Don't Try Too Hard To Make A Quick Buck
Selling anything today is difficult considering how bad the economy is and when the corporate world is struggling every day to meet their numbers, employees are left in uncertainty on whether or not their position is going to be eliminated. It's definitely a consumer's market, regardless of what industry you're in. Buyers want a lot more for their buck, and who can blame them?
No doubt there's a feeling of desperation to keep a roof over one's head. The need to make fast cash selling products such as Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, or Lia Sophia tends to become the quick solution; however, many times these options don't end up as lucrative as one may have originally thought. Many times individuals jump from one direct sales company tothe next, only to repeatedly reach out to all their contacts, which causes them to wonder, what's she selling now?
Do Make A Conscious Decision Based on Facts And Gut Feeling
Take time to research your business opportunity. Ask around, Google it, see how well others are performing within the same field. Calculate the money you'll need to front, incurring the expenses, the time you'll need to get prospects, the time required if you need to attend home parties, how much gas you'll be paying for, and approximately how much your take-home pay will be each week or month. Know your sponsor. S/he should be knowledgeable, assertive, willing to mentor, assist with any questions, and not push you into keeping inventory or recruiting. S/he should guide you in ways to recruit and promoteyou and your business. If all pans out for you, and this business provides an answer to your financial situation, then take the necessary time to create a plan on marketing you and your business. Stay focused and connected on what's going on within the company, keep in touch with your upline, and never hesitate to ask for help.
Don't Be THAT Person
NEVER, ever harass your prospects or put them on the spot. This is a huge mistake made by first-time business owners. You may know your product or service is amazing and you believe everyone in the world should buy from you or join your awesome team; however, in all honesty, hardly anyone cares. The only outcome that will result using this tactic will be avoidance and distance between you and those who are close to you.
Do Become The Ultimate Marketer by Marketing Yourself
Branding yourself is key. Branding yourself on the internet is imperative. Followers and social media friends are able to gain a personal relationship with you and better yet, they gain trust. People are more apt to listen to you, assist in promoting you, and/or buy from you - when they have trust in you. There are several ways you can bring attention to you and your business, many of which are free advertising that include:
Social media (Facebook Fan page, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blog, etc.)
Involving yourself in different organizations or groups with like-minded individuals such as the Chamber of Commerce, Networking Groups, or Social Club Events.
Getting to know your prospects through passive discussions before sharing your business; however, do not talk too much about yourself. Let it be about them. Learn to listen to what's being said and do an internal assessment to determine if this person is of interest to your business. If not, then there is no need to get into any deep conversations about your company.
Creating an elevator pitch that explains who you are, what you do, your experience, why you got involved, and how your product or service will benefit others. Your pitch shouldn't be any longer than two minutes (the approximate amount of time in an elevator from the ground floor to the top). Have this memorized; however, you should always keep it fresh, up to date, and from time to time you may need to alter it so that the benefits you're trying to convey to specific target markets aremet.
Utilizing these tips can offer huge benefits. When you meet people who are interested in your company and are considering joining, always take down their contact information. Give them a day or two to research your company then follow up with them. This is the key to any sales-oriented business - to always follow up. If you don't, you could potentially lose that opportunity.
Don't Sell
We can all admit that there's nothing worse than listening to a spazzed-out salesperson. Loud, fast talkers waving their arms all over and using hand movements to bring emphasis on how incredible their product is, only produces negativity - towards the salesperson and the product.
I'm sure many of us have been approached by someone selling a vitamin or the ultimate diet pill or anti-aging cream. If all these products really worked, don't you think everyone would be involved in it?
Exhibit A - Selling
Let's say Lou decides to sell automobiles. His dealership has a 60-day special running on all new vehicles - 0% financing, regardless of credit history, ,500 off the sticker price, no payments for 6 months, 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and free gas and maintenance for 1 year. Each sales associate receives a 0 cash bonus for each car they sell during this special sales event and the one who sells the most cars in the 60-day time period will receive a ,000 check. Lou's eyes begin to beam dollar signs. His head is spinning out of control thinking about all his friends and family members who could use a new car. He then remembers his family reunion coming up next weekend.
The following weekend, Lou arrives at the reunion with his leather briefcase carrying a Tumi stack new car brochures, a calculator, a pad and a pen. By the end of the evening, Lou has exhausted all his personal contacts, all 150 of them. He notices his sister, Lisa, crawling on the floor towards the rear emergency exit.
Do Promote
When you promote your business, you're sharing the news in a way that doesn't come across as being all hype. You can have excitement about your new find; however, the more details you communicate, the less likely you'll be in gaining interest from others. Less is more when promoting your business. Utilize personal experiences you've had with your product or service. If you have buyers, use theirtestimonials or better yet, they can share the news with people they know. Nonchalantly post your experience on your Facebook page, but don't overdoen it. If one of your Facebook friends are interested, they'll let you know, and you can take it from there. Again, do not overdoen it.
Exhibit B-Promoting
Let's say Lou's sister Lisa discusses her nightmare experience reunion with her friend Sally, who lives three states over. Sally's appalled by Lou's behavior; however, she was very interested in the deal and decides to purchase a car from Lou's peer, Jimmy. Sally is so thrilled at the incredible offer she just received that she begins calling her friends and family to tell them about it. Lisa Did sell the car? No. Is Sally trying to sell the car? No. Is Sally promoting the car orthe dealership? Yes.
