Quick Tip To Make Approaching Your Warm Market Easier
“Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.” – Steuart Henderson Britt
Recently I heard that over 80% of the people involved in network marketing today don’t EVER promote their business. They don’t talk to a single prospect, place a single ad or take even the smallest step beyond joining their company.
I was a little stunned at that percentage but when you think about it, that is probably pretty accurate. In over 15 years in network marketing I have seen many distributors come and go. The majority of those who went, have never really began building their business. They never even let anyone know they had a business.
In any kind of business, but especially network marketing, you need to let people know you have a business.
Advertising in a variety of ways is important but today I want you to think about your warm market. Usually when you begin reading your company’s distributor manual or introductory training you are taught to “make a list of 100 people” you will share information about your business or products. I must admit, I was totally turned off by the idea of approaching my friends and family that way so I used a different approach. I let them know I had started a business. I used products in front of them and dropped little one liners to get them to ask questions.
With the economy the way it is I recommend hitting the reset button and rethink your warm market. Many of them could benefit from supplemental income. Rather than approach everyone directly with your business opportunity, try approaching it from a different direction.
Here is an example:
You approach Aunt Mary and say, “Mary, would you be willing to do me a favor?” Mary says yes. “Aunt Mary, you know I have a home business. Well, besides the great products, I also teach people ways they can supplement their income in times of bad economy. Would you be willing to take these flyers and share them with anyone you may hear of that is looking for a way to supplement their income?”
Mary will likely be willing to share your flyers. You never know, she may be one who is needing extra income herself.
You may find an Aunt Mary who will turn into a great lead generator for you. I learned from experience. I had a relative who said she “would not sell products” but she was willing to share my flyers and business cards.
Oh, by the way, you never know where that will lead. That person who said she would never sell products is my sister Melissa. She eventually realized she could be earning money too by doing what she already did to help me. Melissa is now supported by her own network marketing business and is one of our company leaders who teaches this technique to her downline.
Approaching your friends and family this way removes the pressure from both of you. Your family member doesn’t feel like you are pressuring them and you don’t feel that negative feeling that you are putting them on the spot. PLUS, they are usually willing to help you get the word out.
I also like to use this technique for people I meet who are not family. Asking them if they know of anyone who could be helped by extra income removes a lot of pressure and makes it easier to initiate a conversation.
I like to use mini flyers that are postcard size for handing to people. Put a web site address to direct people to so they can get more information. I also recommend having a newsletter they can subscribe to. If you have a blog, make sure you are making it easy for people to subscribe to your rss feed.
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Tagged with: advertising • network marketing • warm market
Filed under: advertising • Getting Started • warm market
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Hi Melodie, nice post. What ever works for you is the best. Great to follow up with email messages too. There are so many ways you can help them move forward with your coaching…great to see Melissa came out of her shell and is succeeding. Great post!
Rick Salas
Melodie Kantner Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Hi Rick,
Thanks. There are methods to fit most any style. ; )
Melodie
Excellent, excellent. Melodie, the Home Business needs more like you. Ideas you have are sound and worth sharing. Thanks so much for being a TSA super star.
.-= Nelson´s last blog ..“Top Cat Club” =-.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Thanks Nelson. You are so kind to say that.
Melodie
Melodie,
This is a great technique that takes the pressure off to say no to the opportunity. You are sharing knowledge and offering help instead of the opportunity. As long as people listen to your words and hear them, this works well.
Thanks for sharing this idea of spreadin g the word about your business.
Val
.-= Val Wilcox´s last blog ..What You Think of Me is None of My Business =-.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Hi Val,
Yea. I love ways that make everyone feel less stress. I find that it helps me have better posture when talking to people.
Melodie
Hi Melodie
You give some great tips for one of the biggest stumbling blocks in our industry. I have always found that these things do indeed work. Directing to tools like brochures, postcards etc, always helps, as well as enlisting people who are our voice out there in the world. Sometimes they can bring us our best customers, and have!
I look forward to reading more and enjoying your material
Laura Morris
http://www.LarryandLauraMorris.com
.-= Larry and Laura Morris´s last blog ..Are You An Original ? =-.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Thanks Laura. I use brochures and postcards too. In the beginning it was my primary way to build my business.
I saw your comment on my Youtube about 10 feet tall and bullet proof. That is one of my favorite sayings too. Are you in Million Mind March? Joe Schroeder uses that phrase all the time.
Melodie
Awesome tip Melodie! I recently did this with a friend that is seriously looking at my business. Works like a charm, without causing anybody to get defensive or insulted.
Fantastic post, Melodie!
My whole business has been built with these strategies. I’ve even built with referrals, then ended up signing the referrer later on because I sent him hockey tickets in thanks for giving me ‘incalculable residual income.’
That’s a rare story though – all the same – although I sound like a simpleton with this statement: If you can position yourself, you’ll be in position.
Thanks for freshening the internet world up with some ‘warm market’ ideas!
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 9:19 pm
I love that.
Very informative Melodie, The amount of fear in the MLM industry is staggering which is one of the reasons newbies fail.
I fear that percentage will always be high, but people like You and I, will do our best to bring that down with posts like this.
*Jonathan Sweeting*
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks. It’s true about the percentage. I would like to see more people experience success. We do our best to help but ultimately it’s in their hands.
Melodie
Great advice Melodie!
I am glad I followed a tweet that brought me here to your blog ;o)
.-= Cheryl James´s last blog ..Business School – part 2 =-.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:12 am
Thanks. I’m glad you dropped by.
“Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.” – Steuart Henderson Britt
I LOVE that quote! So simple yet so many people do not live this out. I need this principles crosses over into many other fields as well!
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..He loves me, He loves me not =-.
Melodie, great post! Really! And, you are correct, sometimes it is as simple as being willing to ASK for help in getting the word out about your business vs. directly trying to sell and/or recruit your warm market. I was surprised to know though that its 80% that don’t promote their business…I knew the number of people that quit was high, just didn’t think that it was that high for just not even trying. Thanks for sharing!
Christine
.-= Christine Casey´s last blog ..Consistency is Key =-.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I was surprised about that percentage too.
Melodie
Melodie,
You’re absolutely right! Just this morning a lifelong friend of mine called all excited. I sent her a sample of a product that I use and this was the right time for her to hear about it.
I’ve always been shy about talking with my warm market, but after her reaction and then the reinforcement of your good article, I’m going to be a lot less bashful about sharing.
Thanks for the push! It came at a perfect time!
.-= Darlene Davis´s last blog ..Art of Office Organization =-.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 8:21 pm
I have always careful with friends and family too but I always drop little teasers and use subtle techniques. That way they can come to me if they are interested. Many friends and family are now involved today that weren’t in the beginning. Several family members are now totally working from home because of their business. That is such a good feeling when you see family members have success.
Melodie
Melody,
Your soft sell marketing techniques are wonderful. Thank you for sharing them. I have always been reluctant to talk to family and friends, and I have, and they have usually not jumped on the opportunity. Approaching from the side like this is a whole different ballgame.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Thanks. It was necessary to find a way to to talk to people that didn’t make their eyes glaze over. ; )
Melodie
Hi Melodie,
Great post and advise on how to work with your warm market of family and friends. I believe it can be very intimidating and this approach can definitely elevate some of that and turn them into people that can help rather then resist. Eventually they will ask…
Make it a great day!
God Bless,
-ed
.-= Edward´s last blog ..The DREAM Project Begins =-.
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Thanks Ed. I’m always looking for ways to make things easier for distributors. The percentage of failure in this business doesn’t need to be so high.
Melodie
MLM does present a spectacular opportunity, but in order to take advantage of that opportunity, participants in MLM programs must have an understanding of how to succeed in the business.
Melodie
Thanks For this great Value add blog. I so agree with you and you give me a great plan to apply with my Brother.
As the say get a plan and work the plan, You can never say the right thing to the wrong person and the wrong thing to the right person.
keep up the good work
Regards
Theuns
Wonderful post, you are providing some great ideas on ways to approach those closest to me.
Bill
.-= Bill Hartman´s last blog ..Power of the Mind =-.
Never enough tips for breaking the ice with the warm market. Great info.
I always had a problem approaching family and friends- they would roll their eyes and run in the other direction. Now I just ignore them… the flyer idea is a good one though.. good one! Thanks!
Lesly recently posted..Are You Brainwshing Yourself?
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Hi Lesly,
Yea. I had that in the beginning. One day when I drove up in my 2 year old Lexus they began to show some interest. Then my son, 25 at the time, drove up in his Lexus, they started asking questions. Now several are building their own business. They saw us leave our jobs but the cars seemed to make a powerful point.
Melodie
Helo Melodie – your article brings back memories of long ago when I dabbled in Network Marketing. It would have been helpful to have your blog back then – good ideas and applicable to any business.
Mark Hiatt recently posted..Networking Lessons From a Cockroach
Melodie Kantner Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Thanks. I wish we had some of the tools we use today in the beginning of my career. It would have been easier. Blogging and social media have really been fun and good for business.
Melodie
Melody
Post Card sized flyers? Can you give me an example if you don’t mind.
I soon will be using your tip of Company Newspapers to “conveinently” leave places for people. I used to do Company brochures, but did not like them as well.
Appreciate you help! I remember the above story from a Diane Hochman call last summer.
Your Friend
Melody
Melodie Kantner Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 5:39 am
Hi Melody,
I usually make them up in Vista Print but I have made some in word document. You can fit 4 on a page. Use 2 columns with 2 in each column. Then cut into 4 mini flyers. I use those to direct people to my web site and my email list.