Today’s post is called “focus on the people who stay on your MLM team.”
If you’ve spent any amount of time in our profession you probably realize the attrition rate is very high.
Nearly 75 to 85 percent of your team will quit each YEAR.
Sometimes it feels like a revolving door.
Two people join, three people leave.
What’s weird is that most people who get signed up never even get started.
They simply sign up and disappear into the Witness Protection Program.
They won’t refer one customer, sponsor one distributor or even sign-up for auto-ship themselves REGARDLESS of how much time you spend helping them.
They’re going to sign up and quit in their first one to two months.
I call them one hit wonders!
Some people will last 3 to 9 months before they quit.
Only about 15 to 25 percent of everyone who joins your team will stick around one year or more.
Only about 1 to 5 percent of your team will be serious.
It’s frustrating, but a common reality.
That is the truth folks, even though some people will tell you otherwise.
We have a very high turnover rate in this industry.
I don’t think it’s much worse than other selling professions such as realtors, insurance agents, car salesmen and telemarketers.
However, if you aren’t prepared for this high attrition rate, it can be emotionally devastating.
That’s why you need to prepare each one of your team members for it.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make in our industry is having high expectations for the people that they do sign up.
They get their hopes up that one particular person will build a huge business.
What I have learned during the past few years is the only way you can be disappointed is if you have an expectation of someone.
I learned that lesson from my sponsor and I think it’s sage advice.
When you get excited about someone else and they don’t live up to your expectations you will be disappointed.
Lots of people quit our industry because their team members quit.
Here’s the most important thing you need to know.
Most people will quit. Focus your time and energy on the people who stay.
At the end of the day you have no control over whether or not someone else stays or quits.
You have no control over whether or not someone else builds it big or does nothing at all.
You have no control whether your new distributor signs up one person or 200 people.
You are not responsible for anyone else.
It’s not your job to manage people.
It’s not your job to make people successful or drag them across the finish line.
Each person is their own Independent Business Owner and is responsible for their own success.
It’s your job to lead by example and work with the willing.
That’s it.
That being said, there are some simple things you should do to focus on the people who stay on your MLM team.
The first thing you want to do is help people make enough money each month so they at least get their products for free.
If they get their products for free, there is a good chance they will stick around for a while.
The next thing you want to do is create a supportive team culture where people feel like they are part of something greater than themselves.
You definitely want to get people plugged in to meetings, weekly phone calls, and the team’s system.
Make your team culture so strong that people stick around even if they don’t make money!
The next thing you want to do is make people feel appreciated.
Send them handwritten notes from time-to-time.
Let them know you care about them.
Stay in touch with them frequently.
Do the little things.
Try to have fun with your team whenever possible.
Once a month, get together and do a BBQ, go bowling, go the movies or do something else that is non-business related.
Your team will look forward to doing these things with you.
Furthermore, you want to be accessible for your team.
You don’t have to answer your phone 24/7, but make sure you return calls and emails promptly.
Let people know you are there to help them.
Another thing you can do is build friendships with people.
It’s much harder for someone to quit on a friend then to quit on a complete stranger.
This won’t happen overnight, but try to make sure the person knows you care about them as a person, not just because they are part of your team.
Find ways to recognize your team whenever possible.
Recognize activities you want people to do, not just accomplishments.
Have team contests, incentives and prizes.
People love to compete and be recognized.
Finally, try to taproot everyone you sponsor and build depth underneath them.
When people have a team they are less likely to quit, even if they are only making a little bit of money each month.
Final Thoughts
There you have it folks.
These are some of my best tips that will enable you to focus on the people who stay on your MLM team.
Realize that most people will quit. You have little control over that.
However, if you follow the advice in this article, you will do a better job with retention and you will make more money in your business.
What are your thoughts about this subject?
Leave a comment below to let me know what you think.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Holmes
20+ Year Network Marketing Professional
Top Earner & Top Recruiter
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
P.S. Learn how to grow a successful network marketing business. Secret tips, training, and practical ideas. Free training delivered by email.
Chuck, MOST of what you write here is very true. However, not all businesses have such a poor retention rate. The company I have been with since 1969 has a better than 50% yearly retention rate. If one tries to sponsor EVERYONE they meet, of course the retention rate is going to be low. (Been there and tried that!) We have discovered it is much more efficient to NOT rush the sponsoring process and instead “interview” prospects to see if they are of the right mindset to be successful in our kind of business. Many will NOT qualify; and thus we don’t waste our time with them. They may become good customers, though. As you have emphasized so well, we must follow-up, follow-up, follow-up.
Patience is a virtue. Haste makes waste. Work smart, not hard. Have fun!
I guess everyone’s experience is different. We can agree to disagree.
Chuck, I can assure you that that things have changed since you failed to renew about 12 years ago. 50% does not equal 15%. Face-to-face, belly-to-belly yields much better results than meeting a prospect electronically and hoping for the best. The one takes courage while the other insulates one from a sense of rejection when things don’t work out. Chuck, we can either make excuses or make money; but not both. Well, that is not quite true – not as much money. It is all in the mindset.
If we agree on everything, one of us is not necessary. I learn a lot from those I disagree with.
So, you are publicly saying I’m not telling the truth? You question my integrity? You’ve been out of Amway for 12 years. Check out the facts before you make such bold statements.
No I am not questioning your integrity. I am simply disagreeing with you.
This is great advice Chuck.
You brought up other businesses with high attrition rates, but I wanted to throw another example out.
A business who delivers say: milk, cheese and dairy items to restaurants would not try to get a restaurant to reopen if it closed down. In a way, that would be none of their business. They would instead focus on the restaurants they already are supplying, and also work on gaining other restaurants.
If we focus on those who quit, we are living in a negative atmosphere. Focus on the ones who are still grinding on.
My thoughts exactly.