Let’s face it. Honest opportunities in online business are getting harder and harder to find. The Internet is a sea of manipulative ads targeting the deepest desires most of us have. We want something for nothing, even if such an opportunity really does not exist. We want to make money overnight while sitting on the couch in our pajamas. We want thousands of dollars to appear in our bank account at the touch of a button. Honestly, it just doesn’t happen that way.
Even if people are honest, self-advertisement is a form of manipulation that tilts our view. Cheating is everywhere. Perhaps the secret we need the most is a way to unearth what is a scam and what is a real opportunity. Using critical thinking skills will enable you to assess the opportunity and reduce your risk of being scammed.
First, let me define what I consider a “real opportunity”. I believe what you get from life, you should put it first. From experience, nothing comes from doing nothing. You must put in time, planning, strategy, effort and even money if you expect success in your business, whatever it may be. So I define a “real opportunity” as one that gives you a basic business idea (maybe a product or service) that you can take and apply your time, planning, strategy, effort and money to make money. How much money you make depends on the amount of time, planning, strategy, effort and money you contribute. It also depends on the value of the product or service provided. If you have a bad product or service that no one wants or needs, no one will buy it.
The many scams going around the internet take into account that you want something for nothing, so they advertise their opportunity as such. Many of these job opportunities simply sell you with false promises. Some don’t even have a product or service that you can promote. They lack the basic core business idea.
Another sign of fraud is the resources and support that are provided or not provided. Some of these opportunities offer training on how to use their “system”. The scam opportunity or source will provide the resources they are affiliated with and promote them to you so that you can earn revenue for the source affiliate. In fact, honest programs do that too. However, the difference is the value of the resource. Can these resources really help you? Is there a better one that was not presented because the source is not affiliated with them? Does the source offer an extensive media education for you to learn from, or is it just targeted ads in disguise?
Another item to check is who is offering the job opportunity. Do a little research on who owns the business. Are they an expert or a self-proclaimed person? If you can find reviews or information on it from another objective party, that’s a good sign. If all you find are the owner’s own statements about how great his business opportunity is, I’d dig a little deeper before handing over my money.
When evaluating an opportunity, look at the evidence provided that it is a viable business opportunity and whether that evidence is verifiable. Many scams offer rows and rows of “testimonials”. Look closely. Are the testimonials followed by “Mary from Detroit, Michigan” or “Dick Weaver, www.dickswebsite.com? Mary from Detroit will never be traced back. You can easily and quickly go to Dick’s site. If he’s legit, you’ll be able to contact him via email or even a phone call. Given the choice between opportunities, one that provides verifiable testimonials is the safest option.
Finally, does the opportunity come with a guarantee and what is the quality of that guarantee? Do you have full access and a promise of at least 30 days unconditional money back? Take the time to check out the Better Business Bureau online for more information. Unfortunately, most companies are not members of the BBB, so this is not always a fruitful search. However, if they are listed, you can feel more confident dealing with them, provided they have a positive standing. In addition to their guarantee, which I always like to keep a copy of for reference, pay with Paypal or a credit card. This gives you more security and can help you get your money back in the event that you need to exercise the Money Back Guarantee.
When evaluating a new business opportunity, critical thinking skills can help you evaluate what is being offered in more detail. Research whether the ad is based on vague and vague claims, or solid, verifiable information. A real opportunity gives you a valuable product or service that you can devote your time, effort, and money to promoting. The amount and extent of your business promotion will determine your success.