From speaking for your brand to getting others to speak for your brand, marketing strategies have evolved over the years in unimaginable ways. With the advent of digitality onto the scene, businesses have grown from fingertips to the farther end of the world transforming local ventures into worldwide enterprises quite effortlessly.
Being quick and adaptive to changing market trends and marketing strategies, imbibed the essence of MLM digital marketing at a very early stage. This took direct selling ecommerce businesses into new growth zones in no time. The study analyses top MLM digital marketing strategies in depth to understand how various direct selling brands over the years have diversified their growth strategies and achieved success.
The objective
Epixel MLM Software walks the talk in the direct selling arena delivering cutting-edge solutions integrating innovation to help achieve measurable results for businesses. As its sequel, we consider this study as a comprehensive understanding of how direct selling businesses across the world are operating with an efficient tool like MLM digital marketing and its resultant impact on growth and success.
Research methodology
The data study was derived as a result of a thorough and intrinsic study including a wide range of data pertaining to MLM digital marketing and allied advertising strategies of leading MLM businesses in the United States. Acquired from Meta Ads Library, Google Ads Library, Ahrefs, and various other social media platforms, the quantitative analysis helped us gain a thorough insight into the key market trends and business strategies adopted by direct selling businesses.
What, when, and how of effective MLM digital marketing strategies
The digital marketing saga made its way to the United States in the early 90s. By the mid 2000s with the advent of social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, digital marketing saw new phases paving new ways in customer relationship management and delivering outstanding customer experiences. From email marketing to Online Behavioral Advertising or OBA, the MLM digital marketing technique grew to new borders making unbelievable impact in the business alluring more customers from within and outside the industry.
How is digital marketing beneficial to direct selling businesses?
From increasing brand awareness to building brand loyalty through enhanced customer engagement, MLM digital marketing helps businesses grow to new frontiers. It also aids businesses in tracking campaign performances, analyzing metrics, and making data-driven decisions to optimize their strategies.
With MLM digital marketing tools and techniques, generating quality leads and cost-effective customer engagement and marketing could be efficiently done. Besides these, direct selling business over the years have put MLM digital marketing to use to increase their conversion rates, stay ahead of competitions and market trends, acquiring real-time customer feedback and expanding the business to wider and larger customer base.
The usage of digital marketing in the MLM sector in the United States clearly depicts how customers from across the world have shrunk into the digital screens, making it easy for brands to target and reach them despite their age, ethnicity, generation or demographics.
With Facebook and Google Search leading the charts, at 96% and 87% respectively, it is quite evident how effective and efficient these platforms are in enhancing businesses worldwide through the digital window. Instagram and YouTube have also been rapidly growing in terms of brands using them to advertise their brands and reach their target audiences through mobile screens.
While digital comes in various modes like images, videos, animation, music etc., in the social space, images are most popularly used by the brands and preferred by customers to convey and understand messages easily and efficiently. Short and self-explanatory videos stand next in row in terms of creating brand impact and engagement among customers.
MLM digital marketing strategies that yield success and growth in the direct selling industry
While digitality is being diversified as technology and innovation grow, direct selling businesses alter their MLM digital marketing strategies to fit into their growth strategies and strike the right chord. Successful direct selling brands reinvent their business capabilities by integrating MLM digital marketing formulas with their business objectives to discover new zones of growth and success proportions.
Here is a brief run down through different types of MLM digital marketing strategies and how direct selling brands made use of the strategy to identify new business opportunities and growth.
1. Social media marketing
Social media marketing is a popular digital marketing technique that leverages social media platforms to get their job done. It is widely used by brands to stay in constant connect with their audiences, create a brand image, build the brand in the business landscape and thus increase sales.
Social media marketing involves tailoring messages, posts, images, videos, and infographics to cater to customers based on their persona. This mode of marketing also involves social listening where brands get to track and understand how their target audience perceives the brand and do competitor analysis.
Herbalife + social media marketing
Social media marketing is the most desired MLM digital marketing strategy for Herbalife, the direct selling health and wellness giant. The brand has close to two million followers on Instagram through which they advertise their products, announce new product launches and post titbits on healthy living and how Herbalife supports the same. The brand invests heavily in the creatives and design side thoroughly setting their content strategy in place that is engaging and informative at the same time. They also made use of Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to create a strong brand presence in the digital space and stay connected with a larger audience. This very digital network marketing strategy not only helped the brand promote their products in the virtual space but build a community that is focused on fitness and wellness.
Different aspects of social media marketing the Herbalife leveraged to derive growth and success
Visually engaging content with clear and concise messages, vibrant images, videos, and infographics. The content would be so engaging that it is created from the customer’s point of view with real-life scenarios like meal preparations or healthy recipes. This lets the brand connect with the customers instantly as it is easy to envision how these products would fit into the daily lives of a potential customer.
Testimonials and user-generated content, where customer success stories, feedback, and customer’s experience with the brand are shared in the social handles. This not only encourages potential buyers to make a purchase or be attracted to the brand but also boosts brand credibility and makes customers feel closer and more connected to the brand.
Brand advocates and influencer collaborations with fitness enthusiasts, celebrity health coaches, and athletes promoting the products through their experience with the brand gives the brand more authenticity and trustworthiness. These influencers or brand collaborators help the brand reign into untapped markets and gain trust and credence through trusted personalities.
Constant interaction through polls, live videos, and the ‘Ask Me Anything’ series kept the followers engaged with the brand through instances they could relate. Encouraging followers to take part in a discussion or a Q&A session not only enhanced engagement but boosted visibility creating a two-way dynamic communication.
The result
Herbalife successfully combined these MLM social media marketing elements to form a brand strategy that was intended to not just sell products but also create a community that trusts in the brand. The comprehensive approach to the MLM digital marketing pattern significantly improved brand visibility and customer loyalty at many levels.
2. Influencer collaborations
Social media users across the globe gave birth to a new community called ‘influencers’ who are fashion, food, lifestyle, or fitness enthusiasts, and bloggers. These individuals could be influential in a specific niche or industry, have a loyal follower base across various MLM digital platforms, and can attract people to buy or experience something they suggest or advocate. Influencer collaboration is a new-age MLM digital marketing technique where a strategic partnership between brands and these influential individuals is built to unlock new opportunities in the direct selling world.
MONAT + influencer collaborations
The leading haircare, skincare, makeup, and wellness brand MONAT strengthened its presence in the digital space by integrating influencer collaborations into its business strategy. The brand identified beauty influencers who align with the brand objectives and amplified their name in the most competitive direct selling beauty industry. Additionally, MONAT’s active promotion of their cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny approvals established trust among communities giving the brand enhanced integrity.
Understanding how MONAT leveraged influencer collaboration is a textbook example in MLM digital marketing and brand promotions.
Key factors in influencer collaboration that contributed to the growth and success of MONAT
Finding the right influencer whose ethics and objectives are in line with the brand motto and is genuinely passionate about beauty and wellness. Influencers who closely work with the brand include hairstylists, beauty bloggers, lifestyle coaches and fashionistas who are trustful enough to collaborate with the brand and promote its products.
Genuine storytelling where influencers share their personal experiences by using the brand rather than scripting promotions. Personal transformations, tutorials, daily skin and hair care routine etc., featuring the brand’s products, helped improve the brand authenticity and inculcate a habit of using MONAT’s products daily, ultimately improving sales.
Adopting diverse content formats such as YouTube tutorials, TikTok videos, blog posts on various topics under the brand’s purview. This way, the brand made sure that their messages reached customers across all platforms.
From mega to micro-influencers, MONAT collaborated with individuals based on the market they are targeting. Micro influencers who have a small, yet highly engaged follower base make it easy to convey a message in no time. Micro influencers target smaller niche with more personalized campaigns delivering outstanding customer experience and improved engagement that ensures long-term relationship between the brand and its customers.
The result
Beyond just product placements, random promotions and roping in influencers to allure customers, MONAT created a cohesive yet compelling narrative which aligned with the brand values improving trustworthiness of the brand. This trust, built through relatable endorsements nurtured brand advocates who reached onto every smaller pocket in the highly competitive beauty MLM industry.
3. Email marketing
Email marketing is an age-old MLM digital marketing technique. However, direct selling brands still utilize this most used yet highly effective marketing technique to improve their customer engagement, keep them updated on what’s happening with the brand and the market, and advertise promotions. Through personalized and targeted content, getting into the customer’s mailbox helps brands in more ways than one.
Amway + email marketing
A global leader in health, beauty and home care products, Amway incorporated email marketing as their key strategy to improve their distributor and customer engagement. This mode of digital marketing, although a bit traditional, served the purpose of fostering new relationships, driving sales and building brand loyalty for Amway helping them achieve their diverse business objectives.
How did email marketing help Amway overcome new-age challenges and win digital presence?
Classification for personalized communication based on customer and distributor preferences and interests helped the brand curate audience-specific content. With advanced segmentation techniques, Amway classified their existing customers, potential customers, and independent distributors into various classes based on purchase behavior, history, level of engagement, demographics etc.
Personalized product recommendations and promotions were made based on the aforesaid classification which gave customers and distributors a sense of value and acceptance bonding them stronger with the brand. Email marketing could be used to send out notifications on latest product launches, an invitation to experience the product before its launch, exclusive promotions and discounts giving them a sense of privilege and exclusiveness.
Automated drip campaigns are an efficient way to keep the customers in a loop with the brand. When a new customer joins the brand, drip campaign sends out a set of preset emails like welcome, product education, how to get started etc., to ensure constant and uninterrupted communication. Amway also ensured that the brand isn’t overwhelming the customers by bombarding emails one after the other but leaving them halfway stranded either with their communication.
The result
Amway found email marketing effective and useful considering their key motto of building meaningful connections with their customers by delivering relevant and personalized content. This way, Amway not only witnessed a steady growth in its sales figure, but also with customer and distributor engagement.
4. Content marketing
Yet another strong MLM digital marketing technique, content marketing is a strategic approach that focuses mostly on valuable, user-specific, and consistent content capable enough to keep audience engaged. Breaking the conventional MLM advertising and marketing techniques, content marketing helps businesses in delivering useful content such as quick information, answers to queries, solutions, and entertainment to educate, engage and enhance the customer’s experience with the brand.
Young living + content marketing
A very successful MLM brand that primarily deals with essential oils, Young Living leveraged the benefits of content marketing to reinforce its MLM digital marketing strategies. The brand made conscious decisions to deliver informative, engaging, and educational content such as blogs, videos, and MLM social media posts to keep their potential and existing customers informed on what the brand is. The content-oriented approach helped distributors and customers understand the brand’s products and how to effectively be a part of the Young Living community.
Benefits of content marketing in enhancing customer engagement for Young Living MLM company
Webinars and live sessions were integrated as a part of the content marketing strategy across Facebook, Instagram and Zoom channels to impart knowledge on essential oils, wellness trends and the scope of new products in the market. Sessions being handled by industry experts and brand ambassadors provided a thorough insight for the customer base helping them build a clear connection with the brand.
Educational and awareness blogs were incorporated into the strategy by Young Living catering to a wider audience who are interested in knowing about the industry but not the products, natural wellness, holistic living etc. While this digital network marketing strategy may not yield immediate benefits or sales conversions, these blogs improved the brand authenticity and credibility in customer minds for the valuable information and knowledge that they are delivering.
In-depth educational videos produced by Young Living gave the target audience a clear picture of how their products is made, how to effectively use these products, and other easy to follow tips and tricks. DIY videos explaining product benefits attracted customers to grab the product and efficiently use them as a part of their routine.
The result
Consistent delivery of valuable content enabled Young Living to build stronger customer connections driving higher traffic into the website. The digital network marketing strategy also helped the brand establish itself as a trusted leader in the essential oils sector, improving brand reliability and authenticity.
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5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
Ever since digital marketing and allied virtual advertising techniques gained momentum, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) became new opportunities to leverage business growth in the digital space. SEO is a practice through which website and its content are optimized to improve its organic reach and visibility in search engine results. With SEO, direct selling businesses get to attract organic yet relevant traffic.
Search Engine Marketing or SEM is a more intricate MLM digital marketing strategy that includes paid advertising on search engines to increase brand visibility. SEM is like PPC or Pay-per-Click advertising like Google Ads.
Arbonne + SEO and SEM
Pioneers in MLM health and wellness and beauty products, Arbonne integrated SEO and SEM techniques into their MLM digital marketing strategy to reach a wider audience and improve their brand visibility. These direct selling marketing strategies not only helped Arbonne improve its organic search rankings but also captured the attention of their potential customers who are in search of products like what Arbonne sells.
Fundamentals of SEO and SEM that improved traffic and boosted sales for Arbonne
Designing SEO-specific content strategy to develop high quality and informative content that supports SEO efforts to cater to the choices and preferences of target audience. Through content that answers FAQs and other beauty concerns, Arbonne did not just attract customers but improved website traffic, brand engagement improving search rankings to a whole new level.
Technical SEO enhancements were the next thing that Arbonne invested in to make sure that the website was efficiently optimized for search engine crawlers. Technical SEO includes improving site speed, assuring mobile friendliness, integrating concise internal linking strategies, and using clear URL structures. Addressing these aspects helped Arbonne make their website user-friendly, and easily navigable thus improving rankings and user experience.
SEM – Paid search advertising to target audience so that Arbonne could bid on keywords relevant to their products. These ads appearing on top search results helped the brand gain prominent placement and immediate visibility to potential customers who are in search of related products.
The result
The synergy between SEO and SEM helped Arbonne maximize its brand visibility in the highly competitive and populated MLM beauty and wellness digital market. These digital network marketing strategies also aided the brand in gaining momentum in untapped markets and efficiently guided potential customers to choose from their range of products based on their needs and preferences.
6. Emphasis on video content
Videos are one of the fastest and most impactful MLM digital marketing techniques through which brands can create awareness or impart knowledge or information. Making short and long form videos to cater to audiences highlighting product benefits, testimonials, wellness tips etc., helps brands in gaining trust and building long term relationships with their distributors and customers.
Isagenix + video content
A global MLM health and wellness company, Isagenix is well known for their range of nutritional supplements and weight management products. The brand acquired video marketing techniques to improve customer experience who shops largely online building brand trust and reliability. Isagenix made video content to educate its customers and provide lifestyle and wellness tips which can benefit existing customers and non-customers at the same time. This way, the brand could add value to its clientele and potential customers fostering loyalty and encourage continuous engagement.
How did video marketing benefit Isagenix in improving customer engagement
Short-form videos tailored specifically for various social media platforms are perfect to grab the audience’s attention and convey the message effectively. Isagenix created videos with quick product teasers and updates in shareable format creating increased visibility across all MLM social media channels reaching a wider range of audience all at the same time.
Targeted video advertising was next in line where the brand released video ads on YouTube, Facebook, websites, and other digital platforms to reach different customer segments. Isagenix ensured that their videos had compelling visuals, clear and concise messages, and strong calls-to-action that attracted viewers to the brand and encouraged them to make purchases.
Behind-the-Scenes videos or BTS that demonstrate product manufacturing, formulations, packaging, quality control, etc, excite customers for being able to understand how each product reaches their hands. Being transparent with the processes humanized Isagenix as a brand, giving customers more reasons to lay their trust on the brand.
The result
With video marketing, Isagenix was able to keep their audience consistently engaged, educate their potential customers, add value to the brand and build stronger customer relationships. The brand leveraged every possibility of videos to highlight the brand, its products and the brand objectives in a more effective way. As a result, the brand saw a steady rise in their engagement and conversion rates strengthening their position as brand leaders in the MLM health and wellness sector.
7. Real-time analytics
With the abundant amount of data that comes in and goes out of our systems each day, tracking them in real-time could be a tedious task. But these data are crucial for direct selling businesses to make decisions and analyze the impact of these decisions in businesses. Given this situation, a direct selling brand that integrates real-time analytics as their key MLM digital marketing strategy is an example of the brand’s vigilance in improving its operational efficiency and driving the business to new zones of success.
Plexus Worldwide + real-time analytics
Yet another leading MLM health and wellness brand, Plexus Worldwide incorporated real-time analytics into their digital network marketing spectrum to derive data-driven decisions that are crucial for the growth and success of the brand. The direct selling business optimized its marketing efforts in line with the data derived to improve its business outcomes. The brand also kept a close eye on key metrics related to customer engagement, sales, and overall campaign effectiveness as and when they happen.
Plexus Worldwide’s real-time analytics strategy and its impact on the business growth
Tweaking strategies based on varying customer behavior was one key factor that Plexus Worldwide incorporated as a part of their MLM digital marketing strategy derived from real-time analytics. The brand closely watched customers outside the brand to understand their purchase behavior and preferences. Analyzing metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and customer interactions helped the brand identify the effectiveness of each campaign and its impact on the brand.
Improving customer retention by tracking engagement through post-purchase follow-ups, MLM loyalty programs, and customer interactions helped Plexus identify where their customers were disengaged. The brand’s proactive approach to personalizing communication and other offerings reduced customer and distributor churn rate re-engaging them efficiently with the brand.
Enhanced business agility was yet another benefit that real-time analytics contributed to the brand through immediate insights, and forecasting challenges beforehand. While agility is a crucial component in defining business success, real-time analytics enabled Plexus to respond promptly to challenges and opportunities from the launch of the product to refining customer services according to changing market dynamics.
The result
With real-time analytics, Plexus Worldwide not only adapted a new MLM digital marketing strategy but also revived its marketing efforts to stay in line with evolving market trends and customer interests. The data-driven approach improved the efficacy of brand campaigns, positioning them as a customer-oriented, people-centric, and highly responsive brand in the health and wellness market.
End note
The digital marketing arena is an ocean, so is the direct selling channel. Considering the evolution that the marketing pattern and the industry is undergoing, brands are keen on altering their business processes to adapt to new trends and technologies without falling behind competitions. With the sophistications taking place in the digital marketing sector each day, the scope and growth potential for direct selling brands are beyond just normal.
Convergence of high-end digital tools with direct selling businesses are elevating customer experiences to new levels. In the agile, innovative and changing landscape, having a thorough understanding of what your customer wants is the key to navigate towards untapped opportunities in the digital marketplace.
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