Internet Scams - Please be Careful and Do Due Diligence

Please, please, please be careful!

I just got off the phone with a woman who wanted to talk about getting help for an Internet business that she had started 4 months ago. In four months, she has made no money and is struggling. When we looked at her website and her products, we were horrified. Within the first 60 seconds we easily spotted five things that are stealing money from her. After we hung up the phone and I looked more closely, it became clear that it would be almost impossible to be successful using her current strategy and tools.

Yes, her website was slick. It was pretty. It had video. It had 5 big immediate mistakes. And, in our conversation, she made a number of huge mistakes as she discussed her product.

Yes. Corporate America is going away.

Yes. More people will start their own business in 2008 and 2009 than at any other point in history!

Yes. The Internet can be an amazing way to run a business, a fantastic opportunity and a way to financial security.

Yes, yes, yes, owning your own home business and personal franchise can be an incredible way to have a life.....not a job.

But.........you have to research the businesses, the team you are associating yourself with , have a better understanding of what you're doing.... have someone there who can show you the ropes ... and have a good product or service. Many businesses that operate have traditionally been sold on emotions and hype. It is unfortunate because there are many fantastic business opportunities right now.

Understand that a new business is like an infant. If you want it to thrive, grow and succeed, you have to feed it and nurture it.....so that it can feed and nurture you! This is the best time to invest in yourself and your own business from your home. But, please be careful.

Products do not sell themselves. I've never been to a store and had a product jump off the shelf at me and follow me home. It doesn't happen on the Internet either. Before you buy into an Internet business, do your due diligence.

1. How strong is the company and their products and services?
2. How strong is the leadership?
3. How strong is the business support team, their abilities, integrity and pattern of success?
4. What skills are within the group that you do not have?
5. How do you market (attract customers)?
6. How do you get potential customers to look at and understand your product/service?
7. How do you talk to potential customers (present your product)?
8. How do you show your customers your product's benefits?
9. Does your business work for you or are you working for your business?
10. Do your tools (like your website) help you make money or hurt you?

Owning a home-based business is incredible. I couldn't even consider going back to a job. The freedom is unbelievable with less stress then worrying about keeping a job . But, don't let yourself be scammed. And, if you've already bought into something and it's not working for you, fix it or drop it and find one that does. Find a product or service you are passionate about.

Now sadly, this particular woman has already spent her money on a bad business purchase. She's probably not going to get the help she needs........and will spend the next 3 months repeating the past 3 months of zero income. It doesn't have to be that way for you. Don't let it.

If you want to start a new business or make your current business successful, please hire a professional to get you going in the right direction. When you were learning any thing for the first time.....you had a professional teacher or coach help you. Running a new business is the same. Find someone competent, who knows what they're doing to teach you the ropes and get you started. It's an amazing life, but it's crazy to try to do it by yourself.