DSEF & CBBB: My Experience With Multi-Level Marketing

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB)

My Experience With Multi-Level Marketing

By Holly Doering

When I was a little girl, my mom stayed at home to look after us kids while my dad worked. That was just what women did. Especially in a small Idaho town with a limited job market. One day my mother brought home a trunk of cosmetics: almond face lotion, peppermint foot rub. There was even something called “Royal bee jelly”—I think—that was thick and soft but not greasy. The company was called “JAFRA”—Jan and Frank were the owners—and all Mom had to do to make money was to host parties and invite her women friends.

What happened next was what often happens—Mom threw a few parties, went to a few parties, and then the creams and lotions sat in the cupboard for the next decade. (They were really good products though!)

In college, I worked for a fast-food franchise owner who was big into Amway. She bought all their cleaning products for the restaurant. She was convinced that this company was her ticket to early retirement and possibly multi-millionaire-dom. As far as I know, she’s still trying to become a Diamond.

The BBB sometimes gets calls about multi-level marketing (MLM) opportunities. Are they scams? While any particular scenario could be a scam, the short answer is no. MLM is a legitimate business model that has made certain individuals extremely wealthy. However, it isn’t easy.

Many people who get into network marketing don’t have the personality or the tenacity to make a go of it. They chicken out of making cold calls or meeting strangers at Perkins. They don’t want to invest all the time into their home business that would be necessary for it to succeed. Or, they get divorced and end up splitting their downlines.

You see, I worked for a network marketing company for a few years. But not as a distributor—I stayed with a steady paycheck from the corporate offices. It was there that I met a company executive who had gone from abysmal failure—sleeping in his car—to becoming a millionaire with these MLM products. And when he did, his sponsor, the man who recruited him, became a multi-millionaire.

I chose this particular MLM company to work for because their products:

Were environmentally-friendly
Were not tested on animals
Were not significantly more expensive than items in the store
Were something I could believe in

Here are some tips on how to research a MLM company and make sure it’s right for you. Think about:

How transparent is the company? Are you getting real answers to your questions, and not just the run-around or a company line? Do they disclose their financials?
Has the company been around for awhile? (The longer, the better.)
What is the initial investment?
Who will support you? Does your sponsor seem like they will actively coach you and have time for you? Can you meet other people in this person’s downline?
How are refunds—to you and to your customers, clients, prosumers, or whatever they call them—handled? How do they deal with complaints?
Is their technology easy to use or is it kind of a pain?
What is the competition?
Are they aware of or do they subscribe to the Direct Selling Association (DSA) Code of Ethics?

Final thoughts

1) Remember that pyramid schemes, which can look like MLM to begin with, are not legitimate. A genuine MLM opportunity involves product and is not simply mailing cash back and forth.

2) You may not want to make your living from your MLM business—I’ve been to plenty of Cabi, Partylite, Avon, and Pampered Chef parties hosted by friends who just wanted to get these products that they liked discounted or cheaper. Even so, do your homework first. You won’t be sorry you did.

Free e-book “Business Owner’s Road Map to Success.” It has over 50 pages of techniques for everything a small business owner needs to master, from business planning and ethical selling to a success mindset. It’s all there and it’s free for you. To get it, just “Like” our Facebook Page here: http://on.fb.me/KsIN6P Pass it on!

DSEF and Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) fosters honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visitwww.bbb.org/us for more information.

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Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

The proverbial comfort zone: it is what prevents us from pursuing our dreams and achieving our goals. The good news is that your zone isn’t a jail cell, but instead a place that you’ve created over time. Because of this, you are free to leave anytime, but you have to be ready. Below is a step-by-step guide to breaking out of your comfort zone and growing your business.

Understand the return on investment (ROI) in stepping out of your comfort zone. Some of these benefits include standing out in a crowd, overcoming your fear, trying new things, and learning more. Imagine what these benefits can do for your business.
Identify someone in your field that you look up to and admire. List that person’s qualities and accomplishments. Cross out the ones that you have in common. From the items that remain, rank them in order of importance to you. You now have a set of objectives to start on, so take them one step at a time. What can you do right now to begin to achieve the first one on your list?
Put all your cards on the table. Fear is the most powerful emotion, so assess what you are afraid of that has prevented your business growth. Pledge to yourself to jump in head first. For example, if the idea of public speaking makes you want to run for the hills, call your local library and set up a workshop. The venue is small, but will force you to face your fear and make it easier to do again.
Expect and embrace change. The nature of our comfort zones is that they are predictable. Even if what you are doing on a regular basis is making you money, you may be leaving a lot of money on the table if you don’t try something new. Adjust your mindset to one that willingly accepts change because stepping out of your comfort zone will bring about a great deal of it.
Visualize yourself doing it. Whatever it may be that you are afraid of doing, close your eyes for a few minutes and picture yourself doing it successfully. The mind is a very powerful thing, and by continually focusing yourself toward the positive, you will be more likely to achieve your goals.
Work backwards. When developing a plan of action, pinpoint your endgame first. When you have an outcome in mind, your actions will be more specific and effective. Furthermore, you will be better able to stay motivated while working toward that end.

What advice do you have about leaving your comfort zone? Please share your suggestions with us in the comment section below.

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DSEF & Money Wise Women: What Pulls Your Trigger? Four Reasons You May Overspend

Today’s highlighted post from Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series:

What Pulls Your Trigger? Four Reasons You May Overspend

Do you ever feel “triggered”? Do you ever find yourself spending money you didn’t intend to, but you do it anyways? Sometimes we feel almost defiant when we spend. Sometimes we feel numb. But often, there is a deeper trigger behind our less-than-conscious spending. When we know what triggers us, it helps us avoid overspending in the first place and we become better able to analyze our overspending when it does happen. Thinking about our spending triggers also helps us not beat ourselves up so bad. So join money coach and author Mikelann Valterra as she talks about four kinds of spending triggers. Because if you can think about WHY you spend the way you do, you’re less likely to fall into overspending traps. And yes, you can actually use overspending as a personal growth experience!

DSEF proudly sponsors the free Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series hosted by Marcia Brixey, Founder and President of Money Wise Women Educational Services and author ofThe Money Therapist: A Woman’s Guide to Creating a Healthy Financial Life. The series covers topics related to business and finances and provides women the opportunity to learn from professional experts in a safe, comfortable environment.

To find out about upcoming teleseminars, visit http://www.moneywisewomengetsmart.com/

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How To Get More Referrals

How To Get More Referrals

It’s no secret that referrals are an excellent way to boost sales; potential customers are much more comfortable doing business with people they meet via personal recommendations. Wouldn’t you be? Why is it then that they seem so difficult to come by? Pursuing referrals is a lot like any other skill; it takes commitment and practice. The first step is making the search for referrals a regular and necessary part of your business. Implement the following suggestions to start doing so.

Ask! This seems obvious, but many people shy away from asking for referrals directly from their customers. There are, of course, certain ways to ask that are more effective than others, such as being specific. For example, instead of asking, “Who do you know that would want my services?” a better question is, “Who do you know that loves to cook?” A specific question will draw more names from your customer and will also bring you relevant leads rather than a whole list of people who may not be interested in what you offer.
Help others. You may be missing an opportunity to put yourself in a mutually beneficial situation. Attending a charity event in which a friend or family member is involved can be useful in obtaining referrals. You will be helping someone out, contributing to a cause, and meeting new prospects all at the same time.
Build strong relationships. Of course you want your clients to trust you, but you also want them to be enthusiastic about doing business with you. Find out what your customers are passionate about and cater to that when interacting with them. You will be able to add a personal touch to your business dealings, which will in turn impress your customer, who will want to tell his or her friends about you. Always be professional, courteous, and caring.
Set a precise goal for yourself. Make it part of your daily work day to ask for referrals. Keep track of how many you ask for every day, and as you feel more comfortable pursuing referrals, challenge yourself by increasing that number and setting a new goal.
Send out holiday cards. It’s that time of year again, and holiday cards, if done well, can really stand out and lead to referrals. Remember that most people put their cards on display, where party guests and family members will see them. So take some time to create a unique card that is noticeable, and send it early so it will be one of the first to make it to your customer’s display.
Offer rewards. When a customer does give you a referral, let them know how much you appreciate it. A handwritten note sent through snail mail is very thoughtful in this age of emails, texts, and video chats. Furthermore, don’t hesitate to get creative. For example, whenever a customer gives you a referral, send the customer a scratch-off lottery ticket along with a quick thank you card. Because you’re showing that you are genuinely grateful, they won’t think twice about referring you to others again and again.

What are some creative methods you have used to acquire referrals? We’d love to hear from you!

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Making More Time

Making More Time

Time management is essential for any working individual, but it is especially important to the self-employed. Direct sellers and small business owners are constantly performing multiple jobs in a single day, so there are many opportunities to get sidetracked, lose focus, and ultimately waste precious time. Read on for a simple step-by-step guide on how to maximize your time as efficiently as possible.

Pinpoint what tasks are most imperative. Thinking about what you do in any given day, decide which of those things directly contribute to the growth and money-making aspects of your business. When time is tight, these are the tasks that should take precedence over any others.
Rid your day of at least one time-waster or distraction. Although we all deserve a break throughout the course of the day, we often allow for too many detractors which can easily add up to an hour or more. After you’ve identified your most important tasks, do the same with your least important ones, such as updating your personal Facebook page or checking the score of the big game. Commit yourself to avoiding such diversions while you get your time management under control.
Put in place time limits for your tasks. Now that you’ve weeded out the unnecessary and know exactly what you should be working on, give yourself a certain amount of time to complete these duties. If you know you only have an hour, for instance, to create a rough draft of that new promotional poster, you will work much more efficiently toward your goal than you would if you were going back and forth between the poster and other activities.
Make use of time management tools. There is a plethora of software and internet-based organizational programs at your disposal, and much of it is free. For example, Google Calendar is a very effective way to map out your day, week, and month. It also offers useful features such as event reminders, scheduling across time zones, and automatic synching to your Microsoft Outlook calendar. Find one that works for your business and tailor it to your needs.
Don’t try to work for too long in one sitting. Our brains can only focus for no longer than 60-90 minutes at a time. Plan on taking a quick break to go outside for some fresh air, listen to a song on your iPod, or have a healthy snack. Even 5-10 minutes away from your work every hour and a half or so will increase your energy and long-term focus throughout the day.
Get enough rest. This seems like a no-brainer, but most of us simply don’t get enough sleep. When you are sufficiently rested, you can actually get more accomplished in less time than it would take if you were tired all day long. Not only that, the work you do will be of higher quality because you will be working at optimum capacity.

Remember, no matter what you do, there will only ever be 24 hours in a day. You can’t create more hours, but you can manage yourself to get the most productivity out of each valuable minute. Please share your own time management tips in the comments section below!

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How to Get Organized In a Week

As you may have learned during your time as a small business owner or direct seller, getting organized and staying that way are two completely different things. Both can be daunting, but the long-term maintenance of your organization system is essential to the success of your business, and your own sanity as well. Follow each daily suggestion below to gradually put your life in order.

Day 1 – Get a handle on the daily flow of paperwork. You most likely have an inbox for mail and other documents that appear on a regular basis. Instead of letting it accumulate to the point of overwhelming capacity, deal with each piece right away. For example, when you open a piece of mail, only give yourself two options: file it or toss it. You’ll be amazed by how much open space you’ll have on your desk!
Day 2 – Label everything. If you get a good labeling machine, this will be an easy and even fun task. Label anything you need to maximize your organization systems, like file folders and storage containers. Because where everything goes will be clearly visible, putting everything in its place when you’re finished with it will take no time at all.
Day 3 – Sort your emails. Using the same principle as the first two suggestions above, treat your emails the same way you would treat any piece of paper: file or toss. In this case, filing means sorting your emails into a folder or label system that works best for the needs of your business. Categories could include Priority, Accounting, Customer Service, Vendors, Inventory, etc. This can be especially helpful when searching for an old email as well. Certain email programs, like Gmail, even allow you to sort emails into more than one category if needed. As soon as you have finished reading and/or responding to an email, either move it to one of your folders or delete. Now, just like your desk, your inbox will be sparkling clean!
Day 4 – Create a correspondence window. Set aside a certain amount of time each day devoted solely to email and phone correspondence. This way you’re not taking calls and answering emails all day long, which can inhibit productivity. Furthermore, you will be able to return communications to customers and vendors in a consistently timely manner, something that everyone with which you do business will certainly appreciate.
Day 5 – Keep your eye on the prize. Either at the start or end of each day, create a to-do list of 3 tasks that MUST be completed that day. You can always add more if you finish all 3. As you work throughout your day, always refer back to that list. Check off what you have completed and move onto another task. This doesn’t always mean that a to-do list can’t be adjusted, but giving yourself a general outline of your day will help you stay on track. Most people also take a little bit of pleasure in crossing off a task, so make it a regular part of your work day!

Organization requires patience and self-discipline, two qualities you most likely already possess as an entrepreneur. Incorporate a new method of organization everyday into your business so that by the end of the week you’ll be completely organized, and then make it a habit. By organizing as you go, you will find yourself with more time to focus on other areas that need lots of attention, like advertising and customer service.

How do you stay organized? What systems do you recommend? Please share your tips in the comments section.

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Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for your Business

Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions for your Business

Another year is almost through, and just like most of us make resolutions for our personal lives, it is also a smart idea to make some for your business as well. So before your pop open that champagne and watch the ball drop in Times Square, consider making a few changes to boost your business in 2015.

Improve your time management. Take an inventory of what your typical day looks like. What areas lack efficiency? What duties can be multitasked to save time? Perhaps your daily to-do list is too long. Prioritize aggressively to get a handle on how much can actually be accomplished in any given day.
Give back to your community. Remember that your business is part of a community. Giving back has an endless list of mutual benefits for everyone involved. Make a point to find one or two local organizations with which to involve yourself this year. You can find some good ideas here.
Learn something new. Even if you’ve been in business for decades, there are always new, exciting, affordable, and convenient opportunities to further your business education. Consider taking a mini-course at the local community college or participating in a webinar hosted by others in your industry.
Get organized. Whether you’re dealing with actual papers in a filing cabinet or electronic files on your hard drive, organization is essential to productivity. Now is a good time to set aside any documents you might need for tax purposes, as April 15 will sneak up on you in no time. Maybe your customer records need updating, your finance software is inefficient, or your desk is buried in paperwork. Focus on one aspect and bring order to it so you can start fresh in the New Year.
Predict your financial future. The end of the calendar year is an opportune time to look back on your overhead and sales volume. Using this information, plan ahead for the coming months so you don’t spend money needlessly and you do make the most out of your current investments.
Set realistic goals. A goal that is realistic is one that is both specific and attainable. It’s okay to think big and challenge yourself, but create benchmarks so you have a path to get there. For example, if you want to increase profits by 50% next year, what has to be done each week and each month to make that happen? Answers to those questions will guide you in setting your objectives.
Update your website. Do some exploratory surgery on your website, searching for things like broken or outdated links, unnecessary flash content, and information about discontinued products. Even a cosmetic reboot may be just what your business needs to start anew in making the best use of your website. While you’re at it, consider creating or updating your social media presence such as networking sites and blogs.
Back up your files. In addition to manually backing up files onto a CD/DVD or flash drive, most internet service providers and antivirus software companies offer free or inexpensive online storage services. Take advantage of these because all it takes is one accident to erase years of data and hard work. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Ramp up your customer service. In what areas is your customer care lacking? Do you procrastinate in making courtesy or follow-up calls? How long does the average customer usually have to wait before they get a return call or email after making an inquiry? Make customer service a frequent flier on that to-do list of yours.
Celebrate your accomplishments. Every once in awhile, it’s important to evaluate what you have done well and give yourself a pat on the back. As a business owner, you are ultimately the one responsible for every outcome, good and bad. When you reach a goal or solve a problem, reward yourself by going out to your favorite restaurant or simply taking a much-needed day off. You will feel re-energized and motivated to forge ahead and tackle the next project or obstacle.

What resolutions have you made for your business? Please leave a comment below and have a happy, prosperous New Year!

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What Small Business Can Learn From a Kid’s Lemonade Stand

The basics behind a successful lemonade stand don’t require a rocket scientist to figure out: buy cups, make lemonade, paint a few signs, sell more than it cost to make, and voila! A 7-year-old entrepreneur is turning a profit in no time. Surely, the adult business venture isn’t that simple, but remembering the basics of running a business like the tried and true lemonade stand is an important requirement for success.

Focus on your local market. Decide what exactly your local customers’ needs are, and cater to those first. If you were running a lemonade stand you would need to consider the demographic when deciding when to conduct your business. For the parents and kids coming home in the early afternoon from a morning baseball practice or beach outing, marketing your stand for a lunch rush would make perfect sense. For the working parents who just finished a long commute from the office, an additional set of early evening hours would be beneficial as well.
Know when to adjust. Even if your business is pulling in profits, it is important to know when it is appropriate to invest more money and when to pull back. After a lucrative summer and early fall lemonade stand season, it would probably be ill-advised to buy more supplies for a larger lemonade output just as the colder weather moves in. The demand will be much lower, which will make it more difficult to turn a profit. A smart idea would be to hold off until the warmer weather returns. Does your business have a slower time of the year, month, or week? Use your busier times to prepare for lags and don’t sink money into it when you’re unlikely to see a return anytime soon.
Be an aggressive advertiser. Budding entrepreneurs don’t simply wait for cars to drive by their stands. They can be seen with their friends and parents on street corners throughout the whole neighborhood holding large, colorful signs and loudly announcing their businesses as their neighbors drive past. Furthermore, 21^st century kids are using their social media presence to generate customers. Take a lesson from their spirited advertising and get your name and face out there. And just like those kids standing on street corners, don’t be afraid to enlist the help of friends and family to put in a good word about you in their own circles.
Offer exceptional customer service. Have you ever stopped at a kid’s lemonade stand? Those adorable faces, those winning smiles, and those polite “Thank you’s” and “Come again soon’s” are enough to make anyone a repeat customer. Make your customers feel special and important by showing them that you truly appreciate them patronizing your business. Outstanding customer service goes a long way through word of mouth that will bring you repeat business and new clients alike.
Sell a high-quality product. For as much time and effort as setting up a lemonade stand can be for a child, it would all be for naught if he or she just put some powder mix in a pitcher of water and called it a day. Many successful children have a special, and often secret, recipe that they work hard to perfect for their business. You should be doing the same for your product or service. Consider what your competitors are offering, and make sure yours is a step above the rest. This will make your business stand out and turn potential customers into frequent ones.

Did you have a lemonade stand or other business venture as a kid? What did you learn from it that you still use in your business today? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!

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Starting Your Business Over Again

Every once in a while, you may find yourself in a business rut. Perhaps your profits have begun to plateau or even decrease. Maybe you have suffered a setback, which in turn has negatively affected your inner drive. Whatever the circumstance or the reason, it’s not too late to turn your business around by starting over again. The following are suggestions to help you do just that.

Embrace and evaluate mistakes. If you had never started your business in the first place, you wouldn’t have made the mistakes that will help you learn how to succeed. So the first step in starting over is to reflect on those mistakes. Ask yourself what specifically it is about your business that is preventing it from flourishing. Once you identify the problem, you can work on how to solve it.
Set a goal and develop a short-term plan. If your goal is to increase your client base by 25% by the end of the year, create 3-4 steps you can take within the next seven days to begin reaching that goal. It is also a good idea to make benchmarks for yourself along the way. This not only keeps you on track, but also allows for self-accountability.
Reconnect with past clients. When you got your business off the ground, you worked hard to acquire your customers. Don’t hesitate to reconnect with them; they may appreciate a quick phone call thanking them for their past patronage. Along with that, you could offer a special promotion or incentive exclusively for past clients. You’re showing them that you value them as your clients, and you’re also offering them an opportunity to rediscover what makes your business special and beneficial for them.
Reinvent yourself. This can apply to your brand, your product or service, your marketing strategy, or any aspect of your business that isn’t working for you right now. These are tough economic times, and it may do your business a world of good to consider how things have changed since you first began. Have your customers’ needs changed? Has your product been overshadowed by a newer, shinier version elsewhere in the industry? Is your social media presence a time-sucker that hasn’t positively contributed to your business? Focus on one aspect that needs a makeover and don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
Get educated. Millions before you have started small businesses both successfully and unsuccessfully. Not only that, but these people have also written about their experiences. So fire up that e-reader or take a trip to your local bookstore and do a little research that is relevant to your business. Furthermore, a fresh perspective may be just the boost you need to recharge your batteries and spark the idea plug for your business venture 2.0.
Reward yourself. Let’s face it: owning your own business is hard work. Once you have reached a short or long term goal, enjoy it! Something as simple as splurging on that super sweet frozen coffee drink you love or taking an afternoon to go see a movie will help you stay focused while keeping the end in sight. Care to make it really interesting? Put one small reward on a post-it note and throw a bunch into a hat. When you meet your first goal, reach in and enjoy! Most people stay the course when they know there is some form of compensation awaiting them upon completion.

What steps have you taken in the past to start your business over again? Why have they worked or not worked? Please share with us in the comments section below!

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7 Ideas to Personalized Business

Providing Personalized Business

As a small business owner and/or direct seller, you have a significant advantage over the ubiquitous “big-box” stores. You can offer personalized customer service, which is something that bigger businesses simply cannot do. These days, most shoppers are so used to being just one of many in a retail atmosphere, so they can truly appreciate the extra effort a small business owner or direct seller puts forth in making them feel like valued customers. Here are some ways to personalize your business and give you an edge over your competitors.

Gift wrapping for special occasions – This can be especially helpful during the winter holiday season, but is a valuable service year-round. In any given month, a customer has to shop for someone’s birthday, graduation, baby shower, etc. and a free or inexpensive gift wrapping service adds to the convenience factor. It also shows that you are thinking of the customer’s complete needs, which don’t necessarily end once he or she has purchased your product.
Pick-a-day promotions and incentives – Several retail chains offer an automatic discount (10-20%) when you shop on a certain day of the week. Why not let your customers choose a day that works for them? Using a simple program like Microsoft Access, you can store such information for each customer. Furthermore, you can certainly set limitations on such a promotion, such as weekdays only or one Saturday only per month. No matter how you arrange it, you are offering your clientele the freedom and ease to shop their way, all the while rewarding them for choosing your business over others.
Suggested items – Another use for that database program of yours is to keep track of exactly what products or services your customers have purchased. After a few transactions have been completed, you can begin suggesting new or existing items that they might be interested in based on those past purchases. This is a great way to begin building a relationship with customers that they cannot get elsewhere.
Door to door delivery – A service like this adds great convenience and that very personal touch. If you have customers in your local area, offer a door to door delivery option. It gives you chance to wow your customer, to meet and connect with another potential customer on the other end.
Surprise your loyal customer – Once in a while, surprise one of your loyal customer with a balloon/flower and a free gift. This shows you are thinking about them and is a great way to brighten their day. It also gives you an opportunity to connect and check if they need anything else.
Support their causes – This is an incredible relationship builder. Let your customers know that your business has a heart and is willing to provide help for their charities. Either with your personal time and/or in discounts, products and services.
Follow-ups – Nothing says customer service like a human being on the other end of the telephone, which, unfortunately, is becoming less and less common. After a customer has done business with you, a quick phone call to verify their satisfaction can go a long way. There may have been something they didn’t like, but didn’t feel it was worth it to say something about; now you’re giving them the opportunity to do so, as well as offering to make it right. On the plus side, it never hurts to hear when you’ve done a good job and made a customer happy from the get-go.

When striving to personalize your business, put yourself in the role of your customer. Think about your past experiences as a consumer, good and bad. What can you do as a business owner to prevent poor-quality experiences and encourage excellent ones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!