When I was in college (a while back, but who's counting?),
I had two ways to communicate with the folks back home.
I could write a letter, walk across the campus to drop it
in the mailbox, and then wait a week to hear back from them.
Or on the weekend I could collect a bunch of loose change
and stand in line to use the one and only pay phone in my
dormitory - during the week it was way too expensive.
My friends and I took all this for granted.
But look what we take for granted now! Sending a letter to
someone on the other side of the world in a matter of
seconds. Transmitting the identical document to hundreds of
people at the same time with just a few mouse clicks.
Retrieving data on any subject imaginable without budging
from our desk chairs. Sharing home videos and music
instantly with almost anyone, anywhere. Interfacing with
potentially millions of people on a daily basis.
The Internet is the most powerful and versatile
communications tool in the history of the human race. It's
totally transforming the way companies do business.
I say all this to convince you beyond a doubt that you want
to take your network marketing business online. You NEED
your own Website to generate an ongoing stream of
enthusiastic, pre-qualified prospects.
So what's stopping you from building your own site? Here
are five common myths that deter many people.
1. IT'S GOING TO COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG.
We've all heard of someone who paid a professional
thousands of dollars to build a site for them. Most people
just don't have that kind of money to invest when they're
starting out.
But there IS another option that will cost you a tiny
fraction of that: Build it yourself. (No, no. Stop
laughing.)
And that brings up the next misconception.
2. THERE'S NO WAY I CAN BUILD A WEBSITE MYSELF - I HAVE NO
COMPUTER SKILLS.
This is what I used to think, too. Then I discovered
dozens of Web hosting services that make it a snap for
small businesses to do it themselves.
It's no longer necessary to know computer programming or
html code. If you can send emails, surf the Internet, and
type letters in your word processing program, you can build
a Website.
I did it -- so can you.
3. I'D HAVE TO SPEND A MOUNTAIN OF MONEY ON ADVERTISING IF
I WANTED TO GET ANY VISITORS.
This is another misconception I used to believe, as well. I
was stuck in old-school thinking.
But I'm happy to report that there are many effective ways
to promote a Website that don't cost a dime, and some of
them will give you even better results than traditional
advertising.
4. MY COMPANY PROVIDES ME WITH A FREE WEBSITE - I DON'T
NEED MY OWN INDEPENDENT SITE.
If you're thinking this way, I have a question for you:
How many other distributors have sites just like yours?
Probably a few thousand, right? These are called
"replicated sites," and search engines will totally ignore
them because they clog up their systems.
It's fine if you want to send people to your replicated
site for information about your company or products, but it
will not generate any new leads for you. And leads are the
lifeblood of your business.
5. I CAN'T HAVE MY OWN SITE - MY COMPANY WON'T ALLOW IT.
Most network marketing companies do restrict what their
distributors can and cannot say about them, which is
understandable. This may include bans on personal websites
that pitch the company or its products or services.
But this doesn't have to be a problem for you.
There are still many ways you can use a Website to generate
leads without mentioning your particular company or brand
name. In fact, your site will be even more effective if
you do it this way.
Why? Think about your own preferences. Which would you
rather visit - a site that tries to sell you something or a
site that simply gives you lots of useful information about
a problem you're trying to solve?
Which site owner are you more likely to trust and want to
connect with? Who are you going to perceive as the expert?
Here's an example: Suppose your company sells non-toxic
cleaning products. Your site might offer cleaning tips to
get housework done faster, scientific reports on the
dangers of common commercial cleaners, and your own
personal story of why you got interested in non-toxic
cleaning products. Just don't mention your company or any
of its brand names.
You'll attract like-minded people and develop a
relationship of trust with them. And without a doubt, some
of your readers will turn into customers or business
partners.
So what are you waiting for? Jump in and start building.
The World Wide Web awaits you.
----------------------------------------------------
Liz Monte is the author of "Basic Training: The 21st
Century Approach to Network Marketing," designed to teach
network marketers the fundamentals of Internet marketing.
Study it for free on her Website (which she built with her
own two hands).
http://www.WiseNetworkMarketer.com/basics.html .
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