Sales Versus Marketing

Times have changed since network marketing was introduced to the world. We must be very careful how we approach our prospects, however.

Just because the profitability of network marketing is still viable doesn’t mean that using the same old techniques that are used in the 80s is not going to get you the same results in the 21st century!

Here is the ironic part – when people think about the term ‘network marketing’, everyone focuses on the first word rather than the second. In other words, they go around networking instead of marketing!

Most people who are in network marketing do not have a CLUE what marketing is all about! They go about recruiting friends and family on their name list while deluding themselves into thinking that they are ‘sharing’ or ‘marketing’ their products to people.

MYTH: Network marketers are not in sales, they are merely sharing products with other people
TRUTH: Network marketers who do not have a marketing system in place are actually in SALES.

What they are actually doing is that they are SELLING an idea to someone else. Whether they are selling the product or the opportunity, they are trying to convince someone to change their mind about what they have to offer.

Remember – Sharing is different from selling. It is totally different. If you are my friend and you are having a conversation with me right now, I would share with you about my passion for eating exotic food.

When I’m sharing with you, I’ve no intention to SELL you exotic food (unless I am getting commissions the restaurant that cooks exotic food).

Get the idea? Selling is different from sharing.

So the question is: How do I generate business without ‘SELLING’?

I’m not saying that you do not sell any products. But what I’m saying is that the approach when it comes to marketing versus selling is totally different!

Take a doctor for example.

A doctor sells his or her services. But they don’t go around recruiting patients or sending out flyers and advertisements saying that they are the best gynecologist in town!

When people go to the doctor, they seek the doctor’s EXPERT advice. They listen intensively to every word they have to say and they will take whatever medicine they recommend. (So much different compared to network marketing recruitment, don’t you think?)

The same principle applies to marketing!

Marketers sell products, but not in the way sales people do. A person who markets their business effectively is a LEADER. They are EXPERTS. They don’t go around peddling their wares like a sleazy salesman. They are good at marketing themselves in such a way that they will always:

• Find the right target market


• Find the right people to join their downline (and their downlines will listen to them and do what they say)


• NOT waste their time on the wrong people


• Attract the right people to them.

Sales Versus Marketing