When the whole family is invested you can tap into the unique talents of each member and there less chance of resentment developing over the amount of time you are spending building the business. Balancing work and family is not easy but if you work at it, you may be able to create the supportive dynamic you need to build a successful business.


Have a Family Meeting

Before starting the business have a family meeting to discuss the idea. Talk about your hopes, how having a home based business will benefit everyone and how balancing work and family is your main goal which is why you are discussing it together. Answer any questions or concerns they may have about the venture.

While you want to talk about the business in a positive light, don’t sugarcoat the truth. Be honest and let them know that in the beginning it will take a lot of work and a team effort to get the business off the ground. Don’t be afraid to solicit suggestions from them about how to make balancing work and family easier.

Let Them Help

There have been many psychological studies done which have shown that the more a person becomes invested in something the more they care about it. For example, a tactic that many marketers use is to help people visualize using the product they are selling. One a person sees themselves using a product they become emotionally invested and are more likely to make a purchase.

Getting the family involved in the business will increase their emotional investment in it. They will care about its success and having your family in your corner rooting you on is the best feeling in the world. So try to find something they can do to help. For example, one way I balance work and family is I get my kids to help me make videos for my online shopping business. Not only do I get to spend time with them but the children love being my little “business partners”.

Share the Rewards

Sharing the rewards of business success with the family is a great way to reinforce the work and family dynamic you have established. Whether it is a financial reward (extra allowance or purchasing something that has been wanted for awhile) or emotional reward (spending more time doing fun stuff because the bills are getting paid) let the family share in the fruits of your combined labors. If they see the rewards, they will be more amendable to supporting the business.

Balancing work and family is a challenge. But if you approach it the right way you can build the successful business you want and have a supportive family by your side every step of the way. One thing that can help is to find an opportunity that works around your lifestyle rather than the other way around. Visit RockYourBusinessOnline.com to learn about a business opportunity that lets you work when it’s convenient for you.

(photo credit: smallestbones)

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Is this your life?

Another reason trying to build multiple mlm businesses at the same time is probably not a good idea is because of the possible confusion that may result as you attempt to market yourself. When you meet a prospect how will you determine which business opportunity to pitch to them? If they show no interest in one opportunity will you then launch into a sales pitch about your “other” opportunity? It is already difficult to engage people enough to sit through one sales presentation. It is highly unlikely that a prospect is going to allow you to continue to take up their time with another one.

Lastly, you may want to check your contract with your network marketing company for possible non-compete clauses. Some of these network marketing companies are competing fiercely with each other and will not tolerate a network marketer concurrently promoting another mlm business in the same industry. Doing so can result in you having both of your mlm businesses taken away by the parent companies and sued for damages. Not to mention the hit to your credibility as you attempt to sell competing products to the same people in your social network.

Now I want to make it clear that I do not oppose owning more than one business. I firmly believe that financial security requires that you have multiple streams of income flowing into your bank account. That way if one stream fizzles out, you have several others that will take care of your needs until you find something to replace it.

However, I also believe in being smart about your business development. Work on building one business to a successful level before jumping into another one. When you are focused 100% on what you are doing, you’ll communicate your vision more effectively, connect better with prospects, and spot opportunities quicker. Which all means you will achieve success much faster.

If you are starting multiple mlm businesses because you are not experiencing the success you want or none of them are providing you with what you need to succeed, then read a few articles on this blog for ideas on what you can do to kick start your business. Additionally, you can download my free report on why many home based business fail and what you can do make sure yours succeed.

In the meantime, stay focused and be successful.

(photo credit: Thomas Hawk)

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The causes of business failure vary. Between family and a job, some people aren’t able to put in the necessary time. Others are impatient expecting to get rich quickly. When that doesn’t happen usually they quit one program and move onto another they think will generate the millions of dollars they seek. However, the main three reasons businesses fail are:

1) Lack of Effective Marketing

I just can’t say it enough. Marketing is the backbone of your company and often determines whether you will experience success or business failure. An average product that is marketed effectively will always outperform a superior product marketed poorly.

Customers have changed the rules of marketing so if you are using outdated methods, such as cold calling and high pressure, then you are basically cutting yourself off at the knees. Customers don’t like to be sold. They would much rather buy and using techniques that attract customers to you will net you better results.

2) Bad Opportunity

Sometimes the business opportunity itself is doomed from the start. With the number of scams, frauds and fake opportunities on the market today, it is not surprising that entrepreneurs sign up for programs that end up being nothing but money pits. In which case, small business failure is inevitable.

The only way to protect yourself from getting scammed is to become educated on the difference between legit home businesses and scams. Review the compensation plan, look at the marketing plan, check out the products, read reviews of the company. Before parting ways with your money, do your homework. If you don’t like what you find move onto something else.

3) Lack of Commitment

I touched on this earlier but it bears repeating. Unfortunately, what some people are looking for is not a home based business but a get rich quick scheme. It may be that they are smothered in debt or maybe really want to get out of the nine to five grind. Whatever the case, they are setting themselves up for business failure because they are unwilling or unable to commit to doing what it takes to build a business.

Without commitment, you won’t have the fortitude necessary to overcome the obstacles you run into on your way to the top. Building a business is not all rainbows and roses. However, if you are willing to accept that and to put in the time and effort, then you will create a business that will give you the financial and personal freedom you desire.

To learn more reasons by 97% of all home based businesses experience business failure within the first year visit RockYourBusinessOnline.com for my free report. You will also learn valuable information and gain access to tools that will help you make sure you are part of the 3% that survives.

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You must first understand that your customers only listen to one radio station when considering any product or opportunity; WIIFM, ‘What’s In It For Me’. Now you may be thinking to yourself, “My product is the best thing since mankind discovered fire! It does this extraordinary thing, has these fantastic options and comes in 900 colors. How can my customer not see how horribly inadequate their life is without this product?”

Get people to shop til they drop.

The fact is, your product may have some great features but, in order to convince your customer to buy it, you must translate those features into the tangible benefits they want. Therefore, the secret to increasing sales in your network marketing business is to show your customers how your product fits their needs.

Determine the Features

The first step to using the WIIFM method to increase sales is to list all of your product’s features. For example, I own an online shopping portal that saves people money and time when they use it to make their every day purchases. Two attributes of my shopping website are: it has over 500 major retailers and I offer shopping webinars.

Of course, my shopping website has tons of features and, I’m sure, the products in your network marketing business do too so be sure to list them all.

Detail the Advantages

Next, beside each specific feature, write down the advantage that particular attribute gives to the product. Using my online shopping business again, the advantage to having over 500 retailers means shoppers have a good variety of stores to choose from and the shopping webinars teach people how to make effective use of the site.

Tie Them Together

Lastly, to encourage people to buy and, in turn, increase sales in your network marketing business, you now have to show your customers how your product’s features fulfill their needs. Take some time to think about what is important to your customers and then tie the advantages of your product to what they value most.

My customers all have their favorite store to shop in, so having a lot of major retailers in my internet shopping mall means they are able to shop at the stores they know and love. My customers also like saving money, hence the shopping webinars show them how to find the best deals that puts cash in their pockets.

When you sell the benefits of your products rather than the features, you are almost guaranteed to increase sales in your network marketing business. I make good money selling the ease and convenience of online shopping. Visit Rock Your Business Online to get a FREE home business checklist & to learn more about how you can make money showing other people how to save money shopping online.

(photo credit: ppo @ flickr)

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But don’t let those numbers discourage you from taking the leap from cubicle slave to entrepreneur. Being in control of your time and income is a worthy reward that far outweighs the risks associated with going out on your own. Here are the five secrets to building a successful home based business that will help make sure your business sticks around.

With the right strategy, you too can own a successful home based business

Sell Products People Want

Have you ever heard of the Thirsty Dog! brand of bottled water? Don’t feel bad if you haven’t. It was specially flavored bottled water marketed to dog owners for their pets to drink. The problem was that the majority of dog owners thought buying bottled water for their dog was a colossal waste of money and the product bombed.

One component of building a successful home based business is selling something people want to buy. Before wasting both your time and money, study the market to make sure there is a need for what you have.

Make it Easy for Customers to Buy

People want to buy from you. They really do. They just don’t want to have to jump through hoops in order to do so. Some businesses unwittingly scare away customers by throwing up unnecessary roadblocks that interrupt the selling process. These roadblocks can be anything from unfavorable payment terms to a convoluted check out process.

You want the pathway to a customer purchase to be as smooth as possible. The more difficult it is for customers to buy from you, the easier it is for them to walk away; taking your dreams of having a successful home based business with them.

Market Your Business Effectively

Building a successful home based business requires that you have the right kind of customers; people who want to buy. It is important to attract these customers using a marketing strategy designed to get them to come to you with their money.

One effective marketing technique is to give something away for free. For example, if you sell cosmetics, hosting a free class on makeup application benefits you two-fold. First, you’re presented with an opportunity to sell. Second, sharing your knowledge demonstrates your expertise and customers are more likely to buy from professionals who know what they are doing.

Track Your Progress

Monitoring and measuring the results of the actions you take in your business is a great way to ensure that you stay on target. It also helps you to identify trends so you can make valuable changes that benefit you and grow your business.
For example, if you sell organic dog treats and find that you get a lot of orders from veterinary clinics and dog kennels than you do from individual customers, setting yourself up as a wholesaler would probably be a good move.

Develop Multiple Streams of Income

If you look at other successful home based businesses that have been around for awhile, you will find that the majority of them have developed several ways to generate income. They do this to protect themselves against the natural business cycle where demand for their products may be high one moment and low the next.

Developing multiple streams of income ensures that, if the need for one of your products or services hits a low point, you will still have enough money to support your home based business until demand increases again.

It’s a challenge to build a successful home based business but doing so is rewarding both personally and financially. Use these five secrets to ensure your business thrives and sticks around long enough for you to reap the rewards of your efforts.

(photo credit: SearchEnginePeople @ Flickr)

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Money by any other name spends just as sweet.

As a marketing tool, blogging is an excellent way to attract customers to your home based business. However, this not what the ads are talking about. The truth is these ads are trying to sell you a system where you make money blogging for advertising revenue.

While this does include direct ad sales, more often than not these systems are based on you signing up for a Google Adsense account and placing the Adsense code on your blog. You earn a commission each time a person clicks on one of the displayed ads. The amount you earn is dependent on the amount the advertiser paid for the privilege of advertising on Google’s network.

When the Adsense program first started, it was possible to make money blogging this way. In fact, many people did earn hundreds of thousands of dollars with this business model. But internet surfers have since become savvy to these ads and have trained themselves to ignore them. So trying to make money blogging for advertising dollars is not as easy or as profitable as it used to be.

In fact, it takes a lot of time and a lot of effort to make money with any business model that depends on generating advertising revenue. In order to make money blogging, you have to build a popular blog that produces enough web traffic (thousands of visitors a day) to attract a well paying advertiser in the first place. Second, the ad space market is so saturated right now that even the major websites have had to cut their rates just to keep their existing ad clients.

This is not to say that you can’t make money blogging. You can. You just have to approach it from a different angle. Instead of trying to make your blog the source of income, use your blog as part of a marketing strategy to attract customers to a product or service you are selling. For example, if you are a crafter, use your blog to draw potential buyers to your online store.

If you visit many of the top bloggers on the internet today, you’ll find that the majority of them make the bulk of their income selling supplemental products and services such as ebooks and consulting packages. They learned a long time ago that solely depending on advertising revenue was like flying towards the sun with wax wings. Fun for awhile but destined to eventually fail.

Make money blogging by using your blog as a marketing tool to build a sustainable business selling valuable products and services. You’ll end up with a steady flow of income and a business that will be around for years to come.

(image credit: photos8)

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