How To Know If Networking Marketing Is For you?

By Liz Folger

Copyright 99 Liz Folger

My husband and I were receiving phone calls from people we barely knew -- from people we had never given our phone number to and who lived in another state. Another time, a doctor used my husband's medical records to contact us. Why were they trying to get a hold of us? You guessed it -- they were trying to get us to join an MLM.

To say the least, I've never been a big fan of MLMs. Because of my experiences with them, they usually left a bad taste in my mouth.

However, over the years I've had a change of heart. Some of my good entrepreneur friends have gotten into Multi-Level Marketing. And what's even stranger -- they haven't harassed me to join them. But even more important than that -- they were actually making money at them.

I talk with moms on a regular basis who are emphatic about wanting to get into a home biz, but do not want to start the business on their own. I can now proudly say that, with a lot of research, you can find the perfect MLM to fit your personality and interests -- if it's right for you.

But first, how do you know if an MLM is for you? I interviewed one of my good friends, Julie Frost, an MLMer. Julie and her husband, Tommy, thought long and hard before deciding that an MLM was for them. They looked for a Network Marketing company that fit their requirements, such as a compressed pay plan, unique and consumable products, a financially stable, professional company, supportive upline, etc., and didn't stop searching until they found one to their liking.

Liz Folger: Julie, why do many people who get into an MLM fail?

Julie Frost: Usually, this can be caused by a few different things -- bad company pay plans, lack of upline support, lack of support from family and friends, lack of funding (a major cause for failure in ALL businesses), etc.

Liz Folger: But let's just say you had all of the above going for you? Then you wouldn't fail, right?

Julie Frost: Choosing a business is like choosing a spouse. You will have to be with this business everyday, working it, nurturing it, and doing all that you can to help it grow. What if you choose the wrong business? Would your chances for success still be equal? Probably about as equal as your chances of a long and happy marriage if you chose the wrong spouse.

Liz Folger: So how do you make sure that Network Marketing is for you?

Julie Frost: Every business will call on certain strengths, Liz. Answer the following questions as honestly as you can to see if MLM may be right for you:

1. Do you truly care about people; are you a "people person"?

2. Do you like to help others?

3. Are you compassionate?

4. Are you a self-starter, fully able to motivate yourself?

5. Are you confident in yourself? (You'll also need to be confident in the product and/or services you are marketing.)

6. Are you coachable enough to follow the training and system you'll be presented with?

7. Are you truthful with yourself and others?

8. Do you consider yourself to be kind?

9. Do you have an interest in helping others succeed?

10. Are you genuinely passionate about, and committed to, owning a successful home business?

Julie Frost: Obviously, the more "Yes" answers you gave, the better suited you are for Network Marketing. You'll also want the people you recruit to have these attributes, because, as the saying goes, "You can't push a rope!"

Liz Folger is Work-at-Home Mom Expert and author of, "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide to Making Money." She has created a resource site for work-at-home moms at: http://www.bizymoms.com. When you visit, don't forget to sign-up for the free e-newsletter for Bizy Moms. If you have a question that you'd like covered in a column, e-mail her at: lizfolger@bizymoms.com.