I
will break this article into more than one post because as a writer of books I
tend to want to write my blog like that, and I might serve you better to not
overload you 
So this article will focus only on how to evaluate a Network Marketing business, and what to do to get started once you find it.
You know what it is that attracts you into looking at a business, cost, requirements, and ease etc. There are many companies that will fit your criteria when you search or talk to people. But as you make a list about what you REALLY want how much you can put into the business (cost to join, cost per month, advertising budget etc.), how much time you will REALLY devote, and IF you will do the business- you will answer your own questions.
OK you have narrowed it down to what you can afford and your other must haves.
Now what?
You need to start reading and doing research. I am gonna use one of our businesses because I need a focal point as an example.
The Penny Matrix, is a company that has been around awhile and has a good track record the cost to join is low and with one team you can now get in line to purchase your team I write about that is a past article on here called Question can you make money with The Penny Matrix
As you can guess both the low buy in cost of just $7.00 and the added ability to purchase members is a strong incentive to share and get interest. No one else offers that at this time, that I know of. So that fact is pretty good at getting attention.
But, if you were, looking at joining The Penny Matrix. I would tell you to not just listen to what I say or any other marketer who is involved with that company.
Do not put too much stock in blogs that tell you how great it is then put a link to their own join page for you to sign up. Because if they have a dog in the hunt, they have a stake in saying it is a great opportunity, easy to do, you can make a ton of money, etc.
Instead check out forums, read social media and check out articles where people do not also ask you to join, instead are only providing information. Go to the company site get the info there and also use that info to copy and paste in Google to check out what scam sites are saying and what users past and present are writing about.
It will still come down to following your gut with a company, I am a huge believer in using your intuition when making decisions on whom to trust what they say and whom not to, as some reviews by past Penny Matrix members may come from people who never did any work so had no results and they blame the company, call it a scam, a pyramid scheme and more, when they never gave it a real shot because they never did anything. So bear that in mind.
Once you do your homework and decide if the company you are researching is the company for you (or not) you either proceed with joining them, or look for another company to do your homework on.
If you proceed to another company remember avoid opportunities that promise instant wealth, promise riches within a certain period of time- “make $5000.00 in 30 days”, or promise no work needed to be paid, no recruiting, get paid for doing nothing etc.- as those do not exist. If they did EVERYONE online and off would be chucking what they do, and join the hucksters above!
Get your questions answered and I do not recommend joining a company ANY company until you talk to the person behind the capture page, email, text you received/filled out etc. For two reasons one: So you can interview and check for a match with your wants and needs and two: Also so we can do the same with you for our teams and business needs. A good match equals a harmonious partnership. It also helps you access how much if it were say me, You want to know I am gonna be there helping you team build, if you need help and I can tell if you really do have the time, the desire and the want to do my team (as well as yourself) any good. So it is beneficial to you AND anyone whose business you are thinking of joining or looking at to help you decide does your gut feel this is the right choice for you.
OK once you have determined which company feels right you have a growing passion over getting involved and you are revved up about on day one. And you have learned that what you want is a real business and with real expectations in a company that is known for running a legitimate home Network Marketing company, with opportunities to grow your business, on your own terms working the hours you want and building your team and your future at the rate you would be comfortable with, and you know how to evaluate each one to gauge where they fall in a 1-10 ranking for the above.
You then need to ask yourself will I on day two feel the same.
Will I really do this business? (Be honest with yourself). People spend $1000,00 of dollars jumping from opportunity to opportunity and really do little if any work as most people will not do the work in Network Marketing.
Don’t join any company if you are not going to treat it like a business and work it. It is not called Network Playing, it is MARKETING and it means you need to do it. Not chase your family or friends then give up (don’t chase anyone) but, really get down and make contact with people, to do our business and be successful.
There are several ways to do this.
Make a list of what you want and WHY, if your why is strong enough, if you want to change your life bad enough if you want to control your own future with enough passion that you are ready and will take ACTION!
You need a team… But how? Well, make use your company training materials learn about the company know your stuff so you can share it. When you have graduated from that education phase. It’s time to get busy building your team.
Some ideas
1. Purchase lead list and genealogy list (learn what those terms mean, before you start, do a search on Google) and make calls, use the emails, text the cell phones. Then follow up when people show interest.
You can use ready made scripts many companies have them in their training you can copy them online, you can write your own. But you need to decide what you will say and how.
Do not worry about how well you do at first, like anything it takes practice, and time to get comfortable and do well. But you gotta start, to reach your goals. Remember Network Marketing is a simple business NOT an easy one.
2. Add capture pages and an auto responder.
Capture pages will collect information you can either create or purchase them. Some companies provide capture pages and auto responders. We in the business used to use awebber for our auto responder, but there are so many now that are just as good as awebber, you need to do a little homework, on what an auto responder is how it works and if that is a tool you want to use.
But like I said a lot of Network Marketing companies offer both the capture pages for collecting info and the auto responder in their members back office for your monthly membership, or you can pay for it through them and use their system that is tailored for that business.
One of our other companies iLA, partners with ProMarketing and they prewrite the emails (you do not have to know how to write a sales letter, or spend the time doing so even if you do) and send them out when someone fills out their info. I love this system. And many companies are going to individual marketing machines for their company pre-loaded with emails for converting people and bringing them into the their opportunity.
3. Get involved with social media and start creating relationships as people like to join with people they like and trust.
Joining facebook, twitter and places like LinkedIN and IBOSocial can be huge tools to getting branded for more than the company you are with, but also yourself as a person and growing your reputation.
4. If you are handy with a computer have tech savvy, know how to make and upload videos Youtube is another tool for promoting your business.
Youtube is an easy tool to use and many Marketers use this as their go to for getting people into their company and team building. And this visual marketing niche can be a pretty sweet addition to your marketing tool belt. “Tip” put up non business content as well to humanize yourself and drive traffic.
5. Blog, Forums, Article writing, free classifiedYou can start a blog blogspot and wordpress are free.
You go back to those forums you joined to research and now make connections and share your business with, you can write articles on other Marketer’s companies and leave comments where you can also leave links. And there are so many sites that allow you to put free ads on them too many to list here, though will share a few I like.
craigslist.org
classifieds giant
free ad splanet
Of course you can use all these ideas or one or two whatever works for you. I also believe in test marketing be it an ad I paid for a free one I placed or how I share a business with someone I like, to test out different ways I do it and so should you. Then use what works.
I
will continue this article next week
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Take Care
Sandy Metcalf
