Direct Sales | Are you joining the right company?

Are you joining the right direct sales company?

So, you’re considering partnering with a Direct Sales and/or Network Marketing Company.  First of all.. Bravo for wanting to take control of your financial future. Bravo for no longer relying on somebody else for a paycheck. And, Bravo for stepping outside of your comfort zone.

If you decide to take this route, the future is wide open to you and the limits are taken off.  But, it is important that you follow the below advice regarding a direct sales opportunity.

1. First and foremost… Do your Due Diligence on the Direct Sales Company.

This is a legal term.  To break it down simply.. do your homework! On what? The direct sales company you are considering a partnership with. You want to find out the following:

• How long have they been around?

So many people want to “get in on the ground floor” with a startup direct sales company. And, a lot of companies use this allure to push people into joining right away.. “You can be the first rep in your area!” But, the simple fact is and every savvy business person knows this.. that there is waaaay more risk partnering up with a brand new direct sales company, as opposed to a company who has a solid long term successful business track record.

It is a statistic that 96% of businesses fail within the first 10 years. So, what does that tell you? If you are considering partnering up with a direct sales company to market their products, before investing your time, money and resources, make sure it is a company that will be around 10 years from now.

On a side note.. to think you need to be one of the “firsts” in order to be successful is simply a lack mindset.

A person with an abundance mindset, knows that there are plenty of people in the world, which means there is plenty of business to go around. Therefore, there is no “rush” to sign up quick.

• What company do they keep?

Does the direct sales company sponsor any athletes, celebrities, etc. If so, what is the reputation of those people? We all know the old adage, birds of a feather flock together.  A company who is very ethical and holds high values will only sponsor people with stellar reputations.

Now, holding to that same thought pattern, does the direct sales company partner with any other companies? If so, ask yourself the same questions about them.

In addition to finding answers for the above questions, you will want to consult with the below websites to confirm the professional standing of the company:

Better Business Bureau

Dun & Bradstreet

Last but, definitely not least on this topic of Due Diligence…

Always, always, always Consider the Source.

In a Google driven society, people are quick to ask the beloved search engine a myriad of questions and then let it direct the course of their decisions.  Now although this can be a simple fix in many situations, it also has the potential to lead you way off course. Always make sure you can verify the person behind the “advice”.  If what you’re reading is from some crazy website, written by a no name source.. then move on. It’s not worth reading.

2. Review the Compensation Plan of the Direct Sales Company. 

And, compare it to others. As I mentioned in my previous post.. Top 2 Mistakes of Direct Sales Reps,  it is common for people to simply get caught up in blind excitement. And, it is also common for people to get caught up in the thought of “extra money”.  They are so tight financially that they think if they could make anything, it would be worth it.  But, this is a very limited thought pattern.  And, it’s important that you place value on your time or it will end up wasted.

If you move forward with any company, direct sales or not, you will need to invest hours and hours (and hours and….) in order to make it successful.  There is no such thing as “get rich quick” in business… and if you find something, I pretty much guarantee you will “lose it quick” too!

You will find that not all direct sales and/or network marketing companies are created equal.  In fact, the majority of them totally limit your growth potential. So, it is possible to grow a business and then not financially benefit from your effort.  This is NOT fair, and definitely NOT what you want.  It is important to find a plan that is unlimited and will continue to pay you accordingly for your growth and the growth of your team.

And, back to the “start up company” mindset.. apply this same thinking when reviewing the compensation plans.  It just makes sense that a direct sales company who has been around for decades has a much stronger, solid, secure and larger budget than a company who is just opening their doors and may very well be in debt.

3. Meet the business team you are partnering with.

It’s important to know the people you will be in business with.  You will be working very closely together and will oftentimes be representing one another’s businesses.  So, you want to make sure they hold similar values as you.

Questions to ask yourself:

Are they honest and ethical in all their dealings?

How do they treat other business associates?

How do they treat their family?

Do they appear to have a successful family unit? If not, why? (Obviously consider all factors and don’t just make a blanket judgment.)

Are their kids happy? Oftentimes kids are a reflection of their parents, so you can tell a lot by looking at them.

Are they the same person on and off stage?

4. Does the product work and are you using it?

Now, this sounds like a no brainer to me. But, some people simply don’t get this part. It is great if the products work for your friend. However, it is important that you gain your own personal experience and/or testimony. People will want to know how is it working for YOU. So, it is important that you be your own best customer.

Not only that, but direct sales and/or network marketing businesses only work when products move. No product sales = no profit.  There is no such business in Florida where you pay to join, do nothing and then get rich.  (Or anywhere in the United States.) Well.. let me rephrase that.. there is no such LEGAL business where you pay to join, do nothing and then get rich. There are illegal pyramid scams, but I definitely don’t recommend those.

In moving forward, you should be well equipped to make an educated decision in regard to joining the right company for you.  And, no matter what decision you make.. remember.. the business works.. if you work it! 😉

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