Today, I want to educate you about MLM Systems. We’ll talk about what systems are, how to use them effectively in your business, and how to find or create one that works for you. I hope you find the information helpful and apply it in your own network marketing business.
What are MLM Systems?
What is a MLM System? It is nothing more than a standardized way of growing your network marketing business. It eliminates the confusion of building a business, and provides step-by-step instructions for the new distributor.
In most companies in our industry, their system looks something like this:
When you join the business, make a name list of 200 to 500 people you know. Invite each of those people to a launch party, home meeting or three-way call with your upline, to see a presentation. As you do that, attend the company’s weekly meetings, prospect two new people per day and stay in constant touch with your successful upline a few times per week.
These systems vary from company-to-company and team-to-team, but they are very similar, for the most part.
Components of a Good MLM System
There are really THREE components of a MLM System. The first component is the TRAINING aspect. In other words, how will new distributors get trained? During my time in Amway, the training part of the system included attending all live events, reading for 10-20 minutes every day, listening to one tape per day, and counseling with your successful upline once a month. If you did those things consistently, you would “learn” how to grow a business.
The second component of a MLM system is recruiting distributors and selling products. In other words, how will you retail and recruit? Most MLM Systems are geared around talking to two people a day, and sharing the business presentation using a certain method (normally a video or live presentation).
There is a third component to a good MLM system; however, most MLM systems are missing this component.
Very few systems actually teach you HOW to find new prospects, close prospects or make sales. They assume you will work through your warm market, but they never give you any training on salesmanship, marketing or lead generation. As a result, most new reps fail with the system. In my opinion, this is the most critical part of any system.
You Need a MLM System
All successful businesses I know of have a system. All successful network marketers I know, follow a system. Their is system isn’t perfect, but it works for them.
You need a system in network marketing because most people need to be told exactly what to do. Most people joining your team have never owned a business of their own before, nor do they have sales or marketing experience. As a result, they need serious hand holding. A good system will guide them and teach them.
For most people, I think it’s best to follow your company’s or successful upline’s system, especially if you are new to the industry or don’t know what you are doing. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. That is a common mistake a lot of new reps make. There is already a system in place for a reason.
Any System Will Work if You Follow It
While no MLM System is perfect, any system will work IF you actually follow it and contact five to ten new prospects per day. The reason most people won’t follow a system is because they don’t feel comfortable doing the things taught in the system.
For example, if the system revolves around contacting friends and family or having home parties, and the new distributor doesn’t want to do those things, they probably won’t follow the system, or succeed in the business.
Remember this, the system in and of itself is not the solution. Following the system AND consistently making new exposures is the key to success in this industry.
The Best MLM System is Tailored to Each Person Who Uses It
Through trial and error, and a ton of real-life experience, I’ve learned that the best MLM System is one that makes sense to you and aligns with your own talents and abilities. Every person on your team is different. You and I are different. What works for you might not work for someone else.
I did this industry following my company’s system for my first ten years in the industry. I achieved modest success, but I never really excelled on a grand scale, or felt comfortable doing it. It wasn’t until I created my own MLM System, something that matched my talents and abilities, that I started to achieve great success and have fun.
Now, I’m not telling you to ditch your company’s system. However, if you’ve given it your best, and it still doesn’t work for you, you might need to modify parts of it, such as how you generate leads or show the plan.
Creating Your Own MLM System
Creating Your Own MLM System doesn’t have to be complicated, nor should it be. Instead, it should simply be step-by-step instructions you will follow every day to move your business forward. Think of it as a simple “to do” list.
An example MLM System might include:
- Connect with two new prospects per day on Facebook
- Follow up with 1 prospect per day
- Work on your personal development 10-minutes per day
- Spend 5 minutes on product education per day
- Attend all team training
My MLM System
Here’s what my current MLM System is. It’s nothing complicated, but it works for me and allows me to sponsor 20 to 50 people per month personally.
- Publish at least 3 new blog posts per week
- Publish 5 podcasts per week
- Respond to people who email me or call me
- Talk with 2 team members per day to provide guidance and support
- Plug team members into my Facebook group
- Send training email to team 3x per week
- Attend weekly training webinars
That’s it folks. Once again, it shouldn’t be complicated. You simply want to spend some time and think about HOW you see yourself building your business. There isn’t a right or wrong system. If it works for you, use it.
No System is Duplicated by Everyone
You must realize that no MLM System will work for everyone on your team. Even if you think you have the simplest, best MLM system around, not everyone on your team will want to follow it. Why? Because everyone is different. You want something in place for your new reps to follow, but you definitely don’t want to have the “my way or the highway” approach that some distributors take.
Ideally, you want to sit down with each person you sponsor and help them come up with a game plan that works for them. Ask them how they see themselves growing the business and help them fine tune their strategy. If you get nothing else out of this post, please remember that.
Final Thoughts
There you have it folks. These are my thoughts on MLM Systems. I believe that systems are vital to the long-term success of your network marketing business. You want to keep the business as simple as possible, so anyone can follow your system and get a predictable result.
That being said, no two successful distributors, even in the same team, follow the exact same system. To succeed in the business, you must do two things. First off, you must have a system in place that works for you. Next, you must help each person you introduce to the business create a simple system that works for them, that they can follow.
Don’t take the common mindset that there is only one way to build a business, or that your way is the best way. Be open minded, and leverage each team member’s talents and abilities, so they can come up with something that makes sense to them. Do that and watch your business explode.
What are your thoughts about MLM Systems? Leave a comment below and 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
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