Network Marketing or MLM Industry requires no introduction today. It is indisputably a major source of employment globally especially in U.S.A.Going into 2014, we have received many questions about “what to expect in 2014 in the Network Marketing Community?” Well it’s always tough to determine exactly what will happen in a new year, but if we review the past, we can usually trend some of what will happen moving forward.
In this fragile world only Change is static! Network marketing industry also witnessing some glaring, new trends in 2014. Have a look on new perspective of MLM industry:
1. Technology will continue to play a major role in how both direct selling companies and the network marketing community communicate with independent sales and marketing teams as well as the general consumer base as a whole.
The use of technology is not new in MLM but it continues to rule the roost as of now. MLM Business has broken the entire barrier in expansion; every company has its distributor and client base in every part of the globe. Manually it’s impossible to track your business hence there is bee line of MLM Software providers in every nook & corner.
The use of technology in MLM is not limited to expand only:
Communication will be smoother.
Training will be imparted by different technology means.
Keep a track on your down line.
2. Mobile solutions including sales and marketing apps, mobile ad networks, mobile video presentations and the ability to sign-up new recruits and consumers through mobile devices will continue to rise.Encouragement and to motivate distributors you may found “Motivational SMS” directly to your mobile.
3. PaaS & SaaS Membership Based Platforms will continue to be developed with compensation structures to draw in the masses who do not want to use traditional direct selling companies to build a home base business.
In 2013, we saw Wake Up Now come on strong with their PaaS/SaaS platform, and how they even started to add tangible products in the 4th Quater to attract a more traditional network marketer and the younger Millennials who are now becoming a driving force in the network marketing community.
Although several PaaS companies launched using Mobile Apps as the driving force to attract early signups, none were able to execute at the level needed to dominate or even be seen as the leader in the niche.
In 2014, we will continue to see this MLM Mobile App aka Mobile PaaS business model mature. However, it is way too early to determine how this type of business model will playout using any form of a multi-level compensation structure.
4. Health & Wellness will continue to dominate the direct selling news, and the network marketing community as a whole. VEMMA as an example saw their sales almost double in 2013 to over $200 million in revenues. And Bk Boreyko predicts his company will hit $400 million by the end of 2014.
In order to accomplish these bodacious prediction, VEMMA is lanching new healthy energy drinks to their Verve line, and bringing out a Chris Powell “ready made protein (weight management) shake, along with additional products during the 2014 sales year.
We personally believe 2014, will become known as the year of “Health Plans” since the consumer as a whole are tired of “challenges and diet fads.” The consumer base worldwide have become tired of the same old crap, and are now engaging faster with social media to determine what works and what doesn’t.
One small direct selling company that is coming on strong is Plexus Worldwide. Their pink drink has caught on with consumers because it seems to work, and because there has not been many, if any Network Marketing HYPE surrounding the product. It seems the company really has gone back to the basics… develop or market a product that works, create a fair compensation around selling the product and get it in the hands of people who really use the product – BAM!
5. Utilities aka Essential Life Services will continue to grow in 2014 as companies like Viridian Energy (Power With a Purpose) and North American Power (Mission to Millions) hold true to their corporate message.
6. Road Block: Every growth comes with obstacle. In recent years MLM Companies are accused of applying unethical business, which lead to huge commotion worldwide. The year will find new regulation, rule to keep Network Marketing on government radar. Many new laws in domestic as well International level will find their ways in Network marketing to facilitate an ethical, equal business environment to distributors as well public.
We will also continue to see companies like ACN and 5Linx, who were once know for their video and VoIP platforms continue to transform into full-fledged Essential Life Service companies.Nonetheless, the industry will come out of that and will usher in new era of growth in 2014 mark by growth in business as well as in employment generation.