Top Network Marketing Companies - Evaluate with 7 Standards

Seems like everyone will tell you that, of all the top network marketing companies, theirs is the absolute "best." This next sentence is positively scandalous among some mlm crowds, so read it carefully.

THERE IS NO BEST, NO PERFECT, NO TOP NETWORK MARKETING COMPANY.

That's all part of the hype top network marketing companies throw off as part of marketing. It's not a sinister thing, though. The people who own the mlm company probably believe they are the "best." It's good to be excited about the business you own or represent. Marketing requires a certain enthusiasm and exaggeration in order to be heard among the ceaseless noise of advertising out there.

But you know that the determination of "best" is subjective. Your "best" may not be your neighbor's best. It's like fast food hamburgers: Grandpa likes Wendy's. You like BK. Your child likes McDs. It's subjective because all three of you could argue that your burger was the "best" and be telling the truth.

In order to choose among the top network marketing companies, you will have to discover which one most closely meets your subjective standards.

You want it to be easy. You want an ordered list ranking the top network marketing companies from best to worst. There are lists like that circulating out there, but I've found them to be grossly biased. Better to make your own or you end up with someone else's favorite hamburger.

Use the following seven standards to filter the information you gather as you research top network marketing companies. Adjust them as needed to more closely reflect your personal concerns. Consider them a tool in your research process.

1. Legitimacy
2. Product Access
3. Nature of Product
4. Compensation Plan
5. Distributor Autonomy
6. Ease of Use
7. Personal Passion

Begin your research with this question: Is this top network marketing company a scam or legit?

You can run a quick Legitimacy Test with these 3 simple questions:

1. How long has the company been in business?
2. Is there are real product or service to sell?
3. How much scam language appears in their advertising?

If you choose a brand new mlm company, be aware that the majority of mlm start ups fail within the first two years. It's no guarantee, but it's a rule of thumb. And watch name changes carefully - did the company close under one name and reopen to avoid financial snarls? It's something to be aware of as you research.

Be leary of any top network marketing companies that have no real product or service to sell. Are you buying and selling a "list" or "access"? That's fishy! It sounds more like a gifting program or pure pyramid scheme. The DSA standard is 80% of a top network marketing companies' sales should be product or service. While most companies don't meet that standard, you should keep it in mind.

Scam language you will recognize when you see it. Outrageous claims and undiluted hype kind of speak for themselves. If it's "easy," "effortless," or "completely free" it's probably a scam. If "anyone can do it," then everyone would. If all you have to do is "click here" and they "build a downline for you," that's just ridiculous. Don't want to call people bold-faced liars, but...

You won't see this criteria on many lists out there, but it's absolutely vital. The highest volume top network marketing companies FAIL by this standard. You know them when you see them: Tupperware and Avon.

There's just one question to ask:

• How can interested consumers get access to the product?

And there needs to be only one answer:

• Only through you, the distributor for the top network marketing companies.

If you can answer the question with ANY other answer, then move on. If people who are interested in the product can go to a mall kiosk, an online order page, or a shelf at the discount store to get product without going through you then THEY WILL. Customers don't maliciously intend to cut you out as the middleman, but the top network marketing companies who offer these retail sales DO CUT YOU OUT of the profit.

And you are looking for top network marketing companies, not top retail companies.

Would you want to be in the Pet Rock business today?

Probably not. But there was a time when...wooo, Boy!

As you look at top network marketing companies, be sure the product or service isn't a JUST a Pet Rock. Sure, there's money to be made in a fad, but you want a long term, residual business. So you need a products that is:

• Consumable
• Not readily available in stores
• A market trend, not a market fad

If a product or service isn't consumable, your customers - who you will work hard to find and woo and build a relationship with - will buy from you one time and be done. If you sell someone a 100-year roof, then you won't be installing another, right? Same thing here. Make sure the top network marketing companies have goods or services that people need and use and then need again.

Or else that one time purchase is worth all your hard work!

Beware of product that a consumer can buy at any grocery or health food store. It's not impossible to sell those things, but it gets harder as retailers flood the market with cheaper versions of the mlm product. Convincing consumers that the top network marketing companies' product is SPECIAL becomes more of a challenge.

Market trends can be hard to tell apart from market fads. This is some higher level marketing stuff now, but consider the diet industry, for instance. Fifteen years ago everyone was drinking cabbage soup. Ten years ago, everyone was counting carbs. Five years ago everyone was counting fat grams. Then everyone was eating just meat and fat. These are fads - powerful, money-making fads, no doubt! - but it's better to be in a trend. A trend is more sustainable for your business. Look for social changes underlying market demand (e.g., increasing elderly population and increasing demand for wrinkle cream).

The compensation plans for some top network marketing companies is so complex it may be hard for you to even understand it. There's an entire language of jargon you'll have to learn as you research. It will give you a headache, guaranteed.

Here's the key point: Consider the compensation plan and the personal consumption requirements (if applicable) of each of the top network marketing companies.

• Is it possible to realize any profit if you start mlm part time?
• How quickly can a distributor expect to get into profitability?

This is important. Not just because you may be starting mlm part time. But because over 90% of people who start mlm businesses start part time. So, as you build a downline, you want to be certain that your recruits will be able to see a profit quickly enough to maintain their motivation.

It's hard to stay enthusiastic about any of the top network marketing companies if you are bleeding cash.

Every one of the top network marketing companies have rules and regulations. They have to have a way to protect themselves from unscrupulous distributors and the customers those distributors defraud. So, as you research, you should expect to see a lengthy, fine print contract that distributors must sign.

It describes what a distributor can and cannot do. It describes the consequences of breaking rules and regulations. It protects the copyrights and brand names of the top network marketing companies.

That's good stuff. You should plan to obey the rules of your mlm company to the letter once you sign up as a distributor.

BUT.

Watch out for top network marketing companies who, when you examine their rules and regulations, seem to want to control you like an EMPLOYEE.

• Can they take away your distributor status without reason?
• Can they re-assign your downline to another distributor at will?
• Can they change your compensation plan to a less lucrative one when they feel like it?

Some top network marketing companies use the words "distributor" and "independent business owner," but they don't want you to have real autonomy. You need to have some freedom to build a business your way.

Make sure the rules and regulations of the top network marketing companies leave room for that freedom.

This is a mundane little detail that will make your business life miserable if you overlook it in your research of top network marketing companies.

How friendly is the company? Ask:

• How easy is the company's website to use?
• Can you order and ship product to customers without hassle?
• Is there a reliable autoship program?
• Can you sign up new distributors in a snap?
• If you must call, do the company phone reps help distributors?
• If your customers call, do the company phone reps assist you in retention or shoot you in the foot?

Do some test runs for friendliness with the top network marketing companies.  Make some calls.  Send some emails.  Note how long response times are.  How long did you wait on hold?  How curteous were the reps?  Was it a painful process to get to a live human being that speaks your language? 

It seems unimportant now, but in a year you'll be glad you did it.

Although this is the last standard on the list for evaluating top network marketing companies, it's pretty important.

If you are going to sell product/services - and you should since the DSA says 80% of your income should be generated by sales - you better like what you sell!

You will have to:

• Learn all about the product/service features and benefits
• Explain those features and benefits persuasively to your customers
• Constantly explore how the product meets needs and solves problems for your audience
• Write and speak with sincere enthusiasm about the product/service

Basically, you will BREATHE, EAT, and SLEEP your product/service. So do yourself a favor, and pick something that interests you. No joke. Find the top network marketing companies that are selling something you CARE about, if at all possible. This will take the drudgery out of your work and keep you coming back for more.

Maybe you are feeling a little overwhelmed.

There's a lot to consider when your start mlm business. Overwhelm is part of the process and perfectly natural, Things actually get a little easier once you've made a decision about which of the top network marketing companies you want to join. It will give you a direction to focus on and a whole host of new tasks to accomplish.

Doing is easier than overthinking.

That's a big danger, really. It's tempting to just leap in and pick carelessly. It's hard to get to good, objective information while people are trying to sell you on their top network marketing companies. But you will be more satisfied with your decision if you take time to do this research.

Here's my advice. Set a time limit on your research - say 6 weeks. Pick five top network marketing companies that have a product that is interesting to you. Use the 7 standards to explore the top network marketing companies you've selected.

At the end of six weeks, STOP researching. Look at what you've discovered. I'm confident one of those top network marketing companies will stand out to you.

That's it. Commit and make your mlm home business work.

When you feel discouraged, you can call me - I'm Christine Sheridan. I guarantee I won't try to sell you any mlm network marketing opportunity. My particular enthusiasm is to guide people starting network marketing as they learn to use the Internet for marketing their mlm. I'm interested in your top network marketing companies research and the future of your business.