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Archive for the ‘SFI’ Category

I have written a few reviews on SFI (Strong Future International).  They have recently changed their program and the compensation package so I thought it was time for another review.

As I have stated before SFI was the first Internet Business I became involved in eight years ago.  I promoted the opportunity and the products for the first five years.  I maintained an EA membership for most of those five years; which cost me approximately $30.00 or more a month.  Out of that $30.00 (which was my only sale) the most I received for one month was $20.00.

I don’t mean to imply that it is not a good program.  It is however a very difficult one if you want to make money fast.  It just won’t happen.

With the new changes at SFI it is somewhat more user friendly when it comes to training and accessibility of the products.  The Triple Click Program is basically a store where anyone can purchase products for their home or office.  You don’t have to be a member to access this site.  It is also the primary store for the affiliates to purchase the needed merchandise they need to continue with their Executive Affiliate upgrades.  Once you sign into the page you can also list things for purchase, so I can see where it would be attractive to many.

Their Eye Earn program is another way of signing up affiliates under you so that you can make money.  With this you have to purchase the Eye Earn package, display it on either you car, wear the shirt and then take a picture and send it to them so they can verify that you are advertising their product before you can earn any money from them.

There are several other programs within SFI where you could possibly make money.  The only program that I really benefited from was the IAHBE, which is now sold in the Triple Click Program.  This is a great learning tool that has tons of free books, articles, and advice on how to run a successful home business.  Anyone starting a home business could benefit from this site you don’t have to be a member of SFI to purchase the program; it is connected to SFI and they will encourage you to sign up for SFI but you don’t have to and it is $30 a month to stay with them, it is not a one time purchase.

SFI will tell you that you don’t need to upgrade to make money.  But in fact you really do.  You can make money as a free associate but it is questionable if it is worth your time.  I have 170 associates under me (that is after eight years of advertising), my upline support was non-existent, SFI support is there 24/7 but does not always answer your question.  If you are not an EA they will insist that you have to be one before you can make money.

As far as their compensation package I am still a little confused.  One person tells me I don’t have to be an EA to make money from my downline, while another tells me I do.  I haven’t been an EA for some time and refuse to spend $30.00 a month on the off chance I might earn $6.00 of it back from someone under me that will upgrade.  By the way I do have two EA’s under me at this time and am always there to answer their questions honestly.

You are suppose to earn 30% commission on any non-affiliate sale; if one of your personally sponsored affiliates purchases something from Triple Clicks you are suppose to earn 15% of that sale.  And on it goes until you are crossed eyed trying to figure out if they owe you money.

I would say that when SFI started in the 1980’s it was new and innovative.  It filled a void on the Internet for those of us who wanted to work from home.  The people who started then have made a fortune; I am just not sure it can be said of those who join today.  SFI provides “residual” income in that once you have made a sale or had one of your downline upgrade the income keeps coming in from those sources. As with any business you continually have to go out and find new sources to keep that income growing. There are many programs on the Internet that provide that also, SFI isn’t the only one.

So with all of this said you are probably wondering why I still promote SFI?  Strong Future International is basically a good program for the beginner to learn about affiliate marketing.  It will take you through advertising on the Internet both free and paid, it has some really great products.  Upgrade?  Not unless you can afford it.  Look through the Triple Clicks store at the products offered, if you can see yourself selling $30 or more each month then that would pay for your upgrade.  If you have the extra money each month to take $30 out of your budget to pay your own way then do so; but if you do not have the money don’t upgrade.

This program does have flaws still, but overall if you go into it with an open mind you can learn something about Internet Marketing.

To Your Success
Nancy Kraska
Webmaster

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Several years ago I joined SFI (Strong Future International) with the thought of making a living from that one company. After several years of struggling with the company and spending money each month to upgrade, I found that it did not live up to its hype. Not only did I not make enough from that one company to support myself, I did not make enough to pay for the programs upgrade each month. By this time I had several companies with which I worked that were earning money each month, so I dropped SFI as one of my main opportunities. Although I kept my membership I never upgraded again.

I am sure there are many people out there who have made money with SFI in the past and would disagree and say it was my doing and not SFI’s fault for my not making money. The trouble is I agree with them.

SFI is a great company. Unfortunately I had a sponsor who never communicated with me about how to get my business started. SFI’s training was foreign to me as I had never worked online before. Their training was disjointed for me and that combined with a lack of sponsor support contributed to my downfall. Not only did I not learn anything, but I became the same type of sponsor that I had. I did not communicate with my downline as much as I should have. Frankly, I didn’t know what to tell them or how to help them as I wasn’t sure what I was doing within the company.

So this gives you a little background on my past experience with SFI. Since joining 5 years ago, I have learned a great deal about Internet Marketing from various ebooks and other resources on the Internet. Including friends I have met through forums. With this arsenal of knowledge I decided to take a second look at SFI.

I am happy to say that not only have they completely revamped their website from top to bottom. Their product lines through Triple Clicks and MaxMall have greatly increased the potential for making money. The upgrade process can be done for free now, you don’t have to pay for something that you might or might not need. The support for the novice marketer is greatly improved, so even if you join under someone who is non-communicative you have an excellent chance of success. Simply ask to be assigned another sponsor. Although the way the system is now set up, the sponsor becomes just that a sponsor. The training is completely done by SFI through a simple step by step program. The sponsor is there to steer you in the right direction should you have a question or concern.

I have always liked SFI, even though I didn’t promote it much in the last few years, but now I consider it my top program. This has become a program for the novice and experience marketer alike.

Caution: SFI will not make you rich overnight, but it will give you a solid foundation on which to build a successful Internet business. It was worth a second look.
To Your Success
Nancy Kraska
Webmaster

If you have worked at home for a while and have had success in the past but now seem to be floundering on the brink of frustration, then it is most likely something you are doing differently.  I know this seems like a simplistic concept, but true nonetheless.

I have been working online for over six years, largely with SFI and as an affiliate marketer for various companies.  About 4 years ago I developed my own website to market these products.   For the first two years I was very successful in earnings.  I knew I had found the key to unlock the online marketing phenomenon.  What happened then was something honest experienced Internet marketers will tell you is common.  The bottom fell out for no apparent reason.  Thankfully this is not my only source of income, but if it was I would be in dire straits.

Like any inexperienced marketer the first thing I did was blame the programs that I was promoting.  So I started reaching for programs that were “working” for others in the hopes they would bring some income in for me.  I crashed and burned in this approach.

Last fall a light bulb went off over my head and I asked myself some questions:

• 1. Why did I still want to work online when I wasn’t making any money?
• 2. Are the programs I am promoting attractive to the online marketplace?
• 3. I made money before, why not now?
• 4. What am I doing different now as opposed to three years ago?

These questions are important to think about if you are having the same problems, because the cause of your loss of income is in those questions.

1. Why did I still want to work online when I wasn’t making any money?

The answer is an obvious one for me…I like it.  I am retired, I have the time, I like the challenge of online marketing, I like meeting new people.

2. Are the programs I am promoting attractive to the online marketplace?

This one might take a little soul searching and self-analysis.  Why are you promoting them?  Would you purchase them?  Are they attractive to you as a consumer, forget the income side of the equation for now, think like a consumer.   Are these programs making any money for you?   How long have you been promoting them?  I figure if it is a program that I have promoted for 60 days and I have made no money from it, then I change it out, and put it on the backburner to be promoted at a later date, or eliminate altogether.

3. I made money before, why not now?

Something changed obviously.  But what was it?  We have already determined that the programs might be the cause, but what about how you market?  What has changed there, something must have to account for a loss of income.   Are you spending more than you are making on advertising?  That was a big one for me.   Are you marketing to those who would have an interest in your product?  Do you know enough about your product to promote it efficiently?  No one can tell you what the answer is but yourself.

4. What am I doing different now as opposed to three years ago?

It is time for self-reflection.  Go back (hopefully you kept records) and see where you advertised before, what the outcome was of this advertising.  What did you market and to whom?  All the little things you did before, are you still doing them?  Or have you become so “experienced” that you feel you have evolved into a “guru”?

I did all of the above and found in the past year and a half, I had started to fall into the familiar trap of hype programs that really had no substance.   I had changed my advertising from all free advertising to all paid advertising.   I stopped advertising my residual income programs and started promoting only the fly by night programs that have no proven track record.   I ignored the advice of my mentors and friends who offered advice.   I had become another statistic of online marketing.  I was no longer happy with what I was promoting.

For me being honest and happy in a business is paramount to success.  I have worked at “JOBS” that are not as rewarding as working from home.  Being my own boss is wonderful!  So when the profits started to fall I had no one to blame but myself; and there was no one to fix the problem but myself!

Starting January 1, 2010 it was back to basics with my home business.  I am happy to report a profit for the first time in six months.   This is due to no advertising costs, a more streamlined website with more affordable work at home ideas, and most important an emphasis on residual income in the form of Strong Future International and the development of a down line who is active and as excited as I am to be working online.

People all over the world and all walks of life would love to have the freedom of working for themselves. Working from the comfort of your own home without the daily commute is a pipe dream for many people. While these same people hate their day jobs they are insecure about taking that final step to working at home. The uncertainty that comes with a work at home income is too overwhelming for the average person. Although the world economy in the last few years has proven that nothing in the job market is a guarantee.

These same individuals, understandably, value not only the steady income of a full time job, but also the benefits that are often included. The consistently complain to spouses and friends about their bosses and work environment, but are still hesitant to do anything about it. It is my belief that there are some people who thrive on complaining about their jobs, while others seek ways to improve their income through perhaps what some might consider unorthodox methods.

Those who do look for other means of supporting themselves beyond the everyday work environment often feel oppressed at their 9-5 job. They want more out of what life has to offer. These individuals are looking for a new challenge and the freedom that comes with owning their own online business.

Forget daycare, commutes, long hours, little pay, tiredness, boredom and the very idea of office politics is tiresome. You can choose what it is you want to do while still working 9-5 to satisfy the bill collectors and spouses.

Start on the road to personal financial freedom in your spare time. There are many avenues you can take with online marketing. Some turn a hobby into a business, others sell items on eBay through drop shipping companies, while others become affiliates for various online businesses. All or just one of these options can produce extra income for you and your family.

What does a person need to become successful online? Here is a list of items you need outside of the computer: determination, courage, patience, self-discipline, independence, responsible, organizational skills, willingness to learn new concepts, dedicated and a strong desire to succeed.

Owning and operating your own home business will require you to be able to make informed decisions. It will require you to be able to set aside a set number of hours each week to work.

Whether you are looking to supplement your income, save for retirement, or you just plain want to be released from the daily 9-5 grind, working at home with your own online business is the right step for you to take.

If you still are not sure if this is going to be the right step for you and your family, then take small steps and work online a few hours a night. This will give you a good idea of what is involved. You will become familiar with the challenges of an online business and whether or not you can elevate yourself to handle those challenges. Test the waters while having the security of your day job.

Remember patience, determination, and courage are the three most important qualities for anyone wanting to work from home.