You Got The Answer?

[ecoboss]

HI I've asked this on forums that have a vested interest, on prizes for what the answers were.

However we want to market our products online and to a wide distributor and customer base, the two leading industries for dynamic growth are MLM and Affiliate Marketing - and neither the twain shall meet.

However MLM is beset by problems not least its reputation, however this is caused by the people involved in it, not the business model which is sound and an excellent way for people to build their own business. Affiliate Marketing on the other hand while deemed the more respected of the two is populated by operators who are not dedicated to any one product line but deal in hundreds of products in the hope some will pay-off.

Anyone any ideas? - ANY help really welcome.

Jim.

[SOLO]

You don't mention what the product is... it might help.

I have a new company which will go live in a few months. For that i am using a form of MLM. The choice of MLM was based upon the need for a massive number of people to get involved. In my case I am buying through the MLM, not selling. This should make MLM more acceptable but otherwise, you're right. MLM is a GREAT method but unfortunately populated by greedy types and the few have spoiled it a bit for the many.
Affiliate is a reasonable way to go if the item is high ticket and high margin. If I was selling shampoo I'd go MLM, if its fitness equipment or leather chairs then I'd go Affiliate.
In the end you are trying to hire commission only sales people. Typical MLMers are compulsive sales people. Affiliates are more advertisers than sales people.

Let us know what the product is and I think you'll get a better slant on the answers.

Cheers

[ecoboss]

Hi Solo,

I didnt want to be drawn on the products at this time but youre right the retail costs is important.

As you have asked its a fuel catalyst, or the primary product is. There is however unlike anything else in the market a portfolio of products for plant, argricultural machinery, and shipping.

I was involved in a great product around 10 years ago and given the current global situation I set out to research everything out there. t has taken me three years and I have travelled thosands of miles and tested everythnig that has any credibility. I now have exclusivety on a proven EPA registered technology.

Trouble is in MLM in particular there have been three scams in the last 18 months (one still to be found out) all have come out of the States and I dont want to be assocaited or seen to be similar.

The sites are built, lots of contacts interested, we also have an innovative eco-community almost complete, and I'm in discussion with Scottish Enterprise on premises, I've just got to decide on the main thrust of the marketing. However having said that the first thing is building the professional team that has the collective experience to push this forward to what is a massive global market.

Jim.

[Peter Bowen]

I think perhaps restricting entry to your affiliate scheme to people who actually work in the industry that you're targeting might work.

Cheers

Pete

[ecoboss]

Pete this is one of the dilemmas - I dont know if its going to be an affiliate scheme or not.

Right now I need help from experienced professionals in both industries to help decide the primary sector.

I'm not offering a sign-up here offer, I'm looking for direction!!

But thanks anyway.

Jim.

[Peter Bowen]

Can I suggest that you take a single country or area that is roughly representative of the entire world (well I did say rough) and use that to pilot and refine your marketing approach.

It will help you define who is going to purchase your product, who else they can get similar products or similar results from etc

Once you've done this you'll be on a better footing to conquer the world

Cheers

Pete

[ecoboss]

Pete this market sector is measured in billions, who will buy, potentially everyone who wants to either save money, or the environment, or both.

There are products out there making unfounded claims, however the reason I bring this up is they have proved the market. Although most in pre-launch they have signed-up distributors/mlmers/affiliates that number from the smallest a few thousand, to the largest over 100,000.

If you take these numbers as the potential initial 'retailers' of the products it should give you some idea of the market.

As I am in partnership with the inventor of the technology and I have exclusivety for GB - I will be rolling this out here initially.

(Q) Would it suprise you to know that the technology to save 20p per litre on your fuel has been available (and has been used by petroleum companies) for over a decade? - Yet it has never been allowed into the public arena!

Jim.

[ecoboss]

Well its about to be NOW!

[Peter Bowen]

Hi Jim, I've seen a couple of devices that do this as well as some additives.

I guess the people who use the most fuel stand to make the most savings so perhaps a place to start would be with companies that operate fleets such as haulage companies, couriers, taxi bosses etc.

Who else sells to those markets who could add your product on to capitalize on the trust that they already have with them?

Cheers

Pete