The direct sales industry is identifiable by many names, such as MLM, multi-level marketing, home-based business, network marketing, etc.
“Direct sales” is fairly self explanatory – sales from the manufacturer of products or services made directly to the consumer. Direct sales bypass a bulk of expense normally reflected in the sale price when the same product or service is offered at a ‘store.’ The highest of such eliminated expenses are typically overhead costs and advertising. The consumer can ‘keep more money in their pockets’ when they purchase directly – and as a consumer, more money in my pocket is what I want to achieve.
Direct sale products are often of a higher caliber, or greater quality. Money saved on eliminated expenses can go toward ‘building a better mousetrap.’ Purchasing a product or service at a lower price and receiving a higher quality product or service sounds good to me too.
The Direct Selling Association (DSA) is the national trade association of the leading firms that manufacture and distribute goods and services sold directly to consumers. According to the 2008 DSA Fact Sheet, US direct sales was $29.6 BILLION, that’s BILLION folks, with a “B.” That’s also for 2008, as the 2009 figures are not yet reported, and the Fact Sheet reflects only US sales – the direct sales industry is international – can you imagine what that TOTAL figure might be? I don’t think my brain can count that high.
Today’s economy has brought about an onslaught of network marketing opportunities. Some of the reasons for this are presented in the short video above. When I consider which company I want to become involved in (and I am involved in several) my number one consideration is: Does the ‘heart’ of the company resonate with me? This is one of the most important considerations for me because if I can’t ‘feel good’ about what I’m doing, I’m not going to do it.
Typically, ‘ground floor’ opportunities have offered a high probability for success. Again, with the onslaught of new network marketing companies there’s a new ground floor opportunity around every corner – for example: Trump Network – Donald Trump’s induction into the MLM industry. One drawback of a ground floor opportunity can be the ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ syndrome – make sure you do your due diligence.
Of course, there are some companies who have been successfully utilizing the home-based marketing strategy for decades to sell their products and are still going strong -- info on such a company can be found here. Typically companies offering products require you to order a certain amount of product monthly. That requirement is usually met by marketing the product to others or consuming the product yourself.
My experience with such companies has been that I purchase a higher quality product for less than a comparable product would cost me in the store, thus saving me money. If I’m doing my ‘job’ marketing the company and its products to others, then I’m ‘earning’ an income which far exceeds any monthly order requirement thereby making my order FREE. It’s when you don’t market that you don’t earn and you can build up a surplus of product. It’s just like with any JOB (which I’ve often heard referred as Just Over Broke) – when you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid.
Some networking opportunities offer neither products nor services, but are built on a structure of ‘helping one-another.’ One such opportunity is the GAME. Since becoming involved in the GAME (which truly has my ‘heart’) I’ve learned about several other opportunities that are similar in that their mission is to help one-another. Personally, I especially like these opportunities, because it is my belief that “he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”
When considering the possibility of starting your own business it is extremely important that you do your due diligence on the company you’re considering. The DSA offers Direct Selling 411 – things to take into consideration when making your decision.
Personally, I believe the network marketing industry (and anything else for that matter) will be for you whatever YOU perceive it to be. It’s your perspective that makes it true for you. If you believe it’s a great industry and you can achieve success, then you will. If you think differently, then that’s what you’ll get. I’m told that in pre-Columbus days people believed the world was flat – was the world really flat or was that just what they believed? When did the world become round to them – not until they changed their perspective.
Here’s one, of countless articles, proclaiming direct sales as ‘recession proof.’ This particular article is from USA today – a newspaper doing a story on the industry. You know, I think newspapers (at least used to) utilize the direct sales marketing strategy – ever hear of a paperboy?
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