Got a bossy upline that doesn’t want you to do network marketing online? Theres a really good chance that when you got into network marketing, you were super excited by the notion of being your own boss, having financial freedom and living life on your own terms. It’s likely, also, that you went straight to work…all ignorance on fire…thinking everyone was going to freak out at how awesome your deal was, and join you on the spot. But they didn’t, right? In fact, you probably got a ton of rejection….if you even bothered to keep presenting to people, at all, at that point.
NETWORK MARKETING ONLINE: IS YOUR UPLINE NEGATIVE ABOUT IT?
Then…if you’re anything like me… you came online, hoping that social media would be THE ticket to building a massive, global team. And you know what? Done correctly, it certainly can be! Unfortunately, if you end up dealing with a bossy upline that doesn’t want you to do network marketing online, it can be really tough.
I know it can be scary and confusing when your upline is negative about online marketing. This is especially true, given all of the amazing success stories you see, of people building empires almost exclusively leveraging social media. So, what should you do… go back to the ‘old-school’ way that doesn’t really resonate with you? You may be thinking, geez…If this internet thing is so great, why do you have to deal with a bossy upline that doesn’t want you to do network marketing online? I hear ya!
HOW TO DEAL WITH A BOSSY UPLINE THAT DOESN’T WANT YOU TO DO NETWORK MARKETING ONLINE – EPISODE 3
NETWORK MARKETING ONLINE: YOUR UPLINE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO DO IT
Well…the truth is… there are a few key reasons why that might be.
#1: Firstly, since the dawn of time, people have been building their network marketing companies, successfully off line. The internet didn’t exist, right? So, it wasn’t an option. Companies developed more traditional ways of building a business, based on what was available to them and working at the time. Makes sense.
Unfortunately, because that ‘old-school’ way of doing things is so entrenched in the network marketing culture, some company leaders and uplines have a really hard time wrapping their heads around different approaches. Does the old way still work? Of course it does! There are still thousands of total rock star marketers that do home meetings, one-on-ones and two-on-ones in coffee shops, three-way calls, hotel meetings, super Saturdays……all of it. Truly, it all still works.
IS THE OLD-SCHOOL WAY BETTER THAN DOING IT ONLINE?
BUT…the old-way is NOT the only way! In actual fact, the old way, isn’t even the BEST way. It’s just ONE way.
You need to find what works for YOU.
Let’s go through the main reasons you’re upline likely doesn’t want you to do network marketing online, shall we?
- They believe the old way is better.
- They fear it because they don’t understand how to do it, teach it or control it.
- Their feeling is that building online is not duplicatable.
- They’ve been told that if you build online, your retention will suck.
NETWORK MARKETING ONLINE: THE WILD WEST
We handled number one already so let’s move on to number two.
#2: There is a very good chance that your company leaders and your upline are just not comfortable trying to figure out a structured way of implementing online strategies across the board. They don’t fully understand the inner workings of building a network marketing business online and thus, simply fall back on what they know works. It’s just plain easier for them.
Social media is like the Wild West to a lot of people and they fear a loss of control. If they accept doing network marketing online as a viable and respected way of building a business, they themselves would have to learn it. That’s a super scary proposition for many of them…simple as that.
YOU CAN’T DO NETWORK MARKETING ONLINE…THAT WILL NEVER WORK!
Moving on….
#3: Number three is a big concern for many an upline. I can hear it now …”You can’t build your network marketing team online! That will never work. It’s just not duplicatable.” Hogwash. My mentors and upline leaders, are top 3 recruiters in our entire organization of over 300,000 active worldwide reps. They build their team almost exclusively online AND freely teach those on their team, who wish to do the same.
Moreover, it’s working swimmingly for them, so clearly, duplication is NOT an issue. You simply have to have systems in place to train your people properly. My upline are definitely not alone. There are so many examples of leaders building great big businesses on social media. Additionally, what I love best, is how leveraged their time is, in comparison to the more traditional builders. Do to effective systems and some automation, they have a lot more free time, it seems.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE THING…
Building online is not dissimilar to building in the traditional belly to belly way. You have to have procedures to follow, that every single new teammate learns and patterns. Duplication is about repeating behaviours. Truly, it doesn’t matter HOW you build..just that you do.
As one of my mentors, Ray Higdon, says, how you get the lead (prospect) does not have to be duplicatable. It’s what you do once you get the lead, that does.
Here are the nuts and bolts of the thing….
You need to have people to talk to about your business. Additionally, you need to find those people, quickly sort them, present your business or product, and close. Those are the key elements that need to be repeated over and over again, to be successful. Can you do all of those things in the traditional belly to belly, old-school way? Of course you can! In like manner, can you do them online? Hellz yeah..you sure can!
NETWORK MARKETING ONLINE: DON’T IGNORE THE FACTS
The way I see it, it’s about options. Both ways work really well and in a perfect world, you should venture to get really good at both! What I will say, though, is that any company leader or upline leader that refuses to support their reps’ decision to build online, will likely lose people. As time goes on, people will leave.
Think about it for a moment. Social media is not going anywhere. After all, there are some 2 billion people on Facebook alone. You need people..and guess what? THEY’RE ALL ONLINE! Consequently, It just doesn’t make any sense at all to ignore that blazingly obvious fact and bury our noses in the sand. Furthermore, nowadays, almost everyone communicates with their thumbs or by voice message. We hardly ever pick up a phone and talk to someone anymore. Instead, we text or we private message. It’s got to be quick and painless or people tune out.
NETWORK MARKETING ONLINE: MY COMPANY FORBIDS IT!
More than ever, it’s critical to adapt to the way people operate. Communication is so key to what we are doing and it’s essential to keep up with how the masses stay in touch. Increasingly, reps are going to want the option to find customers, to prospect and recruit online and if upline leaders don’t get on board, they’ll fall behind in a quick hurry. Heck it’s freakin’ called network marketing! Doesn’t it just make sense to actually do some ‘marketing’? It baffles me that anyone would fear that.
Now…you may be thinking… “I totally agree with you, Staci, but my company forbids doing network marketing online. They only allow us to follow their way.” I encourage you to read your rep agreement, carefully. typically, network marketing companies do not want you using their name, logo or branding in any unauthorized manner, across the board. They have to protect themselves from those people who would take liberties with their brand and risk damaging it. That being said, It’s not social media, itself, that is of issue, but rather people’s mishandling of it.
SOME BAD APPLES…ONLINE AND OFF…
We’ve all seen those marketers who plaster their links, product pics and their bogo promotions all over their pages! It’s so unprofessional and often caused by poor information and training. Let’s be honest here though, there are certain people who will mishandle the old-school way of doing things too. There will always be bad apples, no matter what the manner of building!
If you are doing network marketing online, correctly, none of this is going to be an issue. You should be using attraction marketing as your paradigm and thus, you need to be branding yourself NOT the company. That being the case, you should never be posting your company name, logo or product pictures online, anyway. If you’re company leaders or your upline has a problem with you branding YOU then there is a much bigger issue for you to address.
“I left a company once, in part, because they forbade me from joining a marketing platform…”
You likely chose to build a network marketing company, so that you could be an entrepreneur….be your own boss, make your own hours….create your own life. In that case, if your bossy upline is treating you like an employee and the company leaders are not giving you the freedom to build your business in the way that works best for you, then consider whether your loyalties are misplaced. This may seem harsh, but I left a company once, in part, because they forbade me from joining a marketing platform, that has been absolutely instrumental in launching my online career! Consider carefully, what you want. It’s your business.
DON’T COME HERE OUT OF WEAKNESS.
#4: Number four on my list is an interesting one. Many uplines believe that building a network marketing company online leads to poor duplication…and it can. Here’s the thing. If you came online out of weakness, you’ll struggle.
Some marketers come online because they are afraid of the belly to belly method. Specifically, they fear talking to their warm markets and they erroneously believe that building online will allow them to hide behind their computers. THAT is just not true! However you find your people to talk to..you DO still have to talk to them This IS a relationship business. You are still going to have to get good at the basic skills set of a successful network marketer. There is no hiding, my friend. This took me a long time to accept, and the quicker you get it, the faster you’ll advance.
Consider this, If you can’t lead in your local area, you can’t lead a global online business. So if you are a poor leader, you won’t keep people, (even if they do join you), online or off. Leadership is not about whether you build your network marketing business traditionally or online, it’s about the people.
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” ~Steve Jobs (Click To Tweet)
To have great retention, you need to create a great team culture. That’s it. People need to know that you, as their upline leader, care about them and recognize their contribution. People need to feel that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. That is what matters most. Many, many leaders are successful at creating wonderful team culture in an almost fully, online environment. Additionally, some of the fastest growing teams in my world right now, are building their network marketing businesses almost entirely on Facebook. So what does that tell you?
ITS ABOUT CHOICE…
Essentially, it’s all about choice. Whether you do network marketing online or off, whether you prefer warm market or cold…it doesn’t really matter. What is of importance, is how many lives you are helping to change with what you are doing. Ultimately, it’s about building your legacy the way that feels right for you, and living the life you desire. You truly can create that life by leveraging social media, by belly to belly methods or by a combination of both. Ultimately, the choice is yours. ….or…at least….it should be. xx
Some Great Resources To help You In a Major Way!
**When you are ready to build your network marketing business online, you can save yourself a ton of time, money and frustration by learning to do it the right way, from the start! Furthermore, if you’ve been online for a while and still struggling, it’s not too late to for you. You can start finally having success, right now.
The only way to build a huge business online, without spending all day prospecting on social media, is by learning to attract the right people TO you. Once you have a funnel full of amazing prospects to talk to everyday, YOU are in control of your process! Doesn’t that sound great?!!? Here are some of my personal fave resources to help you bring that freedom into your world!
1) Attraction Marketing and Leadership Platform – Learn More
Leverage the community and system I personally use, that taught me how to become an authority in my marketplace, that people want to follow. In the same fashion, if you desire to become the go-to person for your product, service and or opportunity…and like the idea of being seen as a pseudo-celebrity by your prospects…than THIS may be for you.
2) 3-Minute Expert – Attraction Marketing Edition – Learn More
This course, by multiple 7-figure earner, Ray Higdon, is the absolute #1, gold standard. It will teach you how to blog like a pro and actually earn an amazing income doing it! Without proper guidance, most bloggers simply spin their wheels and never make a dime. As online marketers, our blog is our piece of real estate online. As a matter of fact, it is the only thing online that we own and control. A blog should form the hub of our entire business and deserves to be set up for success from the start.
3) Ultimate Fan Page Profits – Learn More
If you want to truly build a great business leveraging Facebook, you absolutely must have a fan page. Get step-by-step expert instruction by Tanya Aliza, herself, as to exactly how to build AND GROW your fan page like a pro, for the long haul.
Did you get some value from these tips on how to deal with an upline that doesn’t want you to do network marketing online?
I hope you did because my goal is always to provide you with the best possible information and resources to help you build an amazing business online, while having a blast doing it! Feel like Sharing This Because You’re awesome and Love to Share Info that will help others?”
Question of The Week: Have you ever dealt with a situation where you were discouraged from building your biz online? How did you handle it? Let me know in the comments below:)
“I Simplify Online Marketing and Make it Fun For Entrepreneurs To Increase Their Confidence, Influence and Results”
Make Your Mark!
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Hi Staci. I completely understand what you’re saying here. When I decided to go online my immediate upline was encouraging even though they didn’t exactly know how to support me. That was cool. They gave me the space. Above them I was generally ignored, which again was fine.
I remember one time I met with one of the highest level distributors in my upline. I told him what I was doing and his eyes just glazed over for a moment then he launched into his standard spiel.
I had a cross-line friend that I helped to get online and he wasn’t so fortunate. He was specifically told not to encourage people to go online. Interestingly enough, those people against using the Internet are all gone and my friend and I are still here.
I’ve been telling people the same thing you said. The Internet is just another communication channel to find prospects. Once you have them, the process is basically the same whether you are online or offline.
Most of the people in my company who reach out to me want to get online because they think it will be easier. Again, like you said, they don’t want to do the work offline so they think they can go online and not have to do the work. Actually, going online takes more work in the beginning because you have to get everything set up before you can use it. They don’t stick around long either.
My company has never given me any problem, only encouragement and help when I need it. They want to sell product, and that’s what I do. They’re happy.
Thanks for validating everything I have experienced.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Wayne. I appreciate it. It’s such a common issue and it can be very challenging for those who truly wish to build online. I’m glad that you didn’t fold and give up on what you you wanted. Eventually, it is likely that building online will become more common place. The internet is not going anywhere so those who refuse to embrace it will ultimately fall behind…if not personally, than as a result of losing business builders who want to leverage social media. Now that Eric Worre is beginning to teach some social media strategies, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes more widely accepted lol! Feel free to reach out if you have questions or want to chat further:)