The Three Foot Rule

© Paul Johnstone
There are many sales manuals and Network Marketing Gurus who promote this. In many sales-oriented networking books and course, people are taught that networking is a selling tool and part of that lesson is what’s known as the Three Foot Rule: “Anyone within three feet of you is an opportunity to make a sale.”

Here we teach that networking is all about telling people how we can help. Never, Never sell at a networking event, you are not there to sell. It is at best short sighted. At worst very rude.

At a networking event the people there ARE NOT YOUR MARKET they are your route to market, and always remember that.

Some organizations are set up so you promote your product and service directly to other members or visitors. Now there is no doubt that some members will find your products or services useful to them. But many products promoted through networking are Network Marketing or MLM. That is all perfectly normal.

However many people involved in network marketing find it difficult not to pitch directly to anyone within 3 feet. The down side is it also creates a negative feeling to the whole concept of networking in the minds of others.

As a result, people begin to avoid any event or activity labeled “networking” because they neither wish to participate in this hard-sell technique, nor do they wish to be exposed to it, especially in a concentrated form, in doing so we all lose out on valuable opportunities for service, connection and growth.

But what so many people miss is the detrimental effect on others. If I have been pitched by a NLM person, I will not get involved. I am already part of a NML organization and would not want to take n another product. But basically they are telling me they want to use me so they can make money.

What they have done is close the door to my contacts.

What should they have done?

They should have told me what their product or service can do for my contacts.

Avoid the three foot rule in networking

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