It can’t just be all fun and games.

Or can it?

Poker Training Network will be the first network marketing company to launch a fully integrated social networking gaming site through Facebook.

We have all seen the invites through Facebook. Our friends hit us with offers to play with them in Farmville, Mafia Wars and Zynga Poker. Some people hit delete, but millions accept and are engrossed in these play environments.

Yes, I said millions. Farmville currently has 80 million weekly users and Zynga Poker just went over 27 million weekly users and they are growing by astronomical numbers. People love this stuff. Playing with animals, raising their friends all-in, accumulating chips…they can’t get enough of it.

A number of MLM companies have tried to force their way into the social media world but most have been rather unsuccessful. Pre-Paid Legal launched Blastoff with very limited success and although PeopleString has gotten some legs, it will never be a Facebook.

The reason these campaigns have failed to gain market share is that they are self-serving. They were created and are developed to benefit the company who made them. There is very little, if any, real benefit to the average consumer unless they are a distributor for the company.

Poker Training Network (PTN) will break through all of that by creating a true online gaming experience to rival Zynga Poker. Their game room is cleaner, full screen, easier to use, has more features and since PTN is a poker training company, their free game will even include a training component for people to get better at playing the game they enjoy so much.

Poker Training Network has a real shot at picking up millions of poker enthusiasts who are looking for a better platform than Zynga. And they have a shot to do this very quickly.

Keep in mind, Zynga Poker just launched in July 2007. That’s almost a million users acquired a month. What will happen when people learn there is a better option?

What does that mean for Poker Training Network affiliates?

It means a lot.

It means a PTN affiliate can simply invite their Facebook friends to play poker for free in a fun, interactive, completely non-confrontational way. Every network marketer knows the inviting people (marketing) to take a look at your product or business is the most challenging part for the majority of people in the industry.

PTN has created the softest, “try it before you buy it” approach in the industry. For the average MLM rep who may be a little hesitant to approach people they know with their business, this is a slam dunk for them.

For market leaders, think about this for a moment. As you build your business and grow your team to 500, 1000 and 5000, 20,000 people…think how many people will be playing poker in the free game room that are attached to people in your group.

What if the average Facebook user only has 100 of their friends registered to play? With a group of 5,000 affiliates, that would be 500,000 people being exposed to your business every week.

It’s like having a farm team for new affiliates.

Users of PTN’s Facebook gaming site will learn about PTN, their products and will be exposed to ads promoting the business. The user will be coded and linked to the referring affiliate. If they click on a banner and decide to join, they go right into the referring affiliates business.

The potential is mind blowing.

There is no other network marketing company that could do something like this. Seriously, what Facebook application would they create? A game that sends people on a quest to find the best Acai berry in all the land? The journey of the magical fruit juice?

Sounds fun doesn’t it? Not!

Poker is the 3rd most watched sport on TV in the US and the fastest growing sport. It’s here to stay. People play for free online, in pubs, at home and pay to play online and at casino’s all over the world.

What do all of these people have in common?

They have a desire to get better at the game.

Can you really play your way to wealth?

With Poker Training Network, it sure looks that way.

If you want to learn what my team is doing to create success in the Poker Training Network, get in touch with me today.  I am looking for leaders who want to grow a massive business with the global trend.

Do you want to know how to stand out in the crowded world of social networking?

Would you like to develop a friends list that actually wants to hear what you have to say?

Today’s technology driven world moves incredibly fast and the vast majority of people are on autopilot experiencing information overload.  We see friend and follower requests, we add them.  We scan RSS feeds, status updates and tweets.  It’s daunting to keep up but it’s all the more reason to make an effort to do so.

Here are a few simple practices that will leave you forever imprinted in an amazing light in the hearts and minds of your connections.

1. Take time to write a short note to new friends

Almost no one does this and less do it with consistency.  It shows care and interest and it shows (whether it’s true or not) that you have some interest in actually getting to know them.  Of course, it’s significantly better if you actually do.  Do you want to hit a grand slam?  Actually go and read their profile first and make a comment that is personal to them.  Whatever you do, be authentic in your communications, the social web can sniff out posers faster than Chris Brown can say “Anger Management.”

2. Provide Value First

I honestly can’t believe how many insta-pitches I still get.  Apparently someone must respond or people would just stop doing it, but I can’t imagine anyone actually does.  I have written about this before.  People, really, put some value INTO the world instead of just trying to take it out.  What do your connections find valuable?  Provide it for them.  Imagine walking into a restaurant for dinner and as soon as the hostess seats you, the waiter comes up and says, “That will $85 please.”  Ah, what?  Can I have my dinner first?

Yeah, it makes no sense, but people still do it.  Then they quit their businesses saying that social media and social networking don’t work.  It’s no different on the web than it is in the restaurant.  Value drives consumer interest and action.  Give people the food they really want first.  If you constantly over deliver, people will beat down your door to connect with you.

3. Make Comments

Yes, people want to know you care.  Are we starting to see a pattern?  Take a few moments and extend a part of your life into theirs.  The world of social media is a bit of a paradox.  It can be a very impersonal personal experience.  We are connected to people all over the planet, but if we aren’t conscious about forwarding our relationships, the connection can be lost.  Comment on their FB status & blog post, retweet their tweets or tweet their blog post.  If you find value in what they are saying, it’s likely your friends will too.  (HINT, HINT PEOPLE!)

4. Create Groups To Organize Interest

If you use your social networks for both business and personal use as most people do, use groups to gather who is interested in what you are saying.  If you are in Network Marketing create a value based group for your company or industry instead of constantly exposing your entire friend list to your offers.  I have friends that I get 6 and 7 invites to things a week.  Honestly, it’s a bit much.  After a while, it’s like the gynecologist after a long day at the office coming home to his wife and she is wearing sexy lingerie, “Honey, if I see one more…”

4.7 Be Consistent

If you are going to establish an online presence, then do it.  Really do it.  I understand time is an issue for everyone, but make a commitment and stick to it.  Don’t add 500 friends in a week, post a few articles and disappear for 3 months.  Stay in the game.  Post your articles in places that they will create value for the readers.  Post them often.  I recently attended a webinar where the guy was talking about his LinkedIn strategy for lead generation.  It was great.  He generated over 1,600 leads in 6 months for his affiliate programs mostly through article submission and some of the strategies above.  But guess how many times he published an article?  1944 to be exact.  That’s right, 1944.  Now THAT’s consistency and his business exploded because of it.

Get out of here now…go make some friends or go actually be a friend to some of the ones you already have.  But before you do, remember to leave your comments and if you found value in this post, retweet me please.

You have been a victim I am sure.  Nearly all of us have.

There you are, just minding your own business and you get a friend request.  Simple & harmless…someone just wants to be your friend.

Or so you think.

Being the wonderful, open, nice person that you are, you welcome this new friend into your inner circle of personal and business contacts on Facebook.

Then it happens.

They post an advertisement on your wall without ever even attempting to initiate contact with you or build any type of relationship.

It’s like you are sitting alone at a bar having a leisurely drink and they walk up to you and say, “Hi, my name is John.  Want to screw?”

Actually, it’s more like you are having an invitation only party at your home and a stranger comes to your door…they seem friendly so you invite them in.  They walk straight to the middle of the room and stop and say, “hey everyone, I have no interest in getting to know any of you, but I really want to get laid…anyone interested?”

It’s disgusting.

This will occasionally work, mind you, as some people respond to assholes being direct (that’s an entirely different blog post), but it will likely land you with more slaps and drinks in your face than bed partners.

Don’t get me wrong…that approach will likely get you laid.  But wealth in business, especially network marketing, is about lifetime loyal relationships, not one night stands.

Seriously, is someone out there teaching this or are people just really that stupid?  I am not sure which is the more comforting thought.

Okay, before we commit you to SMA (Social Media Annonymous) to get serious help for your problem, try a few of these ideas to support you in moving from being the rapist guy to relationship guy (or gal).

• Take sincere interest in people and build the relationship FIRST.  When you befriend someone, send people a personal note, read their profile, look at their personal websites.  Learn about them before your ‘pitch.’

• Provide value upfront – what can you do for them before asking for anything for yourself.

• Take your time.  Invest yourself.  I have developed some of my best friends in the world through network marketing…start with this intention and you’ll win more than you’ll lose.

• Follow up gracefully and professionally.   Be the kind of person you would want to work with.

So, for you wall posting date rapers out there…STOP.  You are annoying us all and you are getting NO action.

Button up the shirt, get rid of the gold medallion, throw away the ruffies & trade in the creepy van with no side windows.

Step up to the plate as an authentic human being.

Once you do, we’ll gladly invite you into our homes…and we might even introduce you to our horny friends!

I wrote a status update yesterday on Facebook that said…

“How do you brand yourself in the world? Everything we do contributes to our personal brand…the ethos of who we are and how we choose to play the game of life.”

One of my friends asked me why I call life a game.  So, I thought I’d take a few minutes and share my thoughts on this wonderful game of life.

To quote Will Smith from the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance…                   “Golf (Life) is a game that can’t be won, only played.”

Damn if that isn’t true.  Winning would really imply beating someone else, which puts all focus on subjective, external stuff.  That is just not the stuff that life is about.

Like any game, not everyone chooses to play life at the same levels – as we all know, many choose to simply watch from the grandstands, observing others who put on their uniforms and got in the game.

Perhaps I am naive, but I believe the difference between good and great in any endeavor has far more to do with commitment, drive, skill acquistion and developed intelligence than innate talent.  I believe this at every level.  Even in professional sports, I think there are many, many people who could play at that level if they made the choice to do so and honored their commitment at every level.

Now before you start firing off…I agree that there are some that are a cut above.  Their commitment and drive is supported by incredible natural ability…these are our superstars.

This philosphy is even more true in the game of life.  For most of us…we get up, we do things, we go to sleep and the next day we repeat the cycle.

What separates the Player from the Spectator?

What they choose to do with the space between the time they sleep is what separates the two.

Our choices each day our driven by our beliefs about ourselves, about other people and the world we live in.  To choose well, we need to get our belief systems in order.

What are your beliefs about…

What you deserve in life?

What you are worth?

Whether you are good enough?

What you are capable of?

The importance of relationships?

About men?

About women?

About money and wealth?

About health, food, disease and longevity?

These beliefs drive our choices every day.  We can outperform them for a while, but eventually the predominant belief will win out and start attracting to it results to support the belief.

Choose now to adopt beliefs that support what you say you truly want.  If you want a great relationship…then you better believe that men/women are amazing, supportive, loving, giving, _____ fill in the blanks with the things you want.

As you get the old programs cleared out – take massive action in the direction of what you want.  Put yourself out there.  Be bold.

Stick your head out of the top of the convertible, raise your hands in the air and scream at the top of your lungs!

Grow some fricken balls and GO FOR IT.

Growing up playing high school football I finally had a coach as a junior that really taught me how to play the game.  Full out every play.  No holding back.  100% effort…100% of the time.

What % of your ability are you playing at?