Recruitment is one of the most essential parts of running a business. It’s even more crucial in real estate brokerages, since talented real estate agents contribute a huge chunk of income.
The problem is that real estate agent recruitment isn’t a simple process. That’s because it can be affected by various internal and external factors, such as the size of your brokerage and the condition of the economy. No matter how polished your programs are, there may be times when your recruitment may not be as effective.
Here are just some of the things that can affect the results of your brokerage’s real estate agent recruiting, along with some ways you can adjust.
Your Data and Tools
To be able to hire the best of the best real estate professionals, you have to account for a variety of data. These include the latest market trends, where the most qualified agents are, and the most popular application method, among others. Being informed about these matters can help you make better decisions.
That’s why it’s important to use software and a variety of technological tools to gather data and accelerate your recruiting. This way, not only do you have access to data but also the capability to process them for easier analysis. You can even predict trends with the help of data, which will then allow you to develop preemptive tactics.
The fact of the matter is that recruiting costs a lot of money. What’s more, the cost of recruitment doesn’t stop at the point when you’ve hired the candidate but rather continues well into the employee’s training period. The more budget you have, the faster you are able to recruit and vice versa.
For smaller brokerages who are working with a smaller recruiting budget, it’s a good idea to first calculate your ROI in two scenarios. The first is doing the recruiting on your own, and the other is hiring a recruiter. There are times when it’s more effective to outsource recruitment, since this can help ease the decision-making process and improve the quality of hires.
Your Recruitment Policy or Program
Sometimes, what makes the recruitment process complicated or ineffective is the policy itself. There may be redundant steps or too-stringent requirements that discourage applicants or aren’t relevant. Make it a habit to evaluate your recruitment policy to make sure that it’s as efficient as possible.
Some of the things that you should consider including are:
guidelines against discrimination and biases
merit-based selection
clear approval flow
manpower alignment
clear terms and conditions of employment.
The Compensation Package
The real estate industry is highly competitive, which is why you have to make every effort to stand out to potential candidates. One of the ways you can do this is by offering a stellar salary and benefits package. However, this might not be as easy to do if you don’t have as big a budget as your competitors.
If this is indeed your scenario, you might want to add non-monetary benefits to sweeten the pot. These include work-from-home arrangements or flexible hours. You can also give the best performers the chance to become stakeholders in the future.
The Brokerage’s Reputation
There are a lot of reasons why a candidate doesn’t apply or turn down an offer. Maybe they feel as if the compensation is not equal to the value they can give to the company. Maybe they prefer to work somewhere closer to home. Maybe the recruitment process was a little slow for them.
Another big reason that potential hires don’t push through with their application? Your company’s reputation. People simply don’t want to be associated with a business whose values don’t align with theirs. A mishandled crisis can also affect an applicant’s perception of a company, as do the negative reputation of the current employees.
Make sure to keep your brokerage’s reputation in a positive light. If you have to work with public relations companies to revamp your image, do so. You should also enjoin your current employees to always espouse your company’s values.
The Competition
Sometimes, your competition is a bigger brokerage with a bigger budget. Sometimes, it’s a company with a much better reputation and a wider network. Whoever your competition may be, if they have better recruitment and retention programs in place, then you’ll likely lose superstar candidates to them.
The key to overcoming this hurdle in real estate recruiting is to study these companies that seem to be doing better than you. Pay attention to their tactics and what they seem to be doing right. Then, evaluate your own recruiting programs and make the necessary changes.
As you can see, there are several factors that can make or break your real estate recruiting. Some of them are easier to deal with than others. Nevertheless, it’s worth the effort to straighten out everything. The reward—high-quality hires who stay for years—will be more than worth the time, money, and effort you invest.
Video killed the radio star, and now it’s on its way to its next victim: text-based 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 be well on your way to creating effective videos before the end of the day.
5 Tools To Simplify Video Production
Even casual content creators recognize the big names in production. From software (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro) or kit (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 fee at all. So on one hand, using these tools gives you the space to create video while also reducing the 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.
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 is the 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 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.
Marketing teams are always looking for ways to improve engagement, especially on social media platforms. Bannersnack is a particularly 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 maybe 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.
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. Which means you can record 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.
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.
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.
Authors 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.
With theatres shut during the lockdown, OTT platforms have quickly gained popularity among movie buffs. Although this trend emerged as a result of the temporary closure the cinema halls, it is expected to stay for a while even though the halls have reopened already. This is primarily due to the two following reasons:
Those who didn’t stream movies on OTT platforms earlier are starting to realise its benefits.
Not visiting the theatres for more than six months has broken the habit for movie buffs. They are now getting habituated to streaming movies online.
That being said, it is pretty evident that watching movies on an OTT platformcomes with a number of advantages for the viewers.
What makes OTT a viable alternative for theatres?
While OTT can’t deliver the exact experience of watching the movie on the silver screen, it is much more convenient for the viewers. This convenience is the main reason behind the popularity of OTT. OTT is a good alternative for theatres mostly because of:
Convenience: You do not need a high-end device to stream movies on an OTT platform. A smartphone and a stable internet connection are enough. Moreover, you can stream your favourite movies from the comfort of your home, without even having to travel to the theatre. This also helps the viewers to save on costs like conveyance and expensive food at the theatres.
Flexibility: Unlike theatres, the show timings on the OTT platforms aren’t fixed. You can watch any movie you wish at any timing which is suitable for you. Those who find it hard to make time for visiting the theatres can even stream movies with intervals if necessary. Moreover, the OTT platforms allow the viewers to watch a movie as many times as they want.
Affordability: OTT services are much more affordable compared to watching movies in theatres, especially for those who watch a lot of movies. While some of the OTT platformsmay charge a certain amount of money per movie watched, others charge a monthly subscription for an unlimited number of views. Some of them also allow the viewers to buy the subscriptions for specific playlists or content category. In these cases, the viewers have to pay only for the type of content they would watch.
Diversity of content: You can pick from a wide selection of movies when watching them on an OTT platform. This is evidently a major advantage that OTT offers over theatres as a theatre can screen only a specific number of movies within a certain period of time. Even if a movie is no longer available in theatres, you can still stream them on an OTT platform. Moreover, many of the OTT platforms also produce quality original content or serve as a live streaming platform during sports events. This diversity in content gives OTT an edge over theatres.
Safety: Even though the theatres have now been reopened, the risks remain. Going to a public place like a theatre might result in getting infected with COVID-19, in spite of maximum precautions. Is it really worth the risk while you can actually watch movies without even having to step out of your home? At a time when staying at home is the best way to keep yourself safe from the virus, there is no wonder why the popularity of OTT continues to grow even after theatres reopen.
Does OTT offer new content like theatres do?
Even though one can watch a seemingly unlimited number of movies on an online platform, theatres were a popular destination even just before the lockdown. This is because people prefer to watch the new releases as soon as they can, rather than wait for the movie to be released on an OTT platform. However, several of the leading OTT companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. also produce a wide range of content which are of no lesser quality than mainstream movies launched in the theatres. Currently, with the potential of returns from theatrical release low, many of the film producers are starting to launch their movies on the OTT platforms instead.
Is the trend expected to stay and why?
Observing the current trend of increasing OTT subscriptions even after the reopening of the movie halls, OTT is expected to continue to be the preferred choice for at list as long as the pandemic lasts. However, it is believed that even when normalcy returns, OTT would retain its popularity. While choosing between visiting a theatre and subscribing for OTT services, the wide range of content available at an affordable cost on OTT platforms easily makes it the better choice.
Television, the other alternative, too has fallen behind in the competition as they function as a live streaming platform, offering only limited content and at fixed times. In the long run, OTT is expected to stay ahead in the race.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Cybersecurity has become one of the most important topics in the modern business world, and for a number of crucial reasons. But if we would have to stress its importance as succinctly as possible, then the only thing you should know is that you can’t run a successful business if you skimp on cybersecurity. Without a strict security policy in place and the necessary solutions to enact it, your will quickly lose customers and partners, and you might even experience severe legal penalties.
On the other hand, if you adhere to a comprehensive cybersecurity policy and introduce the right security measures, you can expect your business to flourish. Let’s put all of this into perspective and take a look at how poor cybersecurity can jeopardize your brand. Of course, we’ll outline the best ways to prevent this and ensure your company thrives in the years to come.
Increased risk of human error
The first and most obvious way poor cybersecurity can affect your business is through your employees. Keep in mind that your employees can be your greatest assets and your biggest liabilities in the online world – it will depend on how well you educate and train them in proper data handling and security. Your employees need to be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to keep themselves and your data safe in all communication and online interactions.
That said, hackers and scammers are getting more skilled in their trade by the day, so you need to prioritize employee training and education to keep them one step ahead at all times. Be sure to conduct cybersecurity workshops with an emphasis on email security, password creation and storage, spotting potential cyber-attacks, and the like. This will minimize the risk of human error and prevent inadvertent data leaks that could ruin your brand.
Jeopardizing your brand’s image
Nowadays, businesses big and small are connected to the rest of the world via the web, which means that there are countless ways your brand’s image can be at risk. If people are bad-mouthing your brand online, you need to know about it and remedy the situation. If you’re getting negative reviews, it’s imperative that you transform them into success stories quickly. And if you experience a data breach, you need to conduct damage control immediately.
Of course, it’s better to prevent data leaks rather than trying to save face in front of disgruntled customers, which is why you need to invest in comprehensive cybersecurity. Make sure that your data stores are protected by the latest firewalls and be sure to combine software and hardware firewalls for maximum effect.
Increased downtime and lower business continuity
When a cyber-attack breaches your system and the server you’re on, you can expect your website to crash, or worse, to start leaking sensitive customer information. You cannot allow this to happen, because a single successful cyber-attack is enough to put your brand into the ground for good. Now, because companies are increasingly migrating to the cloud, it is imperative that you choose the right cloud providers.
Ideally, you will find a trusted hyper-converged infrastructure vendor that employs the latest cybersecurity measures and web monitoring solutions to keep your company safe on all fronts. The provider should continuously employ new measures and update its firewall solutions to ensure your business always stays ahead of potential cyber-attacks.
Negatively affecting your bottom line
It should go without saying that a data breach will cause you to lose even the most loyal customers for good. Not only that, but your brand’s reputation will be tarnished to the point that customer acquisition becomes a failed dream rather than a reality.
Your priority must be to keep your customers’ sensitive information safely stored on the server at all times. But that’s not enough to ensure their peace of mind, of course, as you also need to display trust badges on your website for every cybersecurity solution you employ. Let your customers know that their information is safe by showing them that you’re working with the leading cybersecurity providers and that you’re using the best security solutions.
Compliance issues and potential ramifications
Last but definitely not least, the cybersecurity laws and regulations around the world are becoming more stringent every year. The last thing you want is to get flagged by the EU or any other region where you have a digital presence for not abiding to the latest cybersecurity standards.
As you might imagine, this will ruin your reputation and penalize your site on Google and other search engines. Whether you have an in-house cybersecurity team or if you’re working with a provider, make sure to write up a detailed cybersecurity policy that complies with the governing laws in every region. This way, you will protect your brand against legal ramifications and high financial fees.
Wrapping up
As you can see, skimping on cybersecurity doesn’t pay off. If anything, it will quickly drive your company into the ground, so make sure to follow these tips to better cybersecurity in order to ensure success for your brand in the years to come.
In recent years, the cryptocurrency market has grown in size and popularity in the world. Each country has different regulations for cryptocurrency. Due to the increased demand for bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, nations have to update the appropriate legal regulations day by day.
With the rapid growth of the Internet, the use of cryptocurrencies is an inevitable trend. No country can completely ban this financial type. People can do cryptocurrency transactions secretly on the Internet. It is hard for the government to track cryptocurrency users or cryptocurrency exchange.
If you invest in crypto, buy bitcoin, or are interested in this investment, you should learn about the rules and how regulations may affect you. While some cryptocurrency regulations can slow down the buying, selling, and use of cryptocurrencies, others support the growth of this new asset class. Even an announcement about crypto regulation can cause prices to rise or fall dramatically.
Here are essential rules and regulations that investors must consider before buying cryptocurrency.
What is cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency is a medium technology of financial exchange with cryptographical functions on the Internet. Cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology to achieve decentralization, transparency, and immutability.
Cryptocurrencies are not controlled or regulated by any authority. And the cryptocurrencies’ price is determined by the supply and demand of their market. It is the most significant feature of a cryptocurrency. Due to the decentralized nature of blockchain, cryptocurrency is immune to government administration.
How is the cryptocurrency transaction?
Cryptocurrencies can be deposited directly between the two parties through the use of private and public keys. This transfer can be done with minimal processing fees, allowing users to avoid the hefty fees charged by traditional financial institutions.
Cryptocurrency properties
– Irreversible: Once you’ve confirmed, a transaction cannot be reversed. If you send money, you send it. If you sent your money to a scammer or if a hacker stole them from your computer, you could not take it back. There is no safety zone.
– Permissionless: No one can stop you. No need to ask anyone to use cryptocurrencies. It is just a piece of software that anyone can download for free. Once installed, you can buy Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
– Fast and global: Transactions are spread almost instantly across the network and confirmed in minutes. Since they happen in a global network of computers, they don’t care at all about your specific location.
– Virtual pseudonym: Neither the transaction nor the account is connected to the user identity in the real world.
– Security: Cryptocurrency funds are locked into a public-key cryptosystem. Only the owner of the private key can send cryptocurrency. The strong code and the magic of the big numbers make it impossible to break this scheme. A Bitcoin address is more secure than Fort Knox.
Why should you invest in cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrencies have been popular for many years. However, the majority of people are not aware of it. As a result, people don’t think about trying to invest or trade cryptocurrencies.
Of course, cryptocurrencies are risky – just like any other investment with a high potential return. However, it also offers the following obvious benefits.
You are the owner
There is no other electronic cash system where your account belongs to you.
Fraud protection
Once the cryptocurrency is created, all confirmed transactions are stored in a public ledger. All the identity of the coin’s owners is encrypted to ensure the legality of record keeping. Because money is decentralized, you own it. Neither the government nor the bank has control over it.
Identity theft
The ledger ensures that all transactions between “e-wallets” can calculate the correct balance. This public ledger is also known as the “transaction blockchain”. Blockchain technology ensures secure digital transactions through encryption and “smart contracts” that make entities virtually vulnerable to attack and free of fraud.
Instant payments
Blockchain has brought value to cryptocurrencies. Ease of use is the reason why cryptocurrencies are in high demand. All you need is a smart device, internet connection, and instantly become your bank making payments and money transfers.
Accessible
More than two billion people have access to the Internet but do not have access to traditional exchange systems. These individuals are entering the cryptocurrency market.
Which cryptocurrency to invest in?
Although Bitcoin is a famous cryptocurrency, investors and users should know about other cryptocurrencies. Here we present the most popular cryptocurrencies today.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the first and most famous cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin is known as the top digital standard through the entire crypto industry. Now, people use Bitcoin as a global payment. Cybercriminals also sell or buy Bitcoin in the darknet markets or ransomware. For seven years, the Bitcoin price has increased from zero to 650USD and more than 200,000 daily transactions.
Ethereum
Ethereum takes second place in the cryptocurrency top ranking. It is a product of Vitalik Buterin. Unlike Bitcoin, its blockchain not only can process the complicated transaction but also complex contracts and programs due to its function of validation in so-called states.
Ripple
Although Ripple has a native cryptocurrency – XRP, it is more about a network that processes IOUs than the cryptocurrency itself. XRP, the currency, does not act as a vehicle for storing and exchanging value but also acts as a token to protect the network from spam.
Ripple, unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, has no mining activity as all coins are pre-mined. Ripple has found immense value in the financial space as a lot of banks have joined the Ripple network.
Litecoin
This is a viable alternative to bitcoin. It was created in 2011 by Charlie Lee. After bitcoin, it ranks third in terms of time and lifetime of cryptocurrencies. Even if litecoin did not get as much attention as expected, we still have to admit that litecoin is much faster than bitcoin and that its transaction fees are almost zero.
Dash
Dash was launched in 2014 and has become one of the largest peer-to-peer networks of master nodes. Hence, Dash can provide additional storage and a secure environment for users.
Rules and regulations when buying cryptocurrency
1. Reading is the basic knowledge first
You should spend time to read what cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology is, and the different types of coins, wallets, and transactions.
Update the latest information on cryptocurrencies in trusted and reputation media channels.
By building up your knowledge, you will make decisions and take opportunities confidently.
2. Only invest what you are prepared to lose
If you are a beginner, you should start a small investment first. Buying Bitcoin or any other crypto is volatile. You can gain much, but you might lose what you have invested in too.
3. Consider carefully the type of cryptocurrency you buy
Research the crypto price. The circulating supply and the real-world will value the coin.
Large supply often dilutes the price of a coin, and if such a cheap coin has little to no practical utility, then there is no reason to assume it will magically rise in price.
Read about the coin’s background, its origins, how it fits into the larger business plan of the supplier, and how the crypto community accepted it. You have to follow the crypto-related events and hard fork updates, as these events tend to influence market trends.
4. Consider carefully where to buy crypto
You can buy cryptocurrencies from online strangers (not recommended), over-the-counter (OTC) kiosks online, at stores affiliated with Bitspark, at crypto ATMs, or on an exchange.
Wherever you buy, be sure of the seller’s credibility. You must look up recent reviews, comparison sites, and user ratings. If you are going to buy in OTC consider using escrow service, so you will not transfer money without ever getting your cryptocurrency back. If it’s an exchange, find out if it’s easy to trade into other coins, what coins they support, and what you need to do if you want to transfer your money to another wallet or revert to fiat.
Lastly, you have to understand the fees you will pay when buying or trading coins.
5. Ensure security
In the cryptocurrency market, you keep the key, and you control the coin.
Do not store your keys in a wallet that isn’t entirely yours.
Buying cryptocurrencies from a centralized exchange and some OTC, usually means your money is not under your control. If an exchange gets hacked, you lose money.
If you have more than $500 in cryptocurrency make sure you buy a hardware wallet like a Trezor or Ledger and get in the habit of storing a large portion of your money in an ‘offline’ device. This way will keep your money safe from hackers.
In addition to security considerations, when handling your cryptocurrency and transferring it to another wallet, double-check the address you’re sending. Transferring money to the wrong account means it’s very hard to get it back.
6. Remember to buy low, sell high
As you increase your knowledge of cryptocurrencies, you will value coins by themselves by their value and read the market depending on your understanding. While buying when the price is low and selling when it is high seems sensible, it is really about distinguishing the hype from solid trends and seeing the whole picture.
Instead of chasing the market trend, you should anticipate or wait until the hype passed before buying: work on vision, instead of emotion.
7. Do not overtrade
Instead of choosing between buying and selling regularly or holding a currency for an extended period, you should find an intermediary path and dedicate part of your investment to well-established currencies.
However, you should not “over-trade” constantly switching to other currencies due to worries about low trading volumes. When trading, be sure you will place orders with enough liquidity. Don’t forget that the transaction fees to recover the losses.
In conclusion
As with any other highly profitable investment, cryptocurrencies carry a specific risk – but they are even more offset by its independence and high profitability.
Investing in cryptocurrency is similar to exchanging your money in a new country. Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ether are a few examples of “forex” that operate in a very specific context in certain online communities.
Just remember that exchanging any currency is built on shared trust.
We hope the basic information provided above can help you understand the rules and regulations when buying cryptocurrency.
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 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. People who live in remote areas up north should have the following in their cars:
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.
In the digital age, marketing is vital for the survival of businesses. There are a lot of things marketers can do to engage consumers and increase sales. Furthermore, advancements in technology have introduced new opportunities to develop personalized strategies according to distinct marketing goals.
Marketers have comprehensive data and information they can utilize to make informed choices about their next move. They can forecast how their gambits will fare with customers while making their strategies precise and accurate. More than 80% of marketers believe in the power of marketing tech to improve performance.
And that is where marketing operations come in. It is the skill of blending marketing with technology to improve marketing. It can lead to a significant increase in leads by diverting focus on new ways of marketing. Marketing operations can cut downtime and increase efficiency by integrating automation into digital marketing.
If you’re still confused about what this means for your firm, go through this article to get a clearer picture.
Smart Inventory Management: Imagine this; you’ve got an excellent marketing campaign. You use all the marketing tricks and tactics to get customers to your page. The consumer is ready to spend tons of money and buy your most expensive product. But, when they click on the product, they find out that you don’t have it in stock. What’s more, the projected waiting times are too long. Naturally, the customer is going to move on to better and faster alternatives. It’s simple; slow delivery translates into slow business. However, you don’t want to have too much product that only ties up your space and capital. It’s a delicate balance that can seem almost impossible to achieve. So how can you avoid this eventuality with the help of technology? Automate your inventory management system to enjoy a smooth workflow. These platforms can track how much product you have in stock and how much you should list on online marketplaces.
Content research: You can’t fully automate content marketing. However, you can monitor other processes like research and idea generation. According to research content, creators use 30% of their time to research relevant material. That is precious time they can better use to improve content quality. The simplest way you can automate your research is by using applications to track emerging trends in the industry. For example, free apps like Feedly and BuzzSumo can help you find relevant stories within seconds. You can also get in touch with market leaders in specific industries in one place.
Track your performance: The only way forward in life is to learn from your mistakes and avoid making them in the future. Your marketing campaign is no different. But it’s impossible to keep track of things, especially if you need to track and analyze every move you make. KISSmetrics is a platform you can use to measure how your site is doing and track your customers. Additionally, KISSmetrics can inform you about your signup times so you can track how long your customers take before they buy your product. Such apps help you keep your attention on things that matter instead of babble.
Emails: Email marketing is the oldest marketing strategy in the digital marketing world. But that doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant; it is the most effective digital marketing strategy since it’s direct and effective. Moreover, research proves that it is where 99% of the consumers are. Email also has a much higher engagement rate than social media platforms with higher click-through rates. Most people spend more money on products marketed with email compared to social media. Therefore, you can use emails to transform prospective customers into loyalists. But, it takes a lot of time to send emails to every single one of your leads. Use personalized automated email tools that send auto-responses to your subscribers. Tools like OptinMonster are customized and use behavior personalization to create specific custom campaigns.
Make it mobile: Millennials are the market drivers in today’s economy as they influence marketing trends. They constitute the largest living generation. According to a census, there are 83 million millennials in America alone. Therefore, it’s imperative to optimize marketing according to their preferences. Just focus your marketing efforts on them. And what is the one thing that millennials use all the time? Mobile devices! Hence, make your website mobile-friendly. For instance, you can make your site responsive, add imagery, clean your homepage, and limit ads. You can also create a mobile app for your business, but you don’t need to spend big bucks on it since you can make the app on your own with free app creation tools. It is easy to use a framework to develop apps for any platform.
Keep track of finances: Running a business is a lot of work. You need to attract customers with an aggressive digital marketing campaign. You also need to ensure that you fulfill orders without compromising on service. Moreover, you need to make sure you remain updated with your industry’s latest news and events, which does not leave time for other bookkeeping tasks. That is why many founders use bookkeeping software to reduce hassle. Easy accounting software puts everything about your financial situation in black and white. You can assess how much each project is costing you and whether your growth strategies are feasible.
Monitor your social media game: Social media is the blood of any digital marketing campaign. It’s the first point of contact for your customers, and it sets the tone for future interactions. So you really can’t afford to mess it up. But, time constraints and having too much to do can bungle up your campaign. What can you do to avoid this? Automate your social media campaign so you can avoid making mistakes while spreading your brand message. Moreover, it can help you visualize where your campaign is going.
Conclusion
Seamless marketing is not within reach for small and big businesses without the help of technology integration. Well researched content and sensitive social media campaigns are just a few of the advantages of automation. Furthermore, you can use technology to learn from your mistakes and gain incredible insights. Automation gives you more time to focus on things that matter. By introducing these tools, you can make time to create better products and relevant content. There are some great platforms you can use to make running a business easier and profitable.
It would be tough to succeed with content marketing without a process to guide you.
You can have original, interesting, and engaging content on your site, but if no one but your content team knows about it, it will not help you achieve your goals.
Why?
To effectively answer this question, ask yourself:
Why do you spend time writing content?
If you are like most marketers, you write content to get it in front of your target audience. You want them to read, engage, share, and, most importantly, act on your calls-to-action.
Now, if your target audience never sees this content, what good does it offer your business?
For this reason, you need to start thinking about your content marketing process, and how it can help you strategize, create, distribute, promote, and track content performance.
But what is a content marketing process?
It’s an organized plan that enables you to ensure every piece of content you produce drives positive results.
Best of all, this plan has distinct and important stages that help you create engaging content, publish it on channels your audience visits, and promote it effectively.
And what’s more?
You can track the results of your process and refresh each stage for relevance and effectiveness.
But how can you create this process?
Can you ensure it effectively boosts engagement while delivering positive returns on your investment?
You can if you use the detailed guide in the infographic below. Check it out for information on the five crucial stages of a content marketing process and effective tactics to apply during each.
Shane Barker is a digital marketing consultant who specializes in influencer marketing, content marketing, and SEO. He is the co-founder of Attrock, a digital marketing agency. He has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, influencers with digital products, and a number of A-List celebrities.
Today, websites and blogs have become the face of your brand. In this digital & tech savvy world people prefer to create the WordPress blog to develop their brand image. Only providing the correct information through your blog is not the end. You need to take care of the fact that your blog has reached the right place and to the right person. You need to be serious about your promotion while promoting a WordPress blog.
To drive the traffic in your blog you need to do proper marketing of it. You need to build awareness regarding your blog site. The more you spread your brand message the better will be your brand promotional activity. Using some effective marketing techniques, you can spread your brand message very easily. You need to optimize your blog post so that you can get a better response from your target audience.
Different Ways of Promoting a WordPress Blog
Several ways are there using which you can easily promote your WordPress blog. Therefore, let’s explore the ways that you can employ to promote the WordPress blog one after the other to get a better insight into it.
1.Create an Engaging Content
You need to ensure that you maintain the quality of your content in an engaging way. You need to ensure one thing that you have the right experience in the same niche. Your blog post must solve the problem of the readers and provide them with the right solution for which they are craving for. You need to ensure one thing regarding your blog is it must fulfil the requirements of your target audience. You must provide them the most desired content that they are searching for in your website.
2.Install the Most Suitable Theme
The overall look of your blog can create an impact in the minds of your target audience. The visibility of your blog site can make or break the image of your brand. Web design can create the first and the last impression in the minds of your target audience. The theme of your blog must reflect your brand message. The theme must match with your industry category that you are dealing with. It must make sense to your investment. You must search for the themes that should showcase your brand in a better manner.
3.Social Media Marketing
On different social media platforms, you need to market your blog post like Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn and StumbleUpon in order to drive more traffic to your website. On your relevant groups you need to share your post and blogs on a daily basis. You need to set up your Facebook page where you need to add all your targeted visitors. You need to share your links and posts on your Facebook profile. On your blog posts you can share your icons to develop your brand image so that the brand promotion becomes easy for you.
4.Customize the Permalinks
You can optimize your content when the URL of your blog post remains relevant along with the keywords. Automatically WordPress can generate the permalink and before you hit the publish button make sure that the keyword reach is readable. This will help you to develop the perfect blog post for your brand. The blog post will enable you to develop the perfect content that you may require to make sure all your business needs are served well as per your expectations. You are investing your money in your blog site and the permalinks can help you to develop your search results on various search engines.
5.Use Guest Posting
Guest posting is a way to write articles and blogs to some other website and drive traffic to your website by making fruitful link building. It can promote your blog to multiple platforms in order to boost the presence of your blog. It will help you to create a large population base of your blog online. Just you need to drive more traffic in a short span of time. It will help you to develop your search result as it will increase the traffic on your website in a small span of time and your search results will also become higher.
6.Create A Search Optimized Blog Post
You need to rank higher on Google, Yahoo and on other search engines. It can be done successfully by optimizing your titles and the descriptions of your blog posts. Proper placing of the keywords in the right place can help you to optimize your brand value in a better manner. A Searchable blog post can provide you a rewarding career that can help you to build your brand image in a better manner in a short span of time. Hence, you can promote a WordPress blog in a better manner.
7.Make Use of YouTube Videos
You need to make use of your YouTube Videos to develop your brand image if you are a solopreneur. Hence, you can develop an audio-visual message to promote your brand image. Better to say you can use this platform of YouTube to create a brand value in a better manner. Hence, you can easily share your brand message to your target consumer in a small span of time. Hence, True to play in with your options that you get while promoting your WordPress blog online in a better manner.
Conclusion
Hence, from the above information, it is clear that if you want to promote a WordPress blog then you need to think creatively and out of the box. If you want more information related to this then you can visit the official website of site 123 reviews in a better manner. Therefore, if you want to promote your brand in a better manner then you can easily develop a WordPress blog site to increase the visitor and traffic for your website in a better manner. Just you need to build upon your concept in a better manner. In this regard, you need to make sure that your WordPress site is engaging enough to grab the maximum attention of your target audience.
Author Bio: Mashum Mollah is a tech entrepreneur by profession and passionate blogger by heart. He is on a mission to help small businesses grow online. He shares his journey, insights, and experiences at Blogstellar.com. If you are an entrepreneur, digital marketing professional, or simply an info-holic, then this blog is for you. Follow him on Instagram & LinkedIn.
Miley Dowling on November 27, 2020 
