Great news! November’s list of the 50 Top Network Marketing Companies received very positive feedback so I asked my team to research over 100 MLM companies and create a new list for December.

The qualifications for the 50 Top Network Marketing Companies remain the same. Every company listed below has been in business for 3+ years (no fly-by-night companies) and is well known online (based on Alexa.com’s website traffic rankings).

Without further ado, here are the Top 50 Most Popular Multi-Level Marketing Companies for December 2009:

Source: Based on Alexa.com Website Rankings for October 2009 – December 2009.

Following November’s Top 50 Most Popular Network Marketing Companies, I gave a brief overview of  network marketing in general. This month, I wanted to focus on sharing the typical structure of network marketing companies and give a quick background of the MLM industry.

The structure of network marketing companies allows manufacturers/product developers to release products on the market successfully without spending millions upon millions of dollars.

The success of every network marketing company is dependent upon the referral-based distribution system and the drive within members to share their business with friends, family, business associates, and acquaintances. Today, the majority of network marketing companies handle the intricate business details so their representatives can focus all efforts into sharing products and services.

In the 1950s and 60s, network marketing was more commonly known as direct sales. Direct sales companies became quite trendy but were not commonly known until the 1970s when people began to understand what the industry was all about and saw the benefits of network marketing (MLM).

Companies like Mary Kay, Usana, Herbalife and Amway went global in the 1980s and paved the way for streamlined manufacturing and distribution in the 1990s and 2000s. Streamlining these processes allowed companies to reduce operating costs and create financial freedom for more of their independent representatives.

I’d love to read what you think about December’s Top 50 Network Marketing Companies and my overview of the industry so let me know in the comments section below!

Is there a great MLM company missing from our list? Let me know so I can keep an eye on them for January! Along with an updated list of the top direct sales companies, I will cover the criterion you need to consider when evaluating a network marketing opportunity.

P.S. If you missed last month’s list, check it out right here: 50 Top Network Marketing Companies – November 2009.

P.P.S. I appreciate everyone who let me know about network marketing companies that were left out of last month’s list!