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