Are you in business?

Ever wondered what it takes to be a business owner?

Look to the successful business owners in your community. They know what they are doing.

Example: I had a problem in my personal life. I needed a light weight but heavy duty trimmer/edger that would reach way beyond where a typical electric trimmer could go. (In your network marketing business your problem may be a lack of leads or finances)

A flyer arrived in my mail box. (You know those advertising methods that are apparently dead now). Inside the flyer is a picture and write up of a 18 volt trimmer weighing less than 7 pounds with a whole pile of extra features. It’s on sale this week and a quick phone call assures me 18 volt is heavy duty enough to fulfill the duties I want it to do.

In the store, the owner and I are chatting (building a relationship) and I mentioned to him as he was loading (providing free value) the trimmer into my car, I appreciated the fact I could just plug the thing in, let it charge and I didn’t have to worry about mixing the proper oil ratio, blah, blah.

He suggested (oh, oh, here comes the sales pitch) that I might be interested in the push lawn mower he just got in. (Upselling here we come) “Why?” Well here it comes. He had learned (by listening to me) that I wanted fast, simple, very little maintenance tools and he offered me an ADDITIONAL value item for me to consider. It was a 24 volt push lawn mower that I just needed to recharge every 3200 sq. ft. NO gas, NO oil, NO maintenance and I was sold. (Another tool that was going to make my lawn mowing experience easier)

Wow, did this sound like the marketing I am doing now? You bet it does. I had a problem, he solved it for me by selling me something that was going to solve that problem. He provided free value. He listened to me and offered me something ADDITIONAL that was going to make my job a lot easier. I bought it. (Cost me money) He made money. I was happy. He was happy. We both won.

And some would consider him a slimy sales person for suggesting the additional tool (upselling) that would make my job easier.

I think he would be great at network marketing. He already has the necessary skills to operate a business.

I need to go and talk to him. Be right back. Oh, while I’m gone, what’s your take on this?? Do you feel like you are slimy if you suggest something that you are going to make money on but will solve someone’s problem? Do you use those tactics to build your business? Do you “upsell” ? Do you build “relationships”? Do you provide “value”? If not, let me introduce you to Bud. He could teach many of us a thing or two about building a successful business.

Onwards – to success,