The Jack Of All Trades Marketer: What ISN’T He Selling?
You know “that guy”.
It’s the one that pitches you on their primary business. And when you aren’t interested in it… they have 5 more different ones that they’re ready to pitch you on.
Just like the as seen on TV ads … “But, Wait! There’s More!”
As Network Marketers we understand the Entrepreneurial mindset of having multiple streams of income. But you’ve got to do it RIGHT.
I’ll answer 3 questions to show the RIGHT way to market more than one MLM
Q: When should you have more than 1 MLM company you are promoting?
A: When you’ve had success in the first one. Build 1 stream of your income SOLID for 3 years. Do it consistently, be able to quit your job, and have a steady income from it that will be able to finance your next adventure in MLM. Not only will you have the income from it. You’ll have the social proof and reputation that will make it easier for you to bring success to any business you choose to do next.
Q: How should you approach people with a 2nd opportunity?
Now For My Next Trick...
A: Obviously you don’t present it right after they tell you NO to your first business you present to them. You sound like the little cartoon character from Rocky & Bullwinkle that used to say “Now Here’s Something You’ll Really Like”
Hopefully by the time you’ve added another MLM to your repertoire you’ve learned some people skills and know how to network. You know you can’t just pitch one business opp after another. You also know you don’t even present it to them unless they have a need and/or a want for it.
Expanding your horizons by being in more than 1 MLM means that you can appeal to more people. In natural conversation people will tell you their interests and want they want in life. If what you are involved in is a vehicle for them to get what they want, then that is what you talk to them about.
Q: How do I choose which type of MLM to add?
A: This totally depends on YOU and what your needs are. What works for me may not be best for you. But going off of the saying “if I knew then what I know now” I would “try it before you buy it” and be a customer of an MLM company before I got into promoting it as a business. There’s too many MLM products that I’ve come across that I just don’t like. They either made me sick or just flat out didn’t work. (This is why I’m not in a consumable product category)
If you’re going to market a Health & Wellness MLM product then it better actually work for you and turn you into a walking billboard. It’s going to have to be something that you are PASSIONATE about. Heck, that’s good advice for choosing your first MLM (if you haven’t found an MLM product that you’re passionate about Click Here for a breakdown on product categories to see which one fits you)
Ok,,,, 1 more question….
Q: What’s a great stepping stone for a 2nd stream of income before I’m ready for a 2nd MLM?
A: A great educational product, system or tool. Many of the prospects you will have are going to be other marketers. Most of them are going to want to stick with the MLM they already have going for them. So, wish them all the success in the world, tell them you’ll see them at the top, and ask them what they’re using to boost their Marketing skills. Chances are if they’re new they won’t know what to use. This is where you can point them in the direction of where you got your education. (Click Here for an example)
The Bigger Lesson:
Any education source in Online Marketing will tell you to become an expert on ONE THING and become the best at it and then teach it to others. Use this same theory when it comes to your primary business in MLM. Choose ONE and become a master at it. Otherwise you will just look like a Jack-Of-All-Trades….. and Master of None.
Sharing Is Caring, if you enjoyed this post and found Real Value,
share it with others and leave your comments. 
This is great information and advice Stephanie. Even though it seems like common sense, there are those that just feel they have to have something for everyone. For me that is a lot of work that is not necessary. Plus, I find that if you focus on one thing and spend time of it, you will reap the benefits and the success. I enjoy your blog, and have tweeted this to my followers and started a hash tage #learn2earn ….
Thanks Lynn
I’ve found commons sense it not so common!
I think it’s great to be in more than 1 MLM,,, but some people just don’t know how to handle it!
Marketing for several MLM companies is a delicate balance. There are some super stars out there that can pull it off. The biggest problem is that the average person can’t, and they try to “Copy the Guru,” and end up falling flat on their face.
Yes, it is OK to have multiple MLM companies. No, most people should not do it, nor should they try and rip followers from one into the other. Ethics is another big problem in this delicate balancing act; it can be done properly, but it isn’t easy.
I like to use the saying “if you aren’t sure and you have to ask, then the answer is no”. (I use this when Blaine asks me “should I say this or is it going too far?”)
Too bad most people don’t even stop to ask themselves if they should do it first.
Hello Stephanie:
Very well written post! I sense it comes from your learning experiences along the way, as I see good wisdom here. I have found (personally…LOL) that for the most part to be a “Jack of All Trades” in MLM means your really a Master of NONE….In my mind success is attained through maniac focus on ONE THING…as you have said when you have attained that in one field or endeavor you can move on to something new.
Unfortunately today in this high tech ‘want something yesterday’ society I think many folks feel if they direct their efforts all over the place in many things at once they will have faster success, when really the reality is the opposite, there are no shortcuts in having success as an entrepreneur,,,Multi Tasking is a Fallacy, yet even big corporations fall prey to this lie(Look at recent job postings; one of the most used words is ‘Multi Task)….Success in any area of life requires attention and Focus. I think it is a sad result of all this high tech stuff we now have that people try to do more and more and more and actually get less done and run into dangerous situations..Like Texting while driving…well I could go on ,,,perhaps you have sparked the idea for a post myself. Nice Blog and information Stephanie!
Be Blessed
Matt Geib The Great!
Right, instant gratification is short lived.
It may be harsh, but I believe that people that join multiple opportunities before they master any of them show a weak personality and that they can’t say no and get sucked into all the hype of each opportunity. They’re making emotional decisions when they should be making a business decision.
Hello Stephanie
Nice Post!
I agree 100%, be an expert at your primary mlm, only then consider adding another.
For me, if an mlm is synergistic with my primary I have no problem adding it.
Peter
Hello Peter
You have an advantage though… You’re one of the few that already knows what you’re doing!
I agree though, it has to work well with what you’re already doing. I actually got the idea to write this on a day when I was pitched household cleaners, vitamins, and then cell phones all from the same marketer, and all in the same conversation,,, almost all in the same breath. Those just don’t really go together, plus that’s just terrible marketing.
I love it that you always say “Hello Stephanie” at the beginning of your comments. Most people don’t catch that about my blog title.
Stephanie, you are a great writer! Awesome value in this article!
I love the “Bigger Lesson.” Becoming great at one mlm before putting one ounce of energy into any other mlm is something millions of network marketers need to pay attention to!
Your wisdom is much appreciated and needed in this industry!
By, the way, Be careful with “pocket jacks” in texas hold em poker! They look pretty but can get you broke fast! I know…..lol Now, 4 jacks!! Different story! All In!!
p.s. Until I can figure out why my “friggin” Comment Luv isn’t working, I’ll manually share my latest blog post with the rest of the world!!
http://mlmblogtv.com/how-to-become-a-friggin-awesome-network-marketer-episode-1
Thanks Nate!
And I thought it was just me that was having trouble with Comment Luv
,,, I don’t feel so alone now.
… about poker,,, I’ve never played poker! I wear what I’m thinking right on my face, I’m told that would work against me LOL
Stephanie,
I really enjoyed the Q&A Post! You provided some great value here. So many marketers get in over their head by trying to promote more than one opportunity when they really aren’t prepared.
I think if we are going to promote more than one product we should choose a practical product, perhaps something digital that will help our prospects promote their opportunity which would be useful in helping them grow their business!
~Joseph McDevitt
You bring up a good suggestion. Adding in tools that have an MLM structured pay plan or affiliate pay is a good starting point for more streams of income. It shouldn’t be the primary focus and promoted out front of your primary MLM. The point would be that if someone didn’t have a need for your joining your MLM you might have a recommendation for a tool that will help them market what they are already in
Which is a win-win!
Bravo.
I think the points you made here are bang-on.
It seems to me that it’s all too often that people will join something with a good deal of excitement and then abandon it for the next shiny toy that comes along…many times to their own demise because they may have been on the cusp of creating a viable income that they could count on.
I’m a decent example of someone who has several MLM income streams (full time income streams) that is able to juggle and keep the balls in the air. And like a true juggler knows, you just don’t start off with 4 or 5 balls. You get a rhythm and the motions down with one…then when you have that down, you can add a 2nd. If you’re able to keep those 2 up and going without dropping the ball you can work a 3rd in there if you want, and so on.
Life and business are a delicate balance. Til we learn to own that balance (even with our eyes closed), there’s no sense in mixing things up and making ourselves dizzy and ineffective…but as you generally say, “Common sense is not so common!”
Cat
Cat Alexandra@Internet Marketing Success recently posted..Promote Yourself! – Shameless self promotion – Toot your horn!!
haha, yes. That’s my favorite saying.
I think there’s a fine line in the “multiple streams of income” theory. Too many spreads you too thin,,, and the “focus on one thing” mentality can leave a people high and dry if the company they’re promoting decides to change direction and end their pay plan model, or they change it,,, or worse just go out of business all together.
Being in this business takes some common sense (insert my overused saying here) and it also takes knowing ourselves well enough to know what’s right for each of us
lol I can see why it’s your favourite saying. It’s a truism these days…which is pretty surprising considering how easy it is for us to become more astute due to the free flowing information on the web. I guess we can’t really correlate knowing info with having common sense though. That seems like an oxymoron, but it’s the truth nonetheless.
Cheers to knowing oneself and caring enough to be sensible in business!
Cat
Cat Alexandra@Internet Marketing Success recently posted..Laminine Review – Don’t try Laminine til you read this review…
I’m gonna screw up this saying, and I can’t remember who said it to look it up right now either…. but it goes something like:
To know and not to do is the same as not to know.
So pretty much people know a lot of useless stuff cuz they never use it properly!
Kind of like me right now screwing up the quote! LOL
Haha, I know the saying you’re speaking of…you actually didn’t really botch it up.
“To know and not to do is not to know” – Chinese philosopher Wang Yangming (1472-1529)
Cat Alexandra@Internet Marketing Success recently posted..How to write content like a pro and still have a life! | Blog tips: My Guest Blog Appearance