EIA

Experts Industry Association

Why was it needed?

The proliferation of distribution mechanisms – blogging, YouTube, and internet marketing in general – has enabled many people to “hang out their shingle” as experts. In many instances, these gurus have produced shoddy products and have tarnished the reputation of “self-help” or “information marketers” for those who genuinely want to benefit their customers.

The concept of the EIA was conceived by Brendon Burchard, a former executive with Accenture who has synthesized his traditional business education with his successful information business experience into a multi-dimensional expert education service – including a New York Times best-seller entitled “Millionaire Messenger” – informing and educating budding entrepreneurs about how to build an expert business in their particular niche markets.

The “Experts Industry Association” was founded in 2011 to raise the standard of professionalism for those people who are experts in their particular niche industries. Members include best-selling authors, public figures, motivational speakers, personal development experts, business building experts, and internet marketing experts.

Perceptive Insights is a proud official member of the Experts Industry Association.

 


Expert Industry Code of Ethics and “Official Member” Guidelines

Section I: Transparency and Compliance

  1. I will be transparent and truthful about my experience, expertise, results, credentials, and abilities with my customers, followers, peers, media, and the greater public.

  2. I will make clear descriptions of any product or service I am offering for sale, including pricepoints and any recurring billing, so that my customers always know what they are signing up for, purchasing, and receiving.
  3. I will comply with the marketing guidelines of the CAN-SPAM Act in my electronic communications, including ensuring that recipients of my broadcast emails have opted-in to receive communications from me and that they have the option to unsubscribe or change their contact information at the bottom of all my emails.
  4. I will comply with the marketing guidelines of the United States Federal Trade Commission, including refraining from making false claims, income or results guarantees, or misleading testimonials, income claims, or financial statements; I will only make claims which I can substantiate and I will also clearly post and articulate earning disclaimers on any webpage or correspondence that references income opportunities.

  5. I will disclose to my audience that I am an affiliate of a third party should I anticipate receiving an affiliate commission or referral compensation for recommending their products or services to my audience.

  6. I will not offer professional legal, financial, or medical advice unless I am qualified to do so, which in many cases require professional degrees or certifications by law, and when necessary I will refer my customers or followers to an appropriate certified advisor.

  7. I will not promote any products, marketing campaigns, or services that (a) directly sends marketing to children under the age of thirteen (13), (b) discriminates against others, (c) perpetuates hate or misinformation, (d) features paid actors pretending to be a fictional customer or client, (e) utilizes false scarcity techniques (for example, that claim a limited number of products exist when it is not true, or that a promotion expires at a certain time when it does not).

  8. I will have an online website that is open to the public that features my biographical information and company contact address and phone number, so that my customers may learn about who I am and can contact my organization with inquiries. I understand such a website is required to become a full Member of EIA.

  9. If I am an affiliate promoting other people’s products via email, I will disclose within the email that I am an affiliate receiving or anticipating an affiliate commission or referral compensation for recommending the promoted products or services. I understand it’s standard practice to include the disclosure at the bottom of my emails along with an option to unsubscribe. I also understand the language for doing so should be clear but is my choice in wording. [As an example, Brendon Burchard often includes the following at the bottom of his promotional emails: "Disclosures: If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, it's likely I will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, I only recommend products that I truly love, use and happily share with friends and family. If you ever have an issue with anything I recommend please let me know. I always have your back, and your growth and happiness in mind. Brendon"].

  10. I will not falsely mislead my audience or website visitors into believing that my designation as an “Official Member” of the EIA is in any way whatsoever an implied or explicit endorsement, recommendation, or verification of my business history or current business practices by the Association. I understand that being an EIA “Official Member” means that I have agreed to a set of standards as detailed on this page and attended the EIA Annual Conference, but that the Association in no way warrants, validates, monitors, recommends, or promotes my work or business practices. [As an Association, EIA can only validate that you are a Member by verifying that you have attended our training and agreed to these Codes, Guidelines, and Usage Standards. We can not and do not monitor all our Member's total business activities and thus can not and do not endorse, verify, recommend, or legally represent any Member's brand, products, or organizations. EIA is an education focused, community building, and standard setting organization, not a service for authenticating or recommending business practices.]

Section II: Customer Service Excellence

  1. I will seek to overdeliver on my promises to my customers.
  2. I will endeavor to understand my client and audience needs, problems, and ambitions in hopes of serving them with information that can help them achieve their goals.
  3. I will provide a minimum of a 30-day money back guarantee on all of my products and programs, and I will not make my customers jump through hoops or endure hardships or humiliation in order to receive refunds.
  4. I will provide customer support for all of my products and programs.

  5. I will respect the privacy and confidential information of my clients and customers.

  6. I will not participate in any forum or agreement that engages in illegal activity, marketplace collusion, or discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or any other factor.

  7. I will honor my customer’s financial situations and not seek to persuade them into spending money they do not have or that could lead to their financial ruin.

  8. I will post contact information on all of my sales pages and in all of the receipts/confirmations that my customers receive so that they can always find a way to easily contact my office.

  9. I will provide a phone number on all my sales materials and sales pages online that customers can call with questions about my products and programs. I will ensure the phone number is a “real” phone number that reaches a real person or their voicemail, and that my organization will attempt to return any calls received by customers within 24-72 business hours.

  10. I will provide a carbon copy receipt to my customer of any order form that they fill out at any of my live events. I will ensure my order forms also have my contact information and appropriate disclaimers and return and refund policies.

Section III: Community Collaboration

  1. I will honor and engage my peers in the industry with respect and professionalism.
  2. I will cite sources and give credit to others when I quote them in any format, and I will not misrepresent others’ works as my own.
  3. I will not train from, distribute, or publish others’ works or content without permission from the author or originator of such work.
  4. I will not misuse the name or likeness of others in the industry to create false associations of credibility.
  5. I will pursue my profession, build my brand, and seek continuing education at the highest levels of excellence and refrain from practices that will discredit the community and industry.
  6. I will not use the Experts Industry Association seal in any of my websites, materials, or communications until I have attended the Annual Conference, have agreed to further stringent guidelines, and have been given permission and certification to do so.

  7. I will seek to leave a legacy of strong customer service, and focus my career on offering distinct and valuable information that helps others improve their lives.

  8. I will not publicly speak disparagingly of the industry in a way that seeks to differentiate myself by speaking ill of others in the industry. (For example, “All the other marketers in this industry are liars, but I’ll tell you the truth.”). I understand that this hurts the industry’s reputation at large, and that Members should seek to improve the reputation of the industry by how we speak about it and work within it. 

  9. I agree to resolve any dispute with another EIA Official Member or individual in the experts industry with professionalism.