Branding Web Strategy Mistakes - Brand Identity Guru
1. Lack of overall strategy and clear definition of success:Most people realize the need for a site, but don't understand what it can/should do for the company. And when they do have a goal, they don't measure it. We'll often ask people, "What are the objectives of your site?" Answers vary from ... more...

Google Takes Manhattan
Google's Internet search brand is so strong that we forget how big a player it's becoming in the world's advertising markets. Even when we read the latest forecasts about its growing success, we tend to think exclusively about Google's online brand image. That powerful brand image tends to hold ... more...

Online Advertising Versus Traditional Media Advertising
Before I compare today's online advertising with traditional media advertising I will make an analogy.If you've been on the Internet for as long as I have, you probably noticed that things have changed dramatically. About 6, 7 years if you were using online dating sites it was a lot easier to ... more...

Decision Time: Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit?
Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit continue to grow in popularity. According to the Consumer Bankers Association, during 2003 combined home equity line and loan portfolios grew 29%, following a torrid 31% growth rate in 2002. With so many people deciding to cash in on their home's ... more...

Bartering A Great Way to Trade
Before you hit the back button thinking bartering went out of fashion when money came along. Think again. Bartering has not only thrived all this while, it has made a come back in the business world in a big way. If the International Reciprocal Trade Association is any indication, bartering today ... more...

Spanish Mortgages = Property Prices May be Downbut its Not All Bad News!
Remember Black Monday in October 1989? The stock market crash was shortly after the Great Storm when the southern part of England was ripped to shreds by the infamous hurricane that was never meant to be! Well, at least according to Michael Fish!Well, the crash in the stock market on Black Monday ... more...

Eight Common Predatory Lending Schemes
Predatory lending is far more prevalent in refinancing than in the purchase market. One reason is that buyers tend to look for mortgages from established and recognized lenders, many of whom are bound by rules put forth by Fannie Mae, FHA, or the Veterans Administration. If they don't follow the ... more...

10 Tips for Aspiring Freelance Copywriters
Every week I receive a couple of emails from people seeking advice on how to get into freelance copywriting. While theres no simple answer, and no answer which applies to everyone, there are a few tips which I believe will help most people make the move into freelance copywriting, and survive the ... more...

Social Networking: A Link To Like Minds
Not all dot-com dreams died when the Internet stock bubble burst.Amazon.com, the king of the dot-com era, is keeping some of them alive in 2005 inside a small office on Capitol Hill.Light floods into a sparse whitewashed room above a yoga studio, where former Amazon director Josh Petersen and his ... more...

Condo Hotel Trends - A Look at the Big Picture in Vacation Home Ownership
Condo hotels are one of the hottest products in todays real estate market. New properties are cropping up in different parts of the country and new buyers are entering the market daily. Things have been moving so quickly in terms of condo hotels, but sometimes it's worth taking a moment to step ... more...

Why Do They Buy?
A recent issue of Entrepreneur magazine included a marketing story with five important questions all business owners should be able to answer about themselves and their competition.Understanding these five critical areas will help you better develop and implement your marketing plan, and sell more ... more...

Loan Officer Marketing How Branding Shapes Your Prospects Perceptions
Social scientists have proven that people experience what they come to expect. Its like the first time you watched your favorite movie. Before you saw it maybe you read a favorable movie critics review, or a friend told you it was a great, or your favorite filmmaker directed the movie.But before ... more...

Eight Steps To A Great Marketing Plan
Step 1: Where Am I Now? Before you decide where you want your marketing plan to take you,you need to find out where you are now. How have you positioned your business in the market? How do your customers see you? You may want to ask some of them for feedback. Write four or five paragraphs that ... more...

Business or Hobby...What Would the IRS Call YOUR Business?
One thing we know for sure direct sellers start their businesses for a wide variety of reasons. Some want to build a dynasty, some want the tax benefits, some do it to buy and share a product they believe in, while others are simply looking for a way to have fun and make a little money on the side ... more...