Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Herbal Life - Is it a Scam?
"Lose weight now, ask me how" was the familiar slogan you may have seen around town in years past. What you may not have known was that this catchy phrase was really advertising Herbal Life products. The company has survived litigation and the tragic death of its founder Mark Hughes in 2000, twenty years after he started it. Since then, the business has recovered and continues to grow worldwide under new leadership. That it continues is a testimony to the resilience of those involved in the company and the ever expanding global opportunities that weight loss industry offers; Americans alone are estimated to spend $50 billion a year on shedding pounds, and the forecast is for continued growth.
Yet for all its ability to rebound and expand, this company still has its share of doubters. Obviously it is not a complete scam, or it would not exist today. But its marketing tactics have led to past and present legal action for misrepresentation and other unethical practices up the line. On the other hand, there are more legal protections in place because of the company's missteps, and it could be that they have learned from the error of their ways.
Here's what the business looks like currently. The compensation for these distributors follows the stair-step breakaway plan. According to the company website, the percentage of distributors that become supervisors is about 25 percent. These supervisors earned an average of $549 in the year 2006 on top of their profits from selling the products themselves. But how much do people typically earn selling the products as distributors? That information is not as easy to find. It seems that more than 90% of distributors leave the business in the first year. Also, supervisors must make an investment of several thousand dollars to attain that rank, which the average supervisor will not recover with $549 in income from the distributors under them. So they too would need to sell the products just to break even. The starting discount for the products is 25%, which would be your commission if you sell them at full price. The more you sell, and/or the higher your rank, the greater your discount.
But how much a distributor can earn is not always clear and reportedly subject to change. In at least one of the lawsuits against the company, distributors alleged that the company reduced the amount they would pay them without clear reasons. They complained that the company was showing favoritism and misleading them as to how much they could earn. Such complaints are not uncommon.
The lesson seems to be that Herbal Life has learned how to be one of the most resilient companies around. Throughout its 28-year history there have been numerous complaints about it misrepresenting itself to draw people to join the sales team. The ways the company markets its opportunity seem to be more transparent than before, but complaints about distributors and investors being misled have not slowed significantly. Thus it seems to still be a company on ethically shaky ground. Anyone about to join the team should be cautious, try to get clear written agreements, and be prepared to take legal action if promises are broken.
Jayne Manziel is a successful Entrepreneur coach and has helped hundred's of people build their business for over 20 years. Jayne devotes the time, energy, and effort into her team and mentors them to ensure their success. To learn more visit Jayne's Making Money Online website. Jayne is a proven leader and offers a Sales and Marketing Strategy for all of her team members in achieving financial success.
The Health Products Business
With a large portion of Americans reaching retirement age, the health products business is larger than ever before. The people of the Babyboom generation are strongly concerned about their health and don't mind paying extra money for vitamins and natural supplements as long as they are confident in the products' ability to make them healthier. The advent of the internet has magnified the availability of these products and has made it easy for anyone to get into the business for themselves.
There are countless business out there that offer affiliate programs and franchises that allow you to get into the business immediately by selling their products for them. When starting your health products business, carefully look at all your options and go with the company that has been in business the longest and has the most credibility. There are new health products businesses springing up everyday and some are simply fly-by-night operations meant to take as much money as possible from you and then disappear.
Perhaps you're not looking to start your own health products business, but are simply trying to buy these products wholesale and save money. Most of the businesses out there offer discount programs where you can get the products you need for less money just as long as you purchase a certain amount each month. You may even enjoy the products so much that you find yourself telling other people about them and trying to convince them to buy. If this is the case, why not take the next step and inquire about the affiliate programs that the company offers, you might as well make money for it if you going to do it anyway!
If you have never taken health products such as vitamins and supplements before, you should definitely check them out. The food we eat contains fewer nutrients that it did in previous years because the soil is being used so much that it doesn't have enough time to regain the nutrients that are absorbed into the crops. Therefore, while it wasn't necessary to take these products in past, it's becoming increasingly important. Do yourself a favor and check out a health products business and see if there's a product that can help you with your current needs.
Dorothy Miller makes her living selling Waiora products, proprietary whole-food blend of freeze dried fruit and botanical extracts in capsules or drink mix powders to help reduce the signs of aging.
Tips to Make Legit Money Online
Are there ways to make legit money online? The simple answer is 'YES'. While most people are still looking for these elusive online jobs, there are people that have found a great way to earn a living from home.
The following will make your search of that perfect online job both successful and rewarding:
My 5 tips to make legit money online:
5. Do some research. Do they have testimonials on their page? Are there success stories? If they can;t back up any of their claims, you should avoid them.
4. Don't be disappointed. I see people all day complaining about all the scams and guess what? They're the ones that give up and don't succeed. Look at everything as a learning experience and you'll continue to grow.
3. Sign up for a trial Most people are scared to spend a few bucks and look at it as 'wasted money'. Most products you purchase subscribe to, have a 'money back guarantee' or a 'free evaluation period'. This is a great way to get in and see if it's what you want.
2. Find Something you enjoy. If you don't find something you enjoy to pursue online then you likely aren't cut-out to work online.
1. Commit and follow thru! Most people sign up for free courses and don't want to spend any money. The simple truth is that nothing in life is free. Spend a few bucks on a program as the money will make you more committed to follow thru.
I know I looked for legit online employment for quite a while before I found something that works. I'm sure with enough drive and perseverance; you too can be your own boss!
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Create a Viral Marketing Strategy to Drive Traffic to Your Website
Viral marketing can best be described as a marketing campaign that permits you to reach a large number of people quickly online, much in the same way a human cold virus might spread throughout an office complex. The online equivalent of word-of-mouth marketing, viral marketing permits people to pass along marketing material to friends, customers, and colleagues so that the marketing campaign catches on and spreads like wildfire. Because many online distribution channels are free or low cost, viral marketing is possibly the most cost-effective Internet marketing technique out there. Once you've launched your viral marketing campaign, it has the capability grow and spread automatically for years.
With a well-thought out and implemented viral marketing campaign, you can:
--increase targeted traffic to your site
--build brand recognition
--increase your link popularity
--collect contact information from targeted prospects
Two of the most common viral marketing strategies I've seen implemented are viral movies and viral ebooks. Movies can be quite costly to produce, but with the increasing popularity of video viewing sites like YouTube, your ROI (return on investment) may be the highest from this form of viral marketing. TheTimeMovie.com was the movie that introduced me to the concept of video viral marketing. It's short, compelling, and evokes an emotional response from the viewer -- all important attributes to ensure that people pass it along to each other.
One of the best viral ebook creators is Seth Godin, who had over 1,000,000 people download his ebook, Unleashing the Ideavirus. It's still one of the most discussed marketing books around, and Seth has had similar success and gained a great following by giving away other ebooks he wrote, as well. Most of these ebooks are now for sale as paperbacks, and I'm sure this viral marketing strategy led to very high sales of his printed books. At the very least, the strategy has pushed him to the top of the list of marketing experts.
How can you create a viral marketing strategy to drive traffic to your website? Here's a step-by-step process:
1. Determine what you're giving away. Will you make a movie, write an ebook, create an ecourse, or have a special piece of software written for you? The key to success in picking your product is to make sure that it solves a big problem experienced by your target market. You may also locate your giveaway by using something that someone else has created that permits you to brand it with your company information. (Get an example below in the author's resource box).
2. Brand the product. Make sure that your logo, your website URL, and/or your tagline is on the viral marketing piece. You want anyone who downloads this viral marketing product to be able to link back to your website, just as you would want someone to be able to contact your brick-and-mortal store when you provide a promotional giveaway like a pen, coffee cup, mousepad, etc.
3. Set up delivery process. Will visitors be able to download the software directly from your site, or will they have to provide their contact information? The best option is to give it away with no strings attached. However, on the page in which you offer the download, you can offer visitors yet another gift, one that requires their contact info to receive.
4. Give away the rights. If you'd like to really jump start the viral marketing process, give people the rights to give away your viral marketing piece to their own customers.
5. Rebrand the item. If you permit people to rebrand the giveaway with some of their contact info or affiliate links, as well, they will really be motivated to pass along your viral marketing piece.
6. Announce the availability of the item. Write an article or a press release about your viral marketing item. Announce its availability to your contact database or ezine list. Ask your readers or visitors to your blog to announce it to their lists or just simply give it away.
Capturing the power of viral marketing is a simple and cost-effective strategy to drive traffic to your website. If implemented properly, who knows how much fame and fortune this technique could bring you?
Copyright (c) 2007 Donna Gunter
Online Business Resource Queen (TM) and Online Business Coach Donna Gunter helps self-employed service professionals learn how to automate their businesses, leverage their expertise on the Internet, and get more clients online. Get your free affiliate link cloaking program at Affiliate-Link-Cloak.com. It's a perfect example of viral marketing in action! Ask Donna an Internet Marketing question at AskDonnaGunter.com .
Background Checks For Sunday School Teachers And Volunteers
If you have children, you have probably heard a lot about security at schools and day care centers. Many places such as this have a rigid sign in and sign out procedure and will check the identity of anyone coming into the building. Most school districts also require background checks for not only teachers and faculty, but for parents and volunteers. While it is a hassle, unfortunately, it is a necessity it today's society.
If you are involved with Sunday school, you may wonder whether or not you should make background checks for your teachers and volunteers a necessity. Here is a closer look at the pros and cons.
First of all, in these days, you must remember that security should be your top priority. You really want to have faith in your teachers and in your parent volunteers. You want to believe that they all have the best interest of the church and children in mind, but you never really know. When you require background checks, you are letting everyone know that you do truly care about the welfare of the children in the building. This says a lot about your organization and parents will feel comfortable leaving children in your care.
In addition, parents have also come to expect top-notch security when it comes to their children. They want to know that they can safely drop their child off at Sunday school, day care or school. It is comforting for them to know that each and every teacher and volunteers have cleared security checks. For this reason, many churches are now requiring such checks for anyone working directly with the children, other than a simple sign in and sign out sheet.
There are a few disadvantages of requiring background checks, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. One of the cons of these background checks is the cost. If you have a small church, it may be costly for you to set up a system of background checks. You could ask your teachers and volunteers to pay for these checks, but you may find some resistance to this.
Another disadvantage of requiring background checks at churches is that it may put some people off and they may feel discouraged and not help out. They may feel that they should be trusted and by requiring a security check, you are saying you cannot trust them. While this is not true, many older people will be hesitant to hand over their social security numbers for these checks.
As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to requiring background checks for Sunday school teachers and volunteers. However, your number one concern should be the safety and well-being of the children entrusted in your care.
Denise Oliveri has been teaching Sunday School for the past 13 years. She is the owner of Preschool Sunday School Central, a leading online resource for preschool Sunday School teachers.
Stop by Preschool Sunday School Central and see the array of free resources and exciting and fun things that are available to members. Join today for a free preschool curriculum!
This Here Web Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us! Can You Corner Web Market Share With Negative Action
If you're a fan of Western movies I'm sure you've heard most
of the title line before; just replace "Web" with "town."
That line of dialog is offered right before the two cowboys
go outside and have a deadly gun duel. Wind blown
tumbleweeds and shades of the OK Corral as a backdrop!
Nevertheless, can mean spirited politics help you corral a
little corner of the Web? Can you put up no trespassing
signs on what you've deemed to call your own?
Most progressive Net businesses grab market share by their
good business practices and excellent customer service.
There's more than a few of those that come to mind. There
are others - less enlightened - that use negative practices
to maintain their market foothold.
Creative ways to slow down or stop your perceived
competitors or opponents are many. They can take the form
of misinformation, gossip, poisonous tips, setting up dummy
email accounts to spread rumors, etc, etc
A few of them will work in the short term. Some will be more
effective than others. Most will stain your personal and
business name, when found out! All of them are foolhardy!
Yes, you can raise your hand to the sky and block the sun;
yet and still, it's not an accurate description of what's
happening. When the mighty Mississippi river wants to change
course, how can it be stopped? When the Net wants to grow,
expand and mutate, how are you going to tame it to your
petty designs?
Entire countries have bent to the will of the Web! Here's an
example: Long-standing phone monopolies in Central American
countries used political pressure to stop their citizens
from making Internet phone calls, to no avail!
Though "special legislation" was passed, there was such a
huge outcry from the rest of the Net, they relented!
Let the Net be the Net, is the call of wisdom.
Historically speaking, the Web is an infant. It will
continue to grow and expand, networking even the most remote
outpost or village! Powerful and speedy microchips will give
us the ability to reach out to other people and cultures.
Language barriers will be eliminated with real-time, two way
translation. Stone Age villages are going to join the modern
world in one fantastic step!
The swift technological change and the accelerated rate of
deployment promise a bumpy ride, to say the least!
All we can do is grab the beast by the tail and hang on;
uncertain as to where it leads and what it will look like!
Those are just a few of the things awaiting us, in the
not-too-distant future. I'm sure there are many more in store;
not imagined, unseen and unexpected. The only two constant
factors are: growth and change! In its tender years, the Net
has grown and mutated in ways barely imagined a decade ago.
If I've waxed too fantastically in the preceding paragraphs,
I do apologize! The point is to explain the utter futility
of arresting or trapping a corner of the Web! By its very
nature it's the agent of revolutionary change and growth;
never to be proclaimed as your self-appointed kingdom!
It won't work!
All Internet Marketers should consider the preceding when
making policy decisions that deal with perceived
competitors. Notice my usage of the word "perceived."
Just because an upstart business wants some of the turf you
formerly called your own, is no reason to engage in
attrition and trench warfare.
These are much better options:
(a) Find weak areas in your competitor's business. Not so
much for the purpose of exploiting them, but to see if you
can supply some of their needs. No matter what the
copywriters say, all businesses have strong and weak areas.
(b) Look for product lines that are complementary and form
linking relationships.
The nature and placement of the link will insure mutual
benefit from the agreement.
(c) When provoked by some of the negative practices of other
- less progressive - competitors, do what you must to uphold
your reputation. If it's something trivial and small, turn
the other cheek and seek the high road; not from altruism
but to save your time, energy and attention for more
productive endeavors. Pick your battles on principle and only
when all other avenues are exhausted.
When all things are considered, the best use of your time in
maintaining market share should be spent in finding new
resources and partners. Likewise, implementing new content
delivery technology will prove very effective. By all means,
every possible effort should be made to convert competitors
into friends and partners.
The alternative is so unsavory:
While the Web continues its relentless gallop, leaving both
you and your sparring partner in the dust; will you even
recognize why you went into battle, in the first place?
About the Author:
Francisco Aloy is the creator of The Newbie Business Guide.For more resources on website building, visit Mr. Aloy's website and look at our section on SiteBuilIt integrated hosting.http://www.newbie-business-guide.com/website_building.html
