@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @/@ @/@ @//@ ===>MASTER NETWORKER<=== @//@ @///@ PROFESSOR LON LINDSEY @///@ @////@ A BUSINESS FOR EVERYONE @////@ @/////@ THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM @/////@ @//////@ THE ART OF BUILDING A BUSINESS @//////@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ MASTER NETWORKER #26 A BUSINESS FOR EVERYONE April 16, 1997 ===================================================== INSIDE YOU WILL FIND: "The Art of Building A Business - Utilizing The Internet To Maximize Your Business-Building Efforts, BUT BEWARE!" The Archive of Master Networker Publications NEW "What's Hot Directory" 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 twenty six in the Master Networker series. If you happened to miss the first twenty five 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-Issue25.txt@masternetworker.com *********************************************************************** Today marks the first anniversary of my being on the Internet in what I consider a "marketing" capacity. I previously had been on AOL, but not in a "business" sense, so it's really been only one year since I entered the online marketing arena. I remember my excitement of being able to market online . . . after all, I was already somewhat successful via mail order so I was ready to market easier and less expensively.....so it was off to the newsgroups! Wow! What a lesson! There's nothing like experience as a teacher. That and what followed is the basis of the article this week. *********************************************************************** 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. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ********************************************************************** T H E A R T O F B U I L D I N G A B U S I N E S S UTILIZING THE INTERNET TO MAXIMIZE YOUR BUSINESS BUILDING EFFORTS BUT BEWARE! ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS The art of building any business, especially a network marketing business, has many ingredients. Building your business does not have a ONE answer solution, but is a result of a combination of factors. Currently, one of the biggest misconceptions for those on the Internet or those thinking about getting "online" is they think they will be able build their business totally via the Internet. Although there are those who are successfully doing so, the average Internet business-builder is being left behind. Those who are successfully building a business on the Internet have either already developed a following of people online over a period of time or they had an offline group in addition to their Internet group. ACT: 10% - 20% OF THE NETWORK MARKETERS ARE ONLINE What does that tell you? If only 10% - 20% of the network marketers are online, then 80% - 90% are still offline. Of course we know that will change as time goes on, but right now there is still an unbalance and this fact needs to give us a perspective about building a business online. THE LURE OF THE INTERNET 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 and wait for the good news . . . right? WRONG! At this point, 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. This can especially be discouraging to "first timers" on the net. Instead of getting sign-ups to their program or sales for their products, they get a flood of messages asking them to join other programs and to order other products. Another factor is the number of programs people are getting into. Just check the signature files of many of the people you communicate with 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, it becomes easy to promote several things at the same time . . . after all, no one is against multiple pay checks. A WHOLE NEW BUSINESS-BUILDING MENTALITY So, what is the above creating? What I see happening is a whole new mentality to building a business . . . at least an online mentality. Because the Internet provides an immediate action and reaction to a person's business-building efforts, people are getting the impression that building a business online will provide an immediate lucrative income. I can't deny that possiblility and that reality for a select few, but I see something happening that I am greatly alarmed at. Actually I am seeing two things take place: (1)the trampoline effect; (2) the domino effect. The TRAMPOLINE EFFECT is when people jump from one program to the next looking for that big quick income. The next opportunity looks slightly better than the previous one, and in many cases is. If that isn't it, then it's the "I want to be one of the first in this one" attitude and then along comes another and another and another. Once you get "in the loop" of email, it is really tempting because you get the news of the brand new opportunities on the first or second day they are introduced. Certainly that can be very tempting. The DOMINO EFFECT is when you are successful in creating a downline but when people find they didn't make that big quick buck their first month or two, they leave that opportunity for another. When you combine that with the "trampoline effect," it creates a "negative" domino effect that basically undoes what was constructed over a period of time. THE FICKLENESS OF THE INTERNET I see the "trampoline and domino" effects creating an Internet fickleness that may be a threat to ones long term business success. After all, isn't the purpose of a network marketing business to create an income for our future as well as our present? Are we forgetting some basic principles to building a business . . . you know . . . persistence and patience and focus? What is happening to that long term belief in a business focus . . . knowing and believing in "my FEEL GOOD company?" AN ADDICTIVE PURVEYANCE I see something else taking place with some of us who are on the Internet. Webster defines "addiction" as "to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively." In other words, it's the loss of control with the irrational decisions and behaviors becoming a part of ones life. Just the pleasure we get from working on the Internet can be addictive in itself, but when we add the desire and passion to want to make money, there is a real threat for addiction. Consider the surges of "feel good" hormones going throughout ones body just as they must with a gambler or drug addict. The result may be several people on the Internet who are beginning to get their "highs" by joining one program after another with the hopes of hitting the big time. It makes me wonder how much different that is than going to a casino and playing Blackjack or Craps or Roulette. Don't get me wrong! I'm not saying that everyone who is on the Internet who is trying to build a business is addicted or is even headed toward addiction. Obviously not everyone who enters a casino is going to become addicted to gambling. What I am saying is there are a combination of factors that if given to the right personality type could create an addiction for that person . . . yes, a network marketing addiction . . .online or offline or both! Hey, I struggle myself with this very problem so I know how real it can be! WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE INTERNET BUSINESS BUILDER? What this means for the Internet business builder and especially the newcomer is we must keep marketing via the Internet keeping an accurate perspective. Please know that I am not advocating not using the Internet as your business-building method. In fact, it should be a business-building method, but only one of several approaches to building your business. Perhaps my thinking will change in time, but again I want to remind you that only 10% - 20% of the network marketers are online. Another thing we must consider is, due to what may appear as a "fickle" and/or "addictive" nature of many Internet marketers, how long term will your business be if most of your business organization is made up "trampoline and/or domino effect" people? SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Your business-building success will revolve around your own mindset as to how you should go about building your business. I firmly believe you should not say "I'm going to build my business on the Internet." Instead, think of the Internet as one of several approaches to building your business. The Internet allows you the opportunity to reach many people online whom you couldn't contact offline, however offline marketing will allow you to reach people you couldn't reach online. Do you see that more than one approach is necessary? Remember, you will be looking for people who will be focused and dedicated to the same business you are building. Having "trampoline and domino effect" people in your group will be a waste of your time and energy unless you can get them to see the error of their ways.....and yes, that is possible. HERE IS WHAT I SUGGEST I suggest you use an offline approach (mailorder, person to person, 3 foot rule, etc) 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 an online form requesting their snail mail address, phone number and so on - you've taken the steps to fully qualify their interest (as opposed to mailing postcards or letters blindly) so when your sales message arrives in their snail mailbox, you establish yourself as a REAL person. Very few, IF ANY of your competitors are taking time to do this. Do you see the advantage this gives you? Do you want your offer to stand out? Do you want YOU 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. WOULD YOU LIKE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS? My personal feeling is you need to find a program or company that is established . . . at least two years old. Did you know that 80% of start-up businesses go out of business within their first two years and that only 20% of those that survive make it to five years and of those only 20% make it to ten years? Regardless of whether you choose a start-up company or an established company, you need to feel so good about what you have chosen that you can put blinders on and build your chosen business. Use the Internet as a way to make connections and build relationships. Once you have a relationship built with someone, then you become credible enough to being able to present your chosen business opportunity to them. Yes, you can use a web page to attract people to your business, but you still must have a way to develop a relationship or at least make a connection with these people if you want to move them into your business. Can you imagine how difficult this would be if you are building several businesses at the same time? SOME BASICS OF BUILDING YOUR FIRST BUSINESS Now that you have read my feelings and experience regarding the Internet, let's look at some basics for building a network marketing business. There are three basic factors to getting started building a lucrative long term business. The first one I covered above . . . choose a company that you feel will be around for the long term. Remember, you are building for your future as well as your present and choosing the right company is the most important factor because you can have the best marketing approach, but if the company won't be around, your money, time and efforts will go for naught. Another factor you will want to consider is do you want to build your business by yourself . . . learning as you go? . . . or do you want the help and leadership of someone who has already been through the learning phase? Why make needless mistakes when you can learn from someone else's experience. In other words, choose your sponsor and business team wisely. A third factor is duplicatability. Are you connected to a sponsor or team who has a specific strategy? I'm talking about a complete system in place for you to utilize to build your business? How about a system that is in place that, not only lets you, but also allows the people you sponsor, plug right into a strategy of automatic business-building? Building a networking business can be fun and profitable and it can be done by using both the Internet and smart offline strategies. I hope this article will, in some way, be helpful to you as you pursue your goals and dreams. As an example of what I am talking about regarding an offline approach to building a business, I would like to invite you to request my FREE "Art of Building A Business" audio tape. Call my recorded message center at 1-800-239-0937 and give PIN# 300 so I know you received this information from this report. You will see, first hand, how building a business is done and through that process you will be able to do the same. Lon Lindsey Master Networker (And Still Learning) ************************************************************************ How would you like to be the only representative from your business opportunity to be listed in this "What's Hot" Directory. Explode your opportunity by registering and setting up a web page today. Visit: The American Dream Network, Inc. http://www.munymaker.com **************************************************** This week's one liner ---------------------------------- Ever notice what you hear is never quite as interesting as what you overheard?? ========================================================= ****************************************************** The Humorous Side - A father produly told his boss that his son had finally received his B.A. and M.A. degrees. "I suppose he'll be working on a PH.D.," his boss remarked. "If I have my way, he'll be working on a J-O-B," the father said. ************************************************************ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WEB PAGE OF THE WEEK - Generic Business-Building Tools and educational network marketing magazines, books and article. http://www.networkmarketing.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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! Mailto:bizbuilder@nram.gen.com to receive the report immediately from my autoresponder. FREE report on how to effectively sponsor people into your business. Automatic reply if you mailto:MasterNetworker@domaindesign.com FREE Weekly subscription to "The Master Networker." http://www.multi-level.com/master-networker/