lifestyle blog posts focusing on home, lifestyle, parenting, pregnancy, family life and home and style. Home decor and working at home, working at home as a self employed freelancer and blogger. Family lifestyle blog posts including family reviews, family products and saving money as a family. Being a more eco friendly family.
Growing a business online and creating a strong social media presence is so vital in this day and age. A huge amount of business is now conducted online only through e-commerce shops, sites, social media selling groups and network marketing professionals. It’s really key that, as a business owner that is looking to grow their network and customer base that you find the right way to do this online.
Produce Unique Content
I can not stress this enough. Copy paste adverts only do so much and they absolutely do not work for every person that is trying to sell online. If you want more customers then you need to find a way to connect with them. I always recommend that you create your own advert, especially if you’re selling online through social media selling pages. Buyers want to see unique, interesting, punchy and informative content that is going to show your product in the absolute best light. As a business owner you should be looking for ways to stand out from your competitors and show that you have something worth showcasing. As an individual selling online, people buy from people so it is important to be as authentic as you possibly can.
Do Not Spam
This is absolutely key. No one likes, or wants, spam and follows on nicely from the above and copy paste content. Copy paste content is constantly being flagged across social media as people that get frustrated with seeing the same thing all the time do report it. If you come across as a spammy business profile then you are likely to be unfollowed, muted, deleted or blocked. No business wants a red flag against their name online and saying the same thing repeatedly, copy pasting messages or just not being professional can really damage your reputation online. People do talk, and they are quicker to spread bad news than good.
Maintain a Positive Social Media Presence
People love a colourful, bright, supportive and positive feed. It brings people in. I can’t lie, if I see an attractive stand, cute pictures, creative images then I am instantly drawn in regardless of the product that’s on show. I want to see bright, vibrant, unique images that really showcase what’s available. Social media is a fantastic way to reach new people and should be used often. Maintaining a positive social media presence is key and should be a strong part of the day. This, again, doesn’t mean spamming your feeds with your product but instead creating unique and shareable content that draws people in and, more importantly, gets people to engage with your pages. The only way you will reach new people is if you maintain a positive feed with strong engagement. Today, big followers mean nothing if you don’t engage with your audience and they need to respond. Once you’ve started building a name for yourself, especially as a networking professional, keep the negativity, pessimism and drama away from the online world – unless of course, you’re a blogger and you are known to have a good rant! But that is beside the point. When it comes to your business you need to be alert, excited and positive at all times.
Make Use of Photo and Video
Showcasing photos of you with your products helps to increase confidence. If you’re working with customers always be happy to share their photographs – with their permission of course and full credit to them – with a personal testimonial or review. Video is also becoming a really popular way to connect with your audience. Showing tutorials using the products, a live Q & A with product experts or even getting on the live applications yourself and demonstrating products has really opened the door to doing business through social media. It’s a great way to sell yourself and allow your audience to really get to know the face behind the brand or product.
Build Relationships With Your Followers
As a blogger there is nothing I love more than finding a brand I love and engaging with them. I love building up that working relationship with a new brand and getting to know the company. If your followers are liking your pictures, give them a follow and like their pictures too, don’t be afraid to send a message asking what they like about your brand, you’ll get some good, old fashioned honest feedback, for free, and potentially a new buyer who will be flattered you took the time out to think of them. It’s so important to value your followers voice, opinions and feedback so always be prepared for some criticism and take it on the chin with a smile. As a sole business owner, especially one that works from home or online exclusivily, building relationships is the social part of your day and should be done in a professional manner. You need to genuinely love the demographic you’re looking to sell to, or they just won’t pay any attention.
Do you work online? How do you market your business?
I am always happy to discuss things that I am passionate about on this blog and today we’re talking Women’s Health. When referring to women or men’s health, we’re generally talking about the bits ‘down there’ although this piece is more about bladder control, which affects both men and women. But nobody really talks about it. Working in partnership with Tena Lady I am here to say C’est La Vie to Oops moments.
Being a women, after having a baby, I’m not really happy to admit it but my bladder just isn’t as good as it used to be. Every morning I get up and drink my water, coffee and have breakfast straight away. If I have anything past about 7.15am I know that throughout the entire walk to school I’m going to be cursing myself for not popping to the loo enough. Fair enough, it takes me an hour, but I never really had to worry before about being out the house and there not being a loo available. I don’t have any accidents, but when I need to go, I need to go. Pregnancy and birth really put a lot of pressure on the all the organs and so it’s quite natural to have a weaker pelvic floor and then, well, that’s when the Oops moments begin. I’m sure you all know what Tena Lady products do, and we are here to say that they are normal, natural and there are ways to prevent it from happening.
To talk about this a bit better and to go through a few other normal, annoying Oops moments, I have been sent a beautiful goodie bag to help me with daily Oops moments and struggles and to help me say C’est La Vie, it can be fixed!
The first item in this set was a set of fruity scented nail polish remover pads to fix any dodgy nails. These have a fair few multi purposes which makes it a great product. Handy for tidying up nails and any spells of polish that fall onto the carpet. What I love about these is they can also be used to sanitise and clean metal makeup tools be it for nail art or fixing up those brows with tweezers. Another item in the goody bag was dress tape to help keep everything in the right place and prevent any awkward slips!
The cutest item in the bag was the mini sewing kit which we’ve already put to good use using it to sew up any awkward holes and hems!
Other items included a lovely makeup fixing spray which instantly refreshes tired makeup looks, anti static spray to stop skirts and slips from riding up, very handy for the wedding I’m attending next week and some of my favourite makeup remover wipes from Soap and Glory. My favourite item in the bag was the gorgeous smelling St Tropez gradual tan face cream which is helping me build up a lovely glow and balancing out other tan products I’m using to stop streaks from appearing.
All of these products help fix those Oops moments throughout the day, they happen, that’s life! C’est La Vie!
The last item was a pack of Lights by Tena to help prevent any little leaks when laughing too hard, bouncing too much, excersising, walking or just, well, to help. To give more women a C’est La Vie attitude towards a weak bladder. With one in three women experiencing light bladder weakness at some point in their lives, lights by Tena has recently upgraded its range to make it even easier to wave goodbye to unexpected (and unwelcome!) leaks. For more information and a free sample head over to Lights by Tena.
If you’re brave enough feel free to share a funny Oops moment in the comments!
***Disclaimer: I received this goody bag in exchange for this post to help raise awareness for women’s health issues***
Politics is something I rarely write about on my blog but now a week has past since we cast our vote and I wanted to pen down some of my thoughts and feelings. This could be a mistake…mainly because I know recent politics have really divided our country and I know it’s a bit of a controversial topic to go in to. I will say that I am proud to be one of the 48% that voted to remain within the EU last week. But my household was divided, my family all had different views as I talked about in this post, and in the aftermath we’ve all been discussing it.
I was not shocked with David Cameron’s resignation either. He said he would and for once a politician has kept a pledge and I understand why. I wouldn’t be able to lead negotiations in something I thought was wrong either. At least in this one area he is sticking with his beliefs. He has also made a breakthrough with the LGBTQ community with making marriage legal. Despite being heterosexual, this means a lot to me and I am proud to support that. So we’re going to be getting a new PM and I am crying out for a general election.
I have a lot of personal opinions when it comes to politics and I do not support and will never vote for the Conservatives. I am a Labour lady, I am proud of that and I am actually a big fan of Jeremy Corbyn. I know there are people that disagree with me, and I do not want him to resign from his leadership. I know that he wasn’t at the forefront of the campaign to remain, which doesn’t really bother me. I wasn’t voting for a politician, I was adding my voice to help our government make a decision. The entire referendum campaign on both sides was just awful. Both parties wanted to control people through fear and that is not something I will ever condone. Brexit was lead by two politicians who’s views I just don’t agree with, they do not sit well with me and I don’t think they ever will.
So my vote didn’t win but then again I can’t really say it’s a clear majority for those that voted to leave either. In the grand scheme of things it was around a million more votes to the leave side, but I don’t see that as a majority. I would have seen a majority vote being 80% more on the leave side but it wasn’t. Either way, a vote has been cast and the only change I’ve seen is a lot of poor, xenophobic and racist behaviour. No longer are Brits keeping their stiff upper lip and moaning about whatever they want behind closed doors, keeping their hatred rational and private but they are outwardly shaming people in the street. Whats more some of these vile outbursts have been towards children and it absolutely disgusts me. I want to be clear, I know that not every leave voter is a racist xenophobe with nothing but hate in their heart, just as I know not every remain voter is moaning and bitter about the result – a lot of us are just sat here, getting the kids ready for school and fighting the usual daily battles that come with life. But their are some that are making Britain feel like an unsafe place to live.
I honestly thought racism was behind us. I mean, I agree, that if people choose to come and live and work here then they need to appreciate that we are a western country with a Christian foundation – I am not religious at all, I mean, the Church of England was founded so that the King could get divorced, says a lot about us doesn’t it…anyway, I digress…I have no problem with a multicultural society but I also think political correctness has gone a bit too far and we’re so focused by pleasing everybody. I respect that when I visit other countries I need to adapt, and I think that should be expected of people that choose to migrate or visit here.
Politics is a funny thing but the idea behind Brexit was not to form a racist nation. What I will never, ever do is want to make this country unsafe and it seems that a minority of people are doing just that to others and that is not right. I never thought that I would wake up one day and be ashamed of living in a country so full of hate for migrants. It’s ridiculous!
Instead of blaming migrants for coming here and “taking all our jobs” that companies exploit by paying lower wages, why don’t we blame the lazy that can’t be bothered to work – trust me, there are some, and what makes me ashamed is that they are people my age or younger. Instead of blaming migrants for claiming all our benefits, why aren’t we trying to change our welfare system so that people stop having kids to get bigger houses? A certain interview on This Morning a few weeks ago with a mum of like, 12 kids comes to mind, or Josie Cunningham, didn’t she get a boob job on the NHS by playing the system? Surely the system is wrong then, rather than people that just want to come and live here?
I am not scared of change, I am not scared for my daughters future, well, I am, but not because of Brexit – which is a horrible threat to make, by the way, saying you have ruined your children’s lives…what I’m worried about is this behaviour from others as a result of the referendum, especially when we haven’t actually left the EU yet, and all this let’s call 24th June Independence Day, what a dickish thing to say. I’m also concerned that the few that are wanting to run for Tory leadership do not sit right with me at all. They’re not going to move this country forward. Perhaps it’s time for a major shake up within British politics. MP’s need to reconnect with their constituencies and the people that live in them rather than making up assumptions. Politicians need to stop controlling this nation with fear and using scaremongering tactics. Everyone needs to pull together and move forward united.
***Politics can be a controversial subject. Before commenting, please appreciate that this is my own personal view, I am not trying to force what I think on anyone. I am happy to discuss and debate but I will not tolerate any abuse posted on this blog. Please respect that. If you have nothing healthy, happy or balanced to say, then it’s best not to say anything. Thank you.***
For those of you that are unaware Younique are a beauty company founded in America that are really branching out across Europe. The started with their Fibre Lash Mascara and have brought in so many products it’s no wonder it’s one of the fastest growing network marketing companies. I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about as the products look amazing and so I went ahead and got myself a kit. I’m not the world’s best seller but I’m a sucker for a personal discount and I absolutely love to try new products. I paid the £69 and £6.95 courier delivery charge to have my kit shipped over to me from the Netherlands. It took around a week to get to me which is pretty good although it would have been a little less of a wait if the courier hadn’t decided to give up looking for my house and go home for the day instead…still a little bitter about that, but that’s a rant for another time and I don’t want to tarnish this post with negativity.
I always think its better to start a business with a kit because how do you know if you are actually going to love the products if you haven’t already tried a good handful? How can you show people what the products are? I firmly believe that face to face networking is the strongest and most successful way to network with others, especially when you have something that another person can touch, smell and see. It’s all about building trust! Especially with cosmetics, because it’s a very personal buying decision, especially with things like foundation. People want to be able to try before they buy, you can’t really do that without a kit which is why I think it’s a bit silly having all these “free” opportunities. Nothing is free. It will either cost you time or money before you see a return, or both!
Anyway, I feel like the kit is a great price especially as the products inside are worth £175 so you’re already getting a really good discount. I think that’s why so many people kitnap and then go on to sell to family and friends. They get a great deal, show some friends, get a couple of Mascara’s sold and BOOM they’ve made back their money. Younique’s starting commission is 20% which seems to be about average but you can increase that as you move through the ranks and increase your personal retail and team sales volume. This is pretty average for any network marketing business to be honest, the more you work and the more you bring in the more rewards and money you will make. Younique also allow you to host virtual parties which you can do very easily and it helps earn you commission and half price items. Because of this it looks like Younique is an incredibly lucrative way to build your kit up without you having to use all of your commission.
Let’s get into what’s in the actual kit though shall we?! Firstly it comes in a lovely black and purple box with some gorgeous black and purple tissue paper which matches my bedroom very nicely. The case is really nice and the packaging has a luxury feel. Immediately you can see why these products come with a higher price tag, you are buying what is being marketed as a luxury brand. You can really see and feel it in the care and quality of the packaging. Younique also market themselves as being cruelty-free and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. The kit case has made a very nice addition to my desk.
The first thing I noticed when I opened it up was all the literature that is included in your kit. Most of these are samples however there is also a very helpful and handy presenters guide which you should take the time to read and a catalogue so you can start making a list of all the products you’re going to want and showing friends and family the wide range that’s available.
I then noticed the makeup remover cloths thanks to the bright yellow packaging. I’ve used these and found they remove makeup really well. They do contain a lot of oils which made me very wary that it would make my skin oily but I haven’t had a bad reaction to them so I’m really happy with that and they smell quite nice too, not as heavily fragranced as some other wipes I’ve used before and they are suitable for eye-makeup removal.
I then wanted to take a look at what eyeshadow palette I was given as it’s chosen at random. I want all three of them personally and I’ve started with number one with is a mixture of matte and shimmers in lovely earthy tones that I feel will help me with a good base to other eyeshadows I have.
The next thing I took out was the Fibre Lash Plus mascara that Younique are pretty famous for which is a bottle of black transplanting gel and a bottle of fibres for great length and volume. I was actually really surprised by this mascara as I’ve never been able to find one that really gave volume. Personally, it’s probably not an everyday mascara for me but for evenings, nights out or when I have time I will probably be using this one, mainly because I feel like I am rushing around in the morning and sometimes don’t have time to put much makeup on. #
The next full sized product is the brand new self tanning lotion which is a generous sized bottle of lotion. This is a brand new addition to the Younique presenter kit which I think is fantastic. It’s so easy to apply, smells nice and gives you a gorgeous summer glow.
The item I was most impressed with is the Splurge Cream shadow in elegant. I’ve never used a cream shadow before but this was lovely to apply and to wear so I’ve been really impressed with it. Alongside this were two eyeshadow brushes and one particularly designed for the cream shadow and the other for the palette and blending.
There are also a fair few samples included in the kit so you can find your ideal shade and get some photo evidence and show of the products nicely. The samples include 3 shades of beachfront bronzer, 5 shades of blush, touch mineral foundation samples and shade selector, 5 mineral eyeshadow samples and a huge selection of lipgloss and lipstain samples which are just fantastic to help you create multiple looks with your kit when you’re just starting out.
I really like that the kit has a great range of full sized products and samples as this helps you to find your favourite shades and know where to put your money. It is also a great way to make those first few sales from friends and family as if you choose to let them you can pick a perfect shade with them. Having this mix really does make an excellent investment because there’s a great amount of choice and it really makes you choose the perfect full sized product!
When it comes to network marketing, as I’ve said before, you need to have passion for the product and be consisitent and persisitent everyday. Find a company that fits in with your ethos, take your time to research, buy a couple of products to try from any friends, start speaking to people regularly not with the intention to sell or recruit but purely to connect and build up strong relationships.
Thinking of working from home selling ActiLabs products? This blog gives you everything you need to know about joining Actilabs from my time as an ambassador.
Acti-Labs is a network marketing company to help ambassadors sell skincare and makeup online. There are lots of ways people earn money these days. I recently wrote about my top five favourite ways to boost your monthly income. I used to be affiliated with ActiLabs and so I wanted to write this post to help those who are looking to become an ambassador make an informed decision. If you’re interested how to join acti-labs you can sign up here.
Acti-Labs UK: What Is Involved
As I work from home full time and network marketing plays a part in that and helps me earn a bit of commission directly into my bank account every Friday. Networking Marketing is not my full time ‘job’ as such however and it’s actually quite a small part of my day.
I love beauty products and so having a chance to try new things always appeals to me, particularly when I can earn a little bit of cash doing so. If you want to try some new products but can’t commit to an online business I recommend trying out BirchBox which is a great way to earn cash for your recommendations.
I use the products, I tell people about them and I check in with my team. Training is at a convenient time for me and I have access to all the information I need. It is a way to earn extra money around other commitments so if you’re a full time mother, working full time, studying or already busy I can assure you that if I have time to fit it into my daily schedule around blogging, promotion, social media management, filming and parenting and making sure I have time to myself to do the things I want to do then anyone else can too. What I like about the company I promote is it means that each weekend some play money whether that’s to go to the cinema, a meal out or a trip away it’s good to know that we have a little flexibility. Before reading through everything below feel free to watch this video about my personal journey with network marketing.
Which Company were you with?
The company I used to promote is called Acti Labs which sell French skincare and make up products. The message Acti Labs want to promote is affordable surgery inspired treatments that you can do at home. That’s nothing scary, I promise, all it means is that the products have a high amount of active ingredient in them which is what makes them work so well. For example, the collagen night cream we retail has a high amount of collagen in and because our products are sold through ambassadors there’s a lot of fee’s to be cut out meaning the money can go into sourcing the collagen rather than into other people’s pockets. When you buy from an Ambassador you are buying a product direct from the laboratory.
What products does ActiLabs sell?
If you’d like to find out more about the products I sell then you can watch this video here showcasing a few of my favourites.
Here is a before and after picture of me. The after picture is using all Acti Labs products except the eyeliner. I’ve used:
Mesoderm Moisturiser HD Foundation with a Beauty Blender Contour Palette for contour, blush and shimmer highlight in gold Diamond Dust in Caramel Glow for a matte finish Skyscraper Mascara in black Lip Liner in Candy Mega Matte Liquid Lipgloss in Candy
Acti Labs have a huge range of products including mineral makeup, skincare, personal care, inch loss solutions, dietary supplements and there are a fair few new products launching in the next few months in these categories. I personally really like the products because they are paraben free, not tested on animals and work really well for my skin. These opinions are based on personal use of the products. I mostly sell to friends and family and have a few regular customers however it’s possible to make a lucrative income from this business. You can sell on social media, you can leaflet/brochure drop if that’s your thing, you can discuss storing products in salons and beauticians or you can get involved in party plan. It’s important to know that your Acti Labs business is your own and as long as you are within compliance guidelines you can run the business however you like.
My current selection of Acti Labs products with the old Acti Derm logo including some from my original kit when purchased.
How can I join Acti-Labs UK?
First of all you will need to connect with a sponsor who will help and guide you as well as bring you up to speed with any training you might need. There is no easy way to find a local ambassador but I would advise reaching out to your network on social media as a friend might know someone that already does it which would then give you a connection. If you want to discuss joining my team you are more than welcome to but please connect with me first using the social media channels or the contact page above which contains my email address. You might want to research the acti-labs compensation plan before you join to find out how exactly you might earn money by selling these products.
Starting a business with Acti Labs is both affordable and really simple to do. You can simply start online only and buy a website with a retail store for £20 or you can start with a kit from £32.50 which is great as you get a few products to try and to start you recommending them. The only condition if you start with a kit is that you need to match the kit value in sales in your first four weeks. So if you start with the £32.50 kit you need to place orders worth £32.50 in your first few weeks of business. If you purchase the £100 kit then you need to place orders worth £100 in the first four weeks. I personally started with the £100 kit and easily got my first £100 orders so it can be done. If you start with the £20 website only offer then you have no targets or sales requirements to hit. This is basically to prevent kitnapping and just buying a kit for personal discount on the products. When you sign up and select your kit option then there’s a terms and agreements form to read and sign if you agree and then you provide a few personal details. You’ll then receive an email to the email address you provided with your log on details and access to your personal shop. The next step is to ensure your information is correct and add your bank details so you can get paid.
Here is the vanity case that came with my £100 start up kit when I joined in November 2015
How Do I Get Paid with Acti-Labs and How Much?
Payment is made on week in arrears on a Friday into your bank. You will earn 20% commission on every order placed by yourself or by customers through your shop link. If you’re looking to work from home you could always have a quick read of my top five ways to boost your monthly income.
Are there any bonuses?
Yes. If you achieve sales of £350 within one calendar month you achieve Diamond status and you will get a 5% bonus on all futher sales placed through your account. So if you have sales of £600 in one month, you will get 5% bonus on the £250 sales. When you achieve Diamond status for the first time you will get a pandora style bracelet and your first charm. You will then continue to get a charm each time you move up a level through the career plan or with any promotions the company is running. You can also earn Acti Cash. Please note this information was written a couple of years ago now and may have changed. Speak to an ambassador or look on the actilabs website for more details on the compensation plan.
What is Acti Cash?
Acti Cash is a reward which equals to an online credit on your back office which allows you to purchase products at a discount. This is very useful to expand your kit without actually having to keep paying for them with the commission you earn weekly.
You can use Acti Cash as a way to top up your kit without needing to use all of your weekly commission. Focus on retailing the products and you can expand your kit for free*
How Much Acti Cash can I earn and does it expire?
Acti Cash does expire within one month of it being applied to your account so you need to make sure you use it. You can get £10 Acti Cash if you process orders of £100 in the first 9 days of the month. The Acti Cash will then be applied on 10th day of the month. You also earn Acti Cash for high sales in the month. When you get to Diamond Status you will earn £25 Acti Cash and the amounts increase with the more sales you put through. £500 is £50 Acti Cash and so on. Another way you can earn Acti Cash is by placing bulk orders. A bulk order is an order over £100 and this will earn you 5% Acti Cash. For every £100 order you put through your back office you will earn an extra £5 in Acti Cash as well as the £20 commission paid into your bank account.
Do I have to build a team?
No but you can if you want and yes you can earn commission on team member sales.
Is Acti Labs a Scam or Pyramid Selling?
No. Scams and pyramid selling is illegal. A pyramid scheme never has products to sell and the targets are so unrealistic that only the person at the top ever makes money…hmm…sounds a bit like most huge corporations doesn’t it? Where the CEO gets all the profit and the people at the bottom are stuck doing all the hard work for minimum wage? However, in the aim of transparency it is commission based and you only earn money if you sell products. In my experience Acti Labs seem to be the fairest and have the most affordable product line. I’m seen people have success with these products and this business but MLM companies can get you into debt if you buy more than you can sell. You do not need to stock products but it is advisable to use and showcase use of these products to help generate sales so people can see results and personal feedback.
ActiLabs have products available for consumers to purchase and they reward the affiliate the individual purchases from. They then reward affiliates for introducing others to the company and generating revenue. Instead of using the company profits to buy vacation homes the owners of the company choose to pay commission to the sellers involved. It is a sales job but instead of being in an office you connect with people you already know. Think of it this way…would you prefer to work in a call centre and earn commission speaking to people you don’t know and recommending a product you don’t believe in (PPI comes to mind…) or would you rather recommend products you actually use to friends and family if you think it would benefit them?
Obviously, it’s a personal choice but it really bugs me when people say this is pyramid selling or a scam. It’s a business, and if you work hard at it, like you have to do at anything in life, you will be rewarded. It’s just an alternative way of earning money which has a lot of negative stigma from people who either do not understand or who have had a bad experience.
Will I Make Money with Acti Labs?
Like any position that is sales based – whether that is employed or self employed there is no guarentee I can give you that you will make money. This is not a get rich quick scheme but a genuine business opportunity that can help those that want to give it their all an extra income around their current commitments. If you are consistent, persistent and have passion for your product you will generate some interest. We do not believe in hard selling and pushing our products onto friends and family but instead offer support to speak to others outside of your usual friendship circle and try. A regular business takes between three to five years to turn a profit and as you’ll already have a website set up and ready to retail and possibly a kit there is the chance to make a profit in a quicker turnaround. There are lots of ways you can make money from home, this is just one option. There are five things I do every single month to help me work from home.
You need to put time and effort into your business and work it properly or you won’t see results. One selfie and an update of your kit will not get you £1000’s of orders or people flocking to you. You’ll need to show these people they can trust you and that you have something to offer before they’ll make a purchase from you. Parties are a great way to give yourself a confidence boost and get your first few sales because you’ll be showcasing the products and talking to people face to face. Face to face is the best way to network.
My advice would be to treat your business like a business, attend the trainings, be in contact with your upline, stick to the 80:20 social media rule – that is 80% personal and 20% business posts and be P.C.P about it – persistent, consistent and have passion!
