The Seedy Underbelly of Network Marketing
Network marketing has been compared to the triangular shape of a pyramid where the only people who get involved in this sort of arrangement are stay at home moms and those that want to take advantage of the average hard working individual.
This idea being someone at the top recruits a few people to distribute for them, they in turn recruit a few and so on. The guy at the top rakes in all the money and the rest eke out meager earnings keeping them hungry and motivated. This image has been instilled as general acceptance in our society for how network marketing works and unfortunately has created this angst about purchasing, working with and being a part of the network marketing industry.
A large part of that angst comes from the push to be part of the “opportunity.” Every time there is a sale, hesitation over cost or other potential interest then there can be an attempt to convert the person into being a distributor. At every home party there is a bit about how you too could enjoy selling quality products to others and paying for your own in the process. It can feel like there is always this underlying scheme that the person just really wants you to sign up as a member of their team and help sell their product. The sale is actually just a door opening for this much more important element and the “real” reason behind them selling this product to you. Knowing you are going to be approached about this “opportunity” makes individuals hesitant to look at the products or services and quickly run away when they do purchase something. The general opinion is all network marketing works this way.
The “opportunity” push devalues the product and is the cause of some ruined relationships. It’s really a shame given that there are some really incredible products available through network marketing companies.
Unfortunately, this “opportunity” push continues to be present as an underlying element of network marketing sales. There are some network marketing companies who require the distributor to maintain a certain volume each month or be recruiting others to a certain level to retain their active account or rank. There are still other network marketing companies who have leaders that push this message of recruitment onto their team making it more about recruiting than selling. The end result of both of these situations is the distrust of customers, loss of business and ultimate fail points in being able to be successful in this business.
Thankfully not all network marketing companies are the same!
I work with doTERRA as a Wellness Advocate, i.e., distributor. There were several reasons I went with this particular network marketing company.
I love the products and we use them in our home every day
Selling doTERRA aligns with some personal financial goals I have for diversifying our family’s income
The doTERRA message and culture is much, much different than I saw with other network marketing companies
I will not say the horror stories of pushing the opportunity do not exist in doTERRA because they do. BUT… those are isolated instances and not at all aligned with the doTERRA messaging and culture that say the opposite of how it works with them. The majority of Wellness Advocates, like me, subscribe to the larger message of not pushing others to distribute or even buy doTERRA oils and products.
My approach to selling doTERRA is this:
I spend the majority of time sharing information about doTERRA oils and products, what they are, what you can use them for and how they work. There are mu