You've done it. You've signed up with a network marketing company. You're ready to get started with your teams advertising system. You're ready, set, go. All the ads hit, you're excited. Like a kid who can't wait to go to Disney World, you wait for the responses to pour in.
After 2-3 days... Nothing.
Why didn't anyone respond?
Don't worry. You're not alone. Matter of fact, this is a common scenario in MLM. People get jazzed, sign up with their uplines co-op, fire off a few hundred emails, get the postcards, and nothing comes of it.
Marketing experts they are not. You, of course, are smarter than that, which is why you're reading this special report right now. You want to know the top 7 mistakes people make in MLM, and you want to know the solutions to them.
Here they are:
Using "Institutional Advertising"
Institutional advertising is advertising that does not focus on your prospects. Rather on you, your company, your pay plan, your products, your bonus pool, your packaging, or the sales people at the home office. Anything that does not focus solely on your prospect is institutional advertising. Think of Coke-A-Cola. That's institutional advertising. Their sole purpose is brand their name into your mind. That way when you get thirsty and want a soda, you buy a Coke.
You must focus on your prospects ego and their desires. What they want takes priority over what you or the MLM company you're with wants. Tell them what's in it for them.
Solution: Create prospect focused advertising and drop your ego and appeal to the prospects ego.
Fell Into Managment Mode
This one is a biggy. In order to make money in network marketing (or in direct selling) the life blood is new business. For the first 2-3 years new business is what drives your income. If you spend all of your time managing people and none of it actually aquiring new business you'll fall into a mode where your income levels off or just drops. This is managment mode and it will stop you dead in your tracks from making long term income from MLM.
Solution: Always be moving forward, building your group. Leading by example. By building.
Making MLM Your Business
One of the most sobering and completely real facts of MLM is that you do not own your own MLM business. At any moment in time the network marketing company you're with could shut it's doors, change it's policies, cut the popular products (not likely, but happens) or any number of things that would instantly stop your income or cut it by 50%.
Making MLM your business limits you. Stops you from seeing all of the possibilities outside the MLM industry. Instantly turning your income into something that is in reality, not yours. Make MLM a part of your business. Not the sole reason it exists.
Solution: Expand your business into other areas. Not just MLM.
4. Not Being Personal
MLM takes time, money, more time and more money to develop. As does any profitable business. However, in the day of emails, fax machines, web sites, online video, and super technology, it is easier than ever to forget you are working with real live people with real live problems and worries. Adding a personal touch to the process will build your credibility, and build trust with those you plan on working with.
Solution: Add a personal touch and build trust
Not Being Realistic
Technology makes it easier for you to contact more and more people at an ever growing rate. Which leads some people to hype up their claims. Hyped up claims are not always so outragous they instantly appear full of hype. Some of them are subtle, like, "No direct selling." Which seems like a benefit, because people hate to sell. In truth, direct selling is network marketing. You are not as aggressive about it. But you will, and always be selling something to someone.
Soltuion: Be Realistic and understand network marketing is a selling business.
Losing Focus
Losing focus is easy. Thousands of ways to advertise and reach your market exist. Pick 1 or 2 or 3 of them. Not all of them. Focus on what works, and drop what doesn't. If you know it's not working after a few weeks, don't do it anymore. Truly effective advertising works in just a short time. Not 3 years. Save yourself time and money and find an alternate way to reach your market once the way you're using proves itself to be ineffective.
Solution: Focus only on one, two or three advertising strategies at time. And focus on them until they prove to be ineffective.
Becoming a Computer Jocky
A Computer Jocky? What's that? Computer Jocky's are people who sit there in front of their computer and try to work their MLM business completely online. 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. This is just insanity. While the world wide web does offer more affordable ways to reach your market. It isn't the only game in town and placing print ads and sending sales letters to people offline is not only effective, but sometimes more effective.
Solution: Try advertising offline as well to expand your reach. |
