The Truth About Online Earning: Myths, MLMs, and the Digital Marketing Revolution

I think it's really no secret that the work-life balance in the US is a joke (and not a funny one at that..).

The 40 hour work week is not only a failed social experiment but also a detriment to the US family, when the 40 hour work week was originally designed it was meant to be sustainable for one person to work and a partner to handle the household and child raising, this is OBVIOUSLY not the case for most Americans, and even with both partners working full time there is still an abundant amount of these families drowning in debt, and living paycheck to paycheck.

Aside from the sheer amounts of money spent on schooling, childcare and just general cost of living that continues to climb year after year while raises are often capped at 2-5% even for some of the largest companies in the world (who, mind you, continuously make record profits...) There is an even more precious resource that we Americans are losing (read hemorrhaging) at an alarming rate. That resource is TIME. Unlike with money, you can't "save up" time, and you can't "earn" more time. On top of that, no one really knows just how much time we have.

Time with our loved ones, time to enjoy the life we are given, time to develop into the best version of ourselves. Instead, many of us are stuck, trading hours for dollars. Dollars that barely pay our bills or keep up with the cost of living leaving us perpetually exhausted like a rat running in a wheel.

According to a new Bankrate report that surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults, almost 60% of adult Americans have less than $1,000 in savings and living paycheck to paycheck is a common experience throughout the USA.

This is a clear sign that the traditional path of employment is failing us.

Of course, the less traditional path being building your own system and becoming an entrepreneur has its own risks and learning curves and is certainly not "the easy" way out many make it seem to be.

If you want to enter the world of entrepreneurs, business owners, authors, speakers or investors you need 2 things.

The resolve to be DONE with life the way it is and to be ready for change.

Getting into entrepreneurship isn't all rainbows and unicorns either. Most people, as they get their start, find themselves in MLM's (multi-level marketing) where you have to buy a certain amount of products to sell, recruit your friends and family and start earning from what they sell and so on and so forth. and for some, this kind of business model works but for many its a nightmare.

at least that has been my experience.

I started in my first MLM at the ripe age of 18, selling (not really) makeup. The company I signed up with had a minimum spend amount of $500 per month. This meant I had to purchase $500 in products at 50% off to sell each month. I was hardly selling more than an eyeshadow and a facewash every month so I obviously didn't meet this quota and couldn't afford to continue buying products I couldn't sell.

Which brings me to the biggest issue with this business model.

Lack of education.

within this business model there is too much room for error, just individuals contacting friends and family to hopefully meet some new people and sign them up so they can sell to their friends and family and so on and so forth. Even though this whole model is based on selling products, there is usually little to NO training on marketing, sales or closing at all! This is also a major issue because so many people are coming into a new business, having never owned a business or learned about marketing at all, which leads to - not just having a hard time selling but also possible legal trouble.

Like with any business there are rules about things you can or cannot do or say, and unfortunately MLM's have lost touch with so many of their people that I would bet MOST people involved in an MLM have never even heard of the FTC (Federal Trades Commission) or know what they do (protect consumers from scams, and false advertising). Overall, my experience with getting started with an MLM was more like "take a check, hand you a bag of stuff and wish you good luck as the door hits you on the way out".

another common way new entrepreneurs have started finding their way into this new lifestyle is with digital marketing. Which has become increasingly more popular since the pandemic. Now, there are some misconceptions about what digital marketing is and how it works but I am actually more in favor of this business model that with MLM's.

This is because digital marketing is just what is sounds like. Using an online platform like a blog, podcast or even social media, to promote products (marketing). The main misconception I see with digital marketing is that it's a bunch of people "selling a course to sell a course" and there are courses out there to help you sell courses, just not always about courses. (mind boggling I know). This is because we are in an age of education, people want to learn and more people are backing away from traditional sources like college which obviously cost a pretty penny and take years to complete. Online courses on the other hand are self paced and teach a specific skill set, but this skillset is NOT just selling courses about selling courses.

The main reason many have this idea in their head is because digital marketers in the "make money online" niche or "business development" niche literally CALL THEMSELVES OUT to show you they are selling courses as their business model. Whereas a dog trainer selling an online course to potty train your puppy would never be considered some kind of "scheme" or "scam" because they are just offering their expert knowledge in exchange for money... seeing a pattern here? MANY (read most) businesses sell some kind of online education, from hairstyling, to painting, to pet grooming, dog training, book writing and so much more. Unfortunately, many people looking to start a business see the surplus amounts many online influencers bolster about and think "I just have to sell their exact product in their exact niche, and I will make that money too". This just isn't the case.

another common way new entrepreneurs have started finding their way into this new lifestyle is with digital marketing. Which has become increasingly more popular since the pandemic. Now, there are some misconceptions about what digital marketing is and how it works but I am actually more in favor of this business model that with MLM's.

This is because digital marketing is just what is sounds like. Using an online platform like a blog, podcast or even social media, to promote products (marketing).

The main misconception I see with digital marketing is that it's a bunch of people "selling a course to sell a course" and there are courses out there to help you sell courses, just not always about courses. (mind boggling I know). This is because we are in an age of education, people want to learn and more people are backing away from traditional sources like college which obviously cost a pretty penny and take years to complete. Online courses on the other hand are self paced and teach a specific skill set, but this skillset is NOT just selling courses about selling courses.

The main reason many have this idea in their head is because digital marketers in the "make money online" niche or "business development" niche literally CALL THEMSELVES OUT to show you they are selling courses as their business model.

Whereas a dog trainer selling an online course to potty train your puppy would never be considered some kind of "scheme" or "scam" because they are just offering their expert knowledge in exchange for money... seeing a pattern here? MANY (read most) businesses sell some kind of online education, from hairstyling, to painting, to pet grooming, dog training, book writing and so much more. Unfortunately, many people looking to start a business see the surplus amounts many online influencers bolster about and think "I just have to sell their exact product in their exact niche, and I will make that money too". This just isn't the case.

The unfortunate truth for many joining in the MMO (make money online) niche, is they joined hoping there would be fast fortune, and instead of focusing one learning the skills in their courses, they treated it like a flipping business (where you buy something to sell it).
The TRUE power of digital marketing doesnt come from a specific product type, it doesnt come from a specific niche.
The TRUE power of digital marketing comes from solving a problem YOU care about for an audience YOU care about by connecting them with products that genuinly serve them in an authentic way.

There is NO magic pill, NO money tree, No "easy way out".

There is a CHOICE in being an entrepreneur, choice to do what you love and get paid to do it.

I have seen first and second hand how profitable digital marketing can be.
and before you come at me, no, there is no "one right way" to be a digital marketer.

However I do have my 2 favorite ways...

First: Selling Digital Products
I Love this business model because you can craft something unique with your story, your expertise, create a product ONE time and create semi passive income from it. You have the flexibility of creating what you love, from e-Books, to art. Because You are the creator you also get the benefits (meaning bigger profit margins) for your products. and you can make as many as you want. Start with one and the sky is the limit! meaning you can keep scaling your online business forever.

Second: Affiliate Marketing
I truly believe this is by FAR the BEST and EASIEST business method for beginners. This is becasue you can dip your toes in the water of entrepreneurship and start learning the ropes AND earning right away without a lot of heavy lifting that would normally drown a new business.

You can use the reputation of already succesful businesses to gain trust while promoting products you love.
This is because as an affiliate you are partnering with companies (like amazon, Ninja, Chewy and more) by promoting thier products on your platform.

The company handles all the heavy lifting from sourcing, manufacturing, shipping, even the payment processing is handles by the company and all you need is a special link to get started.

Regarless of whatever YOU are passionate about, You can create a business you genuinly love with affiliate marketing, even with no experience, no degree, and even if you dont have a product.

You can learn more about getting started with affiliate marketing in my new free training by clicking HERE!