Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

Since I have signed up for - and been taken for a ride by - many online businesses, I would say that there is almost no comparison.

There are some good programs out there, please don't get me wrong. Some cost money and some don't. Some are easier to succeed at and other aren't.

SFI is unique in it's own way. It's really about the only program that I've run across that doesn't require you to buy something or pay a monthly fee.

SFI is constantly making changes and upgrades to it's multiple programs - and gives them to us for free! It really is amazing to me when I see other affiliates who say "why can't we have this or that" when in actuality we are already getting an abundance of things we need to succeed.

This includes training, marketing, web hosting, products, games and more. We even get to share the profits. The CEO is more involved in all aspects of the program than I have ever seen and the Support system is outstanding.

I don't know of any other program on the entire internet that even comes close to giving it's affiliates so much and I count myself blessed.
less

Since I have signed up for - and been taken for a ride by - many online businesses, I would say that there is almost no comparison.

There are some good programs out there, please don't get me wrong. Some cost money and some don't. Some are easier to succeed at and other aren't.

SFI is unique in it's own way. It's really about the only program that I've run across that doesn't require you to buy something or pay a monthly fee.

SFI is constantly making changes and
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”–Albert Schweitzer

I think that Albert Schweitzer is spot-on with this quote. The only person who can answer if they are successful or not is the person with the question. This is also the only person who can answer if they are happy or not.

To me, success would be making my entire living from SFI with money to spare for all the 'extras' that make life fun.

For someone else, it may be making enough from SFI to make a car payment.

It all goes back to why you joined SFI in the first place. Goals, wants, needs can change all the time and so will the measure of success.

If you have gotten what you want from SFI and are happy doing it then I believe you are a success!
less

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”–Albert Schweitzer

I think that Albert Schweitzer is spot-on with this quote. The only person who can answer if they are successful or not is the person with the question. This is also the only person who can answer if they are happy or not.

To me, success would be making my entire living from SFI with money to spare for all the 'extras' that
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

Think about the results you want from your downline - you want them to be successful so you can also be successful.

Communication with your downline should always be encouraging and helpful. Let them learn from your own successes and mistakes.

You can use whatever method you like to communicate - email, E-Cards, Skype, phone, even snail-mail but it should always resonate with your true desire to help. Make sure your Leadership Page is current and up to date.

You will want to reassure your downline that you are there to help and are willing to do so. You can express your own feelings about SFI as long as it is supportive and positive - otherwise why would you be here?

Relating your own experiences and what you have done to be a success, offering explanations or suggestions about how to get to a higher level or how to make money can go a long way to encouraging your downline to do what you did (duplication of course.)


less

Think about the results you want from your downline - you want them to be successful so you can also be successful.

Communication with your downline should always be encouraging and helpful. Let them learn from your own successes and mistakes.

You can use whatever method you like to communicate - email, E-Cards, Skype, phone, even snail-mail but it should always resonate with your true desire to help. Make sure your Leadership Page is current and up to date.

You
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

Hi Magdalena,

Your question really intrigued me!

You say your team has a negative attitude about SFI but how can you be sure? Is your team sending you emails that lead you to believe this, or are they just unresponsive?

Maybe they only do a little bit on their SFI sites or aren’t doing any advertising or getting commissions?

Also, it is surprising that anyone with a negative attitude is here at all – after all, no one is forced to be in SFI and if they really feel negative toward SFI, why don’t they opt out?

Regardless, since you addressed your team as ‘negative’ I will assume that you are receiving some sort of communication or indication of a discouraged attitude. Perhaps they are making indifferent comments in the forum, in private emails or in Stream posts. However you have figured out that your team is not on-board it is great that you recognized this because now you can do something about it!

Most negative attitudes are often more about a lack of knowledge versus actually not wanting to participate or for some reason they are thinking that SFI is a scam. It is often intensified by a lack of communication which makes a vicious cycle of one team member saying a negative statement and others believing it because they don’t know any better.

As their Team Leader it will be up to you to change this whole scenario. You will first need to identify what the problem is – why is your team making negative statements and what are those negative statements? Or, if they aren’t making any statements, what are they doing to make you think they question the veracity of the program?

Once the problem has been identified, you will need to provide them with the actual answers – the truth- of the matter.

For instance, is the complaint that “Nobody” has made any money yet? You will need to point out that SFI is not a ‘get rich quick’ type of program. Provide them all with educational materials – i.e. send Team Mails or Newsletters – that address this issue. There are ample articles and massive numbers of trainings available on the SFI website that you can send them to or cut and paste from (always give credit where you get it from – do not say you wrote it if you didn’t!)

But it doesn’t stop there – you have to help to prove to them that SFI will work for them. You can guide them to step 1, step 2 and so on, until they start earning. Notice I said guide them, do not do it for them! You shouldn’t have to run their business for them! However, there are some folks who simply don’t know what to do first and they need a little more help than others. So guide and nudge them until they start to head in the right direction.

Once your team starts to move forward and see some results the negative attitude should start to evaporate. When the myths and rumors have been cleared up and you are providing them with ample help and communication they will start to realize that their feelings were groundless and a waste of time.

For those that refuse to change their attitude, you may want to offer to move them to a different team (maybe by using the reassigning tool) or have a new sponsor assigned if able.) Once there is even one team member who is filled with negativity, your entire team can become re-infected and you will end up right back where you began – and nobody wants to go backwards.

Of course none of these approaches will work if you aren’t exhibiting a positive, enthusiastic, attitude of your own. It is imperative that you demonstrate to your team what a great program SFI is and how excited you are to be working with both SFI and TripleClicks (and all the other income streams.)

Help members to solve their own issues while maintaining a confident manner that reassures them that all problems will be resolved and everyone will be satisfied. Once they consistently see this attitude from you they will start to copy it – and remember, duplication is the key to success!
I hope this helps and the best of luck to you!

less

Hi Magdalena,

Your question really intrigued me!

You say your team has a negative attitude about SFI but how can you be sure? Is your team sending you emails that lead you to believe this, or are they just unresponsive?

Maybe they only do a little bit on their SFI sites or aren’t doing any advertising or getting commissions?

Also, it is surprising that anyone with a negative attitude is here at all – after all, no one is forced to be in SFI and
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

In the US we have nursing homes, retirement homes and assisted living facilities for our elders who either can't live alone or need a lot of care. There are also adult foster homes.

I am not sure about other countries, but it is likely there is something similar almost everywhere.

Folks who live in these places are starving for something to do! They actually do hire people to run "Activity" programs, but this usually amounts to birthdays, bible study and bingo or the three "B's"

The seniors who live in the retirement homes, foster homes and assisted living buildings are usually quite mobile, active and still pretty sharp. They love to learn new things that aren't aimed at children!

I would think that you could identify one or two of these type of facilities in your neighborhood and offer to teach a very basic computer course. Naturally, part of this would be leaving flyers and cards for SFI and talking about it to your "class" after one or two classes. Many of these folks do need some extra money and would be very grateful to have some way to get it.

I have worked in this industry for a very long time and know that these seniors are typically bored and lonely. They become very attached to people who come into their lives and those who would take advantage of a computer class would give you the added benefit of becoming like family!

To approach one of these type of facilities you would want to plan a very basic class and offer it for 4 to 6 weeks, just once a week for an hour or so. You would need to arrange an appointment with the Administrator of the building and let him or her know what you want to do.

Then, just have fun and get some new grandmas or grandpas along the way!
less

In the US we have nursing homes, retirement homes and assisted living facilities for our elders who either can't live alone or need a lot of care. There are also adult foster homes.

I am not sure about other countries, but it is likely there is something similar almost everywhere.

Folks who live in these places are starving for something to do! They actually do hire people to run "Activity" programs, but this usually amounts to birthdays, bible study and bingo
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

Having your own website is a perfect way to get signups for your SFI business.

Of course you will want to use the available banners that are in the Marketing Aids section in your sidebars and any articles you write. This is also a prime place to offer the free gift cards, enticing people to sign up immediately.

I have found that writing reviews has been helpful with getting sign ups. And don't just write a review about SFI -- you can take it further by reviewing TripleClicks, PriceBenders, Wave 3 and any other angle you want to use. This will not only create an interest, it will increase your activity on your site and help your SEO.

You can write a review of SFI comparing it to other programs (although it's hard to compare it to another program just like SFI because there is no other program like SFI!)

You can compare TripleClicks to other ecommerce sites and PriceBenders to other penny-auctions.

Over time, you can write updates to your reviews which will renew interest and get you more sign ups.

You can also offer training pages that are specific to SFI, TC or PB which will make those folks who may be hesitating turn the corner, so to speak, and go for it.

If you are honest and sincere, this will come through in your writing and you should get many new PSA's!


less

Having your own website is a perfect way to get signups for your SFI business.

Of course you will want to use the available banners that are in the Marketing Aids section in your sidebars and any articles you write. This is also a prime place to offer the free gift cards, enticing people to sign up immediately.

I have found that writing reviews has been helpful with getting sign ups. And don't just write a review about SFI -- you can take it further by reviewing TripleClicks,
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

The first knee-jerk reaction to this question would be "Absolutely! Make it so everyone can understand and participate!" But think about it, is that would really happen with separate forums?

I am not sure that separate forums would be very helpful - at least in the long run. We are all trying to do and learn the same thing but that could be lost if we start making separate forums.

I can also see how it could lead to problems if one forum (say one that speaks a different language) answers a question one way and another forum answers (say one that speaks English) in a different way. Would the non-English speaking forum be getting the correct information? Would the English speaking one?

And where would it end? Would we then have separate contests? Separate stores in TripleClicks? Would we have separate questions in "Ask SC"? Would we eventually end up with completely different SFI's. We would lose each other.

What might be really helpful would be some sort of translation service so that we are all reading and learning the same thing. Kind of like getting directions about how to put a shelf together - it comes in English, French, Spanish and other languages. It is the same information in different languages. Everyone builds the shelf the same way.

I think it would be great if this "service" also expanded to our items listed on TripleClicks - sometimes things are not listed in English and I always wish I knew what they are. If the descriptions and other details are offered in a person's primary language we could truly sell all over the world!

And what would be particularly awesome would be a way to translate languages between Sponsors and their PSA's and CSA's - I am sure that any email I send to one of my affiliates that is not in their native language gets discarded right away.

If we could send out our Team Mails knowing they will land in an in-box already translated into the receivers native tongue, it has a greater chance of being read.

So, no, I don't think making separate forums would be particularly beneficial.

If someone is struggling with learning the lessons or reading and responding in the forums maybe they could get help from a fellow countryman/woman. Or maybe there are programs out there that translate as they go.

But, I would still like to see SFI become truly worldwide and address the language issue in a more all-encompassing permanent way.

less

The first knee-jerk reaction to this question would be "Absolutely! Make it so everyone can understand and participate!" But think about it, is that would really happen with separate forums?

I am not sure that separate forums would be very helpful - at least in the long run. We are all trying to do and learn the same thing but that could be lost if we start making separate forums.

I can also see how it could lead to problems if one forum (say one that speaks a different
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

Most of us have had marketing experience, whether we know it or not.

If you have worked for a company, you have marketed anytime you have helped a customer or made a sale. We all do our best to represent our company(s) every day we go to work – that is marketing. The secret is knowing your company really well and then getting to know your customers.

And we can all always learn more!

If you have a PSA or CSA who confides that they do not know the 1st thing about marketing you would want to find out just what they mean by that.

Communicating with your affiliates to get a feel for what they have done in the past or are currently doing would give you a start on how much education he/she will need.

You could develop a short questionnaire with questions like: 1) What does marketing mean to you? 2) Have you ever marketed professionally? 3) What is your best way to learn – reading, video or hands-on?

Answers to those questions (and others you could think of) would help you to develop a training program or make suggestions for your PSA/CSA’s to follow up on in order to get off to a good start with their marketing education.

Suggest that they utilize all of the training articles available on SFI. Encourage he/she to look up marketing on the internet and/or possibly take additional training that they find. You could even put together some training for them and offer it to all of your PSA/CSA’s participate.

Finally, encourage your affiliate to really learn what SFI is all about and what a potential customer is looking for.

This is a process. None of this will be done overnight. There is a lot to learn about SFI and potential customers.

In general, a typical consumer is looking for the answer to a question. SFI answers the question(s) of what to do to make extra money, how to make money from home, how to have a successful business, how to run a business and so much more.

In a nutshell, the affiliate needs to learn:
1) What SFI is all about (what we offer)
2) What a potential customer is looking for (what is their question? What are they looking for?)
3) How to answer their (customer) questions or give them what they are looking for (sign up
with SFI and/or TripleClicks)
4) How to get it out there that these answers can be found from that particular affiliate
(advertising their gateways and other affiliate links)

There is no magical way to make someone know how to do something and marketing is an ongoing process. Products and services change all the time as do marketing methods. This will be a commitment that the affiliate will need to make as long as he/she plans to be successful.

Education and keeping current with the business and methods are really the only ways to help someone start a successful marketing career.

less

Most of us have had marketing experience, whether we know it or not.

If you have worked for a company, you have marketed anytime you have helped a customer or made a sale. We all do our best to represent our company(s) every day we go to work – that is marketing. The secret is knowing your company really well and then getting to know your customers.

And we can all always learn more!

If you have a PSA or CSA who confides that they do not know the 1st thing about
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

I’m not sure that there is a yardstick that will judge efforts made by our Sponsors or Co-Sponsors. Everyone is human with different experiences and expectations. What will seem like a good effort to me may not be thought of as a good effort by you.

Personally, I really don’t depend on my Sponsor or Co-Sponsor for anything yet I know that if I do have anything that I need I can count on either one to come through for me. They send out letters once or twice a month and also send through thoughts on the Stream link and this is enough for me. I always rate my Sponsor and Co-Sponsor at the highest level.

If you are the type of person who needs to have a lot of backup and communication you would need to determine what is enough for you.

Do you need your Sponsor to send you a letter every week, even if you don’t have a particular issue?

Or, are you okay with only expecting a communication if you send out a cry for help? This will have to be how you determine an overall score for you Sponsor/Co-Sponsor.

There are a few issues that are more objective that you can use, though.

For example, does your Sponsor/Co-Sponsor ignore your emails? Do they answer your questions but give you the wrong information? If you have an upline like this you would probably want to rate them fairly low.

If you really want to have a way to judge your Sponsor/Co-Sponsor that is completely objective you will need to determine the issues that matter to you and then assign a number or letter (like A, B, C or F grades) to each one.

An example would be to assign an “A” for a Sponsor/Co-Sponsor that accurately answers your questions in a timely manner, an “F” for one who never replies to you.

Assign an “A” for a Sponsor/Co-Sponsor who always sends out a weekly newsletter (if this is important to you) and an “F’ for those who never send a newsletter ever.

In this way, you can evaluate your Sponsor/Co-Sponsor in a manner that gives weight to issues that matter to you.

Finally, you will want to remember that your Sponsor and Co-Sponsor are just like you and me.

In fact we are all Sponsors and we are all Co-Sponsors. Those of us who work hard and are serious about building a team will naturally put a lot more effort in to you and the other PSA’s and CSA’s on your team.

Those of us who are more dedicated to promoting TripleClicks and our own products may not be spending as much time on team building (yet) so you may not hear from them as much – it doesn’t mean that they don’t want to be a good sponsor!

There are also things going on in everyone’s life that may make it very hard for someone to be a Super—Sponsor at the time. Ill health, full time work if we aren’t realizing profits yet, lack of money to invest, demands of family including the lack of support you often find with family members can also steal time away from the time you want to spend on being a good Sponsor.

I guess I’m trying to say that you will not want to be too critical – unless your Sponsor or Co-Sponsor has done something really egregious, it is kinder to exercise a little restraint in criticizing.

You may be in their shoes one day.

less

I’m not sure that there is a yardstick that will judge efforts made by our Sponsors or Co-Sponsors. Everyone is human with different experiences and expectations. What will seem like a good effort to me may not be thought of as a good effort by you.

Personally, I really don’t depend on my Sponsor or Co-Sponsor for anything yet I know that if I do have anything that I need I can count on either one to come through for me. They send out letters once or twice a month and also send
...more

Affiliate since: 10/25/2010, Power Rank: 99999999

You can use traffic exchange sites to get hits to your site but you really want to get conversions.

To make this work takes a lot of time and research.

You want to check out the safelist sites for what they promise - and make sure they do not have an 'auto read' feature which is when the computer does the work for the other marketer. The marketeer will not actually see a banner, text message or email so unless you want only a large hit count, these are not helpful. No one will actually see what you are advertising.

You will want to check out reviews and comments of a safelist site you are thinking of going with. Do a Google search for the name and see if anything comes up such as "I was cheated by" or "This is a phenomenal service!" - but also take these with a grain of salt as often reviews are fake or paid for. Just be cautious.

There are exchange sites that allow you to do banners, text ads and email exchanges. You really want to go with the emails which require an actual person to open your email and stay on your email for a period of time - usually 6 to 30 seconds. If what you have written in your email is compelling enough the other marketeer who opened your email may actually click through to your link and buy what you offer.

You can do this for free but there are times when it is good to invest a small amount of money to make sure your ads/emails go to more people.

Overall, you don't want to do this for too long without seeing results, which would be conversions. This type of advertising is quite labor intensive and can take hours out of your day. You will want to start a spreadsheet to keep all the details especially if you sign up for more than one list.

Good luck!
less

You can use traffic exchange sites to get hits to your site but you really want to get conversions.

To make this work takes a lot of time and research.

You want to check out the safelist sites for what they promise - and make sure they do not have an 'auto read' feature which is when the computer does the work for the other marketer. The marketeer will not actually see a banner, text message or email so unless you want only a large hit count, these are not helpful. No
...more