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MLM – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

The Good about MLM

In its core MLM or network marketing if you will, is a nice business model that lets you make the transition into a business owner a lot easier as well as a lot cheaper. I have been in business for a long time, have done a lot of stuff and can tell you there is no other way to start a business for as low as 20 bucks.

So that’s quite cool, but… oh yeah there’s a but… but the low starting cost will not really make you a business owner at all… at least not one that will profit. It will only be enough to “get in”… and just to make it more clear… yes you will need a lot of money to succeed, just like any other business.

Anybody who says the opposite is fooling you around to join you. Prepare yourself for spending to get an MLM going. The cheap way in is only good as far as you will mentally feel a business owner.

The good thing about network marketing is that as I already said in the beginning, once you manage to get it going you will start making money with doing literally nothing. It is quite hard to get there though and takes a loooooooot of long hours of work.

The other good thing is you will have the chance to surround yourself with cool people, which is truly the recipe for a successful business and a cool life. Many of them will be eager to help you since network marketing operates right when the whole network produces, or at least as many people as possible.

Now a bit about the get in early thing… they say you have to get in early to really make it happen. I don’t really know whether this is good or bad, yet I know it is true. You can make money at any level, but to really make cash you need to know the founders, or at least be among the first to jump in.

Why?

The reason network marketing will only work for you if you are an early bird is because it was created to work best for the top group of people and it will always be like that. People at the lower levels make money too, yet not really. The reason is not everybody can manage to create a huge network  selling for them, as a matter of fact almost nobody  but the top people manage to do it and the only way to make money in MLMs is to have a massive network.

Having that said, it is obvious people who can’t expand quit sooner or later. It is just how it is and it could not be changed.

Why can’t everybody expand? you might ask…

And the answer to this question is most people who join MLMs are either poor, or have never been in business and have no idea how it works. Both these types don’t have what it takes to make it happen, and few are those who have the balls to learn business and come up with money to grow, and only some of those few will make money.

Another reason is the market is not that big for so many people to sell… not everybody will buy your thing.

So a huge percentage of people quit because either the saturated market will make them quit, or they will not have what it takes… then new people will join, then they will quit, then again new people will join and again others will quit… and it goes on forever.

Which is why you need to have realized by now the only people who actually manage to keep their networks big enough to make decent money are those at the top. I can not say this is bad, because those at the top could be a lot and they could have done a lot of marketing to get where they are, yet I could tell you if you are not at the top, you will have the hardest time making money in MLM.

You can choose for yourself if this is good or bad. All that says Network marketing could work for you if you join early and have several years to expand.

The bad about MLM

This business model is presented very very wrong to people. Network marketers always talk about getting rich fast, or making huge amounts of money, or becoming a millionaire without doing anything, which makes it a huge marketing fairy tale.

Which is another reason for people to quit by the way… because most are naive enough to believe all that crap, and after they join and see it doesn’t happen in a day, they get frustrated.

Another thing that’s pretty bad is most companies forget it should be the products that matter, and not just the opportunity, therefore turn MLM into a joke, because once you only start selling the dream you will only join the not so reasonable people, and this is not a cool business.

I have no idea whether this is the reason or not, but most people get involved in network marketing only for the money… nobody cares about the products they buy. And it was Donald Trump who said:
“if you are in business only for the money, you should quit right now”

And I think this is quite bad for the business model as well as for a lot of people involved in it. Besides you know what network marketing turns into when nobody cares about the products that much.

And now the ugly

It could get really ugly when you get hung up on all the stories and positive crap the top boys use to keep you tied in. And I mean really ugly. A lot of people spend forever not going anywhere, because they blindly believe the stupidity they listen to at events, or calls or meetups or whatever.

One thing is certain – if you don’t get popular somehow, so people would start joining you, you will never make money… and you can be the most positive poor person on Earth following stories and success fairy tales.

I had a friend who always followed his emotions… and at the end he was really disappointed. I kept telling him to not be so naive, yet he could not stop believing everybody. Then as I said he quit and was very angry at a lot of people.

So if you see you can not manage to become friends with the leaders, if you don’t have the money or the time to learn marketing quit immediately. You will never make it.

And it truly gets  ugly once you start dealing with all the scepticism. There are a lot of people who don’t get network marketing, or don’t accept it and it is very frustrating handling all of them.

And in my opinion, they could not be blamed since as I said marketers have turned most MLMs into a joke.

Conclusion

Building a network is the real deal in any business, yet it is not easy at all. It takes a lot of money, time and persistence, so if you think you will use network marketing to get rich in a week, you will have to change that mindset right away.

You can make money in network marketing, yet you have to do it the way mentioned above.

I tried to be as honest as I could in this article because it hurts me to see all those people struggling for years not going anywhere, because they were convinced they would be millionaires in a month. However I hope you got it all right… network marketing could be a pretty profitable venture if treated right.

Treating it right though is wrong for a lot of people. I only like one company, but it is not really network marketing, everything else is a waste of time. But hey, this post is only my view over the topic (based on 8 years of entrepreneurship  ), you are free to share your thoughts down below as a comment, as I would love to see what you think.

SOURCE : WEALTH MAGNATE

Lyoness countries - connecting people

Hi all.
I will love to work with people from countries below and share the same goals.

Europe : 

Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Macedonia, Lithuania, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Latvia, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Montenegro

Middle East and Africa:

South Africa, Qatar,United Arab Emirates

North America:

USA, Canada

South America:

Brazil, Mexico

Asia: 

 Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand

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4 Myths About Affiliate Marketing You Need To Know

There are lots of myths out there surrounding affiliate marketing, and these can frequently cause brands/businesses to pass on these kinds of programs. It’s important you understand some of these myths so you can make the correct decisions for the future growth of your business.

Whether you’re the brand manager at a Fortune 100 brand or the marketing director/everything else at a startup, setting up a solid affiliate program can open a revenue avenue without much of the hassle usually associated with setting up new marketing initiatives.

1. Affiliate systems are quick and easy to manage

An affiliate marketing program is a lot of work, and in most situations there’s a lot of competition so you’re not going to be bringing in money immediately. Business owners and entrepreneurs suppose that all you need do is setup a site and choose an affiliate to associate with and then just let it run its course. But according to Three Ladders Marketing, only 0.6% of affiliate marketers surveyed have been in the game since 2013. That means that affiliate marketing takes time and effort to build and make money.

Affiliate marketing myths busted. Source: tips.affiliatevote.com

The affiliate marketing business relies on fostering relationships. You foster these relationships by:

*Bringing the right partners into your program

*Seeking out better and more efficient partnerships

*Updating your content regularly to keep things new and fresh.

An affiliate program is only going to help bring traffic to your website or business; you are in charge of turning that traffic into conversions.

2. You need to work in a very popular and lucrative niche to make affiliate marketing work for your business.

A lot of companies do not even bother trying an affiliate marketing program because they think their market is too little. Some companies will try and break into bigger niches even if they don’t have any interest in the market niche.

It is true that popular niches do better with affiliate marketing, but that doesn’t mean you do not have a chance at success. Stay in line with the goals and mission statement of your company and find affiliates who understand the relevance of working in a market where you are comfortable.

3. Affiliate marketing is a strategy of yesterday

Due to Google’s new algorithms for SEO, link building is becoming outdated which can discourage affiliate activity. Even if this is the case, there are many new ways to use SEO and build your brand.

You might come across a couple of link problems with Google if you are not managing your program, but for the most part the entire notion of affiliate marketing still makes sense to Google –it offers another relevant and related resource to consumers.

4. Success in affiliate marketing comes from getting your product on as many sites as possible

The best way to think about affiliate marketing is quality over quantity. There are a lot of small websites that will promote your product, but the key is finding a small number of partners that will deliver conversions. For example, an equity management services firm has over 20,000 affiliates in its system, but only about 25 affiliates generate 85 percent of revenue.

The real deliverables will be dependent on locating the right affiliates, big or small, which drive results. According to the same study done by Three Ladders Marketing, the most traffic for affiliates were driven by SEO, 79% and social media, 60%.

Although studies show that affiliate marketing isn’t easy, as you remember to foster relationships, focus on your niche, focus on a few key affiliates, and create a system that generates performance for both the advertiser and the affiliate you can drive profit and conversions for your small business.

SOURCE : FORBES

Why MLM ?

1) Can be done part time or 2 hours a day and not everyday

You will have enough time to build your business until you reach a substantial level of income. Don't rush about it.

2) Low Start Up Cost

You can easily start an MLM business with at most a few dollars, euro or join free.

3) Great Earning Potential

In time, your income from your MLM can grow exponentially, if you work and stay focus about it.

4) Residual Income

Once you have built a strong team with great leaders, your organization will grow by itself. 

5) Free Training

Any good MLM companies will provide you with free training. Training video.
The skills that you will acquire make's you more confident and a positive person.

6) Fast Returns

If you join an MLM company that has an easily duplicable system in place, you should be able to start making profits within a few months. Obviously, it also depend on how much effort you put into your business and how much support you get from your sponsor.

7) Increasing Your Network

You have the opportunity to make many friends with the same ideals. Furthermore, you will also have the opportunity to meet many successful people and learn from them.

8) Helping Others

MLM is an industry whereby you have to help others to succeed. The more people you help, the more successful you become.

9) It is fun!

MLM is not only a business that help you achieve your financial goal, it is more, talking to people from different countries, sharing ideas, sharing same goals, helping each other's....and that is fun!!!

Is MLM a Bad Word?

Ever been confused about how a “home business” works? Of course you have, many of us have. Most people have heard the term MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) and usually at the end of that the word, “scheme” is added – giving the whole business model a bad name. Well…let’s change your negative perception and tell you how your Great Aunt Joan, actually earned that pink Cadillac from Mary Kay ! It’s brilliant really…

Not only are “home businesses” or “MLM’s” very interesting, they are successful. Many of the longest standing organizations in this country have this business model. MLM is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation. Most commonly, the salespeople are expected to sell products directly to consumers by means of relationship referrals and word of mouth marketing. Sounds legit right – so why the bad press?

Mary Kay saleswoman Kathy Jones poses for a photo with her brand new hybrid Cadillac Escalade on Thursday, March 24, 2011, at Moses AutoMall in Huntington.

Well MLM companies have been a frequent subject of criticism as well as the target of lawsuits. Criticism has focused on their similarity to illegal pyramid schemes (hence the “scheme” reference), price-fixing of products, high initial start-up costs, emphasis on recruitment of lower-tiered salespeople over actual sales, encouraging if not requiring salespeople to purchase and use the company’s products, potential exploitation of personal relationships which are used as new sales and recruiting targets, complex and sometimes exaggerated compensation schemes, and cult-like techniques which some groups use to enhance their members’ enthusiasm and devotion. Eesh!

However, as aforementioned, you may know people that sell products from Mary Kay, Avon, Advocare, Tupperware and the like (see more companies in our Featured Home Businesses section). You know people who sell these types of products because they believe in the products and the companies that stand behind them. These companies empower those who sell their products to actually establish their own businesses, selling the products. This is very attractive to many entrepreneurial-minded people who do not want to have a boss watching over them but also want some pre-established structure and support. Most MLM organizations provide a very robust infrastructure and great training as well as impeccable rewards (hello free cars and trips!).

I recently spoke with San Diego based, Vicki Martin, about her experience with Rodan + Fields. Here’s her take on her home business and why the opportunity was so appealing for her and her family, “The decision to join Rodan + Fields Dermatologists came easily. Since 2008 the construction industry [which I was previously in] has been hit hard by our economic downturn and my income has been greatly affected. We were working harder for less like many of our friends. Being part of Rodan + Fields Dermatologists is allowing me to work with highly educated people who share a passion for business and for teamwork. Building a recurring, residual income that grows month over month is going to give my husband and I the peace of mind and financial freedom that is so vitally important to our future. My skin looks better than ever. And, I get to work my job around the rest of my life instead of the other way around.”

So, the next time you meet someone who runs a “home business” or “MLM” give them a high five for taking their career and life into their own hands and becoming an entrepreneur.

SOURCE : FORBES

Would You Join A Multi-Level Marketing Company For Retirement Income?

Take a minute to think about it !!!

You are good enough !!!

At some point in your life you’ve been pitched a multilevel marketing (MLM), direct selling, or network marketing business opportunity.  While the pitch varies from company to company, it basically promises a chance to ditch your 9-5 work schedule, be your own boss, and make lots of money while making new friends in the process.

It all sounds good on paper, yet there is a seemingly endless debate over whether these companies and programs are legitimate business opportunities or not, so I dug in and got the real scoop.  As a result, I believe that the entire industry is poised for explosive growth and can be one of the most significant solutions to America’s current retirement savings crisis.

Initially, that may sound like a bold statement, but it’s not if you understand retirement the way I do.  The reality is, making a successful transition into retirement has more to do with psychology than with money… and the same may hold true for multi-level and network marketing.

Don’t get me wrong, money has a role in retirement, but it’s not the primary one every one gives it.  Combine that concept with eye-opening statistics like AARP’s estimate that half of all baby boomers (76 million) are interested in starting a business and the makings of a massive trend are in place.

As far as the retirement saving crisis is concerned, more and more people are coming to terms with the fact that they probably aren’t going to be able to save enough money to just sit around and slowly deplete their nest egg from age 62 to 100.  With the average 50 year-old estimated to have less than $50,000 in retirement savings, there is an obvious need to find alternative ways to either save more or generate supplemental income starting now, and continuing throughout retirement.  Moving beyond just the dollars and cents, boomers are growing tired of feeling guilty or bad about their past savings habits and are interested in moving towards possible solutions.

Another growing reality that could benefit MLM and related businesses is the increasing number of baby boomers who are disenchanted with their current careers.  They’re worn-out from years of the corporate grind and don’t feel the connection between their job and the people it impacts outside their office walls or company grounds.  They’re shifting their focus from accumulating a giant nest egg to a desire to be part of something bigger and better… to have a positive effect on others… and working in retirement.  Facets of life that can be fulfilled with specific types of products and service available through some MLM or Direct selling opportunities.

MLM and direct selling programs also offer very low barriers into entrepreneurship, often providing training, support, and ample encouragement along the way.  As retirees begin to realize they need activities that keep them busy, relevant, in good health, and connected to others, the time, energy and cost to participate in these kinds of companies make them very appealing to large segments of the population caught up in these dynamics.

This is not a ringing endorsement for the entire industry.  Like any investment of time, money, and energy, people need to be aware of what they are getting into and do their homework.  That’s the primary reasons I began researching the topic by reaching out to regular everyday people involved in these types of businesses and who were willing to skip the hype and offer a transparent view of the programs and give their opinions as to whether this can be a realistic source of retirement income.

I initially spoke to a retired friend who said she joined a health and beauty direct selling company as a means of meeting new people. She had recently remarried and moved to a new location, so she combined the practice of meeting new people with making extra money.  After almost a decade in the business, she’s built a small niche business with family and friends despite switching to from one company to another competitor after three years.

She admits she doesn’t attend all of the company’s local meetings and goal-setting sessions because she’s not interested in becoming a top producer.  She just likes to use the business activity to keep busy (particularly in the winter) and use the extra money she earns to travel and spoil the grand kids.

Having studied the psychology and behavior of boomers, this example represents a major shift in my thinking about the industry.  I no longer perceive these types of opportunities as money-making pyramid schemes.  Instead, I now see it as a way to enhance many of the personal aspects of retirement that are rarely discussed let alone planned for, with the added benefit of supplementing other popular retirement income sources such as pension and social security.

Daria M. Brezinski Ph.D, a practicing psychologist and former marketing director for a multi-level marketing magazine, echoes these sentiments.  “Many people don’t realize that multi-level marketing companies are successful because they help people satisfy a number of important human needs, including feeling significant, having connections, learning something new, and making a difference.  I have heard people in network marketing say again and again, ‘I’m doing this because I’m meeting amazing people … making so many connections … and I feel so good about myself.’”

Dr. Brezinski’s point is well taken and easy to see practiced by popular network marketing companies.  Many MLM and NM companies tout a three-to-five year plan to attain freedom and wealth, yet many of the people running company meetings have been in the business for five or ten years and still haven’t left their full-time job or landed on easy street.  “As it turns out,” Dr. Brezinski notes, “when other human needs are being met, the members and consultants don’t focus solely on the financial aspects.”

Continuing my interviews, I challenged three others who are in the business to be straightforward, and prove to me that the process really works.  What I found was good, consistent business advice applicable to any new business.

Lorene Hochstetler, from Ohio, recommends keeping your current job while slowly making the transition into MLM.  She’s been able to replace her full-time income but explains, “It didn’t happen overnight, and I still work every day.  I am very disciplined with my business and wake up every day knowing what I have to do in order to succeed at this.  You have to treat it like a business and be willing to follow advice from others who have made it.”

Tracy Willard of California began her MLM career out of necessity.  “Prior to getting involved in my business, I told my friends to never let me join one of those things… but when our family was hit by the mortgage crisis I had to do something different.”  She started her business with the intention some retirees may also find themselves.  “I started with the idea that I just needed to make my month easier.  My company helped me figure out what I needed to do in order to make an extra $500 per month.”

She reiterated a common theme I heard throughout the interviews.  “If you treat it like a hobby it won’t pay you like a business.”  She also acknowledged that, in spite of her success, she doesn’t sit around eating bonbons every day waiting for residual checks to hit the mailbox.  “That’s a common misconception,” she said.  “I work hard at my business every day, although it doesn’t always feel like work.  Similar to other entrepreneurs who profit from their passion, she says “It’s rewarding because I found a product that has made in difference in how I look and feel… and I love selling it and helping other people start a business.”

Staci Cahill runs her Washington MLM company in a way many people can appreciate.  She keeps her personal life separate from her business life by avoiding home parties, offering instead workshops that educate prospects on the products she offers.  “I didn’t want to be that person others hid from because they thought I was going to ask them to host a party.  I like to keep my business life and personal life separate.”

When I asked her if she was successful at her craft, she pointed out an MLM approach different from what many might expect.  “Yes, I am very successful given what I wanted to get out of it.  I’m a single mother who used to work 50 hours per week outside the home.  Now I’ve cut it to 20 hours, which is a major upgrade for me and my family.”

As a five-year veteran of MLM, she attributes her success to the fact that, “I switched companies a few years ago once I realized that pots and pans don’t change people lives.  The products I now offer has changed my life and that of others… and I find a lot of value in waking up and going to bed knowing that.”

The interviews and psychological connections lead me to conclude that MLM and NM companies, along with other small businesses opportunities, are important considerations for anyone entering retirement.  In fact, I believe the concept of starting a business for retirement income will become one of the most significant trends impacting retirement in the 21st century.  But it has to start with redefining entrepreneurship and framing it into a retirement lifestyle.  That means helping people find ways to turn a passion, hobby, or personal desire into extra money in their pocket… not to mention helping people see the importance of  planning for the non-financial aspects of retirement such as replacing a work identity, staying relevant and connected, as well as keeping mentally and physically fit.

Something multi-level marketing as well as network marketing companies are poised to capitalize on.  As a result, the industry could soon experience larger than life growth, spurred by baby boomers looking to adjust their retirement feelings and plans.

SOURCE: FORBES