On our Saturday call, the question was:
How do I show others the value of my products?
The first exercise was people listing why they thought their products were special.
One gent, independent rep of Legacy for Life, said:
“This product has the most patents – like 100 of them. And the most double blind studies showing it works, and the most research behind it. That’s why it’s the best and there’s nothing else like it on the market.”
Others said similar things…
Company websites and materials are full of such information about their products. The research, the MD panels or scientific research behind it, etc.
Company owners are proud of these things, and use them to show their Reps how great their products are. Reps then go out and use that info to sell the products to others.
Now I ask this:
How many people who buy supplements do you know, whose first question about the product is how many patents it has?
How many customers who are looking for supplements ask about the kind of scientific research behind the product before they buy?
How many people ask abou double blind studies re the product before they buy?
Do YOU choose your supplements like that?
Now ask: why do you keep taking them? Is it because of the patents? Or the double blind studies?
Or is it something really mundane, like uh, you feel better when you take them? And they’re maybe natural to boot (if that matters to you).
Aren’t the products you buy supposed to WORK?
Does any normal consumer really care about the nitty gritty reasons WHY they work? (Yes, unless they’re a networker selling it or someone’s giving a seminar on nutrition.)
Pssst…Should someone tip off the networking companies that people don’t buy their products for the reasons they think they’re so great?
So now make another list:
Why do you keep taking your products?
Go ahead and tell in the Comments below…
My first and still best reason is that my once damaged and surgically repaired knee is no longer swollen from arthritis – a reason I forget about as the knee has been in such great shape for so long : -)
Other reasons are my health is better than it ever was and I have energy all the time…
I was never going to “do” this as a business – I was just a product taker…but life has a funny way of changing…
And yes those patents – a real conversation killer – as are those double blind studies [and as a former researcher I know their importance] – I’ve heard others go on about both and I watch the glazed eyes on the listener … yet we all fall back on this unless we carefully monitor what we say……..
Lynn
http://growolderbetter.com
I take them because they make my wife and I feel better. We really do have less stress, more energy and the nagging sore joints I normally suffer with have subsided. It’s definately more about who we are and how the products are helping us as individuals. All that information about patents etc is for the minority of people such as doctors who want more info and proof. The company I work with also has a website for health care professionals only to view. Bottom line is: if we like our products and they make a difference for US then we share our experience with others and they become customers or they don’t. Maybe they refer someone else. One to the next person.
I keep taking the products because I have more energy and I’m in better health than when I was in my 30’s. I haven’t been sick with a cold or anything else for the last 3 years.
The reason that I started using these products was because of how they helped my husband’s cousin. I wanted to see if they would help me too.
I keep taking the products because after 4 years they are still helping me! I have more energy than I did 15 years ago. I don’t hurt all the time and I am 2 sizes smaller.
My whole family has better health than we did before we started using these products. People we are around can be sick with colds or flues and we keep feeling great.
All the great facts about the company, manufacturing and the products are interesting to learn at one point along the journey, but the real reason I keep using the products is because they worked when all the many, many other things I tried did not. And they are still working.
Karla
This was one of my weakest areas. I love the science behind our products. The double-blind studies are great validation, to me. The main reason I started taking supplement X was because of the science. The result, for 2 years I puked science and studies all over people whenever I had the chance. No telling how many customers I chased away. It was a huge wake-up call when I learned that most people don’t care about the science and studies. Thinking back, there were many times when people asked me how X made me feel. My answer was not how I felt, but more science techno-babble. Bye-bye customer.
Now, I only talk about science when the potential customer wants to know about it. And I make it very simple and concise and I use everyday language. Then I ask if I answered their question. Interesting how my prospects aren’t writhing and squirming and desperately looking to run for the hills like they used to.
Connelly
If something works for you, sometimes you go with it on faith. Kind of like religion.
I tried the Sunrider products on the recommendation of my yoga teacher and they worked for me.
Before trying the nutritional products, I was exhausted all the time, had to drink 8+ cups of coffee just to get through the day, and collapsed into my bed by 9M.
After using the products for about 2 weeks, I noticed that I was bursting with energy and had practically quit coffee. After a month, I was waking up early and going to bed way past 9 PM. It’s been 3 years, and I am definitely not tired any more.
My products are based on ancient Chinese formulas and the company – coming from a traditionally Eastern philosophy – does not believe in double blind studies. However, the company does pride itself on its state-of-the-art, pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing facilities.
Is the technology a deal breaker or a deal maker? I don’t think so. It’s all about personal experience, and the rest is just reassurance – icing on the cake.
That’s why I compare network marketing companies to religion. You had a good experience, you tell everyone you know – you have faith. Then, you go to church and hear the sermons on Sundays to reaffirm what you already believe in. . .
Amen,
Rani
I don’t take the product I market, it’s a pet oral hygiene solution but I started using it because of my old dogs nasty breath. I felt she was too old to be put under for teeth cleaning. Just like my profile says, I didn’t want her to die at the vet’s office. I will always use the product for all my pets, even birds, because it has worked for my animals. No more bad breath, pinker gums, healthier mouth.
I don’t really talk much about the ingredients, except when asked.
I know how my product works and why it works but that’s not what pet owners want to know, they want to get rid of the stinky breath.
Robin
I keep on taking them because I still believe the little story I told myself at the onset. When presented with the contents of the (whole food) supplements I use, my instinct took over. [The Story -I believed there was no possible way I couldn’t benefit from these ingredients. The concept was too simple – it just had to impact my body in a positive way or, maybe many positive ways.] Over the past couple of years, that little story I told myself is still believable to me.
When any of us buys a new product we all hope we’ll find some substance backing up the hype. We go on faith, mostly. Sometimes we tell ourselves a little story that helps us justify the particular choice (of brands) we purchase. In my case, the brand of food supplement was not steeped in hype but presented at face value, which was refreshing. So, I told myself the little story, went forward on faith and have not been disappointed. I have seen many positive, noteworthy changes in me and, so has JoAnne. And, the story remains the same… this is so simple, how can I not benefit. That’s the story I tell my self. The story you tell your self may vary.
I keep on taking them because I still believe the little story I told myself at the onset. When presented with the contents of the (whole food) supplements I use, my instinct took over. [The Story -I believed there was no possible way I couldn’t benefit from these ingredients. The concept was too simple – it just had to impact my body in a positive way or, maybe many positive ways.] Over the past couple of years, that little story I told myself is still believable to me.
When any of us buys a new product we all hope we’ll find some substance backing up the hype. We go on faith, mostly. Sometimes we tell ourselves a little story that helps us justify the particular choice (of brands) we purchase. In my case, the brand of food supplement was not steeped in hype but presented at face value, which was refreshing. So, I told myself the little story, went forward on faith and have not been disappointed. I have seen many positive, noteworthy changes in me and, so has JoAnne. And, the story remains the same… this is so simple, how can I not benefit. That’s the story I tell my self. The story you tell your self may vary.
I keep on taking them because I still believe the little story I told myself at the onset. When presented with the contents of the (whole food) supplements I use, my instinct took over. [The Story -I believed there was no possible way I couldn’t benefit from these ingredients. The concept was too simple – it just had to impact my body in a positive way or, maybe many positive ways.] Over the past couple of years, that little story I told myself is still believable to me.
When any of us buys a new product we all hope we’ll find some substance backing up the hype. We go on faith, mostly. Sometimes we tell ourselves a little story that helps us justify the particular choice (of brands) we purchase. In my case, the brand of food supplement was not steeped in hype but presented at face value, which was refreshing. So, I told myself the little story, went forward on faith and have not been disappointed. I have seen many positive, noteworthy changes in me and, so has JoAnne. And, the story remains the same… this is so simple, how can I not benefit. That’s the story I tell my self. The story you tell your self may vary.
I keep taking my products because when I don’t, I can feel the difference – I am lethargic, I have headaches and just don’t feel good. I’ve gotten accustomed to being able to stay awake in the afternoons and doing what I need to do, so I keep taking them.
Who’d want to return to having so little energy in the days they’d fall asleep sitting up? Not me. Who’d want to return to 3-4 migraines a week instead of having them just once a month, or return to being a guinea pig, trying one drug after another to control migraines, then having them fail each time? Not me, thanks. I’m doing well with my products – I’ll keep taking them, thank you very much.
Hi Kim,
I’ve thought more about what I used to tell pet owners about my product and have a question for you. I market products for pet oral care. I know pets with poor dental/mouth care can delvelop problems with their heart, liver and kidneys because of bacteria entering the blood stream. I used to stress this when talking with pet people. I thought pet owners would relate more to just the fresh breath. So here’s my question, Would it be better to talk a little about the health risks related to the bacteria in pets mouths? Maybe say,this product can help destroy the oral bacteria entering the blood stream that can cause liver, kidney and heart disease. Help anyone?
I have taken my product for 12 because I couldn’t run anymore.
After taking the product for 3 months, my knees didn’t hurt anymore.
It was the science, I admit. The video and pictures of red blood cells that were sticky and irregular vs the smooth freely moving little cells oxygenating the blood. I’m an EMT, for goodness sake. We give EVERYONE oxygen because it never hurts. Most people are oxygen poor anyway. I KEEP taking them because after a month, my eyes just popped open in the morning and I jumped out of bed, something that had never in my life happened before. Every day is better than the day before; I have energy I only dreamt of.
Cindi N