Skype has been around since 2003. It has become very popular with people in MLM network marketing. I have it on my computer. However, I do not use it as a prospecting tool.

Before Skype, many network marketers promoted the concept of using instant message texting systems like MSN, Yahoo, AOL, ICQ, and others as MLM prospecting tools. The idea was to strike up a conversation with people you meet online and try to find common ground and a way to introduce your business opportunity to them. I did have some success doing that. But, I found it very time consuming. Way too much of my time was spent with prospects who did not qualify.

Similar prospecting techniques are now being promoted using Skype. And it’s still easy to spend too much time on tasks that do not produce results.

I prefer to practice attraction marketing and have top-quality prospects reaching out to me on a daily basis. I’ve found it to be much more time-efficient and results in better qualified prospects. And most of the attraction marketing techniques we teach our team are also free or very low cost.

Still, Skype is a powerful tool for building an MLM business. I use it regularly in two different ways.

File Transfer. It is a fast and easy way to exchange files. It’s perfect for videos, images, and other large files. There are no size limits, although larger files take longer to send. It’s much faster than sending an email. And email attachments are becoming very unpopular.

Personal Mentoring and Coaching. I find it to be the ultimate tool for one-on-one coaching. When I can’t be there in person, a video call is the next best thing.

If you don’t already have Skype, download it today. It’s a great tool for building your MLM business!

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

However, it’s not just a numbers game. Enrolling the wrong prospects can actually work against you. You can waste valuable time and energy that could be spent mentoring other team members who are more likely to be productive.

One of the things I really like about network marketing and the way we train our team to build their business is that you can be very selective about who you bring onto your team. I do not try to enroll every lead that comes along. In fact, I’ve learned to be quick to disqualify prospects who don’t measure up to certain standards.

Many prospects are a little skeptical. And that’s OK…to a point. But, if a lead is going to require a lot of convincing, we train our team members to let someone else sponsor them into their mlm.

Over the years I have learned that hard core skeptics are typically the ones who will require more of my time, be more likely to be excuse-makers, and require re-convincing over and over again. It’s just not worth enrolling them.

Here are the three mlm sponsoring principles we teach our team to make dealing with skeptical prospects easier:

Rather than focus on numbers, focus on bringing team-builders into your business. It’s definitely more important to look for quality business partners.

No single potential business partner will make or break your business. Do not allow yourself to become emotionally attached to sponsoring anyone. Always be ready to disqualify a prospect and move on.

You are not here to try to convince anyone. Put prospects through your information pipeline. Answer their questions. Follow up with them. If they are still skeptical, let them go.

Learn how to handle skeptical prospects. It can lead to a huge improvement in your mlm sponsoring!

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

Nothing will brand you as an amateur faster than telling a hot prospect that you will have to get back with them. And then when you finally do follow up with that lead, they will have either lost interest in your opportunity or found a more skilled sponsor to work with.

I am always amazed at how many network marketers are not always prepared ahead of time, even though it is very quick and simple to do. In fact, most of your preparation can and should be completed the very first day you are in an mlm business.

Do not let your eagerness to build a new business cause you to skip some simple preparations. It will actually save you a tremendous amount of time later on.

And when you do have the follow-up tools in place, you really do not need to know that much about your company to have huge success anyway. Over the years I have found that letting the tools do the talking brings far better results for both new networkers and seasoned veterans alike. And letting the tools do the talking shows the prospect that they can easily work the business from day one also.

Here is a short list of the kinds of follow-up tools to have ready for both online and offline mlm sponsoring. While there is no need to use all of these tools, be sure you are always prepared with a few.

Business cards, drop cards, flyers, magazines, dvds, brochures, applications. Always be ready to leave physical materials with prospects you meet in person.

Pre-written follow up emails, links to landing pages or information pages, and your company sign-up page. Have these ready ahead of time for online or telephone prospects.

Scripts of what to say and the phone numbers for upline support and 3 way calling for both online and offline prospects.

If you do not have these tools in place, get with your sponsor today. Be sure that the next time your phone rings, an email comes in, a landing page opt-in hits your inbox, or you run into a great prospect at the grocery store, you are ready to follow through with them. It will lead to big success in your mlm sponsoring.

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

Even though our focus is primarily online, for years I have taught our team to locate top-notch leads using business cards. And no, I am not talking about distributing business cards or drop cards. I’m talking about collecting other business people’s business cards.

This is a free marketing method that is easy to implement, easy to teach new team members to use. It is a very non-threatening technique that allows you to be selective about who gets into your prospecting pipeline. It can create an unlimited number of prospects. And, best of all, it gets results!

Once you get in the habit of looking for them, other people’s business cards are easy to find and collect. Look for community bulletin boards and boards at gas stations and convenience stores. Business cards can be found in racks or on the counter at almost any kind of small business.

Only collect cards of people who look like the kind you would like to be in business with. I look for professionals and those who have an entrepreneurial look or sales background. Real estate, insurance, other networkers all make great prospects.

I have had best results with real estate professionals, not just because of the current real estate market, but because they do basically the same things we do. In real estate, their income depends on their performance. They talk to people and build relationships…just like we do in mlm.

When you collect a business card, be sure to write the date and where you found the card on the back of it. Then it’s just a matter of approaching that prospect to see if the timing is right for them to be open to looking at another stream of income.

The easiest way to approach them is by email. The key is to see if they are interested in learning more rather than to immediately try to introduce your business to them. Here is the outline of a sample email we teach our team to use:

Hi Bob. I found your card at the gym. I am with company XYZ. We are looking to expand in your area. I am searching for a business professional who can help me and earn a substantial second income along the way. May I send you some information for your review and maybe set a time to talk later? Thanks.

The phone approach follows a similar outline. Again, the sole purpose of the phone call is to find out if they are open to looking. Don’t try to sell them. You should be on and off the phone in less than a minute.

Get in the habit of collecting business cards as you go about your day. There is no easier way to selectively pre-screen your prospects, fill your leads pipeline, and increase your MLM sponsoring.

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

A drop card, sometimes called a sizzle card, is a brief classified ad placed on a business card. I have been using them for over 15 years and have enrolled a number of good people into my organization through them.

As in any advertising, the headline is the most critical part of the drop card. Then you need 2 or 3 short lines of body copy compelling the prospect to take action. Prospects can be directed to either an 800 number or a website to capture their contact information.

Testing is the only way to maximize your results with drop cards. Test your headline. Test your copy. Test your call to action. From extensive use and testing, I have found that pointing prospects to a website generates the best results. I have also found that results are best when only offering one way for the prospect to take action. You actually dilute your results by offering both a phone number and a website.

There are several reasons I really like drop cards.

They produce results. Over the years, I have averaged around 8% conversion of drop cards to quality leads!

Drop cards are very low-cost. There are a number of online companies where you can design your own card. Some companies even give you an initial order of 250 cards for free to attract new customers.

Drop cards are frequently passed on from one prospect to another, as in viral marketing.

We teach our team to always have drop cards with them as they go about their daily routine. They can be left on store counters, bulletin boards, with the tip at a restaurant (my highest converting method), and a number of other places where people gather. I do not recommend plastering the windshield of every car at the mall, though.

The real key to success with drop cards is to consistently distribute a large volume of them. Make drop cards part of your daily routine and watch your mlm business grow!

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

First, all of the offline methods I train are very duplicatable and free or very low-cost. If you learn the right methods, it is very non-threatening and likely to be copied by any networker who is really serious about being successful.

Second, because so many people want to rely on the Internet these days, there is very little competition for the offline methods. Even small efforts can bring big rewards. Simple offline techniques are a great way to get new people started quickly.

And lastly, it lets me test the commitment of my new business partners. If they won’t follow these simple techniques, they are probably not serious about their business. For years I’ve had the best results building my business by identifying and spending my time with my most motivated and serious business partners.

Here are the 3 most effective offline methods new team members learn in our training:

Vehicle Lettering. A one-line call to action directing prospects to either an 800 number or a website is very effective. I recommend the back window of the vehicle for best visibility. Inexpensive vinyl lettering can be ordered online or at a local sign shop.

Sizzle Cards. Also known as drop cards, these are business card size advertisements again pointing to either an 800 number or a website. They can be left on store counters, bulletin boards, with the tip at a restaurant, and a number of other places.

Collecting Business Cards. We train our team to get in the habit of collecting other people’s business cards as they go about their daily routine. We use a simple email to approach these people to see if they are open to looking at another stream of income.

Learn to use these simple but effective methods for offline and local marketing. They can create a big increase in success in your mlm business.

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

One of the first things I ask a new business partner to do is to give serious thought to exactly why they joined me in the business. I want them to understand that it’s not just for the money. What are they really looking for the business to do for them? What will the money provide?

Maybe it’s to be home with the kids. Maybe it’s for the new house they’ve been dreaming of. Perhaps it’s the freedom to come and go as they like without answering to a boss. It might be to create a secure retirement.

I ask them to put their Why in writing, tape a copy to their desk where they can see it regularly, and email a copy to me.

Here’s why understanding your Why is so important. You are going to have ups and downs in any business. We all do. I have tough days. And I have easy days. It’s all just part of network marketing.

Some appointments will not show up. People will quit. A new business partner you had high hopes for will turn out to be a whiner and excuse-maker. Products will be on back order. Leads will give bad phone numbers. All kinds of challenges will come your way.

When I have a tough day, I just think about my Why…and it keeps me pushing ahead. Knowing my business partner’s Why, lets me better understand and help them, too. Over the years, I’ve found that those in MLM network marketing who are very successful, always have a very strong Why!

If you haven’t done so yet, give serious thought to your Why. Write it down and share it with your sponsor. When challenges do come up, think of your Why. You’ll find it has a dramatic impact on your success!

Check out my Why in this YouTube video.

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

For most people, working a traditional job will never get them to where they want to be.

Job security is a thing of the past. More good people than ever are facing cut-backs, lay offs, and unsuccessful job searches. Retirees are worried about their retirement funds. Income from savings has bottomed out. Many families are struggling just to survive.

If you are serious about being able to live a dream lifestyle, look into starting your own home based business. Choose the right one, and you can build a successful, lucrative business in just a few spare hours per week. You can use it to supplement or even replace the income from a traditional job. I haven’t had a real “job” in over 8 years now, and it’s awesome!

In choosing a home based business, I highly recommend mlm or network marketing. It’s a business concept that works better today than it ever has, thanks to the Internet and automated business-building systems.

In MLM or network marketing you can leverage the efforts of others by building a team. There is no better way to build long-term residual income. In fact, you can make a lot of money in a short period of time with the right company and system.

Here are the 3 keys to choosing the right mlm network marketing business. Pick a business with a high demand product that sells itself. Look for something with a low start-up cost so the business appeals to the masses. And most importantly, find a successful mentor and system to follow.

Look into starting your own home business today. Do your research carefully. Pick the right opportunity and get to work. It’s easier than you think…you too can live a dream lifestyle!

To your success,

Joe Barclay
Online MLM Mentor

One of the biggest lies in internet marketing is the idea that all you have to do is put up a website or landing page. Thousands of people have found this out the hard way. Unfortunately, putting up the website is the easy part. The difficult part, and the real challenge is getting massive traffic to that website.

Only a few internet marketers really know the secrets to successfully dominate the search engines. Before you join any team and mentor who claim to be able to dominate Google, have them show you proof. Ask to see several relevant, frequently searched keyword phrases where they have top listings.

When you learn to dominate the search engines, the rewards can be huge. One of the toughest challenges in network marketing is always having enough good prospects looking at your business each day. The old-school solution to the challenge was to purchase mlm leads. That can be very frustrating and expensive.

By learning to dominate the search engines, you can have an ongoing supply of top quality prospects looking at your business. And these prospects are far better than the ones you purchase. Many will end up calling you, asking to join your business.

However, the best part of search engine domination is that you can create this huge supply of mlm leads for free. It’s really easy once you know how.

Learn to dominate the search engines. It’s the smart way to grow your mlm business.

Allow me to mentor YOU to massive success. When you join our team, I will mentor you personally. I will teach you how to dominate the search engines like I do…the TOP listings on Google for SEVERAL hot keyword searches!

Want proof? Call me anytime.

To your success,

Joe Barclay
518-636-4116
Online MLM Mentor

Sadly, many people in network marketing do not have a good mentor. And there seem to be several reasons for it.

One of the major reasons is that most people who are new to mlm just don’t realize how important their choice of a mentor is. Another is that many network marketers don’t take the time to choose wisely. Maybe they get caught up in the hype and excitement of the business. Maybe they are in too big of a hurry to get started. But, the most common reason is that the majority of networkers don’t know exactly what to look for in a good mlm mentor.

Here are the key qualities of a good mentor.

Your mentor must have experience in the industry. You will want help building your business both offline and online. Ask exactly how you will be coached to work your business. What is the system you will follow. If they tell you they have an exclusive hot lead source, that’s a red flag. Find someone who can demonstrate they have mastered the Internet.

Your mentor must be accessible. You need someone you can get in touch with day or night. When you have a hot prospect to do a 3-way call with during the day and your mentor is at his/her job then, that’s not much help. Join someone who is a full-time networker. Call your prospective mentor’s office at 10am. If they don’t answer live, see how long it takes them to get back to you.

Your mentor must have a likable personality and leadership qualities. You are going to spend a lot of time working together over the coming years. Take a few minutes to get to know him/her. They must have good communication skills, be well-organized, and know how to treat others with respect.

Your network marketing success depends on it. Take your time and partner with a good mlm mentor.

If you are in the process of selecting (or re-selecting) a mentor, let’s talk. I’ll be glad to share with you the details on what’s working so well for us and our team, and how it can do the same for you.

To your success,

Joe Barclay
518-636-4116
Online MLM Mentor