Friday, August 22, 2008

New Network Marketing Videos

I just shot three new network marketing training videos. They're FREE and you can view them by clicking HERE.

Decisions . . . Decisions . . . Decisions . . .

I joined my first network marketing company in 1979 when there were only a handful of companies. The only solid method of marketing was home meetings or one-on-one napkin presentations. We didn't have the internet, CD's, DVD's, cell phones, voice mail, e-mail, teleconferences, web conferences, flash presentations, video cameras, web cams, or mp3 players. Choices were pretty easy back then, because there wasn't much to choose from.

Today it's much different. There are so many methods of marketing and mutiple choices within each method - do you market to your warm market by phone, e-mail, mail, CD, DVD, opportunity meeting, web conference, teleconference, etc. etc. If you are marketing on the internet do you use pay-per-click, ezines, classifieds, funded business proposals, social networking sites, forums, etc. etc. AND so on. And so on. It's tough and I feel bad for all those who are just joining the network marketing industry.

Here are some keys that might help you.

First, always check with successful upline leaders to see what they are doing. If the methods they are using fit your personality, time commitment, and budget, then duplicate. If not, then move on.

Second, decide on a single marketing method for your warm market (people you know) and no more than 2 or 3 internet marketing methods.

Third, stay focused on those methods for at least 3 months to determine their success rate. The biggest mistake you can make is to use different methods every month. Find something and get good at it.

During my early years in network marketing, I was always looking for the magic bullet - that perfect thing that would make me a millionaire. I did discover it - consistent, and persistent effort in prospecting, presenting, and follow-up.

So, find something that works for your personality, schedule, and budget; then stick with it, making slight modifications for improvement and you will begin to see greater and greater success.

*Note: I just recently introduced a marketing system that works great for any personality, schedule, and budget. It's rejection proof, you don't have to approach people until they say they are interested, and you can get paid to generate an endless supply of leads for your network marketing business. Check it out at www.the2percentplan.com/plus and get lot's of free stuff.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Get Paid to Prospect

You can either pay to prospect, by purchasing leads, placing classified ads, using Google Adwords or other pay-per-click programs, paying for banners, or any number of other paid methods of prospecting OR you can get paid to to generate leads for your network marketing business. Learn how to attract people who are already interested in network marketing and earn money to do it by clicking HERE.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Just Do It!

Nike made the phrase popular and it is perfect for network marketing. Having been in the industry for over 29 years, I've had a chance to work with tens of thousands of network marketers and have found there are many reasons why people fail, but the consistent number one is lack of productive action.

To build a large and lucrative network marketing business, you need to do X things:

1. Learn - gain knowledge about your company, products/services, and compensation plan. You don't have to know everything, but at least know where to get the answers.

2. Prospect - talk with people about your business. There many great methods for prospecting. Make sure you talk with your upline leaders about how they are doing it. The key here is to think of your business like a funnel. You place a lot of new prospects in the top (which is wide) and a few come out the bottom (which is narrow). The more you put in, the more will come out.

3. Sponsor - the key here is to sponsor people correctly. Most network marketing businesses have a starter kit that costs under $50. This is the cost to join a company. However, if you are working with a legitimate product company, you will want your new recruits to understand the products and that requires them to use them. So, typically there is a starter product pack that you should recommend. Also, they will need a web site and marketing materials, so make sure you include all those things in their starter pack. If you start people out right, they have a much better chance of success. You should also work with your upline leaders to set goals for the number of new people you will sponsor monthly. In the beginning, you should invest 90% of your time to prospecting and sponsoring. Once you've built a good size network with a number of solid leaders, who are building on their own, then you can back off a bit, but you should never go below 50% of your time dedicated to prospecting and sponsoring.

4. Train - poor or lack of training is another primary reason for failure in network marketing, so make sure that your new recruits get good training. Check with your company and upline to see what is already offered. For the first 30 days, you should stay very close to your new recruit. Your goal should be to help them recruit at least a couple new people in their first month and to get them earning $500 a month as quickly as possible. If a person is making $500 a month, they will stick. Offer yourself for personal meetings and 3-way calls with prospects. Then help your new recruits train their new recruits.

5. Support - once your downline members are up and running on their own, continue to support them through encouragement, contests, advanced training, gatherings - meetings/teleconferences, etc. Your job is to build a cohesive team that is all striving toward success together. TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More.

Determine how much time you can commit to your business every week and then do these five things. If you do this consistently, you will be successful and enjoy the fruits of your labor - time and financial freedom.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Breaking News for Network Marketers

Rod Nichols' Breaking News for Network Marketers:

Are you a Christian Network Marketer?
Join the Christian Network Marketers Association
It's FREE. Go to http://cnmaonline.ning.com

Want to network with other network marketers and learn from the best?
Join Doug Firebaughs new social network at
http://socialmediatrainingnetwork.ning.com

Here's the best network marketing publication:
http://www.thenetworkmarketingmagazine.com

Here's a site packed with lot's of articles on network marketing:
http://www.BetterNetworker.com

Here's a site that will help you generate tons of free leads for your network marketing business and earn extra money doing it: http://www.the2percentplan.com/plus

Looking for a way to keep track of all your prospects and effectively follow-up on them?
Check out Oprius by clicking HERE.

Did you get hammered by the IRS last year? Most people did and don't know it. If you don't know the tax secrets, you're probably paying too much. Get in the know and save money by clicking HERE.

Monday, August 18, 2008

5 Ways to Work Your Warm Market

As every network marketer knows, the best place to build a business is in the warm market. You know them; have rapport with them, and possibly a high level of mutual respect. The close ratio is at least triple that of the cold market.

Here are 5 ways that you can use to contact your warm market without jeopardizing your relationships:

1. In-home Business Briefing

This is the quickest and most effective way to build a network marketing business. People have been building large networks using in-home briefings for over fifty years. To conduct an in-home, you will need a place in your home where you can comfortably seat the number of people you would like to attend.
You will also want to have a TV and DVD player, plus a place where you can display products (if your business is product-based).

The key to an in-home is to make it appear duplicable. You want the people attending to see a way that they too can do the business. So, the best way to do an in-home is to tell your story (how you discovered your company and got involved).

Next, play a DVD that tells about the company, products, and the compensation plan. If you have a product-based business you might add a demonstration or give your prospects samples.

Take time to answer questions and then ask for those who want to order the products or become distributors to stay around to complete the paperwork. (See the complete in-home script later in this section)

The first step is to establish a day and time for your in-home. Second, make up a list of people you want to invite. Third, practice the inviting script that follows until you feel comfortable making the calls. Fourth, call your prospects and invite them. Invite twice as many as you would like to actually show-up, as 50% will say no when you call and 50% of those who swear they are coming will not.

It¹s a very good idea to work with your sponsor or an upline leader on an inviting script. Also, practice dealing with possible comments like "What¹s this all about?" or "Is this network marketing or multi-level marketing?" or "Is this Amway?" or "I¹m too busy to add anything else." or "I¹m busy that night."

If you are not comfortable doing the business briefing, invite your sponsor or an upline leader to help out. If they are not available, just tell your story (how you got involved, why you are excited about the company, and what you are expecting as benefits), play a company video, and answer questions. If you have upline leaders who are long-distance to you, arrange to have one of them available toward the end of your briefing. Call the leader and put him/her on a speakerphone for all your guests to hear. Your leader will do the final close.

2. Information Approach

Many a new distributor has been concerned about contacting their warm market, because they didn¹t want their friends and family feeling like they were selling them something. The information approach is a great answer.

Let¹s say you had opened a restaurant. Would you keep it a secret from your friends and family? Most likely you would call, tell them all about the restaurant, and invite them to come down and eat. Use this same approach with your network marketing business. Instead of calling them with the idea of sponsoring or selling them products, instead approach purely with the idea of informing them about your business.

Call up your warm market, tell them about your business, and invite them to take a look if they want. If they are not interested, don¹t pressure. Always let them know that it isn¹t important to you that they join or buy products, but rather that they take the time to look at the information and understand your business. If they are interested in getting more involved that¹s great too, you would love to work with them.

3. Opinion Approach

If you have people in your warm market who are somewhat intimidating due to their level of success, then this is the approach to use. Everyone loves to give their opinion, so you will rarely find people in your warm market that will reject this approach.

Contact your warm market candidate and say something like this, "Hi John, this is Bill, how are things? (continue after a little natural chit-chat) The reason for my call is to ask your help. I have just started a new business that has me more excited than anything I have ever done. The potential is incredible, if I do this right. That¹s where I need your help. I’ve always valued your business experience and knowledge. Would you be willing to take about an hour of your valuable time and review this business for me? I’d like to know how you would build the business, if it were yours. I¹m also going to be looking for some strong partners, so as you are reviewing the business; I¹d like you to think of anyone who might fit. Will you do that for me?”

If they say yes, get them an information packet including printed materials, a DVD, CD, web site address, teleconference or web conference, etc. In the packet, remind them that you would like them to give their opinion on how to do the business and who might make good partners. That way you won’t get a bunch of their negative misconceptions.

This is also a great approach for young network marketers to use with parents and older business contacts.

4. Introductory Letters

Many network marketers have large warm markets, numbering into the thousands. It would take far too long to call and arrange to meet each one. Particularly since many of them may be out of state. So, a good, quick answer is an introductory letter. The key here is that if you don¹t let your warm market know that you are involved in network marketing with your company, someone else will and the next thing you know, you¹ll be getting an introductory letter or phone call from your best friend, mother, father, sister, or brother.

An introductory letter should be limited to one page. People are busy and they already get too much mail. Make it easy on them.

In the letter you want to let them know that you have started a new business with a network marketing company and give the name. Explain that you had some reservations about being involved in network marketing until you discovered the tremendous potential to develop long-term, walk-away, residual income. Let them know that you are working your business part-time (10 to 15 hours a week) and that your support team has supplied excellent training and marketing programs.

Inform them of the tremendous benefits ­ tax deductions, time freedom, control over your financial destiny, helping others improve their lives, self-improvement, etc. Let them know that the up-front investment is low, as is the risk. There is no need for an office (outside the home), inventory, employees, or sophisticated bookkeeping systems.

Tell them that you would enjoy working with them toward the ultimate goal of financial and time freedom. Explain that you do not want them to feel pressured, so you will not follow-up on this letter. If they would like to know more, they can call (a hotline, conference call, or your voice mailbox with a 2-minute informational message) or visit your web site and provide the URL.

5. Product Demonstration

If your company is product-based, another great way to build a business in your warm market is to do product demonstrations. This falls back to the old and very successful party-plan concept. Companies like Tupperware and Discovery Toys have built mammoth businesses using this approach.

First, arrange a day and time for the demonstration. Determine whom you are going to invite and send out invitations. Indicate that you will be serving light refreshments at the demonstration. I would suggest coffee, water, punch, and cookies or light finger pastries.

Remember to invite twice as many people as you want to come. If you want to improve your attendance, do a follow-up call a few days before the event.

Start your demonstration on time. Tell your story about how you found the company, why you are excited about the products, and a brief overview of the company. Next, give them some logical justification for why they would want to purchase the products from the company and you ­ superior products, convenience, monetary savings, etc.

Now, begin through the key products ­ describe them and their benefits to the attendees. If you can sample the products, do so during the demonstration. After covering each product ask if there are any questions. Answer those before moving on to the next product. Limit the number of products so you can keep the whole demonstration to an hour to an hour and a half. When you have completed all the products, again ask if there are any questions.

After answering questions, offer a special product package or special pricing on the products demonstrated, if they purchase or order at the demonstration. Take orders with payment.

Then indicate that there is also a way that they could make money, if interested, they should ask you after the demonstration (show them the business opportunity). Also, that they could earn free products by allowing you to come in and do a demonstration in their home (offer them 10% of the profits from the demonstration, in the form of products). Try to book at least one demonstration from each one that you do. Make sure that everyone walks away with literature.

Demonstrations are a soft way of building a business. It¹s slower, so keep that in mind if you are anxious to replace your current income and gain more time freedom.

If you cultivate your warm market properly, you may never have to enter the cold market and will build a large and lucrative business with all of your friends and family members.