PayPal payments.. a note for users

Just a short note of caution for those who use PayPal… Although the below report is a bit out of date, it is advisable users just check for similar such reports prior to signing up...

" According to Internet-monitoring Company Netcraft, a security flaw on PayPal's site allowed hackers to steal credit card information from PayPal users. The vulnerability, first publicly announced on Friday, involved what is known as a cross-scripting attack. Those targeted by the attack received an e-mail, purporting to be from PayPal, that directed them to a special URL on the PayPal servers Relevant Products/Services from HP. At that page, they encountered an official-sounding notice. "Your account is currently disabled," it reportedly read, "because we think it has been accessed by a third party. You will now be redirected to the Resolution Center." Users were then taken to a non-PayPal server in South Korea, with a fake log-in page designed to capture private information -- including credit card and Social Security numbers. Users were requested at that site to remove any limits on funds being removed from their accounts. PayPal said that it has fixed the flaw and has gotten the Korean server shut down. PayPal also said that it was not clear how many people -- if any at all -- had been duped. PayPal does warn its users to enter their user names and passwords only on PayPal pages that begin with the following URL: https://www.paypal.com/. It also says that its users should never log in to PayPal from a link in an e-mail "

Unfortunately, it just is not PayPal’s fault…. It just is that the hackers are one on top or one step ahead...

So, basically try and opt in receiving cheques by mail, bank transfers with your clients, it may be slow and cumbersome but there are better chances of receiving the amount and less chances of the amount being hacked...

Now, this is just not PayPal’s problem alone... the other also face it, but since they share a lot less limelight than PayPal, they have a slighter edge ...

However, for those whose who clear their checks on a regular basis, there shouldn’t be much cause for concern as any discrepancy is immediately would be immediately identified by you...

Basically, keep regular tabs on your PayPal inflows and outflows ...

Paid Online Surveys And Free Surveys

Paid surveys are generally conducted by market research firms.

Just in the United States alone, companies spend over "who-knows-how-much" amount dollars a year on consumer research and surveys. Market research companies are hired to test their advertisements or do research so that they know the best way to advertise to certain markets. These market research firms have large panels of people they use to conduct their studies. They do their research through having people test the products, mystery shoppers, and paid surveys.

Market research companies, doing the surveys are willing to pay you to visit their place of business, and act like a normal patron. These companies will pay you just to spend a couple of hours browsing, because they need an honest opinion from an everyday consumer on how well their facilities are doing. These market research companies are willing to pay people good money (up to $50 an hour) to everyday people for their honest opinion, and a lot of people are not aware of this.

Although most of these paid surveys only pay a small amount of money, usually between $1 and $15, some rare ones may pay up to $50, but just rare.It usually takes about fifteen minutes to complete. Some people have made a significant amount of money simply taking paid surveys. The rewards are usually in forms of points, later you can redeem points with cash(check), gift cards, common daily products. Many website also reward sweepstake entries to $10-$5000 drawings.However the latter is not a reliable way of steady earning. The hardest part is finding and sorting through all the research websites out there

Paid surveys are usually taken online, and less commonly through postal methods. Several companies also send assignments right to your email inbox. You can read and decide whether you would like to accept it or not. In many product test surveys, they also provide free products for you through mailing, one should test for a while then complete a paper or online survey to receive credits. Many websites exist where one can input certain characteristics about themselves, which is kept confidential and be emailed relevant surveys according to ages, genders, geological residents, jobs, gross household incomes etc., and be paid for these surveys

Generally, people used paid surveys is mainly for those who need some part-time income, while they are searching for a job, or just as pocket money. Did you know that you can easily make an extra $300 to $1,000 a month, good money filling out online surveys sitting at home in your pajamas?

If you are in need of some part time work, answering paid online surveys may well be the answer! With flexible short hours and very good pay, it offers a fun and an interesting working environment. A lot of people actually make a nice living from home, working mostly online, and generally, most of them take the easy way out. They focus only on get paid to take online surveys and most of them make anywhere around $5 to $150 per survey. Besides, the get paid to take phone surveys also earns them as much as $120 an hour.

Please note that these rates depend from market research company to company, and the time factor in which they need results.. On an average the going rates are half the quoted figures. But there are cases, in fact more than a few who have recieved these high rates

The other common problem with paid surveys is that they are being marketed by unscrupulous individuals as a source of easy money. It is not uncommon to see advertisements promising $75 an hour or more in potential earnings. Although this is useless propaganda, it cannot be said that paid surveys cannot be counted as a source of an online income. They do provide a reasonable second income and a good work from home opportunity. But it is advisable to enter this line of work with realistic expectations.

If you are having intentions of being able to retire by taking online surveys - forget it...as it will never happen. Although there are a lot of sites out there advertising that you can make thousands of dollars per week or make $50 plus dollars and hour for taking online surveys, any desire of earning huge amounts of money for minimal amount of work is likely to end in disappointment. In most cases, it doesn't really matter where you live, or who you are and if you are interested you can do it too. But the chances of making $10,000+ every month is a little far fetched and it is highly doubtful, you can make that amount.

CLICK HERE for a SAMPLE survey report

Mentioned below are a few of the reputed companies that are involved in paid online surveys. This does not mean these are the best or are guarnteed sources. It is only to help you to save time searching online for survey companies and not to fall into scams

Survey Scout .. This is more of a Get Paid to take Surveys site - But it includes the 'Get Paid to Shop' database as a free extra. It has a large database of 'paid to shop, paid surveys' and an instant survey paying $25 when you sign up details - You also get access to 25 FREE survey reports. They also have one of the most profitable "paid surveys" affiliate program on the web. So, in addition to the extra $400 plus a month for filling their online surveys, they also pay a 75% ($23.50) affiliate commission on every sale, and their conversion ratio is off the charts. Many of their affiliates average insane conversion ratios of 15-30% or higher! That's 1 sale for every 4-8 visitors ... or earnings of over $3 per click. You can't make money with these kind of numbers, even paying high CPCs at Overture, Google, etc.

PaidForFree.com has been advertised and recognised as one of the low risk online survey companies Mainly because there are cases where people have invested hundreds in survey companies and not got a single cent back. The companies listed with them are low-risk and most of their 11,000 odd members do make money with them. Ideal for a stay-at-home mom or a college student searching for some additional money.

goZing Cash Surveys - It is another free online survey site which offers cash rewards to participant members. Once an individual signs up with goZing they are then invited, via email, to periodically participate in new live surveys ranging in topic from critiquing new products to watching never-before-seen movie trailers. For every survey completed members are rewarded CASH or sweepstake opportunities. Take a survey, get paid. It's that easy!

Cash Surveys - It is another free online survey site which offers cash rewards to participant members. Once an individual signs up with goZing they are then invited, via email, to periodically participate in new live surveys ranging in topic from critiquing new products to watching never-before-seen movie trailers. For every survey completed members are rewarded CASH or sweepstake opportunities. Take a survey, get paid. It's that easy!

Get Cash For Surveys - Most of today's "survey" sites online will show you only 5 or 10 "select" companies that pay you for surveys. Its quite obvious that they are promoting these companies However, Get Cash For Surveys provides the freshest, most unbiased, and most complete list of online survey opportunities available. You could search on the Internet for months, finding only the same "offers" over and over again

Big Survey Payouts This survey site is presently one of the widest demographically targeted products ever.

American Consumer Opinion- Paid and free online surveys - American Consumer Opinion® is owned and operated by Decision Analyst, Inc., a major international marketing research firm headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the United States. American Consumer Opinion® is made up of consumers worldwide who have agreed to participate in their paid opinion survey panel. Membership in American Consumer Opinion® is free. You will never have to pay any money to be a member. Your participation in our surveys is the only "cost" of membership. As a panel member, you will participate in several surveys a year, typically. The average survey will take 10 minutes or so to complete, and the questions are usually easy to answer. Panel members can expect to receive a "screener" (a short questionnaire) every six weeks or so.

That's all I have for the moment. If you need more info, you can always do an online search and find out more

All said and done, give it a try - its fun.

Here's wishing you the best and hope that you make money online with your paid surveys.



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Self help guides for depression ?

Depression?

What is this guy going on about depression.

I get it when I miss my evening swig.

Why the hell are they making such a hue and cry about it ?

Unfortunately, depression has become a common condition with most people nowadays.

If you, or a loved one has battled depression, you undoubtedly wish that you could find some remedy that keeps that pit of darkness far away, forever.

But suppose that wish were the very thing that is stopping you from achieving that dream, a dream that in reality is you ?

Although easy to overcome through self help methods, it requires a certain amount of discipline from the person suffering from depression.

In most cases, people having depression are victims to other people's manipulations, or in other words, they are not in a mental condition to cope with the day to day issues at play.

Basically, it all begins with the fact that there's too much mental telepathy at work these days.

Just imagine how much easier it would be if everyone simply stated what they wanted.

Rather than making grand assumptions about other people's motives, we might actually start getting our needs met.

Another problem is the media.

That is to say we have become to immersed in it - a virtual reality condition.

Unfortunately majority of the decisions today are made based on television reports, something quite unthinkable.

And after the glitter fades, beneath the leather and lace, we're just scared, trying to learn how to love, amid the gaudy after images of popping flashbulbs.

No wonder, there is too much stimulation in our culture.

Finally, when darkness falls, we crouch naked and are alone in our slack, snuffling with fear, and with a fistful of pills to keep us company.

Sometimes, I wonder why people cope up with all this. This just makes their minds a devils' workshop.

Some of the common characteristics of depression is the failure, to comprehend realities, dwelling on past miseries and most of all gaining satisfaction from it. As a result, they have to cope up with all this suffering, when there is nothing, and if at all there is any, it should only be flushed down a toilet.

On the alternate side, there is this innate fear that something bad might happen to people whom you like.

Of course, there are so many versions to this.

It becomes obvious when you suddenly realise you don't seem to be giving too much importance to your appearance, dressing, or worst of all your surroundings. You tend to become totally disorganised and most of all you are least unconcerned by it.

Is there a self help solution?

Yes !

But it takes some time and a bottle of common sense. I say this so as to shake off the system or supporters of such a system.

You will soon come to realise that your assumptions were right, there is really a social problem out there. Most of us go through this phase, but very few admit it.

You can use work out a self help strategy to end your battle with depression. You can also try and obtain this Depression self help Guide

It highlights an unique self help depression lesson for long-term recovery from depression. It describes the feelings associated with depression and how we self-sabotage ourselves.

Anyway as a closing note

What is thingy called depression ?

Here have a swig at this and perhaps within a few minutes you are good as new !!

These too many swigs and too many pills must stop.

Anyway as a closing note

Mate - I didn't get you... what is thingy called depression ?

New Widget Adverts - Slide Show

Ran into this today....took a fancy to it and voila.....

Now checkin on how to make some moolah with it... shall update you on it shortly..

Slash My Search

Ran into this a few days ago....

Well...the advert goes like this.... "You can earn money by setting this.. SlashMySearch.com.. as your homepage. You can earn even more money by using SlashMySearch.com as your primary search engine.. Obviously, if you search more, the more you tend to make.....simple"

Did not want to change the advert... it more or less explains the subject..

Basically, you can either use it as your affiliate link for referring others, or as your homepage… For referring, you get paid for three levels, meaning you get extra money from everyone you refer, and another amount for each referral those people get... Offcourse, you can also earn money by using SlashMySearch.com as your primary search engine, the more you search the more you make, that's about it.

So far so good….. Although it is too early to say whether it is a money spinner….. these few days have been good…..

No harm in trying it out..

Criticism and product marketing

If you're marketing a product and someone complains that the product is terrible and that he or she is not buying it.. does not refer that they hate you.

It is just that they just don't like your product.

All you got to do is to change your marketing style, or the way you market your product.. and perhaps throw in some incentives and jazz up the whole thing.. Then, try and get some fair reviews from friends, and if possible, from some members of any affiliate marketing or network marketing forums... They might be critical at first, but they could give you a better insight into the whole thing.. and the whole exercise would make a lot of difference..

Lastly, never ever take any criticism personally..

Let's put it this way, you have to take a lot of shit, although, a lot less than a car or a door to door salesman would need to.. However, a lot of people take it personally, and that's one of the biggest mistakes they could make.. they either wind up, or lose their entire momentum ...

Basically, bullshit is supposed to sell and not to be received for a marketer !

Startups and opportunity

While starting a home business or in affiliate marketing, there are times you come to the crossroads. The most important factor is not to cave in... Yes, it is tough, but most of the successful affiliate marketers of today, are those who stuck by and those who didn't give up, but who learned from their mistakes.

Now the common factor was that they were not willing to call it quits whenever they faced a stumbling block. Basically, without the strength to endure a crisis, one will not see the opportunity within. It is within the process of endurance that opportunity reveals itself.

Having strong beliefs and being able to stick with them through popular and unpopular times, is the most important characteristic while starting a home business.

Likewise, the two worst strategic mistakes any newbie can make is acting prematurely and letting an opportunity slip. You should try and evaluate each situation independently as it were unique, rather than applying formulae, theories and most of all other people's opinions...

Scoopt Words

Recently, I signed up with another one of those new ways of making money from blogs.. that they call Scoopt Words. It is good for those who are busy and never realise that their posts have value, let alone focus on marketing their content.. ScooptWords basically, is a payment facility for bloggers who want to sell content and editors who want to buy it. Scoopt Words acts as a go between bloggers and editors of publications, and will negotiate the sale of your blogging content for you. The concept is pretty simple really, ie., you blog and they sell

You add a ScooptWords button to your blog, ie., first you sign up with them. Once when you have confirmed your membership, login to the member's area and copy the HTML code for a ScooptWords button and paste it into the sidebar of your blog. The Editors, who are interested in your content, click on the ScooptWords button on your blog to buy content.

As soon as an editor has confirmed payment, they can copy, paste and print your words – and of course, pay for them. They negotiate the price on your behalf. The more visible your ScooptWords button, the better your chance of making sales. They bill the publication no sooner a sale is agreed. You get paid via PayPal once when they get paid, usually within 30 days of purchase. Bloggers receive 75% of all sales revenue. At present ScooptWords only make payment to bloggers through PayPal and in three currencies: Pounds Sterling (£), US Dollars ($) and Euros (€).

When you join ScooptWords and list a blog, you appoint them as a commercial agent for your blog until such time as you delist that blog and remove the ScooptWords button from the blog .. For more info.. Click Here.

The Truth In Ad Sales

A mimic of the original, but nonetheless funny.

Excellently made though a bit boring at times... but the characters make up for it.

A must watch for anyone in advertising, aspiring admen and marketers.