When a team member asks a question, and you don't know the answer, how can you get them the best and correct answer?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
3/25/2014 1:07 am
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
This has happened to me. What I did was contact my own upline, both of them (sponsor and co-sponsor) and get their take on the subject. It might be a specific question with a specific (and only one) answer, but it could be an opinion in which case having 2 more points of view wouldn't hurt.
If it's an opinion type answer with no right or wrong, give them your opinion, those of your uplines, and maybe advise them to reach out through the Forum or a2a friends. I've done this too.
People say "2 heads are better than 1"
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This has happened to me. What I did was contact my own upline, both of them (sponsor and co-sponsor) and get their take on the subject. It might be a specific question with a specific (and only one) answer, but it could be an opinion in which case having 2 more points of view wouldn't hurt.
If it's an opinion type answer with no right or wrong, give them your opinion, those of your uplines, and maybe advise them to reach out through the Forum or a2a friends. I've done this too.
People
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How is communication best utilized to create robust duplication?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
7/7/2014 10:42 pm
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
Constant communication is always best, but be mindful not to go to far. You have a lot of communication tools at your disposal provided by SFI.
First there is the weekly Genealogy mailer. Use that for big emails. I mean, you should write about something that needs some sort of explanation, or addresses their potential concern. Like the New Seller License. If your downline has been using the ECA programme to market, they might be conern about the $40 fee. Address this concern (and any other concerns) in an email type communication.
Then there is the E-cards, which I love. A short note here and there. Not to everyone, just a select few. How do you select these few? It's up to you. Maybe send E-cards to the inactive ones just to ask "Would you like to review SFI again?" Or maybe a congratulatory message. Or a happy birthday.
Then you have your Leadership Page. I use it to chronicle my marketing efforts. Things I do myself with SFI. Maybe one of your downline are running out of ideas to market, just send them to your Leadership Page.
Most importantly, and I learned this only recently, check what their primary language is. They may not be logging in because they might not be understanding all your emails! So use google translate.
With all these communication there is only 1 objective. To show your downlines how simple is SFI to understand and to work it. Once your downline see how you do it, then it makes it easier for them to duplicate.
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Constant communication is always best, but be mindful not to go to far. You have a lot of communication tools at your disposal provided by SFI.
First there is the weekly Genealogy mailer. Use that for big emails. I mean, you should write about something that needs some sort of explanation, or addresses their potential concern. Like the New Seller License. If your downline has been using the ECA programme to market, they might be conern about the $40 fee. Address this concern (and any
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What are the benefits of organizing a contest for your downline?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
2/16/2014 11:29 pm
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
There are a lot of benefits of organising a contest for your downlines. But the most important is how to get them to participate in those contests. Sometimes they are not even aware that a contest is on-going. Hence you as a Leader, should be proactive is promoting those contests.
I have had contests to try and get my downlines to be active. For example, TCredits for reaching EA. Or Reassignments for reaching EA. Or USD 2 for reaching EA. But none do. I have concluded that they are not aware of the contests perhaps.
Hence it is not just the contest itself that is important. You need to ensure that your downlines are aware of the contest.
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There are a lot of benefits of organising a contest for your downlines. But the most important is how to get them to participate in those contests. Sometimes they are not even aware that a contest is on-going. Hence you as a Leader, should be proactive is promoting those contests.
I have had contests to try and get my downlines to be active. For example, TCredits for reaching EA. Or Reassignments for reaching EA. Or USD 2 for reaching EA. But none do. I have concluded that they are not
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Should I advise new PSAs to slow down and not qualify as Team Leaders so quickly?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
2/6/2015 2:07 am
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
Well, I wouldn't put it exactly that way.
I don't think it's good to tell someone, "don't do this", or "don't do that". Rather, tell them if you do this, then this is what will happen. And if you do that, then that is what will happen. So take your time and think about it, then decide for yourself. Fast is good, Slow and steady is also good. The important thing is consistency.
I've seen people go all the way to platinum in their first month but then disappear in their second month. I've also seen people just logging in several times a month, then suddenly decide to login daily and start work.
I think the best way is to educate, and let them weigh the pros and cons themselves. This way, when you get active ones, they usually stay a long time.
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Well, I wouldn't put it exactly that way.
I don't think it's good to tell someone, "don't do this", or "don't do that". Rather, tell them if you do this, then this is what will happen. And if you do that, then that is what will happen. So take your time and think about it, then decide for yourself. Fast is good, Slow and steady is also good. The important thing is consistency.
I've seen people go all the way to platinum in their first month but then disappear
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What are some ways to demonstrate to team members the importance of reading a little daily at the SFI Affiliate Center?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
1/7/2015 10:13 pm
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
Tell them there are free information everywhere in SFI. For example:
You can write your weekly emails based on the information in SFI. Like the Training Index itself already has numerous potential subjects. The Internet Income 2.0 is now up to Lesson 6: Links to your Site.
Then there are the Expert Reports. Tips and Tricks from the Expert that you might want to check out. Like I found this: 50 Free or Cheap Advertising Ideas for Offline and Online Marketing. This article is free for affiliate. I'm sure you would have to pay if you were to get this info from outside.
Then there are the Affiliate Tips. These are articles from our family of affiliates. Like: How to help your new affiliates get started right. Isn't that something everyone needs?
There is a lot of information in SFI if you only take the time to browse. You don't have to do it all in one day. You will get information overload and perhaps even confuse you further. But a little a day would suffice to keep you going.
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Tell them there are free information everywhere in SFI. For example:
You can write your weekly emails based on the information in SFI. Like the Training Index itself already has numerous potential subjects. The Internet Income 2.0 is now up to Lesson 6: Links to your Site.
Then there are the Expert Reports. Tips and Tricks from the Expert that you might want to check out. Like I found this: 50 Free or Cheap Advertising Ideas for Offline and Online Marketing. This article is
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What is the most important goal you've set for your SFI business and why?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
1/5/2015 2:51 am
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
In my opinion, although goals are important, it is not the act of setting the goals that's key. It is the activity you do to make sure you are on your way to achieve those goals.
Let's say your goal is to get 1 active PSA each month. What do you do to get that active PSA? Buying S-Builder, PSA To Go, or other products from ECAs alone is not enough. You need to put effort into teaching these new affiliates the ropes. So that's why I say the effort, or the actual tasks that you do is important.
After saying all that, for me, my most important goal is to get as many PSAs as I can. That is too general you think? Not if you decide to increase your advertising efforts by having a website designed specially for SFI like I have. I have decided to put more effort into this website. Put more useful content. And advertise it everywhere.
I have also decided to buy more X-cards (even though the shipping fees are high but I feel it is worth it) because I want to leave these X-cards everywhere I go. I don't want to run out in the first week. Plus there are various kinds of X-card targeting different types of people. You never know which ones will grab attention.
Then I plan to pause and review my advertising effort at the end of the third month. Have I gotten the increase in the number of PSAs that I intended? If not, then I need to change something. The start again for the fourth month.
This is only January. Wish me luck!
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In my opinion, although goals are important, it is not the act of setting the goals that's key. It is the activity you do to make sure you are on your way to achieve those goals.
Let's say your goal is to get 1 active PSA each month. What do you do to get that active PSA? Buying S-Builder, PSA To Go, or other products from ECAs alone is not enough. You need to put effort into teaching these new affiliates the ropes. So that's why I say the effort, or the actual tasks that you do is important.
After
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When a person joins SFI, what things are the most important for him or her to do?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
2/6/2015 2:35 am
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
The most important thing for new affiliates to do is understand the programme. Then they can accept or reject SFI, it will be up to them. (But if they really understand, they will not reject!)
Therefore, to understand, they must be willing to read. If they feel that the various information in SFI is too much for them, at least read the emails from their sponsors and co-sponsors. If anything in those emails are not clear, then reply back to their sponsors and co-sponsors and seek clarification.
It will take more than 1 or 2 emails. But that is ok. Understanding doesn't come overnight.
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The most important thing for new affiliates to do is understand the programme. Then they can accept or reject SFI, it will be up to them. (But if they really understand, they will not reject!)
Therefore, to understand, they must be willing to read. If they feel that the various information in SFI is too much for them, at least read the emails from their sponsors and co-sponsors. If anything in those emails are not clear, then reply back to their sponsors and co-sponsors and seek clarification.
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Why is it important to visit the SFI forum daily?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
1/5/2015 2:29 am
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
Because if not you will miss a lot of the advice given by our great family of affiliates!
SFI has been around for a long time. And so have some of our affiliates. They know the business. They have tips. They have tricks. All these would be very useful to you. And our family is very helpful with each other. We share with each other.
To an affiliate just starting out, it would be slow moving to go and tackle SFI all by yourself. You need to find out these tip and tricks that would greatly help you in your journey. I have been here nearly 4 years and I still read new ideas or new ways to explain an old idea in these Forum posts.
It has been really helpful for me and would be for anyone serious with SFI.
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Because if not you will miss a lot of the advice given by our great family of affiliates!
SFI has been around for a long time. And so have some of our affiliates. They know the business. They have tips. They have tricks. All these would be very useful to you. And our family is very helpful with each other. We share with each other.
To an affiliate just starting out, it would be slow moving to go and tackle SFI all by yourself. You need to find out these tip and tricks that would
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Fear of success is a major problem for many people. How do you get past this with your team members?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
1/5/2015 2:23 am
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
In my opinion, it is not really a fear of success. It is a fear of the unknown. Or the fear of taking too much risks. Hence we need to make known to them that the risk on their side is quite low.
They need to know how exactly we do our work. What does it entails everyday. How much investment is needed. I know we said no investment ever which can be done but sometimes we need to be realistic. No investment, slow success.
Make clear to your team so that the unknown is now known. And the risks is understood to be low. Nothing in this world is with no risk. Even getting into your car everyday is a risk, but you accept that risk because you have done your homework (i.e learn to drive, etc).
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In my opinion, it is not really a fear of success. It is a fear of the unknown. Or the fear of taking too much risks. Hence we need to make known to them that the risk on their side is quite low.
They need to know how exactly we do our work. What does it entails everyday. How much investment is needed. I know we said no investment ever which can be done but sometimes we need to be realistic. No investment, slow success.
Make clear to your team so that the unknown is now known.
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Is it worthwhile to create individual, personalized welcome letters to new PSAs using information from their Affiliate Profile?
Shamsina Sabdin, Aff (Malaysia)
2/6/2015 2:29 am
Affiliate since: 03/28/2011, Power Rank: 591
Definitely! Think about it. Someone gets a welcome letter, realised that their sponsor is in the US and they are on the other side of the world. To get to the level of their sponsor they would feel that it is a bit farfetched. Why? Because maybe exchange rate is too big for them to be comfortable in USD, or maybe the culture is different and not welcoming towards internet businesses.
What if this particular person receives a welcome letter that states "I noticed you are from xxxx. There are various affiliates from xxxx who have attained success and each of them are willing to help guide you". I think this would be a more welcoming letter than a general one.
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Definitely! Think about it. Someone gets a welcome letter, realised that their sponsor is in the US and they are on the other side of the world. To get to the level of their sponsor they would feel that it is a bit farfetched. Why? Because maybe exchange rate is too big for them to be comfortable in USD, or maybe the culture is different and not welcoming towards internet businesses.
What if this particular person receives a welcome letter that states "I noticed you are from xxxx.
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