Ever feel like you're throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks? You try the new promo, post about your product, maybe try a new sales channel... and crickets. So you assume it doesn't work. And you give up.
Sound familiar? You're not alone! But what if I told you the problem isn’t your product, your promotion, or even your new sales channel? It’s the strategy (or lack thereof) behind how you’re showing up.
Let’s talk about how to move from reactive to strategic — and finally gain momentum that lasts.
What Does It Mean to Be Reactive in Direct Sales?
Being reactive means you're always playing catch-up.
- You post when you remember.
- You promote a product once or twice and assume people aren't interested.
- You text your VIP list only when there’s a sale.
- You wait until you’re desperate to hit that month-end goal to start reaching out.
And when things don’t instantly click? You scrap it and try something else. It’s exhausting. And honestly? It keeps you from building the kind of results you want.
Why Strategy Wins Every Time
Strategy is simply making a plan and sticking with it long enough to see it work. It’s:
- Thinking about who needs what you’re offering — and how to reach them, not just broadcasting your message and hoping the right people see it.
- Using multiple touchpoints (text, social, and email) to build curiosity and connection.
- Following up with people who’ve shown interest — not just hoping they’ll head over to your website.
- Giving a plan time to breathe instead of ditching it after one post.
Being strategic is less about working harder and more about working smarter.
How to Start Thinking Strategically
Not sure how to shift? Here’s what being strategic can look like in action:
1. Begin with the end in mind.
What are you trying to sell, promote, or share? Set a goal. Want 10 orders? 3 party bookings? A certain number of opt-ins for your texting club? Once you know the destination, you can plan the route.
2. Build a simple marketing campaign around it.
That could look like:
- A curiosity-building post on social
- A behind-the-scenes photo or a quick video to share what you're promoting, why you love it, and how they can get in on it
- A follow-up text to customers who’ve bought similar items
- A story or reel highlighting the problem your product solves
- A fun poll or question to identify who’s interested
- A personal message to 5 people who’ve shown interest in the past
3. Use more than one method of communication.
Don’t just rely on social media. Post and text. Use Project Broadcast to segment your list and reach people based on past purchases, wish list items, or what they’ve shown interest in before.
4. See it through.
Run the plan for 5–7 days — or longer, depending on what you're promoting. If it’s a smaller offer, a few days may be plenty. But if it’s a bigger campaign, like a new product launch, a big opportunity incentive or something you really want to spotlight, your plan might need to stretch across a full week or even an entire month. Remind people. Re-share results or testimonials. Keep the conversation going. The magic is often in the follow-through.
Why Most Direct Sellers Quit Too Soon
It’s not that the strategy didn’t work. It’s that it wasn’t given enough time — or enough visibility — to actually take off.
It’s like planting seeds and then walking away after two days because you don’t see any sprouts. You’ve gotta water them. Give them sun. Nurture them.
Same goes for your marketing.
You might be one follow-up away from your next best customer. One reminder away from a booking. One personalized message away from a reorder.
But you’ll never know if you stop too soon.
How to Put This into Action
Here’s your challenge for the week:
- Pick one product, promotion, or service to focus on.
- Write down a simple 5-day plan (just one action per day).
- Commit to using at least two communication channels.
- Segment your audience — send personalized messages where you can.
- Follow through.
And if it works? Great — now you can repeat it with something else.
If it doesn’t? You’ve got data to tweak and improve. That’s how real strategy works.
Ready to stop winging it and start selling with strategy in your direct sales business?
Even during the chaos of summer? Grab the easy-to-follow training Build Your Monthly Sales Plan: End the Scramble and Create a Clear Path to Sales. You'll learn how to map out your goals, align your strategy, and show up with confidence this summer and all year long.
