Can You Be Successful in MLM?

Multilevel Marketing, MLM, and Network Marketing all mean the same thing. It is a business model designed for the "average" person, with limited funds and limited business education.

The concept is that you join a company as a distributor. You then market this company's product(s) and/or service(s) to others, either online, offline or both, in order to earn income. As you find others interested in the business, they join the company under you, and you receive a portion of their profits.

As more and more people join under you, and under those already in your organization, your profits build, and you can enjoy a comfortable income.

Most MLM companies require each of their distributors to make a minimum monthly purchase, either to resell or as personal consumption. Because everyone makes this purchase, your distributors are also your customers, and you earn a residual income off your entire organization.

The cold hard truth is that most people fail in this business. They either have been sold a load of poo by an overzealous recruiter, who has underestimated the amount of time, work, and money it will take to build a successful organization, or they do not recognize the fact that they will need to invest in an education in order to be successful.

You see, most people who join a network marketing company do not know how to run a business, and do not treat their multilevel marketing business AS a business. They also do not feel they need to invest money into something that was sold as "easy".

But for the ones who receive proper training, and follow through on their plans, network marketing can realistically make all their dreams come true.

It is not unrealistic to believe that you can earn six figures or more in network marketing. It is unrealistic to believe that will happen a month or two after you join a company. Joining a company is the easy part. The rest takes work.

Though most of those involved in MLM will try and tell you that "everyone" wants this opportunity and "anyone" can do it, the truth is that not everyone is cut out for MLM.

I hate to see those who have no chance of ever making it get involved with this industry. Its not fair to them, its a waste of time for their sponsor, and it gives the industry a bad name when they "fail".

There are certain qualities one must possess in order to be successful in multilevel marketing:

--Desire to Better Themselves
Not everyone wants to change their lives. For those of us who are actively seeking a better existence for ourselves and our children, this may seem unnatural, but the truth is most people are perfectly content with where they are in life.

Have you ever met a secretary who has been a secretary for 30+ years? She is probably intelligent, a quality employee, and more than likely knows more about the company she works for than anyone else on the payroll. She probably could have gotten promoted decades ago, but never bothered applying. Why? Because she likes her job, she likes what she does, and is happy where she is at in life.

There is no sense in trying to convince someone who is happy with what they have that they need to join your business. If they do join, it will only be to make you happy, and not to build a better future for themselves.

--Comfortable With the Process
Some people are not comfortable with talking to others, either in person or on the phone. They may feel intimidated by the selling process, or may feel as though the network marketing industry is tainted.

Anyone who says that there is no selling involved in multilevel marketing is either misinformed or lying. No matter which path you take to market your business, you are in fact selling.

For those who are extremely uncomfortable in a situation where they need to actively sell a product or opportunity, then network marketing is not the industry for them.

--Willing to Learn
There is a learning curve to MLM. Those who fail in MLM do not take the time necessary to learn how to be a successful distributor. Maybe they buy into the line that most companies spout that says "the average person can do this" and figure that means there will be no education necessary.

The truth is, unless you are a successful marketing professional before becoming involved in MLM, you will need to learn how to properly market your business.

Those who feel that they do not need to invest in an education should not pursue an MLM opportunity.

--Able to Invest Time and Money
The truth is, a network marketing business will cost you time and money. Yes, your company will probably have start up fees, and monthly purchase requirements, but you will also need to invest money in normal business expenses, an MLM education, and marketing.

Many people think that they can join a company, spend no money on marketing, invest 2 hours a week, and in six months be making six figures.

It's not going to happen.

You need to devote as much time as you can to your business, and plan on at least a year before you are turning a profit. If you cannot invest the required time and money into a successful business, then MLM is not for you.

Everywhere you go in multilevel marketing, they will talk about leads. Leads, prospects, potential recruits, suspects, they all mean the same thing: potential people you can bring into your business.

So companies sell multilevel marketing leads, which are basically lists of people who are looking to start a home based business. These network marketing leads can cost from a few cents each to several dollars, and are intended for you to cold call to tempt with your opportunity.

The problem with must MLM leads is that they simply don't work.

I have personally never purchased network marketing leads before (shhh...don't tell anyone but I have a slight phone phobia) and have no intention of ever doing so. But, I do have a close friend in a different MLM company who purchases network marketing leads on a regular basis.

She purchases 10 leads for $20. One out of every 30 people she calls decides to join her business. So, it costs her about $60 for each new recruit. Of those who join, 75% quit within two months, and the remaining 25% within six months. That is usually not enough time for her to even make back the $60 per recruit she has paid.

Not to mention how time consuming it is!

Purchasing MLM leads is not the only way to find those interested in your opportunity. In fact, in my opinion, it is one of the worst ways!

I prefer to have my leads come to me. In fact, ideally it would be nice if they paid me first. And it would be even better if they understood what it takes to succeed in MLM before contacting me, and were willing to put in the effort to building a business.

I find it highly rewarding to help these people. They want my help. They want to change their lives. And they understand the process already.

So am I living in a fairy tale? Nope. I just got the online mlm education that I needed to be successful, and have put it into practice.

How? It all started with a simple ebook:





You see, my upline didn't have a clue how to do MLM online. They just spouted the same old "talk to your friends and family; buy network marketing leads" dribble that I knew didn't work. So I set about to figure out a way to do this well, without ever having to cold call anyone.

And I got the education I needed. Now I recommend this program to every one of my new distributors. I have seriously considered making The Renegade Network Marketer a mandatory read before I will even talk with a potential lead. Its that important.

For the full article, please see: Online Network Marketing Success.

What are the 8 essential steps you need to take to build a profitable online MLM business?

1. Acquire Business Skills
2. Educate Yourself on Online Network Marketing
3. Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
4. Make a One Year Plan
5. Pick a Company
6. Find a Niche
7. Build a Website
8. Just Do It!

Just like any other business model, Multilevel Marketing is not "easy". Many distributors and companies, whether intentionally or not, try to sell the business as a "quick fix" or something "anybody can do". This implies that it is easy.

It's not.

Just like any other business, you need to commit to it, you need to work it, you will have to invest money, you will have to educate yourself, and it will take time. Just like any other business, you have to give it a year or two to see significant results.

But unlike other business models, you can leverage your time and efforts and build more income by helping others duplicate you. This can cut down your time considerably, but you are still looking at a minimum of a year before you realize profits.