Four Successful Online Business & What You Can Learn From Them

Contents

1. 888 Poker
2. Amazon
3. Rackspace
4. Majestic Wine

There are countless books, online guides and YouTube seminars telling you how to start a successful business in the modern era.

However, the best examples of how to make your online business success or how to avoid failure are already out there on the market in the form of your competitors.

Every established business on the planet has done things that have contributed to their success or their failure.

In this article, we’ll focus on four online businesses that have succeeded in their industry and see what we can learn from their approach.

These examples may provide you with useful tips for your own business, but at the very least they will highlight to you the way in which you can analyse your competitors to uncover the key to their success.

888 Poker: Prioritizing Quality

Online poker first really took off at the turn of the millennium with primitive online rooms originating in North America. Since then the industry has exploded in popularity, with hundreds of companies offering their services to poker enthusiasts.

888 were one of the first to companies to make a move into the online gambling industry, founded in 1997 by Isreali brothers Avi and Aaron Shaked, they focussed heavily on technological quality.

As a result, they have a well-deserved reputation of excellent quality amongst players.

What can we learn from this company?

Unlike their competitors, 888 have not overstretched themselves in term of offering customers every variant imaginable. Rather, they have committed themselves to providing their players with the very best gameplay and user experience available on the market.

As such, they’ve built up a reputation as a trusted place to play online poker. This trust and reputation for quality has helped the company to remain profitable and successful, which is no mean feat in such a saturated market.

Amazon: Prioritising Quantity

The flip side to 888’s approach of quality over quantity is Amazon’s approach of quantity over everything else. Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, it is now worth an estimated $1.14 trillion, making Jeff Bezos the richest person on earth.

While starting your own online business and hoping to follow a similar approach is unrealistic, there are lessons that you can learn from Amazon.

What can we learn from this company?

With any online business that you start there will always be a ceiling or a limit to how far you can go in terms of growth.

If for example, you specialize in selling shoes in Philadelphia, you have to recognize that there are only a set number of shoe lovers in the State.

That’s where Amazon’s approach of quantity over everything else comes into play. As soon as you start to experience success with your online business, it’s important to look at further areas of growth to ensure continued, future success for your venture.

Analyse your customers as if you were an Amazon algorithm, think about what other products they may like and then consider branching out into these areas.

The more you can offer your customers, the less likely they will be to shop elsewhere so endeavor to make your online business a one-stop-shop for as many of their needs as possible.

Rackspace: Be Your Customers Biggest Fan

Rackspace was founded in 1998, it was founded by three Trinity University classmates. 

One of the oft-most complained about facets of any business nowadays is customer support. There are far too many companies that take a lax attitude to customer relationships and as a result, develop a bad name for themselves.

Rackspace, a cloud infrastructure company prides itself on its excellent customer support team who take the company’s ‘fanatical support’ approach very seriously.

One example of Rackspace’s dedication to customer support came when a client rang with a series of queries.

The process of helping the client was long and complicated, so a member of the customer support team ordered a pizza for the customer after noticing that it was well past lunchtime.

Not only did the client receive the help that they needed, but they were fed and happy and ended the call in a great mood.

What can we learn from this company?

Obviously, you don’t have to order a takeaway for every customer that rings you with a query, but you should take every step possible to ensure that your clients remember you for positive reasons rather than negative ones.

Majestic Wine: Engaging Customers

In 1981 Majestic Wine was established as a high-street retailer of wine, spirits and beers. One of the key tenets of the company was a dedication to excellent customer service that would make visitors to their store feel happy and content.

Over the course of the next few decades the company continued to trade in this way, confident that their approach to customer service was second to none.

However, in the mid-2010s following a series of disappointing financial results the company was forced to reimagine how they viewed their approach to customer service.

They found that they were falling behind their competitors in terms of their online offering, so they implemented a system of ‘5-star feedback’. Every customer was asked to fill in a survey after purchasing from the chain and honestly rate their experience. 

In addition to this Majestic Wine customers were asked for suggestions as to how the company could improve its online offering.

After almost a year of collating feedback, Majestic made a number of changes to the online arm of their business based on these recommendations.

What can we learn from this company?

Feedback and implementing changes are important. “You asked for it, we did it” was the message delivered to customers when the changes were implemented.

As a result of these customer-inspired reforms, Majestic recovered from a financial slump to once again post encouraging revenues and profits.

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4 Points to Ponder If You’re in the Market for a Kids Car

You think that your child would enjoy playing with a ride on car. That’s what led you to search online and see what you could find in the way of a kids car. Before you purchase anything, take a moment and determine if the car you’re considering is really the right one for your child. Here are four points to consider closely before moving forward.

Age Appropriate

Is the car you have in mind right for your child? There are ride on cars made for kids of different ages. The suggested age range is typically based on what’s considered appropriate for children within that range. If your child happens to fall into that group, the car is likely a good choice.

Keep in mind that even if you view your child as being somewhat precocious, the suggested age range is still important. It’s often based on physical capability as well as mental and emotional ability. In all instances, the goal of the manufacturer is to suggest options that are safe for a child within that age range.

The Body Style

It didn’t take long for you to see that there were all sorts of body styles for kids ride on cars. Which one is right for your child? Considering his or her other interests will help you come up with some ideas.

Maybe your child would love something that’s a lot like the car the adults drive. Perhaps something that looks sharp and sporty would be perfect. Maybe a car with some sort of theme related to a favorite television program would be a good fit. See which ones seem to attract the most attention from your child and use that information to guide your choice.

The Battery Life

Opting for one of the kids electric cars on the market does mean taking a good look at the battery life. You want one that your child can use for some time before there’s the need to park it for recharging. For this reason, always find out what type of battery is used and how long the charge lasts on average.

While you’re at it, learn more about how to charge the battery. This information is usually included in the guidelines supplied by the manufacturer. You’ll know how to go about the task without undercharging or overcharging the battery. In the long run, that will allow the batter to last for more years.

The Safety Features

While you want your child to have fun, there’s also the need to make sure he or she is safe. Do look closely at what sort of safety features are included with the ride on car. Little things like no sharp edges or the including or remote controls you can use if necessary are two examples.

The safety features do reduce the risk of injury to your child. They also allow you to feel better about allowing your child to play with the car. You could say that those features are designed with adults and kids in mind.

Whatever car you choose, take your time and learn as much about the vehicle has you can. Doing so will ensure that your child has a great time with it, and that you get the pleasure of seeing your child enjoying every minute of the play time.

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4 Reasons Your Child Should Have a Ride On Car

As a parent, you want the best for your child. That desire extends to purchasing toys that do more than attract attention for ten minutes and then get set aside. One choice that will serve your child well is the purchase of a kids car. Why this type of toy? Here are four reasons to consider.

Hours of Fun

Unlike many other toys, a ride on car tends to become a cherished and much-used means of amusement. You’ll find that your child likes to spend hours each day playing with the car. There are all sorts of ways to use it, from driving around in the back yard to taking supervised trips down the sidewalk to pretending to be working on the vehicle.

Think of what it would be like for your child to have something to look forward to every day. Along with ensuring your child is entertained, this also provides you with the opportunity to get a few things done around the house.

Great for Developing Motor Skills

Playing with a ride on car is an excellent way to aid in developing motor skills. By providing access to this type of toy, you help your child learn how to use the hands and feet in conjunction. As their ability to make use of the vehicle features increases, so does their control various body movements.

Don’t overlook the value of the hand to eye coordination that comes into play here. Your child will have one more way to develop on that level too. Think of what that means when it’s time to begin school and engage in so many of the activities offered there.

And Stimulating the Imagination

The wonderful thing about kids electric cars is that your child can imagine adventures of all types. Perhaps it’s pretending to be traveling through some part of the world that the child saw on television. It may lead to play-acting some part in a TV show. Maybe it’s pretending to be an adult going off to work. You name the scenario and your child can likely think of a way to use the car to act it out.

This is great as it stimulates your child’s creativity. With the ride on car being everything from something to ride in a race to a spaceship carrying the passenger to far-off galaxies, there’s no telling what your child will come up with.

Excellent for Getting Your Child into the Sunshine

So many activities for children are based on being indoors. That tends to reduce the amount of time your child spends in the fresh air and sunshine. While you don’t want to overdo it, your child does need some time to play outdoors. A ride on car is a great way to encourage that.

With the car, your child can safely play in the back yard and get plenty of fresh air. The sunshine supports the production of vitamin D3, something that your child needs to be healthy. Being in the sunshine is also good for emotional balance. See the car as one way of providing your child with something that supports health on more than one level.

Consider what model of vehicle would be best for your child. Try one and see what happens. You may find that it quickly becomes your child’s favorite possession.

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How APIs can Transform a Media Company

Even though APIs have been around for quite some time, they have lately transformed every aspect of how businesses operate. Companies rely on data and information that they exchange with the outside world.

Without APIs, this would be a very difficult task, meaning that running businesses would be quite complicated. This applies to media companies as well. Smart media companies have taken APIs seriously and invested in their own as well as third-party APIs.

If you look at one of the fastest-growing industries of the future, you will realize that APIs have taken center stage in almost all its operations. 

Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/workplace-with-modern-laptop-with-program-code-on-screen-3888151/ 

Today, we have thousands of applications infiltrating media companies every now and then. This has led to new integrations that create amazing experiences for customers.

It’s through APIs that these applications are able to communicate with the media company apps that would otherwise lack the experiences being demanded by customers today.

Media companies are now able to strategically and carefully orchestrate workflows for optimal impact and productivity.

Even though processes and workflows are changing constantly due to today’s evolving work environment, APIs are helping media companies to ensure that collaboration and connectivity remain strong all the time.

If you find a media company that lacks access to APIs, chances are that its connectivity and collaboration are compromised leading to them being left behind by their competitors. Successful companies operate from the customer side.

This means that they try to do whatever they can to retain their customers as well as get new ones. These customers need strictly good experiences and each one of them has a distinct set of requirements.

It gets tricky for media companies to offer a resonating experience for each one of them without the implementation of APIs.

Media companies are giving their customers an opportunity for them to tailor and design their own experiences through the use of news APIs. The customers are also able to identify anything that they do not like throughout the whole customer journey.

On the other hand, media companies are able to monitor their API usage to easily understand their customers’ desired work processes, workflows, and behavior.

This way, the companies are developing new API solutions that cater to the needs of all their customers to avoid losing any of them and also to attract new ones.

Innovation in Media Companies

Innovation is running companies today. Customers consume content from media companies that seem innovative to them. All this innovation has been brought about by APIs.

News APIs have allowed these companies to grow and tap into new markets that would otherwise have been difficult to tap into or that would not have been initially considered.

They’re able to reach new heights and adapt to different customer requirements, technology trends, and market dynamics.

Media companies that have implemented APIs and use them effectively are finding it easy to use data for value extraction. It is becoming increasingly difficult to use a standalone product for their (the media companies) operations.

This explains the reason why successful media companies have so far shifted from offering a product to offering a platform.

Finally, media companies should take their API strategies seriously. They should also treat API initiatives as a separate line of business in order for them to promote and maintain their APIs as well as to measure their performance.

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What is Digital Transformation?

We are at a precarious time in the business world. We have learned from the pandemic that we need to modify existing processes, customer experiences, and the culture of our company itself to meet market requirements. 

This significant reimagining of business in the digital age is not easy, but this is where digital transformation becomes an integral component to elicit foundational changes to deliver true value to our customers.

What Is Digital Transformation?

Digital Transformation is, fundamentally, a change in the customer experience. At its core, it’s about reimagining our business in the digital age to create or modify existing processes to meet the requirements of the changing market using digital tools.

Digital transformation boils down to how you perceive and engage with your customers. As formats leap from paper to spreadsheets and now smart applications, we have the opportunity to really think about how we do business using digital technology.

What Digital Transformation Is Not

Digital transformation is the next step from digitization and digitalization, which is why it’s important to note the differences between the three:

Digitization was the switch from analog to digital. When businesses had records on paper this was classed as analog, and when computers went mainstream, there was a process of businesses converting paper records to computer files.

Digitalization is classed as the process of using digitized information and tech to simplify and streamline work processes. This can be evidenced in many ways in the modern day but the simplest example is being able to find relevant customer data on a computer instead of searching through paper documents. The ease of access by clicking the mouse and entering a few keystrokes has made an incredible improvement to business efficiency.

Digital transformation is the culmination of generating ideas for using business technology in different ways, not just for efficiency but actually creating new technologies with new approaches and using them to add value to customer interaction.

What Can Digital Transformation Do for My Business?

It can be easy to assume that digital transformation is just a way to work faster, but the fundamentals underneath it use technology at the forefront, not just as a tool. This can truly impact a business and its processes.

As digital transformations have completely changed how companies approach the idea of customer service, this is something every company needs to leap on. It is a way to use components like social media to reinvigorate how you interact with the customer, either through marketing advertising or even one-on-one engagement. Therefore, in a constantly changing market, it keeps your business current and vibrant.

How Do I Use Digital Transformation to Help My Business?

Digital transformation can encourage business owners to think beyond the norm. It can help you create the next chapter in your business journey, not just to make life easier for your company. Engaging in new, untapped markets and processes to alter your business forever. Consultation with an IT company can help you get started on this exciting and crucial journey.

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Is Staying Healthy Worth It?

There are many reasons that people struggle with having what is considered as “good health” the more people that go about doing what is convenient, not accurate. If one were to relate this to a firefighter, for example, it’s clear that in order to be successful in a job, one has to work as hard as possible. Many people think that protein drinks and zero calories food are the best way to lose weight. There is nothing that will beat exercise. The more a person works out, stays active, and maintains a healthy diet the more they will lose weight. In addition, having good health does not mean meeting a very slim individual. The media portrays skinny, little, models as the ideal body type. However, those models usually have had or still have eating disorders which make it difficult to have children in the future. Nevertheless, that is why Benjamin Harow suggests some form of fitness is recommended in addition to eating better. There are so many online platforms that can educate people on nutrition and fitness facts. Of course, speaking to a physician is of the utmost importance which is why good nutrition does not happen overnight. 

Many doctors recommend that their patients start slow and work their way up to a more balanced lifestyle. If a person decides overnight that they want to half as many calories a day and cut out all sugar, it will most likely not go well. This is simply because our bodies take time to adjust to new fitness routines. If a person is eating a sustainable amount of sugar a day, the craving will continue for days, even weeks. Stopping it, cold turkey, is never a good idea. Another way of controlling the intake of food is by portioning it out. This way, once the dish is done, there is no possibility for more food. This is also grst for anyone who tracks their calories and wants to understand how much protein, carbohydrates, and sugar are in each portion. Although this is difficult at first, there are many resources avoidable for people to sift through from.

Social media offers a variety of fitness tips and tricks. There are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter that are dedicated to keeping people healthy and fit. If a person is lacking motivation, it’s best if they follow a few social media platforms to ensure the best quality results. So many people of all shapes and sizes are controlled by the stereotypes around people’s bodies. It’s unfortunate that there are men and women who are constantly comparing themselves to the real stereotype. Make sure to check what needs to be improved on the inside rather than the outside. Doctors like  Benjamin Harow know that the transition onto a healthier mindset is the first step to being healthy. Fitness starts from within. Lastly, subtracting negative social media accounts and focusing on one’s own journeys is definitely the best way to stay healthy. 

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Renovating a New Home With Your Home-Based Business in Mind

The process of finding a home is a blast especially if you have decided your new home will also act as your office. Home-based businesses are as easy to run as ever before due to technology and the world being connected. The business could be that of a freelance writing business where a person needs to knock out long hours. Regardless of the type of business, you are going to need a dedicated space to work to the best of your ability. Looking for a home that has this space could narrow down your choices but they will still be plentiful. Do not discount a home with an in-law suite as this can provide privacy during your days of work. The following are tips to renovate your new home with your home-based business as a focus. 

A Basement Can be a Versatile Space 

The basement of a new home being finished and used as an office instead of for storage is a decent possibility. Basements can allow you to have privacy without worrying about noise going on upstairs. Adding a bathroom to the basement can make this a very livable space if you ever decide to sell the home. The basement is great for storage, this doesn’t use it to its full potential. Some might not like the idea as they would rather have a window to look out of or be somewhere they can clearly hear their children. 

Adding a Building to Your Property 

You could opt for a shed or a trailer to be put on your property to use as your office. This could also be used for storage if you need extra space for your office in your home. A shed can easily have electricity and even enough space to store inventory. You will need space on your property to have this building installed and likely permits that need to be pulled. There are so many options when it comes to sheds that you will likely find something you love. 

Adding a Room to Your Home 

Adding a room to your home is going to have to include a small roof replacement or extension. This will increase your bedroom count and square footage of your home. This will be the most expensive of all of the options due to the permits you will need to apply for. Your contractor can be a huge help with this as they have experience doing this weekly. 

Convert the Garage 

A number of corporations have started in garages that have been converted into office space. You can put a window air conditioning unit there so you can be comfortable. When selling the home, you can leave the converted garage as it is as this could be appealing to another entrepreneur. A quick pressure washing of the floor might be all you need to do to start and attempt to insulate the garage door. 

Renovating a new home while keeping your business you run from home in mind will be immensely beneficial. Do not discount the value of truly loving the space that you are working in. 

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5 Reasons to Choose a Fixed-Fee Estate Agent to Sell your Home in the UK

If you are looking to sell your UK home, there is no shortage of estate agents who will gladly sell your property for a commission fee, which is usually a percentage of the sale price. This is the industry standard that means the more valuable the property, the higher the sales commission, yet you will be happy to learn that there are online estate agents that offer a couple of fixed-fee options for their clients.

No Sale-No Fee Package

The first option is to sell your property on a ‘no sale-no fee’ basis, which means you pay nothing until the agent has found a buyer. The fixed fee is all inclusive and regardless of the resources used or the time taken to sell the property, that is all the client pays.

Split Fee Package

This option involves the client paying 50% of the fixed-fee when their property is put on the market and the final 50% on completion of the sale. When you consider that the national UK average sales commission is around 1.25%, you can see how much you would save if you choose either the split fee or the ‘no-sale-no fee’ option.

Here are just a few of the reasons why a fixed-fee deal is the preferred option when selling your home.

1. Huge Saving – Once you sit down and crunch the numbers, it becomes obvious that fixed-fee solutions save you a lot of money and with fixed-fees, everything is included in the price. Check out House Fox, a UK award-winning estate agent with rave reviews, who offers a fixed-fee or a no-sale-no fee option, whichever you prefer. The money you save can be put to good use when furnishing the new home, which is always a costly exercise, or you could use the money for your relocation expenses, which can be considerable.
2. Maximise Exposure – Listing your home with a leading UK online estate agent means your home will reach a global audience, with platforms such as Zoopla, Prime Location and Rightmove, which are the go-to platforms for those who are looking to buy property in the UK. Using an award-winning estate agent to sell your home is likely to lead to a quick sale, which allows you to move on to the next exciting chapter of your life.
3. All-Inclusive Price – Some estate agents are bold enough to offer fixed-fee packages, which, when compared to the national sales commission average 1.25%, save you a lot. Not only that, all photography, listings and brochures are all included in the price, which is reassuring. If you are about to retire and sell the family home and you are lucky enough to be in the position to build your own home, here are a few tips from a professional. Whether you are upsizing or downsizing, when you compare the estate agent rate of commission to a fixed-fee, it really is a no brainer.
4. Professional Presentation – The fixed-fee estate agent has their own in-house team of photographers who will capture the character of your home and with sales copy, your property will be appealing to potential buyers. For a small extra cost, you can have a video presentation created, which allows potential buyers to take a virtual tour of the property, but other than that, everything is included in the fixed fee. If potential buyers are able to take a virtual tour of your property via the agent’s website, this enables them to get a feel of the property before making a physical viewing. If you would like to talk to a leading fixed-fee estate agent, an online search will take you to their website, where you can read all about the various packages they offer.
5. Free Evaluation – When you make an enquiry with a fixed-fee estate agent, they would be happy to provide you with a free evaluation of your home, which you can compare with your own independent evaluation. If you would like to learn more about fixed-fee solutions and the ‘no sale-no fee option’, search online for the UK’s leading online estate agent and once you make contact, they can answer any questions you might have. Here is some UK government information on buying and selling property, which is a recommended read.

Award-Winning Estate Agents

When looking for estate agents, if you choose an award-winning agent, this should lead to a satisfactory outcome with a quick sale at your asking price, and at a cost that is very low when compared to the typical 1.25% charged by most estate agents.

The cost of living is rising all the time and you can save a lot of money when selling your home if you choose a leading fixed-fee estate agent who will find a buyer and it won’t cost anywhere near as much as with a traditional commission-based estate agent.

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4 Practical Benefits That Come With Car Detailing

It’s great that you run the car through a car wash at least twice a month. While that does make a difference, it’s a smart move to have the car detailed at least twice a year. Why detailing when you already use a car wash regularly? Here are some of the benefits that come with professional detailing. 

Protecting the Surfaces

Detailing addresses every surface found in and on your vehicle. That includes surfaces that may not receive a lot of attention otherwise. The amount of residue and grime that can collect is more than most people realize. That’s because the residue isn’t always easy to see. 

Detailing lifts what you can’t see as well as what’s obvious. If you had the opportunity to see the amount of residue that’s removed from what you believe are clean surfaces, there’s a chance that you would be appalled. Along with being cleaner, removing the residue prevents the damage that would slowly happen if that deep cleaning was never done. 

Getting Rid of Odors

Odors have a way of seeping into all sorts of surfaces. Certainly the carpeting, mats, and upholstery in your car likely have some unpleasant scents trapped within them. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with the odors or constantly use products to mask them. 

Detailing includes deep cleaning of all the soft surfaces found inside the vehicle. The result is that the origins of those odors are no longer present. When the job is done, the car interior will smell as fresh as the day it was placed on a showroom floor. 

Saying Goodbye to Stains

Even when you’re careful, it’s possible to spill something on the upholstery. While you may scramble to wipe it up before the spill can seep into the material, there’s still the potential for a stain to develop. While there are over the counter products that can help, they may or may not get rid of everything.

By contrast, a professional detailing can get rid of most stains. Once the work is finished, there’s a good chance that there will be no signs of the stain at all. Even if you can still see some tiny outline of a stain that set for some time, others will find it harder to detect. 

Removing Bacteria Too

Have you thought about the bacteria that can collect inside a vehicle? Along with contributing to the stale scent, that bacteria could eventually become the reason why you don’t feel as well as you should. The constant exposure might make you more susceptible to sinus irritations, headaches, and other common problems.

The nature of car detailing helps to clear away much of the bacteria. With nothing left to irritate your sinus cavities or respiratory system, expect to feel a little better. As long as you come back for another detailing every few months, it’s possible to continue feeling good. 

These are only a few of the reasons why car detailing makes sense. If you haven’t had the car detailed in some time, today is the day to change that. Call today and find out more about the detailing packages include, as well as the costs. You’ll find that the rewards more than justify the expense.

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Everything You Need to Know About SBI PO Exam

State Bank of India conducts SBI PO exams to recruit a fresh batch of Probationary Officers each year. A large number of aspirants prepare and appear for this exam every year to get selected and to become a probationary officer, but the reality is that only a small fraction makes it through. One of the reasons is the ineffective preparation strategy due to the lack of proper knowledge regarding the SBI PO selection process. A candidate should go through and have thorough cognizance of details such as SBI PO job profile and salary, Exam pattern, and prescribed Syllabus mentioned below.

SBI PO Job Profile and Salary

After clearing the selection process of SBI PO, a candidate is allotted a post of Probationary Officer and he/she has to go through a probation period of two years. After this, he/she is made an Assistant Manager of a branch. Responsibilities and training of an SBI PO comprises of-

• During the training period, a Probationary Officer is given Clerical or Assistant level jobs to learn and get acquainted with the various aspects of the functioning of the bank.

• Also, they are trained and are given tasks to gain knowledge and understanding of operations in accounting, finance, investment, and billing, etc during their probationary period.

After completion of the training period and becoming an Assistant Branch Manager, he/she had to take care of the daily transactions, loan process, issuance of drafts, and clearing of cheques, and more.

At present, SBI PO salary comprises a basic pay of Rs. 27,620/- along with successive increments and allowances. This is the reason why it is considered a reputed and desired job among aspirants.

SBI PO Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Before starting with his/her preparation, a candidate must have complete knowledge of the exam pattern and syllabus prescribed. The selection process of SBI PO consists of three stages i.e., Online Preliminary Exam, Online Mains Exam, and Personal Interview round. Given below is the exam pattern of both Prelims and Mains exams.

SBI PO Exam Pattern for Prelims

SBI PO Online Preliminary Exam consists of three sections namely, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. A total of 100 objective type questions are to be attempted by the candidate in a time limit of 60 minutes. Given below are the tabulated details of the prelims exam.

Section	Number of questions	Maximum Marks	Time Duration (minutes)
Quantitative Aptitude	35	35	20
Reasoning Ability	35	35	20
English Language	30	30	20

SBI PO Exam Pattern for Mains

SBI PO Mains exam consists of both an online-based objective test and a descriptive test. The objective test comprises four sections namely, English Language, Reasoning Ability, Data Interpretation & Analysis, and General/Banking Awareness, pooling together a total of 155 objective type questions with a time limit of 180 minutes. The descriptive test will consist of 2 questions namely, Essay and Letter writing for which time duration of 30 minutes will be given. The table given below provides the details of the Mains exam.

Section	Number of questions	Maximum Marks	Time Duration (Minutes)
English Language	35	40	40
Reasoning Ability	45	60	60
Data Interpretation & Analysis	35	60	45
General/Banking Awareness	40	40	35
English- Descriptive Test	2	50	30

SBI PO Prelims and Mains Syllabus

In this article, we shall talk about the whole SBI PO syllabus. Candidates can also get down the SBI PO program PDF for Prelims and important given here. The SBI PO examination is one of the most required after examination in the state and lakhs of contestants appear for the examination each year. The SBI PO examination is well thought-out to be a popular job chance by banking candidates across India. The State Bank of India performs the SBI experimental administrator examination annually to hire new entrants for the executive cadre situation. Given below is the detailed analysis of the syllabus of both Preliminary and Mains exam.

• Reasoning Ability

This section includes topics such as Analogy and Classification, Order and Ranking/ Distance and Direction, Inequalities, Blood Relation, Alphanumeric Series, Seating Arrangement, Puzzles, Input & Output, Syllogism, Data Sufficiency, and more.

• Quantitative Aptitude

Questions under this section belong to the chapter such as Algebra, Number system, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Discount, Number Series, Mensuration, Interest (Simple and compound), Time and Work, Mixtures and Alligation, Data Interpretation, etc.

• English Language

This section comprises topics like Comprehension passage, Spotting the error, Cloze test, Para jumble, Paragraph/ Sentence Completion, Fill in the blanks, and Miscellaneous.

• General/ Banking Awareness

Under General/Banking Awareness, the Candidate must focus on Current Affairs and Financial and Banking Awareness of the past six months, Static General Knowledge and History of the Indian banking system, and more.

• Computer Awareness

Candidates must have basic knowledge of Computer Basics, Software and Hardware resources, Internet, Computer terminology, Working Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Operating system, and more.

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Become the Owner of a Franchise with Less Than $250,000

You do not need to have a ton of money to start a business anymore. Today it’s possible to launch a new franchise with less than $250,000 in capital, some of which can be borrowed. (If you have a home, you may be able to use it as collateral to finance a new business.) Franchises are a great way to start a business because they give you a proven framework for success. The Franchisor is there to support you, and it wants you to succeed just as much as you do.

This Year’s Top Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities

Marketing is essential for every new business owner. It does not matter what you are selling or what services you offer; if you cannot find customers you have no chance of success. Luckily, you can always work with a professional franchise marketing agency so that you can market your businesses.

Here are some of the franchise businesses that have a proven track record of helping new entrepreneurs become successful in running their own businesses:

The Flying Locksmiths

When was the last time you locked yourself out of your house or car? There is a market for lock picking services that is thriving in every city of every country. People tend to be forgetful. Sometimes we need help, so we call a locksmith. You can take advantage of this tendency by opening up one of these franchise services in your own home town.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $180,000.

Burn Boot Camp

The fitness industry can be quite lucrative as long as you target the right demographics. That’s why this women’s fitness camp is such a great investment. You do not need a ton of startup capital, but the payoff could be enormous.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $150,000.

Snapology

The education industry supplies a reliable industry if you can create a good product. That’s why these educational toys are such a popular item currently. It also happens to be one of the least expensive franchises to start.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $40,000.

Lendio Franchising

Finance is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the entire economy. Today it is possible for you to start your own lending business. You do not even need that much money to begin.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $30,000

SmartStyle

People are always going to need to get their hair cut. The best aspect of this franchise is its atmosphere. Anywhere that you go in the country you can find one of the stores. Yet, it manages to retain its small-town feel each time you walk through the doors.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $149,000.

Board & Brush Creative Studio

Wooden signs are making a comeback. They were popular 100 years ago and are making a new tour through the public consciousness. This is a franchise that seeks to capitalize on this opportunity. If you are the creative type, you will love one of these franchises.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $65,000.

Motto Mortgage

Have you ever dreamt of owning a mortgage brokerage? If so, then this franchises the answer for your wildest dream. Become the owner of a local mortgage broker by opening one of these franchises.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $52,000.

The Patch Boys

Do you have a hole in the wall? That is because they have not seen one of these franchises yet. Take advantage of all of the work available throughout the country by opening one of these stores in a city near you.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $48,000.

R Workshop

Finally, this is another great chance for you to take advantage of our economy’s education sector. As stated previously, it is a great source of reliable income. Plus, you can support the education of young children all across the country.

How Much Do You Need to Start?: As low as $71,000.

Franchises for Beginners

It does not need to be difficult to become a business owner anymore. In fact, you do not even need to have a ton of money. As long as you are willing to take the risk and find the financing, you can become the owner of a business by purchasing a franchise. It represents one of the best ways for you to expand your income without having to work more hours. Each business represents one more opportunity to generate additional revenue.

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Way to Cut Cost for Your Restaurant

Cutting costs for your restaurant can be an important part of seeing it through more challenging times. There are some simple ways for you to cut costs. 

Reduce Food Waste

If you are noticing an excessive amount of food being wasted each week, then you are watching your money be thrown out. A regular restaurant will waste up to 75,000 pounds of food each year. That is a lot. You can cut your food waste by:

• Preparing your food to a strict list. This means that each chef will get a strict list of items that need to be prepared each day. Just because you have 650 carrots doesn’t mean they all need to be prepped right now. 
• Using a digital inventory tool can spot ordering trends and give you suggested purchase amounts, preventing overordering.
• Using foods that are a bit past their prime. Foods that are still edible but not beautiful can be turned into kimchi, sauces, croutons, and other items.

Source Local

Using local suppliers can cut the transportation costs and storage costs of your food. Not only that but the food will be fresher too, saving money while also improving the quality of what you serve. 

Reduce Staff Turnover

A happy staff stays longer. The higher your staff turnover, the longer you are going to spend training new people, and the higher those costs will rise. Reward high-performing staff and celebrate greatness. Give them a reason to stay through training, teaching, praise, and bonuses. 

Use Digital Menus Instead of Printing

Digital menus are a big money saver. These appeal to a younger, more tech-savvy crowd but also make everything easier and cheaper. Each menu costs money, and they typically get ruined pretty quickly. Having a digital menu avoids all of those costs. You can extend this further and use digital signage too. 

Energy-efficient Light Bulbs

Lighting is a huge cost in every restaurant. One of the fastest ways to save money and keep saving for the years to follow is by switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs. Look for programs that will reward your restaurant for using energy-efficient goods and actively reducing their energy usages. 

Unplug appliances

There are some appliances that need to be kept plugged in and others that don’t need to be. Have a check at the end of each day and unplug kettles, cookers, lamps, and everything that isn’t essential. These are known as energy vampires and contribute a significant amount to your monthly energy bills. 

Upgrade to efficient appliances

Old appliances can eat up electricity because they aren’t as efficient as newer models. Energy-efficient fridges are designed to hold temperature better, and even an energy-efficient commercial grill can make a huge difference. The right grill can also reduce AC usage, saving even more. 

Every year there are new initiatives, tools, and apps that can help restaurants reduce their overall costs. This can be done by taking a close look at food waste, the efficiency of appliances, treating staff fairly, and going digital. 

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Yuben Moodley Discusses Three Areas of Stem Cell Research

Many people only think of the controversial embryonic stem cell research when they hear of stem cell research. While popular, there is more than one field of stem cell research out there. In this article, Yuben Moodley, experienced physician and researcher, details three areas of stem cell research for those looking to understand more.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The most well-known division of research in stem cells is embryonic stem cells. These stem cells are derived from embryos that are in an early developmental stage, usually only three to five days old. The cells at this stage are called a blastocyst, which makes up about 150 cells.

These cells intrigue scientists greatly as they are pluripotent, which means they can divide into additional cells and become any type of cell in the body. By carrying such versatility, these stem cells have the potential to be used to regenerate or repair tissues and organs in the human body. However, this form of stem cell research is highly criticized and debated due to the fact that the stem cells are extracted for use by destroying human embryos.

Adult Stem Cell Research

Adult stem cells take on the responsibility of maintaining and repairing tissue in the tissues where they are found. While scientists call them adult stem cells, other researchers may also refer to them as somatic cells from the Greek word “soma,” meaning a body, as these cells can be found in any body tissue for people ranging from babies to adults. Unlike embryonic stem cells, which can only be harvested from the early stages of an embryo, adult stem cells can essentially be found and extracted from any living human. These stem cells can be taken from bone marrow, muscles, fat tissues, and umbilical cord blood to treat several illnesses.

The research in this field believes that they may become a “natural” solution for many. As adult stem cells naturally exist in each of our bodies, they possess their own natural repair mechanism for most tissues in the body.

Adult stem cells have been used successfully in many human therapies over recent years. Whereas other research areas are still in early phases on animals, there have been significant breakthroughs in testing for human therapies, putting this area of stem cell research far ahead. Some of the many conditions and illnesses adult stem cells have already successfully treated include liver disease, metabolic disorders, anemia, and certain blood conditions, Parkinson’s Disease, Macular Degeneration, heart disease, autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Crohn’s Rheumatoid Arthritis, and many types of cancer.

RNA Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research

The study behind RNA induced pluripotent stem cells is essentially a way to reprogram somatic (adult) stem cells into pluripotent stem cells by synthetically modifying the RNA in each cell. Studies have been performed by taking skin fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells and genetically reprogramming them. When each cell is reprogrammed, they take on embryonic stem cell-like properties.

While this research area is relatively new, it holds promise as it removes the ethical concern of extracting cells from human embryos. With the elimination of ethical issues, there is a higher likelihood that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) research can obtain a more generous amount of federal funding and overall support.

About Yuben Moodley

Dr. Yuben Moodley is a physician, scientist, and associate professor of respiratory medicine. He is dedicated to providing high-quality patient care, conducting cell and molecular research, and teaching. He is the head of the Stem Cell Unit at the Lung Institute of Western Australia, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Royal Perth Hospital, and Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Western Australia. 

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Will My Health Insurance Pay for an Auto Accident?

Both health insurance and auto insurance are absolutely essential types of coverage in modern American life, and in most places you are required to have the latter by law. But can your health insurance and car insurance be used in tandem?

If you get into a car crash that was caused by another driver’s negligence, is your health insurance going to pay your medical bills, or the driver at fault’s car insurance, or your car insurance, or some combination?

This situation can be really confusing, and unfortunately there is no simple answer.

Let’s walk through the general overview, demonstrate a few state-by-state differences, and show where you can get specific answers depending on where you live.

Health Insurance Coverage for a Car Accident Will Depend on Your State of Residency

Essentially, the question comes down to state law and insurance policies. It is crucial that you read both your auto and health insurance policies thoroughly when you first sign onto a new policy.

Ask your insurance company any questions if the answers aren’t clearly written in the policy.

Although your health insurance company will cover you for certain medical expenses, depending on your coverage, it’s possible that your health insurance will deny a claim that you file for medical expenses incurred as a result of an accident.

Why would this be the case? It may be that your health insurance policy dictates that in certain circumstances involving auto accidents, the burden of payment rests with the auto insurance company.

No-Fault and At-Fault States

It’s important to know if you live in a no-fault state or an at-fault state. If your health insurance doesn’t cover certain car crashes, you really want to make sure that your auto insurance has a pretty high cap on bodily injury in a no-fault state.

If you live in a state with at-fault personal injury liability laws, the question of medical bills in the event of a car crash will again come down to your health insurance policy. It will also depend on the circumstances of the crash and the insurance coverage of the driver who hit you.

If you’ve incurred medical expenses, regardless of whether or not your health insurance denies your claim or only covers a portion of the costs, you should quickly file an insurance claim with the company that covers the driver that was at fault.

Ideally, they will offer you a settlement that takes care of all your expenses.

If your health insurance company already paid some or all of your medical bills, they will most likely take the relevant chunk of that out of the settlement you receive from the auto insurance company.

Why Do I Need an Attorney to Handle an Insurance Claim?

A personal injury compensation can provide financial support and help in dealing with the aftermath of a crash.

Consulting with an attorney before accepting a settlement offer can dramatically increase your chances of getting a good settlement. This is particularly important if you live in an at-fault state.

Why? For one, having your attorney deal with the insurance company shows that you mean business.

Secondly, an attorney with experience in personal injury law or auto accident cases will be able to give you a better sense of what you can expect and what a good outcome will look like.

A lawyer is essential during the settlement phase because they have experience negotiating with insurance companies.

They understand the tactics they’ll use to try to get away with offering you less than you need to recover so they can hang on to their profits.

If you make the decision to sue for damages, you will absolutely want an attorney’s help. If you try to handle negotiations on your own, you may not end up with enough to cover your medical costs.

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London SEO Agency Tips for More Traffic to Your Business’s Website

If you rely on getting online traffic to your business website, then you’ve probably considered SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) as one of your options. And it’s certainly true that optimising for search engines can dramatically boost the streams of potential customers that click through to your site. A good SEO strategy, coupled with the right implementation, can be one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience online. 

The challenge with SEO, however, is that it can be a complex, even mysterious process. In the world of digital marketing, SEO has a reputation for being complicated –  an esoteric art that could take years to master. Consider the massive resources Google has available to continually improve and update the algorithms you’re trying to keep up with!

Couple with this confusion, there is also some reluctance among many business owners to delve into the mechanics of links and SERPs and keywords, preferring to devote their attention to what they know best, i.e. offering their products and services and taking care of their customers.  

But if you know that you should be more clued up about SEO, or even if you’d like to try implementing some basic DIY tips and tricks, a leading London SEO agency shares the following strategies for quickly and easily, relatively speaking, improving your website’s online presence. 

Use Google’s Own Data

One of the best ways to get started with your SEO is to make sure your site is properly set up in Google’s Search Console (you should also set up your site in Google Analytics, too). Google Search Console (GSC) is a platform that reveals a wealth of information related to your site’s performance in the search results, including which search terms are already driving traffic to your website, how well you are ranking for those terms, and which might have the best potential for driving even more traffic if you better optimise your site content.

GSC will help you to see what is currently working for your website, as well as providing valuable insights into what opportunities there might be for ‘quick wins’. Just as important, it will also tell you if there are any issues holding your site’s performance back, and fixing these can also lead to ranking and traffic improvements.

Optimise Your Page Content

When it comes to optimising your website, one of the easiest places to begin is with your page content. The words you use on your web pages are indexed by search engines, which helps them to understand what your site is about and where it should feature in search results. 

On-page optimisation is the practice of making sure your content contains relevant keywords and phrases – the search terms your potential customers might ‘google’ to find your business – in key areas on your site’s pages like the page title and subheadings. Long gone are the days where you just needed to stuff your content with the right keywords over and over again – don’t do this! 

These days you need to make sure the key elements like the page headings are relevant to the search terms you want to be found for, but the rest of the content should be written naturally, and most importantly, provide the best information for the search terms you’re targetting.

That’s why, before you embark on any kind of SEO work, it’s a good idea to be very clear about which keywords you want to rank for, then you can ensure your web copy is as relevant as possible for those searches, and Google will see that you’re providing the kind of information the searchers will want to see.

Pay Attention to Meta Titles

Another simple task that you can do quite quickly is to customise the meta titles of your web pages. These are the ‘headlines’ that appear as the main title of your page listing in the results from search engines like Google, and they can play an important role in where your website ranks in these results. 

Meta titles can also influence whether people click on your listing, so it’s worth crafting them carefully so that they appeal to your potential customers, as well as highlighting your target keywords to the search engines. Include your chosen keywords, but again, don’t overdo this and make sure that it reads in a way that will appeal to real customers. 

In terms of these last two tips, optimising your content and your meta titles, if you really don’t know where to start, learn from what is already working. Look at the sites that are ranking on the first page of Google for the keywords you want to target and see how they structure their meta title and content optimisation. You don’t want to copy this, but the structure and phraseology should give you enough of a start to improve your own optimisation.

Encourage More Clicks

Improving the Click Through Rate (CTR) of your search results listings, by which we mean increasing the number of times your listing is clicked on when it shows up in the results, is one of the best ways to get more customers without making any improvements to your rankings. You can do this by improving your meta titles as described above, and providing a more compelling Call to Action. 

As well as your meta titles, you can look at optimising the meta-descriptions on your pages. These are the longer descriptions that display below the title and page link in the search results. Don’t worry too much about using your target keywords in this section, as it can be prone to over-optimisation, but use related terms for the information/product/service on the web page, and create something that will entice your ideal customer to click through to your site. Again, see what’s working in the top search results for ideas.

Build Internal Links

Backlinks are one of the power tools of SEO strategies, but getting links from other websites back to your site can be a difficult and time-consuming process. An easier way you can benefit from ‘link juice’ is to add internal links between the pages of your own site. Linking the relevant pages of your site together has two main benefits. 

First of all you are building links from one relevant page to another, and Google likes relevant links – this can work even better if you link several relevant pages to one particular page you want to do well in the search results.

Secondly, by linking your relevant pages together you create what are known as ‘topic clusters’, which are little groups of the related pages on your site, and all these pages sharing the same theme or topic helps when they link to other pages about the same theme or topic.

Although not quite as powerful as external links these are still good links – plus they have the advantage of being quick and easy to implement. Interlinking between the groups of relevant pages on your site also helps to organise your content so Google can better understand what your topic clusters and your site as a whole are all about, and gives it the kind of information it needs to understand what your site’s pages should be ranking for.

These simple tips show how do-able it can be to implement some basic SEO-boosting practices. However, if you’re looking to substantially increase your organic traffic and spend your resources on the most effective and appropriate strategies, hiring an expert can reap dividends in the long term. An SEO agency or consultant can help to identify the optimum strategies and tactics for your business, so that you reach more of your potential customers online and achieve the best return on your marketing investment.

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Change Your Life by Owning a Motorbike

Owning a motorcycle can give you a feeling like no other, especially riding down the open road surrounded by beautiful scenery. Indeed, if you want to become part of one of the largest communities on the planet, you should think about changing your life and purchasing a new motorcycle. In addition, it is important to understand that more people than ever are taking the opportunity to enhance their life by purchasing a motorcycle. Furthermore, it should be noted that you will still be the same person while you will have a new perspective on the world as a result of being a motorcycle owner. For more information about the various makes and models that are available on the market, you should think about consulting an online business directory as you will be able to identify a number of companies that you can contact.

Become part of a global community

One of the main ways that you can change your life as a result of purchasing a motorcycle is to become part of a global community. Indeed, it is imperative to note that motorcycle riders make communities around the world while they all enjoy the opportunity to get out on the open road so they can enjoy the exhilarating feelings that can be had when riding a motorcycle. Furthermore, you can also experience some of the most fantastic scenery which you may not be able to notice when you are driving around in other forms of transport, such as a car or a truck. Regardless of whether you are a new or an experienced motorcycle owner, you should think about contacting Wheels Honda for more information about the various models that are available on the market at the start of the 21^st century as you may want to upgrade your current machine. The motorcycle community is well-known around the world, meaning that if you take your motorbike to a foreign country or even in a different part of your home country, you can often be welcomed within a particular community of bikers as soon as you arrive at a specific location.

Improve your navigational and riding skills

In addition, you should also be aware that you can change your life by owning a motorcycle as this purchase will give you the opportunity to learn a number of new skills. Furthermore, it is imperative to understand that your navigational skills will improve while your motor functions will also be enhanced as a result of riding your motorbike on a regular basis. Riding a motorcycle can also provide you with the opportunity to get a good workout, especially if you own a larger bike. This is especially pertinent if you often take your motorcycle for a ride as you can enjoy the opportunity to get fresh air, as well as work on your upper body by having to control the bike on the road.

Become a better road user

Another significant benefit that you could enjoy by owning a motorcycle and changing your life is that you will become a better road user. Indeed, given the exposed nature of riding a motorcycle they are a more dangerous form of transport than other vehicles on the road. As a result, motorcycle riders have to be aware about what is going on around them at all times while switching off can often lead to a serious accident. Regardless of whether you are looking for other vehicles, pedestrians or animals, you will become a better road user when you go back to driving a car. This is especially pertinent as motorbike riders need to be constantly aware of what is happening around them at all times to prevent accidents or injuries from occurring.

See the world

Furthermore, riding a motorcycle can allow you the opportunity to experience some of the most fantastic roads on the planet. In addition, you could also see fantastic scenery as a result of going on a motorbike ride. As a result, you should be aware that owning a motorcycle can have a number of benefits for your life, regardless of whether you want to get into work quickly during the busy rush-hour traffic or whether you want to spend the weekend at a leisurely pace travelling to new locations.

Be safe at all times

However, it is important to understand that when you are riding a motorcycle you should always wear the appropriate clothes and always make sure you wear a helmet. This is especially pertinent if you will be driving on larger roads as you should always ensure you wear the correct gear while if you will be riding in a large city you should also consider the government’s safety advice.

Therefore, in conclusion, if you are looking to change your life in a number of different ways, you should consider purchasing a motorbike as you can improve your skill set, as well as become a better road user. Lastly, you could also take the opportunity to see the world while being safe at all times is imperative for every motorbike rider.

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Use This Essential Checklist to Secure Your New Laptop from Threats

In your excitement to use your new laptop, don’t forget to establish its defenses. Your new machine is vulnerable to online and offline threats – from malware and hackers on the Internet, to crooks on the streets looking to break into your computer and steal your data.   

1. Beef Up Sign-in Security

Anyone with access to your laptop can steal your identity. After you take a few minutes to admire your newly arrived machine, beef up the sign-in security. Take advantage of powerful biometric verification options like fingerprint and retina scan. Set a complex sign-in password with symbols and numbers to make it harder for others to break into your operating system. Likewise, use complex passwords and two-step-verification to secure your online credentials from cybercriminals.

2. Check for Updates

Although your laptop is new, it’s unlikely to have the latest software and security updates released after it left the factory. After all, new operating system updates release constantly. Check for the latest updates, even if the process takes time. With just a little patience, you’ll have the most secure version of your operating system. 

3. Raise Your Firewall

Before downloading any programs, enable your firewall. A firewall is a network security system that functions as a barrier between your computer and the Internet. It controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on your security rules by managing your computer ports. Your firewall only opens ports to trusted programs when needed.

Sign up with a credible Virtual Private Network (VPN) service for another layer of defense around your laptop’s web traffic. A VPN protects your privacy and security on the Internet by encrypting your data and masking your IP address. A VPN is especially useful for laptops because it secures public WiFi connections. Without a VPN, public WiFi is too risky to use.  

4. Download Advanced Cybersecurity Software

Use advanced cybersecurity software to protect your computer from malware like viruses, ransomware, adware, spyware, trojans, and more. Malicious software can steal your data and slow your new laptop down.

5. Remove Bloatware

Many new computers come with unwanted software. This preloaded software comes courtesy of your computer’s manufacturer and its advertising partners. Bloatware is rarely useful, with its best features usually stuck behind a paywall. Bloatware often carries malware like adware, which tracks your behavior and targets you with annoying popup ads. Bloatware also slows down your system. 

Remove bloatware by uninstalling it from your list of programs. Unfortunately, some bloatware is nearly impossible to remove manually. To remove particularly stubborn bloatware, try the right removal tools. 

6. Don’t Hand Out Permissions

A variety of software asks for permission to track your data in order to target you with ads, products, and services. Take charge of your privacy. Minimize third-party access to data such as your browsing history, location, camera, and microphone by responding to permission requests with caution. Take advantage of the robust security settings in your web browser to further protect your laptop from privacy threats.

It’s tempting to get started with your brand-new laptop without paying attention to its security. However, this can be a recipe for disaster. Hackers and malware can steal every ounce of joy from the experience of owning a new device. Be proactive, set your defenses, and enjoy your time on your new computer.

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2020 Uncovered – The Biggest Challenges Faced by Forex Brokers in International Markets

The global forex market is a truly fascinating entity, and one that continues to grow consistently and incrementally during the digital age.

More specifically, this market now sees an estimated $6.6 trillion traded globally every single day, with this number having increased from a little over $5.3 trillion over the course of the last decade or so.

Interestingly, the market has continued to grow exponentially during the coronavirus pandemic, amid genuine volatility and wild price fluctuations. However, challenges still remain for international brokers, and overcoming these is central to success in 2020 and beyond.

How has Forex Grown During 2020?

There’s no doubt that the forex market contrasts sharply with the performance of other sectors during the Covid-19 outbreak, although the size and extent of the sector’s boom is unusually stark when compared with the wider global economy.

Generally speaking, brokers have reported widespread growth in terms of accounts and revenues during 2020 to date, with one example (provided by IronFX) confirming monthly growth of 25% to 50% in its number of active forex accounts.

In numerical terms, this translates into approximately 220,000 new client accounts over the period of March through June (or Q2 to be precise), while associated trading volumes also increased by an estimated 300% during the same period.

Such growth rates were particularly pronounced in developing nations and economies, with traders’ accounts from Southeast Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe comprising 60% of all new accounts opened.

This growth has also bled into other markets and asset classes, particularly commodities such oil. This makes sense in many ways, as there remains a strong correlation between oil and currency values (especially the US Dollar), while there’s an opportunity to leverage this and profit from the recent decline in oil prices.

What are the Main Challenges Faced by International Brokers?

Despite this sustained growth, brokers that operate in the global forex market continue to face a number of difficult and universal challenges.

One of the most seminal revolves around trust, particularly as growth and demand in the sector has inspired a rise in the number of rogue brokers operating across the globe.

This issue is also exacerbated by the dominance of a select few forex brokers, who claim a vast share of the marketplace and continue to attract the majority of clients. This makes it hard for independent operators to thrive and claim their own market share, undermining the level of competition and creating an opportunity for criminal elements to capitalise.

Global brokers are also having to cope with significant changes in compliance rules and rapid regulatory shifts, with these challenges compounded by the lack of a single regulatory framework within the worldwide marketplace.

Sure, reputable UK brokers can be identified by their Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) accreditation, but this is only a single layer of protection for clients in an age where mistrust and advanced spyware programs are rife within the industry.

Fortunately, global operators can tackle this head-on by working closely with an international consultant and specialist like RSM, which boasts experience in industry regulations and the implementation of tax, audit and transactions rules across the board.

Make no mistake; this creates a solid framework in which international brokers can operate, providing a foundation from which they can capitalize on increased demand and grow organically over time.

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What You Need to Know When Moving to Australia as a Professional

For many Brits, Australia is seen as the land of opportunity. A place where the living is good, the sun always shines and there are plenty of jobs. Indeed three of its major cities – Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide – made it into The Global Liveability Index 2019 of most liveable cities in the world, scoring highly for things like stability, culture and environment, education, infrastructure and health care. 

Because of this, there’s a high number of people wanting to come into the country, and with such competition, securing a visa can prove challenging.

If you want to emigrate to Australia, it’s important to know how the immigration system works. Navigating visas is complicated, so it’s a good idea to consult the expertise of immigration lawyers to help you through the process.

Here we break down everything you need to know about moving to Australia.

A brief history of immigration

The UK has a long and chequered immigration history with Australia, starting in 1788 when more than 1,300 convicts and military personnel arrived from Britain. By 1868, around 160,000 in total had been transported to Australia.

In this time, Australia had also seen around 200,000 free settlers from the UK and Ireland arrive to start a new life. The next big wave of immigration happened between 1945 and the early 70s when one million Brits took advantage of the Australian government’s ’Ten Pound Pom’ initiative, which aimed to replenish the population lost after the Second World War.

These days, travel to Australia is almost a right of passage for many graduates or those on a gap year, with lots consequently applying for more permanent status. At the end of June 2018, there were almost 1.2 UK-born residents in Australia, making the UK the largest source of migrants in the country. 

The land of opportunity

So, just what makes Australia such an attractive destination for skilled immigrants? Down Under certainly has a lot to offer. Its abundance of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, timber and gold help make its economy the 14^th largest in the world, with a GDP of around 1392.7 billion US dollars.

On top of that, the hot and sunny climate, relaxed lifestyle, good job prospects, better pay and relatively cheap housing make Australia a mecca for many UK professionals.

The types of visa available

Working visas

The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) allows individuals aged between 18 and 30 to work and travel in the country for up to a year. You must have this visa before you travel and you’ll need to prove you have enough funds to support yourself. You can apply online and 75% of applications are processed in 35 days.

A Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) allows you to stay for up to four years. To be eligible for this, you have to be nominated by an employer for a skilled position, one that can’t be filled by an Australian.

A Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a points-tested system that enables you to live and work permanently in Australia. To be eligible for this, you must be qualified to work in a skilled occupation. Visit the Skilled Occupations List to see which workers are most in demand. You’ll then need to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect. From there, you will be ranked against other applicants and may be invited to apply.  

There are many other different types of visa, so do your research before you apply to help you decide which one is right for you.

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Installment Loans vs. Revolving Credit: How They Compare

Having different kinds of debts shows lenders that you can easily manage multiple debts. However, you need to properly pay the creditors to leave a good impression on future lenders and positively impact your credit score.

Most of the time, the variety of debts you owe fall under two categories: installment loans and revolving credit.

How Do Installment Loans and Revolving Credit Differ

Before you decide on borrowing money, it is vital to know how your debt works. You need to know first if the debt is a revolving credit or an installment loan. Both credit categories differ in many ways.

Installment loans are the type of loans with a fixed amount and are paid back based on a set schedule agreed upon by the borrower and the lender. On the other hand, revolving credit will let you borrow money up to a specified amount.

After you pay it off monthly, you can continue to borrow more money as long as you don’t exceed the limit.

How Borrowing Works

Lenders such as banks, credit unions, and online lenders offer installment loans. It can be applied in person or through an online application. Common examples of installment loans are personal loans, car loans, and mortgage loans.

Installment loans usually have fixed interest rates. This means you will be aware of how much interest you will pay monthly and in total. On the other hand, some lenders offer installment loans at variable rates.

If you choose an installment loan with a variable rate, your loan’s interest rate will be based on a financial index, but your repayment schedule is still fixed.

Installment loans are usually paid every month. With an installment loan, you will know when to pay and when your debt ends. On top of that, if you opted for a fixed-rate installment loan, you will know the total cost of your loan.

This means you will be very aware of your debt situation, with no surprises or whatsoever.

With revolving credit, you will be given a borrowing limit. With that limit, you can choose to use only a small portion of your line of credit. Common examples of revolving credit are credit cards and equity lines of credit.

Suppose you are given an $8,000 home equity line of credit, and you might want to use only $1,500 from it. After you repay that $1,500, the credit will be available for your use again.

Some revolving credit is open-ended. This means your credit line will stay open as long as you want to. That way, you can borrow money and pay it back forever.

This is true when it comes to credit cards. On the other hand, some revolving debts are only available for a limited period, such as eight years. This is the case for home equity lines of credit.

When Can You Access Funds

You can get a lump sum of money when you take out an installment loan. If you asked for $15,000 in an installment loan, that same amount would directly be deposited to your bank account or through check. If you want to borrow more money, you’ll need to apply for a new loan.

A revolving debt lets you choose when to borrow money. You can opt to borrow right after opening an account or wait for a couple of months. It entirely depends on your choice.

However, if you don’t use your card for quite too long, you might end up losing your card due to inactivity. As long as you don’t exceed your credit limit, you can continue to borrow money and pay it off. 

How Repayment Works

As mentioned earlier, installment loans have a predictable repayment schedule. Before you could get the loan amount, you and the lender will agree upon how often you will make payments and how much you will pay.

If you choose a fixed-rate loan, your payment will not change over time. Suppose you borrowed money on a six-year term, and your payment per month starts at $200. Six years from now, you still have to pay $200 monthly.

When it comes to revolving debts, your repayments will entirely depend on how much you borrowed. This means, if you haven’t borrowed money yet, you don’t have anything to repay. Most of the time, revolving debts are paid per month. However, you can choose to pay a portion of what is due.

Takeaway

If you can juggle having an installment credit and a revolving credit simultaneously, that’s okay. Just make sure you properly manage your debts, which means on-time payments with no problems.

Having both credit types can boost your credit score and give you an excellent chance to get approved for another loan or credit in the future.

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