As a network marketer, your network is more than a list of names. It’s also the foundation of your business. In this season of growth and gardening, think of it as a garden you tend. In order to grow a lush garden, you have to tend to the plants. The plants with the most potential and most care will yield bigger harvests than those that are ignored. Similarly, the people you tend to in your network will provide the most business and the most introductions. Part of this process is figuring out who your best people are. To do that, you have to sort your network. This isn’t about discarding contacts; it’s about understanding the potential of each connection and nurturing them accordingly.

Why you should spring clean your network

Think of your current network as a sprawling garden. Some plants are thriving, bearing fruit (introductions, sales, team members), while others just don’t seem to grow.  This is the time to assess the health and arrangement of this garden. It involves reviewing your existing contacts, and figuring out if your relationship has the potential to grow. 

Ask yourself:

1. What is your current relationship with them? Are they a customer, a lead, a potential recruit, a supportive friend, or a casual acquaintance?
2. How engaged are they in your business? That is, are they actively following your updates, engaging with you, or have they gone silent?
3. What do they need?  Do you see an opportunity there or have their circumstances changed?
4. How strong is your relationship? Is it a strong, trusting bond, a casual acquaintance, or something in between?
5. What value can you provide to them?   

Ask yourself these questions for each person. For some folks, these answers will be obvious. For others, you may need to think for a minute. In the end, trust your gut. 

Sorting your list

This isn’t about categorizing people into rigid boxes, but rather about understanding the different types of relationships you have in your network and tailoring your approach accordingly. Consider these key relationship categories:

Your top advocates

These are your closest friends, family, and loyal customers who deeply trust and support you. They are often your biggest advocates and early adopters. These are your five-star people. Focus on nurturing these relationships with genuine care, appreciation, and personalized attention. They are your foundation. You’ll contact your top advocates more often.

Your 4-star people

The people in your network have probably purchased from you before. They may have shown interest in your products or services. Or, they might have inquired, attended a presentation, or expressed a need that your offerings can fulfill. Your focus here should be on providing value, addressing their concerns, and building trust through informative and helpful communication.

Additionally, this is where you may put those who have expressed interest in the business opportunity or possess qualities that would make them a great team member. Your approach should highlight the benefits of joining your team, address their questions about the business model, and showcase your leadership and support.

Your 3-star people

These may be looser connections, but they have potential to be more. They include broader connections you’ve made through various avenues. While not immediately high-potential, they represent the potential of possibilities. Focus on building rapport in your network, sharing valuable content, and staying top-of-mind without being overly pushy. These connections can warm up over time.

2-star people

These are individuals you haven’t engaged with in a while. Don’t discard them! Reaching out with a genuine interest in their well-being and a subtle reminder of what you offer can reignite these connections.

Relationships change over time and it’s normal that a person’s category will shift over time. Someone who starts as a casual 2 star may evolve into your biggest advocate. That’s why it’s critical to review your network periodically.

How to re-engage with your top advocates and team 

Keep it personal

Generic praise feels gross and fake for all involved. Go beyond the standard shout-outs and acknowledge their specific contributions and achievements in a more personalized way. Here are a few ideas:

• Instead of a mass email, send individual messages highlighting their recent successes, specific efforts, or positive impact on the team. Mention concrete examples.
• When recognizing them publicly (on team calls or social media), share the “why” behind their success. What specific actions did they take? What challenges did they overcome? This inspires others and makes the recognition more meaningful.
• For your team, publicly acknowledge their leadership qualities and the positive influence they have on their downline. Empower them further by giving them opportunities to mentor newer team members.
• Offer early access to new products. Let your top advocates be the first to experience and promote new offerings. Their enthusiasm can create significant buzz.

Listen 

Make sure you offer open communication and provide tailored support. Schedule regular, dedicated time for individual conversations. Focus on their goals, challenges, and aspirations. Ask open-ended questions and truly listen to their responses. Then collaborate with them to set ambitious yet achievable goals and develop personalized action plans to reach them. Offer your guidance and resources. Find out about any obstacles they are facing and work together to find solutions. This shows you are invested in their success. This is true for both your team and your customers. Show them that you care.

Create community

You’re the center of your community. Your network has one thing in common: you. Create an exclusive online group or forum where top advocates and team members can connect, share best practices, and support each other. For your team members, connect experienced top performers with newer leaders to foster mentorship and knowledge sharing within the team. Then acknowledge and celebrate team milestones and successes, reinforcing the idea that everyone’s contributions matter.

Connect

Regular, genuine communication is the bedrock of strong network relationships. Be sure to establish a consistent communication rhythm, whether it’s weekly updates, monthly calls, or regular check-ins, maintain a predictable communication schedule. Share your own challenges and successes honestly to build trust through open and transparent communication. Don’t forget to ask for their input on how you can better support them and the team. This demonstrates that you value their opinions.

Do these things and you can move beyond simply managing your top advocates and team and connect with them at a deeper level. This fosters loyalty, reignites their passion, and ultimately fuels the continued growth and success of your network marketing business. 

Keep your network organized

Ditch the spreadsheets and sticky notes and invest in a CRM like Teamzy. Teamzy provides a centralized hub for all your contacts, communication history, and relevant notes (and much more). Just log in and get sorting. Make it a habit to add new contacts immediately and regularly update existing information (address changes, new interests, milestones). Accuracy is key to effective management.

Don’t forget to follow up

Following up is critical to your business. Temazy allows you to set reminders for follow-ups based on the last interaction and the individual’s stage. Maintain a detailed record of all interactions (calls, emails, messages) within your CRM. This provides valuable context for future conversations. Then focus your energy on the warmest leads and those who have shown the most engagement.

Review

While nurturing is crucial, it’s also important to manage your time effectively. Periodically review your network for contacts who haven’t engaged in a significant amount of time. Decide whether to attempt a re-engagement strategy or archive/remove truly unresponsive contacts to streamline your focus. And, don’t burn bridges: Even when removing contacts, do so professionally and respectfully. You never know when circumstances might change.

Make Teamzy your superpower

Organizing and managing your network effectively is not just about being efficient; it’s about building genuine relationships that fuel the growth of your network marketing business. Teamzy is specifically designed to help network marketers organize, manage, and engage with their network effectively. It goes beyond a basic CRM and offers features tailored to the unique needs of network marketers. By implementing these tips and leveraging powerful tools like Teamzy, you can conquer the chaos, nurture your connections, and unlock the true potential of your network. Stop letting valuable relationships slip through the cracks and start building a thriving  network today. Click here to learn more.