Black Widow's on the Web - Rick Beneteau
Lurking undercover in the darkest corners of the Internet lies an extremely venomous
creature. Precariously perched in the binary shadows, it extends its tempting invitation
to unsuspecting victims, masking itself in the flashy JavaScript of pretty webpages,
waiting to strike at the opportune moment. Its bite is fierce and often lethal. Its fangs
penetrate deeply into the thickest of skin as the life-sucking process begins. Your money
and your time are drained. Then, perhaps your self-confidence and ultimately… your
dreams.
These are the Black Widows of the Web.
Let’s personify this 21st Century vermin and call him J. Alfred
Swindler.
J. Alfred Swindler is a smooth operator. A cool, calm and classy con artist. More often
than not, he spins his web in the golden silk threads of the Get Rich Quick MLM. The
poison here can be of the paralyzing variety. Your very lifeblood is drained in the slow,
sadistic ritual that is as old as the networking industry itself. There are hundreds of
new J. Alfred’s swindling the MLM-inclined every month. Average life expectancy? One
year, or when their pockets are full, whichever comes first. Mostly, all the MLM failures
are planned of course. When the first crop ripens, harvest and then burn it (and you!).
Only a few MLM companies ever see their second or third year. Why? Because there is
always an overabundance of hungry-hearted good people like us to fill the matrixes,
binaries or whatever the comp plan of the month is. Take the money and run. Tens of
thousands of innocent people have their wallets (and dreams) plucked by J. Alfred.
A rule of the unbitten thumb – a cliché - if it sounds too good to be true,
EXIT!!
Avoid being stung! If an appealing, apparently legitimate MLM comes your way –
research, research and research some more. Another cliché is applicable here - "keep
your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground". My advice is pretty simple -
take your time, investigate. Up, down and sideways. Make damn sure there is a solid,
unique product "on the shelf". Check out, and if you can, meet the owners. The
Better Business Bureau for credibility and Dunn & Bradstreet for financial stability.
Communicate with the associates. Your sponsors upline, downline and crossline. Ask what
their experiences with the company have been. What recruiting methods they use. How much
money they're making. How long it took them to make it. Be careful to sort the fantasy
from the fiction. If you feel ANY kind of pressure to sign up, forget it. The opportunity
will be there a month from now.
I’m not slamming all MLM’s. There are some very good opportunities out there
for people who gravitate to this concept. Just be careful, no, be meticulous when it comes
to this most tempting bait, for the web of the Black Widow awaits.
Less likely to maim it’s victims with their free-to-little-cost start-up are the
affiliate/referral programs. These programs need to be researched as carefully as the
MLM’s. Always remember that it is YOUR reputation on the line, online and off, so you
simply must be careful. Some of the household-name affiliate programs are taking a real
bashing with less than favorable reviews across the Web. You need to look into commission
rates, payment schedules (monthly vrs. quarterly), company support and reputation
thoroughly before signing up with any affiliate program. Spending time and getting
information at associateprograms.com, refer-it.com, and quickclick.com can go a long way
towards educating yourself on the current status of this trendy way of doing business on
the Internet.
Then, there’s the non-venomous, garden variety J. Alfred Swindler. The
time-stealer. The "Yes Man". This guy promises the moon and delivers local beach
pebbles. By far the most prevalent arachnid of the species, and although non-lethal you
will find this type as pesky as that crazed mid-summer mosquito. "Talkers" are a
dime a bakers dozen in Cyberspace. It’s hard to hold any "person"
accountable when their only existence is a website or email address.
My experience on the Internet leads me to the conclusion that Talkers will seek you out
(spam email) and Doers, well YOU need to find those precious people. Be it a merchant
account or an affiliate program, you will learn an awful lot by the first communication
you instigate with a new contact. If your email or phone call goes unanswered within 24
hours, forget them! No matter how appealing the façade, or enticing the product and
program, customer service is the ultimate criteria to judge somebody by. If they
don’t answer you, they won’t answer your customers. And your customers will only
look to you for answers.
Now that I seem to have blanketed the Internet in a cloak of evil, I need to state for
the record that there are very honorable companies and people with which to do good
business. The World Wide Web is simply too expansive for there not to be. It’s simply
a matter of spending your time researching and investigating to find that solid network of
good people and companies.
It may take you awhile, but take it from me, the wait will be worth it. For when you
find those kindred business spirits it’s thrilling to know that you’re on the
cutting edge, leaps and bounds ahead of most of the world by having your cyberstuff
together.
Just take preventative measures and always be aware. Avoid the Black Widows of the Web.
Written by Rick
Beneteau
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