Work at Home Forum - An online community of those who work from home.
Network/Multi-level Marketing Work at Home Forum / Network/Multi-level Marketing /

Want More Sales? Stop Asking For Them!

Author Message
Cenay
Member


Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 16

# Posted: 12 Nov 2007 15:36
Reply 


Yes, I realize this flies in the face of what your upline has been drilling into your head for weeks (months/years), but it's true. It also has the additional benefit of increasing trust with your potential customers, reducing stress, and making direct sales more fun. Oh, and you get to keep your friends. Sweet!

Let me explain.

When you started in network marketing, you were probably told something along these lines... "It's not sales, you're just sharing the products" (Yeah, right). Or perhaps you were told... "It's like recommending a movie or restaurant" (Does the movie industry pay you to recommend their products? How about the local restaurant?) Or my personal favorite..."Everyone wants these products, they just don't know it yet!" (Again, yeah...right).

So, you are all fired up about your new home based business... you bought business cards and read all the product literature. You spent the extra money because your upline told you it was a good idea, and you bought motivational tapes/CDs/DVDs. You are fired up and READY! You made your list, just like your upline said, and you have checked phone numbers for your 3rd grade teacher, the lawn-guy who did your yard 3 years ago and the mail man. You pick up the phone and make the first call. You decided to start easy so you called your best friend, invite them to lunch. Just after the drinks were served, you start in on this really great product. They listen with rapt attention. You are, afterall, someone they trust. All throughout lunch, you extol the virtues of this amazing (fill in the blank) product. Then comes the time to close them. You say "Oh, I love these products so much, I decided to sell them". You just started down the path of the NFL club (No Friends Left). You blew it, because you let them believe you were recommending a product just because you liked it. Now, every thing you said is suspect. You lied to them (by omission, but they will view it as a lie just the same).

If you had been a little more transparent with them, told them up front, they still might not buy, but at least they won't avoid you. Let me give you a better idea.

Don't ask for the sale, ask for a referral.

You could try something like ... "I am now promoting XYZ Diet Pills, because I finally found something that works for me"... pause, give them a minute to absorb that. They might be secretly trying to think of a way to bail on you before lunch is served. Then hit them with your best shot... "Do you know anyone who might be interested in losing weight?" Pause again. Give their brains a chance to catch up. You didn't just ask them to buy something. They won't have to turn you down. They can exhale. And when they resume chewing the bread stick, they might actually try to think of someone who would be interested. And if they are, they will tell you so. No pressure.

Best part? (Aside from the referral) You still have a friend. You didn't lie to them, you didn't pressure them and you gave them a way to help you (they are your friend after all) without committing to anything more strenuous than the name of someone they know who was venting to them just last week about how hard it is to lose weight.

So, if you want more sales, stop asking for them. Ask for referrals instead. A referral also gives you more leverage when you are speaking with that prospect on the phone. "Hey Jill, Jane here... I was talking to Deb yesterday, and she mentioned you wanted to lose some weight and recommended I call you. Have you lost the weight you wanted to, or are you still looking for a solution?"

It's a powerful concept. Give it try.

__________________
I Finally Told My Boss "Enough", Now I Make More Than He Does!
Nussentials - A Company To Be Proud Of
gojade
Member


Joined: 5 Nov 2007
Posts: 43

# Posted: 12 Nov 2007 22:09
Reply 


Amen! Who do you get your coaching from??? It sounds like something I've learned too

__________________
Cenay
Member


Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 16

# Posted: 12 Nov 2007 22:19
Reply 


Gosh, I read and listen to a LOT of info, daily. Perhaps Kim Klaver? I just know she was speaking to my soul.

__________________
I Finally Told My Boss "Enough", Now I Make More Than He Does!
Nussentials - A Company To Be Proud Of
gojade
Member


Joined: 5 Nov 2007
Posts: 43

# Posted: 12 Nov 2007 22:54
Reply 


Ooooh, Kim Klaver is awesome! My coach just sent me a new book by her and I'm really enjoying it!
I also listen to alot of Jim Rohn and Tom Schrieder...priceless info!!

__________________
Cenay
Member


Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 16

# Posted: 12 Nov 2007 23:39
Reply 


Which book by Kim?

I just got "If My Product Is So Great, Why Can't I Sell It?" and "The Truth...what it really takes to make it in network marketing", and "Rules for the New New MLM'er".

All three are great!

__________________
I Finally Told My Boss "Enough", Now I Make More Than He Does!
Nussentials - A Company To Be Proud Of
Cenay
Member


Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 16

# Posted: 12 Nov 2007 23:41
Reply 


BTW - you can get an emailed RSS feed of my blog posts at MLM: Behind The Curtain [Link removed - admin]..if you are interested...

__________________
I Finally Told My Boss "Enough", Now I Make More Than He Does!
Nussentials - A Company To Be Proud Of
gojade
Member


Joined: 5 Nov 2007
Posts: 43

# Posted: 13 Nov 2007 10:11
Reply 


It's called "Friends, Lies, and Network Marketing". He sent it to me on the computer, and I'm not sure if you can get it in hard copy or not

I really like it though...she gives great ideas on how to network without losing your friends

__________________
campers
Member


Joined: 13 Nov 2007
Posts: 3

# Posted: 13 Nov 2007 23:41
Reply 


Thanks for the link to that book Cenay, I will definately be trying that approach and looking up some more of Kim Klaver material.

Another approach to use is to ask a friend if they can do you a favour and try out the products for a new business you're starting. Ask them to give you their honest opinion on the products and the business idea. This gives you an opportunity to tell them what it about and what makes the products unique without coming across as selling. The referral approach would work in conjunction with this too.

Dan

__________________
Discover Certified Organics. Unrivalled purity. Worlds most extensive range.
Turn your organics passion into an ethical, flexible home business.
mikepressnell
Member


Joined: 5 Nov 2007
Posts: 83

# Posted: 14 Nov 2007 00:07
Reply 


Quoting: gojade

It's called "Friends, Lies, and Network Marketing". He sent it to me on the computer, and I'm not sure if you can get it in hard copy or not



Hey, thanks for the infromation. I just now downloaded the book but I haven't had time to read it yet.

The first post of this topic was awesome.

May I add that if you can get hooked up with a good sponsor, mentor, trainer, etc. instead of just a recruiter, your chances of success skyrocket.

Mike Pressnell

__________________
Cenay
Member


Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 16

# Posted: 14 Nov 2007 00:13
Reply 


Thank you Mike

__________________
I Finally Told My Boss "Enough", Now I Make More Than He Does!
Nussentials - A Company To Be Proud Of
Cenay
Member


Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 16

# Posted: 14 Nov 2007 00:18
Reply 


Okay, for those who are interested enough in the eBook by Kim, go to ChangeThis and then search for Kim Klaver or the title. It's an awesome read and was what inspired me to write the article in the first post.

Hope I didn't upset the board, I guess I accidentally posted a link. Whoops.

Cenay'

__________________
I Finally Told My Boss "Enough", Now I Make More Than He Does!
Nussentials - A Company To Be Proud Of
mikepressnell
Member


Joined: 5 Nov 2007
Posts: 83

# Posted: 16 Nov 2007 20:57
Reply 


No Proble, Cenay,

I've been known to make mistakes, too.

Mike

__________________
kcl222
Member


Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 6

# Posted: 13 Mar 2008 19:11
Reply 


I definitely avoid selling to friends and family. There are hundreds of millions of other customers out there, so I focus on them.
I love this mode of selling! Getting and using referrals is an elegant efficient away of getting lots of sales.

__________________
PMHayes
Member


Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 129

# Posted: 12 May 2008 04:21
Reply 


Cenay, that is a true word of wisdom. My old mentor told me once, "people love to buy, but no one likes to be sold." This rings true in what you posted. You not only kept a friend, you gave them the chance to "buy," and not be sold. If you were presenting an opportunity you might ask "do you know anyone who might be looking for a way to make some extra money?" Same thing, gets them off the defensive, and gives them the opportuntiy to "Buy." So, now you have your friend, associate, whatever thinking to themselves, "hey, i might like to try xyz product, or xyx business.

__________________
Nothing of lasting value in life happens by accident. Chart Your Own Course!
Home Business Success with btstartfree
The Online Home Business Answer
Zurvita
Member


Joined: 6 May 2008
Posts: 19

# Posted: 12 May 2008 22:32
Reply 


Cenay,

I really like the transition from a hard sell and pressuring someone to putting the ball in their court by asking for a referral. It really is a great way to go about it, if you want to market in this style. I prefer different marketing methods myself, but for those who want to utilize their warm market, more power to them. And if they are going to go with the warm market, why not do it in a fair manner as you described in your post. I am proud to be a network marketer because it all takes courage in my book!

__________________

Your reply
Bold Style  Italic Style  Underlined Style  Image Link  URL Link     :) ;) :-( ... Disable smilies

» Username  » Password 
Only registered users can post here. Enter your login/password correctly before posting a message, or register here first.
  • Messages not conforming to the forum rules will not be approved or, deleted without any explanation.
  • Please do not post email addresses. If essential, obfuscate them (user [at] domain.com or something like that).
  • Please do not use BOLD to highlight entire post.
 


Page loading time (secs): 0.042

Sign Up for WAHF Special Offers!

Exclusive deals and offers for WAHF members only.

Your Name:   Email:

P.S. You'll not be spammed and you won't receive more than an email a week. Your email address will not be shared or sold to anyone else.


Custom Search

RSS feed (?)
  Add to My Yahoo! Add to Google Add to My MSN  
Subscribe and get your updates by email

Forums: General Advice · Accounting and Legal Advice · Business Opportunities and Programs Reviews · Productivity and Motivation · Network/Multi-level Marketing · General Marketing · Website Promotion · Web Design and Hosting · Work at Home Jobs · 1StepSystem · Prosperity Automated System · Paid Surveys · Coastal Vacations · Profit Lance · Agel · My Powermall · Squidoo · West at Home · Global Resorts Network · Wealthy Affiliate · Casual Chat · Work at Home Moms · Work at Home Dads · Raising Kids · Health · Stress Management · Meditation · Diet and Nutrition

Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · About Us · Contact Us · Support Us · Friends

Sitemap: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

© 2004-2008 Work at Home Forum. All rights reserved.