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[Linda Anderson Contribution Level: 2]

Find A Good MLM... Find the Best MLM.

Ask these Questions.

Is the company ethical, credible and been in business for at least 2 years and are they an established leader in their field?

Does the company have a unique product which is consumable, of high quality and produces positive results?

Is the company currently an emerging/expanding market with excellent growth prospects?

Is the compensation plan Fair?

Do you have a Business Partner / Mentor to help you?

[Adil Shamim Contribution Level: 4]

Hi Linda:

I would also add to this and find out whether the upfront investment costs are not EXTRA ORDINARY high for the product in question so that it can be duplicated easily..I would also look for VIRTUAL products because I feel it has more potential to make money especially since we would be using the internet primarily to market it and as a result virtual products can be promoted and consequently consumed in a more VIRAL manner with no shipment hassles present.

Adil

[Rob Hammond Company: Global Virtual Opportunities Contribution Level: 4]

Great list.
Only difference in opinion that I would like to share is the point about a company being in existence for less than 2 years. In most MLMs, the growth curve is sharpest if you get in at the ground floor and ride the wave to a growth plateau.
So I would definitely say that the most potential for money earnings is found when you join a company at the ground floor.

[vince giorno Company: ACN, Inc Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Linda,

Here is a list of characteristics a company should have as noted in the book "Network Marketing for Dummies:"

1.Integrity and honesty

2.Full disclosure about the company’s ownership, financial strength, product development, and distributor relationships

3.A mission statement along with ethics standards and values

4.A simple, duplicatable marketing system that people from all orientations can follow with a reasonable expectation of success

5.Products that have been tested for reliability and marketability

6.A fair compensation plan that’s easy to understand and rewards both full-time and part-time distributors

7.Support for the associates in the form of outstanding marketing materials, conference calls, and national meetings

8.An experienced management team

9.Training that teaches people what to do and how to do it so that they can become successful within a reasonable period of time

10.Technology that makes it easy for distributors to recruit, train, sell products, and manage their organizations, and for retail customers to buy products

[Barb Doyle Company: Young Living Essential Oils Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Linda,

I would also add that you want to make sure that the
company is not based on hype. So many opportunites
are. I have researched many hundreds of them over
the past 16 years and most are simply a waste of
time and money. That is why so many people get
discouraged. They believe all the hype that someone
is giving them to get them to sign up and then after
they have been in for awhile they see the light. This
industry needs more truth and integrity from the top
down. I just read that Agel is suing it's ex-founder
and CEO.

I would also add that if you are in a nutritional company
you want to make sure that the owner or CEO comes
from a background of nutrition rather than marketing.
If someone who owns a nutrition company does not
know firsthand about nutrition how will they know that
people that they hire know anything about it.

Also in responding to Rob you do not have to get in
with a "ground floor". There are so many "ground floor"
opportunities promoted that go out of business within
a few years. The company I am affiliated with has
been around since 1994 and just had it's best year in
the history of the company in 2010.

It comes down to finding something that you are
passionate about. Believing in yourself and what you
are sharing and being involved with a company that
is based on truth, integrity and putting the distributor
before profits. Also any individual will have to constantly
work on themselves because your business will only be
as good as you are. Have a great day!

Peace, Health and Prosperity,
Barb Doyle, Sc.

[Douglas Adams Company: Watkins Incorporated Contribution Level: 4]

Look for a company that stresses the quality of the "value" that it offers customers and distributors. Why? Because the success of any network marketing company is totally dependent upon how well it achieves "bonding" with its customers and distributors. This means repeat customers and distributors who stick with the business. And, in today's world, network marketing companies are not just competing with other sellers of the same product, they are competing with other methods of delivery, i.e., catalog sales, discount stores, infomercials, telemarketers.

blessings...
Douglas Adams

[Linda Anderson Contribution Level: 2]

You guys have great content! Thanks for adding and keep it coming!

[george Ruiz Company: Isagenix Corporation Contribution Level: 4]

Great list.
Only difference in opinion that I would like to share is the point about a company being in existence for less than 2 years. In most MLMs, the growth curve is sharpest if you get in at the ground floor and ride the wave to a growth plateau.
So I would definitely say that the most potential for money earnings is found when you join a company at the ground floor.

Not totally true, yes, the company growth is sharpest because it is coming from zero, but it does not have anything to do with your group, in fact, the attrition rate of the first 3 years can become horrible because many of the people that join is always looking for the new big thing, and they quit!

Also you run into the problem of staying power, most companies fail in the first 2-5 years, then you have the risk of having to start again and again..

IMO, the best time is to join a company that is between 5-15 years, it is usually more solid, has better tools, has got rid of most of the bugs, and the chance of survival is much higher.

You can create a sharp growth in your group even if you come 10 years later, with an advantage, your group is way more solid! You also have an advantage because your company has more credibility.

George Ruiz

[Ian Belanger Company: XanGo, LLC Contribution Level: 1]

I believe that reputation of the MLM company is very important. Search the name of the company you are looking into and see how many bad comments are out there, about that particular MLM company. Even the best companies have naysayers. What I would look for is an MLM that has the fewest negative comments. Many people jump into this type of business before they research the MLM company that they sign up for and in turn, when the company turns out to be something they are not interested in or a bad company, well then you get negative opinions of that particular MLM.
This industry is not for the "get rich quick" crowd, although it has been done. It is not common to get rich from your MLM business. In fact only 3% of people who join an MLM company, ever make a living off it. Many others quit before thay can even get started.
Read all of the comments in this discussion. Everyone on here knows what they are talking about, for the most part. Do your research before you commit to anything. If you have doubts about the company, well maybe that MLM company is not right for you. Last but not least, You must believe in what you are doing. Know that you will succeed, and 9 times out of 10 you will succeed. Keep the faith my friends!

[Linda Anderson Contribution Level: 2]

Yes Ian, I agree with the Believe in what you are doing. Believing in your product or service is what will help you to push on when others will drop out. I believe many people give up too quickly.