As a network marketer, your goal is to build your network. The larger your network grows, the bigger your business will be. Although many network marketers know this, they may be anxious about how to go about growing their businesses. After all, not all network marketers, especially those who are just starting out, are comfortable talking to people about their businesses. Additionally, many feel as though they’ve tapped out their potential networks and just don’t know who to contact. We want to focus on growth, but we’re not sure how.

So how do you grow your network when you’re sure that you’ve contacted everyone you have ever met? 

Before you expand your business, it’s essential to expand your mindset. One of the biggest mistakes network marketers make is not thinking beyond their immediate contacts. At some point, you’re going to think you’ve contacted every single person you’ve ever known. However, there are people to contact beyond that, but you may not realize it yet – it’s the networks of the people in your network. You’ll contact them in due time, but first you need to figure out what you want your business to look like. 

Growth tip: What do you want your business to look like?

When you first start in network marketing, you may have an idea of what you want your business to look like a year or so out. However, after a few months or even years, another vision may form. 

This is why we advocate reviewing your business at least once a year to see if where you’re going aligns with your vision. Ask yourself the following questions: How many customers and distributors do you have in your network? What is the ideal number? This will tell you how much you need to grow your business. If you’re just starting out, you may think small. However, as you gain more experience in your business and work toward building it, you may wish to adjust your figures. Perhaps growing your business by 20% seemed like a pipedream when you first started, but now it seems feasible. Or, vice versa. The point is to figure out what number you want to aim for and then put a plan in place to get there.

Growth tip: What’s the next stage?

If you’re reading this post, you may say “growth.” Technically, your business is always growing in some way, shape, or form. And, you may say that you wish it would grow exponentially larger than it is now. 

Although you may have your eye on huge growth, the reality is, it’s more realistic to start smaller. Think about how you want your business to look in 6 months or next year. How much do you want it to have grown by? The thing about growing too fast, too soon is that it’s tough to manage it all. It’s more difficult to shower attention on and get to know dozens of people in a short amount of time than it is to build relationships with a handful of people. In business, it is about quality over quantity sometimes. 

Once you have your goal in mind of how much you want to grow your customer base and team, think about how you’ll get there. The best way to grow your network is to replicate the relationships you have with your best customers and distributors. Who are your top people – the ones who talk about your business to everyone they know? Those are your top advocates. Also look at your network and see who you’ve sorted into the top category – those are the people you want to replicate. The good news is, those people have networks, too, and chances are, they’re full of people you may not know or be connected to. This is when you’ll ask them to introduce you.

Asking for an introduction

This is where many network marketers get nervous. After all, they don’t want to appear salesy or like their only goal is to make a sale and add to their networks. The good news is, there’s a way to go about asking for an introduction that doesn’t sound like you’re taking advantage of the relationship. Remember, you’re not a traditional salesperson – you have the best intentions in mind. You want to help and serve them, and by asking for introductions to the people they care about, you can help and serve those people, too. 

Although it’s normal to feel nervous, keep in mind that the strongest advocates of your business want you to succeed. That’s why they’re excited to introduce you to people they also know and care about. They’ve probably been talking about your business for months; asking them to introduce you provides them the opportunity to share your services with their favorite people.

You may be thinking, if they’re such big advocates of my business, then aren’t they introducing me already? Maybe, but most likely they’re not. Although they love your business, they may not remember to recommend you to their family and friends. That’s not to say they wouldn’t, they’re just busy with their own lives and responsibilities. However, you can ask them to introduce you to people who would benefit from your business or the opportunity you’re offering, then make sure you continue to keep in touch with them, follow up, and look for ways to serve them.

Growth tip: Share your vision

Goals are easier to achieve when you have other people on board. So share your vision for your company with all who will listen. Of course, share your goals with your team, but also share it with the people you know outside of network marketing as well. Let them know you want to grow your business and network by a specific percentage and let them know you intend to ask them for help. 

Write down your goal and post it where you can see it every day. This will help you keep it top of mind so you’ll never forget. It’ll also help you stay motivated to go after your goals. Bonus points if you post it where others can see it too; that way you can get support on your way to achieving your goal. 

Tell your team. Share your growth goals with our team. Those who have been in business for longer than you may have advice they can share to help you get to that next level. They may also be able to share insight that will help you reach out to more people in your network.

Growth tip: Don’t forget to grow your mind

The more you grow your mind, the more tools you’ll have to grow your business. 

• Read books and articles by and about your business heroes, and with tips to help you take your business to that next level. 
• Listen to podcasts and audiobooks to keep you inspired, motivated, and on the right track. 
• Take online training courses that will help you sharpen your skills and offer your network the best version of you that you can. 

Encourage your team to join you so you can improve your skills together.

Growth tip: Get a coach and mentor

Although the support of your team and loved ones is important, it’s also important to get support from people who aren’t personally invested in your success. Coaches and mentors are people who are on your side who are sure to help you reach your goals. 

A coach will hold you accountable. Not only will they help you set goals you can reach, they’ll also keep you on track to achieve them. They’ll give you their unbiased advice and will help you follow through with your plan to achieve your goals.

A mentor will give you relevant advice when you need it. Mentors have been where you are before. They’ve been in your shoes and have built a small business or a network marketing business. As a result, they can help you avoid the challenges they faced. They’ll share their experiences and let you know what they did, or wish they did, to overcome the challenges they’ve faced. 

Teamzy can help you grow your network 

More than a CRM, Teamzy gives you the tools you need to build and grow your network. Log in daily to see who you need to contact, then reach out, follow up, and get to work making people’s days. Enroll in trainings and courses to help you sharpen your skills and always offer your network top-notch service. Click here to learn more.