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How to Avoid Using Technology as an Excuse for Procrastination

In today’s world, most of us are so used to having our electronic devices on hand at all times, that we often struggle to remember what life was like before these devices went everywhere that we went. While modern smartphones are amazing pieces of engineering, they can be both a blessing and a curse. Their advanced capabilities mean that while they can help to accomplish a lot of useful tasks, they can also be a persistent distraction that keeps us from doing what we need to.

Procrastination has always been a challenge of course, it is not something which suddenly appeared alongside the smartphone. However, for some people, technology turns a minor character flaw into a debilitating problem. The good news is that help is here! It is possible to keep yourself surrounded with all the latest and best tech without succumbing to the scourge of procrastination! Here are some simple things you can do to make sure that your tech is helping and not hindering your efforts at being productive.

Put Your Phone Away!

This is the most important tip of them all! Phones are great, but when the time comes to do some work and to actually get stuff done then you should only use your phone when it can help you to accomplish whatever you are aiming for. This does require self discipline, so it’s best to keep your phone well out of sight so that it doesn’t tempt you.

If you have a draw or somewhere nearby where you can hide it out of sight, then do so. If you still can’t keep yourself from picking it up, then perhaps ask your significant other if they can take it from you. If your significant other isn’t cooperative, or even nonexistent, then every time you catch yourself wasting time on your phone, stop and put it in another room before you get back to what you’re doing.

Find Good Background Noise

Some people can only work in silence, whereas others find that with no external sounds they are unable to focus their minds. Each group will never understand the other; they are fundamentally different experiences of the learning process and so what background noise, if any, helps a person will depend on them individually.

Some people find that music helps them to concentrate. This isn’t necessarily the music that they would normally listen to for fun, although it can be. Finding the right background noise is mostly a case of trial and error so try some different genres of music. Some people find background voices helpful, in some cases familiar and predictable voices are preferred whereas others prefer voices that they don’t know and haven’t heard so their brains can’t preempt the next words.

Remember to Unwind

It is important that you reward yourself for working well and avoiding procrastination. Websites such as Big Samo are full of free browser games to play. Or you could always reward yourself with a bit of Reddit browsing, whatever floats your boat!

Technology is both a friend and an enemy, but with a few minor adjustments and some self-discipline, you can make your technology an ally in your quest for productivity!

Strategies in day trading – an Introduction

As the term suggests, day trading refers to trading in the stock market over the span of a day. This is significant in the fact that the trade can start at the beginning of the market day, and has to be completed before the closure of the trading day. The strategies that are employed in day trading are entirely different from that used in regular trading, and let us further understand it better. Here is an introduction to making money with strategies in day trading and Admiral markets.

Types of stocks that is suitable for day trading

The normal way in which stocks operate is such that the changes are less visible in a single day, but the price may rise or fall over a consecutive number of days. For this reason, a trader will often buy a stock and keep it with him till the market value for it goes above a certain amount, and he will then sell it off to obtain the difference in price as the profit. In this case, the amount invested in a single stock may be sufficiently low, as it is likely that the change in value will be significant over time.

In the case of day trading, the candidates for purchase are different. You need to find stocks that are more volatile in nature and undergo fluctuations in the market price significantly over the course of the day. Only then can you sell or buy it when there is a difference in the price. Also, since the changes are not too drastic, you will have to invest a larger amount in a single stock to gain a substantial profit. This can also increase your risk, should the value nosedive instead of increase.

Targets and selling style

The way a trader operates in the market will depend on his personal trading style. Not everyone is equally inclined to take risks, and wait for a stock to go to the highest possible rate. The ones who want to bank on a profit at a safe level prefer the style of scalping. Here they sell off their stocks soon after the price increases, without waiting to see if it will go further and reach a higher price.

A riskier approach is fading. Here, an Admiral markets trader begins to short stocks, as soon as the price rises upwards. The trader has to keep track of how the market performance for the stock is. Unlike scalping, where the price is the only determining factor, in fading the trader also tracks how other buyers are responding to the stock price change, and will accordingly make his sale. If it is done properly, the profits are high and significant in this style. However, a good understanding of how the market works, and predicting it appropriately is required, and this method is suggested only after you’ve been trading in the market for a while.

A simple and straightforward strategy is to pivot your sale or purchase based on the stock’s highest and lowest price at a day. To put it simply, you buy the stock at its all-time low of the day and sell it when it touches the all-time high. Continuously monitoring the market becomes necessary to make sure your sale goes through at the right time.

More and more people today are turning towards the momentum strategy, where they base their decision to buy or sell a stock based on what the news reports and trends suggest it. Here, the target is dependent on whether a stock is predicted to rise or fall by market analysts and experts. There is a risk, as there is no guarantee of whether this will be right or wrong. However, following the Day Trading Strategies is always benefitting.

Dividing your risks

As with any trade, it is recommended that when you involve in day-trading, you diversify your portfolio. Investing all your money in a single or selected group increases your risk, should the trade go in the opposite direction. Rather than take this risk, it is suggested that you invest smaller amounts in a range of stock options, so your losses are covered, should it occur. So, what are you waiting for? Follow the strategies and you will be surely benefitting.

Timing is everything in stock trading

When to enter and when to exit in stock trading?

Breakout is one of the right phases for both entry and exit. Breakout is when stock prices rise a little over two or more percent or when demand far exceeds supply. Avoid risking taking decisions of buying and selling stocks in conditions like lower sales, new legal problem faced by the company, bear market, certain situations affecting the earnings of the company which affects its position and pace in the market, etc.

Selling stocks is as important as buying the right stocks

Analyzing the growth of the stocks is important and when the growth is constant it is better to take a call as once it starts again there might either be decrease or increase in its value. Dividends are a clear indicator for selling stocks especially when the company is either reducing the dividend or stopping it completely because this is a sign indicating towards loss which means selling will save you from incurring a loss.

Whenever the value of stocks drops by 7 or 8% from its original buying price it is an indicator that you will have a great loss if you stick on to it. Selling away such stocks is the right move to avoid further loss. When the stocks move up to 20 to 25% their value then sell them to incur profit and reinvest in other stocks before the value drops down. Hoping for an increase above that may prevent you from selling it for which you can retain some of the stock and sell the remaining to have a good gain. Selling stocks is as important as buying stocks because the profit in stocks is always on the papers which if needed to be cashed require you to sell them when the value is high. If you are a novice in stock trading; then it is always a good idea to follow the Trading Tips.

Smart digital marketing tips for beginners

Everything is better placed in today’s world, and the competition is fiercer than ever. Businesses are working on various strategies at a time to be sure that they stay ahead of the competition and have their voice heard. However, one needs to be smart to stay on the top. So, here are some smart digital marketing tips for beginners so that they stay ahead from the very beginning.

1. Realize what you are marketing for

Investing time and money in brand awareness or lead generation is not an easy task. Building brand awareness and letting people know about your products and services will be possible only if you are targeting the right people. For this, it’s important to know what you are marketing for and accordingly decide on having a digital marketing strategy.

2. Social media advertising

While working on a digital marketing plan, you cannot keep social advertising out of your campaign. Social media advertising is courses in today’s holder and any brand missing out on it will have to face the consequences of the same. Social media is a place where you get to know a lot about your potential customers and competitors.

3. Learn about the requirements of your audience

Knowing what your audience wants is a deal maker in today’s world. Being customer centric and focusing on user experience will help you and spending less and getting a higher return on investment at the earliest. Along with this, you need to focus on an increasing quality as well. One should not assume that they can get away with poor quality if the marketing strategy is too good. Someday your marketing strategy will feel because of your quality. So, be careful about it.

4. Optimizing campaigns

You’ll find more than one reason to test your options and make sure that your campaigns are optimized. In the process, you need to consider email marketing, PPC advertising, organic social media marketing and SEO. SEO is one of the most important sections, and if you are not considering it, you’ll fail to reach your target audience. Using SEO best strategies will help you in tapping into a search engines data and understand what your customers are searching for. With this, you can have directed efforts and make sure that nothing gets out of hand.

5. Managing your time effectively

Managing your time effectively is an art, and you need to learn it at the earliest because there will be times where you’ll be juggling multiple projects in a day, and it will lead to stress if you are unable to do so. With this, you should understand that you are not the only one who has to master this art. So, stay with or ahead of the competition and manage your time effectively.

Budgeting as a Student

It is the way of life for many students to be on a perpetually tight budget. It is widely known that students are not the best at saving money, and many people believe what they do save gets spent on alcohol, takeaway food and nights out. However, there are many essentials that you will have to budget for as a student, and you’ll need to find the best deals in order to save as much money as you can. Living arrangements change all the time at university, so there are always household items which need to be bought, as well as things for your course, and a budget for some spending money for you on the side. Therefore, you need to find the best deals on your purchases to try and reduce the amount that you spend, and really limit yourself to only buying necessary items most of the time. Here are a few things you may need to budget for as a student, and some examples of methods you can utilize to try to save money.

Textbooks

Depending on your course and how long you are going to be studying, it’s likely you will have to spend a lot of money on course books alone each year. There may be some part of you which believes that your textbooks might not be a necessity, but unfortunately, your textbooks are recommended to you for a reason. While there might be a lot of other things you would rather spend your money on, don’t forget that your number one priority at university is to learn and achieve your full potential, and your textbooks contain a lot of the information which you will need for the course. Therefore, textbooks should be the first thing which you consider spending your money on. Compare prices of textbooks across a range of different sites and stores to try and reduce the amount you will have to spend. It is also possible that your university will offer a package price if you buy all of your textbooks for the year in bulk, or alternatively, you could purchase second-hand books from older students who don’t need them anymore.

Travel

It is likely that you will want to travel back and forth between university on occasion, so it would be worthwhile to put some money aside to pay for your travel costs. If you drive, then you will need spare funds to maintain your car, and also to pay for regular costs such as maintenance, MOTs, and petrol expenses. Alternatively, you can always travel home via public transport, and you can utilize a variation of methods to try and save money on train fares. There are normally different discounts accessible to students to reduce travel costs and make journeys more affordable, so have a look to see what is out there and available to you. You can also compare fare prices on different websites to see what the cheapest ticket price you can get is. Booking at least a few weeks in advance of your travel date will also save you money and ensure that you get the best deal available.

Clothing necessities

Everyone needs new clothes, so don’t feel bad about creating a clothing budget for yourself. However, you should take into account that there is a difference between buying yourself a new pair of jeans after you spilled something on them on a night out, and buying those £200 shoes that you’ve had your eye on just to ‘treat yourself.’ As a student, your treats will unfortunately now be limited to an early morning £2 coffee after a late night of studying. Try and find cheap clothes through clothing swaps and supermarket brands, rather than purchasing high-end fashionable clothes. If you are a fan of fashion, you might be able to find designer clothes for a lower price in charity shops and thrift stores.

Food shopping

Despite what many students believe, you cannot live your entire university life off of frozen chicken nuggets and takeaway pizza, especially as takeaways will cost you a lot of money in the long run. Doing weekly shops in a local supermarket will save you money on food, and there are certain buying tips which will help you to keep to your budget. Firstly, you should write a strict list of essentials you need for the week, and work out the meals you plan on making, as this will stop you from buying unnecessary purchases. Look for reduced price items which are close to their use-by date, and then you can freeze them at home and keep them for at least a month after you buy. Don’t forget that widely recognized brands are more likely to put their prices up, so look for own-brand alternatives.

Stationery

Stationary is a must have for every student. Depending on your course, you may need more stationery than other people, such as art supplies for a fine art degree. However, the basics that everyone will need would be an assortment of pens, and a few different notebooks for each module of your course. You may also want to invest in items such as highlighters and colored pens, as these make good study aids. Get yourself a few bookmarks for your textbooks. It could also be beneficial to you to buy a diary in which you can write down any important dates, deadlines and events. You may find it worthwhile investing in your own printer, as otherwise you will have to pay to get any work printed through your university or at your local library. Alternatively, you could pitch in with your flatmates to buy one between you. Student discounts, such as UniDays or an NUS card will give you money off of stationary in a range of different stores.

Kitchenware There are a few kitchenware essentials that students need for university, such as plates, bowls, cups and glasses. Due to student antics, it is possible these may be broken or become lost, so you may need to replace them from time to time. You may also need to invest in cutlery, saucepans, cutting boards and other utensils such as bottle openers and can openers. If you plan on doing a lot of baking, then you may need more unusual items such as whisks, or you may want other cooking apparatus like a toasted sandwich maker. However, you should consider what essential items are, and what you can do without buying.

Bills

Living away from your parents can be a big learning curve for many students, especially as you will have to start taking on more responsibility. There are several bills you will have to start paying for yourself, such as your rent. Decide with your landlord what payment plan works best for you to pay your rent: often that will be a choice between bi-monthly, monthly, a sum per term, or a paying for the year upfront. Sometimes it can be beneficial to pay as much upfront as you can, so that you don’t have to worry about keeping up with large monthly payments. You will also have to pay water and electricity bills, so it is important that you monitor your usage of these commodities to try and keep bill prices as low as possible.

Remember that you will need a Television license if you plan on watching live TV, and that includes on computers. Try and stick to Freeview rather than buying TV boxes as this will reduce your costs. If you want more channels, consider subscriptions like Netflix, and you will also find that student deals are available to you; if you and your college friends all use Netflix, then you could share an account and split the costs. You will also have personal bills to consider outside of the household. Your phone contract can be an expensive bill, especially if you use minutes or data outside of your plan. Sites such as HandsetExpert allow you to compare different phones and plans through price comparisons and deals, which is a great way to keep your costs down.

Other household items

Depending on whether you are sharing a bathroom with other people, or if you have your own en-suite, the things that you will need to buy could vary. You will definitely need your own towels, but for items such as bath mats, you can decide between you and your flatmates who buys what. There are other household items which you could benefit from, such as a drying rack if you don’t have a tumble dryer. If your bed is uncomfortable, then you can always invest in a mattress topper to help you get a better night’s sleep. In order to make your student accommodation homelier you can add a few home comforts such as plants, ornaments and photographs, but again you need to decide what where you can save money but not buying these items. There are also a few miscellaneous items which you may find it worthwhile to buy, such as a first aid kit, and a lockable box to keep your most valuable items in.

There will always be a temptation to spend large amounts of money on items that you don’t truly need, so really try and stick to a strict monthly budget, and consider how your purchases will affect you in the long run.

Understanding the Benefits of Leveraging Your Niche

In today’s digital marketing landscape, going the generic route is no longer an option. It is much more effective to focus your business and the digital marketing efforts around it on a specific niche or market segment. Having a niche allows you to make a bigger impact with every digital marketing move you make.

Leveraging your niche is also a great way to stay ahead of the competition. There are several valuable benefits you can gain from leveraging your niche. We are going to dig deeper and learn about those benefits in this article.

Fewer Competitors

When your digital marketing efforts are based on a niche and reaching a specific target audience, you are actually positioning yourself to compete with fewer competitors. Let’s say you’re marketing coffee beans and other coffee-based products.

Selling coffee-based products pits you against thousands of other competitors. Selling artisan coffee-based products, on the other hand, narrows down your playing field substantially. You are targeting a more suitable market segment and reaching more potential customers in the process.

Better Growth

You only need to look at segmented sites with specific niches to realize the higher potential growth to expect from having a niche. Sites like blacksmokemedia.com focus their content on a specific topic and attract the right audience more effectively.

As a result, sites with their own niches grow faster. It doesn’t take long for a site on a specific niche to build their loyal audience. In the case of Black Smoke Media, the site was even able to develop a strong community of readers and lovers of diesel trucks.

For a business, having loyal customers is everything. Loyal customers tend to have higher customer lifetime value or CLV than the average consumers. The rapid growth of loyal customers lets the business enjoy a more sustainable growth in the long run.

Higher Online Visibility

Targeting a specific audience segment is also good for your online visibility. Since you have fewer keywords and target audience groups to reach, you can maximize your digital marketing campaigns and enjoy a better online presence in return.

Of course, you are also reaching people who are actually searching for your products and services. Using the previous example, being discovered by those looking for artisan coffee beans means you have higher chances of converting them into customers already.

Be a Niche Leader

Being a big fish in a small pond is always better than being a small fish in a big pond. With the small pond of a specific niche, you can stay ahead of the market and be the leader in your industry. Invest in improving your market position through product improvement, better marketing efforts, and customer relationship management.

Once you are the leader of a specific market, you’ll have the option to explore new niches and grow your business further. You can also maintain the lead you have and enjoy sustainable growth by leveraging your niche more. Whichever route you choose to take, you know you can grow the business and continue making your highly-segmented customers happy with your products and services.

Cool Devices & Gadgets That Are Worth The Investment

Devices play an important role in people’s lives these days. In the past, people were unaware of the impact devices would have; this has changed significantly in more recent years. People of all ages are starting to use gadgets and devices on a daily basis. While some consider that devices are not worth the hype, because they make people lose track of their life and spend a lot of time unproductively, it is good to keep in mind that, if they are used for short periods of time they can actually improve the quality of life and facilitate certain aspects.

Almost every day there are various gadgets that are being launched on the market. Devices are popular gift ideas, but with so many options it can be a bit difficult to know where to start. They come in different shapes and have all kinds of amazing functions. The great thing is that people can find great devices on the market no matter what their interests might be. Purchasing a gadget can be a bit overwhelming and costly if you don’t do any research beforehand. The following gadgets and devices might give you an idea of which items are worth the money.

Compact Photo Printer

Thanks to the development of technology, people are now able to take pictures on the go. Despite this, no matter how many picture folders you have on your computer or phone, nothing compares to a photo album. Back in the day, people used to take stacks of pictures and keep their memories in shoe boxes under the bed. Due to smart and compact devices available on the market, the whole process of printing pictures has become particularly quick and easy. The quality of the photograph is maintained, and further, they can be labeled according to your taste. If you wish to digitalize your pictures and store these in photo albums that you can flick through whenever you want, it might be a good idea to invest in a compact photo printer.

Outdoor Home Security Camera

Keeping a safe and secure home at all times is on everyone’s list of priorities. Even though there are a lot of smart technologies that provide great security services, most of the time they tend to be quite expensive. Instead of using an old gimmick that is outdated and does not offer a lot of security, it might be a better idea to consider an outdoor home security camera. This type of camera records everything on an SD card and can also send alerts if it detects something suspicious. With the ability to connect to your WIFI, the device only uses data when you open the app to check any updates. Another advantage of this security camera is the fact that can distinguish between people, cars or animals and provide infrared vision to record in the dark.

Entertainment Gadgets

Everyone relaxes in different ways, especially when regarding their choice in entertainment. Whether it’s listening to music, playing computer games with friends or reading a book, there are many practical ways to de-stress. That said, sometimes the devices that provide those kinds of activities can be a bit daunting; with a bit of research, everyone can find the best devices for their needs. E-readers that allow you to read in the sun are a great invention for those passionate about reading. Instant cameras offer excellent opportunities for those who like to keep their memories close to their heart and capture moments instantly. Those who are passionate about gaming will argue that a gaming computer is the best option. If you wish to build your custom gaming PC, you can count on BLD. They keep your preferences and budget in mind and create something unique for you.

Voice-activated Speaker

Even though this is not a novelty anymore, it is important to remember its advantages. Voice-activated speakers are a great invention that facilitates people’s lives greatly. They can play music, set timers, order food if you don’t feel like going out, give you information about the weather forecast or tell you how good or bad the traffic is before leaving the house. Voice-activated speakers are easy to use and a great addition to any modern household. Last but not least, they provide good sound quality which makes a real difference for music lovers. This gadget is designed to enable the user to control and commence various commands and activities without a significant amount of participation; this can be particularly handy if you are multitasking. The smart technology includes a powerful microphone, meaning you do not have to be directly within range of the device when using it.

Durable Tablet

There are many tablets on the market these days. It can sometimes be challenging to find a durable one that is within your price range. Even though laptops are appreciated by a lot of people thanks to their versatility, tablets are gaining more popularity between people of all ages, due to the compact design meaning they can be easily carried in your purse. Tablets offer music, movies, games and app access whilst traveling. Most tablets come with a camera that allows you to take photos and store your memories in a single place. Tablets make a great gift idea regardless of the occasion. They are incredibly user-friendly and provide amazing advantages that facilitate people’s lives so much.

Smartwatch

There are a lot of gadgets in this category on the market. While some are quite expensive, others are affordable for almost everyone. All in all, smartwatches have a lot of advantages. At first, they might seem a little complicated and confusing, but after using them for a more extended period of time, the user can adapt and understand the device more. There are various features including receiving notifications without having to remove the phone from their pocket. Secondly, they can control other smart devices; not forgetting that answering the phone is a lot easier with the help of this kind of device. A smartwatch can be particularly helpful when driving or walking around. Last but not least, you can keep track of your fitness in a straightforward manner.

When it comes to purchasing gadgets, one has to keep a few aspects in mind. Consider their preferences, interests, and budget. Last but not least, doing a bit of research could also help make a decision.

Top Construction Technology Trends

Technology is making big waves in the construction industry, and although sometimes met with reluctance, this innovative platform is creating new opportunities for both established and growing businesses. Trends in any industry change each year but there are some big things to watch out for, with new and exciting advances that can’t be missed in 2018. Some technological implications are tried and tested favorites that are being developed for specific use in the building industry, whereas others have several real-world applications that have been adopted to make construction and infrastructure projects run smoothly and cost-effectively. Take a look at some of the top construction trends helping to make processes and project tracking more efficient than ever.

Autonomous equipment

Equipment is one of the areas where the construction industry invests heavily. Effective equipment is a key part of getting a project right and on cost. Older machinery and outdated equipment could have major impacts on profitability due to maintenance costs so choosing replacements may be a solution. Although this area can cause debate due to workers job security, autonomous equipment is starting to be implemented on many sites. This trend is likely to increase in the coming years as organizations look at the effects this type of machinery has on productivity and reducing costs. Autonomous equipment is also looked at to improve safety, as in 2016 21.1 percent of worker fatalities happened in the private construction sector.

3D printing

3D printing may not be a new concept, but it is rising in popularity amongst the construction industry. Although it may take a little more time to catch on in general, there is still some excitement about what could be achieved with this technology. Looking at what has already been created with 3D technology, Dubai’s first 3D printed office is an example of the scale that can be undertaken on building projects. There is still some scope to improve the scalability and agility of 3D printing on a grand scale, but it may be a huge talking point for the future of construction.

Construction management software

Managing a project effectively is a key element for the construction industry. As a largely fragmented industry, technology is starting to change the way organizations can assess and monitor tasks from planning through to completion stage. Construction management software is one area that is increasingly aiding this area, whether is project management or contract management software. With advances in software and functionality, elements such as project tracking, job costing and estimating are offering the industry more visibility and accurate information on projects. As this trend develops, organizations are looking at viable options so their whole workforce can use this software with ease to ensure quick onboarding. With the advances in this technology, workers in many areas of the business will gain visibility on all projects they are contributing to. From improved accuracy, streamlining processes and project monitoring, each person can highlight areas for improvement or implement action points more effectively.

Mobile Technology

It’s no surprise mobile technology and the key developments in this field are a current talking point in the industry. The advances in technology have seen improvements in each business sector including construction. There are many construction businesses that rely heavily on mobile applications to run operations in their organization including common areas such as field reporting, photos, plans, project costing and scheduling.

In the coming years, the ability to bring all this information to multiple devices and report in real-time is going to see stark improvements in the way businesses operate. Many larger organizations have already implemented such systems, but smaller construction firms are also starting to take hold of this improved technology. Even using classic mobile devices such as the fluke multimeter on Tool Nerds or handheld equipment such as barcode scanners and radio-frequency identification readers, each provides a starting point for accurate and timely data on construction projects.

By bringing workers and information together in perfect synergy, the industry is encouraging the effective use of information for cost-effective and time-efficient project management.

Trust the cloud

In the past, the construction industry has been hesitant to adopt new technologies for a variety of reasons. One such issue is trust in their abilities and overall security. For businesses large and small, keeping your data safe is a top priority and can have a hugely negative impact if this information is corrupted or lost. Traditional servers and systems in modern business have started to become a thing of the past and the movement to cloud-based software is taking over. The construction industry has taken this onboard and with innovations in security and accessibility, trusting the cloud is a huge part of business today.

Cloud software is helping to change the way the construction industry works and makes it easier to implement other areas of technology with fluid information exchange. Integrating this software is simple and cost-effective, and many other systems such as mobile devices, construction management software and BIM technology can be linked efficiently for real-time data sharing.

Self-flying drones

Drone use is an increasingly popular trend, and it’s not hard to see why. The construction industry is more readily using this technology to enable better mapping and photogrammetry to reduce the time and resources of traditional surveying. Drones can also be used to monitor large-scale projects and give greater visibility to other areas of the business for tasking and be costing aspects.

More advanced drones are able to capture 3D elements of a project and report back visuals from many perspectives. This style of technology is particularly useful in the architectural design and assessing sites for suitability. Although there are some restrictions on drone use for public safety and privacy, they are becoming a well-used piece of equipment that is greatly reducing project timeframes, labor costs and improving accuracy significantly.

The construction industry is embracing a wide range of new and proved technology advances. With the help of updated software and equipment, this sector is transitioning into a more efficient and innovative way of working, which will reap the rewards for both organizations and consumers for years to come.

Survival tips for Digital Nomads

Digital nomads are smart, and they live on their terms. This is not easy because there are a number of challenges, irrespective of your gender. In the process, you might even come across the situation where it will be difficult for you to even survive on your terms. When this happens, you’ll have to do a number of things to keep yourself at ease and feel good about the way in which things proceed.

In this post, we will look for certain points that should help you survive and be happy about it living your life as a digital nomad.

1. Choosing the right place to work

Being a digital Nomad, you know that you’ll have to work at any given point of time if you have an assignment on hand. With this being said, it is important to find a comfortable workspace and give yourself an opportunity to happy about the surroundings that have the potential to inspire you. In some cases, people expect other working professionals around while in some cases you’ll find digital nomads who want to work in space there is no one is around to disturb them. The choice is yours, and accordingly, you should decide on the same.

2. Meeting clients

Being a digital Nomad, it is possible that you might not have a fixed place to work and, in this situation, you’ll have to spend additional money on looking for an ideal venue to hold meetings with your clients. Venue hire should not be a problem for you if you have chosen a destination like New Zealand. You’ll be surrounded by a number of options, and it will be easy for you to pick in you’re right option and get to work as soon as possible.

3. Be sure that you want to be a digital nomad

To be happy with less or no resources at a given point of time, it is important to be sure that you want to be a digital Nomad and you are not opting for simply because your best friend or relative has considered the option of being a digital nomad.

If you have any doubt in your mind, it will be difficult for you to live the life of a digital Nomad and move around someplace to place while working on the task given to you.

4. Don’t be disappointed with the bad experiences you collect on your way

While traveling from one place to another can look like an exciting task, it can be miserable at times too. You might face issues such as loss of electricity, bacteria, mosquitoes, booking failures, sleazy locals and a lot more. In this situation, it is possible that you might be disappointed with the discomfort and quit your dream of being a successful digital Nomad. However, remember that bad experience makes us strong and eventually you’ll get closer to your goal and feel good about it someday.

8 Security Tips Every Business Owner Should Know

Ranging from accidental breaches of data and hacking to on-site break-ins, there are plenty of security threats for businesses to worry about, and that’s why many businesses are turning to the expertise of a security service Australia.

In the wake of more serious business break-ins, like the Charlie Hebdo attack and online hackings like the WannaCry hacking, business security has become even more crucial than ever before. Risks that didn’t exist ten years ago, now do, which means that when it comes to how you take care of your business, it’s vital that you take security seriously and have all the right precautions in place.

If you think that criminals are only targeting larger corporations, then you need to think again. When it comes to business crime, it’s important to realize that it’s not just larger corporations that are at risk, smaller ones are also at risk, which is why it’s essential that businesses of all sizes make security a priority. Did you know that on average, 43% of cyber attacks are performed on small businesses? Of those involved, more than half go out of business within six months of the breach, due to a lack of customer trust and loyalty. That’s a scary thought, isn’t it? Your business going out of business because of a break-in or a cyber attack, if totally terrifying.

The good news is that there are steps that you can take to prevent your business falling foul to cyber attacks and break-ins. For everything that you need to know, have a read of the eight ideas shared below.

Make a security protocol

Create company-wide policies on how to stay safe while at work, both online and while at the office. Make an action plan, explain the plan to your employees, and place it where everyone can see it, so that should a security breach occur, you know what to do. It’s a good idea to outline who is responsible for what, as well as what steps need to be taken in the event that a security breach does take place.

Implement team training

When it comes to reducing the likelihood of a serious security threat occurring at your business or virtually, it’s vital that you implement effective team training. Plan regular employee training days where you educate your team members on what security measures your business has in place and how they work, as well as what to do should a security threat arise. This is a great time to discuss common risks, such as phishing email scams, how to spot them and what to do about them. If you want to ensure that your team knows how to act if something bad should happen, training is crucial.

Regularly update security software

Installing security software, both online and in-house isn’t enough. If you want to ensure that your security has the power to stand up to any threats, it’s vital that you keep it updated. Often updates for online systems and in-house systems, like a wireless security alarm, for instance, address gaps in protection and enhance how effective they are. That’s why making time to make these updates is so vital.

Invest in your protection

While there are some areas of business that it’s perfectly fine to scrimp on, your business’s security is not one of them. If you want to ensure that your business is as secure as possible, it’s vital to invest in the right security measures for you. If you’re unsure what protection you require, speaking to the experts could help. For instance, O.B. One Communications voice and data cabling offers high-quality installation services for security solutions that can be tailored to meet your business’s exact needs. These kinds of specialist services may come at a cost, but with all the benefits they offer, it’s clear that the cost isn’t something that you should worry about.

Understand the threats

The fact is that if you don’t really understand the threats that your business is under, then you will find it incredibly complicated dealing with them. If you are going to protect your business, then it’s vital that you understand the threats it is under, from the risk of burglaries to the risks that come with IT. As a business owner, it’s crucial that you have a clear understanding of what exactly the risks are so that you can better mitigate them.

Keep documents and data safe

When it comes to storing confidential data, it’s vital that you know how to keep things safe. If you want to protect your business and keep your clients on side, it’s vital that you ensure it’s highly unlikely that any of your sensitive documents or data can be stolen. The fact is that hacking is often done to gain access to a company’s network so that sensitive documents and data can be stolen. So it’s vital that you know how to keep your sensitive information secure – if you’re not sure the best steps to take to do this, speak to a specialist. On-site documents and data can be locked away in a secure room, but protection virtual copies of this information can be more complicated.

Use strong passwords

Of course, one of the most vital steps for keeping anything sensitive secure is a strong password. In addition to protecting your files online, a strong password can also prevent your security alarm from being hacked and turned off, for instance. So knowing how to create strong and secure passwords is vital. The key is to create a password that is random – and not easy to guess – has letters and numbers, including capitals, and can also include symbols. Random passwords are the best passwords, as there’s no way for anyone to guess them, unlike passwords with sentimental value, which is what most people use.

Get insurance

In case the worst should happen, and your company should get hacked or broken into, it’s vital that you have adequate insurance protection in place. That way, you are able to claim back any losses that occur as a result and get your business back up and running as quickly as possible.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes are under threat from all kinds of things, from cybercrime to politically motivated attacks, which means that having effective security protection in place has become more critical than ever.

How to Take Your Blog to the Next Level

If you are writing a blog, then there may be a couple of reasons why you started doing it. One was, more than likely, that you simply love writing and you had a story you wanted to share with others. The other reason might be that you wanted to share your stories and get paid for doing it. If you were one of those writers in the latter category, then you have probably been working hard to get your visitors up and getting those companies to pay for advertising and to offer you products. However, it isn’t always as straightforward as you would imagine, and there can be a variety of obstacles in your way that you need to overcome. Here are some ideas to help you take your blog to the next level.

Decide on Your Route to Making Money

There are many ways that bloggers can turn their blog into a money-making enterprise, but, not all of these ways will work for every type of blog. You need to be aware of this and think about how you can make money that fits in with your visitors and your genre. For example, if you were writing a blog about knitting, then trying to sell shirts or hats might not work (unless you have knitted them, of course!). Other forms of income from a blog will also depend on how much traffic you can get to your site. Many advertisers want to see hundreds of thousands of visitors before they decide to offer you ad space. However, by approaching smaller companies, perhaps those local to you, then you might find more interest.

Affiliate Programs

For some bloggers, one of the best ways that they can earn money is to use an affiliate program. Essentially, they are the same as any web-based advertising, in that a company will pay you to place an ad on your site. The difference is that with an affiliation program someone not only has to click on the ad, they also have to make a purchase. The owner of the site will then get a commission on the sale. Many big companies such as Amazon use this way to sell advertising, and it is popular among many bloggers. The only thing to be aware of with the affiliate program is that you need to have a large following for it to work effectively. Otherwise, you won’t be getting the traffic you need to gain the sales.

Post Regularly

To achieve more money from your site, there are a few things you need to do. The first thing is to get more visitors coming to your site. According to one SEO in Brisbane, the key to getting reoccurring web traffic is to focus on evergreen content topics. Put simply, evergreen content refers to content that never goes out of fashion or becomes dated. By focussing on evergreen instead of news topics, the content is far more likely to attract long term visitors to your site. Most bloggers who are doing their blog for a hobby, may post once a week or so, which is fine, but to maintain a regular following, you need to be consistent. Try to post your blog at the same time each day and on the same day each week. That way, your readers will know when your next post is coming. Posting at various times will only serve to get your post missed by your fans.

Keep Your Content Fresh

Another part of creating a successful blog is the content that you post. It needs to be fresh and relevant to your blog or people who follow you might be turned off. For example, if you blog about cooking, your readers will want cooking related posts. If you start to blog about fashion or movies, then they might become bored and move on. You should also be making your posts interesting to the eye. By adding photos and video clips to your post, you will gain more attention than one which only has text. Remember to make sure your photos and videos are not breaching copyright, and using your own photos is by far the best way to avoid this.

Maintain a Presence on Social Media

Part of a bloggers life is social media; many bloggers regularly use Twitter, Facebook, and now Instagram to comment and post their thoughts and feelings. It is a good idea to be as prolific as possible on social media to get your name out there and to start attracting followers. The more followers you have, the more chance you have of getting them to read your blog. When thinking about posting on social media, you need to be careful about what you comment or post. Big companies won’t want to associate with someone that is being rude or trolling others.

Give Your Site a Lift

An attractive looking website is as much of a draw to people as the content on it. Part of keeping your viewers is minimizing the ‘bounce rate.’ The bounce rate is the time it takes someone to arrive and leave your site. The longer they spend on your blog, the better it is for you, because it means they have found something that has engaged their interest. If you have a high bounce rate, then you need to think of ways you can get people to stay longer. Apart from creating more engaging content, you can also change your website design to make it easier to navigate and brighter to the eye.

Write for Other Popular Sites

If you are trying to build readers to find better advertising, then writing for other sites can be a quick way to gain readers. You need to be aiming for sites that are more popular than yours so that you can attract readers across. It is important that your articles are relevant to your blog site as people will be coming across expecting to see more of the same topics. You should also be saving your best and strongest posts for other sites because you want them to be engaged by your opinions.

Offer Something to Your Readers

Some bloggers will try to engage more with their readers by offering them something for free. If you are a blogger that is offering help and advice to other bloggers, then why not offer a free eBook or PDF file with hints and tips. It will encourage people to click on your site to download the eBook and hopefully stick around to read other things. It is important to mix your blog with your social media for this, tell all your followers that you have a new eBook that can help them and include a link to the download page. If you want to add other tips or tricks, you can offer that for a small fee which will be an attractive offer to those that liked the first one.

Asking for Donations

Some people have successfully sought revenue from their readers or viewers by asking for donations. YouTube video makers are among those that are the most successful with this because they are asking for donations to add content or keep their content running. Those who donate are often given added extras or bonuses as a way of encouraging others to do the same. A similar plan can also to be having a paid or subscribed section of your website. Behind the paywall, you would have other content that is better or add extra content to that you have already uploaded. However, this isn’t the most popular with readers or viewers, unless you are a popular blogger that is offering something exceptionally good.

Merchandise

A good way to spread the word about your brand is to offer merchandise from your website. You need to have a good following for this, or no-one will want to buy it, but it can generate good revenue for you. Think about how your blog logo will look on your merchandise, will it look good on mugs or t-shirts? Perhaps you can create a design for other things such as hats or pens? Try to tie-in your merchandise with your blog, for example, if you are writing about movies, maybe you can create some 3D glasses with your logo on them? It will be both functional to those who love movies, and also a way for them to show they like your blog.

Selling Ad Space

One of the best ways to generate money from your blog is to sell advertising space. Many companies will gladly pay for you to show their ads on your site. However, for the bigger companies to do this, you need to have a lot of viewers to your blog. For most sites, the companies will scan your site for keywords and place an ad based on that. It makes their ads more relevant to your site and therefore more likely to be clicked. If you are just starting your blog, then signing up to Google AdSense or a similar service from Bing and Yahoo! will give you some income early on. Once you have started to gain more visitors, you can use more lucrative ad networks.

There are many ways that you can add elements to your blog to raise money for you. All you need is to think about what method of revenue will suit your blog the best.