SJMjewels

Here's a tip for those of you with your own business...

Yesterday I received a phone call from the "National Who's Who of Professional Business Women" congratulating me on being "selected by their board" for membership. Immediately I was suspicious. The caller didn't even ask if it was a good time to speak and just went straight in to the "interview" phase of her script.

I asked her to schedule another time for the interview so that I would have time to do a search in Google for this company. It didn't take long to realize that I had every right to be suspicious!

Click here to read more about this type of company and why it is likely a scam.

In fact, by reading the above blog, I learned a new term "Vanity Publishing". The State of Connecticut office of the Attorney General has an official warning on its website on this specific type of marketing.

Not only should you beware of these sorts of companies soliciting you for membership fees, but remember their names when you are reviewing other professionals' credentials. People who ONLY have credentials that sound official but are actually earned by paying with a credit card should be treated with what I call the "Reagan method"..trust but verify! If you are a professional worth your salt, then you should have some awards and credentials earned the old fashioned way...time and sweat equity.