Is MLM just a new form of vampirism?
In the past couple of years, several people have commented on the similarities between multi-level marketing (MLM) and vampirism, such as this article entitled The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Paid In Network Marketing. Despite the sensational tone of this piece, many people do indeed feel that MLM is a bit like vampirism, in that it drains people’s time and energy while not providing anything valuable in return. Here are some other articles with similar themes: MLM – Is It A Business Or A Cult?
I really want to succeed in MLM
I really want to succeed in MLM
You don’t have to look far to see that many people are trying to succeed in direct-selling, multilevel marketing (MLM) companies—companies such as Herbalife and Nu Skin. Some do well, but most fail. The biggest problem for those who fail is failure of imagination. They keep doing what they did before: I’m going to make X thousands of dollars by knocking on doors and handing out flyers.
I see people in my Facebook network being successful with it
I see people in my Facebook network being successful with it
online marketing for some company, usually selling nutritional supplements. The more I think about it, though, when you really look at what’s happening with these people on Facebook and other places online who are doing network marketing and getting leads from companies through multi-level marketing (MLM), it looks very much like they’re running a pyramid scheme. They’re making money by getting someone else to join their organization, not by producing quality products or providing good customer service. These people have become such experts at milking others that they could easily run a Ponzi scheme if they wanted to—or even something as blatant as Enron back in 2001.
Will you promise me something if I join your team?
Will you promise me something if I join your team?
Be honest. I’ll join you on your team if you’ll promise me something: you need to promise me that you won’t invite me to any seminars or conferences. At least not at first. You see, when I start thinking about joining an MLM business opportunity, I’m most concerned with what it will cost my time and resources and how much time I’m going to have to invest into it before I can get back into me mode. Because let’s face it – if all we ever did was sit around and wait for people to come to us (the way many current Network Marketing companies encourage us do), then we’d never really be our own boss in the true sense of the word… which is why these parties feel so uncomfortable for me.
Why would you recruit under me if I am novices at this?
Why would you recruit under me if I am novices at this?
Many people join MLM because they are worried about competing with strong veteran businesses. This is understandable, but here’s where I disagree. In my opinion, there is no such thing as strong businesses or weak businesses; there are only strong and weak networkers (or recruiters). New entrepreneurs often worry about competing with well-established companies that have decades of experience in business.
What happens when your business collapses and everyone loses their money?
What happens when your business collapses and everyone loses their money?
A short-sighted approach to network marketing – and in some cases, even financial fraud – are fueling its demise. For every fast-talking guru out there promising riches, there’s an equal number of small business owners with failed businesses who lost everything… and a lot more. The cold hard truth is that many people still don’t understand what it really takes to run a successful online MLM business. It might sound easy; you put up some simple websites, send out an email or two, meet up with your team, collect your commission checks and live happily ever after… but let’s be honest: Things don’t always work out that way.
Shouldn’t we be supporting each other’s businesses instead of trying to take each other down?
Shouldn’t we be supporting each other’s businesses instead of trying to take each other down?
It was all fun and games until I joined an online network marketing business. For weeks, I spent my time learning, posting success stories and supporting other team members to grow their business. But then, I realized that my upline was trying to take me down by suggesting that there were better opportunities elsewhere in her network. She offered no evidence or facts, she simply told me it had been done to her and that everyone else in her group had experienced it at some point as well. We call these people vampires for good reason; they suck you dry without sharing any profits with you in return—and so does MLM, when practiced like that! If we want our network marketing businesses to be profitable and sustainable, we need a better way.
How many people do you know who have been successful at MLMs after some time, say 6 months, 1 year or even 3 years down the line. Anyone? Anyone?? Bueller…Bueller…?
How many people do you know who have been successful at MLMs after some time, say 6 months, 1 year or even 3 years down the line. Anyone? Anyone?? Bueller…Bueller…?
The internet has taken some wonderful attributes from business networkers, like making it easier to network online, without a physical location. However, one thing that can make an online business pyramid scheme difficult to understand is that when people are involved in multi-level marketing businesses, they tend to use multiple social media platforms to stay connected with their teams. While these digital communities may provide support and encouragement during membership, they also make it easy for companies to prey on feelings of insecurity or isolation to convince would-be members into buying products or paying fees as well as recruiting others into their networks. After all once you get down two levels in an MLM pyramid scheme there aren’t many people left.
