What Is Network Marketing?

by Matt Hellstrom

Network Marketing is a business distribution model that allows a company to market their products directly to consumers by means of direct selling and referral, or word-of-mouth advertising. It differs from most other types of businesses in that there are no advertising, wholesale, or retail costs involved (no middle men!).

What do you mean by “No Middle Man”?

One of the benefits of this is that more money can be spent on research, development and manufacturing, which usually results in much higher quality, unique products.

The other main benefit of the Network Marketing business model is the fact that some of the money spent on advertising and the distribution channel (wholesalers, retailers, etc.) can now go to the people who actually promote the products by their word-of-mouth advertising.

This person is referred to as an associate, independent agent, or distributor. He or she is a salesperson who has their own business or distributorship. They create income by building up a customer base that buys the products directly from the parent company, or by recruiting other entrepreneurs who in turn build their own customer base, or usually a combination of both. This increases the size of the overall organization.

Associates can earn money in the form of commissions based on the efforst of their organization, which includes themselves and everyone in their downlines. These commissions are calculated based on the individual company’s compensation plan, which determines how an associate gets paid. There are usually many levels of people getting paid from one person’s sales. Also, associates can earn money by retailing products that they buy from the company at wholesale prices.

What’s the Difference Between Network Marketing and Multi-level Marketing, or MLM?

Basically, nothing! The two terms network marketing and multi-level marketing refer to 2 different aspects of the same business.

Network marketing is just how it sounds: a network, or group of people, communicate with each other and products are marketed this way.

Leverage is created by paying commissions on multiple levels of associates as compensation for their efforts. This is what is referred to as the term “Multi-Level Marketing”.

And leverage is….

Leverage can mean different things. In this context, it means the ability to earn commission on something that someone else sells.

Obviously, this concept is used by most businesses with employees. An employee earns money for a company, and in turn is compensated with a salary, which is hopefully less that he’s bringing in. The owner of the company gets to keep the difference. So he is leveraging his income by making money off his employees.

This is similar to the concept of network marketing compensation plans, with the distinct difference being that those that the distributor is leveraging off of are independent distributors themselves. This means that there are no employee costs involved, and that these people are going to be much more motivated to succeed.

Wait a minute! Is this one of those “Pyramid Schemes”?

Pyramid schemes are illegal in all states and most countries, whereas legitimate network marketing companies are allowed in all states and most countries. A pyramid scheme is recognized when distributors are paid primarily from money received from new recruits, or if they’re required to by more products then they can consume or sell.

The way to tell if a company is a pyramid scheme is if you can earn commission from sign-up fees. If there is no product or service obtained for this fee, then it’s a pyramid. All legitimate network marketing companies pay commission only on sales of the company’s products or services.

Two Good Resources For Learning More About the Industry of Network Marketing.

First is Brilliant Compensation by Tim Sales. Second is The 45 Second Presentation That Will Change Your Life by Don Faila. Both of these tools are highly recommended for your own knowledge and to show to skeptical prospects. They are both created from a third-party perspective and not for any particular company.

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