Network marketing? MLM? Let’s party!

Marketing through home parties has made some of the great network marketing companies like Tupperware and Avon household names … not to mention billions of dollars. According to the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, network marketing parties account for around $7 billion in direct selling revenues.

It’s no surprise that women dominate the network marketing party plan arena. Home parties are used to promote a wide variety of items women purchase, including household products, arts and crafts, toys, candles, cosmetics, jewelry, and many others. The PrePaid Legal organization grew through MLM parties.

Informal and relaxed, the home-party concept is a fun way for people to socialize and for you to introduce your multi-level marketing products and opportunities in safe and friendly surroundings to several people at once. Best of all, they provide a venue to put immediate cash from sales into your hands.

Getting referrals at home parties flows naturally. Guests are inquisitive about products and this interest makes it easy to ask if anyone else present would like to host a party.

In-home network marketing parties follow a simple outline with these basic steps or variations appropriate to your product:

• Ask the hostess to introduce you.
• Have satisfied customers give testimonials.
• Pass some products around the room.
• Describe key benefits while people are experiencing your products.
• Play a network marketing company DVD or video.
• Briefly recap key benefits on the DVD/video.
• Talk about different ways to use the network marketing product.
• Describe the network marketing business opportunity.
• Have a drawing for door prizes. (Everyone should get something.)
• Take orders!

Group effort

Consider joining or leading a group for networking to refer each other’s services. While not a “party” in the technical sense, such MLM groups offer a way of building relationships and expanding the base of prospects. Before getting involved, be clear about how you would be able to help refer potential clients or suggest useful tactics to other members.

Participating in a networking group is a long-term social tactic, not an invitation to pitch your offer. After meeting your fellow members, make notes on their situation, so that when you come across a helpful resource, you can get it to them. Follow up with members you can do something for. Make a warm impression by offering to get together over coffee or tea. People will be grateful, more likely to begin a networking relationship, and feel like reciprocating.

Be clear about the types of leads you are looking for in return. Are you looking for customers or for business builders? How do you define your ideal prospect? If you aren’t sure, go back to your marketing plan and use the guidelines there to describe your perfect client, not only to yourself, but also to those who are willing to refer people to you.

To get the most out of networking groups, attend meetings regularly. Get to know the people involved. Show up with the intention to grow relationships and you’ll find your group is ready to support you with referrals.

One of the largest referral groups with chapters across the U.S. is 13 NI at www.bni.com.

Sessions that sizzle

Sizzle sessions are informal meetings with network marketing distributors in small groups who talk about what’s going on for them and brainstorm ideas for growth.

Excited distributors getting together generate contagious energy. If the network marketing program is the “steak,” the sizzle sells the steak. Sizzle sessions are about creating the sizzle.

Unlike most other types of meetings, sizzle sessions are free-flowing chats about their network marketing products, the network marketing comp plan, and how the MLM business is going for each person. These sessions help distributors feel they are connected as a network marketing team.