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[Dr. Bob Clarke Company: MyLeadSystemPRO Contribution Level: 3]

Everywhere you go in this industry you hear people talking about building a list.

But let's shake things up a bit----

Do you even NEED a list to succeed in Network Marketing?

Opinions?

[Eldon Beard Company: Watkins Incorporated Contribution Level: 2]

I believe you can build a network marketing business online without a list. However, if you have a decent offer and incentive for people to sign up, it can be a huge asset and is definitely something you should do.

Not everyone will join your business....obviously....so why not go the extra mile and offer some value then perhaps you can market and work with your visitors in other ways up the line?

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

There's an interesting discussion that Richard DeHaven wrote: "How were you introduced to MLM"?

I've betting that everyone who is so concerned about building a list didn't come into the industry through a list yet that's where the focus is: Build your list !

Strange and maybe I'm wrong. Maybe most people got online, joined a list, then decided to start a business !
Joyce

[Lynda Cromar Company: Empower Network, LLC Contribution Level: 9]

I think a lot of people misunderstand list-building. In the old way, it was just find a way to get them on the list. It worked for a while, all those links everywhere, all those spammy e-mails.

Now its about relationship-building. Whether you do it online or off it still starts there. Sometimes it happens because of some content that you put out there. Other times it happens because of a Meetup you attended, or some other event.

It only matters that you find a way to collect. That merely means that you have a way to keep the relationship going. In the days before e-mail, it meant phone calls. Today we have many different ways to do that, including the good old autoresponder.

But before anyone starts getting excited, if you use that tool correctly, it helps to increase that relationship. But there are so many ways today to keep in touch, pick your favorite way or mix and match. Yes a list is important, if you are building it with people that actually want to hear from you, and it always starts with the relationship.

[Gavin Mountford Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 2]

Hey guys, you can definitely build a Network Marketing business without building a list... but what happens when you want to move to a different company, or the company goes bust?

So, the sensible thing to do is to build a list while you are building up an NM business... then when you want to recommend tools/systems/services to earn your multiple streams of income, you can hit one button and BOOM!

I'm a BIG believer of building a list after building a 41,000 list in the gambling industry 4 years ago. It gives you massive power and leverage when it comes to promoting affiliate programs, JV's etc... because everyone wants to work with you.

The person with the biggest list wins... or so they say. Personally for me, it's the QUALITY of the list... so daily correspondence is essential to keep you in the TOP of people's minds...

Even offline/traditional Network Marketing we used to keep a Rolodex of prospects and customers... so definitely build a list as you go.

From my experience and perspective...

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

There's an interesting discussion that Richard DeHaven wrote: "How were you introduced to MLM"?

I've betting that everyone who is so concerned about building a list didn't come into the industry through a list yet that's where the focus is: Build your list !

Strange and maybe I'm wrong. Maybe most people got online, joined a list, then decided to start a business !
Joyce

Joyce,
Most likely people did hear about MLM because of a list.
Probably we were on someone's list of friends or acquaintances that might be interested in MLM.

Maybe the list was an address book or scrawled on a piece of paper. But it was a list.

It is the kind of list that we should all be building. Not just a list of email addresses.
But a list of names that we have a relationship with, if only professionally.

I recently I had a great experience of being a name on a list.

James Schramko, who has many products, businesses, and membership forums in the Internet Marketing field, recently email me. He was asking about my experience after ordering one of his services.

I responded PLUS asked him a question about something totally different altogether.

He was on the road when he got my email. Since then he has sent me 5 emails trying to fully answer my questions. WE are still emailing.

That is a relationship with a list.

He answers his emails personally and truly cares about solving the problems of his customers.
None of his businesses use those do not reply emails.

His huge list knows that.

People buy his stuff without any review or thought. They say if James says its good, I'm in. That is the kind of list you want to build. Whether that list in in your auto-responder or in scrawled on scraps of paper.

[Brian Schultz Contribution Level: 2]

There's an interesting discussion that Richard DeHaven wrote: "How were you introduced to MLM"?

I've betting that everyone who is so concerned about building a list didn't come into the industry through a list yet that's where the focus is: Build your list !

Strange and maybe I'm wrong. Maybe most people got online, joined a list, then decided to start a business !
Joyce

Hi Joyce,
I have to disagree. Everyone (or at least the mojority) that has come into the industry was on a list. How did you get your start, did someone you know introduce you to the industry? Then you were on their list, you just might not have known you were on the list.

Point being whether it's an opt in list or a list of friends and family, it's all about having a list.

[Dr. Bob Clarke Company: MyLeadSystemPRO Contribution Level: 3]

These are all great responses and great to see the discussion take this direction.

I asked this question because I have some strong views on list building and MLM.

Here's what I believe -- YES, you can have some success (maybe even a lot of success) building your MLM without a list. But as has already been pointed out in this discussion, what happens if your MLM disappears overnight?

You may think, no way! But it happens.... MLMs come and go every day. What if your MLM disappeared? What would you do? Head over to another MLM and start over?

You could, but what if you had built a list when you were having all that success, and now could fall back on this list to promote your new venture, rather than starting from scratch.

A lot easier, right?

I'm a firm believer that your list is your biggest business asset. I've now made this my #1 outcome measure in all that I do -- how many people did I add to my list today?

As with anything else, there is strength in numbers and this is especially true with a list. Yes, you can have some success with a small list, but what if your list tripled in size. What would that do for your income?

Some things to think about.... let's keep this discussion going.

[Lester Diaz Contribution Level: 2]

I believe building a list is crucial but not for the purpose of MLM, but for affiliate marketing. If you are in MLM then you should only worry about helping your team grow. If you are building a list then that list is meant for profiting for affiliate products.

Think about Magnetic Sponsoring, Better Networker emails you received each day, they promote new affiliate products from successful network marketers, they probably make thousands on each email they send.

Building a list for MLM in my opinion does not work, because if the person is not interested in joining your MLM then whats the point of keep mailing, instead since that person already showed an interests in making money offer them another opportunity, product or service that might help them and helps you too $$.

Just my opinion..

[Brian Schultz Contribution Level: 2]

I believe building a list is crucial but not for the purpose of MLM, but for affiliate marketing. If you are in MLM then you should only worry about helping your team grow. If you are building a list then that list is meant for profiting for affiliate products.

Think about Magnetic Sponsoring, Better Networker emails you received each day, they promote new affiliate products from successful network marketers, they probably make thousands on each email they send.

Building a list for MLM in my opinion does not work, because if the person is not interested in joining your MLM then whats the point of keep mailing, instead since that person already showed an interests in making money offer them another opportunity, product or service that might help them and helps you too $$.

Just my opinion..

You need a list for both. To sell affiliate products and to sell your MLM. Just because someone doesn't join your company right away doesn't mean they are not going to join. If there company closes in a year, and they want to stay in MLM thay are going to think of you because you have been marketing to them for awhile now.

Also in sales, in any industry, the money is in the follow up, so you need to build a list so you have a lot of people to follow up with. The more poeple on your list the more will convert into team members and/or product buyers