Monday, April 28, 2008

Multiple Streams of Income

Multiple Streams of Income
By Mark Victor Hansen

Most people rely on their job for all of their financial income. Big mistake. There will always be the chance of layoffs or bankruptcy. Management can change, and companies can downsize. The stress of the unknown can be unbearable.

You don’t have to live like this. You can create an inflow of money so you never have to worry about losing your job. It doesn’t even take a job change. It just takes shifting your thinking and opening your eyes! You don’t have to rely on that one job for all of your financial wants and needs. You can create a new way of living through multiple streams of income.

Multiple streams of income is not about getting more than one job. That would only wear you out and lower your quality of life. Multiple streams of income is all about partnering with others and making money through their efforts.

Suppose you are a lake. You have one stream of income, so you don’t have much to fill you up financially. Your water line is looking low since you have to rely on that one stream to replenish you every few weeks. But if you have multiple streams coming in all the time, your banks would be overflowing. If one stream is just trickling, the others will pick up the slack. There will never be a lack of income.

Multiple streams of income are easy to find. In fact, they’re all around you. Just pay attention to your daily life and who and what comes into it.

Take one of my income streams, for example. Years ago, my friend Jack Canfield and I were talking about creating a book filled with inspirational stories to touch the hearts of people. We collected the stories, put the book together, and came up with a great title, Chicken Soup for the Soul. The rest is mega-bestseller history. But these books are not my only source of income. I want you to create multiple income sources.

There are so many possibilities to create wealth. Take out a notebook and list possible streams of income you can create for yourself.

Do you have friends or colleagues who offer services? Would they offer finder’s fees to you for bringing them potential clients? Can you conceptualize new ways to make already existing products or services better? Do you want to create a consulting business that allows you to work from home and set your own hours?

Remember, life is too short to work hard for something you don’t want.

Excellence in Action: Make a list of possible streams of income.

Article courtesy of Leadership Excellence.



Saturday, April 26, 2008

Relational Marketing in 5 Easy Steps

Relational Marketing in 5 Easy Steps

Network marketing is all about building relationships and helping people. We have an awesome product that is changing people's lives. Anyone you know with a specific health issue or anyone you know who cares about their health will want to know about Vemma.

How to lead with the product:

Exposure—Ask these questions, use the tools:
"Is your health a priority?""What are you doing to avoid and prevent disease?""Are you supplementing?""Taste this!" (Shake and open up a V2 sample shot. When they ask what it is, hand them a 'Your Body Guard' tri-fold brochure.)

Action—If they like the way it tastes, hand them a single pack and tell them to try it for a month. Say, "you can pay me later or just mail me a check—it's $60 plus tax." (Always have extra product on hand. I always carry two in the trunk of my car.)

Follow Up—This is the key to success in building our businesses:
IMPORTANT: Check with the person during the next week and see how they like the product and to make sure they're taking it every day.

Close—Sign them up:
Towards the end of 3rd or 4th week of taking Vemma, follow up and ask them if they would like to become a member and possibly get their product for free. Do they know two people who also would like to try Vemma? Either on their computer or yours, go to your myVemma.com marketing web site and sign them up as a new member. Or, have them fill out an application and enter their information later at your convenience. (You can download applications in your back office.)

Train—Get your new member into action:
First, you should have some extra Success Magazines on hand. Make sure your new member gets one.

Purchase yours here: VemmaSuccessTools.com Second, send them here, to the http://www.vemmahealthandwealth.blogspot.com/ site, so they can begin to duplicate exactly what you have done. Build relationships. Work together. Have fun!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Vemma® PASSED THE CONSUMERLAB.COM ATHLETIC BANNED SUBSTANCE SCREENING

From the desk of
Les Berenson MD, FACP
To: Mike Radford
ExProAthletes.com

Dear Mike,

It is with great enthusiasm I write this letter to share my professional experiences with you and everyone who visits the ExProAthletes website.


As a sports fan it saddens my heart to see any gifted athlete sustain an injury that often leads to his or her early retirement from professional competition. The St. Louis Cardinals’ great catcher, Mike Matheny comes to mind as he suffered Post-Concussion Syndrome cutting his career in Major League Baseball short by at least two seasons. NFL quarterbacks, Steve Young, and Troy Aikman also sustained PCS along with Muhammad Ali and many others.


As a medical doctor who has studied and compared hundreds of allopathic and naturopathic approaches to healing, I have discovered an all-natural botanical alternative to pharmaceuticals that has rocked the traditional modality of treating severe inflammation in joints, muscles and even the brain.


The medical term for this botanical fruit is called, Garcinia Mangostana and should any of my colleagues in medicine wish to learn more about it, go to: www.pubmed.gov then in the search bar type the word Xanthones Garcinia Mangostana -- a list of 36 published research articles will be displayed and for Xanthones 1,516 published research articles will be displayed.


The juice derived from the whole fruit puree has passed ALL the strict guidelines from Consumer Laboratories has given its seal of approval for use by all professional sports and Olympic athletes. (Scroll to bottom of this page for full list of approved supplements).


In my 30 years as a physician, this is the most exciting alternative to drug therapy I have ever seen. Why? Because I have first hand knowledge and personal experience with my patients that prove beyond a doubt, Mangosteen is the most powerful NATURAL
anti-inflammatory I have ever discovered.


Every athlete, professional or amateur should be consuming this 100% natural juice produced from the whole fruit puree. In my opinion, it enables the body to heal faster from injury and boost the immune system to fight fatigue and other issues unique to the elite athlete.
Yours truly,
Les Berenson, M.D. FACP

PRODUCTS THAT HAVE PASSED THE CONSUMERLAB.COM ATHLETIC BANNED SUBSTANCE SCREENING
Click on for additional information on the product
Product Name(Categories for which Product was tested for identity and quality of prime ingredient. Links are to the appropriate Product Review)
Manufacturer or Distributor
Date Tested
AstaREAL Astaxanthin***
Fuji Health Science Inc.
April 2007
Blueberry Eye (Japan)***
Wakasa Seikatsu Co., Ltd.
April 2007
HIRO™ Energy
Tahitian Noni International, Inc.
August 2007
Max GXL***
Max International
July 2007
NITRO FX™, Noni whole plant extract Nitric oxide formula**
Enliven International, Inc.
May 2006
Original Limu™****
The Limu Company, LLC.
March 2008
OS Endurance Cherry***
Maximum Energy Corp.
April 2007
Sports Eye (Japan)****
Wakasa Seikatsu
April 2007
Tahitian Noni® Liquid Dietary Supplement*
Tahitian Noni International, Inc.
September 2005
Vemma® Mangosteen Plus™ with Essential Minerals®***
Dist. by Vemma Nutrition Company
July 2007
XanGo™, Mangosteen supplement**
XanGo LLC
August 2006
Zen Nutrition Super Drive (Japan)***
Brisk, Inc.
April 2007
*Testing based on World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list available in 2005.
**Testing based on World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list available in 2006.
***Testing based on World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list available in 2007.
****Testing based on World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list available in 2008.
Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change product ingredients and information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested. It also cannot be assumed that other products from a manufacturer or distributor listed above are of equal quality to those listed.
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, linked to, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.comLLC

Networkers on the Information Highway

Networkers on the Information Highway
By Jeffrey A. Babener
© September, 1995
THE INFORMATION AGE.
Networkers are hopping on the information highway. The revolution in computers during the last decade has profoundly changed the abilities of networkers to run their businesses. Prior to the 1980s, almost every major network marketing company sold its products only to a limited number of direct distributors. The direct distributors in turn sold to their downline and were responsible for managing their downline, paying commissions, etc. But changes in computer technology have made it possible today for network marketing companies to generate and manage massive amounts of data about sales organizations. Thus, almost every network marketing company that has emerged since the 1980s sells directly to all distributors and provides all distributors with detailed management reports about their business.
A PEOPLE BUSINESS\A NUMBERS BUSINESS.
Keep in mind that 90 percent of network marketers do this as a part-time business. Thus, it is not unusual for leading network marketing companies to have tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of part-time distributors in their sales organizations. People come and go into the business as they get new jobs, get pay raises, get married, move or change other life situations. In fact, according to Dan Jensen, President of Jenkon Data, of Vancouver, Washington, the largest provider of computer data processing systems to the network marketing industry, the average network marketing company loses 50-90 percent of its new recruits in the first year.
Wouldn't it be great if distributors had at their disposal the ability to analyze activity in their downline sales organization to assist in keeping their sales organization as active and productive as possible? That's where advances in computers come in.
Today's leading edge companies provide their distributors with detailed sales activity information about their downline organizations. On the one hand, this is a numbers business because of the huge number of distributors that any one person may have in his or her downline. On the other hand, it is a people business, and sales and recruitment in network marketing only occur through relationships.
So what's the bottom line for a networker in taking advantage of availability of computer generated information? They should view the information as a management tool. Numbers by themselves mean nothing, it's what you do with them.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU?
So, in this new computer age, what's available to you as a distributor?
First, a few definitions may be in order:

Active Distributor--A distributor whose monthly sales activity qualifies them for bonuses or override commissions.

Downline--All distributors sponsored directly by a distributor, as well as distributors sponsored below by other distributors.

Leg--An organizational line of sequentially sponsored distributors starting from one initial sponsoring distributor.
Every month, companies mail to their active distributors computer management reports about their downline sales organizations. These are typically referred to as downline reports or genealogy reports.
Often times, auxiliary reports and other information are available upon request. In the typical downline report about your sales organization, the following information is included covering both yourself and individuals who are in your downline sales organization:
Rank or position reached in the organization,
Levels below you or break-away position in the organization,
Monthly personal volume,
Monthly group volume,
Date of entry in program,
Meeting activity requirements this month or last month,
Recruiting or new sponsoring.
Basically, a downline report is a lengthy computer printout showing important activity and indicators in your downline sales organization.
THE NUMBERS ARE A MANAGEMENT TOOL.
Reading the numbers is not unlike the fortune teller who reads the tea leaves. Your interpretation tells you something about your past and your future. Your downline reports turn you into a CEO of your own sales organization and you can use these reports as a management tool to:
promote your own recruiting and sales, to promote the sales and recruiting of your downline,
to contact, supervise, manage and assist your downline, to look for strengths and weaknesses in sales and recruiting activity, and spot trends.
Says Dan Jensen, whose company Jenkon has serviced hundreds of network marketing companies that provide downline reports to millions of their distributors, you should have some broad goals in working with downline numbers:
Promote retail sales outside the network. He notes that an organization where product sales are only for distributor consumption is less likely to experience major growth.
Recruiting - use the numbers to increase sponsoring and retention of experienced distributors.
Consistency - Jensen advises to look for hot and cold spots and for problems one month to the next in both individual distributors, as well as downline legs.

Achievement levels - in most network marketing programs, distributors who are successful are advancing to higher ranks or status based on larger group personal sales volumes. Use the numbers to see if these promotions are occurring and, if not, why not.

Activity - which individuals and which legs are continuing to be active month after month.
TRACKING SUCCESS INDICATORS.
Yes, there are certain vital statistics that you should absolutely track. Computer expert Jensen refers to these key statistics as success indicators. He advises that you track them, chart them, graph them from month to month and they will provide a road map for action.
Here are a dozen or so key success indicators Jensen suggests that networkers track month to month:
The number of distributors in your organization last month,
The number of distributors in your organization this month (although raw numbers are helpful, the actual key indicators will be how many are active and how much is their sales volume),
The percentage of organization growth from last month,
The number of new recruits (this number is absolutely critical to success),
The number of legs (a) with, (b) without new recruits. This indicator identifies where in your organization things are working, who needs help or training.
The downline people who (a) are (b) are not sponsoring. Consistently active sponsors are good trainers and should be leaned on, and those who are inactive sponsors should be pushed to meetings and trainings, buddy system arrangements, teaming, telephone trees or promotional contests.
The percent of downline who is sponsoring. Keep an eye on the percentage that is being maintained or falling off. Hopefully, it will stay consistent. A drop from 50 percent to 20 percent, for instance, is bad.
The total number of distributors who (a) are (b) are not active month to month. This indicator may be the "whole enchilada." This is your barometer, says Jensen. If it goes up, good weather, down means stormy weather.
Three tips for working with this indicator
(1) focus major support for your actives,
(2) before the fire gets cold, focus support to those showing first signs of inactivity,
(3) once firmly inactive, don't waste your time.
The percentage of distributors remaining active. If from month to month, this percentage is going down, then the signal to you is "get to work."
Active recruits. A new recruit who merely signs an application, but doesn't order, does you no good. You should strike while the iron is hot, otherwise it is a lost opportunity. You will never have the attention of a new recruit more than when he or she has just signed on. You should also be tracking which sponsors are bringing in distributors that are merely "application filers," and bring this to the attention of those sponsors in your downline.
The percentage of active new recruits to total actives. Is all your new business coming from new recruits? If so, then you are losing your experienced distributors. Generally, the numbers should be low and drop month to month, which indicates that your experienced people are performing.
The number of actives last month, but not this month and vice-versa. In other words, what is the attrition, which leg is it in, and who needs attention and training?
The new active recruits ratio to new inactives. This is a key number. If you gain one and lose one, you are staying in place and your ratio is 1.0. If you gain two recruits and lose three to inactivity, it is a big warning and your ratio is .66. Obviously, if you gain three and lose two and your ratio is 1.5, you are headed in the right direction. Anything greater than 1.0 is the right direction.

CHARTING THE NUMBERS.
Do you want to see the big picture?
Do you want to see the trends?
Do you want to see your game plan unfold before your very eyes?
Then chart the success indicators month to month. Either do it by hand in a graph connecting the dots, use a bar graph, or use a spreadsheet program on the computer. As you look at the numbers over the course of twelve months, the trends will become apparent, and says Jensen, you may wish to also note important chronological events month to month that may be influencing the success indicators:

changes in product,
changes in company marketing materials,
conferences, trainings, meetings,
seasons,
special events.
CALL TO ACTION.
Think of all the work that goes into getting a new recruit. In an industry where attrition of distributors is so high, if you can keep a distributor active, it is just as good as finding a new recruit.
Ben Franklin's adage "a penny saved is a penny earned" has merit in this situation.
The computer revolution puts the networkers on the information highway. Use the information, track success indicators and use those success indicators as your call to action. Success in this business does not have to be an accident. Hard work can pay off. Your call to action is in the numbers.
Thank you Mr. Computer.

Jeffrey A. BabenerBabener & Associates121 SW Morrison, Suite 1020Portland, OR 97204
Jeffrey A. Babener, the principle attorney in the Portland, Oregon law firm of Babener & Associates,

represents many of the leading direct selling companies in the United States and abroad

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Induction of Apoptosis by Xanthones from Mangosteen in Human Leukemia Cell Lines

Xanthones from Mangosteen in Human Leukemia Cell Lines

There is Scientific Evidence that suggests that Human Leukemia Cell Lines show an Induction of Apoptosis by Xanthones from Mangosteen.
Get the full report here:http://scienceasia.org/2007.33.n3/v33_283_292.pdf

Orally, mangosteen is used for dysentery, diarrhea, urinary tract infections (UTI), gonorrhea, thrush, tuberculosis, menstrual disorders, stimulating the immune system, cancer, osteoarthritis, and improving mental health. Topically, mangosteen is used for eczema and other skin conditions.

The applicable parts of mangosteen are the fruit, juice, rind, bark, and twigs. The fruit and juice are consumed as a healthful and medicinal food and drink. The dried and powdered rind is most commonly used for medicinal purposes. The bark extract, called Amibiasine, is used for amebic dysentery.

Mangosteen fruit, rind, and bark seem to contain several pharmacologically active constituents. The activity of some of these isolated constituents has been characterized. But there is no reliable information about the effects of eating the whole fruit or taking the powdered rind or bark extracts.

The mangosteen rind reportedly contains tannins. Tannins can have an astringent effect on mucosal tissue and can reduce secretions. This astringent effect might reduce diarrhea.

Mangosteen also contains xanthones that have antioxidant and other effects. The specific xanthones include alpha-mangostins, beta-mangostins, and gamma-mangostins (12016). Alpha- and beta-mangostins appear to have in vitro activity against the human leukemia cell line HL60 (12013) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (12014). Mangosteen also contains the xanthone derivatives garcinone B and garcinone E. These constituents also appear to have in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (12014). Garcinone E also has in vitro cytotoxic activity against hepatocellular carcinomas (12015).

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit. Its fruit is sourly sweet. It's often consumed as a dessert fruit or made into jams.

It was thought to be Queen Victoria's favorite fruit.

Mangosteen juice is becoming a popular healthful and medicinal drink. Some marketers claim that Mangosteen juice can treat diarrhea, menstrual problems, urinary tract infections, tuberculosis, and a variety of other conditions.

There is no reliable scientific evidence to support these claims.

However, there is Scientific Evidence that suggests that Human Leukemia Cell Lines show an Induction of Apoptosis by Xanthones from Mangosteen.
Get the full report here: http://scienceasia.org/2007.33.n3/v33_283_292.pdf

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Full Size Verve Vending Machine

Glass Front Verve Coolers -- $565
Large Round Verve Coolers -- $435
Full Size Verve Vending Machine -- $3495

For more detailed information on Verve Vending go to:
http://www.vervevending.com/

Anyone interested in bringing Verve Vending to Cancun, Mexico
please contact: Frank Tocco at shop4dreams@gmail.com

or:

Charles HannaThe Hanna Group
Vending & Related Equipment, Sales & Service
Tel: 913 894 4979
Tel: 800 397 8363
Fax: 913 894 0252
Web: www.hanna-vending.com
Email: charles@hanna-vending.com

Shipping costs will be determined by quantity purchased and total weight.
Many of our vending companies in Mexico usually arrange for shipping to USA
border states and they take possession at the border and take it into Mexico.
In this way they control the freight costs even more.

The Verve vending Machine will be introduced in Mexico in July.
If you would like, I will gladly assist you in becoming a distributor.

Thank you. We remain large enough to serve you and small enough to care since 1976

What is niacin?

What is niacin?

In the search to find the cause of pellagra, a common disease in 18th and early 19th century Spain, Italy and America, researchers stumbled upon nicotinamide (or niacin, as it has become generically known).

Niacin, or vitamin B3 as it used to be called, was the solution. The shortage of this vitamin, which can be found in protein-rich foods, was fully recognized as the cause of pellagra by 1937.

More recently, it was found that a precursor of niacin, called tryptophane, is also involved in the prevalence of the disease. Tryptophane is an amino acid (in other words, one of the building blocks of protein).

Tryptophane is called a "precursor", because dietary tryptophane can be converted into niacin in the body.

Niacin is one of the B-complex vitamins, all of which play an essential role in metabolism.

Like all the other B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, niacin is water-soluble. The B-complex vitamins are grouped together because of their similar physical properties and their presence in similar food sources.

Because of the close inter-relationship between the B-complex vitamins, it is important to note that the inadequate intake of one of the vitamins can result in the impaired utilization of the others.

What does niacin do for you?

Your body needs niacin to produce two crucial enzymes that help release energy in the form of glucose from the food you digest. This happens by means of the Krebs cycle - a complex process that takes place in the cells and generates energy in the form of ATP and carbon dioxide. The cycle is the final step in the oxidation of protein, carbohydrate and fat.

Niacin also plays a role in the growth of healthy skin, helps nerves develop normally and helps your digestive system stay healthy.

Niacin also blocks the production of cholesterol in the body, thus playing an important part in preventing heart disease.

New research on niacin.

Alcoholics and problem drinkers have benefited from taking niacin, which appears to reduce the craving for alcohol.

Niacin seems to reduce the release of histamine, so it can help to reduce allergic reactions such as those of hay fever, eczema, urticaria and sinusitis.

Daily supplements of niacin can reduce the appearance of acne rosacea, the reddening of the face that occurs in some menopausal women.

Niacin supplements may help the body to produce more protective “HDL” cholesterol, which in turn helps reduce blocking of the arteries. Its use in diabetics has, however, been controversial. Some scientists feared that it could raise blood sugar levels. But a recent study has suggested that niacin can be safely used to treat cholesterol levels in those with diabetes.

Niacin Flush - What is it?

Many people have experienced the annoying, sometimes downright painful sensation of niacin flush at least once during their life, and probably didn't even know what it was.

Niacin, by nature, is a great way of reducing your cholesterol. Many over-the-counter cholesterol medications include high does of niacin, among other ingredients.

However, one of the unfortunate side effects of taking doses of niacin is the effect explained below, called "niacin flush".

Niacin causes your capillaries (small blood vessels) in your body to get wider (bigger). The capillaries are usually extremely small and blood passes through them very slowly. The inherent problem with this is that capillaries are the main way for your body to rid itself of toxins.

Your arteries, in comparison, are much larger than capillaries and can carry more blood and at a faster rate, but they do not come near the majority of your body. Arteries are the "highways" of your body and capillaries are more like the small town road that you exit off of the highway from in order to get to your house.

Your house, in this example, would be a cell somewhere in a remote part of your body that is full of toxins. Without sufficient blood flow (oxygen, and everything that comes along with it), this cell cannot rid itself of its' toxins. Now, imagine your city widening the road that leads by your house -- the traffic would increase right and they would probably increase the speed limit from 25 to say 45 or 50 right?

Well, the same is true for your capillaries! They will carry more blood, and at a faster rate. The end result is that your cells now have more blood to rid themselves of toxins throughout your body as the capillaries get wider!

How does this relate to niacin flush, you ask?
Simple. Niacin causes the capillaries to get bigger, and the end result is the "flush".

The increase in size of your capillaries causes, in some cases, a redness on your skin in the areas that it is occurring. This is the first part of niacin flush. The second reaction of niacin flush is the annoying, and sometimes painful itch that comes along with it. This itch is actually healthy! The reason you are experiencing this itch is because the niacin has allowed more blood to reach your cells to remove toxins from them.

As toxins are carried away and your cell becomes healthier, it is finally able to "call" your body for help! Your body responds by sending what is called a histamine to the cell. Histamines cause you to itch, but they also allow your body to send more water, blood, and nutrients to the area that called them.

To sum it all up, the niacin flush is actually a very healthy reaction from your body! You shouldn't be alarmed when you get it; actually the very opposite! It means your body is healing itself. You'll notice that after a certain dosage of niacin that eventually you will not receive the niacin flush any longer. Once you up the dosage, you may experience it again. Your doctor can recommend a good healthy dosage for you.

I hope this helps clear up the common misconception that niacin is actually harming your body. So, when you get it, try to sit back, relax, cope with the short annoyance that it causes, and think about the GOOD that it is doing for your body. Remember, it WILL GO AWAY!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Your Human Time Bomb Ticking

A controversial ‘raw’ transcript of a book due to be published late autumn reveals that the majority of the population is ‘killing themselves’ because of the worst nutritional deprivation the UK has been subjected to in its history.

Leading sustainability, food, and health expert, Dr. Robert Verkerk BSc MSc DIC PhD, admits in the document that most people are unaware of the health time bomb ticking inside them.

The controversial report is the product of a hush-hush meeting held at a private country residence in snow-hit Kent, 26th February, 2005.

The meeting agenda:

To expose the perilous state of nutritional value in the foods supplied in this country (Dr. Verkerk explains why even so called fresh supermarket foods have been tested and shown to be seriously nutrition-deficient), and to finally wake up the population en masse to the facts about the fatal diseases these deficiencies are causing—and what individuals can do about it.

Exposed:

Shocking nutrient deficiencies coupled with consumption of excessive quantities of simple carbohydrates and saturated fats will kill large segments of the population years often decades before natural lifespan should end.

Consider these facts:

Over the last 50 years the levels of key minerals within fruits and vegetables in the UK have declined by up to 70%.Dietary surveys show that large sectors of the population are deficient in particular vitamins (e.g. C, D, K) or minerals (e.g. selenium, zinc, magnesium) despite the growth of the organic fruit and vegetable industries, and the increased availability of ‘fresh’ fruits and vegetables.RDAs (Recommended Daily Allowance) do not reflect the dosages required for optimum nutrition. Dr. Verkerk exposes the folly of the RDAs, which the medical fraternity continue to misuse as their yardstick for assessing adequacy of vitamins and minerals in the human diet.

Did you know?

The RDA was created during the second world war to advise on minimum levels of particular nutrients soldiers should ingest to prevent vitamin deficiency diseases such as scurvy, pellagra, beriberi and rickets. RDAs do not reflect the dosages required for optimum nutrition. For example: the estimated adequate—not optimum—nutrient concentrations established for non-human primates and other animals are often several hundred times higher for many key vitamins and minerals compared with RDAs set for humans.

You work it out.

The harsh reality is that even an apparently ‘balanced diet’ today will leave your immune system severely weakened. As a result it seriously impedes the self-healing mechanisms within the body.

Worse still, the typical children’s diet is so bad we will see an explosion of cancer, heart disease and other degenerative diseases unlike anything we have experienced to date.

This is causing an invisible diseasetime bomb to tick in your body
Dr. Verkerk says, “Today, you might look and feel healthy and energetic. But unless you are extremely unusual, a disease time bomb is likely to be ticking in your system. That time bomb consists of the onset of major degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity which can both severely limit your lifespan and your quality of life.

Verkerk confirms in the transcript, “It is more or less impossible to reach the optimal levels of nutrients by eating commercially produced foods at this stage of history, because the foods—even whole foods— are so dramatically altered from those with which we evolved.”

Corporate interests, it seems, are controlling our destiny

“We all think we live in a free society but it’s so far from free,” Verkerk says. “If you really want to live your natural life—naturally healthy and vibrant well into later life—you should not rely on either the existing medical system, or the vast majority of commercially produced foods.”

We are being ‘controlled’ by biased laws and a biased medical system
“The orthodox medical system has spent little effort trying to understand the link between nutrition (which includes food supplements) and health, and we are now paying with our lives.

“In the work we are doing with the Alliance for Natural Health (Dr. Verkerk is founder and executive director) we are dismantling a lot of the very limited studies and positively shaping legislation so that prevention of disease becomes our future health care system.

“There are thousands of published studies demonstrating the benefits of food supplements—but—European law makes it illegal to talk about the health benefits of supplements. This is simply perverse.”

New regulation in Europe effectively‘locks out’ all but the big boys
“New regulation will actually prevent any health claims being made on any food unless you have met a very substantial data requirement. The problem is, the only companies that will be able to do this are the big boys. So any leading-edge food supplement manufacturer that hasn’t got the deep pockets needed to put those data together won’t be able to make it.”

Get this controversial transcript today—FREE—and discover what you can and MUST do to stop your Human Time Bomb ticking.

If you are even remotely interested in your health and wellbeing—and that of your children—I urge you to get and act on the critical information Dr. Verkerk reveals.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Information from Jerimiah Molfese

Information from Jerimiah Molfese and Frank Tocco

Everyone this is a incredible opportunity Mr. Renze Deelstra is going to help all of us get moving with our Vemma business. Please take the training it is very important, and let me know if the time 3pm is a good time to do this every week? and if Monday is a good day?

It is important that everyone understands that if they are under Jerimiah Molfese they have a great opportunity because we are all on the top of the whole orginization in Mexico. I have checked with the Vemma office in Mexico and we are the best in Mexico right now and the only members in the Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum area. I want everyone to know that we will be successful but we all need to work hard for six months to one year and everyone that is in now will have a good income for life.

Please take this seriously and take the trainings on line with Renze. It is very simple and all that you need to do is go to the address below and watch the live training. You can chat, interact and ask questions.

Small dreams have no power so think big and your dreams will come true.
Jeirmiah Molfese Team Leader.

David has asked that everyone confirm that they received the email from him, and it would be nice if you confirm that you got the email from me as well.

Thanks Mr. Renze Deelstra will be giving the training. Renze Deelstra has been in Networkmarketing for 16 years and has now build his VEMMA business up to 13.500 members. Does he know what he is talking about?... Yes! So if you want to increase your numbers dramaticly and get really good at this, be here for this first training and see what's possible with networkmarketing. See you there.

Login at http://talentscout.vemmasuite.com/meeting/VemmaHolland
on each Monday at 3pm Cancun, Mexico Time.

NOTE: Please have your speakers turned on when loading voice messages.
Want your own vemma.net account? Try a 14 Day Free Trial.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Vemma Marketing Secrets - How To Grow Your Vemma Business The Easy Way

You've experienced the benefits of consuming Vemma's powerful antioxidant supplements. And you love it. Now you want to build your Vemma business. So, what should you do? Well, I'm going to share some marketing secrets that will show you how to grow your Vemma business the easy way.

Vemma Marketing Secrets #1: Understand the benefits of your products. You need to understand how antioxidants help people. And how it improves someone's health. A good way to see how it helps people is by looking at how it has helped you. Or how it's helped your upline, downline, or someone you know. You can also ask them what they were looking for in relation to the antioxidants.

This will help you understand exactly who will buy the products from you and join you in your Vemma business. Once you understand this, you'll be able to grow your business by dozens of people a week, every week.

Vemma Marketing Secrets #2: Know your target market (people who have a need or want for what you have to offer). Your target market could be people who are looking for a way to become healthier. Or wanting more energy. Some people maybe looking for a better, more powerful antioxidant.

There are thousands of people who could enjoy benefits from Vemma's products.
There's no doubt about that. They're amazing. I will say this though, some people will refuse to buy your products. There will be people who'll be rude to you. Or criticize you. It's ok. Don't worry about it. Just find people who will appreciate your help.

Or better yet, you should have them find you. And by doing this, you'll be able to attract some "heavy hitters" into your business. When this happens, you'll have a great time growing your business.

An awesome way to do this is by generating your own leads. You're already trying to do this by hosting parties, handing out samples, or passing out business cards, DVDs, and brochures. Instead of blowing your money and wasting your time with people who won't join your Vemma business, generate your own leads that will be willing to grow and build a business with you.

Vemma Marketing Secret #3: You need to automate this process after you've understood the benefits of consuming Vemma's products and you've been able to find and attract the right people to your business. This will allow you to get your downline adding people into their downline. This will make growing your business simple and fun. And you'll be able to help people enjoy the benefits of consuming your products.

This will give you a deep sense of gratitude. And you'll have people thanking you for taking the time out to help them. Not only that, but you'll have people thanking you for allowing them to join your organization.

Use these marketing secrets to grow your Vemma business the easy way. These secrets will help you grow your business by attracting the right people to you.

For more information and other secrets on growing your Vemma business, visit:http://tinyurl.com/5jdswv

Friday, April 18, 2008

Health and Wellness Network Marketing

Health and Wellness Network Marketing
By Mary Thayer

What is health and wellness network marketing? It is a most perfect concept! It gives you the chance to offer your prospect the chance of meeting the three most important needs in their life: health, wealth, and happiness!

So this all sounds great but how do you choose what company will do this?

It is true that there are literally hundreds of different health and wellness network marketing businesses popping up all the time. They offer a wide variety of products from non toxic household cleaners to supplements. The key in choosing the best company for you is that they must have life changing consumable products that are unique and different.

Before even looking at the products make sure you determine they are coming from a sound business. When you are looking at joining a new company, pay close attention to the time they have been in business. If you are looking to build long term income it is better to stick with a company that has at least a five year track record.

Check out the company's management, finances, and compensation plan.

After you have determined the business is sound now it is time to evaluate the products. When you are evaluating them make sure you can see that they are indeed life changing. Is there science and research being conducted to prove the increased quality of life? Have you heard any testimonials from other product users? Can you see the potential life changing qualities of the product?

The next important piece in researching the products is making sure they are unique and different.
You really do not want to compete with Wal-Mart and Walgreen's for marketing the same product.

So here are some things to consider if your products are unique and different. Can you get the same product at a retail store for the same price? Does the product have any patent that protects it from being copied by another company? Is there science and research backing how the product is unique and different?

The competition is fierce between health and wellness network marketing companies. It is vital that you make sure that you choose one that has exclusive rights to a life changing consumable product. If you would like to find out more information on how to offer health, wealth, and happiness visit the resource box for more information.

Copyright © Mary Thayer

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Time Article, The Secret Killer


Time Article:
"The Secret Killer" (Click Here)
In the February 24th, 2004 issue of TIME Magazine, the feature article is all about INFLAMMATION!

They have discovered that inflammation is critical to
many diseases, which they did not know before.

The research has become saturated with data on inflammation and how critical it is to many diseases... things like sickle cell anemia ... MS, Lupus, and other autoimune diseases ... Parkinsons ... Alzheimers ... CANCER ... heart attacks ... DIABETES ... arthritis ... even such simple things as dental hygiene and the consequences of irritation in your mouth...

The study done with Mangosteen and inflammation compared it to the strongest anti-inflammatory drug available (a drug used to treat Gout and which is so dangerous they can only prescribe it for SHORT-term use) and the Mangosteen was JUST AS POWERFUL WITHOUT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES!!!

No wonder we're seeing so many conditions respond to the Mangosteen.
"Inflammation is probably the background and driving force behind all major age-related diseases."

~ Claudio Franceschi
Scientific Director, Italian National Research Center
on Aging
(INRCA)

A Summary of 31 Mangosteen Studies


Narace D. Seudeal, Ph.D. (a Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry) reviewed 31 selections of mangosteen xanthones research articles and condensed the main conclusions in an easy-to-read format with the least technical jargon possible, yet keeping the integrity of the medical findings intact.
http://tinyurl.com/5os9jb

Monday, April 14, 2008

Why Some People Almost Always Achieve Their Dreams?

Why Some People Almost Always Achieve Their Dreams?
Jerry Heng


keywords: business entrepreneur wealth passive income business opportunities business tips millionaire mindset

Are you feeling frustrated that you are getting nowhere in life? Do you always get criticized whether you talk to your friends about your dreams? Do you know why you cannot reach your goals, although you have written them down? This feeling should be totally eliminated, if you want to achieve your goals.

Many people want to improve the way things are. They want to get rich, change their lifestyle, live a better life and be prosperous. However, the answers to these wants are not out there, but in your mindset. In fact, many of us have the wrong mindset, which causes us to see things as problems and not taking actions to change.

When we are young, we are teachable, and we absorb all kinds of mindsets, whether good or bad. All these are being transformed to attitudes and thought patterns that stayed with us over the years. The wrong mindset will hinder your success, and limit your opportunities as you will tend to see everything as problems, and not taking actions to change the situations.

For instance, you can try talking to your friends about network marketing, telling your parents that you want to pursue your dream, and how wealthy some businessmen are without gong to school. Generally, you may expect to hear negative responses.

One of the responses is that ‘Money does not grow on trees’. It is true that money does not come to you just after a dream, unless for those who grow up in well-to-do families. What is needed is in fact, hard work with the correct strategies, for you to become wealthy. By thinking that you will be poor, you will not be able to be wealthy, as your mind is being conditioned to be poor.

Quite often heard is the comment “The rich keep all the secrets to themselves”. This is not true. When you go to bookstores, you can easily see books on business, written by successful businessmen. In fact, many successful people do not start off rich. However, by willing to learn and taking massive actions, they are able to achieve success. And there are many seminars and courses organized by these businessmen, teaching people the strategies on investing, mindset and business models, which are proven successfully themselves.

Getting a good education does not mean that you will be wealthy. In the olden days, this may be true, as a person can stay in a company for years and then retire with a huge sum of money. Nowadays, it is very difficult to achieve financial freedom through a job. And there is no such thing as a permanent job, with intense global competition.

You definitely deserve to have dreams. Do not be infected by the wrong mindsets. To lead the lifestyle that you desire, you need to have a vision, correct strategies, and take massive actions to reach this goal.

About The Author:
Jerry Heng is a Business Coach who can help you grow your passive income and expand your business opportunities. His blog, www.savvybusinesstips.com, provides a wealth of informative content on what works and what doesn't work to achieve success in business. You can also get his free report at www.homerealincome.com/income-report.pdf Further recommended resources: www.homerealincome.com

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Whole Is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts

In the latter part of the 20th century, "Team Building" became recognised by many companies as an important factor in providing a quality service and remaining competitive. Yet as we stride into the 21st century, the term "team building" can still sometimes seem rather nebulous - people often know that they need it, but aren't quite sure what it is.

As a result, team building is used in all sorts of contexts, even when it is not appropriate.

A Basic Definition

To examine this in more depth, we need to start with a basic definition.
Some people define a team as being "the whole is greater than the sum of its' parts". But this isn't the right definition; it is a feature of good teams. 'Whole > sum' shows that they are working well together - but there are some teams whose collective performance falls short of what you might expect given the quality of individuals. The
Apollo Syndrome is a good example of this - where highly intelligent people often performs worse than teams made of up 'less-able' members.

Some people define a team as being the people who report to the same boss. This can be misleading. In a well-designed organisational structure, people reporting to one boss do often form 'teams'. But when designing organisational hierarchies there are often compromises made because of pay structures or the need to have traditional reporting lines.

Whislt a team is a group of people, a group is not necessarily a team. Rather, a team is a group of people working together towards a common goal. .

Groups

If a team is a group of people working towards a common goal, 'team building' is the process of enabling that group of people to reach their goal. It is therefore a management issue, and the most effective form of team building is that undertaken as a form of management consultancy, rather than as pure training (though there is a role for training within an overall programme).
In its simplest terms, the stages involved in team building are:

To clarify the collective goals

To identify those inhibitors that prevent them from reaching their goals and remove them

To put in place enablers that assist them

To measure and monitor progress, to ensure the goals are achieved

Traditional techniques often address the inhibitors to collective performance: relationships, communication, etc.. However, if a group is only a group, then the benefits of such techniques may be limited. At best, there may be no need to resolve relationship problems; at worst it can be a waste of time and detract the people involved from achieving their individual goals.

Relationship problems


If there are problems between people working in a group, then this can have a negative impact on their individual performance. However, traditional techniques are not the solution.
The stress in a relationship between two people is governed by the formula:
(proximity of the two people) x (importance they succeed together)
-------------------------------------------------------------
(compatibility of their personalities)
In a group, the 'importance' is low. However, traditional techniques implicitly try make the importance score higher than it need be. This makes the stress score worse, because you are forcing people to work well together when they don't need to.
Also, traditional techniques sometimes tries to address the incompatibilities of the personalities involved, eg: on a personality workshop. Whilst this can be done, it is hard work and needs both parties to be committed to it. In a working group, the motivation for such difficult work is unlikely to be there - though, if they are willing to do it for personal reasons, then a personality workshop can have some effect.
However, to reduce relationship stress in a group, it is better to focus on the factor that is easiest to change: proximity. If they are only a group, then putting some distance between them (physically or by managing the boundaries between their work) will achieve a satisfactory result, without having to invest a lot of time.
Summary
A team is a group of people working towards a common goal
Team building is a process of enabling them to achieve that goal
If they are only a group, then traditional techniques can be a waste of time/money or even counter-productive.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

So, why do I need minerals?

So, why do I need minerals?

Minerals are amazing! They're amazing because even in infinitesimal amounts these nutrients can produce unexplainable, beneficial changes in body chemistry.* Minerals are nutrients required by the body to help facilitate a multitude of biochemical and physiologic processes necessary for the maintenance of life.* Some of these processes include supporting the health of organs, bones, tissue and the immune system.* Minerals, like vitamins, are not synthesized in our bodies; therefore we must acquire them from outside sources.

Why plant-source minerals?

Because plant source minerals are from Mother Nature herself! Here's how it works: plants assimilate minerals from the soil they are embedded in and in the process, an amazing conversion that science has not been able to duplicate takes place, preparing some of them for human consumption. Nature really intended for humans to get minerals from plant foods — lots of minerals. As a matter of fact, minerals can be found in nearly all foods that are grown in soil. Carrots, grapes, broccoli...you name it. The problem in this day and age is that food processing, chemical fertilizers and overused crop lands make it impossible to get a wide spectrum of minerals from our diets. We just aren't getting what nature intended. Nothing is more beneficial than a full range of plant source minerals sourced from deposits that are thousands of years old — it's like harnessing the power of nature!

Where do I get minerals?

Look for a product that is plant-sourced, ionic, and contains as many major, trace and ultra-trace minerals as possible in an ionic liquid form. These types of minerals are extracted from nutrient-dense plant vegetation that has been undisturbed for thousands of years. The absolute best have been broken down into a bioavailable (body-ready) ionic state. This means the minerals are reduced to the smallest component that minerals can exist in and still retain their physical properties and are suspended into a completely dissolved liquid form. The result is a 100% ionic liquid mineral product that is easy for the body to absorb and use. This is important because as we age, the ability of the body to handle minerals declines, so body-ready minerals can be very helpful indeed!

Customer referrals: Viral marketing goes old school

Getting referral business and new customers, through recommendations by satisfied customers and clients, is a dream of most business owners and managers. Of course, it’s often more likely thought about as an abstract concept, than really put into practice. Many business owners dream of referral business, but not every entrepreneur takes advantage of this powerful marketing tool.

Referral business is often called word of mouth advertising. More recently, the term viral marketing has been applied to the age old concept. In the end, it’s getting a happy customer to help you sell your products or services. In fact, it’s the cheapest sales force that a business can ever cultivate.

Surprisingly, referrals are one of the least used sales and marketing techniques around. Sure, you’ll hear many business owners ask their customers if any other people would be interested in the offered products and services. You might even have said the same tired old line yourself.

Usually, the customer smiles, nods, and then forgets the entire conversation ever took place. After all, your business, products, and services are not the most important thing on their minds. Instead of creating a customer evangelist for your business, another golden marketing opportunity was lost. Developing a customer referral system could be the most profitable marketing step ever taken by a business. It’s time to get one started for your business.

The satisfied customer as target marketer

Most business people, when asking for customer referrals, are much too vague in their request. After all, if a business targets their marketing to specific customers, it only makes sense to apply the same principle to seeking referrals. Make the request specific, and aim for the proper target market.

All too often, a business person will simply ask if they know of some friend, relative, or business associate who requires a similar service. Little response is the usual result. Instead of being general, be specific. Provide specific examples of a type of product or service offered. Let the satisfied client discover the person who needs it.

For example, a men’s tailor would not simply ask if a customer knew who needed a new suit. Instead, the approach would be if the client knew of a friend or relative who was getting married in the near future. The tailor would remind the customer that the new groom would be made look like a movie star in just the right fitting suit.

The client is not only now thinking of who is getting married, but who might also be attending a wedding. The same approach could be used to specifically target graduations or prom clothing. The goal is to zero in on a specific target person for referral. Aiming too widely will capture fewer referrals. Being specific is the key.

Help the referrer to get the new prospect

If the business service or product is fairly complex or a large investment, a few sales props are helpful to the referring customer. Provide them with a sample or a brochure to give to the prospect. Giving the customer evangelist something to work with helps her to demonstrate the opportunity your business offers. The information you provide will answer many of her prospect’s questions.

Make certain that not only your sales staff ask for business referrals, but have every member of your organization working on the referral system. Treat the entire staff as a sales referral team, and provide them with the sales tools to add their social and family networks to the business client base. Many potential customers are lost because not all members of the firm were aware of the company’s products and services line. Don’t miss that built in company referral system.

Rewarding the helpful

Most people want to be helpful. They want to share good experiences with their friends and family. Referrals are usually treated as part of a business transaction, and most people will be open to the idea. People want to help. You just need to help them a bit too.

Offering a small referral gift or reward often works very well. The possibility of getting a free product or service is appealing. More importantly, it keeps the referral in the satisfied customer’s mind. They think of the gift and remember to market your product or service wherever possible. The key is deciding what sort of reward to offer as an incentive.

Don’t offer anything too extravagant. It makes the business appear too profitable, and can even make the satisfied customer think she paid too much. After all, the cost of an expensive referral gift has to be covered somewhere. A potential customer might believe that the incentive reward forms a large portion of the purchase price.

A better idea is to offer some additional service or accessory as the referral gift. Our tailor could offer free alterations, or a minor clothing accessory, for every successful referral. The point is to have the customer make a referral to a new prospect; and to make it somehow related to the product or service on offer. Keeping the concept of referrals in the customer's mind is what counts. A product or service, that works with the referral item, is an ideal referral reward.

Conclusion

By putting customer and staff referral systems in place, your business can grow by word of mouth. Treat your customers well, and reward them fairly, and they will happily do your target marketing on your behalf.Old school know how will enhance a business’s modern viral marketing program.

Is That A Pyramid Scheme or Multi-Level Marketing?

First we must define what a pyramid scheme is. A pyramid scheme is a way to sell goods where commissions are paid to recruit new sellers. The commission is dependent on the number of sellers recruited.

So the soul purpose is to build a sales organization and increase the number of sellers at lower and lower levels creating the pyramid. There is no focus on product. The product is used only as a device to rally around and give the illusion of a product based company.

How is that different from Multi-Level Marketing? From a business structure standpoint it's not. They have the same genes. You might even find that some people refer to them as a legal Pyramid.

This is how they are different.

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) doesn't only care about recruiting. They normally have a high quality, reputable product their sales force sells.

In a pyramid a commission or bonus is provided to encourage sellers to recruit more and more people underneath them. Then the people beneath them are encouraged to recruit more and more people by enticing them with commissions or bonuses. This gives you the "pyramid". The end structure is a pyramid of sellers.

MLM does that, but it also has a training program around selling products. There is a system in place to reward their sales force. The more products they sell, the bigger their commissions.

So in order for a company to escape that title (Pyramid Scheme), they're primary focus must be the products not the growth of the sales force.

There are a lot of very good Multi-Level Marketing Companies on the scene. Amway, for instance, is one of the oldest Multi-Level Marketing companies on the planet. It has over 3 million of distributor worldwide! It must be doing something right. Some consider them a Pyramid Scheme, but are they? Yes they encourage recruitment, but they also have a quality product and a good product focus.

The debate will continue. My personal perspective is MLM is an ingenious business model, but like any other business model it can be misused. It doesn't need to be illegal, just controlled. 90-95% of the seller's income should be from the products and the recruitment should only be factored in as a bonus.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Verve Energy Drink: The Biggest Ingredients List Ever

Verve! takes the cake.

Check out this for an ingredient:

“Proprietary Wild crafted Mangosteen, Organic Glyconutrient Rich Aloe Vera and Organic Green Tea Blend”.

In case you were wondering - the Verve has 25.2 grams of the above blend.

But take a look at the nutrition label I’ve posted. The mineral blend contains nearly half the periodic table of elements (okay - not really half - but you know what I mean).

Silver? Cobalt? Titanium? In a drink?

The drink also contains 200mg of Guarana Seed Extract - which apparently yields 80mg caffeine. This is unusual - even the highest quality Guarana extracts only amount to a 22% caffeine content (which in this case would yield about 44mg caffeine).
Posted in Energy Drinks · March 30th, 2008

Rise In The Energy Drink Industry

Perhaps the most under-noticed behavioral trend over the past several years has been the rise in the energy drink industry, which in a short time has gone from zero to $3.4 billion in sales. This trend was troubling when the drinks were advertised as being high in sugar and caffeine. But they are alarming now because the drinks are beginning to contain alcohol.

Alarming, that is, because the cans often are not labeled clearly as containing alcohol, which apparently makes it easier for minors to purchase them, and for people to drink them without knowing what they're getting.

It's time for the Food and Drug Administration to take a hard look at this industry, requiring clear labeling and putting an end to false advertising.

For example, the word "energy" is misleading. The ingredients in these drinks almost certainly do not help long-term energy needs, nor do they help athletic performance. They most likely dehydrate athletes.
S
ome drink companies go so far as to claim that the alcohol in their products will not lead to hangovers or other impairments because of the other energy components.

Those claims are without merit or scientific support.

But then, the overall science on these drinks is scant. Some of the drinks contain, in one can, more than three times the amount of caffeine physicians say people can safely consume in a day. Hospitals and poison centers have been reporting incidents in connection with these drinks. Meanwhile, some experts estimate that new energy drinks come on the market at the rate of one per day, and they do so with little regulation.

The boom in this new industry has led established soft-drink manufacturers, such as Coca-Cola, to come up with variations of their own. The alcohol industry also is developing alcoholic energy drinks -- a phrase that on its own should be considered laughably contradictory.

This trend should raise numerous alarms. The first is that a generation of young people will be led to become dependent on a daily dose of stimulants, when the best way to peak performance involves a good night's sleep and proper nutrition. The second is that the high caloric content in these drinks will add to a growing obesity problem. The third concerns alcoholism and the awful effects alcohol has on young, developing minds.

All are good reasons for the FDA to become involved.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Why Some Companies Get All the Buzz

Have you ever wondered why the same companies seem to attract all of the media coverage?

No matter where you turn - newspapers, trade magazines, even lifestyle publications -it seems that some businesses are just natural media darlings.
Do they know some secret that the rest of us don't?

According to Kris Bondi, founder of California-based Communications Network Worldwide, the answer is probably not all that mysterious. "Companies that get all the buzz usually have a good marriage of solid or innovative product or service with good promotional ideas," she explains.

Silicon Valley-based interactive software developer Marimba is a prime example of a company that has been getting all the buzz in the software industry since its 1996 inception. Not only does Marimba have cutting-edge products and a very visible CEO in Kim Polese, but Bondi says they captured the media's attention, then maintained it, by creating relationships.

"The best way to get the industry's attention is with a 'first, biggest or best' of a new product or service. If you are the second company to offer something, you are already at a disadvantage, but if you can show why yours is different than the rest, you are on your way to getting buzz.

Marimba's success is due, in part, to being consistently evaluated by independent organizations such as PC Magazine as having a superior product," she explains.
It is a myth, Bondi says, that companies like these have to spend a lot of money on marketing to become buzz magnets: "Too many companies think they need to do ongoing promotions. They are wasting money.

Promotions are important, but there needs to be something behind it." She cites Nabisco, maker of Oreo cookies, as an example of one of the best and least-expensive promotions she has seen.

During a 1997 news assembly at the National Restaurant Association conference, the cunning cookie company generated an economical buzz by listing the event in daily conference announcements, in addition to distributing a "media alert" that they were holding the press briefing.

The information given out was not ground breaking at all, she explains, but Nabisco had an ace up its sleeve: They fed the news conference attendees milk and Oreos. As a result, the company had a packed house of hungry reporters and PR people listening to their announcement.

"This wasn't an expensive promotion, but it was effective. It fit the company culture and accomplished Nabisco's goal of getting reporters to their news conference," Bondi explains.

Word of Mouth Marketing--How Smart Companies Get People Talking

Adapted From:Word of Mouth Marketing:
How Smart Companies Get People Talking
by Andy Sernovitz

Everything You Need To Know About Word of Mouth Marketing
by Andy Sernovitz

Okay. Here’s the quick version. Everything you wanted to know about word of mouth marketing but were afraid to ask. It all comes down to this:
Happy customers are your best advertisers.

If people like you and like what you do, they will tell their friends.

Lesson 1: The Definition Of Word Of Mouth Marketing
Word of Mouth Marketing is

a) giving people a reason to talk about you and
b) making it easier for the conversation to take place.

It's C to C Marketing—when a consumer tells a consumer about you.
Actually, it’s B to C to C. When it comes out of the mouth of a marketer, it’s marketing.
When a real person repeats it, it’s word of mouth.

It’s more than just marketing—it’s also product design and customer service.
People talk about fantastic stuff and great treatment from companies they like.

Lesson 2: The Four Rules of Word of Mouth
Rule #1: Be Interesting
Nobody talks about boring companies, boring products, boring ads.

Everyone can be interesting. Before you run an ad, before you launch a product,
ask your spouse about it. Trust me…if he or she finds it interesting, you’ve got a winner.

Rule #2: Make People Happy
Create amazing products. Provide excellent service. Go the extra mile.

Make sure the work you do gets people energized, excited, and eager to tell a friend.

Rule #3: Earn Trust And Respect
Nobody talks about a company that they don’t trust or don’t like.

Earn the respect of your customers. Be good to them. Talk to them.
Honor their intelligence. Fulfill their needs. Stay honest.
Every company can be nicer, and every one of us can work to make our company
a little better to its customers.

Rule #4: Make It Easy
Find a simple topic that is easy to repeat. Not your formal brand statement,

not your product description. Forget elevator pitch…it’s the pass-in-the-hall test.
What can people tell a friend about you in one sentence?

Then do everything you can to make it easy to share that topic.
Use tell-a-friend forms on your web site. Put it in an email. Pass out flyers.
Blog it. Stick it on a t-shirt.

Lesson 3: The Three Reasons People Talk About You
Reason #1: You. They Like You and Your Stuff.
They like you. They feel a connection to your company, they respect what you do,

and they want to support you. So they bring their friends.
People feel driven to share things they like with their friends,
so their friends can enjoy them too. Create great products and services
that inspire them. (Think about TiVo, the best album ever, the best cookie you ever ate,
or the spot remover that actually works.)

Be likeable. Make great stuff. Provide great service.

Reason #2: Them. Talking Makes Them Feel Good
People talk because it makes them feel special, smart, connected,

in the know, and important. (Think about the restaurant guy, the what's-on-sale maven,
the computer guru.) People also feel good when they can help others
find what they need or solve problems. (Think about the guy who always knows
which contractor to call or which car to buy.)

Provide reasons to talk that make your talkers feel smart and special.

Reason #3: Us. They Feel Connected to the Group
Talking about a company and being passionate about it makes us

feel like part of a family. We talk about it because it makes us feel
included on the team. (Think about Harley owners, Apple junkies, sports fans,
and anyone who loves a great band.)

Rally the team. Give them shirts, private discussion groups,
special events, and public recognition.

Lesson 4: Making it happen — The Five Ts of Word of Mouth Marketing
Talkers: Find The People Who Like To Talk
Are they your customers? Neighborhood moms? Doctors? Bloggers?

Think about the people who are most likely to tell a friend about what you are doing.
Make sure they know about your new topic of conversation.

Topics: Give Them a Reason to Talk
Give people a reason to talk about you. It doesn’t need to be fancy.

A special sale, good service, a neat new feature, a better flavor, a funny package.
(Remember the Gateway computers that came in cow-patterned boxes?)

Tools: Help the Message Spread Faster and Farther
Do everything you can to make it easy for talkers to pass along your topic.

Include postcards and stickers in the box when you ship a package.
Put up a chat room so people can talk to each other. J
oin a blog conversation. Hand out samples. (Did you ever get one of those emails
with a "secret" coupon that was supposedly for employees only? Did you forward it?)

Taking Part: Join The Conversation
Conversations die out when there’s only one person talking.

When people are talking about you, answer them. Reply to their email.
Comment on blogs that write about you. Send a lot of thank-you notes.

Tracking: Measure and Understand What People are Saying
The word of mouth conversation is the best feedback you’re ever going to get.

It’s far better than any other kind of market research, because it is
the authentic voice of the consumer. Hear what people are saying, learn from it,
and use it to be a better company.

Your Homework
Ask yourself why anyone would talk about your stuff.

Do something worth talking about.

Search the blogs to find out who is talking about you.

Join the conversation.

Share this article!
I want you to pass this article on. It's one of the best ways to generate word of mouth.

You can post, copy, forward, or share this article with anyone you want,
as much as you want.
But you need to follow the rules:
1) Don't change it,
2) Give author credit to Andy Sernovitz,
3) Mention that it comes from the book Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking