Internet Marketers vs Network Marketers-An Epic Battle or Merging of Unique Abilities?
As the shift in Network Marketing, from offline to online, takes shape, Network Marketers are scrambling to find their place in the Internet Marketing world, but are the two disciplines butting heads or is there a melding of talents and skills that could enhance each others endeavors?
Recently I ran across a post from Elizabeth, a mutual friend and internet marketer, shared some thoughts about the Differences between Network Marketing and Internet Marketing. Elizabeth shares that at times it is hard to distinguish between the two when viewing the vast array of business opportunities online today and I agree, it can be very confusing at times.
Elizabeth has some great insight in sharing this point with her readers, because the Network Marketing industry is slowly seeing the value and capability of what the internet can do, and as more Network Marketers flock to find their place in cyber space, it will be critical to help both disciplines co-exist.
Can Both Internet and Network Marketers Learn from Each Other?
What is unique about this tangle of the two disciplines is that each side has talents and skills that both can utilize. Network Marketers are highly skilled at communicating one on one with people and Internet Marketers are highly skilled in attracting customers and communicating via email marketing. Network Marketers typically represent high quality, tangible goods or services and Internet Marketers typically represent high quality, tangible information products that compliment these goods and services.
These are only a few of the many skills and abilities that both sides offer, but can you see how, if merged together, the limits on creating or expanding a Home Internet Business could be endless?
Is Internet Network Marketing the Wave of the Future?
This new term, Internet Network Marketing, is creeping up in posts across the internet. What is so unique about it? Well, it represents the slow shift of Network Marketers realizing the power of Internet Marketing in building a successful business and having the tools to teach an organization to do the same.
One of the shifts is due to the large number of Network Marketers who are tired of the older methods of cold calling, buying expensive dead-end leads, late night hotel meetings, or bugging friends and family to buy their products or join their business. Ann Sieg, an industry leader in Network Marketing, and author of the "The 7-Great Lies of Network Marketing" shares the challenges people wrestle with and how attraction marketing principles combined with Internet Marketing can turn those frustrations into results.
One thing is for sure. Over the next few years more and more Network Marketers will be making the move to online marketing. What is critical to their success will be in large part due to the training they receive on Internet Marketing.
Will there be an epic battle between both marketers? I don't see that. What I do see in the future are both powers working together to enhance each others abilities and expanding the capability of the average person to build a successful online business that will grow for years to come.
Sincerely,
Mike Witt
Mike Witt
Reader Comments (22)
Nice post. :)
Thanks BunkaBun, I appreciate the comment, hopefully it provided some value.
Mike Witt
There is a big difference between Internet marketers and network marketers. Yes, I agree that both sides share some similar abilities and values, but network marketers are usually involved in some type of network usually being a MLM program.
Internet marketing on the other hand is a term given to anyone who markets anything on the Internet, being an MLM, affiliate product or their own creation.
I agree with the fact that network marketers are becoming Internet marketers because of the reasons in your post, but being one does not necessarily mean that you are the other.
Thanks for an interesting post!
Hi Scott,
Thank you for the great comment. You are right, there is a distinguishing difference and as you say, each side brings value and skills to the other.
What Network Marketers need is the right path and training so that they can be equipped with the tools necessary to utilize Internet Marketing correctly.
I appreciate your honesty and I think that both sides have lots to learn from each other.
Thanks again,
Mike Witt
One thing is for sure; it's a very exciting time for network marketers who are looking for new ways to build their businesses. For me, the internet solved all of the problems and issues I had with the "three foot rule." Now, I am able to market to those who are interested, and make friends with the rest!
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for the comment, I appreciate that very much. You are so right, it is an exciting time, one that has solved many of the same problems for me as they did for you.
Thanks again, appreciate you stopping by,
Mike Witt
I think we can do, provided it is in a controlled manner so as not to be spam
Hi Cris,
Thank you for the comment, I appreciate that very much. I totally agree about Spam. I can't tell you how much of that I get in a day, pitching this, pitching that, but in some respects, I am ok with it, because I get to learn.
People will always take things too far by spamming, but for those that provide value, your customers won't hit the DELETE button when they see one of your emails.
Thanks again, nice to meet you,
Mike Witt
Interesting post. There are plenty of useful informations on your blog sir. Added this blog to my blogroll. Keep up the good work.
Hi Money Man,
Thank you for the comment, I appreciate that very much. I am glad that you found my site useful and thank you for adding to your blogroll.
Nice to meet you, thanks for coming by,
Mike Witt
Mike,
As I have come to expect from you, this is another very insightful article.
There are a lot of Network Marketers running wild on the Internet, with their ground floor opportunities and systems that create money out of thin air, just for signing up.
It is our job to educate this new arrivals, to the ways of Internet Marketing. And out of that interaction a the new Internet Network Marketer will come out, and you and my friends at the Renegade University are at the forefront of this new trend.
Keep up the Good Work,
Roberto Guerrero
Hi Roberto,
Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate that a lot. You are exactly right and it may take some time for those who seek instant riches to realize that there is a more proven way to build a business online.
What is even more excitng to me is the melding of skills between those who strictly focus on Internet Marketing and those involved in Network Marketing looking for a new path.
I think Internet Marketers have a lot to offer and is one of the reasons I love the Renegade University, because it doesn't matter what discipline you have, everyone is given the right foundation from the start.
Thanks again Roberto, it has been nice to connect with you and watch your business grow.
Mike Witt
You are most welcome Mike.
Keep up the good work. I'll be back for more.
Mike,
I really like the fact that the 2 are coming together. I like learning new skills as a network marketer and I think that bringing network marketing to the internet will "class up" our image a little bit. We won't have time to chase people down if we are working on Attraction Marketing. Not that I ever did that! Lol!
I agree with Roberto that your article is very insightful.
Thanks, Becky Joubert
Hello Mike,
I know a little about Internet Marketing but close to zero about Network Marketing.
I believe though, that as you mentioned to Roberto, each has something to offer
to the other.
I'm looking forward to learning more about both.
Thanks for the post.
And in the immortal words of Governor Arnold
"I'll Be Back" :)
Steve Dougherty
Hi Becky,
Thank you for the wonderful comment. I also see both coming together more in the future, I just hope that Network Marketers are open to learing the building blocks and foundation of how Internet Marketing can impact their business.
Thanks Becky, I have had a great time getting to know you, and love the message you offer to Network Marketers as well.
Mike Witt
Hi Steve,
Thank you also for the great comment, I am glad that it was useful. I love your statement because the same is true for most Network Marketers. We all can learn a lot from each other, and maybe someday the marriage will allow more people to take advantage of the great opportunities available in building a successful home business.
Thanks again, hope to see you around again,
Mike Witt
I really agree that Network marketers really need the training to properly venture over into Internet marketing. You can take a look at Facebook or any other social media outlet and see people spamming others with their products in the same way that they would do cold calls or door to door sales.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the great comment. I do agree, the right training, for any marketer, is the key. The reason I say "any Marketer", is because the spamming comes from all sides, not just Network Marketers.
Internet marketing is so much different than what has been taught throughout the years in MLM, the goal is to get people off on the right foot online, so that success is reached must faster.
Thanks again, I appreciate your note,
Mike Witt
Hi Mike - what a great observation. You can combine network marketing with internet marketing (and affiliate marketing) but for many people, it is difficult to put all the pieces together. There are some great training programs (and Renegade University is one) that allow serious internet marketers to get the skills we need to successfully build our businesses online, no matter what type of business we might have (whether it be network marketing, consulting, coaching or something else). Thanks for raising this topic.