Is The Sick Sense Scaring Off Your Profits?
by @CoachDeb · Filed Under: Marketplace Molesters · New Media Marketing Tips · Social Marketing · Tribal Seduction Principles
Today’s marketplace is a radically new world for sales professionals. Making sales requires a different vision and marketing mindset. New Media has created a whole new paradigm in the world of marketing and social media. If you can embrace it – there’s hope for you and your business.
But some, I fear, have been inflicted by the “Sick Sense” and are suffering as a result.
It doesn’t matter whether you do business online or off-line, the old-school style of interruption marketing (molestation) will not be tolerated. At least not by me. Will you tolerate it?
Have you ever noticed how some sales people (network marketers more often than not) suffer from the Sick Sense? Instead of seeing dead people (like Haley Joel Osment did in the movie Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis), they see something very similar. This illness immediately kills their chances of increasing their profits or gaining more clients.
I share what they see in this video. Let me know if you’ve ever come across people like this – so I know I’m not alone in my frustrations.
Watch to see if you’re been afflicted with the Sick Sense from past old-school marketing training, and learn the cure.
Then answer the question that will determine how much success you achieve in today’s New Media Marketplace — What do you see when you look across today’s marketplace?
The Sick Sense is a horror story you don’t want to live with.
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Deborah Micek is a co-founder of the international business coaching company RPM Success Group ® Inc. She and her partner John Paul are authors of the hit book Secrets Of Online Persuasion and creators of the BLOG i360™ New Media Marketing system. |
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22 Responses to “Is The Sick Sense Scaring Off Your Profits?”
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Deb,
Good one! Its so much easier to make friends a lot easier than “making” customers. Because our business still operates locally, I spent about 5 hours Saturday, going booth/tent to booth at a local Builder Showcase, in 95 degree heat(East Coast.) I introduced my self, stayed out of the way when actual customer/prospects came near, talked about their business, the economy, gas prices, and the Heat! I came home with about 50 business cards. Ten I remembered as particularly interested in some need, another 20 who were conversational and open. And the remaining 20, who were either absent or too busy, or just not interested.
To me that was a great day! I made new friends some of whom, I evangelized to about social Marketing and had notes on sending them some info. Some of them had specific needs for items in my product line, some were just impressed with our “no minimum order” or “no setup fee” policies. Most of our competitors in town, turn customers away if they don’t meet the minimum order size. I could go on and on, but this was fun.
I’m sure you know the “high” of all that, having filmed this video after along day of presenting and paneling. Sure I had to hand out cards and explain what we do, but usually I was asked. Yes I was wearing an embroidered shirt with our company name and logo, so I usually started by pointing at it and telling them the rest is on the back of our card, and the web site is on the front. Please check out our Examples page and the Clothing page where we have direct links to the manufacturers. Did I fail to mention here “we’re an Embroidery/… Shop, well now I did.
And yes I followed up that evening with 50 e-mails telling these business people of a place where they could market locally for free. And out of that 50 only 2 were already there, 2 other had no web site on there business cards and 2 didn’t have Email but had webs.
Aren’t weekends fun. I think I’m the 1st to post my comment as you Twittered.
Mike cunningham
People Plus, Inc.
http://www.epeopleplus.com
Get Your Name On!
http://twitter.com/mike1mb
Well said. Your message helps me, but from a different perspective. I speak all over the country as well and when I’m at the conferences I don’t want to go up to people because I hate bothering them, they don’t know me, and b/c I know how it feels to get pitched and I don’t want to do that to others.
So translating them in my head as friends, before they actually are, changes my context with them. We’ll get to the business stuff later, let’s just enjoy each others company and when the time presents itself, we can talk business. And one more important point you made, it might not be a fit even after all of that but you now have a friendship and that’s perfectly cool.
Thanks Debbie, have fun in Hawaii! I’m @bradgarland on Twitter if you want to friend up! Later!
Aloha Brad,
ooooh Thanks 4 sharing that – that’s a very cool paradigm shift. Funny how when we think of people as REAL human beings – and friends – it shifts our energy & conversation.
Just added you on Twitter.
Nice to have you as a friend & Twitter follower!
http://twitter.com/CoachDeb
Kool vid Deborah!
Some excellent insights about “reality” marketing.
Thanx!
Rick Wilson
@corprebel
Hi CoachDeb
Great point made in your video. It’s actually one of the reasons I avoided learning anything about marketing for years. I assumed it was learning how to treat people like marks at a carnival or something. Obviously THAT’s flat out wrong–I mean, yeah, you can DO that, but it’s a really horrible way to sell your product/service.
I think Seth Godin was the person I first heard/read that opened my eyes to the concept of offering incredible value to the world first and letting those who want what you have to offer come to you.
Wonderful to know there are others out there who feel similarly and I look forward to learning more from you.
be well!
So like when did becoming a friend with my prospect become something I should care about? I mean really! I’m a freaking mlmer and all I care about is your pocket book. That’s all! Nothin else. Why should I care about anything else?
No, wait a minute. What I really care about is what’s INSIDE your pocket book. Further more, I don’t have time for all this mushy gushy I-care-about-you stuff. If that’s what I gotta do, it’s only so I can get you to sleep with me.
And by the way, I don’t have much time, so let’s get right down to the bottom line. Spread open your bill fold and let me at it before I miss my train ride. Listen, it’s a privilege for you to have me want your money. You should feel good about it! Don’t you know? It’s all about ME!
Mark Gilbert,
LMAO!!!!
I can always, Always, ALWAYS depend on YOU 2 make me laugh – OUT Loud (even when no one is around – scary! shhhh no tell no body!)
It’s a sped up world.
The hunger for success and to make “the next sale” is so prevalent in marketing – and we are surrounded by the dreadful Million Dollar Molestations (Hyper-manipulative product launches) that I’m not surprised at the “I see customers” shout-out.
Frankly, it’s instinctive for far too many people.
After the Google AdSense rush died off – it left a lot of people desperate for the next easy push-button method for making money online – and it never came.
Here’s the vexing question Deb…
“Is there a shortcut – or easy path – for people who DO NOT HAVE the marketing fundamentals, have not read any books on marketing, and are new to entrepreneurship?”
Rick Butts
Rick,
Great question.
I’d say there are resources, software, and coaching programs out there that certainly reduce the learning curve. I’ve taken them from reputable, successful business owners who’ve been successful in their own business – ASIDE from just selling information – and those are the ones I’ve found most valuable.
But ultimately, you still have to put more energy, effort and ACTION than the next guy (and use resources to clone yourself & multiply your efforts) in order to be UBER successful out there.
Personally – here’s my thoughts on “easy money” verses “paying your dues” for long term, lasting success:
If you think you can actually work a 4-hour work week and somehow grow a very new business – you’re high (or mis-guided).
For me – it’s been adding more and more team members, creating software system to do work for me, and implementing systems that have helped me grow my business AND have a life – but it was NOT without its sacrifices, time & effort – at least in the beginning stages of my business.
Now – sure – I’ve got LOTS of short cuts working FOR me – so I get to TWeet all day long. But that did NOT come magically “overnight”.
How’s that for an UNpopular, UNmarketing & UN-internet-pitch for ya?
The problem that will perpetuate the “quick fix” and “easy money” is that most people WANT that instant success like they want their instant burger – and there are plenty of internet marketers out there who will promise it to them, but then leave them hanging after. Sad… but unfortunate reality.
As an “MLMer” I wouldn’t say that we’re all trained to act this way. I teach my students and my team to NOT act this way. You’re right though, the industry as a whole, and not just MLM readily, is in big trouble if they don’t learn how to act appropriately.
I could never be a “slimy salesperson” so I adopted social media over a year ago. You know what my “upline” said?
“She’s just not a heavy-hitter.”
Nice, huh?
Well, call me what you will, but I, nor my team or my students, will not be going down that road. I say, just share what you have and they will come to you.
They will, no really!
Hey Deb
This is slightly unrelated, but is there anyway I can reach the Blogi360 help desk when I’m not a member? I was a member but for health reasons I was out of contact 4 about 4 months and during that time my CC date expired and when I was uncontactable my account was closed. I’d like to get my CC and account sorted out – can you help?
Aloha Dave,
THANKS for your comment here. I’ll take THAT Type of “unrelated” comment ANYtime – and twice on Anyday!
I sent you an email so Susie, our bang up administrator can hook your Blog i360 site back up & get you all squared away!
Glad you’re better! And Thrilled that you’re BACK!
Aloha Sheree,
Thanks for proving my point.
Here you are, trying to do things “differently” in the MLM world, and what does your “upline” say/do?
Do they encourage you? Or discourage you by trying to manipulate you with their sarcastic language saying you’re “not a heavy-hitter”?
If YOU are teaching/coaching your students & downline DIFFERENTLY – than BRAVO!!! Pat yourself on the back & keep on doing what you’re doing. Good for you!
Call you what I will?
I’ll tell ya’ what I’ll call you:
I’ll call you brilliant! Innovative! Proactive, ahead of the curve. Keep it up.
There are so many GREAT products/services offered via “network marketing” but if everyone has the SAME exact strategy no one will benefit from them, because no one will stand out therefore the marketplace will be turned off immediately once they “see the signs”.
You see it all over the place on MySpace – they might as well form a cookie cutter shadow around their profile – cuz it’s all the SAME wording, etc.
Know what I’m sayin?!
Coach Deb,
Today, more than ever,it’s about value exchange. People give you money when you provide value to them. But, funny thing is,that’s always been the business fundamental.
What’s different today? Too many people who are in MLM and Internet Marketing who don’t have a clue about how business fundamentally works. Too many people who think it’s easy. Too many people have a get-rich-quick mentality.We blame it on the marketers. Nope, it’s a two-way street. Lots of people are willing to drink the Kool-Aid, and then blame the evil marketer when it doesn’t instantly produce, even when you didn’t crack the seal on the product or take any ACTION.
“I want to grow, but I don’t want to change.” How absurd!
So many people want the growth, want the money, but they’re not willing to grow, not willing to get outside their comfort zones.
So they use the same dumb-ass, ineffective, “Old-School, interruption, in-your-face, marketing and sales techniques.
Why do they use these techniques? Because it’s the same ineffective stuff that bombards them every day.It’s their mis-perception of how marketing and sales really works.
How many people honestly invest the time and effort to learn their true strengths, develop a personal authentic, transparent brand, and then identify the target market that aligns with the unique value that they, and only they, deliver?
How many MLM programs teach this vs. the mentality that everyone is a “customer”, everyone is a “recruit”, and then focus on “tactics” such as sales pitches, how to approach strangers,etc.
To me, that’s the basic flaw of MLM. How can you “clone” the messenger, when the market demands the exact opposite?
There’s too much noise today, people are too damn busy, they’ve been pitched and burned too many times. Here’s the truth of “Everyone is your customer.”:
One third of the people will hate you.
One third of the people are too busy with their lives to even notice you.
One third of the people will love you.
Personally, life is too short to work with people who you don’t love and who don’t love you back.
Work on building true, honest friendships with people you love and love you back.If you’re true, authentic, transparent and deliver value, you’ll naturally attract people you love, and who love you.
People buy from people they know, like, and trust. Always have and always will.
Sometimes you connect with people right away. Love at first sight. But, usually you gotta invest in the relationship to build trust.
Rick, great rhetorical question. Just like golf, tennis, playing the guitar… any skill you want to master, unless you happen to be a gifted Prodigy, you know the answer to your question:
There are no short-cuts other than having a mentor or coach who cares about you and loves you, understands and is committed to the fundamentals of marketing and sales, and has walked the walk.
Also, understand this about coaching. The more direct one-on-one help you want, typically the faster you’ll grow. Also, the more one-on-one help you want, the more it’s going to cost you.
Finally, there is no free lunch. You only get to sit around Tweeting peeps in Paradise after you’ve paid your dues.
Be remarkable, be you, be unique… and then spread your love,
Thanks for posting this vid. It made a lot of sense!
Cheers!
Suzette
[...] First off, Coach Deb’s video and post, “Is the Sick Sense Scaring Off Your Profits?” [...]
Deb,
I LOVE IT! Thanks. I’ve always tried to articulate what I refere to as being “AMBUSHED” (Being approached by someone from AMway or now Quixtar) in my favorite place to relax, Borders book store.
I always see them coming, the most recent one about a week ago. He noticed I was using my IPHONE, most likly posting a tweet
, and commented on it. Followed up by a bargae of questions (interviewing) and closed with “compared to who?” The “compared to who” line was a responce to his question I answered about how I was doing financiallly.
Imagine that a complete stranger asking me how much money I made and for some reason assuming because he approached me, “I’d date him”. I love that line thanks Deb.
P.S. Anyone else want to date me please feed me and at least ask for a kiss before asking me to marry you! LOL!
Awesome insite thanks again Deb…
Aloha Forrest Knight,
I love that you were tweeting from my favorite place (er – besides the beach, of course). Now I know why I’ve always liked you.
I hate to be mean, but I think if someone had to cold-meet me at a Bookstore & asked the “compared to who” line – I’d HAVE to say – well CERTAINLY compared to YOU – b/c while you’re here pitching your product, I’m retired, reading a book & TRYING to relax, b/c my system sells FOR me, so I don’t have to (Loser!) well – ok – so I’d leave the loser part out… at least verbally.
But really – what is WITH people (are they mostly men that use this terrorist-style approach?) that think by INSULTING you, you’ll run into their arms & beg,
“oooh yes, Save me! Save me, o-my-knight-in-shining-armor w/ your cold-call way of life where I’ll be so financially free I’ll be able to sell and insult every book lover I meet! Yes! I want IN!”
All I can say is… DOH!
@CoachDeb
Coach Deb,
Your video hit it right spot on! I am always approached by other business owners wanting to sell me their product. They don’t give a SH** about who I am, where I come from or even what I am about. All they care about is getting their business card or product in my face.
When we first moved to AZ, it was like a mad freakin storm of these types of people. Joined the Chamber of Commerce and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing! (OMG, I just got a local phone call from someone trying to sell me their product a sec ago, WHOA, it is the Sick Sense!)
NEVER did I ever experience this type of behavior since I don’t act like this. I love what I do for a living so if someone asks me about it, I tell them because I love to share and talk. My family is filled with entrepreneurs and we always treated everyone as a friend so I know that is where my business sense and approach comes from. LOVE learning from others and partnering for continued education is what I see when I walk into a room. How I may be able to help others achieve their goals is what I see. Even making friends
The online networking and new media of the Internet has been an amazing place to connect with so many great people in the industry. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace; all great places to meet others. I met Si through MySpace which then led to meeting Alejandro from SuccessFool.com, yourself
, John Guanzon, Huey Lee and many others who have given me unbelievable support and ideas.
So if anyone comes up to me and shoves their product in my face, don’t be shocked if I turn around and walk away. If I am in a mood and my Jersey side comes out, you will hear a few choice words. Don’t molest me please! Remember your Junior high school days,getting to every base takes time to achieve so seduce me…
Lisa
http://Twitter.com/PearlyWrites
Deb,
I’m coveting your French manicure–gorgeous… and your antipasto! Yum!
The video is right on point for its content too (I’m not that shallow!
). I’ve always been a connector and made friends easily, but was always uncomfortable in the early 90s selling vacuums door to door in a 10% unemployment economy.
I’d go to those sales meetings with the motto “ABC” (Always be closing) and the “Everyone’s a suspect until they become a prospect…yada yada.” I lasted 6 weeks in that gig! I sold to my momma, my then boyfriend (now husband), and one stranger because she had Young & the Restless on in the background when I rang the door bell and we connected on that level–and my demo really worked on those tough carpet stains.
Permission marketing is much more natural to me, and trusting the process and intuition as we roll along.
“Down with interruption marketing!” I say!
Carol
http://twitter.com/caroldc
Hi @CoachDeb,
Great post about networking.
It’s embarassing to say that I have been both the “pitcher” of business ideas without so much as a “can I buy you a drink?” and the “victim” of such a pitch.
Thanks for the great head’s up!
Chuck Yockey
[...] Authenticity & transparency are Social and New Media buzz-words. That’s fine. [...]