Marketing and Entrepreneurial Cruise almost...
SOLD OUT!
Due the last cruise exceeding all expectations (including mine) Our travel partners have informed us we need to fill the last remaining cabins so here is the information some of you have already requested and the short interview I did on the last cruise with Robert Allen (No Money Down and the One Minute Millionaire) See you there!
Any Q's Facebook me!
http://ping.fm/SJz7W
Amanda Steadman / WealthBabes
Friday 28 August 2009
Marketing and Entrepreneurial Cruise almost...
SOLD OUT!
Due the last cruise exceeding all expectations (including mine) Our travel partners have informed us we need to fill the last remaining cabins so here is the information some of you have already requested and the short interview I did on the last cruise with Robert Allen (No Money Down and the One Minute Millionaire) See you there!
Any Q's Facebook me!
http://ping.fm/7yxJ9
Amanda Steadman / WealthBabes
SOLD OUT!
Due the last cruise exceeding all expectations (including mine) Our travel partners have informed us we need to fill the last remaining cabins so here is the information some of you have already requested and the short interview I did on the last cruise with Robert Allen (No Money Down and the One Minute Millionaire) See you there!
Any Q's Facebook me!
http://ping.fm/7yxJ9
Amanda Steadman / WealthBabes
Marketing and Entrepreneurial Cruise almost...
SOLD OUT!
Due the last cruise exceeding all expectations (including mine) Our travel partners have informed us we need to fill the last remaining cabins so here is the information some of you have already requested and the short interview I did on the last cruise with Robert Allen (No Money Down and the One Minute Millionaire) See you there!
Any Q's Facebook me!
http://ping.fm/ZQZ0O
Amanda Steadman / WealthBabes
SOLD OUT!
Due the last cruise exceeding all expectations (including mine) Our travel partners have informed us we need to fill the last remaining cabins so here is the information some of you have already requested and the short interview I did on the last cruise with Robert Allen (No Money Down and the One Minute Millionaire) See you there!
Any Q's Facebook me!
http://ping.fm/ZQZ0O
Amanda Steadman / WealthBabes
Marketing and Entrepreneurial Cruise almost...
SOLD OUT!
Due the last cruise exceeding all expectations (including mine) Our travel partners have informed us we need to fill the last remaining cabins so here is the information some of you have already requested and the short interview I did on the last cruise with Robert Allen (No Money Down and the One Minute Millionaire) See you there!
Any Q's Facebook me!
http://ping.fm/uJI9T
Amanda Steadman / WealthBabes
SOLD OUT!
Due the last cruise exceeding all expectations (including mine) Our travel partners have informed us we need to fill the last remaining cabins so here is the information some of you have already requested and the short interview I did on the last cruise with Robert Allen (No Money Down and the One Minute Millionaire) See you there!
Any Q's Facebook me!
http://ping.fm/uJI9T
Amanda Steadman / WealthBabes
Monday 3 August 2009
The Power of PR & Complimentary Business Internet Teleseminar
Greetings from Connect to Success & Amanda Steadman - August News
In July I was lucky enough to speak to the editor of the Hammersmith and Fulham News, Geoff regarding publicising a Business Link London Ladies Event. He was very interested in what we are doing so later got Caroline one of his reporters to interview me. How exciting! Then we had our pictures taken in the office - more excitement!
I noticed she included my 'bread and water' comment - I meant very Expensive bread and High End water of course and a comfortable lifestyle!!!!! But we're gunning for a more luxurious (almost Monte Carlo!) Future too!
Thanks to this article we have received quite a few phone calls and new session bookings! Thank you Hammersmith and Fulham News!
Click here to read the FULL article!
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/Women_in_business_WealthBabes.asp
In July I was lucky enough to speak to the editor of the Hammersmith and Fulham News, Geoff regarding publicising a Business Link London Ladies Event. He was very interested in what we are doing so later got Caroline one of his reporters to interview me. How exciting! Then we had our pictures taken in the office - more excitement!
I noticed she included my 'bread and water' comment - I meant very Expensive bread and High End water of course and a comfortable lifestyle!!!!! But we're gunning for a more luxurious (almost Monte Carlo!) Future too!
Thanks to this article we have received quite a few phone calls and new session bookings! Thank you Hammersmith and Fulham News!
Click here to read the FULL article!
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/Women_in_business_WealthBabes.asp
Amanda, 36, runs WealthBabes from an office just beside Lyric Square. "We have clients all around the world, but 75 per cent of them are in Hammersmith or west London," she said. "I chose Hammersmith because it's reasonably priced, it's very accessible and I also love all the markets in the square - it's just a nice atmosphere around here."
The business offers clients individual 90-minute consultations for £150 and a number of regular seminars and a monthly Millionairess Club, offering business training, motivational tips and practical workshops.
Amanda employs five people at WealthBabes and regularly has between 50 and 120 clients on her books, ranging from struggling single mums to high-flying City executives.
"We have a few male clients, but I would say about 98 per cent of our clients are women," Amanda said. "I think women generally like to have another woman to talk things over with them. We can go through what is most important to them, and I think if you're talking to another woman you can be more open about it and get to the truth more quickly. Then we can draw up a business plan about what they really want. It isn't just about numbers and success - women also want to build on their personal life and spend more time with their children or partner."
Amanda, who is engaged to property buyer and marketer Franck Robert and lives in Chiswick, said she had struck on the idea of running her own business in 2007 after spending several years working in recruitment and training corporate headhunters.
"I spent a lot of time going round the world and training people to run their own business, hire people and make money as fast as possible, and then I decided I wanted to try it for myself," she said. "I left a £68,000 job to start my own business and the prospect of not earning anything for at least the first few months was quite scary."
So two years on, in the midst of a recession, just how successful has the WealthBabes founder been in her own venture? "I've got over a million pounds' property portfolio now, I've got five staff and we have between 4,000 and 5,000 people on our database, receiving our regular newsletters," she said. "I'm not a multi-millionaire yet, but I would like to think that in the next year to 18 months I will reach a point of financial freedom.
"If I stopped working now, I would probably still have enough income to live on bread and water and pay my bills, but to live the kind of lifestyle I enjoy it's going to take a bit longer."
And the entrepreneur believes the most important ingredient in success is incredibly simple: choose a job you really enjoy. "It's so important for people to be doing something they're passionate about - but in London a lot of people really don't like their jobs," she said. "Once people have identified what they enjoy and are good at, the rest normally falls into place. I really believe in doing something you love."
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Images/45-49_hfbusiness_tcm21-128090.pdf
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Images/02_60Sec_tcm21-128076.pdf
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Social Media and Networking
Second Spearker was Penny Power founder of Ecademy.com:
Penny Power is the founder of Ecademy, website for Business networking and social networking. She left the corporate world in 1993, then she stared training and recruitment within Schools from 1993 to 1998 and she had two children. In 1998, she started a new venture; Ecademy website. Penny Power and her family lived through very difficult moments because she took risks and doing that has consequences, they lost all their money and they had to live in a caravan for a while. But now, Ecademy has become an international successful website through which they earn money; thanks to connecting people globally, advertising and selling information. They enjoy life by travelling with their children all around the world, according to Penny you shouldn’t separate family from work.
To create Ecademy, Penny Power needed 5 years to develop her website whilst working freelance, teaching and having children. It was difficult to have children and to maintain her previous lifestyle. Financially it was a hard choice – but worth it.
She explains that it’s not easy to make her family understand about running her business and to take risks. Also it takes lot of time at the beginning and we can’t take care and spend as much time with their family as you would like.
The World has changed, The Old World was closed, selective and targeted instead of the New World is opened us. One of the changes is thanks to Barack Obama’a election. There is an openess and transparency that did not exist before. Even if lots of things change, including technology, our needs are the same. At this point, we have to refer to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs:
- Physiological needs
- need of security
- need of belonging
- need of respect for yourself
- need of accomplishement of yourself
Starting a business is really difficult but you can be successful. There are two different ways to be a new entrepreneur, you can work at home or at the office. The home-worker should be adaptable for their clients, own values and contribution to success and he has to create a personal branding. Whereas a new entrepreneur should understand the world and its generations, so it’s better for him to collaborate on some projects with competitors instead of making ennemies.
For every entrepreneur, you’ll create an online brand in three steps:
- sharing knowledge with strangers and bringing it into the open
- sharing specific knowledge and making new friends
- creating opportunities with advocates
To conclude, I think the most important thing I learnt during this seminar is that you can be successful even if it’s difficult. It’s necessary to live through hard moments, be aware of the pitfalls and you should take risks, because it could be a real chance for your business to succeed. Penny Power, went from living in a caravan to living the millionaire lifestyle through all those good and bad choices as well as the risks: so go for it!
Penny Power is the founder of Ecademy, website for Business networking and social networking. She left the corporate world in 1993, then she stared training and recruitment within Schools from 1993 to 1998 and she had two children. In 1998, she started a new venture; Ecademy website. Penny Power and her family lived through very difficult moments because she took risks and doing that has consequences, they lost all their money and they had to live in a caravan for a while. But now, Ecademy has become an international successful website through which they earn money; thanks to connecting people globally, advertising and selling information. They enjoy life by travelling with their children all around the world, according to Penny you shouldn’t separate family from work.
To create Ecademy, Penny Power needed 5 years to develop her website whilst working freelance, teaching and having children. It was difficult to have children and to maintain her previous lifestyle. Financially it was a hard choice – but worth it.
She explains that it’s not easy to make her family understand about running her business and to take risks. Also it takes lot of time at the beginning and we can’t take care and spend as much time with their family as you would like.
The World has changed, The Old World was closed, selective and targeted instead of the New World is opened us. One of the changes is thanks to Barack Obama’a election. There is an openess and transparency that did not exist before. Even if lots of things change, including technology, our needs are the same. At this point, we have to refer to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs:
- Physiological needs
- need of security
- need of belonging
- need of respect for yourself
- need of accomplishement of yourself
Starting a business is really difficult but you can be successful. There are two different ways to be a new entrepreneur, you can work at home or at the office. The home-worker should be adaptable for their clients, own values and contribution to success and he has to create a personal branding. Whereas a new entrepreneur should understand the world and its generations, so it’s better for him to collaborate on some projects with competitors instead of making ennemies.
For every entrepreneur, you’ll create an online brand in three steps:
- sharing knowledge with strangers and bringing it into the open
- sharing specific knowledge and making new friends
- creating opportunities with advocates
To conclude, I think the most important thing I learnt during this seminar is that you can be successful even if it’s difficult. It’s necessary to live through hard moments, be aware of the pitfalls and you should take risks, because it could be a real chance for your business to succeed. Penny Power, went from living in a caravan to living the millionaire lifestyle through all those good and bad choices as well as the risks: so go for it!
Friday 17 July 2009
Women’s Masterclass: Your Work/Life Balance
First Speaker was Hannah McNamara:
At the time of Business Link on Thursday, 16th July, Hannah McNamara talked us about work/life balance for women who have their own business. Main reasons to open a business are to earn more money, to spend more time with family, to not have a boss...
According to them, you spend happy days when you work for yourself.
The differences between business and job is: your full time job will be Monday to Friday and will be normally over after your normal hours and business will take lot of time to start up, develop and generate money and it will not allow time off because you have to take care of delivering, administration and dealing with other businesses by yourself.
Furthermore, your company’s image is very important, you should network during events, but while you while you’re doing this you are not taking care of your work priorities and that’s also a big problem when you’re in a meeting, sick or in holidays.
As far as sales and marketing concern, you have to focus on people who want to buy your products/services and after you should continue building a relationship with them, they will feel important and it will be a crucial point for your business. You will need a website, it’s also necessary to save your database, to encourage contracts (clients/affiliates/employee/freelance) and to know how to use your software. The most important thing is to be legal as far as terms and conditions concern, with contract for each employees and a relevant insurance.
Then we did a workshop by group of five people, we determined some activities which can be out-sourced, we concluded there were accountancy, marketing, e-mail responses, website managing, graphic design, etc... It’s necessary to delegate some parts of your business because other people will have skills you don’t have and they can also become a partner in your business. They can also cover your business while you’re in meeting, you have big contract, during your holidays by using freelance. Finally, when you decide to out-source you must create a contract with non-disclosure agreement and without a conflict of interest (you should’nt work in the same field). You should use these steps to delegate i.e: because you will use during the year freelance few time and you don’t want to duplicate your work, you should write a detailed brief (on phone or face to face) and reccord a training video.
Some people who have a business, decides to work at home to take care of their children at the same time, often they are called Virtual Office and they use Virtual Office themselves but an important things to do is not to give home address and also you should separate home and business work and calls with a time line for you and for them. During the day you can commit a PA to manage to recall your contacts, to respond to your e-mails. With a Virtual Office you can rent a meeting room.
Business networking is a marketing method where business opportunities are created through social network. According to Hannah McNamara, networking is the best way to meet people who are interesting by your business and who want to buy from you. It’s an activity which takes lot of time but it’s interesting because you go to some events and sometime it’s a real opportunity. Networking can work for you because it creates opportunities to talk about your company at an event. They are mainly used to meet new contacts and you should be prepared your pitch and to questions we can ask you.
To reach this goal, it’s necessary to be curious and polite, to talk and to include everybody. But you don’t have to be egocentric and sell too much. Some advices if you go to an event where you don’t know anyone, you can forget your main goal, ask to someone to introduce you in a group or to talk to somebody who look lost.
Finally, when you met a personn who is interested by your business, you dropped them an e-mail and/or called them after few days (in the first send out e-mail you should let them know you will be calling in few days) to arrange a meeting. To sign the contract with them, you should ask them questions, to help them first and to learn about they’re need.
My Comment:
I think it was an exciting seminar because she gave us advices about networking and how to open a business. She was really dynamic and funny and her exercises allow us to meet some people and to calm our anxienty.
Justine Bataille
At the time of Business Link on Thursday, 16th July, Hannah McNamara talked us about work/life balance for women who have their own business. Main reasons to open a business are to earn more money, to spend more time with family, to not have a boss...
According to them, you spend happy days when you work for yourself.
The differences between business and job is: your full time job will be Monday to Friday and will be normally over after your normal hours and business will take lot of time to start up, develop and generate money and it will not allow time off because you have to take care of delivering, administration and dealing with other businesses by yourself.
Furthermore, your company’s image is very important, you should network during events, but while you while you’re doing this you are not taking care of your work priorities and that’s also a big problem when you’re in a meeting, sick or in holidays.
As far as sales and marketing concern, you have to focus on people who want to buy your products/services and after you should continue building a relationship with them, they will feel important and it will be a crucial point for your business. You will need a website, it’s also necessary to save your database, to encourage contracts (clients/affiliates/employee/freelance) and to know how to use your software. The most important thing is to be legal as far as terms and conditions concern, with contract for each employees and a relevant insurance.
Then we did a workshop by group of five people, we determined some activities which can be out-sourced, we concluded there were accountancy, marketing, e-mail responses, website managing, graphic design, etc... It’s necessary to delegate some parts of your business because other people will have skills you don’t have and they can also become a partner in your business. They can also cover your business while you’re in meeting, you have big contract, during your holidays by using freelance. Finally, when you decide to out-source you must create a contract with non-disclosure agreement and without a conflict of interest (you should’nt work in the same field). You should use these steps to delegate i.e: because you will use during the year freelance few time and you don’t want to duplicate your work, you should write a detailed brief (on phone or face to face) and reccord a training video.
Some people who have a business, decides to work at home to take care of their children at the same time, often they are called Virtual Office and they use Virtual Office themselves but an important things to do is not to give home address and also you should separate home and business work and calls with a time line for you and for them. During the day you can commit a PA to manage to recall your contacts, to respond to your e-mails. With a Virtual Office you can rent a meeting room.
Business networking is a marketing method where business opportunities are created through social network. According to Hannah McNamara, networking is the best way to meet people who are interesting by your business and who want to buy from you. It’s an activity which takes lot of time but it’s interesting because you go to some events and sometime it’s a real opportunity. Networking can work for you because it creates opportunities to talk about your company at an event. They are mainly used to meet new contacts and you should be prepared your pitch and to questions we can ask you.
To reach this goal, it’s necessary to be curious and polite, to talk and to include everybody. But you don’t have to be egocentric and sell too much. Some advices if you go to an event where you don’t know anyone, you can forget your main goal, ask to someone to introduce you in a group or to talk to somebody who look lost.
Finally, when you met a personn who is interested by your business, you dropped them an e-mail and/or called them after few days (in the first send out e-mail you should let them know you will be calling in few days) to arrange a meeting. To sign the contract with them, you should ask them questions, to help them first and to learn about they’re need.
My Comment:
I think it was an exciting seminar because she gave us advices about networking and how to open a business. She was really dynamic and funny and her exercises allow us to meet some people and to calm our anxienty.
Justine Bataille
Sunday 12 July 2009
Validation!
I was on Twitter earlier today and came accross a great video from YourBigBook (follow her on Twitter)
Great content! I watched the video she recommended and wanted to pass it on!
I am training the next four days so will not have access to my blog : ( but will write real soon
Enjoy…some inspiration from an up and coming film maker!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao
Great content! I watched the video she recommended and wanted to pass it on!
I am training the next four days so will not have access to my blog : ( but will write real soon
Enjoy…some inspiration from an up and coming film maker!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao
Saturday 11 July 2009
My Last note on Twitter for Business
Twitter is about creating relationship…
Look at Alexa.com it is good for traffic ranking (you can see how twitter was before and his today) so do the same for your site, blogs, etc…
Use Twitter Deck: is easier to use and manage.
Use Tr.im: for making shorter links and hiding affiliate link and it’s good for tracking the traffics (it makes your long URL a short one).
>Use Tweet Later: is like an auto responder – it will tweet people right back but be cool on it because people could get scare. Set up Auto Replied: go to my Twitter account, then its easy to fellow the step automatically.
Use Twollo.com: to help you finding targeted people via conversation subject / interests (like google keyword) – but go slowly as lots of people will tweet right back to you. You can use it too get more follower on you Twitter: (auto fellow up) via keyword like: work from home, Magnetic Sponsorship, MLM, Network Marketing, Home Business, etc…
>Use Ping.fm: to update your social network via tweeter to everywhere i.e.: facebook, Myspace, etc…
Use MyTwitterToolbar.com: it’s from the guy from “The Secrets” its very good for twitter tips & twitter tools and all for free.
Go to http://twitter.com/curtsecret to gets the best tips & video from the guru (create an account on Twitter to just fellow gurus – no friends and family) i.e.: http://twitter.com/francksecret PS: it’s good to schedule time like 15mns to get Gurus (fellow the list of gurus) then 15mns replying via your personnel twitter account. It can be time consuming so make it effective.
Note:
You need to create a relationship and the way to do it is by following your follower and its easier with Twitter Deck so you can reply directly, interact, etc…
Note:
You can Change your twitter background, go to setting, and then designed, change background image.
PS: You can also add flash widget to your blog and Social Network it’s useful too.
Try on Twitter:
By (Jesse Newhart on Twitter)
Example: Get Twitt by stranger like mad:
Go to: JesseNewart he talk about Mayhemstudios
How to help people:
by re-twitt other twitter friends (if they good article)
Reply to people,
Participate,
Answer question (if you know the answer)
See: barefoot_exec she twitt people and add other people twitt a lots
Click Search Technique, and then enter a search
i.e.: Iphone a result will be show; press control and scroll on your mousse field (to get all avatar field minimise on the same page) then click control and click avatar that will open all their profile avatar in different tabs, skip the no pictures on avatar as they normally like to stay anonymous so they probably will not come back to you anyway,
Select the one you like i.e.: look if they speak English, ratio, go for people who have a lots of following (that show they are pro-active) so they should follow me back, click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Tips new search: rt = retreat, then click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Follow limit is 2000 people so do 900 to start then do it again after few days to a week as people can get busy, you should get about 2 third of people who will come back to you (about 600)
New search: click your Twitter karma in google click whack, then your twitter username and password, it will load up. 5 options go for only following, click all boxes, then click bulk unfollow, you want to clean up your Twitter Stream as you can follow only 2000 people so make it worth, its easy and some people will say it’s a spam so go to:
www.socialtoo.com (Guy Kawasaki love this site)
Twitter Profile It is good for auto-response and other,
http://friendorfollow.com is good to find people then click control + W (to close window) and make sure you follow them or not.
Let’s say:
Monday your follow 999 people, few days later I unfollow the people who didn’t follow me then on Thursday
I do it again, keep doing it twice a week and you should get 1000 people a week on twitter,
My comments:
It was great stuffs (solid stuffs as they keep sayingJ) Thanks curtfrieden,
I will definitely worth it and I will fellow you and see if you fellow me…J
I learn lots but its more to learn as I understand and it’s a great Marketing tools too.
You need to participate to get result because it’s about creating a relationship.
See you all on Twitter soon…
Franck Robert
(on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Look at Alexa.com it is good for traffic ranking (you can see how twitter was before and his today) so do the same for your site, blogs, etc…
Use Twitter Deck: is easier to use and manage.
Use Tr.im: for making shorter links and hiding affiliate link and it’s good for tracking the traffics (it makes your long URL a short one).
>Use Tweet Later: is like an auto responder – it will tweet people right back but be cool on it because people could get scare. Set up Auto Replied: go to my Twitter account, then its easy to fellow the step automatically.
Use Twollo.com: to help you finding targeted people via conversation subject / interests (like google keyword) – but go slowly as lots of people will tweet right back to you. You can use it too get more follower on you Twitter: (auto fellow up) via keyword like: work from home, Magnetic Sponsorship, MLM, Network Marketing, Home Business, etc…
>Use Ping.fm: to update your social network via tweeter to everywhere i.e.: facebook, Myspace, etc…
Use MyTwitterToolbar.com: it’s from the guy from “The Secrets” its very good for twitter tips & twitter tools and all for free.
Go to http://twitter.com/curtsecret to gets the best tips & video from the guru (create an account on Twitter to just fellow gurus – no friends and family) i.e.: http://twitter.com/francksecret PS: it’s good to schedule time like 15mns to get Gurus (fellow the list of gurus) then 15mns replying via your personnel twitter account. It can be time consuming so make it effective.
Note:
You need to create a relationship and the way to do it is by following your follower and its easier with Twitter Deck so you can reply directly, interact, etc…
Note:
You can Change your twitter background, go to setting, and then designed, change background image.
PS: You can also add flash widget to your blog and Social Network it’s useful too.
Try on Twitter:
By (Jesse Newhart on Twitter)
Example: Get Twitt by stranger like mad:
Go to: JesseNewart he talk about Mayhemstudios
How to help people:
by re-twitt other twitter friends (if they good article)
Reply to people,
Participate,
Answer question (if you know the answer)
See: barefoot_exec she twitt people and add other people twitt a lots
Click Search Technique, and then enter a search
i.e.: Iphone a result will be show; press control and scroll on your mousse field (to get all avatar field minimise on the same page) then click control and click avatar that will open all their profile avatar in different tabs, skip the no pictures on avatar as they normally like to stay anonymous so they probably will not come back to you anyway,
Select the one you like i.e.: look if they speak English, ratio, go for people who have a lots of following (that show they are pro-active) so they should follow me back, click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Tips new search: rt = retreat, then click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Follow limit is 2000 people so do 900 to start then do it again after few days to a week as people can get busy, you should get about 2 third of people who will come back to you (about 600)
New search: click your Twitter karma in google click whack, then your twitter username and password, it will load up. 5 options go for only following, click all boxes, then click bulk unfollow, you want to clean up your Twitter Stream as you can follow only 2000 people so make it worth, its easy and some people will say it’s a spam so go to:
www.socialtoo.com (Guy Kawasaki love this site)
Twitter Profile It is good for auto-response and other,
http://friendorfollow.com is good to find people then click control + W (to close window) and make sure you follow them or not.
Let’s say:
Monday your follow 999 people, few days later I unfollow the people who didn’t follow me then on Thursday
I do it again, keep doing it twice a week and you should get 1000 people a week on twitter,
My comments:
It was great stuffs (solid stuffs as they keep sayingJ) Thanks curtfrieden,
I will definitely worth it and I will fellow you and see if you fellow me…J
I learn lots but its more to learn as I understand and it’s a great Marketing tools too.
You need to participate to get result because it’s about creating a relationship.
See you all on Twitter soon…
Franck Robert
(on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Friday 10 July 2009
Website Top tip: Make sure fonts are legible
Website Top tip:
Make sure fonts are legible
As more and more complex systems are being developed online, design guidelines are constantly being updated. However, basic guidelines are no less important and ensuring that text used on a website is legible is a fundamental part of a sites’ design. These top tips will ensure your site can be used by people with poor eyesight. But remember clear, legible fonts are appreciated by all users no matter how good their eyesight.
1. Ensure you use a suitable size No matter how good the content, there’s no point providing it if users can’t see it. Small fonts can be annoying to those with good eyesight, and render a site unusable for others. Ensure all text on the site is large enough for people to read easily. Aim for size 10 or higher.
2. Don’t use overly complex fonts (anywhere) People don’t read from screens the same way they do from a book or magazine. Instead they scan and a complex font could get in the way. Virtually all sites use a simple font for their body text, but complex fonts are still sometimes used in banner adverts and for headings. Headings and banners need to be just as legible as the rest of the page or they aren’t doing their job.
3. Remember to have a high contrast Make sure the contrast between the background colour and text is high. If the contrast is too low users will struggle to make out the text. There are various online tools you can use to check this, such as the Juicy Studio Contrast Analyser. Pay particular attention to banners as these often superimpose text over a picture of varying contrast.
Great stuff From Webcredible
Make sure fonts are legible
As more and more complex systems are being developed online, design guidelines are constantly being updated. However, basic guidelines are no less important and ensuring that text used on a website is legible is a fundamental part of a sites’ design. These top tips will ensure your site can be used by people with poor eyesight. But remember clear, legible fonts are appreciated by all users no matter how good their eyesight.
1. Ensure you use a suitable size No matter how good the content, there’s no point providing it if users can’t see it. Small fonts can be annoying to those with good eyesight, and render a site unusable for others. Ensure all text on the site is large enough for people to read easily. Aim for size 10 or higher.
2. Don’t use overly complex fonts (anywhere) People don’t read from screens the same way they do from a book or magazine. Instead they scan and a complex font could get in the way. Virtually all sites use a simple font for their body text, but complex fonts are still sometimes used in banner adverts and for headings. Headings and banners need to be just as legible as the rest of the page or they aren’t doing their job.
3. Remember to have a high contrast Make sure the contrast between the background colour and text is high. If the contrast is too low users will struggle to make out the text. There are various online tools you can use to check this, such as the Juicy Studio Contrast Analyser. Pay particular attention to banners as these often superimpose text over a picture of varying contrast.
Great stuff From Webcredible
Thursday 9 July 2009
“Imagine, You And Other Top Internet Marketers, Family and Friends Joining Mike Filsaime and Amanda Steadman On THE Million-Dollar Mastermind Vacation
A SPECIAL INVITATION FROM:
Mike Filsaime and Amanda Steadman
TO: Our VIP Internet Marketer friends, JV Partners, Affiliates and their friends and families.
Dear Friend, this is Amanda Steadman from Wealbabes.com
Greetings! I have just come back from the Internet Marketers Cruise in the USA and Caribbean…what a tremendous time with a group of very intelligent, inspiring, financially free individuals! I have been lucky enough to start in Joint Ventures with quite a few of them who are going to share all their money making and client happy making secrets.
Now, lets hear from Mike Filsaime….
Every year for the last few years, just around New Year’s week, I have been getting together with a group of my best Internet Marketer buddies and their families for a very exclusive “world class” vacation…
We’ve escaped to some exotic Caribbean islands aboard beautiful luxury cruise ships, and experienced some major pampering, exciting shore excursions, gourmet meals, and the priceless cameraderie of like-minded people in a very relaxed environment.
Cruising has become one of my favorite ways to see the world, and I finally realized that I shouldn’t keep my “private annual escape” just to myself (and a few chosen Inner Circle A-listers).
Okay Mike and Amanda Steadman, Count Me In…I WANNA GO!
If you’ve never been on the Annual Marketers Cruise before…then you’re in for the time of your life and a vacation like no other.
On January the 9th, the annual Marketers Cruise is leaving from Port Canaveral – Orlando, Florida and you can start the new year off right
& set sail to the Exotic Caribbean… Cozumel (Mexico), Belize (Central America), Isla Roatan (off the coast of Honduras)and Costa Maya (Yucatan Penninsula)
CLICK HERE To Claim One Of The Few Remaining Staterooms
Your cruise event planner is Captain Lou Edwards from SpecialEventsAtSea.com. He is the guy behind the curtain, who’s list of cruise clients include a who’s who of the World’s Top Internet Marketers.
Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Rick Raddatz, Shawn Casey, Carl Galetti, Rich Schefren, Robert Allen and many others have all been aboard Lou’s group cruises and raved about them.
My family, friends, key staff and I look forward to this vacation each year because of the lifetime friendships formed, deals done, and new products launched as a result of the cruise.
In fact, I remember New Year’s week of 2006 when a group of us cruised to Central America. My star had been rising, but I had yet to make my mark on the Internet Marketing community.
On this voyage, I was holed up in my cabin, feverishly working on my laptop and hitting the Internet cafes in each port.
I was putting the finishing touches on the launch of a little thing called Butterfly Marketing. That was a big breakthrough product for me, and I fondly remember that cruise as an integral part of the process.
I think the cameraderie and support of a group of like-minded peers is priceless. Even though I’ve decided to cut back on business travel and live appearances so I can spend more time at home, the annual Marketers Cruise vacation has become an exciting MUST DO each January.
Mostly by word of mouth, our little group of Internet Marketer cruise guests has DOUBLED anuually…from 31, to 67, to 118, to nearly 300 guests this past January.
Okay Mike and Amanda Steadman, Count Me In…I WANNA GO!
So…We’ve Put Together Another AMAZING Marketers Cruise Vacation Setting Sail January 9th to 16th, 2010.
Our ship is the BRAND NEW Carnival Dream being constructed right now as the largest state-of-the-art floating city FUN-SHIP mega-resort ever made by Carnival. You can do it all, or just lay back and do absolutely nothing because it’s your vacation. There are so many positive and wonderful things about taking a cruise. The only negative that comes to mind is that it seems to end too quickly!
Those of you who missed the last one, you might be wondering just what exactly makes this the ideal vacation with the perfect work and play balance.
And the, simple answer is…you’ll have special access during the “sea days” to powerful Mastermind Sessions with some of the world’s TOP millionaire marketers, their pals, and other VIP members who are attending.
Meet Your “ Million Dollar Mastermind” Moderators…
Paulie Sabol, Donna Fox, Tom Beal
They are the brilliant leaders of last year’s highly acclaimed i5 Gold Mentoring Program, from which many coaching clients have gone on to new levels of online marketing success. As Master Marketing Mentors…Paulie, Donna and Tom will help facilitate the onboard brainstorming sessions each morning on the days we are at sea.
Okay Mike and Amanda Steadman, Count Me In…I WANNA GO!
Mike Filsaime and Amanda Steadman
TO: Our VIP Internet Marketer friends, JV Partners, Affiliates and their friends and families.
Dear Friend, this is Amanda Steadman from Wealbabes.com
Greetings! I have just come back from the Internet Marketers Cruise in the USA and Caribbean…what a tremendous time with a group of very intelligent, inspiring, financially free individuals! I have been lucky enough to start in Joint Ventures with quite a few of them who are going to share all their money making and client happy making secrets.
Now, lets hear from Mike Filsaime….
Every year for the last few years, just around New Year’s week, I have been getting together with a group of my best Internet Marketer buddies and their families for a very exclusive “world class” vacation…
We’ve escaped to some exotic Caribbean islands aboard beautiful luxury cruise ships, and experienced some major pampering, exciting shore excursions, gourmet meals, and the priceless cameraderie of like-minded people in a very relaxed environment.
Cruising has become one of my favorite ways to see the world, and I finally realized that I shouldn’t keep my “private annual escape” just to myself (and a few chosen Inner Circle A-listers).
Okay Mike and Amanda Steadman, Count Me In…I WANNA GO!
If you’ve never been on the Annual Marketers Cruise before…then you’re in for the time of your life and a vacation like no other.
On January the 9th, the annual Marketers Cruise is leaving from Port Canaveral – Orlando, Florida and you can start the new year off right
& set sail to the Exotic Caribbean… Cozumel (Mexico), Belize (Central America), Isla Roatan (off the coast of Honduras)and Costa Maya (Yucatan Penninsula)
CLICK HERE To Claim One Of The Few Remaining Staterooms
Your cruise event planner is Captain Lou Edwards from SpecialEventsAtSea.com. He is the guy behind the curtain, who’s list of cruise clients include a who’s who of the World’s Top Internet Marketers.
Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Rick Raddatz, Shawn Casey, Carl Galetti, Rich Schefren, Robert Allen and many others have all been aboard Lou’s group cruises and raved about them.
My family, friends, key staff and I look forward to this vacation each year because of the lifetime friendships formed, deals done, and new products launched as a result of the cruise.
In fact, I remember New Year’s week of 2006 when a group of us cruised to Central America. My star had been rising, but I had yet to make my mark on the Internet Marketing community.
On this voyage, I was holed up in my cabin, feverishly working on my laptop and hitting the Internet cafes in each port.
I was putting the finishing touches on the launch of a little thing called Butterfly Marketing. That was a big breakthrough product for me, and I fondly remember that cruise as an integral part of the process.
I think the cameraderie and support of a group of like-minded peers is priceless. Even though I’ve decided to cut back on business travel and live appearances so I can spend more time at home, the annual Marketers Cruise vacation has become an exciting MUST DO each January.
Mostly by word of mouth, our little group of Internet Marketer cruise guests has DOUBLED anuually…from 31, to 67, to 118, to nearly 300 guests this past January.
Okay Mike and Amanda Steadman, Count Me In…I WANNA GO!
So…We’ve Put Together Another AMAZING Marketers Cruise Vacation Setting Sail January 9th to 16th, 2010.
Our ship is the BRAND NEW Carnival Dream being constructed right now as the largest state-of-the-art floating city FUN-SHIP mega-resort ever made by Carnival. You can do it all, or just lay back and do absolutely nothing because it’s your vacation. There are so many positive and wonderful things about taking a cruise. The only negative that comes to mind is that it seems to end too quickly!
Those of you who missed the last one, you might be wondering just what exactly makes this the ideal vacation with the perfect work and play balance.
And the, simple answer is…you’ll have special access during the “sea days” to powerful Mastermind Sessions with some of the world’s TOP millionaire marketers, their pals, and other VIP members who are attending.
Meet Your “ Million Dollar Mastermind” Moderators…
Paulie Sabol, Donna Fox, Tom Beal
They are the brilliant leaders of last year’s highly acclaimed i5 Gold Mentoring Program, from which many coaching clients have gone on to new levels of online marketing success. As Master Marketing Mentors…Paulie, Donna and Tom will help facilitate the onboard brainstorming sessions each morning on the days we are at sea.
Okay Mike and Amanda Steadman, Count Me In…I WANNA GO!
How To Find Great Links For Twitter That Get Retweeted Like Crazy
Go to Google reader, you will find a site call popular with the best talk about info via other sites, click in search i.e.: web design, click enter, you will see best RSS feeds and click sign in for the one you like. Subscribe to good blog is good for the content.
· i.e.: tweetmeme show popular story on tweeter, you can look at what your friends see
· i.e.: friendfeed to share your Google reader, pretty good to retweet, etc…
· i.e.: Stumbleupon, you can search on it, (i.e.: web design) and you will best story
What happen it’s because its popular then you get popular…because people love great information and love to share it with other…easy!
My comments:
Jesse Newhart is very good with clear information about Tweeter; I highly recommend it for newbie and/or just to stay in touch with latest on Tweeter.
Franck Robert (on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
· i.e.: tweetmeme show popular story on tweeter, you can look at what your friends see
· i.e.: friendfeed to share your Google reader, pretty good to retweet, etc…
· i.e.: Stumbleupon, you can search on it, (i.e.: web design) and you will best story
What happen it’s because its popular then you get popular…because people love great information and love to share it with other…easy!
My comments:
Jesse Newhart is very good with clear information about Tweeter; I highly recommend it for newbie and/or just to stay in touch with latest on Tweeter.
Franck Robert (on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Sunday 5 July 2009
Freeing up the Money and Cancelling Credit Card Debt
Great News..the UK lenders are starting to offer 0% credit cards again and personal loans and mortgages should start to move again! Hurrah!
This is a good sign…and spring is on its way as I watch the snow melt outside!
Credit Cards
Also we are in touch with a company that is cancelling out credit card debt and are helping many, many people in the UK. There are also new products coming out that are related to other financial products which will aleviate some of your credit worries. Please contact us @ “>
This is a good sign…and spring is on its way as I watch the snow melt outside!
Credit Cards
Also we are in touch with a company that is cancelling out credit card debt and are helping many, many people in the UK. There are also new products coming out that are related to other financial products which will aleviate some of your credit worries. Please contact us @ “>
Thursday 2 July 2009
10 Reasons to be Properly and Property Optimistic
The sun is out (ish), the trees are budding up (indeed) and the bunnies are bouncing …cheeky bunnies :- ).
Property prices appear that they may no longer be in free fall, having resumed a more orderly decline. In light of this we go in search of 10 reasons why landlords should be optimistic.
1. House prices are stabilising
We can’t produce evidence of a bounce in house prices for landlords, or even details of a much vaulted ‘green shoots’; but figures are emerging that suggest that the rate of fall is slowing, giving landlords more visibility on when we might hit the bottom. March saw the typical house increase in value for the first time since October 2007, rising 0.9% according to the Nationwide and a respected consultancy Lombard Street Research (LSR) has suggested property prices may bottom by Xmas.
2. Mortgage approvals are up.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has reported a rise in the number of house purchase loans approved in February up to 24,300 from 23,400 the month before. Lending is critical to get the house price market moving and now the banks are re-capitalised with tier 1 capital at very high rates. Lending should start to flow once more.
3. Tenant demand remains high
Your Move recently reported that tenant demand was up strongly in February, 46% up on the previous year. Clearly if people can’t buy or are fearful of buying because of potentially further falls in house prices they rent. This can only be good news for landlords.
4. Rents are stable or may even be rising in some parts of the country.
For many landlords talk of falling rents is a mystery. It may be happening in the swankier post codes in London as impoverished bankers are forced to cut back. For many ‘average’ landlords rental levels have been holding up well. The latest figures from the Rent Index indicate that rents have actually being rising up 1.7% and 2.6% over the last 1 month and 3 months respectively. However in other parts of the country where I have properties…they have been going down! In particular Manchester town centre and Brighton areas.
5. Interest rates are at historic lows
With the base rate at 0.5% and at a historic low many landlords on tracker related buy-to-let mortgages are paying record low mortgage payments. The other good news is that latest predictions forecast that these rates could remain well into 2010 as the government battles the spectre of ‘deflation’. This means that landlords could bask in the sensation of cheap money for some months to come – however don’t ‘bank’ on it as I am sure the financial establishments are keen to increase them sooner rather than later! So dont get too comfy.
6. Record rental profits
Low interest rates means many landlords are experiencing unprecedented ‘rental profits’.
Some landlords are making a profit for the first time ever, and other portfolio landlords are generating £100,000‘s in annual rental profits. Not bad for a sector that is supposedly on its knees and at a time when other businesses are making huge losses and slashing jobs. Again we don’t know how long it will last so make contingency plans.
7. Costs are falling
Not only are finance charges falling, but because of the deteriorating employment situation building, repair, cleaning work for the first time in decades is getting cheaper. No longer do landlords have to beg and plead to get a quote. With the jobs situation deteriorating by the day it won’t belong before plumbers will be phoning up landlords and asking for work and at a discounted rate – oh joy!
8. Disappearance of the FTB whinger
How many landlords have got fed up with the stories over the last decade blaming landlords and buy-to-let for forcing up the price of housing so that ‘little Jemima’ cant afford to buy her 1 bed starter flat in Clapham because of all the landlords pricing her out of the market. Well the great news is that Jemima and all her winging cronies have all gone very quiet…this can only be a good thing for landlords and the rest of humanity!
9. Property bargains
There is nothing like a crash and a good economic shake out to allow a landlord to pick up a true long-term property bargain. It’s been true through out the centuries and any investment analysis will tell you. “The real money is made by investors who buy at the bottom and sell at the top.” Well we might not be quite at the bottom, but arguably you never know the market has bottomed until it’s too late. The next few years will certainly throw up some good long term for investments for property investors.
10. Hedge against inflation
Whilst the current talk is about deflation many economic experts are warning about the prospect of inflation taking off once all the money injected by the Government through the likes of ‘quantitative easing’ and the like have worked there way through the system. We all know the best hedge against inflation. You’ve guessed it – property. Sometimes being a landlord has its perks as well as its pitfalls (now that’s another article!)
Property prices appear that they may no longer be in free fall, having resumed a more orderly decline. In light of this we go in search of 10 reasons why landlords should be optimistic.
1. House prices are stabilising
We can’t produce evidence of a bounce in house prices for landlords, or even details of a much vaulted ‘green shoots’; but figures are emerging that suggest that the rate of fall is slowing, giving landlords more visibility on when we might hit the bottom. March saw the typical house increase in value for the first time since October 2007, rising 0.9% according to the Nationwide and a respected consultancy Lombard Street Research (LSR) has suggested property prices may bottom by Xmas.
2. Mortgage approvals are up.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has reported a rise in the number of house purchase loans approved in February up to 24,300 from 23,400 the month before. Lending is critical to get the house price market moving and now the banks are re-capitalised with tier 1 capital at very high rates. Lending should start to flow once more.
3. Tenant demand remains high
Your Move recently reported that tenant demand was up strongly in February, 46% up on the previous year. Clearly if people can’t buy or are fearful of buying because of potentially further falls in house prices they rent. This can only be good news for landlords.
4. Rents are stable or may even be rising in some parts of the country.
For many landlords talk of falling rents is a mystery. It may be happening in the swankier post codes in London as impoverished bankers are forced to cut back. For many ‘average’ landlords rental levels have been holding up well. The latest figures from the Rent Index indicate that rents have actually being rising up 1.7% and 2.6% over the last 1 month and 3 months respectively. However in other parts of the country where I have properties…they have been going down! In particular Manchester town centre and Brighton areas.
5. Interest rates are at historic lows
With the base rate at 0.5% and at a historic low many landlords on tracker related buy-to-let mortgages are paying record low mortgage payments. The other good news is that latest predictions forecast that these rates could remain well into 2010 as the government battles the spectre of ‘deflation’. This means that landlords could bask in the sensation of cheap money for some months to come – however don’t ‘bank’ on it as I am sure the financial establishments are keen to increase them sooner rather than later! So dont get too comfy.
6. Record rental profits
Low interest rates means many landlords are experiencing unprecedented ‘rental profits’.
Some landlords are making a profit for the first time ever, and other portfolio landlords are generating £100,000‘s in annual rental profits. Not bad for a sector that is supposedly on its knees and at a time when other businesses are making huge losses and slashing jobs. Again we don’t know how long it will last so make contingency plans.
7. Costs are falling
Not only are finance charges falling, but because of the deteriorating employment situation building, repair, cleaning work for the first time in decades is getting cheaper. No longer do landlords have to beg and plead to get a quote. With the jobs situation deteriorating by the day it won’t belong before plumbers will be phoning up landlords and asking for work and at a discounted rate – oh joy!
8. Disappearance of the FTB whinger
How many landlords have got fed up with the stories over the last decade blaming landlords and buy-to-let for forcing up the price of housing so that ‘little Jemima’ cant afford to buy her 1 bed starter flat in Clapham because of all the landlords pricing her out of the market. Well the great news is that Jemima and all her winging cronies have all gone very quiet…this can only be a good thing for landlords and the rest of humanity!
9. Property bargains
There is nothing like a crash and a good economic shake out to allow a landlord to pick up a true long-term property bargain. It’s been true through out the centuries and any investment analysis will tell you. “The real money is made by investors who buy at the bottom and sell at the top.” Well we might not be quite at the bottom, but arguably you never know the market has bottomed until it’s too late. The next few years will certainly throw up some good long term for investments for property investors.
10. Hedge against inflation
Whilst the current talk is about deflation many economic experts are warning about the prospect of inflation taking off once all the money injected by the Government through the likes of ‘quantitative easing’ and the like have worked there way through the system. We all know the best hedge against inflation. You’ve guessed it – property. Sometimes being a landlord has its perks as well as its pitfalls (now that’s another article!)
Monday 29 June 2009
The Google Online Marketing Challenge 2010
Amanda Steadman @WealthBabes – The Google Online Marketing Challenge 2010…
It`s worth to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/yw7j2m
The 2010 Challenge is now on!
The Google Online Marketing Challenge is a global student online marketing competition open to any higher education institution, anywhere in the world.
Developed by professors in collaboration with Google, the Challenge is a great opportunity for students to gain practical, real world online marketing experience. Students also get the excitement of competing on a global level, with the overall winners and their professor/lecturer receiving a trip to the Googleplex in Mountain View. In addition, regional winners and their professor will receive a trip to their local Google office.
The 2008 Google Online Marketing Challenge saw more than 1600 student teams from 47 countries around the world taking part in this global competition. Find out more about our 2008 winners and finalists here.
How does it work?
Student teams receive US$200 of free online advertising with Google AdWords and then work with local businesses to devise effective online marketing campaigns. Teams outline a strategy, run a campaign, assess their results and provide the business with recommendations to further develop their online marketing. Teams submit their reports and are judged by a panel of independent academics from all over the world.
Who can enter?
The Challenge is open to any higher education institution from anywhere in the world.
Registrations for 2009 have now closed but you can register your interest for 2010.
Click on the markers to see the institutions and number of teams that registered for the 2009 Challenge.
It`s worth to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/yw7j2m
The 2010 Challenge is now on!
The Google Online Marketing Challenge is a global student online marketing competition open to any higher education institution, anywhere in the world.
Developed by professors in collaboration with Google, the Challenge is a great opportunity for students to gain practical, real world online marketing experience. Students also get the excitement of competing on a global level, with the overall winners and their professor/lecturer receiving a trip to the Googleplex in Mountain View. In addition, regional winners and their professor will receive a trip to their local Google office.
The 2008 Google Online Marketing Challenge saw more than 1600 student teams from 47 countries around the world taking part in this global competition. Find out more about our 2008 winners and finalists here.
How does it work?
Student teams receive US$200 of free online advertising with Google AdWords and then work with local businesses to devise effective online marketing campaigns. Teams outline a strategy, run a campaign, assess their results and provide the business with recommendations to further develop their online marketing. Teams submit their reports and are judged by a panel of independent academics from all over the world.
Who can enter?
The Challenge is open to any higher education institution from anywhere in the world.
Registrations for 2009 have now closed but you can register your interest for 2010.
Click on the markers to see the institutions and number of teams that registered for the 2009 Challenge.
Saturday 27 June 2009
Online Podcasts vs Videos…
YouTube have 63% of UK market and Iplayer have 11% of YouTube market
(normally most of other provider get barely 2%).
It has unleashed a global demand to learn film-making and editing.
Tutorial is a big Podcasts & videos market.
For Videos use Flip`s new Mino HD @ £170 = very very ggod!.
Pocasting Is also big business. http://audioboo.fm/
Audio-boo for free audio up to 5mns.
Other mobcasts are good with Twitter meet podcast service.
2009 will be the year when mobile video takes off.
From Victor Keegan article:
www.facebook.com/people/Victor-Keegan
www.guardian.co.uk/profile/victorkeegan
(normally most of other provider get barely 2%).
It has unleashed a global demand to learn film-making and editing.
Tutorial is a big Podcasts & videos market.
For Videos use Flip`s new Mino HD @ £170 = very very ggod!.
Pocasting Is also big business. http://audioboo.fm/
Audio-boo for free audio up to 5mns.
Other mobcasts are good with Twitter meet podcast service.
2009 will be the year when mobile video takes off.
From Victor Keegan article:
www.facebook.com/people/Victor-Keegan
www.guardian.co.uk/profile/victorkeegan
The Prioritisation Game..
Staying Focussed….
Recently many of our clients are saying that there is SO much to do and SO many distractions so I have put together an article to help those focussed challenged busy people! Have a groovy week people!
Amanda x
The Prioritisation Game
Staying on Target
When Prioritising you may want to ask yourself specific questions to make sure you are using your precious time for the highest pay off items on your agenda.
Whether you are self employed or employed, TIME is your rarest resource so use it well and the rewards are endless!
In today’s work and play place – the biggest distractions, namely the internet and mobile phone will tempt you away from the tougher, higher pay off tasks that you know will make the most amount of difference to your day and objectives. So, what are you going to do about it!
Once you get clear about your longer term, higher objective or goal this seriously helps you figure out WHAT is MOST IMPORTANT and not necessarily the most urgent. So take a look at the questions below and go on a Focussed Self Discovery Session to make sure you stay with your actions that take you closer to those all important goals that lead to ….more money, more time, more fulfilment and more happiness rather than busy-ness!
What do you stand for? What do you want out of life? How important are your ‘goals to you?
Prioritise these goals in order of importance and make your decisions based on ‘ is it taking me further or closer to my goals?’ If further away – don’t do it!
How are you spending your time? Is it in the areas you want to and with the people you want to be with? Make tough choices on your time spending!
What is your purpose? Heavy questions I know but CRITICAL so you don’t spend all your life doing something you don’t like! What would you do for free because you love it so much? If we handed you $10 million – after you’d spent some of it on THINGS then what would you DO with the rest of your time?
What are your values – you will spend all your time and money on your values. If you love sport..most of your time and money is going to g there. If you love learning – it will go on courses, books and DVD’s. What you spend the majority of your money on (excl expenses of course) and what books you have on your shelves will give you a good idea of what your values have! Once you are clearer on this – its even easier to make decisions, then prioritise and focus on what you need to.
Once you have got a list of your key goals, values and what you need to do. Pick the 3 most important things that HAVE to be done the night before and have it written down on a piece of paper – out of your mind! Download it. Use a weekly/monthly planner either on paper or PC/Mac
Get the highest pay off tasks done before 12 noon! Do NOT do anything else until those 3 things are done (if it’s a big project at least 3 key parts/pieces of that project that are the most important!)
Keep your work area as clear as possible – get rid of all loose bits of paper, booklets stuff that you know you will always be able to find on the internet anyway! Do not be distracted by shuffling papers, rearranging your pencils and leave your mobile/blackberry facing downwards or even off for two hours in the morning if you can!! (It’s a challenge I know but form a new habit, I promise it will pay off!)
Scan your email for any urgent ones for 5 minutes MAX in the morning then do not look at them again until 12 noon. Do not be tempted to keep replying to all your friends of check Facebook at 9am..you know what will happen. It will be noon and your 3 highest pay off tasks have not been done!!
Reward yourself every time you complete any of those 3 key tasks! Have fun working on what you know is going to bring you the greatest results. Good luck in reaching all those wonderful goals you’ve set and to taking more control of your time and destiny!
Amanda Steadman
www.WealthBabes.com
Wealth and Success Coach, UK
Recently many of our clients are saying that there is SO much to do and SO many distractions so I have put together an article to help those focussed challenged busy people! Have a groovy week people!
Amanda x
The Prioritisation Game
Staying on Target
When Prioritising you may want to ask yourself specific questions to make sure you are using your precious time for the highest pay off items on your agenda.
Whether you are self employed or employed, TIME is your rarest resource so use it well and the rewards are endless!
In today’s work and play place – the biggest distractions, namely the internet and mobile phone will tempt you away from the tougher, higher pay off tasks that you know will make the most amount of difference to your day and objectives. So, what are you going to do about it!
Once you get clear about your longer term, higher objective or goal this seriously helps you figure out WHAT is MOST IMPORTANT and not necessarily the most urgent. So take a look at the questions below and go on a Focussed Self Discovery Session to make sure you stay with your actions that take you closer to those all important goals that lead to ….more money, more time, more fulfilment and more happiness rather than busy-ness!
What do you stand for? What do you want out of life? How important are your ‘goals to you?
Prioritise these goals in order of importance and make your decisions based on ‘ is it taking me further or closer to my goals?’ If further away – don’t do it!
How are you spending your time? Is it in the areas you want to and with the people you want to be with? Make tough choices on your time spending!
What is your purpose? Heavy questions I know but CRITICAL so you don’t spend all your life doing something you don’t like! What would you do for free because you love it so much? If we handed you $10 million – after you’d spent some of it on THINGS then what would you DO with the rest of your time?
What are your values – you will spend all your time and money on your values. If you love sport..most of your time and money is going to g there. If you love learning – it will go on courses, books and DVD’s. What you spend the majority of your money on (excl expenses of course) and what books you have on your shelves will give you a good idea of what your values have! Once you are clearer on this – its even easier to make decisions, then prioritise and focus on what you need to.
Once you have got a list of your key goals, values and what you need to do. Pick the 3 most important things that HAVE to be done the night before and have it written down on a piece of paper – out of your mind! Download it. Use a weekly/monthly planner either on paper or PC/Mac
Get the highest pay off tasks done before 12 noon! Do NOT do anything else until those 3 things are done (if it’s a big project at least 3 key parts/pieces of that project that are the most important!)
Keep your work area as clear as possible – get rid of all loose bits of paper, booklets stuff that you know you will always be able to find on the internet anyway! Do not be distracted by shuffling papers, rearranging your pencils and leave your mobile/blackberry facing downwards or even off for two hours in the morning if you can!! (It’s a challenge I know but form a new habit, I promise it will pay off!)
Scan your email for any urgent ones for 5 minutes MAX in the morning then do not look at them again until 12 noon. Do not be tempted to keep replying to all your friends of check Facebook at 9am..you know what will happen. It will be noon and your 3 highest pay off tasks have not been done!!
Reward yourself every time you complete any of those 3 key tasks! Have fun working on what you know is going to bring you the greatest results. Good luck in reaching all those wonderful goals you’ve set and to taking more control of your time and destiny!
Amanda Steadman
www.WealthBabes.com
Wealth and Success Coach, UK
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Wow we are a 10th into 2009! How are your wealth goals going?
Well – its already a 10th into 2009 and how are you getting on with all your new year resolutions? Have you started your savings plan? Have you scheduled those special dates with your loved one?
Check in with yourself as you how you are spending your time.
Are you focussing on what we call ‘your highest pay of tasks?’. A highest pay off task of one that will get you closer to your goal faster. For example. We have worked with quite a few sales people and a great salesman told me once ‘ Write a note for your desk and put is somewhere prominently. Write on the note ‘Is what I am doing right now making me money’. This advice has helped me and many of my clients to get focussed on the task at hand and their sales went up!
So where could you write a little note that will keep you on track on a daily basis!
Give it a go and see the results!
Have a great week!
Check in with yourself as you how you are spending your time.
Are you focussing on what we call ‘your highest pay of tasks?’. A highest pay off task of one that will get you closer to your goal faster. For example. We have worked with quite a few sales people and a great salesman told me once ‘ Write a note for your desk and put is somewhere prominently. Write on the note ‘Is what I am doing right now making me money’. This advice has helped me and many of my clients to get focussed on the task at hand and their sales went up!
So where could you write a little note that will keep you on track on a daily basis!
Give it a go and see the results!
Have a great week!
New buyer enquiries are up and there are green shoots of recovery for the housing market….
New buyer enquiries are up and there are green shoots of recovery for the housing market….
But we’re not at the bottom yet!
It has been a traumatic 18 months for those working within the property industry.
As lending by the banks dried up, sales fell to a near standstill, and estate agents started dropping like flies.
Well, every cloud and all that.
Everything must go
However, new figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have revealed housing sales are slowly creeping up again.
According to the trade body, surveyors have completed an average of 10.6 sales over the past three months, up from 9.7 in the three months to both March and February.
As a result, the trade body has recorded an improvement – if we dare call it that – in the house price situation, with the balance of surveyors reporting rising prices rather than falls moving from minus 72.1 to minus 59.9 in April. That’s right, we’re still in minus figures here. Do you detect a few straws being frantically grasped at?
We have reached the stage where even the most farcically minimal improvement in the housing market provokes raised eyebrows and a heart flutter, as if we are finally through the worst.
Those tiny shafts of light
RICS is far from alone in focusing on the positives. When Nationwide Building Society claimed house prices had increased by 0.9% during March, it sparked incredulity that such an astonishing event could possibly have happened. And lo and behold, the very next month a chunk of that increase had been wiped out with a further fall of 0.4%.
The various other indices from outfits like Halifax and Hometrack have been nowhere near as positive, frequently identifying further falls, albeit at a slowing rate.
And then last weekend, the Lloyds Banking Group, the biggest lender in the UK, started suggesting that house prices have only a further 6% to fall before a rise by the end of the year.
Have they gone completely crackers? Is this the sort of barmy thinking that led to the HBoS deal in the first place?
Always look on the bright side of life
Or are the boffins at Lloyds on to something? After all, the RICS figures demonstrate the demand is there – new buyer enquiries have increased for six straight months, and at the fastest pace since the heady days of August 1999, when nobody had heard of quantitative easing, toxic debt or Robert Peston.
Meanwhile, Hometrack’s most recent survey found that applicant numbers were up 6% in April, and 32% in the last three months.
The thinking seems to be that the sharp fall in house prices, which stands at 18.4% peak-to-trough according to Nationwide, has made property more affordable for our old friends, the first-time buyers.
As they see properties begin to fall within the range they bracket as affordable – and according to Halifax, affordability has more than trebled for first-time buyers since mid-2007 – interest picks up and these buyers trundle along to their estate agents to see where they stand.
And so long as those buyers have a healthy looking deposit, and the squeakiest of squeaky clean credit records, they stand a decent chance of getting a mortgage.
In addition, those already on the ladder and with a decent amount of equity in their property are in a position to move onwards and upwards at a better price – and likely with a cheaper mortgage at a small loan-to-value – than they could previously.
Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest this may be happening. My own father, whisper this quietly, is an estate agent and has recently been recruited by a former employer because they are swamped with enquiries and need all hands on deck. And my mortgage broker has started sleeping at night again, thanks to a jump in the number of potential borrowers looking to snap up a bargain.
Building castles in the sky
But that is all it is, anecdotal. We can all go through the various house price indices, and desperately cling on to the vaguest sign of positivity, the merest morsel on which to finally proclaim the market has reached the bottom, and everything will be rosy again.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders got it spot on – and that in itself is something of a miracle – when it described the current situation as ‘green shoots with no roots’.
There may be the odd artificial improvement in sales or house prices, but there is precious little foundation for a sustained recovery, particularly while the situation with unemployment remains so uncertain.
Because the market is not at the bottom, and it won’t be for a while yet. Until the banks and building societies feel able to devote a few more pennies to their mortgage lending, prices are going absolutely nowhere. And all the cautious optimism in the world will not make a jot of difference.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
But we’re not at the bottom yet!
It has been a traumatic 18 months for those working within the property industry.
As lending by the banks dried up, sales fell to a near standstill, and estate agents started dropping like flies.
Well, every cloud and all that.
Everything must go
However, new figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have revealed housing sales are slowly creeping up again.
According to the trade body, surveyors have completed an average of 10.6 sales over the past three months, up from 9.7 in the three months to both March and February.
As a result, the trade body has recorded an improvement – if we dare call it that – in the house price situation, with the balance of surveyors reporting rising prices rather than falls moving from minus 72.1 to minus 59.9 in April. That’s right, we’re still in minus figures here. Do you detect a few straws being frantically grasped at?
We have reached the stage where even the most farcically minimal improvement in the housing market provokes raised eyebrows and a heart flutter, as if we are finally through the worst.
Those tiny shafts of light
RICS is far from alone in focusing on the positives. When Nationwide Building Society claimed house prices had increased by 0.9% during March, it sparked incredulity that such an astonishing event could possibly have happened. And lo and behold, the very next month a chunk of that increase had been wiped out with a further fall of 0.4%.
The various other indices from outfits like Halifax and Hometrack have been nowhere near as positive, frequently identifying further falls, albeit at a slowing rate.
And then last weekend, the Lloyds Banking Group, the biggest lender in the UK, started suggesting that house prices have only a further 6% to fall before a rise by the end of the year.
Have they gone completely crackers? Is this the sort of barmy thinking that led to the HBoS deal in the first place?
Always look on the bright side of life
Or are the boffins at Lloyds on to something? After all, the RICS figures demonstrate the demand is there – new buyer enquiries have increased for six straight months, and at the fastest pace since the heady days of August 1999, when nobody had heard of quantitative easing, toxic debt or Robert Peston.
Meanwhile, Hometrack’s most recent survey found that applicant numbers were up 6% in April, and 32% in the last three months.
The thinking seems to be that the sharp fall in house prices, which stands at 18.4% peak-to-trough according to Nationwide, has made property more affordable for our old friends, the first-time buyers.
As they see properties begin to fall within the range they bracket as affordable – and according to Halifax, affordability has more than trebled for first-time buyers since mid-2007 – interest picks up and these buyers trundle along to their estate agents to see where they stand.
And so long as those buyers have a healthy looking deposit, and the squeakiest of squeaky clean credit records, they stand a decent chance of getting a mortgage.
In addition, those already on the ladder and with a decent amount of equity in their property are in a position to move onwards and upwards at a better price – and likely with a cheaper mortgage at a small loan-to-value – than they could previously.
Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest this may be happening. My own father, whisper this quietly, is an estate agent and has recently been recruited by a former employer because they are swamped with enquiries and need all hands on deck. And my mortgage broker has started sleeping at night again, thanks to a jump in the number of potential borrowers looking to snap up a bargain.
Building castles in the sky
But that is all it is, anecdotal. We can all go through the various house price indices, and desperately cling on to the vaguest sign of positivity, the merest morsel on which to finally proclaim the market has reached the bottom, and everything will be rosy again.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders got it spot on – and that in itself is something of a miracle – when it described the current situation as ‘green shoots with no roots’.
There may be the odd artificial improvement in sales or house prices, but there is precious little foundation for a sustained recovery, particularly while the situation with unemployment remains so uncertain.
Because the market is not at the bottom, and it won’t be for a while yet. Until the banks and building societies feel able to devote a few more pennies to their mortgage lending, prices are going absolutely nowhere. And all the cautious optimism in the world will not make a jot of difference.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Interest rates may stay low til 2010 -What should you be doing about it?
The Bank of England reckons inflation will fall and the base rate will remain at 0.5%for the next year. What should savers and borrowers do with their money?
Below are some suggestions, however if you want something specific to yourself do contact us on the contact page for your own Money & Financial Game Plan- www.wealthbabes.com
Pay attention: here comes the science
First of all the boring stuff – the figures themselves.
The Consumer Price Index – what the Bank of England uses to measure inflation – is currently 2.9%, almost a whole 1% above its target. However, the Bank is convinced this figure will fall below 2% later this year, as the massive jumps in food and petrol prices from a year ago fall off the measurement.
In addition, the Bank dropped some extremely heavy hints that the Base Rate is likely to remain at 0.5% for at least another year. But what does this mean for you and me?
Go for a fixed rate mortgage
It goes without saying that mortgage borrowers on tracker rates have been the big winners so far. But if you’re shopping around for a new mortgage this year, you may be better off with a fixed-rate mortgage.
Figures out this week from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have shown that first-time buyers and home-movers are currently benefitting from the lowest mortgage rates since 2004.
In other words, if there was ever a time to fix, it is now.
If you want the security of a fixed rate but the flexibility of a short-term deal, then HSBC has the lowest rate at 2.89% for two years, though it carries a whopping £1,499 fee and is only available with a 40% deposit or equity stake.
For those adverse to such fees, and with a smaller deposit, I like the Royal Bank of Scotland two-year fixed rate at 3.09% up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV), which has a more reasonable booking fee of just £299.
However, for me, a longer term fixed rate is by far the safest and smartest move. The best rate on a five-year deal is available from – you guessed it – HSBC! The rate is 4.39% but it’s only available if you have a 25% deposit or equity stake, plus it carries a hefty booking fee of £999.
If you’d rather not pay such a large fee, Ulster Bank has a five-year deal fixed at 4.55%, with a paltry booking fee of £295.
Prefer a tracker?
If you are determined to gamble and go with a tracker, an important consideration will be the early repayment charges – if rates do start to rise quickly, you will want to be able to bail out as cheaply as possible.
As a result, your best bet may be to go for a two-year discounted variable deal from HSBC. The rate is guaranteed to be base rate plus 1.99%, and the early repayment charge is only 1% of the sum repaid. However, this is only available up to 60% LTV.
If you only have a 25% equity stake, you can still get a tracker at base rate plus 2.45%-2.49%, from lenders such as Alliance & Leicester, Principality Building Society and Market Harborough Building Society (though these each boast much higher early repayment charges).
Savings in a piggy bank
For savers, the choice is a little more clear cut. With the Base Rate likely to be rooted at 0.5% for some time, the prospects for your money in an easy access savings account are fairly grim.
Then again, inflation is set to fall dramatically. So, if you lock in at today’s interest rates, your return should be greater (in real terms) in the future.
In other words, if you are lucky enough to have a wad of savings burning a hole in your pocket, it may be time to look at a fixed rate savings product. So what’s out there?
The current two-year market leader is this fixed rate bond at 4.25% AER from Birmingham Midshires,* You only need £1 to invest, and interest is paid yearly.
If two years just isn’t long enough for you, Nationwide has a range of five-year bonds paying 4.13% to 4.15% AER, offering interest paid on a monthly, yearly or anniversary basis.
However, when thinking about a bond it’s always worth remembering that it is not always easy to get your money out, so only ever put in what you can do without.
For more about the top fixed rate bonds for different time periods, read Earn a top guaranteed rate on your savings.
Get an ISA
Alternatively, if you haven’t yet used up your ISA allowance, you may want to consider Leeds Building Society’s five-year fixed rate ISA. The rate is set at a juicy 4% tax-free – equivalent to a 6.66% standard savings rate for higher-rate tax-payers.
Just be warned there is a penalty of 180 days interest which is incurred if you withdraw more than 25% of your savings.
For more about ISAs, read Top 20 savings accounts and ISAs.
Keeping your savings regular
Of course, rates will probably start to rise again once the economy recovers, so you may prefer not to tie yourself to a bond at today’s low rates for more than a year. If this is the case, consider taking out a regular savings account, as these also offer fixed rates, but usually for just 12 months.
If you have young(ish) children then look no further than the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society’s Family Regular Saver, paying a whopping 6% fixed for one year. Available to customers with dependent children aged up to 16, or 18 if still in full time education, the interest is paid on an anniversary basis, and must be compounded.
If you plan to save no more than £250 a month, then Barclays’ monthly savings account will also pay a fixed rate of 6%, with interest compounded and paid on a monthly basis, though any withdrawals will see you hit with a 2.85% loss of interest.
But if you plan to put away a little bit more than that each month, then have a look at Scottish Building Society’s regular savings account. It pays a fixed rate of
4% on monthly deposits up to £1,000, with interest compounded and paid on a yearly basis, and there is no account fee.
The only downside is that you cannot make payments by direct debit – clearly the Society is not a fan of 21st century technology.
If nothing else, the Bank of England’s inflation report has offered some hope for a period of relative stability following the trauma and unpredictability of the last two years.
Whatever you choose to do, good luck!
FOR A FREE MONEY AND FINANCIAL GAME PLAN – CONTACT US FROM OUR CONTACT PAGE – www.wealthbabes.com
Below are some suggestions, however if you want something specific to yourself do contact us on the contact page for your own Money & Financial Game Plan- www.wealthbabes.com
Pay attention: here comes the science
First of all the boring stuff – the figures themselves.
The Consumer Price Index – what the Bank of England uses to measure inflation – is currently 2.9%, almost a whole 1% above its target. However, the Bank is convinced this figure will fall below 2% later this year, as the massive jumps in food and petrol prices from a year ago fall off the measurement.
In addition, the Bank dropped some extremely heavy hints that the Base Rate is likely to remain at 0.5% for at least another year. But what does this mean for you and me?
Go for a fixed rate mortgage
It goes without saying that mortgage borrowers on tracker rates have been the big winners so far. But if you’re shopping around for a new mortgage this year, you may be better off with a fixed-rate mortgage.
Figures out this week from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have shown that first-time buyers and home-movers are currently benefitting from the lowest mortgage rates since 2004.
In other words, if there was ever a time to fix, it is now.
If you want the security of a fixed rate but the flexibility of a short-term deal, then HSBC has the lowest rate at 2.89% for two years, though it carries a whopping £1,499 fee and is only available with a 40% deposit or equity stake.
For those adverse to such fees, and with a smaller deposit, I like the Royal Bank of Scotland two-year fixed rate at 3.09% up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV), which has a more reasonable booking fee of just £299.
However, for me, a longer term fixed rate is by far the safest and smartest move. The best rate on a five-year deal is available from – you guessed it – HSBC! The rate is 4.39% but it’s only available if you have a 25% deposit or equity stake, plus it carries a hefty booking fee of £999.
If you’d rather not pay such a large fee, Ulster Bank has a five-year deal fixed at 4.55%, with a paltry booking fee of £295.
Prefer a tracker?
If you are determined to gamble and go with a tracker, an important consideration will be the early repayment charges – if rates do start to rise quickly, you will want to be able to bail out as cheaply as possible.
As a result, your best bet may be to go for a two-year discounted variable deal from HSBC. The rate is guaranteed to be base rate plus 1.99%, and the early repayment charge is only 1% of the sum repaid. However, this is only available up to 60% LTV.
If you only have a 25% equity stake, you can still get a tracker at base rate plus 2.45%-2.49%, from lenders such as Alliance & Leicester, Principality Building Society and Market Harborough Building Society (though these each boast much higher early repayment charges).
Savings in a piggy bank
For savers, the choice is a little more clear cut. With the Base Rate likely to be rooted at 0.5% for some time, the prospects for your money in an easy access savings account are fairly grim.
Then again, inflation is set to fall dramatically. So, if you lock in at today’s interest rates, your return should be greater (in real terms) in the future.
In other words, if you are lucky enough to have a wad of savings burning a hole in your pocket, it may be time to look at a fixed rate savings product. So what’s out there?
The current two-year market leader is this fixed rate bond at 4.25% AER from Birmingham Midshires,* You only need £1 to invest, and interest is paid yearly.
If two years just isn’t long enough for you, Nationwide has a range of five-year bonds paying 4.13% to 4.15% AER, offering interest paid on a monthly, yearly or anniversary basis.
However, when thinking about a bond it’s always worth remembering that it is not always easy to get your money out, so only ever put in what you can do without.
For more about the top fixed rate bonds for different time periods, read Earn a top guaranteed rate on your savings.
Get an ISA
Alternatively, if you haven’t yet used up your ISA allowance, you may want to consider Leeds Building Society’s five-year fixed rate ISA. The rate is set at a juicy 4% tax-free – equivalent to a 6.66% standard savings rate for higher-rate tax-payers.
Just be warned there is a penalty of 180 days interest which is incurred if you withdraw more than 25% of your savings.
For more about ISAs, read Top 20 savings accounts and ISAs.
Keeping your savings regular
Of course, rates will probably start to rise again once the economy recovers, so you may prefer not to tie yourself to a bond at today’s low rates for more than a year. If this is the case, consider taking out a regular savings account, as these also offer fixed rates, but usually for just 12 months.
If you have young(ish) children then look no further than the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society’s Family Regular Saver, paying a whopping 6% fixed for one year. Available to customers with dependent children aged up to 16, or 18 if still in full time education, the interest is paid on an anniversary basis, and must be compounded.
If you plan to save no more than £250 a month, then Barclays’ monthly savings account will also pay a fixed rate of 6%, with interest compounded and paid on a monthly basis, though any withdrawals will see you hit with a 2.85% loss of interest.
But if you plan to put away a little bit more than that each month, then have a look at Scottish Building Society’s regular savings account. It pays a fixed rate of
4% on monthly deposits up to £1,000, with interest compounded and paid on a yearly basis, and there is no account fee.
The only downside is that you cannot make payments by direct debit – clearly the Society is not a fan of 21st century technology.
If nothing else, the Bank of England’s inflation report has offered some hope for a period of relative stability following the trauma and unpredictability of the last two years.
Whatever you choose to do, good luck!
FOR A FREE MONEY AND FINANCIAL GAME PLAN – CONTACT US FROM OUR CONTACT PAGE – www.wealthbabes.com
Saturday 20 June 2009
The five golden rules of remortgaging
Switch and save the smart way when you come to change your homeloan.
If your mortgage is coming up for renewal, you might be at a loss as to what to do. All the experts seem to be recommending fixed rates, but perhaps your lender’s SVR is dirt cheap and very tempting. Plus, with falling house prices plunging many homeowners into negative equity, and lenders having tightened the screws over the past two years, you might be worried you’ll be left with limited remortgage options.
Frankly, where do you start when it comes to remortgaging?
1. Speak to your lender first
You need to arm yourself with certain facts when you remortgage and your lender is the first port of call. Ask what your outstanding mortgage is, check there are no early repayment charges to move your homeloan (and if there are, how much are they?) and ask about the exit fee — a charge made by most lenders which usually costs at least £200.
Then ask your lender what will happen if you do nothing. You will probably revert to its Standard Variable Rate (SVR) which could be low, depending on your lender. Find out exactly what your monthly repayments would be, so you can compare it to a new deal easily.
Remember, if you stay on your lender’s SVR, you won’t need to pay a new mortgage arrangement fee, valuation fee or legal fees, which you will face if you move your mortgage.
But the downside is, your lender’s SVR will be variable. That means the rate goes up and down broadly in line with interest rates — so there is potential for it to rise. If you would prefer the security of a fixed rate, ask what deals your lender can offer you. Some will offer existing clients a fixed rate option even if your loan-to-value ratio (your mortgage as a proportion of the property’s value) is higher than its usual maximum.
2. Compare the deals available to you
Once you are armed with information from your existing lender, it’s time to shop around. Despite the mortgage market having contracted significantly during the credit crunch there are still hundreds of deals out there from dozens of lenders. The best, easiest and quickest way to compare mortgages is through a comparison service like the one provided by lovemoney.com. This allows you to input your requirements and search hundreds of deals in seconds, sorting them by interest rate for example.
When you compare mortgages, it’s useful to have considered the type of deal you want. Do you want the immediate low rate of a tracker mortgage or the security of a fixed rate?
Also consider whether you can afford to pay a large upfront fee or not, and whether you need flexible features such as the ability to overpay and underpay.
It will also be useful to have a rough idea on the current value of your property so you can work out your loan-to-value ratio and search for deals that are available to you.
3. Do your sums
When you have found a few deals you are interested in, it can be helpful to work out the total cost of these mortgages over a set period. If you are after a two-year fixed rate it makes sense to look at the total cost over two years for example.
To do this take the monthly mortgage repayment and multiply by 24 (months), then add on any fees and charges, and subtract any cashback the lender may offer. It is sometimes the case that the lowest rate is not in fact the lowest deal in terms of true costs, particularly if it comes with a hefty fee.
And don’t worry if you are not very good with numbers — when you compare mortgages at the lovemoney.com mortgage centre, you can get them listed based on the total costs as well as looking at other criteria.
4. Think about what you would do if rates rise
If you are looking at tracker mortgages or discounted variable deals, remember that these rates can move up and down in line with Base Rate. Although they are currently available at very low rates, it’s worth bearing in mind that they are actually priced at a wide margin to Base Rate. A tracker mortgage at 3% looks low, but with Base Rate at 0.5% the lender has a margin of 2.5 percentage points. If Base Rate was to go up to 5% (which is perfectly possible in the next year or two) your pay rate would be 7.5%.
If you cannot afford a large rise in your repayments it could be worth fixing your rate. There are some attractive fixed rate mortgages around for only a modest premium above tracker deals.
5. Speak to a broker if want face-to-face advice
Mortgages are not always straightforward and a broker could provide invaluable help and advice. They will find out about your financial circumstances, attitude to risk and preferences and search the market to find deals that will suit your needs.
All brokers are authorised by the Financial Services Authority and must have passed professional qualifications in order to give advice. More importantly they understand the mortgage market inside-out.
Unfortunately the credit crunch has led some lenders to solely distribute their mortgages direct to consumers rather than through brokers, meaning advisers do not always have access to all the best deals. However, the majority of products are available through intermediary channels, and the service that you get from a professional could be invaluable.
They have strong contacts with lenders and can rush through cases when necessary or help clients with unusual circumstances to get a deal through. If you have a history of bad credit, you are self-employed or you need a buy-to-let mortgage for example, a mortgage broker is still your best bet to get a deal.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
If your mortgage is coming up for renewal, you might be at a loss as to what to do. All the experts seem to be recommending fixed rates, but perhaps your lender’s SVR is dirt cheap and very tempting. Plus, with falling house prices plunging many homeowners into negative equity, and lenders having tightened the screws over the past two years, you might be worried you’ll be left with limited remortgage options.
Frankly, where do you start when it comes to remortgaging?
1. Speak to your lender first
You need to arm yourself with certain facts when you remortgage and your lender is the first port of call. Ask what your outstanding mortgage is, check there are no early repayment charges to move your homeloan (and if there are, how much are they?) and ask about the exit fee — a charge made by most lenders which usually costs at least £200.
Then ask your lender what will happen if you do nothing. You will probably revert to its Standard Variable Rate (SVR) which could be low, depending on your lender. Find out exactly what your monthly repayments would be, so you can compare it to a new deal easily.
Remember, if you stay on your lender’s SVR, you won’t need to pay a new mortgage arrangement fee, valuation fee or legal fees, which you will face if you move your mortgage.
But the downside is, your lender’s SVR will be variable. That means the rate goes up and down broadly in line with interest rates — so there is potential for it to rise. If you would prefer the security of a fixed rate, ask what deals your lender can offer you. Some will offer existing clients a fixed rate option even if your loan-to-value ratio (your mortgage as a proportion of the property’s value) is higher than its usual maximum.
2. Compare the deals available to you
Once you are armed with information from your existing lender, it’s time to shop around. Despite the mortgage market having contracted significantly during the credit crunch there are still hundreds of deals out there from dozens of lenders. The best, easiest and quickest way to compare mortgages is through a comparison service like the one provided by lovemoney.com. This allows you to input your requirements and search hundreds of deals in seconds, sorting them by interest rate for example.
When you compare mortgages, it’s useful to have considered the type of deal you want. Do you want the immediate low rate of a tracker mortgage or the security of a fixed rate?
Also consider whether you can afford to pay a large upfront fee or not, and whether you need flexible features such as the ability to overpay and underpay.
It will also be useful to have a rough idea on the current value of your property so you can work out your loan-to-value ratio and search for deals that are available to you.
3. Do your sums
When you have found a few deals you are interested in, it can be helpful to work out the total cost of these mortgages over a set period. If you are after a two-year fixed rate it makes sense to look at the total cost over two years for example.
To do this take the monthly mortgage repayment and multiply by 24 (months), then add on any fees and charges, and subtract any cashback the lender may offer. It is sometimes the case that the lowest rate is not in fact the lowest deal in terms of true costs, particularly if it comes with a hefty fee.
And don’t worry if you are not very good with numbers — when you compare mortgages at the lovemoney.com mortgage centre, you can get them listed based on the total costs as well as looking at other criteria.
4. Think about what you would do if rates rise
If you are looking at tracker mortgages or discounted variable deals, remember that these rates can move up and down in line with Base Rate. Although they are currently available at very low rates, it’s worth bearing in mind that they are actually priced at a wide margin to Base Rate. A tracker mortgage at 3% looks low, but with Base Rate at 0.5% the lender has a margin of 2.5 percentage points. If Base Rate was to go up to 5% (which is perfectly possible in the next year or two) your pay rate would be 7.5%.
If you cannot afford a large rise in your repayments it could be worth fixing your rate. There are some attractive fixed rate mortgages around for only a modest premium above tracker deals.
5. Speak to a broker if want face-to-face advice
Mortgages are not always straightforward and a broker could provide invaluable help and advice. They will find out about your financial circumstances, attitude to risk and preferences and search the market to find deals that will suit your needs.
All brokers are authorised by the Financial Services Authority and must have passed professional qualifications in order to give advice. More importantly they understand the mortgage market inside-out.
Unfortunately the credit crunch has led some lenders to solely distribute their mortgages direct to consumers rather than through brokers, meaning advisers do not always have access to all the best deals. However, the majority of products are available through intermediary channels, and the service that you get from a professional could be invaluable.
They have strong contacts with lenders and can rush through cases when necessary or help clients with unusual circumstances to get a deal through. If you have a history of bad credit, you are self-employed or you need a buy-to-let mortgage for example, a mortgage broker is still your best bet to get a deal.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
Monday 15 June 2009
Men, Money and Chocolate
Last month I had the ultimate pleasure of interviewing a fabulous author, Menna van Praag who completed the book Men, Money and Chocolate recently. With title like that – which ladies would NOT want to read it..however I have heard that men have also been delving inside the covers!
We were lucky enough to record the interview so for those lucky subscribers to this blog and my facebook friends – you have the pleasure of listening to it at your leisure!
And if you want to buy the book..go ahead and treat yourself to a good read! Click Below
Men, Money and Chocolate
CLICK HERE to Listen to the interview with Menna van Praag
http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/itunes.xml?id=6054754810:204130
We were lucky enough to record the interview so for those lucky subscribers to this blog and my facebook friends – you have the pleasure of listening to it at your leisure!
And if you want to buy the book..go ahead and treat yourself to a good read! Click Below
Men, Money and Chocolate
CLICK HERE to Listen to the interview with Menna van Praag
http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/itunes.xml?id=6054754810:204130
Friday 12 June 2009
How to become a Money Magnet!
This is me in our office holding a copy of Marie-Claire Carlyle’s latest book – How to Become a Money Magnet which has just been launched.
I had the privilege of interviewing her to find out more about her motivations, challenges and top tips on how to bring more money into YOUR life! You may want to check it out and get the FULL interview!
Listen to the interview here:
http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/itunes.xml?id=6054754810:204130
Buy a copy of her book here:
http://tinyurl.com/mariemagnet
OR at Her Website: http://www.marieclairecarlyle.com/
I had the privilege of interviewing her to find out more about her motivations, challenges and top tips on how to bring more money into YOUR life! You may want to check it out and get the FULL interview!
Listen to the interview here:
http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/itunes.xml?id=6054754810:204130
Buy a copy of her book here:
http://tinyurl.com/mariemagnet
OR at Her Website: http://www.marieclairecarlyle.com/
Wednesday 10 June 2009
The Winners Mindset
Andy Murray, Britain’s No 1 Tennis Player, may not have won Wimbledon this time. But he is extraordinarily committed, focussed and determined to be the best. In these more competive and tougher times in business – are you doing all you can to please those customers, go the extra mile, be mindful of your competition but not distracted my them?
I read an article in the London Paper recently quoting Andy’s mindset regarding competition at Wimbledon ‘ Regardless of whether there’s 10 Brits, I’m still going to take care of my own business and not worry about what’s going on with the other players. If you start doing that, you kind of get distracted and you’re not putting 100% focus on yourself, which is what I need to do for the next couple of weeks!’.
It is important to have an awareness of what your ‘competition’ are doing but not necessarily be consumed or worried by it – they aren’t you at the end of the day! On the other side of the coin I have recently teamed up with various Joint Venture Partners who would normaly be ‘competition’ so this is also a great way of doing business in the current climate – collaboration breeds results too! Just like in Tennis where the individuals then go off to play their ‘doubles’!
Who could you be ‘teaming up with’ in order to add value to another business as well as yourself? Who else do you know who could form a mutual alliance/mailing list in order to serve your clients better? We’ll leave you with both those questions and to your health, wealth and success!
I read an article in the London Paper recently quoting Andy’s mindset regarding competition at Wimbledon ‘ Regardless of whether there’s 10 Brits, I’m still going to take care of my own business and not worry about what’s going on with the other players. If you start doing that, you kind of get distracted and you’re not putting 100% focus on yourself, which is what I need to do for the next couple of weeks!’.
It is important to have an awareness of what your ‘competition’ are doing but not necessarily be consumed or worried by it – they aren’t you at the end of the day! On the other side of the coin I have recently teamed up with various Joint Venture Partners who would normaly be ‘competition’ so this is also a great way of doing business in the current climate – collaboration breeds results too! Just like in Tennis where the individuals then go off to play their ‘doubles’!
Who could you be ‘teaming up with’ in order to add value to another business as well as yourself? Who else do you know who could form a mutual alliance/mailing list in order to serve your clients better? We’ll leave you with both those questions and to your health, wealth and success!
Tuesday 9 June 2009
YOU MUST BE THERE! Amanda and Wealthbabes Marketers Cruise 2010
Greetings!
After experiencing the marvellous Marketers Cruise of 2009 I have decided to go again and invite all my friends, clients and anyone else who has a real passion to change the world on line and also create a great income.
If you are going to book…its ONLY a deposit of $250 until October!
We are taking bookings now so email us for more information at cruise@wealthbabes.com today and receive a free video link to Top Secrets of Taking Action! CLICK BELOW TO GET MORE INFO!!
Be there of be square…if you’re not fun..dont come!
GeekySpeaky: Submit Your Site!
After experiencing the marvellous Marketers Cruise of 2009 I have decided to go again and invite all my friends, clients and anyone else who has a real passion to change the world on line and also create a great income.
If you are going to book…its ONLY a deposit of $250 until October!
We are taking bookings now so email us for more information at cruise@wealthbabes.com today and receive a free video link to Top Secrets of Taking Action! CLICK BELOW TO GET MORE INFO!!
Be there of be square…if you’re not fun..dont come!
GeekySpeaky: Submit Your Site!
Saturday 6 June 2009
Words of Wisdom from Bruce Lee July
I was going through my files and came accross a quote I loved that comes from Bruce Lee, although its related to face to face combat. It can easily be applied to your business and personal life…enjoy!
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t.If you like to win, but you think you can’t, It is almost certain you won’t.
If you think you will lose, you are lost. For out of the world we find
Success BEGINS with a fellow’s WILL. It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go to The stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man Who wins is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t.If you like to win, but you think you can’t, It is almost certain you won’t.
If you think you will lose, you are lost. For out of the world we find
Success BEGINS with a fellow’s WILL. It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go to The stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man Who wins is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!
Monday 25 May 2009
New Business Courses
A complimentary course coming up:
www.greatexpectations.info/play2win/index.php?param2=339_Amanda_Steadman
Boost your business and take it to the next level. A full on, fun packed 3 day course in London. Check it out!
EMG & Movo Academy Present Personal Development for Executives and Their Teams
http://www.emguk.net/bp_cpddirectory.asp?s=perd
www.greatexpectations.info/play2win/index.php?param2=339_Amanda_Steadman
Boost your business and take it to the next level. A full on, fun packed 3 day course in London. Check it out!
EMG & Movo Academy Present Personal Development for Executives and Their Teams
http://www.emguk.net/bp_cpddirectory.asp?s=perd
Friday 22 May 2009
5 Top Tips on Business Blogging
Hey everyone. I listened in to a great Webinar from Hubspot who I randomly came accross whilst on the internet this week. This will be useful for some of the newbies on how to get going and avoid the mistakes lots of bloggers make! See below! Note the section on Monetizing at the end!
Top 5 Tips for Advanced Blogging
Identify Target Personas
Create a Mix of Posts
Write great posts
Sustain it! (Marathon not a sprint)
Spread it!
For more indepth info – click on
http://www.wealthbabes.com/page20.htm
for the full notes from the Webinar!
Top 5 Tips for Advanced Blogging
Identify Target Personas
Create a Mix of Posts
Write great posts
Sustain it! (Marathon not a sprint)
Spread it!
For more indepth info – click on
http://www.wealthbabes.com/page20.htm
for the full notes from the Webinar!
Wednesday 20 May 2009
Women in Business – Passion & Inspiring women @ International Confex 2009
From The Seminar at International Confex 2009
With Jacqui Kavanagh @ Trinity Conferences
Women in Business – Passion and inspiring women
Introduce by Jacqui Kavanagh (the Presenter):
Her Background: She was a director of sale for company hotel but now she’s a Business Owner and works a lots online. She’s start from scratch again as she had a problem with her business associate. Clear vision, customer focus, getting to make your message out there via internet but a clear and easy message for everyone,
Ruth carter:
An important thing is passion, not want a pathologic fear of failure, tenacity.
Her Background: from exhibitions to events. She was an average manager so she did decide to be freelance, from scratch she brought (25 millions) with international business then took control of her destiny. If you think are you in the right job then its time to move. Work for (EMAP) force for few years then start again from scratch, if you think you are a women in business its bad as is people in business. Now she successful,
Mandy Jennings @ Principle Hayley,
We should be proud as women in business, we shouldn’t make difference between man and women but congratulate yourself for being there.
Her Background: work in hotel, after few years of trainings, work as a chambermaid. Then move to reception and events, then to events and sales. She like the deal, negotiation, engaging with people, now as a sale director and enjoy watching people and relationship growing.
Sarah Jones MD @ Trinity Events,
It is about what you want to do in business and not about man and women.
Her Background: left school at 15. Few jobs to start then because she always knew she wanted to work for herself. She started to do events freelance. Sold everything she had then started her own business. What make you tick, what make you getting out of bed and inspired you every day. It’s great to have your own business and it’s good to have your own coach to help you along. Being a bit selfish as you have only one life, be passionate and you can achieve a lot.
Izania Downie @ Eventia,
Her Background:
She left school at 15. Being made redundant twice from sale, she got advice from mentor but she was bullied by female boss to keep her on the job and stop her progressing. Don’t be afraid to make decision even bad one as fares are you going head. Having coach is good. You got to be relevant, you have to be real. She educates herself to the board director. Took some course and then feel empower to achieve more. More opportunity will come. Women are good with creation but they need to know more of finance to get more rounded skills. She a perfectionist and think you need to be to succeed. Be true to yourself.
My comments:
It was a very Inspiring event and it’s not finish, is still going for 2 days so I advice anyone to go and participate to these highly interesting Seminar where you can meet some very inspiring ladies.
Franck Robert
(On behalf of Amanda Steadman)
With Jacqui Kavanagh @ Trinity Conferences
Women in Business – Passion and inspiring women
Introduce by Jacqui Kavanagh (the Presenter):
Her Background: She was a director of sale for company hotel but now she’s a Business Owner and works a lots online. She’s start from scratch again as she had a problem with her business associate. Clear vision, customer focus, getting to make your message out there via internet but a clear and easy message for everyone,
Ruth carter:
An important thing is passion, not want a pathologic fear of failure, tenacity.
Her Background: from exhibitions to events. She was an average manager so she did decide to be freelance, from scratch she brought (25 millions) with international business then took control of her destiny. If you think are you in the right job then its time to move. Work for (EMAP) force for few years then start again from scratch, if you think you are a women in business its bad as is people in business. Now she successful,
Mandy Jennings @ Principle Hayley,
We should be proud as women in business, we shouldn’t make difference between man and women but congratulate yourself for being there.
Her Background: work in hotel, after few years of trainings, work as a chambermaid. Then move to reception and events, then to events and sales. She like the deal, negotiation, engaging with people, now as a sale director and enjoy watching people and relationship growing.
Sarah Jones MD @ Trinity Events,
It is about what you want to do in business and not about man and women.
Her Background: left school at 15. Few jobs to start then because she always knew she wanted to work for herself. She started to do events freelance. Sold everything she had then started her own business. What make you tick, what make you getting out of bed and inspired you every day. It’s great to have your own business and it’s good to have your own coach to help you along. Being a bit selfish as you have only one life, be passionate and you can achieve a lot.
Izania Downie @ Eventia,
Her Background:
She left school at 15. Being made redundant twice from sale, she got advice from mentor but she was bullied by female boss to keep her on the job and stop her progressing. Don’t be afraid to make decision even bad one as fares are you going head. Having coach is good. You got to be relevant, you have to be real. She educates herself to the board director. Took some course and then feel empower to achieve more. More opportunity will come. Women are good with creation but they need to know more of finance to get more rounded skills. She a perfectionist and think you need to be to succeed. Be true to yourself.
My comments:
It was a very Inspiring event and it’s not finish, is still going for 2 days so I advice anyone to go and participate to these highly interesting Seminar where you can meet some very inspiring ladies.
Franck Robert
(On behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Wednesday 13 May 2009
Oooh Twitter…Great Guide on using for Biz
Sunday greetings..
As I am a most recent Twitter user I am still learning the ropes. For those newbies out there here is a free guide that I found from Geekpreneur (cool name!) Check it out at:
http://www.geekpreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/twitter_book_geekpreneur.pdf
Amanda x
As I am a most recent Twitter user I am still learning the ropes. For those newbies out there here is a free guide that I found from Geekpreneur (cool name!) Check it out at:
http://www.geekpreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/twitter_book_geekpreneur.pdf
Amanda x
The Power of Now
I was in discussion with one of my good friends Ben today and we got onto the subject of taking time out. As we live in London in the UK, its a very fast city. It is so easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of everything.
Sometimes when there is so much going on it is great to focus on the MOMENT, second by second. The author Eckhart Tolle who wrote the actual book the Power of Now recommends going into your senses..for example feel the texture of the clothes you are wearing, stare out the window at any nature you can, breathe and close your eyes…
I have a tendency to go at the speed of light so reading and APPLYING Eckart’s philosophies are challenging but rewarding to a hyperactive adult like myself! In my experience, when I have taken that time out and NOT THOUGHT.
Then many of the answers I needed pop in or at least – I feel totally refreshed when I get back to my PC!!!
So whever you are, whatever you are doing….remember to use YOUR Power of Now…
Sometimes when there is so much going on it is great to focus on the MOMENT, second by second. The author Eckhart Tolle who wrote the actual book the Power of Now recommends going into your senses..for example feel the texture of the clothes you are wearing, stare out the window at any nature you can, breathe and close your eyes…
I have a tendency to go at the speed of light so reading and APPLYING Eckart’s philosophies are challenging but rewarding to a hyperactive adult like myself! In my experience, when I have taken that time out and NOT THOUGHT.
Then many of the answers I needed pop in or at least – I feel totally refreshed when I get back to my PC!!!
So whever you are, whatever you are doing….remember to use YOUR Power of Now…
Friday 1 May 2009
Brighton and Hove Property Event
Last week I has the pleasure of supporting Jo Rose and Julian Sonnessa in the Launch of the Brighton and Hove Property Event. A new monthly meeting for Property Investors who want to network, support each other and share important investing information.
Nicola Cairncross from the Money Gym was the main speaker and gave some excellent secrets away of how to boost your property business on line, including getting your own blog and specifically going for a membership site!
There were also 8 other open mic speakers including Raj Shastri who will be next months guest speaker. It was a great evening surrounded by likeminded entrepreneurs and investors and I look forward to helping out next month too!
Congratulations Jo and Julian on founding a useful, fun and professional network!
Do join them for next month on Tuesday June 2nd at 6.45pm and book here now
http://www.brightonandhovepropertyevents.co.uk/
To see people who have already attended – look below!
Nicola Cairncross from the Money Gym was the main speaker and gave some excellent secrets away of how to boost your property business on line, including getting your own blog and specifically going for a membership site!
There were also 8 other open mic speakers including Raj Shastri who will be next months guest speaker. It was a great evening surrounded by likeminded entrepreneurs and investors and I look forward to helping out next month too!
Congratulations Jo and Julian on founding a useful, fun and professional network!
Do join them for next month on Tuesday June 2nd at 6.45pm and book here now
http://www.brightonandhovepropertyevents.co.uk/
To see people who have already attended – look below!
Wednesday 22 April 2009
Hello world! Its the offical Amanda Steadman Blog
Well its taken me a while but I am finally on here. I also have another wordpress blog ‘onlinesuccess’ but I have been focussing on the offical website www.wealthbabes.com. I am looking forward to joining the proper blog and Internet Marketing community! And also to helping add value to any readers who want to increase income and become more successful…lets rock 2009
Tuesday 21 April 2009
How to tackle low equity in your home…
It’s not just borrowers in negative equity that have cause for concern.
Times are still tough for those with low positive equity.
Falling house prices have plunged many mortgage borrowers into negative equity, in particular those who bought in the middle part of 2007 (now identified as the property price peak), according to trade body The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
It estimates that 900,000 people have already fallen into negative equity and it says that certain parts of the country are affected more severely than others.
According to the CML the concentration of negative equity is by far the greatest in the North, where almost 10% of owner-occupied houses are estimated to be in negative equity.
But in East Anglia, which saw significant negative equity in the 1990s, there is very limited experience of it now. Scotland too has very few borrowers in negative equity — just 1% of total owner occupiers.
The CML also says that two-thirds of borrowers in negative equity have a shortfall of less than 10%.
Low positive equity
But they are not the only people whose equity position could cause them a problem.
Having low positive equity (under 10% for example) can have a similar practical impact to being in negative equity, especially if you want to move house.
This is because mortgage lenders are extremely cautious about high loan-to-value lending, and have all but stopped lending at over 90% LTV with just a handful of deals remaining. In other words they now usually require equity (or a deposit) of at least 10% in order to accept a new mortgage application.
In February last year there were over 1,000 products on offer in the UK with maximum LTV criteria of 90% or above, and over 500 at 95% or above, according to financial information provider Moneyfacts. But as of February 2009 there were less than 100 at 90% and just 10 at 95%. And those higher LTV products that remain are very expensive indeed.
Who does this affect?
The CML estimates that, on top of those with zero or negative equity, there are around 600,000 mortgage holders in the UK whose equity is less than a 5% deposit on an average priced property for a home mover in their region.
And there are a further 500,000 who do not have 10% equity.
This means is that, in total, an estimated two million UK mortgage borrowers would not be able to raise a 10% deposit from their equity, should they sell their home.
But while the range of mortgages on offer above 90% LTV is much more limited and expensive than before, these products do exist. So while it might be expensive for low equity homeowners to move house, it is at least possible.
Below is a range of deals available to home movers with 10% equity and one product for those with less. Note that you may see other deals advertised at 90% or even 95% but many are for first-time buyers only:
90% and 95% LTV home mover mortgages
LENDER TYPE OF DEAL RATE FEE MAX LTV
Post Office Five-year fix 6.01% £599 90%
Post Office Three-year fix 6.02% £599 90%
C&G Five year fix 6.29% £895 90%
RBS/NatWest Two-year fix 6.39% £799 90%
First Active Two-year fix 6.79% £699 90%
Direct Line Two-year fix 6.89% £499 90%
Abbey Five-year fix 7.09% £2,499 95%
Existing lender leeway
For those with low positive equity, or in negative equity, who want to remortgage but are not moving house, there are more options.
At the end of your current deal you will normally move onto your lender’s standard variable rate. While this used to be seen as an expensive option it is currently a very good idea for many borrowers, as lenders’ SVRs are at historic lows.
In addition, you might find that your lender offers you a choice of mortgage in addition to its SVR, even if your LTV is higher that its stated maximum. Halifax and Bank of Scotland for example will allow existing clients in negative equity to fix at a rate normally only available up to 95% LTV, instead of moving onto their SVR. This might be a good option for those who cannot afford an increase in payments and therefore do not want to risk a variable rate.
Yorkshire Building Society will also offer existing clients a deal if their LTV is beyond its usual maximum or they are in negative equity. Nationwide will do this too, but up to a maximum of 95% LTV, above which the SVR is the only option.
Abbey said it will look at cases from existing borrowers that are just over its 95% maximum LTV on a case-by-case basis, but will not offer any mortgage deals other than SVR to borrowers in negative equity.
It’s encouraging to see that if you only need to remortgage, negative equity needn’t mean you have no options, as you could choose between your lender’s SVR and a fixed rate. It’s always worth asking even if they don’t advertise it.
But if you do want to move home things still look tricky, not just for those in negative equity but for anyone with less than 10% equity in their homes. The best thing you can do if you have the money is to overpay your mortgage, try to pay down your debt — and hopefully reduce your LTV.
Published in The property ladder on 21 April 2009
Franck Robert (on Behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Times are still tough for those with low positive equity.
Falling house prices have plunged many mortgage borrowers into negative equity, in particular those who bought in the middle part of 2007 (now identified as the property price peak), according to trade body The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
It estimates that 900,000 people have already fallen into negative equity and it says that certain parts of the country are affected more severely than others.
According to the CML the concentration of negative equity is by far the greatest in the North, where almost 10% of owner-occupied houses are estimated to be in negative equity.
But in East Anglia, which saw significant negative equity in the 1990s, there is very limited experience of it now. Scotland too has very few borrowers in negative equity — just 1% of total owner occupiers.
The CML also says that two-thirds of borrowers in negative equity have a shortfall of less than 10%.
Low positive equity
But they are not the only people whose equity position could cause them a problem.
Having low positive equity (under 10% for example) can have a similar practical impact to being in negative equity, especially if you want to move house.
This is because mortgage lenders are extremely cautious about high loan-to-value lending, and have all but stopped lending at over 90% LTV with just a handful of deals remaining. In other words they now usually require equity (or a deposit) of at least 10% in order to accept a new mortgage application.
In February last year there were over 1,000 products on offer in the UK with maximum LTV criteria of 90% or above, and over 500 at 95% or above, according to financial information provider Moneyfacts. But as of February 2009 there were less than 100 at 90% and just 10 at 95%. And those higher LTV products that remain are very expensive indeed.
Who does this affect?
The CML estimates that, on top of those with zero or negative equity, there are around 600,000 mortgage holders in the UK whose equity is less than a 5% deposit on an average priced property for a home mover in their region.
And there are a further 500,000 who do not have 10% equity.
This means is that, in total, an estimated two million UK mortgage borrowers would not be able to raise a 10% deposit from their equity, should they sell their home.
But while the range of mortgages on offer above 90% LTV is much more limited and expensive than before, these products do exist. So while it might be expensive for low equity homeowners to move house, it is at least possible.
Below is a range of deals available to home movers with 10% equity and one product for those with less. Note that you may see other deals advertised at 90% or even 95% but many are for first-time buyers only:
90% and 95% LTV home mover mortgages
LENDER TYPE OF DEAL RATE FEE MAX LTV
Post Office Five-year fix 6.01% £599 90%
Post Office Three-year fix 6.02% £599 90%
C&G Five year fix 6.29% £895 90%
RBS/NatWest Two-year fix 6.39% £799 90%
First Active Two-year fix 6.79% £699 90%
Direct Line Two-year fix 6.89% £499 90%
Abbey Five-year fix 7.09% £2,499 95%
Existing lender leeway
For those with low positive equity, or in negative equity, who want to remortgage but are not moving house, there are more options.
At the end of your current deal you will normally move onto your lender’s standard variable rate. While this used to be seen as an expensive option it is currently a very good idea for many borrowers, as lenders’ SVRs are at historic lows.
In addition, you might find that your lender offers you a choice of mortgage in addition to its SVR, even if your LTV is higher that its stated maximum. Halifax and Bank of Scotland for example will allow existing clients in negative equity to fix at a rate normally only available up to 95% LTV, instead of moving onto their SVR. This might be a good option for those who cannot afford an increase in payments and therefore do not want to risk a variable rate.
Yorkshire Building Society will also offer existing clients a deal if their LTV is beyond its usual maximum or they are in negative equity. Nationwide will do this too, but up to a maximum of 95% LTV, above which the SVR is the only option.
Abbey said it will look at cases from existing borrowers that are just over its 95% maximum LTV on a case-by-case basis, but will not offer any mortgage deals other than SVR to borrowers in negative equity.
It’s encouraging to see that if you only need to remortgage, negative equity needn’t mean you have no options, as you could choose between your lender’s SVR and a fixed rate. It’s always worth asking even if they don’t advertise it.
But if you do want to move home things still look tricky, not just for those in negative equity but for anyone with less than 10% equity in their homes. The best thing you can do if you have the money is to overpay your mortgage, try to pay down your debt — and hopefully reduce your LTV.
Published in The property ladder on 21 April 2009
Franck Robert (on Behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Wednesday 8 April 2009
Event Space needed: I have had a request for prices for a cocktail party up to 150 standing (possible AV equip needed) no dates set yet. In addition - we have another client who wishes to hire a room (room only basis) up to 600 hundred people 2-3 times a year for 4 days each and also smaller events up to 100 people 3 times a year using space for up to 12-15 days at a time. Ideally with a room deal for attendees and high ceilings.
Free Webinar How to Use Social Media to Attract More Customers on
@Wealthbabes: Free Webinar How to Use Social Media to Attract More Customers on April 14 - http://tr.im/ioKF
Tuesday 7 April 2009
World wide rave’ trumps ‘viral’ in the new age of online marketing
Pop up description layer
‘World wide rave’ trumps ‘viral’ in the new age of online marketing
The internet’s ability to spread ideas across networks of users rapidly remains one of the most powerful forces in marketing, according to digital marketing innovator David Meerman Scott.
The reputation of viral marketing has taken a bit of a battering of late, but at its heart is an idea that’s worth saving. So says digital marketing expert David Meerman Scott, whose new book sets out to show there is far more to so-called ‘viral’ campaigns than gimmicks and publicity stunts.
The name of Scott’s latest book, World Wide Rave, comes from a term he coined himself in an attempt to capture the original spirit of what he says is “the coolest phenomena on the web.” Scott is the author of several books on online marketing and has a weekly show on online business TV network yourBusinessChannel.
“When an idea takes off, it can propel a brand or company to seemingly instant fame and fortune, for free,” says Scott.
The problem with viral marketing, says Scott, is that it can often rely on the trickery or coercion that characterises traditional advertising and marketing. “It’s the old rules of marketing mindlessly transplanted on the web,” he says, “a transparent attempt to sell products.”
The approach Scott proposes in World Wide Rave, on the other hand, hinges on identifying the kind of content that your audience actually wants to consume. A ‘world wide rave’, he says, is when millions of web users out there will then find their own ways to share your story, because they are genuinely excited about it.
All this sounds good in theory of course, but the really hard part is creating really appealing online content. Of course, Scott has plenty of recommendations on that.
First, he says, forget about your company and its products. You’re trying to excite your audience, remember, not bore them senseless with self promotion.
Next, make your content remarkable. You want to get your audience talking and inspire them to share your material. Create something that is highly useful, valuable, outrageous, funny, or innovative. Or all of those things!
It is critical, says Scott to give great content away for free. And free means free: no email sign ups, just let them have it. Make it highly accessible, through your website and blog, and on online networks like YouTube and Facebook.
Finally, Scott admits that you can never be completely sure what will take off. With this in mind, he recommends trying a number of different approaches and vehicles.
Roll out a few ideas, and one of them is bound to work: because if there’s one thing about the internet you can rely on, it’s that it’s an unpredictable beast.
Looking for low risk, results based marketing help? Apply for the Million Dollar Challenge and access business development advice and campaign tools drawing on over US$1 million worth of expertise.
For up-to-the-minute business advice from leading business experts, choose from over 600 business TV shows on yourBusinessChannel. New shows are produced every day, and all are free to view.
‘World wide rave’ trumps ‘viral’ in the new age of online marketing
The internet’s ability to spread ideas across networks of users rapidly remains one of the most powerful forces in marketing, according to digital marketing innovator David Meerman Scott.
The reputation of viral marketing has taken a bit of a battering of late, but at its heart is an idea that’s worth saving. So says digital marketing expert David Meerman Scott, whose new book sets out to show there is far more to so-called ‘viral’ campaigns than gimmicks and publicity stunts.
The name of Scott’s latest book, World Wide Rave, comes from a term he coined himself in an attempt to capture the original spirit of what he says is “the coolest phenomena on the web.” Scott is the author of several books on online marketing and has a weekly show on online business TV network yourBusinessChannel.
“When an idea takes off, it can propel a brand or company to seemingly instant fame and fortune, for free,” says Scott.
The problem with viral marketing, says Scott, is that it can often rely on the trickery or coercion that characterises traditional advertising and marketing. “It’s the old rules of marketing mindlessly transplanted on the web,” he says, “a transparent attempt to sell products.”
The approach Scott proposes in World Wide Rave, on the other hand, hinges on identifying the kind of content that your audience actually wants to consume. A ‘world wide rave’, he says, is when millions of web users out there will then find their own ways to share your story, because they are genuinely excited about it.
All this sounds good in theory of course, but the really hard part is creating really appealing online content. Of course, Scott has plenty of recommendations on that.
First, he says, forget about your company and its products. You’re trying to excite your audience, remember, not bore them senseless with self promotion.
Next, make your content remarkable. You want to get your audience talking and inspire them to share your material. Create something that is highly useful, valuable, outrageous, funny, or innovative. Or all of those things!
It is critical, says Scott to give great content away for free. And free means free: no email sign ups, just let them have it. Make it highly accessible, through your website and blog, and on online networks like YouTube and Facebook.
Finally, Scott admits that you can never be completely sure what will take off. With this in mind, he recommends trying a number of different approaches and vehicles.
Roll out a few ideas, and one of them is bound to work: because if there’s one thing about the internet you can rely on, it’s that it’s an unpredictable beast.
Looking for low risk, results based marketing help? Apply for the Million Dollar Challenge and access business development advice and campaign tools drawing on over US$1 million worth of expertise.
For up-to-the-minute business advice from leading business experts, choose from over 600 business TV shows on yourBusinessChannel. New shows are produced every day, and all are free to view.
Saturday 4 April 2009
Post Easter Social For Millionairess Club - Tuesday April 21st
Join us for an informal social to catch up on all the successes of the Millionairess Club after Easter. This is a FREE event and will be starting on TUESDAY 21st April at 7pm at Jewel Bar in Covent Garden down Maiden Lane!
We look forward to seeing you all!
Have a great month!
Amanda
We look forward to seeing you all!
Have a great month!
Amanda
Friday 27 March 2009
Buy a House for a Pound with Rick Otton!
Hi fellow me on Twitter: @amandasteadman
This week end I am at: Rick Otton event today & tomorrow,
Rick Otton from buy a house for a pound:
He`s an expert and he`s interviewed by Amanda from Wealthbabes
http://wealthbabes.com
April EVENT LONDON 2009.
To Book go to http://tinyurl.com/Buyahouseforapound and grab your place now…Many already signed up from other property events!
“If It’s Possible To Buy BIG Business for £1, WHY NOT HOUSES FOR £1?”
So if I’ve still got your attention this far down the page then I guess by now you’ve realised that the first We Buy Houses International “How to Buy a House for a Pound” Live Training Weekend is going to be unlike any other you’ve attended. In fact, this one-off weekend is going to turn your head around a complete 180 degrees from the way you’re probably looking at property investing today.
Whereas the media would have you believe all the hysteria that they often incite sell their newspapers and TV advertising time, the reality is that now is the best time ever to be buying properties…if you know some simple yet creative strategies that will allow you to do so.
If you are a lady, or just imagine you are for a moment, “When is the best time to buy those designer shoes or dress that you’ve always wanted?” Is it when the sale is on, like right now, or do you sit back and wait until it’s all over? Even if you are not a lady, I’m sure you know the answer.
The problem you need to get over is the way you’ve been conditioned to think. Do you like to “fit in with the crowd”, not “stand out from others around us”, or just to be “seen and not heard”, like we were told to do as kids? Or do you want to think, act and invest like an entrepreneur?
How often do we ask the wrong people for advice? Take a look below to see what I mean. Which advice would end up costing you the most? Wouldn’t it be the free advice, despite all the good
Please visit http://tinyurl.com/Buyahouseforapound for more infos…
This week end I am at: Rick Otton event today & tomorrow,
Rick Otton from buy a house for a pound:
He`s an expert and he`s interviewed by Amanda from Wealthbabes
http://wealthbabes.com
April EVENT LONDON 2009.
To Book go to http://tinyurl.com/Buyahouseforapound and grab your place now…Many already signed up from other property events!
“If It’s Possible To Buy BIG Business for £1, WHY NOT HOUSES FOR £1?”
So if I’ve still got your attention this far down the page then I guess by now you’ve realised that the first We Buy Houses International “How to Buy a House for a Pound” Live Training Weekend is going to be unlike any other you’ve attended. In fact, this one-off weekend is going to turn your head around a complete 180 degrees from the way you’re probably looking at property investing today.
Whereas the media would have you believe all the hysteria that they often incite sell their newspapers and TV advertising time, the reality is that now is the best time ever to be buying properties…if you know some simple yet creative strategies that will allow you to do so.
If you are a lady, or just imagine you are for a moment, “When is the best time to buy those designer shoes or dress that you’ve always wanted?” Is it when the sale is on, like right now, or do you sit back and wait until it’s all over? Even if you are not a lady, I’m sure you know the answer.
The problem you need to get over is the way you’ve been conditioned to think. Do you like to “fit in with the crowd”, not “stand out from others around us”, or just to be “seen and not heard”, like we were told to do as kids? Or do you want to think, act and invest like an entrepreneur?
How often do we ask the wrong people for advice? Take a look below to see what I mean. Which advice would end up costing you the most? Wouldn’t it be the free advice, despite all the good
Please visit http://tinyurl.com/Buyahouseforapound for more infos…
Monday 23 March 2009
Money As Debt
Well I was twittering away and Kleeneze emailed me this link…OK so its LONG at 47 minutes but it was very interesting as it was made 2 years ago and its amazing how many of the ‘general public’ are not quite aware of how all the money systems work…me included to a certain extent!
Anyway – check it out for yourself…its MORE than eye opening watching!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279
Anyway – check it out for yourself…its MORE than eye opening watching!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Putting it out there and the Law of Gender!
Well its been a full on week! Its amazing. I have been out and about meeting people, blogging, contributing, adding value and letting people know about what I’m doing.
After ’sowing the seeds’ spring seems to have arrived and I am getting calls and emails regarding work, presenting, speaking and courses! Its wonderful! I am also pleased to have passed on contacts and work to other associates…lovely.
Being a Virgo…one gets a little impatient and you are reminded again that if you really want something, sometimes the Law of Gender kicks in…this essentially says that everything happens in its own good time. Especially if you’ve put some hard graft in before hand.
Like everyone, I am aiming for effortlessness and the power of systems to take the pressure off…oooh the power of the internet and virtual assistants…
So wherever you are – is the hard work paying off? Are you getting what you want? Are you giving what you want? Are you putting it out there…enough!!
Go forth and get giving…I guarantee it WILL come back x 10
Have a great week
After ’sowing the seeds’ spring seems to have arrived and I am getting calls and emails regarding work, presenting, speaking and courses! Its wonderful! I am also pleased to have passed on contacts and work to other associates…lovely.
Being a Virgo…one gets a little impatient and you are reminded again that if you really want something, sometimes the Law of Gender kicks in…this essentially says that everything happens in its own good time. Especially if you’ve put some hard graft in before hand.
Like everyone, I am aiming for effortlessness and the power of systems to take the pressure off…oooh the power of the internet and virtual assistants…
So wherever you are – is the hard work paying off? Are you getting what you want? Are you giving what you want? Are you putting it out there…enough!!
Go forth and get giving…I guarantee it WILL come back x 10
Have a great week
Thursday 12 March 2009
More Money than Month
Hi everyone. This is Todd Dean who I met on a great business cruise in Oct 08. He has been working on getting his wonderful book out there. He was incredibly generous and inspiring when I met him and I have noticed that he is at the No2 spot on Amazon! Great achievement Todd – I know this book will help SOOOOO many people hence the blog post!
So for any of you that would like more money than month…get yours here!
So for any of you that would like more money than month…get yours here!
Sunday 8 March 2009
The women of Liberia are proof that nonviolent and peaceful protest isn’t just a fantasy…
Its an Amazing Women Story:
The women of Liberia are proof that nonviolent and peaceful protest isn’t just a fantasy…
Pray The Devil Back To Hell
Director: Gini Reticker
Origin: Liberia
Year: 2008
Duration: 72
Starring:
Rating: (HRW – 15)
A story of the power of women’s solidarity in Liberia in the face of almost impossible odds. With skillful eloquence,
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL tells the remarkable story of how thousands of women in Liberia helped peacefully end the country’s second bloody civil war.
Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian woman who witnessed both civil wars, had a dream: “To get the women of the church together to pray for peace.”
She invited ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters from neighbouring churches to start the Christian Women’s Peace Initiative.
They dressed in pure white and sat by the thousands to protest the war. When peace talks in Ghana came to a standstill,
The women literally formed a barricade around the building and didn’t allow the men to exit until a deal was bartered.
The women also did a sex strick to protest and stop the war even after mental & physical abuse by there husband
The women of Liberia are proof that non-violent and peaceful protest isn’t just a fantasy—it can be a triumphant reality.
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL is a commanding, inspiring, and emotionally stirring documentary about the futility of war and the splendour of peace.
*Academy Award Nominee, Best Feature Documentary. Winner Best Documentary, Tribeca Film Festival. Presented in association with Peace Direct, www.peacedirect.org
See also info on: Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian woman
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200812_omag_liberia
The Rabble Rousers
By Kevin Conley
Photo: Gabrielle Revere
Leymah Gbowee’s mission: Defy a dictator, end a war, return her native Liberia to peace. Abigail Disney’s mission:
Make a movie telling the world how it was done. Kevin Conley meets the visionary pair who reached across continents and cultures to show just how powerful women’s voices can be.
In the fall of 2006, Leymah Gbowee, a 34-year-old Liberian mother of five, came to New York City to talk to members of the United Nations Security Council about women, security, and peace. On the third day of her visit, she attended a long series of meetings at the UN, then walked back to the Hotel Bedford, five blocks away. She had one more meeting to go, and she wasn’t happy about it. A movie producer and director had asked to talk to her about a film they hoped to make, a documentary about a group of ordinary Liberian women who, if the stories were true, had managed to help stop that country’s nearly continuous 14-year civil war. (”Oh, those women,” one warlord said. “They didn’t really matter. They were only our conscience.”) Though Gbowee had agreed to sit down with the filmmakers, she assumed she’d be wasting her time. The friend who’d set up the meeting had told her that the producer, Abigail Disney, came from the movie-studio and theme-park family. “Yeah, right,” Gbowee told her friend. “Disney World? What does this mean to someone from Africa?”
Disney, who is in fact Walt Disney’s grandniece, and her friend, the director Gini Reticker, had heard intriguing but incomplete accounts of the Liberian story, the gist of which was that three years earlier, a group of women had formed a human barricade outside a meeting room where peace talks between the warring factions had broken down—and succeeded in forcing the negotiators to get serious. But none of the Liberian women the filmmakers had spoken to seemed to know the whole story, and none had the ineffable presence needed to carry a feature-length film. Disney had begun to fear that the project wouldn’t get off the ground. Reticker, meanwhile, had begun to fear that it would. Her previous movies had addressed difficult topics (including, in her 2003 Oscar°-nominated documentary short,Asylum, female genital mutilation), but this story seemed worse. “I was afraid of it,” Reticker says. “Everything you heard about what was happening in West Africa—the violence against women—was horrific.”
At the Hotel Bedford, Gbowee came downstairs to the lobby in jeans and a T-shirt. The meeting would be quick—no food, no drink, no chitchat. She sat at the head of a small table and took stock of the women sitting on either side. In recent years, she’d spoken to many journalists, yet very little about the doings of the Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET), the interfaith movement of Christians and Muslims she’d helped found in 2001, had ever appeared in print, on film, or on radio. “So I’m saying to myself, ‘Okay, these two white girls want to talk,’” she remembers. “Apparently my face showed I wasn’t interested in anything they had to offer, but I tried to be nice.” She told the visitors how WIPNET had indeed played a vital role in ending the war, then excused herself and went back to her room.
And just that quickly, Disney and Reticker walked outside and started jumping up and down. “We couldn’t believe how incredible Leymah was,” Disney says. “She was (a) brilliant, (b) beautiful, (c) fierce, and (d) at the heart of a story that was even more astonishing than we’d imagined. Any doubt I had about making this movie
The women of Liberia are proof that nonviolent and peaceful protest isn’t just a fantasy…
Pray The Devil Back To Hell
Director: Gini Reticker
Origin: Liberia
Year: 2008
Duration: 72
Starring:
Rating: (HRW – 15)
A story of the power of women’s solidarity in Liberia in the face of almost impossible odds. With skillful eloquence,
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL tells the remarkable story of how thousands of women in Liberia helped peacefully end the country’s second bloody civil war.
Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian woman who witnessed both civil wars, had a dream: “To get the women of the church together to pray for peace.”
She invited ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters from neighbouring churches to start the Christian Women’s Peace Initiative.
They dressed in pure white and sat by the thousands to protest the war. When peace talks in Ghana came to a standstill,
The women literally formed a barricade around the building and didn’t allow the men to exit until a deal was bartered.
The women also did a sex strick to protest and stop the war even after mental & physical abuse by there husband
The women of Liberia are proof that non-violent and peaceful protest isn’t just a fantasy—it can be a triumphant reality.
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL is a commanding, inspiring, and emotionally stirring documentary about the futility of war and the splendour of peace.
*Academy Award Nominee, Best Feature Documentary. Winner Best Documentary, Tribeca Film Festival. Presented in association with Peace Direct, www.peacedirect.org
See also info on: Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian woman
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200812_omag_liberia
The Rabble Rousers
By Kevin Conley
Photo: Gabrielle Revere
Leymah Gbowee’s mission: Defy a dictator, end a war, return her native Liberia to peace. Abigail Disney’s mission:
Make a movie telling the world how it was done. Kevin Conley meets the visionary pair who reached across continents and cultures to show just how powerful women’s voices can be.
In the fall of 2006, Leymah Gbowee, a 34-year-old Liberian mother of five, came to New York City to talk to members of the United Nations Security Council about women, security, and peace. On the third day of her visit, she attended a long series of meetings at the UN, then walked back to the Hotel Bedford, five blocks away. She had one more meeting to go, and she wasn’t happy about it. A movie producer and director had asked to talk to her about a film they hoped to make, a documentary about a group of ordinary Liberian women who, if the stories were true, had managed to help stop that country’s nearly continuous 14-year civil war. (”Oh, those women,” one warlord said. “They didn’t really matter. They were only our conscience.”) Though Gbowee had agreed to sit down with the filmmakers, she assumed she’d be wasting her time. The friend who’d set up the meeting had told her that the producer, Abigail Disney, came from the movie-studio and theme-park family. “Yeah, right,” Gbowee told her friend. “Disney World? What does this mean to someone from Africa?”
Disney, who is in fact Walt Disney’s grandniece, and her friend, the director Gini Reticker, had heard intriguing but incomplete accounts of the Liberian story, the gist of which was that three years earlier, a group of women had formed a human barricade outside a meeting room where peace talks between the warring factions had broken down—and succeeded in forcing the negotiators to get serious. But none of the Liberian women the filmmakers had spoken to seemed to know the whole story, and none had the ineffable presence needed to carry a feature-length film. Disney had begun to fear that the project wouldn’t get off the ground. Reticker, meanwhile, had begun to fear that it would. Her previous movies had addressed difficult topics (including, in her 2003 Oscar°-nominated documentary short,Asylum, female genital mutilation), but this story seemed worse. “I was afraid of it,” Reticker says. “Everything you heard about what was happening in West Africa—the violence against women—was horrific.”
At the Hotel Bedford, Gbowee came downstairs to the lobby in jeans and a T-shirt. The meeting would be quick—no food, no drink, no chitchat. She sat at the head of a small table and took stock of the women sitting on either side. In recent years, she’d spoken to many journalists, yet very little about the doings of the Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET), the interfaith movement of Christians and Muslims she’d helped found in 2001, had ever appeared in print, on film, or on radio. “So I’m saying to myself, ‘Okay, these two white girls want to talk,’” she remembers. “Apparently my face showed I wasn’t interested in anything they had to offer, but I tried to be nice.” She told the visitors how WIPNET had indeed played a vital role in ending the war, then excused herself and went back to her room.
And just that quickly, Disney and Reticker walked outside and started jumping up and down. “We couldn’t believe how incredible Leymah was,” Disney says. “She was (a) brilliant, (b) beautiful, (c) fierce, and (d) at the heart of a story that was even more astonishing than we’d imagined. Any doubt I had about making this movie
Saturday 28 February 2009
Brighton Sunshine
Just got back from a couple of days in Brighton…work and play. I have family there so its always fun! Wow the locals are so laid back to us Londoners and the trains are so quick now. Well done Network Southeast..totally impressed. Back to facebook, proposals and the London Underground! I was suffering from withdrawl symptoms from Facebook and Twitter…nice to be home
I do notice when you take a day out from the usual chaos or workload, it gives you a great sense of perspective and I usually get loads of ideas! In fact I get ideas ALL the time. I have come to the conclusion its better to write everything down so you don’t lose the thought! In addition, it would be physically impossible to implement all of mine so I am collecting them in a book….and may release it one day!
Are you getting enough ’sunshine’ or ‘clarity’ in your business of life? Where else do you need to treat yourself to a little bit of ‘Brighton Sunshine!’
x
Bon week-end a tous!
I do notice when you take a day out from the usual chaos or workload, it gives you a great sense of perspective and I usually get loads of ideas! In fact I get ideas ALL the time. I have come to the conclusion its better to write everything down so you don’t lose the thought! In addition, it would be physically impossible to implement all of mine so I am collecting them in a book….and may release it one day!
Are you getting enough ’sunshine’ or ‘clarity’ in your business of life? Where else do you need to treat yourself to a little bit of ‘Brighton Sunshine!’
x
Bon week-end a tous!
Tuesday 24 February 2009
Watch free video from TFM&A 2009 SEMINAR
Just register & Watch for free the video from TFM&A 2009 SEMINAR
24 & 25/02/2009
Getting Social Media Marketing to Deliver Real Business Results
By Danny Meadows-Klue
http://www.seminarstreams.com/app/content_media_list.asp?cat=24
[Watch]
My note:
Everyone is online now and lots of stuffs are free, Social media is not new with AOL emails previously.
Micro bloging is popular with twitter, facebook, Myspace, etc…
Talk/Questions with BBC, YouTube, FaceBook, Reuters, Daily Telegraphe Media guys:
Content is very important on blogs,
Blogs are a very good, they should be honest, open place to talk and debate topics,
Innovation will happen if we like it or not.
The success in facebook is probably because of the simplicity of use and on there easy applications, They put users first, They gave dialogue to people and they are continue with innovation, brands should advertise on facebook as they have good and easy tools, If you place your brand it should be authentic, brands are own by customer not by business owner, they are focusing on customer,
When you share content like video, they will live longer because they are discuss and share via links to others, but be careful with who the content it is share with. Twitter is good for engaging consumer and share infos,
Franck Robert
(on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
http://twitter.com/Wealthbabes
24 & 25/02/2009
Getting Social Media Marketing to Deliver Real Business Results
By Danny Meadows-Klue
http://www.seminarstreams.com/app/content_media_list.asp?cat=24
[Watch]
My note:
Everyone is online now and lots of stuffs are free, Social media is not new with AOL emails previously.
Micro bloging is popular with twitter, facebook, Myspace, etc…
Talk/Questions with BBC, YouTube, FaceBook, Reuters, Daily Telegraphe Media guys:
Content is very important on blogs,
Blogs are a very good, they should be honest, open place to talk and debate topics,
Innovation will happen if we like it or not.
The success in facebook is probably because of the simplicity of use and on there easy applications, They put users first, They gave dialogue to people and they are continue with innovation, brands should advertise on facebook as they have good and easy tools, If you place your brand it should be authentic, brands are own by customer not by business owner, they are focusing on customer,
When you share content like video, they will live longer because they are discuss and share via links to others, but be careful with who the content it is share with. Twitter is good for engaging consumer and share infos,
Franck Robert
(on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
http://twitter.com/Wealthbabes
Monday 23 February 2009
Millionairess Club Rocks on in February
The Millionairess Club….
Be it, Do it, Have it!
WealthBabes presents: ….
Find the financial security and career and business success you want – Be
part of the Exclusive Millionairess Club and Breakthrough Your Barriers to Success in 2008 and Beyond!
Access to the next Club Session is on Wednesday 25th February 2009 in Central London.at 7pm – 9pm.
This is a select group of extraordinary business women who meet monthly to get RESULTS, build lasting friendships, create more success personally & professionally and having fun whilst doing it! This is not just networking, it’s different – it’s YOUR success club!
Creating a more secure financial future and income streams.
Strategic Alliances and Focussed Networking
Use the mindset of the Millionairess and leverage years of knowledge and ‘short cuts’ to success and wealth creation
Focus on business and career challenges and overcome them
Success Training and Group Brainstorming
Be held accountable in order to move forward FAST
Discover ways of making money doing what you love
Being in the forefront on opportunities, knowledge and connecting with like-minded individuals will enable a brighter, secure future
‘Its not just about the money, it’s about the TRUE YOU’
Amanda Steadman, Founder
Check out the Video
and How to Book YOUR place to a ..FAB.. 2009 and beyond!
YES PLEASE I WOULD LOVE MORE INFORMATION!
Click HERE: http://www.wealthbabes.com/page23.htm
Saturday 21 February 2009
6 Reasons to Keep Marketing February 21, 2009
Filed under: 1 — Amanda Steadman @ 4:09 pm Edit This
Tags: Amanda Steadman, Internet Marketing, Wealth Creation
Article from TFM&A
6 Reasons to Keep Marketing, Even During a Recession
You can’t go anywhere right now without hearing about the economy. Food and gas prices are increasing, and although most of us aren’t running huge banks or trying to balance the federal budget, the stress of the current economic downturn is certainly trickling down to the point that we can feel it. But one of the last things that we want to do in the middle of a rotten economy is slam on the brakes of our own businesses, you know, just in case things get worse. Instead, one of the best things we can do, for our business, for our own sanity, and for the economy, is to step on the gas. Continue your inbound marketing efforts, publish articles that others will find relevant and helpful, and keep networking. Here are 6 reasons why you shouldn’t let the current economy keep you from focusing on your inbound marketing efforts.
1. Time Over Money. The good thing about inbound marketing is that it requires you to invest far more time than money. So take the time to work on your inbound marketing strategy and you won’t have to spend a dime.
2. Let People Find You. When you’re focusing on inbound marketing, you’re trying to make yourself visible to potential customers who will be interested in what you have to offer. You want people to come to you, so the first thing you need to do is to find out where they are. What forums do they frequent? Which blogs do they comment on? What social media sites do they use? When you answer these questions effectively, you can show up where the people are and motivate them to look at what you have to offer. As mentioned previously, this is a time-consuming effort rather than a money-consuming effort. What do you have to lose?
3. Look At Your Competitors. Marketing experts say that, during this recession, businesses will be spending more on online marketing than on traditional marketing. If your competitors are investing their time and efforts into inbound marketing, you can’t afford not to do the same.
4. Measure Everything. Successful inbound marketing is easy to measure. You can quickly tell where your leads came from, where your customers found you, and the efforts you made to which they responded. This kind of information is invaluable. Use it to help you figure out what’s working and what isn’t. Do more of what works. Do less of what doesn’t.
5. Always Improve. The information you receive from analyzing your marketing efforts should show you exactly where you need to improve. If you’re not using this information to improve your efforts, then you’re wasting your time.
6. Look Toward the Future. Marketing experts have proven time and time again that the best way to ensure a successful future is to continue investing in your business during tough times. You may not have much money to spend right, now, but that doesn’t mean your marketing efforts should come to a grinding halt. Be persistent. Keep plugging along. When things start looking up again, you’ll be ahead of the game.
When the money’s tight, our natural instinct is to stop spending, of course. Resist the temptation to sit on your hands. Years of research shows that cutting back on marketing when things are looking grim puts companies at a distinct disadvantage when things start looking more positive again. Take your cue from Rupert Murdoch, who continues to invest even when everyone else has thrown in the towel and decided that there’s nothing else to do but wait it out. And even if you don’t have piles of money sitting around, you can still invest a great deal of time in your marketing efforts. Find out where your potential customers are hanging out and engage them where they are. Spend some time figuring out where your efforts give you the greatest return on investment and make whatever improvements are appropriate. You’ll be glad you did in the long run.
My comments:
I strongly agreed – Sale and Marketing are the 2 things you always need however the economy is and during Recession it`s even more primordial for the survival of your Business.
Lots of Company with no ethic will close they’re doors but if you can make it and even do well during Recession you will then Fly in the Future…
Also Customer service is Important for B2B and/or B2C as in the Infinite of the internet people get lost and forgotten even your clients, customers and yourself (unless you have good Marketing tools) get side track and forget the most important thing where the Business come from…The Client/customer, so stay focus, calls and/or emails your client/customer and keep “Sale and Marketing” whatever happen...
Amanda Steadman.
Filed under: 1 — Amanda Steadman @ 4:09 pm Edit This
Tags: Amanda Steadman, Internet Marketing, Wealth Creation
Article from TFM&A
6 Reasons to Keep Marketing, Even During a Recession
You can’t go anywhere right now without hearing about the economy. Food and gas prices are increasing, and although most of us aren’t running huge banks or trying to balance the federal budget, the stress of the current economic downturn is certainly trickling down to the point that we can feel it. But one of the last things that we want to do in the middle of a rotten economy is slam on the brakes of our own businesses, you know, just in case things get worse. Instead, one of the best things we can do, for our business, for our own sanity, and for the economy, is to step on the gas. Continue your inbound marketing efforts, publish articles that others will find relevant and helpful, and keep networking. Here are 6 reasons why you shouldn’t let the current economy keep you from focusing on your inbound marketing efforts.
1. Time Over Money. The good thing about inbound marketing is that it requires you to invest far more time than money. So take the time to work on your inbound marketing strategy and you won’t have to spend a dime.
2. Let People Find You. When you’re focusing on inbound marketing, you’re trying to make yourself visible to potential customers who will be interested in what you have to offer. You want people to come to you, so the first thing you need to do is to find out where they are. What forums do they frequent? Which blogs do they comment on? What social media sites do they use? When you answer these questions effectively, you can show up where the people are and motivate them to look at what you have to offer. As mentioned previously, this is a time-consuming effort rather than a money-consuming effort. What do you have to lose?
3. Look At Your Competitors. Marketing experts say that, during this recession, businesses will be spending more on online marketing than on traditional marketing. If your competitors are investing their time and efforts into inbound marketing, you can’t afford not to do the same.
4. Measure Everything. Successful inbound marketing is easy to measure. You can quickly tell where your leads came from, where your customers found you, and the efforts you made to which they responded. This kind of information is invaluable. Use it to help you figure out what’s working and what isn’t. Do more of what works. Do less of what doesn’t.
5. Always Improve. The information you receive from analyzing your marketing efforts should show you exactly where you need to improve. If you’re not using this information to improve your efforts, then you’re wasting your time.
6. Look Toward the Future. Marketing experts have proven time and time again that the best way to ensure a successful future is to continue investing in your business during tough times. You may not have much money to spend right, now, but that doesn’t mean your marketing efforts should come to a grinding halt. Be persistent. Keep plugging along. When things start looking up again, you’ll be ahead of the game.
When the money’s tight, our natural instinct is to stop spending, of course. Resist the temptation to sit on your hands. Years of research shows that cutting back on marketing when things are looking grim puts companies at a distinct disadvantage when things start looking more positive again. Take your cue from Rupert Murdoch, who continues to invest even when everyone else has thrown in the towel and decided that there’s nothing else to do but wait it out. And even if you don’t have piles of money sitting around, you can still invest a great deal of time in your marketing efforts. Find out where your potential customers are hanging out and engage them where they are. Spend some time figuring out where your efforts give you the greatest return on investment and make whatever improvements are appropriate. You’ll be glad you did in the long run.
My comments:
I strongly agreed – Sale and Marketing are the 2 things you always need however the economy is and during Recession it`s even more primordial for the survival of your Business.
Lots of Company with no ethic will close they’re doors but if you can make it and even do well during Recession you will then Fly in the Future…
Also Customer service is Important for B2B and/or B2C as in the Infinite of the internet people get lost and forgotten even your clients, customers and yourself (unless you have good Marketing tools) get side track and forget the most important thing where the Business come from…The Client/customer, so stay focus, calls and/or emails your client/customer and keep “Sale and Marketing” whatever happen...
Amanda Steadman.
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Putting it out there & the Law of Gender
Well its been a full on week! Its amazing. I have been out and about meeting people, blogging, contributing, adding value and letting people know about what I’m doing.
After ’sowing the seeds’ spring seems to have arrived and I am getting calls and emails regarding work, presenting, speaking and courses! Its wonderful! I am also pleased to have passed on contacts and work to other associates…lovely.
Being a Virgo…one gets a little impatient and you are reminded again that if you really want something, sometimes the Law of Gender kicks in…this essentially says that everything happens in its own good time. Especially if you’ve put some hard graft in before hand.
Like everyone, I am aiming for effortlessness and the power of systems to take the pressure off…oooh the power of the internet and virtual assistants…
So wherever you are - is the hard work paying off? Are you getting what you want? Are you giving what you want? Are you putting it out there…enough!!
Go forth and get giving…I guarantee it WILL come back x 10
Have a great week
After ’sowing the seeds’ spring seems to have arrived and I am getting calls and emails regarding work, presenting, speaking and courses! Its wonderful! I am also pleased to have passed on contacts and work to other associates…lovely.
Being a Virgo…one gets a little impatient and you are reminded again that if you really want something, sometimes the Law of Gender kicks in…this essentially says that everything happens in its own good time. Especially if you’ve put some hard graft in before hand.
Like everyone, I am aiming for effortlessness and the power of systems to take the pressure off…oooh the power of the internet and virtual assistants…
So wherever you are - is the hard work paying off? Are you getting what you want? Are you giving what you want? Are you putting it out there…enough!!
Go forth and get giving…I guarantee it WILL come back x 10
Have a great week
Thursday 12 February 2009
Create the Love! Try a Valentine’s WORLD WIDE RAVE!
Create a WORLD WIDE RAVE on Social Media…I was listening to David Meerman Scott on a Hubspot webinar and he rocked.
What is a WORLD WIDE RAVE?
Well its essentially a story or event or even a piece of information that goes beyond viral marketing. Everyone wants to be involved and news spreads quickly! There was an example that David gave of the Harry Potter Theme Park. They told 7 people on a live secret webinar – within 24 hours it had reached 35 Million people.
I am looking into it even more now. Its tremendously valuable and fun! For anyone who would like to create more wealth or even awareness. These kind of phenomenons are worth exploring and applying – and you dont need to be a pure ‘techie’ to do it! David reveals all in his – New book out soon! My order is in! Get ahead of the crowds!
What is a WORLD WIDE RAVE?
Well its essentially a story or event or even a piece of information that goes beyond viral marketing. Everyone wants to be involved and news spreads quickly! There was an example that David gave of the Harry Potter Theme Park. They told 7 people on a live secret webinar – within 24 hours it had reached 35 Million people.
I am looking into it even more now. Its tremendously valuable and fun! For anyone who would like to create more wealth or even awareness. These kind of phenomenons are worth exploring and applying – and you dont need to be a pure ‘techie’ to do it! David reveals all in his – New book out soon! My order is in! Get ahead of the crowds!
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