Category: Insights

10 Advantages of Taking Online Classes
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10 Advantages of Taking Online Classes

Today, attending any sort of classes is very risky, since you can come in contact with a lot of people, many of whom potentially have COVID-19. Luckily, with online classes, you can still advance your learning, even in 2020. And online classes have a bunch of benefits even without social distancing. Want to be sure this type of learning is right for you? Check out all the benefits you can expect to enjoy during your online classes.

Geography

Your geographic location won’t stop you from attending online classes. As long as you have a good internet connection, you can attend classes of any university or learning program without having to relocate.

Lower costs

Attending online classes has various cost advantages. For instance, you don’t have to move from home, pay for on-campus housing and spend money on-campus meal plans. You can also eliminate commute thus saving both money and time. Sure, you might need to pay the same amount of money as learners who attend physical classes, but overall costs will be lower.

Setting your own pace

Did you ever have to sit through a lecture about a subject you already know all about? With online classes, you can set your own pace and take in information that interests you. You can easily dedicate more time to things you don’t know and fly over things you understand. Also, if you prefer to use technology in your education, you can use whatever piece of tech you have at home and completely customize your learning. 

Comfort

Since you can study and get your certificate or degree from anywhere, online classes provide maximum comfort. You can stay in bed, study from your home office or go to a coffee shop or local library. Choose the environment that fits you the most and you can achieve the best focus and retain the maximum amount of knowledge. Even fields like medicine and healthcare offer classes you can take online. If you’re interested in getting your ACLS certificate, you can do that from home and get your card in the mail. Today, almost any form of degree or certification can be obtained from the comfort of your armchair and computer.

Individual attention

In online classes, you have a direct line with your teacher or instructor (via camera or e-mail) so all your questions can be answered quickly. Also, many students don’t like asking questions in person during class, but the internet and its chat features eliminate that fear and embarrassment.

Flexibility

One of the biggest benefits of online learning is schedule flexibility. Some programs require you to start your course immediately, but others allow you to choose from standard and accelerated courses, night or day courses and many other options.

Self-discipline

If you don’t have self-discipline, you won’t benefit from online classes. When it comes to education, it’s a bad idea to put off things until the last minute, otherwise, you risk achieving poor results. Eventually, we all do our tasks and get to our sense. Well, online classes can speed up your discipline since there isn’t anyone pushing you to do work or looking over your shoulder. No one will push you to ask questions and be proactive. Thanks to your self-discipline, you will enjoy active learning and taking responsibility for your education. Since your success depends solely on you and your dedication, you will feel amazing once you finish your classes and pass with flying colors.

Working while studying

Since you can usually choose your own course schedule, online classes also allow you to work while studying. During the day you can dedicate time to your job or career, while you can take courses in the evening or during the weekends. Also, you can apply your new knowledge on your job as soon as you receive and understand it.

Meeting new people

How many of us have the opportunity to attend classes with people from different states, countries or even continents? With online learning, you can do that every day and meet a lot of new and interesting people. Even if you’re shy, you can still meet people over bulletin boards, chat rooms and mailing lists. Once it’s safe to socialize, you can even arrange meetings in local coffee shops to deepen your friendship.

Promotion of lifelong learning

Since people usually decide to take online classes on their own, this produces a spark that promotes lifelong learning. Also, learning over the internet will teach you to find information quickly and efficiently, so you can always find out new things and get new knowledge. And since your learning materials are right there in your email, you can always look through it no matter where you are as long as you have your smartphone with you.

Fortunately, online classes allow people all over the world to continue their education and refine their skills even during a global pandemic. If you feel like you can use your lockdown time well, pick a class you like, get comfortable in your chair and start working on your education now!

5 Essential Web Tools For Building Successful Video Content
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6 Essential Web Tools For Building Successful Video Content

Experts predict that video-watching will make up 82% of internet traffic in the next few years. And that same report also shows that people are already watching close to one million minutes of video being watched every second.

Video content isn’t just valuable because it’s popular. It’s also effective as a marketing tool. Videos generate 1,200% more social media shares than text stuff, and 62% of people become more interested in a product after seeing it in a Facebook Story.

And when it comes to informing or educating (whether that’s about a product, sale, etc.), video content is so much more effective than anything else. Research showed that the average person can retain up to 95% of the message in a video they watched. Now compare that to 10% of retention when reading the exact same message in a text-based medium.

In other words, video content isn’t just “effective” as a marketing tool. It’s downright invaluable.

But it can also be expensive. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that it can be hard to feel confident about investing in a new channel or type of content if it requires making any big changes in how we build our marketing strategies.

However, creating video content doesn’t have to claim 95% of your budget. And with a couple of inexpensive (or even “free”) web-based tools, you can create effective videos before the end of the day.

6 Tools To Simplify Video Production

Even casual content creators recognize the big names in production. From software (Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro) or kits (RED, Canon, Sony), certain brands have become the go-to options for filmmakers, video editors, ad agencies, and more.

But those big names come with big price tags, either as one-time purchases or as recurring subscriptions. Anyone working on a budget knows that sometimes the only way to make the content you want is if you can make it for cheap. And between licensing software and hiring people to help with production, video content quickly becomes an unattainable goal.

But a single online tool can save hundreds of dollars. All of the sudden your Premiere Pro subscription becomes irrelevant. The same goes for the freelancers you hire to film and edit video clips.

Having access to the right tools can make all the difference in any situation. Most online web tools often come with affordable subscription fees or no fees at all. So on one hand, using these tools gives you the space to create a video while also reducing production costs.

But it also equips you to make high-quality videos without having to spend the next year learning all the different components of video content creation.

(Obviously, those options will still help you create the highest quality videos. They’re tried and true for a reason, after all. But you probably can’t put money into that sort of thing until you have proof that video content will convert for your audience; that’s where these web-based resources come into play.)

With all of that being said, let’s look at five absolutely essential web tools that will help you with all of your video marketing production needs.

StoryPrompt (Video Engagement Platform)

StoryPrompt allows you to capture authentic video testimonials from your happiest customers and easily embed them on your website. Users can create professionally produced videos with company branding, music, and b-roll in minutes. All videos are automatically produced and edited using AI so there’s no need for additional time-consuming editing software.

All StoryPrompt plans give you the opportunity to create an asynchronous video-first community. So you can truly engage with clients, students, or team members and capture video content simultaneously.

StoryPrompt really is the all-in-one solution for companies wanting to showcase video content without spending massive budgets and considerable time editing. You can sign up for StoryPrompt for free, with plans starting at $39/mo.

Biteable (Video Editing)

For most people, editing is the most intimidating hurdle for getting into the video content space. Viewers have been trained to expect certain things in video quality, and no matter how much work you put into a project, people will skip over it unless it means those standards.

Biteable takes all of those fears and streamlines the process with templates, stock video clips, and other features that make video editing accessible for anyone to use. 

Think of Biteable as the Canva of web-based video production tools. It’s also a tool that you can start using for free, with plans starting at $19/month that help you take more ownership of the content you make.

Vyond (Explainer Videos)

Vyond is an all-in-one resource for anyone looking to make explainer videos. This type of content has really taken off in the past couple of years, with some brands and YouTube channels basing their entire online presence around this very specific style.

But people love to learn about new things. And because the video is such a powerful medium for relaying (and retaining) information, that makes explainer videos a crucial asset for any company that uses software or technical products. 

Vyond includes every piece of that in one app: Animation, art, transitions, and even voiceover can all be structured and put together within the same convenient tool.

Creatopy (Visual Production Platform)

Marketing teams always look for ways to improve engagement, especially on social media platforms. Creatopy (formerly known as Bannersnack) is a powerful tool that helps anyone create video banners and social media ads.

The app handles all of the technical stuff, including design specifications for each social media platform. You’ll also get to choose from thousands of templates, animation styles, etc.

If you have video content recorded — or may be prepared using one of the other tools on this list — you’ll be able to translate that into banner ads and implement that as part of your content strategy.

Audacity (Audio Recording)

Sound is a big part of the video experience. And while you can find great stock video libraries that help you get good footage, the final product can only be as strong as the video’s message.

Unfortunately, online video tools can’t do everything. And one of those blind spots is audio, particularly in terms of the narrative voiceover we expect to include in our marketing videos.

Audacity might not be a web-based app, but it’s a free download on Windows, Mac, or Linux. This means you can record the voiceover for your videos, completely free of charge. And with the right video editing tool, you’ll be able to drag and drop that right into your video projects. 

Studiobinder (Production Manager)

On the off chance that you’re already comfortable with video production, Studiobinder helps you simplify and manage every facet of the process. This web app has the resources and support to help you steer a project from pre-production planning all the way to exporting the final file.

It’s a bit more technical than the other tools here; it’s also the closest to “traditional” content creation, which can make it intimidating. But it can serve as the perfect middleman between a web app-only production strategy to a fully functioning in-house production team.

That might not be the end goal for everyone. After all, web tools allow for a kind of flexibility that most marketers crave. But Studiobinder is like the finish line. The “You’ve made it to this point and now you’re ready to leave the nest if you want to” moment.

Bonus:

Visme (All-in-one video creator)

For many of us, editing a good-quality video takes a long time. Combining different software to produce the top-notch video content can be both time-consuming and intense for the RAM memory. Visme offers a solution for both of these challenges. It provides us with an online video creator with features that will get us covered from video editing to the final production stage. You can use this tool online, without needing to download and install yet another software, plus you will also benefit from a large database of stock videos, animations, and effects available from inside the editor.

Thankfully, you don’t need that. By utilizing these video production tools (or any of the alternatives out there), you’ll be well on your way to diving into the video content world and making the most of this absolutely essential marketing channel.

Bio:

Drew Gula is the copywriter at Soundstripe, a music licensing company that produces resources, like shot list templates and YouTube background music, for creators and businesses.

Why is it the Best Choice to Start with Flutter in 2020?
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Why is it the Best Choice to Start with Flutter in 2020?

There are a number of choices when it comes to choosing the language for mobile or web application development. You have Java, Swift, React Native that are already well-established in the app development industry. 

Why Learn Flutter When There Are Other Frameworks Already? 

Here we have to talk about Dart, the programming language used in the Flutter framework. Generally, most of us are already aware of the basic programming languages such as C, C++, etc. And Dart can be easily learnt and implemented when you already have a basic understanding of C, C++. So it’s much easier to learn with a lot of useful plugins and libraries to help you develop the code using Flutter SDK. 

Dart is a robust language that provides easy coding, security options, and platform independence for a Flutter app (web and mobile-based, both). 

Let me point out the reasons to choose Flutter over other frameworks to give you a clearer view. 

  1. It’s easier to learn and deploy 

As I said earlier that if you have the basic understanding of C, C++ codes, then you can easily learn Flutter. Moreover, the Flutter SDK is armed with numerous useful plugins that make the development process faster than any other SDKs. 

Of course, Flutter is the latest framework for application development, so we can expect the most advanced features that come along with it. 

  1. Supports more data types 

Along with the regular data types such as int, float, char, double, boolean, const- Flutter also supports data types that hold the values of variables that keep changing. One such data type is ‘varchar’ which can be assigned by any value and that keeps changing from time to time. Even, varchar has some limitations. But the Dart language introduces one more data type that provides 100% variance, and that is ‘dynamic’ data type. Once you assign any value to dynamic data type, it can be changed any time during the coding. 

This feature helps a lot in the development process and makes mobile app development a piece of cake for the Flutter developers. 

  1. One app supporting multiple platforms 

The best part of the Flutter app is it can be run on any platforms such as Android and iOS! It means, once you write a code in the Flutter framework using Dart language, then the same code can be run on both the platforms. Unlike the other coding, in the case of Flutter, you don’t require separate codes for particular platforms. The cross-platform mobile app development is one of the main advantages of the latest development framework. 

  1. Development time is reduced 

As only one code is sufficient to run on various platforms, so the development time gets reduced a lot. The startup companies that require immediate deployments can take the best advantage of such features. Only one single dedicated app developer with the least amount of effort and time can create exceptional mobile and web applications. 

  1. Cost reduction for development 

Unlike the cases when one needs to hire multiple developers to create applications that support different platforms, in the case of Flutter, a single developer can perform the task, so the company needs to hire a Flutter app developer and he does all the job. Also, as the coding part in Dart is much simpler than any other language, the development process takes less time. So, it’s all the way beneficial for any company whether it is a startup or a big MNC. 

  1. Live-output through Hot-Reloading 

It’s one of the greatest features and the most unique of all where you can do the coding and see the output through the emulator before publishing the app. So one can try out various designs and functionality easily and then select the most preferred ones. 

This way, the clients will always be satisfied as you can show them various designs with live output and then finalize the one they choose. 

  1. Online Community that is Growing Rapidly 

The online community of Flutter framework is growing rapidly which assists a lot whenever you require any help from them. Previously, a few years ago, Flutter was in a beta version with very less or no such support availability. However, with time Flutter has evolved a lot and has reached a stable existence today. The support groups have increased in number with millions of satisfied users worldwide. 

Some of the famous Flutter communities are Flutter Awesome, Awesome Flutter, Flutter Community

  1. Future perspectives 

Flutter is introduced by the Google development team with the virtue of deploying it as the native framework for the Fuchsia operating system. And as per the studies, the Fuschia OS is going to revolutionize the app development industry completely. And we can assume the importance of Flutter through this statement. 

To conclude, I would say that if you want to become an app developer and find easy success, then choose none other than Flutter, as you can master it soon and will also get a lot of support through the Flutter communities. 

Would you select Flutter development for your next Mobile App?

Considering the significance of Flutter in terms of the potential for Android app growth, Flutter is really a wonderful choice for android growth. Its top features of Hot reload and easy writing allow it to be a better frame compared to the majority of cross-platform frameworks, perhaps even better than React Native.  So would you choose Flutter Development for the mobile app?

Prepare Your Car for Winter Driving and Stormy Weather with these Vehicle Maintenance Tips
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Prepare Your Car for Winter Driving and Stormy Weather with these Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Cars we’re driving today are the safest they’ve ever been. Not only are they more reliable, but they come with a bunch of electronic systems that are silently aiding you as you drive. Even so, it’s still a good idea to prepare your car for safe driving in the winter

This process might seem overwhelming, especially to those who don’t have a hands-on relationship with their cars. In reality, preparing the car for winter is easy! Here’s everything you need to do. 

Check your Coolant 

If there was only one thing you could check before the cold weather sets in, it should be your engine coolant. As the weather gets colder, your engine will have to work harder to get up to optimal working temperature. The type of coolant you have in your car, age, and level are all essential in preventing ice formation within the engine itself. You know what happens to pipes in your home if they’re exposed to freezing temperatures. The same can happen to an engine. 

Long-life coolants exist and are often presented as the be-all, end-all solution that you can use and forget about. However, every coolant slowly loses its properties. Over time, its boiling point slowly starts to drop while its freezing points begin to creep up. 

It is highly recommended that you change your coolant every two years. Make it a part of your regular maintenance and only use coolants recommended by your car’s manufacturer.

Inspect your Brakes

Having brakes in good working order is imperative if you plan on doing any serious winter commuting. Check your pads, your rotors, and don’t forget to check the fluid. Change the fluid every two years. 

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning that it is continuously attracting moisture. After two years of use, the fluid is contaminated with enough water to significantly reduce its boiling temperature. In other words, you’re risking losing your brakes on a steep downhill. Tips like these are important to internalize as they directly impact your safety and the safety of your passengers.

Tires – Going with a Winter Set will Change your Driving Experience 

You’ll often hear car enthusiasts ramble on how suspension impacts handling and how this or that set of shock absorbers can make a difference. While they are correct, none of that matters if you don’t have a good set of tires on your vehicle, especially during the winter. Just like a house needs a good foundation, your car needs the right tires.

Check your DOT and see how old your tires are. Tires should be changed once they’re six years old, even if the tread is decent. The compounds used to make tires will eventually start to crack and potentially even rot. Worn out, old tires are a safety risk you shouldn’t ignore.

Why Winter Tires?

There’s more to tires, though. As temperatures begin to drop, the rubber compound used to make the tire starts to harden. This is why we have winter and summer tires. The whole idea behind winter tires is to use a much softer compound that won’t go stiff when temperatures hit below zero. A softer tire equals more grip on icy roads. 

All-season tires are somewhere between winter and summer tires. They are generally not all that great for either of the two seasons, but they do a sufficiently good job. If you’re looking to get the best possible performance out of your vehicle during the winter, you should have a dedicated winter set of tires

Check the Battery 

Car batteries are another essential piece of the puzzle we call cars that often tend to go belly up in the winter. All batteries, including the one in your phone, will experience a drop in performance when temperatures hit below zero. That’s just how they work. 

When your phone experiences a drop in performance, you’ll just have to charge it sooner. With car batteries, you might have issues starting your car. 

Check the battery even if it seems to be working just fine right now. The best way to do this is to go to any auto parts store or car mechanic worth their salt. These places will have a specialized tool that measures the current state of the battery, how many cranking mAh it offers, and more. 

Windshield Wipers 

Being able to see the road and other vehicles on the road is imperative during the winter. The only way you can achieve that is by having a proper set of windshield wipers. Our friends over at eEuroparts.com have an excellent write-up on why wiper blades matter and which brands to look for. 

Wiper blades, just like any other type of rubber, goes stiff over time. Endless heat and cold cycles will make them lose the ability to wipe rain and snow off the windshield. The best thing you can do right now is switch to modern silicone wiper blades.

Brands such as Valeo and others offer a whole range of new blades that will deliver a clean windshield even in the worst of conditions. A good set of wipers will allow you to see more of the road as well as any obstacles you might encounter. 

Windshield Fluid 

Many people don’t know that there are summer and winter types of windshield fluids. The difference between them is in the content. Winter type is loaded with additives and chemicals that remain liquid even at -5 F or colder. If you live in an area that sees many sub-zero days, winter fluid is a must. 

The consequences of using the wrong kind of liquid range from an extremely dirty windshield to broker fluid reservoir and potentially broken nozzles. Using winter fluid rated for cold temperatures is much cheaper than having to deal with any of those repairs. 

In-Car Equipment Tips According to Survival Experts 

Once you’ve checked all of the above, it’s time to look inside the car. Depending on where you live, it could be a good idea to carry an emergency kit with you. In addition to that, there are a few winter essentials that you should have in your car. You can find high-quality and affordable winter safety equipment from this UK supplier. So, if you’re heading up north make sure to have the following in your car:

  • One or more candles 
  • Water 
  • Spare cold weather clothing and/or a heavy blanket 
  • Small, folding entrenching tool 
  • Road flares 
  • Emergency food (optional) 

Most of these tools and items are essential if you break down in a remote area. When help is hours away, exposure becomes a real safety risk. If you think it can’t happen to you, recount how many blizzards and reports of snowed-in cars have you heard of last year alone? 

A simple candle can increase the temperature in your car by several degrees. That extra bit of heat could be a real lifesaver! The rest of the items are self-explanatory. You’ve got tools that are designed to help you get unstuck, be seen in a snowstorm, stay warm and hydrated. 

Keeping food in the car is a no-no for many drivers, but there are emergency rations that virtually can’t be spilled while you’re driving. Toss a pack of emergency rations in your trunk and forget about it. Best case scenario, you’ve wasted a few bucks. Worst case scenario, you’ve got critical nourishment available in your car. 

Be Prepared 

Road safety is all about being prepared. Checking everything we’ve listed above is a surefire way of exercising safety and arriving at your destination. That being said, always keep your vehicles well maintained, no matter what season of the year. 
A well-maintained car is a safe car. Driving in the winter isn’t difficult, but it brings on several risks. By preparing your vehicle for winter using the tips mentioned in this guide, you’re ensuring that your driving skills are enough to get you out of whatever tricky situation you might find yourself in.

Effects of Technology on Purchasing of Stock, Ordering Products, and Advertising
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Effects of Technology on Purchasing of Stock, Ordering Products, and Advertising

Technology has become an important aspect and the backbone of every business in the world. The help that technology offers to every enterprise cannot be rivaled or replaced. Whether you are a consumer or the sole proprietor, you need to acknowledge the benefits of technology and how it has made selling and buying easy. Advertising has been made easier and more eye-catchy by the use of technology. Here are some ways that technology helps in a business environment.

Technology in purchasing of stock

Traders at the stock exchange used to speak loudly about their orders in the past, which made the stock exchange very chaotic. Technology has removed this aspect of shouting, and all a trader needs to do is go online and research the best stock in the market.

On the other hand, before introducing technology to the stock market, it was an uphill task to get the best stock to trade-in. The trader had to make sure that they have gone to the library to read about the companies or even call the companies for information. There are numerous apps developed that are used in the stock trading market, like the dividend reinvestment calculator.

The apps used in the stock market help reduce the overhead, which is caused by the reduction of fees charged to different persons. The reduction in the fees charged results in the investor making more money due to high turnover, creating more business, and creating wealth. Technology has brought flexibility to the stock market. You can access most of the stock markets’ apps by using smartphones, which has made it possible for people to trade from anywhere.

Purchasing stock has been made faster and easier in that you do not have to make very many phone calls to have a decision, or do you have to shout across the stock market to be heard. You can have all members of the board of a company in a virtual meeting, and the decision is made instantly. This fast decision making has a great impact on the purchasing of stocks before the price changes.

Technology has helped many people who do not have a career in stock trading be able to trade in stock in that all they have to do is go online and practice with a demo account. This has removed the option of employing a broker or enrolling in a school to study.

Technology in ordering products

Technology has a direct impact on the process of ordering products. The influence of technology has reduced the time it takes to order a product to the time the product is delivered. Before technology was integrated into product order, the process was long and tedious. A consumer had to either make a phone call or send a letter to request the price list, then send the list back with the items required. By the time the item arrived at the customers’ doorsteps, a long period had passed.

On the other hand, it was difficult to see the product you want to buy; however, with technology, you can ask the vendor to have a video call with you with the item you want to order to make sure that it is the one that you needed. With all the information of the products stored on the cloud, you have the option of perusing through various vendors, without leaving the comfort of your home, or you can order from anywhere you are due to the mobile apps.

Technology in advertising

Traditional advertising was mostly done by the print media or by the television. When using the print media, not everybody could access the newspaper or magazine, and some got the newspapers when the offer was over. The prize for running the advert was high due to the provided space and the charges that were fixed on them.

With the influence of technology, it is easy for an advertiser to personalize an advert to target an audience. With social media and different platforms, advertisements can be made to target a different demographic and boost sales. These sales may even be for the automobile industry or any other.

The many sharing apps that are available reduce the advertising company’s cost by forwarding the adverts for free. On the other hand, several sites are free to air that an advertiser can use to upload an advert and reach millions worldwide.

The Types Of Grill Cover You Can Address In The Latest Market
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The Types Of Grill Cover You Can Address In The Latest Market

Summary: Before you proceed further and invest some bucks on grill cover, it is better to check out the types available in the market.

Grilling always seems to be a summer activity, which will add more fun and excitement to your daily lives. That juicy steak of the BBQ oven is just over the top and you can’t seem to get enough of it. But, what about those times when you actually don’t need the BBQ station anymore? Mainly with the winter season approaching, you will not be able to host outdoor parties in snowy weather. It means your grill oven will be kept at one side of the outdoor spot, unused.

To keep the machine in safe condition when not in use, it is vital to get hold of some covers. Whether it is snowy outside or pouring heavily, these covers will actually make sure that your machine is in perfect shape and without suffering from rust or any other degrading point.

Going for the types now:

Once you are sure of investing some money on the grill covers, it is time to know more about the types in this regard. What are the best types of grill cover that the market has in store for you? Let’s find out more about those types first.

Heavy duty covers:

Premium quality grill covers are here made using durable Oxford with PVC liner. This perfect combination of materials will provide a very textured and sharp look, and will make the item way more UV resistant and water resistant, as asked for here.

  • Such covers are now available in various sizes to fit different types of grills in the market. There will be some magnificent combination of various footprints or sizes along with the easy hook and loop based adjustment system.
  • Moreover, these adjustment systems will create that added benefit of securing a perfect fit for the grill. So, even in windy conditions, these covers can stand the pressure very well.

The material of the cover is strong enough to withstand some knocks well. However, the market houses some of the other premium options for you to give a try as well.

Preferred outdoor covers for your grills:

Most of the time, grills are bigger machines and you cannot place them inside your home when not in use. You have to leave them under open sky, even when you are not using it. So, it is highly preferable to head for the outdoor covers.

  • These covers are made using such a fabric, which is UV protective, waterproof and also able to protect the grill oven against snow, rain and more.
  • You have built-in cord with most of these machines, which will prevent the cover from blowing away when there is a gust of wind.
  • These covers are pretty easy to fold and can be packed up well in built-in pack for that convenient storage.

Always look for the options which come handy with proper warranty section. If you fail to find one with such services, then the market houses so many other options for you to look into.

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7 Strategic YouTube Video Ideas for Every Stage of the Funnel

If you are looking to generate more leads for your conversion funnel, one effective way is to use YouTube videos. YouTube video strategies help you establish your brand image, build up customer relationships, and enjoy increased sales. 

How to Increase the Views of Your YouTube Videos?

Cross-promoting your YouTube videos to your other social media as well as your website can generate more leads for your videos. Worthwhile thumbnails can get more clicks and views for your YouTube videos. For instance, you can share your YouTube videos on Instagram, and with a simple follow unfollow Instagram process, you can get a lot of views for your videos. In case you were using Gramblr for your Instagram automation, you can now use a Gramblr alternative as the service is down now. 

What are the YouTube Video Ideas 2020 for Every Stage of the Funnel?

Here in this section, we will discover the YouTube video ideas in which you can create successful video content using the essential web tools.

1. Problem-Solving Videos

Almost everyone who knows search engines searches for the solutions to the new issues and problems they encounter with. So, what if your YouTube videos solve the problems of the people? Yes, your video will appear! Hence, it can be said that search engines like Google are important for your business marketing strategy.  

These videos not only solve the problem of your audience but also guarantee leads for your sales funnel. They should neither be too short not to address the problem completely nor too long to appear boring to your audience. In addition, you should add a CTA button or phrase at the end of your video so that your viewers can take action. 

Here is how Tasty answers its audience:

2. Tutorial Videos

Tutorial videos that teach how to use a product or service are blessings to your customers. The reason is that they will find out how to use the product or service they have paid for, so the money they have paid is not wasted. Therefore, in order to help your customers understand how to use your products or services, creating tutorial videos is the best way. 

Creating tutorial videos not only makes your customers understand that you value them but also makes them trust you and your products or services. Hence, it is highly likely that they get back to you and buy it once again later. 

Here is an example by PlayStation:

3. How-to Videos

Generally speaking, people cannot devote a lot of time to long texts and articles to find an answer to their matters. They rather like to watch short videos, solve their matters, and resume their routine life. 

It may now cross your mind that how we can differentiate between how-to videos and tutorial videos. Tutorial videos are normally about products or services while how-to videos are more subject-centered. That is to say, you target one of the needs of your audience for each of your how-to videos and try to address it using your products or services. 

How-to videos are efficient in terms of lead generation. They keep your customer retention rate high because they can signify your care for your customers. Keep your how-to videos short so that viewers do not get bored and learn how to do something as soon as possible. 

Look at how House Beautiful uses How-to YouTube videos:

4. Top Tips Videos

Top tip videos are great for informing your audience. You can talk about the best tips for a particular issue in a video. For instance, if your audience is checking your video to get the most crucial tips for a travel destination, you can create an informative YouTube video that provides such information for your audience. Think of cultural tips, monetary system, food, religion, basic regulations, clothing, languages, dialects, and a lot more. 

Taken as a whole, top tip videos on YouTube raises the awareness of your audience about a particular subject and such awareness makes them realize that you care about their level of understanding from that subject. 

Take a look at this video by WatchWellCast:

5. Troubleshooting Videos

Naturally, when something stops working or does malfunctioning, we rather search to find a solution for the issue than to worsen the case. Here comes the importance of troubleshooting videos. The subjects of your troubleshooting videos can differ significantly. You can foresee the problems that your audience may have while working with your products or services. In addition, you can find out the most reported issues by a careful analysis of your data. 

Here is an example by MDTechVideos:

6. Q&A Videos

These videos are both effective for you and your audience. They can save you a lot of time because you do not have to repeat the same answer to the same question every day. Instead, you create a Q&A video and in which you give the answer to the most frequent questions. Regarding the number of questions, you can create different videos addressing the question. 

Look at how Hannah Kemp uses Q&A video:

7. Testimonial Videos

Testimonial videos are perfect to give your business reliable credit. You can interview a loyal customer and let them share their experience of buying from you. These videos can provide your audience with a higher percentage of trust so that they can take the last step of the funnel and become a customer. 

Look at the video produced by WeAreNetflix:

Conclusion

Using these strategic YouTube video ideas for every stage of the funnel, you can increase the probability of turning your leads into lifelong customers. So, do our best to get inspired by these ideas and convert as many customers as you can. Wish you the best of luck!

Bio

I am Parichehr Parsi, a born writer, and a freelance copywriter in the fields of travel, fashion, and Instagram marketing. I currently write for Realtormate and online magazines in Italy and I love reading, writing, and researching. Find me on LinkedIn!

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6 Tips To Increase Mobile App Downloads From Your Facebook & Instagram Ads

Mobile apps are so valuable in expanding businesses that even small platforms like Instagram management services do not want to lag. After going through everything to design a perfect app, you notice that you are just at the beginning of your road because it is tricky to get users to download the app.

You already know how to run a campaign on Facebook and Instagram, so in this article, you will read about 6 essential tips to increase mobile app downloads from your Facebook and Instagram ads. The last one is extremely underestimated. Then stay tuned till the end!

Increase mobile app downloads from your Facebook & Instagram Ads

Given the data, among all social media, Facebook is the top and Instagram is the sixth platform with the highest number of active users.

So it makes complete sense if you try to increase mobile app download from your Facebook and Instagram ads. 

Increase mobile app downloads from your Facebook ads

To understand better, let’s start with Facebook with its better chance of converting users to boost the app download, shall we?

Start from users with more potentials

If you wanna increase your mobile app download, start from users who are more likely to download your app.

Your now customers

70% of your customers are likely to convert and download your mobile app. So start from them and retarget them on your Facebook ads.

Don’t show the ad to just anybody

There are types of audiences who are either impossible to convert or there is a little chance for this matter! So, avoid targeting these types of audiences if you plan to boost your app downloads through Facebook ads.

Cold customers

According to rule 7, a user normally engages with your brand 6 times before they convert! (The seventh engagement is the act of conversion). To increase engagement or story views on Instagram, considering removing ghost followers.

The cold audience is at the beginning of the customer journey and there is little chance to get them to download your mobile app. 

They are barely targeted in campaigns unless it is a brand awareness campaign.

Not compatibles

Other than that, make sure to choose the right device! If your app is android compatible only, don’t show your ad to users who can not even download your app!

Data connected users

A personal question! When you download an app, are you normally connected via WiFi or cell phone data?

Your answer applies to your audience!

Then tick the check box!

Don’t underestimate CTAs

Adding CTAs to your Facebook page can increase the click-through rate by 285%.

Since you want to increase app download, make sure you choose “Download”

Make your audience wonder

Display appealing video ads of your application in use and make your audience wonder. It works so much if it is the game app you want to get users to download.

Increase Mobile App Downloads From Instagram Ads

Before anything you should know that to run ads on Instagram, you should connect Instagram to your business Facebook account.

All the tips to increase mobile app download on Facebook applies to Instagram ads as well. There are, however, news tips worth mentioning. Here they are.

Use hashtags

Use seven hashtags to increase the findability of your Instagram ads and your mobile app download as a result.

  • One hashtag must be your brand; For Instance #Sony
  • One hashtag must be what your brand owns; for instance, #weareForeverFaster
  • Five community hashtags; such as #running #fintess #instagramfitness

Blend your ad into your organic Instagram posts

Your ad will remain in your feed with your Instagram organic posts. Then blend it.

The final step to increase mobile app download from your Facebook and Instagram ads

The final step to increase app mobile download via Facebook and Instagram ads is to measure your performance and improve your strategy. 

Whether or not this is the first campaign you run to increase mobile app download, it is not going to be perfect, neither is it your last campaign, hopefully.

Make sure you measure your strategy to find out its bugs and come up with the flawless one in the future. Of course, Instagram and Facebook insights are a great help in this matter.

Author’s Bio

The writer is Zahra Zakipoor, a junior digital marketer and a travel freak who survived the quarantine during the COVID pandemic. She is working with Realtormate as a freelancer now.

These Tips Will Help You Cut Your Car Insurance Costs By A Lot!
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These Tips Will Help You Cut Your Car Insurance Costs By A Lot!

We currently live in a society where expenses are constantly growing. Of course, there are several reasons why this is happening but we won’t get much into that issue for now. Consequently, greater expenses for your everyday needs means greater expenses to other areas of life as well. Let us take for example car expenses and insurance rates. Cars are getting more and more expensive each month but also so does insurance rates. Luckily, we have just the news for you! We are going to take a look at some tips that are going to help you save some money.

To begin with, the easiest way to save money is by insuring multiple vehicles. For example, try to look for a bulk rate for all of your family cars. You might get the offer you are looking for and of course, this is one way to save some money on the insurance costs. Another way to do so is to be a careful driver. We cannot stress how important is for someone to take good care of himself and the car that they are driving. There are two benefits from it; the first one is that you are safe and the second one you will get lower insurance cost.

Taking a defensive driving course is yet another smart way to save some money. Always ask your insurance companies about some additional discount. However, make sure to check for the discount before you actually go for the course, as you never know if they are actually going to give you any. Of course, conducting a good market search can be useful as well. Ask one company about the insurance costs but do not just stop there. You will have a better idea if you ask several of these companies! Consequently, if you are not sure which insurance companies to contact, you may find this review helpful on the Insurance Dodo website.

Further on, try to cut down on your average mileage by using mass transport. Insurance companies make you pay more if you commute to work for three hours every day rather than someone who does not commute. Another factor is the place where you live. Different states have different rates but it is highly unlikely that you are going to move to a different state only because of this. Improving your credit rating, however, can prove to be crucial in saving some money on car insurance costs.

Insurance companies see you credit ratings and try to get a general idea of how “responsible” a person is. If your score is fairly low, they basically see you as a person who does not know how to manage with everyday challenges and tasks. You might also get discounts for anti-theft devices. Finally, it all comes down to having a good conversation with your agent. Try to be polite and try to form a good relationship and get on well with them. Couple of polite words can make the difference between getting a better rate and eventually, saving some money on car insurance! Now you know what is the right way to do it!

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Why is Google important for your business marketing strategy?

With the Yellow Pages no longer being printed, we can all acknowledge the power of the internet. In the last century, we have seen a major shift towards digital information. But, not to be worried, if you can leverage the internet in your favor, it can be very beneficial to you and your small business! The internet makes your business easier to find and with resources such as Google My Business (GMB), you can attract the ideal customer – who you may not have been able to reach before the digital era!

Google My Business is a free tool created for small businesses to develop their online presence and attract the audience they truly want. Whether you are a law firm, yoga studio, or nail salon, Google wants to help your small business succeed by providing you with a GMB page. 

What is a Google My Business Page?

Your GMB page is what appears in local search and map results in Google. It gives the user accurate information about your business such as: hours, address, business category, and reviews. 

If Google recognizes that the user is searching for a local business or service, organic results will pop up with a map and a few local businesses at the top! These come before the pages and pages of websites below it. Meaning your website isn’t always going to be your first impression– It can be your GMB page. For many local businesses, searchers decide to become customers without ever visiting your business’s website!

What is the importance of having your own business listing?

Okay, so you understand what a GMB page is, but why should you spend so much time creating and optimizing it? We’ll go into some reasons here.

Helps your website rank better 

Ideally, you want to show up as one of the top three businesses in the results page. By starting and optimizing your business listing, you are building a ranking in the top three. 

Your business listing also shows up on a mobile device and Google Maps. With convenience being a big factor in 2020, many consumers use Google Maps to find a local business. Therefore, you have another way to showcase your business and bring in a new customer!

Engage with your audience

Your listing gives you a concrete way to connect with your audience. Within your business page, you can respond to reviews and answer questions. Additionally, by utilizing the posts section of your GMB page, you can give your customers insight into who you are and what you do.

Because all the information a customer needs is right in front of them– your listing gives them the option to connect with you. They can book an appointment or give you a call with one simple click. There is also a helpful feature called “Questions and Answers” which allows customers to ask you their own questions. After a question is asked, you will receive a notification to prompt you to answer!

Strengthen your local SEO 

Perform local SEO tactics, like integrating relevant keywords, to generate high-quality traffic and conversions. Google has an algorithm that crawls and ranks your business in search results– keywords help Google understand what you’re about

Reviews increase appeal 

Google also makes it easier for your customers to write reviews, by providing you with a URL you can share. The URL directs customers to leave reviews for your business in a quick and easy way. You can share this link on your website or emails. It is a good idea to share the link after a customer has just had a recent experience with your business, that way too much time hasn’t passed. Overall, Google wants your small business to succeed and start building reviews– that’s why they make it easy for you!

Google My Business reviews are also important because it will boost your SEO and rank you higher in Google search results. Google’s algorithm will pull keywords from your reviews (and replies) to give searchers what they are looking for. Not only that, but the more positive reviews you have, the more likely a potential customer will click on your business which continues to work in your favor.

Does this all seem too complicated? 
There are many digital marketing agencies and companies that are willing to help your business grow and achieve the results you are looking for! Whether it’s criminal lawyer marketing or real estate marketing, there is someone who can help! Bottom line, don’t feel too overwhelmed and hire someone to help.