The advent of the internet has brought to the marketplace an entirely new breed of entrepreneurs… and with the new breed, while we are certainly still in the infancy of a new dawn of economics, has brought with it it’s own unique set of problems, as well as a whole new range of opportunity for the savvy business builder. However, I would like to address a SPECIFIC debate within the realm of the aspiring Network Marketer, and it’s that of the question:
Is it even POSSIBLE to create an ACTUAL seven figure residual income entirely online in the MLM industry?
I might surprise a bunch of you who are regular readers of my blog… but here goes:
The answer is… NO. It’s not.
“What???” Now before you high-tail it out of here, or contact the FTC and file a complaint that I’m telling you to go build a business by attacking your broke friends and warm market with the prospecting spear head, hear me out.
It’s important to understand what we’re doing, and not doing when we’re building a business online, and it’s also important that if we have a long term goal of passive wealth, that we not ignore the facts and the reality of both what exists and what doesn’t in our industry.
What DOES exist in our industry, and has existed for more than sixty years are thousands of people earning seven figure incomes who built their incomes almost entirely through business networking and warm market prospecting. What DOESN’T exist is ANYBODY who has created the same brand loyalty, RESIDUAL wealth, and leverage through ONLY the internet, or ONLY through any other kind of advertising.
In fact, most of the people I know online who make a lot of money make massive amounts of cash selling affiliate products, coaching programs, websites, and systems, but their ACTUAL residual income from a legitimate Network Marketing company is less than $10,000 per month. In fact, MOST of them have a residual income of less than $1,500 per month. (These are the top dogs, people)
Well, that’s cool, because they can still make fat amounts of cash selling their programs. In fact, the other day I saw a promising program online for sale called:
“How To Make Butt-Loads Of Cash Selling ‘How-To’ Courses To Network Marketers Without Ever Actually Being Successful In Network Marketing Yourself…” (I’m kidding, of course… sort of)
So where’s the disconnect? Why is it that people like Randy Gage are creating residual incomes of a couple of hundred thousand a month while the top dogs online jump ship from deal to deal looking for the magic bullet? (a whole new blog post is coming on that one…)
The answer is probably more simple than you would think, and it’s something that we need to address… Think about it like this:
Normally, for the last 60-70 years when you would get started in a Network Marketing company, your upline would give you some kind of advice like this:
“Talk to EVERYONE, your neighbors, your cat, the grocer, the local police department, illegal aliens, etc…. your goal is to SPONSOR no matter what, just get out there and TALK to people”
So when you get started, that’s exactly what you do… Now, this might not make you rich (really it depends how influential your sphere of influence is and how good you are at positioning yourself) but what it DOES do is get you sponsoring in your first week.
Compare that with what happens online. You get started and your sponsor tells you:
“Ok, you need to learn how to market yourself before you’re ever going to be successful… so set up your blog, set up your autoresponders, create a capture page, hire an article writer, learn how to be a guru, spend 4 hours a day chit-chatting on facebook, set up 14,000 affiliate accounts, and then FINALLY you’re ready to START….”
The problem is, that stuff takes so long and is so complicated, that MOST people will NEVER start. They’ll quit before they do anything. (Where in the traditional methods, the quitters still quit, but before they do they sponsor 5-10 people). What online marketers also tend to be quiet about is the fact that to be successful in online marketing, you CAN’T copy someone else, you have to learn how to be ENTIRELY unique. It will take most people six months to learn how to do if they are extremely aggressive.
As a result of this disconnect, distributors who build their businesses completely online have GIGANTIC frontlines and almost zero duplication in their teams, and they have the highest attrition rate of any business building method that exists. So what do they do? They assume that MLM is dead, duplication can’t happen, and so they jump to a program that doesn’t require anyone but themselves to be successful, hence the advent of ‘Top Tier’ programs.
“Your Downline Is Dead”
Make $90 Zillion A Year Ripping Off Strangers
Because They Won’t Succeed Anyway, Click Here.
www.FrontEndLoadingRocks.com
The flawed philosophy of doing that is that people in traditional Network Marketing have incomes that completely trump top tier programs, and a way better quality of life. For example, in my last company, there are about 10 distributors with six figure monthly residuals, and about a thousand with healthy six figure annual residuals. Most of those people could drop dead and still make seven figures a year. Can you do that in a top tier program? No. You have to keep producing and selling $20k packages like a dog for the rest of your life.
So what’s the solution? It seems as if I’m harping on internet marketing as a way to build your business. I’m not. I just want ALL of us to realize that IN ADDITION to learning how to build our business online, let’s START sponsoring and building a team before we’re gurus, and get our teams doing the same thing.
Don’t ignore what’s worked for 70 years to try and build something that can’t be built. I think that if Network Marketing is going to have a future, we need to have a war cry, that we learn to EMBRACE traditional methods and get people STARTED doing something simple that they can IMMEDIATELY do, and then they can learn whatever marketing method they want as they go along.
I think a good war cry would be to simply talk to five people a day about your opportunity, no matter what.
Now, if you’ve learned how to generate leads and you want to talk to five people a day from your leads, cool. If you haven’t, prospect every day while you’re learning to market online. Who should you talk to? Anyone that you can practice with. You could meet people through business networking, social clubs, you could talk with people and build relationships on facebook, pick up a newspaper and look for social gatherings and just get out there and network, learn how to meet people in coffee shops… anywhere.
Mike Dillard’s famous book ‘Magnetic Sponsoring’ got us all focusing on learning the ‘Marketing’ of Network Marketing, but what about putting the ‘NETWORKING’ back in network marketing?
Why not market your business online at a coffee shop, and then just build relationships with other people that hang out? My first successful organization I built almost entirely through people I met in coffee shops (before the online days). I wasn’t pushy, and I didn’t go to the coffee shop dressed like an Amway distributor. I just made a lot of friends and as a result, I sponsored a lot of people.
Do I want you to abandon building your business online? No. There are things you can do through marketing that there is no possible way you can do in any other way. You can sponsor 40-50 people a month into any company like clockwork by learning some clever advertising. But do you want people in your team to HAVE to learn to be a marketing guru to be successful at all? I’m just telling you that if you want long term residuals, don’t ignore the traditional methods in your pursuit for online Guru-Hood.
Did you get burned out trying traditional methods? Maybe you were acting like an idiot to your friends, or maybe you never learned how to do it in a way that works. Maybe instead of bashing the methods that have created REAL residual income, you could just learn the skills that can enable you to add the most powerful leverage building technique in existence to your business.
I might lose some of my following for saying some of the things I said in this post, and if that’s the case, so be it, but I want you to know the truth. It’s time for the online community to wake up. If you’re not going to embrace reality, maybe it’s time to join a top-tier program and rip off strangers for the rest of your life.
I’m holding a new war-cry all of you. Talk to five people a day. If you have leads, great, but if you don’t, learn to prospect until you do. Learn to reach out, connect with people, and build relationships with people you haven’t met.
Don’t be an idiot and hang out in an elevator in the local shopping mall with a huge grin on your face and corny business cards, learn how to NETWORK. Isn’t what we’re doing to build relationships? I want you all to know the REAL marketing skills that will let you sponsor 40-50 people a month, but BEFORE you have them, you can build relationships right now. There’s a world of people who are hurting for change, who are trapped in a race of 9-5 slavery. Let’s go out and teach them the truth of economic freedom, and be a Hit-Man to the machine.
I appreciate all of you, and I encourage all of you to enter into a new era of Network Marketing with me, let us go out and set the world on fire.
Your Friend In Prosperity,
-David Wood
P.S. Be sure to leave your comments on this one. I’d like to hear how many of you think I’m full of it, right on, etc.
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In which Case I would like to know this, when you first started MLSP.
How did you reach out to atleast 5 people? Did you use offline at all?
And when people did join you in MLSP, what did you teach them that made you truly believe that they would follow through into your company and not drop out after a few months.
For example, what key things do you teach them that will get them going better.
Best Regards, Jay.
[Reply]
David Wood Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Jason,
I do a lot of things to keep people around when they join me, and I sponsor people through a lot of different mediums, including online marketing, warm market, networking, and some offline marketing. The question isn’t ‘how can I reach out to five people a day’ but to limit your choices and focus. You can meet people at business networking events, coffee shops, churches, brainstorm a list of people you know who own businesses, talk to people you already know (God forbid), and talk to people who sell you things, like your Realtor or insurance agent. In fact, about 70% of the six figure earners I’ve met in Network Marketing were successful in a respected profession BEFORE they got involved in the industry, and that would be a good place to start.
Dave
[Reply]
Jason Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Ah ok, being a student and in the UK, without much prove (Of Profit) and approaching someone in a coffee shop might not be the same as other countries. People in the UK aren’t all that forward with speaking to people they don’t know.
Although I do like the idea of combining online methods with already proven forms of targeted offline marketing.
I think I could be of more persuasion if I can generate a higher amount of income from online, talking to leads on the phone and helping existing people do it online.
Then use my results as persuasion, but definately going to look into offline strategies.
As for friends, I’m a student doing Marketing and Advertisement communications, and were currently studying the online side of things, when we move onto the offline it should be interesting.
My friends are all in debt broke students not willing to spend a dime on anything but going out and getting drunk.
I don’t have much contact with any business owners, so my only method of contact really is online social media.
I could try approach people in my area or coffee shops, but I’m more likely to be moaned at or avoided
Thanks, Jason.
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Antonio Licchelli Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Hi Jason
I have read David’s and your comments with interest…
I too reside in the UK, although these days my time is split between UK and Florida…
I too ‘cut my teeth’ in MLM the ‘old school’ way…
With regard to differences between US/UK, in my experience, outward appearance may change, but essentially people are people.
I have recently ventured online and the more I learn the more I agree with David that one cannot prosper in MLM with internet skills alone.
You can usually tell those who teach from real life experience vs theory… and that’s why David stands out from the sea of other so-called gurus.
He has – and does walk the talk.
Keep up the good work David, you’re awesome.
Nicholas St Jon (stnick007) Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Jason, I think that if you will fall back on Zig Zigler’s famous saying of “You can have everything in Life that YOU want, IF you will just help others get out of Life what THEY want.”
In meeting and talking with people, whether in the U.K. or the U.S., simply be more interested in the person you are talking with than about yourself and especially about your business.
In the book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, it talks about being “genuinely” interested in others. When you do that, they will eventually tell you what they want and need, and if the company that you are involved in can help them, it becomes a natural fit.
So relax, engage people, have fun, and as David has pointed out, re-engage in the “networking” part of this business. If nothing else, you’ll be richer for the experience of meeting new and interesting people.
Nicholas St Jon (stnick007)´s last blog ..Warning: Read this before joining CieAura!
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Since you started marketing online the one thing that has been constant is your honesty, and your values. I respect your opinion with the highest regard and Just Want to Say THANKS.
Steven Hippe´s last blog ..Create Massive Duplication and Momentum
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David…I have to say that I completely agree. I’ve been in the industry for about 2 years now and have seen small amounts of success but mostly that was simply because I didn’t have the leadership I needed to succeed.
The thing that I’ve learned is that the “duplication” is the hardest part, no matter what you do, teach or train…some just won’t be able to do it. But isn’t that the way it is in life anywhere. Some teachers are good, some are great and some stink…that’s just the way life is.
Thanks for being completely honest…I love it.
Aaron Wyssmann
Aaron Wyssmann´s last blog ..The Power of Ambition…Are You A Creator or Destoyer
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David, your thinking makes sense to me. Instead of trying to re-invent a way of doing network marketing online, why not try to maintain what has worked for distributors over the past 50 years? People need to get into profit quickly, and that’s done by prospecting. It’s tough to jump into the online game and make things happen immediately. I think most people here are familiar with Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow 101 game, or at least the concept. It’s important in business to get into positive cashflow as soon as possible–like within a week or two, preferably. With downline in positive cashflow, there is much higher retention, which means higher residual income for the upline.
Daniel Lucas´s last blog ..Why 95% of MLM Businesses Fail
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I agree with the fact the traditional strategies still work, although I feel there are some people who will have more success online due to their personality types. I think there will also be those people who will have success online and integrate that with traditional offline marketing strategies.
Those that don’t have the drive to do what it takes to survive the online learning curve likely would not have made it offline either, but your point is well taken that those people may bring you to others before they drop out.
I think there is a place for both online and traditional strategies in the mlm industry. Those that integrate them will have the most success.
Thanks for bringing forward David. Great insight.
Glen Geditz´s last blog ..MLM Prospecting: Proven Online Marketing Strategies Revealed
[Reply]
David Wood Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
You’re right, Glen, there are people who will have a WAY more success online, but if they want to break out and create RESIDUAL income, they need to open their marketing out to include people who are better off offline. ALSO, it’s important to get people started fast, which just isn’t going to happen entirely through the internet, which was the main point of my post.
Dave
[Reply]
Good insight there, David.
The telephone still has a lot of “ooomph”. I’ve gone back and forth on this issue and it’s great to get it out in the open. Old school is not dead. But I’m thankful that we have some new teachers in the old school that will help more people graduate to 6 and 7 figure incomes.
StephenBolin´s last blog ..Is It REALLY Possible To Grow A Seven Figure Residual Income In Network Marketing Using NOTHING But The Internet? (Not Really)
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David –
I couldn’t agree more with this.
We ALL need to remember there’s a life away from the Internet!
We ALL need to continue being the best affiliate in our group – and NEVER going into management mode.
And lastly – we ALL need to stop trying to re-invent the wheel. The tried and true networking works too! I’m not saying start up with hotel meetings and a constant 3-Foot Rule Mentality – but get in front of people!
I loved your “…be a Hit-Man to the machine.” comment!
My War Face is on my friend!
Have a DYNAMITE day!
Wes
Wes Wyatt´s last blog ..ProductOfTheDay.com Marketing On IWearYourShirt.com
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David, you’re always on target with your blog post and it seems that you’ve nailed it once again. Whether it’s online or off line, a leads a leads a lead. I like Big Al’s suggestions on how to give a 1 minute presentation when you talk to someone new.
thanks for posting,
Dan
Dan Johnson´s last blog ..10 Cost Effective Ways To Promote Your Website
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David,
I agree with this post 100%. It sounds like you and I have been hanging around the same water cooler.
If you want duplication in your organization that creating a residual income becomes a reality, having people start by setting up attraction marketing sales funnel is not the best way to go.
Now if someone wants to set up some Internet marketing campaigns after they have actually done their daily activity of putting a certain number of people in front of their primary company’s business presentation, then that’s fine.
Whatever the method you give to new people to get a daily stream of people in front of your product or opportunity needs to be simple. That’s why traditional offline strategies work.
It can work on the Internet as well, just as long as your new people are connecting with people and putting them in front of their business from the get go. A lot of your new distributors may have friends on FaceBook, MySpace, etc.. Just have them connect with their closet relationships and share the opportunity. What could be simpler than that?
Great post, David.
Darby Miller
[Reply]
The internet is good, but I feel that direct mail is better.
But just remember that different things work better for different people.
see you at the top
ed
ed hanson´s last blog ..Is It REALLY Possible To Grow A Seven Figure Residual Income In Network Marketing Using NOTHING But The Internet? (Not Really)
[Reply]
Great post David. I’ll send this out to my team…
If there was one thing we learned in the More Heart Than Talent conference it was that Prospecting is what makes you money in this industry. Talking to people on a daily basis about your business…
I like the contact at least 5 people daily assignment. I am going to shoot for 21 people per day myself, because on average I would only talk to probably 1 or 2 per day that call me. That won’t cut it if you want 100k per month residual income from your MLM like you are talking about…
Anyway make it a great day and thanks for the insight…
Mike
Mike Hobbs´s last blog ..Numis Network Review – Is Numis A Scam or Not?
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Hey David
Im glad that you wrote about this subject. It took me a long time to find out that most networkers make their money through promoting their products and or other products. I built a business online and in 4 or 5 months we had like 700 people in and it all fell apart because no one wanted to do offline stuff. So I know what you are saying is True First hand.
James Johnson
http://whoisjamesjohnson.com
James´s last blog ..Is It REALLY Possible To Grow A Seven Figure Residual Income In Network Marketing Using NOTHING But The Internet? (Not Really)
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I absolutely agree with you David that even with the best marketing system and training in place it is still a LONG WAY TO GO for a new online marketer to really START marketing like a PRO. What about traditional network marketing methods I live in Israel and here we don’t speak english, so what I can do is build relationships on Facebook for example.
Love your sincerity and willingness to share everything you know. Thank you David for another great post.
Vitaliy Dubinin´s last blog ..Is It REALLY Possible To Grow A Seven Figure Residual Income In Network Marketing Using NOTHING But The Internet? (Not Really)
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I absolutely agree with you David that even with the best marketing system and training in place it is still a LONG WAY TO GO for a new online marketer to really START marketing like a PRO. What about traditional network marketing methods I live in Israel and here we don’t speak english, so what I can do is build relationships on Facebook for example.
Love your sincerity and willingness to share everything you know. Thank you David for another great post.
Vitaliy Dubinin´s last blog ..Is It REALLY Possible To Grow A Seven Figure Residual Income In Network Marketing Using NOTHING But The Internet? (Not Really)
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Terrific, insightful and thought provoking post, Dave! You’ve brought up a few different topics in this
Agree with what you are saying… as leaders in our business it’s unrealistic to think that folks can step right up to the plate and have ‘instant’ success online – it doesn’t work that way; despite the unrealistic catch-cries that are marketed online by network marketers.
It takes hard work and consistent effort to master online strategies… as too the offline world. And as unique individuals we all have skills in particular areas that are a better match for certain things – whether they be offline or online – and they shouldn’t be ignored. It’s far easier to pursue something you are good at, and learn the other at the same time, than concentrate solely on something entirely new and expect immediate or short term results, and subsequently a long-term business.
There is no “I” in the word Team. And networking and relationship building applies within our team as well as it does to prospects.
I like your statement about putting networking back into network marketing!
Thank you for your honesty and transparency – as always, it has been a breath of fresh air!
Tara West´s last blog ..Are Your Doubts Holding You Back?
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I’m still new enough to say I have found that online marketing methods are important to learn and do. I also agree that getting REAL or should I say, “going live” is essential to one’s business success. I love the expanded view that David gives and it will be helpful. Reaching out to BE SURE to talk with 5 live people a day, any way you can, is savvy advice from a pro for ANY type of business owner in today’s increasingly e-commerce world. Thanks David for obviously really caring about the people that you are bring on board. I will be paying your advice forward for sure!
[Reply]
hi david,
I totally agree – starting on line marketing and learning to brand yourself is not the easiest thing to do.. however my hope is that through massive action I can be responsible for my own financial destiny.. building a team is very important to me however, I want to have control over my income with or without a team… and the hardest part about branding yourself is developing your initial website and blog with all the bells and whistles like the form for the data base and etc., however thanx for all of your training and i am setting up my system, slowly but surely… and persevering through all of the challenges… mostly so that i can teach all aspects to my team, once i begin that phase of things… which is very near
[Reply]
Hey David,
I found this to be an interesting blog article. My understanding of your past year in marketing was a conscious choice to not do the warm market approach as you had in your previous businesses and that up until you started recruiting on the net your average personal recruiting was 4 people in a month and now using your own line approach you are able to do that in a day.
In listening to your calls you said that you were able to accomplish winning a couple car contests and amass over 80K in your bank account and paid off a bunch of bills. Your success on line as I understand it has afforded you the ability to move to Costa Rica from your home in Fairbanks.
Sharing the value of the article submission software on a call you made a significant affiliate income. – in the thousands. These people that bought your software I suspect wanted to emulate your success that you had in a 3 month span though I am sure that most would be happy if it happened even if it took 12 months.
I love the stuff you have been sharing …..with the MLSP group your content is top shelf and you are definitely not easily duplicated. I am not afraid of the Internet or marketing over the phone and have been doing so for over 10 years full time with cold market. I found that learning this online technology plus setting up landing pages a Blogg a sales funnel, writing articles and doing videos in addition to calling leads to be Highly Un-duplicateable.
I would say at this point that it is a great way to generate a large following that you can then immediately engage in the traditional “belly to belly” approach. I had initially thought that the online world with it’s landing page systems etc would have been easier but it would seem it really works well for a minority of MLM leaders that have the savvy and or connections plus funding (for those that need more than 200.00) to make it all work as you have.
In your calls you have made having success sound quite easy. From my experience thus far it can be fun, but not for the faint of heart. People see your success but as you pointed out you put in many 12 and 14 hour days to accomplish what you did plus you were very effective at networking with the top leaders – again this is not something most people in MLM do. Many feel threatened to even call their upline for fear of being a bother.
Duplication online I agree is highly unlikely to be prevalent and those that plan to do it must be prepared for a ton of learning and very little results for an extended time while they build SEO rankings.
Now calling up brother Bob might be a whole lot easier especially if he looks up to you or calling your best friend.
No short cuts to long term success – vision, huge why, commitment, perseverance, action with a positive attitude and a willingness to fail your way forward.
Chuck
[Reply]
David Wood Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Yes chuck… you’re spot on my friend. There are no shortcuts to longterm success. And making success sound ‘easy’ is another skill that all top networkers have mastered, too.
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I agree with the general thrust of what you are saying, although your aversion to ‘front end load’ programs is a bit hard to take. Nothing wrong with front end load within reason, providing the purchaser is receiving fair value in return.
The pure internet network marketing model as promoted by the gurus is a load of nonsense. It seems obvious that they make their money from the sale of affiliate products and subscriptions. As good as some of these products are, their basic sales pitch is based on a lie.
Lastly, the key points outlined in your post seem to be in direct conflict with the position you took a few months ago, namely that the internet (using article marketing etc) was THE way to go.
[Reply]
David Wood Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Kim,
This isn’t in contradiction to what I was doing a few months ago. I still believe it’s valuable to build an organization through marketing – that being said, I’ve observed both first hand and through relationships what happens when traditional methods are totally abandoned. If you go watch my landing page video on mlmglobaltakeover.com, (a video I made when I first started) you’ll see that I didn’t knock traditional methods even when I was just starting… I LOVE article marketing and online marketing, and think it is a GREAT way to recruit… However let’s not allow that opinion to stop us from building a colossal organization that sets itself on fire…
[Reply]
Being an introvert (30% of the population) by nature; I was considered shy in the lower grades of school. I forced myself to be in high school plays — and that helped me break out of my shell. People are almost always friendly to me, when I am friendly to them. It’s easy to ask an open ended question like, “Hi, how are you?” you can be perceived as a friendly person — because you are. This opens the door to talk about what they, and then you do for a living (at least for most guys). This works great, if you are already making money on line — or are set up to. The hardest people to talk to are your friends and relatives. Why? Because if you offend them, you risk loosing them — with a “stranger” (5-10 minute conversation)it’s not a big deal, if the walk away. Also I live near “MLM Mecca” (Amway), and was presented “the plan”– many times. And even presented it myself. My advise is to show some online success — set up your funnel — before you even tell most of your family and friends, “I have found my calling in life.” Thanks for reminding us — we can still carry business cards, like the pro.we are becoming.
Keith D Shrock´s last blog ..MLM Lead Generation: Loyal Leads Magnitized By Ethical Leaders
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Wow David…
It is so refreshing to hear someone finally speak the truth. I am absolutely a believer in leveraging the internet to market & build your network marketing business. I am & so should anyone who is capable of learning to do it. But it really ticks me off big time when I hear people saying stupid things like “old fashioned…or traditional methods are dead” & referring to them as belonging in the nineties etc.
Like I recently posted on my blog http://overthetop.yourprospexblog.com…‘5 Common Mistakes…’ (if it’s ok to show link…delete if not
“Please understand that these (ie. traditional) methods are perfectly fine. They do work…there are heaps of people just in my company let alone all the rest who have achieved significant network marketing success using them only….I really do get fed up when I read so called experts saying that the traditional methods are dead…that they don’t work and that no one will ever have network marketing success using them. If they didn’t work the MLM companies would be broke and there wouldn’t be any anyone making $5000 to $10000 p/m doing just the traditional ways like the numerous I know just in my region & in my company alone.”
Thanks for your honesty David…and as you have a fairly high profile, much higher than mine at this stage as I have only started online quite recently…it can only be hoped that it brings a little balance & keeps those who make those stupid statements purely in order to sell something to struggling mlm’ers a lot more honest.
Phil
Phil Hayes´s last blog ..Network Marketing Success – Tremble If You Must…But Do It!
[Reply]
Dave,
That’s a brave article. It does answer I question I had regarding retention rates. The truth is that the internet is just one of the tools available. The basic blueprint has been: Multiple streams of leads + multiple streams of income = a stable business. I see what you are saying and the benefits of both methods. Online you make money off those who say no and find some who say yes. Offline you make recruits from recruits that still quit. I think you hit it right on the head! One way is super important because it puts you in profit quickly. The other method builds a stronger deeper residual income base. It seems as though both methods are equally important to build a long term business. Most leaders shy away from vitally important issue like retention rates. Articles like this show why you are where you are! Awesome work!
[Reply]
D,
Your right on the money my friend. It looks like our 1:30 am conversation all over again.
This is one of the most powerful revelations that I have had in our strategy & coaching calls. The high level of understanding that you have for the network marketing industry is really serving our team well even at this stage of the game.
One of the most exciting things to come up out of the discussion that we had was the plan to attack this failing of online network marketing we have developed and I am really looking forward to implement it on a larger scale the way your doing now.
Our team is growing stronger, bigger, and faster with such great leadership at it’s helm.
Keep speaking the truth Sifu,
John “Blaze” Chatman… (I swear I’m on fire right now)
p.s.
Did you hear? Bill Bartmann America’s 25th Wealthiest Person just dropped a comment on my latest blog post!!!!
John Chatman´s last blog ..6 Steps To Network Marketing Success
[Reply]
Hey David.
I am new to the Internet Network Marketing. And I want to agree in what you are saying. I am frustrated because my internet results are coming slower than expected.
The few people that I spoke to personally, looks more promising at the moment. (That is why Webinars are very powerful tools as well.)
We must also not forget that the earth is round and there are time zones.
People that I speak to, can get hold of me when ever they need to, (same Time zone). When I need to speak to my up line, I need to check time zones, and sometimes it takes 2 to 3 days, to get answers to questions.
I am going to put the target or 5 people a day out there and take your advise.
Thank you for all you honest remarks. I learn a lot from you.
Kobus Vorster
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John Chatman Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Kobus,
You make some very good points my friend. This is why it is so important for YOU to become the leader that you would want to follow as soon as possible.
This way when your folks need someone to speak to in your same time zone they will look to you for leadership and guidance.
The fastest way to do this is to go into your back office of the MLM Lead System Pro and take in all of the training that is situated there.
Once you have reviewed a particular piece of training then IMPLEMENT it right away. Take notice of your results and make corrections until you have achieved whichever level of success you have benchmarked for your yourself with that form of marketing.
Once this occurs you implement the next type of marketing until before long you are a master at several forms of lead generation, social media branding, and just an all around kick butt leader!
J
John Chatman´s last blog ..MLM Lead System Pro Behind The Scenes
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Hey David
It’s great to hear some real honesty on this from over your side of the waters! I’m the first to promote learning to attract leads online but once you get people into your biz if you don’t teach them how to network and get some action immediately it is a very slow game. I just came back from a leadership meeting with Randy and I have to tell you he is completely rigid on this issue. I love working online but I think it’s very misleading when people who are not even in MLM (but in purely affiliate type sales programs like CCP) put out all this negative stuff about MLM. In that respect I’m completely with Randy on this.
Thanks for sharing.
Rachel Henke´s last blog ..Attraction Marketing School over at the Million Mind March?
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Great post as usual, Dave. You really provide some valuable insights here. I know you’re passionate about MLSP as I am, but maybe it’s because of who’s involved there more than purely being about Internet marketing. Don’t get me wrong, though, I have developed a passion about that lately. But MLSP has more than just that, too, for instance the Drop Cards which some are using quite effectively offline in newspaper stands, etc.
Jim Green
http://jimgreen.us/
Jim Green´s last blog ..Is It REALLY Possible To Grow A Seven Figure Residual Income In Network Marketing Using NOTHING But The Internet? (Not Really)
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awesome david!
this is what we’ve been preaching for the last year, and i couldn’t agree more.
it’s time to WAKE-UP THE COMMUNITY is right!
lets get back to basics, the NETWORKING, and the marketing will enhance the networking / sponsoring. talk to people day 1! dial your skills in as a master prospector, connector, recruiter, and leader.
i love it bro!
keep bringing the value.
brian
http://brianfanale.com
brian´s last blog ..*** Critical Webinar TONIGHT Tues Jan 12th @ 9 PM EST… MLM CRUISE! B. Fanale, C. Harris & MLSP!
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David can you call me 403-755-2458 I had used your click book but we missed each other…..
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Dave
I like that you made it point to reach out to all us network marketers who struggle as often as everyday.I major like the meager of the hit man ..Dave I have made money online mostly threw craigslist a lot of it was also direct marketing your keen person an i like the fact your exposing more to people who truly look at you as leader..I like the new
Dave Wood an look forward to your blog for great leadership development…..Mojo
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David-
Excellent, on the money post, I couldn’t agree with you more. This is something that’s been on my mind for a while now, and I actually just finished rereading Randy Gage’s MLM Manifesto two nights ago.
As someone who’s followed you over the past few months, I don’t see this as a departure from anything that you’ve said at all. With that being said, EVEN IF IT WAS, I think that we have to allow each other room to grow and change. I know in my own life, I’ve found myself in positions where I’ve taken one side, but time, facts, etc. has later led me to be on the complete opposite side of the fence. We should never make each other feel that it is not ok to change your mind.
Your value in the eyes of your downline is increased one thousand fold when you can provide them a solution that will work for them, backed by tangible results and/or experiences. I would never dissuade someone in my group from using offline or online marketing techniques. My philosophy is this: you learn a skill, you master that skill, you put it on autopilot, and then you add a new skill. Would I recommend that people walk around the mall and spearchuck? Absolutely not, but what’s wrong with noticing a sharp salesperson who sells you something at the mall? What’s wrong with joining a business networking organization, or Toastmasters, and networking? The internet has opened up so many new vistas for us, but there also needs to be some grounding in the basics as well.
Jamie Gaymon´s last blog ..MLM Compensation Plans-Secrets Your Upline Never Told You, Part I
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Hey Dave!
Great post! As usual, it needed to be said and you did it! It’s been the scapegoat, the excuse and the pink elephant in the room that nobody seemed to admit at most company events. Glad to see you take this stand, which I totally support!
Thanks!
John
Network Marketing Rocks!
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Well said David! Let’s stay open and not limit ourselves. At the end of the day we should use whatever means suits us best to attract people with whom we can establish relationships. I do think it’s important to find the way/s that suits one’s personality best and not just blindly do what someone else is doing because they are having success that way. It pretty much starts and ends with knowing oneself and being true to that.
Marcus Baker
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Great post David!
With MLM or any business model, prospecting and lead generation is the most important activity. It’s more than just selling… it’s about knowing your customer and keeping your pulse on what’s going on around you. Hanging out in coffee shops, standing in the popcorn line at the movies, taking your kids to the park… we have so many opportunities every day to connect with people. The more people we connect with the more opportunities we have to share the dream.
THANKS!
Tami
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David,
Awesome thoughts and I agree with 99% of what you wrote. The comment on Top Tier Programs struck a nerve though. 1st, Top Tier is not for everyone. MLM attracts folks with less cash to invest, that is why it’s so popular with the masses. Also, Top Tier Programs, at least mine, does create residual income and not no 5% of your down lines sales, its 30%. Your statement was bold, but now stands corrected.
Thank you for your leadership bro.
~Josh Boxer
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Hey David,
It was nice to connect with you in Dallas. Went to visit your blog today and saw this post. WOW!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. I believe that most people look at online marketing strategies because we live in a ‘Google’ society where we expect to click a button and get results.
People are looking for the easy-button…essentially a short-cut to success. No one wants to take the long-road, do they?
I believe that people see the Internet as a quick-fix when in fact, as you point out – easy in, easy out. It’s easier for people to jump ship online unless you build in strong community and culture (that includes offline) as you clearly do – and that’s why you’re a leader.
Good stuff!
- Frank Versace
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David you are speaking my heart. Online is a means to get to people. The goal is to build a team of people who can build a team of people. As someone who teaches sales in corporate call center. I can teach anyone how to talk to people if they are coachable. You find them on the internet and then you sponsor them as people. If you put a system in place that allows those that are willing to do the work the riches will come beyond your wildest dreams. GREAT TRUTH DAVID. There are no shortcuts.
Brian Dudley´s last blog ..FREE INTERNET LEADS Through Article Marketing
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Great post David! I love the way you keep it real- this is what you get, either do it properly or don’t waste your time trying.
Richard Nicholls´s last blog ..Is It REALLY Possible To Grow A Seven Figure Residual Income In Network Marketing Using NOTHING But The Internet? (Not Really)
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Another thing to keep in mind is using Social Media sites like facebook at a platform to create and build lasting relationships. Pick up the phone and call someone you friended from a group. Most people include their numbers…
There are many ways to connect with people besides the old bumping into you in the grocery routine.
I think the most important factor to remember is to always be integrity, lead with value and have compassion in your hear.
Becky Kimes´s last blog ..Are You Unconsciously Limiting Your Prosperity and Abundance?
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That’s great Becky. Using the phone and face to face methods strikes the right balance between the online and the offline world. Online allows us to meet more people, but it represents a beginning, not an ending.
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David,
Great post as usual. About ten or so years ago when I was an Amway distributor we would go out and approach strangers on the street with the attitude of “join my business and make me rich” and when I did actually get someone to sit down I was completely embarrassed to admit I was in Amway.
Needless to say I never wanted to approach people again. I quickly realized (ten years later) that if you have the right attitude, believe one hundred percent in your business and product and simply want to help people, it is extremely easy to communicate.
Trying to become a student myself and learning that leads come from every angle has been a struggle, but understanding that is half the battle.
Mike Dillard said himself “talk to five new people every day and your business will explode.”
Keep up the good work!
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hello david
with a few attraction marketing companies out there what would be the 3 main reasons mlsp would be the one to go with
I my self believe mlsp has to be ahead of all the others
with so much promise/training/support
to live and work from the beach what a concept
thank you
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David, You have done it once again my friend. This is by far the only post every person looking to market online needs to hear. Many people myself included was thinking that just marketing will make me the most money online, But without Networking There is no Success In Abundance I like to say in Network Marketing!
Thanks Again for being a true leader and standing out from the crowd.
Antwuan Bell
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I agree with you David. If we want to make it big time ini MLM business, we MUST combine both online and offline methods PERIOD!
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Hey David,
I think you are spot on my friend. People eat up this internet network marketing material but they fail to realize that the bottom line is that this industry is called network marketing for a reason. Sure there are many different ways to find prospects but in the end you will only sponsor people who you have built a relationship with. There is no other way to do it.
That’s what really makes this industry so incredible. The new relationships you develop along the way on the road to success. Another great post David. Keep up the great work buddy.
Matt
Matt´s last blog ..The Network Marketing Blues
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Dave,
Again, another great article. You nailed it. I actually have a prospect who has built a successfully MLM offline but is considering jumping online. His concern is that he has never met an online marketing make it big the long run. I’m sending him this post as I think you hit it on the head!
Keep rocking,
Ian Fitz
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David,
Thank you for the wonderful article. I really liked the way you said it. I totally agree that we should combine both online and offline methods to be successful in this industry. Inorder to build a huge MLM empire, you have to have that personal touch. Without it, it’s just a building with no concrete. There is no guarentee that it’s gonna stay there. It can fall of anytime.I appreciate you so much.
Very excited to be part of your team.
Thanks for adding value to this community.
Cheers
Raven Raj
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David, Right on!! and thanks! Can you say more about networking from your perspective? Susie
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Nice one Dave…
It is still “NETWORK MARKETING” and not just marketing
1. NETWORK = RESIDUAL (By Itself… 5-10 years for financial freedom)
2. MARKETING = G.P.T (By Itself, never financial freedom)
3. NETWORK MARKETING = GPT + RESIDUAL (Financial Freedom in 1-2 Years)
MLM Brothers´s last blog ..The Power Of Network Marketing
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