I was out reading articles this morning and was actually a bit surprised to read that folks are still training new team members to approach their "warm market."
For those who might not know the term, "warm market" refers to those you already know, whether it be friends and family, or the gal who does your hair, maybe even the receptionist at your doctor's office. These are all your "warm market."
Since day one, I've always had a problem with "warm market" marketing. I personally know a lot of people. I've been in this town for 15 years now. I belong to several groups and so many folks have considered me their "warm market." The problem is that I'm almost never looking for what is being offered to me, so I turn into a no for the new marketer.
I am very much in support of letting folks know what you do but without the expectation that this will turn into a sales or a new recruit. There are several ways to let those you already know become aware of what you do:
1. Add a signature line to your current emails
2. In conversation offer one sentence "I'm so excited, I began selling _____"
3. When giving gifts, give a gift you have purchased from yourself, or even a gift certificate from your own personal store
4. Offer a referral gift, allowing you to say "if you ever know anyone who wants _____ please do send them my way. As a thank you, I'm happy to _____" Your gift can be a product, a gift certificate or even something non related to your business, maybe a gift certificate to a local store, hair salon or restaurant
5. Offer fundraisers in your town and get a local reporter to write about it in the local newspaper. This is a wonderful way to let those you know, know what you are doing.
Relationships truly do need to be treated as the precisous gem they are. My suggestion is not to harm those relationships by "approaching" your warm market with your sales pitch.
Would love to hear your comments on this.
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Getting Support at Home For Your Home Based Business
Getting Support at Home For Your Home Based Business
I remember when I first started a business at home, I had no idea how much support I would need. Thankfully I had a very supportive husband who was willing to do whatever it took to help me, so that I could work on building my business.
When women email me, or post that their husbands won’t support and sometimes even go the extreme of making fun of them my heart just breaks. I’ve been working at home well over 20 years now and I almost never meet a woman who is able to build and then maintain a home business with an unsupportive spouse.
Often times, a spouse will become supportive as the business grows and begins producing income, but support is needed to get to this point.
Seek a friend or someone else in the business that can support you. You are going to need someone to run ideas by. You are going to need someone to share the small successes with. You are going to need someone to babysit during those times that you just can not complete a project without some childcare help. And you’re going to need someone to support you during those rough times. There is no business around that does not have rough spots from time to time.
While my husband was an incredible support, I have also had some amazing friends over the years. At one time, a friend of mine went walking around the college campuses with me helping me put up fliers in the areas approved by student relations. Another time, I had a friend who helped me put fliers out in various neighborhoods. We pushed the kids in strollers, walked, talked and put fliers up.
At this point I should tell you that if you are fortunate like I was to have a supportive spouse, tell him. Thank him. Let him know how much you appreciate the support and let him know how happy you are.
If you don’t have the support, by all means sit down with your spouse and explain what you need, how you feel about the opportunity of starting a business and how you feel when he teases you or belittles your efforts. Sometimes a plan is also helpful. I know I have very often started something, been very excited and then 2 months later the excitement is gone and I’m no longer interested. If you have a plan it can be much easier to show your spouse how exactly you plan to build this business over the next year.
If you do not have support from your spouse and a heart to heart talk was not helpful, then seek support elsewhere, from friends or maybe other family members. If your spouse is not supportive of your business, don’t talk about it in front of him. This will only add to your frustration. If you know someone does not agree with you politically, religiously or on a parenting issue, you tend to stay away from those topics. I suggest the same for your business. If your spouse is not supportive, does not agree with your choice to run a business, then make a choice to not talk business with him. Instead talk about your business with other people, people that do support you.
When you experience a success, contact those who do support you. When have an idea and just can’t sleep until you try this idea out, contact those who share your enthusiasm and will encourage you to try out this new idea. Talk to those who will empathize if an idea does not work and will encourage you to try something else. You can get support for your home business; it just might not be from your spouse.
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
I remember when I first started a business at home, I had no idea how much support I would need. Thankfully I had a very supportive husband who was willing to do whatever it took to help me, so that I could work on building my business.
When women email me, or post that their husbands won’t support and sometimes even go the extreme of making fun of them my heart just breaks. I’ve been working at home well over 20 years now and I almost never meet a woman who is able to build and then maintain a home business with an unsupportive spouse.
Often times, a spouse will become supportive as the business grows and begins producing income, but support is needed to get to this point.
Seek a friend or someone else in the business that can support you. You are going to need someone to run ideas by. You are going to need someone to share the small successes with. You are going to need someone to babysit during those times that you just can not complete a project without some childcare help. And you’re going to need someone to support you during those rough times. There is no business around that does not have rough spots from time to time.
While my husband was an incredible support, I have also had some amazing friends over the years. At one time, a friend of mine went walking around the college campuses with me helping me put up fliers in the areas approved by student relations. Another time, I had a friend who helped me put fliers out in various neighborhoods. We pushed the kids in strollers, walked, talked and put fliers up.
At this point I should tell you that if you are fortunate like I was to have a supportive spouse, tell him. Thank him. Let him know how much you appreciate the support and let him know how happy you are.
If you don’t have the support, by all means sit down with your spouse and explain what you need, how you feel about the opportunity of starting a business and how you feel when he teases you or belittles your efforts. Sometimes a plan is also helpful. I know I have very often started something, been very excited and then 2 months later the excitement is gone and I’m no longer interested. If you have a plan it can be much easier to show your spouse how exactly you plan to build this business over the next year.
If you do not have support from your spouse and a heart to heart talk was not helpful, then seek support elsewhere, from friends or maybe other family members. If your spouse is not supportive of your business, don’t talk about it in front of him. This will only add to your frustration. If you know someone does not agree with you politically, religiously or on a parenting issue, you tend to stay away from those topics. I suggest the same for your business. If your spouse is not supportive, does not agree with your choice to run a business, then make a choice to not talk business with him. Instead talk about your business with other people, people that do support you.
When you experience a success, contact those who do support you. When have an idea and just can’t sleep until you try this idea out, contact those who share your enthusiasm and will encourage you to try out this new idea. Talk to those who will empathize if an idea does not work and will encourage you to try something else. You can get support for your home business; it just might not be from your spouse.
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Blog Party
What a wonderful way to meet others. Join the MommyFest and meet other women from around the country.
Some facts about me:
1. I have two daughters
2. We have two dogs
3. I love to scrapbook and crochet
4. I watch very little t.v. but love Idol and Survivor
5. I'm a morning person
Leave me a comment, tell me a bit about you!!
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Three Prospecting Ideas for the Wild at Heart
I met Lisa Wilber back in 1985 I believe for the first time. It's over 25 years later and I still enjoy her articles. Here's one of her earliest articles about marketing.
Three Prospecting Ideas for the Wild at Heart
By Lisa M. Wilber
Prospecting - the art of finding customers and recruits - can be a challenge. But by using your imagination, a clear goal, and some marketing techniques you can turn your business from a tiny ant hill into a mighty fortress.
As an independent representative since 1981, I have moved several times and had to re-establish my businesses all over again. I have found the best goal is the simple one: let everyone within a ten-mile radius know what I am selling and about your earnings opportunity.
Here are three of my best ideas for getting the word out:
1. Turn your vehicle into a rolling billboard!
Start out by making posters for your car windows. You can cut out pictures from the catalogs you sell from. Since the sun fades these signs rather quickly, you can make them themed for each season so that you are always “updating” your signs. For instance, feature products for Valentine’s day with your name and telephone number. If your company does not sell holiday- specific merchandise, you can take turns featuring a product. You may want to feature a special sale price. You can use colored markers, fluorescent poster board, glitter paints — whatever gets attention. Make sure to feature your telephone number in large print so that someone driving by can write it down without wrecking their car!
Feeling a little more adventuresome? Call a sign company and have vinyl letters put on your vehicle. It does not ruin the value of your vehicle — vinyl letters come off easily with a hair dryer — yet, the results of this kind of advertising are astounding. I have had people waiting for me when I come out from grocery shopping. Many times I have even found orders under my windshield wipers! So you say that your company is not that well recognized yet? You can change that, especially in your own town. Having the company name, pictures of the products, and your phone number on your vehicle will definitely get people to ask you about the products! Consider having a form of the company name on your license plate. It is an extra fee in most states, but money well spent. One of my recruits has “TRY AVON” on her license plate, and a Princess House friend of mine has “PH LADY” on her plates.
Ready for the “over the edge” idea? I bought a light up sign for the roof of my van that used to belong to a pizza delivery restaurant. I peeled off the word “pizza” and added my company name in vinyl letters — it is the talk of the town! By the way, vinyl letters at the hardware or office supply store are very inexpensive (ranging from 50 cents per letter on up depending upon size). Consider having it professionally done if the lettering is to be very large or if you have a lot of letters to put on.
2. Don’t leave your house without wearing your company name!
Do you remember how Laverne on Laverne and Shirley always had a letter “L” on all her shirts? All my shirts have “Avon” on them! Many of them I did myself with paint art from the arts and crafts store. On some shirts I used puff paints, some sparkle paints. If your writing is not wonderful, consider using a stencil. Many good iron on letters are also available. It does not matter if the company name is well known — people will ask you about it when you have it prominently displayed.
You can also wear company supplied buttons and pins. I have a red jacket that I have EVERY award pin that I have ever won pinned on —it does look a little “wild”. But, every time I wear it, people always want to know what the pins mean, what I had to do to get each pin, etc. I always wear my red jacket when I am traveling to and from the company conventions — and I always get customers and recruits from talking about my pins.
(Here’s another tip to use with a jacket: I keep my right hand jacket pocket filled with my business cards to give to everyone I talk to, and I have my left hand jacket pocket empty to put cards in that I get from all the people I talk to, so I can follow up with them!)
You can also wear hats with your company name or carry a tote bag with the company name on the side. Make sure you always bring lots of brochures/catalogs and company literature with you — people WILL ask you!!
Ready for the wild idea? You can buy necklace and bracelets with letters that have your company name on them. Many companies offer these types of jewelry and feature people’s first names on them. Just request your company name instead. You’ll be surprised at how many people will notice!
Now for the “over the edge” idea: name your children or pets after your products! My Princess House girlfriend named her daughter “Crystal” — my Mom named her cat “Night Magic — after the cologne!
3. Leave a catalog, literature, or business card everywhere you go!
When I go to the shopping mall, the first place I visit is the ladies room — I leave a catalog with a recruiting flyer on the sink near the mirror and on the tank in each stall! I give catalogs to everyone I meet: the grocery clerk, the baker, the butcher, the laundry attendant, the drive-thru window person, the bank teller, the gas station attendant, the toll booth attendant — you would not believe how many opportunities you pass up each day to get your message out!
Feeling bashful today — simply say “This is for you!” and hand them your catalog. To cut down on my catalog expenses, I often use outdated catalogs for this type of prospecting — and I have stickers put on the front that say “Call for current prices and product availability.” This way they get my name, address, and phone number and a sneak peek at our product line. I have my friends in my company save their outdated catalogs for this reason.
I also leave stacks of catalogs at the entrances to grocery stores and in laundromats. Dentist’s offices, doctor’s offices and any other place where people must sit and wait are excellent places for you to leave your information. Ever leave your catalog with the tip at a restaurant? I had special business cards made up that read “YOUR SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT! If you are ever looking for a job, please give me a call! Lisa Wilber, Avon Recruiting Specialist, 1-800-258-1815.” You will be surprised how well these cards work. I try and hand them to the prospect personally with a tip — the impact lasts longer. I always add “I wanted to make sure you knew how much I appreciated your service today!
With this idea you need to set goals for yourself. Example: I will hand out 20 catalogs today. I will hang up 10 posters on bulletin boards today. Be consistent and don’t be discouraged by an occasional “No”.
Ready for the wild idea?
Spend the day driving through bank drive thrus in town and simply put in your catalog, sample, and business card — and drive off! Believe it or not, this works!
Now, let’s go over the edge: next time you are held up in traffic at a traffic jam, jump out of the car and hand a catalog to the person in the car ahead of you! (Yes, I actually know someone who does this!)
Whether you use these ideas or change them to fit your goals — make sure you take action towards your goals today. Remember my favorite saying: “The only place that SUCCESS comes before WORK is in the dictionary!”
Lisa Wilber has been selling and recruiting for Avon Products, Inc. for 14 years and is currently a Senior Executive Unit Leader in Avon's MLM program with 1995 downline retail sales topping $1.9 million. You can reach her by phone at 1-800-258-1815 or FAX 603-529-1816 or by mail at 174 S. Stark Hwy.# 17, Weare, NH 03281 or e-mail at LWilber@aol.com.
Three Prospecting Ideas for the Wild at Heart
By Lisa M. Wilber
Prospecting - the art of finding customers and recruits - can be a challenge. But by using your imagination, a clear goal, and some marketing techniques you can turn your business from a tiny ant hill into a mighty fortress.
As an independent representative since 1981, I have moved several times and had to re-establish my businesses all over again. I have found the best goal is the simple one: let everyone within a ten-mile radius know what I am selling and about your earnings opportunity.
Here are three of my best ideas for getting the word out:
1. Turn your vehicle into a rolling billboard!
Start out by making posters for your car windows. You can cut out pictures from the catalogs you sell from. Since the sun fades these signs rather quickly, you can make them themed for each season so that you are always “updating” your signs. For instance, feature products for Valentine’s day with your name and telephone number. If your company does not sell holiday- specific merchandise, you can take turns featuring a product. You may want to feature a special sale price. You can use colored markers, fluorescent poster board, glitter paints — whatever gets attention. Make sure to feature your telephone number in large print so that someone driving by can write it down without wrecking their car!
Feeling a little more adventuresome? Call a sign company and have vinyl letters put on your vehicle. It does not ruin the value of your vehicle — vinyl letters come off easily with a hair dryer — yet, the results of this kind of advertising are astounding. I have had people waiting for me when I come out from grocery shopping. Many times I have even found orders under my windshield wipers! So you say that your company is not that well recognized yet? You can change that, especially in your own town. Having the company name, pictures of the products, and your phone number on your vehicle will definitely get people to ask you about the products! Consider having a form of the company name on your license plate. It is an extra fee in most states, but money well spent. One of my recruits has “TRY AVON” on her license plate, and a Princess House friend of mine has “PH LADY” on her plates.
Ready for the “over the edge” idea? I bought a light up sign for the roof of my van that used to belong to a pizza delivery restaurant. I peeled off the word “pizza” and added my company name in vinyl letters — it is the talk of the town! By the way, vinyl letters at the hardware or office supply store are very inexpensive (ranging from 50 cents per letter on up depending upon size). Consider having it professionally done if the lettering is to be very large or if you have a lot of letters to put on.
2. Don’t leave your house without wearing your company name!
Do you remember how Laverne on Laverne and Shirley always had a letter “L” on all her shirts? All my shirts have “Avon” on them! Many of them I did myself with paint art from the arts and crafts store. On some shirts I used puff paints, some sparkle paints. If your writing is not wonderful, consider using a stencil. Many good iron on letters are also available. It does not matter if the company name is well known — people will ask you about it when you have it prominently displayed.
You can also wear company supplied buttons and pins. I have a red jacket that I have EVERY award pin that I have ever won pinned on —it does look a little “wild”. But, every time I wear it, people always want to know what the pins mean, what I had to do to get each pin, etc. I always wear my red jacket when I am traveling to and from the company conventions — and I always get customers and recruits from talking about my pins.
(Here’s another tip to use with a jacket: I keep my right hand jacket pocket filled with my business cards to give to everyone I talk to, and I have my left hand jacket pocket empty to put cards in that I get from all the people I talk to, so I can follow up with them!)
You can also wear hats with your company name or carry a tote bag with the company name on the side. Make sure you always bring lots of brochures/catalogs and company literature with you — people WILL ask you!!
Ready for the wild idea? You can buy necklace and bracelets with letters that have your company name on them. Many companies offer these types of jewelry and feature people’s first names on them. Just request your company name instead. You’ll be surprised at how many people will notice!
Now for the “over the edge” idea: name your children or pets after your products! My Princess House girlfriend named her daughter “Crystal” — my Mom named her cat “Night Magic — after the cologne!
3. Leave a catalog, literature, or business card everywhere you go!
When I go to the shopping mall, the first place I visit is the ladies room — I leave a catalog with a recruiting flyer on the sink near the mirror and on the tank in each stall! I give catalogs to everyone I meet: the grocery clerk, the baker, the butcher, the laundry attendant, the drive-thru window person, the bank teller, the gas station attendant, the toll booth attendant — you would not believe how many opportunities you pass up each day to get your message out!
Feeling bashful today — simply say “This is for you!” and hand them your catalog. To cut down on my catalog expenses, I often use outdated catalogs for this type of prospecting — and I have stickers put on the front that say “Call for current prices and product availability.” This way they get my name, address, and phone number and a sneak peek at our product line. I have my friends in my company save their outdated catalogs for this reason.
I also leave stacks of catalogs at the entrances to grocery stores and in laundromats. Dentist’s offices, doctor’s offices and any other place where people must sit and wait are excellent places for you to leave your information. Ever leave your catalog with the tip at a restaurant? I had special business cards made up that read “YOUR SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT! If you are ever looking for a job, please give me a call! Lisa Wilber, Avon Recruiting Specialist, 1-800-258-1815.” You will be surprised how well these cards work. I try and hand them to the prospect personally with a tip — the impact lasts longer. I always add “I wanted to make sure you knew how much I appreciated your service today!
With this idea you need to set goals for yourself. Example: I will hand out 20 catalogs today. I will hang up 10 posters on bulletin boards today. Be consistent and don’t be discouraged by an occasional “No”.
Ready for the wild idea?
Spend the day driving through bank drive thrus in town and simply put in your catalog, sample, and business card — and drive off! Believe it or not, this works!
Now, let’s go over the edge: next time you are held up in traffic at a traffic jam, jump out of the car and hand a catalog to the person in the car ahead of you! (Yes, I actually know someone who does this!)
Whether you use these ideas or change them to fit your goals — make sure you take action towards your goals today. Remember my favorite saying: “The only place that SUCCESS comes before WORK is in the dictionary!”
Lisa Wilber has been selling and recruiting for Avon Products, Inc. for 14 years and is currently a Senior Executive Unit Leader in Avon's MLM program with 1995 downline retail sales topping $1.9 million. You can reach her by phone at 1-800-258-1815 or FAX 603-529-1816 or by mail at 174 S. Stark Hwy.# 17, Weare, NH 03281 or e-mail at LWilber@aol.com.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Creating a Tag Team
If you are in direct sales, tag teaming with others can be very beneficial to your business. Tag teaming is beneficial in that your prospect can hear from other people and hopefully make a connection.
Talk to your own upline and start with just the two of you. If you have a lead, notify your upline and ask your upline to contact this lead within 24 hours. You're not asking your upline to do the "selling" for you, but rather to support you in letting the lead know there is a second person available for them.
Here's an example. We'll use ME as the lead. You speak to me and I express an interest in your opportunity. Maybe I'm thinking "well gosh this gal is across the country and not my age and not..", but now you have your upline contact me. Your upline lives closer to me, is closer to my age and just by saying hi to me has me saying "yes, I'm going to join". You upline did no "selling", just a nice introduction that lets me know who she is.
Tag teaming can work with downline and crossline but there are rules that need to be established and so to start I recommend going upline for tag teaming. And of course offering your downline the opportunity to have you tag team with them.
Here's an example of a letter I might send to someone my own downline has asked me to tag team for them:
Hi So and So,
My name is Audrey and I'm upline to So and So, whom you spoke to earlier today about selling Tupperware. I wanted to say hi and just introduce myself to you. I'm a mom to two girls. They are 18 and 25. We live in Santa Barbara, which has been home for 15 years.
Outside of working, I have many hobbies/interests. I love to cook, crochet, scrapbook, play hearts and spades, read, workout and just hang out with friends.
If you have any questions about Tupperware, please feel free to contact So and So, or you're welcome to contact me also.
Audrey :)
That's it, just a really simple introduction letter that lets the lead know that there is at least one more person that they'd be working with. In a perfect world it's awesome for the lead to get 2 or 3 emails, all from different people, living in different parts of the country and all with different interests. Depending on your group, if you can go upline 2 people or 3 people, talk to them about tag teaming leads with you. And again, if you have a downline, offer this to them as well.
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
Talk to your own upline and start with just the two of you. If you have a lead, notify your upline and ask your upline to contact this lead within 24 hours. You're not asking your upline to do the "selling" for you, but rather to support you in letting the lead know there is a second person available for them.
Here's an example. We'll use ME as the lead. You speak to me and I express an interest in your opportunity. Maybe I'm thinking "well gosh this gal is across the country and not my age and not..", but now you have your upline contact me. Your upline lives closer to me, is closer to my age and just by saying hi to me has me saying "yes, I'm going to join". You upline did no "selling", just a nice introduction that lets me know who she is.
Tag teaming can work with downline and crossline but there are rules that need to be established and so to start I recommend going upline for tag teaming. And of course offering your downline the opportunity to have you tag team with them.
Here's an example of a letter I might send to someone my own downline has asked me to tag team for them:
Hi So and So,
My name is Audrey and I'm upline to So and So, whom you spoke to earlier today about selling Tupperware. I wanted to say hi and just introduce myself to you. I'm a mom to two girls. They are 18 and 25. We live in Santa Barbara, which has been home for 15 years.
Outside of working, I have many hobbies/interests. I love to cook, crochet, scrapbook, play hearts and spades, read, workout and just hang out with friends.
If you have any questions about Tupperware, please feel free to contact So and So, or you're welcome to contact me also.
Audrey :)
That's it, just a really simple introduction letter that lets the lead know that there is at least one more person that they'd be working with. In a perfect world it's awesome for the lead to get 2 or 3 emails, all from different people, living in different parts of the country and all with different interests. Depending on your group, if you can go upline 2 people or 3 people, talk to them about tag teaming leads with you. And again, if you have a downline, offer this to them as well.
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Your 30 Second Commercial
I remember a seminar I attended several years ago. The speaker began by saying "how many here in this room can tell another what you do in under 30 seconds?" Almost no one raised their hands. There must have been 300 people in that room and yet only a dozen said they were able to tell others what they did in under 30 seconds.
So, now I'll ask you. Can YOU tell folks what you do and who you are in under 30 seconds? Imagine you are in line at the grocery store. The person in front you comments on something in your basket. A conversation begins to develop. You're now asked "so hey, what do you do?".
Think of t.v. and radio. Commercials are 30 seconds. There's a reason for this. When you're asked what you do, consider this to be your chance for a 30 second all inclusive commercial. If you can't tell someone what you do in under 30 seconds, it's time to rethink your commercial.
If you're thinking "but my situation is different, I can't possibly tell someone what I do in under 30 seconds" consider why every brand imaginable can do a 30 second commercial regardless of what they're selling. Think about how you can repackage your commercial to let others know what you do.
I like people in general. I'm happy to give a 30 second commercial and then say "wow this has been nice, want to meet for coffee?" Some folks will say yes, some will say no. Some yes's might turn into business for me, some might lead to a wonderful friendship.
Play around with how you can make the most of your 30 seconds. See if you can do what major brands do, get folks interested in just 30 seconds.
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
So, now I'll ask you. Can YOU tell folks what you do and who you are in under 30 seconds? Imagine you are in line at the grocery store. The person in front you comments on something in your basket. A conversation begins to develop. You're now asked "so hey, what do you do?".
Think of t.v. and radio. Commercials are 30 seconds. There's a reason for this. When you're asked what you do, consider this to be your chance for a 30 second all inclusive commercial. If you can't tell someone what you do in under 30 seconds, it's time to rethink your commercial.
If you're thinking "but my situation is different, I can't possibly tell someone what I do in under 30 seconds" consider why every brand imaginable can do a 30 second commercial regardless of what they're selling. Think about how you can repackage your commercial to let others know what you do.
I like people in general. I'm happy to give a 30 second commercial and then say "wow this has been nice, want to meet for coffee?" Some folks will say yes, some will say no. Some yes's might turn into business for me, some might lead to a wonderful friendship.
Play around with how you can make the most of your 30 seconds. See if you can do what major brands do, get folks interested in just 30 seconds.
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Who Are You?
Linda Locke of MLMWoman.com wrote a wonderful article. This is one of her first pieces, yet it's still very relevant today.
These days it seems like there is more and more competition in the MLM field - new companies spring up out of nowhere overnight and everyone else is touting their hot new “product du jour.” So what’s an MLMer got to do to stand out in this over heated, over-hyped market? Well, fortunately, it’s not that hard. Most people don’t really think too much about how to market their MLM business in an effective and creative way. Most people are lazy and just do the minimum and wait for the money to roll in.
What you MUST do to stand out from the MLM masses is to make the benefits of doing business with you so powerful that your potential customers and recruits will see you clearly as the best choice for their sponsor.
This is especially important if you want to successfully recruit people long distance -- you don’t have the advantage of being able to speak to them face to face -- you need to have a strong offer that really will convince them that you are the person they should do business with.
I’m always amazed when I receive information packs in the mail from distributors who obviously think that it’s not important to tell me who they are and why they are sending me this information. They don’t include a letter or note introducing themselves; they just throw a bunch of company sales literature in an envelope, stick their name and phone number on the back and expect that to do the trick. What a waste! With no personal letter or note and no information as to why I should consider them as a potential sponsor, how can I make an informed decision about whether this great opportunity is for me? And if they don’t follow up with a phone call, letter, or e-mail (which happens 95% of the time); most likely I’ll toss their expensive package of sales literature and keep looking for something better.
One of the most difficult things for people building an MLM businessis learning how to market their business effectively. Getting the company literature and becoming familiar with the products is just the beginning -- you need to really spend some time crafting a dynamite marketing system that gets results.
So, here’s some tips you can use to make your marketing efforts more productive and set yourself apart from the crowd:
Target one or two niche markets to focus on. Develop a marketing campaign designed to get their attention. What’s a good niche? Here’s some ideas to get you started - stay at home moms, downsized middle managers, women, men, generation Xers, baby boomers, seniors. Tip: Pick a niche that you are a part of - this will make it easier for you to figure out what that group’s needs and wants are.
Always send out a personalized letter with your information packages. Tell them your story - this will help make you more “real” to your faraway prospects and customers and help them get to know you. People like to do business with people they know and like -- do everything you can to make an emotional contact with them.
Develop a “Success Pak” for your downline - offer them a customized sales letter, free leads, free postcards etc. Give them a plan to get them started on the right path.
Develop a short customer/downline newsletter and send it out at least monthly; include success stories, info on new products, business tips and resources etc. It can be sent via e-mail, fax or mail. I have never known any successful MLMers that didn’t provide some sort of “newsletter” to their downline. It can be 2 pages, 4 pages or more; letter or postcard size; elaborate or simple. The idea is to just keep in contact on a regular basis.
Develop a web page that offers “real” information to help your potential customers build their business. There’s a lot of MLMer’s with web pages on the Internet that are just basic billboards. You can stand out by offering a little something more.
Write some helpful “tip reports” to share with people online and off. I know of one superstar MLMer who gives away free reports to anyone who’s interested. She provides valuable information that acts as a powerful “recruiter” for her business.
THINK SERVICE! Put yourself in your prospect's shoes and think of all the ways you can help them succeed in their business and then DO THEM! If you help your people to succeed and reach their goals, then you will be successful too.
~ ~ ~
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
These days it seems like there is more and more competition in the MLM field - new companies spring up out of nowhere overnight and everyone else is touting their hot new “product du jour.” So what’s an MLMer got to do to stand out in this over heated, over-hyped market? Well, fortunately, it’s not that hard. Most people don’t really think too much about how to market their MLM business in an effective and creative way. Most people are lazy and just do the minimum and wait for the money to roll in.
What you MUST do to stand out from the MLM masses is to make the benefits of doing business with you so powerful that your potential customers and recruits will see you clearly as the best choice for their sponsor.
This is especially important if you want to successfully recruit people long distance -- you don’t have the advantage of being able to speak to them face to face -- you need to have a strong offer that really will convince them that you are the person they should do business with.
I’m always amazed when I receive information packs in the mail from distributors who obviously think that it’s not important to tell me who they are and why they are sending me this information. They don’t include a letter or note introducing themselves; they just throw a bunch of company sales literature in an envelope, stick their name and phone number on the back and expect that to do the trick. What a waste! With no personal letter or note and no information as to why I should consider them as a potential sponsor, how can I make an informed decision about whether this great opportunity is for me? And if they don’t follow up with a phone call, letter, or e-mail (which happens 95% of the time); most likely I’ll toss their expensive package of sales literature and keep looking for something better.
One of the most difficult things for people building an MLM businessis learning how to market their business effectively. Getting the company literature and becoming familiar with the products is just the beginning -- you need to really spend some time crafting a dynamite marketing system that gets results.
So, here’s some tips you can use to make your marketing efforts more productive and set yourself apart from the crowd:
Target one or two niche markets to focus on. Develop a marketing campaign designed to get their attention. What’s a good niche? Here’s some ideas to get you started - stay at home moms, downsized middle managers, women, men, generation Xers, baby boomers, seniors. Tip: Pick a niche that you are a part of - this will make it easier for you to figure out what that group’s needs and wants are.
Always send out a personalized letter with your information packages. Tell them your story - this will help make you more “real” to your faraway prospects and customers and help them get to know you. People like to do business with people they know and like -- do everything you can to make an emotional contact with them.
Develop a “Success Pak” for your downline - offer them a customized sales letter, free leads, free postcards etc. Give them a plan to get them started on the right path.
Develop a short customer/downline newsletter and send it out at least monthly; include success stories, info on new products, business tips and resources etc. It can be sent via e-mail, fax or mail. I have never known any successful MLMers that didn’t provide some sort of “newsletter” to their downline. It can be 2 pages, 4 pages or more; letter or postcard size; elaborate or simple. The idea is to just keep in contact on a regular basis.
Develop a web page that offers “real” information to help your potential customers build their business. There’s a lot of MLMer’s with web pages on the Internet that are just basic billboards. You can stand out by offering a little something more.
Write some helpful “tip reports” to share with people online and off. I know of one superstar MLMer who gives away free reports to anyone who’s interested. She provides valuable information that acts as a powerful “recruiter” for her business.
THINK SERVICE! Put yourself in your prospect's shoes and think of all the ways you can help them succeed in their business and then DO THEM! If you help your people to succeed and reach their goals, then you will be successful too.
~ ~ ~
Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka
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