Cloud TV, to put it simply, is a platform that virtualizes the functionality of an STB or CPE. As a result, pay-TV companies can offer complex user interfaces to their viewers. It is comparable to Hulu and YouTube’s online streaming experiences. They are the televisions of the future. Cloud TV was first introduced to the globe by Active Video, a software business based in Silicon Valley. It’s now on more than 14 million devices. If you haven’t experienced the Cloud TV platform yet, jump into the technology and give it a shot.
What Are the Fundamentals of Cloud TV?
Cloud TV allows television users to access their recorded recordings from any location. Users also can save information to a mobile screen to watch while they are not connected to the internet. Amongst the most appealing aspects of the cloud, TV is that everyone in the family may watch their favorite shows from any room or while on the go. Cloud TV technologies deliver a better entertainment experience for the entire family. It’s now easier than ever to get to the stuff you’ve saved in the cloud. If you
What Is Cloud-Based Streaming and How Does It Work?
Virtualization broadcast is made up of a network of cloud storage specialized in hosting and delivering video files to viewers as quickly as possible. Producers provide files to be encoded and transcoded into a variety of watchable formats. Cloud-based media conversion is a cost-effective way to create several versions of a single video clip without detracting from the encoding process. If you want to go with cloud television, it is best to deal with the most experienced supplier; there are many companies, such as Divitel.com, which offer cloud television services.
How Cloud TV is Changing the Future of Television
People just want the best of the two, and Pay TV companies are looking for new ways to adapt. Cloud TV is the way of the future. Through television bundles that combine their Pay TV offering with an accumulation of material from 3rd streaming platforms, telco providers give live and on-demand experiences from the cloud. Media firms use Cloud TV to broaden their audience reach and increase income by offering a diverse range of engaging and tailored experiences to their millions of viewers on any device.
Is Using Cloud TV APK Secure?
Installing and using the Cloud TV APK on your Android smartphone is almost risk-free. However, we always advise you to check the app permissions option in the app settings menu. Simply grant the appropriate permissions during the initial setup procedure and begin utilizing it. The APK file must be manually downloaded and installed on your Android smartphone. The APK file is roughly 14 Megabytes and thus can be installed easily on your Android devices.
Conclusion
There are a plethora of excellent streaming service options available. Choosing the proper platform can be difficult, but take a step back, evaluate your goals and priorities, and select an online video platform that fits all of your requirements. It’s also a good idea to try out platforms with free trials to make sure you discover the one that’s right for you.
Cloud TV platform: All you need to know was last modified: December 24th, 2021 by Mahendra Link
Search engine optimization is very crucial if you’re looking forward to starting a new business. Not only does it help you in gaining a lot of audiences, but exposure helps in improving visibility. This improved visibility can help your products, being easily captured by the target audience.
If you’re looking forward to growth in a localized market, local search engine optimization should be your main aim. Creating a marketing strategy that aligns with the same will not only help you to see rich dividends but will also help you to grow at an exponential pace.
The digital market is booming in Australia. If you’re looking forward to having your own business grow, you should contact agencies specializing in SEO in Sydney. Understanding the market is very important when it comes to delivering results. The marketing agencies that have a good understanding of the market of Australia can help you in capturing the Sydney market.
Now that we have slowly moved towards an understanding of digital marketing, let us find out how local search engine optimization can boost your business growth.
Gaining an Understanding of the Local Market:
Search engine optimization can actually put your product at the front of your customer understanding and desiring customer is very important. Local search engine optimization enhances the chances of you gaining an understanding of the market. If this understanding is developed, you can not only target the right audience but can also curate the products as per their needs.
Gaining Visibility in the Local Market:
Setting a target audience in the local market using local search engine optimization will help you attract the business and the audience. One of the biggest advantages is the trust that the audience builds. Word of mouth is still one of the most powerful marketing techniques. If in the local market, people get to know about how your product is serving the benefits, then they can actually bring in a new audience. Moreover, you can also expect loyal customers with the help of local search engine optimization.
Improved Conversion Rates:
Stickley local search engine optimization gives a better chance of converting your audience. The lead conversion ratio is pretty high when it comes to local search engine optimization. Enter is something that you can really look forward to. It also brings in loyal customers, which is one of the reasons why local search engine optimization is the preferred mode when scaling a business up.
Say Goodbye to Competition From Bigger Firms:
Often the bigger firms cannot reach the grassroots levels. It is at this place where your small business can actually grow and enhance the local market. This local market can be tapped, benefited from and can give a run for the money to the bigger businesses. Moreover, gaining popularity within this small market can also help you get to the apex of the food chain when it comes to the regional market space. If you’re a small business that is starting in a very nascent stage, then local search engine optimization should be your bread and butter.
Improved Community Outreach:
The community is actually going to add a push for the sales of your products or services. If you are able to bring about the people with similar tastes into a certain train work and create a community, then the local business will actually flourish at a faster pace. It’s the community that brings about repeated customers, which helps you grow your business eventually.
Bottom Line:
No matter how much we talk about local search engine optimization, everything will fail if there is no clear strategy that we’re looking forward to. Make sure that there is a clear strategy that the business is operating in before implementing local search engine optimization.
Understanding Why Local SEO is the Game-Changer in 2022 was last modified: January 14th, 2022 by Ela Marie
A point-of-sale (POS) system is the electronic hardware and software used by businesses to ring up customers’ purchases, accept payments and keep track of sales.
Traditionally, the term point-of-sale was used in reference to the cash register in a brick-and-mortar store, however nowadays all POS systems are digital which allows for businesses to check-out customers anywhere using a POS app and a device connected to the Internet.
Although most POS systems work in the same way and share similar functions, the setup of a POS varies depending on whether the business sells products and services online or at physical storefront.
If you are doing some research on a POS system for your business, you can read about some of their key functions below.
Electronic Check Out
When a customer decides to purchase a product or service in a physical store, their next step will be to ask a sales associate to take them through the checkout process. In a retail store such as a clothes shop or convenience store, this would involve the associate using a barcode scanner to look up the item’s price, however, in other businesses such as a gas station, a specialized fuel POS system would be used to ring up sales at each pump. If the store is based online then the checkout process starts with customers adding items to their cart before clicking the checkout button to make the payment.
When it comes to salon credit card processing, the checkout process typically involves a sales associate using a point-of-sale (POS) system to process the payment securely. This allows customers to conveniently pay for their services using their credit cards.
Calculating Prices
One of the most important functions of a POS system is the accurate recording and display of prices during the checkout process. A good quality POS system clearly displays a breakdown of items and their prices as well as the total price including sales tax, after the sale takes place the inventory count should be updated to show the item sold.
Handling and Recording Transactions
To complete their purchase, a customer has to pay for the goods or service. POS systems allow them to do this via various methods including cash, credit card, debit card, eftpos designed gift card, or loyalty points. If a customer chooses to pay with a card, a POS system connected to the Internet will communicate with the customer’s bank to ensure the transaction is authorized. Once payment is confirmed, a digital or printed receipt is made which can be handed or shipped to the customer.
Types of POS Hardware and Software
Although every POS system requires software, not every type of business such as online stores needs the hardware. However, if you are running a retail business with a physical location such as a cafe or restaurant then you will need a cash register, display, receipt printer, and credit card, reader. The hardware usually found in POS systems includes:
A cash register for calculating and processing customer transactions
A portable device connected to the Internet, this can be used as the display for your POS
A credit card reader for secure and fast payments by debit or credit card
A cash drawer for safely storing cash
A receipt printer
A bar code scanner
Effectively handling sales is an essential part of any business, and to make this possible businesses should use a point-of-sale. This combination of hardware and software carries out a variety of functions to ensure transactions are processed and completed correctly.
What Are POS Systems And How Does It Work was last modified: November 27th, 2023 by Allen Brown
Mark Zuckerberg announced during Facebook’s annual conference (also called Facebook Connect) about changing the company name from “Facebook” to “Meta”. He emphasized that Facebook isn’t fully justifying what the company is doing right now and where it wants to head in the future. Besides the name change, Zuckerberg also narrated the future of the company in the “Metaverse”. Since then, we can see a lot of debate around metaverse on the internet. So, will metaverse be a key to letting Meta stock go up? Let’s find out with the current information we have on this matter.
Metaverse – Brief Overview
Before we start discussing the impacts of the metaverse and other details, let’s first clear out our viewpoint around metaverse.
Metaverse is like a combination of virtual spaces that you can explore or create with others that are not in the same physical space. So, you will be able to virtually interact with friends or colleagues, play games, hold meetings, do shopping, and perform many other things.
Metaverse is possible by combining aspects of virtual reality, augmented reality, social media, cryptocurrency, and the internet. By using VR/AR headsets, smart glasses, or any other immersive hardware, you will be able to access metaverse. It seems a fancy concept, but metaverse becoming mainstream still requires a couple of years or a decade.
Meta Current Investment on Metaverse
Meta (formerly Facebook) has been investing in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology for many years, which also includes acquiring companies like Oculus. However, now it has become aggressive around metaverse technology. Just in the year 2021, Meta spending around metaverse research is expected to exceed $10 billion. It also plans to hire around 10,000 new employees in Europe in the next five years to increase its research around metaverse technology. So, Meta is on an aggressive mode to take the lead in metaverse technology.
Other than the fact that metaverse is a game-changing technology, it is also vital for Meta because the company needs something new, innovative, and big to sustain the revenue flow in the future. The company already sees a minor decline in ads revenue. Its 2021 third quarter ads revenue rose to $29.01 billion, which is a little down from analysts’ estimates of $29.57 billion. Meta blames Apple iOS 14 privacy changes as a major factor in the decline. Moreover, Meta is also struggling to attract young adults, as young adults are actively opting for other platforms, such as TikTok.
Metaverse & Meta Stock
Mark Zuckerberg projects metaverse to become a realistic technology in the next 5-10 years period, but many think that it’s at least a decade away. So, whether metaverse will help the Meta stock to go up demands on how quickly the company can release the early version of the metaverse. As per Bank of America research, Meta’s metaverse project can assist greatly in long-term growth and help drive the stock price to 22% upside potential. There are some other factors that can influence Meta stock with metaverse technology. Two of the leading factors in this perspective are listed below:
1. The Race to Metaverse
There is a race going on among tech giants to become the first one to offer metaverse. Other than Meta, the tech giants, like Microsoft, Apple, Google, Sony, Epic Games, and many others are actively spending millions in metaverse technology. Whichever succeeds in offering the first realistic version of metaverse will lead the race. But why is becoming the first one that important?
Tech giants are believing metaverse to be the next “big” thing after smartphones. In fact, many Metaverse investing funds have emerged shortly after Facebook put this concept in the spotlight. The avatar-based gaming apps, such as Fortnite and Roblox, are already successful in grabbing millions of users. The concept of digital avatar is becoming popular, so that’s one indication that how consumers are going to respond when they will get to experience a virtual interactable world. So, whoever manages to lead the race will instantly grab consumers’ attention and investors’ money.
Meta didn’t manage to get involved in the smartphone industry and now it has to follow the privacy changes made by Apple and other platforms. Therefore, it is important for Meta to lead the metaverse race. So, the stock price of Meta can witness a prominent surge if we get to hear any realistic product release by the company.
2. Who Adopts Metaverse First: Businesses or Consumers?
Other than becoming the first one, the next concerning factor is that who is going to adopt metaverse first? Whether it would be businesses or consumers? If you recall, businesses were the first ones to adopt PC compared to consumers. However, the opposite trend was seen with smartphones. If we look at Meta’s Oculus brand, then consumers are dominating in the purchases of VR devices. So, it seems consumers will be the first ones to adopt metaverse, but the opposite can also be true.
On the other hand, Microsoft is focusing on VR and AR from a different angle. Microsoft has focused its strategy around VR and AR to business-related high-value use cases, like construction and engineering. So, if Mark Zuckerberg is right that people want metaverse to meet and interact virtually, then Microsoft seems a potential favorite considering its top-notch product “Teams” and enterprise-centric approach. Microsoft could integrate metaverse into Teams and use the personal profiles and data it possesses already to offer valuable service. If that happens and businesses become the early adopters of the metaverse, then Meta might have to face serious competition.
Final Thoughts
It is a bit early to guess how the Meta stock will respond to its metaverse project. If the company fails to achieve the targeted goals or someone else, like Apple or Microsoft, manages to offer before it, then we might witness a significant drop in Meta stock price.
However, Meta is doing its best to lead the race. The company is building multiple generations of AR and VR products at the same time, working on a new OS and development model, content studios, digital commerce platform, etc. In a nutshell, we just have to wait and watch how this metaverse battle shapes itself in the coming years, which is also going to reflect who is going to lead the stock market.
Will Metaverse Help Facebook Stock to Go Up was last modified: April 23rd, 2024 by Hamza Razzaq
Make no mistake: a well-known and well-loved brand is one of the most precious assets a company can have. According to a survey by Nielson, 59% of customers prefer to purchase new products from companies they’re familiar with.
As an entrepreneur running a small business that’s going to face strong competition from large corporations with loyal customers and immense marketing resources, you’d need every advantage that’d help you stand out.
And the best advantage you can get would come from not only building a business but by establishing a solid brand. Building your brand will propel your business to new heights and attract countless adoring customers.
So how do you create a solid brand? Come with us.
Three Unique Tips to Launching a Great Brand in 2022
1. Know Your Customers and Treat Them Like Kings and Queens
Although everyone understands that no business can thrive without a strong brand identity and a loyal client base, you’d be surprised how many founders launch their dream brands without first considering their target audience demographic and the impact their products will have on them.
And, no matter how hard these founders try, they invariably make two significant errors. One of them is that they spend a lot of money on social media ads that aren’t tailored to address the desires of their target audience.
And because these founders abandoned their loyal clients, their brand does nothing but spray and pray, hoping for the best but always receiving disappointing results.
So, if you want your business to flourish, make sure you thoroughly understand the desires of your audience, their financial capability, and trends that appeal to them, because this will help you establish a brand with an attractive personality and tone that perfectly suits your audience demographics.
2. Create a Strong Brand Identity and Promote it Actively on Social Media
Creating a solid brand identity will not be a simple undertaking. And the same way you spend a lot of time and effort planning and fiddling with your product until you achieve the finest outcome possible, you must also put in a lot of effort to create an appealing brand identity.
Your brand’s identity is more than your logo, slogan, colors, and cutting-edge product design. It is the personality of your brand, how you sell your products, the ideals your business stands for, how you connect with people on social media, and even the emotions your consumers feel when they view or purchase your products.
And, if you want your brand’s identity to extend beyond your company’s personality, you’ll need to do everything you can to make your brand’s identity a compelling promise to your customers, just like how Gucci guarantees their customers high-quality craftsmanship as well as imaginative and daring design.
3. Find a Powerful Brand Name for Your Fashion Business
Finding a great brand name is critical if you want to develop an engaging brand identity for your company, increase its social media presence, and maintain a steady stream of loyal customers.
And when it comes to finding a great name, two of the most simple and trusted strategies are brainstorming and using a reputable company name generator.
However, before you begin brainstorming, make sure you’ve gathered all of the required information about your company, like its niche, product, consumer demographics, rivals, and future roadmap. This information will be crucial in assisting you in developing a distinct and appealing brand name.Many entrepreneurs, even those with vast experience, struggle to generate intriguing brand name ideas for their businesses. So, if you ever run out of ideas when brainstorming, don’t be afraid to seek help from a reliable company name generator. Nothing good comes easily, and creating a powerful brand will take a lot of time and effort, but with these three practical steps, you can rapidly create an excellent brand that will appeal to people all over the world.
Author Bio
Grant Polachek is the Head of Branding at Inc 500 company Squadhelp.com, the world’s #1 naming platform, with 30,000+ customers from early-stage startups across the globe to the largest corporations including Nestle, Philips, Hilton, Pepsi, and AutoNation. Get inspired by exploring these winning business name ideas.
Three Unique Tips for Launching a Brand in 2022 Written by Industry Experts was last modified: December 10th, 2021 by Grant Polachek
NPO or non-profit software is software used by non-profit charity organizations to help them handle various operations like payroll, accounting, fundraising, and managing donor data and relations. There are two options that you can choose from when purchasing an NPO software; a stand-alone tool that will offer very few features or a suite that will offer various options which will enable you to run your charity organization smoothly. If you are new to the world of NPO software then you probably want to find the best one with the most helpful tools to help you manage and organize your process. In this article, we are going to help you by giving you the three most important features to look for in NPO-friendly software.
Managing Donor Database
One of the most important aspects that you need to look for in NPO software is a donor management database. The database will enable you to better engage with your donors and keep all of their information stored on a cloud-based system. Additionally, donor database management will make it easy for your charity organization to track all of your campaigns and view their success rate, and monitor donors’ donations and observe if they are still engaging with your organization or not.
Having a donor database will give you the chance to establish strong and beneficial relationships with your donors. You can also get in touch with potential donors to inform them of your mission to grow your fundraising.
Accounting
Another feature that you need to look for is accounting. Accounting will make it easy for you to manage your funds and track all of your organization’s transactions, profits, and expenses. According to reviews on Aplos Nonprofit Accounting Software, an accounting feature will help you recognize your income tax-deductible, manage sponsorships, and easily track all forms of your organization’s income. This feature is essential in order to keep accurate records of your finances. As a non-profit organization, you will need to report your financial transactions to the government without any mistakes or you will lose your non-profit status.
Scheduling and Planning Events
Most donations depend on fundraising events, therefore, you will need NPO software that provides you with features that will make it easy for you to schedule and plan events for your charity. Additionally, you can use this feature to contact the people who will attend the event, market it, and handle registration.
Fundraisers attract donors and help you collect donations as well. However, these events can be overwhelming at times which is why you will need an event management feature in your NPO software that will make your job much easier and enable you to throw a fundraiser efficiently. Fundraising software can greatly aid this process by providing specialized tools for managing and executing successful fundraising events.
Running a non-profit charity organization isn’t easy. There are many things that you need to take care of like donations, attracting donors, keeping track of your finances, and throwing fundraisers. Human error is possible in any of these cases and can have serious consequences. Opting for NPO-friendly software will guarantee that all operations will run smoothly without any glitches. Additionally, the software will handle tax deductions for your organization so you won’t face any legal problems.
3 Things To Look For In NPO Friendly Software was last modified: March 11th, 2024 by Allen Brown
Transferring your data from a storage card to your computer can be quite a lengthy process if you don’t know how it works. Many people connect their phones directly through the USB cable not knowing that using their USB cable will only help them access the contents of their phone’s built-in memory and not the SD card.
SD cards are storage devices which store your data and when you have the entire space on them fully occupied, you need to transfer some of it to your computer to save it as a backup. Many people have no idea how to transfer contents from their SD card to their PC. This is why we are going to bring you one of the simplest methods to carry out this process.
For today, we shall be discussing the difference between an SD card and a micro SD card, how to insert a micro SD card in your computer without an adapter, and some FAQs on micro SD cards.
Difference Between SD Card and Micro SD Card
Your standard SD card is known as the secure digital card and compared to the micro SD card, it is bigger in size. Of course, the word micro in the micro SD card does tell us just by reading its name that it is smaller in size compared to the SD card. The dimensions of the SD card are 24 x 32 x 2.1 but the micro SD card has dimensions 15 mm x 11 mm x 1mm.
The reason there is a difference in the sizes of both SD cards is because of their placement in different devices. Some phones and cameras have an SD card slot whereas some of them have a micro SD card slot. A micro SD card is also sometimes known as a TF card.
How to Put a Micro SD Card in Computer Without An Adapter
The procedure to install a micro SD card is not a complicated process but it can be done in a number of steps. Insert the flash drive into your mobile phone and connect your computer and phone with a compliant USB cable to your phone. Usually, the phones that are being manufactured now make use of a type-C cable.
Once you connect the phone to the laptop, you will receive a notification that the USB has been recognized. Tap the Setup button on which you will send the information. There are two options after this.
In the first option, you will utilize the flash as mobile storage and the second one is to use it as internal storage. Soon after, a new notification will pop up and you will need to click on the “Explore” option. Go into “Settings” and then go to “Store and USB”. Then you may switch your phone to your SD cards and view your files as per your liking.
If you don’t have a file manager then you can obtain support from other applications that are present. An example is the “ES File Explorer” which is a great application to carry out and fasten this process. You can easily download this application from the Play Store which is going to offer you loads of convenience.
No need to worry if there is no built-in micro SD flash slot with your PC or laptop, you can still transfer files from your device to your PC with a tiny SD flash. All you need to do this is a tiny SD flash slot USB data cord smartphone and you’re good to go.
To put a micro SD card in your computer without an adapter, follow these steps:
Insert the micro SD flash in the memory slot of your smartphone
Connect your smartphone through a suitable data cord to the PC
Click on the starting menu icon ‘My Computer’
Double-click the smartphone name
Choose the files on your SD flash and drag them to your computer desktop or any other location
The file transfer should begin successfully from your micro SD card to your PC successfully without an adapter.
If you can not transfer files or your mobile is not getting connected to pc then you should check if drivers are updated or not you can download driverpack solution from driverpacksolutiononline.com. Driverpack solution will help you to update drivers in one click.
Now that we’ve understood the process of how to insert a micro SD card in a computer without an adapter, we shall be looking at the relevant queries that many users ask in this process.
For trouble shooting SD card not recognized on Mac errors, check out iBoysoft who specializes in data recovery and disk management solutions.
FAQs
Can you put a Micro SD Card in a Laptop?
Yes, you can do so when you insert the micro SD card in the adapter slot. Insert the adapter card in the SD card port on a laptop with the inserted micro SD card. If a card reader has no SD card connector, pop the installation disc into your laptop’s optical drive for an external card reader.
What if my laptop does not have an SD card slot?
If your laptop doesn’t have an SD card slot then you will have to find a free USB slot on your laptop which you could make use of. After this, you will need to buy a USB card reader for your type of card (SD card or micro SD card)
Is there any need for an adapter for a micro SD card?
SD cards allow for easy file transfer between two devices. A micro SD card adapter is occasionally included in a micro SD card but you can also buy a separate converter. Any computer SD card reader or SD media port can accommodate the adapter easily like a conventional SD card.
What is a micro SD adapter used for?
A micro SD adapter is used by a computer to read the micro SD card that is inserted into it since laptops don’t come with micro SD card slots built into them.
What To Do If You Think You Have Lost SD Card Data?
PITS Data Recovery’s software employs advanced algorithms and cutting-edge technology, ensuring a high success rate in data recovery. With its intuitive interface, you can easily navigate through the recovery process, selecting the specific data you want to recover. The product also offers a range of scanning options, allowing you to target specific file types or perform a thorough scan of your entire Samsung device. PITS Data Recovery is dedicated to customer satisfaction and provides excellent technical support, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. By choosing this product, you can regain access to your lost data and preserve your valuable memories and important information.
How to Put Micro SD Card in Computer Without An Adapter was last modified: July 11th, 2023 by Eugene Jacobs
The first thing you need to think about when you want to start freelancing, besides the types of services you will be offering, is the computing device you will be using. Most of your work will be done on a computer, and so it is important to think about the type of computer you would like to buy and that will fit your use cases. When shopping for a laptop, it is common to hear the term “refurbished” or “refurb”. What are refurbished laptops, and how do they compare against new laptops?
Refurbished Laptops: An Overview
A refurbished laptop is a laptop that has been returned to a retailer or manufacturer for a variety of reasons. The retailer or manufacturer then takes these laptops apart, checks them, and ensures everything is working like it would in a new laptop. The major testing these laptops undergo before being put back on store shelves is what differentiates them from used laptops.
When Buying Refurbished is a Great Idea
One of the most common reasons why a laptop is returned to a retailer or manufacturer is cosmetic defects. This means there is nothing wrong with these laptops and after undergoing the required checks, they are often sold for a lower price than new laptops.
This means it is possible to buy refurbished laptops that are essentially new at a fraction of the price of a new laptop of the same capabilities and specifications.
As a budding freelancer, you can shop online for refurbished laptops that have the specifications you are looking for, and you might find them.
Availability
One downside of going with the refurbished option is that stock might be limited depending on the retailer and the specific model you are looking for. If you are looking for a specific laptop model, you might have to reach out to a manufacturer directly and see if they have a refurbished option.
A common solution to this is choosing a refurbished laptop that has the same specifications as the one you are looking for, even though it may not be the exact model you need.
Warranties
Another huge difference between new, used, and refurbished laptops is the warranties offered for them. With used laptops, you do not get any warranty or quality assurances, and so you have to rely on what the seller tells you.
With refurbished laptops, you usually get a limited warranty. This is typically a fraction of the period offered by a retailer or manufacturer for a new laptop. However, even with these shortened warranty periods, you can expect the laptop to last almost as long as a new laptop due to the quality checks and assurances.
New laptops come with a full warranty. This is because they have been fully tested from the factory, and thus the retailer or manufacturer is completely sure about their projected lifetimes.
If you have the money, buying a new laptop is the best option. However, refurbished laptops are a great option if you are strapped for cash. They have been checked to ensure they perform as expected and come with a warranty, even though it might be limited. It would be a bad idea to start your freelance career with a used laptop unless you have a very small budget and trust the seller completely.
Should Freelancers Buy New or Refurbished Laptops? was last modified: September 7th, 2022 by Boris Dzhingarov
Compared with traditional graphic content, short video is more intuitive. Focusing on short videos, we can implement soft advertising, flexible content, high interaction, and richer and diversified marketing methods. We must admit that short videos are the advantage of brand marketing. In the future, with the development of more products and the rise of brands, short videos will have more angles and diversified interactive features, realize a new profit model, and increase additional attributes.
Data shows that more than 42.5% of digital marketing decision makers choose celebrities, influencers, or stars to create marketing content in short video marketing. More than 70% of users have consumed because of the influence of these celebrities and influencers. So how to market your product using video? Let’s check some product video marketing ideas below.
Product Video Marketing Tips
Choose Proper Video Content
1. User-Generated Content
In order to get a more positive effect, you can put different types of videos on social networking sites for different purposes. One of the most popular video types is user-generated content. These videos are provided by real customers, and they are more authentic. Many customers are happy to share their favorite brands, so if customers are satisfied, they can easily get user-created videos with a simple request. These videos are more attractive to potential customers because they see real users.
2. Product Display Content
This is a relatively simple way to better showcase the products you sell. Of course, this type of video does not have to be very high-end, it only needs to meet user needs.
After all, one of the main reasons why many people refuse to shop online is that they can’t get in touch with real objects, and it’s inconvenient to understand product functions and operations. Using product display content can help alleviate such concerns.
3. Behind the Scenes Content
We all want to peek into the story behind the curtains, which is why people generally think the behind-the-scenes footage of the movie is interesting.
If users can understand the story behind the product, they may have unexpected brand loyalty.
4. Tutorial Content
Tutorials are usually more suitable for users with in-depth needs, and are very important for some companies. For example, when you invent a new product or provide a new service, no one (or very few people) has heard of it.
Through the tutorial, you can show how your product works and how it will change people’s lives. In this case, tutorial videos will be the best choice.
Ensure That the Video is Mobile-Friendly
The following are two important statistics:
· 65% of video views on Facebook come from mobile devices
· Smartphone users hold their phones upright 94% of the time
The video placement effect in portrait mode is not necessarily better than that in landscape mode. But, if possible, please make both vertical and horizontal videos, and then choose a more appropriate mode in the placement customization to provide customers with a full screen viewing experience.
Include a Clear Call-to-Action
After all, this is marketing. We all know that no matter which format, call to action must be used in the ad. You can put the call to action in the display copy, or you can add the call to action in the video content through the cast or subtitle text.
Brand Consistency
Elements such as colors, graphics, and music will be used in brand videos. First of all, these elements must be coordinated with each other, and secondly, these elements must always run through the entire process of brand marketing. At the same time, in order to increase the conversion rate, it is necessary to always emphasize the brand and leave a deep impression on the audience.
Make an Engaging Marketing Video
There are countless videos on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Vimeo, and more platforms. How to stand out from the crowd? Creating an attractive video seems an option to go. A good video can increase the exposure of the product on the Internet, thereby bringing considerable natural page views to the company or the website and increasing the visibility of the company or the website. Let’s move to the next part to learn an easy way to make a video to market your product.
How to Make a Video to Market Your Product
To make an attractive marketing video in a free and simple way, VideoProc Vlogger is recommended to help you out. Developed as a professional yet simple video editor, VideoProc Vlogger is equipped with a lot of basic as well as advanced editing features. You can easily process your videos like trimming, splitting, merging, making picture in picture video, adding music to video, adding texts & subtitles to video, changing playback speed, color grading, color correction, removing noise, adding filters & effects, and more. Just download and install this free video editing software and create an amazing marketing video now.
Add subtitles to video: Run VideoProc Vlogger on your computer and upload your videos. Drag your video to the Video Track. Choose a subtitle style and drop it to the Subtitle Track.
Changing video speed: No matter you want to speed up your video or slow down your video, VideoProc Vlogger is ready to help. You can perform a variable speed change, and you can also change the speed constantly.
Add filters & effects: VideoProc Vlogger offers more than 50 beautiful filters and effects to help you make your videos cinematic. Just import your videos and drag it to the Video Track. Then choose a filter and drag it to the Overlay Track to preview the effect.
Platforms to Promote Your Product
YouTube: If you aren’t verified on YouTube, the length of your YouTube videos can only be 15 minutes or less. If you own a verified account, you can upload YouTube videos up to 12 hours long, or as much as 128 GB.
Facebook: It supports uploading files in 1080P or less. You can upload video files up to 10GB and it must less than 240 minutes.
Twitter: You can upload a TweetVideo within 512MB, but you can upload a video longer than 2 minutes and 20 seconds. You need to trim it before using the video in your Tweet.
TikTok: TikTok first allowing users to upload 60 second clips (up from 15 seconds originally), then expanding that to 3 minutes in July 2021.
Instagram: You can upload a 60 seconds video for a regular Instagram post and videos in Instagram Stories should be no longer than 15 seconds. But videos for Instagram livestream can be up t0 60 minutes long.
How to Market Your Product Using Video was last modified: November 28th, 2021 by Zoey Fang
A bad sales month can be extremely discouraging for new businesses or any business for that matter. The reality is that sales will ebb and flow, and your business should be optimally prepared for drops in revenue and potentially have other lines of income to keep yourself fortified in a pinch.
Your slumps in sales are ultimately learning opportunities and chances for you and your team to take stock of what has worked and what hasn’t worked when it comes to pushing your sales beyond the goals you’ve set for yourself. Maybe there is a key way you can adjust your sales plan, or set your goals to be more realistic in your reach.
Running a successful business means not giving up when things are slow, and being realistic about what you can achieve and in what timeline would be appropriate for a business your size. There is no reason to aim towards goals that older, more established businesses are able to achieve. Businesses that stay in the game by being smart about their goals and sales plans will move up in their industries in no time, it’s all about being patient and realistic with yourself and your team.
Adjust Your Sales Plan
The first thing to do when you run into a bad sales month is to review your sales plan and adjust it accordingly to meet the more realistic expectations for your company. “Rebound from a bad sales month by adjusting your plan,” said Sabrina Pereira, Head of Growth Marketing at Easy Standard. “Go back to your sales plan and review it. Find what you missed from the previous month and recalculate your plan for the next month. This includes identifying the key drivers of your forecast delta and aligning testing plans to solve for that. Plus, you can distribute the shortage over a few months and bolster your sales plans for the next few months.” This is of the utmost importance and should be done as soon as possible after your sales report comes in.
Changing and adjusting your plan is also an opportunity to set more realistic goals for your company for the foreseeable future. If your goals are too high, you may find yourself feeling strained to meet unrealistic expectations. “Review your plan so you can set more realistic goals for the future. Part of being successful is setting yourself up with goals you know you can meet. Then, you can start to aim a little bit higher each month as sales flatten or increase,” said Dylan Fox, Founder and CEO of Assembly AI. Starting small is a key factor for any blossoming business. It sets you and your company up for success and will motivate your team to work towards setting higher and higher goals.
In addition to adjusting your sales plan, businesses should also take stock of what they can control and what they can’t. You can draw people in, but they make the final decision to buy in or not. “Be real and honest about the things that you can control rather than the things you can’t. For instance, you can control your brand’s outreach and marketing practices but you can’t ultimately control whether customers will choose your service. Simplify your website content and make it as easy as possible for customers to sign up for your service to increase your sales,” said Jae Pak, Founder of Jae Pak MD Medical.
Learn From Failure and Go For Smaller Deals
In the grand scope of things in business, setbacks and sales slumps should be seen more as opportunities rather than failures. “Try not to look at sales slumps as failures, they are in fact learning opportunities for the future. Many times, these slumps are due to conditions that may be vastly out of our control. Use this as an opportunity to learn more about your industry and market trends to help predict your sales in the future,” said James Ville, Chief Product Officer of GunSkins. If you can shift your perspective and see the value in scaling back your goals to meet your capability, you’ll set yourself up for a more positive approach to solving these problems.
You may find that the deals you were seeking might have been too ambitious for your company as it currently exists. Smaller deals help you build connections and expand your business network. “Sometimes a bad sales month can be an indication that you need to scale back your goals and look for smaller deals you can make to help fortify your business and set yourself up for success,” said Scott Sonneborn, Co-Founder of Tydo. “Aiming too high can result in a lower return. It’s true that the higher the risk the greater the reward is, but the opposite is also true. The fallbacks from big deals can be much larger as well.” The amount of risk you can take on depends on the age of your company and your history of success with smaller deals and goals.
Meet With Your Team
Consult your entire team as soon as possible following your low sales results. “Have team meetings immediately afterward to brainstorm ideas. Keep the meeting as upbeat as possible,” said Jean Gregoire Founder & CEO of Lovebox. “It’s best to not dwell on why your month was poor, but instead, focus on ways to improve the following month. By working as a team, you’ll have a better chance of coming up with fresh ideas that will propel you forward.” This will promote a solution-based attitude at your company rather than getting stuck in a slump after getting bad news. “You need to keep your team positive to make sure you keep your productivity up,” said CEO of Package Free Shop Lauren Singer. “Positive reinforcement is especially important during these moments when tensions may be high and emotions fragile. Focus on what went well rather than what didn’t. This will help you combat future issues.” Seeing the positive can be difficult, but it’s always going to lead your team to better results than focusing on the negatives. “It can be difficult to see the positives in a month that fell short, but being able to see what was working will help you and your team both recover and make a plan for the next month. Don’t just focus on why your sales were lower, focus on what made the sales happen that you did make,” said Kashish Gupta, Founder and CEO of Hightouch.
This also gives your team a chance to provide feedback and be honest about how they think things could improve. “Ask for feedback from your team, and encourage honesty,” said Ryan Rottman Co-Founder & CEO OSDB. “Your employees and sales team will likely have proactive and topical ideas about how to improve customer relationships and increase your rate of conversion. Don’t dwell and try to solve issues on your own, involve your team to help you come to the best solution.” This will show how valuable you find your employee’s opinions and create trust between management and the sales team that they can solve issues together.
Plan For Slow Months
Part of changing your business plan should be expecting that some months will be slow. At certain times of the year, the state of the economy and many other factors can go into sales spikes and slumps. “Any business is sure to experience highs and lows, try to see these challenges as positives, it means that you are in business and doing everything you can to stay afloat. Trust your instincts and learn from the challenges you face,” said Jared Hines, Head of Operations Acre Gold. Holiday sales spikes and post-holiday slumps are something that all businesses should be expecting as well. “Certain times of the year will yield higher sales results, such as the winter months,” said Katie Keirnan, Co-Founder of Nue Life. “People are buying more for holiday gifts and it makes sense to see a sales spike during this time.
Use these moments as opportunities to prepare for inevitable sales slumps at the start of the new year.” Your surges in sales should help to fortify you through the slower months of the year, something that businesses should be folding into their business plan. “Use your spikes and slumps as ways to predict the cash flow in your company,” said Joe Thomas of Loom. “This way, you can use additional funds from those surges to keep your business operating smoothly when things slow down.”
Rebounding from a bad sales month relies on a solution-minded team with management that can see the benefits in the ebb and flow of sales. This is ultimately an inevitability that every business faces, and how you deal with it will define how your company succeeds in the future. If you can’t be flexible and change up your plan, you will likely fall short of your competitors in the long run. Adjust your plan, meet with your team and plan for the future to ensure your success in your industry.
How to Rebound From a Bad Sales Month was last modified: June 17th, 2024 by Nikki Gabriel
A brand is everything that a customer sees and experiences when they interact with a business. A customer’s first impression includes how the staff welcomes them, what can be seen on social media websites, and what the story behind the business is. It’s basically how the customer perceives your business.
When a consistent message is conveyed, a brand is created. From the website to the logos and social media profiles, it tells the story behind the company. There should be a consistent branding strategy, regardless of how the customer is introduced to the business whether it be through the website after doing a search, or through a link shared by a friend. Using appropriate tools to generate a very unique business name does a great trick here.
You’ll find such a tool at www.biznamewiz.com. Here, you can read more about how the generator works, why it can be a great source of inspiration in the naming process, and you can learn more about the importance of a good name for your branding process. It is feasible to bring in more clients as well as develop repeat customers with good branding for a firm. However, the execution of great branding requires knowledge of what brands are important in a digital world. Stay tuned to learn more!
Brand Definition
A company’s branding must be defined before it can begin to create a consistent message across all media. They must evaluate the company’s mission, the advantages of its products or services, what customers think of them now, and what they want customers to think of the company in the future. All of this helps establish the business’s individual branding, including what colors to use on the website or in logos, how to design the website’s layout, which social networking networks to utilize, and more.
It is not easy to define a company’s branding, and it will take some time. There are so manyreasons to use agencies when trying to define your brand.
Consistency
When a company’s brand is defined, it becomes consistent. The same visuals will be used on websites, packaging, social networking sites, and everywhere else. Even if two distinct items are being advertised to clients, the packaging, colors used in the products or packaging, the purchase form on the website, and other visual elements will all be aesthetically similar and send the same message to buyers.
You want to make your online presence user-friendly, eye-pleasing, functional, and to include some relevant images to interest people. You can also replace the photos on your website with short, interactive videos – they work wonderfully. Remember to remove images from Google search that do not match your brand vision, and do nothing but build bad brand reputation.
Peculiarity
Another important brand is standing out from the rest of the flock. When people are seeking a product or service, it’s far too simple to go under the radar in today’s digital environment. Businesses can compete even if they are located on opposite sides of the globe, so finding a strategy to stand out is critical.
Standing out is an important aspect of brands because it attracts customers and makes them see reasons to stick with your brand ahead of competitors.
Why Strong Brands Are Important in a Digital World was last modified: February 28th, 2023 by Fredrick Francisco Stougaard
The UX design sphere is saturated with an embarrassment of riches in terms of resources and tools. While the variety of options is excellent, it can be challenging for designers looking for inspiration to know which options are best to look to for valuable insight.
This is especially true when it comes to UX design blogs. There are just so many out there that it would be a full-time job just getting through many of them to find which offer the most quality resources.
With that in mind, we decided to do the hard work and provide you with a nice consolidated list of the most quality UX design blogs to inspire designers worldwide.
UX Planet
They are looking for a top-down resource that includes a comprehensive collection of topics ranging from beginners’ guides to leadership articles and career advice? Then look no further than one of the standard-bearers in the UX design article blogs, UX Planet. Even non-designers can dive into the beginner section to start getting introduced to primary and intermediate design concepts.
The contributors to UX Planet include a vast array of designers, all with varying backgrounds and different routes that took them into the world of UX design. With such a diverse crew at work, there will be plenty of “real talk” from current experts who learned much in the same way, along with words of encouragement, advice, and how-to guides. It is a truly fantastic resource to leverage to kick off your UX career.
The Nielsen Norman Group
Don Norman (responsible for coining the term “user experience” back in the 90s) and Jakob Neilsen, two widely recognized and respected UX gurus, started The Nielsen Norman Group, a helpful website for those seeking introduction and education to many terms necessary for anyone getting into the UX sphere. The featured content’s quality, breadth, and depth more than make up for the lack of the blog’s flashiness. At the Nielsen Norman Group blog, you can read up on topics like web accessibility and usability, UX-based psychology, and many digestible yet comprehensive explanations about the most key UX principles, tools, and techniques.
XD Ideas
XD Ideas is a relative newcomer in the UX sphere. Backed and powered by Adobe XD, this blog may have been started with the intent to appeal to UX beginners, but it has undoubtedly outgrown that aim by becoming a resource stocked with a wide coverage area of all aspects of the UX realm. Intuitively navigable, XD Ideas include guides to assist in understanding the basic principles and concepts of UX design, as well as tips that are pivotal to anyone dipping their toes into the UX world. With a vast collection of multi-background contributors, XD Ideas benefit a wide range of opinions and viewpoints from the industry’s most experienced gurus.
UX Collective
Suppose you are familiar with the Medium content hub. In that case, you’d be interested in finding out that they host a blog publication explicitly devoted to no-nonsense UX content presented in an easily understandable and digestible manner. The UX Collective blog, founded, edited, and curated by designer Caio Braga and his award-winning design partner in the venture, Fabrico Texeira, focuses on its intuitive structure and provides readers with powerful insights from top industry designers and a focus on sharing the most valuable content.
This blog features everything from career advice, real-world UX design application, and portfolio advice to deep-dive reviews of well-known products and loads of tips that can help you improve your UX design learning experience. Those interested in the blog’s content who want to have some great content written into their email inbox can sign up for the weekly UX Collective newsletter.
Inside Design
If you have done any digging into UX design platforms, you have likely run across InVision. But did you know that InVision also hosts a superb blog, an industry leader in the field, named Inside Design? Anyone who has already started their UX education can find a ton of valuable content at Inside Design. It is an especially invaluable tool for those seeking to expand their understanding of product design and the process of UX development and those looking to optimize their UX teams and processes. If you want to stay on top of the latest UX news, this blog will always supply fresh, new material for you to learn about the latest events, tools, and trends.
The UX Blog
The Medium platform hosts another tremendous blog resource that covers UX topics spanning any realm of design, including (but not limited to) visual and design content, new views on industry standards and practices, and interviews with renowned industry experts. It even hosts its podcast, the episodes of which can be accessed right from the blog. If you are interested in keeping current with all UX aspects and value the viewpoints of leading industry experts, the UX Blog is one to keep in mind.
Awwwards
The Awwwards blog is mainly geared at UI interested readers, but it features a healthy dose of valuable, fresh UX information. The blog’s UI/UX section is stocked with unique content about everything from navigation to microcopy, enough to help pump your creative UX engines. The library of case studies alone is worth the visit for anyone looking for deep UX knowledge. One tremendous aspect of this blog is that its content is illustrated, assisting visual learners in their quest to discover and learn some invaluable UX concepts. The Awwwards blog is beneficial to those who enjoy access to an exciting mix of UX and UI concepts, principles, and news.
Muzli
Suppose you’re looking for examples of real-world applications of UX and love to read case studies, stopover at the Muzli blog. The case studies are thorough and varied, but all deeply enriched with viewpoints from various designs that illustrate how UX is levered effectively, spurring ideas and creativity for the blog’s readers. They even cover common problems encountered by UX designers, helping readers stay ahead of the UX learning curve, perfect for novices or intermediaries to the UX realm. Weekly content with great advice and tips can also help UX designers and aspiring newbies learn and be inspired by the latest UX trends and concepts.
Facebook Design
Few designer teams have nailed down the concept like Facebook has, which is why reading the Facebook Design blog is a fantastic way to learn and be inspired by the behind-the-scenes view of how Facebook designers operate in their day-to-day activities. While some of the content is specific to Facebook, that is far from the case for its overall coverage. Many important and valuable tips are provided by a talented staff of designer contributors that provide great UX concept explanations and help inform readers about undoubtedly key social responsibilities associated with UX design, an area not addressed often enough.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of your level of UX experience, interested readers from all walks of UX design dimensions can benefit from tons of valuable content available on the provided blogs above. Whether you are building your knowledge library as a novice or staying on top of current trends, this collection of blogs will provide you with tons of great content in the ever-developing and exciting UX industry.
Top 9 UX Design Blogs for Inspiration was last modified: October 29th, 2024 by Herbert Merrick
Many design trends come and go, but some have stood the test of time. Negative space is one such style, which has become all the more popular in recent years with the increased interest in minimalist design.
As any good logo design studio knows, the best logos are those that can adapt to changing markets, shifting audiences, and new product offerings while still retaining the same core idea. In this way, negative space can be helpful because it’s simplistic enough for printing purposes while also allowing interaction with the viewer.
If negative space is a new concept to you, you’ll need to understand the introductory psychology and ideas behind this trend to try it out. Read on to learn what negative space is and how to implement it effectively in your next time you use a logo maker.
Audiences will be taken in by the logo’s overall appearance and continue to be invested as they discover the hidden shapes and messages within the design, combining short-term engagement and long-term interest. If you’re looking to create such impactful logos, using a logo maker app can be a great starting point.
What is Negative Space?
Negative space is, essentially, blank sections, or the space between words and images. In a way, the margins on this page or between these paragraphs and letters are negative space. However, when negative space is used artistically or stylistically, it is transformed from separating other more essential elements into something that is, itself, an element. Because this is the opposite of the norm, it’s unexpected and, therefore, intriguing, even in its simplest form.
Negative space can be as straightforward as using lines to create an image within other elements. It could be made more complex by utilizing messages or pictures in both the filled and negative space. Some of the most well-known uses of negative space logo designs include FedEx, with its hidden arrow, and the USA TV network logo, which uses the U and A to create the S shape. The Girl Scouts logo and the ABC peacock are also great examples of hidden images.
Why Negative?
Humans’ fascination with the unknown is undeniable. There have been numerous books and movies inspired by the concept of hidden realities and worlds that can’t be seen on a surface level. We are captivated by reading between the lines and finding secret meanings and details.
But this idea isn’t just for fantasy and science fiction movies. These ideas can also be brought to artistic endeavors and graphic design to add a touch of mysticism. In this way, negative space allows consumers to have an “aha!” moment as they discover the hidden aspects of a design and find unexpected details.
The Clever Use of Negative Space
Finding ways to use negative space is simply about considering both the seen and the unseen. This is commonly done by adding layers, inverting images or colors, creating pleasing symmetry, or using other such tools. To start experimenting with negative space, you may want to consider the shapes or colors of the design and play around with the way they can be used. You can also manipulate size and orientation to find images or messages within other embodiments, an exercise similar to trying to decipher pictures out of abstract clouds.
Cookie-Cutter Rule
Simplifying designs can often be the way to go when creating negative artistic space. Not only does this create a more transparent and more pronounced image, but it can also be the key to finding hidden design opportunities. To do this, you can think of your design like a freshly rolled sheet of cookie dough. When you press the cookie cutter into the dough, it creates both a shape within the blade, which will become the cookie, and a negative form, which has been left behind in the dough from the cutter’s imprint. These are both the same shape but, if you begin to overlap cuts or manipulate those shapes, they can become something new entirely. You can even use smaller cookie cutters to carve out designs within your cookies to create more negative and positive space.
Lurking from the Shadows
You can also create negative space by looking at the shadows of an image and leaning into its dark aspects. This is similar to the cookie-cutter example, as a shadow creates both an image inside (the shadow) and an outline outside (the light). These interactions of shadows and sunlight can be used to create artistic interpretations and elicit a psychological response. People usually think of black or dark colors and shades as unfavorable, while white and light images are considered good. In designing, you can either lean into these biases or twist them to defy expectations.
Don’t Forget to Personalize
Negative space, when used well, can be incredibly intricate and engaging for audiences. Some examples are even works of art. But, most importantly, they must be functional and work with the brand’s overall identity and messaging to be successful.
How to Use Negative Space to Create Great Logo Designs was last modified: October 30th, 2024 by Herbert Merrick
For a long time, real estate investing was the game of the rich. You needed to have a lot of capital to participate. The barriers to entry were simply too high for the average investor – but not anymore!
In the past, investing in real estate required a lot of capital, time, and effort. Publicly traded stocks, bonds, and mutual funds were the only viable investment option for the middle and lower classes. They could contribute to an IRA or a 401(K) with their employer and hope to have a nice retirement. But only accredited investors or those with a lot of capital could invest in the often more stable and lucrative private real estate market.
Then in 1960, real estate investment trusts (REITs) came on the scene. REITs pool together several real estate assets into a financial instrument that can be traded like a stock in a mutual fund. For these, you don’t have to be an accredited investor, and the barrier to entry is much lower because you can participate by buying just one share.
Crowdfunded Real Estate Investing
Today, technology is democratizing real estate even further. Starting in 2012, the JOBS Act allowed real estate syndications to adopt crowdfunding strategies. Crowdfunding is raising funds from a large number of people even if they can only make small contributions. This means real estate deals no longer need to be funded by one investor or a handful of accredited investors. Instead, many small investors can pool their resources together to fund a large real estate deal.
Crowdfunding changes the real estate investing landscape for both investors and syndicators. Now, you can organize a national or even international real estate syndication that both accredited and non-accredited investors can participate in. This means investors with different risk tolerances can benefit from greater diversification, dollar-cost averaging (CA), and better returns.
Ultimately, crowdfunding opens the real estate market doors to lay investors. Some real estate crowfunding platforms include Fundrise, DiversyFund, BuyProperly, Roofstock, and Bricksave. They allow you to start investing in properties and REITS online in no time, and some for as little as $1,000.
Tokenized Real Estate Investing
When most people think of blockchain, they think of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. But blockchain is just the mechanism behind cryptocurrency. It’s a digital record-keeping technology that uses distributed ledgers in a shared network. And in 2017, entrepreneurs started seeing blockchain’s potential to streamline real estate investing transactions.
As with crowdfunding, blockchain technology can leverage fractional real estate ownership by creating tokens that represent shares in a real estate investment. It does this by turning real estate investment securities into what are called smart contracts. Smart contracts are a form of digital contract that don’t require an intermediary to verify them. They are executed automatically as soon as predetermined conditions and rules are met. This way, you can eliminate slow and costly middlemen like brokers and make transactions faster and more transparent.
Blockchain solves traditional real estate information and access bottlenecks. On the one hand, it democratizes information like rent roll, audits, compliance data, appraisals, and insurance binders. Everyone can see the information on the public ledger. On the other hand, it gives more investment opportunities to the average investor by lowering investment minimums and globalizing investment options. Overall, this leads to increased diversification, liquidity, and efficiency and turns a traditionally illiquid asset into a liquid one.
Of course, blockchain real estate investing is not without its challenges. Governments are still trying to figure out how to regulate it. Getting around the red tape of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also not easy. But it’s easier with private and consortium blockchains because they are tailored to specific use cases.
Though it still has a ways to go, tokenized real estate investing is already being tried by companies like RealT, Vave, BlokHaus Real Estate, and Lofty.ai. These and other platforms have a lot of potential to disrupt real estate investing as we know it.
Final Thoughts
Real estate investing is easier than ever. Time will tell how it looks 10, 20, 30 years from now. If you don’t have a lot of capital but you want to take advantage of this hot market, now is the time to explore the crowdfunding and tokenization options out there.
In the long run, you’ll benefit from increased diversification and high returns. It’s a win-win for the small investor.
How Technology is Making it Easier to Invest in Real Estate was last modified: March 21st, 2024 by Alex Sanders
Maybe you’ve been thinking about taking up cycling and renting a bike to try it out. That’s great! Cycling is a fantastic sport that offers many benefits that we outline below.
We think once you try cycling and enjoy the advantages, you’ll want to buy your own bike soon.
Enhances Mental Health
Many clinical studies find that people who are physically active every day feel about 30% better than those who are sedentary. But, ever feel that ‘high’ after a 60-mile bike ride or 10-mile run?
Exercise improves your mood by releasing a stream of endorphins and hormones into the bloodstream, making you feel fantastic. And the benefits last for hours after your workout.
Improves Immune System
Intense physical exercise has substantial benefits for your upper respiratory system – of particular importance during the COVID-19 era. You’re also less likely to get the common cold.
Some scientists maintain that you can reduce your sick time by up to 40% by biking or running most days of the week.
Even mild daily exercise can boost your immune system by activating white blood cells and making the body produce vital proteins.
Builds Muscle
Cycling involves lower-body resistance, so it doesn’t merely burn fat – it also builds muscle! As a result, bikers tend to have well-developed glutes, calves, and quads.
People who have higher muscle mass usually burn more calories even when they are at rest.
Eat More
Most of us enjoy eating and overindulging from time to time. However, you can add a few snacks to your day when you cycle regularly.
For example, if you bike 30 minutes to and from work every day, you may burn up to 500 extra calories.
So you can feel good about having a second helping of breakfast at your desk!
Enhanced Lung Health
This might be surprising, but people who cycle may be exposed less to toxic fumes than those who go by car.
One study in the United Kingdom found that cyclists and pedestrians in central London were exposed to less pollution than drivers.
Works Out The Core
Biking also gives your abdominals and back a great workout. Keeping your body upright requires you to have a higher level of core strength as the miles pass.
Having stronger abdominals and back muscles gives support to your spine and enhances stability.
Better Heart Health
Cycling is excellent for the cardiovascular system. A recent study spent 60 months studying 1,500 physically active people. Those who engaged in exercise every day were 30% less likely to have high blood pressure.
Another study suggests that doing a strenuous daily workout can reduce hypertension as much as prescription drugs.
Lower Cancer Risk
Keeping a healthy weight, daily exercise, and a nutritious diet will reduce your chances of getting various cancers.
Not only is biking fun, but it can also help you to ward off cancer, which is a big deal.
Low Impact
Cycling is easier on your body than running, so it’s a good choice for people who want an intense activity without pounding the joints.
Biking also is perfect for those who have more stiffness and joint problems.
Boost Self-Esteem
Biking and exercise generally can raise your self-esteem. For example, when you finish a challenging 50-mile ride and beat your previous time by three minutes, it makes you feel good.
And when you feel good after a workout, you’re highly likely to do it again.
The many benefits of cycling are apparent, so you’ll be sure to want to keep doing this fantastic sport for years in the future.
Why Should You Take Up Cycling? was last modified: May 1st, 2022 by Alex Sanders
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could automate your entire life and all of your landlord duties? That dream could become a reality in the not-so-distant future, but automating your life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
For example, you wouldn’t want an AI bot to write your rental listings. What if your properties have distinct features? A standard rental listing won’t do those properties justice.
Property managers from Los Angeles explain thatwriting a good rental listing description begins with a captivating title and includes brief, descriptive sentences. You won’t get captivating descriptions from AI.
You Can’t Automate Being a Great Landlord
Landlords can benefit from automation, but it’s critical to maintain a balance and not get distracted by technology. Much of being a good landlord relies on maintaining a personal touch in your tenant relationships.
When a tenant has an issue, like a leaky roof, they don’t want to leave a voicemail and have a robot schedule the repair. They want to talk to their landlord live, explain the problem in detail, and work out a convenient time for repairs.
Being a great landlord requires personal interactions with your tenants. If you automate all of your landlord duties, you’ll eliminate personal interaction. Without personal interaction, you can’t build strong rapport with your tenants. Without rapport, your tenants are less likely to treat your property with care and take their lease obligations seriously.
Why Landlords Favor Automation
Most property investors prioritize profits. Automation provides an opportunity to maximize profits by reducing time spent getting involved in minutia. For landlords focused on building wealth, automation is a blessing. However, it’s also a curse.
The more landlords rely on automation, the less personal interaction they have with their tenants.
Automation Is Good for Technical Landlord Tasks
Although automating your landlord duties is mostly a bad idea, you can automate your technical tasks. For example, it’s easy to use software to collect rent online and have tenants request repairs. This streamlines your duties. However, you still need to have some personal interaction to confirm appointments and discuss issues in-depth.
There’s nothing wrong with using automation to manage paperwork and other back-end tasks. For example, it makes sense to use automated invoicing software, apps to track your expenses, and apps to manage each property’s history of repairs.
Tenants want to feel heard, and that’s not something technology can offer. They don’t want to talk to a voicemail or send a text message to a robot when they have an issue. Tenants want tocommunicate with their landlord personally.
2. Being Compassionate
When a tenant needs an extra week to pay the rent, you can show compassion by having a personal conversation. Without that personal interaction, an automated rent collection system will penalize the tenant as if their circumstances don’t matter.
While no landlord wants excuses for late rent, sometimes tenants legitimately need a break. Being compassionate will help your tenant feel less anxious and stressed about being late with the rent.
3. Revisiting and Customizing the Lease
Compromise and leniency can go a long way with a tenant. When you have a tenant who wants to adjust the lease, that requires a personal conversation. As a human being, you can extend compassion and understanding by changing the lease terms when appropriate.
Automating this task wouldn’t be possible, since robots would lack the human connection and compassion needed to compromise.
4. Reviewing Reasonable Modification Requests
The only way to automate reasonable modification request approvals is to create a form that a tenant fills out that has definite yes/no answers for each question. You can’t factor open-ended questions into the formula to create an automated decision.
Since many reasonable modification requests require an in-depth look plus a possible supporting letter from a physician, this can’t be automated.
Avoid Becoming an Automated Landlord – Keep Your Personal Touch
Technology will make your job easier as a landlord, but keep your personal touch with your tenant relationships.
Save the tech for back-end tasks. Life will be better for both you and your tenants when you make yourself personally available.
Landlords: Don’t Let Technology Distract You from What’s Important was last modified: November 21st, 2021 by Alex Sanders
