The Importance of Marketing for Business Success

One of the most important components for business success is marketing. Each and every business owner must realize the extent to which a good marketing strategy can affect a business and do everything in their power to create the best possible strategy to achieve their goals. A marketing campaign can make or break a business, which is exactly why it is crucial to understand its impact on business, regardless of your industry.

Without marketing, there would be no way for people to become familiar with your business. You could be manufacturing the best products on the market, but your sales would definitely crash if you fail to implement a good marketing strategy. You must raise awareness for your business and you need to make sure that you stand out from your competition and you should take hints from big brands riding the wave of big events like the super bowl. 

In order to truly understand the importance of marketing, read on to find out it’s benefits, so that you can use that knowledge to create the best possible marketing strategy.

 

Spreading the Word

 

You cannot rely merely on word-of-mouth and expect to get a lot of customers. That type of marketing can surely be effective, but only to a certain extent. In order for you to reach a large number of customers, you must use effective online marketing strategies to promote your products or services.

Raising awareness about your brand is not at all difficult nowadays, due to the growing popularity of social media networks. These have proven to be excellent platforms for successfully promoting a brand. With the help of social media, you can reach literally millions of customers. Spreading the word about your business is the first step towards success, since you can be able to reach your target audience and make your business a lucrative one.

 

Boosting Your Reputation

Your success greatly depends on your reputation. With good marketing, you will be able to build up your brand and ensure that you are leading your business to success. It might take a lot of time to build a reputation in today’s market, but once you build yours, all it will take is a great and effective marketing strategy to maintain it.

As your reputation grows, so does your business, which leads to an increase in sales and generating more revenue. Higher sales and more income can later lead to the further expansion of your business and, of course, more customers.

The greatest thing about reputation and brand awareness is that it gets people talking about your brand and you come to a point where your customers actually do a great deal of marketing for you, since they tell their family and friends about your product or service.

 

Increasing Your Sales

 

Once you successfully spread the word about your business and build your reputation on the market, after a short spike your sales will start to plummet, unless you do something about it. Increasing your sales is certainly one of your main goals and once you get lot of people talking about your brand, you will instantly start seeing better numbers in your monthly financial report.

In order to do this right, you must know exactly what your customers want, so that you can find the right way of satisfying their needs. Doing research on how marketing psychology can boost conversions can help you a great deal when creating your marketing strategy. As P. J. Germain, an author at PureResiduals.com, states: “When you understand how your customer thinks and what gets them motivated, you can then better craft your sales and marketing tactics”.

Each and every business owner’s main goal is to make profit and, in order to do that, they need to develop a good marketing strategy that will enable them to reach more customers and generate more sales, ultimately leading their business towards success. With proper marketing, they can very easily achieve their goals and make sure they always stay ahead of the competition.

So, use this knowledge to help your business grow and start creating your marketing campaign that will certainly lead your business to success.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/ivandseo/the-importance-of-marketing-for-business-success/

Tips For Taking Better Headshots

If you are anything like many people in Los Angeles, you are interested in a career in show business. One thing that is a must for entertainers is taking a great headshot. This is the first opportunity you will have to make an impression, so you want everything to be perfect. Here are four tips that will help you reach that goal.

Get A Professional Shot Taken

One mistake that many people have is trying to save money on headshots. While it can be rather costly to head to a professional to have them take your shots, this is far better than trying to do them on your own. It is possible to take a pretty decent shot on your own, but it will not match the quality of one that is taken by a photographer. Invest the money and hire someone to do it for you.

Avoid Too Much Airbrushing

It is common to have your headshots airbrushed in order to cover up any glaring flaws, but you should try your best not to do it so much you look like a different person. When people take a look at your picture, they will expect the same person to walk through the door if they decide to call you. Things will not go in your favor if they are not as impressed by you in person as they were when seeing you on paper.

Be Easy With The Makeup

Many people try so hard to look nice when they are taking pictures that they mistakenly put on far too much makeup. This is a big error since it will let people know that you are trying too hard. The point of putting on makeup is to look like an enhanced version of yourself. It should not be so heavy that it looks like it can be removed with a credit card.

Leave The Props For Later

Whether you believe it or not, there are people who have submitted headshots with props in them. As the word implies, the only thing people want to see in these pictures is your head. They are not interested in seeing you with a pirate hat, a pair of gag glasses or anything of the sort. The idea is to offer them a glance into your natural, everyday look while appearing a tad more put together.

Even if you are trying out for a part in a film and you believe that the props will give you an edge, rethink this. Once people see your photo and there are props in it, your headshot is more than likely going to end up on the rubbish heap.

A great headshot can mean the difference between being called back for roles you are interested in and continuing to bus tables while you are waiting for your big break. If you wish to increase the chances of impressing those who have your fate in their hands, you should use this advice and submit the best photo ever.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/nick-chalker/tips-for-taking-better-headshots/

Direct and Indirect Marketing Methods and Distribution Channels

This article reviews reasons for and against direct and indirect marketing methods and distribution channels for new products and services. Such methods fall generally into two categories, direct and indirect marketing.

Direct Marketing

Direct marketing aims at a specific audience or consumer profile to stimulate a direct response to the product or service marketed and to measure the response. Direct marketing can be intrusive and annoying when businesses don’t use it in comprehensive marketing strategies. The most popular direct marketing methods are by (1) Direct Mail, (2) Telemarketing, and (3) Online.

In favor of direct mail is that customers get product information and place orders from their homes or offices easily. Against is the flood of junk mail that makes direct mail unwanted by association and inattentively thrown away or destroyed.

In favor of telemarketing, conversations offer opportunities to answer questions, take product orders, and do customer service. Against is that telemarketers make uninvited cold calls that interrupt customers and talk them into buying products they then decide they don’t want. Telemarketing is particularly unpopular in areas with Do Not Call registries.

In favor of direct marketing online is the ability to reach consumers as they conduct research and make purchase decisions. Against are that not everyone is online, and those that are may not be online at the best times. Social media work best in combination with other marketing methods. All print marketing should show links to the business website.

Indirect Marketing

Indirect marketing typically involves a third-party distributor or seller. Indirect marketing does not aim at a specific consumer audience as does direct marketing. An example of indirect marketing is the traditional storefront window display. The retailer’s commercial space comes between the producer and the consumer; therefore, it is indirect.

Indirect marketing enables businesses to attract a large and diverse consumer pool. Indirect marketing through third parties provides businesses with access to amenities that they do not have, retail space as an example. However, indirect marketing affects product profit margin direct marketing cuts out the third-party middleman for larger returns.

Mixing Direct and Indirect Marketing

A successful marketing strategy need not go entirely one way or the other between direct or indirect channels. There are in fact many ways to use both main options for a profitable marketing mix.

Direct marketing presents an offer to buy or to learn more about what’s for sale. The purpose is to get the customer to take action to buy the product by dialing the phone, using a promotional code, or attending a presentation.

Indirect marketing makes no attempt at immediate sales but instead focuses on building relationships of trust by finding out what consumers want and helping them find it. Consumers search the Internet for answers to their questions or solutions to their problems. Indirect marketing offers them knowledge and advice in blogs, social media, newsletters, and videos.

Indirect marketing aims at consumers with questions needing answers. Indirect marketing builds brand recognition by suggesting how to solve problems with products and services that can help

Indirect marketing is not a short-term strategy for generating sales quickly. It takes time to build trust with consumers, months, even years.

For startup businesses, time is of the essence. They need to begin marketing indirectly to customers as soon as possible. A good place to start is online through blogs and social media to build interest and brand recognition. If their marketing succeeds in raising consumer demand for their products and services, they then need to develop distribution channels.

Distribution Channels

Products and services must find ways to reach consumers. Distribution channels transfer products and services profitably to retail sales outlets or directly to customer homes.

Distribution channels organized and managed by the businesses they serve are direct distribution channels. Intermediary middlemen operate indirect distribution channels (example here). Firms that use direct distribution require their own logistics teams and transport vehicles. Those with indirect distribution channels must set up relationships with third-party distributors.

Direct Distribution Channels

Direct channels tend to be expensive to establish, sometimes demanding substantial capital investment in warehouses, logistics, transport vehicles, and driving staff. After its components are in place, however, a direct channel is likely to be more economical and efficient in operation than an indirect channel. Direct selling, though in some cases difficult to manage on a large scale, often gives manufacturers better connections to consumer bases than do indirect channels.

Indirect Distribution Channels

The most challenging aspect of indirect distribution channels is the necessity to entrust third-party middlemen with product handling and customer interaction. The most successful of such intermediary logistics agents, however, are adept at product deliveries in ways that most manufacturers are not. Indirect channels also free manufacturers from delivery system startup costs. In harmonious relationships, they are much simpler and more cost-effective to manage than are direct distribution channels.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/twitter-epicninjadaboss/direct-and-indirect-marketing-methods-and-distribution-channels/

How to Successfully Secure Your Workplace

Keeping your workplace secure is not only a job for your security and IT team. Since we now work in digitally-connected workplaces, we need to feel the responsibility to protect any sensitive information we gather at work. No matter what the size of the company you work for is, every business faces certain security challenges, especially when using the web and the cloud daily work tasks.

This is why you need to be proactive and smart when it comes to keeping all that sensitive information secure, whether that is the information of your employees and clients, your own personal information or the intellectual property of the company. Here are a couple of things that will help you keep your company safe from any security threats and make your office a more secure place.

Know What You Need To Protect

This is the first step in creating a more aware workplace; the understanding of things that need to be protected, especially when it comes to small businesses that may not have a clear security plan. You need to determine the passwords to your systems and accounts, patient data, credit card information or employee records that need protection. Once you and your team are aware of what is important, you can all be more cautious in keeping that information safe.

Look Out For the Emails

You always need to be aware what the sources of the emails you receive are. Double-checking the sender is important, even if the email is sent by someone who you typically trust. If there is an attachment that seems strange, do not click on it, and when in doubt, always ask someone who is above you if they know what that email is about. Never send out any sensitive data by email, like personal information or any kind of password. Any odd and confusing emails should be deleted immediately and only the encrypted file service needs to be used when sending out sensitive information. If you have a WordPress website you should watch for any potential security threats when it comes to login credentials and other security breaches. 

Lock Your Computer

The best way to protect the information that is on your computer is setting it to go on a timeout after a couple of minutes of inactivity. This way, you will keep all those prying eyes off and prevent them from abusing your workstation. There are many other ways to secure your computer, and this is crucial because it only takes a moment for someone to install malicious software on your computer. Always lock your machine and use strong passwords.

Be Careful With USBs

There will be times when you will want to do some work at home so, naturally, you will reach out for a USB to transfer all the data you are going to need to later. This is where you need to be careful, because USB drives can be used to transfer malicious programs and files, so make sure that you always check.

Different Account, Different Password

We all know that we need to use passwords that are strong, but many of us don’t know that for it is recommended to use a different password for a different account. This does not mean that you should just add a number or a symbol at the end of the same password you are using on your every account. Every account, from your Facebook, email or banking needs to have a different password that will be random and long.

Some employees love to put their passwords on sticky notes around their office, like under the keyboard or on the computer monitor. This is a huge security risk, so avoid doing these kinds of things. And remember, if you have accidentally clicked on the link that leads to a malicious website, or entered your password and username on a website that seems to be unsecure, report it immediately to your security or IT team so that someone can take a look. If you try to hide it yourself, that will only lead to serious consequences that can create major security threats that can seriously affect your company.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/aleksandarilic/how-to-successfully-secure-your-workplace/

5 Companies that Know the Real Meaning of Customer Service

Some companies treat customer service as a little part of their business. They don’t understand its value. They fail to realize that excellent customer service not only drives more people to buy from you but also retains current customers which can build a good reputation for your brand.  Customers can make or break a business that’s why it is essential for the company to continue making them happy and satisfied.

Here’s a list of companies who surely know how to get to their customer’s hearts through impeccable customer service:

Zappos

Zappos has built a name that’s synonymous to excellent customer service. The e-commerce site started its operations in 1999 and has continued to deliver quality shoes and other apparel. Initially, Zappos only intended to sell shoes online, but with the increasing number of retailers making waves on the Internet, they had to step up and differentiate itself from competitors.

Tony Hsieh, Zappos’ CEO, believed that they’re a shoe company that offers top-of-the-line service. They later realized that their primary product is actually customer service and the company just happens to sell shoes.

Data says that 75% of their clients are returning customers and almost all of them have amazing stories to tell about Zappos. A lady named Zaz Lamarr is planning to return her shoes to Zappos, but when her mother suddenly passed away, the situation didn’t allow her to have time for it.

She sent an e-mail to the company stating that she couldn’t make it because of the unfortunate event.  Zappos tapped UPS, a package delivery company, to get the shoes to save her time and allow the woman to focus on her mother. It didn’t end there. They also sent flowers for the deceased family member.

Amazon

Amazon came up on top and received a whopping 81% at the Temkin Experience Ratings list of companies that offer “good” or “excellent” customer service. The largest online retailer in the world’s free shipping, timely deliveries, and hassle-free transactions are not the only things that brought them to the top spot. Amazon takes pride in their well-trained call center agents who truly listen and understand their customer’s needs. They provide human interaction through phone conversations and personalized e-mails.

Amazon founder Jeffrey Bezos says they are customer-centric. They are more obsessed with providing quality service that can benefit their clients rather than eliminating competitors.

To drive this point home, customer Joe Nocera ordered a PlayStation 3 from Amazon during the Christmas season in 2007, but it was unfortunately stolen after delivery. His neighbor from the same apartment building signed the package sheet for him, but only placed it in their hallway downstairs. Nobody knew how the game console vanished and they had no way to track the thief.

In cases like these, the company shouldn’t be held liable since it has already been shipped and received. According to Amazon’s Conditions of Use, “the risk of loss and title for such items pass to you upon our delivery to the carrier.” However, when Joe called Amazon to ask if there’s anything that can be done since it’s a Christmas present for his son, they sent a replacement. Amazon didn’t ask for a shipping payment and it arrived just in time.

L.L Bean

L.L. Bean is an American online retail store that provides excellent customer service even if the company does not interact with customers face-to-face. They are known for their prompt response to customer feedback by answering calls within 20 seconds, as well as replying to e-mails within an hour or less.

The brand is also proud of valuing their returning customers by continuously providing them with good service. Though their catalogue is organized, a customer cannot navigate through all of them just to look for a piece of clothing they want to purchase for the second time. When a customer tells L.L. Bean that he purchased a blue sweater some years back and would love to have a second pair, their staff will look at the customer’ purchase history and order it for him.

Twenty years ago, Ron Kaufman purchased a pair of  . Since it was already worn out, he decided to use the garment’s “lifetime guarantee” by shipping it back to L.L. Bean and asking for a replacement. To his surprise, they sent him a brand new pair – same color, same design — requiring no monetary payment.

 Ritz-Carlton

The luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel is indeed a part of the lifestyle of the rich and famous, but the company makes sure that everyone gets what they pay for. They make clients feel important not only through exquisite facilities and amenities but also target those emotional trigger points in every guest they entertain.

There have been a lot of reports about Ritz Carlton going out of their way just to make their visitors feel comfortable and have a great time. Ryan Estis lost his sunglasses while riding a paddleboard on the beach. When they returned to the hotel, a staff handed him a pair of Rayban sunglasses asking if it was his. He was with his girlfriend that time and they never mentioned to anyone that he lost a pair. It turns out that one of the hotel’s staff did some snorkeling to retrieve the lost sunglasses.

Another heart-warming story is the case of Joshie, a stuffed giraffe. One of the guest’s eight-year-old son accidentally left Joshie in the hotel, and the family realized this only when they were already back home. After informing the hotel, Ritz Carlton’s Loss Prevention Team sent the stuffed giraffe to their house–including a bunch of mementos from Joshie’s “vacation,” such as the its own employee ID, pictures of him enjoying the pool and the golf cart, and also playing with other plushies.

 Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is one of the U.S. airlines known for their spontaneous service. They make the plane ride an enjoyable experience for people of all ages by providing entertainment in all ways possible. The airline staff is given the authority to decide on-the-spot on matters that need immediate attention.

One example which shows how spontaneous their services are is the story of a five-year-old passenger named Spencer. Nancy, one of Southwest Airlines’ flight attendant, announced on the intercom that it was Spencer’s 5th birthday that day. He asked the little boy to go in front. While he’s walking, Nancy accompanied Spencer’s eight-year-old sister, Elisa, in front since she wanted to play a “Happy Birthday” song on her flute for his younger brother. Everyone was clapping and singing along to Nancy and the siblings.

Aside from giving a memorable rendition of “Happy Birthday,” Nancy placed a crown on the boy’s head. The crown was made of plastic skewers, peanut packets, and clear adhesive tape. It was indeed a spur-of-the-moment move that will be kept in Spencer’s heart forever.

Their customer service department also provides superior service by admitting their mistakes and apologizing for them. They answer questions promptly on the phone or through e-mail.  There have been cases wherein they offered free flights to make up for the bad weather even if it’s not their fault that the flight is cancelled.

To make up for unforeseen events such as flight delays, the airline staff makes an effort to ease the boredom by staging fun activities and exciting games that diverts the attention of irate customers.

These companies know what exemplary web design, business and customer service is about. Through their efforts, they have earned the trust and respect of their clients and cultivated a good reputation that can contribute to their overall corporate image.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/twitter-easyvince/5-companies-that-know-the-real-meaning-of-customer-service/

3 Useful Tips for Starting a Blog

The history of blogging is quite interesting. It all began as a window to the outside world where people would express their opinions about the world. Some created blogs to share their knowledge on various topics. Over the course of time, marketers realized the potential of these types of websites, as some blogs had successfully attracted millions of visitors.

These large amounts of visitors have made blogging quite a viable option for making some income on the side or even turn it into a full-time career. However, the market nowadays is quite competitive and there are quite a lot of steps you have to take in order to maximize your chances of success.

Create a quality basis

Like with all things in life, it is very important to create a stable foundation. When it comes to creating a blog, there are only a couple of key factors that can dramatically affect the future of your blog from the very start. The first and most important thing is to choose the right website building platform. Based to stability and popularity, the best choice is WordPress.

This platform is very user-friendly and quite secure, which makes it the perfect choice for a blog. On the other hand, web hosting is equally important, as numerous factors can affect visitor satisfaction. A good web hosting company should provide a stable and secure connection. Websites that take more time to load have significantly higher bounce rates, not to mention the state of websites that go offline for a certain period of time.

Additionally, a website’s response time and online time is also taken into consideration when Google collects data about your website. Creating a strong foundation is essential, so take your time with the initial website set up in order to avoid any complications in the future.

Content

The content on your website is the single most important thing for you and your blog. It would be best to dedicate a lot of time because creating new and unique content is hard to do. Of course, it all depends on your niche. If you are planning a tech website, it is important to create content that is going to answer your reader’s questions.

If you are planning a blog about photography, a better thing is to share your knowledge and answer the usual questions that people who are just getting into photography need to know.

On the other hand, if you are planning an affiliate marketing site, your content should be very specific, connected to the product you are promoting, and not only about the product, but everything related to your niche.

One thing is certain; it is important to create content regularly if you want to attract new users. Websites that are more active are ranked better by various search engines.

Marketing

This is the final stage of creating a powerful and authoritative blog. After a long period of creating content for your visitors, it is time to use various techniques that will help you grow your blog. This is the period of testing out which type of marketing is best for your blog. With quality content, the content marketing part is mainly taken care off. You can do some guest posting to further improve your visibility, but this is optional.

Creating a social presence is very important as there are billions of potential customers you can reach that way. Again, depending on the niche of your blog, some social networks will be more effective than others. This is why it is very important to establish your presence on a wide variety of networks. In a month or two, you will clearly see which social network is providing the best traffic for your blog.

On the other hand, if you have some money you would like to invest, a PPC campaign is a valid option that is going to attract more visitors to your blog. However, metrics like ROI are important in these cases as you do not want to waste money on something that is not bringing you any.

Paid online advertising is a whole different area that should be examined in detail, so make sure that you start a campaign only if you have researched the topic well or if there is someone with experience who can assist you.
These are some important basics for creating a blog, however, there are many other important things that come in later stages. Covering these basics is very important because, by following these tips, you are building a solid foundation for something that will become great in the future.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/alexf/3-useful-tips-for-starting-a-blog/

Change of Career: 4 Creative Jobs You Can Start from Your Home

If you often find yourself fantasizing about another career path while you’re in a dull gray office, you should stop dreaming and start doing. Sure, there are bills that need to be paid, so you can’t really march in your boss’ office and dramatically quit, but you can start your new career from the safety of your home during your free time.

Naturally, you’ll be exhausted at first, but if that’s the price you need to pay for your dream job, than you definitely should give it a go. The next five professions on my list will give you plenty of freedom to experiment day after day, meet different people and explore the limits of your creativity, so check them out!

Bring Beauty to the World

If you think that the very thing that’s lacking in our world is more beauty and if you like to experiment with colors while making other people feel good about themselves, you should start having fun with makeup. My suggestion is to start with online tutorials and see what famous makeup artists are doing. Surely, their achievements should be something to strive for, but take it slow – you’ll get there in time.

After you test a few looks on yourself, it’s a great idea to have your friends over and use them as your guinea pigs. With a good camera and a fresh idea, your work could easily go viral on social platforms and voila – you can start charging for your services.

Make Every Day Delicious

It’s not only you who’s tired of having the same meals day after day, usually consisting of unhealthy junk foods, but it could be you who finally puts an end to that by spending some time in the kitchen experimenting. You shouldn’t be discouraged if you’re a complete newbie and you get burned every time you enter the kitchen – I bet most accomplished chefs started that way.

Begin your journey slowly with simple recipes and climb your way up from there. When you get a bit more confident, you should once again call your friends or family and have them over for a delicious meal – I’m sure no one will say no to that.

Bring Ideas to Life

If you want to make your dreams a reality and do so literally, perhaps the best new calling for you would be drawing. People often believe that you need to be particularly talented in order to create art, but that’s far from truth – all you really need to find in yourself is a spark of originality and create a unique style.

If you do devote yourself to this career, a bright future might be waiting for you in the world of cartoons. You should start by learning about different animation styles, and who knows – you may eventually become a part of one of the famous animation houses like Pixar.

Create Your Own Worlds

If you have a mystical and wondrous world in your mind, it’s very selfish of you not to share it with others. Like drawing and cooking, writing skills can be developed – all you need is the right motivation. When I feel like all my sources are exhausted and I can’t seem to write a single sentence I like, I turn to books that inspired me to start writing in the first place, so my suggestion to you is to do the same.

I sincerely believe that reading is the most enriching tool you could possibly find when it comes to improving your writing skills – the more, the better. Even if you find yourself in the middle of the book you don’t really like, you should force yourself to finish it – when you’re done, you’ll have a better idea of what you don’t like and that is a very valuable piece of information to have.
None of the creative job ideas I have listed require large investments or practically any space that you don’t already have at your disposal but you shouldn’t just settle for what you have. You should focus on creating a perfect home office space which will suite your needs. You need to be willing, persistent and open to constructive criticism – everything else will come to you in time. Good luck!

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/katm/change-of-career-4-creative-jobs-you-can-start-from-your-home/

Sustainability in Automotive Industry

Being ecologically aware is more than just picking our trash on the street. As our planet is under more threat than we are aware of, trying to be sustainable has to be taken to a whole new level, with all parts of the society taking part and being active. When talking about sustainability, it seems that everyone keeps forwarding the hot potato to someone else – small companies, big corporations and individuals keep blaming each other and nobody gets any work done. It looks as if all of them wish to make a difference, but always somehow manage to throw the baby out with the bath water. Now, it is time for change and to apply the sustainability principle in all areas of our live, starting with the automotive industry.

The Basics – Sustainability 101

If our job is to make the planet just a little bit better, we have to get our hands dirty. Sustainability involves a lot of hard work and nobody should expect results without getting their share of work. But the problem is that not everyone knows what sustainability really is and how it works. Therefore, before embarking on a journey towards a sustainable society, we should understand how to reduce the negative effects of human activities, reach eco-friendliness, promote recycling, and so on.

In general terms, sustainability involves three important aspects of our lives – environmental, social and economic – and connects them into a whole. Only by intersecting these so-called pillars of sustainability can we achieve viable and long-term success. Luckily, over the past decade or two, a number of things have actually changed concerning sustainability and people are becoming more and more aware of its advantages.

Sustainability on the Road

Why is sustainability so important in the automotive industry? The answer is simple: because it is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. This industry is not just about manufacturing cars, but it includes all stages needed to get a single car running – from designing and development, to producing, marketing and selling it. Just imagine first the number of people working in each of these stages and then all the people driving cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles – can you picture the overall pollution? Probably not.

A 2013 study shows that this industry is basically unsustainable on all three pillars of sustainability, but there is something that can still be done. Since automotive industry is the most important economic sector all around the world, making a change here will have a huge impact on sustainability everywhere. One of the ideas to achieve so are electric cars, while the other is recycling, and everyone can pitch in.

New Is Always Better – or Is It?

Recycling car tyres does not mean throwing them onto a pile and creating a tyre fire, but something a little bit more sophisticated than that. Tyres that are no longer used can be repurposed and, with a little bit of imagination, turned into a coffee table, a swing or even a tyre wall, but there is another thing that is even better – turning them into new tyres or sustainable asphalt!

This way, no tyre is ever wasted and experts from Tyre Right state that recycled rubber is no less durable than the new one. And average users do not know whether their tyres are made from new or recycled rubber, but will be quite pleased when they learn that the price of a recycled tyre is lower and that they help save the environment. When it comes to rubberized asphalt, things are quite straightforward, too – more recycled tyres mean more paving material. And the professionals say that this material is much more endurable, safer and cheaper than its traditional counterparts.

Keep On Being Sustainable

As mentioned before, sustainability is not easy and cannot be accomplished in a day. However, since its effects are becoming increasingly visible, it is easy to assume that more people and companies in the automotive industry are going to get involved in it soon.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/marcusjensen/sustainability-in-automotive-industry/

Has Our Obsession With Raw Foods and “Grass-Fed” Livestock Gone Off the Rails?

It’s hard to fault people who want to try leading healthier lifestyles when they explore options that fall a little bit outside the norm. A little trial and error never hurt anyone, and there’s plenty of reason to believe that an intelligent approach could lead to some novel and useful ideas. But when a healthy level of experimentation starts generating a cult-like following based purely on speculation, we end up with a situation where people are doing little more than throwing their money away and eschewing real science.

Take, for example, anti-vaxxers. The fundamental idea that one ought to be cautious about what they put into their body—particularly the bodies of children—is fair and reasonable. But when parents illogically cling to a belief that vaccines are harmful despite the overwhelming evidence that they are not (to say nothing of how beneficial they are to society as a whole), it’s only hurting themselves and others.

So when we see this obsession with “raw” foods and “non-GMO” ingredients, it’s much the same issue. For some reason, people believe that natural by definition equals healthy and that any type of human intervention is a bad thing. This then gets taken up by brands and manufacturers—like Naked Whey and Naked Casein, for example, which are “grass-fed” protein powders—who profit off of people who single-mindedly believe that these issues are worth paying double or triple the going rate for.

While a fool and his money may soon be parted, the question that remains is whether this becomes a bigger issue than it already is. For example, many have clamored for the labelling of all GMO and non-GMO produce, with the argument that doing so simply gives consumers more information. But if this information isn’t actually helpful—a la “fat free” orange juice or “cholesterol free” apples—are we just leading everyday consumers astray? That is the question regulators will have to answer going forward while attempting to strike a balance between consumer education and fearmongering.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/neel-joshi/has-our-obsession-with-raw-foods-and-grass-fed-livestock-gone-off-the-rails/

How Startups Should Go About Hiring New People?

Hiring new people can be a turning point for any startup founder. It also indicates that the startup is expanding and getting positive feedback. So, it is absolutely essential to find the right people who will have a positive impact on your startup, because otherwise, your entire business might be in danger.

Although this is usually a stressful, time-consuming and difficult process if done single-handedly, and without the application of certain filters, which can be crucial in finding the best possible candidates, it does not have to be so. You need to know who to look for, who not to look for, where to look, when to hire new people and how to conduct the interviews.

Who should you look for?

Hiring someone who is willing to work hard because they want to impress people, will not cut it. It is of great importance to find someone who, besides working hard, has momentum, is a kind person and a team player and gives attention to detail.

When it comes to the candidate’s knowledge, some people think people with a wide general knowledge are good candidates, while others think that people who specialize in one particular field are better. Actually, it would be better to hire someone with a wide knowledge in a variety of areas, and with deep knowledge of one particular area. You will have to act fast and beat your competition ,if you want to find such candidates.

Of course, young  talent comes with a price, but it is also a smart investment which you should make, even though your business is still a startup.

Who not to look for?

Having unsuitable employees in your startup, may slowly lead to its end. It is important to know who is who so that you can react accordingly and replace them with a better candidate, if possible.

You do not need someone who only knows how to lead a large group by giving orders. Instead, you need people who can come up with ideas and implement them quickly.

People who are only interested in money are bad for startups, because if the money does not come in fast they will lose their passion for the job. They need to be passionate in order to persevere and stay motivated until success comes.

The optimal way of building a team is to hire people with diverse skills, philosophies and backgrounds. Such a team will be exceptionally productive because of the mix of different ideas and opinions.

How and Where to look?

In order to target the right candidates, your job description needs to be intelligible and detailed. You should not include certain requirement in the job description because they are implied, such as “capable of meeting deadlines”.

You want to include particular requirements so that you can get a small list of candidates who are more than qualified. Also, you should describe your startup’s surroundings,  goals, benefits and anything that applicants could find impressive.

The best choice for posting your job opening are sites made particularly for start up jobs (Angel List, Underdog.io, VentureLoop). If you want to contact people yourself, you can use social media or online community sites which are full of talented, young people (GitHub, Slack, Behance etc.).

When to hire?

If you want to postpone hiring someone new to save some money you can give your employees more to do. But you will actually lose money if the quality of work drops, if your employees start to work slower to maintain quality, or if you find a new source of income but you do not have the workforce to handle it.  It can also be a problem if you require knowledge and skills that no one in your team currently possesses.  

How to conduct interviews?

To make interview last as short as possible you need to first screen applications, to filter out unsuitable candidates. Next, you can call people via Skype or phone or, hold in- person interviews. You should tell them why your startup is a good option for them and ask them why they want this job.

Some other things you can do are to include your entire team in this process, meet candidates in a social context or give them a trial task or a project.

Bad Leaders

Setting a good example, as a person in charge is critical for team chemistry. A boss just gives orders and depends on authority, while a leader generates enthusiasm, develops his employees and takes actions to show them how things should be done. A good leader listens to his employees and takes their ideas into consideration.

It is a process

It takes an enormous amount of time and effort to find the right people for your startup. But, it is worth the hassle, because such people will help you fulfill your startup’s full potential.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/marcusjensen/how-startups-should-go-about-hiring-new-people/

Business and Health: What Are Migraines and How to Get Rid of Them?

If you are a busy entrepreneur, we are sure that you have faced those crushing migraine attacks after having a stressful day at work. How to get rid of that migraine fast, you ask… Statistics show that a migraine is in the top twenty most disabling conditions, and one in every four households in America has a diagnosed case of migraine. So, if you are experiencing a painful headache that is accompanied by nausea and blurry vision, there is a great chance that you are suffering from a migraine. There are two types, one that is associated with an aura, called common migraine, and one without an aura, called classical migraine.

In medical talk, when the temporal artery located in the temporal region under the skin dilates, it stretches the nerves that are in close proximity and this can lead to the irritation and inflammation of these nerves. When the artery further enlarges and dilates, this causes the aggravation of the nerves inflammation and that leads to severe, pulsating headaches.

The Causes

If you want to get rid of these severe headaches, it is important to understand what causes them. Many studies have shown that a migraine can be caused by many surprising factors and some of them are:

Genetic – It is not strange for migraines to run in families, and many experts believe that an inherited gene can cause a migraine attack.

Hormones – Headaches and hormones are in close correlation and women are more prone to having migraine headaches when compared to men. Clinical studies show that a migraine is common up to four times more in women than in men.

Sleep deprivation – Lack of sleep can increase the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks, so make sure that you get your eight hours of sleep every night.

Foods rich in tyramine – Some specific foods like smoked fish, cheese and beer can cause a migraine attack, even with healthy individuals. All of these foods are rich in tyramine, a chemical which can be a trigger.

Symptoms and Signs

More than 30 million Americans suffer from these painful headaches at some point in their lives. A pulsating kind of headache which can be limited to only one side of the head. Here are some symptoms and signs that you need to pay attention to:

The aura – A visual display of jagged lines and flickering lights that can last from five minutes to a whole hour – that’s an aura. The aura is associated with the type of migraines that give you psychedelic images that are potentially harmless, but can limit you when driving and reading.

Mood swings – If you are experiencing mood swings, there is a strong possibility that these swings can be followed by migraine attacks.

Eye strain – People often mistake migraine pain with eye strain. This happens when the pain is localized behind the eyes. Make sure that you visit an ophthalmologist if this type of pain persists, just to make sure.

How to Get Rid Of Migraine

Medication can help, but this condition can also be reversed and treated by some alternative strategies and options and some of them are:

Quick response – You should not ignore the early symptoms like chronic and repetitive migraine attacks, because this can be dangerous when the intensity of the pain increases.

Hydration – Consume plenty of fluids, water especially, because naturalists believe that drinking water can help in minimizing the intensity of a migraine attack. Avoid drinks like alcohol and aerated drinks, because they are counterproductive. Alcohol can lead to dehydration and worsen the symptoms of nausea.

Compress – This is a quick and convenient option. Applying a hot compress over the area where your pain is the strongest has given some encouraging results, but you should not use it with creams and balms.

Walking – Migraine attacks respond favorably to walks, so take leisure walks to help control the symptoms. Furthermore, it is one of the natural ways to get rid of fat around your belly and other persistent body parts.

We hope that you have found this article helpful when dealing with these excruciating migraine pains. If nothing above helps you, make sure to seek advice from a professional on how to control and get rid those migraine attacks.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/nmanojlovic/7762/

7 Tactics to Make Your College Paper Shine

No matter your major or area of study, at some point in time you are going to encounter a college essay. Whether you are writing a research paper, a narrative, or an analytical paper you will quite possibly find yourself staring at your computer screen, waiting for the words to appear.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way—but there are some tips to help ensure the words that do come are met with an A!

1. Determine the expectations

In college, there is no such thing as a “typical paper.” In each field of study, and with each professor you encounter, you will be met with different expectations. The first vital piece of information you will need is the style of writing that is required. There are several different styles, including MLA and APA, each with different format and citation rules. You will also need to know the type of writing you are being asked to do. Is it a research paper? Or is it a summary of literature? This information can most likely be found in your syllabus or in your paper description. Each type of essay has different standards and tone, which you need to be aware of before you begin to write.

2. Revisit what is being asked

There are few things worse than getting halfway through a paper and realizing you are answering the wrong question. Before you begin writing your paper, be sure to double-check your understanding of the subject at hand. If you have clarifying questions, it is best to ask your professor or teaching assistant as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the last minute. If there are multiple questions or prompts surrounding the paper, make sure you dedicate time in the essay to answering each and every one of them.  

3. Choose a stance

Once you understand the question, you must choose a direction for your paper and a strategy for answering said question. Outlining an essay and creating a plan before you begin writing is essential, no matter the size of a paper. You should have one main idea that is threaded throughout your entire essay, and this main idea should be evident within the first paragraph. All other points should complement the main idea and flow logically.

4. Stick to the point

If you’ve done a good job outlining your paper, this part should come naturally. However, even the best outliners can fall victim to fluff sentences meant to fill space. Rambling on, repeating a point, or adding unnecessary words will only decrease the quality of your essay. Do not be tempted to fall into these traps just to fill a page or meet a word quota. If you find yourself coming up short on a page or word requirement, go back through your essay and add meaningful content where it fits appropriately, and where it truly adds some substance to the paper. Consider giving another example or fleshing out a point you made with further evidence.

5. Be detailed and specific

Although you don’t want to be redundant and ramble, you do want to include enough details to effectively get your point across. Whether you are writing a literary piece or a research paper, you want to include enough description to help the reader visualize your points. If you are writing a persuasive piece, you will need to include enough detail to sufficiently backup your point. Be specific in your writing, giving a variety of examples or explanations. Avoid vague words such as “stuff,” “things,” or “very,” as there are other words that can express your point more clearly.

6. Nail the ending

One of the most important parts of an essay is the conclusion. It’s the time you get to reiterate your main points and drive your essay home. It’s also your last chance to wow your reader. Ensure that your conclusion isn’t just a summary of your paper, but also conveys the main points you spoke to earlier. The point of the conclusion is to add closure and completeness to the essay.

7. Edit

Once you’ve written this amazing essay, your job isn’t quite done. Now you have to go back and make sure you’ve thoroughly completed all of the points above. You should go through several stages of edits once your paper is complete. First, edit for content. Do your ideas flow? Do you have good transitions? You should then read for grammar and word choice. Reading your paper out loud is a great way to catch errors that you may not have caught otherwise. It never hurts to have another eye look over your paper as well, so try trading off with a peer or visiting your campus writing center.

Brittany Phillips is a contributing writer for Varsity Tutors, a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/varsitytutors/7-tactics-to-make-your-college-paper-shine/

Kenneth Dolin Explains: “How To Find The Best Headshot Photographer In Los Angeles”

Kenneth Dolin has been a photographer in Los Angeles for quite some time, and has been referred to as The Best Headshot Photographer in Los Angeles. Here’s what he has to say about finding the right photographer for you…

In most businesses, it is customary to give out business cards, but not in the entertainment industry. Those who want to have a chance at stardom must have a great headshot to submit for review. If you do not have one, you need a photographer who will make you look like a star. Here is some advice that will help you find one.

If you are trying to get into entertainment, it is likely you have friends who have a similar goal. Take a look at some of their headshots to see if the photographer they worked with would be worth giving a call. This is also useful in the event that they have a terrible photo since this will give you a good idea of photographers that should be avoided.

Everyone is not working with the same budget, so the price must be considered when choosing a photographer. With that said, you should never select someone just because the prices you were quoted are the lowest available. If you are truly looking for the best headshot photographer in Los Angeles, you should consider portfolio and references before price It is fine to use price as a tiebreaker between two great options, but it should not be the main factor you take into consideration.

Always ask to see a portfolio when you are dealing with photographers. Professionals understand that people want to see proof of their skills, so they will have no problem showing them to you. Keep in mind that all of the shots selected to be in the portfolio are the best of the best and there is a chance your actual photo may not be as great. For this reason, you should always choose someone whose photos look far better than you expected.

Meet with several photographers before making your final decision. Since you will be working closely with the person you select, it is important for you to choose someone you will be able to get along with and feel comfortable around. If you work with someone you are not very fond of, there is a chance that the negative feelings you have will be reflected in your photos. Even if you like the first person you meet, you should see a few more for comparison’s sake. You want to make sure that you are making the best decision possible.

Ask the photographer about retouching. If you are unhappy with any elements on your photo, you want to deal with someone who will be able to make a few changes for you. It is far easier to find a photographer who offers this service rather than dealing with two different people in order to increase the chances you will end up with the perfect shot.

There are countless photographers in Los Angeles who claim to be able to take the best headshots. Unfortunately, some of them are blowing smoke. If you want to avoid all of the imposters and find the best available option, your best bet would be to give Keneth Dolin a shout.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/nick-chalker/kenneth-dolin-explains-how-to-find-the-best-headshot-photographer-in-los-angeles/

7 Ways to Speed Clean Your Home This Spring

Be it kids to organise, pack lunches to prep or a boss breathing down your neck, we all have busy lives and often, cleaning your house simply cannot take priority when organising your time.

However strongly you feel that life gets in the way of doing your chores, the simple fact is that the longer you leave the housekeeping/cleaning to build up, the worse it gets! So what’s the solution? Speed cleaning – that’s what!

Speed cleaning, by definition, is being organised and efficient enough to clean your house thoroughly, in a short period of time. After-all, who wants to be stuck indoors doing the dishes when they could be out doing – well – anything but the dishes?!
Work out (and stick to) a daily routine

If you make certain cleaning/housekeeping chores a part of your daily routine, then you’ll soon start to do them without thinking! Hence, you’ll have less to do and cleaning your house will seem like a less overwhelming task.

For example, make the bed every morning and do a mid-morning hoover to help digest breakfast!

Dress for Success

 

You know how they say a women in the right pair of shoes can take on the world? Well the same applies to cleaning. Now we’re not saying you should don a pair of 6 inch stilettos to do the dusting, but often wearing something that makes you feel dressed and ready for business will ensure you take cleaning more seriously and get it done – rather than faffing.

Pajamas and slippers might be comfy, but we for one associate them with sleeping and doing not much else, therefore putting them on automatically put us in ‘sluggish’ or ‘sleepy’ mode – not a great recipe for efficient cleaning, right?!

Get dressed, put on some proper shoes, maybe even an apron, and we bet you’ll be more productive!

Stay Focused

 

We all know how easy it is to procrastinate, especially when doing something as dull and bothersome as cleaning your house. It’s easy to get distracted by a ping from your phone or a rumbling stomach telling you it’s snack time.

Equally, you can sometimes get so into re-organising your fridge that before you know it its time to pick the kids up from school and colour co-ordinating vegetables by shelf is all that you’ve managed to do all day.

To avoid this, professional cleaner’s RubandScrub suggest using a timer! Work out how long you wish to spend on each cleaning endeavour and get it done before that buzz – this will ensure you don’t get carried away and spend too long on silly things – plus, knowing that time is ticking away makes you much less likely to stop and check Facebook!

Keep Cleaning Supplies in their designated areas

Following on from our last point, distractions are often the culprit for chores taking a whole lot longer than they should. With that in mind, keep cleaning supplies in a convenient location!

For example, if you’re cleaning the upstairs bathroom, having to stop mid-flow to go and get some cleaning products from downstairs is a sure-fire way to lose concentration and find the television instead! Keeping bathroom cleaning products in the bathroom and kitchen cleaning products in the kitchen, you are likely to stay in one place, get the job done, and get it done quickly.

 

Clean as you go 

Cleaning as you go throughout the day will save you a hell of a lot of time. Although it might seem like you’re cleaning all the time at first, it will soon become second nature and you’ll be getting in a quick hoover before you shoot off to work!

Here are some clean-as-you-go top tips:

• Make your bed as soon as you get up
• Rinse down the shower when you get out
• Wipe down the sink after brushing your teeth
• Empty the dishwasher as soon as its finished cleaning the dishes
• Clean the dishes straight after breakfast/lunch/dinner
• If you have to rush off to work/run errands after meals, put dirty dishes straight in the dishwasher rather than letting them pile up in the sink
• Empty the washing machine as soon as it’s done and hang washing up to dry immediately
• Soak pots immediately after cooking to avoid food sticking/solidifying and becoming difficult to clean

Clean in the right order 

There’s no point hoovering, mopping and drying the floor until it’s sparkling, then brushing crumbs onto it whilst cleaning the surfaces – always clean your floors last!

Furthermore, if you’re going to dust it’s always a good idea to do it before you vacuum, as this just kicks up more dust!

Plan out what you’re going to clean and what order you’re going to clean it in order to avoid having to waste time double cleaning things!!

De-clutter 

Tidying up and housekeeping in general is made much easier when you don’t have to clean around a whole load of clutter; having less stuff means less stuff to organise which means less time spent cleaning – result!

Have a clear out before all the summer garage sales start and you could even make yourself a bit of cash by finding a new home for unwanted items. We suggest you set aside a few minutes a day to clean out one drawer, cupboard or shelf – and get rid of things you know you’ll never use again.

Remember, a de-cluttered house makes for a de-cluttered mind!

 

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/leilaglen/speed-clean-your-way-to-domestic-bliss/

Health Tips For Professional Hair Stylists

Being a hairdresser and working in your own salon can be hard. Apart from having to finish administrative tasks, you are also obligated to tend to your clients. Most people do this in the starting years of their salon, because their budget is tight and they cannot afford to hire another employee. It’s hard to find the energy and strength needed to get through all of this but, you can do it if you are devoted to your work.

Still, this doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice your health for the sake of your salon.  As a hairstylist, you are exposed to dangerous chemical agents that can be found in hair products, conditioners, shampoos and so on. There is also the risk of getting finger or hand injuries due to negligence and exhaustion. This is why you need to take care of certain things before it’s too late and you start to feel the consequences.

Dangerous chemicals

There are a lot of dangerous ingredients in conditioners and shampoos that can break down and form carcinogens, or consist carcinogen 1.4 dioxin. Always look at the ingredients when you buy products and avoid these in particular: Formaldehyde, coal tar, TEA, DEA, Laureth compounds, Polysorbates 60 and 80, D&C Red 33.

When you combine these ingredients with hot water, the absorption of contaminants increases. Hair relaxers also contain caustic chemicals such as lye. They are used to straighten the hair and being exposed to them can cause negative physical and biological effects on our body. They mostly enter our body through skin and even through inhalation.

If you are feeling tired, have skin rashes, if you get dehydrated, experience headaches, nausea or depression, these symptoms may well be from exposure to these chemicals. Apart from buying products that don’t contain these ingredients you should also adjust your diet accordingly:

• Lots of fiber
• Drink carrot juice
• Avoid canned food
• Eat organic and fresh vegetables and fruit
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B complex
• Zinc

Strains and exhaustion

A lot of hairstylists suffer from joint, arm or hand pain. The repetitive nature of styling and cutting hair is simply unhealthy. All of this work can lead to joint and muscle stress, which can further cause wrist sprains and strains in elbows, fingers and shoulders. Stylists that stand during most of their working hours put a lot of pressure on their legs and this may lead to them needing varicose vein treatment.

This is why it is important to take necessary measures to reduce all the physical strain during your work. Relax your hands by taking breaks. Adjust client’s chairs so that you don’t have to bend over while you work. Stretch regularly and relax your arms, hands and wrists to avoid cramps. Make sure you are sleeping well and that your body is well rested when you go to work. Hard work combined with lack of sleep or bad sleeping habits are a combination that will cause health problems sooner or later.

You should also wear comfortable clothes for work that do not put pressure to any part of your body, while you are taking care of a client. Most importantly, get a massage at the end of your day to relax your muscles.

Occupational hazards

In hair salons, there are a lot of slippery surfaces that can be found on the floor: water, hair, conditioners, shampoos, etc. This is why there is a risk of injuries caused by slipping and falling. The first thing you have to do is wear adequate and comfortable shoes that have good traction.

Make sure that your whole work area is frequently cleaned by encouraging constant mopping for spills and sweeping for any hair that might be on the floor. You should also enforce a work policy that encourages people to store all electrical devices and take them out only when they need to use them. Cords are barely visible and people can trip on them, which can cause injuries as well.

These are the most important things you should remember. Explain these things to your employees as well, so that you all develop healthy habits in your workplace. You should also avoid mixing different products, as they can cause chemical reactions that might be harmful. Create a professional hair salon environment to protect your health and satisfy your client’s needs.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/aleksandarilic/health-tips-for-professional-hair-stylists/

Best Outsourcing Platforms for Hiring Freelancers

Finding yourself neck deep in your work can be a normal occurrence as you struggle to finish every project and follow all the deadlines. Unfortunately, sometimes, this can be hard to accomplish, rather impossible. This is the moment when you wish you had a secret little helper, to take off some of your load. Not only would it make your life easier, but it will also allow you to carefully do your job, minimizing the possibility for mistakes.

Well, finding this kind of help has never been easier. By searching through some of the best platforms for outsourcing work listed below, you can easily find a freelancer to do the job you need done. Even better, the whole process of finding someone and hiring them is simple. You will get your work, they will get their money, and everyone is happy. So, take a look.

 

UpWork

The way this platform works is simple. You put up your project, described in detail, and you wait for someone to get interested. You can hire people by the hour or form fixed-price project. Moreover, the work can be divided into milestones. So, your employee would have to complete a milestone in order to get to the next one, and he or she will get paid per completed milestone.

 

With this in mind, UpWork is the only platform that allows you to choose a payment method. Plus, the payment is a percentage of the whole budget. By having your projects divided this way, you ensure that you will not get scammed for big sums of money and that your work will be done within the agreed deadline, by professionals.

Note that if you are looking to hire freelancers, you will have to open an Employer account, which has a one-time fee.

 

Guru

Posting a project proposal on Guru’s website is free. Once you post it, the site will suggest several “gurus”, or people who best match your requirements. When you find the right one, you can give them the work that needs to be done and pay them only once they have finished, and only if you are satisfied with the service. If, however, you do not like what they have done, you can get a refund. Plus, you can hire an individual or a whole team of freelancers.

 

Fiverr

On this website, you can have anything done, starting from $5 per project. People post ads promoting what they can do for potential employers, for a specified price. Unlike the previous platforms, you do not need a project to start off with. If you have just a general idea of what you want, like a writer, for example, you can search the website for writers.

When you find the one you like the most, you can contact them with the proposal. If they agree, you can strike a deal and have them start working. It is simple and quick. It is also more direct, as you can immediately see what the candidate can offer.

 

PrestoExperts

At PrestoExperts, you can post your request, a.k.a. project, describe your needs and wait for “experts” to offer you their services. They will propose what they can do for you and how much it would cost. You, as an employer, can narrow down your search to the best matching person and choose them for the job. The payment is made in the end, once the project is finished. Plus, you will pay only if you are satisfied with the final product and when you get the confirmed invoice.

Before you hire someone, you can read reviews about them. This will help you make the right decision. Moreover, you can leave a review on someone’s profile, which would help other customers. This ensures that you get real information, from real customers, about the selected freelancer.

 

PeoplePerHour

Again, just like the previous platforms, PeoplePerHour is simple to use for both parties. The freelancers can sell their skills and expertise, while the employers can post projects and search for people who would do them. You can search for hourly jobs, fixed priced offers, or post your own offer and wait for someone to contact you. On the other hand, you can also search through freelancers directly, and contact the one you think is the best fit.

The payment process is easy, and is done through a PPH Wallet. And, once the job is done, you can rate the freelancer by giving them a review.

On each of these platforms, you can find a variety of skilled people, from designers, writers, actors – anything you could imagine. Finding the right employee has never been easier. And for the freelancers – jobs have been made more accessible than ever. Clearly, by using such platforms, the benefits will be amazing for both the employers and employees.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/vladzivanovic/best-outsourcing-platforms-for-hiring-freelancers/

How to Get a Better Night’s Sleep

There’s no overstating how good a great night’s sleep can be. We all want to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. In order to do this, we have to get a decent amount of sleep the night before, and we have to get good quality sleep. There is a difference between sleeping soundly throughout the night, and tossing and turning all night, and you notice it right away when you wake up in the morning.

When we don’t get enough rest, we can find ourselves trying to take a nap anywhere that we can, and it makes the day harder to get through. So if you are someone who has been having trouble getting a good rest at night, here are some tips to help you out.

Turn off Your Gadgets

One common reason for poor sleep is that we do not allow our minds to shut off properly before going to sleep. This can be attributed to our use of gadgets such as our mobile phones, our tablets, our laptops, or even watching TV. The light from these devices sends signals to our brains and tells them that they need to be awake and alert. By using these things before bed, you are sending your brain mixed messages. To get a better night’s sleep, turn off all of these kinds of devices at least an hour before you want to go to sleep.

Get a Better Mattress

If the mattress you are sleeping on is uncomfortable, it may be causing you to toss around in the middle of the night without you even being aware. Waking up briefly to turn over at night will interrupt your sleep, and you may not even remember doing it in the morning. The key to being more comfortable and sleeping more soundly may be a better mattress. There are many kinds of mattresses these days, all with different features. There are even some mattresses that have personal comfort technology, which will adjust the bed based on your preferences. So if you are sleeping on an uncomfortable bed, do some research and see what else is out there for you.

Stay Away From Caffeine and Sugar

Just like lights from electronic screens can keep you awake, so can caffeine and sugar. Pay close attention to what you are eating and drinking before bed, and make sure that they are low in caffeine and sugar. It is important to not only avoid these things right before bed, but in the hours leading up to it as well. You want to give your brain enough time to slowly get tired, and having the wrong foods can keep your brain going longer than it should.

Stretch

We recommend doing some stretches before bed. Stretching allows your muscles to loosen up, and will help your body to relax once it is in bed. Take about 10 to 15 minutes before bed to do some simple stretches. If you need some suggestions, here are some great stretches that you can do before bed.

Give Yourself Time

The most important thing to do when trying to sleep better is simply giving yourself more time to fall asleep properly. Don’t go from watching TV to trying to sleep in a matter of minutes. Give your brain time to wind down by staying away from electronics, eating the rights foods, doing some relaxing stretches before bed, and finally climbing into a comfortable mattress. If you can do all of this, you will hopefully start to notice a better night’s rest.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/nick-chalker/how-to-get-a-better-nights-sleep/

What is Inside a Web Designer’s Toolkit

Welcome to the modern world, that is the world of apps. The sight of a pocket touchscreen device with a ton of icons on its desktop has become a thing so regular, that we often forget that these type of phones have only been introduced some 10 years ago and undergone mainstream use as of a mere 5.

However, the smartphone has spurred on the development of software tools, designed to make the very making of these apps go seamlessly for the non-programmer crowd, without any necessary knowledge in code.

These app builders are being promoted around the internet, rendering almost anyone able to make these neat little apps. Here, we’ve outlined the top five app building tools.

TheAppBuilder

This particular one is the one that claimed the name first. TheAppBuilder offers two contrasting approaches to app building: by means of an online toolkit and either TheAppBuilder itself, or using the training that the app has integrated within itself to outline and build the app structure.

App protection has been made available, no matter if they’re public or private, utilising usernames and passwords before distributing them through the app store, which truly is the final goal for anyone wanting to make their name in the world of apps. Updates are unlimited, so you can go live and update your structure in no time.

EachScape

A drag-and-drop app, EachScape allows you to come up with professional-looking apps for HTML5, Android and iOS. This app builder doesn’t rely on templates, but on customizable native and HTML5 apps instead, with push notifications, location-based services, integration with various social media sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and many more and live streaming included. Images, video and audio files and texts can easily be stored in addition.

Bizness Apps

This app builder is extremely beneficial, regardless of what type of an marketing app you’re making: real estate, restaurants, legal services, sports, non-profit organizations, even religious organizations and bands can easily benefit from the services in offer.

A wide variety of customizable templates and features such as push notifications, content sharing, GPS, mobile shopping cart, social media and

even mobile reservations are available.

Good Barber

Complementary for an iPhone or an Android-based device, this app builder can take care of every detail of your app, without requiring you to master code beforehand. 9 heavily-customizable templates are integrated into the Good Barber app builder, for getting started with 350 icons and more than 600 cool Google Fonts, in addition.

Furthermore, a free web mobile version is available, you can seamlessly access using your pocket device. Each time app parameters are adjusted, you get instant visual feedback. Add  push notifications to all this, and you’ve got a neat app builder at your hands.

BuildFire

Professional-looking apps can be created in a matter of minutes, using this cool app builder. Naturally, the tech skill requirements required here are next to none, so knowing your way around coding is not a necessity. Within the 10 minutes after you’ve got a hold of this app builder, you can not only create your account and verify it, but also even create your first basic test app.

The app making in BuildFire is as basic as it gets with app builders: choose and customize the look of your app by means of many templates in offer and cover the app feel category simultaneously and then add content by means of widgets. You can also preview your app without having to pay extra money, which is a feature usually charged on most app builders.

BuildFire is among the best tools of its kind for beginners on the market, but also quite complementary for the experienced app designers.

Creating apps has never been easier than it is nowadays, what with the assistance of these neat parts of a web designer’s toolkit. Some are offered for free, some as trials and some at full-payment. Regardless, we hope that we’ve covered all of the above, for your convenience.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/marcusjensen/what-is-inside-a-web-designers-toolkit/