Network marketing and all it entails

Welcome aboard Susie, and congratulations on your new business venture 

Hope you don't mind, I moved you over to the Start up forum as you've asked a great question.

Network marketing can take many forms and is hard work, seen as a chore or necessary evil. There's nothing worse going to breakfast or network meeting groups and been sold to death, with everyone talking at you and not listening. But a lot of people enjoy them and it can vary widely depending on the group you join, and the number of people that go.

Cold calling a contact list is horrible if you're not used to it or lack a direct sales background. I hate the telephone and am the worlds worst salesman. But as much as we all moan about cold calling, it remains a highly effective way of generating leads if you can master it (I never did!)

This is why I'm such a fan of online forums and communities. You softsell via things like your forum signatures and profiles, but actually interact with people. I get most of my suppliers from forum interaction, as you form a picture about the person you are dealing with.

You also have the opportunity to become known as someone of authority if your particular field, so people will naturally come to you for advice, and then they are a hot sales lead.

Main thing about lead generation, from cold calls, emails or face to face networking is to not go straight for the sale. Few products and services can be sold on a first contact, unless you happen to hit people who are in a buying decision mood for your service.

This is where things like PPC campaigns or targeted Facebook campaigns come in, but that's a different post!

Thing to remember is you're no the only one who feels apprehensive, most of us have been in your shoes, and there are various ways and means of conquering network marketing and making it work for you.

Hopefully we can entice you to become active here! Here is a good place to start for some general marketing topics, but feel free to dive into any discussions or start new ones

Don't overthink it. Just pick the phone and call them. You'll find that most people are really nice and will speak to you or advise you. Ask them for relevant information, advice etc. Be straightforward and tell them exactly why you're calling. At least, that's what works for me - I'd just tell them the story about my mentor and about me starting on this new venture etc. 

Oh, almost forgot. If they can't help you or are unwilling to speak to you, ask them if they could refer you to anyone who might be of some use to you.

Join LinkedIn as well it's a fantastic tool to use for networking and your network can be as specific as you like it it's real easy to use they have a version on line and a app all free of charge, and the more information about yourself you put on it the better it is also I'll bet you any money more then half of those contacts you need to cold call will be on LinkedIn, and you can send them a personal email to get the ball rolling