Saturday, November 14, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Are You Credit Worthy? Millions Are Losing Their Credit Card Privileges
One way banks and credit card issuers are trying to make money—or at least stop losing it—is by getting rid of customers who are bad for business. The number of credit card accounts decreased by 72 million last year.
But what kind of customer is being axed? Some cardholders say they've been blindsided, with their cards canceled without warning—and while they believed they were in good standing. (See the Baltimore Sun story I referenced recently.)
While many accounts are being closed, what might change the most in the credit card landscape is who will be approved for a new account. For some time now, getting a credit card has required about as much time and effort as ordering a pizza. But that is changing, as the banks are taking pains to assess risk and deem who is truly credit worthy. (It's not clear whether the banks' criteria for worthiness will be any more scientific and fact-based than Elaine's "sponge-worthy" determinations in "Seinfeld.")
Higher rates, more annual fees, and fewer credit cards period: This is some of the unfortunate fall-out of credit card reform.
But what kind of customer is being axed? Some cardholders say they've been blindsided, with their cards canceled without warning—and while they believed they were in good standing. (See the Baltimore Sun story I referenced recently.)
While many accounts are being closed, what might change the most in the credit card landscape is who will be approved for a new account. For some time now, getting a credit card has required about as much time and effort as ordering a pizza. But that is changing, as the banks are taking pains to assess risk and deem who is truly credit worthy. (It's not clear whether the banks' criteria for worthiness will be any more scientific and fact-based than Elaine's "sponge-worthy" determinations in "Seinfeld.")
Higher rates, more annual fees, and fewer credit cards period: This is some of the unfortunate fall-out of credit card reform.
Five Ways to Make Money in a Popular Photography Niche
I’ve read articles by a number of photography business gurus arguing that if you want to make decent money from stock photos or prints, you need to find a niche that isn’t already saturated with images. They advise photographers to shoot model-released lifestyle photos or still lifes, for example, and to stay away from travel and nature — because everyone shoots travel and nature.
That might sound logical enough, but is it true? In four years of marketing my work, I have sold pictures through stock agencies of heavily photographed locations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Gateway Arch, the Mall of America, and the San Francisco skyline. And I don’t even spend a lot of time shooting iconic locations like these.
You know what I think? I think you can still make money selling the photos you want to shoot — if you know how to market yourself.
Here are 5 tips for selling your photos in any niche:
1. Keyword your images thoroughly.
I have looked at a lot of images on many different sites, and the one thing that amazes me is how poorly most photographers keyword their images. Take the Golden Gate Bridge, for example. If you only include the most obvious keywords — like the name of the bridge and the city — how can you expect anyone to find your images among the thousands on sites like Alamy, Corbis or Getty? I include more than 30 keywords on my Golden Gate Bridge images — including words like “iconic,” “landmark,” “sunsets,” “mountains,” “landscapes” and “coast.” That puts me ahead of the majority of photographers adding images to these sites.
2. Provide detailed caption information.
I’ve found that nature photographers often like to keep their specific locations secret, so they might label an image in general terms such as “Zeus’ Lightning Rod, Colorado Plateau.” Unfortunately, this is a good way to keep your images a secret from the public — because photo editors want details. You need to provide location specifics, as well as any relevant scientific information, if you expect to sell your work to textbooks or guide books, for example.
3. Focus on a niche within your niche.
I live in Southern California and have spent a lot of time photographing scenic locations in my area as if they were the Yosemite Valley Overlook. As a result, I have generated a healthy revenue stream from shoots that have cost me little in the way of travel costs. A recent print sale of Southern California scenic locations, for example, has netted me several thousand dollars.
My original motivation for focusing locally was pragmatic: I was out of school with not much money in the bank. I knew that photographers generally ignore the region — even though there are more than 15 million people here. That’s a nice market for prints and stock.
4. Optimize your Web site and make your archive available to search.
The Internet has opened up the photography market to new buyers around the world. People who haven’t traditionally purchased through photo agencies are now searching online for pictures — and are often buying them directly from photographers’ Web sites.
Most of the direct sales I’ve made in the past two years have involved the use of PhotoShelter at some point in the process. Usually the buyer finds my Web site, then searches through my archive. Or I’ll send a lightbox after some consultation and complete the sale off-site, negotiating via e-mail or phone. Customer service is the key to selling direct.
5. Protect your rights.
While the Internet offers new opportunities to market your work, it’s also made it easier for people to steal your images — so you have to take steps to protect them. If your photos are floating around in cyberspace without watermarking, or downloaded off some subscription plan, then you have lost the ability to manage the use of your work.
Even if you take precautions and license your photos on a rights-managed basis, however, people will sometimes use your images without permission. And in those cases, you need to stand up for yourself.
For example, the other day, I walked into a grocery store near my house and saw a large painted mural of one of my images. It had been painted to match my photo to the smallest of details. Given that I had never licensed the image, and that it shows up on the first page of Google Images for that location, I am pretty certain that this is an unauthorized commercial use of my image. I am still exploring my options on this one — but let’s just say that I plan to do something about it.
That might sound logical enough, but is it true? In four years of marketing my work, I have sold pictures through stock agencies of heavily photographed locations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Gateway Arch, the Mall of America, and the San Francisco skyline. And I don’t even spend a lot of time shooting iconic locations like these.
You know what I think? I think you can still make money selling the photos you want to shoot — if you know how to market yourself.
Here are 5 tips for selling your photos in any niche:
1. Keyword your images thoroughly.
I have looked at a lot of images on many different sites, and the one thing that amazes me is how poorly most photographers keyword their images. Take the Golden Gate Bridge, for example. If you only include the most obvious keywords — like the name of the bridge and the city — how can you expect anyone to find your images among the thousands on sites like Alamy, Corbis or Getty? I include more than 30 keywords on my Golden Gate Bridge images — including words like “iconic,” “landmark,” “sunsets,” “mountains,” “landscapes” and “coast.” That puts me ahead of the majority of photographers adding images to these sites.
2. Provide detailed caption information.
I’ve found that nature photographers often like to keep their specific locations secret, so they might label an image in general terms such as “Zeus’ Lightning Rod, Colorado Plateau.” Unfortunately, this is a good way to keep your images a secret from the public — because photo editors want details. You need to provide location specifics, as well as any relevant scientific information, if you expect to sell your work to textbooks or guide books, for example.
3. Focus on a niche within your niche.
I live in Southern California and have spent a lot of time photographing scenic locations in my area as if they were the Yosemite Valley Overlook. As a result, I have generated a healthy revenue stream from shoots that have cost me little in the way of travel costs. A recent print sale of Southern California scenic locations, for example, has netted me several thousand dollars.
My original motivation for focusing locally was pragmatic: I was out of school with not much money in the bank. I knew that photographers generally ignore the region — even though there are more than 15 million people here. That’s a nice market for prints and stock.
4. Optimize your Web site and make your archive available to search.
The Internet has opened up the photography market to new buyers around the world. People who haven’t traditionally purchased through photo agencies are now searching online for pictures — and are often buying them directly from photographers’ Web sites.
Most of the direct sales I’ve made in the past two years have involved the use of PhotoShelter at some point in the process. Usually the buyer finds my Web site, then searches through my archive. Or I’ll send a lightbox after some consultation and complete the sale off-site, negotiating via e-mail or phone. Customer service is the key to selling direct.
5. Protect your rights.
While the Internet offers new opportunities to market your work, it’s also made it easier for people to steal your images — so you have to take steps to protect them. If your photos are floating around in cyberspace without watermarking, or downloaded off some subscription plan, then you have lost the ability to manage the use of your work.
Even if you take precautions and license your photos on a rights-managed basis, however, people will sometimes use your images without permission. And in those cases, you need to stand up for yourself.
For example, the other day, I walked into a grocery store near my house and saw a large painted mural of one of my images. It had been painted to match my photo to the smallest of details. Given that I had never licensed the image, and that it shows up on the first page of Google Images for that location, I am pretty certain that this is an unauthorized commercial use of my image. I am still exploring my options on this one — but let’s just say that I plan to do something about it.
Cash Advance Payday Loan – Get Money with Bad Credit Today
A cash advance payday loan is a way to get money even if you have bad credit. In today’s economy Americans are finding it very difficult to pay all their bills on time and in full because they are not getting paid as much as they used to or many of these individuals are currently unemployed. With no money coming in many people want to get some type of loan.
One would think that getting a cash advance payday loan would be impossible if you are unemployed but this is not the case. If you have a way to show that you can make some type of income then you have the opportunity to get a cash advance payday loan even if you are unemployed. Some people have ways to make money that do not include a pay stub and this often makes it difficult to get a loan.
If you can prove that you have some way to make money whether it be a personal business, on the Internet, or any other way then you have the opportunity to get a cash advance payday loan. You will need to do your research and find the companies that offer this type of loan that they are definitely out there.
When getting a payday loan please understand that the fees can get quite expensive if you borrow a lot of money. Most payday loans only allow you to borrow up to $1500 but other payday loan companies will allow you to borrow much more. If you end up paying fees for $1500 you will find that this can add up very quickly.
As always, do your research before signing any financial statement that involves your money. If you do not do the research and you do not read the entire document you are at risk of signing something in which you could end up paying for dearly in the long run. Do not let this be the case with you as you read all of the financial statement.
One would think that getting a cash advance payday loan would be impossible if you are unemployed but this is not the case. If you have a way to show that you can make some type of income then you have the opportunity to get a cash advance payday loan even if you are unemployed. Some people have ways to make money that do not include a pay stub and this often makes it difficult to get a loan.
If you can prove that you have some way to make money whether it be a personal business, on the Internet, or any other way then you have the opportunity to get a cash advance payday loan. You will need to do your research and find the companies that offer this type of loan that they are definitely out there.
When getting a payday loan please understand that the fees can get quite expensive if you borrow a lot of money. Most payday loans only allow you to borrow up to $1500 but other payday loan companies will allow you to borrow much more. If you end up paying fees for $1500 you will find that this can add up very quickly.
As always, do your research before signing any financial statement that involves your money. If you do not do the research and you do not read the entire document you are at risk of signing something in which you could end up paying for dearly in the long run. Do not let this be the case with you as you read all of the financial statement.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Who Says You Can't Make Money in Stocks over Long Periods of Time?
Who says you can't make money in the stock market over long periods of time? You could have made substantial amounts of money by just owning only one share of stock, assuming you have the right stock. For example, you could have paid $35 for one share of Hewlett Packard (HPQ) back in 1962. Including splits and dividends, that one share would be worth $11,965. Another example is IBM (IBM), albeit a high priced stock back then at $572 per share. But if you had held on, that investment would be $25,635.
These enormous gains could have been achieved even over shorter periods of time, You could have paid $175.50 for a share of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at the beginning of January of 1970 and now have $18,161. Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) could have been had for $110 per share at that time, growing to $11.035. Then you could have bought Chevron Corp. (CVX) for $52.25 for one share and now have $14,079.
The moral to this story is 'Look for a few great companies and buy a couple shares of each one as gifts for your children and grandchildren.' Remember, the holiday season is coming up.
By the way, all the above stocks are Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks. You can find a free Dow Jones Industrial Average stock analyzer at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.
These enormous gains could have been achieved even over shorter periods of time, You could have paid $175.50 for a share of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at the beginning of January of 1970 and now have $18,161. Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) could have been had for $110 per share at that time, growing to $11.035. Then you could have bought Chevron Corp. (CVX) for $52.25 for one share and now have $14,079.
The moral to this story is 'Look for a few great companies and buy a couple shares of each one as gifts for your children and grandchildren.' Remember, the holiday season is coming up.
By the way, all the above stocks are Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks. You can find a free Dow Jones Industrial Average stock analyzer at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.
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