Welcome to the new VideoPlus blog! While we’ve been busy helping clients do things more progressively, utilizing current technologies and best practices to grow their—primarily—network marketing companies, it’s time we do the same thing.

The idea is simple. We will be sharing observations and best practices from the front lines in the industry—what’s working and what’s not—the evolution of what matters most.

Most of the blog entries will be written by me, Paul Adams, Sr. VP of Strategic Marketing for VideoPlus. For more than 20 years, I’ve worked with companies large and small—brand new startups to global giants—companies that sell services, nutritionals, household goods, personal care, skin care, vacuum cleaners, everything!

However, on occasion, we will share thoughts from the real guru at VideoPlus, Stuart Johnson, CEO and President. He has a unique look at the industry and we’ll tap into that.

So check back every week and see what’s new.

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Now, on to the business of blogging.

In what is essentially a new era in direct selling, there seems to be reluctance by some companies to change the way they do things. It’s hard to understand how a company with flat or declining sales refuses to acknowledge they are doing things that aren’t working. “Because we’ve always done it that way” is a completely inexcusable reason to keep doing things that way—unless it works.

Since mid-spring of 2009, we’ve been adamant that companies MUST adjust their messaging to meet the economic, social and personal climate of today… and beyond.

Every company has two primary things to offer to the prospect: 1) their products and 2) their business opportunity. The potential of more money is catching more people’s interest than ever—at least in my lifetime. And if you look at the companies that are growing rapidly, you will see they are more focused on the business opportunity as their primary offer. Clearly, they have not abandoned their product as a key element of the offer, but money is attracting people faster.

Side note: You should LOVE product loyalists. They will give up almost anything before they will give up your product. But they are typically not the reason your company grows past a certain size. They may get you comfortable, but they will often hinder you from getting as large as you may want. We’ve seen it plenty of times: A company grows to a point where the existing leadership has done all they can. Then, because they are THE leaders, they influence all decisions going forward. They rule things such as “field leadership councils” and other committees (that’s a whole topic by itself), but they don’t know how to do anything differently. So, if you are planning on asking them to help you design a growth plan to attract more business builders, you will probably not find the input you’re looking for.

A good product can carry you a long way, but in the end, you must be able to attract business builders who can help you sell more products to more people.

It’s 2010—unemployment just went over 10 percent. Clearly, there are a lot of people looking for a way to get out of their current situation. Make your message match the needs of today and keep your focus on doing the right things right.