our downline." These e-mails motivate people while they build, but they also provide a fear of loss. Nobody wants to quit when there are people being placed below them. To maximize the compensation plan they have to get to work to qualify, but it's easier to get to work when they know they have help building their team.

5. An Exclusive "Non Me Too" product. In this day and age it's too easy to knock off products. Look for something unique, patented, or otherwise hard to duplicate so you don't get lost in a sea of competitive products soon after starting.

6. Compensation plan that pays on volume. I built an organization that pays one company about $35,000 a month right

Let's face it, the internet has turned the Network Marketing world on its head. Marketers now see Network Marketing opportunity advertisements every day, and are savvy enough to do research before signing up with a Network Marketing Company. In the old days we were only exposed to a Network Marketing opportunity when somebody invited us to a hotel meeting or a "family room ambush".

Today, marketers have choices. I recently faced the tough decision of leaving a very good, solid, but old fashioned company to find an opportunity I could sprint with. My old company didn't understand the internet and was afraid of it. They had a very seasoned "Customer Prevention Department", and in that department there was no "Approved" stamp, only a big fat red one that said "DENIED!" on any marketing you submitted for approval.

So I decided to shop. Here are the eight criteria I used, and I believe any company must have to attract modern, skilled marketers into their Network Marketing opportunity:

1. Strong, compelling web-sites. This is the downfall of many companies out there. Their corporate provided web-sites suck. They are a potpourri of everything, the product, the company, the founder, the story, and on and on. They don't follow any of the online rules of conversion. A good company provides two great sites, one for recruiting and one for product sales. Each should be very good at what it does and convert cold traffic into distributors or customers.

2. A great value product. Too many companies are just selling marked up stuff that you can buy at Wal-Mart for cheaper. A good modern Network Marketing opportunity should have cutting edge products that are affordable. Wealth in this industry is build by having large amounts of people on an auto-ship of your product. If it isn't a good value, they are just going to move on.

3. Low or no sign up fee. This one is critical. One of the keys to a good Network Marketing opportunity today is easy, automated sign-ups. In old fashioned Network Marketing the relationship building was done first, then the person signed up. Today it's the other way around. You want them to join first, then contact them and start building the relationship. That won't happen if it costs over $100 just to get started in the company.

4. A Binary or Matrix plan. Binary or Matrix plans force new distributors to be "placed" under other distributors in your downline. This does two important things. First of all, it helps new people in the early phases. For example, a new distributor may have had a terrible day and heard "no" from 10 people. They are discouraged and want to quit. But then they check their e-mail box and it says, "Congratulations, John Doe was just placed in your downline." These e-mails motivate people while they build, but they also provide a fear of loss. Nobody wants to quit when there are people being placed below them. To maximize the compensation plan they have to get to work to qualify, but it's easier to get to work when they know they have help building their team.

5. An Exclusive "Non Me Too" product. In this day and age it's too easy to knock off products. Look for something unique, patented, or otherwise hard to duplicate so you don't get lost in a sea of competitive products soon after starting.

6. Compensation plan that pays on volume. I built an organization that pays one company about $35,000 a month right

that department there was no "Approved" stamp, only a big fat red one that said "DENIED!" on any marketing you submitted for approval.

So I decided to shop. Here are the eight criteria I used, and I believe any company must have to attract modern, skilled marketers into their Network Marketing opportunity:

1. Strong, compelling web-sites. This is the downfall of many companies out there. Their corporate provided web-sites suck. They are a potpourri of everything, the product, the company, the founder, the story, and on and on. They don't follow any of the online rules of conversion. A good company provides two great sites, one for recruiting and one for product sales. Each should be very good at what it does and convert cold traffic into distributors or customers.

2. A great value product. Too many companies are just selling marked up stuff that you can buy at Wal-Mart for cheaper. A good modern Network Marketing opportunity should have cutting edge products that are affordable. Wealth in this industry is build by having large amounts of people on an auto-ship of your product. If it isn't a good value, they are just going to move on.

3. Low or no sign up fee. This one is critical. One of the keys to a good Network Marketing opportunity today is easy, automated sign-ups. In old fashioned Network Marketing the relationship building was done first, then the person signed up. Today it's the other way around. You want them to join first, then contact them and start building the relationship. That won't happen if it costs over $100 just to get started in the company.

4. A Binary or Matrix plan. Binary or Matrix plans force new distributors to be "placed" under other distributors in your downline. This does two important things. First of all, it helps new people in the early phases. For example, a new distributor may have had a terrible day and heard "no" from 10 people. They are discouraged and want to quit. But then they check their e-mail box and it says, "Congratulations, John Doe was just placed in your downline." These e-mails motivate people while they build, but they also provide a fear of loss. Nobody wants to quit when there are people being placed below them. To maximize the compensation plan they have to get to work to qualify, but it's easier to get to work when they know they have help building their team.

5. An Exclusive "Non Me Too" product. In this day and age it's too easy to knock off products. Look for something unique, patented, or otherwise hard to duplicate so you don't get lost in a sea of competitive products soon after starting.

6. Compensation plan that pays on volume. I built an organization that pays one company about $35,000 a month right

Each should be very good at what it does and convert cold traffic into distributors or customers.

2. A great value product. Too many companies are just selling marked up stuff that you can buy at Wal-Mart for cheaper. A good modern Network Marketing opportunity should have cutting edge products that are affordable. Wealth in this industry is build by having large amounts of people on an auto-ship of your product. If it isn't a good value, they are just going to move on.

3. Low or no sign up fee. This one is critical. One of the keys to a good Network Marketing opportunity today is easy, automated sign-ups. In old fashioned Network Marketing the relationship building was done first, then the person signed up. Today it's the other way around. You want them to join first, then contact them and start building the relationship. That won't happen if it costs over $100 just to get started in the company.

4. A Binary or Matrix plan. Binary or Matrix plans force new distributors to be "placed" under other distributors in your downline. This does two important things. First of all, it helps new people in the early phases. For example, a new distributor may have had a terrible day and heard "no" from 10 people. They are discouraged and want to quit. But then they check their e-mail box and it says, "Congratulations, John Doe was just placed in your downline." These e-mails motivate people while they build, but they also provide a fear of loss. Nobody wants to quit when there are people being placed below them. To maximize the compensation plan they have to get to work to qualify, but it's easier to get to work when they know they have help building their team.

5. An Exclusive "Non Me Too" product. In this day and age it's too easy to knock off products. Look for something unique, patented, or otherwise hard to duplicate so you don't get lost in a sea of competitive products soon after starting.

6. Compensation plan that pays on volume. I built an organization that pays one company about $35,000 a month right

was done first, then the person signed up. Today it's the other way around. You want them to join first, then contact them and start building the relationship. That won't happen if it costs over $100 just to get started in the company.

4. A Binary or Matrix plan. Binary or Matrix plans force new distributors to be "placed" under other distributors in your downline. This does two important things. First of all, it helps new people in the early phases. For example, a new distributor may have had a terrible day and heard "no" from 10 people. They are discouraged and want to quit. But then they check their e-mail box and it says, "Congratulations, John Doe was just placed in your downline." These e-mails motivate people while they build, but they also provide a fear of loss. Nobody wants to quit when there are people being placed below them. To maximize the compensation plan they have to get to work to qualify, but it's easier to get to work when they know they have help building their team.

5. An Exclusive "Non Me Too" product. In this day and age it's too easy to knock off products. Look for something unique, patented, or otherwise hard to duplicate so you don't get lost in a sea of competitive products soon after starting.

6. Compensation plan that pays on volume. I built an organization that pays one company about $35,000 a month right

our downline." These e-mails motivate people while they build, but they also provide a fear of loss. Nobody wants to quit when there are people being placed below them. To maximize the compensation plan they have to get to work to qualify, but it's easier to get to work when they know they have help building their team.

5. An Exclusive "Non Me Too" product. In this day and age it's too easy to knock off products. Look for something unique, patented, or otherwise hard to duplicate so you don't get lost in a sea of competitive products soon after starting.

6. Compensation plan that pays on volume. I built an organization that pays one company about $35,000 a month right now. But my residual compensation on that is about $150! It was a huge disappointment, but it was my own fault for not understanding the comp plan when I started. Make sure the company pays on all the volume you bring them, and that none of that can "break away"!

7. Single Product Focus. If you want to be part of a duplication model that can really grow quickly and virally, the company must have a single product focus. In other words, it can't be a whole catalog of stuff, it's too confusing and requires too much training. One great product, that people can easily understand and explain, will out run any multiple product line all day long.

8. Easy to do. This one is critical. There must be a marketing plan that's simple and easy for people to do. I know every company thinks that their system is simple. Some companies want you to spend $150 a month on company DVD's and distribute them, and they claim that's easy to do. Well, it may be easy to chuck DVD's at friends, family and strangers, but nobody watches them! Those days are over. Strong web-sites, great e-mail campaigns and automated systems are the things people are looking for now. And they have to work! If you tell somebody how to market their business and they try it and it doesn't work, here's a clue: it's not a duplication model. Find a better company.

So if you want to build a Network Marketing business online, I hope this article helps you choose the right opportunity.

Copyright (c) 2006 Dave Sherwin