What Is Network Marketing?

Network Marketing or Multi-Level Marketing is very different from Affiliate Marketing in a number of ways. The intent here is to explain in this article clearly what it is and hopefully enlighten you as to what, how and who can be a Network Marketer or MLM'er.  Having been involved with a number of companies that uses this model as a means to promote, advertise and selling their products and services online and offline. I feel comfortable explaining this to you and clarifying it.

It involves a system of Direct Sales: where individuals are given the opportunity to invest and become Independent Sale Representative and not an employee.  This gives the company and the individual leverage to earn and grow at a pace that benefits both parties. Hopefully explaining it from this perspective will lead to the point that I want and make it apparently clear to you the features and benefits of this business model.

Network Marketing is just that... A Business Model.  It has been used by many companies to do three very essential things.

1. To launch new products and services 
2. To build its workforce 
3. And to market its products and services.

Thus, increase sales and revenue for everyone involved.  This method dates back more than 135 years and is just as relevant today as it was then.  Companies that are household names today is due to the founders, owners and C.E.O. being savvy enough to utilize the Network Marketing model of promoting and building their business.

Understanding it as a Business Model, removes the stigma that has been place on it by those that have used it for less than honorable purposes. What it does is take the average person and enters them into the world of controlling there own financial destiny.  This will be explained as well.  Either in this post of in a separate post, as a subject in and of itself.

Network Marketers have been known my many different titles over the past ten years or so. Among them are 

• Network Marketer (Expert)
• Multi-Level Marketer
• Direct Sales (Representative
• Direct Referrals
• Independent Sales (Agents or Representatives)
• Social Members
• etc.

All of these titles represent one and the same function.  The individuals that are fortunate enough to understand what these positions represent and the power behind them, regardless of what it is called, are living financially free lives (i.e., they are not worried about money).  

So, from here we understand that the Network Marketer, by whatever name he/she is called, it's simply companies setting up every day regular people like you and I in business for ourselves with the right to represent their company and its products, service, packages, etc.  They build their workforce by recruiting individuals (like us) who are willing to promote their merchandise in exchange for a commission.  So for every sale the representative make they are paid by the company.  When they use and purchase the products and are willing to share the features and benefits of the products and  business opportunity with other, they are paid as well.

So, unlike the Affiliate Marketer, the Network Marketer is paid not only from their own efforts but that of their network.  This expands the company's name, brand and credibility exponentially and the income of the Marketers working from home.  One of the world wealthiest men said, "I rather get paid 1% of 100 peoples effort than 100% of my own."

This is the core of Network Marketing!  If you are willing to work and not worry about others and what they are doing you can be very successful in this industry.  It is about being a leader first and your own boss second.  Anyone that is willing to learn, work and change can do it and being successful at it.