Sunday, September 26, 2010
Affiliate Marketing
I have been in network marketing, mlm, cdm, sales and marketing for over 20 years. Some of my endeavors were not successful, some were successful, but not rewarding. Needless to say it took me a very long time to find something that was both rewarding and successful, and to think-----ALL that time, the business I am doing is one I worked so hard at avoiding!!! What on earth was I thinking?
I am involved with a business that focuses on home parties. I avoided those businesses like the plague, honestly, fully aware that nobody likes to go to those parties, friends have to be harassed to attend or hostess, then they have to pressure other friends to hostess parties to make you feel better----I really didn't want any part of that.
A few years back, I had heard of a lady who changed all this, by promoting ladies home parties with romance enhancement products. Now while I love those products, I still had the "home party" thing stuck in my head. Sure I like massage oils and massage candles, creams and flavored lotions, all of the above. __mart isn't exactly where you would find those things, though. You can't get them at the five and dime, you can't generally get them unless you go to a specialty store that deals with things of the "adult" nature.....meaning the adult book store on the "other" side of town....with the neon lights, videos, porn, magazines, and possibly a few "ladies" working that are not just selling the stuff.....well, at least that's how it is in my town. I have found a few places near truck stops on the highways too, but again....places I most likely wouldn't let my adult children enter.
I went on a search for some such flavored or scented massage product one weekend, best friend in tow.....and here is what we found..The place looked harmless, but had a lot of interesting video and books that were relatively distasteful, and two men standing there browsing through dirty magazines. Not one woman was in the otherwise empty shopping area, besides us. Now that was awkward? How could we actually look at, buy, or purchase something with a couple of men standing there eyeing us......no wonder we were the only women there!! Not to mention the sticker shock! I quickly learned the meaning of the word "overhead".
That was my AHA moment. I remembered that there were home party businesses, and why they were so successful in the "romance enhancement" area.....Women are intimidated by these free standing "stores", and the parties are fun and intimate with friends and women only!! Girls actually WANT these parties, and track down consultants, not the other way around!
So I researched companies, made sure I had one with competitive prices, a reasonable start up fee, great training and support provided for free, an honorable track record with the BBB, and enough lingerie to get myself lost in (many companies lack lingerie, or have very cheap sleazy looking items). Lingerie is a must for me, so that weighed heavily on my decision. I didn't choose the company that has the lowest startup fee, because after doing some research, found that the commission and downline incentives, free training and quality just was not there with many of them. Professionalism ranked right up there in my "must have" department as well. I wanted to be involved with a company that maintains high standards of professionalism and conduct, and if there were rules to follow, that was fine with me. I wanted to be affiliated with a company that has a good reputation.
So, how am I doing? I have never been happier, and thankful for my AHA moment....the moment when I realized that what I had been avoiding for so long might just be the best thing for me!! I made my initial investment back with my first party, and have not lost speed since! I look forward to my annual training this year, knowing that I will come back recharged and prepared to double my income by this time next year!
Moral of my story.....never avoid something that scares you.....embrace it. Investigate and research it. It might be the right business for you after all! Whether it be candles, romance enhancement items, cookware, stamping, scrapbooking....whatever it may be, if you get that AHA moment, don't let it pass you by!
Yours,
Polly
Slumber Parties by Polly
www.slumberpartiesbypolly.com
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