NETWORK MARKETING - THE NEW GOLD

Network Marketing is also known as Multi Level Marketing. In India many are apprehensive about it. This segment will help you to understand Network Marketing in a better way.

Network Marketing is one of the world's fastest growing methods of marketing and distribution of products. It works on the principle of word. of mouth publicity. As the name suggests it involves developing a network of people around "you", who would be engaged in buying and selling of products that are manufactured by the Network Marketing companies.

In simple words it is a relationship business; it is about helping people build a business (Networking) or focusing on your customers for your products and services (Retailing). Network Marketing really is an unseen business and it is all about sales. It is a business in which anyone can invest a small sum of money and through sheer determination and hard work achieve staggering levels of financial reward and personal freedom. But it requires education based on market tested results.

There are two types of business models:

1 . Network marketing / Multi-level marketing (MLM): Network marketing is all about sales and distribution, but a different kind of sales. It's more of a soft sale or recommendation then the hard closing type that you're accustomed to.

2. Direct Sales Companies: These companies are known as seller-based, they market higher priced, usually one time sales items. You are paid directly on what you personally sell, so you have to sell lots and lots of merchandise. This also limits you to the type of people you can bring into your business as the "salesperson" type.

Individuals who join such companies are called "distributors". They buy the products from the company and retail the same directly to the consumers through their network without any middle-men or agent being involved. This is the greatest asset of this industry - from Manufacturer to the Distributor and then directly to the end user (Consumer).

Network marketing, should be about gathering customers and business partners, yet most of the companies today only teach you to recruit and get everyone sold on the product. You can build a very successful business with only a handful of representatives in your organization if they are taught to gather customers along with others who show a genuine interest in building a business.In such companies the importance is on sharing with others and also constantly and consistently creating a customer base for yourself. Remember your "Today's" customer will be "Tomorrow's" distributor so, you always need to have a good network of customers, so that when they become your sponsored distributors, your customer list is not reduced thereby enable you to still retail your products.

Today, Network Marketing Industry is a Multi Billion Dollar industry which makes millionaires through core values, ethics and sound business principles and FLP is proud to be one such company.

There are lots of Network marketing companies in India and worldwide. But very few are governed by a regulatory body like the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA), a body whose main purpose is to promote and protect the interests of Direct Selling industry and of the consumers in India. Majority of the countries would have at least one such governing body to take care of Network Marketing companies in their respective country. more on the IDSA on page 19.)