Tips to Connecting with Your Direct Sales Team

If you have built a team in direct sales, then you know one piece of your job as an upline is to connect with each person in your group so that you can best support them.

I believe there are several ways to connect with your team. I’d like to share some of the many ways you can make that connection:

1. A team message board or Yahoo group. Both message boards and Yahoo groups allow the group members to interact with one another. Questions can be asked and answered and ideas can be shared. All group members have the ability to both read and to post. Not only can your team learn from you, but they can also learn from each other. Another wonderful benefit of a message board or Yahoo group is that team members can also form relationships with one another. Some of my best friends over the years have come from meeting other downline members of my own upline.

2. A group newsletter. Putting out a monthly or even quarterly newsletter allows you to stay in touch with both those who do and don’t have computer access. Newsletters can include company incentives, company sales and team recognition. Another favorite item to include in newsletters is articles about the industry you are involved in. If you’re in the health and wellness field, find an article each month that highlights one aspect of the health and wellness field. If you represent a kitchen/food related company, offer information on the latest findings on certain foods, or certain related products.

3. Offer resources. Where can your team learn more about the industry your products are from? Where can they learn more about the company? Offer trade magazine suggestions. Offer product usage charts. Offer book recommendations. In addition to the specific field your products are in, there are also many resources available to the network marketing industry. Offer one or two new resources each month via your newsletter or team message board.

4. Offer recognition. Let folks know who had the highest sales for the month. Let folks know who had the most new team members for the month. You can post this information, but also send a postcard to the distributors. Let them know of their accomplishment. Let them know they are number one on your team. If your company puts out company wide recognition and someone on your team is recognized, highlight this. Post birthdays and company anniversaries. Let your team you know it’s their birthday. Send a card. On the occasion of their anniversary with the company, again send a card.

Each of these methods of reaching out and connecting with your downline will help build camaraderie between you and the rest of your team. When your team feels connected, they are more likely to work the business and stay involved.

Audrey Okaneko has been in direct sales since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or you can Become a Tupperware Consultant

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