Do you really want to trust infomercial-type websites declaring that you, too, can earn $500 to $5,000 a month or more from home, and create a lavish lifestyle free from money worries if you just get the information they provide?
After you are told how easy it is or appealing to exactly the lifestyle you’d like to have, and a long fancy spiel tempting you with illustrations and earning projections, you are then informed you have to pay for the information. Quite often, you are urged to hurry because there are only so many of these packages left or the price is going up tomorrow—double the price of today. Some sites prices are anywhere from $9.95 up to $99 and I certainly have not looked at all of them.
Are they worth the payment? Sometimes a name is posted, but not always. Oftentimes, there aren’t any bricks and mortar addresses with actual company names or telephone numbers to call for further information before you send your money. While the infomercial website seems to be just jampacked with all kinds of information that answers every question in a manner you want to see, think about the information that isn’t presented. You should be asking, why isn’t it there?
If you decide to go ahead and order, you will have to decide if what was provided will actually be of any help and worth the payment.
A good rule to keep in mind is anything that looks too good to be true, well, chances are it isn’t. Even if the hype is kept low-key, is it still just so enticing you’d like to do it? That’s another red flag.
Can you Google these sites and find any information on them? Yes and no. You might find glowing reports posted at many places on the net (as well as the glowing testimonials you see on some of the websites).
The information might or might not have come from persons in the general public who have actually purchased and used the information. The information might be posted by someone affiliated with the site who earns a cut of the profits if you purchase it.
Personally, I think there are better ways to search and find information – and it won’t involve paying fees. It really isn’t necessary to pay for information so that you can work at home.
Your search begins with yourself, and ultimately, it’s all about you. What would be a good fit with you, personally? Your talent, your interests, what resources do you have available to you so that you can work at home, and will it fit the time you want to work? Will it pay enough? Do you really want to work at home? Full‑time or part‑time?
If you are currently employed, your first choice might be to approach your own employer. Think about that and what is it about your job that could be done at home, usually remotely. What time do you need or want to spend at home and how would you do it?
Draft out a plan to present. You need to set forth all the advantages to your employer. Is your office space cramped or too noisy and distracting to permit you to do as good a job as you could do more efficiently at home in your own workspace and quiet? Could you save your employer money by getting the same work done at home? Part-time or full-time?
Are there disadvantages to you and/or your employer with this plan? Can these problems be successfully resolved? How?
Refine and rewrite your plan to answer all questions you would anticipate. If you believe it is advantageous to both you and your employer, you might want to make the request. Many companies permit telecommuting, and it looks like those numbers will grow in the future as employers adjust to new ways and needs to handle their workloads, and retain their trusted and capable employees.
If your plan is not acceptable, you might find there will be reconsideration in the future as business needs change.
If you have experience working in an office as a secretary, administrative assistant, practice assistant, billing, coding, medical or legal, or as paralegal, stenographer or marketing (and of course, many other specialties), check your local yellow pages directory (put out by your telephone company) under an appropriate heading. (For secretarial services, try checking under secretarial services, transcription or typing headings, etc.) The hard copy of the one I checked did not list “virtual assistant”. Oftentimes, these types of businesses hire freelancers who just work remotely.
Create search criteria for yourself regarding businesses in your local area that might have a need to use your freelance services. Again, using the general category, secretary, there are local businesses that might have need to use freelance services – such as printing companies, small legal offices, insurance offices, etc. Also call or stop by temporary employment agencies to see if they would have any opportunities particularly suited to you (and if a working agreement with your particular situation could be arranged.)
You can expand a work search nationally because many jobs can be done totally remotely, if you have the right equipment.
Don’t forget to let all your friends and relatives know your desire to work so they can help you network when opportunities arise. Get a business card printed and pass them out to appropriate people. Join appropriate associations that can help you network and learn further about all the bases you need to cover when you are freelancing.
Another part of the search is on the web. Check your keywords here (virtual assistant, accounting, secretarial services, typing, freelance, etc .words that describes your specialty) and in many cases you can refine your searches by city and state. You could also look for websites of the professional associations of your specialty that might have valuable information for you. (Try some of these sites to search ‑‑ Google - Lycos Search -Yellow Pages and Business Directory - Yellow Pages, White Pages, Maps, and more - Switchboard.com or your favorite search engine.
It is also time to do research on the pay rates in your area, so that you can price your services competitively. It would be prudent if possible, to price your services below that charged to businesses by agencies that send out temporary employees. It is not always necessary to lower your rates to match a salary rate that an employer pays regular employees.
Your business equipment, telephone, insurance, benefits you pay for, all taxes due, including social security taxes, need factored into the prices you set. Don’t forget you will be paying the entire social security tax on your earnings when you are freelancing.
When looking for free-lance professional office work, create a descriptive information sheet of your available services that describe your specialties, competent knowledge and the value to the company that might use them. Make sure that you place this marketing piece together with your business card in a presentation folder if it is sent out by mail or handed to someone. If you send it out, include a proper cover letter. Follow up on your leads and don’t forget to send a thank you letter where appropriate.
Now that you have read this far, let’s take a look at websites that use freelance workers working remotely.
SpeakWrite - Typist Personal Page and Information Area – advertises on their website that they are currently hiring (i.e., contract with them) (noted on webpage on 4/16/07) legal and general typists. This page provides a sidebar with links to information you need to read before signing up. You will need to test for this job, and purchase a special piece of equipment for about $75.00 (a special foot pedal). The computer requirements and other items needed are explained on the website. If you already have it, and can pass their testing procedure, you could be approved and working in a short period of time.
While you certainly won’t get rich here, pay rate is ½ cent per word transcribed (the word “bonus” is also mentioned). To earn $15 per hour, that would be a consistent 50 words per minute for 60 minutes (any bonus is not explained). It does, however, look like it could be a legitimate opportunity that would be very appealing to a capable person needing to work from home on a consistent basis. Six hours per day at the $15 per hour rate x 5 days per week is $450 a week and you can schedule your hours. There’s a bricks and mortar address, and telephone number.
Legal Typist - http://www.legaltypist.com - is another site I visited that looks interesting, except that right now it is noted that they are not in need of additional workers at this time. (Noted on website on 4/15/07). However, as with any business, needs can change very rapidly. Their sign‑up page is still available and if you have special skills, it could still be worthwhile to send your information. http://www.legaltypist.com/DASignUp.htm. .
The two sites mentioned above, SpeakWrite and LegalTypist at least on the surface; look to possibly be what they say they are, professional businesses. It is always the best course of action to do your own due diligence in checking any business before you contract to work with them for your own protection.
For medical transcription work - http://www.mxsecure.com/about/careers.htm
MXSecure notes that they are hiring. Read the medical transcription position description and send a resume. Next, you will need to fill out the application, but the link first requires you to test before you can do so. (Noted on this website on 04/15/07.) This does not call itself a work at home position, but you are told what kind of equipment you need.
Posted at http://forum.mtstars.com/seeker/1/3658,Hospital_transcription.html by Diskriter, Inc., is a request for people who want to do medical transcription. It seems to be a full-time job with full benefits and equipment provided . Again, it does not say that it is a work at home job, but the allusion that it is. (Noted on link above on 4/15/07.)
I decided to Googled the Diskriter, Inc. -- http://www.diskriter.com/main.html - and according to the website, they use home‑based people for transcription positions. A bricks and mortar site is copied directly from their website reads: “Interested? Please send your resume attention to MT Recruiter at 3257 West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216, or fax: 412-344-4834, or to mtrecruiter1@diskriter.com. Need more information? Contact Us or call 1-800-242-1622.
Carefully read and surf the online sites you find. Critically evaluate the site – are any of them overstating claims about the value of their services to potential clients? Are requirements for homeworkers not reasonable (i.e., you have to spend and maintain too much on your own for low wages) or not done in a professional manner? Is there other advertising on the site that just doesn’t fit with what a professional website should be? Would you really want to contract with that business?
Sometimes you can find information on companies that are online at www.BBB.org. It’s also a good idea to search their name on the web – searching many links can help give you a more balanced view of what is really required or what you want to avoid.
I’d like to also mention that there are other sites on the net that are popular (not naming or linking to them) that in my personal opinion really do not meet the needs of those who want to work from home due to the process they have set up. In a nutshell, these are sites that post jobs and require freelancers to go through a bidding process. It seems highly likely that a competent low bidder probably wins. It’s best to avoid a bidding war where you end up offering to work for less than what can legitimately be earned elsewhere just to snag the job.
There will be more articles coming looking at many other work at (or from) home jobs. Please do not post any “home biz” opportunities in the comments box. Comments are welcome, but moderated; and not all comments will be able to be posted.
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Please note that all articles which I post on this blog are my personal experience or opinion. Expert status is not claimed, and in any event where you need professional advice, you should contact an appropriate professional for expert advice.
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