One of the first things I learned in my home business career.

Facts tell. Stories sell.

At first I didn’t like that phrase.  It made me feel like I was trying to hide something.  That I was manipulating the truth.

Then I realized that was more about my insecurity than anything else.

Facts make us feel safe.  We can always go back to knowing how much Vitamin B 12 there is in this pill, or how much protein there is in this shake.  We can always tell you how much you’ll save with this vacation plan.

Problem is, that information doesn’t stir the emotion in people. It might make us feel like we’re standing on solid ground.  But it doesn’t shake up the person or people we’re dealing with.

It’s simple.  Think back to what got you started in whatever company you’re in.  Yes, you probably sat down, crunched numbers, did a careful analysis of the products, the marketing plan, etc.  You probably had a talk with your significant other about whether or not this was the right thing.

But what brought you to the point where all those things happened was the EMOTION behind the stories.  The testimonials.  The results.  The energy of the people who crossed the stage, or got on camera.

The tears of joy from that person who lost fifty pounds.  Or who was able to throw away their asthma inhaler. Or who could afford to send their daughter to college. Or who finally got to take their family on vacation. Or who was able to get his wife a proper wedding ring after 20 years of marriage.

See?  You’re instantly putting yourself into those situations.  You’re imagination is going, and I’m not even prospecting you on a product or business opportunity!

It’s just who we are.  Advertisers know this.  It’s why they don’t recite all the facts about their products.  They show you the emotion of the people using them.  They’re showing you people with a problem, and how the product or service solved it.

Then they use the facts to validate it.  But the facts aren’t the star of the show.  The EMOTIONS are.

It’s OK to use emotion to promote what you do.  Just as long as you tell the truth and stay in integrity.

Emotion is what drives us.  Seeing people who have what we want and showing them how they can do the same thing is how we get most of the good things we have.

Respect the facts. They are your friend.

But if you want to share your business with others in a meaningful way, lead with the stories.

Yes, I said a zillion. It’s now officially a real number.

And I found the way to generate a zillion.

Ready?  Here’s the secret.

Attraction marketing.

You’re now saying to yourself, “Attraction Marketing?  That’s crazy talk!  I’ve known all about attraction marketing ever since they invented the term a couple of years ago.  I’ve been doing attraction marketing.  It’s not working.  I’m still waiting for my zillion leads!”

Well, my apologies if you’re the exception to the rule.  But no, you haven’t done attraction marketing.  Because if you have been, you’d be attracting.

What you’ve probably been doing is what most other people have been doing.  You’ve been publishing articles that have “attraction” and “marketing” as keywords.

And you’ve even used “attraction marketing” in your title too.

(You did that right after you stopped using “Law of Attraction” as a keyword.)

And of course doing the “Is Attraction Marketing A Scam video!
That’s not attraction marketing.  That’s “monkey see, monkey do” marketing.  That’s going with the herd, and hoping you don’t get trampled in the process.

What you’re seeing here – right now – THIS is attraction marketing.

I’m being playful. Bold.  Daring.  I’m getting some of you upset.

(I’d use a different word here, but the editing algorithms will kill the whole article for profanity.)

I’m being myself.  It’s turning some of you off.

But it’s also turning some of you on.

In other words, it’s ATTRACTING you.

Get it?  Attraction marketing.

It’s being real.  It’s having the skills the marketplace wants, and putting it out there in a way that’s fun.  And safe.  And makes people want to be a part of what you do.

Truthfully, it’s why I’m on the leaderboard of many of the big affiliate programs.  And it’s why people fly from all over North America to be part of my seminars.

That’s not something that everyone is ready to do at this point.

But it IS something anyone can LEARN to do.

All they need to do is find their own voice.  Be themselves.

Then study the industry they want to attract in.

Then use the cool tools and technology all of us have available.

Then form some good strategic partnerships with people who dig what you do.

Put it all together.  Shake well.

PRESTO:  A zillion leads!

That’s the formula.

Might take a little bit longer than the “get rich quick” crowd would like.

But it lasts a lifetime.  And since so few have the patience to do it, it leaves a lot of followers for those of us who do it.

If you decide to be one of those who gets a zillion followers by doing the deal for real, instead of plugging into the “secret formula,”  congratulations!

And don’t worry…I guarantee we’ll find you.  In fact, I’ll probably be one of your zillion leads!

Recently, I wrote an article called, “BUT I DON’T WANT TO SPEND ANY MONEY! Objections About Home Business Start Up Costs.”  It talked about making sure your home business prospecting system is clear about start up costs.  The last thing any of us want to do is spend time talking to un-qualified, non-serious prospects.  It wastes our time and saps our energy.

But no matter how strong your system is, these folks occasionally get through. Rather than see this as a bad thing, why not see this as a learning opportunity? Consider it a chance to build your skills, grow your confidence, and maybe even turn a poor prospect into a customer or future home business professional – in YOUR organization.

 Here is how to talk to these people…

1. First and foremost is keeping the upper hand in the conversation.  This doesn’t mean you should be rude or abrupt.  But it does mean you must maintain the confidence in what you are doing. NEVER look for ways to bring someone in less expensively, or for free.  It sends a signal of weakness.  It tells the prospect you want them in your business so badly you are willing to bend your expectations.

Even if it’s been forever since you’ve sponsored someone, you must still come from a position of strength.  If you bring your prospect in any way other than through your system, you have destroyed the system’s credibility and effectiveness.  Your new person will learn from your experience and duplicate what you have done.  You now have an organization of bargain hunting short cutters.

2. Use the example of franchises to explain the business model to your customer. Every franchise sells not only its products or services, but its organization and brand. There is value in the company, and there is a start up cost in doing business. If you need to rely on numbers, it would be a great idea to know the start up costs for different type of franchises, including restaurants, computer service companies and others. It would also help to know the royalties. No doubt your network marketing company‘s costs are much less expensive.

3. If you continue to get objections, or any kind of hesitation, have a tool or system to point the prospect back to. You must always position yourself as too busy to argue or debate. You have others waiting for the chance to work with you.  And if you do this correctly, and with enough people, that will become the truth!

4. Unless you have decided you absolutely do not want to work with someone, do not take them out of your prospecting system. Continue to send them emails. Keep them on your list.  Invite them to conference calls. Give them content that provides real value and real service.  Over time, some of these people may choose to work with you. Some may also choose to be customers of your products or services (which is where some of the greatest business builders come from).  And some may refer their own contacts to you, which opens up a whole new circle of influence to your products and your opportunity.

Yes, it’s not much fun to hear people’s objections. But handled correctly, you will find the ones who are ready to grow into a solid home business professional. And you will become stronger and more abundant in the process.

We see this all the time.  People doing what’s comfortable for them, and pretending they’re building a business.

Posting on Facebook, answering surveys, creating blog posts, tagging their friends.  A whole bunch of other activities that give us instant gratification.

They feel good, kind of like eating a candy bar. You can call it nutrition all you want.  But for the most part, it’s empty calories.

If you are building a business, online, you do need to network.  You need to establish yourself as a trusted, friendly presence.

You also need to establish yourself as someone who is serious.  People want to be entertained by looking at your stuff.  But they want to feel confident in your ability to get them what they want, which is profit.

If your presence is one of being breezy, light-hearted and overly approachable – of being not particularly busy – you are giving off a message that you will conduct your business in the same way.

And of course you will attract those same people to your organization.  You’ll have a grand old time.  But no one will make any money.

But since you are reading this, let’s assume you are serious about building, and you have your business time and play time in balance.

The good news is you are most of the way to moving your group from activity to achievement.

Because there is one basic truth: Like Attracts Like.

Here then, are four ways you can help your group move into achievement…

1. Show them the numbers.  Everything is a ratio of everything else.  A certain number of ads will yield a certain number of leads.  A certain number of articles published will yield a certain number of hits, depending on where they’re placed etc.  A certain number of calls will yield a certain number of presentations.  And a certain number of presentations will yield a certain number of sign ups.  If you know your numbers, you can share them, and help your group to understand the need for consistent intense activity.

2. Paint the picture.  Never sugar coat the amount of effort it takes to succeed in the business. But let people know what happens when they do the work.  If you haven’t arrived at where you want to go yet, borrow someone else’s story.  Someone in your upline, or within your company took their activity and turned it into kind of success people want to duplicate.

3. Lead by example.  If you expect others to do produce, you have no choice but to do it yourself.  You will always set the tone for your organization.  People will generally do what you do, not what you say.  If you’re working smart and hard, people in your group will either copy it or fade away.

4. Realize some will, some won’t.  It’s fine to enjoy someone’s company and have a little “playtime” with them.  It’s perfectly OK to respect someone’s desire to stay where they are.  It’s also perfectly good to give group time to those who are just hanging around, and individual time to those who do.

When activity is sustained over time, evaluated to make sure it’s working and done with enough intensity, it always turns into achievement. Encourage others to achieve by working hard, smart and consistently.