Marketing Your Business 101

Beware of the Wolves in Sheep's clothing. They present themselves as solid online marketing companies, have a stimulating sales pitch, and their compensation plan doesn't look too bad either. They have large corporate offices with all kinds of people back there to ensure your success. Sounds nice, yes? Companies that sell products like lotions, potions, pills, miracle juices or miracle gas saving products aren't often to the advantage of the average person for a variety of reasons, some of which are:

The product is not what is making them the money-you, the distributor, are! They offer you an auto ship program, where they sell you product at wholesale prices. You are then required to turn around and sell these products for a profit. Of course, if you're unable to do this, and product just languishes in your garage, then who is out of pocket? Not the company, they already have your money.

The bulk of the money the marketing online company receives is from you, the distributor, and not from the product at all. They have a program called auto-ship which entitles you, the distributor to purchase product from them at wholesale prices. You are then required to sell said product and, hopefully, make a profit. Once you've paid for the product, they're unconcerned whether you can move it or not. They've already made their profit.

This is a favorite - the incentive of a free car or vacation for selling X amount over X amount of time. Of course if your personal volume and your group volume are at an imbalance, then you no longer qualify! So sorry! But they are very appreciative of all the money you made them trying to get that car or vacation package!

Home parties have been around for a while as everybody has friends and family they can push this crap on. Who better to obligate? It's really simple... If I wanted weight loss, I'd go to GNC. If I wanted Lotions, I'd go to Save On, Longs, or my sources favorite Department store. If I wanted to put additives in my gas tank, I'd go to Kragen, Chief or Pep Boys and buy a product from STP or Penzoil. You get the idea..? At least you know what you're paying for and more importantly, what you're getting for your money. You could probably take it back and get a refund as well.

How many online marketing companies offer a cure to a leading illness like cancer?! If these juices made from Acai Berry, Goji berry, Mangsteen fruit or some kind of Marine product can really cure cancer, or any other major sickness, would we be ignoring it? Come on! While I don't disregard that some of these products might have some essential qualities, I wouldn't go into business with them. Not if I want to yield returns.

So, having ascertained that there are a mass of knock-off and rubbish companies on the internet, how do you determine which ones are valid and which ones are not? How do you choose a company that you can be proud to represent and which will also enable you to make a healthy profit?

There are seven initial key points in assessing an online marketing company. Your #1 goal is to make money, and to make it legally and justifiably, without any underhanded deeds. This guideline will help you assesses and determine which company is right for you.

1. Your sales should make you at least 75% of the commission up front. If it doesn't-forget it. This means the person above you or the company is the one actually benefiting from all your hard work.

2. If you are not making at least 75% of the upfront commission when you make a sale, forget it. This means that you are doing all the work and the online marketing company and/or the person above you is making all the money.

3. If they instruct you to host home parties, and try and convince you your path to success is through selling to your family and friends - RUN.

4. If they teach you to hold home parties and invite all your friends. Run away fast.

5. If you can't break even or get into profit with 3 sales, forget it. This is a hard and fast rule!

6. If you can't directly contact the owners or the corporate office via phone or webinar, forget it. Do you want to do business with some faceless, voiceless entity? And why are they hiding? If that isn't a red flag, I don't what is.

7. If the online marketing company is just starting up and it's in pre-launch, don't go there. The chances of this company being the next Amway are next to nil. Spend that money wisely instead-go to Vegas and have a blast, at least the memories will be worth it.

There are many rules for success on the internet, but this simple and effective guideline should help you get started on the elimination process. Happy hunting!