How to find customers in network marketing beyond friends and family

Picture the customer you want

Before you look for customers, write a few sentences about one real kind of person who would enjoy what you sell. Note what they are trying to solve and what they might type into a search bar. A busy parent who wants quicker weeknight dinners searches and scrolls very differently from a retiree who just took up gardening. Once you can picture that person, it gets much easier to decide what to post and where to spend your time.

“Before you look for customers, write a few sentences about one real kind of person who would enjoy what you sell.”

Post for people who don't know you yet

Your profile is where a stranger decides whether to follow you. Posts that only make sense to close friends won't help them. Share things a stranger would save, such as how you use a product in a normal week or an honest review that mentions what a product does well and where it falls short. Use the words your ideal customer would search for in your captions, and add a few specific hashtags on the platforms you use. Our list of what to post as a network marketer and this weekly content framework give you a plan for the week.

Be helpful in groups and communities

Join a handful of online groups built around the problem your product helps with, like a cooking group or a local parents page. Read the rules first, because many groups ban selling and will remove you for it. Spend your time answering questions and sharing what you know, with no links. People notice who gives good answers and often click through to that person's profile. If someone asks for a recommendation and the group allows it, mention the product and say plainly that you sell it. If you run your own group, our Facebook group post ideas will help keep it active.

Meet people in person

Local events still work well. Look at craft fairs, farmers markets, school fundraisers, and community vendor nights, and check with your company about any rules for events and samples before you book a table. Give people a reason to stop that has nothing to do with buying, such as a free demo or a short tip card. If someone wants to hear from you later, ask them to write down their name and how they'd like to be contacted, and only use those details for what they agreed to.

Ask happy customers for referrals

Customers who already like a product are the best way to reach new people. Wait until someone has used it for a few weeks and told you they like it, then ask once, kindly, and make it easy to say no. If your company has a referral program, follow its rules exactly, and don't offer gifts or discounts your company hasn't approved.

1. 1.

   Hi [Name], I'm so glad the [product] has been working well for you. If you know anyone who might like it too, I'd love an introduction. No pressure at all.

2. 2.

   Hey [Name], thanks again for your order. If a friend ever asks where you got it, feel free to pass along my details.

3. 3.

   Hi [Name], would you be okay with me sharing what you said about [product] on my page? I'll use your first name only, or leave your name off completely if you'd prefer.

Start conversations that don't feel like a pitch

Cold messages to strangers about a product usually read as spam, and sending lots of them can get your account limited. Reply instead to people who have already engaged with you by commenting on a post or replying to a Story. Talk about what they said first. Bring up the product only when they ask or when it clearly answers a question they raised. The DM and follow up scripts page has more openers.

1. 4.

   Thanks for the comment, [Name]! You mentioned [their situation]. What have you tried so far?

2. 5.

   Hi [Name], I saw your question in [group] about [topic]. Here's what has worked for me: [tip]. Hope it helps.

3. 6.

   Hey [Name], thanks for replying to my Story. Want me to send you the link to the one I was using, or were you just curious?

Tell people you sell it

When you recommend a product you earn money from, the US Federal Trade Commission expects you to say so clearly. Put it near the start of a post or message in plain words, such as "I sell this" or "I'm an independent consultant with [company]." Keep health claims and income claims out of every post and private message. Our guide to compliant network marketing posts explains what counts, and the free compliance checker flags risky phrases before you share them.

Look after the customers you have

Finding a new customer takes far more effort than keeping one you already have. Check in about a week after an order arrives with a tip on how to use the product, and offer a reorder link when they mention they are running low. Keep a simple list with each customer's name, what they bought, the date you last talked, and when to check in next, so nobody slips through. Our guide on how to follow up without being pushy has a timing plan and scripts for these check ins.