International Law

Why Direct Sales is Hard

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Kim Klaver has some sensible things to say about direct sales and why network marketing is hard. 

Three reasons:

1. Most folks coming into the business have never had a business of their own before, or done any commission sales.

2. Folks hear from recruiters that NM is supposed to be easy (you know, like recommending a restaurant). Women especially, blame themselves when it isn't like that.

3. The approach language they've learned turns others off completely.

We probably can't (and maybe shouldn't) do much about 1.

Here's what I suggest for #2. Stop telling people it's easy in order to get them in. NM is sales, and that is NOT easy.When has sales ever been easy for an average person?

Oh, and please stop with the false restaurant movie analogy: "recommending" your product or business is not like recommending a restaurant or movie. You don't hold your hand out and ask for money after.

Do you? Test my (above) statement: Have you ever lost a friend because of a movie you recommended? OK.

Now, have you lost a friend because you "recommended" your product or business?"

Full post as published by Misleading Advertising Law on October 10, 2008 (boomark / email).