Prospects are everywhere. There are more than 7 BILLION people in the world. More importantly, most of us come in contact with at least 20 to 100 people per day. We’re just oblivious to the fact that and don’t realize it.
Never leave your house just to go prospecting. Instead, incorporate prospecting into your day-to-day life. Make a game out of it. Set a goal for how many people you will talk to each day.
Prospecting Tips
Here are some of my best prospecting tips.
Dress to impress – You don’t need to wear a suit, but make sure you present the right image. Have on clean clothes and be well groomed.
Check your breath – Brush your teeth, take a breath mint or chew gum so you don’t knock your prospect over.
Smile – This is one of your most important prospecting tools.
Be nice to people – Just be nice, even if you are having a bad day. Be a ray of sunshine to others.
Say hello to everyone – Get in the habit of saying hello to everyone you meet. This will help build up your people skills.
Create a simple Elevator Speech – You want a simple 1-2 sentence speech you can share with people when they ask you what you do.
Don’t sell on the first contact – Meet someone, make a good first impression, get their business card, and follow up with them in a few days.
Ask questions – If you ask questions, you are in control of the conversation and you can learn a lot.
Don’t give up on the first objection – Objections are normal. Expect them and embrace them.
Be confident – No one wants to do business with someone who lacks confidence.
Know when to walk away – Not everyone is a good prospect. Trust your instincts. If they are negative, mean, rude or giving you a hard time, move on.
Leverage the phone whenever possible – The phone is your friend. Don’t sit and hide behind your computer all the time.
Be interested, not just interesting – You will be welcomed everywhere you go if you learn how to listen.
Listen more than you talk – You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Use them in that proportion.
Create a great first impression – You never get a second chance to make a great first impression.
Don’t be too pushy – No one likes to be pressured or hard sold.
Keep your messages brief – Be short and to the point. The more you say the more you sound like a salesperson.
Say less to more people – It’s better to spend 1 minute with 100 people than 100 minutes talking to one person.
Be different -Think about what all other network marketers do and say and find a way to be different.
Get out of you comfort zone – Your comfort zone is your biggest enemy. Start doing things you are uncomfortable doing and watch your business grow.
Focus on the right prospects – Identify your ideal prospect ahead of time and focus on people within that demographic. Keep in mind not everyone is a good fit for your product or business.
Every prospect is a prospect for life – Remember that every prospect is a prospect for life.
Improve your people skills– Become more likeable. Become more relatable.
Focus on your prospect– Make sure the entire conversation is about your prospect, and what’s in it for them.
F.O.R.M. – This stands for family, occupation, recreation, message. If you don’t know what to talk about, focus on these things.
Places to Meet Prospects
Here are some simple places to meet prospects.
1. Join a bowling league
2. Join local civic organizations
3. Join your VFW or American Legion
4. Job Fair
5. Flea Market
6. Farmer’s Market
7. Car Show
8. Three Foot Rule
9. Hobbies
10. LinkedIn
11. Facebook
12. Chamber of Commerce
13. Ask for Referrals
14. Church
15. Cell Phone Contacts
16. Email Contacts
17. Restaurant
18. Bank
19. Barbershop
20. Gas Station
21. Gym
22. Movie Theater
23. Public Transportation
24. Uber/Lyft
25. Park
26. Dog park
27. Warm market
28. Facebook groups
29. BNI
30. Toastmasters
31. Parent Sporting Events
32. Generic network marketing events
The options are endless. My best advice is to incorporate prospecting into your day to day life. Never leave your house JUST to go prospecting, BUT always prospect while you are out and about living life.
Example One Liners for Prospecting
Here are some simple one-liners you can use to START a conversation with a prospect.
The Products
Have you ever heard of product XYZ?
Where do you currently buy your health products?
Would you like to save money on what you are already buying?
If I could show you how to get your products for free each month would that interest you?
What product are you currently taking to lose weight?
What product are you currently taking to help with your back pain?
What do you know about essential oils?
Have you ever purchased any type of health or wellness product?
If I could show you a similar product to what you are already buying, that is comparably priced and great quality, would you look at it?
How big of a check did your favorite store send you last month for shopping with them?
Would you like to learn how to get paid to shop?
The Business Opportunity
Are you keeping your options open?
Do you have an exit strategy from your job?
Are you happy with your current career?
Have you ever thought about working from home?
Have you ever owned a business before?
If you were going to start a home-based business today, what would be your ideal business?
What do you know about network marketing?
Do you currently have passive income?
Do you know anything about residual income?
Do you have any leverage with your job or business?
What would happen if you lost your job or your ability to work tomorrow?
Are you making as much money as you would like to?
Are you paid what you are worth?
If I could show you something that you could do part-time, to make some extra money, without giving up your day job, would that interest you?
What do you know about “your company name here”?
Good Prospects
For the Products
People Passionate About their Health
People who Exercise
People Who Already Buy Natural & Organic Products
People with disposable income who can AFFORD the products
Remember, it is next to impossible to convert someone who buys their supplements from the Dollar Tree to see the value in what our products offer. Plus, if someone really doesn’t care about their health, they won’t be interested in what you are offering them.
For the Business
Entrepreneurs
I love recruiting entrepreneurs and small business owners. They understand hard work, delayed gratification, and investing in their business. Plus, many of them work long hours and are looking for an exit plan from their business.
Professionals
This would include realtors, insurance agents, accountants, lawyers, etc. These folks typically have a large sphere of influence. They are respected by their peers. When they speak, others listen.
Network Marketers
Keep your eyes and ears open for free agent network marketers. Anyone with previous MLM experience can be a good prospect. Don’t try to “steal” people from their current company, but if you find someone “inbetween” companies, talk to them.
Commission Based Sales People
Anyone who works on commission is a great prospect for your business. Why? They understand merit based pay. They love working on commission. Plus, they’re normally hard workers.
Influencers
Think of the most influential people you know. This might include your pastor, volunteers of civic organizations, and social media influencers. These folks normally have a large following and a lot of credibility with their audience.
Side Hustlers
Think of anyone currently doing a side hustle. This might include selling on eBay, babysitting, dog walking, driving for Uber, tutoring, doing AirBNB or countless other things.
Stay at Home Moms
Many stay at home moms are looking for extra income and something to help them “regain” their identity and worth.