MLM, Network Marketing and Social Media: are all distractions equal?

Guest post by David Williams

Plagiarizing my own writing…

I was working on a project yesterday, when I received an update about a site that I visit from time to time. 

This is a pretty good site for networkers, run by a veteran networker who has done fantastic numbers.  His site does 3 things: provides training for his team, provides a training site for networkers outside his team in any program, and it provides him with great exposure and branding for his recruiting.

I came across it because Wayne, the pro behind the site, read my books and started to promote them.  Never asked him to, so it was a nice complement.

I could write an article breaking down why his site as a great example for those looking to do something similar, but that’s not why I’m writing today.  

It’s about the anti-social media tirade that some MLM or network leaders are delivering to their teams.

It goes like this…

You all know the old MLM saying: ‘all distractions are equal’

Well, some leaders have been suggesting, with some vigor and logic, that social media sites – for networkers – are a distraction. 

In other words, don’t waste time on Facebook, get out there and build the business!

Of course no one says you should ever waste your time, it’s more valuable than money.

But, the real question is:

Are people who ignore social media going to succeed in building their business, or are they going to be condemned to wither away, unable to recruit in a world dominated by the Internet?

Social Media and MLM: are all distractions equal?

This is an important question. 

I can relate and understand how anyone who had built large teams in the past, PRIOR to social media, might think of Facebook, Twitter etc. as a distraction. 

I know I was one of those who felt that way when they first started appearing. 

And in fact, for the general population, they are a distraction. 

In the same way hanging out at the water cooler at work, or the lunch room, is a distraction.

But we are networkers.

We are marketers first.

We have learned to always fish where there are fish, and not where we want to fish.

In the old days employees spent their work breaks in a lunch room or break room – however today many use that time just to update their ‘timeline’ while scarfing down a sandwich at their desk.

The biggest lesson to uncover as a networker is this: ‘Times change, people don’t.’

So while in the past you could put an ad into the ‘help wanted’ section in the city paper, and prospect all day long, but you can’t now. 

Times have changed, people don’t advertise jobs in ‘newspapers’ any more. Today there are sites – Monster, Workopolis, etc. where people post their resumes.

People still need a place to find jobs, but the media/method has changed.

Times change, people don’t.

People always will want to socialize, chat, recommend stuff, condemn things, laugh at themselves and giggle at others. 

They did it in ancient Rome, and they still do today. 

2000 years ago it was at the forum, 100 years ago the town square, yesterday the mall, but today it’s Facebook.

Times change, people don’t.

So, if you want to prospect, be seen, brand yourself, interact, or as I like to call it: Recruit – you need to be where there are eyeballs.

There are millions of them on YouTube, Facebook etc.  

Hourly.

Does that mean you should be watching ‘skateboard fails’ or ‘liking’ every picture of cute kittens you see? 

No, it means that you must systematically use these communication tools to plant seeds and or brand yourself.

Every post, comment, image you upload, video you subscribe to, comment on, etc. is a seed you are planting. 

Planting seeds is prospecting.

The more seeds you plant, the more you harvest. 

Planting seeds is work. 

If you plant seeds on social media sites, you are working.

If you chat with your downline, you are not.

For a networker, using social media right is prospecting.

Prospecting is doing that basic of all human functions: connecting.

This is the reason we believe in networking. 

We believe in the power of person to person connecting.

Today, people connect on social media.

If you feel social media is not part of your network strategy, you are saying connecting is not part of your strategy.

And by that you are saying ‘no’ to networking.

Times change, people don’t.

So from time to time we have no choice but to change our connecting methods, but we don’t stop connecting.

So find someone you respect and learn the art of prospecting and connecting using social media and plant some seeds.

A question you may ask me:

“David, if you promote offline prospecting, why are you supporting social media?”

Good question.

I have a number of books on Amazon showing offline prospecting, like How to use Postcards, and How to Recruit Doctors, (both are offline methods). 

You can prospect on or offline. 

BUT you MUST keep the process going with online support.

I like to suggest people prospect offline, because there is no competition, but once you have a prospect, use email, social media, YouTube, and the rest, to keep the prospect in the process. 

And also use the phone, which these days is often VOIP and could be considered online too.

A good friend of mine, who I’ll take credit training years ago, until she got so good she didn’t need me anymore, does all of her recruiting on LinkedIn, and follows up with YouTube and email.  She has used it to brand herself too.  

But once they say ‘yes, I’m in’ she meets up with them in person.  She lives in a big city and does everything locally, and is making big bucks. 

So it’s not all black and white.

No matter whether or not you prospect on or offline, you need to use social media to follow up/keep your prospect in the look AND to brand yourself.

Take a look at my original post – where I plagiarized myself, if you want to see a good training/branding site and hear more about thesocial media debate.

Then get out there and prospect and connect!

David Williams MLM Author