SSWT Internet Marketing Forum

I've always found a very effective way to build relationships is to mention the product that you're offering, and if it fits, give out a free sample.

While this may be costly, it can prove to be a worthy investment if your contact sees that you have a product worth purchasing month after month. Besides gaining a customer, positive word of mouth will spread at a double rate if they're satisfied.

We all know that our customers can be a great start for finding business partners.

I am very busy with my studies as well as a few part time jobs thus my time is extremely limited. I have therefore, brainstormed and developed some creative and unusual ideas as to how I can promote my business given my limited time and unique circumstances.

1. Try to use the phone and direct mail whenever possible. I have had to face the fact that I simply can't run all over town all the time and therefore if I can avoid going in person then I need to. At the same time certain aspects of my business are more effective when done in person. Knowing when I must go in person and when I can use mail and the phone is a constant battle and one that I am still learning and fighting.

2. I wear buttons with catchy expressions on them on all my clothing to attract attention and encourage conversations with strangers.

3. I always carry business cards and brochures with me and when possible samples of my products to give away or sell.

4. Leverage your time. I have gone to yard sales and offered a free product in exchange for collecting leads and passing out business cards. I have also done something similar in hair salons, fitness centers, massage therapy centers, and other businesses.

5. I have a sign posted on my apartment door.

6. I put business cards in all of my outgoing mail including junk mail with a prepaid envelope.

7. Pick up the phone and call everyone possible. I have called nonprofits, schools, groups, convention centers, and anyone else I could think of to gain information about retailing my products, doing fundraisers and shows etc.

8. Realize that the Internet is your best friend. I have hosted online parties, used instant messaging, written articles and posted them online and a host of other online activities in order to increase my out of town business.

9. If you have a special talent or knowledge of a certain subject, you can create free worksheets or a free e-book, include your ad and post these on the Internet. In my case, I have masters in French Literature and I have taught French and created learning activities and so I have posted these on the web to generate interest and create credibility and familiarity with my name and person.

10. I think of new ideas on a daily basis. I don't always act upon all of them but at least I keep my mind active and searching for new ways to promote my products.

11. Who do reps in other companies know? Why not do joint parties and open houses with them? You will meet local people you wouldn't otherwise meet.

Hanna

Wow lots of great ideas!

While I agree at some point you need to spend money to make your business grow. I will give you three things that are free that you can start today to promote your business.

1. Post in forums- Do at least five posts a day. Ten are better than five and twenty are better than ten. Make sure you set up a Sig file that links to your website. Every time you make a post you put out a link to your website. As you get more links you increase the traffic that goes to your site. More traffic equals more sales and the only thing you spent was time.

2. Write Articles- Write an article and have it posted to someones site or blog. This is the best free technique out there. Once you have an article written where you are the author, you become the authority. When someone reads your article and gets good information from it they are more likely to trust you. If they trust you the chances are greater that they will sign up in your business or buy one of the products you offer. And get this, your article and the links in it will probably be there forever making sales for you twenty years down the road.

3.Start A Blog- Having your own blog is a great way to get visibility. The key is filling your blog with quality content. You can either write your own or have someone write the articles for you. If you start a blog, the key to remember is to add to it on a regular basis. Having fresh content added to your blog will attract the attention of the search engines and get you listed in their directories for free.

Well there you go 3 techniques that are totally free that will help you increase your business. Just remember that these take time to develop, but they gain momentum over time. So make sure you do them everyday.


Dave

I just fouind this great little e book by Rob Toth entitled "Dear Employee, Your Job Sucks"

This book is completely brandable with a webpage, graphics and links for:
Success University
Rich Jerk
Perry Marshall
John Reese

Rob just told me that he is putting another $3000 into the book. Wow!

Go to www.yourjobsucks.biz for the full details.

Carlos

"Recruiting without paying" very interesting concept. From my experience I know that is Eventually possible but only if you put your hands in your pocket for at least a start up cost. If your not willing to do that, then I dont believe anyone will take you seriously

This is a great topic, one of my favorites!

I was just at a seminar where Dale Calvert was taking about filling your funnel. You must get enough contacts in your funnel before your funnel starts to run. I'm probably not explaining it very well.... Any advertising method will work, but you have to fill your pipline full of that particular way of advertising, be patient with it, before it will produce for you.

For example, let's take handing out flyers. You will probably have to put out 1500 flyers per week for three weeks before you get any kind of regular response. Most people put out 50 flyers and expect tons of calls. When they don't get those calls, they are dissappointed and feel that flyers just don't work.

So in the end, it is really a matter of consistency, daily advertising, daily of putting out flyers, daily posting of free ads on the internet. You just have to keep at it, and you will be successful.

Rosie

Great advice, Rosie!

I've often said that being both consistent and persistent are the keys to success with any type of business.

I notice that all these posts talk about ways to advertise your business directly. I am in direct sales of a food product and had a hard time even reaching break even in the first few months. Then I discovered a plan.

I figured out that most people who get into a business like mine do it because they want to make extra money, learning to love the product comes later. So I started looking for people who want to make money and showing them a simple way to make a few pennies online free.

As they show up in my reports as someone who's working, I can then help them move forward and end up getting them into the next phase. I know it sounds unorthodox, but it's working for me. Now the only thing I buy ads for is my penny program and it converts much better than my direct sales project ever did, so I end up with more qualified prospects.

If you work outside the home depending on the type of business you are in tell your co-workers about it just make them aware that you are a representative or distributor of _____________ company. Bring in your brochures, business cards, samples if you can, anything you can give them for learning more about your business.

I do this with Avon, you will be surprised how fast it will catch on it took a while after I let everyone know I sold Avon before I started getting orders but it does work. Good luck

Michelle

Empower people! The average person in a direct sales business NEVER pays attention to conversations because they are so busy trying to make a sale or recruit.

Listen to what a person is saying because 99% of the time, depending on the conversation, they are going to mention exactly what they need or someone they know is experiencing xyz, etc.

Then when you have the opportunity to empower an individual with the benefits of your product or reference to something they're interested in, you've made a contact.

Every person you meet is not an automatic customer or team member, however if your conversation is compelling (while leaving a lasting impression), there is huge possibility that you might just get a referral and or a repeat customer.

"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Blessings,
__________
Regina Baker, CBC & Executive Producer
www.ChristianBusinessTalkRadio.com

Build A Direct Sales Business Without Losing Your Time, Money, and Faith
www.ChristiansInDirectSales.com