Written By Natalka Zeleny
The gig economy has provided millions of people with the opportunity to work independently as freelancers or part-time workers. While some rely on these jobs full time, others view gig jobs as a side hustle to create some extra income.
The current economic climate has altered much of the gig and retail economy (think rideshare drivers or professionals like graphic designers that pick up side projects online at night for some extra cash). With fewer gig opportunities, a lot of people are giving another look at the original side hustle or “gig job”: direct selling.
Direct selling is built upon the idea of empowering individuals with high-quality products, and a strong community supported by training and business infrastructure. It’s more stable than the one-and-done computer-generated customer interactions and gigs experienced by on-demand freelancers and rideshare drivers. Direct selling also appeals to all age groups. Think of it this way: your friends and family are not going away because the economy is in flux. If anything, you are closer knit, desperately wanting to strengthen those connections.
With more people at home, we are spending an increased amount of time connecting on social media platforms. Direct selling companies make it easy for representatives and customers to talk to their friends about their personal experiences. This makes it easier to share products as well as provide their personal opinions. Word-of-mouth and personally recommending a product is still one of the most trusted avenues when deciding on a purchase. With more people looking for their connections on social media, the direct selling industry is on the rise and doing better than ever.
Plexus Worldwide, a pioneering health-based company with science-based products, is among the top 15 largest direct sales companies in the United States, and the top 30 global companies according to Direct Selling News. We asked their Chief Sales Officer, Ryan Anderson, for five things people should consider when choosing their next gig.
1. Are there high-quality, science-based products you’re excited to shout about? Look for companies that produce products that are high-quality and science-based. Make sure you are excited about the products and learn as much as you can about them. At a time when maintaining one’s personal health is on everyone’s mind, Plexus’s products that focus on gut health, weight management, and skincare are high quality.
It’s also important that the products you are shouting about have an expert fan base behind them doing quality control, research, and development, like Jim Logan, who spent 22 years at NASA Johnson Space Center serving as Chief of Flight Medicine and Chief of Medical Operations, and Dr. Luis N. Pacheco, an Emmy Award-winning Family Physician who is Board-Certified in both Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. These experts serve on Plexus’s Medical Advisory Board.
2. Will it be easy to run during the current crisis? No Inventory. No Touch. No Problem. The new reality for now means that many prefer less physical interaction. Research direct selling companies that ship their product directly to customers. Also make sure customers can order product directly through a website instead of face to face, but be sure that there is a strong system in place to seamlessly ensure the sale is automatically tracked to give you credit and full commissions.
3. Does the company offer virtual events and expanded connectivity? Choose to be part of a company that digitally supports their members to help them succeed. This can be via streaming events, company-produced shareable videos, sharable social media content so that you don’t need to create materials from scratch, and hosted virtual training opportunities. While some companies only provide raw images that require individuals to spend hours creating their own sales materials, Plexus makes it easy–virtually.
4. Does it have a low cost of entry? Scope out companies that have a lower cost to enter. Avoid companies that require their independent sales representatives to pay large annual fees. It is best to research all you can about a company and understand their compensation plan and how representatives will be rewarded for their efforts.
5. Is there a digital back-office? No cubical needed. Digital office spaces that are created by the direct selling company are essential for an individual to track their business progress, product details, and marketing materials, which can keep a representative on track with their game plan. Plexus built a back-office, making it easy for their representatives to track their success and provide them with vital product information.
With its low overhead and built-in community connections, direct selling is likely to become even more relevant than ever in the months ahead. Remaining stable regardless of how the economy is doing overall will create extra long-term income and flexibility. With proper planning and research, it’s easier than ever to successfully and confidently jump into the original gig economy.
