Rumors have it that an SEO company from Las Vegas has set its eyes on the land down under and have been aggressively calling website owners offering their services for a couple of thousand dollars. You can only describe their actions as sharks closing on their prey and anybody who had the misfortune of being caught in their traps are bound to lose more than a leg and an arm.

It appears that USA SEO Pros which also goes by the name of BDI or Business Development Institute have been busy these past few weeks calling website owners claiming that they can place your websites on the first two pages of Google. I too have received a call from this company and months after having the same experience with another SEO company in the past proceeded on doing some research about the company.

Here’s how their scam works, this company goes to Google and looks for websites that use Google Adwords collects information on their owners and calls them. Some may even go as far as telling you that they got your personal information from your networking company.

Unless you own Google or Yahoo, there’s just no way that you can guarantee anybody that you can place them on the first page. The truth is, even the first premise, owning Google or Yahoo does not guarantee your website’s ending high on search engine rankings.

Number One

Take it from the horse’s mouth, “No one can guarantee a number ONE ranking on Google.”

This is definitely one of the most obvious signs that you are dealing with a shady SEO

company. Even the best SEO campaigns don’t guarantee that they could place you in the first page of Google or Yahoo, what you should look for are those company’s who can promise you a better search engine ranking with their services.

Sell Useless keywords

Even the most basic blogger knows the importance of using Keywords in getting their websites seen by search engines. Some shady SEO companies sell you keywords which they say can place you on top of search engine results.

How does this scam work? Yes they sell you keywords that place high when you use them on search engines, but these keywords have nothing to do with your website’s content. Here’s an example, you’re selling auto parts on your website and an SEO company gives you a particular keyword which they say would rank high during searches.

First page — their site

Here’s another selling point that is sure to get some unsuspecting website owners into enrolling into an SEO company. Some would even offer you a guaranteed first place ranking on their search engine. Unless they’re from Google which is highly unlikely, yes you would be on the first page of their search engine which sadly nobody ever uses.

Site Submissions to Search Engines

Some SEO companies would charge you for site submissions to the thousands of search engines. The truth is you only need to focus on the three search engines, Google, Yahoo and Bing. Of these, 2/3 of all searches are done with Google. Other search engines often use these major search engines as a basis for their rankings. You can keep costs down by doing it yourself and all you need to do is focus on the major search engines.

Bargain Services

Some SEO companies would go as far as offer you free trial services before locking you in with a contract. This will even be followed by a ridiculously low offer that no self respecting SEO company would contemplate. You get what you pay for, cheap prices beget cheap services. And after months of paying for their services you’ll just find yourself funneling money into an SEO campaign which you could have done by yourself.

It’s a Company Secret

If a company can’t make a simple explanation on what they plan on doing for your SEO campaign then they most probably don’t know where to start in the first place. There are a few well known methods of getting your website ranked higher and this information can be easily accessed by reading books or even a few clicks with your mouse.

Each search engine has its own algorithms for ranking websites. These algorithms often change as search engines try to find the best way of helping people find what they’re searching for. There are hundreds of factors to consider, some may know a few pieces of the puzzle but not the whole thing.

Avoiding SEO Scams

I couldn’t help but notice the growing number of SEO companies and so called online marketing gurus preaching how they could get your websites on the first page of any search engine. Then it suddenly hit me, if everybody knew how to place a website on the first page of Google or any of the major search engines then shouldn’t everybody be listed on the first page?

Obviously the best way to get noticed over the internet is to get your website ranked high on search engines. With everybody competing for valuable real estate on Google, Yahoo and MSN’s first page, getting on top of the list is definitely getting more and more difficult.

Hard work is the secret to getting your website ranked higher. Writing great content that makes people go back to your website is the simple answer for your website’s long term success. Yes, you can pay SEO companies to do it for you but what do you do when the money runs out?

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One of the biggest concerns people have when  considering a home based business is to do with  SCAMS.  Oh no!  Not the ‘S’ word again. For me, the whole scam thing is overused and over the top.  To get the facts right, it is not necessarily a scam if someone puts money up for a work from home program and does not make money from the program. Unfortunately many people call something  a scam even though they put in little or no effort to make the thing work.

They do this to deflect attention from themselves and their own inadequacies.  Of course if you paid money for something and did not receive what was promised (in writing), that may constitute a scam.  But in my experience, more often than not,  most home based opportunities are OK in the hands of the right person with the right attitude, and the right skill set.

So this really is the critical issue.  Right attitude, right skill set.  Or to put it another way, it is important that the right match be found between the person seeking the opportunity and the entity that is promoting it. So with those thoughts in mind let’s have a look at some specifics.  Shawn Stoik is a savvy internet marketer (http://www.make1kaday.com) who has pinpointed 3 important characteristics of work from home programs, businesses, and jobs.  Check ‘em out……….

3 Crucial Characteristics of Legitimate Work at Home Programs:

1- Proven Business System and Compensation Plan-  A legitimate online business will have a proven step-by-step system for you to follow to effectively build and market your business and start making money online.  The compensation plan should be lucrative and competitive allowing you to earn commissions of up to $900 US or more in both direct and matching override bonuses!  This is absolutely critical if you want to start earning a serious income with your online business!

2- Reputation and Credibility-  The online opportunity that you select should have an excellent reputation with current members.  Are members making good money and getting paid quickly?  Are they happy with how they have been trained and what they have learned?  Does this company look like something that can help bring you success based on the true experience of other members?

3- Training and Mentoring- A legitimate work at home opportunity will have an extensive and impressive back office section for paid members of the company where they can go to find any and all answers to their questions, as well as a place to learn how to properly market their website and business.  A legitimate online opportunity will teach their members exactly how to effectively execute all the most strategic online marketing techniques so that they can quickly start making money. They won’t just tell them what marketing techniques are out there but they will have step-by-step guides and detailed training videos to guide you on how to do them and become really good and competitive so that you can be well on your way to becoming a serious Online marketer!

Kimbo Says:

So there you have it. I guess the important thing to be mindful of is the simple principle of ‘know thyself’.  Most of these programs work (in the hands of the right person).  Yet, most people who try them fail.  That’s an ever present reality.  So if you don’t have an entrepreneurial bone in your body don’t seduce yourself into thinking that you’re gonna be a hit in the entrepreneurial world.  Too much change, too little to work with, is the maxim here.

Nevertheless, if you have a burning, obsessive desire for success you can overcome almost any obstacle.  It’s up to you.

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OK.  So you want to work from home.  And you figure you could put your computer to use and start an online home business.  The question I have for you is this: is it just a whim, or are you deadly serious about creating a financial advantage for yourself.  If you say yes to the later, then read on!

If you’re like most people I talk to, you are totally confused. Let’s face it, there are a vast range of options.  So many online business proposals, so many claims and promises.  It becomes confusing and disorienting after a while.    There are many options to think about, with many of them offering big money.

However, here are some pointers that should enable you to determine what is right for you.  Read on………….

1. A Product You Like. A bit of a no brainer this one.  But it is important you like the product.  For instance, no point in contemplating joining a travel business, if you don’t like taking holidays!  Whatever you choose to do it must be something you have an interest in.  Or at least something you think you could grow to like!

2. A Company You Like. Whether you are thinking of buying a franchise or joining programs such as MLM, direct sales, or affiliate marketing; it is important to have an affinity with the company, its values, and its people.  (This may not be possible with affiliate programs – the only relationship you have is with an email auto responder!)  Do all the research that you need to do to give you a rational reason to join the business.

But don’t forget the intangibles, which are more to do with feelings and intuition.  The key is to get the balance right.  Some are far too emotional in their decision making, and seem to be bereft of any analytical ability.  On the other hand, super analytical people need to encourage the development of their own innate intuitive powers.

3. A Good Profit Margin. The other side of the coin is to do with the financial. I like making money.  Do you?    You’ll need a decent profit margin, otherwise all that time and effort you’re going to invest will not be reward handsomely.

4. Excellent Cash Flow Potential. A good profit margin is one thing, but cash flow is the other.  If you wait for months to make sales, you’ll need plenty of back up capital to stay afloat.  If you have a limited budget, look for something that offers both great margins AND excellent cash flow.  An ideal balance.

5. A Mentor to Support You. I got started as an internet marketer in 2006.  My early success was partly dependent on the help my original mentor gave me.  Your mentor should have these qualities:

-       Know What They’re Talking About. You don’t want to be mentored by a clueless fool!

-       Be Successful. If it’s a sales or marketing business you are looking at, your mentor should have some runs on the board.

-       Be Relatable. You need to connect with your mentor in a way that gives you confidence.  The right mentor will bring out the best in you.

So there you have it.  A few good pointers to help you make the right decision.

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