Making your biz the buzz...
How to keep a warm market- Warm...
Today more than ever it is important for all MLM professionals to expand their circle of influence. No one can join you in spreading the good news of your products and services, if they don't know you. One of the most difficult challenges for Direct Sales and MLM is to build a continuous warm market of interesting like minded people who can become possible customers and business partners. One of the best and least expensive ways to do that is through networking. But there are important factors to consider as you select your networking groups.
1. What kind of personality are you? Your networking group needs to fit your personality.
a. If you are a bottom line, get to the point, shoot it straight networker, you need to find networking opportunities where people share for 30 seconds to a minute. The majority of networking organizations are set up for this time frame. This is not necessarily a relational model. This model is about efficiency. Many Chamber events fit this model, as does BNI and more lead oriented groups.
This model works perfectly for people who simply want leads and do not mind the cold call process.
b. If you are more relationally oriented you will fair much better finding networking models that are based on Permission marketing versus interruption marketing. There is a new wave of these organizations like The Heart Link Network for women, which is based on the female endocrine system and is a completely relational model. This is a model for women who want the time to create a bond. Each women has 3 minutes to showcase her business, the meetings are smaller and much more intimate in nature. In May of 2009, The Success Link will also be launched which is a similar, more relational model built for both men and women.
2. You need to learn how to network effectively. No matter what the model, if you attend networking meetings with a "What's in it for ME?" attitude, people sense this. 80 to 90% of all communication is non-verbal and people can tell what your basic focus is. People want to help people who want to help. Networking effectively means taking the time to learn what others do. Keep a referral list with you. When you refer to people, they are much more likely to refer to you. That is what networking is all about.
3. Be Consistent. Marketing is not a one shot proposition. Networking requires consistency. Powerful relationships are built over time. Consistency solidifies relationships. If you are gong to network, be consistent.
4. Educate and Motivate. Take a deep breath and remember why you are networking. You want to help people feel at ease around you. You want to build trust. Networking is not about "Selling" the people in the room, it is about "training" a word of mouth marketing team for you and your business. Each person you meet knows many people. You want them to like you, believe in you and be talking about you to the people they know and meet. If you spam them, hound them, surround them, they will not refer you to anyone. Instead, know who you are, learn to communicate clearly and concisely.
5. Be Compelling. People do not buy facts, they buy emotion. Know how your products and services change people's life. Know why your products are valuable. Get coaching on how to share information in a compelling way that causes people to want to know more. Don't bore people with statistics, but use numbers powerfully (How many people's lives has your product changed in what amount of time).
6. Be Memorable. It is important that you are memorable. People must remember you in order to refer to you. What about you, your products or services make the biggest impact? Why makes you unique? What causes you to stand out in the minds and hearts of those you meet.
7. AND the most important, Follow up and Follow through. So much of success is in the follow up, and you are nothing if you do not follow through. Follow through is about integrity. Be who you say you are and do what you say you'll do, by when you say you will do it. Follow up is about discipline and organization. Follow up gives you opportunities to strengthen relationships, share your knowledge, resources and referrals and tells people they can trust their friends with you.
As 2009 begins, and we want to revolutionize Network Marketing, remember your netWORK determines your netWORTH, and treat it with the dignity and respect it deserves.
Dawn L. Billings, author of over 15 books, relationship, communication and networking expert. Faculty member of iLearningGlobal.tv, creator of the parenting toy/tool "The Capables," and www.TheHeartAlliance.com, www.DawnBillings.com.
1. What kind of personality are you? Your networking group needs to fit your personality.
a. If you are a bottom line, get to the point, shoot it straight networker, you need to find networking opportunities where people share for 30 seconds to a minute. The majority of networking organizations are set up for this time frame. This is not necessarily a relational model. This model is about efficiency. Many Chamber events fit this model, as does BNI and more lead oriented groups.
This model works perfectly for people who simply want leads and do not mind the cold call process.
b. If you are more relationally oriented you will fair much better finding networking models that are based on Permission marketing versus interruption marketing. There is a new wave of these organizations like The Heart Link Network for women, which is based on the female endocrine system and is a completely relational model. This is a model for women who want the time to create a bond. Each women has 3 minutes to showcase her business, the meetings are smaller and much more intimate in nature. In May of 2009, The Success Link will also be launched which is a similar, more relational model built for both men and women.
2. You need to learn how to network effectively. No matter what the model, if you attend networking meetings with a "What's in it for ME?" attitude, people sense this. 80 to 90% of all communication is non-verbal and people can tell what your basic focus is. People want to help people who want to help. Networking effectively means taking the time to learn what others do. Keep a referral list with you. When you refer to people, they are much more likely to refer to you. That is what networking is all about.
3. Be Consistent. Marketing is not a one shot proposition. Networking requires consistency. Powerful relationships are built over time. Consistency solidifies relationships. If you are gong to network, be consistent.
4. Educate and Motivate. Take a deep breath and remember why you are networking. You want to help people feel at ease around you. You want to build trust. Networking is not about "Selling" the people in the room, it is about "training" a word of mouth marketing team for you and your business. Each person you meet knows many people. You want them to like you, believe in you and be talking about you to the people they know and meet. If you spam them, hound them, surround them, they will not refer you to anyone. Instead, know who you are, learn to communicate clearly and concisely.
5. Be Compelling. People do not buy facts, they buy emotion. Know how your products and services change people's life. Know why your products are valuable. Get coaching on how to share information in a compelling way that causes people to want to know more. Don't bore people with statistics, but use numbers powerfully (How many people's lives has your product changed in what amount of time).
6. Be Memorable. It is important that you are memorable. People must remember you in order to refer to you. What about you, your products or services make the biggest impact? Why makes you unique? What causes you to stand out in the minds and hearts of those you meet.
7. AND the most important, Follow up and Follow through. So much of success is in the follow up, and you are nothing if you do not follow through. Follow through is about integrity. Be who you say you are and do what you say you'll do, by when you say you will do it. Follow up is about discipline and organization. Follow up gives you opportunities to strengthen relationships, share your knowledge, resources and referrals and tells people they can trust their friends with you.
As 2009 begins, and we want to revolutionize Network Marketing, remember your netWORK determines your netWORTH, and treat it with the dignity and respect it deserves.
Dawn L. Billings, author of over 15 books, relationship, communication and networking expert. Faculty member of iLearningGlobal.tv, creator of the parenting toy/tool "The Capables," and www.TheHeartAlliance.com, www.DawnBillings.com.
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