6 Questions To Ask Before Becoming Involved In An Online MLM Business

Everywhere you look on the Internet these days, someone is offering a "fantastic new" Internet business opportunity. Many of these, of course, are built on MLM models.

Some of the questions asked (or which should be asked) by people unfamiliar with MLM and/or Internet businesses and Internet marketing are:

1. What is an MLM business?

2. Is an MLM business even legal?

3. Can I make money with an MLM business?

4. Should I get involved with THIS online MLM business?

5. What do I need to do to be successful in an MLM business - online or offline?

6. Having looked at the items above, do I still REALLY want to do this?

WHAT IS MLM?

MLM stands for multi-level marketing. Simply put, MLM means that the business allows its distributors or representatives to recruit others into a downline. The "recruiter" then collects commissions from sales made by downline members as well as personal sales. MLM is commonly linked with network marketing which is marketing done essentially by word of mouth. In the U. S. some well known MLM network marketing companies are Avon cosmetics, Shaklee supplements and home care products, and Ameriplan health care plans.

IS MLM LEGAL?

MLM itself is a perfectly legal way for a company to distribute commissions and create a large sales force. The problem is that many unscrupulous companies and individuals have used the MLM model to promote illegal or quasi-legal "products". As a result, most people equate the term MLM with illegal schemes such as the "Make $90,000 In 90 Days" letter, the "Lawyer Brown" or "David Rhodes" letter, or other pyramid or Ponzi schemes in which the only "product" is the opportunity to get others to send money for the opportunity of making money with the pyramid scheme.

Usually, the single most important deciding factor, although not necessarily the only one, in determining if an MLM proposal is legitimate is a simple question. Is this company selling an ACTUAL product or service? Remember; just because an MLM company is legal DOES NOT necessarily mean that it is a good place to invest your time and money. Do your homework.

CAN I MAKE MONEY WITH MLM?

Absolutely. Millions of people around the world are participating in MLM network marketing ventures and making money...many making LOTS of money. I have two personal friends who became millionaires with MLM companies...Excel Telecommunications, and Ameriplan dental plans. However, an MLM opportunity is just that...an opportunity. There is no guarantee that anyone WILL make money with MLM or any other business opportunity for that matter. Success in any business venture depends on a lot of factors, and for all its apparent simplicity in most cases, a multi-level marketing business is just that...a business. Most failures in MLM come from the same reasons that other small businesses fail; lack of information, lack of education about the business, unwillingness to act, lack of motivation, and so on. Check out the website of the Small Business Administration at http://sba.gov/ for more detailed information and guidance.

IS THIS THE RIGHT MLM BUSINESS FOR ME?

Most people entering into an MLM network marketing business ask one question; "Can I make (lots) of money with this?" A better consideration is the fit between you and the company. Not to be sexist, but a macho dude kind of guy may feel silly trying to sell Avon cosmetics, although Avon is a huge company with lots of successful male and female representatives. In this example, Mr. Macho may feel more comfortable linking up with a more traditionally male oriented company such as Amsoil synthetic motor oils (which has many female representatives), or a gender neutral company such as Ameriplan dental plans.

The best thing to consider before jumping into a relationship with a company is your own personal likes and dislikes. I, for example, am passionate about health and fitness, so it is natural that I have gravitated towards those types of companies. The second consideration is how you feel about an individual company's products or services. Would you use them yourself? Would you feel good recommending them to others even if you were not allied with the company?

HOW DO I BECOME SUCCESSFUL WITH AN ONLINE MLM BUSINESS?

In the offline MLM network marketing world, you start with a good company in a field you are passionate about. You learn the product and use the product. Don't try to "sell" the product. Then you sell yourself. You become a valuable and effective member of the community. You broaden your network of friends and acquaintances. You let it be known what you do, but do not force the product down anybody's throat and do not give a sales pitch unless you are asked to. You DO feel free to offer constructive advice within your field of expertise, and you should become an expert in your field, and give honest appraisals of your positive experiences with the product or service.

With an online MLM business, the steps are essentially the same. Your website will usually do a lot of the selling, but you use forums, articles, linking, ads and search engines to accomplish the same things as you would do off line.

DO I REALLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH AN ONLINE MLM BUSINESS?

The bottom line is that you will not know until you try. However, starting an MLM business, or any new business, involves risk. If you dive in with both feet, quit your job and give it 1000% you may soar to the top or crash and burn. If you hang onto your job for the paycheck, benefits and the social and professional security it provides, you will be limited in your ability to grow your business. This does not mean the business WILL NOT grow; it just means that it will grow more slowly. Even the best business may not grow in leaps and bounds if you can only work on it for five to ten hours a week.

In most cases, there will be a lot of self-doubt and uncertainty even once the project has begun. There will be lags and slow progression due to learning curves, inexperience, nervousness, and the inability to work full time on the business. Therefore, production of income, or any other indicators of success, may be a long time coming. However, many network marketers have achieved great success with the use of two simple tools; time and perseverance.

author: Donovan Baldwin

MLM Marketing The Home Business Of The Future

MLM Network Marketing is the wave of the future. For those who may be looking for a few extra hundred or even a thousand a month and don't have the time to work another full time job, MLM Network Marketing is the best way to earn that cash without a huge risk or large investments. MLM Network Marketing is a system of home biz based on the concept of networking. MLM Network Marketing is NOT the same as pyramid selling. MLM Network Marketing is not a scam, scheme or pyramid industry. MLM Network Marketing is a very real home biz model.

To break it all down MLM Network Marketing is a process in which you share information while developing long term relationships. The greatest thing about MLM Network Marketing is the residual or recurring income that can result through being part of the home biz.

To be successful at MLM Network Marketing requires you getting in touch with the people that can help you out the most and this includes your upline and downline, and the company. MLM Network Marketing is particularly suited to moms who want to work at home due to family commitments, as it offers them an opportunity to start a home biz on a part time basis with very little capital. The fact of the matter is that MLM Network Marketing is quite easy to understand; it is exactly what it sounds like. MLM Network Marketing is about people.

The best way to get started in MLM Network Marketing is by making yourself accessible to a large amount of people. If you do not know what MLM Network Marketing is there is no reason to give up. Actually, MLM Network Marketing is not all that hard, it's just that people make it that way. The truth is MLM Network Marketing is an honourable and ethical home biz model to get into, and it offers many people the opportunity for true financial freedom and independence. No other home biz can offer us as much as MLM Network Marketing can.

MLM Network Marketing requires you to treat the home biz professionally and like any other home biz. For millions of individuals involved in MLM Network Marketing it signifies a complete home biz and all without all the planning, and seeking finance. It is not correct to compare MLM Network Marketing with a game of chance; you must make your success happen. MLM Network Marketing is really a team effort so be prepared to meet many new people who might become long term friends. MLM Network Marketing provides tremendous opportunity for you to learn and earn. Internet based MLM Network Marketing opportunities are a rewarding home biz for those who can do it correctly. This involves studying it, doing it, and focusing on your personal development, and also learning the skills necessary to succeed in MLM Network Marketing. Then you will become the person necessary in order to create the life you want to live, and all while you help others to achieve there success, through your leadership.

I must reiterate as this is key for your success through your personal development and increasing your own skill set as well as your team on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis, and teaching it to others and doing this consistently will result in your success. I mention this because it is important to realize MLM Network Marketing is a great home biz opportunity. Many fail in this great home biz because they think about cash, and don't think about what they really want in life. Did you ever wonder how people succeed in MLM Network Marketing?

More millionaires in the the U.S. of the U.S. owe there millionaire status to MLM Network Marketing than any other home biz type or method. MLM Network Marketing needs focus, and attention to achieve any noteworthy success. And by being committed and looking at the long term ~ you will become a successful person. Not just cash wise, you will be the type of person who can always succeed, because of who you become by being part of MLM Network Marketing.

MLM Network Marketing is the ideal home biz venture for the entrepreneur and the regular person. MLM Network Marketing is a serious home biz to consider joining and one which is fun to be a part of. MLM Network Marketing is such a well-known concept lately and is on the increase. MLM Network Marketing is not a get rich quick cash maker, and does require a solid set of skills to succeed. With commitment, even if you don't know anything about MLM Network Marketing, MLM Network Marketing will craft you into a successful person, but only if you are committed to achieving your success.

To your success,

author: Kozan Huseyin

MLM Success Tips - Don't Worry About Pillar One

MLM Success Tips to help distributors build their MLM Business are found in Pillar One.

Pillar One: MLM Company upper management who have built a successful business of their own in a MLM corporation with integrity.

If an executive were considering a position in a Fortune 500 Company, would he/she be concerned about the upper management? Why is it different when joining a MLM Company?

Case Study: I am interested in an upper level management position of the Fortune 500 Company called General Electric. My research prior to taking this position consists of the following:

a) Talking to one of the territory representatives I have been buying light bulbs for my personal use for about 2 months.

b) My representative is really great. He talks highly of the company, gave me a generous discount, and sold me great products. I love the products and believe there are no better light bulbs on the market today. I will use them forever.

c) I reviewed the company literature the MLM Company designed prior to joining.

Like many new distributors, I did not understand the importance of the corporate management of my first MLM Company nor how to obtain true MLM Success Tips designed to help me build my business my own way. I did what most of us do and LOVED the products, trusted my up line, and signed up.

I have since learned if your corporate leader has not built an MLM organization of their own, they will put the corporation before the distributors. The MLM Company that hires leaders from the traditional corporate setting with no MLM background will have different MLM goals than someone who has built an organization.

MLM Success Tips: Everyone should know where to look for good solid information regarding their MLM organization. Without Pillar One, there will be no need for any of the other four pillars. Pillar One is the foundation of a great MLM organization.

The first pillar of a good MLM Company is corporate leadership who has built a successful MLM organization as an independent business owner. Why? They have walked in the distributor's shoes and will only enhance the company, compensation plan, and policies and procedures.

Consider these MLM Success Tips:

Traditional corporate mentality and MLM corporate mentality are two very different schools of thought.

1) A MLM Company with leaders who have built an MLM business WILL only enhance the compensation plan and policies and procedures. Because they have been where you are, they value you as an independent business owner and understand the concept of true residual income, long vacations and retirement.

Things NOT found with these companies:

a) Items in the policies and procedures or compensation plan that do not benefit the distributor.

b) On-going requirements affecting retirement or requiring distributors to be responsible for each independent distributor in their down-line.

2) A MLM Company with leaders from the traditional corporate world who have never built a MLM organization will look at your $20,000 per month check while you are on your 3 month Hawaii vacation and resent paying out that money when you are not working! They have an employee mentality, with You being the employee while they receive the perks of upper management.

Common things FOUND in a MLM Company without Pillar One:

1) Requirements of ongoing training

2) Communication

3) Monthly retail receipts

You are now a commission only sales rep with no benefits. Can you ever retire? Most people interested in the MLM Industry do plan to retire eventually.

MLM Success Tip: Pillar One is crucial to every distributor's MLM Success in this industry. Give it due consideration when choosing an MLM Company for a home.

author: Brenda Bunney

Understanding the Basis of Your MLM Business

By-passing All the Pitfalls

Are you serious about earning a living through MLM or Network Marketing business? Out of misconception, failure, and bad experiences in their previous MLM ventures some people may have decided that MLM is not a proper way even to earn a decent living, let alone to make it a means to be wealthy. Some other people may have condemned MLM and showed sour face when approached by their friends who invited them to get involved in MLM business.

How and where do MLM get its notoriety from? It comes from misconception and is granted by many MLM’s losers. Some of those people who underestimate MLM and speak bad about MLM may have not even tried any venture in MLM business at all. They just heard about something bad or wrong with MLM from MLM and Money Game’s losers. Out of ignorance, some people associate all rich-quick schemes (such as Money Games, Pyramid Schemes) with MLM or Network Marketing business. This is truly an atrocious generalization. These people are in need of education so that they will find out the real nature and characteristics of a true MLM or Network Marketing business. If you want to get involved seriously in MLM and Network Marketing business and expect to earn better living from it, you have to carefully choose the right MLM company. Spend some of your time on conducting a research about MLM companies you have considered to get involved with. By doing this you will be able to by-pass all pitfalls and serious handicaps that may have failed many people who are now suffering from MLM phobia.

Handling the Hardest Parts of MLM Routines

There are some common reasons which cause people to stay away from MLM business and which are also responsible for failing many who, out of curiousity, have tried to involved themselves in an MLM business for some time. Many people think they will downgrade their reputation and prestige when they get involved in an MLM business because they imagine that their involvement in MLM will require them to go door to door selling products they hate being associated with. This kind of people certainly lack information and background knowledge about MLM or Network Marketing business. If your prospects or circle of acquaintances consist mostly of this type of people, you will need a more educative approach in prospecting them. Supply them with good readers (books, articles, brochures) about MLM and Network Marketing business. Educate them first before trying to sponsor them. Let them know that there are many people out there who make it big through MLM.

-Understanding What It Takes In Sponsoring

To many people who never do a job which requires speaking skills and interpersonal approach, sponsoring is a truly scary thing to do in the beginning. Why are they scared of sponsoring? There must be reasons behind this fear. Each person may have his own reason for fear of sponsoring. Offline sponsoring involves a long speaking activities which includes explaining, describing, exemplifying, assuring and trust-building. When you are able to analyze what you should do in sponsoring, you can prepare yourself so that you can perform well in a sponsoring-oriented activities. Considering the components that make up sponsoring activities, you will realize what you need to perform well in sponsoring. Regardless of whom you are sponsoring, it takes the same mastery of materials and skills to perform well in sponsoring. With the mastery of the materials and skills needed in hand, you only need to adjust your methods and approaches in accordance with the background of a person you are about to sponsor. Of course you will not use the same approach in sponsoring a senior high school graduate as you will in sponsoring a physician. Although you use the same materials and skills in sponsoring them.

What materials do you really need to master to be able to perform well in sponsoring? There are two kinds of materials that you have to master to perform well in sponsoring activities, namely: 1. Materials about your MLM company’s profile and the system of compensation plan and all things related to this, 2. Materials about the products being marketed by the company and all things related them. So, it is strongly recommended that when you sign up with any MLM company, you have to immediately know, at least general knowledge about this company’s profile, its compensation plan, and the products being marketed. If you are not interested in finding out about all this, then you are not joining the company to succeed but to please your sponsor and/or upline temporarily. You will go nowhere beyond being registered as a member. This type of member possibly makes up the highest percentage of all MLM members who will eventually say, “I am not cut out to be an MLM millionaire.”

- Learning to Handle Rejection Wisely

It is understandable and human nature not to readily accept refusal or rejection. Most people will not take “No” for an answer. Basically, nobody wants to be rejected. But it is also the law of nature that there is a “No” to balance a “Yes”, there is a “Light” to balance a “Dark”, and there is a “Good” to balance is a “Bad”. So, considering this law of nature, you must not kill yourself just because you are rejected three times today. Some other people may have been rejected ten times today but remain calm because they know tomorrow they may get 10 acceptances. That is life. To these optimistic people, life is like a turning wheel. You will never be on top all the time. And God is of supreme justice. Succeeding is the right of everyone who struggles for it. It is a matter of time and persistence.

-Duplicating Leaders

Why do people build a network? There must be a reason why a network is so highly regarded by the people who know the value a network. It takes time and energy to build a huge network. Building a network is not a one man’s work. You will never have a huge network if you work alone. It is almost impossible to build a network alone. The more people you have to build a network the easier and faster you can establish a huge network. Duplicating is creating more and more people whose expertise, skills, attitude and action are similar to those of their competent leader in relation to their business development. If one able leader can build a huge castle, a lot more can be expected from more competent leaders.

-Managing Downlines

The longevity of your inflow of residual and passive income lies on your success in managing your downlines. Your downlines are your asset, so treat them as such (See my article entitled “Don’t Let Your Downlines Down” ). Your downline organization is a vital infrastructure of your MLM business. Your business is nothing without your downlines. If you fail in understanding the importance of your downlines, just imagine yourself standing on a roof of a tall building, then suddenly comes a big earthquake shaking and breaking the foundation and the body of the building on which you are standing. What is the chance of your staying alive?

Entertaining and Rewarding Yourself

Are you tired of doing your MLM routines, being rejected, being frustrated because of failure in achieving your own target, and in certain cases being left behind by the people whom you used to introduce to the business. Again, it is a fact of life that at times you have to accept the reality of life. Learn how to appreciate what you have got in your hands, and what God has granted to you so far. You may have achieved more than what your colleagues have, but you do not realize it or to arrogant to say “Thanks!” to the Creator of this universe.

Try to learn from other people who have succeeded. Do not just see how rich they are now, but learn the strategies which they may have shared with million people through their biographies. Did they suddenly succeed out of the blue. You may not realize that you have found the right path to achieve your long time goals. Do not let others steal your dreams or divert your direction. Entertain yourself when you achieve some improvement in you MLM career. Reward yourself for each achievement however small it may be. Thank “God” for all blessing and mercy granted to you, then you will be guided safely to your destination.


author: Majelis Abu Hamid

Choosing Topics For Your MLM Website Or Blog

Before you start tapping away at your keyboard and generating content for your MLM website or blog, the first thing you need to figure out is what you're going to write. What topics are you going to cover with you're writing? Which questions are you going to answer? What kinds of help and resources are you going to offer people?

Most importantly, what are you going to write that will make you stand out from the crowd of other MLM businesses marketing online?

Topics for People Already in MLM
It may seem odd to offer tips and advice on your MLM website or blog for people already in an MLM business, especially if those people are in a different MLM than the one you promote. But, it actually does make sense to help those people for two reasons.

First, by answering questions with which people already in MLM are struggling, you eventually become a recognized expert in the field, which gives you credibility and visibility when new prospects search for an MLM business to join. Second, by offering sound advice that actually works, you will attract some people already in an MLM into your business. This conversion rate will be small but may contribute significantly to your group volume.

So how can you write helpful advice for people already in an MLM business? Write articles and blog posts that answer these 9 questions.

1. What is the biggest problem you struggle with in your own MLM business?
2. What is the biggest problem people in your group struggle with?
3. What problems are being addressed and discussed on your team or company's training calls?
4. What problems are being addressed on webinars and teleconferences offered by other groups outside your team and company?
5. What problems do you see MLMers struggling with that are not being addressed at all?
6. What problems are specific to your chosen method of prospecting (three-way calling, online MLM marketing, home parties)?
7. Where have you found the best answers and resources to solve these problems?
8. What are the most common questions asked by MLM newbies in online forums or on "getting started" teleconference trainings?
9. What will be the most important problems that need to be solved in MLM in the near or far future?

Bonus Round
Analyze a bunch of people out there answering questions and solving MLM problems. Are their solutions really working? Are they offering solutions that actually ring true to you or are they just parroting the same old lines that you have heard in a hundred MLM seminars and trainings? If you keep hearing the same stuff, then look outside the MLM industry. Is there someone in another niche or industry who is offering solutions that might work for MLM?

Topics to Attract People Looking for the Right MLM
The second group of people you want to write for is the group looking for the right MLM opportunity. These people may not yet be sure that MLM is right for them, but have heard enough about the possibilities of MLM to be actively doing research. For these people, you want to write content that answers questions like these:

1. Is MLM right for you?
2. What kind of personality types excel in MLM?
3. What does it really take to successfully do MLM in terms of hours and dollars?
4. How many different ways would someone be able to market your MLM business or product?
5. How do different compensation plans compare?
6. How does one investigate the track record and trustworthiness of various MLM companies?
7. What kind of training is available for people who join an MLM, and for people who join your team?
8. Does a new signup have to prospect the same way his or her upline does? The same way you do?
9. What are the qualities of a successful MLM business builder (one who really earns a paycheck that covers all the bills, and more)?

Bonus Round
What kinds of questions can you answer on your website or blog that will help you pre-qualify prospects before they ever dial your phone number or zip you an email? What can you tell people about your business that helps them decide whether they want to take the next step or not? Here are topics that will help you pre-qualify leads from your website or blog:

- MLM is not a job, it's a business
- MLM is not a "get rich quick" scheme, ever
- MLM is not for snobs but for people with open minds
- Some of the most successful MLM business owners were the hardest bring in
- You will work just as hard at MLM as in any other small business, but MLM will pay you more money and for a longer period of time
- MLM doesn't require you to have a bunch of skills, but having a few skills and a lot of willingness help you go far

Get the picture?

To Attract People Not Yet Looking for MLM
This third group is a whole different kettle of fish and one that I'm not going to try to cover in this article. However, once you have been writing for the first two groups for a while, and have developed a unique voice that people find interesting, then you might consider writing for this third group.

To attract people who are not actively looking to join an MLM but "would be perfect for your opportunity," you have to adopt a whole new style of writing. You have to write pieces that both speak to this group's current interests and tempt them to explore new interests, such as MLM. This kind of writing is far trickier and requires a lot more homework, so we'll save that set of instructions for another day.

In the meantime, learning to get online and writing for the first two groups will give you plenty of homework.

author: Stephanie Valentine

Online MLM, Ofline MLM, Or Both

MLM is one of those things where there is no single way to do it. For example, with MLM you can choose to work your MLM business online, offline, or both.

It's not by chance that I prefer to work my MLM business online with the exception of some direct mail, TV, and newspaper ads (all of which cross-promote to my online MLM strategy). And one thing I never do is face-to-face prospecting, pitch my own business to friends or family, or call leads.

I personally find online MLM more enjoyable, profitable, and best of all - automated. Let's take a brief look at the main difference between online MLM versus offline MLM.

Finding MLM Prospects

Offline MLM Prospecting - Prospecting can be time consuming and for some people - very uncomfortable. It can also be difficult to "sell" your business opportunity or products without a sales personality or years of experience. Offline MLM is also very difficult to target prospects.

Online MLM Prospecting - Requires MLM training that focuses on advertising and marketing online, but can be learned rather quickly. Researching where prospects visit and placing your MLM in front of them is also easy to learn. Online MLM prospecting does not require sales skills or an outgoing personality.

MLM Training

Offline MLM Training - Meetings are at a specific time and place and may not be convenient for your downline members.

Teleconferences are similar in that they may not be at a convenient time for everyone.

With offline MLM, folks tend to get "beat down" more than online MLM. So, regular MLM training is extremely important for a productive downline.

Online MLM Training - With modern technologies you can train and motivate your downline daily - whenever and wherever they might need it. This is a great benefit that will help you keep your team motivated and productive - even in times of weakness or burn out.

MLM Duplication

Offline MLM Duplication - Duplication is only possible with downline members of the same personality types - which is rare in this business. Many MLM "heavy hitters" will say that it's possible for anyone to simply jump right in to a system that is duplicated easily. That is just not true.

Online MLM Duplication - Duplication is as easy as the click of a button. There is no personality requirements on the web. MLM online is really one of the easiest marketing systems ever because there is no need for uncomfortable situations like face-to-face selling, calling MLM leads over the phone, or prospecting friends and family. you just setup your online MLM system and it runs like a robot.

Although traditional MLMers rarely cross over to online methods, I believe it's only a matter of time before the majority of MLMers use the web for more than just sending MLM prospects to a plain opportunity overview website.

If you don't currently use the web to prospect, recruit, train, and motivate your downline online - now may be as good as anytime to get started. You'll still be ahead of most MLMers.

author: G. Collins