In the current economy, it is so easy to look for the quickest and cheapest way to get things done. Hey, sometimes you catch a break but most of the time, you do only get what you pay for! Anything you can buy over the internet has pretty wrapping, a list of great features and benefits, and testimonials galore.  But one size never fits all. Before you purchase anything for your business, you have to take the time to do your homework. Otherwise, you will end up wasting time and money.

Here are some very important…and often over looked areas to investigate before purchasing a new product or service. You will be surprised to see that price falls at the bottom of the list.

1. Review their website. Is it clean, updated and easy to use? Is it organized? Is it full of banner ads for other companies? You want to make sure that the product or service you buy is fully committed to the service or product that you are purchasing.

2. Test out the customer service. Are they friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful? Or are they reading from a script and cold. You have to be extremely comfortable with the people who are supporting you. You wouldn’t hire an assistant if in the interview process you didn’t connect right? Remember, you are paying these people for customer service…make sure you are comfortable with what you get. Call in a few times to the customer service line and ask the same question. Are you getting the same answer? Here you want to look for consistency. Consistency is a sign of a well trained, well oiled machine. If you can’t get a straight answer now…just think about what will happen when you are in the middle of an urgent need.

 3. Take a test drive. Always, always, always get the trial if it is offered. Then, USE IT! Be sure to check for compatibility issues. Are you comfortable with all of the bells and whistles? Does it do what you need it to? Is it user friendly? Will it help you to increase your productivity? Will it increase your revenue? Tip: If you don’t see an online trial offer, call the customer service /sales department and ask for one . Sometimes they will obliged.

 4. Make sure that you test out the support department. Even if you don’t have a technical problem … call tech support with questions. Check out the online support. Do they have online chat? What are the support hours? How long do you have to wait to speak with a representative? Tip: What is the worst case scenario that could happen during those off hours…and is this an issue that can adversely affect your business?

5. Read the Reviews. I don’t recommend doing this before any of the other steps because it will most definitely influence your opinion before you have had a chance to draw your own conclusions. Plus, just because it didn’t work for someone else, doesn’t mean the same for you.

Gather all of your research and then read the reviews. If you see a review that says “The kaboodlemabob doesn’t work when you press the whojamawhatsit”, then go back to step 3 and test the support department.

6. Now…let us compare prices. Be sure that you compare apples to apples. The best way to do this is by creating a comparables sheet. This does not need to be complicated.

Always, try out three products before deciding on one. This takes time. Spend the bulk of your time testing the product and getting familiar with it. Spend a few minutes of “evaluating” the service departments of the company. Spend a couple of minutes compiling your spreadsheet and another few minutes making an educated decision. In the end, this could save you hours of frustration.

Now, if you are thinking that you don’t have time to go through this process, I HEAR YOU! But here is the thing…spend time getting the right product or service the first time. Then, you won’t have to worry about doing this process each time you buy something and decide that it doesn’t work for your needs.

Ready to get started on your first Product Evaluation…start by downloading the FREE Product Evaluation Worksheet.


Here's To Your Achievement,