I first started out by looking up "What is a Pyramid Scheme". That was both helpful and not, because by the end, it still had a lot of similarities to Isagenix's Network Marketing system and I really din't understand how it was different. Did it fall into "One of the many forms" of a pyramid scheme that just weren't fleshed out in the descriptions I was reading? So I decided to look up "Network Marking vs Pyramid Schemes" and started to get a lot more clarity. First thing I learned is that there are MANY SIMILARITIES, even though they are NOT THE SAME! This made me feel a lot better, and I continued to read. Turns out that when you break it down, the basic pyramid structure, seen predominantly in the pyramid scheme, is actually the most generic look at how business is setup in our daily lives. I found the visual aid bellow particularly helpful. As you can see, everything from school to business to the government is setup in a pyramid style mindset. Suddenly I was feeling a lot more open minded about network marketing and what it was!
This image has been borrowed from the following article:
Network Marketing Business School
So next up I learned that what makes pyramid schemes different from network marketing is not only that one is illegal, but that in particular, pyramid schemes are based around the fraudulent practices of making money through a non-sustainable business model. As in most of the money comes from the "enrollment fees" of new members that "invest" except there's nothing really their to invest in other then expecting to make money based on the people you "enroll" under you. Eventually you run out of people to recruit and the system collapses. There is no actual exchange of a viable product or service, just the promise of this "unseen investment". No wonder it's illegal!!!
Network marketing on the other hand, is the process of the company getting it's product out to the consumer. Instead of them investing in ad space, commercials or other forms of product sales, they rely heavily on word of mouth via the consumer. In return the consumer reaps the benefits of sharing the product and thus can be incredibly rewarded by continued loyalty to the company. This can happen on various levels of seriousness. Obviously, the more time you put into marketing the product, the more successful your business will be. Ultimately, by becoming part of a network marketing team, you become part of the company yourself! It's a really neat opportunity if that's a road you're wanting to take. It definitely requires time and energy to really see the fruits of your labor, but it also can become a new career for those looking for a new path. It's totally legal, and especially when you use and believe in the product, it can be a really rewarding way to bring in some extra money.
In conclusion, I'm still figuring out my approach to the marketing side of Isagenix. I believe in the product, and I absolutely love how I feel and live now having the ease of it in my life. At the same time, I absolutely love my full time job, so I'm not really looking for a full on career change. I'm happy to share this product though, and would love to see more people out their getting their nutrition in order! Heck, that's why I started all this to begin with, it's not about the business or the money, it's about GOOD HEALTH! The rest is just a bonus. As I wrap this up, I would like to end with saying that I am in no way claiming to be an expert on this marketing stuff, but I wanted to share what I learned! There's still tons more information out there, and if you don't feel like what I discussed is enough, then I encourage you to do your own research as well!! When you take the time to really find things out for yourself, it really makes diving into new opportunities much more rewarding! I LOVE being in the know! I really hope this has helped you to understand, even a little better, what the differences between a pyramid scheme and network marketing. Have a great day!
