Affiliate since: 05/03/2002, Power Rank: 300 | Read Mar's 582 other Ask SC answers

To answer your question, you need to look at the whole situation in regards to the growth of your SFI networking business. Find out why you would offer non-SFI related incentives to your PSAs/CSAs by asking the following questions:

- Will this move contribute to the development and growth of your PSAs/CSAs and to your whole SFI organization?

- Will it motivate your PSAs/CSAs to increase their level of activity in expanding the growth of their own SFI businesses?

If you can affirm both questions above, you need to consider carefully the value of the incentive. What kind of DVD you’re offering to your PSAs/CSAs as an incentive? Would this DVD be suited to all of your PSAs/CSAs? If you’re offering a DVD movie, this might not be suitable to everyone. So you really need to carefully consider those questions above in order to make a wise decision and help your PSAs/CSAs to grow their network.

Lead by example. If you’re asking them to set up Standing Order (SO), you must have an SO yourself.

The key is to offer an incentive, (if you decide to go this way) that suits all members of your team. Basically, the thing that might motivate a team member won’t necessarily work with another team member and vice versa. So if you have different options then you should be able to give all of them something to aim for.

Find out what really motivates your team members. What would bring each and every one of them to the highest level of performance? Communicate with them in a regular basis to understand their professional needs and goals so that you are on the right track to know what can really motivate them.
If you understand your team members, they will take more interest in building their own SFI businesses and follow your lead.

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To answer your question, you need to look at the whole situation in regards to the growth of your SFI networking business. Find out why you would offer non-SFI related incentives to your PSAs/CSAs by asking the following questions:

- Will this move contribute to the development and growth of your PSAs/CSAs and to your whole SFI organization?

- Will it motivate your PSAs/CSAs to increase their level of activity in expanding the growth of their own SFI businesses?

If
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Affiliate since: 10/07/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Alvin's 86 other Ask SC answers

I see nothing wrong with offering incentives from our TriplClicks store to motivate more Affiliates to build stronger teams if we can afford to do it.

There may be a drawback though. This will cause some to be inactive. We live in a society where many expect us to do extra things for them to get them moving, or even when it is in their best interest, some think they deserve more, or are entitled.

Those with lesser skills or confidence may not compete.

Getting in the practice of rewarding others should be well thought out, and inclusive. These offers should be made simple, but also have added value for those recipients. In this case it could become very expensive for some depending on what is offered as the reward.

In saying these things, it is suggested we stick to what is provided, and SFI does a very well performance when it comes to awards and reward incentives to motivate us. This is an all inclusive method giving each of us the same opportunity given individual qualifications and skills.

It would not be fair practice to make these offers to only one or two unless they fit the same categories in many situations. We see these at our Genealogy Center. We also have our Leadership blog where we can offer reward/incentives for particular recognition.

I would be very careful making any promise or offer outside of the parameters set here within the structure of SFI and TripleClicks stores.

There is no reason to step outside the box here.

Thank you for allowing me to share.
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I see nothing wrong with offering incentives from our TriplClicks store to motivate more Affiliates to build stronger teams if we can afford to do it.

There may be a drawback though. This will cause some to be inactive. We live in a society where many expect us to do extra things for them to get them moving, or even when it is in their best interest, some think they deserve more, or are entitled.

Those with lesser skills or confidence may not compete.

Getting in the
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Affiliate since: 03/04/2013, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Raymond's 64 other Ask SC answers

My first instinct is to say no, it would not be wise or useful. Usually, before I even consider offering any kind of incentive to any member of my team, I would be asking myself:

How will this incentive benefit my business?

Will this incentive inspire my team to make their purchases through TripleClicks?

Is this incentive one that could be considered cross-solicitation?

Is this incentive one that is able to be easily duplicated by my team?

If I can't answer yes to each of those questions, then I simply head off in search of something else that I can use that will not only benefit my business, but my team's as well. Let us take a moment to review each of these four questions is more detail.

How will this incentive benefit my business?
This can sometimes be a tricky one to answer unless you have a clear vision for your SFI business and what all you consider to be "benefits". Benefits can include such things as a direct monetary earning, building your team or helping team members attain their next rank. Once you have a clear vision of where your business currently is and where you want next to take it, it will be easier to find those tools or incentives that will help get you there.

Will this incentive inspire my team to make their purchases through TripleClicks?
Let's face it, if your team members are not purchasing from TripleClicks, you are never going to make any kind of a long-term, residual income. Sure, you can make money through SFI's SFIPPA program, by referring PRMs who make a purchase here and there, or by referring ECAs, but these are all either one-shot deals or so sporadic that it would be impossible to rely upon. But when you are able to get your team to purchase through TripleClicks, especially if your incentive inspires them to set up a standing order, then you are guaranteed a residual, monthly income so long as they maintain their standing order.

Is this incentive one that could be considered cross-solicitation?
The one thing you never, ever want to do is cross-solicit another business opportunity to your team members, even if it does benefit your SFI business. This is one of their strictest rules which can result in the termination of your SFI business. Let's say that your are an affiliate with XYZ Targeted Leads. You offer a leads package to your team, the only stipulation of which is that they have to enroll as your referrals in XYZ to claim their leads. This is an example of an incentive that, while it might appear to benefit your SFI business by providing leads for your team to use to build their SFI businesses, would be considered cross-solicitation as your team members has to sign up for a different business opportunity to claim their leads.

Is this incentive one that is able to be easily duplicated by my team?
The primary structure for SFI is that of duplication. We want for our team members to be able easily duplicate what we do. If your want them to set up standing orders, have one yourself. Do you want them to Fast-Track, be a Fast-Tracker yourself. The same consideration needs to be taken into account when considering offering any kind of an incentive to your team. If you want to offer incentives to your team to inspire them to take a desired action, then you need to make sure that your team members are able to easily offer either the same or the same kind of incentive to their teams.

Hope this helps.
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My first instinct is to say no, it would not be wise or useful. Usually, before I even consider offering any kind of incentive to any member of my team, I would be asking myself:

How will this incentive benefit my business?

Will this incentive inspire my team to make their purchases through TripleClicks?

Is this incentive one that could be considered cross-solicitation?

Is this incentive one that is able to be easily duplicated by my team?

If
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Affiliate since: 10/26/2010, Power Rank: 238 | Read Kay's 289 other Ask SC answers

Because of duplication, I recommend that you use SFI related products to reward your PSAs and CSAs. There are many marketing tools that many will not buy because of the shipping cost. There are TCredits, Gift Certificates, S Builders co-op Shares, and maybe a few more, like the new W3 memberships, that have no shipping costs.

With duplication in mind, remember that your downline as well as your children, will copy what you do. If you give out non-SFI products, they will buy outside SFI. If you give out SFI business building products, they will have a taste of them and hopefully keep buying them. If you ignore the business building marketing tools, they will, too.

If you must give out "fun" things either select an item from an ECA that has free shipping to their address and tell them which ECA you bought it from, or give them a Gift Certificate for that amount and tell them where to buy it. Then tell them how to find the item at TC and how to put in the order. This teaches them how to order. And if they can't do that, the money comes back to you.

The awards are paid with your money, select them wisely and make sure you can teach something from them.

If you found a good deal on some other reward worthy item, then remember you will have to pay shipping on it for them to receive it. So as someone else suggested, that may only be good for local team members.
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Because of duplication, I recommend that you use SFI related products to reward your PSAs and CSAs. There are many marketing tools that many will not buy because of the shipping cost. There are TCredits, Gift Certificates, S Builders co-op Shares, and maybe a few more, like the new W3 memberships, that have no shipping costs.

With duplication in mind, remember that your downline as well as your children, will copy what you do. If you give out non-SFI products, they will buy outside SFI.
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Affiliate since: 05/02/2013, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Kerrie's 68 other Ask SC answers

I would discourage offering non-SFI related incentives to your team.

First, it can cost a lot to ship items overseas. (Also, DVDs are usually region-specific, so there is a good chance your team member would not even be able to watch it.)

It is better to offer your team incentives that will encourage them build their business. You could add your active members to your co-op and help them build their own team. You could send a Gift Certificate or TCredits to your team member.

Another option would be to create a contest, and distribute prizes for affiliates who meet or exceed certain business goals.

It is important to keep business-related incentives related to your business. :D
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I would discourage offering non-SFI related incentives to your team.

First, it can cost a lot to ship items overseas. (Also, DVDs are usually region-specific, so there is a good chance your team member would not even be able to watch it.)

It is better to offer your team incentives that will encourage them build their business. You could add your active members to your co-op and help them build their own team. You could send a Gift Certificate or TCredits to your team member.

Another
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

I thought about your question and I came up with one answer - NO it is not wise.

Why do we offer incentives? To encourage our affiliates to work and build their business. If you help them to build their business you are also helping yourself. Say you live in the USA and you decide to offer a gift certificate for an American retail shop - why would your affiliates in Indie or Brazil or Australia work to get that incentive?

Another factor to keep in mind is - laws. Every country have their own set of rules and regulations when it comes to allowing products into their country.

Shipment fees - not only do you have to pay for whatever you offer you also have to pay the shipment fees. This can become one very expensive incentive.

Finally I want to ask you a question - why would you want to offer a non SFI related incentive? If you offer SFI related incentives you earn VP or MRP or commission on your purchase. If you want to offer good incentives offer a SFI gift certificate or T-credits or a share in your co-op or even an e-book that will teach them skills to make a success of their business.
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I thought about your question and I came up with one answer - NO it is not wise.

Why do we offer incentives? To encourage our affiliates to work and build their business. If you help them to build their business you are also helping yourself. Say you live in the USA and you decide to offer a gift certificate for an American retail shop - why would your affiliates in Indie or Brazil or Australia work to get that incentive?

Another factor to keep in mind is - laws. Every country
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

Incentive programs are only as effective as the item that is being offered to motivate engagement.

I personally have offered items to downline members in form of an incentive to encourage ownership of SFI and to motivate fellow affiliates to be active. I have offered both SFI related and non-SFI related and did not receive the outcome that I was anticipating.

I have learned that incentive programs need to be value added so consider doing a quick survey or questionnaire with downline members on how you can assist them - after you can then consider what incentive will add value such as a business magazine subscription, movie DVD or any other item.

It never hurts to give something a try as what may not have worked for me may work for you as we are different people.

Give it a try and I would most certainly appreciate a follow-up to let me know it worked or even did not work. It can always be tweaked and improved upon to make it work!

Incentive plans are in many companies, even in SFI. Don't knock it until you try it.
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Incentive programs are only as effective as the item that is being offered to motivate engagement.

I personally have offered items to downline members in form of an incentive to encourage ownership of SFI and to motivate fellow affiliates to be active. I have offered both SFI related and non-SFI related and did not receive the outcome that I was anticipating.

I have learned that incentive programs need to be value added so consider doing a quick survey or questionnaire with
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Affiliate since: 05/10/2012, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Wayne's 236 other Ask SC answers

Giving incentives to your CSAs and PSAs is a good idea – I have been doing that for the last 6 months now.

I have seen a marked increase in overall activity when adding incentives to those teammates who are attempting to build their SFI and TripleClicks business. So it is worth the investment that you as a sponsor will be making.

As to the type of incentive to offer your top teammates will depend on the size of your group and how many of them are achieving the reward-able milestones. What I mean by this is: your incentive program will need a budget that can pay the incentives if everyone within your “incentive program” were to achieve the top spots.

It would be super counter-productive if you did not have the means (fiancés) to follow through with your promises. As an example during my first year I offered an incentive to those who reached a 1,000 VP total during the first half of a month (2-weeks) So many affiliates qualified that when I ran out of fiancés I still had three teammates to reward.

I made sure they were rewarded but it cost me giving up my Bronze Team Leader position for that month.. To top that off the three affiliates who received their rewards 5 days later ended up leaving SFI.

Now as to the rewards (incentives) you give out – would it not make sense to give them something that will help increase their business. This way you win (creates more activity and income) and they win by having help in building their business.

I have used incentives such as Gift Certificates and positions on my rotator for free PSAs with great success. The positions on my rotator brought the greatest activity within the team.

I have given Gift Certificates to purchase Gift Cards so ad incentives so they can gain needed 300 AVP and possibly gain some PRMs. (Personally Referred Members).

In conclusion I would highly suggest using SFI and TripleClicks business building tools and accessories as your gifts and incentives – That will be a win - win combination

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Giving incentives to your CSAs and PSAs is a good idea – I have been doing that for the last 6 months now.

I have seen a marked increase in overall activity when adding incentives to those teammates who are attempting to build their SFI and TripleClicks business. So it is worth the investment that you as a sponsor will be making.

As to the type of incentive to offer your top teammates will depend on the size of your group and how many of them are achieving
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Affiliate since: 08/06/2012, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Ronilo's 408 other Ask SC answers

Although we are not prevented from doing that but I think it is not wise to give incentives outside of SFI/TripleClicks.

Let me share to you why:

1. If your PSA or CSA is far from your place (in other country) you will spend a lot for shipment cost if your incentive is a physical reward like your DVD.

2. It is always better to give incentives that your PSA and CSA can use to grow their SFI business. The reason is simple, if they grow, you grow also along with them.

3. Good incentives from TripleClicks like TC, giftcards, reassigning PSA are sent electronically, therefore no shipment cost.

4. In case you give physical item as incentive and buy them from TripleClicks, you too will earn VP and MRP. Additional VP once you submit review.

5. For every purchase we make at TripleClicks it adds money in our executive pool which is return to us according to our rank.

So I hope all of us will consider giving incentives only from within SFI and TripleClicks.
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Although we are not prevented from doing that but I think it is not wise to give incentives outside of SFI/TripleClicks.

Let me share to you why:

1. If your PSA or CSA is far from your place (in other country) you will spend a lot for shipment cost if your incentive is a physical reward like your DVD.

2. It is always better to give incentives that your PSA and CSA can use to grow their SFI business. The reason is simple, if they grow, you grow also along with them.

3.
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

Hello, Theodore Chalmers.

This question is not as straightforward as it sounds. SFI does encourage us to motivate our affiliates in many ways for very valid reasons.

If the DVD is brought from Tripleclicks or an ECA store, it might be A good idea. However, if it is an item acquired outside of SFI/Tripleclicks, it may create more problems.

There are excellent sponsoring tools available to us within SFI:

1. Organizing contests with clearly defined rewards to be given out to the winners.

2. Gift Certificates to associates

3. Tcredit transfers.

The beauty of these incentives is their ability to reward and motivate our affiliates and help us also score points to our 'scoreboard'.

Thus we benefit twice.

An important aspect of these incentives pertains to their usefulness in helping the recipients build their business.

These are the reasons why I do not think it is a good idea to give CDs or other incentives not related to SFI to affiliates in order to motivate them.

Actually some of these incentives, outside of SFI, may be a distraction.

I believe, we will reach our goals better and quicker when we use the tools available at SFI, rather than outside of it.

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Hello, Theodore Chalmers.

This question is not as straightforward as it sounds. SFI does encourage us to motivate our affiliates in many ways for very valid reasons.

If the DVD is brought from Tripleclicks or an ECA store, it might be A good idea. However, if it is an item acquired outside of SFI/Tripleclicks, it may create more problems.

There are excellent sponsoring tools available to us within SFI:

1. Organizing contests with clearly defined rewards
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