Five Ideas For Using Auto-Responders In Your Direct Sales Business

by Audrey Okaneko

Are you currently using an auto-responder in your direct sales business? I think auto-responders are one of the best tools of the business. I’d like to share five ideas for using an auto-responder in your business:

1. When you receive a business lead, immediately get their permission to put them on an informative email list. I’ve seen people drip information to leads for a full year. The information you share can be a mix between company specific information and industry specific information. Find a balance so that your emails are not sales pitches but rather informative documents that could actually apply to most businesses. One example of this is how to use company catalogs. My email speaks of how often my company puts out catalogs but the remainder of the information can be used by anyone offering catalogs to potential customers.

2. Do you write articles? Store all of your articles on your auto-responder. Make a master list of the titles of each of the articles. When someone asks a question, let them know how they can get the article you’ve written that answers their question. At the bottom of each email, let the reader know how they can get a list of every article you’ve written. Once they get the master list, then they can request any and all articles they might want.

3. Write emails on every product your company makes. When you sponsor a new distributor, provide them with a master list of all of the emails you have on each of the products. Write these emails not only for the distributor but for their customers as well. This could help your team member in making the sale.

4. Not every customer buys the first time they meet you or the first time they are introduced to your product line. Create a newsletter that would be of interest to a potential customer. The key here is to keep your name in front of the potential customer on a regular basis until they say yes to your products. If you sell kitchen related products, offer a recipe newsletter. If you sell children’s toys or books, create a parenting newsletter. This keeps potential customers on your list for months or even years.

5. Write mini-courses that relate to your field. For example, if you sell children’s products write a few mini courses about parenting infants, parenting toddlers, parenting teens and even about grand-parenting. If you sell kitchen products, write a few mini-courses on how to use a crock-pot, how to choose fresh fruits and vegetables and how to buy organic. This again brings in those people who are interested in the type of product you are selling.

These are just five ideas on how to use an auto-responder to build your direct sales business. Be creative and see if you can find even more uses for the email system and then watch your business grow.

Audrey Okaneko has been in direct sales since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or you can Become a Tupperware Consultant

 

 

5 Tips to Build Your Direct Sales Business

by Audrey Okaneko

Quite often I’m asked if there is a “secret” to building a direct sales business. The answer is both yes and no. I say no because there is really no one secret. I say yes, because there are many things you can do on a regular basis to build your business. I’d like to share five things you can do that will help you in building your business.

1. Learn about the company and the products. When you speak to others about what you are selling or joining your team, you’ll sound much more professional if you know about the company and about the product line.

2. Take an interest in self-development. Direct sales is a relationship business. We improve our relationship skills when we begin working on self-development. I attend seminars, take classes and read books all devoted to helping me become a better person. Even those who teach the classes I attend will share that they continually take classes to learn more themselves.

3. Make a one year commitment to your business. It takes time to find customers, build a team and develop a base for your business. While I always hear and read the words “businesses aren’t built overnight”, the reality is many people don’t really believe these few words apply to them. Commit to one year in business. After one year you’ll have enough experience and knowledge to make a new decision if a new decision is necessary.

4. Set an example for your team. As you build a team, your team members will look to you for guidance, support and training. If your team sees you market on a regular basis, they too will market. If your team sees you attend trainings and other company functions, they too will realize the value in these events. If you communicate regularly with your team, they in turn will learn to communicate with their teams.

5. Return phone calls and emails just as quickly as possible. Understand that not every communication will result in a sale or new team member, however each communication will aid you in building your own brand and your own reputation. If you get a complaint, take care of it immediately. If you get a product question, get an answer just as quickly as you can. You want your reputation to be one of a person who responds in a timely manner.

As you can see, there is no magic answer on how to build your business. The answer is to take steps daily to build your business and to build your name and reputation.

Audrey Okaneko has been in direct sales since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or you can Become a Tupperware Consultant