| Network marketing is, or should be, organic | | | | two groups, although there might be some |
| by definition. After all, it comes about as | | | | overlap or blurring between the two. I refer |
| a natural product, or byproduct, of normal | | | | to connected and non-connected |
| actions of you, the network marketer. Like | | | | professionals.YOUR PROFESSIONAL |
| most things organic, it might benefit a | | | | NETWORKConnected professionals are the people |
| little from some planting, fertilizing and | | | | you work with or come in contact with as a |
| removal of parasites.A genuine "network | | | | result of your "real" business if you are |
| marketer" is concentrating more on the | | | | just getting started in network marketing. |
| network than the marketing side of the | | | | You have to be careful here as you can |
| equation. Many of the sales made by network | | | | alienate someone you need for your regular |
| marketers come more often from the trust and | | | | business, or you might create a conflict or |
| relationship the buyer has with the marketer | | | | overstep a boundary. Just as one example, |
| rather than from the perceived qualities of | | | | many companies frown on soliciting and might |
| the product itself. Make no mistake here, a | | | | consider even talking about your network |
| good product at a reasonable price can | | | | business as grounds for censure or even |
| influence a lot of potential buyers, but the | | | | firing.Non-connected professionals are those |
| trust in the seller will have a lot more to | | | | such as property managers, real estate |
| do with success, all other things being | | | | agents, car sales people, and others who may |
| equal.This brings up a point for those | | | | already have a rich network of contacts, who |
| interested in getting into a network | | | | may have some sales experience or expertise, |
| marketing program, but who are afraid of | | | | and who might be interested in your |
| having to "sell" things. If done properly, | | | | opportunity if not your product. I won't |
| the major "job" of the network marketer is to | | | | call these people "fair game", but you |
| continually expand their circle of friends | | | | certainly do have a little more latitude in |
| and acquaintances. It's a rough life, isn't | | | | contacting them and explaining your business, |
| it?Another point to remember is that many | | | | and having them join you could be quite a |
| internet business opportunities and internet | | | | boost.YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKYou may already have |
| marketing techniques adapt themselves quite | | | | a broad network of social contacts, but here |
| easily to the network marketing model. The | | | | are a few suggestions of what you can do to |
| main difference the network is built in | | | | broaden this network.1. Public places and |
| cyberspace and you may never see a single | | | | events: You can frequent malls, fairs, |
| customer.HOW TO BUILD A NETWORKThere are many | | | | coffee shops, sidewalk sales, garage sales, |
| places and activities that are good for | | | | and other group functions...all in the |
| building your network, but there are a couple | | | | interest of broadening your reach. Stay away |
| of steps you might want to take first.* | | | | from selling. Talk of generalities or the |
| Prepare yourself: At first, there are going | | | | weather, or who won the game last night, but |
| to be two strong tendencies on your part. | | | | have your cards ready and know what you are |
| One is to throw up your hands and quit at the | | | | going to say when the moment arrives. A lady |
| first question or contact, the other is going | | | | asked me about a wrap I had on my wrist the |
| to be the desire to make every meeting into a | | | | other day, and I jokingly replied that it was |
| sale. Both of these will probably be | | | | an occupational hazard. I spent so much time |
| influenced primarily by ignorance. If you | | | | making money on my computer that I must have |
| don't know what you are talking about, you | | | | gotten carpal tunnel syndrome. Trust me, |
| will either avoid the topic completely, or | | | | after that, she was more interested in the |
| babble idiotically.You should definitely be | | | | money she could make than possible damage to |
| as familiar as possible with your company, | | | | her arm. By the way, I switched to an |
| its history, its place in the business | | | | ergonomic keyboard and mouse along with a |
| community, the products you sell, prices, | | | | better chair and it cleared up.2. Clubs and |
| return policies, and the business opportunity | | | | organizations: While many of these are |
| itself, in the case of a | | | | targeted groups with agendas of their own, |
| multi-level-marketing business. You don't | | | | there are a great many opportunities to |
| have to have every figure or statistic | | | | network with the membership, and they are a |
| immediately at hand, that's what brochures, | | | | great way to expand your own group of |
| website, and lunch dates are for, but you | | | | contacts. You can also sometimes get some |
| should be able to present a rational overview | | | | great help in other ways as well. More than |
| without consternation.You should also prepare | | | | one person, including myself, has gotten a |
| some simple, tantalizing responses to such | | | | good job through a social contact, or a good |
| beautiful lead in questions such as, "And | | | | price on furniture.3. Speaking engagements: |
| what business are YOU in?" In his book "The | | | | If you are knowledgeable on a subject related |
| Wave 4 Way To Building Your Downline," | | | | to your business, you can provide free |
| Richard Poe offers tips from a successful | | | | workshops, classes, or talks on that subject. |
| network marketing professional named Jerry | | | | Don't think it works? I once watched woman |
| Campisi. When asked what he does for a | | | | who sold self-defense items such as pepper |
| living, Jerry would commonly reply, "I'm a | | | | spray, whistles, and books, sell over 200 |
| lifestyle marketer." This response would | | | | items after giving a 45 minute talk on |
| very often elicit a request for further | | | | protecting yourself.4. Business lunches or |
| details on the part of the listener who would | | | | seminars: Here's an opportunity to mingle |
| then be in the position of asking about what | | | | with like minded people who might be |
| Jerry had to sell rather than having to run | | | | interested in what you have to offer. It's a |
| away from a sales pitch.In his network | | | | great time to exchange cards and practice |
| marketing classic, "Big Al's Super | | | | your "what do you do for a living?" response. |
| Prospecting: Special Offers & Quick-Start | | | | By the way, there is a website called You |
| Systems", Tom "Big Al" Schreiter offers much | | | | can go there and sign up to join or start |
| the same advice, including a list of sixteen | | | | groups of people in your area who share your |
| possible responses, such as, "I put people on | | | | interests. Two weeks from today, I am going |
| the fast track to retirement. I save them | | | | to participate in a seminar on search engine |
| money and help them retire 15 years early". | | | | optimization. The audience will include a |
| See how it works?* Prepare your tools: It | | | | lot of people who will be interested in |
| doesn't hurt to have some brochures in your | | | | internet marketing...a topic I know a little |
| pocket or purse, but the biggest single | | | | about. I wonder if I can give them a |
| physical network marketing tool you will need | | | | card?There are many other situations such as |
| for building your business and your network | | | | PTA meetings, weddings, and even church |
| is the simple business card. Always have | | | | functions which become great network |
| plenty of these with you and hand them out | | | | marketing opportunities when you leave the |
| liberally. They should be simple and | | | | selling at home and concentrate on making |
| unobtrusive but should give the prospect all | | | | friends and acquaintances.Donovan Baldwin is |
| they need to get in touch with you. They | | | | a Dallas area writer. A graduate of the |
| should NOT be sales pitches, although they | | | | University Of West Florida (1973) with a BA |
| can contain the name of your business and/or | | | | in accounting, he is a member of Mensa and |
| a quick overview of your business. For | | | | has held several managerial positions. After |
| example: Bob's Mowing - Complete Landscaping | | | | retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, he |
| and Lawn Care. It is also a plus to include | | | | became interested in internet marketing and |
| a website and email, particularly if they | | | | developed various online businesses. He has |
| contain information about your business: | | | | been writing poetry, articles, and essays for |
| bobrobertslandscaping.com, email That | | | | over 40 years, and now frequently publishes |
| website did not exist when I wrote this, by | | | | articles on his own websites and for use by |
| the way, so if you are Bob Roberts and are in | | | | other webmasters. He has blogs on the |
| landscaping, go for it!WHERE TO BUILD YOUR | | | | subjects of weight loss and health, hybrid |
| NETWORKYour network will be mainly built from | | | | cars and alternative fuels, and internet |
| two groups, professional contacts and social | | | | marketing and related business topics. |
| contacts. I view professional contacts as | | | | |