Rep search technology has been stalled at the Blockbuster Video stage for the last 19 years.
October 1, 2019 we launch the RepFinder® by MANA smartphone app that is going to hit old‑style rep search like Netflix hit Blockbuster Video. And it’s available exclusively to MANA members.
On-the-go manufacturer sales managers now can search for reps, view each candidate’s MANA member profile, and contact the best candidates right from the app.
“Swipe Right” to contact a rep, “Swipe Left” to see the next rep on the list. Available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
You asked for it, and MANA has delivered!
Surveying MANA members revealed that of all the benefits of MANA membership, rep search is the number one priority of our members. The #1 reason manufacturer members join MANA is to find reps, and the #1 reason rep members join MANA is to be found by manufacturers.
With that in mind, MANA has devoted tremendous resources to upgrading and enhancing our tools to help manufacturers and reps find each other. And the crowning achievement of this effort is the new RepFinder® by MANA smartphone app.
How Does It Work?
A MANA manufacturer member:
- Logs in.
- Picks product categories.
- Picks U.S. states, Canada provinces, or Mexico territories.
Then the profiles of MANA rep members who fit that search are presented to the manufacturer one by one on his or her smartphone.
Finding and Contacting Reps as Easy as 1 – 2 – 3!
1. Choose products.
2. Choose territories.
3. “Swipe right” to contact this rep, or “swipe left” to skip this rep and view the next potential candidate.
See a rep who is a good fit? Touch the green “Swipe Right” button at the bottom of the screen, or just “Swipe Right” on the profile. This launches a contact request from the manufacturer to that rep firm and shows you the next rep on the list.
See a rep who is not a fit? Touch the red “Swipe Left” button at the bottom of the screen or just “Swipe Left” on the profile. This skips that rep and shows you the next rep on the list.
Which reps get presented to the manufacturer first? The reps who best fit the search results! Are you a rep who wants to get presented first? Read the section below entitled: “How do I get to the top of the list?”
After a manufacturer launches a contact request, the app notifies the MANA rep member that the manufacturer is interested.
Because some MANA rep members won’t install the app right away, MANA rep members also will receive an e-mail notifying them of that manufacturer’s interest.
The rep now sees the manufacturer’s profile and can “Swipe Right” or “Swipe Left” to let the manufacturer know whether or not the rep is interested in discussing the manufacturer’s product line.
Replying to a Manufacturer Contact Request, Also as Easy as 1 – 2 – 3!
1. When you get a contact request, view the manufacturer’s profile. “Swipe right” if it’s a fit.
2. If it’s a great fit, you can also call or e-mail the manufacturer right away.
3. Not a fit? “Swipe left” and then let the manufacturer know why it’s not a fit.
If the rep “Swipes Right,” the manufacturer is notified that the rep is interested in having a conversation. The rep also can call or e-mail the manufacturer right away if it looks like a very exciting line to represent.
If the rep is not interested and “Swipes Left,” the rep can let the manufacturer know why the rep declined using these check boxes.
As I said at the start of this article, you asked for it, and MANA has delivered! We look forward to your questions, comments and feedback. My e-mail address is ccohon@
manaonline.org.
Editor’s Note: Because Agency Sales magazine articles are written 8-12 weeks before an issue reaches your mailbox, some elements of the app described in this article may have changed by the time you install the app. If you have any concerns, or any trouble locating the app on the Google Play or Apple App store, please contact me at [email protected].
How Do I Get to the Top of the List?
When a manufacturer searches for reps, the RepFinder® smartphone app shows him or her one rep firm at a time. The manufacturer sees the first rep, swipes left or right, sees the second rep, swipes left or right, and continues.
If it’s a manufacturer you would really like to represent, you want to be among the first few reps the manufacturer sees instead of being the 30th.
So, how do you get to the top of the list? Here are the details you’ll need to get the best possible position when a manufacturer does a search.
- The Right Product Categories
RepFinder® matches the product category a manufacturer is searching for with reps who have added that product category in their member profile.
Does that mean you should add every possible product category to your member profile? Absolutely not!
Manufacturers tell us they hate seeing member profiles that claim a single rep firm sells electronics, plumbing supplies, sporting goods, and custom die casting.
RepFinder® knows that manufacturers want to see rep firms that added 10 or fewer product categories to their member profiles, so picking 10 or fewer product categories will move you ahead of rep firms that have picked 20, 30, or more product categories.
- The Right Territories
RepFinder® matches the territory the manufacturers are searching for with reps who have added those territories to their member profile.
Does that mean you should add every possible territory in your member profile? Again, absolutely not!
Manufacturers tell us they hate seeing member profiles that claim a one-person rep firm is able to cover 15 states.
RepFinder® knows that manufacturers want to see rep firms that have enough salespeople to cover the territories they say they cover. If the number of territories you list in your member profile balances with the number salespeople at your firm, your firm will move ahead of firms that claim to cover too many territories with too few salespeople.
If there’s a good reason you have chosen a lot of product categories or a lot of territories, call us with more details and we will work out a solution.
- Up-to-Date Profile
Manufacturers tell us that it is frustrating when they find out that the rep firm profile they were looking at was never updated and lists obsolete information.
RepFinder® knows if your member profile is up-to-date. If you have reviewed and updated your member profile in the last 18 months, you will be higher on the list.
- List Your Website
Manufacturers tell us they want to view each rep’s website when they are considering which reps to contact. If you have included your company’s website in your member profile, your firm will appear ahead of rep firms that do not have a website.
- Win the Tie Breaker
When all these criteria are equal what happens? RepFinder® breaks a tie based on the length of time each of tied firms has been a MANA member. Stay as a MANA member for years, for decades, and you will appear ahead of firms that have not been MANA members long.
Download the app on the Apple App store or on Google Play.
- Questions, Comments, Ideas
Questions, comments or ideas on how we could improve RepFinder®? Please reach out to me at [email protected].
Please give MANA a five-star rating on the app store. The more five-star ratings we get, the more manufacturers will eventually download the app and find your rep firm as a candidate to represent their lines.
If there is something about the app that prevents you from giving us a five-star rating, I’d be grateful if you would contact me at [email protected] so we can fix the problem instead of giving MANA less than a five-star rating.
Visit Google Play or the Apple App Store
When you visit the Google Play or Apple App store, you will see the description of RepFinder® by MANA shown below.
The more five-star ratings we get, the more manufacturers will eventually download the app and find your rep firm as a candidate to represent their lines.
Please give MANA a five-star rating. If there is something about the app that prevents you from giving us a five-star rating, I’d be grateful if you would contact me at [email protected] so we can fix the problem instead of giving MANA less than a five‑star rating.
Charles Cohon
CEO and President
MANA
Find Manufacturers’ Reps to Sell Your Product!
RepFinder® by MANA lets manufacturers who pay $549 annual dues use their smartphones to search thousands of independent contractor sales rep companies by territory and product category.
Not a MANA member? Wondering if $549 annual dues to join this not-for-profit trade association would be a good investment? Download the app and choose the Free Trial Version.
Ready to search? Just pick a product category and a sales territory! See a rep company that might be a good fit? “Swipe right” to make contact! See a rep who is not a good fit? “Swipe left” to move to the next rep.
Make unlimited searches in the Free Trial Version to be sure that $549 for annual MANA dues is a good investment for you. Then join MANA to see each rep company’s contact info and enjoy a year of unlimited searches.
