You may well ask yourself why SEO is so important. Search engines are vital for your website as this will enable your website to gain online visibility. It is no gain if users of the internet are not able to find your website as they will not be able to discover and benefit from your business, what it is that you offer and what products you sell.

Search engines read and record the information on websites and make use of it to analyse and understand the meaning and value of each and every website.

When a user searches a specific word of a particular phrase the search engines will come up with a list of web pages that are pertinent and relevant to that particular world or phrase.

These results are ranked in order and perceived relevant to the phrase that the web user is looking for.

How does SEO work, though, and what is it that is so special about this?

•    SEO increases a website’s presence on search engines.
•    SEO performs the function of ensuring your website is more believable and more relevant than that of your competition.
•    This results in an increase of the position of your site on the web.
•    There are a couple of actions that can be implemented such as describing tags, increase of keyword density and improving the usability of your site.
•    By making use of a professional SEO specialist and hiring an expert SEO analyst to do this on your behalf you will significantly improve your online visibility.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. By increasing your online visibility, you will increase your online consumers. Make use of SEO so that you can increase visibility that will transform your business, and drive traffic to your site.

•    Understanding how credit scores and risk profiles work is the first step to financial freedom.
•    Banks will turn down your application for bonds, car, and loan and business venture capital if your credit risk profile is not healthy.
•    A credit score is a calculation of both negative and positive factors on your credit report, and the main objective of the credit score calculation is to predict how likely you are to honour your credit commitments.
•    These credit score ratings are calculated by independent credit bureaus, such as Experian and TransUnion.
•    The information on your credit ratings is used by financial lenders to identify how risky a borrow might be. This will enable lenders to make impartial decisions about granting credit.
•    Every credit bureau uses a different method to calculate credit scores.

Here are five pointers that are typically used by the credit bureaus when calculating your credit scores.

•    The amount of money that is owed by you.
•    Payment history.
•    The kind of credit in use by you as an individual.
•    New applications for credit.
•    Length of credit history.

Experian uses the Delphi credit score which is a brilliant state-of-the-art computer programme that will take all your credit profile information, and converts it into an uncomplicated three digit number; the Delphi score ranges between 0 and 750, and the higher the number, the better it is for obtaining credit for future use.

Debt figures in SA are reaching Incredibly High Numbers.

Debt figures in SA are frightening. Statistics indicate that in the region of about 47% of credit users have maxed out their credit cards or have fallen more than three months in arrears for repayments of business, car loan payments and house payments. It seems as if many people put their heads in the sand and do not want to face the reality of what is actually happening around them as far as their money and finances are concerned.

Six Strategies to Improve Your Credit Status

•    For all overdue bills, make these a priority, and should you be experiencing problems repaying the debt, then a good idea would be for you to make arrangements with your creditor.
•    It is advisable not to take credit cards out with financing companies as this will affect your credit score negatively.
•    For an application for a home loan or for a bond, open up a couple of accounts at stores and be sure to pay these punctually as this will dramatically increase your credit rating.
•    Loan payments that are paid right on time and for the right amount will affect your credit rating positively.
•    Never use more than the credit available, and try to keep your debt as low as you are able to.
•    Do not make numerous credit applications in a short period of time, as this could then be viewed as high risk.

Get a copy of your credit information from the three major credit bureaus in SA three to six months prior to applying for a loan, and if you are not applying for a loan, then get a copy of your credit information to ensure that everything is on track, and that there are no discrepancies that appear on your credit report.

These days schools don’t have time to concentrate on civic lessons like how to handle money and how to balance the books. It is right then that parents should instil this skill in their own children right from the moment they first start to think about pocket money. This could begin with them earning that pocket money rather than just being given it. When they are very young this might involve helping them to save up for a toy they are interested in, by giving them a certain amount towards it for ‘good behaviour’. Then as they get older they can learn that they get their pocket money through chores they perform around the house and older still, through doing things like mowing the lawn, cleaning the car and other such jobs. By doing this they will, from an early age, learn to understand that money has a value relating to the effort that it takes to earn it and that the best things in life are the ones they have earned.

The next most important lesson to teach them is the age old one of ‘never a borrower or a lender be’. This will come in part from simply explaining to them the problems that come with debts, but also through them learning to appreciate the value of money they have learned and seeing that everyone should earn their money in a similar fashion.

Overall, try to make lessons about money fun. If you have more than one child, set competitions for who can save the most out of their pocket money (with a prize at the end) or who can make the best use of it. When you all go on holiday, give them an allowance for the holiday and set them a competition of who can find the best presents within their budget, or who can spend it on the most interesting things.

Finally, it’s ok to help the kids out with money when it comes to university fees or their first car, but try and make it an offer that depends on them earning too – for example matching whatever they can raise themselves. That way they will appreciate both your loan and their effort and will continue to put into place the lessons you taught them as a child.

Alex is a business blogger and entrepreneur. He writes about everything from small business taxes to contracting online and from P2P lending to financing purchase orders.

Set Aside Some Time to Take Stock of Your Debts: Often people have no clue as to the scale of their debts so it helps to sit down with all your bills and payments owing, all your credit cards and store cards and your loans – and then to add up the total you owe as well as the total monthly payment you need to clear. Doing this should allow you to plan a schedule for repayment.

If it’s Bad, Talk to Someone: This could be a debt counselling service, your bank or friends and family, but either way, if you feel like you are struggling with debts, talk to someone about the situation you are in.

Set Yourself a Monthly Budget: Once you know how much you need to clear each month, set yourself a budget that includes your payments and then budgets for each of your outgoing expenses. Try and budget so that you can pay more off of your debts and learn to stick to your budget so that you don’t get into debt again.

Always Make the Minimum Payments: If you don’t even make the minimum payments on your outstanding debts your situation will get worse not better. By covering the minimum amount you at least keep bringing the debts down a little. If you can pay more than the minimum you will be able to reduce your debt a lot quicker so try and budget, where possible, to pay off more than the minimum amount.

Contribute a Little Every Month to an Emergency Fund: This might seem difficult but even the smallest amount can soon add up. Save for that rainy day.

The most important thing to remember is that if you set yourself just a few months in which you will stick to your budget and save money, and if you try and pay off as much of those debts as possible, you will be able to pay off your debts much, much quicker than you would expect.

Alex is a business blogger and entrepreneur. He writes about everything from small business taxes to contracting online. He also maintains a blog for a Chicago personal injury lawyer.

Here is a Guide on How to Manage Your Money

Staying on top of your finances this year is a good idea

• Ensure that you are insured; this not only applies to house, house contents and your car, but to your life as well.
• Life insurance is there to ensure that your nearest and dearest are taken care of when you are no longer there to do so.
• Disability cover is designed to take care of your dependents if you become too ill to work or if you become disabled in any way and you are no longer able to take care of them. Disability insurance could also cover a shortfall that the medical aid does not cover.
• Certain companies and employers offer group cover for life or disability, but there is sometimes a gap or a shortfall, and this should be covered by taking out insurance independently.
• Financial planners are able to assist with correct calculations and planning; don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.
• Ensure that your house and car insurance is sufficient and is up to date.
• When taking out insurance for car and home, compare packages and prices online, but remember that there are exclusions, therefore take these into consideration.
• Save for your children’s future by taking out insurance for their education; a study policy will guarantee that your child has a good education, especially later on when the child would like to enter a tertiary institution.
• Plan your finances for the festive season as early as possible in the year; see where you will be able to save for that special holiday you rightfully deserve at the end of the year and for the food and gifts that cost so much at the end of the year.
• Juggle your budget in order to save for these and other luxuries.
• Your will should be in order; this is really quite important if you have dependents. It does not have to be complicated, but dying intestate is devastating for those left behind.
• If your life changes then make sure that you amend your will accordingly.
• If you are fortunate enough to get a thirteenth cheque use this to pay off debts.

Make this the year to be savvy with your finances

What The Consumer Can Expect in 2012

The World Is Presently A Place of Uncertainly

The world and Europe is a place of uncertainty according to Ulrich Joubert, economist. America needs Europe to get its finances in order, and China claims that the uncertainty in Europe is stunting its growth.
Greece has a debt of 160 % of its gross domestic product, and there will be negative consequences as a result.
There are even bigger problems in the Italian and Spanish economies, making the world and economists nervous.
It is up to the European leaders to make an effort to spare the global economy from suffering.

If these issues are not resolved then SA could face a weak economic growth.

This is how the fallout of the Arab Spring and the European debt crisis has had an affect on SA:
• Inflation is set to exceed 6% in 2011 and continues to remain there for the first part of 2012.
• The longer the situation drags on in Europe, the longer the rand could remain weak.
• The housing market is likely to remain bad during 2012, and also for the next couple of years.
• Before the Arab Spring towards the end of 2010, the oil price was about R720 a barrel, but who could have guessed that it would rise to R1 020 , and by December 2011 the oil price per barrel was R935 a barrel.
• Unemployment will continue to be problematic as a result of poorer economic growth.
• The price of grain and wheat is high and is more than likely to continue to be that way for a while. Food prices have been rising faster than consumer goods in general. Higher maize prices internationally have had a negative effect on food prices, and this is mostly due to a poor crop in America. When the first of the local crops have been harvested after the first quarter of the year, this is believed to improve.

It is therefore advisable to reign in your finances, live within your means and avoid any unnecessary debt, whilst continue saving.

Managing Your Money in 2012

If you found that you were at a loss regarding your finances and money in the past year, it is not too late to correct this. Make this the year of getting your finances in order, with a couple of easy steps.

• Filing is always of paramount importance. Have all your important documentation at your finger-tips at all time. These include birth certificates, tax information, marriage certificates, passport and license information, and any other essential documentation that you might need.
• It might be a good idea to make copies of all your important documentation, and keep them in a safe place.
• Ensure that your will is up to speed at all times.
• Also ensure that your passport is up to date, as you never know when you might need to travel.
• Paying extra to renew your driver’s or your car license is not only annoying buy is also expensive. Renew these within the time frame.
• Keep the telephone numbers of your accountant, your lawyer or any other pertinent people that are affiliated with these tasks, with all the relevant documentation.
• Enquire from your tax consultant if you are making use of all tax benefits; perhaps there might be other deductions that you could include this February.
• Drawing up a budget and sticking to it is always a great idea.
• Always pay expenses first when drawing up your budget.
• Try to save a percentage of your salary every month; if you find this really hard to do put a debit order through on your account for this purpose.
• Do not spend more than you earn; this is golden rule number one!
• Tackle all your debts.
• Pay your short-term debts first as these charge the highest interest rates.
• Consolidating your debt might be a good idea.
• When taking out a loan to consolidate your debts, take this out for a short period of time as this will accrue the least interest.

Let this be the year that makes a difference in your life; teach yourself to manage your money wisely and with care.

Comparisons of Bank Charges

This Is The Year To Get Financially Fit

There is no time quite like the present to get your life in order, and the beginning of each year heralds new beginnings and a brand new attitude towards one’s life and finances. With all the happenings in the world around us regarding the recent credit woes, it might be a good opportunity to rethink and revisit your finances.

Starting out by comparing bank charges and finding the one that charges the least is a good step in the right direction. Compare insurance quotes online, too,  and find the one that is better suited to your budget; did you realise that you are now able to save almost 30% on your monthly premiums?

Everyone is unhappy about the cost of services that banks offer, therefore find out where you will be able to cut corners and save.

Bank costs compared:

• Absa charges the most for bank services and fees.


• Standard Bank is second in line.


• Capitec charges the least for bank charges, and have had no increases since 2011.


• Absa is almost double that of Capitec Bank with a rise of almost 8% in 2012.


• Standard Bank has had an increase of 4, 3% more than last year.


• FNB has had a 5, 1% increase from last year.

If you are unhappy with what your bank is charging there is little you can do except change banks. Which option suits your needs best; that is what you will need to ask yourself. If you do many transactions in a month it might be a good idea to look at an account that has a fixed monthly fee. So start the year by getting your finances in order and if there are changes that need to be make, don’t hesitate to do so as you might be pleasantly surprised at the saving made.

Expensify: This is an excellent free app that allows you to take a photograph of each and every business receipt you get during the day and then it automatically forwards that picture to your own online account where you can save and access all your records. Perfect for those people who are constantly getting moaned at by their accountant about keeping better records. Also available on Android and Blackberry.

Mint.com: Another free app that allows you to keep better records. Mint assists you in taking information from all of your accounts (credit cards, debit cards, savings accounts etc) and collating it together in one place within categories that you set in order to help you track your outgoings.

iRewardchart: This is a financial app for your children and it allows you to give your kids rewards if they finish tasks you set them. A great way to teach children the value of money.

LoanShark: This loans app by the wonderfully named Foggy Noggin is a great app if you are researching loans. Keep this on your phone and you will always be able to quickly work out exactly how much any loan will cost you in interest and charges. Essential if you are planning a car loan, consolidating loan or mortgage.

iCredit Calculator: Like LoanShark, iCredit Calculator is an app that is designed to assist you with managing your debts and interest, concentrating purely on your credit cards and how long it will take you to pay off your current balance.

ATM Hunter: If you’re stuck in a city you don’t know and urgently need to get your hands on some cash then ATM Hunter will help you find the nearest cash machine. Additionally it can let you know which ATM’s near to you are free to use in order to avoid paying fees.

ACE Budget: Finally, another simple but effective budgeting app that allows you to log, categorize and manage all your financial transactions.

Alex is a financial writer and blogger. He writes about everything from mortgages to credit cards to umbrella companies.