Best Debt Negotiation Companies

Choosing the best debt negotiation Companies

The best debt negotiation companies offer service via local offices or telephone, however; the most effective way that these companies operate is usually by the Internet. Many negotiation and credit counseling services are nonprofit, but take CAUTION: Just because the organization is non-profit does not mean that its services are free or even affordable!

The best debt negotiation company should have standards. These standard include:

1. Demonstrate reputable services- the company is able to advise you on managing your money and debts, the company can help you to implement a budget based on your PERSONAL financial needs and obligations, these companies should also offer free workshops and information. (NOTE: This is a red flag in the reputability of the company! They should be interested in helping you to negotiate your debts and counsel… NOT just make a dollar!)

2. They should give you free information about itself and its services.

There is nothing wrong with asking for information on services, and the company should be willing and able to assist you with information on these services. If the company does not want to release information, this is often a red flag! As well, this information should be free! Hey, you are in debt! Why in the world would you PAY for free information?!

AUTHORS NOTE: Avoid companies that push a DMP, or a Debt Management Plan, before they spend a significant amount of time evaluating your financial situation.

Do your homework!

Finding out information from the debt negotiation company or credit counseling organization is essential in choosing the best debt negotiation company. Find out if the company offers other services. A company that offers a range of services is best. Especially those that offer budget counseling and classes.

Also, let me emphasize the importance of those debt negotiation sources, that offer free information and educational material. This is a good way to tell what kind of company you are working with.

Another sign of a quality company is if the company offers you ways to avoid becoming in debt in the future. You do not want the company to just solve your immediate problem, but you want to stay clear of any possibilities that you may acquire this situation again in the future.

In your search for the best debt negotiation company, make sure that you ask questions. As many questions as you’d like! Ask the company up front, what their fees are. You need to know, and if you can get those fees in writing even better!

Is the company licensed to work in your state?

This is an important question to ask. You want to make sure that the company you are dealing with is even licensed to work in your state. Because there are at times issues with scams within the debt counseling services industry, some states do not allow certain companies to operate in their state. Make sure you ask this very important question. A good company, once they receive your application, will tell you up front.

Other tips and advice for finding the best debt negotiation company.

1. Formal agreements- DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without reading it first! Make sure that you look over all of the details of your contract.

2. Qualifications of the Counselor- Find out what the qualifications of that counselor are. Were they trained under an accredited or certified organization?

3. How employees are paid- Looking at the way the employees are paid is HUGE! Are they paid on commissions? Note: Just because a counselor is paid on commission does not necessarily mean that it is not a reputable organization. This is just a flag that you want to be aware of when signing up for services.

HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR DEBT NEGOTIATION SERVICES?

REMEMBER do your homework! Using articles, or a lens, blog, and other sources of information (Sources such as this one) will help you to find debt negotiation and credit counseling services.

The best thing to do is go online and APPLY!

Applying at various sites for debt negotiation services is the FREE and quite simple. This is the FIRST STEP in finding out about the various companies!

Apply at multiple sites, then do a compare and contrast of the services and offers.

Make sure that when the counselors calls, that you use the information provided above to find out about the company!

How to Present the Compelling Idea in Your Article

The best way to present a new idea is to do it fast and to do it early.

Your first paragraph is one of the most crucial parts of your article. This is where readers decide whether to continue reading or to move on to the next interesting thing they see on the Internet. Without anything compelling to keep them glued to your website, you run the risk of being quickly dismissed. Some people will tell you it’s best to save the big idea for the end. That’s when you sum up all your major points so that they all nicely close on one compelling idea at the end. That’s fine if you’re writing a scientific paper, but we don’t think it’s going to work for a blog article.

People won’t stick around if you’re going to keep them waiting till the end. Whereas if you stimulate their mind and appeal to their emotions first thing in your article, they’re a lot more likely to read up to the last word.

An Idea Needs Support, No Matter How Compelling It Is

The thing is, a great idea will always have its detractors. It’s human nature to want to stick with the old and tested. Even when your readers are deeply fascinated by what you offer them, there will still be that little voice inside their head that tells them to be wary of this new and compelling idea. This is why you still need to provide support in the body of your article.

There are three ways to do this.

One, you can show them factual evidence that supports your ideas. If you did a lot of research, there’s no way you’re not going to incorporate facts into your article. Plus, people can easily verify factual evidence by going on Google and doing the research themselves.

Two, you can tell them stories that make your idea come to life. People love stories. Stories have been around perhaps since man’s discovery of fire. When people read or listen to stories, their defenses are down. It’s like connecting with another human being in a deep and touching way. When you tell them a story as evidence for how good your idea is, it’s easier to convince them.

And three, you can ask experts to give a testimonial to your idea. People trust the experts. They have years of experience behind them and they know what they’re doing. Naturally, when experts say they believe in what you’re offering, people will come flocking to you to try out what you can offer them.

If There’s a Simpler Way to Say It…

We know a lot of esteemed authors, prominent bloggers and writing coaches have been saying this over and over again. “KISS! Keep it simple, stupid!” Another version is “Keep it short and simple.” The idea stays the same, though. It’s been said so often that it has become one giant cliché by now. Sadly, not many writers seem to take this advice seriously. There seems to be a myth persistently going around that a good writer uses big words and long sentences. Supposedly, writers are seen to be more intelligent when they pepper their work with words readers have to look up the dictionary for.

On the contrary, it only makes you look like an amateur. An amateur whose articles nobody likes to read because they’re just too difficult to absorb.

We’re saying this not because we’ve been writing books and other things for quite some time. We’re saying this because it’s true. You can ask any other seasoned writer out there. They’d tell you the same thing. Ditch those words that your readers cringe at and go for words they can easily understand. And it’s not only other writers who agree with us.

There’s a new idea in psychology that supports the idea that people prefer simple things to complicated ones. It’s called cognitive fluency. Apparently, it’s an evolutionary concept that helped our ancestors decide which ones to pay attention to. We know they didn’t have much time to figure out what to think when a saber-tooth tiger bared its teeth at them. Seeing those giant fangs told gave them the familiar pang of fear that made them bolt for their lives.

The same idea applies when people read something. They don’t have a lot of time to figure out what you’re trying to say in your convoluted article. They’d rather have the big idea presented to them in words their minds can easily understand. Put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Do you honestly want to look up from what you’re reading to consult a dictionary? We know you don’t. You would rather look for another article that talks about the same thing but in a way that’s easier to read.

Is Your Article Readable Enough?

One way to gauge how easy it is to read your article is to run it through the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Tests. The tests take a look at the length of your words and sentences to predict how easy it is for human readers to read your article. Generally, you want your article to be completely understandable to fifth to seventh graders. This is measured by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, which is patterned after the US grading system. A score of somewhere between 5.0 and 7.0 indicates that students in the fifth to seventh grades will easily understand your articles.

On the other hand, the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease indicates how easy or difficult it is to read your article. The higher your score, the easier it is to read your article. You would want your score to be above 60, which is the score that indicates that fifth-graders can easily understand your writing. If you go lower than that, go over your article and give it a good slashing.

Presentation Tips – Putting Together an Excellent Performance

I was once asked this question…

“Could anyone give me a few tips for an excellent performance at an academic foreign policy presentation next week?”

My advice to the requester:

1. Don’t put text on a PowerPoint slide

2. Use personal stories

3. Practice, practice, and practice

First, don’t use Microsoft’s PowerPoint for text.

I know, I know. Most of the business and educational world will tell you to put together a good PowerPoint presentation. I will suggest to you to put together a good Presentation. Then if must use PowerPoint, use it for visuals. Charts, tables, and photos. Visuals do three things, in order of importance.

Photos show a thing that cannot be adequately described or must be accurately recognized. Charts give the audience a visual comparison of numbers, allowing them to see the difference. Tables give the audience a visual representation of large groups of numbers. That’s what a PowerPoint slide is good for.

However, a good presentation is an intriguing weave of words that attracts, explains, and persuades your audience like reading a good book. Remember listening to someone tell you a good story? That’s how you should make your audience feel.

Use descriptive phrases and intriguing example stories. Pull the stories from your own life experiences, professional and personal. Use the stories that you share with your friends and family in informal settings. Chances are, you’ve told them many times already. Tie them in with points in your presentation.

Most importantly… practice, practice, PRACTICE. Any athlete can tell you that the ratio of time spent in practice is phenomenally large in comparison to time in the game. If the presentation is important to you and your career, give it the time needed for you to be confident, competent, and fully comfortable in practice.

This is a quick summary on what I consider to be some of the most important points in good presentation. There are many more, such as: using the singular you, using eye contact without scanning the audience, good use of pauses (many people fear the pause).

My best advice to you… Get some help and/or coaching before you need it. But you can still put together a good presentation right now. Good Luck!”

What are some of those resources? Check out some of my recommended links at my website. But I also like the World Champions Edge for continuous coaching by experts and peers. You call also use Toastmasters International for more continuous learning opportunities.

Do you have any suggestions for someone trying to put together a good presentation? Please let me know.