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[Angela James Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Shelly,

I don't feel that Network Marketing is dying or even dead. I think that over the years any type of marketing online has gotten a bad rap because of older companies that, by the way, are going to have to really look at themselves and re-evaluate that marketing styles and strategies.

If we look around in today's economy, everyone in business of any kind had better be looking at how they are doing business and tighten up, be honest with themselves and the customers and get back to basics. Many will go away and many will ride the tide. The businesses that are focusing on honesty, and integrity and diversification will prevail.

Network Marketing is alive and well.....just cleaning up and doing it better.
Sharing Forward

Angela James

[Shelly Begarowicz Contribution Level: 2]

WOW! How wonderful to wake up to all these GREAT responses... Keep'um coming!

The overwhelming consensus seems to be that Network Marketing is here to stay but that the industry is evolving.

That is to say the distributors are FINALLY learning correct marketing methods, such as attraction marketing. Stuff the rest of the business world has understood seemingly Forever...

And top network marketing companies see the writing on the wall. The best of them are adapting and rewriting their policies to meet the changing needs of their sales force and customers.

It really is sink or swim time for many network marketing companies out there today. With all the options available to us they either meet our needs or we move on.

As I said before, because of the internet and forums such as this one, we networkers are a much more savvy group than we were only 5 years ago. We now know what we need and have the ability to not only seek it out but to demand it from the companies we choose to partner with.

It will be interesting to see which companies adapt and which ones fail... but that's a discussion for another day LOL.

Live Your Dreams!

ShellyB
The Rat Race Rebel

[Damayanthi Jayasinghe Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Shelly,

Interesting topic & comments.

My openion Network Marketing is not dead but got stronger with the Attraction Marketing & Internet Network Marketing. This helps us to attract the target audiance to our messages as long as we do it in a correct way.

I agree that we cannot put all our eggs in one basket if we ever want to survive in this industry. Yet, that's what most of us do & taught to do until going broke. This is a very sad situation in MLM as most people who joined with great value to offer quit when they cannot fund their business expenses.
We cannot blame them. Very few people decide that it is time to stop, look in the mirror, & take responsibility no matter what the leaders in the company tells that "works "

This leads us to having other affiliate marketing products which we need to use to build our business & not to take our main focus away - meaning building our MLM business to receive a decent residual income.

Well this is how I see it.

Damayanthi
http://www.damayanthijayasinghe.com

[Bob Firestone Contribution Level: 2]

No. Many others have already said this but there is a change happening. I think the change is for the better and I think the change is better quality businesses in need based areas.
A majority of MLM companies don't fill a need they fill a semi-want. When push comes to shove the product or service isn't worth the money and if the distributor is not making money they will leave. This is why I see such a high turnover when I talk to people in the different vitamin and juice companies. Need based companies fill areas that are the last thing to be cut in the budget. Cell Phones are an area that should be attracting a lot of attention. I know people who would rather not eat than not have their phone.

If a company doesn't provide a value beyond the business opportunity that is trouble in the long term.

[Tyrone Turner Contribution Level: 2]

I really enjoyed reading the response on this thread. I agree, no network marketing is not dead, but the distributors in the field have pushed the envelope and are becoming increasingly savvy with leveraging the power of the Internet for marketing their business, and for learning 'how to' do network marketing (i.e. conducting research on best practices).

[Cindy Schulson Contribution Level: 2]

What a great discussion. Thank you for starting it Shelly.

Everyone seems to agree that network marketing isn't dead but is changing for the better. The thing is we are preaching to the converted. Everyone on this site sees the value of attraction marketing and is practicing it. But if you talk to most people in MLMs, they don't even know what it is. Change doesn't happen over night, but there is a huge movement of people online who are shifting the boundaries. And because of the exponential power of the Internet, that change will happen quicker than in the past. It will be very interesting to see which MLMs will emerge as the true leaders. There is a huge opportunity for these companies, but we will have to see which ones embrace and leverage the power of the Internet. If any of your companies have already done that, it would be interesting to hear about it.
Cindy

[Chris King Contribution Level: 1]

Shelly,

You sure got us started! And what great replies. It is exciting what is happening in the network marketing industry, because of people like Ann Sieg and Mike Dillard and all of the group at Renegade U and involved here and at Facebook.

I am so glad to be part of this. And, NO WAY is Network Marketing dead. It is growing, changing and evolving - exactly what we need.

Chris

[gail reynolds Contribution Level: 2]

Hello
I am quite new to this forum but not so new to Network Marketing. Although, i believe i have been one of the "Lucky" ones!!... I have only ever been with 1 company and seemed to have just grown and grown in the networking industry through it. I love Cahnge, always have done, i think the changes within this industry over the past 6 years alone have been huge. My 1st training day was all about "warm lists, F & F etc.." and since then (only have 2 people on it) i hit the floor running. Having to change the way people think is in our interest in network marketing. Pre judgemental,negative and abused ex networkers just need showing how simple it really easy!.
So, in my humble oppinion Network marketing isnt dead, its at the fore front of business's, its the only way Joe Bloggs can really make a change in their life. Dont get me wrong, i love the "speaking to people" and giving samples and being personal with our clients/down lines, but, with all the New age information for networking out there it really is coming ALIVE!!
all the best, and i love this thread
gailx

gailsavon banner j peg.jpg (6.8 KiB) Viewed 189 times

[Chris DeVincentis Contribution Level: 1]

Great thread all,

Network marketing definately isn't dead, but the game has certainly changed. Monetizing multiple streams of income to accomplish your online presence is a solid approach.

I'd just like to add and have seen it first hand many times over the last few years. These days, with the click of a mouse, people can be eblasted about this or that opportunity and/or something negative about their own. I've literally seen downlines disintegrate in weeks for what used to take years. Addtionally, people, because of being inundated with opportunities on the internet, are spreading their time over multiple opportunities which may be fine if you're a great multi-taker, but for many, it's a problem.

MLM is a great way to promote commerce and opportunity if you focus on promoting yourself and your service to others.

Chris

[Cher Marie Company: Simplexity Health Contribution Level: 1]

The network marketing companies I’ve been involved with are pretty tight with the reins on what or how we could advertise. I remember having to send ads in to customer service for an approval number, which had to be displayed on the ad. This could take weeks, and in the meantime you’re losing sales.
With the Internet, you have to be careful how you write an article, you can’t use their company name anywhere. You certainly can’t use their logos or product names. Some of these network marketing companies will give you a small, generic website for you to use. You can’t edit anything here, it’s all automated. Whoopee! And you can’t put their logo on your website, so we really have no control in this Network Marketing business at all.
I’ve been pitched to so many times from people working in network marketing companies. They wanted to ‘get me’ in any way they could. I was so overwhelmed with information and never did figure out their complicated compensation plans. I grew tired of the 3 foot rule and how they want you to do business, by ‘sharing the product’ or the ‘opportunity’. This is what they teach. Okay, I got that.
But with Attraction Marketing, I no longer need to buy leads, do cold calls, or pitch to my family and friends. Attraction Marketing is much more powerful than that. Once they sign up on your lead capture page or join your blog, they have given you permission to communicate with them, and this is the start of your relationship. Much better than going after someone with your pitch.
The cool thing is I’m building relationships with people first. They are following me, trusting me, watching what I’m doing. I do the same thing by following other successful mentors in my circle of friends, commenting and connecting with them.
As far as Network Marketing being dead, there are many successful network marketers out there. It's not dead. The other Blog posts here are proof of that. But I do feel it’s time for Network Marketing to revise their policies and get onboard. We can work together, can’t we?
By synergistically combining attraction marketing with network marketing, well, the possibilities are endless.
I’m totally getting into this and I’m looking forward to a prosperous new year with this agenda! Thanks for your article and I’ll be following this one

Cher