What 15 Years in the Network Marketing Industry Taught Me

Just whisper the words "network marketing" and you're bound toget an emotional response from your listeners.

Many people are still saddled with antiquated ideas of how theold multilevel companies were run in the 60's and 70's.Remember? Those days when cars had to give way to productsstockpiled in your garage and family and friends were suddenlyafraid to visit you.

But the industry has grown past that caterpillar stage.

Added to this misconception is a common fear of failure. Thereare many people who in their quest for a home-based businessopportunity try network marketing and fail at it. Withoutquestioning why, they have just avoided the industry ever since. Having 'survived' the industry for over 15 years I'll like toshare with you my #1 secret for making it big ? really BIG innetwork marketing.

The secret is choosing a team with an experienced coach who willteach, guide and motivate you towards success.

Of course there are other factors such as the financial backingof the company, timing, the compensation plan and marketing aconsumable product. But if you are not properly trained andmotivated during those early months you are almost doomed tofailure.

Just think about it, every professional business person orathlete has a coach. Why should it be different in networkmarketing? I wouldn't have survived as a network marketer if itwasn't for the gifted leaders that I was privileged to work underand to learn from.

There are many business owners who will invest over $50,000 in afranchise and still pay a business consultant a 5-figure retainerfor advice so that their business succeeds. In networkmarketing, you can start your business for less than $500 andliterally choose the coach or leader who will train you for FREE!Of course this will involve doing a little background check onthe team leader you choose to work with but it's time well spent.

Here are a few pointers that will help you when seeking out the'correct' coach:

1. Make sure that he or she has a proven track record.

Just as the cream always floats to the top of the milk so agifted leader will also prove his or her worth in the resultsproduced. Generally speaking, you will not rise higher than yourleader, so know how high you want to reach and find a coach whocan get you there.

2. Go with someone who has been in the industry for many years.

Gaze up into the night sky and you'll see an occasional shootingstar. It burns bright and then disappears. This may be excitingto watch but only for a short moment. You want a leader who willbe like the northern star-bright and steady. Those who aresuccessful network marketers are people who stay for the longhaul. Many people give up too quickly and never reap theharvest.

You want to choose a leader who have experienced some bumps inthe road and can now be selective in choosing a company that ismost likely to remain out of the MLM graveyard.

3. Find someone who knows how to market.

Network marketing is just that: marketing through networking. Anessential part of the equation therefore is the effectivemarketing of your business. Marketing can eat up a small budgetvery quickly. Therefore, you must know what works from whatdoesn't work so that you can use your advertising dollars mosteffectively. The name of the game is maximum returns for yourmoney. I mean, that is the whole idea behind networkmarketing-leverage. This translates into small effort and greatgain.

Find someone who knows how to use the tools of the trade such asteleconferencing, voicemail, direct mail, the internet andbroadcast media. This is a business so you have to treat it likeone.

4. Find a leader who studies the industry.

Anyone who claims to be a professional will subscribe tomagazines in his area of expertise, attend seminars to keepabreast of what's happening and keep his pulse on the industry.This is the only way that trends can be determined and what isworking for the competition be uncovered. To simply concentrateon your own company and be blinded to what others are doing isnarrow and myopic.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from other networkmarketers that can be incorporated into one's own business.

5. Look for a leader who has people skills.

There is no escaping it. Even with all the new technology at ourfingertips, network marketing is a people business. If a leaderdoesn't love people then it will show and recruits will know.Network marketing could qualify as part of the hospitality sectorbecause so much of its success depends on empowering andaffirming people.

So find a leader who will be respectful of your value as a personand not just as another number to add to his downline.

The right opportunity and company may be the vehicle to yoursuccess but an effective coach is like high-octane gas in thetank!

2005 Copyright (c) Greg Aldrich

Greg Aldrich is a successful network marketer. Heattributes his success to his concern for the successof others. He is one of the first fifty distributorsin a brand new opportunity poised to be the nextindustry giant. Visit http://www.top-network-marketing.com