West Bloomfield, MI

Unfortunately, 4 out of 5 small business fail within their first year because there are so many things to focus on, including a business plan, a place of operation, hiring help, building a client base and marketing, just to name a few. Marketing can be very expensive, especially if you are using billboards, TV and magazines. But, have you thought about the power of internet marketing? Internet marketing is free, or relatively inexpensive and much more effective.

What happens when you are watching your favorite TV show and it comes time for a commercial? If you're like most people, you use this time to go to the refrigerator; when you're listening to the radio, you change stations; postcards and sale ads received in the mail usually end up in the trash. TV, radio and direct mail are 3 very expensive and ineffective marketing tools. What makes internet marketing the better choice?

Internet marketing reaches out to the people who are actually looking for you; therefore, it is much more effective. Let's say you have just opened up a scrapbook supply store. One would Google search "scrapbooking supplies," followed by the city and state where they live, to see what the search engines find. Wouldn't it be great if you were at the top of the Google page? You can be, very easily, and it is virtually free to accomplish! Let's get started.

Press Releases

A press release is a newsworthy media report announcing something about you or your business. You have just purchased or leased the empty building on the corner. Business owners in the area have been complaining about this run-down, empty building where kids have been hanging out. This is newsworthy! So write a press informing the public that you have resolved this issue. This is a great way to create your own credibility and announce your new business.

The headline could read "Scrapbooking Supply Store Opens in City, State; Where will the Troubled Kids Hang out Now?" The heading is very important; it must grab the reader's attention and contain keywords that people will enter into a search engine when they are looking for you. You will need to be creative here because if your heading sounds like a classified ad your press release might be rejected. A press release must be newsworthy; it cannot sound like an advertisement, but with creativity, it can be a great marketing tool.

A well written press release introduces you at the beginning, contains newsworthy information in the following paragraphs and does not sound like pure advertisement. Of course you get to put a hyperlink to your website somewhere in the press release and provide your contact information at the end.

Articles

You can always write articles about scrapbooking or whatever is appropriate for your business. Articles show that you are an expert in your field; they should be interesting and educational to grab the attention of your reader. Start with a title, like, "10 Great Tips for the Creative Scrapbooker." Begin with an introduction paragraph, a body that contains lots of fun scrapbooking tips, and a summary to recap the important points of information from your article.

The resource box is at the end of your article. This is the "about the author" part where you mention yourself, a little something about your accomplishments, and a hyperlink to your website.

Classifieds

There are many free classified sites on the internet where you can advertise your business. Internet classifieds are not like the small ads that you see in the newspaper. They can be much longer; you can actually copy/past your press release or article to the classified template. Change the heading to read something like "Quality Scrapbooking Tools and Supplies - City, State". Be sure to include all your contact information and a hyperlink to your website.

Social Blogging

A blog is simply a weblog, or an online journal. Social blogging is not only fun, but it is a great marketing tool. Look at how popular MySpace is for teenagers. MySpace is also used by business owners. FaceBook is another social blogging site. ActiveRain is a great site for real estate people and it is a more mature, business-like, social blog than MySpace.

Internet marketing has quickly grown as the most effective marketing and advertising tool available to small businesses and large corporations. You can find virtually anything by searching the internet. It is free to advertise on the internet and show your business to the consumers who are looking for you, rather than annoy those who are not. Online marketing is a great way to advertise on a shoe-string when you are opening a new business.

This article was written by Mark Maupin, a college instructor who teaches internet marketing and search engine optimization classes. Mark has been hired by many national franchises to do their internet marketing and he has been very successful at getting them to the top of a Google search. To get Mark's FREE CD of market proven strategies that he uses every day to generate traffic to his website and his business go to http://www.imtruegrit.com

Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are losing their homes to foreclosure. Whenever anything happens in large numbers entrepreneurs and business people will find a way to offer a service and make a profit. Some are reputable business people with good intentions; they offer a valid service and deliver what they promise. Others are scammers, preying on the weak and helpless, offering them a solution that sounds "too good to be true." Remember, as a rule, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is!

Increasing Numbers of Foreclosures Leads to More Foreclosure Rescue Scams!

Certain lending practices, including the adjustable rate mortgage, combined with our current market slump and increased unemployment has contributed to the increased number of people losing their homes to foreclosure. Sadly, thousands more will face foreclosure in the next year. This is a great opportunity for the foreclosure rescue scammers. There are lots of potential victims and they are desperate for help. They are easy to find because the notice of default is public record.

What Types of Scams are being used?

One popular scam is known as the sale-leaseback scam. This one worked really well when homes were appreciating in value or if the homeowner had a lot of equity in the home. The scammer agrees to buy the home, pay off the mortgage and then lease it back to the homeowner until they can buy it back at a later date. The contract is very confusing and the homeowner doesn't realize how much their payments are going to increase over time, making it impossible for them to make their lease payments. Perhaps the contract will provide for very difficult buy-back terms, making it impossible for the occupants to regain ownership. The scammer's plan is to prey on the distressed homeowner's savings and their desire to keep their home. Once all of their financial resources have been exhausted, they are ultimately evicted from their home. During this process, the scammer counts on the home appreciating in value so he can market and sell it for much more than what the previous owner would have paid him for it.

The sale-leaseback scam has been modified to fit today's declining market. The scammer agrees to help by bringing the mortgage payments current and making all future payments while the homeowner pays an affordable amount of rent to remain in their home. Again, the contract is very confusing and "scammer-friendly" with hidden fees and terms that are impossible for the homeowner to meet. The scammer might show some good faith in bringing the payments current, but eventually, they will stop paying the mortgage, taxes and insurance, allowing the foreclosure to proceed, while they continue taking rent payments from the owners. They never really assumed responsibility for the mortgage payments; therefore, the homeowners who are paying rent are still on the hook to pay the mortgage.

Collecting Big Fees for Little Service

Some foreclosure scammers will claim to be foreclosure specialists who work with lenders to modify the terms of a mortgage and stop the foreclosure. They tell the homeowner to stop making payments immediately, so they will be able to pay the scammer a fee. The scammer might tell them not to bother opening any more mail from the mortgage company; just give them the mail and they will work on getting the matter resolved.

Sometimes, a scammer will collect a large fee and perform some service, like mortgage modification negotiation, which is something the average homeowner doesn't realize that they can do themselves.

In any case, the homeowner is under the impression that the scammer is providing a service and handling the situation. By the time the homeowner realizes that he has been scammed, it's too late; the foreclosure process has moved forward and the redemption period is up.

Stealing Title to the Home

In some rescue scams the homeowner does not realize they are signing ownership of their home to the scammer. The scammer explains a program that sounds good to the desperate homeowner and he just signs on all the lines, as indicated by the scammer. Some scammers have the nerve to get a legitimate contract signed, and then later, they forge a deed and another set of documents, thus, stealing title to the home. By the time the homeowner realizes that they have been duped, the home has been sold to another party!

How to Protect Yourself from Foreclosure Scams

The first thing to know is what the foreclosure scammer looks like. The scammer uses many methods to gain the trust of the distressed homeowner. Here are some examples:

•Ø They contact you by phone, mail or door knocking.

•Ø They are slick, fast-talkers who prey on your desperation. They know what you want to hear and that is what they tell you, using words like "quick and easy," "stop foreclosure now," "save your home," "instant debt-relief," and so on.

•Ø They offer guarantees and customer testimonials

•Ø They have something in common with you; ethnic background, senior citizens, religious beliefs, schools they attended, or whatever they need to gain your trust

•Ø They tell you to cease all contact with your lender and pass on mail or phone messages to them to handle.

Legitimate foreclosure consultants rarely approach you; they advertise like any other business and you must approach them for help. There is nothing quick and easy about the foreclosure process. There are no guarantees of a lender's cooperation and anyone can make up customer testimonials. It is easy to find out church you attend, what language you speak, the clubs you belong to, etc...then pretend to have this in common with you. A foreclosure specialist will never tell you to stop communicating with your lender; this is the biggest mistake one can make and a sure guarantee that the foreclosure process will move ahead at full speed.

Steps to take to Help Yourself

Now that you know how to spot a foreclosure scammer, you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself.

Keep in touch with your lender. Contact your lender immediately when you anticipate financial problems. You might qualify for a special refinance program or you can ask for a mortgage modification or enter into a forbearance agreement.

Seek help from a legitimate foreclosure consultant who can explain the foreclosure time line and instruct you as to how to proceed. Learn all you can about the foreclosure process in your state; understand the deadlines and respond to all documents you receive from your lender. An honest foreclosure specialist will be able to explain the meaning of letters and documents you receive if you do not understand them. Know where you're at in the foreclosure process and when you are going to lose title to your home.

Check with the state to learn about the guidelines that a foreclosure consultant must follow. Some states require a consultant to give you a certain time period to cancel a contract or agreement that you enter with them. Find out what agencies you need to check with to determine the credibility and honesty of a foreclosure consultant. The internet is a great source for information; Google search the consultant you're considering doing business with. If there have been complaints, you're sure to find a press release or other documented information.

Never make a verbal agreement, get everything in writing, and be sure to read and understand everything clearly before signing any document. Do not sign any document that is blank or not completely filled out. Lastly, avoid the consultant who asks you to sign a deed, giving them ownership of your home. This is one of the biggest red flags there is indicating one is a foreclosure rescue scammer.

This article was written by Alan Faitel, a real estate broker and foreclosure specialist who has been in business for over 22 years. Alan is familiar with the foreclosure process and he can help distressed homeowners no matter where they are in the foreclosure time line. He will clearly explain all your options and what he can do to minimize the pain of foreclosure and reduce the damage that is done to your credit. Learn more about the services Alan offers at http://www.oaklandmichiganhomes.com

Are You Setting Your Child Up For Failure?

Jeffrey Taylor of College Funding Resources continues to be a reliable source for College Planning solutions especially in troubled times.

The stock market is falling then rising. Property values have fallen. But college tuition costs are rising! What you do now will determine your child's ability to attain a higher education. Will you and your child be prepared?

Let's face it. Colleges have to meet payrolls, run multi-million dollar facilities, and keep the best talent possible. All of that costs millions of millions of dollars and your tuition dollars fund those expenses. Higher tuition costs aren't going anywhere but up!

The best thing any parent or student can do is to take a proactive position to ensure that you get the maximum dollars possible. What did Tiger Woods parents teach us? If you know the rules of the game and teach them early enough; you can dominate your competition!

At College Funding Resources, LLC we teach those strategies that can give a student a dominating edge over their peers. When a parent comes to us early enough, we can assist them in saving thousands of dollars that most parents ignorantly overpay.

Jeffrey Taylor's seminars provided insightful, straightforward facts parents need to know to receive the most money possible to combat astronomical college expenses. For details on the next event visit http://www.tuitionreductionplan.com and sign up for a free membership to receive newsletters and a free electronic book (ebook) loaded with valuable tips.

You can also request to be placed on the waiting list for the next cd and book entitled "Help, I Need Money For College! Right Now Strategies For Parents That Want To Send Their Children To College Without Going broke!"

The mission of the College Funding Resources, LLC is to educate parents on the strategies that can be used to fund a college education while utilizing other people's money. The subject of student financial aid is covered profusely in the media, but little is discussed about how to pay off college debt assumed by the parents. College Funding Resources provides free workshops to their local communities on the subject of using various obscure legal and ethical strategies as an alternative to college debt.

College Funding Resources

Jeffrey Taylor

4000 Town Center, 11^th Flr.

Southfield, MI 48075

248-230-9668

Email: yourmoneycoach@gmail.com

Jeffrey Taylor of College Funding Resources continues to be a reliable source for college financing in today's troubled economy

West Bloomfield, MI--Jeffrey Taylor is known by many parents as your money coach. His expertise extends a whopping 20 years. He has helped many families navigate the confusing and intimidating maze of preparing a student for higher education. In a recent interview, he passionately explained how parents can reduce college tuition costs long before their child graduates from high school. Jeff shared the following tips for parents and children:

"Prepare yesterday! Waiting until today is costing you thousands of dollars. Most parents put their head in the sand pretending that going to college will take care of itself. The longer someone waits, the more expensive it's going to be."

"Invest in your child's raw talent in their early years. That talent can be an effective tool to help reduce college tuition costs. A moderate ability student can get money from a college that has an interest in them. The more talent your child has the more likely free money will be offered. "

"Choose the right school for the right reason. Colleges do a wonderful job at marketing themselves as a fun place to get an education. Don't let the hype fool you. They are businesses seeking to make a profit. We need them and they are a necessary part of a civilized society. But do not get caught up in the marching band or the best athletic team unless those are an important key to your selection process."

Jeffrey Taylor offers free seminars to provide insightful, straightforward facts parents need to know to receive college funding and scholarships. For details on the next event visit http://www.tuitionreductionplan.com and sign up for a free membership to receive newsletters and a free electronic book (ebook) loaded with valuable tips.

You can also request to be placed on the waiting list for the next CD and book entitled "Help, I Need Money for College! Right Now Strategies for Parents that Want to Send Their Children to College without Going broke!"

The mission of the College Funding Resources is to educate parents on the strategies that can be used to fund a college education while utilizing other people's money. The subject of student financial aid is covered profusely in the media, but little is discussed about how to pay off college debt assumed by the parents. College Funding Resources provides free workshops to their local communities on the subject of using various obscure legal and ethical strategies as an alternative to college debt.

Contact:

College Funding Resources

Jeffrey Taylor

4000 Town Center; 11^th Flr.

Southfield, MI 48075

248-230-9668

Email: yourmoneycoach@gmail.com

Are you tired of coming home from work to listen to messages from your mortgage company about past due payments?

Would you like to enjoy dinner without being interrupted by phone calls from your lender?

The time has come to put an end to the harassing phone calls from your mortgage company!

Foreclosure is devastating! It is humiliating; you would like to get help, but it's just so embarrassing. You feel helpless and alone, not to mention fearful of losing your home and the feeling of letting your family down.

Remember two very important things:

You are not alone

You are not a dead-beat

It began in the late 1990's when the all too popular, sub-prime mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) at 100% financing, created the mortgage melt-down. The ARMs reset, interest rates went up, mortgage payments were increased to more than the homeowner could afford. The plan was to refinance before the ARM reset; however, values declined and your home is no longer worth what you owe. So, you and other good, responsible people, with high credit ratings, are in the same situation. You are unable to make your mortgage payments and refinancing is impossible.

Two more important things to know:

You have rights!

You have options!

We can help you, no matter where you are in the foreclosure process. Let us put an end to the distressing phone calls and threatening collections letters from your lender.

Why call us?

We can help STOP FORECLOSURE

We offer our services to you at NO CHARGE!

We will prevent a foreclosure from showing up on your credit report

We will work with your lender to get WRITTEN SATISFACTION of your debt

The bank will not come after you for the balance of the note

The bank will not file a deficiency judgment against you

A foreclosure can quickly slash over 250 points from your credit score; this takes years to restore, making it nearly impossible for you to make future purchases, like a new car, that requires financing. If you do get approval, the terms will be tough, the interest rate will be high and the debt will be difficult, if not impossible to repay.

We are experts at negotiating short sales. A short sale is where your lender agrees to accept less that you owe to completely satisfy your debt. The bank doesn't really want your home; they have enough non-performing assets on their books. They are losing money with the holding costs of these empty homes, not to mention the liability risk. Sure, we're asking the investor to take a loss by accepting less than what you owe, but he stands to lose much more if he doesn't accept our short sale offer.

Are you ready to STOP FORECLOSURE? Are you ready to restore your peace of mind and get your life back in order? Our service is FREE to you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

We will also help you find another home which you can purchase on a lease option or land contract. We will refer you to someone who can help you restore your credit so that you will be able to refinance your new home with a fixed rate mortgage.

Call Alan at 248-363-0100

Email: afaitel@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.oaklandmichiganhomes.com