In Direct Sales - Overcoming Start-Up Blues

In a report to the FTC, the Direct Selling Association (DSA) has reported that "there are 7.2 million direct sellers nationwide and the industry has a very high rate of attrition due to temporary and part-time 90% of our sales force. "

In fact, the direct sales industry is recruiting, on average, more than 70,000 new people a week. In addition, 6% of U.S. households currently have an active direct seller who live there. 14% of U.S. households have a person who was at one time, a direct seller who lives in that house.

Unfortunately, the average dropout rate for direct sales company is about 40%, ie slightly less than half the people who will be recruited for a year - at most.

Most network marketing business owners who are able to effectively make a go of their first year of activities which find their second year - and beyond - are much more rewarding and less problematic. The reason? With a learning curve behind them, the consultants are better able to manage not only the information on products, but the recruitment, training and the typical sales cycle of "boom and bust", as well.

So, how do you navigate the turbulent waters of start-up year in order to come out ahead in the second year?

First, do not panic. Realize that you are in business to make money, and that building a business that takes time. Most of the recruits that stick with a company for a year, he discovers that success comes more easily in subsequent years to keep in mind that result. Strive to remain "active" for a year.

Secondly, we pledge to work your business like a business. Hobbies are an occasional activity - something that could participate in a couple of times a month. To be successful in direct sales, you should insist on doing something related to your business every day of the week. It could be a customer call, or hostess coaching, or labeling your catalogs, but every day something should be done to improve your business position. Take the weekends and days off, but make sure you are "operational" during the normal business day.

Third, mark the time. Touching your business every day's work should not take a whole day work. Instead, you should expect to spend no more than an hour every day that you're not doing the presentations. In the days of presentation, I strongly encourage you to focus on presentation and not have a lot of other activities to be addressed. You will be working hard enough to do your demo, you do not need to distract the mind with the creation of promotional packages, hostess, flyers or other items related to your business.

When trying to figure out where you want to take your business finance, it is important to look at the metrics - average sales per customer, lifetime value of a customer, and sales show media are a good starting point. Start keeping track of this data so you can periodically to see what needs to be improved.

Next, consider catering for the market. Target marketing is the process of focusing on a small group of people and specific advertising. It has to do with the product it sells. For example, if you are marketing products to children, would be very wise to the market for the elderly. While it is possible that there may be some customers in that group (such as grandparents), the best thing is to focus on new mothers - a group that is likely to require children's products! Meet people who need your products. They are your target

market and that is where you must focus your energy marketing.

Remember to read and educate yourself, investing time in the studio. Learn the tricks of the trade. Make friends with coaches and reliable employees and others in your industry. Mastermind with others who have already done everything you want to achieve. It can mean a monetary investment, but it is trading on the valuable experience to reduce the learning curve. Do not go Hog Wild, and set a training budget - and stick with it. There's nothing worse than a new recruit to spend all their earnings on the last training program just to get out because they ran out of money. There will always be opportunities for training - and not let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise. There

are also a lot of good books at your local library, that will not cost you a penny to read. Do not make excuses. Learn more to earn more.

Finally, apply what you learned. Knowing and doing are not the same thing. At the end of a year, you will see a dramatic difference in your life, your mindset and your business. Start now to overcome the obstacles of the first year of start-up blues. You will be amazed at the results....