Don't Trip Over Your Brain!

How to Make Money With Network Marketing

2012-12-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

Just got another email from a friend of mine. I'll let you read the main point:

"You told me it was easy to make money with network marketing. You said you do it all the time. So I joined a network marketing company and I'm sitting here not making any money. What gives? Is this a scam? I thought we were friends!"

I get phone calls and emails like this all the time. Someone hears I have a network marketing business. They call or email me to see if it's true. They ask how much money I'm making. (Never, EVER, answer that question unless you want to get this phone call: "You told me I could make MILLIONS!"). I tell them I make enough to live on. So they get all excited and the next thing I get is an email or a phone call stating that they too have gotten involved in network marketing.

Let's get two things straight right now. Starting a network marketing business involves a bit more than joining someones downline and then sitting in your living room waiting for the money to start coming in. However, if you have some discipline and can learn from those who really do make money in MLM, then you can make a decent living.

So what does it take to get started in network marketing? It's fairly simple. Choose your company. Try to choose one you are passionate about so you'll stick with it long enough to see some results. See my list of the best network marketing companies for suggestions.

Next, find a sponsor who will work with you. Attend some business presentations. Talk to those who are actually having success. Look for the leaders in the group. When you find someone you feel comfortable with, ask to join their team.

Now, learn all you can about your business and your products. What is the comp plan? How do the products work? How do you sign up new team members and customers. This knowledge is critical if you want to be successful.

The next step is to figure out a way to reach your potential downline members and customers. The best companies and sponsors will teach you how to do this. And there are tons of books, blogs, and newsletters available on this topic. I recommend several in other posts.

Once you have identified your company, found a sponsor, learned all you can about your business, and created a marketing plan, then it's time to market your opportunity and products to your prospects. There are all kinds of ways to do this and what works for one may not work for you. The best way to learn about network marketing is to study what the experts have to say. Learn all you can from people like Mike Dillard. If you can buy some of their products, great. If not, at least sign up for their mailing lists and newsletters. They are the "gurus" in this business and can teach you all you need to know. How do I know? Who do you think taught me?

This is just a brief outline of how to start a network marketing business. There simply isn't room to go in depth here. But if you will follow these basic steps and listen to the experts, you can make money in MLM.

Excitement is Contagious

2012-11-25T13:39:00.000-08:00

Are you excited about your business opportunity? You had better be! How do you expect me to be excited about your business if I don't see some excitement in you? Everyone responds to excitement - unless they are dead! Let me give you an example.

I have recently purchased a jeep. And I love it. It is exactly what I wanted. But when I showed it to a friend of mine, she was less than impressed. She drove a Blazer and was quite happy with it. However, it was time for another car and since her old dealership has closed, she asked me for a referral. Of course, I referred her to Jeri, my car salesperson. Do you know what she bought? A new Jeep Grand Cherokee! What happened? She got excited!

I asked her how she wound up driving a Jeep. She explained that she had gone to several dealerships. She drove Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, Hyundais, and Fords. Nothing seemed to catch her eye. All of them handled well, the prices were good - everything she wanted. But there was no excitement. The salespeople listed off all the benefits of the vehicle, gave her a price, resorted to pressure tactics and/or price cutting when she said she wanted to think it over - and ultimately lost the sale.

All except Jeri. She saved the Jeep dealership for last, thinking that nothing Dodge, Chrysler, or Jeep had would interest her. But since she hadn't seen anything else she liked she thought she might as well check it out. She walked into the dealership, asked for Jeri and while she was waiting, started looking at a blue Wrangler like mine. Suddenly, a voice behind her spoke up. "Pretty color isn't it?" Linda agreed that it was. The Jeri introduced herself and asked how she could help. Linda told her what she was looking for and Jeri walked her over to look at some other Wranglers. After talking for a little bit more, Linda gave her the standard "I'll think about it" routine and got ready to leave. Here is where everything changed. Instead of trying to pressure her into a sale, Jeri made one simple statement: "These cars aren't very exciting for a professional businesswoman like you. I can understand why you need to think about it." Linda stopped and turned around and agreed. They were rather - well outdoorsy was the word Linda used. "Let me show you something" Jeri said. She led Linda to the end of the row of cars. There sat another Jeep - Grand Cherokee Overland Summit. Jeri said this was the top of the line model. Linda asked what that meant. "Let me show you what makes this one so different from the others." Jeri got Linda to sit in the car. She showed her all the options it came with. After each one, she told Linda how it would impact her personally. "These seats are real leather. Won't it be exciting to have the comfort and sophistication of real black Napa leather seats in your vehicle? This is the panoramic sunroof. It's bigger than standard sunroofs. You said you like the sun. Won't it be exciting to be able to feel the sun through this while you are driving? I love that feature! It has both driver side and passenger side pelvic and thorax air bags, in addition to full side curtain airbags. Won't you be excited when you pick up business associates in your new car, knowing they are protected by the airbags? I am always proud to tell my customers we use radar sensors to monitor blind spots, and to help prevent forward collisions. Isn't that exciting?" On and on she went helping Linda see herself in this car and getting her EXCITED about it. By the time she was finished, Linda couldn't see herself in anything else and bought it. And for quite a bit more than she had originally intended to pay.

Don't think your prospects are any different. Everybody responds to excitement. How do you convey excitement? Start by listing all the benefits of your business opportunity. Then think about why it excites you. What makes you passionate about it? How can you share that passion? Jeri once told me she started selling cars because she came from a family of all boys and the boys and her dad loved cars. She was around them all the time and so she learned to be passionate about them too. She said she wanted to help other women learn to love cars as much as she did. When she spoke, you could see her enthusiasm. It was contagious.

You got involved in your business opportunity for a reason. Something about it got you excited. Share that excitement with your prospects. Then you can get excited - as your team grows and grows!

There's Money in Network Marketing!

2012-11-18T14:57:00.001-08:00

I just finished reading another article about network marketing in which the author compared it to a magic show - all smoke and mirrors. The article says hundreds are rushing to find the next big thing with the dream of striking it rich. But instead of striking it rich, it says the majority of them are striking out.

Are people really making money with network marketing? Yes, they are. Are they the minority? I don't know. I don't have the data on that. Are there plenty of people making a decent living? Yup! That I do know because I'm one of them and I know many others. Can you make a fortune in network marketing? I don't know. It's possible. But I DO know that you can make a living just like many of us are already doing.

How do you get started? First, you need to decide what your business will be. What company will you join? There are many legitimate businesses available. What types of products and/or services do you want to offer? No matter how good the company is, you won't be successful if you don't believe in your product.

Second, it's a business. Treat it like one. If you think you are going to join a network marketing company, put up some free classified ads, sign up all your friends and family, then sit back and watch the checks roll in, don't quit your day job. It doesn't work quite that way. You can't own a McDonald's franchise without a little upfront investment. The same is true of any business. You can find some legitimate businesses that are very inexpensive to join. But you do need to be prepared to make some investment.

Once you have decided on your business, you need to learn all you can about company, your products, and your business. There are many ways to do this and you will find all kinds of "gurus" offering to help if you will pay them enough. Some of them really do know what they are talking about and some of them don't. I can personally recommend some of them and you will find them mentioned in many of my earlier posts. You can also read this blog from the beginning for help. Be prepared to spend a little bit of money on some of the better books, courses, and seminars. Consider it part of your "network marketing degree!"

Let everyone know you are in business! This seems to be one of the biggest obstacles for most network marketers. Either they think they can't afford to advertise or they don't know how to do so effectively. Some are afraid to do so because they think no one will take them seriously. Let's face facts. You can't slap a McDonald's on a street corner and expect to do business if no one knows McDonald's exists. You can't expect customers or team members to find you if they don't know who you are. Tell people! If you don't have money to advertise, start by telling everyone you know. You can do that pretty inexpensively and you know far more people than you realize. When I started in network marketing, the first thing I did was send an email or a postcard to everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE) I could think of telling them what I was doing and inviting them to visit my website. Some of them ignored me (it was network marketing, after all). Some didn't. Some of those that visited became my customers. Six of them even became involved in the business with me. Those six have helped me build a team of over 800. Not too bad for a few emails and a postcard or two. And the ones who laughed? They aren't laughing so much anymore!

Work your business. The number one reason most network marketers fail is that they give up. They just quit. They don't make thousands of dollars overnight and so they just stop working. Do you know how much my first commission was? 84 cents! Four years later I'm not going to tell you how much I make, but it's enough to support me quite nicely. Am I a millionaire? Not yet. But I make more than enough to live on. So get up and go to work every day. If you have to keep your regular job while you build your business, that's okay. Just be sure you do at least one thing everyday to move your business forward.

Network marketing is just like any other business. You will get out of it what you put into it. I can't promise you will get rich. I can promise you that if you find a legitimate company, take the advice of those who have gone before you, let people know you are in business, concede that you aren't going to get rich without some investment, and most importantly, WORK YOUR BUSINESS and DON'T GIVE UP - you can make a living in network marketing. Heck, if I can do it, so can you!

Building Your "Other" Team

2012-11-11T11:39:00.001-08:00

Your downline team is a vital part of your business success. But they are not the only team you should have if you want to accomplish your goals.

Each year my husband and look back at our business for the year and as usual, the discussion comes up - do we need to make some changes for next year? As business owners, we are faced with the fact that we make all the decisions concerning our business. The choices are endless! Is it time to incorporate? If so, should we become an LLC or is an S Corporation better?

Should I let Dearl talk me into using the iPad he bought me for my birthday (which is still in the box) or stick with my smartphone and laptop?

Where should we focus my marketing this year? With all of the uncertainty about fiscal cliffs and the economy, will some methods work better than others?

We desperately need a new computer. I want another PC. Dearl wants a Mac. Who is right?

Is it time to hire an assistant? If so, should we use a virtual service or actually hire someone to come to our office?

Decisions, decisions, decisions. AAAGGGHHH!!! It's enough to make you crazy! Especially when the wrong choice can have drastic consequences for your business.

If you are lying awake at night struggling with the answers to these or other business questions, it's time to build yourself another team - your support team. My team consists of personal friends and professional acquaintances whose advice I trust. I simply need to pick up the phone or dash off a quick email or text message for all of the support and answers I need.

To build your team, simply make a list of all the questions you have. List all of the professional services you need or may need in the future. Then start thinking of all the people you know that can fill one or more of these needs or answer one or more of your questions. My team consists of my accountant (I hate numbers!), a lawyer (always good to have someone whose up to speed on legalities), my daughter the computer geek, my friend Ken the marketing guru, my friend Linda the network marketing Diva, and my friend Karin who is also an entrepreneur and is a good one to turn to when I have questions about communication. (She's the one who keeps me from blasting off emails I may regret later!). I also have friends, a nurse and a holistic health practitioner that provide me with the latest health news (Dearl's heart), and two grandchildren who remind me when I'm not taking enough time for the important things in life ("Nee-Nee, why haven't you been by to see us lately? We miss you!")

How do you find the people for your team? You probably already know many of them so just ask. Tell them you are forming a team of advisors for your business and would like them to be part of it. Lay out the ground rules for their participation such as how to contact them, when to contact them, will they be compensated for their services, etc. Once you have them in place, ask them for referrals to people who may fill other needs for you. If they can't make any recommendations, then get out and network. I met my lawyer through the Girl Scouts and the nurse at a women's networking luncheon. And I have a whole network of internet marketers I can turn to for advice just from attending the jvAlert events. And of course, there is the wonderful group of ladies that I met through Boomer Diva Nation. They are a never ending source of support and advice!

"Solopreneur" - it's just a word. It doesn't mean you have to go through the business experience alone. Build your team. Use your team. And one day when someone who is just starting out on their own asks you to be on their team, remember where you came from and say yes!

P.S. The general consensus from my team of experts has been to USE THE iPAD. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but I trust their advice so here goes. Wish me luck!

Give It All You've Got!

2012-11-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

What's the difference between the very successful business person and the mediocre one? The successful ones always give just a little bit more. That little bit of extra effort can separate the superstars from the rest of the pack. They make that one more sales call, the extra follow-up call. They do the presentation when they wish they were out with their friends. They never forget the thank you note or the birthday card. They give their clients and customers the extra attention that says "you're special" and turns prospects into team members and buyers into loyal customers.

Ask yourself today - what little bit extra can you do that will take your business to the top?

Social Media - Which is Your Favorite?

2012-10-28T12:08:00.002-07:00

Social media - whether you love it or hate it - is here to stay. Everyday, it seems like a new one springs up. First there was MySpace. Then Facebook and Twitter. Google+, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, and Tumblr - and probably dozens more I can't even name.

During a lunchtime meeting of my mastermind group, the subject of social media came up. It seems we all have a favorite. I am a huge Twitter fan. Linda loves Facebook. Jessie's new passion is Pinterest. And Mike prefers LinkedIn and Google+. What I found most interesting, though, is not that we each had a particular favorite, but that much of our reason for preferring one over the other actually had very little do with which one was best for our business. We all use social media to help build our businesses, but few of us could actually tell which of our clients, customers, and subscribers actually frequented the same social media sites we did. Sad, isn't it? But it led us to an interesting research project. Each of us has decided to use our blogs and/or websites to get some information on social media. Something may come of it - a report or at least a blog post. But mostly, we just want to satisfy our own curiosity. How many others favor a particular social media site for reasons other than it's the best one for your business?

So, here goes: Which social media site do you focus on for your business and why? Answer by leaving a comment. Maybe you can help coach the coaches by showing them why your favorite platform is the one we should also be using - because it's best for our businesses and not because we like the fact that interactions are limited to 140 characters!

Those "Other" Network Marketing Blogs

2012-10-23T14:39:00.002-07:00

Believe it or not, this is not the only blog dedicated to network marketing! In fact, there are quite a few and I read many of them regularly. They always have great information and I have learned much from them. Today, I thought I would share a few of my favorite posts from those "other" network marketing blogs.

If you are not using social media to build your network marketing business, then you need to read this post on The Enlightened Networker - "Are You Using Social Media to Build Your Network Marketing Business?" If you're not, you should be. But don't take it from me. Listen to Ilka!

Looking for a way to save time on your PPC advertising campaigns? Then you need to read "10 Excel Tools and Time Savers for PPC Ad Writing" on ProfitonKnowledge.com.

If you are still looking for the right company for you, read Eldon Beard's post, "Choosing the Right Network Marketing Opportunity." He lists some of the same things to look for that I do. But he also makes a couple of suggestions that I didn't and wish I had thought of when I was starting out. They might have saved me from getting involved in businesses that just weren't right for me.

By know everyone has heard about the Facebook IPO. But what should you do if your network marketing company is going public? Read "You MLM is Going Public - Is This a Good Thing?" to learn the pros and cons and what you should do to take advantage.

If you want to learn to use blogging to help build your business, then you must read "Blogging for Network Marketing Profit." Blogging is easy, but doing it effectively to build your business is a little harder. Learn how to do it right by reading this post.

Do you have a favorite network marketing blog? Share it us please. Just post your favorite in the comments.

Get to the Point!

2012-10-21T19:59:00.001-07:00

I took a couple of business prospects to a presentation yesterday. The prospects were eager to see the business, the speaker had been part of our team for several years, he was making great money and was very successful. And yet neither of my prospects joined my team. Why? Because I hate to admit it, but even I got lost during the presentation and I already knew how it worked. And the presentation I said would be 30 minutes long wound up being almost 90 minutes in length. By the time it was all over, my guests wanted nothing more than to bolt for the door and head for home.

Why do most people want to use twelve words when two will do? And what makes them think we are interested in every incident in their lives? The stories may be funny to some people, but when you're trying to get your point across, less is definitely more. Rambling, drawn out presentations only lose everybody trying to listen.

When making a presentation or sharing your business with a prospective client, get to the point quickly. You'll hold your listener's attention much more effectively. Since most people think faster than they speak or listen, if you start to ramble, their thoughts will wander to other things. And you want their attention focused on what you have to say. If you are dealing with a younger person, it's especially critical. It has been scientifically proven that younger people have much shorter attention spans. Their brains are used to processing short bursts of information. These products of the computer and video game era aren't going to sit still for your epic presentation. So lay out your bottom line quickly and clearly. The Gettysburg Address is 272 words - a mere 10 sentences long. And yet it is regarded as one of the most greatest speeches in history.

How can you become better at making a presentation? Preparation and practice. First, listen to some speakers you like and who capture their audience's attention. Observe other business presentations and note what kept your focused and what caused your mind to wander. Then prepare your own presentation. Make an outline of points you want to make to help keep you on track, but don't write the entire presentation. You'll be too tempted to just read it and that' another no-n0.

Now the most important part - PRACTICE! Give your presentation to your family, your friends, your colleagues - anyone who will listen and give you constructive criticism. Rehearse until you feel completely comfortable. If possible, tape yourself so you can hear and see for yourself how look and sound.

Don't let poor presentations skills cost you business. Keep it short, keep it pertinent, make it interesting, and PRACTICE!

Article Marketing to Grow Your Network Marketing Business?

2012-10-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

Article marketing - lots of network marketers are doing it. Why aren't you? If you haven't yet discovered this method of marketing your company, here's all you need to know.

By writing articles about your area of expertise (network marketing!), you position yourself as an expert on this subject. Once you have written your articles, you gain exposure by making them freely available for publication. Include your bio, contact information, and a link to your website. People reading your article then have all the information they need to contact you!

Busy online publishers love article marketing. It provides them with a source of free content for their websites and ezines. I use "guest articles" in my own ezine - it's one less article I have to write for each issue and it gains exposure for some of my friends and fellow entrepreneurs.

Once you have written some articles, which is usually the easy part, you have to find places to publish them if you are going to gain any exposure. There are two ways to do this. You can contact different ezines, magazines, and websites individually and submit your articles to them for consideration. Or you can use an article directory or submission service.

Article directories are like libraries where publishers looking for content can look at articles from a wide range of authors. Each article is available for publication as long as it includes the author's bio and contact information. Some article directories are free while others are membership sites.

Article submission services differ from article directories. They actually submit your articles to publishers and web sites instead of waiting for them to choose your article from the pack. If you use a submission service, be sure they do manual submissions.

If you are really pressed for time and still want to take advantage of this type of publicity, there are now even article writing and submission services. Not only will they submit your article, they will also write it for you.

So write some articles - it's easier than you think. And I'll even give you the first place to submit one. Email your article to me and if it would be of interest to my subscribers, I'll include it in my Boomer Business Tips ezine. (Remember, that's one less article I have to write!). When I publish your article I'll send you a copy of the issue it appears in. Be sure to include your bio and contact information so my readers will know how to contact you!

The Best Network Marketing Companies

2012-08-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

Which network marketing companies are the best? That really depends on who you ask. We all have our favorites. Not every company is suited for everyone. But after years of working with several different companies, I have 10 that I think have the most potential for success. I am personally involved with several of these companies and can personally recommend them. My other choices were made after much research. If you are looking for a network marketing company, I'm sure you will find one here.

1. Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing: Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, Inc. (FHTM) is a direct selling company that was founded in 2001 by Representatives for Representatives. FHTM provides an opportunity to those willing to work hard to achieve their financial goals and life dreams by providing a diverse lineup of competitively priced, exceptional products and services.

2. Melaleuca - For 25 years, Melaleuca has been leading the way in selling concentrated products and preserving nature's resources. This was my first foray into the world of network marketing and 12 years later, I'm still with them.

3. MPB Today - MPB is a direct sales company affiliated with Southeastern Delivery, a grocery home delivery service company located in Pensacola, FL. The goal of MPB is to ensure Southeastern is among the largest full-service, delivery companies nationwide.

4. Amway - One of the world's largest direct selling businesses. And the oldest. Amway has been in business for 53 years. I attended my first Amway business presentation while I was in college!

5. USANA - USANA Health Sciences is one of America’s leading companies in the field of health and nutrition. The company has been in business for 20 years and offers multiple ways to earn income.

6. NuSkin - Founded in 1984, Nu Skin is a direct selling company that distributes more than 200 premium-quality anti-aging products in both the personal care and nutritional supplements categories.

7. Forever Living - Founded in 1978, Forever Living is a multi-billion dollar company, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, that manufactures and sells dozens of wellness and beauty products.

8. Herbalife - Herbalife is a global nutrition company that has helped people pursue healthy, active lives since 1980. Their products are available exclusively through independent Distributors in more than 80 countries.

9. LegalShield - As one of the first companies in the United States organized solely to design, underwrite and market legal expense plans to consumers, LegalShield has been in business for nearly 40 years and now provides legal services to over 1.4 million families across the U.S. and Canada.

10. ACN - ACN is the largest direct seller of telecommunications and essential services in the world. It has even been personally endorsed by Donald Trump.

Time Management Tips for Network Marketers

2012-08-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

I've had a couple of emails and phone calls this week from friends who told me they are giving up their network marketing business because they don't have time to do it. AAAGGGHHHH!!! That's the point! Getting financially free so you do have time for the important stuff! Sure you're going to work hard for the first couple of years. But after that, if you build your business correctly, you can take time whenever you want to.

Rather than quit, let's use some time-saving tips to help make the hours necessary to build your business.

1. If you haven't done it yet, set your goals. Be very clear about them. Write them down. Once you know what you really want to achieve (and why) it’s easier to make decisions about what needs to be done, and to plan accordingly.

2. Make your to-do list daily. List your top priorities and focus what time you do have on them. You'll be much more effective!

3. Schedule your day. Literally write an appointment in your work planner (you do have one of those, don’t you?) to set aside a realistic block of time for your priority actions.

4. Learn to say no to all of those friends and family members who think that you are free to do whatever they need just because you work from home. Don't let them distract you from your business.

5. Get organized. Create systems for filing, management of information and communication.

6. Learn to delegate. Surely your husband can learn to do laundry. Let the kids do the dishes. Can your neighbor take your kids to soccer practice along with hers?

7. Balance your life. All work and no play will burn you out faster than anything. When you are scheduling your day, schedule family time, spouse time, and a little "me" time.

8, When the day is over, let it be over. Finish what you are working on and "go home." Don't be thinking about that important business presentation when you should be focusing on your spouse. No paperwork at the dinner table or notes while watching TV with your family. Relax and you'll be less tense and more focused tomorrow.

9. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein.”

It May Be Network Marketing, But It's Still a Business!

2012-07-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

So you have decided that it's time to start your network marketing business. Great! Network marketing is a great way to be in charge of your own life and make the kind of money you've always dreamed of. It's been life-changing for me. I work when I want to work and relax when I want to relax. Of course, that caused problems of its own when I first started. When you start working in network marketing or MLM people will not consider it a real business. When I first started and was struggling to make a living, my own husband would ask me how much longer I was going to stay home and play instead of finding a "real" job. You have to remind everyone that you are serious about this. It IS a real business! And you have to be sure you treat it that way if you expect others to take you seriously. Don't think you can invest in a business, pay the startup fees or enrollments fees, and then just sit back and watch it grow. You have to work your business like you would a "traditional" business.

There are some ways to be sure you do this. First, make yourself a schedule each week. Having set hours for working your business will help ensure you actually work on your business. It doesn't have to be 9-5 Monday through Friday. I'm an early morning/late evening person so I do a lot of work between 5:00 - 8:00am and 9:oopm - midnight.

Second, let everyone know what you are doing. You have to promote your business. If you are uncomfortable telling your friends that you are doing network marketing or MLM, perhaps you need to take a second look at your choice of home businesses. If you believe in your business don't be ashamed of it.

Third, dress to go to work. Every morning before I go to my home office, I shower, dress, put on makeup, fix my hair - all just to walk down the hall from my bedroom to my computer. I feel much more professional when dressed for "work" and that attitude of professionalism comes across in my phone calls and other interactions. When you have a meeting with a potential dowline member or customer, be sure to dress appropriately then also. Too many times I've gone with downline members to presentations and have been surprised at their appearance. They've invited all their friends to tell them about our wonderful opportunity and so they show up in jeans and a tee shirt or scuffed shoes and stained pants. How are you going to convince your friends that this is the opportunity they've been looking for if you still look like you always did? How will you convince a potential customer you're products work if you don't look clean and polished and put together? You don't have to wear designer suits or expensive jewelry. Just be neat, clean, professional, and confident.

Treat your network marketing business like a business! Work hard, don't give up. If you do, you WILL find success! Remember, it's not going to happen overnight. But develop some business discipline now and work on your goals every day. Soon, you'll be working from your laptop on a beach while your unbelieving friends are still tied to their JOBS!

Time to Choose!

2012-07-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

Remember last post when I told you there was still time to get started on your path to financial freedom? And now, here we are, sitting at our tables, wondering where to start. And we're looking at all the people we know or have read about and wondering what it is that makes them different from us. Do you really want to know? Good - because I'm going to tell you. They aren't sitting at the table wondering how to get started. They've already done it.

I've spent a lot of time studying successful people and I've found they all have a few things in common. They take action, they make decisions quickly, and they hang around with people like themselves. Successful people have been doing the same things for hundreds of years because it works! Someone - Theodore Roosevelt, I think - once said that the best thing you can do is make the right decision. The second best thing you can do is make the wrong decision. The worst thing you can do is make no decision at all. Think about it. If you decide on your first step to reach your goal and it's right - SUCCESS! If it's wrong, at least you may learn something from the mistake that will help you move forward. But if you never make a decision, you never get started - and you'll be sitting at your table again next year wondering how to change your life and what do all those successful people know that you don't.

Determine never to be idle. Do at least one thing every day to advance you toward your goal. It may be the wrong thing sometimes, but it's still better than doing nothing. Thomas Jefferson said, "It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing" Think how much you can accomplish towards your business and financial goals if you do one thing every day. Make a DECISION! Take ACTION! Take the action necessary to reach your goals.

Success or failure? It's time to choose!

There's Still Time!

2012-06-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while. A loooonnngg while! Too long! I apologize. I can only say I've been very busy. Running business. Rethinking strategies. Planning for the rest of the year. How about you? Are you ready for the next 6 months? If not, now is a great time to start thinking about it. If you have a business, start looking at ways to grow. New team members. New customers. New promotional strategies. Perhaps even a whole new business venture.
If you don't have a business yet, there has never been a better time to start one. There are more legitimate network marketing opportunities than ever before. And thanks to all of those who have gone before you, there is more help than ever before. People like Mike Dillard, Mark Weiser, and Linda Gracy. Some of them will even let you be affiliates for their products in addition to showing you how to build your network marketing business.

So what's holding you back? I'm issuing a challenge to all of you right now. Let's make 2012 your year. There is still time. Each one of us has a choice to make. The next 6 months are just ahead and they are calling to you to change your life. Are you coming or not? Will you make the choice to join us?

I know many of you will be afraid of leaving what is familiar and venturing into something that is totally unknown. Others of you will be excited and challenged at the thought. All of you will be asked to do things you never thought you could do - contact people, write a business plan, promote yourself and your business.

What if you decide to make the choice? What happens next? Contrary to many of the "gurus", there is no foolproof formula. What works for me may not work for you. I can't do what my friend Ken McArthur does. I use many of his ideas but I adapt them to my situation. But there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of being successful.

1. BREATHE! Change brings stress. Even positive change can be stressful. So make sure you take time each day to relax and just breathe. Do yoga, meditate, go for a walk - whatever it takes. Just don't let yourself tighten up and be afraid.

2. Take control of the change. Each day remind yourself of your vision, your plans, your goals. Stand in front of a mirror and state to yourself your intentions to build a better life. Or even go a step further as recommended by my life coach and sing it. She claims music brings the message deeper.

3. Never stop learning. Read everything you can about network marketing. Find out who the experts really are and study them. I've listed many of them in this blog but there are so many others. Buy their books or get them from the library. Join their forums, subscribe to their newsletters, read their blogs. Go to seminars when you can afford them. If you have questions about which ones to attend or which products to purchase, ask me. If I am not familiar with it, I'll find someone who is.

4. Don't lose touch with yourself. I've seen network marketers who thought they had to pretend to be something or somebody different from what they were to be successful. They only thing they were was phoney. And people can spot phoney right away. If you aren't credible, you won't go anywhere in this business.

5. Make sure you keep your priorities in order. Success is great, but not at the cost of your family, your spirituality, your faith, your health, or your fun. Set aside time for the things that make your success meaningful.

6. Don't be stingy! Give back to the community that gave to you. Help others get where you are. You get back what you give. I have a friend who sells cars very successfully. Every day he makes it a point to do something for one of his customers. He calls it "feeding the lot." You know what? His customers love him and are very loyal. And if they have a friend or family member who needs a car, guess who gets the referral? That's how I met him. He sold me my car based on a referral from someone else. Besides, there is nothing like "free" to gain long-term, loyal customers. You can even use this concept to market. It's called "viral marketing" and we'll talk about it another day.

So - are you in? Make the choice.

Don't Just Listen to Me...Ask My Friends!

2012-05-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

I can give you all the tools in the world and some of you will still not be as successful as you like. Why? What will make the difference between you and another reader of this blog? What does it take to be a successful business owner? What skills and personality traits are necessary? I asked some friends of mine who are all women business owners this question, so I could share them with members of a coaching program I'm in. Their answers were very enlightening. Valuable enough, in fact, that I thought I'd also share them with you.

My friend Anna Campbell says you need to be confident, understanding, responsible, willing to learn, willing to fail, willing to learn again. You need to understand that you spend money to make money. You need to know how to communicate with others and how to delegate. Confidence, understanding, responsibility - these were mentioned by several of the women. I've heard "fake it till you make it" repeatedly. That phrase always bothered me until I understood that what they meant was to exhibit confidence when dealing with customers and clients. How can you expect them to have faith in your abilities if you don't have faith in yourself?

Caryn Isaacs expresses this need for confidence another way. Caryn is a patient advocate at Resource Evaluation Leaders, Inc. She says that belief in your dream is key. You can be afraid that you don't have what it takes, but the dream should be bigger than you. Once you take the first step, the business develops a life of its own. You just need to jump on for the ride. She states that she has never known anyone who succeeded, if the goal was just to make money. The driving force is finding your passion, learning everything you can about the company and the opportunity and then just get up and do at least one thing everyday, make a call, give a presentation, or just think about your next move. Finally, reward yourself for a job well done.

Gazelle Simmons, Virtual Assistant/Owner of Admin Services, also lists belief as a key factor. Persistence, determination, ambition, honesty, courage and belief in yourself as well as your abilities - these are all part of Gazelle's list of necessary traits.

According to Ingrid Gonzalez, you need to have an entrepreneurial spirit. Now what exactly is that? How about all of the factors we already listed! According to Ingrid, you must be willing to take risks, be organized, be a leader, learn how to handle rejections as it's part of the package, work well under pressure, be a decision-maker, be up to date with technology. She should know. She successfully runs two business: Alco Consultants, LLC and Dainty Beads.

Kristine Sheehan, The Merry Bird, listed many of the same traits - sanity, patience, kindness, perseverance, and desire to succeed.

I really like the way my friend Dawna Jones put it. Dawna calls herself an Evolutionary Provocateur and her company is InSight Out Consulting, Inc. As you can see, Dawna looks at things in a more unique and creative fashion. When asked what personality traits were needed for business success, she stated "heart of a wolf; strength of a bear; self-discipline (is what horses have that keeps them from betting on people); see like a spider...the interconnections and relationship between everything you do and its impact on others: suppliers, customers, key relations. Wolves are family; Bear is introspection and goals ..the capacity to focus...oh and a great sense of humor helps. There is no such thing as failure. "

Do you see a common theme here? It's not just about the money. If that's all you're focusing on, you're doomed to be less successful than you could be. In order to really succeed you have to have passion for your work. Then be willing to learn all you can about your chosen business. If you stumble (notice I did not say fail. As Dawna said, there is no such thing as failure), learn from the mistake and keep going. Have courage! Take a risk and be prepared to spend a little money to make money. Anyone who tells you that you can start a business for free is dreaming or a scam artist. You make not have to spend $1000s but you will have to spend some. Be responsible. Remember, everything you do will impact your business either positively or negatively. Be disciplined. You can't work two hours a week and expect to have a prosperous business. Just because many of these women work from their homes does not mean they do not work as many hours or more than you do. If you can, set aside some space that is solely dedicated to your business. If you have a room you can turn into an office, that's great. But even a corner of the kitchen will work. Then every morning, get up, get dressed, and go to work. While you are at work, don't let anything else interfere. Dishes can wait. Tape your favorite soap. Don't answer the door. You are at work. Set a goal for what you want to accomplish that day before you can "go home." I was taught to use a point system. I must earn 4 points each day before I can stop working. Each of the activities I do that are business related have been assigned a point value. When I have 4 points, I can stop. Of course, once I've earned my 4 points for the day, I'm usually so excited about my work that I stay a little longer.

I think I'll end by sharing what my friend Marilyn Jenet, founder of Feel Free to Prosper, said when she responded to the question.

"These great minds said it best (these are from my memoir, "Feel Free to Prosper: an Entrepreneurial Memoir of Synchronicity and Guidance")

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Haven’t you heard of the "entrepreneur’s creed?" It was drafted by Patrick Henry in 1775…

I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

~ Patrick Henry

Okay, I know he wasn’t referring to entrepreneurship, but it’s still the same idea to those of us who listen to our own drummer. So maybe Thoreau was a bit closer to the truth."

~ Marilyn

The Key to Network Marketing is Your Network

2012-04-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

When I was in the Navy, two things accompanied me on every move. In fact, we have been known to pay excess shipping costs just so I could move them from duty station to duty station. We never went anywhere without my books and my music.

These things are still extremely important to me, but two things have replaced them as my most prized possessions. My Rolodex and my laptop.

I don't care what business you are in, you can't succeed without people. Whether it's your clients, associates, competitors, employees - people are the lifeblood of your business. This is especially true in network marketing.

Your network should be a prized possession - one that is cultivated and nurtured carefully. Your network will provide you with an ongoing supply of people to do business with, ask advice from, collaborate with, mastermind with, and seek assistance from to help your business grow and prosper. My Rolodex contains all the business cards I've collected and haven't yet entered into my contact management program. And with my laptop I can connect with almost anyone I know, anytime, anywhere.

Networking does not mean attending every event and passing out your business card to every warm body in the room. It does not mean joining every social networking site you can find, posting your information, and waiting for clients and business partners to come calling.

If you really want to be an effective networker, you must participate. When attending networking events, when you give someone your business card use this tip I learned from one of my mentors. Write on the back of it these 4 letters - HCIH. HCIH - How Can I Help. Instead of introducing yourself and launching into a lengthy explanation of what you do, give a brief explanation. Then ask them about their business. And then ask how you can help. Often they will actually tell you. Sometimes they won't. Either way, let them know that you may be able to help them and promise to send them some information that may be helpful. I keep several reports and articles always updated so I have the information ready. Then as soon as I get home, I email or mail them the pertinent information. I have now established two things with them - my value and my commitment to helping them succeed.

When using the various social networking sites, don't be a "lurker." Share your knowledge by posting articles and advice for others to share. The best way to show people how much you can help is by demonstrating your willingness and ability to do so.

You also can't ignore your contact list until you need something from them. Check in with everyone on the list periodically. Ask how they are doing. Ask how you can help. Treat them to lunch or coffee. Send them a card or a short note or an article you read that might interest them. Show them you care. People like working with people they know and trust. What better way to build that trust than to show them that you care about their success.

If, unlike me, you are not technology challenged, there are lots of contact management programs available to help you keep up with your networking. I use ACT! not because I know it's the best. I use it simply because I learned to use it years ago and I'm comfortable with it. There may be better ones available and I'll bet someone in my network knows the answer to that. If you want a recommendation, let me know and I'll ask around!

Smile, Smile, Smile!

2012-04-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

I attended a couple of business presentations for the network marketing company I am associated with last week. What I saw there prompted this post.

There were two different presentations. They represented the same company. Both of the presenters were well dressed and successful looking. They were neat and well-groomed. Both had information about the business and services and spoke well about what they could offer. You would have expected both presentations to be equally successful. Not so. The first presentation was a huge success. Several people joined the business that night. The other one was less than successful.
While I was driving home I thought about this. What made the one person more attractive and approachable than the other? They were both female. They were both ordinary middle-aged women. And yet even I had to admit that if I was in the market for a business opportunity I would probably have signed up the first night. I thought about it some more. Why? What was different about her? Then it hit me.

When I arrived at the first presentation, I met the woman who was hosting it. She was dressed in a simple suit and had all of the facts and figures about her business to share with us. She handed out business cards and pamphlets, acknowledged her upline and her fellow team members and invited them to add to what she had already said about the company. And then she smiled. And it lit up her whole face. It was one of the most warm and welcoming smiles I've seen. It just drew you in. It made you feel like she really cared about your needs and wanted to get to know you better.

On the following night, at the second presentation, when the woman stood up to talk about the business, she, too, presented all of the facts about the company and the opportunity. She listed all the benefits of joining and having your own network marketing business and why we should sign up immediately. She was very serious and straightforward, passing out business cards and pamphlets about the company, dressed in her suit and looking very polished and professional.

And that, I think, was the difference. Because she never smiled. Not once through the entire presentation.

Smiling affects your business? Yes, it does! I have done a research on this and everything I have read validates that fact. Smiling raises your confidence. When you are looking for someone to do business with, don't you want someone who is confident in their abilities? Sure you do. A smile conveys that self-confidence without being arrogant. Another article said that smiling instantly makes you more attractive. Who doesn't want to be more attractive? Admit it, when someone is smiling, aren't you drawn in? Don't you enjoy that person's company more? Of course you do! We all do.

So my business-building advice for this week is very simple. SMILE! Go ahead. SMILE! I've read that you can't fake a smile so if you just do it, even when you don't feel like it, it's bound to change your attitude. And we just read that it will make you more confident and attractive. So do it again. SMILE! Doesn't that feel good? Now that you know how good smiling is for you and your business, I want you to practice smiling every day. In fact, one of the articles I read said that if you practice smiling and thinking positive thoughts or repeating affirmations at least six times a day, it will have a huge positive impact on your life. So what are you waiting for? SMILE!

My Favorite Network Marketing Books

2012-03-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Books are an invaluable resource when it comes to learning how to build your business. There are some great books on network marketing available. These are my top 10 picks. I have gleaned something of value from each of them. I hope you find them just as useful.

1. The Business of the 21st Century - Robert Kiyosaki: When Robert Kiyosaki writes, I read. He never fails to deliver. This book is no exception. It provides a great overview of the network marketing concept and its advantages and challenges. It has been a great asset when explaining network marketing to my prospects.

2. Be a Network Marketing Superstar: The One Book You Need To Make More Money Than You Ever Thought Possible - Mary Christensen: More of a workbook than most other books, which guides you through 26 steps to becoming successful in network marketing. I love this book!

3. Your First Year in Network Marketing: Overcome Your Fears, Experience Success, and Achieve Your Dreams! - Mark Yarnell: Strategies for overcoming those obstacles we all experience in our first step into network marketing.

4. Beach Money: Creating Your Dream Life Through Network Marketing - Jordan Adler: This book is filled with inspiring stories about Jordan's own climb to success. Each story contains tips and ideas to help you build your network marketing business.

5. How to Build a Multi-Level Money Machine: The Science of Network Marketing - Randy Gage: The title says it all. No hype. No fluff. Just all the information needed to build a successful network marketing business.

6. Do Due Diligence: Cutting Through the Crap in Network Marketing - Greg Hartman: The resource list and due diligence questions make this book well worth reading.

7. The Greatest Networker in the World - John Milton Fogg: This book tells the story of a young, discouraged network marketer who is about to quit the business - until he meets the greatest networker in the world.

8. 101 Ways to Build a Successful Network Marketing Business - Andrew Griffiths and Wayne Toms: Practial tips on how to succeed in network marketing.

9. Being the Best You Can Be in MLM: How to Train Your Way to the Top in Multi-Level/Network Marketing - John Kalench: Although an older book, there is still a wealth of relevant information in this book. Before his death in 2000, John Kalench was an extremely successful network marketer. In this book, he trains you just as he trained his own downline.

10. Dare to Dream and Work to Win: Understanding Dollars and Sense of Success in Network Marketing - Dr. Tom Barrett: Another older book but filled with practical information and tips that are easy to put into practice in your own business.

Did I miss your favorite? Please comment and share it with us!

Is Your Organization Running a Bit Rough? It Might Be Time To Check Your Alignment!

2012-03-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday and I've accomplished absolutely nothing this week. I just can't seem to get motivated. I guess it's time to check my alignment once again.

What's that? Check my alignment? Why whatever do you mean?

Let me explain. About twelve years ago, I was in the same situation. I had lost all motivation. I just couldn't find the excitement and the passion for my work that I'd had in the past. I actually dreaded having to go to work each day. Then I read an amazing article. It said that just as your car will squeak and make unpleasant sounds when it is not in alignment, so too will your soul when your business tasks are not in alignment with your vision, mission and values.

Before investing more time and efforts to take your organization to a fascinating new level, you must re-evaluate first what your primary values are, how you prioritize them inside you, and, see if your business activities support and are in alignment with the priority of your values.

For example, twelve years ago my father, who had Alzheimer's, moved in with me. At the time, I used to travel quite a bit to speak to specific groups of people to market the business for the company I worked for. To be successful and get promoted, I needed to travel and speak and network more frequently. There were lots of late nights and long weeks and too many weekends when I was not at home.

But, family life is on the very top of my priority list, in a place higher than business or career success. So, whenever my work required that I travel for an extensive amount of time, my inner self experienced a misalignment. I still went ahead and did what my “head” told me I was supposed to do, but my heart was centered to my values. When the head pulls the whole body to do what it dictates it to do, the heart starts to send out signals to you that if you don’t make adjustments, you will not stay in wholesome health any longer. The heart sends out signals by decreasing your enthusiasm, motivation and self-esteem. You start seeing yourself get down more easily, you feel lonely, not understood and you feel that you get angry easily or you get blamed for shutting your emotions. And that is exactly what happened. Whereas I once enjoyed traveling and meeting with our clients, now I simply wanted to get the trip over with so I could get home. I started making excuses to cut trips short or to send someone else. And when I had to go I was sick and depressed most of the time. I did not give clients the attention they had come to expect. I knew I had to do something or instead of getting that promotion, I would be looking for a different job!

In the article, it said that one of the easiest ways to figure out what your values are and in what priority they are in is to make a “Desire List.” Ask yourself , “What do you want?” Then, begin to jot down your list of answers. Don’t judge yourself for your wants. You need to create a safe and open environment for yourself so that your true self gets uncovered. Don’t be ashamed to say, “I want to own a house by the lake with an amazing view to the mountains and a dock for launching your very own boat.” Or, “I want to be the most influential leader and the expert of experts of my field.” Or, “I want to be a famous dancer!” Just let things flow. Let the same question come at you for 10 to 15 minutes. You may start getting bored of the same question, but you may start seeing what is hiding under those wants. Your initial “wants” are really saying, “I want to be recognized.” “I want to be trusted and respected.” “I wanted to be loved by my family members.’ “I want to be understood and loved for the real me.” “I want to make a difference in this world.”

Your wants and desires express your values.

Take your top 5 values and complete the following questions to get an inner alignment:

1. What are you doing on a daily basis to support these values?

2. What are you doing on a daily basis that does not support these values or that are in conflict with these values?

3. How can you modify your business life so that you support your most important values? How can you eliminate or start eliminating business activities that are in conflict with your values? If these business activities are important to the growth of your business, what else is out there for you to consider for the replacement of such activities. Take the example above; ask yourself if you can find out ways to market to the same audience through the phone, internet and other ways? Hold a teleseminar? For me, the answer was fairly simple - and terribly scary! I decided to quit my job and join a network marketing company, starting a business that I could run from home at least part time.

If you are a busy organizational leader, you will have many activities and to-do’s everyday. Form the habit to run your business tasks through these results-proven questions and get your alignment checked periodically. It's the best way to keep yourself headed for success.

A Free Gift for You - 7 Days of Video Training!

2012-03-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of the old school network marketing techniques? You know the 3 foot rule, hanging flyers, bugging your family and friends, and holding hotel meetings.

I know that when I first joined my first network marketing company, I was told to use these same techniques. I was told to make a list of 100 people that I knew and basically call every one of them to ask and see if they would be interested in making some extra money.

I was only faced with questions I wasn't able to answer, getting hung up on, and faced with nothing but rejection.

When I was officially shunned by everyone that I knew, all my upline told me to do was to go out and buy some opportunity leads. This only led me to some more rejection and spending a bunch of money. Now I was out of money, and had nothing to show for it.

Then just as I was going to give up, I found what I consider to be the "life saver" for my business. This life saver I speak of was Mike Dillard's 7 Day Free Video Boot Camp. In these 7 free videos Mike explained how I could attract an endless stream of prospects to me ready to join and actually get paid to prospect. These videos have really changed the way I do my business, and I think they can help you too.

You can get free instant access to these free videos here...

Making Money with Network Marketing

2012-02-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, you can make money with network marketing. It is even possible to make a LOT of money with network marketing. In fact, you can make as much as you want - as long as you know how.

Step one: Set some goals. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic goals. With a Timeframe for achieving them. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed (SMART) goals - I'm sure many of you have heard that terminology before, so I'm not going to discuss it in great detail right now. Having set goals will help you stay focused on what you are trying to achieve. And knowing what you want to achieve will help you choose the right network marketing opportunity for you.

Step two: Do some research. Not all opportunities and compensation plans are created equal. Find the one that fits your needs. If you are new at network marketing, then you need to find a company and a team that provides a lot of training and guidance. Look at the products. You will have to purchase and/or sell these to make money. Make sure they are products you can use and that you are can get excited about selling.  Make sure you understand the compensation plans. You need to know how you get paid! All companies have rules concerning what type of marketing is allowed (can you set up your own website, for example).  Be sure you know what they are.  Breaking them can get you dropped from the company.
Step three: Choose the company you want to work with. There are so many different programs to choose from. I have my favorites which you can find on my website. Or you may have already been approached by someone and have an idea which company you wish to join. Use the information you found during your research to choose the company most suited to your needs.

Step four: Spend some time with your sponsor and successful upline team members. Your sponsor may just be getting started as well so don't be surprised if they don't have all the answers.  Have them introduce you to other team members who are more experienced and are having some success. Learn from them - how they market the business opportunity, how do they sell the products, how do they train their downline members.

Step five: Copy success. Do what the other successful network marketers do. And then teach your downline to do the same.
Set your goals, do your research, and choose your program.  Learn how to successfully market both the business opportunity and the products. Copy what works. And you, too, can make money with network marketing.

Network Marketing Tools

2012-02-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

Any experienced entrepreneur will tell you that you can't run a successful business without the right tools for the job. That is equally true in network marketing. While much of what you need is supplied by company you are part of, there are other tools you can use to give you that extra edge.

There are hundreds of companies offering tools and services aimed at helping network marketers build their business. Many of them are a waste of time and money. But some of them have helped me go from barely scraping by to actually making real money. Those are the ones I will share with you.

Please note: I am an affiliate for some of the companies and products I recommend. That is because I liked them so much when I tried them, I decided to market them. So when you decide to use some of the services and products I list, I will receive a commission. But I have tried each and every one of the products/services I am sharing with you and they have worked for me.

The first tool you will need is absolutely free and completely indispensable if you want to succeed. You need every ounce of knowledge you can get about your opportunity and your products. Learn all you can about your company. Attend trainings, go to meetings, listen to conference calls. Read/review all of the marketing material offered by your company. Even if it's not required by your company, purchase and try the products. How can you recommend something you don't use yourself?

Once you have all of the information needed, the next tool you will need is a way to capture leads for your business. Information is useless without prospects to share it with. There are many companies that offer to sell you leads that they have generated. I have tried a few of these, and truthfully, never found them worth the cost. I prefer to generate my own leads. To do that you will need a way to capture the information of people who are interested in your offer. That will require a marketing website with a lead capture page. Most network marketing companies provide you a website for free or for a minimal cost. The only problem with this is your website looks just like every other rep's. If your company allows it, I highly suggest you build your own unique website. If you are a pro at web design, this will not be a problem for you. If, like me, you know nothing about web design, then I recommend using Site Build It! I use it for all my websites. It's the fastest, easiest, most effective way I know to get your business online.

Once you have your website/lead capture page set up, you will need a way to regularly follow up with your prospects. This requires an autoresponder. Most company websites do not provide this tool. If you use Site Build It!, an autoresponder is part of the package. If you use an different tool to build your website, then I recommend AWeber. There are many autoresponders on the market. AWeber is simply the easiest and most effective one to use.

Now that you have a way to capture leads and the autoresponder to follow up with them, you will need one other tool - a marketing program to drive prospects to your website. There are so many different techniques you can use to market your business, it would require a separate post to go over them all. I tried all of them. But nothing clicked for me until I got some training. While most network marketing companies do provide training to help you grow your business, they all teach pretty much the same thing - call everyone you know and invite them to a meeting, and then hound them repeatedly until you either get them to join or they stop speaking to you. If you are fairly thick-skinned and stubborn, this method may work. If you want to still have some friends left, you need to learn another way.

Fortunately, I discovered some videos that quickly helped me learn to market my business. This life saver I speak of was Mike Dillard's 7 Day Free Video Boot Camp. In these 7 free videos Mike explains how to attract an endless stream of prospects to you ready to join and actually get paid to prospect. These videos have really changed the way I do my business, and I think they can help you too.

The second video I want to share teaches you how to talk to your prospects once you have them. If you are like me when I first started, then you have no idea what to say once you get a prospect on the phone. If you would like to learn how I overcame my fear of talking to prospects on the phone, then you need to get your hands on this free 1 hour video interview.

These are the tools that I have used to build my network marketing business. Use them to build your own success story.

Top 10 Strategies for Becoming a Professional Network Marketer

2011-12-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

Network marketing is becoming more popular as people try to supplement their income, or replace income from lost jobs. It's one business where almost anyone can be successful. But many people I know are still only doing it either part time in addition to their regular job, or they regard it as only temporary, until they find a new job. What does it take to cross that line from part-time networker to professional network marketer?

1. Know your business. You should be completely familiar with your company and its products, its compensation plan, what support is offered to new reps, and how to get new reps started in the business. If you don't understand it, you won't be able to explain it to potential customers or prospects. If you are new and still learning, make sure you know who to contact that can answer these questions for you.

2. Stay the course. I can't tell you how many fellow network marketers I know who are always chasing the next big thing. They don't stick with anything long enough to be successful at it. Do your research and pick the company that is best for you. There are many good ones. Once you have found the company that meets your needs, stay with it. Focus on this one business until you reach your goals.

3. Learn to communicate effectively. Network marketing is a people business. If you can't communicate, you will never be successful. You can generate or purchase all the leads in the world, but if you can't convert them to customers or business partners, it won't make a bit of difference. And to do that, you will have to talk to them. I don't know too many network marketers who have joined a company based solely on a web page, DVD, or recorded call. And while I have gotten a few customers my website, most of them wanted to talk to someone before they made a purchase.

4. Know what you are marketing. When I started in the business, I was failing miserably. Then I discovered Mike Dillard and I learned one thing from him that has made all the difference. It's not about your company, or your comp plan, or your products. Sure, these things are all important. But the number one thing your prospects are buying is you! Become a person of value and learn to market that and you go join almost any company and your people will follow you.

5. Take action! No one is going to build your business for you. You will have to do something. I had a team member who continually complained because he wasn't making any money. He finally quit and then devoted quite a bit of time to convincing everyone that the business was a scam. And yet whenever we asked him how many people he had talked to, or how many presentations he had given, or how many ads had he placed, the answer was always the same - zero! If he had spent half the energy building his business that he spent trying to convince everyone it was a fraud, he'd be well on his way to financial independence by now.

6. Finish what you start. A few years ago I had the opportunity to meet Carrie Wilkerson (aka The Barefoot Executive). And she made a statement that has stuck with me ever since. Taking action is great but it's not enough. You have to take massive action to COMPLETION!

7. Target the right people. Please - do not hound your friends and family to join your business. They probably aren't interested. If they are, they will let you know. Who do you want to look for? People who are already in the business but aren't having much success with the company they are in. People who are already successful network marketers. People who are actively looking for information on network marketing opportunities. These people already understand the business well enough to know that it is a good fit for them.

8. Learn to harness the power of the internet. The easiest way to find your target market is by learning to use the internet effectively. There are some great people who can teach you what you need to know - Bob Jenkins (aka Bob the Teacher), Ken McArthur, and Mike Dillard are three of my personal favorites.

9. Teach what you have learned. It's not enough for you to use these strategies. You have to lead your team in the same direction. Teach your front line reps what to do and then train them to teach their reps the same thing. Soon you will have an entire organization that is continually being trained to use the same strategies that are working for you.

10. Make a plan. Every business needs a plan, even a network marketing business. Set your goals and then use these strategies to build a plan to reach them. Decide today to become a professional network marketer and then do it!

What is Network Marketing?

2011-11-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Network marketing. The name tells you everything you need to know.

Network: Something resembling an openwork fabric or structure in form or concept, especially:

                 a. A system of lines or channels that cross or interconnect
                 b. A complex, interconnected group or system
                 c. An extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support.

Marketing: 1.the act of buying or selling in a market.

                   2.the total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.

Both parts are necessary. In order to make money, your company must sell their product or services. They do this by counting on people like you to market these products/services for them. In turn, they pay you a commission for every sale you make. You can make some decent extra money this way. But in order to take full advantage and become financially independent, you need to add the network component. Now, in addition to paying you commission on every sale you make, the company also pays for every sale your network makes. Do you see how quickly this could add up to some serious income?

How can you make this work for you? First, you have to understand and be comfortable with the concept of "network marketing." If you don't get it, you will continue to just stumble along.

Second, you have to understand that you are in the marketing business. You are marketing your products to potential customers. You are also marketing your business to potential partners.

It's a simple process. Market your products to your customers.  Market your business opportunity to potential business partners to build your network. Teach your network the skills they need to do the same.

If you don't have the leadership or marketing skills necessary to do this, learn! There are plenty of places you can go and many people willing to help. The information in this blog and in my internet marketing blog, WealthTogether, shares the tips and information I have discovered in developing my own business. Find information about the different network marketing companies at Boomer Business Ideas. Read everything you can by Mike Dillard.

Understanding the power of network marketing can change your life. If you will put it to use.

Network Marketing Compensation Plans

2011-11-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

One of the most important things to look at when choosing a network marketing opportunity is the compensation plan. Unfortunately it is also one of the most confusing.

While the compensation plan may not be the deciding factor when choosing which company to work with, it can contribute significantly to your success if you understand how it works - and to your failure if you don't.

There are several different types of compensation plans used in MLM today. One of the oldest is the Unilevel plan. This is also one of the easiest to understand since you are only allowed to sponser one level on your team. In other words, everyone you sponsor is on your front line. This makes it easy to explain to prospects which may help in your recruiting efforts. However, if you are recruiting from your warm market (i.e. friends and family) it can make it difficult since you will be setting them up to compete against each other since they are all on the same level. If the opportunity you are considering uses this model for their compensation plan, be sure you are comfortable recruiting from your cold market in order to build a large frontline organization.

Another common compensation plan is the Stairstep Breakaway plan. In this plan, members of your team can advance up the ranks and when they reach a certain level, they are allowed to break away from your line and start an organization of their own. This allows them to earn larger commissions and so is a great incentive for them to work while they are still in your downline. However, while you normally would receive an smaller "override" commission from the breakaway organization, your overall commission can take a serious hit initially. But if you are comfortable in your ability to recruit and train new team members, this can be a great plan for building long-term residual income.

The Forced Matrix plan has a limited width and depth for which you will be compensated. For example, in a 3x3 matrix plan your frontline will consist of 3 team members and you will earn commissions only 3 levels deep. If you recruit a third person, they will automatically be placed into the downline of one of the first two. The Matrix plan can help you recruit since new team members can rely on this to help build their business while they gain experience. This plan also encourages leaders to assist their team in building their organizations once their own frontline is full. However, since it is very hard to explain and can give the appearance of the dreaded "pyramid scheme", it can make it make it equally difficult to recruit new team members.

The newest compensation plan to arrive on the scene is called the Binary plan. As the name suggests, this is based on the number two. Therefore, you would be allowed to have a maximum of two team members in your frontline. Any one you enrolled after that would automatically be placed under your existing frontline members. This encourages the team to work together since everyone benefits from building a strong downline. Another advantage is that most companies allow their members to start another downline (commonly called business centers in this plan) once they have reached a certain level with the first.

Many companies also offer additional incentives to their compensation plans, such as cars (think Mary Kay's Pink Cadillac or FHTM's Lexus).

This is just a brief description of the different network marketing compensation plans. For a more indepth analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each, I recommend checking out the Network Marketing Business School.