I've snuck term "market research" into my sub-title. Some of you may gasp and yell, "Too expensive!" I say, "Not necessarily." and “Guesswork can lead to expensive mistakes.”

If you’re marketing computers or fast food, your potential target audience may be huge. You’ll need Research with a capital "R." Find a good research company – preferably one with experience in your industry. Tell them your needs and budget and let them put together a plan for you.

Those of us who work in small niches can do small "r" research. Here's what I mean. Think of 3-5 questions that will help pinpoint prospective buyers' hot buttons. Call your top customers and prospects and ask away. You'll have great conversations, and you'll learn something each time you talk to someone. Develop a matrix of everyone’s answers, and I'll bet you learn even more.

If you get bogged down on deciding what questions to ask or making phone calls, call in a consultant. Whatever it takes to get information. Remember: ‘Tis better to ask than assume!

©2003 Claire Cunningham, Clairvoyant Communications, Inc.

Claire Cunningham is president of Clairvoyant Communications, Inc., a strategic marketing communications company that helps businesses grow through targeted communications programs such as newsletters, publicity, web presence, advertising and the like. Claire has 20+ years of marketing communications experience and has worked with a wide range of products, markets and budgets. To contact Claire, call 763-479-3499 or e-mail clairec@citlink.net

The term is tossed around a bit, and sometimes not used at all. However, that is what defines a forced matrix. Sometimes numbers are used to describe a forced matrix more thoroughly....like "4 X 4 forced matrix" for instance. Which might mean that you can only have 4 people directly under you and only 4 people under those 4 who you recieve commissions from.

There is a hi-bred idea that has become common now, where by a person can deliberately place a referral in another line of their choice. A sort of traffic control attribute that helps originators get their referrals interested. This has been an attempt to make regular MLM more appealing, and it has worked. In fact, forced matrix MLMers have even implemented option in their own programs.

The benefits of either are about equal. With a forced matrix, you stand to earn an income faster, but increases in income are slower because your referrals get forced further down line from you. With regular MLM you have a stronger base, and sustaining it is generally easier...but first profits can be slow. If you want a little income faster, go with a forced matrix. If you want BIG profits and are willing to work a long time for it, go with regular MLM programs.

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