The astute and very pleasant Direct Sales Consultant, known by the handle The Traveling SalesWoman, asked the following question of me?
You were the person who encouraged me to join Twitter, and I’m so grateful for that!  Can you share some further thoughts about Twitter and why home party business owners should join in that conversation?

Are you are brothers and sisters fan?  If so you have not missed the obvious connection between Sarah Walkers’ Greenotopia company and its’ many references to social networks and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter!

And if you don’t know by now, you are no-one if you are not on twitter.  I was amused to find that my vocabulary  has changed considerably over the past year!

I am  Youtubing, plurking, Facebooking, tweeting, blogging, linking, MySpacing, texting and a host of other things too!  All these are some of the most popular social media sites and as you can see things can get pretty hairy, so I definitely recommend that you have a social media system.

Direct Sales Home Party Marketing Tip: Any task you do more than once NEEDS a procedure, system or checklist!

Before Bill Gates, no one had a personal computer!   One man single handedly revolutionized the world with a dream…his dream was that every home would have a computer!  His dream was to provide value to every single household in the world!

Even after Bill Gates created such an incredible tool, that gave rise to the Internet, Easy Online access & E-Commerce; it STILL amazes me just how many people refuse, are afraid and/or have not taken advantage of the power of the computer and the Internet! Computers as far as I am concerned are the best social media tools (of course for the obvious reason without one you cannot access social media ?, yep)!

I told the travelling saleswoman that social media and social networks are all about relational capital.  And like any thing social media marketing is an art form. The question I often get asked by home party consultants and direct sales reps. Is why don’t they buy my product.  The answer is simple, you have written a check, which came back with the red stamp mark, insufficient funds! (thanks Martin Luther King Jr. for that one).

You see people buy because:

i)    they know you,
ii)    they trust you
iii)   they believe that you have the solution the problem which the face and
iv)   for status

People don’t buy a product, nor do they buy a feature and the benefits are as they are decided upon by the story they tell themselves.   Your juice drink mwy help me loose weight.  But the story I am telling myself is that I am going to look sexy, finally that size 0 pair of jeans that I have seen on display for a year will be mine.  I am going to get hit on by men….you get the picture?  So if your pitch is not in line with my story…

How does all this fit into social media and social marketing?  Simple, you are building relational capital, by depositing in the bank of getting to know you, getting to know all about you!  And you are not only doing it with one person, no you are reaching out to many in one shot!

There are people on these sites that follow you, there are those that interact with you and those that want to see what you are about.  The cool thing about social outlets is that you are King and Queen of your own little internet real estate  King/Queendom!

Social media and social marketing is all about building that relational capital that gives you the all access pass to make your direct sales pitches to those who are ready, able and willing to hear what you have to say, and have the money to spend on what you have to sell.  Do not under-estimate the power of relational capital! 

How else do you think Pres. Barack Obama did it?  I will be holding a special in a week or so about “the Pres. Obama Social Media Effect : How You Too Can Go From Zero To Hero!

For more on social media, and how to use it effectively, just google “social media blog!”

ALL,

We have an exciting event for everyone and hope you can make it! This Friday – Friday the 13th, we will have an exciting Business Blitz event for all! We are asking that members from all chapters attend. RSVP’s are required as seating is limited – first come, first serve. Please have your guests register on www.meetup.com/businessblitz.

Announcing March 13, 2009 Compliments International with Huddle Productions presents:

Fusion Marketing

Seven time Emmy Award winning Huddle Productions will be filming, Compliments International’s The Fusion of Marketing at the weekly Addison Business Blitz Strategic Introduction meeting to be held at The Egg & I in Addison. (The Egg & I – 15203 Knoll Trail Drive #103, Dallas, TX 75248 – Arapaho & N. Dallas Tollway area)

Huddle Productions produces for networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Sports Network and CNBC. Co-founders Jim Knox and Chris Yates will be on hand along with Compliments International’s CEO Jennifer Bagley-Buckles with marketing success systems.

Knox will be conducting interviews with our members and clients, and Jennifer will speak on How the fusion of old school marketing, effective professional networking and new age technologies will crush traditional advertising. Social Media will rule the world, where are you in the mix?

Please join us and bring a couple guests. This is a great opportunity to get filmed at the event and learn some amazing information to grow your business in a new age.

When: Friday, March 13, 2009
Time: 12:00 Noon – arrive early for networking
What: Weekly Addison Business Blitz Strategic Networking Meeting
Location: This week only The Egg & I – 15203 Knoll Trail Drive #103, Dallas, TX 75248 – Arapaho & N. Dallas Tollway area
Meeting fee: $15 for members and $25 for non-members – includes lunch
Dress – Professional

R.S.V.P. www.meetup.com/businessblitz limited seating is limited!

Business Blitz

REGISTER TODAY!!!

The business conference where YOU ask the questions you need answered in every session!

Through 8 cutting edge discussion panels, presented by leaders of
top consulting firms from both the U.S. and U.K., you will take away
the power and strategies to create your company’s winning playbook for
2009.

Business Solutions EXPO is the conference that brings you the
experts whose firms are in constant research and development in the
areas of expanding your company’s reach and visibility. Today’s market
demands you keep up with the latest in marketing and advertising
technologies; both traditional and non-tradional. Business Solutions
EXPO is the first business conference dedicated to sales, marketing and
advertising for small and medium business. This is where you get to ask
top experts in the field your questions and network with Dallas/Ft.
Worth’s business elite.

Attend these business transforming discussion forums
and learn sales, marketing and advertising strategies from the same
experts hired by fortune 500 companies like: Ebay, Dell, IBM,
VISA International, Shell Oil, Nordstrom, Nokia Electronics, Coca Cola,
American Airlines, Merck Pharmaceuticals, just to name a few.

	Jeff Chavez, President and CEO, Northstar Ventures, Northstar Thinktank Jeff Chavez, a member of the entrepreneurial elite, knows about the process of building a successful company. Since 1992 Jeff has founded 4 multimillion dollar companies of his own, and helped other entrepreneurs to do the same. To date, Jeff has been instrumental in launching over 1,000 companies making him a highly sought after business expert. In 2003, Jeff Chavez launched Northstar Ventures and the Northstar Thinktank, a company whose business model draws on Jeff’s entrepreneurial passion. He is responsible for recruiting some of the world’s leading business experts to the cause of developing world class curriculum, training, and mentoring programs, for entrepreneurs and small enterprises You may have seen Jeff on CNBC’s hit television series, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. Jeff is an active member of Donny’s S.W.A.T. team (Success With Action Today) answering the tough questions entrepreneurs face in business today. Through his passion for effective communications, learning and personal development, Jeff understands the entrepreneurial process like no other. These are the qualities that drive his success and what he shares with others as a mentor, a coach and as an author. For more information visit Jeff at www.northstarventures.com
	Karren Brooks, CEO Whitespace Leaders When the world’s high net worth leaders want to achieve even more, they call on Karren Brooks founder of White Space Leaders based in London, England. As a founder of multiple international businesses, Karren understands her client’s viewpoints and owns the expert knowledge on how to usher them into their next game and an even higher level of play. In addition to working with individuals, Karren and White Space Leaders work with corporate board of directors, c-level executives, as well as their management teams. Karren is an avid student of Aikido (the way of harmony with Ki or Life-force) with a 10th dan Sensei (master), committing herself to understanding ‘flows of intention’ and to maintaining the disciplinary training and development of her own leadership skills. Karren has also partnered with Alan Walter at the Advanced Coaching and Leadership Centre near Dallas, Texas for the last 10 years, developing two success systems courses: Dynamics of Genius and Mastering the Games of Life, currently available in the U.S. and the U.K. Karren’s clients include, VISA International, Chairman of Portman Estate, Satelcom (U.K) Limited, Jeff Wayne Music Group, and The War of The World’s to name a few. www.whitespaceleaders.com
	Nick Vaidya, Partner The 8020 Strategy GroupAs a Business Profitability and Growth Specialist, Nick designs metrics driven programs that bring accountability to marketing and sales. Fundamental to his strategy is a systematic roadmap to align finance, marketing, and sales into a unified outbound profitable revenue capture program. Nick’s firm, The 8020 Strategy Group, is about minimal metrics towards the profoundest change. He works within B2B vertical, advising C Level executives on strategic decision making, revenue growth strategies, and sales training. He also works with B2C clients on segmentation and marketing accountability issues. Nick offers thought leadership emanating from the cross pollination of backgrounds in sales, advertising, marketing operations, management consulting, as well as the academia. His several years of consulting experience spans both Fortune 500 companies as well as medium businesses in retail, manufacturing, IT, Finance. His client list includes Ebay, Nike, Microsoft, Dell, Harcourt, Trilogy, IBM and more. www.8020strategy.com
	Tony Wright, CEO of WrightIMC With more than ten years of hands-on and strategic experience in interactive marketing and a background in traditional and interactive public relations and journalism, Tony Wright has spent his career helping businesses be profitable on the Web. Wright is a search marketing expert and also has extensive experience in online crisis communication and brand reputation strategy, including corporate blogging and corporate monitoring, most notably directing the online corporate reputation management strategy for American Airlines immediately following the events of September 11, 2001. Wright’s work for his clients has been recognized in several local and national award campaigns, including the Excellence in Interactive Marketing Award, the Katie Awards, Webawards and the PRweek awards. www.wrightimc.com
	Scott Murray, CEO of Murray Media If a picture is worth a thousand words, video is worth a million. Today’s technology makes turning your message into video more accessible than ever before. With over 30 years in broadcasting, Scott Murray has won numerous awards including two Emmy Awards for his work as Sports Director and Anchor at NBC, Dallas/Ft. Worth. As CEO of Murray Media, Scott has helped non-profits, small businesses and Fortune 50 companies bring their message to media through both radio and film. Let Scott’s expertise in film and television help you take you’re your message to video. Learn how to increase your company’s profile with the most profound communication medium there is – video! More on Scott’s experience here www.murraymedia.net
	Rob Garner, of iCrossing and President of the D/FW Search Engine Marketing Association As Strategy Director, Rob Garner creates search marketing strategies for iCrossing clients throughout the US and Europe.Rob has been a speaker at a number of industry conferences since 2004, including ad:tech Chicago and NYC; SES in San Jose, NYC, and Chicago; Search Engine Watch LIVE in Dallas 2007; Rackspace Customer Event; and the VeriSign Executive Conference in Dulles. Additionally, he writes a bi-monthly column for MediaPost Publications’ Search Insider that provides insight into search campaign management experience and best practices. Rob is also a founding member and President of the Dallas / Fort Worth Search Engine Marketing Association.
Picture Coming Soon	Giovanni Gallucci, Partner, Dexterity Media Giovanni regularly speaks at technology, new media, and marketing events such as ad:tech, barcamp, FlashForward 2007, Got Social Media?, 1MPACT, Innotech, Macworld to name a few. During his career in technology, Gallucci has provided new media, technology, and marketing solutions for 3Com, American Airlines, The American Heart Association, BMC Software, Brinker International, Bristol Hotels & Resorts, Centex Homes, Compass Bank, Gateway Computers, Hilton Hotels Corporation, JC Penney, Microsoft Corporation, NASCAR, Sabre Technologies, and Samsung Electronics among others. www.DexterityMedia
	Jeff Crilley is an Emmy Award winning TV reporter in Dallas, TX. During his 20 years in television news he has made hundreds of national news appearances including CNN, CNN Headline News, FOX News, The Discovery Channel, Good Morning America and The CBS Early Show. He has been recognized by his peers with dozens of national and regional awards including the Emmy, the National Headliners Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Thurgood Marshall Award and in 2004 was named by the Texas Associated Press, “The Best TV Reporter in the state.” Be sure to sign up for Jeff’s ultra valuable newsletter and get his best selling book at www.jeffcrilley.com
	Dean Lindsay, Founder of The Progress Agents, LLC. Recognized as a ‘Sales-and-networking guru’ by the Dallas Business Journal. A cum laude graduate of the University of North Texas, Dean presently serves on the Executive Advisory Board for UNT’s Department of Marketing and Logistics. Dean’s best selling business book, Cracking the Networking CODE: 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships is Recommended Reading by the United Professional Sales Association and Profit magazine and has been endorsed Ken Blanchard – author of The One Minute Manager and Brian Tracy. Link: www.progressagents.com
	Jennifer Bagley–Buckles, CEO of Business Blitz & Compliments Intl, LLC Jennifer Buckles is a dynamic, results-oriented leader in Supply Chain Strategies, with a strong track record of performance in high-paced organizations. She consistently utilizes keen analysis, insights and a team approach to drive organizational improvements and implement best practices. Adept in resolving multiple and complex issues, she excels in motivating your staff to their peak performance. In addition to her own corporations, Jennifer’s experience includes executive positions with major international corporations such as Nordstrom, Fossil, Tommy Bahama and Lamont’s Apparel. Link: www.ComplimentsInternational.com
	June Munroe, Pro IFBB Fitness Competitor, Owner Flex Star New Age. After earning a B.S. in Computer Engineering, June continued her interest in fitness by competing in national and international fitness competitions. Whether on the IFBB pro circuit, training pro athletes, or teaching beginner fitness classes to seniors, June’s down to earth manner, compassion, and passion for helping people get and stay fit makes her extremely popular with people of all fitness levels.
Picture Coming Soon	Bill Hartzer, Manager Search Engine Marketing & Social Media Marketing Vizion Interactive An Internet marketing expert, Bill Hartzer is the author of Corporate Web Site Marketing. His vast experience in both search engine marketing and social media marketing makes him a well read writer, blogger and sought after speaker in the Internet marketing industry. Bill frequently speaks at industry conferences such as WebmasterWorld’s PubCon Search Engine and Internet Marketing Conference and conferences as far away as Dubai. As the manager of SEM and SMM at Vizion Interactive, Mr. Hartzer focuses on developing results-oriented paid and natural search marketing and social media marketing programs to help clients increase their online visibility, broaden their brand’s reach and maximize their overall return on investment. Bill’s strong enthusiasm and vision for search engine marketing, social media marketing, and search engine optimization led him to become a founder of the Dallas/Fort Worth Search Engine Marketing Association.

REMEMBER – EVERY GREAT CORPORATION STARTED WITH A GREATER ENTREPRENEUR!!

Our Entrepreneurs are people that engage in an opportunity that helps to shape the future of business by being an innovator. They are able to recognize opportunity and administer resources to take advantage of the opportunities. They are pioneers of new technologies and responsible for the ideas and processes to develop and implement large projects that will inevitably shape the future of our market place. The projects that we are shaping our everyday experiences are ones dreamt up and guided by our Entrepreneurs.

The source of wealth, the source of prosperity … are our Entrepreneurs.

Realize that when the Entrepreneur wins, we all win. The Entrepreneur drives our global economy.

We are the mavericks, the risk takers, the innovators, and the maker of dreams. Our Entrepreneurs are always finding new ways to succeed and generate wealth.

Entrepreneurs say “yes, if …” there are no rules, just ideas set in motion. They work in a fast paced positive environment of constant yet controlled chaos and creativity. Yet, Entrepreneurs are very disciplined although unconventional. Successful Entrepreneurs resist the temptation to do what is unimportant or the easiest but have the ability to think through to what is the most essential.

Think of the thrill you get when taking the plunge on a roller coaster. Getting out of your comfort zone and breaking free from the constraints of “business as usual” is essential. Playing it safe only stagnates your business’s growth and income potential. Bureaucrats and their bureaucracies continue to confine and constrain. Bureaucrats convince you that “you can’t, because…” You must follow their rules, their programs, their way in order to succeed. There is no independence, no thrill or rush, no sense of accomplishment, no business of your own. The Entrepreneur listens to suggestions, asks questions, gets ideas and fills the need. For the Entrepreneur, there is always a better way to conduct business and succeed. Change is the entrepreneur’s friend.

Are you ready? Are you tired of “business as usual”and crave independence ……………

You have the Power to create your own destiny! You live in a world of abundance! You have all the tools and resources you need to be successful! You have the support needed to create! You have the freedom to grow and change…. INVENT!!! You have the ability to share! You have the entrepreneurial mindset!