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vaulteventmedia · 3 years

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This Is What Home Buyers Want Most in 2021

Check out these tips on where to spend your money for the best ROI & where you can make big impact changes without spending a small fortune.

Outdoor space is in.

That’s the feature most home buyers are looking for these days, according to real estate agents, who say the season’s stay-at-home orders have left millions of people feeling cooped up.

If you’re going to spend time and money on a home improvement project, it pays to focus on things future buyers might find valuable, in case you choose to sell one day. Projects like refurbishing a patio or replacing a garage door, can improve your day-to-day experience in your home and boost its value too.

In fact, many Americans have spent their time at home over the past few months tackling DIY renovations. Quarterly earnings reports from big box home improvement chains Lowe’s and Home Depot both showed year-over-year improvement from 2019, even as overall consumer spending fell by record amounts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upward trend isn’t just a result of recent stay-at-home orders. According to the 2019 State of Home Spending Report from HomeAdvisor, Americans spent an average $7,560 on home improvement in 2018, a 17% increase from the previous year.

Here’s how to find the right home renovation project that fits your budget, makes you happy and would make a future buyer happy, too.

Deciding on a Project

As you determine what projects to take on, consider those that will bring you the biggest returns on your investment if you decide to resell.

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars or dedicate months of work on pricey renovations to increase your home’s value. Even small DIYs can have a significant impact when it’s time to list.

The best way to get the most return for your money is by focusing on where you spend the most time, such as the kitchen. That’s where potential buyers will likely spend their time, too, and will pay the most attention while viewing.

According to the 2020 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine, an industry trade publication, renovations that saw the most significant costs recouped upon a home’s sale include minor kitchen remodels (78%), siding replacement (78% for fiber-cement and 75% for vinyl), and wooden deck additions (72%).

Personal Tastes: A Balancing Act

According to Will Rodgers, a real estate agent based in Virginia, it’s OK to get a little creative with your design choices. Just don’t go overboard.

“Don’t put something in that you’re going to hate,” he says. “But don’t put in something so unique that it’s going to turn 90% of buyers away.”

Reach out for a second opinion from a friend or neighbor before choosing anything drastic or highly custom, such as dark tiles in the bathroom or several bright paint colors.

“You want to find the sweet spot: something you enjoy that reflects your taste but is not so custom and loud that it turns buyers off in two or three years,” Rodgers says.

Larger Renovations

Before you head to your local home improvement store or call your contractor, consider these projects to help boost your home’s value when it’s time to sell.

Outdoor spaces

As many Americans prepare to spend more time at home long-term, either due to extended social distancing or changing remote work circumstances, outdoor space is more appealing than ever.

“The top features home buyers want in the age of coronavirus are a quiet property or neighborhood, followed by more outdoor space, such as a yard or patio,” says Andrina Valdes, executive sales leader and COO of Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc. in Texas.

Whether you’re working with several acres of land or just a couple hundred square feet of balcony space, spending your renovation resources on outdoor living space can make a significant difference for potential buyers.

Some examples may include updating light fixtures, improving railings on the front porch, installing an outdoor ceiling fan to keep cool, or even an outdoor fire pit or fireplace for your backyard. For bigger renovations, home additions, new porches, and fence installations remain popular choices, according to the State of Home Spending Report.

Kitchen

“A lot of people spend the most time in the kitchen, and I think it’s the best value dollar for dollar,” Rodgers says.

According to the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), real estate agents ranked “complete kitchen renovation” and the less-expansive “kitchen upgrades” as the two projects most likely to appeal to buyers and bring the most resale value to a home.

In fact, 20% of real estate agents say completing a kitchen upgrade played a part in closing a home sale.

Remodeling a kitchen can be an expensive undertaking, but there are ways to complete the project on a budget while still adding value.

“Gutting and doing expensive remodels will never give a seller a dollar-for-dollar profit,” says Deborah Baisden, a real estate agent based in Virginia. “Paint cabinets, put in new countertops and appliances, take down wallpaper, and paint trim.”

And don’t forget about smaller changes to make a big difference. Changing light fixtures and cabinet knobs can have an impact on your space for comparatively little impact on your budget.

Master bathroom

Beyond the kitchen, the place a potential buyer is most likely to value an upgrade is the master bath.

The Remodeling Impact Report suggests you can recover 50% of the resources spent on a master bathroom remodel upon the sale of your home.

Recouping value can be especially dependent upon how much you account for potential buyers in your design choices for both kitchen and master bathroom renovations.

“Certainly, there are design trends that have wide appeal among a range of homeowners,” the Cost vs. Value Report from Renovation Magazine states. “But because of the vast differences in aesthetic tastes, one person’s elegant new kitchen or bath will be viewed by a range of other prospective buyers as tacky and outdated and in desperate need of a reset.”

Consider a neutral color scheme (think white or light gray), updated fixtures, and popular trends like subway tiles for broad appeal.

Flooring

According to the Remodeling Impact Survey, flooring is one of the best ways to recover costs by adding value. The survey suggests homeowners who install new wood flooring could recoup 106% of what they spend in increased home value, while refinishing hardwood floors could recover 100% of the cost when it’s time to sell.

If you don’t have hardwood flooring already and aren’t quite ready to commit to the cost of new wood installation, consider vinyl or laminate alternatives, according to Rodgers.

“It looks like real wood, but it’s super scratch-resistant, unlike wood,” he says. “For the general home buyer, it’s more economical, it’s more durable, and it’s mostly waterproof, which is nice.”

If you already have hardwood floors, consider waiting to refinish them until you’re closer to a list date, as they can easily get scratched up or worn again.

Smaller Projects

Clean and declutter

It may not be the most exciting project on your list, but completing a thorough deep clean and declutter of your home is a great place to add value.

Clear out each of your closets and drawers, donating any items you no longer need. You can even try to earn a few bucks in the process by listing items on sites like Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. Localized resale apps, such as Letgo, OfferUp, or VarageSale are also great options.

Then work on cleaning harder-to-reach places attentive buyers may also examine, such as the baseboards or inside the oven.

“Walk through the house with a critical eye and see what your eyes are drawn to,” Baisden says. “If the home is too full of the current family, a new family will not be able to see themselves in it. Start packing things away and consider having a stager in to help advise.”

If you’re planning on listing your home anytime soon, you’ll thank yourself for getting rid of things you don’t need in advance of the moving process, and presenting a clean, organized space to potential buyers can be key to scoring a deal.

Curb appeal

“We cannot help but judge a book by its cover,” Rodgers says. “When a buyer is walking up, and they’re seeing the grass isn’t cut, and the plants are all overgrown, they make that judgment instantly.”

Your home’s curb appeal is its first chance to make a good impression on a potential buyer — or leave them with a bad taste in their mouth from the start.

“Freshly mulched and edged flower beds and a well-manicured lawn will make the phone ring for showings,” Baisden says. “Stand at the front door and look at the porch for missing mortar or cracks. Is the door freshly painted and a pleasing color? Is there room for a burst of color in pots on the porch or in the flower beds? Are there spider webs?”

The impact a first impression makes on a potential buyer is critical and can influence the price a buyer is willing to pay for your home or even the closing of a deal altogether.

Repairs and updates

Minor repairs make for a productive but relatively inexpensive weekend project that easily adds value to your home.

Look for small things easy to overlook when you’ve lived in your space for a long time: cracked windows, holes in walls, doors that don’t quite close all the way.

According to the Cost vs. Value Report, of 22 projects evaluated, several minor renovations were among those that saw the most value recouped when it came time to sell, including garage door replacement (94% recouped), window replacement (72%), and entry door replacement (69%).

These small repairs (in addition to bigger repairs like a new roof or siding) are signs you’ve maintained your home well over time.

Buyers are looking for a space that’s been taken care of, not left in disarray or damaged, and preparing a home completely move-in ready can have real value.

Energy efficiency

Another emerging trend among buyers that can help you decide where to devote your resources is efficiency.

The most recent What Home Buyers Really Want Report from the National Association of Home Builders shows, among home buyers surveyed, 89% ranked Energy Star windows as either “essential” or “desirable,” while 86% said the same about Energy Star appliances. Eighty-one percent of home buyers said it was essential or desirable for their entire home to be energy efficient.

According to data from Energy Star, the average American household, which spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, can save about $575 or 30% each year by switching to energy efficient products. In addition to saving you money on utility bills in the short term, an already energy-efficient home can be a great selling point for buyers, especially those who may be debating between new construction (which is more likely to have efficiencies built-in) and an older home.

Do Your Research

“Go find a new construction community and walk inside,” Rodgers says. New home builders “spend a lot of money and time investing in figuring out what people want and what the latest trends are. They can buy any materials they want, so they take time to figure out the right ones.”

Don’t just spend your research time on design trends, though. Scrutinize your budget too. Make sure the changes you want to make fit within your means, without enough left over emergency savings. You can’t rely on potential resale value to fund your investment in a project; this mindset could lead to debt and negative effects on your credit and overall financial health.

If your project can’t be completed with your current savings, consider postponing it until you have a bit more to spend on the things you really want, or find ways to reduce costs in a way that will still leave you (and a potential buyer) satisfied with the final result.

This information was found at https://time.com/nextadvisor/mortgages/what-home-buyers-want/ and shared with you with Manies Construction, LLC

#homeimprovement #renovations #2021hometrends #ROI

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weightlossfitnesssinfo · 4 years

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Successful Methods To Decreasing The Effects Of Stress

How significantly better would you life be with out stress? Unfortunately, that is simply not going to occur. And actually, with out some stress, nothing would ever get completed. Stress turns into an issue when it spirals uncontrolled, or when you begin to really feel careworn on a regular basis. Stress that's not managed effectively is harmful to your well being, and the stress ideas laid out right here will aid you to come up with the stress you might be experiencing.

Some folks depend on alcohol or medicine once they expertise a variety of stress. They see this as the one method to fight the overwhelming stress they really feel of their every day lives. Taking medicine or consuming alcohol is not going to repair your issues. The negatives of those substances far outweigh the momentary advantages they could present.

TIP! Some folks, once they get stressed, find yourself turning to medicine or alcohol. Unfortunately, the momentary reduction these substances might deliver can result in a denial or evasion of the underlying causes of the stress that's being felt.

Understand the supply of your stress! Once you perceive the place your stress is coming from, it is possible for you to to deal with the issue at its root. Stress is usually a response to an occasion, particular person or object. Identifying the reason for your stress will make it simpler to take away it out of your life.

Many seemingly innocuous actions could also be making you extra careworn. You would possibly play video video games that can assist you unwind and relieve stress, however if you're sitting and taking part in for 5 - 6 hours a day, you might be chopping into the time you could maintain your self and rising your stress. Time spent on these actions lower into your time for different issues, like sleeping or making ready a wholesome meal.

TIP! Stress can come from some unlikely locations. You would possibly get pleasure from spending time on the Internet, posting on blogs or in boards, however when you do it for too lengthy, you might start to neglect your wants and really feel careworn.

Music is a incredible method to relieve stress. Music has a really highly effective impact on us. Many research have been performed that show there's a therapeutic and calming energy to music. There are many several types of music. Find the kind that calms you down and makes you are feeling higher.

Identify what causes stress in your life, as a way to make progress towards fixing it. If the supply of your stress might be banished out of your life, it is best to strongly take into account that choice. By eradicating these triggers, you possibly can assist your self really feel higher rapidly.

TIP! Identify the supply of your stress, as it may be induced by so many issues. If the supply of your stress might be banished out of your life, it is best to strongly take into account that choice.

Stress can relieved with the assistance of pets. Research has confirmed that petting an animal a couple of minutes helps to alleviate or decrease stress ranges.

Remember that alcohol is a depressant and is rarely good for stress reduction. Using alcohol responsibly in a social setting with associates is okay; nevertheless, downing ten beers an evening to knock the sting off your day is lunacy. Daily consuming can result in alcoholism and needs to be averted. Try utilizing different strategies to alleviate your stress and don't drink to alleviate it.

TIP! Alcohol shouldn't be the reply to soothing your stress on the finish of an extended, onerous day. Having an occasional drink or consuming moderately is okay, however consuming each day might be detrimental to your well being.

Thoughtful conversations with trusted people can do wonders to relive stress. Venting and getting issues out of your system will depart you feeling significantly better. Enjoy a cup of espresso or a telephone dialog with a member of the family or shut buddy that you would be able to belief.

If your work permits it, listening to music of your selection can give you an important profit. Play softer sounding music to assist make you calm and relaxed. If a extra upbeat music selection is made, it needs to be cheerful and blissful.

TIP! If you'll be able to take heed to work when you are at work, this may be of nice help. Try and play music that's decrease in key, as this has been proven to raised soothe you.

Hobbies and video video games might be enjoyable, however if you're pissed off it is best to cease taking part in. It is essential to remember that you are attempting to clear your ideas and never change your stress with highly effective frustration.

If you might be doing unhealthy issues to take care of your stress, discover different methods to do it. If you normally eat an excessive amount of once you're careworn, for instance, give train a strive. If you employ good coping expertise, as an alternative of dangerous ones, you'll really feel significantly better.

TIP! A wide range of productive, wholesome strategies can be found for coping with stress. Over-eating, for instance, can simply be was a fast stroll or a couple of push-ups as a way of combating stress.

Spearmint oil could make an important pure stress reliever. Dab a bit in your neck and temples once you really feel careworn. Sometimes it's the easy treatments that may be the best therapy for stress.

If you've a big different, spend a night having fun with a romantic dinner with them. This will assist put your thoughts "in the moment" with the opposite particular person, slightly than worrying about previous arguments or troubles that may happen sooner or later.

TIP! If you might be in a relationship, exit for a romantic, candlelit dinner with the person who you're keen on. This will aid you to concentrate on that particular person and benefit from the second, as an alternative of interested by issues which have occurred up to now or are going to occur sooner or later.

If you hear a humorous joke or have an amusing expertise, make sure you write it down. Reading such a log shall be extraordinarily pleasing, however maintaining information of this kind serves to remind you of all the entertaining and humorous issues that often occur in your on a regular basis life.

Long baths are a beautiful method to diminish your stress stage and change into relaxed. Add scented oil or cleaning soap to your tub water for an added aromatherapy enhance. Play some calming music to appease your soul or seize a ebook and let your thoughts get lost into a unique world. This soak is a superb method to shut off the thoughts for a short while, and to only relaxation whereas permitting the stress to dissolve away.

TIP! A protracted, scorching soak within the tub is a superb stress-buster. Light candles, add scented oils, lay again and let your worries float away.

A great way to spend a while relieving stress is to do some arts and crafts. Doing any kind of inventive exercise can get your thoughts off due dates and cash for a bit.

Try having a wholesome life in order to scale back stress naturally. Eating higher, exercising often and getting loads of sleep will make it simpler to keep away from stress. Beyond that, merely treating your self higher improves your shallowness and confidence. You are extra geared up to deal with irritating conditions.

TIP! One of the best and complete methods to keep away from undue stress is to undertake a more healthy way of life. Your physique shall be extra able to dealing with the consequences of stress when you comply with a nutritious weight loss plan, get pleasure from common train and get satisfactory relaxation every night time.

Among the accessible strategies, you could discover and put to make use of those which can be actually efficient for you. Stress could make it tough to recall the strategies you developed. Apply the ideas from this text to your life, and you'll be in your method to a happier, stress-free life.

If you strive your greatest to forgive others, you would have a much less irritating life. By specializing in wrongs which have been completed to you, or on ideas of revenge, you'll simply trigger extra anxiousness and irritability in your individual life.

TIP! Forgiving others can go a good distance in relieving a lot of the stress in your life. When you dwell on the offenses of different folks, it might trigger you anxiousness and irritation day-after-day.

The following article Successful Methods To Decreasing The Effects Of Stress was originally published to Weight Loss Fitness

from Weight Loss Fitness - Feed https://weightlossfitnesss.info/successful-methods-to-decreasing-the-effects-of-stress/

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weightlossfitness2 · 4 years

Text

Successful Methods To Decreasing The Effects Of Stress

How significantly better would you life be with out stress? Unfortunately, that is simply not going to occur. And actually, with out some stress, nothing would ever get completed. Stress turns into an issue when it spirals uncontrolled, or when you begin to really feel careworn on a regular basis. Stress that’s not managed effectively is harmful to your well being, and the stress ideas laid out right here will aid you to come up with the stress you might be experiencing.

Many seemingly innocuous actions could also be making you extra careworn. You would possibly play video video games that can assist you unwind and relieve stress, however if you’re sitting and taking part in for 5 – 6 hours a day, you might be chopping into the time you could maintain your self and rising your stress. Time spent on these actions lower into your time for different issues, like sleeping or making ready a wholesome meal.

Music is a incredible method to relieve stress. Music has a really highly effective impact on us. Many research have been performed that show there’s a therapeutic and calming energy to music. There are many several types of music. Find the kind that calms you down and makes you are feeling higher.

TIP! Identify the supply of your stress, as it may be induced by so many issues. If the supply of your stress might be banished out of your life, it is best to strongly take into account that choice.

Stress can relieved with the assistance of pets. Research has confirmed that petting an animal a couple of minutes helps to alleviate or decrease stress ranges.

TIP! Alcohol shouldn’t be the reply to soothing your stress on the finish of an extended, onerous day. Having an occasional drink or consuming moderately is okay, however consuming each day might be detrimental to your well being.

TIP! If you’ll be able to take heed to work when you are at work, this may be of nice help. Try and play music that’s decrease in key, as this has been proven to raised soothe you.

Hobbies and video video games might be enjoyable, however if you’re pissed off it is best to cease taking part in. It is essential to remember that you are attempting to clear your ideas and never change your stress with highly effective frustration.

If you might be doing unhealthy issues to take care of your stress, discover different methods to do it. If you normally eat an excessive amount of once you’re careworn, for instance, give train a strive. If you employ good coping expertise, as an alternative of dangerous ones, you’ll really feel significantly better.

Spearmint oil could make an important pure stress reliever. Dab a bit in your neck and temples once you really feel careworn. Sometimes it’s the easy treatments that may be the best therapy for stress.

If you’ve a big different, spend a night having fun with a romantic dinner with them. This will assist put your thoughts “in the moment” with the opposite particular person, slightly than worrying about previous arguments or troubles that may happen sooner or later.

TIP! If you might be in a relationship, exit for a romantic, candlelit dinner with the person who you’re keen on. This will aid you to concentrate on that particular person and benefit from the second, as an alternative of interested by issues which have occurred up to now or are going to occur sooner or later.

TIP! A protracted, scorching soak within the tub is a superb stress-buster. Light candles, add scented oils, lay again and let your worries float away.

A great way to spend a while relieving stress is to do some arts and crafts. Doing any kind of inventive exercise can get your thoughts off due dates and cash for a bit.

Among the accessible strategies, you could discover and put to make use of those which can be actually efficient for you. Stress could make it tough to recall the strategies you developed. Apply the ideas from this text to your life, and you’ll be in your method to a happier, stress-free life.

If you strive your greatest to forgive others, you would have a much less irritating life. By specializing in wrongs which have been completed to you, or on ideas of revenge, you’ll simply trigger extra anxiousness and irritability in your individual life.

The post Successful Methods To Decreasing The Effects Of Stress appeared first on Weight Loss Fitness.

from Weight Loss Fitness https://weightlossfitnesss.info/successful-methods-to-decreasing-the-effects-of-stress/

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thatguywhowearspink · 6 years

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Run after your data, Not the IT

I . T .-'IT'-is pricey. Almost every Chief executive officer, CFO, COO-virtually every manager at each level of any company on the market understands that irrefutable point. It's ordinarily a key series product in every enterprise budget.

For the IT team, handling the provider practical ability indicates initially locating a product that satisfies regardless of what have to have the enterprise has come up with (and in most cases the strange whim of the individual director), then your purchase, installment, exercising, and repair of the component, software, networking systems, and databases which go with the application. Then you get to be worried about interfaces between the resources, reviews, security (equally external and internal), and the superb, irrepressible, unusual, and quite often exploitation behaviors of the customers despite you've supplied accomplish last part-to-stop exercising on the cool product.

Then a person changes their intellect and you get to do it all through just as before.

Personally, i consider every metro spot must have a non-public asylum correctly leaders. This facility will need to can come that comes with places for your for the moment insane to perform individual and brutal exploitation of computer hardware, provide you with them a setup of punching bags designed to look like ignorant (not foolish, just unlikely) firm officers, plus an even more stomping floor loaded with beginners meant to resemble a variety of knuckle-going end users. Together with a exclusive place of heck for hackers...

A really center could well be packed to capability at all times.

The madness doesn't end using the IT team. For other business staff, IT changes means that a long time or times of training, down time and loss in productivity that is included with IT concerns, failures, or program renovations.

For sales staff, an IT glitch can mean missing chance, reduction in profits, and a lower than stellar picture of this company that may remain in a customer's head for some time. Salesmen may possibly never beat an undesirable buyer experience produced by unsuccessful IT. The term "your computer will probably be your friend" is simply not greatly talked amongst sales agents.

However it is an essential bad, isn't it? What organization could perform without this?

Well, it is actually needed. Even an resourceful young male or female going into the workforce the first time mowing back yards requires a opportinity for people to attain him/her, the right way to run a routine, even perhaps methods to monitor who has paid out their costs.

But could it need to be satanic?

Imagine if the satanic-ness happens due to the fact we're planning to fix an incorrect issue with the IT? We're wanting to drive a round peg right into a square gap, visualizing It will clear up our trouble without the need of actually discovering what the catch is? We shop for computer units, communities, communication, and many types of activities something-take and regulate facts. A very simple proven fact that we inherently are all aware but gloss in excess of-it isn't the IT that's vital, it's what's traversing that this.

It's around the data. Individuals little parts and bytes that make up people that comprise info things that coalesce into information that provides us practical knowledge that further more transforms into learning ability you can use and behaved on.

It's relating to the files. Still we run after the instruments cruising the data.

But delay (you say)! We have now our directories. That's area of the IT. That's just where our data is stashed. We need the IT to get at our data. It's OUR data.

Properly, sure... type of.

But not genuinely. Your business does retail store records into your databases regarding your small business, ordinarily within a proprietary collection that is certainly piece and package with the software you've procured. Most-at least quite a lot-of that particular info is repeated in other products, some internal for your firm, but the majority absolutely using some other outer technique. And starting a databases is actually difficult work, what with having things discovered, parsed, migrated inside the suitable job areas, verified, and the like. It may take time and manpower which means money spent.

And exactly how uncomplicated might it be to have it back again from that data bank after you've chosen to proceed to our next great IT item? How many IT leaders operate an exit tactic while doing so they're producing their purchase tactic? If you pick a proprietary products, are you aware what information proper rights you may have and exactly how you'll get out of that products once the time occurs? Mainly because it will. (In addition, the answer then is frequently 'no'-it's hard enough to acquire the product or service ready to go despite the fact that suggesting to your merchant and organization control that you're actually thinking about (and shelling out cash on) its demise.)

OK, so who may have the data (where is the best data bank truly placed and who handles it? Who may have get? Who possesses it (don't make an supposition listed here))? How might it be sent back again in order to relocate it towards a competitor's base? Do you need to obtain a amazing (meaning, overpriced) tool to get the details? Who manages concerns? Who offers the proof in recent times and that means you really know very well what that data base appears to be and precisely what every single element means that (due to the fact that changes too)? This edges for the geeky but X would possibly not generally and eternally indicate X, or possibly now its X 2. Could be X is currently alpha-numeric unlike it started off as numeric only. These facts is completely crucial-what modified then when? Without the need of that documents, you will have absolutely no way of being aware of should your information and facts are accomplish, if its in fact perfect or if perhaps its been damaged.

Really like your repository professionals.

So, back to who essentially holds the information. Despite the fact that your imminently practical IT manager has the bases protected in terms of data source ownership and many types of, do you really essentially own personal the info things?

No. You hold the intelligence which comes from utilizing the information, as well as any future safe-keeping and retrieval of this learning ability, and you don't really arrive at determine the information components that make up that cleverness.

As an illustration, the US Interpersonal Security amount. The US Govt has it-its shape and rules, plus the material allocated a unique. Your organization has no say inside the make any difference. It may possibly, however, be applied in numerous methods. Some IT devices utilise all nine people-with or without the dashes-even though some only keep your last four, 6, or several. Other nations have particular detection numbers that appear to be absolutely nothing similar to the US Social security number. So what now?

How long is definitely a 'name' and who grows to consider exactly what it may resemble (no program I'm aware about could catch the symbol Prince employed for quite a while)? The length of time can an identity be? What unique personas are enabled? The amount of nicknames can a person have (very first/final/center or 6-7 brands, Aliases, Formerly Named)?

Throughout countries, many will repeat the authorities has a lot of additional actually identifiable material (typically abbreviated to "PII") for that nation (most likely the US and this includes). There could also be some worldwide consortium that believe that they 'own' files related to their niche of know-how (although i option there's other consortium that is going to disagree with the placement).

We might proceed. The point is that no one 'owns' a files element, at the very least very little that's decided upon internationally, and that's a challenge.

Why?

Given that we have been worldwide pests life as people in an international setting. No male (or country) is an tropical isle. Records travels around the world within the speed of believed by way of social media and connected methods. It's perpetual-once a 'thought' has gone out there, it's available for good for the reason that a place it's been recorded by an IT 'system'.

Information is easily accessible from almost anywhere therefore we can discover a little something about nearly anything with just a few critical cerebral vascular accidents (whilst we now have no way of knowing the veracity products we discover).

So, stuff has gone out there in an array of kinds, a number of it really is correct, a number of it isn't, and you also need to have special devices to find the majority of it.

Just how do we realize whatever we know? Individually, I do believe this age will finally be referred to as the Second Dimly lit Gets older for the reason that we don't understand what we realize and also have not a way to seize (into perpetuity) our know-how. And the trail of e-mail, notes, memos, etc that shows how we arrived at that know-how, why we produced that conclusion, why that particular track was preferred, and so forth.

Computers, laptops, cellular devices consist of a wealth of details that is owned by an individual or generally, a corporation or corporation. When that machine would go to the good Recycling Container during the Atmosphere, ordinarily via a fried hard drive which makes the info it contains not reachable, all of that info is misplaced. Lose color to black.

I attended a lecture the moment however in 1900 human knowledge was increasing every 50 a long time. In 1950 it was almost every 25 decades, in 1998 (after i read this) it absolutely was almost every 10 several years, as well as 2020 it might be each and every 72 times. Say what? Just how can we grab that? Can we all know that which you know when it's all seized in disparate directories, disparate tools, in a variety of kinds?

How on this planet can we handle everything facts/data/practical knowledge/intelligence?

We must have guide. We require the computer systems to aid us. As with, Unnatural Intellect (AI). AI might help us sound right of everything, with the exception of the 'all of it' is dotted and parsed around the world without the conventional develop or business design.

So-imagine if we stopped operating the IT and instead drove the data (that is whatever we want nevertheless)? Just assume we received management of our records, managed it, and standardized it around the world?

Think about it-files element X appears like this, signifies this, is seen at this nomenclature, managed (controlled) in that enterprise and (could be) even up to date that way. It may do what ever it required by using it provided that it didn't switch the composition in the element!

It wouldn't matter precisely what it instrument we applied-whatsoever fitted our necessities and budget-simply because our files was stand up-on their own and regulated just like the Borg-group. IT is unable to customize the construction or meaning of the data. Opposition is futile. Corporations wouldn't ought to devote millions understanding and documenting their data source mainly because it is consistent. They would need only to establish the info things they're enthusiastic about. A dealer developing a new IT tool wouldn't need to revise their method for any purchaser-the data programs could be normal (consider Solutions Driven Structure on steroids).

Wow! Wait, how? How would be proceed with sealing straight down data?

It may well relax and take a universal opportunity, almost certainly a thing underneath the United Nations.

Imagine there had been an organization that needed care of anything affiliated with Professionally Identifiable Details, yet another for knowledge, one more for wellbeing, an additional for accounting, and so forth and so forth and many others...

It's brain-boggling. There'd should a group merely to select which crew a bit of files need to be provided for for administration (is 'checking account' element of business banking, bookkeeping, very own, or company data?)

There is reasons.

It's been tried well before however, on smaller scales by little businesses. None of them were profitable mainly since the team didn't in fact own the data. You can't command what you don't own personal.

I argue right here, yet, that it must be not reliant on decision. After we are to stay away from becoming that Following Dimly lit Age range, we have to find a way to get command over our info and it ought to be a universal effort.

Begin small, consider big, transfer speedy...

Why not start out with an organization committed to unique properties? Explain individuals variables. Ascertain the information construction. Establish the knowhow to go to, revise, and terminate that records. Then proceed out of there.

Visualize a environment in which suppliers or people today can get any IT merchandise out of the box-with no existing bureaucracy related to significant buys-every time they want, with whichever special features they really want, considering that the facts it makes use of is widely designed. It could keep millions of money (right after the Wonderful Data Design in the Skies was put together regardless).

Visualize a entire world in which details are separate from the IT traveling it. You could have a repository however, you can't customize the framework or indicating. Some ingredients could possibly be un-updateable except for by a certified team (e.g., supplier information like date of birth) plus a grasp type grabbed at whichever level deemed ideal-could be nationwide then synchronized along with a society-extensive repository. You are able to coalesce the details into data and intelligence that (may well) turn out to be an additional part of facts and seized it specific proper but you will NOT revise the 'truth' details element.

Of course, I know-get two aspirin and believe that it by means of... it can injure the gray make a difference. It's quicker to chase the IT than have a take on around the facts, which explains why we go that course. But we must start off.

Write-up Origin: http://EzineArticles.com/9766302

#computer #pc

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dirt-road-anthem · 4 years

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Try These Ideas When Purchasing A Car!

Buying a used car can be tricky, no matter how much you already know about cars. There are lots of different things to consider so that you don't end up buying a piece of junk that breaks down right away. Use some great tips of the trade in the following article to help you make your next car choice.

Read More Honda Car

When you are going to buy a car, you need to know ahead of time which features are essential for you in the car. Have a clear picture of what you want, so you can search for the right price as well as the right car for your needs.

Watch out for the up sells in the financing office. When you reach the financing office, you will always be offered an extended warranty, interior protection, gap insurance and other such add ons. Make sure that you understand these well before making a decision to purchase them. Most are not worth the money you will spend, and you're better off saving each month in the event that you need a repair or your interior gets a stain.

Be firm in what extras you want. Almost every salesperson is going to at least attempt to "upsell" you in an effort to get a bigger sale. Don't let them pressure you into the next model up or features you don't need. If they claim not to have the model you are looking for in stock, only the "better" one, ask if they can locate one at another dealer.

Work on your credit score before you buy a car. A bad credit score means higher interest fees. That will result in a higher monthly car bill. And in some cases, that will result in higher premiums for car insurance. Get your credit in order so you aren't locked into high fees for the life of your car loan.

Demand a safety report and vehicle history report from the dealer. Any good car dealer will have these items available for any vehicle on the lot. This is information that will tell you how safe the vehicle is as well as any major accidents or work that has been needed on the car.

Keep comfort in mind when purchasing a car. So many people focus on the way the car looks and what features it has rather than paying attention to the comfort. Are the seats comfy? Can the seat be adjusted to fit your body? Take these things into consideration before getting a car.

Do not base your car buying decision solely on price. While price is certainly important, so is the reputation of the dealership. You want to find a place that is known for great customer service and standing behind the cars they sell in case you have any problems down the road.

The car industry makes money on any margin of profit. If you can find out how much the dealership is generally buying their cars for, it will make it much easier to find their bottom line. This means you need to do some research on your local car market.

When purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle that comes with a warranty, make sure you read the fine print. Most warranties on these vehicles only cover power-train and don't cover much else. There are also cases in which the warranty may not be transferable which would make it void in your case.

Speak with the car dealer about his return policy. You may even want to get the policy in writing. Even if you have test driven the car and everything seems fine, you never know what could happen later that day or week. It's important that you know what the dealer's policy is on returning it in case something should happen.

Financing is often more affordable when you get it from an institution other than the dealership themselves. The rates they offer aren't great, but they're sometimes open to lending you money when your credit is bad, unlike a bank. Check out all of your financing options and find out how much you'll be approved for before you approach the lot.

You should never even consider purchasing a car before you test drive it. In fact, before giving a test drive and general overview of the car, you need to assume it is horrible. The car needs to prove itself to you, so don't fall in love with a specific car and then try to justify its value.

As you now know, there are many things to consider when purchasing a used car. There are lots of different warning signs to look out for, but if you take the time and do your research, you can end up with a great car that will last for years to come. So go out there and find your next dream car!

#automotive #car shopping

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elwincastro901-blog · 5 years

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Why You should follow these Essential hiking tips?

There’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in the great outdoors with an excellent hike. Fresh air? Peace and quiet? Stunning views? Yes, please. But as awesomely invigorating as hiking can be, it also carries some real risks.

“No matter how experienced you are or where you’re going, unexpected things can and do happen in a wilderness setting,” Christine Hoyer, a ranger and backcountry management specialist at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, tells SELF.

Fortunately, there are many ways to minimize your odds of encountering an emergency while hiking and equip you to handle one just in case. “The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to have a good time and stay safe,” Hoyer says.

These expert safety tips are crafted to help you prep smart and trek smart. Make sure to follow them before and during every hike.

1. Consult a park ranger.

When deciding where to hike, your best bet is typically going to be a national or state park. They’re staffed by rangers with a wealth of information about what you need to stay safe in that particular location. Give the park office a call before your hike, visit the official National Park Service (NPS) site, or stop by the office before you leave the trailhead.

“By reaching out to the park department, you’ll get a lot of key information about what you might encounter,” Hoyer says, such as “big and little critters,” toxic flora and fauna, and recent changes to the terrain, like fallen trees or rockslides. The park department can tell you how to stay safe in the environment and how to protect it from human damage too. what to wear on a hike and still look cute https://www.hikingbay.com/what-to-wear-on-a-hike-and-still-look-cute

2. Bring at least one friend.

Make it a group activity to eliminate the risk of being stranded alone in a dire situation, EMT Tod Schimelpfenig, fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and wilderness medicine curriculum director at the nonprofit National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), tells SELF. That way, “there’s at least one companion who can go get help,” he says. You and your companions should discuss a few things before you set out, like how strenuous a hike you're all OK with, your general itinerary, and an emergency plan. Those last two deserve a bit more detail, so let's get to it.

3. Create an itinerary and share it with someone outside of the group.

Draw up a rough plan that all members of your party agree upon well before you leave the trailhead, Schimelpfenig says. Include your starting point and time, destination, route, and anticipated finish time. When calculating timing, keep in mind that it can be really tough to predict how long a hike will take when on unfamiliar terrain, Hoyer says. That’s why she recommends planning to start early, being conservative with your time frame, and not being overly ambitious.

Share this plan with at least one person not hiking with you, Schimelpfenig says. You can also leave this info with the park office. If you don’t return on time, someone will be able to relay this key information to a search party if necessary.

4. Agree on an emergency plan.

“Part of your plan for any hike should be what you’re going to do in an emergency situation,” Hoyer says. Before heading out, know how you will call or send for help in the unlikely event something bad happens. (Again, the park service is a prime resource here).

These are the key questions your plan needs to answer, according to Hoyer: • Will there be reliable cell service? Is someone bringing a fully charged phone and a portable charger? • If not: Is someone bringing a personal locator beacon, satellite messaging device that can get emergency messages out by pinging satellites with your GPS data, or satellite phone? • If there’s an emergency, does the park have its own emergency number, or should you call 9-1-1? • If you can’t transmit a message, which one of you will volunteer to go get help? sandwiches for hiking https://www.hikingbay.com/no-mess-easy-to-prepare-sandwiches-for-hiking

5. Prepare for the weather.

This goes beyond just checking the weather before your hike. Talk to the rangers or consult the park site to find out what inclement weather events are most likely at this time of year and how to stay safe in them. “Even with the best weather forecast, big storms can come up quickly and unexpectedly,” Hoyer says.

Thunder and lightning are common dangers. If you get caught in them, the NPS advises making your way towards shelter and spreading out in case one person is struck (unlikely, but still). Also, avoid high and open areas (like boulders or fields), tall objects like trees, bodies of water, and metal.

Even small changes in weather can make your whole hike much riskier because of how they affect the terrain. For example, light rain that breaks out on your way up a peak could make the trip back pretty precarious, Schimelpfenig explains.

6. Pack the 10 Essentials.

The 10 Essentials is a list of emergency provisions originally created by Pacific Northwest hiking and conservation non-profit the Mountaineers. According to the Mountaineers, the objective of the 10 Essentials is to ensure that you can respond to an emergency and spend at least one night outdoors. It’s a classic reference point in the hiking community for beginners and experts alike.

“Especially when you’re new to getting out there, the more critical things you have with you, the safer you’ll be,” Hoyer says. Here’s NPS’s expanded version of the 10 Essentials: 1. First aid kit 2. Navigation: map, compass, and GPS 3. Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, hat 4. Insulation: jacket/raincoat, extra layers 5. Illumination: flashlight, lantern, or headlamp 6. Fire: matches, lighter, fire starters 7. Repair kit: duct tape and multifunctional tool 8. Nutrition: at least an extra day’s supply of no-cook, nutritious food 9. Hydration: water and/or means of water purification 10. Emergency shelter: tent, space blanket, tarp, bivy (as in, emergency shelter for a sleeping bag)

The list is non-exhaustive and adaptable, so keep the circumstances of your hike in mind when assembling your pack.

7. Customize your first aid kit.

Schimelpfenig recommends buying a premade first aid kit containing items like adhesive and elastic wrap bandages and antiseptic. This will help you deal with the most common hiking injuries, like scrapes, ankle rolls, and bug bites. You can find a first aid kit at a drugstore or online. You can also assemble your own with some tips from the Red Cross. Either way, you may need to add certain items to your kit based on your health. “You don't leave your medical history in the car when you go hiking,” Schimelpfenig says. “You carry it with you.” Bring any medications you take on a regular or emergency basis, like insulin if you use it to manage diabetes or an EpiPen if you’re allergic to bees.

8. Buy proper hiking boots and socks.

Properly fitting footwear with good cushioning and grip is essential for avoiding issues like rolling an ankle due to improper support. It will also help you prevent one of the most painful hiking hindrances: blisters. If you don’t know where to start, try consulting an expert at an outdoor supplies store. After that, Schimelpfenig recommends testing your boots around the house and/or on a trial hike (more on that in a bit).

Also, avoid cotton socks. They retain moisture from sweaty feet, causing skin to blister more easily, Schimelpfenig says. Instead, opt for hiking socks made from materials like wool or synthetics made to wick away moisture and ease friction. (To help keep your feet dry during your hike, Schimelpfenig also recommends taking off your boots and socks when you sit to rest.)

Always bring blister dressings in your first aid kit, too. As soon as you feel discomfort, Schimelpfenig says to stop and inspect your feet for signs of a nascent blister, like redness and irritation. And if you’re breaking in new boots or have a problem area that tends to blister easily, consider applying blister dressings before you start hiking.

9. Protect yourself from the sun.

As a member of his local search and rescue team, Schimelpfenig sees people with terrible sunburns and various forms of heat illness at least a couple times a summer.

Your first line of defense here is good timing. To avoid the peak hours of sun and heat, most experienced hikers set out in the early morning or late afternoon, Schimelpfenig says. Also, heed the weather report. If it’s going to be 100 degrees and clear skies, it’s not the best day for a four-hour trek through shade-free terrain.

Next is preparation. Slather any exposed skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has at least SPF 30, and don’t forget to reapply based on the product’s instructions. (Another option for frequent hikers is clothing made with sun-protective fabric.) Wear sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat to shade your face and neck, Schimelpfenig says. And to protect yourself from heat illness, which can range from miserable (heat rash, heat exhaustion) to life-threatening (heat stroke), the NPS recommends staying hydrated and taking frequent breaks, preferably in the shade.

Finally, pay attention to how you’re feeling and take action at the first sign of a problem. “You can pick up on the signs that you're getting too hot or dehydrated before they become a real big issue,” Hoyer explains. If you or someone in your party experiences symptoms of heat illness like headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion, the NPS recommends stopping. Then you should move the affected person into a cool and shady area if possible, call or send for help, give them water to drink, and douse them with water as well. (By the way, if you’re hiking at high elevation, be on the lookout for altitude sickness, too.) Finding The Best Lightweight Sleeping Bag For Hiking https://www.hikingbay.com/finding-the-best-lightweight-sleeping-bag-for-hiking 10. Bring extra water or a purification system.

The NPS recommends drinking about one-half liter to one liter per hour while active outdoors. The exact amount you need will depend on the circumstances of your hike as well as your usual water intake. “Know thyself,” Schimelpfenig says.

While you can bring all your water with you (especially on a short hike), if you want to save weight, find out if there will be places to refill your bottle with potable water and if there are any natural water sources along the trail. (If you’re visiting a national or state park, the rangers or site should have this info.)

If there are natural sources of water, you can take advantage (and lighten your pack!) by bringing purification and disinfection materials. You can use a heat-safe container and heat source to boil water, according to the NPS. You can also use a physical filter to remove larger contaminants plus a disinfecting tablet or liquid to kill microscopic pathogens.

Never drink unpurified water while on a hike (or otherwise). Even if it’s the most crystalline spring water you’ve ever seen, it could contain potentially harmful pathogens, according to the NPS.

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ngtrend-network · 7 years

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12 Ways to Find Legitimate Business Opportunities

12 Ways to Start a Business: Finding the Real Opportunities

Want to start a business? Don't waste money on business opportunity scams! The best business ideas are right in front of you. Here are 12 time-tested ways to start your own business.

They are lurking in your garage, in your basement, in your kitchen, and in your children's room. You'll find them in social media conversation you participate in, at your neighbor's house and at work. They're hiding in the annoyances you deal with daily and in the joyous celebrations in your life.

They are right there in the vegetables you brought in from the yard... in the stack of papers next to your laser printer...in the back of your truck... and at the back of your mind.

You don't need to be a genius or an MBA to spot those ideas and turn them into profits, either. Identifying business opportunities is often as easy as identifying problems many people share and finding a way to solve them.

When Matthew Osborne, an entrepreneur from Columbus, OH, wanted a way to make money, he found one right at his feet: dog dirt.

Unlike most people who just gripe about stepping in it or having to clean it up, he started a business removing dog waste from homeowners' yards.

The business was an immediate success, and after several years, he sold the business for a quarter of a million dollars. Even then, however, he continued to make money from his idea by writing a booklet about how to start a pet waste removal business and selling the booklet on the Internet.

Other business owners have turned their hobbies, interests and skills into satisfying and often lucrative businesses, simply by seeing a need in the world around them and finding a way to fill it. You can, too.

Do what you love to do Businesses don't just happen. They are made. Whether you plan to profit by twisting balloons into smile-generating shapes or orchestrating the growth of multimillion dollar, multinational companies, your success relies on what you bring to the business. If you love what you do, your passion for the business will drive you to be knowledgeable, creative and persistent. On the other hand, if your feeling for what you do is lukewarm, your success will be, too.

Read Also: How To Recover From Business Fall

Turn old standbys into new products Truly new concepts are few and far between. Most new products or new business ideas are simply spin-offs of old ones. Inline skates is one good example. Essentially, they are ice skates on wheels. Or, depending on your point of view, streamlined roller-skates. Other business ideas are nothing more than new ways of marketing mundane products. Take 1800flowers.com, for example. Florists were around as relatively small, local stores for years --but then Jim McCann, who started with a single retail shop in 1976, acquired the phone number 1-800-Flowers and developed a network of florists. The company saw an opportunity to grow online, and started selling through the early commercial online services, and then the Internet.

You may not have the money, management ability, contacts or desire to launch a major new product like inline skates or the energy or desire to turn your single store location into a multimillion-dollar sales organization. But you don't have to launch anything that large to start a business or introduce a new product. You need to think about what people want to buy and how they would like to buy it.

Years ago when my kids were little, I made money selling beanbags. The twist? I designed them in the shape of frogs and I filled them with birdseed instead of beans to make them pliable and less lumpy to the touch. To attract attention at craft shows, I displayed them in various human poses (sitting up, laying on their side resting their head on their hand, or hugging each other, for instance). I could produce them quickly and kept my costs low by making the frogs from inexpensive fabric remnants. That allowed me to price the frogs low enough to make them great impulse buys for parents who wanted to buy a small, inexpensive gift for a child.

You can spin almost any skill or industry knowledge into marketable new products or services.

A neighbor turned his skill at fixing cars into a repair and tune-up service. His angle? He was mobile. Customers didn't have to drop their car off at the shop. Instead, the "shop" (a van outfitted with tools and auto parts) came to them. Another acquaintance built a business by purchasing large quantities of chemicals and repackaging them in smaller quantities.

And then, there's the grandmother who couldn't find a product to organize her handbag. So, she went out and created one, and turned the product into a million-dollar business.

Look for mundane money-makers You don't need to create exciting new products or services to go into business, either. Millions of business owners profit by selling routine and sometimes unglamorous services such as window washing, car repair, sandwich making, building maintenance, house cleaning and plumbing. The key to making money with the mundane is to sell something your customers can't do, don't want to do, don't have the time to do, or can't get done well elsewhere.

Tip: one way to making really big money with mundane services is to develop a unique and reproducible method for marketing and delivering the service and then open up multiple offices, or franchise the concept. If you plan to franchise your idea or sell it as a business opportunity, retain an attorney early on who is familiar with franchise law and can help you steer clear of the pitfalls.

Turn that hobby into cash Do people ooh and ah at your handiwork? Whether you are a wiz at creating floral arrangements or at writing software, look for ways to turn your hobby into a business. You might want to manufacture your items in quantity, license them to other manufacturers, sell them by mail order, at flea markets or on consignment, or open your own retail outlet selling supplies to others with similar interests.

Ask the reference librarian at your public library to help you find trade magazines pertaining to your hobby, and read those to generate new business ideas.

Reach out and teach someone Do you have a skill others want to acquire? Do you have a knack for explaining things so others can understand them? If so, don't give your expertise away. Start charging for it!

For instance, if you are a karate expert, you might teach at a karate school or open your own karate school. If you're a talented artist, you could teach art at home or in a school.

Tip:: Make extra money selling books, supplies, or other items your students will need to buy to complete the course.

Sell training seminars to corporate America Don't limit yourself to training individuals or private groups of people. Look for ways to polish up your act and cash in on the $50 billion corporate training market.

What kind of training do corporations buy? Everything from sales, management and computer training courses to self-defense courses.

Read Also: Start Consulting Business and Sell Your Idea

To locate training opportunities, contact the human resources department and ask to speak to the person in charge of training programs. Introduce yourself to that person and make an appointment to discuss the company's needs and your ability to fill them. If you get the assignment, be sure to have handouts for the class so they know how to reach you for more intensive training on their own.

Mass produce your advice Selling your product or service one-on-one limits the amount of money you can earn to the number of people you can personally see. To increase your profits without significantly increasing your work, consider turning your expertise into booklets, books, computer programs, MP3s and DVDs that you can market in quantity.

You can use your computer to produce the printed matter and CDs, DVDs, and MP3s. You can outsource editing and production to professionals if you don't have those skills yourself. When sales volume grows, you may also want to outsource production and fulfillment.

If you need help producing audio or video, look for an independent contractor to do the work for you. Upwork.com, Freelancer.com, LinkedIn Profinder, and Craigslist.com are all good places to find freelance help.

Be an industry consultant This is another great way to increase your bank account. If you can solve business problems (such as how to bring waste water into compliance with EPA regulations) or answer important business questions (what steps should be taken to increase market share in a target market or how to manage inventory more efficiently) you can earn substantial hourly fees selling your advice to corporations as a consultant. Downsized corporations can be a good source of consulting business since they may no longer have experts they need on staff.

Turn a former employer into a valuable source of new business Just because you leave a company doesn't mean it doesn't need your services. Companies often retain the services of former workers on a freelance or consulting basis. That way they get the benefit of trained personnel without having to pay payroll taxes and benefits. If you leave a company on good terms, ask about contract or freelance opportunities. Don't stop with contacts who work with the former employer, either. Call your former employer's suppliers and customers and tell them about your capabilities. Call their competitors, too. Stress your industry knowledge, contacts and skills. You may soon find that the income you earn exceeds what you made as an employee.

Modify one of your existing products Sometimes all it takes to create a "new" product is to make a slight change in an existing product.

Harrison-Hoge Industries is a mail order company in Port Jefferson, NY, that sells fishing lures, inflatable boats and other outdoor gear. To expand their line, the company added a wide-brimmed, canvas hat called the Campesino to its catalog. The hat was a big success, but the owners of the company thought there might be more they could do with it. And there was.

They discovered they could adapt the hat to sell in specialized markets just by changing the hat band. As a result, they began to supply the Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim Museum (both in New York City) with hats. Each museum's hat has its own distinctive hat band.

Skip the start-up headaches: purchase an existing business When you start a business from scratch you have to jump through hoops to find and train employees, build up a customer base and find suppliers. But when you buy an existing business much of this infrastructure will already be in place.

Don Pelham bough of MasterCare Cleaning Services, in Seattle, WA, from another businessman. He explains the advantage of purchasing a business this way: "In a start-up you have to pound the pavement while you wait for your ads to appear in the phone books and your website to show up in Google. But when you purchase a business, the phone rings from day one. Ads are in place and working. Schedules are already made. When I took over the cleaning service, there were about 12 jobs already scheduled, 3 or 4 a week, and the phone was ringing a new job every 2 or 3 days. "

Be sure to find out why the buyer is selling; don't rely on what they tell you. Investigate the business yourself. Find out how much traffic it actually gets. Check newspapers and town records for information about any proposed highways, superstores or zoning changes. Check for liens against the business or other problems that could have an adverse effect on the business. Consult an accountant and an attorney before you sign on the dotted line and follow their advice.

Buy a franchise  If you want to start a business but don't want to develop your own products, or methods of doing business, franchising could be your ticket to business ownership. That's because when you buy a franchise, what you get is essentially a build-your-own-business kit.

Depending on the amount of money you invest and the franchise opportunity you choose, you get rights to use the franchise name, distribute a branded product or service, and perhaps use the franchise's methods of operations. Customer leads, help locating your business and other services may be part of your package, too. The benefit of this approach is that it simplifies start-up and may also help reduce the chance of failure.

Buying a franchise won't actually put you in business. You have to do that yourself. But if you choose your franchise carefully, the franchise's products and methods can give you the leg up you need to succeed.

Scott Wallace started his commercial cleaning business in Eden Prairie, MN, this way.

"I had been fired from my job and decided I never wanted to go through that experience again," he says, "so I chose to go into business for myself. I decided to go with a franchise because of my previous business experience--none!"

Read Also: 6 Tips For Aspiring Enterpreneurs

After researching several types of franchises, Wallace concluded that the best one for him to buy would be a cleaning franchise because the investment was small (prices started under $5,000), no special knowledge was required, and the profit margins were good. He bought a Coverall franchise in 1994 because their Minnesota regional office seemed more interested in having him as a franchisee than other franchisors he contacted.

For his money, Wallace got a package of supplies, equipment, and customers. Then it was up to him to keep the customers and grow the business. A year after he had started he was not only making a profit, but was considering buying a second cleaning business.

Wallace is one of hundreds of thousands of individuals who have turned to franchising as a way to get into business. According to the US Census Bureau, franchise businesses now account for 10.5 percent of businesses with employees in the 295 industries for which franchising data were collected in 2007. Additionally, franchise businesses accounted for nearly $1.3 trillion in sales in these industries.

Despite the large number of franchise outlets and the huge dollar volume of sales, franchising isn't without its pitfalls. One New Jersey couple lost nearly $20,000 when the owners of a startup bread and roll franchise they had invested in went bankrupt. A West coast man sunk his retirement funds into a mailbox/office center franchise and discovered to his dismay that the income didn't come near the claims the company's sales staff had made.

Other problems can arise, too. Franchise territories may not be large enough or competing franchises or private businesses may open, making inroads into your selling area. Licensing fees may be excessive compared to the services rendered, supplies may be too expensive, or you may find you personally don't want to conform to the franchisor's way of doing business.

To minimize the risk, learn as much about franchising as possible. (For more information on franchising, visit FranchiseKnowHow.com.)

Evaluate your own motives, needs, interests and willingness to follow someone else's methods of doing business. Research several types of franchises and compare their profitability and appeal. Consider their track record, and your ability to afford the franchise. Remember you'll need money to live on as well as to get the business rolling.

Once you narrow your choices, call and visit as many current and past owners as you can. Get copies of the franchise's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and read it cover to cover.

Need more ideas for starting a business? Use the Contact Tab to Talk to Us.

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robertalmoore · 7 years

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How to build your Brand using Instagram

How to Promote Your Business on Instagram

Whether you’re a fan of it or not, social media is becoming more and more popular by the day, and not just among tech-savvy millennials – even older generations are looking to sites like Facebook and Twitter for news and information nowadays. While social media is a great way to share photos and communicate with friends and family, it can also be an extremely effective marketing tool for businesses.

Most businesses have taken to Facebook to advertise, post updates, and receive and respond to customer feedback, but not nearly as many businesses have set up accounts on Instagram. Many claim to avoid setting up an account on the photo and video sharing platform because they don’t believe that their brand is photo-worthy – they don’t sell cute cupcakes or colorful ceramics, so they assume that a social media platform centered on photography won’t be a good fit for them.

The reality is that any business, even something not known for its aesthetics such as a software company or a repair service, can use Instagram marketing strategies to promote brand awareness, build brand loyalty, and improve their customer relationships through a combination of quality content, strategic hashtag usage, and the use of third-party services to get automatic Instagram likes.

The point of social media is, obviously enough, to be social. You don’t need to constantly push the sale and show off the product to market yourself effectively. Promotional sales are profitable in the short-term, but building your brand equity through steady, long-term Instagram usage can create a lasting positive perception of your company.

The Effectiveness of Instagram as a Marketing Tool

If you think that it’s just self-centered, selfie snapping teenagers who use Instagram, you’d be sorely wrong. According to the Pew Research Institute, 32% of Internet users have an Instagram account as of 2016, and that number is only continuing to grow by the day. According to that same research, nearly two-thirds of Instagram users are between the ages of 18 and 29 – a key demographic that will influence the market for decades to come. And considering the fact that Millennials have already surpassed Baby Boomers in population size, they’re a group that presents a huge opportunity for social media marketers.

Unlike Facebook or Twitter, Instagram only allows users to post photos and videos, easily making it the most eye-catching social media platform. People are more likely to look stop and look at a photo than they are to look at a wall of text. Adding Instagram to your company’s marketing mix will encourage your audience to engage with the content you put out, spread the word about your business, and give you more control over how your brand is positioned in your target’s mind.

Even if Instagram doesn’t end up being your main social media platform, it can still serve as an effective connection to your preferred form of communication. So even if you really prefer to use Facebook to carry out your relationship marketing strategies, a successful Instagram account can still be of great use to you. By adding a link to your other social media platforms in your Instagram bio or in your posts, your most interested followers will easily be able to follow through and learn more about your business.

Tips for Taking Good Photos

There are view things more unprofessional than a grainy, pixelated picture. Luckily, in today’s smartphone era, phones smart enough to run Instagram are also smart enough to take a decently clear picture. It doesn’t take a pro photographer to focus a smartphone camera, and with the ability to adjust the lighting and contrast of a picture directly through Instagram, you’ll be posting great looking pictures in no time.

Even more important than how you take your photos is what you take your photos of. Variation is key – taking the same old product photos will get old fast. Take pictures of your office, the city where you’re visiting to attend a business conference, or of a happy customer using your product or service. But please, don’t ever post a selfie on your business’s Instagram account – it’s just not in good taste. If you’re still having trouble getting people to interact with your photos, consider buying automatic Instagram likes to get things moving.

Improve Customer Relationships and Build Brand Loyalty

Recent technology has allowed businesses to reach out to and connect with customers in more unique ways than ever before. The days of purely product-based marketing are long gone – today, it’s all about building a relationship with your audience. Unlike a print ad or a radio spot, social media marketing allows the audience to react and interact with your business immediately through comments.

No one expects you to reply to every single comment, but a few thoughtful replies can make a world of difference. They convey the message that your business is friendly, approachable, and genuinely cares about its audience. It only takes a few seconds to say thank you or answer a commenter’s question, but to the commenter that small gesture can make a world of difference in the way they view your brand. People are more likely to be loyal to your brand if they can think of you as a friend, not a pushy door-to-door salesman who’s always throwing advertisements in their face.

Reposting is another popular method of social media relationship marketing that makes customers feel like a part of your brand. By using the free app Repost, you can easily share and appropriately credit photos taken by customers who have posted pictures of themselves using your product or service. Showing your product being used by actual customers connects with people much more strongly than a simple photo of the product. Customer engagement is a domino effect – people are more likely to engage with your brand if they see other people doing the same, so show off those unprompted instances of engagement whenever you can.

Use Hashtags to Put Your Brand on the Map

Any good business owner knows that building a strong brand image is just as important, if not more important, than driving up short-term sales. Even if you offer the best product or the best service out there, it won’t sell if no one knows that it exists! Building brand awareness is a crucial part of any marketing campaign, especially for lesser known brands.

However, anyone who’s ever created an Instagram account knows that getting people to follow your page and like your posts can be challenging – getting that initial momentum can take months if you don’t know what you’re doing. Anyone remotely familiar with Instagram knows that hashtags are its bread and butter. In addition to paid services that give your posts automatic Instagram likes, hashtags are a free way to put your brand on the map. Without tags, your posts won’t show up in search results, and your target audience won’t be able to find you.

The tags you use should be relevant to the content of the photo or video that you post. Your business should also have its own unique hashtag – something that customers can use to interact with you and show you photos they’ve posted of themselves using your product or service. Once you choose your company hashtags, keep them consistent.

Instagram allows users to use up to 30 hashtags on a single post, but you can exceed that limit by posting more tags in the comment section. However, don’t overstuff – it can make you seem robotic and spammy. Instead of bloating the comment section with tags, a trick is to comment just four or five content relevant tags on your post. Then, after twenty or thirty minutes, delete that comment and make a new one with four or five new, different tags. It’s a bit of extra work, but it’s an easy way to increase audience size without becoming a hashtagging nuisance.

Instagram Marketing Do’s and Don’ts

Especially if you’re new to Instagram, it’s easy to make mistakes and miss out on opportunities. As you build your social media profile, keep these simple do’s and don’ts in mind:

Do: If your business is brick and mortar, post photos of a casual day at the store or office. Seeing the people behind the business makes your business feel like a living, breathing entity, and not just a flat logo. Use these slice-of-life photos to get your company’s values across.

Don’t: That being said, don’t post photos of people without their permission! Aside from being the polite thing to do, making sure that the people in the photo look happy to be in the photo is important for setting a positive tone.

Do: Have a clear and concise bio with a link to your main site. Instagram limits bios to 150 words, so make sure to only include the most important information there.

Don’t: Spam content or go AWOL for weeks at a time – Instagram is a platform that thrives on consistency and frequency. Posting too much in one day can clutter your follower’s feeds and maybe even annoy them to the point of unfollowing – not posting anything for several weeks will make you look inactive and also cause followers to leave.

Do: Use hashtags generously, add a location to your post if you can, and tag people whenever appropriate. The more relevant information you can provide with each post, the more people are likely people are to like and comment on it.

Don’t: Use popular tags that are completely irrelevant to your post – a popular tag might make a lot of people see your post, but more than likely they’ll be the wrong people. When it comes to creating tags, think quality before quantity. Use hashtags that your brand niche so that your target market will be more likely to see your content and even give you a follow.

Boost Your Visibility with Auto Instagram Likes

It’s human nature to trust something that seems popular. If a restaurant is packed at dinner time, you know it’s good, and vice versa – if the booths are empty at dinner time, you might think twice about eating there. The same principle applies to Instagram marketing. If you see a post with only a handful of likes or an account with only a few dozen followers, they won’t stand out to you as a reputable brand.

So how do you get to that point of reputability as fast as possible? Three words: automatic Instagram likes. There are a variety of websites that allow businesses to purchase automatic Instagram likes for their posts, instantly making your brand appear more popular. In the world of Instagram, you have to be popular to get popular. Posts with more likes get seen by more people, show up at the top of search results, and seem more credible than posts with fewer likes.

Bear in mind that paying for auto-likes only solves half of the problem – they get people to come to your page, but the content you post is what gets them to stay and follow your account. Buying automatic Instagram likes can give your business the boost it needs to get rolling.

Take Advantage of Instagram Analytics Tools

Social media marketing is a fast paced environment – trends come and go, Internet memes are fleeting, and it can be hard to stand out in the crowd. The best way to determine whether your Instagram page is sinking, racing ahead, or just barely treading water, is to take advantage of Instagram analytic tools. Usually in the form of phone apps, they’re easy to download and begin using right away.

Instagram analytic tools can track who follows you, who unfollows you, what hashtags are most effective, and potential target markets you could be reaching out to. You can’t expect to keep throwing the same old spaghetti at the wall and hope that it sticks eventually – you have to be willing to adapt to change and make bold choices. Analytic apps can help you devise new strategies to steer your marketing strategy in the right direction.

Growth is the ultimate goal of your business’s Instagram page – the more followers you have, the larger your audience, and the better chance you have of creating a loyal customer base. Instagram is an opportunity to use creative marketing strategies and reach new audiences you may have never even thought to try and reach before.

Get Likes Today! If you’re ready to take your profile to the next level, add automated Instagram likes to your social media strategy and watch your network expand!

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How to build your Brand using Instagram

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