Direct sales companies have been round for years and I remember when I went to my first home party. Watching as the rep for the company did her demonstration I thought about how nice it would be to work for myself selling products I enjoyed. Although I was nervous at first I did finally take the leap. I joined a company that had products that I used and believed in. I have learned a lot since and would like to share some tips of my own. These aren't booking or recruiting tips (those things come later through your training and networking). Instead I would like to give you some ideas on how to get started in direct sales and help you decide what company is right for you.
First, do you have a company in mind? While it is important to join a company that pays a decent commission you want to make sure that you are passionate about the products. Think about what you enjoy and go from there. For me I chose a home party plan that offered home decor because decorating my home is something that I have always enjoyed. I also went to many home parties and enjoyed the decorating tips and presentations. Think about what you enjoy and most likely you will find a direct sales company in that niche. You will find direct sales companies that offer anything from home decor to gourmet food to jewelry and so much more. Check out the many work at home sites that are geared toward women and you will find several. Just go to google and type in "wahm" in the google search box and you will find listings of several great work at home sites with information on a variety of companies.
After choosing your niche then it is time to narrow down a company to choose. If you were to choose something like jewelry you will most likely find several companies that specialize in that niche. So how do you decide? There are many advantages to being one of the first reps with a new company but on the other hand you might feel more secure joining an established company. If you want to join an established company visit dsa.org and check to see if the company that you are thinking about is listed with the direct selling association.
Did you find a company or a few companies to compare? Go ahead and request information but let the potential sponsor know that you are looking at different companies. Ask up front about start up costs. We have all heard that if anyone asks you for money up front then it must be a scam right? Well this isn't necessarily true. While there are scams out there that you need to be aware of, you also need to realize that in direct sales you are working for yourself and there will be costs involved in running your own business. These costs could include the initial cost of your kit, catalogs, supplies, postage etc. Some companies offer a higher commission but the cost of supplies may also be higher.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you do find a company that you are interested in you want to make sure that you can work with your potential sponsor. Just like when you shopped around for different companies it is also acceptable to talk to different reps within one company and find someone that you can work with. It doesn't necessarily have to be the rep with the most experience. What is important is to find someone who knows the policies of the company and is enthusiastic about helping you. Ask her what kind of training she provides and about various online groups that you can join for support.
Some direct sales companies have no sponsoring restrictions while others prefer that you join with someone local. The advantages of working with someone locally is that you can train with her in person and maybe even do local events together. On the other hand you may find that you really click with someone that you met from across the country. It is also a good idea to seek out local training in your area. If local training is not available you should be able to learn what you need through the training materials in your kit as well as training offered online and from your sponsor.
So now you have picked your company, gone through the training, booked some parties (usually starting with friends and family) and you are ready to get started! While you may be nervous keep this in mind: The more that you know about and believe in your product the easier it is to talk about and sell. Practice your demonstration at home in front of your spouse or a friend. If you are worried that you are going to forget something then go ahead and write down parts of your presentation on note cards. And what if you do make a few mistakes? Don't worry! It happens to even the most experienced in the business so just laugh it off and go on and have a great time!
First, do you have a company in mind? While it is important to join a company that pays a decent commission you want to make sure that you are passionate about the products. Think about what you enjoy and go from there. For me I chose a home party plan that offered home decor because decorating my home is something that I have always enjoyed. I also went to many home parties and enjoyed the decorating tips and presentations. Think about what you enjoy and most likely you will find a direct sales company in that niche. You will find direct sales companies that offer anything from home decor to gourmet food to jewelry and so much more. Check out the many work at home sites that are geared toward women and you will find several. Just go to google and type in "wahm" in the google search box and you will find listings of several great work at home sites with information on a variety of companies.
After choosing your niche then it is time to narrow down a company to choose. If you were to choose something like jewelry you will most likely find several companies that specialize in that niche. So how do you decide? There are many advantages to being one of the first reps with a new company but on the other hand you might feel more secure joining an established company. If you want to join an established company visit dsa.org and check to see if the company that you are thinking about is listed with the direct selling association.
Did you find a company or a few companies to compare? Go ahead and request information but let the potential sponsor know that you are looking at different companies. Ask up front about start up costs. We have all heard that if anyone asks you for money up front then it must be a scam right? Well this isn't necessarily true. While there are scams out there that you need to be aware of, you also need to realize that in direct sales you are working for yourself and there will be costs involved in running your own business. These costs could include the initial cost of your kit, catalogs, supplies, postage etc. Some companies offer a higher commission but the cost of supplies may also be higher.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you do find a company that you are interested in you want to make sure that you can work with your potential sponsor. Just like when you shopped around for different companies it is also acceptable to talk to different reps within one company and find someone that you can work with. It doesn't necessarily have to be the rep with the most experience. What is important is to find someone who knows the policies of the company and is enthusiastic about helping you. Ask her what kind of training she provides and about various online groups that you can join for support.
Some direct sales companies have no sponsoring restrictions while others prefer that you join with someone local. The advantages of working with someone locally is that you can train with her in person and maybe even do local events together. On the other hand you may find that you really click with someone that you met from across the country. It is also a good idea to seek out local training in your area. If local training is not available you should be able to learn what you need through the training materials in your kit as well as training offered online and from your sponsor.
So now you have picked your company, gone through the training, booked some parties (usually starting with friends and family) and you are ready to get started! While you may be nervous keep this in mind: The more that you know about and believe in your product the easier it is to talk about and sell. Practice your demonstration at home in front of your spouse or a friend. If you are worried that you are going to forget something then go ahead and write down parts of your presentation on note cards. And what if you do make a few mistakes? Don't worry! It happens to even the most experienced in the business so just laugh it off and go on and have a great time!
About the Author:
Are you interested in direct sales? visit HomePartyPlanet.com for various home party plans and other work at home ideas. WAHM resources and affordable advertising also available.
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