We've all heard stories about the teenage kid who builds an online marketing empire. Overnight. In his bedroom. In between playing XBox 360 and doing his homework. Or the network marketer who builds a massive organization from zero in just 90 days using the internet. (Funny they never say HOW they did it....they just "showed the plan" more). Like other eager beavers, I entered online marketing with visions of massive opt-in lists in just 30 days....generated for free! It didn't happen quite that way.
Your web presence builds if you keep at it. Online marketing is absolutely the best way to build your network marketing business for the long term. Not everybody wants to do the old "warm market" thing. Not everyone has a Rolodex of contacts. Marketing MLM online levels the playing field.
Here are a few things I learned in navigating the online marketing jungle.
When it comes to marketing online, remember that the 'net is like a river. Go with the flow. Things change. HOW you get the word out will change. Bet on it, and don't get locked into any one method. Some folks use off line advertising and use their website or system just for presenting and training. Others prospect online exclusively. Most do a combination of the two.
Outsourcing (paying someone else) may be very wise. Almost every type of online marketing can be outsourced. Buying leads is a form of outsourcing.
There are some things, like article marketing, blogging and forums that keep your link alive for years. You can pay to have others write your articles and blog entries - some go as cheap as $8/article. You still have full copyright privileges.
Things like social networking (thousands of sites for that) are basically the same kind of prospecting and meeting people online that you do offline. The only downside to some of these sites, is that it's you and a zillion other network marketers fishing in the same spot. The communication often becomes trading opportunity pitches. Still there are hundreds of thousands of forums. Find one you enjoy. Share. Participate. Build relationships and trust. Your customer and distributor base will grow.
Most MLM companies offer replicating websites for their distributors. Most are poorly designed, difficult to navigate and don't have capture forms. In short, I wouldn't market my MLM replicating site. Instead I would build a capture or landing page for that replicating site.
What about SEO? Most network marketers rely on replicating sites athat aren't indexed by the major search engines. Yes, page 1 of Google is the most important piece of real estate in the world for your keyword. Absolutely. So if you can build a good site and get a handle on SEO or pay big bucks to a webmaster, go for it. The key in MLM is duplication. I personally don't think that teaching SEO to my team is duplicatable. I know several successful online marketers that don't even rely on SEO as a primary means of driving traffic to their sites. They do some, but it's not their main focus.
I don't build my own websites. HTML code fries my little brain. I do build capture pages, blogs and my Squidoo page. Building websites is too time consuming for me. I've done it out of necessity, but would rather have a webmaster. I use replicated marketing systems that handle all of those website details for me. I give up control of content for ease of use and freeing up my time for prospecting. The key in MLM is duplication. I personally don't think that teaching SEO to my team is duplicatable.
The name of the game, no matter what you do is this: Build the biggest opt-in list you can. PERIOD. Drive as many of those as you can, on your list to the website of your choice . It is the website's job to convert that traffic into customers or distributors. That's it in a nutshell.
The Good news is that there are lots and lots of ways to get traffic to your sites. The "bad news" is there is not a universal starting point for everyone. Here are some things you can do, in no specific order. For best results, do as many as you can manage.
1) Article marketing
2) Blogging
3) Social Networking
4) Newspaper ads and other offline advertsing
5) Business cards
6) Email marketing (this is the opt-in list)
7) Calling people on the phone
8) PPC (pay-per-click- VERY competitive and $$ if you use Google or Yahoo) but there are other search engines
9) Link exchange
10) Forums
11) Safelists - these come in a variety of forms
12) Traffic exchanges (better for capture pages and freebies like free reports)
13) Decals on your car
14) Buying targeted leads
15) Link submitters (some are good, some are bad).
Note: some directories like DMOZ won't take ANY network marketing sites or anything related to MLM or any MLM distributor...probably a way around that. I submitted this blog , MLM MANIAC...we'll see.....
16) Offering a free report in exchange for contact info (see http://www.cinchme2.com)
17) Even a T-shirt or baseball cap with your web addy on it!
18 ) Viral marketing- someone loves what you do and tells the world about it.
OK where do you start??? Pick just one technique and learn it. Offline advertising directed to your capture page is probably the easiest. Then join a couple of networking sites and forums. Learn to master one technique and then add another. Then another. Pretty soon you will have several avenues that are driving traffic to your sites, and yes, the search engines will probably pick up your site. Just start somewhere!!!!!
For More tips and ideas, subscibe to my Ezine:
"Online Guerilla Marketing Tips for MLMers"
at: http://lifestylcreatr.blogspot.com
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Karen Hurd is a mother of 5. She built her business during the kids'
naptime, and now she makes money while she sleeps. She has a passion
for helping people to succeed. Her favorite home based business can be
found here: http://www.coolbiz4u.net
The Indispensable Guide to Network Marketing -
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Does Your MLM Ignore Internet Marketing?
It's absolutely mind-boggling that network marketers, especially those in established companies, need to defend their online marketing efforts to their peers and corporate partners. Every marketing survey, every market indicator is pointing to the internet. "Home party", or "party-plan sales" is the lease searched for term in the home business category.
The biggest? "Online home business".
You would think that the home business/network marketing industry would take the hint, seize the trend, and provide serious training to allow distributors to maximize their efforts. As a marketing professional I am apalled, frankly, at the resistance I have met in established network marketing circles to building online. It's nothing less than incredible.
The truth is most MLM companies do not promote online marketing largely for 3 reasons:
1) MLM or network marketing is a relationship one-to-one business. The internet was perceived by old-timers who built the industry as anonymous and impersonal. Hmmm. Impersonal? Tell that to all those people who use online dating services, and those that have met their spouses online. Internet marketing facilitates relationships. In many instances it is better than belly to belly.
2) Virtually all proprietary MLM products are trademarked. Companies are afraid they can't control the use of their trademark online, opening themselves up to all sorts of liabilities and possible legal issues.
3) The is no "best-way" to start. The net is vast. Advertising opportunities are everywhere! Home parties have simple formulas - make a list- find a host/hostess- do the party-collect orders. I don't believe that there is a basic "one-size-fits-all formula" for online marketing. Not so easy to teach and potentially full of legal landmines for MLM corporate attorneys.
We will save the issue of poorly designed corporate-owned MLM distributor sites for another day.
If you are marketing a nutritional product, the FDA monitors websites for claims or perceived claims. The FDA is extremely broad in its definition of a "claim". If a distributor makes a claim, even telling their own story, it could generate a rebuke from the FDA. Companies did not want a bunch of FDA warning letters showing up in their mailbox because of distributor website content that they had no control over. That puts a damper on a lot of things.
Personally, I feel that the internet must have a substantial place in a network marketing business. I detail some of those reasons on my Squidoo page: http://www.squidoo.com/ezmoney
Enter lots of network marketers like me, wanting to harness the power of the internet, "yesterday!". I was shocked to find out that marketing online is not always as fast and furious as I had thought. I was surprised that there is no one way that is the agreed upon place to start. It all depends on your budget, time constraints, personal creativity, goals, offering, marketing system.... and who mentors you online. Emphasis on the mentor!!!
Nevertheless, it is a wonderful way to build your network marketing business. Online marketing skills are becoming increasingly important to any business. Network marketers who ignore the net do so at their own peril. And those prospects will find someone else who does build online. Maybe me :-).
Learn how to market your MLM online. Subscribe to my newsletter:
" Online Guerilla Marketing Secrets for MLMers".
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net Opt-in for immediate access.
--------------------------------------------------------
The biggest? "Online home business".
You would think that the home business/network marketing industry would take the hint, seize the trend, and provide serious training to allow distributors to maximize their efforts. As a marketing professional I am apalled, frankly, at the resistance I have met in established network marketing circles to building online. It's nothing less than incredible.
The truth is most MLM companies do not promote online marketing largely for 3 reasons:
1) MLM or network marketing is a relationship one-to-one business. The internet was perceived by old-timers who built the industry as anonymous and impersonal. Hmmm. Impersonal? Tell that to all those people who use online dating services, and those that have met their spouses online. Internet marketing facilitates relationships. In many instances it is better than belly to belly.
2) Virtually all proprietary MLM products are trademarked. Companies are afraid they can't control the use of their trademark online, opening themselves up to all sorts of liabilities and possible legal issues.
3) The is no "best-way" to start. The net is vast. Advertising opportunities are everywhere! Home parties have simple formulas - make a list- find a host/hostess- do the party-collect orders. I don't believe that there is a basic "one-size-fits-all formula" for online marketing. Not so easy to teach and potentially full of legal landmines for MLM corporate attorneys.
We will save the issue of poorly designed corporate-owned MLM distributor sites for another day.
If you are marketing a nutritional product, the FDA monitors websites for claims or perceived claims. The FDA is extremely broad in its definition of a "claim". If a distributor makes a claim, even telling their own story, it could generate a rebuke from the FDA. Companies did not want a bunch of FDA warning letters showing up in their mailbox because of distributor website content that they had no control over. That puts a damper on a lot of things.
Personally, I feel that the internet must have a substantial place in a network marketing business. I detail some of those reasons on my Squidoo page: http://www.squidoo.com/ezmoney
Enter lots of network marketers like me, wanting to harness the power of the internet, "yesterday!". I was shocked to find out that marketing online is not always as fast and furious as I had thought. I was surprised that there is no one way that is the agreed upon place to start. It all depends on your budget, time constraints, personal creativity, goals, offering, marketing system.... and who mentors you online. Emphasis on the mentor!!!
Nevertheless, it is a wonderful way to build your network marketing business. Online marketing skills are becoming increasingly important to any business. Network marketers who ignore the net do so at their own peril. And those prospects will find someone else who does build online. Maybe me :-).
Learn how to market your MLM online. Subscribe to my newsletter:
" Online Guerilla Marketing Secrets for MLMers".
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net Opt-in for immediate access.
--------------------------------------------------------
Friday, June 29, 2007
Buying and Working with Leads
So you've used up your "warm market" of friends and family. Or you really don't have one that you want to contact about your business opportunity or product. And you don't want to get out a phone book and start cold calling. Then it's time to buy some leads! When I first purchased leads about 3 years ago, my expectations were way too high. I thought it would be like picking ripe fruit. Well, sometimes! Sometimes not. Here's what I've learned:
The best leads are those you generate yourself. The leads you generate yourself are the most responsive. They will answer the phone when you call. And they are the most likely to join your business or buy your product.
However, it can take quite a long time to generate traffic to your website or capture page. Purchasing leads is a good part of your strategy to start building your database. Some companies will sell you biz-opp leads, female only leads, and product oriented leads. Purchased leads means that you know EXACTLY how many prospects that you will get for your advertising dollar. And you can get your leads in as little as an hour.
Personally, I don't recommend that you do any less than 100 leads/month. Work up to 100 leads/week or more. Some trainers say do 1,000/month. It will depend on your business and how you work your leads.
When you purchase leads, you need to have the following in place:
1) An autoresponder for follow up and to keep your name in front of your prospects. Some lead vendors or marketing systems have generic autoresponders already done for you. Some systems require that you write your own. Whatever autoresponder system you choose, find out how many leads you can upload per day. The CAN-Spam act limits some things and everyone is cautious now, so that they don't get inadvertantly blasted as spam. Some of these autoresponder companies, have agreements with lead vendors and then you can download as many as you want automatically into your account.
2) Don't buy leads unless you have an online marketing system. You need a way to process them. Don't put yourself in a situation of mailing DVDs and information packets. Too expensive.
3) Leads come in all forms. If I am using phone verified or phone-interviewed leads, I buy from companies who have scrubbed those leads against the Do Not Call list. If I am buying surveyed leads, only those that are double opt-in. I prefer companies that have an affiliate program or the pay me back for lead referrals so that my lead costs can be reimbursed or offset.
4) I prefer exclusive or semi-exclusive fresh leads. Real time-leads means you get them as soon as they are generated - within minutes. Exclusive, real-time, are the most expensive, sometimes costing as much as $5 - $10 or more a piece. The more exclusive, real-time and prequalified, the more responsive the lead is.
In the beginning, get double opt-in leads. Expect to blow some in practicing and building your skills. It's OK. I don't prefer aged leads, some of those have been sold 10 or more times. However, they are dirt cheap, and I have sponsored distributors from them. Just know that aged leads have the highest negativity because they have been sold so much.
5) Every lead company provides scripts. Some provide extra training as well. Dani Johnson has good scripts. Those of us who've been working leads have developed scripts that work for us. There are lots out there. The goal of the first call is just to introduce yourself and find out what they want. DO NOT try to get them to join/buy on the first call. I've found that if I pre-qualify people, it's a waste of time and the tone of the interview changes. Build a relationship first. Let your propsect's actions qualify them.
6) Don't buy leads that have been incentivized - e.g. "Enter to win an IPOD". They're junk.
7) Know the "territory". When someone looks for a home business online, they often respond to several websites. They have no idea that their name could be sold up to 20 times. Even if 50% of distributors never call their purchased leads, your lead could have received several calls. Even an exclusive lead probably answered several ads. So "exclusive" means that the company you bought from hasn't sold it to anyone other than you. That's OK. It's just part of the environment.
8) Some of your leads will tell you that they never filled out any form. I've had phone verified leads tell me that! 90% of the time, that's bogus, they just aren't interested anymore.
While you are generating your own opt-in list, build your database with purchased leads. I've met some great people through leads. I've met business owners, attorneys, and people that I never would have met otherwise. Be consistent in how you work your leads and patient for the results. Purchased leads can be a great way to grow your business,especially in the short term.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best online marketing for home based businesses and
opportunities visit: http://womanwizehealth.com
--------------------------------------------------------
The best leads are those you generate yourself. The leads you generate yourself are the most responsive. They will answer the phone when you call. And they are the most likely to join your business or buy your product.
However, it can take quite a long time to generate traffic to your website or capture page. Purchasing leads is a good part of your strategy to start building your database. Some companies will sell you biz-opp leads, female only leads, and product oriented leads. Purchased leads means that you know EXACTLY how many prospects that you will get for your advertising dollar. And you can get your leads in as little as an hour.
Personally, I don't recommend that you do any less than 100 leads/month. Work up to 100 leads/week or more. Some trainers say do 1,000/month. It will depend on your business and how you work your leads.
When you purchase leads, you need to have the following in place:
1) An autoresponder for follow up and to keep your name in front of your prospects. Some lead vendors or marketing systems have generic autoresponders already done for you. Some systems require that you write your own. Whatever autoresponder system you choose, find out how many leads you can upload per day. The CAN-Spam act limits some things and everyone is cautious now, so that they don't get inadvertantly blasted as spam. Some of these autoresponder companies, have agreements with lead vendors and then you can download as many as you want automatically into your account.
2) Don't buy leads unless you have an online marketing system. You need a way to process them. Don't put yourself in a situation of mailing DVDs and information packets. Too expensive.
3) Leads come in all forms. If I am using phone verified or phone-interviewed leads, I buy from companies who have scrubbed those leads against the Do Not Call list. If I am buying surveyed leads, only those that are double opt-in. I prefer companies that have an affiliate program or the pay me back for lead referrals so that my lead costs can be reimbursed or offset.
4) I prefer exclusive or semi-exclusive fresh leads. Real time-leads means you get them as soon as they are generated - within minutes. Exclusive, real-time, are the most expensive, sometimes costing as much as $5 - $10 or more a piece. The more exclusive, real-time and prequalified, the more responsive the lead is.
In the beginning, get double opt-in leads. Expect to blow some in practicing and building your skills. It's OK. I don't prefer aged leads, some of those have been sold 10 or more times. However, they are dirt cheap, and I have sponsored distributors from them. Just know that aged leads have the highest negativity because they have been sold so much.
5) Every lead company provides scripts. Some provide extra training as well. Dani Johnson has good scripts. Those of us who've been working leads have developed scripts that work for us. There are lots out there. The goal of the first call is just to introduce yourself and find out what they want. DO NOT try to get them to join/buy on the first call. I've found that if I pre-qualify people, it's a waste of time and the tone of the interview changes. Build a relationship first. Let your propsect's actions qualify them.
6) Don't buy leads that have been incentivized - e.g. "Enter to win an IPOD". They're junk.
7) Know the "territory". When someone looks for a home business online, they often respond to several websites. They have no idea that their name could be sold up to 20 times. Even if 50% of distributors never call their purchased leads, your lead could have received several calls. Even an exclusive lead probably answered several ads. So "exclusive" means that the company you bought from hasn't sold it to anyone other than you. That's OK. It's just part of the environment.
8) Some of your leads will tell you that they never filled out any form. I've had phone verified leads tell me that! 90% of the time, that's bogus, they just aren't interested anymore.
While you are generating your own opt-in list, build your database with purchased leads. I've met some great people through leads. I've met business owners, attorneys, and people that I never would have met otherwise. Be consistent in how you work your leads and patient for the results. Purchased leads can be a great way to grow your business,especially in the short term.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best online marketing for home based businesses and
opportunities visit: http://womanwizehealth.com
--------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Are You Proud to be in MLM?
Are you proud of what you do as a network marketer? Do you allow the negative and often ignorant opinions of others effect your performanc? No other home business comes close to creating the wealth both personally and financially, that network marketing can. I received this piece in an article, and wanted to pass this on. Mark Yarnell is the author of Your First Year in Network Marketing, a foundational book for anyonein the industry.
Success University – Boot Camp Day #14
Here’s what Mark Yarnell, an industry leader who’s made over 10 Million dollars has to say about Network Marketing:
“Companies can keep their salaries, pensions, health plans, and Fords. Give me unlimited opportunity or give me death! I’d rather buy my own dream car than drive a free Taurus. I never wanted to be a doctor because I could only help one person at a time. I never wanted to be a lawyer because there are only a few billable hours in the day.
No thanks folks! I’m a network marketer and proud to admit it. In fact, I'd be embarrassed to be anything else. I’m in a pyramid where everyone starts at the top and fills in the bottom, instead of starting at the bottom and clawing toward some elusive top. I win when others win, not when they lose because I was promoted ahead of them. I give money to charities, I refuse to become one. I don’t have any structured hours but I’m on the phone fifty or more hours a week because I love interacting with winners.
Next time some “Big Business” person questions network marketing – don’t hesitate to express pride in what you do. Networkers are champions in the last bastion of true capitalism!”
Now is the time to make your true commitment. It’s the time to draw that line in the sand and let nothing stop you from achieving your dreams...
If you don't take action now and get your business moving, you will be letting the best opportunity ever created slip through your fingers. Those of you who saddle up, lock arms with your upline mentors and go to work will be among the success stories you read about in the books. You'll be the ones who join us on tropical island vacations all over the world, the ones who create a financial legacy for your family that will last for generations, the ones who truly live the life that the rest of the working world only dreams about.
Those of you who make excuses and let past failures stop you will look back at yourself several years from now and wish you had for once in your life charged the hill and made something happen in your life. You'll wish you had made the commitment to yourself and your family and you'll let it eat away at you by knowing what your life could have been like.
Make your commitment. Get on fire and people will come from miles around just to watch you burn! Give people something to shoot for, look deep inside yourself and make your commitment to become the leader that will let nothing stand in your way!
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a maniac all of her life. She built her business
while her children slept, and now she makes money in her sleep
Karen and her husband Dale live in Virginia with their 5 children.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net/
--------------------------------------------------------
Success University – Boot Camp Day #14
Here’s what Mark Yarnell, an industry leader who’s made over 10 Million dollars has to say about Network Marketing:
“Companies can keep their salaries, pensions, health plans, and Fords. Give me unlimited opportunity or give me death! I’d rather buy my own dream car than drive a free Taurus. I never wanted to be a doctor because I could only help one person at a time. I never wanted to be a lawyer because there are only a few billable hours in the day.
No thanks folks! I’m a network marketer and proud to admit it. In fact, I'd be embarrassed to be anything else. I’m in a pyramid where everyone starts at the top and fills in the bottom, instead of starting at the bottom and clawing toward some elusive top. I win when others win, not when they lose because I was promoted ahead of them. I give money to charities, I refuse to become one. I don’t have any structured hours but I’m on the phone fifty or more hours a week because I love interacting with winners.
Next time some “Big Business” person questions network marketing – don’t hesitate to express pride in what you do. Networkers are champions in the last bastion of true capitalism!”
Now is the time to make your true commitment. It’s the time to draw that line in the sand and let nothing stop you from achieving your dreams...
If you don't take action now and get your business moving, you will be letting the best opportunity ever created slip through your fingers. Those of you who saddle up, lock arms with your upline mentors and go to work will be among the success stories you read about in the books. You'll be the ones who join us on tropical island vacations all over the world, the ones who create a financial legacy for your family that will last for generations, the ones who truly live the life that the rest of the working world only dreams about.
Those of you who make excuses and let past failures stop you will look back at yourself several years from now and wish you had for once in your life charged the hill and made something happen in your life. You'll wish you had made the commitment to yourself and your family and you'll let it eat away at you by knowing what your life could have been like.
Make your commitment. Get on fire and people will come from miles around just to watch you burn! Give people something to shoot for, look deep inside yourself and make your commitment to become the leader that will let nothing stand in your way!
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a maniac all of her life. She built her business
while her children slept, and now she makes money in her sleep
Karen and her husband Dale live in Virginia with their 5 children.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net/
--------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Are You Marketing Your MLM to the Right People?
One of the reasons why I believe MLM gets a bad name and is accused of hype - is that MLM or network marketing is promoted to the wrong people about 80% of the time. It's promoted as a part-time work at home job to people who really just want a steady pay and flexible hours.
1) Network marketing is not a job. It is a business system for entrepreneurs who want to have their businesses at home instead of another location, like an office. The vast majority of networkers still promote MLM as "You can make thousands of dollars in just a few hours a week"! You can do that...just not right away. Depending on your company and business system that could take 90 days or 9 months. People who want at-home jobs expect to be paid a set amount of money every week. It's call a paycheck, not an override.
2) A home business takes heart, energy, perservence and a degree of risk. In a business, you are responsible for your success, no one else. A work at home job takes only time and energy. People wanting at-home jobs are not prepared for the responsibility of a business because it's not what they want. All the motivational tapes and contests will not matter if they don't want it in the first place.
3) Why doesn't your new distributor want to make a prospect list? Probably because a home job doesn't require him/her to create his/her own work by creating a client base. Entrpreneurs intuitively understand the need for prospecting. Home-based employees do not. They will however, gladly help you take care of YOUR prospects.
4) Is your new distributor who is turned off by talk of goal-boards, dreams, or vision-casting? A job doesn't require that kind of mental or emotional energy. There is no "big picture" or the "whole story" in a job. If you marketed your opportunity in terms of a job, you will have distributors that won't come to meetings, listen to tapes or do any of the training. Why? Because they want a job, not a business!
5) A home-job is defined. Even with "action plans" or "success blueprints" home-businesses are open-ended by nature. You cannot guarantee how many appointments you will set, how many orders you will get that day and so on. You can only guarantee your activity level, not the result of each indvidual action.
If you want distributors, market to entrepreneurs. Do not hide your opportunity under "help wanted" or work-at-home ads. As you are sorting through people, you are looking for entrepreneurs. If you want to increase retention in your network marketing business, market to those people who are most likely to stay in the first place.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a maniac all of her life. She lives in Virginia with her husband and 5 children. A former public relations executive, Karen has been in Network Marketing since 1988. She is an internet marketer, writer and coach.
She is also a Napoleon Dynamite fan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net/
--------------------------------------------------------
1) Network marketing is not a job. It is a business system for entrepreneurs who want to have their businesses at home instead of another location, like an office. The vast majority of networkers still promote MLM as "You can make thousands of dollars in just a few hours a week"! You can do that...just not right away. Depending on your company and business system that could take 90 days or 9 months. People who want at-home jobs expect to be paid a set amount of money every week. It's call a paycheck, not an override.
2) A home business takes heart, energy, perservence and a degree of risk. In a business, you are responsible for your success, no one else. A work at home job takes only time and energy. People wanting at-home jobs are not prepared for the responsibility of a business because it's not what they want. All the motivational tapes and contests will not matter if they don't want it in the first place.
3) Why doesn't your new distributor want to make a prospect list? Probably because a home job doesn't require him/her to create his/her own work by creating a client base. Entrpreneurs intuitively understand the need for prospecting. Home-based employees do not. They will however, gladly help you take care of YOUR prospects.
4) Is your new distributor who is turned off by talk of goal-boards, dreams, or vision-casting? A job doesn't require that kind of mental or emotional energy. There is no "big picture" or the "whole story" in a job. If you marketed your opportunity in terms of a job, you will have distributors that won't come to meetings, listen to tapes or do any of the training. Why? Because they want a job, not a business!
5) A home-job is defined. Even with "action plans" or "success blueprints" home-businesses are open-ended by nature. You cannot guarantee how many appointments you will set, how many orders you will get that day and so on. You can only guarantee your activity level, not the result of each indvidual action.
If you want distributors, market to entrepreneurs. Do not hide your opportunity under "help wanted" or work-at-home ads. As you are sorting through people, you are looking for entrepreneurs. If you want to increase retention in your network marketing business, market to those people who are most likely to stay in the first place.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a maniac all of her life. She lives in Virginia with her husband and 5 children. A former public relations executive, Karen has been in Network Marketing since 1988. She is an internet marketer, writer and coach.
She is also a Napoleon Dynamite fan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net/
--------------------------------------------------------
Friday, January 19, 2007
Your Distributor Doesn't Suck, Your System Does
The dirty secret in the home-based industry, is that the network marketing systems have been broken for a long, long time. The MLM or network marketing industry has a 90%+ failure rate, and it often blames the distributor. The system of advertising and prospecting that built the industry; home parties, prospect lists and cold lead calling, are not as effective in the 21st century as they were when the industry began in the mid-1950's.
The problem is NOT the average distributor. The problem is that the MLM system has not changed or kept up with the changes in society. What worked in 1964, or 1985 doesn't work today. The problem is NOT that the distributor doesn't affirm enough, believe enough, or try enough. The problem is that very few people want to do presentations like home parties, or call their kid's soccer coach from the 3rd grade, or talk to Uncle Bob about the "opportunity of a life time", or spend $5,000 buying leads and learning how to cope with rejection.
The average distributor does not want to become what most MLM trainers and
uplines still teach. Yes, those techniques still work some of the time, and work
very well for some of the people. They fail for most distributors most of the time. And the irony is that network marketing is a business model designed for the average person. The system sucks, not the distributor.
The average person uses the internet now. When they want to learn something new, they don't call Aunt Jane and ask her if there are any home parties that she may know about. They do a Google or Yahoo search and look up websites. They use Instant Messaging, or My Space. The precious little time that people have for socializing and being with family, they don't want to spend at a product presentation or a hotel meeting. I don't either.
So instead of trying harder, or teaching your distributor that they need the thick skin of the rhino, change the system you teach to prospect and build! There are several generic internet systems that teach people how to market their MLM business online- without cold calling or wasting big money on leads. The principles of the power of relationship that is network marketing's strength don't change. The when and where those relationships are built does change.
The best of those systems use a funded proposal idea where you and your distributors create several streams of income while you build prospect lists. This allows your distributors to create cashflow that is then used to reinvest into advertising their primary business. If you're a smart network marketer, harness the power of the internet. You'll be able to create a 90% success rate, instead of a 90% failure rate. Imagine what a 90% success rate would do for the MLM's reputation.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd is a former Public Relations executive. She began
her network marketing career in 1988 so that she could stay
home with her children. She lives in Virginia, with her husband
and 5 children. She is a writer, wellness coach, and film maven.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net/
--------------------------------------------------------
The problem is NOT the average distributor. The problem is that the MLM system has not changed or kept up with the changes in society. What worked in 1964, or 1985 doesn't work today. The problem is NOT that the distributor doesn't affirm enough, believe enough, or try enough. The problem is that very few people want to do presentations like home parties, or call their kid's soccer coach from the 3rd grade, or talk to Uncle Bob about the "opportunity of a life time", or spend $5,000 buying leads and learning how to cope with rejection.
The average distributor does not want to become what most MLM trainers and
uplines still teach. Yes, those techniques still work some of the time, and work
very well for some of the people. They fail for most distributors most of the time. And the irony is that network marketing is a business model designed for the average person. The system sucks, not the distributor.
The average person uses the internet now. When they want to learn something new, they don't call Aunt Jane and ask her if there are any home parties that she may know about. They do a Google or Yahoo search and look up websites. They use Instant Messaging, or My Space. The precious little time that people have for socializing and being with family, they don't want to spend at a product presentation or a hotel meeting. I don't either.
So instead of trying harder, or teaching your distributor that they need the thick skin of the rhino, change the system you teach to prospect and build! There are several generic internet systems that teach people how to market their MLM business online- without cold calling or wasting big money on leads. The principles of the power of relationship that is network marketing's strength don't change. The when and where those relationships are built does change.
The best of those systems use a funded proposal idea where you and your distributors create several streams of income while you build prospect lists. This allows your distributors to create cashflow that is then used to reinvest into advertising their primary business. If you're a smart network marketer, harness the power of the internet. You'll be able to create a 90% success rate, instead of a 90% failure rate. Imagine what a 90% success rate would do for the MLM's reputation.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd is a former Public Relations executive. She began
her network marketing career in 1988 so that she could stay
home with her children. She lives in Virginia, with her husband
and 5 children. She is a writer, wellness coach, and film maven.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net/
--------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Perils and Pitfalls of Multi-level Marketing....
Daddy’s Upline’s been arrested!
© 2007 Karen Hurd Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
My Dad was always looking to make money from home. Back in the 1960’s there weren’t a lot of options. He started all kinds of businesses, from bars to installing sprinkler systems, to selling tools.
But my Dad knew cars. He came across this product which would keep your car from losing traction and spinning out of control on slippery roads. This thing worked and you could make a lot of money. They cost about $500 each which was A LOT of money in 1969. So he bought 10 and stored them in the basement under a sheet. That way my mom wouldn’t find out about his new adventure.
One day the phone rang, and it was my mom calling from work.
“Karen, get the newspaper – NOW! Don’t let your Daddy see it!” (She found out anyway).
“Why?”
“Because his business partner’s been arrested. Your father’s in one of those
pyramid schemes!” (Like Dad wouldn’t find that out at the next meeting?)
And that was my introduction to network marketing.
Needless to say when I began my network marketing career, I was more than a bit afraid of getting ripped off. Afterall, I knew that pyramid schemes were real. I literally blasted my first sponsor with over 70 questions. Poor woman! She didn’t know what she was getting into with me. Everyone else just believed what she told them. I wish I’d known about the 7 Critical Elements then! It would have made choosing a company so much easier.
We are skeptical of what we don’t know. Face it. If everyone else who is rich got that way by working 80 hours a week, and climbing the corporate ladder, or discovering the wonder widget, how in the world can you make 6 or 7 figures in a part-time business from home? Doesn't make sense, does it?
Multi-level marketing is a perilous business. On the surface, everybody says the same thing. And everyone claims to be legit. Even the scammers. And the “MLM truth” sites hate everything, so they’re not a big help. What’s a mere mortal to do?
Enter the 7 Critical Elements of a Primary Business. There are elements that every
solid network marketing opportunity should have in order to give you the best potential for long term income. If your company doesn't have them,keep looking.
Here they are in a nutshell:
1. Unique Products: You do not want to be in the position of competing solely on price. Products must serve multiple market categories, be unique enough to get patents, and the products have to serve the largest possible market segment. Are they consumable? Products with one-time-sales makes residual income difficult.
2. Company Stability: The ability to give you long-term business and financial security, based on their company and business history. It’s best if the company has been around longer than 5 years, and shown financial stability and a track record of payouts.
3. Marketing System: System to market primary must be compatible with the internet marketing techniques, and current consumer trends. They must be simple and duplicatable. Network marketing is a business system for non-business people.
4. Company Management: Must be led by successful leaders in business with a vision for the future growth – not management mode. Does the company have the talent at management level to effectively keep a good product pipeline and service its distributor base?
5. Global Reach: Must be groundfloor in their global expansion. Management must have prior experience in global expansion. Is the compensation plan the same around the world?
6. Compensation & Incentives: Maximize your income based on your efforts. Must payout at least 50% of sales dollar, must offer unlimited depth within compensation plan. Must offer Fast Start Bonuses, must offer other incentives and recognition. You must be able to achieve $10,000/month true residual income with less than 500 people in the organization. Does the company you are evaluating document its payout with U.S. IRS?
7. Pay-It Forward: Does the company Pay-It Forward to the masses? They must give back globally what they are taking out in a significant way. Are their products and policies ethical? Socially responsible? Is the company's vision is to make an impact on the world in a positive way. Do they encourage significant charity corporately and amongst their distributor base?
If your company can meet all 7 of these critical elements, you’re on your way to tremendous success.
For more in-depth info on these 7 criteria, you can visit my website:
. www.coolbiz4u.info
Sign up for the free e-course on Mastering Your Primary.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a full-time network marketer
since 1988. She is a writer, teacher and wellness educator.
She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and 5 children.
She built her business during her children's naptime, and now
she makes money in her sleep.
Karen can be reached at: lifestylcreatr@cox.net
Her website: http://www.coolbiz4u.biz
© 2007 Karen Hurd Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
My Dad was always looking to make money from home. Back in the 1960’s there weren’t a lot of options. He started all kinds of businesses, from bars to installing sprinkler systems, to selling tools.
But my Dad knew cars. He came across this product which would keep your car from losing traction and spinning out of control on slippery roads. This thing worked and you could make a lot of money. They cost about $500 each which was A LOT of money in 1969. So he bought 10 and stored them in the basement under a sheet. That way my mom wouldn’t find out about his new adventure.
One day the phone rang, and it was my mom calling from work.
“Karen, get the newspaper – NOW! Don’t let your Daddy see it!” (She found out anyway).
“Why?”
“Because his business partner’s been arrested. Your father’s in one of those
pyramid schemes!” (Like Dad wouldn’t find that out at the next meeting?)
And that was my introduction to network marketing.
Needless to say when I began my network marketing career, I was more than a bit afraid of getting ripped off. Afterall, I knew that pyramid schemes were real. I literally blasted my first sponsor with over 70 questions. Poor woman! She didn’t know what she was getting into with me. Everyone else just believed what she told them. I wish I’d known about the 7 Critical Elements then! It would have made choosing a company so much easier.
We are skeptical of what we don’t know. Face it. If everyone else who is rich got that way by working 80 hours a week, and climbing the corporate ladder, or discovering the wonder widget, how in the world can you make 6 or 7 figures in a part-time business from home? Doesn't make sense, does it?
Multi-level marketing is a perilous business. On the surface, everybody says the same thing. And everyone claims to be legit. Even the scammers. And the “MLM truth” sites hate everything, so they’re not a big help. What’s a mere mortal to do?
Enter the 7 Critical Elements of a Primary Business. There are elements that every
solid network marketing opportunity should have in order to give you the best potential for long term income. If your company doesn't have them,keep looking.
Here they are in a nutshell:
1. Unique Products: You do not want to be in the position of competing solely on price. Products must serve multiple market categories, be unique enough to get patents, and the products have to serve the largest possible market segment. Are they consumable? Products with one-time-sales makes residual income difficult.
2. Company Stability: The ability to give you long-term business and financial security, based on their company and business history. It’s best if the company has been around longer than 5 years, and shown financial stability and a track record of payouts.
3. Marketing System: System to market primary must be compatible with the internet marketing techniques, and current consumer trends. They must be simple and duplicatable. Network marketing is a business system for non-business people.
4. Company Management: Must be led by successful leaders in business with a vision for the future growth – not management mode. Does the company have the talent at management level to effectively keep a good product pipeline and service its distributor base?
5. Global Reach: Must be groundfloor in their global expansion. Management must have prior experience in global expansion. Is the compensation plan the same around the world?
6. Compensation & Incentives: Maximize your income based on your efforts. Must payout at least 50% of sales dollar, must offer unlimited depth within compensation plan. Must offer Fast Start Bonuses, must offer other incentives and recognition. You must be able to achieve $10,000/month true residual income with less than 500 people in the organization. Does the company you are evaluating document its payout with U.S. IRS?
7. Pay-It Forward: Does the company Pay-It Forward to the masses? They must give back globally what they are taking out in a significant way. Are their products and policies ethical? Socially responsible? Is the company's vision is to make an impact on the world in a positive way. Do they encourage significant charity corporately and amongst their distributor base?
If your company can meet all 7 of these critical elements, you’re on your way to tremendous success.
For more in-depth info on these 7 criteria, you can visit my website:
. www.coolbiz4u.info
Sign up for the free e-course on Mastering Your Primary.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a full-time network marketer
since 1988. She is a writer, teacher and wellness educator.
She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and 5 children.
She built her business during her children's naptime, and now
she makes money in her sleep.
Karen can be reached at: lifestylcreatr@cox.net
Her website: http://www.coolbiz4u.biz
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Cold Calling Recovery Program
Copyright December 2006, Karen Hurd Enterprises, Inc.
“Hey, I want to take a look at your home business opportunity. It sounds
like what I’m looking for. Let me just go into my office so I can get on my computer”.
Click.
Aaarrgh! I’ve been lied to again! I’ve made a thousand-plus dials, build “relationships”, confirmed follow-up appointments that never showed, yadda, yadda, yadda. Then train new team members how to have a happy face while they learn how to put up with hang ups and lies while they dialed through hoping to find someone who would visit a website. When is this internet marketing thing going to take off! How many more times is this going to happen?
Still, I was addicted to buying leads, and dialing for dollars (or something). I believed that’s what it would take to be a success in online marketing. There was a false security in knowing that my $200 would guarantee me 200 phone verified leads. Would I ever be able to afford exclusive leads at $400 a share? Would my team?
In September, 2006 I entered the Cold Calling Recovery Program. It promised
internet marketing sanity, but I got scared with my new freedom. I fell off the wagon, bought some more leads and began calling again.
All it took was a few more “lead training calls” for me to wake up and hear the dial tone. In mid-October I started my Cold Calling recovery program in earnest.
It has been 49 days since my last cold call.
Periodically, the lure of “guaranteed hot prospects” still calls to me. I look at my phone scripts and wonder if I should maybe just dabble in cold calling. But I go back into my Internet Success Guide, and get back on my program. I have a funded proposal system that is truly teaching me how to market on the internet without cold calling a soul.
And I sponsor more people than I did before. Only this time they are paying me to do it.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a professional network marketer for 18 years.
She built her business during her children's naptimes, and
now she makes money in her sleep.
Email her at: lifestylcreatr@cox.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net./
--------------------------------------------------------
“Hey, I want to take a look at your home business opportunity. It sounds
like what I’m looking for. Let me just go into my office so I can get on my computer”.
Click.
Aaarrgh! I’ve been lied to again! I’ve made a thousand-plus dials, build “relationships”, confirmed follow-up appointments that never showed, yadda, yadda, yadda. Then train new team members how to have a happy face while they learn how to put up with hang ups and lies while they dialed through hoping to find someone who would visit a website. When is this internet marketing thing going to take off! How many more times is this going to happen?
Still, I was addicted to buying leads, and dialing for dollars (or something). I believed that’s what it would take to be a success in online marketing. There was a false security in knowing that my $200 would guarantee me 200 phone verified leads. Would I ever be able to afford exclusive leads at $400 a share? Would my team?
In September, 2006 I entered the Cold Calling Recovery Program. It promised
internet marketing sanity, but I got scared with my new freedom. I fell off the wagon, bought some more leads and began calling again.
All it took was a few more “lead training calls” for me to wake up and hear the dial tone. In mid-October I started my Cold Calling recovery program in earnest.
It has been 49 days since my last cold call.
Periodically, the lure of “guaranteed hot prospects” still calls to me. I look at my phone scripts and wonder if I should maybe just dabble in cold calling. But I go back into my Internet Success Guide, and get back on my program. I have a funded proposal system that is truly teaching me how to market on the internet without cold calling a soul.
And I sponsor more people than I did before. Only this time they are paying me to do it.
About the Author:
Karen Hurd has been a professional network marketer for 18 years.
She built her business during her children's naptimes, and
now she makes money in her sleep.
Email her at: lifestylcreatr@cox.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net./
--------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Question Me An Answer
End of the Day questions for Network Marketers.
Copyright 2006 Karen Hurd Enterprises, Inc.
If everyone in my downline did what I did today, would I make money?
You know, success in your home business can be surprisingly simple.
Making money is not a mystery in network marketing. Read on.
I was surfing the ‘net back in the days when AOL was cutting edge, and came across this list of questions and it stopped me in my tracks. See, my little ADD brain is always on “scan”. I need it simple. There’s a whole bunch of questions, and this one is enough to change my business forever.
If everyone in my downline did what I did today, would I make money?
I started to fill in the blanks.
If everybody in my downline “surfed the net” today, would I make money?
If everybody in my downline “sorted their papers” today, would I make money?
If my downline had spent their time like I did “sharing ideas” on the phone with biz buddies, would I make any money?
It gave me personal accountability. It showed me exactly why my business wasn’t growing as fast as I wanted it to. Did my actions increase my income? I can offer lots of reason why I “needed” t o get activity “X” done. This little question cuts right through the excuses. If my downlines had acted in their business like I did that day, would I have made any money? Would they? And I saw, really saw, for the first time, how much my activity or my avoidance, filtered through to my organization.
Duplication comes through the leader. It does. I’ve seen good leaders make it in bad companies. It’s harder, but they can do it. How? Because they ask themselves this:
If everyone in my downline did what I did today, would I make money?
Now here’s the fun part. This can also let you off the hook. Wait, wait, wait.
We just spent a couple of minutes putting ourselves ON the hook – now we get off?
Here’s how: let’s say you spent all day doing prospecting calls, or
online networking or whatever. And you didn’t get the results you
were hoping for today. But you GOT OUT THERE.
Let’s ask that question again:
If everyone in my downline did what I did today, would I make money?
Now, let’s fill in the blanks, differently: “If everyone in my downline
made 50 prospecting calls, published their blog, or got their Ezine out,
would I make money?”
YES!!!
End of the Day Questions for Network Marketers
If everyone in my downline did what I did today, would I make money?
Did I start today with a map, game plan and goals?
Did I ask at least 5 new people today if they would like to earn money from home?
Did I remind myself of my purpose & mission today?
Was I alert to all opportunities to prosper today?
Did I search for good in every situation?
What are 10 reasons that I should be grateful today?
Did my words and actions allow others to see how much I value them?
Did I talk to at least 1 excited person in each leg?
Did I work on my personal development?
Spend time with my loved ones
Read /study for 30 minutes
Exercise for 30 minutes
Repeat my affirmations at least twice
Eat moderately and healthfully
What 10 successes can I list that I accomplished today?
How can I grow from what I learned today?
What can I do better tomorrow or in the future?
a>About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Karen Hurd has been making money from home for 18 years.
She built her business while the kids took their naps.
For personal mentoring contact Karen through:
http://www.coolbiz4u.net.com
--------------------------------------------------------
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