The Biggest Mistake That Many Network Marketers Make
What do you think that biggest mistake is? Is it not finding the
best source for your leads? Or maybe it is not finding the best
"closing" sales method to really convert those borderline
prospects. How about not having that "killer" sales letter?
It is none of these. The biggest mistake that many, if not
most, network marketers make is that they don't understand the
REAL business they are in. They are not in the product business
or "sales" business. They are really in the PEOPLE business,
whether they realize it or not.
Now what do I mean by the people business? Well, it is the
people you sign up and sponsor as your distributors or downline
that are going to build your business. Our business is really
creating long term positive relationships with others. The
Golden Rule rules. And if you don't understand how to treat
them, how to tap into their internal motivations, you are going
to be swimming upstream. If you learn how to treat the people
you bring into your business the right way, your business will
blossom and boom.
This really begins with the way you find those people you want
to join your business. You need to have a true "service to
others" attitude. They are going to join your business because
of what's in it for them, not for you. Finding your business
partners needs to be a win-win for both of you. That means when
you talk with people about joining your business you don't start
off right away with "Hello, Mr. Smith, I represent ABC business,
and we are the greatest thing since sliced bread! " And then go
off into your sales spiel. You need to create that long term
relationship. So you need to use a method that is "other"
focused instead of "me" focused.
In the network marketing and MLM business, your REAL business
is discovering people who are motivated enough to do their
business on their own, rather than trying to sell someone on
your concept of how to sell other people. People don't like to
be sold. They don't like to be "closed". But there are ways to
turn it around so that they sell themselves. That means focusing
your attention on the person.
The real business is training and mentoring those people so they
can duplicate the business to do it on their own. Have you ever
joined a network marketing or MLM organization where soon after
you joined your sponsor pretty much left you on your own,
wouldn't support you and after a while wouldn't even return your
calls? If that hasn't happened to you, can you imagine what that
would be like? So don't do that. Train your people to the
highest standard, mentor them, be available for them and they
will work harder to help themselves. Which will help you
immensely in the long run.
Most people can be highly successful in network marketing if
they can change their focus to helping others and working as
much toward the other person's success as their own.
Now, in this short article I cannot give you all the
information you need to learn about how to do this process. But
I can recommend two things that will help you on the road to
learning how to turn your head around 180 degrees. The first is
Michael Dlouhy's free book "Success in 10 Steps (Home Business
Warning: Don't Get Toasted Like a Pop-Tart!). You can get it at
http://accomplish.successin10steps.com/defaultSTS.aspx?u=accompli
sh
This excellent book goes into much more detail about what
network marketing is all about, how it is really teaching and
mentoring. I learned a lot about motivating people and how that
really works in network marketing. In the true spirit of giving
and service to others, he even offers free "mentoring" calls
several days during the week, which anyone can call in to. And
it doesn't matter what network marketing organization you belong
to. Now, of course, he does make money by selling his system.
But there is no pressure (and believe me I am very resistant to
sales pressure). He really does want everyone to be successful.
The method I use for my business is called Natural Selling, in a
book written by Michael Oliver. His book is called "How to Sell
Network Marketing without fear, anxiety or losing your friends".
You can check out his web site at
http://www.naturalselling.com/
You can also buy the book at Amazon.com.
What his method teaches you is how to really understand another
person, in terms of their wanting to start their own business,
which is what network marketing really is. What are their
motivations and why do they really want or need to join with
you. It uses a no pressure, conversational method of you asking
simple and direct questions to help you understand who the other
person really is. It is truly "other" focused. It is putting the
Golden Rule into practice. You learn how to "detach from the
sale" so you can truly have the other person's interests at
heart. If you learn the principles and techniques in this book,
you can even use them to make your own personal relationships
deeper and better. Just for the record, I do not make any money
recommending these two excellent books. And, yes, I could be
lying to you, but would that really be a good way to serve other
people?
If you read either of these, I would love to hear your opinion
of them. I think you will find both or either of these very
enlightening.
Copyright 2005