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Casper
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#41 · Posted: 19 Apr 2008 01:23
madmatz: Second many legitimate MLM's are structured in such a way that it takes a very long time to start making any significant residual income.
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Casper
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#42 · Posted: 19 Apr 2008 01:27
madmatz: Second many legitimate MLM's are structured in such a way that it takes a very long time to start making any significant residual income.
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WARRANTIES4LESS
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Joined: 20 Feb 2008
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#43 · Posted: 19 Apr 2008 08:37
Good points,
With a product everyone needs certainly helps, but only if it is offered at a true value price point, and this is the thing that most will be concerned with in a recession.
The real question is this? What will you eliminate from your budget to get through current recession? If your answers are the same as millions of others, then these are the items you don't want to be selling, especially if not price valued items.
Most MLM's do indeed take a long time to build an income in which is based on residuals, but it takes even longer to hold onto customers, especially if they all got involved for the income opportunity. So many make the mistake of hyping the income that they are doing more harm than good, and this is why attrition is a killer in MLM.
I look for exclusive products, verifiable value, main stream products which everyone will need at some point, especially in a recession which was my main motivation to add a new line to diversify and help get through this economic downturn. Knowing most people draw into MLM rarely sell or recruit more than one or two, I looked for a company which has only one sale or purchase required to earn all matching and manager bonuses, just one. All the other MLM's require ongoing qualififications, never mind auto-ship requirements of $40. to $140. on average.
Simply put, I have been researching this industry for decades, and I have never seen a more distributor friendly program, so no longer does it take a long time to build up an income as before. With only one sale or purchase, you are qualified for the year, and with every other sale from others going into your downline, both binary and forced matrix, even if you did no more than one sale and set and forget it, you will still earn a residual income far more significant than with others I researched.
Good luck to all, Mike
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web20mentor
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#44 · Posted: 19 Apr 2008 19:41
Learn how to build a SELF BRANDED SALES FUNNEL and have MLM, Affiliate Products, e books, do JV's, etc.
Anything less is a hobby.
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mreyn
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#45 · Posted: 20 Apr 2008 22:51
Hi, I am an independent distributor with shaklee. This company has been around for more than 50+ yrs. Even with the stability of such a solid long lasting company, and great products. They have new programs such as the now happening global expansion. Combine that with the streamline magic system and car program, and you get money to work on while you grow your business. No, this is not get rich quick. It is a business , although they have gone internet and you can basically run your business using all the web sites, support you get. No more cold calling, however, I am passionate about the products and I do use them (no, I don't have to). I switched to their products when I saw them in the national media on very well respected shows. It's nice to see all different views.
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ateamfuntimer
Joined: 22 May 2007
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#46 · Posted: 20 Apr 2008 23:24
This is a good thread. I appreciate the great info being exchanged here. Let me add my 2 cents as well.
1- Market a product people like
This is key. People buy either to alleviate pain or to get pleasure so pick wisely.
2- Find a system to market the product
Sales is one of the highest paid industries for a reason. Most people arent good at marketing or sales so find a system to automate alot of the work. I use a call center in conjunction with my Coastal Vacations business. Im ggod a sales but not all of my teammates are so this is a nice addition for them.
3- Be sure the commissions are worth it
Yu have to judge this wisely. Understanding supply and demand comes to play here. If your commissions are small be sure its something that will sell alot. If the commissions are high be sure to keep you advertising cost low to maximize profits as most of the time the sales process will be longer.
4- Learn to generate your own targeted leads
This is the most important factor in my opinion. No leads means no sales. Get as many referrals as possible and generate a good source of leads.
Well thats my 2 cents. I truly appreciate the info being exchanged.
Adam Frederick
Internet Coach + Entrepreneur
302 613 4632
[email protected]
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PMHayes
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
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#47 · Posted: 6 May 2008 06:24
WARRANTIES4LESS: Simply put, do your due dilligence, and look for the free no cost or purchase required business opportunities, whether MLM or not, you should never be asked to pay to play. Would you pay to get a job? Then why would you pay to sell for any MLM or Direct Sales Company? You are already putting your time into representing company, so why should you pay anything to make them money? It just does not make any sense to pay excessive fees to join any business, or pay for website and back office support, these are all signs of a weak financial position of company, so BEWARE
I frankly cannot believe i just read this. Owning any business will have costs. MLM's offer the ability to own a business with markedly less cost than any brick and mortar business. No, of course you would not expect to pay to get a job. But anyone with any sense would expect start up cost to own a business. Now, i agree with your statement about excessive fees, but i would ask what in your opinion is excessive? Anyone who thinks you can start a business with no up front cost does not live in the real world.
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WARRANTIES4LESS
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#48 · Posted: 6 May 2008 15:43
Read again,
I am not referring to advertising costs which anyone who starts a business will have to budget for. I am talking about all the other company fees which can add up to hundreds with some companies. In MLM, excessive is anything over $0 in my opinion.
I know companies who have made a fortune off marketing kits, websites and training fees, never mind forcing distributors to purchase X amount of product in order to earn commissions other than 10% retail sales commissions, as in front load inducements, so this has nothing to do with traditional business start up costs such as advertising. Statement was specifically regarding company fees, not other costs of doing business.
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freecashhappens
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Joined: 21 Apr 2008
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#49 · Posted: 25 May 2008 19:40
I believe all MLM and Affiliate programs should be free. Period. Why should it cost money just so you can sell their product/service. Unless you are receiving something other than just the right to sell the product. In MLM, you should have the option to not get the "kit" and just learn to market the program. When you go to a job, they don't charge you for the employee handbook, do they?
BTW, if you start a new job and the DO charge you for the employee handbook. Quit immediately. 
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Seashell
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#50 · Posted: 26 May 2008 08:43
freecashhappens: I believe all MLM and Affiliate programs should be free. Period.
People tend to value things more that they have to pay for.
If you don't believe me, just look at the bottled water industry
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WARRANTIES4LESS
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#51 · Posted: 26 May 2008 09:04
Good points,
Very often what is free is worthless, so we are conditioned to think the higher the cost, the higher the quality, but this is far from true in my experience.
When a free offer crosses our path, rarely it will be truly free, so we tend to ignore free offers, but if you research it more closely, there are some free offers that are worth your time.
Bottled water is a perfect example, where most have free water, you think it is bad water, yet bottled water has been the biggest scam on consumers in history, often times being nothing more than filtered tap water, so again, always do your own due diligence.
Wealth Without Health is Worthless
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queenrachel16
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#52 · Posted: 26 May 2008 09:39 · Edited by: queenrachel16
Adam (ateamfunmember) has it right. If your going to do MLM, you HAVE to have something that people are going to buy or that is useful. He and I are both in the same field (sort of)
I work for TraVerus travel. It is a MLM but it's one where you sell your travel AND recruit people to advertise for the company.
My experiance with MLM is that it takes work to get them going, it's not easy and you HAVE to put your product out there.
Someone put it as a super seller... not many people are like that.
Hope you find something that works for you 
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Rachel
http://rachelstevens.traverustravelnetwork.com
Travel Agent Training- PM for more information :)
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xocaiguru
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Joined: 28 May 2008
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#53 · Posted: 4 Jun 2008 11:57
Well I know where to rate my company its fairly new but exploding right now... its called Xocai Healthy Chocolate... I just join about 3 weeks already and I have over 100 paid members.... It also helps on on the fastest team In Xocai..
I team up with Top leader Brian McCoy from bigtickettowealth... this guys knows how to market this business all online...
great comany
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WARRANTIES4LESS
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#54 · Posted: 4 Jun 2008 12:28
Interesting,
For those who have been in the industry for any length of time, then you know that economic bad times will increase interest in your business as people are losing jobs, or the fear of losing it drives people to start home businesses.
With current recession getting worse with high price of gas, heating oil, plus food, no doubt, many more will have to resort to part time incomes to try and survive this recession. No doubt, this is creating more prospects for all of us, but if I was to offer advice from previous experience, ask yourself this question. Is it a necessity that I have to have, or is it something I can do without?
Whenever you choose a business, you want to choose a product or service that is not going to be impacted by this recession, as in, recession proof. If you business, no matter what it is, or what you are selling is not recession proof, you better look for one that is, just as a hedge until the economy turns around.
We have already seen obvious results from current recession, travel is way off, airlines are going bankrupt every week, driving is down to record lows, car sales have never been so low as people are hanging onto their vehicles for an average of 9.2 years, the highest in history. People are cutting back on eating out, buying off brands, just look at StarBucks record bust, or how about Crocs, sales tanking along with stocks, and why, because there are alternatives that cost far less, and very similar in quality, or we could say they were just fads, the in thing, until the recession brings people back to reality, these are tough times for many, and it is about to get worse.
Simply put, you have to market what is recession proof, or at least recession resistant in order to succeed in your home business. If you make a fundamental mistake in choosing a company, no matter how good the company is, you will struggle, and the last thing you want is to have to struggle selling your products or services. It is tough enough for most to sell in a good economic market, so search carefully for your home business.
I have always searched for products which are timely, exclusive, best value, best quality, as example, but also, niche products, something others don't offer, or are hard to find in retail markets, as example. I also never would put all my eggs in one basket, I learned this a long time ago in my traditional businesses, and now use the same strategy with all my online businesses, and it works in recessions in all types of businesses. This is important strategy everyone should follow, especially when marketing online.
I recently came across a new technology which is a health safe cigarette alternative to tobacco. With NY just rasing tax to $2.75 per pack, and in NYC a pack goes for $9.00, this product is timed perfectly with recession as well as perfect due to all the new smoking bans going into effect. This is what I look for, unique, serves a real purpose helping people kick smoking habit like no other, and it is quality as less cost than competition. And yes, it is recession proof, and just as I predicted, it sells on site. This is an example of what you have to look for.
Wealth Without Health is Worthless,
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PMHayes
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#55 · Posted: 7 Jun 2008 04:25
Ok, i guess it's up to me to play Devil's advocate. I personally don't think the product matters. By that i mean, the power of MLM is not in selling products. You could never sell enough widgets by yourself. to make a six figure income. Focusing on the product is, IMHO the small picture.
Ok, yes, there has to be a real product that moves from manufacturer to consumer (definition of business). BUT, I personally don't believe it matters what that product is, as long as it's in demand, consumable and competitively priced, ie. affordable. You don't even have to like or "believe in" a product to be successful in MLM.
Case in point. Starbucks. You don't have to like coffee in order to succeed with a Starbucks franchise. You simply have to recognize the fact that there are millions of people who do, and that there is great profitablity in selling coffee and the whole Starbucks coffee house experience.
Case in point #2. McDonalds. You don't have to like hamburgers or fast food to succeed with a Mickey D's franchise. You simply have to recognize that there are millions of people out there who will buy your product, a quick and easy meal at an affordable price. You can even absolutely hate hamburgers, and succeed with McDonalds.
I personally don't use all of the product my MLM sells. I believe in all of them. I use some of them and like them, sure. But I don't have to. I just have to know that there are lots of people out there who do. If that is so, I can succeed. I don't focus on my products. I focus on the business opportunity built around them.
Mitch
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WARRANTIES4LESS
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#56 · Posted: 7 Jun 2008 08:13
Agreed,
To a certain point. Product may not matter to you, but it better matter to your customers. lol Seriously, the product is important, but you are right, it is the method in which a product is moved that ends up being the most important when it comes to making profits.
Far too many products are not worth the prices via MLM, and that is the more important issue in my opinion, so yes, value, quality and a demand product are essential to your success.
You mention you don't have to like or believe in your product to succeed, and here is where I disagree. You speak as if a trained succesful salesperson, which is how you should personally speak, I can sell anything too, but I also want to sleep at night. lol
If you can sell a product you don't believe in, or even like, great, but the problem with this statement is it only fits for the professional salespeople. No one sells Starbucks or McDonald's, people buy those two items regardless who owns the franchise, so this is not relevent comparison to a salesperson.
Sales may be easy for you, but the sad truth is, 97% plus of those in MLM hate to sell, and the same is true of most consumers, they hate to be sold. So in my opinion, the product means everything for 97% of those in MLM who cannot sell ice in hell. The typical person in MLM lacks the closing skills to succeed without full belief in their company, product, earnings and hopefully, having an exclusive or high in demand product or service is essential for the majority who want to succeed in MLM.
So yes, you are correct, speaking from a professional sales position, I can sell anything if it was only about money, but I personally will not sell a product I don't personally believe in and use. Now I know plenty of salepeople who will sell anything for the buck, but that is not what we are dealing with in MLM. Again, 97% have never sold a lick, and training is rarely provided to those newbies in MLM unless they are making a purchase every month, and even then, sponsor who is super salesperson may not support this newbie to sales industry.
This is what I have seen over the years in MLM, so product does matter, and the less experience a typical MLM person has, the more important the product becomes. If Starbucks and McDonald's were sold MLM, most would be successful because they would not need to be a sales professional, just an order taker, but sadly, this is not the case in MLM, the product is unknown, unproven, and often over hyped to get a customer to purchase. And let us not forget about the money hype used to sell inferior overpriced products in MLM, so product does matter for most. You better be a professional sales person or you won't make it in MLM without having super value high demand products. Products are the most important for the 97% of those involved in the MLM direct sales industry who are not professional salespeople, and that is how I see it.
Wealth Without Health is Worthless
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prettysue
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#57 · Posted: 8 Jun 2008 04:13
Hi Casper.
About your question, there are many things to consider if you want to do MLM business. I don't like to pinpoint a company. I would just like you to consider some things before signing up. The first I can think of is if the company is going with the trend. This is one of the most important thing and I can say that the trend now is more on health and wellness since these are the needs of the baby boomers. Second is, are the products consumable? Having products that will last for 5-10 years will give you a headache finding another buyer. Products should be consumable so that your customers will keep on buying from you. That's all I can think of now. I hope this helps.
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WARRANTIES4LESS
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#58 · Posted: 16 Jun 2008 09:06
Interesting,
I see Amway is advertising on TV again, the last time I remember that was when Regan was pitching it. lol If you look at the industry as a whole, it is amazing how we see cycles in the industry. Seems the TV ads are picking up speed again to try and build name recognition.
In the old days, you were invited to some secret opportunity, the Amwaynian's were taught not to tell what it was they were inviting you too, that was when name of company was a negative. Seems that tactic didn't work to well for long, so then they changed name, and that didn't work for long either, now they are back to being on TV using both names?
Wealth Without Health is Worthless
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travell99
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#59 · Posted: 21 Jun 2008 11:30
Depends on what the product is, how cheap it is, management etc etc.
MLM is just like any other business and many are successful at it and making a decent income.
Bad mouthing MLM usually comes from those ignorant ones that think its a "sit on the butt, do nothing" business where money just pours in!
There is no free lunch!
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annadenise
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#60 · Posted: 21 Jun 2008 15:26 · Edited by: annadenise
I have been trying not to post in this thread because whenenver I see threads like this I really want to shout to the roof top that everyone should know what Cooperative Marketing is vs MLM. I've done MLM's for several years and still am in a couple. I have done exceptionally well and exceptionally bad in them. They do not have the same level playing field where all have an equal chance of doing well, regardless of their selling skills.
Bottom line, there are more distributors than customers in MLM's and people drop out that need constant replacing to keep your matrix or binary moving. Many MLM's do not have very good products. Most MLM's do not stand the test of time and rarely last 2 years, let alone over 5 years, or over 9 years. None have the backing of a 36 year old huge multi media company. They do not do all the advertising for you to acquire customers. Most do not do tv and radio infommercials and magazine advertising for you. I've never seen an MLM that does ALL the follow up for you for life on your customers 18 times a year with journals and catalogs, plus once a week with an informational email.
When I discovered this with the company I am in with it's Cooperative Marketing model, combined with the team I am in that gives assistance constantly, the company who is more professional and helpful than anything I have ever dealt with, in real or online life, and to top it off, the products are all pharmaceutacal grade and some are patented, I felt a huge sense of relief and happiness. Sure, it will take time to build and to do it right, but I know I will have a lifetime, retirement income for a fact. That amount varies on what people want out of it, but is achieveable to all, not just to recruiters. In fact, one of the biggest earners does not use the internet at all and has no clue about forums, etc.
So if anyone has gotten to the point that I did and is really interested in something where you will earn well over time and not at the expense of others, this company that uses Cooperative marketing achieves results. People earn varying amounts depending on how many customers they buy of course, and if they choose to refer others or just want to buy customers, but it is something that can be done at a pace you choose, and you will not loose anything if you stop working it for a while. You will still get paid on customer's purchases.
I hope in the future there will be more companies with a Cooperative Marketing model that is successful. It is such a breath of fresh air.
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