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Thursday, April 24, 2008

MLM Follow Up - The Fortune is in the Follow Up

There is a very popular saying in Network Marketing and it goes something like this - "the fortune is in the follow up." Consistent follow up is what separates the average networker from the "big hitter." Following up with your prospects consistently is what makes the numbers game work out in your favor.

Decades of study and tracking by marketers and advertising agencies have proven consistently that most people will not make a decision until they have seen or heard about it at least twice, and often more times than that. If you make one contact with someone and then leave it up to he or she to get back with you if interested, you are shortchanging yourself and stunting the growth of your business.

Most marketers will tell you making seven contacts is not unreasonable in order to get the sale.

Unfortunately, most networkers give up the pursuit after the first contact.

Think about how busy you are. Have you ever forgotten to follow up because you got so busy? Well, your prospect is no less busy, so chances are he/she got too busy as well. Don't make the mistake of reading this as a "not interested" sign.

My first sponsor in network marketing didn't make a dime for his first ten years in Network Marketing. Today, he is a million dollar a year earner. He consistently follows up and never gave up.

What if I told you that ten years from now, you would be earning one million a year? Would you stick with it? Would you wait it out that long? What if I told you that you wouldn't make anything for most of that ten years? And, you might invest $30,000 in your education along the way. Would you stick it out then? Would that million a year still make a difference?

What else could you do right now that offers the promise of one million dollars a year?
You are a winner! You are in for the long haul! Write out that million dollar check now and put it in your wallet or purse. Take it out each time you go to make those follow up calls.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

MLM and a Down Economy - Does it Spell Trouble

Surviving in a Down Economy

One can't go anywhere these days and not read the headlines screaming about the dark days of the down economy. This often sends networkers in one of two directions –

Either they think their business has ended because too many people "can't afford it."

Or, they go full out because they see the opportunity that is there.

Will the current economic times have an effect on your business?

It truly is all in how you see it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is a so-called "recession."

When the economy is good, I have heard networkers say that people aren't looking because times are good. When times are bad, they aren't looking because they can't afford it.

Can't afford WHAT, exactly? A solution so they don't ever feel the pinch again? To invest in themselves instead of a boss? To take responsibility for their own destiny, once and for all?

Mindset is what it really comes down to. Some networkers stop working their business during holidays and slower summer months. Guess what? I joined my first company on Christmas Day, over 14 years ago.

When someone is serious (and boy, I was serious) nothing will stand in their way.

The best thing we can each do is BELIEVE in what we are doing and in our products/services.

Then, do what we do best. Sponsor someone, and teach them how to get a few loyal customers and find others who will do the same.

No matter who your company is or what your product is, what we do is simple.

Find those who aren't afraid of a few obstacles or "bugs on a windshield" and work together to create a recession proof lifestyle!

This requires first going deep within yourself and finding that true grit. Then look for others willing to do the same!

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Thursday, April 17, 2008

4 Network Marketing Success Secrets

What does it take to be successful in your home business? I asked this question for YEARS. I truly thought there was some hidden secret that no one was telling me.

Maybe there was a secret 800 number that one could dial prospects into that would make them sign up right away.

Or a secret training system that when followed, guaranteed success.

What was the Holy Grail of Network Marketing? What was I missing?

Here are a few things that top income earners kept telling me –

Invest in developing yourself. Read every day. (Huh? What was THAT going to do to grow my business? How would that create the income I desired?)

Pay attention to your "self talk." Replace the negatives with positives; even use affirmations. (Again, just show me the money. Enough of this airy fairy stuff!)

Know your why, which will develop the how. (Okay, this one really blew me away. What does the WHY have to do with the HOW?)

Develop a systematic business plan and approach to working your business. (This one made a little more sense, but what was I supposed to be DOING?)

One day, feeling like I had been chasing my tail for far too long, I decided to give these four ideas a try. I would read and listen to positive books and audios. I would start paying attention to the times I said "I can't" and replace that with "I can, I will, I AM!" I would concentrate more seriously on my why, and see if the how would show up. And, I would write up a daily, weekly and monthly business/action plan and STICK to it for once.

Here is what happened.

My mindset started shifting through my reading and listening. I began to realize that all of the other "success stories" in Network Marketing had also traveled this same path. Nothing was special or magic for them. They also heard the no's; felt like quitting; and wondered if they had lost their mind at times. This made me feel better and my attitude, outlook and expectations began to change, almost unconsciously.

Again, without me giving it much thought, I found myself saying "I can" and "I believe in me" much more. I replaced doubt with positive expectation. Instead of sitting down to make calls and thinking "I don't know why I am doing this; they won't be interested anyway", I found myself thinking "I am going to have a very positive outcome; this person will either be interested or pass on a referral." Just having this positive outlook gave me a posture on these calls and it worked; people were interested.

I wrote out my why, my dreams, and my hopes in a journal. I cut out pictures and word phrases to go along with my own words and began to read it twice a day. I would spend ten minutes of focused time dreaming, thinking about and feeling what it was like to have these things as a reality. With my "why" placed firmly in my mind throughout the day, I became determined to let nothing and no one stand in my way.

And, guess what? The "how" really did show up. I began to come up with creative, inspiring and exciting ideas for working my business. I started having fun with it and actually began to enjoy what I was doing. This made me leap out of bed, ready to get going each day.

This new-found enthusiasm made it very easy for me to map out my action plan. For the first time, I truly knew what I was going to do each day. I set up a 90 day action plan and worked it backwards to figure out what to do each week, and then each day. I didn't personally worry about setting income goals. Instead, I set my "Will do" actions and intentions. And, I accomplished them and added to the list.

The feeling of success that came from just taking action was enough to empower me to create more time for my business, and to do those things that I truly enjoyed. Yes, I spent some time in the areas I didn't enjoy so much, and as more success began to show up, I started actually liking some of those things, too.

What do you think might happen for you if you incorporate these four simple strategies into your business? Do you think it's possible that these might actually be the "holy grail" or "Secret to Success" in Network Marketing? What if it works for you like it has for so many others?

To paraphrase an idea from Glinda's thoughts to Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" – You don't need a secret. You had it in you all along to find the success you were seeking. All you need to do is believe. You don't even have to click your heels together three times.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Thursday, April 03, 2008

3 Success Keys in Your Home Business

It doesn't matter what business you are starting, there are 3 key things you must do, and do consistently to be successful.

Success Key #1 – Find out your business fundamentals. What are those things for your business? Well, in most cases it involves two specific things – share the product; share the opportunity. That's it. We are paid on these two specific things and nothing else. We aren't paid for checking email; attending conference calls; re-writing training, etc. We are paid for selling product and sponsoring others who sell product. You are responsible for these two aspects if you want your business to be a success.

This leads to –

Success Key #2 – Learn How to Do the Fundamentals. Hopefully, your sponsor started you with a training guide; a training site and other resources that will educate you and anyone who you sponsor in on how to do the fundamentals of the business. If these were not provided for you, ask for them. Call the company if you can not get what you need/want from your upline and ask for someone further up. You are responsible for finding this out if not provided for you, and you can do it! You don't need a strong sponsor to find and learn what you need to about building a successful business. After all, we do just two things. Refer to Success Key #1.

Success Key #3 – Just do it! That's right. Learn what has to be done in Success Key #1; Learn how to do it in Success Key #2, and now, just take action doing it. Don't waste time trying to re-invent the wheel; or thinking up new, creative ways to do things. You can do all of that once you have the foundation of your business built. But, for now, use the methods and tools that have already been proven to work.

The fastest way to success in Network Marketing is to spend a day or two on Success Keys 1 and 2; and then spend time every day after on Success Key 3. That's it. Be the one who sets an amazing example by just taking action and going fast. After all, if you knew you needed to talk to 100 people about the business and the faster you do that, the faster you'll be earning a six figure income, how long would you wait to pick up the phone?

Guess what? That is what takes you to a six figure income. Set a goal to talk to 100 people your very first month. That is just over 3 people a day. Now, the six figures isn't going to instantly show up, but by getting a few people started from that 100, you are well on your way.

And, you are probably really great now at communicating with people; finding out their why; and introducing your products and opportunity. Why not go talk to another 100 this month?

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer