Yesterday someone that I know asked me regarding my online business: "Well, isn't that MLM?" Then proceeded to inform me that I shouldn't count on that as my main source of income. (As a note, this person did not have any real experience in the marketing industry.)



Apparently the network marketing industry has received a bad reputation - at least in some circles.

Okay, what is MLM?

MLM (as most people know) stands for Multi-Level-Marketing. When you strip off any stigma involved in it, it's simple definition is: "...a business model that combines direct marketing with franchising" (from Wiktionary Online Encyclopedia). So -- it's marketing with the right of a franchise for a particular business product.

What's wrong with that?

As long as the product being dealt with in the franchise is of good quality and the franchise owners are compensated fairly - nothing.

Many companies are adding MLM to their already-successful marketing techniques, because it is actually a completely valid, relatively inexpensive and successful way to get their products into the general public.

More than giving the marketing company an opportunity, this technique extends itself to others who are interested in making an income, and allows the "average Joe" on the street to earn a little (or a lot) of money in exchange for their efforts to promote and sell lines of products.

Here is the main message that I want to relay about this: If an opportunity presents itself to you, look it over for yourself and don't allow your decision to be swayed by any type of stigma attached. Great opportunities can be missed by listening to others' opinions rather than acting on your own judgement. (I apply this to many areas of life, not just to my career.)