Direct sales party plan businesses are run primarily by women, and moms are particularly attracted to the business model. It’s a home business most people recognize and understand. In the US, where it’s a $30 billion industry with more than 15 million people involved in selling, about 75% of Americans have purchased products or services through direct selling. Many women were first introduced to direct sales at a home party hosted by a friend or family member.

Some of the factors that make direct selling an attractive business for moms are:

• The business can be run from home on a flexible, part-time schedule and can be built into a full-time business with a full-time income.
• Consultants are independent business owner, but training and support is available.
• There are a wide variety of products that can be sold through direct selling including food and cooking products, children’s products, jewelry, home décor, clothing and accessories, craft supplies, and makeup and skin care.
• Low start-up costs
• Anyone can become a direct sales consultant; there are no educational or work experience requirement.

Direct sales party plan businesses are well-suited to our social nature and fit well into moms’ support groups such as the kids’ play groups, church groups, homeschooling groups, and other parenting groups, and social groups like mom’s night out.

Additionally, because women make most of the buying decisions for families, we are the perfect target audience for direct sales. The personal attention provided by direct sales consultants and the convenience of having items delivered make the shopping method even more attractive.

The sales party is a social event and it gives everyone a chance to talk freely about the products and the perks of direct sales. Women can be honest with other women. They will be your staunchest supporters and your toughest critics.

Moms and women getting together can create a huge direct sales network. Some will host additional parties and others will join as sales consultants. Each will market to their associates and widen the business circle.

Direct sales also lends itself to online networking. If the direct sales company allows marketing online, set up a website of your own and advertise on other “mom” websites and participate in social sites to find other moms looking for a business opportunity.

Much of what we have in common makes women, and especially moms, the perfect target audience for direct sales businesses. This type of home business allows us to combine our social nature, decision making power, and our entrepreneurial skills to make some extra money.

In their February hiring trends report Elance.com listed article writing as one of the top five skills that businesses are outsourcing to freelancers. It’s really no surprise, especially since Elance caters mostly to online businesses. After all, what is the Internet made of? Images and words… and it’s those words that are crucially important.

And believe me, most Internet marketers don’t have either the skill or the time to write – or both – and that means a lucrative opportunity for people with some writing skills.

In addition to article writing, there are other in-demand skills for online ghostwriting including copywriting, blogs, press releases, email marketing, white papers and more. There are many opportunities to specialize and actually charge MORE for your services.

To have a successful ghostwriting business, you need the right tools and strategies that successful entrepreneurs use. If you’ve been thinking of breaking into ghostwriting and doing it quickly, I recommend this guide to ghostwriting. It will show you:

• How to market your services without spending on advertising
• Where to find clients with deep pockets
• Why and how to put up a professional website
• Which industries are virtual gold mines for ghostwriters
• How much to charge to actually make profit
• How to set yourself apart from your competition
• How to develop your portfolio especially when you haven’t had a single client yet
  …and more!

This guide gives you the stories of two successful ghostwriters who earn a full-time income writing from home. Not only are they inspirational, but they give great tips too. The best part is, because this guide is written for Moms, the price is just right. In fact, you’ll easily earn back the cost of this guide with your first writing assignment. Check it out yourself. Get Paid To Write: Become A Ghostwriter.

Put your writing talent to good use and start an Internet ghostwriting business.

Will your kids be saying, “Mom! I just made more money!”

Summer is the perfect time to foster your children’s entrepreneurial spirits and help them start their own business. While a lemonade stand can certainly be profitable, many more opportunities are available both online and offline.

Kids’ Business Ideas and How-to Guides:

Kids’ Business Ideas is a 50-page ebook that lists at least seventy-five businesses that can be run by children. Some are generally known teen and pre-teen jobs like babysitting and dog walking, but there are many other unique and potentially lucrative ideas. The online business category contains some how-to information, but for the most part the ebook is a list of ideas, a brief description of what the work entails, the tools needed, suggested minimum age for each, and some notes to parents regarding safety. It’s well worth the $9.99 price.
Claim Your Copy of Kids’ Business Ideas.

Your Guide to Helping Your Child Start an Inexpensive & Fun Business Online, is a free report including tips on affiliate marketing and blogging. Click here for your complimentary copy.

Note: This is an updated version of a post originally made in March, 2007.

Image courtesy of Lori-B.

If you are in the know about jewelry you probably already know about dichroic glass gems. I just learned about them while writing up a directory listing for a new jewelry direct sales party plan, Allura Designs.

Using a process that was developed by NASA to protect satellites, Allura’s artists produce unique, brilliantly colored gems for their jewelry.

Independent consultants sell the dichroic glass jewelry at home parties and through other direct sales methods, earning up to 45% commission on sales. Consultants can earn additional income by building a team and there is a new consultant bonus program.

To learn more about the Allura Designs consultant opportunity, visit the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

If you are thinking of starting a direct sales business or you are already a consultant and wondering what to sell during a recession, here are some tips.

First are the bare necessities of course… food, clothing, shelter, basic personal care (toothpaste, soap, etc), health care, and utilities (heat, electricity, etc). Then there are other items that people are slow to give up such as education and television and Internet. Additionally, consumers will show increased interest frugal living and in do-it-yourself products and information.

However, while consumers will continue to buy food for example, they are cutting back on higher priced organics, choosing budget family dining instead of fine dining, and are more likely to choose a less expensive generic over their usual brand. Some adjustments to your marketing message may be necessary to meet customers’ current preferences. Market gourmet food mixes as a less expensive alternative to eating out. Or sell spices and recipes that make budget meals more appealing. Demonstrate how your cooking tools can be used to preserve the nutrient value of foods and how storage products prolong self life.

Think about why people don’t give up television during hard times. Perhaps it’s because they give up other forms of entertainment like going out to the movies or skiing. Since the family is staying home more, they rely on television for entertainment. But other inexpensive family entertainment products such as board games and movie rentals may be good sellers now too.

As mentioned in Recession Proof Your Business Using the Lipstick Theory the best positioned companies in a recession sell what economists refer to as “inferior goods” – products that people substitute for their favorites that they can no longer afford. So again it follows that if you focus on selling your less expensive product line as an alternative to the more “luxury” products they’ve been buying, your customers are more likely to continue buying from you.

It’s really a lot of common sense – think about what people will continue to buy when they are being very budget conscious and sell those items.

There’s also a major advantage direct sellers have during a recession that makes customers want to buy from you – personalized customer service. While the department stores are probably cutting back on personnel, you can go the extra mile to provide the attention your customers want.

It’s not the time for business as usual, but if you make adjustments you may be able to maintain your usual amount of business.

If you’re looking for a company to join, be sure to also read, How to Choose a Direct Sales Company During a Recession.

Like many other people in the US right now, you may be looking to start a home business to replace a lost job or as some insurance against a possible job loss. If you’ve decided to become a direct sales party plan consultant, here are some factors to consider when choosing a company during a recession.

1 – What type of products are your target market going to buy? Carefully consider who you are going to be selling to and find out what they are buying and what they have given up because of the economy. Keep in mind that many of us are cutting back to necessities, choosing less expensive alternatives for items we have to buy, and being more careful about getting value for our dollar.

Within the next few days we’ll talk about what to sell during a recession in more detail. In the meantime, there is some information about it in our post, Recession Proof Your Business Using the Lipstick Theory.

2 – Is the company positioned to weather this economic storm? Of course there are no guarantees, but determine what factors you think improve their chances.

Companies that have been in business for a longer time have endured more economic ups and downs. The early 2000′s saw some problems because of 9/11 and accounting scandals as did the early 1990′s and 1980′s. Companies that launched before those dates have a proven track record. There are even a few companies that made it through the Great Depression and are still in business today.

Financial information that can give some indication of their ability to withstand a recession is readily available for publicly traded companies. For privately held companies there are some questions you can ask to try and get an indication of their financial stability. Helpful information includes knowing how they are financed, whether or not they are debt free, and whether they are backed by a stable parent company.

For more on evaluating a company’s financial stability read, Evaluate This Often Overlooked Criteria When Choosing a Business Opportunity.

3 – How do product prices compare with other companies selling similar products? Pricing isn’t always a factor when purchasing from direct sales consultants, but it is more of a factor during a recession.
Continue Reading

At the start of a new year, it’s not unusual for many people to begin looking for a home business. With the current economic recession many more people will look for a second job or home business as a bit of insurance against a possible layoff, because their wages have been frozen, or for a better sense of security. Stay-at-home parents often look for ways to supplement the family income from home for the same reasons.

If you are seeking an additional income you may be considering a direct sales business. The potential for profit is very appealing as is the ease and low-cost of getting started. But there are dangers as well.

Here are some of the pros and cons of direct sales.

Pros:

1. Direct sales gives anyone a chance to be a business owner and entrepreneurship allows everyone to realize their dream of working for themselves.
2. Direct sales has low start up costs and low overhead. Most can be started for $100-$200 and because consultants can work from home and almost never have to carry inventory, the ongoing costs can be contained. When you sign on with a direct sales program, you are provided with all of the tools you will need to get started.
3. There is plenty of variety in direct sales. With opportunities for selling jewelry, candles, home decor, health and beauty products, clothing, and much more, you can choose a product that you feel comfortable with and believe in, and that your customers want.
4. Direct sales business owners set their own hours. Consultants can work part-time or full-time as their schedule allows and moms can work around their kids’ schedules.
5. Direct sales programs offer support for their sales consultants. It can be tough getting started, especially if you have no sales or marketing experience. The support of the company and your sponsor can mean the difference between success and failure.

Cons Continue Reading

Every day people come online looking for a home business, often when they need quick cash and have little or no money to invest. For the most part, starting a business requires an investment, but as Lynn Terry recently wrote, it is possible to start a lucrative online business for an initial investment of under $10.

Normally I advise people to be wary of “free business opportunities” that are often too good to be true. But Lynn is describing something completely different. She outlines the steps to creating a “a solid internet business model” through affiliate marketing. These are proven methods; it’s how she makes her living online.

Starting a business for free means you will need to invest time instead of money. And while you could start generating some revenue right away, it may be six month to a year before you start earning a regular income. If you have a little more money to invest, you can speed up the process, but either way, a consistent effort is necessary for success.

Click here for Lynn Terry’s advice on Starting a Free Online Business. I highly recommend it.

And I’d like to know what you think so please stop back here to add your comments.

Perhaps you are looking to start your first business. Or maybe you already have a business that just doesn’t seem like the right fit. Whether you’re thinking home-based business, brick and mortar, MLM, technology, or service business, or even if you are thinking of trying one of of those “get rich quick” programs you see on TV, there’s something you’re going to want to read before you take the next step or choose a business to pursue.

No, it’s not something you have to buy. You don’t even have to subscribe (but it’s worth subscribing).

It’s a new blog that has been created to help everyday people like you and me find that perfect business.

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve, the blog’s owner and it was one of those conversations where I just kept saying “Yes! Exactly!” So much of what Steve shared resonated with me personally and clarified why so many moms and others end up with home businesses that still leave them unsatisfied with what they’re doing.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

Steve will show you step by step exactly how to find the perfect business for you. With 38 years of business experience, he is an expert on entrepreneurship. And he reveals all of the key secrets to finding a business that will have you excited to start each day, filled with passion and purpose, having the time of your life, knowing that the business you are creating is a perfect match for you, and will deliver the fun and successful life of your dreams.

I highly recommend you go and check it out right now. Click here to learn how to start the perfect business for you.

Most people create businesses that are not right for them and that is why they ultimately fail. Don’t let this happen to you too! Be proactive and read this blog before you invest any time or money in a business venture that may not be the perfect business for you.

Please note (added December 29, 2008): This program has temporarily closed to new members, but apparently you can get on the waiting list to be notified when it re-opens, possibly in January.

If you want to open an Internet store, the decision about what to sell can seem overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you choose what type of products to sell.

1 – Consider the availability of products. Many items that can be found by going to your local store are not items that will successfully sell online. Why? It is a matter of convenience and cost.

Items that can be found readily in town offer the satisfaction of immediate gratification. Additionally, by shopping locally customers avoid shipping fees and avoid the risk of delayed deliveries or lost items.

2 – Choose products that are not currently “hot” items on the market. The bigger conglomerates will be able to buy in bulk and offer these items cheaper than you can. Additionally, selling “hot” items requires that you continually keep ahead of that market and adjust your inventory accordingly.

3 – Successful Internet stores are full of special orders items, hard-to-find items, and rare collectibles. Products that are less and less available in the local quick stop stores sell well on the Internet.

4 – Keep in mind that even though you and a few of your friends may like a specific item, it doesn’t mean that it will be a big seller online. Research what sells online and try to find an under-served market.

5 – Be prepared to change your inventory as necessary to keep up with market changes.

Whether you are stocking and shipping your own inventory, marketing for a direct sales company, or using drop shippers, use these tips and some creativity to build a successful online store.