Ask Barry: "My MLM Company Won't Let Me Create A Web Site. What Do I Do?"

Today's "Ask Barry" question is a tough one, but never one to shy away from the hard questions, I decided to include it in the Blog. Here it is:

"I have been thinking about purchasing Site-Build-It [to build a web site]. In the policies and procedures section of the MLM company, it states that in order to develop my own web page I must use the text of the company's official site, may not supplement the content of my website from any source other than the company. I must register my site with the company and receive written approval from the company prior to the site's public availability. The failure to register constitutes a material breach of these policies and procedures. What are your thoughts on these policies? My concern is being able to have my site approved after I purchase Site -Build-It to create another web page."

Whew! Your company is extremely strict in it's policy.

They are probably doing that to protect their brand name, which they certainly have a right to do. However most companies don't create very good marketing copy, so if you have to use their exact wording, then (unless they're the exception to the rule), it wouldn't be worth your time to create a site using their wording.

What works online is to make things as personal as possible. The site shouldn't be just about your company or business, but needs to reflect you and your personality all through it.

An alternative for you is to ask the company if you can create a site about the general TOPIC of your products, or one of your products, but never mention the company's name or any of it's trade names.

Not only does this keep you on good terms with your company, but it can also be a huge marketing advantage to you.

It's very hard to succeed online promoting "MLM" or "network marketing" in general. It's also difficult to succeed promoting any particular MLM company or product.

The reason is simple - there's a truck-load of competition against you.

The answer is to not compete, but rather to find a niche that no one else is promoting ... or at least not promoting well.

So take a good hard look at your product line and pull out several primary ingredients. Then do some searches on those ingredients and analyze:

• The amount of competition.
• The quality of the competition.

Then create a site about the generic ingredients and their benefits ... FOCUSING on your own experience with those ingredients. Tell a great story. Of course it must be real, but that should go without saying.

Again, ask your company if this would meet with their approval. As long as the ingredients are not owned by them, and you don't mention the company's products or trademarks, it should be fine. Ask for their guidance regarding any further stipulations to make sure you don't endanger your business.

Your company's policy is strict, but it may also be providing you with an opportunity you wouldn't have otherwise explored.