When I first began to work online in 1997, I signed up for a long distance mlm and I started to promote it, which back then was a very tedious affair. I had dreams of getting thousands of peole in the thing, and making tons of money. As time went by, as I placed ads on free classified websites, I started realizing the mlm would never make any money. I dropped it in favor of the Amazon Associate Program, and in March of 98 I received my first check in the mail from Amazon for $7.53.
When that check arrived, I realized referral marketing (as it was called then) was my deal. Most referral or associate programs were modeled in a similar way to Amazon's, and always free to join. I started building websites to promote my affiliate content and products. Next they designed the 2-tier model of affiliate program, which became very popular instantly.
I never stopped.
The mlm company I joined in 97 went out of business, as 99% of them do, and I went into the Affiliate Marketing business. I can't remember the year affiliate marketing became the buzzword for our industry, but that has remained. Now they call it performance marketing. Affiliate programs are still free to join and so are the networks that put affiliates and merchants under the same roof.
My first network was Commission Junction, which I joined in 98 when Lex Sisney was the CEO. I am sure she made out well when she sold the company later to a large ad company. I am still a member of that network, but more innovative networks have emerged which were founded by successull affiliates. There are some really excellent affiliate networks out there.
I have never looked back, but mlm got me started, and working it led to my current full time enterprise. Isn't it ironic? I don't hate mlm, but compared to the standard 2-tier affiliate program it is such a waste of time and money. The best affiliate network I have ever found is Shareasale. They have over 2,000 great merchants in that network, and I don't know how many affiliates like me. They pay on 2 tiers for those affiliates that also promote the network itself.
http://bblmedia.com/shareasale.html
I have a network of my own populated with great niche product stores in many categories of sports, health, online shopping, guns and ammo and many others.
I guess in a strange way, I have MLM to thank for it getting started in the first place!
Franklin Banker
http://bblmedia.com/
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