The Direct Seller's Podcast
The Direct Seller's Podcast
Building a Lasting Personal Brand in Direct Sales
Want to ensure your direct sales business stands the test of time? Building a personal brand can be your game-changer! In this episode, I’ll show you how embracing your unique attributes can boost your self-esteem and elevate your personal brand. From using humor and authenticity to connect with your audience, to transforming your passion for products into a larger mission, you'll learn practical strategies to stand out. Tune in and get inspired to redefine your approach to personal branding today!
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Welcome to the Direct Sellers Podcast, the podcast for direct sellers who are ready to get uncomfortable, build their business and grow a team while changing the face of the direct sales industry. I'm your host, rachel Perry. Join me as we get real and talk about all the things you need to kick some serious direct sales booty, from overcoming limiting beliefs to sharing the exact strategies you need to attract the right people who become customers and beg to join your team. I've got you covered, girl. I'm going to be your new BFF when it comes to balancing life and kids while building your direct sales business with poise, peace of mind and, of course, a good set of fake eyelashes. Let's get started. Hello, my friends, welcome back to another episode of the Direct Sellers Podcast. I'm your host, rachel Perry. Hey, girl, hey, I'm so excited about today's topic. Literally, I say this every single time, and I truly am excited every single time, but I think I need to come up with a new script. Except, that's the problem is, I don't have a script, and so that's why I say the same thing every time. Maybe I should reconsider getting a script. No, no, I do better. This is what I've learned, and we're going to talk a little bit about this. Today, I am much better like flying by the seat of my pants, so, like I do, so much better just on my feet, right. A lot of people need to have things written out and scripted and all of that, and sometimes I wish that was like what I, how I excelled, because there's so much more control in that. But this is who I am, this is my superpower. Sometimes it's not quite such a superpower, but today, hopefully, it will be. Today, we're diving into building a brand, and this is coming from this space right now, so this is obviously recorded ahead of time because I'm traveling right now. I'll be back tomorrow, though, but just recently.
Speaker 1:So those of you who have been listeners for a while know that I decided to join, sign up to become an artist with Saint Makeup in February of 23. And the reason for that was because I really wanted to get my boots on the ground. There are a lot of coaches out there who, have you know, were direct sellers in the past, network marketers in the past, as I was, and aren't in it anymore, and I think there's something missing a little bit. I think it was important for me to get back into it, just because I needed to be a student again, if that makes sense. But I chose. When I joined, I decided that I was not going to be building a team, because I just didn't have the bandwidth to be able to build a team, nurture that team and also nurture my students. So I decided to just do it as like the sales piece, and there were months that I was more active than others. It was definitely more of a choice for me to be a part of a company and to be a sort of boots on the ground type person, but it wasn't going to be the main source of income for me at all and it was. I'm so glad that I did and I'm acting like it's over.
Speaker 1:It's not over, but recently Saint came out and just announced that as of October 1st, they are switching their model, their business model, from being a direct sales model to becoming an affiliate model, meaning there will be no more teams. There will be no more, you know, sponsoring and recruiting. It's going to be solely focused on sales. So this did not affect me and my business. It did not affect me and my business. I was disappointed in how the thing it was handled, and I don't.
Speaker 1:It seems like companies do this all the time when they make big decisions like this or they close their doors, they like don't tell the field until it's like sort of right now and so didn't love that, really wished that the CEO had come out and talked to people about it. Leaders were extremely shocked and devastated, understandably, and I know these things happen in business and I know that's part. One of the struggles really with being in this industry is that there's always that chance right, there's always that off chance that a company may do this. Most of you are with companies that are really solid and debt-free and in a really good space. But here's the thing I did some research after this happened because I thought you know what? This is not the only company that's done this. So many companies are switching to this affiliate model. Some companies are closing their doors Like nothing's new with that, like this has been the nature of direct sales. Like I have been in this industry for 18 years and I've seen so many companies close their doors, and most without warning right. Like most left the consultants kind of like reeling because they lost their businesses. Basically, which is really what has inspired this topic today, because it's so important for you to build a brand so that when these things happen while they will still devastate you and they will leave you reeling and things like that at least you have a brand in place and you have something you can fall back on.
Speaker 1:But I think, as I was researching, problem is that across the industry during COVID, there was a huge explosion and people were joining teams, they were building teams, they were extremely successful sales-wise, like the. The industry as a whole was booming. But then what happened is I think they're calling it the great resignation. But what happened is then COVID stopped or didn't stop that's a really ignorant comment. But life started going back to somewhat normal right, and so people were going back to jobs, they were going back to work and they didn't necessarily need their direct sales business anymore. Or they lost interest or they they you know they weren't making the sales they were making during covid. So they got discouraged and quit for so many reasons. People stopped Right. So the problem arose in that they were losing a lot of people right, and people weren't necessarily recruiting like they were before.
Speaker 1:So the companies, the industry, took a hit and so now companies are like wait, there, there's been a whole sort of shift in in human behavior, I think, and affiliate models are doing well, because when you can just focus on the sales like that is a much easier, much more seemingly more appealing to some people than building a team. Now please hear me when I say I'm not saying you can't build teams anymore. I'm not saying team building doesn't work anymore. I'm not saying all companies are moving to the affiliate model because they're not. They're absolutely not. But I do think that companies some companies are going in that direction because they're looking at where their money is going and they're looking at all the factors and for some it just makes more sense to become an affiliate model. Others have closed their doors and others are doing great Okay. So don't this is not meant to discourage you in any way. It's going to be okay whatever happens. Now.
Speaker 1:As for me and Saint, I'll still be an affiliate. Again, I don't love how the company handled this, so I've sort of lost some respect for them, to be honest, and I don't, I'm not as proud as I was about it. I I'm currently using this skincare called Bellamy and that company is extremely amazing to me and I have been so impressed and my skin is so freaking amazing. You guys, and they also have makeup which I'm obsessed with. But I am really considering sort of shifting my focus from Saint to Bellamy, because I love how they treat their consultants and, honestly, it's not a party plan business and it's considered omni marketing, so it's not even just network marketing like it brings network marketing in, but you can affiliate for other companies and all the things. I just really love it. And so I'm really thinking and considering kind of going in that direction. I could build a team with that company because it's a little bit different than with a party plan company. So I'm putting it, I'm just I'm I'm thinking about these things, but what I do know is that I'm not going to leave the direct sales industry.
Speaker 1:As a direct seller, I think this industry is incredible and I I think it's so important when you are looking at your company and deciding who to like partner with, if you've already done that like, or if you haven't already done that like, do you love the CEO, like do you love how he or she handles things? Do they have a connection with their reps, like that to me is so important. But that's a personal thing, but anyway, that took way longer than I expected. I just kind of went off on that, but here's the thing. This is why it's so important for you to build a brand. You are not your company. You're not your company. You are you like.
Speaker 1:I am Rachel and I have a brand. You guys know me. I teach direct sellers how to build a business, how to make three to 5k a month without having relying on parties business, how to make three to five K a month without having relying on parties. And you know me for that. You know me because I'm funny. You recognize me because I was part of the tag team. You connect with me because I'm relatable. That's all part of my brand, right? That's all part of who I am, because it's who I am. So, who are you? You know, we often think of branding as like our colors and our fonts and what things look like in our pictures. But that's not, that's part of the brand, but that's not your brand. Your brand is who you are.
Speaker 1:What do you do? What do you do, right? So let's say, let's just say that I think was my full-time business and I had a team and the doors were closing, and be like, oh my gosh, what am I going to do now? Well, if I had a team, I could be a coach, teach people how to build teams. Right, I can start my own company, or not my own company, but start another business, while also teaching people how to build a business, because I've done that, I've been there right?
Speaker 1:Who are you? What do you do? What is your superpower? Okay, now, maybe you don't have a team, and that's okay. You don't have to have a team in order to have a brand. Maybe jewelry is what you sell? Okay, what do you do? Well, chances are you know how to help people feel really good about themselves. You know how to show people women, maybe how to really put their best face forward, how to feel good in the skin that they're in, how to dress for their body, how to accessorize, how to add more, how to do these things. You are. That's not your company, that's you. That's a skill that you have do these things. You are. That's not your company, that's you. That's a skill that you have. What do you do? That is your superpower. What makes you you? It's so important to figure this out and it's so important to brand, build your brand, and the way you build your brand is like how you show up on social media. What your emails like? What are you talking about in your emails? Who are you to your customers? What are you teaching Right there's? Um.
Speaker 1:I think it's so important to identify what makes you weird, what makes you special, and you know, I've taught this before during bootcamps and, without fail, I always have someone, a couple of people, several people even, who are like there's, I don't know what makes me special, like I don't know if I have anything that makes me special. I'm going to challenge you on that, because there is, you are special. There's no one else like you. Now, oftentimes, if you're not feeling encouraged at home and you're not feeling very special in your life, it's up to you to really figure out what makes you stand out. So, what's your superpower? What are you good at? Don't say I'm not good at anything. You got to dig deep. I shared this. I think I shared this on a recent podcast, or maybe I was in a training, I don't know, but when you? I think it was in a training for my three to 5k ladies.
Speaker 1:But it's like if you see something negative to yourself or about yourself, you need to replace it with three positive things. So if you're saying, right now I'm not special or I'm not good at anything. You need to come up with three positive things about yourself, like you need to say three positive things about yourself, because there are positive things. Okay, it might be I like my dress today. My dress today looks good on me. Okay, it might be I'm a good mom. It might be it might have nothing to do with what you said about yourself, but you still have to encourage yourself. Okay, but you do have a superpower. Where do you feel the best? Where do you feel the happiest?
Speaker 1:I am a teacher through and through. I was a teacher when I got out of college. I'm a good teacher. Why? Because I can connect with people and I can make things fun and I make people laugh. That's me. That's my superpower. That's not me bragging. That's me recognizing where my strengths are. So I need to lean more into those strengths in all the things that I'm doing. So, for example, sometimes, believe it or not, I am like I don't know what to write in this email. Okay, I've got to tap into the fun piece of Rachel, because that's who I am. So I just sent an email out that was about comparing having a teen driver to a potty potty training. Ok, that has really very little to do about nothing to do with business, in fact, but it's me, and it's me being real and it's me being funny and it's me connecting. Right, that's what's important. You've got to lean into your superpower.
Speaker 1:What is weird about you? What's weird about you? I'm a hot mess. You know what I shared the other day on Instagram. You know how there are all these jokes about how husbands and kids, like you, put things on the stairs and everyone else walks around it and doesn't take it up. Like you, put things on the stairs and nobody else picks it up and takes it up. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah, so I'm that person. I'm the person that ignores the stuff on the stairs. My husband is the one that takes them up and I made fun of myself with that. That makes me weird. That's like you don't admit that stuff I did. Right, that's what you. It's just finding humor in who you are.
Speaker 1:What is your brand? What do you teach people to do? What can you teach people to do? What can you teach people to do? What is your passion, beyond your company and beyond your product? What is your passion? And, if it is a product if you're like well, this, I am passionate about our mascara.
Speaker 1:Why are you passionate about the mascara? I'm passionate about the mascara because it makes your lashes so long and you only need one coat Awesome. Why is having long lashes so amazing? Because it makes you feel so good about yourself. It's like you've had extensions but you didn't pay for them and you feel so good. Why do you feel good? Because you look pretty, because everyone wants long lashes, okay. So you know what you're good at doing. You're good at making people feel really good about themselves. You're great at showing them how to find tools to make them feel pretty. You're great at showing them how to find tools to make them feel pretty. That's something that you can go with.
Speaker 1:So maybe that's a solution right now is to think about what is one of your favorite products and dig deep. Let's say it's Norwex. Let's see if this works for Norwex, because this just came to me, okay. So let's say the EnviroCloth is your favorite product. Okay, why is it your favorite product? It's my favorite product because it cleans the house without using chemicals. Why is that important? It's important because chemicals are hurting people and they don't even realize what's happening in their systems, in their bodies, okay, in their homes, with all the chemicals they're using, and this EnviroCloth is a solution to that, okay, so you, like, you're passionate about showing people healthier ways to clean their homes, healthier ways to live in their homes, right? So now you can start looking at other things that are beyond Norwex. How else can you teach healthy ways to live in their home? What else can we eliminate? What can we add in our homes?
Speaker 1:This goes beyond your product, right, let's do, let's do Sensi. Okay, what is your favorite product in Sensi? Well, obviously, the warmers and the waxes. Why are those your favorite products? Because it helps me, because I, because it helps people feel calm and at peace in their home. Okay, why is that important? Because when they feel at peace in their home, okay, why is that important? Because when they feel at peace in their home, they're able to accomplish so much more in their lives because they're at peace, okay, so that's what you do you help people find calm and peace within their lives. I want you, I'm gonna challenge you, to do this exercise and try and dig deep and figure out. What is it that you do, what is your brand, who are you, what do you do and go do it, guys.
Speaker 1:The email funnel bundle is still available for one more day, so make sure you get your hands on it. Go to rachelaperrycom forward slash funnel so that you can get this incredible, incredible package Okay, at this insane discounted rate, so that you can start using email as a tool to make more money. This goes along with your brand, my friends. You can use your brand in your emails. Use it, my friends. This is how you can make some money now. Go get your hands on it, rachelaperrycom forward slash funnel. You guys, thank you for being here. I'll be back soon. Thanks for listening. That's it for this episode of the Direct Sellers Podcast, but our fun doesn't have to end now. You'll catch me hanging out over on Instagram between episodes and I'd love for you to join me. So hop into my DMs. I promise you're not getting any hate girl messages and I promise I'm not going to be asking you to weirdly buy anything. Send me the message podcast so I can send you my free 90-day action planner, because who doesn't love a good template?