How To Grow Your Business

January 31st and the end of the first “J month” of the year.  For those of us in direct sales, we have repeatedly been told J months are traditionally NOT good months.  I won’t lie – this January was not one of my better ones but it wasn’t bad.  I hit my personal minimum and my team hit theirs (barely) so I am okay with it.  

Thirty One offered a great opportunity to end December STRONG and to kickstart January with a 4-week Outlet Sale.  Every week they added new products to help us make money while helping our customers get GREAT deals.  Then things started to fizzle.  I struggled with how to transition online parties between the two catalogs.  I lost focus.  As a result, I think my team lost focus.  I know, what does this have to do with building your business, right?

The reality is sometimes we need to go back to basics.  Remember the things which helped us during the busy holiday season when business seemed to fall into our laps.  We picked up the phone or sent text messages to people when we saw something they were looking for.  We shared on social media the things we were loving.  We shared family and friends using our products.  January hit and things stopped.  Yes, we were tired.  Yes, we have a life (and maybe a day job and kids) in addition to our DS business.  BUT when we find just 20 minutes a day to work our business (or our hobby), we see results.

Another leader posted this quote and I LOVE IT:

Everyday should be an lesson in Empowerment with our teams. Teach a WoMan to fish and so she can feed herself for a lifetime! Don’t hold her captive so you can feel needed.

Don’t have a team – that’s okay.  The more you practice this recipe the easier it will be for your team (when you get one) to follow along.

EVERYONE has “stuff” going on in their lives… Full Time jobs, School, Kid(s), illness, social lives, part-time job(s)… EVERYONE has some “excuse”- as to why their business is not moving forward or moving at all….

It’s up to YOU to take the time, 20-31 minutes a day, to work your business or you will not see results. Operating a business or expecting results in ANYTHING takes positive behaviors consistently repeated.  Even if you are just doing it for fun (or a hobby), by being consistent you will see results from your hobby.  Who knows, it could turn into more???

What are these behaviors in our business you ask?

1. Making 3-5 contacts a day for sponsoring (recruiting), booking and selling
2. Check your back office for announcements & information Daily to stay up to date
3. Make the effort to communicate with your upline (the person who brought you into the business or someone above them)
4. Get organized (Search power hour on google and implement it)
5. Following Up! With customers, Hostess, potential recruits, people you met last week…
6. Be a Walking Billboard- Use the products! Share how they make a difference in your life!  Share DON’T sell!
7. Get a catalog. Open the catalog. Study and know your catalog! I will admit I don’t know all of the names of the products or the names of our prints BUT I do know where to find them in the catalog.  People will understand.  They don’t expect you to be a walking catalog of information but they do expect you to know the benefits of the products so you can help meet their needs.

Now Repeat!****

I know this seems so basic but it works. Ask the leaders in your company how they got to be at the top.  It wasn’t about “joining at the right time”.  It wasn’t about a shortage of consultants in their area.  It was about consistently sharing their product with friends and family – not being afraid to step out of their comfort zone.

What is holding you back from moving forward or earning a little bit more money?  Are you ready to kick things into gear in February?  Smash those inner gremlins who have convinced you January is a sign of things to come.

What is your best tip for being consistent in your business?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Get Ready

Today is National Get Ready Day.  The day was first established in the mid 2000’s by the Public Health Association.   The Get Ready website has a wealth of information to help those that are interested..  There is even a coloring book that you can downloadThe campaign is encouraging individuals, families, and communities to consider what is required in the event of natural disasters, pandemic illnesses, infectious diseases, and other crisis events. Growing up on the Jersey Shore, we were always prepared for any type of crisis.

When I hear this question, I have a flashback to my days as a Girl Scout Brownie. I didn’t make it far in Girl Scouts but I always remember the saying “be prepared”.

Are you prepared, whether at home or in your business?

The truth is “Be Prepared” should be your motto.  I mean who wants to be in the midst of the “craziness” when a hurricane or blizzard warning is issued.  You know what I mean, the ones who run to the store for bread, eggs, milk and maybe some batteries.  I am grateful hubby is BIG on being prepared and we are well stocked.

In your business, imagine getting a last minute call someone who wants you to be at their house in an hour for a impromptu party. Or, maybe you are at a gathering and someone asks if you have any catalogs or products to share with them?  I know, we all dream of this, right? Would you be ready? What if a team member had an emergency, could you step in to do their party? Do these thoughts make you sweat? Do you cringe thinking of the 1000 things you need to do to prep for a party?

Could you head out the door? Would your bags be packed and ready to go? Could you walk out the door after a quick change of clothes (or not) and do a home party?  Could you leave your house if the flood waters were coming – quickly?

If the answer any of these questions are a resounding NO, then you need to get it together. Batteries should be a mainstay in your home.  Candles, extra food, important papers & medications easy to grab if you needed to evacuate.  Do you have a list of all of the medications and supplements you take available?  I have one in my purse, one in my planner and one on my phone with the name of my doctors so if there was an emergency, I am ready.

As for your business, your display should always be packed. Your customer folders should be prepped with current flyers. Your hostess packets ready with all of the materials for your future hostess. I know, you are wondering how is this possible if you just had a party and your life is crazy busy, right? Honestly, my display bag is always ready. It may not be packed just so after a party but I could pick it up and go quickly. I always have extra hostess and guest packets ready just in case I use them all at a party.

Imagine this: You are out shopping, heading to the car using all of your Thirty One products. Someone stops you and asks about your bags. Will you have mini catalogs in your purse? Will you have a hostess packet in your car? Would you have product in your car if they wanted to see something? Will you remember to get their information to contact them?

First of all, if you aren’t a walking billboard with your products on a daily basis you are missing out on an AWESOME marketing opportunity.  My car is stocked with catalogs, order forms, sale flyers, pens, etc. Was it always? No but I didn’t want to NOT be prepared.

So, what do you need to do to “BE PREPARED”?  Will you be ready the next time there is an opportunity to share your business? Will you be ready when the next storm hits so you can sit home while others are scrambling?  Take time today on “Get Ready Day” to get ready.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Are You a Walking Billboard

In direct sales, we are always looking for NEW customers.  We want NEW people to share our AMAZING product with and who will be our future customers and hostesses.  That has been the focus this week, right?

Let me ask you, are you a walking billboard of your business?  I have to admit when people first see me, 99% of the time, they know that I am a Thirty One consultant.  HOW?  I am usually wearing a Thirty One shirt and I am ALWAYS carrying at least one of our awesome products.  I mean what kind of business person would I be if I carried a Coach bag but sold Thirty One.

Alright, no hate mail because I know there are some people who do carry other purses.  I have to admit that I have considered it on occasion. I mean one year, hubby bought me TWO Vera Bradley bags.  It was when I was running my business like a hobby.  I felt so bad but I never used them.  Even though my business was just a hobby at the time, I felt like I was being unfaithful.

So, where is all of this leading..

You are your best marketing tool.  

Whenever you step foot outside you are also out advertising your business.  Use/wear your products in possible whenever possible.

I have a woman on my team who was struggling with booking parties and getting sales.  She told me about her extensive collection of Thirty One bags and how much she loved them.  Every time I saw her, she was carrying a different purse and was not using any of her extensive collection.  I repeated talked to her about how she was sabotaging her business.  For months she resisted and then one day she decided to try it.  Guess what?  She booked 3 parties and had several people interested in her Thirty One business.

Let’s be honest, if you had a storefront – you would advertise, right?  If you had a new business, you would tell the world, right?  If you found a new restaurant that you love, you would tell everyone, right? So why are we hesitant to tell people about our business?

As you go to those new places to meet new people, use your products and wear a shirt that advertises YOUR business.  The truth is unless I am going to a professional meeting, I can usually be found wearing a Thirty One tee shirt.  At those professional meetings, I am usually wearing jewelry that relates back to my business whether it is my Oragami Owl locket or my Pandora bracelet.  Everything this I do tells a story about the gift that Thirty One has been to my life.  You will NEVER find me with a bag other than Thirty One whether I am going to the grocery store, shopping or just out to lunch with friends.

So, are you a walking billboard for YOUR business?

Have  a ThirtyOne-derful day!

#partywithHope #marketing #findingcustomers #advertising #thirtyone #HOPE