Welcome back, my friend! If you’ve been following along, you know that in the previous lesson, we dove deep into the importance of branding yourself to attract people. And if you haven’t read Lesson Number 1 yet, what are you waiting for? Go check it out right now—I’ll wait.
Now, let’s get real for a second. People don’t care about your company, your products, or even your compensation plan. You are the most important thing in the equation of success. You are the company. You are the product. You are the compensation plan. Sounds intense, right? But it’s the truth. In the world of network marketing, people buy into you before they buy into anything else.
So, how do you brand yourself? How do you make sure that when people think of success in network marketing, they think of you? Well, it all boils down to mastering two crucial skills: Leadership and Marketing. These are the twin pillars that will support your journey to the top. Let’s break them down.
Leadership: The Magnet That Attracts Success
Let’s start with leadership. Imagine you’re a magnet, and success is a pile of metal filings just waiting to be drawn to you. The stronger your leadership, the more those filings (a.k.a. people) will stick to you. Great leaders have a way of making people listen, follow, and—dare I say it—idolize them. They have a presence, an authority, that others just can’t resist.
Think about the greatest network marketers of our time. I’m talking about people like Holton Buggs, Randy Gage, Eric Worre, Tim Sales, and the modern online network marketers like Mike Dillard, Ray Higdon, Jonathan Budd, Anik Singal, and Daegan Smith. What do they all have in common? They understand that success in network marketing is all about branding yourself as a leader. People should know you before they know the company, product, or compensation plan. They should trust you before they trust anything else.
Leadership isn’t about bossing people around or having all the answers. It’s about passion, problem-solving, and connection. Leaders are the ones who find solutions to challenges, who inspire others to reach their full potential. They’re the people who make you believe that you can achieve greatness too.
“Think of leadership like being the lead singer in a rock band. Sure, the drummer and guitarist are cool, but let’s be honest—everyone’s there for the frontman (or frontwoman).”
To brand yourself as a leader, start by building the leadership qualities within you. Read, learn, grow, and most importantly, lead by example. Show people that you’re the real deal, and they’ll naturally gravitate toward you.
Marketing: The Art of Attraction, Not Selling
Now, let’s talk about marketing—one of my favorite topics. Here’s where most people get it wrong: they think marketing is all about selling. But guess what? It’s not. We’re in network marketing, not network selling. There’s a big difference. Selling is about pushing a product; marketing is about attracting people to you.
One of the biggest mistakes I see network marketers make is chasing after people with the same old pitch: “Our company has the best product and the best compensation plan. We’re the best in the world!” And you know what my response to that is? I DON’T CARE!
Let me break it down for you. People aren’t interested in your company, your product, or your compensation plan—at least not right off the bat. They’re interested in what’s in it for them. They’re interested in solving their problems, fulfilling their desires, and avoiding pain. Your job as a marketer is to show them how you can help them do just that.
“Stop selling drills, and start selling holes. Because let’s face it—nobody’s dreaming about drills, but everyone wants the perfect hole.”
The Psychology of Marketing: Pleasure vs. Pain
Here’s a little nugget of wisdom that will change the way you approach marketing forever: people take action for two reasons—either to gain pleasure or to avoid pain. That’s it. Those are the two drivers behind every decision we make.
When you’re marketing your network marketing opportunity, the key question you need to ask is this: Will the prospect gain more pleasure and avoid pain when I show them my opportunity, or will they experience more pain and less pleasure? If the answer is the latter, they’re not going to be interested.
The best way to ensure your prospects gain pleasure and avoid pain is to focus on providing value. Give them valuable information that solves their problems. Don’t just pitch your company or your products. Did they tell you they wanted to join your company? No. What they want is a solution to their problems. So, give them that solution, and they’ll love you for it.
“Remember, nobody wakes up thinking, ‘Gee, I’d love to join a network marketing company today.’ But they do wake up thinking, ‘I wish I could solve [insert problem here].’”
Shift your focus from selling to giving. Attack your prospect’s problem head-on and offer a solution. When you do that, you’ll find that people are drawn to you like a magnet. They’ll be eager to work with you because you’ve shown them that you care about their needs.
Step 1: Create Something of Value
The first step in this process is to create something of value. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—just something that your prospects will find useful. It could be an online training course, a short video with a killer tip, a valuable Facebook community, a 10-page PDF, or even a quick 10-minute consultation over the phone. The key is that it needs to have high perceived value to your prospect.
When you create something of value, you’re not just giving away information—you’re establishing yourself as an expert, a leader, and someone worth listening to. It’s a way to build trust and credibility with your prospects before you even mention your business opportunity.
“Think of it like giving away free samples at Costco. Once they’ve had a taste, they’re going to want the whole thing.”
Don’t overthink it. Create something simple yet valuable that addresses a specific pain point or desire of your target audience. Then, give it a catchy title that grabs attention and makes people want to know more.
Step 2: Announce It As a Limited Opportunity
Once you’ve created your value piece, it’s time to let the world know about it. But here’s the trick: don’t just post it everywhere and hope for the best. You need to create a sense of urgency and exclusivity. Announce it as a limited opportunity—whether it’s limited in time, availability, or access.
People are naturally drawn to things that are scarce or exclusive. It’s a psychological principle known as the scarcity effect. When you announce your value piece as a limited opportunity, you’re tapping into this powerful motivator. Suddenly, people who might have otherwise ignored your offer are scrambling to get their hands on it before it’s too late.
“Ever notice how the ‘limited-time’ menu items at your favorite restaurant are always the ones you have to try? It’s not a coincidence—it’s marketing magic.”
Post a teaser or curiosity update on your profile, fan page, or group. Make sure people see the value in what you’re offering and know that it won’t be available forever. Then, give them a clear call to action, like commenting or liking your post to get access.
Step 3: Reply Back to People Who Responded
Now comes the final—and arguably most important—step: following up. This is where most people drop the ball. They create something of value, announce it to the world, and then… crickets. Don’t let that be you. You must ALWAYS personally reply back to each person who responds. No group messaging, no generic replies. Make it personal.
The follow-up is where the magic happens. It’s where you build relationships, establish trust, and move people closer to joining your team. The more personal you make your follow-up, the more people will get to know, like, and trust you. This is what we call a “touch point.” It takes multiple touch points for people to feel comfortable enough to join your business, so make each one count.
“Think of follow-up like dating. You wouldn’t propose marriage on the first date, right? You’ve got to build the relationship first.”
When you follow up, make it personal. Address the person by name, acknowledge their interest, and provide them with the value piece you promised. If they express further interest, schedule a call or invite them to learn more about your business opportunity.
How to Get It All Wrong—And What to Do Instead
Let me tell you what not to do. Most people create something of value, get all excited, and then immediately post a link to it on their profile or email it out to their list. Big mistake. Here’s why: when something is too easy to get, people don’t value it as much. It’s just human nature.
Think about it: if someone handed you a free sample of gourmet chocolate at the store, you’d probably appreciate it more than if they just left a bowl of chocolates out for anyone to grab. The same principle applies here. If you want people to value what you’re offering, they need to feel like they’re getting something special, something they had to earn.
“It’s like the difference between a free concert in the park and a backstage pass to meet the band. One’s cool, but the other’s unforgettable.”
Instead of giving away your value piece right away, create some hoops for people to jump through first. Make them comment, like, or fill out a quick form. This not only increases the perceived value but also builds anticipation and engagement.
Turning Value into Sign-Ups: The Secret Sauce
So, how do you turn all this value-giving into actual sign-ups? Simple. Before you hand over the goods, schedule a call with your prospect or ask them to fill out an application. This is your chance to offer them an opportunity to work closely with you and your team. If it’s a good fit, sponsor them into your business. If not, no worries—you still give them the value piece as promised.
This approach not only helps you filter out who’s serious about your opportunity but also gives you a chance to build a deeper connection with your prospects. People are more likely to join a business when they feel like they’re working with someone who genuinely cares about their success.
“Think of it like inviting someone to join your VIP club. They get the perks, you get the partnership—it’s a win-win.”
Always follow through on your promise. Even if someone doesn’t join your business, give them the value piece they were interested in. This keeps the relationship positive and leaves the door open for future opportunities.
Your Turn to Shine
There you have it—everything you need to know about branding yourself, marketing like a pro, and turning value into sign-ups. These strategies aren’t just theory—they’re the exact steps I used to attract 51 buyers to me the other day. And guess what? You can do it too.
Remember, you are the brand. You are the product. You are the compensation plan. The more you focus on building your leadership and marketing skills, the more people will be drawn to you. And when that happens, success is inevitable.
So, have you ever tried this method before? Did you get any results? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Drop a comment below, share this article with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networks, and let’s keep the conversation going. After all, sharing is caring—and caring is the foundation of every successful network marketer.
Yours in Success,
Lusabara Essau