By Matthew Bredel
Before I get started, I want to point out that I am not the biggest fan of paid survey programs for one reason: they really don't pay enough money, in my opinion. If you are looking for an extra $50-$100 per week, then yes, this is a pretty simple way of doing it. I did this in the past, and I was not satisfied with this amount. That is what lead me into other programs like affiliate marketing and wholesaling. Both of these require a much larger initial commitment and a bit of persistence to be successful, but if you can get to the top of the mountain, the stroll down the hill is rather nice and profitable.
But this is not about affiliate marketing or wholesaling. Paid surveys do work! If you want to spend the time to fill out surveys or mystery shop or read emails, you will get paid for it. But be prepared! The way paid surveys works is that you must sign up on a lot of sites to get the 5-10 surveys per week. Signing up on a lot of websites means one thing: You are exposing yourself to a lot of sites, some of which don't have great intentions! If you plan on doing this, protect yourself! Here are a few suggestions:
1) Use a new email address (like a hotmail or gmail account) to conduct all of your paid survey business on. Some of these sites WILL sell your email address or use it to try to sell you stuff (as spam). Mixing this with your personal email is a mistake!
2) You should still use your real name and address, since they may be sending checks or confirming a PayPal account.
3) You should not need to supply your social security number. You will not be making enough money. If they require it, look into the site a bit more and make sure it is legitimate (if it is something like "Yahoo", it is probably pretty safe...if it is something like "PaidSurveyBonanza", I would be a be skeptical!)
4) Only give your phone number if you are planning on taking part in phone surveys or focus panels.
5) Create usernames and passwords that will be specific to this paid survey venture.
Unfortunately with systems like paid surveys, you are required to expose yourself a bit. Be conscious of what information you are giving them. If you protect yourself with the data you give out, the worst that can happen is a bit of annoying spam organized in a way that will not interfere with your normal life.
Matthew is a 32 year old online entrepreneur and engineer currently living in San Diego, CA.
Visit http://www.TheWebReviewer.com for more money making articles, resources and reviews on today’s hottest online money making ventures.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Bredel
Wednesday
Profitable Affiliate Marketing Using Incentive Offers
By Gerardas Norkus
The biggest companies want to sell their products and services on the Internet. One of the best ways to market their products and services online is by offering a commission to website owners. This is done by setting up an affiliate program where webmasters can pick up the links to offers and promote them on their web sites in exchange for affiliate commissions for each sale made.
Webmasters have many ways to promote these affiliate offers - on websites, by email, with pay-per-click search engines, writing and distributing articles, etc.
However, a little-known way to promote these offers is by using incentives to online surfers who agree to buy a product or service from the webmaster.
One of the best ways to market incentive offers is by building a membership-based website and giving free cash to members who agree to accept affiliate products and services.
Here are the steps for setting up a successful incentive-based website:
1. You'll have to build a database-driven website where new members can sign up and start browsing offers after logging in. Such websites usually promote at least a hundred of various offers. You should offer your members about 50% of the commission that you recieve from an affiliate program.
One of the biggest disadvantages in starting an incentive-based website is that the scripts for running such program are quite complicated. However, if you don't know Internet programming and cannot build the website by yourself, you can hire someone to create the scripts for you or purchase them online.
2. After your website is up and running, you should apply for affiliate networks that allow incentive traffic. When your application is approved you should set up offers on your website.
3. You should market the incentive offers not only on your website but by email too. Sending paid email to your members is one of the best ways to increase your profit. You should reward your members with a certain amount of cash for reading each paid email and redirect them to affiliate offers where they can earn even more extra cash by accepting the offers.
4. Since the incentive traffic is usually limited to certain countries, you should promote your website to the visitors of these countries only. The best ways to drive targeted traffic to your incentive-based website are: pay-per-click search engines, email marketing and affiliate marketing (by setting up your own affiliate program).
5. You should manage your website by setting up new offers, paying members their earned payments, suspending fraudulent accounts and tracking your website advertising campaigns.
Some incentive-based websites offer a point system. It means that members earn points instead of cash. Later these points can be redeemed for cash or any other items.
Incentive marketing on the Internet can be very profitable. Anyone can start an excellent home-business online within several weeks and run it spending only a couple of hours per day. It doesn't require any complicated and time-consuming content writing for websites and newsletters. The investment in scripts is low.
Gerardas Norkus is an author of "Paid Email Business Secrets" eBook (http://www.paidemailbusiness.com) that reveals a step-by-step system for running a highly profitable home-business on the Internet.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerardas_Norkus
The biggest companies want to sell their products and services on the Internet. One of the best ways to market their products and services online is by offering a commission to website owners. This is done by setting up an affiliate program where webmasters can pick up the links to offers and promote them on their web sites in exchange for affiliate commissions for each sale made.
Webmasters have many ways to promote these affiliate offers - on websites, by email, with pay-per-click search engines, writing and distributing articles, etc.
However, a little-known way to promote these offers is by using incentives to online surfers who agree to buy a product or service from the webmaster.
One of the best ways to market incentive offers is by building a membership-based website and giving free cash to members who agree to accept affiliate products and services.
Here are the steps for setting up a successful incentive-based website:
1. You'll have to build a database-driven website where new members can sign up and start browsing offers after logging in. Such websites usually promote at least a hundred of various offers. You should offer your members about 50% of the commission that you recieve from an affiliate program.
One of the biggest disadvantages in starting an incentive-based website is that the scripts for running such program are quite complicated. However, if you don't know Internet programming and cannot build the website by yourself, you can hire someone to create the scripts for you or purchase them online.
2. After your website is up and running, you should apply for affiliate networks that allow incentive traffic. When your application is approved you should set up offers on your website.
3. You should market the incentive offers not only on your website but by email too. Sending paid email to your members is one of the best ways to increase your profit. You should reward your members with a certain amount of cash for reading each paid email and redirect them to affiliate offers where they can earn even more extra cash by accepting the offers.
4. Since the incentive traffic is usually limited to certain countries, you should promote your website to the visitors of these countries only. The best ways to drive targeted traffic to your incentive-based website are: pay-per-click search engines, email marketing and affiliate marketing (by setting up your own affiliate program).
5. You should manage your website by setting up new offers, paying members their earned payments, suspending fraudulent accounts and tracking your website advertising campaigns.
Some incentive-based websites offer a point system. It means that members earn points instead of cash. Later these points can be redeemed for cash or any other items.
Incentive marketing on the Internet can be very profitable. Anyone can start an excellent home-business online within several weeks and run it spending only a couple of hours per day. It doesn't require any complicated and time-consuming content writing for websites and newsletters. The investment in scripts is low.
Gerardas Norkus is an author of "Paid Email Business Secrets" eBook (http://www.paidemailbusiness.com) that reveals a step-by-step system for running a highly profitable home-business on the Internet.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerardas_Norkus
Monday
What To Look For With Online Surveys
By Roy London
For some years online surveys have been another way to make some cash in your spare time from home or where ever is suitable. This could be a nice second income, especially if you have the spare time. You could be recovering or laid off, a student with lots of time on your hand or a stay at home mom. There are many companies out there that claim to offer this service but they are a few things to look for:
a) Look for a company that does not charge a lot of money to sign up, most of these companies that charge a lot just want your money. The ones that charge a little are just recovering their administrative and maintenance cost.
b) If the company offers 100% Guarantee refund on your registration fee it means they are confident and standing behind their product. In this case you have nothing to lose.
c) The site should be simple if it's too complicated it will confuse you and you'll waste time, you're there to make money not lose money, time is money.
These are a few simple guide lines for you. Good luck.
I would recommend you try Survey Estate their price is good and the website is simple. They also offer 100% Guarantee refund.There are a few important things to take into consideration after you sign up that will help you greatly.
1. I would recommend you open a separate email account that you will use when you sign up with the survey companies. You will be filling out a lot of online forms and you will be receiving a lot of emails in return. A yahoo or Hotmail account easily let you block any unwanted emails.
2. Make sure you have a recent version of your web browser, such as Internet Explorer version 5.0 or better. You don't want your browser crashing when you are logged in and participating in a survey or focus group.
3. Be sure to keep a good record of all market research sites you've signed up with, so you will have your username and password for each of them easily accessible. You could try using the same User ID and Password for all of them to make things easier for yourself.
4. To make sure you get selected for a lot of surveys and focus groups, be sure to correctly fill out the initial profile for each market research group you sign up with. Your initial profile will determine what type of surveys or focus groups you will be eligible for. Don't limit your demographics. For example, be sure to select several hobbies, interests, etc. However, don't check all of them or it may look like an error or suspicious.
5. Don't expect too many surveys right after you join. You will get some initially. Try to be patient and complete every survey you receive, even if it doesn't pay cash, these companies need to gain confidence in you, and as time goes by, they will notice that you are committed to their surveys and will send you more and more.
6. Please visit their websites and register to the ones you prefer. You will be selected based on your registration profile; if you don't register to any of them you will not receive any surveys at all.
7. Keep in mind that companies that only offer drawing or sweepstakes often change their offerings from month to month. A company might offer a drawing one month, then offer a $100 paid survey the next month. It all depends on the kind of research and surveys their clients need. It is worth it to take the time to register with these companies, you never know what they'll offer next and it can make a big difference in your gains.
Think about it for a moment, you've already made up your mind or have an opinion about lots of products that you use in your everyday life. Maybe you love the type of shaving cream that you use. Or you really hate the new TV shows for the season. Perhaps you think that new soda in the market is way too sweet. You might recommend a friend should watch a certain movie or TV series. On the other hand, you can't stop recommending a great new wine that you tried at dinner.
In a typical day it's easy to identify dozens and dozens of opinions and preferences you hold. Well, you might as well get paid for them. Do you agree? You can and you should. Here is some news for you; Corporate America is dying to know what you think about their products. Why? Because if they make a mistake and offer a product or a service that people don't like, don't want, or won't pay money for, they stand to lose millions of dollars.
Therefore what do they do? They spend money upfront to test their products first. They get regular folks like you and me to sit in a room or fill out a survey and ask you questions about their new product. This is called a Focus Group. Based on the answers from the Focus Group, they will either, keep the product as it is, make some changes, or scrap the whole thing.
Corporations spend millions of dollars every year to find out what people like and dislike about thousands of products. Example: movies, soft drinks, toys, perfumes, cars, you name it. If you see any product in a retail store, chances are the company that makes it has tested it out with a Survey or Focus Group before mass producing it. So if you're up to participating in online surveys you should consider trying survey estate.
Roy London has been researching and continues to research companies that offer services online. For the last ten years he has also been involved in youth development at his local Church and in the community. And works for a web base company http://www.surveyestate.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_London
For some years online surveys have been another way to make some cash in your spare time from home or where ever is suitable. This could be a nice second income, especially if you have the spare time. You could be recovering or laid off, a student with lots of time on your hand or a stay at home mom. There are many companies out there that claim to offer this service but they are a few things to look for:
a) Look for a company that does not charge a lot of money to sign up, most of these companies that charge a lot just want your money. The ones that charge a little are just recovering their administrative and maintenance cost.
b) If the company offers 100% Guarantee refund on your registration fee it means they are confident and standing behind their product. In this case you have nothing to lose.
c) The site should be simple if it's too complicated it will confuse you and you'll waste time, you're there to make money not lose money, time is money.
These are a few simple guide lines for you. Good luck.
I would recommend you try Survey Estate their price is good and the website is simple. They also offer 100% Guarantee refund.There are a few important things to take into consideration after you sign up that will help you greatly.
1. I would recommend you open a separate email account that you will use when you sign up with the survey companies. You will be filling out a lot of online forms and you will be receiving a lot of emails in return. A yahoo or Hotmail account easily let you block any unwanted emails.
2. Make sure you have a recent version of your web browser, such as Internet Explorer version 5.0 or better. You don't want your browser crashing when you are logged in and participating in a survey or focus group.
3. Be sure to keep a good record of all market research sites you've signed up with, so you will have your username and password for each of them easily accessible. You could try using the same User ID and Password for all of them to make things easier for yourself.
4. To make sure you get selected for a lot of surveys and focus groups, be sure to correctly fill out the initial profile for each market research group you sign up with. Your initial profile will determine what type of surveys or focus groups you will be eligible for. Don't limit your demographics. For example, be sure to select several hobbies, interests, etc. However, don't check all of them or it may look like an error or suspicious.
5. Don't expect too many surveys right after you join. You will get some initially. Try to be patient and complete every survey you receive, even if it doesn't pay cash, these companies need to gain confidence in you, and as time goes by, they will notice that you are committed to their surveys and will send you more and more.
6. Please visit their websites and register to the ones you prefer. You will be selected based on your registration profile; if you don't register to any of them you will not receive any surveys at all.
7. Keep in mind that companies that only offer drawing or sweepstakes often change their offerings from month to month. A company might offer a drawing one month, then offer a $100 paid survey the next month. It all depends on the kind of research and surveys their clients need. It is worth it to take the time to register with these companies, you never know what they'll offer next and it can make a big difference in your gains.
Think about it for a moment, you've already made up your mind or have an opinion about lots of products that you use in your everyday life. Maybe you love the type of shaving cream that you use. Or you really hate the new TV shows for the season. Perhaps you think that new soda in the market is way too sweet. You might recommend a friend should watch a certain movie or TV series. On the other hand, you can't stop recommending a great new wine that you tried at dinner.
In a typical day it's easy to identify dozens and dozens of opinions and preferences you hold. Well, you might as well get paid for them. Do you agree? You can and you should. Here is some news for you; Corporate America is dying to know what you think about their products. Why? Because if they make a mistake and offer a product or a service that people don't like, don't want, or won't pay money for, they stand to lose millions of dollars.
Therefore what do they do? They spend money upfront to test their products first. They get regular folks like you and me to sit in a room or fill out a survey and ask you questions about their new product. This is called a Focus Group. Based on the answers from the Focus Group, they will either, keep the product as it is, make some changes, or scrap the whole thing.
Corporations spend millions of dollars every year to find out what people like and dislike about thousands of products. Example: movies, soft drinks, toys, perfumes, cars, you name it. If you see any product in a retail store, chances are the company that makes it has tested it out with a Survey or Focus Group before mass producing it. So if you're up to participating in online surveys you should consider trying survey estate.
Roy London has been researching and continues to research companies that offer services online. For the last ten years he has also been involved in youth development at his local Church and in the community. And works for a web base company http://www.surveyestate.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_London
Thursday
Starting Your Business Right: What You Must Do Before You Sell Anything
By John Gottshall
This is a corner that many people cut. Not only will it keep Uncle Sam happy, if you don't do this it will actually contribute to you not succeeding online. If you don't go to the very small inconvenience to get a business license how are you going to believe in your head and heart that you're going to operate a successfully online.
Just do it and get it over with. The easiest way to find out what you need to do is by searching online. At the very least you'll probably need to get a business license with your city. They'll probably also require you to have a fictitious name or DBA (Doing Business As).
For instance say you want to name your business "Joe's Artifacts" and your name is Joe Schmo then your legal business name would be Joe Schmo DBA Joes Artifacts. I'm not going to make any recommendations on weather you should incorporate or not. Talk to a professional accountant about that.
If you're going to be selling a physical product (batteries, XBOX units or whatever) then your state will probably require you to get a State Tax ID Number also commonly referred to as a State Reseller Certificate.
Also, don't even think about talking to a wholesaler if you don't have a Reseller Certificate. Real wholesalers will require you to have this. It's how they know that you're a real business. If a wholesaler doesn't ask for a copy of it or at least a copy of your business license then they're probably not a real wholesaler.
The first thing I would do to find out what I need to get is go to Google. If I lived in Pittsburgh, PA I would type in "Business License Pittsburgh, PA". Then to find out about the Reseller Certificate I would type in the same thing except replace "Business License" with "Reseller Certificate".
Also, you're going to want to get a business checking account. There are many banks that have totally free business checking. Almost all merchant account providers will require you to have a business checking account. Just do it, it will help with organization anyway. Also your bank will probably want to see a copy of your business license to set up a business account.
Let me say one more time, please don't cut corners and not do this stuff or tell yourself you'll do it later. Start off on the right foot and you'll set a precedent for yourself that will help you in the future. Start off on the wrong foot by not doing this and you'll set a precedent for yourself that will hinder you in the future.
John Gottshall is the founder and author of Internet Marketing Debunked. It's all about helping people grow their online businesses and actually profit from them without wasting money on the latest fads. John Doesn't sell anythnig related to internet marketing. All the help and resources are free. His newest project is the Profits Vault, where you get all kinds of free tips and secrets to increase your online profits.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gottshall
This is a corner that many people cut. Not only will it keep Uncle Sam happy, if you don't do this it will actually contribute to you not succeeding online. If you don't go to the very small inconvenience to get a business license how are you going to believe in your head and heart that you're going to operate a successfully online.
Just do it and get it over with. The easiest way to find out what you need to do is by searching online. At the very least you'll probably need to get a business license with your city. They'll probably also require you to have a fictitious name or DBA (Doing Business As).
For instance say you want to name your business "Joe's Artifacts" and your name is Joe Schmo then your legal business name would be Joe Schmo DBA Joes Artifacts. I'm not going to make any recommendations on weather you should incorporate or not. Talk to a professional accountant about that.
If you're going to be selling a physical product (batteries, XBOX units or whatever) then your state will probably require you to get a State Tax ID Number also commonly referred to as a State Reseller Certificate.
Also, don't even think about talking to a wholesaler if you don't have a Reseller Certificate. Real wholesalers will require you to have this. It's how they know that you're a real business. If a wholesaler doesn't ask for a copy of it or at least a copy of your business license then they're probably not a real wholesaler.
The first thing I would do to find out what I need to get is go to Google. If I lived in Pittsburgh, PA I would type in "Business License Pittsburgh, PA". Then to find out about the Reseller Certificate I would type in the same thing except replace "Business License" with "Reseller Certificate".
Also, you're going to want to get a business checking account. There are many banks that have totally free business checking. Almost all merchant account providers will require you to have a business checking account. Just do it, it will help with organization anyway. Also your bank will probably want to see a copy of your business license to set up a business account.
Let me say one more time, please don't cut corners and not do this stuff or tell yourself you'll do it later. Start off on the right foot and you'll set a precedent for yourself that will help you in the future. Start off on the wrong foot by not doing this and you'll set a precedent for yourself that will hinder you in the future.
John Gottshall is the founder and author of Internet Marketing Debunked. It's all about helping people grow their online businesses and actually profit from them without wasting money on the latest fads. John Doesn't sell anythnig related to internet marketing. All the help and resources are free. His newest project is the Profits Vault, where you get all kinds of free tips and secrets to increase your online profits.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gottshall
Tuesday
Telecommuting Job Idea: Resume Writer
By Nell Taliercio
If you are a creative, but concise writer, then being a resume writer could be the perfect job for you. Many people have a good deal of job experience, but don’t know the best way to present it to a potential employer. With just the right polish and editing, their resume could put them at the top of the pile. While there are programs out there that can “help” write a resume, nothing beats the human touch. If you add helping with cover letters, you could have a business going in no time.
Where to find a job as a resume writer: You could hang signs on college campuses. Students who are facing graduation and job hunting are always worried about writing a good resume. There are websites that offer resume services, so you could contact them and see if they hire freelance writers.
Skills you need: You should be able to convey the crucial information in a way that highlights the job seeker’s strengths. You should be able to creatively represent the information without embellishing in a way that misrepresents the skills.
You need to be able to write the different styles of resumes: Reverse Chronological, Functional, or a Combination. You also need to be aware of the current trend of people writing a CV (Curriculum Vitae), rather than a standard resume. A CV tends to focus on education, writing, and research experience for academic fields.
Tools you need: A reliable computer, internet connection and basic word processor program are all you really need. Although, if you are doing work for local customers, you may need a printer as well.
How much money can you make? Some resume services charge around $250 for a resume, CV and cover letter package.
Nell Taliercio is known as the Telecommuting Answer Lady and owns http://www.telecommutingmoms.com where you can locate legitimate work at home jobs and practical advice to start working at home tomorrow!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nell_Taliercio
If you are a creative, but concise writer, then being a resume writer could be the perfect job for you. Many people have a good deal of job experience, but don’t know the best way to present it to a potential employer. With just the right polish and editing, their resume could put them at the top of the pile. While there are programs out there that can “help” write a resume, nothing beats the human touch. If you add helping with cover letters, you could have a business going in no time.
Where to find a job as a resume writer: You could hang signs on college campuses. Students who are facing graduation and job hunting are always worried about writing a good resume. There are websites that offer resume services, so you could contact them and see if they hire freelance writers.
Skills you need: You should be able to convey the crucial information in a way that highlights the job seeker’s strengths. You should be able to creatively represent the information without embellishing in a way that misrepresents the skills.
You need to be able to write the different styles of resumes: Reverse Chronological, Functional, or a Combination. You also need to be aware of the current trend of people writing a CV (Curriculum Vitae), rather than a standard resume. A CV tends to focus on education, writing, and research experience for academic fields.
Tools you need: A reliable computer, internet connection and basic word processor program are all you really need. Although, if you are doing work for local customers, you may need a printer as well.
How much money can you make? Some resume services charge around $250 for a resume, CV and cover letter package.
Nell Taliercio is known as the Telecommuting Answer Lady and owns http://www.telecommutingmoms.com where you can locate legitimate work at home jobs and practical advice to start working at home tomorrow!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nell_Taliercio
Friday
Telecommuting Job Idea: Virtual Assistant
By: Nell Taliercio
One of the newest jobs available today is a virtual assistant. With so many jobs being completed through the internet, having virtual office staff only makes sense. It helps companies keep down overhead, and allows more workers the flexibility to telecommute. While there are training programs to teach you how to become a virtual assistant, many people already possess the skills needed. You simply need to learn to market yourself, showing the potential employer you’re the perfect person for the job.
Where to find a job as a virtual assistant: There are virtual assistant associations found on the internet that could assist in your training and job search. Some people who run home offices advertise for a virtual assistant, to help them stay organized without having to have an outside person come to their home. The VA will help them stay current by answering e-mails, reminding them of appointments, and other office administrative duties. Some VA assistant jobs may require occasional office visits, so you would need to live within driving distance of the office.
Skills you need: You should have good people skills, knowing how to communicate well both over the phone and through written correspondence. Being organized is a must, as that is the main reason most people need a virtual assistant: to help them stay organized. Good typing skills are also crucial.
Tools you need: You will need a reliable computer, with word processing database, spreadsheet, calendar programs and internet connection (high speed is best). You may also want to have an unlimited long distance phone plan, as you may be calling clients or setting up appointments for your employer all over the country, possibly even the world. A hands-free phone might also be a good investment. A fax machine is a good idea, as well as a printer and scanner (many units combine all three features in one machine).
How much money can you make? If you find a full-time position, as opposed to freelancing for a few clients, the income will vary. Some companies pay VA’s anywhere from $20-$50 an hour.
Article by:
Nell Taliercio is known as the Telecommuting Answer Lady and owns www.telecommutingmoms.com where you can locate legitimate work at home jobs and practical advice to start working at home tomorrow!
One of the newest jobs available today is a virtual assistant. With so many jobs being completed through the internet, having virtual office staff only makes sense. It helps companies keep down overhead, and allows more workers the flexibility to telecommute. While there are training programs to teach you how to become a virtual assistant, many people already possess the skills needed. You simply need to learn to market yourself, showing the potential employer you’re the perfect person for the job.
Where to find a job as a virtual assistant: There are virtual assistant associations found on the internet that could assist in your training and job search. Some people who run home offices advertise for a virtual assistant, to help them stay organized without having to have an outside person come to their home. The VA will help them stay current by answering e-mails, reminding them of appointments, and other office administrative duties. Some VA assistant jobs may require occasional office visits, so you would need to live within driving distance of the office.
Skills you need: You should have good people skills, knowing how to communicate well both over the phone and through written correspondence. Being organized is a must, as that is the main reason most people need a virtual assistant: to help them stay organized. Good typing skills are also crucial.
Tools you need: You will need a reliable computer, with word processing database, spreadsheet, calendar programs and internet connection (high speed is best). You may also want to have an unlimited long distance phone plan, as you may be calling clients or setting up appointments for your employer all over the country, possibly even the world. A hands-free phone might also be a good investment. A fax machine is a good idea, as well as a printer and scanner (many units combine all three features in one machine).
How much money can you make? If you find a full-time position, as opposed to freelancing for a few clients, the income will vary. Some companies pay VA’s anywhere from $20-$50 an hour.
Article by:
Nell Taliercio is known as the Telecommuting Answer Lady and owns www.telecommutingmoms.com where you can locate legitimate work at home jobs and practical advice to start working at home tomorrow!
Thursday
Wanna Work From Home? Join The Pips Revolution
By HomeBusiness Networks
So you want to make some money by doing nothing more than
sitting back
in your computer chair? Don't we all. The thing is, though,
that it's possible--all you have to do is navigate your way
through all the crap that is out there. More and more people
are becoming internet entreprenuers each day. Recent surveys
show that by the end of 2005, 50% of all households with an
internet connection will somehow be involved with making money
from the
internet.
So how do you do it? I'm sure you have already done a Google
search for
something like "home business" or "make money at home". And
I'm sure
that searched returned somewhere in the neighborhood of 50
million websites
that either claim you can take surveys and earn money, stuff
envelopes and earn money or be a "secret shopper".
All crap. There's no such thing as taking surveys to earn
money. What all the hype for survey taking neglects to tell
you is that you are entered into a CONTEST to win some money.
More fequently, these "survey programs" award you points
towards cheesey rewards (100,000 points for a free cereal
coupon, etc.). This isn't my idea of working from home.
Stuffing envelopes has always been one of those mythological
internet jobs. Maybe you've heard the stories too: you send
some cash away to some PO Box in the middle of nowhere, they
send you a box full of flyers that you stuff into envelopes and
you get $5 for every one you mail. So let's figure, an average
person can stuff and stick the adress label on--let's say--2
envelopes a minute. That's $10 a minute, or $600 an hour. Not
too shabby. Work an 8 hour day and we're looking at a little
under five grand a day, 30 grand a week, 1.5 million dollars a
year. Too bad it's all crap too. What these companies
conviently neglect to tell you is that you only get paid that
$5 for each envelope that is mailed, and that generates a SALE
by the recipient. Typically, that's less 1% of all mailed
packages, and keep in mind YOU have to pay for ALL postage.
You'll be in debt before you would ever be in profit. Crap,
crap, crap and more crap here.
So where does the crap end and true Internet money-making
begin? Affiliates programs. PIPS, for one. PIPS is short for
Plug-In Profit System, a spider-web like matrix of users who
make a small $50 investment (for aquiring a domain name) that
becomes part of a massive network that is affiliated with
multi-million dollar marketing services conglomerates.
Essentially, PIPS sites sell dozens of products, and the owner
of a PIPS site will make a commission. PIPS sites also earn
huge commissions by setting up other PIPS sites and creating a
huge downline. Money is always possible with a PIPS site, and
your job is clear: it's not stuffing envelopes or taking
pointless surveys, it's advertising your ass off--getting your
site out there. Once that's done, sit back, relax, and check
your mailbox once a month for some handsome checks.
HomeBusinessNetworks.comRead more articles by: HomeBusiness Networks Article Source: www.iSnare.com
So you want to make some money by doing nothing more than
sitting back
in your computer chair? Don't we all. The thing is, though,
that it's possible--all you have to do is navigate your way
through all the crap that is out there. More and more people
are becoming internet entreprenuers each day. Recent surveys
show that by the end of 2005, 50% of all households with an
internet connection will somehow be involved with making money
from the
internet.
So how do you do it? I'm sure you have already done a Google
search for
something like "home business" or "make money at home". And
I'm sure
that searched returned somewhere in the neighborhood of 50
million websites
that either claim you can take surveys and earn money, stuff
envelopes and earn money or be a "secret shopper".
All crap. There's no such thing as taking surveys to earn
money. What all the hype for survey taking neglects to tell
you is that you are entered into a CONTEST to win some money.
More fequently, these "survey programs" award you points
towards cheesey rewards (100,000 points for a free cereal
coupon, etc.). This isn't my idea of working from home.
Stuffing envelopes has always been one of those mythological
internet jobs. Maybe you've heard the stories too: you send
some cash away to some PO Box in the middle of nowhere, they
send you a box full of flyers that you stuff into envelopes and
you get $5 for every one you mail. So let's figure, an average
person can stuff and stick the adress label on--let's say--2
envelopes a minute. That's $10 a minute, or $600 an hour. Not
too shabby. Work an 8 hour day and we're looking at a little
under five grand a day, 30 grand a week, 1.5 million dollars a
year. Too bad it's all crap too. What these companies
conviently neglect to tell you is that you only get paid that
$5 for each envelope that is mailed, and that generates a SALE
by the recipient. Typically, that's less 1% of all mailed
packages, and keep in mind YOU have to pay for ALL postage.
You'll be in debt before you would ever be in profit. Crap,
crap, crap and more crap here.
So where does the crap end and true Internet money-making
begin? Affiliates programs. PIPS, for one. PIPS is short for
Plug-In Profit System, a spider-web like matrix of users who
make a small $50 investment (for aquiring a domain name) that
becomes part of a massive network that is affiliated with
multi-million dollar marketing services conglomerates.
Essentially, PIPS sites sell dozens of products, and the owner
of a PIPS site will make a commission. PIPS sites also earn
huge commissions by setting up other PIPS sites and creating a
huge downline. Money is always possible with a PIPS site, and
your job is clear: it's not stuffing envelopes or taking
pointless surveys, it's advertising your ass off--getting your
site out there. Once that's done, sit back, relax, and check
your mailbox once a month for some handsome checks.
HomeBusinessNetworks.comRead more articles by: HomeBusiness Networks Article Source: www.iSnare.com
Friday
Can You Deduct Your Home Office As An Expense?
By Michael Russell
Having a desk in your family room and calling it your office doesn't qualify as a legitimate home office. Learn what does qualify so you can get the most out of your expenses.
The number one rule to qualify as a home office is that it must be a separate room, used only as your office. Your kids can't come in and do their homework or any other activity. It's your office - plain and simple.
Now for tax purpose you'll need to know the total square footage of your house or apartment. (Yes, renters can deduct their office too as long as it is a separate room). Now measure the length and width of your office, multiply them to get the square footage of your office. Keep a record of this in your "Year End" file. This file is for all the papers you'll need to take to your accountant during tax time.
If you rent your house or apartment, you'll be able to deduct part of your rent and utilities. If you want to deduct phone costs, you'll need to have a separate business line put into your office. List the monthly phone costs as well as the installation cost under your "Phone" column on your expense spreadsheet.
The amount you can deduct for rent and utilities is the same percentage as the size of your office is to the size of your house or apartment. Let's say the apartment is 1,000 square feet and your office is 10 ft x 10 ft or 100 square feet. That means your office takes up 10% of your total living space.
At the end of the year, you'll be able to deduct 10% of your rent and utility expenses on your taxes.
Keep a copy of your utility bills each month. On each statement, figure what portion of the bill that belongs to the business. Note that amount on the bill and write it down on your spreadsheet under utilities. Let's say your electric bill was $85.00. Note that $8.50 of this bill is a business expense. Pay the bill in full with your personal checking account. And that's it for your monthly expenses.
If you own your own home and you have a room built for your office, you need to keep records of those expenses. Let's say you have a basement and you had walls added to create a separate office. Keep all the receipts (materials and labor) in a separate folder as part of your "Year End" records. These expenses are deducted over a period of time (usually 3-6 years). These are not recorded on your monthly spreadsheet.
So there you have the basics - the size of the office determines the amount of allowable expenses on your taxes, have a separate phone line and save all your receipts.
Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Accounting
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Having a desk in your family room and calling it your office doesn't qualify as a legitimate home office. Learn what does qualify so you can get the most out of your expenses.
The number one rule to qualify as a home office is that it must be a separate room, used only as your office. Your kids can't come in and do their homework or any other activity. It's your office - plain and simple.
Now for tax purpose you'll need to know the total square footage of your house or apartment. (Yes, renters can deduct their office too as long as it is a separate room). Now measure the length and width of your office, multiply them to get the square footage of your office. Keep a record of this in your "Year End" file. This file is for all the papers you'll need to take to your accountant during tax time.
If you rent your house or apartment, you'll be able to deduct part of your rent and utilities. If you want to deduct phone costs, you'll need to have a separate business line put into your office. List the monthly phone costs as well as the installation cost under your "Phone" column on your expense spreadsheet.
The amount you can deduct for rent and utilities is the same percentage as the size of your office is to the size of your house or apartment. Let's say the apartment is 1,000 square feet and your office is 10 ft x 10 ft or 100 square feet. That means your office takes up 10% of your total living space.
At the end of the year, you'll be able to deduct 10% of your rent and utility expenses on your taxes.
Keep a copy of your utility bills each month. On each statement, figure what portion of the bill that belongs to the business. Note that amount on the bill and write it down on your spreadsheet under utilities. Let's say your electric bill was $85.00. Note that $8.50 of this bill is a business expense. Pay the bill in full with your personal checking account. And that's it for your monthly expenses.
If you own your own home and you have a room built for your office, you need to keep records of those expenses. Let's say you have a basement and you had walls added to create a separate office. Keep all the receipts (materials and labor) in a separate folder as part of your "Year End" records. These expenses are deducted over a period of time (usually 3-6 years). These are not recorded on your monthly spreadsheet.
So there you have the basics - the size of the office determines the amount of allowable expenses on your taxes, have a separate phone line and save all your receipts.
Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Accounting
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Thursday
The Secrets Of Free Classified Advertising - Tracking
By Tim Fulcher
Introduction
One of the best ways to build your home business is by advertising on free classified sites
The great thing of course is that the advertising is free, and so any results you get are "value" because you have not had to pay for it
Tracking Is Essential
However free classified advertising can be a mine-field to the unwary
Remember: there is no shortage of website on the internet that are quite happy for you to "buy" their advertising product, even though they know themselves that their advertising product is pretty close to worthless!
Therefore make this your golden rule:
>>= Always Track Your Advertising =<<
What Is Tracking?
If you are unsure what tracking really means, this introduction will help When you are advertising on the internet, you really need to find out who is clicking your ads, where they saw your ad, did it convert into a sale, and what was their referring URL
To "track" your advertising its usual to have a redirect URL of some some kind, which records the data that we are interested in e.g. was there a click and if so on which site did the click come from, what was the operating system of the user that clicked and what was the referring URL etc. You can often set up the same redirect URL for the same target URL you are advertising, but use a different code at the end of the re-direct URL to signify the site you are advertising on e.g. my redirect could be www.somedomain.com/cgi-bin/track.php?r=1000 - here the "r=1000" is the code for the particular classified site I am using
Lets go through the elements of tracking in a bit more detail
1) Who is clicking on your ad?
We don't want to know exactly who! but we do want to know if anyone clicked on our ad. Its just too easy for someone to let us advertise on their website, with the assumption that our ad will be clicked, when all the time they know that its very unlikely that any of the ads will be clicked by anyone If you are going to make any assumption about your advertising, then always assume that no one clicked on your ad unless you have evidence to prove otherwise
2) Where was the ad that was clicked?
Its all very well knowing that my ad was clicked - but I need to know which ad and on which site. If I post 3 different classified ad to 10 different sites, then its no good knowing just that "one" of them was clicked. I need to know which one and on which site
Proper tracking will give me this information. Usually I just log into the admin or members area of the tracking service I am using, and there will be a listing of all the redirect URL's I have used and the clicks that are recorded for each one
Now of course you have to get organized so that you know which tracking code you are going to use for each site and for each ad. there is nothing worse than not keeping a record and then not knowing which site gave you the click when you find out that the "r=4571" has recorded a click!
So it is essential to keep good records of what you are doing for the ads you are posting. After a while of course you will find out which sites are giving you clicks, and therefore you can rely on these sites since you have tested them and they are obviously working
3) What Was The Referring URL
The referring URL is simply the webpage the person visited, immediately before the page where they saw your ad. With a classified Ad site this will probably be a directory or category index page
This aspect of tracking has become very important more recently as the search engines regularly spider good free classified sites. This is because when lots of new ads are posted every day, from the search engines point of view, this equals new fresh content. Search Engines will always give a site a higher ranking that is adding new fresh original content regularly.
However this produces a major downside for anyone posting ads to classified sites - because not only will the search engine spiders visit the sites - they will also click the links!
This will mean out tracking software will record "apparent" clicks - but they are clicks at all, since it was a script from the search engines that clicked on our ads and not a real person reading our ads
Once again this underlines why advertising online can be a minefield for the unwary. To spot these "phantom clicks" you need to look carefully on the referring URL
Search Engine spiders generally use some kind of "bot" which will be included in the information about the operating system of the user. If you see "bot" anywhere in the information from your tracking system, then this means the person that clicked was a search engine and not a real person. Therefore such clicks should not be regarded as real clicks by anyone. I know of quite a number of classified ads sites which get clicks from search engine bots but not from real people!!
4) Did The Click Convert To A Sale Or Lead
This is much more difficult to track, and certainly most tracking software will not provide this information Extra code is required to be placed into your website in order to provide this information - PHP is the easiest vehicle for this information, though it can also be done via CGI. However a discussion of these modifications to your website is several article all by itself. However suffice it to say for now, that this kind of tracking information can be provided relatively easily. Some pay per click organisations also provide code which can tell you when ads resulted in a sale e.g. Google Adwords
Conclusion
Free Classified Advertising really can work, but you do need to track your "clicks" to make sure you only concentrate on those sites which actually give you real people clicking on your adverts
Tim Fulcher is an independent writer and webmaster and maintains a number of websites including:
http://www.ebiz4every1.com
http://www.traffic-exchange-monitoring.com
http://www.profitchargerhits.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Fulcher
Introduction
One of the best ways to build your home business is by advertising on free classified sites
The great thing of course is that the advertising is free, and so any results you get are "value" because you have not had to pay for it
Tracking Is Essential
However free classified advertising can be a mine-field to the unwary
Remember: there is no shortage of website on the internet that are quite happy for you to "buy" their advertising product, even though they know themselves that their advertising product is pretty close to worthless!
Therefore make this your golden rule:
>>= Always Track Your Advertising =<<
What Is Tracking?
If you are unsure what tracking really means, this introduction will help When you are advertising on the internet, you really need to find out who is clicking your ads, where they saw your ad, did it convert into a sale, and what was their referring URL
To "track" your advertising its usual to have a redirect URL of some some kind, which records the data that we are interested in e.g. was there a click and if so on which site did the click come from, what was the operating system of the user that clicked and what was the referring URL etc. You can often set up the same redirect URL for the same target URL you are advertising, but use a different code at the end of the re-direct URL to signify the site you are advertising on e.g. my redirect could be www.somedomain.com/cgi-bin/track.php?r=1000 - here the "r=1000" is the code for the particular classified site I am using
Lets go through the elements of tracking in a bit more detail
1) Who is clicking on your ad?
We don't want to know exactly who! but we do want to know if anyone clicked on our ad. Its just too easy for someone to let us advertise on their website, with the assumption that our ad will be clicked, when all the time they know that its very unlikely that any of the ads will be clicked by anyone If you are going to make any assumption about your advertising, then always assume that no one clicked on your ad unless you have evidence to prove otherwise
2) Where was the ad that was clicked?
Its all very well knowing that my ad was clicked - but I need to know which ad and on which site. If I post 3 different classified ad to 10 different sites, then its no good knowing just that "one" of them was clicked. I need to know which one and on which site
Proper tracking will give me this information. Usually I just log into the admin or members area of the tracking service I am using, and there will be a listing of all the redirect URL's I have used and the clicks that are recorded for each one
Now of course you have to get organized so that you know which tracking code you are going to use for each site and for each ad. there is nothing worse than not keeping a record and then not knowing which site gave you the click when you find out that the "r=4571" has recorded a click!
So it is essential to keep good records of what you are doing for the ads you are posting. After a while of course you will find out which sites are giving you clicks, and therefore you can rely on these sites since you have tested them and they are obviously working
3) What Was The Referring URL
The referring URL is simply the webpage the person visited, immediately before the page where they saw your ad. With a classified Ad site this will probably be a directory or category index page
This aspect of tracking has become very important more recently as the search engines regularly spider good free classified sites. This is because when lots of new ads are posted every day, from the search engines point of view, this equals new fresh content. Search Engines will always give a site a higher ranking that is adding new fresh original content regularly.
However this produces a major downside for anyone posting ads to classified sites - because not only will the search engine spiders visit the sites - they will also click the links!
This will mean out tracking software will record "apparent" clicks - but they are clicks at all, since it was a script from the search engines that clicked on our ads and not a real person reading our ads
Once again this underlines why advertising online can be a minefield for the unwary. To spot these "phantom clicks" you need to look carefully on the referring URL
Search Engine spiders generally use some kind of "bot" which will be included in the information about the operating system of the user. If you see "bot" anywhere in the information from your tracking system, then this means the person that clicked was a search engine and not a real person. Therefore such clicks should not be regarded as real clicks by anyone. I know of quite a number of classified ads sites which get clicks from search engine bots but not from real people!!
4) Did The Click Convert To A Sale Or Lead
This is much more difficult to track, and certainly most tracking software will not provide this information Extra code is required to be placed into your website in order to provide this information - PHP is the easiest vehicle for this information, though it can also be done via CGI. However a discussion of these modifications to your website is several article all by itself. However suffice it to say for now, that this kind of tracking information can be provided relatively easily. Some pay per click organisations also provide code which can tell you when ads resulted in a sale e.g. Google Adwords
Conclusion
Free Classified Advertising really can work, but you do need to track your "clicks" to make sure you only concentrate on those sites which actually give you real people clicking on your adverts
Tim Fulcher is an independent writer and webmaster and maintains a number of websites including:
http://www.ebiz4every1.com
http://www.traffic-exchange-monitoring.com
http://www.profitchargerhits.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Fulcher
Friday
Typing Jobs at Home
By Charles Fuchs
You have seen the ads, “Typing jobs at home! Make money FAST! No experience necessary. No selling.” These ads are tempting, because they appeal to someone who wants to work from home. While there are a lot of legitimate work from home jobs that involve typing, many of these advertisements are misleading schemes. So where can you find legitimate typing jobs?
First, it is important to note why many of these advertisements for typing jobs at home are scams. Basically they tend to be “ad typist” jobs where you type in ads on a variety of job sites waiting for people to sign up for the program. The companies you “work” for function as an affiliate program in which you get paid if people sign up for the program.
Often people who do pay the fee to work for the company end up posting ads everywhere only to see little results. They are given no marketing training, and they are often denied for a refund. These companies usually post “testimonials” of people who have made much more money that you will ever see. Actually, you will probably end up losing money in the massive amount of hours you spend trying to post ads all over the internet.
Another scam is the promise of finding you a job with a legitimate company. Yet when you pay your fee for typing jobs at home, you will only receive a list of companies that “may” be hiring home typists. You end up spending time calling and following up with companies that probably do not need your services. Again, you lose out on money and time.
However, for all the scams out there, you can still find legitimate typing jobs at home. Most of the legitimate jobs are not ad typing, but more administrative or data entry jobs. There are job sites that specialize in postings for these legitimate jobs, and you will need to have some experience to qualify for the jobs. Job boards like WAHM.com, E-lance, and MediaBistro.com all have legitimate jobs that the websites have investigated to make sure they are legitimate. They also have customer service procedures if you find a scam on their sites.
So how do you tell the difference between a legitimate company and a scam? First, you should not have to pay high fees to find typing jobs at home (the exception is E-lance, which requires a small fee to find jobs). Some of these scams require upwards of $60 for “typing jobs at home.”
Also, you need to protect yourself by doing research into any company offering typing jobs at home. Look at the Better Business Bureau and on the internet to find out if there are any complaints about the company. Use your instinct. If you feel like you might be scammed, you should probably avoid the offer completely.
Read the rest of the article here - Typing Jobs at Home.
Charles Fuchs is an established Six Figure Income earner and one of the top online marketer's. Visit our Home Based Business Blog and receive the best Small Home Based Business Opportunity, valuable tips, strategies, and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Fuchs
You have seen the ads, “Typing jobs at home! Make money FAST! No experience necessary. No selling.” These ads are tempting, because they appeal to someone who wants to work from home. While there are a lot of legitimate work from home jobs that involve typing, many of these advertisements are misleading schemes. So where can you find legitimate typing jobs?
First, it is important to note why many of these advertisements for typing jobs at home are scams. Basically they tend to be “ad typist” jobs where you type in ads on a variety of job sites waiting for people to sign up for the program. The companies you “work” for function as an affiliate program in which you get paid if people sign up for the program.
Often people who do pay the fee to work for the company end up posting ads everywhere only to see little results. They are given no marketing training, and they are often denied for a refund. These companies usually post “testimonials” of people who have made much more money that you will ever see. Actually, you will probably end up losing money in the massive amount of hours you spend trying to post ads all over the internet.
Another scam is the promise of finding you a job with a legitimate company. Yet when you pay your fee for typing jobs at home, you will only receive a list of companies that “may” be hiring home typists. You end up spending time calling and following up with companies that probably do not need your services. Again, you lose out on money and time.
However, for all the scams out there, you can still find legitimate typing jobs at home. Most of the legitimate jobs are not ad typing, but more administrative or data entry jobs. There are job sites that specialize in postings for these legitimate jobs, and you will need to have some experience to qualify for the jobs. Job boards like WAHM.com, E-lance, and MediaBistro.com all have legitimate jobs that the websites have investigated to make sure they are legitimate. They also have customer service procedures if you find a scam on their sites.
So how do you tell the difference between a legitimate company and a scam? First, you should not have to pay high fees to find typing jobs at home (the exception is E-lance, which requires a small fee to find jobs). Some of these scams require upwards of $60 for “typing jobs at home.”
Also, you need to protect yourself by doing research into any company offering typing jobs at home. Look at the Better Business Bureau and on the internet to find out if there are any complaints about the company. Use your instinct. If you feel like you might be scammed, you should probably avoid the offer completely.
Read the rest of the article here - Typing Jobs at Home.
Charles Fuchs is an established Six Figure Income earner and one of the top online marketer's. Visit our Home Based Business Blog and receive the best Small Home Based Business Opportunity, valuable tips, strategies, and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Fuchs
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