Use online resources to advertise your direct sales business.
Direct sales businesses sell products to consumers through catalogs and websites. While competition for direct sales can be fierce, a strong advertising and marketing strategy can help to increase your sales. Research ways to advertise your business before you launch a campaign and ensure that you have a comprehensive marketing plan in place.
Direct Mail
Direct mail is one of the most common ways for direct sales businesses to advertise their products and services. According to the Direct Marketing Association's 2010 Statistical Fact Book, direct mail accounts for 52 percent of all mail, and 79 percent of households either read or scan advertising mail sent to their household. Send a postcard to your customers announcing a limited-time sale, or mail a sales letter to solicit business. Or send a catalog of your products as part of your direct-mail campaign.
Contests
Sponsor a contest through a direct-mail letter or on your company website. Choose an item that is related to your business to offer as an incentive for leads. For example, if you sell travel packages directly to customers, offer an all-expense paid trip in return for customers entering their email addresses or providing a friend's email address. It's a great way to simultaneously capture leads and advertise your business.
Email Marketing
Sign up for a free account with an email marketing vendor like Mail Chimp or Constant Contact. Then send weekly emails announcing special deals and discounts for customers who click a link within the email. This type of marketing helps you stay connected with customers, which can lead to more orders.
Paid Search
Paid search can be effective for direct sales businesses because it allows you to receive targeted traffic for specific products you sell. For example, if you sell dietary supplements directly to customers through your website, sign up for a free account with a search engine provider, then bid on several key words you think customers would use to search for products like yours online. Examples of targeted key words might be "fat loss supplement" or "weight loss pill." Write a brief ad for your dietary supplements that includes the key words you specified. When people search for these terms, they will see your ad appear next to the search results. You only pay for each person who clicks on your ad, which makes this a very targeted approach for a direct sales business because it drives customers directly to your sales page.
