Why Direct Sellers Should Only Sell High-Quality Products

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Deciding to get into direct sales is an exciting jump into the world of business. There’s plenty of reasons why direct sellers choose this path: for some, it’s to share products they already love. For others, it’s to make a bit of money on the side.

But one thing that should be the same across the board is that all direct sellers are selling a product they believe in.

For instance, many of the Associates with USANA Health Sciences sell their products not just because they fell in love with them, but because USANA guarantees quality with everything they create. As a company, USANA holds itself to very high standards in terms of its production; if something doesn’t pass their quality check, it doesn’t get sold. Because of this, USANA’s Associates can confidently sell a product they believe in because they know it will benefit others.

But sadly, not every direct sales company is quite as dedicated to quality. Rather than jumping in with the first direct sales company you see, do some research to ensure you’re joining one with a product (or service) you like and believe in. It won’t just be a positive for you, but it’ll help your sales as well.

Here are four reasons why direct sellers should choose high-quality products to sell:

Loyal Customer Base

What often happens in business is that when you put out quality products, you get quality sales. Some companies cut corners to pull a bigger profit, but those are often flash-in-the-pan businesses that lose their customer base as soon as word gets out that they have subpar products—and word gets out very fast in the world of social media.

Better Treatment from The Company

When on your search for your next direct sales opportunity, it’s important to get a holistic view of how a company treats every aspect. One key thing to look for is how they manage their customer service. Customer service is, by and large, the most important part of any business. You want to join a company that treats its customers with respect and does everything they can to ensure their consumers have the best experience possible, even if things don’t go according to plan. While there will always be the odd negative review, if you consistently see negative reviews on Google or social media sites—or even worse, see the company arguing with those reviews—it’s a good idea to steer clear.

You’ll also want to see how they treat their product. While the direct sellers may be what keeps a company alive, at the end of the day, they’ve built their business on what they’re selling—whether it’s supplements, makeup, or a fitness program. So if they don’t respect their product and put out shoddy-quality items, they’re not likely to treat their people any better.

Again, it’s time to do some research. See if the company you’re investigating is part of the Direct Selling Association (DSA)—an organization dedicated to protecting direct sellers. If they aren’t, it’s time to look for another company.

Earn Your Consumers’ Trust

As a direct seller, you’re not just a faceless brand. You’re face to face with your customers, you use your personality to start conversations and sales, and you have full connections and relationships with the people you reach. With all these elements, you’re building trust with your customer base—and you don’t want to lose it with a bad product.

Consumer trust isn’t just good for moral reasons, either. It’s a key part of ensuring you get repeat customers and build your customer base through reviews and word-of-mouth. Any company you work with should be honest and transparent while producing a product they—and you—can stand behind in good conscience.

Keep Your Peace of Mind

Even more than the company believing in their product, you should believe in it. If you take on selling something you don’t believe in, it’ll ultimately wear on you, leaving you unmotivated and possibly even resentful. Between seeing poor results, getting hit with bad reviews, and having your own reputation called into question, it’s not enough to be confident in your delivery—the results need to match what you’re selling.

In some industries, or jobs, such as marketing, you have to find a way to sell something you don’t 100% believe in. But the beauty about direct sales is that you ultimately have the power to choose what you spend your precious time and effort selling. Don’t just pick something at random; make sure the products you’re selling are something you would use so you can get excited and leverage your personal experience—which will make it much easier to convince friends and family to buy from you.

Direct sales isn’t just a fun way to make money on the side. It requires a lot of interpersonal communication, both through parties and meet ups and in one-on-one conversations. As a seller, you’re the one putting your reputation on the line. Don’t do them, or yourself, a disservice by offering a subpar product.

Instead, put in the research and find a company and product you love and you know you can stand behind. That way, you can be sure you’re putting quality out and getting quality in return.

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