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NCPW 2013 Contest Winners

NCPW 2013 Contest Winners

NCPW2013_285x285A big thank you to everyone who participated to make National Consumer Protection Week 2013 our best celebration yet! From folks that put together amazing, free consumer protection resources, to the companies that donated prizes, to all of you who entered, it’s been a great week dedicated to helping people make better decisions as consumers and business owners.

Comments from You

We’ve had comments from you like:

“I love the Wifi protection article. I don’t think many people realize how easy it is for hackers to get into your wifi devices.” ~ Sunny Downes

“I found the Five Tips for Safe Mobile Banking interesting – it is something I have been thinking of starting to use!” ~ Traci Rasmussen

“I found the article about the 4% charge on credit/ debit cards. I never noticed till last week when I was in at KFC that I was charged a different price. When asked she pointed to a sign smaller than a business card. WOW” ~ Lindsey Duprel

“I love the Money Wi$e portion and the Free Ebook…that I share with everyone I know! lol…

Thanks for being there…I really love everything about the DSEF so many great tips and tricks that I share on a daily basis with my team!!

xo” ~ DivaVal

Donating Companies

A big thank you to all the direct selling companies that provided prizes this week. They clearly demonstrated the commitment the direct sales industry has for consumer protection:

Winners

Congratulations to our winners this week! We gave away a collection of more than 20 products each day from the companies above. Our winners are:

  • Monday: Sue Williams
  • Tuesday: Dawn Mulvey
  • Wednesday: Jennifer Hartman
  • Thursday: Kimberly Allar
  • Friday: Lindsey Pierce
iPad Mini donated by Nu Skin for our National Consumer Protection Week 2013 contest at http://dsef.org

iPad Mini donated by Nu Skin for our National Consumer Protection Week 2013 contest at http://dsef.org

And thanks to Nu Skin, we also gave away an iPad Mini this week. The winner was selected at random from the nearly 1,000 entries we received this week.

And the winner of the iPad Mini is…

  • Alice Andreat

Congratulations to everyone who won. And please continue to take advantage of the consumer protection resources we’ve provided on this page. There are a ton of them! We are committed to making sure you can find the consumer protection information you need to make the best possible choices for your business and family.

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 5)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 5)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s the 5th and final day of our National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) celebration! We’ve already given away four gorgeous Initials, Inc. bags stuffed full of amazing products from direct selling companies, and today we’re giving away one more! We’ve also been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner.

Each day this week, we’ve posted a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing (and gorgeous!) bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

You can win this iPad at http://dsef.orgAnd thanks to a generous donation from Nu Skin, we’ll also be drawing the name of one winner from among all entries this week to win an iPad mini!

 

Prize Details

Win this bag full of products from direct selling companies in today’s NCPW contest! (Prizes may be slightly different than those pictured, and there are more than those shown!)

Win this bag full of products from direct selling companies in today’s NCPW contest! (Prizes may be slightly different than those pictured, and there are more than those shown!)

Today’s winner will receive a beautiful bag full of products, including:

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: We’d love to know…which of the resources on our NCPW Resources Page was your favorite? (Here’s the link to our NCPW resources page – Opens in a separate window)

p.s. Please be sure you actually leave a comment in the comment box below the Rafflecopter widget (don’t just click the button on the widget!). If we can’t find your comment, you can’t win!

Congratulations to Friday’s gift basket winner, Lindsey Pierce!

Our iPad winner is Alice Andreat. Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone for playing! We hope you had fun, and found some great resources!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older. Final winners will be announced tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9am!

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week, and a Contest (Day 4)!

National Consumer Protection Week, and a Contest (Day 4)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s day 4 of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), and the fun continues! We’ve already given away three gorgeous Initials, Inc. bags stuffed full of amazing products from direct selling companies, and today we’re giving away another one! We’ve also been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner.

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing (and gorgeous!) bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well. We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

You can win this iPad at http://dsef.orgUPDATE! This Just In!

Thanks to a generous donation from Nu Skin, on Friday we are going to draw one name from all of this week’s entries to win an iPad mini!!! You can enter each day, so the more days you enter, the more chances you have to win!

 

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a beautiful bag full of products, including:

All entries will also be entered into the drawing on Friday to win an iPad mini, donated by Nu Skin.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What’s the difference between an extended warranty and a service contract? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

p.s. Please be sure you actually leave a comment in the comment box below the Rafflecopter widget (don’t just click the button on the widget!). If we can’t find your comment, you can’t win!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Kimberly Allar, the winner of Thursday’s drawing!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 3)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 3)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s day 3 of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) and we’ve already given away two gorgeous Initials, Inc. bags stuffed full of amazing products from direct selling companies! We’ve also been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner.

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing (and gorgeous!) bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

ipad_TransparentUPDATE! This Just In!

Thanks to a generous donation from Nu Skin, on Friday we are going to draw one name from all of this week’s entries to win an iPad!!! You can enter each day, so the more days you enter, the more chances you have to win!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a beautiful bag full of products, including:

All entries will also be entered into the drawing on Friday to win an iPad, donated by NuSkin.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What is one way you can keep yourself safe when using mobile banking services? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

UPDATE: Congratulations to Jennifer Hartman, who won Wednesday’s drawing!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 2)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 2)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s day 2 of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) and we are having a BLAST! We’ve been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And you also have the opportunity to win some fantastic products in our NCPW contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a gift bag of products, including:

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What is the “Buy Back” Policy that all DSA Members agree to? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

UPDATE: Congratulations to our Tuesday winner, Dawn Mulvey!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 1)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 1)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year…National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! It’s a time to highlight some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And since we love this week so much, we decided to make it even MORE fun with a contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift tote full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a gift bag of products, including:

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What’s one way you can protect your computer from hackers? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

UPDATE: Congratulations to Sue Williams, the winner of our 1st prize bag! Her answer was: “Use a strong password and change it often.”

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog

Tips for Starting a Successful Business

Tips for Starting a Successful Business

Tips for Starting a Successful Business from http://dsef.orgStarting (or re-starting) a business can be challenging. It takes time and persistence to build the momentum that leads to success. Since our Facebook community is full of inspiring business owners, we reached out and asked them to share their best piece of advice for someone starting a business. Here is some of the advice they shared:

  • Just Start: April Gust-Yohanek of Wisconsin says, “Just get started, nothing needs to be perfect, you can perfect it along the way!” This is great advice. Often a new business owner gets so bogged down in the details of starting a new business that the business never gets off the ground. Remember to stay focused on the goal and take steps every day to improve. But start! It’s the most important step you can take.
  • Be Persistent: Jen LaCour of Texas offers sage advice when she says, “The beginning is always the hardest! Be persistent, consistent, and step out of your comfort zone every single day – you’ll grow so much faster!” Some days will be harder than others…it’s all part of growing a business. And sometimes you’ll need to adapt. As Tony Madalone of Ohio suggests, “Implement then adapt. and be persistent.” When you work through the challenges and keep at it, you’ll be much more likely to succeed.
  • Be Passionate: Many of our commenters emphasized the importance of passion when it comes to building a business. Isaac Chubb talks about being “passionate about your why.” Know why it is you want your business to succeed. You should also be passionate about your products. As Dawn Kopac of Wisconsin says, “Be passionate about what you are selling or presenting to people,” and Rose Hernandez of California advises, “love and believe in what you are doing.” Finally, Jacquie McConnell of Texas sums it up well: “Find that…business that captures your passion and it will never be work!”
  • Love Your Products: The importance of loving the products you sell can’t be overemphasized when you’re considering starting a business. As Lynn Brooks of Virginia says, “use, like and believe in your product!” And Melissa Pellerin of Edmonton, Alberta suggests a researched-based approach: “Do your research and know the product your going to be promoting. Choose something you can be passionate about.” Ah, there’s that passion again! Loving your product leads to passion about your business.
  • Learn Constantly: Finally, it’s important to make professional development a priority. Constant learning leads to continual growth. As Carol Petersen Saso of Colorado recommends: “Be a sponge – absorbing all the training available from your company. Be willing to put in the time required to build a business and remember it’s always too soon to quit!” Great advice indeed!

Many thanks to our Facebook community for sharing their great advice! (If you haven’t liked our Page yet, please do!) What tips would you add for a new business owner? We’d love to read your advice in the comments below.

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Happy New Year! A Free Gift for You from the DSEF

Happy New Year! A Free Gift for You from the DSEF

Reflections on Success - Free ebook from the Direct Selling Education FoundationThe New Year is a time for reflection, focusing on where you are, and where you want to take your business moving forward. It is helpful for business owners to take time to write down these insights, for they can help you create a road map for your business. Rather than simply “going through the motions” of the day to day tasks your business requires, you can give your business strategic direction that moves you in the direction of your goals.

With that in mind, we at the Direct Selling Education Foundation have put together a free gift for you. It’s a 30-day reflection journal called “Reflections on Success” and you can download it from our Facebook Page by clicking here. This journal helps you focus on success habits and your goals, helping you build the business you want in the coming year. We encourage you to take some time each day to focus on the daily thought, in order to develop the habits that will help you build a thriving business.

We hope that you will use this free book to build your business, and pass this link along to your friends and colleagues as well: http://on.fb.me/VHcVB3

You’ll find all 3 free ebooks we’ve offered this year at this link, so if you haven’t yet taken advantage of our “Business Owner’s Roadmap to Success” or “Creating Your Success Mindset” ebooks, you’ll be able to download those as well.

We wish you much success in the coming year! Happy New Year!

Your Friends at the DSEF

 

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How To Manage Your Time on Social Media

How To Manage Your Time on Social Media

As a business owner, social media marketing is an important element of your business. It’s a way to generate conversations that may attract more people to your business, and it’s an easy way to let people know what’s going on with your business in a social setting. Yet there are many activities you need to do to run a successful business, and social media is only one of them. How do you put in the time that is required to maintain an effective social media presence, while still running your business? Here are some tips:

  • Start From the Results You Want: Instead of just jumping online, spend a few minutes thinking about what you want social media to do for your business. For example, if you are hoping to introduce new customers to your business, you’ll want to spend time planning posts that encourage existing customers to tell their friends about your business. As a result, you might decide to run a contest that rewards people for sharing. If you would like to encourage existing customers to purchase again, then you might focus on offering Facebook-only specials on your Facebook Page, and creating lots of conversation with people who already know what you have to offer. Knowing what you want can help you decide what to do online.
  • Plan Ahead: Nothing is a bigger time waster than sitting at your computer wondering what you’ll post that day. Create an editorial calendar for your online business presence, writing out your main posts at least a month in advance. By writing them all at once, you’ll get the creative juices flowing so that the posts come easier, and you will also be able to get a sense of the overall flow of your content. Are you too salesy? Not enough? Looking at an entire month’s worth of posts will not only help you be more efficient, but will also make your content better. (Also spend some time looking back at previous months’ posts. Did a particular type of post generate results? Then create more posts like it!)
  • Go Mobile: Don’t limit your time on social media to the minutes you can steal away to sit down at a computer. Use your mobile device to check in on your sites regularly, and jump in on conversations often. Instead of one block of time, you might spend a few minutes several times a day. Your customers will feel like you’re more responsive this way.
  • Avoid Spreading Yourself too Thin: Ask your customers where they spend their time online, and then set up one or two social media presences on the sites they use the most. One of these places is probably Facebook, but should you also be on Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter? By understanding how your customers want to connect with you, and where, you’ll use your time most efficiently instead of doing more than you need to.
  • Stay Focused: It can be very easy to get distracted on social media sites and waste time. Keep a list of the activities you want to accomplish that will help you reach your goals online, and when you’re using social media for your business, stick to the list. This will help you avoid distractions that take you away from your primary purpose.

By being strategic about your use of social media, you can use these highly effective tools in a way that helps you build your business and reach your customers.

How do you manage your time on social media? We would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

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Making Facebook Work For Your Business

Making Facebook Work For Your Business

Do you use Facebook for your business? With nearly a billion people using the social network internationally, it’s a great tool to connect with existing customers and prospects, while also finding new ones. But you can’t just advertise your business indiscriminately on the service. Keep these points in mind when using Facebook for your business:

  • Start with a Plan. Before you begin using Facebook for your business, be sure you know what you want to gain as a result. Are you trying to encourage repeat business? Find new prospects for your business opportunity? Get customer feedback? By starting with an end in mind, you’ll ensure that the actions you take on Facebook are focused and results-oriented.
  • Engage Regularly. Facebook is a SOCIAL network. You can’t be social if you don’t show up. So be sure to set aside time daily, even if it’s just 10-20 minutes, to engage with people on Facebook. Ask and answer questions, comment on photos and status updates, listen to what others have to say, share interesting content that the people you’re connected with may enjoy. The point is to be social, and not just post an update and move on to the next thing.
  • Set Up a Business Page. Facebook Terms of Service is very clear about where businesses are allowed to promote themselves, and it’s NOT within a personal Profile. (SEE: What is the Difference Between a Facebook Profile and a Facebook Page?) If you are planning to ask people to do anything on Facebook from which you will make money, you MUST do those posts within the context of a Facebook Page. (Don’t know how to set up a Facebook Page? SEE: How to Create a Business Facebook Page)
  • Run Contests Within Facebook Guidelines. Contests are a fabulous way to build momentum for your business, and create addtional awareness. But you must follow the rules. Rules??? Yes, Virginia, Facebook does have requirements when it comes to contests. You may NOT use any Facebook feature (liking, commenting, etc.) as an entry for a contest. Instead, you must use a 3rd party application to administer your contest. (SEE: How to Run a Great Contest on Facebook.)
  • Consider Facebook Advertising. Facebook advertising can be a great way to generate additional awareness of your business. Be sure you’re advertising in a giving spirit, however. Give away something free (such as an ebook or a coupon) to encourage people to click and learn more. (SEE: 8 Tips for Effective Facebook Advertising.)
  • Have Patience. Rome was not built in a day, and neither will your Facebook community. It takes time and nurturing to build an engaged community. Focus on providing great content, listening to and connecting with others, and making relevant offers that are interesting to your community. And ask your community to share your Page with their friends! If they find you valuable, they’re more likely to do so.

How do you use Facebook to build your business? What additional tips would you give? We would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.