Building a Network Marketing Business Foundation – Part 2

In part 1 of “Building a Network Marketing Business Foundation,” I discussed having a positive attitude, social and network marketing and offline networking groups.  In this post, I will share a few more proven methods to build your business foundation. 

Blogging is a great way to “expose yourself.”  You can write a blog about your business or nearly anything you wish.  I suggest you create your blog on a Word document first, and use “spell check” before posting it online.  You want to appear professional.

Over the past few years videos have become a very important part of the network marketing mix.  Do whatever you can to get past how you look on camera.  No one is critiquing your appearance, but they are hearing you talk about your business opportunity and the products you offer.  If you’re not telling them, someone else will, and they’ll be earning the money, not you.  If you have a web cam and a microphone, you can make videos.  They are simple to do; you just have to do them!  If you do not have a web cam and/or microphone, they are very inexpensive to buy.

Placing ads on Craigslist and other free classified ads can be an effective way to “expose” yourself to the public.  I personally have not found classified ad sites to be THE most effective way to promote an online business, but they have generated leads here and there.  So I usually have at least a few ads running.  Create a half a dozen or so ads, and then you can rotate and use them repeatedly.

To help you grow a local business, join your Chamber of Commerce and other business-related networks in your area, and participate in their events.  Once they get to know who you are and what you do, you’ll find people will refer others to you.

Finally, word of mouth.  Some network marketing companies encourage you to first approach your “warm” market.  I actually discourage you from trying to recruit or sell to your family and friends.   Instead, just like you know what most of your family and friends do for a living, be sure they know what you do.  You need not shove it down their throats.  In normal conversation you can mention what products you promote and that you are a recruiter for your company.  If they know someone who can use your product or service or someone who is seeking a business opportunity, they will send them your way.  Over the years, my family has referred several people to me.

There are other ways to promote your business and build the foundation to achieve success.  These are just a few to help you begin your growth or to kick-start a struggling business. 

To your success!

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

How to Build Your Network Marketing Business Foundation – Part 1

Even if you have had your home business for months or years, it is not too late to build your foundation.  If your business has not yet “taken off,” it is not too late to start fresh. 

Tenacity is vital to growing your business.  When something works well for you, stick with it.  Discontinue any ineffective marketing.  If we decide that we are going to reach success in our endeavors, WE WILL!  If we believe in ourselves, our products or service and our companies, nothing is impossible.  There will be obstacles along the way, and our commitment may well be tested, however the power is within each of us to accomplish anything.

More often than not, those who are successful are the people who simply never give up!  Don’t quit!  Progress may be slow, but keep moving forward, you will get there.

Maintain a positive attitude.  Spend as little time as possible with those who discourage you, the dream stealers. Do your best to surround yourself with enthusiastic, encouraging, successful people.  Stay in close contact with your sponsor and anyone who inspires you. 

Entrepreneurship is very rewarding, even though there will be bumps on your journey.   In the beginning, we must do a lot of groundwork and foundation building.  If you have not yet done so, start today!  We may not make much money at all at first.  

If we view this time as a learning period, it makes sense.  We are attending “school” to learn the business and “brand” ourselves.  Instead of paying tuition, we can earn some money while we’re still learning.  The network marketing industry is growing dramatically, partially because of the residual income and the financial security it brings – eventually.

There are myriad ways to market and promote our businesses.   Our greatest efforts should be geared toward generating leads, either customers or team members.  One of the most effective ways to generate leads is by using social media and online networking.   It is unnecessary to spend much at all to promote your business.    

If you have not yet done so, set up accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WAHM.com and IBOToolbox.  Actively participate on each of these sites.  Connect with others and help them where you can.  They likely will reciprocate.  Feel free to explore and find other forums and networking sites, possibly those in your industry when you worked a job - or if you still work a job. 

When you join each of these networking sites: 

·        Complete your profile and include a photograph of yourself, not a logo or avatar, in your profile.  Post a photo with you smiling.  People will be more attracted to you if you appear friendly.  Use the same photo everywhere.  Your face will become familiar to other networkers, and you’ll make more connections. 

·        Include your bio on sites that offer the space, and use the same one everywhere. 

·        If you post a phone number and/or address, always use the same formatting.  For instance, if you put your area code in parenthesis, always put it in parenthesis.  Consistency can improve your search engine rankings.

The reason networkers participate in a variety of forums and social media networks is simple… to get our names and businesses “out there.”  If you were attending a Chamber of Commerce meeting, you would be handing out your cards, chatting with members and getting to know people.  Online networking works the same way.   

These totally free marketing platforms can be extremely powerful!  It requires time and serious participation, but you will see increased website traffic to your websites, leads will begin to come in and your search engine optimization will improve over time.

In my next post, I’ll provide a few other ways to promote yourself and build your network marketing business foundation.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

How to Build a Network Marketing Team

If you’re new to network marketing or have been struggling trying to build a team, there are techniques that may help you get started. 

The number one thing that many affiliates get wrong…  Share the business opportunity, do not sell it!

To share your opportunity, your goal is to direct prospective affiliates to a website.  If you have a good website, your site will sell the business for you!  All you have to do is get them there!

You can, of course, promote your websites online in myriad places, and you can do so FREE.  You need not pay to advertise your business online.  That is not to say that you should never do so, but at least at the beginning, you do not want to spend money you have not yet earned, so take advantage of the countless ways to market your business at no cost.   

Offline, you can drive people to your website by joining local business networking groups, distribute flyers or place free or low-cost ads in local newspapers.

If you are giving more than a 30 second summary and an invitation to visit your site to your prospects, you are wasting your time.  Instead, keep your summary very brief and allow your websites do the work.

The main benefit of directing people to your websites is that it takes you out of the role of salesperson.  Your websites are excellent tools to professionally inform prospects about the opportunity you are offering.   Your websites will provide nearly all the answers to your prospects’ questions.  However, the role of your websites is not to explain every little detail about your business.  So after reviewing the initial information, if they want to know more, you can answer their additional questions on your next contact.    

After reviewing your websites, your prospects will either be interested in learning more - or not.  Since they will learn about the business through your website, you do not have to pressure them.  If they want to join, they will tell you.    

The difference between outright selling and this approach is that you are simply encouraging them to learn all about your company, the opportunity and your products.  After reviewing the information, if they are interested in taking the next step, they have basically sold themselves.

By utilizing this method, your goal is to have your prospects commit to reviewing your website. Relationship building is the best way to achieve that goal.  By developing a relationship with your prospect first, you can identify the reason they want a home business; then you can offer them your solution.

If your prospects start to ask questions right after you have referred them to your site, simply refer them again to the websites.  I usually say jokingly, “My website explains it better than I do.” Or, you can say, “That’s a great question and everything will be explained on my website.”   If the prospect does not follow through and visit your website, you would not want them on your team anyway! 

One of the biggest mistakes a new Network Marketer makes is creating an interest with a prospect and not following-up.  Be sure to arrange for a follow-up appointment with them or just call them after a few days. If they are very interested, they may well contact you first.

Never attempt to force information on your prospects.  Again, build the relationship first so they will be open to hearing what you have to share.  You cannot recruit every prospect, and if you are “pushy” about trying to do so, you may lose your potential friendship and even damage your reputation.

If your prospects are reluctant to accept your information, accept their decision, and move on.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

 

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare® Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

This is Just Another Pyramid Scheme

Those of us in network marketing have heard this dozens, perhaps even hundreds of times!  In my opinion, it is a ridiculous statement!  

In Corporate America, companies have a CEO, Vice-Presidents, Supervisors & Managers and the General Workers.  Somehow THIS business model does look like a Pyramid!  The guy at the top makes far more than those below him.  In network marketing, those who join on the lower levels have as much opportunity as those “above” them to earn a large income.  They are not limited by “titles,” and if they work hard—patiently, consistently and persistently, they can earn as much or more than those who joined before them.

It can be annoying to hear prospects—or friends and family—refer to our businesses as a Pyramid Scheme.  We know we have a real, legitimate business, and that term automatically indicates that others believe it is a scam.

I can be difficult to respond to people who refer to our businesses in that way without sounding defensive or offending them.  We all know that there definitely are scams, Pyramid “Schemes,” but they are in the minority.  A very important part of being able to answer people is that WE must totally believe in our companies and KNOW that they are reputable. 

Another misconception many people have is that when they join a network marketing company, they are paying to get a job.  “Why should I have to pay for a job?”  It is our responsibility to educate them about the difference between a job and owning a business. 

I have found some people—even with an explanation—simply don’t “get it,” and obviously there is no sense in even trying to recruit them.  No matter what we say, some people will still believe that if they have to pay, it is illegal. 

On the other hand, if a prospect IS actually seeking a JOB, there is no reason to try to change their mind.

Some network marketers don’t understand that everyone is NOT qualified to work in the industry, nor will they ever want to do so.  For instance, if I refer someone to my website to learn more about the business and they do not go there, I do not want them on my team.  They cannot follow instructions.

Know when to move on to the next prospect.  No matter how hard we try, some people will never understand that network marketing is a perfectly legitimate industry.  Others will never understand why they have to pay to work with our companies.  Know that the prospect is not a good candidate.  Next!

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Do You Have What it Takes?

A large percentage of the population would like a home business, but not all are qualified to do so.   Network Marketing, in particular, requires certain qualities/characteristics.

One characteristic I find missing with many network marketers is Self-Motivation.  When they have no boss assigning tasks, they cannot seem to get started on their own.

Passion is needed to be successful with any business.  We must love our product or service and use it ourselves.  Passion for our business, the company, helps us to sell the business opportunity to others.

Those with an Entrepreneurial Spirit are the most likely to achieve success.  This simply means they have focus and perseverance, and that they can be innovative. 

A network marketer must like people and enjoy socializing, or the industry is not a good match for them.  Even more than their products, they must be able to sell themselves. 

Network marketers must be willing and able to Step Out of Their Comfort Zone.  For example, I dislike being in front of a camera, but I know that videos sell.  So I create marketing videos periodically and have recorded about a dozen.  Viewers of my videos can see that I am nervous, even looking down at my notes while speaking.  As uncomfortable as I am, I force myself to create videos, because they work!

Be Coachable.  Some people don’t know what it means to be coachable.  “'Coachability’ is the willingness to be corrected and to act on that correction. When we are coachable, we are prepared to be wrong... We are willing to let others evaluate… even plumb the depths of our performance because we understand that the journey of personal development cannot be traveled alone.”  Timothy R. Clark, from the article, “On Leadership: Are you coachable?”

Those not yet in the industry should ask themselves whether they actually have what it takes.  If they do not, they will save themselves and others a great deal of time by seeking another type of work.

There is no test to give prospective team members to see if they qualify.   All we can do is interview them to get “a feel” for their background, experience and skills.  The attrition rate in network marketing reflects the fact that we can never be certain who does or does not qualify to be a network marketer.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.