How To Become An Opinion Leader...

"How do I get good people to listen to me?"So who would YOU rather buy from?
When's the last time you asked yourself that?A. The sales rep who sells various nutritionals or skin
Part of the reason marketers everywhere have suchcare products as part of their 'line',or
a tough time getting people to listen to them isB. Someone who cares about nutrition like you do, or
because their audiences (i.e., us) don't believe themabout skin care and chemical-free products like you
entirely.do, and who sells a specific line because THEY love it
So how can they become an opinion leader?and use it themselves, too?
Problema...This is where network marketers have a very big
We all know the marketers are "selling" whateveredge over regular marketers. If you sell it because
(they're professionals aren't they?) and that they'll sayYOU love it - because of how it helped you - you are
whatever nice words and make whatever promiseslike the tennis coach recommending a racquet so an
they have to, to make the sale.aspiring player. You are an instant 'opinion leader' to
So we, as marketers, are suspect. Yes, includingtennis players and tennis player wannabes.
network marketers. Because a normal consumerThe regular marketers are all abuzz about what it
doesn't know if we say the nice things to sell it andtakes for a corporate spokesperson to be perceived
make a few shekels, or because we really love itas an opinion leader, so they'll be listened to when they
ourselves.deliver their product pronouncements.
Here's the good news...In a survey by a prestigious PR firm, they asked, "Who
We ALL like to buy stuff, don't we? So ask yourself:is a respected opinion leader?"
What kind of person do YOU most like to buy FROM?Findings:
Here's what I do. For anything that matters, I seek out"68 percent of respondents said: 'A person like
a member of the club, so to speak.yourself or your peer' is the most credible
As an avid tennis lover, if I'm thinking about a newspokesperson about your company."
tennis racquet, I'd not go to Wal-Mart to buy one.Isn't that what we just said? A member of the club (or
Instead, I have usually gone to a good tennis coach,even more passionate than you), or your peer or
took a lesson or two, and asked them for abetter? Someone like you or even more so?
recommendation. I go to the best tennis places andRegular marketers have a much bigger hill to climb
people I can find. Because I love tennis.than network marketers. Many don't use what they
And yes, of course I know the person or shop ismarket, and they don't market it because the products
making something on the sale, I don't care. Whathave changed their lives. They are usually NOT a
matters is that they know and love their tennis.member of the community of those who care about
Say you, as a consumer, know that nutrition matters.X.
You know you need to supplement. And you wantThey just try to sell stuff to people who care about X.
whole food based products, no synthetics.People who care about X, being consumers, don't like
Or you're someone concerned about how your skinbuying from people who really don't care about X in
looks, and you believe that the ingredients in the skintheir own hearts and lives.
care products you use make a difference. E.g. noWe want to buy X from X lovers.
chemicals or no animal products.X lovers are X opinion leaders.