Networking Skills

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacquesWerth

Of all the sales and marketing activities that I know of, networking is the least effective and least productive.

I don't suppose you are a member of BNI?

Even though I'm in BNI AND have been with one network marketing company ten years, I'd have to agree with Jacques on this. My success with network marketing [and BNI] has more to do with learning how to conduct myself in a conventional sales manner and teaching others how to do that along with a system of training and information exposure we use.

The biggest challenge I see in network marketing is amateurs trying to be successful with insufficient training -- the biggest challenge I see in networking in general is getting over lots of BS and useless social events.

There have been some very successful people in BNI though and they've done it by offering services people either want or don't want - so I'd say it's not the networking but the sixty second sound byte that works, not the pats on the back and coffee.

MitchM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchM

Even though I'm in BNI AND have been with one network marketing company ten years, I'd have to agree with Jacques on this.

Are you agreeing to Jacques statement, "Of all the sales and marketing activities that I know of, networking is the least effective and least productive"?

"I'd have to agree with Jacques on this" -- MitchM

I'd have to qualify this statement - I'm not exactly sure what I JW means by networking nor have I had his experience in sales to be able to compare "all sales and marketing activities" with networking.

Having said that, if networking means conversing at Chamber events, spreading the news through the grapeving of what I do/have/sell/promote, if networking means letting people know of my products and visa versa in the hopes that this becomes word-of-mouth advertising bringing me business, if JW and I were to agree with those things I'd agree fully with his statement from my experiences and the experiences of others I've seen.

The network marketing of what I do which is called network marketing is the creation of a distribution network BUT the most successful people I've watched now in creating their networks - in networking - have gone about it in what I'd call a sales way meaning making lots of phone and one-on-one contacts to tell people about something and ask if it's something they want to look at.

MitchM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchM

I'm not exactly sure what I JW means by networking nor have I had his experience in sales to be able to compare "all sales and marketing activities" with networking.

Jacques can you clarify what you mean by networking?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchM

Having said that, if networking means conversing at Chamber events, spreading the news through the grapeving of what I do/have/sell/promote, if networking means letting people know of my products and visa versa in the hopes that this becomes word-of-mouth advertising bringing me business...

Mitch you mentioned you were a member of BNI. What meaning does BNI assign to "Networking"?

Ivan Misner is the founder of this franchise Business Networking International - the motto is "givers gain" and by educating each other about what we sell then asking for specific referals we become an outside sales force for every one.

In our group the man who does home repairs always gets referrals as does the man who runs an auto repair shop. The financial advisor has done very well as has the carpet cleaner. The Mary Kay rep does well. The woman who works for a furnature store and the mad who is in commercial real estate don't get much business.

So the purpose of BNI is to educate one another and pass referrals. I have mixed feelings about it - it's payed off for me and I've made some good contacts for work and things I need, but it hasn't paid off for me as well as others.

MitchM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchM

Ivan Misner is the founder of this franchise Business Networking International - the motto is "givers gain" and by educating each other about what we sell then asking for specific referals we become an outside sales force for every one.

In our group the man who does home repairs always gets referrals as does the man who runs an auto repair shop. The financial advisor has done very well as has the carpet cleaner. The Mary Kay rep does well. The woman who works for a furnature store and the mad who is in commercial real estate don't get much business.

So the purpose of BNI is to educate one another and pass referrals. I have mixed feelings about it - it's payed off for me and I've made some good contacts for work and things I need, but it hasn't paid off for me as well as others.

MitchM

Of all the sales and marketing activities that hardly sounds like the least effective and least productive... at least for the home repair and auto repair shop guys.

But it may not be as effective as other ways to market - I have never asked them.

Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchM

But it may not be as effective as other ways to market - I have never asked them.

Mike

That's a far cry from, "Of all the sales and marketing activities that I know of, networking is the least effective and least productive". Wouldn't you say Mike?

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