"Affiliate" refers to yourself, and "SFI" refers to us, the SFI Marketing Group, a division of Carson Services, Inc., Lincoln, Nebraska USA.

In order to finalize your registration as an SFI Affiliate, SFI requires that you read the following important information about our policies on SPAM and submit your acceptance of this agreement. No SFI commissions will be paid until this agreeement is received by SFI.

Affiliate agrees to not utilize SPAM in promoting SFI. This action may result in the immediate suspension or termination of your account with a cancellation of any pending commissions. Affiliate will also be in violation of the SFI Affiliate Agreement and subject to legal action and be held liable for financial losses incurred by SFI.

What is spam? Spam is emailing ANYONE, in bulk or by single mailing, about SFI, who has not specifically requested the information directly from you.

The ONLY exceptions to this are:

1. Mailing to APPROPRIATE OPT-IN mailing lists where the source does the mailing on Affiliate's behalf AND you do not advertise an SFI-provided Gateway URL. However, use extreme caution when choosing an opt-in mailing list company! Using anything but the most reputable sources could generate spam complaints against Affiliate resulting in suspension or termination.

2. You may include information on SFI in email Acknowledgement Messages for orders and inquiries that you receive so long as it is stated upfront that you will be sending them an acknowledgement.

SFI also considers ANY type of advertisement about SFI posted to a Newsgroup or Chat Room to be spam. Violators may be fined at 50 U.S. dollars per incident.

Please note: SFI does not necessarily agree with the harsh interpretation of what constitutes SPAM. Right now the Internet is in its infancy; as it matures and e-commerce expands, the spam issue will likely change drastically, perhaps even eventually fading away completely. However, until then, we must abide by current Internet rules and regulations. In order to maintain our image and protect the incomes of our affiliates, we must adhere to the strictest interpretation of SPAM. SFI affiliates who follow the rules have nothing to be concerned about.

Why do you have such a strict Spam Policy?

It only takes one complaint to be shut down by an Internet service provider. That's means SFI is shut down as well as our hundreds of thousands of Affiliates Websites! Also, companies like America Online can block email coming from SFI if they get enough complaints. We want to be known for having the highest integrity, and being a responsible Internet company. We're committed to maintaining that image, and you should be, too. Every SFI affiliate benefits from a good SFI image.

Can I send email to someone who emails me an ad?

This is often referred to as a "Bounce Back" (sending an email advertisement in reply to an email advertisement that was sent to you). As the old saying goes, "Two wrongs do not make a right." This is still emailing information about SFI to persons that you don't know and who didn't specifically request the information. If we receive a complaint, it is grounds for suspension. So be careful.

Is spamming illegal or just unethical?

Both. Spamming is punishable in some states by fines of as much as $25,000.

Can I use a bulk email list from a company that sells the email addresses of people who have requested business opportunity information?

You may consider OPT-IN lists (see above). However, under no circumstances do we recommend bulk mailing to a list you have rented or purchased. Many such lists are compiled from indiscriminately harvested email addresses. Even if you believe the list seller to be reputable and honest, there will always be at least one unhappy recipient of your advertisement that may complain.

Why would anyone complain about getting an email that they didn't request? Can't they just delete the message?

Yes, they can just delete the message. The issue is that people have to pay for their Internet connection. Unsolicited email may cost them connect time. They feel they had to pay for your advertisement. Spam is similar to receiving an advertisement in the mail with postage due!

Can't I just send my email advertisements one at a time? That's not bulk emailing.

No, it's not "bulk emailing," but it will be received by people who have not asked you for the information. Hence, it still considered spam.

So what kind of advertising CAN Affiliates do?

There are HUNDREDS of ethical ways to promote SFI. You can use classified advertising (there are thousands of FREE classified ad sites on the Internet). Advertising in email newsletters and "ezines" are an inexpensive way to reach thousands of prospects. You can use SFI banner ads on free banner ad sites, paid banner advertising, or banner exchange sites. You can also participate in SFI's popular Eagle Advertising Co-op. Your marketing does not have to be limited to the Internet either; you can advertise in newspapers, magazines, bumper stickers, radio, etc. These are just a FEW ideas. As an SFI affiliate you're automatically subscribed to two free marketing newsletters, including INTERNET INCOME. In short, we'll train you on how to become a successful, ETHICAL marketer.

What happens to SFI affiliates who do spam?

In order to protect the SFI opportunity, and the incomes of our affiliates who are following the SFI rules and regulations, SFI may immediately suspend or terminate any affiliate caught spamming. We do want all of our affiliates to know that you will always receive fair treatment from us if we receive a complaint. Indeed, our experience is that many complaints are due to misunderstanding and often are not valid spam complaints at all. HOWEVER, that said, if we feel the complaint IS valid and you can not show clear evidence to the contrary, we will not hesitate to suspend or terminate you.