[Alan Mater]

"Years ago I was enrolled with PIPS and found it very undoable."

"I thought that SFI stood for Six Figure Income, and not Strong Future........ Hope this is something i can do, but i don't have a good feeling about it."

That was the basic gist of an email I received from one of my SFI members. If only I could reach through the computer screen and slap some sense into this guy.

First of all, his attitude completely stinks. I'm not sure how he couldn't find PIPS doable when so many people can. Oh wait... yeah i do! His attitude says it all.

Listen, you gotta work, yes i said that dreaded four letter word. How can you expect to get anywhere if you don't put forth any effort? I don't care what you're trying to promote. The most crappiest of products still sell if there's someone out there working their butt of promoting it to people.

Sounds funny, but very true. Scams are a good example, but not all.

So, now I gotta send an email to this guy and tell him bluntly that he might as well not even try.

Honestly, I don't know what to tell him. Not sure it will really matter if he has no motivation.

Just don't let this guy be you.

Alan

[Kym Robinson]

Hi Alan
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

I think the best thing to tell him is that SFI is very successful for many people and that the ones who succeed are the ones who.........blah - blah - blah

if he can follow the lead of the successful people and..........he will succeed too!

also, say that the people who think they can make money overnight and have come into the IM biz for quick millions with now work are dreamers!

ask him which category he falls into! the winners or losers?
then at least you know whether or not to focus your help and resources in his direction.

I cut loose the ones who dont want to help themselves very quickly - there are plenty of fish in the sea!

good luck to you buddy!
Kym

[oyebaz]

This is why i like internet marketting becuase you deal with people who want something,not people who have to be quizzed about what they want. I just get so tired of having to convice people that this or that will work for them. Like Kym said, there are many fish in the sea, dont waste time with those who are simply not ready.


To your success
Oyebaz
We're Going To Break You Out...

[Gunther69]

Hi Alan, I guess you meet all kinds of people in this business. I had a SFI prospect ask me for money so he could buy a laptop. Next prospect in line please stand up... Tim

[Alan Mater]

Kym and Oyebaz,

I like your styles. Like I said I will be blunt with him and tell him how it is. What he wants to do after that is up to him.

It's people like him that truly believe it's impossible to make any money online and that all internet business opportunities are scams. Yes, those people do exist, and I met one on Yahoo Answers one time... poor soul.

Alan

[Alan Mater]

Tim,

Haha... now that is funny! You should have asked him what kind he wanted

Alan

[tplahav]

Hi Alan,
You see different types in this business but you have to filter the action takers from the rest, I offer help and support, the serious one always answer back asking questions, but even here I find some that want you to do the job for them, they don't bother read.

Those who read, ask more smart questions, those who don't ask the same questions over and over again, and after awhile they stop.

But it is important to let them know there is work involved in a work from home business.

I love Kym's answer

Tanny

[Alan Mater]

Yes, Tanny, you are right. I'm amazed at how many people expect everything for nothing.

Michael, I actually haven't thought of it that way before, but that's very true. I will share your wisdom with him.

Alan

[Alan Mater]

I'll be sure to do that, Michael. I'm working on the email right now

Alan

[Alan Mater]

I just sent out the email. It was kind of long, but I needed to say some things and get him to think a little about what he really wants.

I'll let you know if and when he replies. Just don't hold your breath

[GT]

Hello, Alan and all:

I agree that we are looking for leaders in our prospecting. All we can do with the ones who respond negatively is point out the positives, including having a positive attitude and positive expectations, and try to point them in the right direction.

Some will never come around and will always be antagonistic. We don't need to waste time trying to convert them. Give them info and let them decide the route they will follow.

As others have mentioned, I get strange requests from affiliates, too (both in SFI and in other programs). Like, "I'm having some financial trouble right now, but I see the potential in this, so if you could just help me with some (cash or whatever) I'll be happ to join you and work real hard."

I just show them how to start and build their (SFI) business easily and cheaply and show them how they can sell some consumer products to their local warm market to earn immediate commissions, if they want.

No sense arguing or reacting negatively or with offence - it doesn't serve any useful purpose, just drains your own energy.

Hey! Here's an example from a leader: anyone ever complained directly to Stone about anything? I have. He responds very diplomatically and graciously and his response and answers just focus on the positive.

GT

[Matt Helphrey]

Sad but true Alan.

If you aren't making it work, it's because you are either not trying or you are doing it all wrong. How hard you work will define how well you do with any program.

Too bad the majority of people who get into this biz think that it's supposed to be easy. Ha...I wish.

Matt

[leb123z]

Well, my business is all about being honest, but the unfortunate thing is that most people out there can't HANDLE the truth! I hate to mess with everyone's dreams, but I'd much rather tell them the truth, and those who appreciate it will do business with me, or will realize this business is not for them. Either way, I am at peace with myself

Liane

[Stephen Meyer]

In the last couple weeks I have given 3 people the boot. One was a complete whiner and absolutely nothing was going to work and nothing I said would make life better. I gave him about 4 months of time trying to explain and guide but it was time to part ways. Another one kept asking when I was going to start placing people under him. I asked when he was going to do it and he said it was his sponsors job to build his business. The third one was a poser, some one I know, :rolleyes: (we probably all know him), who also complained about everything so I assured him he would be better off in another line of work. I asked him several times to remove himself from my autoresponder but he wouldn't, so I helped him out.

I have no problem working with someone for hours on end if they are willing to learn and if they are making an effort. Their effort doesn't have to be anything great it just has to show they are doing what they can. But, I will not do it all for them and I certainly will not be griped at constantly by those who are unwilling to try.

That reminds me, I don't envy Pat's job.

One thing that really bugs me is to have someone constantly telling me how to run my business when they aren't doing anything and when they have (supposedly) never had an online business. Oh well, this is a fun business but sometimes we have to toss the bad apples.

[Alan Mater]

Great advice, Liane and Steve.

So far I have not gotten any replies. I had another one email me as well saying he was trying to get traffic to his gateway page but wasn't seeing any results.

Well for only being in the business for maybe a total of two weeks, I think his expectations were just a tad too high

Alan

[talfighel]

The most important thing to do Alan, is to CONSISTENTLY bring in SFI affiliates everyday.

If you want to succeed in the long term, you have to make sure that you bring in a good flow of SFI affiliates every day. And I am not talking about 1 or 2.

Tal

[Jeff Casmer]

Hi Alan,

I absolutely agree with Tal......bringing in SFI affiliates consistently and actually following up with them with a regular routine and not when we feel like it is the best way for success....

Take care
Jeff Casmer

[GT]

I agree on the follow-up - even when they don't seem to be responsive. I try to send regular group messages through the SFI system just to encourage them and point out some of the resources or some of the benefits of SFI products or services that they should be pointing out to their prospects.

GT

[dang]

If think there is no point to chase some people. Many of affiliates I personally sponsor never respond to my messages.
In my opinion if someone has wrong attitude and join only for the sake of curiosity there is no way to encourage him to take action, it's better to keep looking for new affiliates that are ready to follow you.

Regards
Dan

[GT]

Hi, all:

I check into my SFI Affiliate Centre regularly and go through various sections to keep up-to-date. One thing I like to do is check the last login date for each of my personally sponsored affiliates.

You can see your whole list of affiliates and their login dates at a glance (well, as many as fit on each page, anyway).

I find it interesting that on occasion someone who hasn't visited for a long while comes and takes a peek! I like to think it's because I followed up with another letter.

As Dan just said, there is little point in chasing people ... but it never hurts to send those weekly support messages!

GT

[Malcolm Tindle]

Hi Alan.

Great post which I am sure hits a nerve with many members, we have all had sign ups like that, you know the kind of thing ' I have 40.000 in my powerline and none of them are making me money' DOH !!

Like GT I keep an eye on SFI almost every day because I like to see who is signing in, who is showing an interest and how may affiliates they are recruiting etc. I try to keep my communications to a minimum especially in the first 30 days because SFI are already sending out regular messages on our behalf during this time and too many emails can be a turn off.

Regular titbits and member information I find are useful after the 30 days but as Stephen has said quite rightly, we have to be a bit selfish at times with people who are simply not putting any effort in and want it all by expecting others to do it for them. When I first joined SFI I virtually lived on the site every day trying to absorb as much as I could before I even dared to ask a question of my sponsor, which he didn't even reply to and I have never forgotten that. I will devote as much time as necessary to anyone who wants to learn and get on but as Jeff said, all we can and should do is recruit, recruit, recruit and hope that we catch the best fish in our nets.

Mal.

[Alan Mater]

Thanks for the great info and advice everyone. I really appreciate it and agree!

[Jeff Casmer]

Hi Folks,

Take a few minutes every day and do the following with SFI or any affiliate program with PIPS.

Here are some steps:

1) Go to your SFI back office and look at the activity with your affiliates......

2) Go into the training center and see if you can find an idea that you have never tried, something you have not learned yet, and see if you can apply it to your business...

3) Communciate with your affiliates....regularly.....including tire kickers (use the contact manager to do this).

4) With potential leaders or people that are having some activity contact them personally and see how you can help them. Provide support, training, positive feedback to their efforts.

5) Whatever you do...when you get a new affiliate...the last thing to do is nothing.

Take care
Jeff Casmer

[Alan Mater]

Great tips, Jeff.

It's very discouraging when I use the contact manager or send someone an email and never get a response. I don't even get responses from people who have upgraded. I want to help as much as I can, but sometimes I feel it's just not worth the effort.

Anyone else feel this way, or anyone not getting any response from their downline?

[Jeff Casmer]

Hi Alan,

No I dont get frustrated. Lots of times when your new to this business you always think "Why the heck wont they respond or ask a question?".

Dont take it personally....

Dont worry about it....keep doing what your doing....its the things YOU can control is what you need to worry about...

You would be surprised at the number of upgrades I have gotten in SFI after months of sending emails and all of a sudden they decide to take action...

Take care
Jeff Casmer

[Alan Mater]

Jeff,

Good point. I'll just keep at it and maybe the fence sitters will finally jump off and do something.

[zirkamer]

No matter what you are doing it takes effort. All efforts return different types of profit. The main thing is that "Unless something moves nothing happens"

Zirkamer

[Alan Mater]

Well said, Zirkamer.

[veejay]

Thanks Jeff for 5 steps of successful follow-up on SFI sign ups. I haven't done this for quite some time. You have jerked me up I must admit.

Thanks again.
John Shelembe

[mlipson]

Hi Alan,

I have the same problem as you with my SFI Affiliates. I keep sending emails and never get a repsonse, I never hear from my EA's either the only ones I get emails from is the new sign ups. They send me emails just a few of them wanting to know where to start.

Once I start sending them emails with all the links to get all the information they need I never hear from them again,and they never answer any of my emails. So often I feel like it's a wast of time, but I still can not give up on them, so I just keep sending them email trying to help them and telling them the benefits of being in SFI.

As frustrating as it may be I just keep telling myself what Jeff said that if I just keep in contact with them they will eventually take action. At least I keep telling myself that.

Martha