Network Marketing 101 - Evaluate the program

It's Wednesday. Time for the second installment of the Network Marketing 101 series.


If you are trying to decide whether you should join a network or even which network to start up with, I always recommend and urge my potential new business partners to do their research. Important decisions are not made casually and I try to emphasize their choice to start in my business is an important one. It could be life changing. It could be the first step in creating a legacy for their family and may have a tremendous impact on their future.

Here are some obvious basic questions that everyone typically will ask:

• How much will it cost me to get started?
• Will someone help me learn the things I need to know to be successful?
• Is there a charge for this training?
• When will I get paid for the work I've done?
• Who do I call if I have a problem / question / concern?
• How much time will I have to dedicate to doing this?
• Is there selling involved?
• How much do the products cost and is there a personal purchase quota?
  

Pretty common questions, right? Sure, these are the first I would and did ask in my first experience.

Here are some additional things to consider. Some of these are more introspective and values-based but should be considered vital in creating the best possible environment for success.

• Would the integrity of the company's leadership inspire you to follow them?
• Is the company mission-driven or get-rich-quick motivated?
• Does the company's corporate philosophy fit your personal philosophy?
• Does the company depend on hype to sell it's opportunity, or will the company and opportunity survive a factual examination of the claims made at company-sponsored opportunity meetings?
• Would the opportunity give you a real chance to make a positive difference in the lives of those you sponsor into the business?
• Can you understand the compensation plan without needing a Ph.D. in economics?
• Is it home based or will I need to leave my home in order to build it?
• Are the products items you would buy if you weren't involved in the business? What kind of quality and customer support is available for the products being marketed?

You can probably come up with many more but I hope this offers a good starting point. By all means, ask all your questions before you lay your money down. Understand all the expectations, requirements, and responsibilities so you can achieve maximum effectiveness as you begin. It will make the process of developing your game plan with your sponsor / mentor so much easier and will make the goal setting process more productive.

Next Wednesday - Getting started ideas