Everything changed when I had my first child. I was an older parent with a college degree and an established career. During my pregnancy, I just knew I would go right back to work in six weeks.
But what actually happened was the complete opposite. Once I had my son, I realized there was no way I could go back to working outside the home.
I’d always had my own income and independence over how I spent money. Much of that changed when I left my job. After my second child and doing volunteer work for several years, I realized I really wanted two things: to add to our family’s income to have something for myself while staying home to raise our children.
At the time, I was becoming more aware of what I was putting on my body, and through this process, I found a network marketing company selling something that was very interesting to me. I had never purchased a direct sales product in my life, and up until then, I’d never seen one I would purchase. Now, not only did I see a perfect fit with the product, but I also learned of the ability to work for the company. So I jumped in full force. Wouldn’t everyone want to buy this product like I did? I was sure I knew plenty of people who needed it.
I soon learned there was nothing further from the truth.
No product sells itself. And not everyone wants to buy something just because you do. This was quite an awakening for me. It took me several years of trial and error, reading, and experimenting to create a part-time income from my network marketing business.
So, how do you find the right work-from-home opportunity?
There are several considerations: your financial goals, your time availability, the age (and independence level) of your children, and your own interests and personality.
Do you want to be self-employed or do you want to work for someone else? I knew I didn’t want to be obligated to work for anyone else, that’s why I choose network marketing/direct sales. This type of work provides you the ultimate in flexibility in regards to when and how you work. At the same time, this could be a negative factor if you aren’t self-motivated or an effective time manager.
The reality is — not very many people make an astounding income from their network marketing businesses. These business models are geared around a lot of people buying small amounts of product. Generally you earn commissions from 20% to 35% and most have a tiered payout based on how much product you sell and/or how many people are part of your business. This means to create a significant income, you will need to build a large business with customers as well as your own team.
Creating a lucrative business requires a great deal of effort. Expect a learning curve and the possibility that you may go through a few companies before finding the right fit. One way to know if its right is to ask yourself, “Would I buy this product even if I weren’t selling it?”
Network marketing is not for you if…
It’s not easy being self-employed. If your family needs immediate income, direct sales isn’t the answer. If you lack motivation or time management skills, you may be better served with a more traditional job with a manager and specified duties.
The virtual job market is expanding all the time. There are many positions available such as a virtual assistant, call agent, transcriptionist, marketing professional, social media contractor, or customer service or sales representative. Also, you should never have to pay for information on how to find out about these jobs.
Red flags in the direct sales industry
Beware of sales pitches claiming you won’t have to sell anything or host parties, etc. If you join a company that sells products and you plan on earning an income, you’re going to have to sell. My personal opinion is that if a business is legitimate, the focus should be on selling the products, while “recruiting” others into the company should be secondary. Of course, you will need to do both to be successful in any network marketing business, but if you don’t have products to sell then you are selling an “opportunity,” and that’s often a red flag.
Next, you’ll have to find the people who want what you have. This is sales, and you’ll need to find your target market. Ideally, you won’t hound your friends and family. This can put a strain on relationships, and it’s not worth the short-term benefit to your business if you drive away all of your friends.
It’s helpful to work with a company with marketing and training tools and live support or calls to help you and keep you motivated. It’s also wise to do some investigating and find a top producer in the company to enroll with. Working with someone who is already successful can really help with the learning curve. In the end, it will be up to you to do the work and take the action needed to build your business.
How to use Social Media to build your business (without driving your friends crazy)
Social Media can help you reach out beyond your immediate circle of, but be careful not to bombard your friends and family with your product or opportunity. There’s a balance between being informative and being annoying. Experts say a good ratio is four regular posts to one post about your business.
Be sure to share information that is useful to keep your followers interested and engaged. If you just post about selling, you will lose your connections very quickly. Many network marketing companies now host virtual home parties through Facebook. Your guests can learn / shop from home, and you have the ultimate flexibility when setting up your party date and time. Prospects can pop in and out, and they don’t necessarily have to be present during the time of the party to take advantage of the special offers.
If you’re interested in a particular company, get to know their representatives and ask about the pros and cons. Or if you’re looking to be hired for a work-from-home position, research the business and ask if they can put you in touch with other virtual employees. Make sure it’s the right fit for you, and it works for your family.
Resources
The Work At Home Woman www.theworkathomewoman.com is a helpful resource. Each year they publish a list of telecommuting jobs and companies that hire for these positions. (http://www.theworkathomewoman.com/jobs-2015/).
Unbiased information on direct sales http://www.moneytalksnews.com/tupperware-and-beyond-should-you-join-a-direct-sales-company/ and network marketing: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/77700
- Does Working from Home Work for You? - May 18, 2015
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