Who fuels the revolution?

WELCOME, to the BUYCASTS’  

Buycasts is a relationship and community-building application integrated into the Facebook platform. The motivation of Facebook users, embracing how Buycasts can improve their networking and purchasing experiences while supporting the Greater Good, fuels the revolution.  We know there’s only one way to reach and educate the Facebook community… through influential people with innovation in their hearts and spirits.     

Those involved in Buycasts’ Leaders’ Launch on Facebook will be early adopters, implementing cause branding on the most widely accepted and used social network in the world, adding another level of experience to their resume in the fast-paced world of social media and small business consultation.

We’re looking for you, leaders-

Buycasts empowers consumers, enriches charitable causes, and provides a way for loyal friends and small businesses to leverage their social influence to support the good and build stronger bonds in their own local communities. Merchants and the consumers they seek find ‘who and what’ they have in common socially by being members of Buycasts.  Being integrated into the Facebook platform allows Buycasts to be accessible by the 150 million or so active Facebook users in the United States, in every community across the country. The implications arising from this type of bonded community suggest the best, most supported and trusted causes, merchants and leaders get consistently lifted up, and the community benefits as a result. 

In the Buycasts application:

• Merchants and businesses gain an avenue of cause-branding on Facebook that consumers are asking for. Reference 2010 Cone Evolution Study.
• Consumers in the market to buy something get on-demand reviews, transparency, and deals from local Merchants known by friends when they ‘buycast’ or post a purchasing interest.
• Charitable causes receive new awareness and fundraising opportunity on Facebook.
• Details of activity in Buycasts show up in the valuable and sought-after Facebook News Feed space, promoting the businesses and causes a consumer believes in to everyone on Facebook.

(Access into Buycasts is free and open to anyone with a Facebook account.) 

The current landscape provides a rich opportunity for the growth and awareness of community-building applications. People on social media are buzzing about where to find good deals and who has good business practices while concerns continue to rise about small community businesses closing doors and putting good people out of jobs. Advocates are speaking out for causes and consumers are stepping up to say they want to do business with people and companies who give back. Buycasts offers solutions.         

 Do you believe in the greater good, have influence and an audience? Do you find interest in the social and economic impact of Buycasts?  

  We are officially extending an invitation to take part in our ‘Leaders’ Launch’ on Facebook, nationwide.

What do we expect from our Leaders?

1. Agree to participate in our ’Leader’s Launch’.
2. Take an active role by spreading the word via Facebook, email and any other means you personally possess. Educate your friends, merchants / business owners, and any charitable causes you have affiliations with on the benefits Buycasts offers them. 
3. Engage and keep in contact with us while expanding your professional networks through joining us on Linked-In, Twitter, and reading our Buycasts’ blog.
4. Share your good ideas and real-life scenarios of how Buycasts is affecting people in your individual areas of the country.  Those submitting testimonial stories with positive outcomes from utilizing Buycasts will be featured in the Buycasts’ corporate blog.  

What we are offering our Leaders?

1. Materials.  Access the ‘Leaders’ Launch Kit’ containing Buycasts materials with outlined purposes and uses. This kit contains everything you need to clearly and simply articulate the value of Buycasts to any audience. Those who hold seminars will find enough content to add a segment or write about cause branding and innovative business options in social media.  Also included are: graphics in high-resolution with ideas of how to utilize and where the materials are applicable. It’s up to you to choose how to combine and use the materials for your audience.
2. A Valuable Deal to help you promote. During the Leaders’ Launch period, all new Merchants are automatically upgraded from our (always) free, Basic Merchant Account to a Premium Merchant Account, Free for Life (or as long as they hold the account open and active), which offers referral tracking and the ability to create coupons or promotions in Buycasts, a $9.95/month value. It’s a great time to have your friends list their businesses and sign up!
3. Plugs Across Social Media for your efforts. When you keep us informed of your progress, we will give a shout-out and support you through social media!
4. Press for the *Top 100 Influencers of the ‘Leaders’ Launch’.  A nationwide press release with the results of ‘Leaders’ Launch’, followed by individual releases in the respective communities of our Top 100. Also posted across the Buycasts’ networks online, detailing you as one of the top influencers, outlining your overall contribution, how it’s affecting your community, the value of supporting what you believe in through commerce, and how social media plays a role.
5. Certificate of Involvement as an influential leader in the Buycasts’ Leaders’ Launch, establishing you as a hands-on expert in the social media applications of cause branding and community support on Facebook.

If you would like to take an official place in our Leaders’ Launch or learn more, email Admin@Buycasts.com and request your Leaders’ Launch Kit*.

The Buycasts’ Launch Team will be working with you, building the nationwide network!

“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed”, american author on personal success, Napoleon Hill.

“Who You Buy From and Network With Matters!”

Notes:    

*The Leaders’ Launch Kit is Free. Participation in the Leaders’ Launch is Free. By requesting the Leaders’ Launch Kit, you are not committing to anything.

* The Top 100 influencers will be determined by who influences the most Facebook members, directly or indirectly, to become Buycasts Members during the Leaders’ Launch period. The Leaders’ Launch period officially starts Nov. 15, 2010 and ends Jan. 15, 2011, 11:59pm EST.  As relates to the Leaders’ Launch, directly or indirectly is defined as: Your Facebook friends and their friends on Facebook. For example: Please keep in mind:

We only track 2 levels out for influence in the Leaders’ Launch. Overlapping is common with social networking and is expected. This does not change an influencer’s total count, as we are looking for overall reach. Not everyone will start building their network at the same time. We do not imply fairness to every person interested, as we do not control how people choose to launch and promote Buycasts and do not guarantee when or if we will gain contact with those wishing to be identified as Leaders.  Those beginning now would seem to have an advantage, though not necessarily. The purpose of the Buycasts Leaders’ Launch is long-term community building. We are offering good-will, publication of successes, training materials and experience in this new market for those willing to make an impact with us.

Email Admin@Buycasts.com to get started!     

Go to http://apps.facebook.com/buycasts  to enable the app and  www.Buycasts.com to learn more about how Buycasts affects communities. While there, bookmark us in all your favorite places online.

For our loyal and growing Buycasts Facebook application users… 

We understand the news about some companies making your user ID or name on Facebook available to third parties for marketing advantage is disturbing.

We also want to point out that Buycasts is NOT doing this, never has and never will.

Buycasts is about building stronger relationships BY YOUR CHOICE.

Our purpose and mission is to benefit YOU, the consumer, the loyal friend, the advocate of good businesses and great causes.  Buycasts offers you a way to support what matters, namely the family members & friends who own businesses and the many non-profit charities and causes within the Facebook platform.

We appreciate you all and hope you stand by Us and Facebook as the culprits who have breached their contracts with Facebook’s privacy procedures are being ‘handled appropriately’.    

We are providing two links to articles surrounding this issue and ask that if you decide to read them, take into account that all of the apps responsible for these breaches have already been disabled by Facebook and all are being scrutinized.  

Wall Street Journal Article      Forbes Article Disputing the Hysteria

While we don’t know what the fate or outcome will be for the perpetrators (whether purposeful breach or not), we do know that your privacy and well-being are extremely important to us, and we take it very seriously.

“Because Who You Buy From Matters”  and  “Who You Network With Matters”

     Thanks to those who participated! 

Please take a moment to read about the businesses below and how their decision to sign up for Buycasts has the potential to reach 17,000 unique prospects through Facebook.  We will run this occasionally, so keep looking for the next opportunity to be showcased & gain valuable back-links and content about your business!

     Mark Hadlock, of At The Top Restoration, offers home and business owners a helping hand when storms or an unexpected event causes damage and/or loss to their buildings and structures.  

“Specializing in roofing insurance claims, At The Top Restoration works directly with your insurance company to make sure the adjusters see what we see, as experienced contractors.  The adjusters are after the best interest of the insurance company, not you.  We represent YOUR best interest and will back you up through every step of the process.  If your roof qualifies, you may be able to replace your entire roof for only the price of your deductible.  We are located in Tennessee. Please check out our website to learn more.  I chose Big Brothers Big Sisters as my charity of choice because I believe in giving back and think it’s great to offer friendship and stability to kids who need mentors.”

     Chris Shelton, of Capstone Trading Co., offers seasonal and yearly sauces and specialty all-natural flavorings made from combinations of seasonings & boonie peppers that are grown on the island of Guam. Capstone Trading Co. ships worldwide.  

“Years of working in the restaurant industry, both in the continental U.S. and in Guam, lead me to create some real intriguing flavor combinations that are hot, but not so hot they burn your mouth. The flavor stays without the scorch- and leaves you wanting more. I find that people love our boonie pepper sauce on everything from red meat, fish & chicken to vegetarian dishes including tofu meals. It’s pretty amazing, if I do say so myself.  My charity of choice is GAIN, which is Guam Animals In Need.  They make a significant impact on the destitute, lost, hungry and abandoned animals on our island.   Thanks for checking us out, and consider some Capstone Trading Co. boonie pepper sauce as a unique gift for someone who already ‘has it all’ this year!”

    These merchants, in different industries, seeking different clientele, expanded their possible market share by spreading awareness of their products and services on Facebook while adding a large number of new prospects, just by joining and filling out their Buycasts merchant profile- for FREE.  The merchant with an average of 130 Facebook friends expands their reach to 17,000.  The more Facebook friends you have, the more extraordinary this number becomes.  Equation? Your # of friends Xs the average # of friends your friends have.  How many Facebook friends do you have?

Check out Buycasts today and see why we are becoming the reference of preference when searching for a trusted merchant, product or service provider by keyword.  Just ‘buycast’ what you’re interested in and get up to three referrals for your review.  Merchants in Buycasts have the opportunity to create coupons or promotions specially for Buycasts- so when you finally find that trusted merchant, you may get a great deal in addition to sending business to someone you or your friends know & trust!

Do you know a business or service provider who is excellent and could use some referrals? 

Buycasts is a wiki. This means you can add your favorite businesses and charities, spreading the good word for them! It’s a great way to say “Thank You” for a job well-done and make sure your friends and family can read your review 24/7/365, not just when you post it once on Facebook.  Your opinion means more when it’s available as a review, at the moment someone is looking for that exact product or service.  

Take a moment, see how Buycasts is revolutionizing the way YOU can support businesses and merchants who are trustworthy and support the causes and charities that make a difference in YOUR community.   Join us!

Always free to join and create a consumer, charity, or merchant account.  Be known and know who’s doing good business in your area!

Buycasts; Because Who You Buy From Matters!

Some of you may have received an error message when trying to enable the Buycasts app yesterday & today.

Unfortunately, we’ve had some sporadic connection issues with the new Facebook API but are working to resolve the glitch.   

We realize the timing was extra-crummy as we asked you to sign up, add your businesses and email your info to us by this Sunday to be showcased on our Monday blog.

Please continue to send your emails in with your business information, the paragraph asked for in the blog below and who your favorite cause or charity is and we will still showcase your businesses with rich links on Monday.

Buycasts will be running seamlessly again shortly!

We are grateful for your interest in Buycasts and apologize for any inconvenience!

Now if you would, please look at this neuralizer for just a moment…

Who & What: Your Business, Showcased in Our Blog

When: October 11th

Where: Right Here!

Details: Everyone knows back-links and rich content are valuable and it’s fun to have your business showcased online, on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In and wherever else you care to take the link! 

Buycasts is offering to showcase 3 businesses on our blog on Monday, October 11th, along with links directly to your sites.

What to do to be considered: 

1. Sign up as a consumer in Buycasts. (always free)
2. Add yourself as a merchant/business in Buycasts. (lifetime free merchant accounts for those who sign up now)
3. Create an email, with the following included, and send to: Beth.McKenzie@Buycasts.com by Sun, Oct 10th.

Please include: Your name, the name of your business, web address, Facebook page url (if you have one), and a  paragraph outlining the product or service you provide, your favorite clientele and/or who you’d like to reach, why you do what you do, and what you’d like others to know about you and your business/service/product.  Also, don’t forget to tell us your favorite cause or charity!   Last but not least, please list the keywords you added into your Buycasts merchant profile (the words you want people to associate with you).

Showcased Merchants/Businesses will be picked based on most completed information and the order in which they are received- so take a few minutes now and get after it!  

Simple, fun, effective!

We look forward to networking with you, reading about your businesses and ‘linking you up’ with rich content!  

“Who You Buy From Matters”  and  ”Who You Network With Matters”

  www.facebook.com/Buycasts

The reported values come from the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study which we feel is not only deeply interesting, but also extremely relevant.  As we prepare to launch a nationwide Facebook Application that offers businesses and merchants a way to connect their business practices with their social networks and their favorite causes simultaneously, we are particularly thrilled with the findings.  

The article at the Environmental Leader link above is worth the read. We won’t try to re-write their article, but will post some of the findings below for your quick reference along with how it’s relative to Buycasts.

A whopping 83% of consumers want to buy from companies who support a cause. 

81% believe that during economic downturn companies should still support causes (and at the same level).

88% say it’s acceptable to market your services by associating yourself with a cause…

and get this-  80% are willing to switch brands or services to one that supports a cause!

These statistics should come as great news to those attempting to launch new businesses, businesses with low marketing budgets, and those quality companies who give back to the communities that support them.  This outlook levels the playing field and broadens opportunities for those willing to operate their business in-line with the personal values of their clients.

“Cause branding is a prime opportunity for companies to extend beyond their traditional market and increase exposure to potential new consumers,” says Alison DaSilva, executive vice president at Cone.

The only downer we could find here may be for the fat cats, sitting happy on the business they built yesterday, who stand to give up market share to the savvy and up-and-coming businesses that give back. That is, if they don’t get with the program.

These findings couldn’t be released at a better time for Buycasts. 

Buycasts has been in the works for over two years and is preparing to launch, so we feel blessed and amazed to have the most-perfect product release timing and to be such an integral part of an idea who’s time has come… back?  

Our founder, Tony Meggs,  likens the Buycasts’ signature purpose of  ”joining social networks to businesses & charitable causes” to the way our grandparents made purchase decisions.  “Often called the Greatest Generation, they built America through small businesses and large values.  Buycasts is a Web 2.0 throwback, you could say, to a time when everyone agreed that who they bought from mattered.”, says Tony.   

Appropriately, our tag line is “Who You Buy From Matters”.

There will never be a better time to join the Buycasts Networks on Facebook, Linked-In and follow us on Twitter.  Network with like-minded community members and support what matters to you.  The freedom to connect on multiple levels and be warm with the public, sharing hopes and driving appropriate community action with the consolidated support of your clients and their social networks is here. 

Take your business relationships to another level and ensure the long-term support of your clients and fans by making a difference.  The overwhelming majority are asking for it!

Whether you operate in a local area, regionally or nationally, the Buycasts Network has you covered and we look forward to supporting the greater good together!

*authored by Beth McKenzie, credit for quote from Cone EVP given to Environmental Leader

Sad but true.  I’ve left retailers and service providers feeling ripped-off, misunderstood and with a pit in my stomach more than a few times. 

When this happens, in my mind I envision all businesses and merchants having to post all their customer’s past experiences AND satisfaction levels on the front window.  You know,  right there- all completely visible and available for myself & others to see before entering.  … and as I daydream of the way things should be, it occurs to me- I should have asked a friend for advice before I spent.

I bet you’ve had similar experiences and may have found some choice and descriptive words about the service, the provider or the merchant.  When it occurs to us that our time and/or money are being wasted by someone unappreciative, it is maddening.  

So what is the best way to retaliate and promote better service? 

May I first suggest to hit them in the pocketbook (and not literally) by simply spending your money elsewhere.  This method has a short-term effect that can make you smile and doesn’t cause you the grief of a confrontation.  Get referrals from the people you know before you buy and buy with confidence.  

Secondly, publicize the good service, treatment or products of local competitors that are worthy.  This has a long-term effect on a business’s ability to thrive.  By promoting the good, you are by default punishing the bad. 

You have more power than you think when you channel your energy in this one-two economic punch! 

This is the purpose of buycasting on Facebook.

Without spending hours on the phone and polling your neighborhood you can:

•  Search to find local trusted merchants who are supported or referred by your Facebook friends.
•  Read reviews & testimonials, hours of operation, website and contact info for these merchants.
• Check out coupons & specials which may be running for FB Buycasts members only.

You can also:

• Post a buycast (announcement) of what you’re in the market for (a product or service) and up to three merchants that your friends know and trust will be referred for your review- automatically and at your convenience, when you are looking for the info!  
• Add new individuals & local businesses that you believe in to the directory as a “thank you” for good service, allowing your friends/family to find them when looking for the product or service they offer.  

Remember, this is happening within your existing Facebook account.  No separate site to navigate.  No cost to join.  Just a rich environment of like-minded consumers, friends and family with room for all to have their very own soapbox to support who they believe in.    

Good service was hard to find.  Let’s use our collective experiences and buying power to promote not just good businesses, but GREAT businesses, practices and service in our own local markets.

“Who We Buy From Matters”!

*this post authored by Beth McKenzie

But before I get started let me thank all of you who have already joined BuyCasts. We are grateful for your support and help. If you haven’t joined yet, I encourage you to do so by clicking here or you can just search on the word “BuyCasts” at Facebook.

Here are four things that you can do to help us build and grow BuyCasts.

BuyCast Your Upcoming Purchases – First make sure that you have enabled the BuyCasts app on Facebook. Once enabled, BuyCasts will automatically start building your personal referral network by adding your friends who have already joined BuyCasts. Now you’re ready to start BuyCasting your upcoming purchases to your referral network. The app will even give you the opportunity to publish your purchasing interests into the Facebook News Feed. This is a great way for you to get more friends and family members, who haven’t yet joined BuyCasts, to check us out. When you BuyCast a purchasing interest you’ll receive special offers and discounts on the things you intend to buy. The more we BuyCast, the more merchants and offers we attract into the BuyCasts network

Spread The News About BuyCasts – Tell your friends & family how BuyCasts gives them access to special offers, discounts and promotions on the things they intend to buy. But more importantly, tell them how we help each other by referring and prioritizing those businesses that employ or are owned by our friends.  Also tell them how BuyCasts helps promote and support their personal values and social interests. We made this easy for you … all you need to do is select the “Spread The News” button on the home page of the BuyCasts app. This will display all your Facebook friends who haven’t yet joined BuyCasts. Then send them an invite to join.

Refer Your Trusted Merchants To Your Friends & Family – Build a list of trusted business relationships in your personal referral network so you can auto-refer them to your friends and family when they BuyCast their purchases. Building a large referral network of Friends and Trusted Merchants will help you earn more donations for your favorite charities and causes.

Invite Local Businesses To Register Into The BuyCasts Network – Tell your trusted business relationships how they can gain access to consumers who BuyCast their upcoming purchases. Tell them that for a limited time they can register and receive a free “Lifetime Premium Account”. Tell them that you’ll add them to your list of Trusted Merchants and personally refer them to any of your friends who are in need of something that they can provide.

Thank you for helping us grow and thank you for reading …

But before I get started let me thank all of you who have already joined BuyCasts and have started building your own referral networks. If you haven’t yet joined, then you can do so by clicking here or simply search on the word “BuyCasts” at Facebook.

Doing “good” through our social networks!
Current day social networks focus on connecting friends and enabling them to share information, pictures and the events of their lives. While these sites have done a terrific job in connecting large volumes of people, they haven’t developed applications that can use these connections for a societal good. I think BuyCasts is the next generation of social networking! It is focused on connecting adults in a narrow, but powerful, part of life.  In building BuyCasts, we recognized that most adults are involved in buying or selling something almost every day of the lives.  So we focused our efforts on giving adults and their friends a way to unleash the full potential of their collective economic power by forming multiple referral networks that naturally exists within their existing relationships. But perhaps more importantly, BuyCasts gives them the power to leverage these networks and relationships in a way that helps the people that they care most about, as well as helps support the personal values and social interests to which they are most committed.

Helping The People We Care About Most!
Think about it like this … I bet you can think of at least 20-30 people in your life that you desire to be happy and successful. These are friends and family members for whom you would do almost anything to help. Everyday these people get up and go to work for a business in their local community or even a business that they might own. Like my friend, Lori, who recently started her own marketing company after doing it for somebody else for 20 years. Friend’s like Jennifer and Mike who have their own sport uniforms business or my stock broker Scott who has been one of Beth’s closest friends since early childhood. These are just a couple of examples and we would do anything to help these friends be successful.

BuyCasts gives us all the ability to build our own referral network of friends and trusted merchants. That way when any of my friends are searching for a product or service that Lori, Mike or Scott can provide, they will receive an automated referral from me telling them all about Lori’s, Mike’s or Scott’s business. This happens because all three are in my referral network as a trusted merchant. BuyCasting our upcoming purchases to the businesses that employ (or are owned) by our friends is a great way to help each other … and in this economy with so many people losing their jobs, I can’t imagine more perfect time to be supporting our friends.

How Does It Help Advance My Values?
When you choose to buy something, dollars go out of your pocket and into the pocket of the business where you shopped. Unfortunately, the people owning and managing that business may not share your values and social interests. However, as you and you friends begin building your referral network, BuyCasts lets you link yourself to organizations and charities that best reflect your values. This option is also given to the businesses and business people who join the BuyCasts network. That way when you are BuyCasting for an upcoming purchase we can connect you to merchants and businesses who have also linked themselves to one, or more, of the organizations that reflect your values. This way the dollars you spend are more likely to stay in the pockets of people who share your values and are likely to be supporting and advancing those values … just like you.

You can link yourself to organizations from a list of 500,000 charities and non-profits. Choose from charities, religious organizations, churches, temples, synagogues, political groups and educational institutions. For Beth and I, its ministries that support our faith, its organizations that support our commitment to home schooling and it’s the University of Georgia … go dawgs!!

Thanks for reading again. My next note will attempt to answers a few questions that I have gotten from some of you. I’ll also share more about how you can help us get the work out about BuyCasts.

But before I get started let me thank all of you who have already joined BuyCasts and have started building your own referral networks. If you haven’t yet joined, then you can do so by clicking here or simply search on the word “BuyCasts” at Facebook.

So what is BuyCasting?
Well it’s actually quite simple to explain. BuyCasting is the act of broadcasting a future purchase or purchase interest to your friends, family members and colleagues. You and your friends BuyCast (broadcast) your purchasing interests to each other through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  The true power of BuyCasts is unleashed when you and your friends broadcast (buycasts) to each other those purchases that you haven’t made yet, but intend to make in the near future.

What makes this so powerful?
BuyCasting the purchases that we intend to make enables us to leverage our purchasing power in a way that can generate special discounts, referrals from trusted friends and support for our favorite charities and causes. Think about it this way, everyday businesses are desperately trying to separate the potential buyers from all the market noise.  Ask any businessman and he will tell you that the key to his success is qualifying and identifying those people who are actually in the market to buy something. As a consumer, you have the most power in those days and hours before you make an actual purchase. It’s also the ideal time for one of your friends to refer to you a business contact that they value and trust. So we built BuyCasts to not only leverage this power for savings on the things you intend to buy, but it also enables you to leverage this power for the relationships and values you care most about.

Will Businesses Want To Participate?
Absolutely, BuyCasts helps them find and engage their true potential buyers. In fact, U.S. businesses spend more than $1 Trillion dollars each year to advertise, market and sell their products and services. They spend all this money to do one simple thing … to find the people who are actually in the market to buy something that they can sell. On average, less than 20% of all leads generated by traditional advertising results in a sale. So that’s a lot frogs that a business has to kiss to find one prince of a buyer. So as BuyCasts grows and hundreds of thousands of consumers begin BuyCasting their future purchases, then businesses will be quick to convert much of their advertising dollars into special offers, discounts and incentives for BuyCasts members.

Is Now A Good Time To Start A Business Like BuyCasts?
We definitely think so!! Just look around at what’s happening in our economy. Now, more than ever, we need to make every dollar stretch and we need to support the businesses that are owned or employ our friends. If you are a consumer, then getting special offers and discounts for Buycasting before you shop makes good sense. If you are a local small business, then getting greater access to more qualified  buyers makes good sense as well.

But BuyCasts isn’t just about connecting buyers and sellers based on their interest in a purchase transaction … we are actually trying to build something that has a much higher purpose and lasting meaning. So in my next note, I’ll show you how BuyCasts supports and helps the people, relationships and values that are most important to you.

Until then, thanks for reading …