Direct Sales Success: Resurrect Your Biz This Spring

I know it sounds like a bad Easter joke (and it probably is), but has your direct sales business been languishing this year?

After a busy holiday season, many consultants often go on hiatus, letting their business suffer in the interim, until the snow melts, the roads dry up, and the grass is green again. If you're one who schleps product from home to car and back, that can be a good reason to slow down. No one likes hauling stuff in the snow, but when business slows down, so does your income.

Few people leave direct sales because of a full calendar. The number one reason I hear is because they can't find bookings, can't close the sales - in short, there's nothing on their calendar!

So as we enter the second quarter of the year, take a moment to examine your goals. With the year 25% of the way behind us, are you 25% of the way towards your goals? For the average consultant (if they even have goals), the answer is not quite. And most of that is due to the fact that they let their business "slip" during the first few months of the year.

Well, now's the time to get crackin' and breathe some life back into your business.

Last week at our Small Biz Super Summit, Lisa Sasevich revealed a great technique to close more business without being salesy or pushy. Lisa is the author of "The Invisible Close" and she gave some great tips about using irresistible offers to encourage your audience to make a decision sooner, rather than later. Just yesterday, Daphne Bousquet shared with us the best strategies to make more money by hosting your own events. Here are just a few ideas you can implement to resurrect your business this spring:

• Make a time-sensitive offer. Most of our companies provide us with a monthly special. That gives your hosts and guests all month to make up their mind. Give them something special for taking action on the day of the show.
• Close the party AT the party. If you hostess coach in advance, you can remind your host that you are closing the show the night of the party. Make sure she has her catalogs, samples, and outside order forms well in advance so that she can get them out and get them back to you the night of her show.
• Host your own event. In your own home, or rent a small conference room. Be your own host. If you're using social media, make it a more informal "tweetup" kind of an event so that more people will come, try your products, etc. Then have a time-sensitive offer for people that book, buy or set up a recruiting appointment with you that night.

Time sensitive offers are just one great strategy to increase sales, bookings and recruit leads. Your company can't possibly offer a new special every day - but you can. It requires a bit of planning and forethought, but if you're running a real business, you need to be planning ahead anyway. 

Breathing life into your business can be as simple as a few tweaks to what you're already doing, or completely revitalizing the art of doing business. Either way, a resurrection will give you the forward momentum you need to have a powerhouse Summer. And as we roll into conference season, it's even more important to be hitting those goals!

You can do it!

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"Time-sensitive offer" is just one of the strategies I taught in my last Direct Sales 101 class, and here's what one of our first graduates had to say:

Well, I promoted to Team Leader, went from $300 in sales in January to $2700 in sales in February and $2000 in sales in March, and have 9 new shows on my calendar.  I want to take the early graduation discount :> 

You are, by far, the best direct sales/life coach I have ever had (and I have had quite a few!).  You have helped me to cut through my fear, my husband is now on board with my "hobby" business (as he called it!) and wants me to go full throttle, and I have been able to do things for my family that I haven't in the past.... I can't wait to see what you have in store for the rest of the year. 

Also, looking forward to the Small Biz Super Summit - what a lineup!

Lara Hall
Independent Passion Parties Consultant
www.LaraBHall.com

Direct Sales 101 will be re-opening soon. Look for more information in upcoming issues of "PartyOn!".

The Super Summit is coming!

I would be remiss if I didn't share this exciting news with my blog peeps. Each Spring and Fall, I host a telesummit with some of the most amazing minds in direct sales and business today. So here's my shameless plug for our Super Summit event.

This Spring, I think it's safe to say I've outdone myself. Here are just a few of the instructors scheduled to appear:

* Mari Smith - Facebook Marketing in an Hour a Day
* Paula Antonini - An Energized YOU
* Scott Lovingood - It's Your Money, Keep More of It
* Jimmy Vee & Travis Miller - Online Video to Grow Your Business in 9 Minutes a Day
* Lisa Sasevich - Boost Yoour Sales with the Invisible Close
* Jonathan Fields - The REAL Upside of Being an Entrepreneur
* Nicki Keohohou - The 6 Qualities of REAL Leadership

I've got people sharing info about books that haven't even been released yet - AND a ton more great stuff up my sleeve.

Now I can't reveal everything, but you'll definitely want to get pre-registered before March 28:
http://www.smallbizsupersummit.com/

In the past, we've called this the Direct Sales Super Summit, but we have so much valuable information for anyone looking to grow their business, we thought a name change would be appropriate. You'll be happy to note that we STILL have a track of content designed with direct sales pros in mind. That will not change.

We're hammering out the call schedule right now, but you'll want to be on as many of the live calls as you can - starting with the LIVE kickoff call on Sunday March 28 at 6pm ET.

If you can't make it, you'll have the option of purchasing the audios after you register. If you've been to any of our past events, you KNOW that this is the event of the year. I hope you'll join us!

Direct Sales Success: Incentivizing Hosts

As I coach  my hosts, one of the things I often do is include incentives for the actions I want them to take.

Frankly, if my host and I are a partnership, it's important to me that she keeps up her end of the partnership. My job is to help her have the most successful show possible: happy guests that spend lots of money so she gets tons of free and half priced products.

In my experience, there are a few things that help make a show successful right from the get-go:
1. plenty of guests
2. outside orders
3. bookings before the show

If those things are in place, the show is a success before I even arrive. Plus, it helps me to know I'm already making money on this show before I even head out to do the party.

The best way to encourage your hosts to demonstrate this kind of behavior is to incentivize their actions.
I use a special business card sized "cheat sheet" (that I share with my Direct Sales 101 clients) that outlines exactly how I will reward my host for helping me make the event successful.

But you don't need to be a client to do the same thing. Here's what I recommend:
1. decide what are the most important outcomes from your show (bookings, sales, recruits, etc)
2. decide what actions are required to get those results (calls to make, guests at the show, etc)
3. figure out how much of that burden should fall on your hostess (creating a guest list, making RSVP calls, etc)
4. decide what kind of incentives you can give your hostess for completing those actions.

It can be as simple or as complex as you'd like. My primary focus is always on the guest list. That's my insurance policy for a successful party. The better the guest list the more successful the show, almost across the board. I would offer a small gift to my hostess when her guest list contained 40 or more different names and addresses.

Gifts don't need to be big or fancy, but they should be commensurate with the reward you're getting in return. For example, if I had a host that collected $500 in outisde orders, I might give her a $10-20 gift on top of her host bonus rewards. That's $500 I didn't really have to work for, and that's my way of thanking her for making our partnership successful. On the other hand, if she collected $20 in outside orders, I might offer her a free sample product or an extra draw from my mystery gift grab bag. Think about your gifts as if you were the one receiving them. Would you feel special or truly appreciated? If not, it's probably not a gift worth offering.

When you incentivize your hosts, you train them to perform their duties and "keep up their end" of the business relationship. Set the expectation for success. You are not a slave. You are a partner in a successful business endeavor. Train your hosts so that they know what it takes to have a successful show.

© 2010 Lisa Robbin Young.

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USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):

Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com/

Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Direct Sales Business

Magazines and periodicals have a nifty little tool that lays the groundwork for every issue they print. The editorial calendar guides the topical content for each article in a particular issue.

The most logical direct sales equivalent is our monthly host or guest specials - which are usually set up by our companies, and fed to us no more than a month or two in advance.

That's not the most effective way to create a strategic plan for your business year.

The solution is to create your own "editorial calendar" of sorts.

Each month of the year represents at least one new reason to contact your clients. In fact, this is one of the strategies I'm teaching in depth in my new Direct Sales 101 small group coaching program. An editorial calendar is a great guideline for both your newsletter AND your parties/presentations, because:

1. It allows you to have a plan in place for each month of the year at the beginning of the year - regardless of what your company proposes.
2. It puts YOU in control of your business instead of waiting for details from your home office.
3. It gives you the ability to create special connections with your clients by tailoring your offerings to their needs/desires.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few sample ideas for a monthly newsletter, based on holidays. Remember that most people will place orders in the month BEFORE the holiday, so plan ahead with your offerings:

January: Love, Valentine's Day, Showing Your Love
February: Luck of the Irish, St. Patty's Day, Go Green
March: Spring, Easter, April Showers (showers of money for great recruiting, or baby/bridal showers)
April: Mother's Day
May: Father's Day
June: Independence Day (U.S.)
July: End of Summer
August: Back to School
September: Halloween
October: Being Grateful
November: Christmas
December: New Year, New You, New Products

These samples don't begin to cover topics that are product or service-specific to your company. You are truly only limited by your imagination. Have a bi-weekly or weekly newsletter? Sprinkle in a few more topics that are related to each month, or to a specific product that your company may be featuring.

An editorial calendar doesn't chain you to sticking to these topics, but it does give you a safety net that will keep your business growing throughout the year - even when you're not sure yet what your home office has planned. You won't be scrambling, trying to figure out what to do. You'll have a confident plan of action that will move your business forward throughout the year.

Billion-dollar business woman Anne McKevitt said something to me that hit home: "Never leave anything to chance." By taking the reins of your promotional and publication schedule, you're not leaving your direct sales success to chance.

© 2010 Lisa Robbin Young.

USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com/

Direct Sales Passion: Are You Faking It?

'Tis the season when most companies begin their Leader Retreat events.

These are the rallies and propaganda fests where the company leaders can celebrate their accomplishments, learn best practices and get a glimpse of some of the new products for the new year - and maybe even bring some home with them.

But you know what? Even if you're not 'qualified' to attend, you may still be one of those consultants that's out-performing your leader. All it takes is a little passion.

That's what happened to me.

A few years back, I qualified to attend the leadership getaway that my then-company hosted for their leaders. I had been encouraged by my upline leader to strive to attend, reach all the goals laid before me, and work like heck to walk across the stage at Leader Retreat.

I'm not one to do 20 parties a month, so I figured I'd shoot for the goal of $5000 in sales during the first 6 months of the year, which were usually the toughest months of the year in our company.

I think I ended the period with about $7800 in sales, doing about 8 or 9 shows during that time. There were several people on our team that also achieved that $5000 goal, but because they weren't leaders, they couldn't go to Leader Retreat.

One consultant had over $15,000 in sales and missed qualifying as a leader by one recruit.

It was disappointing to me that other people who out performed me were not able to attend the event and celebrate their success. Imagine my surprise when my own leader didn't even walk across the stage with me.

Talk about "faking it"! Here she was pushing (and I DO mean pushing) all of her team to achieve these goals, get qualified for on stage recognition, and all the while she was barely doing the minimums to keep her title. She did, however, earn a nice chunk of bonus compensation for all the work we did to help her keep her title.

One of the nice things abotu Direct Sales is the compensation leaders can earn for helping their teams achieve levels of success. I have no problem with that. However, there's a problem when a leader is doing "just the minimums" and encouraging her teams to go for the gusto.

There's no congruency. She got paid despite the fact that several of her personal recruits out-performed her and eventually promoted above her. Consultants began to talk, and in less than a year, many of her recruits had lost faith in her, stopped attending her meetings, gave up, or left the company completely.

When people find out you're faking it, it's just too much of a let down.

Why was it that our team was able to achieve a goal that our own leader did not?

Passion.

First, we believed in our leader. She was a little on the pushy side, but we believed that she had our best interests at heart. Once we learned she was faking it - putting on a good show to bump up her tea numbers, but doing the minimums herself - we weren't as keen to be workhorses for her next big award.

Second, we caught the vision of an idea that was greater than our circumstance. We wanted the recognition that we thought would come from achieving something remarkable. It set us on fire. We became passionate - about our goal, our product, and about getting the message out to as many people as we could. Those of us that achieved those goals went on to bigger things within the company.

Our leader? Not so much. She was content to talk a good game, but when it came to playing the game, she was riding the bench. Ultimately, that leader left the company for what she thought were greener pastures. But her problems followed her. She was looking for other people to do the work for her. Instead of leading by example, she was ligthing the fire under her recruits, and sitting back to watch how far they would take her.

That was the final realization for me that not every leader knows more than I do when it comes to growing my business and defining my success.

In direct sales, like in life, faking it only works for so long - either your recruits pass you, or they give up on you and look to other leaders in the company to give them solid direction and advice. That's what happened to my leader. Imagine how much more successful she could have been if she'd been practicing what she was preaching!

It's one thing to be passionate about something and actively share it with your team and the world. It's something else to just "talk a good game" and not work your business with enthusiasm. People talk, and it's only a matter of time before you're found out.

If you've been in the business for a while, and feeling like the passion is fading, here are a few tips to help you re-kindle the romance with your direct sales biz:

1. Remember what it was like when you were brand new. It was a time of discovery. What are ways you can tap into that sense of awe and discovery in your business? Try a new product, find a creative use for an old product. Talk with someone you DON'T know at the home office.

2. Share your favorites. You have a list of products you love (if you don't, why are you in this business in the first place?). Think of other people that would love them for the same reasons and invite them to experience the product - no strings - in a complimentary session. Woo your customers back (maybe a few that you haven't talked with in a while) with a free sampling, or a thank-you event that doesn't end with a sales pitch.

Alternatively, if it's appropriate, make a donation to a local shelter - anonymously - of your favorite products. The gratitude will be overwhelming.

3. Bring in the kids. If it's appropriate for your product, invite the kids in and shoot a video of THEM doing a presentation with your products. talk about FUN! You'll not only get a good laugh, you'll get to see how your KIDS view the way you do business.

These are just a few ideas you can use to bring back some of the fun and excitement to your business. Seeing the way you build your business through your new consultant's eyes can often refresh a leader that's gotten a little complacent or jaded in their business.

A little passion (that's genuine) goes a long way. Eventually, if you're faking it, you'll be found out.

© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.

USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):

Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com

Direct Sales Success: From Strategy to Plan

Planning for direct sales success can be as simple as turning on a light switch, or as challenging as digging ditches. It all depends on your outlook.

My husband thinks 'plan' is a four-letter word. So I have to come up with "action items" instead of a plan. It's the only way to get anything done around my house.

But before I lay out my "honey-do" list, I have to envision my desired outcome. Then, I need to understand the important pillars of getting the job done.

The same hold true in your direct sales business.

Once you've laid a vision for your direct sales business, identified the goals and created a strategy around what the key areas of accomplishment are, we then get to "the brass tacks" of bringing that vision to life - creating the plan.

Once you've laid out you annual objectives, you've got to break that down into meaningful, manageable "chunks". For example, if your goal is to add 12 new personal recruits to your team, that breaks down to approximately 1 recruit each month.

But this kind of thinking is not likely to be accurate.

Consultants are trained to average their numbers out over the course of the year, which is a detriment. In reality, the bulk of our sales - the bulk of our business, really - comes during the last quarter of the year.

Now that doesn't mean to sit on your laurels until October. Far from it.

What it means is that you should plan appropriately and project reasonably for the year.

For example, if you look at your sales history and 50% of your sales happens from October to December, don't expect that you'll have an even time of things from January to June.

Forecast higher numbers in the fall and lower numbers in the winter.

This does two things:

1. It paints a realistic picture for your business
2. It shows you where your real opportunities lie

So if you've NEVER added a single recruit in February, you can choose to focus on that objective, or to play to your strengths instead.

This is how your business truly becomes your own.

If in March, you know there's a big bridal event that you're planning for, lay the groundwork NOW and know what your desired outcomes are. They may look something like this:

1. collect contact info for 300 leads
2. connect with 30 brides (preferably at the show)
3. book 10 parties/events from the bridal show
4. schedule 2 recruit interviews
5. sign one recruit

If there is a commandment in direct sales it should be "Thou shalt know thy numbers." You can't plan a realistic business year without knowing your numbers. How many interviews must you hold (on average) before you sign a recruit? How many people do you need to talk to before you can schedule an interview? How many leads do you need to make 30 contacts?

If you know these numbers, you can look at last year's data to break it all down. Here's a hypothetical example:

2009 Results:
Jan - 2 shows, 16 people, 1 recruit interview (did not sign)
Feb - 8 shows, 80 people, 3 recruit interviews (1 signed)
Mar - 10 shows, 85 people, 5 recruit interviews (2 signed)
Apr - 7 shows, 80 people, 4 recruit interviews (1 signed)
May - 16 shows, 150 people, 10 recruit interviews (3 signed)
Jun - 7 shows, 81 people, 5 recruit interviews (3 signed)
Jul - 4 shows, 55 people, 3 recruit interviews (2 signed)
Aug - 4 shows, 42 people, 1 recruit interview (1 signed)
Sep - 6 shows, 55 people, 2 recruit interviews (0 signed)
Oct - 11 shows, 140 people, 12 recruit interviews (5 signed)
nov - 16 shows, 225 people, 20 recruit interviews (10 signed)
Dec - 8 shows, 150 people, 10 recruit interviews (3 signed)

2009 - 99 shows, 1159 people, 76 recruiting interviews, 31 signed

These numbers reveal that for every 3 shows you hold, about 1 person will sign up. It also tells you that only aout 6% of your customers and guests will hold an interview with you, but that once you DO get them to schedule an interview, you will sign up about 40% of them.

It also shows you that June, July and January are your slowest months. this tells you that you can either take a vacation (if you're certain you'll not do any business during those months), or plan some new ideas for those months to boost business.

It also shows you that you're bringing a lot of team members on in the fall. How can you prepare yourself to have an eqally spectacular spring, and still be ready to bring on so many new recruits during the busy season?

Armed with your own numbers, you can plan a course for your entire year - without waiting to see what your home office will do in terms of incentives, prizes, bonuses or rewards.

You can also find the holes in your armor and fix them. If January is always slow, is it because you're so bogged down in December that you can't get things moving? If so, now you have ammunition to create a strategy to prevent this kind of problem at the end of this year.

You don't need a coach to tell you all of this. You can crunch these numbers on your own. But crunch them one way or another so that you can have a powerfully productive 2010!

© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.

USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):

Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com

Direct Sales Success: What's Your 2010 Strategy?

So now we've got a vision, what about a strategy?

You've probably been hearing a lot about Social Media strategies lately, and yes, that's important, but it's only part of the picture for a business strategy.

If you're serious abut growing a business, and not just having direct sales "hobby" income, you need to plan specific strategies for generating leads, and converting those leads into more bookings, sales and recruits.

Social media are tools you can use as part of that strategy. But if you put all your eggs in the social media basket, you're missing the boat.

Jennifer Fong, one of the foremost authorities on Direct Sales and Social Media often says that you need a strategy to attract the right people to your business. You have to know WHO and WHERE they are before you can determine WHAT tools are effective in reaching them.

Part of developing your strategy means identifying your target market. I hope by now, you've gotten the message that everyone is not your target market. In fact, if you're brand new in direct sales, I hope you'll take a serious look at what kinds of customers are your "perfect fit". This is a term I use for the people that make it easy for you to do business - the kind you actually WANT to work with.

If you're not new to direct sales, and you've already got a laundry list of clients that are not your "perfect fit", this is a great place to start looking at your target marketing strategy. One of the great things about deciding WHO you want to work with is that the crums you no longer want to work with will either drop off the face of the earth, or get their act together. Before that can happen, though, YOU need to make some decisions.

* What was the best party/sales event you ever attended? What made it the best?
* What was the worst party/sales event you ever attended? What made it the worst?
* What was your top selling show? Was it worth all the work?
* What was your top booking show? Why was it so successful?

These are just a few of the questions I ask clients when we do a target marketing strategy session. The answers to these questions will give you a good idea of:

* What you enjoy most about the work you do
* The kinds of people that you enjoy working with
* Where to draw the line (some times the money doesn't matter, it's still not fun!)
* The elements of a succssful show

From here, you can craft a strategy to attract the kinds of people to your business that will help meet your "perfect fit customer" profile.

If you're already a member of our online community, you have free access to my 30-day target marketing program. In January 2010, we'll be launching an entire course focused on helping you develop a clear vision for your target market (oops! I think I just let the cat out of the bag!).

Until then, keep in mind, as you peruse your customer lists, the kinds of people you'd LOVE to work with, and start figuring out where you can meet them. This isn't about excluding others, or NOT doing business with people just because they don't meet your requirements. It IS about taking control of your business, and running it like a real business owner - because that's what you are.

© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.

USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):

Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com

Free or freebie? There is a difference.

In marketing, we talk about the power of the word "Free"

One of my Direct Sales Leaders was oft found telling her teams "People love 'Free stuff'" in an effort to generate a feeding frenzy at parties. "They don't even care what it is, as long as it's free."

Um. No.

There was a time when you could give away your business card with a coupon on the back of it for 10% off their next purchase, and people got giddy.

That bird has flown.

Free has been reduced to a watered down, hackneyed attemp on the part of almost everyone to get your contact info, pawn off old junk, or avoid the real work of coming up with something really valuable.

Freebies are those little "goodies" of insignificant value that people give willy nilly to their clients, potential clients, hair dresser, bell hop, flight attendant, and your uncle's brother's nephew's cousin on your great grandpappy's side.

Everybody gets 'em, and very few people really want them. They accept them, offer a cordial "thanks!" and you think you've done a good deed for the day - or worse, that they've just invited you to share about your income opportunity for the next 45 minutes.

Stop it.

Free is a value proposition. Free doesn't have to be expensive. It DOES have to be valuable.

Free will cost you something. More often than not, it's not the monetary investment, but the time or effort expended to make, develop or acquire the valueable free item in the first place.

For example, when you're creating an opt-in offer, be sure that the person would be willing to PAY for whatever you're giving away. An ebook full of recipes is nice, but include a special, exclusive recipe that they can't find just doing a google search. Yeah, it takes a little effort. But the effort you invest on the front end will pay you back many times over.

There's a big hullabaloo going on right now that because so many people are giving away "free stuff" that you're watering down your value. Forget it.

If the only value you have is in whatever you're giving away, you've missed the boat. The idea is to give people a valuable taste of what you have to offer so that they want more. You've heard me talk about creating a customer "crack addiction" before. The idea that people get a taste,and can't get enough of you. That's how it's supposed to be.

But if you're getting a bunch of "tire-kicking, freebie seekers", maybe you need to look at the value of what you provide.

If you know you've got a quality product or service, the next thing to look at is the market you're targeting.

You don't have to plaster the word "FREE" all over your website 8 gajillion times. Emphasise the value of what you offer, rather than the fact that it's free. I'm sure your perfect fit customer isn't a freebie seeker - so why market to them?

There's a difference between free and freebie. The value makes the difference.

No budget? No problem for real beginners

The tips I'm sharing in this post are not for people with an established web presence. This is purely for folks who have NOTHING online, and little to no cash to get started.

Boy does that sound hinky.

The purpose of the post is to answer a question posted on my 12 week challenge contest blog. Basically, how do I get SOMETHING going when I have no resources?

First think about the resources you DO have.

Sites like Office Live or Google sites will allow you to set up a basic bare bones website for free. It costs nothing.

Heck you can host your blog on blogger.com or wordpress.com - that's free too.

There are places like Morguefile.com where you cn get high-quality royalty-free images to use as well.

There's no excuse to NOT have soem kind of website.

What about an opt-in? even office live now has a makeshift otion to create a contact email management system. Not my favorite, but if you're totally broke, it's better than NO opt-in at all.

What about video? Windows moviemaker comes standard on most PC's now, and there are sites where you can create short videos for free. Just want to post informational videos? embed something from youtube.com

Seriously. You can create all of this from scratch for nothing. No hostng fees, nothing.

There's simply no excuse.

Now if you've got a budget (even a small one) there are other ideas - like a domain name that you OWN and can re-direct to your new site (that shouldn't cost more than $10 from godaddy.com). Or web hosting so you can have more specialized content on your site (or to host your own customized blog).

Obviously the more money you have, the more options you have. But there are great, simple ways to get yourself online in a professional manner for FREE.

Yes, there may be a gazillion other people out there using the same blog template as I do, but it's free, it works, and I get traffic. THAT'S what matters most. It prevents analysis paralysis because blogger only has a few dozen templates from which you can choose. And you don't need to obsess over how it looks - you need to obsess over getting things going!

I hope that clears up the "I can't afford it" issue. EVERYONE can afford (and should have) a website of some sort that markets THEM (not their product). The 12 week challenge will spend a whole session on building a website and step-by-step help on how to make it happen.

We start October 26. Are you signed up? There are only a handful of seats remaining!

http://www.homepartysolution.com/12weeks

Hope to see you there!

The Big Winners: 12 week challenge contest

Okay, This was a lot harder than I thought!

There were a bunch of entries I had to hand submit near the end of the contest, but I got them all in.

I then used the random number generator at Random.org to draw the numbers (based on the order you were posted on my blog). Remember, you had to post AND sign up on the mailing list so that I could track your entry.

Here are the winners (as you posted to the blog):

The following posts win a Free 30 minute marketing strategy session with me ($175 real value):
Bert
brenda
vicki
ivette
Karen (post #15)
Alva
Karen (post #4)
Hariette
Jo C
Colorado Chocolatier

5 winners of FREE access to my 12 week challenge program:
Lorian
Pure Romance Holly
Shawnasie
Tamera James
Donna Young

Grand Prize winner - the 30 minute strategy session AND FREE access to my 12 week challenge program:
Michelle Hostetter

Congratulations to everyone that entered! An email will be going out tomorrow to all the entrants with details on how to claim your prizes.

This was so much fun - and informational. Look for further updates on my blog as we answer the very questions you posed for growing your business online.

Home Party Solution 12 Week Challenge Contest

People have been asking me for months now if what I teach inside the pages of Home Party Solution will work for them - even if they don't have a network marketing, or direct sales business.

I love this question, because it means they haven't read the book yet. If they had, they'd know the answer is a resounding yes! In fact, I've been using some of the same strategies I teach in this book with my Simpleology Coaching clients - and many of them don't have a network marketing business of any kind. I've used these strategies with authors, owners of a theater, and other businesses that need to put a personal face on the work that they do.

While there are some aspects of the book that talk directly to people in the direct selling profession, the bulk of the book is geared to any small business owner.

If you are a micro biz owner, a solo-professional, or anyone trying to develop a personal brand online and attract more perfect fit clients using strategic target marketing, social media, websites, opt-ins and more, it's time to consider my 12 week challenge.

I'm even going to let a 6 lucky readers have access to the entire program FREE (with product and services totally nearly $10,000 for the 12 week program).

Intrigued? Read on...

The Home Party Solution 12 Week Challenge is a telecoaching program that walks you through the entire online marketing model I've used to create several successful businesses. We begin with mindset issues, then develop a "perfect fit" customer profile, and lay out the strategies you'll need to grow your business using personal branding and the power of the Internet. From websites to blogs to social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, you'll have everything you need at your fingertips.

And if you're like many business owners I know, it's hard to know what you'll be doing in 12 weeks, so if you need to miss a class, you'll even have the MP3's to listen to to keep moving forward, or to re-listen to a strategy you might have missed.

It's easy to enter. Just answer this question:

What is your biggest challenge with marketing your business online?

What you'll win:
All eligible entrants will get complimentary access to the March 2010 Super Summit Teleseries - and the audio downloads (a $100 REAL value, people paid that much for each of my two previous summits and March looks to be even MORE spectacular!).

10 winners will get a 1-on-1 Target Marketing Session with me ($175 REAL value - I charge and get $175 per half our of coaching). We'll spend 30 minutes honing in on your perfect-fit customer and develop a preliminary marketing strategy to help you reach your target market and attract customers you WANT to work with.

5 winners will get access to the entire 12 week challenge - including Audio downloads ($297 REAL value - only 175 seats will be available for this event - and the first 5 will be filled here!)

ONE Grand prize winner will get all of the above (That's a $472 REAL value, folks)

How to Enter:
Write a paragraph, describing your biggest challenge with marketing your business online - you don't NEED to be involved in a Direct Sales business to enter or win. Just write it up and post it either to your blog or facebook with a link back to this post. Then email us at lisa126-465599@autocontactor.com so that we know you're eligible for the prizes. You'll get a confirmation email right away.

You can also post your question here and then Share This Post on twitter or facebook (or both!).

Here's the link, if you want to tell your friends and neighbors: http://www.homepartysolution.com/contest

Aren't engaged in social media? You can still enter by emailing your entry to the email address above. All eligible entries will be posted to this blog, regardless of how you enter.

Contest Rules:
Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries on October 20, 2009. Only one entry per email address is allowed. Winners will be notified via email and an announcement will be made on this blog.

Tomorrow, you'll learn more about the 12 week challenge. We begin October 26 and there's only 175 total spaces available, and tickets go on sale soon. If you purchase your ticket and are declared a contest winner, your purchase will be refunded.

Best of luck everyone!

Twitter Tips for Direct Sellers

As a target marketing specialist for direct sales reps, I spend a lot of time testing new strategies to help direct sales reps reach and serve their customers. My current favorite is twitter.

Twitter is an obvious choice for connecting real time with friends or followers. It's quick and relatively easy to navigate. Simply create an i.d., and start looking for people to spread your message.

The trouble comes when a person is brand new and has no idea how/where to begin.

Twitter is not a platform for heavy selling. Rather, it's a great place to introduce yourself, share more about who you are, and then open the door to potential business ventures. Heck, you only have 140 characters per tweet, and if you want people to share those tweets, you need to keep it under 120!

In the interests of ettiquette, here are a few simple tips to help direct sellers make the most of twitter:

1. Be genuine. This is at the heart of everything twitter represents. Select a user name that reflects who you are, rather than your product or company name. In fact, most companies prohibit use of their name in that manner anyway, so why risk it?People will gravitate to who you are first, THEN to what you offer.

2. Provide value. You've heard me say this time and again. People are always asking themselves, "why should I believe/listen you?" We are deluged with thousands of "advertising" messaged every single day. Your tweets need to stand out, provide value to your market and serve the very people you're trying to reach.

3. Be personal. By that, I mean resist the temptation to automate your folowing/unfollowing or direct messaging. There are appropriate ways to use automation with twitter. I've tested dozens of applications that were developed to maximize the efficiency of twitter. My results conclude that Autofollows and autoDM's just cause trouble.

Take the time to make the connection manually - which will avoid the need to unfollow at a later date. Yes, it means your number of followers may grow more slowly, but you can be sure that the followers you do have are actually INTERESTED in what you have to say.

4. Be patient. If you're being true to who you are, you're not likely to get a million followers overnight, but you WILL generate a following of people that know like and trust you. Word will spread as your followers share your message with their followers.

This is why I stress that social media and online marketing does not replace your home party business, but is an additional marketing component to running your business like a real business. Yes, there are people who have all but retired from doing home parties, but it didn't happen overnight. Don't fool yourself into thinking that a twitter account (or any single marketing strategy) is the fastest way to riches. It can help increase your reach dramatically, but it's certainly not an overnight solution.

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Want more help understanding twitter and how to apply it to your business? Explore Lisa's course: Twitter Secrets for Direct Sellers. The only certified Direct Sales Marketing Coach in the WORLD, Lisa Robbin Young can help demystify the business side of running your direct sales business. Visit her free online community for direct sellers today.

© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.

USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to use target marketing to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Register today for her free member community & target marketing program for direct sellers at http://www.homepartysolution.com

Another Sales Tip from Vilfredo Pareto

Vilfredo Pareto, that fabulous Italian Sconomist and educator I spoke of in a previous post, also made some astute observations about society beyond the 80/20 rule.

For example, he was one of the first to recognize that people assess and decide with their emotions (heart) and rationalize with their logic.

Which basically explains why we go after things we want (like a million dollar palace or a shiny new car) and ignore the things we need (like a clean home or 6 months' living expenses in our savings account).

Humans are in a constant state of assessment. We're constantly looking at what we want, versus what we truly need, and weighing the risks of putting off the need to have the want.

If we think the risk of losing the want outweighs the risk of putting off the need, we put off the need.

However, if we feel that it's too risky to give up the need, we forego the want instead.

Back in elementary school, my teacher talked about opportunity costs: the idea that every choice comes with a sacrifce - usually time, energy, or money - or a combination of all three.

In order to attain item A, we may have to give up on item B - or at least delay it a while.

Opportunity costs are all around us: when we choose to eat the frosty at Wendy's instead of ordering a salad. When we choose to buy the high end MP3 player to keep up with the Joneses, instead of buying the generic MP3 player and saving the difference for the college trust fund.

When we opt to call our hostess the day before the party instead of doing proper hostess coaching. When we don't do the upsell because we think we're "being pushy."

There are costs to every choice we make. Pareto just explained the human mechanism that allows us to make the determination.

So when you're talking with your prospects - whether you're booking, selling, or sharing the business opportunity with them, you need to uncover the wants AND the needs. Because some needs are greatr than others. They're non-negotiable. Other needs are mutable, transient and can meet oppsition when the want is stronger.

Then, simply show your prospect how your solution meets the want AND the need for best success. If you can't do both, always go for whichever is stronger - the want or the need.

It takes practice, but once you get familiar with understanding needs versus wants, you will quickly get a feel for how this works.

Some people call it "finding their pain", but whatever you call it, understand Pareto's discovery and put it to work for you.

People decide with their heart (emotions) and reationalize with their brain (logic). You are most persuasive when you can appeal to both.

Target Marketing in Direct Sales (Part One)

(First in a series)

I previously posted a video on this very topic, and it seems the time has come for further discussion of target marketing as it relates to direct sellers.

Gone are the days when you could naievely suggest that a product "sells itself" or that your catalog has "somehing for everyone" inside.

Let's be realistic. Not everyone will buy your product, or attend your party. It's foolish to think so, and even more foolish to try to convince potential reprsentatives that direct sales is "easy money".

Direct sales is a lot easier than, say, digging ditches. It is NOT, however something for everyone.

One of the phrases I like to use is "Direct sales is something anyone CAN do, but not everyone will."

Likewise, there is also a target market for your particular product or service - including your compensation plan and hostess package.

The sooner we, as direct sellers, embrace that idea, the better.
It also goes withouth saying that the sooner direct sales companies relay this message to their field, the more profitable they will become.

Frankly, every direct sales company on the planet aleady has a target market in mind when they develop their products and services. They would be out of their minds if they didn't. For example, Mary Kay does NOT cater to hundreds of thousands of men in the world. Their market is very clearly a female market, with particular demographics to drill down even further.

Theirs is not a clientele that frequents Wal-Mart (on the whole). They have a target profile of customers, reps and leaders that they know will be best suited to their products and services.

How do I know? Look at the catalog.

Look at any catalog for that matter. Right there, within the pages, you'll see pictures denoting a certain kind of lifestyle, maybe even models depicting a certain age range for a particular product.

Every successful company in the world has a target market.

Why not you?

As direct sellers, we are told to talk to everyone - and you've heard me rail on this before. I'm even seeing more and more direct sales trainers and speakers hop on the "something for everyone" bandwagon in an effort to book more events on their calendar (I'll blog on this issue later in the week).

NOBODY - and I mean this - NOBODY has something for everyone. No one can be an expert at everything, and it's silly to even pretend you are in this age of specialities.

In fact, it's our specialities that make us unique and valuable in the world. Generalists find that they lose out to experts that have a very specific niche. I'm seeing it right now as I watch other direct sales trainers "losing market share" to less experienced trainers that have a strong, proven area of expertise.

Don't let yourself fall into this trap.

Get clear on who you love serving. As a coach, I make it clear that I only work with people that are serious about growing a profitable direct sales business - not an expensive hobby. I love the reaction, the interest and the level of commitment these men and women bring to the table. I never have to doubt if my client is going to do their homework, because I've weeded out the "tire kickers" in my business.

Who do you love serving? Sketch out a profile of your ideal customer. Get detailed. Perhaps you already work with an ideal client - perhaps your ideal is a blend of several people you work with. If you have no customers, begin idealizing and sketch out what you think/feel would be a perfect-fit customer for your business.

Then do the same thing for your perfect-fit recruits/team members.

A surprising thing will happen.

When you build it, they will come. It takes some effort (I'll talk more about this in a future article), but it does happen.

===========WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE?
You may, so long as you do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):

Lisa Robbin Young is the founder of HomePartySolution.com, a free online community for direct sellers. Lisa is a certified direct sales marketing coach helping consultants and leaders use the Internet to grow their direct sales business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Register today for her free target marketing program for direct sellers at http://www.HomePartySolution.com

Direct Sales Muscles Need Stretching

[Note: This is an excerpt from me free Build a Better Customer Program that's available to all members of the Home Party Solution Community. Register today to recieve the entire program as my gift to you. That's how important I think it is to target market. My brother-in-law is presently in the hospital as the final stages of his disease make their move. - Lisa]

When I was writing yesterday, I thought about my brother-in-law, who lives with a horrible crippling disease that essentially erodes his bones from the inside out. It's very rare, and few who are diagnosed live past childhood. He's a miracle, still living in his 30's. Though he's paralyzed from the waste down, he lays himself out every single day to stretch his muscles. He's on a strict regimen of medications, exercises and nutrition to help keep his bone density as high as possible.

Muscles that aren't stretched will atrophy. The nature of building muscle is such that you create small tears in the tissue when you exercise. The muscle then repairs itself during rest, making it stronger than it was before.

You have to stretch if you want to grow stronger. If you want to die, stay where you are.

How can you stretch yourself in healthy ways? I don't mean dong MORE things than you can handle, but rather DIFFERENT things that would broaden your horizons, extend your business network, or build your skills. Small stretches that will build your "comfort zone" muscles.

Direct Sales Success: The Time for Social Networking is Now

Sitting at my desk yesterday, I checked my tweetdeck and found a message from one of my tweeps saying that social networking is the future of direct sales. I tweeted back saying that, in fact, social networking is the now of direct sales. We had a great conversation discussing the various issues that consultants face trying to make a name for themselves in a wired world.

If you're not familiar with social media sites like myspace, facebook and twitter, chances are good you didn't understand half of that last paragraph.

That's no excuse to stick your head in the sand. Social media is here to stay, and it's a powerful tool to add to your direct sales arsenal. Professional marketers are reaping the rewards of online connections on a daily basis. They've taken the art of networking and building relationships from the offline world to the online marketplace, and cashed in on the revolution in the process.

But before you jump headlong into social networking, there are a few concepts you need to understand. These caveats can turn your social networking into a lead generating machine - filling your inbox with leads and building your business in unprecedented ways.

1. Social Networks are not a PITCH fest. You can't just join a social network and start telling everyone how great your company or product is. That's the online equivalent of shoving your business card into the hand of everyone you meet without saying 'hello' first. Depending on the social networking site, you can share about yourself, your company and your products to varying degrees - but only AFTER you've established a relationship with your audience. Who is your audience? Anyone that's following your page, signing up for your updates or trying to become your 'friend'. The term is different for each service, but the idea is the same: people want to get to know who you are before they want to learn about what you have to offer.

Just like in the offline world, you need to show people you can provide value to them before you start talking about your company. Social networks essentially force you to share a bit of yourself with your audience before they're going to respond to any offers you try to make. If you don't, you'll come off as pushy and people will stop following you - or worse yet, block you all together.

2. Brand YOURSELF First. It bears repeating, so I'll say it again. YOU are the most important product your company has to offer. Successful consultants make a name for themselves even while they're promoting their company's products and services. It is up to YOU to promote yourself. No direct selling company is going to do that for you.

People have to know, like and trust you before they're going to do business with you. It is your responsibility to provide the information your audience needs in order to build a lasting relationship with you.

Let your company handle the marketing and promotions for your products and services. You need to worry about making a name for yourself. Your company can't stop you from creating your own website that is about your interests and your life. They CAN (and usually will) prevent you from using their product names, descriptions, images and trademarks. They have every right to do so. It dillutes their brand. It's also a sign of a weak marketer to tie your marketing back to your company.

Some companies will let you use their content - but what happens if you leave that company? You have to start all over again. If instead, you promote yourself, then no matter what company you're with, you've got a consistent social networking strategy that's built around your reputation, rather than your company.

3. Don't Do It All In One Day. Social networking sites are designed to be "sticky". That means once you visit, they entice you with lots of content to suck up your time and get you to stick around for a while. You need to view social networking as a piece of your marketing puzzle - not the whole enchilada. Start with ONE site that appeals to you. Strictly limit your time, and be sure you're using it for networking activities, not for mindlessly playing games or adding "apps" to enhance your page. Your time is best spent building and creating relationships with others on the site - not playing games with the computer!

Once you've "gotten the hang of it", then consider other social networks, but realize that each site requires a bit of time to navigate and participate. Don't commit to more groups than yuo can handle. Only YOU know your time availability and building marketing relationships takes time.

4. Social Networking Is Like Offline Networking. Just like offline networking groups, they are NOT the backbone of your direct sales business. Booking, selling and recruitng are the staples of a successful home party business, and nothing will ever replace that. Social Networking is a marketing tool that you can use to move beyond yuor family and friends and reach out to a global audience. The global audience can help establish yourself as an expert, but it doesn't always help you get a show on your calendar for next week. Like all networking functions, building relationships takes time.

Social Networking should be considered as a way to enhance your traditional book, sell, recruit activities - not as a replacement for them. Just like you wouldn't rely only on live networking events to build your business, neither should you rely completely on online social media to build your business. The Internet can speed the relationship building process along, but it still takes time.

5. Don't Expect Miracles. You get what you give in social media. The more you interact, the more people will interact with you. The better content you provide, the more people will want to hear from you. Unless you're already a celebrity, don't expect that you'll have overnight success with any social networking site. Miracles do happen, but to expect them would be social networking suicide. Often times, you can connect with other direct sellers, coaches, and trainers, and find yourself hob-knobbing with the rich and famous - people you might not otherwise have ever met - through social media. But this should not be your expectation or purpose for social networking. Connect and share with "regular Joes" like you and watch your network grow.

Twitter is a great place to start. With only 140 characters, there are no lengthy pages to read, and it's easy to start. Plus it can work with some other social media sites as well. If you sign up, follow me and I'll follow you!

6. Stories Sell. The best way to connect and build an online network is to share yourself - via stories and videos - and let your audience know more about you. A word of caution, though: don't share anything you wouldn't feel comfortable having the whole world know. This is the internet, after all, and anyone could see those pictures, that video or hear those stories. Transparency is one of the great qualities of the internet - it's also one of the curses. It only takes a second for everyone in your social network (friends, family and business associates) to see those compromising details. Be sure you're sharing quality information that builds your reputation.

It can be challenging for direct sellers that aren't very tech savvy to get connected to social networks. Take your time, start slowly, and do what you can. Don't get sucked into the time vacuum, and get distracted from your core business building activities. Great business relationships can be cultivated online, but you need to enter the fray in a controlled and meaningful way. Otherwise, you're just spinning in circles.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE?
You may, so long as you do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young teaches direct sellers how to be a superstar in the eyes of their customers. As Founder of HomePartySolution.com, Ms. Young has garnered the attention of thousands of direct sales consultants around the world looking for ways to integrate online marketing with their offline businesses to achieve greater success while working from home. Sign up for her free ezine at HomePartySolution.com

The BIG Unveiling: What The Heck IS Going ON?

Let's piece the clues together:

I'm closing the doors to something at the end of February (or sooner).
I've gotten very clear on who I want to help and where I want my business to go.
I'm not just addressing the Direct Sales industry.
I'm focusing on working with Christian business women.
I'm giving something away for free.
I'm also creating something even better.
I'm doing it in a BIG way.
There's going to be some VIDEO involved.
And I keep mentioning my "Build a Better Customer" Program

Can you stand it any longer? Okay, here's the BIG news:
Say goodbye to Home Party Solution as you know it. That ship has sailed.

Or it will come the end of February (or when all the current copies are sold out).

Yep. I told you people would think I'm nuts.
More on that in a minute.

What am I giving away? The entire updated curriculum for the Build a Better Customer program. In full - with nothing left out.

See, during the pilot program, I was hesitant to share a lot of what made this program really tick for me. Quite honestly, my faith and belief in God really drives my success, and it's at the core of this program.

I felt like I had to water it down tremendously in order to create "mass appeal" for the product.

But in my coaching sessions, my clients were actually appreciative of the references to God and faith, when I was feeling so apologetic about it. It became clear to me that THIS was the way GOD wanted me to operate. Not from some shady, half-veiled product creation.

And someone once said that knowledge should be free. I agree to a point. I believe that basic constructs designed to improve our human existence shouldn't have a pricetag. I also believe that my hard work and creativity should be rewarded/compensated appropriately.

So after offering up this project in prayer, I've decided that the beginning of my "crack addiction' will be to GIVE the content in my Build a Better Customer Program away. I'm still working out the details, but rest assured, this program will be a fantastic tool in your business building arsenal. I've already charged hundreds for this content, and I feel confident that it's worth ten times what others have paid for it - especially now that I'm dding in all the components, like my P.E.A.C.E. process that brings even more clarity to the method.

Yep, I know. My husband thinks I'm mentally ill, too.
But I say I'm crazy like a fox.

See, when you've gone through this system, you'll feel so empowered, so motivated, and so ready to do what comes next, you'll KNOW what you need to do. And I'll be there to provide you with teh step-by-step coaching to take your business to the next level.

I will, in short, have created my 'crack addiction'.

Yeah, but what about Home Party Solution? Before you stand there, staring at the door, I want you to know that it's not gone forever - it will be making a comeback - but in a completely reborn format.

More comprehensive, more informative, and so much EASIER to follow. This will be a multimedia experience like you've never seen before in the direct sales industry. But it will come at a MUCH bigger price tag.

Yep, there I go, raising prices when everyone else is lowering them. I really am insane, huh?

Not really.

See, I can't afford to keep cranking out the same old stuff that everyone else is churning out on a monthly basis. You're too savvy for that. If you're like me, you're tired of seeing the same stuff, repackaged with a shiny new label.

About every six months, I've released an updated version of Home Party Solution, incorporating the latest information and strategies for using online marketing to grow your business. And each time I do, I raise the price. Because I'm adding more content and more knowledge. I'm shortening your learning curve immensely.

And I think that's worth a few pennies in the bucket.
But the one thing I kept hearing over and over was that people wanted to see some video, hear some audio, make it a little more interactive.

Your wish is my command.

So I'll be spending the next couple of months totally revising, revamping and suping up the engine that is Home Party Solution. In the end, the finished product will actually be TWO products: A solution specifically for Direct Sales consultants, and another solution targeted to small business owners in general.

So much of what I teach crosses over, and I've seen my subscriber base expand from just home party consultants to a wider array of work from home, small business entrpreneurs.

It will be concise, powerful, portable and interactive. And we're going to cover more than just the basics. You won't BELIEVE what you're going to be experiencing. And I can't wait to share it with you.

In the meantime, you best pick up your copy of Home Party Solution before it becomes a collector's item. Once that happens, people could be selling it on ebay for a few hundred bucks.

Don't laugh! I've seen it happen before!

When they're gone, we're closing the doors. And I promise you it'll be at LEAST March before the new version is ready - possibly even April or May. I'm not going to do this thing half way. If you want the insider tips and secrets I've been sharing with my clients for the past year, now's the time to get on the bandwagon before every last copy is sold out.

Yes, the PM2 Mastermind group will still be available, and if you get the complete Home Party Solution package now, you can lock in the lowest PM2 rate now.

Don't stand there staring at the door at the end of February. Jump through the window now while there's still time!

It looks like Lauren is our big winner, although I got a few emails asking all kinds of questions in addition to the posts on the blog. I think you got all the big elements of the announcement: closing Home Party Solution, giving away BBC. email me, girlie, and I'll get your content out to you.
Congrats!

Clue #8: Mein Kampf - For Business

Say what you will about Adolph Hitler, but that was a man with a mission.

He knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish in his lifetime, he wrote it all out in a book, and then set out to accomplish it.

It's said that if people had given more creedence to his book "Mein Kampf", his vicious tear through Eurpoe could have been prevented.

But people wouldn't listen to a humble housepainter - until that housepainter became the infamous "HITLER".

Mein Kampf translates as "my struggle" and in his book, he literally outlines virtually every single choice he ultimately made as the ruler of Germany during the Nazi regime.

What I'm about to share is nothing so sinister, although it ties into my previous clue about creating a crack addiction.

When you write things down, it makes them more tangible. It gives them more credence, and it outlines more clearly, the steps you need to take to achieve them.

So for a "pusher" to be successful, he must first:
obtain a product that obtains the desired effect
Offer free samples to the unsuspecting public
provide a supply to the addicts for a price
offer freebies to addicts that bring more customers
rinse and repeat

When followed precisely, the pusher always has a steady stream of clients coming in. And if someone dies along the way,it's no biggie, because they've got plenty more people coming in on a daily basis. They just need to keep up with supply and demand.

To the uninitiated, this sounds liek a cold, calculating attempt to part you from your hard earned cash. And it would be except that in my analogy, the products I'm offering don't kill you. At least I haven't heard anything so crazy yet.

This is the exact model that most business owners try to replicate, except they usually omit one or two steps, thus flawing the system.

In order to create a crack addiction with your customers, you MUST follow the steps exactly:

Create a great product (a newsletter isn't enough anymore)
Give it away free (FREE, not for a very low price, FREE!)
Create a second product even better than the first and command a good price for it
Offer specials/discounts/freebies to customers that bring in new clients
rinse and repeat

The people that fall in love with your product will tell other people - why not reward them? That's part of the reason affiliate programs and customer loyalty programs have become so popular in the last decade.

Spreading the word creates an exponentially increasing customer base. As you continue to create better products (everything can be improved upon), people will seek you out. Because you have a reputation for "good stuff", people will be willing to pay the price you ask - instead of having to slash prices during a recession.

It's all around us right now. People closing up shop, slashing prices, "everything must go" attitudes. I would bet that drug dealers aren't feeling the pinch. They aren't lowering prices because they know there's someone out there willing to pay for their "good stuff".

And during times like these, MORE people are probably turning to them because they want to escape from the depression all around them.

And so it goes in business. If you've created something so spectacular that people are lining up to get it, you can afford to NOT slash prices because you've got people willing to pay you for your product or service.

You can literally start your own campaign for world domination - or at least your business world.

This is my manifesto. It's my plan of conquest - one addict at a time. Me and my army of addicts are going to change the face of the business world. We're going to storm through the streets in hamlets and cities and declare an end to regurgitated information at insanely high prices. We're going to demand quality and quantity, and not settle for cookie cutter coaching.

We're raising the bar, creating a "super race" of business people that are smart, savvy, and ready to grow powerful businesses for the benefit of themselves AND mankind. We're an army of women that are tired of being lied to, sold to, and cheated out of our dreams. We're taking control of our businesses and creating the future WE dreamed about - the future God has planned for us.

We're committing ourselves to excellence, and sharing knowledge, and pushing the envelope for constant improvement. We'll take our message across the globe, and create a community of devotees (addicts, if you will), that will spread this message one addict at a time.

Insert maniacal laughter here.

In all seriousness, this is the way good companies are built. Jeep created a hard core fan base - Jeep addicts. Same with Hummer, Apple, Coke, Virgin, and dozens more. They stand for something, create a culture, and promote the heck out of it. They give to get. Give an experience, get a loyal customer, repay the customer's loyalty, get an addict. Addicts beget addicts. And the cycle continues.

And so it is with me.

Have you got it figured out yet? We're getting down to the wire and I'm sharing more and more details as we get closer to the BIG unveil tonight at 7pm Eastern.

You can post your guesses here. I'll be checking in periodically, and the first person to correctly guess will be declared the winner of every physical product I've ever created. I'll announce that winner at 7PM as well. Good luck everyone!

4 Simple Strategies Saved My Life

The last 6 months have been a time of tremendous change in my life. Heck, this whole year has been a roller coaster, but especially the last half of 2008.

Things have been so crazy, and stressful, and frantic, and exciting, that my doctor told me I needed to lighten my stress load before I became another family statistic.

So I got cast in a musical, created a new direct sales training course with my good friend Ruth Fuersten, and agreed to help a friend create a website for a local comic and entertainment publication that's being born in my home town.

And I didn't break a sweat. Well, okay, I sweat a lot during the musical, but that was because it was hot on the stage under all those lights.

I've lost 15 pounds (and counting). I feel less stressed most days (remember, I've got 2 kids!). And I have never felt better about my business and financial future.

Why? I'm building better customers. My businesses now revolve around me, instead of revolving my businesses around my frustomers - those frustrating customers that seemed to exist oly to make my life more difficult.

So I finally said "ta ta" in 4 simple steps.

Wanna know the steps?

I'm sharing them FREE of charge on a call this Monday night. I'm not holding anything back, either. You'll not only hear from me, but two of my "guinea pigs" that I've already shared this process with. They'll be telling you how it's helped them. And if it will help us, I know can help you, too.

Clear away the "frustomers" in your life. It could save your life, too!

Tweet me, baby

Yep, I'm finally on twitter.

After much dawdling, I'm there, now.

Look me up when ya get a chance!