Hello Online Marketers! This week I bring you my hero: Sue Seward. She is the champion of Network Marketing!!! Sue has built two MLM businesses ENTIRELY online! She's the Who's Who in network marketing. Hope you enjoy!

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KB: Sue Seward thank you for taking the time to participate in this interview for our readers.

To set the stage for this interview, would you please tell us a bit about yourself?

SS: Well I’m a wife and mom and have been married to my husband Clif for over 23 years. I have two boys age 17 and 12 and I have been earning an income from home online since 1996. I’m also a published author. My articles have been publishedin Networking Times, Network Marketing Business Journal magazines and my firstbook is now out in book stores. It’s called ‘Build It Big’ from the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance.

KB: WOW! That is so great Sue. I like that you’re helping network marketers (since I’m one, lol) and also showing what a great business concept it truly is.

Okay, give us your elevator speech, or 30-second spiel, about what you do, about your businesses:

SS: I’ve leveraged myself by creating passive residual income online from home since 1996. I’m also an Internet Marketing trainer. I’m building sales forces with Xango and I’m a Diamond Distributor with Scent-Sations MiaBella Soy Candles. I’m the founder of ecommercehomebiz.com.

KB: I’m so impressed Sue and not only because you’ve built TWO great network marketing businesses but also because you’ve done it mostly online!

Why or what was the determining factor for you in starting your own business?

SS: I’ve been a stay at home mom since my oldest son was 4 ½. I decided when wemoved back to Texas from the East coast that I wanted to continue staying home because my youngest son was 3 at the time and I didn’t want to put him in daycare. So I got a computer and started searching for a business that I could do from home. I also didn’t want to be out at night doing meetings or parties so I joined a team of people who were online marketing. We were called the Online Marketing team back then in 1996. It was the perfect situation for me at the time.
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KB: I really like that you were able to do that Sue and to build a big business online in network marketing – you’re my hero! What, in your experience, has been the greatest benefit in running and owning your own business? What do you like best about your business?

SS: What I like best is the fact that I’ve leveraged myself through developing a residual income stream with my Network Marketing businesses. I also love the fact that my business is a true HOME based business. I meet so many fantastic people through the Internet. I’ve made it my mission to brand myself by building a presence online and I’ve accomplished that goal!

KB: What an excellent accomplishment too. Running a business takes a certain “mindset” so tell us what is the most difficult or challenging part of having and running your own business:

SS: The most difficult part for me is taking care of the administrative task and taxes. The end of the year is always hard for me to get all that stuff together for my accountant. I’m always very late and have to file an extension because paper work is not my strong suit!

KB: Actually, I’m kind of glad to see you share an area that is challenging for you if for no other reason than to let others know you don’t have to be able to do it all! Nor do you have to excel at everything.

Who is your primary target audience? How do you attract them?

SS: My primary target market is anyone that’s interested in developing a passive residual income and in leveraging themselves. I attract people by my presence online. Discussion groups, networking groups, leads, our full page ads that we run in
Homebased business journals, my articles, my newsletter and my website.That’s what I mean by leverage.

I have people that do fundraisers, Craft shows, flea markets, retailing and I don’t do any of that but I still profit from what they do because they are in my sales force. I don’t do a lot of offline promotion but I have people in my downline that do.

KB: I like how you do business, especially because I’m like you – better online than off but building your offline base the way you have is very wise.

Since your business is primarily online you must have at least one website, is not more correct?

SS: Yes as I said my business is primarily online and I do have several websites.I have a personal website and two company specific websites. I direct traffic from my personal website to my company sites. My personal website eCommerceHomeBiz.com is a website that I put together for all networkers. It has resources, articles, affiliate income opportunities, business building tips, my online marketing newsletter, photos, and information about my companies.

KB: It’s really super when someone, like you, takes it upon themselves to help others in this industry no matter what company they are with. I thank you for that!

What is your best source of customers, prospects and/or clients?

SS: I would have to say my best source is from the full page ads we run in several of the most popular homebased business magazines. We coop these ads to our team. They provide very high quality leads for us.

KB: I know about those and have heard that they work very well. Of course, you do have to have the advertising budget to participate, even if you do it as a Co-op.

Since we’re are having this interview on the International Virtual Women’s Chamber of Commerce channel, we know you are a member of this organization but are you a member of any other professional organizations?

SS: Yes I’ve also been a member of the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance now for over two years. I met the founder over two years ago when the organization was just getting started and I helped them to get it up and running. They have grown into a world wide organization and have their first book out this month called ‘Build It Big’. I’m one of the 89 coauthors in the book. They are a fantastic organization for the direct selling industry and I’m proud to be a part of them. I also run an ad in their classified section and found one of my top leaders from that ad.

KB: Wow that is great! We’re often told in Network Marketing that all we need is one or two good leaders and you got yours from a classified ad!

Online networking groups are rising in number so are you a member of any online networking groups?

SS: I’m a member of Internet Based Families, Ryze, Powerful Intentions, Max In Common, and IVWCC.

KB: That is a lot of networking groups Sue. On average, how often do you visit those networks? Do you post messages there regularly, or are you more of an information seeker and lurker?

SS: I contribute quite a bit to the discussion and networking groups I belong to. This is one of the ways I’ve built my presence online for the last eight years.

KB: Networking is the way to go these days too. Moving onto a very vital subject in online business, on average, how many email messages do you receive every day?

SS: Do you mean not counting the spam? <smile> I’m not very good at keeping up with numbers. Another of my weak points. <smile> I would say on average about 100 to 200 a day.

KB: Ouch, that is a lot of email. Yes, I did mean spam too since they clog our inboxes. I do need to interject something here though – Sue you are obviously good with the numbers that count – those in your bank account! About how many of those emails are actually email you either requested, from clients, or pertinent information?

SS: About 45%

KB: What is your number one complaint, if any, about email? ...and how do you think it could be resolved?

SS: My number one complaint would have to be all the spam complaints. It’s made it very, very difficult for us legitimate online relationship marketers to get our emails through and to even receive our email. Some of my legitimate email is getting blocked from me receiving it! AOL has really gotten bad. I’ve been on AOL since 1996 so I’ve branded my name and that makes it difficult for me to discontinue. I use my delete key a lot. A lot of the spam still gets through and our legitimate email doesn’t. So that’s very frustrating at times. I do use the phone a LOT in my business. Once someone raises their hand for information I’m calling them to continue building a relationship.

KB: I think spam is EVERYONES major complaint when it comes to email. You’re right –it does make it very hard for legitimate marketers online to do business. Again I concur when you say that AOL has gotten really bad which is why I don’t use them for one reason anyway. However, you have a legitimate reason for staying and working around the problem. The interesting thing Sue is that spam has been responsible for the telephone to become popular again! Doing business the old-fashioned way of actually TALKING to someone which I like!

You mentioned that you publish a newsletter so, describe the content, frequency and delivery method you use.

SS: Yes, I have been publishing my newsletter for about seven years now. It’s a training Newsletter that teaches people the nuts and bolts of how to market on the Internet. Each issue is set up to go out every seven days. I send it using the Income Buddy autoresponder system http://sseward.IncomeBuddy.com.

KB: And there’s some very excellent and useful information in it too. I know because I subscribe to it!

How about generating new subscribers? How do you do that or is that even a consideration in your type of newsletter? SS: Yes I generate new subscribers by sending out my articles to publishers I have
online, in discussion and networking groups, my website, and in my signature line.

KB: Do you subscribe to any newsletters? If so, what is the delivery format>

SS: Yes I subscribe to several and they are sent by email.

KB: Are you familiar with RSS?

SS: A little from our discussions on IVWCC but I’m still a bit confused as to how it really works.

KB: If it’s any consolation Sue, even people who use it all the time may be a little confused as to how it works, LOL! However, what my partner Cathy Carlton and I tell people is this: when you get a new car you just drive it, you don’t have to understand how everything in the car works in order to drive it – unless that is an interest of yours of course. You can just get in the RSS “car” and drive it without fully understanding how it works.

I get a bit passionate about this because I love the ease of delivering content through this method not to mention the dynamics of using RSS.

Do you read or subscribe to any RSS feeds/blogs?

SS: Not yet, I’m still learning about this and plan to familiarize myself more about it after the first of the year.

KB: There are so many ways to promote ourselves online and off, and one of the most touted and apparently great ways to do so online is to write articles. I know you write articles Sue m- I’ve read many of them, so tell us about the content:

SS: Yes I’ve written many articles. Most of them pertain to the Network Marketing industry. I’ve written actual training type articles as well as motivational articles. I have several publishers that I’ve built relationships with such as MLMWoman, MLMInsider, Network Marketing Business Journal and Network Marketing Times magazines as well as the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance.

KB: You really are a great networker aren’t you? Have you ever submitted a press release? How has that worked for you?

SS: Yes I’ve submitted several to my local newspaper as well as online. I haven’t ever gotten a live prospect from them but they are still good free publicity so I’ll continue to use them to brand myself.

KB: My sentiments exactly. What is the most creative thing you have done to attract customers?

SS: Probably writing my articles. I’ve never had any formal training in writing and I don’t have a college degree but I’ve always loved writing. I guess that’s the creative part of me coming out. <smile>

KB: That’s funny Sue because it’s the same for me. I love writing although I’ve not had any formal writing either. Your articles are really good though because you write from the heart and from experience.

If there was one thing you wish you had (other than time!) to help you grow
your business, what would it be?

SS: More great leaders to help leverage my time!

KB: Oh, isn’t that the truth! If you could offer a word of advice to someone wishing to start a business in your field, what would you tell them?

SS: To make sure they consult with someone who’s experienced and has had success and is willing to actually visit with them to find out what would be the best decision for THEM!

KB: That’s great advice Sue. Thank you again for taking the time to participate in this interview.

SS: You’re very WELCOME! Thank you for allowing me to do so!

Sue Seward Founder of http://www.eCommerceHomeBiz.com

KB: Sue, it was my pleasure!

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END INTERVIEW WITH SUE SEWARD