Offline Network Marketing (MLM) Question

Network marketing is all about relationship building, and in order to build relationships, you need to talk to people. Start talking to people and you will overcome your fear. Most of the fear comes from not knowing. Once you talk to people a few times, the not knowing will go away, and you will no longer be afraid!

Media is not the problem it is your marketing message. Learn sales copy I would suggest anything from Dan Kennedy and Gary Halbert on sales copy.

Lat year I used 100 flyers turned into 27 leads and brought in 3 people at #365 + $70 mo.

Just my opinion but I view the old strike up a conversation face to face MLM method old school. Its dated and personally never worked for anyone I know and I know many it that field. From what I have seen the only successful ones had many existing contacts, flew around the country and world and even then struggled. Again just my opinion but I view marketing online the way of the future and local offline business and marketing will be left so far behind if they don't soon realise that.

propanther,
You are not alone in your fear of talking to strangers! First we're taught 'stranger danger', then we're taught 'people skills'. Whatever.

Best advice for you:

1. Join Toastmasters (Toastmasters International - Home). If you do NOTHING else, do this.
2. Become an 'ambassador' at your local chamber of commerce.
3. Attend chamber, rotary, K of C mixers.
4. Join a networking referral group.
5. Instead of joining the networking referral groups, simply visit, collect business cards and begin meeting people whom you think may be good referral partners (i.e. you support niches that are complimentary, so if a prospect isn't a fit for you, they may be a fit for your referral partner.)

I could go on, but this alone would get you out there and networking. Just jump in!

Propanther,

I understand exactly where you are coming from, and have faced a similar predicament in the past. I was in MLM for sometime, before deciding to branch of to start my own marketing consultancy.

The truth about MLM is that the offline marketing approach is not the same for say for selling to your typical small business owner. The reason is simple - when you approach a business owner, you are typically going to do something for him that will bring him more business. Your MLM opportunity is just that - an opportunity. The offline sales success stories for MLM are few and far between, and they are usually done by highly experienced individuals.

The best suggestion I can give is for you to learn the concept of attraction marketing - what this will do for you is it will get your propsects to approach you. When your prospect approaches YOU the dynamics change. You are no longer afraid to talk to them as well.

The best resource in my opinion for attraction marketing is Magnetic Sponsoring.

This resource has changed the lives of many people in the MLM industry. There are several related product on offer from these guys - my advice- when you have the resources, GET THEM. They are top notch..

Hope that you find this useful.

Good Luck!

Thank you all for replying to my post, and the advise that you all gave me. I do give them a lot of thought and finally now I came up with a solution. Here is what I am planing to do. I am getting a squeeze page set up and an e book written with a link to my website where they can sign up for the opportunity. I know that it's not that simple but I have a backup plan that I am going to put in motion which I believe they will not able to resist. My main problem now is to get everything together in order to start the process. Any recommendation will be appreciated.

Hello Propanther,

I have to give my honest & probably VERY unpopular opinion. I've been involved in about five MLM's in the past 20 years & have yet to make any money in them. I hate MLM's. I have only spent lots of money promoting them & have probably made a lot of money for the guys at the top.


I thought I got in at the top on the last and final MLM that I'll pursue. I made the mistake of getting in my last MLM on February 24, 2011. There was a $250 "buy-in" & I was considered a "Founder" - because I got in on the day it launched.

I knew about the upcoming launch several months before hand and built ten websites to promote the launch. I pushed the product & still didn't realize a profit. These MLM's usually have a monthly fee (and so did this one). It was $25 a month. I dropped out after 4 months - as I could see that I wasn't going to prosper.

I think they are a racket for only a few at the top. That's my opinion. Anyone that would like to discuss this with me is free to PM me.

Bestest,
Madam X

I believe network marketing is a wonderful way to make an income, provided you know how to generate your own, exclusive leads on the Internet. I definitely agree that the days of talking to family & friends about your next "venture" are pretty much over...but luckily there is a better way of doing things!

I know there are many "old school" MLMers that have done VERY well using this method, but I'm simply stating my personal opinion on where things are going. The Internet is simply too big to avoid & online lead generation is paramount.

It's also a mistake to assume that getting into an MLM early and putting up several websites is going to make you successful. That really doesn't mean anything if you do not have the proper systems in place. Throwing a bunch of crap against the wall & then blaming the industry when it doesn't work doesn't accomplish much.

If you want to succeed in the network marketing industry, here are a few things that you need to master:

1. Generate your own EXCLUSIVE leads...don't buy lists that have been worked over 500 times.

2. Learn how to automate the follow-up process as much as possible. I'm not saying that you should never pick up the phone...in fact you should. But, with autoresponders a lot of the follow up can be automated.

3. Focus on helping people, and not pushing your product or business opportunity. When you first come in contact with a new prospect they will not be attracted to you because you have the greatest product in the history of mankind, but because you offer a system that can help them accomplish their specific goals.

Of course there are finer points I could elaborate on, but this should give you a good foundation for success in network marketing.