How successful would you like your home-based enterprise to be?
What is it that some people do to become successful while so many others struggle and become frustrated, overwhelmed, and stuck in analysis of paralysis?
Are you treating your Network Marketing venture like a regular business or do you consider it a hobby?
Here are a few suggestions and recommendations of what I’ve done over the years to develop a full-time career income and so have many other successful entrepreneurs in the Direct Selling – Network Marketing profession who have earned 6 and 7 figure incomes.
Everything starts by treating your network marketing enterprise like a regular business and that means making sure it is set up like a business right from the beginning.
If your plan is to attract the right kinds of people i.e.: entrepreneurs, business professionals, and those seeking to become entrepreneurs and business owners, into your business, it best that you present yourself as a professional right from the start.
Every wise business owner starts with a plan for success, sets their goals, and puts them in writing.
These goals can even be shared with a trusted confidant, business coach, pastor, or family member to help them stay accountable and stay on track.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” God honors a Plan. Without a clear concise plan, confusion is inevitable.
-Every serious business person starts with writing a ‘business plan’ – goals and plans are extremely important for your success because they give you a road map to follow and keep you on a clear path. Of course, when goals are met, other goals are set, some goals may not come to fruition due to some unforeseen circumstance. Any course of action can always be re-adjusted.
Once your plan is in place it’s time to start taking some ACTION by following the plan to achieve your goals!
Setting up a qualified home office: (qualified meaning for tax purposes. There are a lot of great tax advantages available to home business owners so make sure to be informed so you do not miss out on thousands of dollars you could be keeping in your bank account. Always seek the advice of an accountant for home business tax questions. See below for a recommendation of someone I’ve known since 1998.)
-Obtain a separate phone line – which may be required for tax purposes – (check with your accountant).
This is important because you do not want your children or anyone else answering your business line or on your voice mail. That does not present a professional image and you may not be able to deduct that expense if it is considered a home phone. *Again consult your accountant.
-Put a professional outgoing message on your voice mail. No kids, dogs, husbands, family, or other non-professional agenda on your business voice mail. For instance, “You’ve reached the home office of ________. I am currently not available to take your call. Please leave a message with your phone number even if you think I have it and the reason for your call and I will get back to you. Looking forward to speaking with you soon!
-Voice mailbox 800# are good to use for advertising, business cards, and flyers. This way you do not have people calling your phone line at all hours of the day and night and they cannot trace you to your home line for safety reasons. *Optional business expense.
-Use a professional email address – preferably your first and last name or your business name – it is better not to use anything hokey for a business email address. I always use my first and last name. This also helps to brand your personal or business name.
-Set up a separate office area in your home. I use one of the bedrooms exclusively for my office. – this can be required for tax purposes – *check with your accountant
-Business cards – all professionals use them and preferably order them from your company or printing service and not printed on your computer – business cards are one of the most inexpensive tools available to a business entrepreneur. Vista Print has affordable options.
-Order appropriate sales aids from your company – *ask your mentors what they use and recommend or use what is appropriate for your situation.
-Keep a file folder with all your business receipts for the year. Keep a mileage chart if you are using your vehicle for business.
-Online marketing systems can duplicate your efforts effectively. This helps saves time because these systems send out messages for you while you are doing other tasks to build your business or spending time with your family. These systems all have an opt-out link for people who are no longer interested or have already joined you in your business. The best thing is when your company offers these online systems for free and some require a nominal fee (business expense). They are set up ready for you to plugin, add your bio and photo, and start promoting your business and products. In the old days, those of us who are pioneers were putting these systems together ourselves. It took hours and hours of our time. It is also important to be professional when networking and marketing on social media. Just a bit of social media etiquette goes a long way to show someone’s integrity. For instance, on Facebook always be considerate of other networkers who are posting about their business on their own personal profiles and never ever post a link to your personal website unless you have gotten permission from them first to do so.
-Company events and company conventions – remember these expenses are most likely all tax-deductible for business owners. Keep all receipts when traveling. It helps to write on each receipt what it was for. – *check with your accountant. My husband is a professional licensed Land Surveyor and attends these types of events yearly to keep up with his education, etc. So do real estate and other professionals.
-Webinars, Conference calls, zoom training especially when first starting out, and if you’re an experienced Network Marketer and have joined a new company attend all calls to become familiar with the new company and product you are promoting. Your organization will also see you attending calls and will most likely follow in your footsteps if they are serious about becoming successful. (Remember you are an advisor and a messenger, not their boss). Each person must decide and take these steps for themselves based on their own personal goals.
-When first starting out try to spend 80% of your time prospecting for customers and business partners. Personally, I love working with people I enjoy hanging out with, so I am a bit picky when it comes to business partners. Seek out customers who are looking for your product or service.
-Sponsor two, three, or five people depending on your company’s compensation plan and plug them into a SYSTEM that duplicates, help them to sponsor some people, and then sponsor some more and keep on doing the same thing and teaching others to do the same. Remember that customers will be the backbone of your business. Having a real reliable product that develops a long-term loyal customer who orders products over and over because of the results they see is the key to retention in any solid business.
This way you are plugging people in that you sponsor and some of these people will duplicate (not all will, some will remain customers for life if you have a product of real value that gets results). This is when leverage starts to develop.
-Get with your sponsor and leaders to work with you in the beginning if necessary. Ask for coaching when you need it. They want to help you to succeed because when you succeed, they succeed too. Remember they are usually busy but not too busy to notice a squeaky wheel!
-You may even want to consider setting up an LLC or Corporation instead of filing as a Sole Proprietor. *this really depends on each person’s goals. Speak with an accountant about some options or check out something like Legal Zoom for more information.
Be coachable if inexperienced, stay positive, believe in yourself, believe in your success, believe in God’s plan for your life to succeed, continue to learn and grow, don’t give up too soon. If someone is not successful it could because they are not coachable, have not set up their plan, refuse to plugin properly and/or they just give up and quit way too soon and some hop from company to company every other month looking for the greener grass. The only time I would recommend considering a change is if there is some serious issue going on with a company, an upline, sponsor, etc., or there is no belief in the products a company distributes. Always seek advice and wisdom about this from someone who has been through the hoops.
Are you planning to improve the quality of your life? How can you be of service to others and impact their lives for the better? When getting started think about WHY this is important to you?
Never Give Up!
Sue
Sue Seward
http://www.glutenfreelady.com
Copyright © 2020 by Sue Seward. All Rights Reserved.
She is semi-retired and living a good life in Spicewood Texas with her husband of forty years and their Aussie dog Titan. They raised two sons together.
Sue was a co-author contributor to the Direct Selling Women's Alliance book 'Build It Big' - 101 Insider Secrets From Top Direct Selling Experts & a trainer on their Mentored By The Master Series CD.
She’s been a contributing writer for The Network Marketing Business Journal, Home Business Magazine, MLMWoman.com, and TheNetworkMarketingMagazine.com.
Sue has been interviewed on several home business radio shows since 2001. To find out more visit her blogs at -http://www.sueseward.com and/or http://www.glutenfreelady.com
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- Don’t Ever Give It Up! Give It Time! By Sue Seward - September 30, 2019
