Yesterday I suggested a revealing question you could ask prospects when interviewing them for your network marketing Internet business. I can understand why some business owners don’t interview prospects thoroughly especially if they are desperate to have someone join their team.
What I don’t always understand is why so many new business owners end up being more than a little disenchanted with their sponsors. If you have ever found yourself in this position how well did you interview your sponsor before signing up with them?
Here’s a list of 20 questions you can ask when interviewing sponsors before you join a network marketing Internet business
To establish their current company experience, industry experience and what’s important to them in a company:
1. How long have you been with ____?
2. What made you join ____?
3. What do you most like about ____?
4. What has been your greatest success to date with ____?
5. If there was one thing you thought _____ could improve on what would that be?
6. Have you worked with other companies before? If so why did you leave?
To find out more about the person:
7. What are your goals and aspirations?
8. What kind of experience have you had with managing people?
9. How many associates do you have in your direct team?
10. What would you say are your strengths when it comes to working with people?
11. What do you think is the most important quality for a mentor and coach to have?
12. What kind of mentoring and coaching can I expect to receive from you?
13. Would you mind if I spoke to someone in your team about the business? (You may not actually go ahead with this. What’s more important is how they answer the question. If they are confident and positive about the business and how they work with others, then they should answer this in the affirmative without hesitation)
Questions to find out how they run their business:
14. How do you currently market your business? You may also want to know why they choose to market in the way they do.
15. Do you use any kind of system/s to run your business? If so can you elaborate?
16. How do you convert leads to customers and team members?
Questions to find out about training:
17. Can you explain what company training is in place to help me when I first join?
18. What additional training will you as my sponsor provide?
19. How would you suggest I develop the mindset required to be in this business?
20. How can you assist me to research more about this company?
This is neither an exhaustive list nor do you have to use all the questions. Regard it as a framework and resource to help you come up with your own list. Practice asking the questions with friends and family. Become confident. Remember you have a responsibility to yourself to choose the best possible sponsor. Also no sponsor can do the job for you. You have to take total responsibility for you success.
If you know you did everything possible to choose the best sponsor and you still drew a ‘dud’, what can you do to move past the temporary challenge and still have a successful network marketing Internet business?
As per usual I’d love to hear your thoughts about my 20 questions to ask a potential sponsor so please leave me a comment and if you enjoyed this post I’d be most grateful if you could share it with your followers on your social networks. Thank you
My goal? Helping you achieve yours.
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And another great one! I would recommend people looking for a network marketing company to ask all of the questions except for number 9. I believe their main focus is what can they do to be successful and how their sponsor or mentor can help them. Thanks for sharing the questions!!
Sherman
Sherman Smith recently posted..First Things First- Concentrate On Your…
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What a comprehensive list Marcus! I recommend that any prospective cash gifting sponsor ask 10 questions of their mentor before taking the next step and extending and invite.
There’s no better way to know who you’re joining with than to simply ask them.
Ryan
Ryan recently posted..Don’t Be A Deadbeat Blogger
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Hey Marcus
You only get one chance at interviewing your sponsor before you plunge in, so having a list of questions ready is a great idea.
Thanks Marcus.
Peter Fuller MBA CA recently posted..Why I started my own Home Business
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Wow, you gave away some great questions here.
What’s key for me is that you have these sort of questions. Most don’t even think about having something like this.
I have my script, if you will. This ensures I show I’m truly interested in them and that I’m also qualifying them.
Have a great weekend,
Jerome Ratliff
Jerome Ratliff recently posted..5 Signs Your Home Business is Failing
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You know before the economy got bad there was a trend in the job market of “interviewing the company as well as them interviewing you”. Now with the economy in bad shape and people flocking to mlm it’s more critical than ever to interview your sponsor who represents the company. People just don’t have the room for error like they used to every penny counts so I would advise anyone to use the blueprint you have Marcus to make a informed decision that will definitely affect their future.
Steve Shoemaker
steve shoemaker recently posted..Commit To Comment On “YOUR” MLM Blog
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Hey Marcus – Great list, I think if we are going to be responsible Coaches to our team, then we should be able to answer these questions.
I’m sure most will never ask, but they have a right to know.
If people are going to spend their hard earned money and TIME in building a network, it is critical to do some due diligence.
Bruce
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Hi Marcus,
If I had that list last year I could have saved a lot of time.
I wouldn’t have been able to ask them, my enroller has been MIA from day one.
Water under the bridge now.
Thanks,
Mike
Michael Cole recently posted..Do You Want Fries With That
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[...] 20 Questions to ask a Potential Network Marketing Internet Business Sponsor | Network Marketing Inte… [...]
Hi Marcus,
Great list, and I agree with all of your questions, except, I probably wouldn’t ask #9. To me (personally) it goes right along with the question “how much money are you making?”
The person might be new to the company and not have a whole lot of team members yet, but he/she might be the best sponsor anyone could ask for. And I’d miss out on joining him or her depending on the answer they give me.
What do you think?
Ilka
Ilka Flood recently posted..The “Rinse and Repeat” Formula for A Successful Network Marketing Business
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Marcus Baker Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Hi Ilka,
You have a point there and well worth noting. Thanks for leaving your comment.
~Marcus
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Highly important stuff here Marcus
The wrong sponsor can seriously waste your valuable time.
My sponsor is totally awesome. He is always there to answer all my questions.
I have also sought out great mentors who also assist me greatly with my business.
Dwayne
Dwayne Huggins recently posted..How To Discover The Expert In You
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Marcus Baker Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 3:14 am
Thanks Dwayne. Having an awesome sponsor does make a difference but if one doesn’t it shouldn’t be used as an excuse not to succeed because there are many other mentors available to help us.
~Marcus
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Aloha Marcus,
All is said here, and I agree with Ilka’s comment.
I would just add a question to the list:
-Do you have a Master Mind team running with skype?
I discovered that it is essential part of MLM business, as in any business. The team Master Mind has to be “managed” by a strong leader, and if not your direct sponsor, an upline leader.
Thank you Marcus. Brigitte
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Marcus Baker Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 4:55 am
Hello Brigitte,
That is a very important point. Genuine leadership makes a huge difference.
Thank you for your comment.
~Marcus
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One of the most powerful business strategy and probably the most over look is the need to have a great mentor.
Mike recently posted..What is the Definition of Outsourcing
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Marcus Baker Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Hi Mike,
I agree with you. It just makes so much sense to leverage off someone else’s experience and knowledge. It is the quickest way to learn to succeed without a doubt.
~Marcus
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