Is there a right way to ask for referrals in Network Marketing? Part 2

In the first part of “Is there a way to ask for referrals in Network Marketing?” I told you a little bit about my recent experience when I was asked for referrals. I got a call from a Survey company that offered me magazines in exchange for one or two names and phone numbers.

I am blessed with friends but I don’t have family in the area. My whole family is back in Peru. The only aunt I have close by doesn’t speak nor read English very well.

This lady insisted, very nicely, that most people refer to a mom or dad, or siblings. I said a couple of times that really, I don’t have anyone. For some reason she didn’t trust me and kept asking.

I told her that if that was the condition to get the magazines, it was okay for me not to have them. She accepted and the conversation was politely ended.

I realized how hard it is to give away your friends or relatives’ names when you are not confident about the value of a given product or service. I also realized how hard it is for someone to believe that you don’t have any family to refer to!

When I read a good article like Warren Little’s The Right Way To Ask For And Get Referrals In Network Marketing, I don’t have any problem referring it to my network. I know people will benefit from it. It can benefit him too and that would be great.

The right way to ask for referrals in Network Marketing is simple: politely and humbly.

I know: it’s not rocket science.

You can learn a good script and practice it to ask for referrals offline. You can ask your online visitors to share your content. You can use the magic words “please” and “thank you”.

But in any situation the mindset is very important. If we come from a place where we look for referrals to make money, no script will hide that. Asking for referrals has to be from our desire to help more people, not from our desire for their money.

Asking politely and humbly also means giving the chance to help. Our prospects (or visitors online) get something good and they can share it with more people, therefore helping them.

Finally, being polite and humble means respecting when someone doesn’t have anyone to refer. We can even offer solutions and work together in creating a network. After all, Network Marketing is about helping, isn’t it?

Is there a right way to ask for referrals in Network Marketing, whether online or offline? Leave a comment about it!

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
AngelicaPS: If you liked this post, please refer it by sharing it (I think I just created a new tongue twister). Thanks!

Is there a right way to ask for referrals in Network Marketing? Part 1

Have you ever asked for referrals in Network Marketing? How did it go? What did you say?

Referrals are very important when building a Network Marketing business offline or online. In the article, The Right Way To Ask For And Get Referrals In Network Marketing (LINK), Warren Little explains in few words how to ask for referrals offline.

I personally like how easy can be to ask for referrals in Network Marketing online. If you like what you read you can share it within your Network with Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media service. It’s almost effortless.

Whether you build your Network Marketing business online or offline, it’s important to ask for referrals after your costumer is satisfied with the product or service.

In the article by Warren Little it is clear how asking up front for a referral can result in disappointment for yourself. Been there, done that. I have to say: asking for referrals was one of the hardest things when I was using traditional methods in Network Marketing.

But even with a good script we can encounter someone who really and honestly doesn’t know anyone. I was there a couple of days ago.

A got a call from a Survey service and I agreed to take it. This nice lady on the phone was listening to me and building rapport. She offered me magazines to try as a thank you for participating in the survey.

I was getting excited for my magazines. Then she said that the only thing she needed from me was a name and phone number. You know, someone who could benefit from these magazines too.

In the second part I will tell you the rest of the story and why I think there is a right way to ask for referrals in Network Marketing.

We are Successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

PS: If you liked this first part, please share it and don’t forget to subscribe or bookmark it to make sure to get the second part. Thanks!!

Chiropractors in Network Marketing: What can a Chiropractor teach about Internet Network Marketing? Part 2

In the first part of this series I introduced you to my experience with a Chiropractor. It made me think about the importance of giving in Network Marketing in general and Internet Network Marketing in particular. I got a phone call from the office of a Chiropractor asking if I wanted to participate in a free evaluation. This was part of a Community Service that the Doctor offers.

During the visits I was a little bit ashamed to ask if everything was free for real. The Doctor explained that it was the way he conducted his practice because he wanted to educate the community. I got it. I understood that he was giving value and surpassing my expectations. By giving a free evaluation and educating the community, he was earning the right to offer his services.

I learned a lot from my visits to the Chiropractor: I saw the value of this practice; I learned that I have a misalignment in my spine; I realized why I need to correct it; I saw how he could help me; I wanted to go back to him.

I also learned something about Internet Network Marketing. The way this Doctor conducts his practice is how we have to build our businesses. We educate people in the value of Network Marketing; we let them see that they have a need that Network Marketing can help with; we show them that we are the leaders they want to work with. Whatever our niche is, giving value come before getting.

Thanks to my Chiropractor, I saw how Internet Network Marketing has to be done. Have you had any similar experience? What have you learned about Network Marketing (outside of the industry)? Leave a comment about it!

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

PS: If you liked this post, please share it, thanks!

Afraid of Network Marketing? “Network Marketing is not that bad… if you do it right”

It’s always hard to come back to work after a vacation. We spent the Holidays at my In Laws and I’m just recovering and getting back to the swing of things. A new “swing” I should say, with my mom and 4 year old niece (the one who manifested the snow) visiting with us for few months.

What does this have to do with being afraid of Network Marketing? I’m thinking about new beginnings and how we define “normal”. Even though we have a routine and (kind of) a schedule, there is always something coming up. I know that as a mom, you understand what I mean. Things get in the way and devote the supposedly sacred time to work your business is even more of a challenge.

Network Marketing can be time consuming if you want to be successful. If you are afraid of MLM because you are already busy and stressed, you have to know that taking care of a business is NOT a 5 minute a week plan for success. You do have to work and you can learn how to use your time wisely.

More good news is that done right, Network Marketing is a recession-proof home business. During the Holidays we heard a Radio Show where one Hostess was interviewing a Financial Advisor. He said that Network Marketing is a good option to make extra money or to replace your income if you choose the right company and work. He also explained the difference between a pyramid scheme and a trusted business model.

The Show Hostess confessed that she thought that he was going to say “don’t do it!”, “stay away from it!”, “everything is a scam!” She even realized that many of the products she consumes come from Network Marketing. The most exciting part was when she mentioned that she gets her vitamins from my company saying that they were “the best vitamins in the world".

You can be afraid of Network Marketing for many reasons. For me, time is still an issue. That is why I write about it, to let you know that you are not the only one trying to get everything done. But to be successful in MLM we have to keep our priorities right and make time to work on productive activities.

You can be confident that Network Marketing is a trusted business model that can change your life if you keep working. Not only thrives even in the midst of the Recession but it gets the attention of Massive Communication Media like Radio. The Hostess said “Network Marketing is not that bad… if you do it right”. I’d say it is great.

What are (or were) your MLM fears? What are you doing to overcome them? Leave a comment about it and don’t forget to share this post if it helped you.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

Online Social Network Marketing: Using Social Media in your MLM home business

Social Media is being used more and more in business in general. Big companies like Dell, small local businesses and e-commerce companies are using sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace not only to create a costumer base but to keep in touch with their current one, and as a powerful marketing tool to attract more people. Take a look at this article about how businesses use Online Social Network Marketing.

If other businesses are doing it, why not us Network Marketers? Building an MLM home business has been traditionally associated with face to face interaction. Although this is still powerful, more and more the new way to socialize online forces us to be part of the trend. It’s what everyone is doing. And they do it because it works.

Why you should use Social Media in your Network Marketing business? Because it allows you connect with your current clients and business partners, it keeps the communication and helps create a buzz about what you are doing, and it helps you generate new fans, followers, costumers and business partners.

Online Network Marketing is all about attracting prospects; that is, generating your own leads. How many people can you connect with in one day? 2? 20? 200? If you have that amount of followers in Twitter, for example, you can connect with them in one click.

Social Media is a great way to generate leads for your MLM Home Business for free. It takes up more time than money. And when you learn few tricks to maximize your Online Presence, it can change your business.

How do you use Social Media in your Network Marketing business? Leave a comment about it.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

PS: If you like this post, please share it (using Social Media, of course). Thanks!

The best of MLM for moms: There is a better way to build Network Marketing

If you are an MLM mom and are looking for a better way to build Network Marketing, you are not alone. For many people, like me, traditional methods of Network Marketing work only partially. I know there are many leaders who don’t like this because they will tell you to work your numbers and prospect more and more people, to show the plan, to follow up.

But you don’t have to go through the frustration and embarrassment of people avoiding you or being defensive if you bring up “this home business of mine”. If you are ready for a better way to build Network Marketing, get your FREE copy of “The 7 Great Lies Of Network Marketing” NOW.

Ann Sieg is famous for over delivering and providing massive value in her legendary special reports and this is no different. She writes in a very colloquial way and I promise you will feel identified after few sentences of reading it. It’s so hard to put it down that you might want to skip making dinner. Just don’t forget to pick up your children from school.

In the book you will learn:

-The 7 biggest reasons most network marketers struggle (and ultimately fail) in this industry and why YOU no longer have to worry about them.

-What it really takes to grow a business that grows with or without you (in a comfortable way that fits your unique personality and values)

-Simple things you can do right now to make it easy and enjoyable for your prospects to buy.

And much more!. I’m very excited with everything that Ann Sieg offers now with her book. You’re going to learn some incredible principles that will save you enormous amounts of time, money, and headaches with your MLM business.

You are 30 seconds away from getting the best of MLM for Moms and any serious Network Marketer:

http://aried.The7GreatLiesofNetworkMarketing.com

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

PS: This e-book is controversial. Get ready for it!

Network Marketing Moms – The source website

I’m working on a new website where I want to share the sources of good information and training that I’m coming upon and using.

It’s called Network Marketing Moms (yes, more of that!). It’s basically another blog where I’m focusing on material that can be helpful for MLM Moms. They are good for everyone, though.

What do I consider a good source? Any material (video, e-book, Newsletter, article, Report, etc.) that has informative and useful content for our business. Some are free and some are paid. I know we all love free things but we have to be willing to invest in ourselves and our businesses too.

So take a look to see what you can find! It’s one more thing I’m working on to help Network Marketing Moms and it keeps growing.

Here is the link again:
http://networkmarketingmoms.net

Angelica

Network Marketing Tip: Building the foundation of your business

Few days ago I read an email that let my thinking. It was about the foundation of our businesses.

Any business needs a good foundation, just like buildings do. The taller the building, the deeper the foundation. And the time it takes to build that foundation can be months. Months when you don’t see any of the building because everything is being worked underground!

We always hear comments about laying good foundations for our children. If we don’t give them good support, discipline, boundaries, guidance, it’s very likely that we will end up with disrespectful children. But how long does it take to give them strong roots? Years!

We can’t expect our businesses to grow if we don’t have the patience to build a strong foundation. If we don’t take time to work “underground” (reading, writing, creating leads, working on ourselves, etc) we can’t expect to see a tall building (i.e. a profitable business).

How are you building the foundation of your business?

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

Network Marketing tip: listen more, talk less

One of the secrets of prospecting in Network Marketing is to listen more and talk less. They say that’s why we have two ears and only one mouth.

When we listen we learn about the other person. We get to know her needs, what she wants and what she doesn’t want. It can save us embarrassment: we wouldn’t offer our products or business opportunity to someone who doesn’t need them or is against MLM.

The person asking questions is the one controlling the conversation. Once someone asks you what you do is the perfect time to talk about your business. But is also the perfect chance to lose your prospect!

If you get excited and give your pitch, you might be turning them off. And if you give a simple answer like “I have a home business” you are opening the door for questions and therefore, for losing control of the conversation. End every sentence with a question.

It’s easy to talk about us. The hard part is to listen and sincerely wanting to know about others. But that is what we need to do as Network Marketers: offer solutions after we know what others need.

How do we do this online? We listen when we give our readers time to come back for more information (free and paid) that is going to help them. When someone comes to us, she is pre sold in the idea that they need something. When we have what they are looking for that means that we listened and we can give what they need!

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

Why Stay At Home Moms can have a successful Network Marketing business

To be successful in Network Marketing you don’t need experience or high education. Anyone can do it. What you need, among other qualities, is to have the will to learn, be persistent, be consistent and work hard. And Stay At Home Moms know how to do that.

We learn something different with every stage of our children’s development. When you think you have figured out your parenting style and disciplinary strategy, along comes another child that tears everything down. And you have to learn again. It happens also when your only child learns new tricks and you have to keep up.

In Network Marketing there are always new things to learn, even when you think you have learned or read enough. Maybe it’s not because they invented a new way to do something, but because you didn’t know anything about it before. When you think you know how to give a presentation, you learn a new strategy that makes so much sense, you have to implement it.

Or a way to prospect, or a marketing strategy that makes things easier or new technology. We have to be willing to learn or we can easily stay behind and not get ahead in the business. We can even lose money if we are not willing to learn.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms!
Angelica

Network Marketing Moms: What to do during the Holidays?

To work or not to work?

The Holidays are stressful times (in case you didn’t realize). Between finding the perfect gift, attending parties, hosting them!, making a list of people you want to give a present to, sending greeting cards, etc., it’s even more of a challenge to dedicate time to our Network Marketing business.

Some people say that you should stick to a schedule and “show up” for work every day at the same time. I’m more for finding the right time for you. If it happens to be the same hour every day, that’s great. If you still have to play by ear following your children’s schedule, that is great too.

As long as you focus solely on your MLM business when you are working, you can be flexible. You’ll be more productive in 20 minutes of focused work than in 90 minutes of constant interruptions. We moms are wonderful multi taskers (ever nursed while tying shoes?), but again, the more focused you are, the more productive you can be.

That goes for the Holidays too. I’ve reduced my business to-do list to only the very important and the urgent.

Decide what things can’t wait until after the Holidays, which ones you can work on during the madness and which ones can be relegated to the first days of the next year. This is an important time to keep working, but not at our sanity’s expense!

We are successful Network Marketing Moms,

Angelica

Network Marketing for moms – 3 reasons to have an MLM business

There are many reasons to start a Network Marketing business. This is an Industry not only for moms but for people from all walks of life, and anyone can beneficiate from its advantages. I’m going to focus only on 3 general reasons that were what made me, as a mom, join an MLM Company.

1. The opportunity to make an income. As a Stay At Home Mom sometimes I would feel like I wanted to contribute by adding income to our finances. Network Marketing offers the average person the opportunity to supplement her income or replace completely her current one.

2. The opportunity to work form home. My center of operations is my home, although I could work from virtually anywhere in the world. It allows me to raise my children and that has no price for me. Network Marketing business can be built through traditional methods (parties, home meetings, etc) or the Internet so you have to find what suits you better.

3. The opportunity to have my own business. I am my own boss. I like the freedom to set my own hours, my own goals, and to work at my own pace. I don’t have to answer to anyone but me. The day I signed up I became the CEO of my own MLM business.

What are your reasons? Why is Network Marketing for moms?

We are successful Network Marketing Moms,
Angelica

Network Marketing Moms: building a business and raising a family

Do you find yourself wondering why you didn't do anything today? You did laundry, cooked, vacuumed, organized your mail, paid a couple of bills, took the children to school and picked them up, sent emails, updated your website, etc. But still, you feel like you didn't do as much.

Maybe it has to do with being a Network Marketing Mom. We are building a business and raising a family at the same time and that's not easy task. When you work outside the house is kind of easy to separate work and home because you don't have both in the same square feet surrounding you. But when you move both of them under the same roof then you have some challenges ahead.

Being Network Marketing Moms means that we have to use our organizational skills to accomplish house work and business work. Yes, we can work while the dishwasher is running but only if that task is already out of our minds. When you work on your business, whether its for 15 or 45 minutes, focus only on that. Maybe you make a list of goals you want to accomplish and work for as long as you need to finish. Maybe you can set up a time to do certain activity (i.e. write an article) and stop wherever you are when the time is up. I find this method very efficient for me because it forces me to concentrate extra hard to get more out of my time.

Find what works for you. Can you find a place with absolutely no distractions? Great! Do you have to learn to ignore background noise? You can do it! At the end of the day look at everything you have accomplished. Even if that is only one load of laundry.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms,
Angelica

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

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

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

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

Building a Network Marketing business online does take work!

How many times have you decided not to work because the laundry couldn't wait or you had to bake cookies for the PTO Fund raising? Or maybe because you really didn't know what to do or weren't sure whom to call?

You know that the only activities that are going to make you money are the productive ones. And those don't include checking your email or updating your profile in your website. And the presentations and parties are nice but they don't really make you money until a sale is made. Usually the guests don't pay for information, right? What if you were making money only if they are attending or want to grab one of your sample products?

That's one of the benefits that Attraction Marketing offers. Network Marketing as we knew it is changing. The more successful leaders knew that they had to present only to qualified prospects and the work was to find them. Using the right system, we can make those prospects actually come to us (no kidding). And the most interesting part is that they are willing to pay for information that is valuable to them. So you can have cash flow while sorting the best people you want in your business.

But it doesn't come easy. Just as the old way, the new one takes time and dedication. One difference I found is that even if it takes time, it is productive. And once you do some things you don't have to do them again. Now, that's nice.

We are successful Network Marketing Moms.

Angelica