Having been a student of [tag-tec]network marketing[/tag-tec] and it's methods for years, I have seen, heard or read about many of the ups and downs in the industry. Right now we are in an interesting time where we see some major ups and downs simultaneously.

I'll get a couple of the downs out of the way right now:

• Too many promises of easy money: We've all seen the ads (and maybe even been pulled in by a few) that go something like "you do nothing! we build your downline! massive residuals! join now!" Here's a secret: it's not easy. At least not easy in the way that most people think of "easy". It's easier than some other things I've done, but harder than sitting around and playing video games or watching TV.
• Complete automation: Companies that promise that their entire system is automated and that you never have to deal with people is not going to be around very long. In business you want to know who you are working with because you need to be able to trust them. It's just that the medium has changed. Instead of having to go to meetings and meet in person we have email, webcams, and conference calls.
• More scams than ever: Because of the automation mentioned above, you will find more scams than ever before. It's so easy to cobble something together and do an email blast that more people are doing. Unfortunately, some good people can get caught up in that thinking it's a legitimate way to do business. It's not.

People can come up with a longer list, but that's really not the point and not what I focus on. The point is there are "right" and "wrong" ways to do any business. At this point people are trying to use the internet to make a quick buck and forgetting everything they can learn in the offline world about [tag-tec]building relationships[/tag-tec].

The internet gives us the ability to forge relationships beyond our neighborhood or town. We can now contact people on the opposite side of the world as easily as the person next door. Because this has become easier, it has opened up more potential for abuse.

The focus must remain on building the relationship. With the tools handed out to distributors, everyone can have their own company site for customers to place orders and for distributors to find out about the company. The problem arises in how to differentiate yourself from everyone else trying to accomplish the same thing. The secret is right under your nose - really!

It's YOU!

"YOU" is what makes you different from everyone else.

Go ahead and ponder that for a few moments…

It's not about compensation plans, how many studies have been done on a particular product, etc. The fact is there are a lot of good products and companies out there. This was something that I actually struggled with myself. Since I came from the offline world with my company, and I had learned about how great the company I was working with was, for a long time I looked at other companies with a bit of disdain.

It's taken some additional research and attitude changes on my part, but I've realized that my company wasn't the only moral and ethical one out there. Go figure.

So the differentiator in a market where there are so many good choices is what you can share with others to help them reach their goals. Show that you are real person who believes in your business, your industry, and that you have a plan to not only move yourself towards your own goals, but have a system in place that can move them towards theirs.

Share yourself and you will attract the kind of people that you get along with. No cold calling, no following a script. Just be yourself and have a good time while following your plan of action.