Why You Should Stop Using the Shotgun Approach in Network Marketing

Be forewarned, some of my friends in network marketing are not going to like this post. This will be like pouring salt on a wound, but I've seen so many of my friends going about their network marketing all wrong.

Network marketing is a unique but common business model in which independent associates or agents sell a product or service, primarily to their friends or family, and try to recruit others to join their business. By getting others to join their team, the network marketers can receive "override" commissions on their team sales.

Network marketing has a very bad rap with many people, due to a select few who continue to push their products, services, or opportunity onto every single person they know through post after post on social media. Usually the posts start out innocent enough, telling people how excited you are about your new opportunity. Unfortunately, this "shotgun" approach ultimately leads to disappointment, because your friends and family don't see the value or need of your product or service. They look at it as your "latest get rich quick scheme", an quickly dismiss any of your posts about what you do.

Don't get me wrong, there are many network marketing companies which are rather sketchy, and should be avoided. Many of these companies suffer from the "me too" problem - major retailers sell skin lotion, me too! Major retailers sell energy drinks, me too! Major retailers sell essential oils, me too! But don't instantly dismiss these me too companies - some offer healthier, better alternatives. But, you need to do your research!

Unfortunately, what drives a lot of people to quit their network marketing business is following the same missteps taken by their up-line to recruit others - blast out your information for all to see, and follow the same script to sell your stuff to everyone else. Don't get me wrong, for some people this works great, as long as you have an established brand which brings quality and value to someone's life.

Where I'm seeing many of my friends in network marketing struggle, and actually pushing away customers, is when they post every single day about their "amazing" product or service which has completely changed their life, but then don't really post anything which shows how they have changed.

It's easy to tell someone a product will give you amazing results. There's nothing wrong with claiming that once in a while. However, when you post every day about how much better your life is because of a product, and clearly make sure you mention that product in almost every one of your social media posts, I begin to absolutely despise your product. In fact, I'm going to go ahead and make the statement that I now HATE that "energy patch" (you know which one I'm talking about), and will not ever consider buying it from anyone. Why? Because every other post on my news feed is literally someone telling everyone else how amazing your energy patches are. Your product has not gone viral, you're not actually showing me you're living a better life, you're just putting on a smile in a paid advertisement. You want me to buy your products, try being a normal human being and actually post other stuff besides whatever it is you're selling. In fact, if you approach me personally and TALK with me, instead of blasting your product or service all the time, you might find that an opportunity will present itself to talk with me about whatever you sell during the course of our conversation.

So what's the right way? Well for one, be a human instead of a billboard. It's great to talk about your business, but talk to other people about other things too! I know the struggle, I know how tempting it can be to tell others about your business all the time, especially when you love it. But, slow down a little. Breathe. Take the time to be a human being and actually talk with people. You might be amazed by the results.