Yes, someone has come up with a way to do this already: http://www.threadwatch.org/node/1562. I’m going to have to make a little time to implement this, because while I haven’t had a problem yet, I don’t want to wait until I do have a problem.

It amazes me how many people regard this as acceptable because Google is doing it. It’s no different to me than any other spyware that adds links to my site. I don’t care who is doing it. It doesn’t matter that in its present form I only really need to worry about book ISBNs, since everything else they currently AutoLink to looks relatively innocuous, I don’t want to be caught off guard by any changes.

Am I paranoid? No, just don’t trust it to remain that simple for long.

On the other hand, it sounds like Barnes & Noble will be putting up a fight over this one as soon as they figure it out. I’ve read that a lot of people are calling them to let them know about it, so I do expect a legal challenge to this practice soon. I wonder if it will have an impact on other spyware? Much bigger companies going at it with this case, after all, so it might just set the right precedent if things go the way I would like to see it go.

Looks like they got some good ones this time. I love seeing the scams get taken down, even though I know more will come to replace them. This one hit more than 200 operations though, on a variety of charges.

Owning a home business is a dream for so many people it’s easy to see why scams flourish the way they do. Many people see what looks like a way to make money fast, and logic goes out the window. Let’s be honest – if it were that easy to make money, we’d all be doing it. Of course, then it wouldn’t look like a lot of money, would it?

If you’re still looking for that perfect home business opportunity, make sure you know how to look out for the scams. The FTC website is very helpful when it comes to screening home business opportunities, and I urge you to take advantage before joining any opportunity. You will save yourself a lot of heartache and money.

Even if you are starting your own business, make sure you read up on home business at the FTC website. You need to make sure that you aren’t making any claims that could get you in trouble. These laws apply to everyone, and ignorance is no excuse. Keep up on the legal side of your business even before you start.

Everyone needs help with their home business. There’s so much to know and so many places claiming to have the answers.

Government websites are some of my favorites. Got a tax question? Check irs.gov first. Want to keep up on issues small businesses face? The SBA has a newsletter. This month they’re covering changes the IRS is making to the tax code, ways to minimize your tax bill, tax forms your small business must complete, and surviving tax season. Something of a theme this month, which makes sense considering tax time is rapidly approaching.

The FTC is also a great resource when you are researching online opportunities. They’ll tell you about common scams and much more.

Government websites can sometimes be difficult to navigate, but when you’re looking at legal issues, you need to look at the source, not just what someone else online is telling you. Take advantage of your local, state and federal government websites to keep your business legal.

That’s the focus of some pages I’ve just added, and there are more to come, covering many kinds of freelance opportunities. Many home businesses are based on freelancing, and freelancers are often hired by home businesses to do the work an individual running a business may not have the skills to do on their own.

Freelancing is in many ways just another word for a home business. You can say you are a freelance website designer or that you have a website design business that you run from home. It’s the same thing, although not everyone realizes it. Freelancers need a business license in most places that require them for home businesses, so it pays to do your research before starting, just to stay out of trouble.

Pretty soon I’ll be doing some serious work on how to get into joint ventures. I can give you one secret now, since it has launched. Unlike many joint venture networks, which can be expensive to join, JV-Network is free to be a basic member. You pay only if you post a proposal or announcement. There are other membership levels as well. If you’re interested, just contact me through my website and I’ll tell you about it. You have to contact a member to join – this is not open membership.