Hey there Sea Changers, and welcome back to my series of MLM reviews in an effort to help you find ways to fund your own sea change. Today I am going to have a look at one of the largest nutrition supplement companies on the planet with my Herbalife MLM Review. Why? Well health and wellbeing is one of a number of popular, evergreen niches and something that people will spend money on to assist them with their busy lives. So is Herbalife MLM worth joining? Well I guess we can check it out so if this is an area that interests you as you plan your own online business, then grab yourself a protein shake, a notebook and let's see what we can find out about the Herbalife Independent Distributor program…
What is MLM?
Multi-level marketing (MLM) programs are the mainstay of the ‘party plan' world of products such as Tupperware, Mary Kay and Amway etc. More recently however, online marketing processes have become more and more prevalent within the MLM space including the health supplements market. One of the reasons for this is that the increased online presence of many modern MLM programs has to large extent alleviated the need to run parties – and, more importantly, not hassle everybody you know to join (you can of course, but you don't have to).
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The ‘multi level' aspects of MLM come from its hierarchical nature in which you make commissions based not only on those that you sell to, but also the sales of those whom you ‘sign' into membership arrangements as well.
In short, the process works as follows:
- You join the program, either via referral from another person (known as your up line) or directly through their website.
- You promote the products of the company via parties, workshops or online.
- As you make sales, you offer incentives to your customers to sign up as a member of the program (there are different names for this but they all mean the same thing).
- That new member is then placed ‘underneath' you in a hierarchical arrangement (known as your down line).
- You, and a number of levels of your up line, then gain extra commissions for everything they sell as well.
- If they manage to refer their customers into memberships, they also become a member of your down line allowing you to make up line commissions as well.
The number of levels of your up and down lines will vary depending on the program you have joined. Commission rates will also change as your down line grows or contracts and many will also offer other incentives such as total company sales percentages and/or access to membership prizes as your own business grows.
Who is Herbalife?
Herbalife, as mentioned earlier is a global company whose main aim is to “make the world healthier and happier”. They pride themselves on their high quality products based on scientific research, a strong code of ethics and sustainability. The company employs roughly 5000 people worldwide and in 2016 recorded net sales of approximately $4.5 billion. Herbalife stocks are also traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
The company was founded by Mark Hughes in Los Angeles, California, in February 1980 and in the years since has been rolled out in over 90 countries worldwide. They are also a common fixture in the world's top 10 selling MLM companies.
What do they Sell?
Herbalife offers over 200 products aimed at health and nutrition within the following categories:
- Healthy Weight
- Specialized Nutrition
- Energy and Fitness
- Skin and Hair care
Click here to see their full range of products.
Products are offered as single options or within specialised bundles designed to cover your every nutritional need. The advantage of this site also is the fact that they have very carefully and cleverly created a complete health and wellbeing guide based around their products.
On the downside however, the company has been in trouble with authorities – mainly in the U.S. – for misleading information and some less than transparent practices within their MLM programs around the calculation and application of Personal Volume points and a focus on recruitment rather than actual sales (putting it dangerously within the realms of a pyramid scheme) . These issues have, by my research, been rectified.
MLM Program outline
The Herbalife MLM program is known as its Independent Distributor program.
The base details are as follows:
Base Commission rate: Nil – discounts on products for resale are available.
Down line commission rates: 5% – 25% to seven levels .
Minimum monthly spend to qualify for commissions
There are no minimum monthly requirements set (unless you want to rise through the ranks) however you cannot make money in this program simply by recruiting and/or sponsoring others meaning at least some purchases are required.
Payment terms: Monthly.
Application required?: Yes, Initial application with basic information for call back.
Purchase requirements to join: Yes
- International Business Pack ($94.10) or
- International Business Pack – Super Starter ($124.10)
Marketing materials provided: Basic selling skills and access to specific marketing materials. Access to a personalised sales coach.
Click here for more information in regards to the Herbalife Incentive program
From what I can see, this program is of the old school party plan variety in where at your own level, you make money by purchasing products at discounted rates and then selling at retail to make your profits. There are no referral text links etc. for online sales processing by your referrals and there is a definite requirement for a financial outlay for the products in order to on sell them. This of course can be via online processes – i.e. your own website – however you will need to manage payment and shipping via yourself (unlike most others where you direct your recruits to the website for direct purchase).
As is common with MLM programs, commissions and rankings are determined by the total Personal Volume that you and your downline generate in a calendar month. To qualify for downline commissions within Herbalife, you will need to generate a minimum of 500PV points worth of product monthly (roughly USD$500). Most MLM programs manage it this way so as to ensure that you are getting sales based results rather than simply signing people up whom don't purchase.
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How can I get paid?
This program promotes 4 ways in which you can make money when you promote and sell their products. These are quite standard for a MLM program of this nature however there is still the disadvantage of having to purchase products to sell as a starter which can certainly place a first up strain on your finances. The four ways to earn income are as follows:
As above, to qualify for any earnings under options 2 – 4, you will be required to maintain least 500 – 1000PV of purchases per month.
Ranking structure
The ranking structure – which determines earning qualification for the money making options 2 – 4 listed above – is of similar ilk to most other programs in that the more people who you have underneath you that make sales, the higher you can move through the ranks.
As with many other programs, rankings are determined by the total PV you and your downline generated in a calendar month. As your downline grows, your commission rates increase as per the above graphics. All in all, should you be willing to purchase the products and put the work in, this is what Herbalife expect you to earn:
What else do you get?
On top of the potential earning methods outlined above, Herbalife also offers members in the higher ranks bonuses such as:
- Access to worldwide training as speakers
- Conferences and retreats
Note: There are also levels above those listed here but there is no information on this online – it is all very secret squirrel stuff!
There is also the option to join Herbalife as a Preferred Member at a cost of $34.95. This gives you access to the 25% discount without actually joining as an Independent Distributor.
Refunds
As you need to purchase products to make money via direct selling methods within this MLM program, Herbalife does offer the following refund options:
- If you are in your first year, you can cancel your account and receive a full refund of your International Business Pack.
- If you cancel your Distributorship, you can return unopened products you purchased within the last year for a full refund including shipping.
What is good about it?
So, after a good look around the site and looking at all the options I could find, I do like the following:
- The business is well-known.
- Commission rates are fairly good compared to other programs.
What is not so good about it?
There are also some things to be aware of including:
- Information on the program is not easy to find.
- Although they comment to the contrary, you will need a semi-decent cash injection to make decent money from this business.
- You need to handle all sales and distribution yourself.
- It is not easily geared for online sales – there are no referral text links etc.
My final thoughts
Look, MLM is not an easy platform to make money in at the best of times, and if I am being honest, I don't see this one as being one of the easier ones around in which to gain a footing. From an online business point of view, you still need to do a lot of offline, manual work including sales and shipping. My biggest red flag here however is how hard it is to actually find decent information on the program- my personal pet hate. If you like the product however and have a good network of potential purchasers, then, as with all MLM programs, there is money to be made with hard work and dedication.
Product reviews for Herbalife are definitely mixed with the fact that many believe the products to be overpriced a major theme. This however is not always a bad thing if you can drive sales successfully with some good old-fashioned problem solving marketing.
Is it worth joining? Personally, if I were looking to do this as an online business then I would be looking around for programs with better online sales processes allowing you to concentrate on the marketing and recruitment side of things.
Conclusion
So there you have it, my honest review and appraisal of the Herbalife MLM program. I hope it has been of assistance but as usual, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out by commenting below.
Are there any other programs you have been looking at but want to know more about? If so, please comment below and I will do my best to get some details for you.
Do you want further assistance with any of the above or need help to build your own Health and Wellbeing or MLM based website?
Are you looking for a comprehensive training platform that can give you step by step training, 24/7 support, tools to develop and host your very own website, ongoing assistance with SEO and social media and access to some of the best affiliate marketing minds on the planet, then click on the following link to read more about Wealthy Affiliate.
Until next time
Have fun
Paul
Note: If you make a purchase from this page, there is a very good chance that I make a commission from it – these commissions do not increase your sale price.
Herbalife MLM Program
$94.10 +++++
Pros
- The business is well-known.
- Commission rates are fairly good compared to other programs.
Cons
- Information on the program is not easy to find.
- It is not easily geared for online sales - there are no referral text links etc.
- You will need a semi-decent cash injection to make decent money from this business.
- You need to handle all sales and distribution yourself.
Introducing Wealthy Affiliate, My #1 Recommendation for Setting Up Your Own Online Business
When I started, I knew I wanted to work online, but had absolutely no idea where to begin! You see I had watched friends of mine run a sales party to sell essential oils and someone asked if they could just sell them online?
Then, as I sat on the bus heading into my office job, I started to wonder if I could do just that, sell essential oils online.
Anything to stop having to catch this bus to and from work every day right!
The trouble was, as I mentioned above, I had no idea how to even start.
So of course I started to look around online and found all these courses! They all promised me riches then took my money but left me with no riches!
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That is the key here! I began on their starter membership and did the training! I then joined as a member and did some more training!
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To get you started, Wealthy Affiliate has recently introduced the Hub.
The Hub
The hub is an AI based niche and website creation tool that will get you up and running with the foundation of your OWN business in just a few minutes. This includes:
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All you need to do is choose your subject – which is known as your ‘niche’ – and follow the steps on the screen.
Oh, and as you run through the training below you may realize that what you created above is not exactly what you want. That’s ok, you can just create a new hub!
Wealthy Affiliate Training
Then as you continue your journey, the Wealthy Affiliate Hub is there for you with the most comprehensive training package I have ever seen – And I have used a few in my professional career trust me.
Above we discussed the use of the Hub to set up a website. Once you have done this, you will be able to access the “Step-by-Step Core Training”.
This is available to all members including starter members and will give you everything you need to know to continue to create your online business.
Member Training
There are also Live weekly classes taught by REAL industry experts on a range of topics like artificial intelligence (AI), SEO, YouTube, WordPress, PPC marketing and more.
Great, What Else Does Wealthy Affiliate Have To Help You?
So, let’s keep this short, Wealthy Affiliate is a one-stop-shop platform that provides:
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The platform has been active for over 15 years with the original developers and owners, Kyle and Carson, still extremely active in its day to day operations – especially as they rollout their AI capabilities.
You Can Try it Yourself For Free
Now of course I can tell you all about how Wealthy Affiliate works (because it does) until I am blue in the face. But every other program out there – including the shams and scams – will tell you the same thing!
So how about you just try it for free yourself. The Wealthy Affiliate Starter membership is free to join and gives you access to everything you need to get started – all without the need to spend a cent!
With the starter membership, you get:
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- 1,500 AI Word Credits
- Try the AI Author Platform (BETA)
- 1 Practice Website
- Jaaxy Starter
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- Core Niche Training (8 Classes)
And of course I will be there to help you every step of the way as well!
Look, in the interest of transparency, whilst Wealthy Affiliate does offer a free starter membership, this is designed to give you a look around, have a practice and see if it is worthwhile for you – which is a really great option.
However, as with all new businesses, you will need to make some investment so if you are serious about making money online , you will need to upgrade to a premium membership as this will give you access to all the tools you need in the one spot to succeed!
Afterall, every business needs tools to grow!
So How Much Does This Really Cost?
Wealthy Affiliate does not use upsells once you join – but as I mentioned in the video, to succeed here you will need to invest in a membership. There are a couple of options that provide access to all the tools, training and assistance that you could need – and a free domain as well.
Wealthy Affiliate offers a trio of membership tiers, as detailed on their pricing page.
You can opt for the Starter membership at no cost, the Premium membership for $49 per month or the Premium Plus+ membership for $99 per month. That’s the full extent of it – and you can absolutely build your website without having to spend another cent.
You won’t encounter any unexpected additional charges or covert fees and as a Premium member, you’re equipped with all the essentials to initiate, develop and expand a thriving online enterprise.
Those who opt for the Premium membership are provided with
- Hosting for their websites
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And for those of you who want to make a serious investment into your future, there are some yearly options as well below to give you peace of mind that you have a whole year ahead of you to get stuff done!
And Don’t Forget the Personal Coaching
Once you join, not only do you get plenty of assistance from me, but you also have access to expert coaching, support and mentorship from real industry experts.
I mean, you can have access to all of the top-tier affiliate marketing training in the world, but inevitably, questions arise, particularly during the initial stages.
With an exceptionally dynamic and engaged community that boasts over 2.7 million members, Wealthy Affiliate offers an environment where you, as a member, can fully immerse and leverage this network.
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Wealthy Affiliate Works: Real Results From Real People
As I have mentioned a number of times, Wealthy Affiliate has helped me make real money online though its training and tools.
I have made money each month as well as a sale for $17,000.
But again, those promoting other programs will tell you the same thing!
So let’s get away from me and see what others are saying:
To start with, Wealthy Affiliate has a 4.9 out of 5 Star TrustPilot rating, which is a remarkable accomplishment in any industry, let alone the online business industry.
And here are some of those reviews:
And this is what people are saying within Wealthy Affiliate as well:
So, Let’s Make a Decision!
Let’s be frank, you have read this far so why not go all in, click on the button below to get started on the way to your very online business.
And once you are in and have had a play around with the hub, look for the little envelope on the top right and there will be a message from me. It is of course automated so respond to let me know you are there and we can start this journey together.
(oh, and the profile is mine so you can find me that way as well)
See you there
Paul
