Should You Bother Attending a Company Generic Network Marketing Event?

OPINION | By Ray Higdon, Industry Trainer, Founder of Rank Makers

First of all, I want to share that those of you who know me know that I have actually run a generic network marketing event for 11 years — most recently branded Faith Over Fear. This article is NOT about attending one of my events — just want to make that clear from the get-go!

But the question is serious:

Should you bother attending a generic network marketing event?

Today I will share why I believe the answer is a resounding YES, and the event I highly suggest you attend.

Let’s Be Honest

The network marketing profession is awesome.

You can make as much money as you want with very little overhead, and it’s created residual income for so many people who might never have experienced that otherwise. But the profession has had a rough go over the last few years.

Let’s not list all the companies that have either shut their doors or transitioned out of the model — there are too many.

Let’s not write out all the things that aren’t perfect about the profession — and there are many.

Let’s instead continue to answer the question of attending a generic network marketing event.

Why Attend?

First of all — and some have forgotten this the last few years, since 2020 — in-person meetings are where the magic happens.

Being in an atmosphere around other humans with similar goals and aspirations is so powerful.

We were meant to gather, pow-wow, brainstorm, mastermind, and swap strategies and insights.

This was very well understood prior to 2020, but hotel costs, fear, and the pursuit of comfort over growth have led some in our profession to rely on virtual-only events.

Sure, in the beginning, virtual events kept our interest — and maybe even reignited us to a small degree — but at this point, the difference between an in-person meeting and virtual is night and day, and you are not doing yourself or your team a favor by not attending in-person events.

Why Specifically a Generic Network Marketing Event?

Before I was ever a coach or trainer for the industry, I was a #1 income earner at a company.

I found in my career that company events were must-attends and always worth going to — but when I ventured out to non-company specific events, I often learned strategies, tactics, or processes that really benefited my team — things I had never heard at my own company’s events.

One event has consistently shined with excellence in this exact fashion — and in several other categories I’ll mention below — and that is the Association of Network Marketing Professionals, or ANMP.

Why ANMP?

I have no financial interest in the ANMP. I don’t get a toaster or speaking time by writing this. I’m writing this out of love for the profession and the need — right now — for all of us to come together.

Yes, I attended last year’s event and I’ve been attending the ANMP for perhaps 10 years now and was a board member (non-paid) for six years. I recently stepped off the board to focus on a new project, but I still have a deep affection for what the ANMP does and who they are.

So yes — I suggest attending the ANMP event this August.

You WILL learn strategies and tactics that are working in other companies — things you haven’t heard of yet. But beyond that, here are the other reasons that make this event a must-attend:

Why This Event Stands Out

• Diversity of Speakers & Backgrounds: If you’ve ever had struggles, you’ll find someone at the ANMP who’s faced the same and succeeded anyway.

• Friendly Atmosphere: This isn’t a brag-fest about who makes the most money or owns the most cars. This event is about love for the profession.

• Vendors & Sponsors: I’ve met some of my most key relationships in the hallways of ANMP. Many of the resources my company depends on today were introduced to me there.

The Heart of the ANMP: Garrett McGrath

If that weren’t enough, one of my favorite people in the profession is the President of ANMP, my man Garrett McGrath.

He has a heart of gold and is one of the best representatives of our profession that has ever existed.

Unlike so many with power and influence, he doesn’t push a personal agenda — he focuses on what’s best for the profession.

He reminds us of the difference between “real friends” and “deal friends.” Garrett is someone I admire, look up to, and am genuinely grateful to call a friend.

Final Word

So there you go!

I highly suggest you attend.

I’d love to see you there — and you can absolutely come up and thank me in person if this article helped push you over the edge to go!

—Ray Higdon

Before Ray Higdon was ever a coach or trainer, he was the #1 earner for a network marketing company. Ray started teaching network marketers how to use social media to grow their business back in 2009 and continues to do so today. His latest best-selling book is The Faith Driven Network Marketer and his brand new book, Faith Driven Wealth comes out soon!