How to Construct a Wildly Engaging Presentation – Multi-Level Marketing Decoded (Part 1)

When it comes to audience engagement, Multi-Level Marketing’s (MLM) presentation style are the best I have encountered.

We know TED Talks has a presentation limit of 18 – 20 minutes.

MLMs' presentations can go up to 2 – 3 hours with high active engagement even when the presenter fumbled on parts of their delivery. There is no toilet sneak-outs, or loud snores. I know because I have attended many.

I was totally absorbed. How do I know, you may ask?

That’s easy. I didn’t check my smartphone throughout the session. When I eventually did, it was 2 – 3 hours later.

And so, it begets one question: “How do they do it?”

Before we go there, let me replicate the core presentation script that they adhere to.

The World is blowing up. Prices are ever-increasing. Income is never enough. Retirement gets further and further away while we are working harder and harder. I used to slog for a company that doesn’t pay above survival basics. And I got retrenched at 20 / 30+. My parents lost money dabbling in the stock market. I have to keep the family going right? Yet deep down, I am sick and tired. There are so many things I want to do and I don’t want to die in office. I have experimented with many alternatives and didn’t work. I felt deflated but I kept trying. One day, I chanced upon this “Opportunity”. I became intrigued, started researching and I started scouting for mentors. Afterall, the best way to learn is to copy right? So I signed up for a overseas course costing 5 figures, which was 80% of my net worth then. My spouse thinks I must have lost it to deplete our rainy-day fund. 1/2/3 years later, I am now the top-seller in XXXX. I made it! I was able to clear my family debt, stay in a condominium all paid for in cash and I get to spend time with my wife and young kids as and when I wish. No annoying bosses and colleagues. Think about that! I wish the same success for you and if you sign up today, you will get a 50% discount on my course which I will share my secret recipe….

There you have it. A distilled version of an MLM presentation in 266 words.

Somehow, it is just different isn’t it?

Let me proceed to decode why I think their presentations are wildly engaging.

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#1 – They tell great stories and they are successful in their life stories

No fanciful slides. No mind-blowing contents. They are masters of storytelling and they can connect with everyone in the room. They do that through telling stories that anyone can relate to.

Failing your exams? Got retrenched? Family difficulties? They nailed it. Therefore, they nailed you.

In their stories, they accepted their adversity and moved on. In their process of seeking a better life, they made it through a never-say-die Samurai Spirit.

They become heroes / heroines and they want to share their secret sauce with you. In hope to rescue you from your woes.

I must say that such pitches almost always sound very attractive.

Because they overcame.

#2 – They know you VERY VERY WELL

They know you. Because they have been there. As they are finding their way in society, they know that you are.

Even if you aren’t actively seeking an alternative, they can articulate very clearly the worries in your mind such as retrenchment and retirement worries. They know you cannot afford to retire today.

As they are their own success stories, they clearly demonstrate the possibility of rising above retrenchment possibility and retirement impossibility. They do so by living life in their own terms.

How do they do that? Through masterful presentation slides.

Every slide comprises of one key idea (These are the steps I took) and / or one image (family shot in Adelaide during the month of August when everyone is slogging in office). Every message is crafted to potentially imply that you need not live to accept your current struggles.

And if you are fearful of uncharted waters, they are there to assure you this.

“I will be with you throughout this journey. Trust me.”

Thank God. Right?

#3 – First Attention. Then there is Call-To-Action

Every step along the way represents a series of nudges to one direction.

“Let’s embark on this shackle-free journey together.”

Then it is followed by testimonies after testimonies of successful protégées.

“They followed my system and found success in 1 / 2 / 3 months. You can too.”

By then, most folks will be sold. It will be swiftly followed by an offer of 50% on course fees (I will show you my time-tested success steps!) if you are the first 10 participants to sign-up today.

The next thing I see – people running towards registration stand. Of course, we need to wary of paid actors, but that is not the point here.

The point is, they got you to act.

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Some might think that this presentation approach might not be feasible for meetings or management reports.

Maybe that is the case as context is important

However, I do think there is possibility of strong application for B2C businesses. Afterall, resonating with your target audience is the key for connection to your brand. The ability to connect is the first step to a strong topline.

Also, the above decoded MLM pointers can be highly useful for Professional sharing forums. People are naturally intrigued by how you got to where you are. Presenting in a natural storytelling format builds rapport.

Ultimately, why wouldn’t you want to have a wildly engaging presentation seminar?

I would.

Just remember the simple formula.

Storytelling of Success. Know Your Customers. Get attention. Call-To-Action.

#DecodedSeries

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About the Author:

As a finance and thinking enthusiast, I believe in making the complex simple. 

Because simplicity adds value. 

I do that through reflections (#ThrowbackSeries), building perspectives (#DecodedSeries) and understanding entrepreneurs (#ConversationWithEntrepreneurs). 

Simplicity helps us gain clarity, and clarity helps us to grow. 

And if we are not growing, then what’s the point of anything else?

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