How often have you seen ads on television that use the term, “Independent Insurance Agent or Associate?” As we watch these advertisements we naturally assume they are employees of the company, when in reality they are independent business owners! No doubt you have noticed as you have driven through your neighborhood many of these small businesses, they have signs and other advertisements designed to draw your attention to them.
Yet, you will rarely see advertising from the approximately 13 million people who are either involved with direct selling, or in the network marketing industry according to figures by the Direct Selling Association (DSA).
There is distinct difference between us and them, in most cases they are assigned an exclusive territory and therefore cannot market outside of their assigned territory. Where as in network marketing in most cases, you can market just about anywhere your company is established!
Why are companies willing to pay you to market for them. Why don’t they just utilize the internet or other traditional marketing methods?
It’s quite simple, they want access to your network, that is your network of friends and family members! Today there are hundreds of companies offering products and services. Many of these products and services you recognize by their brand name! The products and services you can market today cover everything from Communication Services, Internet Access, Nutritional Products, Weight Loss Programs, Water Filtration Systems, Financial Programs, Electrical Power, Solar Power, just to name a few.
So why do they need us?
Traditional marketing methods have companies spending millions of dollars each year to market their products and services. They know that word-of-mouth marketing is a far more powerful and effective method of marketing, especially, when that message comes from those whom we know and trust! These companies are more than willing to pay you, to communicate this message to your network of friends and family.
It is extremely important to understand that this method of marketing is not about bugging your friends and family members, as many would love for you to believe. Rather it is about your ability and skill to determine from those individuals within your circle of influence who would be interested in the products or services that your company has to offer.
That information alone is one of the critical elements that separates those who fail, from those who go on to become very successful! And occasionally you might uncover a few individuals, who also want to start a business!
I truly believe Robert Kiyosaki summed it up nicely; it really is the business school for people who like helping people!
If you want to call your own shots in life, if you’re willing to get the education you will need to run a small business, if you enjoy working with people, then network marketing just might be right kind of business for you.
If on the other hand, you are only in it for the money or you just don’t like dealing with people well then you will most likely end up failing!Personally I’ve found running a network marketing business to be a very rewarding. While it does give you the freedom from punching someone else’s clock, now you’ll be punching your clock and will have to hold yourself accountable!
If your currently employed the training you’ll get from having a network marketing business will give you a deeper appreciation of what your employer has to deal with on a daily basis. You will also become a far better communicator, someone who really listens and address the wants and needs of others!
Conclusion
With the economy the way it is today, working from home makes more sense then acquiring a second job in order to make ends meet. And thats if you can find one!
Throughout this site, you’ll find additional pages and resources that will help give you a deeper understanding of this independent business system. I wish you every success in your Network Marketing business.
If you are seeking a real and viable Network Marketing opportunity that will allow you the freedom to live the life of your dreams then you need to see the “Introduction to our business” page.
What to look for in a Network Marketing Company?
In the USA a new Network Marketing Company is started every 15 days and very few remain open longer than 18 months. Most Network Marketing companies, world-wide are opened by people or persons who have failed in Network Marketing or seen their previous Network Marketing Company go belly up.
Network Matketing is a lucrative industry and anybody serious about starting a business from home, without any great investment of time or money should look at Network Marketing. Infact Network Marketing is so good that Robert Kiyosacki in his book, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” encourages anyone wanting to learn how to create wealth to get involved in Network Marketing.
Yet when you read and hear what has happened to many in this industry, its important to choose your Network Marketing Company right. In this post I want to suggest 4 things to look for to avoid having to watch your hard work get flushed down the drain.
1. Your Network Marketing Company should be older than 15years old – This is a serious statement but nevertheless an important one. I would only advise entering a company younger that 15 years if you have already established a Network with another Network Marketing Opportunity that does not clash with this one.
(a) Ensure that the company is debt-free. The Global recession has seen many NWM Companies go belly up even after 20 years of operation, so ensure that the NWM Company you choose is debt free.
(b) John Maxwell writes, “No such thing as business ethics” and it’s true. In the same way there is no such thing as a ethical company, only ethical people in management positions. Research the NWM Company well to ensure that they have not been embroiled in any scandals or unethical practises. Ensure that they are noted for paying on time and delivering on promises. A search of sites like www.scam.com could help shed light.
2. Your Network Marketing Company should have a product – Too many juice and shake companies making claims that are later proven to be empty have left many NWM red-faced and embarrassed.
(a) Ensure that the product is a leader in it’s field and is better and more cost effective than anything found on the supermarket shelf.
(b) Ensure that the product is backed and supported by independant experts and classified by them as state of the art or innovative.
3. Your Network Marketing Company should have a plan thats simple – I once sat in a presentation on a Network Marketing Opprtunity that left me with more questions than before I got there.
(a) you should be able to explain the plan in a nutshell and answer any question your prospective sponsor would have.
4. Your Network Marketing Company should offer training and support – Tim Sales states that the biggest failure with NWM is that too many NWM Companies leave their members without any support or training after they sign up. Ensure that the NWM Company that you are considering is reputed for it’s training and support
Conclusion
If the NWM company you consider meets these criteria then you are well on your way to creating an income you can retire on. I wish you every success in your Network Marketing business.
If you are interested in being part of a true Network Marketing opportunity that will allow you the freedom to live the life of your dreams then you need to see the “Introduction to our business” page.
You may need to rethink the Network Marketing Company you currently partner with?
Network Marketing is a thriving industry that is on the brink of breaking the Trillion dollar barrier. Unfortunately due to the tough economic times we are in many people are being duped by Blue-chip companies into joining schemes that were not developed with thier financial interests in mind.
The insurance industry is growing and with it are the number of Insurance and Investment Companies who now offer a Network Marketing opportunity; Hollard and the Clientele IFA, Sanlam and Channel4Life, StratEquity and ICI and the list grows daily. Many flock for the opportunities, which often have huge celebrity endorsements marketing thier products, hoping to achieve financial freedom not realising that they are going into an industry with huge people turn-over.
Feeling the Pinch
The reason for the high people turn-over has nothing to do with Network Marketing or the product on offer but rather it has everything to do with the felt need of the people in it. We are living in tough financial times and therefore people are more willing to allow a debit order to bounce so that they can have more money to spend on thier felt needs.
If this happens 3 to 6 times in a row thier policy is cancelled and due to having to pay late fees to have the policy reinstated, they usually just let it go and drop out, join under someone else or join another opportunity all together.
Unless you are certain that all the people in your Network are themselves of stable financial status, you will never be able to build a solid business that you can retire on. You end up frustrated or dropping out yourself.
A teaspoon of sugar helps the medicine go down
How then do you go about building a stable business while avoiding a huge people turn over? The solution is to build a Network with another opportunity that you can then introduce your insurance opportunity to. The other opportunity must be a company that offers a consumable product that people are able to use everyday.
People are often willing to allow a debit order to bounce in order to purchase a needed product for the house. Most Network Marketing opportunities with a consumable product usually have a once off joining cost with an annual renewal. When you have build up a Network of people who are earning from this opportunity you can then introduce the other.
Conclusion
Network Marketing is too lucrative an industry not to get involved in it. It is honest and helps you make a positive difference in the lives of other people. You must just make sure that when you do Network Marketing that you do it smart. I wish you every success in your Network Marketing business.
If you are interested in being part of a true Network Marketing opportunity that will allow you the freedom to live the life of your dreams then you need to see the “Introduction to our business” page.
