Remember those days when you could pick out all the items you want, and then pay for them each week at your local store?  Okay, maybe not everyone did that, but I remember doing this sort of thing when wanting to buy some “big” ticket items.  Those days seem to be back.  Sears announced it is rolling out layaway!  You shop for what you want and then make a small down payment, then you are done.  Layaway is not a common thing these days, however with the economy retailers are doing whatever it is they can do to get consumers in their stores for the holidays

What happened to layaway and why did it pretty much disappear?  According to creditcards.com, the rise in credit cards being issued erased the high demand for layaway.  Now with consumers having maxed out credit cards, delinquent mortgages, and jobs disappearing, retailers are trying to come up with ideas on how to get that limited amount of consumers in THEIR stores.  Other stores that I found offer layaway are:  Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Maxx, and also take a look at elayaway.com, because this website offers a layaway service.
So, why would Leadpile Lead Exchange be writing about “layaway”? As I have stated in previous posts, we see consumers that are in all sorts of financial situations. Seeing stories such as retailers rolling out an old idea in this tough economy, gives me optimism that there is possibly some light at the end of the tunnel. Every little piece will help those consumers and the economy get headed in the right direction!

With tough times even in the internet business world, businesses must find effective ways to generate new business. Companies need to see results from their money spent on advertising, so many choose to invest in lead generation.
Businesses could spend an infinite amount of money on PPC and not know what the result could be. Businesses could spend undefined amounts of money on hiring someone to do SEO.
Businesses could purchase “lists” and cross your fingers there will be a response rate that is acceptable.
OR
Businesses can look at lead generation (CPL), where each lead you purchase is a defined person who is interested in their product. There are various ways lead generation companies are generating leads. For example, leads can be generated from things such as surveys or incentives. However, these are not always going to be as targeted of leads, because consumers could be looking at it like what is in it for them? Unlike some other lead generation companies, Leadpile Lead Exchange is working with ONLY consumers who are opting in for a particular product of service. This end result means a lot more targeted consumer,  and a much bigger chance the lead will convert to an actual sale.  What should businesses choose?
Marketing dollars are down, so this requires a strict focus on making the most out of what you spend on marketing. Businesses can’t afford to pay for random non targeted ads, unopened e-mails or wasted clicks. CPL pricing models allow businesses to get returns on every advertising dollar they spend.  Tough times are not just affecting consumers, it is affecting businesses all over the world.  Businesses are fighting over every last potential sale because they are becoming far and few between!

I have to say there are so many beautiful places to see in New York City.  This week the city was also the host city for the Ad-Tech New York conference.  Seeing some old, new and familiar faces is always nice to see at any industry conference.  We were also a sponsor at the Glam Interactive Group party, which we were very happy with the outcome of this gathering.  Great event to network at!  Also, thanks to the great city for hosting this conference, and we look forward to seeing all our affiliates at the next conference!  There was also some beautiful places we were thankfully able to see.

Leadpile Lead Exchange is always looking for new affiliates to work with in this industry.  If we are not working with you already, we would love to speak with you and get some business going in any of the number of 30 or so verticals we are working in currently.

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Time is running out for consumers to read up on all the popositions being presented to them on the November 4th ballet. One thing that is being voted on in the states of Ohio and Arizona, is in regards to payday loans.  How much does everyone really understand about payday loans?  One myth I thought very important to point out:

Myth:  Payday lenders hide fees and mislead consumers.

Fact:  Just like any other service or loan you obtain, there is a cost to do get that loan or service.  In addition, any payday loan you take out there will be a cost to taking out the loan.  According to the CFSA website, “The cost of a payday advance is fully disclosed to customers on signs in the stores and in disclosure agreements. Moreover, in accordance with the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the terms of the loan are clearly outlined in the lending agreement. Payday advances involve single, flat fees and there are no hidden charges, balloon payments or accruing interest. CFSA members also provide an educational brochure emphasizing responsible use of the product and offer a free right of rescission should the customer change their mind.”

CFSA also went on to say that in a recent survey 96% of the people were aware of the fees associated with taking out the payday loan.  Just like with any other loan, there are documents presented to the consumer with all the fees of doing the loan in black and white.  Are people sometimes just so anxious to get a loan, that they do not take the time to read the documents they are signing?

Leadpile Lead Exchange wants consumers to read everything before agreeing to take out a payday loan, or any other loan.  Knowledge is power!

The payday loan industry is getting a lot of attention, especially in the states of Ohio and Arizona. Those on the outside possibly do not fully understand the payday loan industry and there are some misconceptions about the short term loans.

Myth: Payday loan lenders do not want to be regulated.
FACT: According to CFSA, this is quit the contrary. Most payday lenders do want to be regulated and have certain industry guidelines. However, there are those that are trying to eliminate the industry as a whole, and not deal with keeping the “good guys” in business.
Currently, there are 37 states + the District of Columbia that have payday regulations. CFSA is working on trying to get regulations implemented on the remaining states, however they are not wanting to see the industry go extinct. Therefore, the question is… why is the payday loan industry going through such tough scrutiny, when in comparison with credit cards and other financial services there are similar costs/fees associated with them?
Leadpile Lead Exchange understands there are a lot of myths about payday loans, however the key is for those that are not fully educated on the industry, to read up to fully understand all aspects of this financial product compared to others. There is good to these types of loans, and they are sometimes very much needed.

Superpages (part of Idearc Media) has implemented a new policy, where if you are a lead generator, you can’t advertise directly for the service you are targeting. For example, all the sites like LowerMyBills, LendingTree, etc., will not be able to advertise under “loan” or “debt consolidation” categories. They are forced to advertise under the “referral” category. 

Also, it appears that if you are a lender or a bank, you will need to fill out a credit application, even if you have been doing business with them for years. The credit cards are not enough as they need to make sure you are not going to go out of business. 

I will keep you updated with news from them. 

Ford is stepping up and taking action to assist parents in controlling the speed when their teenager are behind the wheel. Teenagers account for a large percentage of car accidents, mainly due to speeding.  Ford has just introduced a new feature called “My Key”.  My Key will play a major role in decreasing potential car accidents caused by teenagers. 
Parents will be able to limit teen drivers to a speed of 80mph, using a computer chip on the key. Parents also have the option of controlling the stereo volume, which has been known to also distract teen drivers.  In addition, there is a programable chip that can be installed to set off a six second chime, if the driver is not wearing their seat-belt.  Parents can even instruct to set up an annoying chime that will keep going off if they go over 45, 55, or 65mph. Safety first!  
My Key will be rolled out in the summer of 2010 in both cars and trucks.  It will debut in the new 2010 Ford Focus, but also become a part of both Lincoln and Mercury models. 

Ford will get a lot of attention with the My Key.  I’m sure it will quickly spread across other recognized brands.  Smart move for Ford to lead the pack on targeting safety and teens. Teens of course are not thrilled, but overall it’s a great feature that Ford created to promote safety.
What do you think about this new My Key? Is it a thumbs up or thumbs down? 

In recent news, GMAC announced it would only offer auto loans to consumers with a credit score of 700+. According to Reuters.com, GMAC is only wanting to extend credit to those with good credit, and is also saying it will be doing more shorter term loans. This is in direct response to the economy and what is happening to the auto industry. GMAC expects these changes to remain in place until the economy stabilizes. In addition to these changes that are affecting consumers, GMAC says, “it has increased the rate it charges car dealers for providing standard auto financing by 75 basis points.” Therefore, this is not only affecting the consumer who is getting the car, but also those that are selling the cars.
Leadpile Lead Exchange works a lot with auto finance and car purchase leads. Situations like this, in the lending world, are going to affect the average “joe” who buys a car. This is where the auto finance lead type could become more demanded because generally you are talking about consumers that don’t have the perfect credit like GMAC is wanting. These consumers still need funding and there are still options out there for them, even though their credit is not “perfect”. Those dealers being affected by the GMAC decision should look at joining our lead exchange. We have the ability to connect you with consumers that are looking for a car and want it now.

GM is speaking out and getting the facts straight to the public.  Check out this site: http://gmfactsandfiction.com it allows you to write the “myth” you heard and they will provide the “facts”.   

I was reading today that GM is closing four factories.  Although it has not been determined if that’s 100% accurate, many speculate that it is.  GM has announced that they are closing the Janesville Wisconsin factory.  Shutting down doors for approximately 1,200 workers, December 23rd 2008. The other potential factories, looking at their doors closing, are the ones located in Ohio, Ontario, and Mexico.  

Shares dropped horrifically for GM over the last few days. In an attempt to save money, GM is looking at a few avenues to save money. They are looking at closing down factories that focus specifically on GM’s big trucks such as the Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon. This is a way that GM believes will be lucrative in the long run.  GM has confirmed that they are not going to file for bankruptcy.

What do you think?  Do you think GM has an opportunity to come back from this nightmare?  

In an effort to keep our Leadpile Lead Exchange blog readers “politically educated”, I have researched some top political websites. We all know that the 2008 elections are approaching, and it is time to really understand what it is you will be voting on in a couple weeks.
According to Hitwise.com, these are the top 10 political websites out there. This information is for US internet usage ending the week of September 27th, 2008.

1. www.huffingtonpost.com
2. www.realclearpolitics.com
3. www.barackobama.com
4. www.politico.com
5. politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com
6. elections.foxnews.com
7. www.dailykos.com
8. www.freerepublic.com
9. www.townhall.com
10. www.johnmccain.com

Leadpile Lead Exchange wants everyone to get out there and vote November 4th, 2008.

Ever wonder what search engine terms are used the most? I know I do, and search terms also tell a little bit about what is going on in the world around us. According to dmconfidential, eBay gets the award for the top terms (eBay and eBay.com)in the month of August. People trying to find bargains, or sell items they have I would say is partially responsible for this. Home depot was the next highest term used, followed by mapquest. The shopping/office supplies category received 43.15% of all paid search traffic. The fortunate thing is that this is an 8% increase from July’s 39.81%. Maybe people are staying home and doing more of their shopping online to try and get the best deal, without driving store to store. Business telecommunications and pharmaceutical & medical traffic was slightly up. However, travel and business/legal traffic was down for the month of August.
Another interesting fact, yet not surprising, is that Google accounted for 71% of all US searches in the month of August. In a distant second place was Yahoo with 18.26% followed by MSN (5.32%) and Ask (3.45%).
To truly be effective with lead generation, knowing this kind of information and detailed information about the verticals you are promoting is key to being successful. For instance, someone who is doing PPC for payday loan will loose a lot of money if they are not first aware of everything there is to know about payday loans, and also if they do not understand search engines.
Here at Leadpile, I am going to do everything I can to help publishers know what buyers are maybe looking for in a particular lead type. This helps with how the traffic is driven to the website and ultimately helps with conversions and payouts. Communication with your affiliate manager or account manger is key to running a successful lead generation campaign.