Network Marketing for Introverts: How to Find Success without Lots of Friends or Hosting Parties

So you’re an introvert and you’re thinking about getting involved with a network marketing company?

(side note: You might also know of them as an MLM, multi-level marketing company, or direct sales company)

I’m guessing you know that you want to be successful in network marketing (‘cause otherwise what’s the point!), but you’re likely worried that this is a business model for people who have a bunch of friends, are the life of every party, and have no problem chatting it up with every person they meet

Listen, I hear you, friend.

I’m an introvert who loves nothing more than retreating into my own home, hanging out with my kids, hustling my business (in my own introverted way of course!), and enjoying new adventures in life with our family.

AND I’m an introvert who is in network marketing.

(Along with owning a local employee-run company and an online personal brand. Oh, not to mention having 3 kids too. :) Yep I’m busy!)

So how does that work?

How am I finding success in a network marketing business model that has traditionally been all about in-home parties, and phone calls (ugh, I hate those things!), and always looking for new people to talk to?

Well, let me tell you …

I’m not hosting parties.

I’m not making lists of my friends to call.

I’m not bothering my family members.

I’m not chatting it up with random people I meet on the street.

I’m not sending “cold” Facebook or Instagram DMs.

And I haven’t suddenly become a social butterfly.

What I am doing, is I’m doing network marketing the introverted way.

Meaning that I’m leaning into my natural strengths as an introvert as a way to share my products and grow my team.

So what does that look like exactly - doing direct sales for introverts?

Well, let’s take a look!

How to be Successful in Network Marketing as an Introvert

Let me begin by saying that even though there are several standard traits held by most introverts - you like to recharge alone, you prefer small groups of people, and too much talk or too many people drains your energy - there are many nuances between introverts as a whole.

Being an introvert doesn’t always mean you are shy or don’t enjoy people or like talking 1:1 vs. to a group. There are many different ways that introverts present in the world, so some of the strategies that I share for doing direct sales as an introvert may resonate with you, and others may not.

For me personally, as an introverted person, I enjoy:

Teaching classes online vs. in person - I feel much more confident that way

Teaching/speaking to groups vs. 1:1 - I’ve found there is less need for awkward “small talk” when speaking to a group

Bursts of interaction and sociability vs. feeling like I have to always be “on”

Sharing my business through words and graphics, rather than video and speaking

I share that to give you an example of one introvert’s preferences and encourage you to take a look at what you truly enjoy and know you are good at, as you determine where you’ll focus your energy in your direct sales business.

The strategies that I’ve shared below are what I’ve found success within network marketing as an introvert, and I encourage you to evaluate each to decide if it’s a good fit for your preferred style and personality.

Teaching MLM Classes as an Introvert

When it comes to network marketing, there are a few income-producing activities that take priority over pretty much everything else that you do for your business.

One of those uber-important income-producing activities is presenting your product or opportunity to new prospects, and educating them on why they need this in their lives.

The network marketing company that I partner with encourages presenting our products through classes as their #1 preferred and most successful strategy for welcoming in new members. As a past elementary school teacher myself, I love how the focus is on using education to inspire sales.

As an introverted mom with 3 little kids, after having them hanging all over me all day … in the best possible way of course :) … I have little desire (let’s be honest ... I have ZERO desire) to put on makeup, do my hair, try to find a babysitter or wait until my husband gets home, and then go surround myself with a group of people (akkk!) and teach a class to them.

Could I suck it up, and make it happen? Sure, I could. But when we now have so many more options and ways to teach classes, that it’s hard to muster up the energy to do in-person classes week in and week out.

Instead, I teach all of my classes online!

Teaching MLM Classes Online

My goal is to always have several different classes available online at any given time, in a variety of different formats, so that people who learn best in different ways and on different platforms, can pick and choose what works best for them.

I consider this the direct online alternative to teaching an in-person class. I typically have slides created for the viewers, however, you could just as easily use notes and show off your products as you speak directly to the camera.

I schedule 1-2 of these classes per month and invite people to join a Facebook Event to view the live presentation. I typically give people about 5 days to watch the presentation and then pull it down (along with whatever incentive I was providing for them to sign up to my offer) as a way to create urgency for them to either watch the class live or watch the replay after.

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This is a lot of fun. I use a system called Project Broadcast, and you can create entire classes that are sent out via text message. You have a code word that you ask someone to text to you if they’d like to sign up for the class. Then they are automatically sent the text message class over the coming week (or whatever time frame you choose).

The great thing about this type of class is that you can set it up once, and then let it work for you “in the background”. It allows people to take a class right away, rather than waiting until your next live presentation.

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This is very similar to the text message classes, except instead it’s run through Facebook Messenger using a program called ManyChat. Once a person opts in to your Messenger class, the automated messages that you set up will be sent out to them via Messenger at the correct intervals. Messenger is getting crazy high open rates right now, so it’s an awesome way to be sure prospects see the info.

You can even include fun Gifs or links out to videos or posts you want them to see, so you can really make it a very personalized experience. ManyChat can be “triggered” to send the class by asking a person to comment on one of your FB posts, so it’s a very easy process for your prospect, and provides some great engagement for you on social media!

It’s just another format to share your product or opportunity information without having to be on video or in-person (YAAASSSS!!!). Create a Facebook event that lasts a few weeks long, or even the entire month (so that it stays open and people can pop in when they want the info). Create numbered posts in the event sharing both photos and text information around whatever topic you’re presenting on.

I’ve personally found that using casual photos that you’ve snapped on your phone of you using the products in real life, works better than using professional photos that your MLM company may provide. Don’t forget to include a call to action at the end of the class, and an expiring incentive of why they should purchase now and not wait!

Now you’ve got 4 ideas of how to teach MLM classes online, and honestly, that’s only scratching the surface. You could create Instagram Stories classes, or post your classes on YouTube, or write a mini-class into a blog post.

My hope is that you see that if you hate the idea of hosting in-person parties or even holding 1:1 coffee chats, that there IS another way to find success in direct sales.

How Introverts CAN do Sales

It can be scary to think of ourselves as in “sales,” as we work our direct sales businesses, but when you think about it, if you’re a mom then you’re in the business of sales every single day.

When you try to get your kid to eat her veggies - that’s sales! (selling your kids on actually eating them)

When you negotiate with your hubby where you want to eat tonight - that’s sales! (selling him on why your restaurant choice is superior)

And the list goes on! You’re already in “sales” and you’re perfecting your craft every single day through your natural daily interactions with your kids and family.

Unfortunately, many of us think of sales as:

• Icky

• Sleazy

• Slimy

• Pushy

• Bullying

….. Because that’s what we’ve experienced in our own interactions with salespeople in the past.

But what if we did sales in a different way?

Do you know what the real definition of selling is? “The exchange of money for a product or service.”

And if it’s a product or service that solves a REAL reason problem for your customer, does that sound icky to you? Of course not!

We’ve got to change our mindset to: Selling is HELPING

You have potential customers that are meant to help, and every day that the customer can’t find you or learn about your products or opportunity is another day that they stay in pain.

It’s your obligation to present your products or opportunity because if you don’t, then you’ll never have the ability to HELP the people you were meant to serve.

If you truly believe in what you’re offering, then you KNOW what others are missing out on if they don’t jump in. You can’t believe that people will find it all by themselves…

You’ve got to HELP them discover the value it will bring to their lives.

. And THAT’s what sales is ALL about. :)

The Fortune is in the Follow Up

I’ve found as an introvert, I naturally worry if I’m “bothering” someone when I’m in communication with them. So following up doesn’t always come naturally. However, the truth is that the fortune in direct sales is in the follow-up! Most bookings, recruits, sales, and commitments do not happen until the 5th-8th touchpoint.

So what does this mean for you an introvert? Well, for me at least, it does NOT mean picking up the phone (as some will suggest to you). I know myself and personally I despise talking on the phone, so why would I want to put that agony (joking! … kinda) on someone else?

For me, follow-up typically takes the form of text message, FB/IG message, tagging on social media, or email.

Instead of thinking of it as “bothering,” you’ve got to change your mindset to … how can I help? It’s not about pressuring them towards a sale. It’s all about checking in.

Creating a simple system that you can follow for following up is key. I suggest deciding in advance on pre-determined time frames that you’ll follow up with each prospect that expresses interest in your product or opportunity.

Here’s an example follow up system:

• 24 hours later - thank them for their interest, further address any questions that came up, ask what other questions they have; invite to take action

• Within the week - continue to address any hesitations that come up

• 2 - 3 weeks - you crossed my mind today; are you still looking for “xyz” results?

• 1 - 2 months - I think you might like this - send resource or sample

• 3 months - did you ever find a solution for “xyz” that you were struggling with?

Notice that this system gives you 5 reasons to follow up with a prospect authentically, and statistically, we know that most people get to the “YES” after 5 or more touch-points.

When you commit to a system like this in advance, then you don’t have to worry about “bothering” anyone. You have a simple plan designed to be of service, and then it’s just a matter of following the plan!

Can you find Success in Network Marketing as an Introvert?

The good news is that you CAN be successful in network marketing as an introvert that isn’t the life of the party, and who doesn’t have a huge network of friends.

It’s all about honoring what you’re naturally skilled as already, and what you enjoy, while at the same time pushing your boundaries just a bit and expanding your comfort zone.

Introverts can be successful within any direct sales team, however, I think that’s it’s always beneficial when you’re on a team that understands, honors, and supports you as an introvert.

As an introverted leader in my MLM company, I’d love to invite you to see if our team is a good fit for you! We honor our strengths, and push ourselves together as a TEAM, while never straying TOO far away from our natural tendencies and who we truly are as individuals.

I truly believe the opportunity in network marketing and direction is unmatched in business (otherwise I wouldn’t have added this income stream to what I’ve already got on my plate!), and the potential in the model is incredible for those that stick the course.

It is worth it. And we CAN do hard things.

It’s our one life to live, and I’d love to invite you to join us on this incredible journey of self-growth towards wellness, purpose, and abundance!