Internet & Online Business Scams Or How To Make An Easy Million!

There are many online business opportunities available on the internet and the majority of them are scams. There are some good internet businesses but it can be difficult for somebody looking for an online opportunity to ascertain the ones that work from the myriads of get rich quick schemes.
Do not be fooled by all the schemes that advertise get rich quick schemes with only a few hours of work each week. In reality an online business is just like every other business in that hard work, long hours, determination to succeed and perseverance are required.
Here are typical headlines that one sees when searching for an online business opportunity:
"I made $35,000 last week and I only worked 5 hours!" "Work Online from Home and make $20K a Month - 100% Proven & Guaranteed!" "Make $1,000,000 in 6 Months - The Easy Way!"
Do not be taken in by these headlines. If it was possible to make so much money so quickly and in such a short time would they actually reveal the secret to you for "Only $229"?
And why is that they only have limited opportunities available at this price? "BUY NOW" they scream as "THIS SECRET IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A SELECTED FEW!"
So how does one find the real gem from the millions of opportunities currently being advertised?
The following guidelines can help when checking out the business potential of any internet business:
Are real products being sold?
I am amazed at how many businesses purely make money by recruiting more people who recruit more people without any products being sold. Stay well clear of these types of businesses.
What is the market for the products and just as important the competition?
If the market is as large as it is claimed to be and if every man and his dog are selling the same products, you can bet your life that it will not work for you!
How many people are making money doing this business?
Is it possible to speak to them? You do not want to speak to somebody a million miles away who possesses lovely pictures of his Lear Jet and his fancy yacht! Is there somebody nearby who is running the business successfully?
Where are the headquarters?
It is a good idea to never buy a business where the headquarters are situated in a country where there are no clear business regulations in place. Better still only talk to businesses that are located in the same country as you! It is far easier to then sue the business for fraud if that is what actually happened.
If the people marketing the online opportunity do have the right answers for each of the above questions then it is now time to get expert advice from an experienced accountant who has knowledge of the internet.
Do not use a rookie who has just qualified from university but has no real business experience! If the (experienced) accountant agrees that it is a viable business opportunity then you have possibly found the right business opportunity.
It also makes sense to speak to other successful business people when evaluating any opportunity. If you do not know anybody, then blog about it on business forums like Ecademy and analyse the responses carefully.
It is possible to make a decent living if the right internet business is chosen followed by some serious effort and determination. Starting a new business is not for the faint hearted but can make more money long term than working for others.

About the Author
Naz Daud Internet Business Franchises and UK Business Directory Internet Business Franchise Opportunity

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Search Engine Success: What is Link Popularity? by Jennifer Neel

If you are like most Internet marketers, the biggest problem you face is bringing potential customers to your site. It does not really matter how great your Web site is, if no one sees it, your online business will not be successful.

Perhaps you have tried many different marketing techniques, but have not seen an appreciable increase in traffic. You probably also submitted your site to the various search engines, but have you considered how the search engines truly work and how their users would actually find you?

This is a rather complex topic. The top search engines use complicated algorithms and criteria to rank Web sites in their searches. However, one such measure used by the leading search engines is link popularity.

So, what exactly is link popularity? Put quite simply, link popularity describes the quantity and quality of other Web sites that link back to your Web site. It serves as a basic measure of a given site's popularity. Generally speaking, the higher your Web site's link popularity, the higher its ranking among the search engines. In addition, they usually assign higher scores to higher quality links.

Before getting into exactly how to increase your site's link popularity, first I need to talk about how search engines work. To locate information stored on the millions of Web pages, search engines employ software robots, called spiders, to build lists of key words and phrases found on the Internet. The process spiders use to build these lists is called web crawling. Each search engine works a little differently, but the initial process is generally the same. They usually start with the most heavily trafficked servers and most popular Web pages. The spider then follows every link found on the sites. The information is then indexed so that search engine users may retrieve it later.

What can I do to increase my Web site's link popularity?

1. Reciprocal links

One way to increase the number of links to your site is to develop relationships with other Web masters and make arrangements to simply "trade" links with them. Contact the owners of businesses that compliment your own and offer to put their link on your site if they will put your link on theirs. Be sure and explain how a link to your site will benefit their customers. You should send the link to them as HTML code and never send your link as an image unless they will also include a text description with it. Not every Web master you contact will agree to link to your site and you may have to approach many Web masters before you see any significant results.

2. Link exchange services

Another way to generate links is to register with a link exchange service. When you register with a link exchange service, they add your link to the links page that other members place on their Web sites. Most of the link exchange services are free, but you should be careful that the links are relevant to your own site content. Otherwise, you may find your site being dropped by the big search engines, since they have been known to ban sites using "link farms" because they artificially increase a link's popularity.

3. Classified ads

You can also increase link popularity with online classifieds ads. There are countless free classifieds on the Web, though these are not usually considered the highest quality links. You may also submit paid ads, but stick to the more highly trafficked sites, if you can afford it.

4. Write a testimonial

Find Web sites that will allow you to submit a positive testimonial for their product or service. Include a link back to your own site with your signature.

5. Submit your site to directories

There are multiple directories on the Web that will allow you to add your URL for free. Before adding your site to the directory, make sure the links are direct links and not redirecting links. This will make it more search engine friendly. Also, be sure you submit your site to the proper search categories, to increase your link popularity further.

6. Blogs and forums

Each time you post an entry on a blog or chat forum, include a hyperlink to your Web site in your signature. However, avoid posting blatant advertisements, or you will risk being banned.

7. Writing articles

Another means of increasing your link popularity is by writing articles and publishing them on the Web. Many reputable sites welcome new authors. An Internet search for "free articles" will reveal several such directories. All you need to do is register with the site and complete a profile. Once you have written your article, you just submit it to the site for approval and publication. You will also include a brief bio of yourself, along with a hyperlink back to your Web site. Not only does this increase your link popularity, if a reader is particularly impressed by your article, they may just click on your link, increasing your site visitors.

If ranking high in the major search engines is the goal, link popularity should be an important concern for any Web site. The disadvantage of link popularity as a ranking device is that it punishes new Web sites, since it takes time for a new site to accumulate links. Therefore, the process requires patience, since it can take considerable time to see a significant change in your rankings with the search engines. In the meanwhile, you can track your Web site's traffic ranking on Alexa.com. There may be no data at first, but over time, if you employ the techniques described above, you should see an increase in your rank over time.

About the Author

Jennifer Neel is an Internet entrepreneur and the owner and operator of Top Internet Opportunities and Get Your Own Free Web Site.

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