Forums

[Jim Sulfridge Contribution Level: 1]

I would like your opinion on whether it is better to approach people with the business opportunity and then if not interested try to interest them in the product or should I approach people with the product and then if they like the product tell them about the business opportunity?

[Adil Shamim Contribution Level: 4]

Hi Jim..

You should always approach your prospect with the product first because usually it can ONLY be a good business opportunity if the product caters to a genuine need , is re consumable etc .You should also analyze whether product has a short term need or is the need going to be present in the market for a sustainable time. Everything has to start with the product , in my opinion, because that is why you are in business. If the product offers value , then whatever the compensation plan being offered , there is a good chance you will make money.

Last but not the least, if you are talking about an overall approach to approach a prospect , you should neither start with the product , nor with the opportunity , instead you should start with the 'Person'..

Hope this helps..

Adil

[Mehak Naheem Company: YourNetBiz Contribution Level: 3]

I would do the marketing and let them contact you instead. If you market your business/product then people who are actively looking for your services will contact you. This will save you a lot of time and let you focus on marketing your business, rather than trying to make sales!

[Adam Taha Contribution Level: 8]

I would like your opinion on whether it is better to approach people with the business opportunity and then if not interested try to interest them in the product or should I approach people with the product and then if they like the product tell them about the business opportunity?

Jim, I'd first ask questions.

1. Get to know the prospects by asking questions.
2. Listen to see if that they have a problem that fits with what your solving.
3. Ask and listen to see if they are comitted to solve this problem.
4. Ask and listen if they are willing to take action.
5. Lead them to the action. Whether that is providing them direction to the information to educate the prospect first, or to the product etc.

So you need to then have a strategy in place.

First put your product and opportunity aside for a moment. And ask questions, and qualify your prospect for your time and what you have to offer.

Get the skill first which will help you in the long run.....

5. Now, when the prospect shows that they are eager and serious to solving the problem, then you can do the following...

A) Have information that THEY chase for and read. Educate your prospect first.
B) Have a call of action or a follow up system in place within the tool or website content.
C) And close the sale.

In any business mate, there is a qualifiy process. The qualifying process is where most do not do, because they have not trained to do them.

The process of sales is this..

1. You ask questions to first identify if the prospect has a strong desire need that FITS WITH your products and services. This saves you time convincing, persauding and doing what has damaged the industry.

2. You then ask more questions so the prospect explains their needs to you. This helps you because you take note as they speak, which needs listening skills. You listen by taking notes on paper or in mind. Then you say..

"Dave, so we are talking from the same sheet. You're saying you have this problem (mention their pain) and you want to solve it because ______(mention the soluton, the emotional gratifcation, the result they like to see)."

And you can say, "And you're committed to solving this because______(mention again their pain and the solution that comes when they take action).

"And you are serious enough to pay for it, if it was ______(mention the price) because that's how it is Dave as it is not going to be free. You agree Dave?"

Let your prospect handle their own objections.

3. You now ask another question to show they are comitted to take action and be straight. All this can happen but you will know, you don't need to even go to step 2 if you see the prospects, is not really serious.

No sale happens mate, without payment. That's where most suck at.

4. Now lead them to the solution and do so with confidence. Don't prat about trying to feel guilty you're making money. You're asking questions to lead to solutions, and no matter if they don't join the biz, you make the sale.

All these steps takes practise and what will get someone is this..

A) Fear and it's trippled by lack of skills and training.

Break it down and get good at asking the RIGHT questions and let your prospect do most of the talking, and take notes. Practise first. Get good at this skills first.

And believe me, when you get good at this - get ready. It's freaking AWESOME!

It's easy to say, "do this and do that," so test, practise, and believe in yourself. But do get a mentor.

PS...be great to fill your profile detail and photo. As I rarely now answer anyone who hasn't got this sorted. Thanks.

Adam Taha

[Rob Hammond Company: Global Virtual Opportunities Contribution Level: 4]

Thanks to Adam for his thorough answer!
It is a great idea to start out as a 'home business consultant'. If you are a consultant, you seem more like a third party trying to help the prospect out rather than a recruiter trying to bring them into the opportunity.
So, get a feel for their needs. If they don't want to join your business, you can still make money by promoting a CPA offer.
If you are a consultant, you can make money on 85% of people, even the ones who don't join your business.
Keep Rocking,
Rob

[Marty Baker Contribution Level: 5]

Adam,
What a great walk through for leading with your product. Here is a real life example: The other day my wife and I were at social event and one of her friends asked her if she had any tylenol; so I asked her friend if she had a headache. She replied "no." I go "Oh, what's wrong?" She said that her hands were hurting. I said "So have you been over using them or do you just generally have hand pain?" She goes "No, they just kind of hurt all the time." So i asked her if she had osteoporosis, and she said, "No i have minor arthritus pain." I kind of laughed and explained to her how they were the same thing. I asked her if she was doing anything to treat the arthritis or just to cover the pain. She told me that she was just taking the tylenol or aleve or advil, or whatever she could get to relieve the pain. I explained to her that she was treating the symptoms not the cause. So i asked her if she had ever heard of glucosamine sulfate. She told me no; which led to about a twenty minute conversation about treating the cause of her pain and how she could do that. To make a long story short, she ended up buying some product that would treat her minor arthritis. I know the quality of the product I sold her, and I know it will help, so she will be a customer and a possible business partner. That is how you lead with a product.

[Adam Taha Contribution Level: 8]

Great tip Marty. Thanks for sharing what you do and live example.

The reason why I shared that he needs to first forget about product and business is simple. Again, it's about listening or as of here, reading between the liness.

For example..

I would like your opinion on whether it is better to approach people with the business opportunity and then if not interested try to interest them in the product or should I approach people with the product and then if they like the product tell them about the business opportunity?

This alone tells me, he's not been in the business activity, to do the actions, to have grown the instinct to see what the process is. That doesn't mean one has not been in business long, as we know many join and don't act consistently.

Second, there is a need for self development, to focus away from the result and first, get used to people skills, experience as we say.

We can give a person all the method they need, and the system, but it's going to do nothing, until they get that fundamental foundation sorted out first. And the only for this is practise first in being comfortable with people, with asking question, and building the skills first.

That why I mentioned, he needs to first get the experience, in getting rid of any emotional attachement that most have. That experience will help him NOT get a sale. It will get him consistent sale clientele later on.

So he needs to go out there first and ask questions. This will give him the confidence, the comfortable feeling and instinct he needs, to be able to converse with the confidence he needs. It will also help him to grow a network of people who see a professional.

Then he can set the 30-90 days rule to hit it. And so on.

10 years of old school and training people to know it has nothing to do with method.

It's confidence, self image, and getting into the momentumn of the action, to then be able to detache from the fear of doing it. And enjoy doing it.

The work itself will craft his ability to be a professional.

But so many focus on result first, before they get the experience, to help them learn, to help them build the fundamental strengths, and emotional strength, the listening skills, people skills - they need for the real world.

Adam Taha

[Daniel Attard Company: Neways Worldwide Contribution Level: 3]

Adam hit it spot on. Probe your prospect with questions. Interview your prospect. You are doing your prospect a favour not the other way round. You have control of the situation.

Daniel Attard

[MLM Maestro Company: MyNet Universe, Inc. Contribution Level: 2]

I would like your opinion on whether it is better to approach people with the business opportunity and then if not interested try to interest them in the product or should I approach people with the product and then if they like the product tell them about the business opportunity?

Jim, I'd first ask questions.

1. Get to know the prospects by asking questions.
2. Listen to see if that they have a problem that fits with what your solving.
3. Ask and listen to see if they are comitted to solve this problem.
4. Ask and listen if they are willing to take action.
5. Lead them to the action. Whether that is providing them direction to the information to educate the prospect first, or to the product etc.

So you need to then have a strategy in place.

First put your product and opportunity aside for a moment. And ask questions, and qualify your prospect for your time and what you have to offer.

Get the skill first which will help you in the long run.....

5. Now, when the prospect shows that they are eager and serious to solving the problem, then you can do the following...

A) Have information that THEY chase for and read. Educate your prospect first.
B) Have a call of action or a follow up system in place within the tool or website content.
C) And close the sale.

In any business mate, there is a qualifiy process. The qualifying process is where most do not do, because they have not trained to do them.

The process of sales is this..

1. You ask questions to first identify if the prospect has a strong desire need that FITS WITH your products and services. This saves you time convincing, persauding and doing what has damaged the industry.

2. You then ask more questions so the prospect explains their needs to you. This helps you because you take note as they speak, which needs listening skills. You listen by taking notes on paper or in mind. Then you say..

"Dave, so we are talking from the same sheet. You're saying you have this problem (mention their pain) and you want to solve it because ______(mention the soluton, the emotional gratifcation, the result they like to see)."

And you can say, "And you're committed to solving this because______(mention again their pain and the solution that comes when they take action).

"And you are serious enough to pay for it, if it was ______(mention the price) because that's how it is Dave as it is not going to be free. You agree Dave?"

Let your prospect handle their own objections.

3. You now ask another question to show they are comitted to take action and be straight. All this can happen but you will know, you don't need to even go to step 2 if you see the prospects, is not really serious.

No sale happens mate, without payment. That's where most suck at.

4. Now lead them to the solution and do so with confidence. Don't prat about trying to feel guilty you're making money. You're asking questions to lead to solutions, and no matter if they don't join the biz, you make the sale.

All these steps takes practise and what will get someone is this..

A) Fear and it's trippled by lack of skills and training.

Break it down and get good at asking the RIGHT questions and let your prospect do most of the talking, and take notes. Practise first. Get good at this skills first.

And believe me, when you get good at this - get ready. It's freaking AWESOME!

It's easy to say, "do this and do that," so test, practise, and believe in yourself. But do get a mentor.

PS...be great to fill your profile detail and photo. As I rarely now answer anyone who hasn't got this sorted. Thanks.

Adam Taha

A Comprehensive yet Precise post indeed!

[Jim Sulfridge Contribution Level: 1]

Thanks for all of the advice!
I still have much to learn.