Create Fantastic Flyers to Market Your Direct Sales Business
Advertising your direct sale business with flyers is a great way to find new customers, team members and hostesses. But not everyone knows how to design a “killer” marketing flyer that will attract attention and get results. Here are some things to consider when designing yours:
• Keep It Simple Sister. Don’t go overboard when designing a flyer. One nice graphic, one or two fonts and lots of white space make for a cleaner design, and one that’s easier to read. Since response will come only if a flyer is read, that’s your objective, and keeping your design simple will help you accomplish that goal.
• Consider what you want to accomplish with your flyer. Are you looking for orders? Hostesses? Recruits? The purpose of the flyer will determine the content.
For instance, if you want a flyer to recruit hostesses, be sure to include the benefits of hosting a party, the free gifts available, the flexibility of holding a catalog show or online party instead of an in-home show, etc.
If you’re looking for recruits, focus on the benefits of being a consultant for your company, the earnings potential, flexible hours, joy of owning your own business and more.
Let the desired outcome help you decide what information to include.
• Include full contact information. Name, phone number, email address and website URL are all important. You can even include a cell phone number if you want people to contact you that way.
• Create an interesting, eye-catching layout. One of the most common graphic design layouts follows a “C” pattern.
Look at a flyer or magazine ad that you like. Your eye typically gravitates to the top right side, then moves to the center left, then drops back to the bottom right. The effect is a visual “C”. It has a natural flow and works very well for ads and flyers.
Use this principle when creating your own flyers. Place a graphic or element at the top right, then another element in the middle of the page to the left, then let the eye naturally follow down and to the right as shown below in this sample from a Microsoft Publisher template which is included with the software.
• Another simple, yet effective design is a center line. Create your various page elements–heading, graphic, content, contact information–and center the entire flyer on the page. This is especially good for inexperienced designers who still need an attractive layout.
• Use the largest font that will fit your headline on the page. Never let words break in the middle or use hyphens in your headlines, though. But you can let the headline break to two lines if you use a natural split.
For instance, if your headline is “Earn Free Hostess Gifts!” you wouldn’t want your line to look like this:
Free Hostess
Gifts!
But…
Hostess Gifts!
would work. You don’t want to split your line too much or it will take up to much room. But you can use a much larger font with the second example and still break your headline in a natural spot for easy reading.
• Give benefits rather than features. Telling people how your products or business opportunity will solve their problems will achieve much better results than simply telling them what products are available or what the sales commission is. Focus on the emotions you want readers to feel and create a flyer to draw out those emotions for the greatest success.
• Offer a solution to a problem. Consider your target customer and ask yourself why she would buy your products. Is she an aging career woman who wants to look younger? Does she want to redecorate her home without the hassle of hiring an interior designer? Let her know what you can do for her!
If you’re creating a flyer to recruit your ideal team member, ask yourself the same thing… why would she sign up with your company or your team? Is she a stay at home mom who wants something to do while the kids are in school? Or is she a single parent who needs to earn extra income? Once you decide what your prospect is searching for, you can create a flyer to let her know how you can meet her need and solve her problem.
• Remember Marlon Brando in The Grandfather making people an offer they couldn’t refuse? Do the same with your flyer. Add a discount coupon with at least 20%–most people won’t even bother with a 10% discount anymore. Or promise a surprise gift free with every order, or specialized training free to new recruits. Whatever you offer, make it exciting and something your prospect can’t live without!
• Add customer testimonials. Something simple like “Marie is the BEST direct sales consultant I’ve ever met!” –L.N., or “I am so glad Marie told me about this business opportunity! The money I make has saved my family from bankruptcy!” –A.R. Always include a name or at least initials with testimonials.
Just be sure these are real testimonials, never manufactured ones! If you don’t have any, ask current clients or team members if they feel comfortable giving you a recommendation. If they do, use it on your next flyer. It can make a huge difference in your marketing efforts.
Creating a fantastic flyer for your direct sales business will require some time and planning, but it’s a simple task that anyone can do. And you can use your flyer to promote your business in so many ways. Why don’t you get started on yours right now!
The ABCs of Getting Your Customer’s Attention
Offering something just a little bit different, caring for your customers just a little bit better, and creating content that’s just a little bit more interesting will take you a long way in your search for direct sales success. Here are fresh ways and some tried and true concepts for building interest and attracting attention from your customers and prospects.
Accent important information on your flyers, website and printed articles with paragraph borders, colored fonts, larger size type and other attention-getting changes.
Buzzwords excite your readers and get them emotionally involved in your content. Consider proven words like Free, Money, Health, Easy, Yes, Quick, Benefit and others.
Clear envelopes draw everyone’s attention to what you’re mailing–even postal service workers!
Die cut business cards shaped like your products are much more effective than plain rectangles–and they’re less expensive than you’d think. Sell beauty products? Use a lipstick shaped card. Sell Home decor? Try a wreath shape or a house. Sell toys? Use a teddy bear shape. Think of something that matches your business and add extra impact with a specially shaped card.
Everyone loves freebies! Use free samples to promote your business and get prospective customers interested in buying from you.
Fill a distinctive shape that relates to your business–such as a hairbrush, doll shape or drinking glass–with text for added interest when creating flyers, fillers or other print information.
Graphics strategically placed to draw the reader’s eye will enhance your content and make your writing practically jump off the page.
Hand-written Post-It® notes are guaranteed to grab your reader’s attention. Stick one on the top of your sales flyers before posting or mailing them.
Involve your reader by using “you” and “yours” in your articles, titles, headlines and website content.
Join a filler swap for a fabulous low-cost way to promote your business to women, in particular. Find a group that will let you submit your fillers (coupons, bookmarks, samples, business cards, etc.) free for inclusion in other direct sales consultant’s customer shipments, and you could see a tremendous increase in added sales and prospects.
KISS your customers and prospects for the best results… Keep It Simple, Sister!
Leave catalogs in unusual places such as inside a shopping cart at the grocery store, or on a library shelf that holds books relating to your topic.
Make sure you treat your customers better than they expect to be treated and they’ll repay you with repeat orders and referrals to friends and family!
Neon colors make printed materials such as flyers, bookmarks, mint books and more stand out from the rest of the filler packs.
Over-deliver on everything you do and you’ll become known as the direct sales consultant who offers more than is expected.
Print a sales special on your shipping labels along with your website address for free advertising every time you mail a package.
Quotes are a great way to get your message across. There are thousands available online that you can use to add interest to articles, flyers and other content.
Remember that the customer is always right–or thinks he is! So treat him with respect and kindness. Even irate customers will typically relax and calm down when they see you’re on their side.
Sidebars in your articles and on your website are great for attracting attention to important points you want to make and for adding visual interest to your content.
Tuck a handful of confetti inside your catalogs when mailing and create an instant party when the recipient opens your envelope.
Unleash your creativity! Think outside the proverbial box when looking for ways to advertise and promote your direct sales business and your customers will notice the difference.
Vary your marketing methods. Run print ads this month and online ads next month. Write articles one week and send out a press release the next. Reach different demographic markets by using different marketing tactics and strategies.
White space adds visual interest and makes for easier reading copy.
eXtend your marketing efforts past your own community by advertising in national publications when your budget allows.
Write thank you cards and letters to customers, hostesses and downline members. They’ll notice and remember your personal touch.
“Z sky is z limit!” where promoting your business is concerned. Have fun and you’ll be amazed at the results!
6 Ways to Market Your Direct Sales Business Locally
While it’s easy to get involved in online marketing, a successful direct sales consultant needs to make the most of offline and local marketing as well. Here are some ideas for advertising and promoting your direct sales business in your local community.
1. Sponsor a sports team.
Dozens of little league baseball teams, adult and youth softball teams, soccer teams, football and basketball teams, bowling teams and more are looking for someone to sponsor them.
While this could involve paying the team’s entrance fee into the league, or buying full uniforms, it often involves buying only T-shirts or bowling shirts. That can make sponsoring a team affordable for almost any direct sales consultant who’s serious about her business.
The goodwill generated in the community along with having your company name on the backs of 10-12 team members two to three times every week can be a real boost to your business.
2. Place an ad in a local newspaper, magazine or newsletter.
This is especially affordable if you live in a small town; advertising in big city newspapers and magazines can cost as much as national publications. But even then, you might be able to find local print newsletters published by computer user groups, gardening clubs, home associations and others who would allow you to run a business card size ad for a very reasonable price.
Locate potential publications by searching online for “newsletter advertising” (with quotes) and include the name of your hometown. Or ask friends and families if they know of any possibilities. This could turn into one of your best marketing methods ever.
3. Advertise on a billboard.
If you can find a privately owned billboard, in particular, the cost may be less than you think. And often, billboard ads are left up long past the expiration date of the ad. The price could be out of your range but it’s worth a few phone calls to find out before you write off this advertising option as totally unaffordable.
4. Have magnetic signs or window decals made.
You can get a pair of magnetic signs for under $50, and window decals are much less than that. While you may not receive any traceable orders from the signs, getting your name out in the community and letting others know what you do will pay off. Put a set on every vehicle you own, if possible. You may be surprised at how many people call you and say “I’m so glad I found you. I’ve been looking all over for a consultant!”
5. Use pin-back buttons.
Another very low-cost option, pin-back buttons are an excellent advertising option. Instead of only printing your company name and phone number, however, try something like “Ask Me for a Free Catalog!” or “I Have a Free Gift for You!” People will see the pin and comment, and there’s your open door for sales and bookings.
Have buttons made for anyone you know who’ll wear one as well. Your spouse, kids and other family members can wear a button that says “My Mom / Dad / Sister / Daughter sells…” (with your company name or products). Successful direct sales representatives almost always have help from their friends and family. Make the most of all the help you can get!
6. Have business cards professionally printed.
While you can use cards that you design and print yourself, nothing says “professional” like a well-designed, professionally printed business card. For the minimal cost of a box of business cards, you can’t go wrong with this local advertising option.
Post cards everywhere you go, leave them on counters, tables, on the sink in the ladies room. You never know where someone will see your card and need what you have to offer.
These are just a few ideas to get you thinking about marketing and advertising your direct sales business locally. Hopefully, your increased sales and exposure will help you see that it’s well worth the time and money you spend to improve your local marketing efforts.
