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bizforself
Member
Joined: 16 May 2007
Posts: 7
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 05:56
Reply
Hello All,
I've been a level 1 director for about 3 years now. I was actually able to make a couple of sales my first couple of months working this business. My director and I didn't mesh very well so I wasn't able to learn much. I also, quite honestly, lost focus of why I joined Coastal in the first place, and got caught up in the everyday bustle of a 9-5. Add my 3-year-old little son to the equation, and that didn't leave much time or energy left for a business.
Now I am at a crossroads in my life where I have the undeniable feeling to refocus, and create a better life for my family. I also haven't forgotten how powerful my directors release is!
SO HERE I AM!!
I'm just trying to figure out what direction to go in now with a marketing setup. I see a lot of people are having a great deal of success with the call center, so that's certainly an attractive option. Particularly since it takes the hardest steps out of the selling process.
I was hoping to get some feedback from some of you here.
I have a couple hundred bucks or so to get going so my capital is minimal. However, I do have a lot of time (at the moment) and determination!
I'll be looking to step up to level 3 before long, so hopefully I can find a successful L3 director to take me under their wing.
Thanks in advance for your feedback,
Earl
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matiasmommy
Preferred Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 346
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 07:24
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Hi Earl!
Great to hear you are back! What group were you with initially?
I know how busy life can get- it doesn't matter though- the great thing about a coastal business is that you can set it down, if you want or when you need to! A baby is a great reason to take time off! Congrats!
Marketing can be easy, but what you don't have in budget you often need to make up for in time. Often, not always. I personally spend about on hour a day, here and there- most days!
It will also be much harder to get the higher level sales with the call centre. But if you would rather be spending your time marketing, and develop that skillset- I say go for it.
Generally, about 10 hours a week is all you need for one sale a week- I tell my team members that half of that should be spent on personal and business skills development (like marketing). I know lots of high quality lead sources that are inexpensive- that is generally the fastest and simplest way to get off the ground. You will want to get up to L2 asap once earning money- coastal wide 70% of sales come in at that level. My understanding is that the call centre numbers are 2/5. Still, those $3200 commissions are great!
I do recommend finding someone to work with, one on one... and getting on the product calls! That package has changed a lot in the past few years!
If you did not click with your director, perhas there is someone else you liked where you were?
If you were not interested in the call centre, I would be glad to work with you! I actually do quite a bit of marketing for my team, including giving them linked testimonials that become their sales.
Best wishes for getting back on track and in the swing of things QUICKLY!
Cheers
Jani Teeter
L3 Director, CSG
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decker2006
Member
Joined: 6 Jan 2007
Posts: 222
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 09:32
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Hi Earl and welcome back!!
Do you have your website up and running? I don't see it in your signature line so you may want to add it.
The good thing about coastal is that there are so many different ways to do your business. Our back office offers tons of marketing ideas and recorded training calls. There are ways to suit literally every type of person. What marketing techniques were you using before? You found some success that way so you may want to at least start there. As you have read from these posts, our call center group started about 2 years ago, after you took your hiatus. (Although there were probably others before, I am just talking about WCYS). We advertise their number and interested parties call them. They also can take payment and send out packages for us. Now don't get me wrong. The call center is just one tool to use to have a successful business. But it is an attractive option to have at our disposal.
If you were with a group before, you should try to reconnect. I would say chances of success are higher if you are not out there on your own!
Noreen
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hsimpsonjr
Preferred Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 577
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 10:54
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Hi Earl,
great to see you are interested in the call center! We definately do have level three sales being made through the call center. Our sales executives try to get the prospect to buy at the higher levels if possible because we all make more money that way but yes we do generate level 3 sales through the call center. It's all about who and where you market your business. There are places to market if you want to attract level 3 sales and we can show you how to do that. I will be honest and say, if I were you, I wouldn't worry about making level 3 sales right now. Just focus on making sales in general. I myself actually came in at level one and upgraded to level 2 within a week or so because of a major upgrade to the system at the call center that allowed me to upgrade for the difference of level 1 and 2 instead of the full upgrade price as long as I did it within that short time period. The point being that many people will call in just wanting to start at level 1 but when they see the benefits of coming in at level 2 they will usually be able to find the money.
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OnlineMoney24 7
Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 85
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 11:08
Reply
Hey Earl,
It's nice to see that you are re-connecting with Coastal. I understand when your saying life can be busy and you just don't have time for a business. But being re-focused and determined to make the business work for you is great!
I just very recently got started with the call center as well. They do have tons of useful training material in their back office. I would defiantly recommend taking a deeper look into the call center and find out if they're the right group for you.
Jat
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hsimpsonjr
Preferred Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 577
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 11:19
Reply
Jat,
that domain name is GREAT!
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CoastalToday
Member
Joined: 2 Apr 2007
Posts: 150
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 11:53
Reply
Hi Earl,
I agree with Noreen about putting up a weblink. Do you have a site right now? If not, you should consider getting one. Regardless of the direction that your marketing takes, having a website helps to answer initial questions people might have about Coastal, and gives a sense of legitimacy as well.
If you have a few hundred dollars, and depending on your initial comfort level, here are some things you can try:
Buy a small batch of inexpensive leads and start calling. Jay Napier posted about CoastalBudgetLeads and claims that he's had alot of success with them.
Post flyers or door hangers in your neighborhood about Coastal. If you don't have any, send me a PM and I'll email a template or two to you. Also, if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
Definitely get some business cards made. Vista Print is a good source for good, low cost printing and the official Coastal resources have some as well.
Most of all, just jump in and keep your enthusiasm!
Looking forward to hearing about your success!
Tonya Kopp
Platinum Director
Coastal Vacations
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OnlineMoney24 7
Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 85
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 12:29
Reply
Quoting: hsimpsonjr Jat, that domain name is GREAT!
Thanks Harold.
Tonya, could you pm those templates to me as well. Please and thank you.
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CoastalToday
Member
Joined: 2 Apr 2007
Posts: 150
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 21:21
Reply
Hi Jat,
I sent you a PM...
Tonya Kopp
Platinum Director
Coastal Vacations
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ibizniz
Member
Joined: 13 Mar 2007
Posts: 244
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 21:45
Reply
Welcome back Earl
you can find some advertising tips and resources under advertising help on my website.
Personally I would recommend ezine advertising, leads, free advertising and PPC to start off with. Sorry Tonya, fliers have never worked for me.
I have concentrated on web 2.0 techniques over the past month and a half and they are paying off big (I am generating mostly free leads now).
Hope this helps
cheers
maria porter
Level 3
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CoastalToday
Member
Joined: 2 Apr 2007
Posts: 150
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# Posted: 16 May 2007 22:17
Reply
Hi Maria,
Flyers don't work for you?
Interesting - they are one of my best methods for people requesting information about the Closing Center. And, of course, I use them as part of my B2B advertising when I drop them off with a packet, but that is a bit different.
I personally haven't had much success with free advertising (unless you count forums and such). What methods do you use that work?
Congratulations on the web 2.0 - that's great!
Tonya Kopp
Platinum Director
Coastal Vacations
Tonya Kopp
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bizforself
Member
Joined: 16 May 2007
Posts: 7
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# Posted: 17 May 2007 23:22
Reply
WOW!! Thanks for the responses.
I don't have a website system at this point. Thats one of the things I was hoping to get some feedback on. I'm trying to figure out which is going to give me the best value and bang for my buck.
As far as leads are concerned, when I first started I had some success with pre-qualified leads that I purchased from a company called Opportunity Seekers. They were pretty good. They included email addresses, phone numbers, how much time a person is willing to spend on a business, and how much money someone has to invest in a business.
It just seemed that there was a lot of chasing people around with those leads. Of course, I don't believe a call center even existed.
At this point I would rather have someone call me if interested, or have a call center to the chasing, while I focus on marketing efforts. I don't mind doing follow up calls.
Can anyone tell me how much it's would cost me to get started with the call center, and how it works.
Thanks for all of your help!
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hsimpsonjr
Preferred Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 577
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# Posted: 18 May 2007 09:09
Reply
Earl,
As you can see from my website, the way the WCYS call center works is we teach you how to advertise using various methods. It could be PayPerClick, Classifieds and over one hundred other ways, many of them free, to advertise. You advertise your website and the toll free number of the call center with your specific member ID that links that lead to you. They call into the call center and the call center takes it from there. You can get all the details in the emails you should be getting from me and there are links in the emails that will take you back to my site. My phone number on each page of the site also so feel free to give me a call or send me an email and I can get very specific on what it takes to start up.
__________________
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matiasmommy
Preferred Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 346
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# Posted: 21 May 2007 14:41
Reply
Hi Earl!
Be aware that there are leads available where people will call YOU. Also be aware that "calling people and chasing them around" is not considered to be either professional nor effective. If you were taught that was the thing to do, you should get some more training!
I know there are many people successful over at the call centre. I also know that many have struggled with the marketing arm- getting people to call in and speak with a telemarketer is not exactly easy!
On the other hand- there are people that do like the idea of the call centre- at least initially. It depends on what you value and where your strengths are. Personally, I'm no salesperson- but I chose the system I did after much careful research because I believe that the system, training, support and resources available to me are bar none. I also am aware that marketing is not easy- just google the terms "online marketing" and "search engine optimization" to see what I mean!
It is often said that the call centres have the best of both worlds... I like to think that I also have the best of both worlds- because I now have chosen to focus my efforts on marketing and promotions.
Whatever you do.. where ever you land.. you are an independant director and able to do (within reasonable ethical standards and guidelines) whatever you like with your business!
Have fun, and welcome back!
Jani Teeter
L3 Director, CSG
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cashwealth
Anonymous
Joined:
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# Posted: 21 May 2007 15:53
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Earl,
Whatever planning to do -- just do it.
cw
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