Further more, by education you mean teaching a prospect to solve a problem through the consumption of a product that you are willing to introduce. So, you create a context in the customer’s mind, introduce a product and induce the thought that by using your product the context will positively improve. Sorry my friend, you just closed a sale!

With mlm, you use a double hook, the product itself must legitimate the transaction but what really boost the confidence to buy is the expectation of getting rich. Whether or not the procedure is legal, the ethical aspect is definitely questionable since there is more emphasis on preying on the prospect’s naivety than conveying the benefits of the product. The legitimacy of the product is probably a subject important enough for another article, right?

I understand that in order to be a salesman, one requires some art and that not everybody is actually prepared. Nobody wants to be perceived as the crazy sales guy, therefor, this is not an image you would like to be part of your context. You need then to be creative, … did I say deceiving? In this economy, everybody needs money, the business model is very attractive but nobody wants to admit that the particularities of mlm might lead you to promote puffery and deception.

For example, this article seems to be informative and was designed to appear impartial. No sensationalism, no pressure, just innocent information. Now answer the following questions:

What was your motivation at the time you wrote this article?
Isn’t true that this article was meant to initiate a sale?
Isn’t true that the purpose of this article is to produce leads?
Isn’t true that the link you provide leads you to a capture page?
Isn’t true that you will call at least 3 times that person?

You probably answered “yes” five time, right?

Well, in my opinion, mlm is all about selling! there are many reason why people do not succeed but the main ones are:

1. People hate selling, they don’t know how to sell and they simply misunderstand what selling is. They lack the proper tools and think that with a few articles and some Facebook activity, they are marketing expert!
2. Except a very few product out there, it is hard to sell something which tangible value is questionable. There are millions of product available, it doesn’t mean we need them all!
3. The motivation for purchasing the package is not based on the products value but on the expectation of getting rich. This is a dream that one day or another will fade.
4. Due to a lack of regulation and a scam proliferation using this business model, there is a certain awareness that perceive the networker as a con-man*.

* Con man as defined by Wikipedia: a person who uses a fraud method known as a confidence trick.

In this case the confidence trick consists in gaining the trust of the prospect by mirroring a future large gain. Statistics shows that 97% of networker fail to success and quit in their first year, 78% of companies do not make it to their 3rd year.

Anyway, it seems to me that people should be responsible enough to know who they are and what they are doing. MLM is not for everybody and should not be marketed to anybody, but then the business model would crumble! it might be a good thing … who knows?

However, I think you do have to sell – the product is yourself. So first you need to become well educated in your product, your company and yourself. Then you can offer your knowledge. As you say we are in the business of solutions to problems and we must recognise when to back off.

Once people know who we are, what we are about and the products/companies we are involved with they will know where to come.

Thanks again for bringing it all back to basics.
.-= Jean Taylor´s last blog ..Feb 7, Direct Marketing =-.