Good Morning. I'm up trying to get my kids off to school and it seems like they are not in the mood. So instead of nagging them, I decided to make my morning coffee and begin my work. As I sit here and sip caramel macciato, I reflect back to a dinner conversation that I had a couple of nights ago. Someone asked me, "How do you just drum up a conversation with people you don't know and talk to them about your business?" Its an interesting question with an interesting answer.There’s the perception out there that Network Marketers are the types of people that will ONLY talk to you about their product/service/opportunity. That may be true of some people and you may think that I enter with the typical intro, but I don't. Sometimes when people say where do you work, and I say I work from home, that opens a conversation but what if that specific question never gets asked? I find that one of the hardest things networks marketers struggle with most is talking about their business. This perception has scared many network marketers out of talking about their business at all. They don’t want to be seen as “that person”.
A great strategy in growing your Network Marketing business is learning how to “slip in” your business during ordinary conversations. The idea is not to be “tricky” about it, but to develop a natural conversation that can lead to you talking to someone more about your business. The caveat is to make THEM ask YOU more about it! It makes you feel better when you dangle a little something out there…a teaser…and someone says, “what is your business” or “tell me more”. Having permission feels great!!
So, how do you slip in your business into an ordinary conversation? You look for opportunities to talk to people…usually people you don’t know…to bring up a teaser about your business and have them ask more.
Here are a few examples of what I mean:
1. You’re at the office supply store getting business supplies and the woman in front of you has something unique. You say, “Where did you find that, that would be awesome for my business!” She will usually tell you and then say “what is your business”. Trust me… I've done it MANY times! Make sure you have a brochure or business card handy to give once you tell her! I don't carry business cards that much, I use a text service that gives them the electronic version of my card so that its easy to share. Here is where you can find that product. I don't sell it personally but a good friend of mine does and its wonderful.
2. You’re at the coffee shop and strike up a conversation with someone about the weather and say, “I’m just so glad to get out of the house! I’ve been working at home for 3 days straight and just need a BREAK! I think I’ll drink this out in the sunshine and soak it in before I hit the computer/phones again”. Again…you WILL get asked what you do at home…. Time to share!!
3. If you have traveled for your business lately for a convention or training of any kind, make SURE you slip that into a conversation with a clerk or someone in line at the store or even beside you as you are looking at clothes. Something like, “oh, I wish I would have had that on my business trip to Chicago!” It gets a conversation going about where you went, and then WHY.
4. While not QUITE the same, try this as well. If you are at the park or a playland of a fast food restaurant with your kids, see who’s sitting there looking bored. At the BEGINNING of your visit (because you want to leave time for conversation) just walk over and say, “I know what it’s like just sitting here for a while! I thought I’d give you a catalog to look over while you’re here! You’re welcome to keep it if you’d like!” It’s a great way to get your product catalog in the hands of someone…and invite further conversation while you are there with your kids. I’ve seen it do WONDERS!
Once they ask you a question, it leads to more questions. People are naturally curious. ESPECIALLY about people who a) have their own businesses b) work from home c) travel for their business and d) seem to ENJOY what they do.
If you have a positive attitude about your business, people will be curious and the conversation becomes them asking you more. What a great way for you to tell them more!
So don’t be afraid to be “that” MLM person. Just be friendly and personable. Let the opportunity to talk about your business come in to your conversation (plant it!) and when someone asks, be willing to tell them more!
Talk soon,
Ayanna
Ayanna's guide to Entrepreneurship Online