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April 30, 2012
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| Advertiser – VitaTech International, Inc. |
| ByDesign Technologies Partners with Feeding America |
| GEP Holds Educational Forum for Direct Selling Companies’ Meeting Planners |
| Coolest High-Tech Stuff at Sea |
| Everybody Loves Chocolate! |
| System Migrations: Preparing for Change |
| Healthcare Reform—Good or Bad? |
| Engaugement: New Focus to Drive Business Results through Face-to-Face Events |
| Cause-Related Marketing and Direct Selling |
| Keeping Distributors Connected |
| Garner Higher CTA Response via Text Messaging |
| Why Should We Pay Attention to Social Marketing Automation? |
| Tips For Selecting Your Meeting Site |
| Arrival of the PlanetSolar in Monaco Marks a Turning Point in the History of New Environmentally Friendly Technologies |
| How To Use Pinterest for Business |
| Top Three Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Newsletter |
| ITC Keys in on Audience Interaction |
| Let’s Make a Special Deal |
| MaCher, A Hero of Go Zero |
| Zoom.7 Hires New Development Director |
| Advertisement – Thatcher Technology Group, LLC |
| Advertisement – Access Technology Solutions |
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Advertiser – VitaTech International, Inc.
Related Links:
http://www.vitatech.com |
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ByDesign Technologies Partners with Feeding America
On a hot Saturday afternoon in Florida, approximately 40 ByDesign Technologies employees and their families gathered at a warehouse in Tampa to help ease hunger in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. As a food bank, Feeding America Tampa Bay is a resource to 600 approved charities that run some type of feeding program. These include soup kitchens, food pantries, emergency shelters and Kids Café sites. The team was assigned the task of sorting the donated food into pre-determined groups and checking for expiration dates. Once sorted, the boxes were weighed and stacked onto pallets. The team worked extremely fast and completed all the work in half the expected time. This sent the Feeding America Team scrambling, but they quickly found more work for ByDesign. The ByDesign team did amazing work and was invited to return soon. In a few short hours, the team had sorted approximately eight tons (17,600 lbs) of canned food. Serena Ayscue, one of ByDesign’s owners, said, “We have built a culture of caring at ByDesign. We care for our clients and their reps, we care for each other and we care for our community. Doing an outreach like this is just an extension of who we are. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with Feeding America and several of our groups have signed up to help regularly!”
Submitted By:
Serena Ayscue
ByDesign Technologies
Serena@bydesign.com |
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GEP Holds Educational Forum for Direct Selling Companies’ Meeting Planners
Global Events Partners (GEP) recently completed a successful education forum for meeting planners. DSA member companies represented included PartyLite, XANGO, FreeLife, Aerus and several others. This third-annual forum was held in Salt Lake City, home to many DSA member companies, through the generous support of Visit Salt Lake, The Grand America Hotel, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, and our GEP DMC partner, GEP Utah. The agenda included high-profile presenters in the areas of hotel contracts and social media, as well as roundtable brainstorming sessions where participants had the chance to share and learn from each other. Attendees spent their evenings and free time experiencing some of the special venues Salt Lake City has to offer and exploring the new shopping attraction, City Creek Center. Participants commented on how much they had learned in two days, and how much they are looking forward to the 2013 event!
Submitted By:
Karen Lovell
Global Events Partners (GEP)
karen_l@globaleventspartners.com |
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Coolest High-Tech Stuff at Sea
Remember when people went on a cruise to “get away from it all” and disconnect from the world? It is hard to believe that there was no Internet connection on cruise ships until 1999. Today, pervasive Wi-Fi and cell phone reception at sea is expected—especially from meeting planners, conference attendees and “top-performer” incentive qualifiers. If you are planning an event, you will be happy to know cruise lines are not only keeping up with the latest developments, but they are also taking the lead in embracing emerging technology. Today’s ships are outfitted with the latest high-tech products and services. If you are looking for a few cool technology innovations designed to make your cruise experience smoother, greener and more amazing, you are in luck. Interactive Wayfinder touch-screens give guests customized directions and routing. Facial Recognition Technology sorts through thousands of passenger photos taken by ship photographers to identify guests and upload pictures to their digital albums. Shape Recognition Cameras count and analyze foot traffic on large ships so you don’t have to wait in line at restaurants. New smartphone apps allow guests to check portfolios, make reservations, check scheduled activities and communicate with other users on board. Some ships feature iPads in cabins that guests can use during their cruise event. On-board kiosks allow guests to confirm their flight reservations and print boarding passes. Environmental breakthroughs include shore-power installations, LED lighting and solar panels on ships. Soon, your cell phone will be able to open your cabin door or charge your wine with dinner. We can only imagine what’s next!
Submitted By:
Karyn Altman
Landry & Kling Cruise Events
kaltman@landrykling.com |
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Everybody Loves Chocolate!
Baked goods are where we see the most chocolate-flavored products. The top five flavors found in baked goods are chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate & fudge, and cocoa. Dark chocolate has grown steadily in popularity since 2009, presumably because of its new health halo and the fact that we are seeing more cocoa-flavored items on store shelves. Additionally, the low-, no- and reduced-trans-fat claim may not be holding the interest of consumers as they once had, at least when it comes to chocolate bakery products. For desserts and ice cream, regular ‘ole chocolate reigns supreme, with nearly 500 more launches than the next chocolate flavor, dark chocolate. The “premium” claim rose 86 percent from 2010-2011 in this category, but it is worth noting that since 2007, the “premium” claim has decreased 30 percent overall. Feeling snacky? Chocolate and caramel-flavored snack items doubled from 2010-2011. Much of this growth is seen in snack bars. Andrea Wilson, nutrition consultant for ISS Research, LCC, the makers of Oh Yeah protein bars, said: “We didn’t want [the protein bars] to taste like health bars. Our products taste like candy bars and we’re not ashamed about it. They’re supposed to be pleasurable. We don’t want to strip all that away because they’re good for you.” Protein bar flavors include Almond Fudge Brownie, Vanilla Toffee Fudge and Chocolate Caramel. This is great news for consumers, who, despite health concerns, name flavor as the number-one influencer of brand selection for all types of bars (cited by 69 percent of consumers polled).
Submitted By:
Kit Barmann
FONA International
kbarmann@fona.com |
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System Migrations: Preparing for Change
Woodrow Wilson once said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change something.” This can especially be true when it comes to the routines and habits individuals have acquired through the course of performing their regular work-related functions. The benefits of system upgrades and migrations can often be overshadowed by the short-term efforts of having to learn and adapt to new systems, even ones that are ultimately easier to use. This is one of the reasons why it is important to involve key stakeholders during the upgrade and migration evaluation process. These process owners are often in an excellent position to provide input as to how a particular change will affect the actual person performing those functions. They can also be powerful advocates in addressing any potential concerns from the end-user who will be directly impacted. The input from process owners is a key ingredient in creating effective training and change-management programs, and in developing an appropriate timeline for rolling out each potential phase of the project. This will allow your organization to anticipate and proactively prepare for the challenges ahead, which will greatly assist you in transitioning to an improved system without making unnecessary “enemies” in the field or your home offices.
Submitted By:
Mike Keller
IDSTC
mkeller@idstc.com |
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Healthcare Reform—Good or Bad?
The Direct Selling Association-endorsed health and direct seller liability insurance programs offered through PRO Insurance Managers, Inc., are just what the doctor ordered. Since 1951, PRO Insurance has developed extensive experience with association-based programs, virtually ensuring benefit offerings of only the highest quality and service standards. With the passage of healthcare reform, there has been a great deal of promise but also, an even greater level of confusion among those individuals who may be seeking alternative coverage that would allow them to move into direct selling full-time. Further complicating matters is this spring’s challenge at the Supreme Court level related to the “individual mandate” requirement that all Americans must buy insurance coverage. What happens if it is upheld, or what if it is struck down? Where does that leave us? There are many resources for cutting through the “noise.” PRO Insurance currently assists more than 60 member firms with programs benefiting their salesforce and has fielded thousands of calls about the changes that already have been implemented, as well as those that will potentially occur in the future. A clear consensus is that there need to be reforms to our health delivery systems; however, the majority of Americans surveyed say they believe the reform measures will not be good for them. Many others are concerned by the quickly rising rates being charged by insurance companies in anticipation of the 2014 date when the balance of these reforms will go into effect, unless the Supreme Court rules differently.
Submitted By:
Richard C. Fuchs, II
PRO Insurance Managers, Inc.
rfuchs@pro4.us |
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Engaugement: New Focus to Drive Business Results through Face-to-Face Events
How engauged is your audience? It is not a misprint—we are changing the focus of today’s engaged audience to make sure we are gauging the reaction and acceptance of your message. In a world saturated with voices, messages and instructions coming from every imaginable source, your audience is bombarded with information every day. How do you drive business through an effective event strategy that supports your four pillars—retention, recruitment, recognition and repetition? You need to take a deeper look and move beyond just an “engaging” event. You need to gauge the success of the event before, during and after, ensuring your business success in a solid, measurable manner. We call it “engaugement.” It transforms the focus from what we want to say to our audience to what we want them to do. Recent studies prove that face-to-face events are becoming more popular compared to traditional marketing mediums. Why? Because of the depth of engagement we can create. Bringing your brand to life, creating an emotional connection and using the power of peer-to-peer influences all contribute to an effective event strategy that drives your business forward. By realizing this, engaugement is specifically designed to give your company a fully interactive encounter with your target audience. This allows you to truly engage with attendees in a personal, interactive conversation, which then influences behavior.
Submitted By:
Gary Wokas
Freeman
gary.wokas@freemanco.com |
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Cause-Related Marketing and Direct Selling
At Zoyto, we have seen our direct selling clients increasingly benefit from cause-related marketing. Born in the late 1970s, cause-related marketing ties the actions of a company and its consumers to a charity or worthy cause. In direct selling, it is another way to strengthen the bond between the company, its distributors and their customers. Cause-related marketing can boost retention and increase sales activity. Millennials in particular appear to make purchase or enrollment decisions based upon a company’s commitment to a cause. Methods of cause-related marketing vary. Some of our clients donate a percentage of all sales to a charity. For example, Avalla is creating a new fragrance, From The Heart by Avalla, and donating proceeds of each sale to help women seeking a second chance in life. Other clients, such as Celebrating Home, have incorporated a fundraising module into their websites so that distributors can host specific online or traditional fundraising events using proceeds from sales for their favorite personal causes. If your company is not using cause-related marketing, you may be missing an important tool for growth. Choose a cause that has broad appeal among your field members and their customers. Choose an implementation and management method that is flexible. But, do not choose to ignore this increasingly important aspect of social marketing and direct selling.
Submitted By:
John Holchin
Zoyto
john.holchin@zoyto.com |
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Keeping Distributors Connected
Facebook, which is easily the largest social media website in the world, receives about one-third of its visits from mobile devices. Because smartphones make it easy to check in with the website on the go, Facebook users can access the website even when away from the computer. As direct selling companies look to influence their distributors, mobile connectivity allows distributors to make their businesses an integral part of their lives. While teammates regularly do check-ins at the end of the day or week to receive feedback, mobile connectivity makes this feedback more instantaneous. As you look to accelerate the success and growth of your salesforce, mobile connectivity will need to be an essential element of your plans.
Submitted By:
Vince Han
Change Anything
vince@changeanything.com |
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Garner Higher CTA Response via Text Messaging
In March, a direct selling company deepened its audience’s interaction by using a text call-to-action, inviting participation in a post-seminar poll to determine the content of its next webinar. Registration invites were sent via email and promoted on the company website. When registering for the exclusive 250-seat webinar, participants were invited to opt in to receive text reminders for the call by providing their mobile numbers and carriers. Of the 250 registrants, 82 percent opted to receive text reminders. After the seminar, the poll was sent via email to all participants and texted to those that opted in. A whopping two-thirds of those who received the text invite responded with their choice of content, whereas only a mere 10 percent replied to the email request. Increasingly, more organizations are integrating text communication with their existing marketing strategies as more people expect to interact with companies via their mobile devices. Text marketing provides higher response rates over traditional marketing methods due to its simplicity, relevancy and immediacy. About one-third of U.S. households are mobile-only. Because virtually every mobile device is text-capable, you can rest assured you will reach everyone in your audience—even those who do not own a smartphone. The newest report by The Wireless Association noted that people read more than 90 percent of text messages they receive and only 40 percent of all emails. Adopt this medium to create personalized, real-time content and enjoy groundbreaking response rates.
Submitted By:
Paul Cohen
Intella2, Inc.
Paul@Intella2.com |
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Why Should We Pay Attention to Social Marketing Automation?
Technology comes in three classes: tools, products and solutions. Tools are useful but rarely correlate with return on investment (ROI). Products are generally representative of various tools that are also nice to have but, again, rarely correlate to ROI. Solutions provide answers to questions, solve particular problems and are measured and defined by their impact on ROI. Good solutions are also catalysts for consolidation. They provide valuable opportunities for companies to consolidate disparate tools and products into a single core solution that is scalable, highly functional and ROI-driven. For example, social marketing automation (SMA) is a core solution that consolidates, evolves and aligns multiple social and digital media programs and capabilities to drive measurable results. “SMA picks up where traditional marketing automation left off and combines the power of content-driven digital media, interactive video engagement, multi-modal distribution, mobile and social fusion, robust customer relationship management and advanced analytics to transform content marketing programs into automated conversion-focused initiatives,” says Sebastian Leonardi, DSXgroup’s President and Chief Business Strategist. Consequently, SMA promotes growth on multiple levels through program integration. In this process inherent to SMA, specifically designed programs are bonded to implement solutions to infuse four critical factors for driving success: adoption, utilization, dependency and replicable behaviors. While some companies combine communication tools and social media products to build community, SMA leverages the community to deliver a measurable impact on revenue and conversion.
Submitted By:
Sebastian J. Leonardi
DSXgroup, LLC
sjleonardi@dsxgroup.com |
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Tips For Selecting Your Meeting Site
If you are responsible for coordinating meetings, one of the most important tasks you face is choosing the right hotel or resort for your program. Since there are many factors to consider, it can be quite a challenge. City hotels can be convenient and easily accessible for attendees. Smaller hotels can provide a private atmosphere and individualized service, while resorts provide great networking opportunities since attendees are on-hand for meals, sessions and recreational activities. The following are some tips to help with the site selection process. First, whenever possible, provide detailed information in your Request For Proposal (RFP), including room set-up needs, AV requirements and food and beverage needs. Second, note a second and third choice of dates and outline your pattern flexibility. Re-scheduling by just one day could provide enhanced value opportunities. Third, in the RFP, list multiple destination choices in case your first choice is sold out. Next, utilize a national sales organization (NSO) as an advocate for your specific objectives and as a “one-stop shop” that can provide multiple options focused on your specific needs. Last, if possible, visit the property prior to signing the contract. Use your NSO representatives for “insider” info and to set up site visits so you can compare properties. By being well-researched and by using your trusted resources, you can select the right property for your programs.
Submitted By:
David Gabri
Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)
dgabri@alhi.com |
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Arrival of the PlanetSolar in Monaco Marks a Turning Point in the History of New Environmentally Friendly Technologies
The largest solar-powered catamaran in the world—101 feet long—left Monaco on Sept. 27, 2010, after an official presentation by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, for a trip around the world along the equatorial route. PlanetSolar crossed the Atlantic to Miami, Fla., and then headed to Cancun, Mexico, and Cartagena, Colombia, before traveling along the Panama Canal in 2011. The solar catamaran then had a stop-over in French Polynesia, Noumea and Brisbane, Australia, before sailing north of Australia nearby Papua New Guinea. PlanetSolar is expected to arrive in Monaco on Friday, May 4, 2012. By then, she will have sailed for 33,000 miles (28,618 nautical miles). She will be moored by Quai Antoine 1er, opposite the Monaco Yacht Club, and will remain in the Principality until Sunday, May 6. Various activities and events will take place that weekend. This global tour will help demonstrate the efficacy of new, environmentally friendly technologies and the potential of renewable and photovoltaic energy to further scientific research and raise the public’s awareness of the importance of renewable sources of energy. The six-man crew who made the Atlantic crossing has since been reduced to four to demonstrate that it is not necessary to have a large crew to operate these technologies. This initiative is part of the environmental policy that Monaco has pursued for many years. Since signing the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 and ratifying it in 2006, the Principality has increased its efforts in this field. It is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by eight percent between 2008 and 2012. In September 2011, it recorded a reduction in its emissions of 15 percent. The first actions undertaken were a reduction in emissions due to urban heating (around 31 percent), travel (34 percent) and recovering energy from incinerating domestic waste (around 30 percent).
Submitted By:
Cindy Hoddeson
Monaco Government Tourist Office
c.hoddeson@visitmonaco.com |
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How To Use Pinterest for Business
Pinterest’s ubiquity over the last couple of months cannot be ignored. The website drew more than 23.7 million unique visitors in February 2012, according to research firm Nielsen. Experian Marketing Services ranks Pinterest as the third-most popular social networking website, behind Facebook and Twitter. Furthermore, users spend about one and one-half hours a month on the website, compared with 21 minutes on Twitter and 17 minutes on LinkedIn, according to ComScore Inc. Use Pinterest to show distributors your niche expertise, leverage Twitter and Google+, and recruit. Create industry-specific boards that showcase your expertise and experience, location and relationships. Pinterest can also function as a digital catalog directing people to websites where items can be purchased with price tags posted in the corner. Just like Twitter and Google+, Pinterest users can use hashtags to tag pins and make content more search-friendly. Tag a promotional pinboard with a hastag you are using on Twitter and Google+ for a fully integrated campaign. Social media platforms can be valuable for recruiting because they provide candidates with more ways to evaluate their potential companies. Make your brand relatable, tangible and humanized by creating a pinboard that showcases your employees. Remember, once you get started, you’ll want to create a few pinboards before you try to build a following. This way, new followers will have a reason to follow your pins. Happy pinning!
Submitted By:
Alan Kleinman
Meritus Payment Solutions
akleinman@merituspayment.com |
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Top Three Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Newsletter
Connecting with customers and prospects via personalized communications is critical. The following are three tips that will help direct sellers get the most out of newsletter programs to position themselves—and their consultants—for optimal selling success. First, remember personalized content equals stronger referral streams. Personalized communications play a critical role in the networking efforts of consultants to drive revenue and referrals. When direct selling organizations send out newsletters that appear to come from the recipient’s personal consultant, these newsletters have a greater chance of being opened. Additionally, it allows the consultant to foster a closer relationship with his/her customer and prospect base. Second, empower consultants with analytics. After a newsletter campaign has gone out, tracking analytics provides insight into which content interests customers and prospects so that future campaigns can be altered accordingly to drive greater levels of engagement. Using analytics to empower consultant follow-up is also critical. For instance, a report that identifies the most promising leads based on engagement with newsletter content helps consultants prioritize follow-up. Third, keep consultants in the know. Using newsletters for internal communications ensures consultants have all of the information they need to be successful. The internal newsletters also serve to help train new consultants and recognize successes. As a result, consultants begin each month informed and motivated to recruit new consultants, book shows and throw successful parties.
Submitted By:
Michelle Larter
IMN
mlarter@imninc.com |
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ITC Keys in on Audience Interaction
Audience engagement is vital to a meeting’s success, especially when businesspeople from across the miles are gathered under one roof. The sheer amount of information presented can make one’s head spin. Through multiple production and creative models, including the extensive use of highly interactive Audience Response Systems (ARS), your company can build audience engagement. Using hand-held ARS units, audience members can respond to questions via a simple keypad. Responses are displayed instantaneously and stored for future reference. “While ARS is not new, their real-time reporting just feels right in a smartphone world,” mentioned ITC’s Scott Fehr, Vice President of Production and Creative Development. “ARS allows presenters to gauge the audience’s understanding of a concept, excitement about a product and level of interest.” While audience participation is key, the amount of interaction depends on the quality of the questions asked, he said. “Concise questions with clearly defined multiple-choice answers maintain engagement and gather the most useful data possible. The metrics that can be collected, reported and analyzed are virtually limitless. Many of our clients use ARS as barometers of their presentational effectiveness and predictors of their salesforce members’ performance. Additionally, ARS can add an element of humor to the meeting to make learning more fun.” Engage, educate, motivate and inspire your next audience through ARS interaction. It is the best way to get inside their heads.
Submitted By:
Jennifer Knapp
Image Technologies Corp (ITC)
jennifer_knapp@itcx.net |
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Let’s Make a Special Deal
We are an industry that relies on recruiting promotions and deals to draw in hostesses and customers. But, we must be smart with how we use our promotional dollars. In some cases, promotions can erode our profits and leave customers feeling that they need to wait for the “deal” before buying our products or joining our team. Coupon usage is up for the first time in almost 20 years, and the Groupon craze is feeding the daily deal frenzy. How can we keep the promotional energy up and add a fresh twist from time to time? A study conducted by researchers Jerry M. Burger and David F. Caldwell of Santa Clara University revealed that people who felt they were randomly selected to receive a discount were three times more likely to purchase, compared to those who felt the deal was offered to everyone. The researchers concluded that when people were offered a “special deal,” they felt they were being set apart from the crowd. Now, consider applying this theory to an industry that uses promotions. Yes, the idea goes against conventional thinking that everyone must be offered the same price break, booking gift or coupon. But, giving members of the field the tools they need to decide when and to whom they would like to offer special rewards will likely cause the field to become more vested in the results and increase the number of consumers who take advantage of special deals when they are offered.
Submitted By:
Barb Girson
A Fresh Perspective
BarbGirson@gmail.com |
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MaCher, A Hero of Go Zero
MaCher was recognized on April 19, 2012, by The Conservation Fund as a Hero of Go Zero. The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program works with dedicated companies that donate to land conservation and forest restoration to help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink and restore habitats for wildlife. Today, Go Zero is one of the most successful carbon programs in the U.S. MaCher President Derek Hydon stated: “MaCher cares for our environment and believes we have a responsibility to the communities around us.” Through donations to the Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program and inter-office green initiatives, all of MaCher’s U.S. operations are completely carbon-neutral and thereby offset its carbon footprint. Whether through Energy Star appliances, a Green Commute rewards program, reusable goods, or innovative ways to save clients time, energy and money, MaCher strives every day to make the world a better and healthier place.
Submitted By:
Heather Haas
MaCher
hhaas@gmail.com |
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Zoom.7 Hires New Development Director
ZOOM.7 Inc. has announced the hiring of Daniella Brown Judge as Business Development Director. Daniella brings 25 years of experience in client management, sales, marketing and program management to her role at Zoom.7. Most recently, Daniella worked as an independent marketing consultant with Indaba Consulting. Prior to her consulting work, she was responsible for launching and developing the retail channels for Bell Atlantic Mobile, Primeco and Verizon Wireless. Daniella left the consulting firm in 2008 to work for local and national political candidates at a grassroots communications firm and now holds a board position with PPNT and The Foundation for Women’s Resources in a volunteer role.
Submitted By:
Denise Howieson
Zoom.7
djudge@zoom7.com |
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Advertisement – Thatcher Technology Group, LLC
Related Links:
http://www.thatchertech.com |
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Advertisement – Access Technology Solutions
Related Links:
http://www.accessts.com |
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