How do you prospect successfully?

What is your idea of successful prospecting? It’s interesting to hear different responses when networkers are faced with this question. Many will argue that it’s simply passing out your information to see who “bites” and BOOM you got yourself a prospect. As ludicrous as that sounds I used to think the same way when I first got started in the world of Network Marketing. If you look up the word prospecting in a thesaurus you will see that it pretty much says it’s a quest for precious metals and minerals. The key word is “precious”. So when you actually prospect for your business you’re looking for something or someone of value. You are sorting. You’re looking to see who is your prospect and who is the suspect. Period. End of story.

When it comes down to building your MLM/Network Marketing business and finding associates that will represent your product, goods or services here is what prospecting is not:

Emailing your contact database with your opportunity
Blasting messages on Facebook or Twitter with your opportunity
Having a diarrhea of the mouth with your friends and family
Handing out business cards at a networking event without building rapport
Posting fliers on bus stops, in supermarkets and other places
Dropping sizzle cards in parking lots or sticking them in car windshields
Connecting on social media for the sole purpose of advertising
Putting together a “system” that will magically recruit people for you
Babysitting your new rep or downline “training” them on things you should be doing yourself
Organizing your desk and making your list.

Now, there are a couple of dozen more things I can think of when it comes to what prospecting is not but these are the most common activities that home business owners misunderstand.

Lets take a close look at what successful prospecting actually is:

Building rapport with new contacts
Using social media to find those that are LOOKING.
Asking the right questions.
Finding a need.
Calling qualified leads (people that ASKED for more information about your comp.)
Qualifying people for your time.
Collecting cards & taking notes instead of giving out cards
Meeting decision makers, professionals people of influence & leaders

Again, there are dozens and dozens more but these are just several common and most productive activities that make up successful prospecting.

There are a lot of industry experts that have great programs that can teach you the Science Behind Prospecting but one of the best that I’ve learned from when I got started in this industry and still learn from today is Todd Falcone.
If you go to his site you will see an array of great programs he offers. One of my favorite programs is his Insider Secrets To Recruiting Professionals and you can actually pick it up here at www.JimRohn.com for $120 less than what it retails for on Todd’s site. Not to take anything away from his site but if you can save why the heck not get it for less? Besides, if Todd found out that you used his programs and produced results then went ahead and referred it someone else he will be glad.

Happy prospecting