You Didn't Fall For "The Next Big Thing" Did You?

If you've been on the Internet (and you have since you are reading this) you may have fallen prey to "The Next Big Thing" syndrome that is out there. It's rampant on the Internet, and if you are signed up on very many newsletters or notification lists, you are likely seeing it regularly.

You're cruising through email and BAM – an email drops into your box with a screaming headline about how great this new opportunity is; and how much money you are going to make with this new opportunity; and how so-and-so-big-name is getting involved with this big opportunity and this opportunity is going to help you dump your mediocre status that you've had so far in M.L.M. and you are going to finally make some REAL money!

Question for you – how many opportunities are you going to join before you realize that none of this has anything at all to do with your success? New; better; best; big name; matching bonus, blah, blah, blah. This is not what true success is about.

It's not the company; it's not the big name; it's not the products; it's not the pay plan; it's not your upline; it's not the "turnkey, duplication system"; it's not any of these things that determine your success in Network Marketing. These are just things sold to you by slick marketers who know how to invoke your emotions and make you think you are going to win the lottery if you just join "their deal."

The opportunity you have in front of you most likely has all of the components to allow you to create the business and lifestyle of your dreams. If anyone in your company has done it, so can you.

The only thing that is missing for you, if you aren't getting what you want from it, is your belief; your commitment and your focus. The success you desire is all about you, and your ability to get it lies within you.

You just have to decide to stop looking around; procrastinating; making excuses; and thinking that it can't happen for you. You have to decide that every day, you are going to put one foot in front of the other and BE the success story you desire.

No one gets lucky in this profession and no one gets a free ride. The top distributors get to the top by developing a business action plan and taking action. Simple as that. In the beginning, they work hard to lay the foundation. Sometimes, it seems like there is no progress. They certainly work harder than the ones standing on the sideline saying "It's easy for so-and-so. He/she has ______ and I don't."

In the beginning, you must treat your business like a JOB if you want to create the benefits it offers. It's not the lottery; it's not get rich quick; and everyone pays a price to be successful. It's a high price, too, but it is so worth it.

The average networker, however, does not treat the business like a JOB. They don't make a commitment; and they aren't willing to pay the price. They think that when they order their starter pack, they are buying a lottery ticket guaranteed to win. Or, pulling the arm on a slot machine.

Knowing this, what steps will you take today to get your business into the race? How will you develop a disciplined work ethic so you can begin to see the results that you want? The grass really is not greener anywhere else. It's thick, rich and fertilized right here, right now. If you aren't getting the results you want out of your business today, who is going to change that? It's not your sponsor, and it's not the company. It's you.

Cruising the Internet looking for something easier; more this or more that isn't going to change your results. You will face the same problems there and have to overcome the same challenges.

You have to be willing to decide what it is you really want; decide what price you are willing to pay to get it; decide what you must and will overcome to get there; and decide to take action starting right now and every day.

It's that simple. I remember the day I made that decision. I remember the price I was willing to pay. I remember my challenges and what I had to do to "get over myself" essentially. And, I remember every day how glad I am I had "that day."

Let today be YOUR day!

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Using PPC to Develop Your Keyword Strategy

You've built your website to promote yourself and your business, right, and now you want to work on your keyword strategy for getting high search engine rankings and driving that ever elusive traffic your way! Well, here is a great way to determine what keywords are going to work the best in your business.

Start a Pay Per Click Ad Campaign with Google, Yahoo Search and/or MSN.

Let's use Google for our example. It's simple to open a PPC campaign and the minimum amount it will cost you is $25. This is a very inexpensive way to test what's going to be the best strategy for attracting the most customers and prospects to your page.

This can save you thousands of hours and time is money, right!

Make sure you read my previous post on SEO so you have an idea about developing your website keyword strategy. - http://jackieulmer.blogspot.com/2009/08/are-you-confused-by-seo-and-search.html

Once you have identified your target market and the most likely terms that they might use when they are searching for a site/business like yours, you can start your PPC campaign and test out those keywords to see which ones pull the most traffic.

Get a free Cheat Sheet on how to get this started and what it all means.

Once you open your account, be sure to read through the Beginner's Guide so you know what you are doing. Be prepared to trial, test and make changes for a full 90 days so you can see how to best adapt your site to fit your visitor profile through the most popular keywords. Your goal is to make the most of your advertising efforts; spend as little as possible for the highest level of results.

Using this strategy, you can track the number of clicks it takes to get your end result. This result could be for your visitor to opt in to your campaign; buy something; join your business, etc.

Once you've tracked out 90 days, you can begin to fine tune your website based around these keyword strategy results and begin to generate organic search engine traffic as well.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Key Quality #6 of the Successful Network Marketer

What defines success in any profession? Typically, there are a few qualifiers and Network Marketing is no different. Too many people, however, enter our profession and think success will happen even if they take shortcuts. Not so. Network Marketing, like any solid profession, requires mastery of a few essential components if one wants to experience true success.

Key Quality #6 – Be Accountable.


Accountability is a key piece of success in the profession of Network Marketing largely due to the fact that this is a volunteer business. It doesn't come with a job description; a time clock; or a set paychecj at the end of two weeks.

It's up to you to make things happen in your business.

Staying accountable to yourself will help you keep focused, remain committed, and know what steps you will take in your business journey each day. Find a partner to be accountable to, if that helps.

This is not meant to be "your boss!" But, rather, this is your friend. Your personal assistant, committed to assisting you with those oh-so important business steps.


Use a Weekly Planner to chart out what steps you will take and then follow through with action. Adapt them to fit your style. Talk to your sponsor about accountability sheets that might be available to you.


Spend some time today reviewing your goals and objectives in this business. Also, reflect on the available time you have to commit to your business. Get clear on the action steps that will take you where you want to be.


Write down your goals on a 3 by 5 index card. Write down your 5 most important action steps for each day.


Place these near your phone, computer, tape to your mirror, etc. Make sure this is in front of you each day.


If you get side tracked one day....oh well. Each day is a new beginning.


Tracking is essential to your business. It does two things - it improves on those actions you are already good at and it shows you your weaknesses.


Pay attention to those weaknesses. There is great wisdom there as to why things may not be going the way you want.

One of my mentors once said - "Is your business growing? People spend months "doing" the business, then get a paycheck and think 'this isn't working.' That's not true! What they are DOING isn't working."

Certain proven activities produce results in network marketing. These don't really change from company to company.


That same mentor above created the Pocket Tracker Training. I have used this for years in the business. It helped me grow to a six figure income earner and I know it will help you, too.

Find out more at - http://www.streetsmartwealth.com/track.htm


"If we did all of the things we are capable of doing, we would
literally astound ourselves."

Thomas Edison


Here's to a great day!

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

PS - I'm headed to my company convention today and look forward to sharing updates!

Key Quality #5 of the Successful Network Marketer

What defines success in any profession? Typically, there are a few qualifiers and Network Marketing is no different. Too many people, however, enter our profession and think success will happen even if they take shortcuts. Not so. Network Marketing, like any solid profession, requires mastery of a few essential components if one wants to experience true success.

Key Quality #5 – Attend Company and Distributor Events.

Getting yourself "plugged in" and familiar with the company, culture and story behind the company best occurs by actually being physically present. There is something magical that happens when you attend your first company event. IT's hard to describe, even.

Beyond providing proven, critical training, it instills something in the new distributor about how "real" the business is and the possibilities it contains. You'll meet the top income earners and leaders within the company, the management team; and by the time it's over, you'll realize that you have as much potential as anyone of taking your business to the top.

Find out as quickly as you can what events are planned and begin immediately to plan on attending. Determine dates; costs; and details that you'll need to take care of in order to get there. The more events you attend, the more your business will grow.

The more people on your team who you get to events, the faster your business (and theirs) will grow. Your team will attend if you attend. This is not a case of "do as I say, not as I do." If you want a growing team, grow yourself by being at events.

Promote these events way before the month they occur so your team can make plans. Have a special gathering for your team at these events, if possible, and make sure people meet and get to know each other.

After the event, share your thoughts and experiences and announce any upcoming events to get your team in the planning stages to attend. Get others to share their experiences, as well.

This is a very important, non-negotiable part of your business strategy for success. You simply must be at events!

Tomorrow, Key Quality #6 – Be Accountable.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Key Quality #4 of the Successful Network Marketer

What defines success in any profession? Typically, there are a few qualifiers and Network Marketing is no different. Too many people, however, enter our profession and think success will happen even if they take shortcuts. Not so. Network Marketing, like any solid profession, requires mastery of a few essential components if one wants to experience true success.

Key Quality #4 – Follow a System of Single Daily Actions.

Let's face it, your business is going to grow by doing only two things – finding customers, and signing up new distributors who find customers and new distributors. So, you'll want to incorporate these two things into a plan of Daily Actions.

Your system for doing these things will consist of your list and methods for finding people to speak to about your products and business; your presentation to these prospects; following up; and taking action with those who say yes.

Decide how you are going to grow your contact list. Start by using the notification process to advise those you already know about your business. From there, determine the methods of generating leads that most appeal to you. Talk to your sponsor about different ideas and find your best fit. This will help ensure that you take these action steps daily.

Your daily action plan should consist of talking to at least 2 people per day about your business. As you do this, you'll also incorporate follow up as part of your action plan, since you'll be following up with your daily contacts. Sponsoring and training will also become a part of your daily business plan, as well.

These consistent actions will take you to the top levels of success in Network Marketing.

Tomorrow, Key Quality #5 – Attend Company and Distributor Events.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Key Quality #3 of the Successful Network Marketer

What defines success in any profession? Typically, there are a few qualifiers and Network Marketing is no different. Too many people, however, enter our profession and think success will happen even if they take shortcuts. Not so. Network Marketing, like any solid profession, requires mastery of a few essential components if one wants to experience true success.

Key Quality #3 – Study Your Profession.

If you wanted to learn to fly an airplane, there would be some education and study required, right? What if you wanted to become a surgeon? Same thing. Network Marketing success is no different. You must be teachable, and you must be willing to seek out and learn every day.

Talk to your sponsor about the methods he/she uses to build the business. Find out what training resources you should be learning from. Set aside time every day to expand your learning process.

As you begin learning and studying the profession, you will find stories and experiences shared by others that are just like you. Everyone has moments of challenge and struggle in this profession. Everyone who is actually working the business hears "no" much more than they hear "yes." And, the successful ones keep going. No matter what.

As you study these stories, it will instill in you that you can be a success, too, if you just keep taking action. Your first days in Network Marketing can be the most challenging, and if you are plugged into learning and studying from others, you will know that what you are experiencing is common and this can keep you in the game.

Your business will grow as fast as you do and you'll grow faster by studying and learning from others. Stay in student mode and be ready to share this important activity with your growing downline.

Tomorrow, Key Quality #4 – Follow a System of Single Daily Actions.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Key Quality #2 of the Successful Network Marketer

What defines success in any profession? Typically, there are a few qualifiers and Network Marketing is no different. Too many people, however, enter our profession and think success will happen even if they take shortcuts. Not so. Network Marketing, like any solid profession, requires mastery of a few essential components if one wants to experience true success.

Quality # 2 - Develop a Loyal Customer Base

I know, I know – you were told that Network Marketing isn't about selling; it's simply sharing! Whatever. Do you want to be successful? Then don't be afraid of the word – SALES! It's not a dirty word. Sales goes on everyday and you are a part of it in some way every day. Why not profit from it yourself, since you offer great products and you believe in those products.

Big checks are created through sales volume and there is no better way to create sales volume than to develop a few, loyal customers and teach others to do the same. People will stay in the business when they have success, and that first success of getting a customer goes a long way to securing everyone's future.

Here is a shocker – not everyone you know is going to want to get involved in the business. In fact, most won't. But a strong number of those people will be interested in trying out your products.

For me personally, no one in my family is involved in my business and no one in my circle of close friends is either. They are, however, my best customers and strongest source of referrals. This creates a retail income source to fund a marketing budget for the business and it builds volume. As a leader, I am setting a good example for my team by retailing.

Set a goal of finding ten to fifteen customers. These are people who just use your products and are not interested in the opportunity. As I mentioned yesterday, I give away a lot of my products. Try this as well. Give a demo to ten or fifteen friends, along with a catalog and order form and see what happens.

Provide good customer service by following up to see how they like the products and check in regularly for repeat orders. Give discounts and add in bonuses. These are tax write-offs, and more importantly, they secure your customer base.

Teach your team to do the same and watch your group volume and commission checks soar!

Tomorrow, Key Quality #3 – Study Your Profession.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Key Quality #1 of the Successful Network Marketer

Key Qualities of the Network Marketing Professional

What defines success in any profession? Typically, there are a few qualifiers and Network Marketing is no different. Too many people, however, enter our profession and think success will happen even if they take shortcuts. Not so. Network Marketing, like any solid profession, requires mastery of a few essential components if one wants to experience true success.

1. Use your products, all of them. That old saying "become a product of the product" is critical for you to become comfortable and fluent discussing what your business offers. Nothing will put doubt into the mind of your prospect faster than quickly discerning that you don't know your product line. How can you instill belief in others if you don't truly have it yourself?

If your company offers a large starter pack of all of the products, get started with that. This is a business and getting started with all of the products will get you off to the fastest start. No excuses!

Go through your home and place every competing product you have that your company offers in a garbage bag. Give it away or throw it away and replace all products with those from your own store. This helps develop your product story and you might be surprised how many people who visit your home will ask about your products.

Also begin to share your products with others through samples and demos. I give away my products all of the time and this has come back to me tenfold in profit, repeat orders and customer referrals. Your products are the bet sales aid and tool you have, so why not use them? It's a solid investment in your business and a tax write-off.

As you sponsor others and grow your team, spend your time with the ones who commit to the product line as well. Those who commit to the product line from the beginning deserve your time and will likely be your most stable business builders.

When you are solid in your belief and use of your products, others will notice and become curious. Commit to yourself and your business through this first key quality – Use Your Products! And, then naturally recommend them to others.

Tomorrow, Key Quality #2 – Developing a Loyal Customer Base.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Are You Confused by SEO and Search Engines?

It's always educational to chat with others who are building a business online and find out those things that are most challenging or puzzling to them. One topic that comes up so frequently is Search Engines; Placement and Search Engine Optimization.

I thought it might be helpful to share some thoughts around the topic and some of my own experiences. While no one really knows what Google wants (except Google!) there are some things I have noticed and tracked over time.

Let me first share, however, that you can build a wildly successful business online without a top 10 Organic (meaning not paid) Search Engine listing. I know this because I have done it, so this is not theory. Yes, search engine traffic helps and is a big boost, but it takes time and involves more than good, "elbow grease" marketing.

Search Engine Optimization sounds scary, but it's really just about creating content on your site that uses a "keyword strategy" to target the audience you wish to attract. So, it's starts with getting into the mind of your potential prospect.

You have a business and you want to attract others to do business with you, or join you in your business, right? What word or phrase would your potential prospect type into a search engine in order to find you, if they don't even know you exist?

Spend some time brainstorming the top keyword phrases that your prospect might use to find you. Use your top keywords on your website as you write your content. Or, if your site is already done, you can re-write your content to add these keywords in. The objective is to get Google to "read" your site and determine that it is "worthy" to be ranked on their search engine results.

You want to place these keyword phrases on your site enough that Google reads them and places your site appropriately, but you don't want to make them so redundant by repeating them too much that your reader loses interest.

Each page of your site is independent and can have its own keyword strategy, so spend some time with each page. This does not have to be an overwhelming process, though. Take a page a week and spend an hour or so working on it. Over time, these efforts will pay off as you fine tune your site and "gain favor" with the "Google Gods!"

Each time you update a page, you can re-submit it to Google using their "Submit Your Website" feature. You don't have to submit your site more than once, as Google will revisit over time, but it can boost the process when you add content. Or, if you do a complete site overhaul, be sure to re-submit.

As you are working on your Search Engine strategy and rankings, make sure you are taking time daily to promote your site as well. You can do this through Social Media sites where you can create a link back to your site. Any time you have the chance to include your website link in something you are doing online, this creates exposure for you immediately, and it lets Google know your site is "busy" out there. Make sure you are only posting appropriate links, however.

This is how I was able to generate lots of traffic; build my list and grow my business successfully long before Google even knew I existed. And, quite honestly, it's a much better way to develop relationships. My strongest business alliances have come through people I "met" while out and about online.

Up next – we'll be talking about good places to create these links using Social Media; Blog Comments; Video and more! Don't you love the Internet? It really does weave a "web" of opportunity when it all comes together.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Does Attraction Marketing Really Work in MLM

Does Attraction Marketing in MLM really work online? It certainly seems to be the buzz word these days, doesn't it? Everywhere you look, someone is talking about it. But, how many people are really practicing it, and can it really be done?


How do you set yourself apart and draw customers and prospective business partners to you? Well, it's really fairly simple, and actually easier to do online than offline.


Think of the many people who you may have run across online who are "peddling" their MLM Opportunity. Spamming it is probably a better word choice. Most Network Marketers online think that the way to build online is to over-hype their opportunity to EVERYONE they come into contact with.


They buzz onto Facebook, make a zillion friends and then zap them all a message telling them how great their deal is; how much money they are making and how "just plain stupid" you are for not joining them yesterday!


How many times have you clicked to know more when you get these obnoxious posts? Probably none!


So how do you begin an MLM Attraction Marketing Magnet? How do you get people beating down your door to join your business?


I'm going to give you three key concepts to practice when you are marketing your business online.


Concept One – Be authentic. This is easier said than done for some, but seriously, how hard is it to just be yourself? Share your story and let people see who you are. Don’t try to embellish your experiences in MLM or try to be a "success story" that you have not yet created.


Instead, share your successes and your failures; your hopes, goals and dreams. Talk about your motivation and reason why you are building a business. Share things that you have tried that didn't work out. Share what you see in your opportunity in a very real way, without using any hype.


These things are what will bond your prospect to you because there will likely be some common ground between you.


Concept Two – Provide content and value – give your knowledge away freely. You may have
seen it said that you must be willing to give in order to get. Be willing to give away some of your "Secrets" to building successfully. Share tips and resources that have worked for you. Share as much free stuff as you can find.


It's okay to offer affiliate programs and other monetization models that help fund your business, but make sure you are not always coming after your prospects or your audience with your hand out. Give away more than you profit from, and make sure what you give away offers true value.


A good way to give away content of value is to do a review on a product or service you have used online. Or, perhaps explain an effective way you have discovered of using Facebook, or a particular application there. Have you figured out a great way to manage your Social Networking activities? This would be something great to share with an audience who will be hungry to know any time saving techniques you can offer.


Content and value are what reign supreme online and you will quickly generate a following and many prospects when you can be counted on for great information.


Concept Three – Become a consultant in the Network Marketing Profession. This doesn't mean give away all of your time, but be willing to devote some time to assisting those outside of your own downline. When someone comes to you with a problem or question, pick up the phone and give them a quick call if possible. You will likely make their jaw drop and they will appreciate and remember you for this.


Make sure you make that time about the person you are calling and not just a chance for you to go on and on about yourself or your business. Ask questions and listen. See if you can get to the heart of this person's need and find a way to provide a solution.


You never know when the time might come that this person will be looking to make a company change. I promise that the time you invested in that person and that phone call will stand out and likely prompt them to consider joining your team!


Attraction Marketing works like a charm if you will take the time to master the skills of coming from a place of contribution. Give generously and know that you will soon have prospects lining up at your door! Be ready to coach them to do the same!


EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer