Home Business Leads Part 1

Chances are, if you've been in your own home business for a while, the subject of acquiring new customers probably crosses your mind on a fairly regular basis. You are not alone. No matter how big a business you may be, you are either growing or dying. Growth is always the favoured direction. That's why Pepsi and Coke continue to spend mega bucks advertising even when just about everyone on this Planet recognizes their names and some even buy their products. So while everyone may think their particular product is the best in the World and "sells itself" or they may think they've got the greatest system or payplan for success, the bottom line is this. EVERY BUSINESS NEED CUSTOMERS. By the way, I've yet to see a product pick up the telephone, talk to a customer or transport itself to a store or a person's house. People move products, products don't move people.

Types of Leads


Problems and Issues: Warm Market Leads


If you are part of a typical network marketing company or direct sales organization, they always recommend you talk to your family and friends first. Often they will tell you stupid stuff like "everyone gets in" but the reality is some might but often they won't but say something like: "They might get in some time in the future, after they see how it's working out for you" This may sound reasonable to them but it really means "no way I'm doing that". You on the other hand, you are left to wonder about all your lack lustre friends and relatives who sounded so smart before you got in your own business. It also may dawn on you that you can't build a business when no one gets in. Oh. I am not suggesting that you can ignore them but don't expect very much especially at the beginning. After you develop an awesome story, they may come looking for you.
The group of people we are talking about are called your "warm" leads. I'm not sure that's a good description because they can also be the most opinionated, rude and downright hurtful about your new venture. I sell tons of bread in my traditional distribution business, Bread Roots and not a single loaf is sold to a friend or a relative and never has. In fact, my business is hardly never discussed among this group because there is no interest. So why should it be different for my other business interests or your other business interests? The truth is all business is built through strangers or new people.


It's this "everyone get in" sales pitch that gets brand new people really excited the first day they get in. That tied with the "product sells itself" and let the "cd" do all the talking sounds just great. You can excuse the new person for thinking "this is going to be easy". That's what they have been told. So when a brand new person eventually finds out that the marketing people have embellished reality a bit, they quit saying some like "well that didn't work for me. I guess it's just not meant to be"



The real truth is that in any business, the success is in the numbers. How many people you talk to, how many listen to a presentation, how many get in, how many get in and actually buy something and how many get in and actually do something. It's also calling on all the "no's" and "laters" you met the first time round. I believe the fundamental flaw in many network marketing companies is that they don't tell people the real numbers. People join and quit based on wrong information. Great. More to come.