Finding Legitimate Home Based Businesses

I have been receiving a lot of emails and ads lately from people who know that I have some history in network marketing and home based business in general. I guess up here in New Hampshire, where the area boasts beautiful scenery - but not a whole lot of diversity in employment options - a lot of us are attracted to the idea of working at home.

Naturally, when someone gets involved with a network marketing group (aka MLM), the phones begin ringing while new representatives call up the top 10 people on their list (MLM folks, you know what I'm talking about!) :) and give invitations to their various home meetings.

I cannot tell you how many of these meetings I have been invited to - and how many times I have personally invited people to my own meetings. There is nothing wrong with this - many fortunes have been made in this way!

If I do not join a particular organization, it's not necessarily that I'm not interested in selling the product itself - in my case, it's just that I do not want to have to contacta network of people I know. I think I'm pretty much done with that method of marketing (I don't have a very thick skin for rejection).

But, because I do love selling, my own preference is to market via the internet.

Ah. Usually, when I'm having this discussion with someone about internet marketing, I get this question, "But Kathy, aren't there a log of internet scams out there?"

My answer is: "I don't know. I don't look for internet scams. I look for legitimate products, legitimate companies, and legitimate home based businesses." Kind of using the Law of Attraction... If I were thinking about being scammed, I'd probably find all sorts of ways to be scammed. Personally, I find lots of terrific products, and equally terrific companies.

As an aside: Because I enjoy copywriting, I do tend to look at my daily direct mail pieces I receive here at home (aka "Junk Mail"). And, because I do look fairly carefully at this stuff to see how other writers are promoting products and opportunities, I have to say that the ONLY time I have personally seen MLM or Network Marketing organizations that are scams or untrustworthy are some of the "Get Rich Quick" schemes, chain letters or astrology reports (from psychics who tell me that they are sincerely alarmed about what is about to happen to me - and that they can help me, but only if I respond to their offer) I've received via Direct Mail.

Most of the programs I've been involved with or invited to view are all high class, first rate programs with excellent products. It's just that a lot of them don't resonate with me on a gut level.

As an example, I love candles in my home - but I'm not interested in selling them. The same goes for jewelry. I just don't really care about it.

Now we can talk about selling things via Internet Marketing though! I love internet marketing. Again, I prefer to see the positive, real products and opportunities - and not spend my time looking for scams.

So, how can a person find a great internet marketing opportunity? Well, for starters - ignore all your spam emails. If you don't know the person writing to you, or it's just an advertisement for the latest "get rich quick" scam - just delete it. Don't spend any of your time or energy on it. None.

When you are searching for a product, check out the scam or ripoff websites to see who is saying what about a product or company (keep in mind that there will always be people who are merely complaining - ignore them. Go for the well-balanced, well-thought-out responses.

Check out the Better Business Bureau Online - and again, keep in mind that no one is perfect. Even the best business opportunity or product will have someone who is a detractor or has a complaint. Hey, it's a big world out there, and lots of people having lots of reactions to things. So, look for balance. If it seems like there is a heavy leaning towards problems with a company, and not a good enough rating, then keep on searching.

That's good for starters... I'll write again on this topic, because there is a lot to say! Suffice it to say that doing your due diligence BEFORE you join an opportunity is the prevention that is the best medicine!