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You are currently browsing the archives for the Ask Victoria category. Archives
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Sylvina Consulting BlogInsights for network marketing, MLM, and party plan companies
Archive for the ‘Ask Victoria’ CategoryAsk Victoria: How much does it cost to start a direct selling company?Tuesday, July 20th, 2010This is a good question to ask, but a difficult one to answer because there isn’t a single magic number to give you. I can tell you that our clients have launched their businesses for as little as $20,000 and as much as $2,000,000. To help narrow the cost, here are some questions to answer: Ask Victoria: What Should I Do First?Tuesday, June 1st, 2010If you have an idea for a new direct selling company, you may be asking this question. It’s easier if you have some steps to follow. Here are 12 of them:
Ask Victoria: What Is Rapport?Tuesday, April 20th, 2010Rapport is what we all seek. It can help bring us harmony and balance into our daily lives. Rapport is part of the foundation on which we build our success in life and in business. What exactly is rapport? rapport (noun) Definition: friendly relationship: an emotional bond or friendly relationship between people based on mutual liking, trust, and a sense that they understand and share each other’s concerns. Take a look at your closest friends. How did meet them? What did you like about them? What was the rapport-builder? Kids? Work? Hobbies? Build Rapport Yourself Ask Victoria: Why Is MLM Software So Expensive?Monday, March 15th, 2010Unlike Microsoft Office software which is used by millions of people, MLM software is used by a relatively small number of companies. Our estimate is that 1,000 companies are using MLM software in the USA today. Supply and demand is one of the reasons for the high cost of software, but it isn’t the only one. Ask Victoria: Do I Need A Business Plan?Wednesday, February 10th, 2010If you are thinking about or are in the midst of creating a new party plan or MLM company, you may be wondering if you need a business plan. A business plan is like a road map to a specific destination. You’re more likely to get to your destination if you have a map (or GPS!) that tells you how to get there. The tasks to be performed are like stops along the way. When you include a financial plan, a business plan can help you to identify the types of expected expenses and how much it will cost to build and operate your company. Business plans help you and others to see your vision more clearly. Ask Victoria: What Advice Do You Give Most Often To Established Direct Selling Companies?Tuesday, January 5th, 2010As a senior consultant at Sylvina Consulting, each week I talk with many executives of party plan and MLM companies. I hear firsthand about a company’s successes and challenges. I love direct selling because it’s a people business. Sometimes, a company has a specific issue or group of issues in which our help is requested. At other times, everything appears to be running fine, but that’s when I worry most. Preventative maintenance is recommended for all automobiles. Measuring and adding air to tires extends their lives. Periodic oil changes extend the life of engines. If you waited until your engine seized up to change your oil, you would be too late! Annual 40-point inspections can spot problems early and help avoid costly repairs. Direct selling businesses need inspections, too. The advice I give most often to established companies is not to wait until a crisis to enlist the skills of a consulting firm like ours to review, evaluate, and improve the performance of your business. To learn more, ask me about our annual business review consulting service! Ask Victoria: Can You Suggest a Great Gift?Tuesday, November 24th, 2009The holiday rush is on and you have been wondering what to get your wife, your husband… Oh wait, what about you? Throughout the year, we have spouses call us to ask about our services and how we may help their loved ones. While we provide a wide range of consulting services, my first response is to tell them about our guide, “Start Here”. Start Here is a 250-page workbook that is filled with information, questions to answer, and activities needed to create, develop and launch a successful direct selling company. Included are 14 chapters of essential material on these important topics
and much more! The guide is presented in a 3-ring binder. In addition to the information provided, in the guide you can gather your thoughts and ideas all in one place and it comes with an hour of guide consulting.
Here is what one of our guide customers told us: Starting a business can be overwhelming. This guide is incredibly helpful because it takes me step-by-step through what needs to be done. For additional information or to order a copy of the guide for your loved one or for yourself, click Direct Selling Guide. If you have any other questions about Start Here or you would like to take a few moments to discuss your direct selling company, please feel free to contact me at 503.244.8787 or email me at victoria@sylvina.com. Ask Victoria: Why Is The Direct Sales Attrition Rate So High?Thursday, October 22nd, 2009The rate of attrition of independent representatives of direct selling companies is high for many reasons. Here are several of them: Direct selling is a “sales” job, but the average person joining a direct selling company may not view herself as a “salesperson.” While people are often led to believe that it is easy and that great products are all that is needed for customers to flock to them, success isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Sales isn’t always easy. Fear of failure is another reason. Some people join direct selling companies with high hopes, but never achieve success because they’re afraid to try. Ask Victoria: Can Rapport-Building Be Taught?Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009It is imperative that direct selling business owners and independent consultants build rapport with customers, representatives and potential recruits. What exactly is rapport? rap•port (noun) Definition: friendly relationship: an emotional bond or friendly relationship between people based on mutual liking, trust, and a sense that they understand and share each other’s concerns. Successful business owners build rapport with their sales force every day. They realize that rapport is a vital element in their recipe for business success. Can direct selling companies teach the importance of rapport to their independent representatives?I believe the answer is YES. I suggest the following steps are taken: 1. Explain the importance of rapport, that people buy from people they like and that rapport-building is the process of discovering common interests. 2. Teach by example. 3. Emulate the tone of voice, the cadence of speech, the volume, and the pace of the conversation with others. 4. Seek and find a comfort zone of topics for both you and the potential customer or sponsored representative. Examples are career, hobbies, pets, photography, kids, vacation spots, etc. 5. Have established representatives share examples of role play to encourage new representatives to practice role playing with others Ask Victoria: Do You Offer A Free Initial Consultation?Thursday, August 13th, 2009Yes, and we enjoy providing them! During initial consultations, we learn about a company’s needs and explore how we can best help them. We especially like answering questions that help move their businesses forward. Helping people understand what they absolutely need to know is a passion for me! It’s easy to schedule an initial consultation. All you need to do is call me or our president, Jay Leisner, at 503.244.8787. We’ll select a time that works well for you. Here’s to talking with you soon! |
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