Thursday, November 27, 2008

Two things about time management for Network Marketing Moms

Working at home has advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that you are home and have the chance to be around your family. One disadvantage is that you are home and have the chance to be around your family.

As much as we like being there to raise our children, we face the consequences of having them around all day long. If they are old enough to go to school then that is your best shot to have productive time for your business, especially if you are working using Internet and need to concentrate.

Focus is very important in your business. Divide your activities in groups so you devote 10, 15 or 20 minutes, non stop, to each one of them. When you use Internet in Network Marketing to build your business this makes a lot of sense since you are in front of the computer a lot.

But how can you focus if you have children around? I read an article about an alternative to eliminate distractions. My biggest distractions are not unfinished chores (as tempting as they are, they can wait!) but my children. And it's not like I can "eliminate" them. I have to distract them, and to do that I have different alternatives. Sometimes is enough to give time to play together with whatever they want and others it means turn the TV on.

Whatever your strategy is, keep in mind that you need to focus and to manage your distractions (eliminate or distract them).

We are successful Network Marketing Moms.

Angelica

Monday, November 24, 2008

Is it possible to build Network Marketing using Internet? Part III: Building relationships of trust

This is the last post of this series.

How is it possible to build a relationship of trust using Internet in Network Marketing? You don’t have face to face interaction; you don’t get to hear each other’s voice. That relationship of trust is built in a totally different way.

Technology affects how we communicate and relate to others nowadays more than in any era of History. Text messaging is so popular now; we have a whole new language to communicate with! A cell phone is not just to make calls. Making calls is actually one of the least attractive features of a cell phone.

The point is, it’s not only Internet; it is technology in general. And we have to keep up with it. It is possible not only to maintain relationships but to build new ones using Internet. In Network Marketing that relationship is built when the person who is looking for something of value finds you online. And “you” means what you offer: educational information, information that is valuable to them because they can put it into practice and it’s going to affect their business in a positive way. How do you do that? Sharing what you know or have experienced.

In this case that sharing is made in its more pure marketing expression. You are not selling your opportunity or your products right away, but you are selling yourself as a leader worth taking the time to read about, a leader who has something to give, and a leader who knows what she is doing. A leader worthy of their trust.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms,

Angelica

Friday, November 21, 2008

Is it possible to build Network Marketing using Internet? Part II: A word about leads and trust.

Leads are people who are looking for a home based business(supposedly) so our job is to tap into their needs, let them know that we care about them, that our whole intention is to help them. Again, that can take few seconds or much longer. After all, we only make so may calls, right? How much in a rush are you to make 20 calls in one hour that you can’t devote 10 minutes to only one person? Yes, maybe that is going to be your best call, but if you don’t call the other leads, they are going to age and lose interest, right?

And how many leads you have to call until you find someone who is truly interested in a home based business, interested enough to let you come into their lives and become their friend? Yes, the more expensive the lead, the best the quality; but I'm focusing on the importance of building rapport, like so many times we've heard. If we can't have that we are better off letting them go.

Again, trust. Everything goes back to building relationships of trust. Only when someone trusts us, are they willing to do business with us, either buying a product or considering the business aspect of what we have to offer.

This series of posts is not over, wait for more.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms


Angelica

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Is it possible to build Network Marketing using Internet? Part I: The importance of trust.

How is it possible to build a Network Marketing business using Internet? Network Marketing is a people business, “people” as in I see you and you see me, you hear me and I hear you. We establish a relationship of trust when we talk with someone and let them know we are going to be there for them when they need us. How long does it take to create that trust? Sometimes minutes, sometimes months!

That’s why we are told to come up with a list of names of people we know, namely, family and friends: because we already have a relationship of trust with them. If we tell them we got involved in this wonderful business that is going to set us free financially, we can easily say “you know I don’t fall just or anything” and they may believe us. Besides their own believes and thoughts about Network Marketing, we can have more chances to make business with someone we know just because of that trust.

So, what happens when we run out of people who trust us? We start making more friends, meeting more acquaintances or approaching big amounts of people who don’t know us to see if someone is in the right moment and the right place, if the timing is right for them. In this case they trust their own reasons to look for new ways to make money and they are more vulnerable to trust you if you look fairly decent and honest.

Stay tuned for the rest of the series...

We are successful Network Marketing Moms.

Angelica

Monday, November 17, 2008

Is Network Marketing sales? Part II

There where many things that attracted me to Network Marketing (residual income, social interaction, helping people, high quality products, self improvement, etc) but selling wasn’t one of them. When I realized that I was in sales I didn’t like it.

Thankfully my upline introduced me to the teachings of Tim Sales. He does a marvelous job explaining why selling is communicating. Turns out that, by being a wife and a mom (and all my other roles in life), I was selling day in and day out. Now that was a shock. But it allowed me to see that I did have sales skills and that I could improve them by learning how to be an effective communicator.

A good salesperson only sells to those who will buy. I recently read in Entrepreneur Magazine that the sales give you the money and the marketing is the fun part. Marketing allows you to present your message to as many people as possible. What people? Only those who want what you have.

Although Network Marketing is not door to door sales (unless you choose that method), we do have a product and we do get commissions every time someone buys them. One advantage we have as distributors is that we are familiar with the products and its benefits, as well as many aspects of the business. By learning and communicating (or sharing) valuable information you become a consultant; which sounds even more professional than saleswoman.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms.

Angelica

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Is Network Marketing sales? Part I

When I was introduced to Network Marketing my biggest objection for was that I didn't want to be involved in sales. I was confident that I didn’t have sales skills and couldn't even sell a piece of candy to a starving kid. So, when I was introduced to the concept of sharing, everything started to make more sense.

I got involved in MLM because the idea of building a residual income was too attractive: income that you keep on receiving even when you are not working? Sign me up. I could work hard for few years. In any case, sharing could not be that bad.

At the beginning I didn't understand very well what people I had to call. I thought that "the list" was going to be given to me or that I could find it online just like that. Turns out I had to make the list. No big deal, I knew at least five people who couldn't say no. But they did.

So sharing wasn't enough after all, huh? Still, I got offended if someone would ask me about the products I sold. I didn't sell! I shared! That was until I came to the stunning realization that when someone gets a product from me and I get the money, that is selling. I was in sales after all. Network Marketing is sales after all...

We are successful Network Marketing Moms.

Angelica

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Why do you need a domain name in your Network Marketing business?

Actually, a domain name is a must for any business. The first reason why you need a domain name is that gives you recognition. It gives you uniqueness and separates you from the pack. It can make a lot easier to find you online and it's going to show that you are serious about your business.

A domain name is what people type in the browser box (that rectangle where you type "www.....com"). For example, google.com, yahoo.com, blogger.com, are all domain names. A good domain name is going to stick in your prospects' minds and it can minimize misspellings.

Maybe your company gave you a website. But usually is something like "www.yourcompany.com/you". With your own domain name you can have your own name in the browser and redirect that address you your company's. See for example what happens when you type "www.angelicaried.com" . See that? I redirected my domain name to my blog and before I did to The 7 Great Lies of Network Marketing. You can do that when you buy any domain. I also bought another during the weekend that is going to be different. Come back to see what I'm doing with that new domain.

As your business grows and your Internet strategy lifts from the ground, you'll see that you will want more domains. But for now don't get overwhelmed and don't be afraid. They cost about $10 a year. If you want hosting (what allows you to have content, like building your own website) and more services, it's going to cost more.

The two services I've used are Orderyourname.com and GoDaddy.com. They are very well known and trustful. Just trust me on this one and start with your own name. Your Network Marketing business will benefit from it in the long run.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms.

Angelica

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Do Network Marketing Moms have qualities that set us apart?

People say that if you need something done, you have to ask a busy person. Moms have the ability to get things done even when we have a long to-do list. Although we do have to say no sometimes, we have the ability to prioritize and the persistence to keep going. How many times do you pick up toys? How long did it take you to get your children to do it? Did you give up even when you thought you would?

It also takes patience. Not the kind of patience that keeps you from yelling and scolding but the kind that allows you to see the big picture. Hey! You don’t know the end result of your efforts until 30 plus years! (With luck, I don’t think my mom feels like she is done with me…)

And what about organizational skills? How can you keep track of all the activities and social lives of your children? Have you ever been congratulated for a good party?

Those are the qualities you need to apply in your Network Marketing business. More than experience, you need your potential to get things done, persistence, patience and organization. You also need the desire to use those qualities and to learn.

So don’t give up. The results will come and you’ll feel great. Like when you see the toys where they actually belong.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Objections in Network Marketing-how to avoid them

You usually hear or read advice about how to handle objections. And it's important that we know how to do it. It's probably one of the most important skills in Network Marketing. We start by listening to the prospect so we can understand where the objection comes from (most of the time it's fear). Without belittling their feelings, we help them see the bigger picture taking their focus off the negative things they see. It takes time, practice, patience and energy. When you listen to the leaders in the Industry making life calls to prospects, they make it look so easy!

But, what can be even easier?

What about avoiding objections in the first place? I don't mean "avoid" in a way that you ignore what they say and keep pushing you opportunity whether they like it or not. I mean "avoid" in a way that they are not there because the prospect already found the answer she or he was looking for.

That's what happens when you have valuable information to offer online. Honest, transparent and simple information about Network Marketing. Interested people are looking for answers and it's our job to give them good ones. It's very frustrating when you follow tips and recommendations without success. That's where practice and patience comes in play. Now that I know I can attract people with most of their Network Marketing objections solved, I feel way more confident. And that's a treat that we see in all the great MLM leaders.

So, grab a copy of the FREE e-book on the side, "The 7 great lies in Network Marketing" and see for yourself that avoiding most objections in Network Marketing is possible.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!


Angelica

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Do you know how to create leads for Network Marketing?

Your business, like any other, depends on the sales you make. But how do you generate sales? Attracting costumers, right? In Network Marketing we have the beautiful opportunity to attract not only loyal costumers but life-long business partners. With traditional methods for building an MLM organization we approach people to find out who is interested in our opportunity, and one common way to do so is buying leads for Network Marketing.

Now, that's subject for another post because there are few things to say about leads (not necessarily bad!). One very important is that in order to be successful calling leads you have to go through a lot of them until you start seeing results. You could buy high quality leads if your budget allows, but you still have to run some numbers.

With Attraction Marketing you are able to generate your own leads. The equation is simple: there are people out there actively looking for what you have (that explains why thousands of people join Network Marketing every day). Your job is to attract them to you offering something of value. Not an opportunity but a solution. That way they can find you. It looks something like this:

Interested people + your valuable information = high quality leads

How are you going to prove that you have knowledge and wisdom they can benefit from? Working on your online presence (see my post about it).

Do you know how to generate Network Marketing leads? Do you want to? Keep following this blog and I'll give you a way to learn more specifics very soon.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!

Angelica

Monday, November 3, 2008

A thriving Network Marketing business needs a good mentor

In Network Marketing is common to hear that you are in business for yourself but not by yourself. That refers to the network of people you have available to work by your side once you sign up and become a distributor. In includes upline, crossline, even downline and staff in your Company. If you try to do things your own way, without asking for help or guidance, your chances for success are slim.

So, if you want to build a thriving Network Marketing business you are going to look for the right person to be your mentor. Since the success of your business is in your hands, it’s your responsibility to contact him or her first.

A good mentor is willing to be there for you even if he or she is not your sponsor (ideally he’ll be a leader in your upline). She’ll assist you with motivation, answers for your questions, effective methods to build your business, etc. More than anything, she’ll lead by example because she is building her own organization.

If you want to build your business online, your mentor should be ready to help you. But don’t forget that Internet offers the potential to reach to multiple leaders in the Industry whose mission is to help anyone who wants to succeed in Network Marketing. So consider looking online for help from Network Marketers who are building a business online. Soon you’ll be a mentor for your own organization so be ready to learn and share that knowledge.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms.

Angelica

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Top 5 reasons why a plan is basic in a thriving Network Marketing business

So you know you need a plan, right? If still don't have one, don't get overwhelmed. You can find many tips about how to build one with a simple research online, calling your company for information or asking your upline. It doesn't have to be a perfect plan because nobody is giving you grades or taking notes of your performance. It can be as basic as having your main goal and time frame for achieving it.

If want to be successful in Network Marketing, a business plan can do a lot for you. Why? These top 5 reasons may answer that question:

1. It's your road map. It will remind you of where you are going when you have doubts and wonder why in the world you got involved in MLM.

2. It's your guide for daily action. If you don't know what to do today, you can look at your list of productive activities and invest time in those.

3. It's your business' clock. It will show you if you are late or on time with your goals so you know what adjustments to make.

4. It's one physical materialization of your business. Something happens when we write down our thoughts and can read them. It's a way of telling our brains that it's real, it's happening and it's staying.

5. It's a way to share your plans for the future with others. You can show your potential business partners where you are heading and how you are going to get there.

Keep in mind: reading your plan every day doesn't make you money. Doing what it's in there does. A successful Network Marketer is not the one with the most impressive plan but the one who puts it into action and keeps putting one foot in front of the other.

Just for fun: Our plans can change and we have to be ready!



We are successful Network Marketing Moms!

Angelica