Put simply, Network Marketing is people helping people. When you like a movie and tell a friend about it, you are network marketing. You don’t get paid for recommending it, but hopefully your friend enjoys the movie as much as you did and the movie producers and theater are rewarded for providing it.
Perhaps a better term than Network Marketing is Relationship Marketing. You have a relationship with someone and you see a need they have for a product or a new source of income. The better your relationship with the person, the more likely they will be to accept your recommendations.
Pyramid Scheme?
Unfortunately, there have been companies in the past who have given Network Marketing a bad name. Some earned their money by selling a plan with a high front-end cost and they had no intention of every selling any real product. This was good for those who got in early, but bad for those left holding the product when the company folded. Fortunately, those type of Network Marketers are not as prevalent as they once were. Government regulations have sought to control the market and Network Marketers themselves are also taking steps to see that this does not happen.
Unlike some business opportunities, the entry cost is low and you are not on your own. You have many people to work with you and encourage you along the way. Because the overhead is so low, you can develop a team of people to work with you. In this way, you can enjoy helping others to financial independence at the same time you work towards it yourself.
Is Network Marketing for you?
That’s something only you can answer. The potential for earning is great, but success comes with a great deal of work. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme!