Any novice in the world of multi-level marketing has a whole host of questions when it comes to joining an MLM program.
A few of them might be: 1) What is the best way to get into MLM? 2) How can I tell if a MLM opportunity is on the level? 3) What's the quickest (and best) way to build a large downline? You can find answers to these questions, as well as many of the other newcomers to MLM may have by having a look at the way other Internet marketing businesses work; for instance, affiliate marketing.
There are a lot of parallels, which can be drawn between affiliate marketing and multi-level marketing.
Both are built on the concept of paying referrers (who are not technically speaking, employees) a commission for sales that they generate.
The difference between the two is this - in MLM, the commission structure is more complex, going beyond the one or two tier model generally seen in affiliate marketing.
You can evaluate an MLM program in the same way you would an affiliate marketing program in which you were interested in.
You can ask the same questions about both to determine whether the program is worth your time, effort and monetary investment.
The questions that follow can be your key to understanding whether or not a particular MLM program meets your needs.
1.
Does this program have a viable target market? If it does not, watch out! You won't have a lot of luck selling a product or service that nobody wants.
Find an opportunity where the product or service is actually meeting a demand, preferably targeted towards an affluent demographic.
2.
Is there any money in this? Just like an affiliate marketer, you should be keeping an eye out for high commissions.
If the program doesn't pay out enough per level, it's not worth your time trying to build a downline.
3.
Does the company stand behind its representatives? A program that provides you with the tools you need to build your business is the way to go.
You want more than just an opportunity; look for support too.
4.
Can I set up a lead generation system on the Internet? The web can be the single best method of generating leads for your MLM efforts.
Choose a program that you can use your own web site to market so that you can personally follow up on your leads and reap additional profits.
5.
Can I automate the program? By saving time, you save money - this is a familiar concept to anyone in any sector of business.
If you can automate some of your operations, you will save time and money.
Make sure that your customers can order your product or service easily (perhaps via your site) - you should also make it possible for new members to sign up without you having to walk them through things yourself.
You will then be building your downline even while you sleep! Finally, you should always have one eye on the future of your business.
Keep looking for ways to grow your business and your profits over the long run.
If you have done a good job of target marketing and have a good list of leads, this will be a snap.
You can market new programs to customers you already have, perhaps even recruiting members of one program into another! Now that is a successful MLM strategy.
There are more advanced tips where I go into detail in my free newsletter.