What Is Direct Sales Marketing?

Direct sales marketing is a type of advertising intended to help promote the direct sales efforts of a particular person. The materials used in such marketing can be provided by the company for which a direct sales representative is working, or can be generated as original content by a direct seller. Such marketing often includes the use of brochures, fliers, and catalogs to promote the various merchandise offered by a direct seller, and to notify others of upcoming sales or parties. Direct sales marketing can also utilize newer technology such as social networking websites and similar media.

The typical use of direct sales marketing is to promote the merchandise and services offered by someone involved in direct sales. “Direct sales” refers to the selling of merchandise by an individual who is not part of a retail location, often from a person’s home or through door-to-door sales. A direct seller typically establishes contacts and networks of people interested in purchasing his or her merchandise, which is provided by a company that pays a commission to the seller based purely on his or her sales. While there are different forms of direct sales marketing, most marketing is intended to help make new contacts and let established customers know about new products or sales.

Pamphlets, fliers, and catalogs are often used in direct sales marketing. These materials may be available from the company that provides the merchandise for a direct seller, though original content can also be produced to help promote certain products. Someone interested in generating these types of original direct sales marketing materials should ensure that creating such advertising is allowed by the company for which he or she is selling. Posting fliers in locations that allow such postings and leaving pamphlets at people’s doors can be excellent ways for someone to make new contacts and remind customers that they may need to order new products.

Technological innovations such as the Internet have also been incorporated into effective direct sales marketing. Direct sellers often send emails and messages to friends and family about new products, as well as e-invites to parties and events to demonstrate and sell merchandise. As social networking websites have become more popular, such sites have also provided new avenues for direct sales marketing. Certain companies can establish pages on these sites to help individual sellers create more robust networks and contact customers, and sellers can also use their personal pages to contact customers, announce parties, and let friends know about upcoming deals or events.