Yesterday I read one of the dumbest post on network marketing I’ve heard in quite awhile. It read three reasons people fail, while some of it was valid one part I have to disagree with.

Their argument was people fail because they are not using someone else’s marketing system. A marketing system that in reality actually promotes someone else…

…And they want network marketing leaders both large and small to bring them to their system. I’ve met a few of these so called leaders over the years whose only concern was, “how much money can I make off this?”

Ok, this is a business that is driven by profits, yet by taking this action who do you think your downline and prospects are going to be attracted to you or them?

Once they realize that you don’t have the answers, you’ve lost them. Granted no one can have all the answers, marketing is complex and there is truly a lot of garbage out there.

And sadly most of this training is designed to keep individuals dependent versus becoming independent. One of the reasons I stated the blog post I read was one of the dumbest comments I’ve heard.

Each person is responsible for their own success, and with success comes a confidence that cannot be taken away from you.

When you boil it all down you are an independent network marketer and so are your downline members!

Are you going to provide them and yourself with the resources to become truly independent marketers or a system that creates a dependency on someone else?

When you combine knowledge with action, it leads to independence. Which in turn leads to confidence and ultimately success. Isn’t that what you want for both your downline and yourself?

Ask yourself are you a network marketing leader who is empowering your downline or the leader who is setting them up for dependency and ultimate failure?

In the news yesterday was an article from the Associated Press. The article painted a bleak picture for the millions of Americans that are currently unemployed.

It states that a new finding a new job often means a pay cut, often accompanied with a relocation to a new area for a job.

They cited a few examples that indicated workers laid off during the 1981-82 recession earned 20 percent less, even 20 years after they where rehired.

Faced with the prospects that history will repeat itself…

…And, millions will be facing the cold hard reality that they will be earning 20 percent less over the coming decades you would think that this would make network marketing more attractive.

Quite possibly it could fill that 20 percent gap in income many are facing, or it could lead to a full time income completely replacing what they lost.

Still, what about those that have not lost their job, are they planning for the future? After all there is no guarantee of success in life!

What can we do to make network marketing attractive to millions of people that may already have a perception of it being a “Scam, Pyramid or Ponzi scheme?

We need to become professionals, not just act like it! Then and only then will the network marketing – MLM industry become attractive.

If your ready to become a true professional, here is the one company can help you reach that goal.

If I could only count the number of emails from network marketers that describe how to build perceived credibility. We really need to break this down.

What is the definition of perceived? In this case in means; To interpret or look on (someone or something) in a particular way. The Definition of credibility is; the quality of being trusted and believed in.

Yet, in the context of these emails, “which often contradict themselves within the same paragraph,” we are told to beg, borrow or steal this credibility.

We are going right back to the “Fake it Till You Make It Network Marketing Crowd!” Credibility has essentially two components trustworthiness and expertise.

By sending out the emails to you and I telling us to fake credibility in our network marketing business, it begs to ask the question, is the person sending them trustworthy or nothing more then a scam artist?

The second part expertise, this is simple to solve, with the right training, so why fake it. When you implement perceived credibility into your network marketing methods, you are in essence setting yourself up for failure long term!

Think about it, you sponsor Joe, because of a relationship that was built on false pretenses. Once this is discovered, where does it really leave you?

Once your trustworthiness is gone, it does not matter what you do, you’ve forever destroyed any trusting relationship with an individual!

So you have to search your soul and determine, is a short term gain really worth it if you have to sell your soul to get it?

You can build credibility in the network marketing industry by becoming knowledgeable in all aspects of it. By becoming as true network marketing professional, putting others first.

We have the ability to share with millions of others the joys of working from home a lifestyle that many aspire to. So take the time to think about your actions before you put in jeopardy, become the Leader that people are looking for, you’ll be glad you did!

Recently I was re-reading the book The Business School For People Who Like Helping People.

There was one section that led into another startling revelation.

People get started in network marketing for many different reasons, for many it is the money they can make.

Yet, the majority are never successful, something that has been well documented. In the book, he was talking about the difference in traditional schools.

The majority of schools teach you how to be an employee for the rich, and to seek out the schools that teach you how to become an entrepreneur.

When you look at the network marketing training today, if you look closely you can see this occurring now. We have trainers that tell you not to buy or work cold leads, they tell you to create your own, yet it is such a subtle hint that it is almost hidden.

In essence what the really teaching you is how to become their good little network marketer and promote their product. They really don’t want you to create advertising on your own, otherwise you would be competing with them right!

If you look at any business today, do they only market in one medium? Or do they employ multiple methods of reaching their market? Every successful business employs multiple methods do you?

Questions to Consider About Network Marketing Training

1.) When someone talks about you warm list and how you failed there and that you need to generate you own leads, what are they really saying?

What they really telling you without saying it is, “I don’t know how to teach you how to work your warm market!”

2.) When they tell you that buying leads sucks and only an idiot buys leads what they really are saying is;

They cannot teach you who is and who is not a prospect! They laugh at the three foot rule, yet tell you to follow everyone on social sites, um kind of the same thing isn’t it?

3.) If they tell you that search engine optimization is too complicated, what they’re really saying is;

We don’t know how to do it, or we know how to do it but will not share that with you.

4.) Can they tell you where you went wrong in your approach when marketing your products locally?

The answer to that is no!

I think you’re beginning to see the pattern, it requires multiple methods and knowledgeable trainers in all aspects of marketing to become successful! You need network marketing training that works, online, offline, warm market, and cold market!

Building a business by design requires a complete understanding of multiple methods. Placing all of your success into one or two methods is setting yourself up for failure.

If your serious about building your business, where do you want to get your education from? A system that teaches you to be a follower “fake it till you make it,” or would you rather be taught to be a true network marketing leader?

If your ready to begin building your business today, to become the network marketing leader you aspire to be! Then you need the source that has taught many within this industry, and has the track record to prove it.

Isn’t it time to get off the info product merry-go-round and build your network marketing business today?

One of the things that many do not think about is how their actions affect everyone in the network marketing industry. It really only takes a few bad apples to create a negative impression.

This was played out not too long ago with spam emails marketers would send. Fortunately many of the internet service providers, stepped up to the plate and implemented ways to minimize but not eliminate all of this.

When it comes to network marketing it is a shame that many view this as nothing more than a pyramid scheme, can you really blame them?

It has been pointed out many times individuals flashing big checks, fancy cars etc… hoping to entice you into joining their business. Some do it deliberately, others from inexperience. Yet each time we as network marketers allow it to continue, without challenging it, we in essence are allowing them to damage our profession. Each time we see someone to run an inflammatory ad without questioning them on it, we are just as guilty as they are!

You are not alone if you feel this way, other professionals throughout this industry are getting sick and tired of it. Have you ever questioned someone about their outrageous claim, when questioned, they run the other direction.

No wonder many companies do not allow their members to promote on the internet. A few bad apples, with no respect for anyone but themselves cause grief for many others. The companies do have to protect the company image, they have to protect themselves from possible legal action because of actions of a naive minority.

Small time marketers, generally get away with it, simply because they are not large enough to get caught yet! We can join forces band together and police our own backyard! When you see “CRAP” call them on it ask them to prove it or take it down. Be prepared though more then likely they’ll tell you to take a flying leap.

Such was the case with one of my former downline members when he was caught plagiarizing company material and posting it on the internet as his own. This action affected everyone within the company, one bad apple is all it takes.

Appearing credible and seen as a leader does not just apply to how you appear the other network marketers but also to the public as well. Your downline and others will follow the examples you set. You can see clear evidence of the bad apples in network marketing today, everywhere you look.

They are willing to exchange short-term profits for long term growth and respect as an industry. Their actions clearly indicate that they do not care what or whom it affects. Through attraction marketing they tend to attract others with the same moral characteristics.

Individuals who present themselves professionally will attract professionals. This is what most network marketers want when building a strong team, a team of leaders.

What can you do to help our network marketing profession?

Become a professional, a professional knows who is and who is not a prospect, they do not pitch their opportunity. They know how to approach people, the right questions to ask, to determine if they are indeed a prospect.

If you do not know how to do this, then you’ll need training and quite possibly coaching. Don’t fall into the trap of the fake it until you make it crowd, they are part of the problem not the solution.

Learning how to prospect, with a cold market, warm market, leads etc… not only helps you grow your business but also enriches your personal life. What you say and do does matter, and only an idiot would tell you it doesn’t.

Imagine if you will, you spend thousands of dollars to have someone write ad copy for you. You begin to generate prospects, yep you guessed it they might just want to talk to you. The best ad copy in the world cannot help you now, your credibility has just vanished the moment you open your mouth.

You do not have to be a silver tongued devil, but you do need to know how to effectively communicate and listen to your prospect or potential customer. So the choice is really yours, you can chose to become a professional network marketer, representing not only yourself but also this industry. Or you can join those in this industry that believe it is all about the money. What’s your choice, will you help or hurt the network marketing image?

Do you have anything to fear today as a small group leader? In many ways, you do! One of the complaints I hear often from small to large group leaders is;

• Their downline is going in different directions.
• No one is on the same page or method.
• They are leaving to pursue other business opportunities.

While these issues have always been there, they really are starting to take their toll on many individuals within network marketing. Today there are so many groups whose sole purpose is to contact network marketers with the sole purpose of sucking them out of your organization into theirs.

Our downlines are pursuing almost anything with a promise of success yet what is happing is they are pulled into different directions and often many other companies. Ultimately they end up failing, spending up to thousands of dollars and time, while following unproven marketing practices.

Every leader in network marketing wants their downline to succeed, yet it is often impossible to provide the constant one on one coaching that is necessary. We also have to face the cold hard facts that what may work for you will not work for everyone!

Most if not all network marketing companies provide training, most is not really specific to what is needed at specific individuals current level. What it really comes down to is, how bad do you want to keep your downline intact?

What options, do you have available to help both your downline, yourself grow and prosper in the face of ever increasing competition?

• You can chose to do nothing and hope for the best!
• You can let them get their training from many different sources.
• You can let them spend their marketing budget, testing someone else’s ideas!

Or

• You can tap them into training resource that has 15 years of experience.
• You can bring them to a company that has spent of $10 million dollars testing what works and what doesn’t!
• Each member of your downline could be tapped into their own personal training program tailored to them!

With today’s uncertainty in the economy we all have hard decisions to make. Those with the knowledge will succeed, will your group be one of them?