Launch your first Assist

The Importance of Your First Assist

Your first Assist sets the tone for your entire TeamWins program. A well-designed initial Assist builds momentum, demonstrates value quickly, and establishes patterns for future success. This guide walks you through creating and launching an Assist that generates immediate results.

Before You Begin: Strategic Planning

Choose Your Focus Area

Start with one function to prove value before expanding:

Sales Focus - Best for:

• B2B companies with defined target markets
• Teams with strong professional networks
• Clear ideal customer profiles
• Measurable pipeline goals

Marketing Focus - Best for:

• Companies with active content marketing
• Strong brand presence and messaging
• Teams comfortable with social sharing
• Content amplification needs

HR Focus - Best for:

• Growing companies with active hiring
• Strong employer brand and culture
• Teams willing to refer quality candidates
• Competitive talent markets

Success Criteria Definition

Before creating your Assist, define:

• Target participation rate: 40%+ of invited teammates
• Outcome goals: Specific number of meetings, hires, or engagement
• Timeline expectations: When you expect to see results
• Success metrics: How you'll measure and report impact

Step-by-Step Launch Process

1. Navigate to Assist Creation

Access the Creation Flow: 1. Go to Admin → Assists in your workspace 2. Click "New Assist" button in the top right 3. Choose template or start from scratch 4. Select your primary category (Sales, Marketing, HR)

Template vs. Custom:

• Use templates for proven, battle-tested approaches
• Start from scratch only if you have specific unique requirements
• Templates include default point structures and best practices
• Custom builds require more configuration but offer full flexibility

2. Configure Core Information

Essential Fields: `` Name: "Warm Intro to Manufacturing VPs" Category: Sales Summary: "Connect us with VPs at manufacturing companies with 500+ employees" Status: Draft (until ready to publish) ``

Naming Best Practices:

• Be specific - "Manufacturing VPs" not "potential customers"
• Include key criteria - company size, role level, industry
• Keep it short - under 50 characters for dashboard display
• Use action words - "Introduce," "Refer," "Share," "Create"

3. Write Your Context & Brief

The brief is the most critical element - it becomes the AI prompt and teammate guidance.

Effective Brief Structure:

Sales Assist Example: ``` TARGET: VPs of Operations at manufacturing companies with 500+ employees

BACKGROUND: We help manufacturers reduce shipping costs by 30% through route optimization. Looking for warm introductions to decision-makers who manage logistics budgets.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE: Permission to send a brief overview of our cost-saving approach and schedule a 15-minute conversation.

IDEAL COMPANIES: Think companies like [Client Example 1], [Client Example 2], or similar mid-market manufacturers with complex shipping needs.

MESSAGE GOAL: Get permission for our sales team to send information, not an immediate demo request. ```

Marketing Assist Example: ``` CAMPAIGN: Product Launch for [New Feature Name]

AUDIENCE: Mid-market CTOs and engineering leaders at B2B SaaS companies

KEY MESSAGE: [Feature] reduces deployment time by 70% without compromising security

CALL-TO-ACTION: Visit our launch page for early access and technical details

REQUIRED ELEMENTS: #ProductLaunch hashtag, mention @CompanyHandle, include disclaimer about beta access

AVOID: Specific pricing details, competitor comparisons, unverified performance claims ```

HR Assist Example: ``` ROLE: Senior Full-Stack Developer (React/Node.js)

IDEAL CANDIDATE: 5+ years experience at B2B SaaS companies, comfortable with startup pace, strong communication skills

WHERE TO LOOK: Engineering teams at companies like [Similar Company 1], [Similar Company 2], developer communities, tech meetups

WHAT TO AVOID: Candidates currently in notice periods, direct competitors, junior developers

COMPENSATION RANGE: $120-150K + equity (can mention in conversations)

REFERRAL PROCESS: Send me their LinkedIn and brief background, I'll handle the outreach ```

4. Review AI-Generated Messages

AI Message Preview: TeamWins automatically generates platform-specific messages based on your brief:

• Email templates for warm introductions
• LinkedIn messages for professional outreach
• Social media posts for content sharing
• Referral templates for candidate submissions

Message Quality Check:

• Brand consistency - does it sound like your company?
• Appropriate tone - professional but not overly formal
• Clear value proposition - obvious benefit for the recipient
• Easy personalization - placeholders for specific details
• Compliance ready - includes necessary disclaimers

Customization Options:

• Edit templates to match your exact voice
• Add required elements like disclaimers or hashtags
• Adjust length for different platforms
• Include examples of good personalization

5. Set Point Structure

Participation vs. Outcome Balance: The key is making outcome points significantly higher than participation points.

Conservative Point Structure: ``` Sales Assist: • +5 points: Introduction sent • +30 points: Qualified response received • +80 points: Meeting booked

Marketing Assist: • +5 points: Post shared • +15 points: 1,000 impressions reached • +25 points: 3,000 impressions reached

HR Assist: • +10 points: Candidate referred • +50 points: Candidate passes phone screen • +150 points: Candidate hired ```

Aggressive Point Structure (High-Value Outcomes): ``` Enterprise Sales: • +10 points: Introduction sent • +60 points: Qualified response • +150 points: Meeting booked • +500 points: Deal closed (quarterly bonus)

Strategic Hiring: • +15 points: Candidate referred • +75 points: Candidate advances to final round • +300 points: Candidate hired and stays 90+ days ```

Point Setting Guidelines:

• Start conservative - you can always increase later
• Outcome points should be 3-5x participation points
• Consider business value - higher points for higher-value outcomes
• Keep round numbers - easier to understand and remember

6. Choose Approval Settings

Manual vs. Auto-Approval Decision Matrix:

Use Manual Approval When:

• Brand-sensitive messaging (customer-facing communications)
• High-value outcomes (major deals, executive hires)
• Compliance requirements (regulated industries)
• Quality control needed (new program, training team)

Use Auto-Approval When:

• Low-risk activities (internal referrals, standard social shares)
• High-volume contributions (many small interactions)
• Trusted team (experienced contributors)
• Speed is critical (time-sensitive campaigns)

Reviewer Assignment:

• Functional alignment - Sales manager for sales outcomes
• Domain expertise - Person who can judge quality
• Availability - Someone who can respond within 24-48 hours
• Backup coverage - Always assign a fallback reviewer

7. Preview the Experience

Teammate Perspective Check: 1. Click "Preview" to see what teammates will experience 2. Review the flow from discovery to completion 3. Test AI message generation with sample inputs 4. Verify point calculations are clear and accurate 5. Check mobile experience if team uses phones

Quality Checklist:

• ✓ Brief is clear and specific about targeting
• ✓ AI messages are on-brand and appropriate
• ✓ Point structure rewards outcomes over activity
• ✓ Approval process matches risk level
• ✓ Success criteria are measurable

8. Publish and Launch

Publishing Process: 1. Final review of all configuration 2. Click "Publish" to make live 3. Status changes from Draft to Published 4. Team notifications sent automatically (if enabled)

Launch Communication: Don't just publish and hope - actively promote your first Assist:

Slack Announcement Example: ``` 🚀 We're launching TeamWins with our first Assist!

This week: Help us connect with VPs at manufacturing companies. Takes 2 minutes, earn points for coffee credits and team dinners.

What to do: 1. Check your TeamWins dashboard 2. Look for "Warm Intro to Manufacturing VPs" 3. Use the AI-generated message (customize with your personal touch) 4. Earn 5 points for sending + 80 points if a meeting gets booked

Questions? Just reply here or DM me! ```

Email Follow-up: Send personal emails to key connectors explaining:

• Why this matters for the business
• How easy it is to contribute
• What's in it for them (points and perks)
• Your availability for questions

First Week Success Tactics

Day 1-2: Active Promotion

• Personal outreach to 3-5 key connectors
• Team meeting mention if you have regular meetings
• Slack reminders with specific ask
• One-on-one conversations with natural networkers

Day 3-4: Monitor and Support

• Check contribution rate - aim for 30%+ by day 3
• Review message quality - provide feedback if needed
• Answer questions quickly to maintain momentum
• Celebrate early contributions publicly

Day 5-7: Optimize and Iterate

• Analyze participation patterns - who's contributing, who's not
• Adjust messaging if response is low
• Increase points temporarily if needed
• Plan follow-up communications

Measuring First Assist Success

Week 1 Metrics

Participation Success:

• 40%+ contribution rate from invited team
• Quality submissions that meet brief requirements
• Positive feedback about ease of use
• Questions indicate engagement rather than confusion

Early Outcome Indicators:

• Responses to outreach within first few days
• Meeting requests or positive replies
• Social media engagement on shared content
• Candidate interest in HR referrals

Month 1 Evaluation

Business Impact:

• 15%+ conversion rate from contributions to outcomes
• Measurable results - meetings booked, candidates hired, engagement reached
• ROI demonstration - value generated vs. program cost
• Team satisfaction - positive feedback on experience

Program Health:

• Sustained participation beyond initial enthusiasm
• Repeat contributors engaging multiple times
• Point redemption activity showing value perception
• Requests for more Assists indicating success

Common First Assist Mistakes

The "Everything Assist"

Problem: Trying to solve multiple problems in one Assist Example: "Help with sales, marketing, and recruiting" Solution: Focus on one specific outcome per Assist

The "Vague Brief"

Problem: Generic targeting that leads to poor results Example: "Find potential customers" Solution: Specific ideal customer profiles with examples

The "Points Imbalance"

Problem: Same points for activity and outcomes Example: +50 for intro sent, +60 for meeting booked Solution: Make outcome points 3-5x higher than participation

The "Set and Forget"

Problem: Publishing without promotion or follow-up Solution: Active launch communication and daily monitoring

The "Perfect First Try"

Problem: Over-engineering the first Assist Solution: Start simple, iterate based on real results

Troubleshooting Low Engagement

If Participation is Low (<20%)

Immediate Actions: 1. Send personal messages to key connectors 2. Simplify the ask - reduce complexity 3. Increase participation points temporarily 4. Share in team meetings with enthusiasm

Longer-term Solutions: 1. Improve brief clarity with more specific examples 2. Add training on how to use the platform 3. Address timing - avoid busy periods 4. Consider different Assist type that's easier to start with

If Quality is Poor

Immediate Actions: 1. Provide feedback on submissions 2. Share examples of good contributions 3. Add reviewer checkpoints for quality control 4. Create message templates for consistency

Longer-term Solutions: 1. Improve brief specificity with better targeting 2. Add training sessions on effective outreach 3. Create success story examples to model behavior 4. Refine AI message templates for better guidance

Scaling After First Success

Week 2-4: Build Momentum

• Launch second Assist in same category to build expertise
• Share success stories from first Assist publicly
• Add more team members based on early results
• Refine processes based on lessons learned

Month 2: Expand Scope

• Add complementary category (if started with Sales, add Marketing)
• Increase point values based on proven business value
• Add more sophisticated perks as program matures
• Create reviewer training for quality control

Month 3+: Optimize and Scale

• Advanced analytics to optimize point structures
• Cross-functional Assists combining multiple departments
• Seasonal campaigns aligned with business calendar
• Leadership reporting on program ROI and impact

Success Story Template

Document your first Assist success: ``` First Assist: [Name and Type] Launch Date: [Date] Team Size: [Number] invited, [Number] participated

Results in First Month: • [Number] contributions submitted • [Number] business outcomes achieved • [Dollar value] in pipeline/value generated • [Percentage] team participation rate

Key Success Factors: • [What worked well] • [What drove engagement] • [What surprised you]

Lessons Learned: • [What you'd do differently] • [What to improve next time] • [Advice for others]

Next Steps: • [How you're expanding] • [What you're launching next] • [Goals for next month] ```

Your first Assist is the foundation of your entire employee advocacy program. Take time to plan it well, launch it actively, and measure results carefully. Success here creates momentum for everything that follows.