If you would’ve asked me this very question about 2 years ago I could have given you definite answer in whether old school network marketing was dead or not.
Some people think of the old school network marketing tactics like begging your friends and family to join your business.
But what if it wasn’t begging, and you saw them as someone who had potential. Is that still old school?
On the other hand, some people think of old school network marketing as building their home business with non-internet marketing tools.
Which is it?
Well – I’m not really here to say which is considered to be old school.
Regardless, what do you think?
Do you think old school network marketing is dead???
I know this is going to surprise you, especially coming from someone who runs their home business from the use of the internet. But, old school network marketing as I know it is far from being dead.
Now, now… Before you start jumping down my throat and telling me I’m completely whacked out, I want to set the record straight in what I believe this old school network marketing is.
Old school – Begging, persuading, and desperately asking people to do business with you or to join your team.
New school – Positioning yourself as a respectable leader who uses various tools and approaches, proven to be successful, to market your business.
Based on my definitions, this form of old school network marketing is completely dead, as a door nail. But what about the old school approach with building your warm list?
Isn’t that dead too?
Uh, no way my friend.
This is the Old School Networking That is Far From Being Dead!
This is what they call as “word of mouth marketing” and it’s still a viable approach used by many, many successful Fortune 500 companies. The only difference when this is used today is there is no desperate call to action.
It’s purely demonstrating your leadership by helping out someone else, because what your product or business offers can possibly be the answer for them.
So if some aspects of the old school marketing approach is not dead, and the new school marketing is alive more then ever, then the best thing to do is to marry the two together.
You see, when you use both approaches you are getting a broader reach. Now you may be saying, “I’m shy, bashful, and not good with people. How can I still use this approach?”
You may be shy, bashful, or not good with people but this may shock you – WHO CARES!
You actually have two options here:
1. Get over your fear and face it head on.
2. Whine and cry in how this business doesn’t work for you.
A true leader will pick #1 any day. And all it begins with a little bit of training.
On our team there are some people who are exceptional with people and their are others who need a dose of knowledge and training to acquire the skill they need.
Do you think Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Michael Dell, or Mike Dillard sat around in their pity in how they can never be any good?
No way, they took the road of personal development so they can have the necessary skills to put them in front of everyone else.
When there are new team members joining our team, the first thing we do is we assess their potential and focus on what they are good at and improve the not-so-good parts.
We immediately plug them into a system. Some choose to pick up the system and some do not. For those who do not, it’s up to them to determine what they want to do and how bad do they really want it.
Every single person on our team is GREAT. They all have tremendous potential.
And, for those who choose to run with the old school approach and learn (and eventually apply) the techniques of the new school network marketing, are the ones who are running out of the gates.
Old school network marketing is definitely NOT dead, when done the right way.
If you want to learn more about the “right way”, there is a simple sign up form below where you can plug in your information so you can learn how you can go from good to great. As my friend Ilka Flood says, “It all begins and ends with you.”
Jerome Ratliff
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Hi Jerome,
I am still an old school type of gal aside from the begging of course. I prefer the good old wholesome approach with a twist of being a leader.
Thank you for setting the record straight.
~Jen
Hi Jen,
There is nothing wrong with that at all. Whatever works best for you.
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome,
You do bring up a very interesting topic. Today we have the capability of using tools that we don’t have to go build a business the old fashion way of begging and pleading. I’m interested to see what kind of comments you are going to receive here.
Chat with you later…
Josh
Josh Garcia´s last [type] ..What Everybody Ought to Know About Video Marketing
Hey Josh,
For sure – Tools make it SO much easier too.
Chat with you later too.
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome
Strictly my opinion
Old School has been maligned by internet marketers trying to sell another their way and of course by untrained people being unleashed upon their family and friends.
Proper Old School methods is not selling to your friends and family. Old School methods that are proven to work rely on sharing information, kind of similar to online marketing.
So you are right “Old school network marketing is definitely NOT dead, when done the right way”
For family and friends, I just inform them what I am doing, if they show interest great, but I have planted a seed.
Everyone else, you need to qualify through conversation.
Online marketing funnels are qualification through automated systems.
The systems change, the method does not.
Peter Fuller MBA´s last [type] ..Does Your Home Business Make You Feel Uncomfortable
Hey Peter,
You absolutely nailed this. Great to see how we think alike.
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
a great take. It’s the same “contradiction” that is sometimes built up between “offline marketing” and “online marketing”: There is no such thing as a contradiction and online marketing doesn’t the whole work for you. You have to work online-marketing, and if done properly, it will amplify your efforts. If done improperly…well, this will be amplified too. Everything else are basics of relationship building and human behaviour.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend´s last [type] ..Are You Able To Say “No” To People Questions- Only Questions
Hi Oliver,
That’s a great way to look at this too. Because you’re right, it’s very similar.
Take care too,
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome,
I totally agree the begging or chasing your friends and family is not the way to go. When I first joined a MLM group I was aksed to make a list of all my friends anf family and then “we will call them together”. Do you have any idea how ill I immediatly starting feeling for myself, my wife, my family and my friends? It was horrible. I am now a Internet Marketer and love it, I have people realize I know a good amount of how the internet works and why. They find it very interesting, they ask questions and they are truely amazed. While many do not want to get involved they end up telling their friends and it is free marketing for me. I also provide many how to articles/video which attract people. Very rarely do I ask someone if they would like to join my business, it just works for me.
Hey Robert,
It’s that sort of approach I’m talking about. Let me ask you this, if it was a restaurant you opened, wouldn’t you do the same thing?
I do know exactly what you mean (I felt the same way), but what I later found out is where my approach was coming from was making me sick. It was too desperate.
A little training, by the right person can go miles and miles.
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome,
I agree a lot of people are so against old school not me!
I am getting some of my best contact this way but it’s old school with a new twist like you allude to.
It’s still attraction marketing in the sense people find out “I’m doing the internet thing” and are curious and some are truly interested in learning more about it.
But I don’t push it comes to me or it’s an oh by the way thing if there is ever the opportunity.
Oh by the way great post,
Steve Shoemaker
Steve Shoemaker´s last [type] ..MLM Tips- Trackers and Builders
Hey Steve,
The new twist is what makes it that much better. It’s the old principles successfully used in the past to what works even better now.
Great comment.
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
I second Steve’s take…there are benefits by adopting old and new school elements.
Although I’ve yet to have a family or friend become a team member when mentioning that I work from home I have gained more than one prospect. This is an old school mention but the new school twist is not chasing them around, or anyone for that matter.
That which is chased, flees. This saves the new school guys plenty of energy.
Great take buddy.
Ryan Biddulph
Ryan Biddulph´s last [type] ..How to Respect Time
Hey Ryan,
Absolutely! It’s the “attraction marketing” aspect of the business. You can’t go wrong with that.
Have a good one,
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
I’ve spent the last 5 years building an offline network marketing business and I’ve decided to go online with it because of the flexibility and freedom it offers me as a mom at home with 3 kids.
In my opinion, attraction marketing is the same online as it is offline…sharing information to help people solve problems. You can do this through a live face to face presentation or webinars, and websites.
I like the added reach being online gives me and the additional ways I can leverage myself by creating content that can be attracting prospects in many places at once!
What a great debate! The comments are just as great as your post!
Heather
Heather C Stephens´s last [type] ..Is Blog Commenting an Ineffective Waste of Time Regarding SEO
Hi Heather,
You’re absolutely right, it is the same online as offline.
Running our home business from offline and online, is really great approach. Just as long as your leadership shines either way.
Thanks for dropping by and for your comment.
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome,
Yeah, this is a very interesting discussion. And I loved how Peter Fuller put it – branding things “old school” and “new school” is a ploy that internet marketers are using to exploit the naivety of people – cynical view point I know.
There are 1000 ways to skin a cat, as there are 1000 ways to build this business. Over time, people will naturally progress towards a method that works for them. I have found that I like working on the internet too, but I’m not going to tell someone that it’s the only way to be successful, because it’s not.
Take care,
Wayne
Wayne Wu´s last [type] ..How to get Quick Results in MLM before Frustration Sets In!
Hey Wayne,
Yeah, me too. I thought Peter’s response was spot on and truly understand how this works.
Take care too.
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
This is an interesting post. I think there is a lot of power in working your warm market.
Before I ever heard of online marketing, or attraction marketing, I built my business off my warm market. It started bringing in a few thousand a month that way. I worked hard, I care about people and I just connected with them.
Warm marketing is still a great place to start WHEN DONE RIGHT.
Awesome post!
Susanna
Susanna Hess´s last [type] ..Time Is Running Out! Save Your Spot In The “Blogging Giveaway” Today!
Hi Susanna,
Thanks!!
You said right with those words, “WHEN DONE RIGHT”. And for those who understand that, this can still be an extremely effective approach.
Jerome Ratliff
Great post Jerome. I have never been very attached to terminology like old school, new school, warm market, cold market etc I just keep it simple. I connect with people regardless of how I find them. I don’t spam them whether I am online or offline. As for friends and family, when they ask me I tell them what I do. I find too many network marketers try to complicate what is a very simple process. It’s about making quality connections and the rest just follows naturally.
Marcus Baker´s last [type] ..Eight Must Know Tips About WordPress Plugins MLM Blog
Hi Marcus,
Your style and approach is exactly what I’m talking about here.
I’m not surprised at all, I know you lead with the highest regard.
Thank you Marcus.
Jerome Ratliff
Interesting post, Jerome.
It’s all about using the strategies that work for you. Some people still do well with the old school methods.
Thanks for sharing.
All the best,
Mavis
Mavis Nong´s last [type] ..Mavis Nong Invites ALL Bloggers…
Very true Mavis.
Whatever works for that one person is all that matters. Both still work well.
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
Very interesting take on old vs new school methods. Take the best from both and find out what works best for you.
When I think ‘Old School’ I go back some 20 yrs ago when I was in Amway.
Rah Rah meetings and what ever you do DON’T TELL THEM IT’S AMWAY. All kinds of ways to disemble the truth, a polite way to say lie.
Pushing yourself on any and every one you can, looking for your six people, not caring if they were interested or not.
But on-line or off it’s a whole different story when your growing warm market asks what you’re up to.
Put yourself out there, let people know what you have and the ones that want in will find their way to you.
Mike
Michael Cole´s last [type] ..Response cached until Tue 10 @ 16:18 GMT (Refreshes in 60 Minutes)
Hi Michael,
I know a lot of people who also think of this way, and that’s what they hated about it.
I completely agree, that way is somewhat outdated.
Jerome Ratliff
hi Jerome great points – but online it seems like old school is 5 minutes ago! 5 years ago where was Facebook, Twitter, Youtube….crazy how fast things are happening, you’ve got to be running pretty fast just to keep up
Cheers Kiaran
Hi Kiaran,
That’s a great way to look at it. That’s very true.
Jerome Ratliff
Hey Jerome,
Anybody begging, pushing, concealing, trying to make me feel like an idiot if I didn’t do what they were doing, never got anywhere with me.
That part of the old school thinking should be left behind. Like you said word of mouth.
I heard a quote before ” You achieve your goals by helping other people achieve theirs.”
That’s it.
Thanks
Neil
Neil´s last [type] ..Keywords for Beginners 2
Hi Neil,
That sense of desperation will get many nowhere using that approach.
Great quote by the way.
Jerome Ratliff
Jerome,
That is great how you are marrying old school word of mouth with new school tactics. It really makes a difference in any business. Any time you have to beg for business, you are begging to be taken advantage of. It is better to be an authority who understands how social media can help your business.
Andy
Hey Andy,
Totally! Begging is just not the way to go.
It demonstrates to others they can do the same. That’s not a good thing.
Thanks for your comment.
Jerome Ratliff
The Old School right way of building a list is definitely not dead. You’re way, begging, convincing, persuading is dead, and in my opinion has always been dead because that’s selling.
the old school way of helping people and showing them alternatives to making money will never die. The new school way of using the internet are just more options to make it more convenient for us to market. But you have to have a strong foundation in old school tactics to do this..
Thanks for sharing this valuable post Jerome. Take Care
Sherman
Sherman Smith´s last [type] ..Response cached until Wed 11 @ 2:02 GMT (Refreshes in 52 Minutes)
Hey Sherman,
That’s exactly my point my friend. And also it really comes down to what works best for some people may not for another.
Have a great day,
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
Gosh, I am so glad you wrote that post. I have been so torn (and really getting frustrated and confused) lately over the issue “Old School” versus “New School.”
I know I haven’t touched my “warm market” in years and now feel that was a big mistake. There are actually ways you can touch your warm market without feeling needy or begging. Things change all the time and so do the ways you can approach your business.
Thanks for this awesome post … and for the mention!
Have an awesome evening!
Ilka
Ilka Flood´s last [type] ..Do Dogs Love Bones Are You Settling for Less in Your MLM Network Marketing Business
Hi Ilka,
I’m glad I was able to shed some more light on some other possibilities.
Have a good night,
Jerome Ratliff
I’ll take an easy way out, Jerome: I am not going to define old school marketing; I’ll just say that any kind of offline marketing is not for me.
While I don’t mind picking up the phone to talk to a prospect, I won’t hand out my business cards to the person in front of me at a supermarket and put stickers with my website on gas pumps.
I don’t think I would be in this business if it hadn’t been for the internet!
Best,
Ana Hoffman
PS Way to start a discussion, Jerome!
Ana | Traffic Generation Cafe´s last [type] ..How To Rank Well For Your Inner Pages
Hi Ana,
And that’s completely ok since that’s not your style. I totally can respect that.
I wouldn’t do the sort of things you’re talking about either. That’s a little too old fashioned for me and doesn’t mesh with my style.
Jerome Ratliff
Very nicely put Jerome! If you look at the people who are really successful in this industry, many of them are hybrids. They do both online and offline prospecting.
That is a priceless skill to have. There are people out there who will not do both. If you ONLY know how to do offline and you have a prospect who only wants to do online, then what do you do?
Let’s all be hybrids!
Erin Smith´s last [type] ..What A Cool- See-Through Fish Can Teach You About Building Trust In Your Business
Hi Erin,
I like that word you used there, “hybrid.” That says a lot.
Great point!
Jerome Ratliff
Thought provoking Jerome. Sometimes I think people say that ‘old school’ is dead and use that as an excuse to hide behind a computer screen and never talk to anyone. In my opinion Systems which are too automated (though valuable to a point) can discourage us from actually talking to anyone, face to face.
It is really OK to talk with a guy in store and if he talks about problems in his life that your opportunity can solve….old school?
By the way Jerome, if you have tried to go to my blog, it’s offline for a few days (technical issues)
Charlie Holles´s last [type] ..The Company You Keep – it will make or break you
Hey Charlie,
You’re definitely describing being someone who is genuine. That’s not old school at all.
Have a good day,
Jerome Ratliff
P.S. I did notice your blog was offline, let us know when it’s back.
Jerome,
I still don’t mind old school but I like what Steve said “with a twist”.
My team still has a lot of success with their old school marketing.
My personal twist is my personal brand I’ve been building. Most of my leads have been coming from SEO results from looking up my business opportunity.
My brand, my blog takes the skepticism away and most people are ready to start.
Especially with the addition of the 8 day boot camp, thanks for the help with that. Greatly appreciated!!
Thanks for the post, enjoyed it Jerome.
Tommy D.
Tommy DiPietro | MLM Prospecting Hero´s last [type] ..Five Ways To SEO My MLM Sales Strategies for the Home Business Owner WordPress Blog – Part 2
Tommy,
And that’s the way to go – I agree.
Good for you buddy.
Have a good day,
Jerome Ratliff