Evaluation of Popular Money Making opportunities 2

Hiya Folks, it's me again. On my last post, I talked about selling stuff on ebay, amazon.com marketing, and affiliate marketing. In this post, I will talk about multilevel marketing, which is another hot money making opportunity around. Most mlms do charge a fee to join, and are quite similar to affiliate marketing, but have some obvious differences.

Part 1- Multilevel Marketing
Ads from to mlms I am with:
The Spider Web System (it's actually more of a downline builder than a mlm serving 22 different mlms out there and similar opportunities)

Global Domains International (it is also a web hosting service that sells $10/month web hosting packages, with a domain name, up to 10 email boxes, complimentary forum and chat room memberships, and all, and has a simple site builder aimed at helping people to make easy to make professional websites)

Overview- First there was traditional affiliate marketing (where you promote products on behalf of others via your website and/or blog) and now there is multilevel marketing (or network marketing), and there are also non-legit varieties, such as pyramid schemes. Multilevel marketing is quite similar to affiliate marketing because you are not only recruiting others for commissions, but you are also promoting products that are offered by service. Unlike affiliate marketing where you can promote multiple products as you please, mlms usually have you promote one or 2 products. Also, you do not really have to have a website to promote mlms, since you do get your own sign up page that you can promote via the referral link you are given, and can simply promote that link via traffic exchanges, downline builders (only ones that support the one you are with), forums that allow you to post affiliate links in signatures, blogs, and paid advertising services). Also, some have invite features that allow you to send an invitation email to friends, family, coworkers, and others that may be interested in joining. In addition, you can actually promote an mlm offline as well, and not just have a website using promotional materials you are given, such as sales kits, dvds, business cards, setting up booths at fairs, and even by word of mouth. Now with a recession going on here in America, mlms can be quite popular as one can join a mlm, recruit friends and essentially start their own business and make money by helping each other to sell products and recruit others for extra commissions (hence the idea that you can make lots of money via mlms. Now, one may confuse multilevel marketing with affiliate marketing, but here are some differences that I am aware of:

Traditional Affiliate Marketing

• you usually work solo
• you can promote multiple products, programs, etc
• most affiliate programs are free to join (though you do have to have a website, which is not free, as well as spend some money on advertising)
• makeing money is a process, since first you need a website that sells, build audiences that are interested in your stuff, gain rankings via search engines, and giving your audiences reasons to buy from you as opposed to your sponsors.
• you do need your own website for promotion
• web masters with sales backgrounds will have an advantage over others
• most affiliate programs are only "1 tiered" and so you get paid for what you sell and may or not offer "residual" income (or commissions coming from monthly fees)

Multilevel Marketing

• usually you will not have to work alone, as you will have upline members that should be willing and able to help you to get started as needed (especially if they are serious about making extra money, considering that you are their representatives), and over time, you should get downline members as well, who you will want to work with, since you will earn commissions for not only what you sell, but from what they sell as well, going down x number of levels.
• Team work is emphasised, because when you recruit others and/or sell stuff, not only do you make commissions for your self, but for your upline as well, and the same can also be true as people join your downline as well. If you work as a team, you shoud make more than you would if you just go solo on this.
• most mlms (if not all) charge a fee to join and take advantage of the services offered (and fees do vary by company). Currently, the cheapest ones I am aware of that you can join are global domains international, which only charges $10/month for a membership package, which does include the entire web hosting package you get (note that the $10/per month is also per domain name, and so if you get more than one, you will need to invest more money, of course), and the spiderweb system, which is 100% free to join (of course it is actually more of a fancy downline builder that serves over 22 different participating networks, some of which are free to join, and others will charge a fee to use). Some other popular opportunities that are circulating around as I am aware of includes: Lawn Chair Millionaire, Carbon Copy Pro, Xango, Vemma Builder, Herbal Life/Online Business Sytems, My Power Mall, and Xocai.
• With many mlm firms, you can earn residual income, for each downline member that remains a member for more than one month, because part of the money you make comes from the monthly fee that you and your downline pays.
• There is usually only one or 2 products for you to promote
• You do not have to be a webmaster to promote, as there are plenty of ways you can get sign ups, and sell what is given to you, such as taking advantage of traffic exchanges and downline builders, joining forums that allow you to post your recruitment link in your signature, offline promoting, etc.

So, basically Multilevel Marketing is similar to Affiliate Marketing, but there is usally one or 2 products and/or programs for you to promote, there is a downline system, which means the money you make will come not only from what you sell, but what the people in your downline sells as well (and will take team work, of course if you are serious about earning money this way), does not require you to have your own website (though it can be useful, of course), and can be a good way for someone to start their own company, since they can join the multilevel marketing firm of their choice, recruit people to join their downline, and work together to make maximum money in commissions. In fact, considering that we live in a recession and there is a good unemployment rate going on, this might be a good way for people to get back on their feet (provided that they have some decent skill as marketing, of course), as they can join a mlm that is cheap to join, recruit others, and make extra money (and yes, they will need to work at it, since the more sales they make, the more money they make). Of course, mlms are not without their flaws and are not for everybody, naturally.

Cons about multilevel marketing

• Not all mlms are legitimate, unforuntately. Even legit ones may seem scammy to some people (probably because either they suck at promoting what is given to promote, their downlines are sucky, and/or there is a lack of interest in the products are offered). And there are sites out there that talk about different opportunites out there.
• Some mlms can be confused for pyramid schemes (which are not only scams, but are illegal). Pyramid schemes are somewhat similar to multilevel marketing firms, but the emphasis is more on referring others than promoting a product, only the people at the top will actually make significant money, and may collapse if the people at the top quit. There are plenty of sites out there that talk about the various mlm opportunities out there and known pyramid schemes out there. Whenever you get an mlm opportunity, it helps to do a google search on it to see if there are known issues.
• the emphasis is on team work, of course, and so if you go solo on multilevel marketing, then you will be lucky if you get past 1st level commissions.
• like affiliate marketing, you should consider multilevel marketing as a traditional commission sales job. And it does help to have decent marketing skills. Obviously, people who are good at promoting what is offered will have an advantage over those who do not know how to promote.
• If you do a mlm, you should be comfortable about sponsoring others an having people above you as well. I don't know everything about every mlm, but I know at both the Spider Web System and Global Domains, whenever you get a referral, you officially become a sponsor of that person, and will need to encourage that person to join, and help that person get started if you hope to help him/her to make money, since part of the commissions you make comes from what your downline sells in addition to what you sell.
• Some mlms are cheaper to join than others and vice versa (typically the bigger the investment, the bigger commissions you can expect to make, though). Also, some may require huge investments that may have not been mentioned at the recruitment page (carbon copy pro, for example, charges an application fee, and a $1000 or more investment fee, though the bigger investment fee, the higher commissions you make, where as a cheaper one like Global Domains International, which only charges $10 per month for its' services, is cheaper to join, but offers smaller commissions).
• Some products that you are given to promote will be easier to market than others, of course. Also, the more expensive the product/program, the harder it will be to sell.
• mlms are not recommended for people who do not know how to market stuff, and you should have a strong markeing background if you hope to get rich with multilevel marketing.
• anyone hoping to join a multilevel marketing firm will need to be comfortable about soliciting people. Upon joining firms, you may have an opportunity to invite people you know, for example. Also, whenever you get a lead, the mlm you are with will expect to send a follow up email and/or call that person that just visited your referral link and for whatever reason did not sign up. Also, sometimes, you many need to send several follow up emails to your lead to get a response from him or her. Of course, you will want to be aware of posers out there that may pretend to want to join, but are not really interested. Now, if you are uncomfortable about sending follow up emails to people, there are some downline builders that can do that job for you with automated emails. If you are a spider web system member (not a spider web system member? You are welcome to join at www.theSpiderWebSystem/ryansjones), you probably know about the automated emails that are sent out to leads, which is nice (though you are encouraged to send a personal email to that person), and serves over 22 different participating companies, including global domains, yuwie, commission junction, the black widow upgrade, self bank, and others (some are free to join, while others will charge a monthly investment). Another downline builder that you might consider if you are a Global Domains, My Power Mall or Xocai member is Hits2u. Hits2U is a downline builder network that allows new members to post one free advertisement, and offers a duplication system (under the duplication system, if someone you refer to hits2u that becomes lead at one of the 5 participating companies, that person will be automatically enrolled in the duplication system that sends out automated emails that aim to entice that person to join unless he/she either joins or unsubscribes, and can be quite useful) for members who are a member of global domains international, xocai, and my power mall (hits 2 u also has a duplication system for Top Level Marketing and My Daily Times members under the pro membership). BTW, you are welcome to join the hits2u community at http://tinyurl.com/8u34hz and take advantage of the services. BTW, you can actually get the most out of hits 2 u if you get an "pro membership" there, since there are extra features available to pro members, such as being able to list multiple advertisements, offers duplication systems for Top Level Marketing and My Daily Times Members, and you can contact referrals under a pro membership. Of course, that is just a suggestion.

Does multilevel marketing sound it like be for you? Feel free to check it out. Currently, the only mlms I am a part of are Global Domains International, Ken Evoy's Site Buildit/Site Sell, and the spider web system, plus hits2u, and so I will post links to those (for other ones, you are welcome to search for them, join them through other blogs, etc). If you are interested in joining carbon copy pro, you might consider joining business forums at http://www.businessforms.com/. There are plenty of members there that would be happy to hook you up with carbon copy pro and help you to get started.

You can join global domains international at http://tinyurl.com/6sl5b9, the spider web system at http://www.snohomishaffiliatemarketing.com/, Ken Evoy's Site Build it/Site Sell at http://viralurl.com/affiliate-marketing/Ken-Evoy-Site-Sell, and hits2u at: http://tinyurl.com/8u34hz

Here are some popular traffic exchanges you can take advantage of for promoting your mlm if you are interested:

Max Traffic Pro at http://maxtrafficpro.com/index.php?referrer=ryansjones

Traffic taxis: http://www.traffictaxis.com/?rid=1966

Hits Safari: http://www.hitsafari.com/?rid=24297

Rain Forest clicks: http://www.rainforestclicks.com/?rid=4748

Traffic Splash: http://www.traffic-splash.com/index.php?referer=ryansjones

(I am a member at others, but this list would be too long, but feel free to email me at ryansjones@hotmail.com for more, also I am in the process of making a complete list of traffic exchanges, downline builders, etc I am a part of at http://www.snohomishpromotionnichemarketing.com/ and will have a full list of them, info, and all when fully complete).

Well, that is all for now, and stay tuned for the next post: get paid to... sites