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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
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#1 · Posted: 29 Jan 2007 12:31 · Edited by: getagrip
A few days ago days ago, I saw a friend I haven't seen for a while in a Starbucks coffee shop. Since it looked like she might have been on a date...and because I was running late for work, I didn't say hi, but instead decided to email her later on to ask about her "hot date". The next day, I get this email from her. It went something like this:
"Keith, we need to talk! Call me if I don't call you first!"
I thought, "great, she's ticked off because I said 'hot date'". I really didn't mean it in a bad way...
We talked later that night, and it turned out she wasn't mad at me at all. In fact, she said she had been thinking of me, and didn't mean anything by the way her email came across. I thought it was really cool that she had been thinking about me, after all, she's a really neat girl.
But then the unthinkable happened. She dropped the "MLM" bomb. She had been thinking about me because she wanted to know if I was interested in joining her MLM. Noooooooooooooooooooo!
The funny thing is that the LAST time we hadn't talked for a while, she wanted to talk to me about joining her MLM as well. So, here is a nice girl who I hardly ever hear from...who I only get to talk to when it involves joining her MLM.
Now, aside from the fact this girl only seems to want to talk to me when it involves joining her MLM, the interesting part about this story is that the two MLM bombs she dropped on me were two different MLMs, both of which, of course, were the best thing since sliced bread. If you are not familiar with what happens when someone wants you to join their MLM, it goes something like this:
To get people interested, you frequently have to bug your friends and family to try to get them to join the MLM. You usually have to ask people to go to a hotel to watch some millionaire "guru" speak, who can solve all of your problems, except, of course, the problem that deals with why nice girls only talk to you when they want you to join their MLMs.
Like all MLMs, you discover that this millionaire MLM guru speaking at the hotel won the Nobel Peace Prize for inventing the world's most advanced toilet paper, which when used at night, cures cancer. You find out that you can get rich if you pay something like $200 to start selling this really advanced toilet paper, and of course the MLM company doesn't make a dime off of the $200 you spend to join the company...
So you decide to join the MLM and all of the sudden you are out $200, which you had to borrow from your father's sister's friend's roommate. What do you get for your $200? You get a really nice welcome packet of high tech toilet paper, which is hand crafted in the Himalayas, and sells for $49.99 a roll.
Does this sound far fetched? Well, actually its not. The first MLM my friend joined cost her about $149 to join. The second one cost close to $500 to join. I wanted to be supportive of her in both cases, so instead of going to the hotel meetings to watch the MLM "guru" speak, I thought that perhaps I could purchase one of her products.
It didn't work out the way I had hoped. In the first case, I didn't want to pay something like $15 for the world's best shaving cream, and in the second case, I didn't want to pay $4 A DAY for the world's most high tech vitamin (yes, the vitamin really does cost $4 a day!).
So where am I going with all of this? The reason I stay away from MLM's is because people usually don't want to be bothered with a sales pitch to get started with an MLM program they have never heard of, nor do they want to fork out huge amounts of cash for over priced products you can get at the local grocery store for 75% less.
Just how do MLM companies make their money, anyway? Well, if you can get someone to spend $500 to join the MLM, which most people will fail at, then you don't need to sell a single $120 bottle of vitamins to consumers, because you have already made a ton of cash from the sign up fees. In fact, at $500 a sign up, the MLM company will make $5,000 for every 10 people who sign up, and $50,000 for every 100 people who sign up without making a SINGLE SALE to the consumer. Multiply that times who knows how many conferences are going on in who knows how many cities, and you can see how profitable MLM's can be for the "guru" who owns the company.
Do some people "make it" with MLMs? Sure. They probably don't have any friends left, but some people do "make it". I sincerely hope that my friend who joined the two MLM's "makes it" (I really do), and I hope that people line up to purchase her $4 a day vitamin...and definitely hope she won't lose any friends as a result. And of course, I hope I can have a conversation with her again which does not involve talking about her MLM. Miracles do happen, and God can cause nice girls to talk to you for reasons that don't involve becoming a member of their MLMs...
Having said all of this, there IS an alternative to MLM's if you want to earn extra money. Many people earn money online as affiliates through "internet marketing", which DOES NOT require you to bug your friends and family to join. Ebay.com, Walmart.com, and Amazon,com are just a few of the many companies which have affiliate programs, and all will pay you a commission for any sales generated through your affiliate link.
The great thing about affiliate programs is that you don't have to go to any hotels to watch some "guru" speak to get started. Since you are promoting digital products or referring consumers to company websites, you don't have to keep stockpiles of overpriced inventory no one wants. Last but not least, your success isn't dependent on signing other people up under you, since the commissions you generate are high enough for you to earn a living on your own. For example, I know of a weight loss ebook you can promote, which sells online for $39.99, and your commission is 50% of purchase price, minus a small transaction fee (your commission after the fee is about $18.33). So, sell 5 of these weight loss ebooks a day from your website, and you will earn just under $100.00.
While you don't have to pay any money up front to join affiliate programs, understanding how to market affiliate programs online is the key to making money with them, and requires a specific set of skills. If you don't have a website, don't worry - there are ways to market affiliate programs online with and without a website. Fortunately, most guides which teach you to how to market affiliate programs such as Holly Mann's "Honest Riches" (which I highly recommened) start out at about $27, which you can easily earn back after a few sales.
So, after you have made some money from affiliate programs, the next time you get a call from a really nice girl you haven't heard from in four months since the LAST time she told you about her MLM program, you can decline the invitation to watch a speech by an MLM guru who invented toilet paper which cures cancer, and instead you can take her out to Starbucks.
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Vishal P. Rao
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
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#2 · Posted: 30 Jan 2007 01:17
Quoting: getagrip So, after you have made some money from affiliate programs, the next time you get a call from a really nice girl you haven't heard from in four months since the LAST time she told you about her MLM program, you can decline the invitation to watch a speech by an MLM guru who invented toilet paper which cures cancer, and instead you can take her out to Starbucks.
I don't think I'll have the courage to take her out for a coffee. The fear of her proposing her business opportunity to me again will always be there 
Great post!
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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
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#3 · Posted: 30 Jan 2007 01:29 · Edited by: getagrip
"Women, can't live with em'...pass the peanuts".
---Norm, from the television show Cheers
Quoting: Vishal P. Rao I don't think I'll have the courage to take her out for a coffee. The fear of her proposing her business opportunity to me again will always be there
Actually, I did write her an email and asked her if she wanted to get together at Starbucks some time. Since it has been a millenium since we have talked about something OTHER than her MLMs or MY internet marketing, I told her that we could talk about anything BUT those topics. 
It turned out I wasn't the only person she talked to about her MLMs. I called one of her girl friend's who also talked to her about the same thing...and was pretty irratated by the whole thing. She said I SHOULD point out to her that the last two times she has talked to me were because of her MLMs...but I don't know how that might come accross. I'm thinking about telling her where she can read the article online...she will either laugh her head off or she won't talk to me again. Either that or she will "see the light" and finally discover what MLMs are REALLY about.
ANYWAY...this is why I really can't stand MLMs. VISHAL, FOR ONLY $367, you can join my MLM to buy this biodegradable computer mouse! Oh, by the way, did I tell you that you have to contact your friends and family to sell the mouse for $699 each? Or they can buy two for $1397, a savings of $1! Ok, just kidding...
Internet marketing is SOOO much better than MLMs, because you never have to deal with any of that stuff!
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CarolinaConsign
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Joined: 25 Dec 2006
Posts: 73
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#4 · Posted: 30 Jan 2007 20:00
getagrip,
From what you said,
Quoting: getagrip Having said all of this, there IS an alternative to MLM's if you want to earn extra money. Many people earn money online as affiliates through "internet marketing", which DOES NOT require you to bug your friends and family to join. Ebay.com, Walmart.com, and Amazon,com are just a few of the many companies which have affiliate programs, and all will pay you a commission for any sales generated through your affiliate link. The great thing about affiliate programs is that you don't have to go to any hotels to watch some "guru" speak to get started. Since you are promoting digital products or referring consumers to company websites, you don't have to keep stockpiles of overpriced inventory no one wants. Last but not least, your success isn't dependent on signing other people up under you, since the commissions you generate are high enough for you to earn a living on your own. For example, I know of a weight loss ebook you can promote, which sells online for $39.99, and your commission is 50% of purchase price, minus a small transaction fee (your commission after the fee is about $18.33). So, sell 5 of these weight loss ebooks a day from your website, and you will earn just under $100.00. While you don't have to pay any money up front to join affiliate programs, understanding how to market affiliate programs online is the key to making money with them, and requires a specific set of skills. If you don't have a website, don't worry - there are ways to market affiliate programs online with and without a website. Fortunately, most guides which teach you to how to market affiliate programs such as Holly Mann's "Honest Riches" (which I highly recommened) start out at about $27, which you can easily earn back after a few sales.
I understand what MLM is and also what direct marketing is, so where does affiliate programs online fall in?
Best of Luck!
Brian
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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
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#5 · Posted: 30 Jan 2007 23:12 · Edited by: getagrip
With affiliate programs, you are not bound to a specific product or only products that the MLM company is licensed to market.
For example, the MLM company may specialize in soap or skin care or something like that, and may even have an online mall you can use to offer your customers a broader range of products. However, you are LIMITED to those products which the MLM company owns or has a contract to market.
With affiliate programs, you can literally do an internet search, and find products to promote in specific niche areas. For example, if you like model railroading, you can do an internet search to see if you can find a model railroading related affiliate program - and when you find one, you can sign up with the affiliate program.
With MLMs, you are limited in what you can sell, but with affiliate programs, you are not. You are COMPLETELY independent with affiliate programs. You are free to promote anything you want, with any company you want.
Here's a curve ball for you. Suppose you are in an MLM, you have a website, and want to increase sales for your MLM. If you learn internet marketing skills, you can market that MLM program online...and promote affiliate programs on the side.
Affiliate programs also seem to pay a lot more than MLMs. While many MLMs seem to give you a relatively low commission for your efforts, many affiliate programs start out with very high commissions (many web hosting companies pay about $100 for each new signup). Affiliate programs also pay by lead. For example you can get paid $10-25 or more) everytime someone fills out a mortgage or credit card application...whether or not they are approved.
All in all, affiliate programs offer a lot more flexibility than MLMs, and reward you entirely based upon what you do in online sales, rather than on how many people you can sign up under you.
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CarolinaConsign
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#6 · Posted: 31 Jan 2007 21:38
Great information! I have been working/looking at affiliate programs for years. Back in the late 90's early 00's I used to peddle paypal, through eBay. It was an easy sale; $10 for you if you sign up and $10 for me for directing you there. Of course that went away to a more time consuming/less dollar program now.
I favor more (big ticket) direct marketing now and days. Of course I am always looking for ways to add programs that lead to multiple income streams.
Let me ask you a question about MLM vs Network marketing. Do you think there is a difference between the two?
Brian
[email protected]
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Vishal P. Rao
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 1319
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#7 · Posted: 1 Feb 2007 06:58
Hi Brian,
Please read:
MLM vs Network Marketing what the difference here?
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roger
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Joined: 31 Jan 2007
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#8 · Posted: 2 Feb 2007 00:55
Hey getagrip,
Great story dude!
Roger
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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 2087
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#9 · Posted: 22 Jul 2007 00:38
Glad you liked the story, Roger!
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stacy
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Joined: 9 Oct 2007
Posts: 82
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#10 · Posted: 12 Oct 2007 17:07
How do sign up to be an Affiliate Marketer for Walmart.com? I order stuff there online all the time and would love to get cash rebates on my orders. I have an online shopping mall, so I already get rebates from thousands of stores online, but it doesn't include Walmart. What about ABC Distributing? Do you know if I can sign up to be an Affiliate for them? I love their products and so does everyone around me. I want to promote products that I actually use.
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agoodsaid
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Joined: 13 Aug 2005
Posts: 53
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#11 · Posted: 13 Oct 2007 07:01
I really enjoyed this story getagrip
I wholeheartedly agree with you that the way that most MLM/networkmarketing compaines are structured leads to behavior like your friend has shown you. It's not her fault really ... she's been sucked into a situation in search of an ideal and been duped.
Truth is, I totally understand where she's coming from, though I think she's really missing out not learning how to find people that she'll really enjoy working with. She's been taught to 'make a list' and not give any thought to what the person on the other end might be suited for.
In a perfect world, we partner up with others who we appreciate and who appreciate us -- through thick and thin ... and leave the other people alone (as far as business I mean). Maybe it's a girl thing, but I've stubbornly stuck to my vision of what the ideal 'residual income' and partnership looks like (which includes how it comes to pass) and that story of yours 'ain't it'.
TOTALLY agree that building internet marketing skills opens the gates of possibility and weaving affiliate marketing into the mix is a lovely addition.
Most important I think is to find something that works for who you are that allows you to grow in an authentic way. We should never ever let someone bully us into being something or someone that we're not. Hopefully, your friend will see the light and chalk this up to a learning curve experience. We all have 'em 
Point her my way if you want -- if she in any way wants something different, I'd be happy to help her figure out what will work for her. Beginning with pinpointing her 'why' and teaching her how to prospect without bugging her friends and family.
Hope this comes across right -- it's a bit from the hip, but I think you'll get the gist of what I'm wanting to say ...
I appreciate you!
Make it a great day,
Andrea
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getagrip
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#12 · Posted: 19 Oct 2007 15:07
Quoting: stacy How do sign up to be an Affiliate Marketer for Walmart.com? I order stuff there online all the time and would love to get cash rebates on my orders.
You have to go through Linkshare.com, although I don't know if you are allowed to purchase through your own affiliate link. I would advise against that unless you have other customers who are ordering through your link as well.
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cgmom
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#13 · Posted: 19 Oct 2007 18:27
That is hilarious!!! Good post. You got my attention. Tell her next time to try marketing online instead of bugging her buddies, lol!!
I love it; you're too funny.
God Bless,
Nikki Carter
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BeAChampion
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#14 · Posted: 24 Oct 2007 17:20
Quoting: getagrip But then the unthinkable happened. She dropped the "MLM" bomb. She had been thinking about me because she wanted to know if I was interested in joining her MLM. Noooooooooooooooooooo!
This was such a great post. I was laughing so hard at this part!
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RealityBytes
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Joined: 23 Oct 2007
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#15 · Posted: 26 Oct 2007 00:19
Funny story!!
I just re-read the title of your story, and couldn't resist putting on my editor's hat:
"Are you happy to see me, or is that an MLM in your pocket??"
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Cenay
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#16 · Posted: 12 Nov 2007 15:31
Great story GetAGrip,
And sadly, true for a lot of network marketers. They really don't understand the business model if they are focusing on "recruitment" to the exclusion of getting product customers though (IMHO). While recruitment does offer "the big bucks", I prefer to focus on customers. And no, I am not selling a $49 roll of toliet paper, but rather a product that really does what it says it does... which is hard to find these days.
My "pitch" to potential product customers goes something like this:
I market an Energy Drink for people who are burning the candle at both ends, don't sleep well because of all the caffiene in their system and are still dragging their butt through the day like I used to. Do you know anyone who might like to know about a product like that?
Then I shut up.
If they refer someone, great, I take the info. If they change the subject, I go with the new train of thought. I don't want to bug friends and family (who generally aren't interested in your latest greatest, whatever), I prefer to talk to people who ACTUALLY want what I am selling.
Just my two cents worth.
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campers
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#17 · Posted: 21 Nov 2007 00:58
One of the biggest problem with MLMs is that its about the opportunity/recruiting first and product second. It's as if the product is merely to facilitate the existance of the scheme, rather than using network marketing to distribute the product.
There is too much unrealistic hype placed on the potential earnings, which are usually only made by people who have been in the industry for a while and know how to do it properly. On the other hand it is a great way for the little guy to start something with a small amount of capital. When you think how much a big name franchise costs, I got a pretty good deal for the $60 I paid to join mine which gives me product ip/development, websites, branding, customer support etc.
There do exist some MLMs with good products. I got involved in mine by actually finding its product first. It is a unique product that people do actively look for. Avoid anyone that says the product isn't as important as the recruiting system. If you wouldnt buy the product if you weren't a rep, then have a second thought if it's really for you.
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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
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#18 · Posted: 23 Nov 2007 19:06
Quoting: Cenay My "pitch" to potential product customers goes something like this: I market an Energy Drink for people who are burning the candle at both ends, don't sleep well because of all the caffiene in their system and are still dragging their butt through the day like I used to. Do you know anyone who might like to know about a product like that? Then I shut up.
That's probably a good way to approach it...you can get your point across without being too pushy, and you kind of put the ball in their court if they are interested.
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Soc_Coach
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#19 · Posted: 14 Dec 2007 22:04
Yo getagrip.. that was a fantastic story! I loved it, sorry for the joy from your sad plight, but that chick needs to learn her lesson, and learn it fast before she chases everyone away (if she hasn't already)!
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juno44444
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#20 · Posted: 17 Dec 2007 02:57
Ha ha. I think its good to avoid going after friends and family for stuff like this. I teach my mom about Internet Marketing, to help her. That's different.
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