Don't Spill Your Candy in the Lobby

This article was shared with me by a good friend, Dawn Hansen. I recently came across it again and thought I would share it with you.

How often have you met someone at the grocery store, coffee house, restaurant etc.. that you have not seen for awhile and the first thing out of their mouth is this great business opportunity they have just became a part of and here are the products and their upline is making millions of dollars and you should join right away...blah...blah...blah.. Did you care? Did it make you want to jump right up and join?

Probably not. In fact if you are like me, you were probably wishing they would just go away. How many times has that happened to you online? Do you get flooded with messages on your wall and inbox...join this or go to this meeting, start making immediate income in your sleep. How did you respond? Did you just delete the message or decline the meeting? Did that person follow up with you or just send you another message or invite to their meeting? Are you one of those people?

I admit, I have been guiltily of doing it myself in the past and this is what is known as spilling your candy in the lobby. Try this instead - Rather than saying anything about your business, ask them questions about theirs, or questions about their life, family, likes, interests and don't mention anything about what you do, unless they ask. And when they do ask - DON'T BLAST THEM!

Think of something you can say in 17 seconds or less. For example; "I teach businesses how to increase their customer retention by sending thank you cards." or I show people how to market their products and services online and don't say anything else unless asked. You might be surprised at what you find out about people and it will help you to stop wasting your time trying to sell something to someone who really has no interest.

When you are trying to connect with people and grow your business there are a few things that you should do first especially if this is online:

1. Offer something of Value

2. Be sincere and don't blast them

3. Don't pitch your product or service right off the bat

I hope that this information has been of value to you.

Remember you were born for Greatness!

~To your Extraordinary Success

Are you looking for help with your business? If so connect with me and I may be able to offer some tips and advice.

~Lori Wagner

Business Owner, Speaker, Mentor

www.help4yourbusiness.com

1 member likes this

Comment

You need to be a member of Diva Cafe to add comments!

Join Diva Cafe

Comment by MKConnie on May 28, 2011 at 6:58pm: This is such a great article. I am so glad to be connected with so many talented women in divacafe! Thanks

Comment by Dawn McNary on February 3, 2011 at 10:11pm: Great advice...alot of this became clear with Twitter.....just talking with people online and it turned into a client relationship..and I did no selling whatsoever- we were talking about weather, and people, actors and actresses, and the joke of the day- and in so doing a relationship began...and when they needed my service they called on me, and when I needed something they offered they were my first call. Pretty cool stuff!!

Comment by Jody on January 25, 2011 at 5:02pm: Great advice, thanks for sharing!

Comment by Patricia Volpe on January 24, 2011 at 11:15am: GUILTY!

Thanks for the article. Now I know what NOT to do. =)

Comment by The BAM Project, Anita Smithson on January 21, 2011 at 1:22pm: This is great, and yes have been guilty of this... i think that when you meet someone via in person compliment them, build repor and get to know them (it's about them, not you)... m.e.i. and build something more then just yourself or business,

great article and so very true. honestly i IGNORE emails sent here, just about other people

*If people want to get to know me or have my busniess, you must try to build a friendship with me or atleast sound interested in me.... then I will respond.

Or when you network- you must be willing to referr others to PEOPLE, as you ask them to do the same for you! Helping others first, is the key to networking!

(I like this part of the article:

When you are trying to connect with people and grow your business there are a few things that you should do first especially if this is online:

1. Offer something of Value

2. Be sincere and don't blast them

3. Don't pitch your product or service right off the bat)

This was great article!

Comment by Dede on January 21, 2011 at 10:26am: Lorrie! We all have, myself included. Sometimes, I have to remember myself that I may not be be as important as I thought lol.

Comment by Lorrie Eubanks on January 21, 2011 at 10:12am: Thanks for the article I have been guilty of this in the past.

Comment by Dede on January 21, 2011 at 9:58am: It is so true Lori. There are several reasons people do this. They are either very inexperienced and don't know how to reach out in the most productive way or they are so busy that they just don't care and think that this is a numbers game.

It is a numbers game but you will get the most out of it if you network with real and genuine intentions. If you show an interest in HELPING someone instead of just trying to get attention for your business, you will see much higher results and spend less time posting worthless messages.

Remember, TIME is MONEY. If you constantly are cutting and pasting the same message to everyone you see in hopes of gaining more business, what you don't realize is that you are losing out on the majority of your contacts by doing this!

Take the time to get to know your contacts instead of just "self promoting" . You might gain two things, a future business partnership as well as a good friend. Isn't that why we are all here?