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Brandon Cornett - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Brandon Cornett is the founder of ArmingYourFarming.com and
HomeBuyingInstitute.com. Through Arming Your Farming, Brandon helps real
estate agents improve their real estate marketing programs. Through Home
Buying Institute, Brandon helps first-time buyers learn about the home buying
process. Contact Brandon through either of the websites listed below.
[View Brandon Cornett's Extended Author Bio]
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- Review Your Credit at Least Six Months Before Applying For a Mortgage
[Finance:Credit-Tips] Planning to buy a home sometime in the near future? If so, you should review your credit score right now, ASAP. You need to find out if your score is low, because it takes time to improve it. So start early.
- Most Credit Repair Companies Are Bogus - And Other Dirty Little Credit Secrets
[Finance:Credit-Tips] You have to ask yourself why so many states in the U.S. have strict regulations against the credit repair industry. The reason (as explained in this article) is that the vast majority of these companies are scammers. There's a better way to clean up a bad credit history, and you can learn all about it right now.
- Credit Reporting Companies Would Rather Not Hear From You - Dirty Little Credit Secrets
[Finance:Credit-Tips] It's important to review your credit report for accuracy before applying for a mortgage loan. But in the event you find errors, you should also understand the mindset of the credit reporting companies. They are required by law to make corrections to your reports -- but they don't necessarily want to.
- 5 Key Concepts of Homeowners Insurance
[Insurance:Home-Owners-Renters] Shopping for home insurance doesn't need to be overwhelming or intimidating. In fact, if you understand the five key concepts explained in this article, you'll be able to choose a policy with no trouble at all.
- Now is a Good Time to Buy a House - 2009 Update
[Real-Estate:Buying] In May 2009, housing starts rose by 17% over April. This surprised many economists, who were not expecting such an increase. This rise in housing starts (new construction) indicates rising confidence within the building industry. This kind of trend usually coincides with housing recovery in general.
- Top 5 Mortgage Questions Among Home Buyers
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] What credit score do I need to get a mortgage loan? How much can I afford to pay each month? Do I qualify for an FHA loan? How do I get pre-approved, and which type of mortgage is right for me? These are five of the most common mortgage questions we have received through the Home Buying Institute website recently, and we have answered all of them in this article.
- Credit Scores - 10 Things Every Home Buyer Should Know
[Finance:Credit-Tips] Start researching credit scores online, and you will soon find yourself overwhelmed with conflicting information. Save yourself the trouble. This article tells you exactly what you need to know about credit, mortgage loans, and the relationship between the two.
- Your Mortgage Lender is Not Your Financial Advisor
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Relying on a mortgage lender to determine your home buying budget is a mistake many first-time home buyers make. In this article, you'll learn why this is so dangerous, and how to avoid it.
- The Importance of Credit Scores in the New Economy
[Finance:Credit-Tips] Qualifying for a mortgage loan is tougher today than it was just a couple of years ago. This trend will only continue in the coming months, and it underscores the importance of having a good credit score. Here's what you need to know to achieve financial health in the new economy.
- Getting Mortgage Quotes Online - 3 Tips For Internet Security
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Security] With a basic understanding of Internet security, and a healthy dose of common sense, you can enjoy the speed and convenience of online mortgage quotes while also protecting your personal information. Here are tips on doing just that.
- Website Content Development Made Easy - Seriously
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Are you a webmaster who is often asked to write content for the websites you manage? Maybe you're tasked to create new content for the company where you work, or for your web design clients? If so, this article will help you overcome your fear of web writing and tackle the job head on.
- The Postcard Marketing Checklist - 29 Questions to Ask Before You Begin
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Direct mail postcards can help you reach out new customers and get recurring business from your current customers. But if you want to achieve the best results, you need to ask yourself a lot of questions before you conduct your first mailing. Here are a few to get you started.
- Proven Direct Mail Strategies - The Special Report Download
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Direct mail postcards are one of the most flexible marketing tools for business owners. They can support a wide variety of promotional goals and can be adapted to fit any budget. One of my favorite postcard marketing techniques is the "free report" strategy, and that's what we will examine in this article.
- How to Use Direct Mail Postcards to Promote a Seminar
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Seminars are a powerful business-building tool for many industries, and postcards are one of the best ways you can promote such an event. So let's look at some of the ways you can increase attendance by promoting your seminar through direct mail.
- Best Practices in Direct Mail Marketing - Value and Realism
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Postcards are one of the oldest and most reliable forms of marketing. They have been used nearly as long as the U.S. Postal Service has existed. They can support a wide variety of business goals from lead generation to direct sales, and the costs are easy to control and measure.
- How to Get Your Free Credit Report With No Strings Attached
[Finance:Credit-Tips] A lot of consumers become frustrated when they try to order their so-called "free" credit report online, only to find out they have to sign up for some kind of monthly service. After reading this article, however, you'll understand (A) how to order your reports the right way and (B) why some people try to charge you for this information.
- Rebuilding Your Credit in 2009 - A Skill For the New Economy
[Finance:Credit] Will you be one of the many people who need rebuild their credit in 2009? If so, you're not alone. The economic crisis has left a lot of people on shaky financial ground. Fortunately, there's a way out of it. You can rebuild your credit by following the five steps outlined in this article.
- What the 2008 Housing Crisis Means to Home Buyers in 2009
[Real-Estate:Buying] What is going on with the U.S. economy right now, and how does it affect people who are trying to get a mortgage and buy a home? This explanation will give you a better understanding of the economic and housing crisis in this country, as it pertains to people who are trying to buy homes.
- How to Write a Direct Mail Sales Letter - 5 Steps to Success
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Direct mail letters have been a popular marketing tool for decades. Cost and simplicity are the two main reasons for this. When used properly, a good sales letter can help you take your business to the next level. Here are five steps to success.
- Selling a House in the Current Economy - Proper Pricing is Critical
[Real-Estate:Selling] In light of recent economic events, sellers must be smarter about the way they prepare, price and promote a house for sale. But the pricing process doesn't have to be complicated or confusing. In this article, you'll learn the basic steps involved in determining your asking price.
- Lawyer Marketing Today - Why You Need a Strong Web Presence
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Modern lawyers and law firms must build a strong web presence to be competitive in the Internet age. This article explains why this is so important, and also offers some tips for building a highly visible web presence.
- Search Engine Optimization - Best Marketing For Hard Economic Times
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] When economic times are tough, you have to do more with less. You must continue your marketing program while spending less money in the process. Search engine optimization is the perfect solution to low-cost, recession-proof marketing.
- Real Estate Agents - You Can Blog Your Way to a Better Image
[Real-Estate:Marketing] Blogging is a useful marketing tool for real estate agents, and for many reasons. But one of the best benefits of a blog is that it can help you strengthen your professional image. Here's how.
- Home Equity Loans - 3 Common Scams to Avoid
[Finance:Home-Equity-Loans] Home equity loans remain one of the most popular financing tools among homeowners, and for good reason. Unfortunately, however, there are quite a few scams associated with these loans. Here's a summary of some of the more common scenarios you should watch out for.
- Mortgage Loan Rates - 5 Things Every Borrower Should Know
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] If you plan to buy a house in the near future, then the topic of home loan interest rates will be near and dear to your heart. In this article, we will examine how interest rates are applied to a mortgage loan.
- Postcard Marketing Wisdom - Build the Message Around the Objective
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Here's a copywriting secret that many professional writers will charge you for. When creating a direct mail postcard campaign, start by identifying the desired response you want people to take. Then build the message to support that singular response.
- Meet the Candidate - A Brief Background on Barack Obama
[News-and-Society:Politics] How much do you know about Barack Obama. I mean, aside from all of the rumors you hear on TV. If you want to learn more about the presidential hopeful, this unbiased fact sheet is a great place to start.
- 5 Ways to Increase Website Conversion Rates
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Website traffic is not the ultimate goal of an Internet marketing program. For business growth, you must convert your website visitors into something else (leads, inquiries, sales, etc.). This article offers five tips for increasing website conversions.
- How to Create Curb Appeal Before Selling Your Home
[Real-Estate:Selling] In today's economy, you have to go above and beyond to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Curb appeal is one of the things you should focus on when preparing your home for the market.
- Curb Appeal 101 - Prepping Your Home For a Quick Sale
[Real-Estate:Selling] If you plan to sell your home in the near future, you should start working on your home's curb appeal right away. Here are some key areas you should focus on when prepping your home for the market.
- Postcard Marketing Has Gotten Harder, So You Must Be Smarter
[Business:Marketing-Direct] It's harder to succeed with direct mail postcards today, mainly because of factors like information overload and consumer skepticism. But there are certain things you can do to ensure you success with this marketing medium.
- History Revisited - 7 Interesting Things About the Civil War
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humanities] The Civil War between North and South was a defining moment for the United States. It was also very costly, in terms of human life and material loss. Here are some interesting factoids about the people, places and events of that conflict.
- Cosmetic Dermal Fillers - The New Facelift?
[Health-and-Fitness:Beauty] Cosmetic dermal fillers have been in the news a lot lately. But what do these fillers do, and what kinds of risks are associated with them. Here's an introduction.
- Using Your Business Blog to Cut Through the Bull
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Look at the most successful business blogs online today (the ones with the most traffic, the most comments, and the most buzz). One thing they have in common is the blogger's ability to speak plainly, as if speaking to a friend.
- FHA Home Loans to the Rescue - Help For Struggling Homeowners
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] As a result of the mortgage crisis that came to a head in 2007 - 2008, the federal government passed new legislation to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. Here's what you need to know about it.
- Real Estate Letter Writing - Direct Mail Tips For Agents
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Why do some real estate agents still send direct mail letter in the age of the Internet? Because letters can still produce results, if you go about them the right way. So let's look at some of the other advantages of this technique, as well as some tips for success.
- Top 10 Reasons to Start a Business Blog
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Have you been wondering what all the full is about regarding business blogs? Thinking of starting a blog for your own business? By the end of this article, you'll understand the top ten reasons for blogging.
- How a Business Blog Can Make You Believable
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Can business blogging help you foster trust among your readers and prospective customers? Sure it can. A well-executed business blog makes you appear more believable to the people who matter most.
- The Business Blogging Alphabet - A is For Authority
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Can a business blog help you establish your expertise and gain new customers? Sure it can. And that's exactly what we will discuss in this installment of the Business Blogging Alphabet.
- Small Business Web Success - How David Beats Goliath
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] With the right approach, your small business can outperform larger competitors online. It's like the old tale of David versus Goliath. In this article, I'll explain how you can use the Internet as an equalizer.
- Getting the Best Mortgage Rates in the New Economy
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Maintaining a good credit score will help you get a lower interest rate when applying for a home loan. This directly translates into a lower mortgage payment each month, and who doesn't want that? Here's how to go about it.
- The 5 Most Effective Real Estate Marketing Tools
[Real-Estate:Marketing] Real estate marketing has changed in many ways over the years, largely due to the constant evolution of the Internet. These days, real estate agents have to rethink the way they communicate to their audience. When doing so, they should also consider the five marketing strategies listed in this article.
- Real Estate Marketing Online - The Booklet Strategy
[Real-Estate:Marketing] The so-called "free report" is an outdated real estate marketing technique with little chance of motivating a website visitor. This article will show real estate agents how to get serious results with a more modern and powerful twist on this technique.
- Mortgage Marketing Q&A - Straight Answers to Common Questions
[Business:Marketing] What are the best mortgage marketing techniques for producing results? How much should I spend in the process? How can I generate leads on a consistent basis? Here are some straight answers to these frequently asked marketing questions.
- Real Blogging - 3 Creative Ways to Use a Real Estate Blog
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Real estate agents are using blogs in creative ways to attract clients and grow their businesses. Here are three ways an agent might use blogging to get more business from the Internet.
- How to Build a Mortgage Website That Generates Leads
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] For mortgage brokers and loan officers, this tutorial will explain how to create the kind of website that produces leads on a regular basis. In other words, the only kind of website worth having!
- Message From Employer to Job Seekers - Learn How to Communicate
[Business:Resumes-Cover-Letters] These days, it doesn't take much to set yourself apart when applying for a job. In fact, just by following the communication tips in this article, you'll outshine 80% of the competition.
- Real Estate Marketing Online - Expand Your Content For More Traffic
[Real-Estate:Marketing] Real estate agents can increase their website traffic (and convert more of that traffic into clients) by adding quality content to their sites on a regular basis. This article offers tips on how to go about it.
- Housing Market Commentary - 3 People to Ignore
[Real-Estate] Everyone has an opinion about the U.S. housing market these days. Some people mistake their opinions for fact, while others shape the facts to fit their agendas. For instance, here is a list of three people worthy of skepticism when it comes to the housing market.
- Home Buying Tips For the Internet Age
[Real-Estate:Buying] Some home buyers don't realize how useful the Internet can be during the house hunting process. So in this article, we will look at some of the ways you can use the Web to find and research homes for sale.
- Getting Mortgage Quotes Online - Safely and Smartly
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] The Internet has changed nearly every aspect of the real estate process, and that includes the way we research, compare and apply for mortgage loans. These days, you can use the Internet to save time and energy when shopping for home financing. But there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it.
- A No-Nonsense Guide to Home Buying - The 12 Step Program
[Real-Estate:Buying] As the result of recent economic changes and constant Internet evolution, the process of buying a home has changed. This article takes a fresh and modern look at the process, by offering 12 steps to success.
- 7 Website Promotion Tips For Lawyers
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Site-Promotion] Lawyers need website traffic just like any other modern business. But many in the legal profession are at a loss when it comes to website marketing topics. Here are seven tips that will help lawyers generate more traffic and business online.
- How to Start a Business Blog in 48 Hours Or Less
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] In this tutorial, I'll explain how to start a business blog without wasting a lot of time on the research and setup process. In fact, I'll show you how to get up and running in two days or less!
- Home Buying For Beginners - What Your Agent Should Do
[Real-Estate:Buying] Ask a hundred different people what the role of a real estate agent is during a home buying transaction, and you will likely get just as many different answers. Here's a simpler explanation of what your agent should do for you.
- Custom Homes 101 - A Buyer's Guide to Success
[Home-Improvement:New-Construction] So you have decided to turn your dream home into a reality, and you are looking for a custom builder to make it happen. This article will help you prepare for that process.
- Buying a House in the New Economy - Advice For Buyers
[Real-Estate:Buying] Credit has always been important when buying a house and applying for a mortgage loan, but today it's more important than ever. So here's my advice to home buyers in the new economy.
- How to Lower Your Home Insurance Costs
[Insurance:Home-Owners-Renters] Buying homeowners insurance coverage is often a balance between cost and coverage. In this article, we will look at ways to lower the cost of homeowners insurance while getting the coverage you need.
- Freelance Writing Business - Using Your Skills For Self Promotion
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] As a freelance writer, you have a powerful marketing tool at your disposal. It's your writing talent, and in this article I'll show you how to use those talents to promote your own business.
- The Modern Freelance Writer - How To Grow Your Web Presence
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] A web presence is more than just a website. It encompasses many Internet publishing strategies all working together. And it can help the modern freelance writer take his or her business to new heights.
- Freelance Writing Success - Collateral Skills Bring Business
[Writing-and-Speaking:Copywriting] Freelance writers can achieve greater success (and revenues) by offering collateral services that are somehow related to writing. In this article, we will look at some examples.
- Real Estate Marketing Online - How And Why To Use Chat Programs
[Real-Estate:Marketing] Chat programs are a great website tool for real estate agents who have an office manager or customer service person. They are also a good way to generate real estate leads through the company website.
- How To Be A Freelance Writer - 5 Lessons Worth Learning Today
[Writing-and-Speaking:Copywriting] Freelance writing isn't easy. But with the right talent and the proper planning, you could be a successful freelance writer in today's marketplace. Here are five things you should know before you embark on that journey.
- The Reverse Mortgage Loan Explained
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Most seniors over the age of 60 have heard a lot about the reverse mortgage loan lately. But what is the unique lending option and why is there so much buzz about it lately. Let's take a closer look.
- Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter
[Real-Estate:Selling] Some people will tell you that selling a home during winter is impossible. We say it depends upon two things -- (A) the amount of effort you put into it, and (B) the type of real estate market you are in. Here are some tips to help you sell during the colder months.
- Foreclosure Avoidance 101 - The Real Estate Short Sale
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] In a pre-foreclosure situation, the real estate short sale is often the closest thing to a win-win scenario that the lender and homeowner can expect. Here's how the process works.
- Commercial Real Estate Marketing - 3 Steps to Success
[Real-Estate:Commercial-Construction] Marketing a commercial property is not all that different from marketing a home to residential buyers. But there are some unique things you can do to promote your commercial properties effectively, and we will cover three of them in this article.
- The 3 Most Popular Blogging Programs Among Business Bloggers
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Blogs have exploded in popularity over the last few years, especially among business owners and Internet marketing folks. This review of popular blogging programs will help you choose the best platform for your business blog.
- The Best Real Estate Websites - 5 Things They Have in Common
[Real-Estate:Marketing] Real estate websites have come a long way over the last few years. Here are five things the modern agent needs to have on his or her website in order to succeed in today's marketplace.
- 5 Most Popular Types of Computer Software (And What They Do)
[Computers-and-Technology:Software] As the publisher of a software information website, I often use keyword-research tools* to determine which software-related topics are the most popular (based on Internet search activity). By knowing what people are looking for online, I can build content to help them. You can't help but notice trends and patterns when doing this kind of research, and I thought you might be interested in some of those trends.
- How To Fix Errors On Your Credit Report - Hard Truth For Consumers
[Finance:Credit-Tips] This article explains the process of fixing credit report errors if you find that one or more of your reports has erroneous information on it. It also explains the "nature of the beast" with regard to the credit-reporting agencies.
- How to Make a Living From Your Hobby Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online] Can you really turn your hobby website into a livelihood? Sure you can. And I'll teach you how to go about it with this article.
- SEO Wisdom - How Great Content Brings Top Rankings
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Many people focus all their energy on search engine optimization while forgetting one of the most important pieces of the puzzle -- quality website content. This article will teach you to avoid this mistake while taking your website to the top of search engines.
- The 5 Most Important Components of Your Web Marketing Program
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] This article explains the five key components of an Internet marketing program, from the initial planning to the constant evolution ... and beyond. A must-read for anyone trying to grow their business online.
- Direct Mail Fundamentals - How to Build a Mailing List
[Business:Marketing-Direct] In direct mail marketing, your mailing list is the direct connection between you and your audience, and your audience determines your overall success. So give your list the attention it deserves.
- How to Avoid Mortgage Nightmares - Buying Within Your Means
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Nearly every home buyer has felt the temptation to buy that beautiful house that's just a bit above the budget. But you must exercise caution and responsibility in such moments. Otherwise, you could become the next foreclosure statistic.
- Real Estate Auctions - 21 Things a Home Buyer Should Know
[Real-Estate:Buying] Buying a home at auction is a good way to save money by paying less than market value. Here are 21 things you should know about real estate auctions before you attend one.
- Credit and Home Buying - Like Peas and Carrots
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Forrest Gump said he and his friend Jenny "was like peas and carrots," referring to how inseparable they were when growing up. Borrowing that analogy, home buying and credit scores are like peas and carrots too. The two concepts are more inseparable than ever, and this article explains why.
- How to Make Your Website More Interactive - And Successful
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] When people are able to interact with your website in some way, they are much more likely to stay on the site longer. This is the key to web marketing success.
- What Does SEO Have in Common With the Wizard of Oz?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Some SEO firms claim to perform amazing feats of search engine wizardry, while it's really just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Here's how to tell the difference.
- Top 3 Reasons Why Business Blogs Fail
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] To ensure the success of your own blog, you must first understand the reasons why business blogs fail. This will give you insight into what not to do, as well as revealing the things you should be doing.
- Getting the Best Mortgage Rate - 3 Things a Home Buyer Should Know
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Getting a low interest rate on a home loan will save you money over the life of the loan. Here are three things home buyers should know in order to achieve this.
- Credit Score Needed for Buying a Home in 2008
[Finance:Credit-Tips] An explanation of the connection between credit scores and home buying success. A must-read for any first-time home buyer.
- Top 5 Advantages of SEO Over Traditional Advertising
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] With search engine optimization, you can put yourself in front of people who are actively looking for the kinds of products or services you provide. But this is only one of the top five advantages of SEO over traditional marketing.
- Small Business Finance Options - Invoice Factoring 101
[Business:Small-Business] Invoice factoring is a useful but often misunderstood element of small business finance. So in this article, I'll explain what factoring is and how it can help certain business owners sustain their growth. By way of definition, factoring is a process through which small business owners can convert accounts receivable (invoices) into much-needed working capital.
- The SEO Website Overhaul - 5 Small Changes for Better Rankings
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Some people think that search engine optimization (SEO) is a highly technical field that only a few people truly grasp. But that's simply not the case. Here are five simple changes you can make to improve your search engine visibility.
- Repairing Bad Credit - And Conquering the Confusion
[Finance:Credit-Tips] Did you know that credit repair is one of the most popular topics within the realm of consumer finance? It's true. So let's examine this topic and hopefully eliminate some common confusion along the way.
- Direct Mail Marketing Success - Put the Product Before the Marketing
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Putting your marketing before your product is a recipe for failure 99% of the time. Yet, it's still one of the most common marketing failures of all, within direct mail marketing and other media as well.
- Home Buying 101 - What Makes Up My Credit Score?
[Real-Estate:Buying] Your credit score is derived from your credit reports, using a special scoring model developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation. You've probably heard the acronym FICO before? Well that's what it stands for ... Fair Isaac Corporation.
- Avoiding Home Foreclosure - The Two Paths to Success
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] I just finished reading a Reuters article that said home foreclosures for January of this year were up 57% over January of 2007. I guess it takes numbers like that do really drive home what's happening in this country. I knew foreclosures were way up as a result of the subprime mortgage crisis that started last year, but that 57% increase still shocks me.
- Forgotten Fundamentals of SEO - One Page Per Keyword
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] In this article, I'll show you an easy way to increase your website's traffic levels (and overall success) through a systematic and proven technique. And you probably already guessed the technique based on the title of this article.
- Buying a New Home - Where Do I Begin?
[Real-Estate:Buying] So, what is the best way to begin your quest for a new home? In truth, any way you begin the process is a good way, because the most important thing is to get started. But there are some things to keep in mind.
- Real Estate Closing 101 - Tax Adjustments
[Finance:Taxes] Because property taxes are paid in advance, the existing owner of a home will have paid a certain portion of them when you agree to buy the home. Because of this, a tax adjustment is usually made.
- The Central Texas Explosion - Rapid Growth In and Around Austin
[News-and-Society:Economics] Now, we are also seeing tremendous growth in the cities surrounding Austin. Excellent schools, great shopping opportunities and newly revitalized highways have spurred growth in such Central Texas cities as Round Rock, Cedar Park, Hutto and Leander.
- Home Swapping 101 - The Benefits of Home Exchanges
[Travel-and-Leisure:Vacation-Rentals] Home exchanges (also known as home swapping) are becoming more and more popular as a way to save money on vacation lodging. But that's not the only benefit to this unique vacation strategy!
- Should I Refinance My Mortgage Loan Now?
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] There's no doubt about it. A mortgage refinance can be a really money-saver for homeowners in certain situations. But it's not always the right move to make. This article will help you understand when it's a good time for a refi, and when it should be avoided.
- Online Business Card Printing - A Buyer's Guide
[Business:Advertising] The Internet has made the process of printing business cards much easier and more affordable. By understanding the basic process at work, you can obtain nice-looking cards quickly and easily ... while saving money in the process.
- Foreclosure Buying 101 - How a Home Gets Foreclosed Upon
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] If you are interested in buying a foreclosed property, the first thing you should learn is the basic path to foreclosure. Actually, this process varies a bit from one state to another. But the overall process goes something like this.
- Buying a Home in Foreclosure - The Basics for Buyers
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] So the real estate auction is one way to purchased a foreclosed home, but it's not the only way. In some cases, the homeowner will avoid foreclosure by selling the home through a short sale. In this scenario, the lender allows the homeowner to sell the home for less than the amount owed to the lender.
- The Short Sale Foreclosure Explained - Buying Discount Real Estate
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] The real estate short sale is a topic you're going to hear a lot about in 2008 and beyond. But what is a short sale, and why is it becoming so popular? We have your answers.
- Real Estate Marketing - Put Your Free Report on Steroids
[Real-Estate:Marketing] As a real estate marketing strategy, the so-called free report has died a slow and painful death. But the enterprising real estate agent can resurrect the concept behind this strategy in new and effective ways. Here's how to put your free report on steroids.
- When Your Real Estate Website Doesn't Produce Leads
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Site-Promotion] A lot of real estate agents have trouble generating leads through their websites. It can be frustrating, I know. So I've created a troubleshooting guide to help you determine why your website produces few leads.
- Foreclosure Buying 101 - How to Get Your Hands On Listing Data
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] You cannot evaluate or purchase a foreclosed home until you know about it, and that's where listing data comes into the picture. Currently, there are a handful of web-based services / companies who can provide this kind of data. The question is, where do these services get their data?
- The Foreclosure Buying Toolkit - 3 Things Every Investor Needs
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] In 2008, all real estate investors will receive a big fat 'F' for their efforts. But that 'F' doesn't stand for failure, as it does in high school. Here, it stands for Foreclosures.
- Short Sales to Avoid Foreclosure - The Near Future of Real Estate
[Real-Estate:Foreclosures] What is a short sale and why do you hear so much about them lately? This real estate sales technique is a way to avoid foreclosure, and this articles gives a good overview of the process.
- Home Buying Tools Online - A Home Buyer's Paradise
[Real-Estate:Buying] The Internet can be an incredibly helpful tool for home buyers. But it can also be a vast and confusing place with hundreds of websites that seem to offer the same thing. Here's our list of the most helpful and useful websites for home buyers in 2008.
- How to Be a Real Estate Statistic in 2008 - The Good Kind
[Real-Estate:Buying] 2007 was certainly a year for bad real estate statistics, such as the record-breaking number of mortgage foreclosures. Here are five ways you can be one of the good statistics in 2008 -- one of the real estate success stories!
- How to Increase Onsite Conversions - Leads, Sales, Etc
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Website conversions are the key to online marketing success. The trouble is, many businesses don't understand the concept of website conversions, and therefore have no idea how to increase. This article explains what conversions are and how you can get more of them!
- 5 Tips for Writing Website Content - That Gets Results!
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] This guide to creating high-value content for your small business website will help you attract and retain readers, and the turn those readers into customers. A must-read for anyone involved with small business web development or website writing!
- Home Buying Step #2 - Learning the Lingo
[Real-Estate:Buying] When buying a home for the first time, the terminology alone can make your head spin. So one of the first home-buying steps you should take is to learn the lingo. Here is a short list of some of the most common home buying and mortgage terms you are likely to encounter.
- Real Estate City Profiles - Henderson, Nevada
[Real-Estate] Imagine living in a city that offered easy access to the world-class entertainment of Las Vegas, while retaining the tranquility and vast beauty of a mountainous desert town. Henderson, Nevada is just such a city, and it's one of the reasons Henderson appeared on Money Magazine's list of "Best Places to Live" in 2006.
- Home Buying Step Number 1 - Study the Process
[Real-Estate:Buying] If you're about to enter the home buying process for the first time, one of the best things you can do is to study the overall process of buying a home. Here are three reasons why.
- Real Estate City Profiles - Birmingham, Alabama
[Real-Estate] Birmingham, Alabama is a great place to live and work. So in this city profile, we will take a closer look at the city of Birmingham from several key angles, such as education, lifestyle, real estate and more.
- Real Estate City Profiles - Nashville, Tennessee
[Real-Estate:Buying] So what makes Nashville a great place to buy a home? Well, lots of things actually. So in this city profile, we will take a closer look at just what makes Nashville tick -- and what makes it such a smart real estate investment.
- How to Start a Home Based Business Without Killing Yourself
[Home-Based-Business] The benefits of working from home are many. So for most people, the question is not whether or not they should start a home based business, but how to go about starting it. Here's what I've learned on this subject.
- The Real Estate Short Sale - Key Investment Opportunity for 2008
[Real-Estate:Investing] If you're a real estate investor with ready access to financing. As the number of home foreclosures rise, so too do the number of real estate short sales and auctions - both prime investment opportunities for purchasing a home below market value.
- Better Credit in 2008 - A Resolution Worth Keeping
[Finance:Credit] In 2007, the world of credit and lending was turned upside down. And even now, in early 2008, we have yet to see the full effects of this. But one thing is certain. This lending crisis has made it even more important for consumers to have good credit.
- Home Moving Made Easy - Top Tips for an Easier Relocation
[Real-Estate:Moving-Relocating] Homeowners in the United States sell their homes and move, on everage, every five to seven years. Moving can be a stressful event for many of these people. But by preparing for your next move, you can greatly reduce the stress involved and simplify the entire process.
- 5 Real Estate Lessons We Learned in 2007
[Real-Estate] No matter how you measure it, 2007 was certainly an interesting year for real estate across the United States. In truth, the full effects of all this are yet to be seen. But we can certainly cast our attention backward and see things in the perfect clarity of hindsight. In the spirit of hindsight, here are five real estate lessons from 2007.
- Is the Recession Monster Rearing Its Head?
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Today I saw two CNN anchors talking about recession. They were really getting into the nitty-gritty of semantics and word origin. Evidently, it's very important to CNN anchors to know when they can and cannot refer to the economy as being in a recession. But how did we get here? Here is a by-the-numbers explanation.
- 5 Tips for Home Buyers in 2008
[Real-Estate:Buying] Wow! What a year for the real estate and mortgage industries. When people look back on 2007 from a business and financial perspective, they will likely recall the subprime mortgage "meltdown" that has yet to play out. "What does all the mean to me," many buyers want to know. "What lessons should I take away from all this?" With an eye on current events, I offer you the following tips for home buying in 2008.
- The Mortgage Crisis of 2007 - A Love Story
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] In the future, when people cast a financial and historical eye back to 2007, one thing will clearly stand out, and that is the mortgage "meltdown" that came to a head during that year. But many people will forget that it was a love story as well.
- How to Create High-Quality PDF Files on the Cheap
[Computers-and-Technology:Software] If you're a businessperson who wants to create PDF files from your other document formats, then you might want to consider a PDF creator program. You can get the same end result as using the full Acrobat program, but by spending less money in the process!
- 6 Reasons to Stage Your Home Prior to Letting Buyers See It
[Real-Estate:Selling] Why should I bother staging my home? What do I get back for all the time and effort I put in? This is one of the most common home staging questions among sellers. Here are the top six reasons to stage your home before showing it.
- Real Estate SEO - How Directories Can Increase Your Website's Ranking
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Web directories are not search engines, though many people confuse the two. But directories can help your search engine ranking, so it's important to understand what they are and how the work.
- Custom Postcard Printing - Explained
[Business:Marketing-Direct] What is custom postcard printing and how can it help you improve your direct mail postcard program? Here's a quick review of custom postcard printing services, how they work, what they can do for you, etc.
- Real Estate SEO and the Beauty of Passive Leads
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Passive leads are nothing short of a blessing for real estate agents. In this context, "passive leads" refers to web-based inquiries you receive from prospective clients without proactively seeking them.
- 5 Most Common Lies Told by SEO Companies to Swindle Their Clients
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] I've worked in and around search engine optimization (SEO) for several years now. But what never ceases to amaze me are the half-truths and outright lies that so many SEO companies use to rope in clients and take their money.
- Are Real Estate Agents Becoming Irrelevant?
[Real-Estate] Is the Internet slowly replacing the role of the real estate agent? What's the future of the real estate industry as a whole? Here's my take on the matter.
- Your Lawyer Marketing Plan - 5 Key Points to Consider
[Business:Marketing] A marketing plan should be one of the first items a new lawyer develops to support his or her career. Thus, the lawyer marketing plan is on the minds of many new lawyers, as well as veteran lawyers transitioning to private practice for the first time.
- How to Refinance a Mortgage With Bad Credit
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] When deciding whether or not to refinance your mortgage with bad credit, you need to get all the numbers up front in order to do the math. Here's how to go about it.
- Mortgage Marketing Tip - Think Like a Publisher
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] In my guide to creating a mortgage company web presence, I've shown you how to "think like a publisher" in order to get better results from your mortgage marketing online. To me, the notion of thinking like a publisher is...
- Mortgage Marketing Tip - Follow the Media
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Here's a tip for marketing mortgage loans that will surprise you with its simplicity. But despite this simplicity, many mortgage companies overlook this online mortgage marketing strategy.
- Mortgage SEO is Not Mortgage Lead Generation
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Many within the mortgage industry share the misconception that search engine optimization (SEO) leads to instant leads via one's website. But to make such an assumption is to ignore the all-important concept of lead generation. Here's the difference between mortgage SEO and mortgage lead generation.
- A Helpful Home-Buying Checklist for First-Time Buyers
[Real-Estate:Buying] For most people, buying a home represents the largest and most significant investment they will ever make. So it only makes sense to prepare for that process. Here are seven things you can do to prepare for the home buying process, before you even begin shopping for a home.
- Attorney Website Marketing - 5 Tools for Web Marketing Success
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] With each passing year, more attorneys are turning to the Internet as a marketing tool. It only makes sense. After all, the Internet can provide a steady stream of website traffic and leads. But what, exactly, makes up an attorney website marketing program?
- Improving Your Law Firm Website - A Helpful Exercise
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Here's a tip to help you improve every aspect of your law firm website, from the design to the content and beyond. Forget you own your website, and view it with brutal objectivity (like a prospective client would do).
- How to Buy a Home With a Low Down-Payment
[Real-Estate:Buying] Many people mistakenly believe that a down payment of at least 20 percent is required in all mortgage scenarios. This is the way things were for a long time. But these days, there are more flexible loan programs and terms available to home buyers.
- Real Estate Websites - How to Be Buzz-Worthy Instead of Boring
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Real estate agent websites are a dime a dozen online. Many are carbon copies of one another, both from a design and content perspective. To enjoy greater success (such as lead generation) from their real estate websites, agents must break free of this "clone" trap.
- How to Achieve Real Estate Blogging Success, Thoughtfully
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] The more thought you put into your real estate blog, the more effective your blog will be. By "effective," I mean better content, more visitors, and greater overall success. Here's how to achieve it.
- Is Your Real Estate Blog Easy to Use?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] It's a fact of Internet marketing that website usability direct affects website success in general. And the same fact applies to real estate blogs.
- Sharing Knowledge With a Real Estate Blog
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Any real estate professional can benefit from showcasing knowledge and competence, and a real estate blog can help you do exactly that.
- Business Blogging With Candor and Sincerity
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] When it comes to business blogging, it's refreshing to speak to your readers in an honest and open manner. In fact, if you do this, your blog readers will be more inclined to speak to you in response, which can lead to new business relationships and sales.
- 5 Strategies for Business Blogging
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] The business blog can take many forms and support many objectives. But sometimes the many uses of a business blog can overwhelm aspiring bloggers, making it hard to decide on a particular blogging strategy. Here are five good ways to use a business blog.
- Truth in Marketing vs Real Estate Blog
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] This article offers advice for real estate agents on using a real estate blog for marketing purposes. In this installment, we will address the believability factor, as it pertains to real estate blogging.
- How Usage Data Will Affect Your Future Search Engine Rankings
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Search-Engine-Marketing] With all that has changed in search engine optimization over the years, there is one thing that remains constant. Useful websites outperform useless websites over the long haul, from both a ranking and a profit perspective. Usage data, as it's known, is becoming more and more important in search engine algorithms.
- Marketing Your Small Business - 5 Tools For Big Success
[Business:Small-Business] Small businesses face unique challenges when it comes to marketing. Fortunately, there are certain marketing tools and techniques that can help the small business compete with larger competitors. When used effectively, these marketing tools can help you take your small business to the next level.
- Subprime Mortgage Loans - A Borrower's Guide to Subprime Lending
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Subprime mortgage lending is a relatively new but often risky component of the mortgage industry. But what exactly is a subprime mortgage loan? How are they related to the current rise in foreclosures? And how can you protect yourself if you find yourself in need of a subprime mortgage loan? These are some of the questions we will answer in this article.
- The Real Estate Blog Alphabet - 26 Benefits and Best Practices
[Real-Estate] This alphabet lists 26 key benefits and best practices of using a real estate blog. So here you have them, real estate blog benefits and best practices ... from A to Z.
- How to Apply Online for a Mortgage Loan
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] There are certain things you need to know before you apply online for a home mortgage loan. By researching the online loan process before venturing into it, you will be better prepared to take the right steps toward success.
- Top 10 Real Estate Marketing Tools
[Real-Estate:Marketing] Real estate agents often ask me, what's the best marketing tool for real estate? In fact, if I had a dollar for each time I heard this question, I would be on vacation right now! So what are the best marketing tools for real estate? Here's my list.
- How to Become a Postcard Marketing Ninja
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Postcard marketing ninjas are rare. At last count, there were only about a dozen of them worldwide. So while you may never actually join the ranks of the postcard marketing ninjas, you can certainly adopt some of their practices.
- Adjustable Rate Mortgages - A Comprehensive Guide to ARM Loans
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Many home buyers choose the adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) in order to save money during the first few years of homeownership. But later, these same homeowners run into trouble when the adjustable rate mortgage adjusts (hence the name) to higher interest rates.
- Direct Mail Services - What All Do They Do?
[Business:Marketing-Direct] If you are considering direct mail as an addition to your current marketing program, or if you already use direct mail but are currently handling it yourself, you should consider hiring a direct mail service. Here's why.
- Modern Marketing Tips for Real Estate Agents
[Real-Estate:Marketing] The number of real estate agents in the United States is staggering -- and well into the millions. What's the result? For one thing, real estate marketing has gotten a lot harder to succeed with. Here's how to simplify it.
- Real Estate Internet Marketing - Minimize Distraction
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] For real estate professionals, this article gives advice on improving your real estate Internet marketing by minimizing distraction on your website. Because clutter and distraction are the enemies of Internet marketing.
- Real Estate Internet Marketing - Increase Usability
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] This article shows how to improve real estate Internet marketing success by improving the usability of your website. Because website usability is a cornerstone of Internet marketing
- Real Estate Internet Marketing - Focus on Lead Capture
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] For real estate agents, this article offers tips on boosting your Internet marketing success by capturing more leads through your website. Because lead capture is the essence of real estate Internet marketing.
- The Home Buying Process - 6 Ways to Prepare
[Real-Estate:Buying] Home buying is a major financial undertaking. For most people, it's the largest financial transaction they'll ever go through. So it only makes sense to prepare for such a major, life-changing experience. Here six ways to do just that.
- Real Estate Web Hosting - Don't Overpay!
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Hosting] Here's the bottom line you should remember. If you are paying more than $10 per month for hosting because a company claims to specialize in real estate web site hosting, you are probably paying too much. Read on to find out why.
- Real Estate Schools - How to Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent
[Real-Estate] I've written this article to help you learn more about real estate training opportunities across the U.S., and to help you choose the real estate school that's right for you.
- Real Estate Websites - How to Build a Website That Scares Visitors Away
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Avoid the use of property listings, market updates, helpful articles and the like. These things will keep people on your website for far too long. Remember, we want them to find the website, and then turn around and leave just as quickly as they came.
- Real Estate Lead Generation - An Agent's Guide to Success
[Real-Estate] Lead generation is one of the hottest topics in the real estate industry, and with good reason. Without leads, you have no business. Here's how to generate them!
- Postcard Marketing Tip - How and Why to Incorporate Your Website
[Business:Marketing-Direct] One of the ways you can increase your response rates is by incorporating your website into your postcard marketing program. There's a right way and a wrong way to go about this. In this article, we will look at both.
- Online Postcard Printing - A Process Overview
[Business:Marketing-Direct] I receive a lot of questions related to web-based postcard printing companies. So I thought I would dip into my past, when I worked for a couple of online postcard printing companies, and offer this overview of the process.
- Postcard Printing Companies - Measuring the Convenience Factor
[Business:Marketing-Direct] A postcard printing / mailing company can save you a lot of time and energy. In some cases, they can save you money as well. Postcard printing companies are highly efficient at the process of printing and mailing postcards, so it's possible that you could actually spend less with a postcard company than if you handled the process yourself.
- 55 Tips for Postcard Marketing Success
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Obviously, some of these tips will not apply to your particular postcard marketing needs, but with 55 of them ... there's bound to be something in there for you!
- A Guide to Direct Mail Fulfillment
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Are you shopping for a company to help with your direct mail marketing program? If so, there are certain things you should know about a direct mail fulfillment. This guide will help you understand the process of direct mail fulfillment and choose a provider accordingly.
- Home Buying Process - 5 Most Common Questions Among Home Buyers
[Real-Estate:Buying] I thought it would be beneficial to home buyers everywhere if I selected five of the most common home-buying questions I receive, and explored them in an article such as this.
- Home Buying Tip - How to Avoid Common Mortgage Problems
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] The key to a smooth mortgage application process is to understand the most common mortgage problems, and then work hard to avoid them. So what are these common problems when applying for a mortgage, and what can you do to steer clear of them?
- Home Buying Wisdom - Avoid the Bad Credit Blues
[Real-Estate:Buying] Applying for a mortgage loan only to find out you have bad credit is a surefire recipe for the home buying blues. After all, bad credit will reduce the chance of getting a good interest rate, or maybe even prevent you from getting a loan altogether. What could be worse than that?
- Buying a First Home - How to Review Your Credit Report
[Real-Estate:Buying] This article will educate first-time home buyers on the relationship between credit and mortgage loans, and why a thorough review of one's credit should be part of your home buying process.
- Mortgage Marketing Online- Ten Practical Strategies You Can Use Today
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] These days, many mortgage professionals are turning to the Internet for marketing and lead generation. And rightfully so, given the number of home buyers and mortgage shoppers online. Here are ten tips to help you get the most from your online mortgage marketing.
- Mortgage SEO - Search Engine Optimization for Mortgage Brokers
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Mortgage SEO, or search engine optimization, is the act of improving your mortgage marketing website for better search engine visibility and ranking. This leads directly to increases in website traffic, which translates to an increase in web-based mortgage leads.
- Home Buying Wisdom - 10 Things You Must Do Before Buying a Home
[Real-Estate:Buying] Buying a home is often the largest personal finance transaction a person makes in his or her life. So it's critical that you make the right preparations and do the proper research. Here are ten things you must do before buying a home.
- What Real Estate Postcard Companies Won't Tell You (But Should)
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Many of these challenges and best practices do not get communicated to the individual real estate agent using the postcards. It's not that the postcard marketing companies are being deceitful. It's just not in their best interest to share certain facts of postcard marketing with their real estate customers. So I would like to fill that educational void.
- Ordering Real Estate Postcards - Be Careful
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Agents have used real estate postcards as a marketing tool for decades. But if you don't how to use real estate postcards, you could end up spending a lot of money with disappointing results. Here's why...
- Build a Business Website in Two Days with WordPress
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Many small businesses think they have to spend thousands of dollars and weeks of development time to have a functional website for their small business. But this is an outdated way to think about web design.
- Austin, Texas - 7 Things to Do While Visiting Austin
[Travel-and-Leisure] When I first began this list of things to do in Austin, Texas, my biggest challenge was finding a place to stop. There are just so many things to do in Austin, it's hard to account for them all. But I've done my best to include the most popular Austin activities, from bats to boats to music and beyond!
- Real Estate Recipe Postcards - Do They Work
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Are real estate recipe postcards a "delicious dish" for postcard marketing success, or are they a waste of time and money? Only the individual marketer can answer that question with any finality. But here's my take on the subject.
- Georgetown, Texas Real Estate - Austin's Neighbor to the North
[Real-Estate] Austin, Texas is one of the hottest real estate markets in the central United States. Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," and the city is often featured on television shows like "What You Get for the Money." But many people aren't familiar with a gem-of-a-city just north of Austin. The city is called Georgetown, Texas, and it's an ideal spot for home buyers interested in the greater Austin area.
- The Corporate Blogging Alphabet
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] I built this alphabet to showcase what I think are the benefits and best practices of corporate blogging. Not all of these entries will apply to every individual blogging scenario, but they all apply to corporate blogging in general. So here you have them, corporate blogging benefits and best practices ... from A to Z.
- Web Marketing Checklist - Choosing a Web Marketing Company
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] If you're searching for a web marketing company to help you grow your online presence and increase profits, these are the criteria you should look for (at a minimum).
- Sarasota Real Estate - A Home Buyer's Guide
[Real-Estate:Buying] Sarasota, Florida is a wonderful place to own a home. As a result, the Sarasota real estate market is an active one. Whether you're researching Sarasota real estate as an investment opportunity, a retirement spot, a relocation, or somewhere in between, this article will put you on the proper path to knowledge.
- Real Estate Software - An Agent's Guide to Software
[Computers-and-Technology:Software] Each, day thousands of real estate professionals go online to research real estate software. But what is real estate software, and how can it help you improve your real estate business? These are the questions we will address here.
- Real Estate Postcard Marketing - Does it Still Work?
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Every once in a while, a real estate agent will email me with some form of this question: "Do real estate postcards still work?" Because they use the word "still," I have to assume they feel real estate postcard marketing was more effective in the past than it is today. I usually respond in a way that is cryptic at first but makes sense eventually.
- Home Buying 101 - The Various Home Inspections You'll Encounter
[Real-Estate:Buying] Home inspections confuse a lot of first time home buyers, because there are a number of different inspections that take place during the home buying process. But it's important to understand the most common home inspections, so we've summarized them for you below.
- Home Buying 101 - How to Use a Mortgage Calculator
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Free mortgage calculators are a great home buying tool. You can use a mortgage calculator to determine the approximate monthly payment on a home loan. In this way, mortgage calculators can help you set your "comfort zone" for mortgage payments.
- Real Estate Search Engines - A Home Buyer's Guide
[Real-Estate:Buying] In recent years, real estate search engines have exploded in both popularity and quantity. It seems that every time you turn around, there's a new real estate search engine being launched or announced. This article reviews some of the most popular real estate search engines available today.
- San Diego Real Estate - A Home Buyer's Guide to San Diego
[Real-Estate:Buying] San Diego is one of the most popular places to live in California. There's plenty of culture and outdoor activities, beautiful beaches, and great weather practically year-round. So if you're considering buying a home in San Diego, you'll have plenty to support your decision.
- Business Blogging Benefits - Making the Case for Business Blogs
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] You hear a lot about business blogging these days. It seems everybody is extolling the virtues of the business blog. But up until now, I haven't seen anyone touch on all of the benefits of business blogging, not in a single article anyway. So with this article, I've offer a comprehensive list of business blogging benefits.
- Home Buying Wisdom - How to Choose a Home Loan
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Choosing a type of mortgage loan is one of the most important decisions you'll make during the home buying process. After all, your mortgage loan will stay with you until you pay it off, sell the home, or refinance the loan. So it's important to consider each type of mortgage loan in advance, with an eye toward the pros and cons of each type.
- Blogging Tips: How to Create an Endless Stream of Blogging Ideas
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Blogging is a great way to expand your online presence, position yourself as an expert, and increase your search engine visibility... all at the same time! But you'll need to blog on a regular basis, and that means you'll need plenty of ideas. Here's how to keep them coming.
- Blogging Your Way Up the Search Engines
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Fortunately, there are a number of effective ways a dedicated blogger can increase his or her blog's search engine visibility for certain phrases. To help you get started along this path to visibility, I've put together a list of effective techniques.
- What's a Low-Income Home Buying Program?
[Real-Estate:Buying] What's a low-income home buying program? I get this question a lot, especially from first-time home buyers. So here's an overview of low-income home buying programs, how they work, and where you can learn more.
- The Sitemap: Real Estate Internet Marketing Tip #47 of 100
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Real estate websites with excellent search engine ranking don't have to work as hard driving traffic, because the traffic finds the website. But in order to achieve that kind of ranking, you have to implement certain tactics. An XML sitemap is one of those tactics.
- Real Estate Marketing Tools: The Most Powerful Tool of All
[Business:Marketing] If you shop for a real estate marketing tool to take your business to the next level, you are going to be disappointed. Real estate marketing starts with great services and big ideas. The "tools" are just a way to communicate those services and ideas to your audience.
- Direct Mail Postcards: 10 Ways to Boost Your Response Rates
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Direct mail postcards have long been the workhorse of direct marketing. But as with any other form of marketing, direct mail postcards should be optimized in every way possible. To get the highest return on your investment, you must seek constant improvement in all aspects of your postcard marketing program. Here are ten ways to do exactly that.
- Building a Site Like MySpace or Digg: Slow Down Cowboy
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Learning about this kind of website is only a small first step. Building the site and attracting and audience is another step entirely. Many people who get the urge to create one of these sites have no idea as to the amount of work involved. I'm not trying to be negative here - just realistic.
- Automotive Direct Mail Marketing - A Proven Approach to Marketing
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Automotive direct mail is one of the most commonly read types of direct mail. In fact, an article by DM News cites a survey showing that 73% of car buyers respond to direct mail. Why do so many auto dealers and manufactures use direct mail marketing?
- Real Estate Marketing Online: The Art of Invisible Design
[Real-Estate:Marketing] On a real estate website, design works best when people don't even notice it. In other words, your audience should immediately see and understand the message you're trying to convey through your website. They shouldn't be distracted by the design.
- Postcard Marketing is a Lead Generator - Not a Brand Builder
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Postcard marketing is a response-based medium, not a branding tool. If you're engaging in postcard mailings just to build awareness, you're on a slippery slope that will eventually blow your marketing budget with little to show for it.
- Real Estate Marketing Online - The 5 Laws of Lead Generation
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Here's an Internet marketing observation that may shock you. The average real estate website has more than enough traffic to support the real estate agent's business goals. But he or she is simply not capitalizing on it.
- Choosing a Type of Mortgage - 3 Steps to Success
[Real-Estate:Buying] "What type of mortgage loan should I choose?" This is too big of a decision too be answered by anyone other than the actual mortgage applicant. So I've outlined a 3-step process to help you answer this question for yourself.
- Real Estate Marketing - Attrition is Your Sworn Enemy
[Business:Marketing] Attrition is the enemy of real estate marketing. So to be successful in your marketing, you first have to understand the concept of attrition. You also have to work hard to reduce it.
- Real Estate Internet Marketing-How to Minimize Distraction
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] On a real estate marketing website, the ultimate goal is to channel visitors along a certain predetermined path. You can't always control where people will go on your website, or what they will click on, but you can certainly make the preferred path easier to follow.
- Real Estate Internet Marketing with Multiple Channels
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] For best results, real estate Internet marketing should involve multiple channels acting in harmony. To maximize your online visibility and lead generation, try to combine as many online and offline marketing channels as possible. The centerpiece of all this activity is your website, and it has its own special role to fulfill.
- Real Estate Postcard Marketing - 3 Fundamental Flaws to Avoid
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Some real estate agents experience one of these postcard marketing flaws, while other are afflicted by all three at once. To avoid these flaws altogether - and to create the kind of real estate postcards that generate a strong response - we have to examine each flaw in turn.
- Real Estate Postcards: Should I Outsource
[Business:Marketing-Direct] A postcard marketing company can make your life easier. I know this for a fact, because I've worked for two of them. But you shouldn't let a vendor run every aspect of your postcard marketing program.
- Real Estate Postcards: Using a Newsletter Format
[Business:Marketing-Direct] I send postcards in newsletter format. Is there real success in using them? That depends on how you define "success" in this particular case. If your goal is to educate the people in your farming area, then the newsletters can help you achieve your goals.
- Real Estate Postcards: How to Differentiate Yourself
[Business:Marketing-Direct] You're wise not to imitate other agents in your area. The only time you should duplicate a marketing strategy that's already used in your market is when you can do it better-like ten times better.
- Real Estate Postcards: Best Strategy for a Buyer's Market
[Business:Marketing-Direct] What types of postcards work best in a buyer's market? That depends on who you're trying to reach. If you're marketing to sellers, you'll have a much easier go of it. That's because in a buyer's market, the seller needs the most help.
- Real Estate Postcards: How Do I Drive Web Traffic?
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Before we talk about using postcards to drive traffic to your website, we have to address the lead-generation factor. It's critical that you have some form of lead capture on your website. Without lead generation, you have no way to capitalize on your website traffic and connect with visitors.
- Real Estate Postcards: When Should I Mail?
[Business:Marketing-Direct] This question comes from a real estate postcard questionnaire I sent to over 3,000 real estate agents and brokers. I compiled hundreds of responses to create a list of the most commonly asked questions. This is one of those questions.
- Real Estate Postcard Q&A: What Headlines Work Best?
[Business:Marketing-Direct] The kinds of headlines that grab attention have the following things in common...
1. They are relevant to the reader.
2. They get their point across right away.
3. They omit needless words.
4. They promise the value of what's to come.
5. They're interesting!
- Real Estate Postcard Q&A: Should I Use Handwritten Notes?
[Business:Marketing-Direct] As with many things in real estate postcard marketing, you must weight the pros and cons of handwritten notes to see if they're right for you. So let's look at some key advantages and disadvantages of using handwritten notes on real estate postcards.
- Real Estate Postcard Q&A: How Do I Conduct a Bulk Mailing?
[Business:Marketing-Direct] This question comes from a questionnaire survey I sent to more than 3,000 real estate agents and brokers. The survey pertained to real estate postcard marketing. I compiled hundreds of responses to create a list of the most commonly asked questions. This is one of those questions.
- Real Estate Internet Marketing – The Rise of the Blogs
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Real estate agents across the United States have begun to realize the value of blogs. A well-executed blog can take a real estate Internet marketing program to new levels of success. Here are some of the ways a blog can improve your web presence.
- Low-Income Home Buying Programs Explained
[Real-Estate:Buying] A low-income home buying program is any program that helps low-income buyers qualify for a mortgage loan and purchase a home. Most low-income home buying programs are sponsored or insured by the government in some way, such as the programs listed in this article.
- SEO for Writers: The Written Path to Online Visibility
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] If you're a decent writer, you have a powerful search engine optimization tool right at your fingertips - literally. It's the ability to create quality content, and used properly it can dramatically increase your website's visibility.
- Increase Your Credit Score Before Refinancing That Mortgage
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] People refinance their mortgages for many different reasons. But the end goal is usually the same in all cases - get a better interest rate! Improving your credit score is a crucial step in qualifying for a better interest rate.
- Shopping for an SEO Consultant: 5 Key Questions to Ask
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] In a certain regard, search engine optimization companies can be compared to house painters, real estate agents, auto mechanics and other service providers. With any of these professions, there are good providers and bad providers. The trick is telling them apart.
- Real Estate Postcard Q&A - Most Effective Postcard Strategy
[Business:Marketing-Direct] This following question came from a Q&A survey I sent to more than 3,000 real estate agents. The survey pertained to real estate postcard marketing. From hundreds of responses, I compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions. This is one of those questions.
- Real Estate Postcard Q&A - Postcard Frequency
[Business:Marketing-Direct] This following question came from a postcard marketing Q&A survey I sent to over 3,000 real estate agents. From hundreds of responses, I compiled a list of most-frequently-asked questions. This is one of those questions.
- Real Estate Internet Marketing - How to Overcome Skepticism
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Internet marketing is marketing with an extra dose of uncertainty. It's your job to remove that uncertainty every chance you get. Create the kind of website that inspires trust and confidence, and your visitors will be much more likely to respond.
- How Minor SEO Adjustments Can Double Search Traffic
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Much has been written about the importance of the title element for search engine visibility. But I'm going to revisit the topic, because there's one point I don't feel has been given sufficient coverage.
- Beware of Search Engine Submission Services
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Here's the truth of the matter. Search engine submission services are a waste of money better spent elsewhere. There are two primary reasons for this.
- Real Estate Postcards - The Pyramid of Postcard Success
[Business:Marketing-Direct] How is it that some real estate agents achieve such success with postcard marketing while others fail miserably? What's the "secret" the successful agents know about real estate postcards that the struggling agents don't know? The secret lies within The Pyramid of Postcard Success!
- Real Estate SEO - Optimizing Your Website Content
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] We begin this lesson with a reminder that readers come first, and search engines second. When creating your page content, strive to create something of value for the reader. Create helpful, well-organized content related to your various services / sub-topics. If you focus on helping the reader with relevant content, half the search engine battle is already won.
- In Real Estate SEO, Content Matters
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Your real estate website needs quality content. Even if you do everything else right, your site will rank low if it lacks quality content. Search engines love content. In fact, second only to link popularity, content is one of the top factors by which a search engine will rank your website.
- SEO Tunnel Vision - Signs, Symptoms and Treatments
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] SEO tunnel vision affects thousands of search engine marketers, webmasters and business owners. Fortunately, it's easy to treat.
- Home Buying 101 - Handling Adjustments at Closing
[Real-Estate:Buying] Closing adjustments are credits and debits made during a real estate closing to cover a variety of expenses. At some real estate closings, adjustments can be extensive. So make sure you have a good handle on them prior to closing day.
- Real Estate Blogs - 3 Steps to Earning Subscribers
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Publishing a blog without subscribers is like smiling in the dark. You know you're doing it, but nobody else does. In the beginning, you'll be doing exactly that. But the goal is to attract readers and earn subscribers over time, and that's what we're going to talk about.
- With SEO, Usability Equals Visibility
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Most usability improvements also improve search engine visibility by making it easier for search engine spiders to crawl through the site. In other words, usability equals visibility. So here are seven ways to make your website more usable for people and more visible to search engines.
- Real Estate Farming Postcards - How to Bring the Value
[Business:Marketing-Direct] In real estate, farming postcards have become a core part of the agent's marketing program. Agents use postcards to announce their listings, build their brand and attract new clients. But why is it that some agents enjoy such success while others fail?
- 101 Tips for a Smoother Home-Buying Process
[Real-Estate:Buying] I created this list for two reasons. First, I want to give you a good understanding of the home buying process from start to finish. Secondly, I want to help you identify those areas where your knowledge-level is lacking, so you can conduct further research on your own.
- Real Estate SEO: Linking Your Way to Online Visibility
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] When you make your real estate website more visible to search engines, you also make it more visible to your target audience. Link building plays a major role in all of this. Follow these seven steps to link-building success, and you'll be well on your way to online visibility.
- How to Combine PR with SEO for Maximum Online Exposure
[Business:PR] I'd like to share with you a strategy for combining search engine optimization with online PR. It's called the optimized press release, and when done right it can give you direct exposure and search engine boost, all at the same time.
- Home Buying 101: All About Homeowners Insurance
[Insurance:Home-Owners-Renters] Mortgage lenders require homeowners insurance in order to protect their interests. In the event that the homeowner defaults on the loan (fails to pay the mortgage), homeowners insurance protects the lender's investment.
- SEO Success: The 10 Commandments of Link Building
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Some people waste a lot of time seeking links in the wrong way and from the wrong places. The "10 Commandments of Link Building" will help you avoid such time-wasters and achieve true linking success.
- Article Marketing - What I've Learned After 93,000 Page Views
[Writing-and-Speaking:Article-Marketing] Do you publish articles online to increase your web presence? If so, I have some hard-earned lessons you'll find helpful.
- Real Estate Search Engine Optimization: The Wagon Wheel Approach
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] Your website is the center of your SEO program. It's the hub of the wheel that keeps everything rolling along toward success. But a wheel without spokes won't make it very far. Here are 12 essential spokes that can increase your search engine visibility.
- Home Loans 101: Preparing Yourself for Closing Costs
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Closing costs are the fees and adjustments owed at closing (or "settlement") by both the buyer and the seller. Closing costs may differ from state to state, but the following information will help you understand the types of costs you might incur.
- Private Mortgage Insurance - Can You Avoid It?
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is a monthly insurance fee paid in addition to a mortgage payment. This insurance premium protects the bank in case you default on your loan. But can you avoid paying PMI?
- Real Estate SEO - Are You Googling Yourself Again?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:SEO] I know a lot of real estate agents who are fixated on how they rank in Google, Yahoo and MSN for their company name and/or their own name. From an SEO standpoint, this is usually a waste of time. Here are two reasons why.
- Home Mortgage 101: Who Attends the Closing Process?
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] The role of the seller is obvious. The role of the buyer is obvious. But what about the roles of the other players at the real estate closing?
- Home Buying 101: Understanding the Mortgage Process
[Real-Estate:Mortgage-Refinance] The mortgage process can be disconcerting for some home buyers, especially first-time home buyers. But when you understand the basic process, you'll be much more prepared. That's the purpose of this article.
- Home Buying 101: The All-Important Pre-Closing Inspection
[Real-Estate:Buying] The pre-closing inspection is the buyer's opportunity to ensure that the house they are buying is in the same condition it was in when they first inspected it. This is a critical step in the home buying process, so it should be treated accordingly.
- Home Buying 101: Understanding the Homeowners Association
[Real-Estate:Buying] When buying a home in a planned community or new subdivision, you may be buying into a homeowners association. What are homeowners associations, and how do they affect you? Read on for a crash course in HOA.
- Real Estate Postcard Q&A: First Class Mail vs. Bulk Mail
[Business:Marketing-Direct] The real estate postcard question that follows came from a survey sent to more than 3,000 real estate agents. From hundreds of responses, I compiled a list of most-frequently-asked questions ... including this one.
- Real Estate Postcards - 75 Ways to Improve Your Response
[Business:Marketing-Direct] Real estate agents have used postcard marketing for decades. A real estate postcard campaign can be affordable, manageable and effective, all at once! Here are 75 ways to make your postcard campaigns even more successful.
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