yers and will have heard about it very soon after it launched.

So, who's left for you to recruit? Not many people really. Most people you approach will already have heard about the program and might even already be in it (or sick of hearing about it). You might be lucky enough to sign-up a few people who weren't aware of it before. Unfortunately, people who are that "switched off" are very unlikely to bring in lots of new recruits for your downline. In fact, the money they bring in will barely cover your own monthly fees. Eventually they'll become disillusioned and quit. Leaving you to desperately try to sign someone new up so you can cover your monthly fee again.

So, as you c

All over the internet, you see testimonials from people claiming to be making huge amounts of money from some MLM (multi-level marketing) program or other. Some of the claims they make are astonishing and certainly make you envious but is it really possible for you to make that kind of money too?

Personally, I don't believe that it's possible for you, an average internet user, to make huge amounts of money from MLM programs. There are several reasons why I believe this, and I've listed the main ones below.

1. You have no network - It's no coincidence that another name for MLM is "Network Marketing". Success in MLM programs is all about the size of your network. What's a network? It's an established set of contacts who know you and trust you. A more common term for networks on the internet is "a list". This refers to a large mailing list containing thousands of email addresses belonging to people who have chosen (opted-in) to receive emails from the list owner.

All the big MLM players have a list. When they join a new MLM program, they send an email to their list promoting it and BAM... their downline grows overnight. They then sit back and count their money as their downline does all the work.

2. Nobody knows you - You would think that with all the millions of people using the internet everyday, being an unknown wouldn't matter much. However, in the world of MLM it counts for a huge amount.

If people know you and trust you then they are more likely to follow you. As I mentioned in the previous point, the top MLM players have a huge mailing list that trusts them and is therefore willing to sign up to almost any program that they promote. It's no different to a top sports star coming on your TV and telling you to buy a certain brand of sports shoe. Familiarity builds trust.

It also works the other way though. When you're a well-known internet marketing figure, people notice you, including the big MLM players. They know that you have good recruiting power so they want you in their downline as quickly as possible and gets you near the top of the pyramid (shhh, don't say, "Pyramid scheme"). However, if you're just a little fish in the internet marketing pond then you'll never hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late. This brings me to my third and final point...

3. You don't hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late - The key to success in MLM is having a huge downline that does the work for you. That means that you need a downline of good, experienced, dedicated network marketers. There lies the problem. All the good network marketers already know about the program and have already signed up or dismissed it as unviable. They're more than likely on the mailing lists of the big MLM players and will have heard about it very soon after it launched.

So, who's left for you to recruit? Not many people really. Most people you approach will already have heard about the program and might even already be in it (or sick of hearing about it). You might be lucky enough to sign-up a few people who weren't aware of it before. Unfortunately, people who are that "switched off" are very unlikely to bring in lots of new recruits for your downline. In fact, the money they bring in will barely cover your own monthly fees. Eventually they'll become disillusioned and quit. Leaving you to desperately try to sign someone new up so you can cover your monthly fee again.

So, as you ca

k? It's an established set of contacts who know you and trust you. A more common term for networks on the internet is "a list". This refers to a large mailing list containing thousands of email addresses belonging to people who have chosen (opted-in) to receive emails from the list owner.

All the big MLM players have a list. When they join a new MLM program, they send an email to their list promoting it and BAM... their downline grows overnight. They then sit back and count their money as their downline does all the work.

2. Nobody knows you - You would think that with all the millions of people using the internet everyday, being an unknown wouldn't matter much. However, in the world of MLM it counts for a huge amount.

If people know you and trust you then they are more likely to follow you. As I mentioned in the previous point, the top MLM players have a huge mailing list that trusts them and is therefore willing to sign up to almost any program that they promote. It's no different to a top sports star coming on your TV and telling you to buy a certain brand of sports shoe. Familiarity builds trust.

It also works the other way though. When you're a well-known internet marketing figure, people notice you, including the big MLM players. They know that you have good recruiting power so they want you in their downline as quickly as possible and gets you near the top of the pyramid (shhh, don't say, "Pyramid scheme"). However, if you're just a little fish in the internet marketing pond then you'll never hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late. This brings me to my third and final point...

3. You don't hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late - The key to success in MLM is having a huge downline that does the work for you. That means that you need a downline of good, experienced, dedicated network marketers. There lies the problem. All the good network marketers already know about the program and have already signed up or dismissed it as unviable. They're more than likely on the mailing lists of the big MLM players and will have heard about it very soon after it launched.

So, who's left for you to recruit? Not many people really. Most people you approach will already have heard about the program and might even already be in it (or sick of hearing about it). You might be lucky enough to sign-up a few people who weren't aware of it before. Unfortunately, people who are that "switched off" are very unlikely to bring in lots of new recruits for your downline. In fact, the money they bring in will barely cover your own monthly fees. Eventually they'll become disillusioned and quit. Leaving you to desperately try to sign someone new up so you can cover your monthly fee again.

So, as you c

world of MLM it counts for a huge amount.

If people know you and trust you then they are more likely to follow you. As I mentioned in the previous point, the top MLM players have a huge mailing list that trusts them and is therefore willing to sign up to almost any program that they promote. It's no different to a top sports star coming on your TV and telling you to buy a certain brand of sports shoe. Familiarity builds trust.

It also works the other way though. When you're a well-known internet marketing figure, people notice you, including the big MLM players. They know that you have good recruiting power so they want you in their downline as quickly as possible and gets you near the top of the pyramid (shhh, don't say, "Pyramid scheme"). However, if you're just a little fish in the internet marketing pond then you'll never hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late. This brings me to my third and final point...

3. You don't hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late - The key to success in MLM is having a huge downline that does the work for you. That means that you need a downline of good, experienced, dedicated network marketers. There lies the problem. All the good network marketers already know about the program and have already signed up or dismissed it as unviable. They're more than likely on the mailing lists of the big MLM players and will have heard about it very soon after it launched.

So, who's left for you to recruit? Not many people really. Most people you approach will already have heard about the program and might even already be in it (or sick of hearing about it). You might be lucky enough to sign-up a few people who weren't aware of it before. Unfortunately, people who are that "switched off" are very unlikely to bring in lots of new recruits for your downline. In fact, the money they bring in will barely cover your own monthly fees. Eventually they'll become disillusioned and quit. Leaving you to desperately try to sign someone new up so you can cover your monthly fee again.

So, as you c

near the top of the pyramid (shhh, don't say, "Pyramid scheme"). However, if you're just a little fish in the internet marketing pond then you'll never hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late. This brings me to my third and final point...

3. You don't hear about the new MLM programs until it's too late - The key to success in MLM is having a huge downline that does the work for you. That means that you need a downline of good, experienced, dedicated network marketers. There lies the problem. All the good network marketers already know about the program and have already signed up or dismissed it as unviable. They're more than likely on the mailing lists of the big MLM players and will have heard about it very soon after it launched.

So, who's left for you to recruit? Not many people really. Most people you approach will already have heard about the program and might even already be in it (or sick of hearing about it). You might be lucky enough to sign-up a few people who weren't aware of it before. Unfortunately, people who are that "switched off" are very unlikely to bring in lots of new recruits for your downline. In fact, the money they bring in will barely cover your own monthly fees. Eventually they'll become disillusioned and quit. Leaving you to desperately try to sign someone new up so you can cover your monthly fee again.

So, as you c

yers and will have heard about it very soon after it launched.

So, who's left for you to recruit? Not many people really. Most people you approach will already have heard about the program and might even already be in it (or sick of hearing about it). You might be lucky enough to sign-up a few people who weren't aware of it before. Unfortunately, people who are that "switched off" are very unlikely to bring in lots of new recruits for your downline. In fact, the money they bring in will barely cover your own monthly fees. Eventually they'll become disillusioned and quit. Leaving you to desperately try to sign someone new up so you can cover your monthly fee again.

So, as you can see, MLM programs are best avoided when you're new to internet marketing. You can put those dreams of signing up to an MLM program and making huge amounts of money every month right out of your mind.

As a novice internet marketer you need to forget the thoughts of "instant wealth" or "get rich quick" and concentrate on building a slow, steady, but ultimately secure, online income. It is possible, and you can start with nothing!

Jason Webb (EA)