Michael makes some interesting points in this essay on selling in Network Marketing.  My favorite might be,  when he talks about "telling your story", Michael goes on to say (I’m paraphrasing) that people don’t want to hear your story, they want to know what what’s in it for them!  That is so true.  I do my best to limit my story to about 2 minutes to cover product and business.

Michael Oliver:

OK… Let’s address a Network Marketing myth that can at best be
described as a “misleading truth”.

It’s the one where you are told “You don’t have to sell”. (There are
4 versions that I will come to later).

This is of course nonsense. The moment you have the intention of
talking about your business or products – you are selling! To think and
to say otherwise serves no one. It’s also an example of self denial.

The consequences and sadness of misleading new distributors with this
message are that most leave their businesses with less self-esteem than
when they first started.

So why is this myth out there? It’s because many people have the
perception that selling is a sordid profession. It’s usually based on
their personal experiences, prejudices, pre-existing beliefs and what
they have read.

So every effort is made to steer away from the “S” word… and when
taken in context with the conventional way of selling – I don’t blame
them!

However – no matter which way you look at it – selling IS involved.
It’s just a matter of how you choose to interpret it.

 

And in that context, there is another way – another way of
thinking, being and doing that has its foundation based on wisdom,
not short term techniques. It also allows you to come out from hiding
the “S” word behind your back

You can read how to do this and the critical distinction between
Natural Selling and the use of conventional techniques, in my best
selling book “How
to Sell Network Marketing without Fear, Anxiety or Losing Your Friends!”

You don’t have to sell?

The comment “You don’t have to sell” is expressed in many ways.

Let’s explore four of them and see how they work against you and not
for you… how they tend to attract what you don’t want, rather than
what you do want.

1. No selling involved – We have a system that will take care of that
for you!

So isn’t this saying then that there IS selling involved… except
you don’t have to do it? That someone else will do it for you?

If you buy into this thinking, what are you telling yourself and your
team? That they don’t have to take responsibility for their own success?
That someone is going to take care of them? That the welfare mentality
is OK?

So who do you want on your team? Dependent people… or people who
have a strong desire to change their present circumstances? People who
are prepared to learn and do what it takes to change?

2. You’re not selling – You’re sharing!

If this is the case then it isn’t any wonder most distributors using
this approach don’t make any money? Sharing, in the hope that something
might create an “Aha” moment for the other person, is simply not
efficient nor effective.

Sharing is costly in time and money and the returns very low. That’s
a proven fact.

3. You don’t have to sell – Just tell your story!

Think about it. Who really cares about your story or what you think?
Maybe you and your parents might! However most people are too busy
caring about their own story and what they think.

Break the pattern. Learn how to allow others to talk about the deeper
reasons of what they want and why they want it. And then
customize your solution and demonstrate how it can provide it for them.

Do that and you’re on your way!

4. You don’t have to sell – Just talk about the benefits of your
solution!

Not many people in the industry realize this… what’s a benefit
to you is very rarely a benefit to someone else. Benefits are
very personal.

 

The only way to explain how your solution might benefit someone is
again to customize your presentation based on information
gathered by asking questions, knowing what to listen for and how to
respond.

When you do that – you are selling! Naturally of course!

What You Think Is What You Get!

It’s all matter of thinking and choices. Your thinking and choices
determine what you receive. Change the way you think about selling and
the people will change how they respond to you. It really is that
simple!

And the definitive roadmap to putting this new thinking about selling
into practice is my "Natural
Selling Home Study Course". It contains my best selling book
plus 2 audio programs to give you both the principles and the practical
steps to build a successful Direct Sales or Network Marketing business.

          Have a peaceful and prosperous week…

       

         
          Best Selling Author of "How
to Sell Network Marketing Without Fear, Anxiety or Losing Your
Friends!" – Selling from the Soul. Ancient Wisdoms.
          Modern Practice.

            

Want to get rid of all the techniques, systems and gimmicks simply by
changing the way you think and the way you act on what you think?
Choose one of the many convenient options on the right hand side of
this newsletter. Or click here
            www.NaturalSelling.com

 

     Copyright, 2007, Michael Oliver, Natural Selling®

Reprinted with permission from Michael Oliver, Natural Selling® Sales
Training
    http://www.naturalselling.com "