Internet Business Seekers: Beware! The Predators.Part I ~ 5 Shocking Practices
Those of us online business opportunity veterans wouldn’t blink an eye at any of these shady practices. But what a sad state of affairs it is when unethical marketing is to be expected as the norm. Sadly, shifty perpetrators are generally ignored and accepted with complacency by their victims. The purpose of this article is to keep that victim from being YOU.
Tens to hundreds of thousands of out-of-work, unemployed, laid-off, demoted, or otherwise financially strapped men and women are turning to the Internet at this very moment, in search of their next paycheck—many, even their next meal. This scenario provides fertile ground for the Internet marketing underbelly. Our newbies need to be armed with knowledge to protect them from these shysters, lest their plight go from bad to worse.
To aid them in their search, here is the first in a series of articles designed to provide the basics in selecting, locating, and obtaining a new career.
For purposes of this discussion, let us assume that our subject has (wisely) chosen to start his own home-based business as an entrepreneur. The underlying basis for this choice will be the subject of an article in this series to be published soon.
1) THE PRETENDERS
Dishonest competitors will stop at nothing in posing as unbiased, independent reviewers, review sites, or legitimate review authorities. This deceptive practice has become so prevalent, that otherwise well-respected marketers have succumbed to the charade.
2) THE ENABLERS
Google and other pay-per-click advertisements are riddled with inaccuracies, falsehoods, often even intentional, actionable assertions for which the sites themselves are generally not liable. Self-concerned site owners, therefore, are unmotivated and unconcerned with monitoring even blatant violations.
3) THE DEFICIENCY
Actual, operating, wholly unbiased, totally legitimate reviewers and review sites are essentially non-existent on the Internet. Upon investigation into any depth, one will discover financial affiliations of every alleged expert reviewer that render their opinions virtually useless to any intelligent opportunity seeker.
4) SCHOOLS OF VICE
Many self-professed expert marketers provide Internet marketing training including instruction on and promulgation of negative marketing tactics. Once implemented, these methods can result in substantial legal liability for the offending advertisers.
5) A TYPICAL STING
As just one example of what to look out for, some Internet cons will purchase a near clone variation of the primary domain name of their target victim business. They then present as an actual member or associate of that business by displaying the ill begotten domain as their online business address.
This common practice seeks to capture the attention of newbies, the imposter feigning expertise, independence, and legitimacy as a knowledgeable member of their competitor’s business community. These predators have nothing of real value to offer the business prospect. Like parasites, they attach themselves to the coattails of their competitor’s popularity and good will, feeding on their website traffic, assuring their prey that their only purpose is to selflessly assist fellow entrepreneurs in their search. All the while in truth, their depraved goal is to manipulate the newbie into signing on with their competing business opportunity.
CONCLUSION
The number of deceitful advertising tricks and devious Internet schemes for cashing in on our deteriorating economy is growing at an alarming pace. When carefully considered and understood, however, knowledge of the five practices above, will provide internal guidelines to assist and empower the newest members of our online communities. By gaining the ability to identify online predators, newbies acquire a level of protection against Internet fraud.
As a practical matter, the study of these practices gives all of us tools to increase awareness and detection of unscrupulous competitors. This valuable information provides an answer to an important ultimate objective-- discovering directly and decidedly whose businesses we DO NOT want to join.
More to Come. . .
susan rachelle burton cook, esq.
see: 'Internet Business Seekers: Beware! Part II- A Real Example' at:
http://www.SusanCookTopCoach.com/?page_id=215
this article: http://www.SusanCookTopCoach.com/?page_id=3
Internet Marketing Expert, Home Business Adviser, & Entrepreneur Success Coach
http://www'SusanCookTopCoach.com
http://www.MLMLeadSystemProTopCoach.com
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Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.
About the Author: susan rachelle burton cook, esq.
Member Since: 02/05/2009
I'm a Distributor For:: Numis Network
Other Company: SendOutCards
Industry: Consulting
Primary Web Site: http://OnlineMarketingUnlimited.com



Hey Sports Fans!
Does reading this-
-make you feel guilty?
-remind you of someone who is trashing your company?
-evoke ideas for other topics in my series to assist newbies?
Thanks!
susie c
You Forgot to Mention One Group
The Shortseller - These are the typs of people that slander legitimate MLM opportunities saying that they are illegal and that their corporate people are white collar crooks. Often times they call every opportunity a pyramid scheme or 8-ball board game. In actual fact these people are using one of the oldest scams there is, the short sell. They sling mud on everyone, when in actual fact the real dirt is on them. The most notable of these people are Robert Fitzpatrick, Jon Taylor, Barry Minkow, and David Thornton. They go by what I like to call the shoplifter approach. If you worked in a store and accused every teenager of shoplifting from your store, most of the time you would be wrong.. a couple of times you will be right. This is what they do with MLM's, they accuse them all of being pyramid schemes and a couple of times they are right. The fact remains that none of them know how to read a pay plan and the only reason they slander MLM companies is so they can sell their books or support their "charities" and I use charities loosely because all of the money the "charity" collects goes to them. So if you are new do a little bit of digging on these clowns and you will find that they don't know anything about the industry except how to make money from bashing it.
Here is a link that you may find useful to start with.
http://www.mlmwatchdog.com/MLM_Lies_Myths_0.html
Thanks to both of you!
Susan Rachelle, thanks for a great article. It tried to Tweet it, but the link was not working. I'd like to reprint it on the site that I am launching at the end of this month. Of course, your full information would be at the end with your contact information.
Colin Durkin, thanks for the additional category and more names to watch for. I agree that the MLM Watchdog site is a great place to get good information.
Thank You Toña-
You are welcome to the article of course - I am flattered!
I just tried Tweeting it and it worked, so you may get it if
you try again...
regards-
susie
I like this article
hmmm I remember feeling the same way when I was down & out looking
for a new biz-opp.
I thought back than that most of these ads look a bit bent...
Great Article
------
read the best info on NM companies
http://www.network-marketing-companies.com
Let's Get Positive
I appreciate the concerns that have been brought forward in this article. Unfortunately there are sharks in the water no matter what business we attempt online or in our own neighbourhood.
Keeping our own ethics high, looking out for the other fellow and keeping the golden rule in mind we can triumph over these "sharks".
As leaders, and we are leader if we are here, we must take the higher road and look out for those who follow us. Check out your opportunity carefully before promotion. Make sure that it is in the best interest of someone new to follow you.
I have resisted promoting a business opportunity that I felt was not easy for the average person to duplicate successfully. In addition those I felt were duplicatable I have tried out myself before suggesting anyone else do so.
If it sounds too good to be true it may not be good at all.
Great advice, Cynthia
Of course we want to look out for our people, and sometimes that's just what Susie did - post an article with great information that people can easily access. She's also allowing me to put it on my web site, which will increase both her reach with the information and my service to my readers. That's a win-win!
I do also like your advice to try it before you encourage others to buy into it. That's clearly not the advice of a predator!
Thank you for the precaution
I take your article as a kind of precaution. It's very useful to guide behavior in relation with our members, leads, and the general public out there.
Better Safe than Sorry!
Good Information for all. Any legitimate opportunity and person presenting it will never rush you and will answer all your questions!
Transparency rules.
Wonderful Article
I think if we all understand the principle of growing business, we will do away with desperation. We should make our followers understand that in online business, patience works. I mean taking time to learn before leaping. Also we have a big responsibility. To uphold the right ethics by this we will all prosper in this Industry. Wonderful article Cynthia. I will also love to post it on my site pls.
Good Stuff!
Great article as always Susan!