Online Business Building promises many things, not the least of which is a steady stream of pre-qualified leads coming to you. But, can you really do it?

If you missed Part 1 of this series, you might want to read about it here first, so you get the concept.

Let me start by saying that the Internet is a great way to add another marketing funnel to your existing Direct Sales/Network Marketing business, if you are willing to become a student and master the skills it takes. Listen in to learn more…

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It seems simple enough – block the time and do the action steps. But are you making the most of your time and your action steps?

Taking some thoughts from the inspiring and thought provoking book, “The Last Lecture,” here are 3 simple ideas for you to make the most of the time you have. Manage your time carefully; write down a plan; execute that plan with the time you have!

So, how will you manage your time? And, have you written down your plan?

I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback below!

And, if you would like to learn my methods, tips and secrets, please join the group below!

If you are trying to balance your Direct Sales – MLM business and your family, and feeling out of sorts, this article is for you. You can build a successful business with small children at your side. I did, so can you!

If you are a MLM WAHM (or even a dad!) building an MLM business and wondering how to keep balance and sanity in your life, then this MLM training segment was written just for you. So, let’s chat – mom to mom; MLM WAHM to MLM WAHM. Dads, too!

First, let me share a little of my story so you’ll know that I’ve “been there, done that” and am not talking some MLM theory. I’ve built my business through baby number one, a pregnancy, baby number two, and on up to my current position of one teenager and one pre-teen. All the while, my kids were at my feet and I was home with them. Simple? No! Fast growing? Nope! Worth it? Every second!

Perhaps like you, when my husband and I decided to have children, we were adamant that one of us would be home with them. Since he was the major breadwinner, that meant I would be home. And, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

But, it’s hard to make it on one income, so I began looking for a business. Long story short, MLM kept coming up, and although I was skeptical, I educated myself and jumped in.

Today, I am happy to be among the ranks of the successful MLM income earners, but it didn’t happen overnight; it wasn’t easy; and there were many times along the way that I wanted to quit. Does this sound familiar to you? Don’t worry, with a few pointers and some true grit, you’ll get there as well.

Here are some ideas that I hope will help you as you move along your MLM journey, especially as a mom building strong kids and a strong business.

1. Get very clear on your reason why. This will sustain you when someone tells you know, or things get slow. Make sure your why is very powerful to you and that it means more to you than what anyone else might say or think. For me, the ability to create a fabulous lifestyle for my family and to never have my kids in day care meant more to me than anyone else’s opinion.

2. Realize that as a mom with small children, you will have to balance and prioritize in a different way. Communicate with your sponsor and your team about your commitment, your priorities and how you will balance the two. Never feel the need to compromise your values in building your MLM business. I didn’t and you don’t have to either.

3. Get organized. And, I mean in every area of your life. Organize your business and your life. Set up one calendar with everything about home and business. Mark out times that are strictly family, and every other non-negotiable time in your life. Then, (and this is important) find times each day that you will work your business. Commit to these times, no matter how small the time frame. Be consistent and don’t procrastinate.

4. Ask for help in anyway that you can. Talk to your spouse about taking the kids for an hour so you can make calls. Talk about splitting up household duties differently. Invest in help as your budget allows. I know hiring a cleaning lady was a priority for me as my business and profits grew. The grocery store can help with this. Buy pre-chopped fresh vegetables; marinated meats; and whatever you can to make things simpler. I am a stickler on healthy meals and nutrition, so I have never resorted to the “fast food” syndrome. Get a crock-pot and use it! Make healthy, delicious meals a snap.

5. Form a babysitting coop with other moms in your area. Then, use it and reciprocate. I used the times I babysat other kids as playtime for my kids, and then used the times when my kids were at a friend’s to work my business. This was an amazing resource for me as my kids never felt like they were at a babysitters. They just saw it as a play date with someone from the play group.

6. Set clear goals and intentions for your business. As Yoda said to Luke in Star Wars II, “There is no try. There is only do, or do not.” Same for your business. Make success non-negotiable. It’s a marathon, and not a sprint. So what if it takes you seven years to become a top income earner, or hit your income goal. Will it be any less worth it? NO! Make it happen.

7. Work on Self Development. MAKE time for it. If you look for time in your schedule, it will never happen. You must make time for your business and make time for the very important task of developing your mindset and growing your business from the inside out. This is the single MOST important ingredient in your business. I’ll share my favorite book by clicking here!

8. Use technology - Today, with the internet and all of the tools out there, keeping in touch: delivering timely information to your prospects; training to your team and even putting yourself out there so that people who are ready and looking for a business NOW can find you through the search engines. Do NOT let technology scare you. I had moderate success in MLM doing it the “old fashioned” way. I created a full time income, but not “obscene money.” Today, using the internet exclusively in my business, I’m a VERY HAPPY MLM WAHM working about 30 hours a week. I’m able to work fewer hours than the “typical networker” because I let technology be my sales force and “PR People!”

9. Get your kids involved – From the time kids are two, and maybe even younger, you can find helpful, fun and educational ways to get them involved in your business. In most MLM businesses, toddlers can place labels on brochures, on products, envelopes, etc. They can fold letters, stamp postcards, and have a great time “working” alongside of mom. Relax, and let go of your perfectionism. When was the last time you paid any attention to how straight the stamp is on a letter you received in the mail?

10. Get them involved in non-business activities, too. My 17 year old son has made dinner for our family many nights. Now, if you are thinking he pulled out the box of Mac-n-Cheese, think again. He made baked chicken with Apricot/Mango Sauce; Quinoa; Green Beans with Pine Nuts and Red Peppers and a salad with goat cheese. I’m really not kidding. I LOVE to cook and have always loved having my children cook right alongside of me. Now, he is ready to do his own thing and is better prepared to move into the world. Imagine what kind of time that offers me!

11. Compare yourself to no one! This is so important. Who are you competing with? Only yourself. That’s truly it because competing with anyone else is like apples and oranges. Everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, life challenges, ambition and goals. Comparing yourself to anyone else is a waste of energy. If you must compare, then use yourself and your past accomplishments as the measuring stick. Track your steps and then strive for more each week. Your business will soar!

12. Reward yourself. Life is meant to be fun and so is business. In the beginning, it’s more difficult to set income goals, because you are building the foundation. This was always frustrating to me, until I discovered that by setting activity goals in the beginning, I could track my progress and feel good about the steps I was taking along the way to make things happen. And, as my action steps picked up, the rewards kept coming, and my business kept growing, producing those earlier elusive income goals. So, look inward and take outward action. Get busy charting your own game plan and focus forward. Along the way, treat yourself for a job well done. And, it doesn’t have to be extravagant. Make it fun, though!

13. Believe in the power of your dream. The subconscious mind is a funny thing. It does not know the difference between what is real and imagined. So, since YOU are the one who controls your thoughts, daydream some powerful thoughts. Let your mind go nuts as you wander through your own field of dreams. And, while you are “there,” BELIEVE it! Believe it and it will come true.

As a mom, you have the ability to offer the greatest gifts of all to your children and your family. You have the ability to raise happy, wholesome and educated children. You have the ability to contribute to the family income without the need for make-up, pantyhose, or glass ceilings.

What a relief! You truly have the ability to “have it all” and “have enough” without compromising your children along the way. Grasp the opportunity before you! I promise, you will never regret it.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

It’s an exciting time in Direct Sales and Network Marketing, especially given the state of our economy. If you knew you could earn between $2000 and $3000 a month working 6-9 hours a week, partying for a living, what would hold you back?

Have you heard of “the Lipstick Factor?’ This is what occurs during tougher economic times, when people begin to buy more affordable things that make them feel good instead of what they need, necessarily.

Listen in as I interview Julie Anne Jones and she shares some exciting information on what is going on in our amazing profession. This is a generic call, and it’s worth noting that Julie Anne is doing a private coaching series for my leadership team. You may want to consider putting together the same for your team!

We also touch on the power of Social Media and how you can develop an online business; booking events through this concept; and how to create an amazing business for yourself through the gift you give to others through your retail/party events! Success in your business all comes down to building relationships! Look at every party/retail event that you do as the chance to leverage the contact list of others; and recruit for the long term. Share the gift of your opportunity at every event.

It’s about much more than immediate cash in your pocket, although that is a nice benefit as well.

Listen in and get excited about the possibilities!

Share your comments and your plan of action for success! Ready to book those party and retail events? I’m excited to hear your plan to pay cash for the holidays.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Social Marketing sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube (just to name a few) have flung the doors wide open for thousands of Network Marketers to generate leads for their business and find others to connect with.

Is it truly possible to meet people, share a business concept and sponsor others into your business without that face to face, “belly to belly” experience that we have been taught about our Network Marketing business? Can a person really build strong relationships using the internet?  

The answer is absolutely yes, and my goal is to offer you some thoughts and ideas about using one of the most popular online methods – Social Networking Sites. 

To be effective online, there are a few areas you’ll want to define for yourself. These include: 

What is your goal? 

Who is your target market? 

How will you add value? 

How will you develop an action plan within each group and be consistent? 

When I set about defining goals around my participation in Social Networking Sites it always starts with creating relationships. Meeting people online follows the same basic principles as meeting people offline - Say hello; ask questions and get your new acquaintance talking about him or herself; find common interests.

I like to picture myself as walking into a party when I enter an online forum. I may know one or two people, but that is about it. So, I walk in with the intention of meeting lots of new people and expanding my horizons. 

Just as you would not walk into a party flashing a neon sign that says “Ask me about my business,” you don’t want to do this online either. Leave your business in the background in the beginning. 

One incredible tool with social sites is that most allow you to create a profile about yourself. With one click, your new friend can visit your profile page and learn more about all aspects of you, including your business. Make your profile very broad; and keyword rich. Make it about more than just your business and you’ll attract people of many interests.

What do you like to do? Do you travel? Have children? Home school? Enjoy Cooking? Gardening? Belong to a wine club? Share much about yourself so your prospect can get to know you in short order. Always include some information about your business and keep it as just another part of the “conversations.” Always include a picture. 

You can quickly develop a network of contacts online through the “friend” and “network/groups” features offered by most social sites. As you seek out people with whom you share common interests, you can network with their contacts by viewing and connecting with their database of contacts.  This is similar to the “who do you know” concept networkers have used offline for years.

As you develop your profile, you’ll define your answers to who your target market will be in each site you are on. Certainly, you are looking for people who share a common interest in home business and network marketing. You are also looking to connect with others who share your interests outside of business because you never know who is also interested in a business. 

Don’t hesitate to make contacts with people in other companies. You never know who might be looking for a change, or who you can develop a referral relationship with. Each person you connect with has the potential to put you in contact with hundreds and even thousands of others. Some of my strongest business builders have come from seasoned network marketers who I have connected with online even though they weren’t looking for a business at the time. 

Now, the idea is NOT to blast into an online community, wowing everyone with your product and your opportunity. Just like offline, that’s a fast ticket to nowhere. Many people on these forums are turned off by Network Marketing because of unscrupulous “posters” who do nothing but blast their opportunity.  The time to tell someone about your business is when they ask you about what you do; where you work, etc. Or, if they visit your profile, they can learn more and again, it’s their choice to do so. 

When you enter into a community or a friendship online always be thinking about how you can add value; resist the temptation to think about yourself or what might be in it for you. Ask questions; offer ideas and advice if people are asking; share your personal stories and what has helped you. Did you read a great article online? Post the link so others can also learn. Saw a great motivational quote? Pass it on. In most cases, the link to your profile or personal website is included so people always have the opportunity to learn more about you and as you become known and consistent, more people will click to your page. 

Gain trust with the other readers and visitors by being authentic, honest and transparent. Build a presence and through that presence, you will build a following.  Be consistent and be a contributor. Set yourself apart from many of the others who show up. 

Building a successful business of any kind takes time, commitment and patience. Developing a following of potential friendships, prospects and partnerships online requires consistency.  Have a daily and weekly action plan for visiting and contributing to each social network you belong to and stick to it.

As your name becomes seen and known people will began to seek out more information about you. You will establish yourself as credible and knowledgeable. People then begin visiting your website, requesting more information and gathering data. This is your goal.

Here is how to create a warm market online, specifically with Facebook -

Here are some guidelines to follow -

Always use your full, real name.
Never bash or trash another company.
Offer valuable ideas and suggestions.
Don’t advertise, be subtle.
Be a consistent visitor, and establish yourself.
Always be honest, ethical and have integrity.
Give up your need to be right when a topic comes up that you disagree with.

The only secret to mastering this form of recruiting is to “show up” regularly and have integrity. This is one method of getting people coming to YOU, and that’s the goal, right? Get out online and have some fun; meet some people; and watch your business take off by creating relationships.

 
It’s a happening party out there and you want to be there! 

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See you at the party!