Six Ways To Crush Downline Attrition Under Your Heel
What can you do to kill the snake of attrition before it sinks it’s fangs into your soft pink flesh?
If you’ve ever lost anybody in your downline and wondered what you could do to stop it from happening again then I hope these ideas find you before it gets worse, because once that viper egg has hatched, it’s “game over”.
So Here’s Six Ways To Crush Downline Attrition Under Your Heel…
*Vaccinate them
Treat attrition like the flu and immunize your downline by preparing them for the worst. People will leave, but tell them that you have faith in their ability to stay the course. Warn them about the dangers of switching horses in midstream. The regrets of never seeing anything through.
*It’s time for a group hug
Stay in contact with as many members of your downline as you can. If you have a massive downline then this could be a challenge, but they’re your family and they need to know you care. Otherwise, they’ll find somebody else who cares more, and that’s one of the horror stories I hear again and again: “My upline ignores my e-mails.”
*I don’t follow you
If members in your downline come to you with a “better” opportunity then you’re seeing the first signs of attrition. I’m not saying that you should ignore good ideas, but you can’t succeed by jumping ship every six months, and you should be ruthless with anybody in your downline who tries to plant those seeds in your business. If you have to, cut them off.
*Stick to your guns
How do you expect your downline to stick with you if you don’t stick with your upline or opportunity? The answer is, you don’t. So make sure you have your head straight about the opportunity you’re in right now. Build your castles with bricks, not cards.
*Guard your reputation
Nothing can kill you faster than your reputation. In the age of communication a whole business can die while you’re sleeping. A scary thought, but your whole business is built on your integrity and one bad “episode” will send everybody running out of the promised land faster than woodland creatures from a forest fire. So guard your reputation at all costs. No price is too high.
*The enemy of my enemy
Unite everybody under you by making attrition your biggest enemy. Some people try to pretend it doesn’t exist at all. They whistle away on their surfboards while the shark is playing the tuba underneath. Jaws theme song…
Final words…
In short, acknowledge that attrition will happen and prepare everybody you recruit for the worst case scenario. Attrition is one of the biggest enemies of modern day MLM. If you idly stand by and watch your downline disappear, it’s like watching your house burn down with your family inside, while you’re drinking water from a hose.
Jason The “Better Networker”
The Jason Better Blog
P.S. Viper Siting. If you like this post then warn your friends about the viper of attrition by clicking the green “Retweet” button on the top of this post. You’re making the world a safer place for network marketing. Thank you.
43 Comments
Mitcehll Dillman on January 22nd, 2010
Howdy Jason,
A year ago I was trimming out a million dollar home I had just finished building. I had never been involved in Network Marketing and still didn’t even own a computer.
I jumped into my first MLM last April, about the same time I got my first computer, so I obviously don’t have much experience with any kind of ‘trition’. Coming or Going…
While I continue to learn and grow in this business, I will always take to heart your advice. Perhaps I’ll learn enough from you to help me avoid many of the ‘viper pit’ falls you speak of.
Your advice is so much appreciated.
Your buddy,
Mitchell Dillman
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Hey Mitchell,
I have no doubt in my mind that you will
build a large business my friend.
I see the work you put out there and the
personality that soaks through everything and
I can’t wait to see what you do next.
Then I guess, downline attrition will be something
to ponder.
[Reply]
Ilka Flood on January 22nd, 2010
Wow, Jason! Some very good advice. I bookmarked it so I can read it again. Also re-tweeted 
Everyone should read this.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Hey Ilka,
Glad you liked. And thank you. It’s
definitely appreciated.
[Reply]
Rhonda Miller on January 22nd, 2010
I think one thing people are looking for when they start a home based business (besides the obvious $ thing) is for someone to care about whether they succeed or not.
If you “genuinely” care about that other person, they are going to know and follow your every lead and stay the course.
Have a Great Weekend,
~Rhonda
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
hey Rhonda,
I think you hit the viper on the head.
Definitely agree with you.
[Reply]
Rebecca Geiger on January 22nd, 2010
Hey Jason I have an idea for those who are tying to stay in touch with their downline.
I don’t know if you have ever heard of Ning.com but you can create a private social network. If you are the head honcho (of the site) you can create an announcement that goes out to the whole group on your private site. It is easy to set up, free if you want it to be, has email built inside and this way you can private communicate with your whole group.
Not only that you can moderate who is allowed in, ban those who break the rules in the forum have video chage et etc.. kinda like a personal facebook.
We live in a small town with pockets of people in our area. Each has their own little “newspaper” but the surrounding areas don’t so we created a site that is only for our surrounding communities.
Hope this helps.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Rebecca,
That is a brilliant idea.
I think I overlooked the obvious.
[Reply]
Jerome Ratliff on January 22nd, 2010
Hey there J
(I tried to submit this before but it failed). Anyhow, I remember the first time I experienced attrition. I thought it was all my fault. I later realized it wasn’t entirely.
Although, I did realize part of it could have been me by holding my ground and demonstrating my seriousness for my business. Boy have I learned.
Jerome Ratliff
[Reply]
Derek on January 22nd, 2010
Hey, Jason. Very Interesting Topic. I had experienced downline attrition right from the beginning of my MLM journey.
That alone was just enough to discourage you from Network Marketing. I am sure so many experience this and feel the same way.
I have learned that instead of focusing so much of our time on ourselves, we should be focusing our attention on our downline. Put our attention on their achievements, goals, and dreams… and in return… we will achieve, grow, and succeed.
Thanks so much for your ideas and tips, Jason!
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Hey Derek,
That’s awesome advice. I think duplication
is one the hardest things for people to do.
Although Rebecca shared a really cool idea for communicating
with downlines using social media. Awesome.
[Reply]
Gary on January 22nd, 2010
Well, I guess I’ll be the one with the black hat today. It seems as though the dread “attrition” is more prevalent in the MLM arena than the GPT — Get Paid Today arena. I just wrote an article on GPT so, if you don’t know what it is, I will unashamedly put the link right here:
http://whoisgarydean.com/?page_id=195
[Reply]
Derek on January 22nd, 2010
As you have mentioned, it is too difficult to look after all of your downline.
I have learned this from another Network Marketer:
…as a leader, focus on 5 people on your left leg, and 5 people on your right leg. Then… appoint a leader from each side to focus on 5 people on both sides of their tree. Then… they will appoint a leader from each side to do the same. And downward it continues.
It’s an amazing concept! Happy Growing!
[Reply]
Richard Walsh on January 22nd, 2010
Solid advice. Good in any business really whether it’s a down line or customers, communication is key.
[Reply]
Michael Cole on January 22nd, 2010
Great post Jason, although I have to say that Derek’s comments were a close second. Good advice all around
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Hey Michael,
Derek’s advice is on the dollar.
I think there’s two camps of people. Those
who believe small is best. Others who work too
hard building massive downlines on brute force.
I guess, the middle way is something to consider
too.
[Reply]
Chris Owen on January 22nd, 2010
Hey Jason,
Great Post,
Still running crazy,
Still havn’t slept.
One tip – Give downline your best advice for success. Consider yourself a mentor. Don’t give “what to” advice, give “how to” advice to your downline. Save the “what to” advice for you sales letters.
And send your downline here. Jason will fill in the gaps.
Have a great night
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Hey Chris,
You need to get some sleep…
Step away from the computer.
[Reply]
Mary Thayer on January 22nd, 2010
A sensitive issue that needed to be addressed…. Great tips on how to cut it down. But, face it, it is impossible to get rid of it completely. It’s a little thing we all walk around with in our head called a brain. This little thing will always cause a select few to march off to the beat of their own drum.
The key is to do what Jason says to decrease those walking off:-)
[Reply]
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Hey Mary,
So very true. You can’t stop everybody from
going their own way.
[Reply]
Justin King on January 23rd, 2010
So the question is does the type of company contribute to the rate of attrition?
Mike talks every once in awhile about health products attrition rate being much higher than other companies in recessions.
Can you point me to some stats showing if this is the case?
[Reply]
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Hey Justin,
I wish I had access to stats too. I’m not
really sure where I would start but one thing
is sure, that guy is on the ball.
[Reply]
Keith D Shrock on January 23rd, 2010
Thanks for addressing the “skeleton-in-our-closet”. On a Webinair – the other night the speaker claimed the average networker quits in 63 days. I have not had a chance to verify that number — has anyone else. Anyway his point was we don’t explain to our new downline the importance of a “funded perposal”. Many flame-out after they realize it takes a few dollars, out of the monthly budget, to start the bolder down-the-hill. And we don’t know them well enough to help.
[Reply]
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
That’s crazy Keith,
I think Justin would be interested in those stats too. If anybody
at all can point to a source of stats here. That would be great. I’m
open to ideas too.
But that’s a scary number. Actually, it might even be worse.
[Reply]
Derek Alvarez on January 23rd, 2010
Hi Jason,
Something I’ve noticed the successful “old-school” people do is they help people fall in love with the products.
That way, if people get frustrated and quit the business part, there is a greater chance they still keep ordering the products as customers.
For this reason, my wife and I keep a balanced approach by selling a funded proposal that pre-sells people on the problems our products solve, as well.
It works the same way selling a funded proposal for a biz opp does.
We use Google and video marketing to funnel people to our capture page, give them a free ebook, followed by autoresponder emails, etc.
(And you can get around company guidelines by keeping things generic until they opt in to your list)
Come to think of it, this would make a good blog post 
[Reply]
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Derek,
Your comments are big on ideas. I think you could
turn half of them into blog posts and people would
stampede you with comments.
I still think you and Monique have one of the coolest
blogs around.
I’ve noticed the same thing about old-schoolers. They love their
products to the extreme. It’s hard to keep your head on your
shoulders when somebody is so enthusiastic about what they
do. I love it.
[Reply]
Derek Alvarez on January 23rd, 2010
“I still think you and Monique have one of the coolest
blogs around.”
Thanks, Jason — it means a lot coming from you!
“I’ve noticed the same thing about old-schoolers. They love their
products to the extreme. It’s hard to keep your head on your
shoulders when somebody is so enthusiastic about what they
do.”
Yes! The hype is a turn-off — that’s why we got out of the old-school arena.
But there are still lessons to be learned from them, if only from a distance.
Trying to talk to the “old-schoolers” can be like talking to a robot who keeps repeating the same thing over and over –
“Our company is the greatest, our products are the greatest, make a list of 10 friends and family and hard-sell them each day…”
BLAH!
[Reply]
Justin King on January 23rd, 2010
I was listening to a presentation a few weeks ago that was talking about 93% retention rate in his team – but he’d only been in the company 3 months.
If someone could come up with industry wide stats, I probably wouldn’t believe any of them anyway.
[Reply]
January 24th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Justin,
93% That’s crazy.
I would like to see how that goes over
time.
[Reply]
timothy willan on January 23rd, 2010
Hey Jason! I totaling agree about the way you build your self & down line, be positive about everything you do!
[Reply]
Dee Light on January 23rd, 2010
Hi Jason,
Great post as usual and a topic that us “old timers” are very familiar with. I just commented on a thread yesterday in response to a woman bemoaning the warm & fuzzy friendship desires of her down line.
I TOTALLY agree with you that these people are our family & our business partners. I think many of them want (need) hand holding for a while. If there weren’t people that did that for me in the early days decades ago I wouldn’t be here (in this networking arena).
Funny that with all this modern technology we are more removed from personal relatedness than ever before. That is why I like coming here—to your blog. We haven’t met but your= feel like a friend and I love reading everyone’s comments. Sometimes I make myself wait til later in the day to come for a visit—-delayed gratification ya kno.
Attrition is one of the thorns on the rose. As long as we have put our all into building solid business relationships we can rest assured that we have made the world (business & personal) a better place.
[Reply]
January 24th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Dee,
I even read an article that claimed
internet interaction makes people
lonelier than they would be without
interaction at all.
I hope not!
I’ve met a lot of really cool people around
here too.
I’m always excited to see new comments
even though I get much more than I used to.
Lots of awesome people here.
[Reply]
Justin King on January 24th, 2010
His sponsor’s team was 83% so I was just saying stats don’t really mean anything without a reference point. The company had only been around 6 months.
Most people have a 100% retention rate over a 1 day period.
[Reply]
Jose on January 24th, 2010
HI Jason, this is Jose from two worlds “Tijuana/San Diego”, and to be honest every time I read what you have for us is great. And the reason to say this is that as a newbie myself on this MLM arena, anything I can grab from you and from all this awsome people making comments is just greeeeeat, really. So Keep up the good work and the good stuff. Thanks, Blessings.
[Reply]
January 25th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Hey Jose,
I have to agree, there’s a lot of awesome
people leaving comments here. I learn from
everybody I can.
[Reply]
Thanks Jason
Really good advice.
Tim
[Reply]