The Top Five Things Network Marketing Taught Me
This especially applies to my networking marketing days. Yes, I’ve been involved in a few network marketing scams businesses. I’ve sold legal insurance - yes, the one you’re thinking of - and I’ve almost sold knives and motivational tapes. Now to my chagrin, I remember attending weekly hype sessions meetings, buying tapes, DVDs, business cards, etc., and learning how to sell, sell, sell. They would parade moneymakers on stage to give their testimony, and I would imagine climbing up that every-so-slippery pyramid and big bucks rolling in. However, pile of money ain’t worth the trouble if you don’t give a blip about what you’re selling. Of course, I dropped out despite driving over 500 miles to attend a national mega hype session conference. But that’s another story.
But now that network marketing training is kicking in. This time, I care the product, I am the product. If people don’t connect with me, they won’t invest in my art. I have to be the best agent for my work. So what did all of the pyramid scheme indoctrination training teach me?
1.Who do you know? The NM world didn’t encourage cold calling. When you are snookered in recruited, you may be asked to write the names of everyone you know - friends, coworkers, church members. Everyone was a potential customer. The people you already know are the people you build your business on. A great art business blog ArtBizBlog confirmed the importance of the contact list. Ok, so those awkward times having squirming victims prospects listening to my spiel wasn’t all for naught.
Talk about your business. Finagle a way to discuss your business with x number of people per week. I have to make myself “get out there” (the most overused dating/networking advice phrase) and talk to new people each week about Art by Brina. Even in casual conversation, being an artist is such a part of who I am, it’s bound to come up. It’s almost second nature to me.
Make your business part of your routine. In NM land, it is imperative that you attend the weekly meeting. Better yet, bring a naive friend with you! Once a year, go to the national conference. Ok, I’ll translate this to art speak. Attend a weekly art event for inspiration. Invite a friend. You may go even attend an artist’s retreat or workshop. Blog, tweet, email, exhibit on a regular basis.
Get motivated! Because you’re gonna need it after all that rejection you’re going to get! Trust me - people have no inkling why you’re trying to sell them insurance or kitchen knives. Likewise, selling art isn’t like selling candy. It was my job as an artist/salesperson to show people why they need my art. They need to know why it speaks to me and how it will speak to them. So rally with like-minded crazies who love to create stuff! The rest of the world just doesn’t understand!
Go team! Upline. Downline. Group. Family. NM is all about people, people, people. The business of art is no different. I need people to give advice, make prints, schedule, support, critique, etc. Networking doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Artists, galleries, dealers help one another keep this art thing going. Take care of people who take care of you.
Closing thoughts. Networking can be as fun or as draining as I want it to be. I don’t have to be fake. I can only approach people who I want to approach. I won’t try too hard or it will be unnatural. I won’t associate with people that I would not tolerate under normal circumstances. I’ll be genuine and smile often. I will always keep a stack of business cards on me - I never know who I might meet! (Just last night I left my b cards at home, arrrgh!) Go with the flow and push some boundaries.
(reposted from previous blog)