MLM: The MLMIA
An Introduction to Network Marketing
By Jeffrey A. Babener
Excerpted from Network Marketing: What You Should Know, Jeffrey Babener, Legaline Publications
MLM consultant practice tips. MLM Sales Kits should generally be priced as a not for profit item. Commissions should not be paid on mandatory MLM Sales Kits. Various states have exemptions for "at cost" MLM sales kits from the prohibited consideration sections of pyramid and MLM and business opportunity statutues. MLM Legal and MLMLegal.com and Babener and Associates provides expert MLM Consultant and MLM Consulting advise on MLM corporate, MLM software, MLM Compensation, MLM Taxes, etc. MLM Consulting is an important component for MLM startup. Careful Choice of MLM Software is another component of MLM Corporate. An MLM Consultant and MLM Law and MLM Legal is part of the MLM Startup Team. MLM Compensation must be reviewed by an MLM Consulting standpoint by an MLM Consultant and MLM Legal and MLM Law professional and programmed by a MLM Software and MLM Technology provider.
It's no coincidence that the MLMIA is headquartered on the sun-drenched coast of California in Newport Beach. After all, network marketing plays especially well in the sunbelt states of California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Southern California is probably the heart of the industry.
The MLMIA was founded in 1985 and has affiliates around the world, from the South Pacific to London. Its membership tends to be a younger generation of network marketing companies, although older, more established companies are involved as well.
Highly respected management consultant, Doris Wood, founder of the MLMIA, notes the principal reasons for forming the Association: "We felt that the direct selling industry needed an organization that focused solely on the problems and issues of multilevel marketing companies. In addition, we felt that distributors needed to have a participatory role in industry issues, and therefore, we became the only trade association to accept as members both network marketing companies, as well as individual distributors. Our goal is to support the cause of multilevel marketing throughout the world."
The MLMIA has done an admirable job pursuing this cause. Its members have testified before legislatures on industry issues and filed amicus (friends of the court) briefs in important cases affecting network marketing. It has adopted ethics screening standards for its members and is often in contact with attorneys general in its effort to protect the industry by helping to weed out disreputable operators and pyramid schemes.
The MLMIA Government Industry Liaison Group, hosts a task force that have met with attorneys general and government regulators to keep the lines of communication open between the industry and government. Says MLMIA Board Chairperson, Michael Sheffield, "We have developed a fine rapport and we're on the same wavelength. We speak at their meetings and they come speak at ours. It's a beneficial relationship for both the network industry and consumers."
The MLMIA makes available a wide variety of educational materials for both companies and distributors. The organization hosts ongoing conferences on the industry. At many of the conferences, specific segments are devoted to issues of particular interest to individual distributors, as well as corporate members. The segments are often referred to as "Distributor Day" or "Corporate Day."
"Since the organization is there to support both distributors and corporate members," says founder Doris Wood, "we feel it is important to provide a balance of programs and activities." The MLMIA also makes available to its corporate and individual members a comprehensive consumer benefits and insurance package for self-employed independent distributors.
Many network marketing companies (NuSkin, Oxyfresh, Enrich, Cell Tech, Envion, and Noevir, to name a few) have joined the MLMIA, and their distributors are already eligible for the benefits the association offers. If your company isn't involved, don't be shy about getting an individual membership. You'll enjoy the benefits of being part of something bigger.
MLM Consultant Practice tips. Proper MLM Capitalization is essential to the MLM Startup and MLM corporate business. The need for capital is in inverse proportion to the ability of the MLM to recruit distributors. MLM Legal and MLMLegal.com and Babener and Associates provides expert MLM Consultant and MLM Consulting advise on MLM corporate, MLM software, MLM Compensation, MLM Taxes, etc. MLM Consulting is an important component for MLM startup. Careful Choice of MLM Software is another component of MLM Corporate. An MLM Consultant and MLM Law and MLM Legal is part of the MLM Startup Team. MLM Compensation must be reviewed by an MLM Consulting standpoint by a MLM Consultant and MLM Legal and MLM Law professional and programmed by a MLM Software and MLM Technology provider.