got down.

So is this dog stupid? On the contrary.  She knows what she wants and she’s not going to let a little No get in her way. Now it’s a battle of wills. I don’t want her up on the furniture and she wants to be up there. Of course I wear the pants in this house and she will have to listen to me, but that is not to say she won’t keep trying.

Bella says: No means No for now. Not No forever.

What’s the takeaway from this? Just because people tell you No when you talk with them about purchasing your products or possibly starting their own direct sales business doesn’t mean you should give up. No means no for now, not no forever. Timing is everything and perhaps the timing wasn’t right for the person you were speaking with.

Like Bella, after a while, go back and try again. But you’d do well to ask if it’s okay if you check in with them in a few months. Or they may have spoken loudly enough that you know you haven’t a chance at getting a different response – not in four months and not in four years.

Don’t let their No speak for all the others you have yet to approach. Their no simply means No for now. That’s it. It doesn’t mean your business opportunity isn’t working. It doesn’t mean no one wants to buy any. It merely means you received a no. Get used to it. You get lots of noes in sales.

Bella will get many more Noes in her lifetime too, but it won’t stop her from trying. Nor should it stop you either.

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Deutschland and the UK. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com

Yet I see it all the time from new direct selling consultants – both online and offline.  These desperados are under the false impression that there is a race and the first person to pounce on a potential gets the big prize.  Personally, I run the other way when I see someone chase ambulances.  There are some who “call it” (remember when you were little … the person who “called” the front seat first, was the lucky person to sit next to Mom?)  Hard up new consultants will be all over the poor innocent person who just has a simple question and will announce to the world “PMing you (sending you a Private Message) now!”  Meaning to the other forum participants and lurkers: I am sitting here, desperate; doing my impression of a vulture, and by my “calling it” no one else can address this person who has questions.

Personally the passive stance works much better for me.  I make myself and my candle business visible.  I try to help others who have questions without expectation of them buying or signing with me. I can honestly say that I have never asked for the close – contrary to recruiting gurus.  Yet I have a very successful team of consultants who are with me because they chose to be – not because I force fed them and shoved myself down their private message inbox.

Make sure you are not sending the message that you are desperate.  There’s a difference between being assertive and well, just obnoxious.  There are more leads available than anyone could possibly ever get to; chill, relax and enjoy your business.

About the Author:  Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan.  She started her first home business in 1988. As a single parent, Laurie has supported her family by working out of her home.  She is currently an Independent Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles.  You can find Laurie at http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com and http://la.scentsy.us

Online networking has a plethora of positive aspects to it, if done properly.  It can also be detrimental to your business if you are spending an abundance of time online, all in the name of ‘networking’ but actually, all you are doing is chitchatting.  True that in order to be successful online, building a rapport and reputation are key, but just who are you taking to and can it help build your own business?

To illustrate this point – consider the direct sales consultant who hangs out at their company forum.  Companywide forums, where all consultants, from all teams gather to ask questions and share ideas can be a big help to some, especially if they feel they are not getting the support they need from their own upline.  But is spending hours each day chatting with other consultants who are not even on your team giving you the return on your time investment?

I’m all for helping others. I’m all for giving more than you take. Though we cannot forget that we are in business; and we are in business to make a profit.  Any consultant who is not in your downline is essentially your competitor. I’m not suggesting by any means to be cutthroat, but if you are spending more time with your competition than you are with your own team or with potential customers and prospects, your business will suffer.

Another example is a companywide Facebook page that was created for the purpose of discussing an upcoming incentive trip that consultants can earn. There is nothing wrong with this type of page, as I am certain it was created to help motivate each other and to clarify any questions about qualifications. However, if you find yourself hanging out on this FB page, again, with your competition, rather than on a team site or spending face/phone time with your own team and/or your own customers, it is not helping your business.

Forums, groups, pages and anything related to social networking can be great platforms to increase your knowledge, your sales and the size of your team – providing you are investing your time wisely with the right audience (read: don’t spend too much time with your competitors).  Don’t confuse being nice and helpful to all your ‘direct sales sisters’ with avoiding necessary, productive steps that will produce tangible results in your own business.

If you’re attacking your market from multiple positions and your competition isn’t, you have all the advantage and it will show up in your increased success and income. – Jay Abraham

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Deutschland and the UK. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com

Chances are if you are a parent you’ve uttered the above words to your child – whether to a mouthy three year old or a too cool for rules teenager. I’ve said it myself. I have some great children, who don’t behave badly, but I have said on more than one occasion ‘that mouth is going to get you in trouble’.

The same thing is true in business. The tone you take when speaking to people will go a long way in determining the results you get in return. You can say the exact same thing, but depending on how you present your question or statement, you’re either going to get cooperation or you’re going to piss someone off. You must be extra vigilant when using email to communicate as we tend to misinterpret or add unnecessary or incorrect tone to words on paper or a computer monitor.

As an upline director of a direct selling organization it never ceases to amaze me some of the rude emails I receive from downline members. I know these concerns can and do work both ways, among up and downline members. Specifically, in this case I am referring to downline team members who need help but ask in such a disrespectful, entitlement approach.

For example, it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to figure this one out but which email do you think would get the better response?

1. Hi, I need your help please. I think my pay is wrong, or perhaps I don’t understand it. I looked in the manual but couldn’t find anything to help clarify. Can you take a look or let me know where to find the information or who to contact? Thanks.  Or:
2. I’m sick of this, my check is wrong again.

Here are two more:

1. The company never told me I am getting terminated. This is ridiculous. I put an order in five months ago. If they want to fire me, fine. Or:
2. Thanks for your message that I am about to be purged. I wasn’t aware I needed to place another order. Didn’t my order from last month count? Is there some way I can track this myself so I know when I am getting close to terminating. I don’t want to leave. Thanks.

Those may seem a bit extreme – but they are real examples and somewhat common for what I get in my inbox. Fortunately the good ones far outweigh these types of messages, but none the less, some consultants do fire off messages like these above and expect favorable results.

There is an epidemic of people who think they should be able to speak to others in any manner they choose. If you know me at all, I am all for direct, to the point, no fluff conversation. But there is a huge difference in brevity and rudeness.

Do yourself a favor and pause for a moment to take inventory of two areas in your own communication.

1. If you are one who reads short responses and tends to assign emotions – oh she must be mad at me, or what is her problem – all she said was “yes, that is correct” – stop doing that. Take the words at face value and don’t try to interpret the sender’s attitude. It’s usually incorrect anyway.
2. Before you speak or fire off an email re-read it to see how it will be received on the other end. If you are upset or think you have been wronged, you have every right to be made whole, but before you go barking, see if you can’t rephrase your concern in a manner that would make any upline want to do everything within his/her power to correct or clarify the situation.

Remember, you get more with honey than with vinegar. So stay sweet!

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Deutschland and the UK. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com

One of the challenges with instant communication methods is that it is far too easy to just post something without truly having an opportunity to think it through first. It’s also out there for all to read as soon as it is posted. For this reason it is imperative that if you choose to participate in online public communication, you post responsibly.  Likewise, while reading such posts, keep in mind that just because it is now published does not necessarily mean it is accurate or factual.

The example post below will help illustrate the importance of word choice:

“Double check your xxx, it is calculating wrong.”

That would be fine, and a courtesy to others to give their own information a second glance, if we knew for certain that information was entirely accurate.

What else was wrong with the above post?

1. At that moment, the team member’s information appeared to be inaccurate, yet it was posted that it is wrong.
2. There was a corporate memo put out explaining why it would be different or why the information could fluctuate. This may have merely been a case misunderstanding or oversight on the part of the consultant who stated it was wrong.
3. Before the consultant posted that the information [definitely] was inaccurate, the individual’s perceived error was not reported or investigated by the corporate office to determine if in fact there was a glitch. This type of irresponsible posting is how rumors get started and how false statements targeting the corporation are started.
4. It also gives new consultants reading this type of information cause for a perceived concern, “Great, I just signed up and now find out they’re cheating or overcharging us.”

What would have been the better way to handle this?

1. Say nothing publicly ask the sponsor/director if he/she has an explanation for why it appears incorrect or take it up privately with corporate office to handle it.
2. Post: “My xxx appears to be calculating incorrectly. Has anyone else noticed that? Or do you know why xzy?”
3. Post after there is data to support the claim, “My xyz looked incorrect, so I contacted [corporate] and they investigated it. They found out that it is doing that because xyz, so it actually is correct.”  Or “My xyz looked incorrect, so I contacted [corporate] and they investigated it. They found out that in some cases it has been calculating incorrectly because …  so if you think yours may be wrong, you have 60 days to report  errors.”

Do you see the difference?  One appears to be stating facts and could cause needless negative reactions. The other options are much more responsible and accurate.  Sometimes all it takes is one person stating something to be true, whether or not it was actually verified, for others to jump on the bandwagon and believe it to be reality.

Post responsibly.

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Deutschland and the UK. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com

While email is so convenient and a great tool to manage a large organization, it’s missing a human element. The time that I save with emails allows me more time to write hand written notes. And I do write many handwritten notes almost daily. For example:

• Thank you notes for online orders; and I mention something specific about their order so they don’t just think it is a generic note.
• Follow up cards to customers who have not ordered in two or more months
• Welcome to the team for new consultants
• Congratulations on your promotion
• Keep up the good work, I caught you excelling
• I appreciate you

With so much of our life online now, including bills and even junk mail, it’s refreshing to get snail mail. Also the fine art of saying Thank You seems to be a rarity in some circles. I obviously take on this labor of love because I know that great customer service will ultimately help my business; but more so I do it because it’s the right thing to do.

There’s also the unexpected element. Most people will admit they don’t often get a mail piece that has the sole purpose of gratitude, with no hidden agenda. With the exception of my follow-up-time to reorder notices, all other correspondences are meant to simply show appreciation.

One could also argue that the follow up notices aren’t much different than the courtesy notices you get from the dentist telling you it’s time to reschedule a visit. We all live such busy lives that few would complain about reminders.

I would encourage anyone who has online customers to take some elements of your business offline. You will see a pay off and you’ll be leaving a lasting impression with your customers. The caveat to that however is that you must be genuine. If you’re writing to people simply with the intent to get more sales, and you’re unable to be authentic about your appreciation, then you’re better off not doing it at all. It can do more damage than good.

Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret. – Mary Kay Ash

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at https://la.Scentsy.us, http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com or http://www.Twitter.com/thrivingcandle

Today’s post on networking will give you tips on how to use various online applications such as Twitter and Facebook to get in touch with potential customers and other business owners to help your business grow. This is an area in which many home based consultants could use some pointers. I am pleased to welcome the author of this article, guest blogger, William Eve, who specializes in the area of personal finance.

If you are in business then you will know how important networking is. Networking is the process of reaching out to people who may become either future colleagues or customers.

There are many different ways of networking, and a few years ago most business connections were made in an offline environment, for example trade fairs, business groups etc. However with the advances in technology, and the Internet making the world a much smaller place, the online world has become the prime place to connect and network.

Here is a guide to some of the most effective networking strategies online, and some tips on how to get the most from them.

Online Forums

For every subject you can imagine you can bet that there is at least one online forum about it. An online forum is a community of people who share the same, hobbies and interests, and serves as a place for them to meet, discuss their subject, and to help and advise each other.

The best way to become involved in these said forums is to become an active member of the community. In other words don’t join up as a member and then immediately begin trying to sell your products of company. People really do not like it, and you will quickly become alienated from the community.

What you should do instead is to look for posts or threads that relate to what your business is involved with and see if you can add to the conversation. Are there any questions you can answer, or any advice you can give in response to something someone has written?

This way you begin to be seen as someone that is helpful, you also begin to position yourself as more of an authority in your niche, and people will be more likely to trust and respond to any offers you level their way later in your membership.

Becoming a contributing member of an online forum does take a little time, and many people try and short cut the process by writing meaningless, spammy comments just to get their post rate up. This will be seen through very quickly and will be nipped in the bud. The time investment is well worth it, as some multimillion dollar partnerships have been born from such platforms.

Social Networks

Websites like Twitter and Facebook have become huge over the last few years with millions of members all over the world who use the platforms everyday. Just like the forums you should try and add relevant and helpful information to anything that you post. Look for groups that are involved with your area of business and again try and contribute as much helpful content as possible.

The great thing about these sites is that they give users the ability to share content with their friends and contacts. This gives you the opportunity to go viral in break neck speed and get your business in front of millions of eye balls.

Business Networks

There are some websites that are built with business networking as the sites main function. Sites like LinkedIn, are actual business network sites where you are able to upload a profile outlining who you are, what you do, what your business does, and your area of expertise.

You will often find that people who may be looking for your exact services may track you down using sites like this. For that reason it is of the utmost importance that you find as many of these kind of sites as possible and make sure that you and your business is listed.

Do not discount the old offline methods of networking, as these are still a very important, and helpful means of getting your name out there!

This article was written by William from homeloanfinder.com.au. If you’re looking for a home equity loan or variable home loans visit HomeLoanFinder for a range of comprehensive guides and mortgage reviews.

If you want to look smart to your customers and downline use these three words: I don’t know. Then if you really want to dazzle them, follow it up with: But I’ll find out and get back to you.

There’s a quote that says, “If you can’t dazzle them with your intelligence, baffle them with your bullshit.” If you have ever been the recipient of such baffling, I’m sure you’ll agree that the person who is handing you a load of bulllloney, is the one who looks like a buffoon. People can see right through that.

I often see consultants in a state of analysis paralysis. They’re getting ready to get ready. Fear is crippling them; fear of not knowing all the answers. That’s just a bunch of hooey. What would make one think that they have to know all the answers? Do these people really think that they’ll be judged so harshly if they don’t have an accurate, on the spot response to every question that could possibly be thrown their way?

Furthermore, if you have a direct sales home business, are you really offering anything that would fall under the classification of urgent, must have answer this very second? Or if someone has a question about your candles, kitchenware, cosmetics, tote bags, or other gadgets, wouldn’t a reasonable person be able to endure until you were able to get back to her with an honest, accurate response?

I tend to see this more often when consultants are speaking with potential recruits. They’re fearful that if they don’t have all the answers then the prospect will go look for another sponsor who does. The facts are that this may happen. It’s possible. But more likely if you are authentic and respond that you don’t know but will get back to her as soon as you find out – and then do follow up promptly – that action will speak volumes. It will show that you’re human; that you can be a consultant and not have all the answers and that you have integrity to want to provide the most accurate response.

So if you’re still getting ready to get ready – it’s time to get off the pot. Or as Joyce Meyer says, “Feel the fear, and do it anyway.”

Now that you know that you don’t have to have all the answers, and that it is okay to say, “I don’t know” – what’s your excuse?

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at https://la.Scentsy.us, http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com or http://www.Twitter.com/thrivingcandle

To befriend or not to befriend, that is that question.  The answer is: It depends. This isn’t really a Yes or No question.  Continue reading for perhaps a new sense of enlightenment and possible outcomes. Then you decide if it’s a good idea for you to befriend your team members.

I recently heard a self proclaimed expert encourage leaders to befriend their team members, and her reasoning was so that you could get to know what is going on in the lives of her downline.  That is certainly one opinion.

I’m sure there are a few fans here of the TV sitcom, The Office. I am reminded of the episode when Jim was having a party at his apartment, invited all his co-workers, except his boss, Michael. He didn’t want the boss at the party for a variety of reasons, but mainly… because he was the boss.

Those who work outside the home, are you good friends with your boss? What about your boss’s boss?  Does this person regularly share photos of grandma’s birthday party or of himself at the ballgame? Does she share with you her frustrations, her personal highs and lows?  Perhaps for some of you, this is true.  Though for many others, you do not socialize with the boss on your off time.

Some will argue that this is direct sales and it works a little differently than a “real job.”  And for those who treat their direct sales business as more of a hobby or social network that statement above is absolutely true.  Yet for those who run their business like a business, then direct sales absolutely is a real job.

I can hear some of you right now saying that being a direct sales leader is not the same as being a boss.  I will give you that – in that independent consultants are not employees, so there is no boss and employee relationship.  Though if you are a leader within the company or within your downline you still should behave like one.

If you have a dedicated Fan page for your business, then I’d encourage you to get as many fans as possible.  Now whether it is a good idea to have a dedicated Facebook page for your direct sales business, is a subject for another post.  For now, I’m just saying if you have Suzy’s XYZ Independent Consultant Fan Page, I wouldn’t attempt to restrict who joins.

However for now, I am not referring to a Fan page, but rather to your personal Facebook page.  I have strong feelings about how much personal information you should choose to share if you’re also trying to market your business on the same page, but again that’s another post.

Back to the focus of today – is it a good idea to befriend downline members on your personal Facebook page? Two schools of thought:

#1 Yes, good idea. Why? Because we’re all one big happy family and I want to share my life with those on my team and I want them to get to know me better.  I may be their leader but I’m a person first and they should get to see the good, the bad and the ugly about me.  Everyone on my team is a new friend and we’re just like sisters.

Plus I want to see what they’re up to, and I want them to see how I market my business. It’s just a great idea.

#2 No, bad idea. Why? Because if you’re truly running your business like a business, and if you are a leader, especially if you have a large organization, then you need to be able to have some time when you’re not ‘on the clock.’  Just because you may work out of your home, doesn’t mean you need to be accessible to your downline 24/7.  If you’re on Facebook, and if you opt to befriend your downline, they can hit you up on chat and distract you from what you were doing while you are ‘on your own time.’

Maybe your friend list on Facebook truly is just that – friends.  Maybe you want to be a little silly or crass or bitch about something that happened … to your friends.  What if you were to post something like “kickin’ back with a glass of Merlot and watching TV.”  Certainly nothing wrong with that, but what about the consultant who sees that then thinks, ‘here I am out busting my butt, and she’s just on easy street making all this money off of ME?”  Of course leaders know that is not even close to reality, but that is certainly a perception truly exists out there.

A good leader knows that you need to have office hours and you need to make sure to take care of yourself and have down time, so that you can be at your best when you are working your business. It’s not about not being authentic, but rather having some time when you can just be yourself and don’t feel that you always have a set a good example. It’s about being able to be real and authentic on Facebook with your true friends, rather than with all of your business associates.

I certainly can’t tell you what is right for you.  I also can’t tell you if running your business as a business or running your business as a family or social affair is the right thing for you. Only you know what is best for you.

One thing I would caution you, however is that if you are a leader who opts to have your downline in your friends group on your personal Facebook page, I would encourage you to wait for your downline to request to be friends with you. If you request to be friends with team members, it may put them in an awkward position if they didn’t particularly want you as their Facebook friend.

A teacher buddy was telling a story of how his boss, the principal of the school, requested to be his Facebook friend.  The teacher preferred to keep his personal life separate from his work life and wasn’t sure how to handle the request.  If he ignored it, it may not reflect kindly on him.  If he accepted it, then he felt like he couldn’t really be true to himself knowing the boss was ‘in the room.’

Let team members initiate the friend request.  Then as the leader, you decide if you will confirm or ignore it.

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com