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Blocking Unwanted Media from Social Media Platforms - Facebook

2022-02-01T10:38:00.002-08:00

Most of us would like to have a well-balanced view of the world from our media sources. In these times of divisiveness, one side is typically yelling louder. When we are scrolling through our social media, we may find ourselves emotionally manipulated by these agendas when we simply want to catch up with our family and friends.

It is important to take steps to eliminate misleading and false information from our newsfeeds. Each social media platform is different, but we can limit our exposure to media sources that push agendas, spread false information, and simply promote propaganda by blocking them.

Blocking these media sources not only limits our exposure to them, thereby giving us a more positive social media experience, it also limits the spread of this content. If enough people block a media company, they may lose influence on a platform, and possibly be forced to seek other avenues to promote their agenda.

Here is an example of how to block unwanted media sources from a Facebook news feed:

First, navigate to their page. Click on the 3 dots on the right-hand side beside the magnifying glass. Then click on the "Find support or report page."

A new "Report" window will pop up. Select the appropriate category.

Select the appropriate sub-category, if applicable.

Click submit. Another box will pop up and give you options to both block and hide content.

At this stage, you can block the media company from contacting you and hide all their content.

Click "Block" to confirm. You can also choose to hide content at this point as well.

Welcome to your happier, healthier news feed! If this has helped you, please be sure to share.

Amazon Site Down Again

2016-03-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

Today the major online retailer, Amazon.com, had a brief period of service disruption in the US. Data compiled by downdetector.com showed that 2:19 PM, the site had over 10 thousand reports of trouble of either logging on, or loading site at all.

Map provided by Downdetector.com at 3:00 PM; Google Earth TOS applys (https://www.google.com/intl/en-US_US/help/terms_maps.html)

While most parts of the country were back up by 3:00 PM, Los Angeles and several other major cities still reported the site down.

Last year, Amazon took over as the worlds biggest retailer, reported the LA Times. Even a short time down is a big deal. Web content providers often depend on revenue from Amazon's Associate program to keep content free for their readers. If readers can't complete a purchase, they may choose to not make a purchase, or visit later instead. This keeps blog writers and other content providers from getting their 4 or 6 percent referral fee.

Amazon.com has yet to comment on the outage.

Creative Content Writing Services is available for all your content needs, including social media profile management. Contact me at Christine Emmick on Facebook with your content request.

Be in It to Win It - The Small Business Social Media Game

2016-01-22T05:36:00.000-08:00

Source: Wikimedia Commons Bukk

I recently shared a need on my Facebook page for snow tires, and in less than 4 minutes I had a local auto repair company reach out through a mutual friend. I checked the ratings on their Facebook page, and made a purchasing decision.

The whole thing happened in less than 11 minutes.

Not all of your small business leads will come from social media, but when they do, response time is crucial. Be slow on the uptake, and your customers will move on.

But when you constantly monitor social media, you might miss a lug nut. Psychology experts in media like Eli Brown agree that social media multi-tasking is a myth that costs hundreds of billions of dollars each year in the form of lost productivity.

So how do you serve current clients without missing new ones? Here are some ways to respond to new leads, while keeping up with your current customers:

Use Alerts - If your line of work allows, set email alerts so you know right when a potential customer comments on a post or sends you a message. That way you only have to monitor one thing, your email, instead of multiple social media accounts.
Time Posts - Many social media sites allow you to write a post, then have it appear later, when traffic is heavier. This means you can devote off work hours to write a few posts, then time them to appear later, when your customers are looking, and you are working.
Consider Hiring Help - Let's face it, following all social media accounts can be overwhelming, even for the professionals. Running a small business with limited resources often necessitates bringing in help for things like marketing, even if it is just temporarily.

Hiring someone to manage communication for you can help direct leads, provide information to customers and answer complaints almost instantaneously. This means happier customers, who talk about their experience with connections, and well informed potential clients ready to buy. Services often include creating engaging and informative posts that get people chatting about your company, or entertaining posts that will get shared with friends.

Creative Content Writing Services is available for all your content needs, including social media profile management. Contact me at Christine Emmick on Facebook with your content request. I will get back to you quickly, I promise. ;)

Social Media Privacy and Google Plus

2015-06-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

I recently saw an interesting thread about strangers adding you to their circles...

In this thread, a woman named Susan proposed eloquently several reasons why it's not a good idea to allow followers to add you to their circles without approval by you.

"The heavy-using diehards defending this product do not comprise critical mass for Google to support it indefinitely; they won't let it go now, but if it does not resonate with a critical mass, for reasons such as I outlined, about power going to the person desiring the association against the wishes of the person who does not desire such association, it will be the product's undoing. Due to its stubborn insistence to adhere to an ideology that doesn't resonate for many of us. (And with good reason--I could site basic psychological and sociological studies about what conditions makes people feel safe and like contributing---being able to have agency over, or informed consent regarding, who "claims" you is just one factor)."

I feel much the same as this woman who posted in the Gplus experience forum. I just had a stranger add me to their circles who had zero content on any of his Google products. I blocked him because I have no idea what his intent is, and he'd be able to easily get to what I posted publicly, I'd show up as being followed by him, and he'd also be able to know who else is following me.

As an aside, although I can limit what I share publicly on g+, I cannot limit what friends share about me on g+. This alone is enough to gain access to my information. It is also incredibly easy to accidentally post personal information. At least in Facebook these accidental posts can be defaulted to a specific audience. Conversely, every time I post anything to g+ it defaults to public.

I then gave Google feedback asking them to please make an approval process for followers. But like many have found out before, they are not listening. Which is why I will use Google+ for only information I want to make public, like my blog posts, and will continue to do so until this is corrected. To the left is a screenshot of where you can leave feedback on your own g+ account. Click Home, then find Feedback in tiny print at the bottom of the bar. Click and submit to tell Google how you really feel.

In the meantime, if you want to block someone from your circles, go to their g+ page and underneath their name click the tiny arrow "˅". I box will pop up asking you if you want to simply mute, or block them.

Carefully select those you want to block. For instance, my criteria for blocking is:

People I do not know who add me to their circles
People with zero profile information
People who are posting things that I do not want to be associated with
People who are badgering me, or spamming me

Remember, you will still show up in their circles, even if you block them, but they will no longer have access to any of your content.

Play nice out there. Social media is fun and educational, as long as we keep our senses about us.

Is That Email a Scam?

2012-11-04T05:54:00.004-08:00

Photo: Sabinocivita. No endorsement implied. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Email scams are more prevalent these days. With many people looking for work, and consequently putting personal information on pubic sites, scammers have an even greater pool of people than in the past.

Two months ago, I was contacted about a job. For a month's worth of working I'd receive a $1,000 pay check from a company called HERO, Inc., for doing assistant type tasks. At first glance, everything seemed legitimate, so I filled out the form and got my first assignment. Because of the strangeness of the assignment, I reconsidered and asked to talk to the manager directly before beginning the task.

It turns out he was not available, for 3 whole work days. After repeated emails and phone message requests to be contacted, I refused any further contact with the company. I guess it's a good thing that I never filled out my W-4 form.

I got another such email this month, only this time I was wiser. I decided to search some of the text of the email instead of the company name. I got tons of matches on scam reporting sites.

Being a writer, I know how much time it takes to create original copy. It only makes sense that the bad guys wouldn't be spending time or money on that, especially if they've crafted persuasive copy that was shown effective in the past.

Several boards, like scamwarners.com and scamdex.com, attempt to give would be victims the leg up, but in order to find these companies you have to know what name they are using this week. Instead of searching for a name do this instead:

Scan the email and select what might be considered a common "hook" line. This will most likely be at the top or bottom of the email.

Put this in a search engine with quotes (") around it and examine what you find.

If you do not find anything...

Try searching a smaller phrase. For example, instead of searching, "Based on your resume on beyond.com we to suggest you following job," try leaving out the beyond.com website while maintaining the quotes around the other two phrases.

The face of work is changing dramatically to match employer and employee need. This is good, but it makes it nearly impossible to determine if some companies are legitimate. Do your research before developing a working relationship. Like the saying goes, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

Sign...or Else

2011-01-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

I had a wake-up call last week while getting things together for the purchase of our first REO property. The list of addendum included liabilities to the tune of $100 per day if we don't close on the specified date. But what surprised me the most was there was no quid pro quo. The bank could be as late as they wanted to closing and they experienced no ramifications at all.

When I balked at the notion that I should pay a per deim, my agent talked to the other agent. He said that we were only $500 higher than the next highest bidder. Which reading between the lines you can see what that meant.

In a recent post on Activerain.com an agent posted a blog about a sellers use of the property after the sale. According to the "Arms Length Transaction Notice" that both seller and buyer had to sign on a short sale, the bank was forcing the parties to say they will never let the seller rent or buy the property.

Now, I understand that the seller could be trying to get out from under the house just to buy it again, but who cares? If the bank got a fair price for it, then why do they give a crap what happens to it afterward? It seems a bit draconian of them to insist that the people who know the most about the house, want to keep their kids in the same school and have made connections in the neighborhood to have no recourse to stay. This is not good for neighborhoods, communities and the country in general. Having to move in the middle of job loss is a recipe for dysfunction, which will be carried onto the taxpayers who are still working by way of new housing assistance, welfare payments and other subsidies.

We who are in the real estate business need to call these REO sellers to account. What is happening is not good for the industry either. How much more time are you spending on deals because of increased paperwork and time affiliated with these transactions? How much liability are you as an agent opening yourself up to with all these fine print addendum and notices? I say Fannie and Freddie need a refresher economics course in free market society. All this red tape is raising some red flags and I'm beginning to smell something funny, and it's not just the stench of a stuffy vacant property.

CCWS News - Elance

2010-12-15T00:44:00.000-08:00

Look for me, Christine Emmick, on Elance.com. Here you can request services, inquire about rates and browse my portfolio. Click here to visit me on Elance.

Posted using ShareThis

Why Writing Samples are an Essential Part of Your Resume

2010-12-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

You took time to review your work history and craft that winning resume that is sure to make that employer or client choose you over the other guy. Now be ready to provide samples when they are requested. Having the samples ready before they are requested

Choose samples that show your writing style, and your expert knowledge of the subject matter. Be sure to select pieces that adhere to the format and may interest their audience. For instance, if you are bidding on a medical writing position, select a research sample with some type of science bent. If you are looking to break into news writing, supply a piece that displays your ability to supply important information early in the copy and makes an impact in the headline.

Also, don't even thing about plagiarizing content....

WAIT JUST A MINUTE! "Thing"? This piece is a perfect example of why you must, must, MUST proofread your copy before hitting the "publish" button! Remember, potential clients are searching for you, and anything you publish may be scrutinized, including anything you post publicly to social media. It looks like I need to go back and proofread my blog posts! Let's try this again...

Don't even think about plagiarizing content. Most hiring editors will take the time to check your samples with an authentication site like Copyscape to make sure potential employees don't try to pass of someone else's sample as their own. Even if they don't check the copy and you get the job it can turn into a bad scene. If your writing is not up to their standard you won't keep your position long, and your client may post bad reviews about your work, which may end your career.

If you don't have published samples of your work, how do you get them? You can start by creating your own blog, this gives both writing practice and a potential audience. Then start looking for opportunities for writing web content. These might not pay well at first, but they expand your work experience. You get the opportunity to work with an editor, and get a little cash on the side. You can find opportunities at sites such as Elance and Freelancer, and both of these sites have free user accounts to get you started. If you put out great copy, the word may get out and you'll have more work than you can handle! :)

Delmont Subway Restaurant inside Wal-Mart Offers Customers Big Discount in Exchange for School Supply Donation

2009-08-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

“Subway Helps Students in Need” promotion lets this Subway's Customers Help Give Kids a Great Start in School

By Christine Emmick

Now through the end of September the owners of Subway Restaurant inside of the Delmont Wal-Mart store will offer $1.00 off any item on their menu with a donation of new school supplies. They will distribute the school supplies to the families of students at Greensburg Salem, Jeanette, Penn Trafford and Christian Fellowship Academy schools.

The idea sprung from a wish to help those families struggling during these tough economic times. When assistant manager Jessie Staymates decided to offer an incentive to help give kids get a great start in school, she never dreamed her customers would be so giving. Folders, notebooks, pencils highlighters and stickers poured in. Because of the generosity of their customers, the Delmont Subway will have hundreds of dollars of school supplies to distribute to families in these school districts.

To get more information or to make a donation, call Jessie at 724-468-3010, or simply stop by the restaurant. To get directions to the Delmont Wal-Mart Subway, visit www.subway.com and click the “Restaurant Locator” tab at the top of the page. The “Subway Helps Students in Need” promotion runs through September 30th.

Christine Emmick is a freelance foods and business writer based in the Pittsburgh area. You may contact Christine through her blog site at www.glutenfreefantasy.blogspot.com or www.activerain.com/cemmick.

Real Estate Success Bus Tour

2009-03-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

Search Real Estate Property the Easy Way by Taking a Ride with Staged for Success on the Pittsburgh Foreclosure Bus

By Christine Emmick

In today’s economy, foreclosures are inevitable, but the current market is great for Pittsburgh. In February of this year, Pittsburgh was named one of the best places to ride out the recession by Business Week. With a solid job market and plenty of affordable housing, Pittsburgh and the surrounding tri-state area could see home prices actually increase over the next decade. This is good for the local real estate market, especially since real estate is on sale right now. The market plunge has caused the Pittsburgh real estate value to dip slightly, about one percent according to real estate market reports found at Zillow.com. With news like this now is the time to buy.

Real estate foreclosures present exciting buying opportunities for first time home buyers and those interested in investment property. You could comb through the real estate property listings filled with bargain basement money pits or go to one of those questionable real estate auctions requiring thousands of dollars cash up front to find foreclosures. Or you could take a ride on The Success Bus. Staged for Success, the premier staging company in the Pittsburgh region, is hosting real estate bus tours in many Pittsburgh regions. This hassle-free way of looking at real estate from Staged for Success takes you on a comfortable bus ride, using their gasoline, and lets you examine properties that are worthy of your time and money, with no pressure to buy any of the houses they show.

A ride on The Success Bus lasts from about 10am until 4pm and features full viewing of approximately twelve foreclosure properties. These real estate listings are hand selected so you won’t waste your time looking at houses that need torn down and made into a parking lot. The real estate tour also includes advice from experts in the Pittsburgh real estate markets and experienced negotiators to help get the best price for the home. Not only that, Staged for Success provides lunch, including chips, drink and sandwich. For those that choose to make a purchase, take any of the classes available on their website or use any of their staging services, they offer 25 to 50 percent off their services. The cost of the tour is only 50 dollars per person or 90 dollars per couple and you receive a full refund of the tour admission when purchasing a home through the program. For upcoming tour dates and Pittsburgh neighborhood locations, visit www.thesuccessbus.com or call 724-757-9291. For any questions about the online home buyer’s class, visit the Staged for Success website at www.mystagingpros.com.

It’s time to get on the bus!

Content sponsored by Staged for Success, a full service home and business staging company serving the greater Pittsburgh area. For more information about Staged for Success, visit their website at www.mystagingpros.com.

Christine Emmick is a freelance business and real estate writer based in the Pittsburgh area. You may contact Christine through her blog site at www.activerain.com/cemmick.

Latrobe Area School to Get Free School Supplies through Campbell’s Soup Label Program

2009-03-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

Mountain View Elementary to Receive Over 20,000 Labels for EducationTM from Morella’s Route 30 Shop-n-Save

By Christine Emmick

Since February 2007, the owners of Morella’s Route 30 Shop-n-Save have donated over 26,000 Campbell’s® Labels for EducationTM to Latrobe area schools, and they are set to do it again. Through a partnership with the company, the Latrobe Shop-n-Save will donate over 23,000 more Labels for EducationTM certificates to Mountain View Elementary School in Latrobe.

With these certificates, the school can select anything from Crayola® art supplies, Merriam-Webster’s® reference books and Math Blaster® learning software, to playground equipment, a MiniDV camcorder or a wireless PA system. The program also includes earning points for video projectors, iMac® and Dell® computers, flat panel TVs, educational games, science kits and models, microscopes and even an electronic scoreboard.

The Morella’s encourage members of the community to join their efforts by simply donating Labels for Education UPC codes from the products they use. Just drop them off at the box located at the front of the service desk. Many Campbell’s® soup UPC codes qualify for the Labels for EducationTM program, and Labels for EducationTM points are also found on selected Spaghettios®, Franco-American®, Prego®, Pepperidge Farm® and Swanson® products. Selected V8® juice caps and certain Campbell’s® Foodservice products are even accepted. For more information on what to collect, visit http://www.labelsforeducation.com/default.aspx and click on View Eligible Products.

For more information about the Labels for EducationTM program, weekly specials or other sales promotions, contact the Morella’s Route 30 Shop-n-Save at 724-532-3939. Look for Morella’s on the web at http://www.rt30shopnsave.com/index2.html. Click the Jobs & Community sidebar to learn more about what the store does for the Latrobe area, and click Special Promotions to find out about their specials.

Christine Emmick is a freelance foods and business writer based in the Pittsburgh area. You may contact Christine through her blog site at www.activerain.com/cemmick.

Get Your House Ready to Sell This Spring

2009-02-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

Strategic Home Improvement Increases Your Home Value, Inside and Out

By Christine Emmick

Spring is a great time to do home improvement and when you’re selling a home, you need every one of those investment dollars to count. When a home buyer looks for houses for sale, curb appeal is not the only important factor anymore. Multi-photo listings and virtual home tours mean you need to have your house looking its best, both inside and out, before the real estate agent does a home appraisal.

Start with your home interior. Tackle the clutter and get rid of anything you do not use at least on a weekly basis. Give away what you don’t use, throw away the junk and store the rest. You’ll find dozens of storage facilities listed at uhaul.com. Then decide whether you’ll hire a carpet cleaner or carpet installer. If your carpet is more than five years old or it is stained, it’s best to replace it with new, neutral colored carpet. Finally, get a few estimates from a painting contractor to give the interior walls a fresh look. Again, make sure you choose neutral house paint colors.

Next tackle the outside of the house. Attack the clutter here as well, and then consider new improvements like roof, windows, siding and exterior house paint which will ultimately raise the sale price of your home. Again, keep with neutral shades and be sure to choose colors that complement one another. In general, avoid blue with reds, and any purple, pink or orange hues. Also, make sure to get a copy of the insurance certificate of any roofer, window installer or painter before they do any work and check the references for each contractor as well.
Don’t forget the landscaping. People get their first impression of a property from the landscaping and simple inexpensive changes, such as adding an accent shrub or replacing mulch, can make a big difference. A general landscape contractor can bring an established landscape back to life, but it’s best to hire a landscape architect to re-design a badly maintained site. Early spring is the perfect time to hire a landscape contractor since most are eager to get to work after the off season.

You can do all this yourself, if you have the time and resources. Most people selling a house don’t have time to check a contractor’s references, let alone have the experience required to inspect their work. This is where a good staging company, like Staged for Success comes in. A staging company hires experienced contractors for you who have a proven record of reliability. Also, the staging company is often times able to negotiate a better contract price than a homeowner, mostly due to the volume of business they bring to that contractor.

Staged for Success, the premier staging company in the greater Pittsburgh area, provides free consultations to all prospective staging clients and offers online classes for both those looking to buy and sell a home. Try the Home Buyer Class if you want to know more about real estate agents, credit scores. The Home Sellers Class, which is geared to help you make the most of the selling process, gives details on what to look for in a real estate agent, as well as the particulars on how to make your home look its best. You can reach them at their website, http://www.mystagingpros.com/, or by telephone at 1-877-615-3294.

Spend some time on home improvements this spring. This is the way you “Set the Stage” to sell your home successfully.

Content sponsored by Staged for Success, a full service home and business staging company serving the greater Pittsburgh area. For more information about Staged for Success, visit their website at www.mystagingpros.com.
Christine Emmick is a freelance business and real estate writer based in the Pittsburgh area. You may contact Christine through her blog site at www.activerain.com/cemmick.

Investing in the Future of Real Estate

2009-01-29T16:46:00.000-08:00

Mary B. Smith - Pittsburgh, PA

In today's unstable economic climate, it is more important than ever to take hold of one's own future. With unemployment rates rising and investment in the stock market producing less than favorable results, real estate continues to be a sound investment for the future. It opens opportunities for financial success to anyone with the right knowledge and a small amount of determination.

Jim Toner knows this fact well, going from rags to riches while building his own success through real estate investments. Twenty years ago, Toner lived in a one-room apartment furnished with plastic lawn furniture. Today, he resides in a beautiful home with his wife and two children and can easily afford luxury cars and vacations. Even more important than the luxury comforts is the peace of mind that comes with financial stability, a peace of mind that everyone strives to achieve.

Toner helps others gain that kind of personal freedom and financial security by helping those less fortunate through his involvement in community assistance programs and sharing his knowledge and experience in real estate. Toner, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, feels a strong sense of responsibility to give back to the community. "It is my opinion that any part of a successful life must include helping others," says Toner, "this is why we make it a point to stay actively involved in community, national and international outreach services."

Toner achieves this goal by donating his time as head of the advisory board for the McKeesport branch Salvation Army. In addition, Toner acts as a board member of Frank McKinney's Caring House Project Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps the poor all over the world by providing shelter, food, water and even medical support.

They also help people in need within their own community via Hope Lives Foundation. This non-profit organization focuses on providing hope and basic needs to people that have slipped through the cracks of other charitable organizations and have nowhere else to go. The Hope Lives Foundation provides housing, food, clothing and monetary help with utility bills and security deposits.

Besides helping those in need, Toner also strives to help fellow community members achieve their financial goals by offering the benefits of his 20 years of experience in real estate. He shares these useful tools and insight through seminars and workshops. He also has the assistance of a complete team of local people who know how to avoid the risks and pitfalls when making a real estate investment. The Wealth Builders team is made up of local investors, familiar with the Pittsburgh real estate market, that assist and support local investors as they launch their own real estate investment business.

The Wealth Builders team is sponsoring a free seminar, complete with free beverages and appetizers. The seminar will cover all the basics of "flip" investing, rental real estate and more. This event will be held at Dave & Buster's Restaurant at the Waterfront in Homestead, PA on Saturday, January 31 at 12 noon. To register for this free event, call 412-673-9800 or go to the website, www.jimtonerswealthbuilders.com. Registration is required as space is limited.

Mary Smith is a freelance writer and aspiring author.

2009-01-22T12:21:00.000-08:00

Preventing Identity Theft
Take These Simple Steps to Protect Your Personal and Corporate Identity

By Christine Emmick

Identity theft is something most people do not think about until it is too late. Identity theft statistics show over two-hundred-thousand people fall victim to this crime each year just in the United States alone. With these numbers growing, identity theft prevention is more important than ever. Here are some ways you can protect yourself from identity thieves.
Use your credit card instead of your debit card. Credit cards tend to carry more identity theft protection, such as zero-liability for unauthorized purchases. After just two days you may be liable for up to $500 in unauthorized charges on your debit card, and after 60 days you may be liable for all of it.
Choose just one credit card for your everyday purchases. When buying all your personal and corporate supplies, it’s smart to stick with one card instead of spreading the balance over multiple accounts. When you use multiple cards, you are putting each of those accounts at risk for fraud. Also, be sure you monitor the activity on that card closely.
Check your balance frequently. Also consider setting spending limit alerts with your credit card company. Most credit card companies offer an alert service that automatically contacts you when a large charge is made to your account. Contact your credit card company’s online service department to see what type of alerts they offer.
Use an identity theft protection service with fraud alert. There are several companies, like Fair Isaac’s myFiCO, which will help you monitor your credit report and alert you when a possible fraud attempt is made. Some will even back you monetarily, reimbursing you for the losses you’ve suffered at the identity thief’s hand.
Be cautious when opening new retail credit card accounts. It may seem like a great idea to take advantage of that discount, but some retail workers may not be as careful with your sensitive financial information as they should, especially during busy seasonal times. As an aside, each credit inquiry from a lender lowers your credit score, eventually limiting your financing choices.
Check your credit report often. Make sure all the information is correct, including your contact as well as your credit information. Under federal law, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report each year. Contact each of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and Trans Union, and ask what the procedure is to get your free report.
Take a credit class. This gives you a good overview of what you will find on your credit report, helps you understand what affects your credit rating and tunes you in on how much damage is caused by identity theft. Credit and You is a class that covers the how to on preventing identity theft, how your credit score is determined as well as how to improve this credit score. This course is available from Staged for Success and for a limited time offered at over half off the regular price. Call 877-615-3294 or visit the website to register.
Following these simple rules reduces your chance of becoming a victim of identity theft drastically. Preventing identity theft does not happen by accident. Know your credit score, monitor your credit activity, and educate yourself about the credit process and identity thieves will shop somewhere else for their next victim.

Content sponsored by Staged for Success, a full service home and business staging company serving the greater Pittsburgh area. For more information about Staged for Success, visit their website at www.mystagingpros.com.
Christine Emmick is a freelance business and real estate writer based in the Pittsburgh area. You may contact Christine through her blog site at www.activerain.com/cemmick.

Weathering the Storm: Why Local Real Estate May be the Best Way to Invest Money in Today’s Changing Financial Climate

2009-01-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Christine Emmick - Pittsburgh, PA –January 5, 2009

Although the economic storm of recent months has many investors holding tight to their stocks praying the DJIA recovers, some are taking this financial tornado and riding it out in the housing market. While real estate investments have taken a dive in other parts of the country, Pittsburgh continues to be an attractive place to purchase real estate. The Pittsburgh Business Times even reported a global interest in the Pittsburgh region with the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance hosting a group of international investors touring Pittsburgh looking for investment opportunities. “That kind of investment is very good for our region because it creates business activity and jobs here," says Allegheny Conference CEO Mike Langley. (Ref: http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/04/07/daily5.html)

These opportunities aren’t limited to the large overseas investor. Small-business investors can take advantage of the Pittsburgh real estate market with a little know how. A quick look through the real estate property listings will reveal hundreds of attractive investment opportunities for those searching for the right prospect. Jim Toner, real estate investor and owner of Wealth Builders, helps people get started. He says that the local investor may have the edge when it comes to the local market because if you live and work in a community, you’ll simply know the climate better. “I believe that only local people, real investors, can know and understand what makes local real estate investing work,” says Toner.

To that end, Toner and his group of experienced real estate investors have created a free seminar to help local investors own some of the community in which they live. This seminar will be held in three area locations in January. They will cover real estate investing basics, property value tips, case studies and business strategies to help the beginning investor start their real estate investing career.

These seminars will be in Greensburg at the Four Points Sheraton, January 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., in Greentree at the Radisson, January 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. and in Cranberry at the Pittsburgh Marriott North, January 15, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions, or want to register for any of these upcoming business seminars, please call 412-673-9800, or visit the Wealth Builders’ website at www.jimtonerswealthbuilders.com. Registration is required, as seating is limited.

Christine Emmick is a freelance business writer and Pittsburgh area native.