It is my hope that my experience can serve you in your process of evaluating how to build an Internet home business or a Network Marketing business on the Internet.
Internet marketing is a huge subject, which I will not go into detail here. What I can offer is some perspective from the point of the Network Marketer who is looking to build their business on the Internet.
First, you should know that the entire Network Marketing industry has gone through some major trends in how distribution networks are created. There has been an evolution that started 50 years ago with home meeting, which evolved to hotel meetings, then to the "tape system" of using a marketing tool like a video or cassette tape. Once the Internet came along, we saw the advent of e-mail marketing, replicating Web sites, automated recruiting systems and power line systems.
Network Marketers discovered a few things about online recruiting… Yes, it was fast and time saving, but the organizations created with these Internet home business recruiting systems did not last. Why? Because they were built through automation, rather than relationships. Another thing Network Marketers discovered was that it's lonely sitting in front of your computer all day! They actually missed the fun of going to a meeting!
There seems to be a balancing out going on. I see more local and face to face networking going on. I see online Network Marketing trends coming and going with the wind… However, there are a few online trends that remain strong, which I'll mention in a moment.
I discovered that the successful techniques of Internet Marketing, combined with proven prospecting methods used in Network Marketing, are the most successful ways to build a Network Marketing Internet home business.
The Internet has a different culture than other places. You need to give first. You need to provide value! There needs to be a good reason for people to notice you.
Give First, Then Receive
On the Internet, as in real life, all good business begins with TRUST. Online, you build trust by providing information to people. Give your prospects or Internet home business Web site visitors with something they need!
On the Internet, people are searching for information… so give them what they need! Create a helpful Web site, write up a unique and powerful free report, and if people like what you offer, they will forward the information yo their friends, who will tell their friends. This is called Viral Marketing and has worked effectively for countless Internet businesses.
In order to be effective, your "freebie" needs to be something that people really want and need. It can be a newsletter, free report, an uplifting page on your site. Make your freebie truly valuable.
On the Internet, there are millions of people competing for the attention of your prospect. Focus on a niche, a particular aspect of your Network Marketing business or product that you are passionate about. Then think about the kind of people you are looking for… Where are you likely to find them?
Use Duplicatable Systems
In a Network Marketing Internet home business, you need to provide a way of working the business that can be easily duplicated by those you enroll in the business. This is especially important online when you are communicating with prospective partners all over the globe.
At the same time, you need a way to use that duplicatable system to be completely unique. Sounds like a paradox doesn't it? Indeed!
Additionally, you need not only a duplicatable marketing system, but a duplicatable training system for your new Internet home business partners.
The system needs to be effective, easy to use and easy to teach, so that your team has a way of starting their business an getting into profit right away.
Your Internet home business marketing system should be professional, compelling in presenting the benefits of your Internet home business opportunity. It should also be reasonably priced so a business beginner can afford it.
A duplicatable system doesn't need to be the ONLY method of doing business, but it should provide you and your Internet home business partners with a proven way to get started.
The days of cookie cutter Web site are over. These just don't work! However, you can learn how to build a lifelong Internet home business that will bring you multiple income streams, and that you will have complete control over. The system is powerful and effective, and it works. (See the Video Tour for more details and proof!)
This system allows Network Marketers to build relationships with people who want what you have to offer. It's so much nicer to have people calling you, rather than doing cold calling!
What's the catch? It sounds too good to be true? Yes, well the catch is, my dear reader, that marketing on the Internet does require you lift-up your butt. But it doesn't have to be hard. There are tools available that make our life a lot easier.
And it can pay off, but not quickly, and not without a steep learning curve.
It's important to remember that Internet marketing systems do not work in a vacuum. You MUST telephone your Network Marketing prospect to build rapport. Powerline systems and other automated recruiting tools will not build you a large, thriving, long-lasting distributor network. To do this you must build a team by creating relationships.
The most effective Internet home business tools will do the hard work of finding people, and free you to do most enjoyable aspect of this business… building relationships with them!
Why Online Network Marketing Will Never Be Totally Automated
Okay, so you've got an excellent, high quality company to work with, and a GREAT duplicatable Internet home business system… now what?
There is a little know secret to Network Marketing on the Internet. You hear a lot about "automatic recruiting" and "automated sponsoring," but in reality, this doesn't work.
Why? Because a Network Marketing organization is primarily about people! If you are looking for qualified business partners to work with for a lifetime, do you think these folks would just sign up on a web page without even knowing who they are going to be working with?
Well the good ones will not, because they will want to know who they are working with! When you came to this site, did you visit the "About Us" page? Most of my visitors do!
HomeBizHearts.com is all about my values and what's important to me in a business.
But you don't need to build your own Web site in order to begin building relationships. You can create a unique, high quality, high value blog or newsletter. Promote your blog or newsletter as a valuable resource, and then network!
You can create your own "Face" page, at The Greatest Networker, the business community, AOL, Yahoo, or any online networking community that allows you to put up a photo of yourself and a bio. Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn are also Social Media sites that have become household names. Check them out and get involved.
Yahoo now has a ton of free resources that can help any Network Marketer to connect with people. You can create a blog, an online photo album, and a profile of yourself. You can chat by instant messenger with other Yahoo members, and create a free online discussion group of your own that brings people together.
A Word About Company Specific Marketing Systems
Some companies with Internet savvy distributor teams have managed to create successful Internet home business systems for their team. One site was even featured as a study of a successful online marketing system at Marketing Sherpa.com, one of Internet's premier marketing resources. Even with an easily duplicated team marketing system, it is important to note two things…
First, in the case of the widely featured team marketing system, it was created to promote a company with a very high distributor retention rate. As a result, the system is successful, because the product sold is successful and produces residual income. This same system would not work effectively if the company and product behind the system were not effective.
Secondly, a company specific Internet home business marketing system does not work in a vacuum. It needs marketing juice in order to run. Many distributors make the mistake of purchasing an Internet home business Web site system, without any knowledge of how to promote it.
In this case, the Web site system is partnered with a good quality leads generation company that funnels company specific leads directly into the Web site system. This is simple for new distributors to set up and so is easily duplicated. The leads are responsive which gives new distributors hope that they too can succeed.
However, it is important to note that even a highly effective system doesn't work on it's own. Distributors must market their sites either by word of mouth or by purchasing leads, and then, most importantly they need to be trained to follow up with their prospects.
There is no such thing as a totally automated Network Marketing Web site system. You need to follow up with your leads. That is where good mentoring comes in… you need to learn from your upline team how to communicate effectively so that you can build a lifelong distributor network.
To your success,
Beth
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