Belinda Ellsworth

Direct selling has come a long way from its humble, domestic roots in 1950s Americana. Today’s top independent representatives run highly efficient, modern businesses that often leave more traditional retailers in the dust.There are three main types of direct sales models: social selling, network marketing, and affiliate/influencer, and each finds its niche in the industry.

Direct sales appeals to people interested in earning extra money outside of a traditional job. Some choose to work part-time with a direct sales company as a way to pay for the extras that challenge their budget, often in addition to a full-time job. Others are looking for a way to make additional money while still attending to priorities in their lives like parenting, caregiving, school, or charitable work and appreciate that they can control their calendar and plan events, parties, and one-on-one appointments (where you meet with clients individually instead of in a group setting, like a home party) around their schedules.

Trade shows are amazing opportunities for you to gain clients that you might not have encountered from other areas of your direct selling business. They are great ways to broaden your audience and obtain new leads for sales, booking, and recruiting. There are many different types of shows to get involved with — everything from large events like national women’s shows that bring in thousands of people, to smaller community events.

Personal development and growth are constant requirements in direct sales, as in life. If you think you’ve quit learning and that you can’t grow, then you have nowhere to go but backwards. Even returning to tried-and-true materials can teach you something new. If the resource is grounded in excellence, rather than mediocrity, it will still hold value for you.

People decide to start a direct sales business because of hope — hope for a better life, for earning a greater income, for having the ability to choose how they spend their time and the opportunity to build something to call their own. To have a successful business you need to be committed and consistent with your efforts.

The key to having a continually growing direct sales business, even a multimillion one, is promoting leaders and training your team. But when you look at your organization as a whole, the idea of making coaching calls can seem overwhelming. Where will you start? What will you talk about? How will you keep track of what you’ve talked about with each individual rep?

By combining the logistics of social media with the tried-and-true methods of direct sales, you can achieve increases in sales, recruiting, and brand recognition online. With that in mind, here are five tips that you can learn and share with other people you bring into the business. You could even send this out in an email to your team, use it at your next team meeting, or even post in your Facebook Groups for training purposes.

Most people get into direct sales to earn an income, of course. There are many ways in which you can work your business and many different opportunities to generate sales. You can utilize all of the following suggestions or focus on just two or three services: Home parties: When people get to attend a party and interact with other guests, they experience that great energy that comes from having a good time together.