(BPT) – Whether you’re a first-time or experienced homebuyer, chances are a good portion of your real estate journey will take place online. In fact, four in 10 homebuyers start their house-hunting with an online search, according to the National Association of REALTORS. It’s easy to understand why: Online tools and apps can make the homebuying experience — including finding a mortgage — easier and more enjoyable.

If you’ll be shopping for a home this fall and winter, use the tools homebuyers find most useful, according to the Bank of America Homebuyer Insights Report:

* Mortgage calculators — It’s important you’re as comfortable with your mortgage terms and lender as you are with the home you’re paying for. An affordable mortgage helps homebuyers reap the full benefits of home ownership, including building equity and long-term financial security, and a mortgage calculator can help you understand what you would pay each month, as well as estimate monthly mortgage payments and rate options. As the Homebuyer Insights Report revealed, more than half of Generation X homebuyers and 46 percent of millennials and baby boomers use mortgage calculators during the home shopping process.

* Finance websites — Home shoppers can learn a lot about mortgage options and a bank’s customer service through websites that feature reviews of mortgage loan officers and lending institutions. More than a third (36 percent) of first-time homebuyers and over a quarter (28 percent) of experienced homebuyers use bank apps or websites to research reviews of lenders and loan officers.

* Loan status portals — Applying for a mortgage can sometimes be overwhelming, but real-time loan status information is transforming the process. For example, Bank of America’s Home Loan Navigator allows mortgage applicants to securely upload, submit and sign documents, get real-time status updates on their application and loan, receive important documents and disclosures and even communicate with experts via secure messaging.

* Mobile real estate listings — With many home listing websites available, it can be difficult to narrow down online searches to homes that meet all your criteria in your location of choice. Using a bank’s online real estate center can help you refine your home search or, if you’re selling, it can help you determine your home’s estimated value. And some even provide the ancillary information you’re looking for – like school data and walkability scores — to make a home purchase decision.

* Down payment sources — Saving for a down payment can be one of the most challenging tasks of buying a house. It’s sometimes difficult to know how much you’ll need for your down payment, or to figure out how to fit the extra savings category into your monthly budget. You can find numerous down payment calculators online, but Bank of America’s Down Payment Resource Center goes a big step further than most by offering a searchable database of more than 1,000 local and national assistance programs that may be able to save you money on your down payment.

* Social media — Decorating your home is one of the most enjoyable aspects of home ownership. Many buyers turn to social media resources like Pinterest for home decor inspiration. In fact, 49 percent of millennials use Pinterest, 37 percent Facebook and 33 percent Instagram for home decorating ideas, while 32 percent of Gen Xers use Pinterest, 37 percent like Facebook and 11 percent favor Instagram, according to the Homebuyer Insights Report.

* Home design apps — With inspiration in hand, homebuyers can use home design apps to put their ideas into virtual reality. These apps allow you to take and store room measurements, make notes on design ideas and see virtual representations of what your decor plans will look like in your home. From white walls to fully-furnished, many design apps can help you visualize your dream interior for free, and more robust versions are available for purchase.

To learn more about home buying and mortgages, visit Bank of America — Home Loans.

After polling the Fiverr community to determine this year’s top costumes, it’s clear that instead of witches and ghosts, 2016 will bring Snapchat filters, superheroes and forgetful fish to Halloween parties everywhere. After the polling was complete, the community responded … Read More

The post Happy Halloween: #FiverrFright2016 Costume Design Winners appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.

October is coming to a close and winter is on the horizon. Don’t let the cold and dark dampen your focus on your personal and entrepreneurial well-being . Here’s some advice on how to look after your health and wellness … Read More

The post Gig Economy News: 10/29 appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.

(BPT) – For entrepreneurs and small businesses owners, the holiday season offers an incredible opportunity to boost sales and increase the bottom line. Just like how the early bird gets the worm, starting holiday promotions early will position your bus…

(BPT) – For entrepreneurs and small businesses owners, the holiday season offers an incredible opportunity to boost sales and increase the bottom line. Just like how the early bird gets the worm, starting holiday promotions early will position your business for optimum growth.

Polishing your online identity, optimizing marketing opportunities and engaging in positive customer relations are key strategies for boosting profits. It may be the season of red and green, but businesses that take advantage of these expert tips will be better positioned to see a lot of numbers in the black.

Email marketing tips
The most essential step in creating effective holiday marketing emails is to start early. In fact, 2015 email data from GoDaddy shows that it’s best for companies to get a head start on their email marketing campaigns as early as November. The days with the highest open rates before Christmas were during the first week of November, specifically Nov. 2. Even if those dates have passed, starting ASAP can help boost traffic and sales.

“Black Friday and Cyber Monday might seem like the perfect days to send promotional emails, but small businesses should proceed with caution,” says Eric Gilbert, director of GoDaddy Email Marketing. “With higher sending volume comes lower email open rates. Our advice to our customers is twofold. First, get a head start on your holiday campaigns by sending before the peak shopping days arrive. And second, be sure to write crisp, compelling subject lines to help stand out in the inbox.”

In creating an effective email, consider providing valuable information and useful tips rather than straightforward sales copy.

Shab Sadeghi, founder of Shabbella, a lifestyle brand for women, uses GoDaddy Email Marketing to stay in touch with her customers throughout the holiday season.
“I like to share style tips on how my customers can wear Shabbella products multiple ways throughout the season,” says Sadeghi. “In the past, I’ve provided beautiful gift boxes with orders during the holidays. I love to give back to my customers, plus everyone loves gifts!”

Another way to increase email marketing efforts is to send personalized emails. Personalized emails improve click-through rates by 14 percent and conversion rates by 10 percent, according to Aberdeen Group.

Social media tips
Keeping active on popular social media platforms helps brands engage with their customers and influence purchasing decisions. What’s more, 51 percent of people will use social media to get gift ideas, according to a statistica survey.

In addition to staying active, give your social efforts a holiday makeover with a few new strategies. For example, music is a huge part of how people interact during the holidays. Share popular holiday songs and encourage your audience to do the same.

Next, go for the emotional response. Heartwarming stories of generosity, charity and creativity abound during this time of year and tend to get a lot of play on social media.

In addition, focus on the entertainment value over the sale. The holidays, while joyful, are often filled with stress. Giving your users a break from the madness with a funny holiday-themed image or video will help them associate your brand with more than just your product.

Finally, make social interactive. Respond in a timely manner to user questions and comments. It will help build your brand reputation and leave a positive impression on your audience.

Storefront and website tips
Whether customers are visiting in person or virtually via a website, you want to give them an easy-to-navigate experience and plenty of purchasing options that meet their holiday shopping needs.

First, categorize items as gifts on your website. For example, “gifts for your husband” or “gifts for kids.” Reflect this messaging in product copy and consider writing blogs that support gift ideas for specific audiences. Additionally, promote the upsell by offering packages of products and/or services in bundles.

Second, hire a web developer and graphic designer to spruce up your website to reflect the essence of the holidays. Alternatively, use a DIY website builder that’s affordable and easy to use like GoDaddy. For physical stores, tasteful holiday decor can enhance the ambience and get shoppers in a festive state of mind.

Finally, for brick-and-mortar purchases, consider offering complimentary gift wrapping. For online purchases, provide free shipping when a certain amount is purchased.

With each day there’s another opportunity to upgrade your holiday marketing strategies, but you must start now. With these tips, you’ll have an edge on the competition.
To learn more about how small businesses can get a head start on their holiday marketing efforts, visit headstartday.com.

(BPT) – “What’s your favorite scary movie?”

This famous line from the film “Scream” sent shivers down the spines of moviegoers everywhere and made us all think twice about answering the phone. But while Ghost Face and his creepy question are nothing more than fiction, the wrong call in the real world can also be dangerous.

Phone scams are nothing new, but today thieves are using the phone to perpetrate tech support scams that prey upon the non-tech savvy. The fraudsters will make calls to would-be victims purporting to be with a reputable company, alerting the victim that there is a problem with their computer. Once the fraudster has earned the victim’s trust, they may then offer a software solution that could ultimately steal from the victim. The fraudsters inform potential victims what it will cost and tell them to send an online money transfer or provide their credit card number over the phone to cover the fee.

Understanding the dangers of tech scams

For the victims of a tech scam, the best case scenario is to discover that the solution they purchased doesn’t work or that they could have gotten the software elsewhere for free. They’re out the money they paid the scammer but little else.

In more serious cases however, the scammer may ask for remote access to “fix the problem” and then use that access to install malicious software (malware) on the victim’s computer. This software enables the scammer to steal the personal information the machine holds, including the victim’s phone number, social security information, credit information and other sensitive data they can obtain. The results of this identity theft could be devastating.

Protecting your computer and your sensitive information

To protect yourself from ending up the victim of a tech support scam, Western Union offers these fraud awareness tips.

Just say no. Never send a money transfer or provide your personal or banking information to people or businesses you don’t know personally. Scam artists can be very persuasive over the phone, so never turn over your information just because the person on the other line sounds legitimate.

Keep control. Never give control of your computer to someone that randomly calls you. Once you hand over control, you’re at the mercy of that other person to get control back.

Don’t be afraid to hang up. If you feel pressured or the caller mentions there is a subscription fee for the service they are offering, hang up. You can always call your software company on your own if you feel there is a problem with your computer.

Get professional help. If you suspect malware has been installed on your computer, take your device to a reputable computer repair service and have them run a diagnostics check on your machine to remove the suspicious software.

Act immediately. If you feel you’ve been the target of a scam, it’s in your interest to act as quickly as possible. The longer you delay, the longer you leave your personal information vulnerable to outside threats. If you get one of these phone calls and you have sent a money transfer via Western Union, call the company’s fraud hotline at (800) 448-1492 to report it. If the money has not been paid, then Western Union can stop the transaction and refund your money.

Unlike the characters in the movie “Scream,” tech support scams are very real. However, if you apply the fraud prevention tips above, you can help protect your personal information and keep the terror out of your technology. For more information on common scams, visit Western Union’s Fraud Awareness Center at wu.com/fraudawareness.

(BPT) – “What’s your favorite scary movie?”

This famous line from the film “Scream” sent shivers down the spines of moviegoers everywhere and made us all think twice about answering the phone. But while Ghost Face and his creepy question are nothing more than fiction, the wrong call in the real world can also be dangerous.

Phone scams are nothing new, but today thieves are using the phone to perpetrate tech support scams that prey upon the non-tech savvy. The fraudsters will make calls to would-be victims purporting to be with a reputable company, alerting the victim that there is a problem with their computer. Once the fraudster has earned the victim’s trust, they may then offer a software solution that could ultimately steal from the victim. The fraudsters inform potential victims what it will cost and tell them to send an online money transfer or provide their credit card number over the phone to cover the fee.

Understanding the dangers of tech scams

For the victims of a tech scam, the best case scenario is to discover that the solution they purchased doesn’t work or that they could have gotten the software elsewhere for free. They’re out the money they paid the scammer but little else.

In more serious cases however, the scammer may ask for remote access to “fix the problem” and then use that access to install malicious software (malware) on the victim’s computer. This software enables the scammer to steal the personal information the machine holds, including the victim’s phone number, social security information, credit information and other sensitive data they can obtain. The results of this identity theft could be devastating.

Protecting your computer and your sensitive information

To protect yourself from ending up the victim of a tech support scam, Western Union offers these fraud awareness tips.

Just say no. Never send a money transfer or provide your personal or banking information to people or businesses you don’t know personally. Scam artists can be very persuasive over the phone, so never turn over your information just because the person on the other line sounds legitimate.

Keep control. Never give control of your computer to someone that randomly calls you. Once you hand over control, you’re at the mercy of that other person to get control back.

Don’t be afraid to hang up. If you feel pressured or the caller mentions there is a subscription fee for the service they are offering, hang up. You can always call your software company on your own if you feel there is a problem with your computer.

Get professional help. If you suspect malware has been installed on your computer, take your device to a reputable computer repair service and have them run a diagnostics check on your machine to remove the suspicious software.

Act immediately. If you feel you’ve been the target of a scam, it’s in your interest to act as quickly as possible. The longer you delay, the longer you leave your personal information vulnerable to outside threats. If you get one of these phone calls and you have sent a money transfer via Western Union, call the company’s fraud hotline at (800) 448-1492 to report it. If the money has not been paid, then Western Union can stop the transaction and refund your money.

Unlike the characters in the movie “Scream,” tech support scams are very real. However, if you apply the fraud prevention tips above, you can help protect your personal information and keep the terror out of your technology. For more information on common scams, visit Western Union’s Fraud Awareness Center at wu.com/fraudawareness.

(BPT) – You engaged in spring cleaning and organization earlier this year, but with the holidays approaching, your home office could probably stand a bit of freshening up. Fall is the perfect time to make sure your office is a well-equipped and appealing workspace that boosts your efficiency and productivity.

The home office experts at Staples offer tips to refresh your office this autumn:

Improve organization

Does it seem like all the paperwork, junk mail and other useless stuff you cleared out in spring has found its way back to your office this fall? What are you going to do when holiday clutter starts to add up, too? It’s time to take another pass at organizing your office.

Redoing everything might not be practical, but it also might not be necessary. The desk is often the nexus of chaos in any home office, but it’s also the spot where most of your work gets done. Treat yourself to an array of desktop decluttering devices such as:

* All-in-one organizers merge file holders, paper trays, and storage compartments in a single, compact desktop display.

* Desk organizers that can hold files, reference materials and supplies.

* Letter sorters which allow you to prioritize incoming and outgoing mail, so you never miss a bill payment or request for proposal.

* Pencil cups are the simplest way to ensure you’re never hunting for a pen or pencil under a mound of paperwork while a client waits on the phone.

* Storage boxes are great for hiding supplies that you don’t need to use or see all the time.

Staples offers an array of desktop organizers, including the ZigZag suite of desktop products that include the All-in-One White ZigZag Desk Organizer, the White ZigZag Letter Sorter and the White Zigzag Storage Box. Visit www.staples.com to find more organization products.

Boost security

Bills, invoices and emails, attachments and downloads — a lot of valuable data will move through your home office during the holidays. It’s important to secure information and your home office hardware and software.

Make sure your anti-virus and firewall software are up to date. If you’re not sure, consider scheduling an appointment with a technician who can assess the security of your technology. Most security software providers now allow you to enroll in an automatic renewal program so that your protection never lapses.

Don’t overlook the importance of securing more mundane threats, like paperwork that contains proprietary information. If you don’t already have one, invest in a high-quality shredder, like the Staples 15-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder, and be sure to shred paperwork before discarding it. Old invoices, bills, customer records and even junk mail can all be a source of valuable information for criminals.

Care for your comfort

You spend a lot of time in your home office, and if the holidays are a busy season for you, you’ll likely be at your desk for extended periods. It’s important that your workspace cares for your comfort as much as facilitates productivity — and that means having good office furniture.

It may not be practical to replace a less-than-perfect desk when the holidays are bearing down on you, but swapping out your old office chair for something newer, better looking and more comfortable is an easy fix. It’s also a cost-effective way to make your home office a more productive place.

Be sure to test drive multiple chairs before choosing one. Resources like Staples have plenty of floor models for you to try before you buy. Whether you prefer light and ergonomic, like the Staples Professional Series 1500TM Mesh Chair available in a range of colors, or a more traditional look, such as the Turcotte Luxura High Back Office Chair in basic black, you can find a new chair that will give your office a whole new feeling.