Most articles which discuss the way to succeed in network marketing, emphasis factors like selecting the right MLM company, compensation plan, attitude, recruiting methods, commitment andothers. Many personal success stories show that success is real and achievable, however, a close look at the tools distributors have at their disposal to run an efficient operation, show, at most cases, none.
The article “Network Marketing Training- The Top 10 MLM Tools for BLAZING MLM Success" is listing its top 10 important tools for regular use of distributors who want to grow their organization:
1. Telephone
2. Voice mail
3. 3 way calling
4. Audios
5. Videos
6. Replicating Websites
7. brochures
8. Presentation book
9. Email
10. Business card and stationary.
Now, as much as these tools are undoubtly important, they are far from being qualified to manage data sourses, such as a big data-base of prospects, customers and down-lines.
In our experience, a “common" distributor adds 2 – 3 prospects in average per day. This adds up to 700- 1000 prospects annually! All of them are the outcome of a hard work and a lot of time and money invested.
Isn't it clear, that such heavy volume of data can not be stored, sorted or managed without proper tools?
The Beginner:
Beginners have a lot on their plate. If they wish to be successful, they have to master all aspect of their new work in the shortest period of time possible. Sales are essential for the existence of a new business, consequently, the portion of time invested in sales and sales related activities bears direct effect on the distributor’s success.
Lucky beginners are sponsored by good leaders, but no matter how supportive the organization or the company joint to are, the new distributors are still still pretty much on their own. Administration tasks demand daily attention, which consumes an ever increasing share of the distributor's precious time.
Just think of the time needed to organize the list of prospects, prioritize the list, pencil down and arrange meetings, write notes, find telephone numbers, send automatic emails, compose new letters, take care of advertising…
All this work must be done, yet it does not contribute directly to the distributor’s bottom line's profit. As time goes by, lists inflate, the time dedicated to sales shrinks while support and administration activities expands.
No wonder that statistically, 80 – 90% of new distributors dispair and withdraw within their first year of operation.
Organization manager:
Once a distributor has added a few new down-lines, he becomes an organization manager. As such, he/she is being faced with a greater challenge: Managing his/hers organization while building it. Since dropout percentage is high, organization managers are in constant pursuit of new distributors, and at the same time have to maintain and support their existing organization.
Let us analyse the process of how a surfer visiting a Website becomes a distributor: statistically, only 1 in 100 people who fill in an application form on a Website (or leads in general) becomes distributor and is added to an organization. When you think of the quantities of people involved, time and effort invested in turning these leads to distributors, 2 things become very evident:
1. The recruiting process should be professional, short and efficient
2. Lowering the dropout percentage is vital in growing a healthy, stable and big organization.
It is always more exciting and interesting to deal with real people than to spend your time on administrative tasks, however, the harsh facts show that proper management of your home based business scores higher than selling abilitie when it comes to the formula for success in MLM.
Management systems - function and contribution:
It is unthinkable for today's distributor to imagine working without a computer and without the internet. Just the same, its futile to try and lead a home based business toward success, without the support of a computer based management system. Such system would not only enable a far better control and revision of all the aspects of the business, but it will also handle all administrative tasks much better than the distributor himself and would free him to deal with the more important issues.
This is how all companies and businesses work, these days. Every field and department is backed and monitored by a computerized system, especially designed to efficient the work and help people to carry out their tasks and fulfill their goals. Without such systems, which create and store data, activate missions and tie loose ends – it is very difficult to run a successful business.
Management systems for assistance of the MLM's distributor:
Distributors, being a self employed who work from home, need a system that will centralize all the aspects of their work and would enable them to control the business by a click of a button.
The systems referred to here, should not be confused with what MLM companies provide their distributors to review their commission, stock and profits. The management system as explained here is a professional tool, specially designed and specified to handle the daily activities of the distributor, his business, his organization, his customers and prospects.
When looking for the right system it is important to ensure it has the following features:
1. A professional and personal recruiting
internet site, for presentation of the
business opportunity and prospects’
application.
2. Data base of prospects, customers and down
lines, with ability of sorting, selecting,
screening editing and updating of items.
3. Detailed file for every prospect, customer
and distributor, containing personal data,
contact details, remarks, meeting diary and
correspondence.
4. Auto responder for prospects
5. Inter-organizational communication for
passing of news, updates and information
about events etc.
6. Personal contact ability with prospects,
customers and down lines
7. Training system
8. Statistic application for info about number
of visitors in the site, how many prospects
became distributors etc.
9. Multi-lingual system that will support
maximum exposure to overseas markets.
10. User friendly, easy to learn, simple to
operate
Such systems are available on monthly subscription only. , for 15 to 50 $ per month. This is a very reasonable, negligible expense for what the distributor gets in return – a saving of resources, efficiency, full control and management of his entire business. THIS is the real, reasonable equation for success.