As I write this post, I’m traveling with my family and taking full advantage of Google Docs and technology’s conveniences to write for my blog, participate on social media, catch up on other blogs, and staying connected to my business.  Here are some of my tips for marketing your direct sales business this summer and staying connected.

One of my favorite tools is Google Docs which I started using because of the ease of accessing it from anywhere. No matter where we’re going, I’m able to write articles for Marketing Direct Sales blog using Google Docs which is similar to a Word doc except I’m not tied to my computer and can access it remotely.

With smartphones, free wifi at coffee places and most hotels, there are no excuses for not working your direct sales business over the summer, right? Some might disagree with me and feel vacationing is a time to unwind and “unplug”. I find it hard to unplug completely for several reasons:

#1 I actually love what I’m doing and for me it doesn’t feel like work.

#2 I don’t need to be plugged in for hours while vacationing but feel it’s professional to at least check in once or twice throughout the day.

#3 It doesn’t take any quality time away from the family or fun because there’s always some “free” time.

While my kids are resting there’s always an extra hour here and there. That’s when I check my emails, send a tweet or two, comment on LinkedIn groups, etc. In fact, the idea for this post came from watching them swim. I was catching up on my favorite blogs on my phone J .

The flexibility of being an internet marketer is that I really can work anywhere and anytime. It’s a matter of pre-planning.

Example: Before leaving the house, I make sure to have my Flip, in case I’m inspired to do a short 1 minute video. Bring along a camera and take photos that you can use for your blog post. How about a business book if you don’t have internet access on your cell phone?

As much as people think social media takes up an enormous amount of time, it really doesn’t have to, especially if you’re disciplined and stick to a schedule. Otherwise, you can easily find yourself responding to every update on Facebook or tweet. It’s not necessary to respond to everything or everyone.

Example: I try to retweet several posts that are useful. The same goes for Facebook and LinkedIn. My strategy: social media is limited to no more than an hour a day.

For me, taking advantage of technology’s conveniences allow me to travel during this summer with my family or while hanging out at the beach near my house with my kids.

From a business standpoint, I feel it’s important for me to have “office hours” even though I might be at the pool or the beach. By staying plugged-in, I’m consistently working my business and staying in touch with team members as well as potential customers.

If you’re home full-time with your kids this summer, how are you using the summer months to stay connected? Share your thoughts or tips on how you’re working your direct sales business during this summer.

‘til next time,

Janette

p.s. If you find this article helpful, kindly share by retweeting, digging and so forth … thanks so much guys! J