 |
 |
Do 7 Things to Sponsor New Consultants
If you are in network marketing, then one of your goals should be to meet new people and to sponsor new people into your business. Here are seven things you can do to begin a relationship with others:
1. Make a goal of talking to at least two new people every single day about your business. I’m not saying to “pitch your deal” to someone, I’m suggesting mentioning some aspect of your business every single day to at least two others. Maybe this will be sharing an article. Maybe this will be brainstorming on product usage. Maybe this will be asking someone if they’d like a catalog. Two people every day for a month is 60 new people you’ll have spoken to in just one month.
2. Join at least one new online or offline community and get involved. You might join a message board community online, or you might join a networking community such as Ryze or MySpace. Don’t just join, go one step further and get involved. Offline, you might join a local non profit, or you might join a local breakfast club. Again, go beyond joining and get involved.
3. Load up your purse, briefcase and car with business materials. Make sure you have business cards, catalogs and recruiting information with you, everywhere you go. You never know when someone you meet will want information or a catalog.
4. Create a newsletter. What can you write about that others will enjoy learning about? If you don’t have a website to promote this newsletter, consider using a service like Yahoo Groups. I get a few newsletters via Yahoo Groups. This is a wonderful way to meet others and share your knowledge. Thousands of people search Yahoo Groups each and every day and just might be looking for the newsletter you’re offering.
5. Make a goal of talking to five new people every single day. This is different than the above suggestion of talking to two people about business. I’m suggesting that you make a point of introducing yourself and saying hello to five new people every single day. In one month’s time that is 150 people you will have met. There’s a good chance that of those 150 people, one of them knows someone who wants what you’re offering.
6. Reconnect with old acquaintances. Write an email or make a phone call and say hello to folks you have not spoken with in a long time. Just this past week, I was in a community and recognized a woman I had known from two years ago. I sent her an email, told her how wonderful it was to see her again, caught up with her and discovered she wants what I have to offer.
7. Make a point to learn new things this month. For example, I’ve never used Twitter. It’s my goal to learn how to use Twitter this month. What have you thought about learning more about? Make it a point to learn something new this month and to implement this new learning into your business.
About the Author: Audrey Okaneko has been working at home since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at www.recipe-barn.com Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Direct Sales Sponsoring
If you are in direct sales then sponsoring other people is part of the plan. The question is “what is the purpose of sponsoring others?”
I’ve seen two very different philosophies on sponsoring. One philosophy is to sponsor many; some will stick, some won’t. The other philosophy is to sponsor just a few and then nurture them.
I believe the purpose in sponsoring others is to build a team. There is more than one way to build team. You can build a team sponsoring twenty people per month or you can build a team sponsoring just two people per month.
I’d like to share my thoughts on the two philosophies. I’ll start with sponsoring many. When you sponsor twenty people per month you are absolutely playing the numbers. Of these twenty people, you’ll find a few who just want product discounts. You’ll find a few who want to sell to family and friends and earn a little bit of supplemental income each month and you’ll find maybe one who asks questions and truly wants to build a business. The rest will never turn in a first order and will fade away. Again, this is not good or bad, right or wrong, these are just the statistics.
I often compare joining a network marketing company to either joining a gym or buying a magazine subscription. Your goal is to get the most for your money, to work out daily or weekly or to read each issue cover to cover. But the reality is many people set never set foot in the gym after the first week, or only skim issues of the magazine every other month. We think we want something today but by tomorrow it just is not as important as it was yesterday.
I say if you’re able to sponsor twenty people each month and have the time to truly help the one or two who want the help then go for it.
The other philosophy is to sponsor just one or two per month and invest your time nurturing them and working with them.
There are definite pluses to having just one person you’re working with. You have the time to really offer help and assistance. You’re able to walk them through each step of owning their own business. You’re able to spend a lot of one on one time with them. You’re also able to help them build a team by helping them meet others and offer the opportunity to others.
When you sponsor just two per month, you’ll still find those who just want a discount and those who want supplemental income, however I believe you’ll have fewer who drop off.
I’ve sponsored two people in a month and I’ve sponsored twenty people in a month. Either way, my goal is to continue to build my team and help those on my team achieve their own personal goals.
About the author: Audrey Okaneko has been in direct sales since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or you can Become a Tupperware Consultant. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Selecting a Direct Sales Sponsor
It’s interesting to watch the ambulance chasing that occurs on the forums when someone pipes up and says, “I’m thinking about joining.” Immediately the grand scramble begins. It’s actually quite pathetic to see the vultures come out.
Just because someone PMs you first or happens to be a lead that corporate gave you does not mean that you have to sign with that person. Also just because someone has emailed and/or snail mailed you some information does not mean you are committed to joining under that person.
Take some time, do your due diligence and find the right sponsor for you. I would strongly discourage you from looking for the best offer. It won’t take you any time at all to find offers for free this or that if you join this team or that team. Or you can even find someone who will provide a way for you to join her team for free.
Consider this, if the company you are considering joining has a quality product and a compensation plan you can live with, then the only other element missing is finding support from a strong up line. Those who offer deals are essentially saying that they do not believe in the company offering or in her abilities to recruit and therefore feels the need to bribe you to join.
Company sponsored forums are chock full of consultants begging for help and asking the most basic questions in a public forum because they do not have the training and support required to be successful from their own sponsors. Yet these same people clamoring for help, are the ones who jumped on board with the person who offered the best deal. Go figure.
You as the potential recruit get to ask the questions. You are the interviewer. Ask some hard questions, such as:
· How long have you been with this company?
· What rank are you? Where is that in relation to the total structure?
· How long have you been in direct sales?
· Why did you choose this company?
· Are there days or hours that you are not generally available?
· What training is available from you and/or corporate?
· How did you receive your training?
· Do you attend seminars and convention?
· Have you won any awards from the company?
· How would you describe your personality style?
· What’s the worst thing you have to say about the company?
If you receive weak answers to these questions and yet still choose to sign with that person, all I can say is buyer beware. Would you rather go to a doctor fresh out of medical school, or one who is a veteran at his specialty? Would you use a financial broker who merely paid to get her license through a correspondence school? Or one who has a proven track record of producing results?
What good is a special offer if it is not backed by a strong warranty? Remember who is in the driver’s seat when it comes to selecting a sponsor for your direct sales business: You!
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan. She started her first home business in 1988. As a single parent, Laurie has supported her family by working at home as an Independent Consultant and Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start a candle business. You can find Laurie at www.IncomeWax.com
Bribing People to Join Your Team
“Join my team and get a free xyz!”
Lately many desperate direct sellers are attempting to bribe recruits into joining their team. “Psst – over here. I’ll give you this if you join my team. Hey! Hey! Over here, I’m offering this, my offer is better than her offer.”
I don’t understand why some would lower themselves to increase team members. Whenever I see “Psst, over here honey, join my team” all I can think of is a line of prostitutes standing on the street corner, with Johns passing by, ogling at the goods, looking for the best offer.”
Too callous for you? So try this one on. Little Suzy is throwing a temper tantrum in the store and mommy says, “If you stop screaming, I’ll give you a new dolly.” Little Suzy stops screaming and gets her dolly. Mommy may be out $30 but so what, she manipulated the result she wanted. Who really won here? Right – Suzy did.
Consultants who feel they need to give away the milk for free rarely receive a return on their investment. Sure they get recruits. Sure they have the numbers to meet their qualification – short term. But are they truly recruiting team members who are joining because they believe in the product and want to work the business? Or are they getting people who mostly just want to see how much stuff they can get for little money?
Since my daughters were old enough to have money, I’ve taught them the importance of understanding they do not need to buy their friends and to be weary of friends who use them for their money and their generosity. Yet these consultants who offer to give xyz for those who join their team don’t seem to see that they’re being used.
Who the heck wants friends (or team members) who are only in it for the extra freebies? Personally, I’d be embarrassed to be advertising, “Join my team and receive a free xyz.” Many people read that as “Join my team because I’m desperate and have to bribe people to join and I like to be used for my free stuff and don’t really worry about having quality team members who want to be here.”
If you are currently doing this to recruit new team members, then perhaps you should take a hard look at your opportunity. If you don’t honestly believe that your business opportunity or your starter kit is a good value, then it may be time to retire.
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com
Follow Me!