This article has to do with the ethics of recruiting others online. It can get very complicated due to the "web we weave" through our connections on the Internet. So . . . who can you ethically recruit to the business opportunity you represent?

I'm not aware of a formal code of ethics for recruiting people to your business. If there was one, it would be complicated and filled with exceptions, because in the process of building a business, we weave a web of many connections.

By "recruiting ethics", I'm talking about a standard of conduct with regards to who you should contact to solicit for a business you are representing. In other words, what is morally right in terms of contacting other people who MAY BE associated with someone else?

Since there are no formal ethical standards available, it is difficult to expect people to know what to do. Many find out the hard way by receiving the "wrath" of a powerful leader of a group who might go as far as claiming he owns his downline people.

At this point, I would like to say NO ONE OWNS ANYONE! We are not a herd of animals that can be bought, traded, maintained and sold. We are not commodities. We are people who have built up relationships with other people. We do not want to be CONTROLLED by one person or group of people. We have the freedom, right and flexibility to hook up with anyone we choose . . . HOWEVER, I do feel there are some factors to consider before a person simply goes out and starts recruiting a bunch of people from right under a leader of a group.

The problem seems to arise when a person has access to a group of people, which usually happens when you are fortunate enough to have a leader in your group who brings in many people . . . many of whom have a certain amount of loyalty to this leader . . . at least the leader thinks so. In some cases, you may have access to the email addresses of all these people because they are also in your downline as well as the downline of that particular leader.

Let's suppose another opportunity comes along, and you decide to recruit for this new business. You have the email addresses of those in your downline from the first opportunity, and the temptation to contact them is strong. This is where the problem is and where ethics come in. If you go to these people, and you have not had any prior contact with them, and you try to recruit them to your new opportunity, that would be considered as trying to "rape" the downline of another person . . . thus unethical.

I think the key word here is "contact". I might take it a step further . . . "relationship". If you have not made a connection to these people or you have not built up some rapport with them, then I would consider it unethical to approach them and recruit them for another business opportunity. However, let's suppose you connect with them . . . communicate with them . . . begin building up a relationship with them, that is different. They now become an acquaintaince of yours . . . someone who knows you. At this point, I feel it becomes acceptable to make them aware of something you are involved in.

Another factor is loyalty. Some people may feel loyal to a leader and will not join with someone else in another opportunity because of that loyalty. That is fine! That shows the leader has developed a LOYAL following rather than a CONTROLLED following . . . and there is a difference. I recently heard of a person who threatened to kick people out of his own downline group if they as much CONSIDERED an opportunity offered by someone else. That's not loyalty! That's control!

Because of the "web we weave" as we build relationships on the Internet, it is virtually impossible to determine who has original sponsorship of a person. Because of this, ethics must revolve around relationships and connectivity to others. Some people will approach a leader of a group before going to that leader's downline. If no connection has been made with the members of that group, then I feel it is unethical to approach them.

There are no rules or laws that govern this sort of thing, but people on the Internet do have a way of spreading the word, and now we are talking about a person's reputation.

If I could give you advice, it would be to be helpful and an inspiration to others. When you do that, you will become a leader with your own loyal following. In the process, connect with new people, build up a rapport with them, and in so doing you are building up your own warm market . . . your own prospect list which you can go to whenever the time is right.

You can never go wrong if you go by the Golden Rule!

To read more articles on our "What is Network Marketing?" website,

Return To Home Page

If you have any questions or comments about this site:

Email - Kristi Rushing