In today's podcast, Daryl Wurzbacher shares fascinating insights in what he sees are industry trends like customer programs and loyalty referral rewards. We're seeing a shift in the evolution of affiliates and influencers in building sales teams. Learn how understanding products and culture impact direct sales companies. Also see how important it i…

Jake Dempsey joins us for today's podcast. Jake gives us some insight on how social media technology has changed the landscape of direct selling and network marketing from the pre-COVID days to now. Catch a glimpse at some new tools available for distributors that appear to be game-changers in building their businesses today.…

In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Hanieh Sigari and Mark Carr of Qyral—a unique new beauty products company. They provide rare insights on how they use technology to produce innovative solutions to personalize products for their customers. Learn some of their strategies for influencing, training and selling their product.…

Today we welcome Mike Christensen to the MLM.com Podcast. Mike is the vice-president of sales at InfoTrax Systems. He also is a board member of the DSA Supplier Committee. Mike shares with the MLM.com Podcast his knowledge of scalable compensation software, the importance of real-time data, and e-commerce. Enjoy!…

For this podcast episode, we welcomed Brian Brown. Brian is currently the senior strategic partner manager of Avalara. Brian's expertise includes helping direct sales companies ensure tax compliance. Today Brian will be sharing his knowledge of tax laws in the United States, and what to look for in tax software. Brian also discusses strategies for …

Today we welcome a returning guest of this podcast: Jeff Jordan. Jeff has also written articles for MLM.com, providing us with his wide knowledge of the industry. Jeff has been in the direct selling industry for 30+ years. Jeff has served as an Interim Vice President of Sales for companies who need the expertise of a VP of Sales, without incurring …

Today on the MLM.com Podcast, we welcome Mark Schaub. Mark has been one of the MLM.com podcast's most popular guests, and we are delighted to have him return. Mark is an expert in business-relations between China and international partners. He has worked with King and Wood Mallesons (金杜律師事務所) since 2000. Mark has received Asia Law's prestigious "La…

Terrel Transtrum has joined us for this episode of the MLM.com podcast. He brings his 30+ years of industry customer service experience to this discussion. Terrell has recently co-authored LaunchSmart: How to Build a Direct Selling Company. Terrel owns two successful businesses (seven-plus figures) and has been awarded the prestigious DSA award for…

For this episode of the MLM.com Podcast, Paul Adams joins us for an in-depth discussion on simplifying integrating customers into your business. Paul has been a direct-selling industry mainstay for over 30 years. Paul has served as a board member and industry expert for numerous companies. Paul's speciality is working with mid-level companies and i…

Matt Layton, Vice-President of Business Insights at LegalShield revealed what effect COVID had on business over the last two years using data analytics. These findings may surprise you. For example, they saw an uptick in new "stay at home" businesses. Also, surprising metrics showed dramatic increased sales and recruitments when using Zoom meetings…

Scott Kramer discusses how important it is for companies to shift quickly to using social media in branding and every aspect of a business. He talks about how conversations are the currency of social media and also points out some bad habits both distributors and companies have fallen into using social media. He also explains the idea of controlled…

Maria Osipova, a previous guest of the podcast returns with more in-depth insights to help consultants successfully grow their business. Discussion continues surrounding the importance of distributor being relatable and connected to their audience, and how this person-ability can be used to build trust and increase customer base for any products be…

On this episode of the podcast, we talk about expert witnesses—what does an expert witness do? How do companies select expert witness? Jeff Jordan is an industry consultant with years of experience. He’s frequently an expert witness in cases between MLM companies.Hosted by Kenny Rawlins

Four years ago we had Lynn Bardowski of Million Dollar Party Girl on the show to talk about online parties and in particular Facebook Live. Today we bring her back to discuss the history of livestreaming as well as advice on how to go live with confidence.Hosted by Kenny Rawlins

Are you looking for an MLM software provider? Do you know how to choose? Our guest today is Jerry York of ByDesign...Hosted by Kenny Rawlins

Have you read about the recent Supreme Court decision to stop FTC disgorgement? Are you curious what it means for the direct sales industry? Our guest is Spencer Reese a top lawyer in the direct sales industry.Hosted by Kenny Rawlins

Did you get a chance to look at Penny’s report on digital transformations happening around the direct sales industry? The information they revealed was so fascinating, we had to get them on the podcast to talk about it. Our guest is Maria Osipova, VP of Marketing at Penny. We had a wonderful time talking to Maria. This episode is packed with inform…

Is there harmony between your headquarters and the field? Do your direct sellers trust you? Do they feel supported and are they getting the training they need? If not, you might be losing consultants and sales to your competitors. Your consultants might be feeling lost and confused in the digital world. And if they feel cut off from the people back…

The MLM.com Podcast has been on hiatus for two years. Today, we relaunch with a new series of podcasts bringing you information and insights about the world of direct selling. Whether you’re new here or a long time MLM.com listener, we want to welcome you to join our new host, Nancy Tobler, as she digs in to the issues that matter to today direct s…

It’s no secret that MLMs exist in a bit of a grey area. There is no federal definition of a pyramid scheme. Over the years, regulators’ objectives and strategies change—sometimes in a major way. But have you noticed all’s quiet on that front? There hasn’t been a major government action against a well-established MLM since 2016. No doubt, some of yo…

Is Your China Strategy Too Reckless? Too Timid? Nonexistent?There’s good money in selling to Chinese consumers but the People’s Republic of China restricted direct sales to single-level sales commissions. The Chinese economy is growing. Consumerism is on the rise. Word of mouth marketing is king in China. Are you going after this market?Maybe you’r…

Wouldn’t it be amazing to put an end to world hunger? Of course, it would. No one wants children to go hungry. Why do so few people try to make a change? We don’t do anything because deep down we know one person can’t do enough. Global problems can’t be solved at the level of the individual. Big change comes from the actions and policies of big org…

Nancy and Kenny just wrapped up their series of podcasts about employee and distributor engagement. Those episodes detail evidence-based approaches you can use to make your company a great place to work. But we wanted to give you more than just the theories and strategies. We wanted to answer the question:What does it look like in practice?In this …

Episode 35 - How Work Friends Help You Grow Adapt And Get Things Done by Hosted by Kenny RawlinsHosted by Kenny Rawlins

Can you name the two types of leaders? Sorry for pulling a “there are only two types of people” on you. But, when it comes to leadership, there are two big umbrella categories that almost all good leaders fall under. Each type serves a different purpose. No doubt, you’ve met them both: There’s the flashy one up on the stage and the no-nonsense one …

Imagine living without electricity, all the way down at the end of the last road out into the country. In this imagined life, you occupy a part of the world that got cell phones before landlines, lightbulbs, and stoves. At night, you send text messages by candle light while your dinner cooks over an open flame. And it’s perfectly normal for you to …

Do you suck at giving feedback? Are you hurting people’s feelings? Or, are you so afraid to hurt feelings that you never tell people what they’re doing wrong?Many of us make mistakes when we give feedback. The right way to do it is not obvious, yet even managers rarely get evidence-based training on how to give effective feedback. In other words, m…

Why do company values matter? Why do so many companies write mission statements? What is company culture and why is it important? On this episode, Kenny Rawlins sits down with Nancy Tobler, PhD and MLM.com Editor-in-chief, to answer these questions and continue our conversation about what makes a company a great place to work.Corporate culture is m…

What makes a company a great place to work? Every year, Direct Selling News runs a feature that asks this exact question to identify which direct sales companies score high among their employees. On this episode of the MLM.com Podcast, we invited Todd Eliason—DSN’s Editor-in-chief—to give us the inside scoop on their selection process. Along the wa…

Most companies today have philanthropic initiatives but they’re often superficial or even counterproductive. How can a company design a charity program that does real good in the world? We sat down with Russ Fletcher, CEO of Xyngular, to hear about how he and Xyngular have risen to the challenge. Russ tells us about how Xyngular has fostered a cult…

If you run a direct sales company, chances are you capture a lot of data. What are you doing with it? On today’s episode of the podcast, Moy Chambers joins us for a second time to talk about the value hiding in that sea of data points and how machine learning can help you access it. Listen in to hear about intelligent retention systems. Lower your …

What do makeup, skin care, supplements, essential oils, health products, diet products, clothing, home goods, and natural products have in common (besides being bestsellers in the MLM world)? On this episode of the MLM.com Podcast, Steve Hooper and Nancy Tobler join Kenny to discuss what makes a great product for the direct selling channel. Why do …

Episode #26 - Year In Review Pt. 2 by Hosted by Kenny RawlinsHosted by Kenny Rawlins

On this episode of the MLM.com Podcast, Kenny takes us on a retrospective journey through the first year of the podcast. We hear from Spencer Reese, Moy Chambers, Lynn Bardowski, and more. Listen in for some of the best insights our gracious guests have shared with us so far.Hosted by Kenny Rawlins

Spencer Reese joins us again to talk about the current legal climate for MLM companies. He talks to us about the evolving definition of inventory loading, the dangers of illegal income claims, and the surprising absence of pyramid scheme allegations in recent FTC actions against direct sellers. Spencer advocates social media monitoring, transparenc…

You need MLM software for commissions calculation, business processes, warehouse management, and much more. What do you need to automate right away? What can wait? David Judd, Principal Product Owner at InfoTrax Systems, joins Kenny to continue the conversation about integrated software solutions for direct sellers. Are you a startup company or is …

Your direct selling company needs an ecommerce solution, an enterprise system (ERP), distributor tools, a commission engine, and more. Thanks to the rise of integrated solutions, you can now get the best of everything! In this podcast, Sean Smith, Vice President of Business Development at our sponsor InfoTrax Systems, joins Kenny to talk tech trend…

Is the MLM industry on the decline in the US? Alan Pollard, president of PayQuicker, joins Kenny to discuss the state of the US market. He argues that the US isn’t in decline but is instead reaching maturity. The opportunity is still there for companies that are prepared to adapt. Alan and Kenny discuss the effects of technology and consumer protec…

What’s the difference between coaching and training? Why are coaching skills so valuable in MLM organizations? How can coaching empower your sales force and boost retention? What is a coaching culture and how can you create one at your network marketing company? Nicki Keohohou, founder of the Direct Selling World Alliance, joins guest host Nancy To…

Mark Rawlins, Founder and CEO of InfoTrax Systems, joins Kenny to talk about MLM compensation plans. What direction is the direct selling industry going on compensation? What’s the perfect compensation plan? How do you know if your direct sales commissions are working? How can you use data and analytics to assess your company’s health? How can focu…

Mitch Stowell, Vice President of Commission Consulting at InfoTrax Systems, joins us for this two part episode to discuss the process of fine tuning compensation plans over time. How do you know when it’s time to change your commissions? What do you change? Mitch and Kenny talk over these critical decisions, discussing hard data analysis, commissio…

Mitch Stowell, Vice President of Commission Consulting at InfoTrax Systems, joins us for this two part episode to discuss the process of fine tuning compensation plans over time. How do you know when it’s time to change your commissions? What do you change? Mitch and Kenny talk over these critical decisions, discussing hard data analysis, commissio…

Trent Spratling from Kount, an online fraud mitigation company, joins us to talk about the evolving landscape of fraud and the ways that fraudsters target MLMs specifically. If you’re not up with the times, you might be losing good customers and potential distributors in your attempts to block fraud. Trent tells us how Kount uses data points only a…

Sam Glanzer, Director of Rewards and Recognition at Younique, joins Kenny on this episode of the podcast to talk about promotions, incentives, contests, and rewards. He tells us the right way to design and promote an incentive and some of the wrong ways to do it. Together, Kenny and Sam discuss the need to create harmony between your incentives and…

Mindy Lin, co-founder of Damsel in Defense, joins us to talk about their mission to empower, educate, and equip women to protect themselves and their families against sexual assault. Mindy tells us about how Damsel in Defense is helping survivors heal through educating and protecting others, and helping women access the financial independence they …

Every direct selling company wants to grow fast, but not every company knows how to think ahead and prepare for the inevitable growing pains. Steve Hooper joins us again on this second installment of a two-part episode to talk about the strategic moves you need to make to handle phases of growth and hyper growth. Steve and Kenny talk about how hype…

In this episode, Kenny is joined by Steve Hooper, Vice President of Product Management for InfoTrax Systems. They talk about managing growth in your business, covering the "10 Commandments of Growth."Hosted by Kenny Rawlins

Gretchen and Elizabeth Huijskens join us to talk about Trades of Hope—a philanthropic party plan company they founded along with Holly Wehde and Chelsie Antos, to microfinance artisan co-ops operating in impoverished areas. Trades of Hope works with artisan partners around the world (who create jewelry, accessories, and home goods) and compassionat…

How do you get a best-in-class MLM software solution without wasting resources? How do you run a good IT department without losing focus on your products—your core competency? In this episode, we talk to three guests, each from software providers in the direct sales space: Jared Smith, Director of R&D at InfoTrax; Clete Werts, an Enterprise Partner…

Moy Chambers, LifeVantage’s Senior Vice President of IT, joins us to share experience from his long history as a software professional in the MLM space. He talks to us about the dramatic changes in software in the recent past and the current landscape of IT solutions for direct sales companies. The biggest factor? APIs—tools that integrate applicat…