Updated Online Policy FAQ's!

Online Policy FAQs
Revised 1/25/12
General:
1. Can Shelf Reliance help me with my private website?

Shelf Reliance provides numerous resources for building your business through
successful home parties. Private websites and online marketing are allowed, but
Shelf Reliance is not able to provide support for establishing, maintaining, or
marketing your private website.

2. Can my upline help me with my private website?

Each successful team leader will be well-versed in the home party business model
and is responsible for training and supporting their team in this area. Many
successful consultants will have expertise in other methods of marketing and
building their business as well, and may be able to help you with your private
website. However, this is not part of their responsibilities toward their downline.
In addition, keep in mind that website design, site administration, online marketing,
blogging, search engine optimization, and other aspects of building an online
presence have a steep learning curve. Even if an upline leader can provide direction
in this area, you should expect to independently study and learn all that is necessary
to build and maintain a private website.

3. Can I sell online exclusively (instead of through home parties)?

Yes. There are many consultants who take this approach. However, it is still
recommended that you become familiar with the home party business model so that
you can effectively train consultants in your downline.

4. Do I need a private website to be successful?

No. It is not necessary to have a private website. Your ability to be successful is in no
way diminished by not having a private website. We do recommend, however, that
you use a Consultant Website in order to offer your customers and prospective
customers a simple way to order.

5. How can I tell if someone has made a purchase from my Consultant Website?

There are three ways:
(1) You will get an email from Shelf Reliance.
(2) It will be listed in your “Downline Sales Report,” which is found on the left side
of the screen in the Back Office. Click on it, then “Click to View” the “Customer/Party
Orders” section to see the purchase.
(3) You can also click on “Orders” (also on the left), then “Recent Orders.” It will be
listed here if it is one of the 10 most recent orders placed through you.

6. Can I tie online orders to a party?

Yes. You can tie them to your own party each month or to any party you choose.
However, tying them to a party will not give the customer the Q-Club price. It will
simply give someone (often you) the host benefit for that order. When looking at
the order in your downline sales report (see #5 above), click on the link that says
“tie to party” and choose the party you would like to tie that order to.
Section 1

1. Why must my private website be approved by Shelf Reliance before I can use it?

Shelf Reliance is working to build a strong and reputable brand name, so it is
necessary that they take steps to protect their name, brand, and reputation. If Shelf
Reliance consultants develop their own sales aids and promotional materials
(including private websites), they may unintentionally violate any number of
statutes or regulations affecting a Shelf Reliance business. These violations,
notwithstanding consultants’ good intentions, could jeopardize the Shelf Reliance
opportunity for all consultants.

2. How can I get my private website approved by Shelf Reliance?

Before you purchase a URL, email it to compliance@shelfreliance.com. You will also
need to email again when your private website design is complete so the compliance
department can get the URL and the actual website design and layout.

3. How long does it take for Shelf Reliance to approve my URL/website?

You should receive approval within 2–3 business days. However, during very busy
seasons it may take longer. Please plan accordingly. Unless the consultant receives
specific written approval to use the material, the request shall be deemed denied.

4. How will I know when my URL/website has been approved?
You will receive an email.

Section 2

1. May I use colors similar to my consultant website on my private website?
You may use a similar color scheme, but your website cannot mimic the corporate
website. It should be obvious that your private site is completely separate from the
official Shelf Reliance website. Any website that Shelf Reliance determines to be too
similar will not be approved.

2. May I use a domain that is a misspelling of the Shelf Reliance domain name?
No. This is considered mimicking the official Shelf Reliance website and is forbidden.
Any domain name used for the purpose of capturing visitors who misspell or
mistype the official URL is not allowed.

3. What is considered a “significant revision” that would require company approval?
There is no way for us to list all possible answers to that question. However, many
private websites are blogs and are updated regularly. These regular updates do not
require approval. If you are changing your URL or something very significant about
the overall look and feel of your site, you should seek company approval.
Section 3

1. How often will Shelf Reliance review my site?
As often as they deem necessary. You should always be sure your private website is
in compliance with all the Online Policies.

Section 4

1. Where can I find the Shelf Reliance logo to display?

Log in at: https://www.shelfreliance.com/parties/account/login/. Click on the
“Consultant Materials” section on the left. You can find logos and other images in
the “Marketing Kit” located under the “Marketing” tab. Don’t forget to include the
phrase “Independent Consultant” in your site. You can find a logo that includes this
in this marketing kit.

2. Instead of linking to shelfreliance.com from my private website, can I link to my
consultant website?

Yes. You may link to your consultant website (e.g., mystore.shelfreliance.com) or to
the Shelf Reliance homepage using your consultant website URL (e.g.,
mystore.shelfreliance.com/home). In fact, you should use one of these URLs for the
required link to the Shelf Reliance website.

3. What are some options for displaying the Shelf Reliance logo?

You may include only the logo, or the logo as part of another graphic or
advertisement. See Section 6 for information about obtaining pre-made
advertisements that include the Shelf Reliance logo. Section 5

1. Why can’t I create a job title for myself and list it on my website?

Job titles may imply certain responsibilities which might appear to be official
positions within the Shelf Reliance corporate office. Shelf Reliance consultants do
not work for corporate Shelf Reliance and should not give the impression that they
do.

In addition, such titles may put other consultants who do not use such titles at a
disadvantage. Independent consultants do not have exclusive rights to any territory
and may not portray themselves in any way that, intentionally or unintentionally,
leads others to believe they have that right.

2. I’m still not sure what you are talking about. What are some examples of such titles?
Examples include but are not limited to title such as “Regional Manager,” “Area
Director,” “Executive Director,” or “California Executive.”

3. What titles can I include?
You may include your consultant rank (mentor, director, executive, silver executive,
gold executive, or platinum executive).

Consultants are allowed to list other specific corporate responsibilities,
achievements, and activities as expressly approved by Shelf Reliance. The following
have been approved and may be used where authorized:
• Founders Club
• Advisory Board [Year]
• Convention Presenter [Year]
• Conference Call Presenter [Month] [Year]
• [City] Training Meeting Presenter [Month] [Year]

Section 6
1. What are some ways I might advertise my consultant website or private website that
would be subject to these guidelines?

We cannot list every possibility here. However, anything you use to advertise your
consultant website or private website must meet the guidelines in the policy. A few
examples are:

• Pay-per-click ads (such as Adwords, Microsoft AdCenter, Amazon, or
Facebook)
• Giveaways on your own site or other sites.
• Product reviews you sponsor on other websites.
• Paying another website owner to display text or images that link back to one
of your sites.
• Free buttons, images, or graphics that others can place on their website that
link back to your consultant website or private website.

2. Is there anywhere I can find “pre-made” advertisements that I can use to advertise my
private or consultant website?

Yes. You can find them at: http://www.shelfreliance.com/fan. Just make sure you
change the URL in the code from www.shelfreliance.com to your consultant or
private website URL.

3. What is a display URL?

A display URL is a URL that is actually written out (e.g., www.shelfreliance.com
instead of Shelf Reliance) and shows anywhere on an advertisement (under a paid
ad, on a button, etc.). If a display URL is used in any advertisement, it must be the
entire consultant website URL (e.g., mystore.shelfrelaince.com) or a private website
URL. It cannot be shelfreliance.com or www.shelfreliance.com.


Section 7

1. How do I notify Shelf Reliance of a new ad campaign?
Submit advertisements to compliance@shelfreliance.com. You must include all
graphics and text that will be displayed, including the display URL. In addition, you
must include all keywords that will be used for keyword advertisements.

2. What kinds of advertisements receive provisional approval?

Any online advertisement receives automatic provisional approval upon its
submission to Shelf Reliance. Provisional approval allows consultants to quickly
create and use advertisements for new sales or other time-sensitive events.
Advertisements that have not been submitted to Shelf Reliance may not be used.

3. Can my print advertisements receive provisional approval?

Print advertisements do not receive provisional approval. You should not print any
advertisement without receiving a formal approval from Shelf Reliance. The
approval process typically takes 2–3 business days. By following this policy you will
not risk paying for printing costs only to have your advertisement denied approval.

4. Can I receive provisional approval for a domain name for my private website?
No. You must receive formal approval for all domain names.

5. In my paid ads, may I bid on keywords that Shelf Reliance ranks for?
Yes. You may bid on any keyword phrase you like.

Section 8

1. May I create advertisements that combine or modify images found on the Shelf
Reliance website?

Yes, but you must submit the advertisement to compliance@shelfreliance.com.
Advertisement images that have not been modified may be used without submitting
for approval. Just as with other online advertisements, you receive provisional
approval for use upon submission of the advertisement.

3. May I copy and paste text from the Shelf Reliance website onto my private website?
Yes, but this may not be in your best interest (see #5 below). You may benefit from
modifying the text or changing it to your own words.

4. Why can’t I copy another consultant’s blog or website content and images? Isn’t that
just sharing ideas?

No. It is plagiarism and is illegal because it violates copyright laws. Plagiarism is
defined as using another’s hard work for your benefit. Sharing ideas is done with
the knowledge and permission of both parties. Most consultants are very willing to
share their ideas when you contact them.

5. How does copying hurt me?

Copied content decreases your credibility. If you copy content, both your readers
and search engines will see you (and the site you copy from) as less credible.
One of the most important things that search engines look at is copied content. If
your content matches that of another site, you will not show up in search results as
easily because you are not seen as a credible source of information on that topic.
In addition, it is likely that your readers follow more than one Shelf Reliance blog.
They will not have much motivation to follow you if you are simply copying other
sites they are already reading.

6. How will anyone ever know if I copy their website?

There are programs available that allow website owners to search for copies of their
content. In addition, many Shelf Reliance bloggers make it a point to follow other
Shelf Reliance blogs.

7. What should I do if I really like something another consultant has created and would
like to share it on my website or blog?

If you would like to copy an entire paragraph, idea, spreadsheet, ad, handout, etc.,
contact the consultant and ask for their permission. Even with their permission, you
still need to provide a link back to their website on the page or post in which you
use their content.

8. What if I only copy a small portion of a paragraph or idea?

This is typically fine as long as no more than a few sentences are copied. You should
also make it obvious that you are quoting someone else by providing a link back to
the other consultant’s website immediately before or after the quote. You do not
have to seek permission for this.

9. What about using an idea I found on another consultant’s website, but completely
changing all text and images and putting my own spin on it?

You should still give credit (and a link) back to the original source. For example, if
another consultant posted about making ice cream with THRIVE and you thought
that was an excellent idea and wanted to share it on your private website, you could.
But you should actually make the ice cream, take your own pictures, and then write
about your own experience. You should also mention somewhere on the page or
post that you got the idea from another blogger and provide a link back to their
website.

10. What if I find someone has copied my private website?
Contact the blog owner and ask them to remove it. You may reference these
policies. If they refuse, send an email to compliance@shelfreliance.com.
Section 9

1. What is wrong with traffic-redirecting products?

Consultant should be properly rewarded for their promotional efforts on the behalf
of Shelf Reliance, and consultants using software programs that replace cookies and
tracking codes with their own are potentially stealing other consultants’
commissions. This is strictly forbidden.

2. Am I allowed to place links to my consultant website on my private website?

Yes. This is completely different from traffic-redirecting products. In fact, it is
required to include the Shelf Reliance logo and a link to the Shelf Reliance website
on your private website. You may use your consultant website URL to meet this
requirement.

3. Am I allowed to place deep links (linking to a specific product) to my consultant
website on my private website?

Yes. Simply find the product page on the Shelf Reliance website and replace the
“www” in the URL to the name of your consultant website. For example,
http://www.shelfreliance.com/apple-chips.html would become
http://mystore.shelfreliance.com/apple-chips.html.

4. Can customers automatically be linked to my consultant website (so that I get credit if
they purchase) simply because they visited my private website or another website, or
read an email I sent without actually clicking on a link?
No. These are examples of “traffic-redirecting products,” “hidden cookies,” or
“cookie stuffing” and are strictly forbidden.

The only way for a customer to be tied to your consultant website (and for you to
get credit for their purchases) is for them to (1) click a link that results in the display
of the Consultant Website in the main window (i.e., not an extraneous pop-up
window), or (2) type in a URL to reach your consultant website directly.

5. May I redirect a private URL to my consultant website?
Yes, but you may not use a frame, masking, or other methods to display the official
Shelf Reliance website while displaying your private URL. For example, you may
have a private URL such as “www.mystore.com” automatically redirect a user to
“mystore.shelfreliance.com” when they type in www.mystore.com, but this must
result in the user viewing “mystore.shelfreliance.com” in the main window.


Section 10

1. Can I leave links to my consultant website or private website in a post or comment I
make on Shelf Reliance’s Facebook (or other social media) page?
No, this is not allowed.

2. Can I comment and post on Shelf Reliance’s Facebook page as my private Facebook
page (as opposed to with my real name or personal account)?

You may post comments as your “business” or Shelf Reliance Facebook page, but
you may not include wording or links to promote yourself as a consultant or to draw
traffic to your private website or consultant website. This rule applies to all
corporate social media outlets.

Section 11

1. Where do I find the Consultant Website Price List?
Log in to your consultant account. Click on the “Consultant Materials” section on the
left. You can find the Consultant Website Price List in the “Price Lists” tab.

2. How do I keep my pricing up to date with the most current price list? I have pricing on
almost every post and I post many times a week. There is no way for me to go back
and change all those posts every time the price list changes.
Include something similar to the following on each post that has prices in it:
“The prices on this page are current through September 2011. For an updated price
list, please contact me.”

3. May I offer special promotions such as free shipping or free product to readers of my
private website?

Yes, as long as the purchase price for the items they are buying is not lower than QClub price.

4. There are some products that are only available on the Q-Club price list. Can I mention
or sell these on my private website?

Yes, you simply need to make it clear to your readers / customers that they will
need to contact you directly to order those items. They will not be able to find them
on your consultant website.

Section 12

1. Can I add people to my email mailing list without their express permission?
No. This includes those who sign a sheet at an expo or party, but do not purchase
from you or mark that they are interested in being added to your list.

2. Can I add people to my customer list without their express permission?
No. This includes those who sign a sheet at an expo or party, but do not purchase
from you or mark that they are interested in being added to your list.

3. When can I add someone to my mailing list or customer list?
They will automatically be added to your customer list if they purchase online. You
can also add them to your customer list manually if they purchase by contacting you
directly. Otherwise, they must specifically opt in somehow: by checking a box on a
list, filling out a form online, etc. Remember, each list is different and requires a
separate “opt in” selection.

4. Anything else I should know?
You can read helpful details about how to comply with the CAN-SPAM Act in your
business emails here: http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus61-can-spam-actcompliance-guide-business.

Section 13

1. I can’t think of anything I could do to harm another consultant’s online business. What
are some examples?
This could include (but is not limited to) the following:

a. Clicking on advertisements paid for by other consultants, including but not
limited to ads that appear in places such as search engine results,
Amazon.com, or Facebook.com.

b. Writing negatively about other consultants.

c. Copying website content from other consultants without prior written
permission (mentioned in Section 8 above).

d. Posting comments on another Shelf Reliance consultant’s blogs or websites
with links to your own consultant store or personal website in the body of
the comment.

e. Leaving links to your consultant store or personal blog or website on another
consultant’s social media pages, posts, or comments.

f. Advertising or requesting to advertise on a website that is already displaying
another consultant’s ad(s).

g. Quoting or promising to beat another consultant’s price or deal.

2. How do I know an advertisement is a paid advertisement?

In search engine results, paid ads will typically appear at the very top of or to the
right of the non-paid results. They will usually have the word “Ads,” “Sponsored,” or
something similar somewhere near them.
On sites like Amazon, paid ads will appear below the search result or inside your
cart, among other places. They will also have words like “Ads” or “Sponsored” near
them.

On Facebook, ads will most often appear to the right of the news feed under the
word “Sponsored.”

Ads may also appear in emails or within other blogs and websites. These ads or
often graphic images may not include tags such as those discussed previously.

3. How do I know a paid advertisement is being paid for by another consultant?

Often the display URL will show their consultant website or private website URL.
Web browsers often display the URL while hovering over the link or graphic with
the mouse.

4. How does clicking on such ads hurt the other consultant?

Each time a paid ad is clicked on, the consultant must pay money to the owner of the
website on which the ad is being displayed. Because you will not be purchasing
from the other consultant, they pay for no reason when you click on their ad.

5. Can I leave a link to my consultant website or private website in the text of a comment
I leave on another consultant’s private website?

No, including a link in the text of a comment is not allowed.

6. How can I hyperlink my name back to my consultant website or private website when I
comment on another consultant’s private website?

Website owners can choose to allow or disallow a “name / URL” option for those
who comment on their website. If this option is available on a consultant site that
you visit, you may leave your name in the “name” field and a link to your private
website in the “URL” field when commenting. You may not leave a link to your
consultant website in the “URL” field.

7. Can I leave a link to my consultant store or private website on other consultants’ social
media pages, posts, or comments?
No, this is not allowed.

8. Can I comment and post on another consultant’s Facebook page using my private
Facebook page (as opposed to using my real name and personal account)?

You may post comments as your “business” or Shelf Reliance Facebook page, but
you may not include wording or links to promote yourself as a consultant or to draw
traffic to your private website or consultant website. This rule applies to all social
media outlets.

9. May I compare THRIVE or Shelf Reliance to other companies and their products on my
private website?

Shelf Reliance strongly recommends avoiding this practice. Shelf Reliance products
are of the highest quality and can stand on their own merits. Discussing other
companies and products often serves as advertising for those companies and may
be counterproductive. Consultants should promote the quality of Shelf Reliance
products and programs without discussing other companies.