Protect Yourself And Your Business for 2006...

First I'd like to wish everyone a very happy, safe, enriching and prosperous 2006!

Wow, what an awesome year it's been! So many great things and people for which to be thankful. Here's to even better times in the year to come!

Prepare and Protect Yourself AND

Your Business for 2006!

With the new year only a couple of hours away, I figured it'd be good to write a post about preparing and protecting yourself and your business during the upcoming year.

There's certainly a lot of false and conflicting information floating around the Internet these days - as well as a lot of scams. So how do you bypass all the nonsense and get right to the truth, right to the real nitty-gritty?

And how do you avoid those many business opportunities that look good, but are actually scams, pyramid schemes, ponzi schemes and who knows what else?

Well, it's actually quite easy. You just go right to the leading authority on MLM and Network Marketing - the authority that web marketers know and trust, the MLMWatchDog!

Find the latest news and alerts on scams and complaints, as well MLM World News. Find information on MLM myths and lies, a very large directory of MLM companies, the Bill of Rights for MLM Distributors, and oh so much more.

MLMWatchDog, which is operated by my friend Rod Cook (the WatchDog, himself), is the no-nonsense place to find all your answers.

Have questions? New to Network Marketing, MLM or Affiliate Marketing? Changing companies? Want to know the real payout? Want to know if it's a pyramid scheme? Was your distributorship terminated? Was your downline switched? The Watchdog covers it all.

The MLM WatchDog's goal is to serve, inform and protect you, the distributor! It's an Internet source that is completely unbiased (The Watchdog doesn't belong to any companies or accept any advertisements from companies), so you can be sure it's the real deal.

Remember, knowledge is power. Increase your knowledge and you'll increase your income!

So what exactly does MLM WatchDog do?

MLM WatchDog stops scams, pyramid schemes, ponzi schemes, gifting programs and odd pay plans that steal money from your pockets!

As we all know, the world wide web can be a breeding ground for scams, pyramid schemes, etc. And virtually any loser can "claim" to be an expert. The MLM WatchDog tracks down and stomps out scam artists and companies that are doomed to fail.

More about Rod Cook...

Rod Cook, the MLM WatchDog, has also written books on Binary compensation plans, Matrix compensation plans, Stair Step compensation plans and Unilevel compensation plans.

Rod is considered the ultimate MLM "marketing" and consulting inside information source, studying over 1,000 compensation plans, product and recruiting systems every year. Rod has been featured on ABC's 20/20, CBS's 48 Hours, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal.

Attorneys General, the FBI, federal marshals and other regulatory agencies have also greatly depended on him as an MLM reference source when seeking truthful analysis and information. So be sure to visit the MLM WatchDog site and bookmark it for future reference.

Happy New Year Again!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Here's to a safe and wonderful

holiday season for all. :)

SQUIDOO! - Because Everyone's An Expert On Something!

There's something totally new that's just come out of Beta... and it's definitely very cool!

It's called SQUIDOO... and basically you can set up what they call a "lens" on a particular subject, area, etc. And this so-called lens can point to a "Lensmaster's" blog or website, or BOTH! ...Uh, can you see the potential here?!?

Anyway, Lensmasters will be paid a share of the ad revenue generated, as every lens carries Google Adsense.

And from what I gather, Squidoo is owned by Seth Godin, a well-known author and Internet Marketer. So I think this one's going places for sure.

In my overall opinion, SQUIDOO is actually one of the coolest things to come along since blogs themselves! And if you're uncertain at all about how setting up a lens could impact your monthly income, then all you have to do is take a look at one of my own lenses...

TheLensMaster.com

-As you can see, these lenses give me yet another FREE way to advertise my businesses! And not only am I able to list my websites and blogs on each lens... I can also have my RSS feed posted and updated right to my Squidoo lens. Cool.

So go ahead and set up your own lens. Just go to squidoo.com...you can set one up totally free.

Additional information:

-WHAT'S A LENS?

A lens is a person's (lensmaster's) view on a particular topic he/she cares about. More specifically, a lens is a single web page that is filled with information and links that point to other web pages, updated RSS feeds, or relevant advertising.

WHY SHOULD I BUILD A LENS?

There are a few reasons why you might want to build your own lens:

• Share your knowledge: When you know a good deal about something, it feels good to share it. Plus it's good to help other people discover what you may have found out the hard way.

• Increase your profile: A popular lens will give credibility to the Lensmaster and reinforce your role as an expert. It can also make you the go-to person for those looking for help or information in your area of expertise/experience.

• Increase your traffic: You can point your lens to your blog and to your website. In addition, lenses have huge credibility with search engines, so a lens should increase your website traffic, even for people who don't visit your lens.

• Lenses are free to make. Squidoo says they will never charge a fee.

DOES SQUIDOO MAKE A PROFIT?

According to their FAQ's section...

Yes, Squidoo is an old-fashioned corporation, with real employees
and investors. We're not legally organized as a co-op, not in the sense that
we've got granola all over the floor or that we are owned and controlled by
volunteers.

Instead, we've structured the organization so that we're in a
partnership with our lensmasters. It's a co-op in the sense that the more you
give, the more you get. All lensmasters with traffic get a pro-rated share in
the income that we get from the Google AdSense ads that run on every page, for
example. In addition, a rotating slate of lensmasters is invited to participate
in the panel that chooses the charities that get the money from our charity
pool.

We divide up the money we receive in a very public way. First, we
pay our bills. That's direct out of pocket expenses like rent and servers and
salary and benefits expenses (our CEO doesn't take a salary, and neither does
our board of directors).

Then, with no other deductions, we pay 5% of our post-expense
revenue directly to the charity pool, 50% directly to our lensmasters and retain
the rest to pay off investors and employees. Don't quit your day job yet, but
you should know that as we all grow, our goal as a co-op is to pay as much money
as we can to our lensmasters and to charity.

Coming Soon To SQUIDOO: Earn a royalty for you, your organization, or your favorite charity.

Some Secrets to MLM Recruiting During the Holiday Season

If you're looking for ways to market your business successfully during the holiday season, then you definitely need to read what my friend Doug Firebaugh has to say about it. As a pro with many, many years of success behind him, Doug undoubtedly knows what can blow the doors off your MLM business if you do it right!

So you want to know the hot secrets? Just read on...

Secrets to MLM Recruiting During the Holidays

Seasonal MLM Recruiting.

That is a very powerful concept in MLM....are you aware of it?

Network Marketing Seasonal Recruiting. HOT CONCEPT!

It is when a particular season in the year can bring an awareness of something that timing may be bad for in other parts of the year.

Like right now.

Right now, one thing is especially on people's minds:

Change.

It is the new year, and for the next 6 weeks or so, many people will be looking to make changes and to not repeat last year, this year! And it is a wonderful recruiting time, and you hold what we call a 'Seasonal Conversation' with folks.

The Secret to A Network Marketing Business in 2006.

We all know that the secret to this Network Marketing business is EFFECTIVE CONVERSATION. We have been teaching that for 19 years. As well as effective Communication. We are in the business of Communicating with people, and you can hold a 'Conversation of Change' with people right now that will go hand in glove with their thinking.

It is a fact that the first of the year that Gyms get a flood of memberships that last for maybe 60-90 days, and rarely seen again. That is human nature. But you can help people keep that change in their life, whether they want more money, freedom, time, security, control, or whatever.

How?

By asking some simple questions and making some statements during a conversation.

The MLM Business Building Concept.

INFERNO SECRET:

Turn a Conversation into an MLM Business Building Tool.

When you are chatting with someone, here are some 'MLM Magnetic Questions(tm)' you can ask:

1)'What about last year are you not going to repeat this year?'

2)'In one word, how would you describe last year?'

3)'What kind of New years resolution do you have for 2006?'

4)'What would be the one thing you would want to change this year in your life?'

5)'What kind oif raise do you think you will get in 2006? Why so little?'

6)'I am not going to let this year be like last year. Thank God it's over. How about you?'

7)'You looking to change anything this year about your life? Why?'

8)'How would it impact you and your family to have the best year financially this year than you have had in a long while with a home based business?'

9) 'What are your plans for 2006? Any changes? What about financially?'

10) 'What kind of year do you want to have in 2006? What is going to be different?'

Success Possibilities in Direct Sales and MLM.
This will lead you into a 'Conversation of Success Possibilities' with you and your potential prospect, and push a Hot Button that may be cooler the end of February.

After the question or statement:

'You know, I have run across something that is going to help me create the change in my life this year I have always looked for, and it possibly could help you. When can we chat? I may need your help as a friend.'

If you are going to be talking to folks anyway, why not do some 'Seasonal Recruiting?'

This is the season for CHANGE.

I suggest you might change what you are doing and talk to people about what is on their mind, and what they want to:

CHANGE.

One of the best ways to change your life in 2006 is MLM and Network Marketing.

blessings...doug

Secrets to MLM Success During the Holidays - Parts 1 & 2

It's no secret that some MLMers have trouble marketing their MLM business during the holidays. Some don't know where to start...and some don't think they should start at all. Yikes!

So to show you how you can, in fact, achieve MLM success during the holiday season, here are two links that I think you'll find quite helpful...

Secrets to Massive MLM Success During the Holidays - Part 1
Secrets to MLM Success - Part 2 - The Holiday Letter

Happy Holidays and Happy Marketing!

MLM and Network Marketing Training Experts...

MLM and Network Marketing Training Experts

Here's a list of some really excellent MLM and Network Marketing traininers. This list is a definite a must-have for any marketer, so I wanted to be sure to post it here for everyone.

These can definitely show you all you'll need to know to make your home based business the great success you want it to be. So with no further ado, here they are...

Randy Gage
RandyGage.com

Jim Rohn International
JimRohn.com

Jerry Clark
ClubRhino.com

Michael Clouse
Nexera.com

Andy O'Bryan & Josh Hinds
AudioMotivation.com

Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire.com

John Fogg
GreatestNetworker.com

Art Jonak
MLMPlayers.com

Tom Schreiter
FortuneNow.com

Networking Times
NetworkingTimes.com

Hot Prospecting Ideas...

I was going through my email archives and came across this little gem from Big Al's "77 More Hot Prospecting Ideas" series. It's Tip #70 and it's always been one of my fav's. In your MLM home based business you'll find that little things like this can make all the difference. :)

Tip #70: How to get your distributors to achieve their monthly volume...

Just tell your new distributors this Big Al short story, and they will instantly see the value of doing their minimum volume on a monthly basis...

"A young couple, John and Mary, went out to dinner about three times a month. This little luxury cost them about $100 a month.

-After a few years of this luxury, John and Mary became fat."

"Another young couple, Ted and Alice, invested $100 amonth into their part-time business.

-After a few years they quit their full-time jobs and retired to travel the world."

Secrets to MLM Success - Part 2 - The Holiday Letter

Secrets to MLM Success Part 2

The Holiday Letter

In network Marketing, with the Holiday Season approaching, there are so many chances to start a conversation with someone and recruit them for the Holidays. But it has to be done right! Many times you can have a great chance to communicate about your mlm business during the holidays, and blow it.

What We have found to be incredibly effective during the Holidays, among many others, is what we call the "Personal Year-End Holiday Letter".

It is a great way to get folks feeling warm and fuzzy, tell them about the past year, and introduce subtley your business. This letter is a great mlm recruiting/prospecting tool that can yield great results. And many people enjoy reading them.

I get at least 10 of these during the holidays.

Why would you want to send this type of letter?

Simple.

EMOTION.

It gets people emotional hearing about what happened to your life and how your year was. It is a personal opening to what you thought of the past year, and what you did. You can even offer opinions about things if you wish.

How do you create a Holiday Letter?

1) What you do, is get some Christmas Stationary(any supply store has it).

2) Write a summary letter about the past year in a very conversational tone. Write what this year has meant to you, talk about vacations, fun things, the family and how each are doing,and how next year looks to be a great year.

3) In the letter, somewhere near the end, simply put... "And my company I run out of my home has had some real solid growth, and it looks like next year will be another great year. Things are going so well. I am so thankful. I need some help! "

4) And move forward with other subjects such as books read, TV shows you enjoyed, movies seen, etc.

After the first of the year, send them all a nice thank you letter about all the support and kind words of encouragement. And write "Fyi, here is what my home based business is about as some folks wanted to know. Let's chat sometime. I could use your support and help in locating some talent!"

And you have positioned yourself for a first of the year explosion in Network Marketing sales or recruits(depends on your focus.)

Folks remember unique things, and the Year End Letter is not only remembered, but kept a lot of times. Include a photo, or article about something of interest pertaining to the Holidays.

And Guess what?

There is also a " Halfway through the Year Letter!" Set yourself apart, and do things differently than the norm. Take a step up, not forward. Engage what others do not, and get the results others pray for.

You are a network marketer. Refuse to be average, think average, and doing what the average do.

This is just one of a dozen things you can do to Explode your Recruiting during the Holidays, as we did them for years. And we always did business during the holidays in MLM and Network Marketing.

blessings...doug

Doug's website: PassionFire.com

Part 1 - Secrets to Massive MLM Success During the Holidays