In deciding how to work with an MLM marketing firm, it’s vital that YOU take the first step in making the key decisions required.  Don’t forget: it’s your company.  If you choose not to use a marketing firm, but to go it alone and create your own materials, organizing your thoughts will be even more important.  Contact us for a free no-obligation overview of the questions to ask and the steps for planning your MLM marketing strategy.  Below is an overview of the topics to cover in your MLM market planning:

• Basic Business Concept
• Basic Product Concept
• Branding
• Broad Marketing Description
• Specific and Targeted Market Description
• Competitive Analysis
• Unique Selling Proposition
• General Awareness Marketing
• Lead Generation Marketing
• Distributor-Specific Marketing
• Product-Specific Marketing

Whether you do your own review or engage us to help you with your MLM marketing plan, the results are well worth the rigor.  “No rigor, no results.”

The latest in MLM Startup Consulting is the world-class, all-star team of MLM consultants at LaunchSmart.  Specializing in the most urgent and vital areas for starting and running a successful MLM business, this team of MLM experts includes seven recipients of the coveted DSA Partnership Award.

Areas of expert MLM focus include the following:

• MLM Software and technology solutions
• MLM Best Practices
• Distributor recruiting, training, and sales
• Awards, incentives, and recognition for MLM leaders
• MLM Compensation plan design and analysis
• MLM Legal and regulatory support, filings, and compliance
• MLM operations and distributor service
• Web marketing, web policies, and recruiting
• Design, branding, and image for the startup MLM
• Distributor kits, starter kits, and sales tools for MLM distributors
• Payment options and merchant accounts

Watch this consultants blog for future releases of up-to-date information on topics that are important to MLM startups and early-stage companies, presented by the best MLM consultants and MLM consulting teams in the world.  We are serious about your success, and we look forward to helping you to start and run a successful MLM company.

Don’t Cut Corners

For several weeks, we have been one of two finalists for a key MLM consultant role in an established business making a transition to home party plan.  Without clearly defined strategies yet in place, the company has asked for proposals.

Our competitor bears a good reputation although we’ve never had the opportunity of meeting, let alone working together.  The client called to tell me that they are leaning toward our competitor because their proposal is half as much as ours.  Although the final decision has not been made, a word of caution is in order.  Consider these danger signs when selecting an MLM consultant team with the following players:

• MLM Compensation Plan Consultant and Home Party Plan Hostess Program and Pay Plan
• Consulting Team that Specializes in MLM Best Practices
• MLM Software Consultant and Analyst
• MLM Operations and Fulfillment Specialist
• Customer Service Manager for MLM Companies

We were surprised to learn that the competitor’s proposal was favored over ours, mainly because it was a “tight” package with everything already spelled out and a fixed dollar amount proposed.  Just one problem: the company’s strategies are not defined, so it’s impossible to accurately propose a scope of work unless one or the other party is willing to risk huge disappointment, cost overruns, or other unforeseen calamities.

Our advice is to take a step back and first focus on defining the key strategies: what kind of selling plan is best for your MLM or Home Party Plan company?  What is your strategy for training brand new recruits?  Will you build or buy your MLM Software?  How well will your product margins support the necessary margins?  And host of questions related to customer service, test markets, training and sales tools, finding the first 500 MLM distributors or home party plan consultants, and so on.

First things first: get your strategic plan in place.  If nothing else, start with a basic business plan and build out from there.  Give special consideration to the strategic plan and all of the related considerations.  For a template, or even a free consultation on MLM strategic planning, call or email our team of MLM consultants.