Whether it's online/offline mlm, u need to work hard for it. A real pyramid is only good for the Top Leader. He/she don't have to work, and money is going into his pockets. A real MLM's definition can be found here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketingIt maybe hard for some people to go into this kind of business, but you never know until you try. Dunno much abt China's policies, heard they don't allow MLMs to be there. It's one of the biggest kind of business you can develop, as you never know what kind of person u/downline can find. MLM is so popular in Asia, especially in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore. Seems, Westerners don't really like to do sales.
But, be careful. There're 3 things u have to be cautious about.
First: The product
Second: The company
Third: The marketing plan
It has to be a win/win situation. Both for the company & the networkers. Also, there's a monthly maintenance thing in a real MLM company. Some requires you to buy products worth in the region of 1k to 5k!!
A good & realistic personal sales target would be ard 100++ bucks per month. Don't go for companies that sell those high-end products to consumers. A real MLM will only survive if he/she is dealing with low-income to high-income families. You can't only target your audience to say only the rich & famous. Because, the 20/80 rules come in. That's to say the majority 80% of the society is generating income for the top 20%.
Be wise to choose the right one out there. Do your homework. Don't be pressured to become a member. If they do so to you, you can back off. Some of those MLMers use pressure cooker style. 2-3 people will attack you(one person) throughout the whole business presentation. You are so desperate to get out of there, that you eventually sign up. That's what they want! I encountered such nasty tactics before. So, that's why I share my experience here.
At the end of the day, it's your own choice. Choose wisely in your business ventures! China is definitely a big market. But, have a conscience. Don't suck people's blood.
Btw, I'm a chinese too!