how to start mlm business

Have you been to one of those amazing business briefings outlining the best network marketing company ever, telling you about your opportunity of a lifetime, and promoting one of the most awesome products in history? The answer for me is yes.

Just over a year ago, I attended such a meeting. The atmosphere was electrifying. Everyone was dressed in their finest business attire. The meeting was held in a very prestigious hotel conference room and the speaker....was absolutely incredible.

I was sold - hook, line, and sinker. And sank is exactly what I did. I was intrigued by the possibility of making thousands, as in 5 figures, a month, having the car and home of my dreams and achieving what we all are looking for, financial freedom.

But at what cost would this goal be achieved. Once I got started with company "ABC" I dived in head first. I learned the business and started doing those very same business briefings myself. My upline kept insisting that I exhaust my "warm market". In network marketing, this is the term used to describe the people closest to you...your family, friends, co-workers, friends of coworkers and so on. The gurus know that your chances of recruiting are greater with those you have a sphere of influence over. Still, as I continued to educate myself about the MLM business, I began to doubt if what I was doing was actually on the up and up. I didn't want to be known in my community as the "one" who started a pyramid scheme. These are two words, "pyramid scheme" I was confronted with on a regular basis. I almost had my rebuttal memorized. "Oh, no this isn't a pyramid. We have great products and services to offer. A pyramid scheme has nothing to offer." And true enough, some of the products were pretty good. Things you certainly could purchase anywhere else and probably for a lot less but good products just the same.

The turn around for me occurred after I became a member of the NFL (no friends left). I did just what my upline told me to do. I exhausted my warm market. No sooner would I sign them up than they would drop off and not "work the business".A few remained active but just didn't seem as serious about the business as I was. I just didn't see how I would ever reach the level of success that was promoted so fervently that first night I attended a business briefing. My upline had no answers for me. "Just keep doing what you're doing". That's the line I was given mostly or urging me to write out my goals and how I planned to achieve them.

I felt lost. The promise of being coached, trained, and taught was never fulfilled. There was no strong emphasis on the products and services only on recruiting.This company sponsored an "opportunity call" every single night (except Christmas). You were urged to pack the conference call with prospects for your business. The calls would last anywhere from forty-five minutes to an hour. One of the top income earners would present the business over the phone. I did what I was told. I kept a phone book in my car, in my bedroom, and at my office. I called people I hadn't spoken to in years and urged them to listen to "the opportunity of a lifetime". Some would and some wouldn't.

At any rate, I never got not one sign up from these opportunity calls. Once I walked out of the fog and realized that this company was so close to being a pyramid the home office should have been in Egypt instead of here in the States!They put so much emphasis on recruiting and none on promoting their "awesome products". After losing thousands of dollars trying to make thousands and exhausting my "warm market" to the point where when acquaintances saw me, they went in the other direction, I called it quits. Although, I learned a great deal about the industry and know the things to look for if I ever decide to give another network marketing company a go.

Let me just say that all network marketing companies aren't bad. Two very successful ones come to mind right away - Avon and Mary Kay. Now neither of these promise riches and 5 figures a month. However, they are excellent businesses for supplementing your income. And I've never been asked to attend a business briefing by my Avon or Mary Kay distributors!

Roschelle Nelson is the founder and publisher of WAH4life.com. She lives and works at her home with her husband and two sons. http://www.wah4life.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roschelle_Nelson

Network marketing, also known as multi-level marketing (MLM), can be a very successful way to build a home based business. All you need for a good network marketing business is a great product and the ability to develop an upline and a downline. The nice thing about a network marketing business is that you can work on it from just about anywhere and devote as much or as little time to your network marketing business as you choose. When it comes to network marketing, you set your own rules.

There are a lot of promises on the internet when it comes to network marketing, but there are some key points you need to consider when getting into network marketing. With a business as simple as network marketing, you do not need a college degree or special training. You will actually just need to choose a product or service to sell and have the ability to recruit the right people. The benefit is that if you have a good upline, there will be someone to help you through the process.

One good example of an effective network marketing plan is offered through Home Based Business World. A network marketing business should be simple and easy to run. With Home Based Business Word’s 1StepSystem, you get the benefit of a simple system to make money that does not involve a lot of time or recruiting. Simplicity is something to look for in a network marketing program, because if it is too complex it really might not be worth your time.

Timeliness is also important in network marketing. Whether you are handling your own selling and recruiting or the program works that aspect of the business, you want to look for a network marketing program that allows you to begin making money as soon as possible. For instance, the 1StepSystem was created to help you start earning commissions within a day or two of starting the network marketing program.

Besides earning commissions early, a good network marketing plan will also keep your commissions flowing in. This means that the money your earn from your network marketing program will become a reliable part of your income. Again, with the 1StepSystem, the commissions begin early and usually continue to flow in on a daily basis.

Another one of the other benefits to a network marketing program is that it allows you to work from home. Actually, it allows you to work from anywhere. All you usually need to run a successful network marketing business is your home and a computer. However, just like any business you run out of your home, you also need to make sure you set aside time to work and to play on a daily basis. When you are making good money through a network marketing plan, you will find yourself getting caught up in it a bit.

Read the rest of the article here: Network Marketing.

Join the Best Home Based Business Program called the 1StepSystem and start making $500/Day with no selling or prospecting.

Charles Fuchs is an established Six Figure Income earner and one of the top online marketer's. He specializes in showing people the fastest way to Starting a business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Fuchs

Did you know that 90% of all people in the network marketing fail! That's correct 9 out of every 10 people that come into this business will never achieve their hopes and dreams. One of my favorite quotes is, "Success leaves clues." But so does failure. So if you want to be successful, do what the successful people have done. If you want to avoid failure... avoid doing what the people who have failed have done.

People flock to network marketing because of the simplicity of the system. They hear that the opportunity is a turn-key system that succeeds for everyone who follows it. So why do people fail, in record numbers in such a system? They fail because, they pick and choose which parts to follow and which parts not to follow.

A system will not work if you do not follow ALL of the steps. It's like following the directions on a map. If you turn left when you are suppose to turn right, you may eventually get to your final destination, but it may take you much longer. You may even end up lost in the wilderness. And if you have a team of people following you, you may lead them astray in to that same wilderness.

So, what are the 4 key mistakes most people make who fail in this business?

1. They talk too much. Most of you in your excitement about your new business will try and go out and explain it to everyone you know, expecting them to be as enthusiastic as you are. This is a mistake! Although most people don't admit it, they make decisions on an emotional basis and THEN use logic to support their decision. You are excited about your business because you are emotionally invested in it. After you got emotionally invested then your brain came up with the logical reasons why you could do this business. Your friends and family work the same way. Follow the system that is in place weather it's a video presentation or sizzle or conference call. These have been designed to push the emotional buttons of your prospects FIRST, then the logical ones. Follow your scripts! Before adding words check with your up-line. It is amazing how adding just 2 or 3 extra words can make or brake your business. Also you want to keep the process as simple as possible. Remember this business is about duplicating success. Always KISS your business (Keep It Simple, Silly). That way your downline will be able to duplicate your success.

2. They fail to do something everyday. Your business, my business, almost any business is built on momentum. It is always harder to get it started, but once it gets started, it is easier to maintain. But once you stop, you have to start the hard process of getting started again. Think about that diet or workout you may have started at once upon a time. I'm sure you decided that I am going to get in shape or lose weight. You may have started off great, but then... you miss that one work out or you cheat that one day, thinking "Its just one day!" But that one day makes it easier to skip another day. Then it becomes a week... Now you have to start all over again. Make doing something everyday a habit. They say it takes a habit 21 days to develop. Prospect consistently for 21 days. It will seem hard at first, but in 21 days, it will be almost second nature. You may not see the benefits today, but with 30-90 days of consistent action, you will definitely notice some results.

3. They Don't Treat Their Business Like A Business. You have to invest in your business. In network marketing the asset that you have to invest the most is your time. We are all given 86,400 seconds in each day to invest. What we don't use, we lose. We can not save any on the seconds that we do not use. Therefore, we do not have any "spare" time. It is either used or lost forever. In other words you can work your business full time or part time, but not in your spare time. Plan the hours that your business will be open and work during those hours. It could be 7 hours a week or 70 hours a week. Just plan out that time and use it effectively. Spend 80% of your working time prospecting. The other 20% should be used training your downline and self development. Now you can use the hours outside of your work time to do extra prospecting, team building or self development, but think of this as overtime, which will pay off in the future.

4. They Quit Too Soon. Less Brown wrote a book, "Its Not Over Until You Win" I truly believe that is one of the biggest problems with people in this industry. People give up too soon. You wouldn't quit your job if they didn't make you a national director or vice-president in 3 months of (inconsistent at best) part-time work. So why should you expect it here. However, statistically it takes more than 10 years of grueling dedicated hours to become senior management in the corporate world. In the network marketing field, over 90% of the people who stay around for more than 3 years reach a senior sales level, working part time. What sounds like a better deal to you? Stay with it. Don't quit. If you do, the clock will start all over again. Remember, its not over until you win!

Nine out of 10 people fail in this industry because they are not willing to work hard and are looking for easy money. You don't have to be one of the failures. The road to network marketing success is filled with obstacles. It is your decision if you are going to use them as stumbling block or stepping stones. Also, don't get fooled by the simplicity of system. They system is very simple, but it is not always easy!

To your wealth,

Brian Johnson