Shopping Revolution Emag #2

REVOLUTION

Issue #2 - Sept 2016

SHOPPING

Want to be a part of the Shopping Revolution? Join our team today & discover a whole new side of Party Planning

WHAT’S NEW AT Interested in Direct Selling SHOPPING REVOLUTION but not sure where to start? This month focuses on Home We have some helpful hints Party Planners and our team that will guide you along of professionals offer some your journey. timely advice leading up to the FEATURED BUSINESS Silly Season…

Marina Bernard &Art Of Accessory

Some of our MLM/DS Businesses - For MORE, visit http://www.shoppingrevolution.com.au

EDITORS LETTER Welcome to our second edition of the Shopping Revolution EMag. This months magazine is focusing more on Home Party Plans and how you can make your business a successful one.

We have called on our team of professionals to help us out with what has worked and what hasn’t during the process of building their business and whilst it is a seemingly difficult path with many struggles and obstacles, if you can lay the foundations down and get started on the right foot, you can make a decent living from your new found profession.

Using these and other party plan techniques can grow your business on the side in addition to giving you more opportunities to host larger direct sales parties for others. You will also be able to recruit some of these people to become home party consultants. All you have to do is be on the lookout at all times to make extra sales and contacts to help you build your home business!

If you like the layout and feel of our magazine and our website, and would like more information as to how to advertise or even submit an article, please contact us on admin@shoppingrevolution.com.au. We would love to hear from you and learn how you have made your hobby into a successful business.

As I have said before, this magazine is designed to help each other out in a very competitive industry. Together as a combined force, we can achieve anything.

Not only is the Shopping Revolution website and FB group pages a place to advertise, but it is also the perfect place to shop! Our ranges of products and services are extending every day, which makes for a pretty cool online shopping environment. Everything you could possibly need in the one place and even better, if you are in the market to start your own MLM/ DS Business, we can guide you along the way.

Until our next issue‌. Enjoy Shopping!

Fi xx

Art Of Accessory Marina Bernard tells us how her new passion for Jewellery evolved…

My name is Marina Bernard and I am an ex-IT Professional who now makes jewellery. I live in beautiful Newcastle near Merewether Beach, have two adult sons and one adorable grandson.

My whole professional career of 30 years has been in IT, and for the last 5 years of that as the Manager of the Project Management Office at the University of Newcastle managing a budget of $14M and a staff of 35 people. As you can imagine this role involved long hours and was very stressful, and one that I called my “life of daily issues”.

Jewellery has always been my passion, and I believe it started when my mother

would give me her jewellery box to play with while she had an extra 5 minutes sleep!

I launched Art of Accessory in August 2013 as a way of both indulging my love of jewellery and also with the aim of being able to leave my job.

The business began with importing jewellery, however after meeting a jewellery maker at Leura markets (in the Blue Mountains) I then added handmade jewellery to my range. My criteria was that they had to be Australian and that I personally connected with them.

By mid June 2014 I had progressed to making my

own jewellery.

I love learning new techniques and styles and some of these include wire work, Kumihimo, resin and crystal clay.

Making jewellery gives me so much pleasure and a day spent making jewellery is like “feeding my soul”.

The other aspect that I truly love and appreciate of running my own business is the freedom and flexibility it gives me in my life. I am free to care for my 3 year old grandson Riley, and to help our ageing parents when they need it.

It is my choice when I work, how much I work, and I don’t see myself ever working in a 9 to 5 job again!

Be UNIQUE and BEAUTIFUL

All jewellery is handmade by Marina in a non-smoking home. Pieces are one-off and designs are rarely repeated so this means that you will not “see yourself walking down the street”.

My aim it to make my jewellery affordable - everything is under $40 - so that ladies are able to come back regularly and buy something to match that new outfit!

I have a large jewellery collection and don’t want others to miss on having that same opportunity!

Marina Shop online in my Etsy store

Marina Bernard Art of Accessory 0402 665 905 FB IG

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https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ArtOfAccessoryMarina

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How to instantly make money in your Direct Selling Business Source: Shopping Revolution Blog - www.shoppingrevolution.wordpress.com The Direct Selling Industry is filled with many opportunities.

In fact, the opportunities are so abundant that you could literally buy everything you need or want in your life from a distributor of a direct selling company.

Despite the fact that there is such an abundance of opportunity, most people involved in the industry are not achieving their desired goals.

Now, let me ask you some serious questions about your direct selling business. Really let these questions sink in and answer them honestly.

Where were you six months ago? What did your business growth and profits look like?

How much volume of product sales was your organisation (your downline) doing? What were you earning from your business in net profit? Are you sitting in the same place today, looking at the same computer screen, struggling to build your business, doing the same tasks (busy tasks), or even working on the same project of business growth without satisfactory results? Are you frustrated and struggling to truly develop a happy, productive, and duplicating organisation?

How about a year ago, two years ago? Maybe you've been doing the same things over and over again for a long period of time and your business is in a hovering stage?

Or worse, is your business in a decline rather than growth stage, with horrible attrition and shrinking income?

If your responses were like most people, painful and filled with struggles and frustrations, there is no doubt in my mind that the reason you are reading this is that you want to move your business forward in growth and profits, and develop your business so you experience that often dreamed about exponential growth. I know that you know that achieving such growth and profits from your direct selling business would definitely make your life easier to live, more fun, and even a more fulfilling experience.

There is one question you must ask yourself, especially if you are indeed no further along in growth of your business than you were six months, a year or even two years ago. The question you must ask is, "What is the reason I am no further along than I was six months ago?" Now as you ask this question, realise that your

answers may point blame at others or even uncontrolled circumstances.

My best advice for you, if that is how you view your lack of success, is that you are the most important component of your success not other people or even other circumstances.

Get that in your head and understand that you are the one and only one who can be in control of your business.

While you do need others on your team, what others usually are afraid to tell you is the fact that your success begins with you and only you.

A point I want to make here is that it's a well known fact that a massive percentage of people in this industry purchase a ton of books, CDs, e-Books, tools, and other resources. They even attend seminars and workshops, and further spend countless hours picking their upline leader's brain for the breakthrough knowledge that will catapult them into a magical growth of business in a very short period of time. Yet, the majority of these people fail miserably.

While continued education is critical to your success, there is one missing element that most people overlook that prevents them from achieving their

desired goals and dreams. This one critical element is so simple, and works like crazy, but most uplines and guru leaders fail to share this with you.

you were six months ago, is the fact you are not making progress because you are NOT applying what you have learned.

They keep it as their secret (either because they are selfish or are afraid you can't handle the truth).

I can say that with confidence because the majority of the books and information that I buy from other marketers teach similar methods that I use and have used for several years. In fact, most of the information you buy will be nothing new or even anything advanced.

What works are the universal fundamentals. You need to learn them and then consistently apply them.

But I am going to let the secret out of the bag because you deserve to know this. What you do with it from here is up to you.

The fact is these people know you want to make progress in your business and truly want to work smarter rather than harder. This is why training from your organisation and info products sell so well.

The problem is (and this is the real secret) that barely 10% of the people who buy a book or CD (or even attend a seminar) actually read or listen to the information in its entirety, never mind the even smaller percentage of people that actually take action on what they learned.

The truth is people buy an overwhelming amount of information and do absolutely nothing with it. I do this too. In fact, my wall of books contain books that I have never completely read and some that I only flipped through the pages when I bought the book.

And the countless e-books in my computer files that were bought and left in the desktop dust is unreal.

You can actually start today and begin to cut through the overwhelming knowledge you already possess and achieve better results from your business building efforts. You can even do this if you are broke and have no money to pay your next mortgage payment.

Something every direct seller needs to know, especially if you are sitting in the same place

There is only one reason why your direct selling business will grow - because of YOU! If you come back in six months and are no further along than you are now, you did not progress in your business because you did not pay attention and take action on what I just told you.

This is even true for why you are no further ahead than you were six months ago.

Now, don't take this the wrong way - I'm not calling you lazy or anything even close to that.

The fact is sometimes we all get stuck in this loop of never ending busy work on our business and keep doing things that keep us busy doing these same things over and over again because we think it's going to make us successful or magically things will happen in your business. Yet, you have not taken the right actions, the real action, that helps you move your business forward in growth.

So here is the most important thing for you to do to make certain you progress forward in your business growth and profits. In fact, if you do this and do it consistently, you will guarantee your growth and profits improve. Here is what you do. Stop right now, right this second and take a look at

yourself, your business, and what you're doing. In fact, do this at the start and end the end of every day. Ask yourself, "Have I made progress in my business today?" If you answered no, you're doing something wrong and you need to make a change in what you are doing.

Chances are you have kept busy rather than took the real action you needed to take. I find this is a common problem with most marketers and the reason people consistently keep busy rather than get in the real action is because they are trapped in their comfort zone and they are looking for solutions that are easy and simple that keep them in that comfort zone.

When you are faced with this problem, here is a simple to implement technique and is what you need to do to jump start your actions. First grab a book, CD, or any other resource that contains good information, which must be something you already have in your possession. Read that book or listen to that CD for ten minutes. Then invest another 10-15 minutes and write down what you learned. The final step is to apply what you learn.

Consistency in application is the key.

Statistics prove that you will not progress forward if you only flood your mind with an overwhelming amount of new infor mation. The secret to getting better results is not in what you learn but in what you do with what you learn.

In addition, ditch what is not working for you and get out there and start making progress, preferably today. That is, unless you want to be in exactly the same position next six months from now. Your success is totally in your hands

6 Ways to dress up your Home Party Demonstration Source: Shopping Revolution Blog - www.shoppingrevolution.wordpress.com When giving home party demonstrations as a direct sales consultant, a little "dressing up" goes a long way. By adding a little color, flavor and pizazz to your demo, you can increase sales, date more shows, and add more customers to your database.

In addition to a friendly, approachable personality and a neat and tidy appearance, these following tips can help you dramatically.

1.Use Lapboards Instead of handing your guests an ordinary catalog and order form as they walk in the door, surpass their expectations by handing them an attractive consultant lap board.

A lap board is sometimes a decorative clip-board, other times a hard notebook. Some are company specific, while others are generic and dressed up by the consultant. Inside the lapboard, put your catalog, monthly sales flier, order form, any incentives, and a pen.

2.Add Stickers Stickers are fun, inexpensive, and can really draw attention to a product or opportunity.

Before placing your catalogs into your lapboards, go through each catalog or monthly flier and highlight specials or items you will be demonstrating. Do this for 3-4 items.

You may also want to put a sticker about your opportunity or hostess plan on the front of your catalog.This will increase the sales of these specific products as customers can find

them easily and notice them in your catalog.

appealing, but that your company does not offer.

3.Shout Your Specials

For example, if your company offers a line of bath and body products, you may choose to include a candle with your display of bubble bath to give your customer an idea of how to use the product, even if your company does not sell candles.

You want your specials and your opportunity to leap out at your customers. Include a flier in your consultant lap boards about specials. These can be company sponsored specials, or specials that you are offering your customers.

They might be for the entire month, or specifically for those attending the demonstration.

Make sure this flier is noticeable and attractive.

Another way to shout your specials is to invest in a small tabletop sign holder. These plastic holders hold a regular 8 x 11 sheet of paper. Make up a small sign about your specials or opportunity and display it on your demo table.

4.Display Your Items When displaying your products, there are a few things you need to do to make them pop out to your customers.

First, make sure that you bring your own table to your hostess's home. This way you can set out your preconceived display with ease. You will also want to make sure that you cover your table with a tablecloth, be it company specific or a more generic one.

Yo u r p r o d u c t s s h o u l d b e placed on your table at varying heights, either by placing one product on top of another or using simple plastic display stands. You should also have accessories on your table that will make your products more

5.Pick a Theme When you choose a theme for your demonstration, it makes your show run smoothly and makes it fun for your guests. The more fun they have, the more money they will spend and the more likely they will choose to date a demo from you.

Following a theme makes party planning more convenient as well. Your snacks, games, samples, and list of products to demo will revolve around the specific theme you have chosen.

Have a book with a list of themes available for guests to look at during the demonstration. They will be more likely to book a show if they find a theme that they would enjoy.

6.Dress Up Your Samples Adding a little ribbon, a cello bag, or accessories to your samples or giveaways will make customers appreciate them more. Instead of giving them a freebie, you have given them a gift, which is psychologically more valuable.

Utilising these simple methods can help you reach your party sales goals faster & Guests will have fun!

Yvette Dening Contact via Shopping Revolution Website

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Kerrie Sharpe Contact via Shopping Revolution Website http://shoppingrevolution.com.au/listing-item/arbonne-vic/

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Hello my name is Jenny and I am a mum of 3 children and a Nana of 3 and have a supportive partner. I also work in a school as an aide with Primary children. My family means the world to me but, I felt there was a little something missing in my life until one day my eldest daughter introduced me to Scentsy. I had no idea what it was at first so I said I would purchase a warmer and some Scent bars (wax) to help her as she was a consultant herself. I was so excited when I received my warmer I took it out the box and plugged it in straight away.

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The idea of having my own business was appealing I could choose ,what hours I wanted to work and fit it in with my lifestyle, plus the extra income would come in handy. Now that’s enough about me. Scentsy was established in 2004 in America and has been launched in Australia for just under 3 years, also throughout Europe and NZ. So what is Scentsy, No flame, No smoke, No soot and NO lead. Scentsy’s concept uses decorative electric warmers which use a heating element to slowly melt specially formulated wax making your home smell Scentsational, The wax is warmed so it won’t reach a temperature that could cause injury. Also all warmers and Diffusers come with a lifetime guarantee. Our wax is made from paraffin wax and all products are gluten, toxic and cruelty free. We have a whole range of products to scent your day and world including Skin, Kids, Groom, Clean, and Laundry and now our gorgeous Diffuser’s and oils. This is the feature that I will be introducing you too. So if you want to try Scentsy or interested in becoming a consultant like me, feel free to contact I would be more than happy to assist you.

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6 Gourmet Food Consultant Home Party Tips Source: Shopping Revolution Blog www.shoppingrevolution.wordpress.com

So how do you go about earning extra income as a gourmet food consultant?

Here are some tips to get you started!

The trick is being casual about it, and simply placing your product in the right spot at the right time.

Gourmet food items practically sell themselves! Here are some great party plan tips that will be sure to boost both your direct sales and your overall customer base.

1. Sign up as a helper for all parties at your church and other local community events.

Take a sampling of prepared food products and you are sure to get a lot of attention. You can usually take a few orders on the spot!

2. Volunteer for all festivities at your kids' school and use the opportunities to showcase a few great items. School staff are always having little parties for each other, and you can probably get a steady trickle of orders. Once they know you are a home party consultant, you might be able to recruit a few!

3. Offer to "cater" parties, using your products. People will always ask who catered, and you will have made one big sale plus gotten the chance to meet more potential customers. You might be able to make a nice sideline out of combining direct sales and catering!

4. Use a few items to stock a booth for a school fundraiser or church charity event, and sell sample "tasters" for a dollar each. The proceeds can go to the charity, and you will probably pick up a few new clients! Often you can take enough orders on the spot to make up the cost of the donated items, and future orders will be forthcoming.

5. If you know a party of some type is being planned, offer to bring some of the food. You can easily wow the guests with one or two gourmet selections, and when they exclaim over them you can discretely make the sale. If you stock a few of your most popular items, you can often send guests home with an impulse buy!

6. There are many different ways you can combine your direct sales pitch with another party plan. If you help throw a baby shower for an expecting friend, you can utilise your home party consultant status to help both of you! Simply

bring a sampling of products to use as refreshments, and announce you will be splitting all profits from sales made with the lucky mother to be as a special gift.

Using these and other party plan techniques can grow your business on the side in addition to giving you more opportunities to host larger direct sales parties for others.

You will also be able to recruit some of these people to become home party consultants. All you have to do is be on the lookout at all times to make extra sales and contacts to help you build your home business!

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Picking the Right Party Plan Company - Ask All the Right Questions

By Belinda Stinson

A Direct Sales Party Plan business is a great way to find financial freedom but picking the right party plan company can make all the difference.

15. Do you have to purchase all of your own marketing materials? How much is the average spend on marketing materials? Is there a supplier list?

So before you become an independent representative here are the sort of questions you need to ask and be happy with the answers when choosing a party plan company:

16. How seasonal is the product? What is the realistic potential for year round income?

1. What do you sell and what makes it unique in your local area?

2. Who's your target audience, type of customer, create a picture for yourself?

3. What is the cost to start? And what is included in that cost?

4. What is the average party spend across the company - not just the top sellers?

5. What percentage commission do you make from your sales (as a starting consultant)?

6. How often are commissions paid? How are commissions paid, can they be paid directly into savings accounts?

7. What is the company's minimum monthly quota?

17. What is the unique selling point for the company is it set up for the growing market demand for natural, fair trade, organic products? Is it a declining market or industry?

18. What is the education program like? What's included in the monthly programs and meetings; CD's, books, message boards, forums, newsletters?

19. What is the support community like, where do they meet online and offline? Use forums for specific party plan company recommendations.

20. Who pays for the hostess rewards? Are there products for instant gratification sales or promotional rewards such as for party bookings?

21. Are you required to pay for any part of the hostess gifts or administration fees with your commission or direct payments? What's the impact on your commission income?

8. What are the commission structures for the company? What is the profit margin?

22. What is the return policy for the company?

9. Does your company offer online catalogs that can be ordered from? Is there a charge? How does commission work for online orders?

24. What is the company's buy-back policy and the time frames involved?

10. Does the company offer your own website space to market and sell through? Is there a charge? Is there internet marketing training provided, is there a fee?

11. Are email accounts provided for professional presentation? Is there a cost?

12. What incentives are offered; trips, cars, cash bonuses, conventions etc?

13. How are products delivered - directly or do you have to run around making deliveries with the extra costs involved?

14. What are the customer and consultant shipping charges for supplies and orders? This can greatly vary between companies and seriously influence customer buying decisions and your commission income.

23. What are the sales tax requirements?

25. Does the company allow party plan consultants to sell product at local fairs, festivals, shows or events?

Doing shows can increase direct sales and party bookings for you but some companies are not structured to allow for cash and carry sales.

26. Are you able to carry stock to satisfy customers' need for instant gratification, use for promotional rewards and sales and how much do you pay for them - what percentage?

27. How much do you pay for display and promotional products? If there is a discount, at what point do you need to pay any balance amounts? Do you need to provide your own display stands?

28. Does the company have a fundraising program facility?

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HOW TO GET NOTICED ONLINE..

Do you feel like you’re spinning your wheels when it comes to getting people to perk up and take notice of you online?

Do you wonder, “How do I get more people to like my social media posts or even visit my website? It seems like I’m trying everything and no one is listening!”

At my office hours last week, I had A LOT of people come to me with this problem.

They all wanted to know how they could present their online marketing so that it was attractive.

Appealing. Effective.

I decided to tweak and expand my advice to them in today’s post, because I feel it’s a good foundation to start building a stronger digital strategy.

In the weeks to come I’ll be covering the different social media networks in more depth so you’ll understand exactly how to stand out and look your best on each one.

(There may even be videos! Eeee!)

But to begin, we need to start at the beginning: LET GO OF THE IMPERSONAL BUSINESS-AS-USUAL MENTALITY One of the biggest things preventing people from growing their business effectively online is treating social media as a sterile, personality-free soapbox or sales kiosk.

Think for a moment about what makes you click “like” — or even go as far as to leave a comment!

— when you get on your own personal social media accounts.

Do you like to see dry status updates about grants or acquisitions or donors?

Do you like hearing (again…and again…) about the latest and greatest sales or giveaways or contests?

Do you like only reading about a business’s hours, class times, daily specials, ______?

You may interact with that kind of post once, but if you see them over and over, what happens? Of course: you scroll on!

That’s because there’s nothing there to involve you, intrigue you, inspire you, teach you, or help you.

99% of the time you’re being talked at, not being talked to.

So when it comes to your own business-oriented social media presence, always always always think first about the real people behind the screens.

How you can relate to them on a HUMAN level?

If you’re not receiving much feedback on your

latest blog post, your big sale, your lesson times, your e-course, your book, your shoots‌ Go on. Look for yourself. (Seriously!)

I’ll wait.

Done? Okay. If I was right, I give you permission right now to break away from that.

It’s not working for you! “Well what do you suggest I do instead?! If I’m not outright promoting my business, what DO I do?�

I’m so glad you asked, because I was just itching to float some ideas by you. đ&#x;˜‰ (Note: I’ve indicated those platforms which are best suited to each thought with the abbreviations inside the brackets.)

FB = Facebook T = Twitter I = Instagram P = Pinterest

Learning what your audience likes online is a lot like conducting a science experiment. It usually takes a ridiculous number of failures to finally discover a winning strategy.

The key? Always aim to show people a genuine human face.

In the end that’s the only way you’ll be able to reach and delight people long-term.

SUPPLY ORIGINAL CONTENT THAT’S INCREDIBLY USEFUL This next point deals with getting people to your website.

This is your BIG goal with online marketing, friends, as it’s there where people can fully immerse themselves in your content, study your services/products, and eventually do business with you.

So, how do you get people to visit it, notice it, LOVE it?

Two golden words: valuable content.

Many businesses are starting to try their hand in this by way of a blog, which is super smart.

LI = LinkedIn

But the problem is that if the content isn’t useful to the point where others are:

1. Show off more casual, impromptu photos of you and/or your employees[FB/T/I]

A) learning something they really want to know, and B) wanting to pass it around tomore people who may be your ideal clients

2. Snap a shot of your desk/office/window view/ bookcase/equipment/‌[FB/T/I/P] 3. Ask your fans a friendly question [FB/T/I/LI] 4. Give glimpses of your in-progress projects and creations [FB/T/I/P] 5. Post some graphics of your favourite quotes (they should align with your brand) [FB/T/I/P/LI] 6. Give an opinion on a popular story currently happening in your industry[FB/T/LI] 7. Ask your followers to help you make your business decisions on: product development, blog post topics, e-course subjects, website graphics, etc. [FB/ T/I/maybe LI] 8. Let people see what you’re eating/drinking at work or during your “off hoursâ€? [FB/T/I] 9. Share the sights around your town or on your travels [FB/T/I] 10. Draw attention to others’ pages by sharing their content, expressing gratitude, or giving them praise [FB/T/I/P/LI] 11. Draw inspiration from the popular Humans of New York route and show off snapshots + interesting quotes of the people you’re working with (you could do this with your clients & customers, your colleagues, and/or your employees) [FB/I] At worst you try one of these posts and it flops. But I promise you: that’s OKAY.

‌you’re not helping yourself get noticed, help more people, and make a profit.

(And let’s be clear: those things are WHY we’re online to begin with, right? If they’re not, we’re expending a scary amount of effort, time, and money on something that could be better spent elsewhere.)

So how do you make your content valuable so people sit up and take notice? It’s not hard, but it does take thought. Let’s start here: 1. What do your customers care about?

2. What problems do they need solved that YOU can help them with?

As an example, if you’re trying to attract interest in your handmade clothing or jewelry, what kind of information might be relevant to the kind of person who buys your products?

Would they appreciate style and fashion tips? Or maybe they are rugged outdoor enthusiasts – in which would they love to know how to clean their jewellery after they take a spill into a muddy trail puddle? Or how best to clean their handmade clothes when they’re on an extended fishing trip?

If you’re a photographer, would your people want tips on how to keep the kids happy and engaged during photo shoots, what clothing looks best on what body types, how to apply makeup so they’ll look good on camera, or when is the best time in a woman’s pregnancy to take maternity photos?

Or if you’re a residential real estate agent, what practical guidance do people who are buying or selling a house want to know? Maybe it’s advice on choosing a realtor, tricks to getting homes sold faster or for full price, or whether there are dangers to buying a foreclosed home.

If you’re struggling with reaching people online, the best thing you can do right now to advance your business is get out there and start mingling with others.

The last part of this equation is that the information you put out there MUST be geared toward making it easily read and easily shared.

1. Join a few Facebook/Google+/LinkedIn groups (with both people related to your industry and people who are your ideal customers)

Because if it’s great advice but it’s difficult to read (ie: never ending paragraphs, lack of clear direction), devoid of good graphics, and there’s no sharing buttons…guess what?

Yep, it won’t get passed on. And that’s sad. (Truly.)

So after you write your epic blog posts, go back and break up paragraphs, do some thoughtful editing, find one interesting (legal) photo or make one good graphic, and be sure you’ve installed a sharing plugin.

I think you’ll be wowed at the difference just those minor things can make in helping you get noticed online.

(Tip: If you need help with DYI’ing slick graphics, I highly recommend using Canva and scouring the free photo sites I listed on this post about avoiding copyright infringement with your website images.)

“GET INVOLVED IN ONLINE COMMUNITIES AND BUILD REAL RELATIONSHIPS” This last point is the most important one of them all.

I see a lot of well-meaning people who think that if they just post links on Twitter and keep a blog, they’ll be the next Marie Forleo.

While I’ll be the first to say it’s a grand dream, I also need to say this: it’s not a realistic one, girlfriend.

Very, very few people can start something and create buzz without making a sincere, ongoing effort to collaborate and gather with others. (Nope, not even Marie.)

• Personal contact is what you need to create business magic. (Tweet it!)

• It’s how you start getting people’s attention.

• Their support.

• Their wisdom.

(As always, I’m here to help with ideas! But I’d love to hear YOURS in the comments.)

These are where the conversations get more intimate and relevant. If you don’t know which groups to join, find out where your current connections and mentors are congregating and go from there. To get started, check out this list of Facebook Groups for women bloggers, creatives, and small business owners.

2. Participate in free challenges going on in the blogosphere (like my popular Brand Impressions Detox!) whenever you can find them.

Just be sure you can take the time to be fully involved or you won’t get much out of it.

3. Comment, comment, comment on other blogs and their corresponding social media accounts.

Many people make the mistake of only associating with blogs that focus on the same things as they do.

There’s nothing inherently bad about that, but it’s a much more competitive + crowded space. Find your own ocean by expanding your presence to complementary blogs that have an audience of people who you want to reach.

4. Participate in Twitter chats They’re ridiculously fun, you’ll learn a ton along the way, and you’ll gain business colleagues, fans, and followers nearly every time. One that I really like (but frequently miss – darn it!) is Mack Collier’s #blogchat on Sunday evenings. This Twitter chat list curated by Kayla Hollatz is also insanely helpful if you’re a creative.

5. Be active on a forum where your clients are located.

For instance, if you’re a midwife, doula, or childbirth educator, seek out forums that specifically involve people from your area (such as the local boards on Mothering.com or WhatToExpect.com) and offer your assistance when appropriate.

AND NEVER, EVER… Now, before we wrap up, I want to give you a quick heads-up to 5 things that are deadly to your engagement. Do the above, avoid these, and you’ll be on pretty solid ground:

1. Overpost Too much sharing gets obnoxious, fast. People will either tune you out, mute you, or unfollow you. (What defines ‘overposting’ on each social platform varies, but generally don’t post more than 2-3x/day on Facebook and don’t automagically tweet something every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day on Twitter.)

2. Underpost If you’re only posting something once every two weeks on your primary social media account, you can’t keep people’s interest. It’s hard to interact with someone who is never actually around.

3. Complain & Whine At the risk of stating the obvious, if you use your business accounts to make whiny, self-righteous, irate, and/or Debbie Downer statements, your followers and current clients will want nothing to

do with you. Depending on the remark, it could also single-handedly destroy your business.

4. Slam Your Competition You know how people get sick and tired of negative political ads? The same principle applies to business. It’s distasteful to attack, belittle, and discredit another just to make a buck. If you do it, expect to turn a lot of people off. Permanently.

5. Put On A Show Just like the cleaning product salesman who knocks on doors and then proceeds to go through a rehearsed song and dance demonstration, putting on a plastic persona and giving out things like “free webinars” only right before you want to sell something makes most people grow cynical and detached.

Dehumanize yourself like that and don’t be surprised when people cease being interested.

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