The network marketing industry has evolved since the 50s. But there are certain timeless principles that will never change in the network marketing industry. Principles such as:

- Providing value for your customers and prospects

- Uplines helping downlines (and sidelines helping one another)

- Working together with a solid management team

- Building your reputation and helping others…

These things will never change. However, there are certain things like business opportunity demands, prospecting methods, competition and many other crucial business factors have changed the way network marketing is done!

The goal of this article is to provide awareness for network marketers and give you enough knowledge to know what works and what doesn’t work. With this knowledge, you will be able to arm your downlines to the teeth!

Sales Versus Marketing

Times have changed since network marketing was introduced to the world. We must be very careful how we approach our prospects, however.

Just because the profitability of network marketing is still viable doesn’t mean that using the same old techniques that are used in the 80s is not going to get you the same results in the 21st century!

Here is the irony part - when the term ‘network marketing’ was coined, everyone focuses on the first word rather than the second. In other words, they go around networking instead of marketing!

Most people who are in network marketing do not have a CLUE what marketing is all about! They go about recruiting friends and family on their name list while deluding themselves into thinking that they are ’sharing’ or ‘marketing’ their products to people.

MYTH: Network marketers are not in sales, they are merely sharing products with other people

TRUTH: Network marketers who do not have a marketing system in place are actually in SALES.

What they are actually doing is that they are SELLING an idea to someone else. Whether they are selling the product or the opportunity, they are trying to convince someone to change their mind about what they have to offer.

Remember - Sharing is different from selling. It is totally different. If you are my friend and you are having a conversation with me right now, I would share with you about my passion for eating exotic food.

When I’m sharing with you, I’ve no intention to SELL you exotic food (unless I am getting commissions the restaurant that cooks exotic food).

Get the idea- Selling is different from sharing.