This document discusses important considerations for choosing an MLM software system, including compensation plan features, international expansion capabilities, ease of use, scalability, and dependability. Key points addressed are the need for real-time functionality, flexibility to modify the compensation plan, support for growth, and providing distributors with access to their commission and order data. The document emphasizes that the software system is critical to impressing and managing distributors.

2. White
Elephants
The “Gotchas and Whoops” (look out below)
MLM Software
Compensation Plan
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Should not a be painful experience
No two are alike
Time to Market
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Cost to Develop
Don’t wait until the last minute
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What’s your budget? RUN!!
Setup – everything (no breadcrumbs)
Monthly fees, distributor fees, renewals
Programming – how much / how long?

3. Dependability
Client / Provider Relationship (wedding bells)
The First Date
Did they call you back right away or wait three days? Do you like each other?
Age Does Matter
Are they “Old School” and stuck in their ways or “Young at Heart” and flexible?
The Romance
Is it a “Win / Win” Relationship? Can you count on each other?
The Marriage
You are each in it for the long haul and the long days (and nights)!
The Divorce
If it happens, will it be a quickie or a costly one?

4. Scalability
Will it support your growth? (or crash and burn)
Are they vested in your success or in your failure?
Are they an all-in-one solution?
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Is the technology antiquated?
Is it one or two people working from home or a global team?
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Is it a turn-key solution or can more benefits be added? •
Do they provide services such as site design or is it on you?
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Who is responsible for the servers, hardware, bandwidth? •
Is EVERYTHING real time or updated daily or weekly
Can it quickly integrate to 3rd Party systems (API’s)?
Can you get data into and out of the system externally
Different languages and currencies (multiple)?
Is it a scalable solution?
Do they support and train?
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Is it a single source application? Software as a Service?
Can it handle your growth: Distributors, Sales, Traffic?
Can the compensation plan be changed and how long?
Can updates be made quickly (i.e. internet sale tax)?
When you need help, and you will, how is it provided?
Do you have to pay for ongoing support and training?
Do they offer email support, live support, a help desk?
Can you get someone on the phone? 24 hours a day

5. Ease of Use
Are you in control? (or are you being controlled?)
Do you have access to make updates 24x7x365?
Updating your website
Managing your orders
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Is there a Content Management System (CMS)?
Can you globally update company details?
Can you add and edit menus, pages, and content?
Can you edit ever single word in the system?
Can you manage eMails and communications
Can you setup SEO and manage analytics?
View and manage (edit) all orders and AutoShips
Administrator add orders (phone, fax, walk-in’s)
Integration with fulfillment centers (API’s)
Warehouse packing lists, shipping labels, etc.
Download, shipping labels, track shipping
Update all orders, mark as shipped, add tracking
Working with your products
Users, Permissions & Data
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Add, edit, and manage users, distributors, customers
View order history, and AutoShip history
Manage communications and notes
Role management, set user permissions
Access to Business Critical Data
Adding new products (physical vs. digital)
Setting prices and commission values
Adding, editing and updating inventory
Setup distributor enrollment options
Configure shippers and methods

6. Needs vs.
Wants
Benefits vs. Features (also known as needs vs. wants)
Distributor Back Office
• Ability to make updates
• Genealogies / Volume
The Very Basics
Real-Time Everything
• Manage downline
• 100% uptime & control • Enrollment
• Purchase product(s)
• Replicated sites
• Downlines
• Commission history
• Sell products
• Sales and volumes
• Commission forecast
• Enroll distributors
• Manage commissions
• Mange AutoShip(s)
• Accept payments
• Access to data / reports
• Manage orders
• Pay commissions
• Communications
• Sponsor details
Payment Methods
Shopping Cart / Purchasing
• Manage customers
• Security / PCI
• Physical products
• Manage distributors
• Merchant accounts
• Digital products
• Communications
• eCheck / offline ACH
• AutoShip / recurring billing
• Reports and data
• PayPal
• Shipping (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
• View analytics
• ePin / PrePaid code
• Sales tax calculation
• Company forms
• eWallet
• Order tracking
Must Have Features (Needs)
Wants
Nice yet not Necessary
• Lead capture pages
• Mobile technology
• Social Media Systems
• Autoresponders
• SMS / texting
• Calendar system
• Newsletter system
• News system
• F.A.Q’s system
• Coupon system
• Gift certificates
• Banner system
• Trouble tickets

7. International
Expansion
International Expansion (over 6 billion served)
It’s not just a matter of languages and currencies!
Content: Country by Country
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Commerce: Country by Country
Languages by country
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Site design layout by country
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Site content by country
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Menu’s by country
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Pages by country
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SEO (Search Engine Optimization) META data by country
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Business forms and agreements by country
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Currencies by country
Products and Services by country
Pricing and Commission Values per country
Tax ID management by country
Invoice numbering per country
AutoShips by country
Enrollment options by country

8. Compensatio
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Plan System
This is “The Steak” (the other stuff is just sizzle)
Calculated on-time, every-time and all-the-time!
Compensation Plan, Genealogy, Commissions and History
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No second chances to make a first impression (to your distributor sales force)
This is where your distributors expect you to shine – Real-Time EVERYTHING!!
Can you run, view, adjust, close and pay your commissions on your own?
How are you going to pay your commissions? Check / QuickBooks, eWallet, PayPal, Export register, etc.?
Will your provider fit the key to the lock instead of the lock to the key? Every change is NOT a complete re-write!
Are you going to be charged each time you want to review your plan?
Are you going to be charged each time you want to make a minor change to your plan?
How difficult is it to make changes to the compensation plan? New ranks, qualifications, bonuses, etc.
How quickly can you implement promotions? Spotlight a new product?
How readily accessible is your data? What about when you need specialized data?
When new bonuses are added to the software do you get to take advantage of them?
Do distributors have access to how and where they earned commissions (complete historical data)?