Network Marketing: Viable Business Opportunity or Empty Promises?

I came across several YouTube video spoofs the other day about network marketing and how people approach the industry. I had a good laugh watching the characters and how they acted promoting their companies. However, in my humble opinion, there is some truth to the cheesy things some people do to get people to buy products or join them in the business. So are people really tired of network marketing or just the way network marketers act as a whole?

First of all, with over 20 million people involved in a networking marketing company in the U.S. alone, I think it’s safe to say that you probably know someone or several people selling something online and posting to their social media profiles daily. Forbes even recently mentioned that 79 million new people are projected to start a virtual home-based business in the next 5 years. That's huge! I think it’s safe to say that network marketing isn’t going away anytime soon.

Unfortunately, authentic network marketers and companies must often fight a battle for acceptance based largely on the wrongdoings of those who have come before them. In addition, some network marketers in today's world can be annoying and drive people crazy, perhaps without even realizing it. For example, what about those posts that promise a six-figure salary in three months and life-changing product results in just one day? How about when you see "JOIN MY TEAM" and "BUY THIS PRODUCT NOW" with no value at all to you? I know some people may get excited about the products they are selling and want to share them with the world, which is perfectly fine, but try to share information that is of value to others.

How to Change People’s Negative View of Network Marketing

As marketing expert Ray Higdon says it...we have a perception problem inside of network marketing. This is why it’s easy for people in the media or outsiders to bash network marketing. It’s the accepted perception. The perception is a result of our activity as marketers and how we represent ourselves. This has created the negative perception. What we need to do is improve our activity and how we show up and share with others. We need to be better at improving and changing these negative perceptions. Hoping and wishing that everyone will just be open to and love network marketing is pointless, wasted energy.

Anyone can market online, but a very small percentage are doing it effectively. The most duplicated way individuals are running their network marketing businesses on social media is being done poorly. "Poorly" is the key word here. You have people hurting your business, company, and products because they are prospecting and promoting poorly to both warm and cold markets. When people do hypy, spammy marketing and prospecting on social media in a dumb way, it hurts everyone in your company. So when outsiders see this, they think that is what's being taught company-wide. Well, this isn’t what is being taught company-wide. Social media marketing and prospecting needs to be taught and used properly to provide value, help others, and warm people up. This is why it’s so important to partner with the right person when it comes to joining a network marketing company. In some situations, joining under a friend or a friend of a friend can hurt you rather than help you.

Embrace adding value to your audience and prospects. Do Facebook Live videos, write educational blog posts, post regularly on your social media profiles with tips and valuable content, and prospect in a respectful, non-spammy way. Don’t just send your website link to hundreds of prospects to buy your products or join your team with no value at all. Create and promote social content that helps add value for others.

Be the best tipper. Be the best neighbor. Be the best friend. Be the best trainer, educator, and leader. Be the best motivator. Be the best shoulder for someone to cry on if they’re going through a tough time. Be the best person to show up and help your community in the best way.

The Rise in Network Marketing and Social Commerce

The rise in social commerce has paved the way for how we sell and do business differently compared to traditional brick and mortar systems. The reality is that it's not going away anytime soon. It takes hard work, persistence, and dedication to start up and create success with your own network marketing business over time. Sharing something you love with others is the definition of network marketing, but we must do it professionally and not be annoying. Again, it’s about truly helping others, not ourselves.

There is a lot of misinformation about the network marketing profession floating around, and it’s important to know what is real and what to expect. As far as entrepreneurial options are concerned, network marketing is the most financially responsible of all choices in my opinion. Here's why...the average person in the United States that wants to start a traditional business puts at least $65,000 into a business that they know nothing about most of the time and 90% of those fail over the course of 5 years. But in network marketing your investment startup is typically $1,000 or less. Most of those companies have a 90% buy back policy, so the investment risk on $1,000 is now down to $100. Network marketing is more risk-free than starting a traditional business or franchise when it comes to just the dollars.

You expand your network and you expand the productivity of that network. This is the same business model that most other businesses follow. For example, say you own a real estate company…you start out with you being the sole realtor of your company but then you expand your company by hiring other realtors in order to expand your real estate network, all of those realtors are then providing real estate advice and help through your company’s network and then giving you a little piece of the pie. Many people in this world build networks, look for networks, and then increase the productivity of those networks. Reputable network marketing companies are no different. It’s the same concept.

Since the general public is largely misinformed about network marketing, it has often been easy for Ponzi schemes where no real product or service is offered to scam customers by pawning themselves off as a network marketing company. When it comes to entrepreneurship, many individuals lack the proper mentor ship or are unwilling to put forth the effort to be successful, so they give up. And when people give up, it's often in their nature to blame others for shortcomings, whether it's deserved or not.

Fortunately, as network marketing has matured, there are more legal and governmental regulations, which adds more authenticity to it. Network marketing companies have also developed more tools and systems to help distributors succeed. So it's a great time for the industry as a whole. If someone has a negative perception about network marketing, then they may need to do a little research from reputable individuals, websites, and companies.

Value vs. Hype

Now more than ever, "What’s In It for Them?" should be what you think about when talking to people about your product or business opportunity. When using social media for your business, are you…

• Empowering others: Leaving likes and comments on other people’s posts, articles, and pages
• Enlightening others: Raising general awareness about a current topic or mission you’re passionate about
• Entertaining others: Sharing funny and motivational quotes and photos
• Educating others: If you have knowledge in a certain area or find something that will add value to other people, share that information on your social media profiles to help others

Approach people professionally and you can build a solid business. Otherwise, you will turn people off. Understand the temperature of your prospect. Most network marketers exude desperation. Desperation comes across when you attempt to sell something or get someone to join or do something that he or she isn't ready for. Network marketing is a better way to make a living, so why devalue it by throwing up on people and blasting your links to anyone and everyone whether they have a pulse or not? Follow up with your prospects, but stop being someone of desperation.

Are you happy with where you are at financially and career-wise? If not, have you considered a plan B to change that? A plan B that can potentially become your plan A is a great way to create some extra income for you and/or your family. Maybe even take that vacation or buy that dream home. Maybe pay off debt or student loans. Things to consider in a home-based, network marketing business:

• Is the industry sustainable?
• Is the company credible?
• Are the products consumable? 
• Will the products bring value to your customers?
• Are you required to stock inventory or deliver products?
• Will you need to have parties or ask friends to host parties?
• Does the media buzz about the products?
• Is global expansion occurring?

Forbes projects that millions of people will be looking for a way to make income from home over the next 5 years. Network marketing is smart business in a rapidly changing economy. Social commerce is real business. Like I said earlier, it's not going away anytime soon. It's my goal to work hard in offering something that can potentially benefit you and others, if you’re open to it.

If you have any questions about network marketing and social commerce, please comment below or you can reach out to me at [email protected].

Keywords: #networkmarketing #socialcommerce #directsales #virtualbusiness

Sources:

https://rayhigdon.com/change-peoples-negative-view-network-marketing/

https://rayhigdon.com/in-the-land-of-terrible-mlm-prospecting-its-easy-to-shine