Before the internet age, network marketing used to be the only “home business” and the only way to earn extra income along with a regular job and overtime.

Marketing techniques typically taught in the industry consisted of introducing products to family and friends; The classic way was to invite friends, relatives and acquaintances to meetings in hotels, where they listened to a presentation about the products and/or the business. After exhausting what was called his “warm market,” he had to go to his chamber of commerce, his church, networking clubs, malls, and other public places to meet new people to introduce the business and products to. .

Unfortunately, many network marketing companies still use these lead generation techniques today. Some recommend using what are called “delivery cards” and flyers. The network marketer’s daily method of operation is to leave these flyers and cards in as many public places as possible, from restaurants to phone booths, in grocery stores, and around ATMs.

Rather than working from home, these techniques leave network marketers on the road most of the time, and network marketing, in this case, isn’t really what one would call a home-based business.

Currently, the Internet allows the generation of leads through Internet marketing. Internet marketing lead generation can be completely free or low cost. Leads generated via the Internet are very specific.

Flyers and delivery cards are being replaced by simple signature lines in emails, discussion groups, and forums. Visits to grocery stores are replaced by visits to forums. Expensive untargeted newspaper ads are being replaced by cheaper, highly targeted newsletters and pay-per-click advertising.

Today’s phone bridge technology allows marketers to deliver presentations that connect prospects from across the country, or even the world. Expensive, time-consuming hotel meetings are replaced by joining a conference call from the comfort of your own home.

Network marketing is truly becoming a home based business.

If your purpose in looking for a home-based business is to have the opportunity to spend quality time with your family, and if you plan to work part-time in the business, when evaluating a business, you may want to check their marketing plan. Before reviewing compensation plans, products, or policies and procedures, it is recommended to review the quality of the company’s training program; this should be done before joining, not after. You will want to make sure that the network marketing company you are considering teaches you real internet marketing and marketing techniques for lead generation.