Marketing To Friends And Family
When I talk with Network Marketers and Direct Sales People, it's
surprising how many are reluctant to talk with friends and family
about their business or products.
I guess it's understandable in many ways because they don’t want
to run the risk of alienating those close to them.
If this happens to you, have you considered your friends actually
might need what you have to offer, and they're missing out
because of your reluctance to talk with them about it?
It also means you're missing out on what could be a source of
high quality business partners and customers.
So, what's the solution so that everyone wins? Here are some
suggestions.
First; always keep in mind the first principle of Natural
Selling. That is, your purpose is to help other people solve
their problems. When you're talking with friends, or anyone come
to that, all you're looking to do is to discover if they have the
types of problems you can help them solve and whether they want
to do anything about them. That's all.
Next, before approaching a friend, take some time to prepare
yourself. Think about everything you know about them... their
family, their hobbies, their sports, their jobs, their
relationships, and especially their likes, dislikes, passions.
Then, write down all the problems you might have heard them talk
about that are associated with your first list. Problems your
business opportunity might be able to help them solve. Things
like health problems or tight finances, and think, if you can,
how it’s affecting them.
These are the things you can explore further when you next speak
with them.
And when you do, keep in mind the following...
* Respect the relationship. What’s more important? Your
friendship or wanting them as a business partner?
* Detach from feeling you have to talk about your businesses
opportunity or products as soon as possible.
* Explore with them their previously expressed problems. See if
they are of the type that you can help them solve. Do this
before even thinking about talking about your solution.
Your first aim at this stage is to simply discover if you might
be able to be of help. If in the course of your conversation it
becomes clear your friend or family member might have an interest
in changing their present situation, then you can offer your
solution there and then, or continue the dialogue at another
time.
If you adopt this approach, you won't run the risk of upsetting
people you know. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how many of
them will be open to listening to you.
You can put this approach into practice by listening to some
excellent examples on my audio program called "Talking With
Friends" @ Natural Sellng.
In this program you'll find 4 role plays that demonstrate how
to talk with friends and family about your business in a way
that's relaxed and beneficial for both of you.