How To Make Money In Your Network Marketing Business

Most network marketing companies market more than one product or service.

Review what your company has to offer, paying special attention to the products or services that you enjoy most. Typically your customers or clients will purchase what you like, because they buy from you based on your personality, style, and enthusiasm for your product or service.

When you are talking with your customers, focus on their needs and not yours.

If you've selected your favorite products or services in Step #1, now you can learn 3 Key Features and 3 Key Benefits that will improve your customers lives in some way. A "Feature" is a fact about your product. You can generally grab this from your company's marketing materials. A "Benefit" is something that your customer will gain from using the product or service.

I used to market a product called Special Attention Cream. A feature was that it contained pure, therapeutic grade essential oils that would penetrate all layers of the skin. A benefit was that it would make even the hardest, cracked skin feel smooth and supple. See the difference?

The feature is just something general that people would like to know about your product or service. The benefit is what is in it for your customer.

So often, you will be tempted to think about your sales goal for the day, week, or month when talking to your customers. But we have all been someone's customer, and we can tell if the person is geniunely concerned about us, or they are just out to make the sale.

Make a conscious effort to focus on what is best for your customer and you will both benefit.

We can all sense desperation...so do not act desperate! Before you make a sales call (by telephone or in person), take a moment to relax and center yourself.

Close your eyes and picture your goal achieved. How do you feel? Visualize the interaction you are about to have with your customer, step by step. Imagine it going exactly the way you want it to go. What will you say? What will he or she say in response? It is okay to replay the scene a few times in your head, until you are calm and confident.

Keeping that feeling, open your eyes and make the call.

Most people are so accustomed to being employees that it is difficult for them (mentally) to make the switch to being in business for themselves. If this is you (and there is no shame in having this mindset), think of your business as a part-time job.

If you were hired to work your business on a part time basis, you would have a:
* Set schedule (specific work days and work hours),
* Dedicated work space,
* Telephone that has long distance service,
* File system for sales, customers, and new business partners,
* Sales goal for the day, week, and month,
* Script for talking to customers and potential business partners,
* Supplies (order forms, samples, catalogs, etc.),
* Marketing System (postcards, emails, social media, home parties), etc.

And there are certain things you would always do:
* Show up for work on time every day,
* Be productive everyday,
* Schedule personal activities around your work schedule,
* Be accountable

Just this one step could mean a world of difference in your business.

A lot of people in network marketing, never even make it to this step. You would be surprised how many people do not even have a business card! Some people join a company, then stop. Others join, purchase a certain product pack or service, and stop. A select few, this is you, take it a step further.

Now are you starting to see how easy it is to stand out and make money in network marketing? Read on...

When you leave home, there are certain things you should have with you at all times:

* Information on your product or service,
* A business card,
* A sample (if you are a product-based business),
* An order form,
* A catalog (if your company has one),
* Information on your next event,
* A pen (that works!),
* A contact card or notebook (to record your prospect's information),
* A goal for the day (e.g., you will encounter X number of people who are looking for your product or service),
* A good (winning) attitude!

The key to sharing your business, product, or service with others is to listen for a need for it. Does this person have a problem that your product or service can solve?

In order to have the biggest effect, remember that you cannot answer a question that has not been asked. And you can not make an effective recommendation for a need or problem that has not been expressed.

Logically, can you answer a question that has not been asked? Of course. And can you make an unsolicited recommendation? Yes. Is it the most effective way to get the results you desire? Probably not. Think about it. When was the last time you acted on unsolicited advice? In most cases, it probably led to a "how dare they..." response which means there was resistance and maybe a little anger.

So, in order to have the opposite effect, listen for the problem. Then simply ask, "May I make a suggestion?" If they say, "Yes" you are golden. They are open and receptive to listening to what you have to say. And if they say, "No" you can continue on with your day, feelings intact.

Network Marketing is not a 40 hour a week business. In fact, 20 hours a week is generally considered full time. Many people simply work in the "nooks and crannies" of their day.

In the end, whatever time you set aside for your business, consistently work your business during those hours.

Recently, a business partner commented on my blog. She asked if it took me hours of work every day to create it. My answer, which surprised her, was no. I told her what you see is the culimination of work done in increments of 15 minutes a day. And she said, Fifteen minutes?!

It is like the story of the tortoise and the hare. Slow and steady wins the race.

It is the same way with your business. Be consistent in all that you do.

Each segment of your business will have a different time requirement. For me, I have an event and home party based business. I know that a home party requires 3 hours of my time, door to door, start to finish. An event can last anywhere from 5 to 8 hours, depending on the venue. Placing an advertisement online takes about 5 minutes, and updating my blog is about 15 minutes. (Some posts are completed in one sitting. Others may take a full 5 or 7 days).

Remember, at times it may seem like that small thing you are doing is not making a difference, but as long as you set small, measurable goals, and continually move in the direction of those goals, even baby steps will get you there.

This could really be the number one key to success and making money in network marketing.

The one sure way to win the race is to stay in it. The longer you are in network marketing, the greater your chance of success. You have a opportunity to really get to understand your product or service, learn how to talk to people, be availble when customers and potential business partners stumble upon you (either through a locator service at your company or an advertisment of some sort, etc.). Depending on the size of your company, they may advertise on the radio or television in your market, driving traffic to your website. Or if they are a younger company, they are bound to hit "momentum," that phase in a business when they are all the buzz and people are actively seeking you out.

But the key is to stay in the race!

If you do not believe in yourself, no one else will either. You have to develop confidence in yourself and your abilities. You must believe that you have what it takes to be successful in this business.

You can use visualizations and affirmations to build self-confidence and to sustain it when you are in challenging situations. One of the things I used to do was recite the "Self Confidence Formula" from Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich. It is a good place to start.

I will be back soon with new lenses that get into the specifics of creating a business plan, managing your day, and creating a system that works for you. Consider this the framework for the rest and a great starting point to success in whatever business you have chosen.

Best of luck to you!
Sandra