MLM deception is everywhere. These rip-offs give legitimate MLM opportunities a bad rep mainly because they’re based on a very similar structure that makes it difficult for the uninitiated to tell them apart.
If you’re interested in getting into an MLM business, it’s your obligation to ask the tough questions that will separate the real deal from the fake ones. Remember, an honest MLM business has nothing to hide, while a sham can’t endure close scrutiny. Don’t let anyone pressure you into signing up for anything and be sure to read the fine print!
Here’s a quick checklist of questions you should ask before you agree to stake your name and reputation behind any company. Even one red flag should be reason enough for you to look elsewhere. There are more than enough real MLM business opportunities out there, so why get involved in something dodgy?
Can the marketing system be duplicated? Pyramid shams have survived for so long because of the lure of immense profits. True enough, the people who get in the program early enough (the originators or “Pharaohs”) make a killing but that’s about as far as it goes. The system eventually collapses as people down the line aren’t able to duplicate the success of the Pharaoh because it becomes geometrically impossible to recruit enough new prospects. Every pyramid rip-off will try to convince you that you’re joining early enough to make a lot of money, but there’s no real way to verify this. The secret to spotting a shady deal is by analyzing if the marketing system can be sustained. That means, no matter how late in the game you join a system, you should still be able to duplicate the success of people in your upline. Did I mention fake “pyramids” are illegal in many countries, including the US?
Is the company based outside the US? The issue here is accountability. You never want to be involved in a company that can just pack up and go outside US jurisdiction. Be especially careful with companies based in countries with no extradition agreements with the US.
Will you be mentored? A legitimate MLM company will invest in training their representatives on how to market their product. They’re there for the long haul and believe it’s in their best interest for you to know what you’re doing. In comparison, some MLM frauds abandon you after you’ve paid up, which is all they were really after. Meanwhile, you discover that you’re stuck selling a lousy product you can’t even give away.
Does the product sell its self? Is there enough demand for that product? Okay, those were two questions, but what you’re trying to establish is if the company is here to stay or just looking to make some easy cash before vanishing. Beware of products that require hard selling since you won’t be able to sustain sales. The same principle applies to products that have no demand for them. Eventually, these fake MLM companies fade away and resurface under a new name selling the same useless merchandise. Might as well ask them how long they’ve been around, while you’re at it.
Who are the founders & CEOs? How many MLM companies have these guys created before? Why? You should always know who’s ultimately in charge of the company you’re representing. You should also be wary of people who seem to have made a habit of creating MLM companies. What happened to the other companies they created? Hmmmm…
October 16, 2009
MLM Rip-Offs? How to See Through the Smoke and Mirrors
October 15, 2009
ASP Agreement Components & Inclusions
For Application Service Providers ? anyone who provides clients access to licensed software and application services ? implementing a system of checks and balances, risk management procedures and quality control is invaluable. Typically a solid Application Service Provider (ASP) Agreement will fulfill these needs.
An Application Service Provider Agreement manages the relationship between an ASP and the licensed user. In other words, it sets limits and expectations on the use of your software and applications server. It also controls who has access to the software or servers as well as where and when they can be accessed.
An ASP Agreement will also prevent modification or reverse engineering of the software and determine server storage space available for each client, which limits exposure to infringement on intellectual property rights and confidentiality. Most importantly, these agreements reduce the ASP?s liability for deficiencies and defects in the software or on the server.
ASP Agreements are not only necessary for large-volume ASPs; they also cover service providers who offer single applications to their clients. ASP businesses that would benefit from the agreements include:
* Specialist or functional ASP ? provides a single application, such as credit card payment processing or timesheet services
* Vertical market ASP ? provides a solution package for a specific customer, such as a doctor?s office
* Enterprise ASP ? offers a wide variety of solutions
* Local ASP ? offers small-business services in a particular area
* Volume ASP ? delivers cost effective package solutions through its own Web site
An important component of an ASP is the Service Level Agreement (SLA). This formally negotiated agreement between two parties is part of the service contract in which the level of service is formally defined. This agreement might include delivery time of the service or performance. It clearly defines and documents the common understanding of services, responsibilities and guarantees, while typically covering issues such as serviceability, performance and operation, just to name a few.
Service providers can purchase packages that include a variety of templates, including a software license template. Software license Agreements set the terms and conditions for the end users of your software and includes disclaimers, limitations of liability, and confidentiality agreements, among other safeguards.
When searching for packages, most companies will provide ASP Agreement samples for viewing. Be sure the software license template and the ASP Agreement sample includes the following sections:
* Grant of License
* Use and Access
* Price and Payment
* Technical Support
* Terms and Termination
* Ownership of Intellectual Property
* Confidentiality
* Warranty and Disclaimer
* Limitation of Liability, Indemnification
* Relations of Parties
* Non-assignment
* Arbitration
* Attorney?s Fees
* Severability
* Force Majeure
* Waiver and Modification
* Entire Agreement
ASP agreements will safeguard your company from any future claims of damages, and reduce your exposure and liabilities. Many companies have made it easy to implement the agreements by providing packages specifically designed for the service providers needs. Be sure to preview the ASP Agreement samples to ensure it covers the needs of your business.
August 21, 2009
Online Merchant Accounts.
The first time I saw that I needed to get a proper internet merchant account I knew things were really working out for me. I was very, very excited at the prospect as it was something that I had been working on for a very long time.
Of course we just didn’t have the experience at that time to know getting a good online merchant account would actually be very difficult.
One of the big problems that I had to get my head around was the fact that the rates that we get told about via the company web pages are not what you get in real life. Well, they are but with plenty of extras added on. The monthly fees can be significantly higher that what you think they will be.
The problems comes down to profit margins. Mine were tight, and that is why I could beat others by selling online. When it came down to it, paying higher levels meant that my profit margins got shot and that I would have had to increase my prices.
It was something that I had to grin and bear at the time, but I then made a decision that I would not put myself in that position again and would only ever use a merchant account company that allowed a full consultation process, with full disclosure.
So many companies out there have a whole load of special sales tactics, which can put people under a lot of pressure, and they can be hard to resist.
So, to help other stay away from what i had experienced, I did something positive and put together a list of the best companies for online merchant accounts.
This is intended just to be made up of the thoses guys that are out there (and there are some) that provide a really great service with low and transparent rates that you trust. that offer the maximum yet still a cheap merchant account.
July 7, 2009
No-Nonsense Advice About An Internet Marketing Home Study Course
SEO is a technique that involves manipulating a website using varied optimization techniques to make the site search engine friendly to get to a good ranking in the search engine’s search results. Taking an internet marketing home study course can be your most important step to achieving success for your web site.
Some internet site owners do their own SEO while others hire SEO experts to optimize their internet sites. Many consider SEO to be an acceptable search engine that is sophisticated and keeping up the rank, but once achieved, requires ongoing monitoring and adjustments.
Because SEO does not a just comes naturally, and it’s a continual process, an internet marketing home study course is usually a brilliant idea for online enterprise owners and website operators. The benefits of formal online training are that through this training, you will learn the most effective search engine techniques that are used currently by SEO consultants and you may gain not only an introduction to SEO, but also valuable knowledge that may help you with your continuing SEO efforts.
The disadvantages of an internet marketing home study course is that it can be costly, particularly if it’s a good SEO coaching program, and effective search engine optimization techniques change so often that some of the techniques you learn through your SEO coaching will become outdated; however, the standard SEO coaching program that is not often updated may present search engine optimization methods that have already lost their efficacy. Even so, there will likely be some solidly effective systems covered in most SEO coaching sessions that you’re going to find beneficial.
If you decide to get your SEO training by any other means, be certain to participate in ongoing SEO training of some type to stay abreast of the changes in the search engines and systems for optimizing your site for top performance in the search engines.
Participation in online newsgroups, forums and chat rooms regarding search engine optimization good technique for continuing SEO coaching or education to remain recent on the behaviors of the search engines and systems that are better.
It is good to discuss search engine optimization strategies that are presented in an internet marketing home study course or SEO training publications with people are actively engaged in search engine optimization.
Avoid types and techniques of training that consist of spamming at all times because once because once you have been blacklisted by the search engines, you’ll probably never get your site indexed and listed with profitable ranking in the search engine results.
Some keyword related methodologies that were excessive; however, were once thought to be cause for blacklisting, so be careful with your keyword methods and make certain that the SEO techniques you learn through your internet marketing home study course are at present effective and are not outdated.