Affiliate marketing scams are everywhere. With the current state of the economy, many shady individuals are playing on the dreams and worries of people by promising millions in over night riches. You just simply pay $500 and you'll make that back in the first day. Does this sound familiar?
There are a lot of people making a living strictly online, but it wasn't over night and it wasn't with the click of a mouse. Starting your own business, whether online or on Main St. requires research, hard work and dedication. However, there is one distinct difference between starting a business online versus starting a traditional brick and mortar business. You can get started for free online with nothing lost but your time if it fails. Not only does it cost you nothing, but also you can take a different approach to success without losing your shirt.
Many of the affiliate marketing scams would have you believe that by purchasing their product all of your prayers would be answered. The old saying of "to good to be true" comes into play here. If you think about it, if it were that easy to make millions online without effort, then we would all be millionaires by now.
These fraudulent products often place a black mark on all products that offer training and coaching for affiliate marketers. There are some quality products out there that not only deliver on their promises but also tell it like it is.
So how can you identify affiliate marketing scams? Plain and simple if they make outrageous claims, you need to steer clear. Legitimate training programs are going to let you know right out of the gate that it's going to require effort.
Many who are trying to find out about the legitimacy of a product will begin doing research online by looking for reviews on the product. This too can be an area of landmines as often these reviews are written by someone trying to earn a sales commissions so they will say or do just about anything to get you to purchase. Again, when reading these reviews, follow the golden rule of "if it sounds to good to be true….".
Another thing to look for in a training course is an ironclad guarantee. If they say they will refund your money, then make sure that they do. Many will offer money back guarantees but then put the customer through hoops to receive a refund. Any merchant offering their product through Clickbank is a safer bet as Clickbank has a solid reputation with refunds.
The best courses offer a membership program with a participant forum. This way there is open dialogue amongst the members and owners. This provides the newbie with ongoing support and guidance. If you want to begin your online marketing career but are afraid of affiliate marketing scams, use common sense and ask question so you'll actually learn without losing a lot of money.
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You do not need an Affiliate Marketing For Dummies book to succeed online. Learn about Affiliate Marketing, Marketing Online here.