The Direct Selling Edge Conference has become the best and most informative two-day school for new and young network marketing and party plan companies. MLM lawyer Kevin Thompson of ThompsonBurton and MLM compensation plan consultant Jay Leisner of Sylvina Consulting invite owners and employees of network marketing and party plan companies to attend their two-day direct…
Should You Have A Group Volume Requirement?
Many multilevel compensation plans include a group sales volume requirement. Do you know why group volume is important? In this post, I will define it, explain how companies use it, and why it matters. Then, you can decide if your compensation plan is measuring it the right way for your company.
Ask Victoria: Can You Grow With Easy Requirements?
Some people who start companies believe that they need to be really nice to their representatives. Their MLM startup or new party plan company is not going to be like the others. Their philosophy is to offer an opportunity that is easy on performance requirements and expectations. The thought is that if we don’t ask…
When Is It Time For A New MLM Software Provider?
Earlier this year, to help people in selecting network marketing or party plan software, I wrote a post that contained important questions to ask while shopping for MLM software. In this post, I compared shopping for software to shopping for a spouse. To choose the right one for you, you need to ask the right questions. Second Marriages…
What Direct Selling Companies Can Learn From Shark Tank
As a business consultant who teaches people how to start and grow direct selling companies, I really enjoy providing wisdom and guidance to help my clients improve their businesses. One of my favorite television shows is Shark Tank. For me, watching Shark Tank is not just entertainment; it’s education. I like learning about different business models…
Ask Victoria: Is There A Legal Requirement For Customer Sales?
Party plan companies don’t ask this question, because almost all of their sales are to customers. If yours is a network marketing company, however, this is an important question to which you need to know both the short and the long answer.
A Map To Get You To Your Gold
In California’s early gold rush days, miners knew the gold was there, but they were unaware of many of the obstacles that were ahead of them. Even so, they forged ahead, many without adequate supplies, information, or even maps. If you are starting or growing a party plan or network marketing company, you are in…
When You Should Pay Your Representatives In Product
Wouldn’t it be great if you could pay your independent representatives in product instead of money? The good news is that there are times when product is the right form of compensation. In this post, I’ll share with you some of the wisdom I’ve learned in my 30 years of improving direct selling companies. Principles First…
Ask Victoria: What Is The #1 Quality You See In Successful Direct Sales Companies?
At the end of April, we held our 11th Direct Selling Edge Conference which is our two-day school for owners, executives, and employees of network marketing and party plan direct selling companies. We co-sponsor this educational event two times each year. Our panel of direct selling experts was asked, “What is the number one quality…
Ask Victoria: When Should Starter Kits Be Discounted?
Some companies choose to put their starter kits on sale from time to time, hoping that the substantially reduced price will motivate prospective representatives to enroll during a starter kit sale. Unfortunately, starter kit sales do more harm than good. Here’s why… Many people who purchase starter kits on sale join for product discounts only….
Compensation Plans: How Much To Reveal
One of the decisions you will need to make for your direct selling company is how much of your multilevel compensation plan you will reveal to the general public on your website. Interestingly, the decisions companies make are made for different reasons. In this post, we’ll examine the choices available to network marketing and party plan companies and why…
Ask Victoria: Who Do I Hire First?
When you are starting a new direct selling company, you know you are going to need to hire employees. What types of people should you be hiring? Who should you hire first? Interestingly, the skills you will need in your first employees are the skills you don’t have or the skills you don’t want to…