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5 Easy Ways You Can Give During the Holidays and Build your Business

During this season of giving, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping for loved ones, preparing for holiday parties, and decorating our homes and places of business. However, we all know the importance of giving back to those in need. This holiday season, you can include charity into your business; you’ll be doing a good deed, but at the same time, you will be able to grow your business.

Help out local food banks. – Food banks are always in need of volunteers. One way to help is to offer to pick up food door to door in your neighborhood and deliver it to the food bank. At each pickup, leave a business card or flyer with a promotion to donate a percentage of your proceeds to the food bank. However, be sure and ask for permission from the food bank or any charity you work with to leave your business card or other promotional item. Those who are kind enough to be donating food will welcome the opportunity to continue giving back while doing their holiday shopping.
Donate products or services. – You don’t have to contribute cash to a local charity in order to have an impact on the community. Instead, you can offer pro-bono services to help those in need. Many school parent-teacher organizations sponsor tricky trays (chance auctions) to raise money for the band trip, new sports uniforms, or classroom technology equipment. Consider putting together a gift basket for the event that includes information about your business. Gifts donated can be anything from jewelry and cooking supplies to yoga classes and spa days. Your business will get some free advertising, and because you are actively benefiting the community, you may find yourself with a whole new customer base as well.
Host a family-oriented event. – Keeping in mind the needs of your customers, it isn’t difficult to plan an event that welcomes young families into your place of business. How about a morning with Santa Claus? Your customers bring their children in to meet Santa, get a free picture with him, and have some complimentary milk and cookies. This is a hospitable way to usher in the holiday season, meet and greet your customers, and give your business a boost for the New Year.
Support veterans’ families. – Put together a thoughtful care package filled with your products or vouchers for services to send to local families of veterans or active military. Include your business card and incentives for them to try your other products. Not only will you be supporting our troops, but you may even tap into a whole new customer base.
Take advantage of community service opportunities. – Most churches and other nonprofit organizations perform regular community service. By joining these types of organizations, you can make giving back a regular part of your business model. Additionally, (again with the permission of the organization), you can leave your card and promotions to try the products or services your business offers. This is also a suitable way to initiate contacts within the community that will allow you to continue your charitable efforts.

By giving back during the holiday season, you not only do your part in helping those in need, but you also encourage loyalty among your customers by showing that you have a vested interest in the community. In these tough economic times, many people are looking for affordable ways to support their local business owners and would welcome such opportunities, especially as they prepare for holiday celebrations.

What are some ways your local businesses have given back during this holiday season? Please share your comments with us below!

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Are You a Spammer? Tips to Better Email Marketing

Are You a Spammer? Tips to Better Email Marketing

Are you a spammer?

We all hate spammers. But what’s worse is having your friends and family think you’re a spammer. So, before you get caught up in all the excitement of your new business and the great idea of sending out a mass email to everyone you know about your new business, Stop! Ask yourself: “Is this spam?”

What spammers do:

Send emails to people they don’t know and/or don’t know well
Send emails to people who have not asked for the information
Send emails to lists of people (unless those people signed up for the list or have already done business with you)
Send emails with misleading content and subject lines
Send emails with no unsubscribe information

Here are ways to avoid being a spammer:

Send emails to subscribers only
Send emails one to one
Send emails with a working unsubscribe button/link
Send emails with truthful and appropriate content

Tips for better email marketing:

Emails connected to current events and popular themes get better responses
Use Facebook and Twitter to find subscribers
Make sure that your emails are relevant to your prospects
Offer promotions for becoming a subscriber
Maximize your email message for mobile devices

If you find yourself in the awkward position of being known as a spammer by some, you should apologize to them. Having a successful business involves risk taking and sometimes an idea can misfire. When that happens you have to come clean, apologize, fix the problem and learn from your mistake.

Have you used email marketing? How did you respond to a mistake you made in business? We would love to hear from you in the comments.

Image credit: pandemia

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DSEF & CBBB: Should I Put My Social Security Number on a Job Application?

DSEF & CBBB: Should I Put My Social Security Number on a Job Application?

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

Should I Put My Social Security Number on a Job Application?

You’ve been laid off. Your full-time job now is looking for a full-time job. Naturally, you turn to the Internet.

Wow, there’s something in your field on Craigslist. It’s recent. The salary looks good. All you have to do is email them…and provide your social security number.

WAIT.

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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DSEF Top Ten Business Tips

DSEF Top Ten Business Tips

Have you been keeping up with our daily business tips? We are always researching tips that are quick, practical, and easy to integrate into your business. Here are our top ten business tips from the past few weeks:

Create a Referral/Recommendation Exchange for small businesses. Offer to refer & recommend people to your auto mechanic, dry cleaner, hair dresser, baker and others in your community. In exchange they refer & recommend you.
Keep yourself focused during the day by creating a mantra to help you accomplish difficult tasks. For example – Move my feet and get it complete!
Are you always searching for the right words? Develop and use a script to engage, and start conversations with people you meet. Practice the script until it becomes natural and the more you use it the more you will connect with people.
Your brand promotes your strengths and how you service your target market, and it establishes a clear difference from your competitors.
Organize a food collection for your local food bank & as you pick up the food leave a coupon w/ a discount for your products/services. Offer to donate a percentage of their purchase amount to the food bank (make sure you get permission from the food bank).
Establish your business in your local market. It will make it easier to nurture and interact daily with loyal customers.
Choose your social media tools based on your available time. If you’ve only got 20 minutes per day, choose just one, probably Facebook.
Sell more by making it easier to purchase, adding more choices, promoting value, personalizing products/services and anticipating customer needs.
Use testimonials to make a point, promote your message and/or overcome inherent objections to your business.
Remember that when you are engaging a prospect/client, you are not only promoting the value of your products/services, but establishing the value of your relationship.

Do you have any tips to add to our list? Please share.

Here’s to your success!

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DSEF & CBBB Facebook Adds Virus Protection

DSEF & CBBB Facebook Adds Virus Protection

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

Facebook Adds Virus Protection

Facebook has announced it will now check outgoing links for viruses, reports The Next Web.

Viruses, phishing attempts and Trojans have become increasingly prevalent on Facebook. People often fall prey by clicking on links on the social network itself or on their walls, which in turn posts to their own wall for others to click.

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How to Mentally Reboot

How to Mentally Reboot

You’ve heard the phrase “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Forget dull; suffering from work-related stress can cause a myriad of physical and mental issues if not dealt with in a timely manner. From CEOs to the self-employed to stay-at-home moms, we all get burned out every once in awhile, but it’s important to recognize when we need a mental reboot.

Common symptoms of work-related stress include: a feeling of apathy about a job you once enjoyed, constant anxiety about meetings, deadlines, or even everyday tasks, depression (feeling helpless or overwhelmed), and physical fatigue.

So is your work burnout a lost cause? Not if you commit to a few simple steps to recharge those batteries.

Exercise, eat well, and get plenty of rest. These are the basic rules of good health. You don’t have to spend lots of time and money at a gym when you can take a power walk around the block a few days a week. Getting your heart rate up will release endorphins that clear your head and help you feel refreshed. Furthermore, you can reap the benefits of physical activity if you eat well. This may take some planning, but you’ll notice a huge difference in a short amount of time. Exercise and a balanced diet will in turn allow your body to get enough rest. A good night’s sleep can work wonders for the overly stressed.
Do something you enjoy. Go see that movie you’ve been dying to see, take a spa day, or hit the golf course. Recreation is an essential part of an enjoyable lifestyle. Depriving yourself of it in the name of work can negatively affect many aspects of your professional and personal life.
Talk to people you trust. Discussing your frustrations with someone not involved with your work can help you gain some perspective. If nothing else, just being able to express what is bothering you will help you feel better.

Finally, once you have been able to recover from the effects of work burnout, it’s time to reevaluate. How did you get burned out in the first place? How can you prevent it from happening again?

First, and this may take some serious reflection, prioritize your life. Is your work just a job, or is it the center of your life? Whatever you decide, it should match your overall objectives.
Second, set goals that include personal limits, like amount of hours worked per week or breaking up projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Finally, plan some vacation time and stick to it. You don’t even need to get away from home to have a vacation, but certainly plan some down time. Your work will still be there when you get back! Everyone needs some “me” time periodically.

When you mentally reboot, you not only help yourself to cope with the stresses of work, but you also make it possible to do your job to the best of your ability. And your family benefits too, because you’ll be able to bring your best to every aspect of your life.

How do you mentally reboot? What would you add to this list? Would love to read your comments below!

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!

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Turn What You Love Into Income

Turn What You Love Into Income

Have you ever thought to yourself, “If I could only get paid to do what I love?”

Maybe you can. In fact, that’s how many entrepreneurs get started. But you don’t have to be an entrepreneur to want to make some extra spending money. The bonus is doing something that you love!

Here are some steps to help you get started:

If you have more than one idea, start by imagining them and pick the idea that brings the biggest smile to your face.
Next, do some research:

Is there an obvious way to make income with what you love?
Talk to other people with the same interest and see if there’s a void that needs to be filled.
Take a look at what’s in the market now and ask yourself if you could that and/or do it better.
Talk to a diverse group of people about your income producing idea and ask if any of them would purchase something like that from you.
Ask yourself what’s the least expensive way to start that will still provide greater value to potential customers.

Write down your goal or your mission statement. Include your specialty or uniqueness that only you can bring to this product/service. But keep it simple. For example – I will work part time and would like to generate $300. My uniqueness is to provide personalize service and offer customers buying my scented candles a chance to join my weekly Yoga club at my house.
Consider your first 30 days a trial and error period, and be sure to fully commit yourself to doing whatever it takes to be successful. During this period assess how, where, why, who, what, when you can improve, and make sure you can earn a reasonable profit for your efforts.
You may also want to create a simple business plan (optional for now). Include your goals, operational expenses, who your customers are, marketing strategy, and an overview of competitors.
Nurture testimonials and word of mouth to attract new customers and grow.
Keep asking your customers for their feedback and continue to improve and learn.

The key is to keep it simple. You want to share your passion, avoid wasting money, and earn some extra spending money. In the end, you want to still love what you do while you gain some financial benefits. You may be surprise to find yourself a budding entrepreneur, or you may simply want to keep a good thing going.

Do you love what you do? How did you get started with your business? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

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Today’s Highlighted Video from the DSEF: Product Buy-Backs

Today’s highlighted video from DSEF:

Can’t see this? Click here: Product Buybacks

Learn about the buy-back policy that all DSA member companies adhere to.

To read more about the DSA Code of Ethics regarding Product Buybacks – http://dsa.org/ethics/code/#inventory

Get The Latest News

Sign up for our quarterly newsletter and receive a free copy of our “What is Direct Selling?” video. Just enter your email address in the upper-right corner of our website here.

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Impress For Success

Impress For Success

Remember that old shampoo commercial reminding us, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”? As any direct seller knows, a first impression is crucial for attracting and retaining new customers. In order to impress for success, focus on two components: your relationships with your customers and your own personal business style.

Relationships – The beauty of your business is the personal relationship you build with others. Here are some tips for nurturing it:

Tailor your services to fit your customer’s individual needs. For example, that new mom with an infant at home? She would welcome free delivery!
Reach out to your customers regularly, not just to promote your product, but also for constructive feedback. Even the most successful business owners have room for improvement!
Make it easy, fast, and convenient for customers to contact you for any reason. Time is a precious thing, and you will certainly impress by making your business dealings simple and friendly.
Put yourself in the customer’s role. Why would YOU buy from YOU?
Get to know your customers. Treat them like friends instead of one of many potential purchases.
Follow up after a transaction is made. Are they satisfied? If not, how can you make it right?
Conduct business with integrity. If something goes wrong, admit your mistake and correct it immediately. Customers will appreciate your commitment to their satisfaction and keep coming back.

Personal style – Get to know your own personal strengths and incorporate them into your business.

Don’t be afraid to get creative. Find your inner MacGyver; solve problems and market yourself in outside-the-box ways. After all, there’s only one you!
Plan ahead. Set specific goals for how you can include new ideas into your daily business.
Dress to impress. When conducting business in person, you should always look the part. By doing so, you will exude a confidence that appeals to others. Go ahead and take pride in your appearance.
Smile! It seems simple, but a positive impression starts with the expression on your face. So brighten someone’s day with a warm smile that says you are happy to be interacting with them and you love what you do.

You started this business because you believe in your product or service. When you show customers that you genuinely care, you leave them with a remarkable impression and put yourself on the path to success.

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Anyone Can Be a Direct Seller

Anyone Can Be a Direct Seller

Have you ever thought about joining a direct selling company? You may have heard that direct sellers enjoy making their own hours, earning extra income, and the friendship that comes with working with people you enjoy. But how do you get started? And is it too good to be true? Let’s explore:

First, what is direct selling?

Direct selling is the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location, marketed through independent sales representatives who are sometimes also referred to as consultants, distributors or other titles. Just about any product or service can be purchased through direct selling somewhere in the world. Many people think of cosmetics, wellness products and home décor as products that are often sold through direct sales, but add to that countless other product categories including kitchen products, jewelry, clothing, organic gardening supplies, spa products, scrapbooking supplies, rubber stamps and much, much more. (Source: Direct Selling 411)

Second, what’s the process of becoming a direct seller?

Many people begin by falling in love with a line of products/services and the company that provides them.
Sign up for the business kit from the direct selling company. Make sure there is a product buyback option.
Work with a mentor and follow the step by step training provided by the company.
Start talking to friends, family and neighbors about the products/services you love.
Share your experiences about using the products/services with people.
Set up meetings/parties to make sales.
Find people who love the products/services as much as you and help them get started.
Build a team and expand your business with people who want to own their own direct selling businesses.
Become a leader in your industry, continue your training and operate a successful business.

When you love a product or service, you naturally tell everyone you know. You want them to benefit like you have. In direct selling that process is weaved into a business system provided by a direct sales company. Word of mouth selling or promotion is one of the oldest and simplest business models. If you love something and can share it with others you can be a direct seller.

To learn more, check out this video about direct selling.

What else do people need to know about becoming a direct seller? Have you done it? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.