Survive and Thrive: Work at Home

I am a skeptic. A tried and true, can't believe it til I see it, Critic. So rest assured when my normally sane, financially stable boyfriend told me he was thinking about venturing back into network marketing, I was not enthused.

We had worked collaboratively on a Nutritional health and wellness campaign early off in our relationship. Very little payoff ( well other than developing our Actual relationship I suppose), very high investment and really a lot of rah rah-ing whenever we looked for support. Although it was nothing new for him (he'd already been experimenting in the industry for about 5 or 6 years) I was turned off, if simply for the fact we hadn't made any actual money.

So the first thing I asked him to do this time around was his homework . Thoroughly research the company, its history, its success stories and its detractors. Because trust me, a simple landing page never tells the whole story, even if you have to read 30 minutes of promises and testimonials(and probably listen to 45 minutes of the same on a bad audio recording). And I did some digging of my own. In our particular instance, the company appeared both legitimate and plausible.

Don't be afraid to stand up for you or your mate if you feel that something is just not right. There are literally thousands of scams posing as legitimate business, and nothing leaves a worse taste in your mouth than losing money or wasting time. If you do feel that the company your Loved One or Friend is getting involved in doesn't add up, stay calm and explain your apprehensions honestly. (more on what should cause a blip on your radar below) Don't just claim its a fraud, use clear evidence to show them.

I would also recommend offering an alternative company or option. This will show that you're not wholly opposed to the idea of your mate starting their own business, you just want to be sure its a legitimate one. And it also shows that despite what might come across at first as resistance, you do genuinely care.

If you're not familiar with the little internet niche that is network and affiliate (SEO) marketing, then it can be difficult to establish criteria for judging a company on. If you thought: pyramid scheme as soon as your significant other began singing the SEO chorus, this could help clarify the difference between a bad scheme and good opportunity.

* Legality - Is It Even Legal Where You Live? And if it isn't, is there a good reason why? example: Cash Gifting Programs. Illegal in most US states and in the UK.Why? Because there is no actual product involved and usually there's just not enough money to go around.. Nice theory, but this theory is also a huge tax violation.

* Credibility - Let's Face It, They All Sound Shady at First. So try plugging the company's URL into a site like Alexa. where you can find out longevity, traffic stats, as well as getting some reader reviews. You can also use sites like RipOffReport.com, in which disgruntled users are allowed to post their horror stories. Be aware however, that while one or two instances of enraged customers do not necessarily indicate a "scam", companies with consistent reports of bad or unreachable customer service lines or no available tech support should be a red flag. Generally a company or system that is attempting to defraud people will not leave legitimate contact information.

* Usability - Investment Vs. Payout keep an ear out for companies or programs that require huge investments in order to make money. Many systems will offer a low ticket entrance fee, but then make the requirements to collect payment include auto ships of a couple hundred dollars a month or additional product purchases to maintain eligibility. A business that continually upsells you, is not trying to help You or your loved one money in the long run.

* Availability - You're Not in Kansas Anymore In the brick and mortar world (where most of us are used to doing business), it is rare that a company is totally unreachable by phone, fax or email. However due to the Wild West nature of the Internet right now, this can be very true of alot of companies you may come across. Particularly in the home business industry because no Network Marketing company strictly employs a policy of guaranteed contact with new members. As strange as that may sound, many team leaders elect not to work directly with their people, so despite what you read on their website or landing page they will not personally walk you through the set up process or get you started. Pay close attention to the name of the person you are enrolling under, and do a thorough search of their track record. The word "expert" is thrown around frequently and carelessly, so make sure it doesn't fool you.

We're all at a point where we're a bit spoiled by the Internet. Its a constant source of entertainment, as well as a social venue, a portable shopping mall, a compass, etc etc. And because it makes us laugh we pigeonhole the type of people we think can make money or become successful. Namely 3 big categories: Porn, Programming or Pranks.

But the fourth P is on the rise and that is Promotion . If you don't believe me ask Soulja Boy. Most of you know him as a young upstart rapper. Or Dane Cook, a world famous comedian capable of selling out Madison Square Garden. Would you think of them as expert Marketers and self promoter? Well they both were able to start garnering that attention (and eventually their careers) on the Social Network Myspace.



Here's what Promotion for Network marketing doesn't have in common with Promotion of a band or group: You're not going to get rich overnight. So if you got a song and dance from the friend or loved one that promised you ten grand by the end of the month, more than likely it'll be a short beat.

True successful profit in the home business industry is earmarked by long term growth and consistency. While there are many skills and tactics marketers use to garner new leads and customers by the thousands, the people collecting the checks do it by building up large circles of business contacts who trust them. The trust is earned through a combination of worthwhile product sales and useful business advice.



True successful profit in the home business industry is earmarked by long term growth and consistency. While there are many skills and tactics marketers use to garner new leads and customers by the thousands, the people collecting the checks do it by building up large circles of business contacts who trust them. The trust is earned through a combination of worthwhile product sales and useful business advice.

READ This means that building a successful business will take time. When I say time, I mean if the same loved one or friend who approached you from working from home had instead told you they were purchasing a restaurant or a general store, you would assume they would have a minimal amount of free time. Because its a large investment and needs to be watched carefully. And it also takes hours of going over sales and figures, growth and expenses in order to assure the business is running smoothly.

As it would be with a brick and mortar business, effort has to be put in on a daily basis to ensure that the business not only gains new clients but maintains older clientele as well. It involves contact through phone, email or the very popular program Skype. And it requires the person building the business to stay focused on the task at hand.

I don't mean to scare you, although I may just have. I simply think it important for people to expect real work ahead of them if they expect to gain real results. In the same way that there's only one Bill Gates and one Steve Jobs, the overnight success stories are just as small of a percentile on the web.

On the plus side, I can honestly tell you the work does pay off, if not more so than it can in the brick and mortar work environment because the promotions come as fast as your willing to work for them. Unless you want to try it like that Youtube "Sensation" Chris (pictured above) and cry over a celebrity or something.

The skeptic in me has something to say again and I think its a fairly important point to make. One of things that rubs people the wrong way about Network Marketing is the motivational, character building jargon. The freshman cheerleader enthusiasm, the "Fake It Til You Make It" refrain and glowing testimonial after glowing testimonial. To some its reminiscent of a born again revival and for others its just plain too cheesy. Believe it or not, there is value behind all the shouting. You just have to know how to exercise it at the right volume.

Spilled over from the pre Internet phase of the Industry, the tendency for training in this industry to border on life coaching and perspective adjustment runs high, and its a turn off for a lot of people who view it as just plain invasive. Personally for me, when I first sat down and listened to my fist motivational speech, I was a little nauseated. I know, its very close minded. Over time however I began to open up. And no not because I was brainwashed.

Because I began to realize that the majority of us are not taught to be business leaders. I know I wasn't, and not for a lack of traditional education. Like it or not the school system breeds employees and the self employed. And part of the reason that 97% of all new businesses fail (a statistic that holds true in the real world as well), is because most people have no idea what to expect when starting their own business.

A big part of this is not realizing what challenges face you as a business owner that you don't have to handle as an employee. For example, have you ever worked with that person who cursed at the customers or bad mouthed the company while working? Well you when you're just a co-worker, that may seem childish (or amusing depending on the day!), when its your business, those negative interactions add up to clients who don't come back.



It also takes resolve to start and run your own business. For the first time, You are the only person who can yell at you if you show up late to work (Or tell you what time that needs to be!). Setting up the right parameters for working in an environment you normally relax makes a big difference in how you're going to get work done.



Business leaders running successful companies also know how difficult it is to get the support and understanding they may need from those around them. For people with 9-5 jobs, Fridays are the highlight of the week and Holidays reign supreme on the calendar. But for a business owner, and this is true of those online and those down the street, every day is a chance to grow your business or serve your customers. And its a concept that's mind boggling for those who can only make a paycheck punching a time clock. And those speeches and tapes are a great reminder on the slow days that others have hit those lows too and still become successful.



A lot of those motivational speeches, tapes and e-books may frighten you with their poms poms flashing and their audiences cheering, but I encourage you to give them a shot. While there are companies who will attempt to overwhelm you with good cheer (In which case I recommend you run and quickly), there are many successful respected business leaders who offer up incredibly useful advice and positivity to help keep you focused.

So let's say you've been in food service your whole life and you haven't the faintest idea about being a secretary or an Office Manager. You can just as easily remove food service and insert any variety of industries from landscaping to child care to biochemistry.

For me it was eye opening. I've held just about every form of employment available (including but not limited to: library clerk, deli assistant, seamstress, sales rep, customer svc.), and yet once the ball got rolling in our house I was floored by what was required to stay organized and keep moving forward. And that doesn't even cover the research required to help fuel new marketing campaigns and strategies.

Receiving and returning business calls, responding to emails (in a timely fashion for once) and sending out messages to our team. Scheduling appointments and comparing schedules and timezones. I'll be honest it gave me new respect for those willing to handle secretarial jobs in doctors offices and billing departments.

Because like it or not, not every person looking to get in touch with you is going to be as professional or cheerful as you should try to be. As Keith told me early on, disgruntled customers (and quitters) are a part of growing a successful team, in the same way yanking out crab grass and dandelions gets you a beautiful garden. That doesn't make it any less obnoxious though when someone sends you a nasty email or calls you spewing attitudes (or worse). A little further on, I can give you some ideas about how to handle them.

Receiving and returning business calls, responding to emails (in a timely fashion for once) and sending out messages to our team. Scheduling appointments and comparing schedules and timezones. I'll be honest it gave me new respect for those willing to handle secretarial jobs in doctors offices and billing departments.



What's confusing is that many people associate Working From Home with a bit more relaxed style of living. And while I admit, we don't own or use an alarm clock in my house, there is something to be said for setting and regulating a schedule. Too often because we are accustomed to working hours determined by someone else, we have difficulty developing those same necessary time parameters when working from home. Nobody likes a boss breathing down their neck to get something done, but without the harness it can be a bit hard to focus and stay on task.

I'm not saying you have to wear a suit and tie to work in your own living room. I'd just recommend finding the proper timetable that allows you and your loved one time for the business and time for yourselves. Because trust me, you'll need it.

Continue On to the Next Lens for Some ideas how to start organizing your home to a Work from Home office.

Communication is key when you first begin. Establish clear lines of contact that you are comfortable with .

That deserves a bit of an explanation. As I mentioned above, the difference between sales and marketing lies in the ability to reach a customer base that doesn't require your one on one participation to create a sale. Whereas a sales man might go door to door, or make individual calls, a marketer specifically utilizes broader platforms, such as direct mail, social networks or blogs. These tools enable people to access the necessary information about your business, without you having to walk or talk them through it.

So maybe you're not a phone person. Or maybe you like to talk, but hate responding to emails. There are a variety of methods you can use that will keep you up to date with members of your team without making you feel uncomfortable.

Your Tools And How to Use Them Your Way:

Phone
Whether or not you like to talk, having an accessible phone number is a great way to demonstrate you are a real person.
We all read the stories that seem to crop up everyday on the news regarding scams on the Internet and particularly those that frequent social network sites like Twitter, Myspace or Facebook. I don't recommend you post your phone number all across the Web, however it is useful to include in emails you send to people who join your business.

For your own peace of mind, (and to keep the crazies at bay) I recommend attaching a certain time frame or availability to phone contact. You can also look into grabbing a pay as you go phone, so that your home phone number isn't available to the masses.

Example : Many people close off emails with not only their name, but their contact information as well. You've probably noticed this on emails you've received. It looks something like this:

Sincerely,

Alice Smith
email:abc@123.com
phone: (123)-123-0000
more info: www.yourdomain.com

If you have a limited availability, in terms of balancing this work from home venture with your other schedules, then you may choose to include a notation alongside your phone number. That way people understand you aren't ignoring their call, you just are prioritizing something else at that time.

Sincerely,

Alice Smith
email: abc@123.com
phone: (123)-123-0000 EST(available: M-W 9 AM-12pm Th-Sat 6 PM- 9 PM)
more info: www.yourdomain.com

It is important that if you're going to be specific about the times in which you will receive phone calls, that you hold true to that availability. Remember if you and your Loved One are just starting out building your business, your credibility is subject to question. This will go a long way to helping yourselves as a solid, dependable Business connection.

Voicemail or Answering Machine

If you are not interested in speaking with people over the phone, there is a way to handle that and make it work to your advantage. Voicemail or Answering Machine Messages give you the ability to let people know what form of communication you prefer, without seeming rude or unwilling to respond to people that need assistance.

Example: Here is a sample script to give you an idea of how to gently let other people interested in your business how to better get in touch with you. If you intend to return phone calls with phone calls skip to the next example.

"Hi and Thanks For Calling (123) 123-0000. You've Reached Alice Smith of YourCompanyNameHere. I Appreciate Your
Interest and Would Love To Talk With You Further, So I Will Be Responding to You Shortly From abc@123.com. If You
Are Available By Skype, Please Add My Contact Details: Alice Smith. Thanks and I Look Forward to Speaking To You in the
Future."

Be sure to speak slowly and clearly, particularly when stating your name, phone number and email address. You want to be sure that people are aware you will be responding.

In case you've never used it before, Skype is a very popular instant messaging program that can be downloaded for free. It is a great way to keep in touch with people, especially if you have business connections out of the country or calling range you are in. In addition, you can also place free phone calls to others you know who also have a Skype account.Land line calls (domestic and international) are available at very reasonable rates, if you choose to set up a paid account. In our experience that has not been necessary thus far.

If you choose to respond by email try to keep them as timely as is possible for your schedule. Pay close attention to the messages left and be sure to answer specific questions potential clients may have about the business.

Example: If returning phone calls is not an issue for you, here is a sample message you may want to leave on your voicemail or answering machine. Again it is important that you speak slowly and clearly so that people know they have reached the right person.

"Hello and Thank you for calling (123)-123-0000. You've Reached Alice Smith of YourCompanyNameHere and unfortunately I am not available to take your call right now. My normal office hours are Mon- Wed 9 AM- 12 PM and Thurs- Sat 6 PM- 9 PM. Please leave a detailed message with your contact information so that I may return your call timely. Thanks again and I look forward to speaking with you in the future.

Email

Generally when you're working online, email is the primary form of communication. To make things easier, I would recommend creating a second account different from your current address and keep it strictly for business. This will not only help keep you organized, but will also keep you from mistakenly emailing your personal contacts information about your business.

As your business progresses, you may find you receive many emails with the same questions. To save yourself time, you may want to create an FAQ response email that you can send to address those questions and issues. That way you can simply copy and paste the information instead of retyping over and over.

A quick note here on spending, budgeting and recording your transactions.

Just as it would in any other business, Tax Laws do apply. So if you're thinking Uncle Sam (or whomever heads up your Federal tax collection agency in your country) isn't going to want your money because you made it working from home, you'd be dead wrong.

Surprising though it may be, I've actually spoken with new prospective team members who were worried about the fact that our particular company keeps your W-9 (form for tax collection in the US) on file. For me, this seemed like a bonus and another good sign we had chosen a Legitimate and Law Abiding company to work with.

Think of it this way. If this home business, was actually an establishment somewhere in your town, perhaps a restaurant or convenience store, you wouldn't hesitate for a minute to get all of your financial ducks in a row with the government. The idea of being arrested for a crime as serious as Tax evasion is enough to frighten most into grudgingly forking over a percentage of that hard earned cash in order to do business.

Ever Heard of the Gangster Al Capone? You may or may not know this, but his entire operation crumbled not when he was picked up on charges of bootlegging, murder or racketeering but when the Government got him for Tax Evasion. He died alone, in prison serving his term.

I am not niether a trained nor professional tax advisor, and I don't write this lens with the intention of masquerading as one. However I'd like to offer you a little advice so that at the end of the year, you don't find yourself scrambling for proof of income.

Print Records of Your Transactions

Often times online, services such as Paypal streamline our monetary transactions and save details. However, the IRS doesn't accept email, so its on you or your Loved One to make sure you are printing and filing important transactions, payments sent or received and purchases made as business tools or investments.

For example in my house, if you buy anything computer related (even replacement computer parts or software upgrades), the receipt automatically goes into a folder specifically marked "Technical Investments". Likewise we have similar folders for "Payments Received". While it will require a good going over with our Tax specialist, filing away the information now saves valuable time and headaches and also eliminates the potential for us missing a tax credit we could have been issued.

Let's face it, other people's success doesn't always translate to YOUR success.

Will it work for you? Unfortunately there's never a crystal ball, and I am loathe to be that guy who claims to guarantee success for anyone who happens to land on our page.

Success takes work, and the level of work you are willing to put in will always determine the amount of success you'll get out.

But it never hurts to stack the deck right? So give yourself the advantage of working with a team that uses proven methods to get concrete results.

Not to mention, you'll get 7 full FREE days to access the Back Office, go over Our Training Tutorials and even speak to one of us so that you can decide for yourself if our company is right for you.

If it is, we'd love to have you join our team. If its not, then there aren't any hard feelings.

You never know until you try. And nothing stings worse than a serious case of the "coulda, woulda', shoulda' "'s

http://www.affiliaterockstar.info

To Your Success!