I recently moved to a new area and in the process discovered a new passion for network marketing. The idea of networking can take different forms. I divide them into three different categories.
lifestyle networks
internal networks
business-to-business networks
Lifestyle Networks: Walking through your day with purpose and vision. Always have a plan or look for opportunities to mention your business or product, whether you’re chatting with a cashier, clerk, receptionist, or sitting on the soccer field. Take your product and business wherever you go.
Since I am in the candle business, I keep my candle business/product information in the car and have them ready to go at a moment’s notice. A scent sampler attached to a business card is sure to be a talking point when you open your bag and let the great scent waft through the air.
Internal networks: Maximize your marketing opportunities in your workplace and with your close circle of friends and family.
While this type of network may seem limiting because your audience is limited, establishing a referral program helps to capitalize on this avenue. Establish a plan that rewards those who refer you to others. I offer a free votive and holders to anyone who is referred to me by a client or prospect. Others may offer a $5 to $10 Starbucks gift card. Be creative. Everyone likes to receive something FREE.
The third place for networking, and my personal favorite, is business-to-business networking. Create and build relationships with other business-minded people.
business-to-business networks it focuses more on what you, the networker, can do for the “prospect” on terms completely unrelated to your business or product.
The idea is to take advantage of yourself. Connecting with the right network marketing team helps you maximize the use of your time and money.
When marketing, you also need to decide who you are going to market to. The right audience means the desired sales and revenue you are looking for.
Business-to-business networking isn’t just about exchanging cards and having a few laughs over dinner, it’s about finding ways to help each other grow together. As one national networking group has coined, “Givers Gain!”
Always keep in mind that even if the person you’re talking to isn’t your target customer, you can never be sure which fifty people they know. Truly talking about your business can make all the difference in building a driving business.
When answering the question “What do you do?” Don’t start an hour-long conversation about the meat and potatoes of your job and start conveying a shopping list of your skills and abilities. Rather, talk about giving them something to be interested in talking about and something for them to spread the word about you. When looking for that cool factor, think back to when you first started your business. What excited and attracted you to start this business? What makes you stand out from the crowd and gets others excited to hear about your business?
Provide a hook or reason for potential customers to remember you and your business. Give them a reason to ask for more. What makes you stand out from others like you? Ask a question that elicits an emotion. This will allow the person to think of you whenever he feels that emotion. For example, ask “Have you ever been frustrated after buying a candle that smells great on the shelf, but as soon as you get home and light it, the scent disappears after the first burn?” Does the wick drown itself after a couple of burns?” I am a distributor for a gourmet candle company that has developed an amazing candle that fills the house with its incredible aromas from the first to the last burn. Our jar candle has two wicks that allow it to burn evenly.” The next time they light a candle, they’ll think of you.