Today we’re diving into a topic that is often overlooked as a ‘bore’ or even ‘chore’ by many Direct Selling business owners: compliance. What exactly is compliance, and why does it matter? Let us answer that for you and, while we’re at it, we’ll also share how it can help your business to grow! 

Compliance is often an avoided topic - viewed as a restriction but what if I told you that it’s an important tool to have under your belt? That understanding it and how it applies to your business could make your Social Media strategies more effective?! 

To help us navigate this, we’ve brought on a special guest, Jonathan Gilliam. Jonathan is the founder and CEO of Momentum Factor, a leading digital risk management firm specializing in compliance monitoring, education, brand protection, and online reputation management. He’s also the mind behind Field Watch, a compliance management platform that helps businesses grow safely and responsibly.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how compliance can be less scary, and why it’s so important in protecting your business and brand. Jonathan will share his expertise, offer practical strategies and share insights to guide you in safeguarding your business and making a positive impact in the industry. 

Let’s jump in and explore how to grow your business the right way while protecting what matters most. Enjoy the episode!

We’ll be talking about: 

➡ [0:00] Introduction

➡ [4:25] A fun fact about Jonathan

➡ [7:16] Getting into the Direct Selling industry

➡ [10:04] What actually is compliance and why is it important?

➡ [11:36] Direct Selling vs other industries

➡ [13:27] Awareness of being non-compliant

➡ [14:19] What is and isn’t okay to post? 

➡ [15:59] The risk of non-compliant claims online

➡ [19:15] The most common compliance issues

➡ [22:05] Things someone can say and cannot say

➡ [26:24] What to do if somebody else is non-compliant

➡ [29:20] Alerting the compliance department

➡ [32:38] Old content that is going bite you down the track

➡ [34:16] 3 tips from a compliance expert

➡ [36:17] Common mistakes people are making

➡ [39:11] What to say when you can’t say anything

➡ [45:17] A word of advice from Jonathan

➡ [46:53] Check out Momentum Factor’s website

➡ [48:02] Jonathan’s recommended book

➡ [48:49] Jonathan’s dream superpower

➡ [49:45] Jonathan’s favourite quote

➡ [50:37] Jonathan’s advice to his past self

➡ [51:09] Final thoughts

Resources: 

Book Recommendations

➡ Lean StartUp by Eric Ries: https://bit.ly/4h0zu5s

➡ Find Jonathan’s books here: https://momofactor.com/resources/books/ 

Quote:

➡  “If you don’t go, you don’t know”

About our guest:

Known for developing innovative solutions to difficult digital challenges, Jonathan Gilliam is Founder & CEO at Momentum Factor – the leading AI-powered digital risk management firm specializing in compliance monitoring and education, brand protection and global online reputation management, as well as the developers of the FieldWatch Compliance Management platform. Jonathan graduated with a BA degree from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by graduate studies at Rice University.

While his firm has been named an Inc. 5000 America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies honoree by Inc. Magazine in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, Jonathan has been recognized by the Austin Business Journal as one of Austin’s Best CEOs twice. 

A published author, Jonathan’s books ‘Social Selling: How Direct Selling Companies Can Harness the Power of Connectivity and Change the World’ and ‘Blastoff! Creating Growth in Direct Selling Companies: Lessons in Momentum from CEOs & Industry Leaders’, helped shape the Direct Selling industry conversation about new media and delivered a vision of social media’s promise for Direct Selling companies.

Connect with Jonathan Gilliam:

➡ Jonathan Gilliam’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.gilliam

➡ Jonathan Gilliam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangilliam/

➡ Find Jonathan’s books here: https://momofactor.com/resources/books/ 

➡ Momentum Factor website: https://momofactor.com/

➡ Momentum Factor X: https://x.com/MomoFactor/

➡ Momentum Factor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momofactor/

➡ Momentum Factor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/momentum-factor/

Connect with Direct Selling Accelerator:

➡ Visit our website: https://www.auxano.global/

➡ Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DirectSellingAccelerator

➡ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxanomarketing/

➡ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auxanomarketing/

➡ Email us: grow@auxanomarketing.com.au

If you have any podcast suggestions or things you’d like to learn about specifically, please send us an email at the address above. And if you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast.