MLM SURVIVAL GUIDE Tips, Tricks & Traps Revealed
This report, "MLM Survival Guide" is one of fifteen reports contained
in the series, "How To Build A Lean, Mean, MLM MACHINE ... By Mail!"
If you have not ordered the complete set, I urge you to do so immediately
and take full advantage of this program.
The purpose of this guide is to provide a step-by-step procedure for
starting, operating and optimizing a mailorder & MLM based business
... and to do this without making serious mistakes along the way. There
are volumes of books on this subject, so this guide will not attempt
to "rehash" the "rose colored" views of these authors. Instead, this
guide will show you a "lean, mean, cut-to-the-bone" quick and easy
way to succeed in your business based upon the MLM MACHINE program.
Also, you will be shown tips to use, tricks to be aware of, and traps
to avoid.
WHY MOST PEOPLE FAIL IN MLM
As explained in other MLM MCHINE reports, MLM is an explosive growth
opportunity and it is here to stay. Like it or not! Let's review some
MLM facts. There appears to be thousands of MLM companies. Some of
these aer MLM companies, while most of them are not. Many people have
become wealthy in MLM, but about 97% of the would be MLM'ers never
make it! Therefore, before we go blindly into MLM, let's analyze why
97% of the would be MLM'ers don't survive. Then let's see if the MLM
MACHINE program minimizes or eliminates any of these problems. That
makes sense, doesn't it? Let's break down the problem in three categories.
- MLM'ers can't EFFECTIVELY recruit new members.
- MLM'ers can't keep his program going. It runs out of
gas and dies a natural death.
- MLM Company has serious problems.
I believe that sums it up. Either the MLM'er can't get his program
started, can't keep it going, or the MLM company itself goes "belly
up."
WHY NEW MLM'ERS CAN'T EFFECTIVELY
RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS
- THE MLM PARADOX
According to Webster, the word "paradox" means, "something with seemingly
contradictory qualities or phrases." In MLM, there is a paradox that
causes major confusion that must be understood and dealt with. Here
is the problem. MLM companies by law cannot aggressibely "push" the
MLM opportunity as the main reason for joining their program. They
must emphasize their products and services and explain the MLM opportunity
as only a nice extra benefit. If they don't, all kinds of local, state
and federal government officials will attack them. Therefore, they
must be extremely careful about what their literature, advertising
and promotionsl material states, what they say in meeting, etc. That
is why we normally don't mention the MLM company name when we use examples
in these reports. We do this just to avoid this kind of problem.
All MLM'ers are aware of the MLM "paradox" problem. Look, everyone
knows, including the MLM companies and all the distributors, that the
real reason most people get involved with MLM is for the opportunity!
Yet, the MLM literature and the MLM distributor cannot tell you this
directly without crossing over the fine line of being illegal. In other
words, it is illegal to promote a MLM company if the sole purpose is
to earn profits by signing up new distributors with no regard to the
usefulness of the product or service.
Where does this leave the new MLM distributor? Well, no one is officially
allowed to tell him how to go out and aggressively recruit new members!
Instead, he is always taught how to "promote" the product and then
"as an after thought" explain the opportunity! All up standing MLM
companies will follow this procedure. What's a fella to do?
TIP Keep your lead generating methods separate from your MLM promotions.
In other words, it is perfectly legal to promote an opportunity any
way you want to as long as you don't tie this directly with a MLM company.
That means that you can write your own advertisements, etc. and generate
all kinds of leads. But when it comes time to discuss a particular
MLM company, then use the official MLM literature, guidelines, ect.
when presenting that particular company, products, and opportunities.
In that way, you are making a clear distinction between "lead generating"
and promoting a particular "MLM company opportunity."
TRICK Use the MLM MACHINE as your lead generating vehicle. That's
the "back bone" purpose of the MLM MACHINE program... to generate MLM
leads! the MLM MACHINE is not speaking for any particular MLM company.
Instead, it provides a method of operating a mailorder "core" business
that pays for itself while you automatically generate MLM leads. When
it comes time to "promote" a particular MLM company, let your customers
request literature for the MLM company(s) that interests them. Then
use the official MLM literature.
TRAP Don't attempt to promote and advertise a particular MLM company's
opportunity before explaining the product or service. This is in direct
conflict with the MLM company's guidelines. Instead, find people who
have a sincere interest in MLM opportunities, and then send to him
the entire official MLM package.
2. MLM CONCEPTS ARE WAY TOO COMPLICATED
When most people are first exposed to their first MLM opportunity,
they are over powered by the complexity and newness of MLM concepts
and terms. They are confused with all those new terms such as "Network,
Downline, Upline, Organization, Levels, Etc." Then there is the specific
MLM plan that is being persented that is always anything but simple.
There is too much to absorb quickly.
Then there is much suspicion. Is this a pyramid scheme? Is it legal?
They have probably never heard of the MLM compnay that adds to the
problem. They find it hard to believe that they can really make the
kind of money being discussed. They probably suspect the MLM distributor.
And on and on. Right? So what happens? In most cases, nothing! They
simply don't sign up'!
TIP Sell the MLM Machine first! That way, your potential candidate
has been educated, and most of the initial education problems have
been overcome.
TRICK Be selective! Don't try to sell your MLM program to everyone.
Instead, spend your time selectively by writing, or phoning if you
like, to only those that have already bought the MLM MACHINE program.
TRAP If you have signed up with an upline person who is not promoting
the MLM MACHINE program, you can have a problem. Don't do it in the
first place! If your upline is also promoting the MLM MACHINE program,
he is in an excellent position to help you.
3. POTENTIAL MLM MEMBER CAN'T DECIDE WHICH MLM COMPANY
TO JOIN
Put yourself in his shoes. If he has been inbvestigating MLM companies,
he is sure to be confused with all those offers and different companies!
If he can't decide, he just doesn't sign up with any MLM company!
Does he? Well, if you are using the MLM MACHINE package, and yu are
promoting only to those that have it and read it, you have a very important
advantage, don't you?
TIP There are literally thousands and thousands of MLM distributors
who will jump at the chance to tell you which companies you should
get into and promote. If you want more "advice", there are many books
written by the "experts." Understand one thing. Every book and magazine
article that you read and everyone that you talk to will almost assuredly
have a "vested interest." In other words, they are either openly or
subtlety trying to get you to sign up in their program! They will be
quick to explain that there are "golden rules" and guidelines to follow.
Some will tell you to stay away from "ground floor" opportunities since
they are too risky. Others, will explain that this is where the big
money is. Some will explain why matrix MLM programs are better that
others - and visa versa. Some will adamantly advise you to be active
in only one MLM company - "be loyal" is their motto. Others, try to
sign you up in multiple companies. Still others have put together "Downline
Building Teams," and will invite you to join them. They do all the
work (You simply send them money). With all this "good" adivise, what
is correct?
I have noticed one thing about all these "good" advice sources. They
never seem to ask me what my goals are. What is it that I want? How
in the world can someone give another person advice before he understands
what the objectives are? What is it that that you really want? When?
How much can you afford to spend? How much risk are you willing to
take? What MLM programs and products do you like? Before we even think
about selecting a MLM company, let's review the real world about MLM
companies and opportunities.
Most new MLM companies never make it through their 2nd year. This
is because they are not properly fincanced, don't really have a good
offering, or the federal (FED's) government shuts them down! The reason
that the FED's shut down some of these companies is that there is a
lot of unscrupulous people in MLM, mailorder and infact, all kinds
of business.
MLM is no different from other companies that frankly have about the
same survival length. New companies in any business, MLM or not, have
a tough time getting through the first few years. The people that promote
MLM companies never seem to get around to explaining the real facts
to you. But you need to understand the dark side as well as the "rose
colored glasses view." Sound scary? Well, if you were to invest $5,000
to $25,000 like some MLM companies would like you to do, yes it would
be scary. The correct word is probably "foolish." Now let's take these
facts and see if there is really a low risk, high potential waiting
for you.
So, back to the question, "How Do You Select The Right MLM Company?"
This is like asking. "What stock should I buy?" Brokers, advisement
firms, and the like will be quick to give their advice. Wouldn't they?
And why not - they all earn a fat commission or other fees. Do you
think any of them realy care about you? And if they really believed
in their own "advice." why don't they mortgage their homes and buy
in themselves? The fact is, "No one knows!" And that is true with MLM
companies and buying stocks! A standard solution does exit however:
Diversify! Spread your investment around! Why put all your eggs into
one basket?
Now all of this doesn't mean that you should select your MLM company(s)
with your eyes closed. There are some fundamental rules and guidelines
for you to consider. But before I offer my "advice," I will make my
intentions clear and I will make one assumption. First of all, my intentions
are to use the MLM MACHINE program to build a large MLM organization
for all the "Highly Recommended" MLM companies that are listed in this
program. And I want you to do the same. The MLM MACHINE program is
simply a way for you to generate leads and recruit new MLM members.
Once you and your downline are recruited, it is up to the MLM company
to provide quality products and services. That's my intentions and
I make no bones about it! Before I offer advice, my assumption is that
you are going to use the MLM MACHINE program to either launch or expand
your existing MLM program. That being the case, I can now make sensible
advice.
- Select your MLM programs from the "Highly Recommended" listing in
the report,
"30 Choice MLM Programs That Can Be Promoted FREE For You!" These
have
been selected for good reasons and all are compatible with the MLM
MACHINE
promotions. There are plenty of other good MLM programs, but they
may be awkward to promote through mail or through this program. Also,
your upline can
help you since he is also using the MLM MACHINE program.
- Enroll into at least 2 or 3 MLM programs. This just makes good business
sense. As you know, the MLM MACHINE will automatically and effectively
promote all your programs. There is no guarantee that any MLM program
will survive, so let's not be naive about this. Safety is in numbers!
Although we have chosen these companies and have highly recommended
a few to the best of our ability, one could go sour. But they all
won't go sour... at least at the same time. And in the
mean time, you should be making money with the one or two compnies
that you're
in.
- Build your own core MLM company that is at least five years old
and is the best one that you can find. Write for literature on our
#1 ranking program. Consider our #2, #3, #4 and #5 "Highly Recommended"
for diversification. Since some of these can be promoted easiser
and faster, you may want to vigorously promote these programs while
you are building your slower, but stronger #1 program.
- Get into MLM companies that you have total confidence in. There
is nothing quite as frustrating as trying to promote a product or
a company that you don't really believe in. Stick with the winners
with a few years of success behind them!
- Make sure that the MLM company(s) that you select have inexpensive
literature
that you can send by mail in a cost effective manner. This just makes
good mailorder sense!
TIP Reequest the literature for all five "Highly Recommended" MLM
programs that we list. That way, you can evaluate these programs immediately
without lost time. Then decide!
TRICKS Concentrate on your method of lead generating, instead of
trying to sell everyone your MLM company. Let the MLM MACHINE do your
lead generating and "selling."
TRAP Don't be a "MLM junkie" without a plan. Human nature is to entice
you into many different exciting "ground floor" MLM opportunities.
These can be fine, but you will lose your shirt if you don't have a
coherent plan that makes sense. Work this program and its offering
to the fullest before you take off in other directions.
4. NO UPLINE SUPPORT
Once a person joins into a new MLM program, he is vulnerable and needs
a lot of help from something or someone. In many cases, his upline
is not actively helping him for whatever reason. This happens a lot
when the upline person is simply sponsoring as many people as he can
with no regard to what happens to them after they get sponsored. In
most standard MLM programs, it is important that the new person gets
immediate assistance from a local person, meetings or what have you.
Otherwise his chances for survival are slim to none.
TIP Depend more on your lead generating "system" instead of your
upline personnel. Look, we are all human. If I sponsor you, and I die
tomorrow, where does that leave you? If you are completely dependent
upon by abililty to help you, then you would be in big trouble. Right?
Stick with the MLM MACHINE "system!" You can then survive with or
without your upline. In that way, any help that you get from your upline
is "gravy". Fortunately, with the MLM MACHINE system, there is also
a lot of "gravy".
TRICK As explained in the report #4, buy some leads from your upline
if you need them, and sell surplus ones to your downline.
TRAP Be wary of "Downline Building" companies. They want to sponosr
you, and you could wind up paying as much as $100 to $200 for each
person that they arrange to be sponsored for you.
5. NEW MLM'ERS CAN'T SELL
This is probably the major reason most people don't make it in MLM.
By using standard MLM techniques, you have to sell and learn how to
speak at opportunity meetings and the like.
TIP The MLM MACHINE sumply removes this problem! You can promote
100% by mail!
TRICK Use the Mailorder offerings to earn profits while you are promoting
MLM opportunities.
TRAP Don't attempt the conventional MLM methods of selling by mail.
Since these methods are attempted by thousands of other distributors
in the same company, they generally are ineffective and very costly.
6. MLM'ERS CANNOT GENERATE GOOD LEADS
Next to the selling problem, this has to be the next biggest reason
most people fail in MLM. Let me paint you a picture of what normally
happens. The new person has just signed up in an exciting MLM program.
He is taught by the manuals, meetings and so forth, how he should "share"
his product with his friends, neighbors and relatives. Normally, he
is not comfortable with this, and if he is typical, he will have many
sleepless, tossing and turning nights! He just doesn't want to "impose"
on his friends! He would feel a lot more comfortable just presenting
his opportunity to strangers. But to whom? Unless his upline sponsor
can get to him immediately, this guy is sure to be a fatality!
TIP Use the MLM MACHINE mini-flyers to circulate locally and mail
postcards to your "inner warm circle." That way you can generate all
the leads you want, and you don't have to impose on anyone. Let the
MLM MACHINE do all your selling for you.
TRICK Explain this program to a couple close friends and propose
a business venture that you and they will do some local advertising.
That way, you can sign up your friends and will generate a lot of fast
leads.
TRAP Don't procrastinate! You may have a wonderful opportunity, but
if you don't take action, you will be "dead in the water."
7. THERE IS NO TRUE DUPLICATIVE SYSTEM
If the MLM company must be promoted through expensive methods, this
is not feasible. Also, if you must learn how to sell, or to speak and
conduct an opportunity meeting - friend this is just not duplicative.
It just isn't! Only a few people can do this. Here again, is a very
important reason a lot of would be MLM'ers die on the vine.
TIP Simple. Use the MLM MACHINE program. It is duplicative for both
promoting locally and nationally. That problem is simply solved.
TRICK Follow up with your first level of people. You can do this
by letter or phone. If you have signed up someone that is not active,
replace him with someone new, but keep all your first level people
alive.
TRAP You feel obligated to do your downline's work. Look, your job
is fairly simple. After you sell the MLM MACHINE package, your downline,
like you, knows what to do. The MLM MACHINE will do 98% of the training
for you and your downline. Your only other job is to try to generate
a few surplus leads that you can pass(sell) on to your downline. That's
pretty much it. If your downline can't follow suit, don't waste time
with him! Your objective is to have an active first level of people.
But only a few!
8. MLM'ERS SELL BY MAIL USING STANDARD MLM TECHNIQUES
We have written on this in other MLM MACHINE reports, but because
this can cause many "fatalities," it must be included here.
TIP Use the MLM MACHINE approach. You can start and operate a profitable
mailorder business while generatin MLM leads. Run your "coore" business
like a mailorder business instead of a MLM business.
TRICK Promote your mailorder business locally first, and then expand
it nationally if you like. That way, you keep your up front cost down
and you get fast results.
TRAP Unless the MLM company has a proven mailorder method (and that's
very unlikely), never, never attempt to promote the MLM program by
mail using standard MLM techniques. It's way to expensive, too competitive,
and it is not duplicative.
MLM'ERS CAN'T KEEP PROGRAM GOING STRONG
9. MLM'ERS NOT 'SURE" ABOUT MLM COMPANY OR SERVICE
Often, a person will "sign up" in a MLM program in a "fit of excitement."
After the dust clears, he comes down to earth and reality slowly sets
in. He then starts having doubts about the company, the product or
service and his own ability to promote it. If he has enrolled in a
program that is not well established, he may have some well founded
fears. If the company is not at least two years old, things can get
very shaky very quickly. The slightest amount of financial problems
or bad press can crater this company over night. Therefore, it is of
utmost importance for the new MLM'er to align himself with a solid
company with unquestionable products and services!
TIP Pick an established, financially sound MLM company that is at
least two years old with unquestionable products or services. That
way, you can feel good about the company and products that you are
promoting. There is nothing quite like being able to "tell the complete
truth" to your prospective customers.
TRICK Don't select a MLM just because you are "in love" with the
product. Put your emphasis on the business, the money making potential,
and the capability of the MLM MACHINE to help you promote it.
TRAP Don't get awe struck with a company that is not being promoted
by the MLM MACHINE. If you join one of these, the MLM MACHINE can
help you some, but not near as much. Then you will be forced to use
standard MLM techniques to promote this other company.
10. NEW MLM'ER DOESN'T STICK WITH IT LONG ENOUGH
TIP Starting any company takes time, and this is true with MLM as
well. By the time you study the MLM MACHINE program, write and receive
literature, study this and sign up; get the literature; etc. - it takes
time! And then you have to generate your leads and so on. Also, there
is a lead time before you get your first check. And then your organization
has to take time to grow. And on and on. The point is, it will take
several months before you can expect much of anything to start to happen.
You should set in your mind that you are going to stick with this for
at least one year! That just makes good business sense.
TRICK Use the mailorder promotions to earn money during the interim
time. That way, you are earning extra profits and generating a lot
of surplus leads to help your downline.
TRAP Don't spend all your initial promotional money on one thing
and all at once. Do a little testing. Spread it out and find out what
works best for you. If you "blow it" all in one big shot, and it doesn't
work, then what?
MLM COMPANY IN SERIOUS TROUBLE
11. YOUR MLM COMPANY GETS INTO SERIOUS TROUBLE
Here is something that can happen, so you had better be prepared for
it. As I have mentioned before, there are some excellent MLM companies,
and some not so good. But any cocmpany can get into serious trouble,
and a lot of MLM companies certainly do. They can get into financial
problems, or get bad "press," management problems, etc. Anything can
happen, and if you are one of the unlucky ones to be promoting this
company, you could quickly become another MLM fatality. Particularly
if you are promoting only this one MLM company.
TIP Diversify. Look, we both know that MLM offers many wonderful
opportunities. We also know that this is a volatile industry. That
doesn't mean we should not participate. If you had to invest several
thousand dollars in one MLM company, then I would be worried. But that
is not the case here. You can partake in several MLM companies for
less than $200 a month, and still enjoy the benefits. Can't you? Let's
face it. Although the companies that are listed "Highly Recommended"
in the MLM MACHINE are excellent, solid companies, they may not be
perfect. In fact, some may go 'belly up." But not all at once! Worst
case, you will be in a MLM company at least a few months or years before
they get into trouble. Now tell me you won't have made a profit even
with that company!
TRICK Sponsor your first level quickly. That way, your income will
more than cover your costs. With the MLM MACHINE, this can be done
with just a little extra effort. Then show your first level how to
do the same. That way, you earn profits quickly and stay ahead of the
game.
TRAP Don't be an MLM "junkie" without a plan. Diversifying with
a good coherent plan is one thing, but just buying into a lot of MLM
companies is a "no-no." But yet, did you know that they are many people
that buy into dozens of MLM programs without promoting any of them?
The MLM MACHINE program solves that problem - doesn't it?
***MORE***
HOW TO BUILD A SECURE INCOME
TIP When you can afford it, buy into more MLM programs and other
mailorder offerings advertised in this program. Reinvest some of your
profits and round out your MLM companies to at least three. Start promoting
the MLM MACHINE again so you can recruit members into your new MLM
programs. When you do this, you will generate surplus leads for your
original MLM programs. At this point, you can either feed these leads
to your existing downline, or start to build a second organization.
TRICK Consider forming a co-op advertising group made up of your
downline. You can advertiise locally or nationally. You simply put
the advertising package together, and your downline pays you so much
for a block advertising. That way, they get tons of leads, and your
downline pays you so much for a block of advertising. That way, they
get tons of leads, and your downline builds automatically.
TRAP Don't forget the method that you used to succeed. After you
become successful, you will want to work closer with the individual
MLM companies that you are promoting. All these companies have "grand"
ways that they want you to use and teach. Beware! Stick to the system
that worked for you. If you want to become active in speaking engagements,
opportunity meetings annd the like, then that's another story. But
don't get caught up in the glamour and tinsel that could mislead you
after you have become a highly sought speaker!
Best Regards and Good Luck!