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CarolinaConsign
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Joined: 25 Dec 2006
Posts: 73
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# Posted: 18 Jan 2007 17:02 · Edited by: CarolinaConsign
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I am in the process of developing a Business & Marketing Plan (B&MP) for a Coastal Vacations business. I want to put great emphasis on Marketing Strategies and would love to hear what ideas you have for marketing Coastal Vacations. In or out of coastal doesn't matter to me at this point, just different ideas than I have. I know I'm not the sharpest or brightest pencil in the box, but I know when combined with others I improve.
Lead development, promotional ideas, barter, etc...etc...
Btw.....I am more than willing to share what I pull together.
Thanks in advance!
Brian
"We can never discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore"
Anonymous
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hsimpsonjr
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 603
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2007 09:41
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One thing that I am about to start is marketing Coastal to local businesses and car dealerships to use the trips for incentives to get salespeople to make more sales or to get more customers to come in. It's going to be hard because I work a full time job right now but I have a new member that just joined the callcenter that was already a level 2 director and he made his living retailing the Coastal product to businesses mainly in the U.S. He is from Canada so if he can get on the phone and make sales to people in America I feel confident I can do it to. He does have a very professional sounding voice, though. lol He wanted to get into the call center and start building a team so he can get those pass up training sales. That is where the big money in Coastal comes from. You are making sales and getting the training sales. I know it's aggrivating to get past those first 2 but when you do, it's like pure freedom to be all that you want to be. There is no limit or minimum or maximum requirements. Another marketing technique the call center uses is rewarding new members who sign up at level 2 by allowing them to keep all of their level 1 sales immediately without passing any up. If you sign up at level 2 you get to keep all of your $1,000 commissions from day 1. You will be able to make immedate money which is great when you are first starting out and need to get your advertising established. It really attracts people to the call center also because it's an incentive to join at the higher level. It works great. I can speak from experience because my first sale was a level 1 sale and I got that $1,000 through PayPal.
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PNL Travel
Joined: 28 May 2006
Posts: 216
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2007 11:21
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Hi Brian,
Other than the usual ways of marketing Coastal, business building and retail to business and people who love travel, I also market it to people who have home party businesses. Longaberger, Pampered Chef, Home Interiors etc... One lady I know is looking at the package so that she can give away a cruise as a door prize to people just for showing up and another to the hostess who tops $250 in sales. It's a tax write off for them, so that's always good!
Lora
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dawnmo
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Joined: 4 Jan 2007
Posts: 192
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2007 12:21
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That's a great idea, Lora! Let us know how that works out for you.
Harold, keep us posted on how your retailing plan works out for you!
(I will have to start putting together a list of all these great ideas! So many ideas...so little time! LOL!)
Dawn 
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hsimpsonjr
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 603
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2007 14:03
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I also thought about Parent-Teacher Organizations. They could use it for fundraising and to reward the teachers for a job well done at the end of the year. I know some sell the package to Churches for fundraising, also.
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CarolinaConsign
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Joined: 25 Dec 2006
Posts: 73
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2007 16:58
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Great!
Thanks Lora & Harold.
Brian
"We can never discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore"
Anonymous
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Lion_child
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 12
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# Posted: 21 Jan 2007 23:59
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Quoting: hsimpsonjr He does have a very professional sounding voice, though. lol He wanted to get into the call center and start building a team so he can get those pass up training sales. That is where the big money in Coastal comes from.
I thought the call center was not allowed with CSG, like passing up the sale to the agent.
for me, i will be using the leads first, then i will expand to other marketing ideas. i plan to use newspapers, and the radio.
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hsimpsonjr
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 603
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# Posted: 22 Jan 2007 10:50
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LionChild,
CSG does not have a call center like we do but if you joined with another coastal group like CSG or wealthbuilders or any other coastal group, you can still be a part of our call center. You just have to pay the call center setup fee and the commission to the member that led you to the call center. You would actuallly be part of two groups. You can use both to sell Coastal Vacations. You only have to have one package though. So, if you decided to join the call center group after you joined any other group you would not have to buy your Coastal Vacations travel package again. You would just be paying for the set up fees and member commission.
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roger
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 276
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# Posted: 6 Feb 2007 22:14
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Hi everyone,
As they say, there is always more than one way to skin a cat.
Although I'm a L2 Director, I'm relatively new at building a team and I see there is a lot of money to be made doing it BOTH ways (retailing and team building) if you're willing to put in the time.
Nothing like having your cake and eating it too; what's the point of having cake if you can't eat it?
For anyone who's interested, I encourage you to see my post on "There is more than one way" to run your Coastal business.
Roger
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GWS
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Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 2
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# Posted: 13 Feb 2007 21:39
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Step 1. Represent a company with a product that has a real marketable value.
Step 2. Align yourself with people who are going to give you a real marketing advantage.
Step 3. Don't rely on automated systems & other people to run your business.
Step 4. Don't get involved in the opportunities that revolve around 3 step money games & hype of what only a select few have made.
Step 5. If you're not making money after 3 months sell what you can on e-bay like the rest of the unsuccessful Coastal reps are doing & move on.
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hsimpsonjr
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 603
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# Posted: 14 Feb 2007 09:45
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GWS,
Sorry Coastal didn't work out for you. It's working great for me and lots of other members of the call center and other teams. I hope you are successful in your new business but please don't try to bring our busniess down just because you had a bad experience.
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tomcha
Joined: 4 Feb 2007
Posts: 102
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# Posted: 14 Feb 2007 10:46
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GWS, I too am sorry that it didn't work out for you. How long have been trying? And what methods did you try to market the business?
It might sound too presumptuous, but is it possible that you gave up on the business too early?
Believe me, I have had my share of doubts and I still do at times, but this is the way I tend to think of it.
This model is working for countless people. Therefore, if I find that it's not working for me, the issue (not necessarily a problem) is with me and what I'm doing. Not the system.
So my philosophy has been to try something and if it doesn't show promise, I put it on hold/drop it and try something new until I come to something that I can sink my teeth into.
Based on this, I've tried leads, classified ads and PPC. None have worked for me that well. Of course, I have to factor in the fact that I might not know what the heck I am doing.
But I have other ideas that need to be tested, so I am willing to put these on hold for the moment.
I know for a fact that I don't know how to write good compelling ads. So my guess is that the classified ads are working well for people that do know how to do so, but just not me at the moment.
This brings me to another point. I always make it a point to always try and learn something new. Whether it's something about marketing or something else, for me the focus is on the marketing, I figure the more I learn, the more value I add to myself.
And the more value I add to myself, the more value I can give to others. This is based on my founding belief that this is a people first business. The financial reward is something of a beneficial side effect.
I mentioned it on another post on this forum, and I can't remember the author or the exact wording, but my favorite quote goes something like this.
You can get whatever you want in life, as long as you help enough people get what they want.
No matter what you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck.
Thomas
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jnapier
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Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 647
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# Posted: 19 Feb 2007 00:50
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As a top leader with Coastal Vacations I must say your asking a GREAT QUESTION.
First - start by taking with your director about marketing. Find out what marketing options your group suggests.
Personally, I recommend leads to get rolling.
A home party/ grand opening for your business is suggested as well. Let your friends know about your business.
Pick 2-4 marketing options ( lead companies) and move forward.
I work with my team at events as well.
The Coastal Synergy Group offer some great training for this area and it's helping our team members grow their business using several marketing options.
Jay NaPier
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luvtravel
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 812
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2007 06:47
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Recently I had several prospects insist that the only way they will consider Coastal is to see my last 3 checks.
Do you show your prospects your checks? If you prefer not to how do you respond to this "objection" as I feel this is nothing more than an objection.
Personally I would never have even thought to ask to see a copy of someone's checks let alone insist on seeing 3. I find that as being rude and I would not want that person on my team.
Terri
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decker2006
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Joined: 6 Jan 2007
Posts: 222
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2007 10:08
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Terri,
I don't blame you. If those people are on a job interview, do they ask to see the boss' paycheck? Not only that, but the individual has to make the determination how much they will make by how much they put in to it. Even if the director has only made one sale ever, the person coming in to the business has potential to make so much more.
Noreen
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roger
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 276
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2007 10:54
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Well put Noreen. It was the same thing for me, when I initially joined Coastal I knew my Director had recently joined but it didn't make a difference because I understood the model and the product really interested me. And being the ambitious freak I am there was only one direction for me to go, up!
He's no longer in the business and it's been almost a year full time for me in Coastal so it really does depend on you. Having a good Director is also key for knowledge, guidance and support but he/she isn't going to do the work for you.
Roger
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hsimpsonjr
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 603
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2007 13:47
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I have a one word response for people who demand anything from me or they won't join.....NEXT!? Man, that would really make me upset. If you volunteered to show them it's one thing but for them to demand it or else?! WOW! I would probably hang up on them. I definately think those are the people who are NOT the type you want on your team. What you could say is "well, when you go to your bank and get your checking account statement and prove that you have the money to start then I will show you my last check." Then, when they say "oh you can be sure I have the money" you can say to them," then you can be sure I have the checks." I want people on my team that know I want to help them be successful. Not a person that thinks they are doing a great service to me by being on my team instead of someone elses. Confidence is one thing but arrogance is another.
Last night I spent about an hour on the phone with a wonderful lady who had seen some of my posts on this forum and wanted to ask some questions about the business. She sent me an email and I called her back and the main thing I wanted her to realize is that I was there to serve her and answer her questions regardless of whether she joined or not. I truley enjoyed talking to her simply because she was genuine with me and wanted to know more about the business and how the call center worked. She understood that I would be there to help her get qualified as soon as possible and after that I will continue to support her and her team. This is the kind of person I want on my team. She sees the great potential in Coastal and wants to learn more so she can prepare for her retirement which is just around the corner for her. She is a GREAT example of a prime candidate for Coastal and the call center. She and her husband want to be able to travel and the call center can take her calls while she is using her package. How COOL is that?! Helping people be successful is what it is all about.
Terri, you could tell the person that you use paypal and don't get checks, also.
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luvtravel
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 812
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2007 06:08
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Thanks everyone. As you said.......NEXT
On another note, I have to say how amazing Coastal Directors are to competitors who make feeble attempts at putting down Coastal
giving them good advice on marketing, that's beautiful!!
Coastal Directors showing their professionalism yet once again!!
Terri
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Carolyn
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Joined: 1 Apr 2007
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 8 Apr 2007 13:58
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Quoting: hsimpsonjr She and her husband want to be able to travel and the call center can take her calls while she is using her package. How COOL is that?! Helping people be successful is what it is all about.
Speaking from first hand experience, it is beyond cool when you return from vacation, check into your back office, and learn your business continued to move forward while the professionals at the call center were speaking to new prospects as well as following up with others.
For those retailing to businesses, other uses include boosting employee attendance and as rewards for customer referrals.
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cgmom
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Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 147
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# Posted: 8 Apr 2007 20:20
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Ok, so I am looking at this automated system and wondering how it really works? I call all of my prospects personally because I want to know who I would be working with as well as want the prospect to know who would be working with them. I think it is a great concept but in reality, does it really work? What kind of people are at the call center? What are they saying to your prospects? Just curious. As I said it seems like a great concept. Please fill me in!
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hsimpsonjr
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 603
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# Posted: 8 Apr 2007 21:39
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CGMom,
the people at the callcenter are professionals who know the business VERY WELL because they present it numerous times a day and they are EXTREMELY GOOD at what they do. Their closing ratio is 17% to 22% on average which is practically unheard of in the industry. We advertise the 800 number to the call center along with our member ID and they do the presenting the business and do followup calls and finally close the sale. Do we talk to prospects? Yes, when they want to speak to us before the sale. They can contact us by getting our number we have on our website that is supplied by the call center or they can ask the sales person to alert us that they would like to talk to us and then we can get in touch with them to answer their questions and let them get to know us before the sale.
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cgmom
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Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 147
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# Posted: 8 Apr 2007 23:34 · Edited by: cgmom
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Hmm, sounds interesting...So instead of making the full commission from a sale, you divide it with the call center person who closed it for you? I assume the leads are generated by you? How is this system working for your business? Thanks for the information, I am still a newbie and learning about all the groups in this business. I am currently working full time and getting this business off the ground and am struggling. It is hard to find time to do everything!I know I could get things moving faster if I had more time but I can't quit my full time until my business gets off the ground. Vicious cycle!!! Thanks for your info!
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goldmills
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Joined: 3 Apr 2007
Posts: 184
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2007 00:25
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The best way to really understand and get your questions answered about the call center is to simply call them.
All the sales center members on this forum began this way.
It started with curiousity
Facts
Proof
Edification
and Curiousity finally leads people to take more action.
So...
Just call the call center. their # is 800-378-1169, my name is Jeff Mills and my ID # is 2189JM, if you need one, or you can call in with anyone else's ID.
Basically, you make FULL commissions with the call center.
$1000 on L1 sales
$3000 on L2
$6500 on L3
Now, we DON'T make $3200 on Premiers or $9700 on L3, cause we do split a little to a lot of the sale with the closers, and why not? We have no need to be greedy and it keeps our closers happy to come in the next day and work our leads and work the phones for us, so we don't have to.
Last week, my call center closed me over 15 personal sales, and i spoke to maybe 3 of them. I have now set the record with the most sales in one week from one person. I was on vacation Thursday and Friday, traveling for Easter, and did over $17,000 those two days, NOT TALKING to anyone in my back office.
This is why a sales center model outshines the "Do it yourself" mentality. This is why SOOOO Many coastal reps are ditching ridiculous prospecting systems to come into our system, cause they realize, they keep prospecting like normal, or maybe learn some new things, but then the closing are all done for them.
It really does work for many people, to be fair, it also does not work for some people as well.
Mainly people who are prideful, think they are God's gift to Coastal and who deceptively put thoughts into people's minds that they are weaker or inferior people, because they cannot do the business on their own.
There are director's out there who smash and bad mouth call centers and misguide people about how they work, only with selfish motives, which are namely to get people to join Coastal using 'their cool shinny system'
All's fair in love and war, and ya, too bad we are all competitors with eachother, but I don't look at it as competing, I look at it as how can I help people run their businesses more successful? How can I offer them something of great value, which I know helped me and 100's of others make money without bashing or smashing people or systems.
You'll never see me bash or smash or play the PR game where people go back and forth, trying to prove one system or director is better than someone else. It's kindergarten stuff, and ya, I have joined in the throwing mud fights on occasion, but really do my best to get away from it, let my systems, sites, and personality do the talking for me and it keeps me outa trouble, and helps me create a lifestyle and income for my family that we would never trade for a job.
All this to say....
Many roads lead to Roman with Coastal.
Find your Road, evaluate which Roads may be rocky, smooth or have many pitfalls. Once you study each system's Maps, then make the best choice for you, and then become a sponge, learn and then do what your director's tell you to do. Don't sit on it Potsy.
Jeff
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roger
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 276
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2007 08:09 · Edited by: roger
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Quoting: cgmom I am currently working full time and getting this business off the ground and am struggling. It is hard to find time to do everything!I know I could get things moving faster if I had more time but I can't quit my full time until my business gets off the ground
Further to what Jeff is saying your situation cgmom is pretty common. Most people who join Coastal - in fact who get into any home business - work a full time job.
As people we will usually choose the path of least resistence, and although the Call Center certainly leverages your time better than any system I've seen, you still have to do work and you are encouraged to talk to people. However, there may be a time when people join your business without you speaking with them (it's happened to many of us who are with the Call Center), that's the power of leverage!
One of the most important facets to any venture is your belief in yourself and the product/system you are a part of. Would you buy the Travel Package if there was no business opportunity attached to it? If your answer is no then take a step back and evaluate the business further. If your answer is yes then with all things being equal, I believe Coastal is the best business opportunity in the world.
Many of you reading these posts have probably seen hundreds of biz opps and you've probably even joined a few yourself. But let's face it you don't have to move many Coastal packages to be in profit!
If you go forward, manage your expectations. In our business you can make a lot of money, however, it's not likely you will make a ton of sales as you come out of the gate. It's not that you can't it's just not likely, particularly if you have a full time job. With regards to advertising, it can cost you as little as $0 - $$ whatever your monthly budget allows you.
Go with a Director who can guide you and who will be there when you need him/her and even push you when you need a push. By being a part of this forum gives you additional support and we are here to help. Good luck!
Roger
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hsimpsonjr
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 603
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2007 09:09
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CGMom,
I work a fulltime job right now. As a matter of fact, I am making this post from work right at this minute. One other great thing about the call center is that the guys there at the call center will take calls for me while I work. I can get on the internet when I have a few minutes or at lunch and look in my back office and see who they have talked to, how the call went, if they have done follow-up calls yet and if they have actually joined, yet.
My first 5 sales a year ago were all made by the call center and I didn't speak with them until after they were signed up. The cool thing for the new Coastal Call center member is that they have a good director like myself and others on this forum to personally guide them through the whole learning process of how and where to advertise. I spend hours on the phone with my members even after they are qualified. Just ask Roger. He probably gets tired of talking to me. He was already a successful member of Coastal Vacations when he saw my Call Center website and he called me and we talked several times and then he joined.
I only chatted with Jeff online one time before I joined under him. Because of using the training in the backoffice and asking him questions, probably 60% of the members in this area of the forum are direct signup's of mine. Susan, Roger, Shelby, Silvana, Noreen, Beckie(who was actually and pass up sale), Thomas, Dawn and probably a couple of others I can't remember right this second without going to my back office are all personal members of mine. Most of them came from reading my posts on this forum. I wasn't trying to "sell" them. I was just answering their questions like I am right now.
The key is to find the person who fits your personality and work with that person. Some of the people who criticize the Call Center say "how can you let someone join your team without them getting to talk to you? They don't even know you?" Well, our website which is supplied through the call center has a "Biography" area where people can see a picture of me and get my personal phone number so they can speak with me. They can call me directly or just talk to the Call center by getting the 800 number and my member ID from my site. I'm not going to post it here because you can get it from my site in my signature line if you want it. The call center is making THOUSANDS of dollars for people every week. I have made $20,000 in the last 3 months. I would have never dreamed I could make that much considering I work a full time job. Thanks to GOD and the Coastal call center I will soon be able to make Coastal my fulltime business. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.
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cgmom
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Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 147
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2007 16:46
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wow,thanks everybody for your information. I didn't realize that you got all of that! Hmm.. makes one think. You all must be pretty awesome to make that much money in that amount of time. I hope to be doing that very soon so I can give up the J-O-B and work Coastal full time.
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decker2006
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Joined: 6 Jan 2007
Posts: 222
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2007 21:24
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Hi cgmom,
I have lofty goals with Coastal. So much so that my husband has decided that he will go full time with Coastal. I still have that dreaded JOB but I also have a 2 year plan. I want and NEED to spend more time with my kids. This is the way it is going to happen. Maybe not overnight, but it WILL happen. The call center is a huge help with this. Sometimes it is hard for people to actually ask for the sale ($$). That is natural. Let the Call Center do the hard part for you!!
Good luck.
Noreen
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