The MLM Business—Fact or Fiction
Read More: The multilevel marketing (MLM) industry has faced many challenges to its credibility and to its acceptance as a legitimate moneymaking endeavor over the years. Despite the number of people who set out to start and run an MLM business from the comfort and convenience of their own home, the industry is nevertheless plagued by a reputation of unfulfilled dreams and broken promises. The ledgers are filled with endless lists of people who thought they were changing their future and wound up emptying their bank accounts instead.
The reality however is that an MLM busienss can be a very lucrative source of income. Some people choose to operate an MLM enterprise as a side business, augmenting their salary with revenue from their work-at-home venture. Others turn their MLM business into a thriving enterprise that involves hundreds of people selling hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in products and services. When a business mogul such as Donald Trump heartily endorses multilevel marketing as a legitimate source of income, you begin to wonder why MLM sometimes get such a bad rap.
But today, the argument about whether an MLM business is legitimate or not isn’t really applicable with the advent of the Internet. Old school MLM tactics—which basically gave the industry a bad name—have been completely replaced by automated marketing activities conducted online. And online marketing businesses that leverage the internet can generate literally thousands of leads in a month, far more than the traditional MLM business would generate in a year or more. I know this to be fact because I’ve done both and I can tell you that my old school MLM efforts never came close to producing 5,000 or more leads a month, like I’m doing now.
The traditional MLM business has been replaced by high-tech and highly efficient Internet marketing Enterprises that you run from your home office while tapping into a global marketplace. By learning to effectively leverage the tools provided by the Internet home based entrepreneurs by the thousands are finding dramatic success from their work-at-home enterprise.
This is why I spend so much time developing training programs for my team, and making sure they take advantage of them. I really believe that the key to internet marketing success is in knowing how to do it correctly. By dedicating the time and energy to learning these lessons well, just about anybody can become successful online.
Even before the Internet, a certain number of motivated, dedicated, and committed entrepreneurs were able to take a standard MLM business and turn it into a lucrative career and lifestyle. Today, on the other hand, most direct marketing superstars are making their mark online. Far more people are enjoying the same level of work-at-home success by effectively tapping into the Internet, its tools, and its technologies.
I believe that the key is to find a solid system, master it, and then continuously upgrade the way that you use it. Old school MLM programs were based entirely on the size of the network that you could create. The problem was that most people couldn’t create a very big network. But the old saying still applies—the size of your net worth is directly related to the size of your network.
That’s why the internet is so awesome. The direct marketing networks of today’s industry top producers number well into the thousands. Using the old terminology, with a downline that big, you can’t help but to make money, and a lot of it. And where only about 3% of the people who ventured into MLM were able to make a go of it, today anyone can be successful online.
My advice is this. MLM is still a viable business opportunity, with one major distinction—you need to do it online. Move your direct marketing business—regardless of industry—online, and you will be virtually assured of dramatic success.
Views: 2,226 | 
Comments: 13 
About the Author: Michael Force
Member Since: 12/19/2009
Company: CarbonCopyPRO
Industry: Internet
Primary Web Site: http://www.MichaelForce.com
MLM bad rap
As you say Michael, MLM has been getting a bad rap from way back. A big portion of this is due to lack of information about what the industry is really all about.
Being online gives us the opportunity to educate and make the duplication process a little easier to do. So creating tools to help your associates is crucial in that process. Good article.
MLM acceptance
When I got started everyone would ask if this was one of those pyramids. In which today I never get we have come a long way. We still need to go further.
Universities are teaching it Donald Trump and Rich Dad is giving our industry some more acceptance.
Respectfully,
Chris Brown
http://prostarprofits.com
This is a great idea.
This is a great idea. However if you have no idea what squeeze pages are or opt in pages and getting maybe more info than 1 persons mind can handle. It can be very tough to get started.
MLM in the 21st Century -- How do you sort it all out?
The industry has changed dramatically since I started in the mid 80s. If anything, the 21st century networker is exposed to a lot more abuse including: Income claims, false expectations, and product hype.
With the Internet Information boom, MLM and affiliate marketing hype has been amplified 1000 times. So how does one sort out the quagmire? Good question.
First and foremost, you have to have a credible, unique product. The MLM industry provides some great products and services, but for the most part the industry hypes a business opportunity wrapped around an average product.
Customer acquisition is critical for success in any business but the MLM industry focuses on the dream of having your own business and being your own boss. Great idea, but customers create volume through purchasing a product. In the old days, we did focus on servicing customers which is why we had loyal customers and reps year after year after year.
Today's MLM with the speed of the Internet has huge turn over. Leaders drag people from one opportunity to the next. Company loyalty is rare.
I am still a successful, career networker after almost 20 years because I've worked hard and focused on the most important commodity in this industry, relationships with my people. I also recommend aligning with companies that focus on true customer acquisition with a true irresistible offer and customer support system.
The fact is MLM companies thrive and survive when people love the products regardless of the business, since 80% of them are not interested in the business anyway. Mark Petticord www.DNANextBusiness.com
That is why systems matter!
Jason,
Michael wrote: "This is why I spend so much time developing training programs for my team, and making sure they take advantage of them. I really believe that the key to internet marketing success is in knowing how to do it correctly. By dedicating the time and energy to learning these lessons well, just about anybody can become successful online."
Why not fall in line with someone that already has a system that can just be handed down? This can eliminate months of wheel spinning. It can allow for some immediate results while you are learning.
I think this will be the trend. Prospects will do more due diligence if they want to be successful online.
Cheryl James
http://JoinCherylJames.com
MLM Truth
“Even before the Internet, a certain number of motivated, dedicated, and committed entrepreneurs were able to take a standard MLM business and turn it into a lucrative career and lifestyle.”
In spite of very less starting capital, standard MLM business requires very strong work ethic, discipline, commitment and bull dog attitude (like any other business venture) Many people don’t have it. May be because of the sponsor or employee mentality, people think they can work the business by putting 1 or 2 hours of effort a day. After few years of struggling, they wake up to the hard truth that they didn’t get anywhere, and in the hole for xx grand. But it is good business in the sense that, it will cut you open and show you what you are made up of.
Sekhar
www.Path2Millionaire.com
MLM: Marketing Like a Machine...
What's up Michael,
You are the Marketig Machine!
You're posting up articles faster than the presses where running back on VJ day...What a great example and leader. How do you do it?
A guy could spend all day going around just to read your content. You must have half a dozen, or more, pounding their key boards 24-7.
Thanks for all you do,
Mitchell Dillman
http://mitchelldillman.com/partner-with-mitchell/
MLM Learning!! to navigate online
Michael,
Your article was great!! Thank you. I think you hit the nail on the head in several points. The one that stuck out for me was--learning to use the online (internet) system to manage your business effectively. It is so easy to get lost with all the information out there. Focus is key. Master each aspect--from lead generation, to list building, to building a relationship with your list which will then generate dollars. It's a process; but, worth it.
Again,thanks
Susan Oliver
http://JustSusan.gogvo.com
The Key Is Mastery
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the great article. You hit the nail on the head when you said,
I believe that the key is to find a solid system, master it, and then continuously upgrade the way that you use it."
With information coming to us at the speed of the internet wanna be online marketers can get bogged down in information overload and no action.
The best advice I was given last year was "One guru-One system-One year". This advice has saved me $1000's and hundreds of hours that I now use to focus on mastering one skill at a time. I've made more progress in the past two months than in the previous 2 years of following one guru after another.
Thanks for the great article.
Here's to an awesome year!
Ruth
RE: Truth Is Truth
Great stuff for the newbies coming in an industry... great stuff
You Need To Do It Online
"My advice is this. MLM is still a viable business opportunity, with one major distinction—you need to do it online."
Hi Michael,
Wonderful article! It couldn't be said any better. Like you mentioned, systems are what is making the difference for those needing to learn the online marketing for their businesses and make marketing money while learning.
Thanks for all the value you give on Better Networker:)
Online,Online,Oline,Oline..........
Totally correct,you need to study the new techniques that are available to you, don't be in such a hurry to be a big superstar, take your time and learn the applications and tools that fit your style, and master them. I'm from the Old School of biz and I'm so excited about this new frontier of bussiness and opportunity that I can't explain it all in this format, but I think its a blessing that that we have true hope in something real in the face of the current doom and gloom of brick and motar economics of yesterday.
And Developing an On-line Presence is affordable.....
I agree with the premise that On-line Marketing is an important element for the successful growth of almost any Business. My Professional Service providers and Manufacturing clients are realizing the Benefits daily.
But I do encourage anyone, including MLM aspirants, to establish Authority and Real estate before Blasting you opportunity. Some feel this is too time Consuming but a Good Business Plan allows the results to be realized in a relative short period of Time.
While I read this post I was listening to Wednesdays Podcast serious Business builder may find helpful.
Visit the site and Download the most recent Podcast..
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Chuck Bartok
www.focussociety.com
www.youcanbuild.it
www.beginnersmarketingclass.com
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