The Fortune is in the follow-up
Read More: “The Fortune is in the follow-up” written by Willy Nelson Jr.
This is a topic that I believe is vital to anyone interested in growing a dynasty for their family. I think you hear often that “The Fortune is in the follow-up” but sometimes I think its one of the most missed components of growing a substantial residual income.
I believe that this single component separates those that are professional in their industry and those that are inexperienced or unsuccessful. I believe its very important to set up a method of tracking for good follow-up. So in this post I am going to talk about the importance of good follow-up, different ways to stay in touch (follow-up), and finally why the follow up separates the men from the boys, and the women from the girls!
So lets get right into it, why is follow-up so important? In my career I have learned that with consistent follow up key business partners have joined me. I have also learned that when I forget to follow up with people it will cost me an enrollment. I will give you a few examples of what I am talking about when it comes consistent follow up. During my early years in Network Marketing I always thought that follow up was creating a pestering in me or I was annoying my prospect. When I embraced the fact that I was not pestering or annoying anyone, my business took off!
I have found that the majority of leaders that come into your business don’t join after the first conversation. Typically I have found that it could take years of follow up before they actually join. So if it takes years of follow up with someone for them to join, then I would say its vital to the success of your business! I believe that if you were to interview top earners in the industry you would hear that follow up would be their most valued component to growing their business. My friends and business partners Chris and CeCe owners of http://6figureformula.com have had the chance to sit down with many top leaders in the industry and ask those tough questions.
Here a just a few examples of good follow up paying off:
I had some good friends in another company that were leaders there. I always kept a good relationship with them and never said a bad thing about their company. We would share ideas with things that were working as well as things were not. One day I woke up and got an email from MLM Watchdog that their company closed its doors after the FDA stepped in and confiscated a lot of their products (millions of dollars worth). I decided to drive out to their place to see how they were doing. They were getting calls from lots of MLM company’s and leaders all over the industry. I got them on the phone with my upline as well as the company President. A few weeks later they joined me. They went on to become one of my top leaders in the second company.
Another great example of follow up is Terrilee Jenks. She is my enroller today in FreeLife. So you are probably thinking what are you talking about follow up Willy? I spoke with Terrilee about once a month for almost three years during the time I was in the middle company. Terrilee was a sharp business woman and I thought I would love for her to be my business partner. So I had her on my follow up list and faithfully touched base. I would call and see how she was doing in her business. We would share ideas with each other. She even met up with me and went on a road trip to the convention of the middle company. She went and realized I was drinking the kool-aid. She saw things about that middle company that I did not as she evaluated it. The day I decided that I was ready to move on from the company Terrilee was there. It was all about timing!
Next lets talk about ways to stay in touch. I am only gonna share with you ideas that I actually use to keep in touch. I think it is very important to be genuine in your follow up. I make phone calls once a month to leaders and friends in the industry to simply stay in touch. I call them usually about mid month right after the paychecks come out from their respective company. I chose to call then because a leader works hard the first half of the month enrolling for themselves and the last half of the month working for the enrollments of their team. They continue to work hard and then the check arrives in the mail and the disappointment sets in. I email them regularly letting them know exciting things happening at my company. If there is a new product, a country launch, or a great promotion I am dropping them an email sharing my excitement. I drop postcards in the mail from “The beaches of the World” sharing my success which gives my friends and prospects hope that success can be theirs too! Finally I drop birthday cards in the mail or at the very least drop them an e-card!
Finally lets talk about how “The Fortune is in the Follow-up” separates the men from the boys and the women from the girls. The professional networker understands and embraces follow up. They understand that the majority of networkers do NOT follow up! With the consistent follow up the professional networker will enroll the people that the unsuccessful or inexperienced networkers leave in the dust. Many times the inexperienced networker will make one or maybe two phone calls to a prospect and at the first thought of the word “NO”, they run. With the average number of follow ups needed to enroll someone being between 7 and 11 times, two times just does not cut it. As you spend time with the professional networker you will learn that their biggest leaders took many years of follow up. Just think that if you gave up on a prospect just before their company goes down, thats someone that is going to join with another leader.
I believe that the “Follow-up” component makes or breaks leaders in the Network Marketing industry!
I hope that this post helped you in some small way!
Onward and Upward
Willy Nelson Jr.
Check out my blog directly at http://homebasedbusinesscentral.wordpress.com
Views: 6,767
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Comments: 22 
About the Author: Willy Nelson
Member Since: 10/10/2007
I'm a Distributor For:: ViSalus Sciences
Industry: MLM
Primary Web Site: http://willienelsonjr.com
thanks for the article.
thanks for the article. Cyrilla
So True
Great advice! I just returned from a 2-day inspiring conference with my company and this phrase was stated many times.
Like you said follow-up is necessary multiple times, but then that's how friendships and trust are developed, the basis of a solid foundation.
Linda
Amen to that!
We are truly in a business of building life long friendships! Great article! What do you personally recommend as the best follow up resource (system)?
Jen Wudtke
Great article, thats what I
Great article, thats what I like about MLM, I used to think that there is no way that I could ring people, but the more you do it the easier it is.
I found for me was to just relax and be myself, once I did that it become easier, instead of shaking and being tence every time I had to pick up the phone.
The best part is that you meet some really nice and interesting people and they relise there is a real person on the other end.
Building friendships is great,as I live rural, so don't get to meet to many exciting and talented people.
Together Building People
Paula
The Fortune is in the Follow Up-Great Article
Hey Will. I love the article. I had a similar situation happen with me recently. An old big time distributor I stayed in contact with for years just got involved with me after a follow up!! Can't agree more "The Fortune is in the Follow Up"
James
The Fortune is in the follow-up
Great article, thats what I like about MLM, I used to think that there is no way that I could ring ( follow-up ) people, but the more you do it the easier it is.
Thanks again for adding such great article to the BN community. It's a pleasure working with true professionals!
"Success is the progressive realization of worthwhile, preedetermined personal goals and the follow up " ,said from my mentor and friend Mr Paul J. Meyer !!
You get my vote lady
Positive Truth
Thank you so much for your insight. I always worry that I might be a pest. When the fact is I truly care and want to help. When I focus on the fact that I am offering a gift, the receiver either rips it open with glee or perhaps slowly takes the tape off one corner at a time and gently folds the pretty paper to use again, or maybe the gift is set aside for awhile to open at a better time. Those are my thoughts when I reach out to people. Very positive indeed.
Connie Loeschen
Always Follow your Bliss!
712-461-0856
Learn the Secret Language of MLM - Free
Yes, the FORTUNE is in the Follow Up
Great info...Very True!
"The fortune is in the Follow-up"...That is actually one of my motto's.
Lisa Torres
Internet Marketing Mentor/Coach
www.MyRoadToSuccess.info (Take a FREE Tour and I will Pay Your Way in to Join the Program)
347.920.3733
So true!
The Fortune IS in the follow-up,
if we build a relationship with the person we are following up with.
If we just sell...sell..sell...recruit...recruit...recruit,
then the phone will get very very very heavy for the majority of us.
Thank you for a great post, Willy!
Daniela Riess
Success in 10 Steps
I agree...
Thank you so much for your article....it enlightened me
Thanks,
Syazim
Amen
100% agree. I have had people join my business 1 year later. Stay focus, meet your goals, let those spectators see you walk the stage! (laugh)
Key Points
Great article Willy. I think people all to often expect to get the business at first discussion, failing to realize their need to think and evaluate the opportunity. Those tend to be the wiser and more successful business associates.
Follow up can be tough, but sticking with it and remaining confident will help tremendously.
Thank you for the great info.
Taryn
Independent Fitness Coach
www.choose2befit.com
Good article, Willy.
Thanks for the great examples of follow-up cases. I have several people who signed up with me because I was willing to follow-up with them on a person-to-person level, not just as a businessperson. What they learned about me during those follow-up periods was the key to them coming on board with me. They knew that I would be there to help them when they needed it, and that they would not be alone in the business. They knew that because of the time and attention I had devoted to them with no expectations.
The personal follow-up was just a promise, though. I also make it a point to do business follow-up with each of my people as long as they "show up." If they lose interest, I devote less time to them, but I never abandon anyone.
Follow-up as much as they need when they are making their decision to come on board, and follow-up as much as they need when they are working with you. The fortune really is in the follow-up.
Very true!
Thanks for that insight. It is amazing what wonderful messages we all have to share! It IS all in the follow up and building relationships.
All The Best,
Alicia
Excellent
This is truly the missing piece to the puzzle and I'm glad you said that you shouldn't give up after the 2nd try. It's like practicing something you want to be good at...you have to keep going and going until you nail it. That applies to prospects/leads as long as you aren't pestering them. lol
I liked this article!
Thank you Willy for this nice long and TRUE article!!
I have to say, I recognised myself a few times in there and although I am not completely over the fact people said no to me so many times, I am now developing the right attitude to become a "real" woman now!!! :P
To everyone's success!!
Marika
That is SO True!!
Too often people forget that Follow-ups are the butter to your business!!
If you forget people and they feel unwanted or not appreciated they will go elsewhere ...
Those real life stories are powerful
And it is so obvious you are a professional network marketer. Staying in touch no matter what company someone is with, sharing ideas, talking, communicating without running that person's company down are all excellent ideas. We call them "Eagle" files.
Recruiting has gotten such a bad reputation from people who don't understand the process. The phone is never heavy if you are having a business discussion with some one.
Continue with the excellent topics. I'll look forward to many more.
Joyce Penner
http://joycepenner.wordpress.com
Truth only
Follow up is the manthra.
I loved the article very much . This should be remembered in all time. I used to forget it. Thank you for helping remember it.
How many?
I'm wondering how many of my prospects went somewhere else. I should get better at this. Thanks for the reminder Willie.
Follow-Up the Achilles Heel in Network Marketing
Excellent article Willie! I know for myself it was always my achilles heel. The first problem is finding people to do business with and once you overcome that hurdle you need to get a handle on follow up. Thank goodness for automation! E-mail auto-responders and postal auto-responders are business savers! And of course as you explain so well; good old-fashioned relationship building is key.
To your $uccess!
Irene
Absolutely!
I agree 100%! You know they say people will partner in business with you if they KNOW you, TRUST you and LIKE you so there's no better way to earn trust and build a lasting relationship then to continue to stay in touch.
So true - follow up is the key!
Patti
www.TriVita.net/13180422 (ever tried Cooperative Marketing? YOU MUST - you can't fail!)
www.teamweirich.mymaxgxl.com