What Exactly IS MLM or Network Marketing by Sue Seward

Everyone's seen those ads on the Internet for making lot's of quick overnight money...right?

They're everywhere now days....we'll build it for you, make a million dollars by 6 months, no work involved, you don't have to do anything just pick up your check! It's free free free!

Well, folks this is an example of what MLM or Network Marketing is NOT!

The sad part is that most people hear about the real potential of Network Marketing. I mean they hear it and they want it but are they really willing to do what it takes to get it? I mean really go all out and do what EVER it takes?

Unfortunately most people are sucked into these get rich quick deals on the Internet and to tell you the truth these are the type people that probably wouldn't make it to real success in Network Marketing in the first place. They most likely wouldn't make a go of it in traditional business either.

Why?

Well, because they are looking for the quick buck. The easy do nothing deals on the Internet.

They're focusing on making all this money rather then on building themselves into the type person it really TAKES to make the big money we hear about in Network Marketing.

Most people are just not willing to do what it takes and do it long enough. They're not willing to develop into a leader. It's just way too hard! Too much rejection, too many barriers to overcome, too much work, don't have the time, don't like selling, my spouse hates MLM, my dog ate my phone script!

When you get out of your comfort zone, develop yourself, make a commitment to do whatever it takes, persist at it long enough, and become a leader to teach others to do the same thing you'll start to see real success in Network Marketing. How do I know this? Because it's actually happened for me!

You've got to like people, and you've got to like talking to lot's of them. In person, on the phone, email, all of it. And you've got to be able to handle them, even the rude ones, the ones who write you ugly emails, the ones who say REMOVE me from your list, the ones that don't like you, the ones who say NO....the ones that ask you the same questions over and over and over and over again, and procrastinators.

You don't have to RECRUIT these types but you have to be able to brush them off and not take things personally! You want those types in your downline anyway? Think again!

You've got to like helping people and you've got to find the RIGHT people! Not the types I mention above! I don't care if you just signed up and you don't have ONE personin your downline. You don't want those types above! Trust me! They will drive you absolutely nutty. They usually turn out to be negative, whinny, and end up quitting after you spend all your time with them! And many times they complain that you never helped them!

Folks you've got to like selling products and services to customers.

Because guys and gals let's face it, real legitimate MLM or Network Marketing companies have real legitimate products and services to sell. If it's not direct selling you're not in a legitimate MLM or Network Marketing company. If all you're doing is recruiting then it's mostly like an illegal pyramid.

That's what it's all about folks. The beauty of Network Marketing is in leveraging your time! You build a sales force that goes out and works for you, using and recommending more services and products to their customers!

That's when you become a real business person. You can be spending time with your family at the beach after you've built up a network or sales force and still be earning income while sitting on the beach. Because of efforts and time you put in months or years before!

You continue to receive benefit from that single initial effort.

Your income will come in week after week, month after month and year after year even after you've done something once! That's what residual income is all about. Leverage!

You're also earning income off the efforts of people in your downline. As long as your downline is working hard too.

Your job as a sponsor is to make sure you bring on people to your team that are as motivated as you! That means finding people that are self-motivated!

People that have to be constantly pushed and hand held will only wear you out and drain you of all your energy!

It's not your job to drag them along.

It doesn't cost you as much money to start your MLM or Network Marketing business either. You can typically get started for about $500 or less. Some companies offer a free entry but in my experience I've found that most times when something is free there's no real value attached to it. People that join for free are really looking for just that.. a FREE ride. They usually end up doing nothing because they thought it was all free.

What business do you know of that will build into a multimillion distribution network and cost you nothing to start and has no expenses to run it and where the majority of people working it are actually earning a real residual income from it?

When you find it let me know!

What I'm talking about above include other expenses you might incur such as leads, office expenses, phone calls, 3/way calling, Internet service, domain names, website hosting, voice mail, cell phone expenses, etc. Be upfront with folks about the expenses that might incur to run a business like this. There are ways to keep expenses down too but it's not realistic to tell someone they can start and run a business for free.

Find out what sort of budget they have to start a real business from home and remind them that most of these expenses are tax deductible. Remember you always get what you pay for!

If you're interested in starting your own home-based business you may want to consult with us to find out how we put people into a real business from home working on the Internet selling legitimate and value based products and services. www.ecommercehomebiz.com

There's no requirements to join a Network Marketing company. You don't need any special skills, experience or a degree. You don't need a rented store front. The company you represent usually drop ships the products or electronically provides services to your customers so there's no inventory to stock. You don't need to lease corporate office space either. You can work right out of your home. That's the whole idea TO WORK FROM HOME isn't it?

Establish a room specifically for your office so you can write these expenses off your taxes. Talk to your accountant about this. If you'd like we can recommend someone who specializes in homebased business and Network Marketing. In fact, he found several errors in my back taxes and said we'll be getting a significant refund. I was using someone that is not experienced in homebased business.

You can also work the hours you choose. If you work a full time job you can work your MLM business in the evenings and weekends and anytime your off. Remember if it's a real desire you'll find the extra time to do it!

When your network starts to really grow like mine has you can take off when you want and your network still continues to grow and the checks still come in.

You can decide if you want to earn part time income or full time income. It's all up to you! You determine when you get a raise! Most really good companies have trainings, educational and recruiting systems in place. Look for those kinds of companies and leaders to work with.

The most important thing about Network Marketing is the education you receive. The self-development is priceless!

It's very rewarding when you start to see others in your team start to develop into leaders themselves and all of a sudden you're delegating more and more to them and the real freedom you hear about in Network Marketing starts to happen for you!

Most people tell you to go to your warm market. You know make the list of all your friends, family and neighbors.

In many cases most people don't want to do this. They've burned through their warm market.

Well, in my case I turned a very cold market into warm market through the Internet.

I use the Internet as a tool. It's a communication tool. Nothing more nothing less. I build relationships online just like I would do offline. We've developed a system to market effectively online. We've been marketing online for over 6 years so we know what works and what doesn't. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work this system either. It's a sifting and sorting qualifying system and it works. That's the bottom line.

But it still takes effort. We don't build it for anyone and this system doesn't do that either. You have to put effort into anything that's going to be worthwhile. And you must give it enough time.

How long really depends on you and how much time you can devote in the beginning. Don't expect to make $10,000 a month within 6 months or a year and then say I have an hour a day to devote to my business. That just doesn't match up does it? It's up to you once you do recruit a downline to make sure you are a leader to them. This is really where it gets tough. Because you can get into management mode and stop recruiting. Make sure you always have balance between the two!

What it takes to be successful in Network Marketing is you must be a self starter, have a real burning desire to become successful in your business, lot's of patience, commitment, consistent efforts, and a willingness to get out of your comfort zone and become the best you can be.

Most of all be unstoppable. Don't let anyone or the rejection get in your way. You will encounter many obstacles. The way you learn how to handle them will determine how successful you will become! The GOLD is out there for those that really really want it bad enough!

Just go out there and grab it up!

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About the Author:

Ms. Seward is an entrepreneur, wife and mom, and has been earning an income for six years from home on the Internet. She is also a published writer, speaker, trainer and founding
member of TheTopLine, Inc. headquartered in Kirkland Washington. Sue can be contacted at sue@ecommercehomebiz.com