E-commerce giants and the gig economy are fierce opponents, but direct selling’s unique marketing strategy could be its best chance to weather the competition. Meaningful human interaction can seem like a dying art in this digital age. Front porches have been replaced by neighborhood Facebook groups, teachers assign homework by email, and political candidates rely […]
Forget the industries, forget the products, what makes direct selling powerful is relationships. The first being the relationship direct selling companies nurture with their representatives, one that enables entrepreneurship and provides the tools for them to succeed. And the second; the one-on-one relationships that direct sellers maintain with their customers. Personalization is at the very heart […]
The goal of a direct selling company’s online marketing strategy is building trust through personal relationships with customers. The direct selling channel is based on the one-to-one interactions between independent consultants and customers. But what about the relationship between the company and the customer? What happens when negative comments appear online about a company’s products […]
Thirty-One Gifts is committed to empowering women—whether consultants, customers, or young girls struggling with confidence and other issues. This passion to help women is driven by Founder and CEO Cindy Monroe, who began the company 15 years ago in her basement. Thirty-One specializes in personalized handbags, totes, duffle bags, lunch bags and other carryall products. […]
Special section of the February, 2018 Cover Story Several trends, shaped by consumers’ evolving preferences about how they like to receive information, will continue to impact the way direct selling companies share personal development resources both to their employees and independent salesforce members in 2018: Microlearning: The term “microlearning” refers to learning in short bursts, […]
Click here to order the November 2017 issue in which this article appeared. I LOVE BEING IN THIS CHANNEL. Over the past 27 years, I feel like I’ve seen it all. And really, truly, from daily field work to taking part in growing businesses, seeing the operations and mentoring young business leaders, I can’t imagine a better […]
In 1995, Newsweek magazine published an article by astronomer Clifford Stoll in which he stated that the Internet was a passing fad, and that in two or three years hence people would find little value there (Clifford Stoll: The Internet? Bah! Newsweek, February 27, 1995). Acknowledging his incredibly inaccurate prediction 11 years later in a […]