The Internet Mashup & MLM
So I’m actually in San Francisco at the Web 2.0 Expo, masterminding about where the future of the Internet is going. The best minds in the space from all over the world are here this week.
I heard a fascinating keynote from Tim O’Reilly, some thought-provoking insights from John Maeda on running a design school like an open source project, and was very pleasantly surprised by the innovative and brilliant thinking we got from Stephen Elop of Microsoft. Along the way I had an interesting workshop on Twitter from Sarah Milstein who was user #24.
Although I couldn’t write code if my life depended on it, I decided to go into a programmer track presented by Aza Raskin, who is head of user interfaces for Mozilla Labs. Glad I did, as he did a demo of their new Ubiquity software that is totally off the chain, and he’s flat out freaking genius.
I’m here because I lead a large organization and run my team site, and I’m interested where the social media sites will evolve to. It’s a fascinating time, and I saw some stuff here that is completely rad, like the new Microsoft Surface. (For you guys that saw that last Bond flick, that’s what the agent was using when he was touching the screen on the table to generate the video display to show M the currency they traced and where the guy ended up in Haiti.)
I have spent a lot of reflective time thinking on what the future of the web will be, and how it will impact us in this business. And frankly I am very scared…
I’m scared because I see even my own team is getting distracted by all this.
I’m a big proponent of the social media sites like Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook. But I see them in a very specialized application for our business. They are great to:
- Meet people & expand your warm market
- Stay in touch with friends
- Stay in touch with your team
- Communicate easier across distances
In other words, the Internet is just a tool to facilitate the way you building the business, BUT USING THE SAME STRATEGIES YOU DO ONLINE AS YOU DO OFFLINE.
Keep two very important things in mind:
1) If you want true duplication, you must always follow the formula for duplication:
Lead a large group of people, to do a few simple actions consistently, over a sustained period of time.
2) The Internet works best if you simply use it as a way to expand your warm market and develop real relationships.
Things like spamming people, posting your obnoxious links all over the net, Pay Per Click advertising, buying leads, and renting email lists won’t work the same and your duplication will suffer.
If you think you need to build a custom website, your duplication will suffer…
If you think you need a blog, your duplication will suffer…
If you think you need an auto responder program, your duplication will suffer…
If you think you need a shopping cart, your duplication will suffer…
If you think you need to learn Search Engine Optimization, your duplication will suffer…
There are some things that we can do as team leaders to facilitate the growth of our teams. I’ll explore some of them in future posts. But for now, please don’t get seduced by the dark side of the force.
The business is built in the livings rooms and hotel ballrooms. It’s built with relationships. The people telling you that you can build a group sitting at home on your ass in your bunny slippers have never done that. That’s all just pretty talk to sell you their crap. Stick to the foundational things that have worked for half a century, and will continue to work for another half a century.
-RG
P.S. Look at the top right of this page for the blue box. If you put your name and email there, you’ll get an update whenever I make a new post.
I agree Randy the basics will not change in this industry for long term residual income, relationship foundation is the key, I have utilized the internet greatly with my business however, after topping 1/2 billion in sales in my organization the last 8 years when I reflect back and see where the consistent exploding volume is being created around the globe it is the groups that are consistently building through Hotel & home presentations along with major events. Although keep in mind the internet is a tool that is educating the masses in our industry globally which is raising the conscious level of all these emerging markets which bodes well for the future of this industry.
Good for you, Randy, for being open to learning about the new tools and the power of web 2.0. You are absolutely right, it is certainly a venue to expand your warm market.
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and others are connecting millions of people at an astounding rate.
I have to say that I respectfully disagree with your take on how businesses are being built and will continue to be built in the future. I am one of those “bunny slipper wearers” and I have built my network marketing business fully online for the past five years. I have never presented at or even attended a hotel meeting and I have no desire to do so.
What you are contending is that because education, for example, has worked so well over the past century that it will continue to work just as well in the next century. As a former public school teacher, I fear that the US is being left behind in a big way. Those who believe that old school is the only way are raising a generation of students who think book knowledge will give them a good “job” when, in actuality, teaching students HOW to think, HOW to solve problems as well as HOW to relate to others is what will give that student success.
Mr. Gage, those that continue to focus fully on hotel meetings, living rooms or coffee shop presentations will be left behind. You don’t need to give them up if they work for you, but stiff arming the future will only leave you empty handed and wondering why that “young kid” is at that top of your company.
To reach this new generation you need to speak their language. Will you be speaking the language of old school or new school?
Amen!
I agree with some of your post and have to disagree with other parts of your post. I agree that “the Internet is just a tool to facilitate the way you building the business, USING THE SAME STRATEGIES YOU DO ONLINE AS YOU DO OFFLINE.” However, your last paragraph is an exaggeration because their are lots of people online that have built full time and even six and seven figure network marketing incomes sitting at home in their boxers. I left the corporate rat race a many moons ago (no pun intended) building my business online without doing a single living room or hotel meeting, and I have thousands of distributors all over the world, all of them came to me ONLINE. Randy, the days of building businesses in hotel rooms are on their way out. It’s a good thing you went to the web 2.0 expo because you have just seen the tip of the iceberg as to what is coming with building any business online including network marketing businesses. I would even go a step further and say that unless one gets hip to building online they will be left behind within the next 10 years in this industry. Of course knowing how to build offline is of CORE IMPORTANCE because if you can’t do it offline can’t build online either, but if it wasn’t for the web I’d be just another burnt out networker going to same ole hotel rah rah meetings. But now instead of chasing prospects, they chase me. Learn how to leverage the net or be behind the huge paradigm shift. Be ahead of the trend or one of the few holding on to the old methods. The old school guys may totally agree with all of your statements but there is a huge wave of “new marketing” method pros that would never go to a hotel meeting for MLM even if their life depended on it and I am one of hundreds of thousands growing that would never go to a hotel meeting either.
Randy,
I agree, and believe the next three to five years will be filled with change, and change brings uncertainty, and uncertainty brings most people to a standstill.
However, hotel meetings will never cease to be the backbone of our profession, we are after all a people business and people need to get together, that will not stop.
During this time of uncertainty with Web2.0 and the direction it will take our prospects, there will come a time when many of the team members who are plain-getting-it-wrong will suffer from cabin fever. They will take off their fluffy bunny slippers and get back to talking to people.
In the meantime there are a lot who are getting it right, there are plenty who are making the right moves to expand their warm market online. These players will be new leaders in this new era. Of course there is piles of ‘nonsense & crap’ surrounding this ‘new way’ but that has always been the way in MLM. We attract it to us, it cannot be avoided.
An acceptable and duplicatable way of ‘doing things’ online will appear and rule supreme. Our prospects will see to that! Leaders will see to it to…
I, like others have many years of perspective in MLM to reflect back over previous times of change and unrest. This is the biggest change by far but the pattern will be the same. The outcome will be the same, MLM leaders (new and old) will find a way to cut through the silliness and find the intelligent.
A lot of education is needed now to ensure we get this moment right. MLM is a tough old lady and will reward those who tenaciously hang in and get it right.
Speak soon Randy…
Thanks Randy. This confirms the suspicion I had with my previous group in USANA. Their prospecting involves Pay Per Click advertising, buying leads, build a custom website, need an auto responder program. Everything you wrote above!
No wonder only one person achieve the pin rank of Gold Director in Malaysia and the rest Silver and below. (Read: No Ruby, Emerald or Diamonds) But I went along because I wanted to be ‘teachable’.
Finally the straw that broke the camel’s back came was when one upline started to de-edify other trainers to feed his ego.
Luckily I had your book and audios to help me realise that I had to leave this group.
Thanks Randy.
Raymond,
I am SO sorry that you had a bad experience with USANA. It just goes to show that there are good teams and bad teams in every company.
I’m writing a book on network marketing as an industry, so I love hearing other people’s stories, good and bad. My own story is a mixed bag. I got involved with USANA over six years ago but then allowed myself to get lured in to other opportunities over the years. Many came and went, but by early last year (2008) I was actively promoting four companies. When I started outlining my book, I decided to apply my own criteria for choosing a network marketing opportunity to the four companies I was involved with. It wasn’t even close: USANA ran screaming to the top.
So I’m with USANA for life. My own upline is virtually nonexistent (another reason I haven’t had the level of success many do after six years), so I’m developing my own system. Randy is right about duplication being key. But it’s duplication that acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of the people involved. I’m a technogeek, so websites and search engines and social networking and autoresponders all make sense to me. But people in my organization that prefer hotel meetings get my undivided support. In fact I regularly speak at our Health & Freedom Thursdays.
Anyway, Raymond, I wish you well in whatever company replaced USANA for you. Sign up for e-mail alerts on my website and I’ll let you know when my book is ready.
In health and prosperity,
Carl
Hi Carl,
I haven’t given up on USANA yet. I looking for a team that uses Randy’s system in USANA Malaysia but I haven’t found any.
I’m considering about signing up with someone in the US (His name was mentioned in the ‘Escape the Rat Race’ audio) or signing up with someone in Malaysia who is willing to adopt Randy’s system.
Hi Randy,
As always, I love reading your posts. Thank you again, for always looking out for our best interest and sharing things to help us become successful. I personally believe your statements are correct. Thank you very much. Hope you have a great trip while there. Lisa
Sorry , Randy
I am not sure I agree …….
If you think you need a blog, your duplication will suffer…
If you think you need an auto responder program, your duplication will suffer…
If you think you need a shopping cart, your duplication will suffer…
These is a blog ,isn’t ?? Do you seel a lot of products on your website , didn’t you ???
Duplication will suffer ?? Are you sure you are doing what you teach ???
Else , duplication will suffer
After attending the Mega MLM weekend – and spending 3 full days working with Randy – I can truly see that he has built his networking marketing business WITHOUT these things. Randy is an advocate for the profession and is doing what he does best through his tools and his blog – which is education about the profession and attempting to clean it up. The tools are made availible for those who are building other businesses – remember, he is all about making the pie bigger!!
You will notice that this is a generic training blog, and all of my materials are generic as well. I do run a blog, website, auto responders, etc. But those are to support the publishing company that provides my training materials. You’ll notice that I do not ever mention or promote my MLM network in any of these venues. I do it by the same methods I am teaching to you.
-RG
Only one problem with your response to Randy, you failed to remember the saying, “Those that can do, and those that can’t, teach.”
Randy is a “generic” guru. He doesn’t lead a team, he teaches everyone else how to lead a team.
Admittedly, Randy has had success in building teams. That isn’t up for debate.
Just remember- it is up to each leader to “wash the feet” of their team by serving them.
I remember well your million dollar tip: “The most important question to ask yourself is not whether it works. The most important question to ask yourself is whether it duplicates”.
That took me a year to learn. Of course I had heard it, could repeat it, and dish it out in our trainings, but took a full year before I got that aha moment.
I agree that you have reason to be scared, simply because we are all programmed to look for what works, always the expedient over the profound.
There was a time when I caught myself responding in my thoughts to your coaching with a whining “Huh! Here I am, doing something that works, and he tells me I am wrong! How about patting me on the back for a change? What does he want anyway?” That was in that year before I “got it”.
I was listening to Jim Rohn’s classic on Building Your Network Marketing Business in which he says in praise of network marketing that it is a place for our personal “ingenuity”. He means well of course and I couldn’t agree more, but how a listener could hear it as an endorsement for plunging into all the bright ideas around Web 2.0 and more at the cost of duplication!
The gratification we get from doing something that works can really blind us to the fact that not only does it not duplicate, it can actually sabotage whatever duplication we have already built!
KH
We use the internet as well as the old school way of networking.
Not everyone has the patients and skill level to build a successful business on or off line. Proper training is a must.
Many get a web site and think it will make them millions. It is the build it and they will come mentality. They still must market and advertise to get quality, targeted traffic to view their site.
Many surf the internet and spend hours on face book and other social gathering sites and think they are working their business. It is not.
We use the internet as one of many tools. If used properly will gain qualified leads to come your way, build your warm market list and make new friends. If done correctly will get your phone to ring.
If used incorrectly will be a huge time waster and can loose a lot of money on scams that promise the world.
To build a successful team we feel a well rounded approach of using many tools on line and off line will help find more qualified prospects. To just rely on internet marketing to build a business is leaving 2/3 of the market for others to contact.
Hello Zig,
It’s good to have a contrary opinion here. The Acid Test however would be not how much you are making, but how many people you have empowered in your team. If your method has raised leaders who have SURPASSED you, then I would definitely look at the NEW WAVE more closely.
The other snag for you would be international sponsoring in parts of the world (like mine – Africa) where internet density is still rather low…
I agree with you on making prospecting as simple as it can. But on the other I think network marketers really need to learn more about internet marketing to expand their business.
Have you heard of every business needs a blog? A blog is a very good channel to build relationship with your prospects and customers.
Moreover, auto responder is the life of many marketers, without it there’s no automation.
So I disagree with you on some of the things you said.
BTW, good post anyway. Of course duplication is the key to more leverage.
Randy, being a speaker, presenting in hotel rooms, doing presentations in your home is NOT for everyone and is NOT duplicatable either. Duplication is surely a principle. The form will change depending on the person. No two people are similar. I know of many who have given up on Agel because they do not feel comfortable doing PBRs at home
Sorry for the intrusion, but I am trying to contact Peter Jones. The Peter I am looking for had connections to Silverstone and was a high level marketeer. Please feel free to delete this post, but I would much appreciate it if you would pass on my e-mail address to him or let me have his. We were involved some 15 years ago with Nightstick MLM.
Thanks
While I really agree with you that the relatively new social media buzz out there can be very distracting, and in effect contribute to a loss of duplication, I definitely disagree with your statement that “you can build a group sitting at home on your ass in your bunny slippers have never done that”.
This is inaccurate and offensive for a number of reasons.
First, this is completely NOT true. I personally know a large number of people who use the internet to successfully build large organizations. Once they have mastered the new skills required to do this, building an organization “the old school way” seems inefficient and costly (buying all those leads!!).
Second, you are incorrectly implying that all they do is sit on their asses, do nothing, and collect fat paycheques. That’s just silly, condescending and inaccurate!!
They chose to work hard and efficiently. They find it slightly foolish to “spam” everyone with a pulse…you know, the 3 foot rule. They only work with people who have shown an interest in what they have to offer, and refuse to chase down cousin Billy who has never expressed an interest in building a business.
I believe a more healthy approach would be to say that doing both methods (if you choose) is a more intelligent way to successfully build a business in MLM.
Besides, duplication is an overused and misunderstood word in MLM. I find it extremely difficult to duplicate: picking up the 500 lb. phone, doing effective presentations, overcoming objections, holding hotel meetings etc. To me, these skills are just as unduplicatable as anything you need to learn to build a business on the internet.
Systems are duplicatable, not necessarily people!
Hi Folks,
you can promote your company website for better duplication and get broke
you can be on the newsletters from others and help build them their list. – and get broke
you can tell your downline, they do not need their own blog, should not do PPC, should not doing CEO. and get broke
the point is to learn how to use this tools and teach your team how to use the internet.
you can loose a lot money if you don`t know how to do PPC advertising.
you can waste a lot of time on socialwebsites, blogging, writing articels ect… if you don`t know how to do it.
but you can learn this stuff and teach your team the same. we use a SYSTEM to teach our team. we just give them everything they need to learn and do all this stuff right. if they can follow the step by step tutorials, they have results.
this is very duplicable for everybody.
CU on Top
Hansjoerg
Your fears are mine!
I’m so glad I didn’t miss your email update… as I’ve been growing my new little newbs, and working on building the team site, I’ve been stressing the same things to them. The web is just another T-O-O-L. Don’t get caught up in the “status” of having your own site.
With all of the applications out there to “Build Your Own Website” — they see the team site and think *THEY* are supposed to build one too. I have to continually stress to them that the entire POINT of the team site is so they can simply POINT **THEIR** new people to it, and they can follow along with the same exact training.
This article was an excellent touchstone for me, a reminder to keep reminding them: DUPLICATION IS THE KEY.
See you on the path!
I’m confused.
I’ve been in internet marketing for a while now but I’m new to network marketing.
Are you saying that you DON’T need an autoresponder or a blog for network marketing online? Please clarify.
Thanks 🙂
Yes that is EXACTLY what I am saying. Please see my comment above.
-RG
I may and have been wrong however when you strictly work online does it not have the tendency of becoming more of a “job” that you turn off at the end of the day? regardless of the income level? I am a network marketer. It’s a part of who I am therefore it never gets turned off whether I’m in front of a computer or at a grocery store.
Great blog post.
Joyce Penner
Randy ,great comments my sponser is my friend and he thinks the way to the business is like you said not to do it automated sit on your azz and collect a checks i know better people need simple steps to follow .
Thanks Randy for your insight on whats new and exciting in the Universe of Web 2.0 the good, the bad, and the ugly.
As a tool, I see the internet as an awesome way to make exposures, contacts, build friendships and life time relationships.
I also feel the dark side, the failure and frustration of being bombarded with so much information that overwhelm and paralysis sets in, duplication is just a catch word. It’s like using a sawed off shot gun, theres no specific pattern to model.
If used wisely, we can build the culture that duplicates, and having 200 or 20,000 affiliates fill a hotel room or stadium will be easier than ever before.
The difference being we are attracting a group of people who are already sold on the idea of Network Marketing, who have skills and experience, and have been working on their personal growth awhile, where before it was more like trying to herd possums! The average Joe just doesn’t get it.
If focus is the real issue, a duplication system must point to a strategy that is proven and mastered, before venturing into another strategy. Learning a handful of techniques over time is a way to focus and expand your network methodically.
The fear lies in the hype and promise of so many affiliate programs that preach multiple streams of income, a recipe for frustration and failure in an age of information overload.
The path is littered with obstacles, false trails, and pitfalls, like climbing Everest you have to step over the frozen dead bodies of the victims as you make your way to the summit.
Randy,
Great post and insights. I have found the internet to be an amazing tool for building a network marketing business. It has allowed me and my team to invite people to Hotel meetings all over the country and world.
It has alllowed us to invite others to our trainings and show them how to do the same. The spammers are the same people who pitch anybody and everybody offline they just do it online as well.
Most of them quit with in a month and someone new takes their place. The Biggest hurdle in network marketing is finding people to talk to about our business and facebook, twitter ect. make it easier.
In my opinion learning to use the internet ( SEO, Blogging,Autoresponders) no different then learning other skills necessary to have the success you have had.
To have more you must become more.
Thanks for all you do!
Paul
The old 3 ft rule was well before most had phones and no one even thought of a no-call list. There were no personal computers, no internet, no social media sites. These are all new vehicles to the message delivery, not to the message or the messenger. Today within 3 feet of us is the world, via the telephone or the internet. Today we all are owners of the media, we each have a radio and television station plus an e-newspaper right in front of us.
Our friend “Ranting Randy” uses it to deliver his messages to the world daily, but is it how he built his business? No, he started where he was and with what he had, which wasn’t very much. He spent time and money working on building his business and himself, and still does today! Just ask Randy what book he’s reading this week. Most who enter this industry, enter just like Randy did with a desire to change something and little else. If someone told a newbie Randy years ago that he needed to buy leads, build a site, write a blog or puchase an autoresponder, You probably would not be reading him now!
There are no silver bullets, no secrets to doing this business. Yet because of the World Wide Web we are subject to 1000’s of marketers, and not neccessarily network marketers, who have found a niche, speak the lingo, and offer their proven systems, software, sites, dialers, leads, all the silver bullets to making a change in building your business. In most cases the only thing that changes is the money in your pocket changes to their pockets.
Start where you are, with what you have.
Randy, am very glad you wrote this post. Am sending out to our entire team here in Asia. Love – JL
Just checking in on the comments so far…
I’m delighted to see such a spirited discourse and always happy to see contrary views posted. As a rule, I don’t delete comments that are critical of me, or suggesting different opinions. However, I have deleted a couple posts from people promoting a course that is exactly the kid of crap I am talking about. It’s put out by a huckster who is a parasite to our profession, and sells to unwary victims looking for a shortcut to success.
Also I should point out that the focus of this blog is for MLM professionals that want to do this at a big level. So I’m not impressed because someone has used PPC advertising, or Spam techniques to build a bonus check that reached $5,000 or $10,000 once or twice. I’m teaching how to consistently earn bonus checks of at least $30,000 or $40,000 a month, and hopefully over $100,000 a month, as I do. More importantly, it isn’t just about you getting a big check. It is having real duplication on your team and having people coming up the ranks and duplicating your success. So on that basis, let the dialogue continue!
-RG
Randy,
I don’t know if you remember me, I know you talk to a ton of people. I was on a 3-way call with you and Julie about 6 months back. Well anyways.
You have really hit it right on the money with this one. I am so sick and tired of these “Scare Tactic Internet marketers” that if I ever meet one I might punch them right in the jaw. And your absolutely right about the big bonus checks. Every Millionaire I have meet in this business and have a solid relationship with do none of this internet stuff. They are 100% committed to PBR’s and local business briefings.
Why isnt there anything we can do to clean it up?
Thanks for the information Randy and keep up the good work. You have just gain a new fan, take care
Charles
Hi Randy,
Met U in Helsinki 08. Thx for your educational session.
This time you are writing correctly about the internet and the info flow.
I´ ve bee in Mlm many ears and I also owned a MLM company based upon the internet and GSM mobile phone traffic. I fully agree what you noticed. I now started seiously to wokrk with Agel and will do so as long as I live or Agel is alive.
We make PBR at my friends apartements and it works very well. We alweays sign new persons that way. I mus tell Yuo that allthough I personally know the internet world very well I never use the internet in my PBR approach. It is beacuse i Found out eralier that so so so so many persons in my age (50+ / thos who reps 64% of gobal poulation and have their monies ready for opportunities ) have all the energy of learning Agel´s duplication / PBR but they really are lousy with internet usage. At the same time they don´t want to “get caught” of not knowing the internet genre. The only usage of internet is when I HELP THEM to see HOW TO SIGN UP some persons to Agel so they will learn that. In my material bag I ALWAYS carry anyhof the paper version APPLICATION forms to ensure success and to calm them down if I find them ners´vous about Internet. The start to duplicate the HOME GATHERINGS because thay like the way I proceed the situation. I therefore have a very short encouranging POWER POINT to be projected on the wall from my or their PC.
It merely explains some real facts about this industry, associations connected to it , the history look out (Carl Rehnborg 1949, California Vitamines >> Nutrilite>>>Amway) and some value chain differences clarifications. Their skepsisim is wiped away during that 15 minutes. Then it´s easier to convince them about Agel. Athe atmosphere is smooth, and the small talk is done.
I know this field too U see.
Internet is merely a tool in communication between Agel an me and a source of tailored information from Agel. ( Too much info in fact allthoug it should never bee too much HEH!?!).
Your Down Line ID 292120
Johannes Felix Linden
Finland
former Director of Board WFDSA & DSA Finland
For the rest of my life; I am Agel
Hello Randy:
This all comes down to what you wrote in your Manifesto about how we need to treat network marketing as a profession. I agree that this a relationship business – for those of us who are interested in long term growth. Unfortunately there are a lot of jerks in our business who use social networks as spamming tools, landing sites with pictures of stacks of cash, web sites claiming to make anyone rich. I recently started listening to your CD series, “Duplication Nation” which is designed to help build a network marketing business worth $250,000 a year. I almost didn’t buy it because of that claim. Some former network marketer’s who have made their millions prey on others to make them rich IF you purchase their systems. I get their emails all the time, just got one today from a well know woman network marketer selling her new system that will make me rich via the internet and social network sites. Where does it end? Who are we supposed to know who to trust? Using the internet for our business in a responsible and professional method is the best way to build our business. If you can figure out a way to sift through all the scams that are out there and eliminate the sleaze factor with distributors – you’d be doing a huge service to our industry.
It’s the first time that I’m 100 percent agree with Randy. Marketing academics and network marketers thoughts are converging faster than ever before. Markets will be built based on relationships rather than exchanges. Technology will be useful to control the mass communication. You could create e-relationships and I’m sure It takes you the same time you need on a real one if you want to create real value.
No one would think they needed all of that stuff if the “standard” stuff worked for a lot of people. It doesn’t.
Done.
You are comparing apples with pears. You can draw a hotel crowd most of us can’t therefore the premise of your argument falls at the first fence I feel.
A much as I follow your blog and love your teaching I hate to disagree with you on this Randy.
The world is changing and we need to change according to it. Same thing goes with network Marketing. I read elsewhere about the different phases of network marketing. It showed how network marketers evolved from traditional Amway Door to Door sales to Hotel Opportunity meetings and so on.
Internet is just another phase change and we need to learn the new tricks of the trade. Take leverage of them and use it to build our network marketing business.
Though I agree with you that this business will always be a relationship business. My point here is there is no better way available than the internet to do it quickly. I would never have known you if it was not for this blog of yours 🙂
I don’t know when Away was a door to door, Fuller Brush maybe, but Amway’s roots were about relationships and home meetings.
I you can build a real relationship through Internet, more power to you. There are always exceptions to the rule.
I always think twice when questioning someone who has created a multiple times a million dollar a year business, like Randy has. I don’t know of very many people you can go to who has done this.
Although I have a downline of 40,000 + after 4 1/2 years of traditional part time building in the current business I am in, I find it interesting that people will always look for a better way, the latest and greatest way to build and disregard what the mega producers (the Randy gages) are willing teach and coach.
Great topic!
I want to add, from my experience… and the MLM pros I have met in person the ones following the system and using one that allows a large group of individuals to do a few (as possible) simple actions over substained time have true success and have many individuals under them with similar results and many time better than their own. As well have true sipping drinks from a coconut money, there organization continues to grow when you are gone and retired.
I also would ask those that have disagreed or said they have successes with their internet ways do u have duplication and how many team members have the same success and if you stop tomorrow how long will it continue to grow ???
PS. in regards to apples to pears your wrong if you follow the system you to will fill the hotel business receptions over and over!
Hi Randy,
Thanks for the information, to my side i think Internet is people’s shopping like any other place we go to meet people but the key think is after you have interest that person- for sure we need to meet and make plans.
thanks and plan to come to Africa to educate us.
Lightness
Randy,
I’ve been a “student” of yours since 2002 and much of your teachings have come via the internet. As I have with much that I learned from you over the years, I agree with you here.
This is a hi-tech, hi-touch business. People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
Having read many of the comments here, I learned that low density internet
areas such as Africa, can be left out of the internet revolution. I also understand the need to meet people where they are, but that dosen’t mean we have to keep them there.
I agree with you 100% that the real value we offer is in relationship building.
Today, because of the interenet I can start building a relationship anywhere, (hi-tech) but to develop loyalty and by extention, a large continually growing organization, I better be able to get my people to a place where they can meet regularly. Simply put we are social beings.
I love my bunny slippers, but I also love coffee after the meeting with my team.
Right on Derrick!!
I too, have read most of the comments and find that we will have a divided opinion on this issue. I too, feel like a fish out of the water when I try to learn the “internet way” of prospecting. Nothing can replace the solid, meaningful relationships that will form when we meet, interview, sponsor and help our downline succeed. How much money do we need to be successful? Find inner peace? Fullfillment? Maybe because I’m 63 and stumbled through life long enough to know I don’t need THAT much to feel successful, to enjoy life. We live in such an impatient world. Far too many of us expect instant gratification. I’ll take a smaller, committed downline any day over a bigger, uncertain downline.
May we all succeed, but see if those “warm fuzzys” we get when we watch our people grow before our very eyes is worth it our not.
Hi again, Randy.
I just read through the comments here and saw you last comment about the “huckster” who is a “parasite” to the profession etc.
I didn’t see the links people posted but I believe you are referring to the Renegade Professional course? If so, I’m genuinely curious to understand why you feel this way. I bought in and I have to tell you that it is the MOST comprehensive training in internet marketing that I have ever seen online. They cover just about everything. I’m wondering why you think it’s so awful? Is it the fact that they are promoting using the internet to succeed in network marketing? I’m beginning to understand that you see things differently and I’d like to learn more about your perspective. BUT, to call someone a huckster is pretty serious. Can you back this up?
Please see the next post.
-RG
Randy,
I respectfully disagree with your assessment. Do you truly believe that duplication is not possible with the internet? Do you really believe people still want to attend hotel meetings (when they aren’t even your target market) do you really believe your message getting to thousands across the world instead of 2 or 3 uninterested prospects isn’t better?
this is a blog, you use an autoresponder, you are asking us to subscribe to your RSS feed, you sell numerous products on your website….
Practicing what you preach?
Randy is not using the techniques to build his MLM Business…he is using them for his publishing company. I wish people would understand that!!
This would be considered having multiple streams of income which is a common practice for those who utilize attraction marketing. Many individuals use the internet to sell products / training / coaching in addition to attracting people to their network marketing business. In otherwords, you are not soley relying upon your MLM as a source of income! Rany simply promotes using the more traditional methods of hotel meetings and presentations to build a network marekting business.
Anita is actually correct in her comments.
Anita I have to agree with you!
What people do not understand is that what Randy is doing at this site is not far off from what others do to build their network marketing business on-line. He is using this site as a form of income as well as generating leads for future sales of his products. Having multiple streams of income is common in internet attraction marketing and is smart. While he may not be using his generated leads to build his mlm network, he is using them to generate income!
Hey Randy,
I’ve been full-time in the network marketing profession for about two years (and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done). I come from a successful career in Oil and Gas.
My brother and I joined a company about two years ago. We weren’t given a single person in our downline (we started from scratch) and we built an organization of over 13,000 people in less than two years.
First, I want to contribute a huge part of my success to learning the skill of marketing. Marketing does NOT mean just using the Internet. Marketing applies in all areas of my business.
Second, I want to contribute another huge part of my success to your teaching. I think, without a doubt, your training is the BEST in the industry. Most people have no clue what they are talking about. People talk on things from a “theory” standpoint. You teach on things from experience. Big difference.
Having said that, I think a few things are confusing from your last two posts on the Internet. Here’s the process that I have experienced, learned, and teach my organization.
There are 3 phases to network marketing (in my opinion) that I see most successful people naturally go through:
Phase 1: Creating a core group. From my experience, most people do well at network marketing when they form what I like to call a core group. A core group is one or more people in the same location that want to build a business together. Could be a brother, husband, wife, best friend, co-worker, etc. I believe this first phase is the most duplicable.
Phase 2: Writing out their list together. This is where the core group launch their business and begin compiling the list of people they know. They will use all kinds of tactics such as three-way calling, one on one, meetings, websites, etc. But, this will be their foundation to their business. This phase is also very duplicable.
Phase 3: Going beyond your warm market to “find” more potential leaders. I’ve found that people naturally go through Phase 1 and 2 but hardly anybody teaches them how to properly go through Phase 3. Phase 3 is about learning how to promote yourself and business through various means like business cards, craiglist, ppc, magazine, etc. The goal of this phase is to find potential leaders, build a relationship with them and plug them back into Phase 1 and 2. This phase is not as duplicable but is still a very important phase.
So, from my experience, the Internet is great for phase 3. In fact, I can personally testify of finding some of the best leaders in my organization via the Internet. But, I always meet them face to face AND build a relationship with them AND plug them into our system.
Bottom line, the Internet is a great way to find more people. And if taught right it can be quite fun and duplicable. But, Phase 1 and 2 will always be the bread and butter of true duplication.
Dear Randy
I read the Manifesto today and thoroughly enjoyed every page. I have rarely seen such candid writing aimed at getting people to become critical thinkers and writers. I have literally thousands of books on many different subjects and have the three you mentioned in one of your writings: Pilsner, Bach and Kiyosaki. My experience is in zoology and leadership systems thinking in regards to global sustainability. I am broke but with a meaningful life in my past and hopefully in my future. Today we are raising our teenagers which is an awesome time of life for all of us.
I have tried network marketing. Recently I have tried internet tools. I do believe that the internet can be a valuable tool in learning as that is how I did a Masters degree with essential face to face courses with my co-hort.. I used to do home partiesand regional parties with Weekenders Ladies Clothing and had a lot of fun.
At this time I am trying to find a way to earn a living combining internet tools and meeting people in person because I have disabilities that limit my life.
I chuckled when I saw the video in which you said something like ” find a person with 3 jobs”. I used to have 3 jobs at the same time while doing a masters degree in science on a trapline in northern Manitoba. I was an accounts receivable/jack of all trades, teacher of evolution and biology labs with 80 students, trapper, grad student and collaborative specialist writing a book about Electromagnetic sensing and interpretation regarding the northern flood agreement all at the same time. This book was the forerunner to the search Green spaces and places campaign by Parks Canada.
It was the first and fourth car accidents that did me in and opened my mind to learning in many different ways. After re-learning how to walk and talk again, anything else is gravy. Take a peek at my squidoo page which I hope is still around and you will find some stories of hilarious times. It is under Cindy Birdwise Dancing Winds.
Take a walk on the wild side and visit Dawson City Yukon Territory and then drive over the top of the world into Chicken Alaska. Stories abound in these places. I am a true believer in stories because they speak to the heart of relationships which to me are the basis of our being human. Many stories are best told orally over a warm outdoor fire in the depths of the wilderness.
We lived in Whitehorse Yukon but told the Chief of Posible. They were saved because of their smalls and by shossit
So let us talk sometime soon. If I read you correctly you said you were looking for additional candidates. I am committed first to Eric Worri ‘s group of 100.
We need to be the best we can be. Please help us if you can.
Randy,
Thanks for the illumination! I was an Ann Sieg / Mike Klingler victim. I thought the internet was the answer, but I can clearly see that it’s not, and will now invest myself fully in the traditional methods. Thanks again!
Gary
When some one searches for his vital thing, thus he/she needs to
be available that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.
Strategy 2: Upload your material with added censorship bars hiding the rude material from puritan eyes.
Once you have established in you own mind exactly what you want your visitors
to do, you will find it easier to word your ad accordingly.
Your embassy will assist you in the event of a death of a
family member in your Host country and will be the source of any required information with regards processes to be followed.
This user friendly handset is provided with all those features which can serve the modern day users in a better way.
You can make series of videos if you have the time.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment
is added I get three emails with the same comment. Is there any way
you can remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!
Feel free to surf to my site chainsaw reviews
Very shortly this site will be famous among all blog users, due to it’s fastidious posts
my web blog – pressure washer reviews
What’s up to all, the contents existing at this site are in fact amazing for
people experience, well, keep up the good work fellows.
Feel free to visit my site :: metabolic recipes book
All these developed countries currently have fully convertible capital accounts.