Network Marketing: Reviews of Network Marketing, MLM programs and Training Tools

I have personally failed at three different MLM opportunities in the past couple of years. The products were great, the compensation plans looked great...problem was, I was terrible at personal selling.

So I got discouraged and quit. And assumed that network marketing would never enter my mind again.

Does this sound like you, either now or in the past?

Thankfully, the internet continues to change how we do a lot of things, including marketing. In the past few years, a fledgling movement of network marketers, following the lead of mentor Mike Dillard, have begun taking network marketing back into a more respectable place. Under the new 'attraction marketing model', using the internet is the way to find new distributors and product representatives. No longer is it necessary to chase, harrass or bother friends, family, neighbors (and anyone else within three feet!)

I hope that I don't sound too cliche'...but this is seriously REVOLUTIONARY.

A fourteen-year veteran of MLM, Mike Klingler, recently created an online university for network marketers, called The Renegade University . His personal mission is to rehabilitate the image of network marketers by teaching them cutting edge, professional internet prospecting techniques.

Just a couple of weeks ago, in January 2008, I enrolled in Renegade University and there were about 900 members. Today, I logged into my account and there are over 2800 members. This is exciting to see and I am encouraged once again for our industry. Renegade Professional just launched last week. This thing really looks like it will catch on quickly.

If you want to plug your downline into the university for some great training on Web 2.0 tactics, article writing, video marketing, and such, go here.

And, please drop by my brand new blog, Network Marketing Review. See you there.

Whether you are looking to begin from scratch, or you want to add another opportunity to your income portfolio, it can be a real chore to reach a decision.
How DO you choose the best MLM company?

After all, there are thousands of companies out there, all of them promising that 'they are the best' option for your new business.

Well, I think there are a couple of simple ways to help you decide.

What is the initial investment required? Understand that you will also need to have liquid capital (or plenty of credit) to pay for several months of autoship, advertising, phone calls, office supplies, etc. Don't get in over your head from the beginning. (It's so easy to make this mistake!) That means, even if one idea looks really great, it's NOT really great if you cannot afford it at first.

Does the product line resonate with you in some way? Honestly, we have to get out of the 'my product is better than yours' mindset. So I'm not suggesting that you can actually find the world's absolute best product line. There are many quality products out there. The question is...can you feel connected or inspired by the product and the company? Your authenticity with new prospects will shine through.

Don't forget to do some checking around. Visit some forums and see what others are saying about the company. See if bloggers have posted interesting news or reviews.

Lastly, and most importantly, you must know something about your sponsor. This person is going to be your mentor and your guide. Make sure that you resonate with their personality and their style. Also, inquire about the type of training you will receive as a member of their team.

If your new sponsor is only there to take your money, put you in their downline and then disappear, this will make your initial success much more difficult. Don't be afraid to interview your would-be sponsor! Are they going to teach you about warm market recruiting? Or will they be teaching you about Internet Network Marketing? Finally, ask to speak with some other team members, by phone or email, before coming on board. You'll be glad you did.

To your success!

On February 28, 2008, Mike Dillard's newest system, Building on a Budget, will be released.

He promises to teach all of us marketers quite a few new tricks for generating leads on the internet, while keeping a handle on the budget.

Why didn't someone think of this sooner? I'm looking forward to this for sure.

Building On a Budget

Traverus Travel is a home-based travel business, with a low start up cost. (at the time of this writing, less than $200) Spend $150 for an upgrade to Certified Travel Agent. This means you will actually be trained - and be certified as - a real travel agent.

Here are some of the benefits of becoming a 'registered travel agent' (RTA) or 'certified travel agent' (CTA) with Traverus:

Personalized Travel Web Site
Travel Savings Discounts
Travel Agent Basic Training - Free 24/7 Training
Travel Agent Residual Commission Program
Earn 70% - 90% of the Commission from Travel Bookings
FAM Trips - Qualified Certified Travel Agents enjoy this perk (you travel for a lot less)

The pay plan is a multilevel (3 x 9 matrix) and there are a total of ten different income streams for the Traverus representative.

This is an extremely popular home based travel company, and the products, as well as the opportunity have an excellent reputation.

Read the entire Traverus Travel Review

If you have been in network marketing for any length of time, you have most certainly been trained in traditional recruitment methods. The main method emphasized is typically your 'warm market', or those who already know you and have personal or business relationships with you. In my opinion, this has become less and less effective over the years and the reputation of our industry has suffered major image problems because of this tactic. As I mentioned earlier, I have been in several network marketing opportunities in the past couple of years. Each time, I entered in, believing that I could figure out a way to comfortably work my warm market.
I never really did. The fact is, personal selling is not my strong suit, nor do I recover quickly from rejection. Top sales professionals have the ability to overcome large amounts of rejection. However,the majority of people entering network marketing are not sales professionals, and in order to succeed longterm, this is an issue that has to be overcome.

I probably would not have entered the home business and network marketing arena again, had I not been introduced to the idea of attraction network marketing. Mike Dillard, a highly successful network marketer and entrepreneur, created this new marketing model out of necessity in his own mlm business. He had been struggling to make ends meet, was juggling huge credit card bills and was at the point of throwing in the towel all together. Thankfully, he did not quit, and instead decided to spend several months studying the art of marketing. Not selling. Not network marketing. Pure marketing.

The result was something he named Attraction Marketing. Put simply, it is a complete methodology shift from old school network marketing tactics. Someone using this business model no longer seeks for leads; rather, qualified leads seek him. Dillard calls it being 'the hunted, rather than the hunter.' It's a whole new approach.

To help others to duplicate this philosophy of team building, he created an online system called Magnetic Sponsoring .

If this sounds like science fiction, I assure that it's not.

GeneWize Life Sciences is a new MLM company that is preparing to revitalize the health, beauty and wellness industry. It is one of the first companies to offer nutrition supplements and skincare products based on DNA testing and personalized to the consumers' actual genes! Though the company is not set to officially launch until August 1, 2008, news of its innovative concept is already making waves in the industry. At this time, GeneWize is seeking experienced network marketers to help build their network.

GeneWize emerges into a $100 billion-plus health, nutrition and cosmetic industry as the direct subsidiary of GeneLink. Genelink is a publicly traded biosciences company. (OTCBB:GNLK)

The focus of GeneWize's parent company has long been genetic testing for the early detection of diseases. Working on its team are leading researchers and scientists in biotechnology, molecular biology, genomics, chemistry, medicine and nutritional sciences. Since 1997, these scientists have been patenting the unique processes that have lead to the GeneWize product lines. GeneLink released similar products to healthcare professionals in 2004, and tens of thousands have used them.

The two product lines of GeneWize are the LifeMap Nutrition System and the Dermagenetics Skin Care System. Both use genetic testing (in the form of a simple saliva test) to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (pronounced "snips") present in DNA. Based on testing, SNPactives are infused into an individual nutrition or skincare product to help overcome genetic deficiencies. Bid a happy farewell to one-size-fits-all products.

With 98 ingredients to blend in over 177,000 different combinations, GeneWize doesn't overlook the fact that everyone is made a little differently!

Ambit Energy: A New Way to Earn Residual Income from Home

The Company

Ambit Energy is a Texas based retail energy provider founded in 1992 by Jere W. Thompson, Jr., and Chris Chambless. It markets its services through the mlm business model.

Both men have enjoyed tremendous success in the telecommunications industry. Thompson was at the forefront of that industry as it deregulated. Chambless was an early member of the management team of Excel Communications. With this kind of leadership, Ambit seems a likely candidate for overwhelming success.

The Service

Ambit Energy distributes electricity and natural gas in Texas, Illinois and New York. Because energy travels through the same power lines whether an mlm company or a public utility provides it, customers experience no disruption in the way energy is delivered to their homes.

For as long as most of us can remember, public utilities have run as state-regulated monopolies. However, in the last few years, there has been a trend of states beginning to deregulate their utilities.

It's been said before that competition is good for the customer. If you have felt taken advantage of before by complacent state-run monopolies, you're going to like retail energy. Providers like Ambit are obligated to strive for your business by offering better rates and more attentive service.

Ambit offers discounted service with no contracts. Customers receive Travel Rewards Points each month based on the kWh's they used. The points can be accumulated and used on travel packages. Ambit has joined the Better Business Bureau and has a Customer Satisfaction Guarantee.

The Opportunity

With Ambit Energy, employees and consultants come first. It is the belief of the Executive Management that when distributors are treated well and helped to achieve their goals, the customers win too.

No doubt, energy is a convenient product for network marketers to offer. This is something that people use every day, and most of them would like to save money on their bills.

With Ambit Energy as opposed to other home based businesses, there is no complicated paperwork, no inventory to store, and no deliveries to make. Also, consultants for Ambit do not have ongoing customer service to provide. Once they enroll a new customer, Ambit Energy takes it from there.

Ambit Energy Overview continued here

ForeverGreen is a publicly traded, debt-free company that distributes nutritional and skin care products through direct sales. In four years, it has grown to a membership of nearly 50,000, and it is doing business in more than 10 different countries around the world, including the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The company was founded in 2004 by Ron Williams, a man with a lot of experience in network marketing. He began as a distributor for Nuskin and went on to become a senior exective at Neways. He successfully established several large businesses in the health and wellness industry before launching ForeverGreen. Through ForeverGreen, he hopes to change the perception of MLM from an industry of takers to a global community of givers.

The main focus of ForeverGreen is a drink called FrequenSea. It is made of Marine Phytoplankton, a complete and natural source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, essential fatty acids and fiber. The phytonutrients are reported to provide immune system enhancement, antioxidants, reduced cholesterol and blood pressure and relief from joint inflammation, just to name a few. The popularity of this product has almost overshadowed the company itself, and the other intriguing wellness products it offers.

FrequenSea has a base of loyal customers who testify that the drink has made a wonderful difference in the way they feel. Another innovative product from ForeverGreen is 24 Karat Chocolate, rich chocolates fortified with pharmaceutical-grade nutrients to address specific needs in the body.

The Online MLM Mastermind system was initally created in late 2007. As a member of Jonathan Budd's Global Resorts team, I had a membership from the beginning. It was a good tool at that time, but still lacked a few key features.

In late 2008, and again in the spring of 2009, this system has gone through some major upgrades, both features and user functionality. It is now my top recommendation for an online network marketing system.

For less than $50/month, you will have access to a fully-functioning marketing system, that can be applied to any network marketing opportunity.

Features include customizable lead capture pages, dynamic keyword insertion for pay per click marketing (if you don't know what this means...trust me, it is GOOD), integration with Aweber and GetResponse autoresponder systems AND built-in tracking capabilities. The new user interface is also much cleaner and well organized, resulting in far less information overload, which in my opinion is a HUGE problem with several other competitor systems.

See a complete review of the Online MLM Mastermind System

The Pampered Chef is a direct sales company that is headquartered in Addison, IL. Its goal is to preserve the tradition of shared family meals for even the busiest families through time-saving tips, tools and recipes. In addition, the company strives to provide a great opportunity for consultants to earn money for their families while using their unique talents and enjoying greater freedom and flexibility.

Doris Christopher founded The Pampered Chef in 1980, because she saw the need for real cooks in regular kitchens to have professional-quality tools. She put together her expertise in the as a home economist and a teacher and began direct selling a collection of what she considered to be the essential kitchen tools.

Today, The Pampered Chef has grown to include 60,000 independent sales representatives worldwide. It has made over $700 million in sales and has served 12 million customers.

The Pampered Chef is a Better Business Bureau accredited business and a proud member of the DSA (Direct Selling Association). DSA membership is equivalent to a promise to uphold the highest standards of business practices and to be honest and forthright in all dealings with consumers and sellers.

The Pampered Chef maintains its founder's heart for generosity. It sponsors "Round-up from the Heart" in which customers are encouraged to round up their product orders to the nearest dollar or more to benefit America's Second Harvest. "Help Whip Cancer" donates proceeds from special pink products to cancer research.

The Pampered Chef product line includes as many as 300 items at a time, with 80-90% of those being exclusive to the company. Many of the products have become iconic. Who doesn't have the round baking stone? I won?t bake on anything else!

The Pampered Chef Kitchens employs home economists, chefs, product developers, dieticians and food scientists who work to continually develop new products, tips and recipes. They strive to make products that are not only time-saving, but multifunctional, so that kitchens are not cluttered with tools that are rarely.

The primary method of sales is home demonstrations known as Cooking Shows. One million shows are held in the U.S. each year. Products can also be purchased through catalogue parties or through an online catalogue.

At the Cooking Shows, the consultant prepares a recipe selected by the host to demonstrate the tools and the recipe for the guests. As guests are in enjoying the finished product, the consultant answers questions, takes orders and books parties. So, if you decide to distribute Pampered Chef, you had better like toting products around and cooking before an audience.

Host bonuses include free, discounted and half-price products, a 10% discount for a year, and free shipping. There are also monthly host specials, like 60% off of selected items.

Read the complete Review of Pampered Chef

Send Out Cards LLC is a greeting card company with independent distributors throughout the country. This service allows users to purchase and send personalized cards with a few clicks of a mouse. I was unaware of this network marketing opportunity until I saw it mentioned in an article by Ann Sieg, author of the Renegade Network Marketer. She uses the service heavily to keep in touch with clients.

SendOutCards offers a simple and professional way for businesses to follow-up with their customers, vendors and associates. A customer that feels appreciated will continue to do business with you and will often refer others to you.

You can create campaigns that will automatically send out Thank You Cards, Birthday Cards, Holiday Cards, and Promotional Postcards. You can also create custom business cards with your own logos, photos, or designs.

Another handy featur is that you can insert a gift certificate to a popular retail store. The system will print the card, stamp it with the correct postage and mail it for you.

Read the complete Review of Send Out Cards here

Silpada Designs is a company that distributes sterling silver jewelry through network marketing. It was founded by Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh, and is based in Lenexa, KS.

Bonnie and Teresa met as school room mothers. The two had a lot in common and quickly became close friends. Soon, they were working together to find ways to earn income from home. They tried several different home business, but didn't truly begin to love their work until they started Silpada Designs, because in addition to families and the need to earn additional income, they also shared a passion for jewelry.

The two met as school room mothers, quickly became friends and began discussing ways to earn money from home. They tried several business ideas, but only became truly passionate about their work when they started Silpada Designs. This is because in addition to kids and the need to earn extra income, they also shared a love for jewelry.

Silpada Designs began with $25 saved back from a grocery fund. Bonnie and Teresa made the jewelry themselves and sold it at informal parties they called, "A Fun Ladies' Night Out Playing Dress-up with Jewelry". The Silpada Designs direct sales opportunity was born out of customers and hostesses coming to them, saying, "How can we get involved? You two look like you're having so much fun!"

In 1997, Silpada Designs emerged out of the basement to become what it is today. Now it is the fastest growing .925 Sterling Silver Home Show in the U.S., with thousands of independent Representatives and Home Shows averaging $750 in sales.

The Silpada Designs business opportunity affords representatives the flexibility to work from home and customize their work hours to suit their specifice needs and goals. Representatives can advance in the company as quickly as they choose, by sponsoring more and more new distributors. A particular benefit of this relatively young MLM company is that the market is not already overrun with distributors.

As is the appeal with most MLM companies, the Silpada Designs business opportunity affords Representatives the option to customize their earning and workload to their specific desires, goals, and time schedule. Representatives can advance in the company as fast as they choose, by sponsoring new Representatives and guiding them toward success.

A particular benefit of Silpada Designs is that, while rapidly growing, it is still a relatively young company, so the market is still open for new Representatives.

Read the full Silpada Designs Review

Discovery Toys is a direct sales company geared toward learning.

Its mission is to share with parents and children in the "'aha' learning moments . . . through play". Products are designed to encourage the development of a variety of skills for different age groups, including kinesthetic, fine and gross motor, language and social.

Customers may purchase products online through a corporate website or distributors' sites, or they may buy through Education Consultants who bring products to private home meetings or parties.

Discovery Toys was founded by Lane Nemeth, a homemaker turned entrepreneur. She began the company in 1981, and since then, its network has spread throughout the U.S. and Canada. It has won the respect of the business world and the confidence of consumers through the rigorous safety testing of its products and an unswerving dedication to producing high-quality products that promote learning. Discovery Toys is a proud member of the DSA (Direct Selling Association).

Another positive feature of Discovery Toys is their dedication to helping autistic children and their families. Discovery Toys has partnered with the Princeton Child Development Institute to identify products that support development in the specific areas of difficulty for autistic children.

The Discovery Toys Autism Donation Program matches every dollar donated with the same retail value in toys sent to selected autism support organizations.

Discovery Toys is a proud sponsor of Toys for Tots.

To get in on the Discovery Toys network marketing opportunity, see their corporate website for ways to get in touch with local sponsors.

Discovery Toys was founded with stay-at-home moms in mind. Lane Nemeth wanted to provide a flexible way for moms to earn money while being more active in raising their children. This remains an excellent opportunity for the mom who wants to leave the rigidity of the workplace but still needs to bring in an income.

World Ventures, based in Plano, TX, is a travel-based network marketing opportunity.

The product consists of two main parts:

1. DreamTrips Membership. WorldVentures uses a wholesale, bulk buying concept, much like Costco or Sam's Club and applies it to travel. A one-time membership cost and a small monthly fee gives members access to vacations at wholesale prices. Members can recoup their initial investment within their first trip or two.
2. Leisure Travel Consultant (LTC) Package. The WorldVentures Leisure Travel Consultant (LTC) Package is the business opportunity. Customers who purchase the LTC Package are given access to online travel tutorials which can prepare them for travel industry exams and certifications. LTCs can refer travel customers to their own personal website and if travel is booked, earn commissions on those bookings.

See the complete World Ventures Business Opportunity

Zrii is a fresh new face in the network marketing industry.

Zrii is also the name of it's sole product, a cutting edge liquid nutritional, based on the science of Ayurveda. The product has received an endorsement from the Chopra Center for Wellness, and is only the third product ever to receive a coveted endorsement.

The company was in prelaunch as of October 2007. The official launch date was May 22, 2008.

Some of Zrii's Ingredients

Amalaki is the keystone of Zrii's formulation . It is considered to be extremely potent for cellular rejuvenation.

Ginger is used to improve digestion, absorption and assimilation. Ginger is also used for dyspepsia and colic, to ease pain from arthritis, has blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties and can be an effective treatment for nausea. Compounds in Ginger are believed to aid the movement of the gastrointestinal tract and have antibacterial and analgesic properties.

Turmeric aids healthy circulation and digestion. The United States National Institutes of Health is conducting four clinical trials to determine if curcumin may be effective in treating pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer's and colorectal cancer. Curcumin (a compound found in Turmeric) has been used for thousands of years as a safe anti-inflammatory and may be an effective treatment for psoriasis.

Tulsi is also referred to as Holy Basil. This aromatic plant has culinary uses, but has particular spiritual relevance as well.
Tulsi has been shown to enhance digestion and intestinal health...

Read the complete Zrii product and opportunity review and learn how to contact a distributor

The Mary Kay business opportunity represents a significant portion of the $100 billion dollar per year direct sales industry.

In 2006, sales of Mary Kay products exceeded $2.25 billion in wholesale sales, according to the company web site. Thousands of women will enroll as Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants each and every year, hoping to find their path to successful entrepreneurship.

The initial starter kit for all new consultants is $100, at the time of this writing. This gets you enrolled in the network, with an associate ID, and supplies you with an online storefront. While Mary Kay does not require consultants to purchase product immediately, you will need to maintain at least a modest inventory of products for direct sales to clients. And since there is no way to know in advance what colors or products will be most popular with your clientele, you may need to spend $200-$500/monthly for your inventory. (This will be wholesale cost, which is 50% of retail)

Home parties are the best way to move retail product directly. This will naturally require time for planning and a budget for snacks and soft drinks. Some repeat customers will eventually order product from the online storefront, but others will still prefer obtaining it from you personally.

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