Do Internet Businesses Really Work?

You may have heard rumors of people making tons of money on the internet, whether it's from selling things on eBay or just maintaining a website that actually pays them because of the advertisements they have on it. Are any of these rumors actually true? Are others making money with internet businesses, or are they all just scams and overblown promises?

In reality, internet businesses usually do very well depending on what is being sold and how they're maintained. Many people do quite a bit of shopping online, purchasing everything from sporting goods to gift baskets to cosmetics and even edible items. Understanding what people buy online and what they still need to see in an actual store before they purchase is part of making internet businesses successful.

Retail Type Internet Businesses

If you're considering starting an online retail site, you first need to ask yourself what people would buy online. For example, wedding dresses they'll want to try on before they purchase, but wedding favors can be purchased online. Their own groceries will probably still need to be bought from the corner store, but gift baskets they have mailed to someone else can be purchased on the internet. By using some common sense you can figure out what things can be sold through internet businesses.

Some people that start retail type internet businesses purchase overstock merchandise from a wholesaler. This means that you get a large amount of merchandise for a small price, and then turn around and sell these items from your website. This might be cosmetics or other health and beauty products, clothes, shoes, sporting goods, electronics, and so on.

Drop Shipping

Drop shipping is one of the most common ways that people begin their internet businesses. This refers to selling the products that are manufactured by someone else, and the other company actually handles the order fulfillment from their warehouse. You advertise the products on your site and set up an order processing method. You also handle the payments and collection. You then in turn pass the orders on to the company that produces and ships the goods, and they mail out the packages. They get a percent of the cost of the orders you've received. These types of internet businesses are very common; this is why you might find the same brand of a certain product being sold through many different websites.

To qualify for any type of drop shipping Internet businesses, you probably need a sales tax certificate from your state and then you send the company that produces the products a sales tax exemption certificate. They of course have the right to reject or refuse your application to sell their products on your site, but there are many places that are drop shippers so if you get rejected by your first choice, move on to another.

eBay

eBay is of course one of the most prominent of all the methods for successful internet businesses. People are finding that they can sell all sorts of items through an eBay store; many do the same retail type store or drop shipping type of business through eBay. There are costs that you incur to run an eBay store but these are usually minimal.

Also, you can typically find unusual items or use your creativity when it comes to running online businesses through eBay. If there is a thrift store near you, there may be items you can find there such as designer clothes or household goods. Children's clothes also do well through eBay.

Selling Ad Space

Most internet businesses sell ad space on their site or set up an account through Google Adsense, meaning that ads run on your site and when a visitor clicks on them, you get paid. You may not actually get rich from this type of arrangement, but these ads often help pay for the charge you incur in maintaining a website.

Are There Any Legitimate Internet Businesses Out There?

It seems like every day, there is another news story about someone who made millions on the Internet. Whether they started their own business, invested wisely in Internet businesses, or simply capitalized on someone else's ideas, there are more Internet millionaires popping up all over the world.

However, as often as you hear success stories, you hear about someone who was taken in by the unscrupulous practices of so called Legitimate Internet businesses which claim to offer independent wealth, but more often just lead to financial hardship. These false business opportunities prey on parents who want to work at home to be with their children, disabled people who can't leave the house, and all kinds of other workers who are just looking for a genuine opportunity to make some extra money.

If you have ever wanted to dive into the world of Internet business but are afraid of falling victim to a scam, you're wise to be wary. However, you will be pleased to know that there are still plenty of valid and lucrative Internet businesses available; you just have to know how to weed out the bad and find the good.

Start Simple

When you begin looking for legitimate internet businesses to make extra money, it may be helpful to start off by working for an already-established company. There are many industries that support telecommuting for some employees as a way to cut down on their overhead costs. You can find work as a Transcriptionist, Hotel Reservations Agent, or Customer Service Agent all from the comfort of your own home. Another way to find a well-established legitimate internet business is through Affiliate programs that are members of the Better Business Bureau. Programs like SFI (Strong Future International) which has been a member of the Better Business Bureau, with a good standing since 1995 is one example.

Do What You Do Best

If you are ready to strike out on your own and open your own business, deciding on what type of business can be the hardest part. The best way to make money with legitamite internet businesses is to do what comes naturally to you. If you aren't a natural salesperson, having a business that requires you to do a lot of talking (Cold calling) and convincing probably won't work out well for you. When you are looking for an legitimate internet business that you can run from home, look for those that tie in with your natural abilities.

If you are a natural artist with a background in graphic design, you can market your talent to other Internet businesses who need logos or websites designed. If you are a talented writer, there are many opportunities for Internet businesses that provide marketing material and website content for other companies. Remember: if you can't find an opportunity that already exists, make one. Be a pioneer.

Rule of Thumb

If you would prefer to be an independent contractor or franchisee for an established Internet business, opportunities abound on the Internet. You should be wary of quite a few of them, however.

You have undoubtedly heard this one before: if you have to pay for a business opportunity, it's a scam. You should never have to pay a company for the privilege of working for them. While this is true about 99% of the time, there are exceptions to every rule. The most notable exceptions are sites where you list your resume or bid on jobs that other Internet businesses need done on a freelance basis. You may be required to pay a monthly fee in order for the site to host your contact information.

Follow Your Gut Feeling

If you are looking at a website that promises you can start running an Internet business and begin making six figures within a month, you can be reasonably sure that it's a scam. Look out for any outrageous claims or vague explanations. You should be allowed to ask questions and get legitimate, believable answers from these Internet businesses. If you don't, you know it's time to walk away.

There are many legitimate internet businesses out there, but you have to learn how to spot a scam and be tough enough to walk away when something just doesn't feel right. If you are patient and know what you want to achieve, you'll be able to find an Internet business that fits with your life and allows you to do what you love.

At Home Jobs for Stay at Home Moms

Are you interested in at home jobs for stay at home moms? There is nothing more important in your life than your children are, and no one can raise them better than you can. Still, when the budget is tight and you are not sure where the next rent or house payment is coming from, it can be tempting to dump the kids off at day care and head off to the workplace. The great news is that there is no need to take your children anywhere. Now you can care for them at home while you work at home.

Whether you are looking for something to keep you busy several hours a day, or only a few, there are several online at home jobs for stay at home moms that can keep you feeling fulfilled and successful. The best thing about today’s global Internet market is that you don’t have to bow down to any boss anywhere. Why? Because you are your own boss. Never before in history is there so much chance for you to:

· Own your own business
· Decide how many hours to work each day
· Choose how much money you want to make
· Determine your own work schedule
· Pick what kind of business you want to run
· And even settle on how big you want your business to become

Yes, at home jobs for stay at home moms not only can lead to the kind of financial security you only dreamed of, but they can allow you to remain at home where you can raise your children how you see fit. You can be the mother of the year and business person of the year all from the comfort of your own home.

One great thing about at home jobs for stay at home moms is that you don’t need to be a financial guru to cash in on this opportunity. There is no reason to spend years in college collecting school debts that take years to repay, when you can start immediately with little or no up front cash to get started.

That’s right! Whether you have a college degree or a high school diploma makes little difference in your ability to succeed. To begin performing at home jobs for stay at home moms, all you need is a basic knowledge of using your home computer. Once you have that, you are set to begin. Imagine it. You can be in business within minutes!

Learn how to aggressively seek out all the money you care to bank with at home jobs for stay at home moms, or if you prefer, earn just a few extra bucks each week. Learn many great ways to make extra money, earn commissions, and even rake in passive residual income.

What’s more, you don’t even have to be a mom to find the kind of work available through at home jobs for stay at home moms. Dads, teens, single people, and grandparents can also find excellent money-making opportunities with no major investment. How cool is that?

Check out the available at home jobs for stay at home moms and get started feeling comfortable with your new found personal economic security today. What have you got to lose—besides your old crotchety clueless boss that is?

Affiliate Programs: Some can lose you money!

You're losing a lot of money with your affiliate program and you didn't know it. Allow me to explain in more detail…

When you joined affiliate programs you’ve likely weighed the following factors:

- The commission rate
- The conversion rate

The profit formula looks like a breeze: Commission x Conversion Rate = Your Total Profit.

As a matter of fact, there are three big pitfalls and if you don't manage them the right way, your revenue is in peril.

Lets consider them:

- Price: A high price entails a higher affiliate commission for every sale but it may result also in a lower conversion rate. If the product is too high-priced, nobody will buy it. You shouldn't be enthused by the promise of a very high commission. You should bear in mind that the better price isn't the one that gives you the highest commission but the one that makes the highest profit. An optimized pricing that makes happy customers and happy customers is what you should seek.

- Refund Rate: Refunds can wipe out your marketing attempts! What are the sales worth in your account if the customers request their money back? Numerous sales mean nothing unless you keep the money!

This is the sole responsibility of the merchant to keep refunds as low as possible. A site that sells well is good. A site that also keeps refunds very low is much better!

There is only one-way to keep refunds very low: Deliver very high quality services that meet customers' expectations or going above and beyond what they might anticipated! Quality makes superior conversion rates! Quality enables higher prices and better commissions! Quality keeps refunds as low as possible! In a word: Quality should be your guide. Do not associate your business with low quality products or services. On the top of your list, promote only the very best. It will also keep your earnings on top.

How much profit are you losing today?

The money you earn and lose is significantly determined by the quality of the affiliate program you've selected as your top pick. The question should be: How do you quantify what is more qualitative and what is less? There's an objective criterion to use for answering this question and for optimizing your profit: The refund rate of your top affiliate program!

A high refund rate express clearly that the customers are not satisfied with what they get and that affiliates lose money on their sales. On the other hand, a low refund rate indicates a superior level of gratification among customers and safe earning for affiliates. If you get numerous refunds with your top affiliate program, you should understand that the quality of this program isn't adequate for keeping these customers satisfied and it doesn't do the necessary task for securing your profit. You're losing a lot of revenue!

What does a good, medium and poor refund rates mean?

Refunds can't be totally avoided. There will always be customers that are not satisfied even for the most high quality product or service. So, anticipating a zero refund rate on the long haul is not realistic. You should want a refund rate as low as possible in your industry. It's crucial to consider that there can be substantial variations from one industry to another but as a guideline you can use the following scale:

2% or less: Excellent
3% - 5%: Good
6% - 10%: Medium
11% - 15%: Poor
16% - 20%: Very Poor
21% or higher: Run away!

With a 5% or less refund rate you can be pleased. Your affiliate program is dependable and your profit is secured. With a 6%-10% refund rate, you should monitor your merchant performance closely to ensure it doesn't get any worst. It would be a good idea to scan the market for a better alternative if you are able to find one. With an 11%-20% (or higher) refund rate you should be very troubled with your profit. Whatever your industry is, you're losing a lot of profit and there's probably a better affiliate program to advertise out there.

What is the refund rate of your top affiliate program?

There are two ways to find the refund rate of an affiliate program:

1) View the stats furnished by your affiliate program

Use the following formula as follows: Refunds / Sales = Refund Rate

Let say you make 1000 sales per month, you get a $23.50 commission per sale and about 160 customers request their money back every month. Your refund rate is 160 / 1000 = 16%. What this means is that you should have earned $23,500 for your sales but you will only receive $19,740 because of the total refunds. You've lost 16% of your profit or $3,760!

You should then ask yourself this question: Does all affiliates for this affiliate program get similar numbers or is it just you? If you use Clickbank to promote affiliate programs, you will be able to get the big picture about the whole community of affiliates that promote an affiliate program.

2) Utilizing Clickbank payout stats to calculate the average refund rate of an affiliate program in its marketplace, Clickbank puts out payout stats for affiliate programs. The $Earned/Sale factor gives us exactly what we need to calculate the average refund rate of an affiliate program.

The $Earned/Sale is the average net amount earned per affiliate per referred sale.

Refunds mainly affect this number and it reveals the real commission earned by affiliates. With this number, you are able to have an inner look at the real performance of affiliates programs.

To figure out the average refund rate of an affiliate program use the following formula:

(Commission - $Earned)/Commission = Average Refund Rate

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To check out more about this article and others here.

At Home Jobs For Stay At Home Moms: How can Moms make money from home?

More moms everyday are looking to the Internet to solve their needs to be at home more with their families. The cost of day care, fuel, food and stress of the day-to-day demanding job is becoming too much to bear. Why not? Who can take better care of your children or family than you? Mom and Dads are always best.

In doing some research I was looking for specific At Home Jobs For Stay At Home Moms or Home Base Business Opportunity programs that could easily be started, worked and operated from anywhere a person could find a computer and access to the Internet and that did not costs a lot of money to start-up. I felt this was important because their are many moms that may have to get their new work at home cash generating endeavor up and running from various locations.

I am happy to say that there is many At Home Jobs For Stay At Home Moms opportunities that will help you fulfill your needs. You are going to have to do some work from somewhere to get paid. Nothing is free in life. Don't let anyone or any At Home Jobs For Stay At Home Moms program opportunity tell you otherwise.

The great news is with minimal time you should be able to generate some extra cash that can help you achieve your goals. It is very important to avoid some of the common pitfalls or SCAMS such as jumping into the first program you see without checking them out or knowing if you have the skill sets and comfort level to do what will be asked of you. How do you know this particular program will even pay you after you do the work? Doing some research up front can minimize many of these problems. This is an important decision for you, it can change your lifestyle, so why not give it the effort it deserves. I recommend using a website like mine (http://globalhomebizness.com/at_home_jobs_for_stay_at_home_moms.php), but not necessarily mine, that has done some due diligence or research for you or do it yourself. You really need to do one or the other or both.

Once you have done your research then you will want to narrow down the choices to 2 - 3 excellent At Home Jobs For Stay At Home Moms programs that match your work at home profile. This consists of understanding your time constraints, skill sets, and comfort zone and income objectives. One you have done this then proceed on to join the selected program or programs reading carefully the step-by-step guidance provided. Once you have completed the training then start working the hours you are able thus creating income for you and your family. Exercise patience, because many companies will pay bi-weekly or monthly.

You are probably thinking about the cost of joining 2 - 3 programs. The cost is minimal normally less then it cost to take your family out to a dinner and a movie one evening. Invest one evening in yourself. You deserve it.

So, research, match your At Home Jobs For Stay At Home Moms profile, join, work and start earning today! I wish you the very best.

Work At Home Opportunities: How Not To Get Burned!

Work at home opportunities are out there and it is your responsibility to find the one that is best for you. Work at home opportunities are quite frequently schemes which take advantage of low income or handicapped persons. In this article we are going to try to answer the question of how to determine if work at home opportunity is a scam.

It's difficult to become wealthy, but sometimes a work at home opportunity are enough to supplement a family's income. Also, it can be a great "part-time" job for individuals who stay home with their children. Even some work at home opportunities can replace your “full-time” income like affiliate programs, Network Marketing, etc. This brings up the question, how much honest work at home opportunities are on the Internet today? Most legitimate work at home opportunities are best described as telecommuting jobs/affiliate programs.

How can you tell which work at home opportunities are legitimate?

Before you spend anytime or money on work at home opportunity you need to make sure it is not scams. First, you can check with the Better Business Bureau (http://bbb.org) and see if the work at home opportunity you are researching is listed. If the company is listed see if they have any complaints. Companies like SFI (Strong Future International), Life Force International, Freestoreclub, Freelife, Isagenix, GDI (Global Domain International) Success University, Empowerism, etc, have been around a long time and some are members with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) in good standing. Stay away from work at home opportunities that have a lot of complaints. Another way you can check a work at home opportunity is to do a Google search. Log onto http://google.com and type in the search text box “is work at home opportunity a scam”. For example if you want to see if SFI is a scam type (including double quotes) : “is SFI a scam”. If you get a lot of results, then click on a couple of them and see what people are saying about the business. If a lot of the comments are bad then it is a warning sign to stay away from that work at home opportunity. Lastly, another way to check work at home opportunities is to look at the Forums. Check forums such as http://www.moneymakergroup.com, http://scam.com and http://erichw33.proboards53.com/index.cgi to see what people are saying about the work at home opportunity. If a lot of comments are saying that the work at home opportunity does not pay on-time, does not pay at all or even changes the rules or structure of the program, then I suggest stay away from them. Most likely than not, the work at home opportunity is a scam. Also, stay away from autosurfs and HYIPS (High Yield Investment) programs. These so called work at home opportunities are nothing more than a PONZI scheme and you will lose your money with them.

Conclusion:

You can make money with some work at home opportunities on the Internet, but you need to do your do diligence by checking each work at home opportunity carefully. Otherwise, you can lose a lot of your money and time.

Network Marketing From Home Strategies

Before the creation of the Internet, those who made money on sales relied a good deal on simple network marketing from home strategies. They would simply strike up a conversation with a potential customer. A manufacturer's representative would, for example, visit a number of different retail stores, and he (or she) would lend a listening ear to the stories of the store owner.

In that way, a salesperson could better identify the primary interests of that store owner. Having identified those interests the salesperson could better strengthen his (or her) relationship with the store owner. The salesperson would need to realize that each store owner represented a possible way to increase the number of requests for a particular product.

Today, salespeople tend to rely on a different set of Network Marketing From Home strategies. Still, certain of the old strategies need to be appreciated for their ability to assist with widening the circle of customers. This article will offer details on some of the more traditional Network Marketing From Home strategies.

Advertising can help with the development of a network. Looking beyond the Internet, a salesperson should think about using postcards, newspapers, radio and TV in order to get out a commercial message. Such efforts should lead to a response from a diverse population. Some of the responses might well come from well-educated individuals.

The telephone should not go unmentioned in any article about Network Marketing From Home strategies. A phone conversation can be used as a way to build a relationship. The salesperson should not appear in a hurry to sell his or her product. The salesperson should indicate a readiness to listen to the person on the other end of the line.

Whether the salesperson prefers to make contact by phone or in person, that salesperson should not expect results from a single contact. Every salesperson needs to plan for follow-up contacts. By engaging in such contacts, the salesperson can better display an interest in the potential customer. The customer thus becomes more trusting of the salesperson.

In order to highlight the importance of follow-up contacts, the reader is asked to recall again the Network Marketing From Home strategies that preceded the creation of the Internet. One salesperson in Pennsylvania used to make regular stops at a store in the area outside of Philadelphia. By chance, he discovered that the daughter of the store owner would be attending an all-girl's college in New England.

That father and salesman realized that he could proceed without reliance on Network Marketing From Home strategies. He had been given a wonderful strategy. That father and salesman knew that his own daughter was attending the same institution.

The father and salesman later told his daughter about the information he had received on one of the new freshmen at her school. The daughter, of course, was pleased to learn about someone who she could add to her own network of friends. The daughter was aiding the publicity efforts of a local non-profit group.

Both the father and the daughter benefited from the father's diligent use of follow-up techniques—an important part of all Network Marketing From Home strategies.

Is GDI Global Domain International business opportunity program a RIPOFF?

Most business opportunities promoted online and in the many business opportunity magazines suggest or even claim fast, easy money. It's what gets people attention and causes them to turn loose some of their money. It's the fast, easy money and the promise of unlimited WEALTH that gets the wanna-be millionaire's attention. Most likely many more lost their hard earned money compared to the number of those that actually earned a profit. Some never find it but those that do make a lot of money. About 95% of all the business opportunity sites on the NET are not really worth the time, space, money and so forth.

So is GDI Global Domain International business opportunity program more of the same?

GDI is not like other business opportunities on the Internet. GDI Global Domain International business opportunity has been in business since 1982 and has been ranked 37th in Inc magazine as one of the fastest growing companies. GDI business opportunity is not a fly by night operation, this stood out to me as many online businesses and work from home opportunities are around one day then gone the next. GDI provides you with a very duplicatable and customizable way to help you recruit new members. GDI offers their website business opportunity worldwide. Everyone can work the GDI Global Domain International business opportunity because it's easy. There are no geographical or income limits with GDI. Global Domains International (GDI) is the most powerful business opportunity on the planet.

What makes GDI Global Domain International business opportunity program offer different from other offers?

When you get down to it, GDI doesn't offer you web hosting, or a domain name,
though these are included when you join GDI. What GDI is offering is an income opportunity. You have to ask yourself what's the difference between GDI and every other income opportunity on the web. The differences with GDI are many; however four stand out above the rest:

1) First the income potential, which is based on $1 per month per each person you get signed up, which doesn't appear to be much at first, but when coupled with the second distinguishing feature has a very powerful, very lucrative potential behind it.

2) The second point being the ability to offer the same opportunity to others and earning $1 off of each person they are able to give GDI's tremendous opportunity to. By showing 6 people how to show 6 how to use GDI Global Domain International business opportunity program and in turn having them do the same by the time this reaches its fifth level you stand to earn $9,330 per month. That in and of itself is not all that great however if you take into consideration the third point, which is each and every month thereafter you get the $9,330 month after month unless more people join GDI or cancel their accounts. Along with a road map to starting your own business it is the practice of many(though not all) GDI members to build their own downlines. This essentially means that rather than signing people up and then sending them on their way, GDI allows for a sponsor to place/give new signups to their immediate downline. The great thing about GDI is that the cost is only $10 a month.

3) Third, you need only ask someone to spend $10 on investing in their future to convince people that GDI is great for them. At just $10 a month most people are willing to give GDI a try and once they do they are hooked.

4) GDI pays weekly $100.00 bonuses for every five new paid members you bring in. This means you can earn unlimited $100.00’s every week. Some, earn $1000’s each week.

Conclusion

It has been my experience that not only is GDI Global Domain International business opportunity program NOT A SCAM, it is a great opportunity for anyone looking to start working online or for anyone looking to make an extra source of income month after month. From its wonderful opportunity, solid business foundation and stability, awesome support group personally invested in your success and it's amazingly low price GDI is the BEST online income opportunity for both experience and inexperience online workers.