In a neat post today Ann Handley, an experienced marketer and well-read blogger, posed that very question about blogging.
“What’s the biggest lie about blogging?” she asked her readers, all marketers and bloggers.
The parallels with NM are intriguing. A few of Ann’s confessions…
“It’s been 3 months since this blog launched. And the learning curve – as for any new venture – has been steep as Kilimanjaro….”
“Which was surprising. For some reason, I was under the ridiculous impression that launching a blog and building its traffic and profile would be little more than plug-and-play….”
“The blog’s launch and growth has been significantly more of a challenge than I expected….”
“Other than a few high-profile blogs, blog audiences are fractured and their readership is a relatively small compared to, for example, newsletter readership.”
And Seth Godin, an A-list blogger, weighs in: “Oh for sure, (the biggest lie) this: That people care what you say. They don’t. They care what they get.”
David Armano posts this: “The biggest lie: You can ‘casually blog.’ It’s ‘fun.’ I didn’t anticipate the commitment. Starting a blog is a lot like starting a relationship.”
So much for the blogging community ‘biggest lie’.
So now how about us?
“What is the biggest lie about Network Marketing?”
Use the Comments below to post your (rep)lies…tell YOUR OWN experience. That’s what we all want to hear.
Hmmm – hard to pick one:
#1 – It’s easy, anyone can do it. Enough said on that one.
#2 – The products sell themselves. I have yet to find a product that knows it’s own first date script and goes out and delivers it.
#3 – Everyone needs to see this opportunity. I am not the manager of the universe, hence, not my job to define one’s needs, or do therapy to help them see the light.
#4 – Don’t recreate the wheel. ie, there is only one way to do this and we should all find joy doing it this way. Use this script and lead with the business.
#5 – If someone doesn’t invest some money up front, they’re not serious.
Enough already.
Anybody can do it.
It’s easy to make money in this business.
Am I finally learning, it’s not, just me, after all?
Carolyn
Judy — Great comments!
I’ve had a great experience with my sponsor and upline, so I can’t really say I’ve had a personal experience with a MLM lie. It also helps that I spray myself with BS repellant every morning.
The one MLM lie that REALLY gets under my skin when I hear someone saying it is, “If you buy the bigger starter package, you’ll go faster.”
By the way, I just retired one of my blogs. It ran for three years and had nearly 1500 posts — http://www.chinaadoptionnews.com
— Walter from Appleton, WI
The biggest lie in NM is the failure to keep promises–unfaithfulness if you like.
All of the other lies add up to this one big one.
–No selling, all you have to do is share, educate, send people to your website, ad nauseum. Lie.
–This is so easy anyone can do it. Lie.
–This product/service is the best, greatest, most useful,most effective, unique, one-of-a-kind, not available anywhere else and will sell itself nonsense. Lie.
–This will explode your business, downline, income, recruiting, sales, etc. Lie.
–This compensation plan is the best in the industry. Lie.
–It will only cost you $$ to have your own business. Lie.
–You will earn $$$$ per month. Lie.
–Our company/product/formula/plan will make all of you millionaires. Lie.
–Your friends, family, co-workers, acquaintenances and neighbors will all want this/join you when you show it to them. Lie.
–Coming to a national/international convention/meeting/get-together is the only way you’ll ever really learn this business. Lie.
–You will never see another business opportunity like this one. You’ve got to join now. Lie.
–You don’t have to work hard to earn big money. Lie.
All of these collectively add up to the lie of unfaithfulness on the part of the NM companies, their marketing pinheads, their super-recruiters and their distributors who mouthe all of this garbage.
It is as much a lie of commission as it is a lie of ommission. When a prospect is told these lies, or is not told everything, then an a “marriage” based upon unfaithfulness is consummated.
And to me, that is the biggest lie of all.
Here’s the biggest lie:
“You get two, who get two, who get two… ad infinitum (nauseum?). Or, you get three… or four… pick your number.
Here’s the biggest lie: you get two, who get two, who get two… (pick your number).
Along with all of the other ones, “You won’t get anywhere if you’re not on the tape of the week and the book of the month.” I later learned that the books and tapes made a bigger income for the uplines that sold them than they made from their respective businesses!!!!
duplicatable system
Just make a list of 200 people you know and go from there….
Follow the system….
Well, if its not working for you then you must not have enough belief in yourself or the product… (gee, I feel much better about my failure now)
You can’t make money with customers….
Of course your friends and family will want to join or buy from you – they love you and will support you. You’ll also have more sway with them because they know you. Well then why am I supposed to edify my upline on a three way call if they already think i’m the greatest thing ever? Also, those we know tend not to respect our opinions when we go outside the relam of our relationship. Would you trust your heart surgeon to tell you how to change your oil? Your mechanic on heart health? Even Jesus had this problem. He went back to his hometown for a visit and Mary gathered up his siblings and went to collect him because they were sure he’d gone mad. The folks in town didn’t believe what they saw or heard either. If Jesus couldn’t get respect with his warm market then why is it so shocking that I can’t either?
Hope everyone has a great 4th!
Sid.
This lie is the big one that comes from OUTSIDE the NM distributors:
“It’s a Ponzi scheme/pyramid (therefore bad)”
This one lie has done more to hurt our marketing industry than most others, imho…wait…
Maybe it’s this one:
“Making money off your friends is [immoral].”
Both of these lies keep the average person, who has usually heard them from a “friend,” from giving an honest look/see at what we really do.
How do we defend ourselves from these lies/misperceptions from outsiders?
Jeff Livingston
Shaklee rep.
A BIG Lie: “You will be surprised at how easy it is. Your income will go from where it is now to where you want it to be”
Happy 4th – enjoy this link.
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=VL45300751
“The only proven system that works, is to make a list of your friends and family”…..yeah right!
The biggest misperception I suffered from in starting out with network marketing is that my friends and family would hear the miracle in my personal story and all sign up. And that I would quickly accumulate a loyal base of clients, grateful that I had hooked them up with the source of my personal transformation. Hah! More like I have a brain-damaging case of the plague….
The big laugh: “you can do this business wihtout changing anything you are currently doing?” Huh? So, it gets itself up and running and calls me when its time to count the money? I guess it would be funnier if I hadn’t believed it!
Kate
Yes to all your stories.
What they told me when I first got started was:
“(All you have to do is), talk to anyone who can fog a mirror.”
And for a while, I did. I, like most everyone else, left my brain on the train and did just that. Then I woke up and realized I was spending ALL my time trying to get them to do more than fog a mirror. Ugh.
Okay, now I’m in trouble…I’ve left my brain on the plane, on the train, on the bus,in the cab and what’s left is in the trunk of the car.
Now you have me concerned, once the lies are removed, are you saying we might have to retail and actually sell the product and/or service?
So, are there those who have been successful with a truthful and honest approach, and what would that be?
I haven’t been in this industry long enough to give it the bruise from the past, but I certainly do not want to contribute to any negative feelings. So, now that we’ve exposed the lies of omission, what do suggest we replace them with.
Personally, being familiar with the commercial real estate industry, I like the idea of a code of ethics or certification through the Association and being held accountable to practice them. How about “An Authorized Networker” (AAN), or maybe, “Integrity Networking” (IN). Just a thought.
I’ve been in NM for over four years and one thing I do know… you don’t make money unless you work. It’s not very different than any other business I’ve had before. The only big difference is I put a lot more money and time into “traditional” business start ups and with those if I only work the bare minimum I got nothing, zero, zilch.
At least with Network Marketing I can make a little money when life only allows me to put in a little effort. That is the true beauty of it.
So when it comes down to the “lies”, I think it is sad that people do use the “sales pitch” lines just to get people signed up. I tell anyone who is interested that you have to be willing to work and willing to learn. Anyone can do if they put their mind to it and don’t let opinions set them back. Those that “sell” it as easy money are damaging an industry that can offer excellent opportunities, and I wish they would stop!
Sincerely,
Jen Thilman – Michigan
The big lie:
People who think small and play small can get big results.
This violates universal law.
Anyone heard of integrity?
Play big, win big, period.
Or keep your job and stop complaining like every other cow.
Julie Buck:
Here, here to Jen Thilman of Michigan. Our industry has a gathering of people who are telling these lies and damaging our reputation…tell the truth…you have to work hard, you have to be willing to learn and you have to GIVE IT TIME! Nothing happens overnight…
Hope that helps! Julie Buck, http://www.mater.co.uk (from England)
Julie Buck:
Here, here to Jen Thilman of Michigan. Our industry has a gathering of people who are telling these lies and damaging our reputation…tell the truth…you have to work hard, you have to be willing to learn and you have to GIVE IT TIME! Nothing happens overnight…
Hope that helps! Julie Buck, http://www.mater.co.uk (from England)
The biggest lie I finally grew wise to is the customer generated income through multi-level growth.
From the ‘charismatic person’ at the front of the room – “You don’t neeed a lot of customers. Go out and get only 20. If everybody in your 7-level organization does what you do, you’ll make $$xx,xxx/per month (gobs of money).
It sounded great in theory and looked good on paper. The truth is that hardly anyone did that and hence, the larger money was made through constant recruiting.
I now am a firm believer that the smart money is made in developing a solid customer base first.
Of course, one needs a product with a decent return that you feel strongly about.
Dave Christensen
Ballston Spa, NY
LifeisTooShort.info
The biggest lie I finally grew wise to is the customer generated income through multi-level growth.
From the ‘charismatic person’ at the front of the room – “You don’t neeed a lot of customers. Go out and get only 20. If everybody in your 7-level organization does what you do, you’ll make $$xx,xxx/per month (gobs of money).
It sounded great in theory and looked good on paper. The truth is that hardly anyone did that and hence, the larger money was made through constant recruiting.
I now am a firm believer that the smart money is made in developing a solid customer base first.
Of course, one needs a product with a decent return that you feel strongly about.
Dave Christensen
Ballston Spa, NY
LifeisTooShort.info
The biggest lie I finally grew wise to is the customer generated income through multi-level growth.
From the ‘charismatic person’ at the front of the room – “You don’t neeed a lot of customers. Go out and get only 20. If everybody in your 7-level organization does what you do, you’ll make $$xx,xxx/per month (gobs of money).
It sounded great in theory and looked good on paper. The truth is that hardly anyone did that and hence, the larger money was made through constant recruiting.
I now am a firm believer that the smart money is made in developing a solid customer base first.
Of course, one needs a product with a decent return that you feel strongly about.
Dave Christensen
Ballston Spa, NY
LifeisTooShort.info
The biggest lie I hear is… “This is not sales….”
As a sales professional for 30 years that sounds like someone is spinning the truth… I love being in sales because it gives me a chance to help people get what they want… John
Yikes! I just have to respond to some of these “lies.”
1. “It’s easy.” I’ve heard this line before but never in my upline. In fact, the president of our company tells us “This is probably the hardest thing you’ll ever do.”
2. “Anybody can do this business.” This is not a lie. Anybody CAN do this business, but not everybody wants to or will.
3. “No selling.” I don’t hear this from my upline either. I hear, “You have to find customers and move product.”
4. “It will only cost you …” Where did you hear this? Not from my upline! You can’t start a business with nothing. You have to buy product and use it if you expect to sell it.
5. “Your friends and family will want to join you.” In our trainings, we hear “go to people other than friends and family.”
6. “You don’t have to work hard.” We are told to tell them up front and look for people willing to work.
7. “You don’t have to change anything …” Yeah, right! Again, we are told, “if you want something in your life to change, you have to change what you are doing.”
8. “You get two, who get two …” Another lie … NOT! This is how mlm works. You have to find customers who will hopefully find customers. That’s where the words “multi level” fit in.
9. “Listen to the tape of the week.” Lucky for me, ours are free!
10. And what was that comment about Jesus? Oh, yes, even he had this problem. Thank God that Jesus didn’t give up. You know … he is the world’s greatest leader.
Yes, unfortunately there are many lies out there, but there are many truths too. How about focusing on the positive instead of the negative. I’ll start by stating one of the biggest truths. – You can make a lot of money, but not everyone does.
Triple Diamond/Star Fleet Senior Commander,”If I can do this, anybody can!”
If Lance Armstrong were to speak the exact same words would we then all believe we could duplicate his successes ?
We all desire the recognition, fame, and fortune, but does anyone reading this truly believe they could become a Lance Armstrong. I believe the biggest lies in this industry are the ones we tell ourselves.