teaser http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for teaser Copyright 2008 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:32:43 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/teaser Trivia Teaser Online: Free Online Trivia Game http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-teaser-online-free-online-trivia-game http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-teaser-online-free-online-trivia-game#comments Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:15:01 +0000 trivia questionwater triviaminute triviacontinental drift theoryturkey buzzardsturkey buzzardmesozoic era http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-teaser-online-free-online-trivia-game Trivia Question: How far does human blood travel during one day?

Trivia Answer: 12,000 miles

Trivia Teaser: On average the blood fully circulates in the human body some seven to eight times per minute.

Trivia Question: What bird is the longest lived?

Trivia Answer:

Trivia Teaser: have a long life span compared to most other birds; they can live up to 30 years in captivity.

Trivia Question: What continent has the most countries?

Trivia Answer: Africa

Trivia Teaser: Africa is home to 53 independent countries, representing more than 25 percent of the countries of the world. There are 47 countries on mainland Africa and six nearby island countries.

Trivia Question: What mammal is the longest lived?

Trivia Answer: Human

Trivia Teaser: The mammal with the longest recorded life is man. Some human beings live more than 110 years. After humans, the Asiatic elephant lives the longest; one elephant lived to be 78 years old.

Trivia Question: What is the largest continent on earth?

Trivia Answer: Asia

Trivia Teaser: Currently, Asia is Earth's largest continent at approximately 17,300,000 square miles (44,806,812 square kilometers). Africa comes in second at about 11,700,000 square miles (30,300,000 square kilometers). However, suggests that the continents have moved over the years through the process of plate tectonics. Many geologists believe that, during the , all of the continents combined to form a supercontinent known as Pangaea which would have dwarfed the largest continent today. It is believed that Pangaea began to break up about 200 million years ago.

Trivia Question: What percentage of the earth is covered by water?

Trivia Answer: 70 percent

Trivia Teaser: Seventy percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water. The remaining 30 percent is covered by mountains, volcanoes, deserts, plains, and valleys. Only 3 percent of that water is fresh or drinking water. Earth is the only planet that can have water in liquid form on the surface. If you enjoy a Free Online Trivia Game you should visit the Trivia Teaser Online Contest at http://TriviaTeaserOnline.com ]]> Trivia Teaser Online: Free Trivia Questions And Answers http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-teaser-online-free-trivia-questions-and-answers http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-teaser-online-free-trivia-questions-and-answers#comments Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:25:01 +0000 trivia questiondinosaur triviaturtle triviareligion triviaocean trivialeatherback sea turtleleatherback turtle http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-teaser-online-free-trivia-questions-and-answers Trivia Question: What is the deepest part of the ocean?

Trivia Answer: Marianas Trench

Trivia Teaser: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the deepest point in Earth's oceans. The bottom there is 35,840 feet below sea level. If Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, were placed at this location it would be covered by over one mile of water. The Challenger Deep is named after the British survey ship Challenger II, which discovered this deepest location in 1951.

Trivia Question: What is the largest city in the world?

Trivia Answer: Tokyo

Trivia Teaser: Tokyo, Japan, is Japan's capital and the country's largest city as well as the world's largest city with 28,025,000 people living in the metropolitan region. Tokyo is also home to many of the tallest buildings on Earth.

Trivia Question: What is the largest living reptile?

Trivia Answer:

Trivia Teaser: The , Dermochelys coriacea, is the world's largest living reptile, reaching up to nine feet and 2,000 pounds. Leatherbacks can swim extraordinary distances and dive to extraordinary depths.

Trivia Question: What is the world's most popular single religion?

Trivia Answer: Islam

Trivia Teaser: A widespread religion with many countries majority Muslim, particularly in the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asian archipelago (except the Philippines and East Timor), Central Asia, North Africa and West Africa.

Trivia Question: What is the largest living bird?

Trivia Answer: Ostrich

Trivia Teaser: Ostriches are the largest living species of bird. Ostriches usually weigh 200 to 285 pounds, although some male ostriches have been recorded with weights of up to 340 pounds.

Trivia Question: What is the most intelligent dinosaur?

Trivia Answer: Troodon

Trivia Teaser: Troodon had one of the largest known brains of any dinosaur, relative to its body mass (comparable to modern birds). Hence it is believed to have been one of the most intelligent dinosaurs. If you enjoy a Free Online Trivia Game you should visit the Trivia Teaser Online Contest at http://TriviaTeaserOnline.com ]]> Fun Online Trivia Game Questions And Answers http://www.artwoo.com/article/fun-online-trivia-game-questions-and-answers http://www.artwoo.com/article/fun-online-trivia-game-questions-and-answers#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:50:03 +0000 swiss cheesetypes of bacteriateaserhow many oceans are theretriviaheart pumpsfive oceans http://www.artwoo.com/article/fun-online-trivia-game-questions-and-answers
Answer: More

: A baby's body has about 300 bones at birth. These eventually fuse, or grow together, to form the 206 bones that adults possess.

Question: What are the holes in called?

Answer: Eyes

Trivia Teaser: In order to make cheese you need bacteria. Propionibacter shermani is one of the three used to make Swiss cheese, and it's responsible for the cheese's distinctive holes. Once P. shermani is added to the cheese mixture and warmed, bubbles of carbon dioxide form. These bubbles become holes in the final product. Cheesemakers can control the size of the holes by changing the acidity, temperature, and curing time of the mixture.

Question: Greenland belongs to what country

Answer: Denmark

Trivia Teaser: Although its closest neighbours are Canada and Iceland, it belongs to Denmark. In this vast area there are only 55,000 inhabitants, most of them Inuits, but also people from Denmark, Faroe islands, and some from other Scandinavian countries and USA.

Question: How much blood does the human body contain?

Answer: 6 quarts or 5.6 liters

Trivia Teaser: The about 55-80 ml (1/3 cup) of blood with each beat for adults and around 25-85 ml per beat for children. An adult heart pumps about 6,000-7,500 liters (1,500-2,000 gallons) of blood daily.

Question: in the world?

Answer: Four

Trivia Teaser: Although the oceans of the earth are all connected and truly one "World Ocean," most often the world is divided into four major "oceans" - the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Some consider there to be - the fifth being an ocean surrounding Antarctica called the Antarctic Ocean or Southern Ocean.

Question: What is the tallest mammal on the planet?

Answer: Giraffe

Trivia Teaser: Male giraffes are larger than females. Males weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds and stand up to 19 feet tall! Female giraffes weigh between 1,600 and 2,600 pounds and grow to be 16 feet tall. If you enjoy Free Online Trivia Game and Free Trivia Questions and Answers you should visit the Trivia Teaser Online Contest at http://TriviaTeaserOnline.com ]]> Free Online Trivia Game Questions http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-online-trivia-game-questions http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-online-trivia-game-questions#comments Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:21:41 +0000 blue whaleinternational olympic gamesmodern olympic gameslargest mammalsquare kilometerstallest mountain in the worldteaser http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-online-trivia-game-questions tallest mountain in the world?

Answer: Everest

Trivia : Mt. Everest, on the border of Nepal and Tibet, China, is the world's tallest mountain and highest elevation with a peak at 29,035 feet (8850 meters).

Question: What language is the most spoken in the world?

Answer: Mandarin Chinese

Trivia Teaser: Chinese (Mandarin) is the most spoken with approximately 1,075,000,000 speakers followed by English with 514,000,000 speakers.

Question: When were the first held? Answer: 1896

Trivia Teaser: The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. These games were the first and the first Games since Roman emperor Theodosius I banned the Ancient Olympic Games in 393. They were held between Monday, April 6 and Wednesday, April 15, 1896.

Question: What is the to ever live?

Answer:

Trivia Teaser: The Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus, is the largest mammal living today and is also the largest mammal to have ever lived. In fact, the Blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on the planet as far as we know; bigger by far than even the largest Dinosaur. The longest Blue Whale ever measured was a female, 33.58 meters or 110 feet long. The heaviest weighed an estimated 190+ tons.

Question: What is the largest country in the world?

Answer: Russian Federation

Trivia Teaser: Russia covers 17,075,400 . Prior to its dissolution in 1991, the Soviet Union had an area of 22,402,200 square kilometers. Canada is the second largest country with 9,970,610 square kilometers.

Question: How many planets are there in our solar system?

Answer: Nine

Trivia Teaser: Our solar system officially has nine planets and one star: the Sun. In order from the Sun out, the planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The discovery of an object larger than Pluto in 2005 rekindled the debate over whether such objects, belonging to the andquot;Kuiper Beltandquot; -- a collection of icy bodies located beyond Neptune-- should be called planets. Pluto itself belongs to the Kuiper Belt. If you enjoy Free Online Trivia Game and Free Trivia Questions and Answers you should visit the Trivia Teaser Online Contest at http://TriviaTeaserOnline.com ]]> The Two Basic Types Of UK Mortgage http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-two-basic-types-of-uk-mortgage http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-two-basic-types-of-uk-mortgage#comments Fri, 14 Apr 2006 20:50:03 +0000 fixed rate mortgageadjustable rate mortgagemortgage providerworst case scenariomarket interest rateinterest rate changeshttp http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-two-basic-types-of-uk-mortgage
The fixed-rate mortgage is the most simple of mortgages and the one which most people see as the traditional way to purchase your home. This involves the lending you the money you need to buy your home and, using their interest rate, calculating how much interest the loan will accrue over the period for which the mortgage has been borrowed. This is usually either 15 or 30 years. The sum of the interest is added on to the amount being borrowed and the monthly repayments are simply the result of this total divided by the number of months over which the mortgage will be repaid. This ensures that the monthly amount stays the same for the life of the mortgage.

The adjustable-rate mortgage is slightly different. The interest to be paid on the amount of the loan that you borrow changes dependent on in the country. The first year of the mortgage is usually offered with a teaser rate of interest. This is generally slightly lower than the . After this point the interest reverts to the standard level for that time. However, you do have a cap at which point the interest will not get any higher. This is usually five points higher than your teaser interest rate so if your teaser was 4% your cap would be 9%. The important thing to consider if you are thinking about opting for the adjustable-rate mortgage is that you may have to pay the capped level of interest for the life of the loan. That is the but it is certainly worth calculating whether you could afford this level of monthly repayment just in case you may have to in the future. Mark Lambie is the founder of http://www.loan-source.co.uk a website providing homeowners with free secured loans quotes. ]]> The Proper Way To Play Nfl Teasers http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-proper-way-to-play-nfl-teasers http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-proper-way-to-play-nfl-teasers#comments Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:27:05 +0000 nfl gamesbetsix pointsteaserhalf of the timeindividual gamesbookmakers http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-proper-way-to-play-nfl-teasers bet s then they can be a fun and profitable way to get some action on the NFL. If you're not using them properly, however, you might as well just put your money in a big pile and burn it. The result will be the same and it won't take up as much of your time or cause you as much frustration. By their structure, teasers give a significant edge (much bigger than on a regular bet). In order to take advantage, then, you have to both identify that edge and find ways to overcome it.

A teaser is a bet in which you take two or more teams and add a set amount of points to the lines of each team. In the NFL the most common teaser is , and 6.5 and seven point teasers are also standard. Say you liked Dallas, which was favored by eight, and Minnesota, which was a three-point underdog. On a teaser ticket, the lines would become Dallas -2 and Minnesota +9. In order for you to win the bet both of those results would have to occur. A push in either game would result in a void ticket and a returned bet. Because of the greatly advantageous spreads, you obviously get a much lower payout than you would betting the teams in a parlay at their full spread.

Teasers give the bookmakers such an edge because of the difficulty of hitting them often enough to make a profit. If you shop around you can find two-team, six-point teasers that pay out at even money. Even at that generous level of remuneration you still have to be correct in choosing the winners by the adjusted spread in 70.7 percent of games to break even over the long run (.707 x .707 = .5 -- If you are right on the 70.7 percent of the time then you will be right on both games ). Teasing a random sample of by six points doesn't provide accuracy at that level -- favorites don't either cover or fail to cover by less than six points more than 70.7 percent of the time - so the expectation over the long term is for a loss. It gets even worse for seven point teasers. Though more games will be covered by the larger change to the spread, bookmakers charge a higher price for the bets, so the expectations of loss can be even higher.

In order to profit on betting teasers, then, you would have to find a situation that allowed you to pick more than 71 percent winners over the long term. One such commonly known situation is called a basic strategy teaser, or a Wong teaser. These are teasers that move the spread across two key numbers -- the three and the seven. For example, a spread of -8.5 is teased to -2.5, meaning the favorite now covers the spread if they win by either a field goal or a touchdown, two of the most common margins of victory. You lose your advantage if the spread is teased right to one of those two key numbers, because that would make a push more likely, voiding your ticket. Playable spreads for this type of teaser, then, are from -7.5 to -8.5 and +1.5 to +2.5. Historical data shows that playing teasers that fit these requirements is profitable over the long term, though a large bankroll is required, because fluctuations can be extreme.

If teasing a spread to cover two key numbers in that case makes sense, then does it make sense to tease a spread to cover both 3's? You could tease a spread of -3.5 or -3 to be +3.5, thereby covering the most common key number regardless of which team wins by three. The simple answer is no. Over the long term, your expectation for this bet would not be positive. The main reason for that is not because of the key numbers, but because of the numbers that fall in between. When you tease over the three and the seven, you also win games that are decided by scores between those two numbers -- four, five and six points. Those outcomes aren't as common as three or seven, but they still occur fairly frequently, adding to the number of bets that are correct. Between the two threes, on the other hand, you have two and one, neither of which are as common as four or six, and zero, which virtually never occurs. When you buy a teaser you are essentially buying more numbers that the score can land on. When you tease from -3 then you are just buying a bunch of junk. The other problem you face, as well, is that you need at least 6.5 points to properly tease -3, which makes the bet more expensive.

As with any type of bet, the fact that a bet isn't advantageous over the long run doesn't mean that it can't make sense in a specific circumstance. For example, a teaser could make sense if you are confident that two teams are both going to win the game straight up, but if a parlay of their morning lines doesn't pay out what a teaser would. A teaser could also be used to take advantage of a group of lines that you sense are soft. As long as you understand the bet, and know its limitations, then the teaser can be a powerful tool. Doc's Sports Handicapping Service - http://www.docsports.com/ 1-866-238-6696 Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted names in sports handicapping information. Visit Doc's website for free college and NFL picks and predictions as well as updated articles. ]]> Trivia Questions From Trivia Teaser Online http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-questions-from-trivia-teaser-online http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-questions-from-trivia-teaser-online#comments Thu, 16 Nov 2006 08:27:08 +0000 earth answersearth creaturemilletsteasertriviacretaceous periodbehemoth http://www.artwoo.com/article/trivia-questions-from-trivia-teaser-online
Answers: San Marino

: According to tradition, San Marino is known as the world's oldest republic. The tiny republic was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marino (or Saint Marinus) on September 3, in the year 301 C.E.

Question: Which continent is the largest?

Answers: Asia

Trivia Teaser: Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition. It covers 8.6 percent of the Earth's total surface area, or 29.4 percent of its land area, and it contains more than 60 percent of the world's human population. Australia is the smallest and lowest-lying of the Earth's continents, having a total land area of some 8,560,000 square kilometres.

Question: What is the with the longest neck?

Answers: Sauroposeidon

Trivia Teaser: Sauroposeidon, a huge, long-necked sauropod, was found in Oklahoma, USA, and may be the biggest dinosaur yet found. The name Sauroposeidon means andquot;Lizard Earthquake God,andquot; because this probably shook the ground when it walked. This giant plant-eater weighed about 60 tons and was about 60 feet tall. It has the longest neck in the fossil record, beating even the enormous dinosaur Mamenchisaurus. Individual vertebrae (neck bones) are up to 4 feet (1.2 m) long. A single bone looks more like a tree trunk than part of an animal's neck. Sauroposeidon lived about 110 million years ago, during the mid-.

Question: Name one of the first crops ever cultivated? (there are 3)

Answers: Rice, Millet, or Sorghum

Trivia Teaser: Rice, millet, and sorghum are thought to be the first crops ever cultivated. Rice has been cultivated for over 5000 years. There are thousands of different varieties of rice (Oryza sativa). At the International Rice Research Institute Genetic Resources Center in the Philippines, there are 80,000 rice samples in cold storage. Rice is grown on every continent except Antarctica. The are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one, based on similar characteristics and uses. Sorghum originated in the north-east quadrant of Africa and spread from there throughout Africa and into India. In 1994, sorghum ranked fifth among the most important cereal crops of the world after wheat, rice, maize, and barley in both total area planted and production.

Question: What is the largest fish in the world?

Answers: Whale shark

Trivia Teaser: The whale shark is a the biggest shark and the biggest fish in the world. Despite its name it is NOT a whale. The whale shark is up to 46 feet (14 m) in length and weighs up to 15 tons. The average size is 25 feet (7.6 m) long. Females are larger than males (like most sharks). It has a huge mouth which can be up to 4 feet (1.4 m) wide at the very front of its head (not on the underside of the head like in most sharks). It has a wide, flat head, a rounded snout, small eyes, five very large gill slits, two dorsal fins (on its back) and two pectoral fins (on its sides). Whale sharks have about 3,000 very tiny teeth but they are of little use. This enormous shark is a filter feeder and eats by sieving huge amounts of plankton through its gills as it swims. The whale shark has distinctive light-yellow markings (random stripes and dots) on its very thick dark gray skin. Its skin is up to four inches (10 cm) thick. There are three prominent ridges running along each side of the shark's body.

Question: What is the longest river in the world?

Answers: Nile

Trivia Teaser: The longest river in the world is the Nile River at 4,157 miles long. The Nile is located in northeastern Africa, originating from tributaries of Lake Victoria, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. If you enjoy Trivia Games and Trivia Contests you should enter the Trivia Teaser Online Contest at http://TriviaTeaserOnline.com ]]> Learn How To Talk Dirty - 5 Tips http://www.artwoo.com/article/learn-how-to-talk-dirty-5-tips http://www.artwoo.com/article/learn-how-to-talk-dirty-5-tips#comments Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:25:00 +0000 lovemakinglittle teaserintimate encounterset the tonetalking dirtyspice up your sex lifeembarrass http://www.artwoo.com/article/learn-how-to-talk-dirty-5-tips spice up your sex life, learn to turn him on the next time you get together with a little bit of dirty talk. Here are 5 tips for opening up a new chapter in the book of your with him.

Tip #1: for your encounter: Breaking into this new territory will be easier if you set the right ambience for your together. Try lighting some candles, buy a new piece of lingerie, or maybe put on some mood music. Of course, make sure that you choose a time and place where you will not have any interruptions and where nobody can hear your murmurs of pleasure.

Tip #2: Give him a : If you fear you might him the first time you try , try working it slowly into your lovemaking the next time you get together. As things are starting to warm up, encourage what he is already doing by whispering passionately, "I love it when you do that." This will give him confidence about his prowess and also provide him with a teaser of what is to come.

Tip #3: Tell him what you want him to do to you: Once he confidently knows that you think he already has some great skills in bed, try dropping a hint during foreplay about what you want him to do. Something as simple as whispering, "I would love it if you did [fill in blank]" will do just fine. Say it with a surrendering tone that tells him you will soon be putty in his hands. Hint: to keep things moving, be sure to give him plenty of feedback along the way.

Tip #4: Ask him what he wants you to do: For your next lovemaking session, ask him what he wants you to do to him. This will get him talking dirty, which should be one of your goals. Do not expect poetry from him (or yourself) and be sure not to make light of his words if he sounds awkward at first. Just like you, his ego in certain areas is fragile, so make sure to make him feel comfortable saying whatever comes to his mind.

Tip #5: Turn up the heat with new vocabulary: Now, it is time to turn up the heat by using words you would never dream of saying outside of the bedroom. There is no need to "go XXX" here (unless you sense the mood is right for both of you). But, do start referring to each others' bodies and body parts in new and colorful ways. For example, instead of just telling him what you want him to do in general terms, be more specific. Describe what you desire in vivid detail, telling him step by step what you would like him to do, or what you want to do to him.

Talking dirty with you man in bed is one of those things that may sound awkward or even silly when you are not in the right kind of mood. But, once you get things going with your man, slipping in a bit of dirty talk will do wonders for your sex life. Soon, you may find that it becomes a regular part of your sex play. Want to make him WORSHIP you? Get proven tips for captivating his heart here: http://www.He-Adores-Me.com/ ]]> Spotting Dubious Online Mortgage Ads http://www.artwoo.com/article/spotting-dubious-online-mortgage-ads http://www.artwoo.com/article/spotting-dubious-online-mortgage-ads#comments Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:29:59 +0000 adjustable rate mortgagessubprime mortgagesmortgage providersrunning the other wayprofitable industriestaking the baitmortgage industry http://www.artwoo.com/article/spotting-dubious-online-mortgage-ads mortgage industry has changed dramatically since the beginning of 2007. are now as rare as gold, and credit requirements have become much stricter. Alt-A mortgages too are hard to come by. Many large have seen profits markedly down, and some have even closed their doors. And sadly, a lot of homeowners are now struggling to pay their adjustable-rate mortgages and keep their homes.

But no matter how much an environment changes, some things stay the same. Those outrageous advertisements offering unbelievable home loans are still being used by a minority of mortgages companies to draw in new customers, even as their previous customers are being foreclosed on because they were sold a loan they didn't expect or understand.

The Ad Constant

Such ads are rarer than they were a year ago, because quite a few of the companies which depended on them for bringing in new business have moved on to more or simply shut up shop. But they can still be found, lurking on websites big and small, and tempting desperate homeowners into .

Fortunately, such ads are usually easy to detect. Many use interest rates or monthly payment amounts to snare and impress readers who might otherwise see little gain from such a product. More importantly, these ads use numbers which are ridiculously agreeable, and at face value seem to include very few requirements.

Warning Signs

But promises of a $500,000 mortgage for a few hundred dollars a month should have you . Why? Because these kinds of loans are invariably driven by adjustable rates, depend on an astonishingly low teaser rate, and will result in a huge jump in minimum monthly payments once that teaser rate has expired after a year or two.

One way people determine whether an ad is shady or not is to scan for fine-print at the bottom of the promotional message. The assumption is that if there's a lot of tiny conditional text there are catches, whereas no or very little fine-print means an honest deal.

But this assumption is seriously flawed. The nuances of advertising regulations allow advertisers to side-step the traditional checks and balances many people are used to. Look carefully at a mortgage advert on the web and you might see minimal fine-print like "some restrictions apply". But the exact details of those restrictions aren't given, at least not on the same page where the ad appears. Instead they're buried at the bottom of the target page - the page you are taken to once you click on the advert itself.

Additionally, the final fine-print might not deal with the technical details of the loan as you would hope. Some only cover aspects like teaser rates and prepayment penalties in a vague and noncommittal way. Others don't mention them at all.

One other important development in mortgage advertising is the use of the term "fixed rate". Since the subprime shakeout, have become vilified and viewed as dangerous by many. Sometimes this reputation is unjust. But regardless, it has posed a problem to deceptive advertisers. Their solution has been to bend the truth about the product they're offering and substitute "adjustable" for "fixed". In their eyes the mortgage is fixed because the payments won't change for the first year or so that the teaser rate is in place. But they deliberately don't acknowledge that after the teaser rate has expired the payments will start shifting, often upwards.

New Trends, Same Old Risks

As the mortgage market has stuttered, law makers and industry leaders have stepped in to curb bad business practices. Teaser rates and prepayment penalties, which have been the undoing of many unsuspecting homeowners, are now frowned upon. And reports of dubious mortgage origination practices like exaggerated income statements or bait-and-switch offers are rigorously investigated.

Some argue that given these developments such questionable practices must no longer be possible. But sadly, they are. No matter how the mortgage climate changes there will always be companies who choose to use advertising in questionable ways. Worse still are the unscrupulous small-time opportunists who try to fly below the radar, or who operate to make a quick buck from unsuspecting customers and then slink away into the night.

Companies like America's Lending Partners have tackled the problem of dubious ads head-on by trying to educate consumers that some mortgage ads can be harmful to their financial health. They placed an ad on their home page promising a $490,000 mortgage for only $99 per month. But when someone clicks on that ad they are told "Don't Believe Everything You Read!", and are warned as to the dangerous nature of such promotions. The strategy has yielded some interesting calls into their customer service department from small-time brokers and loan officers who had hoped to ensnare unsuspecting homeowners with an obviously toxic mortgage.

Conclusion

When shopping for something as major as a home loan it's important you approach the process methodically. When it comes to advertising, don't jump at numbers or be sold by a flashy message alone. Look at the fine-print and check the credentials of the company making the offer. Educate yourself and do your research. The time invested will probably save you thousands of dollars down the road. Andrew Carey works at America's Lending Partners, a leading online mortgage business that has been providing homeowners and home buyers with a variety of resources and mortgage services since 1999. For more information please visit: http://www.LendingPartners.com ]]> Transfer Your Credit Card Balances Successfully http://www.artwoo.com/article/transfer-your-credit-card-balances-successfully http://www.artwoo.com/article/transfer-your-credit-card-balances-successfully#comments Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:27:09 +0000 credit card balance transfercredit card transfercredit card systemconsumer credit cardsstore cardsteaser ratescardholder http://www.artwoo.com/article/transfer-your-credit-card-balances-successfully credit card system is a type of retail transaction settlement. It is named after the small plastic card issued to s. A credit card differs from a debit card wherein, money is deducted from the users's account on every transaction. In the case of credit cards, the issuer offers a credit for a secified amount of time to the consumer.

Credit cards are also different from a charge card, which requires the balance to be paid in full each month. In contrast, credit card holders can 'revolve' their balance with an additional interest being charged on it. Most credit cards follow the ISO 7810 standard and are of the same shape and size.

is an equitable way of managing one's credit card debt. The transfer of balance of one credit card to another often helps with the '' or the introductory rates that are generally offered by major credit card companies a couple of times a year. Usually, teaser rates last for either 3 or 6 months once the card is received. An interest rate is levied depending upon the offer available on the card (which may vary from 0% to up to 9%). It relieves the cardholder of a substantial amount of debt in case he/she transfers the balance from a higher interest rate to a lower one.

Some salient points to be kept in mind for a successful are as follows:

1. Timely transfer of balance of credit card. It should not overlap the relevant period as that may result in interest charges being levied upon the cardholder.

2. Availability of zero credit card money transfer on time.

3. Make yourself aware of the offer available on the credit card. Read printings on the promo sheet to gauge its process.

4. Transfer all credit card balances to normal interest card as the may have higher APR rate.

5. Be well informed about the comparison of the two cards against their interest rates and their credibility. A financial broker can help decide upon the choice of a good and interest free credit card, or a lender that offers zero introductory balance rates.

6. Be aware of the expiry date of the zero balance credit card so that it can be re-applied for well in time.

7. As soon as one receives the new credit card, make a call to the lender to improvise your plan of money transfer from the previous one.

8. Do not opt for offers or privileges that may not be of much immediate use (like insurance policies, etc.)

9. Once the transfer of balance from the previous credit card to the new account is completed, close the former account and destroy the card.

10. As the new account now has zero introductory rate, one would be required a minimum rate to repay every month during the stipulated period.

Ensuring all these tenets can help towards a successful transfer of your credit card balance. However, the best way of maintaining one's inflow is to avoid exceeding expenditure with respect to what you earn. Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and also http://www.cardguide.co.uk ]]> Great Technical Writing: User Document Headings Should Be Guideposts, Not Advertisements http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-technical-writing-user-document-headings-should-be-guideposts-not-advertisements http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-technical-writing-user-document-headings-should-be-guideposts-not-advertisements#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2007 08:35:01 +0000 text headingsword processor documentswhat this meansirrelevant materialteaserenticetease http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-technical-writing-user-document-headings-should-be-guideposts-not-advertisements
Most heading are designed to us to read further. Headings in User Documents should enable your Reader to decide whether or not to continue reading that section. Use effective headings to make it easy for your Reader to access and understand your User Document.

MOST HEADINGS ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING THE READER TO READ MORE

Usually, these headings provide just enough information or use clever wording to the Reader to continue. Many User Document authors incorrectly do the same. Users do not want to read the User Manual, and they should only be encouraged to read text if it is of relevance to them. They should not be teased into reading .

Here are some examples of -type headings:



* "TIP:"



The Reader does not know if the tip is relevant or not, and thus is forced to read the text to make a decision.



* "Headings Can Discourage Reading"



A teaser if ever there was one. Since it implies a contradiction, its goal is to get the Reader to read. If it's not important for every Reader to read this information, then you have misled your Readers.



Rather than tease, headings should:



* Enable your Reader to decide whether or not to read the text, or

* Provide enough information so that your Reader can skip the text

HEADINGS SHOULD HELP YOUR READER TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO READ ON

A good heading provides the information that your Reader needs to decide whether or not to read the text that follows it. It should not use any clever wording to entice the Reader to read unnecessary material.

Let's improve on the previous "teaser" examples:



* "TIP: USE WORD PROCESSOR STYLES"



Your Reader will skip this if he/she is already using styles to format their .



* "Headings Can Provide Enough Information to Discourage Reading"



If your Reader understands , then he/she can skip the material.



HEADINGS CAN PROVIDE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO DISCOURAGE READING

A good example is the step-by-step instruction. Headings should be part of any series of (step-by-step) instructions. Each heading tells the Reader what he/she will be doing in the following instruction steps. The Reader can decide to read or skip the text, based on the heading and his/her capabilities. For example:

Delete the CONFIG.STP File by Following These Steps:



1. ...

2. ...

3. ... etc

A Reader who knows how to find and delete the CONFIG.STP file can use the information in the heading alone to perform the desired task. A Reader who doesn't know how to perform the deletion will follow the more detailed steps.

In this situation, the heading helps the Reader self-select based on his/her skills.

DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS PROVIDE GOOD ACCESS TO THE TEXT

Descriptive headings (that accurately describe the text that follows) enable your Readers to find desired information on the page. When skimming a page, Readers focus on the headings. It is much easier to browse headings than to browse text.

SOME USEFUL HEADING GUIDELINES



--- Don't Mix Information Between Headings





All of the information that follows a heading -- until the next heading -- should relate to the heading that introduces the text. Don't add information irrelevant to the heading in the text following that heading. Doing so makes it harder for your Reader to find material in your User Document, and confuses your Reader when reading the text ("why is this here?").





If necessary, add additional headings.



--- Consider Using More Headings in Your Writing





By having more headings, you reap the following benefits:







* There will be more "white space" in your document.

These blank areas make your writing more inviting and easier to read.







* You provide more guideposts to the information. These additional guideposts make topics easier to find in your writing, and sets the tone for the text to follow.





--- Headings Should Stand Out from the Text





Make headings larger, bolder, set off from the plain text in the document. This will enable your Reader to easily find and use the headings. If you have no control over the font of the headings, put them in all capital letters.



--- Denote Headings with Your Word Processor's "Styles".





Use your word processor "styles" or equivalent to denote headings. The alternative is to manually format the headings to make them stand out.





By using "styles," all headings of a particular level will look the same; you can easily change appearance of all of the headings at once, and you can easily create Tables of Contents.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Users do not want to read User Documentation. By using headings that help your Reader to decide whether or not to read the text that follows, you make his/her reading experience more effective.

Headings are a powerful access mechanism for any kind of writing -- don't squander this power. Barry Millman, Ph.D., has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (1966, Carnegie Institute of Technology) and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Psychology (Human Information Processing, University of Calgary). Visit: http://www.greatuserdocs.com/ for resources to help you create great User Documents. ]]> 0 Interest on Balance Transfers http://www.artwoo.com/article/0-interest-on-balance-transfers http://www.artwoo.com/article/0-interest-on-balance-transfers#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:57:36 +0000 credit card issuerscredit card optionsbalance transfer credit cardsbalance transfer credit card0 interest balance transfer credit cardscredit card comparisonfree balance transfers http://www.artwoo.com/article/0-interest-on-balance-transfers balance transfer credit card? There are numerous different types of 0% interest to choose from, each offering its own unique benefits. Because there are so many different types of 0% interest balance transfer out there, it would be wise to visit a website where you can get all of the most important information on each of the 0% interest balance transfer credit card options available to you. Here are some of the things that you need to pay attention to when choosing or considering a 0% interest balance transfer credit card:

- The 0% interest rate is temporary, based on an introductory offer. Find out how long the introductory offer will last.

- Your 0% interest balance transfer credit card will not always be 0% interest. Find out what the APR will become when the introductory offer has ended.

- Your 0% interest balance transfer credit card may offer , but this may also end when the introductory offer expires. Find out what the balance transfer interest rate is once the introductory offer has ended.

You can benefit from 0% interest balance transfer credit card options in the long run if you know how to treat the money in these credit cards. The value in a 0% interest balance transfer credit card lies in the fact that you will not have to pay any interest on the money that you use for a set period of time. With free balance transfers during this period of time, what that means is that you can use the money on a 0% interest balance transfer credit card to pay off older debts, then pay off the 0% interest balance transfer credit card before the real APR kicks in after the introductory offer has expired. This is an excellent way to pare down your debt significantly, as long as you are careful to pay the credit card back before the real APR kicks in down the line.

often offer unique deals and special interest rates as "teasers" to talk consumers in to taking out credit with their companies. One such offer that is readily given to consumers is 0% interest on balance transfers, which is a normal facet of an introductory offer in many of today's credit cards, loans and other financial instruments. Before you jump on the bandwagon, taking advantage of teaser rates and introductory offers because they sound so great, it is important that you come to understand what it means to have 0% interest on balance transfers, as well as how long it will last and what will happen once the 0% interest on balance transfers wears off.

The first thing to understand is what 0% interest on balance transfers means. Balance transfers are when you take your credit card balance, and transfer a portion of it into another account. For example, if you have another credit card and the payment is due, you can transfer a portion of your new credit card's balance to the older card to pay it off. Normally there is a percentage fee associated with this action, but during an introductory offer, it is common for 0% interest on balance transfers to be offered. What this means is that rather than charging you an interest rate such as 3% on all balance transfers, you are offered 0% interest on balance transfers instead.

After the introductory period ends, however, the credit card will suddenly revert back to its original 3% interest rate. If you are caught with a balance at this point, you have to pay that interest rate. In some circumstances, the regular interest rate or APR can also shoot up, and if your account is empty because you transferred all of the balance away, then you can suddenly find yourself paying enormous interest rates without having intended to.

The truth about 0% interest on balance transfers is simple: This is an excellent way to take advantage of transferring balances from one card to another, but only if you utilize it wisely. If you do not have the money management skills necessary to take on a new credit card with teaser rates and introductory offers attached to it, don't do it.SmartCreditChoices.com has many credit card offers including cards with 0 interest on balance transfers.]]> How To Become A Very Successful Affiliate http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-a-very-successful-affiliate http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-a-very-successful-affiliate#comments Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:27:06 +0000 affiliate idaffiliatesstay at home momswebsites trackdatabase methodclothing linebankrupt http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-a-very-successful-affiliate Affiliates are website owners who make money by referring guests to other websites, which are called "merchants." If the visitors make purchases, the other website will pay the affiliates commission. It's so simple, even stay-at-home moms are becoming affiliates on the web without ever having to leave the house.

By becoming an affiliate of a website, you're saying you approve its product - in fact, you recommend it. Therefore, choose the products wisely, and make sure they're relevant to your site. For instance, if your site is dedicated to books, don't refer your visitors to a site selling T-shirts unless it's somehow relevant. Think of what your visitors are interested in and give them links they'll be happy to click on.

Perhaps even worse than clicking on a link to a bad product is finding a dead site. Make sure the websites you refer your visitors to will be around for a while. Look over the site's records to see that it's doing okay financially, so it doesn't go and leave potential customers upset at you for directing them there.

Finally, think of how long-term the product or service is. For example, a subscription to a magazine is something a person will buy once a year, but if people like a line of clothes, they'll come back to buy more whenever they want. On the other hand, perhaps the magazine is more popular than the . Try to research the company's records to see how they've been doing financially, then make your decision.

Something many affiliates forget about is how consumers. One method is the cookie method, which is when the website places a cookie on the customer's computer. This isn't always reliable, so the preferred method is the , when the website puts your in the database with the customer's record. If you feel safe with the cookie method, that's fine, just be informed.

However, even if you pick the right websites, you still need to know how to get people to come to your site and click through to the money-making site. If you're linking to a big website, it probably has lots of other affiliates that are competing with you for commission.

So how is an affiliate supposed to advertise? One of the easiest ways is writing a teaser. They're a sneak preview of the product that gets visitors excited and makes them want to click. Don't forget, a teaser is so short, it has to be creative. Give them a taste of what they can drink up if they only click on the link.

Another great way to advertise is by writing a personal recommendation of the product. Show that you know what you're advertising. The worst thing you can do is recommend a bad product, because visitors will stop valuing your opinion and may not come back. Don't recommend too many products either, as people might get overwhelmed and think you're making everything up. Research the product and write what you really think. If you feel like you have to lie to get people to like the product, maybe it's not the product you should be advertising.

Being an affiliate is tough. While you can be lazy by staying in your bathrobe to go to work, you have to be motivated to research and advertise to rake in the money. However, the great location and the commission checks make it well worth the effort. Robert Michael is a writer for http://www.draffiliates.com which is an excellent place to find affiliate links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.draffiliates.com ]]> Here's 3 Tips To Get More Affiliate Profits From Your Auto Responder http://www.artwoo.com/article/heres-3-tips-to-get-more-affiliate-profits-from-your-auto-responder http://www.artwoo.com/article/heres-3-tips-to-get-more-affiliate-profits-from-your-auto-responder#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:35:00 +0000 opt outebookjust finished readingautoresponderdavinci codeteaser adsanticipation http://www.artwoo.com/article/heres-3-tips-to-get-more-affiliate-profits-from-your-auto-responder autoresponder sequence is to maintain the customer's interest and , especially in the early stages of the relationship. You don't want to go on a hard sell from the word go - your customers will soon figure it out and in droves.

There are several methods of building that interest and anticipation, the factors that makes your customers always open your messages rather than someone else's, because they know that there will be something of value in there.

If you are writing an , for instance, tell your subscribers about it, what it's about, the stage you are at in writing it. Perhaps you could invite their input, ask them what they would like to see covered in your eBook. As a bonus, if you use this technique you probably have a guaranteed sale of your eBook when it is eventually finished and ready for publication. Tell them when it will be ready, and that they will get a special reduced price for being one of your subscribers.

Use your autoresponder to let them have a sneak preview of your product, leak snippets of information in a logical sequence. Model your plan on the "teaser" ads you see for new products or for upcoming TV programs. Just about every commercial break you will see a promo, telling you about programs coming up, and showing short scenes from the program, all designed to make you want to see more. You should do the same.

If you are writing an eBook, publish part of a chapter on your website, and tell visitors that they can read more if they opt in, using the sign up box you have provided on the same page. Load these new opt ins into your autoresponder, and get them into your message sequence.

I've "The ", albeit a bit later than most, and Dan Brown does a great job of finishing every chapter with a cliff hanging situation, leaving you reluctant to stop reading, especially if your lunch hour is over and you have to get back to work! Obviously your eBook won't be a thriller like that, but you can at least think about a suspenseful ending to your chapter snippet, thereby encouraging people to want more. One of the great maxims of stage comedians is to always leave them wanting more - a sports star should always retire at the peak of his powers, so that fans will say "Why did you retire?" instead of "Why didn't you?" Incidentally, that's a quote from (I think) Ian Chappell, one of the great Australian cricket captains.

At the end of your teaser sequence, you will have a solid core of loyal readers. People who are not really interested would have opted out of your list long ago, so the ones that are left must still be interested, and form a highly targeted market for what you have to offer. With a bit of luck, they are eagerly awaiting the release of the final product, and will snap it up as soon as it becomes available. I'm sure you've been on the end of just such a sequence from one or other of the super affiliates. This is how they get their phenomenal sales on the first day of a product's release. They have built up such eagerness and anticipation that their subscribers are waiting with their checkbook in their hand! This is where you want to be.

In summary, use your autoresponder in three ways:

=B7 By seeing how many of your subscribers do not opt out, you will gauge the interest in your product

=B7 You can build up great interest and anticipation before your product is even released

=B7 Because of the above, you should have a huge amount of interest by launch day, and by the day after launch you should be checking your Paypal account and wondering what you are going to do with all that money!

=A9 Peter Phillips To get your auto responder free trial, plus a gift, go to: http://www.money-makingopportunities.com/autoresponder.html For other opportunities, go to: http://www.money-makingopportunities.com ]]> Subprime Foreclosures: A Lengthy Process http://www.artwoo.com/article/subprime-foreclosures-a-lengthy-process http://www.artwoo.com/article/subprime-foreclosures-a-lengthy-process#comments Fri, 29 Jun 2007 22:29:59 +0000 judicial foreclosuresubprime loansforeclosure ratessubprime mortgagessubprime lendingsubprime mortgageforeclose http://www.artwoo.com/article/subprime-foreclosures-a-lengthy-process Subprime lending is defined as lending that involves elevated credit risk. Prime loans are typically made to borrowers who have a good credit history and have demonstrated to the lender that they have the capacity to repay their loan obligations. However, are often made to borrowers who are perceived by the lender as deficient on one or both of these grounds.

There are a couple of questions that are often asked:

1)How have s contributed to increased ?

2)What is the foreclosure process for a subprime mortgage?

With all the teaser rates given to borrowers over the last several years, the question is really whether or not we will witness substantial foreclosures as these teaser rates increase. Lenders and note holders are not terribly excited to . As a result, it is common for loan payments to be several months delinquent prior to the start of the foreclosure process.

But when lenders proceed with the foreclosure process, the timeline can be quite lengthy. When foreclosing a trust deed, all amount owed and secured by the trust deed are accelerated and immediately become due and payable regardless of the maturity date specified in the note, provided that an acceleration clause is included in the promissory note and/or deed of trust. There are generally two methods used to foreclose deeds of trust: and non-judicial foreclosure.

In certain circumstances, a lawsuit is filed in superior court to foreclose on the property (judicial foreclosure). When the beneficiary files a lawsuit against the trustor in superior court, the property (unless the default is remedied) will be ordered sold. The judicial action to foreclose is generally more costly and will often take more time to complete than the non-judicial foreclosure.

In a non-judicial foreclosure, the trustee (under the power of sale clause contained in the deed of trust) may move forward with a foreclosure at the lender's request and sell the property without court supervision. This privately held public sale will take at least four months to complete. If the deed of trust does not contain a power of sale clause, the only option is to foreclose judicially. However, most deeds of trust include a power of sale clause.

With the large amount of adjustable rate mortgages re-setting in the coming year, we should definitely witness increased foreclosure rates. But hopefully these foreclosures occur in markets with healthy local economies and adequate job growth. This would allow any sales of foreclosed properties to occur in a reasonable amount of time and at a reasonable price.

In the end, this would hopefully mitigate any substantial price decreases. Time will tell. All the questions should be answered in the coming year. Want to buy foreclosure properties and make money doing it? To discover innovative tactics for the real estate investor and to obtain a free copy of the eBook "Everything You Have Learned About Real Estate is Wrong." click here http://www.realtactic.com. ]]> Basic Principles Of A Loan http://www.artwoo.com/article/basic-principles-of-a-loan http://www.artwoo.com/article/basic-principles-of-a-loan#comments Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:25:01 +0000 fixed rate loansvariable rate loansinterest only loanscredit cardsfixed interest ratesprime lending ratevariable rates http://www.artwoo.com/article/basic-principles-of-a-loan
A consumer loan is simply when a financial institution lends you money with the promise (from you) that you will repay the money. Most loan payments include both principal and interest.

Principle is the amount of money that you borrowed. Interest is the price paid for borrowing money; this is usually expressed as a percentage.

In an interest-only loan, the interest of the loan is paid off before the principal. It is important to understand this because many mortgages are interest-only loans. Using this kind of loan allows the lender to make a faster profit on the loan, and in return it also allows the lender to offer you lower interest rates.

Borrowers should understand that during the first years of an interest-only mortgage the entire monthly payment goes toward interest. Because of this there will be no decrease in the amount of the principle that was borrowed. In some cases, the initial interest-only payments are lower than the principal payments. This allows the borrower, who expects to earn more profit over time, to obtain a larger loan.

versus Fixed-Interest Rates

Aside from , you may see offers for loans that are based on either variable rates or fixed rates. generally use either the variable or fixed rates systems when calculating the interest.

are based on the , and then some additional interest percentage is added in order to cover profits for the lender. Whenever the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, your bank will raise your interest as well. If the prime lending rate is low, variable rate loans and credit cards can be especially competitive with .

Fixed rate loans and credit cards offer you guaranteed interest rates that do not fluctuate. You will know what your payments are each and every month based on the fixed rate percentage of the loan that you took out. This offers consumers more emotional security because they do not have to worry about their monthly bill increasing suddenly.

All borrowers should understand that variable rates are different than teaser rates. Teaser rates are temporary and last only for a limited time, usually three to six months. Once that period of time is over, the rate will go up and so will your monthly bill.

One of the most important principles behind a loan is establishing a good credit history. The fastest way to get a poor credit rating is to not pay your monthly bill or to be habitually late in paying your bill. These activities are usually reported to the three big credit reporting agencies and this information will stay on your credit history record for years to come. If you must take a loan out make sure that you can make the monthly payments on time.

If you have any questions about your loan or the interest that is being charged ask the credit person to explain it to you in detail. They are happy to do this. As a general rule, try to keep your non-mortgage debt payments below 10-15% of your monthly take home pay. Peter Kenny is a writer for The Thrifty Scot, please visit us at http://www.loansubmit.co.uk/personal-loans/ and http://www.thriftyscot.co.uk/money/consolidate-debt.html ]]> Essential Direct Marketing Tips For Your Business http://www.artwoo.com/article/essential-direct-marketing-tips-for-your-business http://www.artwoo.com/article/essential-direct-marketing-tips-for-your-business#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:27:07 +0000 direct mailmail campaignmail listsdirect marketingmoney mattersemail listsmarketing tips http://www.artwoo.com/article/essential-direct-marketing-tips-for-your-business Direct marketing is not as difficult as it seems. Test, track and count your profits, that's how I do it. Let's break down some of the details in some of my most powerful direct .

Make sure you know your numbers... Figure how much income and units you need to sell in order to break even. first, the percentage rate follows. Our goal is to make money, not watch out for percentage rates. The standard is 1%. Say if we get a .5% but still make money, are we going to quit? I don't think so.

Next, you're going to want to key code just about everything you can. This way you can track what works, what doesn't and in the long run will help you produce a better converting campaign. You're also going to want to test everything. The copy, the design of the package, the offer itself, the pricing and the time you mail out. This is where they key codes will help since they will be tracking everything for you.

Be an informed list buyer. Lists are typically used for one time, as they belong to the list owner. However, once they reply to your offer, they're yours. You're going to have to be flexible. The list owners also require a sample of your offer, even just a rough sample to give them a heads up of what you're going to be mailing to their list. Other things to keep in mind when dealing with lists, is the time. Sometimes lists get delivered in 24 hours, sometimes a week or two. Most list companies have a minimum of 5000 names. And almost always a prepayment is required. So keep all those things in mind when dealing with list brokers and list owners.

Start building your own mailing list. Using your customers, leads from trade shows, inquires, etc. You need to focus on the wants of your audience. A good list professional will also be specific. Be knowledgeable of each list type. There are e, direct mail lists, telemarketing lists, etc. Consider other sources as well. There are plenty of places you can rent a list of names from. Associations, subscribers, compiled, etc.

You should determine the list price. Typically in direct mail, the lists have a base price per thousand, or "M".

How are these lists supplied? CD, email, label stock? This can all have an effect on the timing of your campaign.

To get your envelope opened, I suggest you use a live stamp. This is one of the most important direct marketing tips I can share with you now... it's worth the extra expense. That way your envelope will not get mistaken for junk mail. You're also going to want to consider using a short teaser copy to entice the recipient to open your letter.

Use color in your letter effectively by using a blue signature or use different colors sparingly throughout to help emphasize your important points.

Give your recipients all the information they need in the direct mail piece. Tell them about the features, functions and benefits of your offer, the more the better!

If you're sending out an email, be short and to the point. Use the subject as the teaser and link to your homepage in your email.

Next up, you're going to want to use a professional. Use a list broker or company that has years of experience. You don't want to start off using another company just looking to rip you off, therefore leaving you with no more money to pursue your project.

Hopefully you'll consider these direct marketing tips when working on your own direct response campaign. They work for me and I'm confident they will work for you as well. James Calvin is an avid studier of direct mail and direct response techniques. For more details on his most recommended products check out his website. Direct marketing tips and other resources can be found at http://www.millionairemarketingmanual.com right now! ]]> How To Make Money Without Leaving The House http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-make-money-without-leaving-the-house http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-make-money-without-leaving-the-house#comments Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:27:09 +0000 affiliatedecade peoplecontactclothes companybuy clothesonline librarypopular http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-make-money-without-leaving-the-house affiliate is one of the most career moves of the decade. People are learning to use the internet as their tool by making money off of websites, a job that doesn't even require leaving the house.

So what exactly is an affiliate? Basically, an affiliate owns a website and refers visitors to other websites, called "merchants." When these visitors make purchases, the other websites pay the affiliate a commission, which is determined by internet tracking devices that keep track of web users' purchases.

If you decide to be an affiliate, you need to make careful choices about which websites to refer your visitors to. First, they need to be websites that you're sure will be around a long time. Look at records to make sure they've been consistently successful - in other words, make sure they won't go bankrupt after you put your time and energy into seeking out customers for the product.

Secondly, choose the websites based on what they offer, and think of the product long-term. For instance, an membership is something you can sell to a person one time, but people go back to the same places to they like. This doesn't mean you shouldn't link to an online library, you just need to be aware of its differences from the . Take into account the fact that libraries may be more popular than one clothing site among thousands. If you can, research the company's records to see how much money they've made.

You also want to choose websites based on what your website is about. Think of what kind of people come to your site, and then imagine what type of sites they would want links to. If your site is about American history, it would be better to advertise a website that sells history books or American paraphernalia than a website offering lenses.

Something many affiliates don't think about at first are consumer tracking methods. Some companies use the cookie method - putting a cookie on the customer's computer. This isn't as reliable as the site putting your affiliate information in the database along with the customer's record. The cookie method is popular and may be completely safe, but it doesn't have the successful track record of the other method, so choose only after you're well-informed.

To advertise the product on the other website, write a recommendation. Research the product and test it out. If it's purchase-worthy, write a few lines explaining why. Think of who would be most interested in the product and try to target them. For instance, if you're advertising a face wash and you think women would be most likely to buy it, talk about how clean and fresh it leaves your skin feeling and smelling, and how your spouse loves how soft it leaves your face.

A direct advertisement is a teaser. This gives people an idea of the product and entices them to click through for a closer look. Remember, if you're advertising for a large website, it most likely has other affiliates, so make your teaser stand out from the rest to get more customers and thus more commission. Creatively target the product's market.

Becoming an affiliate is a great way to make money, but it does require work. However, if you put in time and effort, you can make money from the comfort of your own home. Robert Micheal is a writer for dr affiliates which is an excellent place to find affiliates links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.draffiliates.com ]]> Make Your Own Podcast: Selecting The Right Format http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-your-own-podcast-selecting-the-right-format http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-your-own-podcast-selecting-the-right-format#comments Thu, 14 Jun 2007 08:34:55 +0000 podcastemaillistenersmeat and potatoeschit chatteasersegments http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-your-own-podcast-selecting-the-right-format podcast, and great content, but for a podcast to be its best, you should come up with a specific format for your show and, for the most part, stick to it.

There are many things that make up the format of a podcast. The two that I'll cover in this article are the parts, or that make up a podcast, and the style you decide upon.

Segments: If you listen to a radio show you'll often hear news at the top of the hour, then sports, then weather, back into music for a several minutes, then a commercial break, a listener's phone call, back into music, etc.

All of those parts combine to make up the show. And while podcasting gives you the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want, most people are more comfortable when they have an idea of what's going on -- in this case, I'm talking about your .

Familiarity allows your listeners to not think about the format and just go with the content. And while you don't have to lock yourself into something really precise, it's a good idea to map out how your show will generally flow.

Here's how one of my latest podcasts is formatted:

Intro: This is prerecorded with some music and tells what the show is called, what it's about, and then introduces the host (me!).

Welcome and : A little bit of chit-chat from the host, and then a teaser about what topics will be covered in this episode of the podcast.

Current News: A look at the leading news and rumors from the past week including some editorial comments if needed.

Sponsor: If there's a paid sponsor of the show it's mentioned here, otherwise the sponsor position is used to promote a product as an affiliate.

Main Content: This is the "" of the podcast and will vary depending on your podcast topic.

Online Resource: Tell about a resource online that's related to the main content and that the listeners will find useful or interesting.

Feedback: Answer questions from listeners and solicit feedback using , recorded comment line, etc.

Outro: Usually prerecorded with some music, this is the final goodbye for this episode.

Every week I create a podcast using those segments. One big advantage for me, the podcast creator, is that I don't have to come up with something new each time -- I already have the format, all I have to do is fill in the blanks with the new content.

Some people don't like the idea of a static format for a podcast -- they feel it conflicts with the idea of a podcast being "by the people, for the people." But a podcast can still be personal while being formatted -- and if you take a look at the top podcasts, almost all of them use a fairly steady format.

The other type of podcast format you need to decide upon is the style you'll use. For example, you could be very casual, or strictly business-like. Or somewhere in between.

Unless you know your audience extremely well, I'd suggest against sounding like you're all business. That's not to say you can't use a podcast for business -- you can! It just means that a podcast, like any other method of communication with your prospects or customers, can be used to build relationships. Being more personable will go a long way towards building that relationship.

You'll also need to decide whether to fly solo or podcast with a partner. When you're podcasting by yourself it's much easier to make decisions -- you don't have to bounce ideas of anyone first. You can also record your podcast when it's most convenient for you - no juggling schedules with someone else.

However, it's usually much easier to create many episodes of a podcast when there are at least two people. And many listeners think a team approach is less boring than a monologue can be.

The decisions on how to format your podcast are, of course, up to you. The good news is that there are no wrong answers. Ultimately it's your podcast and you can make it the way you want -- and if you want to try different formats to see which feel best, you can do that, too.

Just don't let the decisions hold you back -- it's better to get started and do some tweaking as you go than to never get your podcast launched because you're overwhelmed with decisions. Jay Jennings is the author of Podcasting In About An Hour, a video training system that gets people up and running with their own podcast - fast. You can get full details about the course at http://podcasting.inaboutanhour.com ]]> Use A Low Interest Credit Card And Save http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-a-low-interest-credit-card-and-save http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-a-low-interest-credit-card-and-save#comments Mon, 04 Sep 2006 18:27:05 +0000 0 apr credit cardlow interest credit cardlow apr credit cardcredit card debtinterest credit cardsometimes a greatbig money http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-a-low-interest-credit-card-and-save
If you use your wisely you can save some by taking advantage of credit card transfers. With a balance transfer you can take advantage of initial low (teaser) rates that are offered by major credit card companies. Teaser rates are usually good for three to six months after you receive the card.

Rates can range from 0% to 9% and they are beneficial to people who have large debts on credit cards with higher interest rates. By transferring the balance from your existing high interest card to the low interest credit card, you will save big money on interest.

So how do you succeed at the balance transfer game? If you follow these steps and pay attention to the warnings, you can save a great deal of money in interest.

First, this is not for everyone. This strategy is for people who are reasonably sure they are going to pay off their total within the introductory period. When you switch to your low interest credit card (also known as a or ), the initial term is usually for six months. When that period is over, the interest rate will go up, deal. If you are able to pay your total credit card debt off within the initial period, the card will be very beneficial. However, if you are unable to clear the total debt within the introductory period, your monthly payments will increase. This can greatly reduce any benefits you would have gained during the initial period.

Second, shop around for your low interest credit card offer. Choose a card that waives transfer charges for balance transfers in the initial promotional period. Be sure to remember that most banks treat credit card transfers identical to cash advances. Also, the transfer may be subject to daily interest fees, which can add up quickly and often there is no grace period where interest isn't charged. The costs of transferring a large balance in these cases can be astronomical.

Always read the fine print when applying for a credit card. Be aware of the term 'flat balance transfer', which will cost you fees on all balance transfers. You must be knowledgeable of the cost of all balance transfers. If you find nothing on the credit card application, ask a banking representative if there are any flat balance transfer fees.

Next, take advantage of the credit card grace period. Transfer the balance on your high interest card to the low interest credit card before the payment due date that appears on your bill. Most credit card companies offer a grace period of between 25 and 30 days. After the due date, interest is charged on the outstanding balance. If you transfer the balance before the due date, you will save money on interest. Some credit card companies offer no grace period. In this case, you are charged interest from the moment you charge an item or from the day you transfer your balance. Do not apply for credit cards that do not offer a grace period.

Now that you have transferred your balance to the low interest credit card, you will begin to receive your monthly bill. Always pay before the due date and always pay more than the minimum payment, which is the lowest payment you can make if you wish to keep your card and your credit history in good standing. Why? Because minimum payments usually pay only the accrued interest or a portion of it. That means the principal remains at the same amount that it was before you made your payment. You will not be able to pay off your total credit card debt within the low interest introductory period. And that defeats the purpose of using the balance transfer strategy.

Balance transfer to a low interest credit card is a good short term strategy, but don't use it over an extended period of time. The key is to take advantage of the low interest introductory period to save a great deal of interest while you completely pay off your balance.

You, and only you, are responsible for your credit card debt. Use your low interest credit card wisely and it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars each year. Thomas Erikson is co-founder of http://www.your-debt-consolidation-loan.com/ which provides http://www.your-debt-consolidation-loan.com/low-interest-credit-card.html information and solutions. ]]>