Episode 152
The Dangers Of Building On Borrowed Ground
The central tenet of this podcast episode revolves around the imperative of fostering a personal brand that transcends the confines of any single product or company within the realm of network marketing. We elucidate the alarming reality that many distributors recently found themselves devoid of income and product access due to the sudden cessation of a major network marketing entity. In light of this unsettling development, we assert that the most resilient representatives are those who have cultivated a robust personal brand, thereby ensuring their continued relevance and connection to their audience, irrespective of external market fluctuations. We delineate three pivotal strategies to fortify one's personal branding: prioritizing self-promotion over company affiliation, generating content that reflects individual expertise independent of corporate identity, and establishing direct connections with clients that exist beyond the purview of company platforms. Ultimately, we emphasize that the essence of one's marketing strategy must center predominantly on the individual, as it is one's unique attributes and insights that constitute the true value offered to the marketplace.
In the discourse presented, the host delineates the imperative of personal branding within the realm of network marketing, particularly in light of recent disruptions in the industry. A notable incident involving the abrupt cessation of a well-established network marketing entity serves as a poignant reminder of the volatility that can beset such ventures. The host elucidates that the most adept representatives possess a resilience that allows them to navigate these tumultuous waters with relative ease, primarily due to their established personal brands that transcend the products they offer. By emphasizing the necessity of fostering one's unique identity rather than merely aligning with a company, the podcast advocates for a shift in approach among network marketers. This paradigm shift entails positioning oneself as an expert in a given field and cultivating a following based on personal expertise and authenticity, rather than solely on the promotion of specific products.
The host articulates three fundamental strategies for achieving this transformation: Firstly, individuals are encouraged to lead with their personal narrative rather than their corporate affiliation. This entails reframing one’s identity from that of a mere product distributor to that of a knowledgeable consultant or coach, thus engendering a deeper connection with potential clients. Secondly, the necessity of generating content that is independent of company branding is underscored. By creating value-laden content that reflects one’s own insights and experiences, marketers can cultivate a loyal audience that is invested in their personal brand, irrespective of the products they endorse. Lastly, the importance of establishing direct connections with followers through personal communication channels, such as email lists and newsletters, is emphasized as a means of fostering enduring relationships that remain intact even amidst corporate upheaval.
Ultimately, the podcast advocates for a paradigm where individuals recognize themselves as the primary product they offer. By identifying and articulating their unique skills and perspectives, marketers can ensure their continued relevance and appeal, regardless of the fortunes of their affiliated companies. This holistic approach not only safeguards their business interests but also enriches the marketing landscape by promoting authenticity and personal engagement.
Takeaways:
- The fundamental principle of success in network marketing is to prioritize personal branding over reliance on company affiliation.
- To thrive in an unpredictable industry, one must cultivate an individual identity that extends beyond mere product representation.
- A sustainable approach involves developing content that reflects your expertise and personal values, independent of any specific company.
- Establishing direct connections with your audience through personal communications is crucial for maintaining relationships during company transitions.
- Leading with your personal brand rather than your company can safeguard your business against unforeseen disruptions in the market.
- To ensure longevity in your network marketing efforts, focus on your unique skills that remain relevant regardless of company changes.
Transcript
This is Market YOU First.
Speaker:It's time to learn to sell what you bring to the table, not what you're selling.
Speaker:This is Market YOU First.
Speaker:This is your host, Wes Wyatt.
Speaker:Hey everybody, this is Wes Wyatt and this is the Market YOU First podcast.
Speaker:I have a little bit of crazy news with this one and that is just recently a
Speaker:major network marketing company shut down and thousands of distributors woke up
Speaker:basically to find their income streams,
Speaker:product access and business identities completely vanished overnight.
Speaker:And this is extremely scary.
Speaker:But what if I told you that the most successful reps are barely going to miss a
Speaker:beat?
Speaker:And what I mean by that is I'm going to reveal why personal branding is your
Speaker:only real protection in network marketing.
Speaker:So why does this matter?
Speaker:This matters because network marketing companies come and go all the time.
Speaker:Okay?
Speaker:The popular ones of course usually stick and stay,
Speaker:but the established company that just folded had been around for years and
Speaker:probably nobody saw it coming.
Speaker:And when you build your business entirely on someone else's foundation,
Speaker:you are essentially constructing your own future on borrowed land.
Speaker:Okay?
Speaker:It's much like building everything on one social media platform as opposed to
Speaker:creating your own area that you drive people to on those.
Speaker:Okay?
Speaker:So if you're on borrowed space or rented space,
Speaker:it is something that you don't own and you definitely need to have either a,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:email accounts that are going to capture your leads or you need to have some
Speaker:sort of a group or a mastermind or something where you get people outside of
Speaker:whatever it is that you're representing.
Speaker:So think about this.
Speaker:If all your social media posts showcase only company products and if your
Speaker:followers know you as just the skincare rep or the juice lady,
Speaker:what happens when those products disappear?
Speaker:Your followers are left with no reason to stay connected with you specifically if
Speaker:you haven't done those other things. So your side hustle, your full-time business,
Speaker:your reputation,
Speaker:they all vanish alongside that company and there's a better way.
Speaker:Reps who survived these companies, shutdowns have something in common.
Speaker:They've built personal brands that transcend all a single products or companies.
Speaker:Okay?
Speaker:And they market themselves first, not just what they sell.
Speaker:So here are three key takeaways that are going to help you with this.
Speaker:Number one, lead with you, not your company.
Speaker:Stop introducing yourself as a rep for company X. Okay?
Speaker:Instead,
Speaker:position yourself as an expert who happens to use these products. For example,
Speaker:be a wellness coach who recommends these supplements rather than a supplement
Speaker:distributor. All right, share your personal journey,
Speaker:your values and why you're passionate about helping others. All right.
Speaker:Number two, create company independent content. All right.
Speaker:So every five posts that you create,
Speaker:you need to have 15 about your expertise, your lifestyle,
Speaker:your value that you provide.
Speaker:You want to share tips that people can use, uh, when they buy from you, uh,
Speaker:or not. All right.
Speaker:And then become valuable beyond your product line so that people follow you for
Speaker:you, not the items that you sell. Okay. Third,
Speaker:build direct connections,
Speaker:collect email addresses and phone numbers that belong to you,
Speaker:not your company's CRM. All right.
Speaker:Create personal newsletters or blogs,
Speaker:build relationships that exist outside the company platform.
Speaker:So that if the platform disappears,
Speaker:your connection remains and that's exactly what we were talking about at the
Speaker:beginning of this podcast.
Speaker:So how do you Market YOU First and make this personal your network marketing
Speaker:business needs to be 80% about your unique approach and 20% about the products
Speaker:and maybe even more, you know, about you and less about the products.
Speaker:What makes your service different?
Speaker:Maybe you're the detailed researcher who tests everything firsthand,
Speaker:or you're the supportive coach who checks in weekly or the straight shooting
Speaker:friend who only recommends what actually works. You need to ask yourself,
Speaker:if my company disappeared tomorrow, why would people still want to follow me?
Speaker:All right. Your answer is going to depend on your personal brand foundation.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:Perhaps you're great at explaining complex health topics simply,
Speaker:or you excel at creating realistic fitness plans for busy parents.
Speaker:These skills are going to remain valuable regardless of what company you
Speaker:represent. So you just want to think about that.
Speaker:And here is your call to action,
Speaker:grab a notebook and write down five valuable skills or perspectives that you
Speaker:bring that would remain relevant, even if your company disappeared.
Speaker:All right,
Speaker:then you want to create your next social media posts focusing on one of those
Speaker:unique aspects of you. No company mentioned,
Speaker:no products mentioned you because at the end of the day,
Speaker:you are your product. All right. You're the one ingredient.
Speaker:You're that proprietary ingredient that nobody else has. Okay.
Speaker:There is no white label version of you because there can't be all right.
Speaker:There can be imposters and there can be people that try to go through and be you,
Speaker:but none of them can be you.
Speaker:And you need to focus on that and lead with that.
Speaker:So if you have found any of this to be helpful,
Speaker:don't forget to like, share, comment, and subscribe.
Speaker:When you're done listening to the podcast, go to weswyatt.com.
Speaker:Scroll down to where you can enter in your name and your email address and get
Speaker:on those insider emails. I'll hit you with all the tips, tricks,
Speaker:and nuggets that I find. If you have questions,
Speaker:go to the bottom of weswyatt.com. And if you look at the right,
Speaker:you'll see a little thought bubble. Um, that is my chat feature.
Speaker:I don't monitor that live, but I'll get back to you very promptly.
Speaker:And, uh, last but not least, if you go to weswyatt.com/disclaimer,
Speaker:you'll get context regarding this and all podcasts posts and info I provide.
Speaker:And I can't thank you enough for being part of another episode of the market.
Speaker:You first podcast until we talk next time, have a DYNAMITE day!
Speaker:You've been listening to the Market YOU First podcast.
Speaker:You are the most important thing you can sell.
Speaker:We hope you've gotten some useful and practical information from the show.
Speaker:Make sure to like rate and review the show and we'll be back soon.
Speaker:But to find the show notes and everything about the market,
Speaker:you first podcast visit Market YOU First.com on behalf of your host,
Speaker:Wes Wyatt and the whole market. You first team have a DYNAMITE day!
