Today I was not surprised to read that CNNMONEY.COM reported that due to the housing markdowns, and the effects of the mortgage industry, GMAC Financial will close 200 retail offices and lay off about 5,000 employees.  According to the article, they anticipate the lay off to be about 3,000 employees by the end of this month, and another 2,000 by the end of the year.
Layoffs like this one, is one of the reasons why the unemployment rate is at the highest peak ever. More and more Americans are loosing their jobs and finding themselves more in debt.  The mortgage industry is facing a downturn, however at the same time I know there are still many companies that are doing well. These companies are trying to take advantage of the new “creative” programs to close loans.  Mortgages will always exist, therefore certain companies will make it through this period with a bumpy road and then be around another 20 years!

What do you think in regards to the Market?  How long do you anticipate it being before it gets better?

Leadpile Lead Exchange needs Credit Card Processing leads. If you are generating credit card processing leads, bring them in our marketplace.  Honestly, everyday I’m having a new advertiser sign up DEMANDING this lead type. It’s the new lead type that will sell! Think about it for a quick sec…… Who in this time of age does not have a credit card? Some teens might not have one, but even they are getting them younger and younger.  It makes logical sense for every business out there to accept credit cards. What I can not believe is that many new businesses do not accept credit cards.  This could be affecting their revenue. Overall, when businesses accept credit cards, their sales should be higher.  Reality is most people would rather charge a purchase versus pay cash.
Credit Card Processing companies are really targeting these businesses that do not currently accept credit cards.  This makes perfect financial sense in the fact that the business gets the credit card machine, and the credit card processing company makes a sale!  Now evaluate all the new home based business seekers that are working from home. There are millions of them in the U.S. currently. Is it a good business decision for even these types of businesses to plan on accepting credit cards?  Possibly not, depending on the type of home based business they are doing.

Great lead type and I need leads!  We are currently generating Credit Card Processing in our lead exchange, but NOT ENOUGH to fill in our demand! If you have them………… bring them over! 

In an effort to stay competitive with Microsoft, Google will be rolling out a new browser, according to MSNBC yesterday. Microsoft has the Internet Explorer and just rolled out it’s newest version- IE7. Google has just about everything else, but not a web browser. Soon this will be changing with Google rolling out “Google Chrome”.
Google Chrome is said to be able to handle more video-rich applications, unlike current browsers that were designed with a focus on text and graphics, according to the Guardian yesterday.
When and “if” this new web browser is released, this will add to the many choices consumers can choose from. Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and now potentially Google Chrome. Do we need as many choices as we already have? Being someone that works for an internet company and that is on the internet all day long, I would have to say there are positive features to each of the major web browsers. Why can’t we just get one that takes a little bit from each of the top web browsers?
What else will Google get into? Google is on it’s way to rule the world.. become a monopoly?

Labor Day is approaching…………..and The Leadpile Team would like to let everyone know to ENJOY their Labor Day weekend. However, do all people really know what Labor Day is all about, other than a FREE day of (for most)? Just in case you did not know where Labor Day originated, here is a little information about Labor day.
According to Wikipedia, “Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create “a day off for the working citizens”. In addition, some do relate Labor Day as the end of summer AND the last day you can wear white.

All the hard workers out there, take a nice deserving day off and enjoy yourself!

Leadpile Lead Exchange is proud to announce we are now a part of the Facebook craze. Social networking sites are key to helping to define a company’s online presence. Leadpile realizes this, and now has it’s own profile. Join our Leadpile list of friends, and become apart of our Lead Exchange if you are not already.

According to paydayfacts.org, The Ohio Grocers Association has backed Ohioans For Financial Freedom. The group is stating that consumers are going through a lot of economic hardships, and taking away additional sources of financial help is not the way to go. The other aspect they are concerned about is the fact that if this legislation takes effect, 6,000 employees in the payday lending industry could loose their jobs, resulting in their bills and loans becoming delinquent ultimately affecting other financial industries. This group believes that consumers should be able to make their own decisions about borrowing money, and the government should not be making that decision.

Either way, the payday loan lead type is a very demanded lead type with Leadpile Lead Exchange.
We shall see if Ohio falls in the footsteps of some other states developing legislation in this industry.

Need AUTO FINANCE leads?
How about PAYDAY LOAN leads?
DEBT leads by chance?
What about CREDIT REPAIR leads?
No wait, how about BUSINESS CASH ADVANCE leads?

No matter what type of lead you are looking for, Leadpile is probably generating it…or can potentially generate it for you. Leadpile Lead Exchange is made up of buyers and sellers of real time web based leads. We are always looking for new buyers of leads to join our marketplace. Where else can you:

1. Get various leads types in one place?
2. Set your pricing you are comfortable with?
3. Define exactly what filters you want?
4. Get top notch customer service to answer your questions and provide support?
5. Work with a company that “does the right thing”, and is always wanting to have our buyers and sellers that are “doing the right thing”.
6. Have the ability to have leads posted to your website, redirected to your site, delivered on email or able to downloaded reports at any time!

What are you waiting for? Try out the Leadpile experience!
For those of you that are already buying or selling leads.. THANK YOU!!

For those who feel more comfortable receiving leads in a CSV file to upload into your CRM, it can be done in LeadPile Lead Exchange.  I’ll show you how!

• First, Click on the tab where leads are being purchased, either Lead Direct, Self Select, or Batch delivery.
• Next click on the name of your campaign.
• You will see a the report date:
• 
• Change the Starting date and ending date to the time period that you would like to download.
• Click on the “Refresh Totals” link
• Then Click on the “Download all leads from this period” link
• Click on the Magnified glass that pertains your selection

According to DMNews Friday, Chrysler announces that it is going to be launching 3 different campaigns to excite female buyers to go out and purchase a new Chrysler. Chrysler realizes that the female has a large part in the final decision, when couples purchase a car. This new marketing plan is also a direct response to a down turn in sales through July. “Chrysler sales were down 23% through July (compared to 11% for US car sales overall) and Chrysler brands ranked at or below the industry average in a Uni­versity of Michigan consumer satisfaction survey, according to The New York Times. Sales for the Jeep Grand Cherokee fell 48% this July and those of its flagship sedan, the 300, slipped 39%,” according to DMNews.
Bottom line is sales for cars are down, and sales for SUVs are down dramatically. Chrysler is trying to maybe narrow down where there is some room to get some sales going, in this struggling car industry. However, can it work?
Chrysler is utilizing a direct mail campaign to millions of women in hopes of sparking some interest. Combining incentives from some partnering companies, in addition to pre approvals, this should hopefully spark some women to go out and get a new car, or at least sway the decision their spouse was looking at for their next new car. We shall see if this campaign is effective, and also if some other auto makers try to get creative on their marketing to lure in more customers.
Hey Chrysler… if you need some auto finance leads contact Leadpile Lead Exchange. We are generating a lot of volume in this arena and would love to help you get your sales up!

Curious, what’s the next category LeadPile is looking at generating?  Well, folks here you have it!  Tax Debt Leads.  Very popular, and the demand is off the charts.  

The definition of this lead type is clearly back taxes. Consumers that did not file or owe a lot of many preferably in Federal taxes.  Why, the sudden demand?  For years, we have encounter consumers finding themselves in financial trouble, but the economy now is focused on people not paying taxes.  Believe me thousands of consumers owe money to the Federal system.

The downfall for thousands of people is that when you owe money to the Feds, the Federal government has the ability to start garnishment from your revenue or put liens on your property.  Not an experience you would like to encouter.  You will also be penalized and depending on the time frame owed or amount owed it can become a serious headache to deal with them, as you will be fined and some people even experience time in jail. OUCH!

LeadPile Lead Exchange will be introducing Tax Debt Lead.  We will connect the consumer that are in serious tax debt and need assistance talking to a specialist that can assist them.  Stay tune for a more firm ETA!

In recent months the debt vertical has become a very popular, yet challenging vertical to work with. Understanding reasons consumers have gotten into debt and the specifics that the lead buyers are looking for, has been something we have worked on to fully understand.
According to Bankrate.com there are 10 main reasons why consumers get buried in debt. Understanding more about debt allows consumers to be more educated and ultimately try and avoid these types of situations.

1. Reduced income, but same monthly expenses
2. Divorce
3. Poor money management
4. Underemployment
5. Gambling
6. Medical expenses
7. Not saving money or not saving enough money
8. No money communication skills
9. Spending money you don’t have yet
10. No understanding of money

These are all scenarios any consumer can be faced with, including myself. With the economy being very tough right now, many lead generation companies are focusing on the debt vertical. Fortunately, there are various types of debt help that the consumers can get, but most consumers do not know the difference between one another.
The main details that debt consolidation and debt settlement companies are looking for is the amount of unsecured debt. What is unsecured debt?
Unsecured debt is debt that is not secured by any collateral. For instance, credit card debt, medical bills, cell phone bills and other collection accounts. Most debt companies do not work with secured debt such as mortgages, tax debt, student loans and auto loans.
Leadpile Lead Exchange generates a lot of debt leads. Lead types such as debt consolidation, debt settlement, and credit repair are all types of leads we are generating that are there to assist the consumers with the debt/credit. We are connecting the consumers that need help, with those companies that can help them get out of debt.

Bankrate.com just released the top 10 selling cars for 2008.  The hottest and most popular automobiles: 

• #10 – The Chevrolet Cobalt.  Listing price $14,217. Sold to date 114,250 vehicles.  Runs at about 25-30 mpg.  
• #9  -  Ford Focus. Listing price $15,363. Sold to date 123,449 cars. Average 28mpg
• #8  -  Chevrolet Impala. Listing price $21,348. Sold to date 138,952.  MPG depends on the cylinder of the vehicle.  Your looking at anywhere between 17-23mpg depending on the version
• #7 – Chevrolet Silverado (light duty). First truck on the top ten.. Listing price$25,921. Sold to date 148,046. They average 11-16mpg. 
• #6  - Nissan Altima.   Listing price $22,798. Sold to date 158,006.  Average 22-26mpg.  
• #5  - We are half way down the list . Introducing the Ford F Series (light duty). Nice to see another truck on the board.  Listing price $22,798.  Sold to date 164,828.  10-16mpg.  Wow, get ready to spend your money on gas with this type of mpg!
• #4  - Toyota Corolla.  Listing price $17,122.  Sold to date 169,868.  25-30mpg.  Nice!
• #3  - And now the top three!  Honda Civic! I’m not surprised to see this bad boy on the list.  Listing price $19,114.  Sold to date 204,961.  The MPG is great with whopping 28-42mpg. 
• #2  - Honda Accord.  Listing price $25,859. Sold to date 227,874.  Save some cash with this beauty 25-34mpg.
• Finally, what we have all been waiting for .  #1 best selling auto for 2008!  You ready?  Announcing the most popular car around, the TOYOTA CAMRY.  Listing price $22,859.  Sold an amazing 228,874 cars this year.  Take a vacation with the money you will save on gas with 23-34mpg.

Surprised to only see 2 trucks in the top ten?  I think not.  Overall car sales are down 10% this year compared to last year.  Leadpile Lead Exchange deals a lot with the Auto Finance vertical and the volume of leads coming through our system is slightly down also, however we are expecting it to turn around any day now!
There you have it, the top 10 autos for 2008!