Loan Modification - Obama's Federal Plan Regarding Your Options

President Obama's Home Affordable plan provides homeowners who are strapped with financial difficulty with two subsidized options in order to maintain their homes. The first is a new refinance program, while the second is a loan modification. Both can be of benefit to you, if you qualify.

The Refinance Plan is available to homeowners whose property values have plummeted, leaving them unable to qualify for traditional refinancing. Under the plan, an additional 15-30 years can be added to the term of the loan. Closing costs and current market rates will still apply. Basic requirements for this program include:

1. You have been less than 30 days delinquent on your loan in the last 12 months
2. You currently live in the home as your primary residence
3. Your lender is Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
4. You owe less than 105% of your home's value
5. You are able to prove your ability to afford the modified mortgage payments
6. Your loan is a first trust (if you have a second, then that lender's approval must also be obtained)

If you meet those requirements, you might be able to take advantage of the refinance program. However, if you already have a low interest rate or are paying interest only on your mortgage, you might end up with a higher payment under the Home Affordable Refinance Plan. Keep in mind, the program is there to provide homeowners with loan with a fixed rate.

With the Loan Modification Plan, your loan does not have to be through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, but there are a different set of requirements to meet. The basics include:

1. You currently live in the home as your primary residence
2. Your conforming loan limit is $729,750 or less for 1 unit (more for 2-4 units)
3. Your loan originated prior to January 1, 2009
4. Your loan payment is more than 31% of your gross income per month, including taxes, insurance, and HOA dues.
5. You are able to prove your ability to afford the modified mortgage payments

If you meet those requirements, you might be able to receive a loan workout. Lenders are more inclined to help homeowners become approved for this program, because of the incentive payment they receive through the government for each completed loan workout under this plan. While you do not have to have had your loan default in order to apply, it is imperative that you prove your hardship and guarantee for continuing to pay for your modified loan without ever defaulting again.

To apply, gather specific documents as stipulated by the lender, and submit them with your completed application and your hardship letter. Your lender's decision will be made, based on the review of your information and your telephone interview. Therefore, it is up to you on providing them with the proper information so that you can continue to stay in your home.

Accredited Mortgage Modification - What You Need to Know to Make it Work for You

After you have decided to apply for a home mortgage modification, you need to do some research. You are looking for four or five lending institutions that will offer you what you want in relation of your needs and requirements. Write a list of what you are looking for, such as interest rates, approval times, lawyers fees, but at the very beginning of your list place accredited mortgage modification. Why is this so important? Why do you need this?

As the demand for credit repair increases, many mortgage modification companies have popped up. While some are legitimate and will do what they say, many are not accredited and this can have serious implications. There have been documented stories of people who have been swindled, particularly people in the property market. One well-known story involves a couple that signed a mortgage modification agreement and found out afterwards that they were expected to pay somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000 in what was called "legal and administration fees". Even more disturbing is the fact that the renegotiated loan sometimes ends up costing the same each month as it did before. Additional fees of all sorts have been tacked on. This is why it is so important for a lawyer or a professional to review the agreement before it is signed. This is one of many reasons why it is better to deal with a larger, accredited firm.

To become accredited, the company must agree with strict government regulations. Among these are regular reviews and audits, a cap on fees and exact guidelines for loan qualifications. The process might be longer and more detailed, but you will have a much less chance of falling victim to those who are trying to make a quick profit from the increasing recession. Accredited banks and financial institutions are easy to find, as this is a very positive advertising point. Generally larger banks are safe, since they must agree with government rules and must be accredited. If you are interested in dealing with a smaller company because they are offering you a lower rate, make sure you read your agreement carefully.

You can find accredited institutions by simply Googling using the key words 'accredited mortgage modification'. You will find many institutions to choose from, select the ones you deem most appropriate and begin your research.

Loan Modification Guidelines

Do you understand what it takes to qualify for you to receive a lower monthly mortgage payment? Are you aware of the criteria needed for being approved for loan modification? If you have been wondering if you qualify for President Obama's Federal plan, make sure you are aware of what the bank's guidelines are in order to be approved, before you apply. According to the plan, $75 billion has been set aside to assist eligible homeowners. Unfortunately, not everyone will qualify.

Homeowners must meet all guidelines and criteria in order to qualify for being approved for a loan modification. Knowing ahead of time how to fill out the applications and what to say during your telephone interview will improve your chances of receiving the government help you need. The key is to be as prepared as you can, so that you can save time and know exactly what options are possible for you.

It is crucial that your financial statement presented to your bank reflects your ability to afford the reduced mortgage payments. Alter your budget ahead of time, cutting any unnecessary expenses. The bank will want to see that you are making an effort to improve your situation the best you can, with the funds needed available to maintain your payments. Under the Federal plan, your payment will be no between 31-38% of your gross monthly income, factoring in your property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and HOA dues. Whatever that figure is, set your expenses and adjust your budget around it.

Your home must be your primary residence, with your original loan date prior to January 1, 2009. Your conforming loan limit is $625,500 (previously $729,750 in 2008). You must also be in a hardship situation for your finances, medical or credit debt, job loss, or adjustable interest rate increases.

Ensure you have all the mandatory paperwork ahead of time, including your financial statement, bank statements, and proof of income, before you contact your bank to start the application process. And since you have taken the time to keep accurate information, you will be more likely to have approval for a loan modification. However, you can only apply once, so take heed. Proper planning is vital to being able to receive the help you need to afford foreclosure on your home.

Can a Countrywide Mortgage Modification Help You Out?

If you are like so many other Americans and struggling to meet your monthly mortgage obligations, you are probably anxious to learn about Countrywide's mortgage modification program. This new plan will not only help struggling homeowners, it is also meant to help the housing market in general through imposed modifications like lower interest rates and principal reductions.

As soon as a homeowner enters the loan modification process, from the time the application is filled in, the immediate benefit is that foreclosure proceedings are halted. If you manage to qualify for the loan modification, then foreclosure is stopped altogether and the borrower and lender work together. There is no cost associated with the application and there are no prepayment penalties. The goal is to help the borrower in all ways and to have the modified mortgage payment be an amount that can be paid.

Changing loans into fixed-rate mortgages is definitely advantageous for those who are having trouble paying their monthly bills. One source of concern for homeowners is the growing interest rate on their mortgage and wondering about what the future holds in this area. By reducing the interest rate and with the reduction of the principal, even homeowners with a bad credit score are given new hope. The goal of this whole program is to help people keep their family home, that is why there are so many elements that act in the interest of the borrower.

What would you prefer, a risky loan or a loan that can actually be paid? Lenders do believe that the home modification program is a good one, especially in such troubled times where the real estate market has taken a hit. For both parties, the borrower and the lender, loan modifications give homeowners a fresh start and the opportunity to eliminate accumulated debt. While these measures should have be implement some time ago, it is still good they are in place now.

Countrywide mortgage modifications are available for mortgages that were negotiated between January, 2004 and December, 2007. All the necessary information on avoiding foreclosure can be learned when you sign up with a loan modification program. Help from an experienced lawyer, who is specialized in this area, is also very beneficial. by: Lindsy Emery

Learning about Wells Fargo Loan Modification Terms and Requirements

Homeowners who face financial crises might be eligible for receiving lower mortgage payments with their Wells Fargo loans. If you have been unable to sell your home or refinance due to poor credit or decreased home property value, this might be able to help. Fortunately, good credit and home equity are not required to apply. And if you have been late on your mortgage payments, you will not be disqualified. It might sound too good to be true, but it's not! Right now, the Federal government is trying to help as many homeowners as they can be able to get back on track. They realize people are hurting, some more than others. The only drawback is that not everyone who applies for the plans will qualify, and even those who do might not receive a workout loan either. But here's how to understand Wells Fargo's basic terms and requirements, so you can improve your chances and get started today in the application process.

Wells Fargo needs proof of your financial hardship that has caused you to be behind on your mortgage. Of course, there are many factors to cause this – job losses, medical or credit card debt, divorce, etc. are just some of the most common reasons. You will also need to state your reasons in a letter and submit it with your application. In order to be approved by your lenders, your letter must be convincing, showing why your loan should be altered. Successfully doing these things will result in gaining your lender's favor, and they will be more willing to help you.

In your letter to Wells Fargo, you must prove that with a loan modification, your existing monthly expenses and your mortgage payments would all be paid monthly, without your defaulting on your mortgage again. This is done by including a financial statement, citing your income and expenses on a monthly basis. Here is where you need to pay careful attention to what you include on your financial statement, as any unnecessary expenses will be scrutinized and might hurt your chances of obtaining the new loan. Wells Fargo will want to see that you are serious about taking whatever measures you can to stay in your home.

Terms vary by program. Under the Home Affordable Plan, homeowners who qualify receive an interest rate of 2% and an increased loan term to 40 years. Wells Fargo receives a payment from the bank for each modified loan accepted, so this particular plan might be easier to obtain than you think, if you meet the guidelines.

Completing your paperwork is by far the most important step to the application process. Without following all the directions and advice on improving your chances of being granted a loan modification, you will most likely be rejected. It is up to you to take action and be responsible for what you can do to stay in your home. Doing as much as you can in advance, being as thorough as possible, and staying on top of the process, are all things you should easily be able to accomplish when trying to get a loan modification. Armed with all those basics, you are ready to apply. by: Lindsy Emery

ARM Loan Modification - Just the Facts

Are you looking for a reliable ARM loan modification strategy? You are not alone. Even banks and mortgage lenders know that sometimes it is hard to keep your mortgage payments up to date. You might not be aware of, or expect, the help that is available to you. Get foreclosure out of your mind and start thinking about finding a solution. The quicker you act, the better off you will be, so start examining your options today and make the best decision for your situation.

No one wants to make high payments for a long time. Certainly you have other bills to pay and every month you don't need to be worrying about your mortgage.

This can happen if you don't have an adjustable rate mortgage loan. Since you don't want to have this become a problem, you need to have a back up plan. There are some ways you can lower your payments and you should take advantage of these ideas quickly.

You can get financial help when you get a new mortgage, so don't think of this as a burden. If a mortgage does become more than you can handle, you need to make changes in your mortgage. You can do this one of two ways.

One option is to extend your mortgage so it lasts a few more years. Instead of a bill each month for the next 20 years that you can't afford, you can reduce your monthly payment and pay your mortgage out over the next 25 years. Then you can relax, enjoy your life and you don't have to worry about whether or not you will make your mortgage payment each month. This is the quickest and easiest way to deal with an unmanageable mortgage and lots of people opt for this option.

Another option is to secure a lower interest rate. This is dependant on the bank. If you opt for an adjustable rate, you might find that you get a bad surprise at some point. You need to consider this before it happens. If this problem does come up at some point, you can deal with it by making some changes to the terms of the loan. Your lender can help you with this.

Finally, you can return to enjoying your life and not have the pressure of making your mortgage payment every month. An adjustable rate mortgage is the ideal solution if it is needed. If you can't make the payments, pick a modification strategy. by: Lindsy Emery

Choosing Between Loan Modification Vs. Refinancing

Struggling homeowners in American are now able to receive help with keeping their homes by choosing between refinancing or lowering their monthly mortgage payments through a loan modification. Known as the Home Affordable Plan, it is available to qualified applicants. Here are the facts on the plan:

* Under the Home Affordable Modification Plan, homeowners facing financial hardship are able to obtain a lower interest rate despite plummeted property values or bad credit. In turn, lenders receive incentive payments for the modified loans. You can be looking at a 2% reduction to your existing rate, a loan term extension to 40 years, and principal deferral. This is especially important to those homeowners whose property values have suffered and who cannot otherwise sell or refinance.

* Have you been unable to refinance? The new plan offers qualified homeowners with a new loan at the current market rates. With Fannie Mae or Freddy Mac, they require your mortgage be at least 105% of the current value, and that you have not been more than 60 days late in your payments the past 12 months.

* Did you know the Hope for Homeowners refinance plan can now help more homeowners? So far, this FHA insured plan has completed only 70 loans, so there are now new guidelines to allow more homeowners to qualify. Your lender will be provided an incentive payment by the government by creating a refinanced loan at the existing market rates.

3 Tips on Applying for a Wells Fargo Loan Modification

To improve your chances of Wells Fargo approving a loan modification, you will need to understand the basics. It is advised to turn to your lender for help with modifying your loan, rather than paying an outside company to do it for you. However, not everyone who applies will qualify and be approved. To approach Wells Fargo to see if you might qualify for a loan modification, become familiar with these three DIY tips.

#1 Spend some time reading and understanding Wells Fargo's approval guidelines before filling out your application. Once they have received it, the bank will go over your information and contact you for a telephone interview. At that time, they will determine your eligibility in going forward in the loan modification process.

#2 Have your paperwork in order, completed, and accurate before sending it in to the bank. Without receiving everything needed to apply all at once, there is a greater chance of your information being neglected and ultimately rejected. So take the time to ready all your documents and include them with your application. Only then will Wells Fargo consider whether or not you are even eligible.

#3 Be persistent when it comes to keeping track of your application's status. Just because you have submitted your application, doesn't mean you have to wait on the bank to contact you. Once you have completed all the paperwork, it is a good idea to periodically follow-up with telephone calls. That way, you can still negotiate and hopefully eventually receive the approval you need. You'll also need to be patient, since this isn't a quick process. In the end, your persistence and patience will pay off when it means you can have your loan modified!

How to Improve Your Chances of Qualifying for a Mortgage Loan Modification

If you are trying to find a way to avoid foreclosure, you might be available to lower your monthly mortgage payments through a loan modification. Under the current federal government's plan, there are several programs available to homeowners who qualify for loan workouts. This is estimated to have with as many as 5 million homeowners! How do you find out if you are eligible? Here are some guidelines on the qualifications and how to apply for a loan workout with your lender. First of all, not all lenders are participating in loan modification programs, neither are the obligated to modify your loan. Only if they deem your case in their best interest, will they be willing to help you. What it all comes down to is that the bank will help you so long as they lose as little money as possible. Because home values have decreased at alarming rates, modified loans enable banks to lose less than if homes are foreclosed. Even so, you will have to be able to convince your lender that providing you with a modified loan will be the best solution possible for both sides. If you are able to reflect this in your circumstances and plan to make it work without later defaulting on your loan, the bank will be more obliging to help you.

Applying for a mortgage loan modification requires completing an application. But make sure you are thoroughly familiar with all the guidelines ahead of time, to avoid delaying the process or being denied for failure to follow all the steps. You are only given one opportunity to apply, so you have to plan accordingly. What you include on your application is vital to your approval, as the information will be reviewed. So if you are able to show your lender exactly why you are qualified for obtaining a modified loan, you will be more successful. How will you be able to pay the lowered payment? What is your home's property value – is it the same or less than the balance of your loan? You can have a realtor prepare a Comprehensive Market Analysis report to provide to your lender.

Review all your paperwork before submitting the application. Have you included all the documents requested? Are the forms thoroughly completed? If your paperwork adheres to the lender's guidelines, your file will go through the necessary channels to become approved. It will not be a quick process, however, and you will need to be patient. But so long as you have done everything you can on your part, you will hopefully be looking at a new loan modification for your home.by: Lindsy Emery

Countrywide Loan Modification - You Can Fill out the Application!

It is possible to lower your monthly payments and keep ownership of your family home, one way to do this is to research, apply for and be approved for a Countrywide loan modification. You do not want to miss this opportunity simply because you did not fill out the paperwork properly. The things you need to do to get approved by Countrywide may seem strict, but you can do it. Learn all you can before you hand in your application.

It always seems overwhelming when you first look at the requirements of any lender's request for paperwork. It you work through it systematically, take your time and follow the instructions, you have a much better chance of being approved. Usually this means you will have to ask questions along the way.

Think of these forms as a chance for you to plead your case before the bank in terms they understand, so they will decide you are a deserving and eligible homeowner for a loan modification. After you understand what the lender is looking for, it really isn't so hard. You can hire someone to do this for you, but try it by yourself first to see what you can do and save yourself some money. You will be more motivated than anyone else to make sure you get approved. You might think that you are not experienced enough to do this, but find out exactly what you need to do before you make that decision.

There are many companies that will represent you and fill in your application, but you will still need to give them all the necessary information, so you might as well do it yourself. Everyone that renegotiates a mortgage whether through Countrywide or with any other bank, is learning how, since this is a one time only process, no one gets to practice it. Get all the information you need before you hire someone. If you are diligent, careful, honest and motivated, you can complete the application for a loan modification correctly. by: Lindsy Emery

Bank of America Loan Modification - Five Steps to Approval

Does paying your high monthly mortgage payment cause you stress or make you worry? Have you been thinking that you could get a better deal, like a Bank of America loan modification period? The Bank of America is known nationwide as a lending bank that is currently offering renegotiations for some of its borrowers. There are things you can make it easier for the Bank of America to approve your application. If you meet certain requirements, you can have your mortgage payments reduced. Before beginning these negotiations, follow these five steps.

1. Read and learn what the Bank of America requires in order to approve a loan modification. In order to be approved, you need to have a certain amount of disposable income and a specific debt to income ratio.

2. Get the paperwork in order. The bank officer will want to review all your documents in order to determine your qualifications. Make sure you have all the required documents before applying, as this will allow everything to proceed without delay. Improper or incorrect paperwork could also result in rejection of your application.

3. You must have a Hardship Letter. This letter must be convincing, compelling and clearly outline that you have or will suffer serious hardship if you have to continue paying your current monthly payments. There are three important parts to a Hardship Letter so make sure you find out what they are.

4. Be prepared, be accurate and complete the Bank of America loan modification application properly. Everything you write will be or could be checked. Include all important information, honestly, to make sure there is no reason for anyone to reject your application.

5. Be persistent and patient. It is not unusual for it to take eight weeks before the Bank of America will approve a loan modification application. If you are rejected, don't take no for an answer. Through diligence, determination and focused persistence some homeowners have been able to have their rejection changed to an approval. This is your home you are fighting for, and success in this process will result in you keeping it.

If you follow this process are diligent, honest and thorough in completing your application; and you are persistent you might yourself approved for a Bank of America loan modification. Take the time that is needed. Put your energy into completing the application properly. Know what the bank requires in order to give an approval. If you don't know something, ask, so you can complete the application properly. Seek and accept help and you might be able to keep your home. Just like so many other homeowners have been able to do, you can find a way to keep your home too! by: Lindsy Emery

Chase Customers and Chase Bank Home Loan Modification - The Truth

For a lot of people making ends meet is a challenge right now and they are starting to worry about impending foreclosure. This does not have to happen, however, mortgage loan modifications can help prevent this and give homeowners some time to get their finances in order. Your lender and loan insurer are the determining factors in determining if and how your loan can be modified. This article will focus on the requirements of Chase Bank home loan modifications and how to get one.

Before you begin, you need to know who insures your loan. A lot of people don't know this since they usually have no reason to. The quickest and easiest way to find out is to call Chase Bank and ask. If you find that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac insures your loan, you may be a candidate for the President's $75 Million Homeowner Stability Initiative. This program works with lenders and borrowers to lower monthly mortgage payments to no more than 31% of your monthly income before taxes.

There are, naturally, some requirements. You must own the home you live in, owe no more than $729,750 on your mortgage and must have negotiated your loan before 2009. You must be making payments that exceed 31% of your gross monthly income and you cannot have had your loan modified in the past. If you meet all these requirements, consult with a financial planner to tell you more about it. This government plan helps both lenders and borrowers, so homeowners get better deals through this program than they would when dealing directly with banks.

If it turns out that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac does not insure your loan, you do not qualify for this government program. There are still alternatives. Chase bank does have its own process and it is worthwhile to investigate their loan modification process, especially before accepting foreclosure. Again, you must own the home you live in, have a mortgage that has never been modified or refinanced and be able to pay a monthly payment of between 31%-40%. The monthly payments may be a little higher since there is not government help as there is in the Homeowner Stability Initiative. If you fill these requirements, Chase will also request a hardship letter, your financial statements, your pay stubs, bank statements and ask to see your tax returns.

Whatever approach you take, either approaching Chase Bank or applying for the Homeowner Stability Initiative, a loan modification is a much better alternative than foreclosure. Your credit score will not be damaged and you can keep your family home.

If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, check out Chase Bank home loan modification and the government initiative program. by: Lindsy Emery

What Loan Modification Banks Should You Work With?

Every month we hear of another bank collapsing. How do you know your bank won't be next? How can a borrower choose a trustworthy bank? Before you begin any renegotiation process for any loan, it is vital you know what banks are the best for loan modifications.

Like most Americans, our mortgage is our largest monthly expense, and the most important one to pay. In today's economic situation, where a credit crash and a home market crash have occurred, it has become very difficult not only for people to buy a house, but to continue to pay for the one they have. There are many reasons for this including job loss and sub prime lending. Whatever the cause, many Americans have either experienced foreclosure or live in fear of it.

Fortunately, many banks are willing to modify the term of original mortgage deals so homeowners can experience some relief. This is known as a loan modification. A new policy is created and the monthly payments are reduced to an amount the homeowner can pay. This is good for everyone, the homeowner, the bank and the economy in general. When a bank forecloses on a house, they only get the house and no money unless that house sells.

This is called a static asset, meaning no money is flowing into the economy. Loan modifications can be the solution to all these problems. You do need to know the position of your lender on this process before you begin. Some lenders are more open to modifications than others. Altegra Credit Co. seems like a good company to work with since their loans were much better than sub prime loans, but their interest rates were still on the high end and people still have difficulty paying the monthly payment. In causes like this, it is good to have an attorney help you with the loan modification process because it is very demanding. Bigger banks, like Bank of America are actually being proactive and seeking out delinquent clients to see if they can help them make payments. The will happily approve a loan modification if you are eligible. CitiMortgage is also a good company to work with. They are a subsidiary of CitiGroup and their entire focus is mortgages. Since this is their entire business they are pros in helping people keep their homes.

As always, do your research before starting this process so you will know if you will get the help you need from your bank of it you will need to get legal assistance.by: Lindsy Emery

How Can You Get a Chase Bank Home Loan Modification?

It is every homeowners' worse nightmare, a financial crisis that may result in the loss of the family home. There is a solution, an alternative to foreclosure, and that is a modification to the mortgage loan. This depends on your bank and your loan insurer so before you investigate loan modification you should first make an appointment with your mortgage lender. This article outlines the usual expectations for those who hope to get a Chase Bank mortgage modification.

First you need to know who insures your loan. This is not something that people commonly know, usually you don't even need to access this information, so don't stress if you don't have this information immediately. All you need to do is phone Chase Bank and ask. You are in luck if it turns out your insurer is Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. A $75 billion government loan modification program has recently been developed for those with Fannie and Freddie loans that is meant to help homeowners survive this recession by modifying their monthly payments so they are reduced to just 31% of gross monthly income.

Of course, there are some standards that must be met before you are allowed to access this Making Home Affordable Plan. You must live in the home you own, your debt cannot exceed $729,750 and the loan must have been secured prior to January 1, 2009. Your current monthly payment must be more than 31% of your gross monthly income and you must not have had previous loan modifications. This is a very good plan and if you think you might qualify; find a HUD-approved financial counsellor who will be able to give you more information. The government is actively encouraging modification programs to help everyone by giving both the borrowers and lenders incentive payments.

If you are not insured through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, there is still hope. Chase Bank still offers modifications. It won't be as good as the Making Home Affordable Plan since there is no government funding, but it is still better than foreclosure both for you and for your credit rating. Applicants must still be living in the home they own, and must be holders of a fist mortgage that has not been refinanced or modified earlier. The monthly payments, since government help is not a factor here, may be in the range of 31% to 40% of your monthly income before taxes. If you do meet these requirements, you will have to submit whatever paperwork Chase Bank requests. This will include a hardship letter, all financial records, your pay stubs and your tax returns.

If you are facing foreclosure due to an inability to pay your mortgage, check out Chase Bank home loan modification. If your income and loan fall into the eligible range, you might find you can modify your loan and reduce your monthly payment to something you can afford. by: Lindsy Emery

Business Blogs - The Smarter Way To Promote Your Business!

When you compare most of the options available for promoting your business, it’s clear that the world wide web offers many attractive benefits and possibilities for businesses to not only create greater exposure for their products and services, but also to leverage the business owner’s time and effort.

The problem is that many business owners simply don’t know how to utilize this medium to its full advantage. Many settle for putting up a website that is often no more useful than a static online brochure and then just hoping that it will work for them.

There is a smarter, cheaper, better, easier and faster solution. It’s called a business blog.

Some of the immediate advantages a blog offers businesses over regular, static web sites, are a smarter content publishing and management platform, more direct involvement with their customers, built-in capabilities like RSS feeds and search engine notification, and greater control and flexibility over the way content is managed.

Plus, it is way easier to promote and grow your business online using a blog, than it is using a website if you know how. Not to mention the fact that your promotional efforts can have a longer lifetime and give you greater exposure than traditional advertising media like newspaper or radio ads. (In fact, you can combine these, for example, making your current promotion be the home page of your blog, then sending radio or print ad visitors to your blog.)

What’s the difference between a business blog and a business website?

You can make a business blog look and feel exactly like a website – in fact, many of the sites you are visiting right now are probably powered by blogging platforms like WordPress, instead of popular web design HTML applications like Frontpage or Dreamweaver. A significant difference, is that you don’t need to know web site coding language like HTML to run a business blog, or add and modify content on your site. You simply add content and publish. This makes business blogs a perfect online marketing tool for business owners.

Another important difference is that blogs allow you to have "conversations" and build interactive relationships with other people, where static web sites tend to be more of a "one-way" vehicle for presenting information to visitors.

What if you already have a web site?

If you currently have a website that requires you to contact your web developer, web designer, web master or an IT savvy friend, nephew, niece or neighbor every time you want to make a change to your site, then you definitely need to consider adding a blog to your site. Simply install the blog in a subdirectory of your domain (e.g. yourdomain.com/blog), then promote your business using the blog and link your posts back to your site for more information about your products or services, to purchase, etc …

If you don’t have a website yet, then save yourself money on costly web development and a lot of hassle and just use a blog. With a blog, you can easily promote your business by adding regular posts and articles about a variety of different topics.

Here are just some ideas for things you can write about your business, then post on your business blog:

Product recallsCustomer service information (e.g. how to ship product back, refund policies, etc.)FAQsProfiling customersInformation your customers would find useful, educational, informative, entertaining, etc.New things coming soon to your businessProfiling members of your teamNews about your industryTop 10 listsProduct / Service tips (how to spot quality, how to avoid paying too much or being ripped off, etc ..)News about your own businessProduct / Service benefits

As you can see, there’s no shortage of content to write about when it comes to promoting your business.

Now … just getting a blog up and running is not really going to help you. You need to know how to configure it properly if you want to achieve the best results with the least effort.

Fortunately, there is a great resource I recommend you research in more detail if you are interested in knowing more about the benefits and advantages of using a business blog to help you promote your business and sell your products and services smarter. A company called www.SelfPublishWeb.com offers two ways to help you set up a blog for your business that will not only get your site pages quickly indexed in Google and other major search engines (usually in as little as 2-3 days), but they show you how to fully configure it so that it becomes a powerful marketing tool for your business, with many automated built-in promotional features that you don't even need to think about.

You just write about your business and the automated system running silently in the background goes to work for you.

SelfPublishWeb.com offers two options: They can fully install, set up and configure your business site / business blog for you and you’re then ready to go in as little as 4-5 working days, or, if you want to save several hundred dollars, you can purchase their complete 'step-by-step' DIY video training tutorials package, which is done in a completely non-technical way so that anyone with basic computer skills (like the ability to cut and paste) can just watch over their shoulder and follow along as they show you how to get your own business blog up and running in 2 days or less.

I've had a chance to fully review their offers and I thoroughly recommend the step-by-step video training tutorials they offer as a DIY cheaper alternative. You get access to a private Member's Area where you can watch all of the training videos and download all of the materials, plus ongoing support. The videos are excellent and make everything really easy to follow, and the information is never overwhelming. You are only given what you need to know in order to get the next task done. Additional resources are provided in the member's area, plus you get training emails, and access to a member's forum.

In my opinion, the smartest option is to purchase the step-by-step video training tutorials (selling for less than $100 last time I checked), then assign the task of installing, setting up and configuring the site to somebody in your team if you don't want to go through the tutorials yourself. Like I said earlier, the instructions and video tutorials are really easy to follow, so anyone can do it.