My name is Ty Tribble and I would like to welcome you to the MLM Blog. I launched this site in 2003 as a journal of my thoughts and opinions on Network Marketing.
While I write about many companies, I am only active in one, if you would like more information about myself or my business, visit my personal web site at TyTribble.com
If you have story ideas, comments or questions, you can contact me at ty (at) tribble (dot) org.
As I do some research for MLM Blog Video, I ran across Blake Lewis from Seattle. Is anyone better than this guy on American Idol?
Vote for my Seattle Boy!
This is pretty cool...
The official launch will come in the summer of 2007 with a focus on business development for Quixtar IBOs.
Quote from support:
The idea is to get IBOs up and running faster, and to make money sooner. Instead of just spending money on tools.
IBONetwork plans to offer a full support system, web sites and services. Some of the services have never been offered to Quixtar IBOs before.
I have a very specific reason for this poll, but I also plan on bringing back the MLM Blog Poll on a regular basis. If you have any good ideas for poll questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.
On with the poll...
How many hours a week do you spend on your (MLM) business?
I have to say that I wasn't the first person that noticed this, but I can't remember where I read it. After doing a little digging on YouTube, I found these two videos. Listen to WWE's "The Rock" and then listen to "Ba-rack".
I'd vote for him if he would start ending his speeches with...."If ya smell what BA-Rock is coookin'."
Detective Fred Shandley, of Invercargill, spoke to about 35 people at Verdon College about the terrible consequences the drug pure methamphetamine, better known as P, was having in New Zealand.
Users of the drug were destroying their lives because prolonged use of P led to psychological problems, eating disorders, criminal and social problems and even death, Mr Shandley said.
Gangs that had formerly been preoccupied with thuggery and patch disputes with each other were now operating like businesses and were the principal manufacturers and dealers of hard drugs in New Zealand.
They were becoming known as "Amway gangs" because members strove to sell as much drugs as they could to make their way up the gang chain. Patches and facial tattoos were disappearing and members would drive rental cars – all part of an effort to blend in and avoid run-ins with authority, he said.
Remember when I told you that Xango would be in trouble if they did not innovate and launch a new product soon?
Well, according to a very reliable source, (people familiar with Network Marketing would know his name), and confirmed via European press release, Xango is about to launch a new juice product beginning with Europe...
Nearly five years ago, XanGo, LLC created the functional mangosteen product category with the introduction of a remarkable dietary supplement: XanGo� Juice. Leading our category with the world's best mangosteen products has always been XanGo's focus.
Today, we are excited to announce a future addition to our premium category product offering: XALOT Juice (pronounced zay-lo). XanGo's exclusive XALO Juice formula combines the world's most celebrated botanicals, headlined by aloe and mangosteen, to offer pure and nourishing benefits in a complete and complex functional beverage.
Our XALO Juice blend of aloe, mangosteen and other premium ingredients gives us a formula unique and differentiated from our flagship product, XanGo Juice. XALO Juice will have its own taste, benefits and brand identity.
XanGo will introduce the XALO Juice brand this summer in the pilot markets of Germany, Belgium and Austria. This brand introduction in the European Union is designed to strategically expand the reach of our category leadership.
Innovative? I'll leave that up to you.
File this one under mad rants.
I look at so many Network Marketing lead capture pages, blogs and web sites each day that after a while some things begin to really drive me nuts.
Tonight I reached my maximum of ugly people that can't talk. Why do these people think it is a good idea to put a YouTube clip of themselves in front of their computer blabbing about making money.
A web cam and YouTube account should not be a free license to produce crap.
If you are ugly, you better be funny and/or entertaining and if you can't talk, you better be hot.
For your viewing pleasure, I give you a guy that is entertaining, but he might think that he is entertaining in a different way than I do....but it is entertaining.
I just want to clarify that the launch of MLMVox - Free Blogs for Network Marketers, doesn't mean that the MLM Blog Network as it exists today will be going away any time soon.
We have some great bloggers at the MLM Blog Network and I might even be expanding it in the future. The MLM Blog Network really has one spot for each company or topic. That means for the most part, one Xango rep., one MonaVie rep., one Herbalife rep., etc. MLMVox is kind of like the minor leagues of blogging, the great bloggers from MLMVox will be offered a chance to blog at the MLM Blog Network.
MLMVox is an automated Wordpress package that allows people to sign up for blogs without me having to set them up while the MLM Blog Network is Typepad driven and I have to set up each blogger by hand. I don't mind doing it, especially for great bloggers, but now we have a way to make sure we get great bloggers at the MLM Blog Network....they sign up for MLMVox and blog.
Time and time again, we have proven that consistent blogging is a great way to land yourself in the Google top ten for your MLM company's search.
Here are some updated MLM Blog Network sites:
Here is the MLM Blog YouTube Video of the day...
NEW YORK, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Dreier LLP (http://www.dreierllp.com) today announced that a class action lawsuit was commenced in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, on behalf of purchasers of the common stock of USANA Health Sciences, Inc. ("USANA" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: USNA) during the period July 18, 2006 through March 14, 2007, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The complaint alleges violations of the federal securities laws, including Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If you purchased USANA common stock during the Class Period, you may be a member of the proposed Class. You must move the Court on or before May 25, 2007 if you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff. Lead plaintiffs must meet certain legal requirements. To learn more about this lawsuit or if you are interested in serving as a lead plaintiff, please contact plaintiff's counsel, Lee A. Weiss (classlaw@dreierllp.com) of Dreier LLP at 800-952-8897. Class members may retain counsel of their choice and move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff, or may choose to do nothing and remain absent class members.
USANA is a health sciences company engaged in the manufacture and sale of nutritional and personal care products headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants issued materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business and financial results and failed to disclose, among other things, that: (1) the Company's multi-level marketing system was operating as a pyramid scheme; (2) the majority of the Company's Associates did not sell to consumers, but sold to other Associates; (3) the Company was experiencing an exceedingly high Associate attrition rate, resulting in an unsustainable sales force; (4) 74% of the Company's new Associates were failing within the first year; and (5) 87% of the Company's Associates were losing money. The Complaint further alleges that, as a result of these false statements and omissions, USANA common stock traded at artificially inflated or distorted prices. On March 15, 2007, the Fraud Discovery Institute issued a press release and The Wall Street Journal published an article concerning a three-year investigation by the Fraud Discovery Institute that had revealed that USANA's multi-level marketing system was an unsustainable pyramid scheme. In reaction to this news, the price of the Company's stock declined $8.92 per share, or 15%, to close on March 15, 2007 at $49.85 per share, on unusually heavy trading volume. Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all members of the proposed Class.
The plaintiff is represented by Dreier LLP. Dreier LLP's Class Action Litigation Group has vast experience representing domestic and foreign institutional and individual investors in securities and other class actions throughout the country. The partners who head Dreier LLP's Class Action Litigation Group have successfully prosecuted securities fraud class actions in a wide variety of industries and have played a significant role in cases that have resulted in some of the largest securities class action settlements.
SOURCE Dreier LLP
It looks like the marketing and branding campaign by Herbalife is paying off, at least with the stock market. Of course the Herbalife China approval doesn't hurt either.
NEW YORK, March 26 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Wedbush Morgan maintain their "buy" rating on Herbalife Ltd (ticker: HLF), while raising their estimates for the company. The 12-month target price is set to $47.
In a research note published this morning, the analysts mention that the company has received an approval to conduct its direct selling activities in China. Herbalife continues to raise its marketing spending on its brand building initiatives in order to improve its name recognition worldwide, the analysts add. The EPS estimate for 2008 has been raised from $2.80 to $2.85 to reflect the impact of the direct selling approval.
I wrote about the merging of social, viral, buzz and Network Marketing in 'It's Time...for Network Marketing'. File this in the "stuff your brother-in-law doesn't know about Network Marketing" folder:
Social Networking and P2P sites enable consumers to have their stake in the music business.
Trend Description:
Whoever has dreamed to be part of the music business, has now the chance to do so – virtually. The music industry has finally discovered the power of social networking and P2P to increase the online sales of even unknown bands and artists. Equipped with special software fans can create their own music-stores online and sell the music they like to their friends, peers and all others who might share their taste. Another model allows fans to buy stock of their favorite – unsigned – band. If the fan and the band can motivate enough other believers (through MySpace, YouTube, or word of mouth) the band gets to record an album and can start making money, which of course will be shared equally between themselves, their believers and the company which made the deal possible.
One of the authors at the MLM Blog Network is an insider at an MLM Leads company.
If you are looking into using leads in your Network Marketing business, you should check out MLM Leads Solutions.
Here is some timely advice about Network Marketing and Taxes...
QUESTION: If you run a small business from home, such as Avon, Mary Kay or PartyLite, and make under $1,000 in income, do you have to claim the income?
— Susan K. Suazo
ANSWER: Ahem, we won't tell the IRS you asked the question. There's no magic number — the government expects you to declare any income you've earned, no matter how small. But here's something to consider. Many people who run side businesses (we're assuming that's what yours is) favor keeping that extra income under the table, despite the tax rules. But you might actually be entitled to a loss, so in this case (and hopefully others) it could pay to follow the law.
I recently wrote about a guy touting MonaVie as a new Cajun food and the "Viagra of the Amazon". This guy is from Lousiana, so I thought I would give you an interesting little tidbit about the state of Lousiana.
Lousiana is the only state in the U.S. that still allows cockfighting.
Let's make sure you have this straight because I am going to let you insert your own joke at the end of this post.
MonaVie is the newest Cajun food and MonaVie is the "Viagra of the Amazon". Cajun food comes from Lousiana and Lousiana allows cockfighting.
I think you can see where the punchline is heading.
PLEASANTON, CALIF., March 26 /CNW/ - Shaklee Corporation, a leading natural nutrition company in the U.S., is pleased to announce that its application for a license to engage in Direct Selling in China was approved by the country's Ministry of Commerce on March 23, 2007.
Shaklee Chairman and CEO Roger Barnett commented, "We are delighted that Shaklee is one of the first US companies approved under China's new Direct Selling regulations, and express our gratitude to the Chinese government for this opportunity and vote of confidence. We are excited about bringing our 50 years of research and development to bring the best natural health products to the Chinese people."
Shaklee (China) Ltd. Chairman John Holden added: "We are delighted to be able to provide health and income opportunities to the Chinese people. We will work hard to ensure that as many Chinese consumers as possible will be able to enjoy high quality Shaklee products."
For additional information regarding Shaklee China, please visit www.shaklee.con or contact: 001-86-10-6782-8698.
About Shaklee Corporation
For 50 years, Shaklee has been a leading provider of premium quality, natural nutrition and personal care products, environmentally-friendly household products, and state-of-the-art air and water treatment systems. In 2000, Shaklee became the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral(TM) certification and totally offset its CO2 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment. With a robust product portfolio, including over 45 patents and patents pending worldwide, Shaklee has more than 750,000 members and distributors worldwide and operates in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and China. For more information about Shaklee, visit www.shaklee.com or in China: www.shaklee.cn
For further information: Shaklee Corporation Jill Miller, 925-924-2031 jmiller@shaklee.com or Shaklee China, 011-86-10-6782-8698 chinainfo@shaklee.com
Here is a little satire for your Monday...
Americans received a special blessing this past week when the issue of global warming, its causes, potential harm to Earth, and the options for reversing this curse on humanity were unveiled.
The blessings started when Al Gore was chauffeured from his 20,000 square foot mansion in Tennessee to the U.S. House in Washington, D.C.
Gore showed his unwavering commitment to "Green" by arranging a clever carbon swap: In order to make up for his sinful use of non-green transportation, Gore agreed to forsake his gas powered lawn mower for the summer.
Tipper says she really needs the exercise anyhow, so using a push mower on their six-acre lawn should be a win-win.
No fair using illegal aliens on the sly, Tipper!
I confess to initial skepticism about the Gore decree.
How can a man who spends $30,000 a year to heat and cool his mansion be trusted with the truth on global warming? I also understand that Gore is a major moneyman for one of those carbon swap schemes.
It's an Amway-type pyramid where liberal guilt, not soap, is the commodity of commercial trade.
There has been a lot of good news for Herbalife recently. They just handed out $30 million in bonuses to distributors, signed a Soccer team with a world wide celebrity playing on it and now they are announcing China's granting of a direct-selling license.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF), a global nutrition direct-selling company, announced today that it has received its direct-selling license from China's Ministry of Commerce.
The license permits Herbalife to conduct a direct selling business in Suzhou and Nanjing in the Jiangsu province. Over six million people live in Suzhou, the fifth largest Chinese city based upon GDP, and approximately eight million people live in Nanjing, which is the second largest commercial center in East China after Shanghai.
Herbalife currently operates 42 stores and 17 service centers in 25 provinces in China. The company operates a unique direct-selling model in China in accordance with local regulations. Independent distributors who are employed by the company conduct their business in retail locations owned by Herbalife. Consumers and other distributors come into the store to buy product and learn more about the business opportunity. Now that a license has been granted, Distributors will be allowed to conduct business outside of the store in the particular province and cities named in the direct selling license.
Thanks to a reader for sending this in. Herbalife follows Xango in sponsoring a MLS team. This should be pretty good press for Herbalife considering David Beckham's celebrity status.
Calif, March 25: David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates will promote a nutritional products manufacturer in his first MLS season.
AEG, operators of the Galaxy, announced the signing of a five-year, multimillion sponsorship contract with Herbalife Ltd. on Friday, giving the direct-sales company the right to showcase its brand name across the front of the team jersey.
The agreement first was reported Thursday night in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal, which said the deal would pay the Galaxy between $3.5 million and $5 million a year through 2011.
MLS became the first American professional league to sell its jersey front last fall, and the Galaxy is the second team to do so. Real Salt Lake was the first, agreeing to a four-year deal with the Utah-based supplement juice company XanGo in November. Such sponsorship is common in Europe.
I applaud the effort it takes to put out a continous stream of press releases, but sometimes the Quixtar PR engine makes me laugh...
“Our members, Quixtar Independent Business Owners (IBOs), have what you need to get all the daily benefits of fruits and vegetables,” says Don Wilson, of the Independent Business Owners Association International (IBOAI).
I am pretty sure that Mr. Wilson is talking about Nutrilite supplements, but I wonder if it took great effort for Wilson not to mention the upline voicemail system when talking about the daily benefits IBOs get from fruits and vegetables.
Sorry for the lapse in MLM Blog YouTube Videos. Here is part 3 of How To Get Free MLM Leads:
I guess I should really say that the once thriving MLM Survivors Yahoo group has dwindled down to less than 20 posts a week. I bet that the site once had 20 posts an hour or more.
I suspect that the heavy handed (cult-like) moderation by the anti-MLM site owners killed the traffic because Network Marketing as a business has never been more popular and I doubt that everyone in the world is having a positive experience with the industry.
R.I.P. MLM Survivor
Reprinted with permission from Michael Oliver, Natural Selling® Sales Training http://www.naturalselling.com):
One of the many differences between Natural Selling and "selling" the conventional or the “Old Sales” way, is that Natural Selling approaches potential partners and customers with a different attitude and thinking.
This is especially true when qualifying someone.
Qualifying is simply confirming if someone is ready to take some sort of action. The action could simply be confirming that they are open to exploring changing their present circumstances. Or it could be confirming that they are ready to get started with you.
The benefit of qualifying is that you don't waste your time and someone else's if they are not ready to make a change.
I cover this subject in Chapter 12 of my book "How To Sell Network Marketing Without Fear, Anxiety or Losing Your Friends!" when I talk about Qualifying Questions and the Discovering Stage.
Now, here's the big point of difference when you adopt the "Natural Selling" approach to building your business.
Helping Them Qualify Themselves And You!
Continue reading "Natural Selling vs. The Traditional MLM Sales Pitch" »
The following is a comment from here at the MLM Blog. See if you can pick out the funnies...
Katie writes:
First of all I feel very sorry for all you people who spend your lives on here trying to find faults in a imperfect world. These sites are not credible, because the grammer is one thing. Secondly, there is no way to contact the creator...who so boldy bashes quixtar and wwdb. Get a life.
I saw this question posed at the MLM.com forums today and wanted to offer the MLM Blog readers my 2 cents.
Do You Need a Web Site to Build Network Marketing?
My answer is only if you want to be seen as a professional.
Think about it. You want to talk to someone about a billion dollar industry and the opportunity to make a big financial impact on their lives and they ask you what your web address is and you don't have one?
For crying out loud, get real. Even if you build your business 100% off line and face to face, people will still Google your company and maybe even your name. You want to be looked at as an expert in your industry? Well, you better consider what people find on Google when they search for your name.
Here is a snip from a recent article I wrote about branding called, "You're The Brand":
If you are out talking with potential business partners, sharing your products and promoting your business, you can pretty much count on the fact that people will be checking you out.
What does Google say about You, the brand? Go Google yourself now and see.
Nod to Get The Facts
Not only is MonaVie the newest Cajun food, but it is also now Amazon Viagra.....classic.
Well, the bottle sure is puurrrrddddddyyyy.
MonaVie, a premium health drink featuring the acai berry — touted as “the Viagra of the Amazon” — is claiming to be “the new Cajun food” taking Lafayette by storm. In a recent press release, MonaVie reps cite Lafayette as being the hub of “Cajun Heartland, USA” and that “great food, hospitality and fun are the staples of this culture.” The release quotes Dr. Chris Cormier, a local chiropractor and distributor of MonaVie, as saying Cajun food traditionally doesn’t include many fruits. “Adopting MonaVie into the tradition of Cajun cuisine in Lafayette, Louisiana, undoubtedly needed to happen,” he says. But don’t try ordering a round of this new Cajun delicacy the next time you’re eating crawfish at Dwight’s. MonaVie is only sold through private distributors for $45 a bottle. — NS
I just read an article about USANA where noted anti-mlm zealot, Robert Fitzpatrick had a couple of quotes:
According to Robert L. FitzPatrick, founder and president of Pyramid Scheme Alert: “To obscure their dismal numbers, some MLMs classify their distributors as "active" and "inactive." The Active group includes only recent participants and those still buying products or receiving rebates. Payout and retention statistics are then disclosed only on the "active" group.
Unknown, too, is how many of the Associates are—in actuality—Preferred Customers: in other words, what percent of goods purchased by the Associates are truly sold to ‘non-distributor’ customers? MLM are legal forms of business only under certain rigid conditions set forth by the FTC and state Attorneys General. Mr. FitzPatrick alleges, “
So Fitzpatrick thinks that MLM's obscure reality by using active associate numbers when releasing data. That would be like me saying that exercise doesn't help in weight loss because I joined a gym, never went back, but didn't lose any weight. Stupid.
A lot of people join Network Marketing companies and never do anything to build their business. They never talk to anyone and they never attempt to sell a product. The don't network and they don't market. They might be good people, but they are not representative of someone that really puts effort into building a profitable business, in fact the "active" statistics quoted by most companies are not representative either.
6abc:
If your wireless carrier isn't making money off the phone number you're calling it might just lock that number out of your system. AT&T Cingular has started blocking certain phone numbers that the company says are costing it millions of dollars in losses and consumer advocates say this is already creating a ripple effect.
Mary Lou Perry has been using a free conference call service to talk to her Mary Kay Cosmetics colleagues everyday. But six days ago, her wireless provider, Cingular, started blocking her from dialing into the conference call in number.
"I'm absolutely outraged, that they can ban specific numbers from our lines," Perry said.
I cleaned up a bit of a mess in the MLM Blog archives today. The archives by date and category should now be a lot easier to navigate.
There are over 1,000 posts in the archives and a couple of them are actually pretty good, you should check them out at the MLM Blog Archive Page.
OppSeekers.biz is operating a two tier leads affiliate program with the potential to pay you up to 65%! They are giving their members the option as to whether they would like to be compensated by receiving FREE LEADS or if they would like to cash-in the commissions that they've earned.Maybe you would like to always request free leads just so that you can give them to people in your downline that are building a team with you.Some of their lead packages include phone interviewed leads, real time leads, 4 question survey leads, 8 question survey leads, phone verified leads, Canadian only, Female only, and of course the autoresponder leads!They also run monthly lead promotions!Take a look and get started today... www.OppSeekers.biz
Exclsuive MLM Blog Rumor Mill:
I heard that fitness guru dude, Tony Little has purchased a stake in a small Network Marketing company and plans to offer his products in addition to helping develop other products with the current company owner.
The company, Go Go For Life is supposed to also undergo and name and branding change.
Go Go for life caught my eye in the past because they offer free enrollment and they have a product that appears to compete with Quixtar's XS Energy Drink and a single serving juice product that competes with Xango and MonaVie. I hadn't heard much about them since my last article, but this recent rumor (if true) will probably change that.
A class action lawsuit initially filed in New Mexico against nutritional supplement maker Mannatech Inc., has been moved to Dallas, the company said in a regulatory filing Friday.
The lawsuit accuses the Coppell-based company of violating U.S. securities law by "artificially inflating the value of our common stock by knowingly allowing independent contractors to recklessly misrepresent the efficacy of our products," the company said in the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The suit is a combination of three cases originally filed in 2005.
At Mannatech's request, the case was moved to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas.
"It makes more sense for the purposes of judicial economy for it to be" closer to the company's home base, said an attorney familiar with the case who asked not to be named.
I'm not suggesting that USANA is 100% in the right here, but someone needs to inquire about the felon (Barry Minkow) who shorted the USANA stock before releasing his "investigation".
Pink Truth web site owner, Tracy Coenen also participated in the "investigation".
Usana Health Sciences (USNA - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating) saw its shares fall a day after it said the Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an informal inquiry in to the company.
The seller of vitamins and supplements has been under fire for several days, and lately its stock was dropping 3.4% to $47.43. Trading volume was more than double the normal level.
The drama began last week when Barry Minkow, who served prison time in the 1990s for stock fraud but who now investigates companies for what he sees as questionable business practices, released a report critical of Usana.
Usana said in a statement Monday that it believes the SEC probe is a result of the assertions that have appeared about it in the media. Minkow has contended that the company's model for selling its products can't last because it requires new associates to constantly be coming on board.
Are you wondering what the $19.25 Amway IBO Million Lawsuit is all about?
MLM Blog gives you the full meal deal.
Amway/Quixtar IBO, Randy Haugen, says the following about P & G via the Amvox voice mail system (source):
I wanna run something by you real quick that I think you will find pretty interesting. Just talking to a guy the other night about this very subject and it just so happens that a guy brings information in and lays it on my desk this morning, so here it goes.
It says the president of Procter & Gamble appeared on the Phil Donahue Show on March 1, '95. He announced that due to the openness of our society, he was coming out of the closet about his association with the church of satan. He stated that a large portion of the profits from [P&G] products go to support his satanic church. When asked by Donahue if stating this on television would hurt his business, his reply was, "There are not enough Christians in the United States to make a difference." And below it has a list of the [P&G] products which I'll read: [the subject message then lists 43 P&G products].
It says if you are not sure about a product, look for the symbol of the ram's horn that will appear on each product beginning in April. The ram's horn will form the 666 which is known as satan's number. I'll tell you it really makes you count your blessings to have available to all of us a business that allows us to buy all the products that we want from our own shelf and I guess my real question is, if people aren't being loyal to themselves and buying from their own business, then whose business are they supporting and who are they buying from. Love you. Talk to you later. Bye."
Here is the latest news about the lawsuit (via Deseret News):
Continue reading "Randy Haugen, Amway, Quixtar, Proctor & Gamble and Satan" »
Here (via Google cache) is the response (now gone) from the Randy Haugen News blog:
Randy Haugen is a person of proven character and integrity. When a P&G rumor was accidentally decimated by Mr. Haugen, he made every effort to retract it. We believe that it is a continuing outrage that Mr. Haugen and the other Quixtar IBOs in the case have been targeted by one of the world's largest corporations.
A Salt Lake City court returned a verdict against Randy Haugen and several others in the long-running P&G case. The jury awarded P&G damages of $19.25 million. That’s a far cry from the $5 billion P&G had demanded, and frankly leaves them with very little to show for a wasteful and spiteful decade of mean-spirited litigation.
But that doesn’t make the verdict any more acceptable for the Quixtar IBO defendants in this case. We’d like to think that, had the jury been allowed to see some of the evidence that was withheld from them by the court, they would have voted differently. Perhaps, if there is an appeal, they will.
But at the same time, we also remain respectful of the decision, the jury and the judicial system, even when we are extremely disappointed in the fairness of a particular outcome.
I have been offering free blogs to Network Marketers at the MLM Blog Network for over a year now and many people have seen great results from consistant blogging about their Network Marketing company.
However, one of the biggest bottlenecks with the network was my ability to set up requested blogs in a timely manner (if at all in some cases).
That said, I am pleased to announce the launch of MLMVox Beta. MLMVox is really the MLM Blog Network 2.0 with a snazzy new name and location.
Here is what's cool about the free blogs at MLMVox:
We are working on some other great stuff that will help drive lots of traffic to your MLMVox blogs like an RSS feed of Network Marketing company news and a special page that shows the most recently updated blogs, most active blogs (comments and posts) and lots more.
The most active blogs at MLMVox will also get free press at the most read Network Marketing blogs on the net, including here at the MLM Blog, MultiLeveler and the MLM Business Opportunities Weblog.
Let me know what you think, but please be nice, we are still in Beta.
I reported back on March 5th that John Crowe may be leaving Bill Britt's Britt World Wide (BWW) and now it looks like the rumors are true.
According to a comment at Get The Facts - The Truth About Quixtar, the following names (all downline from John Crowe) have now been removed from the BWW web site:
- Jack and Magee Spencer,EDC
- Chris and Judy Cherest,Diamond
- Wayne and Suzanne Callender,EDC
- Orett and Christine Channer,Diamond
- Orlando and Deborah McKenzie,Diamond
- Judith Scott,Diamond
- Danny and Petrona Thompson,Diamond
- Rod Loney,Diamond
- Rob and Nerland Robinson,Diamond
- Ron and Robin Erwin,Diamond
- Bobby and Priscilla Harris,Diamond
- GW and Edna King,Diamond
- Dave and Kristin Dussualt,Diamond
No word yet on whether Crowe is joining Larry Winters' LTD, Rex Renrow's recent breakaway or if Crowe will venture out on his own.
The burning question is whether or not Bill Britt's BWW will survive without the leadershop and numbers from Renfrow, Crowe and Winters.
St. Patrick’s Day Special
You won’t need the luck of the Irish to take advantage of this incredible offer. Check it out!
To help you get an early jump on your St. Patrick’s Day festivities this weekend, we’ve located a ‘pot of gold’ for your home-based business – but don’t worry, you won’t have to search for the end of rainbow to find it – we’ll deliver it right to you!
Click Here to see the newly redesigned MLM Lead Network Site and our 25% more in free leads special.The following is a Market Wave Alert from Len Clements:
The Wall Street Journal today published a summary of an 86 page report by the Fraud Discovery Institute (FDI) which alleges that the public company Usana Health Sciences (NASDAQ:USNA) is guilty of “multiple alleged misrepresentations, material non-disclosure and an untenable business model.”
The FDI is directed by Barry Minkow, who spent almost eight years in prison after being convicted on 57 counts of fraud and conspiracy in the 1980s. He now assists the SEC in uncovering securities fraud.
Continue reading "Len Clements on the Wall Street Journal Usana Article" »
A convicted felon opens a "fraud investigation institute" and Tracy Cohen, Pink Truth web site director falls all over herself to help him "prove" his points about MLM.
So let me make sure I have this right, a convicted felon is telling me that I can not make a sustainable living with the Network Marketing business model.
Ooooookie Doke. You go Pink Truth Girl.
Update: I just learned that the felon behind the fraud investigation had invested in "option puts" on Usana stock prior to releasing the report. A "put" is like a bet that Usana stock will go down.
I would also be curious to know how much Tracy Cohen was paid for her part of this "investigation" and/or if she owns any Usana stock options.
Here is my deal with the readers of the MLM Blog...
When a company or group does something stupid, I write about it and when a company or group does something great, I write about it.
That said...
The new Quixtar Opportunity Zone featuring Jim Payne's Adatudes, Robin Luymes' The Real Quixtar Blog and Beth Dornan's Inside Quixtar Blog is not only putting out real ideas and information, but the writers are actually responding to comments (like real bloggers).
So far, it's great.
This might be the first time that there is an open dialogue between the little guy (everyday IBO) and the highest level of the company. In fact, the highest level at Quixtar (Jim Payne) is actually asking for your input.
I would like to hear your thoughts/ideas on any or all of the following themes:
1. How do we become more conusmer-driven in our marketing approach (products consumers want to buy, IBOs want to sell )?
2. Ideas to enhance selling, recruiting and/or retention?
3. Ideas to improve IBO productivity?
4. Changes to our sales plan that assist in more profitability for a new IBO?
5. New approaches to training or education that the company can help lead or align with IBOs?
6. Areas where you see a need for the company to invest further to enhance our reputation and insure greater transparency in the market?
Please do not feel limited or constrained to only the above. If you have other thoughts on innovation, please feel free to address them. I am excited about hearing what creative, constructive ideas you all have to help us with becoming more innovative and building on this GREAT business opportunity.
When Network Marketers bow down to Amway for "paving the way", they should also consider the road spikes that the company and it's IBO leaders left...
...Amway employed their infamous "Curiosity approach" where reps were instructed NOT to say the "A" word until 2/3 of the way into their 45 minute presentation either. There's nothing authentic, intelligent, sensible and credible about that. That Amway marketing ruse has been single-handedly responsible for more negative thoughts and feelings about network marketing than any of the other stupid things we've done in the past 60 years. And The Network Marketing Magazine is continuing the manipulative tradition.
The United States Cosmetic, Fragrance, and Toiletry Association last year called China its "largest future growth market," and companies like Avon Products Inc., Mary Kay Inc., L'Oreal SA, and Procter & Gamble Co. are all fighting for a share.
Zhang, the publisher, estimates there are about 1 million plastic surgeries a year in China. In the United States, with less than a quarter of China's population of 1.3 billion, twice as many operations were performed in 2005.
Gold Coast excited about Amway big wigs..."Amway China segment of countries is the biggest in the Amway system, bigger than the US as well,..."
The largest single group of visitors to Queensland's Gold Coast has arrived for a sales conference.
Six-thousand Chinese visitors will stay for 10 days in the tourist capital.
The chief executive of Gold Coast Tourism, Pavan Bhatia, estimates the group will spend between $12-$15 million.
"The extra being how much they shop. Look, these guys are very high performing individuals from Amway China and [the] Amway China segment of countries is the biggest in the Amway system, bigger than the US as well," he said.
Seth Godin writes:
My best advice: Fire half your salesforce. Then, give the remainder, the top people, a big raise, and use the money left over to steal the best salespeole you can find from other industries or even from your competition. You'll end up with fewer salespeople. But all of them will be great.
And the good guys? Have them go work for the competition.
As a Network Marketer, you can't (and shouldn't) fire half your salesforce, but you can surely devote more time to working with and recruiting great people. Those that want to get their products at wholesale and find a customer or associate now and then, don't need (or deserve) as much time as your superstars.
Quixtar has launched a new site with an RSS feed of it's press releases.
Check it out here.
See the latest leads special at the MLM Lead Network.
Using leads can be a great way to build your network marketing business. If you know the right way to call leads, that is.
To help you get the best results from calling leads, I've made available a free special report. The report is an extract from the transcripts of my "Calling Leads" CD program and guides you through a role play that illustrates what to say and do as a network marketer when you call people.
To download this special report just click here..
Here is Vol. 2 of 'How To Get Free MLM Leads + Traffic Secrets!'
Direct selling of products such as cosmetics and cookware may not be the easy path to riches. But the flexible hours have made this the work of choice for some 14.1 million Americans, most of them women.
Though there are those who earn six-figure incomes from selling person-to-person or through the home parties that characterize this business, that is more the exception than the rule. More typical of the $30.5 billion industry, which includes names such as Avon, Tupperware, Amway and the Pampered Chef, is part-time or occasional involvement in distributing the products to friends, family and acquaintances. For many, ...
The Principle of Connecting: Most of us want to know how to connect better with others in relationships of every kind, including business relationships. We often feel the desire to connect, but sadly realize that our attempts have not truly been successful. However, we can all experience consistently satisfying connections when we understand the hidden dynamics by which they are ruled.
Connecting occurs when one is simultaneously intra-connected and inter-connected. Intra-connection is the connection of one to oneself. Inter-connection is the connection of with others. These must occur at the same time, although the intra-connection is the foundation of inter-connection, and must be cultivated in order for connection to really take place.
Imagine that our attempts to connect with others are like an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg represents what we say. The foundation of the iceberg, the base that holds the tip above the surface of the ocean, is how we feel when we say what we say. The feeling beneath the words provides an emotional current that gets infused within the words as they are spoken. The reason why we feel as we do is the point of origin of the feeling that becomes infused into our attempt to connect.
NEW YORK, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products, Inc. today announced it has signed Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson to be the exclusive spokesperson for the Imari fragrance brand, including the newest scent, Imari Seduction. The classic Imari scent has been Avon's best selling fragrance since it launched 20 years ago. Imari Seduction will go on sale in August 2007 in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Hudson, who recently won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her show-stopping performance in "Dreamgirls", will serve as the face of Imari under the new agreement. She will make her first Avon appearance at the unprecedented Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow, presented by the Virtue Foundation in partnership with Avon, happening today at the United Nations in New York City. Held on the eve of International Women's Day, the event will spotlight women's rights issues worldwide, and will mark the creation of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund to benefit women worldwide who are making a difference in their communities.
The rollout of the new Imari Seduction will be supported by a national print advertising campaign in the United States. Hudson will also appear in the company's brochure for both the classic Imari scent and the new Imari Seduction, which is distributed through Avon Representatives to over 15 million customers bi-weekly.
"We are thrilled to partner with Jennifer Hudson at this very exciting time in her career," said Liz Smith, Executive Vice President, President North America and Global Marketing. "Avon is a company dedicated to empowering women, and we believe that our Avon Representatives and their customers will be truly inspired by Jennifer's dream-come-true success story."
"This is an honor for me and very flattering," said Hudson. "With the success of 'Dreamgirls' and now an Oscar, it's been an incredible few months. And now, to partner with Avon is really a dream come true for me. It's exciting to be representing the Imari brand, which really embodies confidence and femininity."
Imari Seduction, a Fruity Oriental, is a blend of luscious plum and purple orchid with tantalizing hints of warm vanilla, amber and musk. It will be offered by Avon's 650,000 Representatives in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as well as through the company's web site, avon.com.
About Avon
Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with over $8 billion in annual revenue. As the world's largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in well over 100 countries through over five million independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon's product line includes beauty products, fashion jewelry and apparel, and features such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Avon Solutions, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, Mark, and Avon Wellness. Learn more about Avon and its products at http://www.avon.com/.
Website: http://www.avon.com/
Below is a portion of a recent Xango Press Release talking about the Mangosteen category of products. Xango talks about how their product is different because it's pureed and includes the rind and blah, blah, blah. No one cares. Xango brought two great things to the Network Marketing industry.
Xango innovated and kicked butt in the industry, but now Xango is trying to hold their market share by claiming that the product is unique.
Newsflash: Your product is not unique once a copy cat hits Costco. It's probably time to rethink the first to market junk and innovate again.
sys-con:
Consumer awareness of the mangosteen is steadily growing. An independent market survey**, conducted in October 2006, showed that 6.2 percent of U.S. consumers are now aware of the mangosteen, and some 5.3 percent have heard of XanGo® Juice. The introduction of pop star Hilary Duff's new fragrance, With Love, in September 2006, is another indication of the mangosteen going mainstream and gaining recognition in pop culture. Promoters of the fragrance exclaim that its "top notes" are of mangosteen fruit and spices, while the scent's "heart" also features the mangosteen blossom.
While consumer awareness increased, so has the race to manufacture and distribute products to capitalize on the growing popularity of the mangosteen. As the category creator, XanGo Juice is the only product that purees the whole fresh mangosteen -- pulp and rind -- into its proprietary formula. Other products use powders, extracts or select parts from the mangosteen but still purport to deliver the "whole fruit." This claim can be misleading to consumers who are interested in the benefits of all the phytonutrients included in the mangosteen.
Yesterday, we posted the first of our regular series of MLM Videos found on YouTube. Yesterday's video was an intro to "How To Get Free MLM Leads" and today's video is volume one in the series of the same name:
I am about to give about $5,000 worth of consulting to Quixtar for free.
Here ya go kids...(and Mr. Payne)
Stop addressing the "Quixtar Cult" in your materials, instead do something about the issues that cause people to think of Quixtar as a cult.
Addressing this cult issue is so weird! Anyone in their right mind would look at the "Cult Allegations" video on the new facts page and think "why would I want to be involved with a company that feels the need to explain why they aren't a cult".
