The Direct Seller's Podcast
The Direct Seller's Podcast
The 3 New Rules of Direct Sales Success (What’s Working in 2025)
The direct sales landscape is shifting fast, and if you’re still using strategies from five years ago… you’re already behind. With commission cuts, company closures, and outdated tactics still being pushed, it’s time to take control of your business and your future. In this episode, we’re diving into:
- Why the old way of doing things isn’t working anymore.
- The 3 New Rules of Direct Sales Success that will keep you ahead of the game.
- How top-earning direct sellers are securing their income beyond just their products.
- Easy ways to monetize what you already know—without building a full-blown business.
- A simple way to take action now and create your own backup plan for financial security.
If you’re tired of uncertainty and ready to future-proof your income, this episode is for you!
🎧 Listen now and take control of your business!
Want to take the next step?
💌 DM me the word "Backup" on Instagram, and I’ll send you details on Your Backup Plan—my step-by-step program to help direct sellers create their own revenue stream without adding more hustle.
Hang out with me more!
Send me the message PODCAST over on Instagram at @rachelaperry and I’ll send you my "Parties-Optional Profit Plan!"
For Additional Resources for Direct Sellers:
www.rachelaperry.com
Welcome to the Direct Sellers Podcast, the podcast for direct sellers who are ready to get uncomfortable, build their business and grow a team while changing the face of the direct sales industry. I'm your host, rachel Perry. Join me as we get real and talk about all the things you need to kick some serious direct sales booty, from overcoming limiting beliefs to sharing the exact strategies you need to attract the right people who become customers and beg to join your team. I've got you covered, girl. I'm going to be your new BFF when it comes to balancing life and kids while building your direct sales business with poise, peace of mind and, of course, a good set of fake eyelashes. Let's get started. Hello, my beautiful friends, welcome back to another episode of the Direct Sellers Podcast.
Speaker 1:So this just occurred to me. I rarely promote this podcast. I don't know why. I guess I don't have a system in place. I'm not sure to be totally honest, but that changes today. So I am going to ask for your help on this.
Speaker 1:If you know of someone who you think might enjoy this podcast, might benefit from this podcast, would you share with them my benefit from this podcast? Would you share with them Also if you love this podcast? I would appreciate it so much if you could leave me a review. You can just scroll down to the bottom and I think there's an option for you to hit, if you're on Apple Podcasts, for you to leave a review. You know, I just would appreciate that, like I need to promote this more, because so many of you reach out to me and you're like, oh my gosh, this episode was so good, or this episode just like really hit me where I was. We need to help more people, right? So let's do that. Okay, y'all are my podcast besties, but let's see if we can grow this podcast, shall we? Okay, that was totally random today. I hope you're good, by the way, are you good? Okay, so today we are talking about you guessed it how to, how to protect yourselves. Let me just turn on my do not disturb for a second so that, so that you can, you know, not hear dings, okay, not how to protect yourself, okay, you know not hear dings, okay, not how to protect yourself, okay, but how to like, yeah, like protect yourself when it comes to your business and your life, because, listen, my goal is to help you be more secure in your life.
Speaker 1:There's nothing worse than feeling worried or anxious or stressed out about your paychecks, about how you're going to pay your bills, or anxious or stressed out about your paychecks, about how you're going to pay your bills, or maybe there's a leak in your roof and you're like, how are we going to pay for this? Or that seemed oddly specific, didn't it? Yeah, there is uncertainty, and the direct sales industry, right now, the network marketing industry, feels very unsure, uncertain. Every week it seems like another company has changed their commission plan or has closed their doors. Just this last week, at the time of this recording, two more companies one pretty big company that we know of has changed their commission plan, where they've taken out all levels. Leaders only will get paid on their first levels, like their immediate level. Everything else has been taken out. Another company has decreased the commission rate by 5%, like it just feels uneven, uneven. No, it feels uncertain, maybe uneven. So we're going to talk a little bit about that today, like how to make yourselves feel a little bit more secure.
Speaker 1:But here's the thing and I think I shared this in a reel this week if you're still relying on the same strategies that worked five years ago, I hate to break it to you, but you're behind. You're behind because those don't work anymore. Ah, so annoying, I know, but listen, the direct sales landscape is shifting fast. We just talked about that. It's shifting fast and if you look at your leaders and you look at the people who are making big money, chances are they are playing by new rules. They're playing by new rules, meaning they probably have other ways that they're making money as well. Okay, because they know that putting all of their eggs in one basket probably isn't the best idea. So here's what. And here's the other thing so many outdated strategies are still being taught.
Speaker 1:I had, I had someone who was actually part of 31 and because she was in 31 and obviously the door is closed to 31, other companies are recruiting right, they're recruiting her now or other consultants. And she was like one company said have parties and they will come. Have parties and you will sell. But the thing is is parties don't work like they used to. They just aren't. They just don't work like they used to. For some, yes, you're still getting great results, but I would say, generally speaking, parties don't work. Create the same results that they used to. And here's the thing more content, putting more content out there isn't going to fix it. Hustling more isn't going to fix it, because the problem isn't effort, it's strategy. You need a different approach. So we're going to talk about that right now.
Speaker 1:Okay, we're going to talk about the three new rules of direct sales success created by yours truly, not really Okay. So the first is you got to own your audience. We have seen Facebook, instagram, tiktok, like. We've seen it all like where they shut down for a day or they don't work one day or whatever, and y'all, if all your leads and your customers and your sales are only coming from social media or they're only coming Like, if you have an email list or you have a list. I ask so many people direct sellers all the time do you have an email list? And they'll say, yes, I have it. It's in the back end of my company's website. Hi, what if they close tomorrow? You would lose that list. So we want to make sure that you are not relying on social media, or at least your contacts. You have a way of contacting them if they were to close tomorrow. I also want to make sure you have your list of all your customers, independent of your company's website.
Speaker 1:Listen, the smartest direct sellers right now are building email lists, they're building social followings, they're building personal brands God, do I sound condescending? Cause that's not how I mean to sound so that they can take their audience anywhere. So let's like listen. I've done so many trainings and podcast episodes on on the importance of building an email list. Now it's more than ever. It used to be that I'd be like guys, like if social media were to, you know, close tomorrow, shut down tomorrow, what would you do if you don't have an email list? Well, now I'm saying, guys, the email list, you can't store it on the back end of your website, in your company's home office or back office, because if they were to close down and I know chances of your company closing are slim, but there's always a chance so please, let's make sure you have ownership of that list. I'm also going to encourage you to remember that you want to be selling.
Speaker 1:You sell more than just your products, the direct sellers who are making real money. They're not just selling a product, they're selling a solution. What is a solution or a transformation that you can offer? And this goes back to what I mentioned last week, just about creating, like a digital product that you can sell of your own. There's so much simplicity in that and I think we overcomplicate, like it might feel. Like it's just so much like why would anyone buy what I have to put out there or what do I even have to create? But y'all, can I remind you that Amanda and I sold our Facebook party formula for $19.99. And we made six figures the first year. We did that. Just one little thing that transformed our businesses. So we decided to teach other people and they wanted it. You may have been one of those people, I don't know.
Speaker 1:My point is it doesn't have to be big and crazy and amazing. It can be small and easy. What if you started offering? Let's give some examples here. Okay, maybe you sell jewelry. Maybe you could create some style guides and personalized shopping services. Maybe you are, like you're in the health and wellness space. Maybe you could like customize some supplement plants instead of just pushing your catalog Like. There are so many different ways that you can do this.
Speaker 1:The point is monetizing what you know, not just what your company sells. If you sell like Pampered Chef or you're in that like you sell kitchen cooking things, why not create a cookbook, a recipe book? It doesn't have to be, I mean, as long as you give credit where you find these recipes. If you're just but I mean y'all like I bet you could even create your own recipes. I mean y'all like, I bet you could even create your own recipes what are some things that you could do? Or where have you transformed, like, where have you found success? It might not even be specifically around what you sell with your direct sales company. It might be something more than that. It might be that you've figured out an organizing system for entrepreneurs, like let's put that together and sell that. Like I said, the key is monetizing what you know and it doesn't have to be much.
Speaker 1:This is what we talk about in your backup plan. So I've been talking about your backup plan. It's this new sort of DIY program, although right now it's more like I'm helping you through it because I want you guys to take action. So if you're curious about what I'm talking about, just DM me the word backup or the term backup plan and I'll send you the details. But that's what I'm helping. The girls in there do, like come up with an idea and then we're going to create it together, we're going to implement it, they're going to sell it and they're going to make some money.
Speaker 1:So the third rule is you need to make sure that you're branding yourself and not your company. And I know I talk about this ad nauseum, but it's so important, it's so important. You, my friend, are the constant. Companies change, comp plans change, but you don't. I mean, maybe you like, you grow and you become better, but you are the constant here, right? So you are the brand, you're the brand.
Speaker 1:I gave an example on my Instagram stories yesterday because someone was like, well, what does this mean personal branding and what does it mean that you're not your company? And so I gave the example of me. Like when I first started in direct sales, I sold jewelry. I sold Premier jewelry. I was not Premier jewelry. I sold their jewelry and I built a team of representatives, but I was not the brand. Like, I'm sorry, premier was not the brand, I was the brand.
Speaker 1:So I am Rachel Perry. I was a teacher. I had young children at the time. I loved helping women other young moms feel so much more beautiful than they normally do because they're just like life is crazy. I there were lots of things about me. I also happened to sell Premier Jewelry.
Speaker 1:It's the same for you you are not your company, you are you and there are things that make you you. Your superpower is what makes you you, your family, whatever it is about your life, like, like that is who you are. Right, when we had, when Amanda and I were the tag team, we weren't premier, we were just represent. We were ourselves, like we were a duo. We did funny minivan moments, we were moms. We obviously drove minivans, but we also taught direct sellers how to party on Facebook. So it's like what do you do? Who are you? Okay, that's your brand.
Speaker 1:So the reason this is important is because if people only associate you with a product, the reason this is important is because if people only associate you with a product, you're replaceable. But if they associate you with a solution or your expertise or even a transformation and they connect with you, they're going to follow you anywhere. It's how you build loyalty. You hear about brand loyalty. That's what that is. So my encouragement to you is to stop.
Speaker 1:If you feel like you identify as the product lady, like the jewelry lady or the kitchen lady or the pampered chef lady or the Norwex lady, I'm going to really encourage you to start being the go-to expert or coach or stylist or problem solver for something specific. Maybe you have become an expert at. Maybe your kids are picky and you've figured out how to give them, like, how to come up with ways to get healthy food in while they're still, while they're not, you know, turning their food away. Maybe you've come up with a solution on how to get nutrients into your children without tying them down to a seat to force food in them. That's weird, because I've never done that. I don't know why. I just said that you know. But you know what I'm saying, right, like, where are you an expert? Because you are your journey up to now. You have experienced certain things and you have mastered them. What are they? Maybe it's how to be a caregiver. It's how to be a caregiver. Maybe it's how to be a mom and handle kids with learning challenges. What is it?
Speaker 1:So, now that you know the new rules, let's talk about how to put them into action without feeling like you're starting from scratch. So, like I said, the first part is to identify what you're already good at. You don't need to reinvent the wheel. You already good at. Like you don't need to reinvent the wheel. You already have skills, you already have experience and you already have knowledge that people will pay for. So you can ask yourself, like, what questions do people always ask me about my business? Or what do I know that could help someone else, or what makes me stand out from the other consultants in my company? That's the first step. The second step is to create something small that's yours, so we don't need to like start a whole new business. For a little while, I was helping direct sellers build their own business, their own digital business, but that felt big and scary, right. So let's start with a small, small way to add some revenue to our, to our, to our lives. Right, you could do like a paid workshop, like that could be 27 to $47 on something that you can teach people on how to transform.
Speaker 1:Listen, y'all know I don't think Jackie's been on this podcast, but she was a part of a summit that I did a couple of years ago and she is an Instagram guru and for the longest time she was giving and she still does gives free coaching, basically on how to use Instagram and make it work for you and to help you, okay, to brand yourself. Well, now she's started a membership where people are paying her for that. She was already doing this. So she's like wait a second, I'm already doing this, let's monetize this. It's the same for you. What are you doing? You don't have to be like Jackie, but what are you doing? What is something that you already teach that you could monetize?
Speaker 1:Y'all like I, amanda and I were doing the Facebook parties. We were doing the Facebook parties and then someone was like you know, you could sell that. We were like what, seriously? Yeah, there are things that you do that you could sell, okay, that you could monetize. Maybe it could be a digital guide or a checklist. To be a digital guide or a checklist, maybe it's a personalized service. You can, you can refine this. Here's the thing Whatever you start doesn't mean that that's where you're going to end, right. That doesn't mean that like at all. It just means you're starting, okay.
Speaker 1:So step three is to put it out there, even if it's not perfect, and this is something, again, that we really going to go into in your backup plan. But here's, here's, I'm going to tell you the biggest mistake that you could make right now is waiting too long to take action, because the truth is, you do not need a website, you do not need perfect branding, to start making money now. So here's what you're going to do You're going to create this, something small, and then you're just going to put it out there. You're going to put it on your stories, you're going to put it in your customer group, you're going to put it on email list. Use your current audience. If you're creating something that they want, that you teach, trust me, it's going to work.
Speaker 1:And then step four is to keep it simple. Keep it simple and repeat what works. I'm all about simple, y'all. I'm all about simple, and that's what you're going to do. So listen, it's time to take control. The game has changed. It's 2025. What worked in 2024 isn't working. So if you're still waiting for your company to have your back, you're putting your future at risk. So you can either wait and hope that things don't change, or you can take action now. My encouragement to you is to take action now. So if you're curious about how to create this backup plan, about building something of your own without adding more hustle, I'm gonna encourage you to join me in your backup plan, where I literally take you through each step. All right, I hold your hand. So DM me the word backup or backup plan and I will give you the details.
Speaker 1:Y'all, I appreciate you being here today. Oh my gosh, I love you. I love you so much. So let's get the word out there about this. Let's change this industry. One listener at a time. I appreciate you so much. Thank you for listening. Until next week, my beautiful friends take care. That's it for this episode of the Direct Sellers Podcast podcast, but our fun doesn't have to end now. You'll catch me hanging out over on instagram between episodes and I'd love for you to join me. So hop into my dms. I promise you're not getting any hey girl messages and I promise I'm not going to be asking you to weirdly buy anything. Send me the message podcast so I can send you my free 90-day action planner, because who doesn't love a good template?