Have YOU Been Sucked in by a Scam? Here's How to Tell
Derek Gehl -
Internet Marketing CenterToday I'm
going to educate you on how to filter the REAL
money-making opportunities from all the B.S. out there,
with my "Scam Detector Check List"!
Whenever you come across a possible business
opportunity, simply consult this handy checklist. It'll
help you discover if it is a real opportunity -- or a
real waste of money.
Scam Warning #1: The company can't prove a successful
track record
If you've never heard of the company before -- and they
can't offer solid proof they've got a successful track
record -- then how can you trust them to help YOU make
money?
Be skeptical. Ask questions. If they say they're a
successful company, ask for proof!
Scam Warning #2: You can't talk to a company
representative in person
Before you make a significant investment in a business
opportunity, give the vendors a call. Talk to them in
person. Ask them hard questions.
If they don't make it easy for you to them in person,
then don't do business with them!
Scam Warning #3: Former customers have lousy things to
say about the product
A little bit of research goes a long way. Try typing
"the name of the program + scam" or "the name of the
program + customer review" into Google and see what
results you get.
If the majority of the results are from former customers
saying the product is a scam or a waste of money, then
whatever you do, don't make the same mistake THEY did!
Scam Warning #4: Thousands of other people are
selling the EXACT same thing
If your "business in a box" package includes a product
for you to sell, do a search on the name of the product
in Google and go through the results. How many people
are selling the exact same product? Say hello to your
competition!
(And how many of them are using the exact same website
the company is trying to get YOU to buy?)
If a lot of people are selling that product -- and you
can't see any way to offer a unique selling proposition
that makes your offer stand out from the crowd -- then
quite frankly, you're going to find it extremely
difficult to make any money at all.
Scam Warning #5: They can't show you legitimate
testimonials -- from recent customers
If you are making a significant investment in a business
opportunity, the company you are purchasing from should
be willing to put you in contact with other successful
customers. We get this request all of the time, and have
numerous successful customers who are happy to give us a
personal reference at a moment's notice.
(If you'd like to take a look at how we use those
testimonials on our salesletters, please visit:
www.marketingtips.com/tipsltr.html.)
Look for testimonials that names, photographs, and URLs,
if possible. The more information that proves the
testimonial giver is a real person, the better.
If the testimonial has a URL, go to that person's
website and check it out. Does it look like the website
of someone who's making good money? Look for the contact
info on the site and then email that person to ask him
or her directly about the product you're thinking about
buying.
If the person says yes, it really is a good deal, and is
still experiencing good results with that product, then
chances are it's the real deal.
However, be on the watch for DATED testimonials. If
people were able to make money using this package two
years ago -- but the profits have long since dried up --
then the product's not going to do you much good now, is
it?
Scam Warning #6: The company is charging YOU
money to sell THEIR products
Ask yourself this: If a company is making a product that
millions of people are going to want to buy, why
wouldn't they simply sell it themselves -- instead of
making other people pay for the opportunity to sell it
for them?
The truth is, companies like this KNOW their
"affiliates" aren't going to generate any sales. That's
why they need to get your money up front!
Take it from someone who has been running a highly
successful affiliate program for years. If someone wants
to become an IMC affiliate and sell my products for me,
I'd never make them pay. Why should they? They're doing
me a favor!
Scam Warning #7: The company makes outrageous income claims, without backing
them up with proof
If a company says their product will have you earning tens of thousands of
dollars within a matter of weeks, BE SKEPTICAL. There is no magic bullet on the
Internet that can promise a five-figure income in 30 days or less.
The truth is, building a profitable business takes TIME. Sure, you can have a
profitable business in less than a month... but you'll probably have to wait a
few more months before the money really starts pouring in. |
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So
whenever you see outrageous income claims, ask yourself
-- where's the proof?
Look for testimonials that back up these claims. If
someone claims to have made incredible money from using
this system, track them down via their URL and ask them
if it's really true.
And be sure to listen to your "inner radar" to determine
whether the person is genuine or not.
Above all, do your research and ask lots of questions.
If you follow these guidelines, chances are you will
make the right decisions and pursue the right
opportunities.
When it comes to online success, there is no magic pill.
If you want to start a real business on the Internet you
need to be prepared to put in the time and effort to
build it.
Derek Gehl is the CEO of the
Internet
Marketing Center.
His
Insider Secrets course gives you a
step-by-step blueprint on exactly what you need to do to
build a profitable online business. No false promises,
no B.S. -- just the exact instructions you need to
follow if you want to be successful on the Internet.
You can check it out here:
www.marketingtips.com/online-success-blueprint
Just remember, when you're thinking about buying into an
"online cash machine" opportunity, use your common
sense.
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