Understanding the New Website Policy: Tips for Monitoring Your Online Presence

I am a little confused about the new website policy put out yesterday. I understand about not creating better opportunities for yourself and they want to keep a level playing field. But the email also said that we should periodically police our own name on google, et al to make sure we aren't picked up by other companies. Does that mean we need to make sure Joe Smith Inc hasn't somehow linked his website to mine, or that Google doesn't have my name at the top of a search? Because I did do a search of my name and the first one it came up with was my website. (It also came up with the minutes for a group I no longer care to be associated with, but oh well.) My point is, do I need to let google know that I'm not allowed to have a search of my name to go to my website? And if that is the case - good luck with that! Or am I reading more into this than I should because I don't want to be in violation of anything?

Thanks,
Leesa

Just cancelled mine!!! I have only gotten 2 orders since I have had it and it is not worth all this trouble. I googled my name and my website popped up first. It has not helped my business at all! I have given the website to all my hosts and sent out emails inviting customers to visit it. Not a thing! So, I am done with my venture with the website. Big waste of money if you ask me. More power to you all that have had success with it. I wished it had worked better for me.

I've gotten alot of individual orders...but a good selling point was the "purchase $50 and receive the guest special" I am really upset they are doing away with this. I don't understand their reasoning...they should want to "help" us build our business....I mean they brought back individual ordering...why take away the guest special?

Fishing Without BaitWhat the pampered chef is trying to do is similar to renting you a fishing pole to go fishing with but not allowing you to put any bait on the line. Kind of stupid if you ask me.

If I were you I'd do one of two things 1) cancel the website account or 2) Link like crazy to the website and let them cancel it for you.

Seth

I would wait and be patient. This won't be the end of it. PC was totally caught off guard how the internet has effected them. PC will have to radically change their business model to some how include the internet because it's just to big of a market to blackball forever.

just thought of something...I think that also means we can't post our sites on this site, either! I am so not a fan of this new deal!

n8vtxn said:

I think that also means we can't post our sites on this site, either! I am so not a fan of this new deal!

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See this:
http://www.chefsuccess.com/showthread.php?t=4667

We are enforcing the policy change because we don't want anyone here to get in trouble. Note that chefsuccess.com can't be held responsible and will always be safe from pampered chef, however we love you guys are would hate for anyone here to get in trouble using our system.

Admin Greg said:

I would wait and be patient. This wouldn't be the end of it. PC was totally caught off guard how the internet has effected them. PC will have to radically change their business model to some how include the internet necause it's just to big of a market to blackball forever.

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I have to agree with this statement. TPC is still growing and learning as we all are. In time things will improve. I for one plan to keep my website and to use it to the best of my ability. The rules have always been that we couldn't post our links in this forum or any other public forum, so that part hasn't changed. TPC has reasons for these policies and I plan to follow them and be successful. There is no need to become upset or take it personally. Give them time. I'm sure they are feeling a backlash from this announcement. Maybe an eloquently stated response would help shed some light on this topic that HO had not thought of.

Holy cow....sorry this is so longI agree as well. I think all the kinks will get worked out over time and it was inevitable that some policies had to change because the internet is constantly exploding and changing. I'm still trying to get my head around all of this. For my two cents, I think there were lots of people working around the rules, both knowingly and unknowingly. I would think Executive Directors and above have to be pretty peeved about all of this because this seems to affect them pretty directly because now they can't advertise on the internet which had to be HUGE for them. I saw their ads ALL the time through Google ads everywhere, including this site. I also saw some people's from time to time who probably shouldn't have been advertising because they weren't at the appropriate level. Of course there still remains the question why some can advertise in this way and why some can't (based on level) and I'm not saying I agree with the way they had it set up. So maybe because there were so many complaints about this, they decided to ban it all together. Maybe it's just for the time being, who knows. They do obviously need to research this more and rework things.

I can see why there is more of a focus on Kitchen Shows (and other kinds of shows) because, after all, that is the whole basis for our company. I can't imagine that people were having SUCH success with individual online ordering that it would make up more than 50% of their sales throughout the year. But, maybe that's because it was only a small percentage of mine.

I do agree that not offering the "free product with $50 order" special to individual orderers seems strange. I guess it maybe goes along with the focus needing to be on shows and a little bonus for guests who place an order in that way. By the way, there IS a way to get around this new rule, so be sure to publicize this on your website and let your customers know. Although personally, I wouldn't highlight the new rule too much to your customers or potential customers since it does seem sort of unfair to those who aren't attending or invited to shows. If you do a catalog show each month in YOUR name as the host and set it up on your website, your "guests" can make a purchase through this show and still receive the free product with $50 purchase because it would be attached to a show. Of course, you'd have to have the minimum number of sales for it to count as a show, but you could always add it to an existing show if you needed to. From what I understand, the only way a customer WON'T get the free product is if they choose that "If you're not including your order with a show, click here to place an individual order" option. Just have a news item that shows up on your home page explaining how they should place an individual order if they'd like to take advantage of the guest special. Instruct them to enter your name as the host. Even if they don't include the free product on their order, when you enter it into PP, you can add it on there. I hope that makes sense.

I have a feeling there are going to be some announcements about websites at Leadership that don't have anything to do with these new policies. I was getting the feeling like they were somehow going to improve SOMETHING having to do with our websites. THey've made plenty of hints at some new things that are bound to help us build a stronger business or something to that effect. Even the email that just came out about these changes mentioned something that made me curious. They said "This also includes any electronic mail pieces that may be developed by our new licensed merchandise vendor" when they discussed some of the website guidelines. And since they're changing the licensed merchandise vendor, there could be an entirely new "electronic" component to this. I have NO clue what it would be, but maybe some people more into up and coming technology stuff would.

Maybe some announcements they'll make at Leadership will "make up for" the disappointment many of us have felt with these new rules. And the idea that they can police all of this does seem quite impossible. I did a search of my own name and a number of the posts I've made on this website came up. That happened automatically just because I've posted things here. And a few sections of my website came up, but I have no idea why. Those kinds of things can't be avoided and I just hope it doesn't affect the future of this site!!! As long as our websites aren't listed in our profiles or signatures on posts on this site, it sounds like we're all in compliance.

Well, sorry this is so long. I wanted to throw my two cents in. Although I'm not happy about some of the changes, they must have more reasoning behind it that they're not letting us be a part of. Hopefully with some time, they will sort through this and provide us with the best support possible.

This is all a little confusing. How can we periodically police google? All our sites are google-able. I have got a complete listing of every site that links to the .biz thing off google. Anyone can if you know which buttons to push and what words to type in. I can totally understand not letting us put paid links on websites, and not letting us set up online stores etc. That part I get. But how can we "police" google. I have an old website for a school I operate that is no longer even online- and hasnt been for years- but those links STILL show up on a google search. How can you prevent or police things like that??? And how will THEY police it? We all know they can't keep up with the PC stores that are on ebay that we all know darn well are operated by consultants. Its all very confusing.

Alison

I Am So Excited!I see some negative comments regarding the policy, but I am so excited! I have seen many exec's and above have over $30,000 in sales in one month because of the internet! How can anyone compete with that for Circle of Honor in Sales and such?

I have also seen my Home Office Leads drop to almost nothing! I know the Home Office leads will be up again once everyone is in compliance. Seems that the Pampered Chef will be very serious about inforcing the new rules, which is awesome.

I am a little dissappointed with the no free product for online orders, but most of my online orders are connected to a show, so they will still get the free product! I don't get many orders where people just go online and order.

Smiling in WYOMING!!

fruit76loop said:

I see some negative comments regarding the policy, but I am so excited! I have seen many exec's and above have over $30,000 in sales in one month because of the internet! How can anyone compete with that for Circle of Honor in Sales and such?

I have also seen my Home Office Leads drop to almost nothing! I know the Home Office leads will be up again once everyone is in compliance. Seems that the Pampered Chef will be very serious about inforcing the new rules, which is awesome.

I am a little dissappointed with the no free product for online orders, but most of my online orders are connected to a show, so they will still get the free product! I don't get many orders where people just go online and order.

Smiling in WYOMING!!

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Wow, some of them have had THAT much in sales just from the internet? Well, that sure shines some light on this!!! I'm very excited for the expected increase in the home office leads myself. Being a new director, that is one of the perks I've been most looking forward to. I'm hoping that in the new year I'll get to see several come my way. That was the one part of the new policy that I was most excited to see too!

Becky,

I know you will be amazed when you get your KCN for the Exec's and above sales! I almost killed over when I get my Monday Motivation from Chris Manion and saw one of her Executive Director's with over $30,000! What a paycheck for the holidays!! That would be $9000 just one personal sales not including any downline sales! Oh my gosh!!

Smiles,

If I read the email correctly, we can use our website signature. Please correct me if I'm wrong - I'm new at the whole website thing. I got one so my hostess can send out e-invites and stuff like that. I only have it for 6 months, so if I don't see any results, I will let it go.

Boomer Sooner,
Shannon Overstreet

Sooner PC said:

If I read the email correctly, we can use our website signature. Please correct me if I'm wrong - I'm new at the whole website thing. I got one so my hostess can send out e-invites and stuff like that. I only have it for 6 months, so if I don't see any results, I will let it go.

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We are allowed to include our website in signatures on emails to our customers, hostesses, etc. Just not on public boards or websites on the net.

On another note, I did contact my director (who is a NSED) regarding the website coming up on a google search. She explained the policy is regarding paid ads or intentional links. So those of us who are not participating in anything like that are not in any violation. I personally am not going to waste time worrying about this anymore, and focus my efforts on my business.

Sherrie

PC doesn't care if your PC website comes up in search engine results. They just don't want you actively linking your site on other sites or actively advertising it. For example type in 'pampered chef' into google.com and look at the right side bar. Those are all advertising sites, sometimes you can find PC people there. I just found http://www.pamperedchef.biz/susankaufmann?page=home advertising

The ad looked like this:

The Pampered Chef Online
View Catalog & Ship Direct To You
High Quality Kitchen Products
pampered.home.att.net

Very misleading and PC wants to stop this kind of activity, they even masked their url. You'll also notice chefsuccess advertises, but we can get away with it because it's not under PC jurisdiction.

btw, someone might want to report that person who is advertising to PC

Admin Greg said:

PC doesn't care if your PC website comes up in search engine results. They just don't want you actively linking your site on other sites or actively advertising it. For example type in 'pampered chef' into google.com and look at the right side bar. Those are all advertising sites, sometimes you can find PC people there. I just found http://www.pamperedchef.biz/susankaufmann?page=home advertising

btw, someone might want to report that person who is advertising to PC

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Susan Kaufmann is an upper level consultant (NSE) and she has the right to have that site (for now).

Not soThis policy is effective immediately. So no one has the right to advertise. Pampered Chef even stated that if Execs already paid for advertising in the future that they could be reimbursed through the Pampered Chef. February is when they will start enforcing the rule to allow time for those who have advertising to get rid of it!

I am also excited about the changes in the names of some individual's site names. Such as www.pamperedchef.biz/theonlinestore, www.pamperedchef.biz/kitchenshow or www.pamperedchef.biz/orderproducts. These names will not be allowed anymore! Yeah!!

This is why I decided not to get a website. There are too many inconsistencies in the policies. I do not have the time to police the web.

Ya know - you'd think that PC would be happy their products are selling, and not try so damn hard to stop that. The more products that PC sells, the more we ALL benefit (more products, more customers, cheaper prices) - what is all the damn fuss about.

I think they are acting like a bunch of old ladies with their panties in a twist.

Just my 2 cents.

Does the rule about no free product with $50 purchase apply just to online ordering or to regular kitchen shows also. Does this mean that if my hosts gets outside orders that are over $50 they will not get the free product?

I understand it to mean online orders ONLY. Any order attached to a kitchen or catalog show should be fine.

pamperedchristine said:

Ya know - you'd think that PC would be happy their products are selling, and not try so damn hard to stop that. The more products that PC sells, the more we ALL benefit (more products, more customers, cheaper prices) - what is all the damn fuss about.

I think they are acting like a bunch of old ladies with their panties in a twist.

Just my 2 cents.

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The fuss is that if people can sell PC products on ebay and their websites then no one needs any offline shows and thus your out of a job

I am happy to have a job!!Just remember everyone that Execs and above were most likely getting orders from your state and probably your town. The Pampered Chef wants to make sure that you have a job!! They don't want the internet sales hurting the core of the business- The Kitchen Show! I personally am relieved to hear the progress in this matter. It has been a huge concern in our cluster because of incentives and such. Can you compete with an Exec who has $30,000 in sales a month from online orders?

As far as online orders not getting the gift for a $50 order, yea that kinda stinks. But we haven't always had guest specials like these, so who's to say that they will stay that way every month? You never know what is going to happen at Leadership!

Be glad that the Pampered Chef is rethinking it's policies. They are only rethinking these policies after realizing that this is not the way they want the company to go! Just remember that the Pampered Chef could skip the middle man-the kitchen consultant-and sell directly to the public. They would make more $ not having to pay commissions! So just be happy for what the company stands for!

I was toldWhen I joined a couple of years ago, my director told me that the websites were very new and there was a lot of hoohaa over the sites. All levels of consultants were concerned with the very problems we are seeing now. Excessive sales on ebay, and the distinct possibility that internet sales will prevail and ruin our business -- the kitchen show.

PC guaranteed consultants that this would not happen and unlimited online ordering would never be the norm at PC. The kitchen show is the core business and it would remain that way.

Granted, this was all before me, but it seems to me PC is keeping their promise. We should all be grateful that they are looking out for our best interests.

It seems to me it is all about working hard and earning our business and not subscribing to what seems so common today - want it now, get it now, but do not earn or deserve it.

Props to PC for stepping up to the plate and starting the process of getting this problem, that will only continue to grow if nothing is done, corrected!

Just wanted to say that the main reason I cancelled was due to no orders. Since I was getting no orders it seemed silly for me to have to keep up with whether I was breaking any rules or not. I was just ready to wash my hands of it. But, wanna hear the "just my luck" part of it. 2hrs after I clicked the cancel button on my website I get a call from a customer who could not access my website. UGH!!!!!!!!! She wanted to place an order!!! Can't win I just had to laugh. I still would not want to keep the website for 1 order every 6 months. And as I said before, congrats to those of you who do really well with your website. That was my hopes but it just did not turn out that way.
Merry Christmas!!!!!

I am very new and just signed up for my website. Even with the new changes, I am very excited to have a professional and custom website to offer my clients and their guests. I am planning to utilize my website as a tool for my hostess and her guest. Not so much for outside individual orders. Also if someone se my web address on a brochurce/flyer from another host, they just might check out the sight.

Very UpsetI am very upset with this new policy. I have many proud family members who added a link to my website in support of my new venture. I have PAID to have my link added to a few websites, and I have made recipricol link agreements with other vendors whom I have worked with. I don't feel this is unfair! I have some business savvy and want to use the internet as a tool to drive leads my way. I want to be successful at this, as I am sure you all do. I love using my website for catalog shows, party orders, etc. I rarely see independant orders!!! However, I have gotten a few parties/bridal registries due to my advertising strategies. Why is this wrong?

Our websites are so "vanilla" as it is. Other than using our website to keep in touch with current clients, how can we drive traffic to our sites? I took courses at National about using our website to advertise and get new clients/business opportunities. Now that I have done many of these things (and more), I am going to be punished? Will PC reimburse me for what I have paid to add my link to other sites?

I just feel this is very unfair. I think PC should have thought of these things before they offered websites to their consultants. Now, I am out of a lot of money, support, creativity, and advertising space.

Just venting. I have my own attorney looking into the policies to see if they are justified. I will let you all know

Carrie from Georgia

Money BackIf I remember correctly, PC will reimburse you for any fees you have paid to other sites for including your link. You have to have a receipt, though. Best wishes!

FeesPC will only reimburse links paid for by executives and above. Any paid links were outside of the policy anyway and they will not reimburse for those.