Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
What is Direct Selling?

That doesn’t mean training has to eat up all of your time. You can connect with and train your direct sales consultants online. Let’s take a look at a few tips and success strategies.

1. Webinars
   A webinar is an online seminar. You can find free conferencing programs, online services that start around $50/month, or you can set up your own online video conferencing or Skype system. Webinar services make it easy for your trainees to connect. They simply have to get online, click a link and they’re there.

   You can hold monthly webinars to answer questions, present materials, and motivate your team. Webinars can be fun too. You can play games, acknowledge profitable teammates and explain new products and promotions. It’s a great way to connect with your team on a monthly basis and to offer them the training and support they need.

2. Online discussions
   Another useful tool is an online discussion group for your team. You can set up a private forum, chat room, or Facebook group. Regularly upload training materials and connect with your direct sales team on an as needed basis.
3. Private Blog
   If you have a blog you can create training materials including videos and downloadable print materials and deliver them privately to your team. WordPress for example, offers plug-ins that gives you the ability to set up memberships and private access pages.
   Blogging Resources

   How to Create a Blog
   How to Choose Blog Web Hosting

4. Email training
   Using an autoresponder service you can set up a series of email messages to be delivered on a schedule to train a new team member and also send broadcasts when you have new information to share with the entire team. Since email training is not interactive you probably want to use it in conjunction with one of the other more conversational methods.

There are also many other ways you can use the internet to train your direct sales team. Before you decide on a system consider how you want to train your direct sales team. What materials will you provide? How often do you want to meet? Also consider the technical ability and comfort level of your direct sales recruits.

Create a plan. Choose a tool or system that supports your plan and get started. Save time, grow your business and use the internet to train your direct sales team.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Take Your Direct Sales Team Training Online

One of the most popular of course is to recruit at home parties. If you’ve exhausted the standard recruiting strategies or you want to launch a recruiting campaign consider some of these unique, and effective, strategies as part of your overall direct sales advertising plan.

1. Social Networking
   Many successful direct sales consultants accidentally stumble upon the power of social networking. They post a promotion or a review for a product and not only do they make sales, they connect with others who are interested in representing the company. Social networking is extremely powerful for connecting with other like-minded people.
   However, instead of stumbling upon success, you can create a plan and implement it to recruit teammates. For example, you might create a Facebook advertisement or a Facebook fan page to support your career. In addition to promoting products occasionally you can also share your experiences and the joys of being a direct sales consultant for your chosen company.
2. Blogging
   Do you presently have a blog? You can recruit motivated teammates by starting a blog about your adventures, misadventures and successes as a direct sales consultant. You’ll help other direct sales consultants achieve success. You’ll also attract great people to work with and join your team.
3. Guest Blog, Article Marketing and Helpful Content
   Finally, and perhaps you’re starting to see a theme here, consider publishing content about how to succeed as a direct sales consultant. When you publish helpful content you position yourself as an expert. Share your personality in your content and you’ll also attract people who want to work with you. You’ll be amazed at how well this strategy works. Publish content on article marketing sites, become a guest blogger for work at home or direct selling blogs and publish content on social networking sites like Linked In.

Add these three online recruiting strategies to your next recruitment drive and reach your goals quickly, and effectively. You’ll recruit top notch teammates and be well on your way to lasting direct sales profits and success.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Three Strategies to Recruit Direct Sales Consultants Online

Step One: What Do You Want To Accomplish?

In order to achieve advertising success it’s important to first know what you want to accomplish. What are your goals? For example, do you want to recruit three new top performing recruits?

Step Two: Define The Offer.

It’s also very important to know who you’re looking for or what you’re offering. What are the characteristics of top performing recruits? How will you appeal to your audience? What benefits can you highlight? How can you solve their problems?

Advertising is about capturing your prospect’s attention and motivating them to take action. In the case of recruiting new teammates the desired action may be to click through to your recruiting page. Decide exactly who you’re advertising to and what you have to offer.

Step Three: Researching Advertising and Listing Options

Now it’s time to decide where you’re going to advertise or list your business. Take some time and research your options. For example, you might advertise or list on Craigslist. You might also create a Facebook ad or list your business opportunity on a Direct Sales Company directory.

Step Four: What’s Your Budget?

Once you have an idea about your advertising or listing options, it’s time to begin comparing them. You’ll of course compare them based on how they fit your goals and your target audience. You’ll also want to evaluate them in terms of cost. Which options best fit your budget?

Step Five: Optimize Your Advertising and Listing Strategy.

At this point you likely have your goals, your ad or listing created and you have chosen a site or sites to focus on first. The next step is to integrate y our advertisement of listing into your overall marketing strategy. For example, if you publish a new advertisement on Craigslist you might link to that ad from your Facebook page. Integrating your marketing and business building tactics helps draw more attention to them. It makes them more effective.

Finally, consider sending prospects to a landing page for each specific goal you identify. This will help you test and track your results. You’ll learn what your prospects respond to and which listings or ads generated the most interest and results. Also consider tackling one ad or listing at a time. Tackling too much at once often results in incomplete efforts. Focus on one tactic, perfect it, and then add more.

Image courtesy of deanmeyersnet on Flickr

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Creating Your Direct Sales Advertising and Listing Strategy

Depending on where you live, summer jobs may be readily available or may be non-existent. If jobs are scarce, consider starting a seasonal business.

Temporary jobs may be available at summer camps, ice cream shops, restaurants, resort hotels, golf courses, tennis clubs, country clubs, public swimming pools, and shoppes in tourist towns.

Here are some posts and resources for starting a summer business:

• Summer Business Ideas – The standards and some no so common ideas.
• Will Your Teens Spend or Earn This Summer – Ideas specifically for teens.
• Teenagers Pool Their Talents to Start a Business – Get inspired by three young teens who started a unique summer business.
• All summer will you be hearing “Mom, I’m bored!” or… – More ideas geared specifically for kids.

Are you or your teens planning a summer business? Please tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Summer Business Ideas Again

Briefly describe the company and opportunity.
Private Quarters is a new, six-year old direct selling company focused on high quality linens and comfortwear for the bed and bath. It is the only direct selling linen company in the United States. There is huge opportunity across the country to get in on the ground floor. This is a party plan company, offering personal shopping experiences for hosts and guests and it offers incentives to host parties that are out of this world. It only costs $199 to become a comfort consultant, and each new consultant has a coach to help them be successful. There are no territories, so you can sell anywhere in the United States!

How long have you been with the company? How long have you been in direct sales?
I have been with Private Quarters since June of 2010. I left an executive level career of 25 years in corporate America so that I could have a life and be in control of my own destiny. I have never been in direct sales before, but anyone with a desire to have their own business can do this regardless of a lack of sales experience. The products are so beautiful, they practically sell themselves.

What is your title or rank with the company and how long did it take you to achieve that rank?
I am a Group Leader with Private Quarters and attained that level in five short, fun months. Group Leaders have three people on their teams and help coach them to be successful. I have seven people on my team. Some are full time Comfort Consultants, others are Interior Designers, while others are stay-at-home moms and grandmothers. Each person brings something unique to the business. Group Leaders are the first level of leadership, and there are seven levels of leadership.

Besides commissions and cash bonuses, what’s your favorite benefit or perk?
I have always loved to travel, and if you meet the objectives of the incentive trips, you will go to beautiful places and can take your spouse or a guest. We had a trip to La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs in January, and I qualified for it. It was an all expense paid trip, and it was wonderful. The next one is in June, and it is to Kauai, Hawaii. Talk about fabulous travel!! I can’t wait to take my husband and have him enjoy the fruits of my business while playing golf in Poipu.

What’s your best selling or favorite product?
We have two best selling products which are also my favorites as they are life changing: the deluxe mattress pad combined with the deluxe featherbed. If you have ever been to a five-star resort and wondered why the bed is so divine, wonder no more. Private Quarters can turn your bed into the lap of luxury which will help provide the much needed sleep so many people are deprived of.

What support and/or training do you provide to lead your team members to success?
Comfort Consultants are offered a weekly coaching call, one-on-one coaching, and are given assistance and training with their launch party with their Sponsor. Private Quarters as a company provides you with your own personal web site and marketing newsletters, along with a first-in-class training manual called “The PQ Way”. Tons and tons of online training is available as well as and conference calls with the stars and trainers. This is the best training I have ever seen in my career.

Which one or two sales methods do you primarily use and teach?
We primarily teach home parties which we call “personal shopping experiences” as they involve the bedrooms and bathrooms of your homes. I also sell quite a bit to individuals I meet one-on-one. Each Comfort Consultant is provided with a starter kit which contains samples that people can touch and feel.

What would you say is the key to success with this company?
The key to success with this company lies in its management. Private Quarters offers incentives to Consultants, Hosts and Guests that make it easy to be successful. This company shares the wealth with its sales force. The leaders are genuine, kind and caring.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Private Quarters believes in helping women. They support the domestic violence awareness project, and each year they give a half a million dollars worth of bed and bath linens to battered and homeless women’s shelters across the nation. They have a campaign each April called “Share the Comfort”, and through this campaign and the efforts of Comfort Consultants, PQ is able to donate product while making communities more aware of domestic violence.

Contact Julie to start your own home business selling linens by visiting her Private Quarters information page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Meet Julie Mansfield, Group Leader with Private Quarters

Briefly describe the company and opportunity.
Founded in 2004 Beauty Society began as a quest to bring the very highest quality anti-aging skincare at affordable prices to all women. We have since grown into the most sought after skincare and cosmetics line with the hottest and incredibly lucrative business opportunity for women in the US! The company offers the highest personal and team commission in the industry and enjoys an epically high reorder rate. The products are paraben free and sulfate free, cruelty free, and made in the USA. The skincare products come with a 12 month money back guarantee.

How long have you been in direct sales?
4 years. I made the switch to Beauty Society because I see the potential the company has to offer, I fell in love with the products, and they truly care, and treat their divas with respect.

Besides commissions and cash bonuses, what’s your favorite benefit or perk?
The connections I have with other divas, they are amazing women (and men), I am growing everyday and I truly believe and know I am helping others; whether that be feeling better, looking younger, or adding an income. They also have diva retreats, and have contests for free products and trips, all very attainable for all consultants regardless of title.

What’s your best selling or favorite product?
Youth accelerator – it is one of the products that uses apple stem cell technology. Simply amazing.

What support and/or training do you provide to lead your team members to success?
We have company calls, private team calls, and also you can call and talk to the founder if you need to. I am available to my team anytime, they will have my home, cell, and email…. I am never out of reach.

Which sales methods do you primarily use and teach?
Online, home parties, and one-on-one. This is the key to the business, selling is the foundation to running a direct sales business. If you master the products and care for your customers you will be successful.

What would you say is the key to success with this company?
To be passionate, know what you have to offer, and then share it. I do not force this on others I simply share the products and the business and that is all it takes.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
You can get started for $129.Your success has no limit with hard work and dedication.
If you are looking for an opportunity to earn extra money, meet new friends or simply love the skincare and would like the discount for yourself, Beauty Society is the perfect business for you. This is simply and best of fun. Call or email me today!!

Contact Bershelle today to find out how to start your own skincare business.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Join Bershelle Jones and Beauty Society to Become a Skincare Diva

Briefly describe the company and opportunity.
Cookie Lee is a well established company offering affordable fine, fashion jewelry for women of all ages. Our jewelry ranges from $16 to $60. We have an amazing business opportunity with start up fees starting from $99. Our consultants earn 50% profit on each and every sales with no monthly quotas.

How long have you been with the company? How long have you been in direct sales?
I have been a consultant for almost three years. I’ve been in direct sales for over 20 years and in my opinion, Cookie Lee has been the best by far.

What is your title or rank with the company and how long did it take you to achieve that rank? Where are you in the structure?
My title is Senior Team Manager which is in the middle of our comp plan. It took me approx. 9 months to achieve it. Our comp plan has been totally revamped and you can start earning commission and bonuses with just one recruit.

Besides commissions and cash bonuses, what’s your favorite benefit or perk?
My favorite perk is the dream getaway trip that you can earn each year. They are amazing and very attainable for all consultants regardless of title.

What’s your best selling or favorite product?
One of my favorite items from the Spring Summer 11 catalog is the Slipknot necklace on page 44E. It’s a three strand necklace (silver, hematite, and bronze) with a detachable three stand slipknot. It can be worn separately or layered in multiple combos. Watch Cookie herself demonstrate it in this video:

What support and/or training do you provide to lead your team members to success?
Cookie Lee offers unlimited training from new consultant and manager training to jewelry tips all online at no extra cost to consultant. I also offer group meeting, one on one training and phone conferences to help my consultants to succeed.

Which one or two sales methods do you primarily use and teach?
I do home, catalog and online shows and fundraisers also. My favorite are home shows so that the guest can see, touch and wear the jewelry. I can also demonstrate all of cool trick and various ways the jewelry can be worn.

What would you say is the key to success with this company?
My key to success is consistency and resisting negativity. Cookie Lee also makes it pretty attainable to succeed with amazing support and an excellent program.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
With any direct sales business, It’s what you make it. Your success has no limit with hard work and dedication.
If you are looking for an opportunity to earn extra money, meet new friends or simply love the jewelry and would like the discount for yourself. Cookie Lee is the perfect business for you. Call or email me today!!

To contact Mia, visit her Coolie Lee information page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
How Mia Redd, Senior Team Manager, Succeeds with Cookie Lee Jewelry

Briefly describe the company and opportunity.
Thirty-One is a faith-based party plan company, our name being derived from Proverbs 31. We offer a beautiful collection of personalized gifts, including handbags, purses, totes, wallets, stationery, baskets, and so much more. You can start your own Thirty-One business for only $99 and this includes over $250 in products and business supplies. We are ground floor and the only thing missing is YOU!

How long have you been with the company? How long have you been in direct sales?
I have been with Thirty-One almost 2 years. Prior to Thirty-One, I was with several other direct sales businesses, always searching for “that perfect one.”

What is your title or rank with the company and how long did it take you to achieve it? Where are you in the structure?
I am a Senior Executive Director with Thirty-One and reached this rank in 23 months. This is the highest position in the company.

Besides commissions and cash bonuses, what’s your favorite benefit or perk?
I love the incentive rewards that the company offers us. So far I have earned a new lap top and printer, an all expenses paid trip to Riviera Maya, and most recently, a trip for four (which I haven’t decided where to yet). I was also awarded as #2 top dream builder in the entire company and was 1 of only 13 selected to be on Thirty-One’s PAC (Presidential Advisory Council), as well as being selected to be on Thirty-One’s Leadership Council. In August, 13 of us were flown to Chicago for PAC, all-expenses-paid, and met with Cindy Monroe, President and Owner, along with the support team from home office. The PAC members were able to give lots of input and feedback into current and future products, etc. with the company. In September, as a member of the Leadership Council, I flew to Columbus, OH and we were provided specialized training and had more input into our Thirty-One business.

I will have to say that probably the greatest benefit as a leader with Thirty-One is teaching and training others to success. This is my true passion! Celebrating team members who are reaching goals and dreams that they may have never thought possible is so rewarding to me!

And, last but not least, now that I am debt-free and financially secure, being able to give to others is one of the greatest rewards ever! God has blessed me and continues to do so, and I love being a blessing to others.

What’s your best selling or favorite product?
One of my best selling products is our Large Utility Tote. I use one for trips to the grocery store, one for laundry, and one for linens. Other uses include packing for vacations and/or camping trips and carrying inventory to parties (many other direct sales reps love these totes for their products, too!). There are so many uses for this bag!

Another favorite is our Skirt Purse. Within a matter of seconds, you can change the look of your purse by removing one skirt and replacing it with another!

 
What support and/or training do you provide to lead your team members to success?
My team is never lacking for training. From new consultant calls, to bi-weekly team meetings, to topic-specific training courses, to specialized training for future leaders, I want my team to have the best training and support possible, and I pride myself in providing that for them.

Which one or two sales methods do you primarily use and teach?
I primarily do online parties, but my teaching and training covers all types of parties and selling. Every consultant who joins has the opportunity to run her business the way it works with her schedule, her family, lifestyle, and personality. The consultants’ success is my ultimate goal!

What would you say is the key to success with this company?
Learning to be the leader I would follow, and making others my “why.” I believe you lead by example and I always strive to be the best leader I can possibly be. I also believe that a huge key to success is participation. From involving yourself in team meetings, participating in training courses, reading motivational books and/or listening to top direct sales speakers, I firmly believe we can never stop learning. There is always another gold nugget we can learn and pass along to others. Participation in company events, company incentives and national conference is also HUGE! Communication is also key. When I know what a consultant or potential team member wants from Thirty-One, we can put a plan of action into place to help her achieve her goals.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Yes … take the words “I can’t” out of your vocabulary and believe in yourself! The only one who can hold you back is YOU!

To start your own home business selling personalized handbags and other gifts, or to request more information, visit Phyllis’s Thirty-One page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Phyllis O’Neill, Senior Executive Director, Can Help You Succeed with Thirty-One

Briefly describe the company and opportunity.
Lia sophia is a high quality fashion jewelry company with a continued focus on affordability, an incredible lifetime replacement guarantee and amazing benefits. Reps can earn up to 40% commission and monthly bonuses. Reps also receive a 70% discount. Lia sophia allows its hostesses the opportunity to earn 40% in free product for only $15 along with multiple $15 items and half priced items. Lia sophia has a huge celebrity following and is often in featured in some of the hottest fashion magazines in the country! Whether you’re interested in working part-time or are ready for a full-time career, lia sophia invites you to join their amazing opportunity.

How long have you been with the company? How long have you been in direct sales?
I have been with lia sophia for over 7 years and was personally making a six figure income by my third year. I have supported my family for the past 4 years and have done so well that I have inspired my husband to go into direct sales too.

What is your title or rank with the company and how long did it take you to achieve that rank? Where are you in the structure?
I am a Region Manager. lia sophia has 5 levels (Advisor, Unit Mgr, Division Mgr, Region Mgr and Zone Mgr). I became a Unit within 6 months, A Division within 3 years, a Region within 5 years and I would expect to get to the zone level within a couple years. Your income increases with each level as your are able to make higher commission from deeper levels, along with higher monthly bonus opportunities.

Besides commissions and cash bonuses, what’s your favorite benefit or perk?
A great perk to selling lia sophia is that we can earn amazing vacations based on our personal sales and team sales. I earned my first trip (to Hawaii) within my first 5 months of selling the jewelry! Anyone can earn the lia sophia incentive trips by just doing shows on a consistent basis! Another perk is lia sophia provides me with more family time. I love that I am able to be more of a “hands on mom” than I was able to be when I worked as a Human Resources Manager. I am making more money but yet have more time with my family! Also it doesn’t even feel like “work” when you love what you do! Any amount of effort I put into lia sophia hits my bottom line! I love that!

What’s your best selling or favorite product?
My favorite products come from the “Kiam Family” Collection. Its featured in the center insert of our catalog. These exquisite pieces make great “booking items” you can get these items at a huge discount when you decide to host a party!

What support and/or training do you provide to lead your team members to success?
I offer a very comprehensive personal one on one training. meetings, conference calls and we also have a great corporate website with access to “lia sophia university”, web classes and so much more.

Which one or two sales methods do you primarily use and teach?
This is definitely a home show party business. I tell all my potential teammates that if they consistently hold 2 shows a week and share the opportunity with others, they can grow an amazing business!

What would you say is the key to success with this company?
The key to success is hard work and consistency. Jewelry is the perfect thing to sell, women love jewelry and it makes a great conversation starter. I am able to share the opportunity so often because people compliment my jewelry everywhere I go! This company has such a formula for success. They have an amazing product coupled with a lucrative business plan!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
This is an incredible opportunity that rewards you for your efforts. If you want to work this part time, you will earn amazing part time money. If you decide to work this full time, you can make a very lucrative living.

Our starter kit is only $149 which comes with over $1, 000 in merchandise (some of of our hottest styles) and supplies. Its hard for me to believe that my $149 investment has led to such an amazing income!

To join lia sophia and have a successful start you have to line up some initial shows. I lined up 8 parties when I first started (with some of my closest friends and family) and as a result, in 7 years I have never been out of business and am making a multiple 6 figure income. This is the type of business that rewards you for your efforts. You will get out of this business, what you put into it! This is the right opportunity at the right time! Women love jewelry and our jewelry is so on point with the latest styles and trends!

I am looking for some hard working, no nonsense people to join my Executive Team! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions! I would love to help you get started!

To start your own home business selling fashion jewelry, or to request more information, visit Tina’s lia sophia page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy's Business Opportunity Connection. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.
Meet Tina Gibbons – Region Manager with Lia Sophia