Social Media

• SMRC Intro

• Social Media and Their Rules
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• Social Media Dos and Don'ts
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The Rules of Conduct Applied to Social Media

Excited about the idea of putting social media to work for your independent business powered by Amway Global (formerly Quixtar)? Or, perhaps you’re a little nervous about it, because you’re not sure how they fit into the Rules of Conduct. Here’s an explanation we think you’ll find helpful.

First, many Rules of Conduct apply to the Internet, and the social media (including blogs, microblogs, and other social networking) are definitely a part of the Internet. Second, the Rules of Conduct that apply to the person-to-person nature of the business equally apply to your conduct on social media. Third, many of the Rules of Conduct are about protecting the business image, so you should apply those Rules to how you would present the business to the world of social media. In every case, if you apply the heart of the rule, you should be able to meet the word of the rule. Finally, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with all the Rules.

How the Rules of Conduct apply to Social Media

Rule 4.3 says that you cannot display products from amwayglobal.com on “retail establishments,” including unauthorized Internet (or Web) sites. All Social Media are Internet sites, so this Rule applies to Facebook pages, MySpace pages, LinkedIn profiles, Twitter photo sharing applications like Tweetphoto or Twitpic, or blogs.

4.3. Retail Stores: No IBO shall permit the Corporation’s products or services to be sold or displayed in retail establishments, including, but not limited to, places like schools, fairs, PXs, ships, unauthorized internet websites, or military stores; nor shall he or she permit any of these products to appear in such locations even if the products or services are not for sale. No corporate literature shall be displayed in retail establishments.

Rule 4.3.2 says that you cannot use any “broadcast communication methods, including computer communication networks like the Internet,” in which you haven’t personally contacted the person, to secure customers or sell products. This applies to social media as members of the Internet or computer networks. (See Legal Bulletin #17 for further information.)

4.3.2. Further, IBOs may not use any broadcast communication methods including mass mailings, telemarketing, national or international advertising, radio, television, facsimile services, computer communication networks including the internet, or any other means by which personal contact is not present, to secure customers or to solicit the sale of products. However, IBOs may use digital media or maintain a website to order products or to have their customers order products, provided such media or website meets the requirements set out in the IBO Prospecting/Product Sales Website Bulletin, and otherwise complies with the Rules of Conduct.

Rule 4.23 says that you cannot send unsolicited e-mail messages to people you don’t know personally or by an existing business relationship. (However, you may send one unsolicited e-mail to request permission to send them correspondence.) Note: An unsolicited e-mail is one form of spam; another form of spam is an unsolicited commercial message sent through social media, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or on a blog. Another frequent form of spam on social media is posting comments the only intent of which is to promote your website, such as on Twitter or on blogs.

4.23. Unsolicited Email Messages: No IBO shall send, transmit, or otherwise communicate any unsolicited email messages to persons with whom the IBO does not have a pre-existing personal or business relationship. (This includes, but is not limited to, sending emails through newsgroups, purchased mailing lists, “safe lists,” or other lists of individuals or entities with which the IBO does not have a relationship.)

Read our IBO Best Practices article about spam.

Rule 8.3.11 says that you can neither present the Plan nor seek to sponsor someone using any “broadcast communication method, including computer communication networks like the Internet,” in which the person is not physically present. This also applies to social media as members of the Internet or computer networks.

In seeking participation of a prospective IBO in the IBO Plan, the registering IBO must comply with the following guidelines:

8.3.11. Must not present the IBO Plan or solicit participation in the IBO Plan through any broadcast communication methods including mass mailings, telemarketing, national or international advertising, radio, television, facsimile services, computer communication networks including the internet, or any other means by which personal contact with a prospect is not present. However, IBOs may use digital media or maintain an internet website for use with prospects, provided the contents of such media or website meet the requirements set out in the IBO Prospecting/Customer Product Website Bulletin, and otherwise comply with the Rules of Conduct.

Rule 9.1 says you cannot use an Amway Global trade name (company name), trademark (product names), or designs (such as logos) without Amway Global’s permission. Thus, you can't use it as a social media handle or username, group name, page name, avatar, or other similar way without receiving the Corporation’s prior approval. You also wouldn’t include logos in Twitpics, Facebook, MySpace, or blog pages or YouTube videos.

9.1. Permission Prior to Use Required: The Corporation will not allow use of its trade name (company name), trademarks (product names), designs, or symbols by any person, including an IBO, without its prior permission. The Corporation will issue cease-and-desist orders to any persons using its trade name, trademarks, designs, and symbols without its permission and will, if necessary, follow with appropriate legal action for failure to comply with a cease-and-desist order. If the Corporation did not do this, IBOs would soon find the market flooded with the Corporation’s products not produced by the Corporation or sold by its IBOs. Obviously, the IBOs would be greatly harmed by such unfair competition.

Rule 9.8 covers IBO advertising in general, but says in specific that except as provided in rules 4.3.2 and 8.3.11 (see above), you may not advertise or promote Amway Global’s products or the business opportunity through the use of mass communication methods such as computer communication networks, including the Internet, where persons are not physically present. Those would, thus, apply to social media, too.

9.8. IBO Advertising: IBOs wishing to use advertising media must submit their proposal in writing, along with a copy of the proposed advertisement, to the Corporation for approval. The Corporation’s approval is for one (1) year only. Except as provided in Rules 4.3.2. and 8.3.11., under no circumstances may IBOs advertise or promote the Corporation’s products and services or the Corporation’s business opportunity through the use of mass communication methods such as radio, television, facsimile services, computer communication networks, including the internet, national or international advertising, or any other form of promotion where the person-to-person nature of the business is not present.

9.8.1. IBOs may purchase keyword ads on internet search engines provided that:

1. it is in accordance with Bulletin 26

2. IBOs have prior written approval from the Corporation

Legal Bulletins
Amway Global has published two Legal Bulletins that explain or apply the rules in more detail, and we suggest that you read them before launching any social media pages:

• Legal Bulletin 17 – IBO Websites

• Legal Bulletin 26 – Internet Search Engine Advertising

Be sure to check with your upline if you have questions about how the Rules of Conduct might affect something that you plan to do on a social media site.