Is Network Marketing a Pyramid Scheme - What the Heck to Do With That Question?

If you're a network marketer then you've likely heard the question "is network marketing a pyramid scheme?" You may be one of the common distributors in the network marketing industry who get nervous and tongue tied by that question.I've seen it over and over again where people have no idea what to say to that, and will even go to great lengths to avoid it ever coming up.I've even seen some distributors begin to bash the industry themselves, just so as not to look bad.The Truth About the Pyramid Scheme Question...First of all let's talk about what a pyramid scheme is.Wikipedia says: A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, often without any product or service being delivered.Alrighty... A couple of key points from that definition...First of all "without any product or service being offered or delivered"...let's cover that.Network marketing, if it's a legitimate company (and it's really your responsibility to figure this out) will always have a product attached to the opportunity. Usually, these products are some of the best that the world has to offer actually.If it doesn't, then run as fast as you can the other way, because that leads to the other key point: "a non-sustainable business model". A true Network marketing business is extremely sustainable, and you only have to look toward companies like Amway, Mary Kay, Herbalife, and Tupperware to see that.How to Respond to This Question When Your Network Marketing Prospects Ask...First of all don't panic. It's a fair question. You have to put yourself into your prospects shoes and realize that they've heard this over and over about the industry for years and years. In fact it's likely that the only exposure that they've ever had may very well have been through negative experience by ignorant and disgruntled network marketers who weren't mentored by a true upline sponsor.The next thing that you have to do is explain to them that if they're working for a corporation, or even a small company, they're working for a pyramid structured company.You've got the business owner at the top, and it goes down from there, all the way to the employees at the bottom of the pyramid. But the difference is that those at the bottom of the pyramid, the general employees in your prospects pyramid are stuck there forever at the bottom unless someone at the top decides to "let" them move up.In network marketing, someone who would be down near the bottom can move up as fast as they want to. They can also increase their income as often as they want without ever having to ask or get permission from anyone above them. They can essentially give themselves a raise every month if they wanted.Next is the fact that in the corporate pyramid, nobody within the company can ever earn more money than the owner, or even the number two person in the company. And an employee can't earn more money than the person above them, or a few people above them.In network marketing you could easily out earn the person that brought you into the business opportunity, and even their up-line. You can out earn all other distributors if you wish to.