Now What? 5 MLM Retention Tips to Ensure the Success of Your Program
February 8th, 2009 | by Terry |
asked:
Once the recruiting system for your multi-level marketing business is in place, be ready for the real work to begin. Your concern now is not only to help your downlines become productive but also to ensure you keep them in your program. MLM recruiting is just an initial step on your part ? MLM retention is a different matter altogether. And it can be a real challenge. Don?t waste the potential of your downlines and use these 5 tips to ensure your MLM retention.
1. Become the leader.
Once you enter an MLM program, consider yourself a leader and a follower at the same time. However, when dealing with your downlines, you definitely will have to learn how to lead a team.
Learn to organize and rally your team of downlines. Just imagine how disappointed they would feel if they join a promising MLM business only to be stuck with an upline that doesn?t know what to do and where to go. Have a clear vision of where you want to take your MLM business and make sure it doesn?t only benefit you but your hardworking downlines as well.
2. Communicate.
Never miss an opportunity to improve your communication lines with your downlines. In most MLM programs, those involved will usually communicate only online and very rarely meet in person. If this is the case with you, make sure that as a leader of your team, you have a face and a personality.
Upload a photo of yourself on your website to put a ‘face’ on your program. Send e-mails to keep your downlines up-to-date with the latest news, products, promotions and the like. Do this every 3 to 4 days.
Your goal is to keep them interested and to let them know they are valued members of your team. Don?t make them feel as if you’re breathing down their necks. Encourage them, take note of their comments and suggestions and if they have any concerns, make sure to address these in 2 to 3 days. If downlines feel neglected, don’t count on them to stay too long in your program.
3. Personalize.
People like to feel that you see and respect them as individuals and not just faceless, nameless persons who joined your team. Address them by their first names and if you can, try to customize your messages to keep the familiarity.
And yes, it wouldn?t hurt if you let your downlines feel that they are in business with you. Don?t chide or lecture them but show them respect and encouragement.
4. Check for progress.
As a leader of your MLM team, it is your job to make sure that performance standards are set and that common goals are understood. You would have failed as a leader if your team is confused about your direction and doesn?t exactly understand what standards they have to live up to.
So one team member earned $100 last week ? does that show progress, is it a measly sum or is it commendable? Or if another team member recruited 5 new members ? is that in sync with your performance plan or is the member too slow? Try to look at the bigger picture and see how far your team has come and how long it has to go so you can meet your goals.
5. Follow up, always follow up.
The very first time you recruit a member to become a downline, engage in a follow up. This is a crucial step to ensuring that you keep your downlines and make them productive. Offer support, guidance and direction. The first few days when this new member is setting up on his own is critical and requires your close attention.
Be ready with your advice and keep close tabs on his progress. That way, you’ll know immediately in which areas he or she is weakest. Understanding where they need support the most will help you determine which solutions are right and effective.
MLM Retention
Don?t make the mistake of thinking that just because you have a good number of downlines present, you could just sit back and let them do all the work. These are real people, not robots that will do the necessary aspects of the business for you automatically. No MLM program can work if there is no cooperation and sense of responsibility among your team. If they don?t feel they can grow and progress in a program, then MLM retention is downright impossible. However, if they are valued and can work in an environment they can both enjoy and profit from, you can be sure they’ll take your MLM program to the next level.
Daley
Once the recruiting system for your multi-level marketing business is in place, be ready for the real work to begin. Your concern now is not only to help your downlines become productive but also to ensure you keep them in your program. MLM recruiting is just an initial step on your part ? MLM retention is a different matter altogether. And it can be a real challenge. Don?t waste the potential of your downlines and use these 5 tips to ensure your MLM retention.
1. Become the leader.
Once you enter an MLM program, consider yourself a leader and a follower at the same time. However, when dealing with your downlines, you definitely will have to learn how to lead a team.
Learn to organize and rally your team of downlines. Just imagine how disappointed they would feel if they join a promising MLM business only to be stuck with an upline that doesn?t know what to do and where to go. Have a clear vision of where you want to take your MLM business and make sure it doesn?t only benefit you but your hardworking downlines as well.
2. Communicate.
Never miss an opportunity to improve your communication lines with your downlines. In most MLM programs, those involved will usually communicate only online and very rarely meet in person. If this is the case with you, make sure that as a leader of your team, you have a face and a personality.
Upload a photo of yourself on your website to put a ‘face’ on your program. Send e-mails to keep your downlines up-to-date with the latest news, products, promotions and the like. Do this every 3 to 4 days.
Your goal is to keep them interested and to let them know they are valued members of your team. Don?t make them feel as if you’re breathing down their necks. Encourage them, take note of their comments and suggestions and if they have any concerns, make sure to address these in 2 to 3 days. If downlines feel neglected, don’t count on them to stay too long in your program.
3. Personalize.
People like to feel that you see and respect them as individuals and not just faceless, nameless persons who joined your team. Address them by their first names and if you can, try to customize your messages to keep the familiarity.
And yes, it wouldn?t hurt if you let your downlines feel that they are in business with you. Don?t chide or lecture them but show them respect and encouragement.
4. Check for progress.
As a leader of your MLM team, it is your job to make sure that performance standards are set and that common goals are understood. You would have failed as a leader if your team is confused about your direction and doesn?t exactly understand what standards they have to live up to.
So one team member earned $100 last week ? does that show progress, is it a measly sum or is it commendable? Or if another team member recruited 5 new members ? is that in sync with your performance plan or is the member too slow? Try to look at the bigger picture and see how far your team has come and how long it has to go so you can meet your goals.
5. Follow up, always follow up.
The very first time you recruit a member to become a downline, engage in a follow up. This is a crucial step to ensuring that you keep your downlines and make them productive. Offer support, guidance and direction. The first few days when this new member is setting up on his own is critical and requires your close attention.
Be ready with your advice and keep close tabs on his progress. That way, you’ll know immediately in which areas he or she is weakest. Understanding where they need support the most will help you determine which solutions are right and effective.
MLM Retention
Don?t make the mistake of thinking that just because you have a good number of downlines present, you could just sit back and let them do all the work. These are real people, not robots that will do the necessary aspects of the business for you automatically. No MLM program can work if there is no cooperation and sense of responsibility among your team. If they don?t feel they can grow and progress in a program, then MLM retention is downright impossible. However, if they are valued and can work in an environment they can both enjoy and profit from, you can be sure they’ll take your MLM program to the next level.
Daley
