Selling your SMC products
80Recently I was asked about SMC products and why a new person has such a difficult time making their 1st sale.
Reason #1 - it is such a popular program that everyone is selling the stuff.
Reason #2 - Everyone is selling the stuff.
Reason #3 -Everybody is getting into selling the stuff.
So here is the advice that I gave one new person for her new store selling SMC products. So if you are having problems making that 1st sale here are some pointers.
Look at Amazon.com - the undisputed biggest product seller. Copy what the big guy is doing.
Example, ads for other products from other people especially in the detail of the product.
White background, black lettering, blue for stand out links.
SKU instead of item # makes store more retail oriented.
Consider changing colors on your site, light background, dark lettering.
Consider selling on ebay use the yellow price list and add shipping & handling min $7.50 for anything under $25 that will cover your SMC costs.
Use the traffic exchanges to build up traffic.
List on Yahoo & Google Base.
List on search engines - use free site submit - don't pay anyone unless you have money to burn.
Write articles or post to blog pages & use your website as part of your signature to increase ranking in search engines.
Read every article you can on website promotion & retail marketing, take the good ideas that you understand and make them work for you. "Not every thing written is good marketing"
Don't pay for expert advice when it is free for the taking all over the net.
Join newsgroups, blogs, and social networks to get up to date on current events and potential sales avenues.
Do visit your local stores, they may be looking for something different to put at the cash register to sell. Necklaces, incense, bulk buys and give them a really excellent price like 5% plus shipping & handling over your cost, if they pay on delivery.
Visit your local Chamber of Commerce and get a business directory, call, stop by or mail them a flyer or postcard to introduce yourself.
Carry business cards with your website address and email. Pass them out and strike up a conversation if they have the time. Be a good listener. Don't talk too much, let them set the tone and the theme. Always thank them for their time. They will remember a good listener far more than a sales pitch.
Be on the look out for scam artists in the form of you give me money & I'll get your webstore paying for itself in no time. Anyone calling you that says they can get your site paying you is after the cash you will give them. There have been several people reporting this happening lately and it doesn't work.
Do add additional revenue drawing items to your website. Google ads, Amazon ads, affiliate or traffic programs, LinkShare advertisers, banner ads for complimentary sites.
Do target a specific theme, gardening, home & garden, crystal look, holidays, wholesale, candles, dragons, etc.
Define a return policy, a shipping policy, a privacy policy, and a way to contact you.
Don't cut your prices so low that you are paying to make that 1st sale. Take into account all your expenses to make a sale.. shipping & handling, item cost, paypal fees, listing fees, not to mention merchant credit card processing, site space, your time and your annual SMC membership fee. It doesn't pay to cut the price to anything less than the yellow price list plus the correct shipping and handling charges from SMC. With that your profit will be very low and you need to make lots of sales.
Hopefully, this information is helpful to anyone starting an SMC venture.
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Agreed, it is my main source of gift giving as well & membership is no more expensive as a Costco or Sam's Club annual fee.
Just wanted to say thanks for the tips, I will be using them! I signed up before doind the research (I am hoping the Canadian market isn't as bad or saturated with SMC products as he U.S.) I will likely pay dearly for shipping and that is my biggest concern, especially if I get retailers as customers as they wouls pay a heavy price and won't make much profit in the end! Therefore, may not be returning customers! Really like the tip on focusing on a few products - more of a niche market, both retail and consumer. Wish me luck! Still waiting for the "package in the mail" Thanks Again!
is the another program like it?
Thanks for the info. I am a distributor with SMC also. Sold a few items on Ebay. Still having a hard time making sales with website. A lot of hits but no sales. How do you list on Yahoo and Google? Do you have to pay for traffic exchanges? Still learning the ropes and trying to get started. Any other suggestions?
smc is nothing but a bunch of scam artist trying to take peoples money i know this cause they did it to me you all suck
Well I was in SMC 6 years ago and made a very good income.
You cant expect things to sell on there own. I actually took some of the best products and made sure I had them to show to people. When you have the product in your hand it makes it easier to sell. Using business cards with your web address on it also helps, people are curious and will check it out.
Smc has been out for along time and now the products are everywhere, I do believe buying into it now and trying to contend with everyone else will be harder.
Right now they offer a free website and almost $800.00 in coupons and gift cards for your new clients. It only costs $299.99 to get started if you just go online and register, thats an offer for only on line registration.
Use the coach they offer, I was surprised on the help they give you, and it is free for 90 days. This is not for someone who plans on making it their main source of income, part time only for me.
I have found that many of SMC products are cheap and there is no way you can triple your money on most items. For example you pay $30 for an item, you may be able to get $40 for it. The bottom line is that their products are pretty highly priced at the wholesale level. Another example, I paid $33 for a little side table. I received it and it was very cheap, you may be able to sell it for $19.99
First question I have, is I am helping my ill father to make extra money i need to know how to set it up on ebay right now that is our best option. Secondly if he bought the program i am helping him on ebay can i use my banking acct information to set that up and transfer the money to him.
amerianna
Well, all I can say is just by looking at the products, i can tell its PIECES OF S***! How this company is still in business is a mystery to me.
Lady Guinevere Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago
Yep-I have the same problem as in your steps at the top. I am also a distributor for SMC products. Now I just keep my membership (well you can't quite the program, tried that) to buy all my family's gifts for the year. Christmas is a big one!