Thank you to the SSN staff and contributors for telling the stories of 2021
I want to begin the final PubNote of 2021 by thanking my amazing team here at Social Selling News—Contributing editors Jennifer Mills and Jenna Lang Warford for their invaluable assistance with copyediting, creative content and communications, Art Director Ronald Winters for his brilliant work designing the print version of this journal each month, contributing writers Stephanie Ramirez and David Rauf for their insightful and well-written articles, and last, but not least, our Director of Advertising, Joyce Inman, whose professionalism and dedication makes this endeavor possible.
Stepping into the position of Publisher at the start of the year was an exciting, but daunting, moment. However, the hard work and positive attitude of each of these individuals that I am proud to call colleagues and friends made that transition remarkably smooth.
And what a year it was for the direct selling channel, marked by the beginnings of a return to normalcy as the pandemic lockdowns of 2020 gave way to the cautious resumption of normal office life, in-person events, and face-to-face social selling.
As you read this year-in-review edition of SSN—recapping the news, thought leadership and executive insights from the past 12 months—I hope the knowledge, creativity, and energy portrayed within these stories inspires you to meet the challenges of the next 12 months with optimism and positivity.
These challenges to our channel were particularly acute this year—from the rise and organization of anti-influencers on social media to a change in FTC ideology, bringing a renewed targeting of network-marketing companies and representatives.
Just as in 2021, my goal in bringing you the news of 2022 will be to provide you with the information you need to address these challenges head-on to make the best decisions for your direct selling company.
To those executives, suppliers, and channel representatives who took the time to share your insights, wisdom and advice with our readers over the past year, I sincerely thank you. Your contributions are the best part of Social Selling News. I look forward to connecting with many more of you in the coming year.
And finally, to our loyal advertisers, I thank you for your partnership and input. You are deeply appreciated.
Have a safe and happy holiday season ahead, and thank you for reading!