MLM: AN OVERVIEW OF AN EXCITING INDUSTRY
By Jeffrey A. Babener
Excerpted from Network Marketing: What You Should Know, Jeffrey Babener, Legaline Publications
MLM consultant practice tips. MLM Sales Tax Issues must be addressed to avoid liability for taxes and penalties. Nexus for MLM Sales and Use Tax represents a unique analysis that involves activity by distributors in promoting, recruiting and training in a state. 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.
An Introduction to Network Marketing
Network marketing - also called multilevel marketing (MLM), person-to-person marketing, and one-on-one marketing - is a form of direct selling. You already know what direct selling is. Avon, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Fuller Brush ... these are just some of the direct selling companies that have been household names for decades....
Hard Facts About a Growing Industry
Every week, more than 55,000 people in the United States alone sign up as network marketers - 150,000 per week worldwide....
This Myth is a Turkey
You've probably heard all those beloved multilevel marketing myths - "multilevel marketing classes are taught at Harvard Business School,"
Why Millions of People Are Getting Involved
Although network marketing isn't for everybody, millions of people from all walks of life consider it to be the right opportunity at the right time. The fact is becoming an independent distributor can fill important needs and fit within the time and money limitations many people face.
A Maturing Industry Overcomes an Old Reputation
During its wild childhood and adolescence, network marketing acquired a reputation that in some ways was less-than-sterling. Face it - any rapidly growing new industry attracts its share of scam artists, and network marketing was no exception.
Why They Do It ...
According to the Direct Selling Association, the five top reasons why people join network marketing companies are:
The "Perfect" Products for Network Marketing Companies
In the early days of the industry, most network marketing companies carried cosmetics, nutritional, personal care, or home cleaning products. While these types of products are still heavy hitters, today's companies have found that they can sell almost anything and everything through network marketing, including services.
Are You Right for This Business?
It takes all kinds of people to make the world spin. And it takes all kinds of businesses. But not every type of person is right for every type of business.
Are You Right for This Business? Part 2
Are you right for network marketing?
The Entrepreneurial Mind - Pushing the Envelope
In his book, The Entrepreneurial Mind , Jeffrey Timmons notes that the most important entrepreneurial skill is not necessarily technical expertise. As a professor of business at Harvard University and Babson College he wrote that those in attendance at the Smaller Company Management Program at Harvard Business School identified mental attitudes and philosophies to be the most important business skills for running a business today and in the next several years.
The Saturation Theory? Not to Worry!
The "saturation theory" goes like this: Every network marketing opportunity will sooner or later come to an end because network marketers will eventually run out of (1) potential customers to sell to, and (2) prospective distributors to recruit.
The Saturation Theory? Not to Worry! Part 2
Arizona and Texas-based Allen Baytes, an industry veteran of many recruiting campaigns, agrees: "There is no such thing as saturation.
The Saturation Theory? Not to Worry! Part 3
Networking companies in the U.S. are constantly cracking new demographic markets. The fast-growing Hispanic market in the U.S. is a good example. Companies like Discovery Toys have opened up the market to networks of teachers.
With a Little Help From Your Friends - Trade Associations
Network marketing companies are fond of telling their distributors, "You're in business for yourself - not by yourself," and "You're on your own, but not alone."
The MLMIA
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.
The DSA
The DSA is the granddaddy of the industry, which actually goes back to 1910. One of the founding members, Avon, is still probably the most famous direct selling company in the world.
Women and Network Marketing: A Perfect Match
There is a rich tradition in this industry - the success story of the American woman in network marketing. Over the last 40 years, it has been a symbiotic relationship - network marketing is great for women, and women are great for network marketing.
Women Stand Out
In 1992, a study of the direct selling industry was commissioned by the Direct Selling Association and conducted by Nathan Associates. It revealed that approximately 90 percent of the industry's salespeople were women.
A Window of Opportunity for Women
The network marketing industry has been a window of opportunity for women for many reasons.
Women Bring Special Talents to Network Marketing
"Women are natural networkers," says Kollman. "They help each other in almost all aspects of life." Women bring some unique attributes to the table, adds Venus Andrecht, a successful network marketing distributor who shared her success skills in a best-selling industry.
The Male v. The Female Approach
Men and women have different approaches to network marketing, according to Andrecht. Although some may not find her point "politically correct", her observations come from years of experience on the front lines. She says ...
Humble Beginnings - Don't Sell Yourself Short
Don't sell yourself short just because you're starting small. History tells us that in America, many billion-dollar businesses have been started on a shoestring, in garages, and in back bedrooms. Cases in point: Bill Gates of Microsoft, Phil Knight of Nike Shoes, and Steve Jobs of Apple computer.
The Lingo of Network Marketing: Terms You Should Know
Active, Binary, Business Opportunity Legislation, Buy-Back Policy, Co-Op Ads
The Lingo of Network Marketing: Terms You Should Know. Part 2
Consumer Protection Statutes, Downline, Front-End Loading, FTC (Federal Trade Commission), Generation
The Lingo of Network Marketing: Terms You Should Know. Part 3
Green River/Licensing, Group Volume, Heavy Hitter, High Ticket, Leg
The Lingo of Network Marketing: Terms You Should Know. Part 4
Level, Matrix, Multilevel (MLM), MLM Junkie, Multilevel Distribution Statutes
The Lingo of Network Marketing: Terms You Should Know. Part 5
Organization, Personal Volume, Pyramid, Retail Sale, Sales Kit
The Lingo of Network Marketing: Terms You Should Know. Part 6
Sales Referral, Seventy Percent Rule, Sponsoring, Stacking
The Lingo of Network Marketing: Terms You Should Know. Part 7
Stairstep Breakaway, U.S. Postal Laws, Unilevel, Upline
Lingo Library
A complete list of terms you should know.
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.