Learning about marketing project manager responsibilities will help you keep your organization’s marketing projects on track. For most organizations, creating custom content such as white papers, ebooks, case studies and articles entirely in-house is simply not possible. Between an overburdened marketing department and the lack of content writing or design expertise, outsourcing most or all of your content marketing will likely make financial and business sense.

But just because you’re outsourcing content creation doesn’t mean you can sit back and relax while content is churned out. Effective client-side marketing project management is often the differentiator between content projects that falter and those that deliver a spectacular return on investment.

So, what makes an excellent content project manager? Here are some important considerations to help keep your content initiatives on the right track.

Content Ideas & Planning

Keep a running log of new content ideas generated while attending meetings, reading industry publications and even chatting with your CEO in the break room. Organize those ideas into a content calendar to ensure a strong pipeline of content concepts well into the future.

Artwork & Photography

Many organizations have a few images they use again and again. The content project manager can prevent this pitfall by providing designers with a frequently updated, well-organized image library and budgeting for new stock photography purchases.

Project Budgeting & Scheduling

“On time and on budget” is the motto of every successful project manager. Set timetables and budgets for each piece of content and use a project management system, such as tasks and to-do lists, to make sure the project is completed on schedule.

Freelancer Contracts & Communication

The project manager must negotiate contracts with freelancers, including copywriters and designers. Find talented professionals who can complete the content project according to your marketing goals, budgets and timelines. Then, ensure your objectives are clearly communicated to the entire project team.

Content Integration & Distribution

Once you’ve created the content, how will it get into the hands of prospects and customers? Develop a plan for distributing each piece of content to the widest possible audience, including through social media channels.

Measurement

Each piece of content should support a measurable marketing objective. Determine how you will measure return on investment for your content before it is created. Continue to refine your content marketing plan as you discover which content strategies are hitting the mark and which are falling short.

Since my mid twenties I have been smitten by the MLM (Multi-Level Marketing or network marketing) bug. It was attractive to me because I could leverage my efforts with the help of other people. Well, that and the fact that I felt the products were better and at a better price than what one could find elsewhere.

However, there was one main obstacle I was not good at overcoming. Perhaps more than one, but who’s counting.

“Other people.” Yes, I was not good at attracting other people because I was not outgoing enough, and to succeed in MLM back then one needed to be outgoing or know a few people who were outgoing and ride on their coat tails.

Another thing I was not good at was asking other people for help.

I might also point out that back then there was no Internet and I could not use that leverage to succeed at MLM.

Today, it is a much different story. I can leverage the Internet, leverage people and leverage my time and be successful. But there is one major problem with that and that is why 98% of the people who join a MLM business do not succeed.

They do it all wrong. They follow the advice of their upline who say to do it this way and that way because their upline does it that way and “Hey, look at how successful they are.”

I don’t do MLM any more, not because I do not believe it is a very good tool for Joe Average to build a better life for himself. (Ladies, forgive me for speaking in the male voice, after all I am male. I could have said Josephine Average, Joe’s wife, but statistics show that more women succeed at MLM than men.) I have just moved on to more interesting things, for me.

OK, what do the 2% of successful MLMers do that the other 98% do not do? First, they have a huge list of contacts. Second, they set up a system to reach their list, to relate to their list, to encourage their list and to educate their list. The one thing they do not say is how to build that list in the first place.

In the old days it was done by the phone and in face-to-face contact. Today it is done over the Internet. The 2%ers have their own website and they use various techniques to get people to their website to sign up for their newsletter. In other words, to be part of their list. They then start building the relationship.

Up until just a few years ago it was too expensive to have and build your own website. That has all changed. However, the one main missing ingredient is most people are not good at building a website and driving traffic and they don’t want to take the time to learn how.

That too has been solved because there are systems and scaffolding and collaboration that now makes that all a very real possibility and cost effective. More on this later.

Are all MLM businesses legit opportunities, or are they all scams? Before jumping into any MLM business, you may be cautious of the stigma that comes along with it. You know, the whole idea of it being a scam or that you have to be at the top of the company to make any money.

Well, I’m going to get to the bottom of whether or not MLM, or Multi-level marketing, businesses are great opportunities or scams. And whether or not you can make money in the company, even if the MLM company is 30 years old.

First, let me say that there are thousands of great MLM companies that are provide an opportunity for the “average person” to become financially free. They provide quality products. And offer contests that allows its consumers and distributors to enjoy maximum benefits from its products use in a friendly competition, that usually awards cash prizes and free products to people who achieves the most from its use.

These companies understand that the survival of their companies lies in its consumers, or people who consistently purchase products and services. Therefore, they emphasize on finding customers and consumers. And have deep passion for helping people who’ll benefit from its products use. So, to say the least, most MLM companies are legit opportunities.

However, there are some MLM businesses out there that are scams. They fall into two categories of scams. The pyramid scheme and the ponzi scheme.

The pyramid scheme, which many people confuse a legit MLM opportunity with, is a scheme that pays people solely for enrolling someone, usually without any products of services being delivered.

To identify whether or not a MLM business is a pyramid scheme, check for the following:

1. If the company keeps implying that it is not a Pyramid scheme,

2. An income stream that pays primarily for enrolling people,

3. A company with little to no information on products or services,

4. the claim that only people who join in the company’s early stage will make any money.

An important fact of a MLM business being a legit opportunity and not a pyramid scheme is that you can generate money from sales of products and services, without the consumer having to join or enroll in the company.

The other scam, called the Ponzi scheme, is when a company brings in enrollments, without having any products or services, and uses the money gained from the transaction to pay off the people at the top. According to the FTC, or Federal Trade Commission, “…there is an expression that nicely summarizes this scheme: It’s called “stealing from Peter to pay Paul.”

So, to save yourself the time, trouble, and money, review the MLM company you’re wanting to take part in, and make sure they have real products and services.

Now that you know there are thousands of legit MLM business opportunities, find one you like and take control of your life and enjoy the benefits gained from being in the MLM industry. With the proper training and skillset, you’ll be able to grow your MLM business into a great business that you’ll be very proud of.