What is the best way to find good prospects for an MLM?
Okie asked:
I have an MLM that I’m working on building. It is a great low risk opportunity (low cost plus a money back guarantee) with a product that actually doesn’t require extra science or convincing (it’s not potions, pills, etc…rather, it’s best selling books).
However, the main hurdle I have is finding people who are open to the concept of MLM in general rather than the specific company I’m with. I find that either people are totally NOT interested in MLM or if they are interested, they’re already in their own and not interested in joining mine (which is understandable…because I’m not looking to switch to theirs either).
I have an MLM that I’m working on building. It is a great low risk opportunity (low cost plus a money back guarantee) with a product that actually doesn’t require extra science or convincing (it’s not potions, pills, etc…rather, it’s best selling books).
However, the main hurdle I have is finding people who are open to the concept of MLM in general rather than the specific company I’m with. I find that either people are totally NOT interested in MLM or if they are interested, they’re already in their own and not interested in joining mine (which is understandable…because I’m not looking to switch to theirs either).
So my question is how and where people find GOOD prospects that are actually ready to sign up for a new MLM (I’ve seen ‘networking’ sites that help you build networks of like minded folks, but it’s the same problem, we’re all their to tout our own company…not to join someone else’s…and the websites themselves are often selling their own separate agenda).
Thoughts?
I with with what some people call mlm. We do much more than that, but people like to focus on the negative. The best way to do it is just by word of mouth. people have to know the business is real and that all comes from word of mouth. Good luck to you.
You raise a good question, but I cannpot answer it to your satisfaction.
Mlm has shown to be financially unattractive and most people realise it.
Most people have a bad perception of MLM companies. However if they look at it Mary Kay and Avon they think these companies are legit, while they are MLM (rather hypocritical isn’t it…) I also do business through MLM, as a home based travel agent. While I was having a hard time getting started, I ordered a few books on the whole network marketing concept (they gave me a lot of insight and helped me work through problems I was having) and they helped me get through the start-up/take off of my new business. A couple of the books were Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Your First Year in Network Marketing (you can find cheap at half.com or amazon.com). Another way to go is to subscribe to a lead list in your specific genre/niche market. I have included a link to a few sites that give pretty good leads. I don’t know if they have the genre/target market you are looking for, but I have listed them anyway.
MLM is globally about usd 150 billion industry.
There are many ways to approach persons for MLM concept.
1st is the curiousity approach without sharing the company name but sharing the information of the products/services it deals in.
2nd is direct approach sharing directly about the company.
3rd is the sharing the product[s] with the prospects/leads as per their requirement and making them customers and you can have good number of customers and in future some of them may join with you if you treat them good.
4th is you treat people with more love and effection who do not join your MLM and when you are successful then they might join with you.
People who do not join MLM and who are negative about MLM because they were mistreated in some way or the other when they either did not join MLM or if they joined MLM then they were treated in bad way.The negativity about MLM is also there because the people are not fully informed and they have half information about MLM irrespective of whether they join with MLM or not.
There are already some very good answers to your question (which is a good one by the way–a lot of the MLM questions on Yahoo Answers don’t seem to be serious) so I won’t reinvent the wheel and repeat what others have written.
You are probably already doing this but receiving ongoing training and education in the business is probably the most important action you can take each day. Click on my name to find other posts I’ve written where I recommend a lot of resources in that regard.
I have built my network marketing business via the Internet, once with a health and wellness company and now with a financial education and lifestyle management company. In the first company I was one of the top 25 distributors in the world for customer acquisition for three years in a row and I attracted all of those customers via the Internet.
I don’t mention that to brag but to point out that with some companies you can build a business online (and on the phone).
I list the 10 Internet marketing tools that have helped me the most on my website.
By the way, I think Bookwise is a good company (if that’s who you’re with) but selling books is a highly competitive market. I looked at Bookwise but I couldn’t get past this question, which I knew potential customers would ask me, “Why should I buy books from you when I can buy them cheaper from my local Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.com?”
If you’ve come up with a convincing answer to that question, my hat’s off to you.
My general advice when looking for a company is to look for companies with products that are either unique or possess superior quality. Otherwise, the big companies will beat us on price and availability.
All the Best,
Mark
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Mark D. Worthen, Psy.D.
The upside of network marketing is that it is easy to get in,and a relatively low coast way of doing business. The down side is that it is left up to you as to how you market your business.
The “friends and family” network only goes so far, especially if you’ve gone down that road previously. Bottom line is if you treat it like a business, it will pay you like one. If you had a traditional business, how would you promote it? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Business Cards – Give them to everyone you some in contact with.
2. Network. Go to business networking functions. Be proud and confident and people will treat you with respect even if they don’t have any interest in your offer.
3. Sell your product not your opportunity. In any business (network marketing included), you only make money if you sell a product. Don’t get into a company because you like the pay plan because if you don’t promote the products, you’ll never see a check.
4. Use the web. Build a web site, write articles, and create viral marketing pieces. They all work.
5. Make a plan. No one plans to fail, but many fail to plan. I don’t say that to be cute – it’s a fact!
Regards,
Anthony