Recently, someone I respect in another network marketing company posted a Facebook Live where she was interviewing a top earner in the industry. I figured the person she interviewed was from her company since she was always sharing income claims and success stories from them. I was wrong. She was interviewing someone from another MLM entirely. I thought, “oh…I never thought she’d leave her old company. She talked so highly about them. I wonder what made her switch network marketing companies.”
Truth is, if you’ve been around the MLM market for long enough, then you probably know at least one person who has left one company for another. In some cases, an entire downline exits and starts over. It usually begins with one person looking for greener pastures and, when they think they’ve found it, convincing others on their team to join them. A lot of times breaking away from one MLM company to join another leaves their old business partners angry and that’s (sometimes) when the public mudslinging begins.
If you’re thinking about leaving your current MLM for a new opportunity and want to avoid the drama, there are a few things you can do.
Before I dig into the tips you need to leave your MLM gracefully, I want to clear the air. Leaving your MLM is not treason. It’s not a terrible thing and it’s not the end of the world. Let’s compare network marketing to a job. Most people do not spend their entire lives working one job. They find a job they like or one that pays the bills and then, as they grow and mature, they find new opportunities that best suit them. In some cases, people find their calling and start a career they love, but even then, rarely do they work the same job forever. Network marketing is the same way.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at the ways you can minimize your risk when switching from one MLM to another.
Build Your Online Brand
This is one reason why a personal brand is so important. If you have been known as Beachbody coach so-and-so for years and you realize selling CBD oil is your more aligned to who you are now, you’re going to have a hell of a time marketing to an audience that has only seen you as the person who posted their workouts daily. Avoiding that is simple. Build your brand around your LEGAL name and who you are. Sure, you can be coach so-and-so, but you can also be mom (or dad), ice cream lover, coffee slayer, rock band lover, etc. Whatever makes you…well, you, build a brand around that instead of focusing on being a walking ad for your company. That way, if and when you do switch companies, your audience will be so invested in you that they continue to follow your journey.
Don’t Trash Your Team
If you decide to step into another MLM and some of your team members don’t follow suit, respect their decision. Your move should be about doing what’s best for you. And nothing reinforces the stereotype of the money-hungry, unscrupulous MLMer than a person who bad-mouths their teammates for doing what’s best for them and staying put. Plus, in the MLM game, it is unwise to burn your bridges. I’ve heard stories of people who quit an MLM and signed up again a year or two later. If you burned that bridge, do you think you’ll be the one to get that business? Absolutely not. Always remain professional to keep your options open and reputation in tact.
Don’t Poach
This tip is closely related to the one above, however this refers to you taking handfuls of people from outside your downline into a new company. Want to know what happened to the person I talked about in the example above? Well, she wasn’t fully removed from her first MLM company when she started promoting the new one. Someone in her up-line saw the Facebook live she posted. They realized she was using their closed Facebook group to recruit in addition to promoting to what she thought was a custom audience from her personal page. She was immediately removed from their online community mentorship group and lost serious favor with her mentors. That might seem harsh, but the truth is, to the people who have worked hard to build their teams, it’s a slap in the face to have someone recruit their members into a new business. Honestly, unless someone from outside of your team approaches you directly about wanting a fresh start, it’s best not to actively recruit from within the organization when you are leaving.
So you’re leaving your MLM? Here’s How to Make the Move:
- By all means, talk to your up-line about your decision, especially if they have served as mentor to you directly.
- If you have a team, let them know your plans and who they can connect with inside the company if they decide not to join your new opportunity.
- Make sure the company you are joining isn’t all smoke and mirrors. You should be a student of the game and should be able to tell the difference between a good opportunity and BS.
If you know your current MLM isn’t for you any longer, but you don’t have a new one lined up, here are a few tips on what you should consider when deciding on a new company:
- Make sure the leadership is solid. It’s one thing for the company to be good, but if no real leaders exist, you and your team will struggle down the line.
- What’s more important to you? Risk and reward? Or company stability and brand recognition? If you are ready for a little risk, then a new MLM company may work best. It’s more high stakes, but there’s an upside for more reward as an early adopter. Just keep in mind – 90% of start-ups don’t make it long term and that includes network marketing companies. If you prefer something more stable, an established company may be the way to go. In an oversaturated market you have less chance for a higher earning potential, but if the product is a household name, that can give you leverage starting out.
Overall, if you are considering switching companies, make sure you conduct yourself with class and tact. You have your reasons for moving on and, despite what anyone says, that is okay. And, being a network marketer, you already know people will have opinions on what you are doing. It’s your job to ignore the unwarranted judgement that may come your way during this process. As long as you follow the tips above, you will be in the clear.
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