Tweet

Direct Selling: A Growing Trend

Written by: Lisa Swanson

Article Overview: Learn about the next biggest growing trend in on line marketing.

Direct Selling: A Growing Trend

One segment of entrepreneurship, network marketing, sometimes called direct selling, is gaining attention from the world's foremost financial advisors. David Bach, financial planning expert and author of the New York Times Best-Seller The Automatic Millionaire, says direct selling is a turnkey solution. "The beauty of this industry is that it's all done for you," Bach says. "There isn't any real startup time. You don't have to create a business plan. You don't have to create a product. The only thing you need to do is find a reputable company, one that you trust, that offers a product or service you believe in and can get passionate about."

Increasingly, people are realizing their most valuable commodity is their time, and direct selling presents an attractive alternative. As long commutes have become increasingly unpopular and gasoline prices continue to soar, working from home offers a good option for many. Qualified workers who have a physical handicap or people who live in rural areas may find it prohibitive to commute at all. And family balance and flexible work schedule are uppermost in the minds of many stay-at-home moms.

What is most appealing is that anyone can do it. Today's technology offers many viable options for working from home. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and web-based applications make the deployment of the work form home force an attractive option. The basic technical requisites for the home-based business owner are minimal-a Pentium-class PC; a reliable, high-speed broadband connection; and an analog phone line.

As the ultimate equal-opportunity solution, home-based businesses represent the purest form of equality through free enterprise. That's one of the most striking features of the industry: It involves men and women from all walks of life, all ages, all racial, ethnic socioeconomic groups.

The top earners in direct selling represent a diverse group of successful case histories. According to the Direct Selling Association, the industry's trade group, 24 percent of direct sellers have a high school diploma or less education, 35 percent are college graduates and one in 12 has a postgraduate degree.

Related Articles
  SMEs - a changing trend in SME failure
  Don't Wait To Be Bailed Out!
  Entrepreneurism and What it Takes to Become a True Entrepreneur
  A Look Into Direct Sales Vs Multi Level Marketing Programs
  Guaranteed Home Party Success: Party Plan Pat’s Home Parties Business Predictions For The Year 2009!

Article Tags: analog phone line, attractive option, automatic millionaire, david bach, ethni, family balance, flexible work schedule, gasoline prices, pentium class pc, physical handicap, purest form, reputable company, stay at home moms, striking features, turnkey solution, viable options, voice over internet, voice over internet protocol, voice over internet protocol voip, walks of life



Related Forum Posts
Re: EC Forum Badge? - [quote="Evan":2pvw4k7d]Zac - great idea - Trend, Alan I'm glad you like it too. Nothing is built into phpbb unfortunately so it's going to have to be custom developed. I'll see what we can do![/quote:2pvw4k7d] Wow sorry Trent, my iPad automatically renamed you to Trend and I just noticed! My apologies!
Re: EC Forum Badge? - Zac - great idea - Trend, Alan I'm glad you like it too. Nothing is built into phpbb unfortunately so it's going to have to be custom developed. I'll see what we can do!
Re: What's 1 word to describe what your business will be in 2012 - Growing. MichelleJ
Hello From Marietta GA! - Hello All! My name is Tim Naylor and I am in Direct Sales! I am glad I have found EC's sites and I hope to learn and share a lot!
Re: Kevin's Case Study #10 - When to become an entrepreneur? - When the bug bite you. A lot of successful entrepreneurs started in their teens or at school. Selling sweets to fellow students or lemonade to firends in the neighbourhood.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

The Value of Small Businesses

The True Cost of Employee Turnover

How do you keep it together on a daily basis?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.