Contrary to popular belief, network marketing is not dying a slow and painful death.

There are many out there that would like to have you believe it is. They will vigorously expound on all the logical reasons for its demise. The internet, people cocooning, improved marketing and distribution systems have made MLM obsolete.

Of course, over the years Network Marketing has also gotten a bad rap. The prospect everyone who has a pulse mentality has left many broke and bitter, not to mention a member of the “No Friends Left” club. And savvy marketers prey on that. How many times will you see an opportunity ad that states “Not MLM”?

There is one thing they missed out on though. The one thing that will essentially guarantee not only the survival of Network Marketing, but its continued growth.

That one thing is human nature.

We are all social animals. We need human contact. In this day and age where we hardly know our neighbor, rarely see our families and telecommute instead of going to the office, we are left starving for human contact. That is why social networking sites have grown to billion dollar companies in record time.

The successful networker fills that need for contact.

In the early days of direct sales, manufacturers would employ pedlar’s to go out and share their wares. It was the most efficient means of distribution. They brought the manufacturer’s product directly to the end consumer. The direct sales professional was a welcome guest, a trusted advisor, and at that moment in time for the consumer, a human contact that interrupted a lonely rural existence.

When general stores, department stores and now the big box stores started to pop up, direct sales still continued to grow. Why? Again the answer is simple. Personal contact and trust. All things being equal, consumers would rather buy from someone they like and trust. Direct Sales professionals work very hard to build friendship and and become a trusted advisor.

Now with the internet shrinking the world, the ability to make sales globally has never been easier. And with companies like FedEx and UPS, consumers around the world have the ability to enjoy instant gratification with the click of a mouse button.

Even internet marketers know they need to develop trust before someone will whip out their credit card to make a purchase. They will use every marketing strategy in the books to do so. They will give you something free. They will continue to contact you to develop the relationship. They will build feelings of reciprocity. They will ask you to make a small purchase at minimal risk on your part. Further trust is earned by delivering your purchase. Then they will ask you to buy more and buy more expensive product offerings.

But it is still an impersonal, faceless transaction.

So how can you, the network marketer not only survive, but thrive today?

Become the welcome guest, the trusted advisor and friend. The more people separate themselves from their community, the stronger their need to socialize. Be their social high point. Have them look forward to your visit, your phone call, your email.

The tribal instinct has been ingrained in us for 1000′s of years as a survival mechanism. The technological advances of the last generation will not change that. We still need personal contact. That personal contact is the competitive advantage that makes network marketing more viable a business strategy than ever before.