Have You Heard this Statement Before - Excited about a new opportunity and sharing it with a couple of my closest friends."?

Okay, I am probably going to upset a few people with this. I know there are all sorts of selling techniques out there, but this one just bothers me because it seems so unauthentic...and I guess I’ve been fooled in the past.

You know the deal – you get a call or an email from someone you have met before and possibly think of them more than just an acquaintance (maybe), and they are one of those people always looking for the next best business deal. Now I love their excitement and their ability to go after something and take that risk, but let’s be truthful – you are not just contacting a “few” of us because we hold a special place in your heart and you really want to offer only us this amazing opportunity to better our lives. You need people to sign up under you to make money – and you either think of us as good people who will get the concept and run with it or you think we are gullible and sign up just because we believe you hand-picked us especially because you just are set on helping us personally succeed in life.

Background Story –I have had someone tell me they were looking for 1-2 people to expand their business, and they just thought having someone like me as a business partner would be a perfect fit – what they were selling was Amway. Then I had another person call me and want me to view a video and listen to a phone call because he really thought it would better my life – when I asked it if I could institute this product or service as part of my virtual assistance business, he said he didn’t think so – so I told him I would pass – and he then stated “fine if you don’t want to become rich” and hung up on me. Then recently, I got the urgent email from a friend whom I have not heard from in quite some time saying “please give me a call – I have something to share with you,” and when I replied back, he said he was sharing this opportunity with a few of his special friends. Hmmm…call me jaded, but I think I’ll pass.

For me, it all boils down to trust. These ways of “selling” just seem dishonest. Now don’t get me wrong, I am definitely not against the MLM world, and some of the best people I have had the privilege to know are very successful at it – and I trust them. They never pulled some sneaky sales tactics with me. They got to know me, learn about me, and I got to know them and learn about their business. Of course, the opportunity to join was usually discussed, but not in a slimy way. You know what I mean?

Labels: building relationships, trust in selling