Directory Listings & Direct Sales

By: Anita DeFrank & Kara Kelso

Directory listings and other forms of advertising can be great exposure for anyone in business. However, if you are in direct sales and using a rep site you could be leaving lots of money on the table.

Even in direct sales, advertising online can be a huge benefit. One of the largest mistakes we see though, is the use of rep sites alone. Believe it or not, when advertising online your main objective is not to get customers to buy immediately. A very small percent will bookmark your site, so if your focus is just getting visitors that’s all you’ll have. And if you are lucky to get bookmarked … when is the last time you looked in your favorites list?

Instead of focusing on just getting people to your site to buy, focus on getting them to sign up to your list. This way you haven’t lost them, they are just waiting to buy at a later time. To do this, of course, you will need your own website.

A rep site does have its purpose, and that’s to complete the online buying process. It should be used as the end, not the start. Leads should come from your personal website or from you personally (offline or by email, stating to go to your rep site to order). Warm leads only should be sent to your rep site, while those just surfing should be sent to your personal website.

Contrary to popular belief, websites can be built fairly easily and inexpensively. So, do yourself and your pocketbook a favor and at least think about building your own personal website.

Article Source: http://www.homebusinessresourcedirectory.com

Authors Bio: Anita DeFrank & Kara Kelso, authors of Direct Sales Success, specialize in coaching direct sales representatives to reach their goal of becoming successful in their field. Visit http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/ for free weekly tips.

Note: You may use this article for reprint ONLY if you DO NOT change the article in ANY way, AND you keep the source and bio IN TACT with ALL links ACTIVE!

11 Free or Cheap ways to Start and Run your Online Business

By: Natalie Williams

1. Open eBay and PayPal account (free)

2. Start selling things around their house to get their feet wet, build up feedback points and get experience (free, plus it MAKES you money)

3. Go to library and get books on beginning HTML, Web design (for beginners) and Creating graphics for beginners (free) Search on the Internet for a free HTML editor (web page creator) and free graphics editor.

4. Running out of stuff to sell? Go to your local thrift shops and buy up all BRAND NAME childrens clothing for like .50-1.00 each and sell them in batches. Buy up all video games, DVD’s and even VHS if the VHS’s are priced at LESS than $2.00. List them and charge $4.50 for shipping and handling.

5. Use Stamps.com to print the postage and you can hide the amount of postage on the label so no one complains). This covers any packing material and your time packing and going to post office. I am TIRED of shipping cost complaints. Do these people email amazon.com and compain they were charged $6.95 for something that cost them .50 to ship? Go to garage sales, buy up and resell. (Cost – Free to open account and FREE postage to begin with plus a free scale)

6. Start making a website. I don’t care if it’s about hot dog farming. Whatever interests you, make it. (Free to create because you are doing it yourself)

7. Join affiliate programs that match and compliment the theme of your website. Insert reviews and links to these websites of the affiliate programs you joined.

8. Buy a domain name and hosting account and upload your website. (Domain name $8.95 per year at www.godaddy.com and Hosting account $7.95 per month at www.crystaltech.com or you can do both at GoDaddy. On GoDaddy, you would want the Windows/ASP plan, trust me)

Now that you have all this hosting space, you can also use it to keep your images on for your eBay listings too. Don’t nickel and dime yourself to death with their fees!!

9. Create a custom About Me page on your eBay account that introduces you and directs perople to your website (You DO know some HTML now, right?) (Cost – FREE)

10. Search out newsletters that would be good to put an ad in. Cost, about $40 for a SOLO ad which means JUST your ad goes out to 15,000-30,000 people.

11. Write an eBook on some subject. Put affiliate links in it. Give it away on your website.
Create more ebooks. Make a GREAT one and sell it.

Article Source: http://wahm-articles.com

About the Author: Natalie Williams is a full time work from home mom that centers her business around helping other people, especially moms, work from home successfully and without being scammed. Her main websites can be found at www.Scam101.com and www.GettingStartedOnline.com Email: nwilliams@cidicon.com