The Game-Changing Truth – Affiliate vs. Multi-Level Marketing in 2025

Jennie Edmondson — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:37:55 +0000

Escape the Pyramid Trap: Why Affiliate Marketing is the breakthrough 'home business' success model for time strapped parents (who don't want to 'recruit their friends' or splash themselves all over social media!)

How many people do you avoid in the playground, at the bar, or in a coffee shop because you know that any conversation with them will always lead into a pitch for their Multi-level Marketing (MLM) products? Maybe you’re that 'MLM partner' who feels they can never have a regular conversation because they should ‘always be selling’. I’ve been on both sides of that fence. I’m still on the ‘being sold too’ side, but let’s face it, neither is comfortable. Affiliate Marketing, is the secret that BLEW MY MIND, when I discovered how simple it was (and it all started with a free course) I'm now building 2 awesome businesses I absolutely LOVE and am really proud of.

I’ve got some wonderful friends (and family members) who represent a multitude of MLM businesses (Forever, Scentsy, Tropic, Arbonne, Herbalife, etc.) whose products, to be fair, are generally really lovely, and I do sometimes buy them, but conversations with those people always feel different. Whether it’s the subtle excuse for a coffee that leads into a “you’d be so great at this business” trap or an invite into a Facebook group designed to flog products, to use a popular ‘down with kids’ term right now – it all just gives me ‘the ick’!!

In a rush?

THIS is the Best Bit!

Click to the other good bits....

My Story
What is MLM
What is Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate Marketing - the Good, the Bad & the Ugly
MLM -the Good, the Bad & the Ugly
Get Educated
Why affiliate marketing makes sense (esp as a parent)
The 7 Day Fast Start

After leaving a 22 year career in the military....

I was determined to work from home so I could finally be there to be the mum my girls deserved. MLM seemed like the obvious choice to make some money alongside a Post-Natal Bootcamp business I was also trying to run. I was quickly 'recruited' in the playground and was so excited to start my first business. If I’m honest, the personal development training most of these companies provide is brilliant and that alone has been worth the experience, but for me, that's where the upside ended. I’m a sucker for punishment and ultimately tried 3 MLM businesses, but I guess I should have realised after the first one, that this pyramid system just it wasn’t for me! The thing is, I was so desperate to work from home, had some very persuasive friends, and I just didn't know there was another way.

Affiliate Marketing - How I began

My eyes were opened to Affiliate Marketing after I saw someone on YouTube offering the same intro course you could access in the button below. It walks you through all the different types of Online Businesses you could start from home with just a laptop and internet connection. However, like me, you may think it looks too good to be true. I ignored it initially (it doesn't get much more sceptical than ex military!) but A YEAR LATER, after another MLM business had worn me down, I decided to investigate further and soon wished I hadn't left it so long! I went on to invest in some world class education and have never looked back.

Read on for the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of MLM and Affiliate Marketing or hit the button below to learn more about all the ways you can make a living online.

So, what exactly is MLM?

The Multi-Level Marketing business model (also known as MLM, Network Marketing, Referral Marketing or Direct Selling) involves you selling products and services and recruiting other people into your team to do the same. You earn commissions on your sales and as a recruiter, you earn a commission on the sales made by your recruits; you may also earn bonuses and other incentives based on your team's performance. Generally, it involves you buying in stock yourself and you will often see people selling such stock at market stalls, school fairs, events and of course direct to friends every time you meet!

OK, but what on earth is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a different approach to earning income from home, and it’s very much the stomping ground of successful online entrepreneurs known as the 'Modern Wealthy’. In this business model, you promote other people's products or services (as many as you like) and earn a commission on the sales you generate. There’s no stock to buy, no selling to friends, and no ‘pyramid style’ commission structure or team building. Affiliate marketing is a way to leverage the unlimited power of the online world promoting highly desirable and relevant products you love.

AND - once you've set up the systems, you'll have an automated income generator, bringing in sales 24/7.

High ticket affiliate marketing can lead to commissions in their hundred or thousands.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Affiliate Marketing – The Good

Low Risk, High Reward: With affiliate marketing, there's no need to invest in expensive inventory or recruit others to join your team. You simply promote products that you believe in, using Authority Marketing (this could be as simple as writing a blog post) and earn a commission on any sales that result. This makes it a low-risk, high-reward opportunity.

Freedom & Flexibility: This is why most people, including me, find their way to Affiliate Marketing – for the unparalleled opportunity to live the life of a ‘digital nomad’. Whether you are young free and single, or a busy parent, you get to choose your hours. All you need is a laptop and internet connection.

Passive Income Potential: Earn in your sleep! This is why I LOVE this life. Once you have set up your marketing systems you can earn an income on AUTOPILOT - 24/7! I got my first sale whilst I was open water swimming Even better than that, with the right guidance, once you have established your systems and you see things working, you can scale things up for uncapped income potential.

No previous Experience or Special Skills: This is what surprises so many people (and what they don’t believe!) is that the right course and mentors will take you literally from where you are now, today even, with no online skills to launching a profitable business in as little as a few months (no, not overnight to 6 figures!!).

No need to put your face all over Social Media: I thought I'd have to plaster myself all over social media every day, but along with most people in our community I was happy to see that's not the case! You can, but as an Authority Marketer, there are other ways to build an audience that trust you.

No Pressure to Recruit: With affiliate marketing, there's no pressure to recruit others to join your team. You can focus on promoting products that you believe in and building your own authority brand.

No Inventory: Since you don't need to purchase inventory, there's no risk of being stuck with unsold products or products going out of date.

More Control: As an affiliate marketer, you have more control over the products you promote, with the option to focus on High Ticket offers that will give you the biggest returns. You also get to use the marketing strategies you prefer from free options like blogging, social media and influencing to paid ad placement.

The Digital Goldrush: With an estimated 2.14 billions shoppers online in 2021 alone, there has never been a better time to upskill, step out of mediocrity and leverage the digital boom.

Skillset: The online skills you’ll learn can be used in multiple ways and digital skills are more desirable than ever in the market place. You’ll be highly employable if you chose to enter the workplace or go freelance.

Digital Nomad: If you have a laptop – you can work from literally ANYWHERE with an internet connection. I love that I can head to my parents in Scotland whenever I feel like it, and dip in and out of some work if I want, knowing that all the while I have income being generated on Autopilot.

Affiliate Marketing – The Bad

Competition: Affiliate marketing is becoming a very popular way to earn income from home, which means that there can be a lot of competition in some niches. This can make it difficult to stand out and make sales, but with the right training, it is easier than you'd think (I'm living proof!)

No Control over the Product: As an affiliate marketer, you don't have control over the product or service you're promoting. This means that if the product doesn't meet the customer's expectations, it can reflect poorly on you as the affiliate marketer. It’s therefore important to pick your products and companies carefully and even better - set up multiple income streams!

Commission Cuts: Some companies may reduce the commission rate for their affiliate marketers over time, which can impact your earnings potential. Again, it's all about doing your research and promoting companies you have used, that you love and that you trust.

Fluctuating Income: Your income as an affiliate marketer can fluctuate depending on the performance of the product you're promoting, changes in the market, and other factors.

Affiliate Marketing - The Ugly

Many businesses offer poor returns, no resources for their affiliates, no community, and no support. Affiliate Marketing is a booming opportunity, and because of that there are many scams promising that you can get rich quick or make money overnight; spoiler - you can’t!

Multi-Level Marketing - The Good

Flexibility: MLM offers a flexible schedule, allowing individuals to work on their own terms and choose their own hours, making it a great option for people who want to work part-time or as a side hustle.

Low start-up costs: MLM typically requires low start-up costs compared to other business opportunities, making it accessible for people who cannot afford to invest in a traditional business.

Potential for high income: MLM offers the potential to earn high income, as earnings are not limited to the commissions on personal sales, but also from the commissions on the sales made by the people in your downline.

Personal development: MLM often provides training and support for personal development and entrepreneurship, allowing individuals to develop their skills and knowledge in marketing, sales, and business.

Social networking: MLM provides opportunities for social networking, allowing individuals to meet new people and build relationships.

MLM – The Bad

Over promise, under deliver: MLM’s are notorious for promising big rewards but delivering little in the way of actual earnings. In fact, most people who join MLMs end up losing money rather than making it (me!) The vast majority of people who join MLMs make little or no money, and those who do earn something often earn very little.

Pressure to Recruit: To make money in an MLM, you need to recruit others to join your team. This can create a lot of pressure to constantly sell the opportunity to others, which can put a strain on your personal relationships. It can also lead to a focus on recruitment over product sales, which can be damaging to the reputation of the company.

Costly Inventory: Many MLMs require you to purchase inventory in order to sell products. This can be expensive, and it's often difficult to sell all the inventory you've purchased.

Limited Control: As an MLM distributor, you are at the mercy of the company's decisions. You have little control over the products, the marketing, or the pricing. This can be frustrating if you have a vision for how you want to run your business.

Reputation: MLM has a negative reputation due to the history of some companies engaging in fraudulent practices, making it difficult for some people to trust the legitimacy of MLM businesses.

Drop Out: MLM has a high attrition rate, with many participants dropping out after a short time due to the difficulty of making sales or recruiting new participants. You will have to constantly train, support, motivate and recruit team members to stay profitable.
Pyramid structure: MLM has a pyramid style structure, with only a few people at the top earning significant income, while the majority of participants earn little or nothing.

MLM - The Ugly

For me, the biggest ‘ugly’ was just the constant pressure to meet targets, to ‘compete’, to recruit, and to ‘sell’ to my personal network of friends and family over and over

I’ve been lucky....

I fell on my feet being introduced to Affiliate Marketing the way you are now — by someone who invested in a World-Class Digital Education. This education will walk you through how to 'Prepare, Launch, then Grow your dream online business - an actual business, not just an affiliate account. A business where you can set up systems once, and earn a High Ticket Affiliate Rewards on Autopliot around the clock (I made my first sale when I was open water swimming!). This education is not just another online course, it's joining a whole community of likeminded people around the world who will support you as you learn.

To wrap it up…

Your ~~time~~ life is valuable. You want to be there for your family, you want personal growth and satisfaction, and you want to make the most of your opportunities. It’s really important you weigh these Pros and Cons carefully. Hopefully this article has helped you towards making an informed decision. You may have guessed that since jumping ship from the MLM model, I am now a HUGE fan of Affiliate Marketing; I made far more money, far quicker and have found my dream business model (without building a list of everyone I know and badgering them to buy my stuff or join my team!!) Using the skills I’ve learned through the courses I’ve invested in, I’ve also built my own online fitness coaching business that I'm SO proud of.

In case you were wondering, my favourite product is the one where it all started for me. From here I've connected with a world-wide community of likeminded souls who've invested in further education to build their own dream businesses. Everything from coaching just about anything, selling just about everything via Amazon and other online stores, copywriting, running online marketing companies and of course keeping it simple and selling other companies products via Affiliate Marketing.

The education offers a full picture step-by-step approach with numerous options that go way beyond the bog standard ‘how to’ training you get everywhere else.

Your Next Steps...

For me, this amazing adventure all started with the FREE Intro course I mentioned previously and it can for you too. Full disclosure, it's very unlikely you could build a profitable online business (or any kind of business!) from a free course. Yes, you'll be able to go out and find affiliate links and maybe earn a little, but for those go-getters among you with bigger dreams like me, let's get real. This is your research!

On the Intro course you’ll get an inside view of how all online business works, not just Affiliate Marketing. You’ll get a feel for the community (that includes me) of amazing people around the world who are also on this journey. And hopefully you’ll a gut feeling that you are in the right place, before you invest any time or money into a paid programme or mentorship. Success for me came with the best resources, the best training and the best mentoring and that's what you'll learn more about.

During the Free Course, you'll see an option to check out the basic '7 Day Fast Start Course' which is a brilliant risk free/refundable way to learn more about getting started, and what you personally could offer online. You'll also see an offer for the Step-by-Step Foundational Business Building course, this is where the 'rubber hits the road' for those are ready to get to work to 'Prepare' 'Launch' then 'Grow' their business. If you chose to invest in this course, you'll be walked through every step of the way from that first rung on the ladder when you have NO IDEA what to do, no digital skills and no experience to having a website and business that could be earning you 6 to 7 figures like many of our members (not me yet, but I’ve never been closer!)

Click the link below for the free course that convinced me to finally ditch MLM - it'll blow your mind!

What have you got to lose? (except perhaps that pile of products you were going to buy!)

The future depends on what you do TODAY

Mahatma Ghandi

The post The Game-Changing Truth – Affiliate vs. Multi-Level Marketing in 2025 first appeared on Laptopmums.

mlm - Laptopmums