In some ways, growing a direct sales business is just like growing any other brand. It would be best if you used similar tactics and tools to ensure you’re on the right path to success. However, different industries have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and this includes direct sales. Though the COVID-19 test vaccines are in trial phases, it could be some time until these FDA test results are verified, and the world can return to “normal.”
For some direct sales brands, close contact is an important part of a commission structure. As such, business disruption is higher than ever. Instead of allowing COVID-19 to disrupt your business, there are still ways you can thrive. If you’re wondering how to continue to grow your business in the face of COVID-19, these are a few tips to keep in mind.
Maintain staff health and welfare.
COVID-19 doesn’t simply affect business entities as a whole. It impacts your dedicated team members. If you’re partnered with a health care provider, it’s a good idea to find a test site, especially if team members are in close contact with one another. A healthcare provider can administer COVID-19 testing at the chosen test site, deliver your test results, and recommend further steps to keep your business running. If a test result is positive, talk to your healthcare provider about what this could mean for your business. Even after a team member quarantines following a COVID-19 test, recommend they return to the test site for an antibody test. Verify the test results as well.
It’s in the interest of your brand as well as in the interest of public health. If you can, make the switch to a remote work atmosphere. This can promote negative results for further testing and limit employee exposure. It also benefits public health as your employees are less likely to encounter shoppers that test positive. With sensible access to a diagnostic test and a nearby testing location, you can focus your energy on business growth, sales increases, and scaling efforts.
Choose the right companies.
Whether you’re working with a direct selling association team or you’re tackling direct sales on your own, you need to find the right products to represent. Say, for instance, you’re interested in selling products that benefit pet lovers and their furry friends. You’ll want to pair with a quality brand that offers supplements, toys, pet food, and even pet-friendly plants. Brands like PawTree (also written as Paw Tree) offer options that help you reach any pet lover and their favorite animal. Paw Tree direct sales are a great way to break into direct selling while representing a product you actually believe in, especially if you have a love of animals. Goods like PawTree products are great for your direct sales efforts.
These products need to be high quality, durable, and robust. If you’re pairing with a shoddy company, you’re going to have a hard time selling to any respectable customers. When you’re partnered with a company like PawTree that can truly stand behind its product, it’s that much easier to sell to quality customers and hit your bonuses every month. Direct selling can be as simple or as difficult as you make it. Whether you’re reaching out to pet owners, family members, or cold leads, you need to invest in the right partnerships and make smart business decisions.
Back up your claims.
Too many direct sales companies rely on hyperbole and false claims to attract customers. Since direct sales can be fairly competitive, especially in the United States, many salespeople are willing to bend the truth at times to get ahead. While this may work as a short-term effort, it likely won’t last. If customers find out that you’ve misled them in any way, it can completely diminish your reputation. That’s why you need to be careful with your messaging to ensure that you’re conducting business as ethically as possible.
Say, for instance, you want to sell house plants. You’ve invested in Swedish Ivy, orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and African Violets. With all the greenery on hand, you’ve decided to note which house plants are “pet products.” If you say that every new plant you sell is a non-toxic plant that’s pet-friendly, you need to be able to guarantee that’s the case. When you label products as pet-safe plants and they actually have toxins that can cause digestive upset or gastrointestinal upset when they’re in a pet’s reach, you could face serious repercussions.
Use content marketing.
Whether you’re selling parlor palms or Ralph Lauren accessories, you need to be able to tell a story with your content marketing. It’s one of the key ways that you can distinguish your business from others. Not only is it a smart way to help your brand stand out from the competition, but it’s also a smart way to make your brand more digitally visible. Of course, mastering content marketing takes a little time. Even if you have donors or investors, you still need to consider how that money is best leveraged for your marketing efforts.
As far as content marketing is concerned, it truly starts with a good narrative. Storytelling is important for your overall brand identity. While content marketing isn’t low maintenance, you’ll get into a groove with a little practice. Content marketing can also assist with lead generation. It’s an easier way to get email addresses, phone numbers, and social media connections. This helps you build up your target audience and target the right demographics perfect for your sales efforts. In many ways, it’s the next step towards a positive result for your business. As individuals like Courtney Sarofim know, storytelling is the core foundation of any true success story. It facilitates a greater connection with your audience, helps you meet quotas, and is integral to a direct sales starter kit.
Don’t be afraid to collaborate.
Since in-person visits, sales parties, and other social events are on the back burner for the time being; you need different ways to connect and reach potential audience members. Think of it this way: If you’re looking for ways to grow your business, chances are another direct salesperson is doing the same. When you want to watch as your business blooms, you’re going to want to use some clever networking and collaboration.
Find a salesperson who sells products that complement your merchandise. When one of you makes a strong sale, offer up a referral to the other. It’s a sensible way to increase traffic, boost sales numbers, and build strong industry connections to be mutually beneficial. While the word synergy is thrown around a great deal in business circles (perhaps too much, even), there’s something to be said about the guiding principle behind it. When you’re collaborating on a larger scale, there’s no telling how your business might scale.
Whether you’re selling aloe, spider plants, or pet industry favorites to pet parents, there are things you can do to ensure your direct sales operation thrives in the face of COVID-19. While it’s going to take some work, you can certainly doctor your business model to fit the restraints of modern times. With some helpful tips, only you can determine just how far your business will go. Keep public health and safety in mind, find products that you can respect, and work with companies and sellers to guide you toward success. It’ll make all the difference for your future.
