Relationship Marketing

This is one of my favorite pictures I have found online under network marketing. It visually depicts what makes this incredible business work. The famous Zig Ziglar quote, "You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want," says it all. If you want to succeed in network marketing, help others succeed. Do the basics. Make your list, follow the system, plug into the scheduled events, meet with people face-to-face and build relationships.

People in this high tech day and age often forget that network marketing is built on trust and building relationships, and must be saturated with "high touch". Luckily, the high tech aspect of business building integrates beautifully with high touch using 3-way calling, speakerphone, Skype, and Facetime to interact. Communication and follow-up can also be enhanced with Facebook postings, groups and messaging, Twitter, text reminders, email, and group conference calling. It is an exciting age where all aspects of business building can speedily be accomplished.

Billy Banks and His Team in Illinois Building Relationships

In my first days of building a network marketing business with the Cambridge Diet, I had available to me the mail, telephone and meetings. But that was it. And I still built to $100k a month! How? By meeting face-to-face all the way through the "process". I initiated sponsoring with a one-on-one appointment, sharing the business and product face-to-face. I lead with the business right out the gate, and then started dove-tailing home meetings from those appointments. And more appointments were dove-tailed from the home meetings I was holding for myself and for those I was sponsoring. Everything was done face-to-face. And it worked. And when I would sponsor someone new, I did the 2-on-1 meetings with their contacts to get those I sponsored making money and achieving immediate success with business building. 

Nancy Feinberg Builds Georgia by Building Relationships

Holding home meetings was the way the business was built, and it still is the way strong teams are anchored in. And once you have developed a few key leaders, starting with your "backyard buddy," you can hold a monthly area hotel meeting to share the bigger picture of your business, and recognize those team members for their achievements.This creates that all-important team spirit.   

Deb Landreman and Cynthia Maurice Hold a Weekly Sunshine Team Call

So for those that are involved with internet marketing or lead generating programs, recognize the importance of building relationships. If someone sounds interested in the business you are advertising, pick up the phone and call them. Get to know their needs, their wants and their dreams. Meet face-to-face as soon as possible. Plug them into the systems and the scheduled activities so that they feel a part of your team. Work their contacts. 3-way immediately with their top ten people, teaching them by showing how this business is built. It takes a little effort on your part to do this, but the results will show in the growth of your team. And once you reach that first rung of leadership, use the high tech tools to communicate, update, motivate and congratulate every step of the way. Build relationships and the friendships will follow. That's where the "magic" kicks in.

Streamline with the System

It's time. Time to talk about the proven 4-step system. As a network marketing company grows, adding new and excited distributors, I can not stress enough about why a definite system was put into place, and the importance of using and teaching this system to your new distributors. Let me take you back to a company I was with as the Master Distributor for thirteen years.

My husband and I had tremendous success with this company, making consistently six-figures a month. We traveled  twice a month doing meetings all over the United States, and our teams were strong with great leaders under us. At one point we had nearly 90,000 distributors in the downlines! I wrote the training programs for the company, taught this everywhere (it seemed), and I hoped (with fingers crossed) that the duplication process, which makes network marketing work, would kick in and duplicate downline, reaching all levels of those involved in the company. But I soon found out that this was not exactly what was happening downline. People weren't being taught how to build correctly. Somewhere, somehow the "buck stopped here" with teaching the basic concepts of network marketing, and new distributors were found floundering. Thus a definite "system" was born and developed by me.

I have learned a few things in my near forty (40) years involved with network marketing, mostly by trial and error, and, because of this experience, I am first, totally opposed to anyone teaching network marketing business-building principles if they have never built a huge organization for themselves! To be honest, I actually get a little more than perturbed with even seeing MLM books being written by individuals with no real success and experience. It make me a bit violent - not in a "hurt someone" way - but I do toss their book across the room with a bit more force than needed. But I digress ... back to the subject at hand.

You see, distributors need step-by-step guidelines. They need a franchise-approach to what it is they are doing. Know this - Network Marketing is very different from any and all traditional businesses. And if you attempt building your business like a traditional business, or become a salesperson ... you will fail miserably. That's why a proven system has to be in put into place to plug into. Distributors need not re-invent the wheel when the "wheel" has been proven to work. Just follow the system. Plug into the system. Work the system. And that system all starts with a simple phrase that creates intrigue, and initiates questions, when asked what it is they are doing. Simply say - "I'm having fun, losing weight and making money." 

Really? It's that easy. This is your personal "sound bite" or commercial to get things started. After more probing (and questions on what it is you are doing), I created the One Minute Message. Why, you ask? Because I found distributors hesitating to talk about their business opportunity. And when asked, it is usually easier for a new distributor to start "selling" their product vs sharing their incredible business opportunity, or they stumble-bumble around with trying to explain what they are doing, and kill the "deal," as they say. Thus, the One Minute Message. Just memorize something like this to get the recruiting ball rolling.

"I've gotten involved in a very fun project that you need to take a look at. It has that happy skinny pill that everyone is talking about that brightens your mood, gives you a boost of energy, and completely slams the appetite! You will love this. In fact...you need to do this with me! When is it best to meet today ... 3 or 4?"

The Three-Way Call

Once that One Minute Message is delivered, the 4-step system kicks into full action with:
1) hotline,   2) website,   3) 3-way call,   4) event. 
The hotline is a recording with options to listen to with your prospect. The first option should briefly introduce the opportunity where once heard you simply say, "now you can see why I'm so excited about this!" Do this with your prospect on a 3-way call or hand them the phone to listen right there on the spot.

This recorded hotline message leads you right into guiding your prospect through your replicated company website, and support team site www.burgessbiz.com. Once that step is complete with tenacious follow-up, the important three-way call takes place with you, your prospect and your sponsor. This 3-way call validates you and your opportunity, and is part of the system! So...don't leave this step in the 4-step system out. If you are brand new to the business use a 3-way call with your sponsor to launch your business with your prospects. Never work alone!

Once the three-way call is complete it's time to move your prospect to the next step - the next event, if you will. Events include the Tuesday Testimonial calls, Wednesday Webinars, face-to-face presentations, area events, and home meetings. With each event your prospect understands the culture and catches the vision of your opportunity. I call these events "parading" where you march your opportunity in front of your prospect over and over again until they catch the vision of what it is you have to offer, enroll and get excited to duplicate what you are doing. That is why the system works. With each step make sure to ask your prospect to get involved. Some catch the vision quickly, while others take going through the steps a few times before committing to get involved with you. Just share your opportunity and use those tools that make up the system. With each step, parading the opportunity with your 90-second commercial, your website, your calls, webinars and meetings, you will see your dreams come true. It's all about streamlining with the system!

Learn to be Lean

I was listening to a morning program while sitting in the chiropractors office in Vegas this morning, and loved the schedule outlined by a fitness expert. We all need some sort of program to go along with our 2013 fitness goals of getting lean. And with V3 as our secret weapon, we can make huge lifestyle changes that will equal excellent health. We discussed with Dr. Karen Smith on a Super Saturday training that the holiday season was a perfect opportunity to give the GIFT OF HEALTH. So let's start with ourselves - Ken and I included. Here's the scheduled that was very cool-y (is that a word) outlined this morning. (I loved the way he matched the words to the week day...my kind of guy!)

Monday - Meal Planning
Plan your meals for the week to include more low glycemic fruits, veggies and lean protein. Write it dow and place it on your refrigerator. When you have a plan, you will shop for it and stick to it, which equals success!

Tuesday - Tone the Body
Use weights or milk cartons to do basic exercises to help tone your body. More muscle means more fat burning. So tone away!  Great sight for basic toning:  http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/2011/02/8-workout-moves-for-a-toned-body-in-two-weeks#slide=8

Wednesday Walking
Get out there and do a Wednesday Walk briskly for 30-45 minutes. This is one of the best cardio workouts that anyone can do - without going to the gym. Some of you may need to bundle up, but you'll love the results.

Thursday Thighs
Lower body workout is important to overall health. Simple movements like standing and sitting, repeat, on a chair helps strengthen your core. Thigh strengthening is very important to optimum health.  Great Site: http://www.ehow.com/how_2211958_strengthen-thigh-muscles.html

Friday Fiber
Add more fiber to your daily diet.  Americans do not eat enough fiber. Add more grains, nuts and veggies to your diet. Example: Instead of cereal, have a bowl of oatmeal. Instead of white rice eat brown rice, etc. Snacks? Nuts!

Super Saturday
Do general workout that will involved the entire body. Take a hike, swim, garden (when weather permits), get out there and move your body!

I love this. Let's all get HEALTHY & WEALTHY together - then report in!  

LEAN & MEAN IN 2013!

I don't know about you, but I love "firsts." First day of the week - Monday - first day of the month, but best of all, the first day of a new year. Love, love, love it. That's why I tend to be the most productive in the morning. So let me ask you a couple of questions. Have you made a few New Year's resolutions for yourself for 2013?  If yes, good for you. Are they achievable? If you set similar goals year after year, but don't see them happening (maybe fall a bit short), it’s time for you to sharpen your goal setting skills (maybe listen to Gary Landreman's training posted at www.burgessbiz.com) and see yourself achieving those goals this year. Time to get LEAN and MEAN in 2013!  Use Jim Rohn's guidelines that he calls S.M.A.R.T. goals. Goals should be:

1. SPECIFIC
If you just set out to get healthy and wealthy, this is are vague and will see you falling short with achieving your goals. Vague goals don't give you the motivation and focus needed to achieve your goals. Instead, write down what it is, exactly, that you want to achieve. Example: I will walk 45 minutes briskly everyday. I will avoid the "whites" (sugar, flour, salt) and eat "clean" (vegetables, low glycemic fruits and lean protein.) I will sample two new people a day. I will sponsor three (3) new distributors a month.

2. MEASURABLE
Make sure you can gauge and monitor your progress daily, weekly and monthly. Set short term and long term goals to keep yourself on track. Write these goals down. Use a simple steno pad to record your daily income generating activity. I personally love the steno pad to record my daily activity. Across the top write the day and date. On the right-hand side jot down the nitty gritty stuff you have to do, then check it off when completed. Example: Make the bed, do the laundry, pick up cleaning, etc. On the left side record the income generating activity you did that day, as you are doing it. Example: 3-way call with Melissa, sampled Mary and Karla (circle S by name), left message (circle M by their name) with Nancy, etc. At the end of the day tally up (and evaluate) how productive you have been.

3. ATTAINABLE
Chunk those written goals down into "daily digestible doses." Example: you can't lose 50 pounds by the end of January. And you can't achieve NATIONAL DIRECTOR in six months. It takes you developing THREE REGIONALS. So make sure you step-by-step it so that your goals are attainable.

4. REALISTIC
If your life is buried-busy with six (6) children (like mine was), maybe you can't find three (3) hours a day to work at your business. But you can find one (1) hour. Make that your POWER HOUR! Be realistic with your life and current lifestyle.

5. TIME SENSITIVE
It's been quoted, "Goals are Dreams with a Deadline." A deadline creates a sense of urgency. A deadline puts your goals into an important priority category. Stay focused on achieving those goals by a certain date. Then celebrate each goal as you achieve it!

Take time today, after your New Years Day  nap, and find a quiet place to ponder, reflect on your past year of 2012, what you have accomplished and what you now want to accomplish. Journal it. Blog it. Write it down, then treasure map it. Treasure map? Making that fun chart to post up on your bulletin board that visually keeps your eye on the target. Read those goals first thing in the morning. Say them out loud. INTERNALIZE the REALIZE!  Remember...

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."  - Henry Ford

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." - Les Brown