The Maskcara Experiment
On last count, I was a part of more than 40 Facebook groups that I never opted to join. Each of these groups was started by a friend to try to sell me LulaRoe, LipSense or the like. I actually am not mad at these women. They are just trying to make their business grow. They are hustling out there and you gotta give them props, but it has left me wondering,
Is there a better way?
This same model for selling has been used for decades with multi-level marketing businesses. Facebook groups are just the new version of Tupperware parties. The world has changed a lot but it seems like the selling strategy hasn’t.
Is there a better way?
I’ve been a business owner for more than 10 years. From selling crafts on Etsy, to selling online courses, to selling my photography, I have learned the ins and outs of selling online. So, I began to wonder, could the business principles that I have been using in my businesses actually be the better way for selling MLM? Could an MLM business owner use SEO (search engine optimization), Pinterest, Facebook ads and Instagram marketing to create a successful business? Could an MLM participant be successful without targeting their friends?
I want to find out.
Armed with my business knowledge, I searched for the perfect MLM to test this theory. I happened upon Maskcara Makeup. I love the product and it being a new MLM (as of February 2017), it seemed like the perfect fit. So, I made the jump. I have the kit and I am officially a “Pro Artist”.
I will be documenting my experiment here on my blog.
And no, you are not invited to my Facebook group.
Here are the rules:
-Never host a party:
I will never ask a friend to host an in-home party for me. If friends want to come to my house and try the product, that is allowed, but I will never ask them to do it. They must approach me.
-Never start a Facebook group:
Self explanatory.
-Never recruit friends to become a seller
All recruitment will be done via organic online exposure.
-All team members will be trained in business
All those who sign up under me as my “down line” will be trained in the best business practices I use. They will receive free training from me on how to use Google, Pinterest and Instagram to get exposure without losing friends. They are free to host parties if they want, but I will teach them my way of doing business.
-I will give an honest reporting of my progress or failure here on my blog
Honestly, I could fail terribly, but maybe I’ll change the way MLMs do business. Most likely I’ll land somewhere in the middle. I will try to report here weekly and let you know how things are going.
You can follow me on Instagram to see the updates. And if you haven’t yet, you should sign up for my free iPhone training here.
Do you have a rule I should add? Let me know in the comments.
Here is my Maskcara Website, you can take the FREE color match quiz right now and start checking out how I’m doing on my site.
Here are the follow up posts you should definitely read:
10 Reasons I chose Maskcara and 3 reasons I almost didn’t
My problems, solutions and plans to selling online.
This is such a fabulous idea! I can’t wait to follow along and see your results. Statistically, 95% of MLM businesses fail and I’d definitely love to see them take a different approach to marketing and selling.
Thanks Crystelle! Yes, it is tragic how many people start and then fail because they are given the “Just get out there” speech and not given actual business tools. We will see how it goes!
You’re not a little bit mad about all of the FB groups you’ve been invited to, but I kind of am. This is genius! There are several MLMs I love but I don’t want to risk being marketed to 24-7, so I love this approach.
Right? I think the marketing strategies give some good products bad names. So, here goes nothing!
[…] my previous post, you already know that I chose to do this experiment (read about it here) with Maskcara makeup. But, honestly, it wasn’t my first choice. I first joined LipSense […]
Michelle! I really like this idea. I think you are on to something!
Could be fun, right? So, can I sign you up for a party ;).
[…] you to all of those who have already joined this journey with us. If you haven’t ready post 1 and post 2 about this experiment, go check them out […]
I love this idea. I’m so tired of getting invited to all of the parties. I don’t begrudge my friends their need to start a business, but I’m just not interested in their over-priced products.
On a side note, you’ve chosen a great product line. Cara has done a great job with her products. I use her stuff all the time and love it.
Thanks, Amy! I’m totally with you. I love my friends, but it becomes awkward when it seems like they are looking for a reason to sell to me. I’m excited to see how it all goes!
I am excited about this makeup!! Good luck to you and JoEllen …you can do this!!
You are the best and the most supportive! Thank you!!
[…] Two weeks ago, I told you that I was trying an experiment. As a long time online business owner, I am testing out tried and true business principles to see if I can create a successful business as part of a MLM (multi-level marketing) business without selling to my friends online or at a party. (You can read the whole blog post here.) […]
[…] where you are going to start getting people to find your content. For example, I sell Maskcara (you can check out the whole experiment here or buy here). Maskcara is makeup that makes putting on highlight and contour one quick and easy […]
[…] in there? I was making it all about me and my experiment. (You can check out the original Maskcara experiment post here, and my follow up Maskcara Artist Review here. […]