MLM Branding - Your Key to Success in Network Marketing

When endeavoring to build a network marketing business, there is no greater asset that you can add to your business then that of your personal MLM brand. Most people in this industry don't fully understand this concept because they are taught by their company to simply share the product and the opportunity first. You see all this does is brand the company, it does nothing for you ultimately other than maybe pay you a commission. While the commission is nice, it does nothing to help you in the long run as far as building your own sustainable long term business.Let me give you an example:We all know who Donald Trump is right? We know he has funny hair, and he has a lot of money, but do you really know how he makes his money? Probably not in real detail. I mean we know he is into real estate, and TV shows, but thats about it. Its because he has built his personal brand, and built his empire based upon him, not someone else.This is key when it comes to MLM branding in this industry.I have news for you, if you are not branding yourself, you really don't have a business. You are simply an affiliate for a company, and they pay you a commission every once in awhile for sending them business. Most people may deem what I am about to say as controversial but simply championing for a company is not having your own business, period! Its only helping that company to get more recognized and in turn make them more money. In order to be successful in this industry and allow you to be the leader in your prospects eyes, you must brand yourself first, and then your company will come in on the back end. So what is a good way to brand yourself especially online.Well here is the first and most important key to branding: BE YOURSELF!Its amazing isn't it, that this is by far the most important factor in building your business, but most people don't follow it. Why, because we all here the terms, "fake it till you make it" in this industry, but the reality is that people like to do business with real people, not some cheesy sales guys who is only out to make a commission. You can brand yourself online in a number of ways, but with out a doubt, the most important and effective way is having your own blog! That's right, your own blog is by far the most important and critical factor you will have online that will brand you.A blog is literally your home on the internet. It's your piece of real estate online that will allow people to get to know you on a more personal level. When this is combined with video, you have a one two punch that will literally put you in the drivers seat. The level of skeptics online is staggering. Most people that do any type of business online have wall of skepticism that is hard to break down. But having a blog will showcase you and your talents and in turn it will attract people that identify with you personally.The third and best way to brand yourself, is video! Yup, YouTube and video is a great way for people to see you, your personality and in general get to know you. I am putting together a game plan in the next week or so from this writing to give a series of training videos on why people fail in network marketing, to go along with my report on this same issue.MLM branding is by far the only way to really build a business in the is day and time of network marketing. Simple pitches for your business opportunity no longer have the effect they once did. Can you build a business this way, sure, but get ready to work your tail off. People want to follow leaders, and we all are leaders in our own way, you just have to bring the leader within you out to the surface and that begins with being yourself first.

Features Or Benefits - Which Do You Lead With?

Do you know the difference between features and benefits, and which one is more important to a potential customer?Features describe the product itself. When you present features, the discussion is focused on YOU (my product contains these ingredients, my product is produced in this facility, my product is inspected by 10 people.) MY, MY, MY.Benefits describe what the customer gets from using the product. When you present benefits, the discussion is focused on the prospective CUSTOMER (you will feel more energy, you will appreciate the convenience of the packaging, you will pay less than you do now.) YOU, YOU, YOU!Let me give some examples:It comes in a small envelope vs. it fits easily into your pocket or purse
It is in powdered form vs. you can take it on an airplane
It contains B vitamins vs. it gives you energy
It contains antioxidants vs. it is good for your heartGuess what a prospective customer cares about? WIIFM. That means what's in it for me. You can bore them to death talking about monks in white lab coats, or independent research, and specific ingredients. Or you could just tell them what it will do for them!Great sales people listen to their prospects to find out what they want and need. Then they present only those benefits the prospective customer cares about. If the person asks about features of course you will answer the question. But don't lose sight of the benefits.Focusing too much on features also puts more pressure on you. You must remember technical details you might not understand, and then you don't feel qualified to talk about the product. Yet all you really need to know is the benefits. That is so much easier!And by the way, it is not necessary that you personally love or use the product you sell. I do not live on an island and I don't own a boat. But if I knew somebody who lived on a small island with no grocery store, I could certainly explain to them why they should have a boat! What you need is a product that provides value to a thundering heard of people. It's all about providing value to others, and helping others. It is not about YOU. Benefits = Value.In fact if you love your product too much, you could be tempted to leave your company every time you find a product you like better. You might change companies every month! Then you would never have the opportunity to build a big, strong team and with it a big, strong residual income.One more thing to remember: the customer receives value from your relationship with them in addition to the use of the product. If you provide great service to your customers, you create loyalty.You can also add value to your downline. If you provide great training and mentoring, help them succeed, and teach them to focus on benefits and providing value, you will create loyalty in them too.Let's say you sell a protein shake with 10 grams of protein per serving. Tomorrow, another company introduces a shake with 11 grams of protein, 10% more. That is a feature. Is it also a benefit? Will your customers really feel the difference from 1 additional gram of protein? I doubt it. But what is more important is that loyalty you have built. Your customers and your distributors know, like and trust YOU. So you keep your customers, and your distributors!

5 Essential Traits You Need For Successful Network Marketing

The quickest way to achieve success in anything is to emulate the masters. As one who has embarked on this journey and attempted to do it my way, I can tell you that you will waste valuable time, effort, and money until you master the essential traits or characteristics that all successful marketers possess. While there are no shortcuts to success, by focusing on these essential traits for successful network marketing you'll shorten the journey.1. Confident Leadership. One of the first traits required for network marketing success is being a people person. People need to be attracted to you and your personality. Otherwise you will fail to recruit or retain people in your organization. People want to work with someone who is self-assured and confident. Lacking these, you will not find too many people following behind you.2. Seek to Understand. Another trait that makes you a good people person is the ability to understand the opinions and perspective of others even if you disagree. You will find yourself in disagreement with people in your organization, however, if you are able to communicate your understanding of their view, people will follow you, which is critical for success in network marketing.3. Patience and Tolerance. You will quickly find that not everyone learns at your pace, or, that not everyone has the same sense of urgency as you do. If you're not a patient person and tolerant of people who are slow to learn or develop, your downline will shrink.. How you deal with this will determine your success or lack thereof in your network marketing business.4. Get Organized. In network marketing you must be an organized person. Most people get started in this industry on a part time basis and are working with a limited amount of time. Even if you go full time, you can literally waste entire days away if you aren't organized with your time. As your business volume increases, the ability to manage contacts, relationships and finances are equally important.5. Prioritize. Another essential trait required for success in network marketing is the ability to multi-task and prioritize. There are a number of key tasks in building a network marketing business that compete for your time such as recruiting, contact management, relationship building, meetings, self promotion, personal development, financial management, not to mention time for family and fun. The good news is that, once your business is well underway, and you're using the leverage of your downline, you'll find yourself with much more time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.The good news is that even if you don't possess these traits, you can develop them over time. If you can focus on your personal development while building your business, you will master these traits by implementing and practicing them. As you progress in your business, they will become ingrained.There are an abundance of development tools via the web that are available to help you shore up any areas of weakness. If you are willing to put forth the effort, you can develop these essential traits over a period of time and be well on your way to becoming a successful network marketer in the industry.

2010 How is Your Home Based Business Doing?

It has been awhile since my last post. Sorry about that. But 2009 ended with a thud for my family. There were two unexpected deaths - one on Christmas day and the other on New Years Eve.I have been gathering my thoughts and trying to wrap my mind around all of this, in trying to discern what all of this means to me, in the context of business. I believe the revelation has been divine in nature. The answer, at least in part, is that 'time waits for no one'. We have a responsibility to ourselves and our family to move forward and take control in creating the future we desire.The term 'inheritance' appears 239 times in the Scriptures. It is in fact a recognized benefit; yet, more often than not, most have no inheritance given. But we have the power to change this.I continue to be amazed by those that I hear say that they want a home-based business; yet, they stipulate that they 'don't want to sell or interact with people'. The bottom line is the wave of the future is in direct selling or network marketing, all of which involves interaction with people. So, if you aren't a 'people person', chances are you are not going to make it in this industry. I have found this to be a 'fun' industry, unlike the old 9 to 5's. So here is my tip of the day: Don't make yourself or your potential business partners miserable by embarking upon a 'people person' business. After all, aren't we searching for something that enriches our lives and others' and not makes us more miserable?One of the most compelling personal stories I have read is that of Dani Johnson's. She is one of 'the' foremost trainers in [personal development today. And her story, I believe, is one from which we can all benefit. Raised on welfare, pregnant at 17, homeless at 21, she became a multi-millionaire by age 23! Her training transcends any particular business model and can be applied no matter the business you are involved in. Before we can affect change in our lives, we must 'be changed'. If you desire to succeed in 2010 with your business, avail yourself to materials out there that will change your thinking and shift your paradigm.Blessings.........Betty

LYF Pre Launch Business Opportunity Review - "Is This Just Another MLM?"

Billionaire Michael Han has just recently invested 300 million dollars into the multilevel marketing business opportunity industry with LYF. LYF is based in a large array of individual products from technologies to home care products. So is this just another MLM opportunity? And, will it last?LYF is at the moment in pre-launch and comes with the support of billionaire Michael Han. Mr. Han has been in the network marketing industry for over twenty years and brings with him a line of innovative products. Many of the products have yet to be included on the website itself at this time due to the fact that this is a very new offering to the public. Some of the products can be found there and most are based around the health and wellness aspect of our lives from a nutritional supplement chew tablet. On the home product front basic supplies such as laundry detergent, antiseptic wipes and cleaning solutions to name a few that will be the largest offering to the consumer. On the technology side of the coin with LYF will be offering what is called LYFNET which is a combination of simple phone service, toll free service using broadband, wireless services and an Internet service.The business opportunity is based in network and multilevel marketing plan. Upon the cost of enrollment, the new member will receive a replicated website as well as the products purchased to get started. A Replicated site by no means guarantees traffic to the site itself and this is something that the member will have to learn over time. Network marketing involves marketing to friends and family, then slowly creating a list with those new member's friends and family who might be interested in their own opportunity with LYF.The company does seem to have some quality products, but the compensation plan is typical of many MLM opportunities in this industry. The plan comes with of course a commission on the actual retail sales of personal volume (PV) example; 100pv sold = 25% commission. The other 6 levels of compensation are based upon a total of team (pv) sales with a smaller 5%-3% base commission payout. These bonuses are based upon a monthly and quarterly required amount of sales that will need to be retained at the end of each time period to qualify for the individual bonus level.LYF does have quality products, but it is always wise to complete all due diligence before entering any opportunity online or offline. The health and wellness, household product and technology multilevel marketing industry is highly saturated. Learning how to brand "yourself" as a leader quickly in this business opportunity will be a must.

Three Ways to Make Money on the Internet at Home

The global economic crises that are being faced nowadays cause a lot of Irish people to go and find other means to make money. Obviously, even the countries in Europe find it hard to seek cash to pay off bills. This is a primary reason why people search for ways to earn more than they already do.It is a good thing that there are a lot of ways to make money on the internet at home in Ireland. These ways do not even require you to invest a big amount of capital to get returns. Here is a list of the ways to earn online:1. Affiliate MarketingAffiliate marketing is an agreement between a business and an affiliate. You sign up affiliation if you agree to promote products in exchange of commission. This is a form of automated income as your website or blog earns on its own.2. Writing JobsThe many websites that can be found in the internet need updating everyday. This is an opportunity for writing enthusiasts to be hired as article writers. This is a great way to make money on the internet at home in Ireland. A freelance job allows you to decide when and where you will work for the money.3. E-commerceIreland is not your only market in E-commerce. If you want to make money with your goods or services, you should definitely take them to the internet. Because the internet can be accessed by people from all over the world, you have a global market that you can sell products to.

What Online Sellers Expect From Online Business Directories Like SaleHoo!

The recent surge in market interest in online retail is influenced by a lot of factors. These factors may vary from lower price of goods, better quality of products and more choices of items and services to select from. But on hindsight, a lot of these factors have to do with the positive effects of drop shipping and the ways online selling business is done. SaleHoo's weight on the choice of drop shipping suppliers may have also contributed to the shaping of the over-all picture of the online selling industry.SaleHoo is an online business resource. Like any other business directories, it undertakes its own verification and screening of businesses that it includes in its list. The screening process is quite particular and is focused on the qualifications, reliability and integrity of the businesses, most of which are offering free drop shipping facilities.To date, SaleHoo's list includes the most recognizable businesses and team players that help online sellers make better judgments and good entrepreneurs out of themselves.It must be observed that online sellers attribute their success to drop shipping and its network of reliable suppliers. It helps them cut on expenses and frees them from having to undertake the safekeeping and packaging of products sold in the online stores. A significant reduction of operating costs allows them to exercise prudence and flexibility in their pricing. It can not also be denied that a reduced operating cost redounds to better profit margins.Incidentally, the online sellers' need for reliable drop shippers is effectively addressed by online business resources like SaleHoo. Its list includes manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors with drop shipping capabilities. Thus, instead of doing their own research and verification, these online sellers register with SaleHoo or some other dependable online business directories in order to gain ready and unlimited access to a trustworthy list of businesses. By doing so, they significantly trim down the cost of the search while at the same time avail of the other services that SaleHoo and other directories offer. SaleHoo for instance provides its members tools and systems that aim to improve their marketing and management skills. In this wise, members are not only afforded a cheaper way of looking for dependable suppliers, they are likewise advised on how to improve their business skills.

Is it Really Possible to Make Fast Easy Money Online?

The answer is a resounding yes. Indeed, many businesses, virtual or otherwise, thrive based on conceptually simple strategies for making money.Consider how a bank is structured. Certain individuals deposit funds in order to earn a return in the form of interest. Certain other individuals pay (higher) interest rates in order to borrow the money from the bank. In the case of other bank customers, who may neither borrow nor save money, the bank offers the convenience of checking, credit card processing and other services. The bank makes money by being an agent for its customers-all agents make money by charging their customers a fee.Most programs designed to help people make fast easy money online train the "employee" on how to become an agent. Just as the bank matches people with money to invest with people who need money to borrow, so also do many online businesses set the employee up as an intermediary who can serve as a broker for a certain type of deal.The "fast easy money online" promise is based on the idea that motivated individuals looking to earn extra money can gain the knowledge and skills they need in order to become a sort of agent or broker. For opportunity seekers who come across listings for products claiming to teach these knowledge and skills, one way to evaluate the legitimacy of the program is to ask now what the program entails, but how it works.Does the aspiring employee provide a value-added service to one or more parties? Are the parties involved in the business of buying and selling real products and services or is money changing hands for an intangible product? Savvy opportunists know to look for clues that real products and services are involved in order to detect a legitimate business.

Send Out Cards Reviews - What You Should Expect With This Company

To give you just a review on this company would not be right. I want to give you the low down on not only Send Out Cards, but also how the top producers in this company and every other company achieve their success.Send Out Cards is a very unique company. The founder, Kody Bateman has actually created a competitive advantage against his competition. He has established Send Out Cards as one of the elite companies in the greeting card business. Their main two competitors include Hallmark and American Greetings.The only reason that Send Out Cards can compete with these two companies is through their distribution channel. You see, this company really has no other advertising other than there independent distributors. They rely solely on the word of mouth to market the productThis company has seen tremendous success in business over the past half decade, and they are only getting bigger and bigger. You need to know what you are getting with this business.There are three ways to sign up for this company to send cards. You can sign up as a Retail customer and just send cards. This option is $99. There is a wholesale option, where you will get 100 free cards and you will get discounted cards, along with a hand writing package. This option is $298. Lastly, the business option allows you to make money by sharing the business with other people. This option is $398.I would recommend to sign up under the entrepreneur option simply because if you sign three people up to the system, you will immediately make your money back. So technically you will be sending cards for free.To be successful in the business, you will need to have a solid foundation and learn the proper marketing techniques to generate a great amount of leads. In order to do this, you must learn from someone who already knows these strategies.The shortcut to success is duplicating someone that is already there. Do not just aimlessly try new things and fail until you find something that works!