FTC Advertising Guidelines are SERIOUS!

Frank Kern says, “the new FTC advertising guidelines released DIRECTLY AFFECT YOU!” So the Social Media Marketer, the affiliate marketer, small business owner and network marketer are IMPACTED by this ruling. Make sure you understand it.

I unfortunately understand this first hand. A well known network marketing company, Seasilver, got themselves in trouble with marketing claims and ultimately got themselves shut down by the FTC. This action by the FTC or lack of actions on Seasilver’s part to get compliant ultimately evaporated the business itself and my livelihood, as well as tens of thousands of people at that time. Not following the FTC advertising guidelines can RUIN business and lives!

Frank Kern recently was blogging about What it’s like to sued by the FTC and FTC Declares Shenanigans On All Kinds Of Stuff!

Now I experienced one level of running afoul of the FTC by way of the company I was a independent sales rep for the company that got themselves in trouble. Frank Kern himself was sued by the FTC. That is a whole OTHER level of a nightmare.

Here’s a piece of what Frank wrote about being sued by the FTC:

But here’s the point: IT DOESN’T MATTER. I believe that once the FTC even thinks you’re a bad guy, you’re screwed. You can technically even be “right” and still get into trouble.

The FTC is the FTC. Your best course of action is to try to be obnoxiously compliant with their regulations. If you get on their bad side, YOU WILL NOT WIN.

So you definitely need to take the time between now and December 1, 2009 to UNDERSTAND what you can and cannot do or use when it comes to your marketing. Get compliant. Plain & simple! Who wants to give an EXTRA $11,000 to the government? Or more? Be smart.

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My good friend, Doug Firebaugh, recently wrote an incredible piece about dreams and the home business life. I couldn’t keep his goodness to myself today, so I’m sharing it with you! If you haven’t been to Doug’s website, Passionfire.com, you are missing out!!!! So much killer training and personal development is found within Doug’s website, your business will grow and your leadership influence will continue to grow! Go check him out! Now…for today’s post…

The Success Power of the Dream in a Home Business

“What do you mean I have to Start Dreaming?”

After 23 years in this industry, I have come to know that the foundation of your Success is going to be the dreams that you want to bring to life in your future. Most people, even many of your friends, and family, do not dream like they used to, because we all have been programmed that “dreamers are not realists.”

Oh yeah? Who sold you on THAT?

We encourage you to dream again.

Why?

Do you know what happens when you DREAM?

You “Dare (to) Reach Extraordinary Altitudes (&) Milestones.”

That is what your company is about… helping people to:

1) DARE.
Dare to become someone. Dare to go beyond where your friends are. Dare to prove everybody else wrong, who says that you cannot succeed in Network Marketing!

2) REACH. Stretch every part of your mind, heart, and soul, and reach for what you want in life, not
what someone else wants to give you after they take their part.

3) EXTRAORDINARY.
Dare to reach for the Extraordinary Life! Walk in the Extraordinary! Think Extraordinary! Become Extraordinary! Live Extraordinary! Grow Extraordinary!

4) ALTITUDES. You MUST soar higher in life than you ever have with your dream! The higher the Altitude, the more Magnetic the Pull of your Dream to you and the world!

5) MILESTONES.
Reach for Extraordinary, Life Changing Milestones! Most people do not ever plan on hitting Extraordinary Milestones in their life let alone MLM. And because of that, they end up getting Millstones of Mediocrity hung around the neck of their future, dragging frustration and doubt all through their life.

Dreaming also is the basis for the WHY!

WHY are you doing Network Marketing anyway?

“WHY” stands for “What Has You?”

Whatever has your heart, focus, passion, dreams, and desires, is your WHY.

It could be your children, your family, yourself, your church or faith, or even making a difference in other’s lives, or all of the above. Your “WHY” is the driving force behind your business, and your dreams.

What Dream has your heart for your family and future?

Dreaming is simply the Art of Painting a VIVID Picture on the canvas in your mind, and letting that become the MASTERPIECE of Change in your life and Network Marketing business.

Here are some thought provoking questions:

“If money were not an object…what would your life be like? Describe it!”

Think about this, and complete it.

What would your PERFECT DAY be like?

Next, complete the list below:

The 10 Things I would like my company to bring into my life that currently doesn’t exist:

(This could include a New House, New Cars, Vacations, College Money, New Wardrobe, Charity and Church Giving, Private Schools, Boats, Lake Place, etc).

1.  ____________________________________________
2.  ____________________________________________
3.  ____________________________________________
4.  ____________________________________________
5.  ____________________________________________
6.  ____________________________________________
7.  ____________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________
9.  ____________________________________________
10.  ___________________________________________
11.  ___________________________________________
12.  ___________________________________________

WHY I want these things is simple: (HOW would your life change for the better?)

Turn your “DreamLight” on… dust off your dream machine in your Network Marketing business, and crank it up, and let that DreamLight shine on your future once more.

Your Dreams CAN and WILL come true… but first the Light of Hope and Possibility must shine in your heart! And then you shine that light on your friends and family and get them dreaming with you! THAT is Power in Network Marketing!

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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We all have time constraints when it comes to social media and social networking for your business. Jobs, family, children, sleep…we all have the same 24 hours a day to live. Plus you’ve gotta factor in the eternal potential of different rabbit holes of distraction and information. LOL The difference is what do we do with those 24 hours. Today’s topic from Doug Firebaugh gets you focused in your social media networking.

Social Media Marketing Success – Three Steps on How to Maximize Your Efforts

Social Media.

Social Media Marketing.

THOSE 2 things has been written and talked about the last 2 years a LOT. But believe it or not, not a lot of small businesses or home businesses are using this powerful business and marketing “Zone” yet. Many people, because it is on the internet, shy away for it as if it were the plague.

“I am not a geek” people tell me. Well, we have “ungeeked the geek” for many small and home business owners, and made social media make sense to them But there are exceptions.

I was talking with a business owner the other day and she made the comment, “I don’t go to those kind of sites. I don’t have time to do that as my business is struggling and I need to go and find more customers.”

That says it all.

That shows a total lack of understanding of what social media/web 2.0 is really about, and what it can do for the average small business and home business -even on a local basis. If people really “got it” about social media marketing, they would be running to the social media zone and staying there.

There is a lot of talk that it is not “proven” as it is too new and the jury is still out on it being a viable marketing process.

I totally disagree. The social media marketer is paving a path for those to follow through a jungle that has never been explored, nor walked. People like proof. People like results. But it is the social media marketer that will create the way that will birth new millionaires with business folks who do “get” the Web 2.0 world. It is not that hard to understand either.

If you can send an email, you can “do” social media marketing. You can master Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, blogs, wikis, podcasts, article marketing, and all the other parts of the new media, if you can send an email. Yes, there is a learning curve, and yes, it does take a little effort-but what doesn’t? We have expanded our business tremendously with social media tactics, and everyday, we wake up with dozens of new leads for our training and consulting business in our email box. How would you like to have that happen to you?

You can. You can tap into an endless pool of leads that will just keep increasing, if you decide to jump into the Social Media zone. And we will be glad to teach you how to maximize for maximum Success with your Social Media efforts.

All you need to do is make a decision that you will take the time and study and learn social media a little at a time, and learn the culture, and the processes of each website.

Here are 7 websites that you must register with to get started in social media if you have a small or home business. Each have “help” tutorials or videos about how to use them properly, and also there is a LOT of information on the web as well on “how to”:

1) http://www.facebook.com

2) http://www.twitter.com

3) http://www.mashable.com (A GREAT website for learning generic social media.)

4) http://www.stumbleupon.com

5) http://www.digg.com

6) http://www.youtube.com

7) http://www.socialmediatrainingnetwork.com (A GREAT social website for learning social media tactics for small and or home businesses.)

And then do three things after learning how the site works:

1) CONNECT.
2) COMFORTABLE.
3) CONSTRUCT.

1) CONNECT.

The main thing you need to do is connect with people on these sites, and become a friend with them. Most of these sites have a process to befriend folks. Follow their process. Sound easy enough? But there is a type of friend that we teach that you must become. An “Addition Friend.” This is simply a friend that ADDS to people’s lives, not takes.

On the social media scene, most people are looking to Add, Enhance, Increase, and Enlarge a part of their life. YOU must help them do that with connecting with them and showing them new information about what you do, and how what you do can help them and change them for the better. It MUST not ever be a sales pitch, but simply information that will impact them enough that they may want to connect with you further about that in their life.

If you are a real estate agent, give them info on the 5 Biggest mistakes made while buying a home. If you are a CPA, give them some info on the 3 biggest mistakes made on tax returns. If you are in skin care, give them the 7 best ways to keep your skin healthy. You get the idea. You can find this type of information all over the web. Just send them the web address (url) to the article or blog post with a short note saying you thought of them when you ran across this.

We call it “Connection Marketing” and it WORKS when you allow it to.

CONNECT with the person –> CONNECT with their goals –> then CONNECT them to valuable information that will help them achieve them. Then most of the people Will then connect with your interests and be willing to help you with yours.

2) COMFORTABLE.

You must get the people on the social media sites COMFORTABLE with you.

How?

Talk about them, and how you can help them reach their goals and dreams- either with what you do, or with what you know. We call it “Comfortable Conversation(TM).” You must hold online “conversations” with people and get them comfortable with you, and comfortable with staying connected with you. You do this by talking about what THEY are interested in, and then you PROVE to them you are serious about adding value to their life.

It is ALL about VALUE in the social media arena. People expect value in your messages and communication, and if you give them things that will help them in their endeavors, (blog posts on their industry, articles on doing what they do better, etc,) they will get very comfortable with you, and even helping you with YOUR endeavors. They will be moving towards you quickly if you practice that focus in your social media efforts.

3) CONSTRUCT.

Simply, in Social media Marketing, you must Construct a bridge between you and the person that eventually leads OFFLINE and onto the telephone!

THAT is the secret to Success in social media marketing. We call it the “TIO Factor.” Take It Offline and let the personalization begin.

You have connected with the person- in person-at least in voice.

You have gotten them comfortable with you by your interest in helping them achieve their goals.

Now you must construct a path that allows you to say, “What is your contact number? I would love to chat with you for real over the phone.”

Then just do that. It may take a few days or a couple of weeks. But if you could pick up 10 new customers with this conversation would it be worth it?

Of course it would be. And how would you do that?

Ahhh–That is another article on Social Media Marketing Success.

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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EVERYONE has been talking about needing more money, the recession, getting laid off, hearing about more layoffs, the mortgage crisis and it just continues. My wife was even the casualty of being laid off. Several million people and counting have been DEEPLY impacted by what they call an economic crisis that is worse than the Great Depression!

The financial crisis, the economic condition are making the headlines by the moment it seems…

Layoffs Spread to More Sectors of the Economy
Layoffs can cause family stress
Recession Can Change a Way of Life
US says recession is worst in 26 years

BUT…Today’s blog topic shows you the positive benefits of this economic period of time for those who are sick of being at the financial will of someone’s bottom line and those who are entrepreneurial minded and work at home moms:

The 4 Biggest Reasons Why Your Home Business is Getting Ready to Explode

The Home Business Marketplace is looking better everyday- regardless of the talk about Recession.

Recession has always worked well for home businesses and always will. NOW with the high price of Gas skyrocketing, you have 4 reasons why your business is getting ready to be like a bottle rocket on the 4th of July.

Many people have complained openly that their business is slowing down. No-it is not. YOU are slowing down and it is wreaking havoc on your business. But with these 4 reasons, you can motivate and empower your team to go out and truly build the business they desire- with the understanding that it is working in their favor.

Ok- what are these 4 reasons?

1) People are starting to look for more income.

If you look around and ask people, 99% will tell you that they are going to need more money because of the price of gas and everything else increasing in price because of it. The world has not seen this scenario before, and it is going to get a whole lot more serious.

“Ask, “Are you planning on getting a second job, starting a business, or what — to battle this increase in gas?”

Then LISTEN.

2) People are talking RECESSION.

Recession (if there really is one) has always been a great thing for home business recruiting. It seems to work highly in the favor of the network marketing home business industry. But here is a revelation:

You can REFUSE to participate in the recession if you choose.

“I have decided that I am not participating in this recession – if there really is one. I am going to work my business and find people that want more income too and choose NOT to join this business slow down. How about you? What are your plans?”

3) The Media.

The media is scaring people into thinking about doing something more to bring in income. And it is working. There are reports of some network marketing distributors taking advantage of what the media is saying and using it to their advantage.

Get a copy of a Newsweek or business magazine and find some articles on slow down in business. Then find an article on the price of gas. Then include it in your presentation. You will be soooo glad you did.

4) Companies are cutting back and laying off.

All you have to do is take a look at any report in the Wall Street Journal and you will find what I am talking about. It is not a pretty picture in some industries.

Talk to people about a “recession proof- lay off proof- and boss proof” part time career and show them
how that works. You will be glad you did and so will they.

“Let me show you how some people are fighting the cut offs and lay offs with working from their home. It is amazing the results they are seeing…”

It is an exciting year. And it will be a GREAT year for those who GET IT.

And a not so good year for those who don’t.

I pray that you do in your MLM and Network Marketing home business.

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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