MLM Talk Online

By Lisa M. Wilber

Sacrifice is a part of every new business — at least every successful new business. The new business owner must sacrifice his or her own personal time, money and creature comforts in order to get the business off the ground and heading toward success. How long and to what extent will you have to sacrifice to make your goals and dreams a reality? I suppose that would depend on how big your goals and dreams are!

Personally, my dreams are B I G — and getting bigger. My initial goal of “Million dollars in assets by age 40″ seems small compared to the possibilities I see for myself now. And not just in physical possessions — but in every aspect of my dreams. How much money I can earn in a year, where I will travel, who I will meet, what I will learn. When I began to believe in myself and believe that anything is possible, it opened up my horizons in a way that wasn’t possible before.

As my horizons opened, so did my creativity and ability to overcome the hurdles towards those dreams. But today, like so many of you reading this; I am struggling and sacrificing in order to secure my future income and lifestyle. Yes, I know sometimes I take it to extremes — but that is how deeply I feel the passion of my dreams.

The company I represent is sending me my downline earnings check this Friday for over $9,200.00 — and that’s for two weeks! Yet, as my husband and I sat huddled in front of our 10 year old air conditioner over the weekend — the heat during the summer in our 12′ x 72′ trailer can be compared to a tin can in an open field — I couldn’t be happier.

I no longer spend time waiting each month for the electric man — waiting to catch him with my cash payment so that he will not shut my electric service off again. I no longer dread hearing the phone ring — knowing that no bills collectors will be calling.

We have food in the refrigerator, gas in our vehicles and for the first time in 14 years — medical insurance! Yet — we make sure to be as frugal as possible, spending the majority of the income from my downline back into the business to insure that our past won’t repeat itself.

We laughed as we sat in front of the air conditioner — because every few minutes I had to get up and thump the side of the 20 year old TV. A button is broken in the control panel, but the TV still works when you hold the button down — so my husband came up with a solution — he propped a plastic container against the button and held that in place with a rubber boot against the cable conversion box. Voila! No need to purchase a new TV!

We now enjoy this kind of sacrifice. It’s like a badge of honor we wear knowing that our future will be secure — knowing that we are happy and have all that we truly need today and are saving and investing for those great adventures of tomorrow.

Have you read the book “The Millionaire Next Door”?

I rest my case.

Lisa M. Wilber is a Senior Executive Unit Leader with Avon Products, Inc. and is the owner of The Winner In You sales aid company. Lisa’s Avon downline sold over $10 million dollars in 2004 making her the #3 money earner in the country. Mrs. Wilber is also the author of two books, an audiotape program and is a professional member of the National Speakers Association. She can be contacted by calling 1-800-258-1815 or visit her web site at www.winnerinyou.com.

Here’s an intriguing post by Ilise Benun of the Stop Pushing Me Around blog about how your body language might be working against you. Be sure to read the comments for some more interesting points too.

What does your body language say?

Linda Locke
http://www.mlmtalk.com

Holly Buchanan of the Marketing to Women Online blog says “Can you lose a sale in two words? Yes, you can. What two words could be so horrible they’d lose a sale from a willing, qualified prospect?” Find out here.

Linda Locke
http://www.mlmtalk.com

by Kim Duke

Do you remember that old toothpaste commercial that had the slogan “Put your money where your mouth is?” OK - maybe this Diva is dating herself but that tagline has always stuck with me - especially when it applies to business!

Selling is all about relationships. And guess what? We have relationships with those we feel we can trust. They don’t FEEL RISKY.

Here’s a quote I love that absolutely says it all: “Nobody minds having what is too good for them.” - Jane Austen

What Are You Doing To Create Trust?

One of the most important things to remember about selling is that people buy based upon emotion. And they will also NOT BUY you based upon emotion as well.

Customers Choose Those Who Feel Less Risky!

Think about this for a minute. OK…maybe 10 minutes! When was the last time you purchased something from someone you felt a little nervous about? They looked and acted a little…y’know…cheesy car salesman/woman-like? A little like a piranha swimming around its prey?

I would bet that you aren’t waking up everyday saying to yourself “YES - today is the day I buy the hotdog from the guy at the cornerstand who looks like he never washes!”

I know you aren’t doing that! Why? Toooooo Risky.

So How Can You Reduce Risk For Your Customer?

Three Diva Tips:

1. Offer a guarantee. Put your money where your mouth is. It will reduce the risk factor for your customer/potential customer if they know that you back up your product/service 100%.

2. Testimonials. Make sure to have powerful and relevant testimonials sprinkled through-out your marketing materials.

3. Don’t use a BRAG BOOK. This is when you jam every testimonial from every person you have ever worked with in a binder. It doesn’t reflect if they are still happy with you today…if they have ever been a repeat customer. It is a 1970s method of selling - don’t do it!!

Remember - VOLUME isn’t important - but QUALITY and REPEAT business is. All backed up with a fabulous guarantee! So my Diva Dare to you is…review your products and services and have a look at which ones feel RISKY. If you were your customer - would YOU buy from YOU?

Copyright© 2005

Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs. Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success! Sign up for her saucy and smart FREE e-zine and receive her FREE Bonus Report “The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make” at http://www.salesdivas.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.

- Oprah Winfrey

If we don’t change direction soon, we’ll end up where we’re going.

- Professor Irwin Corey

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

- Colin Powell

Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed.

- Peter F. Drucker

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.

- Nora Roberts

Linda Locke
MLMTalk Blog

By Jackie Ulmer

As a Network Marketing veteran, I struggled with the issue of how to sponsor partners into my business for years. Have you ever asked that question?

I watched “seasoned professionals”, with no more charm, talent or ability, effortlessly sponsor 2, 3 or more a DAY! How did they do it? I finally found the answer, and I want to share it with you.

It really comes down to one simple word - Value.

Value is the worth or importance of a thing. Or, better defined, it is “that quality of a thing that makes it more or less desirable.”

What value are you offering your potential business partners?

Think about that for a minute. When you sit down with someone, speak with him or her on the phone or send him or her an email, what is the context of what you say? Or, what you don’t say? Or how you say it?

We all know that the bottom line is “What’s in it for me and can I do this?” Those are the questions you have to answer before you will sponsor a business partner. So, how are you answering those questions?

That’s the value that you are offering.

Do you ever say things like “It’s easy, anyone can do it.” “Just sign up, and I’ll do the work for you.” “You will be earning ten gazillion dollars in the next 6 months.” “Everybody’s getting in, including the big hitters from every company.”

Or, do you say something like this -

“Joe, as my business partner, here is what you can expect from me. I will provide you with a track to run on. In other words, I will teach you everything I know about this business and how to work it effectively, and I will be right there with you every step of the way. You can count on me. I will make all of the tools I use available to you. This is a simple business, but it may not always seem easy. Together, with a commitment, I know we can move mountains. And, we have the potential to earn a very lucrative income. You have my commitment. Do I have yours?”

Which business partner would you put more faith in? Which person would you rather work with? Which one gives you more value?

Once I began to offer my potential partners a true sense of value and commitment, the road became less rough. My sponsoring ratio shot up, and before I knew it, I was named a top sponsoring rep in my company.

It isn’t because I am more charming, talented or have more ability than any of my peers. It simply has to do with value.

What are you offering your potential business partners? Do you offer value? Are you making it beneficial for them to invest their money, and more importantly, their time with you?

Could YOU sponsor you? Why, or why not?

What is your value as a business partner?

If you will get very clear on that answer, you will join the ranks of the true leaders in Relationship Marketing, which is what it is all about.

About the Author

Jackie Ulmer, a veteran Network Marketer, has recently published an e-book on How to Build a Successful Network Marketing Business. She has coached and trained thousands of representatives. She can be reached through her web site at http://www.streetsmartwealth.com/

What’s on your voicemail message? Is it the usual stuff ? “I’m away from my desk, please leave me a message — blah, blah, blah . . .”

If so, here’s a post on the Duct Tape Marketing blog that tells you how you can really put your voicemail message to work for you.

Is Your Voicemail Message Painfully Boring?

Linda Locke
Get your daily dose of inspiration here: MLMTalk Blog

by Wendy Weiss

I love my cat. Her name is Ms. Kitty. She was named after Mr. Cat, who died 11 years ago, and after Amanda Blake of “Gunsmoke” fame. Ms. Kitty and I just celebrated our birthdays. She’s 11. I’m… well, I celebrated a birthday, too.

Those of you who are cat lovers are nodding your heads and smiling. The rest of you probably think I’ve totally lost it. But before you tune out completely, let me share some of the fabulous sales tips that I have learned from Ms. Kitty and from all the cats in my life.

Be clear in knowing your goal

Ms. Kitty always knows what she wants. Whether it’s more food or to be petted or not to be petted, she knows what she wants and when she wants it. She spends much time pondering her wants. All that time spent sleeping on the coach is not what it appears. She’s really planning her next move.

Ask for what you want

Once Ms. Kitty has determined her goal, she asks for it. Clearly and concisely. “Meow.” She lets me know in no uncertain terms what she wants. And if I’m not clever enough to understand the first time, she is patient with me until I do.

Ask again

If at first you don’t succeed… Ms. Kitty asks, and asks and asks. She won’t go away. She won’t stop saying, “Meow.” She wants what she wants when she wants it, and she lets nothing stand in her way.

Ask a lot of people

Ms. Kitty has learned over time that I don’t always immediately accede to her demands. That’s okay. She just asks someone else. And then someone else. Eventually, some human being says “yes.”

Be persistent

Ms. Kitty never judges herself. She doesn’t worry about being “too pushy” or “too aggressive.” She doesn’t worry that her prospect might be “too busy” or “already have a cat.” She believes in herself, she knows what she wants, and she keeps asking until she gets it.

Don’t take “no” for an answer

Ms. Kitty is clever and creative. She keeps asking. She asks many people. She reworks her pitch and starts over. She does not hear “no.” She realizes that sometimes humans are slow and she just has to keep after us till we “get it.” It’s a process.

To see Ms. Kitty’s formal portrait,
http://www.wendyweiss.com/ms_kitty.html

© 2005 Wendy Weiss

About the Author

Wendy Weiss, “The Queen of Cold Calling & Selling Success,” is a sales trainer, author and sales coach. Her book, Cold Calling for Women, and the recently released Cold Calling College, can be ordered by visiting http://www.wendyweiss.com. Contact her at wendy@wendyweiss.com. Get her free e-zine at
http://www.wendyweiss.com.

One of my pet peeves are people who reverse recruit other network marketers who advertise on the net or post in online forums.

You know the type, “Hi, I love your post. And I wanted to tell you about my great XYZ company that you need to join right now!” Yuk! This is such an annoying way to do business, yet some people insist on doing it anyway. Go figure.

Here’s an interesting post by Andrew McLellan on his Network Marketing Inspiration blog about the ethics or lack thereof of using this dubious marketing tactic.

http://freementor.blogspot.com/2005/11/reverse-recruiting.html

Linda Locke
Get your daily dose of inspiration here: http://www.mlmtalk.com

If your business has been a little sluggish lately, here’s some ideas to help you get back into action FAST!

1. Talk to at least one new person about your business every day.
2. Set a goal to sponsor at least 2 new distributors into your group this month.
3. Collect quotes that inspire you and refer to them when you are discouraged.
4. Work with the business builders in your downline. Find out what their goals are and help them determine the best way for them to meet those goals.
5. Keep in touch with your downline. Call, write, fax or e-mail them at least once a month!
6. Join a business networking group and get involved.
7. Wear something every day that’s a conversation starter; a unique pin or some crazy earrings. This helps break the ice and gets people to start talking to you.
8. Know what you want from your business and decide what success means to you. Make a commitment to your business and write it down. Set goals that really challenge you. Set daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals. Make a dream collage, a visual wish list. Cut out pictures from old magazines of things you’d like to have, places you’d like to go, and the lifestyle you’d like to have. Paste all the pictures on some poster board and put it where you can look at it every day to remind you what your goals are and why you are in your network marketing business.
9. Always have plenty of tapes, sales literature, samples, etc. with you at all times. You never know where you’ll meet you next best customer!
10. Never, never, never give up.

Linda Locke
http://www.mlmtalk.com