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Archive for the ‘Networking’ Category

Copyright 2006 Sharon Housley

Associations and trade organizations are great places to meet individuals. Usually organizations have a common theme, and it is an understood implication that all members participate to improve themselves and their businesses.

Whether it is a chamber of commerce or a trade association, members have common problems, issues and concerns. By sharing issues and resolutions, members can benefit by the experience of others. Many business owners participate in organizations, not only to network, but also to hopefully circumvent some of the pitfalls encountered by other small businesses–learning from others.

Networking Tips.

Many trade organizations provide forums for networking. In some cases, these might be private online newsgroups, casual meetings, or even professional events with speakers. In order to take full advantage of these networking opportunities consider these tips.

Who You Know.

It is often not who you know, but who they know. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen someone put-off someone who is clearly a beginner only to learn that the “beginner” is the brother or friend of a contact they’ve been trying to meet for weeks.

Honesty.

Be honest. Pretending to be something that you are not, or implying you can deliver a product or service that is outside of your abilities, will foster an environment of distrust and potentially harm your reputation. Keep in mind that networking is viral?vital? and if promises are not kept, word will spread. Establishing yourself and firm as an honest, reputable company.
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Who doesn’t…

I come across so many people that say “I’m going to make a million dollars in network marketing”. I have conversations with people telling me how they’re going to become millionaires.

That’s great I’ll help you reach that goal every way I can.

But you know what?

Not everyone is going to make a million dollars in network marketing… and that’s ok.

Most people’s lives would change with an extra $500 or $1000 a month.

If you’re in network marketing the opportunity is here to become a millionaire.

let’s talk about that for a second.

To become a millionaire in network marketing is going to take lot of WORK.

Yes, you can do it in the shortest amount of time compared to other business opportunities but you still have to WORK…

But you work smart not hard.

And the cost for start up is minimal.

But it still takes WORK!! no matter how you cut it.

To become a millionaire in network marketing you’re going to have to do things differently.

What do I mean? One of my mentors Michael Dlouhy told me this.

“Duffy if you want more, you’re going have to become more”.

That made a lot of sense to me.

So what if you’re not going to make a million dollars a year in network marketing?

Look I’m not saying you’re not going to make a million dollars, but let’s say it’s not in the cards or that’s an amount you can’t relate to. (Lots of people can’t relate to earning that kind of money)

How much do you make now?

I’ll go with the average and say $30,000. Everything is ok, sometimes it’s a struggle but you get by, but things could be better.

Imagine doubling your income. Can you imagine earning $60,000 per year?
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Do you feel that you’re wasting valuable marketing efforts on tire-kickers: a large and growing market segment? They subscribe to all your free offers — but leave their credit cards behind.

Early in my business life, I talked to anyone and everyone, enthusiastically. I gave away classes, e-books, articles and more.

But soon I was forced to confront the reality of opportunity cost. While I was chatting happily with the freebie-seekers, I lost the opportunity to update my websites, create new products and write more articles. — activities that would most likely bring “real” paying clients.

1. Communicate “professional” and “commercial” on every page of your website.

Like many professionals-turned-marketers, I was nervous about sounding too sales-y. But when I began learning more about copywriting, especially copy for the web, my style became more direct. As soon as you arrived on my website, you knew: Sales were happening here.

What I learned: Serious buyers rarely got turned off. They want to be sold. Freebie-seekers and tire-kickers got the message quickly: You have to pay to play.

2. Create low-cost or no-cost products that deliver bite-sized portions of your expertise.

Serious buyers want to assess your style and expertise before buying. They may want to develop a relationship before handing over their credit cards.

So you need the basics: website content, ebooks, ezines and audio. You may even offer one-time consulting sessions so prospective clients can get a sense of your style.

3. Donate services for everyone’s benefit – not to help a single needy visitor.

Back in the early days, I felt sorry for everyone who called. But soon I discovered a hard truth. These “needy” folks were paying large sums to more experienced consultants who knew how to say “No!”

If you genuinely want to help others, donate your services through nonprofit and charitable organizations where you will get recognition, testimonials and possibly future referrals.

Sounds self-serving?

When I volunteered with a pet adoption center, many years ago, the coordinator warned, “Those who volunteer for selfish reasons will do better in the long run than those who bring dreams of saving the world.” She was right.

Clients will get better service from a non-profit agency dedicated to filling their needs than from a reluctant but sympathetic consultant.

4. Clarify your business status as soon as anyone calls.

Some folks will call before they visit your website. Maybe they’ve seen an article or heard you speak – and they’re psyched. But often they’re confused about what you offer.
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Remember the old commercial that pitched some women’s shampoo. It went something like; “if you tell two people, who tell two people, and so on, and so on…” The point it tried to make was if everybody who used the product told two other people about it, soon everybody would be using the product. That is exactly how MLM (Multi-Level Marketing), also called Network Marketing works.

It is referred to as Multi-Level, because your business consists of different levels. In theory, as you go to each lower level in your business there are more people. Each MLM has it’s own structure, or matrix.

In the example, I am using a 3 x 5 matrix. In other words, in your business, you may have only 3 people on your first level. And, your business may be five levels deep. Think of it as, “if you get three people, who get three people, and so on…” In this example, only you are on your first level.

Level 1 – This level consist of you.
Level 2 – This level consists of the first 3 people in your business.
Level 3 – This is the first 3 people in the business of those on level 2.
Level 4 – This is the first 3 people in the business of those on level 3.
Level 5 – This is the first 3 people in the business of those on level 4.

When level 2 is filled, there are 4 people in your matrix. You and 3 others.
When level 3 is filled, there are 13 people in your matrix.
When level 4 is filled, there are 40 people in your matrix.
When level 5 is filled, there are 111 people in your matrix.

If you recruit 3 people then your 2nd level is full. These 3 people can recruit 3 people each for their 2nd level. That fills your 3rd level. This process repeats all the way down. If you recruit more than 3 people, then these recruits go downward in your matrix to fill the 1st empty position. This is known as spillover. So, some of the people in your matrix will have their matrix partly filled by you. And, your matrix may be partly filled by the person who recruited you.

OK, so what does this mean?

When you decide to join an MLM,or network marketing business, you are going to be selling, or marketing, some product, or service. For your efforts, the company that owns the product or service will be paying you a commission. Sell 10 products or services in a month, you get 10 commissions that month. If that product sells for $15 and you get a 20% commission, then you earn $30 on 10 sales.

But, with MLM, your efforts are duplicated. You will be earning commissions on the efforts of all the people in your matrix. Now, the commissions you earn on them will usually be less than the commissions you earn from your own efforts. And, each MLM will have it’s own commission structure. You may earn a different commission on sales on each different level of your matrix.

The key is in this duplication. If each of the 110 other people in this example matrix also makes 10 sales, then you would not just earn commission on the 10 sales you made. You would earn commissions on 1110 sales that month. In other words, if you earned 5%-10% on sales made by the people you recruit, and if they made 10 sales each, you could earn about $1300 for the month, even though you only sold $150 of products yourself. That’s the power of duplication.

Let me include a bit of a disclaimer here. This matrix structure almost never works the way it does in the examples. First, you will probably never get a full matrix. Second, you may never get many of the people in your matrix to actually make many sales. It is entirely up to you to generate the sales. You may need to motivate the others to sell.
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