From Education to Appreciation: Understanding (and Succeeding In) the Home Business Industry

I am active in discussions online because I like to learn. I like to learn more about various view points, experiences and the backgrounds of those who are giving the view points. So in my quest to determine exactly where the misconceptions surround the home business industry come from, I settled on what I feel to be the major cause of these misconceptions: lack of education!

Now I don't mean education in terms of elementary, high school or college and degrees. I simply mean that the general public lacks a basic understanding of home business, what it means, what it involves, and what kinds of goals and expectations should be set. We've been presented with so many different slogans, promises and expectations that it seems hard to know what to really expect from a home business of any kind.

To get to the root of the problem, I'm analyzing the general mentality of 2 groups: those who are already in a home business and trying to create an income, and those who are actively (and even desperately) seeking an opportunity of their own. So first, we look at independent reps and distributors of income opportunities. Most do not have enough knowledge (or bother to gain enough before they start to promote) about their own opportunities. So most are not able to answer questions about their programs with ease, and usually refer you to their sponsor or upline (who sadly know little more than they do) to have your questions answered. This is the first part in the breakdown of communications, and contributes greatly to many of the misconceptions that plague the industry.

In addition to the lack of knowledge about their own opportunities, many reps and distributors are out for one thing and one thing only: to make money. Rarely do they take into consideration the actual products and services being offered, which poses 2 other major problems. Not only can they not answer questions about their wares, but it also leaves to the imagination the reason for the products being offered at all. I have noticed this in particular with a lot of direct sales-based opportunities. There are viable products and services being offered, but because many distributors are more focused on making money (and recruiting others into their opportunity, thinking this the best and fastest way to earn), they promote only the income opportunity, making the products look useless or worthless. And lets not forget the big-time promises that are made by a lot of distributors and reps in their advertising. They mislead interested prospects with claims of huge earnings (sometimes skyrocketing into the double-digit thousands per month), as well as promising all kinds of training and support that they aren't capable of providing because they don't have a clue themselves. This kind of unethical advertising presents false statistics and creates ill-formed expectations in the minds of those looking to join. And these together subject the entire business opportunity and company (not just that individual distributor) to scam accusations.

The other problem (and perhaps the biggest one) caused by reps and distributors is that because they are in the frame of mind to only make a quick buck, they rarely stick around to help those they do manage to snag get started. This leads to a heap of new members that have little to know experience, even less knowledge than the one before them, and no clue as to how to get their businesses off the ground. And because they know no better, these new members turn around and take up the same unethical practices as the ones who've sponsored them, thinking it the best way to get sales.

Now we'll look at the other half, those seeking to join or start a home business. The first thing I want to cover is perhaps the most important, and the reason for the majority of bad decisions that are made when starting a home business. While there are those who are already entrepreneurs seeking a new opportunity to add to their repertoire, most of the individuals researching and looking to start with a home business are people who are struggling financially, fed up with their jobs, up to their eyeballs in debt and looking for an end-all to their problems. These kinds of situations create a very vulnerable mental state, a state which doesn't respond to reason, which isn't able to rationalize. SO what might appear to a clear-headed person as an outright scam starts to look like a great deal to someone in that desperate and vulnerable mental state. This leads to decisions being made in haste, with little or no research being done and little thought as to how the decision will affect them financially and emotionally, or even how it will affect their families.

As if this weren't bad enough, many opportunity seekers fall for the exaggerated hype that is being thrown about by inexperienced and ill-prepared distributors. This could be due to that vulnerable mental state I mentioned earlier. Promises of easy riches with little or no effort are particularly enticing, because the seekers are so worn out from there day-to-day routines and feeding solely on the hope that there is a program out there that will work, and the more they promise the better the opportunity must be. And from the hype, they develop the notion that they will not have to work much, but can still earn money. Instead of leaning on their better judgment and common sense, they look for "the lazy man's way out" of their situations.

But it gets worse. It's amazing to me what lengths people will go to in order to make sure they're purchasing the best vacuum or car. People utilize tools like Consumer Reports every day to make sure they're purchases are good ones. But when it comes to business, that "cautious consumer" mentality flies completely out the window. All it takes is a few simple searches online to find out more about a particular business opportunity or home business company. Yet the number of folks who don't bother to do this before jumping into an opportunity is astounding! Where there are review sites and forums a-plenty to learn about the true nature of a program (and the kinds of people promoting it), there should be no reason to be ill-informed about anything! Yet seekers become either extremely skeptical, so much so that they don't even bother to research opportunities but give them up for scams, or they become infatuated and take the plunge before they even know what they're paying for!

And the kicker to all of this is that, when it's all said and done and a person has finally decided to go for an opportunity, they forget the most important skill they've ever learned...to READ! Those terms and policies aren't there to make the site look pretty and full of info. They are there to inform potentially new members of what is expected of them, and what they can expect in return. Every business opportunity I've ever been involved with has had specific rules, terms and policies. I've never seen one without. And the interesting thing is that in most cases, a person has to agree to abide by these terms and policies during the sign-up process. What's more, these terms and rules don't disappear once you become a member, they are still there for members to reference. How then, are there so many individuals who end up in court over situations with a home business opportunity (whether they violated some law or rule, or else feel cheated and want some kind of compensation or refund)?

All of these issues, for both distributors and opportunity seekers alike, arise from lack of education about the opportunity in question and the home business industry in general. Every misconception out there can be associated with lack of proper communication between the distributors and potential customers, lack of knowledge about the program, lack of effort in researching and/or joining, and an overall lack of common sense! So how can these issues be avoided, and misconceptions dissolved? Well, coming from the perspective of an entrepreneur who has both failed and succeeded, here are a few tips to help both distributor and opportunity seeker reach their desired goals:

For Distributors:

• Upon joining, learn all that you can about your program, you should know it inside and out!
• If there are consumable products, make it YOUR business to know all of the ingredients
• If products touch any portion of the body, be sure YOU know the possible side-effects
• Work up a list of frequently asked questions for yourself, and answer them!
• Work to make yourself the expert, NOT your sponsor or upline!
• DON'T promote until you're comfortable enough to answer all questions & close your own sales
• When promoting, use only realistic figures, facts and info that can be verified
• Learn proper marketing techniques, not spamming, cold-calling or harassment
  
• Stay AWAY from hype!
• Learn to generate your own leads through your own diligent marketing efforts
• Avoid confronting your "warm market" or complete strangers to promote
• Be sure you know how the sign-up process works, from start to finish
• Take your new customers/members personally through the sign-up process to avoid mistakes
• Have some sort of plan in place to help your new members get started
• Answer your phone and/or respond to emails from your downline

And last but not least....

DO NOT depend on the efforts of others to build your income! You know what results you want and when you want them. No one can make that happen better than you!

For Opportunity Seekers:

• Before you begin your search, take a good long look at your current financial situation
• If you cannot afford to start a business without using yoru credit card, then DON'T
• Make a list of realistic goals you hope to achieve through this business
• Look at your schedule, and make sure you'll have at least 1-2 hours a day to work it
• Be sure to choose a program that provides a product/service you can benefit from yourself
• If you can't feel proud about it, then DON'T promote it!
• When searching, look at several websites from which promote the same opportunity (chances are, each one has different info)
• Be proactive! Don't hesitate to ask questions. Answers won't appear magically in your head
• Do as much research (if not more) on the potential sponsor as you would on the program itself
• Be sure you're aware of all costs and fees upfront (including merchant accounts, etc.)
• Be sure to find out exactly what will be expected of you in order to achieve sales
• Talk to others in the program currently. If you feel the need, ask for proof of earnings
• List the pro's and cons, and then decide. If the cons outweigh, then move on!
• Take your time making a decision. Don't let anyone pressure you with time-sensitive offers
• If you decide to join, be sure you have fully read the terms, policies and so on
• If you have legal questions, get a statement from the founder(s) or consult an attorney
• Be sure you know exactly what you're paying for, and how to access it once you've paid
• When paying, be sure to keep all receipts

And of course, always go with your gut instinct. If it sounds too good to be true (as in promises of instant riches or huge incomes in a short amount of time), you may want to get a second opinion from another distributor or sponsor. If you feel the least bit uneasy about the program, then simply don't join. There are plenty of opportunities out there, and there's no reason to limit yourself. And finally, be an adult, be professional and be responsible. No one can force you to join a home business program. That decision has to come from you. So if you decide to go for it, realize that there will always be consequences to your actions. Or to put it better, what happens from then on will be a direct result of your choices. If you follow the steps above, you can protect yourself from getting involved with scams or unethical practices, and from losing money on programs that aren't the right fit for you.

No matter what the industry, success cannot come without proper education. If you're interested in home business, do your part to learn what you can before becoming a member of any opportunities. When you know what to expect, nothing can take you by surprise. In a closing reminiscent of my childhood days...."knowing is half the battle!"

The Home Based Business Phobia: An Analysis

by: Ina Stanley
August 12, 2007

Home based businesses have been around for a long time, even long before the internet gained the popularity it has today. Before MLM as we know it, there was Amway and Avon and Mary Kay. All reputable ways to earn a side income. But with the birth of similar opportunities and new business models operating primarily online, our society has been blanketed by a fear of such opportunities, which we are now calling the "home based business phobia."

While there are many reputable business opportunities online, there are just as many "scams" that have been grouped into the same category. These are usually services in exchange for post-payment (which never comes) or pyramid-type schemes that contain no real products, only the opportunity to earn from recruiting others. Unfortunately, as with most any situation, the negative starts to outweigh the positive. Before you know it, all home based businesses are overshadowed by the reputation of the few actual scams.

I believe that the fear of home based business stems from this fact, as well as others. While there are many potential customers who fear the scams without knowing what is and what isn't, there are also those who fear anything that is different from the norm in terms of earning a living. Lets face it, society raises us to work hard at a physical job. Even from youth, we are trained to do well in school all the way up through in the hopes of securing a decent job. It is what our parents did, and their parents, and all of our ancestors all the way back through time. So when the proposition of earning a decent living without working at a physical job makes its way into the minds of society's leaders, it is viewed in a negative light. This, I feel, is because we as humans naturally fear anything that is different, or that we don't understand. This is not how we've been raised, this isn't how anyone has every earned an income before (not a full-time income, anyway). Therefore, it is not easily accepted.

The truth is that entrepreneurship is what drives our economy. Even the largest of corporations started out as mom&pop stores or small-town restaurants. Small business and entrepreneurship help to balance out the hold that "big business" has on our economy. Without them, large corporations would have no competition and therefore no standards to uphold.

So exactly what is the biggest fear surrounding any home based business opportunity? I have a theory, and it involves initial start-up. Most individuals are afraid of losing the money they would have to invest. They are afraid of the risk involved. But what is so bad about risk? Don't most things in life involve some type of risk? The old adage "Nothing ventured, nothing gained..." comes to mind. If we never step out of the box that society has created, we will never know what could be. We will never experience different or better. We will, in short, become the one thing that our species fears the most...stagnant! Our world's best inventions (products and services like electricity, stop lights and air travel) came from forward-thinking individuals who dared to look outside of the "norm" for better and more efficient ways of living. Without those who embraced this mindset, we would still be living as Neanderthals, barely using fire to heat caves and cook food (and even this was forward thinking for the time).

The risks we take should always be calculated, to an extent. We should consider heavily the pro's and cons of our decisions. And the decisions we make should not be anything that would hurt us, injure our loved ones, or cause us to go completely and utterly broke. Well, home business doesn't do any of these things, does it? It does not threaten or harm us or our families, and if we are researching and investing wisely, it should not expend all of our income either. Home business in its original state was not meant to ruin financial situations, but to improve them, either by supplementing the existing income or surpassing and replacing it. So the fear is simply losing a few hundred, or possibly $1000 or more. A valid and understandable fear from those who work hard for every cent they have. However, part of the point of earning money is to put it to work for us. This is done by investing in programs (whether through stocks, money market accounts, CD's, savings accounts that accrue interest, online businesses or otherwise) that allow us to earn more than we've invested. When you put your money to work for you, you have a better chance of achieving financial security, which is what we are all working toward.

So then, should a person go out and join every money-making opportunity they can find? Of course not! Investing or starting a home business is a wise decision, but should be done with care. It is always a good idea to do ample research on the program(s) you are interested in joining. You must consider everything from the legal aspects to the products being promoted. And as an important side note, you should always investigate the person or entity that has introduced the opportunity to you. Often, this person will become your "sponsor" in the program, and the one responsible for guiding you and helping you to get going in the right directing. As disturbing at it is, there are some "sponsors" who are not fit to be so. The do little, if anything, to help their customers or affiliates. People like this unfortunately give their parent companies a less than desirable reputation. Most distributors work independently of their parent company. While there are certain regulations to follow, they are not limited in the ways they can advertise or market. For this reason, I recommend that when researching home business opportunities, you maintain an open mind and do just as much research (if not more) on the individual who will become your sponsor.

Lets talk about some of the other fears surrounding home based business. One of the most common ones is that the opportunity is illegal; not approved by state and government regulations. The easiest way to circumvent this issue is to check with local and state officials (usually the State Attorney General). If you are interested in a program, contact your state official to learn the requirements and restrictions for involvement in a home based business. And of course, one you join, take the necessary steps to report your income to the IRS, and to register your business with the federal government.

There are other less verbalized fears that pertain to our own abilities. Many individuals feel that they do not have what it takes to run a home business. They may feel they lack experienced in the industry, or lack skills necessary for marketing and customer service. The majority of home business programs in existence today offer some type of training and support. While some programs are better than others (according to current and past members or affiliates), it is not hard to gain the skills and experience necessary to succeed. If you are interested in joining a home business, be sure that your research includes an investigation of the company's (and sponsor's) training regimen and support. Join only if you are satisfied that you'll receive the individual help you need for your skill level and situation. Along with this, many fear that they will need large budgets for advertising their business. This issue too can be solved by the training offered with the opportunity. There are several methods of advertising for free that are very effective (though they can be a bit time-consuming). Your chosen home business program should know a good number of these methods and be willing to train you on these methods also. Be sure to ask if they include this in their training and support. If they do not, move on to researching another opportunity.

One of the last fears I have encountered is the investment of time. Individuals fear that operating a home business will take too much of their time; time away from their jobs, school, family or hobbies. The point of working from home (however you choose to do it) is to allow you more time at home to spend of your family or hobbies. A regular job in the workforce takes more time from these interests than a home business would. While jobs and school may seem secure, they do not allow you the freedom that you so rightly deserve. Home business programs seek to solve this problem by giving you the freedom to set your own hours. Also, home businesses, while they may take a bit more time in the beginning for initial set-up and marketing, can eventually run from just 2 or 3 hours of effort per day. Imagine earning more from a sale in one day than you would earn in 2 weeks or even a month from your job, and from 5 less hours of work? Is that not what we ultimately strive for? Time is important, especially because it is not guaranteed to any of us. The best way to maximize your time here on earth is to do what you can to enjoy more of it. A home based business can bring about an opportunity for freedom that most of us never though possible, thanks to society. Why not go for it, when there is so little to lose?

While all of the fears discussed are valid, none are so disheartening as the possibility of no future stability, no security or no retirement. More than anything, I fear having to come out of retirement to make ends meet. I fear having to compete with a younger, sharper and more technologically-inclined generation for a job at an older age. I fear not being able to retire when I want because I have not built up a deep-enough income or secure-enough future. I fear my children not being able to go to college if they want, or not having enough to provide everything they want and need. I fear working to the point where I have missed out on life's most precious moments...my children growing up, my relationship with my spouse, my grandchildren and so on. Most of all, I fear passing on nothing but debts to my loved ones. For me, these fears far outweigh the possibility of losing money or learning something new. It is for this reason that I became involved with the home business industry. I am young, and as so many say have my whole life ahead of me. I would like the personal and financial freedom to enjoy some of it. I would like to start off my marriage on a solid and secure plane. I would like to stay home with my children when they are born. I would like to see them off to school each day (or even home-school them), teach them new things, attend their performances and games, and be there to encourage their individuality. I would like to have something to pass on to each of them (a home, a substantial inheritance, a car...a future). I don't want my family to "want" for anything. My home based business is allowing me to do all of those things and more!

A few thoughts to those who are considering a home business of their own.

What is stopping you? What is it that you fear most about investing in a home based business? Do you not want all of the things described above? If all of your fears were addressed and dispelled, would you still be hesitant? If so, why?

The ugly truth is that today's economy and our workforce do not provide financial security. Your position can be terminated or passed on to another at any time, and without any notice. Most businesses, especially large corporations, focus only on the needs of the business. If you, your pay grade or your skills stand in the way of these needs, you pose a threat and will be removed without much consideration. And unfortunately, this type of treatment is legal in most states. Does this sound like security to you? Wouldn't you rather have control over how your family is allowed to live than a corporation that cares little about them? Wouldn't you want a back-up plan in case this happens to you? It is another sad truth that most individuals live and think inside their own little bubbles. They see unfortunate things happening all around them, but never stop to think that it could happen to them at any time. None of us are immune to such occurrences. None of us in invulnerable to the trials and tribulations of life. It may be someone else, but it can always just as easily be us! One more thought...if a major situation came about the required a large amount of money to solve (a fire, your only vehicle breaking down, a flood, a break-in or theft, even a baby being born), would you be able to handle it without depleting your life's savings? Would you be able to take care of it immediately? Or would it take months to save up enough?

A home business can be a great addition to any lifestyle. Most do not take exceeding amounts of time to work, most do not rob our wallets of of unbelievable amounts, and they allow us to earn enough to greatly supplement our current incomes, even replace them! With so many more pro's than cons, why shouldn't you consider a home based business of your own?

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Ina Stanley is a small business owner, marketing specialist and entrepreneur. She currently owns and operates several successful business ventures, including home business programs. Expertise gathered through several years of training and experience in business, marketing, investing and home business. More information on Ina can be found by visiting her personal website.

Contacting Ina Stanley:
Website: www.learn2earnfromhome.net
Email: the_power2be@yahoo.com
info@learn2earnfromhome.net
Phone: 919-672-2952

More on Money-Making Options...

Google Adsense

Adsense has become one of the most popular ways for webmasters and bloggers to earn money online. Essentially, Adsense allows you to sell advertising space on your blog or website. It also allows you to earn a certain amount for every time a visitor clicks on the ads you've placed on your site or blog.

While this can be a great way to earn additional income, there are several factors that will determine how much you can earn. For starters, your focus will have to be on driving traffic to your blog or website. Adsense will do you no good if there aren't enough visitors interested in what your site or blog offers. You will also need to focus on creating quality content. Adsense places ads based on the content of your site. In order to have the most relevant ads placed on your site, it is your job to provide enough content so that the proper types of ads can be matched with your site. Finally, you will have to ensure that you limit (or if possible, eliminate) fraudulent clicks on your ads. Google considers any ads that you click on while logged into your account, or that are clicked on from your specific IP address, to be fraudulent (an attempt made by you to increase your clicks and earning).

Adsense will work well for the experienced blogger or webmaster, and can significantly add to your income. It isn't an option to completely replace your income, but when done right by those with experience in search engine optimization and traffic generation, it will be one of the best additional income streams available today!


Ebay, Auctions and Storefronts

These are all great ways to create additional streams of income. However, there are other factors in addition to those listed earlier. Not only will you have to drive traffic to your storefront or auction space, but you will have to choose products which are in high demand, and you will have to know how to set your action or storefront prices to maximize your earnings. You will also need to do extensive research on the kinds of items you're selling, such as what competing auctioneers are listing, how much they start their bidding at, and so forth. Auctions work best when you extend the bidding period to allow as many bids as possible. This does not mean, however, that you are guaranteed to sell just by setting your bidding period to cover a larger amount of time. The fact is that auctions are not a stable source of income. Though you can fair well when you know how and what to sell, there are no guarantees that you'll receive a fair price unless you start you bidding out at the price you'd want to earn for a single sale. Setting auction prices low in the hopes of gaining more interest is never suggested. In fact, your plans are more likely to backfire if your starting bid is much lower than the actual retail value of the product.

Storefronts are a bit more promising. Most storefronts allow merchants to set their own prices, which means that you have more freedom to maximize your earnings. Again, your task falls to choosing products that are in high demand, and driving traffic to your storefront. The task of driving traffic is much easier with products that have been given set purposes and prices (as opposed to collectibles that are auctioned). You need only to advertise where there are folks looking for your specific product, whereas with auctions you are a bit harder-pressed to draw interest to items that may or may not be in demand.


Home Business Opportunities

These have been around for years, even decades. However, they are really just starting to create significant buzz online. Home business is the new wave of the future. With our ever-changing economy, skyrocketing gas prices and job qualifications becoming more strict, our society is slowly turning to alternative earning options.

Home businesses range from in-home small businesses such as photography, tailoring and fashion alterations and specialty baked goods to stuffing envelopes, constructing items from home and reselling existing products. Unfortunately, with the growing popularity of the internet, scam artists have developed more innovative ways to infiltrate this industry, giving it a negative reputation in the eye's of today's society.

While many home businesses can be perfectly legal and lucrative, there are many to look out for and avoid. Among these are envelope-stuffing, putting together products at home (from kits sent from the company), data-processing, medical billing/transcription and outsourced payment processing (companies or individuals who are not US citizens encouraging you to accept/process USD payments for them from your home while keeping a portion of the payment and returning the remainder to the company). Many of the companies offering these types of opportunities have been investigated by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and the BBB (Better Business Bureau) of the US. These federal organizations strongly discourage involvement with such opportunities, reporting that more often than not, customers provided services which they were never compensated for.

There are many home business opportunities which in fact work very well. Some of the most successful models fall under direct sales and MLM (Multilevel Marketing). Through research and personal experience, I have found direct sales (which seldom require recruiting of new members and seldom rely on efforts of a "downline" to earn/maintain income) to be the simplest, least time-consuming and most rewarding of these models.

Direct sales refers to any business in which correspondence and transactions are handled between the customer and seller only. These opportunities are more lucrative because they allow you to create and maintain business relationships with your customers. They also reward the seller or distributor immediately, rather than the distributor having to wait to receive a paycheck from their company. Also, many direct sales-based companies offer payouts of closer to (or dead on) 100% commissions. This is what separates direct sales from MLM and affiliate programs (which only pay out lower percentages while taking the same amount of effort to promote). However, as successful as direct sales opportunities can be, they still face opposition. One of the main arguments against such programs is that distributors have to result to time-consuming, unprofessional and sometimes even underhanded tactics (spamming, cold-calling, live prospecting, door-to-door demos and so on) to generate leads and interest. However, with today's more effective internet marketing techniques available to the average person, there is no longer a need for such tactics. With the rise of PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, search engine optimization and ready-made websites, there are more ways than ever to reach target markets and gain new customers without chasing and harassing them. When combined with these new-age marketing options, direct sales has become the most lucrative of home business opportunities, and quite possibly a steady, more secure income than a position in the workforce.

Today's Online Money-Making Options

Today, there are several ways to earn online. Some of the most popular are paid surveys, affiliate programs, Google Adsense, eBay and similar storefronts, and home based business opportunities. We'll be looking into each of these, weighing out the pros and cons, and helping you figure out which is right for you!

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Paid Surveys

Paid Surveys can be a great way to earn extra cash on the side while you spend your time and have your fun online. However, don't expect more than pocket change or gas money for your vehicle here and there. Here is the low-down on the paid survey opportunities.

• generally speaking, you would need to sign up with several survey companies in order to spread yourself and receive more paid survey options
• you will need to set aside a few hours a day for the answering of surveys
• as surveys come up that match your interest, experience or location, they are sent to you
• sometimes the filling out of a survey may be accompanied by a trial offer, which must also be completed in order to receive credit full credit for the survey
• once the company has received your response and recorded it, you should receive a confirmation via email

• if you have completed all necessary steps, you are paid the promised amount, usually via an online payment processor such as Paypal.

This may be ideal for younger people, college students or those without knowledge or experience in creating and maintaining websites. However, there are a few things to look out for. First off, all paid surveys are not created equal. In the mix, there will be survey "panels," groups that you are asked to participate in, either locally or via telephone. Users for these panels are chosen according to specific demographics: location, age, buying power, gender etc. Generally speaking, panels pay a bit more than the average survey, due to the fact that more time is required of you, and a more detailed process (you calling in or attending the panel). But don't be fooled! Panels don't come around often enough to make a substantial income.

Next, with an option like this, you are at the mercy of your chosen paid survey companies. It is possible that you will not receive surveys every day. It is also possible that your ability to participate in the higher-paying panels could be limited due to your age, gender, buying power (whether or not you have a major credit card or debit card and have shopped/can shop online).

Also, as I mentioned above, you may be required to participate in trial offers from time to time. While many of these offers are free, many also require your credit or debit card number. We all know how hard it is to remain safe online. I personally don't recommend programs that require your credit card or financial information without you purchasing anything. This can open the door to unwanted enrollment in memberships and other programs that you have little (if any) prior knowledge about. If you choose to go the way of paid surveys, I highly suggest you avoid those with trial offers attached, despite how much compensation is being offered. Your payment will not be immediate, but your charges will!

For these reasons, I do not consider paid surveys the best option unless you're only looking to earn a few bucks here and there (perhaps for gas money, a date, or just extra spending). If you are looking to earn more than this, I seriously suggest you look into some of the other options I'll be discussing.

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Affiliate Programs

If you're looking for more opportunity to earn, without the responsibilities of an actual business structure, affiliate programs make a great sidekick to your main projects. Affiliate programs can provide great complimentary content and advertising. They are one of the best ways to appeal to your blog's or website's visitors by providing additional information and product suggestions.

A good affiliate program can have many benefits. For starters, they can provide affiliates with the opportunity to earn an income from sales of related items without the stress or expense of stocking or shipping products. Most affiliate programs are also free to join and promote, and only require basic info like an ss# and some kind of payment processor for accepting payments. That means internet users with limited funds for start-up can still profit online. Another great benefit of affiliate programs is that you can often customize that look and feel of the ads you want to display on your website or blog. There are usually a variety of choices for ads, from banners to simple text links to skyscraper (vertical) ads, and even mini store fronts. This can help create a seamless web experience for your visitors. And last, many affiliate programs are set up to help you earn through multiple levels. That means there's usually a lot of benefit in referring other affiliates (instead of just selling product), and in encouraging those affiliates to promote as well.

Seems like a good deal right? Who wouldn't want a full-scale business without the start-up costs or pressures? Well, there are unfortunately some downsides to affiliate marketing, some of which can outweigh the benefits if you aren't careful. Most affiliate programs will provide you with coding or images to place on your site. The downside is that you have to have a website already set up and running to really benefit. Rarely have I ever seen affiliate marketing work solely through ads. This can be especially inconvenient for those without the technical skills, funds or time to create a good website and register a good domain. Once that aspect is taken care of, you face the issue of driving major amounts of traffic to that blog or site. This can be hard for those that aren't proficient with internet marketing. Worse, many newbies to internet marketing (which we'll refer to from here on as IM) tend to seek out and buy into programs that supposedly teach the necessary skills to become experts at affiliate marketing. While there are some great programs out there, most of the good ones cost, which is what most affiliates are trying to avoid. Furthermore, most of these programs recommend advertising methods that aren't free, meaning a newbie with little or no experience is now being encouraged to pay for advertising. And the money made with some affiliate programs can be less than worth the effort, as many programs only pay out a small percentage of a sale to members. There are some programs that offer commissions as high as 50% or even 75% payout, but they are unfortunately few and far between (and then you have to consider what that 50% translates to in actual earnings). At the end of all this, what was once a free affiliate program is now costing a lot, without paying a lot in return!

This is strictly a matter of opinion, but it seems as if most folks who run affiliate programs in the hopes of earning big money put as much time and effort into promotion and marketing as an entrepreneur running an actual business(most of which bring higher profits). For this reason, it just seems more benefitial to look into actual business opportunities as opposed to affiliate programs. I'd only recommend these for those who already have some experience with IM.

If you are interested in affiliate marketing, my advice is to hook up with a mentor who can teach you the basics of IM and the basics of creating an effective website or blog. Once you get that down, it will take some time for you to get your site up and running, so don't be in a rush to earn. Affiliate marketing is by no means intended to make one rich overnight. Once your site is up, focus your energy on driving targeted traffic to your website or blog. It would also be a good idea to find other high-ranking sites that are related to your topic of choice, and ask about the possibility of exchanging links. Just to remind you, the least expensive methods can be time-consuming, so don't be in a rush. Just work through step-by-step, put in a bit of effort every day, and you'll start to see the benefits.

Feel free to post comments on some of the better affiliate programs so that we can help create a working database for all who are interested!

Online Money-Making Opportunities: A Comparison

At the requests of others, we'll be taking an in-depth look at, and comparing, money-making opportunities. I'm taking the background I have in business and marketing, and pairing it with my own experience online to help you find out what works and what doesn't. I'll also be reviewing (and accepting reviews of) today's most popular affiliate programs and home based businesses. If you're looking to earn an income online, consistently and successfully, this is the spot for you!

We'll be looking at some of the common money-making methods, why those that work do work, and why those that don't work, don't.

Comments and reviews are welcome, so long as we keep it professional!

Multiple Streams of Income Vs. Program Jumping: Identifying Your Sponsor's Intentions

This is a huge topic and is one that you must completely understand. Otherwise, it could cost you a lot of money. Let me explain what multiple streams of income are and what they are not. Multiple streams of Income are a concept that many millionaires use to have many revenue avenues. Michael Corcoran, who was the founder of the first multiple income stream marketing system on the internet in 2001, would agree with this concept.

When Mike Corcoran created the first Multiple income stream marketing system, he never imagined how so many people would take advantage of this concept and use it against you. Before I get into detail about the ways that these so called "internet Guru’s" are taking advantage of you, I’ll get into the way it was intended to be used.

Multiple income streams was intended for a person to start a business with one company, affiliate program, MLM or direct sales company. It was intended for a person to master one program and witness consistent success with that one program, then add another business to the portfolio when, and only when, the first business was running successfully, consistently, and in a somewhat automated fashion. This means that while still running the first business, putting less time into it because of its success, focus a little more time and money on the new venture to get that one to the same level of success as the first. This is how you can double your results. Like, I said, it is recommended to reach a point of continued, consistent success with one venture before moving on to others. It is also recommended to branch out into different industries. This is known as diversification.

If you have spent a few years developing the above strategy, it is alright to add a third or a fourth business to the portfolio as long as you are able to adequately maintain the original businesses. Adding more than one business to your portfolio in a very short amount of time suggests that a person is not focused on building a business, but on the pursuit of money.

Program jumping is unfortunately becoming more and more popular with the explosion of the home business industry. I have recently witnessed individuals who have joined more than 2 businesses in less than 6 months. From the persuasion tactics they use, I have labeled them as program-jumpers. Program jumping makes sense for the leader of jump. They use such terms as bashing their previous programs to encourage past customers and members to follow them into what they call better or more lucrative programs. The truth is, they are simply in pursuit of a large income in a short period of time, using newly launched programs as springboards. They often make excuses for leaving previous programs. The truth is, their hype or tactics are no longer pulling in interest and their income is suffering, so they take what fame the built up from their previous programs, and use misdirected hype to shepherd their customers into the "newer and better" program (which in many cases isn't much different from the previous one). Anytime a new program comes on the market, they're in at the beginning, starting up their cycle of lies and deceit all over again. These folks become more infamous than anything else.

The most disturbing aspect of this situation is that these program-jumpers are not always easy to spot. On the outside they look helpful and driven. They put together training packages, marketing tools such as capture pages and auto responders, professionally written letters, etc. They look like a real leader until you pay them $1000 for program A (and leave before you've had the chance to get your own business off the ground), then encourage you to spend another more money for program B, yet more for program C and so on. All the while, this person has not maintained a steady membership in either program for a decent amount of time (over 6 mos.), and has done nothing to help you get started in any of these programs. The common factor is that in each instance, you've paid and quit. This is not what home business, diversification or multiple income streams are designed to be.

It is best to use your common sense when looking into joining a home business. Do your homework, which should include just as much research on the potential sponsor as on the program itself. One of the first questions should be "What else do you promote?" Others to ask are "What have you tried, and were you successful?" or "How many have you tried this year? Last year?" If they do NOT have a stable track record with at least one success that is currenly being maintained, look into another sponsor. It is true that entrepreneurs often leave programs they feel are not working, which could cause the number of programs they try out to increase. However, honest entrepreneurs will not focus on pulling you into every venture out there. And if they claim they've not had success with certain programs, they should not encourage others to get involved in those(unless they have other motives)

My suggestion is simple. Use common sense when evaluating potential businesses and their sponsors. Proper and ample research will never steer your wrong!

Multi Level Marketing...Does it work?

For some people, this is the way to go. I have met a few people over the years that swear by it. I know a few people who make over $100k a year working their multi level marketing program. The unfortunate part about it is that they were the only one making money. No one on their team was duplicating the efforts they were doing. Whether selling vitamins, travel, a gas saver product, lotions, potions, pills, candles or juice beverage products, I have tried it all and I'll be honest, it was a difficult task for me. Once I ran out of my friends and family to bug about my new business, and once I'd had home parties with no success, I ran out of leads. My sponsors all encouraged buying leads, and I did so in the hopes that if I purchased enough, at least a few would become customers. That is so much harder than it sounds. Sure I made sales, but 2 main things were happening to keep me from seeing success. I was spending more on uninterested leads than I was earning from sales, and by the time I was getting to the next profit level, the people who I brought in 2-3 months ago were dropping like flies. This is why I could never make it to the next big payout level of the commission plan. For some reason, I would always fall short of the next bonus payout or car bonus. Usually, I would fall short of personal volume or group volume or I would have enough on my left side, but not enough on my right side, so I would miss out on the big payouts, month after month.

This got to be the same old stuff you hear about why MLM doesn’t work for most people and the only people making money were the people at the top of the pyramid. People with huge dowlines and people that have been in the business a long time and lists of hundreds of thousands of people to market to. For any newbie joining, good luck. I once watched a stay at home mom put more than $4,000 into a business only to quit within a few months. Some folks wouldn't let it get that far, but this person was persistent and did not want to fail. So she kept plugging away until they had no money left and when gas prices went to $3.50, the father of the family couldn’t afford to put gas in the car to get to work. So much for helping out.

The only thing I have found online that works for the majority of those who join is a direct sales company that pays out close to or right at 100% of the sale. The best companies are those that have a price point of less than $1000 to start. This is the best way to go for newbies (or those who've been burned before) who want success. Beware of the $1500 to $5000 programs, the start up company and program jumpers. The truth about start ups is that they have no track record. You have no idea if they will be in business two years later. Watch out for people who jump ship every time a new program comes out on the internet. Most importantly, be careful of the program that costs more than $1000.00. They are hard to sell, no matter how good it sounds.

If you're interested in learning more about direct sales, join our mailing list today. Our newsletter covers a vast amount of info on direct sales businesses and how they can help you, and also provides information on one of 2007's best (and most successful) programs.

I hope this helps your research in determining a company that you can be proud to represent.

Beware of the Scam Artist: An Intoduction to Locusts

What is a scam artist? I thought long and hard before writing this article as not to offend anyone. Nobody would ever be complimented by being called a scam artist. A scam artist is one who takes your money for product or service and never delivers anything to you. They run off with your money to never be heard of or found again. Unfortunately, there are many folks out there who operate in this way, especially on the online.

It has been my experience that there are similar traits in a lot of home business affiliates and distributors. For example, I have found that "program jumpers" have similar traits and characteristics to that of scam artists. Actually, they more resemble a common species of insect that damage agricultural economy...the locust! Like locusts, these people usually jump ship into every new program that comes along. Whenever a new program launches, they are there at the beginning, taking what loyal customers they have with them, and playing the pied piper until those customers have been sucked dry by each and every new opportunity out there.

Here is an article I found at Encarta. Let’s see if this resembles any of the so called "Internet Guru’s":

Locust (insect), common name applied to a number of jumping insects and especially to the true locusts, which are migratory grasshoppers (see Grasshopper). The true locusts cause great damage to crops wherever they swarm. Control measures include the spreading of poison bait and the plowing under of locust eggs. Infestations threatening large regions of the United States are combated with insecticides sprayed by planes and truck-mounted mist blowers provided by joint federal-state programs.

Aside from the true locusts, the periodical cicada (see Cicada) is another important insect to which the name locust is applied. Grouse, or pygmy, locusts are small, jumping insects that are of little economic importance. Most species are dark brown and are less than 2.5 cm (less than 1 in) in length.

Now, does this sound like something you've seen or witnessed online? I would love to warn you about these people by name, but would never do that. I will however, give you things to watch out for and let you be the judge.

If a person has joined 3 or more programs in one year, they are probably program jumpers, which as we see above, have similar traits to the locusts and do more harm than good. These people are simply out to take your money. No wonder they are making so much money. They have perfected the locust style of business.

A truly successful and experienced entrepreneur takes the time to get one program off the ground and running successfully before heading into new ventures. Also, a more ethical entrepreneur is less likely to encourage members from one opportunity to follow them into additional opportunities.

Take the time and look at the entire situation whenever you're being asked to join a new program by a previous or current sponsor. Has that person helped you to get on a good foot in the current program. Have you already paid all initial start-up fees for the current program? What does your sponsor have to gain by recruiting you into the new program. Often times, such scam artists will make promises without delivering on them, and will offer incentives or freebies for joining the new program. They offer these because they stand to gain much more than they're providing to the customer.

Legitimate home businesses aren't meant to bring instant wealth. Businesses, whether internet-based or otherwise, take time and effort to get off the ground. My suggestion is that you find a good one, spend the better part of 6 months to a year getting it off the ground and running successfully, and be sure that any future ventures you pursue can be easily integrated into your current business. having opportunities that compliment each other can make for better marketing!

Choosing a Home Business Responsibly!

Beware of all the hype. Many home business opportunities may seem like good ones, they have a good sales pitch and their comp plan looks good too. They have big corporate offices and have been around for years. Isn’t that good? Any company out there that sells products like lotions, potions, pills, miracle juices or miracle gas saving products usually doesn’t work for the average person for many reasons.

• Those companies usually make most of their money from you, the distributor, not from selling the products. They have you on auto ship, so you are their income.
• They only pay about 2% to 15% so many levels deep. They will tell you that when you fill the matrix, you won’t have to do anything and you’ll be making 20 to 40k a month. The truth is, there are so many loop holes to their comp plans that no body ever reaches those levels. You either will have too many people on your left, but not enough on your right side to make the higher level payouts. They tell you that you need more personal volume and your group volume is fine or vice versa, or my favorite, you had fallout this month, so you no longer qualify for that car bonus we promised you about.
• They make you hold home parties to push your crap on your friends. Listen to me…..If I wanted weight loss, I’d go to GNC. If I wanted Lotions, I’d go to CVS, Save on, Nordstrom or Bullocks. If I wanted to put additives in my gas tank, I’d go to Kragen, Chief or Pep Boys and buy a product from STP or Penzoil. You get what I mean….?
• They are a copy cat company of the original company. How many companies out there are selling a juice that is based from the Acai Berry, Goji berry or the Mangosteen fruit? How many of those promise to cure cancer? What a joke? Is our society that ignorant that if something actually cured cancer, wouldn’t we want to check it out? How many travel companies are there now? How many fuel additives are there now? How many of those have been shut down? How many make up, skin lotions and vitamin companies are there out there?

It just seems like there is so many junk companies on the internet, how do you what is good and what is not? Some of these companies above actually have a good product, but I would never go in business with them.

So, how do I choose a business that I can profit from and that I can be proud to represent?

When I evaluate a company, I look for these key points. Keep in mind, when I join a company, my #1 goal is to make money and to do it legitimately. I do not want to hurt anyone or rip anyone off. This is what I’ve learned and these guidelines will help you determine what company is right for you.

• If you are not making at least 75% of the upfront commission when you make a sale, forget it. This means that you are doing all the work and the company and/or the person above you is making all the money.
• If you have to have 1000, 10,000 or 20,000 people in your organization before you make any real money. DO NOT Join. Most people will NEVER get there.
• If they teach you to hold home parties and invite all your friends. Run away fast.
• If they have a sales pitch 2-3 times a day and only 2-3 training classes per week. This means that the company is more interested in selling you than training you how to make money long term
• If you can’t break even or get into profit with 3 sales, forget it.
• If you can’t speak with the owners or the corporate office via phone or webinar, Forget it. I like to know who I am doing business with before I will do business with them.
• If it is a start up or in pre launch, forget. The chances of these companies becoming the next Amway is about as good as winning the lottery. At least with the lottery, you have a chance to win once or twice a week. You might as well go to Vegas and blow your money on a good time. At least you’ll have some great memories, see a great show and have a great meal.

These are not all the rules for success on the internet, but this is a great guideline to follow when evaluating an internet company.

Welcome to Open Season!

Just be sure to watch your head! I've affectionately named this blog "Open Season" in honor of the thousands of home based business opportunities out there, and the swarm of hunters (oops, we meant affiliates) looking to hook you!

So you're looking for a home business opportunity, but there's so much to choose from! Everyone is promising wealth and freedom. How on earth do you decide which one is the RIGHT one? Are there any right ones?

Sound like questions you've had from time to time? Still wading through program after program? Well you're in luck! I've created this blog as a way to help newcomers to the internet marketing industry decipher between the good programs and the not-so-good ones. You'll learn what to look for, what questions to ask, what to avoid, and the truth behind all the promises! We're starting off strong with 8 articles to get you thinking, then we'll look into comparisons and what makes some programs better than others.

If you're interested in our daily thoughts, take the time to subscribe to our RSS! I promise, there is really good stuff coming your way!

Mature, well thought out comments are always welcomed. The more input for our readers, the better!