We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Stories Sell, Facts Tell’ yet too few of us make it part of our marketing. And by marketing I mean everything you say, send or show a prospect.
Let me share with you, here and now the most powerful story that I tell – and feel free to repeat it!
Now this story took place high above the state of Texas. Or as my friends in Texas call it, the Republic of Texas. You know where steaks are as wide as Western Australia.
When I first started in this industry, my immediate upline was as thick as a bag of hammers. So I had to search upline after upline until I found someone I respected to mentor me.
I know that’s never happened to anyone else!
Maureen was such a mentor to me…
She was doing very well in the business, and would fly in and out of our town to do trainings and build her business all over the world. After a big event I approached her and she took me under her wing and did some private coaching with me for a few hours.
Maureen asked me if she could tell me about her latest enrollee. She told me that it would help me – if I could figure out the lessons it would reveal.
This was that story…
She was flying between Houston and Dallas.
During her flight she looked at the fellow sitting next to her in first class. She decided to take the opportunity to prospect him.
Before she spoke, she examined her seat-mate to find something nice to say about him, and said:
“That’s a very attractive suit you’re wearing, what do [you do]?” (With emphasis on the words in italic)
He replied he was a VP of a big company that supplied the oil industry with tools. She went on to ask him more and more about his company -letting him brag with every response.
She laughed when she was retelling her story to me, saying “most people will talk and talk about something they find important – with self-important executives it’s usually their job.”
After he paused his self-bragging, she remarked, “I’ll bet that’s the kind of position that pays very well(?)”
He laughed, “Well, you know, I am very well compensated” etc., etc.
So after he finished even more bragging and basking in his own self-glow, he remembered his manners, and turned to her:
“So, what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a story teller,” She said very simply.
He laughed a little and spilt his drink, saying ‘Well, I guess there isn’t much money in that, is there?”
“Well, about $57,862 per month”
He had an involuntary body spasm and spilled even more of his drink on his expensive suit… “What? What? , What kind of stories do you tell!!?” he gasped.
“How I make $57,862 per month”
“Well, can you tell me that story!” he demanded.
She related her product story, her retail story, her positioning story, and her income story.
By the time the plane had landed he had joined and provided his credit card.
Now, Maureen’s story holds a lot of lessons for us as networkers.
I’m just going to cover this one:
When someone asks you what you do, instead of saying (for example) ‘I promote healthy coffee’ and hoping for someone to be instantly mesmerised- try saying ‘I’m a story teller…’ and then shut up.
Now only a completely self-absorbed jerk wouldn’t ask, ‘Well, what kind of stories do you tell?’
Now here’s where it’s up to you; ‘how drinking lots of coffee made me healthy’ and wait for them to bite and ask you to tell them your story…
Or how ‘a funny tasting herb makes me look years younger’.
Or as my friend Steve Shulenski in Queensland Australia says to his prospects… “How playing a short video on my iPhone is making me up to $25,000 a month because when people see what the product does… they immediately want it.”
Then when they bite… he tells them…
I’m in a hurry. If I show it to you right now you will want a live demonstration. Would you like me to text you a link to my website ShowThisAndGrowRich.com so you can watch the video on your smart phone? That way you can show it to your friends and watch the magic happen when they beg you to get product for them! Then give me a call and I’ll be happy to schedule a time to do a live demonstration for you and your friends.
Or whatever your product’s BENEFIT is, just fill in the blank…but in a way that’s either funny, interesting or invites curiosity…
(And if you can’t figure it out, email me for help DavidWilliamsAuthor@gmail.com)
So, think of your prospects like kids: tell ‘em a story!
Now, stories work in other forms of media too, not just when speaking to a prospect. Nearly each of my prospecting emails uses a story format to create interest, and to show I’m a real person. They’re powerful and they keep my phone ringing.
I had so many people asking to use them, I just gave up and published 3 books full of different autoresponder messages that you can use. They are full of stories, personality but most importantly, they get your prospects calling you.
Hey, don’t take my word for it, you can have 5 of these email messages for free – just visit www.DavidWilliamsMLMauthor.com and fill out the little form to grab ‘em. Easy as pie. They will work for ANY MLM!
Remember: Stories Sell, Facts tell!
About David Williams: David has networked all across North America, Mexico, and Europe. He’s a bestselling author How to Brand Yourself for your Network Marketing Business: 9 Simple Steps to Explode your Business Using Easy, Simple Methods Online, and many others. You can join his free weekly network marketing newsletter and get 5 free autoresponder emails to close your prospects by going to www.DavidWilliamsMLMauthor.com
