Scam Here, Scam There The Bizz Op Abyss

It seems we’re in no better position than when those shady pyramid schemes dominated the biz op world, followed by multi-level confusion and so called “60 second” cash generators. Although now, scams seem to have disappeared, it may just be that they’re better disguised than ever before. How does someone choose from the plethora of hype saturating the search engines which money-making scheme to join?

I’m going to give you the 3 criteria I would keep an open mind to when searching for that dream home job.

Clue 1 – Are you asked to pay a 3 figure start-up fee?

Just don’t. Any respectable company would not make you pay to work within their network. Small start up fees including tools and genuine products to help your marketing or web design is fine, but to pay a pure start-up fee is like a super-market charging you an entry fee. Any good business person would know that to charge to join your business is instantly cutting out an extra 50% or so sign-ups.

Clue 2 – Are you in complete control?

The whole idea of starting an online business is that you’re in control; you have no boss to set you deadlines. A good sign a company is genuine is if they pitch you their model or idea and then you are free to apply your own techniques. For example promotional and marketing jobs leave you free to promote in your own inventive ways. If you simply buy an e-book on ezine marketing all it is doing is giving you a suggested model to work to for success, but at least it allows you to add your own ideas, which is what makes you different from all the other marketers out there.

Clue 3 – Are you actually….doing….anything?

The most annoying junk I get in my email inbox is from so-called “business opportunities” that when you read through their pitch you can’t quite put your finger on just how you will be making money. Programs that use the word “automated”, you have to be careful and although some opportunities are automated once setup, claims along the lines of “sign-up and watch money roll in on autopilot!” or “watch as people join your down-line underneath you!” – trash it, trash it, trash it! Waste of your time, if not your money.

There are some crazy sites out there. One I had an invitation to recently stated I could buy and e-book from this website and get double my money back, straight away! Do you seriously think if this really worked I would be sitting here slagging it off?

There is such a thing as get rich quick, but there is no get rich quick “schemes”. The only way to earn a good income on the web is from your input and your own hard work, like with any business in the offline world.

If you have no website, you are more likely to fall for the sucker punches, but there is one business opportunity out there that isn’t based on a “model” or a “scheme”, it’s based on you putting your work in, deciding what you promote, when you promote it and how. It is an industry in marketing responsible for more millionaires than any other but is a concept rather than a unique opportunity with its own website.

I’m talking about affiliate marketing. Selling other company’s or people’s products for cash. Now, there is no central website or HQ of affiliate marketing, but there is a free e-course which you can sign up for to watch videos of how to get started the right way in affiliate marketing and earn those commissions.

Find it at: http://www.futureaffiliate.com

Set your own success model and treat it like your business – you should never have to type in “home business opportunity” into the search engines ever again.

Mike Beatham is an affiliate marketing coach and runs a free video e-course at http://www.futureaffiliate.com which you can sign up for today.