What You Should Know About Multi-Level Marketing... Part 2

MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING [ aka MLM Network Marketing ]

As mentioned previously unless the organization you are dealing with offers top quality products at discount prices it is very difficult to make a living with the Multi-Level marketing concept. A person has to establish a high traffic convincing Web Site in order to find qualified people who are interested in pursuing this kind of activity.

If Multi-Level programs worked as good as many of them advertise the nation would be flooded with solicitations thousands of times over for every plan on the books.

Being able to work a Multi-Level plan on a part time basis at your leisure, with no pressure from the company as to how much of the product you purchase or the amount of business you must bring in each month, is one of the attractions of this kind of activity but results are usually negative. It's too easy forget about the business, sit back in your easy chair, and watch TV.

After a hard day's work at another job it doesn't take long to forget that you have a part-time Multi-Level program going. That phone call, that meeting to show the plan, or the extra time in front of your computer is too easy to put off until "tomorrow". Yes, it takes a certain kind of individual to follow through and they are few and far between.

Most Multi-Level plans state that you can make thousands of dollars by duplicating yourself a few times and your down line doing the same. It never works that way. You are fortunate if a small percent of your down line produces much of anything unless you are able to spend a great deal of time teaching and promoting their business as well as your own.

How are you supposed to get prospects and members? Most of the promotional materials suggest you solicit your friends, neighbors and relatives, at least as a starter. Many people are reluctant to "take advantage" of their friends. Of course, if you have the best bargains available "anywhere" you may be doing them a great favor.

Phone calls, word of mouth, direct mail pieces, bulk e-mail, Web sites, follow-up, and local classified ads are all methods used to get members and sell the products.

Multi-Level companies usually offer newsletters, catalogs, direct mail pieces, e-zines, software programs, and Camera/Ready material, which members can have copied or printed locally. They often have name lists available or advise members how to compile their own lists.

Mail Order/Web Based Multi-Level organizations will usually drop-ship direct to your customers if you wish. They are also set up to do most of the paperwork and accounting, leaving members with little detail work.

If you decide to try a Multi-Level program you are usually required to pay a fee for which you will obtain all the materials and information pertaining to the organization, the products, and how the program works. You may also be asked to purchase some of the items you will be selling. You will contact friends and neighbors, explaining how the program works, try to sell them merchandise from the catalogs and sign them up as members if possible. You will compile lists of prospects and make direct e-mailings. As your business develops you will need to contact those in your down line periodically and offer sympathy, help and assistance in order to make the business grow.

Many other incentives, prizes and extra commissions are often offered by some firms.

Make sure the organization you choose and the programs they offer are legal. If it is just a pyramid scheme whereby members are merely signing up others for a fee and little if any merchandise is being sold it could be illegal. In any event, this type of operation will produce little if any money-making opportunity. If in doubt it is advisable to check out the firm with the Better Business Bureau or with the postal authorities when it involves direct mail methods.

Remember also, there are some very fine Multi-Level firms offering good opportunities for success oriented people. The firms that are members of DSA have to abide by certain ethics and criteria. Those who thoroughly enjoy meeting and working with others, who are not afraid of hard work, not easily discouraged and who can persevere in the face of many disappointments, have made their fortunes in Multi-Level marketing. With such attributes and the right program together with proper training you can be a success in this kind of business.

This Article Continued On MLM Part 3

"What Would George Say About Internet Marketing's Scams and Today's Internet Fraud?"