Leadership, Visualization, Goal-setting, blah, blah...

All network marketers have heard that jargon at one time or another. But you know what? It's just that - Jargon.

When you share with your team, the lessons you have learnt while building your business - that's Leadership.

When you imagine that new car or house on the beach, that you're going to buy next year with the income from your business - now that's Visualization.

And when you plan exactly how you're going to go about getting that new car or house - well, that's Goal-setting.

It's that simple...

And yet people complicate it so much that they write entire books, and have entire courses to teach you these "skills."

But they're missing the whole point, really. Because network marketing is really about customers.

Think about it.

Why do companies get into network marketing? DUH. To sell products, of course!

And why do they choose to sell their products through network marketing?

Because network marketing is really the most efficient way of selling products.

After all it's all about people selling (or recommending) products they USE to their own network of friends and acquaintances. To people who TRUST them.

So if you want to serve your customers better through your network marketing business, here are a few things to ask yourself.

1. Are you in the service business or recruitment business?

If you are in the business of helping people - whether to become healthier, or financially independent - you should consider yourself as providing a service. And a service runs on customers.

Sure, there are plenty of people out there who want to start a home business or join a business opportunity.

But if you focus on the opportunity, you'll be competing with a whole lot of other, more established networking companies, for a new prospect's time and money.

Instead, if you focus on your products (and I'm assuming they are unique, excellent products that meet a real need), you'll have very little competition.

Besides, it's so much easier to sell a product than to sell a dream.

2. Is your product right for them?

I've seen people recommending their products to customers as a "miracle" solution to all their problems. This is not only misleading, but is bound to backfire.

Ask yourself - are there other options for my customers? Are there cheaper, perhaps more effective options, that can help them?

Perhaps they can't afford your product right now. Or perhaps there are other, albeit less effective options, that might meet their immediate needs better.

Almost everyone needs to get healthier, or richer. But how they choose to achieve their goals should be their choice, not yours.

Certainly, give your customers all the information they need about your products. It's not your duty to suggest alternatives.

But sometimes the best way you can serve them is by letting them know that they are free to explore their options and get back to you when they've decided that your product meets their needs best.

You'll not only have a grateful customer, but also build trust and goodwill. Your customer will think of you as someone to depend on, and come back to you when they need advice.

Yes, you might lose a customer, but you'll have gained a friend.

3. Do they really need the business opportunity?

Once you get a new customer, do you instantly start shoving the business opportunity down their throat? If so, you're doing them a disservice.

Yes, do show your customer how they can reduce (or even completely recover) their costs by becoming a distributor and recommending the products to their friends.

Offer them what they want - a cheaper way to purchase your products.

But also accept that some of them may just want to keep buying products without ever building a business.

And appreciate them for contributing to your paycheck.

Ultimately all business is about building trust. So the next time you process an order or answer a query, focus on building a relationship, rather than a business.

If you're a friend to your customer and do what's right for them, you can be secure in the knowledge that what goes around will definitely come around.

Copyright 2003 Priya Shah

Priya Shah

Priya Shah is a former journalist and partner in the online publishing firm, Connect10. She currently writes on topics that include internet marketing, search engine optimization, business blogging, self-improvement and health issues.