So how do you gain these ringing endorsements from your existing customers? There are actually several ways. Some of them are side effects and require no new tactics or implementation from you. Others are deliberate “word of mouth” marketing tactics.

Unintentional Word-of-Mouth Marketing

The most common way to generate positive word of mouth is to provide exceptional customer service and products or services. This also tends to generate the most effective testimonials, reviews and shout-outs online or off. Think about the last time you were blown away by a company. Did you share your experience with friends, family and peers? Hopefully you did.

Another way to generate unintentional good word-of-mouth marketing is to do something notable. Get involved in your community. Help other people or offer an interesting promotion. People, despite what you may see on the news, do like to celebrate good information. They like to share it.

Intentional Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Turn unintentional word-of-mouth moments into intentional marketing. For example, when a customer tells you they just told their friends and family what a great business you have, share the good news on your Facebook account. Or if you’re involved in a local charity, share your fundraising accomplishments online in your newsletter or on your social networking account.

Social networking is actually a fantastic tool to use. For example, you can retweet any positive mentions about your company online. You can also publicly thank the person for their comment. This may motivate others, who want to be mentioned because it increases their exposure, to tweet about your business.

Make it easier for people to share their opinions and views about your business. For example, create a referral program and reward people for spreading the good word about your business. Publicly celebrate your successes and accomplishments. Not by bragging necessarily, but actually using the information to benefit your prospects. For example, if you launch a new product that is receiving rave reviews, you might create a special promotion to celebrate your success.

One of the most important elements of creating good word of mouth is paying attention to where your praise is coming from. Who talks about your products or services? How do they talk about them? Once you know who your loudest customers are, then you can create a plan to make talking about your company easier and more beneficial for them.

You might also like this related article:

• 5 Do’s and 5 Don’ts of Effective Word of Mouth Marketing (socialtimes.com)

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

How to Create Good Word of Mouth

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“Who could be jealous of me and my success?” you are probably wondering. The answer as to who some of those people are may surprise you!

First we’ll start with the people who are closest to you, your family. They can be jealous and resentful if your business takes too much time away from them. So it’s important to schedule in time for each of your family members. I know, this is easier said than done when you are working hard to build your business and achieve the success you desire.

I know a few direct sales consultants who’s grown children resent and hate their business. I also know consultants who’s entire family loves their business and the lifestyle it affords them. We want you to be in the latter category!

You probably choose this business because you wanted more time with your family and/or a better life for them. Sit down with them, discuss your goals and how reaching them will benefit them. Make them part of your plan, give them a say in your business. Listen to their concerns and work with them to find solutions.

Not surprising, other consultants in your crossline or even on another team can be jealous of your success. Remember, they have the exact same resources and tools available to them as you do. Don’t let those green eyed people and their spiteful comments or childish behavior get to you.

Don’t create green eyed monsters amongst your downline consultants. Picking favorites, recognizing only the super star consultants will guarantee some hurt feelings. The consultant that does $200 in sales is just as proud of her accomplishments as the one who does $2000. Treat every one of your consultants, no mater what their accomplishments, fairly and with respect.

Last but not least, if you are online be careful what you share on social networks. I’ve seen other consultants copy and steal content from other successful consultants. You should assume everything you see published online is copyrighted, so it’s against the law to use it without permission.

If you are ever confronted with the green eyed monster, don’t take it personally. Try to get as far away from the person or situation as you can. If you, yourself have feelings of jealousy, vow to do better and let those feeling make you stronger!

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

Direct Sales Success and the Green Eye Monster

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If you look at yourself and what you know and do, and compare it to all the knowledge and opportunity available in the world, it’s probably a pretty small chunk. There are so many new avenues in business that are open to you; you just have to be open to them as well. While most people resist change, you may find that a lot of these avenues will not only make you more successful, you may just like them more than what you do now.

Willingness to change makes you a better investment to customers and clients. If they only see you as a one-trick pony, they may come to you for that one thing, but that’s about it. But if people see you as adaptable, they’ll have more faith in your ability to keep up with the changing world and be more likely to take a chance on you, or come to you with new business opportunities that might be something you haven’t tried before.

In today’s business market, technology is one of the best resources you can have. And the technology available is changing at a remarkable rate. It used to be that if you were out your business for ten or twenty years, you’d get behind and probably couldn’t go back without learning a lot of new stuff. Now, if you’re gone for just six months, you could be totally out of date. While you don’t need to get the latest or most expensive gadget, you do need to make regular changes and upgrades to the equipment you’re using.

Some of us are just more resistant to change than others; it’s just engrained in our DNA. But just because you don’t like change doesn’t mean you need to be left behind. Small changes can make big differences too.

Instead of turning your life upside down, just start by looking in different directions. Attend a seminar about new ideas or technologies, subscribe to a new newsletter that you didn’t before. By themselves, these are pretty small changes, but when you do them, you might find options of bigger changes that won’t be too hard either.

Don’t change too much. Warren Buffet is one of the world’s richest men. He got there by being fairly resistant to technological change. He invests mostly in stable businesses like insurance and food, rather than more unstable things like dot-coms. The reason? Just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s good.

It’s always a good idea to research anything before getting involved with it, and to never put all your eggs in one basket – no matter how big an opportunity it is. If you change smart, then you’ll likely find yourself in a better situation.

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

Try New Things!

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Direct Sales Consultant with her happy family

1. Set goals. Without goals, there’s really not much reason for you to be in business. If you want to stay focused and committed to your direct selling business, you need goals to act as a road map for you to follow.

2. Keep your goals front and center. You started your business for a reason. You need to keep that in mind so you don’t get weighed down by the day-to-day of your work. Keep little pictures or other memorabilia around that remind you of why you’re doing this is the first place.

3. Be flexible. In direct sales there’s not a one-size-fits-all method to success; you might have to try a lot of things before you find what’s right for you. The key is to be flexible and willing to try new marketing methods when things aren’t working for you.

4. Persistence and patience. While you may want to change tactics when things aren’t working, you can’t give up on everything so quickly. You have to be willing to keep trying and keep going, even if things don’t go well at first. Some things just take time.

5. Have fun. Direct sales is all about having fun while earning money. We all want to do things that are fun, and try to avoid things that aren’t. Make sure the avenues you pursue are not only profitable, but enjoyable for you. If there are aspects of your business that isn’t as much fun, try turning it into a game, just like you probably do with your kids to get their chores done.

6. Find supportive people. It’s a lot easier to stay committed to something if there are people on the sidelines cheering you on. Take time to talk to people who are supportive of your business, especially your upline leaders. If you don’t have any leaders who are available, try finding people like you online and at local networking groups so you can encourage each other.

7. Get help. If you’re like most people, you probably think you can get your direct selling business going on your own. And if you’re like most people, you probably can’t. Starting your own business is a big job, and it’s perfectly normal to need a little help or guidance. Find an upline mentor who has already been successful in your direct sales team to coach you and give suggestions. They will also be a constant reminder that what you’re trying to do is achievable.

8. Review what you’ve done. If you’re feeling like you want to give up or just feel beaten down, take out a pen and paper and write down what you’ve accomplished since you started your business. Even if it’s just little stuff, write it down. By the time you’re finished you’ll probably feel better realizing how much you’ve accomplished. Then keep the list and review it and update it every so often to keep yourself going.

9. Expand yourself. You’ve probably found that when you have a new idea or project, you get very excited about it. Try to constantly expand yourself by going to seminars, reading ebooks, getting newsletters, and doing other things to keep yourself coming up with new ideas and getting new projects. The more new things you do, the more excited you’ll be about just doing your work.

10. Be positive. A positive attitude goes a long way in keeping you motivated in your business. Take steps to keep yourself looking on the bright side of life and work and it will be easier to keep yourself going.

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

How to Stay Committed To Your Direct Selling Business

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Successful Direct Sales Consultant

1. You’ve got to set goals. The truth is it’s nearly impossible to stay focused on your business, if you only consider it as “work”. In order to keep yourself motivated you have to have some type of reward to work towards. So, the first thing you need to do is set some goals. You may want to set a business goal, a financial goal, or a long term goal. Such as something you’ll be able to do once you get your business going; a vacation, new car, college fund or retirement for example. If you’ve been in business for a while, remind yourself of what you started working for. If you don’t know how, here’s how to set goals for your direct sales business. And don’t forget to write down your goals so you have them handy, to keep you on track.
2. You’ve got to take breaks. If you feel like you can’t concentrate, take a break and get yourself back in focus. The same thing applies long term. If you’re feeling burnt out and just can’t get yourself going, why not take a few days off. You can go on a vacation, or just take a stay-cation and rediscover what’s in your own back yard. Once you go back, you’ll feel re-energized and ready to take on any challenge.
3. You’ve got to think positive. For many people positive thinking is a hard skill to master, however it’s one of the most beneficial things you’ll ever learn to do. It can not only help you achieve your goals, you’ll probably find yourself happier and more satisfied in your personal life as well. You can try things like positive affirmations or even meditation.
4. You’ve got to take care of yourself. A healthy mind is fueled by a healthy body. You don’t have to be a pro athlete, but if you eat a sensible diet, get enough sleep and regular exercise, you’ll probably find yourself feeling better and working better too.
5. Last but not least, ask for help. Contact your sponsor or your upline! Why wouldn’t you go to them for help when they can offer you their knowledge and professional experience? You don’t have to spend all your money to hire a business coach when this support system is already there for you at no cost to you. If you aren’t convinced, here is why you need a business coach. If your upline can’t or won’t help go to your company for some coaching.

Good luck coaching yourself for success in your direct selling business!

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

How to Coach Yourself For Direct Sales Success

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The Honest To Goodness Pros of Direct Sales

Direct sales is often misunderstood and has sometimes gotten a bad rap because of this. Certainly, all of the companies are not schemes and many do sell legitimate products of high quality. So it’s important to learn the facts before you make an educated decision. Don’t just listen to people who have failed, talk to people who are enjoying success in the industry. There is something for everyone, from affordable products people use daily to luxury ones on the higher end for affluent consumers.

1. Direct sales gives anyone a chance to be a business owner. Entrepreneurship allows you to realize your dream of working for yourself. How much you make is directly proportional to how hard you work at selling your product to others.

2. Direct sales business owners have the flexibility to set their own hours. It is a perfect proposition for you, if you are retired, a stay-at-home mom with small children, or for someone who wants to secure your future. You can work part-time or full-time as your schedule allows. As a Mom you can spend time with your kids and many people gain a real sense of purpose.

3. Direct sales businesses have low overheads. When you sign up with a direct sales company, they provide all of the tools you will need to get started for a small investment. Most can be started for $500 or less. You probably spend at least that much on shopping for your family. Now, you can start your own business with unlimited return.

4. Direct sales programs offer support for their sales consultants. It can be tough starting your own business, especially if you have no sales or marketing experience. The support of the company and your upline or sponsor can mean the difference between success and failure.

5. There is plenty of variety with direct sales. You can choose a product line you feel comfortable with and believe in. From food to home decor, jewelry to health products there is a business to fit your interests.

The Honest To Goodness Cons of Direct Sales

All that glitters, is not gold as they say. That’s why it is so important to check out your direct sales company and your sponsor before you sign on the dotted line.

1. All direct sales programs are not on the up and up. They can talk a good game but in the end, take your money. If the up-front cost is heavy and there is no support to speak of, keep on moving. On the other hand, if joining is free it’s most likely that you’ll receive no materials to market your business or for basic training.

2. Some direct sales programs have hidden costs you might not have counted on. They supply a starter kit for you to host parties but don’t tell you about the brochures, other products, and any marketing items that you pay for out of your own pocket and are not reimbursed for.

3. Each direct sales program has its own guidelines for earning commission and compensation plan. In an effort to earn money it is easy to lose sight of the goal and concentrate solely on money. You may be able to convince people to buy something once and gain initial earnings but for long term gain, you need repeat customers and business partners.

4. Direct sales companies often offer websites for their consultants. Unfortunately, all of these sites are exactly the same and tied to the main company site. Search engines won’t be able to find you individually and neither will the traffic you need to make sales.

Are you considering a direct sales career or home based business? Be aware of both sides of the coin with this business before you begin. Take the time to do your research to ensure it’s right for you, your goals and lifestyle.

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

The Honest To Goodness Pros and Cons of Direct Sales

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The economy hasn’t had a negative impact on my Watkins business, on the contrary my sales have never been better and most of my team members (ie: the ones who are active) are noticing the same trend. Melody

What’s so great about direct sales? Most direct sales businesses can be run from the comfort of your own home. You don’t have to punch a time clock or work a certain number of hours per day but you do need to show up for work consistently. Your schedule for your business is totally up to you. I’ll be honest here, the size of your profits is directly proportional to how hard you are willing to work. Especially in the first year or two while you are getting established.

As such, the control of the entire business is in your hands. Because of the freedom and flexibility if offers, more and more people are taking the plunge into direct sales. Here are a few of the reasons why:

Flexible hours – you work when you want
Part time or full time – you work as much or as little as you want
Simple business plan
Unlimited earning potential
Low start up and overhead costs
Flexible marketing options
Fun to do
No experience required
Reasonably priced products

It certainly may seem like a win-win situation and it can be. You’ll invest less than $500 initially for supplies to get started. This is far less than it costs to purchase a franchise for example, which requires an investment of around $50,000 just to get started.

Direct sales companies offer their sales associates a number of incentives to start and build a business with them. Keep in mind, not all direct sales businesses are the same and some companies are not on the up and up, so do your due diligence before you decide to join one.

The direct selling companies that are well established, have been around for a number of years and are known for their business integrity offer great benefits to anyone who is willing to work hard:

Fair compensation programs
Opportunity to meet new people
Earn free products
Earn free travel
Ability to advance or move up in the company

When money is an issue, who can argue with a type of business venture that wants to see you succeed? Your success is tied in with the company’s and your sponsor or upline’s business as a whole. Ultimately, your success is their success so look for a company and sponsor who offers you the training and support you need to succeed. As you get the word out about your business and the products, more and more people are likely to do business with you.

The possibilities with Watkins excited me. “What if I gave it a try, could I achieve some success?” I discovered the answer is a definite, yes! I now enjoy a nice income every month from my Watkins business. I have advanced up the compensation plan, earned several all expense paid luxury vacations and other free goodies all for doing something I love. Melody

For parents, people who have been laid off from their job or are on a fixed income, a direct sales business can be the answer to their prayers. Your business can supplement your current income or even replace your income from a full time job. While you are working or trying to find a job, you can still be earning money as you sell the products in your spare time. What can you do about the economy? You could find that direct selling is where you want to be.

I realize, direct selling may not be a business that everyone feels comfortable with. If you don’t like meeting new people or talking to a lot of people at one time, then maybe another business idea could work better for you. But, for outgoing, ambitious people, direct selling highlights their best character features.

You’ll discover as a business owner, your confidence level goes up. You are in charge of your own destiny and it feels really good. With each sale, you’ll get a little bolder and more strategic in finding and keeping your customers. When that happens you’ll have been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug!

Direct sales offers an opportunity for the regular Joe, an ordinary person just like you to take more control of their financial situation and their life. Don’t let the economy control your life, take control of it yourself. If you need extra money or a new career choice, maybe it’s time to consider direct sales? Check out the Watkins business opportunity and see if it would be a good fit for you.

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

The Economy Sucks What Can You Do About It?

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I’m sure that you know this leader…they follow their heart and help you discover yours. Wouldn’t it be nice to give something back to the special person who shares so much of themselves?

Have you nominated someone? Why wait? Click here to nominate your direct selling leader today! Don’t know who to nominate? I would be so honored if you nominated me, here are the details you’ll need:

1. Please Enter the Candidate’s first and last name: Melody Thacker

2. Your First and Last Name

3. Please provide your email

4. Your Zip Code

5. Are you a DSWA Member?

6. In 300 words or less, describe why your leader is the best!

7. Candidate Company: Watkins Inc.

8. Candidate Email: melody (@) melodythacker.com (remove the () and spaces )

9. Zip Code or Postal Code of Candidate: V0K1V0

Okay, here’s why I’d love to win the “World’s Greatest Direct Selling Leader” contest, the winner will receive a complimentary registration to the DSWA’s fantastic Excellence in Leadership Pre-Conference to the DSWA’s Annual Celebration to be held this year in Los Angeles, CA April 17-19. Plus, winners will also receive a wonderful day of pampering at a local Los Angeles Day Spa, preferred seating and special recognition at the annual DSWA’s Celebration 2009. What’s not to love?

Hurry, it will only take you a minute and November 30th is just around the corner! Thank you in advance, if you are sweet enough to nominate me!

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

The World’s Greatest Direct Selling Leader Contest

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• First, it’s my annual get-a-way. I stay in a five star hotel, often for free. I eat first class meals and don’t have to cook, or do dishes! I get to dress up in my “good clothes.” I get to visit interesting places like; Vancouver BC, Calgary AB, and LaCrosse, WI to name a few. There’s always time for a bit of sight seeing, shopping and it’s a wonderful change of pace from my everyday life!
• Second, I get to know all the newest and exciting things that are happening with Watkins. New products, gift line, new programs! I love seeing and trying the new products and gift line! Plus we hear from top industry trainers and speakers! It’s all very motivating and inspiring so I come home even more pumped up about helping more people with my business.
• Third, I get to network with Watkins people in person! We talk shop, share ideas and celebrate successes! Some people consider their Watkins associates as their family and it’s a pretty accurate description of our relationship. Plus, I see Watkins Inc employees who have become my friends over the years. I’m particularly excited because this year I get to meet one of my downline who is not only an associate but a good friend and one of my super stars, Mary Ellen from Old Thyme Goodness. We’ve talked for hours over the phone and the internet so I can’t wait to meet her in person.

Are you wondering why you should attend conference? Well it’s a simple answer, attending conference with help you grow your business. How? The answer to that question varies for each person as there are a number of ways it can help you. Here are 7 Reasons Why You Should Attend Business Conferences.

Well I’d better finish my packing, talk to you when I get back!

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

Why I Love Attending Watkins Business Conference

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First of all, designate one specific room or area of your home for your inventory. Many home based store owners or direct sales representatives store their inventory in their garage or basement. Closets and home offices are also another good place to keep your stock. Make sure that your products are kept in a safe place, protected from moisture, excessive temperatures and pests too.

Once you have your location set, you’ll probably need some sort of shelves, cupboards or storage units. You can keep your inventory in boxes, however a good inventory management system with shelves, or drawers means you can keep your products, displayed in an organized, easy to see and locate fashion. Having units with doors that close will prevent your products from getting dusty or dirty while in storage.

When storing inventory in your home, make it as easy on yourself as possible by labeling everything! If masking tape and a sharpie marker works for you, that’s great. Others may prefer a label maker. Whatever your method of identification, place your inventory so the label is easy to read. This will prevent you from having to lift and sort through all the boxes to find a product when you need it.

Order seasonal inventory a few weeks or months before you need it. This will save space in your home. When seasons are winding down, your inventory dwindles. Once the season is over, move the extra stock to the bottom or back of the pile and keep the most used items right up front where they’re easily accessible.

Another important part of your inventory management system is to use a spreadsheet to track your inventory, your company’s master order form might work well for this if they have one. This will make ordering MUCH easier. Instead of having to dig through boxes and count what is in stock, all you have to do is look at your spreadsheet. Each time you sell something, make a notation and update your spreadsheet on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the size of your business.

Tracking inventory closely will help you as a direct sales representatives stay on top of your inventory, thus reducing the amount of inventory that needs to be kept on hand, saving you space and the inevitable stumble over all those boxes in the way. I think you’ll find this inventory management system gives you some easy ways to keep up with your inventory but with out it taking over your entire home!

Melody Thacker jumps out of bed every morning, excited about the bright shiny new day, and the endless possibilities it holds. Her passion is helping others with her direct sales business.

An Inventory Management System for Direct Sellers

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