The Top 10 Most Popular Web Scraping Use Cases in 2022

Posted on by Marius Ilgauskas
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If you want your business to succeed, automation is the way to go. As long as you know how to use it, web scraping technology will at least put you on a level playing field with the competition. There are countless ways gathering online data can improve your operations, and we’ll cover the most common ones.

​Ten Important Applications for Data Scraping

Web scraping is the act of obtaining large amounts of data through automation tools. In order to stay competitive in the business world, it has morphed into a necessary practice, and its uses are ever-expanding. Here are some of the most popular ways companies will utilize this technology in 2022.

​1. Brand Monitoring

Crawling channels to see who’s mentioning you is a wonderful way to stay in the loop and give a response. Navigate search engines to find out what’s going on. Just be sure to always pair your bot with a proxy to ensure safety and protection. A Bing proxy, for example, will keep your searches private and undetectable.

​2. Lead Generation

Social media accounts, emails, and phone numbers are necessary for lead generation. Scraping will gather and organize this contact info for you. Rival company press releases, promotions, and announcements are also important finds you’ll dig up to help with your marketing efforts.

​3. Price Comparison

Pricing insight is easily one of the most important aspects of a web scraping operation for any business. See what the competition is charging for services or goods. Even factors like shipping and availability come into play. Use this information to stay on pace with everyone else or get an advantage.

​4. Market Insight

If you’re entering a new market or endeavor, you have to do your homework first. Investigating all aspects of a particular industry should be your top priority for a successful start. Whether it’s academic or commercial research, know your field before you begin.

​5. Candidate Screening

If you’re hiring, you definitely need to scour the pool of prospects. Professionals take advantage of sites like Indeed and LinkedIn to promote themselves, so it pays to scrape the data they provide. Resumes and Curricula Vitae (CVs) are readily available for your perusal. Screening the public information potential applicants post is a fantastic way to get a feel for who’s right for the job. Recruiting based on automated CV and resume scanning is a practical and simple way to find ideal candidates.

​6. Product Data

Manually extracting data for particular products can be an uphill battle. If you need to prepare descriptions, web scraping will find what you need. Obtain images, features, and more with ease. Especially if you have a massive amount of inventory to present, automation is your best bet.

​7. Brand Protecting

Trademark and copyright infringement are very common, unfortunately. Many businesses worldwide also deal with counterfeiting and patent theft. These can go on without your knowledge. But web scraping will catch all this. It’s able to quickly identify questionable moves undertaken by others and make you aware of them. Then you can investigate and pursue legal action if necessary.

​8. Keyword Optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is how you get noticed. Keywords are the cornerstone for this recognition. Data scraping will clue you in on all the latest SEO buzzwords for your industry. Stay up-to-date in order to take your ranking to new heights and keep it there. Scrape weekly to monitor and adapt to any changes.

​9. Customer Opinions

Scraping will net you a tremendous amount of customer reviews. See what people are saying about you, good and bad, then act accordingly. This information is critical, but remember to also take a hands-on approach in this situation. Chat sites like TinyChat and Omegle can direct you to topic discussions. This information might be useful to broaden the wingspan of your research safely.

​10. Routine Testing

A web scraper is a fantastic tool to have at your disposal whenever you want to test-run your site. Maybe you’ve made some updates or changes, so to see if they’re on the up-and-up and functioning properly, let automation loose to sniff out any problems.

​Concluding Remarks

Automation tools paired with proxies are what you need for a successful business in 2022. These suggestions are invaluable methods to keep you on an even keel with your competitors. Try them out, and you’ll see the bottom-line difference in only a short period of time.

Crypto Blockchain – Proof of Work Vs. Proof of Stake

Posted on by Hamza Robaq
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The fundamental difference between the Proof of Stake (PoW) model and the Proof of Work (PoW) model can only be understood by reviewing the history of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. If we go towards the origins of the first blockchain-based digital currency, i.e., Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency was created as a reaction to the distrust in the global financial system caused by the big banks (who people felt had a role to play in causing an economic collapse). Because of such distrust, people felt unsafe handing their money to centralized financial institutions.

The original creators of Bitcoin designed the Proof of Work (PoW) blockchain model that created a secure method to store your funds, fundamentally making it impossible for any outside authority (such as any government) to gain access to it. But while the PoW model promised security, the heavy electricity consumption required as a trade-off when mining became the primary argument against the currency’s adoption. For the market to grow, an alternative was required as well. The “Proof of Stake (PoS)” model emerged, designed to operate in such a way that mining would not be required.

This is not a problem for trading platforms like Immediate Alpha that can handle both PoS and PoW models, but the issue of power consumption is worth considering when you are looking at holding your coins for a long period.

Today, both Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) models are being used by different projects. Both models have their own trade-offs, which must be looked at if we are to assess which one has better utility with less downside.

The Proof of Work (PoW) Model

When the concept of ‘decentralized systems’ was first proposed, there needed to be a way for the network to run without the need for a central authority operating everything. The Proof of Work (PoW) proposed a consensus-based method by which volunteers from all over the world would share processing power to a common blockchain network.  The model incentivized volunteers who would “mine” in order to update and run the blockchain. The “miners” would be rewarded in cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin) that could then be cashed as regular real-world money.

The most famous cryptocurrencies using the PoW model include Bitcoin and Litecoin. Because the entire cryptocurrency market follows Bitcoin, it can be argued that even today the PoW model dominates the crypto ecosystem.

Security

The Proof of Work (PoW) model was first used by Bitcoin and provided an extremely secure method of storing your funds. The encryption that PoW provided is extremely secure and has never been compromised. Even today, Satoshi Nakomoto’s wallet holds tens of billions of unclaimed dollars, that no hacker has been able to access due to the secure nature of the network. The security exists due to miners all over the world solving complex puzzles that in turn support the functioning of a cryptographic system, which becomes more complex to solve as more miners join the system.

Mining, Processing Power, & the Electricity Consumption Trade-Off

While the Proof of Work (PoW) model is able to provide high security, the trade-off is the large processing power required. Powered typically by mining, the PoW model is a sort of race between miners to solve a puzzle, with the first one to solve it being rewarded. Because the model incentivizes miners to have high processing power at their disposal to solve the puzzle first, this in turn raises the overall electricity consumed by the network. The high-power consumption attached to the PoW model has been a critical point of concern when talking about scalability. Environmental concerns have also created a mainstream argument against miners, with certain countries such as China banning miners altogether. 

The Proof of Stake (PoS) Model

Like the PoW model, the Proof of Stake (PoS) model is built on a consensus-based algorithm, where the core philosophy of keeping any central authority out of the blockchain network remains the same, as volunteers participate to keep the blockchain running. But unlike PoW where miners pool their computational power to keep the blockchain running, PoS requires participants to pool their funds through staking.

For any transaction taking place on the blockchain to be validated, the validator is chosen based on the number of funds staked. The more money you have staked on the blockchain network, the higher the chances of you being selected as the validator.

Lower Power Consumption

Because actual hardware that is required to solve complex puzzles is not there, the Proof of Stake (PoS) model inherently requires relatively less power consumption in order to keep the network running. The network validates transactions and functions based on the amount staked by participants, thus removing the primary issue of environmental hazards that mining created.

Easier to Scale

When we talk about scalability, the issue that arises with PoW is that better hardware that has higher computational power is required as time passes on because the complexity of the “puzzles” that need to be solved increases. Not only does this increase the overall processing power required by the system over time, but it also makes it harder to scale the system.

Today, new cryptocurrency projects choose to build over a Proof of Stake (PoS) model because it is easier to scale. Many within the cryptocurrency community see PoW as outdated, as it was adopted to be used in currencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin when there was no alternative at the time. Since the rise of PoS, many have preferred it as a better option. Ethereum’s famous transition from PoW to PoS is a primary example of projects adopting the newer model in order to scale better.

The Concerns of 51% Rule in PoW & the Safety in PoS

The 51% rule is a scenario known within the crypto-community especially for Proof of Work (PoW) based networks, where miners take control of the majority mining pool and use it to hijack the blockchain network. Since the network runs on a consensus mechanism, any individual/group controlling 51% of the total consensus involved will obviously be in control, possibly creating fake blocks for themselves and invalidating other transactions.

Because of the nature of PoW, it is more likely that miners try to attempt such a scenario when mining rewards become too small. However, with Proof of Stake (PoS), the potential hijackers would need 51% of the total currency supply in order to take control, which is a very unlikely scenario to happen.

Final Verdict: Proof of Stake (PoS) or Proof of Work (PoW)

Despite the improvements that Proof of Stake (PoS) promises, it is unlikely that cryptocurrencies running on Proof of Work (PoW) will go away anytime soon. This is because Bitcoin (running on PoW) is unlikely to go away, which means miners are here to stay for long. However, many cryptocurrencies attempting to do more than Bitcoin, such as Ethereum, will probably move forward with PoS because it can maximize the utility that can be added by the project.

It is hard to argue against Proof of Stake (PoS) being a more efficient alternative, as it solves major problems such as scalability issues, power consumption, and the issue of high processing power required. This is why PoS is fundamentally more efficient than its predecessor, and will probably be adopted by more and more projects unless something better comes along. But at the same time, the high security that PoW provides will be a major reason why some tried and tested cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, will also remain dominant. 

Small Loans Through Apps – Is This Something New?

Posted on by Victor
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Is getting a small loan through a smartphone app a new phenomenon? The answer is yes. Most small loan and cash advance apps have only been around for less than 10 years. 

Now there are several small loan apps that can easily be accessed through your smartphone or online. While these companies and applications are relatively new, the services they provide are not. 

For example, the popular cash advance app Dave was started in 2017, and shortly after, Shark Tank star Mark Cuban invested $3 million into the banking service startup. 

The service these apps offer is very similar to a payday loan or a cash advance loan. These are small loans that are meant to be repaid once the borrower receives their next paycheck. These types of loans usually don’t require a good credit score, and you’ll only need income and a checking account in order to qualify. These loans usually come with very high-interest rates and fees and are generally cautioned against for borrowers who may not be able to quickly pay back the loan.

Smartphone apps that offer small loans, however, are a much safer option than a payday loan. Many of the popular applications don’t charge any interest but may request that you pay a subscription fee, a tip, or another small fee in order to use their service. 

Dave

As mentioned, the Dave app is one of the more popular small loan apps on the market today. Much like a payday loan, the Dave app lets you borrow a small amount of money with the expectation that you’ll repay the loan once you receive your next paycheck. It also can monitor your checking account to protect you from an overdraft. 

Dave app users usually receive up to $100 but can receive up to $200 dollars if they elect to have a Dave spending account. Dave does not charge interest on their loans. Instead, they rely on a few fees that they market as optional. There is a $1 monthly subscription fee and you can tip up to 20% of the borrowed amount. The tip is optional, but Dave says it is the tips that allow them to continue providing their service to others. You can also pay a fee to receive your cash faster, upgrading the delivery time to eight hours instead of the usual three days.

Earnin

Earnin fashions itself as a paycheck advance app. The Earnin app is also a popular choice among small loan apps. It is among the older applications on the market, having launched in 2014. It tracks the hours that you work, using a timesheet or geographic data to log how long you’ve been at work. This allows users to access wages they’ve earned but have yet to be paid for.  It also offers an overdraft protection service. 

Earnin users can access $100 to $500 dollars in funds and charge no interest on their loans. Much like the Dave app, Earnin asks you for a voluntary tip of up to $14 and offers overdraft protection for a recurring monthly tip of $1.50. 

MoneyLion

MoneyLion asks for an optional tip, and they also charge an express fee in order to get your money sooner. MoneyLion offers “instacash” advance service ranging from $25 and up to $250 if you elect to open a MoneyLion checking account.

Brigit

There is also the budgeting app Brigit. Brigit also offers up to $250 dollars in a cash advance loan but is among the more expensive options. They charge a $9.99 monthly subscription fee to utilize their service. One of the advantages of Brigit is a much faster delivery time. If you make your request before 10 a.m. ET, they can usually deliver your funds that day or the next day. 

Chime

Most of the apps do not require a credit check in order to qualify, usually only requiring proof of income and a checking account. As you’ve seen, many of these apps do charge interest or fees characteristic of predatory payday loans. Instead, they rely on subscription fees, express delivery fees, and tips to make money. Therefore, many of these apps are good options if you need quick cash in a pinch before you receive your next paycheck.

Chime launched in 2013 and offers various fee-free banking services, including checking and savings accounts. Chime is another option with similar advantages to Dave and Earnin. Their “SpotMe” product offers customers the opportunity to overdraw on their accounts up to a certain amount without incurring an overdraft fee. Customers can overdraw up to $200 based on their account activity. Once the overdraft limit is hit, the account will decline any additional purchases without incurring any fees. Chime charges no interest, also asking that you tip their service. The advantage of the SpotMe product is that is instantaneous. It is already built into your account once you set it up. 

Cash Advance

Cash Advance is a cash advance app designed to provide traditional payday loans and installment cash advances for everyone in urgent need of money. Totally convenient and fast,it will make the loan application process quicker and simpler than ever before. Plus, the app is completely free: it doesn’t charge any fee for connecting with available direct lenders.

However, most of the apps offer very small loan amounts, with the higher end usually being around $500. If you are in the market for a bigger amount, you should look into a personal loan from apps that can offer them – like Avant, Varo, or Oportun – or through banks and other traditional financial services, most of which offer online services and smartphone apps.

With all this in mind, it’s important to remember to only utilize these small loan services if you are really in need of them. Getting a cash advance on your upcoming paycheck now means less money coming in your next paycheck. It’s always best to build up an emergency fund and withdraw from it when you come upon a surprise or emergency expense. But if you find yourself in dire need of some money to stretch between paydays, these small loans are a viable and legitimate option to use. Make sure to compare these options to find the most suitable option for you and your situation.

How To Build A Good Investment Portfolio

Posted on by Charlene Brown
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By now, everyone has probably heard of the success and fame that comes along with being a good investor. While some might think that a person should just go out and hope for the best by investing in whatever stocks look like they could be profitable, it doesn’t really work like that. Building an investment portfolio means more than just buying a lot of different stocks and hoping they do well because that’s really just speculation. In order to build a really good one, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

1. Use The Right Tech

The first thing is to make sure you use the right technology in order to build an investment portfolio. It might be a good idea for you to look into reliable 2022 stock tracking apps that let you monitor how your stocks are doing in real-time. Not only that, but it might be a good idea for you to look into apps that allow you to set up price alerts for certain stocks so that you’ll know when there’s a sudden drop or rise in the market.

On the other hand, if you want to invest in something like bitcoin, then it makes sense for you to look into apps that let you track changes in the value of the cryptocurrency. For example, if you want to invest in stocks, the great thing about making investments in today’s world is that there are plenty of tech solutions that can help you do it, so it’s much easier to ensure your portfolio is on the right track.

2. Know Your Risk Tolerance

Altcoins are a great investment option for some people, while others prefer investing in gold or the real estate market. Altcoins are good for making money, but they are also very risky. People who are okay with risk and want to make a lot of money might like altcoins. But it is important to remember that you can lose a lot of money too.

Gold has a medium level of risk. Most people invest in Gold Coins, which have a face value and a known market value. Gold might not grow fast like altcoins, but it is good against inflation and uncertain economic times.

When discussing investment risk, investors can mitigate it by investing in blue chip stocks, dividend-paying stocks, and debt-free companies, which can enhance long-term investment stability.

Real estate can make you money by renting it out and it can go up in value over time. Historically the risk in real estate is low, but it is very important to think about things like changes in the market, how much it costs to fix things, and times when the property might be empty.

When you first start investing, it’s important for you to think about what kind of risk tolerance you have because knowing this will ensure that you invest in the right types of things. If high-risk investments aren’t your thing, then there’s no reason for you to even consider them because they’re not worth it unless you know exactly what you’re doing. Instead, look into lower-risk options like stocks or bonds that you know can help you achieve your goals without putting yourself in danger of losing all of your savings. While there’s always a certain level of stress when it comes to investing, it should never feel like speculation, and knowing what your limits are can ensure that you’re building a portfolio that can help you achieve your life goals.

3. Choose Your Asset Allocation Strategy

More than just knowing the specific stock or bond you want to invest in, you should also know how you want to split up your portfolio. Let’s say you know you want to invest in bonds, stocks, and real estate. You need to decide how many assets to put into each one so that you don’t have a portfolio composed of all three. You can do this based on the expected rates of return for each class, by implementing a buy-and-hold strategy if you want to be more hands-on, or constantly adjust the assets depending on how the market fluctuates. Of course, you could also go for the insured asset allocation strategy which means that you decide a base value for your portfolio that it should never go under. If it does, in this strategy, you would sell and reinvest into risk-free assets until you reach your target value again.

4. Know The Investment Portfolio Types

There are three main investment portfolio types – aggressive, moderate, and conservative. An aggressive investment portfolio is typically for people who aren’t afraid to take risks and want a high amount of capital gains. A moderate investment portfolio is somewhere in the middle that gives you good gains while still being relatively safe. Finally, a conservative investment portfolio takes less risk but also means lower returns overall. The great thing about building your own investment portfolio is that you can choose the strategy that best suits you, so knowing what these strategies entail is key. You could mix and match, but it might be easier to keep track of everything if you focus on one particular strategy. While diversification is generally a good thing, you shouldn’t stretch yourself too thin trying to invest in as many different things as you can. You can also expect a good return on your investment by working with short-term investments and liquid assets.

The great thing about investing is that you don’t need to be an expert in order to build a good portfolio, but you should at least know how to use the latest technologies and asset allocation strategies so that your investments are on track for success. It’s great knowing that you can play such a big part in building wealth for yourself, but it’s even more exciting when you can do it in a safe manner that also gives you the freedom to adjust things when needed.

4 SaaS Marketing Mistakes You Should Avoid

Posted on by Matt Jordan
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All SaaS companies are tech companies. They all have teams of coders that plan, build, release, and scale software solutions. They also have marketers that sell these solutions to people, making their lives, jobs, and workflows easier, smarter, profitable, and more efficient.

When stakeholders have the right mindset of approaching marketing the same way as software development, SaaS companies can avoid most marketing mistakes. Because marketing a SaaS offer is unique, SaaS marketing agencies like Getuplead can handle your marketing strategy. Nevertheless, if you do your marketing in-house, this article discusses four SaaS marketing mistakes to avoid.

Some SaaS companies do not apply the same thoroughness to their digital marketing efforts. However, if these companies were invested in planning their digital, building tests, releasing them, and scaling those that work, they would drive faster results by honing a combination of platforms, strategies, and messaging.

Top 4 mistakes your company should avoid in SaaS marketing include;

1. Having A Poor Understanding Of Your Buyer

Understanding your buyer is the best way to drive results. When developing your buyer personas, identify notable things about them. These things include their news and information source, the social media they consume, what influences them, and who they view as thought leaders.

If you’re already into marketing, you probably have solid first-party data that could be useful. Using your CRM, figure out who has bought from you, then import the data you get into publishers, creating lookalike audiences. The next thing is to look at your web analytics and use the user behavior to create audiences. Instead of chasing new prospects every time, there are higher chances of closing website visitors who have visited your website, solution page, and pricing page.

2. Creating Content Intuitively

Using your intuition about your buyer to guess the content you believe will be most appealing to your audience is not ideal. Experienced content creators have a map of their prospects’ online customer journey. They also research trends, thus, uncovering topics and pertinent questions to the prospects. Prospects usually ask these questions via search, and they have significant volumes behind them.

When you match search queries to customers’ journeys and understand currently ranking content in Google’s top positions, you have a data-driven recipe for content marketing. This recipe ensures you answer the right questions in the best possible way.

3. Neglecting Insights Mindset

Solely grading your digital program on KPIs instead of insights is a huge mistake. Instead, having a dual-lens is one way to get the most out of your digital marketing program. One lens would be for tracking hard KPIs, including the number of leads, trials, demos, closed-won deals, or any series of KPIs that builds revenue.

Judging SaaS companies’ digital program by only KPIs derails the company away from their tech DNA. Although users help improve products by making suggestions or finding bugs, insights are much overlooked in a digital marketing program. Instead, you can gain insights from tactics, platforms, strategies, and a combination of pricing and messaging.

When you switch to an insights mindset, you’ll learn and get insights from plans that work and those that don’t. You’ll also be able to test and experiment in an agreed-upon framework.

Another reason for switching to an insight mindset is that it allows marketers to try out new platforms, messaging, campaign and ad types, landing page UX, and pricing models with 10 to 20% of the budget. An insights mindset allows honing platforms to deliver the best ROI. You’ll also be able to hone in on what prospects want to see and hear.

4. Under-utilizing Automation

SaaS companies are expected to adopt and leverage all automation tools and software to grow and drive results. Well, this isn’t always so. When they think of automation, most marketers think of Hubspot, Eloqua, and Marketo.

Although these tools are high-powered, marketers often end up using only 25% of the total feature set. Hence, when using these platforms, you have to invest time and people to make the most out of them.

Nevertheless, there is a need for marketers to expand their definition of automation outside these major platforms. There is a popular belief that the future of automation is in no-code tools and integrations—for example, Zapier, Typeform, or a Typeform alternative. Being fluent in these new tools helps you customize and automate jobs and tasks, especially for targeted outreach, lead nurturing, list building, and email address acquisition. As a result, automation is necessary for improving sales performance and enhancing productivity.

Finally

The top four SaaS marketing mistakes to avoid are discussed in this article. You can drive faster and more effective results by turning your digital marketing into a tech-focused powerhouse where you build audiences and create data-based content. You’ll also be able to look beyond KPIs and derive insights from testing methodologies and mindsets that leverage automation for better performance and productivity before closing the loop on your data.

How to Implement a Quality Management System

Posted on by Ink Elves
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A Quality Management System (QMS) is a series of written procedures for key processes and methods put in place to ensure a business can meet customer requirements consistently and effectively. A well-maintained and implemented QMS can boost productivity and ensure your business hits performance targets. If you haven’t yet implemented a quality management system, read on to learn more.  

Why is a QMS Important?

A QMS is very important, particularly in sectors like manufacturing. Implementing a QMS will help you reduce waste and boost efficiency. It can also help you meet the standards required to achieve your compliance. If a business is not compliant, it could trigger all kinds of problems, legal or otherwise. 

A QMS can support a business, but there needs to be a robust framework in place for managing the QMS processes. There are software QMS solutions available to help businesses put a quality management system in place. Enterprise software is ideal for larger businesses, and EQMS are essential tools in any manufacturing process, where lean methods are used to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

Building a QMS Framework

A QMS framework, whether software or actual paperwork, is all about maintaining accurate records. The QMS will include records, reports, and help employees carry out their tasks in a compliant manner. If there are incidences of non-conformance, the QMS will record these, as well as the outcome. An effective QMS creates an accurate paper trail, so when processes are audited, perhaps for compliance purposes, data is accurate and up to date at all times.

All quality management systems have a hierarchy of essential documents. The first is a Quality Manual. There should also be a list of policies, procedures, instructions for how to carry out various tasks, forms, and lists.

Essential Steps in Implementing a QMS

Implementing a QMS can seem like a challenge, but many companies already have a lot of documentation already in place. However, all documents must adopt the same template and be easy to read and understand. All existing policy documents and procedural manuals must be brought up to date, checked for accuracy, and imported into the new format.

Map all areas of the business and decide which ones should fall under the umbrella of a QMS. It may be that some areas are left out of the process. Include all members of the business in the process. It is very important that everyone gets involved, so any areas of non-compliance or missing documentation are highlighted early on in the process.

Documents must be drafted according to the master template, and accessible to everyone. Ensure documents are reviewed by department heads to check for inaccuracies. Documents must be filed in a way that they can easily be identified and retrieved (this is one benefit of using a QMS software solution, as all documents are stored electronically in the cloud, and accessible to everyone, from anywhere).

Note that staff training will probably be needed so employees know how to use the QMS.

How to Beat a Felony Drug Charge

Posted on by Annabelle E
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A drug-related felony offense is a serious criminal offense with very high penalties, and it is difficult to overcome. Therefore, if you are accused, you need to arm yourself to fight back and protect your future. But the truth is that it will not be easy. The good news is, you do not have to work alone to beat a felony drug charge. A drug crime defense lawyer will come in with their expertise to support and defend you to success.

What Is a Felony Drug Charge?

Drug charges include possession, manufacture, driving while under the influence, and distribution or selling. Drug-related laws are very complex and keep on changing. Also, you could face different charges depending on the occurrences. However, irrespective of the charges you face, a drug crime attorney can help you beat a drug crime and secure your future.

The keys below will lead you to a successful defense. 

1. Hire the Right Lawyer

The first thing to do after being accused of a drug crime should be to contact your lawyer. If you do not have one, start the search to hire one as soon as you can.

The drug defense lawyer you choose is the key to the outcome of your case. Having handled similar cases before, they understand how the system works and will put out the best defense to see your case thrown out or have your punishment reduced.

Having handled similar cases before, the best Arizona criminal defense attorney understands how the system works and will put out the best defense to see your case thrown out or have your punishment reduced.​​​​​​​

The first step toward defense against a drug felony charge is determining if the search was legal. If the search that led to the discovery of drugs was not conducted per the requirements of the law, they cannot use the evidence against you in a court of law. Understanding your constitutional rights and, in this case, illegal search and seizure will free you from drug felony charges.

3. Deny Knowledge of Possession

To be convicted of a drug felony, the prosecution must prove that you owned the drugs knowingly. For instance, if you borrowed a friend’s car to run errands and a police search discovers drugs in the trunk, you cannot be charged because you did not know of their existence. Also, if your seatmate on a public bus is caught in possession of drugs, you cannot be charged for it as well.

The bottom line is, if you are a victim of circumstances, you should prove it and have the charges lifted.

4. Plea Bargain

Another way of beating a felony drug case is by pleading guilty to a lesser charge. However, this depends on the circumstances around your charges. By pleading guilty, you can reduce your felony charges to a less severe charge, resulting in a lesser penalty. However, it is essential to understand what the plea agreement offers before considering it.

5. Violation of Miranda Rights

If you are arrested, the police should tell you that any statement made or anything said subsequently will be used against you. If the police did not inform you of this right, any statement offered cannot be used as evidence against you.

After any arrest incident, it is wise to remain silent until your lawyer arrives to avoid incriminating yourself. Inform your lawyer if they violated your Miranda rights, and they will use that as a defense to have your case dropped.

Get the Right Help

A felony drug charge is a severe offense, and to beat it, you must get help from an experienced lawyer. A delay or wrong choice of lawyer will leave you with a record and penalties that will haunt your life forever. By defending your case, you will not have the right resources, and the court will not take you seriously, which, in many situations, leads to a conviction.

8 Essentials to Create a Highly Converting Landing Page

Posted on by Scott Fluent
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A landing page is an effective tool to boost leads and conversions. It is the page that helps promote your specific product or service and directs the visitors to your lead magnet. However, a landing page needs to be highly enticing and flawless to grab the attention of the visitor and make them take the desired action. It should give your customers what they want in a simple and clear way.

Let’s learn how to create a highly effective landing page to convert visitors and generate leads.

An Attractive and Relevant Headline

The headline is the first thing a visitor sees when they land on your landing page. It’s the hook that either compels the reader to stay on your page or leave it. Make sure that your headline is attention-grabbing, persuasive, concise, and tells the readers what problems your product or service solves. Your headline should ideally be between 10-20 words and should convey a sense of urgency.

Attention-Grabbing Media

According to BANG!, a Web Designer in Phoenix, giving website visitors some “eye candy” visuals and letting them know visually they’re at the right website is a smart move to prevent high bounce rates on your site.

Relevant and catchy images or videos on your landing page not only effectively demonstrate your products or services but also help persuade your visitors. Adding videos is also helpful as research suggests that videos convert better than other forms of content. Video also helps with SEO and maintains user engagement. Make sure that the images/videos are high-quality and relevant to your products/services.

A Powerful Call to Action

Call-to-action (CTA) is crucial for any landing page; they persuade your visitor to take the desired action. Use buttons to draw attention to the CTAs. Make sure that your Primary CTA button is actionable and visible above the fold. Use actionable phrases like “Start Now,” “View a Demo,” and “Get a Free Quote” for CTAs to increase conversion. Moreover, use strong and bright colors to make your CTA button stand out.

Attract Attention

A landing page can use a popup strategy to engage visitors and encourage action. A well-timed popup can display special offers, discounts, or lead magnets like free ebooks or webinars. Exit-intent popups can appear when a user is about to leave, offering a final incentive to stay. Sticky bars at the top or bottom of the page can highlight promotions without disrupting the user experience. Slide-in forms can gently appear on the side to capture leads without being too aggressive. These strategies help keep visitors engaged and increase conversion rates.

Responsive Design

Most customers use their mobile devices to buy a product or service online, so make sure that your landing page is friendly for people viewing it on mobile devices. Mobile responsive landing pages can help convert leads from traffic that comes from smartphones or tablets. Likewise, responsive landing pages support your social media marketing (SMM) campaigns as most people use social media on their mobile phones.

Show Social Proof

Your social proofs (the number of likes, subscribers, shares, etc.) should be prominent on your landing page. Social proofs help win the trust of the visitors and increase their chances of converting into customers.

Testimonials from your existing customers work as great social proof if you don’t have a lot of data to share yet. When adding testimonials, make sure that they’re accompanied by a picture of a real person. You can also add social proofs into your CTA, such as “Join my 50k+ community.”

Use the Right Colors

Colors have a great impact on human psychology; they influence how we feel or act. Using the right colors on your landing page not only increases the user experience but also helps guide their behaviors, which can improve our conversion.

Depending on your product or service, use colors that convey the message you want. For example, red and yellow are the colors that grab attention and ignite appetite, making them an appropriate choice for a food-related landing page.

You also want to make sure each color you use signifies something. For example, you may use black color for the copy text, orange colors for your CTAs and other clickable links, and red color to highlight something important such as social proof.

Contact Information Should be Visible

Having clear and visible contact methods helps strengthen the trust of the visitor by telling them that your business is legitimate. So, make sure your landing page mentions the methods of contacting you.

You can add multiple methods such as a phone number, an email address, social media buttons, a contact form, and a physical business address. You can also add live chat popups that ask the customers if they need any help.

Keep the Layout Simple

Your landing page should present the information in a simple, minimalist, and attractive way without looking cluttered. Use a clean and simple design that helps people understand what your landing page is all about by utilizing a landing page plugin. Use white space and choose large fonts for increased readability and user experience. Your CTA button should be visible, and make sure that the visitor doesn’t have to scroll to find it.

Simple Ways to Increase the Views of Your Video on YouTube

Posted on by Sergey Gromov
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In order for your YouTube channel to become popular, increase the number of your target audience and, accordingly, significantly increase your profits, you need to know the basic rules of promotion of your resource. Carrying out these actions will allow you to quickly increase the number of viewers and bring your business to a new, higher level.

The Influence of the Number of Video Views on the Popularity of the Channel

The specifics of YouTube is that the popularity of the channel on this video hosting directly depends on the viewability of the videos, each of which differs in duration. What matters for the promotion of the channel is how much time viewers spend on it.

When putting the video in a certain position in the YouTube ranking, 2 indicators are analyzed: the number of viewers who saw the video, and the duration of video viewing. A high level of these two factors allows the youtube channel to take a high position at the top.

What Actions Help to Increase Views on YouTube

Even the availability of quality content and its regular updates do not always help to bring your channel to a high level on YouTube if you do not use certain methods to increase views on this resource. Promoting videos on the first positions of the trends contributes to several effective techniques, each of which has features listed below.

Creating Quality Content

The first thing you need to emphasize when promoting your channel on YouTube is high-quality content. The content of the videos should be superior to similar video content. Despite the fact that there are many dishonest ways to promote your channel today, experts recommend abandoning them in favor of better content. Creating and posting quality videos promotes the fast engagement of YouTube users and increases the number of subscribers.

Along with Google, YouTube also belongs to the category of search engines. Therefore, increasing the target audience is directly dependent on providing relevant, high-quality content. YouTube and Google function on an identical principle. To satisfy viewers’ interest, you need to know what topics they are currently interested in and create content “tailored to the audience.”

Creating Playlists, Arranging Videos

Despite the simplicity of this method and its proven effectiveness, not everyone uses it. Initially, it is recommended to create thematic playlists, the content of which is connected by a single storyline. To increase the effectiveness, videos should be placed in ascending order – in the direction from standard to the best and most popular. In most cases, users view videos in this order. Therefore, viewers’ interest increases with each successive viewing of the video.

The Benefits of this Action:

  • The number of views increases not only for the interesting videos but also for the less impressive ones.
  • Users view all the videos in the playlist. This contributes to the retention of the target audience of your YouTube channel and serves as an effective method of increasing its position in the rating for a minimum period of time.

During the use of this technique, it is necessary to take into account that videos that continue previous videos by plot do not require a standard introduction and the presence of inserts. The new content should be worked through immediately. Users should have no difficulty moving from the previous video to the next.

Title and Preview

The attention of new users can be attracted by interesting headlines, attractive thumbnails – previews. When working through this factor, there are four rules to follow:

1.         Pay sufficient attention to the creation of the main image. It should be bright, engaging, reflect the essence of the video, be related to the content because if the title of the video does not match its content, viewers will lose interest in such a channel and will no longer go to him.

2.         Make sure that the meaning of the title and preview coincide. The relationship between the title of the YouTube video and the image that represents it creates a kind of intrigue for the audience. It is important to place in the preview a certain detail that will arouse the audience’s interest and make it clear that watching the full video will reveal the essence of the preview.

3.         Check how the preview and title text look when using different gadgets: computers, tablets, phones. Sometimes the title of a video clip and its splash screen on a smartphone screen looks low-quality. At the same time, when viewing the same title and preview on a computer, such problems may not arise.

Evaluate the results and adjust subsequent tactics accordingly. The effectiveness of your YouTube channel’s headlines and previews can be determined through the YouTube Analytics service.

Competent presentation of content and its high quality combined can quickly increase the number of subscribers in a short period of time.

Collaborating With Other Writers

Conflicts with other bloggers just because of the matching nature of the video is the wrong tactic. To increase the number of views of your YouTube videos, you need to implement the idea of collaboration that allows for mutual benefits. Expanding audience reach and increasing content value are the main goals of content marketing on YouTube.

The presence of competitors does not create risks for the owner of the YouTube channel. But as long as quality, interesting content is provided. Creating shared video content positively reflects on the reputation of the channel. As an alternative option of cooperation with other bloggers, you can appear in their videos as a guest, which will not only draw attention to yourself but also allow you to promote your channel on YouTube.

Interaction with other channel owners can be fruitful if you perceive them as colleagues rather than competitors.

The Importance of the Last Minutes of Videos and Final Splashes

The last-minute of a video should remind users who have viewed your material to check out previous videos. Referring the audience back to previous works increases interest in a particular channel’s content.

After saying goodbye to the audience, you need to extend the audio track for about 10-20 seconds. This will delay the users’ interest in the content and the channel respectively.

It is advisable to place links to other themed videos on the final splash page. Such tactics perform the function of a trigger – it motivates users to watch other material on the same blogger’s resource. Otherwise, after watching the video, the viewer simply closes it and leaves the channel.

You can also place links to your other YouTube channels on the final splash screen. Such action contributes to increasing the time of audience retention, increasing the popularity of the resource.

Generation of Headlines Taking into Account Key Queries

Similar to the Google search engine, it is advisable to generate titles for YouTube videos based on keywords. You should pay attention to thematic queries that have long tails. If there is one basis, they should have different branches. When creating titles of video clips, it is the basis of thematic queries that should be taken into account.

For example, if you want to make a video clip on a particular topic, you should enter the expected title into the search box and then analyze the list of queries. With that information in mind, a relevant, engaging title can be generated. An analysis of competitors’ YouTube channels also helps a lot when creating video titles.

Synchronous Work of All These Methods

Each of the above methods has undeniable advantages, as well as a proven ability to promote channels on YouTube. But the simultaneous use of all these methods of promotion on the service YouTube increases the likelihood of rapid withdrawal of their site on the high positions of the top.

The considered material is presented on the basis of the analysis of popular YouTube video hosting channels, as well as taking into account the recommendations of their owners. Following these tips leads to a guaranteed increase in the audience and a rapid increase in profits from running a channel on the popular service YouTube.

Multi-Language Forex Trading Platforms

Posted on by Tzvi Sklar
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Forex trading software is an algorithmic trading tool that can readily identify noteworthy ‘discrepancies’ in real-time foreign exchanges. As the technology advances, evolving forex trading software just might be ideal for your lifestyle and investment trading needs. Having the right Forex trading software – with multi-language support – will greatly assist traders in having the most acceptable trading experience.

Quality trading tools include functions and features such as trading platforms, charting options and technical analysis tools, automation with forex robots, and back-testing. This article will present the best Forex trading software tools that sustain multi-language support that is currently on the market. From the startups to the established players. The marketplace is fully developed for almost any trading need.

What Is Forex Trading?

Foreign exchange trading is the strategy of making profits on the changes in price between different foreign currencies. Forex traders endeavor to speculate on which currency will either increase or decrease in value. Similar to trading investment products, like stocks, a forex trader would be buying or selling foreign currency pairs instead.

Forex Trading Software

If you are attempting to understand exactly what the key features to look for are when choosing a forex trading tool, you are not alone. In the majority of cases, a forex trading platform will be an advanced software program that digitally connects a forex trader to a forex broker. This trading platform will provide real-time information in the form of charts, quotes, and buying and selling prices and fees. In addition, the user interface will permit orders to be reviewed and processed by the trader’s broker.

The trading software is installed on a trader’s personal computer, and it can function on a Windows, Linux, or Mac system depending on the options on offer from the software. Though it could also come in the form of web-based software, with an account integrated into a cloud service provider or SaaS (software as a service) server. Web-based forex trading platforms are excellent since they work on almost any computer or smartphone device that can connect to the internet. While a few trading platforms are free, specialized software providers can purchase those with advanced functionality. Forex trading platforms should provide historical and real-time trading data so the trader can make intelligent investment decisions. Also, due to the availability of APIs (or application program interfaces) on many Forex brokers platforms, the use of third-party software is now typical. APIs allow forex traders to incorporate proprietary software into their platforms seamlessly.

Forex Software Options to Consider

Every region and country has its own preference when it comes to Forex trading software programs. Forex BitcoinTrade is the most popular Forex trading platform used in the Middle East, whereas, for the Australian or UK market, Pepperstone is the preferred software.

  • Best Overall Forex Trading Software: BitcoinTrade.com 
  • Best for Active Traders: Pepperstone, NinjaTrader
  • Best for multi language options: BitcoinTrade.com
  • Best for Day Traders: TD Ameritrade
  • Best for Access to Foreign Markets: Interactive Brokers
  • Best for Beginners: Tradespoon, BitcoinTrade.com
  • Best for Custom Rules: MT4 Professional
  • Best for Algo Trading: Zen Trading Strategies
  • Best for Demo version checking: Pepperstone, BitcoinTrade.com

Key Characteristics to Consider

  • Is the forex trading platform free or not? Does the platform have additional features to make your forex trading experience more profitable in case of a minor or nominal fee? However, why pay for advanced features if you do not intend to use them.
  • Can you change the language, or does it support multi language capabilities? For many trading systems where traders do not speak English, this is important functionality to have.
  • Do the tools charting components have technical indicators? If so, what are they? Make sure the technical indicators are forthright to understand, as they will make trades simpler to complete.
  • Is it possible to utilize the online charts for trading? If so, how is it accomplished? A satisfactory forex trading platform is one where the charts are straightforward to interpret.
  • Before settling on a forex order, does the platform enable users to back-test any detailed trading strategies? This functionality is important. And especially so when you want to test your own system using historical trading data.
  • Is the graphical user interface (or GUI) ‘pleasing’ to the eye? While the actual information is obviously important, you should choose a trading package that will be appealing, as you will be staring at the screen for long periods.

Most Forex trading brokers allow their customers to open free or ‘demo’ accounts before purchasing a full account. To know the software platform that best works for you, you could try out different software vendors on the market. Take advantage of these trial periods and test the software’s’ trading capabilities before purchasing – this way, you are making an informed decision where you can personally see if your requirements can be met by the software’s’ inherent capabilities.

How to Rocket Your Small Business in the Post-Pandemic Rebound

Posted on by Kelly Maryland
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We do not know when Covid will end. When it started in March 2020, we never imagined that we would still be locked down two years later. But having survived this long, it is time now to set up your business to take advantage of the post-covid rebound.

According to a new Goldman Sachs survey, almost 70% of small business owners believe COVID19 has harmed their bottom line. In addition, because of the increase in COVID cases, over 40% of those small company owners claim they’ve had to close or reduce hours recently.

Adaptation

It should come as no surprise, then, that many of the firms that have succeeded are those who operate in this space. Even if they hadn’t previously offered it, grocery businesses went to the innovative solution of curbside delivery. Rather than forcing someone to enter a crowded store and risk being exposed to COVID-19, an employee may gather all of your needed things and deliver them to your car. In several stores across the country, at-home delivery has also become an option.

Capitalize on Technology Shift

Businesses that capitalize on shifts in previous business practices will have less face time and more virtual time. People’s ability to adapt to market trends permits them to survive even the most trying times. Is your company capable of providing products or services remotely, no matter how difficult it may be? Do you need to rethink what your brand stands for in the first place? Are there any new cash streams that you may tap into that will last long after the pandemic has passed?

It seems like it is becoming no longer necessary for businesses to have a physical storefront, meaning now is the time to focus on your digital marketing. Powerapps development company offers services to businesses of all sizes to boost work efficiency and maximize success.

Re-Learn Your Competition

Reexamine the competition and find new niches – maybe App Development. Now is the time to focus on better ways to reach your customers. Listen to customer demand and customer feedback. Delivery services, work from home, new platforms for better user experience. Zoom meetings, work, doctor’s visits, therapy, etc. Takeout for food and alcoholic beverages, online events, webinars, and outdoor dining and telesales. Rebranding using some of these strategies is how you will survive in the new COVID19 landscape.

Endure to Thrive

Staying afloat during COVID-19 requires new approaches. According to one survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), over half of the small enterprises said they were exploring strategies to stay in business. They are prospering in certain circumstances. Small firms have claimed that they are adapting by making the following changes:

  • To make their services available, they use contactless delivery.
  • Asking staff to adapt to remote working practices.
  • Adopting new revenue streams to adapt to supply shortages.
  • Taking advantage of safety precautions to prioritize customer interaction.
  • Use technology to provide improved customer service.

Look on the Bright Side

Even though it may be easy to only focus on the negative impacts COVID19 has had on your business, take a minute to look at some positive aspects. With the growing demand for work-from-home employment, you now have the opportunity to choose from a much larger and more diverse candidate pool. You are no longer limited to people located near your business or those willing to relocate when you have the ability to offer remote work.

Use this as an opportunity to find your new niche. Whether that be a new form of remote services or offering new flexible hours to your employees. This can be your time to explore the world of socially distanced or completely remote events and see if they take off.

Summary

We do not know whether recovery will be in early 2022 or a future year.  But businesses that take advantage of these points can continue to grow and maybe even come back stronger. Likewise, businesses can survive during the COVID-19 pandemic if they reimagine their financial, business, employee, and customer strategies.

But moving beyond the pandemic into a post-COVID world relies on the business’s ability to continue to adapt and consider its customers’ needs in new ways. Things like marketing, customer relationships, business operations, and employee roles may look different now. Still, your attention to them can make all the difference to your business when it’s time to step on the gas pedal once again.

The Use of Infographics In Your Marketing Initiative

Posted on by Costa Lamprou
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Infographics are an amazing tool that makes even the drab topics fun and simple. They are widely used by organizations in training as well as their marketing initiatives. The long boring spreadsheets with copious amounts of data, when presented in the form of an infographic can also make a lot of sense and are easily transformed into decipherable data that can be easily used. Plus, they are inviting and engaging for the viewers. 

The infographics can be used to a tremendous extent in your marketing initiatives. Following pointers can help you navigate that journey seamlessly- 

Showcase Your Strength In Numbers 

The infographics can be used to show your strengths to your consumers and competitors alike. They can be used to portray the positive data in simple terms for the purposes of marketing. This makes particular sense for your company stock and its needs. One source of information can be your LMS data. Modern LMSs like Thought Industries can provide you with data to use as your infographic staple. 

Start Afresh

Rather than using an existing empty infographic format and trying to weave your information around it, try starting with your data with a fresh perspective, and the ideas will flow for a new and unique infographic for you to use. And, it is advisable to keep your infographic short and simple rather than a complex one, which has an inherent hazard of losing user engagement in the middle. 

Disseminate Information

Educate your customers and partners about your achievements as well as give them the desired knowledge through a simple and eye-catching infographic. It ensures the engagement of the viewers as well as retention. 

Avoiding Complication

As already mentioned above simplicity is the key. If the infographics are too big and complicated they lose their purpose of knowledge dissemination. They might be able to attract the required audience but complicated infographics lose the edge of knowledge sharing and its retention. Thus, the need is to create simple and small infographics to serve their original purpose. 

Be Precise

Precision is a prerequisite of an infographic. Rather than beating around the bush, just dive into the right information. Too much information in one infographic will lose engagement in the middle. And will not be able to share the information intended. 

Use Them in Your Blogs

As a part of your marketing strategy, you can use your standalone infographics with a good amount of views with your blogs and increase their traction. Plus, more people can view in reference to your blogs. Thus, both the individual entities can support each other by garnering more views for each separately. This way your knowledge or information reaches more of your target audience. 

Weave a Visual Story

With an infographic try to weave a visual story. Users are more likely to be stimulated with visual content. In this regard starting with a blank screen is important. A visual story will break the intended content into visually smaller sections, which helps in easier consumption by your audience. 

Optimization for Search Engines

This pointer is a little technical but as important. Your infographics should have appropriate alt tags and file names. It is advisable to take care that these names should also be optimized so as not to slow down the loading time. When your infographics are optimized, they are easily searchable and have the merit of reaching more people and being consumed by them.

Explain the Complex Topics

This is the specialty of infographics. Even the complex information can be disseminated in the form of infographics where it is visually segregated as well as is appealing for the consumer. You can take any complex topic and formulate an information-rich but simple infographic for the benefit of your audience and in turn for you. 

Use True Customer Stories

For the content of infographics, you can refer to the true customer journey and stories that you have and present them in the form of infographics. This increases the appeal of your content, as it comes from an authorized source and is true. Your audience is able to relate more to it and consume it better with a better possibility of engagement and it also offers image enhancement in the eyes of your consumers. 

Make it Simple and Relevant

As is the theme throughout the blog and has been reiterated time and again, the infographics need to be simple enough for consumption by the users. But, just the simplicity does not suffice. The infographics in question need to be relevant to your target audience. Thus, they need to be checked for these markers before they are shared.

Trend Representation

The infographics can successfully be used to represent positive trends to your target market to strengthen your marketing initiatives.

Conclusively, infographics creation and sharing is an ameliorate process and when done in tandem with marketing strategies can do wonders for your organization.