If you have taken a blogging course with me, then you already received an email from me with this information.  However, it’s such an important issue that I want to share it here with everyone.

It was recently brought to my attention that WordPress.com is now outright banning MLM blogs, referring to them as “affiliate marketing” and “pyramid schemes.”  While I disagree with this assessment, and have alerted the DSA who is looking into the issue, it is important that you be aware of this, so that you don’t get your blog shut down.

In my own correspondence with WordPress about the issue, here is their clarification:

“Any kind of MLM blogs – or blogs created to direct readers to external domains for commercial purposes – are not permitted at WordPress.com. If you are creating the blog to make money, WordPress.com is not the place for you.”

However in WordPress’s rules, they do allow business blogs to demonstrate expertise:

“Business: Professionals ranging from realtors to lawyers and stock brokers are using WordPress to share their expertise, and companies have discovered the power of blogs to more directly and personally engage with their customers.”

When I followed up with them asking about this, here is what they said:

Jennifer: “If legitimate direct sellers are only using their blog to demonstrate their expertise, wouldn’t that fall under those rules?”

WordPress: “Yes, but if the direct seller is continually linking back to their own domain to sell things, they will not be allowed. If the blog is purely information (with no intent to direct users elsewhere to buy things), that is perfectly okay.”

You can read all the rules here: http://en.wordpress.com/types-of-blogs/

If you follow the strategy laid out in my courses and teachings, you SHOULD be OK.  You should not be highlighting specific products or opportunity, but instead should be giving practical, actionable content that people can use right now without spending a dime.  However you will NOT be allowed to include a link to your personal website based on WordPress’ interpretation of the rules.  Instead, you should have a place for people to sign up for your newsletter, and you can share the link to your website there.  Be aware, however, that WordPress.com will shut you down without notice if they decide your blog is in violation of their rules.

Please note that this does not apply to you if you are hosting your blog on your own domain.  However if you are using the free WordPress.com service, it is important to make sure you are in compliance.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email WordPress directly at support@wordpress.com.

What do you think about these rules?  Do you think the actions of a few “bad apples” is messing it up for the rest of us?  Is it fair?  Would love to read your thoughts below.

ADA — The economy is still in the doldrums, people are losing their jobs — and conditions couldn’t be better for Ada-based Pre-Paid Legal.

At least that’s the outlook for CEO Harland Stonecipher, whose company saw net income rise 6 percent the first half of 2009 with cash flow of $35 million, up 28 percent.

“It’s just our business model,” Stonecipher said. “We’ve reported positive net income for the past 10 years. We’re an Oklahoma company, we’ve got offices in Ada, Antlers and Duncan and we’re still rural America. You get a good work ethic, attitude and lesser cost of operations.”

Tulsa financial analyst Jake Dollarhide sees the depressed economy, however, as yet another strength for Pre-Paid Legal: people need attorneys more than ever, and the company’s “pre-paid” approach is more appealing than a hefty $2,000 retainer.

“The thing about Pre-Paid is some might consider it to be a luxury item, much like Starbucks coffee,” Dollarhide said. “But it does cater to middle income or lower income level, or anybody who finds it distasteful to pay a $2,000 retainer.”

Stonecipher agrees.

“The economic downtown has not affected our company, but it has affected our Pre-Paid members,” Stonecipher said. “They need our services more now than at any other time. Foreclosures are at record highs, and, in fact, we’re told in 2010 and 2011, more than 50 percent of mortgages will be under water. Those people will need lawyers.”

Stonecipher said Pre-Paid members are already getting good use of their service, consulting with attorneys about foreclosures and having a better shot at working out an agreement to keep their homes.

“A lot of people who get into this situation can’t afford $300 to $500 an hour,” Stonecipher said. “But with Pre-Paid, they get unlimited access.”

Pre-Paid Legal is continuing with the programs it has had for years but is adding programs designed to help small businesses deal with unions and debt collection.

“Some of these small businesses are very concerned about being unionized. They know there’s a major press in that area, but they don’t know how to respond or what to do about it,” Stonecipher said. “And our lawyers can help them with that. They can also help on debt collection — these businesses need help in tough times to collect every dollar they can.”

Dollarhide said that when the economy recovers, Pre-Paid is in good position to do even better — if it can survive a recently launched Securities and Exchange Commission investigation of Pre-Paid’s marketing practices and stock repurchase program.

Pre-Paid has had a mixed bag in its dealings with the SEC. Several years ago, the company restated its earnings steeply downward after regulators disagreed with the way it booked its sales staff’s commissions. But the last time the SEC came around Ada, the end was nothing but a hit on the stock price.

“Investors hate bad headlines,” Dollarhide said. “Obviously a subpoena casts a cloud. How dark that cloud is remains to be seen. The sooner they can get through that, the better.”

Stonecipher said he was surprised, but not shocked, by the latest investigation. He suspects the probe is related to his company’s repurchase program, in which Pre-Paid has spent $421 million buying back 14 million of 24 million shares the past several years.

“We’re a public company, and that’s the price you pay when you’re a public company. It’s not the best use of our resources, not best for shareholders. It’s only in the interest of the short-sellers. The shorts don’t like our stock buyback program.”

Stonecipher’s response makes sense to Dollarhide.

“The executive founder of a company will always put something in a good light,” Dollarhide said. “And I’m sure the short-sellers don’t like it or anything that might limit them. Some blame short-sellers for the entire crash.”

Could Pre-Paid go private?

“We don’t really need to be public anymore, we don’t need the cash,” Stonecipher said. “We’re buying back one day at a time.”

via newsok.com

It might be the ultimate in retail technology: A way to make huge profits by selling things that do not need to be acquired, stocked or shipped. But these items—perhaps a diamond-lined collar for a virtual pet or a special power in a shared game—are becoming big money. Virtual goods sales are projected to hit $5 billion this year, according to The New York Times.

But virtual goods are hardly free. The paper of record said the revenue was “all for things that, aside from perhaps a few hours of work by an artist and a programmer, cost nothing to produce.” Would they have said the same thing about a bestselling—albeit basic—applet? What is software other than the work of artists and programmers? The more important thing about virtual gifts, though, is what they say about the gift buyers. As Winston Churchill’s Web designer said, “Never before have so many spent so much on so little.” Is this pent up demand for immediacy? Entertainment? Is it a sign that consumers are now ready to embrace micropayments? Regardless, $5 billion is nothing to virtually sneeze at.

ADA, Okla., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD – News) is ranked number 66 in the 2009 Forbes Magazine annual list of “America’s 200 Best Small Companies,” climbing 64 positions from its 2008 ranking of 130 on this list. For the second consecutive year Pre-Paid Legal Services has retained the number one ranking in the Forbes survey in the category of return on equity (RoE), a measure of how efficiently a company uses its assets to produce earnings.

Related Quotes

Symbol	Price	Change
PPD	43.28	+0.69

{“s” : “ppd”,”k” : “c10,l10,p20,t10″,”o” : “”,”j” : “”}

“It’s gratifying to see Pre-Paid Legal Services recognized once again in the Forbes list of best small companies in America,” said Harland C. Stonecipher, Founder and CEO of Pre-Paid Legal Services. “We are proud to be listed among America’s finest small companies and we are especially pleased that our bottom line results have merited such high ranking.”

Stonecipher describes the PPD’s repeat performance as the number one ranked company for return on equity as significant. Earlier this year, DeMarche Associates, an independent investment research firm, named PPD as one of the 100 best U.S. corporations, based on the company’s growth and risk management strategy.

PPD’s 2009 Forbes ranking (based on $453 million in sales), included the 192nd position for sales growth and the 128th position for earnings per share.

PPD has been on the Forbes list for the past three years, which in itself is a measure of stability. According to Forbes, 71 of the 200 companies listed last year fell off the 2009 list. The Forbes list rankings are based on earnings growth, sales growth and return on equity for the previous 12 months.

About PPD

We believe our products are one of a kind, life events legal service plans. Our plans provide for legal service benefits provided through a network of independent law firms across the U.S. and Canada, and include unlimited attorney consultation, will preparation, traffic violation defense, automobile-related criminal charges defense, letter writing, document preparation and review and a general trial defense benefit. We have an identity theft restoration product we think is also one of a kind due to the combination of our identity theft restoration partner and our provider law firms. More information about our products and us can be found at our homepage at www.prepaidlegal.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, regarding our future plans and objectives and expected operating results, dividends and share repurchases and statements of the assumptions underlying such statements, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on certain assumptions that may not be correct. They are subject to risks and uncertainties incident to our business that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the reports and statements filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including (among others) those listed in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, and include the risks that our membership persistency or renewal rates may decline, that we may not be able to continue to grow our memberships and earnings, that we are dependent on the continued active participation of our principal executive officer, that pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on us if resolved unfavorably to us, that we may have compromises of our information security, that during an economic downturn in the economy consumer purchases of discretionary items may be affected which could materially harm our sales, retention rates, profitability and financial condition, that we could be adversely affected by regulatory developments, that competition could adversely affect us, that we are substantially dependent on our marketing force, that our stock price may be affected by short sellers, that we have been unable to increase our employee group membership sales and that our active premium in force is not indicative of future revenue as a result of changes in active memberships from cancellations and additional membership sales. Please refer to pages 15 – 17 of our 2008 Form 10-K and pages 7 and 8 of our June 30, 2009 Form 10-Q for a more complete description of these risks. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements in this release.

via finance.yahoo.com

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Press Releases

Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Recognizes Associates Achievement

October 22, 2009 7:00 AM EDT

ADA, Okla., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Since Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) announced the re-launch of its marketing program at the 2009 Leadership Summit, there has been a significant increase in the number of independent associates achieving senior-level recognition and earnings with the company.

“We have delivered a strong message about the growth potential at Pre-Paid Legal.”

Services and our independent sales associates are responding to this opportunity,” said Harland C. Stonecipher, Founder and CEO of Pre-Paid Legal, Inc. “For the four-week period, from September 21 through October 16, 2009, we have seen more activity at all levels within the associate network, and we are proud to announce 13 major recognition and earning awards.”

These associate recognition and earnings awards (Editors: see note below) include:

–  $100,000 Ring Earners: Michael and Lisa McCoy (Clive, Iowa), Scott and Ronda Ferguson (Houston, Texas), Ryan Sean Burns (West Jordan, Utah), Trina Robinson and Austin Kemie (Los Angeles, California)
–  $250,000 Ring Earner: Chris and Sky Hughes (Murrietta,
California)
–  $300,000 Income Earners: Frank and Theresa AuCoin (Charleston, South Carolina), Sean and Loren Mikael (Los Angeles, California)
–  $800,000 Income Earner: Mark and Tammy Smith (Mission Viejo, California)
–  $1.5 million Income Earner: Brian Carruthers (Davidsonville,
Maryland)
–  Millionaire Club Member: Kim Ferris (Amherst, New York) and Joe and Doreen Wilkinson (North Richland Hills, Texas)
–  Platinum Level Award: Danny and Charlotte Walker (South Pete Beach, Florida)

Stonecipher referenced timing as a key variable in the recent surge of associate success. “In this economy people need legal advice — they have legal issues — and they need additional income,” Stonecipher said. “Our product and opportunity provide access to legal counsel and a way to generate more cash flow, both in the form of first-year commissions and residual income in later years.”

Editors Note:

Associate earnings are either for commissions earned during a 12-month period (which includes the “corporate ring system” given at earning levels of $100,000, $250,000, $500,000 and one million dollars) or for the Millionaire Club (which includes associates who have achieved one million dollars in commissions during their association with PPD). Pre-Paid Legal recognition includes other programs, such as the Platinum awards, a network leadership designation.

About PPD

We believe our products are one of a kind, life events legal services plans. Our plans provide for legal service benefits provided through a network of independent law firms across the U.S. and Canada, and include unlimited attorney consultation, will preparation, traffic violation defense, automobile-related criminal charges defense, letter writing, document preparation and review and a general trial defense benefit. We have an identity theft restoration product we think is also one of a kind due to the combination of our identity theft restoration partner and our provider law firms. More information about our products and us can be found at our homepage at www.prepaidlegal.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, regarding our future plans and objectives and expected operating results, dividends and share repurchases and statements of the assumptions underlying such statements, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on certain assumptions that may not be correct. They are subject to risks and uncertainties incident to our business that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the reports and statements filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including (among others) those listed in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, and include the risks that our membership persistency or renewal rates may decline, that we may not be able to continue to grow our memberships and earnings, that we are dependent on the continued active participation of our principal executive officer, that pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on us if resolved unfavorably to us, that we may have compromises of our information security, that during an economic downturn in the economy consumer purchases of discretionary items may be affected which could materially harm our sales, retention rates, profitability and financial condition, that we could be adversely affected by regulatory developments, that competition could adversely affect us, that we are substantially dependent on our marketing force, that our stock price may be affected by short sellers, that we have been unable to increase our employee group membership sales and that our active premium in force is not indicative of future revenue as a result of changes in active memberships from cancellations and additional membership sales. Please refer to pages 15 – 17 of our 2008 Form 10-K and pages 7 and 8 of our June 30, 2009 Form 10-Q for a more complete description of these risks. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements in this release.

SOURCE Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc

via streetinsider.com

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Pre-Paid Legal In The News

Recent US Chamber Magazine article highlights Debt Collection as leading nationwide service request among legal service plan members of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., during the second quarter of 2009.  “The Pre-Paid Legal Top Five List is intended to be a snapshot of the issues that legal service plan members face today.  Given the economic hardships that so many Americans are experiencing, it’s not a pretty picture,” says Pre-Paid Legal Services Founder and CEO Harland C. Stonecipher.

Posted on October 15, 2009 Current Affairs | –>Permalink |

As we move forward to the public launch of Blastoff Network, it has been decided to increase the enrollment period for existing Pre-Paid Legal Associates. Active Pre-Paid Legal Associates now have through October TBA, 2009, 11:59 PM to activate their free Blastoff Network account and to sponsor new Associates who can then set up their own Blastoff Network accounts. Then, beginning at 12:00 AM, Midnight on October TBA, PPL Associates will have their two week EXCLUSIVE marketing window. No new Blastoff Network accounts will be created unless the introduction came through an Associate! Meaning, no new Blastoff accounts are created outside of the PPL/Blastoff Network Organization! We do want to clarify that individuals joining during the second phase can join Blastoff Network through a PPL Associate and can then also send invites and have others join who are not associates.

And then, beginning at 12:00 AM, Midnight on October TBA Blastoff Network will go live to other groups across the United States and Canada. And, with the time extensions above you will have had the opportunity to have already built a huge Blastoff Network organization and you’ll be creating massive awareness for Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. with your new group of non-PPL Blastoff Network members!

Take advantage of this additional time to contact your Associates and get them to activate their Blastoff Network account.

And, be sure your new recruits are also taking the time to activate their Blastoff Network accounts that become available to them

72 hours after their Pre-Paid Legal Associate Agreement has been processed. Don’t forget to take advantage of the $99 special that is available right now for your new Associates with a membership as well as the Director bonus. Month end is just around the corner and you want to be sure you continue your August momentum and push yourself as high into the commission structure as possible.

Blastoff Network Member w/o being a PPL Associate:

• FREE to become a BlastOff Network Member
• Earn up to 10 levels/degrees of separation deep, and unlimited width, in rebate commissions from your entire network
• Earn Money on your own purchases made thru your site
• Receive discounts and special offers from Blastoff Vendors
• Start growing your Blastoff Network on October TBA, 2009

BlastOff Network Member as a PPL Associate with a Membership:

• FREE to become a BlastOff Network Member
• Earn up to 20 levels/degrees of separation deep, and unlimited width, in rebate commissions from your entire network
• Earn Money on your own purchases made thru your site
• Receive discounts and special offers from Blastoff Vendors
• Earn income from your PPL Business whenever anyone presses the “Legal” button on a hub page within your network and purchases a family, business or ID Theft membership.
• Build a Team with your PPL Business which can grow to unlimited potential and create residual income
• Start growing your Blastoff Network business NOW and invite your entire network of family, friends, etc.

What does all of this mean to me?

Some of you may be more interested in the Pre-Paid Legal Opportunity while others are only interested in Blastoff Network. Some people see the great advantage of being a PPL Associate and Member and what it can do not only for their PPL business but also their BlastOff Network Business. The extra 10 levels/degrees of cash rewards; income from PPL Memberships purchased online; starting a network a full 2 weeks before the rest of the world can join – these are great selling points!

Do I have to sell PPL Memberships if I become an Associate?

NO, You do not ever have to personally sell a PPL Membership or Recruit anyone. If you would like to make the online Legal sales commissions you will need to have an active PPL Membership and have an active eService PPL Website for people to enroll on. Some people are signing up for the service strictly to take advantage of the 20 levels of cash rewards. You automatically receive 3 free months of eService when you become an associate so if you decide that PPL isn’t for you then don’t renew your web account. The next PPL Associate in your ‘upline’ who has eService will benefit from the online Membership sales and you’ll still get all of your BlastOff Network monies at 20 levels. It’s a win-win either way!

If you are going to become a PPL Associate to take advantage of the 20 levels of income earning potential and the 2 week pre-launch period then why wouldn’t you tell other people what you are doing and why and see if they’d like the same opportunity

Source: www.blastoffpress.com

Blastoff and Pre-Paid Legal Services: All the nuts and bolts you need to know right now!

Biggest Announcement since Google, Facebook, Twitter & All Social Media Sites?

This just in. There is an incredible sound thundering through the ranks of all the people privy to this information. There is something happening that is going to absolutely revolutionary, going to change how people think about the Internet and Social Networking.

Here is what is happening. A new company is in pre-launch status called Blastoff Network. It basically brings the earning potential of the Internet to you and your social network. Everything you like to use on the Internet in one place, with all the things that you love on your homepage.

This has been done before right? The monumental difference is this— Blastoff network has partnered with over 300 businesses like Starbucks, iTunes, Target, K-Mart, Old Navy, Best Buy, CompUSA, Tiger Direct, Barnes&Nobles, Office Depot, Radio Shack, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sears, Macys, Expedia, Best Western, Travelocity for travel, godaddy.com. AGAIN – There are over 300 current companies that are going to get you paid a commission of anywhere between 1% and 50% to buy their products through Blastoff Network. When you do buy online through the Blastoff Network, Blastoff network will literally send you a check once a month with all your cash back percentages. Think about it, you go online through your Blastoff network site, go to Starbucks.com or Target.com, buy stuff at regular online prices and Blastoff will send you a check each month for doing so. Is that not INCREDIBLE?

Now – heres where it gets really crazy. Listen up very closely, the second you sign up, you can immediately import all the names and contacts from your Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, FriendFeed, LinkedIn, or ANY social media site, your email contacts, your friends into your Blastoff network page, It is EASY. Then at the press of a button, an email will be sent out to all your contacts inviting them to get there own Blastoff network page and to join immediately. They WILL of course want to get paid to shop online! Blastoff network will now pay you a commission when all your contacts buy something through their own Blastoff network page. Did you hear that? Blastoff network will now pay you each time your contacts buy through their own Blastoff network page. AND immediately after your contacts start, they will send an invitation to all of their contacts and YOU will get paid commissions for everyone they invite, and everyone they in turn invite, in your whole network at least 10 levels deep. More in some cases.

Are you excited yet?

Source: www.merchantcircle.com/blogs