What NOT To Do When Recruiting Direct Sales Team Members

While you're trying to build your direct sales team, you might be tempted to use some methods that unscrupulous directors or team leaders suggest. But learning what NOT to do when recruiting direct sales reps will ensure you much greater success, and a much better night's sleep, as well!

Never lie to a prospective recruit

Be honest about your company's performance, compensation plan, upfront costs as well as hidden costs, expectations, etc. Letting a recruit know in advance what to expect will save you both time and heartaches. This will also help prevent the nightmare of new recruits who leave the team because they find out the "truth" about the program after they sign up. Having an unhappy ex-recruit out there is a sure way to destroy your reputation and business.

Never exaggerate your compensation plan

While it's okay to point out the best possible scenario, never inflate the numbers when talking about how much a consultant can make with your company. Exaggerations are lies. Lying or exaggerating your business rewards will quickly ruin your reputation with your team, and in your business circles. And like everyone else, team members talk, and they'll quickly let others know they can't believe what you say about the business... as they're searching for another direct sales opportunity they can believe in!

Never maroon a new recruit

If you sign up a new recruit and then leave them to drift out to sea alone, you will quickly have an unhappy recruit, not to mention no return for your investment! Instead, offer training for your team members individually and as a group. Teach them to sell, and to recruit others. Help them build their businesses because doing so will build your business in the long run.

Never think money is the only motivation

Many people sign up with a direct sales business because they want to earn extra money.  But, there are others who will do so because they like the products, or they want something to do in their spare time. Others may only want to get the company discount. Keep this in mind as you're recruiting. Each recruit has their own motivation and all are valuable to your team. And pushing a recruit in a direction that's contrary to their own personal motivation will only result in resistance and eventual failure.

Never forget friends and family as possible recruits

You may think "she'll never be interested," but you may be surprised to learn that your sister, cousin, aunt, or best friend are really looking for a way to earn some extra money. For that matter, never assume the answer will be "no" with anyone! Even if it is, you've not risked anything by offering the opportunity. You don't want to hear “Gee, I wish you would have told me how I could make extra money.” or “I would have joined you if you would have asked.” or “I didn't know you could make money doing that.” Go ahead and offer the opportunity.

Recruiting new team members for your direct sales business can be fun and profitable. But learn what not to do when recruiting direct sales reps so you don't cause yourself undue stress, or waste your time with useless strategies that won't work, and may even scare away new recruits.

Ask The Right Questions to Find Quality Recruits

If you're looking to build a direct sales team by finding new recruits, you may be wondering about the best way to find prospects who are really interested in your business and who are more likely to become successful. One thing you can do is to ask the right  questions to find quality recruits.

A few simple questions will help you determine if someone is a potential recruit for your company. These will be things like, "Are you in need of additional money?" or "Have you ever wanted to start your own business?"

Other questions will help you determine potential motivators, such as "Do you have children?" or "How does your spouse feel about you working?" Even statements such as "Wouldn't you love working your own hours?" may give you a lead. Getting a feel for what your prospect wants will help you know how to best meet his or her needs.

When recruiting current customers, or someone who has contacted you specifically to become a recruit, you might ask, "What first interested you in this company?" or  "What's your favorite part about this particular product or company?"

If you have someone who is pretty sure they want to sign up, but about whom you're not quite convinced, you might ask "Why do you think you'd make a good consultant with this company?" or  "What would be your goals as a consultant on my team?"

You'll want to ask each recruit how they plan to promote their business. Will they work online only? Do they plan to host shows or parties? How much time do they have to devote to building a successful business? How many hours a week will they want to work? All of these are valid questions that will help you and your recruits gain a better idea of what they want from the company, and how successful they can hope to be.

After all these questions, it's time to ask your potential recruit, "Do you have any questions?" Give them time to think and formulate their questions; even arrange another date to meet to address their questions. Knowing what your prospects are looking for in a business opportunity will help ensure that neither they, nor you, are wasting time.

Finally, ask a new recruit that you think will be a good match, "Are you ready to join my team?" or "If you're ready to sign up, can we order your kit and get you started?"

Asking the right questions that lead up to this final question will help ensure that the majority of new recruits are truly topnotch representatives for your company. This will make your recruits more successful and more productive members of your team.

Why Having a Business Blog is Important

A business blog is a must for every business; whether your business is on or offline. For any type of business you need a business blog.

Blogging has become a way to drive new traffic to your business, whether the business is on the internet or in a building.  This is because people connect personally to you through your blog, even if it is a business blog.

Through writing blog posts your readers, subscribers and customers get to know a little bit about the person behind the business.  And as long as you 're posting quality, trustworthy content your readers will come to trust you.  Therefore, they will then begin to purchase your products or retain services that you offer.

Your business blog should reveal a little about the person behind the business, but it should never be too personal.  Having an "About " page on your blog is a good place to display a little about your personal life, but not too much.  Keep it professional, but let your audience know who you are as a business person.  The " About" page is a also a great place to display your qualifications, merits and credentials for your business.

Once your business blog is up and running, you will then use it to connect with people on the Internet through stories, talking about promotions or sales, and letting the public know your business exists.  Having a business blog is the most important marketing tool your business should have.

Consistency is Key!

Consistency is the Key to Blogging
When creating your business blog, consistency is the key to keeping readers coming back time and again. Your readers will come to know you by your brand, your writing style and even the colors and fonts you use. Therefore, maintaining consistency throughout your blog is something you want to make a practice of.
Before creating your blog, if you haven’t done so already, think about what colors and font styles you are going to use. You want your business blog to flow with your business website, so using colors and styles from there would be your best option. If you don’t have a website for your business, then use colors and styles in your logo or from something that customers will recognize as your business. Also, if you have a logo for your business, be sure to use it on your business blog.
If you already have a business blog up and running, but feel it is “noisy” or there are too many colors and font choices, choose 2 to 3 colors to use throughout and then choose only one or two font styles at the most. Having too many colors and fonts can appear cluttered and your readers will soon lose interest because they will feel overwhelmed by all the busy-ness.
Consistency is not only in the appearance of your blog, but in the content as well. When you are creating posts for your business blog, they need to be geared toward your products, services and your business. Your writing style should always be consistent. Its okay to put some personal flair in your posts, but the main content should be professional.
If you use a ghostwriter to write your blog content, be sure to use only one or two, otherwise you may end up with too many writing styles and your readers may pick up on the fact you use ghostwriters. There is nothing wrong with using a ghostwriter, just be sure they are consistent and produce the kind of content you would if you were actually doing the writing.
When you are consistent on your business blog, your customers will come to trust you because consistency shows reliability and when your readers know they can rely on you, they will buy from you.

Are You Afraid to Succeed?

  I am sure some of you are probably looking at the title and thinking, "What...afraid to succeed?  Who would be afraid to succeed?  Everyone wants to be successful in life, don't they?" Honestly, there are many people who are truly afraid of success.  I used to be one of those people myself.  I didn't realize it consciously, but there was something deep down holding me back from recognizing the potential I had inside.  Others could see it, but it was as if I was blind to it completely.

  Keep reading to see if you too could be someone who suffers from a fear of success and not even know it.  If you find out your afraid of success, first understand it's not as unnatural as you might have once thought.  Many people find they are the only thing holding them back from the life they want to lead.

  Have you ever had someone say to you, "You've got so much potential" and found yourself doubting what they were saying or not believing it at all?  Be honest with yourself now and really think back to those times and the people who were saying those words to you.  Who were they?  Probably people you admired and looked up to weren't they? I thought so!  That is exactly who I heard those words from so many times in my own life.

  Now take a look at yourself, not just your outer self, but your inner self.  Really examine who you are, where you've been and what it is you want out of life.  If you're find yourself coming up short of your goals over and over again or worse yet never set goals at all, stop and think about why that is.  Here are a few questions you should be exploring the answers to.

What holds you back?

Why don't you go after what you want in life? Is it family values? In other words, are you putting your family ahead of your personal hopes and dreams?  Why can't your family be a part of your dreams?

Do you think you don't have what it takes to reach your goals or live your dreams?

Do you feel like you're not smart enough or talented enough to live your dream?

What is your dream?  Do you even have a dream?  Are you afraid of dreaming, maybe you think what's the use?

  Believe me when I tell you I've been there and still struggle with believing I have what it takes to live my dream.  But as I get older ( which happens a lot faster now for some reason) I am realizing I DO have what it takes to be successful in life.  I AM smart and I AM talented! Am I one of those people whose talent stands out above all others, who others seem to notice immediately?  No, I am pretty ordinary, just like you, but I am finally living my dream of working from home, owning my owning my own business and doing something I truly love.

  What's in your heart?  Is there a burning passion deep inside that keeps tugging at your heart or recurring in your mind?  Do you see yourself doing something like speaking on the big stage at an annual conference or being the top producer in the nation?

Go for it!!!

  Don't let your fears or anxiety hold you back.  Figure out what you are afraid of and the things that are holding you back.  Then, learn to overcome them.  It is possible to overcome our fears by facing them.

  Are you a bit shy?  Then work on being more outgoing by talking to someone at church you may not know or starting a conversation with a stranger in a grocery store.  Facing your fears is the only way to truly overcome them and once you do, you may find that what you're afraid of isn't so bad after all.

  We were all put on this earth for a purpose, not just to live 70 or 80 years and then die.  By finding your true purpose in life and living the desires of your heart, you will be successful and prosperous.