What exactly is Network Marketing?

Let me know if this has ever happened to you?

"Hi Jody!... Let me tell you about this awesome company I'm in... This job is soooo easy a caveman can do it.... You'd be perfect - you HAVE to join.... and blah blah blah.

Or what about this one: "Hi Susie. Come on over for dinner and let's catch up..." But when you get there she's giving a presentation for this super fabulous new company that you just have to join.

Or, my personal favorite *insert scowl* "You'd be perfect for this... join my team, I'll be there with you..." So you join, expecting to have fun and make money with support when needed, and then silence. Nothing. No training, help or answers.

Unfortunately, these scenarios and many more yucky ones are what many people think of when they think of multi-level marketing (also known as network marketing, direct selling and a few other names). I know I did, which is why if you'd asked me a year ago if would I ever do something like this again, I'd have said you were bananas!

But since then, I've learned that network marketing really is a simple concept, that we're already doing in our everyday lives. Think about it; when you absolutely love a new product, place or person even, you're most likely going to tell at least 20 to 30 people about it (whether you realize it or not). Especially us women, we love to find and share things that work for us. Ladies, think about the last shampoo you tried and were completely blown away by the results. Now write down how many people you told, and how many of those people went out and at least tried it... Seriously. Take a moment and write it down. That is network marketing. It's word-of-mouth sharing of either products or business opportunities (or both).

According to the Direct Selling Association, "Direct selling is the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location, marketed through independent sales representatives who are sometimes also referred to as consultants, distributors or other titles." When you choose to join a direct selling company you get the products you want, when you want them - usually at discounted prices (especially when compared to retail) - and they're shipped directly to your door. You save because you don't have to pay the company's additional costs of advertising, shipping, store costs, retail salespersons and more. THEN, should you decide to start your own business with this company (that you already love), you get to take part in the earnings!

It's a win/win situation in my book. You get the products you need shipped directly to you from the manufacturer at a discount - so it's the best bang for your buck. (Don't you just love that?) And you have the opportunity to get paid to share them with your friends! (Which you were going to do anyway, weren't you?) How many major retailers are paying you for sharing their products with others???

Yes, network marketing is a simple concept. You sign up, with the upfront cost that works best for you. You show and sell products. Then you help others do the same thing. It's that simple. It is easy because you're doing the same thing over and over. The hardest part is sticking with it until you reach your goals. And in my opinion, you must have goals that are important to you in order to succeed in this type of business. Without them, it seems harder than it should be because you don't have the motivation to keep going.

The question now is: How do you choose a company that's right for you? I'll help you with that in another post.

Talk to you soon!
~Alyssa