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 MLM
Woman Issue 133
February 2008
From the Desk of the
Editor
Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to the 133rd edition of the
MLM Woman Newsletter.
If you like this month's issue, please be sure to let your friends
know about it too and invite them to come and visit us. Also,
if you have comments, questions or something to share after reading
this month's articles, please visit our MLMTalk
Discussion Forum and join in the lively conversation!
And also be sure to check out our MLM
Marketing Blog for lots of additional tips and resources which
are added throughout the month.
Yours in Success!
Linda Locke, Editor MLMWoman
 Tips
for Staying Focused on Your Business
By Lisa Willard
If you are easily distracted, staying focused
on your business can be harder than doing the actual work
of your business! It is very easy to procrastinate, especially
when you are working at home. There are always a million
other things to do.
Here is a secret that you may not have heard
yet: The dishes can wait! The laundry can wait! So feel
free to make those phone calls or answer those emails. The
laundry and dishes will still be there, waiting for you!
However, if you wait too long to call a client back, they
may move on to someone who gets back to them faster than
you do.
Why did you become a business owner in the
first place? Did you need to bring in an extra $500 a month
to pay off credit cards? Was it to put money away for your
children's college fund? Or was it to save for retirement?
Whatever the reason, write it down and put it where you
will see it on a daily basis. When you are feeling distracted,
look at what you wrote down. It will be easier to work when
you remember why you are working in the first place.
Hold yourself accountable. You will also want
team up with someone else - maybe your mentor or sponsor.
Having another person holding you accountable is always
good. You can share you successes or share your frustration
when something didn't go as planned.
Stay motivated by setting daily, weekly and
month goals. If you work backwards, you will create a road
map to your success. Example, if you are in direct sales
and your financial goals is to sell $1500 that month. You
will see that you need to sell $375 each week. How many
home parties do you need to hold, how many phone calls do
you need to make each day, how many new people to you need
to sponsor that month, etc.
Celebrate! When you do accomplish a goal,
be sure to celebrate. Or when one of your team members reaches
a goal, be sure to celebrate with them. Take time to focus
on the achievement, you deserve it!
About The Author
Lisa Willard is a mom, life time learner and entrepreneur.
Lisa has been involved in networking marketing for two years,
coaching and training others on how to be successful in
a home business. As a mom of three, Lisa is creating "freedom"
for her family through her online business. To find out
more about how Lisa builds her business online and her plans
to fire Corporate America visit http://www.OnlineCandleTeam.com.
Network
Marketing - Are These 5 Myths Stopping You From Taking Your
Business Online?
By Liz Monte
© 2008 Liz Monte - All rights reserved
When I was in college (a while back, but who's
counting?), I had two ways to communicate with the folks
back home.
I could write a letter, walk across the campus to drop it
in the mailbox, and then wait a week to hear back from them.
Or on the weekend I could collect a bunch of loose change
and stand in line to use the one and only pay phone in my
dormitory - during the week it was way too expensive.
My friends and I took all this for granted.
But look what we take for granted now! Sending a letter
to someone on the other side of the world in a matter of
seconds. Transmitting the identical document to hundreds
of people at the same time with just a few mouse clicks.
Retrieving data on any subject imaginable without budging
from our desk chairs. Sharing home videos and music instantly
with almost anyone, anywhere. Interfacing with potentially
millions of people on a daily basis.
The Internet is the most powerful and versatile communications
tool in the history of the human race. It's totally transforming
the way companies do business.
I say all this to convince you beyond a doubt that you want
to take your network marketing business online. You NEED
your own Website to generate an ongoing stream of
enthusiastic, pre-qualified prospects.
So what's stopping you from building your own site? Here
are five common myths that deter many people.
1. IT'S GOING TO COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG.
We've all heard of someone who paid a professional thousands
of dollars to build a site for them. Most people just don't
have that kind of money to invest when they're starting
out.
But there IS another option that will cost you a tiny fraction
of that: Build it yourself. (No, no. Stop laughing.)
And that brings up the next misconception.
2. THERE'S NO WAY I CAN BUILD A WEBSITE MYSELF - I HAVE
NO COMPUTER SKILLS.
This is what I used to think, too. Then I discovered dozens
of Web hosting services that make it a snap for small businesses
to do it themselves.
It's no longer necessary to know computer programming or
html code. If you can send emails, surf the Internet, and
type letters in your word processing program, you can build
a Website.
I did it -- so can you.
3. I'D HAVE TO SPEND A MOUNTAIN OF MONEY ON ADVERTISING
IF I WANTED TO GET ANY VISITORS.
This is another misconception I used to believe, as well.
I was stuck in old-school thinking.
But I'm happy to report that there are many effective ways
to promote a Website that don't cost a dime, and some of
them will give you even better results than traditional
advertising.
4. MY COMPANY PROVIDES ME WITH A FREE WEBSITE - I DON'T
NEED MY OWN INDEPENDENT SITE.
If you're thinking this way, I have a question for you:
How many other distributors have sites just like yours?
Probably a few thousand, right? These are called "replicated
sites," and search engines will totally ignore them
because
they clog up their systems.
It's fine if you want to send people to your replicated
site for information about your company or products, but
it will not generate any new leads for you. And leads are
the lifeblood of your business.
5. I CAN'T HAVE MY OWN SITE - MY COMPANY WON'T ALLOW
IT.
Most network marketing companies do restrict what their
distributors can and cannot say about them, which is understandable.
This may include bans on personal websites that pitch the
company or its products or services.
But this doesn't have to be a problem for you.
There are still many ways you can use a Website to generate
leads without mentioning your particular company or brand
name. In fact, your site will be even more effective if
you do it this way.
Why? Think about your own preferences. Which would you rather
visit - a site that tries to sell you something or a site
that simply gives you lots of useful information about a
problem you're trying to solve?
Which site owner are you more likely to trust and want to
connect with? Who are you going to perceive as the expert?
Here's an example: Suppose your company sells non-toxic
cleaning products. Your site might offer cleaning tips to
get housework done faster, scientific reports on the dangers
of common commercial cleaners, and your own personal story
of why you got interested in non-toxic cleaning products.
Just don't mention your company or any of its brand names.
You'll attract like-minded people and develop a relationship
of trust with them. And without a doubt, some of your readers
will turn into customers or business partners.
So what are you waiting for? Jump in and start building.
The World Wide Web awaits you.
About The Author
Liz Monte is the author of "Basic Training: The
21st Century Approach to Network Marketing," designed
to teach network marketers the fundamentals of Internet
marketing. Study it for free on her Website (which she
built with her own two hands). http://www.WiseNetworkMarketer.com/basics.html
 Everything
Happens
For A Reason
By Pam Lawhorne
Do you ever stop and think to yourself if you
had done something different that you would have had a different
outcome? Well of course you do. Everyone does. I think it's
normal to contemplate and play the 'what if' game. Even thought
I sometimes wonder what would have happen had I done some
things differently, I don't ponder on it much because I believe
that everything happens for a reason.
Everything that you have done up until now has
happened for a specific reason. Where you were born. What
school you went to. All of the decisions that you have made.
It all happens for a reason. Think for a moment had you done
something differently in your life what the outcome would
have been. Everyone always thinks of the positive things that
could have happened. For example, perhaps if you had went
to graduate school you would be earning more money. Perhaps
if you had not taken the first job you were offered when you
graduated from college you would be further along in your
career. Perhaps if you had only put in a few more hours, you
would have gotten the promotion that was given to someone
else. Well, perhaps this is all true but do you ever stop
to think what would not have happened had your life taken
those turns?
If you went to graduate school perhaps you would
be making more money but it would have been in a field that
you didn't like. If you didn't take that first job you would
have never met your spouse who worked down the hall and gotten
married. If you would have put in a few more hours to get
the promotion you may have missed the birth of your first
child. The 'what if' game can go on forever but the reality
is everything and I do mean everything happens for a reason.
I think it's best to use each situation as a
learning block. If you make a mistake, try hard not to make
that same mistake again. If you do something in life that
you regret, if you're still alive you have the opportunity
to right your wrong. If you have failed to accomplish a goal
by a certain date then change the date and keep pushing forward.
At the end of the day when it's all said and done, no one
can go back and change time. No one can undo something that
has been done. The only thing that you can do is create a
future for yourself that is better than your past. It's important
to remember that something you did in your past laid out the
stepping stones and foundation for your future. Be it good
or bad it in your best interest to make the best of it. No
one can control what happened in their past but everyone can
control what happens in their future!
About the Author
Pam Lawhorne, a small business expert, provides
advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around
the nation. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower
U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes
in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Pam is the creator of Youth Empowered 2 Succeed and Women
In-Powerment Network which are training programs developed
to promote entrepreneurship education and empowerment to women
and youth. For more information please visit her websites
at www.PamLawhorne.com
or www.Empower4U.com.
She can be reached at 704-569-EMPOWER or by email at Pam.Lawhorne@empower4u.com.
 Two
Great Ways to Gain Market Position and Expert Status
By
Kathleen Gage
Marketing is not only about getting word out
about your product or service; in most cases you must also
establish yourself as an expert. With competition for the
consumer’s dollars at an all time high, there are some
very simple strategies you can implement to gain better market
position while increasing your expert status. A better position
can equate to increased revenues.
To gain expert status some will choose to put
their knowledge into a book. The world of book publishing
has changed so much that what was once out of the reach for
many is now very doable. However, there is time, effort and
costs involved in taking a book to market.
A more viable option for many would be as simple
as writing reports and/or articles. If you have knowledge
about a particular subject, turn that knowledge into a special
report. A special report is a multi-page document packed with
valuable “how-to” information that readers can use
immediately.
Special Reports
A special report contains information on a specific topic.
You can either write the report yourself, have a staff member
write it, or hire a ghostwriter. There are plenty of freelance
writers who can develop your information into an excellent
report.
In some cases you will want to give your report
away and in other cases you will sell the report. Primary
reasons to give your report away is to drive traffic to your
website, promotional opportunities, and as a thank you to
premier clients.
Reports position you as an expert. The most
common type of Special Report is a “How to” report.
Your report should solve a problem such as making money, getting
healthy, building a successful business, building a better
team, etc.
Here are some quick tips to write an effective
report.
- Write on something specific to your knowledge
base.
- Outline your report so that there is a good flow to the
information.
- Virtually any topic can be written about if there is a market
demand. What people are looking for are ways to increase income
or revenue, increase productivity, improve the quality of
their personal or professional life, or decrease costs in
some way. It may be that you have something that covers all
these points or it could be a report on one of these points.
- Research your information as you develop your report. You
will find people want more of your reports if the information
is well researched and valuable.
- Often the most difficult part of writing is starting. The
best advice I can give is to just start and don’t worry
about how it reads. Once you have written all the information,
then read through it and rewrite as necessary.
- Have someone else read the piece as well. It is recommended
to have your report edited regardless of how good a writer
you are. This will assure you are concise in your delivery
of information.
Article Writing and Distribution
Another option for gaining market position and expert status
is writing articles. With the world of online marketing, gaining
visibility for your articles is as close as the press of a
button. Additionally, you can make the articles available
for download from your website.
Although most online article directories will
not pay you for your articles, you do gain greater website
position every time your article shows up in a directory or
another companies Ezine (electronic newsletter). The potential
for increased search engine optimization is excellent.
There are numerous advantages to writing and
distributing articles online:
- Establishes you as an expert
- Credibility for you and your business
- Increased visibility for your website
- Greater ranking on search engines when articles are posted
- Increased leads, more clients, greater sales
- Opportunity for up selling
The process for writing your articles is similar
to writing a report. For online purposes the length usually
ranges from 400 – 800 words. Depending on the publication
it may be more or less. In rare cases, once you submit an
article to a specific publication they may request you not
submit it anywhere else. Depending on how targeted their readership
is would determine if this would be a good choice for you.
To learn how many places you can distribute
your articles do a quick Google search with the words “my
topic + newsletters.” Likely you will be amazed at how
many locations would love to have your expert information.
The returns can definitely be worth the time invested.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
About the Author
Kathleen Gage is a bestselling author, keynote
speaker and Internet Marketing mentor who works with individuals
and organizations who want to increase their market position,
sales and level of achievement. Access The Truth about Making
Money on the Internet at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/free-ebook.htm
 Are
You Selling
The Wrong Thing?
By Tessa Stowe
Are you focusing on selling the wrong thing? If you
are, you are not alone as the majority of salespeople focus on selling
the wrong thing. In addition, senior executives in companies encourage
their own salespeople to focus on selling the wrong thing. In fact
these senior executives even give their marketing departments large
amounts of money to spend on producing marketing materials which
focus on selling the wrong thing. This focus on selling the wrong
thing is an epidemic.
Focusing on selling the wrong thing has a significant impact on
your sales results: it repels prospects; it lengthens the sales
cycle and often results in lost sales. So what is the wrong thing?
You are focusing on selling the wrong thing if you are focusing
on selling your products and services.
You see, if you focus on selling your products and services, you
will have a sales conversation where several of the following will
happen:
1. Your sales conversations are going to be focused on you and
not your prospect. Your sales conversations are going to be about
you: your products and your services. Your conversations are going
to come across as "me-me-me" conversations and "me-me-me"
conversations naturally and automatically repel people.
2. Your prospects are going to lose interest very quickly as they
probably won't be able to immediately determine what's in it for
them i.e. what relevant problem your products and services solve.
Once your prospect has lost interest they will probably move on
and the sale is lost.
3. Your prospects are going to feel overwhelmed and confused with
all the primarily irrelevant information you are flooding them with
about your products and services. Overwhelmed prospects do one of
two things: nothing or they delay making a decision. Either way
a sale is either lost or, if you are lucky, simply delayed.
4. Your prospect will not trust themselves to make a decision.
They will not trust themselves to understand all the information
you are overloading them with about your products and services.
They will also not trust themselves to determine if in fact your
products and services can solve their problem. They may even bring
in a third party - a consultant - to help them. Either way the sale
will take longer than it need be - assuming they are still interested.
So instead of focusing on selling your products and services what
do you focus on?
You simply focus on selling what your prospect wants to buy. It
really is that simple.
Your prospect wants to buy a solution to their problem. Hence,
if your prospect wants to buy a solution to their problem, it makes
sense to focus your sales conversation on their problem. Your products
and services then ONLY come into the conversation when you get to
the part of the sales conversation where you explain 'how' you solve
their problem. Your products and services only play a supporting
role in the sales conversation (versus the leading role.)
By changing the focus of your sales conversation to the prospects
problem several of the following things will happen:
1. Your sales conversations will be focused on your prospect and
not on you. Just by changing your conversations from a "me-me-me"
focus to a focus on them, you will naturally and automatically attract
prospects.
2. Your prospects are going to be interested as you are going to
come across as wanting to help them solve their problem. People
are naturally and automatically interested in people who can help
them solve their problems.
3. Your prospects are not going to feel overwhelmed or confused
as you are not going to be overwhelming them with irrelevant information
about your products and services. You'll only eventually be telling
them about your products and services to the extent they solve their
problem.
4. Your prospects will start to trust themselves to make a decision.
During the sales conversation you will help them understand their
problem and its impact on them and their business. You will help
them understand the connection between the problem they have and
how the specific aspects of your products and services can solve
it. With this clear understanding, they will trust themselves more
to make the right decision.
So, as you see from the above, if in your sales conversations you
are focusing on your products and services you are focusing on selling
the wrong thing. As a result you will repel prospects, increase
the time it takes to make a sale and lose a lot of sales. So start
today by focusing your sales conversation on what your prospects
want to buy: a solution to their problem.
(c) 2008 Tessa Stowe, Sales Conversation.
Article Source:
http://www.wahm-articles.com
About The Author
Tessa Stowe teaches small business owners and recovering salespeople
10 simple steps to turn conversations into clients without being
sales-y or pushy. Sign-up for her FREE monthly newsletter that
is full of tips on how to sell your services by just being yourself
at Sales Conversation. http://www.salesconversation.com/
Back
to the MLM Woman Newsletter Index
We want your feedback!
Send e-mail comments to
Linda at: regent@west.net
Copyright 2008,
Regent Press
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