And you thought yesterday’s post about how insisting that we share instead of we sell makes us look weird? Ha. Try this…
Ask a networker what’s most important to her about her product.
In one class people replied:
“It has ten patents! That’s more than any other product!”
“We have scientifically proven, unique nutraceuticals.”
“This is software for the human body.”
Add yours. (And this is normal, since it’s exactly what’s taught at the company meetings, repeated at local events, and published in the brochures.)
Cut to:
Lulu, who’s stepping into a GNC. She walks up to the clerk…
“Hi! I’d like a product with ten patents, please.”
“Uhh…what did you say?”
Would you ever say that to a store clerk? How about:
“Excuse me Miss, do you have any software for the human body?” or
“I need a unique, patented proven nutraceutical, please.”
Is that just too silly?
So there you have it.
We market our products and services to others using words phrases that none of us would NEVER EVER in a million years use to BUY anything for ourselves. And neither does anyone else – who’s normal.
So what makes anyone think that talking this way has any meaning for anyone else, much less persuade someone to buy the stuff?
Kim,
We really need to leave the old school thinking behind us and focus on “New School of Network Marketing” I hope that through the NMC site we can start to change the perception over the next few years. We need to spread the NMC website word around. Some of us need to attend an equivalent of an AA meeting to address our bad habits in networking. “My name is Lulu and I’m an old school marketer.”
Exactly why I “signed up” for Kim’s way of thought. When I talk about Get Green Organics I’ll say something along the lines of, “…because my husband only wanted me to purchase organic milk at the most because everything was so costly. This enables me to purchase organic foods for much less.”
I relate, it’s simple, and I sound “normal”. :o)
~Korrie 🙂
Greetings Kim –
I laughed when thinking of talking to store clerks using terms like in your post. It’s not a funny thing when you know many reps still use these big words that no one knows or cares to know about.
I used to do the same thing, but luckily I found NMC and feel normal when talking about my products.
After a few months of saying something as simple as my pet had bad breath or I had breath I’m embarrassed at the way I used to say things like, We use this patened ingredient, peridontal disease, gingivitis, etc. Many people know what these things are but they don’t hear what I’m saying like the simple words “Bad Breath.”
Thanks for keeping it real,
Robin
AMEN!
I can’t imagine looking someone in the face and saying “I help brighten people’s days” instead of I sell Light Bulbs.
Exactly the ridiculousness that we have all been told for so long..I just could never get my head around those types of statements!
Here’s what I used to say… picture a long pause followed by: Uh, Uh I SHARE this product it was used in China thousands of years ago by by the Shaolynn priests who did martial arts and pulled ligaments and muscles during their work outs. It brings the body’s energy to that area for healing. The company is 25 years old, is located in Torrance, California, and is International in 40 countries around the world. Dr. Chen is a famous herbalist, has 5 children, and… by the time I was done their eyes would be glazed over like your’s are now:) Now I have my “first date script” takes 45 seconds.
Thanks for the good comments, all.
It’s just so silly, makes us all like like we’re weird, and drives potential customers away.
I wonder how much better the numbers would be if we talked like we used to – like normal people – before we got trained to talk funny by the network marketing companies.
Hehehe.
My first company was like that! Full of avoidance. Taught me so many bad habits! My company’s owners must have studied with Ms.Stud. You little beauty!!! I’ve found a way to make money when people pay their phone bills. Do you know anyone who might want to see how that works? Regards, Gerry
This is on par with the dreaded techno babble you have commented on before.
Guilty! On both counts. Working on sharing my enthusiasm about my products in SIMPLE terms!
As a founding member of this new company, we are using the new school methods in our training and teaching. Thanks for everything you do Kim.
Yes Kim what you say makes perfect sense to me. I agree, keep it simple. It doesn’t take long for a person’s eyes to “glaze” over when you talk to them in techno babble.
You’re right on.
Regards,
Erin
We as network marketer’s are in business just the same as anyone else is in business, so I think we should treat our business’s the same as a every day run of the mill biz. We sell product that is how we make our dollars, we sell, we sell and we sell.
Hope this helps!
http://www.homebased-business.com.au
Love this!
My product is a CANDLE. Now – it’s got all those big fun technical terms that I can use — but it doesn’t make sense to most people.
I can simply say “My candles don’t burn any of that black nasty gunk” – and they get it. It’s not weird, it’s not techno-babble, and it’s the truth.
Keep it SUPER simple and your customers and potential biz partners will “get it”.
Thanks Kim!
Brilliant Kim. I’ve been in network marketing for 9 years and still I sometimes forget to talk like a regular person about our product line or opportunity.
Thanks for bringing me back to reality again!
sometimes when you’ve been in for a long time, you forget to leave the jargon behind.
We love your information!
Signe Nichols
Neways
Why do so many networkers have this tendency to slide into “used car salesman mode” when talking about the products? Sorry Nick, my dear used car sales man distributor!!!
Pretend like you are talking to people about “Night at the Museum” or “Charlotte’s Web.”
It was great family fun and I highly recommend it because it brought value to my life.
Feel the same about your product and share JUST that!
Jackie Ulmer
http://www.streetsmartwealth.com
You Go Jackie, You too Kim,
Here’s Charlie with another Twist..
I train constantly on RELATIONSHIP mode! If your prospective customer never tells you what they want, how can you satisfy their desires?
In Short, I each the parable of the UCS (used car salesman).
I goes like this: A UCS has a meeting in the A.M. at his J-O-B. They get an extra $100 for selling trucks today.
The UCS goes onto the lot and a couple arrives. He is (weird)trying to sell them a truck for 15 minutes. They say not interested and go next door.
They buy a minivan for their 5 kids!
The UCS didn’t ask what they wanted.
Find out if they want a product, more money, freedom, vacations, warm climate, cuddle time or whatever! Then give them your pitch and NOT before!
Please Stop going for the Juglar! Big Al says it all. You have a prospect/customer and they are neutral. What comes from your lips changes them from to a positive or a negative!
Also, I have heard lead with the opp..lead with your product..There are different strokes for different folks. Balance here! As NWM, we must do both! Remember residuals?
BTW, if you were excited about your diet cookie, would you walk up to a stranger and tell them how they can lose some of that ugly fat? Or tell them I used to look like you and look at me now!
Being in the travel biz, I can always use an icebreaker of “Wow, it is Cold out today isn’t it?” Then, simply lead into “Boy it would be nice being on an island in the South Pacific..”
Why??? Because like Jackie said.. I can wholeheartedly recommend my product to anyone!
Sorry for the long thread!
Charlie and Linda Howe
http://www.TravelPayDay.com
http://www.chowe.com
While looking through a flyer for a product I want to market, I could not find the benefits of the product to the customer. All I saw was the features of the product. Needless to say, I will not be using the flyer to promote the product.
This was great Kim. When talking about this subject I like to tell this little story.
Each year several million 1/2″ drill bits are sold; and yet not a single one of those people actually wanted a 1/2″ drill bit. Each of those people really wanted a 1/2″ hole and we often lose sight of this.
So the question I always ask people is “are you selling the hole or selling the bit?”
Cheers,
Chuck