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[Brendan Dalley Contribution Level: 2]

So is there really anything that is free in life?  I live close to Las Vegas and I’m constantly bombarded with ads to come and stay at a certain hotel casino for free. Why do they do this?  Because they know if I come and stay at their hotel that I will spend money (it’s a good trade off for a “free” room).  In network marketing we hear the word free all the time, free conference call, free download, free money, free this, free that. So is there really anything for free. I say no. I posted an article on this at http://www.betternetworker.com/articles/view/what-does-free-really-mean . I am interested in your feedback on this topic because there seems to be a rise in the word free going around. Is free being associated with scams now? Why do we want everything for free these days?

I am in agreement with you 100%. I liked your article as well.

Warmest regards for your continued success,

Jennifer

[Brett Slansky Contribution Level: 2]

Brenda,
great article. And you are right - there is no such thing as a Free when you are looking for a quality. Many networkers nowadays are taught to use the word Free into anything in order to capture the names, numbers or e-mails.

Many people are already immune to that, just because after they recieve theri "free something" - they are going to be sold on something that will actually cost money.

Therefore it is becoming harder and harder for newbies to apply those "Free Strategies" and they are just wasting their time.

On the other side there could actually be "free something" that cost really nothing, but can have big impact on your business.

For example: when you meet someone give nice compliments - you will see how the other person start smiling and feels much better, maybe you willmake a friend who will be the next superstar - how much did you pay for it =====you guessed it, ZERO.

Just have fun with the business. If it is not fun, it is not worth doing it.

Brett

[Shelly Allen Contribution Level: 4]

Sounds good but ultimately, nothing is FREE!

However, it is a good introduction to what it is you may be paying for in the future!

Heck, if the The 7 Great Lies of Network Marketing wasn't FREE who knows where I would be today!

You get what you pay for....

Happy Saturday Evening!
Shelly Allen

[Shane Croker Company: PeopleString Contribution Level: 2]

I read somewhere earlier... that from a business point of view.. your goal is to obtain whatever it is that you're selling, if not free, then as cheap as possible in order to maximize your profits. Get what you can for free... my motto. If it's not free.... it better be too good of a deal to pass up.

[Josef Benjamin Contribution Level: 2]

Brenda,
great article. And you are right - there is no such thing as a Free when you are looking for a quality. Many networkers nowadays are taught to use the word Free into anything in order to capture the names, numbers or e-mails.

Many people are already immune to that, just because after they recieve theri "free something" - they are going to be sold on something that will actually cost money.

Therefore it is becoming harder and harder for newbies to apply those "Free Strategies" and they are just wasting their time.

On the other side there could actually be "free something" that cost really nothing, but can have big impact on your business.

For example: when you meet someone give nice compliments - you will see how the other person start smiling and feels much better, maybe you willmake a friend who will be the next superstar - how much did you pay for it =====you guessed it, ZERO.

Just have fun with the business. If it is not fun, it is not worth doing it.

Brett

Nice post, but i would also have to agree with abw1111 as well.

When you think about it, when you give a compliment, you are secretly expecting something back from that person...even something as simple as a smile or thankyou.

I to believe, mush like abw1111, that if the person who gets to know you wants more of you, and sees an offer for something free - even if they subconciously know at this point they may be asked to "buy" something later down the line - secretly, they are giving you or I permission to sell them on what we have to offer. And why not? If the value and service I provide will make a difference in there lives, why not be compensated fairly for it?

We as marketers probably shouldn't see it in such an analytical light. Most people aren't giving the whole thing of "Is it really free" so much thought. Even I don't most times still, even after I know there will be a catch. It's because i'm communicating, "hey, i like this free stuff you have for me - but i'm greedy - because 'im human - i want more - what price do i have to pay to get more of it"

I dunno, atleast that's way I think when I'm out shopping and I see something for "free".

[Mike Klingler Contribution Level: 7]

Read your article and it's of course dead on, written by a true leader.

Regarding the mentors for free program, one thing I'm curious about is how far a person can be 'taken' with the mentoring if someone doesn't join the mentor's MLM opportunity (or buy something else that is sold in the marketing funnel).

The reason why we have all heard the expression, "nothing in life is free" is because a person providing a service or product can't do so unless they are able to monetize (make money) from it in some way.... to sustain themselves financially.

Mentors for free uses the 'free' offer to attract potential prospects, which at some point are introduced to a network marketing opportunity or a paid version of the Mentor For Free program itself, or other information products or classes that have a cost (I don't know which it is, but based on business 101 basics, I can be certain this is how it works). It's a great idea. It's a great model I've taught people to use. It is good for the prospect seeking one-on-one guidance, and it's good for those building an organization and seeking business partners, because it's attracting quality people to them.

But there must come a point where money is exchanged for value (someone pays something) or the mentor cannot give an equal quality amount of time and value to the client, compared to someone who is paid.

You DO Get What You Pay For.

I'm sure that if a "free" mentor is knowledgeable and skilled and the client joins them in their business or pays money for something through a value exchange, then the client could be well served long term. But if no money is exchanged, the value that mentor can offer is limited.

This is how all good attraction marketing models work. It's the same with Magnetic Sponsoring where you can get the 7 Day Bootcamp email series free, which leads you to something you pay for (more value than what you get with the 7 Day Bootcamp). If you don't BUY then the value a person receives is limited.

From where I stand... and in the context we've discussed here (as it pertains to economy, marketing and an exchange of value) nothing in life is "truly" free.

Sure, something was given away "free" to those who downloaded the 7 Day Bootcamp and who didn't continue on to purchase the real value Mike Dillard offers in his books.

And something was given "free" to those who find a 'free' mentor but who don't continue on to get access the 'higher-level' value offered.

But it is rare in business that anything will be offered "free" if they did not have a plan to make money (monetize) from the people who take advantage of the free offer, by only giving access to the 'higher value' to those who pay for "something" somewhere in the process.

It's the same concept as selling a front-end product that costs very little, and then to follow it up with a much more expensive back-end product (that offers much more value).

It's the same concept as offering a free e-book that attracts prospects onto a list and that then introduces more products to buy, or to an opportunity to upgrade into.

Value received is related to money paid... if something is offered for free on the 'front-end' it's only because the marketing model is planning to 'monetize' (make money) on the back-end.

Is it free? Sort of.

It's attraction marketing. And it works!

[Richard Turner Contribution Level: 1]

Interesting post Brendan. I believe that technically nothing is free since there's always an investment of some sort required for anything in life, i.e. your time, energy, thoughts, etc.

For me that's important to remember because when people see the word free, they usually associate that to mean an opportunity where they can receive "something" without incurring any monetary cost for it but they somehow forget about the "soft costs".

For example, a free ebook will always require me to invest a portion of my time to download it, additional time to read it, brainpower to absorb it and energy to apply what I've read into action. It may or may not have been worth it depending on the value I place on what I've just read.

I have to ask myself, was reading that FREE ebook the Highest and Best use of my time? Only I can determine that. Maybe it actually cost more to read it than not because I could've been doing something far more productive with my time I invested.

Time is the biggest asset that anyone has because you can always find ways to get more money but you can never find more time. You will always get 24 hours like everyone else.

Free is such a powerful word because it implies no risk. It appeals to basic human nature and our desire for pleasure. Tony Robbins talks about the brain will seek pleasure and do everything possible to avoid pain. Possibly until the word "free" becomes associated with pain, people will always gravitate toward an offer because if you think about it, free is usually tied to something people generally want.

Free food, free tickets to a game, free ebook on "How to Grow Your Business Without Rejection and Rejuvenate Your Downline Instantly", free money, free mentoring, free membership, free drinks, etc.

In my opinion, "free" plays on people's aversion to risk and the desire to get something worth wanting for nothing and the word "secret" plays on people's desire to know what other's don't... the curiosity factor. I think these two words will always be in vogue unless human nature changes in the future.

By the way, I found it amusing that this post was at the top of the Discussion board directly under the banner ad "drive an unlimited amount of traffic to your website using social media - download your FREE report." It was also next to the advertisement on the right which read "FREE video tutorials show you how to attract endless new prospects and distributors to you." I got a kick out of that!

Continued Success,

[Brett Slansky Contribution Level: 2]

[quote="Josef Benjamin
Nice post, but i would also have to agree with abw1111 as well.

When you think about it, when you give a compliment, you are secretly expecting something back from that person...even something as simple as a smile or thankyou.[/quote]


Josef,
I do not expect anything from people when I give compliments or say hello - if they repond "Hello" it is fine with me and if they do not - it is fine with me.

I learned not to expect anything from anyone and I know that whatever happens in my life - I am in charge - there is no one else who can be thinking for me or doing things for me.

Now I get the thought to my head: - Many business owners especially the ones from "MLM" they always expect others to do something - but you know what? That is why 95% of them fail, get frustrated and even quit and say - Oh, MLM does not work or Oh, 3 foot rule does not work or Oh, my business sucks...

But you know what, when you stop expecting others to do something - they will do it automatically and if they don't - who cares, my business is growing with or without them so I am the winner, they are the losers...

All the best,

Brett

[Ken Klemm Contribution Level: 1]

What is the value of a hug, a kiss, a volunteer firefighter rescuing a child from a burning building, a Little League coach teaching a youngster how to field a ball, a Scoutmaster teaching a child how to build and safely maintain a campfire, a Red Cross volunteer comforting the survivor of a disaster?

All are free - and priceless!

Is there a fair trade without money?

When one gives a hug or kiss, one gets a hug or kiss. When one helps a child, one invests in the future of the community.



There may be others benefits as well. When someone mentors another without an agenda, I believe rewards come to the mentor - often from unexpected sources.