Any time you are thinking about forking over money to a company that is online, there is, of course, a concern about being scammed.

Believe it or not, there are people out there who will hide behind their computers and a business name, make a lot of promises, and never really follow through or live up to the hype they promote.  Not to mention the numbers of "experts" who are teaching what they, themselves are not living.  They're a lot of talk while not walking the walk.  

Shocking, right?

Here are 5 principles and actions you can take to protect yourself, while at the same time, make sure you don't hold yourself back by being overly skeptical when researching an opportunity online.

1. 

    If you're going to spend money, make sure it's a company that's not hiding behind a screen; that there's actually real people you can talk to on the phone or via Skype, etc.…  You will want real feedback from real people who can answer your questions and address any concerns that you may have.  There's nothing more frustrating than trying to get answers and, instead getting the run-around and being put off.

2.  Make sure that there is some sort of moneyback guarantee, especially if it's a company that you're dealing with for the first time. If they are confident in their product or service, they should have no problem offering this sort of guarantee.  You'll also want to be clear about the time constraints on that guarantee… whether it's a week or 30 days, for example.

3.   Give your prospective business to companies that will allow you to experience what they're all about before you make any major commitment. You cannot be expected to invest your dollars with a company without first having some sort of experience with them. A good experience will enable you to feel reasonably confident in your decision to work with them.  

4.  No matter how much money you may be considering spending, you should give yourself the opportunity to experience the service, the company, or the education with an open mind and a willingness to learn.  

5.  Realize that you will always find what you're looking for.  For example, the five-star hotel The Four Seasons, in New York City has some great reviews with raving fans. But you will also have no trouble finding poor reviews where someone says it was a terrible experience and they'll never stay there again.

If you are researching the business of affiliate marketing (such as is taught by The Six Figure Mentors), you can find super positive reviews, case studies, and life-changing examples. But you'll also find disastrous ones. The truth is;  we can't know all the circumstances that surrounds another person's experience; good or bad.  The average reality is somewhere in between. If you base your expectations on the most extreme successes, and the greatest and best potential, then you may feel disheartened if you don't achieve those same results right away.

But at the same time, don't get sucked in by the negativity of others' perceived experiences.

There are people who are looking for a get-rich-quick business where they can sit on the beach all day while their computer spits out money and they are angry because that didn't happen. An intelligent person will focus more on their own experiences.

Do your due diligence and search out the information you need, but beware of negative commentary that is designed to mislead; like an entire article that berates a company only to try to entice you to purchase from them instead.  No one but you can say that a particular product or service is exactly what you need because your needs are unique to you.

The only way you'll ever get your own unique needs met is to be aware of what you're looking to achieve, do your research and due diligence, and perhaps most importantly, experience the products or services that you are considering.

In summary; always look for the refund period and commit to getting the most that you can from that free period of time to enable you to make a fully-informed decision whether it's a company, product, or service that you want to be aligned with. Then, base your decision on that experience as well as your own personal perspective.

Life offers us no guarantees but with some common sense and due diligence, we can minimize the odds that we'll be taken advantage of.

The Six Figure Mentors is an exclusive private community of people who are all on the path of entrepreneurship; who learn from each other as well as leaders in the community who are walking the walk in online business. It is an entrepreneurial incubator when it comes to showing people how to succeed in the digital economy. But they don't do the work for you.  Each individual is responsible for rolling up their sleeves and learning the systems and tactics, experimenting with them and figuring out what works best for you.  The Community is there to consult, advise, and encourage as well as to glean from you and your expanding knowledge!

For anyone considering whether to align themselves with The Six Figure Mentors, I invite you to apply these principles with confidence.  

Take advantage of a full 30 days of membership for free.  

Dive into the training and begin modeling the exact strategies and steps that will lead to the results you're looking for.

Talk to others who are also new to the community as well as more seasoned leaders and get a feel for how the training they've received has taken their lives, both personal and business, to the next level.

The leadership and Support at The SFM is top-notch and if, after a phone consult (yes, that would be a conversation with a real person), either of you feel that it's not a good fit for your particular goals, they will certainly tell you as much.

You've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.  Click the banner to get started.

See you on the other side;

Jillana

Facebook:  @jillanaraye

Instagram:  @jillana_raye

Twitter:  @Jillana.Raye