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One of the most frustrating aspects of online marketing is customer complaints.

Even if you have an outstanding product and customer service, there is always bound to be someone who is unhappy. Many people don’t realize the effects their words can have on the reputation of a business.

To discover why this happens and how to help decide for yourself if a business deserves a bad review or not, keep reading.

Home Based Business Gets Bad Review

When a person is searching for a home based business and comes across a bad review it can have devastating results. Instead of thinking of why the business is getting such bad publicity they need to think about who might be writing the review and why.

As with most home based businesses, there are bound to be people who have had bad experiences. Most people have very high expectations on the amount of income they would generate without realizing the work involved in starting and maintaining a business from home. The person thinks that they can sit around in their pajamas and the money will just start rolling in. This person could write a negative review on a business opportunity expecting to get rich overnight and when he/she fails, will be quick to blame the company they signed up with and quick to let the world know about it.

Other people who write a negative review might have joined a company without realizing there would be costs involved in promoting their home based business. Costs involved could range from monthly subscriptions to merchant account and bank fees. The person soon finds that he/she is unable to proceed with the company due to financial limitations and leaves the company feeling cheated and used. This could also generate bad review on a home based business opportunity.

Another reason for a bad review could simply be someone who wants to get traffic and links back to their own website. This is not a very ethical method to use but it does happen and should be taken into consideration when reading a review about a home based business opportunity. Check the review to see if the writer is trying to promote another business by clicking on their link attached to the article. When you open the link you will find out soon enough if it is just someone trying to convert people over to their own company.

There are ways to check if a review about a home based business opportunity could possibly be written out of spite. Go to the Better Business Bureau in the state where the company is located and check out the company. Of course, if the company isn’t listed then don’t join it. When you do find the company listed you need to check the complaints filed and satisfied against it. Consider the ratio as to how many customers compared to complaints and if the complaints were resolved in a timely matter or if the complainants did not follow through. This should give you an idea as to how well the company treats its employee’s and customers. If it is a low percentage, than the company is more than likely good to work with.

There are numerous reasons as to why there could be a bad review written about a company and it is always a good idea to keep an open mind when reading about an opportunity with a company. This could save you from passing up on a good home based business opportunity or joining a company that is just out trying to scam the public. No matter if a review is good or bad, a person should dig a little deeper to find out why.

Susan Whitlow is the webmaster of http://www.simplewealth123.com and is dedicated to helping people around the world start and run a successful home based business.

(Editor’s Final Word - Don’t let a bad review scare you from trying out a new business opportunity. If the person who left the review has posted an email, try to get in contact with them and ask questions as to why they where unhappy. This can usually shed some light on how legit the review is.)

One of the most overlooked ways to make money online is freelance work. In fact, I know of people who are making a very good living online doing this very thing.

In many cases you don’t need a special skill to do this kind of work - you just need to learn the basics and your skill level will improve as you gain more experience.

If you are interested in the freedom that comes with this kind of work, read the article below to discover if freelance work is right for you.

Freelancing - A Home Based Business Opportunity

Are you are the type of person who would like to work from home, be your own boss, and have the passion to work on projects un-supervised? Then setting up a freelance business may be the way for you to enter the world of home based business opportunities. Depending on your skills and experience, you may well find that it can be more rewarding, both financially and mentally, to operate in your own home environment, without the distractions of office politics encountered on a daily basis. You have the potential to interact with clients on both a local and international basis by utilizing modern communication methods, and so expand both your business and your income.

Probably the most important thing to do when you start to plan any home based business opportunity is to carefully and systematically research your chosen area of business, to determine the demand for your skills. This is very important, because you will need the reassurance of knowing your skills are sufficiently popular to ensure a steady stream of income. As your business grows and becomes more established, you can then branch out into other areas, as you can always acquire new and different skills to adapt to changing needs in your profession. Some common areas which are popular include photography, computer applications, graphic design, and related fields.

Once your research is complete, and you have found your niche in the market that you feel comfortable filling, you will need to sit down and draw up some financial projections. As a general rule, you should aim to have at a minimum three months living expenses put aside, to enable you to cover your household bills and general expenditure. You will find that for the first few months your income will be slow, but as you complete projects the money will roll in. This financial safety net will make the difference between a successful freelance home based business opportunity, and one that fails in the early stages as a result of inadequate cash flow.

Perhaps most importantly, you will need to have established and strengthened contacts from within your industry. Your previous employer may well be your best customer, provided they were happy with your work in the first place! It is quite often more cost effective for companies to outsource projects to freelancers than to do the work themselves. Again, it depends on the value placed on your own skills. Although you may be based at home, it is essential to get out and meet those in your industry, making the most of networking opportunities. The more interactions you have, the greater the volume of business that will come your way.

Tied in with this networking is the need to advertise your services. You can be an outstanding operator, but if nobody knows what you do, your business will fail. Utilize the power of the internet, create a high quality website, and develop a contact list to enable you to keep potential clients informed of developments in your business. After a period of time, your satisfied clients will begin to send you referrals, and so your need for advertising will probably reduce. However, bear in mind that you will always need new customers, no matter how successful you become.

This decision to start your freelance home based business opportunity will be one of the most important in your working life. It will be both challenging and exciting, and you will need to keep your loved ones informed of your plans and encourage their support. You have the control to set your own hours, take appropriate holidays, and even help others to develop their own skills as they work with you. Always remember that a business is a business, and be disciplined enough to keep your family life aside during your working hours. If you do this, and avoid the obvious distractions, you will project a professional image to your customers, and you should see tremendous success in the future.
About the Author

Alan Thomas is a successful internet marketer, and runs a business which helps people develop and expand their own business online. To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: http://www.APTeamBuild.com

(Editor’s Final word - As long as the Internet exists, there will be a constant demand for freelance work. I use it as do many of my peers.)

When you first start marketing online, you sometimes will feel like you have a bullseye on your back.

It is only natural to feel that way because it seems like everyone is hitting you with a business opportunity offer. Even the most intelligent people can be sucked into a scam - it happens to the best of us.

Here is a very informative article that will show you how to tell if a business opportunity is for real - or just hype!

Business Offers … Real Deal or Just Stealing Your Dollar Bill?

There are so many opportunities on the internet offering to set people up in their own home based internet business that it can be difficult to separate the real, legitimate opportunities from the ones that only want your money. Knowing what to look for is key and the difference between finding a real opportunity to take on or end up helping someone else fatten their bank accounts instead of your own.

Almost with all internet business opportunities there are four warning signs to be on the look-out for before making your choice who to go with. Not all of these companies with promising claims are just out to steal your dough, but these four things are apart of way too many of them.

1. Large upfront investment

2. The chance to make big money with little work

3. Do not clearly state what you will be selling

4. Available contact information lacking

It is not uncommon for companies to want a certain amount of money before you’re able to be a representative for their business, but please contemplate the amount they need from you to be able to sell or offer their product(s) or service(s) before going with them.

(Editor’s Note - Never be afraid to ask these companies any questions you may have. No matter how silly they seem. If they are unwilling to answer your questions - send up the red flag!)

The training may consist of how to recruit others into the business, offering to give you a “spiff” for bringing in new people. Companies that do this and focus solely on it may be on the border of being illegal.

If the pitch is consisting of huge paydays with very little work on your side, most of the time they are lying because there is no such thing as a free lunch in the business world. Do not fall for these pie in the ski promises. If you do, the only pie you’re going to be having is a nasty pity pie.

Know what the product you are selling is first, and how much it will cost, before considering the offer any further. If you have been reading an online based business opportunity for several minutes and have no idea about the product or service you are being asked to sell, it could be an indication of a scam. Because, why else would they not divulge the facts … maybe because they are not being honest. Duh?

Look for contact information. If the only means of contacting the company is through an email address, it could be they don’t plan to be around long enough to answer any questions or complaints. Money back guarantees are also only about as good as the contact information. Email addresses and post office boxes are not good contacts.

Before you waste your money on any online business opportunity, make sure you check out Kristopher Hooper’s must have free report on Proven Home Based Business Ideas, and Proven Home Based Business Opportunities http://www.affiliateforprofits.com/SFI.html

(Editor’s Final Word - There are thousands of legit business opportunities out there. Don’t let the scammers scare you off from potentially achieving your dreams of financial independence.)