Multi Level Marketing Groups – Businesses or Cults?

Multi level marketing gets a resoundingly bad rap in the business world. Normally, detractors point to an inherently flawed business structure that saturates the market to the point that everyone involved in the project fails. They also often point to the fact that many multi level marketing organizations are nothing more than glorified pyramid schemes operating under a different name. But more and more, people are leveling other kinds of charges at multi level marketing groups; questioning the way they prey upon people emotionally and reel them in. It all begs the question, are multi level marketing groups real businesses or are they cults? The answer might surprise you.

First things first: there are some legitimate multi level marketing business opportunities out there at allow you to make some money without having to buy into a bunch of mumbo jumbo about the company. These businesses sell real, quality products are reasonable price and value the sales over the recruitment. They also give you adequate support without making unreasonable demands of you. These are businesses like any other and can’t be tarred with the cult brush.

But then there are the other kinds of multi level marketing programs – the ones that have a cult like hold on their “reps.” These companies are fairly easy to spot. Look at the way the pitch is made. First, the pitch usually begins with some kind of story about the company founder – a down on their luck man or woman who took the last few dollars they had in their bank account and decided to take a chance. This chance naturally paid off with wealth beyond their wildest dreams; a life of private jets, vacations homes, sports cars and exotic vacations, all while barely working at all. Then, the pitch goes on to suggest all of this could be yours, too. You, too, could have fabulous wealth while working less than an hour a day, if you’re just smart enough to take advantage of this opportunity. For the doubters in the room, the pitch usually suggests that they lack vision, and that they just don’t have the business sense that the people who are lapping it up do.

Sometimes, this is enough, but sometimes the indoctrination continues. The multi level marketers tell people that if their friends and family are unsupportive of this new business venture, then they’re maybe they’re really not as close to you as you thought. They often mix religious messages into their marketing programs, and they know how to spot the weak link. In reality, multi level marketing programs have a long history of not only being detrimental to a person’s financial well being, but they also have a history of decimating their personal life and relationships as well.

For all of these reasons, you must approach membership in a multi level marketing group with extreme caution. There are of course reputable groups out there, but you have to do your homework to make sure you don’t get caught up in a bad one. The repercussions for you could be serious and long lasting.