In 2024, social selling is completely transforming the way that the average person can create and earn an income online! If you’ve been curious as to why you should start a social selling business, you’re in the right spot! I’ve put together 10 compelling reasons why you should start a social selling business, and stat, all from personal experience!
What is social selling?!
First, what exactly is social selling? On social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, etc) many share the ins and outs about their every day life. What they had for lunch, the new outfit they just purchased, a quote that they like, a funny reel, etc. With social selling, instead of just posting about your day, you also weave in sharing tips, advice, about a product/s that you love – intentionally!
It’s all about connecting with people, in a natural and genuine way. You’re not pushing someone to buy anything; you’re simply tying in sharing your experience, your story, what the products have done for you. You build connections and show how something could really help them. It’s like being that friend who always has the best recommendations, and over time, people start to come to you because they trust your judgment!
There are companies whose entire business models revolve around social selling. The idea is that by using social selling, the company creates a massive network of real people who can personally vouch for the products. It’s like word-of-mouth marketing on steroids. And honestly, it’s pretty genius!
Did you know a study showed that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family more than all other forms of marketing?! How wild, yet, it makes total sense! I know that the majority of what I buy was referred to me by a friend. What about you?!
How does it work?
When you start a social selling business, you partner with a company, and share your stories with their products. As you connect with people, they want what you have, they purchase the products through your link, and you earn a commission! It’s a win-win because it also grows the company, and they get widespread exposure without needing a physical store or conventional marketing tactics. This approach has been especially popular with companies in the wellness and beauty industries, where personal experience and recommendations are key!
So, why am I so passionate about this business model and think that anyone interested should start a social selling business??
My story
11 years ago, I had just graduated from college in the heart of a recession. I soon found myself burned-out in a retail management position. I had never even heard of the term ‘social selling’, when I decided that I wanted, actually, more like NEEDED, to earn an income a different way.
I CRAVED more flexibility, more freedom, scalable passive income, and to ENJOY what I was doing, while making a difference in the world! Also, I knew that one day I wanted to have a family. My mom was a work at home mom, and I wanted to follow in those footsteps. I wanted to be home with my babies, and never miss a moment. I also wanted to financially provide for my family in some way! So it made sense that whatever I do, be online.
Let’s rewind for a minute..
A few years earlier, my mom had started sharing products from a company that our family knew and loved. She sort of fell into it, sharing casually as she would anything else, and mostly when friends asked. Then when she started to sign people up and earn ‘accidental paychecks’, she began to see the potential. She started to share more intentionally and figured, why not, I’m sharing anyways.
As she shared her stories and experiences, over time, more and more people wanted to try them too. She started to make a very good income, earn trips around the world, and just absolutely loved what she was doing. I quietly watched her and others who partnered with the same company continue to grow, scale their businesses, and succeed throughout the years. That’s when the voice in the back of my head thought okay, this is an option, and a really good one.
The decision to start my social selling business
The company honestly checked off every single box for me. But, I had NO experience and NO clue what to do to or where to begin to actually make it happen. After going back and forth, I decided that I was willing to figure it out. I was much more scared to stay where I was, and allow another year or even another day to go by, than to take a leap of faith and try my best!
In 2014, I officially started my social selling business and partnered with that same industry-led wellness company that I knew and loved. (Read more on that company and why I love them here!) I leaned into social media, put in the work, and my team grew quickly.
Within a couple of years, I had replaced my retail management income and found myself in the top 1% of the company. My social selling business has been a steady 6-figure income for my family ever since! It has allowed for my family to pursue SO many dreams on our hearts like purchasing land to build a home, moving closer to family, traveling, and be truly financially healthy. Talk about best decision ever.
11 years later, and the SAME opportunity is still abundantly available to anyone and everyone. Whether you’re a busy mom juggling family and work, a stay at home mom desiring a purpose aside from motherhood, someone who’s flat-out tired of the 9-to-5 grind, or you’re just dreaming of a new adventure to give you some wiggle-room, starting a social selling business might be the perfect solution for you.
Imagine 1 year from now..
Imagine 1 year from now: You weave this business into your life, work from anywhere, and create a generous income around something you’re passionate about! All while connecting with like-minded people and helping others along the way! Trust me when I say I know that it sounds too good to be true, but people like you and I are doing this exact thing (myself included!) every single day.
I will say, as with anything that offers big rewards, you do have to be willing to learn new skills, and put in the work! But let me tell you, any capacity that you choose to do this in, is beyond worth it.
Let’s explore ten compelling reasons why to start a social selling business in 2024, because it just could be the best decision you make this year!
10 Reasons You Should Start A Social Selling Business in 2024
1. It gives you flexibility and freedom
Why do the majority start a social selling business?! Because of the FLEXIBILITY and the FREEDOM! Social selling allows you to work from anywhere, set your own hours, and create a business that fits YOUR lifestyle. This makes it ideal for anyone, balancing work with family, or any other commitments.
As a stay at home mom of two, the flexibility and freedom that my social selling business allows are absolutely essential to my fluid schedule. It allows me to work from wherever I am—whether that’s at the kitchen table during breakfast, while the kids are playing, or even during nap time. I’m not tied to a 9-to-5 schedule, which means I can set my own hours based on what works best for our family.
I can also lean in during certain season of my life, and pull back in others. An example was when I was postpartum with my girls. I had everything set up to run on auto-pilot, and could check-in as needed. For 3 months I relaxed and soaked up my newborn, while adjusting to having 2 babies almost under 2!
Being able to balance work with my family commitments is huge. I didn’t want something that strapped me to my phone or computer all day. Instead, we can enjoy the day, I can be there for every milestone, and still have the time to build a business and earn a beautiful income. It’s all about finding that perfect blend where work fits into my life, rather than having my life revolve around work. Social selling gives us the freedom to make that happen, and that’s priceless.
2. There are very low startup costs
One of the things that really drew me to start a social selling business, especially when I was a broke, just graduated college retail manager, was the super low startup costs. Starting a traditional business often requires a significant investment—renting a storefront, purchasing inventory, and all the other expenses that add up quickly. That kind of financial commitment just wasn’t realistic for me, or enticing.
With social selling, the barrier to entry is SO much lower. For the company that I partnered with, it’s FREE to become a brand partner. All that is required is that you purchase your own personal-use products, that your family will use and love! You carry zero inventory, your storefront is simply you, and investing in anything else is not a requirement to succeed. This means that you can get started right away without the stress of a huge financial burden!
The low startup costs mean that anyone with the drive and passion can jump in and start creating their own business, regardless of their financial situation. That kind of opportunity is rare, and it’s one of the reasons I’m so grateful for this path!
3. You can leverage social media
Starting a social selling business is not complete without social media! And who isn’t on socials today?! When I first partnered and started my business, social media was really still just getting started. I used Instagram like a silly personal diary (my older posts make me criiinge!). I did lean into Facebook a bit, and that helped our team to grow, and fast. Now, social media offers us SO much more potential. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok give us access to not only our friends and family, but a global audience, all from the comfort of our home/phones!
When you’re sitting there scrolling anyways, why not monetize your scroll? Why not share what you’re using and loving?? If you’re thinking, “I don’t have a following or know how to use social media.” If you’re posting on socials in any capacity, YOU DO know social media! You DO have influence where you are. There are people who already know, like, and trust you. And so many more waiting for you to share. I did not have a following when I started, and still built to the top 1% of our company!
You also don’t need to sit on socials 24/7. But, that’s a conversation for another time. Just know that social media makes it SO easy to get started quickly and grow a business in a way that fits your life, even as you’re figuring things out!
4. You can create personal connections and build community
One of the biggest advantages of starting a social selling business is the ability to build personal connections and foster a sense of community with your customers. I’ve found that by starting a social selling business, I have connected with people I may not have otherwise. This was led to making some amazing new, like-minded friends!
I think that it’s because unlike traditional sales methods, I can engage directly with people on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, creating relationships that are rooted in trust and genuine interaction! They get to know me, a ‘sneak peek’ into my life if you will. They see that we are similar, they reach out because they trust my recommendation, and I’m able to help them!
By really getting to know each person’s unique needs and preferences, I can offer recommendations that truly resonate with them. This is unlike if they were to just go to a website and purchase by themselves. This approach not only makes them feel valued, but also helps build a loyal community around my business. It’s more than just making a sale; it’s about forming lasting relationships and creating a supportive community where people feel more like friends than just customers.
Who doesn’t want to be a part of a community like that?! I know that I do!
5. It’s a scalable business model
This was so important for me when seeking out what I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to grow as big as possible. No “you can only go this far”, no income cap. Let me shatter that glass ceiling, if I please!
The social selling company that I partnered with was built with growth in mind!
First, the more people you connect with, the more opportunities you have to share products with a broader audience. You’re not confined by geographic boundaries or physical space, which means your business can extend far beyond your local community.
Secondly, as your network and team grows, people on your team can do the same exact thing that you do. As you help your team share and build their own business, you in turn scale, creating a ripple effect of success! This collaborative, community-driven growth is key. You’re not just building your business; you’re fostering a network where everyone’s success contributes to the whole.
It’s an efficient, organic way to scale, using personal connections and the strength of a supportive community to grow your business, alongside theirs, sustainably! Trust me when I say, there is more than enough abundance to go around!
6. You get access to training and support
Want a roadmap to success from others who have walked it themselves?? We’ve got you! Social selling companies typically offer tons of resources to help you get started, like online courses, webinars, and easy-to-follow guides. For our team, we have you completely covered here! We actually have created a Brand Partner launch guide, setting you up for success from the start! The best part, all of this is completely free.
When you start a social selling business, you’re never just left to figure things out by yourself. There’s a whole community of people ready to share advice, answer questions, and cheer you on! This support makes it so much easier to overcome challenges and keep growing your business. With all this help, you’ll have the confidence and tools you need to make things happen and build your business effectively!
7. It allows you to diversify your income streams
If 2020 taught me anything, it’s that no career and no income are guaranteed. Having diverse income streams is SO important. When you start a social selling business, that becomes a beautiful, life-giving option for you!
Whether you have a full-time job outside of the home, are a stay at home mom, or something in-between, a social selling income stream can offer a nice financial cushion. It can help pay off debt, cover family expenses, fund activities for your kids, boost your savings, or allow for some extra spending and experiences that might otherwise be out of reach.
The company that I partnered with offers multiple ways to earn. First, through your personal sharing and selling. Then if you help those customers to also share and build a team, you have the chance to earn additional income, bonuses, and even earn incentives from their sales and growth. There is truly SO much endless opportunity here!
8. This is how everyone is buying
Have you ever purchased through a friend’s link on socials?? You’re not alone! Did you know that..
- About 70% of Instagram users have reported discovering new products on the platform
- Over 50% of Facebook users are likely to make a purchase based on an ad they saw
- More than 40% of TikTok users have been influenced to buy a product they saw on the app
This business model keeps you ahead of retail trends by tapping into the growing preference for online shopping!
Social media is where people are spending their time, browsing for new products, and making purchasing decisions. When you start a social selling business, you’re meeting customers where they are, making it easier for them to discover and buy from you!
9. It’s perfect for personal growth
We’ve always said that starting a social selling business is like personal growth with a paycheck. We all start in a similar place. But as you begin to dive in, you’ll learn and pick up new skills like social media marketing and sales strategies, which are useful both for your business and beyond.
Building a social selling business also boosts your confidence! Many of us start scared, which is totally normal! New things can be scary. But every time you hit a milestone or overcome a challenge, you gain a sense of achievement and deepen belief within yourself. This journey helps you set and reach goals, stay motivated, and seek solutions, which can positively impact so many other areas of your life!
10. Huge potential for passive income
Two words that I LOVE to hear: passive income. This is the ability to do the work one time, and reap the income over and over again!
That’s really what makes starting a social selling business different than affiliate marketing. As an affiliate, you share a link, someone purchases, and you’re typically paid just that one time. That customer is never linked to you, so you have to share repeatedly to get new customers.
With social selling, once a customer purchases through your link, they’re linked to you. So whenever they log in to their account and make a purchase, you get the commission every time! You do that work signing them up once, and you get paid over and over again. This to me is SO cool. And why I LOVE this opportunity so much.
You’ll not only be paid for your loyal customers who keep placing repeat orders, but as you build a team, you can earn from their orders too! These are people that you may not have even talked to or signed up yourself! How amazing is that?! You want to lean into helping your team to share and succeed, because as their income grows, yours truly becomes passive and does too!
Where do you start?!
Social selling isn’t just about making quick sales; it’s about creating a lasting income stream that grows over time. It’s a powerful way to set yourself up for financial stability and long-term success!
Okay okay. Hopefully you’re seeing why starting a social selling business in 2024 is an incredible opportunity to start building something towards every dream on your mind and heart!
My best advice is to partner with a company that you know and love. If you don’t yet have one, I have one for you! If you want to learn more about the company that I specifically partnered with and would like to join alongside of me (meaning I personally mentor you!):
- Watch our ‘Insider Peek’ replay below!
- Grab a bundle of products here
- Then send me an email to chelsea@gettintolivin.com, or an instagram message, with the subject BRAND PARTNER, and I’ll respond to you within 48 hours to help you to start your social selling business!
Jump in friend
I always say, if I could go back 11 years and give myself a hug for saying yes, for jumping in scared, I would! No matter what you’re doing, or where you are, social selling truly fits the bill. The flexibility, the freedom, the fun, the potential – all available to YOU! If you’re ready to make a change and explore how social selling can fit into your life, jump in friend! The water is amazing.
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