I wanted to provide my history with Network Marketing to provide some context for my experiences with ITV Ventures. I had never really understood or heard about network marketing until well into my 20s. Sure, I had heard of Avon, Tupperware, Shaklee, and other companies, but did not understand their business model until running some errands one day with my mom.

I was home visiting my parents when I was in the Army in 1999. My mom had to send something FedEx, so we went to one of those pack and ship stores. While there we ran into some that she knew. She asked with he was still with (I can’t remember the name of the company). He said no, that he was with this great marketing company.  He had quit his job, was making better money and was happier than he had ever been. I could see the sincere ‘light’ in his eyes. He must have seen it because he asked me to come out to his car. He had some literature in the trunk and a product sample.

I decided at the time to not go pursue anything with the company because I really could not see myself going and talking to freinds and family about any business. I just could not see growing a business any other way. And I did start to notice other people I knew inviting me to some secret meeting to talk about some business plan or incredible pay plan for something new they had found. I just didn’t see a way around having to do this same sort of ‘fake it till you make it’ business presentation with my friends and family.

(to be continued)

I wanted to write about my favorite ITV infomercial product–Rice ‘n Shine®. It is something that I use and enjoy daily. Here is the basic info from the website. It is simply just one of those things that you should consider a part of your day.

Rice ‘n Shine’s® provides 8 grams of protein, phytosterols, vitamin E and B, and over 120 naturally-occurring antioxidants using Risolubles® - a proprietary blend of stabilized rice bran developed by product formulator Patty McPeak.

Rice bran is the outer 10% of the rice kernel that is removed when rice is milled from brown rice to white rice. It’s a nutritional gold mine that is often lost through cooking or the milling process. Through a patented technology discovered by Patty McPeak and her scientists, Rice ‘n Shine® captures this gold mine and turns it into a great tasting meal-replacement drink.

Benefits:

• Supports a healthy heart**
• Has over 120 naturally-occurring antioxidants
• Helps support weight loss
• Boosts energy
• Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
• Tastes great!

**Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol, which include two servings of foods that provide a daily total of at least 800 mg. of phytosterols in two meals, may reduce the risk of heart disease. One serving of Rice ‘n Shine provides 400 mg. of phytosterols.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

As a former franchise owners, I am building an argument, working on a thesis of sorts, stating that for the vast majority of people they would be much better off starting a network marketing business rather than purchasing a franchise.

You have to work at both a network marketing business and a franchise, and you have to start with some operating capital. A franchise will take everything from you. You might have to sink your 401k into it. You might have to spend 16 hours a day in that shop. And it may take two or three years to become profitable. The upside is that even if you are worn out and out of cash, you can probably sell the franchise to some other dream seeker. There is this cultural myth of a proud business owner. The ‘little guy’ in the shop working hard. But frankly, I feel sorry for many of the small business owners that I know.

If you go into a network marketing opportunity with your head on straight and your eyes open. Don’t walk around like some fool, bugging your friends and relatives. Set it up online, with a small home office, write a business plan, write goals, set your working hours, define your path, you will be successful. I am currently working on some materials that can help guide you, no matter what your business. Stick around, check out my blog, sign up for my e-mail list and I will keep you in the loop.

I wanted to explain why I joined ITV Ventures at the Premier level on the last day of the month. At first glance, it might seem silly because if I had waited one more day I would have not had to pay the $29.95 for training and been responsible for $100 in personal product movement for 60 days instead of 30 days.

At first, I had the idea that I would join ITV Ventures on the first day of the month so that I would maximize the time that I had before I had to pay out a little money. But that is really thinking from a limiting perspective. Oh, I was quite broke when I started with ITV Ventures, I sold personal belongings to start the business. But many people think in this limiting way and join on the 1st day of any given month. By starting just one day before them, you maximize the potential to gain people in your downline through spillover.

If you are on the fence, then seriously consider starting with ITV Ventures as soon as possible. Make the commitment to change your life and change your limiting attitude toward money. In the long run, a few days may really matter when you are a part of a fast growing team. If you need more information, then please do not hesitate to contact me for more information.

I want to address how ITV Ventures really is different than your typical network marketing/direct sales company. About two years ago, I joined a health and wellness network marketing company because I really liked the products and wanted to get a discount. And I thought that if I had the chance, maybe I could make a little money at it. At first I was very enthusiastic, and interested in making some money, but this quickly faded when, in the intro packet to their business opportunity there two pages where I was supposed to make a list of 100 people that I knew so that I could call them and tell them about the company and try to get them into a three-way call with my sponsor.

Frankly, it is just an amateurish way to stat a business and one that has little chance of success. Sure there are people out there who can pull this off, but for 99.5% of the people out there it just does not work. Oh, I did forget one thing as well. I was highly encouraged to order about $2,000 worth of products from this other company to get me started. I thought that I’d just join to get a discount and maybe make some extra money and now.

My wife joined a prominent beauty direct sales company about two years ago. She tells everybody she knows about the ‘great opportunity’ and books countless parties where most of the people don’t show up and usually don’t even have the courtesy to let her know that ’something came up.’ She has spent thousands of dollars on inventory that is pilled up in our basement (Isn’t it illegal to encourage the stocking of thousands of dollars of inventory?). And let’s just say, she is not driving a pink Cadillac.

ITV Ventures is different. Their patented business model of taking phone calls from prospects who are watching or have watched the television infomercial is a far cry from the NFL (no friends left) networking of the others. My only regret is that I didn’t find ITV Ventures and sign up sooner.

Celebrity Kathie Lee Gifford appears in a new thirty minute show hosted by CEO and founder of ITV Ventures, Donald Barrett on behalf of Child Help.

Founded in 1959, Child Help is a non-profit organization that services severally abused and neglected children throughout the country. In the U.S. alone, four children die each day of abuse and neglect. Child Help Founders, Sara O?Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times for their lifelong dedication to children.

Child Help has a significant roster of Celebrity Ambassadors such as Jane Seymore, Cheryl Ladd, John Stamos and others. Long time Child Help supporter, Kathie Lee Gifford, recently shot a series of public service announcements along with the long form show in the ITV Studios World Headquarters just outside of Boston in Beverly, MA.

Since adopting Child Help as one of the charities supported by ITV Ventures, the company has donated $65,000. in cash in addition to production services valued at more than $150,000. in an effort to get the Child Help message to the public.

Read the Full Article at ITV News

eWEEK article features ITV’s pioneering use of technology

ITV is always at the forefront of technology. A leader in the direct response industry, ITV was recently one of five candidates nominated for the Interactive Intelligence Innovators Award. They were recognized for their unique application and forward thinking use of Interactive Intelligence software for implementations during award period March, 2005 to March, 2006. On the application of technology at ITV, CIO Christopher Meusel states, “If there is not an existing software package to make a business logic come to fruition, we build it.”

This prestigious nomination comes from Interactive Intelligence, Inc., a leading provider of the most innovative contact center and VOIP telephony products and services available. The CIC (Client Interaction Center) system used in ITV’s East Coast locations offers great speed, numerous out-of-the-box logic tools, business reporting and versatility for need-based customization. ITV’s partnership with Interactive Intelligence and its flexible solutions-based software mirrors the integrated solutions philosophy that distinguishes ITV from its competition. Using a proven method, ITV provides clients with a custom solution to market their products, and their technology is keeping par with this successful business model

After hearing of the nomination, eWEEK, a publication for innovations and movements in technology, visited ITV to interview CIO, Christopher Meusel. The article detailed the enhanced flexibility and reporting the new digital VOIP Telephony system allows ITV’s multiple call centers. The new system is increasing revenue and optimizing business opportunities across the board.

The new phone technology is boosting productivity and results across the board at ITV. They have nearly eliminated abandoned call as a result of the new phone technology. Any calls remaining in the call queue for more than one minute are routed to a customer service number and are answered by a representative. This representative then takes the caller’s information down and submits the customer information to a sales professional. Sales professionals are evaluated on key metrics such as revenue per call, abandoned calls, talk time and pickup rates. They can also perform call routing based on representative expertise and availability.

The new system also allows for granular reporting. ITV tracks the number of calls each show generates with a unique 800-number. The unique tracking system, coupled with the detailed reporting helps the ITV Executives to evaluate the effectiveness of the media buys. This way the system lets ITV determine where to buy its media based on real response rates. ITV has 4,000 800-numbers at its disposal.

Meusel says he is looking forward to using the speech recognition features in the Customer Interaction Center to handle call processing for free offers. Stay tuned to see what else ITV has in the “programming queue” for the coming year!