** Update on the article Empower Network Scam: Hi since posting this article in September for my own personal reasons three months later I did sign up to the Empower Network (You are welcome to read the reasons why here Date 4th Nov 2012: Why I changed my mind about the Empower Network and Joined and Empower Network Review comparisons a strategic internet marketing tool and How to find the right Empower Network Sponsor?
I am really hoping you found my blog after Googling the Empower Network and before you get your credit card out of your wallet and sign up. I had a quick look on Google for the keyword on Empower Network Scams but they are all by affiliates telling you it is not a scam but please sign up under me. I did open a free account to check it out. Like you, a few months ago I was looking for genuine internet working from home, make money online ideas and I kept coming across website after website with a “rich guru” trying to sign me up to the Empower Network. It looks like the program started twelve months ago and it was targeting affiliates from other genuine direct sales or multi level marketing (MLM) businesses as an online lead generator tool but Empower Network is a scam.
After weeks of dizzy testimonials which would make your head spin, any product that you still do not understand after the end should ring alarm bells in your head. I did persist because hey “everyone is rich” right?? Many times I took my credit card out ready to sign me up and it took me ages to actually work out what the hell Empower Network was selling. I mean the monthly fee seemed low ($25 a month) but what are the premium memberships?
** Update: I hope you will also read my update from this post: Why I changed my mind about the Empower Network and Joined
But what does the Empower Network give you?? That’s right a customised template blog on the Empower Network domain name which you are asked to write and blog on everyday and then market that blog and earn a commission. The Inner Circle offers additional audio and internet marketing training.
Yes I am open that I promote products for another MLM company and I come across people every day who don’t understand MLM and fear it is a pyramid scam. But is the Empower Network a scam? I suppose my initial difficulty is the Empower Network is is a training program and besides the blog not a tangible product like other MLM companies. Other companies distribute their product through MLM business models but the Empower Network is a different work from home model.
MLM companies have a Product, a tangible product that is trialled, tested and been through any regulatory approvals required for distribution in the market. The Empower Network is a training program and blogging platform and that is THE PRODUCT. What you receive for your membership is the WordPress Blog, optimized for email capture to promote the Empower Network or other business opportunity. Initially I was reluctant to have the same blog other affiliates who signed up also have the exact same blog save for one photo change to personalize it. I thought that now if you would like to blog to promote your product or service just get your own. It is not hard but then again it took me years and thousands of dollars of learning to get this blog for the past few years. Maybe for the novice it would help? I certainly am not earning an income from this blog but a few dollars would help with the maintenance. Isn’t the whole fun of blogging is choosing your brand and template design? Choosing a domain name? They argue it is so hard to do but if you are so lazy to get your self organized are you really going to keep up motivation to blog every single day (trust me that is tough after the first two weeks) and educate yourself in their top secret inner circle education and training? I know you can get free blogging platform just sign up to Google Blogger or WordPress.com. If you are a bit serious it is really easy to register a domain name and web hosting and installing WordPress. BUT the Empower Network offers to teach you how to market your blog, get traffic, a blog is lonely if noone reads it… Yes it might cost you $30 to do all of that but guess what all your writing and branding is yours. If you spend every day blogging on someone else’s blog (which boosts their brand not yours), what happens to all your hard earned content if the site disappears tomorrow? I have read a few very good articles from bloggers on Empower Network and it is ranking on Google so I am on the fence whether to join or not.
Additional learning about how to blog is to read ProBlogger.net and did the 31 days to build a better blog and I joined a few other great blogging support groups like the SITS Girls http://www.thesitsgirls.com/
I am personally training and teaching people like you how to monetize your own blog (just like this one), and how to drive Massive Traffic and build a Big Email List, which you can use to promote your primary business. If you are interested in working with me personally, then click on the banner at the top of this page, enter your email, and watch the 30 minute video. It will explain how several people are making as much as $1,000 per day blogging, and how you can as well. I have some additional training that I can offer on top of this, and I look forward to helping you make more money online this year.
It is a shame someone can give strong advise considering they don’t know all the facts. A scam is when money is taken and nothing tangible is given in return. It is not about the blog but rather a commitment to follow through. The training that is given and the knowledge shared along with a family atmosphere where everyone seems to help each other even if they aren’t in there team.
If I started a blog, tell me how I would get noticed? How do I get it advertised or syndicated?
Sadly though, some will read your post and put away their credit card and will go another day without getting the knowledge of how to make money online and survive.
thx so much for this..
Thank you
Wow – it hard to find sense like this – thank you.
While you have to make it into a ‘rant’ to actually onect with people, it i refrehing to see the free advice you have given out here. ” It you want to be a blogger … do it on your own ! ”
I wish you great returns – due to your own originality and energy.
I used to think that Empower Network is MLM and shady, but it’s not. It’s doing direct sales. And I have checked it out recently by going in all the way, not merely scratching the surface like what you did, and I think you have actually misunderstood what the Empower Network actually does and offers because you’re not totally in. I don’t know about where joining as a free affiliate would lead you, but I was definitely not aware of such an option. And if you’ve actually gone through the Fast Start & Inner Circle materials or even beyond, you wouldn’t be saying that it’s just making you more money. The value provided is definitely worth more than the price it’s been given, and the aim is to empower you as a person.
So far, I find all their products very useful, genuinely high quality, and am still going through the many videos and audios. However, having said all that, I do agree that they could do better and allow more adaptations with their blog design, and frankly, I do think they are aware of that and are very likely working on that. I’ll keep you updated if they do make changes in this area.
I’m posting here not to defend Empower Network nor to ask you to join me at Empower Network, but to provide an objective view from an insider’s point of view. The 100% commission income made here is real, I love the fact that this can be done globally without the need of payment systems like PayPal and Payza, and that the weekly conference calls are simply priceless as the things that are discussed there can be translated literally into breakthroughs for anyone listening in.
I’ve been making money online for a decade now, and Empower Network is definitely worth my time. Just my thoughts =)
By the way, great going with your blog! Keep it up!
nothing but the truth!
You have alot of posts about Banners Brokers and THAT is a PONZI
[...] collective. I received numerous emails from Empower Network members who did not like my previous “Empower Network Scam rant,” commenting I was misinformed (but my words are nicer than some of your colleagues) that I [...]
I have been with EN since August. I am with several groups. Here are the facts. Majority of people do not sell a product. 1. They sign up EN affiliates who pay 100 or 25 dollars per month, they then sign up more and more etc. 2. There are 15 individuals in EN making $100,000 to $15,000 per month. out of 70,000 individuals and growing. 3. Look at the income disclaimer and see that 99% of poeple make nothing per month becuase all 70,000 are competing between each other. The top people will get most signups. I pay $100 per month and have got alot of marketting vids -yes. All the vids that you pay for are 90% marketing. 4. Imagine if 70,000 people are using the same system and same technique to get signups who will win. Not the guys at the bottom that is for sure. It is not a pyrimid scheme but a PYRIMID SCAM. Do NOT SIGN UP!!!
Thanks for sharing your story. I checked up on the West Florida BBB and there are 12 complaints against this company in the last 1 year. Lot of people got cheated by this company. Hope people reading this article will be careful with Empower Network
As a ‘card carrying’ Affiliate with Empower Network, I don’t agree with your truths mixed with falsehood.
A scam is designed to deceive….there is nothing deceptive about our Income Disclaimer that states; Empower Network does not guarantee that you will make any money from your use or promotion of our products and services.
The amount of time it takes to achieve the stated income varies by participant. Basically, it takes hard work to make substantial income in this business.
It’s amazing to hear and see where people have tried something for a few weeks and when success does not come in the way they envisioned….”It doesn’t work, I’ve worked it for two full weeks now…and nothing.” “It’s probably a SCAM!!”
No Lisa, Empower Network is not a scam, and yes we do have products – 5 of them to be exact. And if you or anyone else listened to the Inner Circle Audio series
(Not Secret Inner Circle…nothing secret about it…a little deceptive?) you would know the informational value they provide to new and seasoned internet marketers alike.
Don’t deceive your subscribers Lisa – Pyramid schemes are illegal, there is absolutely nothing illegal about Empower Network.
The truth of the matter is; the dedicated Marketers within Empower would rather NOT have the negative, complaining and whining types of people in their organizations.
Why?
Generally they are the ones that will do the least amount of work but expect the most to be handed to them.
We call this being a Wussy or a Wimp and if this is their attitude…they may as well go somewhere else and complain about the Tinie Weenie, Itsy Bitsy less than 100% commissions they’re gonna make….(if they make anything at all!)
Look…hater’s come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and they all have a right to their opinions…
However; I look at it this way – Empower Network is not for everybody.
If it’s not a fit for you or it didn’t work for you…no need to bash and trash it.
It simply did not work for YOU, that’s not to say it won’t work for someone else.
Most of us here at Empower are passionate about our business, our products and our community. We’ve created and developed a worldwide movement;
critics, naysayers, haters ect… only strengthen our resolve – because at the end of the day…not only are we comfortable with who we are and what we stand for, but excited over the direction we are going and the positive influences we have made all over the world.
Nuff said
Do more research, The Products are there, IF you went to school say…. College or University, Do you expect it for free? LOL Good luck if you did find a place that did offer that.
Anyone you should get more insight and more hard evidence about what’s in the products before you go putting down a company.
Hey LOL guy, many thanks for your comment if you did read further on you may have read on further research and my own due diligence I have now joined an awesome team with Empower Network… you are welcome to write another comment on my blog at: http://bit.ly/QFCI0O
and http://bit.ly/T0vB1c
Hey Daniel, its great that so many Empower Network members are so passionate. I would love your feedback on my follow up articles since this one with Empower Network… you are welcome to write another comment on my blog at: http://bit.ly/QFCI0O
and http://bit.ly/T0vB1c
Hi Gopal, I’m not too worried about that statistic. I’ve seen numbers range from 40,000 to 70,000 affiliates so 12 complaints is actually statistically good. I also checked West Florida BBB and there have been 4262 complaints for eBay! All complaints have been resolved.
You can use the Empower Network to do more things than just earn money. The internet marketing education can and highly recommended to be applied in other businesses. Do you have other businesses you want to promote? I have another 3 online business that using the tools and techniques from EN has been very successful. The training in itself is worth the monthly fee. You only need to find one other lead to be making your money back which is not difficult. Forget the 100,000 and 15,000 a month because for most people an extra $100 week is a huge difference to people – rent, a car repayment or food for your kids.
I Like to appolgise then hit me on skype culpritsnake5339
OMG!… cry me a river … it’s only $25 bucks you tight asses… 100% commission’s … what more do you want out of a program jeeeez!
Hey Dazza, Your’re hilarious. Many thanks for name calling (I am sure that is not part of the Empower Network ethos). If you actually read my article you may have read on further research and my own due diligence I have now joined an awesome team with Empower Network… it was never about the money about joining with a great team. You are welcome to write another comment on my blog at: http://bit.ly/QFCI0O
and http://bit.ly/T0vB1c
are you trying to sign people up????
Hey Sam, Yes I wrote this post before I joined the Empower Network. Please see my other reviews http://bit.ly/T0vB1c
IF you are interested in learning more:
Step 1: Click on the link http://bit.ly/VWA4Fq
Step 2: Fill in your name and best email in the form.
Step 3: Click on Submit.
After you watch it the video, you’ll be ready to join and have your blog already done and set up for you. Login and just start blogging about whatever you’re passionate about.
I have lots of ideas we can kick around so be sure and hit me up after you get started.
Looking forward to hearing from you and having you a part of our team!
So let me get this straight. You knocked this program, you then signed up and now you’re trying to sell it?
Do you know how ironic that sounds?
Yep! Shocking isn’t it! I changed my mind and now am so happy I did. Life is like that. You get married then divorced. You enroll in university then you quit. You start a job and then a new opportunity comes up. You ever have what information you have at the time and at that time I did not believe in it but then when I learned more about internet marketing I decided to give it ago. Thank god I did!
I really find this all very amusing.
Have any of you promoted an affiliate product with recurring payments?
Honestly, how is this different?
With affiliate marketing people send out tons of emails or ads to get people to “join” … I mean “buy”. And if it is a product with a recurring payment it is like “joining” a club. And depending on which product you buy (join) you usually pay just to be able to continue to have access to the membership site – that NEVER changes!!! (That is a common rip-off). There are others out there that give you continuing training for your monthly payment – there are a few good ones out there!!
Most internet marketers are sending you tons of emails to buy this or that product ONLY based on the commissions they will get – they haven’t even purchased the product to see what it really is!!!!
How about all of the phoney “reviews” people put on their websites for all of the clickbank products or WSO’s. Most of the reviews are only based on what the vendor provided on the JV page. Tell me, how is THAT ethical?
The Empower Network uses all of the same marketing techniques that any internet marketer uses – there is not just ONE site. It is up to you if you prefer free or paid methods (or a mix).
There is one HUGE difference with promoting the Empower Network as compared to almost any other product is that you MUST purchase the product to be able to promote it. Internet Marketing has gotten so much out of control that I truly think that more products should be like that.
The advantage of the the blog is that
- you don’t need to bother with the technical aspects of setting up a blog. This is one step that keeps many people from getting started and
- you can write articles on a blog that is ranking very high. If you do your keyword research correctly AND you promote it like you would any other blogpost (social networks, web 2.0, paid advertising etc etc) you are even more likely to rank very high MUCH faster.
- you can use the blog to promote YOUR “other” business – whatever it is.
The Empower Network IS an affiliate program with good training. It is not the only one, but, in my humble opinion, it is a good one.
What most people seem to be afraid of is that the founders come from a MLM background. In so many of their trainings they tell you how much the simple MLM system did NOT work for them that is why they created something different!!!
Have a great day!!
P.S. I’m putting up a web site very soon where I can give you a list of different products I have tested. Many have recurring payments others don’t. Some have “continuing education”, others don’t.
Whether you want to call it scam or not, I found it because I saw a craigslist ad looking for “bloggers to write content daily”. The ad said this was a “great gig for the right person”. I responded to the ad to get a long winded response and a 30 minute video that can’t be stopped skipped. At the end, I have to spend money for a part time writing “gig”? I have absolutely no idea whether it’s a scam or not (although I would suspect the only one making six figures is the guy in the video), but when you place an ad that makes it sound like you’re going to be writing a few articles a day in exchange for money that is really a sales pitch for a product that claims you can make more more money than you’ve ever dreamed possible, well, it’s at the very least deceptive, which is really one step away from being a scam.
You know what they say….If it sounds too good to be true…
Hi Jane
Thanks for your comment and I am sorry about the ad you responded to
as it was a bit misleading. The empower network blogging system gives
you an optimised blog platform and full training on how to earn money
through internet marketing. As part of the training it recommends you
to blog once a day and you earn money through your affiliate account
of 100% commissions. I looked at it for 6 months before I joined
because I already had a blog but since I have started I have earned
more money through EN then other online opportunities. Because of the
100% commissions you only have to sign one 1 person before you have
earned you money back and you can do in your first day (but it did
take me a few weeks to sign up my first person and to listen, watch
and read and apply the training) so you do have to do some work but it
does get easier.
So the steps are:
1. blog
2. Promote
3. Get Paid.
$25 a month (plus admin fee) is really quite cheap for the fast track
program and the value they provide you. There are other advanced
programs you make also like to look at once you have started too like
the Inner Circle. This is my EN blog and you might like this article
on how I compare it to an Ebay store:
http://www.empowernetwork.com/lisadev/blog/empower-network-review-comparisions-a-strategic-internet-marketing-tool/?id=lisadev
If you would like to work with me sign up to the $25 blog and we can
get started. https://www.empowernetwork.com/join.php?id=lisadev
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email or call back
(I live in Australia)
Cheers
Lisa
wow your so dumb…you hate on the company but yet tell people to join? wtf is this bullsh*t. People like you piss me off.
Join under my team and let me show you this isnt a scam : http://www.leadyourownlife.com
All the products have value.
The 19.95 merchant account fee pays to keep the company running otherwise it WOULD be a ponzi scheme.
You only make money if you can drive traffic to your blog and thats why 95% of people fail.
I figured out a way to start driving traffic overnight so let me show you..Pay 25$, get in, go thru my training and EN’s training then youll see.
Dont believe this company is a scam for a single freaking second. Ive never been so mad at someone before. You should be ashamed for writing this. I almost want to shoot my self in the fucking head after reading this ugly article. The worst part it, your promoting the system! you made this article so you could make money in EN!!! You shouldn’t be allowed in out amazing community.
BTW- BBB has 15 complaints while theres over 90,000 people in the company…sooooo many bad complaints.. lmao!!!
LOL no not really. It just took me a little longer to find someone to join with. The best part?
If someone thinks it’s a scam…..I still get paid.
If someone doesn’t believe it……I still get paid.
If you take action and join us……we both get paid.
If people think it’s “too good to be true”…..we still get paid.
In other words, there are two groups of people:
1. Those who are getting paid every day
2. And those who are not.
Guess which group I am now in? Those who are getting paid.
What I have to say are absolute facts, and people can make their own minds up from my story. I signed up for Empower under my husband. My husband had come in at the highest level, so commissions from anyone coming in under me at a higher level than myself would have gone straight to my husband. When I signed up, I then found out something they don’t tell you – they did not put me under my husband at all, but under HIS sponsor! I immediately stopped my membership. I had lost my joining-up fee and the first month’s subscription, but in the circumstances was prepared to swallow this. The worst bit is that my husband apparently has HUNDREDS of people who have signed up under him, but they are just free members so he is receiving no commissions at all. Empower claim that 1 in 4 people who sign up will come in as paid members, but he hasn’t got a single paid member out of hundreds of sign-ups. As I have said, what I have told you here is completely truthful and honest. You just need to make your minds up for yourselves.
Hi, I fully recommend anyone considering the Empower Network to understand the compensation plan. It can be found here: http://www.empowernetwork.com/lisadev/get-money/?id=lisadev
Each product has its own affliate compensation plan. The only reason you may not have been put under your husband was either 1. you accidentally used your husbands sponsor affiliate link or 2. most likely you were no 2,4,6 or following 5th sale that is always passed up to your sponsor. Initially this sounds unfair but you will soon realise it helps build your sales too instead of a flat line structure. Email me for a copy of the compensation mode.
You do have to work and build relationships with people. Its not just about “getting people to pay” to be successful you need to follow up, engage and offer personal assistance with people who have expressed interest. I would rather get to know my team on a one-on-one basis and know their dreams and goals which helps them be successful as well as keeps a strong team. Cheers Lisa
I have not yet joined the EN, though I know someone who has. The way I see it is you’re paying aboutUS dollars per month (direct to the person you hook up with- so thats 100 percent comm to them) for blogspace. Whats so special about this? The sheer numbers that pass on this blog, you’re getting traffic onto your blog youwouldn’t normally get. Does your blog get 60,000 clicks a day? So if we just take this at face value- its a huge leverring site for businesses where you can link in your website, products etc onto this huge blog. Thats what you’re initially paying for and from that traffic someone may want to join in on your team and pay you the 40 dollars a month. From that you’ll also get masses of marketting videos that you can then also adapt to your own business. A well known podcaster and blogger that is totally against scams has joined EN and he, as he is already well known is now earning 8000 dollars in a few days, although he does say this is not always the case for joe bloggs. At least use it as a leapfrog platform and if you make money from your business due to increased excposure thats great, if you also make money from others joining EN, whats there to lose? It’s amarketting tool.
The Empower Network has a product(the training videos) for you to sell, and you will get to keep ALL THE SALES. There are free conference calls and webminars every week on top of that. I have joined the Empower Network, and it has been VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
I recently joined myself and honestly have not joined the inner circle and just sticking with the $25 a month. But after much reading, studying and etc… I am really leaning towards trying to just go with CPC, Clickbank or something on my personal blog. I am not finding the value in the $25 a month blogging system when I am able to setup my own blog for much cheaper. I am working hard at promoting and have not gotten any signups yet.
The biggest problem I am having is the $25 a month system does not give you much training, just the capture pages and website. Everything else I am learning on my own. If I get a one client to pay for my $25 a month, I will stick with it, but I will be waiting until I hit $100 a month in clients before I jump to the inner-circle. I guess I am not all-in But I would tell anyone in my downline the same thing, build your business in steps, not be forced all-in.
I tend to disagree with some of the statements about going in debt, look at people who have spent a ton of money on college and still do not have a job being out of college? I have spent $2500 in tech training at some points in my life. I looked at it as an education fee. The Empower Network has those products that are a one time cost, I don’t know how great they are because I have not gotten them and I am not willing to pay that much until I actually see maybe some of the training on what it is like. If it teaches me about a lot more about the field and I can use that in other areas of my life, another business, I am willing to pay for it.
Hi Russell,
Thanks for the comment. From my experienceIt really depends where people ar eat with their experience with Internet marketing. I instantly subscribed to the Inner Circle and a week later I sponsored someone who instantly bought the next level membership the Costa Rica Intensive which meant I missed out on the commission and it went straight to my sponsor. He decided he was going to get a good kick start with it. With empower network you will meet people across all stages of experience with internet marketing so I don’t like to recommend one type of training. I would rather focus on supporting 10 people on the $100 Inner Circle rather than 40 people with only the $25 membership. With my team I am developing extra training to help with analytics, writing blog posts, free traffic strategies and a community with other EN bloggers which I hope ads value in addition to the EN membership. I see other leaders are doing the same. I think that helps for the very new affiliates.
Can some one tell me what are the products Empower Network is marketing?
Hi Sharma
Thanks for your questions on my blog today about the Empower Network. The Empower Network is a marketing system, blogging platform and internet marketing training program. I have attached a link to my Empower Network blog which lists what the products are. http://www.empowernetwork.com/lisadev/blog/hapy-new-year-to-another-self-starter/?id=lisadev
You can start with the Fast Start training and blogging platform for $25 a month plus an admin fee if you wanted to earn 100% commission.
You can use these products to market an existing business you already have and/or OR just market Empower Network.
I have opened a new Facebook closed members group to network and share ideas with other EN members which you are welcome to be apart of too.
If you are interested in other online opportunities I also work with Banners Broker too.
Have a lovely week
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Well reading through your blog and posts that people have left was certainly entertaining lol. I am suspicious of your turnaround, I more suspect that you labeled Empower Network a scam in the first place just to attract attention to it. Many Internet Marketers seem to be doing this as anyone searching on a particular opportunity are certainly going to be attracted to read anything about it being a scam. I hope I’m wrong, it was just my first impression.
I’m not a member of Empower Network but I do have enough experience in Internet Marketing to endorse it as being a genuine Business Opportunity and not a scam.
My credentials to make that statement. I have been involved with Internet Marketing for over 12 years now, I’m also an Australian, and with a young partner from England have built very large Internet Business’s. I’m not certain of our turnover, I leave that to Lindy, but 2012 was over US Eight Million Dollars, and being Internet Business’s, a majority of that is profit. We do have 16 on staff to help run those operations, but what I’m getting at here is that so many people think that Internet Marketing itself is a scam. I can tell you that Lindy and I certainly don’t think that way. lol.
I’v looked at Empower Network, mainly because Jon Mroz sent me a photograph of himself and his wife receiving a US$389,397,000 cheque at a recent 19th January 2013 Empower Network conference in the US. They both had big smiles on their faces too I might add.
So yes, Empower is genuine and some can make big money from it, but that is a lot to do with your level of experience in IM. I do like the fact that they say you have to work on your blogging every day, so many who dream of making extra money from IM, or who dream of working from home seem to fall for these push button schemes that say you can make your fortune with very little work or effort, in less than an hour a day.
If thats the case, Lindy and I who both still work around 16 hours a day, have been doing a bloody lot of work for nothing! lol
Many people are mislead and give up way before they have any chance of success. When you enter this IM industry, you have to consider that you are in Internet Kindergarten and be willing to work your way towards graduating what we call Internet University before you have the chance to earn big money. It’s the same as any profession, you have to learn before you can earn.
On one of my websites I talk about my first meeting with Lindy, she had been involved with Internet Marketing for a year at that stage and had made the grand profit of US$408 for her whole year of work, thats less than $8 per week, and she was spending 2 to 3 hours per night on her Business. Most people would have given up but she kept with it and it was her not give up attitude that prompted me to first mentor her and finally to offer her a partnership. She was 24 when I met her and with a Business of $408 a year, shes 32 now and that Business has grown just a little. lol.
Never give up on your dreams, but be realistic, you first have to learn your craft, and Working From Home does have the word Work in it.
Regards,
John