Building a business network begins with an introduction. Too often, many entrepreneurs ruin gold-plated, relationship-building opportunities. Many attend networking events or business conferences for all the wrong reasons, turning them into social affairs to shoot the breeze, search for dates, munch on hors d’o?euvres, or play with the latest gadget. You may have a blast but such activities will not advance your business.

Instead, take advantage of the chance to transform these brief encounters into solid relationships that can ultimately provide support systems and lifelines for your business.  Keep in mind that the endgame is not to wind up with a Rolodex chock-full of names that offer little, if any, professional or personal return.

Fully embrace long-term relationship-building. “Drive-by networking” is where individuals track you down, greet you with a quick, incoherent pitch, and slap a business card into your hand. For these business card bandits, venue doesn’t seem to matter: they will approach you at graduations, funerals, and even public rest rooms. Aggressive action such as this can be applauded but, such missteps come with a cost. Not only will you turn off prospective business associates but you may do irreparable damage to your reputation.

To effectively build a business network, always look for an avenue to connect with another individual. Some of the most enduring relationships can be formed on airplanes, golf courses, or even at the grocery store.  These low-pressure, informal environments offer the time necessary to begin the process of sharing professional and personal experiences, exploring interests, discovering values, and establishing common ground. Regardless of whether you meet an entrepreneur who operates a one-person consulting firm or a CEO who runs a multimedia enterprise, engage in meaningful conversation instead of delivering a sales pitch.

The most critical element is the follow-up. After every event or conference, go through the business cards which were slapped into your hand, separating pretenders from contenders. In most cases, you don’t have to worry about whether someone will become a drain on your time; you won’t hear from 95% of the people who give you their cards.  Reconnect with contacts within 48 hours. Preferably send them handwritten notes, or an e-mail to their individual address, a personal touch executable within minutes.

Most professionals, especially those at the highest levels, are extremely busy. Phone calls can prove intrusive when they’re managing an appointment-packed schedule. Sometimes the most effective means of outreach is often through e-mail. It may sound rudimentary but direct contact via e-mail enables you to bypass gatekeepers and, more important, allows them to process it when they’re most receptive to your message and to respond at their convenience.

Remember business networks are exchanges. Too many entrepreneurs make the mistake of reaching out to people only when they are in need. Developing genuine relationships obligates you to take an interest in others. Without prodding, you should be willing to offer resources or an ear when they’re confronted with challenges.

Keep in mind that the process doesn’t happen with a single conversation and a business card. Through time and commitment, you’ll eventually find the most valuable byproduct will be relationships that last a lifetime.

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The list of MLM Product Possibilites is almost ENDLESS.

But here is a warning:

Do Not get too detailed about your products and services you choose, no matter what you choose to sell …you see, people really don’t care, for the most part, about the ingredients or technical aspects of your products and services…

INFERNO Secret:

Most people have one question about your products and services…”How are they going to improve my life..and do they really work?” This should drive your choice of products.

Your job is to educate, NOT SELL, the customer on the merits and value of your product and service line. If you educate them, you will find them much more open to trying them….

1) “The Rule of Details..”

Don’t get lost in the details of your products and services…get lost in the VALUE that they bring to the customers life. Learn about what you are marketing, but then blend that in with how it will help CHANGE their life..(CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!)

2) “The Rule of How to…”

You must understand how your products and services do work, but only to the point of being able to talk intelligently about them. Don’t overwhelm the prospect with your knowledge…but EXCITEMENT about the products.

3) “The Rule of Focus…”

Keep your focus on the MAIN product and services….if there are a LOT of them, keep your focus on the ones that are the main ones, and learn about them, and master what you need to talk about them. The others, you need to be aware of, but keep your focus on the MAIN ones, and know how to talk about them.

4) “The Rule of Value…”

You will never market any products to anyone if they don’t see VALUE in what your products. Know what the value is to the consumer with your products, and know, when it is prudent, the overview details of the products to enhance the value of your products.

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1) The Company

2) The Products

3) Compensation Plan.

4) YOU.

What do you need to consider to choose a great MLM company?

And people will also want to know that you represent a good, solid, stable Network Marketing company. They will want to know about certain issues, facts, topics, details, and areas about the MLM company, and you need to cover them.

Put yourself in their place.

If you were looking to join a Network Marketing company, what would you look for?

What would be important to you?

Basically, there are 5 areas that you need to look at in order to know about and choose an MLM company.

The 5 Areas to Consider When Looking at an MLM Company.

And most people will want to know about these areas.

What are they?

1) The Management.

Who is the CEO and Founder of your company?

What is the story behind the founding of the company?

What kind of experience and reputation do they have to tell about?

What makes them unique and different than all the rest?

Do they have any special notoriety that is worth telling people about?

How long have they been in business?

What is their reputation?

2) The Finances.

What does your company look like on the balance sheet?

Are they debt free?

Do they have backers and investors?

Do they run a tight ship at home office?

Do they pay their checks on time? (GREAT question)

3) The Home Office

Where is the Home Office?

How many employees do they have?

Do they have their own building?

Are they totally computerized and ready for the future technology?

How many people do they have working for them?

4) The Shipping Department.

Do they have their shipping department in house or at another location?

Do they have a toll free line?

Do they have a money back guarantee?

Do they ship the products out on time?

What is their return ratio?

5) The Distributor Services Department.

Do they have a DS Dept?

How friendly are they?

Do they know that they are doing?

Who heads it up?

How quickly do they respond?

These are some of the questions you need to know about choosing yourNetwork Marketing company.

The more that you know about your company, the better you will feel about them.

INFERNO Secret:

Take as tour of the home office the first chance you can. Meet the people in the different departments.
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This will give you a much better understanding of what the MLM Corporate office is about, and who you talk to when you call, and it will give you a much better presentation about your company.

The MLM Network Marketing Company you select is very important. Be careful, make the right choice, get the facts, know the basics of it, and be proud that you are associated with them once you join.

By:  Doug Firebaugh

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You market Products through pseudo”Mini-Franchises” that when joined, contain the ability to distribute products to people…either Person to Person Marketing, or via shipments through the mail, UPS, or other channels of distribution to a persons home for delivery of products they have ordered from you… or from the company with your distributor number. …

This is especially popular now with online ordering and Stores being created with a multitude of products!

Take a look at some of the most Popular companies…IBM, Microsoft, Amazon.com, Nike, Reebok, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Barnes and Noble, RCA, Lands End, and the list is endless…..

Let me ask you a question…

What do they all have in common concerning MLM?

Think about it……and it’s the same thing ALL successful companies have in common…and what is that?

Multiple Channels of Product Distribution, and not keeping their product a Secret!

They ALL have set up numerous distribution outlets to market their products, and have constantly kept their name out in front of folks….(that is called “Name Branding….”)

Can we learn something from this?

YES!

INFERNO Secret:

In Network Marketing, you have the ability to Market product through Multiple Distribution Channels(called a Downline), and not have to put up the millions of Dollars it takes to introduce a Product into the Marketplace…and the other part of that we can learn from…Don’t keep it a Secret!

You must utilize the Power of EXPOSURE to create the Interest in your products and Business that you want. People have to Know about it!!!!!!!

Let’s take a Grocery Store chain…say…Safeway or Kroger….why do they have stores in so many cities and states?…To INCREASE EXPOSURE…which INCREASES SALES!!!!!!!..

They have found the Power of what we call ”Multiple Unit Marketing”….The more number of exposure “Units”(outlets) you have out there, to move and sell product, the more your name will get out there to more people…..

Which will increase familiarity and sales….. and move more product through those retail outlets……

Thats why Amazon.com is on over 700,000 websites! Multiple Channels of Distribution…and “Exposure units”.

The Power of Networked Distribution in MLM.

With MLM, you can do the same Marketing Strategy through the power of “Networked Distribution”…through Multiple Units as well…called Distributors! In effect…

What you have done is create a Network of “Distribution Channels” for your Product( a downline) which you can receive “Brokerage Royalties’ or Overrides on that can be quite substantial…

And all that is… is taking the Best of Corporate Marketing, and Refining it into what we call “Personal  Marketing”…..each distributor is a Personal Marketer for the company with a chance to take Traditional Marketing ideas, and engage them in less than traditional ways.

The MLM Distribution Network.

And then can go out and build a Multiple Channel “Distribution Network,” with hundreds for thousands of “Outlets” that can move and market products seamlessly……. That is “Networked” Marketing at it’s best…..and can create an Incredible Revenue Source for many people…..through the movement and sale of products of all kinds.

To approach this Marketing Force as a Business is a MUST! Too many folks Do not…they approach it as a hobby, or just “Trying it”…..which guarantees failure…..Every millionaire in MLM approached this Business as a Business and took nothing for granted…will you? Good question!

Yes…

Network Marketing IS a business..a Powerful Business …with Personal growth Fueling it…and Driving it Forward.

INFERNO Secret:

The Secret of this Business is to build a Framework and Structure of the “3 Cs”…..

1) Build a Structure of CONSUMERS.

Create a Structure and Foundation of a Consumer base….and create a network of satisfied Customers…A Consumer Base is a MUST!

2) CONSTRUCT a Distribution Group or Framework of Distributors from your Base of Consumers with people who want to be a part of your business….and Construct it Solid!

3) CONTINUE building a CONSUMER Base, and CONSTRUCTING a Solid Group of “outlets”, or Distributors, and then…….

LEAD them to the Captured Vision of their Hearts…….LEADERSHIP is the KEY to a SOLID and Long Lasting business in Network Marketing!

By:  Doug Firebaugh

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And most look at MLM as exactly that…a system for creating wealth through your and other people’s efforts.

Nothing wrong there, but there is a huge void in that reality… Before you can build a group that does not go away, you MUST understand what MLM REALLY is from a Big Picture standpoint…and all the rest will fall into line.

All Network Marketing REALLY is, is Personal Development, masterfully molded into a business, that can be duplicated…

READ THAT AGAIN!

What that means is MLM requires and DEMANDS Personal Growth and Development from you in order to Succeed in this business. There is no other way to Succeed….

Why?

Here is an INFERNO Secret that MOST people will never tell you when you first come into MLM:

The MLM Void.

Most people bring inadequate attitudes, skills and habits to MLM, and with that, they try to build a business with skills that guarantee failure…

No, they don’t plan to fail, they just have not developed the necessary skills to the level that is required to Succeed in MLM…simple and plain. Those skills cannot PRODUCE Success because they are not prepared FOR success.

Did you get that???

And most are never told that their skills are lacking and need refining and building….Network Marketing is not a cake walk…and requires a SOLID skillset….

And that is why we believe that LEADERSHIP is the Secret Weapon to this business!

You must learn to lead you and others on a Power Path to Growth, which will increase the odds of you Succeeding in MLM Tremendously.

You must Learn….

1. Company info and how to present
2. Product Info and how to present
3. Pay Plan info and the parts to it
4. How to Recruit
5. How to Train
6. How to Duplicate and more….

And HOW you do that will depend on the Skillset you bring to this business….especially COMMUNICATION skillset.

Here is a Secret….You get PAID to do one thing in this business…and everything else revolves around it…What is it?

COMMUNICATING with people!

And if you bring an inadequate communication style, habits, focus, and skills with you into this business, you will fail… Period.

Leadership, partly, is about Masterful Communication, and no matter how good you are with people, you MUST have a masterful skillset to communicate with folks…and that is where Personal Growth comes in….

You must grow and develop your skills to the level that this business DEMANDS, and that requires work, study, and experience in the field.

But…

ALL millionaires in this business GREW to the level of GREATNESS that was required of them and beyond… Most did not come into Network Marketing with those skills already intact….they GREW INTO the Business…day by day… week by week….call by call..

Now the Question is… How?

The MLM Mastery Factor.

Through….Personal Development and Mastery in Communication…TWO KEY Secrets to both MLM and Leadership Success.

Yes…Network Marketing is….

1. A channel and business of Distribution
2. A Business of “Mini Franchises” that can be duplicated
3. A direct sales business
4. A “People Business” for average people to grow to do extraordinary things…

BUT….in wrapping this up, all Leaders understand the TRUE business they are in….

You are in the business of Touching and Changing People’s Lives…..Including your own!”

In the palm of your hand, you hold a Power….with MLM. It is a Power to change people’s lives radically…in many ways, with what this industry can bring to it….as well as bring to your own life. What you do with that Life Changing Power is up to you!

You can tap into that Power and start a WildFire of Growth and Success in your life…and then Spread the Fire to others… through Growth and increasing your own skills as well as others through Engaging this business on a daily basis, and teaching it to others, so they can do the same….and an amazing thing happens….

The Power of Network Marketing.

Network Marketing then is a Power you have tapped into….A Life-changing Power….that demands growth from you, to be able to unleash that greatness inside of you, and then help others do the same….through their business (which is your downline).

That is How you Create Wealth in this business…..Get into the business….grow into the business… and then seed and grow greatness into others – through the Power in this business…. and YOU shall create wealth like crazy…with that formula!

By Doug Firebaugh

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