The biggest challenge for all network marketers is building a team that is happy and productive and, ultimately, profitable. The job of doing this is really no mystery, no "secret" to be taught by some marketing guru at the price of their bogus e-book. No, it comes down to some very simple steps you can take, and it's all about positive communication.

Let's say you have a networking business, and you have just referred someone new. Of course you need to send the new person an email, or give him or her a phone call. What you say now will set the tone for your business relationship, so make sure you do the following:

• Be enthusiastic about your shared business
• Offer to answer any questions they have
• Offer to share tools and ideas you know will help
• Tell them something great about your upline, and copy your upline on your email.

The first three points are obvious, but the last one is probably the most important. Why? Because it's essential that your new team member knows that you're not there dishing them some line of crap all on your own. You need to make it clear from the start that you are part of a successful team, and that the whole team is there to make sure your new partner will succeed. You build your own credibility by putting credibility on others.

The same idea holds true whenever you see someone in your downline refer somebody new. Now the idea becomes very, very powerful.

As soon as you see someone new on your 2nd level or below, send them an email or make a phone call. As before, introduce yourself as someone enthusiastic about helping build their business. Only this time say something to promote confidence in their immediate upline, the person in your downline who made the referral.

Suppose your upline is Jim, you refer Jane, and Jane refers Joe. Joe gets an email from you that says something like "Jane is an outstanding person for you to have in your support team. She's building a lifelong income with XYZ company, and she can help you do the same. Jane and I are both here to help, so do not hesitate to contact us any time." Now you copy Jim, your upline, and Jane, on your email to Joe.

I hope you see the effect this has on Jane as well as Joe. When you build up your downline, they generally respond with more positive action. And imagine if Joe got an email from Jane, and you, and Jim, and all of you offering to help him get off to a good start, and each of you talking glowingly about each other. Joe is going to want to be part of this excited and helpful team. And somewhere in the back of his mind he knows that his referrals will hear great things about him, too -- even if it doesn't register consciously.

If you are not lucky enough to have a support team like this, then find one! There are networking teams out there waiting to work with you. I'm sure there is one that focuses on your business or product. If not, then maybe you picked the wrong business or product!

A good networking team will be ready to offer you ideas and support, and help build confidence in your downline, regardless of your line of sponsorship. A team that does not offer 'crossline' support is severely limiting your access to ideas, tools, and success. In today's internetworked business environment, they're dinosours, and will probably suffer a similar fate.

In fact, if you're thinking about starting in network marketing, then start by picking your team, not your product! Any reputable company will pay you commissions, but there's nothing more powerful than a strong and helpful team to make your business really grow. Why not start with all the support you'll ever need?

About the Author

Sam Reichgott is a contributing member of Follow Our Lead, a networking support team that has been helping people build a life-changing residual income since 2001. He is also the owner of OneStopPromo.com, which offers free and low-cost advertising resources for the network marketing community.