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Taking Your Online Business Offline
Having an online business is a wonderful thing. At this point in my life I can’t imagine having it any other way. I have my internal customers – my downline team members, and also my external customers – those who order from my website. One of the key factors in maintaining an online customer base is going offline.
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
- Continue reading
Networking Strategies to Help Your Home Business Grow
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. Continue reading
Understanding a Two-Tiered Compensation Plan
Most direct sales companies have a two-tiered compensation plan. It’s a different structure than most compensation plans. Lack of understanding how a two-tiered plan works can lead to frustration and inability to reach full earning potential.
In short, part of the direct sales consultant’s income is derived from personal sales and the second part results from royalties paid on downline member sales. Two parts make a whole.
Another way to look at it is that you get two checks. Many times you don’t actually get two separate hard copy checks; in my company we get one electronic deposit. Yet it is itemized so that we can still see the “two checks”. That’s the way you need to think of it – two checks.
I’m reminded of my days when I worked for the federal government. Payday would roll around and our secretary would walk around to our offices and hand out paychecks. Can you even imagine if she were to thumb through the stack of checks, then say “There are two checks here for you, Laurie. Do you want both, or just one of them?” Bring it on, both of them, right? Continue reading
5 Tips to Rev Up Your Direct Sales Business in January
Many direct sales companies are slower during the J-months (January, June and July). January can be a particularly challenging month especially if you’ve just come off a whirlwind, crazy busy, holiday season.
The biggest mistake you can make in your business is to take January off because you’ve predetermined that your business will be virtually nonexistent. True it will be slower, but that is all the more reason to work even harder; not to go on hiatus. It’s likely that you were extremely busy during November and December. But don’t confuse being busy with working hard.
Before you get insulted at that last statement, I am fully aware of all the hustling and organizing it takes to ensure all holiday orders are placed and delivered timely. It can get pretty chaotic. Though I’m sure you’ll agree that it wasn’t terribly difficult to get orders during the gift giving season. It’s safe to say you didn’t have to work very hard to get parties, vendor events or orders. Continue reading
3 Smart Words: I Don’t Know
Think you’ll look stupid if you respond, “I don’t know”? If you’re of this mindset you’re wrong.
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? Continue reading
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