Social media. Social networking. Forums. Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. LinkedIn. Tumblr. Google+ and countless other online websites give you plenty of opportunity to be social. Connecting with others online opens up so many possibilities and opportunities for independent business owners and direct sales consultants.
Online networking has a plethora of positive aspects to it, if done properly. It can also be detrimental to your business if you are spending an abundance of time online, all in the name of “˜networking’ but actually, all you are doing is chitchatting. True that in order to be successful online, building a rapport and reputation are key, but just who are you taking to and can it help build your own business?
To illustrate this point – consider the direct sales consultant who hangs out at their company forum. Companywide forums, where all consultants, from all teams gather to ask questions and share ideas can be a big help to some, especially if they feel they are not getting the support they need from their own upline. But is spending hours each day chatting with other consultants who are not even on your team giving you the return on your time investment?
I’m all for helping others. I’m all for giving more than you take. Though we cannot forget that we are in business; and we are in business to make a profit. Any consultant who is not in your downline is essentially your competitor. I’m not suggesting by any means to be cutthroat, but if you are spending more time with your competition than you are with your own team or with potential customers and prospects, your business will suffer.
Another example is a companywide Facebook page that was created for the purpose of discussing an upcoming incentive trip that consultants can earn. There is nothing wrong with this type of page, as I am certain it was created to help motivate each other and to clarify any questions about qualifications. However, if you find yourself hanging out on this FB page, again, with your competition, rather than on a team site or spending face/phone time with your own team and/or your own customers, it is not helping your business.
Forums, groups, pages and anything related to social networking can be great platforms to increase your knowledge, your sales and the size of your team – providing you are investing your time wisely with the right audience (read: don’t spend too much time with your competitors). Don’t confuse being nice and helpful to all your “˜direct sales sisters’ with avoiding necessary, productive steps that will produce tangible results in your own business.
If you’re attacking your market from multiple positions and your competition isn’t, you have all the advantage and it will show up in your increased success and income. – Jay Abraham
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a Michigan work from home mom and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping men and women start and maintain a home based business in the US, Canada, Poland, Mexico, Australia, Puerto Rico, Germany, Ireland, UK, France, Austria and Spain. To download a FREE Start Up Guide which provides more details about how to start a home business as well as to learn about our compensation plan go to www.thrivingcandlebusiness.com/how-to-start-a-candle-business/ or for updates on Facebook LIKE www.facebook.com/ThrivingCandleBusiness and twitter @directsalesblog
This is so true. I have seen so many people wasting their time talking to their “competitors” instead of potential customers! But I’m not complaining though, because while they are spending hours in “consultant chat” I’m in forums and groups chatting it up with paying customers netting me enough money to pay next month’s mortgage. I go where the customers are.
I have come to the conclusion that a lot of people simply don’t know who their target audience really is.
Good reminders to focus on your business first. Work on your #1 priorities and if you have time, do other things such as social media or helping others.
Janette Stoll