Make Money Online - Scam or Legit?

Avoid Free Trial Scams

I've been reading about people losing a lot of money because they signed up for free trials of Acai Berry.  They called to cancel their 'subscription', since the free trial automatically signed you up for a subscription (a fairly hefty fee for your monthly supply of Acai Berry).  So people signed up for these free trials figuring what did they have to lose?  In some cases they didn't even have to pay shipping on the initial free offer. 

But... when they went to call to cancel their subscription they were on hold and on hold and on hold....  and they would try another day and often they would pass the date where they could cancel at no charge and still they would have no way to cancel.  Complaints of scams and fraud abounded and it made me take extra care in signing up for any free trial offers.  I do three things.

1) Check out how to cancel before signing up.  If there is a number to cancel, try calling it and seeing if you can get a live person.  Or, better yet, if it's an online offer, then is there a way to cancel online, like this free offer for anti-aging cream (note cancel free trial link at bottom of page) - in fact how easy they make it to cancel their free trial makes me think the product must actually work! (imagine that), so that people continue to buy it.

2) If you are at all uneasy, but you'd still like to try the product, consider getting a prepaid refillable credit card.  Here is the one I got - Silver Prepaid MasterCard card .  I put $20 into the account from my Paypal account and then I sign up for a trial offer and if I want to continue to purchase the product, then I can add more money and if not, there is a limit to my losses.  I also can give it to my teenager for a purchase and again... there is a limit to what I can lose, should he lose the card. 

3) My final advice with free trials... which is to prompt your own memory.  Even legitimate free trial offers usually have points where they automatically charge you.  If you are a bit forgetful, write the date you need to cancel by on your calendar or post it on your fridge (or on the product if you use it daily) to remind you to cancel on time!!!

Free trials can be great.  Use these tips and you'll be safe from online free trial scams!

A Better Approach for Making Money Online

So as I've indicated in previous posts, I am a former Stompernet Simple member.  I also had joined another online-marketers membership that was to offer insider advice and lots of free information about making money online.  While it was a nice group and relatively cheap, I found I was not making any more money and I was spending a lot of time reading all the various offers, posting on the forums, reading How To ebooks and just generally changing direction much-too frequently.

I really didn't plan to EVER join another membership site, but then I ran across Shannon Herod's Your Very First Dollar Offer.  I know he says it is for anyone who has not made ANY money online and I don't qualify based on that.  But here is the thing.  Shannon actually reads and responds to email.  I saw him promoting this site on a forum and sent him an email asking whether someone like me (who has made money online, but not as much as I've spent) could sign up.  Not only does Shannon answer emails, but here is why I decided to sign up for the program.  This program is actually set up with weekly lessons with specific to-do tasks.  Shannon says the lessons can be done in  a few hours per week.  With 60 days to cancel membership and get money back and the program being geared to make you capable of earning money in 6 weeks or less, I decided to give it a try.  

And despite my poor record in doing so... I promise to keep you posted.  Really!

Oh and the basic program is only $17 a month for 6 months... after that you belong forever.  Not bad, huh?

Boosting Your Webpage's Rank in the Search Engine Results

So, I know that one of the substantial factors in where my web page turns up in the search engine results, is how many other pages link to it.  I recently subscribed to this backlink offer on Warrior's Forum and am finding it very useful for boosting ranking in the Search Engine (mostly Google) results.

I created a Squidoo lens (web page) the other day for what I thought was a fairly uncompetitive phrase (based on number of results) and was bummed to discover that initially I was ranked about 150 for that phrase.  Like anyone, looking for information, is going to keep going through that many results.  But I added some links to that page using some of this backlink info and it's been fun to watch the page climb in the results.  First up to number 102, then back to about 115, now up to page 98 (woo hoo, breaking the top 100).  Obviously, I won't be satisfied until I hit the top 10.  I'll try to remember to post again in another week or two and let you know how I'm doing.

What Is It About Angelina Jolie That You Like?

So what is it about Angelina Jolie that you like?  Big boobs?  Full-lips?  Skinny ass? That she can kill bad guys, steal good-looking lovers from beautiful women, drive fast cars or pop out babies without breaking a sweat?

Angelina entertains.   She's got the glamour factor.  She grabs attention and headlines like nobody's business.

If you'd like that star presence online, if you'd like to learn secret lessons from the entertainment industry that you can use in your online money-making efforts, check out this new ebook for less than the price of a movie ticket! 

How Do I Add My Web Page to Search Engines

I think I've found the hands down FASTEST way to get listed in the search engines. 

I didn't learn it from any guru's advice either.  As I mentionned in my last post I participate on the Warrior's Forum and in particular I signed up for the 30-Day Blogging Contest.  I noticed that each day as I add a URL to my latest post, that that corresponding web page gets added to Google within 24 hours.  And I realized that I've observed similar behavior from webpages that I included in my Warrior Signature. 

Now, this shortcut to getting a website added to the search engines should NOT be abused.  You have to first join Warrior's Forum and then post 15 posts (and they must be reasonable content or they WILL be deleted and you WILL be banned from the forum).  But once you are a full-fledged member of Warrior's Forum, all you have to do to get a webpage indexed, is add it to your signature or reference it (appropriately) in a post.  Google (and I guess I'm assuming other search engines also) follow the links from Warrior's Forum constantly. 

I would not recommend this technique EXCEPT that if you are trying to add a web page to the search engines and don't know how to do it, then you could probably use a whole lot of the tips about internet marketing that are on Warrior Forum.  Just be careful, it can be addicting!

Legit AND Heartwarming

So I periodically read and post on the Warrior's Forum.  At some point about a week or so ago, there was a post complaining about people who come to the forum and talk about their misfortunes.  I noticed a woman, login Tinkerbell responded that she felt the post was targeting her.  So I went and looked at HER most recent post.  While she talked about her current circumstances, of being 20 days away from foreclosure and eviction, she did not do so as a sob story and asking for assistance.

A few days passed and I noticed a new thread, Let's Save Tinkerbell's Home.  The login id of Tinkerbell is pretty memorable, and the idea of helping out one of Peter Pan's pals (even if only in name) was pretty appealing, so I read it.  The basic jist was that if we all pitched in, agreed to donate either a small amount of money, or some percent of our profits, that together we could raise the $7000 needed by Tinkerbell to pay the bank and get her house payments current.  Hey, guys, it's Christmas and this woman has kids.  The call went out and Warriors began responding with donations.  A Squidoo lens, True Christmas Story - Virtual Barn Raising, was created. 

A juicy package of products, including

• 4 Day Cash Machine Exposed
• Internet Profit Method
• Ad Infiltration
• Xtreme Conversions
• Woman Makes $8036.08
• Make Easy Money on eBay
• Web Traffic PLR
• How to Transfer a WordPress Blog
• Handy Dwoodles
• 5 Bucks a Day JR

and is being sold as a firesale, here.  The current price is $37, a steal for all that's offered. 

But the enthusiasm and generosity currently has raised less than half the needed $7000.  Are these Warrior's ability to generate cash, not quite what they describe?  One thing is clear, their heart is in the right place, absolutely and the firesale offering is absolutely legit and worth way more than the price. 

Hot Searches - Niche Markets

Say if you are ever looking for ideas about things people search for on the internet, consider going to http://hotsearches.aol.com/ -- and reading some of their HOT Searches.  I tend to have the opposite problem -- lots of ideas and not enough focus.  But if you are actually looking for a project on the internet -- or perhaps trying to decide between projects -- I find the Hot Searches web site for AOL to be full of a lot of interesting ideas that you might not have thought of otherwise.

Wow -- THAT'S Customer Service!! - Expert Wordpress Guys

I purchased Expert Wordpress because I have two blogs that I want to create and I want to build them with RSS and now some friends are advising 'go with Wordpress' who before were saying Blogger was just as good for SEO (drives me crazy how many times they change their advice).  BUT the one blog I wanted to add to an existing website and I am 99% sure that only Wordpress really handles that quickly.  But Wordpress is a pain in the .... right? 

It was until Expert Wordpress. I went ahead and bought this because I am just swamped in my day job and the only way I have a chance of getting a Wordpress blog created is if I can do it in about 15 minutes -- which is all this takes.

But  now, before I've even gotten a chance to use the product, the co-creators sent me a note asking advice for how to make it better.  Now That's Customer Service.  And this isn't just a glib, hope you like it sort of note, it's a thoughtful, please answer specific questions.  See below....

---

We hope that by now you are well on your way with your new blog. We
have made sure that instructions were as clear as possible but...

No Product is Perfect!

We don't really expect that of this product. That is why we need
your help in determining what we have done right and what could use
more work and perhaps even additional content...

Here's what you need to do:

Please take a quick minute or two of your time to simply hit
"reply" and fill in your answers to the questions below. Remember,
we want to know what YOUR needs are so we can keep adding what you
want in the product.

After all, it does neither of us any good if we add content that
you're not interested in.

Thanks so much!

Warmest regards,
Alex and Dmitriy

* * *

The questions below are most appropriate for the members who
purchased the upgrade to the Advanced level. But we appreciate
everyone's answers, after all - it is never too late to reconsider
and upgrade!

============================================
   Expert WordPress Questionnaire
============================================

1. What is the one part of the product you liked the most?


2. What are the biggest problems you are facing with your blog
right now?


3. What exact topic are you interested to learn about?


4. What blogs, sites or forums do you most frequently visit to find
additional info?


5. What was the one part about EWP you didn't like?


6. What can we do to improve it?


7. Was the overall purchase worth the price as compared to other
similar products you have seen and tried?


8. If you like the product and are interested in providing
testimonial or case study please provide it here:


9. Can we use your testimonial in our marketing materials?
__ Yes __ No


If you agree we will only use your name and the information you
provide below.

Full Name:
City:
State (or Province):
Country:
Website of yours you wish to promote: (Must be your own-i.e. no
affiliate sites)

Thank You!

Alex S. and Dmitiry A.

---

I was impressed and I'll try to remember to post here once I start up the new blog(s). Meanwhile if anyone beats me to the punch and uses Expert Wordpress, please let me know.

P.S. Sorry, at one point I saved this post, thinking I was saving in draft mode, but I guess it half-published it. In case any of you were wondering why I was a little more disjointed and incoherent than usual. That's why.

Forced Money and Forced Money Reviews -- Scam and Double Scam

Okay, this is not like all the Google ads and articles that claim to be a "review of Forced Money."  I don't even claim this is a review of Forced Money.  But I think both the product AND the reviews of it are BIG, FAT SCAMS. 

Basically several thousand people, including myself, got an email that said here use this article which is supposedly a review of Forced Money and insert your Clickbank affiliate link and make $45.73 on the front-end and $66.55 on the back-end and it will convert like crazy.

But what the hell is the Forced Money product?

Here is what it claims to give you:

 o An amazing website!
  o A website that converts sales automatically!
  o A website that puts "forced" money directly into your pocket!
  o A website that's run by another firm for you (at NO charge!)
  o A website that continues to promote for you over & over!
  o A website that grows & cultivates a proven list!
  o A website that functions automatically (so you never run it!)
  o And a website that you get Free H0STING for!

Gosh, why don't they throw in a fictional maid to clean my house.  I mean if they have an infinite ability to create websites that 'force' money out of the internet, then why don't they just amass the largest accumulation of wealth ever.  If I'm doing nothing, then they don't need me to create website after website, and I'm adding nothing.  So I'm getting hordes of money for doing nothing.  Duh....  am I the only one who smells something fishy.

You know what this is -- it's a giant chain letter, whereby the person starting the letter gets others to send them money, hoping that still other people will send them money.  The only specific service or product that is mentionned is that this "AMAZING website" will promote a product called Get Google Ads Free.  Forced Money explains this is a great product for all internet marketers and converts like crazy. 

WAIT!!!

Get Google Ads Free is by the same guy who created and sells and profits from Forced Money.  He is getting people to PAY him to set up a website for them that promotes HIS PRODUCT!!!    Yes, if the website sells his product, you'll make money.  But again, if he could just keep creating more and more websites and sell more and more himself, he would because he'd keep a bigger piece of the pie.  Maybe he figures if there are articles written all over the internet in various people's names or all the buyers contact their friends and family that it will increase sales.  But at some point the market is saturated, especially if the product doesn't deliver as promised and I find it extremely hard to believe that either product delivers anything like what it describes.

If anyone has actually bought either of these products and used them and thinks I'm wrong.  PLEASE let me know.  I'd LOVE to discover a product that fills my pockets with money, whether it comes with maid service or not!

Make Money Online - Simple Method - Why I'm not jumping

Okay, I got over my earlier pity party (last post) about having lost a post I was writing.  I'm going to write a condensed version of it, before I forget the info and because I think it might help someone.

One of the many internet marketing forums that I occasionally read had a post that suggested a fairly simple method for creating an online income -- Create a message board on a topic around which people spend a fair amount of money, such as their dogs, cats, gardening, bird watching, photography, etc and then place adsense ads or affiliate links to related products on your site. 

I created a message board once about 5 years ago using phpBB and it wasn't too hard.  I abandoned it a couple years ago because of the SPAM.  But I gather there are now a lot of simple mods (modifications) that you can install which catch a lot of the SPAM and make it more manageable.  If you are interested in doing this I recommend either phpBB or SMF (Simple Machines Forum).  Both are free and both have active message boards (about using the message board software) where you can search topics such as SPAM or post for help.  Some level of HTML and website knowledge (like how to FTP) is needed.  The beauty of the model is of course that you can begin a topic and then let others generate the content.  SMF has SMFads.com, which is a modification meant to place Adsense into your message board for you. 

So why am I not going down this path?  Simply because I have too many half-done projects and almost any idea fully completed (or even 95% completed) has a better chance of success than a half-done project.   Let me know if you decide to give it a try.