2010 is here!

What is your plan to grow your MLM business?

I heard a great tip from a friend of mine who is the top money earner in my company. He said he starts with a plan of action every year to pretend like he is starting over in his business. He acts like January 1 is the first day he is starting and puts together a plan of action based on that philosophy.

I know for me personally when I start a new project I’m excited. When I start in a new network marketing business in the past I’m very aggressive. I build my lead list. I call all my friends and family. I get aggressive with my advertising and marketing.

The problem I personally experienced is that I built a large business quickly. I then got into a mode of managing and working with my team. I have 6200+ people on my team. I let myself get too busy managing my business, training others, etc. It’s a different mindset than when I was first starting out.

Plus over my many years of being involved in my business I’ve met new people and my friends list probably needs to be updated.

Starting now I’m refocusing and pretending I am starting out from scratch again. I’m setting my goals. I’m building my list of friends and family. I’m contacting my warm market. I’m going back to basics. I’m going to work hard again just like I was starting out from scratch. I’m not ignoring the people already in my business I’m just refocusing on building again. Leading by example.

I think it’s a great idea.

If you were to pretend to start over in your business, what would you do?

Leave us a comment and let us know!

- Ben Fitts

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One of the biggest challenges facing most people who start a home business is finding the time to work the business. Most people work a full-time job and start their business to make some extra money, and eventually leave their job behind.

Yet, how do they do it?

How do they manage their job, their family, their personal lives and their new home business?

One of the biggest things I’ve found in my network marketing career is the importance of consistency. Consistency of working even a little bit every week is far better than working hard, then stopping for a while, then working hard again. If you can find a way to consistently build your business each and every week you’ll look back a year later and see a successful business growing. However if you stop and start a lot you’ll probably find that your business is struggling.

I came up with this schedule to help out part-time network marketers.

The schedule allows you to create a time schedule of your week. You can put in times for working your job, spending time with your family, even time to have a personal life. As you create the schedule you’ll begin to find that you have little pockets of time where you can build your business. It might be your lunch hour at work. It might be Tuesday nights…. It might be on the weekend. You’ll still be able to have time to do all the things you enjoy doing, but with a little sacrifice you can find some time to consistently build your business.

Download a copy of the schedule for part-time MLMers here.

This is my first draft at this schedule. Leave a comment and let me know if you find the schedule useful or if you have any suggestions. I appreciate you!

- Ben Fitts

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Hi readers,

Did you know the FTC has updated their requirements for bloggers to disclose paid endorsements?

That means you and I as network marketers that are paid to promote a particular product or opportunity now need to disclose that information.  It also means if you refer some affiliate program for a autoresponder or internet provider or whatever you now need to disclose that information as well.

Here are 6 quick videos from the FTC explaining the new requirements. You can also view the text of the endorsement guidelines here. (PDF)

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Hi Readers,

Many of you reading this already have a home business but perhaps some of you are still looking.  Perhaps you haven’t found the right business yet. Perhaps you’re looking for something better. Perhaps your just looking for something different.  A different product.  A different compensation plan.  A different mentor and team leader.

If you’re looking for an opportunity I have a couple of webinars I’m doing this week that might interest you.  I’ll show you a bit about what we do and why we’re different than literally every other network marketing and direct sales company out there. (We have no direct competition. No one sells the same product or type of product we do.)

Just use the contact form to send me an email and I will respond back to you later today by phone or email. Let me know which one you prefer. I will also give you a link to join one of our webinars or a link to try out the service totally free.

If you already have an opportunity, GREAT. I don’t want to steal you away from what you’re doing.  Focusing on your opportunity is really important.  I think you should stay where you are and build build build.

But if you’re looking for something new or different contact me.

- Ben Fitts

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Hi Readers,

I wanted to share some good news with you.

We’ve been rated a top 50 MLM blog and a top 10 MLM Blog. I’m pretty proud to be included with some of these other famous MLM trainers.

In August we were rated a top 10 MLM Blog by Roosevelt Cooper.

Just this week we were rated one of the top 50 (his isn’t in numercial, but alphabetical order) by That MLM Beat and George Fourie.

Thanks Roosevelt and George! I appreciate the recognition!

- Ben Fitts

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Dear part-time MLM Networker,

Today I want to continue my conversation on how to be a successful part-time networker with 5 Tips for Part Time MLM Networkers.

1. Get your own domain name
2. Get a permanent email address
3. Get a dedicated phone number & voicemail
4. Get professional business cards
5. Setup your own web site (not the company site)

Some of these might seem obvious to you but I can’t tell you how many people on my team don’t do these basic things.  They treat their business as a hobby not a business!  If you want to attract GREAT leaders to your team then you need to follow these 5 simple steps.

Get Your Own Domain Name

Most people don’t understand just how simple this is.  You can register your domain name for about $10 a year (a little less or a little more depending on where you register.)  You can then “forward” your domain name to the web site your company gives you.  This is super easy to do and usually only takes a few minutes of your time. It makes you look A LOT more professional this way.

For example, my company provides me a web site like:

http://www.sendoutcards.com/1899

I bought a domain name to forward to my site like:

http://www.TryBensCards.com

Not only does it give you a more professional image but it has a practical reason too.  It is a lot harder for people to type the wrong name or to go directly to the company web site without my affiliate id.  I’ve seen people do things like type “www.sendoutcards.com/1899″ into Google.  Guess what? Google does a web search and doesn’t neccessarily show my site!  It might show an advertisement for another Send Out Cards rep!  Now if someone enters in “trybenscards.com” into Google they will only get results back that point to me, not another Send Out Cards rep!

Get a Permanent Email Address

Take this example.  You’re at a networking event for the local chamber of commerce and you receive two business cards for people with the same greeting card company.

One of their business cards has an email address:

redsoxfan72@yahoo.com (not a real email)

The other has an email address:

ben@TryBensCards.com (not a real email)

Which one looks more professional?

Again this both has a more professional appearance but it also has a practical use. If you have your own domain and email address associated with it you can forward your email anywhere. You can forward your email to gmail or yahoo or comcast or whomever you want.  When you change your internet service you just change where your personalized email address is forwarded!

Imagine you’ve been building your business for 5 years like I have.  Imagine someone who met you a couple of years ago is now at the right place and is ready to start a business. They contact you at your email address but it bounces back to them as undeliverable.  You just lost a new distributor because you changed your email address!

Forwarding your email address is usually as simple as forwarding your domain name.  Many domain name registrars will offer you email for your domain or email forwarding.  Usually there is no cost or very little cost (under $10) to do this. So why not do it?  Why risk someone not being able to get in touch with you because you changed your email address?

Get a Dedicated Phone Number & Voicemail

This one should be obvious but how many people get started in their business and put in their cell phone number or home phone number as their main contact method.  Imagine a business owner who just had a business failure and is interested in getting back into business.  He hears about your opportunity and contacts you but when he calls he gets your personal voicemail with the music background, the kids playing, the dogs barking, etc.  Is he going to take you seriously?  Worse, what about those of you pursuing multiple opportunities at once.  How do you setup a professional voicemail for 2 or 3 or 4 opportunities?  You need to get a dedicated number for your business!

There are a couple of good options for this.

#1 You can setup a toll-free number.  The service I use starts at only $2 per month.  You can give your business a professional image, get your own voicemail, fax service, etc. all for $2 a month. Then you just pay 6.9 cents per minute.  You can even search for your own numbers.  I figured out my name “BEN FITTS” spelled out on a telephone is “236-34888″ so I did a search for any toll-free numbers that contain 236-3488 and found 877-236-3488 was available.  I bought this for only $10 a month!  BOY what a professional  image that makes me have!  MANY times people have commented on how cool it is that I have my own name as a phone number. PLUS it’s easy for people to remember.

#2 You can get a cheap VOIP phone line.  VOIP phones run off your internet service. They offer unlimited calling, long distance, and voicemail for one low flat rate.  I have a VOIP line which comes in really handy for long distance calls to host conference calls, call back prospects, etc. Plus I have my own voicemail which I can record which is specific to my business.

You can get a VOIP phone for $199 a year flat rate.
You can also get a VOIP phone for $25 a month if you prefer to pay monthly.

Get Professional Business Cards

Your company probably provides some basic business cards for you to use.  However these are usually fairly generic. For example our “Send Out Cards” business cards have the company logo and such on them but they don’t really talk about what we do! They don’t talk about our products or our business opportunity.  It’s not a very effective business card.

Another practical reason to get your own business cards, as well as your own phone number, email, and web site is that you MIGHT change companies in the future.  My business cards say “The Custom Greeting Card Guy” on them.  They don’t say “Send Out Cards”. Heaven forbid if something happened to SOC I’d still be able to use my business cards.  They’re building my brand not my company’s brand.

You can even get free business cards at some place like Vista Print. You only pay shipping. (Or you can customize the cards and make really nice cards for only a few bucks extra.)

Setup Your Own Web Site (not the company site they give you)

This one is a little bit more advanced… But setting up your own web site is a great way to give yourself a more professional image.  It helps you build your brand, not your company.  People buy into you, not your company, your product, or your compensation plan. They buy into the belief that you can actually help them achieve their goals and dreams.

There is also a very good practical reason to use your own web site. That reason is Google loves unique content. Google hates all the company web sites because Google knows most of these web sites are the same.  I’ve actually written a 44 page ebook about this topic.  You see Google knows that when you have an affiliate site for your company 99% of the content is the same as everyone else in your company.  They know that you’re name and photo on your site might be different but the content is the same.  Google doesn’t want their listings to show 10 web sites that all look identical. Instead they want the 10 listings that show up to be unique.  Owning your own web site will give you an advantage in Google.

I don’t care if you start out with a Web Site Builder that basically allows you to answer a few questions and setup a web site, or if you pay a professional to do it for you.  The fact that you setup your own web site will be a huge advantage to you vs. all the other distributors in your company that don’t have one.

In Closing

Building your network marketing business part-time doesn’t mean you have to look like a hobbyist.  A few simple tricks like registering a domain name, setting up a permanent email address, buying a dedicated toll-free or voip phone, getting professional business cards, and creating a unique web site will give you a professional image. These tricks also often have practical uses that can help you be more effective in sponsoring and recruiting others.  Your total cost for these services is minimal and the rewards are truly great.

What other tips do you have for making your part-time MLM business have a professional image?

- Ben Fitts

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Hi team,

My friend Shay Wheat just emailed me and asked for our help.

She is a member of Successful Thinkers along with some other really cool people like Rudy Ruettiger from the television movie “Rudy”.  This is a new group of entrepreneurs, coaches, and business professionals and they’re holding a big event on November 6th for success minded people like YOU.

If you can be in the Sacramento, CA Area on November 6th from 6:30 PM to 10 PM you can attend for FREE.  If not you can watch the web cast live (also free!)  I know I’ll be watching the webcast myself.

Use this link to register so my friend Shay can benefit. She’s competing TODAY to see who can get the most referrals. If she is one of the top people she will get international exposure for her business!

Topics from the Hope Dream Succeed event include:

• Building your local community
• How to approach others about your business
• Taking advantage of technology
• Relationship building
• Branding yourself online
• Business to business
• Referrals are your best source of business
• Women’s leadership
• Facebook
• Twitter
• …. and more!

Register for FREE Today and help my friend Shay while empowering yourself by listening to these other powerful successful thinkers and business experts.

Remember if you can get to Sacramento on the 6th you can attend the event live and in person for free!

- Ben Fitts

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Hi everyone,

I’ve written a couple of times recently about how I’ve had to go back to work part-time. (read them here and here)

One of the key things you want to do when you build your business part-time is to always be prepared. You might be at your job or at your kid’s soccer game. No matter where you are you always need to be prepared to do business.

One thing I do to stay prepared is I keep a plastic storage container in my car.  Inside this container I keep all my marketing materials. It has rungs to hold file folders. In these folders I store things like flyers, brochures, magazines, DVDs, business cards, etc.  That way when I’m out and about and an opportunity arises I’m always prepared.

For example in my ebook on how to effectively market with flyers I talk about how I use tabbed flyers like you might see in a convenience store or grocery store.  The other day I was at my new part time job and I went to a local shopping area to get some lunch.  As I got out of my car I noticed this shopping area had some little community bulletin boards setup where I could post a flyer.  I got a flyer out of my car and tacked it up on the board.

If I wasn’t prepared I would have missed that opportunity!  Sure I could come back another day and put up a flyer but I’d have missed my first opportunity.  Maybe the next big money earner came in that day and I would have missed them.

The difference between success and mediocrity is very small.  In baseball 3 extra hits per 100 at bats is the difference between being an all-star or a average joe.

The same goes for your network marketing business.  By being prepared 100% of the time you’ll find a few situations where you can capitalize on that opportunity.  It only takes a few of these opportunities for you to distinguish yourself from everyone else!

Do you have any examples of missed opportunities or examples of how you always stay prepared?

- Ben Fitts

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Hi readers,

I was torn up over whether or not to talk to you guys about my situation.  When my wife and I decided I needed to go back to take a job I didn’t want anyone to know. I’ve been a full time network marketer for a little while now and I felt like it might be confusing to others to see that I was going back to work.  I thought they might loose their faith.

Most people’s dream with network marketing is to do what I did. They dream of quitting their job and going full time as a network marketer.  They dream of buying their dream home. They dream of staying at home with their families.  That is the position I was in.

I was afraid that people who read about my situation would give up their dream.

Then I realized it was  more important to be honest with everyone.  Life has ups and downs. Your business will have ups and downs.

For example when prospecting or holding opportunity meetings I like to be honest with people that you can make a lot of money in this business but it is going to require work.  It will require some skills. It will also probably require some time.  It won’t happen over night.

Similarly it’s important to let people know that they could have ups and downs in their business.

I make more in my network marketing business than many people’s full time jobs.  Yet for me living in an expensive area of the country and spending too much of our money meant we got into some debt and I needed to make some more money.  My wife wasn’t really as into the business thing as I am. She wasn’t into the idea of living on a budget. For me my dream was to not have a JOB.  For her she was satisfied working for a living and being comfortable. She liked a guaranteed paycheck every month, not a paycheck that fluxuated greatly depending on my business.

Now that we’re separating (or divorcing – I’m not sure yet) we’re going to be taking on extra expenses.  I don’t have healthcare so I have to pay my healthcare out of pocket. I have to have a place to stay, heat, electricty, etc. I will have some lawyer bills and other expenses.  I may even have to pay some alimony or give my wife a percentage of my business. So for at least a little while I’m going to have to go back to work.

What worried me most was that my  team members might not understand. Some of them may live in parts of the country where they pay 1/3 rd what you pay for living expenses.  Others may have a spouse that makes a lot of money.  Some people might be able to build their business full time on $20,000.  Others might need $100,000.

For me I had to bite the bullet and go back to take a job for awhile. It sucks. It hurts me a lot to admit I wasn’t very good with my finances. It hurts to say I didn’t grow my business as much this year as I wanted/expected.  BUT I know it’s temporary.  I know this just drives me more and makes me want to work harder at my business.  I also know I’m in a great position.  I have an awesome business already and if I focus on my business for a little while it grow faster and I’ll be able to work my way out of this situation.  Having that business gives me a lot of freedom and luxuries that other people wouldn’t have.  For that I’m thankful.

In the next couple of weeks I want to talk more about what to do when you’re a part-time networker.  How do you focus on your business while you’re working a job, having a family, etc.  How do you make the time for your business.

For more info, come back next week

See you soon and always keep your dream alive.

Ben Fitts

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Hi readers,

I’ve been writing about network marketing and MLM for several years on this blog.  Usually I post once or more a week even on a bad week. On good weeks I might post 5 times.

Lately you might have noticed I was writing a lot  a couple months ago, and then suddenly not writing so much… What happened you ask?

I’m going to be honest. Probably more honest than any other network marketer you’ve ever seen.

#1. Our debt was kicking my butt so I went back to take a part-time job.

#2. My wife decided she was ready to quit on our marriage. Didn’t want to work on it.  She just wanted to move on. I won’t get into the gorry details but part of the reason why I’m back at a job part-time is my marriage.

SOOOOO…. It’s been tough around here lately.  I’m trying to get things squared away. Meanwhile I may have more time to write and pursue my business than ever before.  I think I’m due for a whole series on how to build a business while you have a job…

I’ll keep you guys posted.

Your thoughts and prayers are welcome as always…

- Ben Fitts

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