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Network Marketing Industry truths

Written by: David Gant

Article Overview: This is a view observed / established from a very early foray and the recent (four years of seriously building my networking (online business)) knowledge gained from being around the industry. Your views may differ and you may not agree, however it is my view and is not intended to offend anyone. There are hundreds of thousands of decent folks out their operating an online business from the comfort of their homes. It’s just a shame our chosen industry is marred by those that are deceitful just to squeeze the extra buck or penny from those that do not belong.

Network Marketing Industry truths

Since the turn of the century and up until a couple of years ago we saw a trend that was fashionable to get in on the Internet home business craze and market a high ticket item normally for around the $1k mark. For many of those that were in the industry from early 2004 to late 2007 made at the least a good living. As the years rolled on those businesses that did not quite get it right disappeared leaving just a hard core of great online high-end businesses. I still market one of those effectively today, which yields terrific results being able to put time leverage to excellent use. The unique side to it is that anyone could do it. Well that is not strictly true although anyone can it does take a certain breed of person. Let us analyze that in more detail. Nowadays I accept that 98% of the people that I talk to will not make it. Hopefully I am able to identify those people and weed them out before they become a part of my team - before they have invested in them selves in both time and money! It is unethical to take someone Else's hard-earned cash knowing they have no chance of success. That is why it is important to qualify your prospect. It saves both of you a waste of time.

Interesting that 80% of those looking should never have been looking in the first place. Those are the people that are just curious as they think they would like to better themselves but do not have the guts to carry it through. They will be the ones that you don't connect with the ones that give the wrong details i.e. an unworkable telephone number or will never answer your call or return a voice mail. That is what is commonly known in the industry as the 80/20 rule.

Out of the 20 that's left 18 of those will fall by the way side with varying degrees of exposure. Some won't make it passed the first telephone call. They haven't thought it through and bulk at the thought that any business, that's a legitimate business requires both work and cash flow to get it off the ground (although significantly less then a franchise and traditional business start-up, none the less the irony is there is no free lunch). They are the people that see any business requiring start-up and working capital as a scam. That is a fundamental floor on their part and is what separates them from fitting into the entrepreneur category. Golden rule - If the business opportunity cannot provide proof of their track record, product or service then it is probably a scam. Make sure you are able to evaluate the product physically or electronically.

Why would you believe that simply because it's an Internet based business that you could start it for nothing. Yes, there are low-end start-ups and I incorporate a couple of those as well. (More of that later) The remainder of that 18 will have several more exposures and will then get cold feet and for no apparent reason they will go into the witness protection program and you just will not get their response - its as if they disappeared of the face of the earth. That's OK though as this group normally 3-4 will come back at various times in the future still looking still not settled on a business and will continue to look. Occasionally they will take the plunge and join you maybe in a year or two years time.

That's where a good email campaign comes in. They see that you are not a flash in the pan and that you were as serious as you said you are with the staying power and the success that they wanted in a leader. They are good people to have around even though you need to be patient.

That brings you to the last two to three people, they are the serious ones that have weighed up their options before speaking to you, Have accessed what time and funds they have available and are prepared to put them to good use to further their own success.

That is just two or three people out of a hundred. I also believe that is the normal response rate for most sales industries to.

So what happens to the 98 people that thought they were serious, well the majority will retreat and crawl back under the rock never to be heard of again or at least some time in the future they will unsubscribe from your e-mail's.

Incidentally, never remove people from your mailing lists unless they are very rude (in four years still count those people on one hand) or they have expressed a desire to be removed. Apart from those, everyone deserves a second chance and circumstances sometimes dictate that they get serious and come back in the future accepting that it is the right and correct path for them.

I feel although the truth is the best policy you will loose a few people along the way that cannot except the ratio's, but then you have to ask would those people been right for this type of business anyway.

Therefore, the type of person that fits into that group that will succeed will display certain traits.

• Know exactly what they want - will have written workable goals

• Know how they are going to get it Have made a plan of action

• Will look at many options before making a final decision

• Will do there home work

• Will be coach able and more to the point willing to learn all they can

• Will be stubborn in that they will never give up

• They don't procrastinate - they commit and take action now

• They have a rhino's skin and cannot be swayed or discouraged

• Stay on track

However, more then anything else they never, never quit.

We spoke briefly about low-end start up businesses. Interestingly they take the same working criteria and marketing methods as a high-end business. OK let's differentiate.

I view a low-end business as one you can get started for under $50 and a high end for around the $1K mark.

The difference being the amount of commission you can earn $20 as opposed to $1K.

Some people with out Internet marketing knowledge and little cash flow only have the option of a low-end start and will build their business steadily at a more sedate pace.

Those with a budget and working capital will take the plunge and use all the marketing techniques available to them to make the high-end commission and see their success relatively quickly. Often seeing a return with in two weeks or less. Of course, there are those that take longer.

What it all boils down to is the individual and their goals or desires as to the pace they set themselves.To summarise

No two people are the same in any business some will have advantages with different skill sets but it does come down to the work ethics and skill set of the individual as to how soon they will make it. I know given a choice the way forward is working for ones self and reaping 100% of the profits instead of doing all the work for someone else and earning only what they think your worth and what they think they can get away with to keep you there.

If this has done nothing more then addressed the myth that anyone can get rich quick with no work or outlay on your part and afforded you a more realistic approach to starting a business online then I will have done you a good service.

If you feel the odds are stacked against you and it's to much to risk then take it this industry is not for you. Please save yourself the trouble of wasting your time and hard-earned cash chasing a dream that you will never reach. Just do something more constructive with what little savings you have.

If you are an ethical online business owner I'm sure you will appreciate the truths about our industry. If you are not ethical then I expect you'll not be to pleased at reading this - I make no apology to you.

If your new to the industry take comfort from knowing the odds. Make sure you are in the small % group get a head start today by visiting Davids site today.

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Article Tags: analyze that, cash flow, first telephone, guts, hard core, internet home business, legitimate business, telephone number, terrific results, time and money, time leverage, turn of the century, voice mail, waste of time



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