Today on the Stop The Hey Girl Podcast I'm talking about using products that are not from your NWM company, how that impacts your business, and how to properly communicate when you're using different solutions! There are so many different variables that come into play here. And I think one of the biggest questions we want to start by asking ourselves is, do we want to have our business be something that greatly dictates the products that we use? 

When you have a brand deal, the magnitude of something like Pepsi, that likely has a clause in the contract that says “if you're going to utilize our competitor, you better not let cameras see you doing it.” However, that is completely different from your partnership with a network marketing company. There's likely a lot of people around you that feel this as well, that when you partner with a network marketing company, you think that there's this unwritten rule that you cannot use or be a part of consuming any other products, solutions, or services because you think it will diminish your reputation in your business. 

False. 

Your audience knows that you are not using every single product that your network marketing company comes out with. They know because there are not enough hours in a day, you can't take every single consumable. And they also know that there's going to be some things that you just don't like, whether it's the flavor, texture, or even things you can't use, or you just don't freaking feel like it, which is also a valid option. 

Cheating On Your Network Marketing Company will impact your business...

So, when using other products and services from other businesses, it will only impact your business if you allow it. I believe from a moral and an integrity perspective. Being honest about utilizing other products makes you real and relatable. Honestly, it makes people a lot more likely to trust you, when you're honest about “I don't really care for this product, or this product didn't work for me”, just because something didn't work for you, it doesn't mean that your clients are going to be less apt to try it. Because right we know that there are things that work well for certain people and things that don't work well for others. 

How do you communicate that to your audience? 

You don't have to say anything. You don't have to say “I'm using a peloton because I like it more.” That is a choice that you have. The biggest thing is if you're not going to share it, just make sure that when you're talking about wins, successes, or social proof for yourself, that you're not putting one of your products in place, talking about an outcome that it didn't actually provide, because that is where things get dicey. 

You can also be forthcoming and say “Hey, I made the decision to do peloton workouts instead, I would just be very forward and honest about the reasons for you.” Because again, the people watching are not going to think that your network marketing products must not be that good if you’re using something else. That is a story that you're putting in your head that you think people are saying when no one is saying that. 

So, you just don't say anything about your life, or just be honest, and say, “I made the decision to utilize this product, I just like the taste of this one a little bit more, it helps me out a little bit more. But then you can also say, I have so many clients that are getting such amazing success with ____.” 

Something else that you can do is address the elephant in the room… talk about the fear. “I had a fear that if I wasn't utilizing this product from my company, that you would think less of me or you would think less of what I'm doing. But I'm here being upfront and honest with you. Because I don't want to pretend that I'm using something that I'm not.” And that is the key here. The biggest key and why so many people have negative feelings towards the network marketing industry and influencer marketing is because there are a lot of people that, unfortunately, speak highly of products that they don't like, aren't using, and have no real experience using. 

When you're upfront and honest, your audience has a lot more respect for you. Your audience really, really appreciates when you tell it to them straight. So, when approaching again, how to talk about when you utilize something else, honesty is always the best. 

We need to change these perceived expectations that we can only use products from our network marketing company. You're allowed to use other things, you're allowed to like other things, you are no less of a leader if you utilize other products except for your network marketing company. No one expects you to only utilize those products. And so these are expectations that we put on ourselves necessarily because you're partnered with a company to help offer that as part of the solution of how you help people. 

It's not the only way that you help people, and you are not married to the company, you're not married to the products, you are allowed to like us and even recommend other things. And that is something that's really powerful. You want to know how you can get a lot of respect. When you're honest, and you recommend something that's not your personal product line, when you know that that is something that's genuinely going to impact and change someone's life. So, if you catch yourself thinking that you can only recommend your own products, where is that coming from? I would love to hear your thoughts about this. Have you felt this way? Was this helpful? 

Listen to the FULL episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. also, take a screenshot, tag me and tell me your biggest takeaway.