Why the only thing I found empowering about ‘Empower Network’ was remembering that I had the ability to close my browser, switch my computer off and sprint out of the house screaming
I’ve had a number of readers ask me about Empower Network and with very good reason.
Empower Network is EVERYWHERE.
It’s on blogs, forums, YouTube videos, hiding in bushes – you name it.
The people behind Empower Network (and their massive, sparkly-white-teethed army of affiliates) are on every conceivable online channel.
They scream 24/7 about how wonderful and life changing their Network is – like a gang of amphetamine-addled self-help gurus.
And why not rave about it?
Apparently it’s made them over $24 million in paid member commissions. Yep $24 million.
Here’s the thing…
It’s total total rubbish and a complete waste of money. You’d get more value burning £5 notes for fuel on a summer’s day in Death Valley.
This is a super slick operation and they’ve hired some smart designers, copywriters and web developers…
The pitch focuses on how much money you’re going to make, all the speakers sound credible and pumped up and it all looks quite professional.
At $25 it seems like a bit of a no-brainer.
But spend a little time scratching beneath the surface and that’s where it all starts to get a little hairy.
Here comes the science bit:
The Empower Network offer 3 main products:
Product No. 1: The Empower Network Viral Blogging System
- This is effectively your own hosted website using their design templates and tips for $25 a month.
Product No. 2: Inner Circle Membership
- This is their ‘all in’ package and it’s the above, plus the ability to become an affiliate, plus an audio training course for $100 a month.
Product No. 3: The Costa Rica Mastermind Intensive Video Series
- This is a video recording of a 12 hour workshop held in Costa Rica for $2,997. You also get a manual some ‘quizzes and step by step guidelines’. This is a one-time $500 purchase.
Here’s the vital question – and we should always ask ourselves this of ANY scheme that promises the moon on a stick:
What business is Empower Network actually in? Where is the real benefit to the end user?
I’m not talking about the benefit for Empower employees or their affiliates, I’m talking about the actual end users – ordinary people or genuine businesses.
If you want a new hairstyle you go to a hairdresser and they cut your hair. That’s a business transaction.
If you want more space in your home you go to a builder and they build you an extension. That’s a business transaction.
What do Empower Network actually sell that’s a viable product?
Now at first glance you might think – hang on! Product no.1 and getting a blog online for $25 a month isn’t too shabby. Surely that’s a legitimate end product?
No, it’s terrible value – in fact for such a simple website you’d be paying 600% – 700% too much.
For $25 a month instead of ONE website with Empower Network you could have SIX or even SEVEN of your own websites with a reputable hosting company.
If you installed WordPress on these websites (which is free) they would be infinitely more powerful, customizable and professional looking.
What about the training materials and the other two products? Nope. Once you’ve waded through the hyped up fluff there’s nothing new here. It’s terrible value when the majority of this stuff is available online for free.
The key issue and this covers these two products and in general the whole premise of the network as I see it is that:
It’s a promise loop – you won’t really make money unless you refer others
There’s no end goal or product of genuine value.
The real meat of the training courses is in teaching you how to sell Empower Network products to others.
In order to achieve the financial freedom you’re promised you have to dupe other victims into buying the same thing you’ve just bought.
Here’s how it works…
When you choose the $25 package with Empower Network you’re bombarded with emails encouraging you to ‘take the next step’.
This next step is to enrol other people onto the Network so that you can start making money.
The problem is in order to do this you have to have a merchant account (or affiliate account). Hmm…
Is that included in your $25 a month? Nope that’ll be another $19.95 a month for that privilege.
So now you’re paying EVEN more money and to do what?
To run a website where you promote the Empower Network to others so that you can make money from referral sales.
You’re paying for the privilege of promoting their business.
It’s like a snake eating it’s own tail
One of the favourite elephant sized ‘old chestnuts’ that schemes like these LOVE to whip out whenever someone cries foul play is the line…
“BUT WE’RE MAKING LOADS OF MONEY!”
Wow. That’s great, but where is this money coming from?
When it boils down to it, it’s money being pumped in by new members who are then encouraged to bring on more paying members.
These schemes survive and grow fat by keeping false hope alive and bringing in fresh blood – but ultimately they’re cannibalizing themselves.
There’s no end goal, no useful product or viable business at the end of it.
It’s a mummer’s farce.
All the victims are doing is desperately try to shovel more and more food into that snake so that it grows fatter and takes longer to eat itself.
Sometimes the process can take months, sometimes it can take years. The general trend seems to be that the more complex the scheme seems the longer it can survive.
Here’s some feedback I found from disgruntled users online
People are starting to speak out about this Network.
Google have actually started banning some of their YouTube videos and forums are alive with discontented members.
Here’s a small sample:
“I sent my promotion link to hundreds of people. I haven’t made that money back and to be honest I don’t know if I ever will it’s a total Scam since I paid already.
I’m keeping it active in the hope I could earn it back. They certainly do know how to sell … But they are selling nothing for YOUR hard earned money. While we struggle to pay bills they STEAL your money for training they do not give.
I now have a blog that I don’t know how to use I wonder if there is a unsubscribe fee?” BrokeGirl
“… to make your money you have to sell the “idea” or empower network to another unsuspecting marketer. It is a pyramid scheme and any defenders of it are being totally disingenuous to save face or justify why they are so defensive. Only about 1% of people in empower network will make money and that money comes from the unsuspecting marketers mentioned earlier.” Paul L
“I understand you need to invest to make money but sorry I’d like to know details and actually what I am going to have to do to be successful first.” Joe
Now of course there are others who say just the opposite, who say this is a wonderful opportunity and who claim they are making money.
Look at the business model. This is not a viable business.
Would you trust a ‘complete product-system marketing cycle’?
I’d rather use the launderette down the road.
There are a lot of frankly farcical notes in the marketing material and further info sections. Here’s an example:
“Because of the nature, culture, and complete product-system marketing cycle and funnel, Empower Network’s money making platform is done for you, acting as a Point-N-Click, Plug-N-Play business in a box that is suitable for anyone looking to have a breakthrough online.”
That should ring alarm bells immediately.
“Complete product-system marketing cycle and funnel”. Sound familiar?
It’s the same sort of nonsense that the good people at Banners Broker used to waffle about in their marketing materials.
Here’s another telling description of the real ‘business’:
“Some of the VIP internet marketing training we provide includes what other leaders are doing to help grow their teams in Empower. We focus on helping you dial-in and lock-up the 3 C’s (CREATE Traffic, CAPTURE Leads and CONVERT Sales) to becoming successful with your Empower Network Products and Business.”
In other words pay us and we’ll show you how to promote us. It’s that bloody snake again.
The one thing I will say about Empower Network in their favour is that unlike Banners Broker or Hourly Rev Share if you delve deep enough they’re not actually hiding anything.
Look at the small print and actually a lot of it’s buried in there. Take a look at other members’ Empower Network websites and they all look virtually identical and almost all promote Empower Network to others.
If they’re hiding, they’re hiding in plain sight which at least gives those people who have read this or other articles a fighting chance.
For this one I’m going to say do not pass go. If you see a bargepole avoid it.
Not Recommended
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