Everyone wants to improve their networking skills and keep their friends at the same time, right!?
How many of you have been in the position of having to listen to agonizing pitching on how great someone’s product or company is?
How many of you just wanted to run away from one of “those” people?
How many of you are in a network marketing company and find that the product “doesn’t” sell itself like your upline said it would?
How many of you are out there “sharing” your product and you’re still not impressed with the number of sign-up’s?
7 Tips to Improve Your Networking Skills
1. Your introduction counts.
This is frequently done poorly and may be thought of as unimportant. Think of it as a part of the first impression you give people. When asked “what do you do?” don’t just take the ball and run with it and dump your entire product and business opportunity on the person. Simply say your name and your company, then ask your listener the same.
2. Be specific.
Don’t say, “I’m in computers,” “I’m in travel,” or, “I make people feel better.” Instead, be specific.
3. Organize your introduction.
Prepare a 15-second opening statement that describes what you do. If your product or service is technical or hard to explain, begin with a 15- to 20-second story that illustrates what you do. Short and interesting stories help create and maintain listener interest.
If you don’t have a story about what your product has done for you, you might say, “I’m a health conscious person and I enjoy my product because it helps me maintain my good health.”
Don’t tell people, “I sell a nutriceutical that’s an antioxidant superfood…” No one is impressed with big words from corporate. Besides, the average person doesn’t even know what they mean. Any time you put yourself in a position of having to explain what you’re talking about you can expect that you will have lost the interest of that person.
4. Inform, don’t sell.
Don’t come on with a sales pitch. When in doubt, remember a low-key introduction is always better. If you’re in the NM industry, it most certainly is NOT like referring a friend to a good restaurant or movie. In those situations, you’re making a “referral,” not “selling” the service or product. The difference here is, you have something at stake and it’s not the kind of steak you eat.
Tell people what your product has done for “you” and why you like your product. Something like, “I used to have trouble sleeping at nights and now I’ve been using ____ and I’m able to sleep though the entire night.”
Don’t make claims like, “this product will make you look ten years younger.” Or, “this product will produce a life changing result in your life.”
Remember, no one product works for all of the people all of the time. Simply tell your story in 20 seconds or less. People will listen and remember when you don’t go on and on about how great your product is and what it’s done for you.
5. Be real.
Not being yourself can make you look silly, artificial, or worse.
You want your friends and family to be supportive of your business. What you can say to them is, “I have a small home based business and I’m looking for people who are into health, if you know anyone who is a health nut can you send them my way?”
If “you” have not been a health conscious person for many years and go out there with all your company techno babble on your healthy product you’re going to look stupid and get on people’s nerves. You would be better off getting into a product line that resonates with “you” and something you are known for being into.
6. Be an avid listener.
When someone else is speaking, it’s tempting to be thinking of your response. Forget about your response and how you can’t wait to tell them that you have a product that will fix their problem. Listen to what they’re telling you. Not everyone is looking for a cure, or for the cure you sell. Being a sincere good istener builds goodwill, trust, and confidence.
7. Follow-up.
Always send a personal note/email or short call (5 minutes or less) to follow-up your conversations. It is unlikely your listener will need your product or service immediately. People can be slow to change their ways or switch from a familiar brand and/or do something to help themselves.
Simply letting them know what you have and do is sufficient. When the time is right for them or they know someone who might be interested your your product they will let you know. When you’re a good listener you will know when they are ready.
You have only one chance at a first impression. An effective networker can’t afford to waste that opportunity.
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