How to Beat the Banks at the Credit Card Game

This financial tip is an answer to a letter I recently received from Debbie. She asks: Weve been battling credit cards for most of our married life. Were finally getting on top of the situation. Weve paid off almost all of our cards with one left to go. It feels good! It makes me extremely angry to get two and three new offers of credit cards almost every day. I take great joy in tearing all of them up and throwing them away. The minimum payments have gone up. Interest rates are astronomical! Is there anyone who goes to bat for the consumer on credit cards or are the big banks just leading us to the slaughter? It appears that the banks can do about anything they want. Thanks!

First of all, congratulations on your efforts to get out of debt. As Ive mentioned in the past, this has to be a major priority for all Christians. We are to be slaves to Christ, not to lenders.

Unfortunately, the banks have a lot of power to influence Congress, so they are able to do just about anything they want. Which means anyone who has credit card debt knows what Scripture is talking about when it says, the borrower is servant to the lender.

Youre doing the very best thing you can do to control the banks pay off the cards. And then stay out of debt. If you cant control your spending with credit cards, cut them up and stay away. Credit cards are a great tool if you know how to control them. Unfortunately, most people dont. Researchers say that the average person spends about 30% more when they use a credit card compared to using cash only. Thats why radio talk-show host Dave Ramsey tells all his listeners to cut up their cards.

I think thats the best course of action for most people. Remember, the banks make money with credit cards three ways: interest charges, late payment and other user fees, and through merchant fees (fees charged to the companies that accept credit cards). The latter will often result in higher prices you pay for the things you buy. The first two, you have more control over.

If you decide to use credit cards, you must pay them off every month and use them only for items you would buy with cash. That means you have to stay within your budget. If you can do that, then credit cards are a good tool to use. But if you cant, then cut them up.

As for the credit card offers you receive in the mail, theres an easy way to stop those. Check out my article that tells you how to do it in just 5 minutes (visit http://www.wisdomsedge.com/newsletters/vol1/V1N24.htm#finance for details).

(c) Wisdom's Edge, 2006. Alissa Blog70637
Angelika Blog90562

How to Make Money Online with Google AdWords?

We all heard about making money online. The question is how do you rely start making money online today. I am going to share with you on how you can start making money online without having a website, not knowing anything about web design, and not spending much money. That is right you do not have to have any knowledge of HTML code. All you have to know is how to type. There are hundreds of courses on the internet charging you hundreds of dollar for the information I am about to share with you. Do not spend any money on any online marketing tools until you read this.

The one way to take advantage of Google AdWords is to become affiliate. Affiliate marketing is where someone advertises for another website and in return that person receives commission for each sale their advertising brigs to that website. Heres an example: Lets say I want to sell Laptop Computers, but I dont have a website and/or I dont have any computers to sell. Well instead of starting a company, I can just find a company online which already sells computers and offers an affiliate program. Now that I have searched and found a company, I look at what they offer. Lets say they are giving 10% commission on every sale I make. I decide to use that company and I set up my affiliate account with them and they give me a special URL (a web address that will let the company know that it was my advertising which gave them the sale), which I use in my advertisements. Now I make ad advertisement, and display it on Google. Whenever someone sees and clicks on my advertisement it will go to the companys webpage. Lets say that one hundred people clicked on my text advertisement and one of them buys a computer that cost $1,200. Because that person who bought the computer clicked on my advertisement that company will give me 10% of $1,200 which means that I made $120.00

Most online companies offer affiliate program. Companies like Best Buy, Circuit City, Office Max, Amazon.com, Buy.com and many more, literally tens of thousands. There are also companies online which all they do is offer other online business a way to have an affiliate program. These affiliate Companies manage affiliate programs for thousands of online companies. This means that if you have an account with Affiliate Company (they are completely free), you can advertise for any of the thousands of companies that use them to manage their affiliate sales. If you want to, you can search Google for affiliate programs just to see how big online marketing currently is.

By using AdWords and high paying affiliate program you can start earning money today. The AdWords advertisements are Pay Per Click (PPC), which means that the owner of that advertisement pays Google every time someone clicks on their advertisement. The main reason for wanting to pay for traffic is because it is very very difficult to receive free traffic on Google. When you sign up for Google AdWords Pay Per Click advertising your advertisement will be displayed almost immediately in Googles search results (usually within 5 minutes). You can also decide which page you want your advertisements to be displayed on ( the first page receives more visitors than the other pages).

It is very simple to start Google AdWords account. Go to www.google.com and look toward the bottom of the page. You will see a link says Advertising Programs. Once you there, you should click on the link which says Google AdWords. After clicking Click to Begin, you will be taken to a couple of pages which will ask you how you want to set up your advertising group(s) with Google. Google will send you an email to the email address you specified which will contain a URL that you will need to go to in order to activate your account. After you go to that URL you can log into Google AdWords using your email address as your user name. Now that you have an account set up, you are ready to learn how to create a Campaign so you can begin making money online.

Here is how to create a AdWords campaign in Google. First off to create a new keyword campaign, click the link Keyword-Targeted campaign. You will be prompted to name your campaign. Your campaign name is what will be displayed on the first screen when you log into your Google AdWords account. Since you will most likely have several campaigns, when you name your campaign you will want to make sure it is unique name that will let you know exactly what you are advertising in that campaign. Next you will need to name your AdGroup. Remember, you will have several different AdGroups with one Campaign, so name it something that will help you know exactly what keywords are in that AdGroup. Next, you should choose the area(s) where you want your ads to appear. There are three different ways to choose where you want to advertise. You can choose to advertise by Countries and Territories, Regions and Cities, or Customized.

The most important thing you need in order to have a successful Google campaign is a text ad with a high CTR. Text Ads with a high CTR will increase your Quality Score which will increase your overall position.

Things You Should Know:

1. You are not required to have http: or www in your display URL.

2. Google will not let you capitalize all the letters in all your words, but they will let you capitalize most of your words.

3. The website must not require additional software to load (example: it cannot be a .pdf instead of .htm).

4. Back button must be able to go back to Google with one click.

5. You cant have websites that mirror other websites that are advertised for the same keyword (example: having the same pictures and text but using a different web address). I know many affiliates do this, but I dont know how much Google enforces this rule.

6. The website you are advertising cannot have a pop up or pup under ad.

Another key to having a successful online business is making sure that every single person who is even the slightest bit interested in your product sees your advertisement. The best way to do this is by creating a very huge keyword list (thousands of keywords). Some products have many keywords, while others have very few. Usually the more keywords there are available for the product, the better. Not because it is searched more often, but also because most people who are also selling the same product will only select a few general keywords which may be very broad keywords.

When you bid on Google, you will not always pay the price you enter. The price you enter is the MCPC (Maximum Cost Per Click) you are willing to pay for that keyword. Google constantly updating the bids for the keywords in their search engine. For example if your MCPC is $0.15 and the advertiser in front of you is bidding $0.16 and the Ad one position behind you is bidding $0.05, you will only pay $0.06 per click, because there is no reason why you should have to pay $0.15 per click if you can get the same Ad position for $0.06 per click.

Google is a most searched search engine on the internet and with that they are consistently making update and improvement. If you are really serious about making money online or promotion you current business I will make a recommendation that will make you an absolute pro on AdWords. Ive spend thousands trying to research best possible ways to market in the internet. With all the money Ive spend I could of just gotten one system Google MoneyPro by Steven Holdaway. You absolutely cannot ignore what he has to share with you. He personally makes over $120,000 per MONTH. Check out his website. http://googlemoneypro.bestofbusinessonline.com

Dennis Alexander Internet Entrepreneur Astra Blog5021
Aurelia Blog78332

Getting Your Money's Worth

Securing outside counsel is crucial to any business regardless of the industry or size. However, more than 60% of legal departments within businesses gave serious thought to firing outside legal support in 2001. The number one reason for this consideration was a problem with communication and response. Then when you consider the expense associated with outside counsel, along with a large movement of lawyers, the numbers of unhappy clients in the past five years have increased.

One of the most important factors when hiring outside counsel is to do your homework, know the law firm, as well as what they represent. After all, establishing a secure relationship is a win-win situation for both parties. To ensure you work with the right outside counsel, you will need to measure services offered with price, communication, responsiveness, professionalism, and areas of expertise. Today, we see many large (and small) corporations consolidating services with outside law firms as a means of tightening up operations, and with great success.

Okay, so what is the key to success when looking for and securing outside counsel? The formula is not difficult but it is precise. For starters, look for a law firm that wants and values your input. The foundation of a strong relationship is two-way communication. The firm should actively keep you abreast of changes, and concerns. However, communication is not simply conveying information but also listiening. In other words, if outside counsel does not take the time to listen to the client, to hear and understand potential risks and goals, then the relationship will never work.

Law firms should take the time to learn about your companys technologies and capabilities. For example, every company has different needs. Whether legal support and advice, technology, or software choices, a law firm needs to take the time to understand the client, their business, the competitive threats and the opportunities. In this way, outside counsel would not only have a comprehensive understanding of your business but also your specific requirements to run that business. Outside counsel should also be fully vested in your financial interests. Their work plan should include ways to cut costs for your company while adding to or maximizing profitability. A good law firm committed to serving your needs, can add value to your operations by identifying ways that you could better utilize your internal systems, as well as their services.

Good legal counsel can also aid you in growing your business. They would teach you about implementing systems, marketing, and using tactics for surviving against your competitors while also providing support in legal matters. Keep in mind that even if you were to find a law firm you liked, as a best practice meet with three, four, or five outside firms to make sure you choose wisely. A good law firm will show you ways of thinking outside the box, and using innovation to drive business results.

Taking time to understand and clearly articulate your needs will facilitate your evaluation of options for outside counsel. You will develop a very specific set of criteria which you can use to objectively measure potential law firms. Doing so will ensure that not only have you chose a firm that is competent but one that partner with you in your business to achieve your specific goals. Being able to clearly communicate with your law firm will not only enable you to effectively evaluate them but will also set the tone for what will hopefully be a long term, mutually beneficial partnership.

Richard A. Hall is founder and President/CEO of LexTech, Inc., a legal information consulting company. Mr. Hall has a unique breadth of experience which has enabled him to meld technology and sophisticated statistical analysis to produce a technology driven analytical model of the practice of law. As a busy civil trial attorney, he was responsible for the design and implementation of a LAN based litigation database and fully automated document production system for a mid-sized civil defense firm. He developed a task based billing model built on extensive statistical analysis of hundreds of litigated civil matters. In 1994, Mr. Hall invented linguistic modeling software which automatically reads, applies budget codes, budget codes and analyzes legal bill content. He also served as California Director and lecturer for a nationwide bar review. Mr. Hall continues to practice law and perform pro bono services for several Northern California judicial districts.Amalea Blog69201
Ariel Blog80687

Home Improvement Loans

The best way to increase the value of your home is to make improvements. If you are like most people, this is nearly impossible to do without the help of a home improvement loan. These loans are tax deductable for home-owners seeking to make improvements on their primary residence, not rental properties or vacation homes. A home improvement loan can be used to a variety of upgrades and renovations including, but not limited to, remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, installing a swimming pool or even re-carpeting your home.

Home improvement loans must be secured by collateral, this is equity built up in the home. Because these types of loans are less risky to company, they are typically offered at a lower interest rate. To be considered for a home improvement loan, you must own the home, or be in good standing with your mortgage payments.

There are two kinds of home improvement loans available to choose from. Those loans are, FHA Title I Home Improvement Loans and the Traditional Home Improvement Loans. Either one can be used for new construction, remodeling or upgrading things in your home like a garage, new roof, swimming pool or new bathroom and kitchen, among many other projects.

You must have equity in the home you intend to improve, if you are considering a Traditional Home Improvement Loan, generally about 20% of the home's cost. The equity you've already built and that gained by the improvements of the home are to be the collateral. The company that provides the loan is called a lender. When using a home improvement loan, the lender will take out a first or second lein or mortgage against the home.

Though the majority of home improvement loans are for terms or 10 years or less, there are programs and lenders available that will extend the term to 15 years. That is largely dependant on how much you intend to borrow. The difference between a Traditional Home Improvement Loan and a FHA Title I Home Improvement Loan, is that the latter is a Government program.

You may use the FHA loan for necessary repairs and maintenance to the home. Luxury upgrades are not allowed. This may be the way to go for many as equity in the home is not required for this type of loan and past credit issues are often not a problem. The repayment for the FHA Title I loan can be as long as a 20 year term, as long as the home-owner has kept their credit in good standing, recently.

If your home loan is under $7,500, there is no lein placed on the title of the home, making it possible for more home-owners to make improvements on their home, while being tax deductible at the same time.

Whether you've decided to purchase your first home, or your still in the researching phase, check to see if your state or local community has programs available for first time home buyers. Many of these programs will offer you step-by-step assistance in finding realator, a home and the loan that best suits your needs. They are an invaluable resource.

Programs for first time home buyers should have a proven track record. Look to see that they have been in business for a reasonable amount of time. Check with your local financial institutions for a list of mortgatge companies that are considered reputable.

Next, be sure you meet the criteria to take part in the program you've chosen. Remember, there are many to choose from and the best are those geared toward assisting low to medium income families by offering smaller down payments, no down payments, lowered closing costs and reduced interest rates.

A first time home buyer program should take the hassle out of buying a home, allowing you the freedom to enjoy the process of selecting your very own home.

Beverly Kane is a staff writer at http://homeimprovementgazette.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.theshoppinggazette.com.Albertina Blog94623
Annalena Blog84438

Tips For Collecting Old Money

One of the most common hobbies is collecting money. Many people have enjoyed this activity for decades and money collecting is thriving even today. As a hobby, collecting money means collecting old money. Otherwise, we are all trying to collect money before the bills come. However, do you know how many people collect old money, antique notes and coins from previous decades and even centuries?

Coin collectors are much more common than old money collectors of the paper variety, though the latter are still quite active and manage to find some rare items occasionally. That paper variety may include pre US colonial currency, money from the beginning of the 19th century, currency from the Confederate States of America and also some souvenir cards of old money as the money itself are almost impossible to find and twice as hard to purchase.

If you are keen on collecting old money you will probably know that a collector's item of old money is called fractional currency. I was really intrigued when I learnt that during the Civil War the United States began printing 50 cents, 25 cents, 15 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents paper money as they run short on change. Now such weird banknotes are highly desired by any true collector.

There is also other interesting fractional currency which is much sought after. These are private banknotes from the 1800s. Before the US government created a national banknote there were some banks issuing their own money without government backing. However, it was not long before these banks were closed down and the banknotes were counterfeited and altered.

Once the national bank system was established, privately issued bank money was declared to be illegal. Ever since US government money was issued it has retained monetary value. However, it is not the same case with the obsolete old bills from closed banks and this is the prime reason why these banknotes are worth finding. Actually private banknotes from the 1800s have remained an interesting item for collectors throughout the centuries.

It is pretty evident that a lot of old money has significant value nowadays. It is true that casual collectors cannot afford to have any authentic old money and notes from the 1800s and early 1900s as their value and consequently price are too high. That's how collecting souvenir cards are becoming more and more popular. Having them you can collect a piece of history without actually paying a high price for it.

If you are wondering where you can find old money, you probably wont like my answer. It is really difficult to find old money. Of course, you might still be able to collect a Thomas Jefferson two dollar bill, but those antique coins and notes you are seeking won't be easily found, nor purchased. The easiest way to satisfy your desire to collect old money is through dealers, collectors, auctions and old money paper shows.

You might also find the International Bank Note Society's Journal and webpage not only very interesting but useful, as well. They offer contact information for trades and auctions and what is the best, they provide you with images of old currency on their website. In conclusion, old money collecting is a unique and fun hobby. It has its challenges but it there is no doubt it is worth taking.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning credit. Learn more at http://www.bestcreditcoaches.com/debt--credit-information/credit--debt-information/tips-for-collecting-old-money.htmlArabel Blog35908
Alane Blog74236

Traffic Building Look Out For The Potholes

A website is only as good as the number of visitors it attracts. You need visitors to be successful in marketing and selling your products or services. Without traffic even the best looking website is doomed for failure. Unfortunately there are many scams on the internet designed to trap desperate webmasters.

You finally have your website published and you are as proud as any parent would be of a new addition to the family. Well, nearly as excited. You cannot wait for visitors to flock to your site and to gulp up everything you have to offer them. You expect to hear the cash register ringing all the time. You expect to sit back and watch the money roll in. After a while you cannot help but acknowledge that nothing is happening and that you are probably the only visitor to your website. Sounds familiar?

The above scenario is all too common on the internet and most successful webmasters started their first website anticipating huge results that never happened. They only started to become successful once they realized that the internet is not a get-rich-quick scheme but that building a successful website takes time, dedication and hard work, like any other business.

As soon as you realize your website is not getting traffic you reach a crossroad You can take the straight and narrow road that requires more work, but that will take you to your destination, or, the broad road that seems easier to travel on but is actually only a mirage.

Many internet marketers make the mistake of taking the broad road, the easy road. It looks easy at first glance but turns out to be a road leading to nowhere. A typical case of good from far but far from good. Taking this road often involves doing business with dubious sites promising you huge amounts of traffic in exchange for cash. Money that you can often not afford to spend but feel obliged to spend thinking it is the only thing you can do to get people to visit your site. It is the same as a musician giving free tickets away to his concert in the hope that people will buy his album once they have heard him. Actually it is worse. It is more like a musician paying someone to get people to visit his concert. He does not really know where these people come from and are not sure at all whether he will sell any albums to them. If he does sell some albums then he normally does not even make enough money to reimburse himself for his initial investment in getting people to his c!
oncern.

This may sound a bit dramatic but is happens every day when internet marketers start getting desperate for traffic. There certainly are sites out there that will deliver the traffic at the right price. Problem is that it is not the type of traffic you need. You may end up getting many hits but dont be surprised if you get no sales as the people clicking on your site are often poor people in third world countries that get paid cents to click on sites but will never buy anything on the sites they visit. Sad but true. By the way, never subscribe to sites that offer to click on your Google Adsense adverts in your website. Such clicks are fraudulent. Google will find out about it and you may be banned from ever using their tools again.

There are many schemes out there designed to trap desperate webmasters. As a rule, do not spend any money to obtain traffic when you just start out. There is an enormous amount of valuable and free information on the internet that will help you to grow your business. Read up as much as possible on the internet and if you feel a need to invest money at a later stage in legitimate programs like Google Adwords you will be able to make an informed decision.

Remember that if something sounds too good to be true that it normally is too good to be true. Stay on the straight and narrow road and you will reach your destination.

Francois du Toit is the owner of http://www.money-maker-advice.com, a website designed to help new entrepreneurs succeed by evaluating various online and offline business opportunities, affiliate programs and network marketing options. The website also offers free articles and tools that will assist webmasters in building profitable websites.Althea Blog92600
Ally Blog36346

How to Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards

Been sucked in to the lure of a rewards credit card only to get burned in the end by high interest rates and a less than stellar return when it came time to cash in those points? Youre not alone.

For credit card companies, acquiring customers is big business, and most cards today offer some kind of incentive for running up the charges on your plastic. If youre not careful, and use your card at will just to collect a few measly points, you could get stung. But by following a few simple rules, you can turn the tables on the credit cards companies and use that rewards card to your advantage.

What to choose?

Most likely, your mailbox is full of pre-approved offers for new and exciting credit cards. In fact, in 2005 over 6 billion unsolicited credit card applications were mailed. The average person received approximately 72 offers. If youre in the market for a new card, its important to weigh your options carefully. Most credit cards today offer some kind of rewards, but which one is right for you?

Take a look at your lifestyle and spending habits. Would you benefit from a points-based rewards card, an air mileage card, or one that offers cash back on purchases? Points-based cards usually give you one point for every dollar charged. When you accumulate enough, the credit card company will usually have a shopping portal set up, where you can redeem your points on a variety of products (e.g., electronics, gas cards, travel, etc.).

Problem is, most items in the catalogue are ludicrously overpriced, though its better than nothing. Air mileage cards offer great benefits to the frequent flier, but in todays airline industry, whos to say how much fees will be raised by the time youre ready to redeem? With cash back cards, theres most likely a set amount youll need to charge annually before you reap any benefits, so make sure you read the fine print before you sign up.

Take Advantage

Quite simply, offering incentive-laden cards are a way for credit card companies to get you to sign up. Rarely are the rewards worth the interest rates youll pay if you carry a monthly balance. But therein lies the rubpay off your credit card every month and put those rewards to work. Heres how: Charge as much as you can on your rewards card. We know, it goes against everything you were ever taught about using a credit card. Let us explain.

If your collectors allow it, charge every bill you have to your credit card instead of using a debit card or writing a check. Then, pay that balance off immediately to avoid incurring an interest fee. Youll collect big rewards points fast, and itll be just like paying cash. Be disciplined about it though, even one month of letting those charges sit on your card can be a killer when the fee kicks in.

Another idea: instead of having separate credit card accounts for you and your spouse, ask for an increase in your credit limit and a companion card for one account. The more you both swipe the plastic, the quicker youll accumulate rewards points.

Off the beaten path

As rewards cards have become more prevalent, credit card companies have come up with new incentives to make their cards more desirable to consumers. Many cards have a system that provides extra rewards points to customers who shop with certain vendors. Some will even offer coupons where you can save big shopping with certain companies while still earning extra points. It might take a little more effort, but it will certainly rack up the rewards points at a vigorous pace.

Joe Kenny writes for the Card Guide, a UK based credit card comparison site, visit today for some balance transfers and clear your credit card debt today.Analise Blog66731
Antonietta Blog35642

Everything You Need To Know About Cashback Credit Cards

When you are considering cashback credit cards offers, remember to study all the features and fees of each card, and not just the offers that give you cash back or bonus points. Make it a point to know the interest rate during and after the introductory offer, the duration of the introductory offer, the annual fee, and other details of the fine print on every credit card application. Before you apply for this type of credit card, you should know that the majority of the best cashback credit cards require that an applicant has an excellent credit score.

The American Express Card is considered as one of the best cashback credit cards in the credit card market. It offers five percent of cash back when you use it to buy gas. Users enjoy a zero percentage introductory APR, no annual fee, and a fixed transfer fee of 4.99 percent.

This card also enables users to set up an automatic monthly bill paying system that gives cash back on telephone and cable bills, parking fees, and even transportation expenses. However, some long distance charges with some carriers might not qualify.

This card allows users to order more than one card on the same account, in the name of any family member 18 years or older, at no additional activation charge. They can even qualify for a no-fee transfer from other higher rate credit cards.

One feature that makes this card one of the best cashback credit cards for customers is the convenience of being able to keep track of expenses and card use for tax preparation and budgeting. An online feature called Summary of Charges permits users to access their account information for the entire year. It allows them to sort the use of the card by vendor or merchant name, by date, or by the amount of the charge.

Its easier when you can categorize the charges and review them by category. Users can assign a travel category, a business equipment category, a restaurant category, and so forth. Other available online information includes, monthly charge totals, billing information, and a history of the payments on the card balance

Cashback credit cards also make point of sale purchases easy. This credit card allows the user to hold the card up to the point of the point of sale reader. There is no more need to sign anything or to swipe the card. Other features and benefits, along with those mentioned here makes the American Express Card, one of the best cash back credit cards available today.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.find-cards-now.com/categories/cash_rebate_credit_cardsAnge Blog55738
Alli Blog79971

Your Travel and Holiday Money Options

With summer finally getting into full swing, many of us will be looking forward to travelling abroad for a well earned holiday. Of course, you'll need access to cash while you're away, so what are the best and safest ways of arranging your travel money?

1) Local Currency

It's a good idea to take a small amount of local currency with you whenever you travel, if only enough to last you for your first few hours. You'll probably need to arrange travel from the airport to your hotel for example, and local currency is the easiest way to pay for these initial expenses. The exchange rates charged at airports are notoriously expensive, so buy some currency before you leave and you'll get a much better deal.

The drawback to carrying currency is that if it gets lost or stolen, it can't be replaced. For this reason it's best to use another form of travel money for most of your funds.

2) Travellers Cheques

These are the traditional way of carrying money abroad. When you buy the cheques, which can be in Sterling, Euros or US Dollars, you have to sign the stub of each cheque in the presence of the teller. Once abroad, you can convert the cheques into local currency by signing the other half of the cheque at a currency exchange, where the teller will compare the two signatures and also inspect your passport.

This system is more secure than cash as each cheque is uniquely numbered, so if a cheque goes missing it can be quickly cancelled and replaced by the cheque issuer. There is a drawback in that you have to cash the cheques at a currency exchange, and you might not find one offering a good exchange rate.

3) Credit Cards

Credit cards are accepted virtually the world over, and may seem a good way of paying your way while abroad. As well as using them for shopping, they can be used to pay restaurant bills and even to withdraw cash. Before choosing this as your travel money option though, check your card's small print to see what interest rate is charged on overseas use - it will probably be higher than the standard rate of your card, and you'll probably have to pay exchange charges too.

4) Cash Machines

There are now several international cash machine networks in operation, for example the Cirrus network, and it's likely that your cash card can be used internationally, especially in Europe and the USA. This is a good way of financing your holiday spending, as you can draw out what you need while keeping the rest of your money safe in your normal bank account. The downside is that you may have to pay a fee for each withdrawal, and the exchange rate you're charged may not be the best available.

5) Prepaid Cards

These are a relatively new kind of plastic card, which are used in much the same way as credit or debit cards, with the big difference that you have to 'load' the card with funds before you can spend with it. They are a secure way of carrying money, as the card is replaceable if lost, and as it can only be used in conjunction with a PIN number then even if stolen it's difficult for a thief to make use of it. There will, however, still be exchange commissions payable when you use the card, and also usually a flat fee for cash withdrawals.

The main thing to bear in mind with travel money is that while each of the above options is useful, not all are suitable for use everywhere in the world. The best advice is not to rely on a single kind of travel money, but to take a sensible mixture of cash, local currency, and plastic or cheques, to make sure you can always get local currency when you need it. Enjoy your holiday!

Nicholas Hunt is an experienced author on financial issues, and currently writes for http://www.1stop-finance.co.ukwhere you can read more about travel insurance at http://www.1stop-finance.co.uk/insurance/travel_insurance/.Amalea Blog69201
Aurea Blog15544

Repair Credit Score through Bad Credit Car Loans

Credit problem is common these days. If you are one of the victims of bad credit and also facing problem in availing loans from the financial market to buy a car, in such condition bad credit car loans is best option for you.

Bad credit car loan is the product of the bad credit market fund which is especially designed to cater all people facing debt problem. Bad credit car loan also help the people in re-establishing their credit score by making duly and timely payments.

Bad credit car loan is available in two flavours:

Secured bad credit car loans

In secured bad credit car loan, an individual is obliged to place collateral but sometimes it is seen that the car itself act as security against the amount. The fact of collateral also enables the lender to offer competitive rate of interest. But, if the person misses any repayment of instalment then it can further worsen up his credit position. And once it get worsen up it becomes very difficult to improve the credit score.

Unsecured bad credit car loans

In unsecured bad credit car loan, there is no such obligation to place collateral. Instead of collateral the borrower provide certain documents to proof his credibility. Interest rate in unsecured bad credit car loan is little higher as compared to the secured form. Sometimes, an individual carries a misconception that the lender can take no action, in missing any payment as there is no asset involved. Rather the lender has legal right to sieze the asset or can take back the car if he tends to miss any payment.

The documents which are needed to be submit to the lender while availing unsecured bad credit car loan are:

Bank statement

Identity proof

Income proof

Financial status

Or some other detail as per the requirement.

The person can get finance from banks, financial institutions and dealers. Here banks and financial institutions are known as direct mode of finance on the other hand dealers are known as indirect mode of finance. Dealers are just intermediaries between the financing company and the borrower. But, the borrower must avoid dealing with such intermediaries as it increases the cost of the finance as they includes their profit and also charges very high rate of interest. So, it is recommended that the borrower must avail loan directly from the bank or any financial institution.

At the end, the person is suggested that whether he avails secured bad credit car loan or unsecured bad credit car loan, he should always try to make timely payments in order to improve his credit rating.

Xenia Stevens has been associated with AmericasCarLoans. She has completed her Masters in Finance from Cranfield School of Management. She provides useful information on Car loans. For further details in car loans, bad credit car loans, car loan financing, instant car loans, private car loans in US visit http://www.americascarloans.comAubine Blog39078
Alys Blog63090

A Guide to Buying a Property in France

Overview

The French real estate market has been booming over the course of the past ten years. Indeed, since the birth of the European Union, a greater number of foreign nationals have taken to purchasing property within the country of France

When it comes to the sale of real estate in and across France, there are two primary areas in which the real property market has been hot. On the one hand, in major cities in France -- particularly in the French capital of Paris -- newly constructed residential properties have experience a brisk business and trade. A notable number of foreign nationals have taken to purchasing new residential properties in major cities such as Paris in the past five or six years.

In addition to the fast paced market in new residential properties in major French cities, older, larger residences in more rural regions are also in demand. Foreign nationals are making up a significant portion of the group of purchasers who are seeking out and purchasing these types of older, larger properties in rural areas in the country.

Investment Real Estate

Like other nations comprising the European Union, France has experienced an up tick in the number of foreign nationals who are investing in commercial real estate in France since the creation of the EU. The pan-European marketplace has created an environment in which investing across national boundaries and throughout Europe has become a profitable enterprise for many men and women.

One example in which foreign investors have played a significant role in real property is found in the number of foreign nationals who have invested in real estate associated with the retail trade in major French cities. Indeed, within Paris alone, the number of foreign investors in commercial real estate, most particularly in buildings and property associated with retail operations, has increased by over 100% in recent times.

Overall, the commercial real estate market in major French cites has proven to be a very profitable investment for many foreign nationals. Most analysts agree that the commercial real estate marketplace should remain a stable and solid investment for investors, including foreign nationals, well into the next decade.

Even with some of the civil unrest that has been experienced in some locations in France during the past year, the real estate market has not experienced any real aftershocks as a result of this restiveness in some parts of the nation.

Residential Real Estate - Single Family Dwellings

As mentioned previously, the residential real estate market has been hot in many locales throughout France. In the major cities, newly built properties have been the subject of brisk sales in recent years. Many foreign nationals have been found snatching up these new residences in Paris and in other larger French cities.

In addition to newly built properties in larger French cities, rural residences have also traded on the marketplace steadily over the course of the past decade. Many foreign nationals have taken to purchasing larger residences in rural areas in France for retreat and holiday or vacation properties. For many years, France has been a destination of choice for holiday travelers from much of Europe and from other ports of call around the globe.

Residential Real Estate - Apartments

In the 21st century, the resort communities in France remain some of the most popular destinations for travelers and tourists from around the world. When it comes to French resorts, including the magnificent cities located on the French Riviera, many travelers and visitors actually return to these cities time and again for holiday stays. As a result, the demand for residential properties to be used for vacation purposes runs high in some of these communities. Apartments in resort communities have been in steady demand over the course of the past twenty years.

For the most part, apartments for sale in French resort communities are priced high. Buying an apartment in a major French resort community does not come cheap.

In addition to resort communities, Paris has also experienced a significant increase in the number of new and more expensive apartment units that are being constructed each and every year. Many foreign nationals have taken to purchasing apartments in the French capital city -- particularly since the inception of the European Union and the integrated European economic community.

Vacation Real Estate

As mentioned previously, vacation real estate has been in high demand in France in recent years. The French resorts, most particularly those resorts in and around the French Riviera, have experienced brisk business in vacation real estate. Generally speaking, these properties come in the form of apartments that are being snatched up by foreign nationals at record rates.

In Paris as well a significant number of residential properties are sold each year to foreign nationals that intend to make use of these properties for vacation or holiday purposes. As in the resort communities, apartments tend to be the residential property of choice for people seeking vacation or holiday properties in the capital city.

Finally, when it comes to vacation or holiday properties in France, rural residences are also greatly in demand. There are some spectacular (and large and expensive) estates that are on the market at this point in time, a good share of them having been purchased by foreign nationals for vacation purposes. Rural French residences are expected to remain in high demand by foreign nationals for use as vacation or holiday properties well into the next decade, according to real estate analysts in France.

Successfully Purchasing Real Estate in France:

Specific Steps to Buying Real Property France

The first step that occurs in the real estate buying process in France is an oral agreement to make a purchase. The oral stage of the real estate buying process is informal and actually not legally binding. However, once a buyer conveys a purchasing price to a seller, and if the seller agrees on that offering price, movement towards a binding agreement which is known in France as the compromis de vente.

At its essence, the compromis de vente is a conditional or preliminary agreement to purchase real estate,. Generally speaking, the compromis de vente will set forth those steps and acts that must be taken and that must occur before a final contract will be entered into between the parties and before ownership of the real estate will transfer from the seller to the buyer. For example, after the signing of the compromis de vente, the buyer will have to obtain suitable and appropriate financing while the seller will have to work to make certain that the title to the property is free and clear and that the real estate can be transferred to the buyer without any encumbrances.

At the time the parties enter into the compromis de vente, the buyer will have to make what normally amounts to a deposit in the amount of 10% of the total purchase price. There are limited instances when the deposit is refundable. For example, if free and clear title to the property cannot be arranged during the time period set forth within the compromis de vente, the buyer can back out of the deal and get the deposit money back. However, barring something of this nature, if the buyer does back out of the agreement, he or she generally will lose the deposit money that has been paid pursuant to the terms and conditions of the compromis de vente.

It is highly recommended that the deposit be paid to either a qualified solicitor or a designated notaire. A solicitor or notaire will hold the money until all of the requirements and obligations of the compromis de vente appropriately are completed and concluded. At that time, the money will be paid to the seller if the deal goes through or will be refunded to the buyer under limited circumstances as outlined previously.

Generally, there are legal fees of under 10% that are associated with most real estate sales in France. These fees are due to be paid upon the completion of the sale -- at the same time that the balance due on the overall property sale is paid by the buyer.

The real estate agency will also be entitled to a commission. Negotiations between the parties will determine whether it is the buyer or the seller who will pay these fees. The real estate agency fees can be as low as 5% of the purchase price or as high as 10% of the purchase price in some instances.

There are restrictions on how much of the purchase of real estate a foreign national can finance in France. If a foreign national is a citizen of another European Union nation, that person can finance up to 85% of the total purchase price of the real estate. If a foreign national is from a country beyond the European Union, he or she can only finance up to 80% of the total purchase price of the property. On the other hand, a French citizen can finance 100% of the purchase price of the real estate in question.

The final agreement in the real estate sales transaction is what is known as the acte de vente (which roughly translates as the final deed for sale). This agreement is to be signed in front of an official notaire.

http://www.property-abroad.com/france Director Les Calvert regularly writes articles and information on the French property market. Visit their website for properties in France as well as a directory full of information on France.Ange Blog55738
Aidan Blog81754

What Is The Cost Of Declaring Bankruptcy And Are There Any Other Options?

A lot of people are running into financial difficulty these days - especially with a lot of major corporations going through layoffs and buyouts. What this means is that a lot of people find themselves suddenly unemployed and it may take some time to get another good paying job. When financial difficulties come, and they stay around for awhile, the thought of declaring bankruptcy will come into some people's minds - especially when the debt starts getting out of hand, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Here are some thoughts about bankruptcy that will help you to make that important decision of "Should I, or shouldn't I?"

What Declaring Bankruptcy Means

Declaring bankruptcy is basically an indication that you are not able to pay the debts that you have legally incurred. For this reason, and the legal examination of your bills and the way you handle your finances, as well as the humiliation involved, makes it a rather stressful process. It means that you will have to seek credit counseling, too.

Because so many people are attempting to get out of their debts, for one reason or another, Congress has passed an Act, which was signed by President Bush in 2005, to place certain limitations on declaring bankruptcy and who can do it. This Act, called the "Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act," seeks to make it more difficult to declare bankruptcy and to help the creditor to receive a higher degree of compensation. This Act called for higher bankruptcy filing fees, credit counseling, and making it more difficult to file under Chapter 7, making it necessary for more people to file under Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Many other details are also covered in the Act that place further limitations on bankruptcy.

Two Types of Bankruptcy

Filing under a Chapter 13 bankruptcy means that there is a "reorganization" of your finances, and it does mean that you do repay much of your existing debt. You are required to make a plan that enables you to pay back a lot of your existing debt in the next three to five years. This means the sale of some of your properties (or all of them) in order to satisfy the debt. It is the bankruptcy Trustee who will make the decision as to what needs to be sold - not you.

Filing under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy means, once again, that the various assets that you do currently possess will need to be listed, by requiring you to take a "means test," and then a decision will be made as to what you can keep and what you cannot. Everything will fall under an "exempt" or a "non-exempt clause." You keep the "exempt" items, and lose the rest. The "non-exempt" items will either be sold, or you will be required to pay them back. Some things that are not exempt are child support and education costs.

The cost for declaring bankruptcy can run up to about $1,500 for personal bankruptcy. This includes the filing charges, and the lawyers fees. The fees, however, are dependent upon how much of an income you have, and it will vary from one state to another. The process of obtaining a legal declaration of bankruptcy, assuming everything is in order, can take up to six months.

After The Declaration Of Bankruptcy

Once you have obtained a legal declaration of bankruptcy, all of your creditors know where they stand. For some, the debts are discharged, and others have received what will be paid to them, or they know what will soon be coming to them. However, it also means that your credit rates have been destroyed, and it will take years to fully repair it. The bankruptcy is placed on your credit rating and will remain there for the next ten years.

What Other Options Are There?

If you are now in a position where you need to consider bankruptcy, then there are some other options that may yet be available to you.

1. Get Credit Counseling

By this, it means work through a debt negotiation company who will take your case to the various creditors in an attempt to work out some kind of a deal. This could be a good step in the right direction because creditors know that if you declare bankruptcy, then they may not get anything. Oftentimes, they will work with you.

2. Renegotiate Your Loans

Once again, by talking with your creditors, you may be able to renegotiate for better loan terms. This could give you a greater leeway financially that could provide just enough of an edge to enable you to get through it with having to declare bankruptcy.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and also http://www.cardguide.co.uk.Antonella Blog72878
Anissa Blog52587

5 Sure-Fire Boosts to Your Online Money-Making Success

Ok, youve purchased one of those money-maker products and its giving you all sorts of ideas for making money online. Now what?

Although its possible to generate Internet income without a website, youll eventually want one or even several so you can get listed in search results. But dont forget, search engines love to send visitors to content-rich websites, so youll want to cram your sites with useful information. Heres how it works Good content impresses your visitors, who are then coaxed into buying.

What can you do to boost your fledgling online business? Study and learn, and then keep studying and learning! I know it sounds like work, but competition on the Internet is fierce and soon only the very knowledgeable will succeed. You can make yourself one of the success stories.

Heres how to build a website business that will put more online cash in your pocket.

Step 1: Buy a product that includes a free, starter website.

Some money-making products offer a free website after you purchase the package. Its a great start for your Internet empire, so take advantage of the offer.

Recommended: Adwords Miracle, The Ultimate Wealth Package, The Rich Jerk.

Step 2: Use Adwords ads to get traffic to your website in a hurry.

Check out books from the library or book stores to get familiar with Google Adwords (that's the name of Google's pay-per-click (PPC) ad program). These ads appear in the Sponsored Links area, to the right of web search results.

How does Adwords work? You pick targeted keywords and write a brief ad to entice your visitors to click. Its the quickest way to get traffic to your website, but it will cost you. You bid on the keywords you want your ad to be listed for and pay the bid price each time a visitor clicks on your ad.

Recommended: If you have the money, buy at least one information product that teaches the basics of PPC advertising and gives you some insight into the techniques professional marketers use. Two excellent products are Adwords Miracle and Beating Adwords.

Step 3: Learn some HTML and put Adsense ads on your websites.

You will want to adjust and adapt your websites to add more income-producing content. For example, Google has a free program called Adsense where you place Google Adwords ads on your web pages. Google gives you the instructions making it easy to place Adsense ads on your web pages, as long as you know basic HTML.

Adsense ads are matched to the content on your pages so theyre relevant to your website and of interest to your visitors. If someone clicks on an Adsense ad from your website you get credit for the click at approximately 50% of the per-click cost the ad owner pays Google.

Heres the benefit of Adsense: if your visitors arent ready to buy the products on your website, they may want to click on a relevant Adsense ad instead. If they do, you get some income to offset the cost of any Adwords ad they clicked to get to your site in the first place. In fact, some people actually make a living from Adsense revenue. You could be one of them!

Recommended: Your public library has books and CD-ROMs that can train you in basic HTML. If you prefer online instruction, try the free courses at W3Schools: (http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_intro.asp). For Adsense information: (https://www.google.com/adsense/).

Step 4: Become fluent in SEO (Search Engine Optimization.)

This is a fancy phrase that simply means adjusting the content and some of the HTML to make your websites more appealing to search engines, like Google, Yahoo and MSN. Search engines look for keyword-rich content and certain HTML tags to determine the topic of your site. The more search engine friendly you make your website, the higher you will appear in the search results. But why bother, if youre forking-out cash to have Adwords ads send traffic to your site?

Consider this Statistics show that searchers trust and click normal search engine results more than Adwords ads. So, if you tweak your site a little bit you will eventually get FREE search placement. Instead of clicking on one of your expensive Adwords ads, a prospective customer will see your website listed in the general search results and click there instead. That, my friend, is a NO COST click! Well worth a little study and some massaging of your website content and HTML.

Recommended: SitePro News. Sign up for their free newsletter about site promotion and search engine optimization at http://www.sitepronews.com. This is a quality site that wont spam you.

Step 5: Repeat, then repeat again.

Once youve mastered the above strategies, you simply create more websites using what youve learned. Check the money-making product you originally bought for ideas for website topics and products to sell.

Your Strategy Summary.

Ok, lets review how the whole process works. Heres what you do:

(1) Buy a money-making product with a free website that jump-starts your online business.
(2) Use Adwords to generate quick traffic to your website.
(3) Put Adsense ads on your site to offset your Adwords costs.
(4) Tweak your HTML and website content to improve your search engine placement and visitor interest.
(5) Create more websites using the free site as a template and duplicate your success, over and over again.

Thats how money is made on the Internet. Theres no real trick to it, you simply go from one successful website to another, earning a little money from each one. With some study and a certain amount of work, youll eventually own a website empire that generates enough cash for you to make a comfortable online living.

Tom Thomas is an Internet marketer who reviews the best money-making products, domain name registrars, website hosting companies and online marketing tools. See his reviews at http://BestMoneyMakersGuide.comAnjela Blog10063
Arleta Blog45629

Another False Idea-It Takes Money-To Make Money

The idea that it takes money to make money is a false one. This is a common knowledge idea (which are usually wrong).

When you are in the situation of living within a tight expense budget and you do not know anything about any "business model", it certainly does seem like it takes money to make money. It also seems like there is a lot of risk involved (and given the circumstances, I would agree).

http://www.cleveland-real-estate-debt-help.com/debt-help.xml

This whole idea leads most people to believe that investing is risky. In reality, the more knowledge and experience you have, the less risk that is involved and the less money that is usually required.

This is true no matter what business model you choose to pursue. It is all the learning and preparation that take place before an investment that determine the profitability of the investment.

Your level of financial education not only determines how successful your business investments will be but, It is directly related to the quality of people you employee and the businesses you partner with.

Most people have not invested their time into learning about there finances so that is why most people feel it takes money to take money. This belief can lead many people to confuse investing with gambling. Much like gambling when you are relying on "luck" to determine the outcome there is a large amount of risk involved.

Investing is only risky when the person making the investment has no knowledge or experience handling that type of investment. Than the investment may require lots of money and risk.

The less knowledge and experience a person has, the less control they have over the possible outcomes. The less control they have over the outcome, the less certain they are of the outcome. Whenever you invest your money into a situation where you are not certain of the outcome, you are not really investing, you are gambling.

It is important you do not confuse gambling with investing.

Hello my name is Robert but you can call me Bob, a year ago I made a decision that I would not be a slave to money. This is what I learned.Annnora Blog97746
Aleda Blog13951

5 Things To Consider About Debt Consolidation

Debt Consolidation....How could you not think about it? Several times a week you are presented with the "best option" for debt consolidation through either the mail, a telemarketer(we all love them), e-mail, or advertising online, just to name a few. Do you find it strange that so many people are concerned with your well-being and financial stability that they want to help you? Don't be. There are obvious reasons that we all know, that companies want your debt. Huge Profits! They have the statistics and know the trends that most people will only make minimum monthly payments which over the term of the loan pays them back at least 4 times the amount and from the temporary increase in available cash, most people repeat the same spending habits that caused the need for consolidation in the first place. More opportunity for the companies.

But debt consolidation can be a great thing if used correctly. There are varying opinions about this from the many financial "experts" of the world, but my personal belief is that we all make decisions necessary to solve our current problems and give us added peace of mind. Now the decisions do not always give the results we hope for and may not be the best decisions for long term planning, but I do believe people make what they think are the best decisions at the time. It is pretty easy to look back and question some of the financial decisions we made, we all do, but the problem with doing this is only analyzing the decision and not the many other factors that were in play when the decision was made. ex family, job, relationship, sanity, etc. When deciding if debt consolidation is the best thing for you, here are some things that should be considered to help make the best decision possible.

1) How much additional monthly cash will my consolidation make available?

This is based on an assumption on why people consolidate, but I assume it is because the total amount of your monthly bills is more than you can afford or want to pay each month. Whatever the reason, how much cash your consolidation frees up should be a consideration if you do it or not. If the total of your monthly bills is currently $1,000 and after the consolidation your monthly payment will be $975, then the consolidation is probably not the best idea. Now if that payment is going to be $500 after the consolidation, then maybe it is worth it. There is no one number that makes this answer right, totally personal choice. Just make sure that you review all of the terms and that over the long haul you are not paying a whole lot more than you would have before the consolidation.

2) Can I consolidate without consolidating?

Is it possible that you can consolidate your bills and pay them off quicker without the formal consolidation? This requires an analysis of your bills, the amounts owed to each, the minimum monthly payments, and how much longer before they are paid off. It may make more sense to endure the high payments for a few more months, if you can make minimum monthly payments on most bills while overpaying on one to pay it off. And repeating this process until, in theory, you are debt free. This is commonly referred to as the snowball effect, which basically means as you pay off one bill it frees up more cash to increase the payments on another bill. This is done over and over until all of the bills are paid. I am sure there are places online that have calculators that can help you perform this task as well as Microsoft Money and Quicken. I have used both of these programs and they both are helpful in graphically laying out what extra payments can do.

3) What am I prepared to change in my spending habits?

This is probably one of the most important questions to ask yourself, what will I do differently after the consolidation? You must take a long, hard look at your financial situation and determine how you will control your spending habits differently. I hate to make it seem as though consolidation is a bad thing because it truly is not. But I do realize than many people consolidate loans and bills due to being overextended. If you fall into that category, make sure you are doing what is necessary in terms of spending controls to prevent the need for more consolidation in the future. Statistics will easily show that there is little change after the consolidation which leads to further consolidation in the future. Dont be a statistic!

4) How much does my consolidation cost by the end?

This is really a combination of what are the terms of my consolidation loan versus the current terms of my loans. I guess it could be summed up as reading the fine print. These lending companies like nothing more than to get you into long term contracts with low monthly payments that last forever. The first several years of these payments the interest portion is far higher than the principal with statistics showing there will be some other type of consolidation after a few years. To them that is more money, more money, more money. Look at the terms of your loan and try to avoid adjustable rates, extremely long terms, or high closing costs to acquire the loan. The most important is the rate and if it adjusts. Sometimes they are unavoidable, but that makes your payment for the future unpredictable. If may only fluctuate a little at a time, but over the course of a year or two, your payment could be drastically different. The documents that you have to sign to acquire the loan will usually state how much you will pay in total if you make your minimum monthly payments for the duration of the loan. Look at this number and see if you can make it lower and meet you current cash needs. You will thank yourself in the long run.

5) What effect will extra payments have?

Consider extra payments each month, even if it is as little as $25. This makes a significant impact to the length of the loan. Obviously the amount of the loan will make a difference as an extra $25 against a $1 million dollar loan does not have that great of an impact, but extra payments help. Banks calculate payments and interest using compound interest meaning that they do not simply multiply you loan times the finance rate for the year to get your interest. They calculate it daily. So 5% per year is not $100 X 5%, it is ($100 5%/365)* 365. This gives a number much different than $105. By making extra payments you are reducing the amount by which the interest is calculates against. So everyday after you make your extra payment, the amount the interest is calculated against is lower. Makes a difference. Do the math.

Brian May writes articles on a variety of subjects including relationships, real estate, and finances. Please visit my sites http://www.BrianKeithMay.com or http://www.OpenEntrance.com.Aurea Blog15544
Alidia Blog86095

How to be successful with Google Adwords

Are you thinking of using Google Adwords for the first time or have you recently tried it and gave up because you didnt get the results you had hoped for?

There are many people who give up using Google Adwords because they are not getting the traffic they wanted or its costing them more money that they can afford or both!

A lot of people think that to be successful with Google Adwords you either have to be lucky or practicing some black art.

However the good news is that Google Adwords does work and you can make it work for you. By simply following the following steps, you will have a well performing Google Adwords campaign which will bring the right type of visitors to your website.

Many advertisers do not follow these basic rules and they get there advertising all wrong. So just by making sure you follow these basic steps you will already be ahead of your competition.

Understand the link between keywords, your ads and your website.

This is the golden rule for Adwords.

Google is all about relevancy.

Google wants to be sure that when one of its customers searches for something that they find websites that are relevant to that search. So you need to make sure that your list of keywords in your adgroup work well with the ads you have set for that adgroup AND that the page you send visitors to when they click on you ad also has relevancy to the list of keywords.

Keep this rule at the front of your mind when you set up your campaigns.

Avoid Broad Searches
When you set up your keywords for Google Adwords, the default setting is Broad Match.

What this means is that Google will match your keywords against a search if your words are present in the search regardless of the order of the words, whether they appear together, are plurals, etc.

As an example if you use the term used shoes as a broad match then the following searches in Google would match to your keywords

used shoes
used shoes shop
used horse shoes
shoes used in modern dance
new and not used shoes

As you can see this can give quite a few matches that may not be relevant to your website.

You should avoid broad searches and target you keywords with phrased and exact matches.

A phrased match is one where the keywords will only match if they are used in the exact sequence of your keyword. You enter a phrased keyword by putting curly brackets {} around your keyword.

So for our example, if I used {used shoes} then

used shoes
used shoes shop

would match but

used horse shoes
shoes used in modern dance
new and not used shoes

would not.

An exact match is one where the keywords will match only if that exact phrase is entered and no other words are used for the search. You enter an exact keyword by putting a square bracket [] around your keyword.

So for our example, if I used [used shoes] then

used shoes

would match but

used shoes shop
used horse shoes
shoes used in modern dance
new and not used shoes

would not.

Avoid using the Content network.

You can set up your campaigns so that you ads appear on both Googles search network and its content network.

The content network consists of websites that allow Google ads to appear.

I recommend turning off the content option when you set up your campaign because you ad may not always appear on websites that a very relevant to the ad you are running.

Only advertise to locations that it makes sense to.

When you set up your campaigns you can select which countries you want your adverts to appear to. So for example, if you sell a product in the USA that you would not ship outside then there is little point for your ad to appear to people in Europe or China for example.

Pick the times you want your adverts to appear

You can select what time of day you want your ads to appear. So if you are trying to advertise to UK buyers who are surfing during the evening, then those are the times you should be setting your ads to appear.

Organise your ad groups and campaigns

One campaign with one adgroup and one massive list of keywords is doomed. This is the one single mistake that many first time users of Google Adwords make.

Before you start using Adwords, I strongly recommend you sit down with pen and paper to plan out your campaign and adgroup structure.

What works best does tend to vary based on what you are trying to sell. However as a guide for each campaign you should aim for no more than four or five adgroups each with ten to twenty good keywords. This will give you a set of campaigns which are easy to maintain and the keywords in each adgroup can be targeted effectively.

This is only a guideline though. Ive actually had an adgroup with only one keyword and it performed wonderfully.

Use Landing Pages

So many people make the serious mistake of sending their visitors to their home page when they click on their ads.

You really want to send then directly to the page that is relevant to the ad you are running.

So for example, if you have an online clothes shop then for any adverts you are running for mens gloves, you really want to send them directly to the page for mens gloves.

So, dont use your home page unless it makes sense. Send your visitors to land on a page that is relevant to the advert they clicked on. If you dont have a page that is relevant to the advert, then why are you running that advert!

Use more that one Advert and TEST!

Always, always have more than one advert running for an adgroup. This allows you to see which advert is getting the best clicks through rate. You can then change the lower performing adverts and try to beat your best one. You will soon find that you have some very effective adverts.

However to test properly, you need to set the adverts to rotate evenly. This is set in the campaign settings. In the ad serving option under the advanced settings, make sure you select the radio button for Rotate: Show ads more evenly.

Mike Seddon is the founder of KKSmarts. Their free Website Promotion Guides help many businesses to get the most out of their websites. The KKSmarts forum contains many free guides in written, audio and video format. They have guides on all things including how to do pay per click, how to optimise your website and many more. For more info:Anthia Blog59310
Alicea Blog28598

The Principles Of Effective Inventory Management

Proper inventory management is all about having sufficient inventory to cover your actual or anticipated demand. Inventory management is the combination of knowledge, process, measures, and reporting that together maximizes availability while minimizing investment. Efficient inventory management allows the management of sales, purchases and payments. Inventory management is a vital function to and organization and helps insure the success of the manufacturing and distribution companies.

Inventory management is common factor to businesses in all industries. Inventory costs money and carrying too much inventory is an unnecessary expense. Inventory management affects organizations' internal operations through their cost accounting techniques, while inventory control is concerned with minimizing the total cost of inventory. Inventory is often seen as set and forget asset, once inventory levels have been optimized it is not needed to revisit it again. Problems in inventory control are usually associated with the use of poor processes, practices, and outdated support systems.

Inventory management plays a central role in the supply chain in order to satisfy the customers, by helping to ensure that a proper inventory is maintained at all times. Inventory management can help make it so that a company has the exact supply needed to meet demand. Inventory management is also an effective method to keep track of exactly what products a company carries. Although inventory management appears as an asset on the companys balance sheet, it also ties up money.

Millions of dollars on software and inventory management systems are spent by companies in an effort to maximize their return on investment from inventory. Proper inventory management is essentially a management discipline, by forecasting what quantity of stock is needed and when it is needed, as well as accounting of the stock so that you can keep track of it in the system. Manually conducting inventory management can be burden for most organizations, but through the use of automation, a business can improve their inventory management without a lot of additional cost. A successfully implemented inventory management system will carry just enough of each item to meet demand at any given time, and as a result reduce the cost of storage of extra stock or causing delays by not meeting demand. This Just In Time manufacturing method incorporates this idea into an inventory management system that industries, like retailing, have used with great success.

Proper inventory management is a delicate maintenance of the balance of supply and demand by maintaining the appropriate level of stock in a warehouse. Basically inventory management is about keeping two things in mind: dont run out, and dont have too much. Having the delicate balance of supply and demand firmly mastered, is what effective inventory management is all about.

Aaron H Prather owns and operates http://www.inventorymanaging.com which covers the principles, tools, and methods in effective inventory management. Inventory ManagementAngie Blog95831
Angelica Blog93362

Advice on Self-Publishing

A few people emailed me for advice on self-publishing and I decided to write a small guide. There is a huge hype now days with self-publishing and companies are making lots of money from thousands of people who want to see their books in print.

My experience with self-publishing has been an OK one. Would I advise one to self-publish? Sure, as long as your expectations are not too high. Keep in mind you will not make money out of it. It is better to see the world of POD (publish on demand) as a hobby, but nothing else. The royalties in self-publishing are so low that you actually have to sell thousands of books to make money.

I put a lot of effort into my self-published book, writing and promoting it. Writing is hard, but promoting your book is even harder. When you choose a self-publish company, make sure you read carefully what they offer you. The company I chose is iUniverse. What I like about iUniverse is that if you choose a package that includes the evaluation, they will tell you what is wrong with your book. You then get a chance to work harder on your book and re-submitted to them. If you have the budget, I will advise you to buy editing services, such as line editing. This is what I did to correct the grammar and spelling errors. Self-publishing is expensive and you will not make much money out of it. It is only a hobby.

Many self-publishing companies offer several services, depending on how much money you want to invest in your book. Keep in mind that you will not make much money out of self-publishing. If you are a very talented writer and you think you have an amazing book, I advice you to keep looking for a traditional publishing house to publish your book. I tried to publish my book with a traditional publishing house, but trust me it is really a 'mission impossible.'

Other traps to look for in self-publishing: there really is no need to keep pouring money into your book. There are many companies out there who will do anything for your book for a large sum of money. IUniverse for example, offers expensive editing with the help of skilled people. After a few thousand dollars that you invested in your book, you can get the label 'Editor's choice' and if you sell five hundred copies, you get a chance to see your book re-published by a traditional house. It sounds very promising, but trust me from my experience, to sell five hundred copies is a really hard thing to do. Many people are still very skeptical buying a self-published book.

I worked very hard at promoting my book. Here are some ways to do it: send it to reviewers, distribute printed postcards with the information on your book, tell all your friends about it and advertise it as much as you can on the internet or anywhere else you can.

I put together a list of self-publishing houses that you should look at: iUniverse, AuthorHouse, Infinity Publishing, Llumina Press, Aventine Press, etc. Of course there are some other companies out there, some more expensive then others, but those are the ones I would recommend. I do not recommend the really cheap self-publishing companies, such as LULU, because they do not check the content of your book. They will print just about anything for money. If you think your book is fantastic and needs no additional work, then you can publish very inexpensively with them.

There are a bunch of places where you can send your book for review. BookConnector site has been a great help for me in finding internet sites that do book reviews. They have a huge list with places where to send your book for review. You should not pay for a book review! Book reviews should be free of cost. I had very positive experience with most of the review sites, except for one, from where I got a bad review. Try to read other reviews first from where you choose to send your book to, see if they give decent reviews. Some places might scrutinize your book too much and you really don't want that for publicity. In the writing business, opinions can differ so much from one person to another, so you really need feedback from a lot of people before you decide if your book is good or not. If ten people gave you good reviews and one person gave you a bad review, you might tend to forget about the later one. Otherwise, I really had a good experience with reviews, so I definitely recommend you to send an email query first to ask for a review.

If you believe you have a fantastic book, you can also try to send it to local newspapers or radio stations for interviews. But really, try to query the place first to see if they want to accept your book.

Self-publishing is a great hobby and unless you have a passion to write and promote your own book, you will not be able to succeed much. A traditional way of publishing is definitely the key to success, but it really is almost impossible to get in.

Manuela Anne-Marie PopAllianora Blog75074
Antonie Blog80021

The Rich Jerk and Ultimate Wealth Package

Having been trying to make money online since March of this year I have purchased many products which promise you the earth and actually give you very little.This is a common theme among those of us who want to get out of the rat race and spend more time at home with the family.

The thing is though there are many products out there that really are a scam but not all of them are.I was lucky enough to come across three products that really helped me understand what it takes to make money online and explain the right way to do things to give you a genuine chance.

The Ultimate Wealth Package and Forex Enterprise are two very similar products.Either one will give you the knowledge you need to start you off in business and set everything up.From the two of these I would recommend The Ultimate Wealth Package simply because of the language used.It is easy to understand and makes Affiliate Marketing a viable way to make money online.This product is the way in to making money online.It does require some time and effort on your part and is not a get rich quick scheme but as I said before it does give you a genuine chance to make money online.

Leading on from either of these products is The Rich Jerk.

This package is for those of you who have got a foot in the door and have started to make some money and now want to hone those marketing techniques to produce an income that is residual and constantly growing.This package shows you how to take your business to the next level.The reason it is not really for beginners is that the language it uses may not be understandable to those with no experience.For those of you who have had some experience it does make sense and is a valuable tool that will help you every step of the way to making a full time income.

My personal experiences of all these packages is that individually they all have their merits but the real key to success is to follow either The Ultimate Wealth Package or Forex Enterprise to start with and then when you start to have some success move on to the Rich Jerk to really move your business on.I now have an income of around $3000 per month.With the first packages I grew my business to around $1200 per month in the first three months working about 10 hours per week.

By using the methods in the Rich Jerk I quickly jumped to $2500 then my current earnings.I honestly believe that my earnings will soon top $5000 and then who knows what it could become.I have now handed in my resignation at work and am looking forward to spending more time at home and travelling the world.The Rich Jerk really is a jerk but he does know how to make money online and if you follow his advice you could soon be rich if not a jerk yourself.

To read more on these products and for links to their websites visit http://www.homebizzie.com today.

All these products do come with cast-iron money back guarantees but I know that if you follow the simple steps you too can be handing in your resignation within six months of starting out.

Good Luck and Have a Great Life.

Paul Bennett

Paul Bennett is a fledgling internet marketer and owner of http://www.homebizzie.com. You are able to use all or part of this article as long as you include this section.Ainsley Blog80542
Aidan Blog81754

12 Things You Must Do If You Want To Retire With Your Present Income Intact

Baby boomers are that large segment of the population born between 1946 and 1964. Often called the me generation because of their desire for instant gratification, they are barreling full speed ahead toward retirement with one big difference...

Their instant gratification lifestyle got them the new car, the new home, the new high definition TV when they wanted it, but they have saved a much smaller percentage of their income than previous generations.

Now what do they do since they have a big elephant in the room with them called "Retirement Planning?"

1. Baby Boomers Have Neglected Retirement Planning

There is a "Purple Elephant" in the room that the majority of Baby-Boomers have been ignoring, it's called "Retirement Planning," and Baby-Boomers are heading for a shock as they hit retirement; primarily because of vanishing pnesions and inadequate 401(k) savings. But is it too late and what can they do?

2. The Government Will Take Care of My Retirement Needs

After all, Congress passed The Pension Protection Act of 2006. But, as we are all familiar with the results when the Government decides to "Fix" a Problem-right? So will they fix it or make it worse.

3. So did you see the Frontline Special: Can You Afford To Retire?

Here is What You Need to Set Aside...(40) million Americans now have 401(k) plans and many advisors are now saying that you need 15 times your active income.

Frontline Correspondent Hedrick Smith talked with experts about how people are handling this new do-it-yourself retirement saving systems and the common mistakes they're making.

Interesting Sidebar:

Correspondent was talking to an upper-level manager of a major corporation and a secretarial-administrative-assitant type came in the room to serve them coffee. When she left Hedrick asked: "Tell me, Mr. Big, would you let Suzy-Secretary handle your retirement-pension plan and handle your finances for the future?

Mr. Big huffed, and puffed and said: "Certainly not, she's not qualified nor experienced in such intricate financial matters."

Well, said Correspondent Hedrick, you are asking her to do that for her own retirement program.

My fellow baby-boomer, did you get the point?

4. The End of Lifetime Pensions?

Do you know that none of the major airlines have intact pension plans for their pilots?

Troubled companies have dumped their underfunded pension plans, leaving the federal pension insurance system holding the bag. Hedrick Smith talked with experts about whether the private pension system can be protected.

5. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Strategy is the Answer...

Chapter 11 Strategies have become a strategic tool for troubled companies. Hedrick talked with industry insiders about how it worked in the case of United Airlines, and whether it's time for reforms to protect workers' benefits.

Find out who got protected and who didn't and why....very, very interesting and revealing as to how all this works.

6. Public Pensions-Is there More Trouble Ahead?

Cities and States are facing the same red ink with their pension trust funds as are private companies and corporations.

7. What's It Really All About-What Do You Really Need?

In the beginning of the Frontline segment it interviewed an individual who had the wisdom to set up his retirement, with professional advisors, and thought he had "covered all his bases."

He was receiving monthly retirement checks of $3,000 per month, and this-He and His wife thought-will be our retirement income. Then the unmentionable happened...his company cut his checks by 30%. The result-he had to go back to work and is now driving trucks to make up the difference.

8. An Alternative Solution...

What we all need is a check every month. We need cash-flow, we need money to pay our expenses, our insurance, and an income that will grow in the event of catastrophic health expenses in the future.

9. At Age 55 I Woke Up One Day...

Shortly after I turned (55) I had a wake-up call:

I got sick...fortunately, I had my Veterans Administration Benefits to fall back on; but it made me start thinking. Then the kiss death came. Social Security mailed me an estimation of what I would receive if I took an early retirement at (62.5)...A Whopping $937 per month.

Sure, I can live on this, if I start living under a bridge somewhere, and start panhandling for my living.

Not an acceptable alternative for me...

10. So What do You do if you are +55 And Haven't Saved a Dime

Don't feel alone-there are literally hundreds of thousands of people who have little to show for their efforts.

You may have had the burden of college tuition, unexpected medical expenses, job loss, bad investments, a bad divorce, or maybe like me, you really didn't land your first "Good-Job" until you were after 55.

There can be any number of other events that either drained your assets or prevented you from building that nest egg in the first place. Or, like so many baby-boomers, [aka the "Me Generation"] you may have just been leading the good life until you had your own personal "Wake-Up Call."

But don't throw up your hands and say, "It's too late-why bother?"

Wouldn't you rather end up with some assets than none at all?

11. So What Do We Do Now?

* Figure out what you will have and what you will need

* Put every possible dollar you can dedicate into a tax-deductible retirement plan...this includes any plans your employer sponsors, as well as your IRAs.

* Make a zero-based budget...meaning you start with the absolute essential expenses, and then add expenses from there until you run out of money.

* Take a hard look at your current work situation...could you be getting paid more elsewhere, or be working for a company that has better retirement benefits.

* MY FAVORITE-AND THE PATHWAY I HAVE CHOSEN-start a small business on the site. There are many benefits to this, especially if you are close to retirement. First, you can usually contribute up to 25% of your self-employment income to a tax-dedubtible Keogh plan even if you are already putting money into another plan.

The second benefit of starting a business on the side is that your new knowledge and experience makes you more valuable to your current employer.

Third, if you are laid off or experience job discrimination in terms of pay raise, you have another income.

* Forget the standard retirement age of 65-68. The longer you work the more money you can save, and the fewer non-income producing retirement years you will need to finance.

* Plan to sell your house and buyh a smaller one or get out of the real estate market altogether; especially if you are planning to move to a retirement community with liftetime services.

* Be realistic in your projections and your dreams. Look at each of the above items and use retirement calculators to calculate "what-if" circumstances.

Remember this: There is nothing worse than being retired and broke. And remember this statistic, at age 65, less than 2% of the population has $20,000 in cash. It's too late to start your life over again and save all that money you spent on things that didn't really matter.

Author Credit: Giner Applegarth, 12/13/01 http://moneycentral.msn.com/articles/retire/invest/1210.asp

12. But Which Business?

The Internet Security wave is here! Don't miss a day-get started building your financial future right now.

You can make an important difference in the lives of those you know and care about-AND buidl a solid finanical future at the same time.

Everything you need to get started for just $299.99. The enrollment fee to become an ISA and get your business started on only $270. You will be shipped an ISA Business Success Kit (valued at over $1000) that includes everything you need to get your INVISUS Direct business started and begin earning money immediately.

To get your personal computer protected, the initial month setup fee for your personal subscription to the INVISUS service is $29.99 per subscription. Altogether, for just $249.99, you will have an exciting and powerful new business of your own in one of the most explosive markets ever.

KEEP IN MIND: This is N-O-T a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme, but rather a solid business based upon a product that works, a product that is guaranteed, and one where there is never a charge for customer support. The choice is yours...

When the boomers - about a third of today's workforce - reach traditional retirement age in five years, there won't be enough young workers poised to replace them.

Such labor shortages already are forcing employers to rethink how they will recruit and retain older workers and deal with ' their ultimate retirement.

Aging baby boomers present both an opportunity and a challenge for employers interested in topnotch people, particularly with a labor shortage looming.

Clifford Wall is an independent Internet Saftety Advocate (ISA) with Invisus Direct. He is not a financial planner, attorney, or any other type of financial professional. However, he is a pre-baby-boomer, having been born in 1944. Technically, I guess you could say he was a World War II era baby.

For baby-boomers that have come to Retirement-Shock-Experience that he has, he is recommending that any baby-boomer facing ther same dilemma to give very serious consideration to starting a Single-Office/ Home-Office business with INVISUS.

http://myinvisusdirect.com/ponyhunter/

Clifford Wall is an independent Internet Saftety Advocate (ISA) with Invisus Direct. He is not a financial planner, attorney, or any other type of financial professional. However, he is a pre-baby-boomer, having been born in 1944. Technically, I guess you could say he was a World War II era baby. Ardra Blog75685
Alysa Blog80769