Wanted a legitimate Network Marketing business

Just 10 years ago, this article wouldn't have been all that relevant. If you wanted a legitimate Network Marketing business, MLM was pretty much the only choice. But more recently, there has been a rise in the prominence of Top Tier Opportunities which the internet has played a part of. So what form of Network Marketing is the best? First, let's define the differences between MLM & Top Tier Opportunities.

MLM

MLM (Multi Level Marketing) has been going for over half a century and is still the major player in Network Marketing.The products are marketed by distributors who get paid a commission based on the amount of product sold by themselves, and also by their downline (people who they have brought into the company as distributors). As the name suggests, you get paid a commission on multiple levels, up to 5 or 7 levels deep.

The products themselves are usually a physical product such as health and beauty products. They are generally low end products, so the startup costs are lower than Top Tier Opportunities. However, the commissions are also a lot lower than Top Tier Opportunities. So while it may be cheaper to start up, it is going to take longer to generate a meaningful income.

The majority of MLM promotion is done through offline methods including: cold calling, classifieds, warm market, network marketing function, etc. The internet cannot be ignored by the MLM industry however, and online promotion is starting to become more important, with most companies now having websites for promotional purposes.

Top Tier Opportunities.

Top Tier Opportunities are still quite new to the world of Network Marketing. You could say that it is a cross between MLM and Direct Sales. The products are sold directly to the public and you get paid before the company does. Two-Up plans are fairly common. This involves passing up two "training sales" to the sponsor, before "qualifying" for commissions.

The products are usually based on wealth/financial education and self development. Often they are digital products accessed through the internet. Overseas events and conferences are sometimes offered as a flagship product. The majority of products are fairly heigh end (usually $500 or more), so cost of startup is more expensive. This also means commissions are higher, with the potential to make substantial cash flow quickly.

Top Tier Opportunities are generally based around the internet more so than MLM. Offline strategies are still used, but the prospects are then directed to an informational website that explains the business. Online strategies should be implemented to generate leads such as: Content Marketing, Paid Marketing, and Social Marketing. Most companies aren't teaching how to do this properly though. And lead generation via the internet is a skill worth having

MLM vs Top Tier Opportunities - Which Is Better

Both models are proven to be successful for those that are prepared to work at them. So it just depends on what you personally prefer.

Do you have little money but lot's of time to invest and don't mind building your business long term before you see meaningful results? MLM might be for you.

But if you would prefer to promote online, want to create an income sooner rather than later, and have some money to invest, then a Top Tier Opportunity might be for you.

Some like to do both and get the best of both worlds. The immediate cash flow of Top Tier Opportunities with the residual revenue of MLM. I wouldn't recommend this for a biginner though, as it can be overwhelming enough with just the one business.

No matter which type of business you choose, make sure you do some research as there are going to be good and bad companies in any industry.