Network Marketing. You hear the term and maybe your eyes roll or you get an uncomfortable feeling. I know, I have been in your shoes. Ten years ago, network marketing was what your mom did to bring in some extra cash, right? She’d host parties with wine and cheese and all of your family friends would join. Maybe you even were dragged into going to one as a kid… I sure was. But I’m here to tell you the network marketing industry has drastically changed and if you’re an influencer and not working for one, you may be making a mistake.
I love blogging as a hobby, but somebody has to pay the bills right?
I started Poised Avenue as a fashion blog. Soon after starting, I began to realize how exhausting and expensive blogging would be. I felt the need to constantly buy new clothes to share and had to figure out a way to make a profit at the same time. Luckily, my sisters would take my photos so I didn’t have any expenses for a photographer but that didn’t mean I wasn’t spending any money. It costs money to run a website on top of keeping up with the latest trends. A fashion blogger is irrelevant if she isn’t sharing clothes people can actually shop, after all. Yes, I was sent the occasional free outfit, but still there was no profit. I remember when I got accepted into Reward Style (LiketoKnow.it) I was SO dang excited. FINALLY, I could make some money sharing my clothes… right? I began linking my posts to LTK.it like a mad woman but to this day I have made about $20 total on that app. It is hard work, man. I just couldn’t figure it out… I finally had this platform that I had the opportunity to work for, but was making like 10 cents a click or a few bucks a purchase. How on earth would I ever have enough clicks to break even let alone make a profit?! I kind of felt like a hamster on a turning wheel, but I told myself “it would just take time” and kept going. I even thought about using companies such as socialfollow to get free instagram followers, as I wasn’t doing so well on that side of it all.
So, fast forward 2 years and I have yet to make a profit sharing my clothes. Poised Avenue slowed down and I stopped looking for collaborations all together. That’s when one of my blogger friends shared her story with network marketing, how much she was making, and it all just clicked. We literally chatted about how hard it is to make a profit using LTK.it and how much better her profits were working for Young Living.
Now, fast forward another year, and here we are. I was inspired by a podcast I found (linked here) to share with you guys why I personally think network marketing is no different from working with LTK.it or another affiliate type program, other than the fact that network marketing is more profitable for most.
Okay, I’m going to say it. There is little to no difference between LiketoKnow.it and Network Marketing.
So, when you sign up with LTK.it, you’re working for them right? They get a cut whenever you sell an item. But, you also get a cut. You share a product you love, that they have listed through their platform, and when someone makes the decision to purchase it, you both benefit. So, tell me, how is that any different from making a sale through Young Living? I’ll tell you, the only difference is that one makes you a few cents to a few bucks and one makes you $50+ (plus residual income every month afterwards but that’s for another day).
Maybe I just wasn’t as passionate about sharing clothes as I am Young Living product, but I think for most bloggers LTK.it or similar platforms just aren’t sustainable. In ten years, will you still want to go to the dressing room to do a try on and make maybe $10 in profit for doing it? You’ll probably age out of that, right?
I truly believe that if you can find a network marketing company that you are passionate about you need to WORK FOR THEM.
It really does make me sad when I see posts being shared about how network marketing is a scam, isn’t sustainable, or is down right annoying when I know the exact opposite to be true. Sure, there are network marketers who can be annoying… but can’t that be true with anyone in sales? I have met my fair share of on floor sales people on plenty of occasions. It says more about the person and less about the profession.
Network marketing is the new *thing* in the online space, and I am glad to be a part of it. I am glad to have found something I can share with you that makes my heart happy but also helps to pay the bills. I love that I have chose to do something that is sustainable, doesn’t have a huge buy in or cost, will grow with me, and most importantly continuously inspires me to do better.
Like I said, to this day I have made just about $20 on the LTK.it app and although I am proud of that money and am not saying I did all of my past work for nothing, I am glad to put it on the back burner. And now, I can even more proudly say that I have been making a steady $200 a month with Young Living and I have no doubts it will only go up from here. Not to mention, it brings me so much more joy to help people start using non toxic, natural, and plant based products vs. having them wear the same coat I am.
I am confident in saying Young Living is my new LTK.it platform and I’m excited to be a part of the network marketing space! It has brought so much joy to my life to be surrounded with like-minded, encouraging women who have done it and are ready to share the path to success with me. I encourage you to look at network marketing with new eyes, I promise it will only benefit you and your business!
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