What does your conversation sound like to them?

We often get caught up in our own excitement and our interest in trying to impress the prospect that we forget that they are the one who has to buy into what we are doing.

When we start talking about what we are doing in the business and how the business is going to change our lives and our prospect loses focus and never connects what their part in your master plan. Your conversation comes across more like a news report than an invitation.

It is critical that you share your excitement but more important that you do it in a way that keeps your prospect connected.

Here are five ways to keep your prospects interest and build their dream:

• Share your story and then ask for theirs. What are their dreams? If the prospect can't come up with something ask for specifics.

  Would you like to:
  - quit your job?
  - upgrade your home or car?
  - take Vacations?
  - have money for retirement? have more time freedom?
  

• When you present details about the product or company ask what they like or dislike about what they just heard.

• Obtain important details like:
  - How soon would they be looking to get involved,
  - Would there be anyone else involved in the decision process,
  - how much additional income would allow them to live comfortably each month.

• Ask pointed questions about their current situation. What do they like and dislike about what they are doing today. Do they like their boss, benefits, retirement, co-workers
  

• Last suggestion is help them dream. Try something like: "If I can show you a way to help you get _________ and change ___________ and you could do it without without risking what you have today would you be interested?"
  

Your goal should be to keep your prospect talking more than 50% of the time. This is also a way to qualify your prospect. If they are open and sharing then you know this is someone you can work with and will be good working with others.

Five Steps to connect with people online (The Power of Five System)

The biggest mistake networkers make is trying to make one contact and close a sale online. It is one thing if someone finds your site, gets excited, and orders, it is a completely different dynamic when you contact a prospect and try to hard sell them on you and your product before they get to know who you are.

We have found the following to be effective ways to find and qualify new prospects online:

1. Search - Use the power of the internet to search for people with like interests. Those interests do not have to relate to your business in any way. The search should be based on a conversation starter and not a sales pitch.
2. Invite - Invite that person to be a friend, contact, etc. Many sites allow you to invite with a message, which can help you get a better result on your invites. Let them know why or how you found them.
3. Connect - Once your prospect accepts your friend request start a conversation
4. Qualify - Remain in control of the conversation by asking questions which will result in specific answers. Is this person right for your business and someone you want to work with?
5. Follow-up - Keep your contacts close. When you make a contact use the philosophy that: Some will, some won't, but today is just one day. Today may not be the best day for someone to decide to join your company or purchase your product. You never know when the right time will be for this person to take a second look at your business. The biggest mistake in marketing is not following up on past contacts. Each new qualified contact should be treated like an uncut diamond.

Michael Zimmer is the author of the Power of Five System, 5 lessons every Entrepreneur should know about building a Multi-Million Dollar Network.

Did you give them a chance? (Five ways to get results for your efforts - The Power of Five)

Something that happened to me personally inspired this thought. I was headed off to a phone conference, met with my client who scheduled the call only to find out I was an hour early. I rushed out for nothing because I did not spend the time to read the email through. The email said 9:00 AM Central time, not 9:00 AM Eastern time. In my rush to get to the next thing I glazed over the email, scheduled the call in my planner and moved on. The client was shocked to see me an hour before the meeting and thought I was there for another reason.

If you are having an issue getting prospects to meet with you chances are you or they are doing the same thing. Rushing to get onto the next thing, whatever it is and not properly sharing or receiving the message. Help your prospect make an informed decision.

Here are a 5 ways to help you avoid rushing people to a decision:

• Approach with excitement, not with details.
• Invite them to a meeting, one-on-one, phone, web-conference. Invite without losing control: "If I set up a time for us to meet are you serious enough to attend? This is serious and I can't waste time."
• Confirm your appointment - Confirm with conviction: (Just like your doctor): "I am following up on our meeting tomorrow. Are you still planning to attend ? My schedule is filling up (conference call is filling up) and if you cancel I am not sure when I can get you back in, it will probably be a couple of weeks."
• Never answer questions before your meeting. Regardless what the question is, let them know that all of their questions will be answered when you meet. You can give them many reasons for this but the best ones are: You have a partner and they can better answer the questions or They have to see it for themselves, you don't want to ruin it for them, etc.
• Work with your upline, sideline, downline. Having a second person who is also involved with the business available, even if it is over the phone or internet, helps the person see that this is more than they thought.

Michael Zimmer is the author of the Power of Five System, 5 lessons every Entrepreneur should know about building a Multi-Million Dollar Network.

How do you know you want me in your business?

We talk about how we are in our own business, but do we treat this like it is a business or a quick product sale?

We are constantly trying to recruit everyone and anyone and then we wonder why most people are not interested.

The reason is simple, people want what is just outside of their reach. They want to be involved with something special. They want to learn and grow.

If you are offering something that anyone can do and anyone can get involved in, then why would anyone want to be part of it?

This is the real secret to enrolling new people quickly: Make it special, make it limited, and stop trying to recruit just anyone. Honestly, what you are offering is a new life, a better life, a better product, and a way out. You are offering someone unlimited income and time freedom.

Treat this business like you are cutting checks for a billion dollars to each person who you enroll. Would you just give your money away to anyone?

Would you qualify that person to ensure that they are worthy of your billion dollars before you cut the check?

The Real Secret

There is only one secret to business and it is making contact with people and forming relationships with those people. If you are not social and not willing to change then you can not survive in direct sales. I don't care what system you use. Being successful in this or any business is more about forming relationships and less about selling DVD's, products, leads, or systems.

• It doesn't matter that 90% or more quit, in fact it forces companies to pay better. If the compensation plan is good then all you need is 5 personally sponsored people working the duplication model to create substantial income.
• It doesn't matter if your family or friends are contacted. Why would you not share what you are doing with the people you love and hang out with.
• Top leaders are not harboring a secret way of doing the business. It makes no sense that they would not teach you to build the business the same way they do so you create income. After all they share your income so of course they want you to be successful.

If someone is telling you to post an advertisement or promote a system on a social network to be successful they are steering you down a dead end path. Chances are you will find little or no success and in a few weeks you will be out of business.

If you are truly interested in being successful in business then look for a real product, a reputable company, and a team of people willing to help you learn the business.

You do not need to buy leads, buy special programs, or invest big money in websites. Chances are you already own everything you need if you are viewing this message - your voice, a phone, and a computer.

Five ways to attract new people to your business that cost next to nothing

Five ways to attract new people to your business that cost next to nothing to use – The power of Five System:

• Person to Person invite – Personal referrals are the most powerful way to attract a new person. People want to connect with people, not products or services. Make a connection by inviting the person out for coffee or someplace social before you begin to speak about your product or business.
• Social Networking – Use the power of online social networks to attract new people. You are searching for a variety of new prospects that have like interests. Avoid focusing on one group and avoid only attempting to attract other people already in your industry.
• Blogging/forums/Email – Attract people to you by sharing your message. It doesn’t matter what you write as long as it is entertaining and engaging. Placing an advertisement on a blog site is not blogging. Express yourself.
• Conference Calls/Live Events – Put the power of having partners to work for you in building your business. Information coming from other people also involved in your business builds credibility for your business.
• Fishbowl Leads - Use a plastic fish bowl or other container to collect business card leads at restaurants, health clubs, and stores. Offer some form of monthly prize like a free lunch from the establishment or a special discount. Offer to share the leads and split the cost of the monthly prize for an inexpensive or free-of-charge lead opportunity.

The Power of Five System demonstrates ways to turn a network of five people into a substantial monthly income. The system was designed by Michael Zimmer who is a business and marketing consultant with over 20 years experience. For more information about The Power of Five System he can be contacted directly at mjzimmer@takingmeglobal.com.

21 ways to make your website or blog sticky

I just found this great blog post on 21 ways to make your website or blog sticky (keep 'em coming back).

Worth the read: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/07/18/21-ways-to-make-your-blog-or-website-sticky/

The difference between good and great

The attached link was shared with me a couple of times but is always worth watching another time. The 212 the Extra Degree movie is a powerful message which is worth sharing over and over. http://www.212movie.com/

Want to get noticed?

Travel like a rock star – Try Twitter.com. Twitter lets you follow people and people follow you. What better way to promote yourself then let people know what you are doing, what you are working on, and where you are going?

Do lead systems work?

There are dozens of lead generation systems and dozens of ways to obtain leads. The bottom line on leads and lead systems is they are a great way of bringing people to your door. If you are seeing results without leads but need to bring more people your way then a good lead system can increase your results.

If you are not currently seeing results without a lead system there are a few things you should consider before buying into a lead system:

• Systems can be expensive. We have found fresh leads costing between $2 and $30 each.
• Leads are generally shared with 2 or more other people immediately from different companies so your competition is knocking on the same door at the same time.
• While the lead company tries to sell a lead as a warm contact, they are truly strangers in your cold market.

Here are a few ways we have found will help when working with leads:

• Make your contact as if you are planning to have a long term relationship with this new person. This means do not approach the call like they are a hot molecule and ready to sign. If your lead gets the impression that you are desperate to get them into your business chances are they will shy away. You are looking to connect with your prospect and build trust.
• Take the lead in your call and remain in control. Don't let your prospect assume control for one second. If they try to take control and you do not snap it back they will get the impression that you are not someone that will help them.
• Questions and concerns raised by your lead during conversation are good you want questions. However you do not want to answer their questions, you want them answering your questions. Let them know there will be a time for there questions after they have seen the material. Generally people are looking for a quick answer that they can turn into an excuse.
• If the person says no today or if you completely botched the call, do not throw away that lead. Set up a contact schedule 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year later. You paid a lot for the lead and you want first shot at signing this person. We have watched leaders move to the top of the pay plan purchasing old leads and signing people that others contacted once and threw away.