Build Your List Of Prospects Offline For Network Marketing!

A lot of focus is placed on building your list in network marketing. This makes perfect sense due to the fact that your list is your customer base. Building a huge list is the gas that fuels the vehicle so to speak. There are numerous courses on Pay Per Click (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to build your list online. These have proven to be effective, not to mention lucrative.Today I would like to go over a few ways to work on the offline sources that sometimes get forgotten in today's, get it done quick online, I've got other things to do, impersonal world.

First of all, let's remember that Network Marketing, Direct Sales, MLM, or whatever you call it, is a business that is built around people. The second thing I'd like to point out is that people are social beings. We all love to go to the local coffee shop, have a bite to eat, and shoot the breeze. I know I sure do. Thirdly, a point I've made in previous articles, we are in the relationship and team building business. Once you develop a rapport with someone, they are more likely to trust and do business with you, and subsequently join your team.

If you hate people, hate talking with people, or hate when other people even look at you, you may want to think about getting a job because this industry may not be for you. As a matter of fact, you may even want to see a counselor because, well, you know....you just might want to!

Anyway......Let's try to see how this is going to work for you. I have recently tried to expand my personal contacting by just trying to meet one or two new people everyday. Nothing crazy, but over time the numbers add up. I don't want to go to sleep at night until I make my daily quota of one. Now, this is just a starting point. If you feel like meeting three or four new people in a day, knock yourself out. Don't think that three yesterday gives you the pass to kick back for the next few days though. Make a commitment to yourself to get up from your computer chair, go outside and meet some new people. Oh yeah, that bright shiny, thing in sky.....it's called the sun! Wear some sunscreen and you should be alright.

I know that during the course of your normal, daily errands, you have the ability to contact at least one new person. You go to the diner, the bank, and the dry cleaners. If you have kids there's little league, PTA meetings, dance class, karate practice, and scout meetings. Start talking with and developing relationships with those folks. I know that eventually you run out of people that you wrote down on your original list of friends and family the night you were sponsored into whatever company you signed up with, so here are the sources to expand that list.

As you go about your day, stop into places to say hello. Strike up a conversation with that person down the street as you walk your dogs. While you're in line in the morning at Dunkin Donuts, talk to that guy who you see every morning who says he can't stand leaving his kids at home when he goes to work. The worst thing that can happen is they say no. As the old saying goes; some will, some won't, so what! When you hear a no from someone not interested, and you will hear a few no's, think of them as practice for your communication skills. You'll still have a new friend too.

If you've ever read Dale Carnegies book, How To Win Friends and Influence People, you know that being honest and sincere with those you meet it the best way to build trust. Just like the title says, go out and win friends. Once they know and trust you, you won't have to try and influence them. People may actually like you for being you....crazy, right?

As for what to say to a person you want to prospect, simply ask them if they look for other ways to earn additional income. Be friendly, be enthusiastic, but not over eager. If someone is interested, get contact information from them to follow up later. Try not to mug them with a full on sales assault as they are trying to pick up junior from soccer practice and get home for dinner. If they want the information, share it with them at a mutually convenient time. Notice how I said share and not sell. Become a provider of information and you'll never have to sell anyone ever again.

When you follow up later, don't be shy about letting them know that you are looking for people who qualify for your time. That lets them know right off the bat that you don't need to chase them. It will take a little posture on your part, but with a little practice it comes natural. Take a deep breath and just do it. A good friend once told me, you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take.

If you want in depth information about recruiting on and offline, check out Mike Dillard's Black Belt Recruiting course. Mike and Mark Wieser teach prospecting and recruiting for the network marketing industry. It's an awesome course that will keep you engaged and learning the entire time. It helped me take great strides in a short period of time. As long as you apply what you learn, it will help you too.

Get out there, and start practicing those people skills. You may get some new business associates, and you may even make a few friends.