The term online network marketing gets tossed around casually by different people meaning different things. No doubt you came across the term (and search for it) because someone told you that taking your MLM business online was a guaranteed path to success. We’ll let’s be realistic, there are no guarantees (especially not in network marketing), but there are a lot of positive thing happening with online network marketing that you should be aware of so you can figure out it that direction is right for you.
The term online network marketing really encompasses at least 3 totally different realms – Products, Lead Generation and Social Proof – and we will explore each of these separately. Contrary to popular opinion online network marketing isn’t just for online products and services. If you provide a physical product or offline service, keep reading to understand how online network marketing factors into your lead generation and can be used to establish credibility.
Online Network Marketing: Online Products and Services
If you provide an online product or service you already know it. For everyone else, the types of MLM products that we are talking about in this section are products such as discount programs, travel programs, financial services or training programs. All of these products and services are intangible. There is no physical item to hold, touch and smell.
If you promote an intangible product, you can use online network marketing techniques across your entire marketing, sales and delivery process. You can generate the lead online, explain the product online, close the transaction online and deliver the purchase online. An online product or service allows you to build a truly virtual company that you can operate from anywhere and that doesn’t require your physical presence. If you are an introvert or are tired of home-meetings occupying your evenings and weekends, an intangible product is the right choice for your online network marketing endeavors.
With a physical product, you can use online network marketing tactics for lead generation, education and transaction processing, but there will typically be an intermediate in-person step. No matter how much online education is available, almost all new customers will want to taste any edible products, try on any fashion products or feel and home decor products. Note that we say “new” customers in the previous sentence. For existing customers and are familiar with the product quality or taste, online network marketing can be highly effective for reorders or introducing a new seasonal product line.
Online Network Marketing: Online Lead Generation
No matter what product or service you are promoting, lead generation is universally the central focus of your online network marketing program. One 2011 study found that 900 million people access the internet from a PC at home and a whopping 1.6 billion active mobile phone subscriptions. In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama committed to providing 98% of all Americans with high-speed wireless internet access in the next five years. There has been no other time in history where
