Saturday, January 14, 2006

MLM Opportunity: The 7 Hidden Things to Look for...

and MUST HAVE in an MLM Opportunity.
~by doug firebaugh

If you are looking for a good or the best MLM Opportunity, and really do not know what to expect or pursue, then this article can help you know what to look for, and what to demand for your future.

It doesn't matter if it is a franchise, retail store, real estate agency, or MLM opportunity, you should embrace and become a part of only what you deem worthy, and demand that your future deserves the best and you will not settle for anything less. There is an MLM Opportunity waiting for you, and it is the one you really want.

But there are some hidden things that you need to look for, and demand from Your MLM opportunity. Not everyone looks at these things, and if they had, they would have had a different outcome in MLM.

Here are 7 hidden things to look for that you MUST HAVE in an MLM Opportunity:
1)
MLM Opportunity - Timing.
Timing is everything in an MLM business. You need to make sure that timing is good for the company you are looking for, and timing is good for YOU. Is the company experiencing growth and momentum? Or is it going through a slow time that could slow you down? Is it succeeding in the marketplace, or struggling? There is a growth curve to MLM Opportunities. Where is it along the curve? That will determine a lot of the future potential of rapid growth.

Timing in the marketplace is everything for you. Look at the market trends (anti aging, technology, skin care advancements, legal product improvements, insurance product advancements, weight loss advancements, etc) and see if the mlm company has products that contain ingredients or technology that are being talked about in the media. This alone speaks volumes of where the company is in the timing curve.

And how old is the company? If it is too young, it could fold, and if it is too old, it could be stale, and living on past Successes, not current. But there are some older MLM Opportunities that stay current with their approach to the marketplace. My suggestion is start looking for an MLM Opportunity that is at least 3 years old.

2) MLM Opportunity - Seriousness of Owners.

This is a Million Dollar Question: How serious are the owners about a LONG TERM business? If you are going to build a business for your future, you need to make sure that the owners are as serious about your future as you are. There are some that are not unfortunately.

They may talk about it, but you need to SEE it. They need to make sure they make decisions based on long term growth, not short term profits. This is a key sign to look for. Talk to people and see if they have made any recent changes to the compensation plan, or the requirements to qualify for your check, or consistent changes in product pricing.

If they have, and it is not the first time, beware. They are thinking short term profits. Owners that are serious, have proven to do what they need to do internally, in house first, and only as a last resort take money from the field. And ask around, and even see if you can talk to one of the top earners, or one of the owners themselves.

3) MLM Opportunity - Product Uniqueness.

Does the mlm product you are looking at have a one of a kind reputation? Does it have a unique marketing proposition?

Is it a truly unique product, or honestly, just another "me too" product or product line? Me too products can fade from view in the marketplace quickly in MLM.

Your products MUST be unique, and no other quite like it. Yes, there can be many skin care, weight loss, make up, nutritional products out there, but the product you are considering must have a unique "sizzle" to it that sets it apart. There are many vitamin products, but what does the product have that makes it unique? This is a HUGE test for long term product viability, as well as what the next products will be like.

An MLM opportunity may have products that come across as sleek, sexy, and hot. But if they are not unique, they will have a limited life span in MLM.

4) MLM Opportunity - Idiot Proof Training System.
A good MLM opportunity will have a training system that can be used 24/7 and can train anyone anytime, anywhere. It does not replace the role of the sponsor, but a good training system will train the new distributors quicker, and with more impact.

This is a brutal truth fact: Most sponsors do not train their people. That is just the way it is, and I wish it wasn't like that, but it is. Ask anyone who has been in MLM for a while. They will say the same thing, if they are honest. That is why that a good training system, including training manuals, cds, online training, and live events and conference call training is a must. That gives the new distributors a "menu" to choose from and to start getting their training immediately.
And it must be step by step. If the MLM opportunity has these things, or working on them, that is a great sign that they are serious about their field's success.

5) MLM Opportunity - The Better Business Bureau Factor.
Simply, in a good MLM opportunity, there cannot be a lot of complaints with the BBB. It is that simple. Yes, you will always have disgruntled distributors, that is part of the business. But a lot of complaints from all over on shipping, getting their checks, refunds, products, legal challenges, all must be considered when looking at an MLM opportunity.

Every company I know of that has had massive MLM Success, has had some things against it with the BBB. But they all were minor, and not really of the "you should be concerned" type.
If the complaints are consistent, and current and fresh, then you need to really look into that, as where there is consistent smoke, somewhere there is a fire.
Make sure you do not get burned with that fire.

6) MLM Opportunity - Is the company "product and customer focused?"
Understand this: Without customers, there is no business. Without good products, there are no customers. Without either, there is no use to look any further.

A company MUST be customer and product focused, but business driven. It is the customers and their purchases that create the volume for the MLM company. But it is the distributors driving the message out to the masses that creates the business vehicle. But it ALWAYS needs to revolve around creating a massive customer base, with a great downline helping to build that army.

Check on the MLM opportunity you are looking at, and if they are more business focused, and the products are a mere mention, then you may want to seek an MLM Opportunity somewhere else. Lots of loyal customers create wealth, not one time up front hits of volume, as that eventually goes away.

7) MLM Opportunity - What kind of people does this company attract?

This is HUGE. I have seen so many good companies that have attracted people who want to become scientists, and not distributors. They want to become Ph.Ds, not build a wealth producing business. Some MLM opportunites attract people that are more focused on short term gain, then long term stability. Some companies attract mostly the older crowd. Some network marketing companies attract mostly people under 30.

You MUST have a mix. Not too heavy on either. Why? Overall market viability. Today's MLM opportunites that are going great guns, appear to have a great mix of ages, and the average age is not too young, but yet, not too old. This is a hidden factor that speaks volumes of the MLM opportunity.

Too much youth, or too much grey, will slow any company down over time.

These are 7 Hidden things you MUST HAVE in the best MLM Opportunity. Check them with who you are looking at, and see where they stand, and how they add up.
Yes, these things are what most people do not look for, and my suggestion is you do. They speak volumes about your future with an MLM opportunity.

You will be so glad you did in the long run, with your best MLM Opportunity.
Blessings...Doug (c) _2005/ all rights reserved
http://www.passionfire.com
http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_7.html
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_4.html and http://www.passionfire.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Firebaugh

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