These days it seems like there is more and more competition in the MLM field - new companies spring up out of nowhere overnight and everyone else is touting their hot new “product du jour.” So what’s an MLMer got to do to stand out in this over heated, over-hyped market? Well, fortunately, it’s not that hard. Most people don’t really think too much about how to market their MLM business in an effective and creative way. Most people are lazy and just do the minimum and wait for the money to roll in.

What you MUST do to stand out from the MLM masses is to make the benefits of doing business with you so powerful that your potential customers and recruits will see you clearly as the best choice for their sponsor.

This is especially important if you want to successfully recruit people long distance -- you don’t have the advantage of being able to speak to them face to face -- you need to have a strong offer that really will convince them that you are the person they should do business with.

I’m always amazed when I receive information packs in the mail from distributors who obviously think that it’s not important to tell me who they are and why they are sending me this information. They don’t include a letter or note introducing themselves; they just throw a bunch of company sales literature in an envelope, stick their name and phone number on the back and expect that to do the trick. What a waste! With no personal letter or note and no information as to why I should consider them as a potential sponsor, how can I make an informed decision about whether this great opportunity is for me? And if they don’t follow up with a phone call, letter, or e-mail (which happens 95% of the time); most likely I’ll toss their expensive package of sales literature and keep looking for something better.

One of the most difficult things for people building an MLM businessis learning how to market their business effectively. Getting the company literature and becoming familiar with the products is just the beginning -- you need to really spend some time crafting a dynamite marketing system that gets results.

So, here’s some tips you can use to make your marketing efforts more productive and set yourself apart from the crowd:

Target one or two niche markets to focus on. Develop a marketing campaign designed to get their attention. What’s a good niche? Here’s some ideas to get you started - stay at home moms, downsized middle managers, women, men, generation Xers, baby boomers, seniors. Tip: Pick a niche that you are a part of - this will make it easier for you to figure out what that group’s needs and wants are.

Always send out a personalized letter with your information packages. Tell them your story - this will help make you more “real” to your faraway prospects and customers and help them get to know you. People like to do business with people they know and like -- do everything you can to make an emotional contact with them.

Develop a “Success Pak” for your downline - offer them a customized sales letter, free leads, free postcards etc. Give them a plan to get them started on the right path.

Develop a short customer/downline newsletter and send it out at least monthly; include success stories, info on new products, business tips and resources etc. It can be sent via e-mail, fax or mail. I have never known any successful MLMers that didn’t provide some sort of “newsletter” to their downline. It can be 2 pages, 4 pages or more; letter or postcard size; elaborate or simple. The idea is to just keep in contact on a regular basis.

Develop a web page that offers “real” information to help your potential customers build their business. There’s a lot of MLMer’s with web pages on the Internet that are just basic billboards. You can stand out by offering a little something more.

Write some helpful “tip reports” to share with people online and off. I know of one superstar MLMer who gives away free reports to anyone who’s interested. She provides valuable information that acts as a powerful “recruiter” for her business.

THINK SERVICE! Put yourself in your prospect's shoes and think of all the ways you can help them succeed in their business and then DO THEM! If you help your people to succeed and reach their goals, then you will be successful too.

Secrets of an MLM Mom
By R. Droppa

Can you imagine finding this advertisement in your Sunday paper?

Help Wanted - Full Time Pay for Part Time Efforts. Work at Home. No supervision.

Pick your own hours. Free training. Constant support available 7 days a week 24 hours a day. Use only your best skills. No experience required.

As unrealistic as it may seem, this was the job I was looking for as I scoured the classifieds. You see, shortly after the birth of my son, I realized that my heart's desire, my focus, was changing. My successful 10 year career in the corporate world, that I had been so proud of was taking a back seat to my desire to stay home and raise my baby. But alas, our family budget depended on my income. Where was I going to find a company that would pay me to stay home? I considered my alternatives. I arranged with my employer to work part-time from my house, but after a few weeks it became obvious that this was not a solution. I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be around my son full-time. I wanted to be able to not work for days in a row and then work as long and as hard as I could on weekends or during the night. I wanted a job that involved few clothing changes, and as little face to face contact as possible. I needed to be self-employed, but how could I afford it? I was determined. I had to find a way. I stumbled across some information on Multi-Level Marketing and discovered the perfect business for women like me. Here are just a few of the reasons Multi-Level Marketing makes sense for working mothers.

You can begin building your business, part-time, while you keep your regular job. This may seem like an extraordinary feat, considering you are already over loaded with family and work responsibilities, but keeping the goal in mind, couldn't you find an hour each week night, and maybe a couple more on the weekend? The first 3 to 6 months in any new job are considered a training period. How many new businesses can you try out while keeping your current job as a safety net?

The top quality MLM Co's have compensation plans that are designed to reward the part time distributor and emphasize depth. This means you will be working with a sponsor who is financially motivated to help you succeed. Any sponsor will be thrilled to take on a majority of the "work" knowing that they are helping you build towards a goal of working the business full-time.

The start-up costs of your business are lower than most any other type of home based venture. Even if you are planning to start your own business providing consulting or some other type of service. Realize that in order to be successful you will probably need some or all of the following: logo, letterhead, forms, business card design & printing, newspaper/trade advertising, legal counsel, accounting services, permits, licenses, yellow pages advertising, brochure production, office supplies and equipment, and so forth.

Also, remember you can't be out "selling" the business if you are at home "doing" the business. The reputable MLM's have minimal start-up costs. In my case, I paid less than $50 for a distributor kit, and then invested a small amount of money in the products I wanted to use for myself and my family. My total start up cost was under $300.00.

You can leverage other people's efforts for your own financial gain. Yet, you do not have the hassle, liability and other problems associated with having employees. If your family schedule will not allow you to devote normal working hours to the business, but you feel it is critical to contact a prospect base that only operates from 9 to 5, then recruit someone who can work those hours. If you feel your business would be best built on door to door sales you can find someone who enjoys this and sponsor them into your company. Think of yourself as the coach, not the quarterback of the team. You don't even have to be out on the field. This way, you can still be building your business through other peoples sales efforts, while you are home, managing the business.

You can work when and how you want. One of the key factors in successful network marketing is staying in control of your prospecting activities. Therefore, you are encouraged to let people leave messages so that you can get back to them, when you are ready. Think about this. You do not have to run around the house, panicked, rounding up and hushing the kids while the phone rings, because you are expecting an important call. One of the basic principals a good MLM'er will teach you, is - let your prospect leave a message.

You can schedule your return calls for when the baby is asleep, the kids are at school, etc... I do much of my communicating through E-Mail and voice mail. Instead of holding meetings in my home, or setting up one on one presentations, I send my prospects videos. When they are ready for the next step, I will attend a business opportunity meeting with them, but in my company, these are held at 7:30 pm. Conveniently, this is half an hour after my son goes to sleep.

You can be "working" while you do normal parenting things. The world is your client base. Think of all the "warm" prospects you have with other children's parents, school personnel, or church acquaintances. You don't have to be annoying. You can simply share a product success or drop a hint during a normal conversation. The best sales tool is your own success. If you look great, and are obviously doing well financially, people are going to start asking you about that weight loss product they heard you were selling. If you are happy and everyone around town sees you out with your children during the day, some conventionally employed moms might start asking what your secret is.

You can save money as well as earn it. Most experts will tell you to ask yourself this question when evaluating MLM's - "Would I buy this product for myself if I wasn't a distributor." In my case, the answer was an overwhelming yes. I represent a manufacturer who is selling over 100 products via network marketing. Many of these have replaced more expensive items that were already in my family's monthly budget. An additional benefit, is that through our use of the products, we have become living testimonials. Many of our friends and family members have approached us about trying something before we even had a chance to ask them.

In my situation, another benefit is that I have been able to help other mothers realize their goal to work at home. I highly recommend this business to anyone who is looking for a way out of the "rat race". Thanks to Multi-level Marketing, I can now earn a living and still have time to play peek-a-boo with my son, read him stories and rock him to sleep at nap time.

Tools of the Trade for Multi-Level Marketing Moms

Cordless Telephone (ideally, cordless headset) with Mute Button
Answering Machine or Voice-Mail
Tall, Solid Shelving or Locking Storage Cabinets for Products
UPS/FEDEX Accounts That Will Pick-Up At Your Home
Locking Filing Cabinets and Desk Drawers
Postal Scale and Lots Of Pre-Bought Postage On Hand
Child's Office Set-Up With Toy Desk, Phone, Computer, etc...
Back Up Plan (sitter on call, or day care center that takes drop in)
Good Selection of Parent Approved Children's Videos
Cord/Cable Management Troughs

Fine-Tune Your 30-second commercial, and Get Your Net. . . Working!
By Linda Locke

Whether you’re an old pro at MLM or a newcomer, one thing’s for sure...networking is an essential part of building your business. The more well-known you are in the business community, and the more people who know about you and your business, the more referrals you are likely to receive. Networking provides the exposure you need and is especially important for those who work at home to keep them from becoming too isolated.

The contacts you develop through networking continue to grow and expand until you have a web connecting you to potential clients throughout the community. When your net starts working, you’ll begin receiving calls from people you’ve never met, who are associates of associates. It just goes on and on. To facilitate this happening, you must tell everyone you meet who you are and what you do.

Most of us are shy about tooting our own horn. But when you’re in business, especially your own business, you must learn to toot your horn regularly.

Develop a 30-second commercial which simply and concisely explains what you do as well as the benefits of your products. Make sure it’s easy to understand. Here’s a sample:

“Hi, I’m Sue Brown, an executive with the Maximum Energy Company. I market a line of natural herbal supplements that make you feel great and help you lose weight quickly and safely. I also offer a complete business system for women who would like to learn how to earn a good part-time income working out of their home.”

To prepare your 30-second commercial, make a list of the benefits of your service or product and incorporate them into a description of your business. Use the above for an example. Test it out on an associate to make sure it’s clear. Then practice, practice, practice.

When you meet someone, whether it's in an elevator, at a business mixer, association meeting or business luncheon, your 30-second commercial quickly tells them who you are. Then you can find out who they are and exchange business cards. Your goal at mixers and trade shows is to connect with as many prospects as possible, so limit your contact time to about five minutes. You might want to make a note on their business card based on your conversation. Later you can review your notes to determine which ones to follow up. Make a phone call to arrange a meeting to get to know one another better.

Remember, the best networking comes from developing business relationships. The more you know about each other and your businesses, the better you can serve each other’s needs. Develope a contact file and a regular plan to help stay in touch with prospects. If you publish a newsletter, you might put them on your list to receive it. Or, you could send a brochure, which describes your products and/or business opportunity. If you happen to come across a newspaper or magazine article which may be of interest to your potential customer, you could copy it and pass it along. And, I guarantee you’ll be remembered if you call with a referral which may bring future business to your prospect.

Think of the potential business out there. What are you waiting for? Practice your commercial. Grab a stack of business cards.

And get your net working!

Top 10 Online Marketing Tips!
By Colleen Mandato

WELCOME to the WONDERFUL WORLD of ON-LINE MARKETING! Here are some tips to help you along the way. If you have any ideas or tips you’d like to share for our next “TOP 10” report -- PLEASE send them to me at august12@aol.com so we all can learn from each other! Thanks and enjoy!

1. NAME RECOGNITION. This is absolutely critical. People want to deal with someone they “know” rather than a stranger. The more often they see your name in a positive light, the more likely they will be comfortable enough to contact you. Choose an area and make it your own! Select a particular newsgroup or message board and post there often. Always sign your posts. It’s like campaign signs on front lawns!

2. CONTRIBUTE REAL INFORMATION to the discussions so people will enjoy reading them and will look forward to your next post. Let’s be honest... most ads are boring. Of course you can use a signature file -- 4-6 lines of information that tells people who you are, what you do and how to contact you!

3. ALWAYS BE POSITIVE! Never put down another person or another program. Remember what your mother always said “if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!” Occasionallysomeone will ask you for your honest opinion of a program or product that you just don’t like. In this case, be honest, but do it in a private e-mail.

4. REVEAL YOURSELF! Give some details about yourself that only someone who has met you personally would generally know about. For instance, I often make mention of my 10 children or the fact that I live in a one traffic light town in the Catskill Mountains in NY. Anytime you hold out a point of contact you increase your chances of having folks feel comfortable with you.

5. CHOOSE A MENTOR! When you read through the posts you’ll probably find someone who you admire, someone who seems to have it all together on-line. Write and tell them! You’ll probably get an answer back -- and can start a conversation. Just realize that some people get hundreds of e-mail messages a day! If they don’t get back to you immediately, it doesn’t mean they won’t or that they don’t intend to...just that they are busy and need to take care of their existing business associates first!

6. GIVE SOMETHING AWAY! Every article I write becomes another point of contact. Often I will make a little signature file and offer one of my past articles! For instance: “FREE REPORT -- BUILDING A DOWNLINE ON-LINE! E-mail august12@aol.com Subject: DOWNLINE” This brings me daily inquiries from people I know who are interested in my industry.

7. REQUEST A RESPONSE! A great way to get a conversation started in a private e-mail is “Tell me about the program you work!”. On-line try “E-mail (your on-line address) for FREE INFORMATION” or “Take part in our survey on XXXXX and make your opinion count! For your FREE SURVEY e-mail (your internet address”). My personal favorite is “Please tell me what you think!”

8. LEARN TO TAG TEAM! This is my name for the on-line version of the three-way call. When someone is interested in your program or service or product, you send the information and let your prospect know that they will be hearing from several of your associates, too. This way they can get a more well rounded view of your offer so they can make a better decision. For a FREE REPORT on “TAG TEAMS!! What They Are and How To Do Them” just e- mail me at august12@aol.com Subject: TAG TEAMS!!

9. READ! Two books I highly recommend are “Guerrilla Marketing Online” by Jay Conrad Levinson and “Jesus - CEO” by Laurie Beth Jones. Both of these are currently available at major bookstores. One note: Mr. Levinson has written many books with “Guerrilla Marketing” as part of the title. Make sure you get the one that says “Online”!

10. BE A SOLID MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY! Remember -- the on-line community is like any other neighborhood -- good news and bad news both travel fast. Be a generous member of your community. Help out where you can. Congratulate people on their successes and provide a shoulder for those who have been hurt. Celebrate often. Pass along compliments. Welcome new people on board. The on-line community is a team -- remember to say “Thank You”-- in public! -- to those that have helped in your success.

Copyright September 1, 1995, Colleen Mandato

Colleen Mandato is a full time Network Marketer and mother of 10, living in the Catskill Mountains in New York. Colleen welcomes comments and questions on working multiple programs or working by computer. She can be reached by mail at P.O. Box 906, Cairo, NY 12413, by phone at 518-622-2296 (except Sundays, please) or by e-mail at august12@aol.com