Many people fail at network marketing because they don't know what their leads are looking for. You find a great product line and a great company. You are on fire with the potential. You understand the compensation plan, and see the money pouring into your bank account already. You immediately set out trying to sell people on your products and your opportunity. You tell your brother, George. He isn't interested. You tell your sister Kate. She isn't interested either. You tell your best friend. He laughs at you. So, you find yourself sitting at the dining room table looking at your list of names and contacts, and can't bring yourself to dial the phone another time. Congratulations! You have reached the point where 98% of network marketers crash and burn.

The problem is, no matter how great your product line is and how wonderful the company is and how amazing the compensation plan is -- if you try to sell your products or your company too soon, you will fail miserably every time. But, don't despair! You're just trying to sell the wrong thing.

Your first task as a network marketer is to determine what your prospects want. You see, we were all drawn into network marketing because we saw it as the solution to a problem. Truly successful network marketers provide solutions, not products or opportunities. Unfortunately, people are becoming increasingly skeptical toward network marketing. Your best bet is to take a slow and steady approach through sharing information. By providing useful, content-rich information that others can use, over time, you will develop a relationship with your prospects. Some of them will become customers, and some will be receptive to your business opportunity. But, it takes time and effort to develop a relationship of trust.

I know this goes against everything your network marketing company has told you. You are supposed to pitch the business opportunity first, build a big downline who will buy products for their own personal use, and you will become a wealthy distributor in no time. Right? Wrong! Think of yourself as a problem solver, and strive to over-deliver. Give your prospects more information than they expect, and you will be the first person they think of when they are looking for a product or an opportunity in the future.

You cannot help but succeed if you help enough other people succeed. Nowhere is this more true than in network marketing.

Until the next time...