Whenever I browse or search for websites about online marketing, it’s often reminiscent of an old fashioned carnival midway, surrounded by sideshow tents, game booths, and unhealthy-but-tasty junk food. I can almost hear the barker’s seductive patter, the pitchman’s spiel, and the smell of the grease. And I’ve noticed that in both cases, the marketing strategy is similarly simple: It doesn’t matter who you are; if you have money, you’re a qualified prospect.
Welcome to the world of Multi Level Marketing, also known as Network Marketing, Direct Selling, and Referral Marketing. The concept is based on the dubious notion that anybody will buy anything. Well, at least that makes for an uncomplicated marketing plan. So simple you hardly need a plan at all—just a computer, an ISP and a PayPal account. No experience necessary.
One of the most accurate and succinct descriptions I’ve ever come across on the subject of MLM came from an anonymous article from a website I’d never heard of. Whether you’re a consumer or professionally involved in internet commerce, it’s worth a read.
(http://www.quatloos.com/mlm/mlm.htm)
Most MLM schemes seem more caught up in the method of the sale than the product itself. In this sense, the term “marketing” is somewhat of a misnomer. On the vendor side, there’s no real marketing involved, just a sales gimmick purportedly guaranteed to make you lots of money. And on the customer side, the sales pitch is no more elaborate than, “We’ve got the product you need.” Contrary to MLM hype, the internet is not a magic portal that funnels money to you via your website. Marketing fundamentals still apply even on the web.