Did you ever wonder….
….”is this opportunity a scam”, well if you are like me, you have on many occasions. The question I ask myself first, “is there value”. If the product/service is worth what you are paying for every month, then it is(by definition) NOT a scam. (Even if you never sell it to another person). Then it is something you can safely associate with, and something you can use to help other people.
When you are exposed to networking marketing opportunities on a daily basis, you can’t help but wonder. You hear the term “Pyramid scheme” and all sorts of incorrect ideas about this distribution model. Network marketing is a method of marketing, plain and simple. Network marketers are paid for their work in sharing the product or service information they represent.
The main differences between the professional marketing company and a network marketer are twofold:
- Professional Marketing Companies are paid for their services regardless of their success. They are not at risk of working for nothing.
- Network Marketers are paid only if they successfully sell the product or service they are associated with. This means a greater risk factor which in turn means a greater return on investment. As a result, companies off lucrative payment plans, just as you would expect them to given the risk involved with working and not getting paid.
Companies can afford to offer these lucrative plans as they are not investing in other marketing avenues. This lowers the company’s risk substantially by enabling the cost of marketing to be built into the cost of the product.
Companies are then able to pay their Network Marketers from funds that would have typically been spent on marketing and wholesale discounts. When companies don’t have to offer 40% discounts or more, those savings should be available for the Network Marketers, without having to raise the price of the product or service above comparable retail value.
The last sentence above takes us right back to the beginning of recognizing a scam…. if the product or service is worth what you are paying then it is not a scam.
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago at 1:23 pm. Add a comment
Are you a MEAT AND POTATOES person?
This part of my blog is going to contain the financial side of the businesses I am involved with. The line items will look something like this:
MLM -
Investment -
Return -
I have to dig a little more to get some solid numbers so you can see first hand, when done properly, Network Marketing can be very rewarding! STAY TUNED
Posted 12 months ago at 2:18 am. Add a comment
Did you ever wonder…
……which of your friends would make good business partners or “team members”? I used to wonder all the time, mentally flipping through all of the people I know and asking myself:
- Who can I convince to join my MLM?
- How many people does he/she know?
- If he/she joined my network marketing business, would he/she put forth the effort to learn and grow “our” business?
I can’t count the number of times I flipped though the same names and then turned to my email contact lists. Sound familiar? Picking and choosing the ones that you felt might look at your opportunity……and then, the very next day, doing it again and emailing those you opted not to, just 24 hours prior. What became of your wondering?
Posted 12 months ago at 1:57 am. Add a comment
From Wikipedia
Generation Y is a cohort which consists of those people born after the Generation X cohort. Its name is controversial and is synonymous with several alternative names including The Net Generation,[1] Millennials,[2] Echo Boomers,[3] and iGeneration.[4]Generation Y consists primarily of the offspring of the Generation Jones and Baby Boomers cohorts.[5][6]
Generation - Y “The Entrepreneurial Generation”
Genertion Y is almost 80 million strong and they are embracing network marketing no other generation. Here are some reasons why:
- They’ve watched their parents buy into the “Go to College, Get a Job” scenario and it’s not working - we know it’s broken, so why do we keep promoting it?
- They see a job as more than just a paycheck. They want lifestyle to go along with that paycheck - Smart Bunch!
- They value personal growth and making a difference - what better place for them than MLM?
- Their idea of a “workplace” is any place with Internet Access and their cell phone - that is freedom!
- They are the most entrepreneurial generation so far, and “risk” is not something they are afraid of - they’ve watched the Enron/Worldcom scandals and are saying “No thanks!”
- They are social; embrace technology; and know that for $50, you can own a major business if done right - that is the recipe for success!
- They see that MLM and Network Marketing, especially InterNetWork Marketing is the ticket to creating what they want - and they are smart enough to grab it now and not wait 20 years!
How to approach Gen-Y in MLM - Network Marketing
It’s not about the “names list” or weekly meetings
Generation Y has embraced Network Marketing. This generation is passionate about freedom and lifestyle and obviously it takes money to make that happen. They aren’t afraid to take risks and start businesses, and are fast thinking and innovative.
Show them how Network Marketing can create what they love and more. Show them a company that is solid, authentic and has a mission.
Show them a product that is environmentally friendly; uses technology; or provides tremendous value. The money is important, but it is not the end-all-be-all.
Show them a brief compensation plan overview and explain to them what needs to be done to generate a small, loyal customer base (parents and parent’s friends are great for this); sponsor others onto the team; and how when duplicated, the process can grow a rapid, massive paycheck for all involved.
Make it fun, upbeat and anything but boring!
Remember they are not looking for “old school” methods of building a MLM business. They love technology and would rather spend 30 minutes sending text messages than pick up the phone and call someone.
So, don’t ask them to make a names list and don’t invite them to a long, boring hotel meeting to promote their MLM business. (More on the names list later.)
Basically, be sure they see the fun in your business and not the work. Now, obviously, work is a part of it. But don’t confuse your idea of work with Gen Y’s idea of work. Show them a fun, social way of working and it looks totally different.
Make sure the company is solid, cares about more than the bottom line, is eco-friendly and creates fun teambuilding.
May sound over simplified but consider this -
Gen Y cares about community and they want to make a difference.
They have a short attention span. (Not a bad thing, less wasted time.)
They have zero tolerance for hype and shallow advertising.
This is the generation that says “Let’s get it done now!”
MLM Training for Gen Y
How to Train Them in New School Techniques
Training Gen Y in MLM is going to be different from what you have done in the past with your MLM business. No worries though, embrace change and what it will bring to your business!
Offer a very simple system that is easy to execute and duplicate. No need to explain the compensation plan in depth and no need to spend too much time on the products.
Develop a short, concise training of what needs to be done.
This may include -
Go through the company website and know where things are.
Create and/or update a MySpace and FaceBook Profile page. Most will already have these and they’ll want to update these with their new, online business details.
Get familiar with and use the product line.
Approach a few people, friends or family and ask them to try the product and offer feedback. Remind them this is a tax write off and will come from their monthly auto-ship anyway.
Teach them to contact and show the business. Only give the basics here because they will have their own, highly effective way of tapping into their connections.
Remember, this is the generation who still keeps in touch with many high school friends using technology. All they need to do is make contact and simply introduce the opportunity and options.
Contacts can be sent to a company website; personal website; MySpace page or anywhere that is technology based where the prospect can click, explore and gather information.
Once the interest is there, sponsor and duplicate the simple concept.
Gen Y cares about others and often feels personally responsible for making a difference in the world, and certainly with their friends and peers. One would have to agree that with that type of mindset, they are bound to make a difference and teach the rest of is a few things along the way!
Posted 12 months ago at 12:51 am. Add a comment
