What’s up, guys? Sam Taggart with the Door-to-Door Experts and D2DCon and I get hit many times on what industries to get into, you know, trying to knock on doors. They’re like, should I do pest, alarms, or solar? Like, there are so many different things you could sell out there, and not even just in door to door, but direct sales is the right vehicle so that’s step one, know that you found the right home because the reality is, the income is endless.
I know guys making a million dollars plus selling door-to-door, so it’s a great industry to get into. I decided there are four P’s we call to determine what industry you should get into.
Position
The first P is simple. And its “position.” Position means what position you are in in life. Are you broke as a joke, needing money fast? Or are you somebody with a nice cushion where you can have a little nest egg to ramp up? What I mean by that, some jobs you know, you’re selling a bigger ticket. Like solar, roofs, and things like that, it may take a month, two, or three months before you even get your first paycheck. Are you in a position to do that? Some of these jobs have lower-level positions, such as a canvasser or a setter position, where they pay per lead. At the same time, other industries like pest control, satellite, and alarms will give you a pretty instant income. You know, pest control is deemed as the more straightforward, quicker sale, then satellite, then alarms, and it just slowly, progressively gets a little bit more difficult. Other things include water softeners, meat, vacuums, HVAC, and insulation. There are all sorts of industries out there that you may want to explore that may have different likes and things like that. So, the position will ask yourself what financial position you are in and what risk intolerance you have.
Assess your current financial and personal situation. Are you ready for immediate income, or can you afford to invest time in higher-ticket sales like solar that may take longer to pay off? Different industries, like pest control, alarms, or solar, have varying financial demands and timelines.
Plan
The second one is the plan. Many people are like, ” oh, I want to sell this, ” and I’m like, well, what’s your plan? If you’re going to sell solar, it’s not like ,oh, I’m gonna do that for two months and then go back to school. Solar is better when moving, relocating, and building a long-term pipeline. I think you have to commit to three to five years. Now. It’s not something you can jump back and forth between industries. Some people think they can jump back and forth from industry to industry. Like pest control, it’s only four months. It’s four months, and that’s the season.
I’m going to do it in between school, or I’m gonna do it as a career, but I’m going to work hard for four or five months, and then I’m going to take the other months off and live, recruit, or travel or do whatever you want, go to school and that’s the plan. I want to relocate. I want to move. I want to come back. In some industries, you might relocate in the long term. You might be able to sell in some industries right where you live. If that’s the plan, that will determine what industry you’ll get into.
Align your goals with the industry you choose. Short-term roles like pest control are ideal for seasonal work, while longer commitments like solar may require relocation and sustained focus over years. A clear plan ensures you make the most of your time and effort.
Passion
Now, the third P is your passion. Now, many people say if you are going to sell something, you must love it. Sell something you’re passionate about. The reality is, was I ever really passionate about alarms? Probably not. Did I create a passion for it? Yes. Was I passionate about the environment when I got into solar? No. But, as I got better, did some good, and researched, I found a passion for it. Pest control. Who’s passionate about a pesticide? The reality is that people have a misconception about when selling something—the passion for real estate, cars, or whatever. Sales are sales. However, you should be passionate about developing yourself and providing a good service. You do have to believe in what you’re doing. It’s really hard to get out there when you feel misaligned with the company, misaligned with the product, misaligned in that. So, believe in it. Just like, is this a good service? Is this a good company? Is this a good value exchange? It’s tough to convince somebody to exchange money for your product or service if you’re not passionate about it.
While you may not initially love the product, developing a passion for the service you provide is crucial. Align yourself with companies and products you believe in to maintain authenticity and drive.
Personality
Finally, the fourth P is personality. What is your personality call for? Some people are very emotional, driven, and high-energy, like quick hits, and they’re better on an emotional cell like an alarm system or satellite or things like that. Some people are very logical, engineer, and focused. They’re very technical and might gear more toward some improvement, solar, or things like that. So, ask yourself, what’s my personality? What personalities do you want to surround yourself with? Am I more blue collar, and do I want to get into more the contracting type role? Or am I more like Deputy Young Buck, who wants to be surrounded by younger cats and maybe pest control? You tend to have a little more of a younger, upbeat vibe. So, what resonates with your personality, and then the other one with that is what’s the company’s personality? Companies all have their own culture or personality.
Many ask if I get into a big behemoth company with thousands of reps.
Or do I go with the little startup company with many growth opportunities, and do I go with them? You have got to ask what environment I want to surround myself with. What’s the personality of the company? What is this giving me in the value exchange? A lot of people chase a pay scale. They chase money. My advice is don’t necessarily chase the scale; chase where you’re going to be happiest and where you’ll have an environment that will motivate you to sell the most—the company where they give you a happy and immediately very fair pay structure. When people go and finagle and try to negotiate these unique pay scales and deals and things like that, it usually ends in a lose-lose situation. My recommendation is to realize that the company’s got to make money. Create a win-win situation and get with a company that will fit your personality.
Match your energy and work style to the right sales niche and company culture. Emotional, high-energy individuals may excel in alarms, while logical, detail-oriented people might thrive in solar or home improvement industries. Consider the company’s culture and team dynamic to find a fit that motivates you.
Now that I’ve explained the four p’s, I would recommend following us more on other tips. How to knock on doors, how to get into sales, how to find companies, how to apply the right methods and strategies, and more. Listen to the D2D podcast on any of your favorite podcast apps, and follow us on YouTube. Follow us on Instagram on D2D Experts or the Sam Taggart Instagram. Check out our event D2DCon. We’re here to provide value and answer your questions because you found the right vehicle. This is the vehicle, and you just have to drive it correctly.
Ultimately, door-to-door sales is not just about making money—it’s about choosing the right environment, developing yourself, and delivering value. For more strategies, training, and insights into becoming a sales expert, follow D2D Experts on your favorite platforms and explore events like D2DCon to elevate your career.
I knocked doors since I was 11! Never bought into the whole hourly normal job, and used direct sales to be the vehicle to create MASSIVE success. I Started the Direct Sales division for Solcius as their VP building it up to have 70+ sales reps nation wide. In 2018 I left to pursue a greater mission to unify and uplevel the Door to Door industry and founded the D2D Experts.