I was publishing a paper and ink newsletter dealing with mail-order/network marketing ideas and promotion. I was doing it all. Writing, typesetting, layout, photocopying, folding, addressing, and licking the stamps. I was sending out about 200 newsletters/month.

Then I got the bright idea of selling subscriptions to the newsletter (it was free up until then). I developed a multi-level pay plan based on a $30/six month subscription. (It eventually went to $129/year.) I invested over $1,000 in a 386 computer (this was 1993) and another $1,000 in specialized MLM software to track the levels, calculate commissions, print checks, etc. I was off and running...just me and my computer.

To make a long story short, I was doing most of the dirty work, and getting the short end of the stick. I was paying out a total of 75% of subscription monies in commissions. (There was very little "breakage" money left over...most of the 75% actually went out the door in commission checks.) After printing costs and postage, there was very little left for my labor of love.

Although I did make a little from subscribers who joined some of the mlm programs in my downline at the time, the effort was hardly worth it. Had I known then what I know now, I may have been able to capitalize on back-end products. Hindsight is always 20-20. If I had those same 400+ subscribers paying me $100/year for an ezine (practically no out of pocket cost) I would be a happy camper.

If I had had people to help me write, type, fold, and lick stamps back then, I would have been glad to share the wealth. How many associate programs on the net today are paying out 75%?!

So, yes, Gordon...if there is a way to share the work for an equitable share of the wealth, this could be a good thing.

JDB




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