People don’t like to be sold; it is a fact of life. The longer you spend in your network marketing career trying to ‘sell’ your product or your business, the less likely you are to reach success of any significance. I’m not saying, “Do nothing all day and your business will explode!” You just have to approach what you’re doing already in a different way.

If I don’t sell, how will I make any money? Be a consultant. When prospects see you as an expert and a leader they will flock to you for guidance. Offer your knowledge to people who want to be financially independent but need help getting there. If you are a network marketing professional, you have something to offer them. The fact that you’re reading this blog suggests that you are committed to developing yourself and now it’s your turn to help other people develop themselves. When you take this approach, people will start to ask you what you do and WANT to be in business with you.

To begin to develop your role as a consultant you should let them know that you would like to help them reach their goals if they are motivated enough. Ask them questions to get an idea of their ‘why’, how motivated they are and what their goals are. If they respond well to you’re attempt to help and guide them, keep going. If not, next prospect please!

Here is a series of questions you can ask in your ‘consultant’ role that I learned from Eric Worre at NetworkMarketingPro.com:

1. How much money would you need to earn every month to make starting a home business worth while? (Answer: $3000)

2. How many hours per week would you be willing to put toward starting your business in order to reach your goal of $3000 per month? (Answer: 10 hours)

3. At 10 hours per week, how many months would you be willing to work to get to your goal of $3000 per month? (Answer: 4 months)

At this point you decide whether or not their goal is reasonable for the opportunity you have to offer. If the goal isn’t reasonable say something like, “Well John, I’m glad you’re thinking big but you’re probably thinking a little too big. Which of the three numbers you gave me would you like to change to make your goal more achievable?”

4. Alright John, if I could show you how to make $3000 per month in 4 months while spending 10 hours a week working hard on your new business, is there anything else you need to know before we get started?

Guess what! You just created value in yourself. Your prospect now has a mental picture of their new business, they want to know what to do next, and you have the answer.

Remember; don’t try to use this as a script. Scripted conversations are never smooth and suggest that you don’t really know what you’re doing. The idea here is to take on the role of a consultant, assess their goals, and decide whether or not you can help them achieve their goals. Become valuable to them by getting them to realize that you can teach them what they need to know and do to become successful.

Also, if you sponsor someone in this way be ready to back it up. Don’t tell someone you can help them make $10,000 a month in 3 months, sign them up, and never talk to them again. You have offered yourself as a consultant and a business partner, don’t back out!

Ask yourself this: When I talk to prospects do I take on a salesman’s role? What can I do to shift my role into that of a consultant?