Is network marketing a simple business where you just share your company's products with a few of your friends and family, or is it really a full on sales business? This question is very heatedly discussed among network marketers, and this article will surely create a host of fiery emails from some who read this. Is it Sales or Sharing?

2 Questions To Help You Decide If Network Marketing Is Selling Or Sharing.

What Is Sharing?

When you share something, you typically have nothing to gain. As a matter of fact, when you share, you usually offer something with nothing in return. Could a person share products they believe is helping them with other people? Sure, it's very possible. I suppose it's a question of motive. If you think your company's products are going to help someone, yes, I would call that sharing. On the other hand, if you're making up a names list and calling people to tell them about your products or your business opportunity, then that's probably not sharing. It's not wrong, it's just not sharing.

What Is Selling?

Selling is where goods and services are exchanged for something of value (usually money). Selling is an honorable profession. It's a great thing to be able to persuade people to buy into your idea or product. It means you have influence with people! What makes it honorable is that you can help interested people solve their problems.

If you're calling your friends and family to talk with them about your company or products, in the hope that they will buy into your program, then that is selling to. It's actually a fairly aggressive form of selling, because that person never asked for your information or sales talk. It can be uncomfortable for both the seller, and the person being sold to. It doesn't mean that it's wrong, it's just aggressive.

Many of us have experienced these tactics where selling was done in a bad way. Just the other day, my friend had it happen to him. He's putting together a public works project to help abandoned children be able to turn their lives around, and he's looking for investors to help fund the project. He was approach by a "millionaire investor" who was said he wanted to help my friend raise money for the project. To make a long story short, my friend met with this "investor" and the man starts drawing circles on a little white board, telling him how he can make a bazillion dollars with CompanyXYZ.

And then my friend realizes that he's in a presentation to join a network marketing company. Can you imagine how angry my friend was? You better believe it. That wasn't merely an aggressive form of selling. It was dishonest, and that's not going to work for most people.

So What Is The Point?

1) Don't resort to aggressive forms of selling that are dishonest. No one likes it, and you shouldn't do it. It's not honest. Don't trick people.

2) If you sell your products to your friends and family it's ok. Just tell them what you're doing up front. Ask their permission first. Say something like "Hey Bob, I think I've found something that I think could help you. Would you be open to looking this over"? And then give room for Bob to say "No". Believe me; you don't want to drag anyone into this thing.

About the Author

Want to know how I'm attracting new people to my business? I've just completed a new book to help network marketers be more successful called 'Market Network Marketing'.

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Joe Shaw is a full time network marketer and published author at hundreds of sites all over the internet.