I hope you like sales because you will be hitting up everyone you know and must develop a religious fevor over this in order to succeed.

Also, don’t be suprised if friends and family head the other direction when they see you coming so they don’t have to listen to your pitch.

In order to experience the level of success that your friend talks about you must recruit others who will, in turn, recruit others so that each of you can get a piece of the money from the sales of those below you.

There is no magic bullet here - just sell to everyone you encounter and recruit everyone of those people as well, and you may succeed.

I expect that the numbers of people who make real money in these schemes is very, very small. Most dislike the process and quit.

MLM ‘opportunities’ are really more about recruiting than about selling the products. It is like creating buying club, the products are usually very over priced when compared to competitive products; to get a more competitive price you need to join the club and recruit others. They tell you about patents and unverified health benifits but how different can it really be? You spend your nights and weekends (when your spouse and provide childcare) doing product demos. Then if you find someone who likes the products and willing to host your next demo you pitch them on the idea of selling. The key to making money get in early in a demographic/geographic market and stick with it. If real estate is about location, location, location then MLM is about recruit, recruit, recruit. Don’t let anybody else tell you differently.

MLMs are scams, pure and simple. As Jim pointed out, the products are overpriced, but that’s not even the worst part. For you to make money, you have to recruit several people who each recruit several more. Multiply this times about 15, and you start making some decent money. In the mean time, they (MLMs) coerce you to lie to your family, destroy your credit buying useless merchandise that you can’t get rid of , and eventually, you will regret your decision. Pink Truth (www.pinktruth.com) is devoted to one specific MLM, but its true about all of them. Please avoid these scams.

(Sorry for the rant…, once bitten, twice shy…,)

Multi-Level Marketing or Pyramid Scheme?

Be wary, because you will segregate a lot of people as soon as they pick a side.

Sir Jorge:

Personally, with VERY FEW exceptions, they are one and the same. If anything I can say will save someone from all the headache, heartache, and hassle, I’m okay with them not particularly liking me.

Less than 1% in MLM really make good money. You will need to be recruiting etc to make money. I fell into the MLM trap 10 years ago with Herbalife.

If you want a part-time job, get a job. http://www.snagajob.com is a very good for local part time work.

Be aware that a lot of MLM’s work by exploiting the “social net” of the new employee to sell (initially) some of the product. When the person doesnt manage to sell the same also later on then they get laid off and their social net, aka friends, are pissed about the crap they were talked into buying. Disgusting.

So rule #1: Dont even consider selling anything to someone you care. You need to sell to people you dont care about, fully knowing you sort of rip em off. If you cant do this then the job isnt for you.

@mas:

I get what you mean, but I disagree a little with how you put it. I would say that if you feel like you have to rip anybody off to get them to buy the product, it’s not a good deal.

It makes sense that if you work for the right company and learn how to do it properly, you will do well. I’d say about 99% of all companies do it wrong and focus more on the recruiting than providing a product, because that’s all MLM is, a different route to provide products to other people.

People say you’re hard selling certain products. But if you’re providing something of value that’s better than what they use, how is it hard selling? But let’s also look at it this way, what do commercials and billboards do? Why do companies pay celebrities millions of dollars to endorse their product? They subtly persuade you to buy their product. Whatever you do, it should always be legal, ethical and moral.

Be wary of MLM’s that require you to buy a certain amount of product to maintain your “active” status. This is how a lot of people get into serious debt. Some MLM’s really pressure people to buy inventory. Then it’s up to you to sell it off; the MLM has made it’s money off of you!

If you are just looking for extra cash, get a job at the mall, you’re better off. At least they won’t make you buy products in order to keep your job!

Speaking with some personal experience, try to avoid MLM (or network marketing) schemes. In MLM, current members would tell you to look up the companies on BBB. It’s true that the companies are legitimate, but the way MLM is conducted is controversial, since to make money in MLM, recruiting “downline” is the only option. Also, MLM tends to portrait themselves as get-rich-quick. Quixtar and Amway are MLM.

However, you may look into Direct Sales. The difference here is that DS involves selling products to make your profits, recruiting “downline” is secondary. DS tends to proclaim themselves as supplement income jobs. Reputable direct sales companies are Avon (public company), Pampered Chef (owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway), Body Shop at Home (owned by L’Oreal).