We’ve got great work…all we need are some great people!
The key to our program is flexibility. This opportunity is available whether you’re looking for full-time work or as a supplement to your income. Keep in mind that each territory is worked only once per year, so if you’re looking to derive a full-time income, travel may be involved (depending on where you live). Once a territory is started, you’ll have 30 days to finish. Most new agents take the full 30 days; many experienced agents complete a territory in 10-14 days.
No previous sales experience is required. Our agents come from all walks of life: homemakers, farmers, office and factory workers, retirees. Most have no previous public relations or sales experience and have successfully done (and are doing) this work. Determination to succeed, energy, organization, and a pleasant personality are the traits of a successful sales agent.
To get started, all you need is a dependable vehicle, good people and organizational skills, and a strong determination to succeed.
The number of territories you work or plan on working determines when your commission is paid. Part-time agents working 2 territories or less per year are paid the full commission owed to you plus your mileage bonus after the territory is worked to completion.
Lutheran Digest Sales Agents are paid two ways:
• Weekly for cash sales (payment collected at the time an ad is sold).
• Monthly for billed sales (payment remitted after an ad is sold).
You begin by selecting from a list of available keys. If a selected territory is worked to satisfactory completion (that is, to the assigned sales dollar goal and within the allotted 30-day time frame), you’re given the opportunity to work it again the next year. Successful work two years in a row (unless there are mitigating circumstances) entitles you to work that key year to year thereafter, provided the required sales performance is maintained.
On average, excluding to-and-from travel time, a sales area should take 10 to 14 days to complete. If travel is required to and from the sales area, you may be away from home upwards of 2-3 weeks.
Each Lutheran Digest sales area is worked once a year for the year. If you wish to derive more full-time income from Lutheran Digest work, you will have to do some traveling.
Depending on where you live, that can be across the county, across the state, or, sometimes, out of state. How long you’re away from home depends on several factors: the size of the territory, the distance from your home, and your level of experience.
You might be wondering if the work could be done from home, via telephone or email. In theory, the answer is yes; however, over 50 years of experience has taught us that nothing beats face-to-face contact for sales effectiveness. Besides, in-person contact is what differentiates The Lutheran Digest from most other periodicals serving the Lutheran church. It sets you apart from the competition and better assures your sales success.
We supply you with all necessary sales aids and supplies, including a unique “renewal packet.” In this packet is a list of previous issue’s advertising sponsors and their account
history. Also included are copies of any correspondence generated between the sponsors/churches and The Lutheran Digest office for that area. Agents are as informed as The Lutheran Digest can make them when they enter a sales area to begin work.
While the number varies from sales area to sales area, on national average, nearly two-third of the advertisers renew. This makes your job just a bit easier, since only about one-third of the advertisers may need to be replaced in each area. You won’t be “starting from scratch” each time.