subject: Mlm Marketing Vs Selling - Why Selling Sucks! [print this page] If you want to have a successful MLM business you will need to understand the difference between marketing and selling. Do you recall the last time you were browsing for a car? What selling or marketing techniques did the salesman use? My last experience was browsing for my dream home. The real estate rep descended on me like an eagle for it's prey. He proceeded to tell me all the great features about the house and how my life would dramatically change if I bought it. Just like if I won lotto! My questions were dismissed and he worked hard to 'convince' me to buy. I felt he was only interested in making a sale and not in what I was searching for. I left very dissatisfied.
Unfortunately many industries that use marketing to promote their products or services all too often have sales people like this pushing their wares. Sadly, the MLM industry also has the same type of hard sell reps within its ranks and they teach their team the same selling techniques, then wonder why people run from them when they get within sight!
The key to success in MLM marketing is finding the right audience and contrary to what you may have been told by your MLM upline - not everybody is your prospect. When I learnt this little gem I felt relief and thought, 'At last, I don't have to be a jerk and convince everyone in sight they need my product!' It made sense really.
Marketing is about finding thirsty people in the desert and then having the water to give them. Selling is about convincing them to have the water whether they are thirsty or not. How many times have you heard 'you got to have this'...maybe you've even tried telling your disinterested friends or family this when promoting your MLM product or service.
Marketing is the exchange of life, time, money etc for something we want or value. For example, if you have a job you exchange your time for a paycheck. MLM Marketing is all about communication. It is not about creating an interest in your prospect and trying to convince them they need what you have. It is about getting their interest, a subtle but important difference. Once you have their interest then people will buy what they value.
MLM marketing is therefore about finding out whether your prospect needs, wants or desires what you have, then empowering and facilitating them so their need is met. If they don't want, need or desire your product or service then leave them alone. There are many others out there who do want your product.
So the focus in MLM marketing is about your prospect and what they are looking for, it's not about you and what you want. It's about you seeking people who want what you have not getting people onto something you want them on.
Sellers create the demand. MLM marketing is about finding the demand and facilitating the supply. The secret is to find people and think about them and their need, want and desires. Look for people who know they need what you have. Or better yet use marketing tools and techniques to have those people find you!
