7 Mistakes That Drive Your Downline Away—and How to Avoid Them

Table of Contents

You can’t grow your network marketing business very effectively if your downline quits as quickly as you recruit.

But how can you keep your recruits excited about network marketing?

Here are some common mistakes that network marketers make when it comes to their downline. Avoiding these mistakes will help you keep your downline.

Mistake #1: Unrealistic Expectations

Did you over-hype your MLM when you were recruiting?

It happens.

You can get caught up in all the potential of the opportunity that you aren’t as clear about the work it takes.

Make sure you let your recruits know how wonderful the benefits are and how much work it will require of them to reach that.

Mistake #2: Not Enough Support

Remember how you felt when you first signed up for your network marketing business?

There was a lot of excitement, anticipation, and a healthy dose of confusion.

You didn’t know everything right off the bat.

Your new recruits are no different. They need some guidance.

Luckily, they have you.

If you provide the support and training they need, they can hit the ground running after signing up.

Be there for them for any additional questions that come up as they figure things out.

Even if you don’t feel like you know everything you’d like to yet, you can still be a resource for them, and you can learn new things together.

If a new recruit doesn’t feel supported, they aren’t going to stick around.

Mistake #3: Too Much Support

Not to give you whiplash, but there is such a thing as too much support.

Micromanaging your recruits can annoy and frustrate your new recruits just as much as too little support can.

Pushing them too hard can make network marketing feel overwhelming and not enjoyable.

Find a healthy balance between providing the necessary guidance and empowering them to make it on their own.

Mistake #4: Lack of Recognition

It feels good to meet a goal.

It feels really good for the hard work you put into meeting that goal to be recognized.

Recognize the hard work of your downline.

Give shout-outs to hard workers on your team.

Recognize both the big and small accomplishments since not everyone on your team will be on the same level, and all deserve recognition.

If your recruits feel like their hard work is unrecognized and unappreciated, they’ll wonder if there is any point to staying.

Mistake #5: Not Leading by Example

Actions speak louder than words.

Show your team what you expect from them through your actions.

If you don’t put in the work, they’ll wonder why they should, too.

They might even wonder about your motives to continue recruitment if you aren’t putting in the work. It’s giving exploitation.

Let your team see your personal successes and failures within the business.

They won’t feel so alone if they know you’re in the same boat as them.

Mistake #6: Outdated Approaches

Gone are the days of hauling inventory from at-home party to at-home party.

This is a new age of social media network marketing, and you need to help guide your recruits to embrace technology, too.

You won’t be making TikToks and Instagram reels forever. The network marketing life will evolve again.

Be flexible as new strategies and trends arise.

You can be one of the first to pioneer a new way to generate MLM leads.

Mistake #7: Only Reward Results

If you only focus on the results of someone’s hard work, you’re missing a great opportunity.

Rewarding the hard work that your team puts in, even if the results are not what they hoped for, can give them the motivation to keep going.

They already feel down about having less-than-stellar results.

They don’t need to be reminded by being neglected in recognition.

When you make your team feel loved and valued, regardless of their results, they will respond with more hard work.

And the more hard work they put in, the more likely they are to break through and reach success.

The Importance of Your Downline

You’re likely a very independent and strong person.

If you’re wondering, “What is the fastest way to succeed in network marketing?” the answer is clear: a strong downline.

Your downline will build up your business into the empire you want it to be. It’s going to be really hard to pull it off without them.

So, the more you retain team members and strengthen their desires to build up downlines of their own, the better off you’ll be.

Video

Infographic

It's tough to grow your network marketing business if your downline quits as fast as you recruit. How can you keep recruits engaged? This infographic highlights common mistakes network marketers make with their downline.