Keeping Your Funnel Filled

You will hear it over and over again, network marketing is a numbers game.  Think of your business as a funnel - big opening at the top and small opening at the bottom. You have to fill the top with many prospects in order to get one to come out the bottom.  So many network marketers make the mistake of filling up their funnel in the beginning, when excitement is high and then shifting into a management mode after they have recruited a few people.  This is certain death.

So, how do you keep your funnel full - develop a consistent system for prospecting.  My suggestion is that you have 3 to 5 prospecting methods going at any given time.  Here are some ways to generate leads for your funnel:

1.  Warm market contacts - talk with everyone you know about your business.  Treat it as if you just purchased a major franchise and were announcing it to your friends, family and associates.  You don't have to try to prospect them or sell them products, just let them know that you are in business and looking for leaders who would like to create a residual stream of income and enjoy more time freedom.

2.  Referrals - everyone you talk with, about your business, has a circle of influence (people they know who respect them).  Whether they are interested in your business/products or not, ask them whom they know who would be interested in creating a lifetime stream of residual income and the time freedom to enjoy life.

3.  Advertising - small classified ads in the sales help wanted or business opportunity sections of the newspaper work very well for attracting prospects.  Keep in mind that most of these people are unemployed and looking for a job. You can also place these ads in online classified sections, but they are not as effective.

However, some of the top money earners I know were attracted by a small classifed ad.  You can also advertise in the classifed sections of magazines such as Success, Entrepreneur, Business Start-ups, and other publications read by present and prospective entrepreneurs.

4.  Flyers - you can make up a full- (8-1/2" x 11") or half- (5-1/2" x 8-1/2") page flyer.  The best are the kind that have a big bold heading . . . MAKE MONEY IN YOUR SPARE TIME! with key benefits listed with bullets (€) underneath the heading.  Graphics help grab attention, but don't spend too much in this area.  At the bottom is your phone number and tabs that have been cut (for easy removal by your prospects) and have the heading and your phone number.

This way the prospect who sees the flyer (and doesn't have anything to write on or with) can take one of the tabs and call you later.  Place these on bulletin boards in laundromats, grocery stores, public information areas, colleges, phone booths, etc.

5.  Opportunity cards - business cards with an opportunity message and voice mail number.  Pass these out in the business district, leave in phone booths and public restrooms.  Mail to people.  Give to people you meet who have great attitudes.

6.  Fishbowl - go to a local restaurant or store and ask the owner if you can put in a fishbowl to collect business cards and give away a free meal or something else of value. Go in each Friday and collect the cards.  Have the owner pick out a winner.  You call and let them know they won. This gives you a chance to find out what they do and see if they are a good prospect.  The rest of the cards can be called and prospected.

7.  Secret letter - make up a powerful letter outlinging your opportunity.  The salutation should read Dear Friend. Keep the letter to one page - 3 or 4 paragraphs.  The first paragraph should outline some potential problems - corporate downsizing, mergers, insecurity of the Social Security system and other retirement programs, increasing cost of retiring, lack of free time to really enjoy life, time away from the family, no vacations, etc.  Do not put your name or address, just a phone number they can call for more information (voice mail box with 1 to 2 minute opportunity message).  Have at least 100 copied on white paper.  Buy the same number of #10 white envelopes.  Pick names out of the paper, industry or association newsletters, business directories, or phone books.  Hand-write the person's name on the outside of the envelope.  Mail a certain number each week.

These are just a few of the methods you can use to fill your funnel.  Find those that interest you and get started.If you would like to learn many more of these funnel filling methods, you'll find them in my book, The Twelve Power Secrets for Network Marketing Success (www.RodNichols.com, Store)

Remember to stay consistent with your program, even when you start recruiting a network.  Teach them to duplicate what you have done.  Just think how exciting it would be if everyone in your network had a consistently full funnel!