Followup To Amway Review
I’ve just spent the last several minutes on YouTube watching Amway commercials. I was pretty blown away.
There were commericals featuring Sandra Bullock endorsing their Artistry makeup line, Kurt Warner, Kara Goucher, and Miss American talking about their 2GO Twist Tubes, and their regular ones talking about their business, and positivity for what they are as a company.
I have to admit, it is very good for the MLM industry as a whole when one company is taking the lead and building and/or rebuilding the positive image that network marketing actually has. I mean let’s face it, in many circles MLM has gotten a black eye due to outrageous claims and some distributors out of control.
But, for those of us who know better, we know that MLM companies:
- Generally offer a superior product to what you can find on the store shelves. More time, care, and money has gone into the the research and development and manufacturing of the product, rather than into the packaging and marketing of the product like traditional products. This is especially true in the nutrition and beauty sector.
- This is still the best alternative for the average person to make a solid part time or full time income in their own business.
- It is one of the best ways to learn to live successfully in all areas of life. Network marketing is a success, self-improvement industry with a business opportunity attached to it.
Now, watch two or three of the videos below. Even if you’re not in Amway, as I am not, you have to like what they’re doing.
An Amway – Quixtar Review
Wow… what can you say about Amway. They are #3 on our list of the Top 20 MLM Companies. They are there for good reason. If there is one company that has been there through it all… it is Amway. Let’s take a look at why you would or would not want to join Amway as a business to work from home.
Amway is probably the oldest network marketing company that is still in existence. Started in 1959, they have now celebrated their 50th year in business and still going. 95% of MLM companies cannot even get to their 2nd year in business, let alone their 5th, 10th, or 50th. That is saying something about the greatness of Amway.
Forty years later, opening into the world of ecommerce and the internet, Amway launched Quixtar. They are essentially one and the same, although some purists would want to keep them separate. But, for the sake of understanding and simplicity, we will refer to them as the same company, under the umbrella name, Amway.
Amway is also one of the most diverse companies around the globe. There are very few countries where they do not exist. You can build from country to country to country.
There really isn’t a product that Amway does not sell. They probably have the widest range of products of any network marketing company. Their primary staple is their line of nutrition products called Nutrilite. If you have watched television at all over the last couple of years, you have seen Amway working hard to build their reputation and brand name. They have been promoting the Nutrilite line quite well, in my opinion. They also have a nice group of celebrity and athlete endorsements, not least of which is quarterback, Kurt Warner.
In addition, there are beauty, skin care, home products, soaps, food, beverages, clothing, water purifiers, cookware, jewelry, and other products. However, with all those products, the primary line is their nutritional line. While not being able to look on the inside of Amyway’s compensation plan, I am sure that the best payout exists when you purchase their nutritionals and vitamins. For example, you would earn a larger commision when $100 worth of Nutrilite products are purchased, as opposed to $100 in cookware. The margin for commssion is going to be greater.
Amway’s compensation plan is certainly not among the more progressive, binary, wave-4, spillover, or any other type of plan. It is one of the original plans that hasn’t changed much. It is deep, and it is wide, however. There are a lot of ways to make money as a distributer, or IBO (independent business owner). While their plan may be older, it has withstood the test of time, and has paid out more money than any other company… billions and billions of dollars. If your goal is to “build” a business, recruit, and stick with the company long term, their comp plan may be your answer. If you’re looking for a quick buck and all the money up front, you’re not going to find it here.
Amway’s IBO’s are among the most loyal in the industry. I have known people who have been with Amway for well over 20 years, and they’re almost as passionate today as they were when they joined. That, to me, speaks volumes. I speak with people all the time in some kind of cash gifting program or new start up, and they don’t give a rip at all for their company. They are just chasing dollars. Amway takes care of their IBO’s and promotes a fun, loyal, and friendly atmosphere for their people.
Recruiting with Amway/Quixtar is not going to be very progressive either. If you are a major internet person who loves to build his business online, email marketing, heavy social media, etc., you may want to keep on looking, or develop a back-door means of building your business. Amway has strict policies on how you can build your business, how you promote, how you contact, and the reputation that you keep as a representative of their company. While some may snub them for this, again, they have been through it all, and they know what works, what doesn’t, and what keep the attorney general away 
So… here is the BIG question – is there still an opportunity for a new person to come in and make good money, part time or full time income, with Amway? I believe the answer is yes. While the wave of the “ground floor opportunity” has long past (probably past before you were born), there is a new wave of people turning to Amway. Let me give you the #1 reason – TRUST. People are moving away from the companies they don’t trust to those that they do. I truly beleive this. This is one of the very few companies, and I mean very few, that will be around for your kids, and your grandkids.
While I am not a part of any network marketing company, and I say this with sincerity, Amway would be one of the few companies I would consider joining. I like where they’re heading and I notice the wave of people coming to them as the average person becomes more selective with who or what they invest in.
Like I have said in other reviews, you can also go to Google and just type in “Amway” or “Quixtar.” There are some good results that come up. But, as I always say, stay away from all of those sites that talk about scam or “is it legit” type sites. Those are worthless sites!! I can guarantee you this – the guy who put those scam sites together can’t even find two quarters to rub together. I’ll never understand why people so easily take advice from someone whose life is more screwed up than theirs. Do your own research and don’t get caught in the trap of the gossip sites.
Do I endorse Amway? Yes. Two full thumbs up. Absolutely.
What’s Your Business Perspective?
It has become such a cliche’ with people saying “The Internet is changing the world,” or “Technology is always changing.” We hear these cliche’s and we ignore them or no longer hear them. I know I have.
But, one day you wake up and realize that there is some truth to this. BUT, the truth is not what people are actually telling you.
When someone says things are changing, they don’t really see the change… they just see the results of the change… and by then it’s too late. I don’t mean to get too philosophical here, so let me explain.
At dinner tonight I was telling my family that 7 years ago today I walked away from my full time job and began working from home full time. That’s a fine feat in itself. I’m proud, humbled, and as focused as ever to be making money online in 2011.
But, if I was still doing what I had been doing in August 2004 with my work online, I would be out of business and back turning in resumes to perspective employers. Consider this. When I quit my job in 2004 (I had been working online before that, but it took a bit to build up to full time), there was no:
- YouTube
- MySpace
- WordPress
- Social Media
- Squidoo
- RSS Feeds
- Smartphones, iPhones, apps, etc.
- You get the idea.
Now, with the exception of MySpace, those things are today’s dominant factor. The Internet is almost 100% different. The top 100 websites according to Alexa.com are almost completely different than they were 7 years ago.
The Internet has changed and it is being used in ways that most of us never could have dreamed of.
BUT…
And here’s the big BUT!!
Many of us, and any affiliate, MLM, Network Marketing, or personal business we run is so out of touch with how people are using the Internet today, we are in danger of being out of business, irrelevant, and worthless.
And worse than that, our competition, other networkers, and anyone or any company out there that has the potential to take a customer away from us has people who are focused on being relevant to how people use, access, and interact with each other online or through apps.
Not only are we irrelevant, but our competition is beating the pants off us because they are relevant.
So, what are you gonna do?
You have three choices:
- Quit
- Die slowly over the next 6-12 months until you become completely irrelevant
- Adapt, change, and thrive
I have been pondering this whole topic for about 9 months now, maybe longer. And as they say, when the student is ready, the teacher arrives.
Ryan Deiss and his staff at Digital Marketer are the teachers. Digital Marketer is a research, marketing, and testing company based out of Texas. I’ve followed Ryan Deiss for a couple of years, and while I’ve watched him, his company has made millions upon millions of dollars because they are adapting, changing, thriving, and being relevant.
Digital Marketer is a membership that I am now a part of, and is open to other business owners and online marketers who rely upon the internet for the growth of their business.
I had been seeing myself as the #2 choice for too long. I saw myself slipping into irrelevancy and dying that slow death.
This is not some big pitch to get people to join a business, do some MLM thing, or anything. This is not a business opportunity. Rather than me explain it all, if you click on the link below you can watch a 10 minute video about what Digital Marketer is and how it might be the right thing for your business.
Home Business Directory Ideas
There are lots of ideas when it comes to making money from home. It is not just MLM or network marketing. Anything you can do from your home or base out of your home to make money is a home business. So, what are some ideas or ways of making money?
1) The obvious by the name in our domain and other places on this site is to start a network marketing business. They are relatively inexpensive to start, almost all of the work has been done for you. You just need to promote it. And, that right there is where disaster strikes. If you cannot promote, then stay away from network marketing. Your job is going to be working with people, selling them on your ideas, educating and nurturing them, and assisting them in building their business. It is a recruitment business. If you cannot recruit and work with people… fine… but don’t do network marketing. If you can or think you can, then check out our list of top 20 companies. There’s going to be a good one in there to start with.
2) Landscaping – If I was on the brink of losing it all, I might do this. You need money for a lawn mower, weedeater, blower, and need some kind of vehicle to carry it all around in. It wouldn’t help to have one or two partners to help you do 3-4 times as much work than you could ever do by yourself. Landscaping is not bad money. It’s not too difficult to knock out $200 per day. I know a couple guys in the Dallas, Texas area who have grown their business to 3-4 crews knocking out close to $1500 per day.
3) Affiliate businesses - This basically means you have an internet presence of some kind where you sell other people’s products or sell advertising space and earn a commission from that. This is a crowded market, but it is only crowded at the bottom. The better you get and the higher you rise, the less crowded it gets and the easier it is to make money. This is probably one of the #1 arenas for the wealthiest people in the home business industry. Some of these people dwarf the incomes of MLM or other type businesses.
4) Real estate – This can be a tough market to enter and understand, but with the right teacher, mentor, or education, this is probably the best way to make money out of your house that will bridge generation after generation. Real estate is probably the most stable of all forms of income. It requires a bit more money than the others, or, at least access to money, but in my opinion, this is the best route of all.
5) Home business magazine – The next time you’re at Barnes and Noble, pick up one of those $4 magazines on Home Business ideas. They are usually loaded with ideas about starting a small franchise, the cash flow (factoring) business, baskets, photography, organizing, vending, concrete, remodeling, etc. There are so many different ideas you can hook up with. These types of magazines can get your mind thinking about ideas you had not thought of before.
All of these areas are ideas you can use to get started. It will require some research on your part, a financial investment (nothing, absolutely nothing is free – get that out of your mind now), and some action. There is big bucks to be made in working from home. I’ve been doing it full time since 2003.
An Herbalife Review
Herbalife is one of those companies that has been around a long time and has had quite a bit of public exposure, thanks to the LA Galaxy and David Beckham. If you review our list of the top 20 MLM Companies, you will find this company sitting at #2. There are many reasons for that, and even if you read no further than this paragraph, being #2 means it is a highly recommended company.
Founded in 1980 (I was a freshman in high school), Herbalife recently celebrated it’s 30th year in business. That’s a long time, yet the company keeps pushing forward. They are in at least 75 countries and do well over $2.5 billion in annual sales (that’s billion with a “b”). That is a lot of nutritional products being shipped out around the world!
Products
Their flagship product is in the Weight Loss category, Formula 1. They have several other supplements that revolve around or support Formula 1. As the years have gone on, they have added some personal care products (for skin and health), several different categories of other nutritional products for overall health, and some energy and fitness products. However, when you visit their website you will still see that most of it is around Weight Management. And why not… they may be the #1 leader in this category among all network marketing companies.
One of the positive aspects of their products is there are no negative reports from the FDA or anyone else. In fact it is just the opposite. The vast majority of what you see from the “reputable/authoritative” websites out there is very positive. Stay away from all of those sites that say anything negative. They are a HUGE waste of time, and I can guarantee you that they are saying “I had a problem with Herbalife, but try this product instead.” Be Wise! I cannot say that enough. Just because it’s on a website does not make it gospel. And, what in the world are these people complaining about any way?
When it comes to products, stay away from the garbage sites. Know that the authoritative sites and a 30+ year history with Herbalife have proven that their products are top quality.
Compensation Plan
Being a 30+ year old company, they have a payout plan that works. My personal opinion (and this may be the one area that would cause some hesitancy on my part) is that being a traditional unilevel plan, it is going to take a sizeable downline to reach the point of 4-figure and 5-figure monthly incomes. Every company is going to say they have an industry leading comp plan and they payout a high percentage to their distibributors (Herbalife says they payout 73%), you just need to realize that there are several things that need to be qualified.
Is that 73% of every dollar spent or 73% of the products’ bonus volume? What are all of the ways you can get paid? Herbalife does have a multi-faceted comp plan. It actually is more than a unilevel plan. There are break aways and bonuses that will reward the distributor who continues to build. I would give their comp plan a 6 on a scale of 10. There are better companies to make money with, but what they lack in their comp plan they more than make up in customer and distributor retention and rewarding those who work to sell products and build their long-term business. Afterall, what good is a 10 out of 10 comp plan if there is low retention and crappy products.
What is the Potential for New Distributors?
Let me ask you, are there enough McDonalds in your city? If you were given the chance to open a new one in a growing area, do you think it would do well? Of course. Even though there are more McDonalds than ever, the franchise is still strong and growing. The same can be said for Herbalife. After 30 years, the opportunity is still strong. While it may be a household name in some places, the majority of Americans and the rest of the world have no clue what an Herbalife is.
I believe the opportunity is better today in 2011 than it was 10 years ago in 2001. They have overcome several issues and are stronger and more respected than ever. Listen closely – for a person who is willing to bust it, market, sell it, promote it, learn it, share it, and live it, there is a very solid chance of a full time income. That can be said of almost any company, but if a company has been around 31 years, I have to think they will be around that much longer into the future.
The website shows that is only going to cost about $100 to start your business. And, this is probably where I could use some inside help. One of the things that bugs the crap out of me is when a company hides all the actual start up costs. I am sure there are other costs for promotional materials and extra “business” size start up packs, but the site is VERY vague and gives no information.
Herbalife is #2 on our list of top companies for a reason. They are solid with over 100,000 U.S. distributors and nearly 2 million world wide. If you want to research them, go to:
http://www.Herbalife.com - review the product line and click on the Business Opportunity link to watch the video.
As I always say, stay away from all of those sites that talk about scam or “is it legit” type sites. Those are worthless sites and the guy who put those scam sites together is probably the guy who has been a freshman in college for the last 15 years. Don’t take advice from a perpetual college freshman. Do your own research and don’t get caught in the trap of the gossip sites.
Do we endorse Herbalife ? Yes, two thumbs up!
It’s Time To Start Your Adsense Business
I have written many posts over the years about how great Adsense is. How great? Well, with the revenue I have made from Adsense, it has covered my vehicle payments for more than 5 years, it has helped to fund my vacations to Disney World, adjust to help cover increases in other expenses I have. Currently, I don’t make as much with Adsense as others, but essentially, with the money I have made from Adsense, Google has paid for my vehicles and vacations, and, that’s pretty good in my eyes.
What is Google Adsense?
I have stated in another recent blog post that I believe Google Adsense may be “The Perfect MLM Business” out there… and we all know that Google isn’t a multilevel marketing company. You can read that blog post by clicking here. I won’t go into all that Adsense is because you can read it at that link.
What I am writing about today is that it is finally time for you to start. It doesn’t have to interfere with anything else you are doing. Here’s the deal.
One of the top experts regarding Adsense is a guy named Joel Comm. He has been writing about making money with Adsense for over 5 years, and just came out with his 293-page, 5th edition of Adsense Secrets 5.
It is dirt cheap, and it is probably the most thorough, complete, exhaustive, step by step, everything you ever needed to know about Adsense. If it ain’t in his book, you don’t need it. And, for less than the price of me taking my family to Chick-fil-a, you can get his ebook.
Here is the nice thing I like about Joel. There are no tricks, back alley, sneaky upsells, or other manipulative things he is going to pull on you. You aren’t going to find yourself spending a fortune. Just the one price.
I just want to encourage you, if you ever have wanted to get involved with a stable, secondary stream of income, or even bust your hump to make a primary stream of income, Joel Comm’s newest edition is your best chance. Just go to:
