backstage magic
DESCRIPTION
Learn eight ways to build your direct sales business when you have a gap in your calendar and you're not actively selling.TRANSCRIPT
BACKSTAGE MAGIC Eight Ways to Build Your Direct Sales Business When
You’re Not Selling Archer Coaching919.308.1338laura@archercoaching.comwww.archercoaching.com
Business Down Times
Do you see a blank stretch in your sales calendar? Don’t panic! Here are eight ideas for building your business even when you’re not selling.
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Business Down Times
If you’re in direct sales, you probably have a few down times each year when you aren’t selling very much. This is common starting around the middle of December, due to the holidays, usually stretching to mid-January. Sometimes the summer can be slow as well, and at other times there are just natural lulls in your business.
Holidays
Summer
Vacation
Tax Time
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cont.
Take Time Off
First, and most important: Take time off. It’s time for you to visit with family and friends, too! Recharge your batteries, enjoy your life, and take time for yourself. This is important for staving off burnout. Remind yourself that one of the points of a direct sales business is working (and thus, not working) when you choose.
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Bottom line: A break can leave you with renewed energy for your business.
1
Clean and Organize
Clean and organize. Did your work space get cluttered up? Left the filing until you “had a moment?” Delayed putting a new system into place? Now is your chance! Clean and organize your home office space (and your computer hard drive) and come back to work with a fresh slate!
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Bottom line: Organization saves you time, and time is money.
2
Paperwork Paperwork. Start inputting everything you need to generate some current financial information.Update all your financials so you know (roughly) your income for the year and your expenses.Figure out what your monthly income was, your quarterly income.
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Bottom line: Paperwork and financial information help you quantify your success.
3Analyze your numbers: In what months did you make the
most money? When were you having the
highest party totals? What was your average party
total for the year? What expenses can you cut? Where can you grow? How can you keep more of what
you earn?
Getting your paperwork ready now saves you tons of time when taxes are due.
Set Goals
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Set goals. If you’ve done your financial paperwork and have a good picture of what the last year, quarter, or month in your business looked like, it’s a good time to set your yearly, quarterly, and monthly goals. Stretch a little! Write them down, so you can track how well you do.
Bottom line: Goals help you visualize and achieve new levels of success.
4
Inventory & Supplies
Kit, inventory, and supplies. If you have a sales kit of products you take to demonstrate, go through and make sure everything is clean, has fresh batteries (if necessary), is in good repair, and is well protected and stored. Get rid of anything that is outdated (or mark for deep discount when you’re back to selling) or broken.
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Continued on next slide
Successful Events
New Products
New Promo Items
Discount Older Items
Clean Kit
Inventory & Supplies
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Figure out what to replace or add from your current catalog. Go through your inventory so you know what you have and what you might need. Order any supplies (catalogs, stamps, stickers, promotional materials, mailing labels, and so on) you need. Is your company offering any deep discounts on products? See what you can buy now to have on hand.
Bottom line: Updated products keep your presentations fresh and your sales high.
5
cont.
Training
Training. It’s a terrific time to break out those CDs you picked up at your conference but haven’t listened to yet, or find some books, MP3s, and online training. You’ll have the time—so open up your mind, and get ready to learn some fabulous new techniques!
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Bottom line: Fresh ideas can invigorate your business and set you up for success!
6
Stockpile
Bottom line: Stockpiling keeps you organized and saves time, and time is money!
Stockpile. Get a big stack of catalogs and stamp them with your name, or put your stickers on them, and prepare them to give to customers! Prep a stack of hostess packets, recruiting packets, and more so that you don’t have to make them “on the fly” in the next few months. You’ll be amazed what a timesaver this is!
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7
Get Creative
Get creative! Let your creative juices flow and see what new ideas come up! You might figure out a great new way to sell a product, a dynamic new demonstration you can do, or even some new marketing opportunities (trade shows, events and promotions).
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Bottom line: Creativity sets you apart as a unique seller offering something special to your customers.
Backstage Magic
Take Time Off
Clean & Organize
Paperwork Set Goals Inventory Training Stockpile Get
Creative
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SUMMARY
14© 2010 Archer Coaching www.archercoaching.com
Laura Poole, certified professional coach and founder of Archer Coaching, has a specialty in training and coaching direct sellers in many different party plans. Want to learn how to increase your sales, communicate with your authentic voice, build success with a trade show booth, and grow your business to exceed your dreams? Contact us and let’s talk! Archer Coaching is proud to offer individual coaching, team coaching, training sessions, and more.
Website: http://www.archercoaching.com/direct-sales Email: [email protected]: 919.308.1338
ABOUT ARCHER COACHINGwork, life, joy