Summer is the time for sun, fun, and barbeques, pool parties, and other summer gatherings. In addition to connecting with old friends, you’re sure to make new connections as well. The summer is a great time to connect with people, and as a network marketer, the summer offers a natural environment to talk about your business and why you do it. The key is to be authentic, genuinely interested in meeting and learning about others, and never, ever pushy. Here are some tips to help you talk about your business at summer gatherings without making anyone uncomfortable.

Check your mindset

Mindset is everything, especially if you want to connect! Make sure yours is focused on service. 

Focus on connecting, not selling. 

Your primary goal should be to enjoy the party and build genuine relationships. If you go in with the mindset of “who can I recruit or sell to?”, it will show, and people will feel it.

Be a social butterfly

Mingle, ask questions (especially open-ended ones), and listen actively. Focus on making new friends and connections, and strengthening existing bonds.

Believe in what you do

Your genuine enthusiasm will be more appealing than a hard sell. Share your Why and your reason for getting into your business. 

Connecting is a marathon, not a sprint

A single conversation isn’t likely to lead to an immediate sale or recruitment. The goal is to plant the seeds, and that will open the doors for future conversations.

The art of connecting

Ask open-ended questions to connect

Instead of just talking about yourself, ask people about their summer plans, their work, their hobbies, and what they’re looking forward to. Here are some conversation starters that will help you connect: 

•     “What have you been up to this summer?”
•    “Any exciting plans coming up?”

Listen more than you talk

Always remember to pay attention to their responses. Often, this is where you’ll find their pain points or desires that your business or products might help to address. They might say something like:

•  “I’m so swamped with work, I barely have time to enjoy the nice weather.” 

Now, this gives you an opportunity to talk about the time and flexibility of working for yourself. You can also talk up your team.

•  “I wish I had more energy to do XYZ this summer.” 

This is an opportunity to talk about wellness products, if that’s your business. If it’s not, listen to other similar cues to talk about the products and services you provide.

• “I’m looking for a way to make some extra money for that summer vacation.” 

This is your opportunity to talk about the business opportunity you provide. They may need time to think about it, but if you follow up with them, you can discuss it more and answer their questions.

Look for natural segues to connect

Don’t force your business into every conversation. Wait for a natural opening. But, resist the urge to rush it; it’ll come. For example, if they complain about their job, say, “I totally get that. One of the things I love about what I do is the flexibility it offers.” If they talk about health or wellness, say, “That’s something I’m really passionate about too. I’ve found some amazing ways to boost my energy naturally.”

It also helps to share Your “Why,” Not Just Your “What”. Instead of saying “I sell XYZ,” explain why you’re passionate about what you do. Say:

•  “I love helping people feel more energized so they can enjoy their summer to the fullest.”
•  “It’s been amazing to be able to work from anywhere, so I can spend more time with my family during the summer.”
•  “I get to connect with so many incredible people and help them achieve their financial goals.”

Subtle ways to introduce your business

Meeting new people means answering the same questions.  If they ask, “What Do You Do?” this is a golden opportunity to talk about your business. Have a concise “elevator pitch” ready that sparks curiosity, rather than a full product description.

   Instead of: “I sell health and nutritional supplements.”

   Try: 

• “I help people boost their energy naturally so they can make the most of their busy lives.”
• “I empower people to create more financial freedom so they can enjoy more of these kinds of summer moments.”
•  “I connect people with incredible wellness products that have changed my life, and I help others build a business doing the same.”

Show off

You can also show off your product, but remember to be subtle.

•     Use a branded water bottle if your company has them.
•     Bring a healthy snack or drink that uses your product (if it’s a food/beverage item), and share what it is if someone asks.

Share a positive experience

Talk about a recent success story (without naming names) or how your business has personally benefited you. Here are some examples:

• “It’s been so great being able to set my own hours this summer. I just helped a client feel so much better, and it’s rewarding.”
• “I recently helped a friend get started with something that allowed them to take a much-needed vacation.”

Offer a resource, not a sales pitch, to connect

If someone expresses interest in your business and what you have to offer, offer to send them more information later, rather than launching into a detailed presentation on the spot, say you’ll follow up at a more convenient time. Ask to send them a quick video that explains more if they are curious. Say something like:

•    “Let me grab your number, and I can text you some info later this week.”
•    “Are you on [social media platform]? I share a lot about it there!”

Connect without sounding pushy

Here are some helpful tips to abide by to avoid sounding pushy:

•  Don’t dominate the conversation with your business.
•  Never launch into a sales pitch unless the person shows genuine interest. You want them to be excited to hear more about the business.
•  A casual gathering is not the place for a hard sell. Save it and focus on building the relationship. 
•  If someone changes the subject, looks uncomfortable, or steps away, take the hint. Don’t continue to talk about your business. Instead, ask about their family, summer plans, or another neutral topic.

Don’t forget to follow up! Teamzy can help!

After the conversation ends, that’s when the work begins. Here’s how to connect with a follow up.

Get their contact information

If there’s a natural connection, ask for their number, email, or social media handle. Then be sure to add it to Teamzy and fill out any contact information. And, if you offered to send information, be sure to do it promptly.

Be casual

Your follow-up message can be something like, “It was great catching up at [host’s name]’s party! As promised, here’s that link I mentioned…” Remember, each contact is a chance to build your relationship with them.  Follow up later to see if they had questions about the information you sent. 

Continue to build the relationship

If they’re interested, they’ll let you know. Remember, focus on making a genuine connection, listen more than you speak, and follow up when you say you will, and you can plant seeds for your network marketing business this summer (and all year round) without ever coming across as pushy. 

Teamzy can help you do all of this and more! Just log in and contact the people on your dashboard, then record your progress. It’s that simple! If you’re not using Teamzy, what are you waiting for? Click the link to learn more.