We must be very careful how we approach our prospects, however.

Just because the profitability of network marketing is still viable doesn't mean that using the same old techniques that are used in the 80s is not going to get you the same results in the 21st century!

Here is the irony part - when the term 'network marketing' was coined, everyone focuses on the first word rather than the second. In other words, they go around networking instead of marketing!

Most people who are in network marketing do not have a CLUE what marketing is all about! They go about recruiting friends and family on their name list while deluding themselves into thinking that they are 'sharing' or 'marketing' their products to people.

MYTH: Network marketers are not in sales, they are merely sharing products with other people

TRUTH: Network marketers who do not have a marketing system in place are actually in SALES.

What they are actually doing is that they are SELLING an idea to someone else. Whether they are selling the product or the opportunity, they are trying to convince someone to change their mind about what they have to offer.

Remember - Sharing is different from selling. It is totally different. If you are my friend and you are having a conversation with me right now, I would share with you about my passion for eating exotic food.

When I'm sharing with you, I've no intention to SELL you exotic food (unless I am getting commissions the restaurant that cooks exotic food).

Get the idea? Selling is different from sharing.

So the question is: How do I generate business without 'SELLING'?

I'm not saying that you do not sell any products. But what I'm saying is that the approach when it comes to marketing versus selling is totally different!

Take a doctor for example.

A doctor sells his or her services. But they don't go around recruiting patients or sending out flyers and advertisements saying that they are the best gynecologist in town!

When people go to the doctor, they seek the doctor's EXPERT advice. They listen intensively to every word they have to say and they will take whatever medicine they recommend. (So much different compared to network marketing recruitment, don't you think?)

The same principle applies to marketing!

Marketers sell products, but not in the way sales people do. A person who markets their business effectively is a LEADER. They are EXPERTS. They don't go around peddling their wares like a sleazy salesman.

There was a time in the past where people have NOT heard of network marketing. If you bring them to a 'dog and pony show' telling them about how network marketing will give them residual income and CHANGE THEIR LIFE, they will gaze in awe about this fantastic NEW opportunity.

Unfortunately, network marketing is totally different today! Times have changed and network marketing is nothing new.

An average person is approached by network marketing companies at least 10 times. I personally have been approached by network marketing reps and opportunities once every month!

The fact of the matter is, network marketing is opportunities are like the sand at the beach. There are more and more companies springing up like mushrooms after the rain and the COMPANY : DISTRIBUTOR ratio is going to shift dramatically. In other words, competition is going to kill the average network marketer as a result of the Google revolution.

Today, someone can go online and Google the search term - Network Marketing Opportunity or Home Based Business and get bombarded by countless business opportunities%u2026 and they can do it in the comfort of their own home without having to drive out to Star Bucks and listen to a stranger as they 'show the plan'.

The funny thing is a lot of network marketers do not realize that the Internet has revolutionized the way that network marketing is done!

Some people are sucking in paid leads like a vacuum cleaner and earning massive money online while the poor network marketing rep who are still making a name list of friends and family and going to be crushed by the competition!

Now that we know about the competition that we are up against, you have a better understanding on how to use the Internet to work FOR YOU rather than against you!

Using Myspace to Promote Your Business

One of the newest phenomena's hitting the business world on the internet is using interactive community sites, such as Myspace to promote your business - free of charge!

The reasons are clear as to why business owners have chosen to promote their businesses on Myspace. With an average of over half a million long ins a day, Myspace is easily one of the most popular website on the internet today.

With this kind of traffic, every business is sure to find a target group that is interested in their products, or services.

The only investment you will need is some time to build your profile, and time to find and add people to your "friends list," which in this case is actually your targeted group.

Setting Up Your Profile

Once you sign up, you will be asked to create a profile. Your profile is the single most important thing when you decide to advertise using Myspace. Your potential targets and clientele will look at this profile first. A good balance is key.

Gaining Targets

You will want to look for the type of people that may be interested in your business.

Myspace provides a search feature that allows you to search by age, gender, status, and location.

Click on their profile, and if they fit your criteria, the use the "add to friends" button. Once you see that they have accepted you, then post a "thank you" message on their profile.

Proper Myspace Etiquette

When using Myspace to promote your business, you will want to practice some etiquette. It is easy to overdo it, which can greatly hurt your image, especially with potential local consumers. After all, the idea is to promote your business, not to hurt it's image.

Spaming, or sending unsolicited messages to random users and addresses, is strictly prohibited, and will get your account deleted. Never send unsolicited or unwanted messages to anyone.

However, if the person contacts you first (whether it be by comment, or message) feel free to communicate with them about your business.

Another type of spamming, which is potentially dangerous for your business, is over-posting comments. The comment system on Myspace allows you to post comments on other's profiles, that is usually viewable by everyone that views that person profile. First, never post a comment solely about your business.

Instead, you can post a message thanking that person for accepting your friend request, or thanking them for sending you a friend request, whatever the case may be.

The only acceptable way you should post a comment about your business is if the user posted a comment on your profile first.

Creative Offline Marketing

Package Inserts - If you're going to mail out a product or package to a customer anyway, always tuck a sales letter for another product in the package. It won't cost you any more, and when your customer receives that package, he or she will be pleased with the product (assuming your product isn't junk) and be more favorable towards another purchase from you.

You can also joint venture with other companies that target your niche market and get them to include your insert when shipping their product.

Mini-seminars - A great way to bundle up all of your products and services and sell them from the platform. It's very inexpensive to rent a hall and put on a 2 hour presentation for your target market on something that interests them.

You position yourself as the expert, and you get to pitch your products and services. Be sure to record the event and offer it to other prospects who may not be able to attend the presentation in person.

Teleseminars - Basically a conference call, we've all probably been on many of them. Some have organized them and have been speakers. They can be pure content (i.e. no obvious pitches) for strengthening social proof and building up anticipation for a new product to be released in the future.

They can be a mixture of content and pitch. You can even arrange a series of them as a tele-course and charge big money to attend (Marc Goldman and Jay Abraham did this with a six-month long series, one per month, on joint ventures and deal making).

Gift Certificates - It's generally known that people will usually spend more than the gift certificate amount. So if you operate a jewelry store, and you mail your customers a free no-obligation $25 gift certificate, it's usually a very sound investment.

Most restaurant owners already know that people generally don't dine alone, so by giving your customers a free gift certificate, they're bound to bring in others who will spend more money on food and drinks.

A good variation on this formula is the free birthday dinner. Generally, nobody is going to come in on their birthday and eat their free dinner by themselves. They're going to bring friends, relatives, you get the idea.

Here's a great way to use gift certificates to get referrals: Send a letter to your customers with three gift certificates.

One they can use for themselves, and the other two they can give away to friends or relatives. They keep your customers happy (and happy customers are more likely to speak highly of you to others) and they compound that fact by letting your customers give the certificates to others, to whom they will sing your praises. It's like a tell-a-friend script on steroids!

Coupons - Like gift certificates, coupons are also a great way to "touch" your customers and bring them back into your store (or website or whatever).

Often times, people get into deeper troubles when trying to solve problems. On a positive note, problems make one's life exciting and these define a person's character.

One can take a positive view towards approaching his problems, but he should always face his problems in the right way.

Some people tend to block off their problems or hide and wait for these problems to disintegrate in thin air. Some people resort to the use of alcohol (or perhaps illegal drugs) to "forget" their problems.

Perhaps drinking a couple of beers will help one think of a bright solution but it's as far as drinking will take him. Implementing the plan to solve a problem requires additional elements.

Here are some tips on how to take on one's problem and be able to effectively resolve it:

1. Use your observational skills
This basic step is thought in primary school and can be applied in the real-life scenario. Many people tend to forget this primary step in solving a problem.

Carefully observe the implications of a certain problem and try to infer on its possible causes. This move will give you a more comprehensive view of the whole scenario that is essential towards arriving at a holistic solution.

2. Dissect the problem and search for the root cause
Problems may present themselves as a consequence or the root of other problems. It is best that you target the main cause of the problem. This way, all the other problems that come along with it can be solved as well. Make sure that the problem that you are trying to address is the root and not the consequence. Problems are like weeds. Unless you take out the roots, these will just keep coming back to hunt you.

3. Maximize resources
Problems will vary in nature and therefore, the approaches will vary. However, problem solving will always involve the use of resources. Resources will not always refer to physical resources, but to one's capacities in delivering results. Choose an approach that matches your resources.

4. Seek many choices
Always look at all the choices and alternatives available. Aristotle tells us that there should always be a third choice when addressing a problem. A problem is never exclusively in black or white. There will always be gray areas. If you only have two choices, think harder.

5. Maintain a positive attitude
Failure is bound to happen some times. However, when a problem is not solved, do not ever lose hope especially if you did your best. Some solutions are never meant to work or perhaps the problem will be solved by another individual. What matters most are the lessons that you will learn in trying to solve the said problem.

A journey contains experiences that can never be encountered in the destination. Life itself is a journey and troubles are part of this journey.

Losing one's battles every once in a while is normal but you should always remember the lessons that you learn from each battle and come back stronger the next time around.

Developing your problem solving skills will take you a long way in keeping your business as simple as possible. Remember the KISS principle in all your decision making and avoid complicating issues.

With a fast-paced work environment, a well-organized organization could translate more dollars in your pocket.

For home-based businesses, a well-organized office should allow for effective invoicing, expensing and follow-ups. The more organized your home office becomes; the better it can set the boundaries of your work life and home life, giving you the time to enjoy the freedom of becoming your own boss.

Here are the most important tips in organizing your home office:

1) Clear your desk - Most office desks are piled up with papers, which occupy your entire desktop. Organize all your paperwork, those needed for future reference in one location and keep other important documents separated. This way, as your business grows, you won't get crazy searching for one missing important piece of paper. Organize it according to category, date and contact information or anyway you find helpful.

2) Control your office productivity - In running a home office, it is important to organize your productivity. For instance, in answering phone calls, decide a system or schedule when you will answer them. You could assign a staff or let the voice mail and message recorder answer the phone calls for you. This way, you could focus on an important reports, presentations or other priorities instead of wasting your time answering the phone.

3) Home life versus work life - The main problem with working in a home office is setting up rules on when and how you can be distracted by your family. Accomplishing your tasks promptly will depend on how your work remains uninterrupted. Set your rules and restrict your family from the business area, explaining you will spend time with them after work.

4) Equipments for organization - Always fill up your home office with paper clips, pens, trays and desktop organizers, storage boxes and a filing system as well as a to-do list in every desk. The easiest way to find information is to organize them by color-coding.

5) Daily routine - Empty your workspace (remove everything, except the current project) to cut down distractions. At the end of the project, organize all paperwork and store it according to its appropriate category. Always straighten your desk at the end of the day or week to start the next morning with a tidy desk.

By following these simple rules, you can be your own boss in an organized home office. Be aware that a clean work environment could reduce stress and in turn, increase work productivity.

There are hundreds of direct sales companies that offer Work at home mom's the ability to make money and stay home with their children at the same time.

When you work in direct sales you are an independent contractor for a company. You are in charge of selling their products or services, which you then get at a discount.

Your income comes from the difference between the price you charge your customers and the price you pay for the items. You can also normally earn money from commissions off of the sales of your recruits.

Going with a direct sales company is a great way to start a work at home business. Direct sales companies offer stay at home moms an affordable way to start up their own business.

There are very little costs involved. Normally a starter kit can be purchased for $100 to $200. Compare that with opening a regular store that will cost thousands. Some companies even offer the opportunity to earn a starter kit for free.

Working a direct sales business also means that you have flexibility in your work schedule and your income. You make all of the decisions on when you hold parties or demonstrations. Your income is directly proportionate to the efforts that you put into your business. You'll also receive support and encouragement from fellow consultants.

Weekly sales meetings help keep you motivated and give you fresh ideas for your business. You will network with other consultants for support and praise. The products are really second to your personality. Your presence and your customer service will be what sell your items.

As an independent sales rep, you'll be in charge of tracking your sales and paying the appropriate taxes. You'll need to schedule your parties, shows or demonstrations and follow up with your customers in a timely manner.

Once you've decided that direct sales is right for you, its time to choose while direct sales company you want to work with. It's recommended that you choose a company that offers product that you already like or have experience with.

Think about your direct sales company choice in the long term. Research your options thoroughly and make sure that you sign up with a trusted company. Don't feel pressured by a sponsor to sign right away.

Understand the commission structure, how products are sold and if there are any monthly minimums. Will you need to buy inventory? Understand how ordering works and how the products get to the customers.

If you are really serious about an opportunity, jump online and see what other consultants have to say about the company.

Find out what customers are saying about the company. Also, visit the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau websites. They can give you information about the trustworthiness of a company.

Elements Of A Child-Proof Home Office

During the last two decades, doing business in a home office has progressively become the mode of choice for people who want to work and spend time with family simultaneously. The rapid advancement in communication technology, particularly the Internet, has made working at home more practical and convenient. Indeed, working at home has become the ultimate fringe benefit for most business folks and corporate pilgrims.

However, an office isn't an easy place to set up inside homes. Offices and homes are places that don't exactly complement each other like a barnyard is to a farm or a cotton candy stand is to a carnival. This holds especially true if the person wanting to set up a home office has very young children.

An operational home office poses inherent hazards that could harm your children or ruin your work. Therefore if you want to work at home, it is absolutely necessary that you put up a child-proof home office. Read on for some pointers if you decide to organize your child-proof home office.

Electrical cords and outlets are hazardous to children. To prevent accidents from happening to your child, make sure that your electrical outlets are completely covered with socket covers. Organize electrical cords by tucking them with cable ties or cord tapes and as much as possible hiding them behind shelves or desks.

The various electronic devices and electrical tools in your workplace are fantastic playthings for your inquisitive little one. It is essential that you cover your computer and all its accoutrement to prevent your child from playing with the various knobs and slits of your equipment; or make sure that your computer table has a lockable keyboard drawer to safeguard against being tinkered with.

Your paper shredder is very dangerous because your child's fingers can easily get caught--or worse, cut off--between the shredding grills. When you aren't using the shredder, keep it far from your child's reach.

Overall, safety bands and locks can drastically decrease the risk of equipment toppling down on your child.

Avoid tall furniture and fixtures. If not, make sure these are well-fastened to the wall with brackets. Keep your drawers and safes locked to discourage your child from climbing or reaching up for them.

Don't leave clutter on top of your desk. Paper clips, pens, staple wires, and other office supplies can accidentally choke or hurt your child.

Lastly, keeping a child-proof home office can be as basic as keeping your door closed whether you are inside or outside your workplace.

With time pressure and a mountain load of tasks to do, you may be cramming everything into a single shot.

In a busy person's workday, it's hard to maintain laser-like focus. A hundred to a thousand interruptions trouble them everyday.

These insignificant interruptions may very well be the reason why you are always hurrying to finish tasks by the end of the day, leaving not enough time to take care of yourself.

Here are five common-and-tried and tested tricks to maintain your focus and use your time more effectively:

1. Set a target
After you're given a task, you must immediately set a time frame to finish it. Saying "I'll do it after lunch" isn't going to cut it.

So instead of general time expressions like that, you need to think differently. Also, it will be a great help if you keep a calendar by your desk.

List all you need to accomplish in each day, including tasks like going to the bank or other places. Again, remember to set time frames. This will enable you to look at each task one at a time and will ensure that you do not forget any.

There are people who find great enjoyment in crossing out things they've finished from their list of tasks.

2. Manage your interruptions
With the multitude of interruptions, you might really want to know how to manage them. Trying to refocus after an interruption will take effort and time that you wouldn't want to waste. Try keeping a log of interruptions you have in a day. After listing them down, you need to evaluate which interruptions are valid and urgent and which are those that can be ignored.

If you get a lot of calls per day, you might want to invest in an assistant who would screen calls for you so you don't get needlessly interrupted. If this is not possible, try to get voice mail to check your calls for you.

Also, you might also want to inform people of your availability. If you really need to focus intensely on a project, you can put up a 'Do not disturb' sign on your door or desk.

3. Take small, frequent breaks
Working long hours with no time for breaks or food will cause health problems in the future. Many people refuse to take a break because they fear that doing so will make them lose their drive.

The key here is to take frequent yet short breaks. For example, if you are working non-stop in front of a computer terminal, you can take a 5 minute break every hour or so.

Turn-off the monitor, relax on your seat, and close your eyes. You can also stretch a little and work out the kinks in your shoulders and arms.

Five-minute breaks can do wonders. Not only do these provide you with a much needed rest, these allow you time to reorganize your thoughts and even spot mistakes in what you are doing.

A friend swings by the office and asks you out for lunch. You said, "No, I really need to finish this." The said friend whines that you hardly see each other.

Look straight into your friend's eyes and say, "I'm sorry. But I really need to finish it now." Put as much determination as you can into your voice without appearing to be angry.

Do not be swayed by a pout or tears. After all, you can always promise to meet with your friend later, after you've finished.

5. Get enough sleep
After a long day, you need to unwind and relax. Once you get home, eat well, watch some TV, and then get to bed. You might want to leave the partying until dawn for another day.

Enough sleep will ensure that you don't get sluggish and sleepy the next morning. This will also help you maintain your focus as you get through another hectic day.

Goal Setting For Success

Goal setting is one technique that directs your subconscious and conscious decisions to succeed. Goal setting strengthens your motivation to attain your business or personal goals. In general, this technique emerged from numerous practical experiences as well as psychology research.

Goal setting helps you decide or prioritize your desires. Furthermore, proper setting of goals can be extremely motivating. As it becomes a habit, you will discover that your self-esteem is turbo-charged.

Actually, people set goals when they plan what they want to achieve for the day, week or month. You make a decision on what you want to do, then discover what is needed to accomplish your goal. From there, you move into complex goals leading to your future.

Here are some goal setting guidelines:

1. Be accurate. You need to set an accurate goal and indicate specific time frame and resources required. Having measurable goals helps in measuring levels of achievement. Doing this will enable you to discover exactly when the goal has been achieved. Furthermore, this will motivate you on setting another goal.

2. Write down your goals. This ties them together and provides reinforcement.

3. Set only goals that are realistic. Take note that you only want to set achievable goals. Disappointment sets in if you set a very high goal and fail to reach it.

4. Set priorities. If you have numerous goals, then you need to number them according to importance. This will help you from feeling overwhelmed, direct your concentration to the most significant ones, and achieve goals one by one.

5. Keep goals manageable. Work on achievable and small goals. If your goal is too big, then it may appear daunting and difficult to achieve. Small and incremental goals provide more reward opportunities. Derive smaller goals from huge ones.

6. Set performance-type goals rather than outcome goals. Set goals wherein you have complete control of the situation.

When you establish goals based on your personal capability, you can maintain control over your achievement.

7. Never set "low" goals.
As it is vital not to establish unrealistic goals, also never set your goals "too low".

People are inclined to set easy goals because they often fear failure. You must achieve balance in setting your goals. Also, flexibility and persistence are needed in setting your goals.

When faced with unexpected problems and difficulties, use your determination and persistence to stick with your goals.

You have to talk to them, tell them about yourself and your product.

Then, there is the stereotype about salespersons: that you are glib, smooth-talking individuals who care about nothing except their own commissions. People think of you as pesky and persistent hound dogs.

In striving to be a topnotch salesperson, the first thing you need to do is to break this bias by striving to put forth a win-win situation.

Here are some strategies in becoming the best salesperson that you can be:

Doing so might even be harmful since people are intimidated by individuals that are just TOO beautiful.

Find clothes that fit you. Loose clothes give the impression of being unkempt. Think about it: How would you convince a prospective buyer to talk to you if you look shabby and disheveled?

Wear a watch. The watch will tell a person that you are someone who value time.

2. Smile
People always tend to warm up to friendly looking people. A smile makes you look approachable and friendly.

But then, beware! Too bright a smile will make it looked forced and unnatural. A good trick is to think of something nice that happened to you before approaching any customer. This will bring about a soft smile that the customer would likely reciprocate.

Remember that people notice a forced smile right away. This makes them edgy and defensive.

3. Know your product
The greatest error any salesperson can make is not to be familiar with his product. How can you persuade someone to buy them if you cannot elaborate on its features?

People will ask questions about the product. The key here is that you have to be able to answer them with confidence and sureness. Try out the product yourself and be more effective in telling people about the benefits of your product.

You also need to know the advantages and disadvantages of your product. For example, if your company is selling different types of whitening creams, tell the buyer what is the difference between these products and why one is better than the other.

4. Read Up
Aside from knowing your product, you need to know your competitor's product. You need to be able to emphasize how your product works better than the others available in the market.

You also need to know the trends. Learn the needs and wants of specific groups. Be acquainted with the features that they desire so that you could use this in promoting your product.

5. Find joy in challenges
Have you ever played chess? Do you remember that triumphant feeling after you outsmarted your opponent with a well-thought strategy? Well, you can apply the same thing with selling.

There will come a time when you will come across that stubborn and unmovable obstacle. The problematic customer is one who shoots down every proposal, every sales offer. He is one that asks countless questions yet refuses to buy in the end.

You should not look at the situation in anger or despair. This would just make you bitter and will affect your sales talk. Try to look at the situation as if you are in front of a chessboard. You need to plan and set up a strategy.

6. Be punctual
If you have a meeting with a customer, don't EVER be late. Tardiness will tell your customer two things: 1. That you're not the kind of salesman they want to associated with and 2. You are not interested in making a sale.

Always wear a watch and be aware of time. Keep in mind that these people are making time for you in spite of their busy schedules and be grateful for that fact.

Arrive at the meeting place 10-minutes early. This will give you time to compose yourself and run through your mental list. This would also give you time to look around and observe your surroundings, as these might give clues about the kind of people you are about to meet.

You get to the heart of the problem by asking them what they desire. You cannot force a product to a person if he does not actually want or need it.

After they give you a rundown of what they want, answer with the list of products that meet these requirements. A customer will be the more interested if he has options to choose from or alternatives.

8. Be persuasive, not persistent
Yes, persuasion is the key point in sales. However, persuasion is not the same as persistence. If you keep calling them, or showing up at their work place uninvited, saying the same things over and over, people are going to hate you.

Try different tactics every time you talk to them. Lay out the advantages the sale will have for them and for you. This will make it a win-win situation that they will most probably find hard to resist.

9. Make friends and keep them
Okay, so you made a sale and a big one at that. Be grateful. This doesn't mean the relationship with your customers ends. It would actually be ideal if you were able to keep a friendly association with them. This will ensure you future sales and deeper relationships.

10. Handle criticism well
You also need to learn how to take criticism. Sometimes, when people are angry or edgy, they tend to say things they do not mean. The key here is not to take everything personally.

If a buyer is stubbornly refusing to talk to you, do not immediately jump to the conclusion that he hates you. Also, do not think of criticism as something that will drag you down. It should actually motivate you to work harder.

Being a topnotch salesperson will not just happen overnight. It takes practice, patience, and strength.