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They say: "Network Marketing is a sales business"

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Viajero Latino
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Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 31
#1 · Posted: 24 May 2007 16:23


It's not.

Truth: Network marketing is a teaching & mentoring business.

If you study vi-tamins, or long-distance switches, or the age of the monk in the white lab coat that scraped the mold off the rock on the full moon twice a year ... or ANY prod-uct or service ... you're wasting your time.

Your product is people. So study people. Find out how you can help
them reach their dreams. THEIR dreams. Not your dreams.People join people. They don't join companies. People don't care that the presi-
dent of your company is a family man and has 3 or 4 families to prove it.
Build people. People will build the business.When you build people, your retention rate goes through the roof.

talfighel
Silver Member
Joined: 17 Mar 2007
Posts: 1000
#2 · Posted: 22 Jun 2007 13:54


Life is all about selling.

With the MLM business, you not only teach and mentor but you also sell the opportunity to others.

Everywhere you go, you sell something.

You go on a date.....you sell yourself to the other person.

You contact someone for your MLM business...You sell the opportunity and the products.

You have an invention...You sell it to others.

So you are always selling something whether you are thinking about it or not.

Tal

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wapahm
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Joined: 6 Jun 2007
Posts: 202
#3 · Posted: 22 Jun 2007 22:27


Hi Viajero and Tal

I have been in MLM's and Direct sales for several years and I must say this.
No matter which way you look at your business (building relationships or selling opportunities) your doing both.
As long as you stay honest about yourself and your opportunity people will trust and follow you.

We are information tour guides and by giving people the honest information they're looking for they can then make an intelligent decision for themselves.
Even if they don't like your opportunity this time, as long as you were honest with them you will always have a lead to go back too in the event something better comes along.
Cindy

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wapahm
I'm not perfect, just forgiven!
RayvinAndRob
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Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 195
#4 · Posted: 25 Jun 2007 10:58


Right on Cindy! That's supposed to be common sense but...is sense really that common? How many times have you had to brush a pushy salesperson off?

It's a fact that most people do not like to be sold. They prefer to sell the product, service or biz op to themselves. If we have something that we want others to have, all we got to do is this: Listen to people. That's it! Just listen to what they are saying about themselves. Many will tell you about a physical ailment they are struggling with at the moment. Let them talk. Don't interrupt them with your sales pitch. That 's the worst thing you could do!

When we put our own interests aside, bury our own egos, and really listen to another, miracles will take place. There's a Law in that. I'm sure everyone knows it already and it works! It must. And we've got to trust that it does. FAITH in that Law is all it takes. Don't worry about selling your product or making that next 4% superstar bonus by the end of the next month. Put your own issues aside and listen to people.

Now that you know what ails the person who pours out his or her heart to you, what do you do or say? Well, won't you now want to help? Will you not be genuinely interested in that person now? And the key word is 'genuinely.' Ask that person if he or she really wants todo something about their problem and if they don't, fine. Leave it at that but continue to be their friend. Maybe they'll be ready later. If they say they do want to do something about their problem, then Love that person back to health and sanity. But don't do it if all you have in the back of your mind is getting your product or service into their hands. Who cares about your products! Nurse that person back to health at your own expense even. Use your product to help them. Don't even tell them what it is and refuse to tell them even if they ask. Make sure they can safely take your product first of course.

Do whatever it takes for that person to start feeling better again and you will have a loyal friend for life. Once that person is feeling better and can now support him or herself, it's now time for that person to think about prevention medicine, eh? They'll ask you where they can get your product. You tell them out of love and concern for their continued well-being.

Showing genuine love for people is the most powerful medicine of all. And it's reciprocal.

Rob Nyte

Bucky
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Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 37
#5 · Posted: 28 Jun 2007 11:19


I agree with some points from everyone on this thread.

There is the old saying, "you have two ears and one mouth, so you can listen twice as much as you talk".

It truly does apply to MLM and sales. All the greats in business are able to listen and truly care about people. They are then able to turn those listening skills into subtle sales tools.

If you listen you can truly understand where a person is coming from. Then you can decide if they will be good in your business.

People say that MLM is a numbers game, but that is BS. That would take listening and people totally out of the equation.

You don't want to sign up 100 people that are going to hate your business and drop out. You want to sign up 5 who are going to be stars.

In MLM you are in the business of selling, mentoring and changing lives.

But don't be that pushy sales man everyone hates, who gives MLM a bad name. Listen to people and be subtle and make sure you can truly help them. If not, it will be a waste of both your time!

mannaman
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Joined: 18 Sep 2007
Posts: 1
#6 · Posted: 18 Sep 2007 16:43


You all ought to read the book "The 45 Second Presentation that will change your life" by Don Failla

When you understand the things he teaches in that book, you get a whole different perspective on how this business works.

Its not about selling products, its about teaching people to be successful, the products move as a result. Too many people focus on selling, and their prospects pick up on that immediately. If some thinks you are just trying to sell them something they get turned off right away.

When you demonstrate to them that your goal is to teach them how to be successful with you -- its totally different.

Just my 2 cents....

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"if they think an MLM is the same as a pyramid scheme, they haven't a clue what either is...." -- me "A computer is like an air conditioner, it stops working when you open Windows" -- unknown
BeAChampion
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Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 163
#7 · Posted: 24 Oct 2007 18:09


A real salesman is really someone who just finds solutions to other people's problems.

A bad salesman and the one we all loathe is the type who will try to pressure you into buying their product. They really aren't concerned with helping you but rather with getting your money first.

If what you have isn't what they need or want then let it go.

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buzz2u travel
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Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 2
#8 · Posted: 14 Mar 2008 11:32


I look at network marketing as more as a team build----than a direct sales force.My opinion if your good at sales go into direct sales and go with a good direct sales plan.. If your good at buiding a team of marketers go with a networking plan ..My opion LLI is a direct sales plan....

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Greg82
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Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 13
#9 · Posted: 15 Mar 2008 19:43


way to go Cindy I agree 100%, if only more networks were more like you

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Greg Potter
WARRANTIES4LESS
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Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 351
#10 · Posted: 21 Mar 2008 08:25


Good points,

Bottom line, no one likes to sell, and no one likes to be sold, especially under any kind of pressure sales tactics, so here is the problem for most, they are not salespeople, and in MLM, you really do have to be a good salesperson to succeed. Sure, you can get lucky and be in the right place at the right time with the right product, but this is rare.

Sure, this is something you can learn to do, but the old saying, born salesman is really true, the best salespeople are people persons, very outgoing, engaging, personable, friendly, good listeners, and these attributes cannot always be learned from a book or CD.

Just as in all businesses, there are only a few who are the top producers in every company. Sales is not an easy business for most, and for many reasons, if you don't have the above attributes, it makes it ten times more tough, so you should be asking yourself, am I a natural born salesperson?

If you are not a good salesperson, you better be selling an exclusive product of highest quality, in high demand with largest market and at the lowest price if you ever want to make it in any MLM. Even then, not everyone will succeed in sales business, so the more you can learn, the better, but don't expect immediate success, and never quit no matter what, then you have a chance to be one of the top earners in the industry.

Good luck to all, Mike

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PMHayes
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 129
#11 · Posted: 16 May 2008 03:53


TheGuild:
When we put our own interests aside, bury our own egos, and really listen to another, miracles will take place. There's a Law in that. I'm sure everyone knows it already and it works! It must. And we've got to trust that it does. FAITH in that Law is all it takes. Don't worry about selling your product or making that next 4% superstar bonus by the end of the next month. Put your own issues aside and listen to people.


The Spritual Law you refer to is this; "Give and it shall be given unto you. Pressed down, shaken together and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Luke 6:38. You receive in return for what you give to others. Like all spiritual laws, they are immutable. Work with them and they will work for you, work against them and they will work against you.

Don't have an attitude of a salesman, not even. Have an attitude of someone who wants to see others benefit, and you will benefit in the end. People say you sell yourself, and I suppose this is true. But instead, a higher attitude is to "Offer" oneself, "serve" others. You may take one in the behind every now and then, but over the long haul, you will reap great rewards. My dad, who used to be in door to door sales, World Book and Childcraft, believed he was giving a gift to the world, knowledge and learning. That kept him going, and opened more doors, because people genuinely felt he cared. I hope i can come close to emulating him. My dad is and always will my hero.

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cricfan
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Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 35
#12 · Posted: 17 May 2008 17:47


@ thread starter...

couldn't have said it better my friend...well done!

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A8ch
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Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 901
#13 · Posted: 18 May 2008 12:13


Network marketing is a teaching, mentoring AND sales business. To deny the relevance of any one of the three, is equivalent to removing a leg from a tripod. The trick then is simply to find the right balance.

Hermas

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Breanne
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#14 · Posted: 19 May 2008 10:50


True that it is definitely a balance of the 2. If you are trying to make money online then that will require a sale. But I do believe the difference is all in the approach. I believe the teaching and mentoring side is what will help you to be more successful online because when you can help someone to be successful online, they will follow you for life. You have built that solid connection and relationship with them.

So really for me I say that it comes down to building relationships online, whether you are helping them succeed or just networking together. You always have heard it's not what you know but who you know. Helping someone succeed is a major point in attracting them toward you, but building the relationship is what will keep them with you. Look at the person as the relationship and not the sale and you will get much further in online marketing. Sales are just part of the results of the the relationships we build.

raw4healing
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Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 3
#15 · Posted: 19 May 2008 14:05


Everyone here has made some very good points. We are in essence, salespeople, but for me, I also consider myself a business developer. Some folks get into MLM and then are frustrated because they can't 'sell'.

I find that taking the mindset that I'm developing a business, makes it easy to share with others, online and offline. Some people treat it like a hobby, or a lottery ticket that they're hoping will help them to strike it rich. You have to put on the attitude, body language and authority just like you put your pants on. Not arrogant, but authoritative, caring, cordial.

You have to put it on. Something has to switch for you, so your
attitude and your authority has to be this: That you are running a multimillion dollar empire. Don't you realize, that's what you're building? You are building a multi-million dollar empire. The way I saw this business; I am no different than the CEO of IBM.
I am building a multi-million dollar empire, I have my product
developers, I have my executive staff � think about it � that's what you got when you signed up. You bought an executive staff, you bought product developers, you bought legal counsel, you bought a graphic designer, you bought web designers, you bought IT departments, you bought huge, sprawling offices and sprawling � thousands and thousands of feet of manufacturing, you bought growers. That's what you've got when you paid that ridiculous, small, stupid fee when you started in your network marketing business. And really, what we got for what we paid for � it doesn't even come close to adding up.

Lauren

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