etwork marketing, sometimes called multi-level marketing (MLM), is rife with myths and misunderstanding, that scare many people off from what could be a great home business option. Part of negativity comes from low MLM success rates. However, a multi-level marketing business isn't destined to any more unsuccessful than any other business. No matter what business you start, you need to built it to be successful.
To enhance your multi-level marketing (MLM) and recruiting efforts within the world of direct selling, consider using these MLM Success tips:
1) Brush Up on the Realities of MLMs
To stay save from pyramid schemes and MLM scams, you need to arm yourself with knowledge. You should learn about the industry as a whole, research MLM companies carefully, and determine you're a good match with your sponsor. The truth is, while you can get rich in MLM, Statistics show that less than one out of 100 MLM representatives actually see MLM success or make any money. However, that's not necessarily the business or MLM industry's fault. The more you you know, the better you can protect yourself, and make a plan of success.
2) Find a Company With A Product You LoveYou can’t sell something or share your business if you don’t genuinely have pride in what you are representing. Do your MLM research partner with a company that has a product you can get excited about. Don't forget to look into the company's compensation plan before you join and make sure it is favorable to you.
3) Be Genuine and EthicalOne reason that direct selling gets a bad rap is that many representatives use hype and sometimes deception to lure in new recruits. This leads many to believe that the MLM companies themselves condone this behavior, but in truth they don't.
Legitimate MLM companies encourage you to be honest in your dealings with customers and potential recruits. If you love your product, your enthusiasm is enough to promote it. Just make sure you're not over-the-top or making exaggerated or false claims. Good business conduct will ensure that your customers and recruits don't feel duped, and as a result with stick with you.
4) Don’t Barrage Your Friends and Family. Nothing will annoy your family, and cost you friends than constantly pestering them about your business. There's nothing wrong with letting them know what you're doing and seeing if they have an interest, but if the answer is "no," let it go. Many companies suggest making a list of 100 people you know, and while that's not wrong, you should consider that most successful MLMers have very few friends and family in their business. And those who are in the business, often come AFTER seeing the MLMer's success.
5) Identify Your Target Market. One of the biggest mistakes new MLMers make is looking at everyone (including friends and family #4) as a potential customer or recruit. This is one area where the MLM industry gets it wrong. Like any other business, you're going to have greater success and efficiency if you identify your target market and focus your marketing efforts at them. Someone who doesn't care about vitamins or health and wellness isn't a good person to pester about your business.
6) Make an Effort to Share Your Product Everyday. Many MLM reps will have you focus on recruiting new business builders; however, your income, in legitimate MLM, comes from the sales of products or services. Further, if customers who love the products or services, can be more easily converted into new business builders. Just like any other business (home-based or otherwise), getting the word out about your product or service can benefit your target market, is the key to generating new customers and recruits. Some ideas include sharing a product sample, inviting a neighbor to host a product party, or starting a website or social media account.
7) Sponsor, Don’t Recruit. One of the benefits of MLM is the ability to bring in new business builders and profit from the sales they make in their business. While some see this as "using" others, the reality is that you're being rewarded for helping others succeed. But for them to succeed, you need to see your role not as racking up as many recruits as possible, but in being a leader and trainer. The focus then is on the success of those you help in the business, not on you. That means you need to take time to train them, answer questions, celebrate their successes, and be a support when things are tough.
8) Set a Goal for Parties or Presentations. MLM is a person-to-person to business. While many people don't like that aspect, especially in the digital age, the reality is that it's the personal touch that sells the products and business, and retains customers and business builders. Based on your compensation plan and goals, determine how many people you need to show your products or business to reach your goals in the time you want. Doing so will ensure you grow your business rather than just sustain it.
7) Listen and Sell the Solution. Many companies provide scripts to help you sell the product or service. While these can be helpful in teaching you about your product and dealing with objections, sales is all about being a solution to what a customer needs. By qualifying your contact first, and then listening to their needs, you can tailor your pitch so that you're the solution to their problem. People buy solutions.
8) Learn How to Market. MLMers often stick to the three-foot rule (everyone within 3-feet of you is a prospect) and other traditional marketing tactics. But direct sales is like any other business. It can and should be marketed in a variety of ways that takes into consideration your target market, what it needs, how you can help it, and where it can be found. To that end you can use a variety of marketing tools including a website (check your companies policies about websites), email and social media to increase product sales and interest in your business.
9) Stand Out from Other Distributors. One of the challenges of MLM is convincing prospects to buy or join with you as opposed to the other reps that live in the neighborhood or they know online. You're selling the same stuff as thousands of others, meaning consumers have a choice. So you need to do something that makes you unique compared to everyone else. Give people a reason to choose you over other reps.
10) Develop a System for Following Up. While you don't want to pester and annoy people, in many cases, with good follow up, you can make the sale or recruit at a future time. Sales is often about timing, and 'no' in sales doesn't always mean 'never.' If someone tells you no, but there was something in the dialogue that suggested they might be interested in the future, ask if you can put them on your mailing or email list, or if you can call in six months to follow up. Many will give you that, just because they want to be nice. Even so, use your calendar or contact system to remind you when to call.
To enhance your multi-level marketing (MLM) and recruiting efforts within the world of direct selling, consider using these MLM Success tips:
1) Brush Up on the Realities of MLMs
To stay save from pyramid schemes and MLM scams, you need to arm yourself with knowledge. You should learn about the industry as a whole, research MLM companies carefully, and determine you're a good match with your sponsor. The truth is, while you can get rich in MLM, Statistics show that less than one out of 100 MLM representatives actually see MLM success or make any money. However, that's not necessarily the business or MLM industry's fault. The more you you know, the better you can protect yourself, and make a plan of success.
2) Find a Company With A Product You LoveYou can’t sell something or share your business if you don’t genuinely have pride in what you are representing. Do your MLM research partner with a company that has a product you can get excited about. Don't forget to look into the company's compensation plan before you join and make sure it is favorable to you.
3) Be Genuine and EthicalOne reason that direct selling gets a bad rap is that many representatives use hype and sometimes deception to lure in new recruits. This leads many to believe that the MLM companies themselves condone this behavior, but in truth they don't.
Legitimate MLM companies encourage you to be honest in your dealings with customers and potential recruits. If you love your product, your enthusiasm is enough to promote it. Just make sure you're not over-the-top or making exaggerated or false claims. Good business conduct will ensure that your customers and recruits don't feel duped, and as a result with stick with you.
4) Don’t Barrage Your Friends and Family. Nothing will annoy your family, and cost you friends than constantly pestering them about your business. There's nothing wrong with letting them know what you're doing and seeing if they have an interest, but if the answer is "no," let it go. Many companies suggest making a list of 100 people you know, and while that's not wrong, you should consider that most successful MLMers have very few friends and family in their business. And those who are in the business, often come AFTER seeing the MLMer's success.
5) Identify Your Target Market. One of the biggest mistakes new MLMers make is looking at everyone (including friends and family #4) as a potential customer or recruit. This is one area where the MLM industry gets it wrong. Like any other business, you're going to have greater success and efficiency if you identify your target market and focus your marketing efforts at them. Someone who doesn't care about vitamins or health and wellness isn't a good person to pester about your business.
6) Make an Effort to Share Your Product Everyday. Many MLM reps will have you focus on recruiting new business builders; however, your income, in legitimate MLM, comes from the sales of products or services. Further, if customers who love the products or services, can be more easily converted into new business builders. Just like any other business (home-based or otherwise), getting the word out about your product or service can benefit your target market, is the key to generating new customers and recruits. Some ideas include sharing a product sample, inviting a neighbor to host a product party, or starting a website or social media account.
7) Sponsor, Don’t Recruit. One of the benefits of MLM is the ability to bring in new business builders and profit from the sales they make in their business. While some see this as "using" others, the reality is that you're being rewarded for helping others succeed. But for them to succeed, you need to see your role not as racking up as many recruits as possible, but in being a leader and trainer. The focus then is on the success of those you help in the business, not on you. That means you need to take time to train them, answer questions, celebrate their successes, and be a support when things are tough.
8) Set a Goal for Parties or Presentations. MLM is a person-to-person to business. While many people don't like that aspect, especially in the digital age, the reality is that it's the personal touch that sells the products and business, and retains customers and business builders. Based on your compensation plan and goals, determine how many people you need to show your products or business to reach your goals in the time you want. Doing so will ensure you grow your business rather than just sustain it.
7) Listen and Sell the Solution. Many companies provide scripts to help you sell the product or service. While these can be helpful in teaching you about your product and dealing with objections, sales is all about being a solution to what a customer needs. By qualifying your contact first, and then listening to their needs, you can tailor your pitch so that you're the solution to their problem. People buy solutions.
8) Learn How to Market. MLMers often stick to the three-foot rule (everyone within 3-feet of you is a prospect) and other traditional marketing tactics. But direct sales is like any other business. It can and should be marketed in a variety of ways that takes into consideration your target market, what it needs, how you can help it, and where it can be found. To that end you can use a variety of marketing tools including a website (check your companies policies about websites), email and social media to increase product sales and interest in your business.
9) Stand Out from Other Distributors. One of the challenges of MLM is convincing prospects to buy or join with you as opposed to the other reps that live in the neighborhood or they know online. You're selling the same stuff as thousands of others, meaning consumers have a choice. So you need to do something that makes you unique compared to everyone else. Give people a reason to choose you over other reps.
10) Develop a System for Following Up. While you don't want to pester and annoy people, in many cases, with good follow up, you can make the sale or recruit at a future time. Sales is often about timing, and 'no' in sales doesn't always mean 'never.' If someone tells you no, but there was something in the dialogue that suggested they might be interested in the future, ask if you can put them on your mailing or email list, or if you can call in six months to follow up. Many will give you that, just because they want to be nice. Even so, use your calendar or contact system to remind you when to call.
