Direct selling is certainly a classic sales method and given the reach of the Internet in the business world, the approach to direct selling has a larger reach than ever before.

TOPIC: The debate is on!!! Coffee shop or online blog? Door to door or email contact list? Typical meeting or online chat? How’s a poor marketer to decide? It used to be that “Face Time” with prospects through all stages of a sales cycle was the only way. It was was tried and true, but with all the gadgets used today, “Shopper” no longer seem to value the antiquated ritual.  It seems that “Face Time” may no longer be necessary at all.

More often than not, sales go through – online without any direct contact at all. Independent Sales reps can now use the Web to conduct product demonstrations, hold multi-person sales presentations, all kinds of things that help them connect with their audience.

Here’s just an example:
For many top recruiters, email has replaced the phone as a primary method of reaching out to contact new prospective customers for the first time. The traditionalist would say this selling tactic is bad even though it brings down the cost of doing business and takes less time, but sales don’t lie. TODAY’S TOP SELLERS IN EVERY DIRECT SALES COMPANY are the ones with a strong online presence and a long email contact list.

PROBLEM: There is one pit fall that online marketers face -ISOLATION- working in isolation tends to make reps less productive than if they work in groups, even small ones, where they can feed off each others momentum.

SOLUTION: Form a team that can share sales strategies. The best ones are social clubs for entrepreneurs and sales professionals that to help them learn how to get good at sales and to have fun doing it. There should be no sales “gurus” or “experts” in these groups. Let every leader show off and share their smart. Ambitious people will have a lot to share and will help the whole group work hard to reach their goals. Having FUN is what will keep the motivation engine revving.

 POLL:  

What do YOU spend more time doing?

FACE TIME OR ONLINE MARKETING

Which gives you the most business growth?

Respond in the comments below.