John Fleming is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of Direct Selling News, along with Success Magazine and Success For Women.

In this months copy of Direct Selling News, John shares from his 40 years in the Direct Selling – MLM arena on three MLM trends he has been watching.

1. Social Media:“Social media is changing the way we communicate.” John has hit on something Seth Godin shared in his book Tribes. If you want to jump start your MLM business today, then go grab a copy of Tribes and read John Fleming’s article.

2. Women Will Continue To Dominate: Women have dominated, and John sees this trend continuing. The most current numbers show
87.9% of the distributors in MLM are female. So if John is right, then the men in MLM need to learn how to EMPOWER the females on their teams, because women are not drawn to the same style of motivation as men. Dondi Scumaci has written a great book titled “Ready Set Grow” which will help both men and women. She has also written a great book which focuses on helping women fully accept they are “Designed For Success.”

This trend may be why we see such a high rate of part-time income earners in MLM. It has nothing to do with the 95% failure myth, so many love to quote. Now before you start writing comments on my statement read my article titled “Are Women Marketers Really Gold Digging Money Hungry Divas.”

3. The Changing Color of America: In the last 12 months we have seen older companies close their doors, merge with other companies and leave the MLM arena. In all cases they were slow to change to the grow trends facing them. Here is something to think about. Leaders like Miriam Muley are sharing statistics which state within the next decade moms of color (Hispanic, African-American and Asian) will make up 50% of all moms with purchasing power. By the way today they control $600 million dollars, by then it will reach over $1 trillion. If you are not attracting, empowering, and in some cases shutting up and listening to the women on your team, then you may not be around in 10 years.

Now, when I first read John’s editorial, I thought “this doesn’t really apply to the new MLM companies, who are not focused on volume/retail selling. This is more for the party plan companies. I was totally wrong. John went on to state “the lines between direct selling and MLM are blurring.” And when I went and pulled the DSA numbers I saw he was correct.

You can view the full report here!

So, let’s go jump start our MLM businesses by focusing on what we keep the momentum groing through 2010 and beyond.

Living An Epic Adventure,

Troy Dooly

I am doing a case study to show how blogging on a specific topic and linking to it, can get you some high SEO traffic.

So, can each of you click on my Squidoo Link and leave a comment for me?

Check out Why Female MLM Leads are the rave of Network Marketing over at Squidoo

Never Give Up,

Troy Dooly
The Maverick Leader

However… Today I want to cover a different side of women. A side which, men in Network Marketing think they understand, but my research has proven otherwise.

A friend of mine created a CDs series a few years ago called “Diva’s of MLM”, and sold a boatload of CDs. It raised an important question with me – “Are the majority of women MLMers really Gold Digging, Money Hungry Divas, or are they women focused on a crusade to change their world?

Here is what I have discovered…

Women in Netowrk marketing are more interested, than just bringing home the bacon, or being known are Divas. As a matter of fact the DSA recently did a blind survey which has revealed some great insight into what motivates women to do what they do.

They interviewed 2000 women in direct sales and here are the results based on what is most important to women in Network Marketing today

Time – “I’m in control of my time.” Women want to be in control of their time more than anything else. Most women are, either part of a dual-income family or raising their family as a single mom, quality and quantity time with their families is more important than ever.

Building A Better World – This is the second most important factor in why women enter and succeed in MLM. Women, are created as givers, not takers, and when they find a company who has the same values as they do, then you have a match made in heaven.

Finances – If you listen to the CD series I mentioned above you would think making “significant income” is what is most important. However, in the DSA survey it came in 14th. However, earning “EXTRA INCOME” has always been a top motivator, but in today’s MLM world the motivation behind earning extra income has changed. If you look back just 8 years ago women were looking for extra income to buy more things to make their homes look good, or to make themselves or family members look good.

Today, women are driven to earn extra income so they can pay off debt, and to gain better control of their personal and family’s financial destiny.

Something else I found interesting in my research is the fact, after years of being taught “don’t talk about how much money you make” women today are proud to share about their financial successes.

Fairness – Fairness is something very seldom found in “Corporate America.” So when women learn that in the Network Marketing profession we pay the person, not the position, they usually succeed at levels even they sometimes never expected.

On the other hand, if at any time a female MLM distributor feels she has been treated unfairly, it is very hard to earn her trust back, and in most cases she will leave and take her organization with her.

Remember, women build deep and lasting relationships, so when one of mistreated, her friends will take it personal and leave with her.

Now, there is a time when the above principle can be violated. If a woman comes into MLM from a bad relationship (personal or business) she sometimes has a hard time believing that she can make the world a better place, and will self-sabotage her own success and those around her.

So remember “Fairness” is just as important to women as her family. Besides haven’t you ever hear “Nothing is more deadly than a women scorned!”

Recognition – Most women (men for that matter) do not receive enough personal recognition for the work they do. If a woman is a stay-at-home-mom, most people will never see or understand all she does. If she works for Corporate America then she is always bumping her head against the glass ceiling, and fighting off the blows of the corporate politics.

So when they come to Direct Selling, and receive recognition for their hard work, two things happen. First their self-esteem is given a much needed, and well desired boost. They realize they can succeed and change their world. The second thing it does, is show her family just how important she is, and in most cases they start to look at her in a whole new light.

So ladies the next time you take the kids to soccer practice, wash five loads of clothes, home-school your kids, or take a verbal beating from your corporate boss, just remember… You are LOVED by your team!

Now don’t get me wrong, we still have room for improvement here in MLM. And men, we need your help in making these improvements.

It is up to us who love this profession to share with others the unlimited possibilities people of all backgrounds have to change their lives, and to replace their full-time nightmares with part-time dreams.

So my final conclusion is this… Women are not money hungry, gold digging divas. They are the backbone of the network marketing profession and the future of America.

Never Give Up,

Troy Dooly
The Maverick Leader

So let’s take a look at what women are looking for when they evaluate a MLM business and/or products and services.

And, for all you wonderful ladies who are reading this post, let me state I am far from an expert on women, but as a husband of the most fantastic women in the world, and father of two great daughters I have learned a few things by listening to their wants, needs and desires.

1. Shopping Fun – Women are not looking to be sold something, they are looking for a shopping experience. One that is fun and exciting and that they can share with other women. Think about it for a second, how many women do you see shopping by themselves? Which may be why party plan mlm companies do so well.

2. Trust Factor - Women are about relationships, which is why companies like Mary Kay, Take Shape For Life, and AtHome America do so well. They focus on the relationship side of our profession, not the hype.

According to Bridge Brennon, CEO of Female Factor Strategic Consulting “In any one-on-one sales situation, women are evaluating the salesperson as much as the prodct or service.”

Which is why I equip leaders based on the following belief “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care!”

3. Value – Women far more than men demand value. Women, today are smarter and wiser when it comes to the facts. They will research a product and company to make sure they are getting the most for their dollar. Especially with the economy as crazy as it is today.

4. The Latest & Greatest – Now I am not talking about “keeping up with the Jones.” I am talking about keeping up with the times. Women look for companies who are on the cutting edge of the newest and best trends.

5. Technology – Women, unlike men do not see technology as “just another must have toy.” Nope, women will discard a technology device if it doesn’t give her the convenience she is looking for.

6. Aesthetics – Women were created to want things to look good, and I for one am truly glad. This includes their personal features, homes, children and most of all the businesses they represent. Funny that most men never focus on personal aesthetics, but they sure notice those of their wives and girl friends.

So for all those CEO’s who read my blog, which happen to be male, focus on creating the best products and services you can if you desire to keep women in your organizations.

Tomorrow I am going to focus on sharing some very interesting facts that the DSA has released on what women in MLM and Network Marketing value most.

Never Give Up,

Troy Dooly
The Maverick Leader

Well, yesterday I wrote an article on this over at the MLM Leads Blog.

Take some time and review what I wrote. I truly believe it will help you to understand how to attract more women to your MLM team.

Click Here To Read:

Never Give Up,

Troy Dooly
The Maverick Leader