The Benefits of Direct Selling & Networking & Why It Works

Direct Selling Network Marketing

Global Independent Business Owners

Globally in 2020 there were 125.4 million Independent Business Owners, Representatives and Distributors. This is a rise on the global 2019 figures of 4.3%.

Of these global Independent Representatives 74.4% were female and 25.6% male.

These 125.4 million people involved in the industry produced 179.3 billion USD in 2020. Great for the economics of the individual countries.

Direct Selling Network Marketing

Direct Selling and Network Marketing is an ideal way to start a business of your own.

It is a great opportunity for any person of any background to build an income and is normally associated with the sale of a consumer product, person to person in person or via the internet.

Hope

Much more important is the hope that the industry gives people, a means of earning and making a success through their own efforts.

No one need ever be without work or without a source of income if they are prepared to make a little effort.

See it explained at https://www.meganticsolutions.com/

and https://www.meganticsolutions.com/awesome-business-opportunity-webinar/

For those with existing businesses the link to the article and ideas below may be of interest. It tells of how one could help or retain loyal staff facing redundancy.

Also ideas for businesses facing indebtedness or insolvency.

How To Take Out Insurance Against Unemployment Or Business Loss. Even If Already Unemployed

Sales People

The sales people are variously called Independent Representatives, Representatives, Sales Executives, Distributors, Consultants, Business Development Managers and the like.

In the UK this method of selling of goods provides the greatest source of income for part time work.

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Direct Selling Associations

Reputable companies apply for and are admitted to the various Direct Selling Associations which are the ‘Policemen’ of the Direct Selling and Network Marketing companies.

Being a member carries great creditability and kudos and members are only admitted if they show that they follow the strict rules of the Associations.

Policing The Direct Sales Network Marketing Industry

There are numerous Direct Selling Associations around the world including USA, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, Australia, Malaysia, India, Singapore, and New Zealand, among others.

All have the same high standards and operate with the approval of the various Governments. They ensure that only legitimate direct selling and legitimate network marketing companies are members.

SELDIA

SELDIA is the European Direct Selling Association and was established in 1986. It represents the Direct Selling Industry in Europe and promotes not only member businesses but also liaises at Government level to ensure that policy makers are aware of the advantages and benefits to the European economies. The economics of Direct Sales Network Marketing is important to every country.

WFDSA

WFDSA is the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations and represents the Global Direct Selling industry in over 170 countries. It was founded in 1978 by 12 of the then existing Direct Selling Associations.

What Is Direct Selling?

This is how the DSA (Direct Selling Association of America) describes Direct Selling and Direct Sellers.

´Direct selling is a business model that offers entrepreneurial opportunities to individuals as independent contractors to market and/or sell products and services, typically outside of a fixed retail establishment, through one-to-one selling, in-home product demonstrations or online. Compensation is ultimately based on sales and may be earned based on personal sales and/or the sales of others in their sales organizations.

Direct sellers may be called distributors, representatives, consultants or various other titles. They may participate in various ways, including selling the products themselves or through their sales organizations, providing training and leadership to their sales organizations, referring customers to the company and purchasing products and services for personal use.´

Popularity – Low Risk Business Ownership

In recent years, a growing proportion of the UK population and those in other countries have become attracted by the idea of having their own small business.

Not only as an alternative to conventional employment or coping with early retirement but also as a way of supplementing a family income.

It is an enterprise that can be started with low risk and low start up costs. Owners control what they do and how much they earn based upon their own efforts.

You Decide Your Level Of Participation

The great thing about it is that it gives the sheer satisfaction of being an entrepreneur and being rewarded solely on the basis of achievement.

One can do as much or as little as one wants.

Earn as much or as little as one wants.

Spend as much or as little time as one wants.

Keep it part time or make it full time.

You decide what is important to you.

The more effort, the greater the earning potential

Expand Your Business By Offering The Opportunity To Others

With Network Marketing you not only strengthen your own position by working yourself but also for others.

You can or should be able to work your business on your own and make a living out of it.

However rather than trying to do it all by yourself real expansion comes by offering it to others.

Just like a bricks and mortar business owner who will employ more staff and pay them wages a Direct Marketer using the Network Marking business model can introduce others to make more sales.

However because they are themselves Independent Business Owners just like you it costs you nothing except a little time and effort getting them started.

Veterans, Seniors and Disabled People

Every walk of life and every nationality around the world are seizing the opportunity of participating in Direct Sales and Network Marketing.

Thousands of Distributors and Independent Representatives join the industry every week.

There is no bar to age and many are over the age of 65. Remember that Colonel Sanders did not start KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) until he was 67 years of age.

More importantly Direct Sales Network Marketing is a business that is available to those with a disability. There are many hundreds of thousands that have some sort of disability that are involved in the industry.

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Rewarding Initiative and Growth

With Network Marketing you are part of a global movement that rewards initiative and growth.

Location and Flexibility

Working based from home is a big attraction as are the flexible hours to fit into family, sports and leisure time.

Independent Business Owners within the industry can lay out their own financial goals, plan what they want to do and set their own pace.

UK Statistics

According to the latest UK DSA 2021 survey 631,000 are involved in Direct Selling in the UK.

Of these a massive 96% are female. This is above the global average of 74.4%.

Altogether they make 1.1 billion pound contribution to the UK economy.

Not everyone will make a profit but the average earning in the UK survey for 2020 revealed a figure of £481. This is the average monthly earnings.

This is a figure that can make a tremendous difference to a family struggling to pay rent or a mortgage.

Women who are involved in the industry can do this to strengthen the family without the fear of being held back. There is nothing to stop them. There is no prejudice. They work and achieve on their own terms.

Australia, USA and Canada

Figures from the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations Global Statistical Data shows that for 2020

Australia had 478,734 Independent Representatives

USA had 16,670,000 (16.6 mil) and

Canada 1,386,000 (1.3 mil).

China is shown as having 3,590,000 (3.6 mil) Independent Representatives.

Global Sales Figures

As already stated it is reported that the direct selling industry was worth 179.3 billion USD in 2020.

Americas and Europe 2020

64.7 billion USD was contributed to the economy in the Americas whilst in Europe this figure was 36.2 billion USD.

The top three markets in 2020 with a market share of 22% were the U.S.A. China with 11% and Germany and Korea with 10% each.

Ten countries generated 78% of the global volume.

Top 10 Markets
USA
China
Germany
Korea
Japan
Brazil
Malaysia
Mexico
France
Taiwan China

Success or Failure

Not everyone will succeed but then not everyone succeeds in any business.

Success is dependent upon dedication, effort and hard work. One needs to be persistent and ambitious and sometimes cope with the rudeness of people who believe that the network marketing business model is illegal. Anyone who says that does not have a proper understanding of the business model.

Good Days Bad Days

There will be good days and there will be bad days.

Think of it this way — if you were employed by someone in a 9 to 5 job and had a bad day would you still turn up tomorrow? Of course you would!

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Endorsement

Such is their faith and belief in network marketing that some of the richest people in the world not only participate in the Network Marketing Business Model but put their reputations on the line in endorsing such companies.

Not only does Network Marketing work but it is positively being promoted in the United States by politicians, including two former Presidents. One of each of the two main parties. 

Direct Sales and the Network Marketing Business Model is truly a legitimate way of earning money and helping people and countries get out of recession. It is pure simple economics.

Anyone of any colour or gender and of legal age in their country has an equal chance to succeed.

Is The Network Marketing Business Model Legal?

Absolutely 100% legal. The law says so and so do multiple governments around the world. Direct Sales and Network Marketing has existed as a business model for hundreds of years. That does not mean that you should not be careful in your choice.

What To Look For In A Business

If you are looking to earn money by being in business for yourself as an Independent Business Owner there are two very basic questions you need to ask and make sure you get the answers to.

Can you earn without having to recruit anyone?

Is money only earned from sales that you or your team make?

If you are looking for something legal that will ensure that it will be there in the future for you then you need to confirm that no sales mean no money earned.

Get answers and establish this and you have a genuine company.

To make this easy to understand just think back to how traditional shopkeepers make a living. It is the owner/manager and his or her team of staff earning from shop sales.

Additionally you should also look to how long the business has been established and if they belong to the Direct Selling Association(s) etc.

You may also want to check if it is a public company with shareholders. Remember these Public Companies can be sold at a whim of the stock market and you may not have a business.

Global Sales Product Category

There are many industries involved in Direct Sales and Networking.

These include:

Clothing & Accessories
Cosmetics & Personal Care
Home Care Household Goods & Durables
Wellness
Books, Toys, Stationery, Etc.
Foodstuff & Beverages
Home Improvement
Utilities
Financial Services
Other

Global product category for 2020 showed Wellness leading by a big margin followed by Cosmetics and Personal Care and then at number three Household Goods and Durables.

All good products to be involved in but if you note the categories they are in the main optional products.

The secret is finding a business with a cross section of categories but more importantly having an element of categories that people cannot do without and need to use every day.

Socialising and Social Contact

We have covered the benefits of working from home, low start up costs, low running costs, flexible hours, being able to be with your family, taking the business on holiday with you etc. but what about one very important hidden benefit.

Meeting and socialising with new people.

Direct Selling and Network Marketing has this one benefit that is greatly underestimated. Indeed never talked about or thought of by some people.

It gives the means of socialising and meeting new people.

Keeping the mind active and being able to talk to new people of all walks of life.

Grumpy

As with any business most people will be polite although you do get the odd grumpy.

There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for being impolite and if you meet people like this you would not want them as a customer or in your business anyway.

This is all part of life and you will soon learn the skills needed if you do not have them already.

It should be remembered that every problem that you may encounter has been encountered before. There is an answer somewhere and you are not alone. Everyone will want you to succeed and help you all they can.

Enthusiasm

Independent Business Owners are enthusiastic about their business. They should be and if not they have a problem.

However this sometimes comes across as being pushy.

Make the necessary allowance for this. Look back on things you are enthusiastic about and how you may have introduced others to it. Have people been too polite to tell you that you are boring!!!!!! Please go away and don´t tell me anything more about the business opportunity or whatever you are trying to tell them about.

Your Task As An Independent Business Owner

As an Independent Business Owner involved in Network Marketing your task is SIMPLE.

There are two elements.

You refer people to your website and make as many sales as you can.

You also tell as many people as you can about your business opportunity.

Explain the business opportunity to them or have it explained to them either in person or via a webinar, normally via Zoom Webinar and then step away.

They either get it or they don´t.

If someone is looking for work or a way of making more money but are not even willing or open minded enough to look at or consider the option of looking at your business opportunity then that is great. You know what to do and not waste any more time.

Your Time Is Valuable

What many people do not realise or consider is that you have feelings as well. That you are only trying to do the best for your family and also to help them as well as yourself.

So the morale of this story is do not be put off by people saying no.

People who are not polite to start with should be dismissed straight away. Those that are not willing to consider their options and your good will and help that you are trying to give them should be dismissed.

Just thank them and be polite.

You cannot help people that do not want to be helped.

(Source UK/USA DSA, Seldia, WFDSA and Government Statistics and statements)

Author

This article was written by Michael. 

The author is a mature person who holds a Master’s Degree in Job Satisfaction and Motivation as well as a Post Graduate Research Diploma and other professional qualifications.

He had an active career and following early retirement decided to take up Direct Selling utilizing the Network Marketing Business Model.

He now runs his own successful business in Sales and Marketing.

To know more about running your own direct sales and network marketing business Michael can be contacted at meganticbusiness@gmail.com.