Stop Promoting Your Business

Article by Tina Wells
Yep, you read it right! Stop promoting your business. How many times a day do you surf the net and see ad after ad full of hype. You just roll your eyes and go on about your day totally forgetting that you even saw those type ads. I know we all get so tired of flashy, big promise making, ads. Who are they kidding? I don’t know about you but I can’t seem to take those seriously.

On the other hand you see an ad that doesn’t appear to be promising the farm and has that “down home” appeal. You immediately click on it and see a “real” person’s site with “real” information that appeals to you. Wow the whole story about where they are from, how they got started, their family life- it’s all there in black and white. This immediately sets this person apart from all the internet hype. You read on and they even have a phone number where you can actually “reach” them! Now you’re really excited. You just don’t see it in that fashion these days.

Yes it’s someone who’s learned the ropes. They’ve hit the gold mine of network marketing. It’s not the most expensive ads about their business. No, they’ve learned to “brand” themselves online. It’s not about the business. Well, it is somewhat but take this scenario. You walk into a car dealership. Immediately a guy walks up and gives you a 30 second commercial and you’re waiting for someone to scream “Cut!” In the back of your mind you think “oh no, not one of these guys.” You absolutely can’t stand a “pushy” salesman; neither can the rest of us. But say you back up. You walk into the same dealership. A nice young man walks up and asks you how you are and looks down at your 2 year old whose just waiting for some attention. He tells her how pretty she looks today. Wow, he’s not trying to stick me into the first car we see? He then proceeds to ask you if you’re from around here and tells you where he’s from. A decent conversation is going on. Finally he asks what he can do for you. By this time you are relaxed and ready to look around.

Now, compare the two situations. Which one would you most likely buy from? The pushy big mouth, or the guy that didn’t try to sell his “business” first but made a connection to you? Yes it’s all too often looked over in this industry. It’s all about the almighty dollar. We find ourselves wanting that new partner and we forget that it’s not the business that sells; it’s YOU. Stop promoting your business and promote YOU. Establish a connection with your potential partners or buyers first. Build integrity before the sale. Show them who YOU are. Then the business will come naturally. Try being honest and see what happens! It never hurts to try the road less traveled!