Password Hacking - An Explanation And How to Protect Yourself

Unfortunately, people generally use a single password to every online account they have: the online banking account, social networking sites, e-mail and other websites that requires them to sign up. That's why it is very easy for hackers to pass beyond their protection, compromise an account and then have access to all others.

This is the main reason the computer security is so important nowadays. Protecting yourself from password hackers will help you avoid unpleasant situations or even destructive ones.

What represents password hacking? It is a method used by hackers to crack someone password in order to gain access to personal data, access copyrighted works or sensitive intellectual property, steal money from a bank account or use the computer or server to send out spam email. Hackers prefer searching for 'security holes' through which they can easily gain access on your account without much trouble. These holes usually exist in the plugins and that we install on our sites and PC's.

Another method used by them in the password hacking process is to use programs or software which run through letter and number combinations until it gets a match with the real password, gaining access to your account. They can destroy all of your files stored in the PC or erase your e-mails.

Everybody can be targeted by computer hackers, especially those with a bank account or with an important position in a company. That's why is crucial to protect yourself against them. How to do that? There are several methods. The first 4 are for your PC protection, the rest will tell you how to protect from password hackers:

- Buy a good virus protection software and keep it up-to-date: this will keep the worms out, even if they are "up-to-date"

- Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources, like torrents and other free sources; it's best to stick with commercial software purchased on CD-ROM or via internet

- Make sure that the Firewall and the Macro Virus Protection feature is enabled in all Microsoft applications on the PC: this will increase your protection greatly

- Never access (or double click) an email attachment containing an executable program which have an extension like.exe,.com, or.vbs. This can be a very dangerous virus which triggers if you open the file

- Add just one special character to your password: this will give your more protection than using words from the dictionary. It will take 10.000 times more time to hack your password

- Make your password longer and also set at least one capitalised letter

- Try to use a different password to every important online accounts you posses, such as e-mails, bank accounts, or the online storage service

- Personalize your own security question: you' ll often find security questions on e-mail services such as gmail, yahoo or msn, allowing users to gain access to their online account in case they have forgotten their password. Be smart and choose a difficult answer that nobody will guess.

- Also use your mobile phone for password recovery: this service is provided by Google.

- And lastly back-up all of your data on an external hard disk or and stick, just in case.

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Slate Indoor Waterfalls Are Worth a Look

If you are like many other people, when you start shopping to buy water fountains for your home you will find yourself instantly drawn to those made of slate. This is a material that many immediately fall in love with, for obvious reasons. Slate is a natural material that can bring an organic feel to the room it occupies. Although it may not be ideal for absolutely every space there are few environments that will not benefit from its presence.

Slate indoor water features are absolutely stunning; plain and simple. They are pieces of art that are easily recognizable, even in a room full of other fountains. Once you are familiar with them, and you see one in another home or business, you just can't help but feel an increased level of respect and appreciation for its owner. This is exactly how other people will feel when they see one in your space.

Slate is Unique

One of the main reasons that people buy water fountains made of slate is because every single one is unique. State features natural lines that create unique patterns in each fountain.

You may be interested to learn that in its rawest form, slate houses not only fossils, but also extremely tiny remains of ancient organisms. Rest-assured, the indoor water features for sale will not have organisms in them that can be seen by the naked eye! This just gives you an idea of how old and historic this material really is. Then, it is finished to a smooth finish to create some of the most intoxicating indoor water features you will ever lay your eyes on.

Choosing the Right One

Slate indoor water features might be simple, but they will be the center of attention in any space that they occupy. Therefore, they really should be the only piece of art on the wall. A tall wall can welcome a vertical fountain while a wide wall is ideal for a horizontal one. You really can't ever have one that is too big. If a fountain goes from your floor to the ceiling, so be it. However, there are times when one will be too small.

A very small slate wall fountain placed in the center of an enormous wall could look even smaller than it already is and incredibly misplaced. Remember that it will become a focal point so you want to make sure that it is sending the right message.

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Save Thousands at Auto Auctions - Without Marrying a Car Dealer!

The Common Misconception: Auto auctions are only open to car dealers.

The Surprising Truth: Anyone with the right resources can participate in the same auctions as the dealers!

Think about it. How much could you save if you bypassed the dealers and purchased directly from their sources? 30%, 50%, maybe even 75%.

As unbelievable as this sounds, it is possible with a little patience and research.

As you probably already know from past experience, car dealers will do ANYTHING to get you into the car of your dreams. Whether you can afford it or not!

I can recall a former coworker who got into a new luxury vehicle with a little "creative financing." The manager divided his mortgage payment in two. His justification: As a married man his wife was responsible for the other half of the mortgage....even though she was a stay at home mom! Luckily for them, they found a way to pay their huge car payment and avoid repossession.

Unfortunately, others aren't quite as lucky. Thousands of people default on their loans everyday simply because they couldn't really afford it in the first place.

This can work to your advantage. The banks and financial institutions that serviced the loans want to recoup their loss as quicly as possible. Add to that the exhorbitant cost of storing these vehicles, and you can easily see why the banks want to dispose of them in a timely manner.

After all, the longer financial institutions have to store these vehicles, the less money they're going to get back.

Auto auctions are the quickest way for banks to rid themselves of repossessed vehicles.

Car dealers know this, and they go to great lenghts to protect this knowledge from the general public. After all, auto auctions are a huge source of revenue. Dealers can purchase vehicles at a fraction of their value, and then resell them at a huge mark-up.

But what if you could avoid the dealer's mark-up and instead pay what they pay? What impact would that have on your wallet?

Amazingly enough, auto auctions are not solely restricted to car dealers. Up until a few years ago, I too shared this common misconception.

It was only by sheer luck that I stumbled upon a website that allowed me to search local auctions by zip code and vehicle make that I learned the surprising truth. I was paying dealers thosands of dollars in unnecessary mark-ups.

I tried the website's search feature out, and to my surprise the cars listed were exactly what I wanted. Only a few years old with very low miles. Many of them were still under the manufacturer's original warranty! This made sense of course, since most of them were repossessions.

The auction house was even willing to throw in a vehicle history report at no extra cost and a 3 month warranty.

Sure I wouldn't get the complimentary car washes and oil changes the dealer throws in, but that surely wasn't worth thousands of dollars in premiums.

After a little hesitation I joined the auto auction membership site. They helped me locate auto auctions in my area, and gain admission to them through their exclusive access rights. I learned what questions to ask, and how to handle the bidding process.

It was a lot simpler then I ever imagined it could be.

The day of the auction, I showed up a few hours early to inspect the vehicle I was interested in and get a feel for the place.

It must have been a slow day, because when my car came up for auction only a few dealers were bidding against me. Since I wasn't buying the vehicle for resale, I succeeded in outbidding the dealers!

It was a truly empowering experience. I got the vehicle of my dreams, and I only paid a little over half its book value!

What did this experience teach me? Auto Auctions can save you thousands in unnecessary dealer mark-ups.

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Can a Fireplace Shop Fit Stoves Into Narrow Chimneys?

This question is often asked in fireplace shops - can stoves be fitted into narrow chimneys? There are a lot of factors involved in this and this article will discuss the various options available and other considerations to think about. However, it is always better to consult an expert at a fireplace shop.

It is possible to open a chimney to have a stove fitted. The reason for this is so that the chimney needs to be widened to allow heat around it. Your fireplace shop will know whether this is possible, another option would be to have a builder survey the chimney and advice if it is possible to widen the chimney. If it is possible to widen the chimney a builder will need to do this work. The chimney will need to be properly inspected, as some chimneys are found in bad condition. One of the biggest problems is that some chimneys are no longer capable of safely containing hot combustion gases.

To have an extremely efficient stove means converting the burning material into useful heat. A highly efficient stove should ideally be connected to a well-insulated and lined chimney. An issue we discover with chimneys, especially those built before 1966, is that they have unlined brick flues. Such old chimneys are often only one brick thick, and have already been exposed to weather and have had substantial use over a period of 60 years or more. They were also built using soft lime mortar rather than modern cement mortar. All of this can pose a problem.

Once the chimney has been widened the fireplace shop will then need to measure up. The measuring is important so that the fireplace shop can recommend different stoves that will be:-

• Suitable for installation • Fits within your budget • The correct kilowatt for the room size.

There are other options too for fitting stoves into narrow chimneys. Some manufacturers have started making stoves that will fit into tighter places. These stoves are ideal especially when the widening of the chimney is not possible or is very limited. There are many stoves to choose from, from different manufacturers, which your fireplace shop will be able to advise which are better for your situation.

If you do discover that you have a narrow chimney and would like to have a stove fitted, it is better to consult an expert from a fireplace shop and to check with a builder the cost and integrity of the chimney.

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Fire Pit Covers For Different Types of Weather

While a fire pit seems like something that you would mostly utilize in the autumn months, there are occasions in which you might still want to have a gathering around it, or otherwise keep the flame burning throughout all kinds of weather conditions. No matter if it's raining, snowing, or what have you, it's possible to keep that fire going for months, if not all year. With the help of covers, you can provide your fire pit with protection from the elements, as well as keep you and your guests dry and comfortable during your next outdoor party.

Remember that there are a few things you should consider as you contemplate using a cover to guard against weather. First of all, you have to ensure the safety of your guests and property by making sure the fire pit is never left by itself - always have someone watching it. Even if it's storming outside, it's still possible for an unattended fire pit to damage your home in a major way. Also, be sure that the cover itself doesn't catch on fire, so keep it a respectable distance from the flames.

If you are able to safely maintain a pit cover, you can use this all weather item for a variety or purposes. You can even have barbeques with your friends, cooking meals over the open fire, which can provide the most delicious food you have ever cooked in your backyard. Also, it can keep you warm in these hazardous weather conditions, when rain and snow might threaten to chill you and the people around you. No matter what you use it for, you can rest assured that a cover will guard your pit against whatever weather conditions it comes up against, ensuring a safe and fun environment.

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Change Management: Getting Everyone on Board the Change Train

How do you get everyone on board the change train that is gaining speed and heading out of the station? How do you get your people to, not only go through the motions, but also actually "buy into" the changes that are necessary? People's resistance to change is not entirely irrational; it stems from good and understandable concerns. Here are the six most common reasons people resist change and tactics to convert this resistance to commitment.

Surprise, Surprise!

People are easily shocked by decisions or requests suddenly sprung on them without groundwork or preparation. Managers frequently make this mistake when introducing change. They wait until all the decisions are made and then spring them on unsuspecting employees. However, the first response of people to something totally new and unexpected, not having time to prepare for, is resistance.

Tactic: Give people advance notice. It's better to know ahead of time of a plant closing or a move to a new location. Then they can have time to adjust their thinking and, most importantly, to begin realistically planning for the changes.

Loss of Control

How people greet change has to do with their perception of whether they are in control of it or not. If people feel out of control, they are more likely to act defensively, either by excess complaining, by dragging their feet or by becoming territorial. Change is exciting, when it's done by us; threatening, when it's done to us.

Tactic: Give everyone a chance to participate and get involved in the change effort. Although the decision regarding the specific change has been made, people who are going to be affected by this change can have input on its implementation. They can decide how to re-arrange the office or determine the optimum way to use the new computer system. The more choices that are left to the people, the better they'll feel, and the more committed they will be to the specific change.

Excess Uncertainty

If people don't know what the next step is or where it is going to take them, any change will seem dangerous. It's like walking off a cliff blindfolded. As one long time employee said to me:

"I know the old Bell system---its mission, its operations, its people, its culture. In that knowledge I had an identity and confidence about my company and myself. Now that I work for a company, one-fourth its former size, I find myself asking: Who am I? Who are we? How is it going to affect me?"

Tactic: Share information about what exactly is happening and at every step of the change process. Furthermore, by dividing a big change into a number of small steps, change will seem less risky and threatening. People can then focus on one step at a time and feel that they are not being asked to leap off the cliff blindfolded.

The Difference Factor

Change requires people to become conscious of, and to question, familiar routines and habits. This is difficult because a great deal of work in organizations is habitual and provides a sense of stability. Imagine what it would be like if, every week you went to work, your office was in an entirely different place and the furniture was rearranged. You would stumble around and need to expend a large amount of physical and emotional energy just trying to constantly adapt. This is what happens to people when they are experiencing too many changes all at once.

Tactic: Minimize or reduce the number of differences introduced by the change, leaving some of the traditions, habits or routines. In other words, maintain some familiar sight and sounds, the things that make people feel comfortable and in control.

Concerns about Future Competence

People have concern about their future ability to be effective after the change: Can I do it? How will I do it? Will I make it under the new conditions? Do I have the skills to operate in a new way? It can be very threatening for many employees to be told that, all of a sudden, the new world demands a new way of thinking and a new set of skills.

Tactic: Make sure people feel competent. Provide sufficient education and training as well as opportunity to practice the new skills or actions without feeling judged. Give them time to get comfortable with new routines or different procedures. Nobody likes to look inadequate, especially people who have been around a long time.

Ripple Effect

Change tends to be perceived by employees as requiring more energy, more time, and probably more work. In fact, change does required, in many instances, above-and-beyond efforts. Change may also disrupt scheduled plans and projects and even personal and family activities. Change sends ripples beyond their intended impact.

Tactic: Provide needed support and compensation for the extra work of change. Acknowledge people for their extra effort; offer days off after the crunch; have a big family celebration after the change. Being sensitive to people's lives helps them get on and stay on board the change train that's rumbling through your organization.

Remember, people don't resist change, they resist being change. The trick is getting people to choose change rather than solely resist it.

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Can't Get There From Here

Can't Get There From Here

Juneau is the capital of Alaska, but did you know that you cannot drive there from anywhere?

You can fly into Juneau or you can take a ferry to Juneau, but you can't actually drive there. There are no roads into Juneau. Can you imagine not being able to drive to the State Capital in the state where you live?

Normally, a lot of business and a lot of government takes place in a state's Capital. Not having easy access to it would create lots of problems, wouldn't it? Well, not in Alaska.

In fact, up until a few years ago Juneau was two time zones or more away from the rest of the state. A few years ago Alaska had five time zones. Now we have only two time zones and our Capital is now in the same time zone as most of the state.

Governor Frank Murkowski has a transportation plan that would include the building of a 65 mile road from Juneau to Skagway by the year 2010. That would connect Juneau by road to Anchorage, Fairbanks, and much of Alaska.

Of course, you would have to drive through part of Canada to get to Skagway. Not a big deal, since Canada still likes us.

However, many Alaskans are not too thrilled by the idea of building an expensive road to Juneau. According to Skagway business owner, Jan Wrentmore, "It will be as stupid an idea in 2010 as it is now."

Part of the issue is that Skagway and Haines depend on the marine ferry system for business, since Skagway and Haines are the northernmost terminus for tourists who want to disembark the ferry and drive. The fear is that Juneau would become the northernmost stopping point for the ferry if a road is built from Juneau to Skagway.

"We lose our status of what we've had for 100 years," said Jan Wrentmore. "It creates a competing port."

Of course, the rest of Alaska doesn't really care about the competing port issue. The point is that the rest of Alaska doesn't really care about the whole issue. Our legislators at the State Capital seem to get along just fine the way things are currently.

Change comes slowly in Alaska and I would guess that this issue will be talked about for a good many more years to come.

If we talk about it long enough, eventually it will become a mute issue. We won't need a road. Eventually we'll be able to teleport ourselves to the Capital if we wish.

Beam me up Governor.

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How Do You Get Money From Your Traffic

Let's be honest with ourselves; we're in it for the money! We don't want to waste our time and effort just for the heck of it. While there are those that take things less seriously there will always be those who would rather see some financial return for all that effort. I would guess you want to join me in the second group?

It is an unquestionable fact that without traffic we don't have a business. Without any customers you won't get any sales. Traffic represents all the people that come to see what you have to offer. The more people who see your products the more people there will be to buy them.

Nobody puts up a commercial Internet site without expecting to make a profit. We have invested our startup capital which needs to be regained. With continuous traffic at least we have a sporting chance of achieving our desired outcome. Monetizing this traffic will optimize your chances of making the best out of it.

Making Money out of your Traffic

The best and most proven method for making a profit out of your traffic is by using advertising. The Internet generates thousands upon thousands of viewers every day. Most of them are searching for something. While some are just looking for information there is also a good percentage that are looking for something that they need.

The Internet has proven to be a very reliable source in finding what used to be considered as very unsearchable products. The Internet has made the world a smaller place; you can advertise a product from the depths of Istanbul and still find a buyer from the center of Philadelphia.

Generating traffic is not an easy task. You have to contend with a great number of rival sites to generate a good traffic flow. But, if done successfully this can open up a treasure trove of possibilities. One of the major benefits to marketers is supplying the answer to the hot question "How Do You Get Money".

So, to get to the core of it, the more traffic you generate the more likely you are considered as a marketing success, in the sense that a good traffic flow is easily converted into profit. Basically, traffic equals profit. Advertising is the name of the game; with a good advertising scheme you can use your traffic flow to your financial advantage.

When you have good traffic you have a good number of potential customers, customers that are willing to pour money into your coffers. Also this traffic that can be redirected to sponsored links. How do you get money from these links? The site owners are willing to pay you a small fee for each of the visitors they receive from traffic that you have generated.

This scheme is called "pay-per-click". With every click a visitor that has come from your traffic makes on an advertised link you will be paid. The more traffic you send and the more clicks that they make will lead to more profits for you.

Affiliate Programs

Another method of monetizing your traffic is from affiliate programs. You can link up with other tried and tested sites and online companies. You monetize your traffic by having a percentage of all sales that you generate with the traffic coming from your site.

The basic idea is this; traffic generated from your site will go to another site that can offer a product that you do not carry. Many programs can keep track and make records of transactions that are made possible because of site linkage.

When a purchase is made by a customer that was led by your site to their site you get a percentage of that sale. Affiliate programs give you the benefit of monetizing your traffic without the actual need of carrying or delivering that product.

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Threats Prevented By Firewall Software

Firewalls are an accessible way for the average computer owner to protect their information from the world wide web and all the harmful things that people use on it. You can prevent various outside threats from accessing your personal files and your personal data just by having a firewall installed onto your hard drive. Since the internet is so diverse, there are an abundance of threats that have the chance of attacking your network if the proper precautions aren't taken seriously.

Trojan Horses/Trojans

A Trojan horse, or a Trojan for short, is software that performs a certain act for the user, such as stealing information or harming someone's computer system. The term itself was taken from the Trojan Horse historical event. Unlike many viruses, Trojans don't replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive. The most common form of Trojans are programs that promise to get rid of viruses from someone's computer but they in fact introduce more viruses to the computer. Once a Trojan has been installed on a computer, the hacker can use remote controls to perform various tasks and to gain access to privileged information.

Spam

The definition of spam is to use electronic messaging systems such as e-mail or instant messengers to send bulk messages without permission. Spamming is just as harmful as it is irritating because advertisers have relatively no operating costs when they use spam as a form of marketing. Not only does it involve a mass amount of e-mails being sent out across a contact list but they are also a way that hackers can encourage people to be victims of fraud. Many times there will be spam e-mails that promote certain products and so when someone purchases the product using their credit card, all of their information is stolen and used against them. The general term for someone who uses electronic spam is called a "spammer".

Worms

Computer worms are malware computer programs that are self-replicating. They use the computer network to send identical copies of itself to different computers on the network. Worms differ from your average computer virus because they do not need to be a part of a program in order for them to damage a computer. Worms usually cause some sort of damage, whether it be by consuming bandwidth or venturing through files where they do not belong. The main way that worms get into your network is when they find a vulnerability in your operating system and so they inch their way inside of your system. The most common way for worms to be spread is through email and so you must be wary of opening email from unknown senders that include files, attachments, or links to outside websites. Firewalls are an essential need for anyone who owns a computer solely because of the amount of malicious entities that there are all over the internet. From worms to Trojans to spam, there always seems to be a new way for hackers to get into computer networks and to steal personal information. If you are attempting to avoid identity theft or attacks as equally harmful, install a firewall and ensure that it will protect your computer until it is uninstalled.

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Top Level Domain Names

Domain names for top level domains are often difficult to find for a reasonable price. This is because domain names that are at the top are often reserved for major corporations.

These names may also be reserved for other organizations, or even upcoming television shows. In some situations, there are individuals who do 'prospecting' of names.

This is a process where an individual will buy a domain name that they guess will be useful at a later date. For example, if a new television show is coming out, or if a particular current even hits the news, many people will try to immediately register domain names that are related to the particular topic.

It can cost a hundred dollars or more for a domain name if the one selling it knows that domain names in that range will be worth a lot of money one day. But prospectors try to get a head of the game by guessing what domain names will be worth the most and buying them on the cheap.

Domain Name Business

The reason why this happens is because many top names will sell for thousands of dollars. This obviously only occurs situations where someone guessed completely right about the type of domain that would be needed by a giant corporation in the future.

In some situations, especially in the early decades of the Internet, where domains would be registered for a different purpose, sometimes there would be a coincidence where someone would register their domain for their company, and it would happen to have the same name as a major corporation that showed up later.

This also happened with television shows. In this situation, the corporation, TV show, or other major entity would have to either negotiate with the owner of domain names that they might want, or find something else that may be less suitable.

In recent years, it's common for any big organization to make sure they have the top domains they want before they actually do anything at all. They might by a name before they even completely incorporate, or make any announcements to the public whatsoever.

This is to make sure that no one tries to seize all domains that might be good for them in a strategy to force money out of them. It's a good idea to find the top names you want before hand whenever starting a business for this reason since many people will do this against you if they think that they have any chance of pulling it off.

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Why Hire House Painting Professionals

It is always best to hire the professionals when it comes to home improvement tasks. Do it yourself contractor work can be dangerous and overwhelming. If you do not have the training or the time to spend on upgrades, then a professional paint company can help. Not only are they fully insured but they have the experience and product selection to help anyone looking to paint their house. Professional services range anywhere from interior to exterior tasks.

The most obvious reason why people hire painting professionals is for their technique. Having years of experience on the job makes them a reliable hire. They are trained to eliminate brush strokes and to paint with an even smooth finish. Their lines are perfect where the wall meets the door, ceiling, walkways, or doorways. All wall outlets are safely removed during the process. Contractors are thorough in their craft everywhere from taping off lines to cleaning up afterwards. By taping off walls and putting down tarps they can eliminate cleanup and protect your home and furniture from paint splatters.

Hiring trained professionals for the job is also to protect your safety. They are trained to safely paint on ladders and high walls or ceilings. This is especially useful when handling exterior jobs. Professional companies have sturdy ladders of all sizes and full tool sets to safely and efficiently reach every surface area. They are licensed and insured to guarantee performance and reliability.

House painting goes further than interior walls and redoing the exterior of the home. Decks and garage floors can be repainted and touched up too for a new look.

Another useful service that paint professionals offer is power washing. Power washing can drastically improve and clean the exterior of the house, deck, any brick surface, sidewalk, driveway, and more. It is affordable and can be completed quickly. Deck treatments and preservation services are also something to look into when hiring the professionals for upgrades.

Professional contractors have a full range of colors to view with all different finishes and tints. They can come to your home for free estimates and match color swaps exactly. They'll provide you with many options and color samples until you feel confident in your selection.

People hire professionals for a number of reasons. Not only are they the safer choice but they have the product selection and tools to successfully complete any paint tasks. Interior and exterior paint jobs are a great way to affordably upgrade a home while adding style.

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Typical Mis-Sold PPI Process

Payment protection insurance or PPI is made to cover the cost of the policyholder's loan repayments when they become unemployed by way of redundancy or not able to work as a result of an accident or severe illness. However, a lot of policyholders are already mis-sold PPI due to various reasons.

In case you are unsure if you have been mis-sold PPI or if you have a PPI policy, check your loan papers. On a loan agreement payment protection insurance might be referred to as loan protect, loan guard, or gold cover for example and is frequently detailed in the other financial information section of the loan agreement. Consistently, these policies are really overpriced and you could be paying an extra 13% to 56% extra on top of your loan and you may not even be aware about this.

A major problem has been that payment protection insurance might never have been needed if other insurances were in place and furthermore it's been found that people have been unable to claim on their policies when the need did arise. Because of small print and exclusion clauses that were not explained during the time of purchase made it a mis-sold PPI policy.

The truth is, several payment protection insurance policies were never thoroughly explained to begin with. Some people paid for PPI with one single premium that has been added to their loan, resulting in huge interest payments and if the client paid his loan off early, very limited refunds were made available for him to receive.

It is unfair and you can do some thing about it. You could possibly claim your money back yourself, but once you seek the guidance of a specialized claiming company, they won't fobbed off by your bank or loan provider. You also don't have to spend so much time get yourself ready for all the paperwork or will require you little or no effort on your side. Everything is going to be kept confidential between you and your specialized solicitor and you also be notified for the further developments of your case.

Usually, the banks or lending companies pressured the client into taking a payment protection policy; pr assumed the client wants the payment protection policy from the outset like by automatically including it in a loan quotation. Mis-sold PPI may also happen when the broker led the customer to believe that the payment protection policy had to be taken in order to obtain the loan, or some other goods or services or would certainly improve his aspects of doing so. If the sales representative made the sale with no customer??s explicit agreement to purchase the payment protection insurance policy, then it was a mis-sold PPI practice.

If one of these things happened to you when you took out a loan or finance, then there is very good probability that you are paying or you paid extra cost for a mis-sold PPI policy.

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Introducing the Concept of GeoMarketing

One of the keys to effective selling is to know your market. The more you know, or understand, about the individuals you want to sell insurance to, the better your chances of communicating with them in a way that appeals to their needs and makes them open to taking out a policy. Because not only will they better understand why they need an insurance policy, they will also trust your ability to deliver a product that meets those needs.

GeoMarketing is a term generally used to describe a type of marketing that is focused on using geographical data and weaving it into your normal marketing and sales approach. This allows you to spread the scope of your marketing attempts in a meaningful (and successful) way. Let's talk about some of the reasons this approach is so important.

GeoMarketing: Ultra-Specific Needs-Based Selling

Insurance is a purposeful product, not an impulse buy. The purchase of insurance is based exclusively on need; the need to comply to a lender's requirement, to protect assets, to provide an income for heirs-no matter which way you slice it, insurance equals need. So it makes sense that the best way to entice someone to buy insurance is to appeal to their needs.

GeoMarketing gives you an advantage and the means to identify those needs more precisely. By defining your target market by zip code, city, town, or county, you gain a better understanding of the market's community and the unique risks they face. Once you understand this information, you can develop a specially targeted marketing plan that directly addresses these geo-specific concerns and captures your prospect's attention more easily, since you are speaking directly to their needs, something other agents may not have attempted in the past.

As an example, consider the area with a new home development. The residents of this area are likely new to the region, have no connections and no insurance agent that they are already working with. Their new homes will meet the most recent building codes, so targeting their need for home insurance revolves primarily around protecting their new asset rather than focusing on risk of hurricane and other natural events exposure. But if the development is in a flood zone, then a different approach may be required. As far as reaching the prospects, ads in a new home buyer guides will work as will networking with builders to encourage word of mouth referrals.

Conversely, an area with mostly older homes might be more concerned about exposure to extreme weather and other risks specific to older homes. Identifying the ways in which your markets can insure those specific risks will help increase the number of leads that you get as well as your closing ratio.

Finally, think about those areas heavily populated by retirees or by young families with children. Each of these sets will have different home and auto needs that you can easily target and meet.

GeoMarketing to Narrow Focus

You may find, if you look at your current policyholders, that you are already more successful in one location than in others. This may be because you already have a deeper knowledge about the risks that the individuals in this area face, or because you have heavier marketing efforts in those areas. Once you determine what you are doing right, you can think about ways to expand on it.

Then, you might consider looking at surrounding regions that you aren't getting as much business from. Determine what the geo-specific needs are in those areas and create a marketing campaign around them.

Monitoring Your GeoMarketing Results

Like any successful marketing plan, you must monitor the success of your new GeoMarketing efforts. Some of the data you want to track include:

How many leads are you receiving in your newly targeted areas? How many of those leads are turning into sales? Have you been able to offer insurance products that meet the geo-targeted needs you are appealing to?

If you find yourself falling short in closing ratios or getting leads, consider changing the approach of your marketing campaign. For instance, if you sent out direct mail fliers and aren't getting any leads, try cold calling, electronic approaches or advertising in local publications. If you are struggling to keep up your closing ratio, consider dedicating a little more time to really understanding the risks facing your new geo-centric leads. It's possible that you need to have a deeper understanding of the risks in order to really appeal to them.

Our wireless online world is closing a lot of gaps and for the insurance industry, this is a powerful and exciting time. But it's up to each individual agent to make sure he or she is utilizing every advantage possible in order to get an edge. GeoMarketing offers you an opportunity that not only helps you finds leads, but also gives you a leg up in closing sales and increasing persistency by making sure you've got the best insurance policies issued for each of your clients.

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