Multi-level arketing is a fast-paced
I know that it is hard to break bad habits.
In order to go forward you must learn to adapt.
Right now very few marketers seem to be ready for change .
Now, this is not a post direct
My main goal is to prepare and educate you to help you navigate and avoid the pitfalls that I countered .
I understand the importance of generating income to help sustain your business.
However I feel it could be done more professionally in a way that helps build meaningful relationships.
So this is my first question.
How do you plan on building something sustainable if you do not have repeat customers?
To top it off the market is shrinking and Facebook is the main hang out spot for recruiters.
Although there are billions of people on Facebook not everyone is interested in affiliate services.
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Then you have to take into count the people that are on Facebook to gather and socialize with family and friends.
No one seems to be aware that the market is narrowing down.
The state of the market can be easily overlooked in a boom period.
No one seems to be prepared for the bust cycle. And why?
Do you think the current affiliate coaching model is sustainable? If yes why.
I had to shift my mindset from one of a recruiter to that of an influencer long term customer service agent.
Because I for one do not want to be on the train when it goes off track.
I am predicting within the next year or so that the market is going to tighten up more.
The competition for commissions is surely going to heat up.
The person you recruit today is a person coaching another person tomorrow.
I have this gut feeling that this is going to end badly.
A lot of people that were victims of massive internet marketing scams know what it is like. But those of you who haven’t experienced any strife are naive to what is to come.
Many people will get swallowed up in the undertow.
Hence why I think it is more important and beneficial to have experienced some form of setbacks online to make you more aware.
Those of you enjoying the commissions choosing to ignore the storms signals you are setting yourselves up for failure.
Why wreak havoc on yourself when you could be proactive while the times are good?
Why wait until things go south?
Remember; Joyful nights sometimes bring sorrowful days.
If you are going to play the game the way it is played now you should focus on longterm customer values versus one-off transactions.
With that being said I have yet to see a recruiter make billions.
Furthermore, It takes a lot more work to recruit than it does to hire a supportive team of supporting cast and leaders around you to promote your brand.
I know the feeling that thrill people get when they make commissions because I have made 3 or 4 sales myself.
However, I failed to follow up with my buyers. I didn’t take the time to collect data or engage with them.
I Showed very little interest other than the time we spoke leading up to the sale.
To me, that is the hallmark of failure, exactly what not to do to grow your brand.
Are you considering making a living online?
If you are looking for growth now is the time to put checks and balances in place.
Believe it or not, the market is saturated so you really have to differentiate your self.
Take for example
Google
Amazon
Facebook
and compare the growth of those companies to that of all the affiliate marketers that exist.
I can assure you the difference in growth is like night and day.
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Furthermore as an individual How much can you do in a day solo?
If you had a team of employees you would be getting more done.
This is where I think part of the problem is (The lack of empathy and Attitude it is almost like “hurry up and buy “)
The urge to ask for that sale is hard to resist.
These are things I have done and experienced so I am not taking shots at anyone.
So If you are considering joining a multi-level marketing program you had better start thinking long term.
I prefer to position myself as an authority figure (influencer) that people know like and trust.
This means that I have to share content and get actively involved in the day to day conversations about my niche and my brand.
It takes more time and upfront effort but is well worth it in the long run.
The current recruiting process is different from the model I am discussing today.
However, If you are willing to make a few adjustments you can win.
Recruiting does not have to be a revolving door.
Recruit one person than another one and another one.
There need to be more genuine conversations.
Taking time out to learn about your customers before pulling the trigger on the sales button.
People have feelings. You might be enjoying the commission you made but if the person buying feels used and abused it is very unlikely that they will recommend you or buy from you again.
You cannot afford to forget the persons patronizing your business.
A happy customer is a repeat customer.
In a time that scams are running rampant in the multi-level marketing arena we need not give people more reason to doubt because then we are making it harder on ourselves.
Being in a position looking from the inside out gives me a better description.
So I can see why people are skeptical about Multi-level marketing programs.
The behavior displayed by some of us is atrocious.
Some go all out to lure in people but do not deliver
For example
(offering refunds not refunding)
(Paying people for every lead not paying them for leads )
When people start complaining alarm bells start ringing.
when you ignore people, when you fail to respond in a timely manner you increase the chances of your name being slandered.
A few unresolved matters can escalate.
Look at what lead to the demise of My Online Business Empire.
There were a lot of complaints that were ignored.
You cannot ignore or disregard people whether they are paying or not.
We as a marketer have to take responsibility for the resistance that people put up when we are probing them.
No, not everyone putting up a resistance does it for the same reason.
Some people like to investigate and be sure before they invest their hard earned money.
I could agree.
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But we as marketers need to help make the transition a bit smoother.
On the flip side, there are people that do not have the discipline to execute.
But one thing is for sure people will complain regardless and that is apart of the business.
But if you are going to last long in this game do understand that it is your duty to answer questions and respond to complaints.
Marketing It is not a one-way street.
Mind you there are marketers doing a great job. Hats off!
Some marketers take the time to engage in conversation with you.
I have had plenty of good conversations with my fellow marketers.
But the one thing in common is that neither of them wastes time introducing their products and services.
They ask questions like
“Do you have a mentor?”
“What is the goal?”
Everyone seems to have the Midas touch, to coach you to Success.
Here is an example of good affiliate traits.
I know for a fact that pro blogger founder Darren Rowse sells affiliate products.
Dareen shows up on Twitter, he does a podcast, Darren engages his community on his facebook fan page.
That is a big difference. Darren nurtures his audience on a daily basis so people do not feel like they are being used.
I had to revamp my strategy because I have been guilty of treating my prospect like a one night stand.
But now that I know better I am doing better. I am taking the time to feed and listen to my audience.
I am not making sales now but that is ok. In the long run, I will have a loyal customer base.
It has taken me a while to adopt this mindset but I have gotten it
Nowadays I give without expectation. I no longer feel that you have to buy from me.
Even If I give you a solution and you choose not to buy from me that is fine.
Too many of us marketers take it personally when things do not go our way.
We fail to separate business and emotions.
When there is no sale or probability of a sale it is like there is no need to conversate further.
And that is not the way to win people over.
We have to be patient up front and show empathy than on the back end pick up the sale.
The current way we do it is not sustainable in my opinion.
There needs to be a marriage between the prospect customer and you.
The money is not running away but if we keep on mistreating and rushing people then we shall forever be behind the eight balls.
If we fail to meet the changing desires of people then we fail. If we fail to market in a way that is conducive to the existing desires of the people then we fail.
It is time to adopt a new approach in this jungle of affiliates.
So it is either we adapt to the climate or fall along the wayside and watch profit margins thin out.
This is not an anti-selling campaign!
This is about growing as coaches.
If you are not learning then how do expect to increase your earnings?
You need to make a few shifts before you end up bankrupt.
You may not envision what I am saying now because things are going well but when the market declines oh well.
Who are you going to rely on?
You can lose your reputation overnight. Bad customer service will ruin you.
But why do we not pay attention?
Is it arrogance?
Do we think that the tide will always rise in our favor?
In this day and time of social media, businesses are going above and beyond to improve customer service.
What makes you think that you can give some mediocre service and remain relevant?
And this message is aimed at me too.
I am glad that I have taken note and realize the changes need to be made.
Had I not adopted this wave of change I would be in trouble. And who could I blame but myself?
You see….there is a way to go about affiliate marketing without ruining credibility.
But do you have the patience to implement?
If you do not have the discipline and mind frame it will not work.
It takes a combination of things to be successful in internet marketing.
Most of the ingredients that are needed are not difficult to implement.
We have got to start making better decisions.
But there is a way forward.
There is a way to maximize opportunities and build a model that is sustainable.
“The early bird gets the bread” You do not want to be one of the marketers falling on your own sword.
I took a lashing in this game so I know what it is like. I have been on both ends.
At one point in time, I was making certain decisions because I didn’t know any better because I would blindly follow what I was being taught.
Now that I know better there is no way that I would allow myself to continue down the same path.
I had to break out of my little shell. I used to spend hours on Facebook probing and prospecting.
It was like I was insecure and uncertain about youtubing tweeting.
I felt like a big fish in the pond on Facebook at one point in time.
That was far from reality. I knew that If I wanted to expand I had to grow my outreach and get on platforms where my audience is likely to be.
How much traction can I get on Facebook alone?
Mind you there are ways to connect and expand my outreach on there.
Driving traffic to my fan page and interacting with my followers is one way of doing it.
I just wasn’t thinking that way a 2 years ago. I felt that I had to protect my landscape at all cost.
Anyone coming in boasting of earnings sales was considered a threat.
In my defense, I applied more pressure on a prospect and got really pissed when the prospect started pitching me.
I would be like this person doesn’t know how to market so this my opportunity to teach them.
I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that this is the way marketers were being taught.
Recruiters “sponsoring” people in their down line teaching them to recruit others.
Do you see the story unfolding now?
That is how the game is played.
I know I said it earlier but I will say it again (it is not sustainable)
Are you willing to adjust?
If you are going to make a living as an affiliate then why not develop a more customer orientated program?
By the way salute to all the marketers providing exceptional customer service.
So if you plan on surviving and thriving in the bloom and gloom then get a blog.
There are a few marketers that have blogs.
The blog is the gateway for all sales.
Furthermore, Most of the population searches for products and services before buying anything.
So if you don’t have a website with content then how do you expect to get found?
If you don’t have a blog you are operating at a disadvantage.
Mind you there are some coaches doing well without a blog but for how long.
Yes, it takes more work more time on the front end but you receive more on the back end.
Furthermore, if you are not willing to work then why bother in the first place.
Being a marketer does not entitle you to success.
Internet marketing is a title like anything else.
You have to get into the act of things if you are going to be successful.
Do you want to take it to the next level or are you content being where you are?
Ask yourself that question.
Your answer will determine how far you go.
What I am giving you here is a set of guidelines you can use as a measuring stick.
Yes, you will see people sharing screenshots of their earnings but do not allow that to distract you from your long-term goals.
Jeff Bezos (Amazon) does not take screenshots of earnings yet he is the richest man in the world.
I am telling you this because I see what is going on in the market place.
I know that you are itching to sign up for a company after reading but hold on for the ride I have some more news to share.
I want you to slow down for few before you decide to pull your credit card out.
Haste makes waste plus you cannot afford to invest money into a venture that you do not have background knowledge of.
By the time you finish reading this post, you should be able to decide whether or not you want to be an internet marketing recruiter.
Now on to the meat of this article.
Go all in, give it everything you’ve got, Take up a loan, borrow money from friends if you have to.
This is the type of behavior that is being encouraged on the net. The persons encouraging such actions do not necessarily have ill intentions. Their purpose is to inspire you to buy their products and services.
There are pros and cons in business like anything in life.
So what do you need to take into consideration?
First off you need a proof concept before you consider taking on debt.
Secondly, you need a stable stream of income to sustain you while you build your network marketing firm.
It baffles me when I see people join MLM companies quit within a few months
And why?
Network marketing is very popular on the WebSphere. There is no shortage of testimonies earnings reports motivating you to pull out your debit card.
The dream of (living the internet lifestyle) is enough to entice people like you and me to pour our life savings into it.
In fact, it has been done. People have been scammed, sacrificed their livelihood.
Multi-level marketing is legit as there are countless success stories on the web to back up my claim.
Unfortunately, there are scammers, there are people online with shark mentality.
What I mean is that some people push their products and services on you regardless of your personal preference.
Very little consideration is given about your income level ( financial situation ) which I think is selfish.
Sales are important to me too but not at the expense of you.
when I probe, I like to listen so that I can get feedback.
There are multiple things I have to consider before I Attempt to close the sale.
I have to analyze your position. After that, I can give you a solution.
I am not going to allow you to buy from me without ensuring that you are prepared.
Let’s say that I did make a commission off of you without teaching you the proper techniques.
How would that make me look?
In good conscious, I could not do that. Maybe 3 years ago but not now.
My thinking is beyond products.
Yes, we have to be more “servant” like. To better understand my point of reference let me give you an example.
Suppose you were probing me. I have feelings and needs that need to be met. I want security. I want you to provide me with a solution to my problem.
That is not what is happening in the market place. So when people like you and I see the results we automatically assume that we can achieve the same goal without knowing what is going on behind the scenes.
I remember When I started marketing 5 years ago. It took me a while to figure this out but It takes time to build a sustainable business and trust of the people.
Yes, You can earn a living but you must understand the process.
I was vulnerable online, my weakness cost me thousands of dollars. No stress on my behalf.
When you are eager like I was you leave yourself open for licks. Your ambition can work against you.
The excitement that runs through your veins, the thought of making huge commissions is enough to push you deep in your pockets.
I mean I have seen people go out and seek loans just to join companies.s
Stay with me while I share the 15 point blueprint with you.
Work-hard
There is no substitute for hard work. You can buy the best compensation plan in the world and still not make a dime.
So You have to spend time honing your skills if you are going to succeed.
Moreover, you should have the mindset of a hustler, be open to learning.
Do not get caught up into the hype
- If you do not join you are getting left behind
- The market place is full of hungry sharks
- You will get spammed
- Very few people are taking the time out to build a relationship
Write down points 12345 on a piece of paper and then mark the one that resonates with you.
Now Put yourself in the shoes of the customer.
Would you want to be on the receiving end if you were being approached from a stranger spamming? If your answer is yes then you should reconsider your career path.
I for sure do not want to be spammed or subliminally teased into joining an affiliate program.
To do so is manipulative and annoying.
Do not chastise your competitors
Never talk down on a competitor to win favor with a customer.
Furthermore, if you plan on growing in this industry why not forge alliances and build bridges
If you provide a service that is uniquely valuable you win customer loyalty naturally.
Differentiate
Be (different ). The terminology in of itself is easy to pronounce and easily understood if you ask me.
Anyhow there are so many marketers like my self that made big mistakes following the crowd.
The art of standing out is easy
- Join a Facebook group and scroll through the feed.
- You will see people asking questions
- You will see people who are spamming
- You might see a small percentage of people sharing content and answering questions.
If You want to succeed you need to be in quantum 3 because this is when people will notice you.
The reason is simple.
- You are not spamming
- You are not pushing your products services down peoples throats.
When you are anti-spam and pro value People get curious
So Start sharing relevant useful content in groups.
Be honest
Anyone can take a snapshot of earnings and make it look as if it is theirs.
Yes, some of the people posting cash snapshots are legit so I am not downplaying it.
Keep in mind seeing such results creates excitement and insecurities.
So now when a prospect asks have you made a sale it feels like you are at a disadvantage.
Trust is the most important part of the game. A company generating 1 million in revenue another making 100 hundred thousand has both earned trust of their customers.
Mentorship
You need to learn but here’s the biggest misconception (you need a mentor).
You cannot buy success!
Yes, invest time and money into personal growth.
But when We start thinking that a (mentor) has a magic wand we are setting ourselves up for failure.
Someone has to do the work.
Here is what you ought to know
Search Sites like
- YouTube
- google,
- quora
- Facebook for answers to your questions.
What is important
Nobody cares about your product.
Do You think that people care more about your products or a solution?
Tools
You need to be equipped for the job. If you are planning on emailing your clients then you are going to need an autoresponder.
A-Webber has a user-friendly system that you might want to check out.
If you are planning on Scheduling tweets then hoot-suite might be your tool.
Now when it comes to all the fancy gadgets choose wisely.
For example, the latest software to post ads or some push button software.
Some of the tools are needed to help you automate certain aspects of your business.
Do not purchase software or affiliate programs based on emotion or motivation.
People will inspire you to buy at all cost hence why so many in the market place are promoting testimonials.
I do not see a thing wrong with investing in yourself. My main concern is you not having the knowledge to utilize what you are buying.
Recruit
If you are going to survive multi-level marketing you will have to recruit.
For example, if you join under me I am your “sponsor.”
I am the person that is supposed to guide you.
Do not get it twisted; your up line does not recruit on your behalf.
When you sign up you are on your own you have to recruit.
Be prepared to swim alone amongst other fish in the sea.
Learn
“The more you learn the more you earn” Warren Buffett.
When I first started marketing I was clueless.
To make a long story short I used to jump on webinars to figure out how “so and so” was making money selling T-shirts on T-spring.
My point here is that marketing has a gambling aspect to it.
There is a lot of hype surrounding it.
Get used to the pitch
By now You know about the sales frenzy taking place online.
In fact, some people play the game really good at first.
Rest assured a very short time after the initial convo most of them go for the sale.
There is Nothing wrong with asking for the sale but at least take the time out to get to know your audience.
Rejection
You had better be prepared to face rejection. You have to be open-minded. There are people on the web that surf casually not looking to buy anything.
So do not assume that you are entitled to the sale.No one is obligated to buy your services.
But show empathy anyway and In the long run, you will win. You have to keep your attitude in check too!
Do not tease
I see a lot of subliminal messages coming from some top earners.
Do not repeat the behaviors of your predecessors when you become a rock star.
Do not badger your affiliates.
Anyone that signs up under you gives them the time to learn and understand the existing strategy that they are using before you upsell.
To me, It is a complete turn off when you consistently try to upsell. It looks and feels as if all you want is the sale, so Instead of trying to sell, strike a balance.
The mistake to avoid
Done for your systems. I used to fall into the trap of buying ready-made funnels and emails.
You have a list of people with different needs than mines so why should I continue to use emails that are not catering to the needs of my audience?
Why not split test?
In my view, it is counterproductive to use emails and funnels that are not customized.
My goal is to give, share as much wisdom as I can.
I am not going to allow you to go down the same path I did.
A lot of the things that learned over the years is a blessing .
Comment
Commenting is not only good for SEO and link building but it also helps to build awareness about you.
Build and hire
Imagine if Steve Jobs tried to run apple on his own. Picture Jeff Bezos micro-managing Amazon.
Look at the big Tech stocks like Facebook, Amazon Apple, their teams are global.
You have to leverage people in order to expand your brand.
Think Bill Gates!
Do not be predictable
You cannot use the same subject line as me with your prospects.
Here is a real-life example
Hi, how are you my name is Jamel Hassell and I came across your profile in the Facebook group brainstormers?
Are you aware that there are several other people using the same dubplate? You have 2 strikes working against you.
1 everyone is using it
2 Majority of your community members have heard or used the same lines before.
So that pretty much eliminates you. Why take the risk?
sub conclusion
The internet lifestyle is full of promising rewards.
People like keder Cormier Jermaine Lead monster Steel, Marc Guberti are walking testimonies.
Maybe I should conduct an interview with one of them. Do you think so?
Before I conclude I have 3 more tips that I would like to share.
Hacks
Everyone is looking for a cutting edge and As a result, the market gets hot and people want gadgets to make their job easier.
I have come across people (selling buyers) so why would someone sell a buyer? Maybe the persons in their list is a cold lead.
Maybe It could be that someone opted in made a small purchase but didn’t buy anything else.
There is nothing about selling buyers illegal but I think it is a trap.
I have a laundry list of the things I like about Affiliate marketing
- The training
- Jvzoo
- Click bank
- The inspiration
- Webinars
- Podcast
- Blogs
- Like-minded people
- Risk Takers
- Solo Ads
- Facebook ads
- People from all walks of life
- Masterminds
- Work on your time
Conclusion
So as you see there are pros and cons in the business so I refuse to paint a rosy picture because soon enough you will find out for yourself. The truth will come to light.
You and I are not entitled to success however I do think that we are entitled to earn our keep if we want to reach our goals.
I can assure you that you will get impatient.
You have to have a long-term outlook. I am not going to downplay the importance of generating revenue but if that is your main priority you are in for a long ride.
Stay focused and consistent. Work on your craft day in day out.
know what you want to achieve map out a plan, work towards it.
Let me know how you feel about this post. Get involved in the conversation in the comment section.
Make some noise in the comment section