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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!
Showing posts with label Internet Scams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Internet Scams. Show all posts
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Article Published in Ezine Articles!
I am so pleased to announce that I just had one of my articles published in Ezine Articles (http://ezinearticles.com/?id=988616)! I have reprinted it here for your enjoyment! :) I hope you get something of value from it.
Internet Home Based Business - Scam, Hype, or the Real Deal? Due Diligence is the Key!
With all the online business opportunities flooding the market today it is becoming more difficult to tell the difference between the real deal and one that exists simply to take your money and disappear the next day.
On the other hand, an online business opportunity may NOT be a scam - but it may be so steeped in hype that you don't know WHAT to believe!
Remember, there is a difference between a scam and hype. "Hype" usually overstates the value of the opportunity and a "scam" presents an opportunity that does not usually exist.
Scams usually rear their ugly heads at the beginning of the sale pitch. You may read something like "make tons of money with little or no effort" (ask ANYONE who really works a successful home based business if they "did it in their sleep!").
Another popular come-on claims that you will be making money within 10 minutes of signing up (again - ask someone who IS making it if they turned a profit within 10 minutes! I know I didn't!).
There are NO business opportunities where you can make tons of money and not do anything. Yes, it IS possible to make enormous sums of money online. But overnight?
Not likely.
It can take weeks, if not months to generate enough traffic to your site to begin making money online! Is it worth the effort? Absolutely yes! ...IF you want it badly enough to actually do the work., and IF you are investing in an opportunity built on truth, integrity, and value.
Invest in a home based business opportunity only after doing your due diligence. A lot of the hype you read is designed to entice you act right now - impulsively, based on your emotions at the moment rather than based on calm, patient, and rational review of the opportunity.
Let me ask you this: If you have a hankering for a donut one day, and happen upon a donut franchise offered for sale, would you buy it, based on your immediate craving for a donut? Of course not!
Instead, you might ask: What is the demand is for a donut shop in the area (after all - why is it for sale to begin with?)? Is there enough traffic driving by to sustain a donut shop?
In other words, you would certainly not invest in a business based on your immediate emotional response. Well, the same logic should rule your decisions regarding a home based business opportunity.
Here are some things to consider as you continue your due diligence:
1) Can you speak with someone to get your questions answered before you invest? For example, in my case, I am fortunate that we have real humans who are ready to speak with a prospect about any questions they have - sometimes within 15 minutes of filling out a simple request - BEFORE they invest!
2) What is the demand for the product you will be marketing? Don't depend on the hyped advertising and testimonials to determine actual demand. Search the internet for the product you are considering. Is there a wealth of information, and numerous vendors selling the similar products? If so - that's a good thing!
If, however, the only listings showing up on your internet search happen to be the opportunity you're looking at - well... you might be better off finding a different product to market!
The particular opportunity that I represent taps into the luxury travel market. But I'm far from the ONLY person on the internet involved in the travel industry! Travel happens to be a multi-billion dollar a year business - and not likely to be monopolized by one product or opportunity.
3) Finally, does the company offer value to the customer? Does it operate based on truth, honesty, and integrity? Follow your gut instincts! If something doesn't sound right - if you feel that the customer isn't really getting something of value, then you are wise to have second thoughts before committing. After all - how hard are you going to work promoting a product that you don't feel good about?
So, learn the truth and the facts about what it really takes to start, build, and - most importantly - sustain a home based business BEFORE you invest! You will thank yourself later!
Kathy Tremblay loves internet marketing, which allows her to reach out to people all over the globe. She is an active affiliate of the ground-breaking Global Resorts Network business opportunity. "It's much easier to succed in home based business if you start with and build on Truth and Integrity - and this includes having a real product with real value to your customers!" she says. For more info, please visit her websites here: http://truthtowealthonline.com/ or http://jointhesuccessteam.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Tremblay
Internet Home Based Business - Scam, Hype, or the Real Deal? Due Diligence is the Key!
With all the online business opportunities flooding the market today it is becoming more difficult to tell the difference between the real deal and one that exists simply to take your money and disappear the next day.
On the other hand, an online business opportunity may NOT be a scam - but it may be so steeped in hype that you don't know WHAT to believe!
Remember, there is a difference between a scam and hype. "Hype" usually overstates the value of the opportunity and a "scam" presents an opportunity that does not usually exist.
Scams usually rear their ugly heads at the beginning of the sale pitch. You may read something like "make tons of money with little or no effort" (ask ANYONE who really works a successful home based business if they "did it in their sleep!").
Another popular come-on claims that you will be making money within 10 minutes of signing up (again - ask someone who IS making it if they turned a profit within 10 minutes! I know I didn't!).
There are NO business opportunities where you can make tons of money and not do anything. Yes, it IS possible to make enormous sums of money online. But overnight?
Not likely.
It can take weeks, if not months to generate enough traffic to your site to begin making money online! Is it worth the effort? Absolutely yes! ...IF you want it badly enough to actually do the work., and IF you are investing in an opportunity built on truth, integrity, and value.
Invest in a home based business opportunity only after doing your due diligence. A lot of the hype you read is designed to entice you act right now - impulsively, based on your emotions at the moment rather than based on calm, patient, and rational review of the opportunity.
Let me ask you this: If you have a hankering for a donut one day, and happen upon a donut franchise offered for sale, would you buy it, based on your immediate craving for a donut? Of course not!
Instead, you might ask: What is the demand is for a donut shop in the area (after all - why is it for sale to begin with?)? Is there enough traffic driving by to sustain a donut shop?
In other words, you would certainly not invest in a business based on your immediate emotional response. Well, the same logic should rule your decisions regarding a home based business opportunity.
Here are some things to consider as you continue your due diligence:
1) Can you speak with someone to get your questions answered before you invest? For example, in my case, I am fortunate that we have real humans who are ready to speak with a prospect about any questions they have - sometimes within 15 minutes of filling out a simple request - BEFORE they invest!
2) What is the demand for the product you will be marketing? Don't depend on the hyped advertising and testimonials to determine actual demand. Search the internet for the product you are considering. Is there a wealth of information, and numerous vendors selling the similar products? If so - that's a good thing!
If, however, the only listings showing up on your internet search happen to be the opportunity you're looking at - well... you might be better off finding a different product to market!
The particular opportunity that I represent taps into the luxury travel market. But I'm far from the ONLY person on the internet involved in the travel industry! Travel happens to be a multi-billion dollar a year business - and not likely to be monopolized by one product or opportunity.
3) Finally, does the company offer value to the customer? Does it operate based on truth, honesty, and integrity? Follow your gut instincts! If something doesn't sound right - if you feel that the customer isn't really getting something of value, then you are wise to have second thoughts before committing. After all - how hard are you going to work promoting a product that you don't feel good about?
So, learn the truth and the facts about what it really takes to start, build, and - most importantly - sustain a home based business BEFORE you invest! You will thank yourself later!
Kathy Tremblay loves internet marketing, which allows her to reach out to people all over the globe. She is an active affiliate of the ground-breaking Global Resorts Network business opportunity. "It's much easier to succed in home based business if you start with and build on Truth and Integrity - and this includes having a real product with real value to your customers!" she says. For more info, please visit her websites here: http://truthtowealthonline.com/ or http://jointhesuccessteam.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Tremblay
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