Is success possible in network marketing (MLM)? Many say it is a rip-off. And if you talk to someone who has been burned by a bad company or sponsor, you will hear a lot of negative things. And it is true that there are bad companies out there and many distributors who are playing the "numbers game" and making quick money off new sign-ups.

But-- listen to me-- there are tons of people who are making many thousands and even millions of dollars a year in network marketing (MLM). They work for legitimate companies who make quality products and they care about their distributors who sign up with them.

Network Marketing can be a wonderful opportunity for the average person to break out from the job market rat race they are caught up in. If you can't sell, don't worry. It's not a sales business, and often good "sales people" don't do well in MLM for very long. It's really a teaching business (which is why teachers and ministers often succeed better than most in network marketing.)

I can show you the basics on how anyone can succeed in network marketing!

Start with these few simple rules:

1. Find a good company and a good sponsor.

Spend some time researching the company, the products, the distributors and the upline before you sign up. A good company, one that will support you and that matches you and your interests is hard to find. When you do find the right one, grab it and hold on with both hands.

2. Use and believe in your company's products.

Order the best products from your company that you can afford every month. If you are not doing this, you are really not willing to invest enough in your business to succeed. You need to have a personal testimony about your products and what they do for you. You can't have one if you don't even use your products. And you can't expect anyone to order them if you don't.

3. Tell everyone around you what you are excited about.

You might be surprised to find out who is interested in hearing more.

If you've been struggling in MLM for a long time and have burned out your circle of friends and family, that's OK. Let them know what you are doing, but don't bother them more than that. Let them come to you when they see you are doing well. There are many other ways to find people to talk to, so you don't really need to talk to anyone who isn't interested.

4. Commit to stay with your company and work at this as a real business.

(Do you see now why it is so important to find a great company with great products?)

Did you know that the odds of having a new traditional business succeed for 5 years are less than 95%?

But if you stay with the same network marketing company for 10 years you will have a 95% chance of reaching the highest level of your company’s compensation plan, which is usually at least $500,000 annually. That sounds like a pretty good retirement plan to me.

And that is just for the average Joe. Many hardworking distributors in my company are doing that in just a year or two.

5. And this brings us to the most important part-- Treat your MLM business as a real business.

Sorry, but there is no easy way to make money. You actually have to work at it and invest in your business. But if you do, the odds of success are in your favor.

Learn as much as you can about your business. Use the products. Use your company's marketing tools and videos. Use 3 way calls with your upline. Read books on success.

Find a mentor in the business and learn what that person is doing to succeed.

Plan for success. Write mission and vision statements. Put together a simple business plan. And work it!

6. Talk to people.

You can't get around it. To be a success in network marketing you have to tell others about the business. The Internet, events or other advertising can be used as good tools to help you find people to talk to, but in the end you have to reach them one on one, either in person or on the phone.

7. Care about others and teach them to do what you do.

Listen to people. Find out what their goals and expectations are and help those people meet them, as best you can.

This isn't a numbers game it's a people business. Those who succeed care about others and put time and energy into them. People can always tell if someone is just interested in making money and not people. If you are a caring person, this is the business for you. If you are not, you better learn to become one.

8. Believe in and support the network marketing industry.

Do you have a friend who's totally sold on another company? Or is there a company with products that you like, but you don't want to work it as a career. It's OK to sign up as a customer and support them. (And maybe you can talk that distributor into doing the same for your company and products as well.) But be honest with them and let them know you are just a customer.

Important-- don't get distracted with trying to work several MLM businesses! That almost never works! Concentrate you efforts and energy into only one business. (See #4- Commitment.) If you get distracted easily, then skip this rule and stick with your company alone.

So, the moral of this story is that success in network marketing (MLM) is a choice. It's true that it is not for everyone. But if you really want it, you can choose to succeed at it!

I can do that. How about you?