Why Having Cafe Styled Awnings at Home is a Good Idea

DIY / Home Improvement

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The great thing about visiting cafés is that each has their own individual style and design which makes it unique. For café owners, this means choosing décor that sets the appropriate ambience and flair. And when it comes to homeowners setting the mood, a clever choice in a café style awning is critical.

Enhancement

Awnings are decorative and functional devices that are utilised as canopies over exterior doors and windows. Obtainable in a wide selection of designs, the awnings are usually pretty easy to install and require nothing more than routine maintenance. Just like the café awnings, they also help to enhance the appearance of your home. Awnings also come in very handy with managing the temperature in the home, as well as providing protection from unpleasant weather.

Humble

Metal awnings are commonly shaped in a design that are more or less triangular. The devices are mounted over doors and windows to create shade or protection from excessive sunlight, rain, snow, and other harsh weather conditions. These humble window covers make it possible to still appreciate natural light, but also help to minimize the entry of sunlight into the home, which makes it easier to cool the interior.

Aluminium

Many households choose to use aluminium awnings over outside doors as well as windows. The café styled awnings will add style to your home and provide visual interest to what was a plain façade. They also serve the practical function of providing partial protection from the elements for anyone standing outside. This can certainly can be appreciated at times such as when attempting to balance packages and insert a door key while a rainstorm is happening!

Coating

It is common for top quality aluminium awnings to be coated with some kind of protective agent, such as baked enamel. The inclusion of this extra layer of protection helps to block corrosion and extend the life of the awning. The protective coating also makes the job of maintaining the awnings so much easier, because they can simply be rinsed off using a garden hose.

Retractable

Also, along with the traditional triangular fixed awnings and café style, there are other designs that allow for retracting the body of the awning. One style uses a roll up design, which makes it possible to use a hand crank to lengthen or shorten the body of the awning to just how the homeowner wants it. Another option is a retractable awning, which can be extended to provide more overhead coverage further away from the window, or retracted to allow additional sunlight into the home mostly during cooler or colder days. Should you happen to be in lovely W. Australia and looking for beautiful and unique awnings at an affordable price, check out Westral. With 43 years in the business, they put the B in the Best!

Individual

Different designs for aluminium awnings can often be found at home improvement stores, hardware stores, and lawn and garden shops, but for a more unique and individual choice, one should visit a specialist (especially for the café design). So, if you want your home to not only look cool, but stay cool inside, you know what to do!

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How to Manage Your Money after Winning a Settlement

Finance

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When you win a big case and receive a large settlement or jury award, it’s best to practice wise fiscal management to reap the most benefit from your funds.

Unless you have a background in finance or have managed complex assets for yourself or others in the past, it’s not unusual to be unprepared to deal with large sums of money. Below are some considerations for those expecting or who have already received their settlement or award from the court.

Learn how the tax implications will affect you

Depending upon the nature of your settlement, you could wind up owing quite a bit to Uncle Sam come April 15. For instance, if you sued a former employer for back pay or sought punitive damages in your case, you’ll be on the hook for the federal income taxes that are due on those amounts.

However, an asbestos settlement for a mesothelioma diagnosis or, more broadly, a settlement dealing with most personal injury claims doesn’t carry a tax burden. Often, settlements and judgments include both tax-free and taxable portions. Because it can be difficult for a layperson to understand the complexities of our federal tax code on these types of financial windfalls, it is best to seek advice from a financial advisor to avoid running afoul of the IRS.

Structured settlements versus lump sums — which is better?

Not all plaintiffs will have the option of choosing to accept a lump sum or structured settlement, but those who do need to give serious thought to the decision. There are pros and cons to both, and your situation will dictate the better option to choose.

If your settlement comes from a career-ending workers’ comp lawsuit, a structured settlement can provide a reliable means of supporting yourself. The same is true for personal injury cases that result in long-term disability and a need for ongoing medical and personal care.

Structured settlements are often tendered in wrongful death cases where the breadwinner was killed and his or her spouse and minor children require financial support. If a plaintiff is worried about blowing through a lump sum settlement irresponsibly, selecting the structured settlement can offer some needed financial boundaries.

Hire a financial advisor you trust

Receiving a windfall can fundamentally alter the relationships you have with the people in your life. Friends, relatives and even total strangers may approach you with sad stories of financial woes designed to separate you from your money. Without a gatekeeper in charge who can filter these requests for support and turn them down, you could wind up broke and needing assistance yourself in only a couple of years.

There is nothing wrong with taking care of your loved ones responsibly with some of the proceeds from your settlement or jury award. A financial advisor can set up trusts for the education of children or grandchildren, or provide for them in other ways, so that you won’t have to repeatedly deal with requests for loans or investment capital.

Eliminate the burden of debt

According to statistics from the Pew Charitable Trust, 80 percent of American adults are indebted to creditors. Shedding financial burdens is quite liberating, but it’s important to have a debt reduction plan in place.

  • Your first goal should be to pay off any debts that carry high interest rates, e.g., credit cards and some loans.
  • Then, check and see whether you have any outstanding medical bills that need to be paid and wipe those out.
  • Calculate how much you will need to live comfortably for a month, multiply that by six, and deposit that amount in an interest-bearing account that carries no penalties for withdrawal. Now you have an emergency fund to tap if necessary.
  • If you owe a mortgage on your home or need to pay off some auto loans, tackle those next.
  • Plan for a comfortable retirement. Your golden years should be the time of your life when you no longer have to worry about money woes. Make sure that you wisely invest enough to cover your future needs.
  • Draw up an estate plan. Depending upon the size of and manner in which your windfall is structured, your heirs may continue to reap the rewards after you’re gone. Your financial advisor can assist you with this as well.

Buy property or remodel your existing home

Those who have never been homeowners may find taking that leap to be daunting, but homeownership has many benefits. If you already own your property but it needs some refurbishments, now is the time to turn your home into your castle. You don’t have to make ostentatious improvements, but if you always wanted that man cave, in-ground swimming pool or spa bathroom, this is your chance to get it exactly as you like it.

Make charitable donations

One way to lighten your tax burden is by donating to qualified charities. If you have a special cause that’s dear to your heart (animal welfare, Alzheimer’s research, funding a scholarship, etc.), funnel some money in that direction. Establishing your own charitable trust is another possibility for you and your financial advisor to explore.

Enjoy your life

You are in the enviable position of no longer having to worry about making ends meet. This is what most people strive for their entire lives, so once you have covered all the basics, have fun with your money. Take the cruise or European vacation, buy the RV and tour North America, invest in collectibles that interest you or buy a few valuable pieces of jewelry or a hot sports car you’ve always dreamed of owning.

Money can indeed change people, but it does not have to be for the worst. By becoming a responsible steward of your finances, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your responsibilities have all been met.

If you handle your settlement correctly, you should be able to enjoy the proceeds of your settlements for many years to come.

 

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Beacon Resources: Job Seekers Model

Careers

jobs
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Photo by CC user Matthew Roth on Flickr.

As premier finance headhunters in Los Angeles, Beacon Resources employs a professional, agile, and personal model to connect job seekers with jobs that can best make use of their talent. We match interim, interim-to-hire, and direct-hire positions with qualified candidates to provide meaningful working relationships for our business and job-seeking clients.

Beacon Resources is comprised of a team of expert finance and accounting recruiters who have extensive knowledge of the industry. Many of them have years of experience in these fields themselves. We work with a robust network of mid-level and large employers to create enduring relationships between companies, employees, and our business as top accounting recruiters in Los Angeles. Mutual success and long-term relationships are Beacon Resources’ goals.

Why Choose Beacon Resources as Your Finance Headhunters in Los Angeles?

Beacon Resource’s best-in-class methodologies go beyond reading resumes and sending job candidates out on interviews. We take time to get to know every employer client and job seeker, so that we can effectively match the person with the ideal position that will create mutual success. If you’re working with Beacon Resources to find a job, we will get to know your skills, experience, and career goals. We then work to place you in a work environment that is ideal for your unique talents, and we have an extensive base of clients and industries to place you with.

Who We Look for?

Beacon Resources recruiting experts are top finance and accounting recruiters because they know how to identify professionals who have the right mix of technical and personal soft skills. While accounting and finance job seekers usually have the technical know-how to fill any role, the best employer-to-employee match comes when attention is placed on secondary skills. Placing the ideal all-around candidate into a corporate environment creates a strong company culture and is what Beacon Resources excels at.

Beacon Resources is currently accepting resumes for various financial roles within the accounting and finance departments of the corporations we work with. If you have the skills, experience, and motivation needed to join one of our client companies, in the role of Accounting Manager, Finance Manager, Director of Finance, Senior Accounting, or other similar position, we invite you to submit your resume for consideration. In addition to being top finance headhunters in Los Angeles, we are premier finance recruiters in San Francisco.

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Give Your Vehicle the TLC It Needs

Auto

Would you consider yourself someone who goes above and beyond what is necessary to take care of one’s vehicle?

If so, you are like millions of other car and truck owners nationwide.

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That being the case, given many cars and trucks are built these days to last longer, it is a sound investment for you to take care of your vehicle. Not only will it mean lower auto insurance and registration fees down the road, but you will also save money on major repairs by doing regular maintenance.

That said where you live and where you drive both play roles in how long you can typically keep a car or truck (see more below). Between weather conditions and area roads, your vehicle can take a beating over time. If that is the case in your situation this all the more reason to be attentive to your vehicle’s needs.

So, are you giving your vehicle all the TLC it needs?

Note Your Weather and Road Conditions

Even if you don’t use your vehicle all that much, the time it spends outside (assuming you don’t garage it all of the time) and the roads it must tackle can take a toll.

With that being the case, here are some helpful reminders to preserve the life of your vehicle for as long as possible:

  • Weather – One of the things that can wear on a vehicle over time would be the weather conditions. As bad as some roads may be, your vehicle being out in snow, ice, heat etc. can be a real game-changer. For example, if you live in the Phoenix area, you know all too well how hot it can get from May to October. As such, your vehicle can literally bake in the summer sun, leading to possible paint damage and other issues. If you are considering purchasing a new BMW in Phoenix or another make or model, think about your choices. For instance, buying a black car in Arizona or other hot climates may not be the wisest choice, especially when those hot days roll around. Meantime, for those residing in rainy areas of the country like Seattle, buying a vehicle with a sunroof may not be the wisest choice. Although sunroofs provide a look and feel that many drivers like, a leaky sunroof can turn into a real problem, especially if it provides continuous problems. The best option no matter where you reside is to have a garage or even a carport to house your vehicle. In doing so, you will typically increase the life of your vehicle, saving you money when all is said and done;
  • Roads – Unless you are retired and/or you don’t have to drive all that often, your vehicle is going to come across its share of potholes, bumpy roads, roads where you have to brake often etc. As such, expect your vehicle to get a true workout. Although some contact with potholes and other road issues is all but inevitable, do your best to avoid such issues. From your tires to your brakes, how you drive on local roads and highways will go a long way in determining how many years you keep that vehicle. Lastly, make sure you know the road conditions as much as possible before setting out to drive. This is especially the case in the wintertime. Roads that appear to be safe can turn on a dime when snow and/or ice come in contact with them. By taking extra time to get where you need to go, you and your vehicle will likely arrive safely.

Regular Maintenance is a Necessity

  • Maintenance – Finally, are you one of those drivers with an avoidance of your area mechanic at all costs? Just like some people never want to see a dentist, some drivers are missing in action when it comes to taking care of their vehicles. Even if you decide regular maintenance updates (30K, 60K, 90K miles etc.) are not going to happen, at least get your recommended oil changes, have the tires rotated, and get the brakes inspected. Not only are those check-ups important for the life of your vehicle, they also improve your safety odds each and every time you get behind the wheel.

If giving your vehicle some TLC has been an afterthought as of late, drive forward with better habits this year and down the road.

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Top Tips For Business Travelers

Business

If your job or your business calls for you to spend a lot of time on the road then it is important that you stay fully prepared to make your life as easy as possible whilst you are traveling. You are likely to be spending large amounts of time alone, taking many flights or trains and you will need to stay organized and at your best during your travels. We’ve put together a list of tips and tricks that you can employ during your time on the road to ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible and that you will be fully effective during your business dealings.

Bought a travel wallet :(

Keeping Your Itinerary up to Date

Even if you have a secretary organizing things for you, it is still important that you stay on top of your itinerary in order to avoid missing meetings or flights. Another reason for this is that if you are traveling through different time zones, you need to ensure that you are managing your sleeping pattern in accordance with it so that you avoid unnecessary tiredness. There are some great apps on the market that you can download to your smartphone to ensure that you are on top of your plans.

Staying in Touch Back Home

Staying in touch with family or friends can be particularly difficult if you are traveling a lot and you should take advantage of the many ways in which you can stay in touch with loved ones back home. Many services like Skype and Facebook offer video, audio calling options as well as instant messaging services, this will allow you to easily stay in touch providing you have an internet connection. It has never been cheaper to make calls abroad and you can often call direct from your cell to your family for just a little extra money than a normal call back home. Should you run out of credit abroad, your family can easily top you up again with www.recharge.com, a great service that will ensure you never run out of credit.

Filling in the Time

If you have a lot of time to fill in whilst you are in the hotel and want to avoid spending too much money then try to utilize the hotel’s gym and spa facilities if they have them. Prior to your trip you should also try to download any films or games to your computer or tablet to keep you occupied during the quiet times. It can be easy to simply hit a bar or a restaurant but if you want to stay at your best then you should use the downtime that you have to relax and prepare yourself for that upcoming meeting or presentation.

Flying Through Airports

If you are traveling for just a short amount of time then ditch the suitcase and just take a carry-on, you’d be surprised at the size of bag which you are now allowed in the plane and you can fit at least 3 or 4 days worth of clothing in your carry-on. This will cut down your waiting time and check-in time at the airport and allow you to breeze through the airport once you leave the plane.

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Make Your Health a Priority in the New Year

Health & Fitness

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Did you get everything you wanted on your Christmas wish list?

For countless individuals, having better health going into 2017 is a priority. Unfortunately, many of them do not always know how to best go about that.

Whether it is dealing with a chronic pain or illness, perhaps putting up with a recent injury that simply won’t go away, the time spent fighting pain can seem endless.

With that in mind, making your health your top priority in the New Year should be something that you welcome, not fear.

Keys to a Healthier You

In order to make the New Year and many years past that healthier and happier for you, start by re-examining where you’re health is at now.

Among the areas to look at:

  • Do you have trouble with everyday functions such as eating, dressing, going to the bathroom, getting around your home, going out in public? If you answer yes to more than one of those areas, you should be seeking medical help.
  • Do you feel as if you live in constant pain? If the answer is yes, what are you currently doing to lessen such feelings? While some people deal with the mental pain more so than physical, the latter can be all too familiar in the lives of many people.
  • Do you have problems sleeping at night due to pain? If so, that loss of sleep can lead to other health issues now and down the road.

Once you have your finger on how pain is impacting your life, the next key is addressing how to attack the pain.

While many people will pay a visit to their family physician, those visits do not always provide relief. As a result, the mental frustration becomes almost as cumbersome as the physical pain.

If you have not considered medical marijuana up to this point and time, why is that?

Although some people may fear there is a stigma with using the drug, many others will tell you getting their hands on medical marijuana proved a blessing.

In the event you are considering that option, starting with a medical marijuana online appointment is your first move.

With such an appointment, you can discuss with a physician the merits of using the drug to help quell your battles with pain.

Keep in mind that while such appointments do not guarantee you receiving a medical marijuana card, they will at least get the ball rolling.

Are You Doing All You Can?

Even in the event you are approved for medical marijuana, there are other things in combination with the drug that you should be doing.

Among them:

  • Education – First and foremost, do all you can to educate yourself about living healthier. It doesn’t take someone with several Master’s degrees to figure out that healthy living typically leads to prolonged living. For example, if you think there are no major consequences to being seriously overweight, read up with both online and offline materials. See how many people sizably overweight have to deal with myriad of health issues. The more you learn, the more likely you are to take a more serious approach to keeping your weight where it should be. If you are a smoker, you are already putting your health and longevity at risk. By quitting today, you give your lungs and other body parts seriously impacted by cigarettes a chance to heal. There are plenty of educational initiatives on and offline to help you put the cigarettes down for good ;
  • Exercise – One of the best things you can do for your health is striving to get more exercise. For instance, do you have a friend or two you can pal around with to the gym? If so, you will find you have more motivation when it comes to working out. Even if a gym membership is not an option, simply walking, hiking, swimming etc. are all good options, options that do not require a membership to your local fitness center;
  • Check-ups – Finally, do you go regularly for a physical? If not, you are setting yourself up for potential trouble. A yearly doctor visit and labs can oftentimes catch a problem or two before they become serious. Even if you have limited or no health insurance, get whatever affordable exams you can to minimize the chances of having a disease or illness go untreated.

Don’t Take Your Health for Granted

It can be rather easy to take your health for granted, especially if you are feeling no ill effects of any of your actions at this time.

Over time, however, those actions could come back to haunt you.

From a little pain here and there to constant physical and emotional pain, take some time now to make your health a priority as the clock strikes 2017.

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Tips to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues!

Health & Fitness Shopping

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For many of us, the holidays are a time for us to get together with family, eat good food, remember the year gone by, and catch up on all of the classic Christmas TV shows and films. This time of year is often rewarding and enriching, and gives us reminders of what we have to be thankful for, and why we worked so hard all year. Now that the holidays are over, how do you keep the blues at bay as we return to our normal lives? Here are some ideas.

Look Ahead and Not Behind

Last year is done and gone. Whatever happened both great and not so great is for the history books. A new year means a chance to start fresh and work towards your new goals with no encumbrances. Use this new year to institute positive thinking and developing a “can do” attitude. Remember, it’s the small things that add up to make the big things. So, create some small goals for yourself that when you accomplish them, put you on a track for bigger accomplishments. As your successes pile up. it will certainly keep your mood high in the new year.

Keep Shopping

The holiday season is all about gift giving and receiving, and after all of the holiday shopping you’ve done, you might feel shopped out. But before you go back to lie on the couch remember, post-holidays is when you can find the best shopping deals. So now is the time for you to pick up the things that you hoped Santa would bring and didn’t, or to return that sweater you don’t want and get something you do at a great price. But before you hit the streets and wear out you already tired feet, how about visiting a site on the web that brings you all the great deals in one place. Finding the best deals is easy when you use My Voucher Codes. Shop here first and save the most (and your tired feet).

Start an Exercise Program

Exercise helps to work off those many pounds you’ve probably gained during the holidays. This time of year is filled with lowered resistance to foods that we only eat during the holidays, and often promise we will never eat again (until next holiday season that is). So getting in the gym and working out or taking a nice jog in the park is probably a great idea. Also exercise releases endorphins which help to increase your happiness and improve your mood. So, signing up for a gym membership or spin class will not only melt away those excess pounds, but can also help thwart any post-holiday depression.

Spend Fun Time with Your Friends

Many of us went away for the holidays, and have not had a chance, to see close friends or co-workers in a relaxed and fun setting. Use now, to create a get together time with everyone to catch up and reminisce about all of the embarrassing family moments you saw (and sometimes even participated in) over the holidays. This will keep the holiday spirit going a little longer and put everyone in a great mood.

Get into a Work Project You Love

The holidays take up so much time, that you probably have not thought too much about work. How about jumping in first on a project you really want to tackle. Make a list of all your pending work which you could not do during the holidays and if possible prioritize based on what you are most excited to accomplish. This will ease you back into work on a positive note and keep your spirits high as you accomplish something you love.

It is never easy returning to the daily routine after a fun filled holiday break. Holidays always seem to go so quickly and for many, the holidays offer an opportunity to get away from their jobs and spend quality time with family. So it can be depressing for some when it’s time to clock back in at work. Try these tips and ease the post-holiday blues.

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5 Ways Your Business Can Use Video For Improved Customer Service

Business

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No business can afford to underestimate the value of good customer service.

Research shows that 89 percent of buyers have stopped using a specific business after experiencing bad customer care. 45 percent will also quit at the purchase-ready stage if they feel their questions have not been addressed.

Both of these figures demonstrate just how vital it is to have an airtight customer-service system in place. As it’s more expensive to attract new buyers than to keep existing ones, investing in ongoing satisfaction can actually save you money down the line.

Video is one of the most effective tools at your disposal, but not enough businesses use it to its full potential. Video is more engaging than even the finest-written text, using visuals and audio for a stimulating experience. You can also condense extensive blocks of text down to just a couple of minutes, saving time and effort on the customer’s’ part.

With that in mind, here are five ways your business can use video to improve your customer service.

Record FAQ Videos

The frequently asked questions (FAQ) section is a staple of many websites today, providing answers before customers need to ask them.

Newcomers to your site (or your entire company) are likely to visit your FAQ page for extra information, but scrolling through them can be arduous. Your goal is to convey the most useful details to visitors in the quickest, most engaging way.

Using video instead of text allows you to address various issues, using numerous techniques. For example, you may want to create a dynamic video that encapsulates your entire brand rather than providing a written history, perhaps incorporating animation and music to enhance its engagement.

You can also use videos to introduce your team, demonstrate how to use certain features on the site, and present your offices. This is a more personal approach, and makes visitors feel closer to your business.

It’s also simpler to send customers a link in response to questions via email or social media, rather than repeating the same chunk of text again and again.

Offer Live Video Chat with your Customers

Live chat may be a common feature on websites, but this usually takes the form of instant messaging. As helpful as this is, it can be a frustrating, time-consuming process: you have to wait for an operator to become available, before trying to articulate your query or complaint as best you can in words.

Live video chat is a much faster, simpler solution. Being able to see your support agent’s face to face means customers will feel more engaged and as if they’re receiving more personal treatment (rather than being just another voice on the phone). This face to face interaction also allows operators to read customers’ body language, to handle the caller with the most appropriate tone and approach.

As complex as this sounds, video can actually be added to your website or app with surprising ease – all you need is a quality SDK. Integrating live video-chat will give customers a direct link to your support agents at the touch of a button, but it’s vital to invest in a reliable service. Video chat firms like Agora.io, for example, uses 80 data centers around the world to identify the strongest connection to every location your customers could possibly be, making your video connection extra clear and stable, so there are no choppy video streams which can ruin the experience.

Use How-To Videos to Demonstrate Products

Depending on the types of products you sell, your customers may need a little help to get the most out of them. For example, if you produce tablets, your customers may appreciate a video that demonstrates the various features, enabling them to hit the ground running when they unbox it.

Likewise, how-to videos are ideal for troubleshooting common issues, such as showing how to correct faults or bypass technical problems. Not only does this give customers the answers they need in a hands-on way, it also saves them the time and effort of contacting your company for advice.

For online businesses, customers may only get to see your products when they arrive, rather than going into a store for a demonstration. How-to videos enable you to give customers a deeper insight and explore how the product will benefit them, just as a salesperson would in a shop.

Additionally, customers can rewind, pause, and re-watch videos, rather than having to follow advice or information given by phone.

Create Customer Review Testimonials

Testimonials are a key element of promoting your business on your site, but how are your customers supposed to know they’re genuine?

While any company can create fake testimonials, videos are a more authentic, convincing alternative. Ask satisfied customers to record brief videos describing how you have helped them, and add these to your site. You may even want to share snippets on social media, provided these are short (no more than 30 seconds).

Avoid hiring actors to perform testimonials, though, even if they’re reciting genuine comments. People will be able to tell, and it may make them question your integrity.

Host Live Webinars to Maximize Engagement

With webinars, your brand can interact with customers, provide information, and nurture stronger buyer-business relationships.

For example, you can record seminars exploring specific areas of your company and services, perhaps discussing behind-the-scenes details. You’ll be showing a more human, personal side of your business, and making viewers feel a part of it by effectively letting them in on a previously-secret area.

Customers will also be able to interact, asking questions and helping to direct the course of the webinar itself. Responding to these live, in real-time, demonstrates a real dedication to your customers, showing how much you value their input.

You can take this further by asking customers to suggest webinar topics, and perhaps add the recorded piece to your FAQ section for future reference.

Video has the power to help you transform your customer service and provide your buyers with the care they deserve. Investing in it today can save you money, time, and potential issues in the future – and if you do it now, you’ll stand out from your less-innovative competitors.

Have you considered how important video could be to your customer service?

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From Jack Elway to Bobby Bonds, Famous Father and Son Sports Combos

Sports

sport
sport
Photo by CC user Brendan Ross on Flickr.

Every now and again sport sees something of a phenomenon, a father and son combination of athletes who both, in their own right, become famous within their chosen sport. Often we see fathers and sons making it big in the same sport and even sometimes in totally different sports. These duos don’t come around too often and today we’re going to take a look at some of the most successful combos throughout history.

Jack Elway and his son John

Jack Elway’s son John is a 2 time Super Bowl winner, a Super Bowl MVP and has his named cemented into football history since his 2004 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. His glittering career with the Denver Broncos began from the seed which his father had sown when he started out his footballing career in the late 1940s. Jack Elway’s promising playing career was unfortunately cut short in his college days thanks to a knee injury, he stayed in the sport however and went on to become a highly successful college football head coach.

Ken Norton Senior and Junior        

In an example of a father and son who chose different paths to find their sporting success Ken Norton Snr and Jnr have created names for themselves in the worlds of boxing and football. Ken Snr is considered as one of the top 50 all time greatest heavyweights and throughout his career the tough punching Norton won 42 fights including a 1973 win over Muhammad Ali. The boxer is most well know for his brutal fight with Larry Holmes which saw him lose his title after a split decision went against him following a punishing 15 rounds. Ken norton Jnr might have chosen a different sport in football but it seems that the Norton family success would continue when in 1995, the young Norton became the first player in NFL history to win 3 Super Bowl rings consecutively. Norton Jnr excelled so much at college level that he has since been inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame.

Bobby and Barry Bonds

The surname Bonds has become synonymous with baseball since the father and son duo entered into the MLB with their monster batting power and their ability to smash records. Father Bobby became the first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in more than two consecutive years, he managed the 30-30 five times in total. The pressure was firmly on son Barry’s shoulders once he graced the field but he needn’t have worried, what he would go on to do in the world of baseball probably exceeded what he could ever have imagined. Seven MVP awards, eight Golden Gloves, record most home runs in a single season with 73, record for most career home runs with 762 and a lifetime batting average of .298, Barry Bonds’ 22 year career in baseball surpassed his father’s incredible successes and looks unlikely to be equalled or beaten for a very long time to come.

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Ways to Earn Whilst You Are in University

Education Money

earn
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Photo by CC user Pek&Anoek on Flickr.

Being in university is a time to make new friends, have crazy experiences and party like crazy, oh, and of course, to study. During your time at university you will of course be putting in the work when it comes to gaining a good qualification and the truth is that yes, there will be a lot of partying and making friends in-between. Something that you are going to need at university, other than an intelligent mind, is money to get through it.

There are options available to support your studies, student loans and grants for example or a scholarship if you rock at football like Jack Elway. That will cover your course fees but actually living will cost a little bit more and here are some great ways that you can earn some cash whilst you are studying hard.

Online Income

More and more students are turning to the internet as a viable way to make money whilst they are away at campus, some take it to the next level like Zuckerberg. Nobody expects you to create the next Facebook but there are some great options online to make some extra cash from your dorm room. You could start a blog for example or fill out online surveys which will pay a little each time, you could look to freelance work like writing, email handling, virtual assistant work, graphic designing, website design or a whole host of other tasks that people are looking for online. You can earn well and you won’t have any costs other than your laptop and a wifi connection.

Tutoring

Once you get into your second or third year of university you can offer tutoring to some of the younger students. Meet in a neutral spot or invite them to your dorm for an hour or two per week. Tutoring is not only a great way of earning some money but it will also help to reinforce your knowledge and give you the satisfaction of helping others. When the time comes to get a job you will find that putting something like tutoring on your CV will help you to look more attractive to prospective employers. A win-win all round.

Nighttime and Weekends

Sometimes you just need to do what is necessary to get the greenbacks in and areas such as bar work, restaurant work or working weekends in a clothes shop is where you can do exactly that. These may not be the most fun or pleasant of jobs but they can help you to pay for the necessities in life whilst you are studying. Ensure that you don’t go after the money too hard, you don’t want it to compromise your studies. Once you get to university try to get out as early as possible looking for work, there will be thousands of students looking to do the same thing as you and jobs may be in high demand and low supply, make sure you’re in there first.

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