MLM Survival
Let’s face it, the world out there is like a jungle. More particularly so in the MLM world. It would be easy to say, since it is that difficult, let’s just forget about the whole MLM or network marketing deal in the first place (then this post, even this website, would not be necessary at all). That action would be self-defeating.
There is good news for all of us. So let us instead start from a positive note. The purpose of this post, and the other posts on this blog, is not just about teaching you to choose the right MLM Company but also how, by being properly educated about the industry, you will be able to receive benefits from every opportunity you invest your time and money in.
The information here will be completely generic and neutral. I am not endorsing any company over the other in these posts, as there is no such thing as the perfect MLM. But, rather, I will be choosing, and recommending, an MLM that is SUITABLE for YOU! This will come, not in these posts, but as we discuss your particular needs going forward.
Whatever your reasons may be, let us make a few assumptions about it before we proceed (or else you wouldn’t be a part of this program in the first place). I believe you will fall into one or more of these categories; maybe all of them.
- Making money
- Saving money on products
- Meeting new people
- Growth and development
If waht you want is Making Money then it will likely be one of these:
(a) Looking for fast money
(b) Building a long term business with significant money continuing to come in long after you have retired
(c) Investing in the product itself
Fast Money
For people looking for fast money, there are pros and cons to this kind of thinking. Some people are WELL TRAINED salesmen. They have built the relationship with their clients, customers and all sorts of people. People trust what they say and will trust whatever they are selling. They may sell the product itself (sometimes, in large quantities), or they may sell the opportunity (the money making part of it) or both. Are YOU this kind of person?
Fast money is not impossible, but it COULD be for the short term only. Consider the facts that 80-90% of people in the world are NOT built for sales. If a salesman sponsors a non-salesman, would the non-salesman be able to do the same thing as his upline?
Does that mean that I would spend most of my time looking for the 10-20% of sales types?
Long Term Money
The next type of money is the long term type. When I define long term, it does not have to mean that you might not see money right away. It differs from company to company. But as a general rule of thumb, it involves BUILDING A NETWORK OR AN ORGANISATION.
The key to building a large organization as quoted by Zig Ziglar, “You will get whatever you want in life if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” In other words, if you will help enough downlines get enough downlines, you are on the road to network marketing financial freedom. The key is simply to help others.
There is one more category of people; those who invest in network marketing companies, not to make money through retaining or networking, but rather investing in the product, position, or depending on the company, appreciation of their assets. A few examples would be investing in a product, so that in the future, its value will appreciate, so you
can sell it to other people at a very high margin. Others might purchase the account or distributorship from you (depending on the compensation plan of the company) while some Internet companies actually pay you to invest in their company, sort of like buying a share of the company stock.
Saving Money on Products
Retailing of a product is very important to an MLM business. Lack of (or even non-existing) retailing could be harmful to the distributor or the company as certain states have outlawed headhunting and have their own policies.
Nevertheless, saving money on an MLM product is one of the most wonderful key features of joining an MLM company if sales or recruiting is not your forte. In certain compensation plans, repeat purchase of the products you buy from the company gives you more rebates or bonuses. In essence, the more you buy, the cheaper it becomes. This becomes an even greater pleasure if you are totally in love with the products or you have already set aside a budget for those products, which
means you are now buying from the MLM company or your upline instead of buying from the supermarket, pharmacy, grocery store, etc.
There are some important aspects to take note however, if the company requires you to purchase the products in bulk (hence the term – frontloading), is there a DEMOTION in your achieved position in the company, is there MAINTAINANCE required, or how much are the renewal fees for membership. All these will be further discussed in the later posts.