Destruere

The FSA (Financial Services Authority) today announced a review into 77 companies websites produced some astonishing results.

25% of the websites didn’t provide clear and unbiased information. The FSA also stated the websites were difficult to use.

“For many people the internet is the channel of choice for shopping around for financial products,” said Dan Waters, director of retail policy and themes at the FSA.

“It is so important that firms’ websites are fair, clear and not misleading,” he added

The FSA will review the websites again in March and said if the websites were to remain substandard they will take action.

I recently read that companies who update and redesign their websites regularly see increases in sales when compared to those that do not update or redesign regularly.

I agree that a redesign does help, however, it has to be done and planned out. I have seen and worked with companies that rush into a website redevelopment and do not plan and think about the uses or how users currently use the website.

Filed under: Finance, Websites by destruere No Comments »

A & L’s share rose today by a whopping 12%. This was on the news that their fall out from the credit crunch was only £55 million.

There were thoughts that the bank would have to right off around £200 million in sub-prime debts but this is not the case. There was also talk of them selling off their mortgage book to fund the short gap.

I have been impressed with A & L’s rebranding and I believe the money has been well spent. The bank has reinvented itself and now appears modern and less of the stuff old people bank it was before.

The credit crunch will continue to hit banks hard, I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of this.

Filed under: Finance by destruere No Comments »

According to Abbey around 7.7 million people are looking to colidate all their credit card debts onto a single card.

22% of adults currently have 3 or more credit cards and typically at least one card they have not used over the past 12 months!

I personally have 1 credit card (Capital One), which has a great rate and I am more than happy with. I am aware that it is possible to juggle around all your balances to ensure that you do not get into great debt, but I just don’t need to do that.

I have a good control over my finances and try not to spend on things I cannot afford. Its easier than it sounds I know, plus I dont have some of the financial burdens that other people have.

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Sir Richard Branson, the UK’s most famous entrepreneur could earn upto £200 million just from re-branding the stricken mortgage lender.

By using the virgin money brand name northern rock would pay a percentage of the annual revenues as part of a 20 year deal.

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 I have heard a rumour that LinkedIn is in talks with a large News Corporation over a possible takeover sometime in Jan 2008.

Has anyone more information on this?

Filed under: Rumours, Social Media by destruere No Comments »

The current targeting of certain blogs and websites by Google is simply to create waves. Google are trying to scare some big players into thinking that if you dont nofollow every link on your site then you will be punished.

I feel sorry for the bloggers that have been done as they have most certainly been singled out for treatment. Some websites were clearly there to sell links and do nothing else but clutter up the search results. Others blogs that were adding value but also selling some links on the side have been unlucky to get their PageRank lowered. I think the big G is trying to scare people by targeting some bigger sites and hoping that the little guys will get the message. Bullies!

Filed under: Google, Search Marketing by destruere No Comments »