Business
10 Tips on Avoiding Work At Home And Home Based Business Scams
There has been a trend over the last few year for people to look for work they can do from home while most still go to work and use the Home based job as extra income, many myself included make their full time living sitting at home. Working at home has is pro and cons but it sure beats driving to work and punching the clock and watching the clock tick by till its time to go home. The biggest problem with finding a decent work at home plan is how to steer though the thousands of scams. I have 10 tips here that will help you avoid the scammers
Don’t pay a fee to the chance to work. Would you pay a company for an interview? Of course not, so why would you go online and pay someone to work for them. I have seen this scam in many of the get paid to take surveys scams – I have tried several of the “Get paid to take surveys” deals and yes some do pay but if you have to fork out money to get one their list steer clear. If a company is asking you to pay for the chance at a job, or information about work-from-home jobs, consider it a scam.
Now if the job requires tools materials or franchises fee’s on the other hand this will not always point to a scam. After all many jobs have tools required to do the work that you must own.
Always check out the business before you pay anything.Check out their websites do they have a physical address? If not move on. Do they list a phone number; if so call it to test if it’s real. No phone listed move on. Google the company, look for comments. Positive or negative read them all. I tend to look at the source of the comments. A positive comment that included and affiliate link back to the company I disregard as they are simply advertising to make some. Some other warning signs are:
if they use free hosting services or free email servers such as Gmail or Hotmail.
If they use a post office box and don’t show their real addresses time to move on.
They won’t give you a contact telephone number where you can contact them.
If company is hiding this like start up costs or their name, even do run a whois search on them. This they are hiding anything move on.
Use your credit card to make purchases. If you do have to spend some money on items like a starter kit or some so of investment in a tool from them use your credit card to make purchases. This gives you some level of protection if you don’t receive the items, or if things go wrong, you can dispute the charges with your credit card company.
Do some market research – When you start a work from home business it’s just that a business before you start you must have a cliental to market too. On of the more common Home business systems is running medical billing practice, so pick up the phone and see if there is a market for it. Often the market is flooded due some of the massive advertising campaigns some of the Work at Home marketers put out. Most scammers will slogans like “Unlimited Wealth”, “Easy Work” I have even seen some say they will drive the business to you. Don’t fall for this. A business is work at any level if you want it to be successful. There is no magic door you step through to make unlimited wealth.
Beware of incredible claims – Many scammers will have “testimonials “on the site showing people claiming they make thousands a week with just a few hours of work a week. Often pictures of yachts or giant mansion they were able to buy in just a few months. This is a tell tale sign of a scam. I saw on just a few weeks ago where they I could see they photoshopped a model picture that can be purchased from Shutterstock onto a stock picture of a boat right off the manufactures website! Don’t fall for get rich quick schemes.
Look at the offer as if you where the company offering it – If you where the company offering work at home opportunity and running a honest business, would about whether you would make the same kind of offer you’re being pitched. Some offers such as envelope stuffing are typically a total scam. They make money non getting you into the program and selling you supplies, but think about it, most companies have machines to stuff envelopes and can do thousand of them an hour why would anyone pay you per envelope?
Ignore offer you find that came as spam– legitimate companies do not promote via spam. If you found the offer you are researching was found as spam mail chances you must consider this send spam is not legal do you want to work with a company that is breaking laws?
Don’t rush into something.If you’re looking to start a home-based business, or looking for telecommuting work you can do at home, you have some research ahead of you. There many people that fall victim to scams in this field. Don’t let fall for use high-pressure tactics if they are being to pushing or setting deadlines to get started , there’s usually a reason why. Scammers know that pressure tatics bring in people and use they it very effectively!
Common sense –Like any other thing you do in life you need to use common sense. If the deal sounds too good to be true it is.. If they tell you that do all the work, they are lying, if they tell you it guaranteed to make you rich, avoid it. Try to contact other that are doing it see if they will help you avoid the pit falls. Don’t rush in blind will all guns blazing. Make educated decisions.
Written by Calvin Herl
Freelance writer
7 No Cost Tips to Market Your Business
Marketing a business can be fun, exciting and creative. It can also be very frustrating and expensive if one doesn’t know what outcome they are looking for or how to evaluate cost effective methods of marketing.
Over the years people have come to know me for my unique ability to develop low cost and no cost strategies to market and promote a business, product or service. Strategies that have realized incredible returns.
Some of my successes have included:
- Before my last book was published I pre-sold over ,000 in books
- Over 250 people registered for a recent seminar in less than 2 weeks and the cost to promote was under
- One company used my strategies for a career expo and made over 0,000 in consulting fees
- One speaker sold over ,000 in product sales back of the room at a two hour seminar with strategies outlined in my program
I don’t share this to impress anyone, rather to impress upon you when using the right strategies for your market, you can realize some incredible results.
People have also come to know me as someone who is a stickler when it comes to putting systems in place. My marketing successes are a direct result of the systems I have implemented.
With a bit of forethought, planning and desire, you can successfully market your business in a very effective manner. Below are seven proven strategies sure to increase visibility, leads and sales.
1. Business Cards
Business cards are often one of the most underutilized tools in one’s marketing.
Use the front and back of your business card to gain full benefit. Depending on your market you can put some very valuable information on the back such as a sports schedule, emergency numbers, or special dates people want to remember.
Keep some in your wallet, your automobile, on your desk, and some at home. Be sure to carry them with you wherever you go and be willing to hand them out as opportunity presents itself.
Creatively distribute your card. When you eat out you can leave one with the tip.
If you borrow a library book, use one as a book mark. Hand them to clerks in stores who may know other people who could use your product or service.
When someone gives you their business card be sure to enter their information in your database. Send them a short note or email within 48 hours of meeting them to keep your name fresh in their mind.
2. Send a picture
A great way to keep your name fresh in a customer’s mind is to send them a picture of when they purchased a product or service from you.
Put a picture of a buyer’s auto purchase in a beautiful calendar. Likely, the proud owner of the vehicle will display the calendar for the next 365 days.
For specialty gift shops, when a customer makes a substantial purchase, have a picture taken with the shop owner. Frame the picture and send it to the customer.
Chances are very good the picture will be displayed proudly for friends and family to see.
A dentist who specializes in smile makeovers can easily arrange to have a professional makeup artist and photographer capture the patient’s beautiful new smile. No doubt the patient will be more than happy to show others their new look.
3. Associations
Associations particular to your market are a great resource for marketing. There are associations specific to virtually any industry, job type or business. A quick web search will likely show you how much is available.
A major opportunity within many organizations is the chance to network. Additionally, to make presentations. Along with presentations come publications.
Often, when you do a presentation, you will get a mention in the association newsletter, their Ezine and/or on their website.
In many cases, when an organization has a newsletter or Ezine, they welcome the presenter writing a press announcement for them. It saves them time and often assures you have a better chance of the information making it into the publication.
They may also welcome you writing an article for their publication or website.
This lends itself to pre-presentation visibility. Additionally, you will position yourself as an expert and increase credibility.
Most organizations have the following opportunities that can help you to gain visibility and do some very effective marketing:
-Newsletters
-Internet listings
-Links to you website
-Discounted advertising rates
-Networking opportunities
-Business referral services
-Special recognition events
-Education seminars
-Business and membership directories
In many cases you will need to be a member of the association to take advantage of the multiple marketing opportunities. In other cases membership is not necessary.
4. Committee Involvement
Committee involvement is a great way to give back to the association or community while building visibility for you and your business. In some cases, you may even want to get involved in a committee where you have little experience or knowledge. This will give you an opportunity to stretch yourself and meet and network with individuals you may not have otherwise had the chance to meet.
5. Contests and drawings
Contests are a favorite for many businesses such as restaurants or those that have high foot traffic. Contests are a great way to build your database quickly.
You are generating very hot leads when you have a contest with people who have already frequented your place of business. The key though is to do back -end marketing. Far too many businesses hold contests, get lots of names and do nothing with them. In this case, it is a complete waste of time to hold a contest.
You can advertise a contest to gain new foot traffic in your place of business.
Trade show booths are a great place to hold a contest. Pre-show marketing helps to generate traffic at your booth. Invite people to stop by booth # _____ (whatever your booth is) to enter to win. Creative contests can also generate free publicity.
6. Cross-promoting
Join with other companies who have products or services that compliment yours and promote each other. Let’s say you have a massage business. You could partner with a candle company to sell their candles to your massage clients. They can give out coupons for your massage business. Or the candle company can partner with a gift basket company. Cross-promoting is only limited by your imagination.
This can considerably cut down the cost of business promotion and allow each business to use promotion techniques that might be too expensive to implement alone.
7. Bonuses
Secure special offers from various businesses who want to share a similar market as you. When a customer buys a minimum amount they receive a bonus packet with the various offers from the other vendors. This is a win/win all the way around. The other vendors gain visibility, you have something extra to offer you customers and the customers get incredible value for their purchase.
Be aware of who you cross-promote and joint venture with. You want someone who will be equally committed to a campaign.
Written by Centra