Alaska Mystic Ventures

Exchange “Web Site” for “Social Media” and this article could be straight out of 2000.

In 2000 we were talking about whether every small business could benefit from a website, many considered it a myth. It’s pretty well accepted now that every business should have at least a minimal presence on the web. I think that the same can be said about business participation in social networks and using social media.

In 2000 we were talking about the need for businesses to have clear goals for their website with strategic and tactical plans for reaching them. The same is true today about the use of social media. It’s important for businesses to make sure that their social media participation are aligned with and support their business, website, marketing and promotions. Regardless the media, there must be a consistency in the presentation of the brand and message.

In 2000 we were talking about the need for promoting the company website in all of their marketing, promotion and advertising. Use of social networks works best if you let people know you are there. People might find you by searching or happenstance, but that’s not something you want to count on. Not only should businesses let everyone know they are using those networks, they should be actively seeking information from their customers and suppliers about which networks they use and begin connecting with them. Everyone accepts the importance of an email list, social network contacts should be considered just as important.

In 2000 we were talking about personal branding through email discussion lists and web forums. While we’ve added different technological platforms, the rules of engagement have not changed. You wouldn’t walk into a cocktail party full of people you don’t know and start announcing your business interrupting conversations. You will just be an annoyance, people will tune you out, or worse yet, have you tossed from the party ruining any possible future dialogue.

In 2000 we were talking about the need for a commitment of time and money for a successful website and Internet involvement. Participation in social networks can be very time consuming so it’s important to budget time and/or money to make certain that there is a consistent presence to be effective.

My first exposure to Multi Level Marketing was to Amway over 30 years ago. Since that time I’ve probably been pitched at least two dozen new products or services that guaranteed that with just a couple of hours per week I could be a millionaire in no time.

I said no for all these years for primarily two reasons.

1. I didn’t believe in the products. I didn’t think they worth their price or were significantly unique.
2. The market was saturated with distributors and the compensation plan was designed for huge down lines.

I was introduced to ForMor products by my doctor, Dr. Sandra Denton. I was seeing Dr. Denton for treatment related to recovery and rehabilitation from two cervical spine fusion surgeries. The surgeries saved me from paralysis but left me with severe neuropathology, weakness and chronic pain. While I’ll never be 100% physically, I have for the time being averted being totally restricted to a wheel chair. which I credit taking Cardio Cocktail and physical therapy. I’ve written more about this here.

In addition to my own experience, family members and friends have tried Argenix, Neuro 911, MSM 2000 which I’ve done additional research on, and Nobel Energy Drink. So to say I believe in the product is an understatement. I would buy, use and recommend this to others even if there wasn’t an opportunity to do so for compensation. In fact, I did for several months before I became a distributor. To learn more about all of the ForMor Products, please visit ForMor Healthy Alternatives where you’ll find informative videos about the products and ingredients, or the official ForMor International web site.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dan Hobbs Director of Network Development for ForMor International when he came to Alaska to speak at the request of Dr. Denton. In this video he discusses why he chose ForMor International over other MLM opportunities.

That explains pretty well why I chose ForMor International, but why after 30 plus years did I decide that now was the time to begin in Network Marketing. Certainly being introduced to the products at this time was a big reason. But it also came at a time when there was a great deal of conversation about Health Care in general and our personal responsibility for own and our family’s health. We know we should eat better and exercise regularly however, that’s not always as easy as it sounds. While nutritional supplements aren’t a replacement for eating right and exercising regularly, a good supplement can be helpful in living a healthier life. I consider $3.50 a day investment in my health to be a very good deal. If I can make that investment back, plus create some additional income then that makes it an excellent investment. Why wouldn’t I want to share that opportunity to others to live healthier and enjoy the opportunity to earn an additional income?

Here is Dan Hobbs on “Why Now?”.

This is easily the best opportunity at the best time I have ever been exposed, There you have the what and why, now for the how.

Building a business from scratch takes time. Nothing worthwhile is attained quickly or easily. This is our plan B. I’ll introduce the products to others and recruit new distributors that have a long term commitment to building their ForMor business. I am dedicated to helping others to be successful in their new ForMor business.

If you would like to try the products or signup to be a distributor, you can do so here. Or post your comments or questions below. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing the journey.

We see the ads everywhere we go on the Internet.

The ones that promise to reveal the secrets of millionaires for just a few hundred dollars.

The ones that guarantee a residual income for life for just $9.95 per month.

The ones that write it is so simple that the prospects will be pounding on your door demanding to be sold.

The ones that give you access to a secret members only website where everyone will help you to succeed.

You click on the ad or link, and as soon as you get to the website you know it’s one of “those”. They have that same simple design. Lots of really big bold centered fonts. A little color to draw you to the headlines they want you to read. A long sales letter, that includes a lot of call to actions along the way for those of us with no patience. If you jump to the end you’ll see the super bonus offer if you join now. A couple of postscripts at the very end with their money back guarantee, affidavits from satisfied customers, and so much more…. When you try to leave the web site without falling for their pitch a pop-up window appears asking if you’re really sure you want to walk away without signing up. Oh and the current trend is the ubiquitous auto-play video that is straight from the late night infomercial pitch mold. Exotic location, fancy home, expensive cars and beautiful (sexy) people. A not so subtle message that if you send them your money NOW you can live in that exotic location, in a fancy home, with an expensive car, surrounded by beautiful people who are just like you, or rather just like you think you want to be.

Nine times out of ten the “secret” is to go out and sell the same system you just bought to the next sucker. In tough times, these types of programs multiply because people are desperate enough to try anything. They have a “willing suspension of disbelief for the moment” in hopes that their salvation is just around the next blind corner. We want to believe, and that is what these scum prey on.

Technology speeds up the process. It reaches a larger audience. But, there aren’t any secrets. Making money fast is never easy while simultaneously being legal and ethical. The only exception to that truism may be gambling. If you want to gamble go to a casino, at least they are up front about the odds being in the favor of the house.

There is no replacement for consistent hard work, knowledge, and experience. Applied to a product or service you truly believe in is the surest way to being successful. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the Internet, on Main Street, or in your home. Those keys to success in any business are always the same.

My purpose here is not to dash anyone’s hopes, burst their balloon, rain on their parade or otherwise fill their heads with negativity. In fact, quite the opposite. I truly believe that it is possible to build a successful home-based or traditional small business on and or off the Internet. I’ve seen too many people have their dreams destroyed by parasites that promise the moon and deliver nothing but dust. Once someone has a dream crushed, it’s hard to dream again. Each time it gets harder than the last, until finally some give up.

My message is one of hope and encouragement tempered by caution. You can succeed, just but be wary of the bottom feeders that don’t really care about you, your family or your success. Surround yourself with people you can trust, that have a healthy amount of skepticism, but are generally supportive of you and your goals.

Here’s to your success!

Networking Makes Us Stronger Handmade News Marketing

Now, let me ask you this…do you network? Do you chat with other business owners? If you don’t do it very often, let me encourage you to give it a try. These business owners don’t necessarily need to do the same type of business you do, but if they do, that’s ok! In fact, I would encourage you to talk to people who don’t do the same type of business you do. Seek out someone whose business is different from yours to get a different perspective on how they operate.

Very good article. Every small business as some things in common with all other small businesses. Things we can build relationships on.

My apologies to Shakespeare for abusing one of the most quoted and quotable quotes of all time.  But it is so apropos to deciding who to follow online through a variety social media services.  If we aren’t careful we are bombarded with so much information that we can end up missing the best and most important nuggets of information. 

Those bits of information, links, photos, opinion, news are as valuable as gold nuggets in the currency of shared knowledge.  So we need a mechanism like the gold miners use to seperate the gold from the gravel, or in our case the gold from the noise.  That’s why it’s so important to choose who you follow carefully.  Choose those that provide a high yield of gold per post based on what our focus and intrests are.

In my own experience with setting up the multiple tweeter accounts for instance has improved my yield.  A number of people have chosen to follow me @mysticventures, for instance, that don’t fit my ideal of high yield contributers to that twitter account.  But looking at their twitter accounts I most often see that they have a high yield of gold that fit into one of my other twitter accounts. So I follow them from that account.  The net affect is that I have improved the experience for everyone by mantaining my focus. I get a high yield of gold from those that I follow and I’m able to provide a high yield to those that choose to follow me.

Ultimately isn’t that the essence of of networking? To recieve and provide the highest yield for your network as possible.

twitter, social media, networking, mysticventures

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