How To Evaluate A Website Or Company

The word Website appears first in the title of thispeople's money, and then simply close their doors,
article because, especially in thestart another new company, and
home based business and network marketingrepeat the process all over again. Thus, if they are
industries, you will often be dealingnot a BBB member, they may very
with an individual Webpage or Website as opposedwell have taken advantage of many unsuspecting
to a large company. That Websitevictims, but simply haven't been
might be the independent representative page of aaround long enough for complaints to have reached
representative, or it could be anthe BBB yet. That's why it is a
independently developed page operated by anrequirement that when a business or individual applies
entrepreneur.Even if you are looking at a Webpagefor membership they must
that is owned by a company, often you willhave been in business for at least 6 months to a
have to go no further in the evaluation process toyear, and, further, the BBB goes as
rule out a particular Website orfar back as 3 years in their files to see if there have
opportunity. Then, only if the Website passes yourbeen any past complaints before
tests, do you go on to evaluategranting membership.Unscrupulous companies that
the company and opportunity.Please realize, also,try to evade detection by closing their doors and
that this article does not really address the issuesthen
involved inopening up again under a new name are often
evaluating the opportunity side of a company, ordetected in the BBB's database. So, if
fully evaluating the company andyou know that a company previously operated
opportunity combined. On the Homepage of appearsunder a different name it would be a
a 13-pointgood idea to check to see if any complaints were
criteria developed out of two decades offiled against the company under
experience with evaluating businessits previous name(s).5. WHOIS and Alexa are tools
opportunities. The version on the Homepage is onlythat you can use in combination to further develop a
an overview, but a moreprofile and picture of what a Website is all about.
complete version of what to look for will appearAlexa ( ) allows you to track various data about a
soon in the form of a new article.One other pointWebsite's
before we really get started, is that this article is notactivity, perhaps how long the site has been around,
concerned withand maybe who owns it.Alexa can be a great tool,
aesthetic issues. Granted, there are certain,but you have to be very careful if you aren't familiar
"generally accepted Web designwith
practices," some of which will be talked about here.what all of the various pieces of information mean.
However, just because aFor instance, just because a
Website uses a certain type of graphics, or perhapsWebsite has a high Alexa rating doesn't mean it's
a wild color scheme (or a boringcredible.There are enough people who love money
one), doesn't mean that it can't offer good contentenough to jump onboard any scheme or
or opportunities. There are justscam even if it seems too good to be true that
too many factors having to do with personalunscrupulous Websites have often
preference for these to be considered abeen able to achieve high Alexa ratings. The thing to
major factor for the purpose of this article.Ok, withwatch for is most of the traffic
that said, here are some of the things that youbeing generated by the people who are jumping
should be looking for whenonboard the scheme and
evaluating a Website or a company:1. Is the MAINadvertising the site, as opposed to the Website
Website directly accessible via a URL (Web address)climbing up in the rankings on its
that reasonablyown merits.Again, it may take you a while before
makes sense?you are able to interpret and read the data to
Some Websites, most notably those that arebe able to discern such things. However, one
questionable, willpotential clue that "might" be a tip off
occasionally set up even their main URL so that itis when you see a Website appear out of the blue
isn't very intuitive or accessible forand all of a sudden it has a high
the general public. For instance, normally a WebsiteAlexa rating. Maybe it's ranked at #77,000, for
name might look something likeinstance, but it's only been on the
this: the other hand, if something isn't quite right itcharts for a few weeks or months. Not always, but,
might look something like this: me immediately pointespecially if you are utilizing the
out that simply because a URL ends with a nameother methods discussed here, you may be able to
similar todetermine that such a brief and
one of the examples above that doesn't mean thatrapid change in ranking is a red flag for that
the Website isn't legitimate. If,particular Website.You also have to realize that
for instance, you are reading this article directly onWebsites and the companies and individuals behind
the Website ofthem are separate entities. For instance, Sears
instead of in my email newsletter, then it ends withRoebuck had obviously already been
a name that is tacked onto thearound a long, long time before they ever had a
main Web address of It's pretty standard practice inWebsite. And even companies or
the industry toindividuals that have a Website sometimes add new
add forward slashes and additional directories,ones, etc. So, if a company or
folders, and/or page names to theindividual says they've been around for a while, but
right of the main URL.However, IF you cannot erasetheir Website hasn't been
those extra characters to the right and directlyaround as long, that isn't necessarily a red flag as
accesslong as you can verify the
the Website with just the portion that ends in .com,information.As for WHOIS, there are numerous
or .net, or .biz, or .ws, etc., thatWHOIS servers that you can use. Many in fact.
may be cause for concern. Many Websites directHowever, three of the best known and most
visitors to pages that aren't thepopular are:InterNIC
main Homepage. However, if you can't get to the
Website's main Homepage, again,Network Solutions
that may be cause for suspicion. Business Websitesis a special database that lets you find out about a
are all about marketing aWebsite by typing in the
product or service, so any normal Website ownerdomain name (the Website address). Among the
would typically want to make surethings that you may be able to find
that their Homepage is accessible to any and allout are out how long the Website has been around,
visitors.2. What kind of contact options are provided?who owns it, and where that
Email, Contact Form, telephonecompany or individual is actually located.Earlier I
number, etc.?mentioned a scam Website that claimed to be in the
If there are no contact options, unless there is aUK. Well, using the
VERY good reason, such as that thesame kinds of methods that I'm telling you about
site is undergoing construction or maintenance,here I quickly found all kinds of
consider it to be a big RED Flag!If the site offers ared flags. One of the biggest was that when I ran a
way for you to purchase something, but there areWHOIS query the result came
no contactback that the site owners were not really in the UK
options (until after purchase, you hope), thenas they claimed to be, but were
absolutely consider it a BIG RED Flag!In general, theactually registered on the offshore island of Belize, a
more contact options, the better. I would feel thecommon tactic of, and a HUGE
most comfortable,red flag characteristic of scam operations.Another
for instance, dealing with Website where an emailthing to watch for are private registrations by
address or contact form, and acompanies or individuals who
phone number, and a street address are provided. Iare obviously advertising as doing business with the
would feel least comfortablepublic. Private registrations are
with a Website where only an email address andthose where the real identity of the Website's
nothing else is provided.Remember also that you can,owner is not revealed. That's fine if
or should, view Websites owned by individuals slightlysomeone just wants privacy. However, companies
doing business with the public are
differently than Websites owned by a company.by their very nature doing business with the public!
Any legitimate, reputable company,Therefore, it really makes no
for instance, should offer at least some contactsense, in most cases, for someone to file a private
information, again, the more theregistration. It can be a red flag
better. However, it is not uncommon for Websitesthat makes one wonder, who really owns this
owned and managed byWebsite, and why don't they show
individuals to feature less contact information.themselves?6. Dun & Bradstreet and similar business
Especially if it is owned by a homeintelligence and credit reporting agencies,
based business person; he or she might not bemost notably Hoovers, are also excellent options if
comfortable publishing their homeyou really want to find out more
street address or phone number on the Web, forabout a company.
instance.In rare cases with certain types of replicatingFrom Microsoft to Motorola, Dun & Bradstreet (also
Websites (where many representativesknown as
have the same type of Website) the user may notD&B) is THE industry's most respected credit
have the option of providing morereporting and business intelligence
contact details. But, again, that's rare. These dayssource for that kind of information.Unlike most of
even most Websites aimed atthe other resources mentioned in this article, D&B
individual users allow the user to add and updateprimarily focuses
their contact information.Even a P.O. Box is betteron large companies like the Fortune 500, or larger
than no address at all. Here again, whether dealing"small" businesses. So, many, if
with anot most individuals and small businesses will not be
giant company or an individual, it is not uncommonlisted. Additionally, these
for companies or individuals toservices require a fee, which can be substantial in
use P.O. Boxes to more efficiently handle theirorder for you to pull a report on a
mail.True, some unscrupulous operators hide behindcompany, unless you have a subscription, which also
P.O. Boxes. However, they are ainvolves a fair amount of cost.
much smaller percentage in comparison to legitimateYou can, however, run limited queries at no cost
users. The main reason isthat may be helpful to you.7. One last point to
that, especially after 9/11, in order to apply for andconsider is one that most people never give much
use a P.O. Box or addressthought to
service the applicant has to provide various kinds ofwhen evaluating a Website or a company, and that
information, including a realis the payment methods they
street address, and proof of identity, etc.Someaccept.
Websites provide only an instant chat username as aLimited payment method acceptance (the inability to
means of contact. Hereaccept online payment) may be
also, usually to be considered a red flag.Becausea red flag when dealing with all but the smallest
scam artists know that providing a means of contactcompanies or individuals.The bottom line is that the
considerably increasesmore payment methods a site is able to offer the
the credibility of a Website, one of the cleverestgreater
tactics to watch out for is a site thatthe convenience for the customer, which equates to
provides a "Live Chat" or "Live Support" or "Livemore sales. Therefore, no
Customer Service" option, etc., butestablished company would want to be without the
it is never really staffed!The above tactic is oftenability to accept multiple forms
combined with the additional tactic of the site claimingof payment, unless, of course, something is
towrong.This article is already lengthy, and space simply
be located in a part of the World that just happensdoes not permit going into detail
not to be open for businessabout the different types of payment processors.
during regular business hours in busy parts of theHowever, in general, a Website
World such as the USA andthat accepts payment via a secure merchant
Canada.I saw that tactic employed by a scamshopping cart of its own has probably
Website claiming to be located in the UK. Itpassed the most rigorous application, credit check,
offered, "Live Support," but noted that theyand background verification
operated according to UK time, which,process. With a third party processor, such as
conveniently, meant that by the time that most2Checkout, ClickBank, or PayPal, this
people in the USA and Canada gotis less so, but still applicable.If a company or individual
out of work and visited their Website, it was toocan't qualify for an account with one of the above
late to make contact due to it beingprocessors that can often be a red flag and a sign
after hours in the UK. In reality, the site's "Liveof either credit and/or financial
Support" option was never staffed,problems, or even fraudulent activity. If a company
but most visitors never caught on due to thehas had problems that could
cleverness of the scheme.3. After checking the itemsexplain why they can't accept common forms of
above I usually look for an "About Page."payment. An online Website saying
Here again athat it can only accept payment in the form of a
Website run by an individual might not have one.money order, cashier's check, etc.,
However, the best companies,should probably be viewed with suspicion.Also, if a
whether large or small, will almost always have atWebsite features StormPay as the only payment
least one page if not moreoption, and not also
devoted to information about the company.PayPal, that too can be a red flag. That's because
Sometimes information about theStormPay has much less stringent
company's management is provided as well.Theseapplication and maintenance requirements than
pages also go by names such as, "Company info.,"PayPal. So, a Website who HAD an
"Our Company," or just,account with one of the most respected payment
"Company," etc.The About page can often tell you aprocessing company accounts like
lot about a company, including how long theythose described above, but then got into trouble
claim to have been in business. In general, the longerand had their account banned or
the better!4. Does the Website feature anyterminated, may still be able to get a StormPay
certifications, affiliations, or rankings, backed byaccount. Certainly not all StormPay
reputable and unbiased 3rd party organizations suchaccounts fall into this category, but, again, if it's the
as The Better Business Bureau,only payment method
Chamber of Commerce, Dun & Bradstreet,accepted, it may be cause for concern.Likewise, a
TRUSTe, Alexa, DSA (Direct SellingWebsite offering as it's only means of conducting
Association), etc.?transactions the e-
Though none of the above organizations endorse orgold service, may also be cause for concern and
guarantee companies,even a red flag. e-gold is an
membership in and/or certification by a respectedalternative service that allows companies and people
3rd party organization can go ato use gold instead of dollars
long way toward giving you greater peace of mindas a means of conducting transactions. Though
that a company or individual ise-gold is a legitimate service that
legitimate and trustworthy.Something that peoplecontinues to grow and is accepted by many
don't commonly know about the Better Businessreputable merchants, it is often used by
Bureau isscam artists for obvious reasons.GRPMAX, L.L.C. was
that they can establish a file and keep records onfounded by CEO Phil Covington in 1979 and is the
ANY company or individualparent
whether they are a member or not. The differencecompany of GRPMAX specializes in developing
is, however, that a company whoUniquely Innovative
is not a member has not agreed to the terms ofTechnologies & Solutions (TM) and has worked with
the Better Business Bureau, cannotclients ranging from small
display their logos, and has no way to reallybusiness, to government, to the Fortune 500.
showcase a good record if they haveSpecifically, GRPMAX creates solutions
one.However, even if a company is not listed withthat automate processes that previously required
the BBB, IF they've been around for ahuman staffing and interaction.
while and you can verify that fact, at least the BBBMr. Covington's interest in the home business field
may have on file any negativestarted in the 1980s and
complaints that have been filed.I must stress,developed out of relationships with some of the
however, this really applies only if the company thatindustry's most talented and
you are doinghighest earning individuals, during which time he has
business with has been around for a considerableactively pursued the creation
length of time, and you can verifyof the ultimate home business passive income
it. That's because a common tactic of scam artists issolution.
to start a new company, take