So said former President Richard Nixon on TV years ago. Suddenly, millions who never thought that about him suddenly got that idea about him. From him!
Lulu was about to make the same mistake in the Art of Self Promotion class. Her profile started with:
“This company is founded on integrity, professionalism and longevity.”
“Should I keep that first so everyone one knows that?” she asked.
What is it that makes so many networkers insist on telling everyone how great their company is?
Is it because they’ve been told by their company or upline that all the other NM companies are so bad they better make sure the audience knows THIS IS THE GOOD ONE? Or the next billion dollar one…whatever. (Think what image that puts out about our industy.)
Making an issue of something the public assume, i.e. gives you its initial trust for, e.g. that a company is good like any other, its products will do what they say, etc. puts doubts into the minds of others – just like what happened to Mr. Nixon
What language are you putting on your website and profiles? Are you stating what everyone already assumes? Things like what Lulus had in her profile above?
Are you thereby putting doubts about those very things into the heads of your readers?
This is interesting and something to keep in mind.
When I decided to make my own website I knew I would stay away from saying my product was the best, instead I say there’s no one best product so you should research what would work best for your needs.
I did put a small section about the company, written by the company.
After this small section I write about how I view the company. I don’t say how great they are. I do say why I feel they are passionate about the product.
Robin
“I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.”
– Rita Runder
Dogs adapt to change.
Why do we do this? Perception is reality. Each person believes their company/product is ‘the best’ otherwise how could they promote it?
I think the trick is acknowledging that there are other companies and products equal to our respective companies, and then marketing, “I chose my company because of my ‘hot button’ reason”.
I live in a small community in Greece (talk about a “Skeptical Marketplace”) and am on my 3rd NM company. Talk about shattered credibility. I love NM madly … the first two companies’ products were great but were not MY hot button. Now when people say, you’ve changed three companies … I just say, I am still a customer of those companies and use some of their products (which is true), however, I am building the business in my current company because “my hot button” story and then go on to say what I feel are the advantages of the policies or the compensation plan of my current company.
Can anybody argue with how YOU feel about something or why you chose that particular thing if you (like Kim says)love it madly?
Venetta
http://www.pipelineparable.com/pb/vstathis
http://www.aloecare4u.blogspot.com
My grandfather was a self-employed businessman. Every time I remember seeing him, he had on a coat and tie, except on Christmas morning.
He used to say, “Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.” He also used to say, “Your word is your bond.”
My grandfather came from a generation where a deal was closed with a simple handshake, not necessarily a written contract. When he told someone he was going to do something and shook on it, it was as good as done.
My grandfather didn’t have to promote himself in the business community telling everyone how great he was, that he was honest, had integrity and would be around for the long haul. His reputation preceded him, a solid businessman who was good for his word.
“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.”
Can the network marketing industry follow this sage advice from one of the wealthiest men to ever live?
http://www.PaulEilers.com
http://www.UptownNaturalsNutrition.com
The Dictionary says…
crook |kroŏk| noun
2. informal a person who is dishonest or a criminal.
Crook’s believe they work hard for everything they got too! : )
Some, like myself, just believe they don’t deserve to get what they took, the dirty crook, and think that they deserve everything they get.
Venetta sounds very much like a lot of network marketers. We love network marketing and do not expect to be taken by a company until it happens.
Products are great, most MLM companies have really great products. It’s important to know who you work for and with.
This “I am not a crook” thing, I remember hearing/seeing him say on TV.
I am reminded of something Margaret Thatcher (former Prime Minister of U.K.) said about being a lady. “If you have to tell someone that you’re a lady, you’re not.
Kind of Nixon in reverse.
People with integrity seldom have need to announce it.
Dianne
When I see someone’s site that tells me that thier company has longevity. I immediatly want to ask how long their company has been in operation. I don’t think it would cross my mind otherwise.
So if we put a thought in someone’s head they just might follow up with a few hard questions. What if they started asking about ingrity or professionalism? I really want them to ask about the products.
Nancy Carlson
perfectmombusiness.com
All companies (products, etc) are not created equal and denying you are a crook and stating what you are, (history, philosophy,etc.) are very different. I like what Pres. Regan said, “Trust but verify”. That is very good advice for the consumer looking for a product or MLMers looking for a company. The older generation understood the adage “Let the buyer beware”.
Bobbie
Wow…I really like the comment posted by Diane! I am learning so much here. All things considered most of us come into this industry for the freedom it represents, and because it called out to our hot button. The majority of us find out after we’ve signed on the dotted line just how much we didn’t know and how much we have to learn in order to market successfully. Thanks be to Kim for creating the NEW school of NM. I pray the snake oil salesman will soon be a forgotten legend.