Overview

We believe quality and diligence drive long-term success. By understanding the unique needs of your marketing plan, we are able to hand-select and assign appropriate lead sources using our proprietary filtering system. This ensures that you are receiving the necessary leads for your sales production requirements.

T3Leads provides Advertisers with a massive inventory of lead generation sites and a vast proprietary network of publishers. As an Advertiser, you only pay for the leads that match your defined marketing criteria. We deliver your desired website traffic to you through our vast affiliate network that will produce quality leads to help you exceed your growth goals.

Benefits Include

• Experts trained in your field of business
• Highest quality search traffic in the industry (SEO/PPC)
• No start-up fees or long-term, exclusive contracts
• Custom qualified lead criteria with multiple lead delivery options
• Dedicated Account Managers to provide professional, expert support
  

• CFPB setting Rules for Mortgage Servicers

  • Tuesday, April 10, 2012 the Consumer Financial Protection Board announced that it is considering new rules to govern the mortgage servicing industry.

    The rules are meant to increase transparency and clarity to the mortgage holder.  Specifically they would require mortgage holders to warn homeowners prior to any interest rate adjustments, provide options for delinquent homeowners to avoid foreclosure and investigate reported errors within 30 days, among other items.

    Richard Cordray, the head of the CFPB said, “for too long, mortgage servicers have not been held accountable to their customers, and the result has been profoundly punishing to homeowners in distress,” Cordray said. “It’s time to put the ‘service’ back in mortgage servicing.”

    Mortgage servicers are responsible for collecting mortgage payments, as well handle consumer inquiries, loan modifications and foreclosures.

    The industry has come under fire for widespread examples of forged and shoddy paperwork. Five of the largest bank-run mortgage servicers agreed to a $25 billion settlement with state and federal agencies earlier this year over the issue, the largest corporate payout since the tobacco industry settlement in the 1990s.

    Past attempts at stricter regulations have failed because the industry itself is so diverse and governed by several different bodies.  But, the CFPB is the first agency to have jurisdiction over all various mortgage servicers and the power to write rules to govern them.

    An official notice of the rulemaking is expected to be published this summer.

    
    

• CFPB backs off on lower credit card fees

  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has backed off a plan to limit upfront fees on credit cards.  This move affect hit borrowers with poor credit histories the hardest.
    The CFPB acknowledged that their revised plan will allow banks to charge more in fees and thereby increase costs for some cardholders.

    Bill Bartmann, a financial lawyer and debt-collection executive called the decision “strategic thinking” on the part of Richard Cordray, director of the CFPB.  Bartmann, generally a supporter of the CFPB, said, “he’s picking battles, and it’s unrealistic to think you can win them all.”

    Those with poor credit histories are called subprime borrowers and are charged higher fees because they pose a greater risk to a financial institution, than someone with a strong credit past.  Banks are concerned that by limiting fees, they will stop lending to subprime borrowers altogether.

    Current rules say banks cannot charge fees totaling more than 25% of a person’s credit limit in the first year of the account, but there are no limits on the fees a lender can charge before the card is activated.  The current ruling allows the continuation of unlimited upfront fees.  These are generally called processing or activation fees.

    The decision by the CFPB shows that they will side with banks/financial institutions when they deem the decision appropriate.  It’s too early to judge, but maybe they are taking a pragmatic pragmatic approach when balancing consumer rights with business needs.  We’ll see.

    
    

• The U.K. Consumer Finance Association (CFA) Welcomes Scrutiny

  • In February it was announced that the Office of Fair Trading was investigating the payday loan industry in the U.K.  Now, a new Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report into Debt Management is under way.
    John Lamidey, chief executive of the CFA said, “the CFA welcomes any move which promotes best practice and responsible lending in the payday industry, so we fully support the recommendations in the report. However, we believe that significant progress is already being made to improve standards in the industry through other research and governmental reviews that are currently underway and that the report’s recommendations need to be considered in the context of these developments.”

    He went on to say that the CFA and its members are actively participating in the BIS research into the total cost of credit, as well as aiding the Office of Fair Trading in its review. 
    “The CFA is working pro-actively with BIS and other major trade associations to address legitimate concerns through an enhanced Code of Conduct that is due to be launched next month. The Code features a wide range of consumer protections including limits on rollovers, transparency in advertising and assistance for consumers who get into financial difficulty,” Lamidey added.
    The Consumer Finance Association (CFA) is a trade association which represents the interests of businesses offering short term, unsecured personal loans, sometimes known as payday loans. CFA members are licensed and regulated by the Office of Fair Trading.

    
    

• Payday Loan Leads

  • Unexpected emergencies, cash shortfalls, and the rising debt-to-income ratios are causing numerous consumers find themselves in dire need of a Payday Loan. These short-term lending solutions act as a life preserver, allowing families to attain vital medical attention, attend to urgent home or vehicle repairs, and more. As the pitfalls of the credit industry become more pronounced, a large number of consumers are turning to these loans to satisfy their needs.

    Our Payday leads help you to benefit from this growing trend. At T3Leads, we provide consumers with the information required to determine if this lending platform is ideal for their needs. Our websites help to put the customer's mind at ease by answering any questions concerning this form of lending.

    Each lead we provide you has been screened for authenticity and viability, helping you to maintain a high level of fiscal responsibility to consumers and to your business.

    In short, Payday Loan leads greatly benefit both consumers and lenders.

    
    

    
    

• The Unbanked are a Growing Market

  • When Walmart and Target begin catering to you, you are an official market.  The “unbanked” have companies scrambling to attract them. 
    As current conditions (low interest rates, conservative lending postures) have banks adding more and more fees, and losing more and more checking account customers, the numbers of unbanked have grown. 
    This new market represents a growth area for payday lenders, pawn shops and check cashing services.  These companies are not new.  They have been servicing this market the banks miss for a long time.   What is new, is the insertion of Walmart and Target into the product mix.

    Walmart offers check cashing services and a branded prepaid debit card, and Target also sells its own prepaid debit card and some of its stores offer 0% financing and layaway programs.  Beyond the money the stores make off these services, in the case Walmart, when the consumer cashes their check, they have a wad of cash and are standing in a store.  The consumer is likely to spend some of that check in the store.

    In the case of debit cards, a loophole in the Dodd-Frank bill allows the merchant to charge for every “swipe” of the card, thus generating further income.  So much so, that some bank are offering pre-paid debit cards.

    The pursuit of this market is hot and heavy and so are some of the fees.  This has, as you know, drawn the scrutiny of the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB.)  There have been few rules laid down from the agency so far, but expect that to change in 2012.

    
    

• Everybody has Privacy Issues

  • Some members of Congress backed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in their call for legislation to protect consumer’s online privacy.

    On Monday, March 26, 2012, the FTC released a report calling for Congress to enact legislation to regulate how Internet companies handle user’s information.  Specifically they said that “data brokers,” groups that buy and sell personal data, should be regulated and that all information collected on consumers should be readily accessible to consumers.

    They also recommended that firms establish minimum security standards for handling security data and require those companies to inform consumers when there is a security breach.

    Senators John Kerry (D) and John McCain (R) have jointly introduced a bill called the “Consumer Bill of Rights,” which Kerry urged Congress to visit in response to the FTC report.  Senator Patrick Leahy (D) has a bill called the “Personal Data Privacy and Security Act.”

    FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said they were working with web browsers and advertising agencies to implement a “Do Not Track” button.  He confirmed that this should be available by the end of the year. 
    As the media is filled with stories about online security, one company has created has created a search engine that does not track users.  DuckDuckGo founder Gabriel Weinberg, admits that they somewhat stumbled into their privacy policy.

    As the search engine grew, (they’re over one million searches per day) Weinberg says he started talking to the online community and found that people were talking about privacy more and more.  They asked him what his policy was going to be.  He says he really didn’t think about it until that time, but this caused him to look around and decided that he wasn’t thrilled about the possibility of being subpoenaed to Washington D.C., as was happening to Google.  That’s when he stopped storing IP addresses.

    In the American form of commerce, every problem presents an opportunity and online privacy is no exception.

    
    

• “There is clearly a demand for small consumer loans”

  • Since the newly appointed head of the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) made comments about short term loans and his desire to examine them, he has had the industry on pins and needles.  His first public appearance in Alabama went slightly better than expected, as both consumers and payday lenders were allowed to speak.

    This week (January 24, 2012) he testified before a House panel, and forgetting the politics of his appointment, this event also held positives for the payday industry.  
    http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cfpb-we-need-more-data-about-payday-lenders-2012-01-24?link=MW_latest_news

    His comments include:
        "I don't look at these provisions in terms of banning products," CFPB head Richard Corday tells House subcommittee.
        "There is clearly a demand for small consumer loans"
        Corday says he wants agency to be transparent about regulatory goals, "we're not intending to hide the ball"

    The comments do represent a balanced look at the payday industry and are initially positive.  T3Leads will continue to monitor the progress of the CFPB and how it affects affiliate marketers and lenders alike.

    
    

• OLA Applauds FTC for Halting Fraudulent Debt Collector

  • The Online Lender’s Alliance (OLA) applauded the actions of the Federal Trade commission (FTC), which closed a fraudulent debt collector and issued a temporary freeze of their assets. 
    The Tracy, California based Kirit Patel and two companies that he controls were charged by a U.S. district court with violating the FTC act and the Fair Debt collection Practices Act.

    The FTC, in a press release on their website, says that the firms would target and call consumers who may or may not have taken out payday loans and harass them.  The level of the alleged harassment varied from pretending to be law enforcement officers to one complaint from a woman saying that her children were threatened.  Many were threatened with arrest if they did not immediately provide checking account or credit card information.

    Lisa McGreevy, President and CEO of OLA said in a press release, "We will continue to work with the FTC and other law enforcement agencies to protect our customers from these fraudulent predators who threaten consumers into paying debts they don't owe."

    OLA has taken steps to assist consumers impacted by fraudulent debt collectors by establishing a system for consumers who think they have been victims of fraud which includes a website and consumer hotline: 1-866-299-7585.

    
    

• CFPB: We need more data about payday lenders

  • In further comments regarding the payday loan business, CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) Head Richard Cordray said he needs to learn more about the industry. 
    “We need to analyze this and think carefully about it, hear from people and then make judgments. In terms of the structure and core essence of the product itself, we felt we needed to know more about it.  I don’t look at these issues in terms of banning products.”

    Cordray told the committee that he has begun a new “supervision regime” for payday lenders.  The CFPB’s purpose is to oversee financial products offered to consumers, including items as diverse as mortgages, credit cards and payday loans.

    He said that so far the bureau is forming two advisory panels, one comprised of small bankers and another with credit unions.  He is open to forming a third that would include payday lenders and non-bank institutions.

    When asked about the agency’ agenda, Cordray said he would publically provide guidance. In that vein, he said his agency is working on a simplified mortgage disclosure form, so that borrowers can compare offers from various lenders more effectively than they can now.

    
    

• UK Consumers have no Extra Cash

  • A recent study reveals that 20% of UK consumers have no left over cash after paying their bills.  In fact, consumers have about £10 a month less than they did last year, as their incomes have not kept up with the cost of living.  The study is the Lloyd’s TSB spending power report.

    The report showed incomes were not keeping up with inflation.  Incomes fell in January by 1.5%.

    People who are between the ages of 35 and 64 and residents in the North and Midlands responded more than others that they had no discretionary income.

    There was more bad news. The percent of consumers who classified their “money as tight” increased from 40% to 43% between December 2011 and January 2012.

    Recent gas and electricity price reductions have had no effect so far as spending rose 9.3% from a year ago.  Water bills are up an average of 13.6%.

    The largest increases in bills came in Scotland with household rising by 5%.  London was lowest at 3%.

    Jatin Patel, director of current accounts of Lloyds TSB, said: "It is worrying that a fifth of consumers currently say that they have no spending power, after they have covered all bills and essential spending.”

    The UK-wide study questioned 2,553 consumers in January and includes research into Lloyds TSB current accounts.

    
    

• UK Payday: Numbers to Consider

  • Payday loans are designed for people who have bank accounts, a job and disposable income.  Half of all payday loan borrowers make more than £19,200.  Three quarters of all recipients earn over £15,000.  
    The Consumer Finance Association reports that the typical payday loan customer is 21-35 and mostly free of financial commitments such as a mortgage or children.  In many cases they choose a payday loan in order to avoid racking up personal debt.
    A study done by the same organization showed a 94% overall customer satisfaction rating, as well as finding that 86% said that they would recommend the lender to a friend, and 66% said that they believed the products to be a good value.
    The CFA makes a valid comparison to the rental car industry.  They suggest that describing the cost of a payday loan by using APR, is a like saying that the cost of a rental car is £15,000 rather than the daily rate of £40.
    
    
    

    
    

• Missouri Religious Leader Pushing for Payday Restrictions

  • Reverand Jim Bryan, a retired United Methodist Church pastor, is speartheading a consumer ballot drive that would place restrictions on the payday loan industry in Missouri.
    
    Bryan, as well as other religious and civic groups, are attempting to qualify the proposal for the 2012 ballot.
     
    Rev. Bryan retired from the Missouri United Methodist Church in June, 2010. He is an officer in the Missourians for Responsible Lending organization.
    
    The group's proposal would cap payday and car title loan annual percentage rates at 36 percent.

    
    

• CFPB Website Overview

  • The newly launched Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is now open for business and has been busy trying to implement rules regarding the oversight of numerous financial services business categories.
    
    One component of the CFPB that is in place is their website: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/the-bureau/
    
    The CFPB site includes sections on:
    
    * Information about the CFPB's mission and how it was formed
    * How to submit credit card complaints
    * How to check on the status of a complaint
    * How to get help with financial services products
    * How to get mortgage help
    * Providing information on specific "stories." ("Tell My Story" is not intended to be a complaint section, but area where visitors can post details of their experiences they'd like to share.)
    * There is also a jobs section on the site.
    
    There are also several videos posted throughout the site with overviews of the CFPB's services.
    
    The website describes the core services offered by the CFPB:
    
    The consumer bureau is working to give consumers the information they need to understand the terms of their agreements with financial companies. We are working to make regulations and guidance as clear and streamlined as possible so providers of consumer financial products and services can follow the rules on their own.
    
    Congress established the CFPB to protect consumers by carrying out Federal consumer financial laws. Among other things, we:
    
    * Conduct rule-making, supervision, and enforcement for Federal consumer financial protection laws
    * Restrict unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices
    * Take consumer complaints
    * Promote financial education
    * Research consumer behavior
    * Monitor financial markets for new risks to consumers
    * Enforce laws that outlaw discrimination and other unfair treatment in consumer finance
    
    Visit http://www.consumerfinance.gov/the-bureau/ to browse the website for yourself.

    
    

• CFPB Opens Its Doors; Issues a Bunch of New Rules

  • The controversial Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) officially began operations in July, 2011. The agency that was mandated by passage of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act immediately enacted several rules, including:
    
    * Notice provisions for state officials to notify the CFPB of certain matters;
    * Procedures for investigations;
    * Procedures for certain adjudications; and
    * Freedom of Information Act procedures.
    
    In addition, the CFPB is taking an active role with social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. The agency will:
    
    * interact with the public in effective and meaningful ways,
    * encourage the wide sharing of consumer financial information and the strengthening of an online community of consumers, and
    * ensure that critical information about the agency and key consumer finance issues is distributed.
    
    If you're interested in checking out updated information on the Dodd-Frank Act, you may want to visit www.dodd-frank.com.

    
    

• More Than 1 Million Brits Use Payday Loans Each Year

  • Talk about a popular product!  Records show that over one million UK residents take advantage of payday loan services each year.
    
    According to reports by the advocacy group Consumer Focus, the number of payday loan customers in the UK has soared by over 400 percent since 1996.
    
    The recent study by Consumer Focus indicated that 1.2 million UK consumers take out a payday loan, and they borrow a grand total of £1.2bn.
    
    Clearly, the UK payday loan industry is thriving, despite critics who complain about the annual percentage rate. However, many Brits are turning to these short-term loans as a way to resolve their immediate money emergency.
    
    When managed properly and repaid on time, payday loans are clearly not as risky as critics say. Borrowers must hold down a steady job or have a source of income in order to qualify for the cash advance. And, the loans are intended to be repaid by the next payday. When UK consumers adhere to these guidelines and take out only the amount of money they know can be paid off promptly, payday loans offer peace of mind to millions of UK residents.

    
    

• Payday Stocks on the Rise

  • How's this for solid evidence that consumers are in favor of payday loan operations?
    
    According to an Associated Press (AP), stocks for services such as payday loan lenders, discount stores and pawnshops are on the rise -- even though stocks for many other industries are floundering.
    
    The AP has reported stocks for payday loan firms such as Advance America and Cash Advance Centers has soared by over 100 percent over the past year; and another outfit, Cash America International, has improved by 64 percent.
    
    The stock surge for payday lenders could very well be a reflection of an economy that continues to struggle, as consumers search for ways to pay for urgent expenses.
    
    Other industries that tend to serve financially strapped consumers -- rental centers and pawn shops -- are seeing positive gains in the stock market, as well. Rent-A-Center, for example, is up over 57 percent from 12 months ago. Texas-based pawnshop chain Ezcorp Inc. has
    
    With one out of seven Americans now below the poverty line and consumer confidence waning, this trend is likely to continue.

    
    

• Native American Organizations Defend Payday Outfits

  • There has been a lot of news lately about payday loan firms that have sprung up throughout Native American tribal communities. Critics have alleged the payday loan stores are online entities who have opted to run their service through tribal communities in order to avoid state licensing regulations.
    
    Now the Native American Fair Commerce Coalition (NAFCC) is taking offense to these critics. NAFCC is an advocacy group comprising "like-minded tribes and tribal members that are committed to protecting the sovereign rights of Native Americans to pursue business and economic opportunities for their tribes nationwide."
    
    NAFCC issued a statement that responds to the Community Financial Services Association of America's (CFSAA) claims that Native American payday operations are "a group of Internet-based lenders who choose not to license themselves in the states in which they operate." NAFCC alleged the CFSAA's comments are discriminatory and they are "impeding Native Americans from lawfully exercising the rights of Native Americans to the same economic opportunities available to members companies of the CFSAA."
    
    The NAFCC statement noted: "The CFSAA's admonition to its members to avoid Native American tribal involvement in online short-term lending is discriminatory and violates the cross-generational, hard-fought gains achieved by Native Americans to maintain tribal identity and culture and protect their economic development," NAFCC Executive Director Darold Stagner said in a statement provided to TheStreet. "The CFSAA, with its constant attacks on the expanding presence of Native Americans in online lending, is causing harm to all three areas of our mission."
    
    The NAFCC defended short-term lenders, saying they "fill a need for consumers and provide revenue vital to the welfare of the tribes" and that profits from payday lending are used to fund "tribal law enforcement, poverty assistance, housing, nutrition, preschool, elder care programs, school supplies and scholarships."
    
    "Native American sovereignty, recognized by the United States Congress, aims to protect those rights that Native American tribes never bargained away since before the inception of America," says Charles Moncooyea of the Otoe-Missouri Tribe in Red Rock, Okla. "This right is designed to provide the economic benefits and opportunities general society has that are simply not available to Native American tribes. Those seeking to further victimize our tribes by singling out Native American-owned businesses are on the wrong side of the issue and on the wrong side of history. Just as retail and service business sectors are migrating to the Internet, the continuing growth of online short-term lending is inevitable. Native Americans have a sovereign right to engage in online short-term lending in order to pursue economic opportunities and equality in commerce for the betterment of our tribes and our families."

    
    

• U.S. Consumer Bureau Plans to Write Rules for Mortgage Servicers

  • Are you ready for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)?
    
    The new CFPB is the government entity mandated by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. One of the initial duties of the CFPB will be to develop new rules and regulations for numerous sectors of the various U.S. financial services industries. The mortgage community will most certain be impacted by these new rules.
    
    One mortgage-related area in particular that the CFPB plans to tackle is concerning mortgage service firms and the consumer's ability to shop for competitive services. In fact, Congress has conducted hearings recently on how to make the mortgage service industry more consumer-friendly.
    
    The CFPB is open for business as of July 21, 2011. Expect a steady flow of rule changes impacting the mortgage community and numerous other financial services firms.

    
    

• Britons Take Three Months to Pay off Christmas Debt

  • If the last several years holds true, Britons will take three months to pay off their Christmas debt.  It comes as no surprise that it is younger people who are the majority of those collecting debt.  They are more likely to have children and generally speaking, people in their 50’s make more money than those in their 20’s.

    The group Saga, an over-50 targeted information and service group, estimates that in 1999, Christmas debt took just 57 days to pay off.  Paul Green, a spokesman for Saga Group, said: “It is a shocking indictment of the nation’s economy that so many people are left struggling to cope with so much debt.”

    The same report estimates that Britons, on average, will spend a total of £435 on presents.

    This information may point to an increased need for payday loans.  Affiliate ads targeting younger consumers would definitely seem to be in order.

    
    

• Positive News About Payday Loans

  • Too much of the news about payday loans is negative. That's why we want to pass along information about payday loans that paint this product in a positive light. After all, many consumers take advantage of payday loans -- and many of them are able to use these short-term loans to resolve financial problems.
    
    For example ...
    
    * A report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York noted payday loans should not be considererd "predatory" because they can improve the financial condition of one's household. The Fed report was titled, "Defining and Detecting Predatory Lending."
    
    * Petru Stelian Stoianovici, a researcher with The Brattle Group; and Michael T. Maloney, professor at Clemson University, reported that there should be no link between payday lending and bankruptcies. The researchers found no empirical evidence that payday lending leads to more bankruptcy filings.
    
    * A 2010 report found neighborhoods with the presence of payday lenders actually could boast lower property crime rates than areas with no payday loan facilities.
    
    * In 2009 Professor Adair Morse with the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business found that in regions hit by natural disastgers, consumers fared better if there were payday loan stores present. Morse's study also found there were fewer people in areas served by payday lenders who were treated for drug and alcohol addiction than in areas with no payday lenders in the community.
    
    Needless to say, consumers should be grateful for the presence of payday loan stores.

    
    

• Why Faxless is Best

  • These days more and more consumers are taking advantage of short-term/payday loans to pay off urgent expenses. And, a growing percentage of these loans are being purchased online.
    
    Two major reasons why online payday loans have become so popular are because of their speed (approved applicants typically have their money within one business day); and because there are no forms or documents that need to be faxed to the lender.
    
    There are many reason why faxless payday loans have become so popular:
    
    * Faxless payday loans help to speed up the process of obtaining money. All the forms are online and transmitted immediately to the prospective lender.
    
    * Faxless payday loans are extremely secure. Online data is protected with the most up-to-date security software for personal information is never exposed to any unwanted party.
    
    * Faxless payday loan applications are typically reviewed instantly by the lender. There is no need to wait for days until the lender gets to your application.
    
    * One of the most convenient aspects of faxless payday loans is that the application process can take place anywhere you have Internet access. Uncomfortable discussing your personal information in front of other customers? Then look into a faxless short-term loan that you can apply for online from the comfort of your home.

    
    

• Regulation Z

  • Passage of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act mandated a new rule -- "Regulation Z" -- also known as the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). Now the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System are proposing a rule amendment that would expand Regulation Z.
    
    The Board is looking for public comments on their proposed rule amendments to Regulation Z. Currently, Regulation Z prohibits a creditor from making a higher-priced mortgage loan without regard to the consumer's ability to repay the loan. The proposed change would expand the scope of the Regulation's "ability-to-repay" requirement to cover any consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling (excluding an open-end credit plan, timeshare plan, reverse mortgage, or temporary loan).
    
    In addition, the proposal would:
    
    * Establish standards for complying with the ability-to-repay requirement, including a "qualified mortgage'' standard.
     
    * Implement limits on prepayment penalties.
    
    * Require creditors to retain evidence of compliance with the rule for three years after a loan is consummated.
    
    General rulemaking authority for TILA is scheduled to transfer to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on July 21, 2011.
    
    Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before July 22, 2011. All comment letters will be transferred to the CFPB.

    
    

• A Hot New Insurance Product Offered by Retailers

  • Technology is advancing at the speed of light. Seems like every day there's a newer, cooler tech gadget. What was "in" a year ago may already be obsolete.
    
    That's why several retail stores, including Best Buy, WalMart, RadioShack, Dell and Office Depot are offering "buyback insurance."
    
    Consumers may purchase a buyback insurance plan. In return, the store will buy back an old device for as much as half of the original costs -- as long as the gadget is returned within a few years.
    
    Los Angeles-based TechForward began selling buyback insurance plans in 2008. TechForward is the buyback insurance provider for many of the retailer listed above. Best Buy launched its own buyback insurance program in 2010, although they are involved in litigation with TechFoward over a trademark secrets dispute.
    
    The concept is simple. A consumer may purchase a buyback plan on an HDTV, for example, for about $180. If the buyer brings back their TV in good shape witin two-four years (depending on the item), the store will provide the consumer with a percentage of the original price. The payout will vary depending on how long the consumer had the item.
    
    How does the program benefit retailers? First off, the product is a good value-added service for customers. It is also a very profitable product. For example, Best Buy's buyback insurance and warranty products accounted for 6 percent of the company's approximate $11 billion in sales in the last quarter -- and 11 percent of the company's overall $2.8 billion profit.

    
    

• Top Brands not Optimizing Their Facebook Pages Properly

  • The top 200 brands in the world are not doing an effective job optimizing their Facebook or Twitter pages for search engine rankings.
    
    The SEO platform BrightEdge has analyzed the leading consumer brands. The firm has determined that these brands do have a social media presence, but they are not performing adequate SEO practices to optimize their social network pages on the major search engines.
    
    BrightEdge has reported that nearly all of the top consumer brands are ranked at or near the top of the organic searches. And, 68 percent of these companies' Facebook or Twitter pages are in the top 20 search results. But the objective for online marketers is to be within the top 10 results in order to generate the best website traffic results.
    
    BrightEdge found there is no direct connection between a company's social network friends list and its search engine ranking.
    
    According to the study, the industries that are the weakest in effectively optimizing social media are the finance and insurance industries. Of the top 43 financial and insurance companies, only three firms have Facebook fan pages rank near the top.

    
    

• Be Smart, Be Prompt

  • One of the most frequent complaints about payday loans is that some borrowers do not pay their debt promptly and the consumer incurs hefty additional fees. Payday lenders are clear about the terms of their loans. Borrowers are required to repay the loan at the next payday (hence, the term "payday" loan). When the borrower requests extensions, then the fees can start mounting.
    
    We want to offer some advice to those who may need assistance in paying off their payday loans.
    
    * First and foremost -- do not borrow more money to pay off your existing loan. This could lead to what critics call a "cycle of debt" that can send consumers finances spiraling down the drain.
    
    * You may want to communicate with your lender and explain your situation. Tell the lender you do not want to continue extending the payday loan. They may come up with a new payment plan that is more amenable to the borrower's financial situation.
    
    If this doesn't work, you may want to consult a debt advisor who can come up with some other options.

    
    

• Major Financial Services Player Seeks UK Expansion

  • Dollar Financial Corp. has announced plans to offer 5 million shares of common stock to help fund the purchase of a UK-based payday loan lender. Dollar Financial provides check-cashing and other financial services products.
    
    The company has not yet indicated how money the common stock sale should generate. It expects to transfer the revenue to its subsidiary, Dollar Financial U.K. Limited, which recently bought the payday loan lender Purpose U.K. Holdings for $195 million, using revolving credit for the purchase. Revolving credit is sometimes used to provide liquidity for a company's day-to-day operations.
    
    Dollar Financial operates approximately 1,200 stores, including 100 franchise locations, under various brand names such as Money Mart and American Payday Loans. The company operates in several nations, including the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Poland and Canada.

    
    

• Payday Borrowers Need to be More Responsible

  • The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) has released a report, "Payday Loans, Inc.: Short on Credit, Long on Debt," that shows many payday loan borrowers should be more responsible when it comes to repaying the loan on time.
    
    The CRL tracked some 11,000 payday loan borrowers over a two-year span. The study found some borrowers remained indebted for as long as 24 months following their initial loan.
    
    The report shows borrowers who repeatedly use payday loans tend to borrow increasingly larger amounts, which raises the risk of default. The CRL study also shows the average payday loan recipient takes about six months to repay the loan.
    
    Payday loans are designed to be repaid within 15 days -- the length of time until the borrower's next payday.  

    
    

• A Google Search Algorithm Change That Affects Affiliate Publishers

  • On Thursday, January 19, 2012 Google announced some search changes that we know will affect some of you, so we thought it important to review. 
    Here are the important parts:

    “As we’ve mentioned previously, we’ve heard complaints from users that if they click on a result and it’s difficult to find the actual content, they aren’t happy with the experience. Rather than scrolling down the page past a slew of ads, users want to see content right away. So sites that don’t have much content “above-the-fold” can be affected by this change. If you click on a website and the part of the website you see first either doesn’t have a lot of visible content above-the-fold or dedicates a large fraction of the site’s initial screen real estate to ads, that’s not a very good user experience. Such sites may not rank as highly going forward.”

    “We understand that placing ads above-the-fold is quite common for many websites; these ads often perform well and help publishers monetize online content. This algorithmic change does not affect sites who place ads above-the-fold to a normal degree, but affects sites that go much further to load the top of the page with ads to an excessive degree or that make it hard to find the actual original content on the page. This new algorithmic improvement tends to impact sites where there is only a small amount of visible content above-the-fold or relevant content is persistently pushed down by large blocks of ads.”
    Go to http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/ for more information.

    
    

• Big Ruling in Cybersquatting Case

  • A federal appeals court has ruled against a former employee who the court determined held his former company's website domain name hostage. As a result of the ruling the ex-employee has been slapped with a significant damages verdict.
    
    Here are the details of the case:
    
    The former employee worked for a men's clothing company. He registered the company's domain name in his name. The website helped to generate a decent amount of business for the clothing company. But, when the employee left to work for a competitor he took the domain name with him.
    
    The ex-employee then proceeded to shut down the website and refused to hand over the domain name unless he was paid commissions he said were owed to him.
    
    To prove the man violated the federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), the clothing company had to prove the ex-worker had an intent to profit from his actions.  In the case, the court ruled he was attempting to gain from taking the domain name, and that the argument over owed commissions was a moot point in the case.

    
    

• Yahoo! Sales Down, But Results Beat Estimates

  • First-quarter 2011 net income for Yahoo! sunk to $223 million, or 17 cents a share, from $310.2 million, or 22 cents per share. However, the search engine's sales exceeded estimates.
    
    The Sunnyvale, CA-based company's revenue was $1.06 billion for the quarter, better than analysts' predictions of $1.05 billion.
    
    Yahoo! is seeing a surge in display ad (banners and videos) revenue. And, the company's U.S. user base increased by 15 percent to 179.5 million in March over the same period in 2010.
    
    The company projects sales will be between $1.08 billion and $1.13 billion in the second quarter of the year.
    
    The drop-off in net income was attributed to some corporate consolidations. Yahoo! has been selling off some of its businesses and farming out its search operations. Yahoo!'s display ads have been particularly strong, with sales growing by 10 percent in the last quarter, to $471 million.
    
    Yahoo! has been struggling to somewhat reinvent itself. The company has been trimming its workforce, and it has worked out an arrangement with Microsoft to use its search technology on Yahoo!’s sites.
    
    Yahoo! is also reportedly considering unloading its stake in Yahoo! Japan, which it co-owns with Softbank Corp.

    
    

• UK Payday -- A Good Business Opportunity

  • It's no secret the payday loan industry  in the UK is booming. The nation's economy is still suffering, and many Brits who are faced with financial woes need a place to turn for fast cash.
    
    Many smart entrepreneurs are jumping into the UK payday loan corporations. This phenomenon is just not just restricted to the United Kingdom; UK payday loan retailers are appearing all through Australia, the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Central America.
    
    Payday loan businesses rank among the most lucrative enterprises in the UK, whether you are a merchant that provides the loan; or a website publisher who generates the leads. Consumers are cahrged between £15 and £25 for every £100 borrowed. The UK payday loan industry generates about £50 billion a year in total revenue.
    
    In addition, affiliate marketing firms such as T3LEADS.COM offer extremely high payouts to online publishers who generate UK Payday leads.
    
    Of course, launching a Payday Loan operation will take some resources and management skill. There are also rules and business practices that you should adhere to in order to run a smooth operation. If you lack this kind of experience, you are probably better off developing a Payday Loan lead generation program.
    
    Either way, Payday Loans can be a successful business venture for many entrepreneurs in the UK.

    
    

• More SEO and Ways to Improve

  • Google Panda is changing the game and if we admit it, it probably needed to be changed.  The end result is that the content on your site has to be engaging, original and geared to your audience.  No ifs, ands or buts about it, the link farms of the past are gone, or nearly so.  If you want to be a leader in your searches develop a plan to gather strong, relevant content.

    Design your site with natural backlinks.  Don’t bother with backlink shortcuts.  Google will figure it out and your site will be downgraded.  Take the time to develop the links naturally.  You do it by guest writing on other sites and having guest writers in yours, by asking readers to share your content and by writing strong releases.

    Searches that are personalized to the searcher will become a reality.  Several blogs have commented on the general unhappiness of many over this fact.  That’s because a system of personalized search can bump down sites that worked hard to build a solid site, in favor of one that matches a “personalized profile.”

    But the profiles aren’t going anywhere, and in fact will only become more important.  A further result of this is that you can expect advertisements, no matter where you are on the web, to become custom tailored to your search habits – all because of your personal profile.

    Take the time to have your site optimized for mobile and voice recognition, in addition to standard PC-style searches.

    Establish a presence on social media websites and maintain it.  Google has announced that this is a factor in their rankings, so if you don’t want other sites to leap over you, you need to place pages on facebook, goggle+, the new twitter brand pages and other sites as they pop up.

    Your ranking will grow as followers repost your material and comment upon it.

    Continue to look here for tips on SEO and ways to improve yours.

    
    

• U.S. Firms Impacted by India Privacy Law

  • It has been a growing trend in the U.S. for many years: the outsourcing of customer service and data processing jobs to India. But India has implemented some new restrictions regulating the transfer of data to the United States.
    
    This year, India enacted new Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules. The rules impact India companies that gather personal data.
    
    The rules mandate that no India-based firm may send personal consumer information to a third party outside the country, unless the company receiving the data can provide the high level of data security required under the India IT Rules. The private information includes:  passwords, certain health conditions and medical records; and sexual orientation.
    
    What does this mean for online retailers in the U.S.? American firms that obtain this kind of data from Indian companies must adhere to Indian privacy regulations if they want to continue receiving the data. The regulations also may apply when information is collected about non-Indian residents.
    
    Needless to say, companies doing business with Indian customer service firms need to make sure they are in compliance with the nation's IT Data Rules.

    
    

• Twitter Offers Brand Pages

  • Just about a month after Google+ introduced brand pages, Twitter announces their effort.  Only 21 companies have access so far, but they include such big-name companies as American Express, Best Buy, bing, Coca-Cola, Disney, GE, Pepsi and more.

    According to an article in Ad Age Digital, these companies are crafting “content strategies to take advantage of the platform.”  It’s easy for media companies like Disney who are currently running a movie trailer, but other companies are looking for different ways to use Twitter to their advantage.  Hewlitt-Packard plans to use customer tweets on their page, while General Electric has a video of “140 Things We Made Yesterday at GE” airing. 
    Shiv Singh, global head of digital for PepsiCo Beverages had the following to say, "[Twitter] is starting to take tentative, but very interesting steps into being more of a destination instead of just a conversation platform," said Mr. Singh.

    Mr. Singh also noted that Twitter's advertising products can serve a function that's complementary to brand pages.  For instance, a promoted tweet teasing the news that a person of interest will be talking about Pepsi during a commercial break on "The X Factor" could link back to the brand page, which would provide the answer. The promoted tweet will appear auto-expanded to let visitors instantly see the photo or video.

    The new design also allows brands to separate “@ replies” and “mentions.”

    
    

• Mobilize Your Website

  • If you have not mobilized (the process of making your website mobile-device friendly; otherwise known as creating an app) your website it is time.  Estimates tell us that 70 to 80 million people in the US have smartphones.  And they use them constantly.  Just look around you.  If you’re not mobile ready, you are losing business.

    There are more numbers to consider.  42% of those smartphone users are between the ages of 18 and 34.  If you depend upon that age group for your business to succeed, get your mobile app in gear.  So, if you are one of our payday loan associates, pay particular attention, as this group is a significant target market for you.

    Here is a list of inexpensive sites where you can help mobilizing:  Preswsly, MoFuse, Winksite, Zinadoo, MobiSiteGaloore, WPtouch Pro and Mobify.

    
    

• The Crystal Ball Says… _______________ is in Store in 2012

  • It’s that time of year.  It’s the “end of year, list-making season.”  The best of movies, TV shows, facebook postings, YouTube videos, etc.  There are also lists of predictions for the coming year in the field of technology.  After perusing the articles, we’ve collected some of the more intriguing tidbits predicted for 2012.

    Erica Ogg of Giga OM collected these from British Digital Design Agency, Fjord. 
    1.    The use of consumer devices in the workplace will become more commonplace.  Employees are already using personal tablets and laptops because they have the installed software that they prefer.  By using programs such as Dropbox, Evernote and Skype, the way they use them at home, employees are more efficient. 
    2.    Wearable technology.  Fjord also thinks this will be a big trend.  They think as we do, that this will bring on a revolution in communication.  When you combine voice activation with digital jewelry, you begin to see a real “James Bond” experience on the way. 
    3.    Which leads us to the next “James Bond” experience – hands free and gesture-controlled interfaces.   It’s already happening in game technology, so how hard is it to imagine the use in our phones or other devices?  Thanks to Siri, voice control is here and will only grow.  The next area of exploration is naturally gestures and facial expressions.  It is Fjords’ prediction and recommendation, that smart companies get on board with new interfaces and modes of communication.

    Paul Sloan, in an article for Cnet News, sat down with Mark Andreeson, co-founder of Netscape and now partner in the Silicon Valley venture firm Andreeson-Horowitz.  They kicked around thoughts for 2012. 
    Andreeson predicts that software will continue to rule the world.  Our words, not his.  His exact words were, “software is eating the world.”
    “Software has chewed up music and publishing. It's eaten away at Madison Avenue. It's swallowed up retail outlets like Tower Records. The list goes on.”

    4.    His next predictions go hand in hand, literally.  The use of smartphones will expand to a point where most people on the planet will own one.  This ultimately will lead to the downfall of retail as we know it.  But, first things first.  A smartphone is a collection of software that fits in the palm of your hand.  Cloud engineering makes it possible to do almost anything from the palm of your hand.  Now think of that power in hands of the world.  Andreeson says in three to five years, 6 billion people will have smartphones.  The opportunity that provides for a Google or an Amazon is mind boggling.  Not to mention all the companies that have not even been formed yet.  After all, who heard of Google ten years ago?
    5.    He sees the rise of e-commerce continuing, and 2012 will be the year that traditional retail really feels the pressure.  He points out the example of Warby Parker, an online eyeglass e-tailer.  He calls it “software eats LensCrafters.”  Borders will not be the last big name in retail to go under. 
    6.    The technology is not just changing retailing.  He gives another example:  Uber.  “Software eats taxis.”  It’s a smartphone application that brings town cars to you.  You watch the car on a map as it makes its way to you.

    He also mentions Foursquare and how it is connecting people and businesses in a whole new way, that was totally impossible before smartphones.  He foresees people running not just their personal lives, but running businesses from smartphones. 

    
    

• Privacy Protection Act of 2011 Would Impact Cellular Carriers

  • U.S. Senators Al Franken and Max Blumenthal have introduced a measure that would restrict the ability of mobile device developers to disclose the location of a cell phone and tablet users.
    
    The bill was comes after recent news that mobile device providers and app developers were obtaining users' location data, sometimes without the user's consent.
    
    The bill also addresses the use of geo-location data in cases of interstate domestic violence and stalking. It calls for a study on the use of location technology in domestic violence and stalking cases, provides that such crimes will be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and requests that the Attorney General develop a training curriculum regarding the investigation and prosecution of such crimes for law enforcement, courts and victims advocates.
    
    The Franken-Blumenthal proposal would also provide for a private right of action for affected individuals and criminal sanctions for the development or dissemination of apps that knowingly and intentionally disclose geo-location information while knowing and intending that domestic violence or stalking will occur as a result of this disclosure and for the knowing and intentional aggregation and sale of the location data of children 10 years old and younger.

    
    

• Affiliate Marketers Love Twitter

  • In an article for Marketing Land, Lori Weiman of The Search Monitor breaks down the affiliate marketer’s love of twitter.   Begin with the fact that affiliates tweet a lot.

    According to the Search Monitor and Affiliate Benchmarks, between sixty and seventy percent of all affiliates use social media and almost half use twitter.  The fact that it’s free and easy makes it very appealing.

    One of the keys to success is using the proper hashtags.  Hashtags are similar to keyword usage in search engines.  A hashtag is used to organize your Tweets for Twitter search engines.  According to Webopedia, “users simply prefix a message with a community driven hash tag to enable others to discover relevant posts. One commonly used hash tag on twitter is #followfriday where users network by providing the names of their favorite people to follow on Twitter.

    By using hashtags a user communicates with followers of that hashtag without having them as followers.  This potentially makes for immediate response with many people despite having few followers. 
    We know affiliate marketers are smart, but how smart you ask?  Most affiliate marketers have multiple identities on twitter in order to repost to drive up a tweet’s popularity and to not be a pain in the butt in doing so.

    She points out two big reasons to monitor affiliate tweets.  The first is directed at affiliate managers.  By checking out affiliate tweets, you can recruit to your program.  Look for marketers with strong content.  Who’s out front with their tweets?  Find them and pull them into your program.

    As an affiliate you should check what products are being heavily promoted and look for gaps where you can take over.

    The key to strong social media results is learning the best usage for each media channel.  Facebook and YouTube become more defined all the time.  Google+ and twitter are new to the brand-page side of social, and thus are still evolving as to what the best use of them will be.  One of the best ways to learn how twitter will be useful is to follow twitter.  Simple, but effective advice.

    
    

• Smartphone Study Shows Mobile Ads Are Effective

  • A survey coducted by Harris Interactive for Greystripe (a ValueClick company) has revealed several business categories are experiencing success in branding themselves through smartphone advertising.
    
    The study polled 2,090 U.S. residents over age 18. It indicated the top categories for smartphone advertising include: entertainment, technology, retail and gaming.
    
    According to the research, more than 77 million Americans -- and 60 percent of smartphone users -- can recall a mobile phone ad.  And, among the smartphone users who can recall an ad, 67 percent (39 million) can rememebr the brand category.
    
    The most recalled brand categories among smartphone users are:
    
    * Entertainment - 39 percent
    * Tech - 36 percent
    * Retail - 32 percent
    * Gaming - 29 percent
    * Finance - 22 percent
    * Auto – 22 percent
    * Fast food restaurants - 19 percent
    * Consumer packaged goods - 18 percent

    
    

• Can Google Plus be a Plus for Your SEO Efforts?

  • As Google Plus is in the beta test phase, the buzz about the new social media product continues to build. Still, with over 20 million users in its test phase, should online SEO marketers begin to take advantage of Google Plus? Possibly.
    
    One benefit Google Plus will offer that Facebook and Twitter do not is the ability to follow links with high page rankings. In other words, links shared on Facebook and Twitter will not count toward your website's overall page rank. But, since Google pretty much control the search engine world, the Google Plus links will help to enhance your page rank. Therefore, online marketers can certainly gain some value from marketing through Google Plus.
    
    Clearly, Google Plus is still in its infancy stage. As the weeks and month pass by it will become more clear how marketers can take advantage of Google Plus; and how Google Plus will stack up compared with other social media sources as a tool for enhancing your website's search engine optimization.

    
    

• Links in Social Media: Definitions, Theories and Benefits

  • Social links do impact search rankings.  It’s just a matter of how much.  It’s clear that other elements have a bigger impact on rankings, but it’s wise to build social links and to keep building them.

    Let’s start with a definition of a social link.  Yes, it’s Twitter, facebook and google+.  But it’s many other places as well.  Eric Ward in an article for SES Magazine pointed out other sites such as “Delicious,” “StumbleUpon” and “Digg.”  There are social sites for hikers, photographers, cricket players, you name it.  All will play some role in the rankings of Google and other search engines.

    Ward also suggests that web-based forums and bulletin boards also are a form of social media and may have an impact on your ranking.  It would seem to make sense that if you manufacture tennis shoes, most links on sports sites of any type would have a positive impact on your ranking.

    Ward provides a good illustration about bad link building.  Is a follower of Ashton Kuthcer on twitter worth the same as a social link for a mining company?  Recognize what type of links are beneficial to you and recruit those types of links.  Don’t just collect links because you think it’s a good idea.  Like most things in SEO, harvest quality over quantity.

    
    

• Making Google+ Pages Work for You

  • Google+ now has reached a milestone of sorts – 65 million users.  It’s an amount that may make facebook giggle, but it’s also an amount not to be ignored.  Since brand pages are a growing, new part of the experience, let’s take a look at how to build an audience on the channel and ways to keep them.

    1.    Add Followers
    Place a Google+ badge on your website.  Send visitors from your site to your brand page.  You can drive this growth by beating your friends and employees over the head, (not really), to get them to share your page with their friends, neighbors, etc.  Like a bad cold, your followers will spread. 
    Like you do with facebook and twitter, use your ongoing advertising and marketing efforts to drive traffic to your page.

    2.    Sub-divide your Followers
    Google+ allows you to divide your followers into four groups:  Following, Customers, VIP’s and Team Members.  Use these to differentiate your audience into meaningful groups, so you do not waste efforts where they do not belong.  Lawrence Mak, product marketing manager at Context Optional, suggests segmenting your followers much like you do with your audience in ad placement. 
    These segments are called circles and they allow you to separate your followers into product usage categories.  Currently there are no demographic or geographic filters, but they are on the way.

    3.    Make a Distinction Between Social Media Postings
    You already know that twitter is best for short, humorous postings that may link to another source.  Facebook offers a mix of media and various types of postings that aim to keep people on Facebook.  It has not yet been determined the content that will flourish on Google+, but undoubtedly, it will.  Become aware of it.  This is important because you need to know how the users will “use” Google+ and what they will expect to see and hear from organizations like yours.

    4.    Use Google+ Features
    You have the ability to add photos, videos and links.  The more engaged users become with your post, the greater the viral effect, therefore leading to increased message/brand awareness.  Place the Google+1 button on your posts.

    Don’t forget all the products that Google owns.  YouTube, Picasa, Calendar, etc.  Use those to increase the value of interaction with your page.

    As with so many other experiences that are new, spend some time learning about the medium and in particular, how people use it.

    
    

• Interesting Data for Marketers

  • Most marketing professionals are always looking for tidbits of information that can assist them in their marketing efforts. Check out the following items related to mobile technology that could be very useful to e-commerce marketers:
    
    * Search engines are the most visited websites on mobile devices. Some 77 percent of smartphone users visit search engines, followed by social networks, retail sites and video-sharing websites.
    
    How does this assist e-commerce marketers? It points to the need for enhancing your website's search engine optimization when it comes to mobile phone searches. You may want to consider mobile search ads to help improve your organic search ranking.
    
    * Over half of mobile phone users search for: news, dining and navigational information.
    
    How does this assist e-commerce marketers? If your business does not fall into one of these categories, the clever marketer can still devise ways to capitalize. How so? Maybe you can create a "industry news" section. Maybe you can create a navigational guide to businesses within your category.
    
    * Roughly 90 percent of smartphone searches result in a purchase, a visit to a business, or other sorts of activities. In addition, 24 percent of smartphone users recommended a brand or product thanks to their smartphone search.
    
    How does this assist e-commerce marketers? Provide a way for the consumer to take action when they visit your website: make a purchase; drive to your store locations; provide the ability to forward pages or articles to friends and associates; etc.
    
    * The more local the consumer, the more likely the are to take action on your site:   
        - 95 percent of smartphone users seek local information.
            - 88 percent take some sort of action the day they visit a site.
            - 77 percent have actually contacted a business.
        - 61 percent call a local business.
        - 59 percent visit the local business.
    
    How does this assist e-commerce marketers? This points to the need to make sure your search engine optimization is localized; amd it is vital that consumers can easily contact your business.
    
    The world of mobile technology is advancing at the speed of light. It is difficult to keep pace, and it is crucial you allocate resources toward this arena.

    
    

• Do Online Privacy Laws Provide Enough Protection?

  • Internet privacy laws in the U.S. vary greatly depending on the segment of the online world. And, it's safe to say consumers should not assume their private information is completely secure on the Internet.
    
    Facebook, for example, has stated its members' posts are public domain. It has been reported that Twitter tweets are recorded by the Library of Congress.
    
    Although there are few U.S. laws aimed at regulating websites and their content, numerous law enforcement factions are working diligently to gain access to private Internet data. The WikiLeaks investigation and other big-time website breaches have given officials a reason to push for greater access to private data.
    
    One example of this beefed up enforcement effort is coming out of the United States Department of Transportation. The DOT has developed the Next Generation 911 Project, which will provide consumers with numerous emergency contact services, such as text messages, email and photos.
    
    The downside to the DOT proposal is that it may expose personal medical information to 911 responders. For example, the Google search engine saves the searches users make. This could be used to identify the searchers.
    
    Social networks are loaded with a ton of personal user information. And, to date, social networks do not offer any do-not-track services. Therefore, users should assume all their personal data is being tracked.
    
    You've probably noticed how frequently Internet banner ads are from companies you have either visited or shown an interest. A recent survey from Gallup and USA Today revealed 67 percent of those polled do not want advertisers to access their data in order to peddle their products to a targeted online market.
    
    We are already beginning to see lawmakers pushing for restrictions on Internet vendors accessing online consumer data. Clearly, if more data breaches occur, there will be an even greater push from government officials to implement tighter Internet security.

    
    

• Why Isn’t My SEO Campaign Working?

  • These tips reflect common errors of beginning affiliate marketers in particular.  But good news, it’s all fixable.  SEO is really quite similar to math problems in certain ways.  Yes, it’s creative, but it’s also like the word problems we hated so much as kids.  The answer is there, you just have to work through it.

    With that in mind, problem number 1 for many people is trying to bite off more than they can chew.  Successful SEO is a marathon, not a sprint.  Conquer some of the less popular keyword combos in your category before trying to take on the biggest.  As a beginner, you don’t have the resources, financial or labor, to jump on top of your main keywords.  It’s better to be king of a small island than a serf on a big one.  (I’m almost done with the bad similies.)

    Do not forget to anchor different combinations of your keywords.  For example, same day payday loans, payday loans same day, etc.  This will help improve your rankings.

    The most common error is dropping out of the game.  It’s becoming frustrated and stopping your efforts.  As we said earlier, this is a process.  If you stay with it and keep yourself educated as to what the search engines are looking for you will succeed.  Look on your SEO efforts not as a weekly chore, but as a monthly or even annual process.  Make your articles better and constantly sharpen your keywords. 

    
    

• Tips for the Beginning Online Affiliate Marketer

  • There are many reasons you may have chosen to become an affiliate marketer.  Compared to other kind of businesses you do not need much in the way of upfront costs, such as inventory, warehouse space, etc.  Computers and their languages are your passion – you can’t think of anything else you would rather do.  Or maybe, you think you’re going make a lot of money as an affiliate marketer.  That’s certainly possible, but becoming an affiliate marketer requires a lot of work, make no mistake about it.

    So, beginners, here are a few tips.

    First, do your research about the product or service you want to sell.  Make sure you have a strong interest in it, because you’ll be working in the field every day. 
    If you are driven by financial motives make sure you can earn the money you want to.  Following that, insure that the firm is reputable, pays its affiliates on time, as promised.  Is the market/product you are looking at in a good position overall?  Is there room for growth?  Once you’ve chosen the product, examine the companies competing in the field.  Who’s the leader and why?  Is there an “up and comer” doing things in a new, possibly better way?  Do your research.

    Let’s say you’re up and running – what can you do to differentiate yourself from your competition?  Certainly make sure your SEO efforts are the best they can be.  Below are a few links to articles on our site that may also be helpful to you. 
    https://www.t3leads.com/en/affiliate-articles/internet-marketing.html#improving-seo
    https://www.t3leads.com/en/affiliate-articles/internet-marketing.html#the-key-to-successful-lead-generation---seo
    https://www.t3leads.com/en/affiliate-articles/internet-marketing.html#more-leads-for-affiliate-marketers

    You can “publish” books or videos and sell them from your site.  They can be short, maybe 10 -15 pages on a given topic.  Not many of your competition will be doing this, so it’s a way to give more value to your site.  A weekly or monthly newsletter that customers can request will achieve much the same thing.

    A must for every affiliate marketer is to have a system (an autoresponder) to collect e-mail addresses.  Over time, you will build more business the better and larger your e-mail data base.  GetResponse and InfusionSoft are two types of autoresponders.  Do your research here as well to choose the best one for you.

    Google Adwords will be extremely important to you.  Write string, compelling ads that drive traffic to your site.  If you’re not seeing the results, change your wording.  Don’t forget other search engines as well.  It’s entirely possible that competition may be far less on bing, for instance, therefore your ads could stand out.

    Being a good affiliate marketer involves continuing research into your product and the very methods of computing and modern day marketing.

    
    

• Is the "PC Era" a Thing of the Past?

  • It's no secret the growth of smartphones and tablets is astronomical. Some studies have shown the global smartphone market is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent in 2011. Last year, 303.4 million smartphones were sold, and in 2011 it's expected that  450 million will be sold.
    
    Tablet sales are experiencing a similar explosion. One research firm anticipates a 224 percent growth in the tablet sales in 2011.
    
    Does this mean the personal computer era is coming to an end? Not just yet.
    
    Although it is clear that much of the technology and marketing dollars are being earmarked to the mobile and tablet arenas, studies are showing the PC market is still growing. One study shows a potential increase in PC sales of 6 percent in 2011. But, as more and more consumers are opting for tablets over traditional laptops, it is becoming obvious that the tablet market is gobbling up the laptop market. In fact, research shows tablets will eat into some 35 percent of the notebook sales totals for 2011.
    
    So -- from a marketing standpoint, how can a marketing professional who has been focusing on PC-related Internet marketing make the leap to the mobile and tablet world?
    
    Internet affiliate marketers - who are among the most tech-savvy marketing pros -- are typically on the cutting edge when it comes to forward-thinking marketing methods. Here are some ways in which these astute marketers are utilizing mobile and tablet marketing resources:
    
    * Text it! The average SMS text message is opened within four minutes (unless you are a 15-year-old, where the average is probably four seconds). Therfore, an opt-in SMS text campaign is an excellent way to quickly reach your target audience.
    
    * Think CPL. Until smartphones become more user-friendly for forms and applications, many astute marketers are focusing on mobile technology in order to capture leads, rather than sales. Once the marketer captures the customer's request for information, a follow-up email can be sent to actually generate the sales.
    
    * Think small. Mobile devices are signficantly smaller than a PC or laptop screen. Therefore, every aspect of mobile marketing must be downsized: the text, the images, the forms, etc.
    
    * Compatibility is key. The various mobile and tablet devices all have different capabilities. So, when developing your campaigns, make sure they are functional for the various services: Apple®, Android, BlackBerry®, etc.
    
    * Don't forget about the old standards. While mobile and tablet marketing is the wave of the future, make sure you continue to earmark resources toward the areas that have worked in the past. This may include: email, social media, PPC, banner ads, and more.
    
    The PC era is not completely over. As you begin to understand mobile and tablet marketing opportunities, it is equally important to carve out part of your marketing budget for the tactics that have been working for you.

    
    

• Ways to Improve SEO via Social Media Updates

  • There’s no more debate.  Social media helps your SEO efforts.  But how do you use social media to your best advantage?  Perseverance, multi-media postings and consistency are major factors.

    First, make social media a must in your mind (isn’t alliteration fun?)  By acknowledging its importance and by committing to being an active player, you are halfway to making social media work for you. 
    So you’ve decided to create a facebook page for your business, a brand page on twitter, a profile on LinkedIn and a google+ page as well.  And yes, you should commit to all three.  Create posts that are of interest.  Don’t create a bland post that no one will care about.  Try targeting your posts to elements of your target groups.  By doing so, you will generate greater interest over time.  After all, social really pays off when other people pick it up, forward it, re-tweet it, etc.

    Use multi-media posts.  Both photos and videos should be used because these are the kinds of posts that tend to be shared more often. 
    Nick Stamoulis, an SEO consultant and the Founder of Boston SEO company Brick Marketing, suggests staggering updates.  By reposting you increase the likelihood that your target markets will see your post.  It’s exactly like buying television or radio media.  You don’t just run one commercial during a day and assume you’re going to reach all the viewers on that station for the day.  That won’t happen.  Reposting (without being a pest) increases your reach.  More people will see your message.

    Cross promote everything.  The same television and radio media analogy applies here.  In many cases you might run a TV or radio ad on more than one station, because it increases the number of people you will reach with your message.  The same applies to social media.  Not everyone does LinkedIn or YouTube, and certainly not everyone does them all at the same time.  By sharing messages/posts across different platforms you will increase the effectiveness of your message.

    And finally check out companies that you admire and see what their efforts look like.  You can learn a lot by observing how Under Armour or Pepsi, for instance use social networks.

    
    

• The Basics of Generating More Leads

  • Here are a few tips for generating more business leads as suggested by Samir Balwani.  Email marketing continues to prove that it works.  If you make the cut and are not automatically thrown into the trash or spam folder, you have a good chance of having your email at least glanced at.   If you don’t abuse people’s trust, you can build a following for your communications via email.

    An email house such as MailChimp can handle your campaign.  They integrate with SocialPro, which is a system that allows you to identify the people on your list who have Twitter or Facebook accounts.  The process helps you convert casual readers into paying customers.

    Design targeted landing pages.  Getting someone to your website is fine, but if they are responding to an offer of some kind, is your home page enough to get them to act.  When a customer responds/clicks on an offer, they expect to be taken to the offer and be given a clear path to doing what you want them to do next.  The landing page should remind them they are there and a reason to finalize the action.  And of course, please test your pages.

    
    

• Affiliate Marketers - Marketing Tips

  • Some of these you already have in place, some you working on and maybe a few you have been putting off.  Please allow us to be a friendly nudge.  Jennifer Schiff offered the following tips for the Small Business Computing website.

    First and foremost have an SEO strategy for the coming year.  It is the number one way to drive traffic to your website.

    Posting videos to YouTube and creating your own channel can have a huge positive impact on your SEO.  Links from your YouTube videos also drive traffic directly to your website.

    Have a mobile website.  You know this already.

    Use social/business sites.  Have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Google Places and LinkedIn.  Check out Google+, as well as geo-social sites such as Foursquare.

    Have a Wiki for Online collaboration.  Document management is extremely important especially if your workforce is spread over a large geographic area.  Robert Pease of Iconic Adventures recommends “PBWorks.”  You can begin with free services to see what it can do for you and move up from there.

    A business blog attached to your website will help with SEO.

    Apps are the thing and will be in 2012.  Apple is now seeing 1 billion (yes with a “b”) apps a month downloaded.  For small business they can be very expensive, although certainly worth it for many companies, but if you need to control expenses, go to AppsBar.  You can download order forms and other GPs functions.

    The rules of business and especially marketing seem to change daily.  One of the best things you can do for yourself in the coming year is to stay informed.

    
    

• Common Mistakes in Online Lead Generation

  • So you’ve got this great site, but you don’t see the traffic you wanted.  Ian Rhodes for Visibility Magazine offered some thoughts regarding online lead generation and some common mistakes.

    Don’t write with your needs in mind; remember the reader.

    Don’t forget the entry level user.  Make sure your site is not too technical, thereby scaring away potential clients.  Use keyword research for your industry.

    Don’t insult them with “Click Here” or “Click Me” flashers.  Ask your visitor for their information in a clear, non-insulting fashion.

    Make sure your landing pages give them what they want.

    Use your Site analytics.  They’re free from Google, use them.  Find out the page that is driving traffic away.  Or the page that is not giving the visitor what they want.  Analytics also tells you how the visitors found you and what they did while on the site.  He recommends taking 5 minutes a day to review your analytics.  It will save you from additional head-scratching later.

    Work your social marketing accounts.  A few updates on LinkedIN or Facebook are not enough.  If you’re not sure what to do, check out what others are doing, especially your competition.  Check out what some of the more possibly unrelated, but respected companies are doing as well.  You will learn from seeing what others are doing.

    Don’t post boring content.  You will drive leads away.

    
    

• Lead generation through affiliate programs – Boost your online returns

  • The persistently weak global economy has lots of people looking to supplement their incomes.  This has led to major growth in pay per lead affiliate programs.  The reason is that you don’t have to warehouse product or pay additional rent on a business location.  An affiliate marketer promotes the product or services of a merchant company and generates leads for them.  You earn commissions for each person that you generate for the merchant.  Here are a few tips for improving your lead generation results:

    Social media marketing is a must.  Not only because so many people can be found there, but because personal information is collected by all of them (Facebook, Linked in, Twitter) you can target your marketing in a way that is almost impossible to do outside of social media.

    Collecting customer information for your own use is extremely important.  Customer e-mails are extremely important as you can send e-mails to them with links to your affiliate merchants.  Any extra information you collect will help you to build a profile of your customers and thereby target them with the affiliate programs that fit their needs.  This will generate a higher number of leads.

    Send traffic directly to the landing page of the pay per lead affiliate program.  You will increase your conversion rate and reduce the chance of losing a customer.

    Don’t be afraid to advertise on different websites and blogs.  Test what sites work and what ones don’t.  The web is constantly changing.  Testing your ads is a never-ending process.  But the more testing you do, the more affiliate marketer you will be.

    
    

• Tips for Affiliate Sales Marketers Success

  • Affiliate sales can be very lucrative but success doesn’t happen by itself, without effort from you.  Her are a few recommendations.

    Make sure that the subject matter of your website is of interest to you.  If it bores you, you will not give it the attention it deserves.  To be successful you must constantly update and provide new content for your site.  You won’t do that if you have little interest in the subject matter.

    Use Google Panda to help you produce better product for your site.  It’s no longer about how many times you can fit keywords into an article that gives you high ranking.  Your site should have original, quality content that leads to a positive customer experience.  After that, have real links that take you to a related site.  Do you post a spider web of links.  It will hurt your ranking.  If you’re not a writer, hire one with experience with SEO.

    Meet other network affiliates.  Guest columns (you post on his/hers and vice versa) are a good way for both of you to generate fresh, recently updated content.

    Keep yourself educated regarding the theme of your website and the art and skill of writing for the web.

    
    

• Moving Your Customer From App Downloaders to Subscribers

  • Mobile is changing everything that seems as if it just changed (the PC revolution.)  The mobile revolution is not going to stop; that is until something else comes along.  But in the meantime, you develop and post an app for customers to download.  Great.  Now, how do you move them from that to becoming registered users of your service?  Prassad Thammineni offers these hints in an article for Mashable. 

    
    Establish trust by making sure your app is professional.  No typos or bad layout to start with.  And, have a service agreement or privacy policy to show that you know enough to have one. 

    
    Next, make it flow easily and fast.  Like almost anything, remove all the barriers that get in the way of getting the customer to do what you want them to do.  For example, remove the “confirm password” field, and give them fewer options to sign up.  The more decisions they have to make , the better chance you have to lose them.

    Test your sign-up flow with an analytics system.

    Keeping them coming back is a bit trickier and is in great measure determined by what you’re selling, but well placed tutorials may help, as well as progress bars.  Keep testing and make it easy to go from app to user.

    
    

• The Key to Successful Lead Generation? SEO!

  • According to Webmarketing123’s report:  “2011 State of Digital Marketing Report” SEO plays the most important role in lead generation success. 
    The report surveyed over 500 marketing professionals on the topics of SEO, PPC and social media, and found that 57.4 % of respondents said that SEO has the largest impact on lead generation; 24.8% said PPC, and 17.4% said social media.    Those results are for business to business.

    For business to consumer the numbers lean more to social media.  41% still say SEO has the largest impact, but 34.2% say PPC and 24.8% say social media.

    How do marketers measure the success of their digital marketing programs?  For business to business 73.9% said website traffic, 69.2% said lead generation, 64.7% mentioned click through rate and 62.5% said sales.

    Some other numbers of interest:  
    46.4% of business to business marketers said the most important objective is to generate leads, followed by 22.2% who said sales is the goal and 15.3% said building brand awareness is mkost important.

    Make sure you’re keeping pace:  According to the report, 53.1% plan on increasing their 2012 SEO budgets, while 60 percent plan on increasing social media budgets.

    
    

• Tips for Better Performing PPC Ads

  • Heledd Jones offers the following tips for testing and improving your Google Adwords results. 
    1.     Include the search query in the ad. That’s what the customer is looking for.  Make it easy for them. 
    2.    Compare to what your competitors are doing.  Is their offer better than yours?  If so, move on.  not, test yours. 
    3.    Test different calls to action. 
    4.    Only test one ad at a time.  Results can overlap if you’re testing too many things at one time.
    5.    Take advantage of Google’s ad formats and free tools, such as “auto-optimize.”
    6.    Make sure your landing page displays the search query prominently.  Remember the customer going through the process.  Don’t forget what they are looking for.

    Her final tip is “test, don’t guess.” 

    
    

• How To Improve Your Mobile SEO

  • How to Improve Your Mobile SEO
    1.    Make sure your site is mobile friendly.  In addition to being better for your users, it will give you better Google search results. 
    2.    Mobile keywords are different from PC/Mac keywords.  Go to Google’s Keyword tool , click on advanced options and set it to show “all mobile devices.” 
    3.    Avoid flash and large images.  These may not be viewable by many mobile devices.  Write in HTML5 and shorten your ALT tags to ensure they post easily.
    4.    Don’t create a duplicate page when designing your mobile material.  Use a rel=canonical tag in your HTML to designate your “official” page. 
    5.    Refer to the Google guide telling how to build a mobile sitemap with your site.  It’s very important to use correct formatting, because if not, your links may disappear from the search engine, when you’re trying to be found.

    It is estimated that 16% of all google searches originate from mobile devices and that number is growing far faster than from PC’s.  Therefore it is increasingly important to keep your site mobile-ready in order to capture your share of the entire available market, including mobile.

    
    

• Trends in Mobile Advertising

  • As people continue to use their phones for information gathering; everything from restaurant searches to phone applications, mobile advertising will grow, expand and evolve.  Some current trends worth watching:
    1.     As research continues and behavioral predictions become more accurate, look for ads that are more accurate regarding behavior, location and time.  They might actually predict a product or service’s  need almost before the customer recognizes the need.
    2.    Search engine advertising will only increase and get better at targeting products, need and location.
    3.    As mobile advertising is new, standards of measurement are too.  Look for vast improvements in the very new future as firms come to a general consensus as to how to measure effectiveness. 
    4.    Look for more interactive ads.  Currently most are banners or text. 
    5.    As more data is collected about us, it is likely that this information will follow us everywhere like a cloud.  It will know our buying habits, preferences, location and more.

    
    

• Who Owns Your/Their Twitter Account?

  • That’s the question in a nutshell, isn’t it?  A lawsuit has been brought by a company (PhoneDog) who says a former employee (Noah Kravitz)continued to use a twitter account after moving on to another job and caused harm by disclosing trade secrets and damaging the “company’s business, goodwill and reputation.”

    Kravitz says that he set up the account and that he linked it to his personal account and maintained both while employed for 4 years by PhoneDog.  He adds, "it's this melding of personal and professional which is why I've gained a modest following," Kravitz said. "Because it's not just the dry headline and link to something."

    Beyond this underlying skirmish is a bunch of “he said, they said. “

    But, it brings up a valid discussion point.  As work and personal media continue to mix, how does that affect both employee and employer and who owns what?  This will only grow as an issue as more and more companies allow employees to use their personal tech (tablets, phones, etc) in the office setting.

    If you have employees it is a topic you should discuss with your attorney and set up criteria that hopefully will avoid legal issues further down the road.

    If the lawsuit is not settled, the case will be heard in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.

    
    

• Where People Gather Local Business Information

  • The Pew Research Center has released a new report that studied the media habits, both new and traditional, of consumers to see how they accessed local business information.  Overall, 60% of the respondents said that they look for information on local businesses, and of those, 47% said the internet is the source of choice; 30% said newspapers; 22% said word of mouth and just 8% said local TV, either on air, or via their websites.  We should point out that this part of the study did not include bars and nightclubs as a local business.

    Interestingly, 36% of the searchers used search engines, but only 16% used speciality websites and a shockingly low 1% said they relied on social media.

    A sketch of the type of people who are researching local businesses may provide some surprises.  Most are aged 30-65.  Most are white, 63%, Hispanic 56% and black 52%.  72% of the researchers had a household income over $75,000.  Not surprisingly, the more education they have completed, the more likely they are to conduct research.  48% have not graduated high school, while 73% of the respondents were college graduates. 
    61% said they used their cell phone to access information, while 64% said they used a tablet.  If you were waiting for data to justify a mobile application, look no further.

    
    

• The Building Blocks of SEO

  • There is so much talk of SEO because it is so important, and it’s constantly changing.  That’s why we try to help keep you updated and to present new ways to think about tackling one of the most important factors affecting the success of your online enterprise.

    First is keyword research.  It’s a given and it’s constant.  Check all the tools available including Google adwords, of course, but also check customer communications as well to keep updated on new keyword combinations.

    Link building is essential.  Back links to your own site from other credible sites will help your SEO rank.  Either you need to do it, or hire a consultant to help, but good link building will improve your rank.

    Quality copywriting is the difference between bad link farms and a site rich with material that pople will want to seek out and share.  Learn what quality copywriting is and its benefits to your enterprise.  If you’re looking for writers place an ad on Craigslist.  Check out writing samples and get ready for the increased business.

    And finally, web design.  From your choice of a technical platform to the flow of the pages, make sure your site is clean and easy to navigate.  Test it frequently and not just by you, but have others test it.  Flow problems are often easier to identify when someone else aids in the testing.

    
    

• FTC and Facebook Near Agreement

  • Reports indicate that the Federal Trade Commission and Facebook are near an agreement which would force Facebook to make some major changes relating to its privacy settings.  Essentially the social network would have to ask customer permission before making information public.

    In 2009 Facebook made sweeping changes to its privacy settings, which in part did not allow people to make certain settings private, including profile pictures and city of residence.  This prompted a flurry of complaints to the FTC.

    Recently the FTC has hammered out deals with Google and Twitter regarding the types of information they can gather, distribute, etc.

    It’s safe to say that these discussions are a new part of life that are here to stay.

    
    

• More Mobile Shopping This Holiday Season

  • The results of InsightExpress’ 3rd quarter digital consumer portrait found that 32% of consumers plan to use their mobile devices to research products and 27% plan to use them to read reviews while in the store.  In November it is expected that 15% of the people who log onto a retailer’s site will use their mobile device. By way of comparison in October, 11% of retail store visits were done from a mobile device.

    A clear demonstration of the way consumers shop is the fact that 77% of all retail site visits now originate from a tablet.  To think they didn’t even exist five years ago.

    
    

• Amazon.com Ballot Initiative May be Forthcoming

  • Info  PR: ?  I: ?  L: ?  Cached: ?  I: ?  L: ?  LD: ?  I: ?  Rank: 11846  Age: ? IP: ?  whois source Robo: ? Sitemap: ?  Rank: ?  Price: ?  C: ? Links: 31|0 Density

    ?

    In the wake of California's recently enacted "Amazon.com tax," the giant Internet retailer has launched a ballot initiative drive intended to repeal the new law.

    Amazon.com has already contributed over $5 million toward the group calling itself More Jobs Not Taxes. Their objective is to qualify a ballot initiative for the June 2012 election. The initiative would repeal the state's new Internet sales tax law.
    
    More Jobs Not Taxes needs to gather 504,760 valid signatures by Sept. 27, 2011 to qualify the measure for the June, 2012 election.
    
    Thus far Amazon is the reportedly the only major financial contributor for the campaign.
    
    In June, the state Legislature passed a law requiring out-of-state Internet retailers to collect sales tax from California customers if the retailers paid commissions to California-based affiliate marketing websites. As a result of the new law, Amazon pulled the plug on some 25,000 affiliate marketing relationships. The retailer believed that was more appealing move than collecting the sales tax from California affiliates.
    
    The law also requires sales tax to be collected from online retailers with subsidiaries in California. This provision applies to businesses such as the one that developed the Amazon's Kindle, for example.
    
    Amazon.com amassing about 20 percent of its business from online affiliate arrangements.
    
    In 1992 the U.S. Supreme Court decided states may not tax businesses without a physical presence in that state. Based on that ruling, Amazon.com claims the new California sales tax law is unconstitutional.
    
    Other states, including New York, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Illinois, Arkansas and Connecticut have enacted similar sales tax laws. Amazon is involved in litigation with the state of New York over its law.

    
    

• Brand Building Versus Lead Generation

  • Info  PR: ?  I: ?  L: ?  Cached: ?  I: ?  L: ?  LD: ?  I: ?  Rank: 11846  Age: ? IP: ?  whois source Robo: ? Sitemap: ?  Rank: ?  Price: ?  C: ? Links: 31|0 Density

    ?

    The marketing term "brand" is tossed about a lot -- and its usage is not always accurate. A brand can be any entity -- it can be a business, website, entertainer, politician, sports team, etc. Basically, a brand is any feeling or general concept that is elicited when one thinks about that particular entity. Tom Hanks has a strong, likable brand. Paris Hilton probably does not. Facebook has a brand position of a massively successful Internet-related enterprise. Classmates.com has a brand image of a social networking site that was successful but got lost in the shuffle when Facebook began to dominate their category.

    Many marketing executives use the term brand incorrectly. They may often discuss their desire to create their firm's brand, when they are actually more interested in a lead generation marketing strategy. Lead generation is not brand-building. The two terms are not synonomous. A company may develop a brand identity over time after several years of aggressive lead generation advertising. Usually, these firms acquire a brand image of a low-price leader in their business category because they have spent years telling consumers how they can save money by switching to their company.
    
    It takes a massive investment of money and resources to develop a brand. That is why start-up companies are foolish to think they can compete with the major brands in their category on a head-to-head brand-awareness ad campaign. Instead, smaller firms or start-ups should focus on other marketing tactics that will grow their business. These tactics may include:
    
        * Public relations
        * Community outreach
        * Internet marketing (PPC advertising, SEO strategies, blogging, etc.)
        * Joint marketing partnerships with other firms
        * ... and, lead-generation/direct response advertising
    
    There is a formula for all lead generation advertising. If a marketer sticks to this formula then the chances for success improve considerably. That formula is called the "AIDA" theory:
    
        A -- Grab the consumer's attention (i.e., hard-hitting headline, catchy graphics or images)
        I -- Generate interest in your product or service (i.e., the benefits of your company)
        D -- Demonstrate why consumers should purchase your product or service (i.e., testimonials, price comparisons)
        A -- Give the consumer a visible call to action (i.e., phone number, website address, email address)
    
    Adhering to the AIDA rule does not guarantee success. There are many other factors: budget, demographic, advertising message, targeted geographic region, ad media, etc., etc.
    
    Eventually, if you stick with a long-term commitment to direct response advertising, your company may develop a brand and your company can begin launching branding ad strategies to reinforce that brand. But you need to be patient.
    
    Good luck -- and happy selling!

    
    

• Protect Your Brand from .xxx Adult Sites

  • Info  PR: ?  I: ?  L: ?  Cached: ?  I: ?  L: ?  LD: ?  I: ?  Rank: 11846  Age: ? IP: ?  whois source Robo: ? Sitemap: ?  Rank: ?  Price: ?  C: ? Links: 31|0 Density

    ?

    If you do not want your company's website brand associated with the adult Internet industry, then you need to read this article:

    Beginning September 7, trademark holders will be able to block the use of their trademarks from being used as a .xxx domain name (i.e., “www.INSURANCE.xxx").
    
    This new .xxx top-level Internet domain has been approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for use by the online adult entertainment industry.
    
    To protect trademark owners who do not want their trademarks associated with the .xxx extension, ICM Registry LLC will maintain a list of trademarks that will be unavailable for use by the adult entertainment community and the general public.
    
    To add your trademark to the protected list, a trademark owners must  place the reservation request and pay the associated fee before October 28, 2011.
    
    The trademarks subject to successful reservation requests will be removed from the .xxx domain names available for registration for a minimum of 10 years.
    
    If a brand registers for the unavailable list, and a consumer enters “www.INSURANCE.xxx, then they will be directed to a webpage explaining the domain name is not available for registration or use.   
    
    From September 7 to October 28, adult entertainment websites will be able to submit applications to register their .xxx domain names. If any applications are submitted to register a .xxx domain name that impedes on another trademark, then the trademark owner will be notified.
    
    The rightful trademark owner will be given priority for the .xxx domain. And, the adult entertainment site will be on notice of the trademark owner’s objections for purposes of any future dispute over the domain name.
    
    In November, trademark owners outside the adult entertainment community will have an opportunity to register .xxx domain names, and starting in December, the general public will have the opportunity to register .xxx domain names.
    
    Using this simple blocking procedure, at a minimum, puts an interested adult entertainment community member on notice of your trademark rights and, at best, prevents members of that community, other trademark owners and the general public from registering and using your trademark in an unauthorized domain name. This window of opportunity closes on October 28, 2011.
    
    It's tough to tell how likely it is that an adult entertainment company may attempt to purchase an .xxx domain for non-adult web brands. But with so many domain variations out there, this may be something all brands should consider.

    
    

• Playing the Personal Information Game

  • Online marketing professionals must be extremely cautious when it comes to personal data. From the marketers' perspective, they want to be able to crunch that data as much as possible in order to analyze every aspect of their online campaigns. But, due to privacy concerns associated with personal data obtain through online marketing, there are limits to how this information may be utilized.
    
    Any online merchant must make the protection of personal data a top priority. Of course, this is vital from a legal standpoint -- but it is also important from an ethical and business standpoint, as well. After all, you want your customers to trust you .. you want them to refer others .. and you want repeat business. None of that will happen if the customer does not trust you will protect their personal information.
    
    So -- what puts the customer at ease? It starts with the questions. Most consumers are OK providing basic information: name, age, interests, etc. When asking about age, use an age range. That is more acceptable to most consumers. It is also important to express your gratitude whenever a consumer submits any inquiry or order form. Show them you appreciate their business or their input.
    
    If you are surveying consumers with the objective of determining what offers to make, it is important to ask the right questions. For example, if you are marketing vacation rental properties, the questions should be focused on the types of follow-up offers you will want to send: Do you prefer to vacation in the mountains or near the water? Do you prefer hotels or rental homes? Do you like to gamble? You get the idea. Most consumers will not mind responding to soft-sell questions.
    
    Possibly the most important way to show your commitment to online data security is to display the logos and links of your website security vendors: TrustE, Verisign, McAfee, etc. This will go a long way toward assuring the consumer that you are taking every possible step to keep their information secure.

    
    

• Amazon Tax Not Going Over Very Well in CA

  • According to a report on the website wizbangblog.com, there's a mass exodus of businesses escaping from California. Why? Blame it on the "Amazon tax."
    
    The article cites Big Government.com, which reports that over 70 Internet affiliate marketing firms that conduct business with online retailers such as Amazon.com have packed their bags and relocated out of the state.  The report notes that many other online affiliate marketers have simply discontinued their California operation.
    
    As you are probably aware, California recently passed the “Amazon tax” law, which requires Internet retailers to pay sales tax on revenue generated by its California affiliates.  The law was intended to generate additional tax revenue for the cash-starved state. The end-result does not appear to be very positive thus far.
    
    Many of those who supported the Amazon tax law believed the threats from online retailers who said they would have to leave the state or go out of business were idle threats. They called the retailers' bluff -- but it appears so far the retailers were not bluffing.

    
    

• Study Shows Marketers Must Evolve to Satisfy Customers

  • A survey conducted by IBM and Forbes has shown customers are evolving quickly and they are becoming more savvy, demanding instant transactions and engaging through multiple touch-points. How are marketing experts addressing the evolution of customer awareness?
    
    The report covered questions such as:
    * Why customer-centric marketing has become such a huge priority—and whether or not budgets are keeping up
    * What's causing the increase in online spending, and where that money will be allocated to get the best results
    * Why data will be driving decision-making, and how marketers will deal with the increased scrutiny
    * How top marketers are using technology breakthroughs to understand the influence of every campaign—beyond basic acquisition and conversion
    
    According to the study:
    
    • Marketers’ priorities are customer-centric. More than half (52 percent) cited customer retention as their top current priority, followed by customer acquisition (38 percent), and customer profitability (29 percent). These will remain top priorities a year from now.
    
    • Marketing budgets mirror these priorities. About four in ten executives (39 percent) are dedicating the largest chunk of their funds to customer retention; customer acquisition runs a close second (36 percent).
    
    • Online tactics will see significant lifts in budgets. Over the next year, 56 percent will increase their online marketing spend, 54 percent will increase their social media spend, and 50 percent will increase their mobile marketing spend.
    
    • Greater emphasis is being placed on data-based decisions. Nearly half of respondents are increasing their spending on business intelligence, and 78 percent say there is greater scrutiny placed on what works and what doesn’t than there was a year ago.
    
    • Marketers are challenged to understand the influence of their campaigns beyond the basic metrics of acquisition and conversion. Top performers are using technology to get at these results and optimize their channels.
    
    • Marketers are not always clear on what tools they need to meet their top challenges. Respondents admit being concerned about their ability to get a deeper understanding of customer interactions or obtain an integrated view of customer behavior. But there appears to be a disconnect in how they solve that issue, as the tools that could help—reconciling multiple online marketing applications and lack on an integrated marketing suite—are at the bottom of their list of concerns.
    
    • Marketing is moving at light speed, but most marketers are not watching or adjusting their campaigns accordingly. Just 9 percent review their online marketing performance in real time, and only 9 percent adjust their campaigns in real time.
    
    • Top performers are more proactive in tracking and adjusting their campaigns. Among companies that said their investment in marketing technology was “world class,” 27 percent track their performance in real time, and 39 percent adjust their campaign performance in real time.
    
    • While nearly two thirds of respondents said they segment and target customers based on an integrated view of customer behavior, that view is not necessarily complete. Just 30 percent have a view of mobile behavior, and just 34 percent look at social media behavior.
    
    For more information, visit: http://measure.coremetrics.com/corem/form/wpdownload

    
    

• Make Your Website a Business Growth Tool

  • If your website is not optimized and functional enough to help your company make sales, then you are leaving a lot of potential revenue on the table.
    
    Sure, traditional advertising media -- TV, radio, print, direct mail, billboards -- can still be used effectively to help grow your business. But Internet marketing should be a vital component to your overall marketing stragegy.
    
    In order to turn your website into a major profit center, consider the following tactics:
    
    * Create a professional-looking site that reflects your business and provides enough "sizzle" to keep your website visitors interested.
    
    * Just like with all other forms of advertising, the consumer will decide instantly whether they will be interested in your message. Hit them hard as soon as they enter your website with something appealing and catchy.
    
    * Direct response advertising (and, let's face it, websites are a form of DR advertising) requires that you provide a strong call to action. Make it easy for the consumer to contact you; and make the buying process as user-friendly as possible.
    
    * Utilize tesmimonials and demonstrations as much as possible to convince website visitors that they should take advantage of your products and services.
    
    * Offer something for free. "Free" is still one of the most effective words in marketing. Whether it is a free insurance quote, a free report, a free gift, etc., consider providing something for free to our customers.
    
    * Maintain a good customer list. Offer a blog and keep the email addresses of those who post comments. Your customer records will be one of the most important assets of your business. Use your lists wisely to cross-sell, for referrals, etc.
    
    Good luck -- and happy selling!

    
    

• "Amazon" Tax Moving Forward ... For Now

  • California's Board of Equalization has begin the process of figuring out how to enforce the new state "Amazon" tax.
    
    The "Amazon" tax is the budget-relted mandate requiring online California retailers to fork out sales tax on purchases made by state residents.
    
    As state officials prepare to implement the new tax law, opponents are gathering their resources in an attempt to overturn the tax law.
    
    Paperwork has already been filed by those who want to torpedo ABX1 (the "Amazon" tax law). Their objective is to ask voters in the next statewide election to overturn the tax mandate.
    
    If the ballot initiative is successful, the rug would be pulled out of the effort to generate more state revenue from online retailers.

    
    

• Repairing Damaged Email Lists

  • Attention Internet marketers -- or any marketing professional, for that matter -- who use email as a lead-generation tool! It's time to conduct an email list check-up.
     
    The quality of your email list may be the most important factor in the return on investment on your email marketing efforts. But, marketing managers do not cleanse and review their lists often enough.
    
    MarketingSherpa has reported that about one-third of companies are experiencing a dip in the effectiveness of their email results. The primary reason for the decline is because the email list is aging. As consmers change jobs, physical addresses, etc., their primary email box often changes, as well. And, as many employees have lost their jobs, a higher percentage of email addresses have also changed.
    
    There are several actions you may want to take to fortify your email list:
    
    * When adding new addresses to your list, find a quality email list scrubbing company. These firms will make sure the data collected is accurate and was obtained legally.
    * Make sure your list meets your prospective customer demographics. Otherwise, even if the consumer replies to your email blast, they may not be the type of customer you are seeking.
    * Carefully track the results of your email campaigns. You may want to split your campaigns up into smaller segments to you can more accurately track the results of each campaign.* Do not automatically add a new email address to your list. Send a test email to the address to make sure it is not spam.
    * Send a change of address update to your list, asking for more accurate email addresses. This is a good way to reintroduce your company or make new offers, as well.

    
    

• Understanding Affiliate Payout Options

  • Internet publishers who venture into the affiliate marketing arena should clearly understand the various forms of payout options available from affiliate networks such as T3LEADS.
    
    Affiliate marketing has experienced massive growth over the past decade -- and there is no end in sight for the industry. Online merchants are finding affiliate marketing an excellent, cost-effective way to generate quality new business leads.
    
    When deciding on an affiliate network to work with, one of the most imporant criteria is the payout methods. There are various ways in which affiliate marketers pay for leads, depending on the quality of the leads:
    
    * Pay-per-click (PPC): This is a very common form of payouts for many affiliate programs. Its name basically describes the theory -- publishers are paid for each click-through to a merchant's site. Usually, PPC payouts are not very high, but affiliates are assured some sort of payment for any quality of lead generated, even if it does not result in a sale or even a legitimate customer.
    
    * Pay-per-sale: The pay-per-sale concept may have originated with Amazon.com. It rewards affiliates that generate traffic, provided that traffic results in a sale. In essence, the payout is a commission paid to affiliates. Payouts are typically much higher on pay-per-sale arrangements than PPC. Another term for pay-per-sale is "performa." In other words, the payout is based on the performance of the leads.
    
    * Pay-per-lead: Pay-per-lead payout amounts usually fall somewhere between PPC and pay-per-sale. These are slightly more valuable leads for merchants, since they are from consumers who have actually expressed an interest in their product or service.
    
    Whether you are a merchant or an affiliate, you need to do your homeowner to determine the most cost-effective payout system for your businesss. Evaluate many areas, including what the competition offers, the potential return on investment, the up-front costs associated with generating various types of leads, etc.

    
    

• Amazon Pulls the Plug on CA Affiliate Program

  • Amazon.com has notified its 25,000 California affiliate marketing participants (Amazon Associates) of the company's intentions to  terminate their Amazon affiliate contracts. The giant online retailer is taking this action in response to the recently passed Golden State budget that was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. There is a provision in the budget that calls for online retailers to pay tax on revenue generated by affiliate-related sales.
    
    Such a tax would clearly have a major impact on Amazon. When similar laws were enacted in Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Arkansas and Rhode Island, Amazon packed its bag in those states, as well.
    
    The State of California hopes to generate about $200 million in additional sales tax revenue per year from the affiliate marketing sales tax. The state has been trying to mend a multi-billion-dollar shortfall in its budget.
    
    New York has imposed a similar tax, but Amazon continues to run its Amazon Associates program in the Empire state. However, Amazon is is embroiled in a lawsuit against New York State.
    
    Amazon’s California affiliate contracts will be terminated when the legislation takes effect.
    
    Amazon's notice stated:
    
    "We oppose this bill because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It is supported by big-box retailers, most of which are based outside California, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that we must take this action.
    
    "As a result, we will terminate contracts with all California residents that are participants in the Amazon Associates Program as of the date (if any) that the California law becomes effective."

    
    

• "PURLS" of Wisdom

  • Does your marketing program include PURLS? If not, you may want to look into a PURL campaign.
    
    What is a PURL? A PURL is a personalized web page. PURLS have become a very popular way to marketers to communicate directly with customers or prospects. The concept is that you create a personalized web page for your customers that can be used to promote products, add images, articles and videos, and much more.
    
    A PURL is an excellent tool to help enhance direct mail response rates. It allows the marketer to create a custom page for every prospect on your mailing list. It eliminates the need to user names and passwords and provides a customized look for each customer or prospect. A sample PURL may look something like: www.amazingwebsite.com/janesmith
    
    How exactly does an PURL direct mail campaign help to improve your return on investment?
    
    Let's say your company has been running standard direct mailings, with a business reply card, website address and a toll-free number for prospects to respond to the mail piece. When you utilize PURLS, you are directly the prospect to a web page customized specifically for each prospect. The personalized URL is much more appealing because customers are drawn to the customized web page with their own name in the domain.
    
    A personalized URL can also save marketers a ton of money.s are a great way to drive prospects to your web site to provide them with additional information. Rather than creating a gazillion page direct mail campaign and throwing everything imaginable at your prospect, you can mail a smaller package and send him to his own unique web page instead. Because the PURL uses basically the same techniques as variable data printing, each web page can be completely personalized for the individual.

    A PURL campaign works well in conjunction with email marketing campaigns. Simply use personalized URLs in your email messages to entice your prospects to click for more information. The link will take them to their very own customized PURL. 

    Give PURLs a shot. There are many vendors available to help develop your PURL campaign. They may help to greatly enhance your marketing efforts.

    
    

• SEO Tactics for Start-Up Web Publishers

  • So -- you're just launching your web publishing and affiliate marketing enterprise, or you are operating on a shoe-string budget. You don't have a ton of cash to spend on a costly SEO specialist. What are some ways the beginning affiliate marketers can enhance their search optimization without breaking their budget?
    
    Keyword Analysis: There are some excellent, free or inexpensive tools available online that can help you find potentially useful keywords and phrases. Google AdWords is the most popular of these tools. You may also want to visit your competitors' websites. Take a peek at the keywords that have on each page. sometimes the keywords are visible for anyone to see. Just right-click on each page to see the source and the HTML of the page. ctrl+F will then allow you to search the text on each page.
    
    Another tool you may want to check out is Market Samurai. It's not free -- about $99 -- but it will help you track the level of competition for certain keywords and phrases.
    
    Articles: Content -- articles, blogs, press releases, etc. -- is very important to winning the SEO game. Many publishers look to other sources for content. The price tag for these article could add up, and the content is may not be exactly what you want. You may not be a professional writer, but most publishers at least know what they want and can communicate fairly well in writing. Give article writing a shot. If you are uncomfortable doing it alone, ask an associate or someone you can trust to review your work. It could end up saving you a bundle on content-related expenses.
    
    H1 Tags: H1 tags will improve your search engine rankings. An accurate H1 tag will help search engines to determine how the web page wil be viewed. Only one H1 tag per page, and make sure the content uses the correct markup for the tag. A free resource for markups W3Schools.
    
    Link Building: While you have to be careful when adding links to make sure they are pertinent to your site (Google will penalize sites that practice "link farming"), adding back links and posting a link to your site from various blogs may be a helpful tool in enhancing your SEO.
    
    Read, Read, Read: There is so much information on the Internet that can be useful to your SEO efforts. Take the time to conduct some valuable research online. Look for SEO blogs. Try to connect with experts in the field who may be willing to share their thoughts. This may be the most powerful tool of all the ones mentioned in this article.

    
    

• How to Determine the Best Domain Name

  • Coming up with the perfect domain name is more difficult than it may appear.
    
    What is the url that conveys your products and services; and also attracts the most website visitors? And, with millions and millions of domains already in use, how can make sure the perfect domain is even available?
    
    Check out these pointers for determining the right domain for your website:
    
    Do not ...
    * ... use a trademarked name in your url. The brand name you are trying to utilize will eventually find out; and you will be in hot water.
    * ... repeat letters too frequently (i.e., jimssledssvc.com). This appears confusing to the consumer. 
    * ... create lengthy domains. The shorter the better.
    * ... incorporate prepositions in your domain (and, or, between, etc.).
    * ... use unnecesary words such as website, online, unless these words are part of the company name.
    
    Do ...
    * ... try to utilize the more common suffixes: .com, .org, .net. The .com suffix is best, if available. Although new suffixes will soon be unveiled, consumers are most familiar with these top-line extensions.
    * ... search for domain auctions for names that may be perfect for your business. Existing domains may already be optimized, which could greatly help to enhance your visitor traffic.
    * ... find domains that are loaded with the critical keywords for your online business.
    * ... create a name that is unique and easy to remember.
    * ... make the domain name brief and to the point.
    * ... register the domains for several years, if you intend to be in business for the long-run.
    
    Is it worthwhile to purchase numerous domain names for the same website? Yes. But make sure the use of numerous domains on the same site does not negatively impact your search rankings.

    
    

• FTC To Update Internet Sales Guide

  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced it will be updating its advisory guide on how advertising laws pertain to Internet e-commerce. It's been over a decade (2000, to be precise) since the FTC came out with its “Dot Com Disclosures: Information About Online Advertising.” Clearly, e-commerce has changed dramatically since 2000, and the FTC wants to address some of the more pertinent Internet sales and marketing topics impacting consumers.
    
    The FTC is looking for public input on the legal and technical aspects of the Guide revisions. Comments must be provided by July 11, 2011.
    
    Check out the information on the Dot Com Disclosure Guide, courtesy of the FTC:
    
    The primary focus of the 2000 publication was to counsel marketers on how to provide clear and conspicuous disclosures of information that consumers needed in order to make informed decisions about goods and services being offered on the Internet.
    
    Specifically, “Dot Com Disclosures” advised online advertisers that the same consumer protection laws that apply to commercial activities in other media apply online, and that any disclosures required to prevent an advertisement from being misleading must be clear and conspicuous. It focused on how required disclosures may be presented clearly and conspicuously in online advertisements, and provided key considerations for evaluating their effectiveness. The business guide discussed, in the context of online advertisements, the traditional factors used to evaluate whether disclosures are likely to be clear and conspicuous, including: the placement of the disclosure in an advertisement and its proximity to the relevant claim; the prominence of the disclosure; whether items in other parts of the advertisement distract attention from the disclosure; whether the advertisement is so lengthy that the disclosure needs to be repeated; whether disclosures in audio messages are presented in an adequate volume and cadence, and visual disclosures appear for a sufficient duration; and, whether the language of the disclosure is understandable to the intended audience. The document’s appendix contained mock advertisements that illustrated these particular factors.
    
    The 2000 publication also addressed specific issues that arise from application of certain Commission rules and guides to Internet activities and the use of what were then new technologies to comply with those rules and guides. For example, some rules and guides use certain terms – such as “written,” “writing,” and “printed” – that connote words or information on paper. The document explained that those rules and guides that apply to written advertisements or printed materials also apply to visual text displayed on the Internet.
    
    In addition, the FTC guide discussed the circumstances in which businesses may use email to comply with a Commission rule or guide requirement to provide or send required notices or documents to consumers.
    
    The online world has changed dramatically since “Dot Com Disclosures” was first issued. Eleven years ago, mobile marketing was just a vision, there was not an “App” economy, the use of “pop-up blockers” was not widespread, and online social networking was nowhere as sophisticated or extensive as it is today.
    
    Accordingly, the staff is considering updating and reissuing “Dot Com Disclosures” in order to provide guidance to businesses about how FTC law applies to current online activities.
    
    Although the Commission has gained substantial experience over the past decade with how online advertisers make claims and disclosures, the staff welcomes all comments on the 2000 publication and the issues it addresses, and has also identified the following questions on which it has a particular interest in obtaining the public’s views:
    
    1. What issues have been raised by online technologies or Internet activities or features that have emerged since the business guide was issued (e.g., mobile marketing, including screen size) that should be addressed in a revised guidance document?
    
    2. What issues raised by new technologies or Internet activities or features on the horizon should be addressed in a revised business guide?
    
    3. What issues raised by new laws or regulations should be addressed in a revised guidance document?
    
    4. What research or other information regarding the online marketplace, online advertising techniques, or consumer online behavior should the staff consider in revising “Dot Com Disclosures”?
    
    5. What research or other information regarding the effectiveness of disclosures – and, in particular, online disclosures – should the staff consider in revising “Dot Com Disclosures”?
    
    6. What specific types of online disclosures, if any, raise unique issues that should be considered separately from general disclosure requirements?
    
    7. What guidance in the original “Dot Com Disclosures” document is outdated or unnecessary?
    
    8. What guidance in “Dot Com Disclosures” should be clarified, expanded, strengthened, or limited?
    
    9. What issues relating to disclosures have arisen from such multi-party selling arrangements in Internet commerce as (1) established online sellers providing a platform for other firms to market and sell their products online, (2) website operators being compensated for referring consumers to other Internet sites that offer products and services, and (3) other affiliate marketing arrangements?
    
    10. What additional issues or principles relating to online advertising should be addressed in the business guidance document?
    
    11. What other changes, if any, should be made to “Dot Com Disclosures”?
    
    You can file a comment addressing the guide and the above questions either online or on paper. For the Commission to consider your comment, it must be received on or before July 11, 2011. Write “Dot Com Disclosures, P114506” on your comment. Your comment – including your name and your state – will be placed on the public record of this proceeding, including, to the extent practicable, on the public Commission website, at http://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm. There are several rules regarding the submission of comments, so make you you review them prior to your submission.

    
    

• Federal Internet Privacy Bill Introduced

  • If H.R. 1528 is enacted, it would have a major impact on Internet marketers who collect personal information online.
    
    H.R. 1528 has been dubbed the Consumer Privacy Protection Act of 2011, and was introduced on April 19. The law would apply to persons that collect, by any means, through any medium, sell or use personally identifiable information. That includes names, email addresses, telephone/mobile numbers.
    
    The measure would impact any Internet marketer who collects data from more than 5,000 consumers during any consecutive 12-month time frame.
    
    The Act does not apply to government agencies would be exempt from the law, as well as data processing outsourcing entities. That includes firms that provide information technology processing, web hosting or telecommunications services to another entity. Also exempted are providers of professional services.
    
    The measure would mandate that organizations provide consumers with a privacy notice that is clear, conspicuous, prominently displayed and explicit. The privacy policy would have to contain statements as to the identity of the covered entity (or class of entity) that may collect or use the data, the types of information that may be collected or used, how it may be collected or used and the extent to which the data is sold or disclosed.
    
    H.R. 1528 would stipulate that consumers must be provided with an opportunity to preclude the sale or disclosure of the their data to another covered entity.
    
    The Federal Trade Commission may approve programs to allow self-regulation of the Act's provisions. Violations of the Act could result in a maximum penalty of $500,000 for all related incidents.

    
    

• FTC Goes After Huge Internet Marketer

  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is targeting Jesse Willms for alleged illegal affiliate marketing practices that reportedly helped Willms to net a staggering $467 million.
    
    Willms, who hails from Canada, started his affiliate marketing empire when he was a teen. Still only 24, Willms self-promotes himself as a philanthropist who donates gobs of money to causes such as the Canadian Red Cross, forest fire victims and various youth charities.
    
    So, why is Willms in the FTC's cross hairs?
    
    The FTC action is against Willms, as well as 10 companies he controls. The filing was made May 16, 2011, and it seeks to prevent any further alleged illegal marketing practices and to force Willms to repay customers.
    
    The fraud allegations accuse Willms of deceptively attracting customers through free offers for products such as acai berry weightloss pills, teeth whitener, free credit reports, government grants and a home-based businesses.
    
    Willms' companies are accused of sending spam emails and ads, promoting free trials that only required a minor shipping and handling fee. But, the FTC claims after the consumer's credit card information was obtained, they were often charged for the free trial, plus recurring monthly fees. These types of charges without customer consent are a violation of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.
    
    In a statement on his website, Willms defended his marketing tactics: "Our companies give consumers the opportunity to buy a variety of products and services at significant savings. Our business is based on the loyalty and longevity of our customer relationships ... This loyalty, in part, is earned through compliant business practices and disclosures that are both clear and conspicuous."

    
    

• Do-Not-Track Bill Introduced

  • A federal legislative measure has been introduced that would ban Internet companies from following the online actions of consumers who register for a "do-not-track" service.
    
    Senator John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) is sponsoring the “Do-No-Track Online Act of 2011” (S 913), which would allow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to develop regulations regarding the do-not-track registration service, including the registration method and the rules for companies that access consumer online data. State attorneys general and the FTC would enforce the regulations.
    
    Senator Rockefeller commented, “Recent reports of privacy invasions have made it imperative that we do more to put consumers in the driver’s seat when it comes to their personal information.”
    
    Senator Al Franken (D-MI) also chimed in: “Consumers have a fundamental right to know what data is being collected about them." He added, “And yet reports that the information on our mobile devices is not being protected in the way it should be.” Testifying in this hearing were, among others, the FTC, the Department of Justice, Google, Inc., and Apple, Inc. Copies of the witnesses written testimony is available online.

    
    

• E-commerce Basics

  • The average consumer will decide within five seconds whether they are interested in a particular website. So, if your e-commerce site does not have an immediate impact on the consumer, they will quickly move on to another site.
    
    E-commerce sites must be both graphically attractive and highly functional and user-friendly. A professional website will enable even the smallest business to appear massive to its customers.
    
    Here are some additional components to a quality e-commerce website:
    
    * Make sure your product inventory is always up-to-date
    * Include clear and concise product descriptions
    * Include ample photos
    * Offer competitive prices
    * Maintain an accurate and up-to-date customer and prospective customer list, and conduct regular marketing campaigns to the lists
    * Include customer testimonials and product reviews
    * Provide a shipping price calculator, if applicable
    * Add as much pertinent content as possible: blogs, articles, links, etc.
    * Make sure site visitors can easily submit queries or phone calls; and respond immediately to all customer inquiries
    * Take advantage of state-of-the-art communication technology such as live chats
    * Lenient return/exchange policies
    
    While it may cost less than a bricks-and-mortar store, an e-commerce website does come with its share of expenses. Make sure you allocate resources for:
    
    * Design and programming
    * Hosting services
    * Search Engine Optimization
    * Pay Per Click advertising
    * Web analytics
    * Social media marketing
    * Email marketing
    
    Good luck -- and happy selling!

    
    

• Online Marketing Techniques for Spanish-Speaking Consumers

  •  
    With the numbers and percentage of Hispanic Americans skyrocketing, Internet businesses would be wise to develop targeted marketing efforts to attract this substantial segment of U.S. consumers.
    
    The 2010 Census revealed the U.S. Hispanic population soared by 43 percent from 2000 to 2010. There are now 50.5 million Hispanics officially living in the U.S., compared with 35.3 million in 2000. Latinos now comprise 16 percent of the nation's total population of 308.7 million.
    
    Following are several suggestions for Internet marketers to help them take advanage of the rise in the Hispanic consumer population:
    
    1. Make sure phone operations provide Spanish-speaking options -- either through live operators or automated greetings.
    
    2. Prepare bi-lingual marketing material and website text, and offer customers the choice. Some Spanish-speaking customers prefer to communicate in English, so do not assume they will want the Spanish text.
    
    3. Advertise that your firm communicates in Spanish. Incorporate this simple message into all your websites, social networks, advertisements, storefront signage, etc.
    
    4. Help educate non-Spanish-speaking employees in basic Spanish. Hispanic customers will appreciate the effort, even if the employee cannot conduct a full conversation in Spanish.
    
    5. Run PPC ads in Spanish and English.
    
    Want another compelling reason to market to the Hispanic marketplace? According to Jupiter Research, online Hispanic purchases are expected to hit the $21.6 billion mark in 2011. Don't miss out on this booming segment of the U.S. consumer population.

    
    

• Backlink Tip for New/Revised Websites

  • The vast majority of businesses have undergone numerous website changes and enhancements over the lifespan of their site. Think about how your website may be looked waaaay back in the mid-90s when the Internet boom exploded. Chances are your site is dramatically different -- and chances are good it will evolve many more times over the next decade. But one aspect of every website that should remain fairly consistent is the backlinks.
    
    Too often, when a newly revised website is launched, the old backlinks are trashed. Unfortunately, it's highly possible that your old backlinks provided some value to your site; and therefore they should not be wiped clean when a new site is launched or when your old site is renovated.
    
    Restoring your website's backlinks can be a time-consuming process. Thus, before you hastily discard your old site, remember to check out your Google Webmaster tool, which include a report the sites that link to your site.  If a site has been around for any number of years, there could potentially be hundreds of backlinks linked to your site that are helping to enhance your website's organic search results. Wipe out the backlinks, and your search status could seriously plummet.

    
    

• Internet Marketing 101

  • Just beginning to dip your big toe into the deep waters of Internet marketing?  If you want to launch an affiliate marketing business or an online merchant operation, there is a lot to learn in order to compete with the millions of other Internet sites.
    
    Internet marketing is still a relatively obscure science. The vast majority of consumers and businesses are still caught up in the world of traditional marketing: television, direct mail, newspapers, magazines, outdoor. More and more, firms are beginning to realize the old marketing tactics are simply not as effective anymore. They know they must venture into the world of the Internet, but many novice Internet marketers have a difficult time figuring out where to begin.
    
    If you are faced with this challenge, here are a few pointers to help you get started:
    
    * Read, read, read. Gather as much intelligence as possible about Internet marketing, your competitors and their tactics. Talk with experts. Read blogs. Look into social networking. Be a sponge.
    
    * Be patient. Unless you are very fortunate, you will not stike gold immediately. Begin will small ad campaigns that will not cost an arm and a leg. You will make mistakes. Learn from them and make adjustments every step of the way.
    
    * Stick with what works. There's an old advertising saying -- 'I know 50 percent of my advertising works -- I just don't know which 50 percent that is.' To be an effective marketing pro, you need to know how your money is being spent. Continue to invest in the areas that work; and get out the ones that do not.
    
    * Test, test, test. An excellent way to determine the most effective tactics is to run concurrent tests. Make sure the results are easy to track.
    
    * Two heads are better than one. Some business persons work better solo; others work well with partners. If you find another Internet marketer with similar goals and products, you may want to look into a potential partnership. Maybe you can pigy-back on the success of a competitor. Make sure you both bring equally important assets to the partnership. And, make sure the business venture is clearly spelled out to avoid any possible legal hassles. 

    
    

• Web Searches Skyrocketing in U.S.

  • Americans continue to be more and more entranced with Internet searches.
    
    comScore has recently reported that during March 2011, almost 19 billion search queries were entered by Americans. The study shows the number of searches performed by U.S. residents has grown steadily in 2011. The research is an indication that search engine research is not losing its luster, even with the meteoric rise of social media.
    
    Google -- of course -- is by far the top search engine; with 64 percent of the U.S. search market. Over 12 billion Google searches were conducted in March, 2011. The marketshare of Yahoo! and Bing are both on the rise. Those two search engines comprise 26.4 percent of the American search volume, with 5 billion searches.

    
    

• Are CFPB Comments Truly Confidential?

  • An important element of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is that it is supposed to provide consumers with a risk-free, confidential way to provide information about various financial services companies. The "Disclosure of Records and Information Rules"  separates the information collected by the CFPB into three categories: “confidential” (consumer complaints); “investigative” (intel gathered by the CFPB investigators); and “supervisory” (information obtained by CFPB management.

    The CFPB is the federal regulatory agency mandated by passage of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, which was enacted in the wake of the nation's near-financial collapse.
    
    The Disclosure of Records and Information Rules stipulate the CFPB will not "ordinarily" provide private information to private attorneys or litigants, even if subpoenaed for the information.
    
    However ... the Rules does not prevent the CFPB from sharing this type of information with a number of federal and state agencies. These agencies include state attorneys general, state bank regulatory agencies, the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. banking agencies.
    
    Therefore, those who believe they are submitting confidential information should be aware that their whistle-blowing comments may not end up in the hands of lawyers -- yet they may very well be viewed by any number of regulatory officials.

    
    

• ValueClick Buys Greystripe For $70 million

  • The online marketing company ValueClick Inc. has announced it has purchased San Francisco-based Greystripe Inc. for about $70 million. Greystripe operates a mobile advertising network.
    
    The California-based ValueClick plans to use the purchase to give it clout in the U.S. mobile advertising market. Mobile ad volume is expected to skyrocket over the next two years, growing to a $2 billion industry. Greystripe's platform serves over 30 million mobile device users.
    
    ValueClick's services include display advertising, affiliate marketing, ad serving and other Internet-related technologies.
    
    Greystripe's staff is expected to remain intact.
    
    Valueclick also reported it has repurchased about 2.2 million shares during the first quarter of 2011.

    
    

• Payday Loans and Cash-for-Gold the Hottest Financial Services in UK

  • The British economy continues to sputter, and UK consumers are more eager than ever to seek unique resolutions to their money woes.
    
    According to a recent online survey of over 1,000 Brits, 28 percent have thought about taking out a short-term/payday loans over the past 12 months to help resolve their urgent financial problems.
    
    Another popular source for quick cash in Britain are the cash-for-gold websites. Some 34 percent of those who were studied said they had considered utilizing a cash-for-gold service.
    
    Those percentages may be partially sparked by rising credit card debt. Of those surveyed, 14 percent said they have at least five credit cards; and 73 percent have at least two.
    
    The research was conducted by CouponCroc.co.uk.

    
    

• EU Internet Chief Wants to Throttle Some Internet Services

  • The "throttling" of web traffic has the European Union's (EU) Internet czar fuming.
    
    Neelie Kroes, the EU commissioner of the digial agenda, has threatened to crack the whip on companies that unfairly “block or throttling” web traffic.
    
    The EU wants to stop practices such as: when mobile-phone operators block customers from using alternative voice-over Internet services to place calls; or when Internet providers purposely slow down the quality of content such as video streaming provided by rival providers.
    
    The European Commission is requesting that Internet regulators begin “a rigorous fact-finding exercise” into these questionable practices.
    
    Kroes commented, “If I am not satisfied, I will not hesitate to come up with more stringent measures.” The Dutch political veteran added, “If this proves to be insufficient, I am ready to prohibit the blocking of lawful services or applications.”
    
    Beginning May 25, regulators in the EU's member nations will be mandated to promote the ability of Internet users “to access and distribute information or run applications and services of their choice.”
    
    The EU expects to publish the results of the investigation by the end of this year.

    
    

• Basics for Remaining Relevent With Google

  • Google and the other search engines are constantly fiddling with their criteria. It's a shell game for Internet advertisers trying to figure out the secret formula for high search rankings.
    
    There are several basics that web marketers need to follow that should help to keep your site relevent for Google, Yahoo!, Bing and the other search engines.
    
    * Keep your web content current, fresh and constantly updated with new articles, videos and other content. If your site has been static for several months, then you run the risk of becoming invisible to the search engines.
    
    * A good way to keep a good flow of new content is to add a blog to your site. Posting new entries once or twice a month will not only increase your site's content, but it may also generate comments from web visitors.
    
    * Contact popular, relative websites and request request reciprocal links on each others' sites.
    
    * Post comments on various blogs and include a link to your site.
    
    * Name each page within your web site, and make sure the page names include key search terms.
    
    * Be thorough with your website tags (this is the descriptions of your site).
    
    * Name the images on your site. Search engines pick up on all text within your site, even image tags and descriptions.
    
    * Streamline your site. If it containts too many elements that may slow down the load time, then your search engine rankings may suffer. It's good to have a functional site, but avoid adding excessive bells and whistles, unless they are necessary and helpful to the visitors' experience.
    
    Most of these tasks can be accomplished without too much technical expertise. If you are still not receiving your desired rankings, then you may want to enlist the help of an SEO specialist.

    
    

• Benefits of Pay Per Lead Advertising

  • Every business is looking for new business leads. And every business wants to find the best bang for the buck when it comes to their lead sources. It's tough to find a more effective form of advertising than pay per lead.
    
    Pay per lead programs (especially highly effective ones such as those offered by T3LEADS) have become a preferred marketing tools for Internet advertisers. The primary benefit is that money is not wasted on "clicks" that do not result in any activity.
    
    With pay per lead advertising, the burden is on the advertiser to create enticing web offers. Since the advertiser only pays a fee when a prospective customer is converted to an actual lead, then the fault lies primarily with the advertiser if website visitors are not converted. Basically, with pay per lead advertising, you want to be shelling out money to the lead generation company. That is an indication that your site is effectively enticing customers to take action. This is where pay per lead differs from pay per click. Pay per click advertising will charge the advertiser for every click-through from the search engine to the website. There is no guarantee the visitor will take any action, but the advertiser still incurs a charge.
    
    When the Internet was in its infancy, it was difficult for a business to allocate resources toward Internet marketing ventures because there simply were not enough viable advertising options and clear evidence of their effectiveness. Banner ads were among the initial web-based advertising vehicles, but they often proved ineffective as a lead generation tool. Pay per click emerged as the first Internet-based advertising solution to show positive, trackable results for many online advertisers. PPC, along with its analytics, helped Google to become the 800-pound Internet advertising gorilla. But with PPC's success also came a ton of competition, which forced web marketers to seek more cost effective options.  
    
    Pay per lead advertising is currently one of the more effective solutions for marketers looking to maximize their return on investment and utilize tools that provide thorough back-end tracking.
    
    What are some other benefits of pay per lead advertising?
    * PPL makes it simple to control your advertising budget, especially when the lead generation vendor provides customized tools that allow their advertisers to set daily or monthly expense caps.
    * PPL generates pre-qualified leads because the advertisers know they are only paying for prospects interested in their product or service.
    * PPL leads usually close at a higher rate than with other advertising vehicles, since the leads are clearly interested in the advertiser's products and they have taken the time to complete a form.
    * PPL advertising vendors usually provide various cost levels, depending on the quality of the lead or the potential revenue of the lead. This further helps the advertisers to control their costs.
    
    No business will grow without new business leads. That's an obvious fact. And in today's technology-driven environment, any business not taking advantage of Internet-based opportunities such as PPL advertising is going to be left in the dust by their competition.

    
    

• How Marketing Methods Have Changed Over the Past Decade

  • Only a decade ago the term "affiliate marketing" had little or no meaning in the business world. Today affiliate marketing is one of the fastest growing business segments in the world.
    
    Clearly, the shift toward more Internet-based marketing had already begun at the turn of the century. But with the exception of those truly in the inner circle of the Internet revolution, few could have predicted the meteoric explosion of the affiliate marketing world.
    
    Tools like email marketing, Youtube, social networking and mobile communication that are commonplace today barely existed 10 years ago. Today those are just some of the resources that are at the disposal of affiliate marketers. The ability to instantly communicate with current and prospective clients is more robust now than anyone could have anticipated.
    
    Another aspect of affiliate marketing that has skyrocketed over the past decade is the ability for web publishers to segment to more specific audiences. Web publishers often produce multiple websites and blogs that geo-target specific market segments. Extremely user-friendly web design tools such as WordPress and others have opened the door to even the most novice Internet marketer.
    
    As long as one is willing to put in the time and educate themself on the technology and their products, the sky is the limit when it comes to affiliate marketing.
    
    As the electronic tools have grown in popularity, traditional advertising sources have by and large suffered. While it is still an effective way to drive traffic to a website, the high cost of broadcast media makes it a tough choice for the affiliate marketer. Print advertising has probably suffered worse than any other ad medium.
    
    The most dramatic impact has probably been felt by the Yellow Pages directories. For decades, Yellow Pages were the primary source of new business for numerous industries. Search engines have nearly killed the industry, which has never really been able to find a niche on the Internet.
    
    It will be interesting to see how many new and exciting directions the technological changes will take us over the next 10 years.

    
    

• Poll Shows Payday Loans May be Needed Even More Due to British Budget

  • Time are tough in the UK -- and payday loans are playing a more important role than ever in help Brits cover urgent expenses.
    
    Consider these facts:
    
    * A 1 percent increase in employee contributions to National Insurance;
    * A three year freeze in child benefits;
    * Another 45 different tax increases and benefit cuts;
    * The VAT increase to 20%;
    * Wage freezes;
    * Increasing food and fuel prices.
    
    The list goes on, and at the risk of sound too negative, we'll stop there. The bottom line is more and more UK families are searching for ways to make it the next paycheck. A new poll shows a growing number of families who have not previously taken advantage of payday loans now say they need to consider these short-term loans to simply help pay off some bills.
    
    Payday loans companies want to make it easy for their customers to pay for urgent expenses. They pride themselves on quick turn-around of applications and transmission of funds into customers' bank accounts. The speed and convenience provided by the payday loan industry -- especially the online lenders -- have made these loans a critical financial tool for many struggling consumers.

    
    

• Payday Loans Serve the Underbanked Market

  • Roughly 8 percent of American families either do not qualify for or they choose not to utilize the services of a traditional bank account, according to the FDIC. There's another significant group of Americans -- those labeled as "underbanked." These consumers may have a bank account, but they often need to seek financial services outside the standard banking offerings in order to make ends meet. Some estimates show about 21 million Americans fall into the "underbanked" category.
    
    So -- where does the underbanked consumer turn when they need an immediate influx of cash? Many traditional banks have implemented tougher lending approval rules, so underbanked consumers must often look elsewhere for quick loans and other types of financial services.
    
    A study by First Research has revealed about 7,000 U.S. companies offer personal loans to consumers. This industry, which includes payday loan lenders and check cashing services, has a total annual revenue of about $180 billion. With the growth of Internet marketing technology and the tightening of rules in many states that govern these types of lending operations, a large percentage of Americans now seek personal loans online.
    
    Another market segment experiencing significant growth is the prepaid card industry. These cards are similar to credit or debit cards, but they are pre-loaded with money to protect consumers from an over-draft situation.
    
    Companies marketing pre-paid cards charge an activation fees ranging from as low as a couple dollars, to as much as $35. In addition, pre-paid card companies usually charge a monthly service fee.
    
    The Credit Union National Association estimates by 2014 about $164 billion will be loaded onto prepaid cards. About 16 percent of the nation's underbanked families use prepaid debit cards.

    
    

• Agency Looking to Crack the Whip on Questionable Online Advertising

  • Online advertisers will need to be on their best behavior.
    
    The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) is launching its Internet-based Advertising Accountability Program, which tracks the online advertising world to spot potential violations.
    
    The self-regulatory online advertising principles mandate that companies provide “enhanced notice” to consumers and post an icon for interest-based ads that notifies consumers the website may be collecting their data. Consumers may click on the icon (which is a lower-case “i” surrounded by a triangle) for more information about the advertiser’s practices. Consumers may also opt-out of future targeted advertising through the site.
    
    The CBBB will be carefully reviewing non-compliance reports for advertisers, and the agency will report non-compliance incidents to the government.
    
    Companies that conduct Internet behavioral advertising need to be prepared for the beefed up monitoring effort. The CBBB program is partially designed to ward off government intrusion into Internet security matters.

    
    

• Dodd-Frank Rules Could Cost Almost $1 Billion

  • The price tag to implement the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act that manadates reforms of the nation's financial companies could be a staggering $1 billion, according to the General Accounting Office (GAO).
    
    The GAO also estimates more than 2,000 employees will be needed to oversee the various programs mandated by Dodd-Frank.
    
    There are 11 agencies chaged with implementing Dodd-Frank, including the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. These agencies reported to the GAO they would collectively need some $973 million to oversee Dodd-Frank's rules. Most of the expenses would be recurring costs, most of which will likely be funded by taxpayers.
    
    One of the more controversial provision of the Dodd-Frank Act was the establishment of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB alone may require $329 million in funds in fiscal 2012 and more than 883 new employees, according to the GAO.
    
    Republican legislators have recently proposed several changes to Dodd-Frank, partially in an attempt to control expenses associated with the law.

    
    

• Have You Tested Your Web Performance Load Lately?

  • Can your website handle a massive spike in visitors and orders? If you are not sure, then you will need to perform a web load performance test.
    
    Website load testing determines how your system will perform under both normal and peak load conditions. You need to determine the highest possible capacity your system can handle before it becomes over-loaded.
    
    There are several tools available to help test your website's load performance. For example, Web Performance Load Tester™ claims to be able to determine precise quantity of visitors your website can handle. This service allows users to generate a test load from outside or within your network to determine its optimum performance.
    
    These services may be able to provide reports and features that analyze your load performance tests. The better progams will also be able to run numerous concurrent tests based on various configurations.
    
    It may be wise to research the market to find the best load performance product for your website's needs. 

    
    

• CFPB to Allocate Most of Budget on Enforcement; Warren Promises Scrutiny of Payday Lenders

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) advisor Elizabeth Warren has said over half of the agency's budget will be earmarked for supervising and enforcing consumer protection rules.
    
    The CFPB, which was mandated by passage of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform act, will officially open for operation in July, 2011. The mission of the agency is to develop consumer protection safeguards against questionable practices from financial services companies. The CFPB will ovesee firms with over $10 billion in assets, as well as non-bank entities such as payday loan lenders, mortgage companies, student loans services, etc.
    
    "We will build a strong enforcement arm that will -- for the first time ever -- put significant federal resources behind ensuring compliance by non-bank financial companies," Warren said. "That is why we anticipate more than half our budget will be committed to establishing supervision and meaningful enforcement. We need to make sure that the non-bank companies, and also the largest banks, follow the rules."
    
    Warren added, "We are committed to ensuring that all providers--including community banks, credit unions, large banks, non-bank mortgage lenders, and payday lenders -- must follow the rules for offering consumer financial products."

    
    

• "Underbanked" Service Industry Expected to Keep Growing

  • The "underbanked" service industry should continue to grow over the next two years, according to a recently released study conducted hy the Center fo Financial Services Innovation (CFSI).
    
    The CFSI study attempted to examine the various financial products and services targeted toward the underbanked population. The report, the "Underbanked Industry Scan," collected information about specific products, providers and consumer demographics.
    
    The findings include:
    * The demand for underbanked services should increase over the next two years, so providers should plan to enhance their products to meet this demand.
    * For-profit companies are more optimistic about the potential for growth and demand for underbanked financial services market than nonprofits.
    * Over half of those surveyed expect competition to increase.
    
    Underbanked consumers are typically defined as those with limited access to mainstream financial services such as banks. Therefore, they rely on alternative financial services such as payday loans, cheque cashers and pawnshops.
    
    CFSI received 171 responses to their survey. Financial providers included in the study were banks, payday loan lenders, credit unions, prepaid providers, nonprofit providers, retail financial services outlets, check cashers and other industries catering to the underbanked population.
    
    The Center for Financial Services Innovation is a leading authority on financial services for underbanked consumers.

    
    

• Small Businesses Still Behind the Ecommerce Curve

  • A new report published by Formstack has revealed some eye-opening news about small businesses and Internet marketing.
    
    Formstack's report, “How Small Businesses Are Engaging in E-commerce,” reveals that fewer than half of small businesses even have a website.
    
    Although statistics show e-commerce sales continue to rise dramatically, many small businesses are significantly behind the curve.
    
    The report shows that in 2009 only 45 percent of small businesses had a website. Apparently, many of these business owners -- some 41 percent -- do not believe they need a website because they are not interested in e-commerce. Another 19 percent say they do not have the financial resources; and 16 percent say they do not have the time to produce a website.
    
    The report shows:
    
    * Only 30 percent of the small businesses with a website are set up for e-commerce;
    * Some 45 percent provide customer service through their website;
    * Only 15 percent can schedule appointments through their site;
    * Just 35 percent are set up to generate leads through their website; and
    * Only 13 percent of the sites include a blog.
    
    The future does not look much more promising. The report indicated a mere 17 percent of small business owners expect to enhance their website budgets; and only 15 percent plan to increase their email marketing budget.
    
    Small businesses are also behind the times with the social media explosion. Just 13 percent expect to focus more on social media marketing. About 19 percent of small- to medium-sized businesses have used Twitter to market their company. Facebook is more popular for small busineses, with 48 percent utilizing Facebook.

    
    

• Affiliate Tax to Begin in Illinois

  • Online affiliate marketing retailers have lost the battle against sales tax in Illinois.
    
    Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed into law a measure that requires Internet retailers in the state to pay sales tax on affiliate marketing business.
    
    Illinois is not the first state to tax online retailers. Colorado, North Carolina and Rhode Island have also enacted affiliate marketing sales tax laws. As numerous states continue to struggle with their budgets, more and more are looking into affiliate retailers as a source for additional tax revenue.
    
    The California Legislature has introduced a similar measure, but Amazon.com has told the Golden State Board of Equalization it will pull the plug on its California affiliates if any sales tax bill is passed.
    
    It is expected that the Illinois law could lead to an exodus of online retailers from the state. This, of course, would completely defeat the purpose of the affiliate marketing sales tax law.

    
    

• Payday versus Pawnshops

  • When consumers are strapped for cash, there are several options they may consider to help resolve their financial problem. Two of the more popular quick-fix financial solutions are payday loans and pawnshops.
    
    Short-term/payday loans:
    
    * Payday loan applicants must provide proof of employment and they must earn a minimum monthly income to qualify. The specific requirements will vary, depending on the lenders. The borrower must also have a bank account for the money transfer. There are many payday loan stores, as well as numerous online payday loan services.
    
    * As some states have passed laws making it difficult for payday loan stores to earn a profit, online cash advance websites have grown in popularity. The online payday services are also convenient for borrowers who need the money immediately and may not have access to transportation.
    
    * Another benefit of the online payday transaction is that the loan is typically transmitted to the borrower's bank account within 24 hours.
    
    * The loan amount will be exactly what the borrower requests, plus the finance charge, provided the lender approves the application.
    
    * Payday loan borrowers are not required to put up any collateral in order to secure the loan.
    
    * For both online and "bricks-and-mortar" payday loan stores, the loan must be paid off on the borrower's next payday.
    
    * If the borrower is not able to repay the loan by the next payday, they may receive an extension.
    
    Pawnshops:
    
    * Most consumers have heard of pawnshops, but many are not clear on how they operate. Pawnshops -- like payday services -- provide loans to help resolve an immediate financial need. Pawnshop borrowers must put up something of value as collateral to receive the loan.
    
    * Pawnshop loans are typically good for up to four months. When the borrower repays the loan the pawnshop releases the merchandise back to the customer. If the borrower does not repay the loan the pawnshop puts the collateral up for sale. When the item is put up for sale by the pawnshop, the price tag will be considerably greater than the loan amount.
    
    * The pawnshop usually does not require proof of employment as a prerequisite for the loan. The loan is typically a conservative amount based on the value of the collateral. This protects the pawnshop's interest in case the loan is not repaid.
    
    * The amount of the loan will be based on what the pawnshop owner decides to provide, based on the perceived value of the collateral merchandise.
    
    * Pawnshops may provide an extension if the borrower is unable to pay off the loan.
    
    * Pawnshops will usually offer an option to a loan -- they may allow the customer to simply sell their merchandise to them. In this case, the pawnshop will typically provide a larger sum of money to the customer than if the customer takes out a loan.

    
    

• Path Cleared for Dollar Financial to Buy U.K. Payday Lender

  • Dollar Financial Corp. has announced its purchase of Purpose U.K. Holdings Ltd. has been given the green light by the British Office of Fair Trading.
    
    The acquisition will cost Dollar Financial $195 million. Purpose U.K. Holdings operates the online lender PaydayUK. The deal was initially unveiled in December, 2010.
    
    Dollar Financial says it will combine cash and its recently expanded $200 million revolving credit facility to fund the purchase.
    
    PaydayUK was launched in 2003 and provides short-term loans to U.K. resdents through the Internet and by telephone.
    
    Dollar Financial, has more than 350 U.K. stores in Britian that provide payday loans and pawn loans. The company also buys gold and offers a check cashing service.

    
    

• Utah Payday Loan Bill Killed

  • A proposal designed to limit the number of payday loans a Utah resident may obtain has been torpedoed in the state Legislature.
    
    House Bill 113 (Daw) was defeated in the House Business and Labor Committee by a 9-4 vote. The bill would have mandated the creation of a state database of those who have an outstanding payday loan and those in default on a payday loan. Those on the list would have been disqualified from receiving additional short-term loans.
    
    A spokesperson for the state's payday loan industry successfully argued the majority of payday customers repay the loan promptly and avoid getting caught in a "debt spiral." It was also agrued Utah payday lenders allow customers to make long-term, interest-free payments to pay off their debt.
    
    Utah law allows payday loans to be rolled over for a maximum of 10 weeks. At that time the payday lender must put a stop to the interest build-up. State residents may, however, continue to apply for additional loans.

    
    

• Google Combatting SEO "Cheaters"

  • Google is reportedly mixing things up in an attempt to thwart search engine optimization (SEO) "cheaters." The search engine giant is apparently fed up with low quality websites that have figured out ways to appear high on the search rankings. In response, Google has juggled its secret formula in order to throw these sites for a loop.
    
    A low quality site is considered one that does not offer useful information or services for the visitor, as it relates to the search. Oftentimes these sites were appearing high in Google rankings because they will loaded with ads. Others suspect Google is clamping down on websites believed to employ content farming in order to stockpile articles from freelancers. Sites that have been accused of content farming include the Huffington Post, Demand Media and Newegg. These sites have been accused of loading a lot of unoriginal content for the purpose of enhancing the Google ranking.
    
    SEO specialists have long been in search of the magic Google formula in hopes of assuring themselves the highest possible search ranking. Google has always been extremely protective of its secret formula, and has frequently changed the various algorithms in order to throw SEO pros off their scent.
    
    The most recent Google changes are expected to impact 11.8 percent of its search results.

    
    

• Payday Loan Borrowers: Demographic Data

  • The data has been crunched, and the results have been tabulated. How does the payday borrower data break down for gender, age, income, ethnicity, education and Internet use?
    
    The study, published by online-payday-loans.org, analyzed traffic and visitor demographics data from third-party providers.
    
    Check out the results:
    
    Gender distribution: Most payday loan website visitors were women -- 67% female and 33% male.
    
    Age distribution: Most visitors were 18-34 years of age, followed by those 35-49. The age breakdown was: 43% 18-34, 29% 35-49, 18% 50+ years of age.
    
    Household income: Most visitors to the payday loan site that was analyzed had a household income over $30,000 a year. The household income distribution was: 44% $30-60k, 30% $60-100k, 19% $0-$30k per year.
    
    Ethnicity: The ethnic distribution was: 63% caucasian, 26% African American, 9% Hispanic, 2% Asian.
    
    Education: The household education level was: 49% college education, 44% no college, 7% grad school.
    
    Internet usage: The majority of visitors to the payday loan provider studied were:
    
    * female
    * 18-34 years of age
    * household income of $30-60k
    * college educated
    
    These figures contradict many critics' claims that payday loans are primarily purchased by low-income consumers.

    
    

• Mississippi Payday Loan Bill Signed by Governor

  • Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has signed into law a bill that amends the allowable fees that may be charged by payday lenders. The measure, House Bill 455, also affords the state's payday lenders a three year extension so they may continue to conduct business in Mississippi. HB 455 takes effect January 1, 2012.
    
    The law allowing payday lenders to operate in the state would have sunset in 2012 without passage of the legislation. Payday loan critics had lobbied lawmakers to let the law sunset and essentially kill the Mississippi payday loan industry.
    
    Payday industry supporters argued not only does the industry provide some 3,000 job to state residents, but it provides an important, viable option to consumers in need of quick cash to resolve their pressing financial needs.
    
    Sen. Walter Michel (R-Jackson), who serves on the Mississippi Senate Business and Financial Institutions Committee, said, "...it was the will of the Legislature that the consumers get reduced fees. The bill that was passed will enable about 3,000 jobs to remain intact."
    
    HB 455 mandates that consumers must be provided up to 30 days to repay loans. The law caps fees at $20 for loans of between $100 and $250. For $251 to $500 loans, the fee will be $21.95 per $100. HB 455 also mandates a state hotline for consumers to lodge complaints with the state banking commission or the attorney general's office.
    
    It is estimated the new law may reduce payday lender revenue by around 10 percent, and it could force some smaller payday lenders out of business.

    
    

• The Battle Over Debit Card Swipe Fees

  • One of the 11th-hour amendments added to the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform act was a cap on debit card fees banks may charge merchants. The amendment has sparked a flurry of lobbying activity from banks and credit card companies.
    
    The provision mandates that debit card swipe fees be "resonable and proportional" to underlying costs. Retailers had been calling for limits on these fees, which generate billions in revenue each year for banks.
    
    “It is one of the most active lobbying efforts I have ever seen,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) commented.
    
    Opponents of the debit card fee provision recently won a small victory when a bipartisan group of senators led by Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced a measure calling for a study of the impact of the swipe fee regulation, The bill calls for a two-year delay in the provision.
    
    The American Bankers Association, one of the most active lobbying groups opposing the swipe fee provision, has dispatched nearly a thousand bankers to jawbone legislators in D.C. on how swipe fees will harm smaller banks, and that consumers will not benefits from the savings.
    
    The Electronic Payments Coalition, a  consortium of trade groups and credit card companies, has also launched a very organized lobbying effort against the swipe fee cap.
    
    The effort to protect the cap fee provision appears to be equally as aggressive. The Merchants Payments Coalition, which includes the National Retail Federation, the National Grocers Association and the National Association of Convenience Stores, are arguing that the fee protects consumers.

    
    

• Payday Lobbying Efforts Pick Up Steam

  • Payday loan lenders have spent a great deal of resources over the past several years defending their right to remain in business. Now a new report shows payday lenders are beefing up their federal lobbying efforts to protect their livelihood.
    
    The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has reported payday lender lobbying expenditures have spiked, especially in the wake of passage of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act.
    
    CREW's study shows payday lender campaign donations rose 80 percent from 2006 through the 2010 midterm election cycles.
    
    One payday loan industry trade association, Financial Service Centers of America, has announced it will be relocating to D.C. to keep closer tabs on legeislative activity.

    
    

• Payday Loan Industry Still Vital

  • There's no hiding the fact that the payday loan industry has been taking a bit of a beating lately. Several states have implemented caps on allowable annual interest rates, which has forced many payday lenders in those states either out of business or out of the country. In addition, those spearheading the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), including Obama-appointee Elizabeth Warren, are going to be looking for targets to justify their position.
    
    But don't count out the payday loan industry.
    
    Short-term loan opponents such as Warren may be eager to blast payday lenders by exposing the APR of their products. But it should be noted the CFPB will not have the authority to limit interest rates. In addition, it is clear payday loans are probably the best option for consumers who need a quick influx of cash and do not have other viable sources of revenue at their disposal.
    
    By far, the biggest misconception about payday loans is regarding the interest rates. The typical fee on a two-week, $100 loan is around $15. Because it is a two-week loan, the minor $15 fee equates to a 391 percent annual interest rate. However, payday loans are not allowed to be rolled over for an entire year. Most states have limits on the number of permissible roll-overs. So, if the borrower pays off their short-term loan within the prescribed two-week term, the fee is really quite minor.
    
    The primary sticking point for payday loan critics is the APR. But, how does the typical payday loan APR stack up compared with other similar fees? Check out this comparison:
    
    * $100 payday advance with $15 fee = 391 percent APR;
    * $100 bounced check with $48 NSF/merchant fees = 1,251 percent APR;
    * $100 credit card balance with $26 late fee = 678 percent APR;
    * $100 utility bill with $50 late/reconnect fees = 1,304 percent APR.
    
    Consumers are always the best gauge of the value of a particular product or service. Certainly, the success of a product such as payday loans is partially a reflection of the economy. In a weak economy, consumers are going to need more financial assistance than they will in a strong economy. Overall, however, if a product or service makes sense to consumers, they will continue to buy. If the product or service is a bad deal, consumers will eventually shy away.
    
    A closer look at the payday loan industry shows there is still significant consumer demand. Retail payday loan volume (data does not include online lenders) fell slightly, from $35 billion in 2008 to $30 billion in 2009. That's actually impressive, considering approximately 1,700 payday loan shops were forced to pull the plug on their operation. In addition, several of the top-earning payday lenders continued to see a strong increase in business volume. (Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard and Poor's.)
    
    As banks remain strict about their lending rules and the nation continues to scratch-and-claw its way out of the recession, consumers will continue to seek options when they are in need of fast cash. Payday loan lenders fill a necessary niche in the financial services marketplace.

    
    

• U.S. and UK Payday Loans Laws

  • Below is a summary of the payday loan laws that exist in each U.S. state, plus the United Kingdom. This information was obtained from various websites on Feb. 9-10, 2011. Although we believe the information to be up-to-date at the time, we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. We encourage you to conduct additional research for more information on payday loan laws.
    
    (Sources: http://paydayloanlegislation.com, http://www.paydayloanadvances.co.uk/Regulatory_Bodies.asp, http://www.kxlf.com/news/payday-lenders-feel-effects-of-i-164-rate-cap-law/)
    
    * Alabama: The permitted fee is 17.5% of the amount advanced. The permitted time period is a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 31 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $500.00. No more than one rollover is allowed.
    
    * Alaska: The permitted fee is $15 per $100 advanced plus a maximum $5.00 non-refundable origination fee. The permitted time period is a minimum of 14 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $500.00. No more than two rollovers are allowed.
    
    * Arizona: Payday loan lending businesses are now prohibited from operating in the state.
    
    * Arkansas: Arkansas has specific payday advance laws. The Arkansas Attorney General is enforcing the state's 17% constitutional limit.
    
    * California: The permitted fee is 15 % of the face amount of the payday loan amount. The permitted time period is a maximum of 31 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $300.00. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Colorado: Colorado allows rates up to 20% of the first $300.00; 7.5% on any amount greater than $300. Maximum amount of a cash advance is $500. The permitted time period is a maximum of 40 days. Rollovers are limited to one.
    
    * Connecticut: Connecticut does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation.
    
    * Delaware: The interest rate is determined by the parties to the loan. The term of a payday loan is 59 days. Maximum amount of a cash advance is $500. Rollovers are limited to four.
    
    * District of Columbia: In May 2008, the Washington D.C. City Council passed a 24% interest rate cap on small consumer loans. The law forced numerous payday loan stores out of business.
    
    * Florida: 10% of the face amount of the payday loan plus a maximum $5 verification fee. The permitted time period is a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 31 days. The maximum amount of the cash advance is $500. There are no rollovers allowed.
    
    * Georgia: In May 2004 the Georgia state Legislature passed a statute imposing stiff penalties for payday loan lending by non-banks and in-state banks. It also capped small consumer loans at Georgia's small loan usury rate of 60%. Payday loan lenders pulled out of the state of Georgia shortly after. However, many Georgia payday loan consumers continue to get access to payday loans via the Internet and payday loan call centers based in other states and offshore.
    
    * Hawaii: allows fees up to 15% of the face amount of the cash advance. Maximum time period is 32 days. Maximum amount of the loan is $600. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Idaho: The maximum term of a payday loan is 30 days. Maximum amount of a cash advance is $1000.
    
    * Illinois: The new law caps loans under $4k to a 99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and over $4k at 36% APR. The Illinois payday loan law goes into effect April 21, 2011.
    
    An alternative product is permitted under the PLRA (Illinois Payday Loan Reform Act). This product will allow a fee of $15 per $100 loaned. This Illinois payday loan product is partnered with the Veritec state database.
    
    * Indiana: Allows rate of 13% on loan amounts greater than $250, up to and including $400; and 10% on amounts greater than $400, up to and including $500. The minimum term is 14 days. Maximum amount of payday loan is $500 but cannot exceed 15% of the monthly gross income, including fees. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Iowa: Allows rates up to 15% of the payday loan amount on the 1st $100; 10% on subsequent $100 increments. Maximum term of 31 days. Maximum cash advance amount allowable is $500. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Kansas: Allows rates up to 15% of the payday loan amount. Minimum term of 7 days and a maximum term of 30 days. Maximum cash advance amount allowable is $500. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Kentucky: Allows up to $15 per $100 on face amount of check. Minimum term of 14 days and a maximum term of 60 days. Maximum cash advance amount allowable is $500. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Louisiana: Allows up to $16.75% of the face amount of check. Maximum term of 30 days. Maximum cash advance amount allowable is $350. Rollovers are prohibited (but can accept partial payment of 25% + fees and enter into a new agreement).
    
    * Maine: Allows a $5 fee when the amount loaned does not exceed $75; $15 when the loan amount exceeds $75 but is less than $250; $25 when the loan amount is greater than $250. Term of loan is determined by the parties.
    
    * Maryland: Maryland does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. The best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * Massachusetts: Massachusetts does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * Michigan: Allows a 15% fee on the first $100; 14% on the second $100; 13% on the third $100; 12% on the fourth $100; 11% on the fifth and sixth $100. The maximum permitted term is 31 days. The maximum amount of the advance is $600. Payday loan rollovers are not permitted. There is no mandated cooling off period. Regarding extended repayment options, customers are eligible for a plan if unable to pay the eighth loan with any licensee in any 12 month period; the lender must advise the borrower of repayment option when it is available. A Michigan industry-wide data base is mandated.
    
    * Minnesota: Requires a scale of fees (e.g., on a payday loan between $50-$100, 10% of the loan + $5 administration fee). The maximum term of a payday loan is 30 days. Maximum cash advance amount is $350. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Mississippi: Permits a fee of 18 % of the face amount of the payday loan amount. The permitted time period is a maximum of 30 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $400.00. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Missouri: Total fees, including rollovers, cannot exceed 75% of the initial loan amount. The permitted time period is a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 31 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $500.00. Rollovers are limited to 6, but the borrower must reduce the principal by at least 5% with each rollover.
    
    * Montana: Initiative 164 was a ballot measure approved by Montana voters in November and placed limits on what certain lenders can charge, capping the rate at 36% for short-term "payday" loans. The law is expected to force payday lenders in Montana out of business.
    
    * Nebraska: The allowable fee is $15 per $100 on the face amount of the payday loan. The permitted time period is a maximum of 31 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $500.00. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Nevada: The loan rate and time period are determined by the parties. The loan cannot exceed 25% of the borrower's expected monthly gross income. Extensions are permitted.
    
    * New Hampshire: The state effectively prohibited the offering of the cash advance product when it imposed a 36% annual percentage rate cap on payday loans, resulting in an effective ban of the industry there.
    
    * New Jersey: New Jersey does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * New Mexico: The rate of the loan is determined by the parties. Law prohibits renewals and rollovers of payday loans, requires automatic 130-day payment plans for those who cannot repay their payday loan on time, imposes a 10-day cooling off period before individuals can request another loan after being in a payment plan, adds new consumer rights signage in payday loan locations and requires that information be provided in Spanish.
    
    * New York: The state does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * North Carolina: Payday loan laws expired in North Carolina in August of 2001. Payday loan lenders were offered the option of either becoming a licensed consumer finance lender and abiding by North Carolina usury laws or closing operations. North Carolina does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * North Dakota: The allowable rate of the payday loan is 20% of the amount borrowed. The maximum term of the loan is 60 days. The payday loan cannot exceed $500. Rollovers are limited to one at least 15 days.
    
    * Oklahoma: The permissible fee is $15 per $100 advanced up to the first $300. The cash advance fee is $10 per $100 advanced in excess of $300. The permitted time period is a minimum of 12 days and a maximum of 45 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $500. Rollovers are prohibited. Additionally, Oklahoma uses a state database.
    
    * Oregon: The Oregon State Legislature passed a new law in 2007 that placed a 36% Annual Percentage Rate on small consumer loans. Virtually all the Oregon payday loan brick-n-mortars closed their doors as a result.
    
    * Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * Rhode Island: Rhode Island does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * South Carolina: The allowable fee is 15 % of the face amount of the payday loan amount. The permitted time period is a maximum of 31 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan is $550. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * South Dakota: The interest rate is determined by the parties to the loan. The term of a payday loan is determined by the parties. Maximum amount of a cash advance is $500. Rollovers are limited to four.
    
    * Tennessee: The allowable fee is 15% of the face amount of the payday loan amount or $30, whichever is less. The permitted time period is a maximum of 31 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $500. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Texas: Texas does have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. Texas payday loan statutes refer to a scale of fees. The minimum term is 7 days and the maximum is 31 days. Rollovers are limited. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * Utah: The interest rate is determined by the parties to the payday loan. The term of a payday loan is determined by the parties, as well. Maximum amount of a cash advance is not specified. Rollovers are limited to 12 weeks after the initial loan is made.
    
    * Vermont: Vermont does not have specific payday loan safe-harbor legislation. At this time, the best approach is to offer payday loans via the Internet.
    
    * Virginia: The state allows a fee of 15 % of the face amount of the payday loan amount. The permitted time period is a minimum of 7 days. The maximum amount of the payday loan allowable is $500. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * Washington: You may only borrow a total of $700 or 30% of your gross monthly income, whichever is less. Your information will be registered in a state-wide database, ensuring that all payday lenders have the most up-to-date loan information. You may only take 8 payday loans per 12-month period. If you are unable to repay your loan before your loan is due, you may request an installment plan with no additional fees. If you currently have an installment plan you may not receive another loan. Lenders may not harass or intimidate when collecting a loan.
    
    * West Virginia: The state attorney general is very aggressive in trying to stamp out payday loan; including payday loan Internet operators.
    
    * Wisconsin: The interest rate is determined by the parties to the loan. The term of a payday loan is determined by the parties to the loan. Maximum amount of a cash advance is N/A. Rollovers are not limited.
    
    * Wyoming: The allowable fee is $30 or 20% per month, whichever is greater, on the principal balance of the face amount of the check. The term of a payday loan is one calander month. There is no statutory cap on the amount of the cash advance. Rollovers are prohibited.
    
    * UK payday loan laws: Few regulations exist in relation to payday loans in the UK.
    
    In the UK, a consumer credit licence is issued by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The license is required by a company before it is permitted to offer payday loans. Otherwise, few regulations exist in relation to payday loans.
    
    Even though relatively few regulations apply explicitly to UK payday loan providers, these companies are still required to abide by the same rules that apply to the advertising of other financial products. Most advertismenets offering loans must display the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The APR must be clearly shown in an advertisement if:
    
    * the advertisement makes comparisons with other financial products;
    * the advertisement offers incentives such as cash-back or free gifts;
    * the advertisement mentions poor credit history, arrears or county court judgements (CCJ) in its advertising pitch.
    * there is a high APR.
    
    In addition, the APR must be displayed more prominently and in larger type than the information about comparisons or incentives.

    
    

• Major Internet Affiliate Marketing Study Completed

  • An Internet affiliate marketing network's reputation is a primary factor for affiliates in considering with which marketing companies to partner.
    
    AffiliateBenchmarks, the research division of NETexponent, has released the results of its 2010 affiliate marketing survey. The results provide valuable information to Internet entrepreneurs involved in the affiliate marketing industry.
    
    According to the study, commission rates continue to be a major factor in which online marketing networks are selected by an affiliate, but the reputation of a particular affiliate network is now more important than ever in determining one's choices. The report reveals 40 percent of the affiliates polled consider reputation one of the top three most important factors when deciding which program to join.
    
    In addition, the report has revealed:
    
    * “Free Shipping” remains the most effective consumer offer in helping to generate sales.
    
    * Some 75 percent of the affiliates studied optimize their websites for better organic search engine rankings.
    
    The 2010 AffiliateBenchmarks survey was broken out into separate categories: advertisers, agencies and affiliates. With over 10,000 responses, AffilaiteBenchmarks claims this year’s report is the largest most comprehensive research study of the affiliate industry ever.
    
    The survey collected information on firsthand experiences in the affiliate marketing arena and was designed to help develop and evaluate marketing best practices.
    
    AffiliateBenchmarks designs and executes affiliate marketing research with the purpose of increasing industry education and providing useful data and statistics to the affiliate community.
    
    NETexponent is a full-service online performance marketing agency based in New York City.
    
    The full report, which costs $299, is available through www.affiliatebenchmarks.com.

    
    

• Consumers Split Over Online Auto Insurance Shopping

  • U.S. consumers are equally divided over their car insurance shopping preference. A recently released study shows about one-third of Americans prefer to purchase their auto insurance from a local agent; one-third want to shop online; and the other third can go either way.
    
    The survey results reveal vastly different insurance shopping habits, depending on certain consumer characteristics:
    
    1. Youthful operators versus experience drivers: Younger drivers are far more likely to shop for car insurance online. Over half of those 18-25 opt for the online experience; 30 percent of those surveyed between 26-40 prefer to shop online for car insurance; 27 percent of those between 41-50 years old prefer to shop online; and for those 51-60, about 30 percent say they will do their car insurance shopping online.
    
    2. Homeowners versus renters: About 35 percent of those surveyed who rent their home say they will shop online for car insurance. Only 25 percent of consumers who are homeowners say they prefer to shop online. These results vary by location, since there are typically more renters in a more highly poplated metropolitan area. Also, since more renters fall into a younger demographic, that has an impact on the results, as well.
    
    3. Married versus single: When comparing families against single consumers, 45 percent of the family shoppers opt for the local agent, and 37 percent of single motorists prefer to buy from a local agent. Age has an impact on this demographic group, as well.
    
    The survey was conducted between October 2010 and December 2010. The survey was only offered online, which may have had an impact on the results.

    
    

• Online Fraud Criminals Getting More Clever

  • Although the rate of online scams is going down, Internet merchants need to be more aware than ever because the crooks are getting more devious.
    
    According to a survey released by CyberSource Corp., a subsidiary of Visa, scam artists have come up with more ways in which to disguise their schemes. These may include making smaller purchases that are not as apparent as larger buys.
    
    In addition, more fraudulent transactions are coming internationally. Over 2% of all overseas orders turn out to be fraudulent, according to the study. With a high percentage -- about one-fifth -- of U.S. Internet merchant sales coming from outside the country, cyber-merchants must be careful to closely monitor the transactions.
    
    On the positive side, the survey shows the overall percentage of cyber fraud has dropped for the second year in a row. In 2010, 0.9% ($600 million) of Internet sales were fake. That's a 25% drop from 2009, where 1.2% were fraudulent.
    
    The decline in fraudulent transactions is partially due to merchants being more diligent. The percentage of retailer disputes increased, and they are winning a higher percentage of the disputes. According to the survey, merchants questioned 55% of all fraud-coded chargebacks in 2010 -- up from 53% in 2009. Merchants are winning some 41% of those disputes. The larger the merchant, the better their success rate in challenging potentially fraudulent orders. Merchants that sell between $5 million and $25 million in revenue boast a 79% success rate when disputing orders.
    
    One of the challenges merchants face is that the fake orders are "cleaner" than they were in the past. According to the study, 52% of the merchants polled say it's tougher to spot fraudulent purchases because the perpetrators are hiding them better.
    
    It is also difficult to weed out the fraud transactions from legitimate orders that were simply placed erroneously. The survey indicates these honest purchasing errors are also on the rise.
    
    Research shows U.S. and Canadian merchants turned away 2.7% of their orders in 2010 due to suspicious activity -- a slight increase over 2009 rejections.
    
    There seem to be no secret formulas for cracking down on fraudulent orders. Automated screening is simply not as effective as the more cumbersome manual reviews.
    
    CyberSource conducted the study last fall by polling 334 online merchants.

    
    

• Sales on Steroids

  • One of the more amusing descriptions of affiliate marketing is that it is akin to having a sales force on steroids.
    
    Many traditional advertisers and marketers invest mega-millions over many years in order to build their brand name and top-of-mind awarenss. Nowadays, if you are a skilled affiliate marketing network (i.e., T3LEADS.COM), you may be able to surpass your growth goals -- and bypass the multi-million-dollar investment it used to take for companies to become a major player in their industry.
    
    If you are active in the affiliate marketing arena you know how it works: Affiliates are website publishers who enroll in a lead generation or customer acquisition program. The affiliate marketer adds a sign-up form to their website, and, through a variety of marketing tactics, generates interest in those products or services. Affiliate marketers can earn handsome royalties for generating these leads.
    
    The most successful affiliate marketing networks not only entice thousands of publishers to market their products, but they find the most popular niches that are in high demand. For example, the struggling economy has created a sizeable market for products geared toward consumers looking to resolve their financial problems. Payday loans, for example, have exploded in popularity, as have the online payday loan affiliate networks.
    
    In addition to the sheer volume of leads that can be generated by a solid affiliate network, this type of marketing offers entrepreneurs:
    
    * the ability to utilize the affiliate network to help expand your brand name;
    * greater exposure thanks to affiliate-run advertising campaigns such as pay-per-click and email marketing;
    * an extensive network of online experts that can offer quality feedback and a flow of ideas that could greatly enhance your business;
    * the ability to grow your business much quicker than you would using traditional marketing methods;and
    * the ability to grow your business much more economically than you would using traditional marketing methods.
    
    It's your choice -- would you prefer to grow your business by hiring a national sales force that you would have to pay a salary, benefits and commission; and spend considerable time hiring and training? Or, would you prefer to develop an affiliate marketing network that offers you a sizeable sales force at minimal time, resources and expense?

    
    

• Montana Payday Lender Law Expected to Kill the State's Payday Industry

  • Payday loan lenders based in Montana may soon become extinct.
    
    On Jan. 1, 2011, a new state law took effect after passage of Initiative-164 last November. The ballot measure mandates limits on what certain lenders can charge, capping the rate at 36% for short-term loans.
    
    Several payday loan lenders in Montana have reported that I-164 spells doom for their business. Some payday lenders are simply collecting outstanding loans, but are not marketing for new customers. Reports also indicate that cash-strapped consumers are turning to other methods for finding quick cash, such as pawn shops or possibly online payday loan businesses.
     
    Some proponents of I-164 believed the law would lead to an increase in business for payday lenders, because more consumers would be attracted to the lower interest rates. Those with that opinion did not take into account the cost of doing business for the payday lenders.
    
    Needless to say, there will be many employees who worked for Montana payday loan firms who will be scrambling to find work in the near future.

    
    

• Website Health Check

  • Any Internet-related entrepreneur (publisher, blogger, merchant, etc.) relies heavily on their website(s) in order to effectively conduct business. If the website doesn't work properly, neither does your business.
    
    That is why it is crucial for all Internet-based business persons to perform regular health checks on their websites.
    
    First off, make sure you optimize your site for the highest possible performance. What does this entail? Site optimization encompasses your page layout and the way in which visitors may navigate through the site. If you have a lot of bells and whistles on your site, this may create problems for some potential customers. Even if your graphics and flash animation are compatible for all browsers, your visitors become frustrated if they have to wait for a photo or video to load.
    
    You may want to weed out, combine or move your site codes to different domains. This could speed up the loading speed of each page. Look through your codes and see which ones may be adjusted for better performance.
    
    How's your website's search function? Your website must be easily searched, especially if you have a content-rich site with numerous pages. If your visitors cannot find the page they are seeking, they will leave your site in a hurry. Plus, your organic search results will improve if more consumers are visiting multiple pages within your sites.
    
    You should perform regular compression of all files on your sites. This will help to enhance your sites' performance.
    
    Mobile technology is expanding seemingly every day. You should conduct frequent tests across various devices to make sure your site is operating properly on those devices. You may want to consult a savvy IT expert who is up-to-speed on all the latest mobile technology in order to assure compatibility with your website.

    
    

• Are Republicans Trying to Punch Holes in Dodd-Frank?

  • The House Financial Services Committee is distributing a 20-page document that details the committee's desire to “identify and remedy” the unintended consequences of the Dodd-Frank financial services overhaul.
    
    Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Alabama) is seeking comments on the document, which specifically targets the Volcker rule. This provision of Dodd-Frank limits proprietary trading by banks. The committee also plans to look into whether federal regulators will enforce margin and capital requirements on non-financial firms that use derivative contracts.
    
    Nearly all House Republicans turned thumbs-down on Dodd-Frank. However, Republicans would have an almost unwinable battle if they push for legislative amendments to the Act, since Democrats still control the Senate, and President Obama is not likely to sign off on any significant changes to the law.
    
    Bachus and his colleagues have been busy firing off letters to the federal agencies charged with implementing Dodd-Frank. The letters have expressed concern over proposed rules, they have requested documentation detailing the costs of contracts, staff and technology and they have questioned the authority of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that was created by Dodd-Frank.
    
    The Volcker rule, one of the primary targets of the Committee, is designed to limit the potential for banks to use their own capital for investments that may place their federally insured deposits at risk. Bachus wrote that the Volcker rule “may spark a mass exodus of clients from U.S. banks to banks based abroad."
    
    In a Jan. 28, 2011 letter, Bachus and Representative Randy Neugebauer asked the regulators responsible for implementing Dodd-Frank, including Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, to provide a full account of their spending, hiring and contracting.
    
    Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts (the "Frank" of the Dodd-Frank Act), who is the senior Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, has said Republicans are trying to “cripple regulation by failing to fund it.”
    
    The committee's letter notes that it would like to review the appropriate role, if any, the federal government may have in the secondary mortgage market.

    
    

• K-Mart May Become "Bank-Mart"

  • Some of the nation's largest retailers are beginning to delve heavily into the world of non-bank financial services.
    
    Best Buy, Wal-Mart and K-Mart have begun tapping into this massive market. K-Mart is now testing the waters by offering check cashing, money transfer and pre-paid card services in its California, Illinois and Puerto Rico stores. It expects to expand these programs nationally later in the year. Best Buy now has in-store kiosks that provide a way for consumers without a checking account to pay their utility, cable and phone bills. Not to be outdone, Wal-Mart now has some 1,500 MoneyCenters handling about five million financial transactions a week.
    
    These major retail operations are recognizing the opportunity to tap into the $320 billion non-banking financial services marketplace.
    
    Studies show that some 30 million U.S. families do not have a bank account that they access on a regular basis. The vast majority of these consumers earn under $30,000 a year. Many of these consumers have relied on unsophisticated means to manage their finances. And, since about one-fifth of all Wal-Mart customers fall into that category, the giant retailer realized the potential for non-bank services.
    
    Best Buy opened its bill-paying service in 2010 to cater to customers who are leery of banks. Many of these consumers still have services such as cell phones and utility bills that may now be paid through the Best Buy in-store kiosk.
    
    K-Mart's check-cashing and pre-paid card services began as an off-shoot of its layaway program. Its customers could use the check-cashing service to transfer money to a pre-paid card. That card could then be used to pay for bills or other expenses.
    
    Like the payday loan industry -- another non-bank financial service -- some consumer groups have criticized these types of products being offered by the giant retailers. The groups have expressed concern over potentially high fees. However, the average check-cashing fee is about 2-4 percent of the the check's value. And, that price appears to be going down, since a company the size of Wal-Mart is able to charge as little as $3 for its check-cashing or pre-paid card service.
    
    The Dodd-Frank Act, the law that established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, partially to oversee the activities of non-bank financial companies, exempts retailers from regulatory oversight unless they are "large" players in the financial services market. It has yet to be determined what constitutes a "large" player.

    
    

• Best Rules for B2C Online Lead Generation

  • All online publishers and merchants must stay abreast of rules and regulations impacting their business. These days the government is taking a more hands-on approach to Internet sales practices, so it is crucial for online vendors to maintain the highest degree of integrity.
    
    Remember, there are still some consumers who do not have 100% trust when it comes to an online transaction. As an Internet merchant or publisher, you must work to gain the trust of your customers. That means following the highest level of ethical business principals.
    
    Internet marketing experts recommend that all online advertisers and publishers:
    
    * Seek legal advice when it comes to websites agreements, including sales contracts and agreements with other Internet vendors;
    * Seek out organizations that will help you to stay up-to-date on the latest rule changes and laws impacting your online enterprise.
    
    All Internet advertisers and publishers must include the following items on their website in order to illustrate their compliance with certain rules:
    
    * Disclosures to consumers regarding their privacy, and the collection, sharing and storage of data;
    * Disclusres to advertisers regarding the offer requirements and obligations;
    * Disclosures detailing promotional site usage.
    
    Information that must be included in a publisher's lead generation offer should include:
    
    * If the consumer is going to receive lead generation offers from third party advertisers, inform the consumers that if they select offers of interest, they are free to complete the forms, provide additional personal information and agree to share their personal information with these parties. In exchange, let the consumers know they will receive additional information or services from these advertisers.
    
    * What should be included in your privacy policy? It should detail your method of collecting, using and storing data. Make sure this information is easy to find on the registration page and written in consumer-friendly language. And if you make any changes to your privacy policy you need to promptly notify your customers. If the privacy policy is not on the form, there must be an easy-to-find link to open the privacy policy.
    
    What should your data collection disclosure state?
    
    * First off, any information that is shared with another advertiser or pre-populated in another form must be clearly explained. The consumer should be allowed to easily review and edit the data, and opt out of any offers  with any advertiser. The laws are strict now regarding the sharing of data with other publishers without the consumer's consent. You need to make your customers aware if you share their data with a third party. And, make sure your policy explains that you will not sell data the consumer has provided to other companies without the consumer’s knowledge or consent.
    
    Email marketing agreements:
    
    * Many publishers and advertisers use a third party vendor to manage and distribute their email list. Make sure you obtain a formal data licensing agreement from the email vendor(s). Make sure the vendors provide a mechanism for email recipients to easily remove these users from your lists.
    
    Pre-selected offers:
    
    * Some publishers may determine pre-selected offers to consumers, based on products or services already requested by the customer. Consumers must always be given an easy opt-out or "skip" choice for pre-selected offers. These pre-selected offers should be soft-sell advertisements. Consumers should never feel they are forced to select a certain offer in order to complete their requested application.
    
    As we mentioned, all Internet advertisers and publishers should seek the advice of legal counsel when developing their privacy policy, the placement of the privacy statements on their site and the overall data sharing strategies.

    
    

• President Signs Online Shopping Bill

  • President Barack Obama has signed into law the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA). The new law restricts "post-transaction third-party marketing," where a shopper's online purchasing information is passed from one merchant to another, who then uses that data to enroll the consumer in their programs, oftentimes without the consumer’s knowledge or consent.
    
    The Act makes it unlawful for any Internet merchant to pass personal financial data -- credit card, debit card, bank account, financial account numbers or any other billing information -- to third party merchants for use in an Internet-based sale of goods or services from the post- transaction third party seller.
    
    ROSCA was developed as a result of an investigation conducted by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The Committee found hundreds of honest online retailers were sharing their billing, credit card and debit card information with third party sellers through the data pass process. Some third party sellers then offered consumers “memberships” which were cleverly disguised as part of the consumer’s initial purchase. The consumers were given a “negative option” where they could decline the membership after an initial trial period.  Following the free trial period consumers who did not cancel the membership were charged recurring fees.
    
    The new law deems this practice to be a misleading sales tactic. According to the Act, “It shall be unlawful for any post-transaction third party seller to charge or attempt to charge any consumer’s credit card, debit card, bank account, or other financial account for any good or service sold in a transaction effected on the Internet, unless:
    
    (1) before obtaining the consumer’s billing information, the post-transaction third party seller has clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the consumer all material terms of the transaction, including:
    
    (A) a description of the goods or services being offered;
    (B) the fact that the post-transaction third party seller is not affiliated with the initial merchant, which may include disclosure of the name of the post-transaction third party in a manner that clearly differentiates the post- transaction third party seller from the initial merchant; and
    (C) the cost of such goods or services; and
    
    (2) the post-transaction third party seller has received the express informed consent for the charge from the consumer whose credit card, debit card, bank account, or other financial account will be charged by:
    
    (A) obtaining from the consumer—
    (i) the full account number of the account to be charged; and
    (ii) the consumer’s name and address and a means to contact the consumer; and
    (B) requiring the consumer to perform an additional affirmative action, such as clicking on a confirmation button or checking a box that indicates the consumer’s consent to be charged the amount disclosed."
    
    In addition, ROSCA makes it unlawful for any Internet merchant to pass personal financial data -- credit card, debit card, bank account, financial account numbers or any other billing information -- to third party merchants for use in an Internet-based sale of goods or services from the post- transaction third party seller.
    
    The Act prohibits the practice of negative option marketing, unless the merchant:
    
    (1) provides text that clearly and conspicuously discloses all material terms of the transaction before obtaining the consumer’s billing information;
    (2) obtains a consumer’s express informed consent before charging the consumer for the transaction; and
    (3) provides simple mechanisms for a consumer to stop any recurring charges.
    
    Violations of ROSCA shall be treated as a violation of a rule under section 18 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices.

    
    

• Washington Puts Checkmate Gift Card Program in Checkmate

  • Regulators in Washington state have shut down the gift card program for payday loan giant Checkmate. Officials claim the program violates state consumer-protection laws.
    
    The state enacted a new lending law in 2010 that permits major retailers such as Wall-Mart to sell $100 gift cards, which carry an annual percentage rate of 391%. Consumers have 15-45 days to pay back those loans.
    
    The Checkmate gift card program began after the gift card law was passed. However, the state said the Checkmate gift card program is an attempt to find a loophole in the law limiting the sale of payday loans to eight per year, per person. Washington law also prevents a lender from giving a loan to anyone who owes more than $700 or 30% of their monthly income in payday debt.
    
    Checkmate was accused of marketing the cards to customers who had reached their loan limit.

    
    

• Where is Affiliate Marketing Headed?

  • We are witnessing the near-death of certain occupations such as postal sorters and computer operators thanks to the explosion in automation and electronic communication. However, there is clearly no end in sight for the growth of e-commerce and many of its related industries.
    
    What does the future hold in store for the Internet affiliate marketing industry?
    
    As e-commerce expands, so will the opportunities for entrepreneurs who take the time to understand and invest wisely in affiliate marketing endeavors. However, as more and more publishers see success with their affiliate marketing programs, expect to see competition within each segment of the marketplace become more intense, as well. This is why it is incumbent for the affiliate marketer to take the profession seriously and to really know their craft.
    
    On the flip side, more and more merchants are taking advantage of affiliate marketing in order to drive business to their websites. Many companies that once relied on the old bricks-and-mortar retail shop are testing the affiliate marketing waters, some with excellent results. Again, it will take more than just a half-hearted effort for merchants to make serious inroads in the affiliate marketing arena.
    
    Affiliate marketing has exploded onto the business scene over the past few years. Thousands of merchants rely on affiliate marketing to drive their businesses. As online affiliate marketing continues to grow, consumers may begin to yearn for some of the old touchy-feely service they once received from the face-to-face salesperson. It may become vital for merchants to devise more service-oriented wrinkles in order to woo these consumers.
    
    The government has thus far taken a fairly hands-off approach to the Internet, allowing web-based business to thrive without the fear of over-reglation. But there are factions within the government that would prefer to see greater control with regard to segments of the Internet world, such as unregulated financial services. Passage of the Restore Online Confidence Act, which cracks the whip on third-party vendors who enroll consumers in programs without their knowledge, is a sign that Internet marketers must be honest and reputable with their sales strategies -- or the entire industry will suffer the consequences.
    
    How will affiliate marketing entrepreneurs be able to find the right niches? They should pay close attention to the economic trends impacting the nation. For example, the recession and the resulting financial strain felt by many Americans has led to a major spike in online products such as payday loans. A greater percentage of consumers simply need a quick fix to resolve their financial problems. Other trends worth watching include the topsy-turvy healthcare landscape, insurance shopping, the ever-changing telecommunications industry, etc.
    
    Another factor that has led to the rise in affiliate marketers is the desire for many employees to work from home. The ability to set your own schedule, avoid rush hour traffic and become more involved in family activities are among the many appealing reasons why this industry is booming -- and will continue to grow. And, as smartphones and other forms of communication become even more immediate and user-friendly, it will just become more efficient for one to operate a home-based business such as an affiliate marketing enterprise.
    
    And finally, here's possibly the most compelling reason why affiliate marketing will continue to explode: Internet marketing vendors are learning their craft and are providing value-added benefits that make easier than ever to succeed as an affiliate marketer. The trick is to find the highly successful vendors (i.e., T3LEADS!). Many of these companies have developed simple turn-key programs for affiliates and merchants -- and they continue to devise services designed to enhance the affiliate marketer's experience.

    
    

• UK Payday Loan Industry Skyrocketing

  • It may be a reflection on the weak economy...maybe it is due to word of mouth and successful marketing...but the UK payday loan industry is soaring.

    The number of consumers receiving UK payday loans has skyrocketed by 241% during the last four years. In 2006 1.2 million Brits took out payday loans; in 2010 that number is expected to hit 4.1 million.

    Research shows UK payday loan recipients are typically repeat customers. Each customer typically takes out 3.5 loans a year. The average size of a payday loan in 2010 was approximately £294.

    Experts have seen a particularly noticeable jump in UK payday loans over the last half of 2010, and they speculate the industry growth is in large part a result of the down economy.

    
    

• SEO Tips for 2011

  • One of the primary goals for every Internet marketer is to conquer the search engine optimization game. As we enter 2011, one thing we do know is that the world of SEO is constantly changing, and major players such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc., seem to be adjusting and re-adjusting their business plans on a consistent basis. Therefore, how can you be assured your site will land on page one?
    
    Here are the several SEO tips for elevating your search engine status.
    
    1. Determine objectives:
    What are your business needs? Do you need to attract gobs of customers, or just a couple major clients? What product(s) are your top sales priorities? Do you have a loss-leader you want to push? What action(s) do you want your site visitors to take? All these questions will help to determine your SEO plan.
    
    2. Analytics:
    You will want to add Google Analytics or other analytic tools to each page within your site. This way you will be able to determine the keywords that are driving visitors to your site, as well as other valuable data.
    
    3. Research Keywords:
    There are numerous tools to help you find the most effective keywords for the SEO of your site. Of course, the most common is Google AdWords, which will reveal how frequently keywords are searched and the level of competition for each keyword. Adwords will also provide suggestions on related keywords that may not have occurred to you. Although Google offers the free tool to sell pay-per-click advertising, it is a helpful way to determine organic keywords, as well.
    
    You need to be somewhat selective with your keywords. Search engines may ignore your site if they determine you've gone overboard with your keywords (i.e., using one page solely to list a scroll of keywords). Check out some additional keyword suggestions:
       
    * Include keywords in each page's HTML title tag. This is a high priority for search engines in determining a page's relevancy to a specific search.
    * Use your keywords early and often throughout your site's text.
    * Add links between your site pages, and name the links. Do not simply write "click here."
    * Include keywords in to your site's URLs.
    * Don't pay much attention to HTML meta tags. Some search engines, including Google, do not rank according to  meta tags in web search ranking.
    * Do not duplicate your content on multiple pages; and do not point multiple URLs to the same page. This may hurt your SEO rankings.
    
    4. Seek out endorsements:
    Contact popular bloggers and request a review or endorsement of your site. Many top bloggers will offer paid reviews, and will include a link to your site from their blog. The more current, edgy and informative your site, the more eager bloggers will be to write about it.
    
    5. Utilize social networks:
    Post comments and information on your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages. This will generate more site visits and will enhance your SEO rankings.
    
    6. Press releases:
    Another way to enhance your visibility to the search engines is by distributing press releases regarding your products and services. The topics can range from new products, enhancements to products, personnel changes, conferences and conventions you are attending, speeches you are presenting, articles you have written, etc.  There are several press release websites that will distribute your information and provide analytics about each release.
    
    7. Links to other sites:
    Locate other sites that are compatible with yours and post links to those sites. Contact those sites and ask them to post a link to your site, as well. This is an excellent way to improve your SEO rankings.
    
    8. Ease up on the flash animation:
    Search engines still have a difficult time indexing non-text content such as Flash animation. If you rely too heavily on these types of graphics, you may want to scale back and incorporate more pure text into your site.
    
    9. Take advantage of text browsers:
    You may feel like a dinosaur, but text browsers such as Lynx and SEO Browser will enable you to see how search engines view your site. This might help you to make adjustments to your site and improve your SEO rankings.
    
    10. XML sitemaps:
    If you send an XML sitemap to various search engines, it will help them to determine the bots you want them to index.
    
    11. Constant analysis:
    Remember, you are likely competing with numerous companies in the same business category, who may all be very diligent with their SEO progam. Search engine optimization is an ongoing process that will require frequent monitoring and adjustments. Stay informed on the latest news, techniques and opportunities that will help you to achieve your goals.

    
    

• Article Marketing Vs. Online Videos

  • Is article marketing being pushed aside by online marketers utilizing video tools such as YouTube.com?
    
    Professionally produced videos with plenty of backlinks and tags are becoming an excellent way for Internet marketers to generate website traffic. Certainly, an entertaining or enlightening video will help to capture the attention of website visitors -- probably as much are moreso than any article, no matter how well written, timely or hard-hitting the blog.
    
    But videos and articles should be used to complement each other -- not replace one another. For every informative article written, marketers should be contemplating how to produce a video that will complement the article. Article writers and bloggers continue to generate massive website traffic and they are a major source of leads for affiliate marketers. And, when articles are linked to social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook, publishers can signficantly enhance their readership.
    
    There is no doubt Internet marketing trends continue to evolve at warp speed. Google and other search engines are forever amending their algorithms and philosophy, making it a consistent challenge for Internet marketers to keep pace. But for the time being, and at least the near future, there are several article marketing techniques that will likely help to elevate the effectiveness of your articles, blogs and newsletters.
    
    1. As we mentioned, producing a video or podcast will help to draw attention to your articles. Post the videos on YouTube and/or your website, with backlinks to your articles on the same subject matter.
    
    2. Become an affiliate marketer. Depending on your subject matter, there are scores of potential Internet affiliate marketing companies (i.e., T3leads.com) that may welcome you as one of their affiliates. Your blog readers can not only become informed on various products and services related to your blog topics, but your readers may become valuable leads for affiliate marketing companies.
    
    3. Utilize Internet press release services to expand the reach of your articles.
    
    4. Blog every day. If you can't find the time to write every day, then blog at least several times per week.
    
    5. Post your blogs/articles on social networking sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).
    
    6. Conduct surveys. Polling your readers will encourage more comments and interaction, thus generating more visitors.
    
    7. Write educational programs. Develop a series of informative seminars that you can extend over several weeks or months. Select course material with which you are most familiar (after all, you want to show you are the expert on the subject matter, right?).
    
    8. Turn your expertise into an online e-zine. E-zines do not have to be too extensive. You can email your e-zine to a targeted list, and include links to your blog/online articles.
    
    9. Create a directory of products and services related to your blog's subject matter. Many publishers will collect fees to write reviews for products or services, or to include a link or banner ad on the blog page.
    
    Article marketing continues to be an excellent way for online entrepreneurs to generate income. But, it continues to evolve and bloggers must incorporate additional online marketing tactics in order to remain successful.

    
    

• A Taxing Situation for Affiliate Marketers

  • Affiliate marketers are under attack in some states.
    
    New York is one state that has been aggressively pursuing tax revenue from affiliate marketers with a physical presence in that state.
    
    Marketing organizations include the Performance Marketing Alliance (PMA) are waging battle on behalf of the online retailers. PMA is opposed to state tax collection based on affiliate marketer location. PIA recently announced its support for a pending New York Supreme Court lawsuit filed by Amazon.com and Overstock.com. The suit challenges the Empire State's requirement for online retailers to pay taxes if they have marketing affiliates in New York.
    
    In May, 2008, New York enacted a state law affecting third-party sites that run retail offers. The case was first heard in a New York trial court, where the law was upheld.
    
    Other states, including Rhode Island and most recently North Carolina, have followed New York's lead and have enacted "copy-cat" laws. Other states that could follow include Hawaii, California and Maine.
    
    According to the state laws, they are mandating sales tax on affiliate marketers when they have a physical presence in the state. An affiliate is any party earning a commission or a referral fee for the sale of products or services.
    
    Based on 2008 national online sales estimates of $204 billion, some $3 billion in sales tax revenue is at stake, according to Forrester Research. Since New York and Rhode Island implemented their affiliate sales tax laws many online retailers have cut or dropped their affiliate marketing programs.
    
    Some 200 New York merchants have reportedly eliminated their affiliate programs, potentially impacting approximately 15,000 affiliate marketers in the state.
    
    Overstock.com estimates only about 3% to 5% of their business is generated by affiliates. But the company is waging battle on behalf of the entire industry. A company spokesman commented that should all states implement a New York-type tax law, the result could wipe out the affiliate marketing community in the U.S. and drive those businesses to other countries.

    
    

• Rejected for a UK Loan? Here are Several Reasons Why

  • There are numerous reasons why a potential borrower may be turned down for their loan request. Obviously, weak credit is often one of the primary factors, but we've compiled the following list that could help borrowers understand how they can qualify for a loan.
    
    As banks' debt problems have grown, they have become more choosy about which borrowers to approve. The UK's largest credit card company, Barclaycard, has reported its bad debts have recently risen by a third.
    
    1. You haven't borrowed any money: Many lenders prefer borrower with some sort of history in repaying debts promplty. Consumers can build a credit rating by purchasing a minor item on credit -- maybe a laptop or a small television -- and paying it off on time.
    
    2. You're not in the lender's target market: Sometimes a lender may target a specific age, gender, geographic or sociographic group. For example, some lenders may seek younger customers. Others may be looking for more women. Therefore, the loan rejection may have little to do with the actual credit score.
    
    3. Credit report searches: If a consumer's credit score is frequently run for any number of reasons, a lender may believe the prospective borrower is accumulating too much debt over a short time frame.
    
    4. Black marks on your financial record: If the customer incurred several late payments...if there has been a court judgment against the borrower...if there are bankruptcies on their record...These are all potentially damaging items hampering the chances of obtaining a loan. One way to possibly overcome these blemishes is through strong credit references. They may be able to provide solid explanations for a temporary credit problem.
    
    5. Are you in the electoral register? Some lenders will check the electoral register to verify an applicant's address and other information. If the customer is not registered, that may lead to a loan rejection. This is easily fixed. Simply register as soon as possible.

    
    

• How to Become a Successful Blogger

  • So -- you've heard that blogging has become an effective revenue-generating concept for many tech-savvy, entrepreneurial individuals. There are many successful bloggers who work with T3leads.com, writing about topics such as payday loans.
    
    You want to jump on the bandwagon. Obviously, not every blogger is making a fortune. And, there are thousands and thousands of blogs throughout the Internet universe. How can you make your blog stand out from the crowd?
    
    1. Content is king. First and foremost, you must be a decent writer -- and you must love to write. Many highly successful bloggers have the resources to outsource the writing duties. But when you are just getting started you will have to sharpen your pencil (metaphorically, of course) and churn out the articles yourself.
    
    2. Be specific -- but not too specific. Come up with subject matter that is fairly specific but not too minute that it will not interest enough readers. For example, blogs on politics, sports, entertainment and technology are good generic yet specific topics that attract many, many bloggers. But a blog on teen idol Miley Cyrus may be popular now, but it could be too specific and may be out-dated in two years.
    
    3. Keep it fresh. No one wants to read old articles. That 2007 political opinion piece on George Bush's Middle East policies should not be the most recent blog posting. The more current and topical the blog postings, the more likely you will spark comments and feedback.
    
    4. Can you do it every day? If you are too busy to update your blog on a daily basis, then you will not be able to keep pace with the successful bloggers. You will encourage more repeat visitors if they see you are posting on a consistent, frequent basis.
    
    5. Keep the reader amused. Incorporate as many graphics and visual elements as possible. Post images relative to your content. Enhance the blogs with video links. In other words, entertain your readers.
    
    Of course, there is a lot more to successful blogging than just these five pointers. Read up as much as you can to make yourself an expert on blogging and on your particular area of expertise.

    
    

• Exploding the Myths About Payday Loans

  • Supporters of payday loans -- including the many affiliates and merchants participating in T3leads' lead generation programs -- tout the service as an important tool needed by millions of consumers in need of quick cash for life's emergencies. But these businesses sometimes must overcome negative press regarding the value of payday loans.
    
    Myth #1: Payday loans are expensive and have high annual interest rates.
    
    In reality: Payday loans are two-week loans. They are not intended to be annual loans. Industry critics quote payday loans' high annual percentage rate, but this misrepresents the truth about payday loans. A typical fee charged by payday lenders is approximately 15 percent for a two-week loan. Interest rates will only approach the highest potential levels if the two-week loan is rolled over for a full year. This would mean the loan is rolled over 26 times. This is extremely rare, as many states restrict the number of permissible rollovers.
    
    Myth #2: Payday loans lead to a “cycle of debt."
    
    In reality: Thanks to restrictions on the number of permitted rollovers in many states, most loans cannot be outstanding for longer than eight weeks.
    
    Myth #3: Payday lenders take advantage of poor consumers, senior citizens and minorities.
    
    In reality: The average payday advance customers are typically hard working, middle-class adults who simply do not have enough savings or access to quick cash when they are hit with unexpected emergencies.
    
    According to the Credit Research Center at Georgetown University:
    * Most payday advance customers earn between $25,000 and $50,000 a year;
    * Sixty-eight percent of payday customers are under 45 years old, and only four percent are over 65;
    * Ninety-four percent of payday advance customers have a high school diploma or better, and 56 percent have at least some college education;
    * Forty-two percent own a own home;
    * Most payday loan customers are married, and 64 percent have children in the home;
    * One hundred percent are required to have a steady income and an active checking account in order to qualify for the payday advance loan.
    
    Myth #4: High payday loan fees lead to massive profits for lenders.
    
    In reality: Short-term, low dollar loans are very expensive to administer, which is why most banks no longer offer them. In addition, payday lenders incur the costs of running a business, such as salaries, benefits and other overhead.
    
    Myth #5: Payday lenders want to avoid regulations.
    
    In reality: The payday loan industry is currently regulated in 34 states, and the Community Financial Services Association (CFSA) is pushing for industry regulations in all 50 states. Payday lenders do not want to be over-regulated to the point where they cannot stay in business, but the industry has always supported fair regulations that protect both consumers and lenders.
    
    Myth #6: Many payday loan customers cannot afford to pay back their loan in a timely manner.
    
    In reality: The vast majority of payday lenders have underwriting criteria, and all lenders require customers to have a steady income stream and a checking account. The fact is, over 90 percent of payday loans are repaid when due.
    
    Myth #7: The payday lending industry has exploded due to aggressive marketing tactics.
    
    In reality: No product or service would grow without consumer demand. As more consumers must seek remedies to their urgent financial matters, products such as payday advances have become an appealing option.
    
    Myth #8: Payday lending fees are misleading.
    
    In reality: The Truth in Lending Act mandates that the terms of the loan are clearly outlined in the lending agreement. Payday loans charge single, flat fees, with no hidden charges, balloon payments or accrued interest. A recent poll revealed 96 percent of payday loan customers said they understood the finance charge agreement.
    
    Myth #9: Consumers are better off without the option of acquiring payday loans.
    
    In reality: Supply-and-demand economics dictates that when consumers demand products companies will create a supply for that product. In other words, if consumers don’t want to take out payday loans, the demand for the product will slow. However, the opposite is true. Demand for payday loan advances continues to rise.
    
    The bottom line -- payday loans are an important product offered to a vast array of consumers from all walks of life in order to help them overcome short-term financial problems.

    
    

• Payday Loans Fill Important Money Gap During the Recession

  • Ever since the recession hit the U.S. economy in 2008, many consumers have been forced to cut corners and to come up with creative ways to deal with financial problems. Not only is unemployment hovering at a high rate, but many consumers have been forced to accept lower-paying jobs, while others have simply given up on their job search.
    
    Of course, just because many Americans are earning less, this doesn't mean unexpected expenses stop occurring. The car breaks down. The washing machine hose bursts. The dog is bit by a rattlesnake. Your child is injured. Stuff happens, whether or not your income is substantial enough to cover the expense of life's little surprises.
    
    These are the reasons for the surge in popularity of payday loans. Oftentimes consumers need cash fast. They don't have time to go through the lengthy bank loan process. They may not be able to rely on family members or close friends for a quick loan. No one wants to be in a situation where they are forced to borrow money. But when cash is needed immediately, payday loans can be one of the best ways to relieve a stressful situation.
    
    One of the top advantages of payday loans is their speed. Once approved, money can be instantly transferred to your bank account. Online payday loan providers can offer even greater speed, since the loan process is all electronic and they often do not require faxing or credit checks. So if your credit card has reached its limit; your checking account is depleted; and your payday is still several days away...faxless payday loans may be the best option to take care of your pressing money needs.

    
    

• New Record Set for Internet Ad Sales

  • Not every U.S. industry is hurting from the recession. The U.S. Internet advertising industry has shattered its record for revenue generated in one quarter, as it hit the $6.4 billion mark in the third quarter of 2010. That represents a 17% increase over the same period in 2009.
    
    The ad revenue figures were released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PwC U.S.
    
    The IAB sponsors the IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report, which is conducted independently by the New Media Group of PwC. The results are considered among the most accurate measurement of interactive advertising revenues because the data is compiled directly from information supplied by companies selling advertising on the Internet. The sales data includes online advertising revenues from web sites, commercial online services, free e-mail providers and all other companies selling online advertising. The full report is issued twice yearly for full and half-year data, and top-line quarterly estimates are issued for the first and third quarters.
    
    How does the Internet compare with other advetising media? Experts had predicted that national newspapers' ad revenue will decline between 10.7 and 11.2 percent in 2010. Newspaper ad revenue fell 26 percent in 2009.
    
    This year national TV ad revenue was expected to grow 6.2 percent, to $35.3 billion. In 2009, TV ad revenue fell 3.6 percent from 2008, but Olympic ad revenue in '08 gave the TV ad industry a sizeable sales injection.
    
    PwC firms provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services.
    
    The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is comprised of more than 460 leading media and technology companies who are responsible for selling 86% of online advertising in the United States.

    
    

• Obama Seeking Tougher Internet Privacy Laws

  • President Obama wants to clamp down on Internet privacy violations by creating a new government oversight department, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ is also reporting the White House has asked the Commerce Department to develop suggestions for new laws that would tighten Internet data security. The Commerce Department recommendations are reportedly in draft form right now. The final report is due some time near the beginning of the year.
    
    The President has appointed a task force charged with implementing the Commerce Department recommendations. The task force is spearheaded by Cameron Kerry, brother of Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. A new federal position would be created to run the Internet privacy protection unit.
    
    It was announced recently that the European Union is also looking to implement greater controls over how personal information is protected on the Internet.
    
    Web-based businesses will likely fight such regulatory restrictions. According to the WSJ article, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) believes the onlne industry is already doing an adequate job policing privacy-related matters.
    
    Congress has been looking into Internet privacy matters, dating as far back as 1999. Several measures have been introduced that would crack the whip on how online data is collected and protected. Those proposals have been opposed by privacy groups for not being tough enough; and by the IAB and other Internet organizations for being unnecessary or too broad.
    
    The Federal Trade Commission has been developing its own recommendations concerning the potential regulation of Internet businesses. Once finalized, the report will be presented to Congress.

    
    

• Illinois Payday Law Takes Effect

  • The new Illinois payday loan law has taken effect as of March 1, 2011. The law mandates a cap on the allowable interest lenders may charge for payday loans.
    
    The Illinois law states lenders offering loans with terms of six months or less may not charge rates greater than $15.50 per $100 borrowed every two weeks. In addition, the law mandates borrowers must be completely paid off within 180 days; and balloon payments are outlawed, as well.
    
    There's more. Lenders must restrict loan repayments to a maximum of 25% of a borrowers gross monthly income. Post-default interest is prohibited, as are fees for attorney's fees and other court costs associated with recovering outstanding payday loans.

    
    

• Auto Loan Biz Looking Up

  • The number of auto loan customers with questionable credit is on the rise, according to Experian Automotive.
    
    Experian's fourth quarter 2010 review of the auto finance industry also showed 30- and 60-day auto loan delinquencies had dropped significantly.
    
    The number of auto loans that were delinquent by 30 days or more fell from 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 to 2.98 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Auto loans that were late by 60 days or more dropped from 0.94 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 to 0.79 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.
    
    Borrowers with weak credit found more lenders willing to appove their auto loan in the fourth quarter of 2010. Loans for car buyers with poor credit scores rose from 36.42 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 to 38.42 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. In the fourth quarters of 2007 and 2008, approximately 42 percent of the car buyers with weak credit were approved for a loan.
    
    The average acceptable credit score for a new car loan in the fourth quarter dropped from 775 to 767, compared with the fourth quarter of the prior year. In the fourth quarter, the average new vehicle auto loan was $25,789, and $16,992 for a used vehicle.

    
    

• SEO Specialist Salaries are Skyrocketing

  • The nation's economy may still be in the dumps, but there is at least one position that is experiencing a significant spike in its average annual income. We're referring to search engine optimization (SEO) specialists.
    
    The personnel recruiting firm Crandall Associates is reporting the starting salary for SEO managers has risen by 17.5 percent in the past year.
    
    The report shows the base salary for an SEO specialist is now $59,000 a year. Just last year a new SEO specialist earned an average of $50,300 a year. The average salary for an SEO specialist is now $75,000 -- a $1,500 per year increase over 2010 figures. The high-end salary for this position is $87,300, a jump of $1,800 over 2010.
    
    The job description for an SEO specialist:  one who is responsible for improving the company's web sites rankings, using a variety of strategies and techniques.
    
    Crandall's "Online Marketing Salary Guide" includes average salary ranges for 21 Internet-related positions. The salary jump for SEO specialists topped the list, but several other positions are seeing a rise in the average annual income, as well:
    
    Avg. annual salary/2010/2011/Year-over-year change (%)
    
    VP, e-commerce  $155,700  $155,900  0.1%
    Director, Internet marketing  $100,500  $101,200  0.7%
    Director, interactive creative  $99,600  $100,300  0.7%
    Manager, Web marketing  $79,100  $80,300  1.5%
    Manager, Internet marketing  $78,700  $79,700  1.3%
    Web analytics manager  $76,100  $78,200  2.8%
    Digital media buyer  $76,300  $76,400  0.1%
    SEO specialist  $74,900  $75,000  0.1%
    Manager, e-mail marketing  $73,500  $73,800  0.4%
    Interactive copywriter  $70,600  $72,400  2.5%
    SEM analyst  $67,100  $67,800  1.0%
    SEO analyst  $66,500  $66,900  0.6%
    Affiliate manager, online marketing  $66,200  $66,500  0.5%
    Digital media planner  $64,300  $64,500  0.3%
    Director, interactive art  $63,300  $63,500  0.3%

    
    

• Florida Woman Caught Stealing from Payday Store

  • A Florida woman has been arrested and charged with swiping almost $26,000 from a payday loan store in Ocala. The woman was charged with grand theft on March 1.
    
    Police believe the woman, Bonita Wilhelm, stole cash from Fast Payday Loans on numerous occasions between June 2010 and January 2011. Wilhelm, an employee of the store, allegedly took customers' money but failed to document the payment.
    
    Store managers caught the discrepancy during an audit.
    
    Wilhelm denies stealing the money.

    
    

• Payday Loan Lenders Crossing "the Pond" to the UK

  • There is another "British invasion" taking place -- but this time the invasion is coming from the U.S., to the UK -- and the invasion has nothing to do with pop music.
     
    As several U.S. states have clamped down on payday loan lenders, implementing legislation that makes it nearly impossible to for the businesses to stay afloat, more and more payday loan lenders are crossing the Atlantic and setting up shop in the United Kingdom.
    
    It has been reported that some U.S. payday lenders are planning a major expansion of their operation in the UK. The British payday loan industry is largely unregulated, and with the British economy still reeling from a recession, many UK residents are seeking payday loans as a solution to some of their short-term financial problems.
    
    In recent years UK payday lenders have filled a significant gap in the marketplace, as banks have typically denied overdraft protection to those with questionable credit ratings.
    
    Some 15 U.S. states have either banned payday loan operations, or they have enacted severe restriction that make it nearly impossible for these firms to remain in business. As more states investigate similar legislation, we can expect the British invasion of U.S. payday lenders to continue.

    
    

• Improved Video Content is Leading to Greater Consumers Website Engagement

  • New research shows web brands are doing a much better job keeping consumers engaged in their website, thanks to improvements in web videos. Studies by Tubemogul and Brightcove indicated web brands are significantly enhancing the quality of their content and interactive features in order to keep consumers involved.
    
    For example, in the fourth quarter of 2010, website brands saw a huge increase in the average time spent viewing web videos, from 1:03 minutes per viewer to 2:03 minutes, compared with the fourth quarter of 2009.
    
    The categories that saw the more dramatic improvements were broadcasters, followed by newspapers and online media. Magazine websites did not fare as well in keeping their visitors engaged.
    
    In addition, the completion rate of website videos viewed from start to finish skyrocketed. For the first time ever, the data shows more than half of the viewed web videos were seen from beginning to end during Q4.
    
    It is interesting to note that in the fourth quarter of 2010 Facebook leaped over Yahoo as the No. 2 referral source of video traffic to web brands. Google continued to be the dominant referral source, with over 60 percent of referred traffic. Facebook now refers 11.8 percent of all website video visitors.
    
    comScore reports over 171 million unique U.S. viewers watched online video content in January, 2011. Of these consumers, the average total web video viewing time was 14.5 hours. The average duration of each online video was about five minutes in January. The average online video advertisement was about 24-seconds, according to comScore.

    
    

• Indian Tribes Becoming Player in Payday Loan Marketplace

  • According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, American Indian tribes are venturing into the payday loan marketplace. The move may frustrate some who have been trying to implement restrictions on payday lenders.
    
    Under their U.S. treaties, American Indian sovereign nations are free from state interest rate caps or regulations that apply to other payday loan lenders. In fact, payday loans may even be offered on American Indian reservations in the 12 U.S. states that have outlawed payday loans.
    
    According to the article, the actual tribes are not necessarily the ones selling the payday loans. The WSJ report notes that some lenders are relocating to Indian reservations and they are sharing their revenue with the tribes.
    
    The article reported that about 35 of the roughly 300 online payday loan lenders are now owned by American Indian tribes.
    
    So...now it appears if someone has lost their money at the Indian casinos, they could potentially take out a payday loan to pay for their trip back home.

    
    

• Payday Industry Works to Avoid Excessive Federal Scrutiny

  • Several lobbying groups, including those representing the payday loan industry, have been busy lately attempting to shield themselves from the potential over-regulation that might result from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
    
    The CFPB, which was mandated by passage of the sweeping Dodd-Frank financial reform act, is still in the formation process, but it's lengthy regulatory "tentacles" are expected to reach a wide array of financial-related industries, from major banking giants, to pawn shops -- and many firms in between.
    
    The CFPB, currently being pieced together by Obama-appointee Elizabeth Warren, is slated to officially begin operating July 21, 2011. In the months and weeks leading up to that date we can expect the flurry of activity to become frantic, especially from organizations seeking some sort of exemption from the CFPB's authority.
    
    Financial pundits are predicting the industries expected to be working the hardest to avoid CFPB scrutiny include payday loan lenders and "smaller" banks with less than $10 billion in assets. They may be seeking exemptions similar to those Congress has afforded auto dealers.
    
    It is widely believed the primary cause of the nation's 2008 financial meltdown was the lax lending practices of mortgage lenders. Although the Federal Reserve had the authority to crack down on such practices, regulators turned the other cheek, allowing mortgage lenders to provide loans to risky borrowers who frequently should not have qualified. Many of these same federal regulators will likely be enforcing some of the rules implemented by the CFPB.
    
    Payday lenders were unable to convince Congress to exempt them from the Dodd-Frank Act. Now the industry's representatives have turned their attention to the CFPB. Payday loan advocates are attempting to convey the fact that  payday lending advertising is already regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, and therefore CFPB oversight would be redundant and unnecessary.

    
    

• Payday Cap Bill Killed in Kentucky

  • Payday loan lenders in Kentucky can breathe a sigh of relief.
    
    On Feb. 16, a Kentucky legislative committee narrowly voted down a proposal to cap interest rates that may be charged by payday lenders.
    
    The House Banking and Insurance Committee struck down House Bill 136 (Owens) that called for a 36 percent limit on the annual rates payday lenders may charge consumers. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have implement a similar mandatory cap on payday loans.
    
    The vote was 13-10 against HB 136.
    
    This was the third year Rep. Darryl Owens (D-Louisville) has introduced the payday legislation, but this was the first time the bill has made it to a committee vote.
    
    The measure was opposed by the Kentucky Deferred Deposit Association and the Community Financial Service Association of America. The groups testified that HB 136 would destroy thousands of jobs in the state. The payday lending industry reportedly provides jobs to more than 2,000 Kentuckians and has a total payroll of $35 million. The bill's opponents added that a 36 percent cap on payday loans would kill the industry.
    
    Several committee members who opposed the measure noted that payday lending provides a service to needy people and they called for more information from the state database.
    
    The bill was supported by some church groups and the AARP.

    
    

• UK Consumers Searching for Online Loans in Droves

  • Check out this interesting data...
    
    Some 61 percent of the online retail banking-related searches in the United Kingdom are for loans and mortgages. There are approximately two million Internet searches conducted each day in the UK for banking-related products. The data is courtesty of Greenlight, a search marketing specialist.
    
    The most popular search is for the keyword "loan," which accounted for 33 percent of all retail banking searches. The term "mortgages" was the second most popular search, accounting for 28 percent of the searches. Next up were the terms "bank accounts" (24 percent) and "credit cards" (16 percent).
    
    Greenlight examined data in October 2010 to categorize 750 of the most common terms used to locate websites for loans, bank accounts, credit/debit cards and mortgages.
    
    There were 660,000 loan-related searches in October 2010. The most common loan-related search term was "loans" (11 percent), followed closely by "pay day loans" (9 percent).
    
    Among the mortgage-related searches, "mortgage calculator" was searched 135,000 times in October, accounting for 24 percent of those searches.
    
    There were 475,000 bank account searches. The terms "ISA" (6 percent), "savings accounts" (5 percent) and "online banking" (4 percent) were most popular.
    
    As for credit and debit card-related searches, the terms "credit cards" and "credit card" each accounted for 26 percent of those searches.

    
    

• Dodd-Frank Includes Whistle-Blower Incentive

  • One of the more controversial provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act is the bounty offered to those who provide original information to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that leads to SEC fines in excess of $1 million. These whistle-blowers could earn a 10%-30% "commission" of any SEC fine related to the information.
    
    In light of the whistle-blower incentive, experts are urging insurance agents, carriers and public companies to review their directors & officers policy.
    
    There is little doubt the Dodd-Frank Act will spawn a spike in whistle-blowing activities. The SEC is in the process of developing regulations concerning the Dodd-Frank rule in order to maintain some semblance of control. Clearly, such a provision has the potential for turning personnel disputes into a flood of whistle-blowing complaints that may not be truly warranted.
    
    How does the whistle-blower provision of Dodd-Frank impact a company's D&O coverage? First off, legal pundits are advising companies to review and possibly amend their internal policies to encourage employees to report inappropriate behavior. Companies should also be reviewing their D&O policies to determine if it includes an "insured-versus-insured" exclusion. These exclusions are designed to prevent insured parties from conspiring together just to collect a claim from the insurance carrier.
    
    As you may know, some exclusions will deny coverage for these types of regulatory investigations. Since there will likely be a major increase in whistle-blowing, companies need to make sure expenses related to such activities -- litigation, fines, etc. -- are covered.
    
    In addition, experts recommend that public companies look to possibly expand their D&O coverage to protect from Dodd-Frank whistle-blower claims. They may be looking for their insurer to:
    
    * Cover employees for securities claims. Many public companies will want to make sure their coverage is expanded to include Dodd-Frank whistle-blower incidents.
    * Make sure their whistle-blower definition is not too narrow. Public companies may ask the carrier to expand the definition of "whistle-blower" appropriately, and to possibly include officers and directors in the insured-versus-insured exclusion.
    * Provide renewal coverage with a more policyholder-friendly "entity-versus-insured" exclusion, which would still provide coverage for a D&O claim against the company that would be initiated when the company itself is bringing a claim against an insured under the policy. In 2010 some insurers, led by Chartis, have moved toward the entity-versus-insured exclusion.
    * Assure that a "Side A" D&O policy does not have an insured-versus-insured exclusion. These policies only cover directors and officers; not the company.
    
    Needless to say, commercial insurers should expect that public companies will attempt to negotiate these enhancements to their coverage with little or no premium increase.
    
    From the insurance carrier's perspective, they will be looking to see if the public company has implemented its own internal procedures to eliminate the potential for whistle-blowing incidents.
    
    It will be interesting to see how this provision of Dodd-Frank plays out over time; and whether it leads to a massive spike in whistle-blower incidents and related insurance claims.

    
    

• Keys to Closing More Internet Leads

  • Whether you are selling payday loans or widgets, there are certain basic rules you need to follow that will help you and your sales team to close more Internet leads.
    
    As you have probably already discovered, closing an Internet lead is not always like plucking the proverbial low-hanging fruit. There are certain elements of an Internet lead that you will have to learn in order to increase your closing ratio:
    
    1. Speed is critical. Even if you are buying exclusive leads, it is possible your prospects may be shopping elsewhere for your product/service. You need to pounce on your prospects immediately. Never use snail mail to communicate with your prospects -- unless you have exhausted all other communication options. Internet shoppers transmit their information to you electronically -- so they often expect the same form of communication from you. However, while email replies may be somewhat effective, they will not be as effective as a phone call. Have you considered building an online purchasing system that allows your customers to complete the entire transaction online? Still, you may realize a higher closing ratio with telephone communication, simply because you will be able to answer questions and resolve concerns more effectively and efficiently.
    
    2. Immediately identify yourself. Many consumers become irritated by telemarketing calls. Therefore, you will need to tell the prospect who you are and that you are responding to their Internet request. Of course, as we stated in number-one, the quicker you can communicate with the customer, the better. That way their inquiry will be fresh in their mind.
    
    3. Sell your benefits. How does your customer benefit from what you are selling? You need to make a list of these benefits and know them like the back of your hand. No one will purchase any item unless they believe it will benefit their needs. In addition, give some serious thought to how your particular company stands out from the competition. What makes you unique? Why should the prospect buy from you, versus the numerous other companies that sell the same product?
    
    4. Take advantage of technology. We mentioned this a bit in number-one. Can you incorporate an online chat to resolve customer questions? Can you install an electronic signature program to complete the entire transaction online? Do you send email newsletters to customers after the sale to cross-sell or promote new and improved products and services? Conduct some research and determine what is available, what you can afford and how to best utilize those features.
    
    5. Be persistent. It is often difficult to contact your prospects on the first try. Remember, Internet selling is often an "active" sales process. In other words, the sales team must take the initiative to close the sale. When the phone rings and you take an order, that is considered a "passive" sales process, and that requires less salesmanship and persistency to close the lead.
    
    6. Maintain records of leads that do not close. Even if you do not make the sale, do not totally abandon the prospect. Ask them if you may contact them in the future to discuss new or improved products/services. After all, you already have their contact information; and they have already expressed an interest in your company. You allocated your hard-earned resources to acquire that data, so why not use it in the future, if necessary?
    
    There is no quarantee when it comes to sales, but following these rules may help to bolster your closing ratio by up to 10% or 15% -- or more. Good luck, and happy selling!

    
    

• How Traditional Media Can Bolster an Online Campaign

  • Traditional media is dead.
    
    Or is it?
    
    Unless you are a dating service, car company, auto insurer, politician running for election (or a handful of other advertising categories), it seems traditional media -- broadcast, print, direct mail, outdoor -- has been eviscertated by the Internet and the online marketing opportunities available in cyber-space.  
    
    There is little doubt that as Internet marketing evolves and highly sophisticated tools are at an advertiser's disposal, it simply makes more sense for a marketer to invest a higher percentage of the company's resources in viral advertising campaigns. Savvy Internet lead generation companies such as T3leads.com have perfected affiliate marketing techniques for lead generation programs such as payday loans. T3leads.com's payday loan lead program is one of the most cost-effective marketing tools available on the Internet.
    
    The benefits of Internet marketing -- search engine optimization, pay-per-lead, pay-per-click, affiliate marketing, blogging, etc. -- are clear: it is relatively inexpensive (especially compared with many traditional media options); the ROI is easy to gauge, thanks to the capture of electronic data; and as Internet use becomes more global, consumers are leaning more toward the Internet for nearly all their research and shopping needs. The Internet is basicaly a one-stop shop for...anything. Conversely, broadcast advertising, which was for decades the king of all advertsing media, is basically a source for entertainment and news. And, unless an advertiser runs a small, local campaign, traditional media is a sizeable expense, when you combine production costs and media buys.
    
    So -- why would an advertiser who has had success with Internet marketing want to use traditional marketing methods? The answer can be summed up with one word: branding.
    
    When a business establishes a brand identity, it generates loyalty among its customers, more repeat business, more referral business and greater top-of-mind awareness for their product or service. How does that help an advertiser who is already realizing significant returns from their online marketing efforts? An advertiser may be receiving a healthy dose of website visitors, but those visitors are probably reaching the website through generic searches. Once a company begins to establish a brand identity, consumers will start to specifically seek out that company. This is a much more valuable lead than one with no prior opinion or awareness of the company.
    
    Traditional advertising is still an effective way for a company to generate the reach and frequency it desires. Of course, the accuracy of reach and frequency data is nowhere near as precise as online marketing, with its electronic data-capturing capabilities. However, the Internet is so expansive that it is still challenging to find consumers within one's target market. Although the volume of television advertising opportunities has multiplied considerably over the past couple decades, it is still fairly simple to geo-target, based on the viewer profile for a particular program. Print advertising (newspapers and magazines) is just as effective for geo-targeting, based on the readership of the publication and the location of the subscribers. Direct mail (aka, snail or junk mail) is still a monster industry, thanks to its geo-targeting capabilities. Even outdoor advertising can be an effective geo-targeting marketing tool, depending on the location of the outdoor ads.
    
    These days many advertisers will launch their marketing efforts through a mix of electronic advertising tactics. And, once the flow of business is viable, then traditional media is incorporated into the marketing mix as a way to build top-of-mind brand awareness and to improve the quality of the leads.
    
    Is traditional advertising media dead? Not yet. But, as soon as Internet marketers figure out how to better use that medium to enhance a company's brand identity, then it may be time to call in the mortician.