Do You Make These Mistakes?
By · Comments“The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.“
- Gloria Steinem
We’ve mentored many home business builders over the past few years, spent many hours working closely with many and have helped thousands across the world through our courses and content online.
Often, before we can teach them proven online marketing strategies to help take their business to the next level, we have to first untrain and help them unlearn a few common things which is robs most home business entrepreneurs from enjoying the success they dream of.
We want to share with you what these common mistakes are so you can reflect on yourself and see if YOU are guilty of these as well.
Common Mistake #1: Fooling Yourself into Thinking that Your MLM Distributorship is an Actual Business…
Folks are in for a shock when we flat out tell them that their MLM “business” is NOT a REAL business! The reactions we get are often that of shock and disbelief, followed by angry rejection and denial, followed by some sobbing and grief as the reality of what we tell them finally sinks in.
Once that’s done is when the REAL work can begin – when we coach them on what they need to do to start their REAL business.
Now, don’t get us wrong, we love the MLM concept and owe our freedom to this industry. But that still doesn’t mean you’re REAL business.
Don’t believe us? Try to do any of things on this list, which would be reasonable for any REAL business to do:
- Advertise on Google AdWords, Banners Ads or Other Forms of Advertising
- Put Together a Website Telling People About Your Opportunity/Products
- Create a Video Explaining Your Company’s Comp Plan and Post it Online
- Go Write a Sales Letter or Sales Video Selling People on Your Opportunity
- Break Any of the 100’s of Company Rules, Which May Restrict Your Ability to Spread the Word About Your Business and/or Products.
Now, if this was truly a business that you own and operate, would someone else (outside of the government, which only happens if you do something against the law) be able to shut you down? The answer is a big fat NO.
When you own a real business, YOU control all aspects of that business – from how you market, what your website looks like, to whom you hire and fire, the system you use to run it, what products you want to sell, anything and everything.
The fact of the matter is that your company has the power and right to terminate your “business” at any time, without giving you a reason or excuse. (Read your contract!)
Your MLM Company Holds You Hostage
In MLM, your company gets the final say in everything… including how you market, what your website looks like, the price points of your product, and ultimately, whether you may continue to benefit from the years of hard work you’ve put into growing a productive organization.
So what do you do?
Again, don’t get us wrong. We love MLM. But we want to make sure you understand that you are nothing more than a sales rep for your company, (this is the case for everyone in direct sales). You are NOT a business owner just because you are a MLMer, you are a business owner when you are 100% in control of how you run, market, and promote your business.
You need to own a system that you have absolute control over, that YOU have the final say.
Sure in this process, you choose to promote an MLM product/business, but should your relationship with that company ever disappear (go out of business, termination, you move to another company, etc), you are NOT financially affected and your clients/followes will happily go wherever you go.
It is a business that can stand on its own, where folks become loyal to YOUR brand/name (instead of that of your MLM company). In essence, it’s about branding and SEO is one of the most POWERFUL ways to brand yourself as a leader and be someone people want to join.
If everywhere someone looks on Google, they keep running into you, they WILL conclude that you are probably doing something right and want to know what you are involved with.
Thursday’s webinar will show you exactly how to do exactly this and blanket Google with YOU, Inc.
Common Mistake #2: Trying to Market to EVERYONE
Here’s another shocking statement, most people really don’t give a damn about what you have to say and what you are offering… no matter how convinced YOU are that THEY need it.
No... he really couldn't care less what you have to offer, so stop prospecting him!
I know, kind of damages the ego a bit doesn’t it?
So having said that, then why in the world are you trying to sell to everybody and anybody? Worse yet, why are you spending precious resources (time, money, and effort) marketing to folks who are not open to what you have to say and sell?
- This is why your friends and family don’t talk to you anymore.
- This is why your capture pages don’t convert even after you’ve spent hundreds/thousands of dollars in advertising.
- This is why people leave your blog within 2 seconds of arriving.
- This is why you spend hours and hours doing “social media marketing” with ZERO results!
We can go on and on, but here’s the point…
Stop marketing to folks who are not interested and start marketing to only those folks who are interested.
We’ve seen too many poor souls waste what little marketing funds they have chasing after the impossible. It’s sort of like watching a poodle chase after a truck, you might be excited at first but it’s never going to happen, it’ll just leave you feeling burnt, exhausted, and frustrated.
What you need to do is fine-tune your audience… your market. It’s a cinch when you are able to focus your marketing efforts only on those who have an active interest in your offers. You gotta find where they hang out, what they are looking for, and give it to them!
In fact, Google will find these people for you and drive tons of free traffic to your website, provided you setup an SEO’d website, designed to rank for the exact keywords people ready to join your business are searching for – seriously, THE EXACT KEYWORDS!
Common Mistake #3: Bleeding Yourself Dry – Spending More Marketing Dollars than You can Afford
This problem of course ties into common mistake #2, but that’s only half the story.
The absolute truth is that most folks have absolutely no idea how to market online. They think that just by throwing money (that they really can’t afford) into blind advertising that, that’ll make it magically work in their favor.
A little while later reality sinks in as they deplete their entire marketing budget with nothing to show for it.
Like you, we’ve had our moments of heartaches at the beginning when we first started online. We had no idea what we were doing. We watched literally hundreds and thousands of our marketing dollars wasted as we struggled to grasp this “online marketing” thing…
Listen, it’s a cruel cruel world out there… Google and other companies are more than happy to charge you a **Stupid Tax** as the result of your ignorance and naivety. If you are able and willing to spend big dollars on marketing, you darn-well better know what you are doing and do everything you can to stack the odds in your favor and to mitigate your risks.
Fortunately, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is unique in that it results in very targeted traffic, cost you absolutely ZERO dollars in advertising, gives you the power to brand yourself as a leader (even if you haven’t sponsored a single person) and can provide you with an unlimited source of traffic.
So clear your calendar for this Thursday at 6:30 PM PST when we’ll be hosting a webinar revealing how to position yourself as a leader using SEO, and give prospects no choice but to join your business (even if you haven’t sponsored a single person) – No Joke!
Register for Our Live Webinar This Thursday the 22nd at 6:30 PM PST: Take Control of Your Brand Before Someone Else Does…
We’ll be in touch!
Raymond & Ferny
32 comments Click to reply »
Everything that you wrote is true, what else can I say, the above website of course belongs to the company I need to learn how to brand myself and become a true leader, thanks true words.
A self hosted blog is the first step in owning some of your internet business. When you are terminated by your host company there is no warning. Your marketing list allows you to be profitable as long as you have a win-win relationship with your list.
I will look into the things that was said it sound right
This is a must read. I especially relate to the point about the in-ability of network marketers to truly market *their* business without tied hands. You can’t do it. I’ve personally been shut down in the past with this – and boy is that an eye-opener. Especially when you were doing nothing but giving high praise — and you still can’t market as you see fit. Great job guys!
For all the above reasons, I told my upline that I no longer was going to be doing MLM the old school way.
I know she is shaking her head at a loss on how to respond. But it has liberated me as I work toward attraction rather than distraction.
I now hang around those than empower me. Thanks for being there.
I am interested in learning more info on your program.
Wow, what you guys are teaching is amazing!
THANK YOU!
Quite true actually. Lot of MLM’s are actually setup to go out of business in about 4 to 5 years so the owners get filthy rich.
Thank you for information….As a new person in the MLM world its a bit to much to absorb in the begining but eventually I know I will get it. I was on your 1st webinar and learnt alot . Thanks for your guidance. Its up to each one of us to implement what you guys are teaching us to do. Looking forward to Thursday’s webinar.
I completely agree with you about an MLM business not being a real business. However this can be carried one step further. I have come across many real businesses that are not “real” either – by your definition. These are businesses that are run from home and usually a service of some sort. They to have no idea how to market Online and make the same mistakes mentioned above. I feel there are many outside of the MLM industry that will benefit from this trainng.
I could not have written it any better. I agree with Vernon.
Great article guys! You two are right on! Looking forward to your webinar on Thursday.
To your success,
Dr. Laura
Great Article. Many key points I recall experiencing during my earlier years with Marketing Online. Glad you could share, might be attending webinar.
Albert
Interesting, how long it takes an average Internet Marketer understands that? I think they did hear or read such “warnings”, but greed blinds them. The truth hurts! This article earns a big social love. Digged!
Just getting started in an excellent MLM & want to kick it off well–can’t wait to see the Webinar Thursday. Thanks for giving me food for thought; now I’m starting to think of ways to brand me as opposed to my company. And I certainly don’t want my friends to stop talking with me!
The main problem I have is the Branding Yourself. Why would anyone want to follow me? I have not succeeded in any marketing I have tried.
I will be their.
How obvious it all is when you guys write it! Some people would charge for this stuff.
I’m based in London, UK, so won’t be able to make the webinar, on accoun tof the hour difference, but look forward to viewing the video or listening to the mp3 is you’re able to post it.
Best
Nic Penrake
GREAT post guys. I wish everyone in MLM would read this and take it to heart. It would save folks a lot of aggravation.
In the last year, I’ve experienced a complete paradigm shift in how to operate a business in this new economy of ours (mostly thanks to the two of you). The magnitude of the internet has changed all of the rules. The old dog & pony shows are archaic and ineffective.. If you’re not branding yourself, and putting your offers ONLY in front of people who are looking for those offers, you may as well GIVE UP NOW.
Looking forward to the webinar on thurs….wish I could get every one of my subscribers to that….they need to hear it!
Best,
Shecky
@tamra It’s only because you’re new to this that you don’t understand. Once you gain some understanding of how true marketing works, you will have a lot of value to offer others who don’t understand it yet. Branding then becomes easy for you because nobody else is Tamra….nobody can explain your take on things. The people who are supposed to connect with you will be drawn to you. Those who are not supposed to, will not. It’s that simple.
I’ll be watching if I can.
Mark
I completely agree with this post. You NEVER own you’re own business but if you position yourself as a leader in the industry then create your own leads, then you will OWN your list which you can take anywhere. No MLM company can take that away from you.
Jared
People should understand that if they deviate from the methods taught by their upline, their upline will likely abandon them altogether. That’s what happened to me when I began branding myself and developing my OWN marketing system for the MLM I was involved with at the time.
I even submitted what I planned to do – and how I intended to do it – to the Company’s Distributor Relations department, with NO reply whatsoever from them. In hindsight, I now realize that although my marketing ideas would likely have been successful, the lack of response from the Company made me skeptical…
About the COMPANY ITSELF.
The Company I was dealing with at the time is among the “top 5″ MLM companies, with literally hundreds of thousands of distributors worldwide, and even though their service I wanted to promote used the internet to deliver that service, the Company clearly discouraged(s) their distributors from engaging in ANY sort of independent internet marketing effort (except for THEIR replicated sales page, for which they charged a montly fee).
The last message I received from my “big pin” upline was this – “Looks like you need to start using ‘the 3-foot rule’ more!”
Since then, I’ve made it a point to not just READ a company’s Terms and Conditions (or Policies and Procedures, or whatever the company calls the actual legal agreement between them and their distributors), but to deeply STUDY and UNDERSTAND them – paying special attention to the “Advertising and Promotion” section.
How many people reading this have even READ their company’s Terms of Service? I’ll wager not many of them have, or they probably wouldn’t still be involved with that company. I strongly advise EVERYONE to read their company’s TOS and find out what kind of “hole” they’ve dug themselves into.
I agree – if you’re only using the “old school” MLM promotion methods, you’re really only another “shill” for the Company – you are NOT an “independent” business owner, because you’re DEPENDENT on the Company to provide “approved” marketing materials, and are told what you can – and CAN’T do with them.
To me, that’s totally hypocritical in an industry that uses “independence” as a rallying cry to attract new distributors!
I agree 100%, if its your business you should be the one calling the shots especially if you’re depending on this business to provide a living for you and your family.
Great presentation guys, I’ve always been intrigued by SEO but it seems to be complicated. However listening to you guys has inspired me to take action. By developing my skillset I will add more value to those that I connect with.
This is probably the “straightest” talk online about internet marketing. I have my own website (unrelated to internet marketing) and can attest to the powers of SEO and the way these guys describe it. I am looking forward to starting up an internet marketing site and branding myself, not to mention creating a responsive list, if you think I will miss this call you are crazy!
Hi Raymond and Fernie, thanks for sharing your SEO knowledge. I’ve been reading about SEO for months … but needed help getting started. Your training sessions are outstanding.
This article hits the nail on the head. I fully agree and have experienced and made all 3 of these mistakes.
I wrote an article on my blog that this posting inspired. Please check it out and comment so we can connect both here and on my blog. Ciao for now. Zack in Oregon
This article hits the nail on the head. I fully agree and have experienced and made all 3 of these mistakes. Raymond and Ferny sure love what they do…why…they don’t have to go “cold prospecting” anymore. They leverage the power of the SEO Internet.
I wrote an article on my blog that this posting inspired!!!
Please check it out and comment so we can connect both here and on my blog. Ciao for now. Zack in Oregon
You are so right! Only when you own your own list, separate from your “company” can you actually monetize it. You should be able to generate $1 per month for each person in your list. Have 5000 members in your list, then you should be receiving around $5000 per month with whatever you are involved in. Be unique; market YOU; develop your skills by first marketing free with SEO and social media; then become a pay-per-click powerhouse using only your profits from free advertising to pay for it. Now get to work!
Jasper
Hey Guys,
This is an AWESOME article and right on the mark in so many ways. Because of my past experiences, I relate most to the fact as a “sales rep” for any company you have no influence or control over the decisions being made by an MLM company’s management team. You are NOT an owner and are at their mercy even if they run it into the ground as so many hyped-up “Pre-Launch” start-ups do. I’ve had a taste of that many times and never again. I want to be in complete control of my own destiny and and help others do the same. Building my personal brand is something I have been doing but not with the focus I now see is needed.
I’ll be doing my best to get this message out to my team and anyone else that will listen.
Keep up the Great Work!
Frank
While I agree in principle about what you say that our primary MLM company can hold me “hostage” because they have the final say in everything, I must also disagree. That is because the company I work with in MLM has “2″ Boards of Directors – 1st to respond to the investors and Wall St. because it is a publicly traded company; a 2nd Board of Directors composed of the top distributors whose input and ideas are listened to by the company. No changes in product, compensation, benefits, or other policies can be made WITHOUT this board’s approval. This is all written in the corporate charter. I find this very beneficial to any distributor who wants to join us. This board “protects” its distributors from having the company change or make new policies that will only help the corporation itself.