In the United States, direct sales is big business. In fact, it’s a $35.4 billion industry with over 1 million sellers doing it full-time and another 5.2 million using it to supplement their income.
However, not everyone will succeed. If you truly want to make good money and turn your direct sales gig into a real business, you need to learn the right strategies and implement them the right way.
Luckily, we’re here to help. Here are our seven best tips for how to be successful in direct sales.
1. Use (And Love) Your Product
This should go without saying, but if you really want to succeed in direct sales, you need to choose your product carefully. It should be something you use, love, and truly believe can benefit other people. If you’re truly excited about what you’re selling, it will come through in your delivery – and people will notice.
If you’re using your products consistently, you can also easily demo them and will have plenty of personal testimonials. You might even have some “insider” tips and tricks to share with them.
2. Define Your Target Market
One mistake many direct sellers make is assuming that everyone with a heartbeat is a prospective customer. If you do this, you’ll waste a lot of your time on people who simply aren’t interested.
Instead, take some time right away to figure out exactly who your target customer is. Once you really get to know your product, it’s fairly easy to figure out the type of person who is most likely to have a need for it.
Is it busy moms? Is it young, single people? Once you narrow this down, think about where these people “hang out.”
Are you likely to find them spending their spare time on Tik Tok or Snapchat? Or do they spend hours scrolling through Pinterest? Maybe Facebook is a better platform, or even LinkedIn.
Maybe your target audience doesn’t spend much time on social media at all, and you need to focus on chat groups or other types of gatherings. Figure this out and it becomes easy to put your marketing efforts into the right places
3. Identify Your Value Proposition
Most people are careful with their money, so it’s not enough for you to just tell them that your product is great, and they should buy it. You need to actually show them how it will make their lives better.
Will it make them look gorgeous and feel better about themselves? Will it give them more energy? Or help them be more efficient in the kitchen?
Also, beware of touting the features of your product. Is it non-toxic? So what!
Instead, let them know that using a non-toxic product means that it’s safer for their children and pets. Or that it could reduce the chances of having an allergic reaction.
Turn features into benefits and you’ll be way ahead of the game.
4. Differentiate Yourself
With almost every direct sales product, there are many other people working for the same company. Why would a customer buy from you instead of their neighbor, co-worker, or family friend who is offering the same products?
Find the answer to this question, and you’re setting yourself up for success.
One great option is to incorporate your personal story into your sales pitch. This is something that nobody else can replicate, so it will automatically set you apart.
You can also differentiate yourself by personalizing your sales process, adding additional services or a loyalty plan, or even creating a monthly newsletter that you send to your customers and prospects.
6. Leverage Social Media
Social media is one of the best ways to get leads. If you’re not using it consistently, you’re missing out.
Post photos and videos of your products. Share ideas about new ways to use them. Try having a photo contest where your customers post images of themselves with your products and use a specific hashtag.
You can also host contests and giveaways, or even pay a few dollars for targeted social media ads.
7. Throw an Online Party
While in-person networking and home parties have long been some of the best tactics for direct sales, we live in a different world now. With “social distancing” being the phrase of the year, your entire sales process needs a revamp.
Do yourself a favor and start figuring out how to create social gatherings online right now. Facebook groups are a good start.
You might also look for other ways to throw virtual parties online. For example, look for online event software that will allow you to showcase your products and do demonstrations for groups of people in remote locations.
You’ll also want to refine your shipping or delivery options. Many people don’t want to leave their houses right now, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop doing business. The people who figure out smart ways to work around this will ultimately be the ones who succeed despite these new challenges.
How to Be Successful in Direct Sales? Never Stop Learning!
Now you know the top seven secrets for how to be successful in direct sales. But, you’re not done yet!
One of the most important keys to success is to never stop learning. We suggest you bookmark our blog and come back every day. Read through a few of our posts and decide how you can implement our tips into your business.
Then, come back the next day – and the next – and keep repeating the process! This will ensure that you’re always a step ahead of your competitors and that your business doesn’t just survive but truly thrives.