| My Dad was always looking to make money | | | | 2. Company Stability: The ability to give you |
| from home. In the 1960's there weren't a lot of | | | | long-term business and financial security, based on |
| options. He started all kinds of businesses, from | | | | their company and business history. It's best if the |
| bars to installing sprinkler systems. | | | | company has been around longer than 5 years, |
| But my Dad knew cars. He came across this | | | | and shown financial stability and a track record of |
| product which would keep your car from losing | | | | payouts. Is the company a member of the Better |
| traction and spinning out of control on slippery | | | | Business Bureau (U.S.), the Direct Selling |
| roads. It worked and you could get rich. They | | | | Association or other highly regarded associations? |
| cost about $500 each which was A LOT of | | | | 3. Marketing System: System to market primary |
| money in 1969. So he bought 10 and stored them | | | | must be compatible with the internet marketing |
| in the basement under a sheet. That way my | | | | techniques and current consumer trends. Today's |
| mom wouldn't find out about his new adventure. | | | | consumer is different than 50 years ago. Today's |
| One day the phone rang, and it was my mom | | | | consumer has more choices than ever before. Is |
| calling from work. | | | | the marketing system promoted by this company |
| "Karen, hide the newspaper NOW! Don't let your | | | | reflect today's consumer habits? The marketing |
| Daddy see it!" (She found out anyway). | | | | system must be simple and duplicatable. Network |
| "Why?" | | | | marketing is a business system for non-business |
| "Because his business partner's been arrested. | | | | people. |
| Your father's in one of those pyramid schemes!" | | | | 4. Company Management: Must be led by |
| (Like Dad wouldn't find that out at the next | | | | successful leaders in business with a vision for the |
| meeting?) | | | | future growth, not management mode. Does the |
| And that was my introduction to network | | | | company have the talent at management level to |
| marketing. | | | | effectively keep a good product pipeline and |
| Needless to say when I began my network | | | | service its distributor base? Do they have a plan |
| marketing career in 1988, I was afraid of getting | | | | to carry this out? Are they generating positive |
| ripped off. I literally blasted my first sponsor with | | | | publicity in the public media - creating a buzz - that |
| over 70 questions. Poor woman. She didn't know | | | | makes the distributor's job easier? |
| what she was getting into with me. Everyone else | | | | 5. Global Reach: Must be ground floor in their global |
| just believed what she told them. I wish I'd known | | | | expansion. Management must have prior |
| about the 7 Critical Elements then! It would have | | | | experience in global expansion. Is the |
| made choosing a company so much easier. | | | | compensation plan the same around the world? |
| We are skeptical of what we don't know. If | | | | What is the size of their product offering in new |
| everyone else who is rich got that way by | | | | countries? Do they have the infrastructure to |
| working 80 hours a week, and climbing the | | | | support globalization? |
| corporate ladder, or discovering the wonder | | | | 6. Compensation & Incentives: Maximize your |
| widget, how in the world can you make 6 or 7 | | | | income based on your efforts. Must payout at |
| figures in a part-time business from home? | | | | least 50% of sales dollar, must offer unlimited |
| Multi-level marketing is a perilous business. On the | | | | depth within compensation plan. Must offer Fast |
| surface, everybody says the same thing. And | | | | Start Bonuses, must offer other incentives and |
| everyone claims to be legit. Even the scammers. | | | | recognition. You must be able to achieve $10,000 |
| And the "MLM truth" sites hate everything, so | | | | month true residual income with less than 500 |
| they're not a big help. What's a mere mortal to | | | | people in the organization. Does the company you |
| do? | | | | are evaluating document its payout with U.S. IRS? |
| Enter the 7 Critical Elements of a Primary | | | | 7. Pay-It Forward: Does the company Pay-It |
| Business. There are elements that every solid | | | | Forward to the masses. They must give back |
| network marketing opportunity should have in | | | | globally what they are taking out. Are their |
| order to give you the best potential for long term | | | | products and policies ethical? Socially responsible? |
| income. | | | | Is the company's vision is to make an impact on |
| Here they are in a nutshell: | | | | the world in a positive way. Do they encourage |
| 1. Unique Products: Products must serve multiple | | | | significant charity corporately and amongst their |
| market categories, be unique enough to get | | | | distributor base? |
| patents, and the products have to serve the | | | | These criteria may seem a little too rigid to you. |
| largest possible group. Are they consumable? | | | | Maybe you just like the product you market. If |
| Products with one-time-sales makes residual | | | | you just want short term cash, fine. But a |
| income difficult. Does the product line make sense | | | | business takes too much heart and energy to |
| as whole? Or is the company just putting stuff in | | | | waste on a so-so company. There are companies |
| a catalog to sell? In today's highly competitive | | | | that meet all of these criteria and more, so it is |
| market you don't want to have a bunch of | | | | possible! If your company can meet all 7 of these |
| me-too products and compete solely on price or | | | | critical elements, you're on your way to |
| convenience. Would people buy these products or | | | | tremendous success. And you'll never end up in a |
| services if they weren't distributors? | | | | pyramid scheme. |