In today’s post I want to do a quick book review of The MLM Road Map: A Step-by Step System of Building a Network Marketing Downline by Ray Duncan. I stumbled across this book while I was doing a search for MLM books on Amazon.
It didn’t have any reviews, but I figured I’d take a chance on it. I ended up purchasing a second hand copy on eBay for about $4, with free shipping. I read the book in two days and learned a few valuable tips from it.
Top Ray Duncan Quotes
What I want to do in the paragraphs below is share some of my favorite Ray Duncan quotes from his book, The MLM Road Map, and provide my own thoughts on each quote. The quotes are in bold and italics. After each quote I will add in my own two cents.
# 1: Your commitment and the commitment of each person you sponsor should be a one year dedication.
The goal your first year in any new business is to learn and survive. If you aren’t willing to invest MINIMUM one year with your new business, and be persistent and consistent during that time, you would be much better off to simply be a customer and do something else with your time. Having the mindset that you will “try it out for a few months and see how it goes” will only lead to failure. You’re either in, or you’re out. Choose wisely.
# 2: You simply cannot sell anything unless you have thorough knowledge of it.
You must believe in what you are offering your prospects. You do not need to be a product expert, but you need to know the benefits of your products and you should have a good product story you can share with other people. If you don’t believe in the products enough to purchase them yourself, why would you expect someone else to buy the products from you?
# 3: You need to hold scheduled training meetings apart from opportunity meetings to improve the success of your downline.
It’s vital that you offer training to your team members, especially the new ones. Most people joining our industry have never owned a business before and have very little sales, marketing or entrepreneurial experience. Most people are looking to their sponsor to give them step-by-step instructions on what to do next.
# 4: The three way phone call to a prospect is the best method of sponsoring new distributors.
If you’re just getting started out, or you are helping your new team members get started, one of the best things you can do is three-way calls with them. This lets you work smart and it helps them share the opportunity and products with others right away. Most of your new people will not show a plan on their own. However, if they can listen to you and learn from you, it will build up their belief and skills.
# 5: A good business card is the most economical tool you will ever use.
This advice might have been relevant in the 1990s, but I think in today’s world it is much more beneficial to have a drop card, rather than a business card. If you’re going to do anything, focus on collecting the other person’s business card. Don’t just hand out a bunch of business cards and expect people to contact you. They won’t. You want to stay in control of the follow-up process, so it’s vital you get the other person’s business card, so you can follow-up with them.
# 6: Your best method for building a super group of network marketers is to search out and recruit people who have a positive attitude — those who are already respected and have the desire to succeed. Ambitious people are all around us; we just have to learn to recognize them.
Your best prospects are people who are already successful in life. Ultimately, you are looking for people with credibility, contacts, a positive mental attitude and some disposable income. You are looking for people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Recruit up whenever possible.
# 7: Generally, the more successful a person is already, the quicker he/she is to see the tremendous opportunity.
Successful people are typically MUCH more open-minded about new ways to make money than non-successful people. It’s sad, but true. People who need the business seldom join!
# 8: New distributors are often easier to work with than seasoned ones.
What you will find is the longer people are on your team, the harder it is to get them to do anything. Most people develop routines and get set in their ways. Your newest people are the ones with the most excitement and enthusiasm. Work with those folks whenever possible. By doing that, you will keep everyone above them motivated, because of the fear of loss.
# 9: Too many quality people give up before they get started, and that is a terrible shame.
Rome was NOT built in a day. You won’t build any type of successful business in less than a year or two. Most people have unrealistic expectations about their network marketing business and they never even give themselves a fair chance to be successful.
# 10: If you make the mistake some distributors do and let your new distributors cool off, you may never be able to get them started.
People are the most excited when they first join the business. The longer someone is in the business, the less motivated and excited they are. You need to strike while the iron is hot. At most, you have 72-hours from the time someone joins before they make the decision to “mentally quit” or move forward with the business. This is why it’s so vital to help your new rep get started right and help them make their first commission right away.
# 11: History tells us that all distributors have the best opportunity to sponsor two people during their first week of a program.
Most of the people you sponsor will never sponsor ANYONE. You can improve the likelihood of them sponsoring people by working closely with them during their first week or two in the business, when they are still excited. Keep in mind, EVERYONE has at least two people who will support them. These are the folks you want your new rep to approach first.
# 12: One of the most important aspects of advertising is to keep your ad in front of people each week.
Repetition is key when it comes to advertising. If you just place an ad one week and stop, you won’t do very well. Most people who see your ad will need to see it AT LEAST five to ten times before they ever respond to it. Make a goal to commit to weekly advertising in the same media for at least 12-months, before you decide whether it will work or not. Don’t try to be a one hit wonder!
Review of The MLM Road Map
Like any book, there were things I liked and disliked about the book. Without a doubt, my favorite thing about this book was the sample ads that Ray provided in it. That alone makes it a good deal, as I see it. There are probably close to 50 different ads to choose from.
Here is a list of the chapters:
- Introduction to Network Marketing
- Tools of the Trade
- Getting Started
- Recruiting Prospects
- The $100,000 Close
- Structure Building
- Principles of the System
- The Binary Marketing Plan
- Sample Advertising
The type face and font were bold and hard on my eyes. Also, I wouldn’t put this book in my top 20 list, but I do think it would be a valuable resource in your leader’s library. Overall, I give it 3 of 5 stars.
About the Book
The MLM Road Map: A Step-by-Step System of Building a Network Marketing Downline was published in 2000 by Double Diamond Publishing. It contains 127-pages and comes in soft-cover format. To the best of my knowledge it is an out of print book, but you can find a copy online.
About Ray Duncan
Here is the author’s biography, right from the book itself.
“Ray Duncan was the Director of the Lajitas Museum and Desert Garden near the Big Bend National Park, where he also operated a Real Estate Office and was Editor and Publisher of “The Lajitas Sun” newspaper.
His interest in MLM began early when, as a youth, he was involved part-time with several network marketing programs. He became an avid student of the industry, and in 1990 started a full-time career which grew to include several corporate positions with network marketing firms.
Mr. Duncan formed his present consulting business in 1994, and his clients have ranged from start-up companies to established corporations seeking to improve their operations.”
Final Thoughts
In summary, I enjoyed Ray Duncan’s book The MLM Road Map: A Step-by Step System of Building a Network Marketing Downline. I think it has a few Golden Nuggets in it that would benefit any network marketer. As I mentioned above, the sample ads are my favorite thing about the book, and if for no other reason, you should get the book to see the sample ads.
What are your thoughts? Have you read the book before? If so, what do you think? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you.
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It is true that there are a host of people who get into MLM who clearly have the talent and skill to make the business opportunity work well for them, but they lack the patience or the determination to press forward in order to make it to that point. I know that there are two times I can recall when I knew the person was “the” person to take the business opportunity to the next level because they had the intellect and qualities that made them a perfect fit. However they did not have the drive and simply gave up. It was hard to see, but you cannot make someone want something.
It’s true. People have to really want it to be willing to stick it out.
This sounds like a very good investment just for the sample advertisements. In some cases, it can be difficult designing an ad, and if for $4, you received 50+ sample ads, you received a great deal.
Another thing that the author mentioned is a high class business card. I am in firm agreement with that thought pattern. Many people will judge you by your business card. If it is stylish and informative, they will be more apt to do business with you.
I would love to read this book too. I will have to put it on the list. Thanks sir.
Yes, good business cards are a must.