How to Grow Your Network Marketing Company Online
If you’re looking to grow your network marketing company, you’ve probably considered online marketing as a potential avenue. The digital landscape is completely different from that of the traditional media, and just like many others, you might be wondering how to make the transition and whether or not it’s even worth it. We’ve got you covered. Here’s a closer look at how to grow your network marketing company online, including the pros and cons of doing business online versus offline.
The Growth Of Online Marketing
If you’re interested in growing your network marketing company, it’s important to know where you stand compared to other industries. According to Search Engine Land, the global search engine market share for 2020 is as follows:
- Google: 74%
- Bing: 23%
- Ecosia: 3%
- Yahoo: 2%
- Ask: (1%)
As you can see, search engines like Google and Bing account for the majority of online marketing. But that doesn’t mean your network marketing company’s success will depend on finding online customers. In fact, SEO or search engine optimization is just one part of the digital marketing puzzle.
Where Do I Begin?
If you’re just getting started, it’s important to determine what you have available in terms of digital marketing platforms. You don’t want to invest in a complex SEO tool that will only serve to confuse you. Instead, begin with the basics:
- A blog
- A website
- A social media profile
- A short-form mobile app (e.g. Snapchat, Facebook, or Instagram)
- A long-form mobile app (e.g. TikTok, WhatsApp, or Instagram)
- An email marketing platform (e.g. MailChimp, HubSpot, or Infusionsoft)
As you can see, these are just some of the basics you’ll need to get started. From there, you can branch out and build your toolkit based on what you learn.
Do I Need To Be Online To Operate My Company?
Many traditional businesses still operate offline because they don’t have the technology to conduct business online. As you might imagine, a world where all businesses operate online isn’t that far off. It’s called the Digital Age, and it’s here now. Depending on your industry, you might or might not need to be online. Here’s a closer look at whether or not being online is necessary for your network marketing company:
- E-commerce
- Logistics
- Market research
- Product research
- Sale and transaction processing
- Shipping and delivery
- Banking and payment processing
- Administrative functions
If you’re in any of the industries above, you most likely need to be online. However, none of these requirements should be a deterrent to you if you’re passionate about growing your network marketing company. With the right tools and a little bit of digital know-how, you can ensure that your business runs smoothly offline as well as online.
The Pros Of Online Marketing
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to discuss the pros of operating a network marketing company online. Along with the cons, we’ve got some pretty awesome advantages to consider.
- Access To A Global Audience
- Improved Conversions
- Improved Sales
- Easier To Build A Customer Base
- More Opportunities For Growth
- Increased Flexibility
As you can see, there are a lot of pros to operating a network marketing company online. In the next section, we’ll discuss how to go about doing business online, including the importance of SEO and other digital marketing tactics.
The Cons Of Online Marketing
Although there are many advantages to launching a network marketing company online, there are also a few serious disadvantages that you need to be aware of.
- Larger Minimum Order Volumes
- Fewer Control Over Your Sales Process
- More Competition
- Fewer Chances For Growth
- More Complex To Get Started
- Fewer Supportive Systems Offline
- Fewer Back-office Support Staff
As you might imagine, running a network marketing company involves a lot of logistics. To get started, you’ll need to purchase inventory, build out a sales team, and find clients. Since most people do business online, you’ll have to get used to the fact that your sales will largely depend on digital engagement. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen the old-fashioned way, but it is likely to happen online first. This can be a bit of a setback for people who are just getting started in network marketing, as they will initially have to build their empire online before they can effectively market it offline. And, as we’ve established, it’s not easy to find the right partners in a thriving market like this.
Are There Other Options?
If you’re looking for an alternative, try starting a blog in your industry (e.g. real estate, fitness, or family care) and using a platform like Amazon’s affiliate program to make money online. You can also use a tool like Micromatic to build and grow your audience. Finally, you might want to consider reaching out to other brands in your industry to see if they’ll help promote your business. You can set up private groups on social media platforms like Facebook to create hubs of support and collaboration – both of which you can use to your advantage.
In the end, no one solution fits all. You need to consider what’s available to you and work with what you’ve got. If you’ve got a blog, continue to use it. If you don’t, build one. If you’ve got a website, build out a sales team and get to work. If you don’t, build one. If you’ve got a social media profile, start using it to build an audience. And if you don’t, start building one. With a little bit of ingenuity and the right digital tools, you can ensure that your network marketing company grows successfully into the Digital Age.