Generally speaking, the best advice one will hear about multi-level marketing (MLM) is “don’t.” 

While it’s certainly possible to make a life for yourself working for an MLM, the men and women who are capable of doing so are few and far between. More often, anyone who joins an MLM ends up stuck in a vicious downward cycle as they drive themselves deeper and deeper into debt, alienating themselves from family and friends as they desperately try to sell to and recruit anyone who will listen. 

To wit, a 2018 report published by the American Association of Retired Persons found that approximately 47 percent of people who participate in multi-level marketing lose money. Another 27 percent make nothing. And even among those who do make a profit, margins are extremely thin: 53 percent made less than five thousand dollars. 

The problem is threefold.

Be unique. 

That’s one of the first pieces of advice you’ll receive where content is concerned. Unique, compelling content is how you stand out from the crowd. It’s how you create value for your audience and engage with both new and existing customers.

There’s just one problem – how exactly can you be unique.

At this point, it’s no secret that content marketing has reached a saturation point. There are too many brands – too many people – creating too much content. Consider, for example, that on WordPress alone, users produce approximately 70 million new posts each month. 

To call it overwhelming would be something of an understatement. Modern consumers are already drowning in advertisements and marketing messages. Now we also face a veritable tide of blog posts, white papers, and other content. 

People are having fun without you.  

That pervasive idea lies at the core of Fear of Missing Out – or FOMO, as it’s more commonly called. Apprehension at being left out of the loop. Anxiety at missing out on a fun party or cool event. The constant concern that other people are having rewarding, fulfilling lives – and you aren’t. 

It’s a phenomenon that’s never been more widespread, largely thanks to social media. That isn’t a good thing.

Specifically, people see the carefully-curated online lives of the people they follow and obsess over the fact that their own lives aren’t as exciting. As a result, they struggle with intense anxiety about not being a part of important events in the lives of their friends and family. Furthermore, they feel sad about missing out on fulfilling life experiences.

As you already know, content is king.

All things being equal, a business with a steady stream of fresh content will inevitably outperform a business that generates no content at all.  Through blog posts, videos, and other materials, you can provide value to your audience beyond your core products and services. You can generate engagement, bring in more traffic to your site, and ultimately help to build a community around your brand.

An unmarried CEO with a six-figure salary. A recently-arrived immigrant who’s still getting on their feet. A stay-at-home dad whose wife is the primary breadwinner for their family. A service industry worker struggling to make ends meet. What do all of these individuals have in common?

What does it mean to be a parent? What comes to mind when you picture a mother or father?