Direct Marketing Tool: Brochures

Brochures are one of the very important tools used in direct marketing and direct selling. A brochure can be defined as a written hard material that is used to pass information about something. It is an advertising piece which is largely used to introduce a company or organization and inform about products and/or services to a target audience. The alternate names for brochures are pamphlets and leaflets. They may be considered as grey literature, meaning informally published material that is difficult to trace through channels like journals since it is not published commercially or widely accessible.

People often confuse brochures with flyers, although there are some fundamental differences between the two. While a brochure is folded, a flyer is just a sheet of paper that is used as an insert in newspapers and magazines. Brochures also often use more color on high quality or glossy paper.

Brochures are one of the tools that has been used since a long time, and have maintained their popularity even with the advancement of technology rising trend of online marketing and electronic means of advertising. There are a number of reasons for this.  For example, brochures are highly space efficient. Since they are folded into panels, they seem compact, but they can be opened up to reveal large amounts of information. Also, you can control your target market very well with brochures, since they are being delivered to people individually, whereas in other marketing tools such as billboards and television commercials, the marketer can't really control each individual watching them. Brochures are also used as a complement to direct selling, and are used in techniques such as door to door selling. These methods engage potential customers and encourage them to respond, thereby, increasing the chances of a potential customer being tuned into an actual customer.

Common Types of Brochures:
Bi-Fold: A single sheet printed on both sides and folded into halves, which results in four panels (two panels on each side).

Tri-Fold: A single sheet printed on both sides and folded into thirds, resulting in six panels (three panels on each side).

Tips For Making A Better Brochure

• Design a brochure using out of the box creativity, such that it should immediately catch a person's attention. You can also alter the shape, instead of going for the mundane A4 sized rectangular shapes. For example, you can design brochures so that they can be used as coasters or origami toys. This will encourage people to retain the brochures for future references instead of immediately throwing them away in the trash. 
• Provide contact details so that you can get back to people asking for any queries.
• Write an appropriate introduction, with subheadings.
• Use maps for directions, if you want people to know where exactly you are located.

Unique Selling Proposition

A Unique Selling Proposition (USP) also known as Uniqueness Statement is the opportunity to make the emotional bond between you and what you represent (your product or service) and the target market, by approaching the qualities and values that you stand for, highlighting the benefits that the potential client will receive by acquiring your products/services.
It will increase your confidence when speaking about your product/service, in a professional and polished way, it will build credibility and differentiate you from the rest of the pack.

Branding

Marketing tip of the day:
Before creating your business tagline, try to define your business in 3 words. Try to introduce your business to prospective clients in just 3 words. Focus on what you want your consumers to know about your brand and product. For example, Younique: beauty, mineral, cosmetics.

Words to live by: Intelligence and Ambition

Salvador Dali was a creative figure, but definitely an intelligent and ambitious man.
When you're intelligent but not an ambitious person, you don't have the will and the courage to pursue your dreams and exceed yourself to become a successful person.
A bird without wings doesn't fly. He doesn't die either, but he will stay on the ground, feeding himself from the ground, looking up at the sky, imagining the possibilities without the possibility to fly.
Someone with ambition is someone with dreams and goals in life, and the intelligence will just make those dreams and goals a reality.

The Wonders of Being Self-Employed

Being self-employed isn't fun and games as many people think. Having your own schedules, being your own boss, being able to work in any place, it might sound like heaven to most people. But it requires a lot of work, 24h a day, thinking about strategies, how to advertise your products, do the actual advertising, taking care of customer relationships, and so on.
But we would lie if we said that there aren't any benefits in being self-employed.
To start, you are your own boss. No more grumpy bosses, no more boring meetings, no more trying to please someone else and figure if the boss is in a good mood or not.
Your earnings are yours and yours alone. If you work hard and give 110% of your energy and soul, all the profit will be yours, not only financially speaking, but in terms of achievements as well.
You work at your own pace. If you're more productive at night, you can work at night and sleep all morning. You can stay at home with your kids and work from home, or you can travel and stay by the pool, enjoying the sun and work. Plus, you won't depend on anyone when you want to schedule your vacation.

Quote of the day: Profit !

Profit isn't random, and should never be seen as random, as something that comes at the end. When we think about profit, it should be planned for in the beginning, to be taken as a goal, something to work for.

Tips on How to Fight Stress

Being a successful direct seller or presenter is a demanding job, as well as working towards success. But without work, success doesn't come overnight. There are worries and problems and dealing with them can be very stressful.

So here are some tips on how to deal with stress:

• Learn to breathe!

• Identify the stress - you will only deal with the stress as soon as you identify the sources of the stress. Take some time to think about it and hello good mood ! :)

• Exercise daily - exercise increases the levels of endorphines, therefor you will feel much better after, more relaxed, calm, and promotes a good night of sleep.

• Having a healthy diet - After all , the quality of what we eat influences the state of our physical and mental health . 

Extra tip: Drink more water!

Marketing Tips on Social Media : Twitter

Still following the line of the previous post regarding Social Media, today we're sharing some tips on how to use the big giant Twitter:

 

Marketing Tips on Social Media : Facebook

Social Media has become more and more important to direct sales business, as it connects with everyone, with several other social media platforms and it's a cheap way of reaching everyone online. So here's a quick guide on how to work with Facebook, in order to boost your sales:

Products Are the Key

This quote from Seth Godin couldn't be more accurate regarding Direct Sales business. What happens sometimes is that the direct sellers are more focused on finding new customers in order to enroll their client list, but they tend to forget sometimes the clients they already have, the loyal ones. So here's an advice: find products for your costumers, and don't focus too much on finding new customers for your products!

How to Beat Insomnia

• If you love coffee, you should drink six hours before bedtime.
•  Naps during the day and heavy meals should be avoided.
• Avoid alcoholic drinks.
• If you exercise, try to do it during the day, it will make you feel more tired at night.
• After dinner, switch the television or computer for a good book.
• Try to establish a time to go to bed. You should sleep 7-8 hours a night.
• If you're one of those who snore, try changing positions.
• Avoid having strong lightning in your bedroom.

 If you still cannot sleep, do not stay in bed spin from one side to another. Get up and do something else that will make you relax. From household activities or maybe try some YouTube Yoga video classes.

Tip of The Day: Engage In Your Local Community

Are you engaged in your local community's activities? Volunteer groups, activities, junior summer camps, scouts, church groups, choir groups, there are plenty of opportunities for you to engage and potentially grow your client list. Networking is one of the oldest sales techniques there is, and while many people think that networking it is done online only, the truth is getting out and meet people in person really exponentiates the seller-client contact and sale.

3 Simple Rules in Life

Today's tip of the day is 3 little simple rules in life that have a lot of impact on your seller profile and on the way you see yourself as a professional direct seller.
1. Don't procrastinate, if you want something don't wait for it to fall into your lap, go out and work for it. Don't take success for granted, it takes sweat and hard work but at the end, the feeling of mission accomplished, and having what you really want is priceless!
2. Take risks, get out of your comfort zone and ask, you will never know what the answer will be. You already know that the answer can be a round "no" but what if it's a yes?
3. Move forward: don't stay at the same place, make a plan, make a new plan if the first one doesn't work, but remember, don't give up!

How to Prevent Cancellations

No matter how good of a seller you are, and how professionally you deal with clients, sometimes they just cancel the order, and it can be very upsetting. So here's some tips on how to deal with it and not lose the client at all:

• Communicate: perhaps it's not a bad idea to create a .pdf with your business rules up front, this way your clients will take you and your business a bit more seriously;
• According to the order volume, you can ask for a percentage up front, to secure the order. 10% to 20% is acceptable ;
• Create a policy agreement and publish it in your website, blog or social networks. If a client bails on you, address him directly and copy & paste the link where your business policy is written;
• If a client constantly cancels the order, don't hesitate to stop receiving any more order from him. The energy you spend chasing him and dealing with these issues can certainly be used in making new contacts and potential (and better) clients.

Direct sales tips: the personal touch

Did you know that statistically it is more likely for a person to say "no" on the phone than in person?
Instead of calling a customer asking if they need to order something, try to schedule a meeting, something informal, like a coffee or pay them a quick visit at home to show what new products you have, promotions or samples. The personal touch will show your clients that you care personally for each one of them, and that they are not just a number.

Close your deal faster

Working with sales requires that the seller has many skills, such as communication, charisma, understanding, patience and persuasiveness. 

There are some sales techniques that help the seller to make a satisfactory commercial representation and make their exports more quickly:

• Anticipate

The sooner you start planning your method of sale, the more success you will have. It is very important to consider how you approach your customer .

• Create a bond with the customer

The proximity will now help you in the sales process and increase your chances of business to be successful, because by trusting you, the client also trusts the product you represent.

• Be understanding

Understand what your customer is willing and offer him exactly what he looks for in good condition for payment.

• Collaborate

If the client isn't satisfied with the conditions, give him some other alternatives .

• Learn to listen

Listen to what your customer has to say. It is important that everyone agrees with the decision to be made for the sale to be closed in the most transparent way possible .

• Inspire confidence

If the client is in doubt, give as much information as possible to make him feel safe. Introduce him actual results of other successful sales and customer satisfaction surveys .

• Provide clear and objective responses

Demonstrate safety when responding to customer inquiries. An unsecured vendor demonstrates a lack of training and distrust. If you show that you know deeply what is selling, the customer will also have confidence in you and the product you offer .

The representative who is prepared and prepare an effective plan of sales can make all the difference at the time of sale.

Cross selling

Cross selling is a marketing technique, in which the seller tries to sell to their established clients other products and services other than the ones the client original bought, being more effective if they are complementary products or services.
Next time your clients ask for the 3D Fiber Lashes mascara, show them the eyeshadows Minerals Pigment Powder, or when they show interest in buying the BB Cream , explain them great the BB Cream shades match with the lip glosses.

The power of word-of-mouth

It's the oldest tricks in the history of sales, before spot ads, billboards and online affiliate programs. When the product is good, it sells by itself and word travels far and fast, especially when the competition is tight.
Create your own referral program by rewarding your most loyal clients: every time they bring you a new client, find a way of rewarding them to show appreciation.
Keep your old clients happy and the new ones excited about your brand!

XXI century direct sales parties

Imagine having a direct sales party with your customers all over the world. Or being away on vacation with your friends or family and still be able to participate in a sales event. Wouldn't it be great?
Luckily for us, we're in the XXI century, a new millennium of possibilities at just one click of a distance.

• Skype -> you can build your community around Skype by creating a group, and engaging in a group chat, talking about your products, hearing your clients feedback, and giving advice to one another, all of this in the comfort of your own home. 

• Google Hangouts -> it's easy to create a Google Hangout. Just schedule a day and a time for the hangout, set up your webcam and invite your customers. It's like a living room environment, everyone will be able to see and hear everybody in the hangout face to face, as the one speaking is the one who appears on the screen. Also, everyone is able to hear what everyone is saying and you can still chat or send some links to your products on the chat window on your right.

Enjoy your XXI century direct sales parties !

The Rockstar Effect

Rockstars are considered superior talents, they are worshiped, opinion makers, respected and confident. If you're not ready yet to be a rockstar in your business, try hiring one to the next sales party or booth event: you will surprise and engage your community and customers, and you'll get enough inspiration to become one yourself. Hire a professional make up artist to your event and challenge him to use only the products you're selling on your client's complete make overs. You can actually make it as a game and raffle 3 or 4 make overs through your event guests. Not only this will be a way of showing off your product's potential at a professional level, but your customers will be focused on learning new techniques with the products they are already familiar with.