Where Are You with Your New Years Resolutions?

At the beginning of the year we were focused on resolutions: changes we would make this year, goals we would meet and exceed and things we would accomplish before 2014. Next week marks the halfway point in the year (can you believe it?!) and we’re here to check in and hold you accountable for your new years resolutions!

As an UnFranchise® Owner it’s important to set realistic goals for your business each year. Whether your goal is to get your first paycheck, attend MAIC, or to hit a new Pin Level… the corporate team is here to support you each step of the way. In January, we gave you a handy guide to sticking to your resolutions. Now, you’ve had six months to make moves towards your goals. How’s it going?

We dug up an old Facebook post from January and here are some of the resolutions that you shared with us:

“Get my first check and grow my business with the President’s Challenge!”

“My goal is to receive my second check and then receive checks on a monthly basis, and early enough to cover all my expenses for business meeting and be in Miami February 2014!”

“My resolution is to be making enough in MA to leave my current job by Thanksgiving 2013. I also plan to be activated by the end of February.”

“My goal is to help 6 partners to start earning weekly checks.”

“To get activated with two partners and continue to help people be able to look in the mirror and tell themselves, they are worth the investment……….and try products!”

With 6 months of 2013 under your belt, it’s time to sit down and analyze where you are and where you hope to be on December 31st. We suggest making a list of your initial goals for 2013. Check off the ones that you’ve met and celebrate your accomplishments! Then, strategize a plan to help you meet the rest on your list. Remember, even if you haven’t fulfilled every resolution by the end of the year, you can still be actively working towards your goals.

We’d love to chat with you about your resolutions, so comment below and tell us how it’s going! If you’re curious about our social media team resolutions… we’re still working on them. 

3 Benefits of Argan Oil

Argan oil has taken the industry by storm! For centuries, Moroccans have used argan oil to add nourishment to their bodies and now it’s your turn. We’ve become so obsessed with it that we came up with three reasons why you should include this wonder oil into your beauty regime! 

Hair Care. Between the road trips to the beach and your time at the pool, your hair may get more wear and tear through the summer than you realize. An argan oil shampoo and conditioner can help in battling damage from sun exposure and chlorine as well as split ends. It hydrates hair naturally and improves moisture to promote healthy hair growth.

Skin Care. Argan oil is packed with essential fatty acids and antioxidants that can help restore the appearance of dull skin while giving your skin and body a healthy sheen. Because of its heavy vitamin E content, it also helps to treat acne, dry and irritated skin, and prevents scarring from unwanted blemishes.

Anti-Aging. The oil is also touted as an effective anti-aging product, helping to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. It contains carotenoids, which protects the eyes and skin from UV radiation, and antioxidants that are essential to slowing down the effects of aging while stimulating renewal of skin cells and boosting elasticity.

With so many benefits, it’s no wonder this oil is the new talk of the town. What do you think of argan oil? Comment below and let us know!

BMV by SHOP.COM Marketplace Launch: Books, Music, and Videos now Available!

Exciting news, readers! This week we officially launched BMV by SHOP.COM Marketplace: your source for bestselling books, hit music, movies and more! Not only do you have access to over 1.2 million titles, but each purchase earns you 2% Cashback!

BMV by SHOP.COM Marketplace is arranged in to 5 convenient categories for you to browse:

Books: If you’re a fan of the classic paperback, this is the category for you! Searching through categories like travel, biography & memoirs, kids, humor, etc. is a breeze and you even have quick access to view bestseller lists from The New York Times and USA Today.

eBooks: We’ve partnered with Blio to bring you the best ereader software available with tons of titles to choose from and download to your mobile device. You can choose to browse from our personal picks, categories, or even view all titles under $5!

Acoustik: Acoustik Audiobooks allow you to download bestsellers to listen to while you’re on the go. Download the app and browse titles; everything from Charlotte’s Web to David Sedaris and more.

Music: Not only can you buy new music through BMV, but you can pre-order soon to be released titles as well.

Movies: A long-awaited addition to SHOP.COM is finally here! Order dvds and blu-rays from categories including Action/Adventure, Family, Television and more and be sure to check out special box sets that may be available- perfect for gift giving.

Keep an eye on our social media channels over the coming weeks as we share some of our favorite finds on SHOP.COM BMV and be sure to comment below and tell us how you’re liking the site! Feedback is much appreciated.

Snap Laundry Detergent

Are you spending too much on your laundry detergent? Snap Triple Enzyme 3X Laundry Detergent can help! Averaged at only $0.13 per load, Snap Laundry Detergent could save you as much as half the cost per load as compared to the leading High Efficiency (HE) laundry detergent. Read on to discover why we love it!

Stains and odors don’t stand a chance with Snap Triple Enzyme 3X Laundry Detergent. Three times more powerful than standard detergents, Snap Laundry Detergent provides maximum cleaning power to fight the toughest stains and odors with a light, fresh scent. One bottle does up to 50 percent more loads than the leading brands. Our Home & Garden Facebook channel recently shared this handout, available for download via UnFranchise:

As you can see, this handout is a valuable tool to share with your customers! Let them know that they can save money by switching to Snap! It is gentle enough to use for delicates and it’s perfect for baby clothes. Because of its concentrated formula, Snap can even be used to pretreat the toughest stains- from grape juice to grass to ink!

Snap Laundry Detergent is also eco-friendly! It contains biodegradable, non-toxic, phosphate-free and plant-based surfactants and essential oils. If you have a HE washer, use half the recommended amount to do up to 80 loads of laundry.

Have you tried Snap Laundry Detergent? Send your testimonial to socialmedia@marketamerica.com or leave a comment below!

Dream it. Do it.

JR once said, “Vision without action is just fantasy. And action that lacks vision only passes the time. But vision with action will change the world.”

Wow…what amazing insight. You could teach an entire seminar on that one concept. Even though most of us understand what it takes to be successful already, when it is spelled out so straightforward, the close relationship between inspiration and motivation has incredible power behind it. The best part is that same power (able to change the world) is available to you and me — all it takes is imagination and effort.

Elizabeth Weber not only realized her dreams could be reached, but she went after them with a vengeance. She recognized opportunity and did what it took to capitalize on it. In her own words, she explained it like this: “The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do. Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.”

It is very important to take the time to define what you want out of life — everything from your personal goals to your wildest dreams. Once you figure that out, you are left with a choice that only you can make. Either you decide to continue ‘getting by’ or in my opinion, merely existing — OR — you make up your mind to follow your dreams no matter how much time it takes, how much work is required, or how many times you fall in your journey. We all have time! Work has never killed anybody! And it doesn’t matter that you fell, but that you got back up!

I will make you a promise right now. If you can dream and if you can do, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.

So my question to you is rather simple. What inspires you to dream; to hold onto the belief that one day your deepest desires could come true? And, what motivates you to never give up on them?

Facebook Introduces Hashtags

It’s official: Facebook now supports hashtags. While this new feature is still unavailable to many users, we have a pretty good idea of how this will affect our social conversations from her on out. Read on to learn more about what this could mean for you and your business!

Source: Mashable.com

What are hashtags?Gone are the days when when # was called a “pound” sign. Now when we tweet or post a word or phrase with a hashtag preceding it, we’re not just adding random symbols to take up space; we’re indexing it so that it can be easily found by other social media users. Twitter, Instagram, and, more recently, Google+ have already incorporated hashtags into their sites, so it was only a question of time for when Facebook would do the same.

Why did Facebook decide to incorporate hashtags into their site?By incorporating hashtags into their site, Facebook hopes to make it easier to search for relevant conversations. For brands, this means adding relevant hashtags to posts and photos so that they can be easily discovered by a much wider audience – not just their fans. For people like you and me who use personal profiles, adding hashtags to your public updates makes it easier for people who are not your friends but are searching for that word or phrase to see your post. By adding hashtags to the site, Facebook has made it easier discover conversations, engage with others, share content, and locate brands. Note: if you’re not familiar with public vs. private updates, learn about this important Facebook feature HERE.

What could this mean for me?Let’s say you post a public update on your personal profile about your favorite Isotonix® product and include a hashtag, like #fitness, #health or #nutrition. By including a relevant hashtag, you become part of an ongoing conversation about health, fitness, or nutrition, and made it possible for users who are not connected to you to find your post (and vice versa!). Think of all the possibilities that are available to you now that you can easily discover conversations and people that are relevant to you and your business!

As mentioned, Facebook is still working on rolling out hashtag support to all of its users. We will keep our ears and eyes open for more information about how you can use this feature to build your business, so stay tuned!

Motives® 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray

You can now say goodbye to make up mishaps! Motives® 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray can help you keep your makeup looking fresh and get that just-applied look all day long! 

Motives® 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray is for the young and young at heart. The setting spray helps to reduce makeup slippage into pores, lines, wrinkles or scars. It’ll keep your makeup looking flawless day and night with fewer touch-ups required throughout the day. AND it saves up to 50% of makeup usage!

To get the best results, use the spray as one of the last steps in your makeup application, before you apply your mascara. Shake the bottle gently before every use and spray the mist in back and forth movements about eight inches from your face after you have applied your makeup.

The 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray is one of our best sellers and a must-have for everyone! If you want to stay up to date on all of the products in the Motives Cosmetics line, make sure to check out their Facebook page HERE and their Twitter account HERE.

Have you tried Motives 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray? We’d love to hear your tips for sharing this amazing product with new customers. Leave them in the comment section below!

4 Places to Meet New People and Network

Whether it’s weekday or weekend, you should be constantly working on expanding your network. Good networkers are always reaching out to those around them and finding new ways to connect with others. Coffee shops, grocery stores and parties are pretty common places to connect, but we have some new ideas on the horizon! We’ve compiled 4 places where you can meet new people and make connections that will help you network — and grow your UnFranchise® Business!

Fitness Classes – The gym or yoga classes are a great place to meet new people. It’s easy to chat about your fitness goals with like-minded people. Because you’ll be seeing the same people in your classes or at the gym, it’s not difficult to find out about people’s lives, jobs, kids, etc. Icebreakers and elevator pitches are not as stressful when you’re sweating with people.

Airports - Airport lounges or in the air is one of the easiest ways to meet new people and exchange business cards. Use your downtime effectively in the waiting area – or during that four hour flight — by engaging in small talk with the person next to you. You never know who you’re going to meet or what’s going to happen.

Community Service – Charity work is not only a great to give back to your community, but you meet a diverse group of people as a result of your volunteer efforts. Pick a local food bank, animal sanctuary, or non-profit where you can put in a few hours after work or on a weekend alongside other people in your area. Many professionals enjoy volunteering their time – you might be surprised who you’ll meet!

Alumni Associations - The school tie is a time-tested way of networking because there’s the expectation that alumni will help one another. Many colleges have alumni associations that meet regularly. They often have breakfasts, receptions, alumni sports game and databases where you can connect with people you already have a connection with!

Whatever you do, make sure you always have your business cards in your purse or wallet! Where’s the most unique place you’ve connected with a new person? Comment below and let us know!

Weekend Grilling Essentials

What better way to celebrate the arrival of summertime than hosting a great backyard barbecue party with your friends and family? Whether you’re cooking steaks or vegetables, you need to have all the right equipment. Here’s our quick list of 4 things that are guaranteed to make your cookout a success!

Grilling Tool Set A reliable set of tools will help you keep your hands away from the fire. Flip, poke, slice and handle anything that comes your way with a set of long stainless-steel tools. They’re perfect for at home or to take on the road for your next tailgating event.

Silicone BBQ Gloves A good set of silicone gloves is great for the hands-on griller. These are great for reaching, grabbing, and turning everything with safety. It’s the ideal protection for serious grillers! 

Corn Grilling Basket Making delicious corn on the cob just got a lot less tricky. Cook up to four delicious ears of corn without chasing it from one side of the grill to the other with a corn grilling basket. Simply husk your corn, lightly add butter and lock into place for everyone to enjoy!

Thermometer Whether you like your burger rare, well done, or somewhere in between, great grilling requires accurate temperature control. Assure perfectly grilled meats without releasing the savory juices and flavors with a good grilling thermometer. Plus, it will help you eliminate under-cooked food!

What are your grilling essentials that must be at your side at all times? We want to know!

What The Meme?

If you spend any amount of time on social media, there is no doubt that you have come across a meme (pronounced mee-m) at one point or another. Memes may not directly affect your business, but social media does. Read on for everything you never knew you wanted to know about the Internet phenomenon known as the meme!

Google the word meme and you might find the following definition: Meme. Noun.\mēm\ 1) An element of culture or behavior that may be passed from one individual to another by non-genetic means. 2) An image or video that is passed electronically from one Internet user or another.

That definition leaves a bit to be desired, so rather than confuse you with stuffy definitions and meaningless jargon, let’s take a look at this handy infographic created by Mozy (it’s pretty big and has lots of great pictures, but if you get impatient and just want to know the main points, scroll down to the bottom).

What does this infographic tell us?The first meme dates back to the 1870’s when a gentleman by the name of Harry Frees decided to get creative with his greeting card business. According to this infographic, he dressed his cats up in doll clothes, snapped some photos, then added a witty caption and then sold them for a profit. Now that’s one way to make your meme go viral – without even using the internet!

The word “meme” doesn’t just mean “funny photo found on the internet.” Memes also include gifs, videos, image macros, rage comics, and commercials.

There are thousands of memes out there, but some of the most well known areSuccess Kid, First World Problems, and one of OUR personal favorites, Grumpy Cat (not included in this infographic, but definitely worth mentioning!).

Popular websites where you can find memesThe website I Can Has Cheezburger was created in 2007 and features lolcats, a.k.a. photos of cats and other animals with funny captions written in lolcat language. Click here for an example.

Tumblr, the blogging site recently acquired by Yahoo, is packed full of memes, andmuch much more! Click here to see one of our favorite gifs (i.e. animated meme) from a Tumblr titled “What Should We Call Social Media.”

Dog Shaming is a creative, laugh-inducing website where dog owners can submit photos of their pets doing something naughty, out of the ordinary, or just plain weird in order to “publicly shame” their pups. If you’re looking for a laugh, clickhere.

Memes are a huge part of online culture, and in order to be successful with social media, it’s important to understand the good, the bad, and even the funny aspects of your online community! Think about it: now when someone says, “did you see that hilarious meme I posted on so-and-so’s wall the other day?” you can say, “yeah, the one of grumpy cat looking completely unimpressed? Hilarious!”

Isotonix Activated B-Complex

When you need a boost of energy, what do you do? Head to the local coffee joint and order a complicated, highly caffeinated beverage? Pop open another can of sugary soda? While these may give you a temporary boost, you know you only have a few hours until your energy plummets once again. If you’re thinking, “there has GOT to be a better way!” You’re right!

Put down your caffeinated beverages, sugary drinks, and foul-tasting energy shots; Isotonix® Activated B-Complex is in the house! Isotonix® Activated B-Complex contains a mixture of eight essential B vitamins that play a critical role in metabolism at the cellular level. We need B vitamins for hundreds of different biochemical reactions that occur in our body every day. If you’re vitamin B deficient, you could be experiencing fatigue and lethargy.

All things considered, it’s no wonder that B-complex supplements are considered to be excellent natural energy boosters and stress reducers! Unlike traditional forms of Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid found in other B complex supplements, Isotonix® Activated B-Complex has been specially formulated to deliver metabolically active forms of these vitamins and minerals. Translation: your body doesn’t have to go through an extra step of converting the ingredients into a form that can be utilized by the body, so you get more bang for your buck!

In addition to providing your body with an activated form of these vitamins and minerals, Isotonix® Activated B-Complex packages everything up and delivers it to your body via an isotonic solution. For a substance to be absorbed by the body, it must be transported in an isotonic state. This means that there is less work for your body, and maximum absorption of B vitamins.

But wait – that’s not all! In addition to providing your body with a natural source of energy, Isotonix® Activated B-Complex also promotes cardiovascular health, normal cognitive performance (something we could ALL use, am I right?), and even helps improve your mood. But how do you know if a B-complex supplement is right for you? Well, if your nickname around the office is Grumpy, Sleepy, or Grouchy, it might benefit you to look into it. All jokes aside, we highly recommendthat you speak to your healthcare provider before taking any supplement to make sure it’s right for your body.

We love Isotonix® Activated B-Complex so much that we selected it to be our product of the month! Keep an eye on the Isotonix® Facebook page TODAY for info on how you can win your very own bottle of Isotonix® Activated B-Complex!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product(s) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Student Loan Debt On The Rise: What Grads Can Do About It

Your college graduation should be a happy time. You’re moving on from one life stage to another, and now that you’re armed with knowledge and a degree (or two!), endless possibilities are in store for you. Right? Well, if you’re one of the millions of grads starting your life off with thousands of dollars in student loan debt, it’s not as simple as it sounds.

A recent article by Business Insider profiles a woman who, despite her efforts to pay off her student loans, is still knee-deep in higher-education debt…after 20 years. “My debt is not going anywhere because I do not make enough money, not because I have ignored it.” With student loan rates on the rise, her situation is becoming more and more common. But just because it’s “common” doesn’t mean its ok.

To add insult to injury, it’s becoming more and more difficult for graduates to find jobs – much less a job with a salary that will help to significantly offset their student debt. Grads are finding themselves settling for nine-to-fives that don’t require a degree or simply don’t pay them a salary that is commensurate with their educational background. In a situation like this it may be difficult to think long term, but that’s exactly what you need to do.

While it may be daunting to think about your future, take a step back and think about what our CEO JR Ridinger said in a recent article about how to offset student debt. “Building an UnFranchise®  business is the perfect way to offset the costs of higher education! We offer a global entrepreneurial opportunity unlike any other, which can provide a substantial ongoing income for those who build the business the right way. And when you become a product of the product and convert spending into earning by building your Shopping Annuity, you’ll be putting your success into overdrive!”

If you’re feeling the weight of student debt on your shoulders, don’t panic; look around at the opportunities available to you to see what you can do about it. The longer you wait for “the right opportunity” to come to you, the bigger and bigger your debt will grow. Get creative, get up, and get going! The only person who can change the course of your future, your fate, and yes, even that mountain of student debt, is YOU.

Our Team’s Gift Picks for Dad

There are all types of dads out there, and they each deserve a truly great gift. Before you go straight to the tie section at your closest department store, consider gifting him something that speaks to his personality. Need some suggestions? Here are some of our team’s gift picks to surprise dad on June 16th! 

Hannah’s Pick“I’m getting my dad the AutoWorks Car Wash Promo Pack for Father’s Day this year. I’ve never tried any products from this line so I’m excited for him to use them on  his truck!”

Courtney’s Pick“My dad is really into mountain biking, grilling, and reading historical non-fiction. Since my family lives in Massachusetts, I usually do all my shopping on SHOP.COM and have it shipped directly to him!  This year, I’m thinking of surprising him with a grilling cookbook so he can try new grilling recipes!”

Jaclyn’s Pick“This year, I’m thinking of getting my dad a set of stainless-steel beverage holders to use when we play corn hole on the grass. It’ll be perfect for the summer!”

Andrew’s Pick“My Dad is a huge Cardinals fan, so I got him some great tickets for the Braves/Cardinals series in July from our partner store ScoreBig. I saved over $40 bucks on the tickets, which might even give me enough to buy a hot dog and a beer at the game.”

Melissa’s Pick“My dad loves to escape from the city to the outdoors, but his poor old tent has seen its fair share of state parks and is on its last legs.  I know he won’t get one for himself, so I’ll be surprising him with a new tent to go camping on the weekends!”

Those are our team’s picks but we want to know – What will YOU be getting your dad on his special day?

Five Apps for Hiking

It’s summertime! Get outside and do something active! There are lots of warm-weather friendly outdoor activities to participate in, but one of our favorites is hiking! Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer climbing in the Rockies or whether you’re exploring a nature trail with your kids, hiking can be a fun activity for everyone. We have five apps that you need on your smartphone to help you navigate the wilderness and make the best of your time outdoors.

MapMyHike: Your phone already has built in GPS and MapMyHike allows you to make use of this function to track your fitness activity! This app is perfect for the avid hiker who wants to follow a specific workout or who wants to map out a new trail. It’s available for free for Android and iPhone and has limited availability for Blackberry as well.

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National Parks Maps: This app, presented by National Geographic, holds information on 15 of the most popular National Parks in the United States! Search for campsites, trails, and areas of interest and gain access to important phone numbers you may need in each park. This app also allows you to access full HD maps even if you lose a WiFi connection. It costs $4.99 and is available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

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The Weather Channel: Your phone probably has a built-in weather device of its own, but consider downloading the app from The Weather Channel. Not only does it give you access to current conditions, it also can send you alerts for changes in weather or temperature. If you’re an hour into a hike and rain is coming in 30 minutes, this app can let you know! It also provides localized maps. This app is free and available for Android, iPhone, Blackberry and Windows.

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Google Sky Map: If you’ve decided to find a spot to camp for the night, take a look at the constellations with Google Sky Map. You can also see our planet from space on “Earth view” mode. This app is free for Android.

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Anti Mosquito: Does this app really work? You’ll have to download it to find out for sure! Set your phone to emit high frequency sounds that humans can’t hear and bugs don’t like. Choose from different frequency levels until you’re satisfied that your mosquito friends will leave you alone! It’s available for free for Android, iPhone and Blackberry.

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Are there other apps you use when you’re hiking or exploring the outdoors? Leave a comment and tell us which ones we should add to our list!

Top Stories From Around the Web

There’s always something new and exciting happening in the world of social media! Whether it’s an updated feature on Facebook or a brand new article about how to write the perfect tweet, there’s always something new to read, learn about, or explore. Keeping up with all of the latest social media news can be a daunting task, so we’re here to help! Here’s a quick run-down of last week’s top 5 social media new stories you should know about.

How to write awesome tweetsYou only have 140 characters, so you gotta’ make ‘em count! Check out this helpful article from Social Media Today about how to write short n’ sweet tweets that get your message across effectively.

Do you know what others see when they look at your Facebook Profile?If you’re not checking your Facebook privacy settings regularly, you’re probably sharing more than you think (or want!) with people who aren’t your friends. Eeek! If you’re not 110% sure how much of your personal info is visible to your friends versus the public, this article on Mashable is for you!

Grumpy Cat got a movie dealIf you don’t know who Grumpy Cat is by now, you’re missing out! Grumpy cat is an Internet sensation taking the web – and the world – by storm. Get to know Grumpy Cat here, or check out this Huffington Post article about the latest breaking news regarding her movie deal.

10 Hot social networks to watchYou’ve heard of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but what about Viddy, Pose, or RunKeeper? While they may never be as big or as groundbreaking as the most well-known social networks, it’s always fun to see what else is out there and who you can connect with. We suggest starting with this list of 10 hot social networksyou’ve never heard of before.

Facebook announced verified pages & profilesLast week Facebook announced that they will begin the process of verifying pages and profiles with the large numbers of fans and followers. They hope that doing so will help eliminate confusion stemming from fake profiles and pages that show up in search results. To learn more about verified pages, please see this Facebook Studio announcement.

These are our top 5 favorite news stories from the week, but we want to hear yours! Comment with a link to an article or post published last week that you think we should know about!