PRODUCT NAME: IBOToolBox (Internet Business Owner) Toolbox
Overall Ranking: 9 out of 10
Price: Free (option to pay for additional ad space at $19.95 per month)
Owners: Paul Williams
Website: www.ibotoolbox.com
INTRODUCTION
Internet Business Owner Tool Box (IBOToolBox) is a community of online business owners who work together to help grow their businesses. IBOToolBox is a social networking site that is solely dedicated to business owners who want to promote their business opportunity or other programs to…other business owners. Understand that one way to attract prospects, if you’re marketing a network marketing business, is to go after other network marketers…after all they bought into network marketing once, they are likely to buy into again.
IBOToolBox is an authority site which means pages created via the IBOToolbox platform rank very high with Google. Assuming you understand SEO and utilize a free keyword tool or Jaaxy, you are likely to achieve first page ranking.
You can join for free and receive access to everything to include webinars, ability to post press releases promoting your business while helping others, send messages to other business owners, and earn credits which can be used to post ads. You can utilize this platform to increase visibility and traffic to your blog or website without paying a penny. Utilizing the IBOToolbox, an online marketer does not need to rely on PPC (Pay-Per-Click) or other paid traffic programs. This is a 100% Free program. There is an option to purchase additional ad space for $19.95 per month, but it is not required.
PROS/CONS
Pros
- Free to Join
- Active community of thousands of members
- Everyone has access to the same material – no limitations are placed upon you
- Two weekly webinars, one on Wednesday and one on Saturday
- Friendly helpful members who have the same goals as you
- Authority site giving all content posted high ranking in Google
- Ability to earn “credits” as opposed to paying money for services and traffic
- Compose up to two daily press releases (not “real” press releases, but IBOToolBox press releases, which aid in your campaigns)
- A “SafeHaven” for online business owners and marketers.
Cons
- Not a training site. All members are assumed to know the basics of affiliate marketing and website design.
- It can be confusing when you first join. You have to search hard to figure out how to do something. The platform is not intuitive.
- There are online business owners of ALL kinds which means you will run into people marketing pyramid schemes and MLM-type schemes such as Herbalife. I personally believe the majority of MLMs are scams. So, watch out because there are scammers on IBOToolbox. Use your senses and keep your guard up.
WHO IT IS FOR?
As mentioned above, this is not a training site. This is for the person who already has an established online business and already knows the basics. For those just starting out and wanting more information about where to begin with online marketing, get started with my #1 recommendation. IBOToolBox is a program that can be utilized in addition to my #1 recommendation for affiliate training. Please note, unlike my other reviews I have written on this site, I recommend you use IBOToolBox as a supplement to Wealthy Affiliate.
TRAINING/TOOLS OVERVIEW
There is training available on IBOToolBox to include webinars by Kris Karafotas, the IBOT Trainer. You can also send her a message easily and get a quick response. Angel Sharon, an IBOT member, has written a detailed tutorial on IBOT. There are also links to videos explaining how to do various tasks within the IBOT platform, such as how to create a press release and other similar tasks. There is training available, but you do have to hunt around for it and many things you will discover just by playing around with the system on your own.
SUPPORT
There is support available for IBOT. You can go to IBOTHelpDesk and get assistance.
FINAL OPINION/VERDICT
My personal opinion is that IBOToolBox is completely legitimate and I highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to network with other established online business entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and get additional traffic to their websites, because that is a huge priority for anyone building a successful internet business. My recommendation is to supplement a free membership with IBOT along with my #1 recommendation.
If you have any questions or comments for me, please leave them below and I will reply shortly. I would also especially love to hear from those who have first-hand experience with IBOT. Have a wonderful day!
25 thoughts on “Review of IBO Toolbox”
Thanks for a great review!
I really appreciate your honest reviews, Stephanie! I was on the verge of joining this program and I did a little bit of research in order to assure that it is legit.
Although IBO Toolbox doesn’t stack up too well against Wealthy Affiliate, the training, help an support is there, live too which is a huge benefit when comparing to the many scams out there.
Are there any up to date promotional strategies to learn from as I read that most are outdated and that ain’t good for an ever evolving web based business?
I am a blogger and looking to expand my business and certainly require some training on receiving visitors via Social Media into my website.
How would you say their Social Media training stacks up against what Wealthy Affilite can provide as I’m looking to expand my skills through this avenue?
Thanks,
Dave
Hi Dave:
Thanks for stopping by and reading my reviews both on IBO and Wealthy Affiliate. Social Media is definitely a key factor in expanding your blogging business. You are on the right path when thinking of ways to expand and grow your business. Everyone who uses a smartphone, tablet, desktop, etc. uses some form of social media and it is the best way to get your message out to people. My best advice when selecting which social media platform to go with is first know your audience. Who is your audience that you are blogging to? Who reads your blogs? Who do you help with your blog articles? The reason for this is because different generations and age groups use different forms of social media. For instance, the largest age population of Instagram users in the United States is between 24-35 years of age. They make up one quarter of the people who use Instagram. Only 3% of Instagram users are 65 years and older. Thus, if your blogger audience is geared toward retired senior citizens, using Instagram to try and reach your audience is not wise.
To answer your question about social media training and Wealthy Affiliate, yes there is ample training on Wealthy Affiliate for social media. When you have become a veteran member of Wealthy Affiliate, as I have, you can create training that helps others, and I have created training on social media, such as How to Link Twitter to Your Facebook Business Page. If you need help on creating a Facebook Business page, I have a video tutorial on how to do it, How to Create a FB Business Page.
I hope I have helped you with all of this information and it was not too much. Be sure to stay in touch and let me know if I can help in any way.
Sincerely,
Steph
Great review Steph. As a wA-er myself you are one of my most trusted friends. You helped us a lot. As I find IBO Tools too complicated, though I have sensed that it is a great platform, I googled to find out if someone could help me understand more about it. Then I stumbled on your review. Thank you so much for the great review, I am now ready to join it. I trust you 100%.
Cheers,
Kipps
Hi Kipps:
Oh, thank you so much for the kind words. I am glad my review has helped you out. I agree that IBOT can be overwhelming at first and there are even more sections and parts and updates to it since I wrote this review, so even I find it really hard to keep up with.
Many thanks again for the thoughtful words.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
The link doesn’t seem to be working. Do you get bonus points or anything if I join via your site?
If so I’ll leave it for now.
Thomas.
Hi Steph. Just browsing your site when I came across this review. I think I definitely need to join IBOToolbox asap!
Thanks again for your help earlier.
Thomas
You are welcome Thomas. Any time I can help. Keep in touch.
Hi, I found you through a Google search for IBO reviews. Page 1 good job. Recognized your picture and realized we are Wealthy Affiliate Friends. figured your review would be honest. Thanks. I’ve been looking at IBO Toolbox for some time, but question the wisdom of trying to market to someone who is only interested in pitching their own product. I suppose networkers in IBO would be interested in WA because it provides excellent training and support on how to effectively build a website for any Internet or Affiliate Marketer. I agree with you about MLM. I avoid lotions, potions and soaps and know almost any MLM can be turned into a pyramid scheme by “heavy hitters” who encourage “stocking the store.” I know Herbalife got in trouble with running this type of operation. There are good MLMs out there but beware of the ones that emphasize recruiting and offer to sell you leads at high prices.
Hi Bill:
Thank you for visiting my website. I am glad you found my review through searching Google. I am always curious as to how people are finding me, such as is it through organic searching which is how you found me or through social media posts or other ways. I know who you are and yes, we are friends through Wealthy Affiliate.
As far as the wisdom of trying to market to someone who is only interested in pitching their own product, according to Kris, the trainer at IBOT, 96% of the people visiting IBOT are not members themselves, so much of the traffic you are supposedly attracting with your ads and press releases are to the 96% who are not associated with another product or company. So, that is something to consider. Now on that same point, as you noted, I only post honest reviews. That is made pretty clear from this website. I have yet to see any evidence to support this claim. For example, when I receive comments on my many authentic press releases I have published through IBOT, I am only receiving comments from current members of IBOT. So, I am not sure how to validate the claim made my Kris.
I agree that there are a few legitimate MLM programs out there, but it is my feeling that the majority of them are scams. Yes, any program that emphasizes recruiting your friends and family and purchasing large inventory of their products and having what you refer to as “stocking the store” is one to avoid at all costs.
Many thanks again for the thorough and pleasant comment. I wish you much success in your future endeavors.
Steph
Thank you for the reivew Steph. I am the premium member of Wealthy Affiliate but still I have been thinking that sharing all the ups and downs Online Business with someone would be highly beneficial. I mean it would be useful to have someone to talk about what we are going through in the online business right now. To motivate and to teach each other. What do you think would it be possible to find someone like that from IBO Toolbox?
Have you got to know people personally in Wealthy Affiliate or IBO Toolbox?
-Roope
Hi Roope:
Thank you for reading my review of IBOT. You have asked some great questions. In answer to your questions, IBOT would absolutely be a beneficial place to find someone to talk to about what we are going through in the online business. It is not as easy as many companies and programs will want you to believe and it is nice to have that connection with someone else. As far as getting to know people personally in Wealthy Affiliate and IBOT, yes I have gotten to personally know people from both communities. I have gotten to know more people with Wealthy Affiliate than with IBOT, because the platform is more geared to that at Wealthy Affiliate, but yes you can get to know people on a personal level.
Steph
A good review in general. There is really something about that Toolbox and would like to take a peek. Time is of essence to most of us and my rule of thumb is always to focus in Wealthy Affiliate lessons, keep up my sharing, exploring and building my niche web content and business. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Fred. I agree Wealthy Affiliate is the priority, but if you are looking to expand your business and get more referrals you will need to look outside of WA to find them. And IBOT is one place that will help you. With IBOT, you can create free ads as opposed to doing PPC (Pay-Per-Click) and you can get more exposure for your business. Thank you so much for visiting Fred.
10 on 10 for your reviews. It’s really helpful to decide about the legitimate online business and you website is stunning.
Hi Darius!
Thank you for the kind compliment. I am glad my website is helpful to you. Happy Holidays!
Steph
I just came across IBO yesterday and thought about joining soon. But you make a good point– if it’s not easy to understand how to use you could waste valuable time, and not know how to use it to its full potential. It sounds like IBO is better for people with some experience. Thanks for the breakdown.
You mention Wealthy Affiliate provides good training. If you had to put a price on the FREE training there, what would it be?
Hi Den:
I am glad you have found value in my IBOT (Internet Business Owner’s) Tool Box review. I actually had not heard of it either until recently, but realized what a valuable asset it can be for someone who is needing more traffic to their website so to grow their business. The great thing about is that IBOT is free to join. You can purchase ad space, but it is not required. Use can instead accumulate credits doing what you would want to do anyways to build your business and than use those credits to place some affiliate advertising.
Thank you for reading my review of IBOT. I hope to see you over there soon.
Steph
Dear Steph,
Wow! A great Review on IBOToolbox you have composed here. 🙂 It is a great platform. Its Free, and probably the best way to promote your Website, gain more Website Visitors to your Content, as well as having your Banner Ads running on autopilot whenever you want without the need to spend a penny. 🙂 While there may not be training step-by-step, there are webinars, and in some cases, few members would approach you and send you a message about an intro on what you can do when you get started at IBOToolbox also.
You can have a IBOTube Account here to upload your YouTube Videos.
Loads of various ways to earn Credits. 🙂 By logging in daily, you can get 25 Credits. 🙂
Thanks for warning about scammers, they are everywhere. I was approached by some MLM promoters too, simply told them I am not interested and they did not say anything else afterwards. They were just well wishers that I have a pleasant experience at IBOToolbox.
One of the other neat things about IBOToolbox is that, you can see how many Visitors per day you get with your IBOSocial Profile. In term with the Press Releases and or Videos you provide, more people would want to interact with you more, look through your PRs, and even send you Associate Requests to grow your Network of Followers here. 🙂
You can do a Chat with the members who are online too. 🙂
Wishing you all the best with your online success above and beyond the horizon. 🙂
~Angel
Hi Angel:
Thank you for leaving a great comment and thank you again for your training on how to use the IBOT system since there is not much in the way of the step-by-step training there. You are right about being able to utilize your videos you have on YouTube to gain more exposure. Videos can be a great aspect to growing the traffic to your website, because people are very visually oriented.
I have been trying to get the maximum of two press releases out per day and since IBOT has high ranking, your content can achieve some great exposure and visibility. Thank you again for reading my review. I certainly appreciate it.
Steph
I hadn’t heard of IBOToolBox before. It sounds like something I might want to take a look at once I have gained more experience as an internet marketer though the inclusion of scammers doesn’t sound that good. I will stick with WA for now and will see what the future brings.
Hi Matthew:
The scammers on IBOT is definitely one of the disadvantages, but if you are keen to be able to pick up on them, you can easily ignore them. Since you have experience in internet marketing, you should be okay with being able to steer clear from them.
I certainly agree that you should stick with Wealthy Affiliate, because that is the primary training and community resource for affiliate marketers and web designers.
Steph
Nice post Steph.
Just a couple of quick questions.
Do you know if IBOToolBox admin is doing anything to clean/keep away scamers?
Do you think is a good idea finish with Wealthy Affiliate once you complete the trainings and keep going with IBOToolBox?
Thanks
Hi Carolos:
You have asked some great questions. In answer to your awesome questions:
1. Unlike Wealthy Affiliate’s strict no-spam policy, IBOT does not seem to have the same strictness in dealing with spammers, so you do need be careful.
2. There is so much to Wealthy Affiliate than just the training. WA also provides web hosting for up to 25 websites with the low annual premium of $359 or $299 if you were able to take advantage of the recent Black Friday deals. IBOT does not offer a web hosting plan. They are a community of like-minded online entrepreneurs who work to earn credits through publishing press releases and being active so to place ads promoting their business opportunities and get high ranking within Google. There is no cost to join IBOT. It is an excellent supplement to WA, but not to be considered a replacement. WA offers top the line training, access to the owners like Kyle and a web hosting plan that is comparable to other similar web hosting companies. Check out my web hosting reviews to learn more about how these plans stack up to WA.
I hope that helps answer your questions. I thank you ever so kindly for checking out my review of IBOToolBox.
Sincerely
Steph
Great review. Thanks for the clarification. I had joined IBOToolbox years ago but being a newbie, I really didn’t understand how to use it. I finally gave up and moved on because there was no training which left me scratching my head in front of my monitor. I had not really found any value in spending any time or effort there. Now with your review, I will give them a second look as a secondary lead generation system if nothing else.
Thanks for the info.
Hi Sue:
Thank you for sharing your experience with IBOToolBox. It does sound like, as a newbie, IBOToolBox was completely confusing. Yes, IBOToolBox is designed for someone who already has prior knowledge and experience in affiliate marketing, SEO and web design. There is no training in those areas. That is why I suggest getting started with Wealthy Affiliate and then once you are established and have a website and wish to take it to the next level by acquiring more traffic to your website, then joining IBOToolBox is a great way to go.
You stated it correctly by referring to it as a secondary lead generation system. That is precisely what it is designed for. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you at IBOToolBox soon.
Sincerely
Steph