Why TV, Internet and Home Phone Bundles Are Making a Come Back

With the rise of streaming services like Netflix over the years, a number of people (millennials in particular) have been opting out of bundled television packages in favour just paying for internet plus their preferred streaming service. While the original intention was to save money, many millennials are finding that this isn’t so much the case anymore for a handful of reasons. Instead, they are now interested in new internet, TV and phone packages that have become available and offer competitive pricing options at affordable rates. While counterintuitive, these all-inclusive packages are actually saving millennials a lot of money and also offering a level of convenience that just isn’t possible with the alternative.

Rising Costs

Not too long ago Netlfix rose the costs of their subscription prices in order to remain competitive in what’s now a largely oversaturated market. The problem is that the initial draw to sign up with Netlfix in the first place was its affordability – as is the case with any other streaming platform. As subscription prices rise, the cost-effectiveness of paying for a Netflix subscription on top of internet (and a home phone if you have it) becomes increasingly obsolete.

There are providers out there who can put together impressively affordable bundles that come with robust TV packages paired with decent internet and a home phone. The deal you get for bundling just may be better than whatever you’re paying for streaming and internet.

Too Many Subscriptions

There are so many new streaming services that it’s almost impossible to keep up with them all – even Disney is coming out with its own exclusive service called Disney+. You also have Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Now, and a bunch of others that you’ve probably never heard of before. It’d be great if you could pick just one and be able to watch any show you wanted on it, but the reality is that many television series are exclusive and can only be found on one service.

What do you do? If you buy a subscription to more than one streaming service then you’re paying more money than you originally intended to. There’s also the hassle of having to manage multiple accounts and subscriptions, as well as having to login to different services back and forth depending on what you want to watch.

The reality is that TV bundles allow you to pay for one single subscription and watch a variety of different television shows regardless of who it’s from. For example, with a satellite TV bundle from Shaw you could watch Game of Thrones on HBO and A Handmaid’s Tale on Crave, all via one platform and on one bill. You can’t get this kind of convenience anywhere else.

Surf to Your Heart’s Content

How many times have you been stuck searching endlessly through Netflix hoping for something good to watch? Before you even know it it’s been half an hour and you’ve wasted away your precious time to relax. Perhaps the final reason why people are going for TV bundles is so that they don’t have to find something to watch – instead, they can channel surf and find something to watch quicker.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/technology/why-tv-internet-and-home-phone-bundles-are-making-a-come-back/

A Cooling Market: Is Now The Time To Invest In Luxury Condos?

The luxury condo market is in a tenuous state. Rents are rising and people don’t seem ready to move on these properties – but that might be good news for investors. For those looking to expand their real estate holdings, top apartments are priced to sell.

Built But Unbought

Since 2013, New York City’s luxury and “ultraluxury” housing market has been booming, at least in terms of construction. Unfortunately, the old saying, “build it and they will come,” didn’t exactly work here. Rather, a quarter of New York City luxury apartments built since 2013 are unsold. This is, at least in part, why rents are rising. Property owners need to raise the prices to cover their costs, but that may be keeping new tenants from moving into them. What’s more, it means that owners are more likely to want to offload these properties. Challenging market conditions represent the perfect time to negotiate a deal on an investment property.

New York City isn’t the only place struggling with an overload of properties. Miami is also struggling to sell luxury condos with international buyers who were once expected to purchase them. Miami relies heavily on international investment, especially with new changes to the EB-5 Visa program. While there’s enormous need for affordable housing across the country, there’s a real glut of luxury properties.

Time To Invest?

So how do you know if you should invest in real estate – specifically luxury real estate? Beyond having the financial resources, it’s important to evaluate the state of the market. These luxury properties aren’t attracting tenants right now, but can you turn them into impact investments? The benefit of investing in luxury real estate is that you don’t necessarily have to rely on long-term tenants. In fact, some of the most popular investment markets are the ones in major tourism cities. In these markets, investors have the luxury of targeting business travelers and wealthy tourists who want private, high-end accommodations.

As for which properties to buy, should you opt for slightly older properties – condos and apartments that went up closer to the 2013 boom – or new construction? New construction certainly still has its shine and is more likely to get people excited. Miami’s new condo construction includes beach views and locations directly on Biscayne Bay, in-building cinemas and golf simulators, and even bank vaults. Now is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor with new construction.

Another factor you should consider when selecting properties is that slightly older buildings may be more affordable. Buildings that have been hanging around semi-uninhabited since 2013 are more likely to offer a deal. It’s going to take some time for you to make these properties profitable, so you need that financial buffer.

It’s All About Scale

While investment groups and developers may be purchasing huge buildings or whole sections of cities, it’s important to remember that that isn’t the only investment model. One of the best things about investing is that there are so many models. What many experts recommend right now is that individual investors purchase single apartments in major cities and renting them to individuals or travelers – whatever their preference. What really matters, though, is that you have the time to promote the space and that, generally speaking, real estate, especially luxury real estate, is more reliable than the stock market when it comes to protecting your funds.

Overall, as part of long-term portfolio development, investing in luxury apartments is a good move, and now is a promising time to acquire especially high-end properties. As long as you’re willing to view these properties as long-term investments and allow yourself the time necessary to make them profitable, investing in luxury real estate while the market is in a lull can work to your advantage. The market always comes back to life eventually and you’ll be ready for business.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/real-estate/a-cooling-market-is-now-the-time-to-invest-in-luxury-condos/

Choosing the right welfare facilities for your construction site

It’s essential that any construction site has the right welfare facilities available for use by all employees. Whether the construction site is large or small, and wherever it happens to be located, the right welfare facilities are highly important – both for employee wellness, and to ensure the efficiency of the site in general.

What are welfare facilities?

Welfare facilities are, quite simply, any facilities that are designed to take care of basic human needs. We all have our essential requirements – namely eating, using the toilet, and resting. Welfare facilities are designed to allow a space to take care of those needs; whether it be relieving oneself or having a lunch break.

Why do you need them?

Quite simply, because your construction site is going to be a miserable place to work without them. Would you want to work somewhere that didn’t provide toilet facilities? Or somewhere dry and clean for you to sit down to have your break? Construction can be a dirty business, especially through the cold winter months, so it’s essential to provide employees somewhere warm and dry to eat, drink, rest, and relieve themselves.

What are you going to need?

Every construction site is different, so your individual needs are going to vary from site to site. There are, however, some basic welfare facilities that you should always consider.

Toilets

Possibly the most basic of human functions, and one that it’s not really an option for you to cater to. If you want employees working on your site you’re going to need to provide somewhere for them to answer nature’s call.

There is a wide selection of toilets available depending on the needs of your site. You can, for example, just have a basic bank of urinals. Or you can have more technically advanced toilet cubicles that offer large capacity general waste tanks, complete with mains-connected hot water supplies and soap dispensers to ensure proper personal hygiene.

Comfort spaces

A comfort space is a general-purpose welfare unit that can be used for a number of different purposes. They can, for example, be a break room, a canteen, or an office – whatever the needs of your construction site dictate.

The cabins themselves can fit a number of people depending on the size you choose, with larger cabins offering space for around 12 people. They can also come with a number of features such as hot water supply, microwave and kettle, seating space, etc. Many can also offer layout customisation, for example, a choice between “open plan” or “office”.

Showers

Construction sites can get very dirty, especially in winter when there’s a lot of mud and grime. Shower units can be had either as a dedicated shower block, or as a part of a comfort unit cabin.

This offers workers who get dirty the opportunity to clean themselves, and it also makes sense through the winter months as working outside can lead employees to get chilled to the core. Shower units can be hooked up to the mains water supply, which ensures a reliable supply of hot water, as well as the appropriate wastewater storage.

How to choose the right facilities

If you’re still unsure about the right welfare facilities for your construction site, the best thing you can do is to get in touch with a specialist supplier. They’ll have the experience to tell you which bases you’re going to need to cover, and what options are available to you.

Speaking with a specialist will help you get a feel for the budget you’ll require, as well as the best selection of welfare facilities for your needs.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/at-work/choosing-the-right-welfare-facilities-for-your-construction-site/

The difference between genuine and counterfeit printer cartridges

At some point in time, we have all been tempted to place an order for counterfeit printer cartridges. Not only are they cheaper, but they are available from a number of suppliers. What can be more convenient? Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. What you don’t expect, is that they will break down quicker and have the power to significantly harm your printing technology rendering it entirely ineffective. This is as expensive as it is disruptive to your workforce, and likely a mistake you won’t make twice. If you’re still not sure what you will order when the ink gets low, let’s unpack the difference between genuine and counterfeit printer cartridges to avoid you the expense the wrong decision will cost you. 

What is a counterfeit printer cartridge?

Like a car, your printer operates best when using genuine parts. Counterfeit printer cartridges are built using inferior materials and technology and are not made to last and produce quality work as genuine cartridges do. The old adage ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ is never more relevant than when discussing counterfeit cartridges, a fact that you do not want to learn the hard way. In some instances, businesses are not always aware that they have purchased counterfeit cartridges, and only realise the error when the message is flashing on their printing unit. You are dealing with a counterfeit cartridge if you insert it into your printing unit and you receive the following error message:

• Used or counterfeit ink cartridge detected
• Counterfeit ink cartridge detected
• Counterfeit ink cartridge advisory
• Used
• Refilled

If any of these messages appear on your printing unit, remove the cartridge and do not print. Depending at what point your printer unit has detected the counterfeit, you should walk away unscathed. This might be the right time to contact your cartridge provider.

The repercussions of not using genuine cartridges

There is a range of repercussions for not using genuine cartridges, and they impact both the user and the manufacturer. Driven by leading printer manufacturers, several counterfeit cartridges raids have been initiated to identify and prosecute those who are operating these illegal operations. On a lesser scale, businesses who place a large order of these cartridges can be significantly out of pocket if the supplier is apprehended, or the technology breaks down and damages your expensive printing units in the process. Furthermore, you may find that your printer manufacturer will not honour your warranty if you have willingly used counterfeit cartridges in your unit. The small saving you received in buying a counterfeit cartridge will not cover the cost of a new printing unit.

What to remember about genuine printer cartridges

When it comes to ordering cartridges in the future, always proceed with genuine cartridges so that your printer unit does not pay the price and your work can retain the quality you intended for it. The dangers of counterfeit cartridges cannot be understated, not to mention potentially taking your printing unit out of circulation for a period of time. Ordering directly through manufacturers or from reputable providers will eliminate the chance of a counterfeit purchase, and this should be the practise that you take up within your business. Unfortunately, those who are producing counterfeit cartridges have perfected their unethical art so much so that users of counterfeit cartridges are unaware of this fact. Remember to keep vigil and authenticate your cartridge purchase by choosing only the right providers.
It’s critical that you can identify the difference between genuine and counterfeit printer cartridges, and actively avoid the latter. The efforts behind these counterfeit raids show confidence in the fight, but there is still onerous on the consumer to do their bit in sourcing genuine cartridges.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/at-work/the-difference-between-genuine-and-counterfeit-printer-cartridges/

How to Recharge Your Batteries in Your Downtime

While you might have your sights set on ticking off every task on your to-do list and hitting every goal, it is important to remember that you’re only human and not a robot.

Spending too much time at work could ultimately lead to you feeling stressed and burnt out.

If you want to remain at the top of your game and improve your performance, you must make time for relaxation. To help you to do exactly that, here are some top tips on how to recharge your batteries in your downtime.

Do Something Different

It is easy to become stuck in a working ritual if you’re a hard-working entrepreneur or corporate professional. It is, however, a smart idea to deviate away from your normal routine every once in a while to do something different, which will add some fun and excitement into your life.

For example, book a vacation day in the middle of the week to do something fun with your loved ones, such as go-karting, paragliding or fishing.

You could also host an internal meeting at a local restaurant instead of a cramped, stuffy office, or can switch up your lunch to try something different and break up your working day.

Little changes to your routine could prevent every day from blending into one and could prevent you from growing bored and restless at work.

Watch Your Favorite Sport

College football

After a busy day at the office, few things are more enjoyable than changing into your comfiest clothing, pouring yourself a cold or hot drink, and immersing yourself in your favorite sport.

If you’re a sports fan, you can always catch an NFL or college football game on TV.

Plus, watching a big sporting event will give you something to talk about with your colleagues the next day, as you could discuss a player’s performance or predict who will win the CFP National Championship.

Make Time for Relaxation

After spending a considerable amount of time at the office, knocking tasks off your to-do list, dealing with difficult clients and coming up with new ideas, you might feel more than a little stressed at the end of a working day.

It is, therefore, important to make time for relaxation once you return home.

For example, you could treat yourself to a hot bubble bath filled with stress-busting Epsom salts, or you could curl up in bed with a cup book and a hot drink.

Once the weekend arrives, you always have the option to enjoy a leisurely walk in the outdoors or you can treat yourself to a well-deserved massage.

So, if you are feeling tired, stressed and irritable, it’s a sign you’re pushing your body too hard each day. For this reason, you must make time to recharge your batteries to ensure you excel in your career and support your physical and mental health.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/lifestyle/how-to-recharge-your-batteries-in-your-downtime/

3 Tips for Creating Promotional Kits

When launching a new product, it’s vital for a promotional marketing team to effectively introduce their target audience to their brand in a way that entertains, informs, and educates. Since consumers are flooded with conflicting messages from competing brands all day long, it takes a creative strategy to cut through the white noise and get the people who need to hear your message most to pay attention. Custom promotional kits are one of the best ways to meet these objectives and build a strong brand identity while providing the information their core audience needs about the product they are offering. Here are some simple tips for custom-packaging promotional kits in a way that will get the right people to find out about your brand.

Identity Check

When you hear the phrase “brand identity,” you may think of that handful of mega-corporations who have created entire mini-societies based on consumer devotion to a product. A solid brand identity is a quick and efficient way to summarize your company’s mission, values, and process while also building an emotional bond with any consumer who shares those sentiments. Whether you are a quirky, irreverent anti-corporation that wants to do some good in the world, a serious-minded company that business professionals have relied on for over five decades, or an industry disruptor poised to change the face of our modern world forever, you have a story to tell, and a custom promotional kit is an ideal tool to help you tell it.Before you plan your packaging strategy for a promotional kit, it is important to give serious thought to just how you want your target audience to feel about your company and its products based on this first experience.

Take it Easy

Just because your custom promotional kit’s packaging is innovative and eye-catching, that doesn’t have to mean it’s hard to open! All too often, marketing departments choose form over function, which can lead to costly product packaging blunders. Imagine how a consumer will feel about your brand if he or she can’t easily and quickly open its unnecessarily complex packaging? Think of the experience you want your end recipients to have, and customize your promotional kit in a way that eliminates difficulty and frustration.

Label Yourself

You want to make sure that your custom promotional kit not only ends up in the right hands, but is then opened and reviewed by those who need to hear your message most. There’s no way you’re going to achieve your end goal of imprinting your brand logo onto the brains of everyone who encounters your promo kit if you don’t first imprint it on the packaging itself. Highly-visible, brand-specific labeling that uses both the company name and logo will go a long way toward helping people remember you and associate your name with the creatively-packaged promotional kit they just received. By making sure your brand name is front and center, you can be sure that people will be able to identify your company before they ever open the package.

Promotional kits are the first step to getting your product on the map and in the minds of consumers in your target market. When in doubt, refer to these tips, so your promotional kits stand head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/advertising/3-tips-for-creating-promotional-kits/

Ten Best Businesses to Start in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is great to live in and a brilliant place to start a business. Whether you live in Vegas already and are considering quitting your job and working for yourself.

Or, you are planning to start fresh in the city with a new business, here are the best small business ideas in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

1. Admin Business 

Every business is created with expansion and profitability in mind. They need to be profitable to grow. With that growth comes a greater need for admin services such as tax preparation services, bookkeeping, and legal services.

If you have these skills, you can start your own admin business in to take care of those matters for other businesses such as a title loan company in Las Vegas. 

2. Consultancy Business 

Business consulting is among the best small business in Las Vegas opportunities. They are profitable businesses, and consultants can fetch a high price for their expertise, knowledge, and business acumen.

Medicinal cannabis, for example, is becoming more and more popular, as are green and eco-friendly practices.

If you know about those topics, then you can start up a consultancy business and help businesses become greener and obtain cannabis licensing. 

3. Tech-Related Businesses 

Tech-related businesses will always be one of the best ideas. With more than 3.7 billion people around the world using the internet, and 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created and transferred each day.

Computers and applications and gadgets have made a massive impact on all industries and have created space for a range of small business ideas in Las Vegas, Nevada, including; 

• IT Support
• Web Design
• Computer Repair and Maintenance
• E-commerce
• Internet Research 
• Social Media Consulting 

4. Restaurant and Catering Business 

The population of Nevada is constantly growing as the state welcomes people from all different ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds.

People in Las Vegas constantly need food, and they are always looking to expand their palettes and try foods from other cultures. It’s hardly surprising that the food business will always be a popular choice.

If you’re planning on opening restaurant or catering business in Las Vegas, then consider a food truck, catering service, or a shipping container restaurant. 

5. Real Estate Brokering 

When you consider the sheer size of Nevada, it’s hardly surprising that real estate is always going to be one of the best small business in Las Vegas to consider.

If you want to get your hands on some of that land and the money that comes from having a piece of this particular pie, then you should consider setting up your own real estate business. 

6. Marketing Services 

Behind every successful product and business is a successful marketing team. These marketers put together strategies that improve awareness and given the brand an overall boost.

Running your own marketing business is a great way to make money because they are as competitive as they are lucrative.

The awesome news is that if you’re good at your job, you can stand to make a lot through a marketing agency while keeping down operating costs as many tasks can be handled remotely. 

7. Pet Care Centers 

When you consider all of the pet-friendly hotels in Las Vegas, it’s clear that many people in Vegas (and Nevada as a whole) have pets.

Given how much money people spend on food supplies, pet maintenance, and vet bills—it’s clear that pet owners aren’t too concerned about how much they spend on their furry, feathered, and scaled little friends.

If you’ve got the skills, knowledge, and passion needed to open up a pet business, then you should certainly consider it. 

8. Property Maintenance Services – Gardening, Cleaning, Etc. 

There are quite a few words that can be used to describe cleaning up – tiresome, meandering, monotonous, mundane – but “fun” isn’t one of them. In a similar vein, property maintenance tasks such as gardening are just as exhausting and difficult to do.

If you can do them though and you don’t mind doing the hard work, then property maintenance services could be the way to go.

These business ideas offer plenty of profit with low overhead and are a smart small business idea in Las Vegas. 

9. Party Rental Business 

Las Vegas is one huge, never-ending party. The people there are partying for all kinds of reasons, including weddings, birthday parties, bachelorette parties, and parties for the sake of having a party.

With that in mind, having a party rental business is a great way to make some money in Las Vegas. This option is a particularly appealing small business idea because you can rent things out while still keeping your main job. 

10. Home Shelter Business 

Given how many people are coming to the city, it’s not that surprising that Las Vegas lists in the top 10 cities with the most homeless people. Having your home shelter is a simple and effective small business to set up in Nevada.

They give you the chance to do something good for the community while still making a little money for yourself. 

Well there we have it; ten great business ideas for Las Vegas. These businesses are all good choices and which one is right for you depends on your situation. Good luck with your Las Vegas business! 

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/ten-best-businesses-to-start-in-las-vegas/

Vendors: 3 Strategies to Optimize Your Booth’s Walk-By Experience

Are you a vendor looking for ways to make your booth attract more visitors? If so, you need to focus on maximizing your booth’s walk-by experience. A walk-by experience is maximized by appealing to the senses and creating interactions with passersby that draw them in.

When event attendees walk by your booth, they’ll know in a moment if they’re interested in stopping to check you out. You’re always making first impressions on people, even before they interact with you. When you create the right impression, more attendees will stop.

Here are some strategies to optimize those first impressions at your next trade show:

1. Appeal to the senses to attract attention

People are drawn to alluring sights, smells, and sounds. Appeal to these senses to get attention. For example, while other booths attempt to have casual conversations with attendees (like shouting “hi, how are you?” from a distance), try a different approach. Use laughter and cheering to give the impression that people are having fun where you are. Even better, make it genuine. Devise a way to get people excited so you can give them a high-five and cheer, like a simple game people can play to win a prize.

Creating visual appeal

Appeal to people visually with a professional and aesthetically appealing presence. Forget about using folding card tables and flimsy pop-up tents. You won’t attract attention if your booth looks like a hodge-podge of stuff you dug out of your garage. Get a custom pop-up display booth either with a backlit panel or a built-in podium for you to stand behind.

The ideal booth for attracting attention is simple and professional, but the visual aspect must match your brand. Although display booth examples show custom graphics with simple logos and company names, plastering your logo across your booth isn’t good enough.

Unless you’re a nationally recognized brand, your logo isn’t going to appeal to people. A custom graphic design that projects your brand image will. For example, if your logo is a flower, plastering a flower across your booth won’t draw attention. However, an image that projects a specific message to the crowd – a message that tells them what your brand is about – will draw attention.

Appeal to smell

It’s easy to appeal to smell as long as you avoid smells that have the potential to trigger sensitivities. For instance, perfume, air fresheners, and body spray should never be used to attract attention. The tried and true smells that capture a wide audience are hot chocolate and coffee. Even people who don’t like coffee attest to enjoying the smell of a freshly brewed pot. There’s actually a complex, scientific reason the smell of coffee appeals to almost everyone.

Provided you’re allowed to brew coffee per event regulations, set up a couple of basic coffee brewers and brew coffee throughout your event. Better yet, provide a stack of paper cups and make it a self-serve station for anyone who can’t resist the smell. While they’re pouring the coffee, chat it up and give them your best sales pitch!

2. Hire a couple of actors

Although some might consider it cheating, you could hire a couple of actors to have scripted conversations inside your booth to explain specific points you’d like people to know about your products or services. For example, your actors could have a basic sales conversation where the “customer” asks all the right questions and the sales rep gives all the right answers.

The idea is to get people to overhear the conversation to communicate certain ideas to them indirectly. Not everyone will strike up a conversation. By overhearing a staged conversation that seems real, some visitors in your booth will have their questions answered effortlessly. Other people might hear information that will get them excited enough to talk to you and ask more questions.

3. Make sure nobody has to ask what you’re offering

The most effective part of optimizing your booth’s walk-by experience is making sure people know what you’re offering.

Once you’ve gotten someone’s attention, you shouldn’t have to work hard to explain what you’re offering. Once they move toward your booth, it should be obvious what you’re about. One way to achieve this is to have your staff wear a uniform. A uniform might not tell the whole story, but it will provide important clues as an attendee comes closer and starts noticing the rest of your setup.

There are a variety of ways to increase your walk-by experience, and these are just some. For your next event, try some of these ideas and you’ll see an increase in attendees visiting your booth.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/branding/vendors-3-strategies-to-optimize-your-booths-walk-by-experience/

5 Benefits of DevOps Automation

Software development is not what it used to be. In the past, DevOps team members had strictly defined roles, and you couldn’t see them deploying code nor managing its implementation. This was the job of the operational workers. Today, these roles are intertwined, and there is a lot more collaboration than in the early stages of DevOps.

There is one more that brings IP operators and DevOps together – process automation. The data that goes “through the hands” of DevOps team members and IT operators is vast. Without automation, operators won’t be possible to process data at scale, let alone keep it secured and away from prying eyes.

Here are 5 benefits of DevOps Automation.

Faster Software Lifecycle

The software market is moving very fast nowadays. This applies to all sub-niches, such as mobile app development, website development, web app development, and enterprise app development. If a company is unable to deliver new app solutions to the market efficiently, the market can easily pass them by.

On the other hand, there are several problems attached to “going too fast.” Derivatives of “too fast” business processes are full of errors. This is one of the reasons why a faster and optimized software development lifecycle is always one of the primary goals in software companies. For instance, companies that use Kubernetes to automate application deployment use tools to streamline management and installing of apps, such as Kubernetes Helm.

This practice enables DevOps to work more efficiently but also ensures accuracy when creating, deploying, and running apps.

Synergy Among Operators and Developers Achieved

In the DevOps industry, operational flexibility is of vital essence for project success. In the past, teams were small, but in today’s companies, both IT operators and DevOps teams are big. Without automation, many tasks have to be delayed, which causes more problems down the line with task dependencies and deadlines. In other words, companies can’t benefit from the synergy among operators and developers without adopting the latest tech trends.

Automation platform can help in many ways, but software companies usually implement it to promote cooperation between these two departments. Streamlining and coordinating efforts become so much easier when you have a centralized platform that supports a fully automated provisioning of data. Efficient automation scripts can help both by facilitating automated and optimized software delivery.

Top-Notch Security

Security is one of the main issues in the IT sector. Many companies have ongoing strategies to be able to identify new security threats, assess them, and implement appropriate solutions. Software companies have a lot to lose in this war because the code is their intellectual property. Getting the code stollen entirely or partially has devastating consequences for these companies. Automation can help a lot with minimizing security risks.

Since most of the modern automation platforms are cloud-based, software companies can benefit from partially outsourcing their IT security efforts without even knowing it. Those remote servers and connection protocols are behind industry-grade firewalls and antivirus programs. This is one of the indirect benefits automation offers to DevOps that many people oversee when making a decision.

Increased Efficiency

Try to make a vertical where peak efficiency isn’t a primary goal, a holy grail of sorts. The problems with achieving efficiency are not rooted in HR policies, interpersonal relationships at work, nor paychecks. Most often, the issues are, in fact, bottlenecks that are very hard to identify. Even with a minimal impact on efficiency, in the long run, bottlenecks slow it down and ultimately take a big chunk of progress.

This is where automation platforms shine. The automation is not what we are looking at here, but the monitoring, analytics, and reports of these platforms. Thanks to these perks, companies can discover bottlenecks and implement appropriate solutions. Automation is bound to eradicate problems related to tasks handled by developers and IT operators. This also includes collaborative duties, where bottlenecks usually happen.

Better Quality Control Management

To make a name in the software industry, a company has to be capable of delivering consistent product quality. Whether it is a standalone app or a service rooted in the cloud-tech, a company has to ensure that it works perfectly. More importantly, this has to be achieved across the entire product line. On large software projects, this is a hard thing to achieve as many developers are working on different segments of an app.

Automation platforms are designed to help build consistent and reliable environments. With stable environments and monitoring maintenance of quality control becomes a walk in a park. This is definitely one of the few solutions that offer improved efficiency and better quality control management to DevOps.

Automation has a lot to offer to DevOps. With benefits ranging from increased efficiency and industry-grade security to better quality control management and optimized software development lifecycle, we can safely assume that automation platforms are going to be widely adopted in this vertical.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/training-and-development/5-benefits-of-devops-automation/

Tips for Expanding Your Trucking Business

The trucking business is a growing industry. In 2017, the industry generated $700 billion, according to the American Trucking Trends 2018 report released by the American Trucking Association. Figures show that as much as 71% of all freight in the U.S. is dependent on trucking. The industry currently employs millions of drivers and serves as the lifeline that connects manufacturers and producers with consumers. It also comprised at least 6% of all full-time jobs in the country. Thanks to the robust industry, there is a high demand for truck drivers, who can earn as much as $90,000 annually. 

With the growing popularity of e-commerce and real estate trend of setting up warehouses, there will be a greater need for trucking in the near future. If you want to expand your trucking business, now is the time to do it. 

How to Expand a Trucking Business

Build Your Fleet

If you want to expand your business, you must be willing to put in more money for purchasing additional trucks and the right equipment. Many truck drivers face problems and challenges on the road, and the sooner they can resolve them, the faster they can accomplish their deliveries. 

Hire Competent Drivers

Expanding your business means hiring more truck drivers. When hiring competent truck drivers, look beyond their educational background. What’s more important than their education is their discipline on the road. Most truck drivers often drink alcohol even when they have a schedule.  If your drivers get caught driving while intoxicated, you may want to secure the help of a Board Certified DWI Attorney to help you with the case. 

Secure Profitable Loads

One of the challenges of running a trucking business is securing profitable loads. The best approach for this is to maximize load boards so you can choose the ones that will match your equipment and routes. However, load boards can work to your disadvantage, particularly for popular routes, because of higher competition. You may need to charge less than your counterparts just to secure a load. 

One option you can exploit is working with your current clients. Build your relationship with them. Give them better services and deals. This way, you will build a long-term and secure relationship with a shipper. Note that truck businesses with strong shipping relationships can earn as much as $20,000 per truck monthly. 

Remain Hands-On

Expanding your trucking business does not mean that you should hire more people to monitor and run your business. It would be best if you remained hands-on and still handle the day-to-day coordination of the company. You will not necessarily micro-manage, but you have to be present. This way, you can develop a good process for your business. 

Handling daily operations of your business will allow you to manage your cash flow better. Running a trucking business needs careful financial management. You must always have steady cash to cover fuel, driver salaries, and equipment repairs. Delays in shipping payments can cause potential problems if you don’t have enough money to make the business run. Without cash, you cannot take in more loads. As a result, your company may stop operating. 

Any business without knowledgeable people to handle daily operations can stagnate. However, enterprises managed by experienced people have great potential for expansion. The trucking industry in the U.S. is growing and will continue to do so. Based on the current real estate trends and consumer behavior, more and more online businesses will require trucking to transport their goods to their consumers. It is up to you on how you will capitalize on this industry.

For more information also read: http://www.eshoparchive.com/fastest-cars-under-30k/

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/at-work/tips-for-expanding-your-trucking-business/

What is the Difference Between On Page and Off Page SEO

If you are running a website that you depend on for some or all of your income, you should already have a very good idea of what search engine optimization – or SEO – does, and why you depend on it. 

If you don’t know the first thing about SEO, it is basically the way in which sites and blogs look to maximize the impact of their sites by making them as searchable as possible on search engines like Google and Bing. 

Better SEO means you rank higher on search engine result pages. – or SERPS – which means you have more eyes on your sites, which means higher traffic, domain authority, page views, and more. 

If you have great SEO, it can be an upward spiral that can truly take your site and brand to the next level. If you have bad SEO, you will never be able to fully realize the maximum potential of your business. 

Now that you know that basics of why SEO is important, let’s go over the two types of search engine optimization. 

One is on page SEO.

The other is off page SEO. 

If you want to succeed with SEO, it’s important to understand the difference between the two and know why each of them is important in their own way. 

To put it simply on page SEO refers to factors on your own site that you can make sure to optimize. This includes factors such as underlying code and the content on your site. Off page SEO refers to actions that you take that affect your site’s trustworthiness and authority by building the right inbound links and social signals. 

Easy as that, right? No, just kidding. Let’s break it down just a bit more so that you fully understand the ins and outs of both forms of SEO and why they are important. 

On page SEO:

ON page SEO is what you do one your own website and pages in order to improve the flow of traffic to your site. This is considered to be one of the first and most important things that you as a webmaster should do when you are writing a new post or optimizing your website overall. 

On page SEO optimization needs to be constantly managed and revised if you are interested in maintaining or improving your rank on SERPs. In this technique, the role of relevant keywords or longtail key phrases are crucial to make sure that the right kind of visitors are coming across your site. 

This kind of work includes headlines, page titles, domain names, and images and other media. 

On top of that, all of these elements must be search-engine friendly. Things to keep in mind is the size of the sight, load time, relevant and interesting content, and many more. Below is a list of primary elements and factors to consider when it comes to on site SEO. 

• Title of the page
• Meta description tag
• URL structure
• Fast loading pages
• High quality content 
• Optimized internal links 
• Meta description tag
• Optimized images with alt tags 

Off page SEO:

Unlike on page optimization, off page SEO depends on other websites on the internet to improve your site rankings. Off page search engine optimization most regularly focuses on what is known as link building. 

Link building is an ongoing process for webmasters and bloggers as it is the pursuit of getting sites with strong organic traffic and domain authority to link to their pages. The reason why this is so important is because having a site with strong organic traffic and domain authority does two things for a site that it links to. 

First off, it helps funnel some of their followers to the outbound link’s site. That means that if a page with thousands of visits per day is link to a small, but engaging site, a certain amount of those visitors will surely click onto that smaller site. 

Secondly, when a site with strong domain authority that ranks highly in valuable keywords links to a smaller site, it signals to Google’s algorithm that the smaller site is trustworthy and valuable. Over time, it can lead to significant gains being make in keyword ranking and SERP results. 

Link building can be quite difficult to achieve on your own. It can take hours just to identify the kind of blogs and sites that you want your content to appear on. Then, you have to reach out to those sites and simply hope that they are open to guest posting (many are not). After that, you will have to write the highest quality of content in order to get approved. It is possible though, and if you are overwhelmed by the amount of work that is necessary to succeed in this aspect of SEO, there are many agencies and experts  such as OutReach Frog that can help you and your site. 

Another important aspect of off page SEO that is only growing in size is the use of social media. Social media allows you to interact with your clients and customers and potential clients and customers and take advantage of the free marketing that sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more offer. 

If you are able to properly utilize on page and off page SEO, there is little doubt that you will start to see a marked improvement in your sites organic traffic, domain authority, keyword ranking, and more. 

For some, it is hard to think about their site as just another storefront to their business. Just like you want your brick and mortar site to look and operate its best, the same should be said about your online presence. 

Hopefully this quick rundown has offered some valuable insight into what you can improve and how it can help your business grow. Now is the time to pinpoint to key elements of your online presence to improve so that you can start ranking with the best of them in your niche! 

Good luck!

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/seo/what-is-the-difference-between-on-page-and-off-page-seo/

How to Get Your Teenager Started in Investing

Have you ever thought about how much money you would have today if you had started investing back when you were a kid. Sadly, we can’t turn back time, but one thing that we can do is make sure to get our teens into investing and earning passive income before they even head off to college! 

Not only will investing help encourage learning math, discipline, money management skills, it can also help your kid set up growing nest egg at a very young age. It’s also useful because it gives them the freedom to experiment (and possibly lose) now so that they can learn from their mistakes and become a successful investor later in life. 

Here are the best ways to get your teenager started in investing:

• Teach them how to invest with a Roth IRA 

One of the best first things to do if you are looking to get your child into investing is to set them up with a Roth IRA. The one great thing about Roth IRA is that you have to invest in one with after-tax income. That means that not only will your teen get a sense of what it means to invest, they will also have to have a job to open one. 

The type of jobs that most teenagers hold during high school rates typically give them low tax rates. This makes a Roth IRA the perfect type of account to have in terms of teaching kids about saving for the future. 

• Open a Savings Account for your Teenager

This may seem like a dumb topic to cover when discussing getting your child into investing, but you may want to think again. This is a great way to show them the value of investing and saving without having to deal with the possible anxieties of actually investing in the stock market. 

Sure, it’s a bit of a training wheels technique, but what’s wrong with that?

One thing to absolutely keep in mind when it comes to opening a savings account is how it is typically not so easy to withdraw and transfer money. That will make sure that the money inside is safe from any impulse buys that your child might feel compelled to make. 

• Allow them to dip their toes in the stock market 

There’s certainly more risk investing in individual stocks rather than a portfolio holding index funds, but its absolutely a way to get your kid excited in investing. Many teens simply love the idea of investing in their favorite companies and owning a share. 

Before you let your kid start investing, however, it is important to talk to them about researching stocks. 

As you well know, investing offers investors a heightened and up-close sense of what is going on in the economy, what trends exist, and how to capitalize off of those trends. You need to stress that in order to really be a confident investor, you have to do your research beforehand almost as if you already own the stock. 

One complication that you might run in with your kid is that the stocks they want to buy are also some of the most expensive as they are from the most popular brands. Instead of treating this like a hurdle, use it as a teachable moment. Talk to your teen about the important of saving money in order to make investment that they deem good decisions. 

You can also use this as an opportunity to talk about diversifying and spending the same amount of money on multiple stocks as they would on one single share of one company. 

• Encourage them to invest in a business

This is another great way to encourage your teen to invest. One major thing to look out for here is to make sure that you child isn’t at risk of being taken advantage of by some company that is simply looking to take advantage of people. 

As you may very well know, investing in a business can be incredibly exciting and lucrative. Whether they decide to open their own business or have researched a local business that they are intrigued by, investing in a business makes the relationship far more personal and active. It’s a great way to have your teen learn about investing and business in a fast and fun way. 

Brian at Ratebuddy.com has one thing to keep in mind when encouraging your child to invest in a business.

“The one roadblock here might be that many businesses require quite a bit of money to actually consider bringing on a new investor,” he said. “That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, just might be a little more involved. 

“Make sure to keep a watchful eye over any potential transactions that could take place.”

• Introduce them to CDs

Certificates of Deposit are not as flashy as investing in the stock market and will likely not be as attractive to your teen, but they come with some serious benefits. First off, they are far less risky. 

One aspect of CDs that makes them such a great investment option for teenagers is that the are FDIC insured. This will reduce a lot of the stress that you my feel about letting your child work with real money. 

There are a lot of different terms that you can choose from when you are getting a CD. One thing to consider is that the longer terms will allow you to enjoy a higher rate on the money. This is a fantastic lesson to teach your teenager, especially if they are able to see how investing money for an extending period of time will earn them a larger return in the end, but taking out money early will force them to be penalized. 

Since there are several different payment options you will be able to choose from when you decide to open a CD, your child will be able to feel like that have genuine control over their money. That lesson on its own is worth these exercises. 

There are a lot of ways to help teach your child about responsible personal finances and investing and getting them involved in the stock market is a great way to go. That way, not only are they learning how to think and act like an adult, they are also preparing for their very bright future.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/family/how-to-get-your-teenager-started-in-investing/

6 Team-Building Ideas That Will Change Your Employees’ Lives

Is team-building really the most important investment you can make in your workforce?

Not all leaders buy it. But few dispute that team-building is, on balance, a good thing for workplace cohesion and productivity. If nothing else, a well-organized team-building event helps stave off burnout while breaking down barriers to communication and cooperation.

Since your organization isn’t made of money, it’s important to keep your team-building budget in check. That means shorter, less extravagant excursions. Overnights are fine, perhaps even preferable for teams with flexible members, but you’ll want to visit that five-star resort you’ve been eyeing for years on your own dime.

Each of these six team-building ideas is budget-friendly and out of the ordinary, a rare combination. Which would fit your team best?

1. A Habitat for Humanity Build

“We’re an IT company,” you protest. “None of us know the first thing about building houses.”

You don’t need to — that’s the whole point. Habitat for Humanity’s experts handle all the heavy lifting, and keep volunteers safe to boot. Anyway, your crew is much handier than you realize. And finding a Habitat build near you is as easy as visiting this website.

2. A Wilderness Kayaking Adventure

Is your team too adventurous to play at building a house? Then a more rustic retreat is in order. Consider a wilderness kayaking adventure at the nearest state or national park. Kayaking offers a gentle learning curve and requires surprisingly little specialized equipment, according to Manitoba entrepreneurs Lori and David Janeson. Plus, it’s really fun.

3. A Field Day (Literally)

Two words: office Olympics. Commandeer your local park for a day and set up your own mini-track-and-field competition, minus the win-at-all-costs mentality. If it’s hot out, the water balloon toss is mandatory.

4. An Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup

Perhaps your organization has already adopted a highway or park or city square. Now it’s time to treat it like an extension of your own office. Give the team the afternoon off and have them gather (safely) at the cleanup site, gloved up and ready to take out the trash.

5. A Glamping Retreat

If a kayaking adventure sounds too rugged for your tastes, consider a wilderness retreat with a dash of refinement. Glamping — camping in powered, climate-controlled “tents” — is more popular than ever. Even the touchiest coworkers will oblige.

6. A Day at the Shelter

Here’s another low-key team-building idea that doubles as a great way to give back to your community’s least fortunate. 

If you live in a community of any size, you’re probably within a short drive of multiple homeless shelters in desperate need of volunteer hands. (Most are, unfortunately.) Why not set aside a few hours one afternoon or evening for your team to serve meals, clean common areas, and chat with clients? Hold a debriefing session afterward to discuss the day and find ways to incorporate what you learned (or didn’t) into your work. 

Great Things Happen Outside the Office

Sure, the office is where work happens, whatever that means. But is it the best place for your team to find inspiration?

After you’ve had your day (or weekend) at one of these team-building pursuits, you’ll probably think otherwise. Great things happen outside the office, too.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/at-work/6-team-building-ideas-that-will-change-your-employees-lives/

Investment Tips and More with Alexis Assadi

I had a discussion with Alexis Assadi, a financier and the CEO of Pacific Income Capital Corporation. He has experience as a real estate lender, but, as you will notice, is also happy to discuss policy, economics, and technology.

Alexis Assadi and I talked about his dream investment, his thoughts on automation and its potential impacts on the workforce. We also went into ride-hailing apps like Uber. You can follow Alexis Assadi on Twitter.

Imagine for a second that you have $1 million to invest in anything. You’re willing to lose it all because $1 million isn’t a lot of money to you. What would you buy? What’s your dream investment?

Well, to be clear, I am a long, long, long way from having that kind of money! But I think it would be fun to start a cigar and whiskey bar. I imagine it has an old, rustic feel to it with oak wood and leather chairs.

Members would have their own lockers where they can store their drinks. It would be a place to talk shop with business partners. There are a couple of similar places in New York City that I enjoy. I’d want to have something like that in Vancouver.

However, I’m sure the local regulations would be fairly prohibitive. I wonder how much of that $1 million would be allocated towards legal fees.

California is bringing legislation that would require ride-hailing apps, like Uber and Lyft, to treat their drivers as employees instead of as independent contractors. What do you think about that?

I am supportive of regulations when they protect people and make sense. But I can’t get behind this one. Being an Uber driver is not meant to be a full-time or traditional job. You work when you want to, for as long as you want to.

That’s the nature of the gig economy. The tradeoff, however, is that the company does not have to take care of you. You don’t get benefits or vacation time, for example.

If ride-hailing drivers are going to be classified as employees, then they should be treated as such. That means, for instance, working from 9 am to 5 pm with a 30-minute lunch break each day. That means no social media or meeting with friends during the workday.

That means accountability and hitting targets. That means reporting to a manager. I doubt many people will want that.

The furthest place I can get on the side of regulation here is to perhaps give drivers an option: Either become an employee or don’t. But even that doesn’t sit well with me because it can have other implications for the gig economy. Basically, California’s government is trying to force a type of business into something that it’s not.

Andrew Yang, a presidential candidate in the United States, wants to provide all Americans with a guaranteed income of $1,000 per month.

He calls this a “Freedom Dividend,” although it’s formally known as a Universal Basic Income. Mr. Yang believes that people will need it as more jobs are replaced by automation. What are your thoughts?

I think Andrew Yang has his finger on the pulse with respect to the impacts of technological development. Automation is and will continue to be a threat to human employment.

He gets that and is looking for a way to mitigate the downside, notwithstanding the benefits that come with automation.

I like the concept of a universal basic income. I believe that all people should be granted a minimum standard of living. Food, clean water, shelter, medicine, and toiletries must all be guaranteed. A universal basic income would help create a baseline.

To be clear, I don’t advocate for all people to have the same standard of living. I think the story of communism vs. capitalism in the 20th century showed us that it’s not realistic.

However, a person cannot be a productive member of society without the basics. How is one supposed to feel a sense of dignity, let alone work hard and contribute, if they can’t afford to brush their teeth or sleep in a bed?

I know I’ve had days where I felt down, depressed, doubtful and did not want to get out of bed in the morning. But I have the resources to battle my demons.

At the absolute least, I can rest and recharge in a comfortable home. I can’t imagine tackling my problems – which are comparatively tiny – in an environment where I couldn’t even make ends meet. In fact, I’m sure it would send me on a downward spiral.

A universal basic income would not just serve the impoverished. Rather, its greatest group of beneficiaries would be those who are strapped for cash.

That’s about 75% of the population in the West. It would give them a financial buffer so that they don’t have to live check-to-check. For example, for most people, losing one’s job would be a cataclysmic event. A universal basic income would offset some of that risk.

With all of that said, I am curious about the unintended economic effects that a universal basic income might produce. For example, would it lead to inflation?

Would companies raise their prices knowing that consumers have more cash to spare? I would like to hear what reputable economists think about it before I go all in.

Like most other ideas, I don’t think a universal basic income can be effective in a vacuum. It must be accompanied by sensible regulations, adequate social safety nets and substantial investments into health care and education.

You clearly follow politics. Would you ever be interested in running for elected office at the local level? Could there be an “Alexis Assadi for City Councillor” poster one day? Perhaps an even higher office?

No, never. I enjoy following politics and I think it’s important to be informed. But I have no desire to be part of it except as a voter. I think I would have a challenging time dealing with the back-biting, posturing, groveling and viciousness inherent in it.

Politics is also, by definition, public. You are held to account for everything, including your personal life, and it can be embarrassing. An egregious example of unwanted exposure occurred recently in Canada.

A photo was released of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing brown face paint almost 20 years ago. That triggered a pretty big scandal. It may well affect his chances for re-election.

I value my privacy. I don’t need people picking apart everything I’ve said and done since I was ten years old. I don’t want to be afraid to say something because it might not poll well.

I believe that government service is honorable and I’m grateful for those who do it. But it’s not for me.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/entrepreneurship/investment-tips-and-more-with-alexis-assadi/

Musculoskeletal Disorders: What You Need To Know

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are among the leading causes of physical pain and discomfort in the United States.

In fact, around fifty percent of citizens have or have had one or more MSDs. Musculoskeletal issues are those that cause numbness, swelling, or pain in the joints, tendons, muscles, bones, and soft tissues.

Individuals who have musculoskeletal disorders find it hard to move or do even the simplest of tasks, especially those that require fine movements such as typing, operating machines, or even just cutting vegetables for their favorite dish.

Because of their truly disabling effects, musculoskeletal disorders are really a health concern that must be addressed with much rigor. In this article, we are going to discuss the risk factors for these disorders. We also present ways of how such disorders can be effectively avoided.

Risk Factors

There are several factors that put people at risk of having a musculoskeletal disorder. The following are just some:

Age

As the body ages, all the important elements that comprise it – muscle, bone, skin, blood, hair, blood vessels, etc. – deteriorate as well. Bones become more brittle, and moving becomes more and more of a chore.

Muscle tone might become less firm, making the body look droopy. Tendons become worn, making every step or fine movement uncomfortable or even painful. Very clearly, older people are more vulnerable to musculoskeletal disorders than their younger counterparts.

But this surely doesn’t mean that developing an MSD is inevitable. There are ways to keep the body healthy despite their generally weakened state due to old age.

Physical Activities

The activities that a person engages in might put them at risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder. Someone who sits for prolonged periods might strain their muscles in the neck and back.

An athlete who works out their shoulders intensely in the gym every single day might put too much stress on their bones and joints.

An employee whose repetitive motions require them to use only the same set of muscles over and over again might put that specific muscle group at risk of early wear and tear.

Genetics

It might be wrong to say this, but there are just people who are “built” to be tougher than others. Genetics plays a very important role in the development of any disease on record.

Of course, that list does not exempt musculoskeletal disorders. So people who have relatives with musculoskeletal issues should really exert extra effort in making sure that they don’t develop the disorders themselves.

They might really want to take note of the preventive measures that we are going to discuss in the paragraphs below.

Preventive Measures

If there are factors that put people at risk of contracting musculoskeletal issues, there are also measures that could help them prevent such disorders from ever afflicting them.

Everyone, especially those who have genetic predispositions, should really pay attention to these measures. After all, prevention is always better than healing back pain or any other body issue that arises from a musculoskeletal disorder.

Healthy Lifestyle

Nothing really beats the goodness that leading a healthy lifestyle can give. Not only will it keep the muscles, bones, skin, and other body parts in great condition, it also leaves a person feeling refreshed and ready to take on challenges.

When joints and muscles are well-oiled and kept in great functioning state, they are better able to resist wear and tear and the disorders that might arise from it.

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)

Protective gear is not only worn to protect the wearer from external threats such as falling debris. Personal protective equipment or PPE, especially well-designed ones, are also there to assist movements, making them less stressful on the muscles and bones.

Fix Posture

Most of the time, the muscles in our back are strained because of our problematic stance. Are we leaning too much to one side? Are we putting too much stress on our lower back muscles when we stand?

These are the questions that we need the expertise of physical therapists to answer. It can be surprising, the amount of pain that gets alleviated or avoided just by fixing our posture.

Proper Stretching Exercises

Before doing anything, it is always wise to prepare the muscles and joints for it. Proper stretching exercises warm the muscles up and make them ready to take on the stress and pressure that’s about to be put on them.

Ergonomic Assessments at Work

Most of the time, MSDs are pretty much work-related. Because of this, it’s really important to take a look at how people perform their jobs through ergonomic assessments.

It’s very possible that the design of the workplace itself has something to do with the body pains that the workers suffer from. Is the file cabinet too far? Are the cubicles too high that those who need to talk constantly need to crane their necks?

These are simple questions, but the answers to them can spell the difference between reasonable comfort and unnecessary pain.

Body Sensitivity

In this day and age, we are often taught to push our limits. But we must realize that pushing our limits too hard is not always healthy. We must be willing and able to listen to our bodies.

If a movement is already painful, we should stop and start taking it slowly. Listening and being mindful of the signals that our body sends will surely go a long way.

Knowing what factors put us at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders will help us make the right decisions regarding our health. Older people, for example, might want to be more mindful and more rigorous in following their doctors’ advice. 

However, those who don’t have any of the risk factors can’t be too complacent, either. Sometimes, health issues just arise out of nowhere.

Because of this, it’s always wise to take note of and follow steps that help prevent musculoskeletal disorders and health issues in general. There is really nothing wrong with being a step ahead, especially when it comes to health and well-being.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/health-and-wellness/musculoskeletal-disorders-what-you-need-to-know/

Goodbye Scalpers. Hello YellowHeart.

With updated technology all around us and an ability to connect and communicate with everyone or anyone in the world instantaneously, how do the secondary market,  quick-purchase concert and event ticket platforms (I mean, let’s call them by what they really are… scalpers.) How do the scalpers still manage to buy up so many regularly-priced tickets out from under so many more hungry music fans, inflate ticketing costs astronomically, and somehow, ironically, drive attendance through the basement of most concert venues?

The truth is that secondary market ticket scalpers are only one of the many reasons that ticket prices for live events are out of control and getting worse. Today, the ticketing for live events industry is operating from a place of fundamental flaw. The heart of the ticketing industry is sick and until now, no doctor could find a way to get to the center of the issues and bring the industry back to health.  Until now.

The Heart of the Industry is Fundamentally Flawed

The ticket industry is composed of a massive secondary market. These middlemen overcharge concert-goers, do not share profit with artists, and manipulate the ticket marketplace. Sites like StubHub, Vivid, Seat Geek act as portals, allowing tickets to be resold – but often at a higher price. Fans are forced to overpay for good seats. The artists they love do not get any of this extra money. The ticket industry is at a tipping point and YellowHeart is ready to put the power back in the hands of the fans. 

But, wait! Before we tell you about the magical solution, about the doctor who came in and operated on the heart of the industry and pulled out every last scalper who was clogging up all the tickets and not allowing them to flow freely to you, the fans, you have to understand the many diseases that made up this fundamentally flawed industry.

Fact: People will pay top dollar for the right tickets to go see their all-time favorite band. Thus, Scalping is lucrative.  The scarier fact is that the secondary ticketing market’s annual revenue increased by over 20% from 2017 to 2018.

Scalpers made how much money? What?

It’s hard to believe, but when price gouging is the most lucrative art form in the room, people gonna gouge.

The only thing that might be worse for today’s ticketing industry other than the scalpers, is the 1968-made ‘ big as your bedroom’ computer technology that still powers the industry from the inside, but provides a lackluster customer service experience for you and me.  I am sure that the technology has seen updates since 1968, but well-known historical underinvestment in the ticketing technology simply from a lack of competition has resulted in limping software that cannot keep up with the growth of the time or the industry.

Counterfeiting and speculative ticketing, monstrous amounts of hidden fees with no itemized lists to clarify cost in sight, and an inability to gather ticketing data / no ticketing data exists for artists to understand their fan-basis and act accordingly, also play a nice part of the aorta-sized blockage that is not allowing the ticketing industry to pump out tickets safely and at the actual price on the ticket, to the correct people like you and me, the fans.

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But now, there is a doctor in the house that has the potential to root out the scalpers, or at least dull their roar immensely. The surgeon is a new, much more secure ticket-purchasing platform that will allow us the chance to purchase tickets to see their favorite artists and to pay face value for the ticket and not a penny more.

Sound the trumpets and roll out the red carpet for… I mean, roll out the yellow carpet for the surgeon who is revolutionizing the ticketing process with the assistance of blockchain technology and its distributed ledger technology.  The doctor is in the house!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing YellowHeart,!

A New Age of Secure Concert-Ticket Buying Practices Could Emerge

YellowHeart is a New York City-based blockchain ticketing platform that aims to kick the reseller to the curb (figuratively!) and put tickets directly in the hands of you, the fans, skipping the trials, tribulations, and costs that current ticketing services perpetuate. Partners Josh Katz (also CEO of Yellowheart), Adam Alpert, Andrew Taggart, and Alex Pall (Taggart and Pall are part of the band, The Chainsmokers) have been working on the platform for years, and Yellowheart is finally set to launch in 2020.

YellowHeart’s premise is simple and effective. Lower fees, more data for industry professionals, and comparatively shorter-term contracts between all money-making parties to ensure mutually-beneficial rates are negotiated regularly. That will coordinate with clear-cut digital-ownership guidelines and ticket transparency from end to end to render the ticket-buying process successfully operated on by the doctor and recovering nicely in Room 708. I joke, but YellowHeart takes it one step further. Ticket-ownership information will be publicly accessible on the platform, and resale rates will be capped based upon a ticket’s initial price.

In practice, these and many other factors will make it next to impossible for resellers to buy and unload tickets at an increased cost. More fans will be able to reserve the seats they want at the prices they deserve.

Goodbye Scalpers, Hello YellowHeart!

By Artists, for Fans

YellowHeart is created by artists but for you, the FANS. 

An interesting fact about the leader of  the YellowHeart gang:  CEO Josh Katz founded El Media Group and has promoted some of the biggest names in the music industry and is responsible for the music in some of the world’s finest restaurants and for DJs and curated music playlists for events produced by South Beach Wine and Food Festival, NYC Wine and Food Festival, and the James Beard Foundation.

These individuals’ cumulative knowledge of the music industry has resulted in a smart, secure platform that is mutually beneficial for artists and fans alike. Artists can be assured that the tickets sold to their concerts are reaching as many true supporters as possible, and selling out more venues in the process.  (Interesting Note: When scalpers are unable to resell tickets, they often return them at the last second, leaving actual fans little or no time to purchase, thereby lowering a show’s attendance.)

With YellowHeart on the scene and using blockchain technology to police the scalpers and send them running, the real winners here are the fans! Perks include more affordable, more widely available tickets, and better seating choices to see all of your favorite artists.

Yellowheart will keep the right tickets at the right price for the right people! It’s finally a good day to be a live-music loving,  concert-goer thanks to YellowHeart and it’s creators.

Everyone, the artists, the fans, and the promoters all stand to benefit from the arrival

The Bottom Line

YellowHeart’s value is apparent, but only time will reveal the extent of the fundamental change it will bring to the music industry. An entertainment world without excessive ticket fees and secondhand markups will be a better every-going world for us all. And we don’t have to wait long for its arrival.

YellowHeart plans to launch at the top of 2020.  Yes, that’s next year!

Very soon, the YellowHeart vision will be a living and breathing reality helping you buy cheaper concert tickets every single time.  

Here’s to that!

YellowHeart Mission Statement

YellowHeart is a made-in-NYC, blockchain live event ticketing platform powered by distributed ledger technology and built exclusively for the benefit of artists, teams and their authentic fans.  Our mission is to eliminate scalping and bad players in ticketing and put artists back in control of how their tickets are distributed and traded. This platform is built BY ARTISTS, FOR FANS.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/ecommerce/goodbye-scalpers-hello-yellowheart/

Why Custom Badges Are the Perfect Promotional Tool

Custom badges have been in use for a long time now. Every time they’re worn, they promote a certain brand or event. If you have a business, then you can easily use custom badges as promotional tools for many reasons.

The best marketing strategies are usually unique and innovative. This method suits this purpose in a perfect way.

Keep reading this article to learn why you are late in incorporating custom badges as one of your brand’s promotional strategies.

They Can Be Given as Gifts

Custom badges with your logo on them can be given as gifts at any time and place.

Most entrepreneurs have a desk just outside or their business outlet where shoppers are given custom badges with promotional messages.

Believe it or not, customer badges can also be sold, and this can even have more effect because the buyers will cherish them even more. So, you can have badges that are made of high-quality materials, print your brand name on them, and put them up for sale.

People Love Them

Badges are loved by both kids and adults. Thus, there is no reason why you should not use them.

Custom badges have a greater effect because people can identify themselves with your brand logo. So, if you are sponsoring a conference or even hosting one, incorporating custom badges is a wise move.

The attendees will wear them on their clothes, on their bags, or carry them home to add to their collections.

They Can Be Worn or Collected

Potential customers either wear custom badges or collect them as memories.

No matter how they use them, they will fulfill their purpose, which is to promote the brand. This leaves them as very effective marketing tools that you should always consider.

The experts at rocketbadge.co.uk can design and print excellent custom badges that will compel the users to wear and value them when they are used as collectible accessories.

They Are Easy to Design

If you have never used custom badges as promotional materials in your business, then you may not understand how easy they are to make. But there is always a first time for everything.

They involve choosing a design that is likely to work perfectly when the distribution starts. The best approach is to use a reputable professional.

Apart from designing and printing or embossing your logo, they also guide new entrepreneurs on how to take full advantage of custom badges as promotional tools.

It Is a Cheap Marketing Strategy

After incurring the cost of designing and making the badges, the rest of the process is free or very cheap. Badges are usually distributed by employees if it is done near your shop.

You can give some to your friends, too. If they are distributed at conferences, then you will probably need to set up a booth in a corner and hire someone to do the job. This is still very cheap when compared to other marketing strategies.

Custom badges make excellent promotional tools that every entrepreneur or organization management should embrace. Apart from passing the message to the user, the user also passes the message along to other people.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/why-custom-badges-are-the-perfect-promotional-tool/

5 Ways to Get a Flat Tummy Quickly

Looking down, a sight that may vanish all traces of smile from your face might greet you.

It’s the flabby gut that hangs loosely about the waist. A constant reminder of your struggle against the excess fat that pools around in you. Depression, body image, and esteem issues commonly plague those who deal with being overweight.

It’s a vicious cycle that keeps worsening over time and can lead to severe mental and physical health issues.

Heart disease, high blood pressure, high risk of developing diabetes, stroke and even cancer have been linked to being overweight. Which is why it’s important to have a healthy and fit body.

The secret to a full, active life where you can use every inch of your body to its fullest potential lies in being healthy.

You’d wake up every day feeling rejuvenated with an energy that’ll power you throughout the whole day. A fresh, optimistic mindset free of any worries, and an immune system that loves you is more than one can ask for. Now let’s see how you can lose that tummy fat:

1. Simply Move

Take a moment and think about how many hours you spend sitting every day.

We go out of our ways to make sure that we don’t take that one extra step. Standing in front of a busy elevator? Of course, because walking up or down the stairs is way too tiresome.

We tire out easy because we’re not in the habit of moving much anymore. A study has even found a link between sedentary lifestyle and mortality.

We spend hours sleeping, being a couch potato, even eating sometimes while lying down, and sitting hours in front of computers. Overhaul your daily routine to lose weight and begin taking small steps.

Add cardio to workouts, walk to the grocery stores, tidy your room more often to move around. Also, don’t ask your siblings to fetch you things, go get them yourself. Want to talk to a co-worker? Better not text instead, walk to them.

2. Benefit From the Latest Technologies

While exercising and a good diet have become a trademark for losing weight, they sometimes just don’t work out. You can do all the right things with little to no results.

It can lead to anyone feeling more frustrated than ever and even letting go of their dream of losing weight. Before you do that, why not consider cosmetic procedures?

Liposuction has been a very reliable remedy for those wanting to get rid of their excess body fat.

The procedures have advanced to treatments like VASER Liposuction, which is far less invasive as it uses high-frequency vibrations to dislodge the fat cells.

With medical tourism, things get even better as you can get far cheaper procedures if you choose to get liposuction in Turkey.

3. Make Sure to Get Enough Sleep

Pulling an all-nighter is the worst thing you can do to your body. While we may think ourselves to be quite hardworking by sleeping less, it just doesn’t work that way.

As you go on to sleeping less by each passing day, your mind starts exacting its revenge. Due to low energy, it will tempt you to eat sugary foods that give that power boost. Even your hormones will turn against you making you feel hungrier. 

You’ll feel sickly weak and are even prone to getting into more accidents. Why risk it all when you can restore your body to its normal functions by getting proper sleep.

Studies have linked less sleeping hours to weight gain. So, it’s time you take proper rest and get some quality sleep if you’re serious about losing weight.

4.Swap Out High-Calorie Drinks

If you’re trying to lose weight, then the one thing you might want to run away from is – calories. Even some of the drinks that are supposed to make a person “healthier” are resulting in weight gain. It is a well-known fact that soft-drinks are far from doing any good to our bodies.

High-energy protein shakes, energy drinks, sports drinks, and even fruit juices don’t have to always end up being beneficial.

We power ourselves most of the times through the day with a cup of coffee in hand.

All these drinks end up adding extra calories to our diet and make it difficult to lose weight. So, it’s time we all switch to healthier dietary alternatives like water and whole fruits, etc.

5.Limit Your Intake of Refined Carbs

Sometimes what we love the most can harm us the most too. From pasta, pizza, white rice, and bread, to delicious bakery sweets we can salivate at the thought of these foods.

But they all have one thing in common–refined carbs. These include both refined grains and sugars, both of which wreak nothing but havoc on the body.

They are so-called because they have been stripped of all their goodness in the form of minerals, nutrients, fiber, and bran.

Not all carbs are bad, and they should be consumed for a balanced diet. But make sure to limit your intake of refined carbs as much as you can.

It ‘s present in almost every food we like to eat but reducing their consumption can avert a major catastrophe.

Refined carbs have been linked to causing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart diseases, among others. Therefore, next time, be careful about what to put in your bodies.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/health-and-wellness/5-ways-to-get-a-flat-tummy-quickly/

6 Attributes Nearly Every Banker Needs to Succeed

Do you have what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of banking and finance?

The good news for aspiring bankers: the finance profession is far more inclusive today than at any time in its history, though more work of course needs to be done to recruit a generation of bankers that accurately reflect their customers.

On the other hand, plenty of barriers to entry remain — not least, around the skills and personality traits that are all but required for success in this business. Let’s take a closer look at six attributes that nearly every banker needs to succeed.

1. Solid Quantitative Reasoning Skills

No, you don’t have to be a mathematics savant to excel in the finance world. But you do have to be comfortable with numbers — or be willing to lean on those who are. At a minimum, you’ll need to understand how basic finance concepts like compound interest and annual percentage rates (APRs) work, and how to calculate them. Don’t count on others to have your back.

2. A Willingness to Take on New Roles, Possibly in New Places

If you’re committed to reaching a position of senior leadership at a respected bank or financial institution during the second half of your career, you need to be willing to take on new roles — possibly in new places — from the get-go. Seasoned bank executives’ resumes very often precede them, and may make the difference at hiring time. While it’s important to maintain an adequate work-life balance, it’s equally important to ensure that your family is on board with your long-term professional plan.

3. Unshakable Personal Integrity

Personal integrity is a crucial attribute in most professions, and finance is no different. It’s incumbent upon you to demonstrate to your superiors and clients that you’ll always do the right thing, even when the temptation to do otherwise is strong. That’s a core element of trust. Unfortunately, some key measures of personal integrity aren’t easily taught.

4. A Demonstrated Ability to Work Well With Others

How well do you play with others? In the finance world, cooperation is key, especially when you’re collaborating with others on large corporate accounts or shepherding complex transactions to completion. Mavericks don’t always thrive in this environment.

5. A Competitive Streak That Doesn’t Interfere With Team Play

While team play is essential, so is self-advocacy. The most successful finance professionals tend to be those who find a happy medium between collaboration and competition — those driven to be the best among peers, but not so driven that they lose sight of the bigger picture.

6. Strong Written and Verbal Communication Skills

Lastly, all aspiring finance professionals need strong communication skills, not just client-facing associates. This is an essential aspect of internal and external collaboration, and very often separates bankers whose rise tops out in middle management from those who make it all the way to the C-suite. 

What’s Your Secret Sauce?

These six attributes are all but essential for aspiring finance professionals. You can surely think of a few others that didn’t make the list — plus a couple that comprise your personal “secret sauce,” those key differentiators that set you apart from the pack. You’ll need them all as your career advances.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/careers/6-attributes-nearly-every-banker-needs-to-succeed/