Successful MLM Tips

The truth about network marketing, unfortunately, is that the “heavy hitters” just don’t care. At least not about you and me. They just care about making money. That’s why they tell people how much money they make, and in many cases, show their paychecks as proof. This is illegal – it is called enticement. They make you think anyone can do it – and it’s so easy – just to get you in. Every professional should understand the law as it applies to network marketing.

Gerald Nehra, a respected MLM attorney who helped found the Distributor Rights Association, cites the importance of ethics in network marketing. In an article he wrote, Nehra states, “What makes a network marketing company ‘ethical’ is also what keeps it legitimate and legal.” Nehra raises 3 key tests that any legitimate network marketing company should pass.

Test 1 – Must involve the sale of a real product or service. “The product or service must have real value to end-use consumers who are not affiliated with the company. Further, the product or service must actually be sold regularly to non-participant buyers.” If there are no retail customers, or the product would not sell without the opportunity attached, stay away. If the compensation plan does not pay you for getting your own retail customers, stay away.

Test 2 – Must not require a commissioned fee solely to participate. “There cannot be a fee to participate, other than an at-cost starter kit purchase requirement.” Always ask this question: What do I get of value for my $299, $399, or $499, etc. startup fee? If the answer is “The opportunity to make money” then stay away. If the answer is “A fabulous website to help you make money” then stay away.

Test 3 – Must maintain operational integrity. Network marketing companies must maintain ethical and acceptable business practices, including product advertisement, program advertisement, sales field enforcement, and operational integrity. This is the section that forbids the displaying of commission checks, making claims about products, and acceptable return policies (for both customers and distributors.)

So, how much money have you made? It may seem like a simple question, but think about the implications of the answer. Would you really want to be in business with unethical people? Most people wouldn’t. So, how much money have I made? I don’t know – I haven’t finished collecting it all yet.

Sources:
Based on the recorded interview from the Success In 10 Steps interview series.
Also Gerald Nehra deserves a lot of credit. You can learn more at his website MLMatty.com. It’s another great resource to get educated.

One of the biggest challenges for many people in network marketing is the ability to listen. Most people think they have to talk a lot…know a lot…do a lot…help a lot. But there’s a catch: we cannot help until we listen.

When speaking with someone, a true professional networker will first listen. We must understand the person and where they are coming from before we can even begin to take any action. This can become a challenge, especially as we start to achieve success. That’s when the ego can take over.

Heavy hitters are consumed by greed and ego. To them, it’s a numbers game. You are a number. They won’t listen, because they already know everything. They don’t care about anything else. They don’t want to know you…or how many kids you have. It becomes hard to trust someone like that in the long run.

My mentor has a rule: never sponsor anyone into your business that you wouldn’t want to be on a one month cruise with. You should have that KLT factor – know, like, and trust – going both ways. Would you trust them with your money – AKA your downline? Will they jump into another deal in 6 months and steal your people?

Network marketing is definitely not a numbers game – it is a relationship business. If properly done, you will build lifelong friendships with people who will never quit your business. Stay away from greed and ego – it will destroy your downline.

Based on the recorded interview from the Success In 10 Steps interview series.

One of the biggest challenges for many people is living in the moment – not the past or the future, but living in the NOW. Most people constantly think about the past…and dream about the future. While dreams are good, it is important to live for right now.

Most people have a tendency to dwell on the past. It’s very important to move on. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t learn from the past – or that you should forget it. What I am saying is not to give those bad experiences your power. Every time we think about something from the past, we give it our power and our energy. If you talk to your friend about an argument you just had with a coworker, then that’s how you are choosing to spend your energy – on negativity.

Difficulty in getting away from the past is a big reason for the 93-97% failure rate in network marketing. If we don’t move on, our beliefs will never shift. It doesn’t matter if the last 3 people we talked to said no. It doesn’t matter if that drunk guy at the bowling alley said it was a pyramid. Move on. Get over it.

You cannot change your past. It is over. It is dead. What you can change is how you spend your energy. That is something over which you have complete control. Don’t hold grudges. Forgive and move on. The minute you start thinking about a past failure, an abusive relationship, or any bad experience, that becomes the dominating thought in your mind and controls your energy. Spend that energy on something constructive.

Based on the recorded interview from the Success In 10 Steps interview series.

Most people in network marketing want to be sponsored by a heavy hitter, and then sponsor another heavy hitter or two into their downline. Everybody knows that heavy hitters will always recruit tons of people into the business. But not everyone knows what makes a person a heavy hitter. Is a heavy hitter the same thing as a professional network marketer?

A heavy hitter will generally recruit the most people into a business. They will typically personally sponsor 10 or more people every month. But here’s the catch: Network marketing is not a sales business, it is a relationship business. Heavy hitters don’t have the time to build relationships. To them, it’s a numbers game. They are the slick and polished salespeople with all the great lines to close people into the deal. A heavy hitter will never know your “why.” They will typically only return your phone calls if you are in their downline and sponsoring a lot of people.

A professional network marketer is very different from a heavy hitter. Rather than chasing the money and destroying people, a professional network marketer builds relationships and builds people. They know it’s not a numbers game, they treat you like a person – not a number. They know network marketing is not about sponsoring 100 people. It’s really about sponsoring 5-6 people, building relationships with them. They build people and teach duplication – so they get 5-6 who get 5-6, etc. A true professional network marketer is a mentor with a servant’s heart.

Everybody knows that like attracts like. If you hang around with a heavy hitter, you will become more like them. Their negativity will rub off on you and your organization. Do you really want to sponsor one of them? Is it worth it? A professional network marketer, on the other hand, will build you – build people – build your downline. They are someone that you would WANT to be on a one month cruise with. They bring value where they go. So – bottom fishing for heavy hitters? You might make some short term money, but in the long run, it will destroy your business.

Based on the recorded interview from the Success In 10 Steps interview series.

Most people get into network marketing because they want financial freedom. They want to own their lives. They want to spend time with and provide for their families. For most people, it’s not because they want to be a million dollar earner. Most people have good intentions.

But then what happened? If you’re like most people, you made a list of your friends and family – because you were told to. You pitched them on your wonderful opportunity. You and your upline tried to close them – tried to sell them. Problem is, most people (over 90%) are sales resistant. They don’t like selling or being sold.

Off you went, untrained and unprepared for what was to lie ahead. The money you were trying to save for your family’s vacation? Gone. Your credit card balances? Higher. Your friends and family? Now they screen your calls. Any of this sound familiar?

Most people in network marketing get lied to unfortunately. They’ll tell you that you didn’t: set a high enough goal…buy enough leads…talk to enough people…make enough phone calls…quit your job and do this full time. You’re left thinking: “I should have tried harder” or “I should have known better.”

Here’s the million dollar question: If you never had accurate, truthful information, how could your lack of success be your fault? This is the number one question that you must “get” before you can move forward. Most people who read Success In 10 Steps will begin to understand this. They don’t want more rejection. They don’t want to have to sell anything. They don’t want yet another MLM.

Based on the recorded interview from the Success In 10 Steps interview series.