MLM and New Business Opportunity Prospecting

You're ready to start looking for mlm or other new business opportunities to promote and generate income. So what to do? Well, first think about what interests you - are you geared to the going green industry, wellness products, energy, athletic drinks, investment products - whatever it is that appeals to you, that's where you should look first. You do not want to promote products or services with which you are not comfortable. Second, consider the products and services themselves and ask yourself: Are they things that people need or want?

Start searching for companies in the field you like that offer quality products or services. For example, you can do a google search on mlm opportunities in the energy savings or going green industries and a whole bunch of stuff will come up. Select one or two companies at a time and start exploring their websites. If the companies are public, check their annual and other reports. But if they are privately held, the info available will be more limited. See if they are affiliated with the Better Business Bureau and check their rating and history. Another great source to use is alexa.com - this web information company can give you great insight into the rankings of both companies and professionals in the network marketing or other industries.

A critical aspect of any company is its leadership. So check out the profiles of their principal executives, explore their backgrounds and discover if these are executives with whom you would be proud to be affiliated. If everything comes up positive, that's fine, but if you start to come across people with questionable practices in their backgrounds, it's time for you to get lost right away. You want quality - and solvent - companies with excellent products/services and top-notch leadership to drive growth - the company's and your own.

Check out the company's policies and procedures. See what their compensation plans are and how deep the layers go. In MLM, you really want downlines that extend to no less than six, and preferably seven or eight. And be sure you understand the costs. Does the company provide you with full support and analysis of your business? Is there 24/7 technical help available? Does the company restrict and control advertising?And do they offer training and help to get you under way. Good guidance from your upline can be important to building your business. (One aside: Keep in mind that most mlm marketers still use the old belly-to-belly, chase your friends and family. So if you prefer attraction marketing or some other technique, you may find yourself in a bit of a conflict.)

But what do you do if the company you're looking at is new or you're trying to evaluate a new internet product offered by a network marketer? New companies should not be immediately discarded. You could miss a really exciting opportunity. But search the available info closely and diligently investigate the executives' experience and reputation. Their leadership will be crucial

And for the new network marketing products that come along, well be careful. Check out the individuals involved. Have they introduced other successful products? Are they reputable leaders in the industry? Scan the sales pages closely. Are the claims rational and reasonable or ridiculously promissory? Is the cost of the product clearly stated and is your purchase price refundable over a reasonable period of time? Are there hidden costs? What are their policies? Find out what kind of support and training is available. Look carefully and closely before you sign on.

Above all, take your time and do your due diligence research thoroughly. Know exactly what you are getting into and make sure it fits with your standards and within your budget. Remember that people buy from people they know, like and trust, but you do need a quality product/service to promote.

Blocked In? Break Out Now

How Remy got there is beyond me. But there the darned cat was, all cooped up and looking for a way out. And it struck me at once that I felt the same - boxed in and struggling to break out. What was holding me in? Fear of change, of adapting to a new way of thinking and acting, and, most of all, fear of breaking out of my comfort zone. All those great things we learned from our parents, siblings and peers can also work against us, by creating a comfort zone from which we can't break away. We're conditioned to be afraid of anything new and different and only adapt when the world arena forces us to make adjustments.

When I first started my consulting business and, more recently, my two home-based businesses in consumer services, I found that they not only required a change in my approach, but also a change in action. I've had to learn different business practices and new marketing approaches. I've basically had to change the way I think, recognize my weaknesses and fears, and work to overcome them.

It doesn't happen overnight. But you can get out of the box. Identify what you're afraid of. Then work out what you have to do to overcome your fears. And, basically, the only way is to work right through them. If your afraid of the phone, you have to get on the phone - a lot, until it becomes natural to you. If the computer looks like a time bomb to you, then get on it and keep exploring sites and applications until you feel comfortable hitting that on button. If you're afraid of people, get out and join groups that interest you.

When I was a kid in New York City, I lived near an area to which a lot of Puerto Ricans had moved. I was always told not to walk alone in those neighborhoods, to be extremely cautious if I saw large groups of them walking toward me and basically to be careful at all times. My family believed in "all men are created equal." They were simply trying to protect me from what really was a rowdy and sometimes quite dangerous neighborhood to a young girl.

What I discovered as I grew older was that I had become prejudiced against Puerto Ricans. They were 'dangerous' people, people to be avoided. I had to change that - it simply didn't fit with the ethics and concepts my parents had also taught me. But how to change it? Sitting in my room and saying 'I am NOT prejudiced' wasn't doing anything. So I volunteered to teach English as a Second Language at a local church. Amazing! My Puerto Rican students were just people

Encouraging Your Business to Get On Track

Working up your businesss plan the right way can get you on track and ready to go. And, remember, a quality plan is critical to obtaining bank funding. Questions you need to examine include: 1) Is you idea viable? 2) What's the potential demand for your service/product? 3) Who are your competitors? 4) Who is your accountant and/or legal advisor? 5) Are there zoning, insurance or other issues?

The questions differ when developing a home-based business, but the principles are the same - determine your why, research the opportunity, plan your approach and develop your marketing lists. Then get started and refine your approach as you go.

Don't try to do everything at once. Remember that you started life crawling, graduated to a walk, and finally leapfrogged to a run. Plan your business the same way!

Need professional help with your plan? Contact Banhem Associates at www,banhem.com