MLM Zombies..

What's a Head Shot?

Kev

Charge them for wasting your time.
Sending an invoice usually makes them think twice.

I've lost track of how many folk I've come across recently who are involved in MLM schemes. They have fallen broadly into 2 camps.

There's the recent joiners, all smiley, sparkly eyed enthusiasm about this great opportunity of unlimited income they are going to make their fortune with and that I could have the same good fortune with.

Then there's the ones who've been going a few months with redundancy money run out, hardly any sales ("is it just me, what am I doing wrong?" one poor soul asked) and even fewer recruits of their own on which their future prosperity depended.

Definitely a need for regulation and spotlight on false advertising to those, often already in a vulnerable financial position, who are mis-led into investing their resources and energies into a false hope.  MLM schemes are a great "growth industry" in recessionary times....the key "product" usually being recruitment of salespeople and their cash. 

It would be good to hear of any schemes that are really working out for the majority, But it's hard to imagine how most could fall into that category, just going through the logic. The whole premise of the business model usually weights the odds of wealth in favour of a few at the top. 

I've been wondering whether to write an article about MLMs and how 90% of them simply cannot work from an economic and logistical standpoint, and will, as Ruth said, lead to people wondering if they're doing something wrong when in fact it's the system that's broken. That people are 'recruited' when vulnerable is a nasty side-effect.

I think I'll write it, might help prevent more people being taken in. And Kev, a head shot usually refers to a small metal projectile travelling through some poor sod's head at high velocity, although I think what Brad was getting at was explaining to them how it can't work - giving them a 'shot' of information and reality.

Never had anyone try to sell MLM to me.

I have this facial expression which tells people like chuggers and leaflet shovers to avoid me. I must be using it on the MLM people without realising it

MLM is a sound concept and is the fastest growing industry in the world. If the company has the right products then it's distributors can build a serious business with longevity, and with real depth. The big incomes are not for the few, but for the ones that work the hardest, and the system is far from broken. It's biggest challenge is it's low cost entry point which gets a lot of people involved for virtually no risk. This means that a lot of people join, and never get out of their own way and gain traction with the business. If they had invested in a 'proper' franchise and had £0000's at stake they would approach it differently, and find a way over the rough patch that challenges all small businesses when they launch. Industry regulation is in place for the reputable companies that subscribe to it, and the business I'm involved with also holds Gold Standard Investor in People champion status.

Rather than using a head shot, why not just explain that you are very happy with what you are doing, thank them for asking, and maybe ask them what their biggest challenge is and use your wealth of business knowledge to help the individual grow

Seen loads of them - from the MLMer slagging off every other network despite being a distributor for one of them 2 months previous, the one that genuinely does well from it (think i've seen 2 of these in 3/4 years!), and as Ruth brilliantly describes - the newbie all fresh and excited to the one that has been plodding away for far too long looking for riches that wont be there for a good 10 years.

Problem is - some are good, some are bloody awful. Some of the distibutors are good, some are bloody awful.  There are no checks and balances much like a franchise.

Momentis anyone?

Glad I'm not the only person seeing through this one...

Well, I am very very disapointed with Brad for starting this subject in such a disparaging way.  I have been with 4N almost a year and I am invloved with a fantastic MLM company (the same as David)  and the whole support structure is amazing.  I was a housewife for 12 years.  I ran and still run a holiday letting business for our villa in Florida.  However my confidence in doing business face to face with people had diminised with my time at home with my son.  Previously to this I had been working in the financial world.

My MLM company and the suport I receive have been amazing, lots of great training.  And my confidence has grown.  I have a thriving business, which in a few years will enable me to live part of the year in Florida where I can expand my business.  Indeed I already have custom in the US.

If someone is happy with what they are doing then that is absolutly fine with me.  I love finding out about other people's business and if I can help them in anyway I will.  I have be able to give refferals to other people withing 4N and have used the service of some others myself.  Like wise I have a lovely group of 4N customers/clients that I help with my products. 

Now that was my whole understanding of business networking, to help one another,  I  am quite frankly very very disapointed to hear your opinions.  

As well as there being good and not so good, well that is the same in all businesses, not just in MLM

Not sure how regulation would help - why do MLM businesses need regulation any more than many of the other types of unregulated businesses run by 4N members?

I also tend to agree with Karen that it seems a bit rough having a go at MLM businesses (and no, I'm not involved in any of them).  It's more about poor sales technique, with businesses trying to push their goods/services onto people who clearly just aren't that interested - and that's a problem that isn't restricted to MLM.

Brad must have had a paticularly bad day - suggesting shooting some of your customers (ie 4N Members) is something you might say to your mates, but a slightly odd thing to say directly to the customers in question.

If Brad would like to refund the membership fees of lot of 4N members then please do!

MLM is not for everyone and there are good and bad companies. The problem lies more often that the people that join such companies are not well trained.

I have had more bad experiences within 4N of being sold to badly from people not in MLM companies than those in.

Does not the 4N script say that 4N is "open to all business types"? It seems on the pages of this forum that MLM is often picked on. Why not pick on SEO Experts that can get all of us on to page 1 of Google?  How many businesses appear on page 1? Sorry SEO peeps. It's easy to pick on everyone if you want to. 4N is not about that - or shouldn't be.

Brad

Maybe your title MLM Zombies and comments needed more explanation.