MLM and Suicide. Can This Be For Real?
If you have ever had the unfortunate pleasure of doing any search engine marketing than you understand what I mean by a keyword phrase. If not, than know that a keyword phrase is simply a term that people search for on a search engine.
With that said, I have done some keyword research about the mlm industry. It’s been quite awhile but I don’t think things have changed that much.
One thing that has always struck me funny was that mlm and suicide frequently came up in my research. Why? Are things in this industry that bad?
Yes! For many people it is. Here’s why:
The majority of people trying to do network marketing are not making a penny. In fact, they are losing money, month after month. Until they just can’t take it any longer.
For whatever reason they bought into joining an opportunity. Just $200 a month and all your problems will be solved!. They see the sales copy that says ” The average American could avoid bankruptcy with just an extra $300 a month. And they need that $300 so they won’t go bankrupt.
So they end up spending $400 a month trying to earn $300. Do the math. It won’t work!
They struggle. They panic. They feel like a failure. Can you see why someone might commit suicide?
Maybe they will call their upline. And maybe they will get some help. But chances are the advice they are given is buy more leads and call more people. That’s rediculous. Not the people spending money they don’t have to call leads that won’t join. And not the people that tell others to do that.
But the concept itself.
First of all, how many people that buy leads call them? Very few. And how many of those leads that get called will actually join? Very few. And of those leads that get called, and do join will actually buy leads and call them, themselves. Even fewer.
So if what I am saying is true, and you know that it is. Where is the money? Where? Who is making the money?
The person selling the leads.
I know. I have been the person selling the leads. I built a residual income just from selling leads to other networkers. It’s good money because leads are an in demand product. It is an entire industy in itself. But the person buying leads, maybe you, or maybe your downline. Those people are not the ones that are getting ahead in life.
They are drowning!
Sure, maybe in a few months they might start seeing a check. They might even break even by then. Or better yet, a small profit. But most people won’t even get that far. They’ll quit by then.
And who can blame them?
Yes, yes. I know. This is a marathon. Not a sprint. It takes time to build a profitable business. Yes it can. Oh yes, we only need a few, who need a few, blah, blah blah…
NO. We need to change our thinking. We need to think money. We need to think cash today. And then add residual income for tomorrow.
There are many reasons for this. First of all it is psychological. When you actually make money you gain confidence. You stop worrying. It puts you in an abundant state of mind that helps you make even more money.
We all want to see money today, right? But no one wants to, scratch that, needs to, more than your new downline member. Or anyone you know that is not earning squat. They need to start earning quickly or they probably never will.
At least until they try again further down the road.
I’ll get into more reasons why in a bit. But first let me demonstrate with an example of what I am talking about. In some other posts I have written some ideas of things you could do if your product is related to weight loss. But what the product is really is not that important. As long as you understand that it is much easier to sell something to people who want to buy it, than it will ever be to get somone to join your thing.
Let me repeat that:
It is always easier to sell a product that people want to buy, than it is to get someone to join your opportunity.
What? Sell? someone shouted in the background. Yes, sell. Trade something of value for money. And it is easier than you may think so stick with me here. This is so, so important if you are serious about running a solid business.
Before I go any further look at this sales page. Do Not Buy. That’s not what this is about. It willin a new window so you can come right back.
Ready?
Take a quick look at this sales letter that sells a book telling you how to improve gas milage
Back? Good. Go ahead and close that window. That page is is part of a very basic, very simple, sales process that is vital you understand. Obviously it sells a book. What it really is, is a funded proposal.
I sell the book. I make money. Today. Immediately. Not tons mind you from this one sale because the price is quite low. But what it has done is paid for my advertising. Plus added a profit. Instead of being negative, I now have a positive cash flow.
Ah, positive cash flow. Confidence, courage, abundance. But that is the just the first step. I didn’t just sell a book, I got a customer. Do you see the difference?
Now when this customer goes to the download page to get the book, first he sees information about my real product. He is now in a buying mood. His credit card is probably still on his desk. Plus he has now put himself in a position where he needs to act to justify his purchase.
There is a very good chance he will at least look at what my product is. He`s already decided he wants to save gas, or lose weight, or whatever. Maybe he will buy. Maybe not, but who cares. We’ve already made a profit plus there is a link in the book to the retail site.
At this point even that is not important. We have his email address. He is a proven buyer. We like him and want to build a stronger business realtionship with him. We want to turn him into a client. A fan even.
And we will do this by sending him surprise bonuses. Articles we find. Stuff of value to help him with his problems. We will do this because we care about him and want to prove it.
And of course we will at least include a link to our primary product in at least some of our emails. But it doesn’t stop there either. Oh, no. There will be other related products that may be of interest. I don’t know where, but they will come.
What you are doing here is building a solid business. Your own list. Your own customers and clients. Poeple who like you and trust you. People who will respond to a variety of offers from you Not just one thing. That is of course if you treat them right.
Do you see the power in this? Do you see how much control this gives you? And why your upline is not telling you about this? If all you do is recruit, recruit, and your company goes belly up. Or even if they just happen to change the comp plan. You are screwed my friend. Pure and simple.
But if you follow my suggestion you can easily switch to another related company (is that allowed?) and keep trucking without too much damage.
The one thing I didn’t show was a free report or mini course to begin the sales process. Normally you will want to do this. It will greatly increase your response rate for the ebook. I use Thirdsphere Hosting to automate the lists, sales and product deliveries, but there are a number of options you can choose.
For an experienced direct marketer this is baby stuff. The basics. But without the basics you have no foundation. No stability. You might as well be trying to build your business while standing on one leg, with one hand tied behind your back.
Where’s the downline come in?
Some of your clients will eventually want to become distributers. It will be obvious to them that money is being made and they want some of the action. Look at Mary Kay, Stanley/Fuller Brush, Avon. They don’t push recruiting. They sell products people want to buy.
And yes, you still want to continue to network. You still want business partners. A downline. But now you’ll have a downline that is making money. A much better chance they will stay.
Now you have a downline producing volume. That’s more residual cash in your pocket.
Now you have a downline with something to say to other people.
” I have this system that sells a book and I get paid immediately. Plus builds an increasing residual income month after month. “
Apposed to ” I call people at night while they are eating and watching TV and ask them to join my opportunity.
Which one sounds more appealing to you?
But I can’t do that Jeff!
Yes you can my friend. Sure, you may have stuff you need to learn. And I’ll be helping you with that real soon. But those pages I showed you, I didn’t create those. Someone else did. I just found them and combined them to build the system. 10 minutes tops!
And you can do the same thing. Just look around. Sit back and think. What you are looking for will appear. It always does. And when it does…
Take control of your own future!
Written by Jeff Neil on June 11th, 2006 with
1 comment.
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