In my last post I shared the challenges for many moms that work at home because we have little, medium, and even big ones that seem to hang around the house all the time. To say the temporary summer schedule is disruptive is an understatement.

Summer time is a necessary time to be flexible with your home based business. Although I haven’t been writing as much, that doesn’t mean I’ve ceased all income producing activities when it comes to my business, far from it.

In fact, I’ve been more proactive in “branching out” … talking and making new friends in person this summer than I have throughout the year. Taking a step back from writing for my blog and un-plugging (okay, reduced) from social media have been liberating because I’m forced to be creative.

And by using the summer opportunity (where you’re more likely to meet people with kids) to plant the seeds for the new season, you have something to work with when school starts. When the kids are back in school that’s when women/moms are more likely to consider starting a business or do something while their kids are in school.

As I head into the fall, I’ll share more on some of the “creative” networking I did this summer while out and about with my kids. Okay, most of it isn’t anything new, but the point is it’s amazing what you can do with the time you’ve got IF you’re open-minded enough to get creative and explore different ways to keep on growing your business. 

Exciting things are happening in the next few months. My company will be hosting its FIRST annual conference in viva Las Vegas first week of November. What a great way to celebrate the company’s growth and the bright future ahead in just a couple  years in business. Not to mention it will be a great weekend with the girls sans kids .

I’m also going to do a few changes to this blog and update you on what I’m working on. It will be an organic process but exciting all the same.

I’d love to hear what’s on your plate heading into fall. Feel free to share your plans with us in the comment area.

Chat with you soon .

Janette

In my last post, when direct sales companies discount their start-up fees,  the ease of entry is ridiculously easy that it often creates a throw-away mentality. Easy in, easy out is my take on the free and dirt-cheap start-up fees. 

Along the same lines, some direct sales and network marketing companies make it too easy to be a consultant without much effort … a free website, no monthly sales volume, etc.  Can you think of a regular sales job that requires zero sales quotas? Probably not.

You can argue that it’s not the same as a regular sales job because it’s your own business. Nevertheless, the parameters are similar. You’re in direct “sales” to sell products. Or you’re in “network” marketing to recruit a network of people.

If you don’t sell products or sponsor a team of distributors, you won’t grow your business.  This is where I think it’s good to have sales quotas. If you’re serious about building your business, it helps to have a system to keep you accountable.

It’s not always enough to want the business badly enough because plenty of people start out that way. Or believe in what you’re doing because sustaining that level of self-motivation long term isn’t easy.

We’re all plagued by periods of let down and self-flaggellation. The determined ones understand the challenges of entrepreneurship and what it really takes to run a business. And there’s no business until you sell something.  

This is why you need accountability. A sales quotas can help grow your business i.e. you need to sell x-amount to maintain an active consultant. Many direct sales companies have some type of sales requirements either monthly or quarterly.

Whatever the metrics are, whether set by the company you represent, or yourself, you need some type of sales quotas to help grow your business and keep you accountable.

Without real numbers to keep you accountable it’s too easy to be complacent. I mean, who’s going to fire you? No one. And that is my point … easy in, easy out.

What do you think? Can sales quotas help grow your business?

’til next time,

Janette Stoll

Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game. Tony Alessandra (source: customerservicepoint.com)

I don’t know any direct seller or network marketer that doesn’t think their company has the best products. We get it. Let’s focus on something that’s more important than products and that is your customers and potential customers.

Here’s a recent experience of mine …

I emailed a consultant inquiring about her company product and it took five days, yes five days, for her to respond. Unfortunately for her, it was just easier to head on down to my local store to get what I needed. You see, it’s not about the products, because products are everywhere.

I wasn’t just buying products because truthfully, when it comes to products, there are more places that offer what I need than I could possibly do business with. My goal was to support another direct seller’s business because being in the business, it’s good karma. 

Not to mention, you generally (with the exception of this one), tend to get great service when you work with a direct seller. Most consultants are grateful for the opportunity to send you samples, a catalog, or whatever else you need to earn your business. But five days for a response? Enough said.

But it’s not about the products. It’s the experience you offer your prospects or valued customers, that keeps them loyal.

One of the reasons I love the direct sales business is the personal service you get. I love Target but there’s no one in the beauty area  to answer my questions or send me sample after sample to try.  The “personal service” is your unique selling position.

You need quality products at a reasonable price. You also need to go above and beyond because you’re a small direct seller.

There’s a reason people love Zappos, not because of their ”shoes” selection or thousands of other products they sell. People love Zappos because of their outstanding attention to personal service. I recall mentioning “Zappos” on Twitter and within seconds someone responded to my tweet.

If you don’t deliver outstanding, personal service and in a timely manner, you’re dispensable, as Seth Godin would say. You’re NOT going to be able to compete with millions of other companies that will be happy to take your customer’s business.

Instead of focusing on the products and how scientifically superior your products are, focus on your customers. Be responsive,  put a smile in your email, don’t send out a canned product script, be original, be you.

Your thoughts?

’til next time,

Janette Stoll

P.S. On a positive note, I have several friends that offer excellent service in skin care, beauty, home decor, if you need a referral. I’m not affiliated with their businesses or get anything for it, just pointing out some great ladies in direct sales .