Tips to Building Your Company Team

 

One of the greatest struggles in network marketing is building your company team.  Just like building a strong networking team and a customer base, building your company team is a foundational skill that will propel your team to success.

The best first step is to listen to your current customers.  They are your potential team members.  If they are already excited about the products, they are probably already

sharing their excitement.  Talk to them honestly about how much work is involved, how much money can be made, how much of your money you have put in.  Don't oversell.  If you do oversell, they will become frustrated when they don't see the results you promoted.  There is a good chance they will become inactive.  

Another step is to advertise in spam/ad groups.  If you use creative graphics, your post will stand out from the rest.  When developing your ad copy, try to make it simple.  Don't give too much information. Don't even give the company

name.  Your ad should give them a reason to contact you for more information without luring them with false promises.  False promises will build an unstable team. 

Here is a note about placing ads in the spam groups.  Don't ever place an ad with just a graphics of cash or say "Make fast cash now!!"  Most people will skip over this type of ad, knowing that it is spreading false hope.  Also, if someone does contact you, you will be building an unstable team.

Have a good new year while you are making plans to grow a stable team!

Spam? What is Spam?

Spam.  It is more than canned meat.  I like to think of Spam as anything that a network marketer does that turns off a prospective customer or a friend.

There are several types.

• Posting so many ads that your timeline has very little of the real you.
• Posting ads that are just like everyone else, especially if you post it in the same day as the person you "borrowed" it from.
• Making friends just to send an introduction private message about your company instead of introducing you.
• Posting ads making fun of the people who are still undecided.
• Every time you connect with your potentials, you are putting in a plug for your company.
• High jacking some else's post by putting an ad or your link in the comments.
• Wishing someone a Happy Birthday on their timeline by giving them a discount at your business.  

How is the best way to avoid being spammy?  Instead of thinking of new ways to promote your

business, think of what irritates YOU in how others promote.  If something irritates you, then it probably irritates your friends, which is not what you want to do. Treat your friends as friends, not as your next meal ticket.

Successful Income Producing Activities

When I first started Network Marketing, I was taught that doing income producing activities (IPAs) consistently will bring success.  The list they provided didn't look overwhelming.  But as I proceeded to go down the list each day, I felt like I was missing something.  Even though there was nothing wrong with the list of IPAs, I started to feel like a pushy salesman.

The IPA's on my list were:

• Following up with potentials (each time I did followup, I was trying to find out how they liked my samples or trying to send them samples)
• Making a few Cold Calls (something I disliked from the start.  My first message to a person I had never interacted with would be a sales pitch)
• Expanding my network on social media (this I liked, but again I would bring up the business almost immediately)
• Adding to your prospect list (treating prospects like marks, always looking for an easy mark to make money.)
• Engaging with people on your team (I would engage in my uplines FB groups and found them very helpful, but I didn't venture out to find teammates from other companies)
• Setting up meetings and phone calls (even though this is a needful activity, I was rushing people to make a decision)
• Calling people (always talking about the products)
• Personally inviting your friends to events (always pushing people to attend)
• Joining new Facebook groups (this is a fun activity, but only if you join to actually interact and have fun, not just trolling for your next mark)

The list is good, but I was missing the fact that I need to focus on building the relationships - with your network and with your potential customers.  Neither group wants to be sold to in each conversation with you.  Don't bring up your business unless the other side brings it up first.

Don't contact people just to give them a sales pitch.  That will turn people off very fast.

Don't post the same ads as everyone else.  Put some thought into it and create some unique ads that scream "This is my brand".  Create some new graphics that catch people's attention.  There are many free apps that can help with this.  The one I use is Canva.

Get rid of the ads and start posting some valuable content, lessons, tips, inspiration, and your opinions.  Also include some quotes, lessons and tips from your network team.  This builds the whole team up, not just your business.


IPAs are a needful activity, just make sure you are doing it with a pure attitude, not one of looking for the next sale.  The point is to make friends, actually learn about them.  Friends are more likely to buy from friends, so go make some in the new year!

Merry Christmas, Ya'll

Since it is getting real close to Christmas, I thought I would bring some Christmas music to the blog!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Leroy, the Rednecked Reindeer

Finding Your Network - What Next?

In a previous blog post, I talked about how to find your perfect network.  Now we will discuss what happens next.

Your new networking friends need to become friends with each other.  Everyone needs to coalesce into a group of people who loves and respects each other; or at least be able to work well together.  They also need to be able to celebrate each others successes and sympathize with each others disappointments - in their business life and in their personal life.  

There is no room for jealousy or backbiting.  If that happens, you need to have a one on one discussion about what being part of your team means.  If it continues, part ways.

During this phase, comment on each others posts.  Have on-line conversations, so people can see the real you.  Play games to get people involved and to find out more about them.  If someone posts a company ad, let the team know so they can show some love on your post.  If you post a game, let the team know so they can show everyone how fun it is to play.

Share your teammates posts on your wall, refer business to them.  Share their ads and anything they post that is encouraging in ad groups.  Do not be afraid to refer people to another company.  This is a trait of good leaders.  Leaders share their knowledge and influence.  

Everyone on your team will begin to be seen as leaders and influencers of network marketing.  In fact, if you concentrate on one person promoting them for a day or week in the ad groups and on each team members wall, it is amazing how everyone on the team will start standing out from the rest of the crowd.  

You, as a leader of your team, will need to make a plan and get everyone on board to the benefit of the whole team.   

That is what you want.  You want your team to be unique.  

Keep growing your team in size, knowledge and influence; you will be well on your way to a very successful team.

Finding Your Network

Did you know that your network is not necessarily your company team?

It could be. But finding others, who know how to network, that you can work with is the skill that will grow your influence and in turn grow your sales in the long run.

Let me tell you my little story about how I found my network.

When I first started Network Marketing, I saw a video that put a bee up my rear end.  It caused me to run through my warm market in a month.  Sure, I had a very good month and some loyal customers, but now what?  

Then I saw another video which encouraged me to go to different Ad sites, not necesarrily to post ads, but to comment on other people's ads.  I saw this as counter productive, but I started commenting on a few a couple of times a day.  I tried to pick out the ones that looked real (these didn't only have picture of money) and I commented on what I liked about the ad, that I liked the products, how well they were representing their company.  Never did I post a comment saying I wanted to jump in their business opportunity.  And I never posted an ad.

  

I became friends with many.  I started recommending their products and services on my facebook wall.  Many, not all, returned the favor.  Some quickly added me to their events and groups without ever contacting me first.  Even back then I knew this wasn't a nice thing to do and I would remove myself from the events and groups.  If people started to be repeat offenders,  I would unfriend.

Once you see who are true good people, not just somone out to make a buck, start chatting with them.  Find out if they have a blog, if they have brand or company pages, find out what is working for them.  Ask for advice on how to make your ads better.  Find out who is great at graphics.  Find out who is great at ad copy.  Find out about them, their likes, their families, their lives.

And.Learn.From. Each.Other.

There is a wealth of information in your developing team and most people do not mind sharing.  If they do mind, scratch them from the team and move on to the next person.  

Do not sell to your team!  If someone is interested they will ask.  You could possibly lose some great team members if you seem too pushy.

Now start building your long term team.  Start empowering and uplifting others!

Guest Post - Kylie Buckley: Your Results Index

I haven't known Kylie for that long, at least in terms of time, but I feel like I have known her forever!  She is such a warm soul.  And she knows her network marketing to boot.  I am sharing her latest blog because it has great actionable items to lead us to better outcomes.



Your Results Index

So how do we as work from home professionals advertise in a way that is honest and appealing to others? What do our customers want to know? What sets us apart in the business world?

People are not as concerned with your history, your background, or your qualifications if you can show the results that your clients have gained. You have to be believable and genuine. Ultimately, Your ideal customer wants to know what's in it for them.

It's time to:

Get very clear on what you have to offer;

Market the heck out of it, and

Deliver on that promise.

Building a results index

There are 5 main areas where your clients can experience results, by doing this exercise you will more clearly understand YOU and the priceless VALUE you have to offer as a professional.

First, you will need to gather the data. Think of 3-5 people you have worked with and go through these exercises for each one.

What was the Primary Physical Result that the person got from working with you?

Did they lose weight?

Did they make more money?

Did they repair their marriage or another relationship?

Did they stop needing to visit the doctor? (Be cautious when it comes to medical claims)

2. The Primary Physical Result is usually something that can be quantified or measured.

"They lost 10 pounds."

"They tripled their income."

"They saved $1000 for retirement."

"They got off their medication."

3. Now list all The Secondary Benefits. These are in the categories of spiritual, emotional, energetic, mental and relational. For example, "They got their confidence back." "They found their voice." "They fell in love again." Feel free to fill a whole page!

4. Now think about what they would have missed out on. This is called the Opportunity Cost. Where would they still if they hadn't worked with you?

5. Look back on what you have written and underline key phrases now transfer the information to your Results Index. You'll want to be very familiar with your results so that depending on to whom you are speaking, you can know something that could help that particular client.

Your results Index is an invaluable source when it comes to creating ads and promoting your valuable services.

My Results Index

-----------------------

Physical Results (body, money, relationships, stress levels)

Emotional Results

​

Mental Results

Relational Results

Spiritual Results

Energetic Results

When Honesty Can Kill a Team

Wanting some motivation recently, I plopped down on the sofa to watch a few YouTube documentaries of some the leaders in our company.  The interviewer asked the question that is always on people's lips.

"How did you do it?  How did you rise through the ranks so fast?"

The answer was so honest it shocked me.

"I don't know."

She went on to explain some of the things she did, but she didn't know which actions were important.  This is one thing that can kill a team in no time. Since she honestly doesn't understand her own success, her team will probably fail because she doesn't know how to duplicate her path to success.

Sometimes you need a timeout before continuing the race.

So many times in conversations I have heard people say that they don't know how they achieved their success.  Even if your team is enjoying an explosion of growth, it would be good to slow down and verify that the new people are being trained, not just with your products and company info, but how to network and not be spammy.  

Don't rush to climb the ladder of success because if not trained correctly, the team can crash at anytime. There is a group that helps train network marketers, encourages them, provides a safe place to learn and is completely FREE.  If you are interested, please leave a comment and I will hook you up!

The Two Me's

"Tell us about yourself..."

Does that question ever get you stumbling over your words and you get the deer-in-headlights look on your face?

Well that happened the other day.  I was so excited to be invited to a Network Marketing party for our company that I was the first one there!  I do not go to nice restaurants much anymore (you will learn why a little later on) so this was a very nice break; to be eating with adults.  Many of us were meeting face to face for the first time and chatting away trying to find someone we had in common.

Then it happened!  Our upline made the dreaded request - "Let's go around the table and everyone introduce yourself." In times past, the question would be welcomed by me, since I love to talk and things that I love are my main talking points.  But now it is different, even difficult.

You see, my husband of 22 years died last year, we had no children, I had no siblings and my parents died around ten years ago.  So I tend not to go to restaurants because I do not want to eat by myself in a crowd.  If I am going to eat alone, it is much easier to do it at home, and cheaper, I might add.

When people introduce themselves, they usually talk about their family in the present tense.  If I bring up family, it is in the past tense.  It is not that I hate to talk about Fred, but I feel like what I would love to talk about would bring a damper down on the festivities. 

People also pepper their conversations with what their husband and children are doing, how they are growing, what sports they are in.  And again, I have nothing much to contribute.  I have nothing in common with young mommas or others who are married.  I feel very awkward saying "Fred used to do that".  

But on the other hand, I feel like I am not acknowledging a big part of my past, which made me who I am.  With me not talking about my past, people don't know the real me.

That is just something I will have to work out each time, but it doesn't get any easier.  Just know that when someone stumbles over their words when introducing themselves, maybe it is their way of trying not to bring you the worst of their life in the begining.  It takes awhile of building trust before a widow/widower is willing to be open.

My life verse is:  Zephaniah 3:17 (ASV)  

"Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing."

Have you ever thought about God singing over you or holding you like a crying child?  That is the image I get with this verse.  I "found" it when my father died and it has fit in so many circumstances.  I didn't find it - God revealed it to me when I needed it.

In hard times, run to God, jump in His lap, and let Him comfort you.  Listen to His song.

Lessons from Oak Island

  

I am totally hooked on the History Channel's show "The Curse of Oak Island".  The two main stars, brothers, became enthralled with the chase of treasure after reading an article in Reader's Digest about the island and its secrets.  Life went on, they grew up and built a name for themselves in their respective professions. The elder, Marty, is an engineer who has made his fortune in the energy business.  Rick, the younger, is a retired postal worker.  

Lesson 1:
Each has a reputation in his profession as being the best, not a treasure hunter.  That is their brand.  The Oak Island treasure hunt is part of their brand.

They never gave up their treasure hunting dream, doing small things working toward the end goal while building their expertise in their brand.  In the last few years, Rick and Marty decided it was time to start their new venture. They started networking to get funding to start the hunt.  The network is working together for the treasure.

Lesson 2:
The network is there to help them achieve the treasure.  It is not the treasure.  

They grew a network of people from various backgrounds to help with the last greatest treasure hunt.  These are professionals in the diving (who knew there were different type of diving specialties?) and drilling profession, engineers, and a slew of others.  I have seen divers do their work in wells, mud and ocean, each one top of their profession.  I have seen experts work their magic with metal detectors of all kinds.  I never knew there were so many types of detectors!

Lesson 3:
Their network includes people of all kinds of different professions because Rick and Marty know they don't have the expertise in all areas to achieve their goal, the treasure.  

During the interview parts of the show, the stars always talk about the how the professionals are experts in their fields and they are positive they can work with them.

Lesson 4:
Rick and Marty are never afraid of new people who can bring a needed speciality to the network.  But all the time, they are making sure that everyone has the same goal.  

This is a perfect picture of how branding and networking goes hand in hand.  You always want to brand yourself and not make your product your brand.  You want people to trust that you know what you are marketing - whether it is your company or referring customers to another Network Marketing representative.

In review:

Are you skipping over the foundational building of your brand for a get rich quick treasure?
Do you look at your network as people who can help you in your business or do you view them as just customers?
Are you always looking for people who have specialties that will propel your team to the top or are you just adding people who contribute nothing to the team and may be a hindrance just because you think they will get you to your treasure quicker?
Do you add friends to your friends list just to get a bigger list of people to sell to or do you research before hand to make sure you have the same beliefs, work ethics and especially the same end goal?