The term, "Warm market" has single-handedly destroyed the hopes and aspirations of millions of ambitious individuals entering the direct sales industry. Most companies within the industry have systems in place that train new business partners to create lists of friends and family, and to use these lists as the foundation for building business.
Although this method of marketing can be somewhat effective, it certainly is not without limitations. The problem that I have observed within the industry, is that newbies often make the mistake of thinking that their marketing efforts should be restricted ONLY to the names of friends and family within these newly created lists. Once the list is exhausted, then the newbie burns out, and walks away from the business.
The truth of the matter is that although the list can and should serve as the foundation of all marketing efforts, working this list is just ONE of SEVERAL avenues that can be utilized when strategizing for business growth and development. Now that we've covered those bases, let's get into the meat of some of the other methods that can effectively assist with new business growth.
$100 drop cards
One of the more effective marketing tools used for decades within the network marketing industry, and still just as effective today are $100 drop cards. These are business cards that appear to be actual $100 bills on the surface. You can purchase these cards on various sites across the web. The site that I've found that appears to have the best product for the most reasonable price can be found here:
http://www.queenofdropcards.com/order.html
Each time that we leave our homes for routine daily activities: shopping, gas, groceries, school visits, postal visits, library visits, etc represents an opportunity to effectively utilize this marketing approach. These drop cards are fail proof, and are SURE to result in maximum exposure for your business.
Social Media
Years ago, network marketers were trained to go out each day canvassing for prospects. These individuals would harass families in grocery aisles, stop traffic at lights, confront fellow members at church services, and even walk through shopping malls, stalking shoppers like prey. It was a very annoying and often confrontational method of marketing.
Enter the advent of social media. Today with just one click of a mouse, you can expose your business to thousands and even MILLIONS of people, who are actually interested and even LOOKING for the products and services that you have to offer.
Some of the most effective methods of marketing your business online include: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Weight Loss Forums, Blogging, and Youtube. Yes, I said it: YOUTUBE! What you'll find in the network marketing industry, is that people don't often buy from companies; they buy from other PEOPLE.
It has also been said that people tend to buy from those that they KNOW, LIKE, & TRUST. One of the most effective methods for building the brand YOU, that people can grow to know, like, and trust, is creating, and posting videos on Youtube. I don't wish to get off on some tangent about marketing on Youtube, but you can find tons of information about the effectiveness of this approach on various internet sites.
Referrals
The last thing that I will touch on today for the sake of time, is the value of developing and implementing a CUSTOMER referral system. Afterall, the business is known as NETWORK marketing. Each time that you sign a new customer, you are immediately introduced, and/or exposed to a new NETWORK.
Years ago, a friend of mine sold life insurance. She was one of the best in her industry, and as a new client and policyholder, I had the opportunity to observe one of her most effective methods for producing new business.
Each time that this friend would sell a policy, she would request the names and numbers of three OTHERS who might be interested in purchasing her products and services. Keep in mind that although she would be contacting many of these referrals on a first-time basis, the fact that she had obtained these referrals from friends of friends, or family members created an extended WARM MARKET, and eliminated the discomfort of cold calling.
The follow-up call would go something like this: "Hello Mr. Willis. This is Lisa from State Farm Insurance. Your brother Tom purchased a life insurance policy from me on yesterday, and he mentioned that you might also have a need for the products and services that we have to offer. I was wondering if I could schedule an appointment to share some information on the services that we have to offer with you. Would tomorrow evenin be a good time for the two of us to get together?"
The person being contacted would then take two things away from this call. 1-My brother has purchased one of these policies, so the company must be credible. 2-My brother has purchased a policy from this INDIVIDUAL, and so SHE must be someone that I can trust.
This method of marketing is HIGHLY effective. You can create a list of hundreds and even thousands of QUALIFIED leads, utilizing this customer referral approach. "Well Winslow, what if people are not comfortable with providing names of their friends and family members?" If a person trusts you enough to enter into a business agreement with you, then it's safe to assume that they will also be comfortable with providing you with referrals.
So in conclusion, let's review each of the methods shared here today. We covered $100 drop cards, social media and/or online marketing, and customer referrals. Well GEEZ, that doesn't sound like ROCKET SCIENCE. If you take nothing else away from this article, please go away with this: If you will commit to utilizing each of these three approaches to marketing on a DAILY basis; your success (long-term) in the network marketing industry is all but GUARANTEED!
Good luck, and I will see you at the TOP!!!
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