From MLM Marketing Blog
I’m willing to bet if you own an MLM business you were extremely motivated and all gung-ho about it in the beginning, right? You had visions of sales through the roof and recruits a plenty. Something happened along the way though. The exhilaration has died down. Your goals aren’t being met and you’re wondering if you were really as cut out for this business as you once thought.
Of course you are! You just need to find your motivation again and here are tips to help you do just that. Get excited about your business again.
1. Goals Can Be Re-Worked
If you haven’t met a goal or two, don’t get down on yourself. Stop and think about why you didn’t meet those milestones. Maybe you aimed too high too early. On the flip side of the coin, maybe you made the goal too easy to obtain and when you reached it the sense of accomplishment just wasn’t there. Take the time to re-evaluate your goals and set some new ones that will help to get you pumped up again.
2. Look at Those Who Are Successful on Your Team
Ask your directors, team leaders and fellow reps what keeps them going. Be a motivator for others and watch how it rubs off on you too. Find someone you can follow and see how they stay motivated.
3. Revisit the Past
You were keyed up about this business for a reason in the beginning. Take time to think about what got you all excited and motivated in the very beginning. Was it the incentives the company offered? Did you want the freedom a business of your own gives you? Whatever it was, find it and focus on those things again.
4. Past Customers Make Repeat Customers
Take the time to call old customers. Repeat customers can make up a huge portion of your business.
5. Talk to Your Upline
When you feel like you’ve run out of people to contact, ask your upline if they have access to leads from others who have left the company or some of their own they don’t have the time to work with that they would be willing to send your way.
6. Use Your Own Products
If you haven’t used the product you’re selling in awhile, take another look and remember what makes it so great.
7. Bundle Products
Do you have out of season items that you can bundle and offer for a special sale? If so, pull them out, put something together and call people to show them what you’ve got to offer.
8. Go to the Company Motivators
Most MLM companies have materials, such as videos or CDs that are meant to help motivate their reps. Take a few minutes to watch or listen to these. Attend a meeting too. They are meant to lift the spirits and will show you that others have been where you are right now and come out on top.
From MLMWoman.com
Networking is one of the biggest buzzwords in the business world these days and with good reason. If you aren't actively networking, you aren't making those connections to your next business venture, your next client, and your next big (or small) windfall.
What is networking?
So what exactly is networking and how do you do it? You can find thousands of seminars, programs, masterminds, insider's groups and a hundred other "guru names" that will teach you all about networking for a super low, one time payment of only $$ (insert big buck amount here!)
I'm going to let you in a little secret: Networking is simply a matter of getting out there and letting people get to know who you are. That's it. All there is to networking is to meet the people. You really don't need to wait for some super-exclusive big name expert to teach you how to network before you begin.
You learned it all in kindergarten: Play nice, share and make new friends.
Based on its exponential growth, Twitter is the number one place to get out and network. All you need to do is create a Twitter account and start using it. Use your business name or your real name for your Twitter username and upload a real picture of yourself. Plug in the link to your site or blog and create a quick little bio that tells folks who you are and what you do.
Next, post a few tweets saying hello. Offer up a pearl or two of wisdom relating to your expertise. Then, start following people. Don't know who to follow? Use Twitter search (the link is at the bottom of your main page) and type in a keyword or two describing the topics you're interested in. For business, it's often easiest to begin by following people in your own field. Type in your industry and step back while you watch the results start pouring in. Click on the usernames you see and start checking people out until you find some you like, then follow those people and start interacting.
Do NOT go on Twitter and start posting link after link about your business.
Instead, share some of the insight and wisdom you have about your business. Good, juicy, useful information. Just give it away! Heck, it's only 140 characters, you can spring for it. Share links to great stuff you find on the web. Cut and paste someone else's post with "RT" in front of it. This is called a Retweet and it's an easy way to share and make new friends. We all love to be re-tweeted because it makes us feel important and special.
Yes, there are all kinds of tips and tricks to using Twitter (and other networking sites) effectively for marketing your business. A lot of the teleseminars, books and programs are worth every penny you pay for them, some even more. However, you don't need even one of them to get started using Twitter to network for your business.
By Carrie Lauth
When I network with small business owners and online marketers, I often find myself asking them if they've launched their blog yet. Adding a blog has so many important benefits and it's no wonder that huge corporations and megastores are also getting into blogging. Especially for the micropreneur however, blogs have several distinct advantages. Here are a few.
1. A blog is search engine food! Google and the other big search engines love content and a blog can help you get free search engine traffic. Recently search engines are giving more weight to blogs because they want to offer the freshest, most relevant content to internet searchers.
2. Blogs create community. Because they are interactive, a blog draws people back to your site again and again. Your visitors will read your post then leave their comments, read comments left by others, and come back to see how the conversation is flowing. Blogs are much easier to manage than message forums too. With RSS (Real Simple Syndication), people can subscribe to your blog feed and be notified automatically when you update your blog.
3. Blogging puts you in control of your site. Posting to your blog is as easy as typing an email or a word document. Why pay a designer to add a page to your website when you can update your site whenever you like, easy as pie? You can blog as often or as rarely as you like to serve your particular needs.
4. Blogs help you grow your bottom line. There are many ways you can add additional monetization streams to your blog so you can make more money in your business without working harder.
5. Your customers love blogs. They can ask you questions, read info about your products and services, and share their opinions. A blog has a more friendly feel than a website.
6. Blogs help you know your target market. As you observe who is leaving comments on your blog, you get to know your market better. This education helps you be a smarter marketer.
7. Conduct market research. A blog is an easy way to conduct surveys and polls to help you get inside the mind of your customers. This information is invaluable to you.
8. Blogs help your customers get to know you. A blog gives your customers a chance to see your personality shine through. People buy from people they like!
9. Blogging is fun. I'll admit it, blogging is addicting once you get going! There are so many benefits to your business. What's not to love?
10. As a small business owner, you have a limited marketing budget. Blogging is a free marketing tactic - it only costs you a little of your time. Getting a blog installed and designed on your domain typically costs less than having a new website designed too.
Have I convinced you? Blogging is not a fad or a trend. It's a smart marketing technique that allows you to build relationships with your target market and leverage the power of the internet.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
About the Author
Get help setting up your blog, learn what you should blog about, and get marketing tips to get more blog traffic at www.CarrieLauth.com/hire-carrie.htm and visit Carrie at her business blog, at www.CarrieLauth.com/blog
By Iyabo Asani
Did you know that if you have any sort of Internet presence you are an Internet Marketer? Even if you do not charge anyone a dime, it is important that you understand that you are in the business of sharing information online. Even if you are a blogger, or you have a brick and mortar business, you want to know how the two big social networking sites can improve your visibility online.
I get that although I am a life coach I am an Internet marketer because I have a website and I am trying to sell my goods and services online. I have met so many other people online that do not get this very key point. My online relationships are as sacred as my offline relationships.
If you treat your online relationships as if they are offline, you will stand out from the crowd which will cause others to flock to you.
Just tap into your already existing social and law of attraction skills to create warmth, intimacy and authenticity by maximizing social networking like Twitter and Facebook this way:
1. You have been invited to a cocktail party and you are going to the party. The online party is Twitter and Facebook and this is your invitation. If you are not on there, you want to be on there. These are the hip places to be.
2. You get to the party and you begin to introduce yourself and say hello to others. On Twitter and Facebook, you begin to add friends and add or invite followers.
3. Hand out business cards and pick up the business cards of others. On Twitter, check out the profile of the person that you want to follow and see if they have a website. Go and check it out. On Facebook, read the profiles and learn about the people you are following. Quality trumps quantity every time.
4. Pick the few that you want to take your relationship with to the next level. Offline that means follow up with emails and phone calls to just stay in touch. Send them a tweet. Respond to their tweets and retweet their informative tweets. On Facebook, give them a thumbs up if you like what they said. Leave comments.
5. Maintain a relationship with people you meet. Keep exchanging comments and tweets and tell others about them.
6. Be interested and be interesting. Share information and goodies with them and from them.
7. Appreciate your sacred relationship with them. Do not pimp your followers out or ignore them or take them for granted in any way.
8. Don't just walk up to someone at a party and ask them for a job. Online, do not sell something to them immediately. Give something first and infuse your communication with a lot of good vibes, quotes, interesting things you are doing. Let your sales tweets or updates on Facebook be one out of ten as a good rule of thumb.
9. Introduce your newly met friends with one another so you can have more connections and interactions. Connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts so that you are consistent and you save time.
10. Be polite and say hello and goodnight to those at the cocktail party. Say good morning and good night on Twitter and Facebook and tell us what is going on in your life. It makes you more human.
11. Take your conversation to the next level. Plan to see each other again. Connect in real life with some of your connections on Facebook and Twitter by going to Tweetups and Meet ups. Better yet, make one happen. That is guaranteed to make you a popular person.
12. Celebrate your new friends lives with them. Make a note of people's birthdays and wish them "Happy Birthday." Try and be in touch with them on special occasions and holidays. Facebook will tell you your friend's birthdays. Do not miss out on that. Be sure to wish them blessings on those special days.
See, that was easy. You can do it and enjoy it as well. Be authentic and others will follow and like you.
Do you know that you have an Inner Genius that is amazing and wants to be awakened? As you tap into your Inner Genius, you will become more powerful and unstoppable as you live a purposeful, passionate and financially rewarding life.
From http://ezinearticles.com/
About the Author
If you would like to develop skills that keep you constantly in the flow of your value, preciousness and the incredible assets that lie within you as you create a wonderful and powerful life, visit me. To learn more about how your Inner Genius can bring you more happiness and financial abundance, join me on my blog and subscribe to my newsletter at http://www.AuthenticChangeCoach.com/signup As a thank you, you will receive my two part free gift to you, a written report and an audio recording on Powerful Questions to Awaken your Inner Genius.
From the Desk of the Editor
Welcome to the 146th edition of the MLM Woman Newsletter with some more fresh, hand picked articles to help your business survive and thrive in 2009.
If you like this month's issue, please be sure to let your friends know about it too and invite them to come and visit us. Also, if you have comments, questions or something to share after reading this month's articles, please visit our MLMTalk Discussion Forum and join in the lively conversation!
And also be sure to check out our Moms in Business Blog and MLM Marketing Blog for lots of additional tips and resources which are added throughout the month.
Yours in Success!
Linda Locke, Editor MLMWoman
Follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/LindaLocke
By Laurie Ayers
Who is your target market? If your answer is “everyone” or “several” then you don’t have a target market. If you try to sell to “everyone” then you’re hurting yourself and diluting your efforts. There are no shortages of markets. If you pick a market to hone in on, then you can refine your marketing and networking efforts for that particular group.
Some potential markets could include:
Moms with young children
Pet owners
Empty nesters
Single men
Corporate gift givers
People with disabilities
Military folks
High income
Low income
College students
Night Schoolers
Apartment complexes
Nurses
Senior Communities
Pregnant Moms
New Home Owners
Teachers
Community organizations
Etcetera
So forth and so on
Can you see how a marketing campaign for a college student would vary from that of a mom with young children? Can you see where you’d hang out in different places to find teachers vs. single men?
Another benefit to finding a particular target market is you’ll be come known as “the person to call” within that circle. Referrals will be easier to get.
Think of a target market like archery (or deer hunting). You have a particular target (bulls eye or Bambi) that you’re trying to hit. If you have “several of these” then you’re going deer hunting but just spraying bullets willy nilly all over the forest and you’d be happy if you hit a squirrel, or bunny, or toad or possum, or deer or elephant. Heck, I’ll take anything.
Having a target market means setting your sights on a particular, specific market - one six point buck - and then taking all the necessary steps to bring home the bacon.
You’ll be much more successful if you actually plan to hit a target rather than spraying your Uzi in hopes you might nick something!
It’s often a natural fit to pick a group that you can easily identify with. If you’re a grandma your first choice may not necessarily be to target young moms.
Targeting merely narrows the focus - like focusing a camera lens so that you get a better photo. And it also does not preclude you from selling to others.
If you were to choose college students as your target market - you’d not waste your time going to business luncheons or chamber meetings. You wouldn’t advertise at a WAHM forum but rather you’d look to advertise in the college newspaper. You’d make fliers that talk about dorm safety (or college smells) or speak in a language that co-eds use.
If you were to pick college students then you may choose to sponsor some event involved with athletics or get your information into the new student orientations. You could offer opportunities to students looking to earn some extra money while staying in the dorm. You could promote Mother’s Day gifts and girl friend gifts to the male college students. There certainly is no shortage of colleges across the states and country.
That doesn’t mean you can’t participate in an occasional vendor event to open up another vein or do a party for a group of moms - but if you spend a majority of your time and efforts on a target market then you’re more likely to have better success and you’ll be working smarter, not harder.
Article Source: LadyPens: http://www.ladypens.com
About the Author
Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan. She started her first home business in 1988. As a single parent, Laurie has supported her family by working at home as an Independent Consultant and Star Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start a candle business. You can find Laurie at http://www.thrivingcandlebusiness.com and http://www.Scentsy.com/LA
By Carrie Wilkerson
Women don't realize that the same tactics they use for personal relationships are the very same skills they need for business networking, which is far more than making a few phone calls or handing out business cards. Networking, plain and simple, is about building relationships and that's what we do best.
Women tend not to see social contacts as potential business generators. We often think that if we're making pleasant conversation, we're not doing business. Just because you've made a friend out of a colleague doesn't mean he or she still can't provide business opportunities for you. And you might just make a colleague out of a friend. Many leads can be generated from family and friends whom you thought were only social contacts.
Of course, we're not all social butterflies with a long list of friends. But if you want your home-based business to succeed, you're going to have to make an effort to get out there and make yourself known. Here are some ideas about where you can do a little networking - and make new friends in the process!
Local and National Organizations
Local business organizations are a great place to start. In addition to the chamber of commerce, most communities have business organizations or clubs where potential clients might be found.
National organizations are a valuable resource, such as the National Women's Business Council found online at www.nwbc.gov. Their mission is "to promote bold initiatives, policies and programs designed to support women's business enterprises at all stages of development in the public and private sector marketplaces -- from start-up to success to significance." Their website offers links to mentoring programs and resources across the country as well as events and seminars, which brings us to our next networking resource.
Conferences, Seminars and Shows
Conferences, seminars, and trade shows are a wealth of networking opportunities. If you can't afford the registration fee, you could offer to volunteer, putting yourself in contact with new people and saving money at the same time.
Online Potential
We have the technology. Use it. Online forums are a great way to make new contacts and spread the word about your business. Don't make the mistake of becoming too impersonal, though. A virtual relationship can be just as fruitful as a fact-to-face encounter. Take the time to become familiar with online environments. Check out bulletin boards, discussion lists and chat rooms. When using online forums, be sure to include a signature with your message that explains what services you have to offer. Keep an eye on posts that might be connected to your business goals, and send them a friendly, introductory email. But don't try to make a sale with your first email since it might cause you to be banned from the forum. Plain old email is also an effective way to introduce yourself and request a short meeting to explain your business. Just call the office first to make sure you're sending it to the right person.
Scout the Next Opportunity
Keep an eye out for opportunities. Even if you're just driving to the post office or grocery store, look around and take notice of any new businesses that might benefit from your services. Read your local newspapers and magazines to keep up with new developments in the community and new networking opportunities.
Any one of these tactics on their own will probably not be effective. It usually takes about five contacts to see any results. Persistence is the key. As women know, building relationships takes a lot of commitment and hard work but we're more than up to the challenge.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
About the Author
Carrie Wilkerson is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to direct sales, she has 'been there and done that' professionally and personally. An 'overnight mom' to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace. She's now built several businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming extreme debt, losing 110 lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4 children, ages infant through 12! As 'The Barefoot Executive', Carrie and her network of experts have quickly become the definite resource for helping women achieve extra income and career goals while working from home. the-barefoot-executive.com
By Liz Monte
A few months ago, the network marketing company I represent launched a new product that seemed to me like a perfect fit for a salon and spa campaign. I knew that a lot of salons were suffering from the economic downturn, and I figured partnering with me to promote this new item would be a good solution for them.
So with my bundle of flyers in hand, I set off to visit every beauty shop within a ten mile radius. After talking to thirty or forty managers and owners, a pattern began to emerge -- no one was buying. I got the usual polite brush-offs and a few sincere nibbles. But no bites.
What could be the problem? Was it my delivery? Was I not offering the right information? What was preventing these good people from appreciating the amazing opportunity that was being placed before them?
And then… [sound of palm slapping forehead] I remembered a lesson I've learned over and over again (usually the hard way):
Folks have to know, like, and trust you before they'll want to do business with you.
In launching my salon campaign, I had fallen into the old trap of believing that a superior product or opportunity would "sell itself." What I had forgotten is that I was the real product. If they didn't know me, like me, and trust me, they certainly weren't going to jump into business with me. That kind of relationship was nearly impossible to create in one or two minutes between appointments.
Knowing, liking, and trusting are three critically important emotions that grease the wheels of commerce. They also form the basis for something called "attraction marketing" -- a new approach to network marketing that works especially well on the Internet.
But getting back to the brick-and-mortar world for a moment, think about your own shopping preferences. Wouldn't you rather do business in a store where you have a friendly relationship with some of the staff -- a store that's earned your trust over time by consistently putting your needs first and treating you with respect?
Of course you would!
In fact, if you have that kind of relationship with a local business, there's a good chance you'll remain loyal to them no matter what -- even if someone else has lower prices or is more conveniently located.
That's exactly the kind of relationship you want to build with your potential prospects, online or off.
If you're building on the Internet, these principles are especially important. With all the spamming and scamming that's going around, most people are extremely cautious about who they do business with online. But by using attraction marketing, many doors will swing wide open for you.
Here are some pointers for a successful online campaign:
1. Be yourself. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. Other people can tell when you're not being real. Phoniness is always a big trust killer.
Along the same lines, there's no need to call yourself an expert or a leader. You could sound like you're bragging, and if you really are one, folks will recognize it without you having to tell them.
2. Contribute value. Help people get what they're looking for -- solutions to their problems. Become the go-to person for your particular niche.
3. Be generous. Provide free information. Offer a helping hand to someone who's just learning a subject you've already mastered, even if there's no direct pay-back for you. Generosity is one of the biggest trust-builders there is.
4. Interact. Become active on a few social sites like Facebook and Twitter. Show an interest in what your friends and followers are doing. Get involved in a forum or two. Leave comments on blog posts you find helpful.
Follow these tips consistently and you'll be on your way to building an effective online presence that'll help you take your business to the next level.
Oh, and if you're wondering what became of the hairdressers? I decided to keep life simple and stick with the Internet. It's so much easier!
About the Author
Liz Monte has put together a comprehensive guide for MLMers who want to take their businesses online. It's all on her website for free. If you'd like to learn more about attraction marketing and how to create an effective presence on the Internet, go to http://www.wisenetworkmarketer.com.
By Christine Kane
One of the fun assignments in my Uplevel Your Life Mastery Program is what I call "Mental Dress Up."
This is a game that you can play daily. It is designed to bring intentions to life by literally embodying them in your own being.
Here's how it works:
Take a few moments throughout your day and Be [Fill in the Blank with Desired Thing].
As you're driving you can become a published writer. What would that feel like? When you're at a party, try being someone that everyone wants to talk to. Be wise. Be someone who has so many clients, you can hardly get through a day without turning people down. Be someone who is certain of what she wants. What does that feel like?
Don't get all scrunchy-faced and try to VISUALIZE - which is a very high-pressure word.
Instead feel the effortless shift in you, and BE successful. BE a fun person. BE wealthy. BE a rock star. Whatever!
My client Isabella started using this technique when she decided to "be someone who loves to run with her dog in the morning." She was amazed at the results.
Typically after a few blocks of running, she'd start wheezing and feel awful. But when she became "someone who loved running with her dog," she had more stamina and felt great during the run. She got better and better at this game until she actually began to love running with her dog!
One morning, she was returning from a run. Another dog and his owner were walking in her direction. Isabella's dog, Bruno, is still healing from an abusive past and can be aggressive with other dogs. So, Isabella started to get anxious, clinging to Bruno's leash.
Then, she remembered Mental Dress Up.
Instead of getting nervous and reacting to her dog's bad behavior, she focused on how calm she felt and how much she loved her dog. She also played Mental Dress Up on Bruno, feeling that he was always very loving and peaceful around other dogs.
It worked! Bruno was fine. He followed her energy, and they both headed home without incident. To Isabella, this was a nice little miracle.
At this same time, Isabella was beginning a new business. She had experienced a whole range of emotions from enthusiasm to fear to excitement to disappointment during the process. At one point, she met with her accountant. The accountant was skeptical, issuing warnings to Isabella about the numbers and telling her the reasons why the business wouldn't work.
During our coaching call, she shared these stories - about the triumph with her dog, and about the discouragement from her accountant. She wanted to know how to deal with her emotions after this deflating meeting.
Here's what I told her:
I said, "Your accountant is your dog."
Huh?
It's true!
People follow your energy. It doesn't matter if they are mentors, accountants, lawyers, audience members, listeners, friends, or customers. People follow your energy, just like dogs. You always have a choice to step up and lead them. Just like Cesar Millan has been telling dog owners for years. And just like Bruno showed Isabella in that one situation.
I told her that the success of her business would always be up to her. I told her that every business owner, artist or entrepreneur experiences bad news, good news, depression, loss, gain and insecurity. The decision to quit, fail, or succeed is always hers.
In that moment, her accountant might have sensed her fear and found all the negative stuff he could muster up to dissuade her. He became her dog and followed her energy.
You don't have to be a Jedi master to tap into someone's emotional state of being. You just have to be human. Had Isabella been feeling confident, most likely the accountant would have presented his views in a different light.
Ultimately, during our coaching call, I told Isabella this:
"The Universe is your dog."
Everything and everyone follows the energy and emotional state you bring to it. Decide that you can do something, and the Universe follows that decision. Choose to radiate love and wisdom, and the Universe follows that radiance. This is not always an easy place to go. But it almost always teaches us about our own power to create or transform any situation.
About the Author
Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FREE subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.
