Friends Lead to Success in Social Networking

Do you feel that many folks on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks spend the majority of their time SELLING and not even try to make friends with you? I do.

Now, I am not against making money. That’s one reason why we are all in business, right? BUT, have you ever gone to a party when someone you don’t know says “Hi! I’m Bill. Would you like to buy something from me?” Gross, right?

So, I am in favor of providing value, making friends. Yes, I, too fail sometimes. But I know that the way that we can truly help others succeed in their business is to befriend them – find out their pain. In fact, this is the same way that we can find new customers or business partners. The ‘ol FORM is key. FORM = Family, Occupation, Recreation, Money. Just ask questions to find out more about their family, their job, what they do in their free time and how they spend their available cash. Here’s a hint. If they are not willing to share, it is an indication that you are still coming off too much as a sales person.

How do we improve? Be sincere in your desire for friendship. Share your life with them. You do NOT need to be the perfect, polished network marketing pro in order to gain friends, in order to gain customers, in order to gain business partners. Several of my friends have shared excellent tips on how to excel.

Trish Mullen stated that “I have been thinking over the past couple of days how everyone is just speed selling all the time on all of the social networks”. Nancy Burban reminds us that those who spam or try to sell constantly lose friends & followers quickly. Ellen Graeger stated that she makes friends with personal comment on their articles, writing on their wall, replying to their questions.

A very close friend of mine, Jocelyn Jones, let me know her secret: The way that I make friends is start out by introducing myself and telling them about my children and interests. I then ask them about themselves. Once they respond, I then ask them about their experiences with Network Marketing, how long they’ve been involved, their likes, dislikes, struggles, etc. I don’t try to “pitch” them my opportunity the second we make contact. That DRIVES me crazy when people try to cram their opportunity down my throat the second we talk. Sound like wise advice?

Theo Marcellus rightly suggests that “People sign up with people, not with businesses. If someone likes and trusts you, he/she will do business with you and follow you.” We have heard this advice many times. Let’s pay attention to it.

Vernon Nate gave me this advice. When I’m looking to befriend people on all social networks, my intention is to build long time relationships and not to just sell them. People do business with people that they know and TRUST. My mindset when I’m connecting with people on the internet is to add VALUE to them and truly help them be successful. With these combinations, you will stand out from the rest of marketers out there.

Robert Reed had a unique suggestion: How fast you get referrals depends on how fast you give referrals and the product or service you offer, of course. Here’s what he did: I created a referral website where I place video business cards with all of my networking friends on it.

Finally, I want to finish with thoughts from my friend Barry O. Canada:

Just be yourself. I completely forget about the business and focus my attention on connecting. If you really care about people and you want to provide them solutions, you need to know their problems. It takes time for people to see that you are not trying to con them into something, but that you have a genuine interest for them and what they may be going through. Slow and steady, building lasting friendships and partners along the way… that’s how I am building my business. For the record… it really disturbs me when someone greets me with their business. However, I come to expect that on Facebook. Then I focus on building a relationship with them and teaching them the appropriate way to market their business. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they do not.

Now I received dozens of suggestions to help you in our great industry, and they all fall right in line with the great suggestions I’ve included. I am just sorry I didn’t have space to include even more. Nonetheless, pay close attention to these suggestions and you will succeed in network marketing. The road to success in our industry is to make true friends and to help others.

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