Network Marketing Tip - Always Tell The Truth!

Network marketing has a bad reputation in some circles. It's been called a pyramid, illegal, a scam, a ripoff - and these are some of the nicer things said about it. And because if this reputation, it can be difficult to present your opportunity to others. You might be embarrassed or afraid because you think you know what your prospect is going to say. And indeed, they might reject you, laugh at you, and ask you questions you'd rather not deal with. How do you overcome this. I have only one suggestion - Always Tell The Truth!

There are pyramids and scams aplenty out there masquerading as legitimate business opportunities. And there are dishonest people who are so focused on making a fast dollar that they lie about the business they are in just to sponsor one more person. These are the things that have given network marketing it's bad name. The only way we will overcome it is if all true network marketers promote their businesses with integrity.

What can we do? First, always answer questions honestly. "How much are you making?" Don't lie and say you're making a fortune if you aren't. Tell the truth. If you aren't making any money yet and don't want to admit it, then turn the question back with a simple response that I was taught to use. "It doesn't matter what I'm making. What matters is how much you want to make."

"How much does it cost?" Again, tell the truth. I joined a company a few years ago when my sponsor told me it was completely free to join. What he neglected to tell me was that in order to get paid by the company I had to have a certain number of points which I would receive by ordering the product. The cost of the product was $145 and I was supposed to order every month. So in reality, it isn't free to join this business. It's $145 per month. Does that mean it's a bad company? Not at all. But I sure felt cheated for a while. I always tell my prospects that exactly what it costs to join and exactly what they have to do to make any money.

"How long have you been doing this?" Don't lie! If you've been doing it for years say so, even if you aren't making money. You can always explain that. When my husband and I first started network marketing, we signed up, paid our fee - and then did absolutely nothing for almost two months. Therefore we made absolutely no money. Then I quit my job to take care of my father and we decided we had better get serious about this. So I told my prospects, when they asked, the truth. I've been doing it for almost three months. If they didn't say anything, then I didn't say anything more. If they did ask what I was making, I used the response given in the example above. And if they knew I wasn't making much yet and wanted to know why I told them the truth. I hadn't been working my business. Sometimes they believed me and sometimes they didn't.

"Isn't everyone doing this already?" Be honest. When I signed up to sell Amway (yes I admit it!), it seemed like there was an Amway rep on every corner. It was sort of discouraging. Same with Melaleuca and Mary Kay. And it wouldn't have been a problem except that I had been assured by my sponsor that the area was still wide open. So if someone asks me this question, I tell them the company has been around for quite a while. The Arkansas team is huge. You don't have to market and recruit locally. I have teams in Dallas, Florida, Las Vegas, Canada, and Missouri and who knows where else. I have customers all over the country. So now my prospects know that they can do the same.

"How long will it take to make any money?" and "How much time will it take?" These two go hand in hand. If I hear one more person tell me I can be making thousands in a few months with no effort, I think I'll scream. Can you make thousands in a few months? Yes. Will most people do so? No. Will they do it without any effort? Absolutely not. It's a business. Not all businesses are created equal. However all businesses take effort. In my town there is a small bookstore and coffee shop run by a friend of mine. On the other side of town there is a Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks. Two "identical" businesses. Does my friend make as much money as B&N? Of course not! Does that mean all bookstores are scams? Do both stores have to work to make their money? Let's see - someone has to order the books, put them on the shelves, interact with the customers, advertise the business, do the bookkeeping, keep the store clean - and probably many more things I'm not even aware of. Sounds like work to me! The same is true with network marketing. I don't know how long it will take you to make any money. I'm not you. But I can promise you, you will have to work. Because if you don't I can make you one more promise - you won't make a dime no matter how long you wait.

These are just some of the questions that can easily lead to misrepresentations and lies. If you have to lie to bring a prospect onto your team, you probably don't want them anyway because they aren't going to help you grow. They don't get it now or you wouldn't have to lie and they certainly won't get it later on because they bought into something that didn't exist. What they will do is go out and tell everyone they come into contact with that your business is a pyramid, illegal, a scam, and a ripoff.

Your Business Concept

If you were going on vacation, before you pulled out of the driveway or boarded a plane, you would know where you were going.  You would know if you were going to stay in this country or travel abroad.  You would know if you were visiting a city or getting back to nature at the beach or in the mountains.  You may leave a few details open to be decided on the spur of the moment, but you would have a basic idea of what your vacation was going to be.

The same is true when starting a business.  Before you do anything else, you need a basic idea of what your business is going to be.  Why do you want your own business?  To have more money?  More time?  More flexibility?  How much money do you want to make?  Enough to retire from your current job?  Enough to have a financial cushion?  Are you unemployed and looking for a way to make a living?  Do you want to work from home or do you hope to have an office or shop one day?  Do you want to work alone or do you want partners or employees?  Is your business going to be strictly online? 

Before you start your business it's critical that you have a clear concept of your business.  This will help you as you write your business and marketing plans. 

If you follow my step-by-step guide to starting your business, then you will answer these questions as part of the process.  The first step is to examine your goals, your values, your strengths and weaknesses, your passions and interests and put these together to help you determine your business concept. 

You wouldn't get on a plane to go on vacation without knowing where the final destination was, would you?  Neither should you start out on a business venture without a clear idea of where you are heading.  Having a clear concept of your business will get you started in the right direction as you start building your business.  Use our guide to help you find yours.  

8 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Business

We've all been told that raising prices, cutting costs, upselling, and bundling are all great ways to boost our bottom line.  But there are other ways to boost your business as well.  These ideas may surprise you!

1.  Build a team of experts.  If you are lying awake at night struggling with the answers to business questions, it's time to build yourself a team of personal friends and professional acquaintances whose advice you trust.

2.  Overcome the technology hurdles.  Are you sitting in front of your computer with a dream, a great idea, and no clue how to get started because you don't understand the technical stuff?  Are you on the verge of quitting because you don't know where to learn?  The answer is simple. Just like everything else, you take it one step at a time.

3.  Invest in your business.  If you want your business to continue to grow you must invest in it.

4.  Network, network, network.  Networking is all about building relationships. Anyone who can understand that concept can network their way to more business.

5.  Practice the 5 "Be's". Be persistent, be of value, be credible, be patient, and be yourself.

6.  Read a book.  You can learn a great deal from the right book.

7.  Look the part.  While superior graphics and web design may not boost your bottom line, it is a fact that messy, badly designed, amateur "shabby" work will leave your clients with a negative impression of your business.

8.  Create and follow a marketing game plan.  When building your online business, it is essential that you have a marketing plan.  You wouldn't start on a trip without a map, would you?  Not sure how to create one?  Use our checklist!
 

Coaching Can Be the Key

I have been writing a book for approximately two years now.  Or maybe I should say I have been thinking about writing a book.  That is until March 7, 2013.  That date changed everything because that is the the date I joined Denise Michael's Book Writer's Mentoring Program.  I have accomplished more since that date then I ever did in the past two years.  It's the perfect reminder of the impact the right coach can have on you and your business.

Starting your own business comes with its share of challenges. You will make plenty of mistakes along the way. One way to minimize the number of missteps is to find a good mentor or coach to help you. But every time I open my email, I have a message from some new "expert" ready to share his wisdom - and latest product - with me, for a price. They offer group coaching, individual coaching, special one-on-one coaching, exclusive coaching, private mentoring - every type of coaching imaginable.  I can be coached in person, online, by phone, or by email.  How do you know which to choose? 
When hiring a coach or mentor, there are certain things to look for to help you make the right choice. Following these steps will help you succeed faster, and keep you from spending money on books and seminars you won't ever use or having an inbox full of newsletters you never read.

1. Does the information offered fill your needs? When I started, I needed to know how to build a website, where to find products, and how to get online. A course on teleseminars or posting videos, while good information, was not what I needed at the moment. Your guru should be an expert in the area you need at the time. Example - Ken Evoy (SiteBuildIt!) for web design or Darren Rowse (ProBlogger) for creating an online presence through blogging.

2. Do they actually provide good information? As I stated earlier, I recently joined Denise Michael's mentoring program.  And I walked away from the first session with answers to several of the questions that had kept me from actually starting on my book.  This has continued throughout the program.  At times, she will provide information I didn't even know I needed (interview release forms - who knew?). 

3. Do they tell the truth? If you are being promised riches overnight (or in a week or even a month) with no effort, no investment, no skills, and no knowledge. you are being lied to. There are many ways to make money online. But they all require work or the money to hire someone to do it for you. They require the skill and knowledge to create a business plan - or the money to hire someone to do it for you. You will need to build websites, market your products or services, deliver your goods to your customers - or find someone to do it for you. And beware the gurus who spend all their time "proving" how much money they made. Anyone can photoshop bank statements or checks showing millions in income - even me (and I'm technologically challenged!). The real experts don't have to convince you they make money. They are too busy running their businesses and showing others how to build theirs.

4. Can you do what they do? A multi-level marketing expert I used to follow suggested the way to build my network marketing business was by purchasing leads and then calling these people every day and making my pitch. She sure was successful, but I hate cold-calling with a passion! Although these were "qualified" leads, the thought of calling someone I didn't know and trying to interest them in my business made me absolutely nauseous. Needless to say, we soon parted professional company.

5. Can they teach? Just because someone is an expert in their field does not mean they know how to share that knowledge with others in a way that is understandable to you.

6. Do they run in the right circles? And by that I don't necessarily mean the "in" crowd. I mean do they know other experts they can introduce you to. The best example I can give of this is Ken McArthur and his jvAlert events. I've had the pleasure of attending a couple of these and it's a veritable "who's who" of internet marketing experts. Ken knows his stuff, and what he doesn't know - well he knows the people who do.

7. Are you comfortable with them? This is an important consideration. Recently, I was going to start working with a new coach. I liked his program. He was recommended by many of my friends. But after talking to him on the phone, I realized I didn't like him! He had a way of speaking that made me feel like I was just the latest check mark towards his quota of new clients for the week. Perhaps it would have changed if I had actually started working with him. But I just couldn't get past that first impression. You must be comfortable with your coach or mentor or you will just be wasting your time.  Many coaches will offer a free session so you can see if you are a good fit.

A coach or mentor can be an invaluable resource for you business.  Finding the right one can take some time and effort, but it is worth it. Do your homework. Ask for recommendations. Check them out. Choose the one that's right for you.

It's Never Too Late to Make a Good Impression!

May  is International Business Image Improvement Month!  What better time to take a look at the type of image your business is presenting.  And if you don't like what you see, now is the time to make a plan to change it. 

Take a step back and look at your business.  Think about what your customers/clients see when they first interact with you.  If you have a physical brick-and-mortar location, walk in through the front door.  This is what a customer sees when they enter.  What do you see?  What type of image does it present?  Does it match the image you want for your business?

Now take a look at your online presence.  Ask friends to browse your website and ask them what they think.  Is it well-organized and user-friendly?  Can they find the information they need quickly?  Does it present the kind of image you want for your business?

Next look at all the other areas customers may come into contact with your business:  business cards, letterhead, brochures, advertising, even the message on your answering machine.  Do these present the same image as your website or your physical location?

Finally, take a look at yourself.  Yes, that's right.  When you meet a client, are you neatly dressed and professional looking?  Do you convey confidence and skill?  You don't have to be dressed in the latest designer fashions, but you must appear neat and organized and appropriately dressed for the type of business you represent. 

If you find that you are not quite projecting the image you want, don't fear!  There is an old saying that you "never get a second chance to make a first impression."  But I believe that it's NEVER too late to make a good impression.  So make the changes necessary to improve your business image.  Hire a graphic designer or website designer for help with your site.  There are professional image or brand consultants that can assist you with everything from logos to letterhead.  If your physical location needs some work, hire a professional organizer or interior designer.  If you can't afford, then ask colleagues or friends for input. 

So for the next two weeks, examine your business image and plan your strategy for improvement.  Take the steps to make your business stand out in the crowd. Because it's never too late to make a good impression.

Network Marketing Tip - Which Company is the Best?

There are dozens of opportunities out there - some legit and some not. Many of them promise to make you rich beyond your wildest dreams - overnight, while you sleep, with no effort on your part. That's usually a dead giveaway that it's not a good choice. Those companies will lead you to the first stumbling block in MLM disaster - failure to build a downline. People that get involved with these types of "opportunities" have the "get-rich-quick" mentality that makes them highly unlikely to commit to your team long-term. They will bail after the first few months of minimal income (my first check from one of these was a whopping 84 cents and I never made more than $20 dollars a month the entire time I was involved - which was before I learned the facts about MLM). Or once they discover that in order to actually make "real" money you have to either invest some money of your own or actually put in some "real" work, they will be gone to the next flashy promise.

So the first sign of a good MLM business is one that let's you know up front that money can be made - if you are willing to do the work. By the way, don't confuse a bad associate with a bad company. Unfortunately, there are perfectly great companies misrepresented by associates who will promise you anything to get you on their team. Don't take the word of the person recruiting you unless you know and trust them. Check out the company for yourself and see what they actually promise.

Second, look at the comp plan. Can you actually build a team and customer base big enough to make some money? How many levels down will you be paid commission on? Are there breakaways (a team member promotes to the same level as you or higher and leaves to start his own downline, taking everyone he has recruited so far with him). Do you have to buy products yourself or hit a certain quota to get paid? The first company I joined had great products and a stellar reputation. But you had to have a huge downline or tons of customers to make any money. Still not a problem except for one thing. You were not allowed to mention the company name in any promotional material until the prospect asked for more information. And you were not allowed to use any type of capture or squeeze pages to build a contact list. So how were you supposed to build your business? Door-to-door, in-home parties, and hounding everyone you knew. Plus you had to purchase a certain amount of product yourself each month to get a check. No thanks. I'd rather have a job. Lots less hassle!

Third, check out the support and training. Is there actual training? Do you have the phone numbers of your upline sponsor and perhaps his sponsor and maybe even two or three more people above him? Is there promotional material available - either free or at an affordable cost? Is your upline willing to assist you while you begin to build your customer base and downline?

Last, but most important, look at the product. All of the above is meaningless if you're selling a product that you don't believe in. That's what you want to focus on. Selling the product. If you focus on just building a downline, once you run out of friends and family to recruit, how are you going to continue to grow? Selling the product provides you with a ready made list of prospects for your business. That's how I got involved many years ago with my current company. I loved the products and use them regularly. So when my salesperson asked if I'd like to know more about the business opportunity, it was an easy decision. The product sales are where the money comes from. So unless you're planning to buy a whole bunch of whatever it is yourself, you'd better have some customers. The biggest downline in the world is useless if you the company isn't making enough sales to pay you.

So...how do I know my current company is the best? 1. No one ever promised I'd be rich overnight without any effort on my part. They all told me I could build a great income if I was willing to put in the effort. And they even told me what type of effort would be required if I wanted significant income. I make a good living with this. Network marketing provides me with the freedom to pursue other interests.

2. Comp plan is fabulous. And it's based on customer sales not recruiting new members so you don't have to worry about people giving your organization a bad name by trying to simply recruit as many as possible to make the next level. 

3. Support and training. Conference calls, training videos, meetings - we have them all. And that's just from corporate. My team also sponsors training calls and meetings. I know how to contact everyone on my team - upline and downline - and any of them will help me whenever I ask. And as an added bonus - you get me and my team and all that we have learned about MLM over the years. Everyone of us has been doing this successfully for a while.

4. Finally the products. Health and wellness products.  Cleaning products.  Beauty products.  Even pet products.  And more coming all the time. Stuff everyone uses everyday.

Now you know what to look for. The choice is yours. Find out more about my company. If it's not for you, then use these guidelines to find a company that is.

8 Steps to Starting Your Own Business

Becoming a "boomerpreneur" isn't as hard as it may seem.  All you need is a plan to get there.  Follow these steps to get started.

1.  What is your business?  Step 1 is all about finding the business model that is right for you.  There is a step-by-step approach that I teach (see my post Explore Your Business Options).  Before you do anything else you need a clear concept of what your business is all about.

2.  Do your research.  By the time you are finished with this step, you should know who your target market is, who your competitors are, and what makes you different from them.  You should also learn as much as possible about your industry in general.  This is when you also research the legal aspects of your business.  Will you need special licensing or certification?  Insurance?  Should you be bonded?  Will you need a business permit if you are operating out of your home?  Is your neighborhood zoned for business?

3.  Take care of the legalities.  Based on your previous research, obtain any licenses, permits or certification you may need.  This is also when you should decide on the structure of your business.  Sole proprietorship?  LLC?  Partnership?  Make an appointment with a knowledgeable attorney or small business counselor for guidance.

4.  Write your business plan.  If you aren't sure how, read my post Planning a New Business Venture for guidance.  Or contact a SBDC counselor for assistance.

5.  Based on your business plan, obtain any financing necessary.  There are many options for financing a small business.  As boomers, many of us are fortunate to already have the assets necessary to fund our business ventures.  If not, bank loans, investors, or even borrowing from family and friends are all possible.  Do your research and choose the option best for you.

6.  Once you have the funding necessary, purchase any equipment or supplies that you need to get started. 

7.  Start promoting your business.  Order your business cards, set up your website, and begin your marketing/PR campaign.

8.  Launch!

Of course, this is a very basic outline of the steps necessary to start your own business.  Each of these contains additional steps of their own.  But these steps will provide the basic guidance you need to make becoming a Boomer Business Owner a reality.