This post was most recently updated on June 19th, 2017
As a “Life Coach”, I often work with clients who are struggling in various Network Marketing businesses. This week, I worked rather intensely with a couple who are internet newbies. Among other issues, they wanted me to show them how to use the internet to “quickly” build a downline and rise to the top in their company.
There were several struggles I had because of the Mindset of the leaders in their companies.
The Company Duplicated Website
They were led to believe that they should have a company-duplicated website to promote to prospects, and to capture leads. I explained to them that such a website is fine for people to learn about products and go through particular sign up procedures. But it would also be branding the company in the eyes of their prospects, rather than themselves as powerful leaders who were highly capable of taking their downlines to success.
Personal Branding
For personal branding, I suggested they really develop their own personal wordpress blog. Blogging about the larger problems that their company’s products seek to solve, would attract prospects attracted to their leadership first, the company’s products second. And such prospects could be harnessed into a “prospect list” in ways that would not be easy via a company duplicated site.
When explaining this to them I had to bring to light that people buy people. I gave them examples of what they were doing with their warm markets. People were purchasing their products or business options because they knew them and trusted them. The same applies in the internet world. Creating our personal branding via a personal blog helps us attain trust and friendships with other people.
The 80/20 Rule
Here is where they all got confused. They had been trained by their upline to push push push… to be go-getters. Go up to people and befriend them. Then tell them about the product they were representing. How old school is that? I explained to them that they needed to become “go-givers” rather than go-getters: give free advice and information 80% of the time, and solicit business only 20% of the time. This dumfounded them. “How do I do that?”
I told them that first they had to be passionate about their product. Then write broadly within the niche that this product fell into.
Make Money Now
This couple was clearly of the mindset that they could make money NOW. Of course, that came directly from their company training. They were scurrying around trying to pull people off the street to buy their products. They were wondering why it wasn’t working. I explained to them that you cannot PUSH. Forget that elevator speech. It makes for interesting trainings, but rarely works in the real world.
Developing associations and friendships with people online is often a more targeted process than just grabbing them in the grocery store. Social media outlets, for instance, allow you to find and interact with people who you can qualify as folks that are interested in your niche.
But this takes time. It doesn’t happen over night. The more time you invest into the process, the quicker you’ll begin to see the fruits of your labor. And it’s a lot more fun than harassing people who don’t share the same interests and concerns as you.
But “How” Do You Get Started On The Internet?
I mentioned earlier that this couple is totally “newbie” when it comes to the internet and technology. They feared the learning curve and the expense of getting started.
Well, one thing led to another, and they decided to join my top tier coaching program:
We worked pretty intensely for a few months, but yes… they got their online business up and running, and now they’re moving full steam ahead.
They were so grateful and enthused.
I just know they’re going to have a great business for a long time to come.
Mindset
To me, the most important thing in ANY business is your mindset. You have to be ready to make a commitment of time. You need to know how much time you can really spend and what are you willing to do to create a presence on the internet.
You can’t focus on the expense, the hard work, and all the other obstacles that your mind dreams up. You need to be clearly committed to enjoining the journey that you must endure to get to the “place” that you call “success”.
I was so happy to see this couple eagerly grow in their understanding of what they must do next. They are beginning to see that it is a vast and different world on the internet, with many pieces to the puzzle that you need to figure out if you are going to succeed with any Network Marketing venture.
This is why I enjoy my work when coaching people. Opportunities are many and all one has to do is to make a choice to change to seek financial freedom. When newbies come into my circle it is such a joy and privilege to be a part of their growth.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna…
Your comments demonstrate the major reasons that network marketers fail and that they become part of the “NFL”. People are tired of hearing…I have the best comp plan, we have a “debt-free” company and the list goes on and on…
I love your comments and advice on being a “Go-Giver”. Every marketer should read and re-read that book. It is so spot on and will literally turn your life around. Thanks for such great post! You were truly a “Go-Giver” byt the way you handled your clients and by the content of this post! You get a “Double Boomski” for this one!
Thank you Martin for your awesome reply to my post. Yes we are a group of go-givers and need to be. It is so much better to be of a giving economy than a push economy.
Thanks for stopping by,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..The 30 Day Expert
Donna,
Great Article! I guess most of get caught up in branding our MLM company when we first begin. I know I did. But I know now branding oneself is the way to go.
Yes it does take time to build a downline, but it can be really fun and exciting. If the couple takes your advice I am sure they will be successful.
Hi Donna,
Your newbie couple received some good advice. Wish I’d have had such a mentor when I first started! All I had was a friend/acquaintance who was just getting interested in it herself, so couldn’t really help me. She tossed me a couple ideas, but mostly what I’ve learned has been learned the VERY hard way. I’ve been thankful that God never showed me before I started, how long the journey takes, as I’m not sure I would have started it had I known!
I’ve tended to go the opposite of your couple’s training, though. I hesitate to sell anything on my blog! But I’m working up to it : )
Pastor Sherry recently posted..Spiritual Life: Experiencing God’s Love in the Bible
Excellent advice Donna.
Just take a look at what the big earners have done and almost in every case they put themselves in front of the product.
Peter
I had a flashback of Amway IBO kind of stuff when you talked about them. I am hoping you always pressed that they could have their entire site on WordPress, aside from the blog. I get a lot of people whose eyes just pop out of their heads when I show them how, even if they are promoting items to another place.
Anyhow, I agree, when you step into doing a business, you have to commit and you have to invest in it. Building a presence online OR offline takes time.
Nile recently posted..Blondish.net Podcast – Blogging and SEO
hi Donna, I was intrigued by your title ‘ A Day in the Life of a Life Coach’ becasuse I was fascinated by the approaches you would take and the different strategies you use… In actual fact, it seems your role is pretty much the same as a business coach with a little bit of life’s wisdom thrown in 🙂
I love the way you draw people’s attention to the fact that life ‘online’ is actually exactly the same as it is ‘offline’ – i.e. the same rules of engagement apply. It always fascinates me how many people forget that basic fact. Online relationships are not powered by machines, they are powered by people – the same way offline ones are 🙂
Great post, thanks
Hi Mandy!
Great point when you say that online relationships are not powered by machines, they are powered by people! The joy of my “job” is to pull people out of their box and use the analogy of a brick and mortar business is like an on line business.
I had a client that had her own business doing nails and waxing. She prospered because people liked her. Now, as a stay at home mom, she wanted to get online. She homeschools and that is her passion. When listening to her passionately tell me how much she loves it. I stopped her and said “I’m hearing at least 10 blogs” So that’s what you write about – Passion.
She immediately “got it” and now she is on her way. I enjoy seeing people claim financial freedom.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Twitter: DrErica
January 18, 2012 at 4:38 am #
Donna,
You are offering such sound advice. Many of the MLM companies have a big hype session and lead the newbies to believe they can make money immediately, if they are good enough and reach out to everyone everywhere. All that accomplishes is that you annoy other people, they may even try to avoid contact with you, and you begin to feel bad about yourself. You may see others succeeding rather quickly and you are not able to do the same.
Why? Because those people have probably been in the business for awhile, know the ropes and have a good online presence and system that works.
Mindset is essential. You are teaching them to develop a new mindset that will eventually lead to success if they also take appropriate steps toward business building.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted..Let Go and Let Love
Thanks for the great comment Dr. Erica,
Yes, that’s what I do. I like taking care of the “inside” of people, rather than the outside. I enjoy giving them the tools to keep their mindset healthy so they won’t have negative feelings like they are a “failure” or they get “anxious” etc. There are so many ways to get over that hump and self talk themselves into positive thinking. MLM is a tricky business, but once they make a choice to build their business successfully, we are on our way. There is no such thing as Fast Cash!
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Hi Donna, I really appreciated the way you helped your clients. What resonated with me in particular was when you told them to be go-givers rather than go-getters: give free advice and information 80% of the time, and solicit business only 20% of the time. This advice is priceless because when you give free advice and help you form a bond of trust with a potential client which can translate into them hiring you or buying your products or services at a later date. Thanks for sharing 🙂
shelley alexander recently posted..Pumpkin Hazelnut Chai Soup
Hi Shelly, You have really got it! Sometimes I use the 90/10 ratio. Actually, The more I give the more people are coming to my funnel. When I’m on Facebbok, I will get a pop up message asking me what do I do. I have a notepad on my desktop explaining it, so all I have to do is copy and paste. Then they ask to call or skype me. I never push. People just come to me and that is the way I like it. It is so great to have people knowing about what I do in particular. Saves so much time!
Thanks for your comment,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Hey Donna,
You’re so right!
Personal branding is the name of the game.
It has been said many times that people don’t join companies, people join people.
I knew what company wanted to join but I just wasn’t sure what leader to pick. Do I did my research and pick the sponsor that was the most “attractive” – (I guess attraction marketing still works 🙂 ) to me.
Mindset:
We can’t really grow our business without working on our mindset – at least that’s what I think.
As we put some time into personal growth our businesses have to grow because we do things from an elevated state of mind. The quality of our thinking and action gets to another level and so is everything else around us.
another great share!
Akos
Akos, you have explained what mindset really is! Thank you because people somehow leave that out of the equation and it either slows their growth or they give up. I feel that mindset is so important to keep up in business. Personal branding is the name of the game.
Thanks for your awesome comment,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Personal branding and having an own blog is very important for business communication. Somehow some clients tell me that reading my blog, etc make the more easy to trust me after that! I will keep on that in this year, too!
Anna recently posted..teeth crowns
Thanks Anna, Your personal branding is priceless! It is true that when people that read your blog come to know you better and this is a great trust-builder.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Thanks for another great blog post! I’m one of those newbies – and as such can certainly attest to how FRUSTRATING the whole process can be! Not a vibration conducive to success! In fact I’ve just decided to let go of the striving for awhile and focus on all the success already in my life, for ‘Enjoy the journey’ is such good advice – not just in business, but in life itself!
Namaste
Alexandria
Alexandria Barker recently posted..The Law of Attraction Works
Thanks Alexandria,
Yes I’m enjoying it all. So much so that my passion is to share it. When someone comes to me for coaching, I will do anything in my power to help them achieve it. Then it is up to them. It is like that in any aspect of life. Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Thanks Donna:) I too see this a lot, companies telling their sponsors/affiliates to have a duplicate or similar website when really they should be teaching them to brand themselves…
I love how your blog post is refreshingly honest, it takes time to make money online and of course a lot of hard work:)
Lilach Bullock recently posted..How to Use Affiliates in Internet Marketing 101
Thanks Lilach, I certainly does take time to make money on line. That is why my passion is to help people stay with it!
Thank you,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Sounds like you gave them good advice. I have the opposite problem. I give good advice and spend way too much time writing on the Internet to help people in various ways. I’ve done this for years and so far, have not come up with a way to earn back from all I’m doing. A few adsense coins here and there have trickled in, but nothing substantial. One can live in hope, I suppose.
Anne recently posted..Body Confidence In Easy Steps
Hi Anne, there are so many ways to make money from your advice. There are opt-in pages that you can create for a free product then upsell something, there are squeeze pages to sell a product you can create. The list goes on and on.
I recently took a course with Gavin and Jim and created a product. It is time for a little chi ching for you girl.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Twitter: marquitaherald
January 16, 2012 at 12:16 am #
Great advice Donna! “Old school advice” it may well have been, but what that couple was told is still the company line for many direct sales organizations as well as network marketing. In fact it’s one of the primary reasons I left direct sales … as an employee responsible for training new members you have no choice but to follow the old line regardless of how outdated it may be or how much you disagree with the approach.
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Yes Marty, I know and it takes extra steps in coaching those who were previously working old school. I always respect the guidelines in the business they are in, but show them a different way to get around it by Network Marketing.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Hi Donna
Wow I cant agree more with what you say.
Newbies in MLM with a upline that is old school struggle online and i agre Old school does not work any more on or of line.
That is why i always get people to my blog to start to know me better and then take it from there to become good friends. If they can trust you and start to know you the will start to do what you do. I mite take a bit longer than the alod school bet i will bet that they will be a down line for life and not just for the moment.
Love and Regards
Theuns
Theuns recently posted..How to Create Your Destiny with Gratitude – The Power of Gratitude
EXACTLY Theuns! We must get to know each other before we talk business. Your blogs are so awesome and I love following you. It is difficult to re-train the MLM people sometimes because of their previous training. But I know many people involved in Network Marketing that are thriving following the principles of the 80/20 rule.
Thank you my friend!
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Twitter: workingonthego
January 15, 2012 at 2:17 pm #
Hi Donna,
You have made some excellent points here in this article. Branding is very important and when it is done right it gives that extra recognition for your business. Another important point you have made here is about building strong connections for your business. Another point I would say it consistency is very important. This morning I received a lovely email from a member of my Facebook page due to them seeing me share tips and advice on a regular basis. Take care Rosemary
Hey Rosemary, Thanks so much for commenting on my blog. I have found that consistency is one of the key factors in social media. When we are consistent and not automated, Google reads us just as your Facebook page did. This is how we know we are on the right path.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Donna,
I can so relate to this post. Teaching newbies about online marketing is a challenge when they want the instant results. There is a certain amount of “learning curve” that people need to go through.
The biggest one is mindset and like you said there are several struggles there. I like how you referred to the 80/20 rule and they didn’t get it because of what they were taught.
Attraction marketing is unconventional when marketers are trained to be the aggressor. There is nothing wrong with making a list. But the skills it requires to connect with others is lacking…in off line marketing. at least in the traditional sense.
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
Ken Pickard recently posted..101 Things To Blog About
Well said Ken! I think the most difficult part is mindset. So many are taught to PUSH when we really have to do is go-give with that 80/20 rule. Also from the first conversation I point out that stats reveal that 97% leave or give up while the 3% stick it out and win win win!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”
Reaching people at an early stage and getting them re-oriented to adding value, being a go-giver and the idea that even though this is online it is still work is so much better than later after they’ve impoverished their friend base and soul by being pushy and bank account by purchasing upgrades and magic bullets.
What a gift that you were able to give them tools, hope and perspective. I get very upset when I deal with people who’ve been taken advantage of and recruited with false ideals and promises of quick success. Especially now when so many people are hurting and need the money, I’m glad to number you in the company of ethical coaches that tell the truth without apology even though doing so will cost you some clients who’d rather believe the hype.
Absolutely Kathryn, People are so programmed to make money quick. Or go to work at something and get their “paycheck” reward. It is a process of teaching to eradicate that mindset of a working for the man person. One has to enlighten them that it takes time to develop a relationship just as it takes time in the 3-D world.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..A Day In The Life Of A “Life Coach”