What's Important to Buyers in a Recession?

Since we are in a recession currently, it's essential to learn what is important to buyers during this time. Many people think that price is the only thing that concerns buyers, but that is not necessarily true. I believe that the most important thing to buyers during tough economic times is VALUE. Why Value? Because people want the best product for their dollar. When you are pinching pennies, don't you want to get the most bang for your buck? So what constitutes value?

• A product that works and is reasonably priced. If a product is cheap but doesn't work, then it's basically a waste of money. But, if a product works really well and isn't overpriced, then it has VALUE.
• A product that has scientific proof that it is effective. In this day and age of juices, vitamins, pills, and lotions that are supposed to heal and solve health problems, etc, it is hard to weed through all the claims and find the legitimate ones. That's where the science comes in. Customers want to know WHY & HOW something works - not just some testimonial about it. The science behind the product gives it VALUE.
• A company that offers good customer service & guarantees. While I know that I can go to Wal-Mart and get a similar product that is offered at LLBean, I often go to LLBean because I know about their great customer service and their guarantee. Sure you might pay less up front at Wal-Mart, but if there's a problem with the product breaking down 5 years from now, you're more likely to get great service from LLBean. People VALUE being treated well and knowing that they can get their money back if they are unsatisfied.
• Loyatly rewards. Customers have a choice where to shop - if they shop with you on a regular basis, reward them! They will probably shop with you for the above mentioned reasons, not because of the rewards. But the rewards will be an added bonus and will remind them of the VALUE of shopping with you. And if you have customers coming back to you over & over, you're in business.

When you are working from home, it's even more important to offer value to your customers. And if you are considering starting a business, keep this in mind. Ask yourself if the company has products that work and are reasonably priced? Does the company offer scientific proof to back up their claims? What about guarantees & customer service? Finally, are there loyalty rewards that either you or the company will offer? Be sure to offer VALUE to your customers, especially in these difficult economic times.

Moms Working From Home

Now that I am a mom, I am meeting even more moms who either want to work from home or are already doing so. The balance of caring for children and having a full-time job is really challenging for most moms. I can't imagine having to work full-time PLUS come home and care for my newborn. I am exhausted enough as it is, and I only work 10 hours a week outside of my home. So I completely understand and relate to the desire (and NEED, for most moms) to earn some extra income while also staying at home with the little ones. Some moms opt for having a home based business. But choosing the right one can be a challenge, especially when you've already got tons of other responsibilities to worry about.

So here are some tips for busy moms:
-Find out if the business will require you do to parties/shows (i.e. leave the house) and consider whether or not you want to do this.
-Find out about the products. This seems obvious, but I'm referring to a little more detail. Determine whether the products are something that the average person would buy. For example, jewelry is something that some people might buy, but not everyone. On the other hand, bath & body products or cleaning products are things that almost everyone has to buy.
-What is the price point? Now note that price is NOT the most important thing in someone's buying decision. However, VALUE is! So be sure that the products provide value (i.e. the price is reasonable and the products are exceptional). If the price is TOO high, most people won't purchase. But if the products are not unique, people won't buy even if the price is reasonable.
-How does the compensation work? Will you have to track your sales and take commissions, etc? Or will the company generate a check to you? Will you earn residual income or will you need to find new customers for income next month?
-What is the growth record of the company? And how does the company do in a recession? This is especially important right now since we are in a recession currently. A lot of companies, such as juice companies that sell an expensive product that most people aren't already buying, are struggling right now. Find out if the company you're considering is doing well or struggling (and if they won't tell you, that's a sign to stay away).

If you have other tips for moms considering working from home, be sure to leave them in the comments!

Sales Book Review

One of my New Year's Goals is to take the time to read one book a month that will help me in my business. This can be a personal development book or a book specific to business - but the goal is to help me improve in the areas that I lack in and become a more effective business person. So the first book I am reading is Jeffrey Gitomer's "Little Red Book of Sales Answers." I received this book from my mom for Christmas, and I just started reading it the other day. I am already engrossed in the book and I am learning a lot! Here are some of the things I am enjoying:

• The book is set up in 6 different sections that are easy to follow.
• In each section, there are several questions that sales people ask, and then he provides the answer. These are not your typical pat answers - they are answers that you can actually use and apply.
• There is a wealth of info in this book. Even if you are not in sales, you could still learn a lot about personal relationships and interactions in this book.
• This is the kind of book you want to have handy, and you can read one or two answers a day just to stay sharp!
  

So if you have a home business and are looking to expand your skills, I highly recommend this book!

Choosing a Home Business

Many people today are looking for a home business - a way to generate extra income because of the declining economy. It's definitely a smart choice to develop a second steam of income, just in case anything happens to your primary source. The problem is, there are SO MANY options out there - how do you find the right business?

I can speak from experience here since I have had a home business for the past 6 years. Although I never thought of myself as a business person, I kind of "fell into" a business opportunity. You see, I went to a party and found myself loving the products. I wanted to buy it all, but couldn't afford to. So, like many others, I became a consultant so that I could get the discount. Later I decided to actually build it as a business so that I could earn enough money to stay home, at least part time. I worked hard and advanced my business, but soon after that I lost my status and was not earning what I had hoped. I began to doubt whether I could succeed and definitely knew that staying home was not an option.

So when I was presented with another business opportunity, I was determined to be more thoughtful and deliberate about whether to even get involved. I was skeptical and thought it was probably a scam - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, right? Well, I listened to the full information, researched it a bit, and determined that I wanted to at least give it a try. 2 years later, I am so glad that I did. I am now earning a consistent, reliable income which allows me to work part time instead of full-time. I have an excellent support team and am part of an amazing, debt-free company that continues to grow in the midst of this economy. So what are some of the keys to choosing (or finding) the right business for you?

• Get the facts. It's important to take a listen to the full information of whatever company you are considering teaming up with. And it shouldn't be just a 5 minute description - you will need to hear about the company's products, track record of success, business plan, compensation, etc. And be sure to ask questions! Ask to see the company's growth chart and average income earnings, if those aren't provided in the overview.
• Determine what kind of business you want. Do you want to do a party plan business where you need to go to other's houses and do parties, carry inventory, etc? Or do you want to be able to work entirely from home, using the phone and internet? Find out what the method of marketing is and find out if there is flexibility as well.
• Find out what kind of target audience you have. If you are selling jewelry or makeup, you will be cutting out about half of the population. If you are selling tools, you may be cutting out the other half. Will you be marketing products that everyone needs and uses, or just a certain group of people? If it's a certain group of people, how well do those products sell during difficult economic times? These are all things you will want to consider.
• Figure out how much income you want, and find out how you can achieve that with the companies you are considering. How long does it typically take someone to get to that income level? How much of your business is tax-deductible? Do you have to re-invest your earnings into product, training, or overhead? Or is your profit pure profit?

Although this is not an extensive list of questions, it should get you headed in the right direction. I am so thankful that I have found the right business for myself, and I hope you do too!

Positive Attitude & Finding Who To Work With

I've come to a decision: I only want to work with positive people. When working in a business from home, you get to choose who to work with. But for some reason, many of us choose anyone who will join us, rather than focusing on finding people who we WANT to work with. And from now on, I am choosing to work with positive people. When prospecting for people in the community, online, or wherever, I recommend focusing on those who have a positive personality, who attract other people, and who are hard working. These are all attributes that are essential to being successful in a home business. Here's why I think they are helpful:

1. Positive Personality/Outlook: There will always be bad days and we can't always be on top of the world. However, someone who can look on the bright side and get over the inevitable obstacles will be able to succeed. It's also important to have a positive attitude as a leader in your business. Your team will follow your lead, so if you are focusing on the negative things or whining and complaining, this will trickle down to your team.
2. Attract Other People: This really goes hand-in-hand with the first point. Positive people naturally attract others. But there are other qualities that attract other people, such as being someone who is honest and full of integrity. Someone who can attract other people will be able to get his or her business started quickly because they already have a group of people who trust them and will follow them.
3. Hard Working: I don't know any home business that is "easy." Some are simple, but none are easy. Therefore being someone who is hard working is absolutely essential to your success. I have teamed up with several people in my business, however, only those who have been persistent and consistent have been successful. I find that some people quit as soon as things get a little challenging, despite the fact that they really need the money. This is the hardest thing for me to understand - if you are in dire circumstances, and have a very doable and clear way to get out of those circumstances by working hard, then why would you not do it?!? So far, the best answer I have come up with is that some people are just comfortable where they are and are not willing to sacrifice to change their circumstances.

So, as you build your home business (or consider who to team up), be sure to look for people with these 3 qualities. You will be much happier and more successful. Don't let yourself get into the trap of teaming up with someone who does not have these qualities just because you are desperate to advance your business.

Getting Back to Work

After a month off from my business, I have been getting back to work in December. Balancing life with a newborn and having a home business is a new venture for me! I am certainly learning the value of sleep! Sometimes I have to choose between sleeping, showering, eating, cleaning, or working my business. And honestly it just depends on the day as to which one I choose. I have been learning to take 20 minutes to make phone calls when I know Kirsten is sleeping (and will stay asleep). I've also been learning how to do a presentation phone call while nursing her, changing her, or carrying her around to keep her happy. This is all a new adventure that is fun and challenging at the same time!

I am so thankful for all that God has given me. But this year, I am especially thankful for my beautiful daughter who has brought us so much joy and love. I am also thankful for the fact that my business is so flexible and allows me to truly work from home. I'm also thankful that I'll still be getting my paycheck in December even though I took the entire month of November off! Talk about a blessing during these difficult economic times! Residual income is a wonderful thing, and I am glad that I had the sense to say "yes" when my friend shared this incredible business with me.

Now, I'm off to take care of my baby girl who's waking up, do some holiday baking, and maybe, just maybe, make some phone calls too!

Blogging Break

Sorry for the lack in blogging recently!! I have a new addition to my home: my beautiful daughter, Kirsten Jael!
She was born on October 29th at 2:28am, and she is absolutely wonderful. Due to this recent addition, I have taken a bit of a vacation from my business. Therefore my blogging has been non-existent. I just wanted to update any of you who read my blog so that you know what's going on. The thing that is so great about my business is that even as I was headed to the hospital, many on my team were working hard and finished out October incredibly strong! I have a great support team who have been helping my team immensely while I've been focusing on my new baby. Soon I'll be getting back to work, but I am so thankful for this business and this team that I work with. I am thankful that I have residual income with this company and it allows me to know I'll be getting a paycheck even though I haven't been working these couple weeks.