2009 January Archive at

Monthly Archive for January, 2009

Year of the Ox

Published

on January 20, 2009

. 1 Comment

Ah, 2009. The numbers still feel unfamiliar when they appear on newspapers and TV screens. Heck, most of us still write “2008” on a check every now and then.

Because of the nature of our calendars, our minds always take a few weeks to adjust to the reality of a new year. Chinese astrologists, however, assign animal names to each year of the Zodiac calendar; January 26^th brings an end to the Year of the Rat and ushers The Year of the Ox (if you had to write that on a check, chances are you wouldn’t forget to make the change).

Since this is a network-marketing blog and not an online horoscope, you may be wondering why any of this matters to you. Well, in a nutshell, The Year of the Ox signifies a time to be strong, brave, and straightforward. According to the Chinese Zodiac, not many people can equal the resolution and fearlessness the Ox exhibits when deciding to accomplish a task or an objective. Oxen know they will succeed through hard work and sustained effort and find no truth or benefit in concocting get-rich-quick schemes.

Now apply this knowledge to the work-at-home marketplace. What’s the number one reason for not getting involved with a network marketing company? Fear. Fear of failure, fear of leaving the corporate world, fear of putting your success in your hands.

Since we’re focusing on our Eastern counterparts this week, there is an ancient Chinese parable about a man fleeing bandits in the woods. He comes to two rivers, one made of fire, the other of water, and between them, a bridge just six inches wide providing safety to the opposite shore. Fire constantly burns under the bridge and water passes over it without rest.

The man is scared. If he doesn’t cross the bandits will certainly catch him and kill him, yet the bridge appears too narrow and too dangerous to negotiate without death. Finally, the man decides to try and cross, rationalizing that since there is no escape from certain death, he had better take his chances on the narrow path that lies before him–since such a path exists, he thinks, one must surely be able to cross over on it. The man makes it across and escapes from his pursuers.

The point is a simple one—if there is a path to success, it’s surely there for a reason. It may look treacherous, but should one have to fortitude to take the journey, great things await.

This isn’t a time to be scared. Worrying about possible outcomes only delays a great result. There will never be a shortage of people trying to convince you that network-marketing isn’t worth the time; that corporate America provides the safest and most secure avenue to a rewarding career.

Don’t listen. Not this year. With the economy in ruins and stories of layoffs dominating the nightly news, the only real way to protect yourself is to put your financial future in your own hands, and what better way to take control than by starting a home business?

So are the stars aligned for you to succeed in The Year of the Ox? Well, at the very least, you couldn’t pick a better time to take a chance at discovering your dream. Welcome to the new year. Now make the best of it.

The key to any successful network-marketing venture

Published

davelipson

on January 14, 2009

in MLM Leads

. 0 Comments

Lead generation. It’s the key to any successful network-marketing venture. If you can’t connect with the people who want your product or service, or strive to be a part of your opportunity, your business will never get off the ground.

So the question becomes how to generate leads. There are several ways, but the best and most effective is to simply purchase them from established companies specializing in lead generation, such as Peak Impact.

I know, I know—it sounds too easy, right? If you could just buy leads somewhere and turn them from prospects to partners, why is network marketing’s failure rate stay above 50 percent each year? And why, if purchased leads are such an instrumental way of building a business, do marketing gurus and some networking veterans claim self-promotion and local growth are the best methods of finding success?

Well, the answer, like the question itself, is pretty simple. The trainers, gurus, and mentors who advocate lead generation don’t want you to think you can do it yourself. Otherwise, what would you need them for?

Generating your own leads can be costly, time-consuming, and most importantly, risky. Say you start a home business and want people go get involved. Where do you start? If you’re like most rookie marketers, you turn to friends and family, what industry insiders call your “warm market.”

The problem with doing that, however, is that the warm market is both small and shallow. You can only ask your close acquaintances for so much help; if they’re not interested, you can’t get very far. Furthermore, most people are hesitant to approach their friends and family for fear of putting business in between personal relationships.

So if you’re not going to tap into the warm market but you’re still set on generating your own leads, where do you turn? Well, many suggest canvassing neighborhoods, dropping small ads in newspapers, and talking to people in the grocery store, at the gym, or anywhere you interact with potential prospects.

The fact is, though, most people don’t respond well to these forms of advertising—think about how you react when a telemarketer calls your home with a business opportunity. If someone isn’t interested in working from home, they’re going to tune you out and continue about their day. It’s frustrating, and it consumes valuable time that could be better used elsewhere.

Lead-generation companies, on the other hand, provide qualified leads at reasonable prices. You’re not walking up to strangers in malls and restaurants and hoping they like what you’re pitching. Qualified leads are generally people who have worked from home before or displayed an interest in network marketing. They understand the challenges and opportunities available and in most cases are actively looking for a way back in the game.

Companies such as Peak Impact can provide you with as many or as few leads as you need, and keep them coming on a regular basis. So save yourself a lot of time and money and get connected with people who want to join your business….quickly, efficiently, and affordably. It sure beats approaching strangers or asking your aunt if she ever considered working from home.