@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @/@ @/@ @//@ ===>MASTER NETWORKER<=== @//@ @///@ PROFESSOR LON LINDSEY @///@ @////@ A BUSINESS FOR EVERYONE @////@ @/////@ THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM @/////@ @//////@ THE ART OF BUILDING A BUSINESS @//////@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ MASTER NETWORKER #17 A BUSINESS FOR EVERYONE February 12,1997 ===================================================== INSIDE YOU WILL FIND: "The Art of Building A Business - Online or Offline Marketing . . . That is the question." The Archive of Master Networker Publications Our weekly one liner. The humorous side. The Master Networker recommended business web page for the week. ================================================== Hello fellow "Master Networker" subscribers! This is number seventeen in the Master Networker series. If you happened to miss the first sixteen publications, you can retrieve them at: http://masternetworker.com/mailfiles/mailfile.html or you can retrieve them by email from the auto-responder: MasterNetworker-Issue#.txt@masternetworker.com Substitute the desired issue number in place of the "#" Example: mailto:MasterNetworker-Issue16.txt@masternetworker.com *********************************************************************** When I first heard about the possibility of marketing on the Internet, I thought "goodbye offline marketing . . . goodbye postage costs . . . goodbye phone expenses! I think you will be interestd in what I discovered and what my thoughts are now regarding offline marketing as opposed to online marketing. That is why I wrote this week's article. This is a reminder that the Master Networker series is purposely set up for the beginning networker or for those considering networking or even for networkers who have yet to be successful in networking. This means that The Master Networker series covers basic networking principles with the purpose of developing a firm foundation for networking. "The Master Networker" will be void of information that will thrust you to a $90,000 income within 90 days or a $15,000 monthly income without doing any work. Why? Because that isn't how networking works. I've been in networking for twelve years, and I have yet to meet anyone who has obtained networking riches without working for it . . .especially $90,000 in ninety days. This series is about the real world of networking. ********************************************************************** THE ART OF BUILDING A BUSINESS" . . . ===> ONLINE OR OFFLINE? <=== by Lon Lindsey Are you strictly an "online" marketer having discarded the thought of building a business via postal mail? Are you a seasoned mailorder marketer now being tempted to alter your marketing stratiegies by thinking you should begin marketing on the Internet? This report will help you make a decision based upon my own online and offline experiences. With the introduction of the Internet, marketers immediately saw what they thought was a marketing utopia. After all, the cost for marketing to millions of people was almost nil and new techniques were developed to market to millions instantly . . . with immediate feedback! Finally a solution to the problems of expense and time when marketing via postal mail! OR IS IT? The lure of the Internet to market products and business opportunities led to thousands and thousands of marketers who started marketing their products and wares on the Internet. Why not? All you have to do is place an ad and wait until people read it advertise in a few newsgroups and wait for the good news . . . right? WRONG! The result has been a "who can outsell the other" kind of marketing approach. With electronic mail, web pages and signature files, it becomes possible to convince others that you have something they need in addition to what they already have. Just check the signature files of many of the people you communicate with (yes, mine included) via the Internet. You will note many will guide you to several web pages or opportunities. No longer are most people choosing only one program or business to promote, but are choosing several. This is due to the ease of promoting a variety of opportunities on the Internet. With such tools as "self replicating web pages, auto-responders, company housed web pages, bulk emailing (that's another report), it becomes easy to promote several things at the same time . . .after all, no one is against multiple pay checks. SO, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE MAILORDER Initially, one might think this will eventually put an end to the mailorder approach to building a business. As more and more people get on the Internet, one would think fewer and fewer would utilize mailorder as a marketing approach. I would like to differ with that. I feel mailorder can become even more powerful if utilized correctly as a partner to Internet Marketing. In other words, mailorder can enhance your Internet Marketing and Internet Marketing can enhance your mailorder approach. We must remember that when we market goods, services or opportunities, we are really in the people business. That means connecting with people.....building relationships with people. The Internet provides the opportunity to do just that . . . and quickly, but consider your using the postal mail as an extension of what you do on the Internet. Your rewards will be immediate. There is something personal about sending and receiving postal mail. I've been told the one thing that people look forward to more than anything else is receiving their postal mail everyday. You would think "sex" and a nice evening out to eat would rank higher, but apparently not so. If you want to strengthen a new relationship you have made via Internet, try sending them postal mail and see what happens. You will stand out in a way no one else does that sends email alone. Consider a letterhead with your picture on it which will make you a real person and you are no longer just an email address with a name attached to it. True, it is also possible to email your picture, but there is still something about the time and effort someone takes to send postal mail. Think of relationships you have made via the mail and then see what happens when you find both of you are on the Internet and vice versa--this works both ways, create a unique connection with your prospect or referral. A connection most will not have, but you easily will when you take the small effortto work both sides now! You will note an additional form of bonding, a strengthening in your relationship with this person. I have a special networking friend who I met via mailorder. It just so happens we both are in education; we both are into networking; we both taught the same subjects in school; we both were born the same day and the same year. That was really neat, but when I found out he was on the Interent, our relationship grew even more. SO, SHOULD YOU MARKET OFFLINE OR ONLINE? You should market both ways! You will be able to reach some people offline who you couldn't reach online. Additionally, you will be able to reach some people online who you couldn't reach offline. I personally feel that offline marketing results in getting people who tend to be more dedicated to a program that they get into than do those online. Online people get bombarded daily with "neat stuff" and although offline people do also, probably not nearly as much. I have found that when I sponsor someone offline, they tend to focus on the program I sponsored them into over a longer period of time. They seem more dedicated. Now that is not to say Internet people are not dedicated to what they are doing, for there are some who are very dedicated, but I find many are dedicated to several programs rather than one. I'm not even saying that is good or bad, but just an observation I have made since I entered the realm of Internet marketing. HERE IS WHAT I SUGGEST I suggest you use a mailorder approach AND an Internet marketing approach and combine the two to build your business. Strengthen your online relationships by sending them follow-up information via postal mail. This is a very simple and cost effective step to take. You may have already led someone to your webpage, using anonline form requesting their snail mailing address, phone number and so on - you've taken the steps to fully qualify their interest (as opposed to mailing postcards blindly) so when your sales message arrives in their snail mailbox, you establish yourself as REAL. Very few, IF ANY of your compeitiors are taking the time to do this. Do you see the advantage this give you? Do you want your offer to stand out? Check with your offline relationships and see if they are also on the Internet. One way of doing this is to include your email address on your business letterhead so they will know you are online. YOU WANT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS? If you want the best of both worlds, you should be involved in a business that provides you the opportunity to market online and offline via a TURNKEY business-building system. Having web pages people can go to which will automatically allow them to join you in your venture and also having an offline turnkey system that will make building your business effective and simple will give you the best of both worlds. It is difficult to find a business where you have a turnkey system in place both online and offline, but if ever you find one, you need to take a very serious look at it. I do hope this report will provide some insight to you. Regardless if you market online or offline or both, I wish you much success and happiness in your venture(s). Lon Lindsey Author of Online series "The Master Networker." FREE Subscription The Art of Building A Business http://www.multi-level.com/master-networker/ or emailto:bykota@npi.net ***************************************** http://www.Four11.com -Lose somebody? Find 'em here! ****************************************** This week's one liner ---------------------------------- An answer to a Bible knowledge test. Noah's wife was Joan of Ark. ========================================================= ****************************************************** The Humorous Side - The man in the supermarket was pushing a cart which contained, among other things, a screaming baby. As the man proceeded along the aisles, he kept repeating softly, "Keep calm, George. don't get excited, George. Don't get excited, George. Don't yell, George." A lady watching with admiration said to the man, "You are certainly to be commended for your patience in trying to quiet little George." "Lady," he declared. "I'm George." ************************************************************ Any suggestions for Master Networker articles? Submit to: professor@multi-level.com Remember, on the internet, it's not only who you know and what you know, but also WHERE YOU GO! See you there! Professor Lindsey If you want to unsubscribe from "The Master Networker" send e-mail to professor@multi-level.com and put unsubscribe in subject area. -- FREE report on "The Art of Building A Business . . .How to Project A Successful YOU with Business Cards . . . A major mistake revealed that over 90% of the network marketers make! E-mail bykota@npi.net and request Art of Building A Business Report. As a "managing partner" for TEAM 2000 I would like to personally invite you to check us out by going to my "self replicating" webpage at: http://www.multi-level.com/professor.html