1. What is networking?

Networking is an active, systematic process of linking people to one another for the purpose of exchanging information. Through networking we locate resources, jobs, and opportunities. We can also gain new ideas, exposure, increase potential, and/or find new outlets for our goods and services. Networking enables us to advance socially, professionally, financially, spiritually, and personally. Every person is connected to a network of people at school, work, church, social clubs, and professional organizations.

2. Must I network to grow my business?

Have you ever heard the phrase, "no man is an island" (yes, that goes for women too!). What this means is, nobody can get through life, much less succeed in business, on their own. We need other people. If you are in business for yourself, networking is critical to your social and business development. Gone are the days when you can open a business, display your "Now Open" sign and expect your customers to walk through the door on their own. Through networking, you strengthen relationships, and build trust and confidence in your product or service. When people trust and confide in you, they will not only become loyal customers, they will refer you to the people they know.

3. What is MyBFFNetwork™?

MyBFFNetwork™ is an Internet based business and social networking community. Far more than a place for business owners to create profiles and link to other members, we provide a valuable marketing system through which our members receive valuable exposure. The hallmark of our system is a patent-pending "people newsletter," which our members use to introduce each other to a warm market, namely, their own personal contacts.

If you are an independent business owner, and you have business friends that you would introduce to your friends, family, neighbors, etc., then MyBFFNetwork™ is the network for you.

4. How do you differ from other networking web sites?

There are many places on the Internet where business owners can post free profiles, link to other members, and persuade complete strangers to link as so-called "friends." This form of passive networking may be worthwhile for some business owners, but that is not the case for most business owners looking to develop new or repeat business. As we see it, passive networking is akin to rowing a canoe across the English Channel. It may be good exercise, but there are far superior ways to make the journey.

In sharp contrast, MyBFFNetwork™ stands alone as the world’s first Internet based, invitation only, business network that actively promotes its members. The majority of business owners are so busy running the day to day business operations, they lack the time to properly market themselves. We solve this problem with our patent-pending "people newsletter" system, through which our members systematically introduce each other to their respective friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.

5. How do you differ from other forms of networking?

Traditional forms of networking include clubs, groups, and organizations which require membership and/or attendance at periodic meetings. These organizations provide a valuable forum for business owners to meet and socialize with each other. Quite often, attendees will do business with each other, and will occasionally refer business to each other. However, a major disadvantage is that attending these networking meetings takes time away from running your business. As well, it is unlikely that any of the attendees will introduce you to the people they know. Ask them, and they will likely prejudge whether their contacts have an interest in your product or service. Even if they desired to give you an introduction, most of them would have neither the time, nor the practical ability to introduce you on a wide scale.

Finally, because of time constraints and large attendance at these meetings, attendees are often given only 30 to 60 seconds to introduce themselves to the group. For the uninitiated, this is akin to auditioning for a prized movie role. If you fail to deliver your lines correctly, you will have to rehearse your lines and come back in another week to try again. And, for entrepreneurs with several interesting projects going on at the same time, forget it, you can usually represent only one business interest at a time.

MyBFFNetwork™ is designed to overcome all of the limitations of traditional networking methods. It is convenient, there are no meetings to attend, there is no limit to the number of members in the network, there is no exclusivity in any category. And, since our members have agreed to introduce each other to the people they know, the level of integrity and reliability of our members will remain high.

6. Why do I need to invite my business friends?

Because while strangers may do business with you, they will not introduce you to the people they know.

Do you have good friends that are independent business owners? If so, would you introduce them to everyone that you know? We thought so, and that is why we created this network. Depending on the membership level that you choose, you invite 3 to 5 of your trusted business friends into the network. Each of you will then use our system to personally refer each other to your respective contacts. As our network grows exponentially, so do the number of personal introductions that you will receive. Introducing our business friends to the people that we know, now that...is what friends do for each other. We are a business community where business friends work in cooperation, not in competition with each other.

7. Why do I need to upload my personal contacts?

Word-of-mouth marketing depends largely on the strength of personal relationships. When you find a great deal on products or services, you want to share that information with the people that you know and care about.

When you have good friends that are in business for themselves, why not introduce them to the people that you know? Your contacts (meaning your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers etc.), are all consumers of products and services. They are already doing business with people from around the world. By introducing your contacts to your business friends (your BFF's), you help them, you help your business friends, and you help yourself, because by doing for your business friends, they will do for you.

Please note:

• We will never send our own e-mails to your contacts. The only e-mail messages that your contacts will receive from our site is the newsletter that comes from you.

• The newsletter does not contain editorial content. It is used only as a tool for you and your BFF's to introduce each other to your respective contacts.

• When you upload the name and e-mail address of your contacts, the information is securely encrypted. No other member, and no one using our site will have access to the contact database.

• We will not lease, rent, or sell the contact list.

• Your contacts will receive only one newsletter from our system, regardless of how many members know the same person.

• The first member to upload the name and e-mail address of a particular contact, precludes any other member from uploading the same name or e-mail address.

• Your contacts may unsubscribe from your newsletter at any time and for any reason.

8. What is the "People Newsletter" and how does it work?

The "People Newsletter" is the heart of our system. This is the tool which you will use to personally refer your BFF's to your contacts. There are several key points to understand about the newsletter:

• We create the newsletter and e-mail it from our servers. The newsletter will be addressed from you, and sent to your personal contacts.

• The newsletter does not contain any editorial content. It simply contains a photo/video or audio clip of each member of the network which is assigned to appear in the newsletter. For example, your newsletter will feature your video or audio message, that of your invited BFF's, and the video/audio clips of select BFF's (other members of the network), which are assigned to your newsletter.

• As our network grows, you can expect to have your video/audio message appear in thousands upon thousands of member newsletters.

• Your contacts will receive only one newsletter, regardless of how many members they may know. The first member to add the name and e-mail of a particular contact, precludes any other member from sending a newsletter to that contact.

9. Who may join MyBFFNetwork™

Membership is open to independent business owners and professionals employed by a corporation if they are required to develop their own book of business. Students may qualify if they are Seniors or Graduate Students actively enrolled in entrepreneurial studies. All members must be of legal age. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to our Membership Levels and Guidelines.

10. Is there a limit on the type of businesses that may be represented?

We will not accept as members, any person who seeks to promote an adult oriented business, any person who promotes an activity that is declared by law to be unlawful, or illegal, or any person who offers goods or services that may be deemed offensive to others, or which targets or poses a danger to minors or any other user. There is no restriction on how many members from a particular industry or profession may join.

11. What are the membership levels and what does it cost?

MyBFFNetwork™ offers four levels of membership:

• The Expert Level ($99.95 per month), is for business owners with 10 or more years of relevant experience in their industry. This level receives the highest exposure and is ideal for those seeking a global presence.

• The Senior Level ($59.95 month), is for business owners with at least 3 years of relevant experience in their industry. This level is for the well connected business owner that desires a substantial amount of exposure.

• The Junior Level ($29.95 per month), is for the business owner with limited business experience and with a limited number of personal contacts. This level is ideal for the new, or small business owner who desires slow or limited growth.

• The Associate Level is free, and is open to Seniors and Post Graduate Students currently enrolled in a course of studies involving entrepreneurship. It is also open to any small business owner which has not been formally invited by a full member.

12. How do I join?

You may join MyBFFNetwork™ if you have received an invitation from an existing member in good standing. You may join if you are currently a member of a registered Affiliate Partner. Students may join by completing the application form located via the Join Us page. If you do not meet these criteria, you may add your name and contact information to the Member Prospect List whereupon an existing member may interview you and "adopt" you into the network. Each member must meet the eligibility requirements of their desired membership level. By posting a profile and participating in our network, members will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to conform to eligibility requirements, as well as the Terms and Conditions of membership.

13. How do I create my profile?

Members may create and upload their profile by logging into the system and selecting the desired task from the Account Management list. Click here for our Member Tutorial

14. How do I upload my photo?

Members may upload a personal photo and product photos by logging into the system and selecting the desired task from the Account Management list. Click here for our Member Tutorial

15. How do I upload my contact list?

Members may upload their contact list by by logging into the system and selecting the desired task from the Account Management list. Click here for our Member Tutorial

16. How do I invite my business owners friends to join?

Members send a pre-scripted e-mail message to their trusted business friends by logging into the system and selecting the desired task from the Account Management list. Click here to review a copy of the invitation. Click here for our Member Tutorial

17. Do I tell my personal contacts that I have joined the network?

When you upload the name and e-mail address of your contacts, they will receive a pre-scripted e-mail message from you informing them to be on the lookout for your newsletter. They are also given the opportunity to unsubscribe from your newsletter list. Click here to view a copy of the e-mail message to your contacts. Click here for our Member Tutorial

18. Do I have to upload a video message?

A video message is not required, but is highly recommended. We encourage members to create a video profile announcement to appear in the newsletter. Seeing you on video allows your business prospect to know you better. A member may choose instead to appear in the Newsletter with a still photo and an audio message.

19. Why do I have to upload a How-To Report?

Members are required to create and upload a "How-To" Report as a condition of membership. This report serves a twofold purpose. First, it allows you to tune in to the consumers’ favorite radio station WII-FM (what’s in it for me). People love getting something for free, and what better to give away than a little of your knowledge and expertise! As well, this report will enable you to establish your expertise, enhance your credibility, and increase your exposure. By requiring each member to post one or more reports, we increase the value of our network to fellow members, consumers, and visitors alike. If you need assistance with drafting your report, please contact us. We have professional writers on staff that can assist you, for a very reasonable fee.

20. May corporate employees join the network?

MyBFFNetwork™ was created for the purpose of supporting the business entrepreneur and independent business owner. We understand that some independent professionals (such as lawyers, financial planners, etc.), may be employed by a large corporation. In this case, while the corporation will not qualify for membership, the employee may nonetheless qualify. If you have a question about whether your employment situation may disqualify you for membership, please send an e-mail to: cs@mybffnetwork.com

21. May I use MyBFFNetwork™ to find a job?

Perhaps. While we have not yet created a job bank, we expect that from time to time, a member may need to hire someone in their business. A member may post a job opening in the soon to be created Job Listings page, which will be accessible to any user of the site.

22. Who receives the newsletter?

The newsletter is received by the contacts of each member that are entered into our secure database. Each member is required to contribute a certain number of personally known contacts into our secure database, as a condition of membership. A member may only upload the name and e-mail address of persons that are personally known to him/her. A member's contacts may consist of friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and current or prospective customers. A contact may also be a member of the general public that visits our web site and who has voluntarily requested to be added to a particular member's newsletter distribution list.

When a contact is entered into our secure database by a member, our system will send an e-mail message to that contact, identifying the name of the member whose newsletter they are being subscribed to. A contact may unsubscribe from our database at any time, for any reason. A contact name and e-mail address may only be entered once, into our system. If the contact is personally known by one or more members, the first member to upload that contact will preclude any other member from uploading or sending a newsletter to that contact. A contact may voluntarily choose to be added to one or more newsletter distribution lists.

23. May a consumer unsubscribe from the newsletter?

Yes. When a member submits the name and e-mail address of his or her contacts into the database, an e-mail message is automatically generated to that contact (click here to review the sample e-mail message). The message provides the reader the right to opt-out from receiving any newsletter.

24. Who may access the database of contacts?

The owners and a limited number of staff members of The Business Friends Forever Network, LLC., may have authority to access the consumer database only for the purpose of managing and maintaining the database. Members of the network, and members of the general public who visit our web site will not have any access or authority to view, download any information, or to learn the identity of the persons within the database. The database information is limited to name and e-mail address and it is securely encrypted upon upload into the system. We do not ask for or collect personal information from the contacts. The list of contacts will not be sold, shared, leased or distributed to anyone.

25. How do members benefit?

Among others, the member benefits are:

• Our Network is built upon existing relationships. Members use our automated system to introduce each other to their respective contacts (friends, family, neighbors, etc.) and receive potentially unlimited exposure.

• Members can post video messages, product photos, and product banners on their profiles.

• Members author and post a "How-To" report.

• Members can sell advertising banner space on their personal profile page.

• Member Experts are featured in random rotation on the front page of our web site.

• Ask the Expert feature enables qualified members to receive increased exposure and enhanced credibility.

• Expert level members may designated as a Signature Member and have their video content featured on MyBFF-TV™.

• Members receive increased Internet presence.

• MyBFF-TV™ offers educational content from the world's leading business and personal success coaches. MyBFF-TV™ will feature live web seminars by qualified members, and other world leading business and personal success coaches.

26. How do consumers benefit?

Consumers may access and select to do business with any registered member. Because the members are trusted and of high integrity, the consumers can be assured they will receive value, and a high level of customer service. Consumers will have the opportunity to assign a satisfaction rating (this feature coming soon), to a member they do business with, thus helping us to maintain high standards of professionalism and to build consumer confidence. Consumers will have access to free downloadable "How-To" reports from each member, on a variety of subjects. As well, consumers will earn "BFF Dollars" when they open the member newsletter, and if they click on the profile of a member which has been randomly assigned to be a prize carrier. These are real dollars which may be spent with any member of the network.

27. What is the Newsletter Profile Lottery?

The "Profile Lottery" is a game that we have devised to encourage the recipients of your newsletter to open it and interact with the newsletter profiles. Each week, a random computerized selection of BFF"s will be designated as prize carriers. If a newsletter subscriber clicks on the correct profile, they may win "BFF Dollars" to spend with any member of the network. "BFF Dollars" may not be redeemed for cash and have no value outside of our network of members.

28. What is the Profile Exchange

To aid members increase their exposure, we have created the "Profile Exchange". (This feature is coming soon)

As you make new business friends and connections, you can both agree to "exchange" your profiles on your respective newsletters. For example, Amy is a custom jewelry designer in Dallas, who desires to gain exposure in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. By using the network, Amy makes a connection with Jacqueline, who owns a retail jewelry store in Calgary. They both agree to exchange their profiles on one or more newsletters such that Amy is now being personally introduced to Jacqueline’s contacts and vice versa. To elect an exchange, each member will select the "Exchange Profile" option from their Account Management list and enter the name of the member they have chosen to exchange profiles with. Once our system receives the request from both members, the exchange will occur. This feature is available only to Senior and Expert Members.

29. What if I Don’t Want or Need so Much Exposure?

MyBFFNetwork™ was created to provide independent business owners with massive exposure via a personal introduction, at a relatively low cost compared to traditional advertising methods. If you are considering becoming a member and think that thousands or millions of exposures is too much, consider this.

If you already have a business web site, you have the potential to receive millions of exposures to others around the world. If you don’t already have millions of visitors to your web site it is because your site is not being marketed properly. Similarly, if you purchase ad space on television or in a national, regional, or local media publication, your ad may in fact be seen by millions of people or more.

The phrase "water seeks its own level," is a universal truth that applies in business as it does to life in general. That is, your business has an ideal customer. That customer may be next door to you, one mile away, in the next state, or even in the next country. Those who want to do business with you will do so, but only if you let them know that you exist.

The point is that, while you may receive upwards of a million exposures, that does not mean you are automatically going to have a million people knocking on your door, unless of course that is what you want to attract.

30. How do I dissociate from a BFF?

From time to time the need will arise for members to dissociate from each other. To accomplish this, each member will send an e-mail to cs@mybffnetwork.com requesting to be dissociated.  Once we receive the request from both members, each will be removed from the other’s newsletter distribution list and profile page. At this point, the dissociated members may invite another member into the network by following the established procedures.

31. How do I cancel my membership?

At the present we are creating an automated membership cancellation system. Until then, a member may cancel their membership by sending an e-mail message to membership@mybffnetwork.com with the words "Cancel Membership" in the subject line. We will send that member an e-mail message to confirm their request. Once cancellation is confirmed by the member, their profile page and other business information will not be viewable or appear in any search. The profile page and all content, as well as any how-to reports posted by the member, will remain dormant. If at anytime thereafter, the member desires to reinstate his/her membership, they may do so provided they meet all eligibility requirements and pay the required membership fee. A Charter Member that has cancelled their membership may thereafter reinstate their membership. However, Charter Member status will not be reinstated.

32. If I cancel my membership may I receive a refund?

Monthly membership subscription fees are paid in advance for the following month. A member may select recurring billing to occur on the 1st, 15th, or 25th of each month. In the event of membership cancellation, billing will stop at the end of the last paid cycle. Cancellation of membership shall not entitle user to a refund of any portion of membership fees invoiced or collected prior to the date of cancellation.

33. If I cancel, may I remove my contacts from the database?

A member is required to upload a minimum number of contacts into our secure database, in consideration of the fact that other members are also uploading their contacts, to which all members are then introduced to. The names and e-mail addresses uploaded by a member become the property of The Business Friends Forever Network, LLC., and MyBFFNetwork™ The contact information may not be retrieved or removed by a member who has cancelled their membership, or whose membership has been terminated by us. A member who elects to cancel their membership has the option of announcing their withdrawal by sending a message to their personally uploaded contacts only. It is up the contact to opt-out from receiving any newsletter or other information from us.

34. Why do you charge a monthly fee?

The Internet is host to numerous web sites where business owners may post their profiles for free. However, aside from allowing members to link their profiles together, collect so-called "friends,", and share vacation photos, these sites do nothing to actively market its members. Because these sites do not provide any real value to their members, they offer the service for free and make their money through paid advertisements. In sharp contrast, MyBFFNetwork™ provides its members a unique patent-pending marketing system through which each member receives a personal referral to warm market consumers.

 

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Signature Member, Sandy Grason, author of the bestselling book, JOURNALUTION, inspires people to transform their lives through the practice of journaling. She has been selected to present the first live webinar broadcast for MyBFFNetwork™. Stay tuned!

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Expert Member, Mike Clarke, Inventor of the “Jewel Jet”, the world’s first, patented, portable jewelry steam cleaner for home use, announces a $50 coupon good toward the purchase of a Jewel Jet, for any consumer that conducts business with any member of MyBFFNetwork™. For details, or to report your transaction and receive your coupon,

info@jeweljet.com