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You are here: Home / MLM Software / Be A Good Software Client

Be A Good Software Client

June 25, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

While it may be easy to complain about your software provider or internal programmers, it’s hard for them to consistently meet your expectations.   Have you ever wondered what you can do to be a better client?

A Little Background

You may be wondering why an MLM consultant would write an article about how to be a good client of a software company.  If I were you, I’d wonder.

The reason I’m writing on this topic is because of my first life.  Prior to starting Sylvina Consulting in 1999, I worked for an MLM software company.  I can tell you from firsthand experience, that it’s not easy to anticipate the needs of network marketing and party plan companies, many of whom intentionally try to run their businesses differently from their peers.

In my first life, as a Business Analyst for a software company, one of my assignments was to work on a project for an older network marketing business.  A man who held a high position in that company told me two years later, “We could have been a better client.”  At the time, it wasn’t appropriate to agree with him, but he was speaking the truth.  There were lots of things he and his company could have done differently, which would have been good not only for the software company but also for their network marketing company.

How To Be Good

Knowing how to be good is good for your business, so please use this list.

  1. Communicate in writing. When you verbally make a request to your software company or internal programmers, always follow up with that same request in writing.  Ask for and receive a confirmation back.
  2. Be Clear. When you make a request, be clear in what you expect will be included and also list what you expect won’t be included.  The better you define the scope of a project, the more likely the project will meet your expectations.
  3. Be Wide Eyed. Many software changes have ricochet effects.  This means making a change in one area of your software may cause inconsistencies with software in other areas.  Accept the responsibility to ferret out these “other” areas.  Don’t assume your software developers will find them on their own.
  4. Be Early. As soon as you think you need a software program created or changed, write up the requirement and give it to your software developers.  The sooner you request a project, the higher the likelihood you will get it when you want it.
  5. Prioritize Features. Sometimes not all features in a project are needed at the same time.  Prioritize the features so that if you need to wait longer for some of them, the right ones will be delivered first.
  6. Agree on Deadlines. Don’t assume your project will be delivered when you want it because you are the client.  Ask for acceptance of your deadline.  If you can’t get it, then adjust your deadline to one your software company or programmers can agree to.  Remember to include sufficient time to test the program before you need it to go live.
  7. Assume It Doesn’t Work. When a new software program or modification is delivered to you, assume it doesn’t work exactly right.  Test it thoroughly.  Prove to yourself it works 100% before assuming it does.
  8. Don’t Wait to Test. If there is something wrong with a deliverable, finding the problem just before you need the program may be too late.  The earlier you can test, the better.
  9. Express Appreciation. Saying thank you for a job well done helps motivate anyone to repeat the great performance next time.

MLM Software Advice

mlm software adviceKnowledge is power. The more you know about MLM software, the better software decisions you will make for your company.  Go to MLM Software Advice for the most valuable unbiased information about MLM software that you will find online anywhere.

MLM Software Consulting

If you need a liaison who understands both sides, contact Jay at Sylvina Consulting or call 503.244.8787.

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Related

Filed Under: MLM Software Tagged With: MLM Software, party plan software

About Jay Leisner

P15Jay Leisner, the President of Sylvina Consulting, is a top compensation plan and direct selling expert, a trusted adviser to new and established network marketing and party plan companies. For more than 30 years, Jay has enjoyed assessing and improving party plan and network marketing companies across the globe.

Direct Selling Startup GuideJay Leisner and Victoria Dohr authored the top-rated book for new and young network marketing and party plan companies, "Start Here: The Guide to Building and Growing Your Direct Selling Company".

Available in English and Spanish. This startup guide contains 250 pages of wisdom that will guide you through the right steps to start and continue on your journey to build a successful direct selling company.

You will save thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of your time using the information you will read in our book.

Direct Selling Edge ConferenceSylvina Consulting and Thompson Burton sponsor the pure education "Direct Selling Edge Conference Webinar" for new and young direct selling companies. The wisest direct selling executives never stop being students. They seek out opportunities to learn more. They understand that the long-term success of their companies depends on how much they know, so they make efforts to keep learning.

Broadcast live and with recordings included for later viewing, this powerful webinar will give you buckets of wisdom and guidance to help you on your journey.

In 1986, Jay began his career in direct selling by working for a major direct selling software provider. First as a software developer and later as a project leader and a business analyst, Jay worked closely with new and established network marketing and party direct selling companies to provide them with software solutions to meet their unique requirements.

Jay contributed in many ways to the success of large implementation projects for many companies. Jay also worked with dozens of smaller companies to assist each of them in various capacities to provide them with the systems they needed to help their businesses to grow faster.

Along the way while working with them, he learned the secrets of successful direct selling companies and the challenges faced by them. In true entrepreneurial spirit, Jay’s decision in 1999 to start Sylvina Consulting as a direct selling consulting company was driven by what he saw was a need for answers, advice, and solutions.

In 2004, 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2018, Jay gave presentations on compensation plans, recognition, and field leadership development at conferences held by the US Direct Selling Association.

He traveled to South Africa in 2015, 2016, and 2017 to conduct workshops on compensation plan design and recognition programs for member companies of the South African Direct Selling Association.

In 2017, Jay spoke at the Canadian Direct Sellers Association Meeting on the importance of recognition.

More than just a compensation plan expert, Jay is exceptionally skilled at advising new and established companies on business strategies. Before offering advice or solutions, he asks important questions to understand each client’s specific concerns and goals.

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