You probably know that an online business is a great way to live the lifestyle that you would love.
It means you can work anywhere in the world, work anytime you want and have the potential to make money in your sleep.
A common question that people have is...
Should I start an MLM business or is affiliate marketing a better option?
Maybe you haven't even heard of one of these types of business models.
The truth is, there isn't one way that is "better" than another. But there certainly are advantages and disadvantages of any business model.
Insider Reveals What's Better... Affiliate Marketing vs MLM
CHRISTINA PICCOLI
From Christina Piccoli
Make Time Online Podcast on iTunes - Live life on your own terms
Christina Piccoli has tried both before and we chat about:
- The truth about how you make good money in most MLM companies
- Why the majority of MLM distributors lose money
- How affiliate marketing gives you the control to promote any interest you want
- How you can build an affiliate marketing business that grows over time
If you want to get in contact with Christina, you can find her details on her website Christina Piccoli.
Full Christina Piccoli Podcast Transcript
Podcast Summary
So Christina is completely honest about her personal experience with both.
Here are the 5 main takeaways I took from the chat with her:
- MLM distributors are typically the main customers for the company because of the "monthly sales quota"
- MLMs are not ideal for introverted people who don't use social media very much
- You never need to sell anything to your friends and family with Affiliate Marketing
- You can promote and work on any interests with affiliate marketing rather than being tied to a certain type of product
- You can grow your affiliate marketing business over time and to any level you'd like
But at the end of the day taking action is far more important than spending ages considering which approach suits you.
Just by trying something out you will learn if it suits you or not.
Either business model can help you to live a life that you want, but doing the same thing over and over will guarantee you get the same results.
Ready to make passive income online?
In 2018 I had no idea how to make money online. I was a full time PE teacher with no marketing skills or online experience.
I fell for scams along the way but I've managed to create a growing passive income online.
If I can do it, anyone can.
You are absolutely right, there is no one model better than the other. I see a lot of my friends are so successful with MLM model but I am more fit to affiliate marketing and that is ok.
I think you have to know yourself first what you are good at and decide and keep going at one model until you are good at it. Persistence is a master of all skills 🙂 Thank you for sharing Christina Piccoli’s podcast. I would listen to her after this post.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Nuttanee!
A long time ago I was part of a European MLM network. In those days, rules were not as strict as now and we had to pay directly what was bought to our upline. and they on their turn to their upline and so on…
My upline never paid the money to their upline and used it for personal gain, It meant that I had to pay my clients back out of my own pocket as they never received their goods. That was the end for me concerning MLM. I never looked back at it since then. Must add that nowadays the rules are stricter and not to be classified as a pyramid scheme you had to pay to the company itself.
It is true that MLM distributors are typically the main customers for the company because of the “monthly sales quota” while as an affiliate marketer you don’t need to sell anything to your friends and family.
Although I had a bad experience with MLM, I do believe both ways of business models are still viable, just do some research about the program you join and see if it suits you.
For me, it is affiliate marketing (just started out myself a few months back)
Thanks for sharing this interview with Christina Piccoli.
Oh wow, I’ve never heard of an MLM requiring their members to pay their uplines personally. There’s no way that will ever end well!
I totally agree with you. Apart from it does seem that most MLMs sell expensive goods and need their distributors to hit a sales quota. If you can find one without these 2 things then it’s possible to make it work by using an affiliate type system.
I think the days of home parties and knocking on doors to sell things to your neighbours is over. People prefer the convenience of clicking a button to do their shopping now.
Thanks for your reply Mike. I would like to add that I am not relying on anyone else’s performance to earn with affiliate marketing which is not the case with MLM.
Yeah that really is a biggie that a lot of people starting out with MLM don’t really understand. The idea of “helping others” with their “business” is great, but in reality, you are very reliant on recruiting other people and then these other people selling stuff.
You never really “own a business” with MLMs either but you certainly can own an affiliate marketing business. Just check out my chat with Jeff and Ben who made $240k in the previous month pretty much all from affiliate marketing on their personal finance website.