Integrity in Internet Marketing

How important is integrity when it comes to the field of internet marketing? Is this something that one can take sort of semi-seriously?

I don't think so. Integrity is quite necessary in any field of endeavor, but it occurs to me that it might be especially important within the Internet Marketing industry.

The reason?

Easy - from my observations there is a pretty good amount of "slippery" activity in this particular field. Once can get pretty duped if not careful.

Here's a few tips on being able to spot what's really valid, and what is maybe not so honest:

1. Does the opportunity advertise that it's "free" but it doesn't quite make sense how it can be? Some sites advertise the "free" thing without it actually being true - for example, if you sign up for something that is advertised in this way find out first what the actual expenses are before you bite. My experience has been that when you sign up for something that is not actually being direct up-front that it's going to be tough to be successful with it in the long term. (That's based on my own experience and does seem to apply as a general rule.)

2. What do other network marketers think of it? You can find this out by looking at posts on internet marketing forums. (See my notes in the "...Watch What you Step In" post on this blog.) If people have been duped by the program, you'll find out there and will also get all of the details.

3. What are the credentials of the site? When you look at a business opportunity website you can usually find out the credentials of the site at the bottom of the main page. Take a look - if it says "BBB..." or something to that effect, it's probably fine.

4. Does the opportunity sound to good to be true? It probably is. If someone will lie to you up-front (or maybe just not "tell the whole truth") do you think they'll lie later on too? You bet.

OK, that's pretty much what I would do if I were looking for a new opportunity or wanted to check out one that was being advertised to me.

Here's a unique sort of a "flipside" look at this concept of integrity - If you work in an industry that appears to be very untrustworthy but you know that you are honest, helpful, etc., what do you think that might do for you?

This is an interesting look.

I believe that someone who upholds high moral and ethical standards will likely do well in any field in the long-term. But what about IM?

If one is maintaining his/her integrity in this business, I can tell you that that person will do very, very well. This is because of the number of pitfalls people have fallen into - when they find out that you are not a "pitfall" they will work with you and maybe never leave your side.

What can that do for your business?

Think about that. :)


About the Author:

Tonya Brisnehan is a work-at-home mom and successful internet marketer.

Online Marketing - Watch What You Step In

When one first becomes interested in working online, one of the first things that is usually done is a search on Google for something like - "Working From Home". The number of listings that come up are astounding. (I just tried it and got about 794,000,000 results.)

Wow.

There are a an almost infinite number of opportunities out there. I won't be a pessimist and tell you to watch your back, but I will say, "Tread carefully."

Before signing up for an opportunity, do research on the company, history, credentials, etc. The best way that I know of to do this is with online marketing forums. The members of these forums are internet marketers themselves, and are there to help others who are already in the industry or just getting started. You can post a question and you will get honest answers on whether the opportunity is valid, not or even if no one has heard about it. (If that's the case
by the way, I would skip it.)

In fact, I would do research regarding working from home from one of these forums, rather than starting with something like Google. You can sign up for the forum (free), look around at what others have posted and find the opportunities that appeal to you.

The most informative and helpful online marketing forum is Conquer Your Niche. Here's my link to this site:

http://www.conqueryourniche.com/forum/tonyab

Working online from home is a pleasure. Sometimes getting started is a bit of a nightmare - unless one finds out the facts ahead of time.

Find out for yourself what these money-making opportunities are about, then when you're sure that you want to give it a go, go for it! :)

Another note: As I mention on my first post, a potential "risk" of working online is the number of actual valid opportunities that are available. A number of the marketing techniques involve exposure to other opportunities. You might think, "Wow that one really looks good too - I think I'll sign up for it."

Warning: Do not spread yourself so thin that you don't have enough time to work your business/es.

That's important.

Good luck!



About the Author:

Tonya Brisnehan is a work-at-home mom and successful internet marketer.

But... Isn't That MLM?

I've heard other internet marketers who were involved in network marketing programs (MLM companies) say that they had been discouraged to work their business because it was MLM. This had not happened to me, until just very recently.

Yesterday someone that I know well asked me regarding my online business: "Well, isn't that MLM?" Then proceeded to inform me that I shouldn't count on that as my main source of income. (As a note, this person did not have any real experience in this industry.)

Apparently the network marketing industry has received a bad reputation - at least in some circles.

Okay, what is MLM?

MLM (as most people know) stands for Multi-Level-Marketing. When you strip off any stigma involved in it, it's simple definition is: "...a business model that combines direct marketing with franchising" (from Wiktionary Online Encyclopedia). So -- it's marketing with the right of a franchise for a particular business product.

What's wrong with that?

As long as the product being dealt with in the franchise is of good quality and the franchise owners are compensated fairly - nothing.

Many companies are adding MLM to their already-successful marketing techniques, because it is actually a completely valid, relatively inexpensive and successful way to get their products into the general public.

Here is the main message that I want to relay about this: If an opportunity presents itself to you, look it over for yourself and don't allow your decision to be swayed by any type of stigma attached. Great opportunities can be missed by listening to others' opinions rather than acting on your own!


About the Author:

Tonya Brisnehan is a work-at-home mom
and successful internet marketer.

Mothers - How to Manage Your Time?

I think that anyone who is a work-at-home mother must run into this issue - how do you manage your work time while at home and also taking care of your children?

Do you schedule a strict regimen and then stick to it no matter what? Hmmm. Well, if you're a mother you might have tried this and found out that's it's not quite possible while also handling the various interesting adventures that come up with children. OK, I'll just go ahead and say it - uh uh, it's not going to happen. :)

You know, I don't know that there is an exact answer to this. Sometimes I spend all of the day with my little one, especially when it feels like he needs the attention. There are other days when he's completely enraptured with his own thing, playing with his toys, etc. and I then fit in more work time.

OK, I thought of some good advice - don't expect to have a very strongly structured day (e.g., 10:00 - make phone calls, 11:00 prepare next campaign, etc.). Make a "to-do" list of things to get done in the next day or two, then do them when it's easily done. (My best times are naptime, after bedtime, when he's playing with his toys.)

My child is my priority. I've also got to get food on the table, and am fully responsible for that as a single mom. But I've found out that I can work from home (strictly), be a successful businesswoman and a successful mother with a healthy, happy child. I'm doing it.

PS: Mom's - I also find that if I take my child to the park, go outside for a walk for an hour or two, the whole day seems to go much better for me and my little one.

PS - 2: And don't forget to give yourself a pat on the back now and then. :)


About the Author:

Tonya Brisnehan is a work-at-home mom
and successful internet marketer.

Starting an Internet Business

Starting a home internet business is a bit of a frightening proposition to some people. I believe that the reason for this is it appears to be a bit risky to not have the regular “9 to 5" security that most folks are used to. The security of having a job is valid, but is an internet business really risky? My answer to this question is most definitely “no”. I've been in business for myself part-time successfully for a number of years, now full-time.

How does someone actually make it work?

The first answer is most obviously by knowing the ropes. You should have a good idea of what you are doing and how to go about it. Get some education on not only any company or product that you are working with, but how to go about marketing it successfully. There are many good resources (e-books, online video and other types of instruction programs) available, as well as other online educational resources such as forums, blog sites, etc.

One useful strategy – find a type of marketing that you like, do it until you are completely familiar with it, then try another (maintaining the first type as well). This is a form of education in itself, and will give you experience and security with your marketing.

A willingness to really work on it is also key to success. It's not “sit back and eat bon-bons and watch the money roll in” like many programs would have you believe. It's not. It is work, and sometimes with very long hours, especially in the beginning.

Overall, there really is nothing like working for yourself. The benefits are there to be had, and from my standpoint they far outweigh any negative aspects of the work. The internet offers nearly anyone the opportunity to make “working from home” a reality.

If you're interested in getting off on the right foot, there is a company online that helps people to learn any type of (effective and successful) internet marketing called Wealthy Affiliate University. I recommend them highly. They can walk people through the process of learning and really stress the "know before you go" aspect of it. Great guys. Anyhow, you can check that out here:

Click Here to Visit Wealthy Affiliate University