You can generate FREE leads through public speaking

One of the best lead generation systems I have ever found is offering yourself as a public speaker. There are literally hundreds of clubs, churches, schools and non-profit organizations near you that would love to have you come and speak to their group. There is nothing better than a system that generates an unlimited supply of leads that are FREE! This is a summary of our last teleseminar “Getting Started in Speaking for Free Leads”. Don’t miss the upcoming Power Hour Seminars: Sign Up

I’m afraid to be a speaker

Yes, you can be a speaker. If you are anything like the rest of the world, you probably started speaking a while ago. Maybe age 2 or so. I bet you are pretty good at it by now! If you are in direct sales or network marketing (and the odds are good since you are reading this blog) then you are already a paid speaker. You can be a public speaker, so stop staying you can’t. Offering yourself as a speaker will bring new business into your client base that is totally unrelated to your existing client base. You wouldn’t pass up on FREE or PAID For Leads would you? (Sometimes speakers get paid. You can’t beat that: Getting paid to generate leads for your direct sales business! Wow!)

Say it: I am a public speaker!

What to Talk about

I am often asked “what would I talk about?” Here is a simple way to decide what you will offer the organizations when you begin to make your calls. Think about these questions:

• Who are you?
• What is your life purpose?
• What is your business purpose, your brand?
• Which part of you will have value to groups?

Make A List

Keeping those questions in mind, write four lists each with about 10 entries on each. List your passions, your skills, your hobbies, and your business skills, products or motivations. It might go something like this:

Passions
Children’s eating habits
Environmental issues
Chemical free living
Whole foods

Skills
Organization
Teaching
Marketing
Web design

Hobbies
Body building
Cooking
Gardening
Bonsai

Business, motivation or expertise
Chef
Recipe creator
Human resources management
Business training
Increase metabolism

It doesn’t really matter what you have in each category. The topics do not have to relate to your business for you to get leads. If you snowmobile for a hobby then write it down. If you are a good swimmer as a skill then that is good too. The point here is to dig deep and get 10 in each category. You should have no less than 40 topics to pick from.

Pick A Topic With Value

After the lists are done, go back to the original questions. Which ones of these topics are you most comfortable with? Which of the topics are best presented to groups? Which have the most value to the audience? Pick out three of the 40 on the list and determine the benefits to your audience. Taking the three that you selected, get a new paper and list the benefits or value of each topic.. Again, think of as many values as you can come up with. In the above list, I have selected one of my topics as increasing metabolism.

The Value Of Increased Metabolism
Not tired
Feel better
Keep up with the kids
Get more done
Stronger immune system
Fewer colds
You can eat more
More energy,
ETC.

What To Call Your Seminar

Now that you have three seminars and you know all the benefits or value of those seminars for the participants it is time to write a SNAPPY title and an equally snappy subtitle. The title gets their attention and the subtitle tells them what it is all about.

For example:
Title: The Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop

Subtitle: I can teach you how to have the energy and spring of 12 jack rabbits on a trampoline.

Pretty SNAPPY, Huh?!

During our Power Hour TeleSeminar last week one of the topics was gardening. The title that one of the participants came up with is: Be a Red Beet, not a Deadbeat! A subtitle might be: Become a super human growing super foods for exercise and nutrition. The point of the subtitle is to give the listener a brief one line description with some emotional value. The subtitle needs to be short, to the point, and leaving them wanting more. It should have an impact to the emotions. Like, who wouldn’t want to have the energy and spring of 12 jack rabbits anyway?!

It Takes Time To Be SNAPPY

The process of creating speaking topics takes a few days. Allow your subconscious mind do some of the work by not forcing the issue. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone a bit. It is OK to feel a bit uncomfortable the first time you tell someone that your topics are:
The “Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop” and “Be A Red Beet, Not A Deadbeat”

The SNAPPY titles will catch them and the subtitles will make them want more. When they ask what the Jack Rabbit Energy workshop is you just say “I can teach you how to have the spring and energy of 12 jack rabbits on a trampoline… When does your group meet?”

Take advantage of your subconscious mind

Don’t write the speech until you have a dated speaking engagement. Again, allow your subconscious mind to do some work while you do the calls. When someone gives you a date, you will be able to write a speech in a flash because your subconscious mind has done all the work.

The System Summary

The summary of how to get paid-for (or at least free) leads:

1. List your topics.
2. Pick out 3 topics with the best value that are going to market.
3. List the benefits or value to the group, client or organization. How will the members benefit from the topic or your speech.
4. Write a write a snappy title for each.
5. Write an equally snappy subtitle that conveys the emotional value to the group quickly in a quick one liner.
6. Make your calls.
7. Write up a page description to use as a mailing piece when requested and not before.
8. Write your speech when you date a speaking engagement.

This is a system that works to generate an unlimited supply of free leads. Power UP For Professional Results and Create A Cash Flow Show are sets of systems. Each CD set includes 8 hours of proven systems training that work for all businesses. Check It out.

Would you like to have an unlimited supply of FREE leads?

Public speaking will bring you FREE leads and more business than you can handle. One of the reasons I was able to replace my full time job with my direct sales business in only 9 months, was because of my willingness to offer myself as a public speaker. Area clubs, churches and social organizations are always looking for FREE speakers. MLM and network marketers are always looking for FREE leads. It is a win-win situation. Every time you speak to a group on any topic you will find people who want your services. Usually one out of 10 in the audience will have an interest in one of your services. Public speaking can be a source of unlimited business.

Are you really afraid of public speaking?

I am frequently surprised at how many home party distributors say they are afraid of public speaking. In direct sales you are public speaking every time you do a show. The experience of speaking to a larger audience is not that much different. When I first started speaking to groups in earnest I felt more comfortable with something in my hands, just like at a show, so I always brought props. To this day, I still like to do something rather than just stand behind a podium. I walk, draw, talk and wave things around. It is a blast!

Develop Speaking Topics

The system of using public speaking to generate an unlimited supply of FREE leads will work for you too. To get started, think about your skills, passions, and hobbies. Make a list of about 10 under each topic. The subjects on the list do not have to be related to your business. Even if you speak about topics unrelated to your business you will still get leads. Speakers always get to tell their story or history. Next pick out 3 topics you would like to speak on and write a snappy speech title for each. One of my first three topics was “The Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop: You will learn how to get the energy and spring of 12 jack rabbits on a trampoline.” Now that is a snappy title! I had 2 other speeches to start with and the one that always sold was the Energy Workshop. To this day I am still doing the Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop. Now I get paid to get FREE leads! Do not worry about what you will say for each speech. That will come later.

Start Calling Groups

It is time to start making calls. You are offering your services as a free speaker. You have 3 terrific speeches. You also can offer your services as a fundraiser to the groups as well. Create a routine of making a certain amount of calls every day. When any sales professional puts a system into place to make 5 calls per day to groups who may need a speaker and/or fundraiser, it will only be a matter of time before you book your first speaking engagement. It will not take long to fill your calendar. You will schedule, fundraisers and speaking engagements, and at both of those you will find leads for your network marketing business. Some of the organizations will start out having you speak, then have you in for a fundraiser. Your system should be consistent. If 5 calls a day is too many, pick a number that will work for you. The key is to consistently make calls. You will have more business than you can handle.

Plan Your Speech

Once your first speaking engagement is dated, that is when you create your speech. If you create all of your speeches ahead of time you may not sell any of them as you may find other needs that you can serve. Wait until someone picks the topic, then do the speech. Like me, you may find that everyone picked the same topic.

You Can Get Paid For Leads

Wow! Unlimited FREE leads! It is like a network marketer’s dream come true. After a while you may have such a full calendar between fundraisers, speaking engagements and your show schedule, you may just be able to start charging for your speaking engagements. WOW! Now you are getting paid for FREE leads!

There is really no excuse for not having enough business. This system is available to anyone who is willing to take advantage of it. Are you really afraid of public speaking or is it that you are not willing to give it a try?

Learn systems to create better cash flow in your sales business

People or businesses never fail. Only systems fail. If your system is not working, try one that is. A system that works for one business will work for another business, no matter what the product line is. The systems or best-business-practices contained in these sets will increase cash flow in any sales business.

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What is the cash flow Funnel ?

I was at a seminar today that was boring as hell. Many of the attendees got up and left. Actually, I had expected it to be the best one of the entire day because the speaker was a professional that I had heard of previously. I didn’t walk out because I have learned in the past that you never know when you are going to hear something that will change your life. That did not happen to me today, although I did get the inspiration for this post.

Funnel is a Sales Concept

This professional speaker was talking about overcoming fears of networking and developing leads. She spoke to the audience as if we were in kindergarten and dwelt continuously on how to overcome your fear of starting conversations with strangers. One thing that she did bring up though is the funnel. She did not elaborate on it much, so I am sure that the concept went over the heads of most of the attendees. I have frequently thought that the funnel should be taught in our field more often. The funnel is a sales concept that in itself can be a key to success in any sales business. Direct sales and network marketing are no exception. When you understand the funnel concept, you will understand a system of creating cash flow.

Business as a funnel

Think of your business as a funnel. The more leads you put into your funnel the more business comes out the bottom. Massive efforts will lead to massive results. When you think of each lead as being a grain of salt or spices that you are pouring into the top of the funnel and as they come out the bottom they are business or cash flow. The more spices/leads you put into the big part of the funnel, the more that will trickle out the bottom. The concept is simple, yet not always easy.

A Funnel has a really wide part and a narrow part. Many sales people go for the close, or the show, or the opportunity first. That scares people off. Using the funnel, you draw your business deeper into the funnel gradually, so that they begin to create desire for your product or services. Your business funnel is very broad at the top where your lead has only a little or no commitment, risk or interest in your services. As the leads travel deeper into the funnel they become more committed to you and become hosts, sales reps, company leaders or higher value customers. When we go for the close, ask them to host a show before they understand your product line, or ask them to be a consultant before they are sold on your product, you are pushing them into the small whole at the bottom of the funnel in reverse. Understanding the funnel concept will go a long way to improve your results. Allow your leads to voluntarily climb into the funnel because you attract them to you, then drawing them in gradually, will produce incredible cash flow results. The more you put into the top, the more you will get out the bottom. The key to success in any sales business is massive quantity of leads in the funnel. When your funnel is full, you will never be scared that you do not have enough business!

Cash Flow Funnel

Take a minute now print out this Cash Flow Funnel. Now let’s diagram YOUR cash flow funnel.

The way you get people in the funnel is to offer them something they want. As they voluntarily jump into the funnel they will then go deeper into your services, one step at a time. Write in the top section what is your first contact and how you get them into the funnel. The wide part of the funnel is the point of first contact and the more you put in the top, the more you will get out the bottom. The top is the first step or point of contact. It could and should be many things. How you get people into your funnel will be unique to your business. It could be a opportunity to enter a prize drawing at a fair. It could be an attendee at a luncheon at which you are a speaker, or it could be someone you met at the mall who was interested in a catalog. An individual who asked to be put on your newsletter list would be another first contact to start to fill your funnel. The more that goes into the top of the funnel, will give you more out the bottom. How you get them into the funnel is unlimited and unique. Once in the funnel they begin to drop down to a deeper level. Take a minute to jot down several ways you will bring leads into your funnel.

What is the next ring?

The next step may be to buy a product or to attend a show. It could be just a small item. Then the next level a bit deeper in your funnel may be a larger product or the opportunity to host a show, followed by the business opportunity, then the opportunity to be a leader. As they drop through the various levels of the funnel, they will enjoy our services and or product and voluntarily move to the next level, purchasing more expensive products and becoming more interested in the higher end services and creating more cash flow for you.

Creating varying levels in your funnel will allow people to sift through and out the bottom. The more you put in the top the more you will get out out the bottom. Some of your grains of  spices/leads will skip some sections of the funnel. Others will get stuck and never drop to the next level, and others will fly through all levels at the speed of light, voluntarily. The key is to keep the funnel full, so that some spices/leads are always falling out the bottom.

There are three lessons in this article.

1. Don’t leave a crummy seminar before you hear the inspiration that will change your life.
2. Don’t go for the close before you have developed the leads and sifted thought them.
3. Fill your funnel because the more you put in the top, the more will come out the bottom.

The funnel will create desire and committed customers and sales representatives. Putting massive quantities of spices/leads into the funnel will lead to massive spices and leads coming into your business.

Direct Sales Home Party Games

Sign up below for the Talking E-Book Powerful Home Party Games . Share this page with your friends or link to it from your direct sales team training page so they can get the FREE Talking Powerful Home Party Games E-Book Too!

Get Your Free Home Party Games E-Book! Email Full Name Company Name

The games electronic book was recorded live on the Power Hour tele-seminar.  By signing up to get your ebook we promise that you will not get any spam, only valuable information about future complimentary tele-seminars and a monthly direct sales newsletter.

Home Party Games Must Be Fun

FUN is the single most important thing for the success of your home party shows. If a party game in your direct selling show creates FUN then by all means play the games. My guests and hosts certainly had fun at the shows. One easy way to determine the FUN level of your shows is to see how many shows you schedule at your shows. When people have FUN you will have a full calendar. Making sure that you are organized enough to relax at he show is essential to you having FUN. When you have FUN then your guests will have FUN and they will invite you to their house. Games can be the answer to FUN, or they can be considered a drudgery by the guests. Do not assume that a game is always the answer to FUN. If you are playing show games, and having a hard time scheduling shows, then maybe you have to reconsider the effectiveness of the game, or whether your hosts and guests are enjoying the games.

Play Direct Selling Party Games

If you plan to play games at your direct selling party show, make sure that they are fun and also that they serve a purpose such as providing a system to increase home party sales, so that it is worth your time. Your show time is valuable. You only have so much time to accomplish your mission:

At Your Home Party Your mission is:

Sell product
Schedule shows
Share the opportunity
Provide value to the participants (FUN)

I say that FUN is the key to show success because FUN is a commodity that people put value on. When you establish value at your shows then your business will roll along forever. Here is a game that allows you to share the opportunity and also create desire for future shows and hopefully have some FUN too. Create your entire show theme around this game and you will increase your home party plan sales. Tell the host to tell the guests that we are taking a world tour at the show.

Around The World Direct Sales Party Game

A few days or a week before the show when you do your last call to the host ask her to call each guest to remind them of the show and also to bring a picture from her favorite trip or vacation. Encourage them to bring pictures from all over the world. Tell her that you have some small prizes to give out based on her friends’ pictures and vacations. This compels our host to actually make the last minute reminders and will increase your show attendance.

Creating a Buzz With Sales Game

Have the guests put their pictures on the table or other location so that everyone can look at them. This is fun in itself and will get the people mingling and talking as the pictures begin to arrive. During the show ask questions about the pictures. Did anyone bring a picture from Italy? Allow that guest to share briefly about the trip to Italy. Mixed in thoughout your show, not all at once, continue to ask questions about the world tour through pictures. Guest can tally their own points to earn your prizes.

• Did you get the trip for FREE?
• Was the picture taken in the last 6 months?
• Are there mountains in the picture?
• Is there a lake in the picture?
• Is there an ocean in the picture?
• Was the picture taken on an island?
• Did you travel by airplane?
• Is there a landmark in the picture?
• Is this a business trip?
• Did you take your kids?
• Are there any people in the picture?
• Is someone waving “hi” in the picture?
• Is someone in the picture riding a horse, camel, or elephant?
• Is it in a foreign country?
• Is anyone kissing or hugging in the picture?
• Was the picture taken on your honeymoon
• Did the person taking the picture accidentally get their finger(s) in front of the lens?

These are just sample questions. Create some questions of your own that lead into some of the information that you want to sprinkle into your shows. The travel game is a terrific game to talk about the opportunity to create income with your company. Before you think about which questions you are going to ask, decide what opportunity information you want to share, then as you ask the questions and receive the audience participation, sprinkle your opportunity information throughout the game. I do not recommend playing the game all at once. This will be throughout your whole show.

Here are some sprinkles that you may make following certain questions:

• Is there a landmark in the picture?

When I was in France with XYZ Company, they took all of us to the Eiffel Tower

• Did you take your kids?

Our company provides two trip choices, one for consultants with kids and another for those who prefer to travel without kids.

• Did you get the trip for FREE?

Some people get a paid vacation, I get a paid-for vacation each year with XYZ Company.

• Was the picture taken on your honey moon?

How would you like to take your husband on another honeymoon paid for with all your own money? The income you create with one show a week with XYZ Company will easily buy a luxury vacation.

Around the World Game Creates Value At Home Show

Guests may arrive at 6:00 and by 8:00 they are on the way home after experiencing the thrill of a tour of the around the world game and sharing everyone else’s vacation. It is FUN, gives you a vehicle to share your opportunity and gives the guests at the show value for their time.

Always be sure that your games give your show value. One thing that people will not do is allow you to bore them. If you are having a hard time scheduling shows, then look at the value you are providing to your guests and hosts. Party games in direct sales are good when they are FUN, serve a purpose for your mission and provide value to all in attendance.

FREE Party Games For Direct Sales

Download this FREE talking electronic book for some direct sales party games that create good value in your home party show. This $7.00 Electronic book is FREE to you!

Free Party Games E-Book! Email Full Name Company Name

The games electronic book was recorded live on the Power Hour tele-seminar. By signing up to get your ebook we promise that you will not get any spam, only valuable information about future complimentary tele-seminars and a monthly direct sales newsletter.

Direct Sales and Network Marketing

Direct sales and network marketing is one of the best income tax reduction strategies there is in the 21st century. Direct selling businesses open the door for income tax deductions. Did you ever notice that all rich people have a business? It is not because they are rich that they got a business, it is the other way around. They developed a business so that they could take advantage of certain tax benefits and that assisted them in gaining wealth. The home business is a legitimate income tax reduction program that the IRS has put into place. Anyone who owns a business has a legal income tax reduction package to utilize to their advantage. If you are an individual or family struggling financially, the quickest way to increase your cash flow without too much time commitment is to start a direct sales or network marketing business. The income generated from your new business will, of course, be helpful and the immediate income tax reduction will increase your cash flow substantially! (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.)

For example. in a home business many of the things you are now spending money on will become an income tax deduction.

• Cell phones: even shared family plans
• Magazines subscriptions or cable TV, depending on your company, can be considered as market research
• Mileage to and from general errands that you are doing for your family can be deductions provided you intersperse business errands and lead-collecting in with the daily activities. Imagine deducting 60-80% of all your miles traveled, at 39 cents a mile…. That will really add up quickly!
• Meals and entertainment out can also be deducted provided you talk business and ask for referrals from your friends.
• Are you taking vitamins? When you are in a vitamin network marketing company, the vitamins may be deductible.
• Do you buy groceries? In a food-related company, a good part of your grocery bill may be deductible for market research, even if your family is eating the food.
• Are you giving the kids an allowance? Are your kids ages 7-17? How would you like to pay them for errands around the house, or helpful things they do, then take those payments as an income tax reduction? You can take it a step further and put the money in the bank for them and use it to pay for their living needs, like clothes or sports equipment, etc.

(I am not an accountant nor am I giving you tax advice)

Are you starting to see why all rich people have a business? These are things you will always spend money on. When you have a network marketing business now they become income tax deductions. That alone will increase your cash flow, even if your business does not make money immediately.

(See the post called The Cash Flow Generator in the business category)

Income Tax Deduction – Home Office

Another income tax reduction strategy available to direct sales consultants is the home office deduction. It never ceases to amaze me how many people do not take advantage of this strategy. Even relatively large successful individuals say, “I do not want to send up a red flag.” Or “My accountant won’t let me because it is a red flag.” (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.) The government does not create laws just to “catch” people and get them in trouble when someone uses the law as it is written. There are no flagpoles down at the IRS that employees run up red flags on when someone utilizes a rule or tax law correctly. Think about this. When you open a store at the mall or in a shopping center, you will buy toilet paper, floor cleaners, light bulbs, maybe put up a sign, and even wash the windows, take out the trash, pay rent or cut the grass. As a business owner you can deduct all of those from your taxes. This will not put up a red flag because these are business expenses. Everyone can understand that. In your home business, you still have all those expenses affiliated with your business. Only now they are a percentage of your home expenses. The home office deduction recognizes that as a home business owner, you can deduct a percentage of your electric, your gas, your garbage, your telephone, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. This is the home office deduction.

There are steps you must take to be compliant with the IRS, which are not in the scope of this article. Most people think that they are required to show a profit periodically when in fact that is not so. (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.) In order to be compliant with the IRS regulations you must:

• Have a business plan
• Generate activity
• Have documentation

The interesting part of those requirements is that they create a circle of success. When you have a plan, you generate activity and, when documented, the process creates income and deductions, which in turn gives you motivation to continue and creates cash flow. The business plan is updated yearly based on your successes and the cycle or circle of success continues.

This article, along with the previously posted article on Generating Cash Flow, could make an awesome opportunity tool. A little education goes a long way when you are focusing on growing a team. The past Generating Cash Flow article focused on network marketing as a business model, coupled with this one to generate immediate changes in a person’s tax requirements, becomes an terrific tool to share with potentials.

The Power-UP For Professional Results home study program includes a IRS-compliant business plan designed by a direct sales expert accountant. The business plan, along with the information on the CD, will set your business up with the necessary income tax reduction strategies. This business plan will give an unlimited supply of direct sales business bookings and the momentum to take the deductions you deserve. You will create the success circle of planning, activity and documentation that the IRS is looking for. (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.)

All accountants are not direct sales-specific, and therefore may be discouraging you from maximum tax reduction strategies. If you are looking for a new direct sales specific accountant, just call me or drop me an email.

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