Archive for the ‘Internet’ Category

Timeshare Tips For Buyers

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Every individual waits for that time of the year, a much deserved time off from the hectic activities of day to day life. And when the time comes you keep wondering where to go? Where to stay? Etc. And each time you think I should have planned it out before itself. Smart people plan their vacations long before they actually go out for one. And even smarter people buy timeshare property for vacations to have a peace of mind and a place where they love to enjoy and cherish most beautiful memories in the comfort of your home like atmosphere. Everyone wishes to have a timeshare property at their favorite vacation place. While it may be easy to buy for some, but for some it may be their lifetime savings or hard earned money. So, nobody would like to invest their money in a losing proposition. Here we discuss some of the important things that you have to remember while buying a timeshare.

The first thing to do before buying any timeshare is to understand the types of timeshare. There are basically two types of timeshare plans. A deeded plan, in which you actually buy a piece of real estate property and own it along with other owners but, you can use it only according to the timeshare agreement. A fixed unit, fixed week, deeded timeshare allows you to own a specific timeshare at a specific time each year. A floating time agreement allows you to be flexible about the dates that you can use your timeshare. But reservations may be only first come first serve as many owners would like to go for that option. Right to use timeshare or a non-deeded timeshare is a leased timeshare. Again it is classified into fixed unit and floating time just as in the case of deeded timeshare. You no longer have rights to the property after the lease expires.

Before investing in a timeshare do your homework about the location first. Do a good research about the location, whether you can go there on a yearly basis. Also it wouldn?t hurt if you research the prices of other alternative accommodations in that place. If you are paying for the timeshare then why buy timeshare if an alternative costs you less. But at the same time you should weigh in your comfort factor also. The alternative accommodation might not provide you with the same comfort as the timeshare accommodation. So, it all depends on what criterion is important to you, cost or comfort.

Always find out your timeshare rights before buying. Your rights may be violated in some cases. In most of the cases the timeshare properties are governed by legal documents known as Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions. It establishes rights for real estate property owners and governs how the timeshare should be managed.

Also important thing to consider before buying a timeshare is to decide whether you want to buy it for vacation purpose only or as an investment. If you want to buy it as an investment you should rethink. Timeshares are not one of the most lucrative properties for reselling. Generally timeshare properties don?t have good resale value and the resale is also difficult due to competition from the original seller himself.

While you may think that the cost of buying a timeshare is simply the cost of buying only the real property. You may be wrong. Because you should always calculate the total cost of time share which includes mortgage payments, maintenance fees, taxes, travel cost, closing cost, broker commissions, financing charges etc. That will definitely raise your hair. Compare the cost of alternative accommodation with the total cost of owning a timeshare now. Go with whichever is cheaper.

Also do not forget to read each and every document carefully before signing any agreement. Never ever believe on promises made by word of mouth. Request everything in written. Also find out about the reputation of the seller and whether he is a licensed timeshare seller. Also never accept properties with unfinished facilities, if you do so take a written commitment from the seller that they would be finished within a specific time frame.

Timeshare Selling Alternatives

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Many people simply buy timeshares thinking that they would be able to take out some time from their busy schedule and go for vacation. But many end up not using their timeshares at all. So they start considering selling their timeshares. But if you think selling a timeshare is as easy as any other real estate property then you are completely wrong. Selling a timeshare is real pain in the neck taking several months to sell. Even when it finally sells, it sells at 40%-50% less than the original price. You might think is it really worth selling your timeshare or is there a better alternative to selling it. The answer is yes, there are alternatives to selling your timeshare. We discuss those in detail in the paragraphs to follow.

One of the best alternatives to selling a timeshare is to rent your timeshare instead. You can either work this out with your timeshare developer if he can do it. The developers usually have special classifieds for timeshare, it would be a good idea to put an advertisement in those classifieds as they target people interested in timeshares. You can also search for a real estate agency specializing in renting timeshares or vacation homes. Most popular travel destinations have agencies that specialize in this. But remember there can be a fee if you choose to rent your timeshare through a real estate agency. You can also sell your timeshares by yourself by either advertising directly in classifieds or telling your friends, neighbors, family members and colleagues to see if anyone is interested in buying a timeshare. If not, internet is the best place to find out where you can put your timeshare for rent. There are many popular auction sites like eBay which has timeshare rental section on their auction website.

Another alternative to selling your timeshare is timeshare exchange. Timeshare exchange is getting popular with many people facing problems with fixed schedule. And also many people get bored of going to the same place over and over again and they want a change. Timeshare exchange enables them to exchange their timeshare unit with similar unit at other timeshare location and at different time. Most timeshare companies have this facility and offer free exchange in the first year and charge a free from there on. But you can also go directly to a good exchange company and place your unit for exchange. But you have to remember that you can trade in only similar units only. You can?t trade in a one bedroom for a two bedroom. Also you cannot rent the exchanged timeshare to somebody else. You may also be charged a fee for this service and you will get a timeshare in exchange depending on availability.

Last but not the least, instead of selling your timeshares why not donate your timeshares to a charity if you don?t want to for through the hassle of selling, paying huge upfront fee and much more. The donation is just like how you donate your cars, boats or stocks. Donating your timeshares to charity is tax deductible. But be sure to donate it to a right charity organization who can utilize its full potential. You can compare this with any losses you may incur if you sell your timeshare, donating a timeshare could bring you a handsome tax deduction.

Timeshare FAQs

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Although the concept of timeshares is not new to the public still people have many questions about timeshares. Few of the most important frequently asked questions that people enquire about are discussed as follows:

Is renting a timeshare better than buying it?

Buying a timeshare gives you much bigger choices. As an owner of the timeshare you get the amenities are better and cost much less. Owners can get discounts on lodging, entertainment, food, travel and many other resort facilities. The average rental fee is way higher than the average maintenance fee and is also increasing every year. In addition to all the above benefits a timeshare owner has equity in the property which can come to the advantage of the owner when he wants to sell it.

Is buying a timeshare good investment?

Many people get this question in their minds whether to buy timeshares as an investment. The answer can be disappointing to you because it has been seen that the value of the timeshare depreciates with time and they can go do as much as 30%-50% depending on the location and season. A timeshare should be thought as an investment in life, for guaranteed vacations and better facilities. Also if you compare the cost of owning a timeshare with a hotel in long term period, a timeshare would save you a lot of money.

Can you rent your timeshare to somebody else?

Sure you can as long as you are the legal owner of that timeshare meaning you cannot rent out a timeshare that is received in exchange.

What is the procedure of making an exchange?

Most timeshare companies have business network with timeshare companies and you are automatically enrolled into exchange program and also the fee for the first year is paid by the timeshare developer in most cases. You can also go to the timeshare exchange company and put your timeshare for exchange. But keep in mind few things like you will get similar kind of unit meaning you can?t expect to get a two bedroom timeshare in exchange of a one bedroom. Also plan in advance if you plan to exchange timeshare as it may take a while depending on the availability. Also remember there is a fee for exchanging timeshares.

What are fixed week and floating week?

In a fixed week plan you are entitled to use your timeshare only at a specific week each year and specific unit. But in a floating week you have the option of choosing a range of week but only on first come first serve basis as many owners would like to do the same thing. The advantage of a fixed week is that your timeshare week is assured and also the unit you want. While floating week is advantageous to people who have schedule conflicts with fixed unit timeshare.

Are there any other additional fees when you buy a timeshare?

The answer is yes. Typically there is a maintenance fee and other fee like transfer fee if you are transferring a timeshare. There may be property tax also.

Should I have to pay any upfront fee while buying/selling a timeshare through a broker?

The answer is strict no. Experts say never every pay an upfront fee to buy or sell or rent timeshare. Like any other industry timeshare industry is also prone to many scammers and frauds. There have been instances where people paid huge upfront fee and they got nothing in return.

Risks Involved In Buying Timeshares

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Buying Timeshares can be rewarding for many people. It might a money wheel for some. Last but not the least; it can be a profitable investment for many. But the story doesn?t end here itself. While many people may reap the rich benefits of timeshares there are several others for whom the timeshare investment was nothing more than a mere fraud and dream resorts turned into nightmares. Thus investing in a timeshare should always be done with high alertness and caution. Before signing a contract or a check always weigh in both the benefits and the risks involved. If proper precautions are not taken these money spinners can turn into money losers. Always read the finely written statements before signing a contract.

The timeshares are basically classified into deeded and non-deeded plans. In a deeded plan, an individual buys an ownership in a piece of real estate property. The owner usually gets the title of the property and the property is also inheritable to the heirs of the owner. Where as, in a non-deeded plan or right to use plan, an individual buys a lease, a club membership or a license that lets you use the property for a specific amount of time each year and for stated number of years. But in both the cases the cost of the unit is directly proportional to the season of the year and length of time an individual wants to buy. The rights of the timeshare owner ceases after the lease expires in right to use timeshare.

Every individual takes adequate care while making a major investment. And this applies in the case of buying a timeshare also. You must read all the documents carefully and understand fully what you are getting for your investment before signing any agreements or paying any fees. A professional advice might also be critical involving big timeshare investments. So take expert advice from people who have bought timeshare before or your attorney. Here is a checklist of what all people should consider before buying a timeshare property.

*If you are buying a timeshare from a timeshare resale company verify that they are licensed brokers. Easy way to verify this is by asking the license number of the broker. Then you can verify that with the State Department which deals with these kinds of transactions and know about the history of the broker. Be vigilant when you are buying a timeshare from a non-licensed firm, your money would be at stake as the non-licensed firms wouldn?t have much to lose, so greater chances of fraud exist.

*Keep in mind that timeshares are for personal recreational use and do not expect profit or loss. A resale of timeshare may or may not reap good return.

*If you are buying a right to use timeshare watch out, if the sponsor declares bankruptcy, you may lose your rights.

*If you are buying a timeshare in a property where the facilities have not been fully installed take a written commitment from the seller that they will be finished in a specific amount of time.

*Any claims made by the seller about the returns on investment in timeshare should be questioned because the future value of a timeshare depends on many factors.

*Do not get impulsive when buying a timeshare. Read each and every paper thoroughly. Take adequate time in researching, analyzing and making a decision to buy a timeshare.

*Never believe in the word of mouth, neither on phone or face to face. Request everything in writing especially the promises that were made orally.

*Try to find out whether the exchange program will be guaranteed or not. Sometimes it isn?t. So make sure to find it out before buying. Buying a timeshare without an exchange program is not worth the money because you will get bored going to the same property every year and also you will not have the flexibility of schedule if you don?t have exchange facility.

Get Paid To Programs For Wahms

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

?Get paid to? programs (or GPTs as they are often called) are one of the many ways that Wahms can make money from home. If you?ve been looking for a work at home job, you?ve no doubt run across ads that claim that you can make money by reading e-mails, answering surveys and trying free samples. The good news is many Wahms make money doing those exact things. The bad news is that this particular industry is rife with scammers. If you are interested in getting involved with GPT programs, you?ll have to do your homework and take special precautions to protect yourself and your computer.

It should be noted that very few people make full time income from GPT programs. Like mystery shopping, GPT should be used as a supplemental income source at best. For many Wahms, the GPT programs are a fun and easy way to earn some extra money when they need it. People who have experience with the programs recommend that you never rely on GPT to pay your monthly bills. But they can be a perfect solution to earn money for a special occasion or holiday shopping.

Just what are GPT programs? They fall into three basic categories: get paid to read e-mail, get paid to fill out surveys and get paid to try products. Each type has its own pros and cons. Before you start any GPT program, you should take some steps to protect your personal information. You will be required to give your personal information for many of these programs and the less you actually say about yourself the better.

To start you should register a separate e-mail address for your GPT purposes. Many programs can result in a lot of spam mail, so you?ll want to keep your main e-mail address separate. You can also register with NetZero to get a free voicemail inbox and private phone number. This is helpful in keeping your home phone free of telemarketing calls.

Get paid to read e-mail programs will pay you a few cents for receiving e-mail and clicking on links. Normally these e-mails offer special deals on products or encourage you to sign up for programs. Sometimes, depending on the e-mail program , you will get more money or ?points? if you try the offer. You are not obligated to try the offers, and will get paid a small amount just for clicking on the link inside of the e-mail. There are many popular paid e-mail companies. Do some research before you sign up for a program to make sure that people are actually getting paid. Try not to sign up for too many programs at once or your GPT e-mail address will be swamped.

Getting paid to fill out surveys works in a similar way. You will sign up for a survey program and then fill out some personal information. You will be matched to surveys that are looking for the opinions of people in your income bracket, of your age or one of several different qualification factors. Depending on the company, you will get paid per survey, or completing surveys will earn you points that can later be redeemed. Just as with get paid to read e-mail programs, do research on survey companies before you sign up. There are hundreds out there but only a handful are worth the time and effort.

Finally there are get paid to try products programs. These programs pay significantly more than the other GPT programs. However, you will be required to pay anywhere from $1 to $10 to try the products. When you use these kinds of programs, you have to be careful to take complete records of what you will be receiving and when you need to cancel service or return the item. Most of the time you will be registered for recurring billing for a monthly service, which can be cancelled within the initial 7 to 14 days. You can call the companies and cancel the service, yet still be paid for signing up for the GPT program.

Remember that GPT programs are a great way to supplement income but are not something to be relied on for monthly bills.

Make Money Writing Articles: Scams To Avoid

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Are you looking to make money writing articles online? If you are, you need to be cautious. Unfortunately, there are a number of scams that target this amazing work-at-home opportunity.

One of the many scams you will come across online involves taking your articles and running. This leaves you with hours unpaid. There is a way that you can prevent this from happening to you. For new projects, most legitimate clients will want to start out small, to gauge your writing skills. This may involve getting a $100 project to start with. Be cautious of someone who wants you to do a $1,000 project the first time. You don?t have to turn it down, but offer yourself protection. Require a small amount of payment upfront or at the halfway point. If you aren?t paid, don?t finish the work.

As for what you can do if someone you meet online takes your articles and runs, remember that you retain the rights to your articles. If you were not paid, you still legally own the articles in question. You can use other methods to make money, so that you aren?t faced with a total loss. Post them on revenue sharing websites, where you receive a page view bonus. Since the scammer may have already posted your articles online, take the time to rewrite them. Yes, this isn?t fair, but it does provide you with protection

There is another approach that you can take that involves taking action. Look for your articles online. If they are saved on your computer, copy two sentences and enter them into a search engine. Find the website and determine who the web-hosting is through. Contact the company. If advertisements are displayed, contact those advertisers. These companies do not always want their names associated with illegally obtain content, so they may require it to be removed or the scammer may have their accounts disabled.

Another scam involves having you pay to get article writing projects. Yes, there are legitimate companies that require you to pay a small monthly fee, like $10, but you shouldn?t have to. There are legitimate article writing opportunities online where you are paid to write, not the other way around.

In keeping with paying a fee, bidding websites are a method of finding article writing projects. These websites have projects listed that you can bid on. The buyer will then choose who he or she wants to work with. You are charged a fee for using this website, but it is usually just a percentage of your profits, not always a monthly fee. %link3# that offer you protection, such as guaranteeing that you will be paid as long as you completed the work, makes this fee more than worth it.

Getting your personal information and using it for identity theft is another article writing scam that you may find online. Many companies do need your personal information, such as your full name, address, and even your social security number. However, some scammers are trying to capitalize on this. Legitimate revenue sharing websites will ask for your personal information upfront. If you do not know for sure if the website in question is legitimate, ask around online or perform a standard internet search.

As a recap, there are a number of scams that target those looking to make money by writing articles online. With that said, don?t let these scams stop you from making money, as writing articles for pay can be and usually is a legitimate work-at-home opportunity.

How To Use Articles As Blog Postings

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Do you write your own articles? If so, you may add these articles to your website as content. Did you know there is more that you can do with them? There is. You can use these articles as blog postings as well.

In addition to writing your own articles, you can also outsource the writing. Outsourced articles are articles that you paid another writer to compose for you. Since you want to get the most value for your money, you may be wondering what you can do with those outsourced articles. You do have a number of different options, but you should closely examine blog postings.

As nice as it is to hear that you can use articles you wrote or outsourced on a blog, you may be looking for more information. Why should you do so? How is the best way to get started?

In terms of why, blogs are increasing in popularity. More people are starting to write them and more people are starting to read them. Are you a webmaster who sells a product or relies on income generated from advertisements and affiliate programs? Do you currently have a blog that accompanies your website? If not, you should. Blogs can be used as an internet marketing tool.

In addition to accompanying a niche website, blogs can make money on their own. There a numerous pay for post companies online. This is where you write a blog post around the product or company that you are assigned to. You can also make money through with the use of advertisements and affiliate programs. Typically, it is recommended that you sell a product through a website, but you can list your product or service available for sale through a blog as well.

Now that you know why you should have a blog or how you can make money through one, you may be curious how articles come into play. Some of the most popular blogs on the internet get updated multiple times a day. On that same note, these are often professional bloggers. If you want to make money blogging, but don?t have the time to write each of your blog posts or update on a daily basis, you can outsource the writing. However, if you have the time to write your own blog posts, do so.

When outsourcing writing for a blog, many wonder what approach they should take. Should you inform writers of the blog or should you request traditional articles? The decision is yours to make, but you may have better luck with ordering articles. Articles are longer than blog postings. This means that you can divide an article into two, three, or even four different blog posts. For your blog titles, simply just label them as being Part 1, Part 2, and so forth. This approach gets you a better value for your money.

As previously stated, you can create a blog that accompanies an existing website. If that is the case, make sure the two themes match up. For example, if your website sells computer software, have your blog focus on the same subject. Blog postings can outline tips to shop for computer software, the importance of comparing prices, and popular software programs can be reviewed. After each blog posting, you will want to create a link to your website. If readers like what you have to say, they may visit your website to see what you have available for sale.

On the other hand, if you are looking to make money through blogging, by way of advertisements and affiliate programs, you can use any articles that you want. With that said, blogs that have one specific theme tend the work the best. Your income potential increases when you have targeted advertisements on your website. Targeted ads are difficult to come by if you cover a wide range of topics. So, stick with a theme, but remember that you can create as many blogs as you want.

One question that many have is hosting. There are a number of free blogging companies online. Blogger and Wordpress are the two most popular. Wordpress is nice, but you are not allowed to display advertisements when using a free blog. This means that you must purchase a web hosting plan and host your blog elsewhere. If you want to use blogging as a way to generate traffic to your website, a free blog from Blogger may be okay.

A Home Based Business Merchant Account Awaits You

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Home Based Business Merchant Account benefits can help your company more than you might think possible. If you think because your business is home-based you do not qualify for merchant account status, you are wrong. Many lenders look forward to working with you because they are aware of the commitment, drive, and planning skills that so many home based business owners demonstrate. If your business qualifies, you can become eligible to accept and process credit card payments from your customers, which can increase your client base and enhance profits simultaneously.

A Home Based Business Merchant Account offers benefits like these:

1. Your Home Based Business Merchant Account puts you in the ranks of other, larger companies whose experience you can draw on as you explore avenues for growing your business. You can swap stories, exchange ideas, and offer suggestions to other entrepreneurs in your local business community when you become a merchant services provider. Learn how others are making their mark in the business world, and check out tips for attracting and keeping paying customers.

2. Your Home Based Business Merchant Account will let you employ current cutting edge technology to accept credit card payments from your clients. You can install a credit card processor in your home for pick-up orders, take along a wireless model in your travels to customers? homes or places of business, set up digital credit card payments by telephone, or add a credit card processing feature to your company?s Website. You can even add a debit card or e-check processor, along with a pager and other electronic equipment that may help you to do a better job. The lender will work with you to select the most appropriate equipment at the right cost to maximize the return on your investment.

3. Your Home Based Business Merchant Account may help to grow your client base and increase sales volume and profits. That is why so many business owners seek the advantages of a merchant account credit card. They want a chance at making the most on their investment and using the latest technology to get customers to notice them. Many customers prefer paying by credit card, so providing this option is sure to win their favor and appreciation. Happy customers tend to tell others what they like about the business, and this is especially true with home-based businesses.

4. Your Home Based Business Merchant Account will put you in touch with the latest technology. No matter how simple or limited your business may be, you can improve the way you handle things when you learn all about credit card processing equipment. That way no vendor can take advantage of you later, and your customers will reap the benefits of your dependence on this masterful technology.

It doesn?t matter what your current home based business income is, because you can apply for a merchant credit account and soon see big changes?for the better?in your business plan and operations. Find out how to make the most of a Home Based Business Merchant Account.

7 Rules To Live By When Choosing An Affiliate Program Or Work At Home Business

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

So you’ve decided to become financially independent! You’ve chosen to work at home. Congratulations! I’m sure this is a decision that can turn your life around and lead you to financial freedom.

But that is going to happen only if you’re careful enough to let it happen! There are a few things you should really look out for when deciding to work at home.

When you set out to give the work at home business thing a try, you’ll find out that this was just the easy part! The hard part is to discover which one is right for you.

With all these so called “opportunities” that flood the internet, you should be very careful in choosing a work at home business. To help you, I have put together a few simple rules :

Rule #1 : Try to avoid “get rich quick deals”

Now that’s a golden rule! Usually, when something sounds too good to be true then it probably is!

Oh, I know these sound appealing and of course you would like to get paid for doing nothing (so would the rest of us!). But don’t you think that if these people had the magic solution to making big money they would use it instead of trying to sell it to you for whatever price?

It’s sad to know that so many people end up feeling frustrated when they realize that they have wasted their time and hard earned money. There are no magic tricks! Commitment and hard work instead, can make you rich.

Rule #2 : Find a program that you really like and can work with

Another rule that’s essential! Say that you come across a program that requires you to sell life insurance. You hate insurance people, you think they’re full of hype.

So what, the compensation plan looks great! What would you do? Would you join the program? Could you picture yourself selling life insurance even if you hate the very idea?
The answer is that you’re never going to make any money doing something you don’t like!

The point I am trying to make here is, that you should go on and find out everything there is to know about the program you are interested in. Just spend some time doing an essential reading through the available material (company website, related articles etc).

Try to get an overview of how the system works and if you need more information or if you get confused , go ahead and ask the person who referred you to the program for help. Doing your homework always pays off.

Rule #3 : Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for your money

There are just too many companies out there that present you with sales letters as long as a book but not even a hint as to what you are actually getting in return!

If the product they’re selling is that good and is going to make you so much money, why hide it? Why only mention it in the last few paragraphs?

Ok, I know, it’s the way sales are closed. Still, you would like to know exactly what you’re buying. It could save you a lot of grief!

Rule #4 : Perform a background check on the company

The longer it has been around, the better. This way you know that you’re dealing with an established company that will not go bankrupt 4 months after you join!

It has been known for people to lose their online businesses and commissions owed to them for this very reason. Choosing a quality company is essential but can prove critical to the survival of your work at home business.

Rule #5 : Make sure you’re going to get all the help that you need

It’s just typical for someone to join a program, pay his membership fee or buy a product and then be left in the dark, not sure what on earth to do next!

Again, I’m repeating myself here but this is important, try to get an overview of how the system works, who your upline people are and how they can help you.

If you need more information or if you get confused, go ahead and ask the person who referred you to the program for help. In this way not only will you get an idea of how the program is structured but you would also be testing your referrer to see if he/she will respond promptly to your need for help.
But first, you have to have an idea of how the program works.

Rule #6 : Check out the compensation plan

Ok, so you’ve joined a program which ,hopefully, is going to make you rich. Do you know how this is going to happen?

It’s not necessary that you know every detail about the compensation plan from the first day that you join. But still, wouldn’t you like to know if you’re getting 5% or 60% commission on an average sale?
After all, it takes the same amount of effort to generate a sale. Wouldn’t you like to be paid more?

Rule #7 : Do not spend much at the beginning

A legitimate work at home business should be able to operate at a minimum/low cost. You should not have to invest a lot of money in any home business. At least not in the beginning.

When you do decide to invest some money into your own home business, this should be your own decision, not someone else’s and must arise from your understanding that a business is what you make it.

There are more rules that I can add to these and make a really long list but this is not my goal. My goal is to provide a clear path, a few steps that should be easy to follow through the minefield of schemes and “get-rich-quick” deals to a company you can really trust.

Using your own common sense is as important as having these rules in mind when looking for an opportunity or a work at home business.

Your decision to join a program should be the result of considering facts and should not in any case come from mere curiosity. Keep in mind that there are very few true work at home opportunities out there and you have to find the one that’s perfect for you!

7 Poor Reasons To Get Involved In MLM

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Network marketing, or “MLM” can be a great way to earn everything from a small additional income to a generous full time living.

However, many people join mlm type opportunities without really knowing what they are getting themselves in to. This is probably one of the biggest reasons for the fact that some people have very low thoughts about this type of business.

Mlm works if you do it right. Period. That said, here are seven really poor reasons for enrolling in a network marketing opportunity:

1) Earning “easy money”

I know – the mlm-companies are very good a promoting their business as a simple 1-2-3 process that anyone can do and become an instant millionaire. Especially online it has almost become a standard to use super long and totally over hyped sales letters.

This is the equivalent of claiming that anyone who can open a can of beans can be a master chef.

Don’t get me wrong, I do think most people CAN make it in mlm if they put their minds to it. But you must be prepared to learn many new things and you WILL have to work for it. Make no mistake about that!

2) Expecting that “spill over” will do all the work

Many mlm opportunities are built on what’s called a “forced matrix”. For example, in a 3×9 matrix, when you have sponsored your three first new members, the fourth will be placed under the first person you sponsored. This person has thus gained one person in HIS downline, without any effort on his part.

Now, some companies would have you believe that their top recruiters are so effective that the spill over from their marketing will automatically make you, who are joining at the very bottom right now, an instant success.

This is simply a pipe dream – it will never happen. Yes, you probably will get a few people spilled over into your downline, but nowhere near enough to guarantee your success. The sheer width of the matrix on your level, means that there is an enormous amount of representatives that will have to shear any amount of spill over.

And who says the top recruiters are as active as they once where anyway? Worst case scenario, they are now working on something else entirely, because their money making income in this particular opportunity is already secured.

3) Thinking that a product is so great it will sell itself

This is a classic mistake, because most mlm systems simply aren’t really about the product. This fact is difficult to swallow, I know.

As a greenhorn I remember joining this lottery syndicate-mlm, thinking that “everybody” would want better chances at winning the lottery – right? The disappointment was huge when I discovered the truth – some people even made fun of any attempt to mention this great new thing I had discovered.

Likewise, in mlm, it will not matter if you are selling a breakthrough product that contains every mineral and vitamin under the sun – if you do not understand what network marketing is really all about.

4) Doing an old friend a favour

We have all been there – an old friend you haven’t met for years who suddenly calls you and want to set up a meeting about something he will tell you more about when you meet…

I’m not saying that this couldn’t be a potentially good business. But calling all your friends is a very ineffective way to do mlm, and you should never join any opportunity only to do someone else a favour. Because in the end this is about you, your money and your career.

5) Earning a lot of money in a short period of time

Most mlm testimonials always seem to go something like this:

- In my first month I made $800 and now, in my third month, I have been able to quit my job and…etc.

While not outright lies, testimonials like these are usually collected from individuals who, through luck or skill, managed to join this particular opportunity from the very beginning. They are simply at the top of the pyramid and they often know exactly what they are doing – the’re the mlm experts.

Like most offerings, mlm opportunities have a life cycle that grows rapidly in the beginning. During this phase of explosive growth it can be very easy to sponsor dozens of new people per day, with relatively little effort. After all, this is something entirely new and one well placed ad can do wonders.

However, if you join after this initial explosion, it is much more difficult to see quick results and it requires more effort to attract new people into the business. Patience, knowledge and the right strategy is required to succeed here.

6) Big name X endorses this program

This is somewhat related to the previous point. Mr. Big Hitter have made thousands of dollars with this opportunity already and he is not shy about telling anyone how EASY it was. And he’s probably not lying either. It was easy – for him.

Because, like noted above, he probably got involved in this opportunity long before it was launched to the general public, because he already knows all the right people.

He (or she), also know their stuff, and have the resources (large email lists, advanced Internet marketing tools etc.) to quickly and efficiently let the word out to a large number of people.

If you are relatively new to this game, it is a very bad idea indeed to assume that you instantly could pull off feats worthy of a network marketing guru. Would you compare your golfing abilities to those of Tiger Woods?

I didn’t think so.

7) Thinking this will be a free business to run

I’m not talking about the membership fee of your mlm opportunity here, because that is a given. But many people falsely believe that they can market entirely for free using the Internet.

While it’s true that there are some effective low cost Internet marketing techniques you can use, you should never fool yourself into believing that Internet marketing will be a no cost affair. Moreover, the online competition is usually quite fierce.

To summarize; Mlm can offer an exciting new way to earn money. But your motivation for joining a mlm business shouldn’t be based on one of the misconceptions mentioned above.

Treat your business like a business, and you will be okey.