Network Marketing: Do You Have Something Of Value?

Imagine a world where diamonds were as plentiful as sand. All of us would live like kings and queens. We would have every material thing our hearts could desire. All the problems of world hunger would be solved.

Or would they?

A world where everyone lived like royalty is an impossibility. Who would serve? Who would trade valuable goods and services for something everyone had? Who would even want diamonds anymore?

No one.

One of the essential elements of material value is scarcity. That means: the rarer something is the more value people place on it. People will pay a fortune for one-of-a-kind items. Even if those items at one time were considered junk.

Rare paintings and artifacts earn millions at auctions. Things stored in your attic may demand a high price at antique stores if there are few left around.

It is called the law of supply and demand. An item that is in abundance costs very little. Even if that item is very important. Think of water or air. But restrict people's access to one of these items and they will pay a fortune for it.

But what does all this have to do with your home-based or network marketing business?

Everything!

There are millions of people who would love to have their own business. Especially if that business could make them a substantial income without many of the hassles associated with traditional businesses. The network marketing industry offers one possible solution for people like this.

But there are other solutions.

Not only that, but within the network marketing industry itself there are numerous companies making similar offerings. When a person is interested in considering a network marketing opportunity there are so many choices - each clamoring for the prospect's attention.

And within each network marketing company there are numerous distributors saying their group is better than everyone else's.

What does all this mean? It means that anyone who desires to enter into the network marketing industry has a virtual smorgasbord of choices. There is no shortage of distributors prowling around malls and gas stations trying to convince anyone who will listen that their opportunity is the best around.

Think, for a moment, like a prospect. With all the claims being made in the marketplace there is a whole lot of confusion.

• Which choice is best?
  
• Which company is really better?
  
• Who has the best products?
  
• Why is there so much failure in the industry?
  
• If this is so good why are people trying so hard to convince me?
  

The confusion, hype, outrageous claims, and over-passioned tactics are enough to discourage anyone from taking these opportunities seriously.

But besides all this there is also the issue of supply and demand. Any time there is an abundance of something it becomes less valuable. When prospects can pick and choose from a multitude of offers no offer seems valuable.

It is the same in the rest of the business world. When numerous companies clamor over one potential employee the value of the job goes down and the value of the person being sought goes up. It is the same in the sports world - which is the business world.

But hit difficult economic times and the table turns. Hordes of unemployed people line up for the few low-paying jobs that are available. The job suddenly becomes worth a whole lot more even though the salary is lower.

What does this have to do with you?

Network marketing opportunities seem like diamonds lying around in the sand. With so many offers none of them appear to be of any value. Anyone who would raise their hand and say, "I want to be in network marketing" would be trampled by zealous distributors. The distributors and their opportunities are nearly worthless in the prospect's eyes. The prospect becomes priceless.

So how do you succeed?

Like any other business person.

Every business person has to deal with the problem of supply and demand. Network marketers are not unique. How many companies are selling cereal or colas or spaghetti or any one of a billion other things? Marketers know that you can't sell your products by chasing people down and interjecting their products into every conversation with strangers.

Marketers sell their products by differentiating themselves. And how do they do that?

By adding value.

What if your offer differed from most of the offers your prospect sees? What if amidst a sea of look-alike opportunities there was something substantially different about yours? Would that make a difference to your success?

You bet it would.

People are looking for something different. Something that distinguishes one product from all the others. But it is not product quality that distinguishes it from others. It is the value the prospect thinks the product gives.

So you can't make your business look different by touting the quality of your products or your pay plan or any other piece of your opportunity. Why? Because that is what everyone does.

Everyone says their products are better. Everyone says their opportunity is greater. Besides, your prospect doesn't see how any of that affects her. All she sees is a bunch of look-alike business plans and products. And an overabundance of outlandish claims.

And she sees how many people have failed at it.

Your products are not her concern. Your business plan is not her concern. They have very little to do with her.

But she does have concerns. She is concerned about being in business for herself. She wants to know how she can succeed. She wants a plan that will carry her from beginning to success. She wants someone who will guide her.

What your prospect needs to see is something about your business that makes it immediately stand out. Let me put it more precisely. Your prospect needs to see...

How you stand out.

Your success in network marketing has very little to do with the company you represent. It has everything to do with you. It has everything to do with how you stand out as...

Somebody who can help your prospect succeed.

That is what she wants. She wants to know how she can be successful. She wants to see how you are the one who is capable of teaching and leading her to success. She wants to know that you are an expert who is willing to guide her down a successful path.

Don't try to sell your prospect on your company or products or opportunity.

Sell her on you.

Prove to her that you have a plan for success and that you are willing to teach her. Show her that you have stepped out of the mainstream. That you are not stuck in the worn-out methods of the rest of the industry.

Show her that you are genuinely interested in her and her success. That you are not a corporate entity. But that you are a real person who has been in her shoes.

Teach her before she is in business with you. Demonstrate that you are an expert who knows how to help her succeed. And that you are willing to help her even when she is not in business with you. Add value that most people in the industry do not have to give.

This kind of rare service is of great value to many thousands of people who want to build their own business. Distinguish yourself as the Networking Professional who adds this value.

And having enough prospects will not be a problem.