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 so you can 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 serous 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 MACHINE reports,
MLM is an explosive growth pportunity 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 MLM companies
are well established multimillion dollar 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 bread
down the problem in three categories.
1. MLM'er can't EFFECTIVELY recruit new
members.
2. MLM'er can't keep his program going. It
runs out of
gas and dies a natural death.
3. 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'er Can't Effectively Recruit New
Members
1. The MLM Paradox
According to Webster, the word "paradox" means,
"something with seemingly contradictory qualities
or phases." 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 aggressively "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 promotional material
states, what they say in
meetings, 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 that 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 us the official MLM
literature, guidelines, etc. 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 ompany'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
Whey most people are first exposed to their first
MLM opportunity, they are over owered 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 presented
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 company 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
investigating 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
you 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
"grown 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 than 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 to them money).
With all this "good" advise, 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 that the objectives are? What
is it 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 financed, 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 in fact, 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, it
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 make their advice.
Wouldn't they? And why not - they all earn a fat
commission or other fees. do you think any of them
really cares 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 intention 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.
1. 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
promotion. 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 better since he is
also using the MLM MACHINE program.
2. 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 companies that you're in.
3. Build your one 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 easier and faster, you may want to
vigorously promote these programs while you are
building your slower, but stronger #1 program.
4. 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!
5. 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 Request 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 the
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 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 personal. Look, we
are all human. If I sponsor you, and I die tomorrow,
where does that leave you? If you are completely
dependent upon my ability 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
your surplus ones to your downline.
TRAP Be wary of "Downline Building"
companies. They want to sponsor 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'er Can't Sell
This is probably the major reason most people don't
make it MLM. By using standard MLM techniques,
you have "just got to" sell and learn how to speak at
opportunity meetings and the like.
TIP The MLM MACHINE simply 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'er 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 that you want, and you don't have to impost
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 in that you
and they will do a little local advertising. That way,
you can sign up your friends and both you and they
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 simple
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 active.
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'er Sells 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 generating MLM leads. Run your "core"
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 too
expensive, too competitive, and it is not duplicative.
MLM'er Can't Keep His Program Going Strong
9. MLM'er Not "Sure" About His 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 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 company 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 a 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 there 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 offering
advertised in this program. Re-invest 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
advertise locally or nationally. You simply put the
advertising package together, and your downline
pays you so much for a block of this 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 and
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
after speaker!
Check out the Network Marketing Company Directory
If you purchased 100 leads at $7.95 each, that would cost you $795! That is an awful lot of money to pay for leads especially when you have no guarantee that any of them will convert into sales. Could your business model support such a risky expenditure? Probably not, but what a second!
