RosalindGardner.com

Learn Blogging & Affiliate Marketing with Rosalind Gardner

Work-at-Home Scams: How to Avoid Them

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I recently received the following email to my Super Affiliate Handbook ebook support address from a fellow who is obviously more than just a little bit cynical about Internet marketing business opportunities due to work-at-home scams:online scams

HELLO

I've just recently been ripped off by a work-at-home scam and I need to be sure you are not going to do any of the following.

  1. Leave me with no way to contact anyone for support.
  2. Ignore my emails but at the same time send more of your own FORM emails trying to make a sale.
  3. After I order your product, you then proceed to tell me that I need to pay more money for coaching, mentoring, or to move up to the next level

You see, I have never had an online business and have no website and I am interested in affiliate marketing but need a lot of help to implement this project. I am willing to work and have the desire, just don't have the knowledge.

Need to know you'll be there.

Please email back.

THANK YOU,
Joe

Here's my response to Joe and everyone like him…

Dear Joe,

I appreciate what you are asking, as I know there are many work-at-home scams out there and I'm very sorry to hear that you were caught up in one.

I appreciate and applaud your due diligence in researching my product prior to investing in it.

However, there is a limit to what one can expect to receive in terms of support depending upon the amount you pay for a product.

If you buy a $5000 coaching program, what you are asking for is completely legitimate.

On the other hand, when you buy a $27 ebook, expecting much more than product download support is somewhat unrealistic.

Granted, I personally answer questions here on my webmaster information site but what I personally do is beyond what you can normally expect from industry ‘experts'.

So-called EXPERTS typically sell you their knowledge via ebooks on the cheap and then never answer your questions. So, if you want to ask questions about the content in their books, you should be prepared to pay for their time and advice.

In other words, before you buy a product, you should research all the offerings your chosen expert has available and if those products meet your needs.

For example, if you want personal feedback, check to see if your expert has an ‘ask questions page‘, a membership site, or offers one-on-one consultations.

To be clear, personal consultations are generally more expensive than membership coaching offers.

For just a moment, put yourself in the busy shoes of your ‘expert'.

Would you spend much time answering questions from people who spend $27 to buy your book, or, would you choose to work harder with those who pay more for your valuable advice, i.e. one-on-one coaching and consultations?

Take that as a BIG hint as to how you should build your business AND avoid work-at-home scams.

Cheers,
Rosalind

Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!

Cheers,

Ros

Swine Flu: Another Great Reason to Work from Home

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swine fluWatching CNN's coverage of the continuing spread of the swine flu A (HIN1) virus, it strikes me again how fortunate those of us who work from home truly are.

I remember clearly those days when I went to work at the air traffic control tower and found that one of my crew partners for that day was sputtering and spewing germs all over our shared-use equipment – computers, radar, phones, microphones, etc.

Not only would I be pissed that the other controller apparently didn't care if he infected other members of the team but it detracted from my work as I concentrated more on germ eradication (wiping everything he'd use with Dettol) than on the task at hand.

In some instances those efforts to avoid infection would prove futile and I and others would get infected anyway… and if I was angry when I was put at risk, you can imagine how I felt once I got sick, especially considering we had an excellent paid sick leave program leaving absolutely no excuse to go to work sick. During those ‘working years' I invariably ended up with at least 1, if not 2, cold viruses per year – or up to 2 weeks of feeling like crap for no good reason.

Regarding the swine flu, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) is warning that “This is a serious event… If you have a fever and you’re sick or your children are sick, don’t go to work and don’t go to school.”

Unfortunately, most people in Mexico don't have the luxury of paid sick leave. Indeed, nearly half of private sector workers in the United States don’t have a single paid sick day. Take a day off sick and risk losing your job. So, off they go to work in crowded, poorly ventilated buses and subways potentially risking their lives so as not to risk their jobs – the situation made even worse by the current state of the economy.

Until legislation guarantees that workers receive an adequate number of paid sick leave days per year, that situation won't change and epidemics such as the swine flu will rage on.

And once again, this latest public health scare makes me feel so incredibly fortunate to work from home where I can control the amount of contact I have with the outside world… and it works.

In the 9 years since I quit my job and started working from home full-time, I have had only 2 colds (and I suspect I caught one of them on an airplane, but that's a topic for the travel blog. )

Find a Job: Job Search Engines

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Looking for a job? The BEST place to start your job search is online. Listed below are the most popular job search engines, on which you can both look through job listings and post your resume.

Monster.com


Monster.comWith a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works to connect employers with quality job seekers at all levels and provides personalized career advice to consumers globally.

As a Monster.com job seeker, you can:

  • Save your searches and have matching jobs emailed to you as they're posted.
  • Apply instantly and put your resume in the right hands with just one click.
  • Post your resume and let top employers find you.

Visit Monster.com now.

While you are searching for a new job, keep networking via social sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Too, consider volunteering time with a non-profit organization or doing some contract work by posting your availability on sites such as Freelancer and HireMyMom


Jobs, Jobs and MORE Jobs…

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Find a jobWhat? Me say that dirty word – J.O.B. – not once, but THREE times?

I know, I know, but what with the Big 3 bailout on its last legs today (unless the White House steps in), my guess is that more than just a few NPT readers will be among the 1.6 million workers affected by the fallout – not to mention those of you who are already looking for work or have concerns that your job may be in jeopardy.

Seen in that light, ‘job' isn't such a bad word and I thought you should know that there are PLENTY of jobs in the affiliate marketing industry. Here's a screenshot taken today of Monster.com returns for a search for ‘affiliate marketing'.

Note that there were 396 job listings just in the States, posted by companies such as Amazon, Commission Junction, Google and Netflix. A search of the U.K. site resulted in 76 returns and the Canadian site returned another 16 job listings, including postings by our friends at EcomAccess / ShareResults and MaxBounty had posted a full-time entry-level affiliate manager's position.

If you – already having some knowledge of affiliate marketing – think that you're not qualified to be an affiliate manager, I'd like you to read the following list from MaxBounty's listing:

We are looking for people with the ability to:

  • Learn the INs and OUTs of Internet advertising
  • Accomplish tasks with initiative and little supervision
  • Develop strong friendly relationships with our clients
  • Utilize the Internet for research and prospect development (email, browsing, instant messaging)
  • Converse well in the English language (oral or written)

If that didn't convince you of your potential to qualify for an affiliate manager's position, here's another snippet from their ad:

We can't emphasize strongly enough that finding the right type of person is far more important than finding someone with experience.

MaxBounty wasn't the only company willing to provide affiliate manager training, however most DO expect some experience and/or training.

So, can you translate your experience as an affiliate marketer into a job as an affiliate manager? Well, let's just say that you stand a much better chance of doing so than someone who doesn't know the meaning of affiliate marketing. And there are ways that you can improve your chances of landing a job in the affiliate marketing industry.

  1. First, you have to start looking. Search the industry job listings on Monster and other job sites. Is there anything that interests you and are qualified for? Apply.

  2. Don't automatically reject those listings for which you don't qualify. Take note of the skills and experience that they are seeking. Now, think about your own experience. Perhaps the 2 – 5 years that you spent in offline retail sales or managing a small office IS helpful.

  3. Now, dust off your resume. Emphasize your online experience by adding “Expertise in website development, online marketing strategy, email marketing, affiliate marketing strategies and search engine optimization” for starters. Hint: Use the wording in job postings to guide your resume preparation. If you don't have a resume or need help with preparing a new resume, consider letting a professional resume writer customize your resume for that job.

Affiliate marketing is one of the few industry's that is forecast to grow in the coming years… so, NOW is the time to start looking for that job or set yourself to be in a position to land that job when the position opens… because guaranteed, there's going to be a ton of competition for all available spaces.

And one more thing to consider – many affiliate managers do enjoy the luxury of working from home!!

Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!

Cheers,

Ros

Mystery Shopper Jobs

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Attention Stay At Home Moms! Get Paid to shop at your favorite stores and keep the merchandise for FREE!

Sounds good, right?

But what exactly IS a “Mystery Shopper”?

A “Mystery Shopper” or “Secret Shopper” is someone who is hired by a company to pose as a customer and secretly report back to the owner about their customer service experience and other details. The “mystery shopper” is paid for the assignment (as much as $60 per hour) and the company will also pick up the tab for the purchases made in their store and/or meals during the assignment.

Why would a company pay for a “mystery shopper” service?

Employees are always on their best behavior when the boss is around, so it's almost impossible for companies to review their own services objectively. To get a true picture of customer service provided, and perform market research, they hire people to pose as shoppers.

Here are a few examples of companies that use the services of Mystery Shoppers:

  • Home Depot
  • Gap
  • Banana Republic
  • Kohl's
  • Wal-Mart
  • Banana Republic
  • The Gap
  • Bloomingdale's
  • Old Navy
  • Target
  • Wal-Mart
  • K-Mart
  • Radio Shack
  • Taco Bell
  • Jack-In-The-Box
  • Olive Garden
  • Six Flags
  • Disney World
  • Carnival Cruise Ship lines
  • Alamo Rent-a-Car
  • McDonald's
  • Friendly's
  • Chili's Restaurant
  • Lone Star Steakhouse
  • Macy's
  • JC Penny
  • and Many More!

Who becomes a Mystery Shopper?

Mystery shopping is very popular with stay-at-home Moms and Dads, retirees and College Students looking for a way to make some money.

How do You Become a Mystery Shopper?

Numerous internet sites claim to have extensive lists of companies with Mystery Shopping Jobs. I have posted reviews for the 2 best (Secret Mystery Shopping and Paid for Shopping) that I found in terms of reputation, customer service, money back guarantee and size of database (job offers).

Paid For Shopping

Paid for Shopping has a huge database of mystery dhopping opportunites. Included is a guide about how to get started and really help out their new members. Paid For Shopping Offers:

  • Mystery Shopping Opportunities – Earn up to $40 to shop at Premium stores and get your purchases FREE.
  • Restaurant Evaluations – Earn up to $40 to eat at some of your favorite restaurants and eat for FREE!
  • Paid Movie Reviews – Get paid to go to the latest movies.
  • Get Paid to take Golf lessons – and get your lessons FREE.
  • 2 Bonuses – Get Paid to Read E-Mails, Get Paid For Surveys
  • Guarantee – 90-Day “no questions asked” guarantee

Price: $29.95

Visit Paid For Shopping now.

HireMyMom: Work at home jobs for stay at home Moms

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You have marketable skills. You have experience. You have a willingness to do a great job. And you do a great job… when you have one.

But clients can be tough to find and you may not have the resources or the time to market yourself successfully.

On the other side of the coin, Home Based Working Moms founder, Lesley Spencer Pyle, was quoted in Woman's Day magazine as saying, “Companies are learning they can save a lot of money by hiring home-based working moms to do projects such as word processing, writing, computer programming, even tutoring…“.

Enter HireMyMom.com.

Lesley Spencer PyleMs. Spencer Pyle started HireMyMom.com as a matchmaking service for moms who want to work from home and companies that are seeking their talents.

Clients regularly submit new projects to Hire My Mom, which are reviewed and posted in the members-only area in the Project Directory. Members receive a daily summary of projects / jobs that have been posted for the day and can log on to view individual job details.

Tyes of job and project posting include:

  • administrative
  • accounting
  • bookkeeping
  • coaching
  • creative arts
  • customer service
  • database development
  • desktop publishing
  • ecommerce
  • editing
  • graphic design
  • human resources
  • legal
  • marketing
  • medical billing
  • payroll
  • public relations
  • research
  • sales
  • strategic planning
  • virtual assisting
  • web design
  • writing
  • and more…

Here is a sample job listing:

=================

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Positive customer service person able to set appointments, send emails, make calls in person where necessary to owners/ buyers at boutiques, gift shops, children's stores, hobby stores, hospital gift shops, airport shops.

Required equipment or software: computer, email, phone

Estimated hours: 20-40

Deadline for applying project: on going

=================

When you find a job in which you are interested, you will respond directly to the client, who may ask for samples of work and / or references, etc. which you would send directly to them… and some projects have led to permanent work-at-home positions for HireMyMom members.

HireMyMom members who find jobs through the service are paid directly by the company or client who posted the project.

In my search for independent opinions about HireMyMom, I found these comments…

I think HireMyMom.com is great. I joined a few weeks ago and within two days was able to find a great telecommuting position. The job posts that come in are from legitimate employers that know they are advertising to moms looking to work from home. You don't have to waste your time going through other sites to see if maybe they'll accept that. They also don't post scam-type jobs, MLM or party-type sales positions. I think it's a great resource for those moms seriously looking to work from home.

and T. Klingermana said

HireMyMom is a good place for women to start their own business. There is a community for women that will knock your socks off!It’s an awesome community where women can join together and share their entrepreneurial dreams. The website provides loads of valuable information and tools to assist women to succeed in their businesses.

The service is free for job posting clients, and Mom members pay either a quarterly fee of $29.95 or an annual fee of $99 (prices valid at time of writing).

Whether you're looking for a part-time or fulltime work-at-home job, project or are interested in building a service professional business, a HireMyMom membership could be just the ticket that lets you capitalize on the freedom and flexibility to do top-rated work from home and have more time with your family and friends in the process.

3 Tips to Turn Yourself into a Telecommuter

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This article is courtesy of Sylvie Fortin, the Telecommuting Queen.

Be honest. How is your search for the perfect telecommuting job coming?

Even though there are jobs out there, it’s sometimes hard to sort through all the scams to find the real gems. It can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, can’t it? What would you say if you discovered a way to stop your endless searching for that hard-to-find needle and could assure yourself of a genuine job working from home? Here’s the catch-22, if you want to work from home, you first need to head out into the world to work in an office. If you’re confused, read on.

Let me share how I turned myself into a telecommuter. I was searching for a job just like the rest of you. I wanted to work from home, but employers had no reason to just hire me from home without meeting me and getting to know what I could do. So, I put together my resume, and I spent three days getting it out to every temporary help service in town. I never said a word about wanting to do it from home. I simply offered myself for part-time/full-time work in offices. I started getting placed into people's offices. I always used the same 3-step process whenever I was working in any office.

  1. Assess what the business did and what my job requirements were.

  2. At the end of each day, I would take home some of the work to complete on my computer.

  3. The next day I would bring in the completed work and drop it off directly to my supervisor. I always said the same thing…”I knew this project was a rush, so rather than wait, I finished it at home. It is much easier to get it done there because there are no distractions in my home office. I'm confident I can do most of the required tasks at home faster and cheaper for you, so if it would be ok with you, can we discuss me working from my home office 2 days a week or more?”

This process almost always resulted in my working from home full-time. See, I had already proven that I could do the job, and that I was more efficient at home. The boss had every good reason to let me do it my way. If, after the first two weeks, the boss was still unwilling, I politely explained my position and that I would need to look elsewhere for a job that better suited my needs, where I could be more efficient. I didn't argue, I didn't fuss, I just left them wondering what they had missed out on by letting me go.

See, there's no point in trying to force a traditional employer to bend to your needs. There are some who will not see the benefits of telecommuting, no matter how much information you give them. It isn't about you. It's simply that they are the kind of managers that need to watch their employees working to believe they are working. You can't change their minds, so don't waste your time trying after your initial proposals. Just find an employer that is ready for the idea.

As you can see, if you really want to work from home, you’re going to have to get creative. But, with a little ingenuity, a lot of hard work, and the confidence to ask for what you want in life, you’ll soon have more work than you know what to do with.

This article is excerpted from Sylive Fortin's “You Can Work in Your PJs”, a real world guide to telecommuting. Sylvie Fortin works from home full time and wrote this book to share her unique techniques with others. To become a telecommuter / virtual assistant download your copy of “You Can Work in Your PJs” today!

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