Can We Advertise Our Business on Other Sites?

[cher88bear]

It is my understanding that we are not aloud to advertise our business on any other web site but the one we can get through Pampered Chef. I'm asking this because I have blog page on this web site and I noticed the pampered chef logo on someone elses page, so I checked it out and she has all her Pampered Chef info on there, and was wondering if we are aloud to do this.

 

[fruit76loop]

It is my understanding that we are not aloud to advertise our business on any other web site but the one we can get through Pampered Chef. I'm asking this because I have blog page on this web site and I noticed the pampered chef logo on someone elses page, so I checked it out and she has all her Pampered Chef info on there, and was wondering if we are aloud to do this.

I saw that too! I was wondering the same thing. However, I noticed it is for a NSED and I know they are allowed to advertise such as place ads in the yellow pages. I looked in my Leadership Handbook, and I did not see anything for websites! I am going to call home office tomorrow on this and see! I will let you know!

 

[cher88bear]

The woman I'm talking about is just a consultant, and didnt think we were aloud to do that.

 

[fruit76loop]

NoNo, we are not allowed to do that! I would report her to the HO. It is unfair for one person to be able to do that while the rest of us can't! I would take action right away. The HO will just tell her she has to remove the advertisement!

 

[DZmom]

Blog?How do you get a blog?

 

[cher88bear]

It's on a different website, it's not on here?

 

[WoodenSpoon]

Excuse me, Marlene, but you are just as guilty. You have a link to your personal web site in your ChefSuccess signature file, and it shows up in every message you leave on this web site. Unless you are an executive director, you are not allowed to do that.

Personally, I disagree with the policy, but there it is. Does anyone else have a concern about this prohibition? How are people supposed to shop from our web sites if they can't find them?

 

[JeannePaff]

Web advertising policyThat's right. I got a stern email from the home office requiring me to remove the same kind of link in my personal profile on this site. That surprised me, since hundreds of other consultants have those links, and the Recipe for Success says we can identify ourselves as PC reps in chat rooms and forums for communicating with other PC reps. But I had to take off my web address within 48 hours.

Has anyone else gotten this kind of message?

 

[tpchefrebecca]

NO, I haven't received anything like that. My web address is on everything. I haven't advertised on the web at all. Even on my signature when I send out emails or replys has my address. I think we should advertise to strengthen our buisness.

 

[fruit76loop]

You are right!I didn't even think of having my website on my signature as a conflict or PC rules. But you are so right. I just typed in my signature that I have for my e-mails and didn't think twice about it! I have now removed it.

 

[fruit76loop]

Excuse me, Marlene, but you are just as guilty. You have a link to your personal web site in your ChefSuccess signature file, and it shows up in every message you leave on this web site. Unless you are an executive director, you are not allowed to do that.

Personally, I disagree with the policy, but there it is. Does anyone else have a concern about this prohibition? How are people supposed to shop from our web sites if they can't find them?

OUCH. I have never knowingly broken the advertising rules. The way I understand the rules is that we can use our website in e-mail signatures and we may only set up chat rooms with other consultants. So, I have not broken the rules.

Here are the rules via the website:

Consultants, Future Directors, Directors, Adv. Directors and Senior Directors are allowed to have personal Web sites through www.pamperedchef.biz to promote their business.

You are allowed to use the company name as part of your title in email signatures, e-newsletters, e-fliers, etc., to promote your business, as long as you act in accordance with all other guidelines.

.....

You may only set up a chat room or email newsgroup to communicate solely with other Pampered Chef consultants about the business.

.....

 

[fruit76loop]

Sorry for another reply, but I tried to edit my thread and it wouldn't let me...froze my computer 3 times...

The other part of the guidelines I was going to list is: You may list your personal website in email, business cards etc.

Does anyone else have any ideas or thoughts on this?

I removed my web address, as I do not want to cause problems, or break any rules if I was.

I do believe we need to find out if this is legal or not, as many people have their web address in their signature.

 

[pamperedbecky]

Wow. I guess I'm not really sure how to interpret all of the guidelines in Recipe for Success. To get REALLY technical, we could also say that just about all of us on this site interpret it differently because it also says we're not to list the company name when filling out personal profiles. (Pg. F-19 of Recipe for Success). Many of our profiles on here list Pampered Chef as a hobby or occupation. So, just about all of us are "breaking the rules" somehow or another if we really want to pick them apart.

It does state we're able to list our website as Marlene stated above.

MY interpretation is that the HO doesn't want us advertising or promoting our business on the internet, since that is reserved for Executive Directors or above. I wouldn't say that THIS website is advertising or promoting. We're communicating with other consultants on this website as a forum to share ideas, get feedback, get guidance and support, as well as provide encouragement for each other. Since we are all so open here in sharing our ideas and answering others' questions, I see our websites as a continuation of that. I've enjoyed browsing others' websites to get ideas and get my brain going as I think about how to organize my website. I'm sure lots of us have looked at others' websites because we're curious how they promote the products, the opportunity and promotions. That's why I have enjoyed seeing website addresses in others signatures. Who knows, maybe I'm totally wrong thinking of it in this way, but it's just the way I interpret it. I also know that LOTS of brand new consultants come to this website as a source of support and information because maybe for some reason or another they can't get it in other places as quickly. Everyone here tries to be helpful and tries to give really quick responses which is AWESOME! LIke I said, I just see the websites as a continuation of this.

I'm hoping maybe the founder of this site, DebPC, could maybe provide some clarification. I know in the past she's clarified things for us when we've inadvertently done the "wrong" thing and so far I haven't seen any specific feedback about this. Maybe we could get some clarification?? Because just like Marlene, I don't want to be doing the "wrong" thing and I will correct anything I need to.

Thanks for listening! Marlene had asked for others' thoughts and these were just some of mine.

 

[pamperedbecky]

That's right. I got a stern email from the home office requiring me to remove the same kind of link in my personal profile on this site. That surprised me, since hundreds of other consultants have those links, and the Recipe for Success says we can identify ourselves as PC reps in chat rooms and forums for communicating with other PC reps. But I had to take off my web address within 48 hours.

Has anyone else gotten this kind of message?

Although, now I just saw your post Jeanne and I guess there is some clarification. That's interesting that nobody else had gotten the same email from HO. Weird. It's kind of a bummer because like I said above, I enjoy seeing others' websites. Oh well. I'll have to go and change my signature, I suppose.

 

[cher88bear]

When I started this thread I didnt even think about the people on here who post there web site in there signature. I had seen a woman openly advertising on a different website. I dont think using your website address in your singnature is advertising. But thats just my opinion. As for the other woman I will be letting H/O know of her site and they can let her know what she is doing is wrong.

 

[pamperedchristine]

I would hate to see this site turn into a place for people to tattle on others. Often I'[ve seen shortcuts or loopholes mentioned (and even given step by step directions to) here, and people would all of a sudden stop feeling like they could freely exchange information if we were all paranoid about being reported.

I understand the ethics of it all, and that no one should get a leg up over anyone else.. it just _feels_ like this could all turn ugly.

My 2 cents.

 

[pamperedbecky]

I would hate to see this site turn into a place for people to tattle on others. Often I'[ve seen shortcuts or loopholes mentioned (and even given step by step directions to) here, and people would all of a sudden stop feeling like they could freely exchange information if we were all paranoid about being reported.

I understand the ethics of it all, and that no one should get a leg up over anyone else.. it just _feels_ like this could all turn ugly.

My 2 cents.

I agree. I think we all pretty much know what's ethical when it comes down to it, so hopefully we can just continue on that way. I just LOVE this site!!!

 

[WoodenSpoon]

Paid links in Search enginesOver the last few weeks, I have seen quite a few consultants putting sponsored links (paid ads) in search engines. For example, when I searched Google this morning for "Pampered Chef" I saw these consultants' ads:

The Pampered Chef
High-Quality Kitchen Tools, Trusted Brand Name. Direct Online Orders.

Pampered Chef Online
Order Pampered Chef Online View and Buy Products Online
​

And on MSN, I saw these:

The Pampered Chef Kitchen Tools and More - The Pampered Chef offers multi-purpose quality kitchen tools that form the cornerstone of your efficient kitchen. New: Fast,...

Pampered Chef Online -
Buy Pampered Chef products from the online store and catalog order site. High quality kitchen tools with a great guarantee....​

The same pair also show up on Yahoo.

You may be surprised that I don't have a problem with this. I think the rules should apply to everyone equally. If executive directors are allowed to advertise in this way, why shouldn't all consultants be permitted to do so?

Somebody said earlier that things would get ugly if this site was used for tattling on one another. What would really make things ugly is if the Recipe for Success was used to give some high-ranking consultants privileged access to online shoppers, while denying that opportunity to others.

Has anyone spoken to the HO or to an executive director about this? What is the thinking behind the policy against online advertising?

 

[Sethea]

I've been granted permission to post URLsAll,
I'm not even associated with Pampered Chef, but had once posted a link and got in trouble for it... So now I have posted a list of links. You can see my story at www.meettheandersons.com/Pampered_Chef.htm

Seth Anderson

 

[Shawnna]

Interesting...it is my understanding that we can only list our web address when we are contacting people we already know...past hosts, etc...While I realize that the heart of our business is the cooking show, times are changing and many people are shopping online. So, how will they know about us if we can't list our sites? When you think about it, what is the difference in posting your site online somewhere and leaving your business card at a beauty shop? Either way you are not personally contacting a potential client. You are putting your info out there for them to find and contact you. I am anxious to see how our policy changes with the online ordering. I am sure that it will change...how much I don't have a clue.

You have a lot of links on your page. I am sure consultants are appreciative.

Shawnna Nixon

 

[JeannePaff]

Seth,

I appreciate what you are trying to do, but please don't link or list my Pampered Chef web site on your pages. (I'm glad to see it's not on there today.) Like you, I disagree with the policy, but I want to work within the system to change it. I don't want a link from your site to mine to jeopardize my ability to pursuade executive directors or company management to reconsider the anti-linking policy. There was a big meeting about this (and other matters) last week, and some materials I prepared were shared by my executive director Darla Oelmann. I'm hopeful that the company will take a hard look at the Recipe for Success and change it. But rabble-rousing at this point probably won't help us. Thanks for listening.

 

[WoodenSpoon]

Jeanne,

I've been watching what you've been doing with your web site over the past few weeks. I think you have built a great site with lots of good content for shoppers. I'm sure lots of consultants will want to borrow ideas from you.

I was looking at a bunch of sites today and was surprised to see that Beth Jacobs has copied your "news" section word for word. I have attached screen shots so you can see what I mean. http://www.pamperedchef.biz/theonlinecatalog is exactly like yours, with these headlines:

- Your Online Pampered Chef Store
- Order Pampered Chef Products
- Earn FREE products and extra holiday cash!
- Pampered Chef Recipes and Kitchen Tips
- Pampered Chef Stoneware - Baking Stones Not just for Pizza!

If you click the links, even the text is exactly like yours.

It's one thing to get inspiration from another consultant's success, but it something else to claim another's work as your own, or copy it wholecloth.

Were you aware of this? Did she ask permission? Have you talked to her about it?

 

[JeannePaff]

Yes, I saw it too. No, she didn't ask.

 

[JeannePaff]

I've updated my site now, so at least the headlines won't be identical.

 

[JeannePaff]

After receiving the message from the home office that said, "Starting today you may only have links to your home page..." I have put my home page back into my profile on this site. I have emailed my Executive Director to be sure this is OK. Did anyone else understant the HO message in this way?

 

[WendyAebi]

I understood it to mean that you won't be able to link to a specific area/page of your website, only the home page. Not a permission thing, but an ability thing. Because didn't it mention that if you linked to something other than the home page, it would lead to an error message?

 

[Shawnna]

I was a little confused by the email from HO. I thought we always linked to our homepage. I was not sure if this was giving permission to do more advertising of our site or just a general knowledge FYI email. I always put my web address in emails to friends, family and customers. It is my understanding that this is the only place to do it other than our business cards and newsletters.

 

[Cindycooks]

I think it only means we can link the Home page - and not pages after the home page like other areas. There was one time I had an elderly lady who just could not understand how to click on "place individual order". I dont know if she couldn't see the link or what, but anyway, I ended up going in for her to the next page where you shop, and emailing her that link. I think this is what the email means. Unfortunately, I dont think it means that we can now link our website to other websites and advertise

 

[PCHO]

LinksPWS Links are not allowed on other websites, as stated in the Recipe for Success. This has not changed. Executives and above may list their link in search engines. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the policy.
Thanks

 

[mypamperedmoocow]

really confused!!!Ok--so we are NOT allowed to have our Personal Website's listed in our signatures? I thought we were allowed to do that...it seems the more I read the email and everyone elses opinions/thoughts/etc. the more confused I get, and I generally don't have a problem understanding things in rule books/handbooks. Is anyone else having the same issues?

I have a cousin who is a consultant for another Direct Selling business and it seems like they are more "technologically" advanced than PC when it comes to their website and what their consultants can do as far as customer service, emails, etc. As in they have all kinds of really great emails they can send out, their website is more interactive, more in depth, and just more like what I keep hoping ours would/will be like. I don't know...maybe it's because PC is so much younger than some of these other DS companies, but I really am a little miffed at the fact that we are so restricted in what we can and can't do. I understand why with some of the restrictions, but with others it seems so odd that HO would do something that seems to hurt us in our ability to provide customer service--especially since we can now take orders online year round. Perhaps they are still learning their way around this whole internet thing and how it can benefit us and the company as a whole???