For example, King and Robinson provide statistics to show why direct marketing is a robust and very efficient model for introducing some products into the market place. And, they show why the type of person involved in network marketing today is truly a professional: "Of key interest, the research found 'successful (direct and network marketing) sales people have a communication style or social style that encourages the building of relationships with their customers . . . The most successful sales leaders have a combination of relationship and task orientation' (in their communication styles)."

Network Marketing and multilevel marketing are synonymous terms. They are defined by a business model which pays commissions on multiple levels of the sales organization. Network Marketing/Selling differs from Direct Selling in that Network Marketing:

1. Focuses on relationships rather than on closing the sale or booking an order
2. Focuses on information sharing
3. Independent business owner (IBO)
4. Commissions on multiple levels of sales (not just retail of the IBO)

The role of the network marketing channel is to accelerate the movement of products using the most efficient distribution technique: word-of-mouth communication.

This is an excellent book to bring you up to date on the network marketing phenominon and to understand the new business models (yes, there are many).

28 of 33 found the following review helpful:


The New Professionals: Technical Treasure Trove  Sep 22, 2000 By J.A.Bolender
Having my own home based business; I was interested in an expert's point of view. Boy, did I get it. I liked the book for its multitude of facts and figures about the industry. But for some, it might be too technical. It's a must read for anyone who is on the fence considering a career in network marketing. The writing on the wall is clear; our profession has enabled masses of people to gain time freedom, financial freedom and a perfect meld of home, business and personal values. Read this book if you have any doubt regarding network or multi-level marketing. Charles W. King and James W. Robinson have made it crystal clear in their book that 'The New Professionals' are here to stay.

35 of 43 found the following review helpful:


New Century, New Biz World, New Money  Sep 29, 2000
If you are one of the many that are trying to keep up with the ever changing face of the business world, you need to read this book. In the last five years, I have personally experienced more changes and more growth in my own business life that in all the other 25 years put together. The bottom line is that things are rapidly changing - and we have two choices - embrace the changes and learn to use them to our advantage - or resist the changes and get left behind. While multi-level marketing is not new and not all multi-level companies are created equal, the industry is certainly emerging as one that offers some of the best opportunities for people to get started as independent business owners with a relatively small investment, especially for those who might never have had any other way to achieve financial independence. For some time now, I have had first hand knowledge of the money that can be earned by the small business owner, many of whom were not college educated and were not your straight A, honor roll student. There are countless thousands that have invested heavily in higher educations to obtain skills to get "good paying jobs" that will never come near the income levels working as an employee that can be achieved as an independent business owner. If you have looked down your noise in times past at "multi-level marketing", take another look!! After all, it wasn't but a few years back that most of us had never even heard of the internet, much less used it in every day life!!

19 of 23 found the following review helpful:


Must Read for New and Current Network Marketers  Mar 04, 2003 By Jeff Hunter
If your considering Network Marketing as a career move then this should be your first text book for learning what you need to know first about the business. I have also attended Dr. Charles King's Network Marketing Certification course at the University of Illinois @ Chicago with equal enthusiasm. If you take anything from this review, understand that this book was written by a Harvard Grad and tenured Professor at UIC who spent much time researching the business. It is a great book that is required reading especially if you're new to the business of Network Marketing.
Last of all, don't listen to fools who scoff at this book or the Industry, unless of course you wish to remain a slave to your employer and retire a slave to the Governments program.

16 of 20 found the following review helpful:


Great book!!! Excellent read, kept me interested throughout.  Apr 19, 2005 By Jennifer H. Tran
Basically, I just want to share with everybody that I'm currently enrolled in a Marketing 360 class at UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) and I've had the pleasure and priviledge to be taught by Dr. King himself. Dr. King is a Harvard alumni, it was there that he recieved his doctorate in business administration. What's most fascinating about Dr. King is his dedication and continuing learning about network marketing. He has researched extensively on this new trend of business and even wrote a book in which you can find at Amazon.com. It's called "The New Professionals" and IT IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK! I personally recommends it to everyone, I have bought mine from Amazon about 2 weeks ago and I can say that I've learned much more than I've ever before. It is an objective reading which presents the history and development of network marketing and also counter and clarifies many scrutinies in which this industry have been subjected to. The power of time leverage and in diversifying income have long been overlooked and this book does a great job of giving information about it all.

In addition, if anyone wishes to see the great man in person himself, he organizes an annual Network Marketing Certification seminar that is both national and international. Myself, am very interested in it. You can see it here at this website: http://netwkmarketing.com/


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