Will you allow online advertising?

[tc318]

I have to admit as of yet, I have never participated in a direct sales company. There are a few that have interested me but in all honesty - I am not the party type. I admire those that are! I have been often tempted to do it with strictly the online end of things for sales and recruiting, but some of the advertising rules for the companies have stopped me.

That being said, will those of you that plan on starting your own direct sales company allow your reps to advertise online? This is one factor that would be a major part of my decision making process and I am sure many others as well.

While I can appreciate why some companies don't allow online advertising - I do think it can be worked out where there are certain guidelines, but not banning it all together.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Lady D]

HI Chrissie
I have been with Watkins almost 6 years now and yes I do online advertising and so do my associates. I get a lot of business with my advertising so it helps.
I am not really the party type either but with Watkins, parties are not mandatory. This is where you make good money but you do not have to hold them. Its up to you how you work your business.
If I can be of any other help, just ask.

Lady D

[jatar_k]

if you're a company, it's foolish not to allow it, you need rules around what they can and can't market on maybe but they get the traffic, they do the branding, they get the sales

let em rip, companies that do not allow this are not companies who understand the internet or marketing there at all.

[DUMBO30]

I am a new owner of a pary plan company and I am working on getting a web site together. I do adult and couple's home parties. In this day and age you have to have some kind of web site. When doing my site it will only advetise the party itself. I live in TX and there are so may rules when it comes to adult products. So, to stay out of trouble with selling something in TX that is not legal, parties is all I will be advertising.

[jatar_k]

It is always understandable that we must abide by the laws that govern the products/services we sell

that is a good approach, at least you will have something out there

You could also do general information about the parties and some non specific information about products. Then you can have them contact you through the website for more information.

[tc318]

Good to stay under then radar, definitely

For your website, you can make it more about romance articles and advice and then have your consultant info for them to contact you about purchasing, parties etc.

It's a shame that so many companies are missing out on allowing their consultants to do online advertising. Another hang up for me is "cookie cutter sites". I am not fond of them, I can appreciate them wanting to approve a site but I won't go into a party plan if I have to use "their" site. I find some of the fees to be overpriced too. I can do my own site, with hosting - much cheaper on my own Anyway just some jumbled thoughts

Good Luck with your site Dumbo, you have the right approach!

[thelusive]

Hi Chrissie, cute doggie

You are correct, many of us do not "do parties" & actually have been "bred for online business" in this age of the internet. All companies, as you suggested, will have basic stipulations to protect copyright & basic infringement laws. The Bittersweet Candle Company is one more geared to this new internet age, as they allow all internet advertising in any form, with the exception of a seperate sales site (as every other company as to not have the end user/buyer ever think "that site" may be the company site) & informational sites may not have any part of the company name in the URL. They do allow for forwarding of their "carbon copy site" as you say to a chosen URL of choice, so that is nice! And, they protect the reps & are really about them, because no clients can order directly from the company site (they are forwarded randomly to rep sites!!!) & no one can sign with the company directly, interest forms are sent to reps like me. I wish AVON would get with the times, half as much as this company.

[MinT88]

My company does not allow online advertising but they also have a 28 year old retail brand name that a few people could easily tarnish on the web. Also, my company was founded on the principle of "no false promises". I could see how they would not want to allow their consultants to be posting all ove the web about "miracle creams" , etc. For example, if somebody asked 'do you have a proven wrinkle formula?" and one of our consultants answered then they just made a false promise. There is no such thing as a proven wrinkle formula. No such thing as beauty in a bottle and so trust is an integral part of our customer relations.

Besides, if you are in a party plan company and you are focusing your sales on the net then you are heading in the wrong direction. Party-plan companies are designed to excel at home parties. If you want more parties then you book a party, if you want to recruit, you have a party.

I think the net is probably more suited for MLM and one-on-one sales.

So, don't feel bad if your company has a no-net advertising rule. It's just not the way they want you to do business. Follow their business plan and you will succeed.

Ok..enough babbling.