Is this any way to run a business?

Does your MLM, network marketing, or direct sales company have extremely restrictive advertising policies?

I've heard of many companies that will not allow their reps to advertise on the Internet in any way or fashion. Or companies that will not allow you to even put up a web page of your own to promote your business. I think this is ridiculous! How can you have a business if you can't advertise? And if you are supposedly an independent representative and not an employee, how can companies get away with these draconian policies and why do their reps let them?

I understand that companies have to regulate and make sure that their reps don't misrepresent the company. But they could allow them to advertise and give them lots of choices of ads that have been approved. Or give them some really clear guidance to follow.

But companies seem more likely to throw their weight around and threaten reps with termination if they advertise rather than providing clear options and alternatives.

Is this any way to run a business?

Linda Locke
MLM Marketing Blog

Comments

[Jacqueline Corbett]

I agree. I think those MLM businesses who don't allow their reps to advertise are being driven by fear of being shut down by their ISP because a rep stepped over the line and either made some preposterous financial claim that could get the company in trouble or was guilty of sending out millions of spam emails with a link to the rep's website. This of course would get the company in deep trouble or possible shut down as well.

The key is to thoroughly check out a prospective MLM company first and make sure that they are progressive enough to have a well thought out and PRE-APPROVED set of ads, banners, emails, etc. that you can use to promote your business online.

A company that I work with takes it a step further and understands that we live in a world that is becoming almost totally internet-driven.

As part of their 14 day "boot camp" training , they GIVE all of their new reps an internet marketing course that was developed by one of their "Super Reps" (who is also the moderator of their once-a-week internet marketing tele-seminar).

This course provides exact details about how this 'super rep' developed a downline of over 4,000 people in 14 months solely using internet techniques like forum posting, pay per click advertising, solo ads, etc.

Of course by providing this information to everyone in the company, this 'super rep' is helping himself by getting this information out to EVERYONE in his 'infinite level' downline (including helping to create spillover from his upline which helps him as well) ... and thus making HIS success 'super duplicable' by everyone who is coachable.

Don't you wish that EVERY MLM company had this kind of foresight and savvy!

Jacqueline Corbett
http://freebiz.net
2 Week "Free" Success Education to Help Anyone Grow ANY MLM Business. Free Newsletter. Free "Think and Grow Rich" e-Book.

[annalaura Brown]

This is one of the things I love about my business. We have very few restrictions regarding advertising online, and we are in fact encouraged to advertise online. It's great.

[Suzanne, The MLM Mom]

Linda, I couldn't agree more!

Business Models drive the behavior in the field.

If companies won't let reps advertise than you had better be a hard driving "red" personality who can deal with lots and lots of rejection.

Very few people can deal with that type of rejection and end up blaming themselves for their perceived failure. In reality they didn't stand a chance because they weren't that type of person to begin with.

It's important to understand how a company is set up and what behavior their business model drives in the field before you take the plunge.

Knowledge of this information will save you years of struggle, frustration and hard earned money!

Sorry this is so long, but I'm very passionate about helping people understand that it's not their fault they struggle so much in MLM.

Suzanne