Anyway, I was never really attracted to MLM. I always thought it was time consuming. Training your downline and the hand holding?! That’s probably what attracted me to affiliate marketing (FREEfabSuff and CouponCodesPlace). (With 7 kids, I’m busy enough to not have to do that. I’ll tell you about my background another time or you can Google me.) However, a friend of mine got involved with a travel business and I did some research. Even their stocks are doing well. I decided to join to help her out. Now, I’m trying to learn some ppc advertising ASAP because she’s trying to push me into going the warm market route. I’d rather do the recruiting (the FREE business side of it) with internet marketing. Their mlm cash bonuses are very lucrative, but I’ve been through a situation like you have in the past….and I couldn’t sleep if I knew that someone spent their hard earned money to find out that they hate the biz. (Unlike some people, I have a conscience. I’ve hit rock bottom accompanied with my kids. I’ve written about it, if you want to read about it.)

I put the link to the business as my website. I’d like to know what you think. The free part of it is great because you make money everytime you (or anyone that uses your site) book a flight, car rental, hotel room, cruise or even tickets to attractions. In theory, it’s a great way to make money. The problem I’m looking at is generating the traffic. I don’t want to put a link on the social networking sites. I’ve tried Adwords before with little success. Traffic exchanges are an option, but I’m frustrated with the landing page I created. I can’t get the autoresponder form (aweber) to work right. There has to be an easier way. (I need to learn more about the automated programs you spoke about on your vlog. I’m going to read your blog and Griz’s and apply it. I already have about 22 sites (blogs, Squioo lenses and sites). I’d love to have them make the money I need to support myself and my kids….without depending on his child support. (I’m tired of the games.) My sites were penalized by Google. Most of them were pr 4 on the first page for their keyword. Since the penalties, most of them have been buried. My income has drastically decreased.

Interested in your opinion about this specific income opportunity. I know you’ll be brutally honest. I think I’m ready to hear it, well I hope I’m ready.

Thanks.

I worked for a MLM for a few years and one of my projects was to re-write the program that calculates payouts and printed the checks. The real money in MLM is when you reach break-away (or over-ride) levels where you start making commissions off other people’s sales.

I think MLM was the precursor, off-line version of “make money online” programs…lots of opportunity and it really works, for some people. And mainly the people to follow the program exactly!

I’m on board with you, MLM is not evil, but some of the people are. If you get involved in one, make sure you get good upline people who will help you…not just help you help them!

- Thom

Good topic. I know many active network marketers who’d agree with just about everything you’ve said … especially when it comes to Amway.

You touched on something very important in the middle of your video. There MUST be movement of a viable product! One of the very first posts I wrote when I started my blog last year was on how to choose a network marketing company. I had three rules …

1. The “would I buy it” rule - for the products
2. The “would I recruit my mom” rule - for the opportunity
3. The “do I trust them” rule - for company management

Unfortunately, it often takes many of us a few tries before we find the “right” opportunity (that fits our individual style and skill set), and where we can honestly answer yes to all those questions.

I’ve been doing network marketing for several years now. I don’t make a ton of money, but it’s enough to make a decent little difference in our family’s lifestyle.

I think a lot of the techniques that apply to blogging and internet marketing also work very well with a quality network marketing program.

The upside for me, given my somewhat hectic lifestyle (can’t wait to be done with the military) is that even when there are times that I can’t actively “work” my business, I still get paid … for stuff I did about 4 years ago.

Oh yea, about that whole not being able to show our paycheck thing … I think it’s silly. But it actually comes back to Amway. If I was promoting an ebook, I could show you bank statements of how much I made to make you want to purchase (I see it all over the Internet). But because I’m a network marketer, if show you my earnings, it could be construed as “enticement”, and in the hands of the wrong state AG possibly get the entire company that I work with in hot legal water.

Do some people (who aren’t making a dime) use this to their advantage? Sure. But for the most part, just like with all the internet marketing “gurus” out there, there are definitely clues as to whether or not an mlmer is actually successful, or just “faking it til they make it”.

On a different note …

It’s good to have you back .. I’ve always learned a lot from your blog posts.

Thanks,
Todd

The problem I see with an MLM is that you usually have to get in right at the beginning to really reap the benefits. Like with anything else a few bad apples makes the whole bushel smell rotten.