I've been thinking about writing this for a long time. I post about it on my social media feeds quite often, and I usually get a decent response when I do, so I figured why not? If some of you who read this sell multi-level marketing (MLM) dietary supplement products and are making a killing at it, good for you. I'm not mad at your success. But I do have a bone to pick with the marketing tactics of these companies as well as the value of what they're selling. So I'm sorry in advance that I'm about to tell everyone why they don't need you...
I understand the MLM appeal. I really do. You went to a meeting where you were told you could make a couple hundred grand a year by selling these amazing dietary supplements. All you need to do is recruit your friends, family, complete strangers, and your neighbor's dog to get under you in the pyramid (yes, it's a pyramid no matter how the recruiter tries to spin it) and you're going to be living the good life in a few short months. Sounds reasonable, right?
Let's jump ahead those few short months. You've contacted, and annoyed, every friend, family member, and person you went to school with and haven't seen in 10 years. A few of them signed up to be on your "team", but most of them have unfollowed you on Facebook after you posted about this "great opportunity" 37 times a day for a month. "All you need to do is try this amazing 24-Day Challenge," you say, "and you'll be sold for life on the magic of AdvoCare. It's only 200 bucks plus shipping. What do you have to lose?!"