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[Adrian Armstrong Contribution Level: 3]

Hi Mark,
I've been marketing nutritionals for 20 plus years and I agree that most of the products out there are simply me too products which can now be found, perhaps of a slightly lesser quality at Costco or Walmart. I've seen all the juices you can name at half the price of MLM's on the shelf of my local store. Not to single out the juice companies, the same applies to Aloe,and Spirulinas, and Multi Vitamin and Mineral products. This was not always the way, but the big stores have seen the wellness revolution coming and are cashing in too.

To truly succeed with long term walk away residual income you need an exclusive product which no one else has or can duplicate. It needs to have scientific double blind crossover studies to prove that it works and that it isn't just more hype. If the proof of the product is real and convincing, then that should create enough trust, that free samples aren't really necessary, and of course there should be a money back guarantee as well.

It should be something that a consumer will want to buy at a fair price for the product alone, not because there is a business opportunity attached to it. This should reflect in company sales percentages coming from customers verses associates. A healthy balance for long term stability in a company should be 25-40% customers.

And then of course there's you, the distributor. Yes, you do have to set yourself apart from all the other replicated websites out there promoting the same thing. That's easy enough to do with all the premade systems out there or better yet by creating your own websites and lead capture pages.

[William Nissen Company: ViSalus Sciences Contribution Level: 4]

yes- but the failure is in presenting this as a product comparison rather than a business investment. Many products are excellent- but as a comparison, McDonalds food is terrible, but if I had an opportunity to buy one- I would because it WILL make money. Trying to battle the product comparison fight is a losing war- it slows down recruiting waiting for results instead of bringing in partners. As far as free samples- this is overrated. I know many have the problem of people not using the samples because sinse they are free, there's not a strong motivation to use them. I sell my samples so theyre more motivated to use them and find a result. (with a money back guarantee of course)

[Steve Rodgers Contribution Level: 3]

A good way to stand out in the crowd is to take the road less traveled. There's more work involved, but worth it nonetheless.

The company I market for has a ton of distributors marketing the products using the same old, beaten down company lines. Basically we've been encouraged to market to anyone with a beating heart in their chest, when in reality that's just too general of market. (duh)

So while everyone is shot-gunning a big broad message to everybody and nobody at the same time, you may just want to focus on that tiny, yet profitable niche, that stands to benefit the most from your product. Then the next thing you do is do it better than the other guy

-Steve

[Ben Fitts Company: SendOutCards Contribution Level: 3]

The issue with health and wellness is it's so easy to create a new health and wellness MLM.

$50k or so and you're in.

$15k to buy some existing nutritional product and slap your label on it.

$10k on marketing materials and design work.

$20k to buy a basic MLM web site and back office downline system.

$5k on legal advice

You can run it out of your garage or basement until you get it going

That's not to say that they're aren't some good health and wellness based companies out there. That's not to say that some of them don't have some cool products. It's just that there are so many out there and some of them have a bad reputation and it makes it harder for the others.

I do get my vitamins from a fellow network marketer so I do try to support them in their endeavors.

[JF Grissom Contribution Level: 2]

It's just that there are so many out there and some of them have a bad reputation and it makes it harder for the others.

I do get my vitamins from a fellow network marketer so I do try to support them in their endeavors.

I would argue that your not selling products... you're selling you.

You is competition proof... and if you are valuable... people will join or use a product you're helping them get results with... it's that simple.

No product competes with nothing... There are a zillion software companies out there... yet microsoft does well even with a not-so-good product line. Apple competes by being different... even though at their core they are selling what Sony sold in the walkman back in the late 80's.

Everything boils down to an individual. Your product is just a tool... hopefully a good one... but if it isn't the best it can still get the job done... if not there is always using a different tool...

[Justin Finkelstein Contribution Level: 1]

First I want to comment that JF Grissom's post was very valuable.

The bottom line is that it does not matter what business I am involved with, it is my job to demonstrate my value and the value of my product. If I do one withot the other, then I will fail.

Most people make the mistakes that you list in your original post and that is a contributing factor to why most be are not successful in this business. Those that are successful could probably build a wellness business, an info products business, a used car busines or whatever because they know how to demonstrate value.

[Billy Anne Crews Contribution Level: 2]

If a product is effective and it's value to the consumer is put across in advertising, then people will purchase the product no matter how much it cost. If it really works, then they will be repeat buyers.

Teach 'Em To Fish,

Billy Anne Crews

[Steven Desantis Contribution Level: 2]

Being a health coach for 5 years and helping many, many people overcome obesity and disease I truly know the value of CERTAIN supplements.
Here is what the problem is: The market place has been saturated with TOO many products out there claiming to do this and that. Millions of people have already tried these products and guess what, the majority of them havent gotten any results because they rely on an artificial product to give them results. You cannot target a community in this kind of business that doesn't make the time or put in the effort to change their lives. Supplements do not change your life, they can help to contribute to it.

In response to Billy Anne Crews: if the product really works. She is right, if it works!
Supplements only work(contribute to health) once you are in a position to create a healthy body through proper nutrition. If this is not done you're wasting your time trying to market a product that had been all over the globe.

The best way to market the product is to market and target that part of the community that is already doing something to better their health. That part of the market that understands that acheiving health is a life long committment and the people that understand this.

The focus here is to constantly get repeat buyers over and over. You're not going to acheive this through those that are looking for a quick fix for they will be dissapointed when the product doesn't work.

I say it how it is. This is reality and if you're going to be in that kind of business know this: that is one tough market.

[JF Grissom Contribution Level: 2]

The bottom line is that it does not matter what business I am involved with, it is my job to demonstrate my value and the value of my product. If I do one withot the other, then I will fail.

Most people make the mistakes that you list in your original post and that is a contributing factor to why most be are not successful in this business. Those that are successful could probably build a wellness business, an info products business, a used car busines or whatever because they know how to demonstrate value.

jfinktz Nicely stated... You obviously get it! hehe

A successful person is GOING TO BE successful... and everyone else will make excuses about products not being good enough...

No product sells itself... I don't care if Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door."

If nobody knows you have a mouse trap to sell, and you can't PROVE in some way that it is better it won't sell itself... period...

Success isn't about products (if it was everyone with a good product would automatically be rich, and you can't tell me all the health and wellness products suck)...

It is really about us (YOU really as a business owner)... if anyone thinks it is about products then they are doomed to fail, because they will count on the product to sell itself and won't approach creating value from the proper paradigm.

It is about you, the business owner... it is about making a commitment to succeed... not wishing for success or hoping for the ultimate product to provide it for you... it is about doing what ever it takes to provide value to others with what ever it is you're selling...

Cigarettes are a great example (I'm not advocating them... I'm using them as an example to make a point... hehe):
If it was about the product who the heck would have taken up smoking? Smoking is about social pressure... not the best product...

[Tomas Kuracina Contribution Level: 1]

Well, these are common issues, but they can be solved. If the price is higher because the quality is higher, then it's about realizing who is our target market, and the way we are marketing. Wellness industry really needs to target the people that understand the prevention and the whole purpose of nutrition.