If you’re building a direct sales business, you’re probably doing everything you can to market your products and opportunity. Printed materials, social media, e-mail marketing, and search engine marketing are all great ways to grow your network, but if you’re overlooking any established safeguards, it could mean big trouble for the company you represent.

The ASEA compliance team has shared their list of the top 10 most frequent compliance no-no’s they see associates making. Here’s what to avoid as you grow your business:

1. Product claims: Because ASEA’s core product is classified as a food supplement, it should not be referenced as a treatment or cure for any diagnosable condition.
2. Income claims: The success of an individual in the MLM industry depends on their individual circumstances and effort, so it’s not appropriate to promise any level of compensation or income.
3. Sales on online auction or classified ad sites: Associates may not advertise, promote the sale of, sell or attempt to sell ASEA products on any online auction or classified ad site including, without limitation, eBay, Amazon, etc.
4. Unlicensed websites: Associates may use only a company-licensed website to promote the products or the business opportunity over the Internet.
5. Sponsored links: Associates must obtain written approval from the company before initiating any sponsored links on Internet search engines to direct Internet traffic to a company-licensed website.
6. Sales tools: Sales tools must be approved by corporate before they can be used to market ASEA’s products or opportunity.
7. Out-of-market content: Products or product-related content can only be used in the market for which it has been approved.
8. Before-and-after pictures: It’s great to show progress with before-and-after pictures, but there are a couple things to keep in mind. Make sure you know the person in the photo; you have permission to use the photo; and no wounds, rashes, bruises, or other injuries are featured in the photo.
9. Use of outdated corporate videos: ASEA’s brand and product lines are constantly evolving. This means that sometimes videos contain outdated material. All of ASEA’s approved and current videos are available on our region-specific YouTube channels. Take a look at our two YouTube channels designed specifically for Europe: the ASEA Europe channel and the ASEA Deutschland channel!
10. ASEA athletes in promotional materials: ASEA has a great team of sponsored athletes, but just because those athletes have approved their appearance on the ASEA corporate website does not mean you can use them on your associate website. Always check with the ASEA Europe Marketing & Communications Department at marcomm.eu@aseaglobal.com before featuring any ASEA athlete, past or present, in your marketing materials.

Keep in mind that many items in the list above apply to activities we encourage associates to engage in. There is plenty you can be doing within ASEA’s guidelines. The key point is simply to seek and obtain corporate approval for activities that fall under regulated domain.

For a full list of ASEA policies and procedures, click here.

For business-building ideas, reference the ASEA Success Guide in the “Business” section of the Virtual Office library.

When in doubt, reach out to your regional sales head or ASEA’s Associate Education & Conduct Department for assistance.