How to Have Influence

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Influence is something you think you have until you try to use it. – Zig Ziglar

In my studies to become The Leadership Dr., I have had the opportunity to study influence. Influence is a magical thing that so few of us use effectively, yet it is all around us. Let me give you some examples:

An internet guru is launching a product. Before asking you to buy, they give you three or four free videos with just enough info that you can cause harm but not enough to completely do it without purchasing the course. However, you feel grateful for the free information and feel the need to reciprocate.

An offline example would be the chinese food restaurant that provides you with fortune cookies along with your bill. According to Dr. Robert Cialdini, a study was done and tips increased 3.3% with one mint and 14% when 2 mints were provided along with the bill.

A company says the offer is valid for the next 25 23 21 people that enroll now. Scarcity is another way to add influence. As an affiliate marketer, you could package the product you are selling with some of your own information as well to entice the buyer to purchase from you.

All these actions are ways to increase their influence on you.

A smarter server would bring his own mints if the restaurant does not provide them. Just think if you went to Costco and bought Ande’s mint chocolates instead of the standard hard candy mints.

A smart affiliate marketer would create their own product, attach a value to it, even if they have no intention of selling it, and give it as a bonus to buying the product from them.

What are some ways you can add value to your business to increase influence?

If you are a network marketer, perhaps you could provide a free membership to your skill training website. Of course you would want to do this anyway, but providing it as an added bonus increases the value and shows your influence.

If you are an insurance or real estateagent you could provide a free emergency kit or home inventory CD.

No matter what business you are in, there is someway that you can provide more value.

What is it YOU can do to have more influence? Brainstorm some ideas and start practicing. Remember, we have given you a license to make mistakes already, so just start doing it! Learning how to influence is key to becoming a successful leader.