These days, there are a lot of direct sales business opportunities that you can start from home. The low start up cost and flexibility are attractive to business seekers. With less than $100 you’ll be in business within minutes. Some are even free to join.
Not everyone who starts a direct sales business is interested in building it big. Some are only interested in the product discounts. Some are hobby-ists and signed up for the fun of it. And some are serious business builders looking to earn a significant income.
Depending on what your financial goals are – once you’ve decided to join the direct selling industry, here are some vital things to keep in mind.
If you are serious about building it big, you’ll need to learn these three principles if you want to be a direct sales superstar.
#1 Entrepreneurial Mind-Set
Before you can succeed in business, you’ll need to adopt the entrepreneurial mind-set. If you’ve never been in business before, you’ll have to transition your thinking from an employee mind-set, to an entrepreneurial mind-set.
The first thing you need to adopt is patience while you ramp up your business. Having the self-motivation to work your business daily, the discipline to do what needs to be done, and the patience and trust that the rewards will come, is a huge mind-set shift.
Without this self-belief, you’ll sabotage any progress you’ve made, and eventually quit your business.
#2 Marketing Skills
The biggest mistake direct sellers make is leading by “sharing the products”. Products don’t sell themselves – marketing does. This isn’t the same as lack of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is important but you can’t sell based on excitement alone.
Every successful company comes down to how strategic their marketing plan is in reaching their target audience.
Every successful product comes down to marketing. Just think of Apple and what Steve Jobs has done for iPod, iPhone, etc.
If no one knows about your products or business, you’re not in business. And this is the #1 reason why most direct sellers don’t succeed because it’s not lack of enthusiasm.
Most people that signed up already love their company products. Most people fail because they don’t know how to market their business beyond the old school method of selling to their “warm market”.
What Does this Mean for You?
Because you can’t build a sustained business from selling only to the people you know. You’ll need to learn marketing skills, specifically online marketing skills, in order to promote your business and attract new leads.
With cheap technology and the ease of using the internet – marketing online is where business is being done. The internet has completely changed the marketplace and everyone is online. People go online if they need to find a product or search for a business to start.
Recurring Income
Loving the products is important but as a business, you need recurring income, otherwise you’re forced to look for new business to generate consistent cashflow. That’s the difference between working hard versus working smart.
If you’re selling non-consumable products, make sure these are big ticket items so you can earn the highest commission. It’s a lot harder to find new customers than having customers that make repeat purchase on a monthly basis.
With so many direct sales companies to choose from, it’s in your best financial interest to match your interest with products that are consumable so that you can generate a consistent cashflow. If you’re selling home decor or jewelry, it’s tough to generate monthly sales.
With these three principles in mind, you’ll be more prepared and know what to expect in your new direct sales business. Preparation is key to your success.