Mapping Out Your Future With Mike


Check List For Marketing Programs

Here is a check list for marketing programs. A lot of this will apply to both direct sales and MLM programs.

Some of these are borrowed from web research, some are modified, some are spin from my experience or research… You be the judge.

1. Check out the home page of the program for the following:
-Physical address
-Telephone number
-names of owners/executives

2. Use http://earth.google.com to check out the actual physical location. Is it just a residence that is being puffed up? Avoid programs that only use a mailbox.

3. Use the internet. Search at least one page on at least one of the major search engines for the following:
-Name of MLM plus scam
-Name of executive/owner plus scam, lawsuits, complaints, news
-Check website via http://www.whois.net

4. Check forums, but be fair, there is a lot of whining in the forums and unrealistic complaints.

5. Use http://www.alexa.com to get the traffic rating (low is better). Use the URL of the MLM to get the traffic rating averaged over the last 3 months. Company life is a large factor here. If less than 6 months old, it is difficult to get a good rating from Alexa without black hat methods. Poor Alexa ratings are not necessarily bad as the company may not use the internet.

6. Restrictions of payment methods:
       1. if only credit cards which do not allow refunds.
      2. if payments or orders must be delivered by fedex or another delivery service, but US Postal Service not allowed.
      3. if payments must be made in cash or by money order. If any of the above, then be very, very wary.

7. Use products or services first before joining the marketing side of the program. If linked, then just do not do any marketing until you are a satisfied customer. A good program really has two sides: stand alone products and a business opportunity.

8. Limit the starting investment to less than $200, $500 absolute maximum. Note that above $500 there are numerous FTC regulations which require that information about the company, its executives, its owners, the location etc. be revealed. If above $500, then ask for the submissions required by the FTC.

9. Use the Better Business Bureau in your state and the state that is home state for the program. Note: anyone can get a listing for a fee so that is not interesting, but check to see how many unresolved complaints are on the books of the BBB for the program or its owners/executives.

10. Write to the Attorney General of your state and the home state for the program and ask if there are any outstanding unresolved complaints re the MLM or its owner/executives.

11. When reading the copy within emails, sales letters or websites, become wary when:
-Claims that this program is not a scam
-Claims that this program is not a pyramid
-Endless unrealistic testimonials
-Get rich quick schemes
-No work by you
-We do all the work for you
-Make money while you sleep
-Retire to the good life in months
If it sounds to good to be true, then it probably is.

12. Read the contract. There will be a legal agreement to which you must agree. This will often limit your activities. Read the terms and conditions. If you plan to market the products/program, then be certain that the company does not have severe restrictions on your activities.

13. Almost all programs MLM or otherwise that use one of the Australian one up systems fail to meet expectations for one reason or another. It is almost like a money game with some of them, with current recruits providing the cash flow for previous recruits…Avoid.

14. Get a copy of the pay plan and ask someone who is successful in MLM to evaluate the pay plan for you.