What’s there not To Like About MLM?

 

 

In recent blogs, we’ve been talking about the pros and cons of MLM (multi-level marketing).  And as I’ve mentioned, the very mention of MLM evokes strong emotions in people’s responses.  Some people will even go so far as to say they hate this or that about the MLM business concept. 

 

            If you’ve been involved in any way with MLM, you know they come in waves.  A very successful company will be followed with a few “copy cat” programs who want to ride on that success wave!  Things will quiet down, and then another wave will come.  (And of course each one is the best.)

 

            I don’t suppose there is any other business that has gained such a bad reputation as intensely as network marketing.  (The other name for MLM.)  How did this happen? 

 

            Several ways.  (I’ve experienced a few of these – have you?)

 

• The first cardinal rule of MLM was that you must begin with your “warm market.”  You were taught to approach your dearest friends and relatives and insist that this is the best business going and they should all be in it with you.  Never mind that probably not one of them was even remotely interested in the business or the products.  Remember the feeling when they started avoiding you?  I can.

 

• Next you work the “three foot” rule which means you tell anyone who is within three feet of you about your new business.  Now I don’t know about you, but this is not a fun exercise.  Not to mention it is poles apart from we now know as “targeted marketing.”

 

• Of course, you were not a good “MLMer” if you failed to attend the weekly meetings (in a home or in a hotel room) where you sat through the “presentation” for the umpteenth time.  I always wondered how you could convince someone to attend the meetings when you didn’t want to go yourself?  It just plain didn’t work!

 

• You were told to “treat it like a business,” but did you see that admonition modeled?  Nope!  Instead of building a strong customer base (like a good business) all you were taught was: Recruit! Recruit! Recruit!  Build the downline! 

 

• And don’t forget those great “targeted leads” you were told to purchase.  (They’re the best leads, remember?)  Then you were taught how to cold call the leads.  I don’t have to tell you that cold calling leads is difficult even for the best salespeople.  That means when the untrained try it, the results are nothing but heavier weights of discouragement! 

 

• The MLM you were involved with might also have offered marketing tools (read that sold marketing tools) to the distributors.  And each tool, you were told, would make your business “take off” – a website, a landing page, a magnetic car sign, flyers, brochures, bright and shiny business cards, and on and on.  While any and all tools can be effective, not one can ever be the one to make your business “take off.”

 

As I said, there are many reasons why so many people have been wounded by network marketing companies.  I’ve touched on just a few in this blog.  Of course this doesn’t mean that network marketing is doomed.  But it has changed.  (Thankfully.)

 

My advice is, don’t just dabble in network marketing, or any other business you choose online.  Do your research. Find out what works best for you.  Then commit to invest your time, your efforts, your talents, and your energy to make it work!

 

            My commitment to the first direct sales company in which I was involved was 110%!  I gave it my all and more.  And it soared!  The same can happen for you. 

 

            We’ll dig into the changes in network marketing in the next blog.