Network marketing is a serious business.  Things won’t happen just because you want them to.  You have to take action in order to even begin to build a network marketing downline.

First, let’s define “Serious”  I don’t mean that you have to be unplayful or without humor.  You can have fun and still be a serious network marketer.   In fact, I think that it is necessary to have some fun while you work your business.  What I do mean is the intention and the focus that you put into your work ethic.

Marketers that are serious about selling their network marketing product and growing a downline will have the following characteristics:

• Knowledge about their network marketing product and what it can help someone.
• Ability to deliver what was promised.
• Desire to serve others – are you serious about helping your customers?
• Truthful about everything – are you serious about doing the right thing and the best thing for your customer without regard for your bottom line?
• Available when your prospect or customers calls.
• Friendly attitude – are you serious about being friendly, it sets the stage for a optimistic outcome?
• Responds quickly, doesn’t let things sit without action – are you serious about NOW or are you waiting to see what happens?

If you have these characteristics, you may be perceived as a serious network marketer.

When it comes to doing business with someone, would you rather work with someone that is serious about what they do or would you rather do business with someone that is in it only for the money and as soon as they have yours, they split?

I know which one I would prefer. 

A few years ago, I signed up under someone that I was friends with and who I thought was serious about growing a network marketing downline.  I wanted to work with this person because I thought that together we could do good things.  However, after signing up and jumping through all the hoops that had to be jumped through to get the necessary license to do business in my state, this person disappeared.

There I was left holding the bag and they wouldn’t even return my calls.  When they did finally call me (months later) it was to recruit me for another MLM that was supposed to be the best MLM companies and have the best network marketing product that everyone would want to use.

Want to know what I said?  Thanks but no thanks.  I didn’t care how great the MLM company was or how fantastic the network marketing product was, I wasn’t going to work with that person ever again –  because they weren’t serious about their business and I was.

It turns out that was a very valuable lesson.  You have to be willing to work your network marketing business by yourself and know how to do just that.  Having someone to work with is great but you have to be prepared to do it yourself or be able to hire someone to do it for you.  Keep that in mind when you are looking to get into network marketing program.

The same goes for network marketing training programs.  You want to make sure that whatever program you get involved with, you will have a mentor that will work with you.  All too often I get calls from people looking for answers to their questions and they can’t get in touch with their up line or their mentor.  Ask for references before you sign up with someone and check those references.

Network marketing programs have been around for a very long time.  Back when the network marketing industry started, the world was a much different place.  People knew and trusted their neighbors.  Today, we live in an environment of skepticism and deceit.  How do you know if the network marketing program that you want to join is actually a MLM fraud or not? 

How do you detect the MLM scams from the real deal?

There are some that would say that all network marketing programs are frauds.  That simply isn’t true.  There are a lot of really good MLM companies to choose from.  The trick is to do your homework to make sure that the company you want to join isn’t some kind of scam.  Here are some tips that you can use to heighten your MLM fraud detector:

Use the Internet – the Internet is a very good way to check out any network marketing company to see if they are real or just another MLM fraud.  Go to any search engine and type in the MLM company’s name and see what pops up.  You may want to add “fraud” or “scam” after the company’s name to narrow down your search.

Check the network marketing directory – if the MLM company that you want to join is legitimate then they will be listed on a network marketing directory.  Make sure that you trust the directory that you are looking at before you make up your mind.

MLM review – it’s a good idea to look at the reviews of the network marketing program that you considering joining.  See what others have experienced in their home based business.

MLM watchdog – there are a lot of people out there that will speak their mind about anything and network marketing is no exception.  Is your MLM company listed on a watchdog site?  What does it say about the company?

MLM Forum – check out the MLM forums online to see what others are saying about it.  Is it a good company or not.  Do they offer support and training or are you on your own?

No MLM product to sell – the biggest warning sign that there may be a MLM fraud is the absence of a MLM product or service.  Or the product being offered is of little or no value.

No money back guarantee – check your MLM company to see if there is a money back guarantee.  Legitimate MLM company almost always offer a guarantee in case you don’t like the MLM product.  If the guarantee is absent, then they may be a MLM fraud.

Large up front costs – yes you will have to spend money to join in any network marketing program but the up front costs should be in line with what you are getting.

 Contact information – legitimate companies will always share their contact information.  You should be able to contact your network marketing program if you have any problems.  Visit the MLM company’s website and check out their contact information.

 There you have it.  There are quite a few ways you can detect MLM scams.  You just have to look.  Keep in mind that there are many top network marketing companies that you can work with and there are also a few scams that you have to watch out for.  Do your homework before you get involved with anyone trying to get you to join their network marketing program.