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[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

"Get more leads" read one headline.

"Get thousands of leads" read another one.

That is cool to have that big list but who's going to teach you how to convert those leads into your network marketing business?

Autoresponders? Oh wait, that's another course: How to become a good copywriter with copy that sells.

How is someone new to the internet supposed to generate an additional income when they have to commit to years of learning new skills.

They can't and building a network marketing business shouldn't be that way.

When did it become so difficult and isn't it time we turned that philosophy around?

Joyce

[Betsy Vayda Company: Seacret Direct Contribution Level: 3]

Hi Joyce,

When you throw the Internet into the equation it can seem very daunting.
So many pieces of the puzzle and you feel you need to know how to do them all.

And then who is going to build your business while you are spending all your time learning all of this.

Which, of course, you would have to do before you had 1000s of leads coming in.
I am talking qualified leads. It is easy enough to get unqualified leads.

In the end, the hardest skill to learn - on and off-line - is conversion.

But the key to conversion is talking with people.

I have had people sign themselves up for my business via my website without ever talking to me.
But that is not the norm.

(I actually prefer to talk to folks before they sign up. However, don't get me wrong, it is very fun to have people sell themselves and sign up).

I have an idea for "turning the philosophy around" as you asked. Don't know if you would agree.

Before people decide how they want to market thier business, have them practice talking to prospects.

I don't think people should learn by talking to friends and family. I actually have very strong feelings about that.

I think the best training ground for learning how to effectively discover a qualified person and convert them are those horrible home business leads.

I did it.

I started Network Marketing just before moving to central america. I wasn't running into friends or family who could possibly want to join my business.

I had family in the industry. They told me to call leads. So I did.

I called at least 100 leads a day. It was amazing training. I learned to qualify someone in minutes - sometimes seconds. I could handle objections while changing my daughter's diapers.

My confidence talking to people about my business - or learning when not to - went from sub zero to super sonic.

I think that is a way to turn the philosophy around.

Don't start on the internet.

Start talking to people.

People you don't know. Then you won't have to cringe every time you remember how you "threw up" all over them trying to recruit them into your amazing opportunity.

Now I am an Internet Marketer for both traditional off-line business and network marketers. I love Internet Marketing, (as well as Network Marketing).

I am always thankful for the in-the-trenches training I had of talking to 1000s and 1000s of people. It is a skill one has to use over and over again - no matter what business you are in.

I think it may be a good way for total newbies to start.

What do you think?

[Stephen Meyer Company: Organo Gold, Inc. Contribution Level: 3]

You always have to be learning new skills there's no way around that. Investing in yourself is an absolute must or you will not make it in business. But what you learn and in what order you learn is very important.

New people don't need to learn how to build web sites and do SEO, not right away anyway. They do need to learn how to find prospects and how to invite them, whether inviting them to a meeting or a website. Newbies shouldn't have to worry about converting leads. All they need to do is get them in front of their business and the upline can do the converting until the newbie learns the skills. They key word is "Until" the newbie learns how, can't sit back forever and let others do it for you. You have to learn it yourself.

I've met people who once they grasped the idea of MLM they went out on their own and built a business without much help. Probably the biggest key to success is to Just Do It. The best trainer is experience.

[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

Hi Betsy. I too learned in the trenches, calling thousands of supposedly good leads. Yah right ! It was a good learning curve BUT it scares a lot of people off and you won't find that level of dedication in a lot of people who otherwise could be good, solid downlines.

Those are the people we all need in our business. Eighty percent of people don't want to make a lot of money and we have to be able to cater to that population as well as the go-getters !

I agree with you: Who's going to build your business while you are learning all those internet skills. Nobody ! Learning how to talk to people is a must - it is afterall "network" marketing.

Thanks Betsy,
Joyce

[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

New people don't need to learn how to build web sites and do SEO, not right away anyway. They do need to learn how to find prospects and how to invite them, whether inviting them to a meeting or a website. Newbies shouldn't have to worry about converting leads. All they need to do is get them in front of their business and the upline can do the converting until the newbie learns the skills. They key word is "Until" the newbie learns how, can't sit back forever and let others do it for you. You have to learn it yourself.

Right on Stephen. The upline and the system - working in tandem and all the newbie has to do is bring them to the website. ANYONE can do that and consequently build an organization they have only dreamed of.

AND make money for a change !
Joyce

[Betsy Vayda Company: Seacret Direct Contribution Level: 3]

Hi Betsy. I too learned in the trenches, calling thousands of supposedly good leads. Yah right ! It was a good learning curve BUT it scares a lot of people off and you won't find that level of dedication in a lot of people who otherwise could be good, solid downlines.

It is good to connect with someone who has talked to that many leads as well. It is something you have to do to fully understand.

An yes, you are right. It is not a good idea for most. I was forgetting. There are not that many people who are quite so bull-headed. I don't know if I would call it dedication in my case. I just really hate to fail to do what I set out to do. More stubbornness than dedication.