Direct selling is one of the simplest way to earn extra income. If you’re looking for a sideline or a part-time job that will help augment your budget, then joining a direct selling company could be the answer. Not all of us have the skills to produce items that we can sell. And if ever we do, buying the raw materials and making them would often consume much of our personal schedule, leaving us with less time to sell and market our products.

The beauty of becoming a member in a direct selling company is that, we immediately gain access to a variety of useful and high quality products. And because they are readily available to us, together with sales kits and marketing materials, we can dedicate more time in selling our wares to our friends and colleagues.

In my previous article about the top things you can sell your officemates, I’ve mentioned two of the most popular items in direct selling companies - beauty products and herbal supplements. Why is this? Because direct selling is a personalized service. It’s the intimate conversations and personal recommendation that convinces our customers to buy from us.

So if you’re interested in trying your hand at direct selling, here are some helpful tips that could make your part-time venture a success:

Choose a company with products that you like and believe in.
This is really important. How can you sell a merchandise that you don’t or won’t even use yourself? Be an example and tell your clients the personal benefits you’ve earned from using your own products.

Evaluate if these products have adequate demand in your social networks.
Will the people you know find your products useful and beneficial? Do they have the means to afford your merchandise? These are essential questions you should answer before joining a particular company.

Determine your potential to expand your network for the product.
After you’ve talked to your friends, neighbors and colleagues, where else can you market your products? It’s necessary to map your options and decide how you plan to reach people outside your immediate social network. Are you willing to knock on stranger’s houses or call your long lost classmates to sell your merchandise?

Learn from and duplicate the success strategies of other members in the company.
If you don’t have any experience in sales and marketing, then it will help if you talk to other members about how you can sell your products more effectively. For example, most would hold afternoon socials for the purpose of advertising their products. Attend and assist in one of these “tupperware parties” and learn how you can organize one for yourself.

Be flexible with your payment terms
Some of these direct selling products are expensive. You may consider giving your clients an informal installment plan so they can afford to buy your items. However, you should clearly spell out your terms, be strict with your collections and manage your budget to avoid incurring penalties from late remittances to your company.

Monitor your account
It’s not enough that you simply market and sell. It’s also important that you set targets and monitor your income. This will help you track your progress and motivate you to sell more when you’re trying to reach a goal. Moreover, most direct selling companies offer performance bonuses, recognition and higher discount rates for hardworking direct sellers.

Furthermore, before joining any company, make sure that you’re not signing up for a pyramiding scam. Former chairman of the Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (DSAP), Josiah Go, gives us an 8-Point Test. A legitimate direct selling company would answer YES to ALL of the questions below:

1. Is there a product?
2. Are commissions paid on sale of products and not on registration/entry fees?
3. Is the intent to sell a product not a position?
4. Is there no direct correlation between the number of recruits and compensation?
5. If recruitment were to be stopped today, will the participants still make money?
6. Is there a reasonable product return policy?
7. Do products have fair market value?
8. Is there a compelling reason to buy?

Lastly, here are some of the popular direct selling companies in the Philippines:

• Amway Philippines, LLC
• Avon Cosmetics, Inc.
• Dakki Classics Concepts, Inc.
• Filway Marketing, Inc.
• Forever Living Products Phils., Inc.
• Fuller Life
• Herbalife International Philippines, Inc.
• Mary Kay Philippines, Inc.
• New Image Int’l., Inc.
• Nikken Philippines, Inc.
• Nu Skin Philippines, Inc.
• Triumph International
• Tupperware Philippines, Inc.

To know more information on direct selling and get the contact information of these and other direct selling companies, please visit the website of The Direct Selling Association of the Philippines. If you wish to receive more articles on various income opportunities, then kindly subscribe to Ready To Be Rich.

———
Photos courtesy of mallyonline333 and the DSAP website.