Networking

Building a Strong Network and Professional Reach

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How to Networking Early and Often

Building a strong network is important in today’s industry. A leading man in the industry is Nate Armstrong from Home Invest. He has created success by using a few key tips.. Several things are essential in building a strong network. There are many ways of networking, so you should always be on the lookout for these opportunities.

Surround Yourself

One of the most important things to remember according to Nate Armstrong of Home Invest is to surround yourself with people that you trust. You also need to make sure that those people are competent enough to reach the same goals that you have. Relationships are a necessity in the business. This isn’t limited to relationships within the company. You must maintain relationships outside the business as well. Vendors and clients are important for expansion. They can help your business grow. You should also be able to trust these people and have confidence that they will do a good job. Remember, it all reflects upon you. Make sure they’re equipped and knowledgeable to work together going forward.

Show Off Your Skill

Another important way to build a strong network is being seen. That means creating a website on the internet. This will give consumers the ability to see your work and what you stand for. Another good strategy is to have a blog. This is a great way to connect to the public. You can learn a lot about what people are looking for with a blog. A blog allows you to relate directly to them and makes you look more real to the public. No middle man needed. If they can talk to you directly, then they feel like you listen. This will make them more interested in you and the company. They are more willing to listen and learn from you and the company. Do your research; look at other blogs and see what they are talking about. This will give you some great insight on what to include in your blog. Remember that your first blog post should be an introduction. Tell consumers who you are. Tell a funny story or write something memorable to make them want to come back. Let them see your personality.

Social Media

Nate Armstrong with Home Invest knows that social media is one of the biggest tools to use for marketing. More referrals come from word of mouth than any other source. Create pages for your business on many platforms. There are great options to find advertising for free. Post on Facebook or add a picture on Instagram. Sites like Trulia and Zillow can make your real estate listings stick out.

Meetings and Events

Another important key for networking is knowing what is working best. How are other companies getting their information out there? What is the best way to advertise? You can find this information by attending conferences and events. Many of these are free and can be found almost anywhere. Many seminars are also offered on the web. Conferences and events are  good way to meet vendors and other people who can help your business grow. Conferences also give you inspiration for new ideas and connections. This strategy can also strengthen your voice and appearance in the industry.

Be A Key in the Community

Reach out to local communities to learn more about what the consumer is looking for. This is a great learning experience as well as a great way to connect with locals and vendors. Remember that this is how you make your client base increase. You can learn a lot about a neighborhood and environment this way. Do it by volunteering or connecting with local businesses. You can also make your presence known with a local commercial on the radio. Also, make use of the local television station or newspaper.

Building a strong network and creating great professional reach is important. These action steps will make a large difference in your business. You’ll make connections and create relationships, things that will be essential now and later.

D.Scott Carruthers

D. Scott Carruthers Shares 5 Marketing Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make

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There seems to be no limit to what new entrepreneurs are able to achieve, and perhaps the most impressive trait possessed by new entrepreneurs is the ability to overcome all manner of adversity. Of course, I can speak from experience and can vouch for the fact that some of the adversity I encountered was of my own creation and therefore completely unnecessary. As a new entrepreneur, you have to understand that the achievement of your company’s goals is partially dependent on your ability to identify and prevent the occurrence of as many mistakes as possible.

Out of all the mistakes I made as a new entrepreneur, I found that marketing mistakes in particular were some of the most difficult to overcome. After speaking with many of my peers, I feel confident in saying that marketing poses a truly unique challenge for new entrepreneurs. It is therefore my hope that sharing the following five mistakes most commonly made by new entrepreneurs will make it easier for you to achieve each and every one of your objectives on the way to entrepreneurial success.

Failing to Develop an Unmistakable Brand Identity

As an entrepreneur, you are probably as confident in the quality of the products and services provided by your company as I was when I first began. I was so overly confident, in fact, that I felt the products and services would simply speak for themselves and would not necessarily require any sort of overarching brand strategy. Obviously, this was a significant miscalculation on my part.

All entrepreneurs should recognize just how critical it is to develop an unmistakable brand identity right from the start. Consumers have to be able to immediately identify and associate a logo or a tagline with your company and your company alone. The more focus you devote to developing a clear brand identity from day one will ultimately play a significant role in determining how successful you are able to be in the early stages of your entrepreneurial endeavor.

Overdependence on Word-of-Mouth and Free Publicity

I was fortunate that I succeeded in generating a tremendous amount of free publicity shortly after founding my company, not to mention the fact that I had a few early clients that happily took on the role of unofficial brand ambassadors and generated a lot of word-of-mouth interest. A number of my peers have actively tried to generate a similar amount of free publicity only to realize that this type of publicity is often an inconsistent and unpredictable approach, especially when it is the only approach utilized.

My advice to new entrepreneurs is to follow the strategy I used, which is to work on generating free publicity and word-of-mouth marketing as a complementary strategy rather than a primary one. This will ensure that you will not suffer from a lack of exposure if you are unable to generate a lot of free publicity. If the free publicity does indeed work well, you will enjoy tremendous market exposure across a wide range of platforms.

Ignoring the Value of Differentiation From Competitors

We should get this out of the way immediately: Your business is not nearly as unique as you believe it to be. You cannot rely on your company being so revolutionary that differentiation from your competitors is unnecessary, otherwise you will find it difficult to establish a share of the market right away. Even though I felt that my company was providing something novel and entirely different, I still performed a great deal of research to make sure that I differentiated myself from any competitors that provided products or services that overlapped with those of my company.

Overlooking the Importance of Identifying a Target Market

Many new entrepreneurs also believe that their company will have such broad appeal that identifying a target market is not worthwhile. Attracting consumers or clients requires a successful appeal to their specific interests or needs, so a non-specific marketing approach will not generate the interest you are seeking. I have had great success through the use of specificity in marketing, particularly after I took the time to thoroughly understand the interests of those occupying my specific target market.

Ignoring Marketing Data in Favor of “Gut Instincts”

It may be tempting to rely on your instincts when making decisions about marketing, especially since your instincts have served you so well thus far. I myself was tempted to rely on my instincts, but I made sure to confirm that my instincts would not lead me astray by evaluating the marketing data and analytics as well. What I came to realize is that sometimes the data will indicate something entirely different, so ignoring the feedback available through data is a risky mistake. You don’t have to ignore your instincts altogether, but I believe your approach to marketing will be far more effective if you place a greater value on the guidance provided by the marketing data.

For more tips on travel, business and more, check out my website D. Scott Carruthers. There I offer freelancers, small business owners, and business in general different topics that may interest you.

 

Dr-Usha-Rajagopal

5 Trending Cosmetic Beauty Treatments You Can Do On Your Lunch Hour

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Back in the day, beauty procedures used to take a lot of time, and patients were required to take time off to prep for the procedures. Patients also had to stop engaging in some activities including their day to day work engagements. It was an uncomfortable and painful process.

But in 2018, those methodologies are behind us, and we have replaced them with beauty treatments that only take a few minutes of the lunch hour. For those who are in the dark, Dr. Usha Rajagopal would like to share with you cosmetic procedures that can be done over lunch break, where no one can even know you were from a plastic surgeon. Moreover, the results of these treatments are effected within a period of between 24 and 48 hours.

Since we are trying to slow the aging process and still maintain our business schedules, we are going to look at 5 cosmetic treatments that you can do over the lunch hour.

Non-invasive lunch lift

There are different kinds of facelifts that are done, and the most effective are the ones that involve a surgical procedure. But as much as that is true, it is now possible to conduct a non-surgical and non-invasive facelift that is effective and only needs less than an hour to perform. This procedure is one that fulfills the popular adage, ‘less is more’. This procedure counters sagging skin by the use of suture threads that re-absorbable. This facelift procedure works to lift the middle and lower face contours through the stimulation of collagen.

Collagen induction therapy

This is a non-surgical treatment that uses PRP in micro needling and collagen induction therapy to treat different kinds of skin imperfections that include wrinkles and fine lines, acne scars, dark circles, as well as improving the skin’s texture. Microneedling on its own works to regenerate the collagen, but when PRP is added, it supercharges the regeneration process. The result of this treatment is an immediate glow, and in a matter of 24 hours, you shall notice a more youthful and fresh appearance.

Eye area revitalization

There is a sunken area just below the inner corners of the eyes known as the tear trough. When there is a loss of volume in this area for any kind of reason, it creates a shadow which is identified commonly as the dark under-eye circle. This can make you look tired and old. To correct this look, specific fillers known as Volbella Fillers are used because they are ultra-smooth and have a low HA concentration. When you undergo this one-time treatment, you are going to have a natural look that can stay for up to one year.

Instant hydration using skin boosters

It is common that the best way to have a youthful skin is to hydrate your skin, and most of the cosmetic procedures done at lunchtime work to correct the imperfections of the skin. Volite is used in this hydration treatment to improve the quality of the skin. HA (Hyaluronic Acid) is in Volite; it works to wipe wrinkles and fine lines off the face to leave a smooth skin, as well as add elasticity and hydration. One session of this cosmetic procedure can last up to nine months. The treatment will help to boost the skin on the decolletage, hands, and neck.

Lips rejuvenation

Today, there is a way to rejuvenate the skin in a natural way. Juvederm Volift fillers are used to rejuvenate the lips. Unlike other types of fillers, this type of fillers gives the lips a natural look and makes the lips plump in a subtle way. The results can last up to 15 months.

Gone are the days when you need to take time off work to attend a cosmetic procedure. But before you undertake any procedure, consult a board certified plastic surgeon to advise you on the effects and best procedures to undertake on the need you have.

The Three Biggest Challenges Of Operating A Winery

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Three of the Biggest Challenges Winery Owners Face in Growing Their Business

What do you think of when you think of a winery? If you are like most people, you might be envisioning a nice, pretty, well-ordered field of grapes. Most wineries operate small cafes where anyone can sample a large variety of wines in a classy and well-ordered environment. True as that may often be, there is a serious business behind the tidy presentation. It is a market that is known for being a little bit difficult.

We might begin by mentioning the challenges of the natural world. For the entirety of human history, agriculture has always been a gamble. This is largely due to the fickle nature of the weather. When you invest money in a wine crop, there is always the chance that mother nature will say no. While there are a great many things one can do to improve their chances of success, it will always be a roll of the dice to a certain extent.

Another serious problem is competition. In any business that is based around something that people love, there will be a lot of competition. For instance, most people do not dream of growing up to be advertising executives, just because it’s not a particularly glamorous profession. Even though an advertising executive will often make a lot of money for relatively little physical work, there is no emotional attraction. Such is not the case with a winery. Anyone who has a strong liking for wine has probably dreamt of opening a winery. As such, competition is the #1 business challenge faced by wineries.

A study done in 2011 indicates that the three top business challenges for wineries are competition, regulation, and marketing/sales, in that order. The first has already been explained, but the second one may surprise you. Apparently, there are a lot of regulations regarding the making, handling, and distribution of wine.

Because wine is, of course, an alcoholic beverage, it is subject to the same regulations that govern stronger forms of alcohol like whiskey or rum. There are very specific labeling requirements that necessitate regular testing of the alcohol content. What I mean is this; you know how every bottle of wine has a place on the label which tells you exactly how much alcohol the beverage contains? That is mandated by law. Therefore, you have to make sure you can accurately represent these numbers.

Because a winery is also an agricultural operation, it is also subject to agricultural regulations. Within the limits of a city, zoning laws can often dictate the boundaries of land use within a designated area. In other words, if the zoning laws do not agree with your plans, they win, and you lose. This forces most wineries to locate themselves in areas of low population. There certainly aren’t a large number of people coming way out to the middle nowhere unless they have a specific reason for doing so. This brings us to the third most critical challenge.

Marketing is key because, as already noted, wineries are usually located outside of major population centers. Without good marketing, your business will wither and die even if your grapes do not. It takes a lot of skill to entice people out to the country, especially since you will mainly be appealing to an upscale crowd.

Naturally, marketing is a tricky business. Trends and cultural norms can change in a relatively short time, and in any case, you don’t want the audience to get tired of the same old thing. Denis Mackenzie is one example of a winery owner that does a good job of marketing his place of business in clever and diverse ways, and of keeping up with the market trends. Denis Mackenzie’s success makes him worth examining him in greater detail.

Raised in a small town, well-regarded winery owner Denis Mackenzie was fortunate enough to travel to many parts of the world while in college. This exposure to a wide variety of peoples at an early age might presumably help him in his work as the COO (Chief Operations Officer) of a major marketing company. However, his real passion is wine, and he has parlayed that affinity into one of the most popular wineries in the nation. Not surprisingly, his passion for wine was a result of his extensive travels, mainly in Italy, a country which is well-known for the quality of its wines. After Denis Mackenzie attended a wine-tasting event there, he decided to get in the wine game himself in 2011.

No one should ever expect to gain anything without effort and innovation. This general rule applies to any business from wine to space rockets. While there may not be a lot of physical labor for the owner (little to none, most likely), that does not mean that they aren’t worth their pay. Understanding the trends of the market and keeping things fresh will help to ensure that your business doesn’t rot on the vine.

 

Ava-Rose-Taylor

5 Tips On How To Prepare Your Family For A Photo Session

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As cute and picture perfect your family is, the truth is, picture day and picture sessions can become necessarily challenging. These challenges don’t only come from our families, sometimes it’s the photographer, issues with outfits, and just being unprepared. There are a few simple tips to put into effect that will increase chances of an enjoyable family photo experience.

Choose Clothing Ahead of Time

This has to be one of the most important ones because it is so often overlooked by photo clients. Most people underestimate the hectic day of family photo day and think they’ll have enough time to choose last minute outfits. This isn’t always the case, so it’s best to determine what your ideal photo looks like and coordinate outfits accordingly. Do you want your photos to be elegant, neutral colors, flowing fabrics, bold accented colors, matching or coordinating outfits? All of this should be done with ample time for the best possible results.

Scheduling

With family photos, proper scheduling should not be overlooked, especially if considering small or young children. It should be set for a date less likely to conflict with anybody’s schedule to avoid last minute cancellations or changes. For young children, keep nap and feeding times in mind and set photo session around them. The photo experience should be fun, but it’s far from it if the children are unpleasant because they haven’t napped. Be sure to choose times that are most favorable for all parties involved to ensure a smooth process.

Inspiration

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, it is difficult to communicate our ideas to someone without a visual representation. Having a photo example that acts as your inspiration helps you decide what you think works best for your family. This isn’t only for you, but for your photographer to fully understand the aesthetic you aim for. This inspiration will be great for giving you ideas of clothing, props and choosing a photographer with certain strengths. Since the final results are in the hands of your photographer, putting together ideas or inspiration is a tremendous help.

Properly Choose a Photographer

The process of choosing your photographer should be just as fun but be sure to choose one that fits your needs. Tying into inspiration, choosing photographers by specialties and strengths is a great tip to highly consider. One like Ava Rose Taylor Adoption who specializes in young children and families with adopted children. Photographers that have been recommended by other loved ones are great because you know they’ve been tried and tested. Conducting prior research to ensure your photographer is great with children, professional and easygoing is one you’ll be grateful for.

Have Fun

As mentioned before, the experience and process of a family photo day should be fun for all. Photographers like Ava Rose Taylor Adoption will admit that the real smiles photograph better when in an enjoyable atmosphere. Don’t become overly strict or obsessed with the small details of the photo process. It is best to just sit back, relax and allow your photographer to capture your family in their most natural element.

No matter the inspiration or process, a family photo process is meant to be fun and enjoyable for everybody involved. The challenges that can arise during this process is underestimated so it is best to be overly prepared. Making sure to have as much as possible in place to increase chances of a seamless process and flawless frame worthy photos.

Dr-Summit-Shah

Top 10 Nutrition Tips for Athletes

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Athletes are usually viewed as superhumans by some of us, but we are all capable of being athletes in our ways if we can commit to a workout program. It is never too late; make some time and go outside and engage your body in an activity to love.

As an athlete who plans to always be in your best shape, Dr. Summit Shah recommends that you consider going to a whole food plant based diet to increase the quality of your life. This is a great lifestyle if you want to have optimal health and overall wellness which can help you avoid any major diseases.

Let’s dive into the healthy tips for athletes.

Eat quality foods

When we talk about eating quality, we are talking about eating nutrient-dense foods. Whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grain carbs like wild rice, oatmeal, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, teff, sweet potatoes, popcorn, millet, tuber vegetables, peas, beans, chickpeas, lentils, nuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, and pumpkin are foods that have high quality nutrients that are good for athletes.

The benefits of these foods are endless. For starters, your body receives natural energy, your immune system is improved, and your body recovers faster.

Eat enough

Most athletes who get on the whole foods diet plan tend to fail because they fail to take the right quantity of total calories. Nuts, seeds, coconut, and avocados have high calories, and this is where you need to get your calories so that you can engage in your sporting activities with more vigor.

Eat often

It is recommended that you eat after every 3 to 4 hours to maintain your blood sugar and keep your metabolism high. This kind of setting will also help you to curve food cravings and help you to eat just right for dinner. In the morning eat heavier meals to give your body fuel. Ensure that you eat different kinds of vegetables and fruits to provide you with enough antioxidants and phytonutrients to boost your immune system. Additionally, do not forget to use spices and fresh herbs when you are cooking.

Follow the 50-70% and the 80/20 rule

Eating whole foods is a lifestyle rather than a diet. If you start doing it, your body will crave for more because your taste buds change, and you crave for more dense nutrient foods. You won’t be eager to eat cookies.

When you transition to a whole foods diet, start by eating whole plant foods 80% of the time and the remaining percentage on what you love. But once you take up more whole foods, you will focus more on eating nutritious meals than the junk food you used to eat.

You can also source between 50-70% of calories from whole plant foods. For instance, when you have dinner, ensure you have an avocado and salad together with some steamed broccoli. For the main meal, take sweet potato and quinoa. For the remaining percentage, you can choose any source of meat.

Have a backup plan and some extra food

As an athlete, stuff happens and you need to be prepared. When you go for hikes, carry lunch and some snacks to keep you energized the whole day. When we go on a nature walk or a fun activity, we often tend to spend more time than we anticipated; be prepared and plan on the type of stacks you can carry.

Shop what is in season

To keep things fun, purchase the tastiest and freshest foods you can find. Look for colorful vegetables and fruits. As you also shop, purchase in bulk for all the nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and grains.

Stay consistent

Consistency is a principle that works in almost everything in life. For you to succeed in the whole foods diet, you should stay consistent with your eating habits. Always ensure that you can quickly fix a meal. Quinoa, oats, brown rice, and sweet potatoes are easy to fix meals that should be in your pantry.

Hydrate as much as possible

Proper hydration is a key component in performing well in any athletic activity to reduce early fatigue and optimize the performance of your body. To check your hydration, Dr. Summit Shah recommends that you check the color of your urine. In case you have dark colored urine, you might either be missing some nutrients, or you may be dehydrated.

Take time to recover

Most of the whole foods are anti-inflammatory, while some foods are more potent than others. Ginger, turmeric, cherries, berries, ground flax seeds, dark leafy greens, and beats help to reduce inflammation and post-exercise pain, enabling your body to recover faster. It is essential to have a quality sleep so that the body can repair muscles. Additionally, ensure that you reduce your stress levels, sleep, stretch and get a massage regularly.

Take breaks between meals

You need to take breaks between meals. For instance, if you finish eating at 6 pm, don’t eat anything else until the next morning at 6am. If you can push your breakfast even further, you will be doing justice to your body. If you rest your digestive system, you will boost your immune system, trigger stem cells regeneration, and encourage weight loss.

William Bronchick

5 Meal Ideas for Busy Entrepreneurs

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William Bronchick

Busy entrepreneurs don’t have the luxury to always fix a nice home cooked meal. Dinner out can be fun but it can also get boring. When time is in a crunch and you need something fast to eat, look to this list. Here are many great meal ideas for busy entrepreneurs from renowned chef William Bronchick.

A Quick and Refreshing Smoothie

A smoothie is the new breakfast of today. Many people mix one up in the morning for a great way to get all the essentials needed to start the day off right. They are also a good idea for a snack or lunch when you’re on the go. Busy entrepreneurs spend every minute of every day working. Most of them don’t know what a day off even is. A smoothie can be made with anything at any time. It is always refreshing and can even be a dessert. Try fresh fruit or chocolate and peanut butter for a sweet treat.

A Quick Snack Made Right

When someone mentions the name trail mix everyone thinks of hiking and trails. This is not the only way to enjoy trail mix though. It is great to throw in your bag to munch on between meals or when you are running late to get something to eat. Mix up some nuts with raisins and candy pieces for a great mix.

Make Use of the Crockpot

You probably have one of these on a closet shelf somewhere. It is more than likely still in the same packaging as it was when you got it for your housewarming party. It’s time to make use of it. Crockpot meals are a great way to fix it and forget it. All you need is some vegetables, meat and a sauce and you got a great smelling dinner ready for you when you get home.

One Pot Meals

One pot meals are another great way to get something good to eat in record timing. They are also pretty simple to make as well. Make sure to use the freshest ingredients for the best quality. Great renditions of these meals include broccoli and rice bowls, pasta dishes and soups. You can also spice up some old time favorites like mac and cheese. Add some diced ham or fajita chicken or a little sriracha to kick it up a notch. Also get creative with different kinds of cheeses too. Authentic chefs like William Bronchick use pasta in many of their signature dishes.

Wraps of All Kinds

There are many different wraps that are easy and fun. Lettuce wraps are a great choice for health-conscious eaters. Mix up some tuna salad and slap it on a large piece of lettuce with some tomato. It fast and delicious. You can also saute up some chicken with your favorite sauce and wrap it in some lettuce for something hot. When some people think of wraps they also think of burritos and tortillas. The burrito is one of the easiest and simplest ways to eat your favorite foods. Whether its steak and cheese or taco meat and refried beans, they hold everything. You can add anything to a wrap that will have you feeling full and satisfied in record timing.

No matter what your taste buds like, there is something that can be simple and delicious. Try new things. Try different things. So you don’t have time to slave away in the kitchen? Don’t worry. With these tips, you can have a great meal before you know it.

Why Millennials Love Miss Bongo Prix

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The rise of Miss Bongo Prix among millennials is not a surprise to many in the technology industry who understand the growing importance of cell phone use for the younger generations. Miss Bongo is one of the fastest-growing apps in the world with a presence in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. for its information-based service. Continuing to dedicate increasing amounts of time to Web-based cell phone use, Millennials are increasingly getting their answers through their phones to both simple and more complex questions.

Millennials mobile device usage 

When embarking on the development of Bongo the Monkey, leading design development was Meredith Stevens, a designer who divides her time between Australia and the U.S. Everything about Bongo the Monkey and the design of the app has been created to attract as many young people to the messaging service as possible; whether a serious question or a humorous request, Miss Bongo continues to create a range of answer messages from its team of researchers.

Statista reports the global increase in cell phone usage by Millennials continues to rise on an annual basis. Miss Bongo Prix feeds into the growing cell phone use of Millennials who used their phone an average of 223 minutes per day in 2017 compared to just 107 minutes daily in 2012. This increase in phone use shows how Miss Bongo’s range of answers is being used by Millennial cell phone users on a regular basis as part of their daily routine.

Looking Online 

An important way of looking at the rise of Miss Bongo is to compare the use of the SMS messaging service with the rise of Online retail. Millennials are increasingly turning away from the traditional ways of finding information and shopping by bringing technology into every part of life. In many ways, Millennials are moving away from what are known as “legacy” brands which have been around for decades and are not connected to the morals and values of younger generations.

Miss Bongo is a single part of the rise of the digital arena to influence every aspect of life and reflect the lives of Millennials in a positive way. The Online retail industry is worth an estimated $2.45 trillion in 2017 with traditional brands now being distrusted and ignored by younger generations, according to AdWeek. The mistrust of traditional brands can be seen in the development of the Bongo the Monkey as the largest SMS information service in Australia with a growing international customer base.

Human and technological development 

The growth of Miss Bongo Prix is the work of a combination of human talent and the development of new technologies. To answer the range of complex and whimsical question Bongo faces each day, the database of answers has been created with the aid of technology and human researchers who have built a huge database of information. Designing the platform for Miss Bongo has been instrumental in the development of the brand as a top information provider for Millennials who are understanding of the excellence of design in the digital realm.

Ease of use 

Human interaction is not always high on the list of needs of Millennials, who would rather use telephone options to source their information and products than use traditional options such as libraries and brick and mortar stores. Bongo the Monkey fits perfectly into the space being created by Millennials who would rather spend their time exploring the information provided by others through their phone than conduct research for themselves.

A simple flat-fee makes this a popular information service where a response to an SMS message is received almost instantly with no hidden fees as can be seen with some rival services. Millennials are often uncertain about using services which bring with them the baggage of hidden fees and what is often viewed as an immoral use of fees. The banning of the use of bots to buy concert tickets in bulk by various companies in the U.K. following a Millennial-led campaign shows how the misuse of technology will not be tolerated by the latest generation to come of age. Miss Bongo proves the technology and a moral value can be combined successfully in the 21st-century.

 

Andrew Knight New Canaan

Andrew Knight New Canaan Shares How Your Small Business Can Benefit From Using Amazon to Your Advantage

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Andrew Knight New Canaan
You must have at least heard of the e-tail giant or shopped on Amazon for a discounted item. For small businesses, Amazon has a lot more to offer besides the cheaply priced products and free shipping it offers. In Amazon’s program, it provides users who have registered with them a number of benefits that may not be experienced by regular account holders of Amazon. Essentially, an Amazon Business Account provides a seamless process of making corporate item purchases more inexpensive and efficient.

What is Amazon Business?

Registered businesses have an advantage of making easier purchases on Amazon for free. To register, you simply click “Create Free Account” located on the Business page of Amazon and a sequence of steps will be present for setting up the account. The administrator is the one who creates the account, and the admin’s information is the one used to verify the account.

After creation of the account, the administrator adds people who later on add groups, make orders, create workflow approvals, and also add order numbers of purchases. The administrator can then manage the features of the business account like shipping addresses and payment methods.

Large quantity discounts and business pricing are the advantages of account customers of Amazon. Amazon Business also provides tax exemption benefits. You can also link Amazon Business to an active Amazon Prime account. To learn more about Amazon Business, Andrew Knight New Canaan advises you to visit this link and sign up for a free trial.

You will also have an opportunity to look at all the data concerning your orders and use the Business Analytics of Amazon to create reports.

Pricing

There are amazing discount offers for plenty of products on Amazon Business. Amazon Business also offers price breaks on a number of unit purchases, allowing you to see several offers from different sellers on one page.

Tiered discounts on pricing and quantity discounts are offered by Amazon for purchases that are of high volume on specific items. Clicking on ‘Request a Quantity Discount” will show items that are being sold at a discounted price from sellers who are participating.

Benefits of shipping

Just like Amazon’s Prime free shipping advantage, Business Prime Shipping is also available for Amazon Business; this includes a free 2-day shipping on the items that are eligible. To register for a Business Prime Shipping, customers can go for an annual membership plan dependent on the users the business account holds. For 10 users, it goes for $499, for 100 users, it goes for $1,299 and for 1,000 users, it goes for $10,099.

You can link your Amazon Prime account for free to your business account. Membership on your Prime account qualifies you for great Prime Day deals when the company is holding its annual sales. Additionally, if you use Echo Dot, Amazon Echo, Echo Look, Echo Show, Echo Spot, Echo Plus, Fire Tv, Tap, Fire Tablets and other 3rd -party devices for voice orders through Alexa (Amazon’s virtual assistant) you will have even more deals.

There are a number of different payment options for Amazon Business; you can add a credit card to your account that several users can access. You also have the option of going for a corporate credit line which can allow several buyers to use one account, pay order by purchase and download reports of order history. Amazon has integrated with more than thirty purchasing systems like BirchStreet, Spectrum, and iProcure by Oracle to name a few.

Other benefits for small businesses

Customers of Amazon Business can also go for the ATEP(Amazon Tax-Exemption Program) for them to apply their status of tax-exemption to eligible orders from Amazon Digital Services, Amazon Services, Warehouse Deals, Amazon and other sellers.

The ATEP tool helps users by guiding them through the enrollment program. You can update your status and upload or edit your certificates. Once you make an order review, you can modify the items that need a tax exemption certificate.

Customers experience

In praise of the Amazon Business experience, customers have different reasons as to why they enjoy the services.

“ We signed up for a business account to take advantage of the ATEP program,” stated the CEO of Reviewstar Network.

“ Adding to tax-free orders, the program has a really easy ordering & re-ordering process. When we want to purchase a toner for our printer or any other office supply, we can make orders in a matter of seconds and the items will be in the office within 2 days,” Bouring says.

Bourin’s company has also made several purchases on Amazon Business to leverage on the payment plans that allow the firm to split the payments between several people in a company.

Andrew Knight New Canaan notes that Amazon Business is great for small business as the perks are numerous to ignore.

How A Third Party Can Help Reduce Your Debt

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Debt Reduction

If you find yourself in a sea of debt, you might not be too optimistic about the future. If you learn about the options available, you can be optimistic about paying off your debt. One of the ways that you can use to reduce your debt is using third-party services like the Nationwide Debt Reduction Services.

The purpose of the third-party companies like Nationwide Debt Reduction Services is to negotiate the acceptable amount of payment that is less than what you owe to your creditors. The payments you are going to make are going to be on the third-party account. Once the amount is enough to pay off the negotiated amounts, Nationwide Debt Reduction Services covers it. There are various advantages that third-party debt settlement programs pose, although they also have some risks. Below are six ways in which a third-party service can help you:

Reduce your debt amount

You can reduce the amount of your debt through a third party settlement process like a credit counseling service which will ensure that you reduce your monthly payments, but not the principal amount. To manage a large debt, a different settlement company can help you to reduce it.

You tap into the industry experience of a company

If you accumulate some debt, you might not have the knowledge or experience of dealing with your credits. Working with Nationwide Debt Reduction Services can help you leverage their experience. When you tap into the resources of a debt settlement solutions, you will be advised on the amount each creditor will be able to settle for, even the terms the creditors can go for in different stages of the debt repayment. On the other hand, an average citizen will negotiate his debt but end up agreeing on a bad deal.

You will avoid paying fees

When you have a debt settlement company like Nationwide Debt Reduction Services by your side, you will not incur any fees before settling the debt, and this is prohibited by the Federal Trade Commission. It is stated that fees are only charged when the firm successfully negotiates the best terms that a customer is willing to settle for. Well established settlement companies always abide by the regulation by the FTC, and you won’t be liable for upfront fees. The fees paid are usually dependent on the results of the debt payment.

You will make one payment instead of paying several debts

There won’t be any need of making payments each month to your creditor, you will only have to pay one sum to a savings account. This will enable you to focus on a single payment on a monthly basis so that you avoid accruing payment fees because of late payments because the costs are overwhelming.

You will be helped to create a plan for debt reduction

You might have no clue on how to engage with your creditors; if you work with a successful debt settlement company, you will be given ideas on what to expect. Before agreeing to work with a third party, you will be advised of the following:

  • The offers each creditor will be offered by the company.
  • All conditions and fees for the services offered by the debt settlement company.
  • The duration that the settlement company will take to give creditors offers.
  • When the settlement company asks you to stop any payments to the creditors, you will be informed of the disadvantages of not paying penalties and interests and how your credit score will be affected.

They will help you to prevent bankruptcy

If it becomes tough to repay your debt, the only road that may seem open is filing for bankruptcy. Although there are disadvantages that are related to debt settlement, you should not jump into filing for bankruptcy because your credit score will be damaged.

Alternatives to seeking the services of debt settlement firms

Although debt settlement companies offer a way out of debt, there are also other alternatives that are at your disposal that we have mentioned like bankruptcy and negotiating the debt on your own. One other third-party service we have looked at is the credit counseling services. If you want to be in charge of your financial life, a credit counselor can help you plan on how you can pay-off your debt. The good thing about debt counseling companies is that they are non-profit companies. They help you to lower your monthly payments by stretching your debt payment period. You will work with a debt counselor to come up with a debt repayment plan.