Traditionally, MLM’ers like us have relied on a ‘warm market’ list of personal conections, family and friends. This method has worked for some and I do know several people who have been in the business a long time who built up substantial businesses doing it this way.
So what is going wrong now?
Let’s look at this for a minute. Firstly it’s totally fine to approach people you know in order to recommend something and you can start that off with a very simple,
“I’ve been working on something that has really impressed me, do you have some time to meet with me so I can show you how you could make some money”.
This is a very traditional route, it can work and chances are if they know you and like you, you’ll have a a shot at at least chatting to them about your opportunity. The problem with this method is twofold:
a) You only have a finite list of people you know
b) It can be uncomfortable when people think you are ‘pitching’ them
Let’s break that down even further. The world today functions very differently to 10-20 years ago when mlm was in it’s heyday. The internet has changed everything about the way we do business, the way we communicate and how we socialise.
The Internet can powerfully leverage your ability to find, manage, and share information. Never before in human history has such a valuable resource been available to so many people at such little cost.
- Bill Stewart
Almost every business uses the internet to attract new customers and prospects and it is very rare these days to find a company or entrepreneur without a presence on the web. And yet most network marketers are ignoring it!
How many times have you heard the only way is to approach everyone you know, and how this business only works on personal recommendation? In todays world if people want something, the internet is where they look for it!
In Network Marketing, YOU are who people buy from, YOU are who people trust and YOU are who people will want to network with if they can find you! Not the company you work for, or the products you sell. So it stands to reason that you should utilise the internet and have a presence on it in order to create a ‘warm leads’ list of people that doesn’t run dry!
And here’s the kicker – personal contact is still vital! You feel much more comfortable buying from people you know and trust that some faceless entity that is trying to ’sell’ you something. And the internet provides this with Skype, Social Media, Forums, Chatroom and newsletters.
Imagine having an audience of thousands of people reading what you’ve got to say – that’s pretty powerful! And it’s only now that people are cottoning on to just how powerful.
So, the Internet – Friend or Foe? What do you think??
