Your success in network marketing is dependent on many factors. Deciding on which direct selling company you want to join is just the beginning of the process. Of equal importance, you must be open to new ideas and company developments in order to achieve success in the multi-level marketing (MLM) industry.

Here is a brief list of what it takes in order to achieve success in the network marketing industry:

1) Sell a Product that You Enjoy

The most successful consultants are people who like the product and are passionate about the products they sell.

2) Don’t Sell a Product That You Don’t Like

If you sell something that you consider redundant or ineffective it will make you an unconvincing salesperson. Consumers today have many options to choose from when deciding on what to purchase. You have to show consumers why your product is better than your competitors’ products.

3) Do Some Research

Start by researching network marketing publications and choose a product or service that you feel comfortable selling. If you skip this step then your chances of building a successful downline will be substantially diminished.

4) Keep Yourself Educated

Use the industry’s network marketing publications to educate yourself about new trends, and how to improve the way you promote yourself and your product.

5) Keep Up-To-Date on the Niche Areas of Network Marketing

Network marketing is constantly evolving. To be successful in the MLM business, you must to be open to new technologies and methods of selling. For instance, the internet is exceptionally hot today. But tomorrow there could be a completely different technology or development that redefines the basic rules of success in network marketing. Be open to change and continue to read and learn.

6) Familiarize Yourself with Internet Marketing

Internet marketing provides great opportunities for MLM experts. Investing some time into internet marketing is relatively inexpensive and it will guarantee excellent results every time. Online promotion enables you to access an audience you may not otherwise be able to address due to the limits of your geographical location. It’s easy! Build a website that advertises your network marketing business, then promote it using the power of social networking.

Even if you refrain from selling products online, you can use internet resources to communicate with potential product buyers and people who might be interested in joining your network.

7) Learn from the Best

Network marketing publications are great for improving your professional skills. You should also learn and apply the strategies and techniques used by other network marketing professionals.

Learning from the most productive and successful members of the MLM industry can give you access to some great techniques to success. Ask questions. Good network marketing businesses have excellent support structures that allow new members to learn the specifics of MLM activities from the best sellers.

Network marketing is a great opportunity, whether you want to get additional income or you are interested in a full-time job. Unfortunately, many consultants aren’t successful. There are many reasons this can happen. These people can lack the motivation, marketing skills, and the belief in the product. Make sure that you are joining the MLM company that is right for you and make sure that you are passionate about the opportunity.

For more encouraging words to achieve success in network marketing, visit Attorney Jeff Babener’s websites: www.mlmlegal.com and www.mlmattorney.com.

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

It’s always a good idea as a MLM distributor to keep yourself encouraged and engaged in your career by participating in company-offered training events. Company training events are meant to enhance your sales skills and increase your motivation. Enthusiastic network marketing companies will offer their distributors tools and seminars to help you improve and grow your business. Many MLM companies offer training tools in an online, back-office environment, while others will host elaborate in-person events in select cities.

You can always find ways to improve your sales and business skills online, either through your company’s training materials or by performing your own online research. Articles, business and sales books, and blogs written by successful distributors are great places to start.

MLM company seminars are particularly encouraging for MLM distributors. At company events, you’ll be able to meet other like-minded, goal-oriented distributors who will inspire you. Networking at company training events will empower you to meet other distributors within the company.

When you attend a distributor recognition or training event, shake plenty of hands and ask a lot of questions. We suggest a few starter tips for networking at company-sponsored events:

• What is your motivation story? Successful distributors will share motivational stories and tips for successful selling and recruiting. Have you ever wondered how top distributors earn incomes in the $10,000, $50,000 or even $100,000 range? At your company’s training event, successful distributors will share their stories of how they became successful as MLM consultants.
• How do you use social media? There are top distributors who have mastered networking and sales through social media. Be sure to meet people who have creative ideas on how to use social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, to sell bucket-loads of products/services.
• Who do you sell to? Do you feel like you’ve exhausted your friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances? Company events are a great place to hear the secrets of how top-earning distributors have reached outside of their social circle and sold to the rest of the world.
• Why are your customers eager to make purchases from you? It’s not magic, but tricks do exist in selling and creating memorable introductions to potential customers. Make sure to ask how top distributors are engaging with their customers. What makes them good at selling? Perhaps you too can learn a few tricks to help you in your business?

Try to attend as many company events as possible. Take advantage of these events, meet people, and soak in the knowledge offered by the company and its top distributors. A MLM company training event is the absolute best place to learn how to grow your own business. If at all possible, use these events to find yourself a mentor or sponsor who will support you in your sales goals and teach you how to sell, where to sell, and how to meet your sales goals.

Being around people who are pursuing similar goals can help you stay focused and work harder to attain professional success. MLM company events will help you get excited about what you’re doing, and give you the extra boost you need to set your goals a little higher than before.

And always, with hard work and dedication, you may find yourself mentoring new distributors or starting your own direct selling business some day!

MLMLegal.com is bursting with educational content for direct sellers and startup/existing MLM companies! Be sure to visit us often!

If you are interested in attending the Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company conference visit our conference page, view our speaker list, or get more details. All executives/owners of direct selling companies are welcome to attend. Call 800-231-2162 to register.

Sign up for the MLM News Global newsletter for top headlines, news stories, scam alerts, videos, articles, and more information on the network marketing industry.

Want to learn more? Watch these videos by MLM expert attorney, Jeff Babener.

What Are the Most Important Things to Remember When You Host a Distributor Recognition Event?

If I’m a New Distributor Then Should I Focus My Selling In Areas Where Other Distributors Are Successful Or Should I Focus On Untouched Territory?

What Do I Do with Distributors Who Go Passive (for MLM Distributors)?

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

Distributors working for MLM companies earn income slightly differently than a typical employee. Here are two basic ways that distributors earn income in MLM:

1. Retailing – They buy products from their companies at wholesale prices, sell them at retail prices, and keep the difference. Or, they simply take orders and receive commissions. This is basically the same compensation offered by conventional marketing companies, except that independent distributors for network marketing companies are not merely employees. Instead, they are their own bosses – the owners of their own business.

2. Sponsoring – For sharing the marketing opportunity with others, distributors build their own sales organizations and receive bonuses or override commissions on the sales of the distributors in their organizations. Network marketers can multiply their earning potential by creating their own sales forces and helping the distributors within their networks do the same.

What’s the Difference Between Sponsoring and Recruiting? Watch this video to learn more.

Learn more about how compensation plans operate at mlmlegal.com.

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

Because we are globally-connected, you are bound to become involved in long distance sponsoring.

Embrace the opportunity to recruit beyond your city walls. You never know if – in a city a thousand miles away – long-distance sponsorship will be your most productive downline.

Like everything else in this business (in life); however, there are right and wrong ways to go about long distance sponsoring.

In a Business Start-Ups magazine interview, a national developer and producer of marketing and training materials for MLM companies and distributors, notes that “a conscious game plan may make all the difference in effective long distance sponsoring.” The interviewee points out that the helter-skelter approach to sponsoring (“go wide and see where it goes”) won’t necessarily yield the best results for your time and effort. Using this approach, he says, people are told to sign up anyone “as long as they breathe.”

Like any other important financial decision, the interviewee goes on, give it thought. “Just because you know a guy in Ohio, doesn’t mean you should sign him up, particularly if he is going to do nothing in your organization but draw on your time.”

This approach may support a few heavy hitters at the top of a network marketing organization, but not the average distributor. The interviewee points out that the top people in a network organization always try to put active, motivated people on their organization.

Here are 10 tips to help you when it’s time to cash-in on long distance sponsorship:

1) Know your craft: Before you start sponsoring long distance, make sure that you’ve mastered sales and recruiting in your own locality. The interviewee advises, “Know what you are doing and what you are going to teach.” Be a deal closer!

2) Choose wisely: If you want to increase your chances of success in long distance sponsoring, look for people who are “wired to win;” independent people with a track record of success. In fact, the further the distance, the more independent and reliable that person must be. The interviewee parallels the long distance sponsoring relationship to that of a long distance romance, saying, “If I am in LA, can I have a successful romance with someone in NY? Perhaps if I choose wisely.”

3) Create a system: You should start off with a comprehensive plan of attack and communicate it to your downline distributors so that you are all singing from the same song sheet. This is best accomplished at the beginning of the relationship by emailing them your proposed plan of attack.

4) Agree on responsive commitments: When you first establish relationships with long distance recruits, take some time to qualify the candidates. You need to talk to them, says the interviewee, and determine what they want, how much they are willing to commit in time, money and resources, and in what timeframe. Although you are all operating independent businesses, you are somewhat dependent on one another. Once you find the right person, develop an agreement that details your respective commitments – at the very least – in an email dedicated to the subject of business goals and plans.

5) Establish a long distance sponsoring budget: You have to spend money to make money. Long distance sponsoring is going to create expenses you don’t normally have when you sponsor distributors locally. To determine whether it will pay off for you, you’d better understand the costs involved. The first obvious expense is of calling charges and data rates on phone plans that don’t have unlimited data. Are you going to be mailing support materials to downline distributors? Plan on postage and mailing expenses for communication and shipping expenses for support materials. Are you planning on flying out to meet your downline or join an event? Plan a travel budget to support your downline group. This is obvious, but must be mentioned anyway: Make use of free technology (email, Skype, messaging services, etc.) to cut down on your long distance communication expenses.

6) Get some support from your company: If it looks like long distance sponsoring will be a real winner for you, you should take a close look at the multilevel marketing company you are working for to see if it has systems that will work to support your efforts. These may include voice messaging systems, national conference call service, digital communications and documents, email services, distributor website, as well as engaging materials to support retailing and team building.

7) Make sure the company training program supports long distance growth: Although this has been a problem in the past for some network marketing companies, many MLM companies today are developing new systems to support essential training for long distance recruits. Just take a look at their marketing materials.

8) Build your downline in geographical areas supported by your company: When you build your organization long distance, try to build in areas where the company is supporting growth through tours, rallies, events, and training. It’s much easier (and less expensive) to arrange meetings if most everyone in your downline is located around the same regional area.

9) Focus on areas where other successful distributors are located: Geographical areas where there is an infrastructure of successful distributors should be your first focus. It is particularly helpful if you can develop a reciprocal relationship where you support distributors of long distance recruits in your city in exchange for your distributors being supported by successful leader outside your city.

10) Provide the personal touch: The interviewee suggests that “training is everything and three-way calling is the name of the game in long distance sponsoring.” Be sure that you are on the phone with the first 10 contacts your new, long-distance distributor calls. This bonds potential customers to your organization from the very beginning. And also – when your distributors contact their potential customers – your new recruit will have the opportunity to listen to your presentation, gather information, learn how to overcome resistance, learn how to close the sale, and begin to build their own successful business.

In network marketing, long distance sponsoring opens a world of opportunity. If you’re willing to do it right, it can be an extremely profitable world. Remember, it takes time. It take a lot of effort and patience. And, above all, it takes determination.

Learn more about recruiting from Attorney Jeff Babener!

What is the benefit of recruiting experienced distributors? Video!

What’s the difference between sponsoring and recruiting? Video!

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

Workplace Prospects:

– People who need to earn extra income

– People who are intrigued by new opportunities

– People who are in a similar line of work, like sales

– People who are high-energy and gregarious

Neighborhood Prospects:

– College students looking for extra money

– Stay-at-home moms/dads who are looking for extra money

– Landlords/tenants

– Members of Neighborhood Watch

– Retired people looking to supplement their income

– Members of community organizations

– People you commonly run into at the grocery store, post office, library…

Service-Provider Prospects:

– Diaper service delivery

– Dry cleaners

– Meter readers/electricians

– Exterminators

– Firemen/policemen

– Gardeners

– Housekeepers

– Postal employees

– Salespeople

Religious Organization Prospects:

– Minister/rabbi/priest

– Ministers of music

– Religious educational directors

– Youth workers

– Members of the religious organization

– Religious community outreach opportunities

Professional Prospects:

– Accountants

– Attorneys

– Dentists

– Doctors

– Nurses

– Hairdressers and salons

Athletic Prospects:

– Clubs

– Fitness centers

– Teammates

– Athletic partners

– Competing teams and their families

School Prospects:

– Alumni associations

– Co-students

– Parents of other children

– Teachers/PTA

Social Contacts:

– New and old acquaintances

– Friends

– Social media networks

– Website networking

– Online forums and groups

Organizations:

– YMCA

– Lodges

– Boy/girl scouts

– Volunteer groups

Other prospects who may be interested in joining your organization:

– Babysitter/child care center

– Bakery

– Banker

– Builder/contractor

– Carpet cleaner

– Department stores

– Druggists

– Florist

– Gift shops

– Health spas

– And plenty more

Solicit the Solicitors:

– All door-to-door or party plan salespeople

– Other direct selling representatives

Relative Prospects:

– Distant relative

– In-laws

– Extended family members

Newspaper Prospects:

– People who are actively looking for part time work

Potential customers and distributors are everywhere. We hope that this extensive list will help to give you some ideas of where you can start to begin growing your network marketing business.

Just remember, you’re lucky to make one sale out of 10. Don’t get discouraged. Embrace rejection. Hard work and confidence will go a long way in your success!

Want to know expert MLM Attorney Jeff Babener’s advice on finding new leads? Watch this video:

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

Promoting your network marketing business can be done in many ways. Here are three ways to begin promoting your MLM business:

1. Warm Market

Most network marketers first approach their warm market, that is, their friends, family and acquaintances. Friends and family can easily become your first customers, and in some cases, will also join the company in your downline.

2. Social Media

Secondly, social media is an excellent way to advertise your business. Create a Facebook page and Twitter account used only for business purposes. Invite your existing friends and family to “like” or “follow” you on your business pages. Update your feed frequently with company promotions and special product pricing. Another underutilized method to advertise your business on social media is online groups. Search Facebook for local moms and dads groups if you are selling a parenting-related product. Search for business groups and groups that allow for business promotion and join them. Make sure the group allows sharing of businesses before you begin to post. Or, start your own Facebook or Google+ group! Online groups are great ways to network and share your home business with like-minded individuals in your community.

3. Online Advertising

Thirdly, there are many online advertising websites that offer free classifieds posting. Write an ad and post it online for free. To find online classified websites, Google “free classifieds online” and choose one of the many websites that allow advertising of MLM products and services.

The key to success in any business is being able to sell to anyone and everyone. Successful consultants sell products to teachers at their child’s school, neighbors who they meet at the park, and even other parents at the PTA. Keep the success of your business at the front of your mind, no matter where you are or what you are doing and this will help you achieve success in your business!

If you are interested in attending the Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company conference visit our conference page, view our speaker list, or get more details. All executives/owners of direct selling companies are welcome to attend. Call 800-231-2162 to register.

Our next Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company Conference takes place October 22 and 23, 2015 in Las Vegas. View our conference flyer and speaker list online. Participate in our Innovation Campaign for your chance to receive TWO FREE TICKETS to attend our next conference.

If you’re reading this blog post and the conference dates above have passed, check our website for the current conference dates.

Sign up for the MLM News Global newsletter for top headlines, news stories, scam alerts, videos, articles, and more information on the network marketing industry.

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

It is often said that direct selling/MLM/network marketing is about sharing your product and services first within your spheres of influence, i.e., first harvest the low lying fruit. This means calling upon your friends, family, social acquaintances, co-workers, members of your church or other religious group, fraternal organizations, etc. In other words, sell where you are most comfortable. Generally, this means territory close to home or, if at a distance, it is because you have connections. As you mature, you may venture into other territories, but it will likely be first through social networking.

Are you interested in attending the Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company conference? Visit our conference page, view our speaker list, or get more details. All executives/owners of direct selling companies are welcome to attend. Call 800-231-2162 to register.

For more encouraging words to achieve success in network marketing, visit Attorney Jeff Babener’s websites: www.mlmlegal.com and www.mlmattorney.com.

Our next Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company Conference takes place October 22 and 23, 2015 in Las Vegas. View our conference flyer and speaker list online. Participate in our Innovation Campaign for your chance to receive TWO FREE TICKETS to attend our next conference.

If you’re reading this blog post and the conference dates above have passed, check our website for the current conference dates.

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

Selling to your warm market is sometimes referred to as selling to your “sphere of influence.”

A warm market is loosely defined as a network of potential customers that you’ve had some previous contact or relationship with, including family, friends, co-workers, church members, club/group members, and neighbors. A cold market includes potential customers who you don’t know about you or your business such as someone you’ve met while waiting for your car to be cleaned. Selling to your warm market is sometimes referred to as selling to your “sphere of influence.”

For more information on the network marketing industry visit www.mlmlegal.com and www.mlmattorney.com.

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Our next Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company Conference takes place May 15th & 16th, 2014 in Las Vegas. Call 503-226-6600 or 800-231-2162 to register. If you’d like to see how you can get free tickets to the next MLM Startup Conference, visit our Innovation Campaign page.

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.

Is the industry that we’re in, the direct selling, MLM, network marketing industry, for real? And secondly, the question always asked of the distributor, is your company for real? And after all these years I don’t think many distributors hear these questions as often.

Allow me (Attorney Jeff Babener) to answer the first question from my perspective, as an industry professional, from someone who works behind the scenes.

First of all, Keep in mind we have nearly 16 million people in the United States selling consumer products and services in the range of $30 billion and more than 90 million people around the world doing this with sales exceeding $150 billion. This activity penetrates the fabric of our society. Earlier statistics, presented by the Direct Selling Association, have indicated that, perhaps, one in ten households have somebody who is doing this part-time. We used to get bad press but now we seem to be seeing an improvement.

In the US today, we recruit about 55,000 people per week and recruit about 150,000 people worldwide per week. Over the next ten years, statistics from the Direct Selling Association predict that we’ll recruit about 200 million people around the world. Times have changed. And, the MLM environment has changed. Distributors who may have faced objections to network marketing in the past, even if they were doing well, are probably not facing them anymore. MLM representatives should be very well received around the world. All of the statistics say that the success of distributors is based on relationships and in the company’s beliefs. There is a study done by the Direct Selling Association that asks why people join MLM companies. The first reason is that distributors like and believe in the product. The second reason is that they like being their own boss. The third reason is that they like working at home. The fourth reason is that they like the idea of the harder they work, the more they make. The fifth reason is that they enjoy selling.

And, selling is a tough one. However, there were a couple other studies that were done asking why people stay and why they leave direct selling companies. It was very interesting. Most people stay with direct selling companies because they enjoy the product.

And so, many of the people that distributors signed on have continued to be retail customers of MLM companies for over 20 years. They probably haven’t worked the opportunity forever, which is consistent with the DSA’s study that described the number one reason why people stay with MLM companies is because they have a favorable response to the product.

The second reason people stay with the company is because they have a favorable response to the leadership of the company. Thirdly, distributors have a favorable response to the leadership of the sales force (upline distributors). The fourth reason is that distributors have a favorable response to the vision of the company. In many cases the distributors will respond favorably to the wonderful philanthropic company vision, which is usually much larger than just the business.

These values, and many others, make successful MLM, direct selling, network marketing, party plan companies.

For more information visit our websites: www.mlmlegal.com and www.mlmattorney.com.

Or, visit this link for more information:

Earnings Claims and Consumer Protection Laws Video

Is it Proper to pay Commissions on Sales Tools and Training? Video

MLM/Direct Selling/Network Marketing: Billions of Participants Make for a Veritable Industry

The Hallmarks of Legitimate Direct Selling/Network Marketing Companies

Where can I find a legitimate direct selling company to join?

Can I and should I join multiple companies and establish multiple downlines?

Think you have a unique, never-before-seen product? Think again.

Make sure the company training program supports long distance growth

Training and Managing Your People: Introduction

Ten Common Distributor Mistakes (and how to overcome them)

Restrictions on Distributors: MLM Cross-Sponsoring Rules and Selling Sales Tools

Distributor Behavior: Networking and Time Management

Long Distance Sponsoring: Focus on areas where other successful distributors are located

Network Marketing and the Law: Refunds for MLM Distributors

MLM Company Profiles

Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company Conference – May 16th & 17th, 2013

An Introduction to Direct Selling and The Basics of MLM

Recruiting Advice from an Industry Expert – The MLM Fairytale “Network Marketing and Frogs”

Why do companies restrict the type of advertising carried on by their distributors?

Paying Commissions on Sales Tools, Sales Kits, and Training Materials……No!

How to Tell if a Direct Selling Company is a Pyramid or a Legitimate MLM

MLM Pyramid Schemes – Everything You Need to Know All in One Place

Debunking the MLM, Direct Selling, Network Marketing Industry Myths

Distributor Training – Two Common Questions

If I’m an independent contractor, why are there rules regarding my conduct?

Who Owns the MLM Distributorship in the Case of a Divorce?

What Differentiates a Legitimate Direct Selling/Network Marketing Company from an Illegal Pyramid Scheme?

The Hallmarks of Legitimate Direct Selling/Network Marketing Companies

Is There a Level Playing Field for all Compensation Plans?

Is MLM For Real?

What are Your Reasons for Joining a Direct Selling Opportunity?

U.S. Direct Seller Statistics in the Last Five Years

The Direct Selling Association Presents 2011 MLM Industry Facts

The Attraction of Network Marketing

The Educated Networker: Trademarks and Network Marketing

If My MLM Business isn’t Working What Should I do?

Am I Taking a Risk by Joining an MLM Company?

Are the Claims that Corporate America has Discovered MLM “Real” or “Off the Wall?”

Should I Trust The “MLM Gossip Websites?”

Nutritional Supplements, Health Claims and MLM

Is Your Product Real? The Shoe Test…

Personal Use by Distributors… Your Questions Answered

In What States does MLM do the Best?

All About MLM Earnings and Compensation

General Tips in Networking and Time Management

Make sure to visit our blogs for the latest information on the direct selling industry: MLMLegal Blog Home and MLM Attorney Blog Home. HINT: Chose a category to narrow your search for discussion topics!

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And, as always, visit MLMLegal.com, the best MLM resource on the web. The next Starting and Running the Successful MLM Company Conference will be here before you know it! On May 16^th and 17^th, 2013 we are hosting the MLM Conference for the 25^th year! This is now our 64^th annual conference (held almost consistently three times per year over the last 24 years). All executives/owners of MLM, direct selling, network marking, and party plan companies are welcome to attend. This is the original MLM Startup Conference, hosted and perfected by direct selling industry expert, MLM Attorney Jeff Babener. Call 503-226-6600 or 800-231-2162 to register. (Can’t make this event? Keep an eye out for our October and February conferences as well.)

Visit us at www.mlmlegal.com to learn more.