The Enlightened Networker » Recruiting

7 Forum Marketing Tips For Network Marketers

Ilka Flood — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:03:54 +0000

Online Marketing Forum

Is it worth spending time in online marketing forums? Does forum marketing really work?

I would definitely say “YES!” Considering you are following the forum marketing tips below.

You can make some great connections there. Find answers to your questions by posting threads. Well, even find prospects for your business opportunity.

However there are some rules you need to follow.

Some are common sense but still I see people violate them all the time.

Just like blogs, or social networks, online marketing forums are very public. People can follow and observe you without you even knowing it. So it is of utmost importance that you are at your best behavior at all times.

I think it goes without saying that you should be treating people with courtesy and respect.

Here are some forum marketing tips that will make your experience in online marketing forums more fun:

Read the rules. That should be a no brainer, as not following the rules can get you banned from online marketing forums altogether.
Be transparent. Don’t hide behind an avatar, company logo, picture of your dog or any other such nonsense. People want to know who you are. They are much more likely to connect with you when they can see your face.
Be kind and polite to fellow members. Think twice before cutting someone down, leaving a rude comment, or being darn right nasty. Remember, these are real people you are interacting with. Just like you, they do have feelings. Offensive language doesn’t get you anywhere. It can actually get you banned from the forum as well.
Never sell or promote anything. People don’t like to be spammed. An online marketing forum is not an ad board, but a place to communicate, share experiences and help and support other members.
Always give value. If you have helpful information that you can add to forums, or the solution to someone’s problem , by all means share it. Share freely without expecting anything in return. The more you contribute the better people will get to know you.
Be appreciative. If someone helped you out, please let them know that you appreciate their help and support. A little “thank you” can go a long way.
Create an attractive signature file. This is the place where you can link to your opportunity, your website or your blog. The only place where you can toot your own horn. So make it interesting for people to want to find out more about you or your business.

There you have it. It’s not rocket science. Most of it is common sense.

Remember, whatever you say in online marketing forums is public and out there for everyone to see.

I hope these forum marketing tips have been helpful.

Oh, by the way, you can find some great online marketing forums by doing a search on Google.

However, the best online marketing forum I have found is BetterNetworker.

If you are already at Better Networker, make sure to connect with me. I’d love to meet you.

To your success!

Ilka Flood
The Enlightened Networker

P.S. If you found value in this article please share it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you!

What’s “The Business of the 21st Century” And Why Should You Get Involved In It?

Ilka Flood — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:50:55 +0000

Business of the 21st Century

I’m sure you are familiar with best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki of “Rich Dad – Poor Dad.” If you haven’t read the book I highly recommend it. I also recommend his newest book “The Business of the 21^st Century.” (Read the First Chapter of “The Business of the 21^st Century here.)

Have your parents ever told you this …

“Go to school get good grades, get a high-paying job, live below your means and save money?”

Has it gotten you anywhere? Has it gotten you to where you want to be?

The sad truth is, that for a lot of us, this plan doesn’t work.

You’ll never get rich working for someone else. That’s a fact!

Instead you should be in business for yourself. I don’t mean being self-employed or a small business owner.

In the short video below, Robert Kiyosaki will explain what “The Business of the 21^st Century” is and why it makes perfect sense.

I love the way he said: “Always remember, it’s not money that makes you rich, it’s business skills.”

I totally believe that, because money comes and goes, but the skills you acquire (in network marketing or direct selling) will always stay with you. And that’s why network marketing is the perfect business.

“The number one asset a person can build is build a business. That’s the smartest thing you can do.” _Robert Kiyosaki.

I truly believe this, as from my own experience I know that “Plan A” doesn’t work. Our family had to find out what it meant to go from a paycheck to zero from one day to the next. There is no such thing as “Job Security” and there hasn’t been for a very long time.

So, are you leaving your future and that of your family’s in the hands of someone else? Or is it time for a change? Is it time for you to take a closer look at “The Business of the 21^st Century? It’s your choice!

To your success,

Ilka Flood
The EnlightenedNetworker

How Do You Get Past That Sting of a NO in your MLM Prospecting?

Ilka Flood — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:36:49 +0000

Positive MLM Prospecting

We’ve all heard it that dreaded “NO” when we were out presenting our opportunity. Maybe our presenting skills where still a bit rough, maybe the timing wasn’t right, or maybe our prospect just wasn’t interested. Whatever the case might have been we heard that devastating “NO.”

Yes, it can really sting and it can really hurt and sometimes it really can let the air right out of your balloon.

However, if you know that it is coming then you are way ahead of the game.

And if you have been in the network marketing industry for a while, you know that it’s coming. You can prepare for it.

Network marketing professionals know, that it takes at least 8 NO’s before they hear a YES. They know, the more NO’s they hear, the closer they are to a YES. So it doesn’t bother them when they get those NO’s.

But, for someone that is just starting out in the network marketing industry, 8 NO’s can be devastating. Most of the time it doesn’t even take 8 NO’s before they throw the towel and quit.

They just signed up for their new home based buisness. All excited they run to their family and friends and they get shut down by NO after NO, after NO. They are disappointed, think network marketing doesn’t work and that’s the end of that. They haven’t learned to not take rejections personally yet.

So again, how do you get past that devastating NO?

Know that it’s coming. Know that it is just part of the game. Better yet, try to avoid it in the first place.

How do I do that you may ask.

There are two ways you may avoid a NO in the first place.

The first way is through “qualifying” your prospects. This business isn’t for everyone. Anyone can do it, but not everyone will. Chose wisely whom you want to work with. Joe Sixpack isn’t right for this business. Don’t sponsor people who need the money, but those who want it. Stay away from negative people. Always sponsor up, meaning sponsor people that are a level higher than you.

The second way is, never ask for a “YES”. By never asking for a yes, you’ll never get a NO. When you approach your contact with your opportunity, don’t firehose them with all the info and then ask if they’re interested. Instead, ask if you have their permission to “educate” them on something you are excited about. Most people like to be educated but hate to be sold. They’ll say, sure, send me some info. It’s a totally non-threatening way.

To your success,

Ilka Flood
The Enlightened Networker

P.S. Before you go, please share this article with your friends on Facebook or Twitter.

P.P.S. If you are on Facebook I would love to connect with you. Send me a friend request and let me know you’re coming from my blog. This way I know you are a friend and not a stranger.

Don’t Assume Anything About Your Prospect – Ask Questions Instead

Ilka Flood — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:10:46 +0000

Don't Assume Anything About Your Propect

Have you ever totally ‘messed up’ a meeting or conversation with a prospect? I mean, it seemed so promising. And then you got into your car to drive home (or you hung up the phone) and you thought to yourself, “man, I totally messed this one up”. What the heck happened?”

Could it have been that you have been “assuming” things about your prospect?

Someone once gave me the definition of “assume” and it’s not the one found in the dictionary or Wikipedia. It goes like this …

ASS-U-ME = When you assume something you are making an ASS out of U and ME.

Yes, it’s a bit strong language and I normally don’t talk that way but … it hits the point spot on. Don’t assume things about people. Especially those you don’t know or have just met.

When we assume something about our prospects we come to false conclusions which can lead to misunderstandings, non-understanding and mis-communication. And that messes everything up.

Also, how often do we say to people, “I know exactly what you’re thinking?”

How can we know what someone is thinking? We only know what we ourselves are thinking. We could assume (there’s that word again) what someone may be thinking based on certain circumstances or our own experiences, but then again, that would get us exactly to what I mentioned above.

So the best thing to do when meeting a prospect for the first time, either in person or on the phone is to ASK QUESTIONS. Ask lots of questions.

The more questions we ask the better we get to know our prospect and the better we can assess what his or her needs are.

That’s what we’re there for. That’s our job. To find out what our prospects problems are and then find a solution to fix them. We can’t do that by assuming but only by asking questions.

So do yourself a favor, don’t assume anything.

To your success,

Ilka Flood
The Enlightened Networker

P.S. You don’t have to share this on Twitter, Facebook or Digg, but if you do, I surely appreciate it. Thank you!

The Importance of Qualifying Your MLM Prospects | Network Marketing Tips For Beginners

Ilka Flood — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:23:03 +0000

Are you barking up the wrong tree in your MLM prospecting?

If you are still fairly new to network marketing the following scenarios may sound painfully familiar to you. But don’t feel too bad. Most of us network marketers have experienced them or something similar. As time goes on and you get better, none of this will be an issue anymore. So, here’s my question …

Has any of this ever happened to you?

1) You just drove over an hour to meet with a prospect. When you got there they were a no-show.

2) You gave what in your opinion was the best network marketing presentation of your life and your prospect tells you they are not interested.

3) You got over your fear of picking up the phone, called your prospect, gave an excellent presentation for your network marketing business and as soon as you were finished they started pitching THEIR business to you.

4) You know someone would just absolutely be perfect for your program or service, but when you approach them they’re giving you the cold shoulder.

5) You made several appointments with a prospect to get feedback on the DVD you send him/her, but they keep coming up with excuses why they haven’t watched it yet.

In all the scenarios above you have been just wasting your precious time.

I should know, because all of them happened to me.

Not only that, they all delivered a big blow to my self-confidence. I felt like a complete idiot. A total failure!

And I could have prevented all of them from happening … If I had pre-qualified my MLM prospects.

But at the time, I didn’t know any better. I just followed what my upline told me to do.

Network marketing today is a bit different from when I first started.

You can google just about anything and find the answers to your most pressing questions.

Or you can hang with the right people … Like “The Better Bunch” and learn from them. Don’t know who the Better Bunch are? Read “The Story Behind The Better Bunch” by Dwayne Huggins. I highly recommend you read his article and find out. It could shave years off of your network marketing learning curve. And YES, there is one!

Sorry, I got a bit off track.

So, how do you qualify your MLM prospects?

By asking questions like…

“If I can show you a way how you can add additional income to your monthly paycheck and you feel completely comfortable with it, would you be ready to do business?

“If I can show you a way how you can get a pay raise without going to your boss, when would you have 30 minutes to have a closer look?”

“If I could show you how you can take advantage of tax benefits like the rich people do, would it be worth your time to spend 30 minutes with me? And when would be a better time for you, Monday at 7:00PM or Wednesday at 6:30PM?

Notice that these questions nail your prospect down to either give you a simple yes or no answer or a commitment to meet with you.

No more wasting your time on lookiloos or tire-kickers. Your time is way to precious.

Hope this helps you separate the good prospects from the bad ones.

If you would like to share your own personal experiences or you have more tips on qualifying mlm prospects, please share them with us in the comments below.

To Your Success,

Ilka Flood

P.S As always if you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook or Digg it. It’s much appreciated. Thank you!

Are You Struggling Because You Don’t Know Your Numbers? | MLM Tips for Beginners

Ilka Flood — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:46:48 +0000

Knowing Your Network Marketing Numbers Can Save You A Lot of Frustration

Many new networkers get frustrated because they don’t know their numbers. But knowing them has a lot to do with their success in network marketing.

If you are just starting out in the network marketing industry (or in your new home business) you must know your numbers.

Realize that your numbers will be lower than someone else’s who has been working in the industry for a while.

Don’t compare yourself to your sponsor, or other people in your company.

This will only get you discouraged and frustrated, because most likely you won’t be having the same results.

Just like with any other profession there is a learning curve in network marketing also.

There is a lot to learn and things change on almost a daily basis. It takes practice to get better.

Now let’s look at some numbers …

Let’s say your sponsor has a closing rate of 5/10 which means out of 10 people he talks and shows the business to, five will join with him.

If you are brand new, you can’t expect the same rate of success.

You may have to talk to 20, 30 or more prospects before someone joins you. But if you know your numbers then that’s no problem. Then you know that you have to talk to that many people before you will enroll a new business partner. (By the way, a lot of times it’s easier to get customers vs business partners. So you might want to keep that in the back of your mind.)

The more people you talk to the better your numbers will get.

Don’t worry your network marketing prospecting skills will get better over time. Remember, practice makes better.

To Your Success,

Ilka Flood

P.S. If you found this post helpful please share it with your friends on Twitter or Facebook. Thank you!

How To Win Your Prospects Over

Ilka Flood — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:14:55 +0000

Give more in value than you take in payment.

Sponsoring new people in to your network marketing opportunity is a process that takes time. Very seldom do you meet someone who joins your team the same day you introduce him or her to your business. For example, I am a person who researches a business opportunity I am interested in for several months before I join.

Given the fact, that it may take several months before your prospect joins your team, and with the competition as tough as it is in the network marketing industry, you need to stand out from the crowd.

Be different…

I may sound like a broken record, but I say it again…

People will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust.

One way of gaining people’s trust is by giving them value and by making them feel like they are the most important person in the world to you.

“Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.”
(The Law of Value, page 29, The Go-Giver.)

When I was looking into becoming a rep for my company, I was approached by several people I knew. A couple of them I have known for years. I like and trust all of them.

But they made several mistakes in trying to recruit me.

1) They used the “Hit and Run” approach, which means, they hit me up with the opportunity and then ran and waited for my reaction.

2) They didn’t follow up with me. None of them did.

I still wanted to get involved with that company, because I could see the benefits of the product and I knew I would have a lot of fun with it. But now I had a problem. Whom would I choose as my sponsor? I wanted to make sure I joined someone who cared about me. Someone who was plugged in to the company training and was committed to their business. Someone who would be there to train me and show me the ropes.

Luckily, another person entered the playing field, a complete stranger.

He introduced me to the company and product the same way those other people did, by sending me a greeting card that included a DVD about the opportunity.

But, … here’s the BIG difference … He kept in touch and followed up with me.

He sent me another card and then called to introduce himself.

He kept following up with me. He even sent me brownies for my birthday. A month later he sent me a magazine about the company … which by the way, I read cover to cover the day I received it.

Then again a month later he sent me a book about network marketing.

He didn’t have to do all this. I had already told him that I was going to join him.

And besides … He already had me at the brownies =) I could tell then that he really genuinely cared about ME as a person. (And yes, I felt a bit guilty too.)

Here is my point , …. give more in value than you take in payment.

Make your prospect feel special. Remember when you were dating your husband or your wife? You brought flowers. You went out to dinner. You watched a movie together.

Well, prospecting is a lot like dating.

Do me a favor … if you like this post, please share it on Twitter and with your friends on Facebook. Thank you!

22 Tips to help your business grow this year

Ilka Flood — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:43:59 +0000

Focus on what the prospect wants not what you want.
Recruit through their eyes not yours.
Use the word “you” at least 4 times. Use it more than you use me or I.
Paint word pictures. Use phrases like…”What would it be like if…
Don’t use Network Marketing Lingo.
Double the size of your Warm Market.
Listen closely to what your prospect is saying.
Always tell the prospect why you are calling. You need to be real.
Bring value to your opportunity. Let them know the reasons why you joined.
Don’t recruit. Connect their hearts to the hope and possibilities. Hype comes from the head. Hope comes from the heart.
It’s not about hype it’s about hope. Hope for a better future. Enlighten their lives. WIFM (What’s in it for me) the radio station everyone is tuned in to.
Be in the presentation not just at the presentation. Be sincere.
Let the prospect ask questions.
Be focused.
Use their name at least 3 times in the first 3 minutes. People love to hear their name. People need to know you have taken an interest in them.
Follow up. Don’t chase your prospect. You’re not a dog. Show your leadership by following up with them, but don’t chase them. Get them talking again. Make a friend. Ask them what they like so far. Ask if they have any questions about your opportunity.
Don’t lose your old contacts. Keep in touch with them. Timing may not be right for them right now.A great system to keep in touch with your prospects and customers. It is also a powerful system to get referrals.
Use the phrase…”If this is righ for you…”
Be forward focused. Use phrases like…”This is a new year. Have you ever thought of having your own home business?”
Always setting the next steps. What do you do next? Show them their next move. Be the Pied Piper.
People don’t follow what you say or do but who you are. Be genuine. Stay in your confidence level.
Always thank your prospect for their time. No matter what. Always ask for a referral.