Those involved in MLM have traditionally had limited choices in how they can promote their businesses.

Social networking is becoming evermore ubiquitous, even attracting individuals with very little computer experience. David Track, founder and CEO of MLMSocial.com, says, “My wife’s 85-year-old grandmother has a profile on Facebook!” He adds, “She didn’t even own a computer until recently.”

While social networks like Facebook are great for connecting with old friends, Track notes that it’s sometimes difficult to market one’s business on them. However, “affordable ad space, the elimination of friend number limits and innovative branding techniques are some of the advantages drawing droves of marketers to MLMSocial,” he states.

Those involved in MLM have the added challenge of trying to not only promote their businesses, but of also attempting to brand themselves. Track adds, “It’s easy to get lost in a sea of requests on other social networks because most of the people receiving the requests are often not in the mind frame to do business; the atmosphere promotes connecting with friends and family.” MLMSocial.com, he explains, offers a venue for like-minded individuals to network towards a common mutual goal: increasing their MLM/network marketing businesses.

MLMSocial.com may possibly revolutionize the MLM industry by carving a niche in the social networking world for network marketers to promote their businesses and themselves in ways they couldn’t previously on other sites. Track says, “MLMSocial.com picks up where other social networks leave off– unless, of course, your grandmother is particularly good at promoting your business to her friends on Facebook.”

For more information, visit them online at http://MLMSocial.com.

A growing number of consumers are finding that developing an extra source of income can be one way to reduce the stress that often accompanies an uncertain economy.

For example, when the economy weakens and the future seems uncertain, many Americans begin to look to direct selling, or sales made on a one-on-one basis away from a fixed retail establishment (think Mary Kay and Creative Memories), as a way to work part-time and add to the family income.

According to Amy Robinson with the Direct Selling Association (DSA), interest in the business tends to rise during difficult economic times.

“In 2007, 15 million Americans worked as direct selling representatives and they sold more than $30 billion worth of products and services,” Robinson said. For instance, a woman named Cheryl Rickard took a job as an art consultant for Ethnic Expressions, a direct selling company that specializes in African-American art and decorative accessories. “I started to earn money to pay off credit cards, and now I’m doing it full-time,” Rickard said.

For anyone interested in becoming a direct selling representative, DSA offers these helpful hints:

• Check to see if the company is a DSA member, which means it must follow the association’s rigorous Code of Ethics.

• Make sure the company sells an actual product or service and doesn’t focus only on recruiting.

• Start-up costs should be minimal, usually just the cost of a sales kit.

For more information on direct selling, visit the Web site at www.directselling411.com.