Online Business Opportunity 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.

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susan rachelle burton cook, esq.
Internet Marketing Expert, Home Business Advisor, & Entrepreneur Success Coach