In conjunction with launching my new business, I decided that a Home-Based Business Launch Series on the blog would be a great way for me to keep myself in check over the next few weeks. To teach is to learn twice, right?
I told you guys in my last post that I wholeheartedly believe in the direct sales model. I have seen lives transformed within this industry. In fact, the only reason why I am offering all of this hot info fo' free is because I care, & I believe that this industry has the power to change lives. You just have to know how to work it.
Yes. Yes I will, Mr. Cuban.
My goal in doing this series is to help you see the potential that exists within yourself. This series will examine what the first 90 days of being a home based business owner might look like. My goal is not to recruit you to work for me. I will not be shoving my business down your throat. In fact, I will try to keep all references to my specific business at a minimum. Except for this shameless plug right here: If you want to know specifics about my business, please feel free to ask.
Also, this is a very methodical way of starting a business. I am very much a type-A, plan it out, organize it, put a label on it type of boss. That's just what works for me. Every single thing I suggest to do might not be applicable to your situation. In the beginning, the "Action Steps" might not seem like there's a whole lot of action going on. Trust me when I tell you that this business can be explosive. The action is coming. My personal philosophy is prepare, prepare, prepare. When you lay a proper foundation, your business will be more organized in the long run, and you'll be more successful because of it. Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day.
The action steps I am offering will be applicable to just about any home based business with the direct sales model (and even a few tips for women brave enough to be launching their own products). I admit that I do not know every single direct sales company out there. I have been in the industry for 5 years, and there is still a lot I have to learn. But I also feel like as I have developed my own team and grown as a direct sales business owner, I have learned so much. Knowledge that's shared is powerful-if what I have learned helps even ONE more woman or mother achieve her goals, I will consider the time and effort I spent on this series well spent.
Basically I really care, okay?
So let's get into it then, shall we?
When you get started, you really need to carefully consider the company you are considering signing up with. Action Step: Do your research. Do you own any of their products? Do you use them regularly? Typically what happens is people will attend a home party as a customer, learn about the company and what products they offer. Could you see yourself in the consultants position? My suggestion to you is be a customer first. Try the product or service out and see how it works. If your interaction with the company and consultant is satisfactory, move on to the next step.
You need to clearly understand what you're getting into. Action Step: Do some more research. What does it cost to sign up as a company distributor? Are there any minimums, meaning, is there a set number of product you must sell in order to remain an active consultant? 90% of the time this information can be found on the company's website. If you google the company (which is something you absolutely should do), their info should come up as the first or 2nd link. Action step: Click that link and look around. What does their website look like? Remember that this is the website that YOUR potential customers will navigate. Distributor information will be found somewhere under a link that might say, "Join my team," or "Distributor info." Look at the website and gather all the info you can for yourself.
The distributor info page is so, so, so important. Spend time there. Understand how you will get paid and how your commissions will work. Are there sales goals your company expects you to hit and in what time frame does that need to be accomplished? Most, if not all direct sales companies offer some time of start up incentive. I will give you an example: Let's say I signed up to be a distributor for a jewelry company. If I sell $1,000 worth of their product, what is the reward? Commission, hopefully, but are there extra "kits" on the line that you can earn for selling a certain amount? You want to know about these so you know how to appropriately set goals for yourself. I challenge you to not leave ANY of these "kits" or bonuses on the table.
Action Step: Write it down. I would invest in a notebook and keep it handy to write down questions you might have, or ideas that might come up. You'll also have to remember passwords and most likely your consultant ID number, so get in the habit of writing these things down and keeping them together. I personally love Erin Condren notebooks (that link gives you a discount!) because they are functional on the inside and make it easy for me to organize my thoughts. I can also keep a running to-do list over on the side to help me stay on top of my goals. The front of it says, "The secret to getting ahead is getting started," which motivates me like you wouldn't believe.
All of the previous action steps can be done in a few hours or so. When you've decided that this is the company you want to work for, and this is the product you want to sell, sit on it for one week. Action Step: Analyze. The last thing you want to do is make a quick decision and jump into something you aren't prepared for.
Recognize that your schedule will have to change to accommodate this business. Think about your schedule for a week, and consider how you can shift your lifestyle to better accommodate it. Time spent on the business will mean time spent away from family, chores, kids and other fun activities. There are only so many hours in a day. Realize that this is where the work actually starts.
Action step: Analyze some more. Do you have a physical place where you can conduct your business? Will you be utilizing an office space, and is that place organized and ready for a business to be in it? Will you have to hold an inventory and how will that inventory be organized? If you need to make any purchases for desks, shelves, bulletin boards, or the like, is there something you can sell to generate some income for it? Clean out a closet or two and have a yard sale-you'll probably generate enough to cover the cost of your new distributor kit and any office supplies you might need. Set a date for yourself, within one week, to have all of this done. If you plan your work and work your plan, it'll get you in the mindset of goal setting, and set your brain up for success too.
Once you've prepared a place for your business, gathered the basic office supplies and are ready to go, take another Action Step: Meet for coffee with a successful distributor. This can either take place at her place if your are comfortable, or a mutual, public location like a Starbucks.
And then get ready for the fun to begin.
Stay tuned for Post #2 in this series, Launching A Home-Based Business.
**This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links may or may not include paid links. Affiliate links make it possible to participate in series like this one, where the author is not paid monetarily but may benefit from shared links or referrals.**
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