Hello everyone.

Seth you are right. Things need to change, and they need to change quick. Your post gave off a hint of MLM or network marketing in particular. The traditional strategy (prospecting, pitching your friends, advertising) are dying. They are not quite dead, which is why only some of us can see the end coming.

So what do we do? We don't do anything new. We do business how it use to be done. How is that you ask?

Well, you made the point that there seems to be less time for people these days, and an increase in choices. So what we need to do is make OUR business and products stand out. We DO NOT do that by having flashier advertisements, or "new and improved" products. We build relationships, we create personal touch, we get to know people. We MUST see people as more than a potential dollar.

When it comes down to crunch time, people will buy from the people they know and trust, and they will feel better about their decision as well.

So how do we create this 'Personal Touch', and this relationship with people around the world using the internet? In my opinion, you can build trust and honesty on the internet. Enough so that people will buy from you, and people will even join in business with you -- if we are talking MLM. We build virtual communities, online groups. We build a place for people to network. We create a theme around our product and business opportunity. We bring and keep people in these communities by building friendships. We see people as people, and treat them that way.

Here is a little example of what I mean:

A Flourist has the choice of openning an online store that sells his flowers, and try to drive traffic do it using old methods such as advertisements and banners, or he can build an online community where flowers are involved -- a part of the concept.

He could call his community "Romance Central". Instead of talking flowers, he talks Love, relationships, dating, marriage, the opposite sex etc... He builds relationships here. People come here to talk about these issues that are occurring in their lives. Maybe they don't need flowers at that given time, but what happens when they get married? They need flowers. A new girlfriend? They could use some flowers -- and so on. Now, why would they go shopping around the net looking at the other 1000 flourists online, when they have been attending this online community, accumulating valuable knowledge and opinions -- that also just happens to sell flowers? :) Trust, honesty, and a relationship has been established. This is how you use the internet.

You don't just provide a website, and an order form. You jump in on this community. You participate as well.

Don't believe this works? Set up two online groups. (You can do this for free by the way, by using yahoo groups.) Use one group to build a romance/relationship theme, and the other to just sell flowers. I will bet you can grow your group quicker, and create a possitive atmosphere. Of course, you could adjust this statement and this challenge to any industry of your choice.

I know this works, because I do it personally. As a result, I feel better about myself at the end of the day, because I'm not out there pitching products and business opportunities. I'm providing help... education if you will to people who are interested in the theme. The product interest just naturally follows in many cases.

Best of luck to everyone.

Thank you

Josh

> Seth Godin has made the argument that
> traditional marketing as we know is DOA
> (these are the points made by Mr. Godin in
> my language but I think I’ve given an
> accurate portrayal of his views):

> 1. People aren’t buying new products… they
> can’t afford it, they don’t have the time to
> use/enjoy it or they just plain don’t want
> it.
> A. Budgets are stretched to the point of
> snapping for the consumer, the business and
> the government. The ability to buy unknown
> and unfamiliar products is small.
> B. No one has time. At least that’s what
> everyone says. If they perceive they don’t
> have time they are hesitant to get involved
> with any product or project that is going to
> cannibalize even more of their time.
> C. We have “everything” we want. The person
> of today lacks very little and we just
> aren’t as needy as we use to be.
> D. Even if we do want it the selection
> afforded us in virtually every product
> category and service is limitless and due to
> overcapacity and competitive pressures
> usually very affordable and accessible.

> Mr. Godin point out that in the last 20
> years or so, we have gone from having more
> time/fewer choices to little time/more
> choices. That being the case the way we
> marketed products 20 years ago (or less)
> can’t work in today’s environment.

> In today’s market the consumer will:
> 1. Will ignore you… they have too many
> messages directed at them and are quite
> frankly bored with the whole process.
> 2. Will not tell his or her friends of your
> superior product/service because no one has
> the time to do that.

> The typical markets are gone… anything from
> frozen pizzas to pain relievers to books on
> yoga to ebooks on selling products on Ebay.
> All have reached the point of
> oversaturation.

> The old rules just don’t work anymore.

> Do you agree with Seth Godin?

> And if you agree (even a little) what do we
> as marketers of products and services do
> about it?

> If you don’t agree I would enjoy hearing
> why…

> Take care,

> Mike Winicki