According to Direct Selling Association statistics, 85 percent of direct sales people spend fewer than 30 hours per week working their business. Working part-time is the reason many people go into the business of direct sales in the first place. But what are some proven methods that will help you work smarter, not longer?

A top-level producer with one company has worked with her company for over seven years. A mother of three and an elementary school teacher, she’s taking time off from teaching to work her direct sales business while her children are small.

“Touch your business every day,” she advises. “It is easy, being at home, to let things slide. I make sure, even on lazy days, to do something productive toward my goals.”

Another top seller home schools her four children, manages a successful career with a skincare direct sales company, is an author and a motivational speaker, and owns a company that provides recognition gifts and ideas to support direct sales uplines. Financial freedom and flexibility are what she likes best about direct selling. She says perseverance and determination are keys to success.

“Take one baby step at a time,” she cautions. “When you’re faithful and consistent in the little things, your business will grow beyond belief.”

When asked what she likes best about direct sales, a Senior Director with another popular direct sales company replied,

“I love the flexibility it affords me. I am able to decide when I want to work and how much. I am able to have my toddler at home with me while I work, and I am able to take a break at any time I wish and for any reason, whether I have a doctor’s appointment, a play date for my daughter, or even if I just want to enjoy a nice day outside.”

She recommends treating your direct sales business like…well, a business!

“Most people who are in the business are in it to make money, and to make money you have to work. The difference between a business and a hobby is that in a business you make money; in a hobby you spend money.”

All three top producers agree that goals are a major key to success in direct sales.

“Set clear goals,” one says. “I make sure to do what it takes to work toward that goal every day.

“Dreams are essential,” agrees another. “Whatever you talk about and are most passionate about, that’s what you’ll sell the most of.”

“I strongly feel that if you know where you are heading,” one says, “and you are determined to get there, that you can achieve it.”

Research cited by the Direct Selling Association underscores the validity of these three direct sales professionals’ statements. Of the many reasons people choose direct selling, flexible work schedules and the fact that earnings are in proportion to efforts are among those highest on the list.

Karen Moehr owns Moehr & Associates, a marketing and publishing firm specializing in the direct sales industry. She is author of several books including the Direct Sales Business Blaster and Top Sellers Tell. To Sell More Today, vist: http://www.isellmoretoday.com

Are you thinking about starting your own direct sales home business?  Or maybe you are already in direct sales but are on the quest to be the best you can be in your own business.  Anyone who is associated in anyway with the direct sales industry should make themselves aware of who the Direct Selling Association is.

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) is the national trade association of the leading firms that manufacture and distribute goods and services sold directly to consumers. Approximately 200 companies are members of the association, including many well-known brand names.

From the DSA website:

The Association’s mission is “To protect, serve and promote the effectiveness of member companies and the independent business people they represent. To ensure that the marketing by member companies of products and/or the direct sales opportunity is conducted with the highest level of business ethics and service to consumers.”

The cornerstone of the Association’s commitment to ethical business practices and consumer service is its Code of Ethics. Every member company pledges to abide by the Code’s standards and procedures as a condition of admission and continuing membership in the Association.

You can find out more about the DSA by visiting their website at: http://www.dsa.org/ Make sure your company is on the list!

Party plan selling is a type of direct selling in which you put on a party to sell a product or service to your customers. And today some party plan people are even putting on online parties, where people join together at a certain time and communicate via online forums, chat rooms, e-mails, or video feeds. The other type of direct selling is person-to-person selling, where you engage in one-on-one sales.

The first thing you need to do before you start a new business is decide what company you would like to join. The key to success is choosing a product to sell that you are passionate about. If you have a lot of passion for a product it will automatically show to your customers and land you more sales. You should also review compensation plans when choosing a company.

Once you decide which direct sales company is for you and sign up, you’ll want to start booking parties. Start with your friends and family. Have them book parties so you can present your products to their friends. Assure them that the party will be fun and their guests will enjoy themselves. A lot of people don’t want to subject their friends to a sales pitch, but if you reassure them their guests will have a good time and not be required to make a purchase, they’ll book the party. At the party you will talk to the guests not only about your products, but about booking their own party, and the business opportunity as well.

The party plan business, like the direct-selling industry, is generally huge – more than $10 billion – though it is hard to come up with precise figures, because many people in direct-selling companies put on parties to sell their products even though they aren’t officially considered a party plan company. Plus if Suzy down the street decides to sell some products which she has bought wholesale form a manufacturer or at a flea market at a party, well then, that’s party plan selling, too. The Direct Selling Association (DSA) has approximately 170 members, which use person-to-person or party plan sales strategies, or both. About 80% have multi-level compensation plans.

When you learn how to start a new business using a direct sales company, selling products isn’t the only way you get paid. You also get paid to sell the business opportunity. This means you receive a portion of the sales that people you have recruited make. This creates a passive income, meaning you are getting paid for something that you aren’t actually doing the work for. The easiest way to recruit people is at your parties. When they see how much fun you are having and that you are succeeding, they’ll want to join.

The direct-selling industry has gained wide acceptance, whether you are selling via party plan or person-to-person, because the majority of American adults (55%) have at some time purchased goods or services from a direct sales person. So who’s involved in this vast industry? Mostly it’s a business of women, who are doing this on their own on a part time basis as independent contractors.

Mostly, direct selling occurs through face-to-face selling in the home – about 62%. But now the Internet is growing – with about 11% of the sales, plus the other major source of sales is the phone -16%. To assess how you’re doing in putting on each party, keep a record of your costs, as well as the immediate income you earn from sales at the party, plus the income you earn through follow up. It will give you an idea of what percent of your income is coming at the party itself versus follow up later, so you can decide what your best strategy is for the future (for example, increase sales at the party; do more follow up to increase after party sales; continue to pursue your current strategy).

The bottom line is you can succeed with a direct sales business. Like with other businesses, it takes time and patience to build your customer base and your team. Once you get started though, the time flies and before you know it you could have the business you’ve always dreamed of owning.

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