How to KILL it in Direct Sales

So... you've signed up with a direct sales company.  (Congrats!) You like the products and you decided it might be fun to take on a new adventure. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to burst someone's bubble. 👉POP!👈 (I know that not everyone goes into DS with this mindset, but this was totally me.) Anyone out there like me that is reading this-

You're in for a LOT of work if you want to be successful. 

It's time to buckle up, because the road may be more bumpy than you thought. That being said, each person who enters the realm of MLMs CAN be successful IF they're willing to put in the effort.

Here are some common misconceptions of people who go into direct sales: 

1. "The product sells itself!" - NO. YOU sell the product. If it sold itself, then the company wouldn't be using you as a sales rep. You are an ambassador for your brand. You need to use the product, live and breathe the product, and you need to find a way to do that without annoying the  CRAP out of your friends (I will share ideas for that if you keep reading on).

2. "I'll just post pretty pictures and people will come to me!" - You're not Kim Kardashian. You will have to work. Your first few parties will probably flop. You'll have an initial rush of customers who are your friends and family that may want to support you or find your product to be interesting, and then your sales will most likely drop. Like a hot rock. You will have to find new ways to engage your audience. You will have to find new people that are interested in your product. You will have to set yourself apart from every other girl (okay, guys do it too, but mostly it's girls- let's be honest) that has a million things in common with you that ALSO sells the same product.

3. "If I just hang in there long enough my sales will pick up!" - Nothing could be further from the truth. You can't just sit by complacently and hope that the longevity you have with the company will take you somewhere. You need to be doing research, making contacts, following up with previous customers, to move forward. You will likely work like a dog your first year if you want to reap the rewards of your DS business in the future.

Here are some TIPS to help you make the most out of your new gig: 

1. Be yourself and share that with others. What are you good at? Can you draw, paint, swim, sing, cook? Are you funny, smart, caring? Think of the things that your friends and family have told you that they like about you, and make sure to share those qualities with your audience. What will set YOU apart from every. other. girl. is what makes you uniquely YOU. What do YOU have to offer to your consumer? Make that part of who you are and what you sell.

2. Find ways to get your audience to respond to you. I feel like when people choose whether or not to follow you on social media, it's almost like dating. You need an ice breaker every once in a while to keep the conversation going. You need to show that you are interested in your customer and that what they think matters to you. Ask them questions about themselves. Have them share something unique about themselves, and whatever you do, DON'T FORGET TO RESPOND to whatever they say. SHOW THAT YOU CARE. Find out what YOUR audience wants, and show your audience how the product you're selling satisfies that.

3. Show them how you use the product and how it makes you happier. Post a picture of your kids using it, your dog, your husband, your grandma. Don't just post generic pictures that they see from every other vendor all the time. Set yourself APART.

4. Have a tough skin. Some people are not going to like your product. Some people are not going to like you. That's just life. You're more exposed to it now because you are seeking people out. Recognize that not everyone is going to buy from you, or like you, because it's statistically impossible. Take it with a grain of salt, thank them for giving you a new life experience, and use what you learn to make yourself a better person, then let it go. You know you're awesome and you are seeking out other people who will appreciate what you have to offer.

5. DON'T exhaust your friends and family! Buy some advertising space on Facebook, go to an event, tape free samples of your product and a business card to people's windshields at the parking lot. The chances of you hitting it big by trying to remain in your comfort zone are pretty slim.

6. Be prepared to spend $$ upfront. After you buy your initial kit, make your initial contribution, whatever it is that gets you to become a distributor, you're not done. You will need to buy advertising space, prizes for giveaways, postage for mailing giveaways, business cards, maybe a website, a booth at a convention. Prepare yourself to spend a couple hundred dollars upfront on TOP of your startup fees with the company. You won't get anywhere if you don't set yourself up for success with the materials you need beyond your start-up kit.

7. Support your down-line. Direct sales is a rough gig. A LOT of people give up because they exhaust their friend circle and fizzle out. YOU will need to show your down-line how to be successful, and your bonus for that is a portion of their sales, which makes YOU more successful. The most successful DS distributors have big teams under them of successful people. They are successful because of GOOD LEADERSHIP in their upline! Successful, successful, successful, I know. I said that word half a million times. I'm trying to make a point, okay? ;) If you discover something that makes you successful, for heavens sake, SHARE IT! Set up a structure to help them obtain success. Make worksheets, pamphlets, have meetings with them, give them links to read on how to support their DS business (shameless plug, wink, wink.)

8. Go LIVE! - People are intrigued by LIVE videos. There's something about them that makes other people want to watch them. Plan ahead. Make bullet points of what you are going to say. Don't ramble or say "um." Find something fun or exciting to say every time you go LIVE. It doesn't have to be related to the product, but this will keep your customers coming back for more because they will know you have some information to contribute to their lives.

The last piece of advice I have for you, is DON'T GIVE UP. 

I 100% believe this is true: 

You CAN do this. 

Go get 'em. <3

Love, ❤❤❤