("How To Choose The Right Sponsor!" : MLM Network marketing secrets - is another great article about mlm, network marketing and a little about home based business on mlm network marketing Finding the right sponsor for you is critical to your success in MLM. In essence, you're interviewing your prospective upline like you would someone for a job. Plus, you need to be able to communicate with them.)
"How To Choose The Right Sponsor!"
By Robert Blackman
Finding the right sponsor for you is critical to your success in MLM. In essence, you're interviewing your prospective upline like you would someone for a job. Plus, you need to be able to communicate with them.
Why? Because if you plan on doing this thing right, you'll be spending quite a bit of time with this person. It isn't imperative that you "like" or even "get along" with your sponsor.
What is imperative is that you get the proper information from him, or through him in order to go out and build your business effectively.
It's not even necessary for your sponsor to making money in your opportunity. What is necessary though, is for you to find out why they aren't. Have they just started? Or, have they been in for 3 years and just done nothing? Here's 5 things you should know about your sponsor before joining with them:
1) Are They Reachable?
If you're planning on making lots of money in MLM you're going to have to learn from those who have already achieved the success you want. If your sponsor isn't easily reachable how in the world can you learn what it takes to make money? Most people work their MLM in the evenings and on weekends.
I, for one, tell my downline the best times to call me. Plus, I give them my 24-hour voice mail number so they can call me anytime they have a question. This way, I keep in touch with those who are working my program(s). If you can't reach the person who sent you the information, that might tell you something -- that they don't want to be contacted!
Your sponsor has to be reachable. If you're in a mail order type program where you can't even find the phone number of your sponsor you better think twice about putting a lot of time and money into that program. Most people work full time and participate in their MLM in the evenings. Plan on being able to contact them at this time for maximum response.
I work full-time on my MLM programs and have an office that is open from 10-6 CST. I have a full-time office manager who answers my mail and the phone for me. So expect to get in contact with someone like me during the day. Regardless of when your sponsor is available, make sure they will tell you the best times to get hold of them. I have a 24 hour fax and voice mail set up for my downline just in case they can't get hold of me during the day. They call or fax me their questions and I get back to them within 24 hours.
It's important to be able to get hold of your sponsor when you have a question. All too often I've seen people drop out of a program just because they didn't know why something happened or worked the way it did. They expected something to happen one way but it turned out another. When they can't get hold of their sponsor to find out "why" they feel like nobody cares and if they aren't making a profit yet themselves, they have a tendency to talk themselves out of the program.
Make sure you have a sponsor you can get hold of. Ask them when they are most likely to be available for questions and 3-way calls from you. More importantly, make sure as a sponsor YOU are also readily available to answer your downlines phone calls. People drop out because of the stupidest reasons. Don't let your not being available be one of them!
2) Are They Making Money?
Although it's not necessary for your potential sponsor to be making money in order for you to, it sure does help. Don't pre-judge your sponsors lack of making money as a negative. Ask why they're not making any money. Maybe they just got started. Maybe they've been buying product for a year and have just decided to start sponsoring people.
The point is, if your sponsor isn't making money, find out why. Then find out if you can get the proper information from him on how to make money. And if you can't, can you go around him and get the proper information on how to make money from someone in their upline! If you can't, find another sponsor.
3) Do They Have Previous MLM Experience?
The beauty of network marketing is that it doesn't discriminate against anyone. If you work well with people (or are at least willing to learn) and you have a "no-quit" attitude you can make money in any MLM regardless of your age, education or race.
But, ask a little bit about your prospective sponsor anyway. Have they been in MLM before or is this their first venture? Are they in multiple programs or just one?
4) What Products Are They Using And Why?
In case you haven't noticed, I'm a real stickler on using the product or service that your MLM supplies. If you're not using them, then you don't believe in them. If you don't believe in them how are you going to get others to believe in them enough for you to get a commission? Nobody makes any money in MLM unless a product or service is purchased or sold.
A few months ago I had a guy who called and wanted me to get in his "HOT" new program. There was a sign up fee of $25 which included a few cassettes and a training manual. When I asked him which products are the best he said, "I heard that product x works real well." I said, "what do you mean you HEARD it works. Aren't you using the products yourself?"
He stuttered around a few seconds and blurted out, "I will as soon as I sign somebody up!" If this is you, let me in on a little secret -- YOU WON'T MAKE BIG MONEY IN MLM WITH THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE! Needless to say, I told him to call me back when he was making $1,000 a month and had bought some product. I haven't heard from him yet, and I doubt if he is still in the program.
The point here is simple. I own a printing company. When I need something printed (like this book) I don't ask another printer to do it for me -- I buy the printing from myself! Why? Because it's cheaper and it promotes MY business -- not Joe's Printing! I'm tired of building everyone else's dreams, paying for their nice big homes and cars. I want me and my family to enjoy these types of things.
And buying from your own business is the first step of your MLM journey. When you buy from your own business you're developing a winning attitude that is necessary in order to be successful in MLM. Don't wait for someone to sign up before you buy products. Buy them first, and then you'll have something to talk to your prospect about!
5) Are They Likable? Helpful? Knowledgeable?
The last thing you're looking for in your MLM sponsor is another "boss." If your sponsor treats you like you're an employee you won't last too long! Instead, join with someone who shares the same kind of "business owner mentality" that you do! With only a small percentage of the people you talk to joining, why in the world would you NOT want to be someone that they'd like to be around?
As hard as it is to sign someone up in this industry it's amazing to me that some people are none of the above -- likable, helpful or knowledgeable! I attribute a majority of my success to my demeanor! Try this ... Pick up the phone and call your potential sponsor right now.
Ask a few questions about the business, hang up the phone and ask yourself: "was that a pleasant experience?" "Do I feel like he answered my questions honestly and accurately?" "Was he knowledgeable about his program, product and service? Or, was he the "pushy" salesman type, only interested in making a quick buck off of me?"
Unless the person is just having a bad day, or you caught them at a inconvenient time, the way they treat you on the FIRST contact is the way they'll treat you to the end! The same goes for the MLM you contact. If someone is obnoxious on your first encounter with them what makes you think that's going to change later?
I find most of my prospects call me just to relieve their fear of making a bad decision. They know in their mind that I can't GUARANTEE them success. But, what they want to know is there someone on the other end of the phone who cares, who will help them get started, and who will help them IF they get in trouble!
Being friendly and helpful helps you succeed by DEFAULT! Most prospects have decided to join your MLM when they call you. Don't mess this up by coming off as a "know-it-all." Yes, you can talk or scare a good prospect out of getting in your program. I find that by "listening" properly to my prospects questions I'm able to give them the proper advice in order for them to make a intelligent decision. A lot of times you'll find people call and ask questions to "test" you.
Just yesterday, a man called and asked me how fast he could make $10,000 a month in one of my programs. I told him I didn't know, because I wasn't making that much. But, I told him EXACTLY what I did to develop the income I was earning. He appreciated my honest answer and signed up over the phone!
People want to make extra income, but they don't want you to blow smoke at them when it comes to the nuts and bolts of making it in MLM! The old saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it's not true" is almost accurate. I like it said this way, "if it sounds to good to be true, and there are no FACTS to substantiate it, then it's not true!" In other words, "check it out" before you allow a little "hype" turn you away.
One this is for certain -- you are NEVER going to find the "perfect" sponsor! Although I try to be the very best sponsor I can be, I still make mistakes. I even have people who don't like me and drop out! And, if you sponsor enough people along the way you'll experience the same thing, too. The key is to be the best you can be. It's like Eleanor Roosevelt said:
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right, because you're going to be criticized anyway."
You can make money in MLM without the help of your sponsor if you want it bad enough! But, I have found that the better relationship you have with your sponsor the faster you're going to learn what it takes to make money! Plus, it makes your business venture fun! That's right FUN! Some of my best friends are my MLM sponsors -- I'm sure you'll find this to be true for you too!
The bottom line is that you NEED to find someone in your upline - whether it's your sponsor or their sponsor, who will work with you week in and week out in until you've become successful. You'll find that working with someone in your upline who has a "vested interest" in your success is imperative in order for you to be making a profit in your MLM.
If your upline has a vested interest in your success you're more likely to get solid advice from them, than even from the company itself! So go out and find a profitable upline who will be willing to work with you until you're profitable -- regardless of their faults!
Robert Blackman is President of Diversified Enterprises Inc. A printing and Direct marketing company. He is also President of The Profit Network, a Voice Mail & Fax-On-Demand MLM company. Not only is Robert successfully making money in 7 different network marketing ventures, he also provides a discount printing, writing, designing and ad placement service! Want to know how to make money in any MLM? Now you can! Robert Blackman's two cassettes & book entitled, "How To 100% Absolutely Guarantee That You Make Money In Network Marketing & How To Sit Back & Get Rich In Any MLM" is now available. For complete details on how to get them today; contact Robert Blackman via email at: robert1mlm@aol.com or call him at: (918) 335-3726
Editor's Note: Even though Robert only mentioned 5 questions to ask your sponsor, there is a 6th one that is critical to your success. The 6th question is ... what type of marketing, training, and support system do you already have in place for me to plug into immediately? And ... does it work?
| 