Multi-level marketing is a business opportunity with infinite potential – but only if you stay on the path to success and steer clear of the common mistakes made by many rookie network marketer. The most common pitfalls encountered in MLM include:
1. Listening to People Who Have Never Made It
Anyone can call himself an expert and try to teach other people, but many of the so-called authorities haven’t actually achieved success themselves. If you want to make progress with your business, the surest and quickest path is to follow in the footsteps of those who have already done it. Don’t take advice from amateurs or beginners who don’t have experience and proven results.2. Targeting the Wrong Audience
This is a common mistake for network marketers, and it crops up in many forms. Have you been pitching your business for too long to people who aren’t really interested? Scared to go outside your comfort zone and try a new audience? Do you spend too much of your time talking to skeptics, while others snap up the really committed and interested prospects? Networking with new people and in new environments can go a long way toward revitalizing your business.3. Marketing Instead of Connecting
The #1 trait that sets great network marketers apart is their ability to truly connect with people. Customers turn to them for a relationship, not just a product, and every part of their approach reflects this awareness.
Too many network marketers believe that all it takes is pitching their product again and again, to anyone and everyone, to create a thriving business. In reality, it takes sensitivity and excellent listening skills. Don’t just market your product – engage with people. Get to know them and their motivations, so you’re better equipped to help them. Make sure every part of your business interactions, from the initial conversation to the follow-up call, reflects your commitment to relationships and value. People will notice the difference and customers will flock to you.4. Focusing on Last Year
It’s easy to get caught up in the same mentality as last year and assume that your strategies, language, and pitches will yield the same results as they did in the past. But time marches on, and it’s important to spruce up your MLM business by trying new locations, talking to new people, and – most importantly – by providing your long-time customers and associates with new and exciting opportunities that will keep them coming back for more – and keep you moving forward into a prosperous future.5. Thinking of Your MLM Business as Part Time
If you truly intend to succeed in this business, it’s important to take the long view. Don’t think of yourself as a part-time rep or distributor; think about where you’d like your business to be in one year, two years, five years… and then visualize yourself on that path. Although you may be working part-time for now, this could soon become your primary income if you have the drive and enthusiasm.When you make it your intention to succeed, that awareness will permeate every nuance of the way you talk to distributors, customers, and prospects. They’ll notice the difference and respond to it in positive ways. It really is all about you and what you put into your business – your mind, your heart, and your purpose.
Photo by Robert Couse-Baker