Are You Disgusted With Losing The MLM Game?

The Alternative to Buying Business Opportunty Seeker Leads

One of the biggest challenges you'll face as a network marketer is having enough people to speak to about your products and opportunity.

There are two methods most network marketers employ in order to keep their business moving forward:

1. Pitching their products/opportunity to their warm market (friends and family),and




2. Buying leads of people who are supposedly looking for a home based business opportunity

Choosing the warm market approach is not a good idea. There are several reasons why, but this is not the subject of this article.

If you'd like to read more about this go to my article about the Warm market vs. Cold Market Approach.

For now, Let's Take a Look at Buying "Biz-opp Leads"

There are several reasons why buying biz opp leads is detrimental to your business:

1. They're Expensive and Not Exclusive

Biz opp leads will cost you at least a dollar and often more than that. And more than likely these leads will not be exclusively yours. In other words...you will be sharing your leads with many other people in other MLM opportunities and home based businesses.

What happens is that by the time you reach the lead on the phone they have been contacted by several other people. Perhaps they've even gotten to the point where they're tired and fed up with being "pitched".

These folks have been invited to presentations and have been "hounded" by marketers and they're never ending follow-up calls.

So, by the time you call..they're loaded for bear. What happpens is that they snap at you. They make you feel like human garbage and hang up the phone. Great! That just cost you a dollar or more to have someone treat you like scum...welcome to network marketing!

2. Most of the People on the Lists That You Buy Are Not Looking For a Business Opportunity.

After dialing thousands of these thypes of leads I can tell you that without a doubt most of the people you call will not be looking for a business opportunity. The sad fact is that over 50% of these people have NO MONEY! What they're really looking for is a JOB.

So, if buy 100 leads for $1.50 a peice you will have spent over $75 to speak with someone who may be on welfare...who doesn't even have a credit card. In other words...they can't buy your product and they can't sign up as a distributor in your business.

The rest of that $150 is spent on people who are already being chased by other marketers who beat you to the punch.

Why Do People Buy Leads?

Network marketers buy leads because they simply don't know what else to do. And, because every now and then you will get lucky. You'll find a diamond in the rough.

But is it worth the expense? NO!

There Are Better Ways to Acquire Leads

I have found that the single best way to build a home based business is to generate my own leads using the Internet as a lead generation tool.

The trick is to learn to become your own lead broker.

When you generate your own leads they are exclusive to you. The person searching online finds your website with your marketing message and leaves their contact information.

When you get in touch with them they already know who you are and they're almost expecting you to call.

Of course there will still be some cost involved, but hey, you already realize that running a legitimate business from home invloves incurring some operating costs, right?

They key is to learn how to put up a website with the right marketing message so that you will be speaking with qualified prospects.

I'll be offering more information here soon on how to put together a website, get it online, and begin to build a long list of qualified leads who will be happy to learn more about what you're network marketing products an business.

Before I'm able to post more information here read this article about the internet for network marketers and go to my website listed below to sign up for my eCourse.

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Jeff Weissman is an attorney, network marketer and web publisher. Through study, trial and error he has learned how to generate over 100 leads a week by using the internet as a lead generation tool. For more information and to subscribe to his network marketing eCourse go to his website at www.Dream-Team-Training-Works.com. Or, you can contact him by phone at (516) 682-5656.

How many company conferences have you attended?
Did you leave the conference full of fire and enthusiasm only to have the fire turn to a smouldering ember within a few days?

MLM company conferences are a great way to learn about new company products, the latest promotional materials, how many people have made it to the top, and to meet new people that you can network with. But very few MLM company conferences actually minimise the hype and rah rah, and actually teach you the real truth about how to grow your business, based on the art and science of marketing. We spend huge dollars each year attending the conference, and all we come away with is a warm fuzzy feeling that is lucky to last until the next weekend.

Those first few days after the conference see us buzzing with excitement! We start calling more friends and family, or re-call the ones we've already called that didn't want to know about what we were doing in the first place. This time we have the latest, greatest script straight from the leaders themselves on how to 'convince' our warm market that this is the greatest opportunity they are ever likely to get their hot little hands on.

Within a few short days and a long list of rejections, we sink back into our state of desperation and realize that it just isn't that easy. Doing more of what we've been doing just isn't going to work.

We start to think back over the conference. Just what did we get for our hard earned cash?

1. New product knowledge
2. Met lots of new friends and business associates
3. Enviously watched the parade of new leaders in the company that are making heaps of money (just how do they do that?)
4. Had lots of good food
5. May or may not have won some of the great prizes the company gives out
6. Didn't learn how to find prospects who already have a need, want or desire for my products
7. Didn't learn exactly what to say to those prospects, word for word, to close them
8. Didn't see any of the leaders who are already making the big bucks close a prospect, live, right up there on the stage
9. Didn't learn how to use the Internet, or Ad Copy, in detail
10. Didn't learn how to craft an entire campaign to grow a business from start to finish

Was it worth it?
From a social perspective, probably.
From a business perspective, probably not.

So, where does one go to find a conference that teaches all those things?

You start by finding a company that teaches the Art and Science of Marketing, specifically in relation to MLM, or network marketing. A reputable training course will deliver all of the above knowledge, live and interactively, and then follow up with a conference that allows you to meet with fellow students and teachers, and physically craft an entire campaign, from top to bottom. This is the hands on approach that you need to make it happen. The highlight of the conference will be a 'live' close, on stage, by one of the teachers. You will see and hear exactly how it is done.

But wait a minute... with all that 'hands on' stuff, can we still call it a conference?

My guess is it will be called a 'workshop'.
Conferences are fine, but you need a workshop based on the art and science of marketing, specifically for MLM or network marketing, to ensure your success in the business.

Your next project is to find a company that will deliver all of those things, and even guarantee your success. They are out there, you just need to find them.

Bill Shaw is a successful network marketer who works with network marketers in the US, Canada, and Australia. Bill is based in San Francisco CA and has a passion for helping network marketers realize their potential for success.

Go to Bill's website to find out more about how to succeed in network marketing
http://www.homebizrepair.com
or, Bill can be contacted at GetHelp@homebizrepair.com

"Solid Reasons Why Buying Business Opportunity Leads Is Flushing Good Money Down The Toilet..."

If you are building an MLM and have run out of warm market leads, the next prospecting resource that most recruiters turn to, is "business opportunity" leads. They can also be referred to as "biz/op" leads. And, just as the name implies, these are lists of persons who desire to be involved in a business opportunity. Certainly that characteristic alone, should make this a "golden prospect," for network marketers. Right or wrong? To help you decide, I'm going to reasonably outline for you the only sound reason to ever dial biz/op leads. But first, the eager entrepreneur needs to be a bit open-minded while I defend my stand that biz/op leads are a waste of money.

First, it is important to understand how a lead is generated to make a judgment on its quality. A business opportunity lead is generated when someone leaves their contact information somewhere in exchange for information concerning an opportunity. This action is called "opt-in", because someone has an option of leaving their information and voluntarily choose to do so. However, if anyone has ever spent time surfing the internet, or has an e-mail account, they are well aware of the many offers for gift certificates to large retail marketing chains, or for free airline tickets, or any of a number of other appealing merchandise "freebies." The curious "surfer" eagerly decides to peek behind the marketing door to acquire their free items. Unfortunately, the person is enticed to answer a maze of questions bundled up in a marketing survey. Most people don’t understand that all the multiple choice questions are cleverly designed to provide list brokers with data regarding the purchasing habits of the survey taker. Buried within the online survey are the usual questions concerning a home-based business opportunity.

"Are you interested in having a home-based business? How much income a month are you looking to generate? How much time a week are you able to invest? How muchfinancial investment can you make? What are your reasons for wanting a home-based business? What times can you be reached?'

Usually there is not an option for the survey-taker to leave any fields blank if they want to claim the promised prize or gift certificate. If any person is disgruntled with low wages and the "9-5 grind", and is given a chance to dream about financial freedom, they will "opt-in" to just such an offer.

At other times those whose names end up on a biz/op list have responded to an advertisement, either in a magazine, newspaper, or online. The ad usually tantalizes the reader with lines like this:

"Generate income with a home-based business you can be proud of. Real Opportunity. Real Products. Full Training & Support. 5-20 hrs/wk. Minimal investment of a few hundred dollars required."

Another common on-line ad blares headlines similar to this: "Work When You Want From The Comfort Of Your Own Home----Earn More Money Sitting At Home" Then there is the familiar picture of a woman sitting cross-legged on the couch with a dog curled up on each side. She is working on a lap-top computer on her lap. The curious and dissatisfied "opportunity seeker" sees visions of a passive, automated income flowing effortlessly into their bank accounts while they lounge at home. Then they eagerly fill out a form with their information or call a phone number to listen to a message where their information is captured. The reality is, we live in a capitalistic society. Everyone wants an opportunity! But is each person who responds, standing at the door of your MLM business with money in hand, just waiting to hand it over to you? The lead brokers want you to think so.

But think about it, for a minute. If these biz/op leads are such a lucrative way to build a business, why are the lead brokers even bothering to sell them or even "give" them away? They would be fools not to be funneling these "hot prospects" into a multi-level marketing business with the most profitable compensation plan! Unless, of course, they know something that the average network marketer doesn't about conversion rates.

The percentage of prospects who actually complete a financial transaction in relation to the amount of prospects contacted, is called a "conversion rate." In reality, a conversion rate of 2-5% is good. So, when you see those multi-level masters on the stage who are raking in tens of thousands of dollars a month, you can bet they took massive action by contacting thousands, even tens of thousands of people. That is how the game is played, massive action = massive results. So it would make sound mathematical sense to dial a list of the most targeted leads for the least amount of cost per lead. The reality is, that in corporate marketing, it is well-known that a "respondent" file is the weakest type of lead that can be obtained. Business opportunity seekers are exactly that, "respondent" leads.

Since list brokers need to be competitive with all this easily obtainable data, they come up with a variety of labels and features to establish value in the mind of their prospect. Phrases such as: "exclusive", "fresh", "real-time", "phone verified", "double opt-in", there’s even such a category as "instant voice" audio leads. Here is a quick reality check. No matter how many times a company says they will sell your personal list to someone else, you must realize that there is more than one lead broker marketing lists. This information is shared and easily obtainable by multiple parties. There are dozens and even hundreds of list brokers doing business. What guarantee do you have that your assigned list of names is exclusively yours?

Also, the phone verification process is another industry smokescreen to instill a perceived value in the mind of the desperate marketer. Phrased correctly, a telemarketer at a call center can get the same answers to the questions that the respondent gave the first time, based on the same incentives. This would also put them in the "double opt-in" category because they’ve responded more than once. Now for the word "fresh" or "real time", if it is so crucial to capture the attention of these prospects so close to the time they respond, does that mean they might be fickle? They might change their minds within a few days or months? Is that really the type of mindset that you want your business builders to have?

OK, now that I've defended my position against biz/op leads. I'm going to tell you the one and only reason that they might be worth dialing. If you can get biz/op leads for free, by all means, dial all you can in the beginning. Many list brokers will offer 20-25 leads for free as a sample. Gather all the free lists you can. It gives you good practice with your scripts and your sorting skills. Now and then, you might even get a chance to practice your closing skills. But here’s the best reason of all to dial free biz/op leads, it takes less time than going to the grocery store or the mall and approaching everyone you see within 3 feet of you. Wouldn’t you agree?

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

DiAnna McDowell

Certified MLM Mentor

www.provenmlmsuccess.com

mlmmentor@gmail.com

The Most Powerful Marketing Technique That Your MLM Company Will Not Teach You

Are you feeling like network marketing success isn't in your destiny?

Do you get tired watching others in your MLM company soak up all the accolades after having accomplished their financial goals while you struggle.

Relax. You weren't born under a bad sign. Marketing is a skill that can be learned...just like swimming, riding a bike or driving a car.

How did you learn to do those things? The answer is that you were taught some basic skills and then over time, as you used those skills, you mastered them.

"Marketing" is the same thing. Learn some basic skills. Practice these skills every day...and master them.

So let's start learning.

In this article we're going to take a look at the single most important thing you must learn in order to be successful.

Here it is...

Positioning Techniques

What's positioning?

It's a marketing technique used by every successful marketer, guru, personality, and business on the planet.

And, it can be used by any network marketer. In fact, your company and the big dogs (you know...the people up on stage) within your company use this technique everyday to build their businesses.

Okay, okay...what is it?

Positioning is simply this:

The process of defining your target market and what they're looking for and placing yourself and your product in the pathway of their search.

Okay, so now you've got a definition of positioning...but how does it work?

Defining your target market is easy. To do this you need to understand your product and its benefits.

Next, focus in on the particular group of people who are looking for those benefits and...where they search in order to find those benefits.

The Internet? Magazines? You bet.

The second step in positioning is to place yourself and your product in the pathway of your target audience's search.

You do this by using the tools of marketing (the phone, the Internet, etc...) to "place" yourself (position yourself) in between your target audience and the benefits they are seeking.

Let me give you an example...

Let's say you're marketing a weight loss product.

Okay...now, who is in your target market? Skinny people? No!

With a weight loss product your target market consists of people who are looking to lose weight. All you do is place yourself and your product infront of those people.

So, how do you "place" yourself infront of your target audience?

Here's an example...

You can craft a well written classified ad and publish it in a health related magazine that offers free information on how to lose weight safely and quickly.

Or, maybe you build a website that offers a free report on how to lose 10 pounds in 10 days without starving yourself.

In each case, if you do things properly, you will have scores of people who are desperately looking to loose weight knocking down your door to get their paws around that kind of information.

The mistake that so many network marketers make is that they never attempt to define their target audience and then, to make things worse, they incorrectly assume that everyone wants and/or needs their product.

When you fail to target your audience you fall prey to techniques like marketing to your friends and family or approaching anyone within 3 feet of you and "sharing" your product and/or opportunity with them.

This puts you in a position where you're going to have to do a lot of "convincing" to get people to even take a look at what you're doing.

Does that sound familiar?

Remember,the key is to target the people who are already looking for the benefits your product delivers.

Learning and then mastering positioning techniques will take you from being an unsuccessful amatuer to a successful network marketer.

In future articles I will discuss some incredible tools you can use right now to position yourself infront of your target audience.

I'll be posting them here soon. Or, you can go to my website, sign up for my newsletter and read more about positioning right now. The link to my site is listed in the resource section below.

---

Jeff Weissman is an attorney, network marketer and web publisher. He is the author of many articles on network marketing and excels at showing other network marketers how to use the telephone and the Internet as marketing/positioning tools. For more information about how to use these tools to grow your business go to Jeff's website www.DreamTeamTrainingWorks.com . Or, you can contact him by calling (516) 682-5656.

The Most Powerful Marketing Technique That Your MLM Company Will Not Teach You

Are you feeling like network marketing success isn't in your destiny?

Do you get tired watching others in your MLM company soak up all the accolades after having accomplished their financial goals while you struggle.

Relax. You weren't born under a bad sign. Marketing is a skill that can be learned...just like swimming, riding a bike or driving a car.

How did you learn to do those things? The answer is that you were taught some basic skills and then over time, as you used those skills, you mastered them.

"Marketing" is the same thing. Learn some basic skills. Practice these skills every day...and master them.

So let's start learning.

In this article we're going to take a look at the single most important thing you must learn in order to be successful.

Here it is...

Positioning Techniques

What's positioning?

It's a marketing technique used by every successful marketer, guru, personality, and business on the planet.

And, it can be used by any network marketer. In fact, your company and the big dogs (you know...the people up on stage) within your company use this technique everyday to build their businesses.

Okay, okay...what is it?

Positioning is simply this:

The process of defining your target market and what they're looking for and placing yourself and your product in the pathway of their search.

Okay, so now you've got a definition of positioning...but how does it work?

Defining your target market is easy. To do this you need to understand your product and its benefits.

Next, focus in on the particular group of people who are looking for those benefits and...where they search in order to find those benefits.

The Internet? Magazines? You bet.

The second step in positioning is to place yourself and your product in the pathway of your target audience's search.

You do this by using the tools of marketing (the phone, the Internet, etc...) to "place" yourself (position yourself) in between your target audience and the benefits they are seeking.

Let me give you an example...

Let's say you're marketing a weight loss product.

Okay...now, who is in your target market? Skinny people? No!

With a weight loss product your target market consists of people who are looking to lose weight. All you do is place yourself and your product infront of those people.

So, how do you "place" yourself infront of your target audience?

Here's an example...

You can craft a well written classified ad and publish it in a health related magazine that offers free information on how to lose weight safely and quickly.

Or, maybe you build a website that offers a free report on how to lose 10 pounds in 10 days without starving yourself.

In each case, if you do things properly, you will have scores of people who are desperately looking to loose weight knocking down your door to get their paws around that kind of information.

The mistake that so many network marketers make is that they never attempt to define their target audience and then, to make things worse, they incorrectly assume that everyone wants and/or needs their product.

When you fail to target your audience you fall prey to techniques like marketing to your friends and family or approaching anyone within 3 feet of you and "sharing" your product and/or opportunity with them.

This puts you in a position where you're going to have to do a lot of "convincing" to get people to even take a look at what you're doing.

Does that sound familiar?

Remember,the key is to target the people who are already looking for the benefits your product delivers.

Learning and then mastering positioning techniques will take you from being an unsuccessful amatuer to a successful network marketer.

In future articles I will discuss some incredible tools you can use right now to position yourself infront of your target audience.

I'll be posting them here soon. Or, you can go to my website, sign up for my newsletter and read more about positioning right now. The link to my site is listed in the resource section below.

---

Jeff Weissman is an attorney, network marketer and web publisher. He is the author of many articles on network marketing and excels at showing other network marketers how to use the telephone and the Internet as marketing/positioning tools. For more information about how to use these tools to grow your business go to Jeff's website www.DreamTeamTrainingWorks.com . Or, you can contact him by calling (516) 682-5656.

We all pay more for the "fresh" label when we shop. And we expect higher quality when we do. But is "fresh" always the best way to go when you are looking for MLM leads to grow your business? Dozens of lead brokers want you to think so. In fact, they believe that if they jack up the cost per lead (by as much as 2000%), that you, the budding entrepreneur, will surely realize the intrinsic value in a "fresh" lead. In fact, I know personally of fellow networkers who eagerly forked over $7 and higher for each name they purchased! Their business rationale? ---to dial the best leads they could. After all, "you get what you pay for", right?

Wrong! Leads are NOT dairy products! Nor are they baked goods. They do not spoil or grow fungus after 72 hours. In fact, when it comes to leads, the word "fresh" means only one thing to the consumer: "RIP-OFF". And here is why.

There are a few psychological and statistical facts that should be considered before purchasing any lead list. First: human beings are creatures of habit. If they have a want, need, or desire for your product today, they will also have the same desire for your product tomorrow, or next week, or next month or next year. Consumers are consumers for life, not just for a particular "buying season". Second: if a prospect is so fickle that their interest might "expire" in a short time, then why would they be loyal to your particular product anyway? Third: the carefully calculated statistics of marketing can guarantee only a small percentage of any prospect list will give a positive response. And an even smaller percentage can be counted on to actually close. Therefore, it makes the most financial sense to dial the most cost-effective list possible by lowering the cost-per-lead rate of your lists. Fourth: since closing ratios depend entirely upon the skill set of the closer, new marketers should practice and develop skills by "burning" through the cheapest (within reason) source list possible. In fact, if free leads could be located, (free "sample" lists are available) that would be the ideal list for a beginning marketer.

As in any venture, education is key to saving oneself from financial ruin. Marketing is truly a mathematical science. Know how to put the numbers in your favor. Grow your business as inexpensively as possible. Develop a solid prospecting and closing skill set using consistent techniques that have been statistically proven. Understand the characteristics of your ideal prospect.

With proper preparation, new marketers need not be destitute marketers. With sound marketing principles as your base, you need never again to be lured into shaky purchases from lead brokers. You will understand that when a lead broker uses the word "fresh", something stinks.

About The Author:

DiAnna McDowell

Certified MLM Mentor

Desk Line: 801-280-0872

Website: www.provenmlmsuccess.com

Email: mlmmentor@gmail.com

Prospecting: Warm Market or Cold Market?

Network marketers constantly stress over Whether they should approach their warm market and deal with possible rejection from friends and family or whether they should buy leads and go after the cold market.

The answer to this is neither.

Okay, you're probably thinking to yourself "This guy doesn't know what he's talking about". Well, relax dear reader. I haven't lost my marbles...yet. Read on...you might learn something.

You see, the Warm market vs. cold market debate is a waste of time.

You should not be concerned whether your lead is "warm" or "cold". What you need to focus on is whether the lead is part of your "target market".

Finding your "target market"

Real marketing is not about convincing people that they need your product or service. What successful marketers do is find a "niche" or a group of people who have an interest in or are looking for the kinds of benefits that their products deliver.

Most network marketers operate under the belief that everybody wants and needs their products. Unfortunately, this is not true. I believe this assumption comes from the network marketing training most network marketers get from their companies and upline.

Let me give you an example of what I mean by target marketing.

Let's say that you market a functional health beverage, like Goji or Xango. These beverages provide tremendous health benefits. You could target everyone you know or everyone you come in contact with. This is non-targeted marketing. It is what most network marketers do. If you do this type of marketing you can expect typical network marketer results (98% failure).

But, what if you were to target people who were already looking for the very benefits your products deliver?

How do you do that?

Well, there are techniques you could use to identify those people who are looking for better health. Maybe you could find people who've previously purchased products similar to the one you're marketing. Or, you could advertise on the Internet to attract those people. Do you think you might do better by simply satisfying their needs, wants and desires? You bet. These people are more likely to buy your product.

This is the essence of targeted niche marketing.

Read more about targeted niche marketing...including specific examples of the techniques you can use to determine your niche audience.

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Jeff Weissman is an attorney, network marketer and web publisher. If you'd like to learn more about network marketing training which will teach you all about how to attract your target market go to his website atwww.DreamTeamTrainingWorks.com In addition, you can contact him for a Free consultation by calling him directly at (516) 682-5656.