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[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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• MLM
• Multi Level Marketing
• Network Marketing
• Referral Marketing
• Direct Selling

etc., etc. ...

We've all heard these names used when talking about our industry.
And I'm sure people use their own labels too.

So here's my question:
What is the BEST name for this industry?

I'm looking for a simple 2-3 word phrase that you think sums up the entire industry just as these historical names have been used. If you think one of those is the best then vote for that one.

It has to be something simple and direct that could be used in a format such as
"the MLM Association" for instance, or "the MLM Professionals Academy," etc.

Something that is concise and everyone in the industry would understand.
The name recognition must be crystal clear.

If you were to hear about the XYZ Association ...
What would XYZ have to be so that you recognized it immediately as pertaining to you?

* no - I'm not creating an association. I am creating something else though ... but you'll have to wait to see it. That's just the best example to convey what I'm looking for.

Cast Your Vote Now ...

** Please do not post your elevator pitch.
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[Marius Lombaard Company: Amway Contribution Level: 3]

this is a tough one richard, because many terms have a bad rap already.

i think the essence of mlm is not the leverage or the fact that you get paid on multiple levels and stuff like that (althoug it's included in the package)

a term that i think people can identify with, without having preconceived ideas (even if only for a little while until they know we coined a new phrase...) should be something in the line of:

"RECOMMENDATION AND REFERRAL MARKETING"

i know thats a bit broad and may even include things that aren't MLM, but this is what i believe it's all about. you promote something you believe in, therefore you recommend it and refer people to use it (or not, whichever the case may be)

good luck in coining a new phrase/term!

[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

Network marketing is, to me, the most definitive of what we do. We market to a network of people therefore network marketing is "King" !

Joyce

[Tony Logue Contribution Level: 2]

So Richard are you coming up with a new organization? LOL

Really good question. I think there are so many names for what we do because of the bad rap a few of the names have received.

Personally though, I'm finding a lot of the "new" generation has never heard of MLM, or multi-level marketing, or even network marketing, so maybe as a whole we're doing a better job as far as removing the negativity.

I'd have to say that probably 90% of the time when someone asks me what I'm doing I use the term internet marketing. The reason being that for the most part all of my marketing takes place on the internet.

So my vote would be.... "internet marketing".

Tony

[Sandeep Nath Company: MyLeadSystemPRO Contribution Level: 6]

Here's a post I wrote a while back on this Richard:

http://createweath.com/2010/03/network- ... -building/

Though Network Marketing is the popular word, it probably has a stigma to overcome and a new jargon could be welcome.

I propose "Wommping" - I'm into wommping.

It would be cruel to leave you alone to figure it out, so here is what that means - word of mouth movement of products. Britney Spears is into wommping too... I'm catching up with her

[Michael B Wilbraham Contribution Level: 4]

What about "Association Marketing"?

Although I do believe that "Network Marketing" is about the best one for it. After all, to market your products you need to network with others!

[Warren Veach Company: State Continuing Education Contribution Level: 4]

Hmm..

Richard,

You may recall that not too long ago I posted an article asking for people's impression of a phrase to be used in place of MLM, Network Marketing, Direct Selling and such on a landing page.

Your comments were, "the verbiage is typical marketing speak associated with all the overhyped "opportunities" prevalent in this industry. A way to skate around the words "network marketing" "mlm" or "multi level marketing."

Which again begs the question ... Why are you hiding that fact? WHat are you ashamed of?
If you have to concoct a catchy new name to hide what it really is so you feel better talking about it, then what makes you think I want to do it."

Actually, the majority of the comments leaned this way.

I took the comments as a whole to say that if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, then it must be a duck.

Or, more poetically, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".

Am I missing the point, or intent, of your question?

[J Blake Contribution Level: 2]

MLM is direct sales/marketing. But not all direct sales is MLM.

MLM is also Affiliate Marketing. But not all Affiliate Marketing is MLM.

MLM is about building a network of relationships.

This is what all good direct sales/marketing businesses should be doing.

Relationship Marketing

sounds very appealing... and more intimate... than all the others..

Relationship Marketing has my vote. Sounds sexy.. lol

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

Am I missing the point, or intent, of your question?

Hi Warren,

No, I'm not looking to coin a new phrase ...
I'm just trying to boil it down to the most commonly used phrase amongst people already in the industry.

So if MLM if the most common denominator, so be it.
I know I use it at times. Other times I may say network marketing.
I think I personally use referral marketing the most as that is how Wayne Hillman, the founder of Life Force describes it and it's rubbed off over the last 7 years.

Actually Wayne really likes to call it "Love Sharing" ... but I'm not that cool yet.

However, I typically only use referral marketing in the context of explaining a piece of our business model,
not as an answer to What Do I Do?.

When people ask me what I do ... I usually say "I'm an internet business developer."

It usually gets the point across clear enough in the average day-to-day casual conversation that the person I'm talking with either "gets it" and asks me to explain what that means, or they say something like "Oh cool ..." then change the subject.

I use that phrase because my personal business model is much more than just building an mlm organization.


So my intention with this thread is this:
If there is a common label ... What Is It?

If you were to hear about the XYZ Association ...
What would XYZ have to be so that you recognized it immediately as pertaining to you?
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[Jon Promnitz Contribution Level: 2]

I prefer network marketing, but it's more like word-of-mouth marketing.