This Credit Repair Scam Could Land You in Court

In addition to the sheer misery that scams cause, there’s a handful of con tricks that can also land victims in trouble with the law like some credit repair scams.

One of these scams is based on a code called a Credit Privacy Number or Credit Profile Number (CPN).

A CPN is supposedly a nine-digit code that they’ll tell you can be used in place of your Social Security number (SSN) when you apply for credit, thereby bypassing your existing credit record.

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©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.

Reprinted with permission.

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Scammers Exploit Launch of New Chip Cards

Chip cards a new-fangled credit and debit cards embedded with a microchip have been dropping into mailboxes across the U.S. for several months.

The cards are supposed to make transactions more secure and reduce the risk of credit and debit card fraud something we obviously applaud.

Many people have already received their replacements, but the rollout is expected to continue right through 2016 before everyone has them.

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©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.

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Find Your Marketing Muse: 5 Types You Can Choose

Are your marketing activities in need of a boost? Motivation? Inspiration? Consider adopting muse.

A muse is a person or being that serves as a source of inspiration. To adopt a muse means to intentionally choose a model individual to inspire your work. Following a chosen muse can guide you as a self-employed professional to sort out what you need to do in order to market yourself successfully.

Here are five Marketing Muses you might consider adopting. Each one embodies a different set of abilities and personal qualities which you might be able to relate to, or to emulate.

1. The Networker – This muse loves to attend events, meet new people, and expand his circle of contacts. He’s often found engaged in conversation, either in person or online. The Networker gets business by becoming acquainted with a wide range of people, getting to know them, and staying in touch with them over time.
2. The Writer – The Writer muse authors articles, blog posts, case studies, or even a book. She builds her credibility and inspires trust by becoming known as an expert resource. As she continues to publish and promote what she writes, she stays visible to her target market. When they need someone with her specialty, they naturally think of her first.
3. The Speaker – Often found at the front of the room instead of in the audience, this muse enjoys sharing his expertise interactively. Whether he’s speaking at a professional meeting or delivering a webinar, he lands new clients by giving his audience a taste of what he can do. The Speaker makes a positive connection with his listeners that leads them to want more.
4. The Colleague – Unlike the Networker, the Colleague prefers interacting with people one-on-one. She may think of herself as being shy or an introvert, but instead of seeing this as a disadvantage, leans on her strength: relating to people more intimately. You’ll often find the Colleague meeting someone for lunch or coffee, and these meetings lead to ongoing referral relationships.
5. The Cold-Caller – Not everyone dislikes making cold calls. The telephone is the Cold-Caller’s friend. He loves the challenge of finding the right person to talk to, and the rhythm of placing one call after another. Rather than feeling rejected when he hears “no thanks,” he’s happy to move on to the next call. Each new conversation holds the promise of a welcoming response and ultimately, a sale.

Do none of those examples seem like the best model for you to follow? Invent your own Marketing Muse. Consider the type of activities you are naturally drawn to that might be useful for marketing your business. What are the environments in which you thrive? What personal strengths do you possess? The answers to these questions will suggest what might be the right muse for you to adopt.

Whenever you’re feeling confused, discouraged, or stuck about marketing your business, invoke your personal Marketing Muse. Following the example of a model for success — one that you’ve chosen yourself — may give you just the inspiration you need.

  Copyright © 2015, C.J. Hayden

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Sprint Away from these Fake Color Runs

Whenever you have to pay an entry fee for an event, you always need to feel sure you’re getting what you pay for.

That goes for concert tickets offered by scalpers, beautiful baby photo competitions, poetry competitions and, most recently, color runs or fun runs.

There’s always someone willing to charge you for something that’s not quite what it seems.

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©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.

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Scammers Fake Section 8 Affordable Housing Sites

Renters seeking affordable homes are being targeted by scammers pretending to offer access to a government program called Section 8.

The program, operated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides assistance to extremely low-income renters by issuing “housing choice vouchers” via local government housing authorities and other government agencies.

Section 8 also provides other types of financial assistance but it’s the voucher program and therefore, by definition, those who can least afford to be scammed, that are being specifically targeted.

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©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.

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Church Scammers Lurk in Parking Lots, Target Elderly

Last time we reported on church scams, it seemed we had covered all the cheap tricks that con artists use.

But apparently, that’s not so.

Scammers have been trying out some new tricks in recent months. Plus, there seems to have been a marked increase in investment-related con tricks aimed at churchgoers.

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©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.

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To Get More Clients, Get REAL

by C.J. Hayden | Oct 5, 2015 

I’ve been helping more self-employed professionals build business with writing recently: articles, blog posts, ebooks, and more. To explain to them the type of editorial content professionals need to write in order to attract and land clients, I coined a new acronym, REAL:

R = Relevant
E = Educational, Entertaining, and/or Evocative
A = Authentic
L = Leads to trust

Working with these elements, I’ve realized that they apply to more than just writing. In fact, they apply to any sort of marketing a self-employed professional does.

Whether you are writing copy for your website, posting on social media, placing a follow-up call, or giving a talk, you need to consider the four REAL elements.

Relevant – What you write or say must apply to both your audience and what you’re trying to sell. Posting cute kitten videos to Facebook isn’t enough to turn your social media presence into paying clients, unless you’re a videographer or cat sitter. An occasional off-topic post or conversation is fine, but the majority of your written, spoken, and visual content should be directly relevant to your target audience’s needs and your business.

Educational, Entertaining, and/or Evocative – All your communications with prospective clients should fit into one (or more) of these three categories. Remember, they must still also be relevant!

• Educational: These communications inform your audience about principles, skills, facts, or resources relevant to their needs. Make sure communications of this type deliver immediate, practical value to your prospects. They should always be aimed at helping people achieve goals and solve problems.
• Entertaining: Communications in this category make your audience laugh, feel good, or daydream. You might tell stories or jokes, share amusing or positive images, or open people’s horizons.
• Evocative: Words and images of this type trigger your audience’s emotions, such as awe, delight, or concern. They might stimulate deeper thinking and exploration. Or, they can inspire, motivate, or evoke empathy.

Authentic – Whatever you tell or show prospective clients must be presented in a voice that’s true to who you are. Sending prospective clients a long sales letter that includes hard-sell phrases you would never use in a live conversation is inauthentic. When you try to use other people’s words to sell yourself, you’re likely to chase away the very clients that are the best match for your personality and working style.

Leads to trust – Consistently producing communications based on the elements above encourages people to trust you. They know you aren’t going to annoy or bore them by talking about irrelevant topics, and that they’ll get value from every read or conversation. They’ll also be confident that they’re seeing the real you. When prospective clients trust you, they’ll hire you.

Start getting REAL about your marketing. Include the four REAL elements in your blog posts, marketing emails, networking exchanges, and sales conversations. Relevant, authentic communications that are educational, entertaining, or evocative will build people’s trust, and therefore, build your business.

 Copyright © 2015, C.J. Hayden

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