Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts (Paperback)

~ Direct Selling Womens Alliance (DSWA) (Author) "World-class sprinters spend lots of time perfecting their start..." (more)
Key Phrases: coaching your team, recruiting seeds, building your team, Developing Leadership Skills, The Art of Selling, Managing Business Finances (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An estimated 46 million people in the world are involved in direct selling, according to the Direct Selling Association. In less than ten years this number is expected to grow to an unbelievable 200 million! With more people looking for careers that offer independence, flexibility, and tremendous income potential, this book offers a one-stop source of nuts-and-bolts advice, insights, and practical sales skills.

Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts addresses the three most popular models of direct selling—network marketing (e.g., Amway), party planning (e.g., Pampered Chef), and person-to-person (e.g., guardian Life Insurance). The training that many of these companies offer is limited and typically covers only product features and benefits, basic sales techniques, recruitment, and order processing.

Through extensive research, the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance (DSWA) has identified four crucial "life skills" that often are neglected or omitted from a company’s training and support program:

• Financial and tax guidance
• Coaching and leadership skills development
• Business management and technology training
• Daily success practices and implementation

Build It Big unveils the methods and approaches in developing these skills that, DSWA believes, are the true linchpins of growth and long-term sales stability. The disciplined approach and real-life insights from some of the most successful and talented people in the direct selling business will have broad appeal to rookies and veterans alike, especially for people who are opting for direct selling for part-time work, extra income, and the autonomy it offers.

About the Author

The Direct Selling Women’s Alliance (DSWA) is the first professional organization focused on the independent direct seller. Blending training, support, resources, and community for their entrepreneurial members, DSWA serves as a hub for proven advice, tips, and high-quality reference materials. With some of the most influential, well-known, and experienced industry professionals, DSWA develops products and programs to empower the direct selling community. The DSWA Area Chapter Program connects direct sellers throughout the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Business (January 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793192773
• ISBN-13: 978-0793192779
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,160 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Business & Investing > Marketing & Sales > Marketing > Direct
  #6 in	Books > Business & Investing > Marketing & Sales > Marketing > Multilevel
  #23 in	Books > Business & Investing > Marketing & Sales > Sales & Selling > Techniques

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A compilation of 101 articles written on subjects related to network marketing or direct sales. Nothing special here!, April 19, 2008

By	Jeff Lippincott "www.Jlippin.com" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I thought this book was OK. The article contributors could certainly write well, so I can't be fair and still give it 3 stars. However, I was hoping to find a book between the covers of this "thing." I think if the authors, two sisters and another woman, had read the articles included in this book and used them as research for writing a book, then they could have written a wonderful book. Unfortunately, there was too much overlap on some issues and some holes on others. There certainly is no overall thesis to the book that is explained and proven by the writing.

The authors are veteran network marketers who have teamed up together to form a trade association they call "Direct Selling Women's Alliance" (DSWA dot org). The book is clearly a marketing piece they have thrown together in order to promote their organization. Apparently it has worked well because I suspect the membership in their organization has showered it with favorable book reviews on Amazon. I cannot think of any other possible explanation for its overall 5-star rating from 21 reviewers.

The network marketing industry is full of home-based entrepreneurs. The people who succeed at networking marketing can (1) sell product, (2) recruit salespeople to join THEIR sales organization, (3) lead the sales organization they build, and (4) manage THEIR sales organization. I had hoped this book would have explained this in some detail. Instead, all of this was touched upon, but not clearly. Also, there was too much inspirational fluff included.

There are four books that I think would serve the reader well if they are interested in becoming successful at direct sales:

>>Make Your Contacts Count (ISBN: 0814474020)
>>Leadership Made Easy (ISBN: 1932531599)
>>The Road Warrior's Guide to Sales Management (ISBN: 1592981992)
>>What to Do When You Become the Boss (ISBN: 1432714287)

When you work in direct sales the company you work for has outsourced its sales function. That is why you can earn what you earn. If you build a sales team to work for you, then you will be successful. It's just that simple. 4 stars!

PS. There is a Part II to this book entitled "More Build It Big" (ISBN: 9781419520037). It includes another batch of 101 articles. And it is written the same way as this book was.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some OK tips, but mostly common sense, July 26, 2006

By	MakeupGuru (USA) - See all my reviews

I was interested to get this but really REALLY disappointed when one of the first tips was to call 100 people. No kidding. I found this to be a lot of re-hash of old ideas. Some decent tips but you really have to search for them. Bad layout, too. Not easy to read. Lots of stuff sort of thrown at you. If you are really NEW to sales, you might benefit but most of it you can get through better books or free in internet searches, your team leader, etc.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom for the Novice and the Not-So-Novice, May 29, 2005

By	Teresa DeLeon-Cook "Pampered Teresa" (Spanaway) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is the best investment that I have made in a long, long time. By drawing insight from people in different companies, I felt that I was not being given a bias view of a particular company's way of doing things. You get the feeling that the people that contributed tried really hard to give you the most valuable of their experience....and succeeded. My copy is getting worn and I will not hesitate to purchase it again.