{"id":57922,"date":"2022-09-06T11:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T11:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/authorityhacker.com\/?p=57922"},"modified":"2024-03-04T14:02:40","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T14:02:40","slug":"affiliate-marketing-vs-mlm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.authorityhacker.com\/affiliate-marketing-vs-mlm\/","title":{"rendered":"Affiliate Marketing vs MLM: Everything You Need to Know in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Affiliate marketing vs MLM (or \u201cm<\/strong>ulti l<\/strong>evel m<\/strong>arketing\u201d, to give its full name) is a choice considered by plenty of people looking to make money online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make the right<\/em> choice, you first need to understand the key differences, which is exactly why we\u2019re writing this article!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affiliate Marketing vs MLM: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A lot of people mistake affiliate marketing and multi level marketing, assuming the two terms are basically synonymous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, the only similarity is that they both (claim to) offer a way for people to earn enough residual income to quit their \u201creal\u201d job and spend more time doing the stuff they love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the ways they do it are very different. In this section, we\u2019ll explain the difference between affiliate marketing and MLM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, before we get into the weeds, it\u2019s worth pointing out that MLM has a lot of alternative names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might see MLM referred to as \u201cnetwork marketing\u201d, while the term \u201cpyramid schemes\u201d is also sometimes used to describe MLM programs (although that\u2019s not entirely accurate or fair).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Multi Level Marketing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While MLM and network marketing sound like sleek, sophisticated ways to earn money, pretty much everyone knows pyramid schemes are bad<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice, the business model only benefits those at the very top of the tree, while everyone else does all the work. Actually, that just sounds like capitalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, as you might be aware, pyramid schemes are illegal<\/strong>. If you get involved in one, you\u2019re almost certain to lose your money, and you might also end up getting prosecuted. Which doesn\u2019t sound like much fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s an important difference: multi level marketing is legal<\/em>. But that doesn\u2019t mean you should rush to sign up for one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like pyramid schemes, MLM businesses typically only benefit the bigwigs at the top \u2014 although, of course, many MLM participants believe they\u2019re the ones who are smart enough to change all that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multi level marketing involves a bunch of startup costs. And while recruiting people to the MLM network and selling products to end users can earn them some <\/em>money, MLMs typically don\u2019t make enough to recoup that upfront expenditure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Affiliate Marketing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, affiliate marketing is 100% legitimate<\/a>. Successful affiliate marketers can genuinely earn a decent income<\/a> \u2014 even a job-replacement income \u2014 by promoting products through their social channels, online groups, and their own affiliate website. In fact, the average affiliate marketer earns $8,038 per month, according to our affiliate marketing statistics<\/a> page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should know because we\u2019ve done it ourselves!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When an affiliate marketer joins a brand\u2019s own affiliate program, they\u2019re given a unique affiliate link<\/a> that they use to refer potential customers to the brand\u2019s website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time their referrals take a desired action \u2014 such as buying a product or service, or registering as a lead \u2014 the affiliate who referred them earns a commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike with MLM businesses, affiliate marketing is a mutually beneficial relationship between brands and individual affiliates. The brand reaches new audiences and generates more revenue; the affiliate marketer picks up a healthy commission along the way. Everyone wins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5 Advantages of Affiliate Marketing vs MLM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve looked at the key differences between affiliate marketing and multi level marketing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But just in case you\u2019ve (somehow) read the last section and still think \u201cMLM programs sound great<\/em>\u201d, now we\u2019re going to spell out five clear advantages of affiliate marketing vs MLM:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/em> Affiliate Marketing Offers Complete Control Over the Products You Promote<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you enrol in an MLM program, you\u2019ve got no freedom \u2014 you simply have to promote a specified product (or products), while doing a bunch of network recruitment to attract other members to the scheme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might have no particular interest in, or knowledge of, those products. And selling something you don\u2019t believe in is extremely difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, with an affiliate program, you have complete control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You get to choose the affiliate programs<\/a> you sign up for and the products or services you promote through your own website or other channels, so you can sell based on your skills and interests. And you won\u2019t have to spend any time recruiting new affiliate marketers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/em> With Affiliate Marketing, You Don\u2019t Have to \u201cClose the Deal\u201d Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When affiliate marketing is done \u201cproperly\u201d, it\u2019s not a sales job at all. Instead, it\u2019s about offering genuine expertise on a given niche<\/a>, carrying out high-quality product reviews<\/a>, and leaving all the sales stuff to the brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, say you love the great outdoors. Who doesn\u2019t? So you start a website where you write about your favorite walks and review your favorite gear: <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Review<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Affiliate marketing lets you turn your hobby into your own business because you\u2019re making money every time someone buys the products you recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3<\/em> Affiliate Marketing Puts You in Charge of Product Promotion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

MLM programs are very prescriptive. All that network recruitment requires a whole lot more personal interaction and direct communications, not to mention the occasional awkward conversation. It\u2019s definitely not for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With affiliate marketing, not only do you get to choose the types of products and services you promote, but you also get to control how <\/em>you promote them. And, thanks to the wonders of the internet, you get to do it all from the comfort of your own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, a lot of affiliates choose to create an affiliate website<\/a> and write blogs incorporating referral links. But if that\u2019s not for you, no bother, no fuss. Lots of affiliates are making money with product reviews on YouTube,<\/a> for instance: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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