One of the most (if not the most) interesting and compelling topics in the direct selling industry is Compliance. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of those “hereafters” and “whereas’” and “hereuntos.” Rivaled only by discussions regarding Zilis’ Policies & Procedures, Compliance is hands down the most exciting part of our training topics! Before you stop reading and click on another blog in our library that is much more interesting than this, you should know that I’m being sarcastic. These words have never been uttered in the history of direct sales.

Let’s face it, Policies and Procedures are like the instruction manual that comes with your newly purchased Ikea bookcase. If you’re anything like me, you most likely give the instructions a quick once over, toss them in the trash and start putting together pieces to match the picture on the box. Before you know it, the bookcase starts to take the shape of a side table and then you’re fishing out the instruction manual from the trash can. To help you avoid making a side table out of your Zilis business, we’ve put together a quick list of Compliance tips that can help you build a strong Ambassador position.

Tip #1: Slow Your Roll & Move Forward With a Plan (The New Ambassador)

At one point, each of you have walked in these shoes—the new Ambassador—newly enrolled and ready to light the world on fire. Sharing the business opportunity and promoting Zilis products is number one on your list. While the new Ambassador’s enthusiasm is refreshing and exciting, it is inexperienced and not yet up to date on the “do’s and dont’s” of promoting Zilis products and the business opportunity. If this is you, hold onto enthusiasm but reach out to the Compliance team for guidance on what is acceptable and unacceptable in terms of advertising. You can also get in touch with the person who introduced you to Zilis and ask them for advice on how they manage their social media influence. There is a library full of amazing resources for you to check out and familiarize yourself with.

New Ambassadors sell products and represent Zilis to customers who may have never heard of these products. This can be a good thing as it creates new exposure and new business, but it can also create liability for us all. As a new Ambassador, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. There is a wealth of information available to you. Familiarize yourself with the Ambassador Resource Center. Here you can find pre-approved advertising that can be posted to social media, compliance do’s and dont’s, instructions on how to read a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for each of our products. There’s even a guide on navigating through the Resource Center!

Tip #2: When the Going Gets Tough…Perseverance is Your Plan

Zilis is a social marketing/networking company and as such, Ambassadors are encouraged to share their Zilis experience with family and friends. As an Ambassador however, there are a few things you should keep in mind when sharing your Zilis experience, whether in person or online via social media.

• Develop realistic customer expectations – Be transparent when sharing your Zilis experience. Being transparent means being honest. When talking with ambassador-recruits or customers make sure you present the correct materials when talking about earnings, policies, and incentives.
• Try not to reinvent the wheel – Always use Zilis approved marketing materials to promote products and the business opportunity. Our amazing Design Team developed a library of content that can be downloaded, copied and pasted straight to your social media page.
• Don’t tip your hand! – If you’re a Freedom Call regular then you’re most likely familiar with Steven Thompson’s quote “get them in the door, then show them store.” Be upfront, but mysterious with your social media content. Be short and to the point.

Tip #3 Stay Compliant by being Connected

Zilis is pioneering the CBD and hemp extract industry, with frequent new products launches, new enrollment plans and expansion into new countries.  Listening in on the weekly calls is a great way to move forward and move ahead in your business. Weekly calls and training events happen often and the knowledge offered comes from leading experts in the industry—both hemp-derived CBD and supplements. Our experts have their fingers on the pulse of everything hemp in and out of the United States. Plugging into the calls and training will expand your knowledge base so you can grow your business into one that customers and new Ambassadors will be able to trust. You can connect from anywhere on your mobile devices as well as your desktop computer. Check out these calls and get them on your schedule today!

• Monday night Freedom Calls
• Lunch and Learns
• Power Training Events

Tip #4 Making Claims – Can I say that?

There’s a TV commercial that comes to mind when discussing this topic. It’s a commercial by Progressive insurance where an older gentleman (a father type figure, if you would) explains that his job is to help new homeowners “not turn into their parents.” In one scene the group is standing together in an isle and a man with blue hair walks by the group. They all turn to stare at the blue-haired man and the main character in the commercial says to them “We all see it; we all see it” urging everyone not to stare or say something embarrassing out loud. Being an Ambassador for Zilis also means you need to know what to share and what to avoid sharing in public.

Medical / Health Claims

Sharing information that makes a medical claim is a little like shouting “Blue hair, he’s got blue hair!” like the people in the commercial do. But for Zilis, making claims lands us in hot water with the Feds. To stay compliant try using some of these phrases:

• Formulated to support mental acuity, performance, and cognition^†
• Helps promote healthy digestive and circulatory systems^†
• Helps promote deep, restful sleep during occasional restlessness^†
• Helps maintain a healthy heart^†
• Helps maintain joint health and flexibility^†

As you can see, these statements avoid mentioning specific diseases or ailments and appeal to a wider variety of users. While many people may not relate to having arthritis, everyone wakes up occasionally feeling stiff and sore. While not everyone experiences high cholesterol, everyone wants a healthy heart. See our Compliance Corner in your Resources for helpful phrases that help you avoid making medical claims.

Remember, just like Zilis itself, all Ambassadors are obligated to the same rigorous Federal Trade Commission and Food & Drug Administration claims laws, and these regulatory agencies are cracking down on both direct selling and CBD companies for improper claims. For example:

• FDA Warning Letters & Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products
• Dec. 17, 2020: FTC Announces Crackdown on Deceptively Marketed CBD Products
• Dec. 7, 2020: Natural Products Insider “COVID-19 pandemic diverted some FTC resources from CBD enforcement”
• June 5, 2020: FTC Sends Second Round of Warning Letters to Multi-Level Marketers Regarding Coronavirus Related Health and Earnings Claims
• April 24, 2020: FTC Sends Warning Letters to Multi-Level Marketers Regarding Health and Earnings Claims They or Their Participants are Making Related to Coronavirus

Income/Lifestyle Claims

Some other things to avoid when sharing your Zilis story is to continue the path of keeping a short, but realistic, overview of your journey. If you worked hard enough and qualified for the Zilis Jeep Bonus Program, share that story with family and friends; however, be sure to let everyone know about the hard work behind that journey. Avoid statements such as: “Zilis gives its Ambassadors a free Jeep! Email me to find out how you can get your free Jeep.”

This statement is considered an income and lifestyle claim because the Ambassador makes the reader believe that all he or she has to do is become an Ambassador and then POOF! Free Jeep. Not only is the hard work left out, but it is completely inaccurate. At Zilis, you earn, not “get” the Jeep Bonus. For more information about the income disclosure statement please reach out to Compliance and we can walk you through it.

Another no-no is making statements where it is implied that simply by joining, an Ambassador can achieve retirement level income. Sharing something like: “I joined Zilis in September and made it a goal to work my way into the Jeep Bonus Program offered in Zilis’ Compensation Plan. After lots of hard work, and long hours, I finally reached my goal in December and can say, everything is much more fun in a Jeep!” is 100% okay to say because the reader understands that effort is required to achieve certain ranks within Zilis’ Compensation Plan. And, it keeps you compliant by freeing you from making an income and lifestyle claim.

For more information about the income disclosure statement please check out https://zilis.com/income-disclosure/ or reach out to Compliance and we can walk you through it.

Tip #5 Compliance Is Your Partner

Compliance departments are usually seen as the bad guy, but I assure you, we’re all on the same team. Right now, the direct selling industry is under heavy scrutiny from the FTC and other regulators. Because of this, it’s important for you to know that Compliance is here to help you navigate and grow a successful business. I encourage you to partner with the Compliance department. Please feel free to reach out with your questions. Don’t be afraid of the big bad Compliance email. The Compliance team has decades of experience in food law and the direct selling industry.  We can help you with multiple aspects of your business including:

• advertising,
• creating a website,
• making a business card, or
• setting up a booth at a trade show

I urge you to leverage this experience to help grow your business.  Our goal is to help set an example throughout the direct sale industry for having a team of independent distributors educated in company Policies and Procedures and setting a gold standard in field productivity. As a pioneer in the industry, Zilis understands the importance of Compliance and uses our Ultra Compliance approach to develop brand equity.

Join us again for a New Year of Discover when we return in 2021! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

About Zilis’ Scientific Research & Development Department

Our Scientific Research and Development Department is headed up by Dr. Marielle Weintraub, a hemp industry expert. She holds a master’s and a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience and is very active in many dietary supplement and hemp industry trade associations, including her role as the current President of the U.S. Hemp Authority. Dr. Weintraub is committed to the continued development of hemp-specific information and testing to fulfill the Zilis mission.

Science posts for Discover are co-researched and co-written by Kelly McGill, Senior Scientific Technical Writer at Zilis. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in Linguistics / TESL. She has been writing science-related content for over 20 years and is an expert in making difficult concepts easy to understand.

Zilis is the creator of UltraCell™, a CBD oil product derived from hemp. Based in Argyle, Texas, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, Zilis is privately held. Visit zilis.com for more information.