Work From Home Opportunity: Get Paid To Take Surveys!

Have you ever wondered how you can bring in a little extra income? One of the answers is simple - work from home! That's right, there are ways that you can work from home on your own computer that can make you extra cash.

One of the most exciting home based business opportunities is to get paid to fill out surveys. What's that, you're asking?

Companies are actually willing to PAY you to take surveys?

That's right - companies need marketing data in order to sell their products more efficiently and for less cost, and they are more than willing to pay for the opportunity to get this data. The time you spend filling out surveys is valuable, and there is cash out there just waiting for someone like you to find it.

So, you may be asking yourself, what do I need to do to get paid to take surveys? The first thing you need to ask yourself is:

"Am I really ready to supplement my income with home based business and work from home?"

The answer you're looking for is "YES!" because it's quick and easy!

Now that you've made that step, you need to look for opportunities. Online survey companies have various pay structures, and varying pay rates. Some online survey companies only specialize in a few product areas, so not everything you see will be geared towards you. You will need to shop around to find the ones best suited for you.

Don't lose heart, though! There are many resources on the internet aimed at connecting you with these opportunities. You may be surprised how easy it is to begin to get paid to take surveys once you begin your search.

Do beware, however - there are scammers out to take your money that you should be wary of. This is an opportunity to make money, not lose it, so you should carefully research any companies you are considering signing up with to make sure they are legitimate.

Do your research and find out what is best for you, and you are on your way to having a second income. Soon you yourself will join the ranks of those that have decided to work from home with their own home based business!

Mystery Shopping - An Excellent Part Time Job Or Additional Income Source

Though the name itself may seem a bit mysterious, the concept of mystery shopping is actually straightforward. Also referred to as secret shopping, performance evaluations, service checks and frontline evaluations to name a few, mystery shopping allows companies to obtain a “snapshot in time” by trained researchers who know in advance what they are to evaluate. It provides management a method to quickly yet efficiently evaluate their business practices, deliverables, and employees from the perspective of a non-biased consumer. Mystery shoppers visit or call businesses posing as ordinary customers and provide detailed evaluations of their experience using written reports or questionnaires.

Mystery shopping is used in a wide variety of industries such as retail, restaurants, financial institutions, convenience stores and gas stations, service providers, manufacturers, department stores, travel and entertainment, etc.

Though there is a certain level of responsibility and professionalism required to be an effective mystery shopper, you should never have to pay to get a job. There are dozens of companies claiming that by paying them a registration fee they will send you job opportunities and teach you the steps to becoming a shopper. This may be true, but is also completely unnecessary.

The legitimate mystery shopping companies in the industry NEVER charge fees to the shopper. Training, tips for improvement, and shopping opportunities are provided free to registered shoppers. Mystery shoppers are either paid a pre-arranged fee for a particular shop, a reimbursement for a purchase or a combination of both. Though it is possible to make a living solely from mystery shopping, it is not very common. Most shoppers view this as a second income source or as a way to obtain fully reimbursed meals, products, and services.

The registration process with leading mystery shopping companies has improved over the years. Most provide a simple online form that takes only a few minutes to complete. Once you have registered with a company or two, they will start informing you of shopping opportunities. Most of these are “first-come, first-serve”, so be sure to provide the company with an email address that you check regularly, and a phone number where you can be easily reached.

Be willing to accept last minute assignments and treat bottom-of-the-barrel assignments just like top-of-the-line assignments. At first, take whatever you can get. This will allow you to build a reputation with each company. The old adage, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” is exceptionally true in this industry. Make sure you completely understand the instructions for the particular shop, be impartial, and focus on accuracy. You may be required to document employee names and descriptions, prices, inventory evaluations, etc.

Go hi-tech. More and more mystery shopping companies are requiring shoppers to have access to the Internet, email and a fax machine. Some shops even require the use of a digital camera to capture product placement, signage, cleanliness or other focus points.

Complete all assignments on time. If you absolutely cannot complete an assignment, contact the mystery shopping company immediately so they can reschedule the assignment. Dependable shoppers get the best assignments!

Assignments can be as basic as sitting in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant for 20 minutes to document drive-thru service times to taking an all-expense-paid trip to a resort for 2 weeks to document your daily service experiences.

Now that you understand the mystery shopping industry a little more clearly, the next step is to locate a few top mystery shopping providers and register, remembering that even if a firm doesn’t have a client in your area today, they may next month. Once registered with a company, it would not hurt to call or send an email to express your willingness to shop and to confirm your professionalism and attention to detail. Just make sure that you do not send an email full of typos and grammatical errors – definitely not the type of first impression that you want to leave.

Another method for finding potential shopping opportunities and to gather further industry knowledge is by monitoring online mystery shopping message boards and forums. To locate a few, type words like “mystery shopping message board” or “mystery shopping forum” into your favorite browser.

Mystery shopping may not become your next career, but it will provide you with some extra income, free goods, and maybe even a few adventures along the way!

About The Author Steve Pearce is the Dir. of Business Development for National Shopping Service. NSS has been a pioneer in the mystery shopping industry since 1972, providing businesses with the information they need to understand and affect their businesses at points of customer interaction. http://www.nationalshoppingservice.com - 800-800-2704

Work at Home- A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to The Internet

About 8 months ago I was surfing around the Internet and found some interesting information regarding Work at Home Business Opportunities.

Me being an endless skeptic, I disregarded the information and went on my merry way.

But a few days later, I happened upon another site which contained the same information. So I thought “why not”? I had just ended a long term business relationship, therefore I was in no mood to get involved in another “brick and mortar business”.

So I signed up for the Program, not having a clue about Work at Home Businesses or what it involved, I “trusted” their invitation. Well to make a long story short, my first experience was not a pleasant one.

Why??

I did not research the company. I did not ask the right questions. I forgot money doesn’t grow on trees.

To that end I was angry at myself, the company and the Internet. But I was also determined to prove to myself that I was not a complete idiot. Now I know that sounds like an oxy moron, but I had to prove to myself that I knew how to make an intelligent decision.

So I sat down with a plan, just as I had in my prior business. Then off I went back to the Internet.

With pen in hand I was like a little kid at Christmas Time. “Making a list and checking it twice. Trying to find out who was naughty or nice”.

The moral of the story.

Knowledge is the #1 Key to understanding any decision. No matter what kind of business it involves. Gather all the information available. Take advantage of all the information provided by the company. READ, READ, LEARN, AND LEARN. Then one of the most important aspects: ASK QUESTIONS, until you fully understand the company's expectations, compensation plan and reliability of information.

Rely on the information that you have gathered to make the right decision regarding your new Home Based Business Opportunity. The hard work will be up to you, but the right training, support and information is dependent on the company you choose.

About the author:

Written by Tina Rideout successful Work at Home Team Member.
Visit her at Free Internet Home Based Business

How To Protect Yourself From Work At Home Scams

By Tina Barraclough

You have decided to start a home based business, but you want to find a honest, legit home based business.With all the scams out there , you are unsure of how to go about finding one that is not a scam. Before starting a home business, there are many factors to consider. Many work at home opportunities are honest and will not rip you off , but also, some are scams. By learning to research work at home opportunities and the companies will protect you from the people that are scammers. Many people think about starting their own home business, but are apprehensive because they are afraid of being scammed.

You can protect yourself, and find an honest and legit home based business.The first thing you must do before you make any decisions about joining any work at home business, is research the opportunity and the company thoroughly. This will be your best defense against being scammed. One thing to remember, If it sounds to good to be true,more than likely it is a scam.

Here is some places that you can check and do research on any work at home business.If you have been scammed I have listed where and how to file a complaint.

Research: check for listings with National Fraud Information Center at:

http://www.fraud.org/

Contact your local Better Business Bureau:

http://www.bbb.org

There you will find a link to locate the BBB in your area. Also you will find information on work at home opportunities and scam.

You can also conduct researches on business opportunities on NewsGroups. If someone has been scammed by a work at home business, they will most likely post this information on these forums.

Google Groups

http://www.groups.google.com/

Yahoo Groups

http://www.groups.yahoo.com/

Scam Busters: helps people protect themselves from Internet Scams.

http://www.scambusters.com/

WorldWideScam: offers funny insight into some of the more outrageous scams today.

http://www.worldwidescam.com/

The United States Postal Service: has several web pages on their website about scams including work at home schemes, multi-level-marketing schemes, and how to file a mail fraud complaint.

http://www.usps.com/postal inspectors/

The Federal Trade Commission: Find information on work at home scams,and business opportunity schemes.

http://www.ftc.gov

The National Consumer League's:National Fraud Information Center: Offers information on pyramid schemes,MLM, and how to report a fraud.

http://www.nclnet.org/

Remember, You should always research any company or work at home business before you decide to join.Never jump right in and join without looking into work at home opportunities, because you may find that you have been scammed . Not all work at home businesses are legit, and this is why you need to protect yourself from them.

If you have been scammed by one of these schemes, here is what you can do to get your money back and stop them from scamming anyone else:

1) Contact the National Fraud Information Center at 1-800-876-7060 or visit their website at:
http://www.fraud.org/

2)Contact the Attorney General in your local state.

3)File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau in the fraudelent business's state. You can find contact information for each state at the BBB website at:
http://www.bbb.org/BBBComplaints/lookup.asp/

4)List them with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at:
http://www.ifccfbi.gov/

5)Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Call them at 1-800-876-7060 or visit their website at:
http://www.ftc.gov/

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Tina Barraclough is a work at home mom and owner of
http://www.best-home-business-idea.com