Work at Home Moms Articles
Become an Author    Member Login    Editorial Guidelines     WAHM-Articles Community



Attention: Work At Home Moms
Learn how to create the WAHM life you dream of!
Click HERE for your success blueprint
Visit our Sponsors
They help keep us going.

Search for an addiction rehab to register today.
Work at Home Jobs
Work At Home Space
AngelaShupe.com
Christian Home Business Connection

Barb Girson's Articles

  • 'Tis the Season for Family, Friends, & Follow Up - 10 Timely Tips
    This is the time to gather sales, prepare for the New Year and make memorable time for family and friends. Now through February requires the strongest effort and the most multi-faceted approach to growing your business, especially in direct sales.


    Many businesses conduct between 25-40% (Source: NRF) of their annual sales during these holiday months. December in particular requires additional energy and planning to not only surge your sales but also to truly enjoy the special time of year yourself. The secret to starting a prosperous new year is to add one more ritual to your holiday tradition; one day devoted to Unforgettable Follow Up™. During this day, it is essential to reach out to former customers and Hosts, and take the time to thank them personally for their business. Scheduling a single day of focused phone calls work wonders. Read on to 10 timely sales tips…
  • 1 Spring 'Biz' Building Checkpoint - Use Your Biz Card For Building New Business!
    Recently, I have been making observations and speaking on successful networking habits that stem from my personal experiences. Without much effort, it has resulted in getting referrals and landing new business. The look and layout of your little biz card can make a big impact!

    This article will hopefully inspire you to take another look at your card and make sure it is actually working for you! Exchanging business cards is the beginning of a budding new relationship!

    Have a well thought out sales strategy and supporting sales tactics. Especially if you have a home-based business or have a direct selling business, this is an effortless, inexpensive form of advertising with potentially powerful results. With the world rapidly transforming around us, these tips will help you determine if your 'biz card' or approach needs some transformation, too.
  • 2 Spring 'Biz' Building Checkpoints - Biz Cards for Building New Business!
    Check your purpose and your approach!

    When you are networking, think about the time-honored practice of giving and receiving business cards (biz cards). Do you make the most of this transaction? The simple exchange of personal contact info is the beginning of a budding relationship. I share my cards with people whom I would want to connect, converse and conduct (business)--my three C's of biz cards.

    This article will hopefully inspire you to think about your biz card purpose and approach to make sure it is actually working for you!Your little biz card can make a big impact!

    Have a well thought out sales strategy and supporting sales tactics. This is an effortless, inexpensive form of advertising with potentially powerful results, especially if you have a home-based business or engage in direct sales. With the world rapidly transforming around us, these tips will help you determine if your 'biz card' or approach needs some transformation, too.
  • 2 Ways To Network For New Work – Get Linked In

    Make your own luck and find your Pot of Gold this month! Networking can be quite nerve-racking or a waste of time without a solid follow-up strategy in place. Use the right tactics to support your goals and you can turn your network into your new work! If you are in a party plan or direct selling, home-based business networking is just a fantastic way to find new leads and get referrals. Read on to learn two strategies and some simple tactics that can definitely help you get luckier this month.  

  • 2010 Success Checklist - Five Alive Tips For the New Year
    Ready to launch a successful year? Before you do, read my motivational tips and I think you will be glad you did. After my first January when my Party Plan home-based business had a disappointing start, I have learned how to bridge the excitement of the holiday season with the launch of a successful New Year, so the momentum of the November and December is carried into a successful January and February. Over the years, I have refined these simple time-tested tips and January became a great launching pad for the success.
  • 3 Big Business Tips That Mom Taught Me
    My mom is getting up there in age (92) yet she refuses to admit it. Maybe because her attitude is so young...or maybe she just does not believe it. She raised to two sets of children spanning an 18 year gap between my older brother and youngest brother.
  • 3 Business Coaching Tips I Taught My Daughter
    Robyn, my oldest daughter is in grad school in New York. I recently hired her to edit my newsletters and some of my web copy. We have been working really well together. It was great to have her home for spring break recently. It was especially fun to have her take an interest and help with my new home-based business. I never get enough of my girls.

    I could not help but notice that Robyn is dealing with some struggles that I actually felt at her age, especially after visiting home once I had moved away. There is an overwhelming feeling that there is so much to do yet so little time. It was true then and it is true now, that it always comes down to setting our priorities and making our choices. I trust she will work it out.

    Read on to learn more about the 3 coaching tips we talked about during our conversation...setting priorities, speaking up and reaching out.
  • 5 Enterprising Entrepreneurial Success Tips To Help You Grow Big
    To build your enterprise big it requires a healthy dose of consistent actions; the right actions. If you are an entrepreneur or embarking on a new home-based business or direct selling venture, here are 5 success tips to help you quickly establish yourself and gain visibility. These sales tips are geared around keeping your income rising, your marketing costs low and your mind set positive.

    To build your enterprise big, read on...
  • 5 Steps to Make Your Fall Fairs More Fruitful
    As the air turns crisp and the leaves change, fall presents many seasonal opportunities to work trade shows, events, booths, fairs, and festivals. Adding a booth or fair to your marketing mix can be very beneficial and help you grow sales, especially if you have a direct sales, home-based business. Selecting the right booth or fair that attracts your targeted market can be a tremendous opportunity to generate leads and to book parties or find potential recruits. You get to meet new prospects face to face, and see people who might want what you provide.
    Read on to learn 5 steps to help you have a successful show experience this fall...
  • 6 Sticky Ideas To Help You Stand Out In Direct Sales
    I am reading Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
    by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

    Dan and Chip Heath identify 6 principles (highlighed below) that make an idea stick. I have expanded upon these principles in an entrepreneurial, direct selling, home-based business context. This information makes a concise success checklist when launching a new product, creating a marketing campaign, offering an incentive or communicating a vision.

    Read On To Learn The Six Principles of Sticky Ideas And How To Apply Them To Direct Sales...
  • Barb's Better Booking Checklist —For Direct Sales Home Parties
    I learned quickly in direct sales that I had to approach booking parties with a plan or I would not book parties. Thus when I decided to become a booking expert and truly master the skill, my booking average went up to 3-4 bookings per party.

    Because my success was not without struggle, my experience helped me relate to the discomfort involved with asking for parties and ultimately made it possible for me to help others overcome it. I will never forget how uncomfortable I felt when I first started. Learning can be painful but building skill is priceless. Read on to see how many of the booking steps you practice from my 'Barb's Better Booking' Checklist'.
  • Boost Your Sales Events & Meeting Attendance - 4 Key Questions To Help You Build Big
    I recently attended one of the monthly eWomenNetwork events for the first time. Since the dynamics of sales promotion, client engagement, consumer outreach, networking events and sales event planning continuously intrigues me; I thought I would share my observations during this luncheon to provide my insight for you.
  • Direct Selling - The High-heeled Approach -Remember who you A.R.E.!
    We typically start each year full of hopes and dreams to make each year better than the last. With a fraction of the year behind us, take stock of your habits.
  • Discover The Entrepreneur in YOU - From Obstacle To Opportunity
    Today, I am glad and gratified to report that my ability to bring in business, pay my bills (without using savings) and work (happily) every single day is empowering. This lovely professional place in my life was born out of examining and extracting a gift I have had all along; my inner entrepreneur. The road to this invaluable and universal resource involved the use of what I call the three C's.

    Read on to learn my three Cs' to discover your inner entrepreneur. They hopefully will help you start or sustain your home-based business.
  • Follow UP Do and Follow UP Don't - 2 Unforgettable Stories
    Whether you are following up with perspective Hosts, potential recruits, networking leads or business contacts, effective follow up is the key to getting the sale, securing an offer or sealing a deal. For those who collect leads, 70% of the leads gathered are typically never followed up on...yet there is a sales fortune in the follow up. When you are focused about how you follow up, you are more likely to stand out and be unforgettable. Seek opportunities to build relationships first and then talk about products, services, people, or events. This is especially important if you are in direct sales, direct selling or have a home based business. Keep your name in constant circulation and never underestimate the power of name recognition. Read on for 2 Unforgettable Follow Up stories....
  • For a Fresh Start Follow Your Heart
    Many times in my direct selling career, I have set goals for my home-based business then stumbled. It is all part of the learning process. By stumbling enough times, (or even falling flat - truth be told), I have learned how to trust myself enough to know that I will work my way back up. Here are three truths I learned (my version of Oprah's, "What I know for sure...") that have helped me to stay on track, get back on track or to start over when need be.
  • Go, Grow, and Get Gusto to Reach Your Goals-3 Pointers from a Personal Story
    This month, Rayna, our daughter, graduated from cosmetology school. It was a very special weekend celebrating her accomplishment. Like we often experience while pursuing our goals, she had so many ups and downs during her 18 month journey. There were obstacles to overcome and challenges to hurdle, in order to complete the requirements. Sometimes, like Rayna, we can be lost before we can be found (or find). We must picture our paradise before we can pursue it. Read on for three pointers to get gusto toward your goals which came from my personal story.
  • Googlize to Save You Time and Money - 18 Reasons Why
    AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo...even Outlook users listen up! I have been a long time loyal AOL user. My AOL email address spans back a decade. Though it can be easy to switch e-mail addresses, I have always seen the importance in keeping my e-mail address the same, so as to maintain connection with my valuable contacts and sales leads in the process.

    Moving away from AOL has not been a quick or easy decision. That was before I learned the virtues of Gmail and how it help entrepreneurs, direct sellers, and sales reps.

    I have become a Gmail (Google's email) guru. Google products help me to save time, money and ultimately increase revenues. Gmail is Google's solution for bringing email, chat and (with their newest addition BUZZ) social networking to one place. The Google site states, "Gmail is built on the idea that email can be more intuitive, efficient, and useful. And maybe even fun."...and I agree. This is why I want to share some of the key benefits that I enjoy. Read on to learn more
  • How To Conquer The 3 Most Common Networking Concerns -Pushy, Perfection, Possibly NO
    The weather is beautiful. It's time to get out, 'network' and meet new people. Yet three common networking concerns surface and might hold us back. Networking remains one of my most successful sales strategies.
  • Luck & PR Follows Non-Stop Networking - 6 Public Relations Tips
    In the last 4 months I have benefited from various public relations (PR) opportunities and here is how you can, too!

    Exposure snowballs and opens doors for more PR. One question people often ask...is "How did you get this opportunity?" I am always eager to find ways to build public relations. However, I have not set out specifically to seek it out. It found me from the non-stop networking I have done. The key to successful networking is genuinely to connect with people and build a relationship.

    Read on for 6 quick tips to help you get lucky from your non-stop networking and possibly lead to some fantastic press releases or public relations opportunities:
  • One Way To Get Lucky – Network To Find New Work!
    March is the month to make your own luck.
    Lately my networking efforts have been very fruitful in getting referrals, finding new business and gaining support. Wow! I feel lucky because of the great people I am meeting and staying in touch with. Since I have been purposely putting myself out there more frequently, it just keeps getting better. If you have a home-based business, get out of the house to meet new contacts. This strategy works particularly well if you are in a home party plan or direct selling business because you need to be constantly seeking new customers.

    I have heard that 70% of a home party plan business should be from new business each year. Networking is one way we can all create our own luck. Read on to see how to foster your network in March!
  • Share and Sell Your Gifts - 4 Handy Sales Tips
    To sell your gifts this season, connect with customer and Host's mind set. Take notice of how you position verbal and printed messages as you recommend the gift-giving option. Think about what the average consumer spends for the different components of their holiday priority list and use this information to give practical suggestions. As conversing evolves into questions, be prepared to move the conversation to one of new opportunity, for a stronger, more successful holiday season.
    Trends influencing gift-giving this season includes themes, such as, simplicity, streamlining, convenience shopping (online and catalog), improving health and fitness and nesting. (Source: Giftingresources.com/gifts/hottrends) If you can package your product or service in accordance with one of these trends, you will be much more apt to spark interest. Here are 4 handy tips to help you share and sell your gifts this season:
  • Spring S.T.A.R Team Building Checklist To Be Bigger and Retain Better This Summer
    It's spring! The sun is out.
    Spring with all of the beauty brings some important business considerations.
    Read on for a handy checklist to help Leaders build bigger, stronger teams this spring and retain them through the summer. When I started in direct sales it took me a few years of experiencing the ups and downs and effects of the season to understand the necessary shifts needed as a Leader.
    Most of the seasonal shifts were related to the impact of seasonal sports that our daughters got involved with (i.e. softball, cheerleading, roller derby). Plus when and how to schedule business appointments, home parties and recruit interviews was often determined by whether the children were in school or out of school. Without foresight, the schedule that was going smoothly and in a groove would not work. The business demands would pull at me and create an internal conflict.
    Use this checklist to help you enjoy this season and get on top of the seasonal shifts coming your way.
  • The Future Belongs To YOU - Take Charge!
    5.7 million jobs have been lost since the economic recession began December of 2007. (USDOL, online) The onset of summer, flowers, and sunshine however is the perfect time to remind people that despite the highs and lows of the economic currents, your future belongs YOU. If you are unsettled, now is the time to consider starting your own home-based business.

    Months ago I realized this myself, when I remembered that no one could down size, right size or outsize you except for YOU. Listen to your inner entrepreneur.
  • What Not To Say When Selling - 3 Weak Word Choices To Avoid
    We are all in sales, just embrace it. Selling is providing a service, sharing information and issuing an invitation.

    A sale is both an art and a science. Even very successful women have hang ups when it comes to 'sales' and 'selling'. No one likes to be thought of as too sales-y. Plus, no one likes feeling sold and most of all no one wants to sell out to achieve success.
    Women often get concerned about what I call the 'P' Sales Plagues that truly block Profit Potential. Read on to learn 3 'weak' word choices to avoid that follow the P Sales Plagues.
  • Your Fall Success Checklist - 6 Tips to Help You Tame Your Direct Sales Time Management Challenges
    I recently spoke and facilitated at a small group meeting for established entrepreneurs. The topic was time management - a challenge for most who are building a home-based business. The issues they sited are common among entrepreneurs & especially if you are in direct sales. So much to do and so little time.

    The juggle and struggle of managing professional and personal priorities is challenging. This requires planning. Set your intention to find a formula that meets the needs of work and home. When you spend too much time on your business, your family suffers! Too little time spent on the business, and your results are meager.

    At different stages, your personal needs will change. What is at the forefront of responsibilities for a work at home mom (WAHM) with toddlers is different from when they are in school. Summer schedules vary from a fall routine. August is the time to take in our last summer days & make your plan for a fabulous fall. Read on & get a Fall Success Checklist:

Powered by Article Dashboard