Mindful Eating

Things That Are Generally Overlooked On a Moving Day

If you are planning for relocation then it is very important for you to manage the move on your own. In case you are planning things for that matter then you will be able to do things all by yourself. The schedule is already much occupied on the moving day so it is quiet natural to forget about a few things on that very day. If you are moving with Agarwal packers and movers then you don’t have to be worried about anything because they are going to do it for you in the most appropriate way.
Here are some of the things that are really going to help you out on the moving day:

1. Basic cleaning material

When you are going to experience the most delightful thing of your life and that is the new house so it is always better to take all these packing supplies with you. It is important that everything is clean including the bathroom. Even if the owners have cleaned the place on their part properly, you will have to clean it properly as well. You can also take the cleaning supplies that you had in your current house or the ones that you had with you.

• Portable small vacuum cleaner

• Dustpan

• Cleaning spray

• Bowl cleaner

• Broom

• Mopping items

2. Clothing hangers

These things generally underrated on the moving day but are equally important for your relocation journey. Clothing hangers will definitely be something that would be very useful for you because you will have to get up and run for work so it is always better to hang your formal clothes on the clothing hangers than to wear the ones that are already shrinked.

When you have finally unpacked your kitchen and prepared your beds then the only thing that you have to do is to unpack everything and then close them properly. This is going to save you time that you would have spent on ironing your clothes. Clothes are not something that is going to decide you although but it is definitely the first impression when you see someone for the first time.

3. Batteries

You will never forget to take your TV with you on the day of your move along with your remote but what will you do when there will not be any battery in our remote? What will you do if the power supply gets off and then you have to switch on the emergency light of your place? It can be used in anything so that is the reason you should always take batteries with you on the moving day when moving to a new house.

When you shift to your new house then you also face difficulty in sleeping because you are not able to take proper sleep in the new place so you can just put on the batteries in your stereo and play some songs. Gradually you will get used to of sleeping in that place.

4. Toothbrush

It is also one of the most common things that people forget on the moving day. These things are not done intentionally but amongst so many things they tend to forget these small-small ones. Toothbrush is important because you will brush your teeth before sleeping and then you will also need it when you will get up in the morning.

5. Small toolkit

Don’t ever forget to take the toolkit with you and also label it properly because you are definitely going to use this on the very first day of your move. If not on the first day then you will be using it in the first week of your move. When you will be unpacking the box of your frames and pictures properly then you will have to hang it on the wall.

• Screwdriver

• Hammer

• Small screws

• Pliers

• Utility knife

• Different sizes of screws

6. Fire extinguisher

Safety comes first and that is the reason you should always take fire extinguisher along with you because it is your new house and you don’t know much about it so it is always better to take all the safety measures along with you.

It should be present over there so that you can get rid of any kind of fire situations properly. There can be accidental fire situations that can prove to be really harmful for you at such situations. This will help control accidental small fires if you came across any such siuations.

7. Tissues and Toilet paper

This is something that is self explanatory when you are moving then you will not get all your toiletries in your bathroom, you will have to take all of them with you, they are not going to arrange it for you. Also, they are not going to put anything for you.

8. Chargers

You must have put your phone on charging point on the moving day so there is a possibility that you take your phone out from the charger and leave your charger over there only.

Make sure you keep the chargers for all the family members in your house because chargers are not same so it is always better to keep your own so that you don’t face any problem in contacting each other in case the battery goes low.

These are some of the important things that you have to do while moving from one place to another so it is better that you take much care of all these things while relocating.

If you are hiring Agarwalpackers then there is no need to be worried about anything in that case.

8 Timeless Relocation Hacks to Simplify Moves!

Nothing brings you joy than executing tasks and projects with perfection. That is the reason why you are eagerly looking forward to the approaching house move that is currently creating a stir in your life. Though you firmly believe that if you book a moving company like Agarwal Packers for the job, things would be very much sorted and there would only be a few things that would call for your attention.
You are right in thinking so because that is what the moving professionals are there for. These moving companies deliver outstanding relocation services and with the right blend of desired moving services from the company, timely pro assistance from the specialists of the field, and integration of the below-mentioned tips, your house move would be nothing short of a dream!

The move will eventually take shape when the professionals will supervise and navigate it but while they do that, you should not step back from doing your bit of preparation for the event.

Here are some of the pointers that will make you unleash a different side of your move that comes to light only when you are following the mentioned moving hacks in order.

1. Know that it is not every affair – Relocation is not something that you do every day. Do you? Then why cannot you make it the most worthwhile for yourself, right? Why cannot you make it free of any kind of hassle? Why does there have to be room for flaws and failures? Mishaps can never be comprehended beforehand but if we strengthen our plan and come up with infallible tips, would there be anything at all, that will make it a failure? Not! Know this and also believe.

2. Believe in making memories – You may be thinking of all the things that you will do now, ahead of your forthcoming move but rather than feeling overwhelmed with all of those things, believe that the bigger picture is heartening and sufficient enough to make you feel better! Whenever you find time from your packed pre-move schedule, spend some time to explore your place a bit more closely and recall all the memories you made here and tie them intact in your memory.

3. Do not drain your finances – Most people believe to spend it all on their house moving project. They fail to realize that spending the savings nearly entirely for the move may put them at major risks in the forthcoming time. So, rather try saving money for the move at least 5-7 months before if you think you are not that strong financially. Finances should be planned sensibly and one should have some amount of money set aside for emergencies too. You can talk about this with your moving crew from Agarwal Packers and Movers.

4. Before you go ahead, discern – We discussed how budgeting is important for the move and how you should plan a move when you are financially ready but there are a few more things that you should understand before you proceed with your move-in actual. See if the time you are planning your move-in is right. Know that there is a lot more than what you know a move comprises. For instance, figure out what value of items you are moving and whether the mover is providing you with special packing assistance for the requested objects. Go through the costs you are paying the movers to know you are pulling off a worthwhile deal.

5. Know some expert move advice – Everyone hopes to make their move as effortless as possible. But experiencing a move without any hassle or drawbacks often seems unrealistic. Well, you may not believe us when we say this but such kinds of moves are also possible and all it necessitates is your awareness of the project and your preparation for the task. Here are a few things you can do while you research facts online – you can refer to some useful moving tips talking about the ‘How To’s?’ ‘’Moving Guides’, ‘Moving Checklists’, ‘Organizing Tips’, ‘Cleaning and De-cluttering, etc.

6. Take care of personal wellbeing – Losing your temper out of overwhelming moving stress and mistaking moving paths owing to the bundle of moving tasks around is not something new. Everybody undergoes the experience at least once or every time they plan a move. These times of distress call for mental peace and for that one should simply do only as much they can and not take too much hassle because when the professionals are already hired for the project, things can eventually fall into place. You simply go easy, take breaks and take care of yourself.

7. Flawless packing is the key – One big-time timeless moving tip is to ensure quality packing of the household belongings. No matter what happens, if the quality of packing is left compromised, no one can assure the goods would reach the destination in one piece. Various other things are playing equally important roles in the context – like correctly cushioning belongings so that they remain safeguarded from every side; like getting the right size boxes and that too in strong quality so that even if there is some sort of pressure on the cartons externally, the items packed within the boxes remains unharmed.

8. Renting the right truck – Of all the major advice and tips that one follows during the move, there always is one that talks about how renting the right moving truck play a big role during the move. The size of the move is to be chosen mindfully and the vehicle should have all the required requisites that will assure optimum protection to the belongings packed within. You should discuss all of this with the mover and make an effort to visit the truck at least once ahead of the move.

With us, house moves are more like a journey of fulfillment and joy. When every key aspect of the move, including the complex packing chores, is taken care of by the mavens of Agarwal Movers and Packers, do you think anything could go wrong? So, just trust your movers and get ready to experience the new!

Real Estate Investing – How to Get Started

A lot of money has been made by those who invest in real estate. If you are a new investor thinking about jumping in then this article is for you–a straightforward three-step plan meant to help you get started investing.

1) Make a Decision

Foremost; you must decide that you will make a commitment to invest in real estate. Yes, real estate can and does provide financial success for the average person, but it’s not all fun and games-getting started investing in property takes work. You must be willing to make an effort to learn the nuances over a several month period with a good attitude about learning and the resolve not to quit until you succeed.

2) Learn the Basics

A wealth of information is available for you on real estate investing. There are books, seminars, and now, thanks to the web, a ton of online resources. The cost will be minimal, and in many cases, many resources are free. So your education isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg but to be successful you need to invest the time and money to learn.

Start by learning the basics. Learn how properties are valued, how title is transferred, what title insurance is, as well as other general real estate terms and concepts. There are glossaries available online. Then expand your education by learning the terms and concepts associated with real estate investing such as cap rate, gross rent multiplier, operating expenses, net operating income, cash flow, and so on. Learn what an APOD is and how to read a Proforma Income Statement. Learn the formulas. Again, there are numerous articles online to educate you.

Next, learn about financing. Did you know, for instance, that multifamily properties consisting of four or less units are financed by a “residential” loan whereas multifamily properties of five or more units are financed as a “commercial” loan, and the terms and conditions of each loan category vary significantly? Plan to meet with a lender or a real estate professional to discuss these types of loans as well as some creative financing techniques such as lease-options.

Third, you need to learn how to find and evaluate rental property. The surest way is with the help of a professional understands investment property and real estate investment software. Whereas the professional can help you to locate rental property, a good investment software solution can help you evaluate the property’s cash flows, rates of return and profitability as well as teach you-you will learn the investing nuances almost by default as you use the software to run the numbers.

3) You Must Get Started

Bear in mind that you will never know it all, so don’t think that you must wait until you do. If you have been doing your homework, and have studied and learned, then get out there and start applying the investing information. You’ll never enjoy the security and financial freedom real estate investing has to offer until you invest.

9 Simple Physical Fitness Tips for Beginners

Set objectives on your own

Before you begin, have a clear goal in mind of exactly what you desire to achieve. Do you want to develop muscle or lose weight or perhaps both!

Take your Measurements

Take measurements before you begin your workout program then as soon as a month while you are doing it. If you are losing inches or getting inches in the locations you desire, this method you can correctly track. Compose whatever down as well as take photos, so you have a visual referral for your development.

Arrange your exercises

Similar to you set up service conferences and time with your household, it is critical to organize your activities. As you would not cancel an essential conference; very same method exercises are similarly critical. Put it on the calendar and adhere to it.

Start of Slow

Begin out sluggish and then development if you are brand-new to working out. Pressing too hard prematurely might lead to you hurting yourself and ending up on the sofa and not able to work out.

Stretch

It’s consistently high to extend in the past and after an exercise, to avoid injury. If you want to get a great stretch and increase your versatility, attempt a yoga class.

Get the correct Devices

Whatever exercise you opt to do, you are going to require some devices. It might be a brand-new set of running shoes, comfy clothing, and sets of weights or treadmill. Do not lose your cash on things you do not require and just purchase exactly what you need to the exercise.

Exercise with a Pal

All of us understand how hard it can be to stay with a routine exercise regimen, however, if you have a pal that is relying on you to be there, you will not wish to let them down and cancel.

Working out with a buddy is enjoyable, and you’ll inspire each other to keep going. You will likewise challenge yourself to keep up with them if you have a good friend that is in shape than you are.

Work with a Fitness Instructor

Do not think about this as an expense, consider this as a financial investment in your health and wellness. Employing an individual fitness instructor is an excellent method to do it if you are severe about getting in shape. He or she will encourage you and keep you responsible.

Have a good time

You are not going to desire to keep doing it; so pick activities that you delight in if you are not having enjoyable with your workout regimen. There are numerous methods to obtain an excellent exercise in without feeling dullness, and you simply need to be creative; by doing this, you will burn lots of calories and have fun doing it!

2 Email Marketing Tips You Will Want To Follow

Email marketing is a very integral part of your online marketing campaign. You should know that email marketing is something that you need to invest in and start using right away if you want to boost your online sales and profits. This is something that you shouldn’t take lightly, and is something that can definitely boost your sales.

In today’s lesson, I’m going to share with you some email marketing tips that you can use to improve your conversion rates, put part of your business on autopilot, and then start to earn the cash that you are looking for simply and easily. These tips are easy to use and understand, and can definitely help you to succeed online. Here’s email marketing tip number 1:

1) Get an autoresponder

Do you know what an “autoresponder” is? An autoresponder is simply a program that sends out emails to your email list on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. With an autoresponder, you can put your sales on autopilot because you don’t have to sit there at your computer and manually send out emails to customers or clients.

One of the most popular autoresponders on the internet is from “Aweber”. Aweber is a company who hosts an autoresponder service for those who sign up with them. They are very newbie friendly, and they have good customer service. You should make it a point to learn more about Aweber today.

Autoresponders are a must-have if you want to create the kind of online business that you dream of. The only thing that you will have to do is insert emails into your autoresponder sequence, and the autoresponder will take care of the rest. This is incredibly easy to do, and it doesn’t take long to add to your sequence. Here’s another email marketing tip:

2) Don’t buy a list

You never want to buy an email list of people to contact. It doesn’t matter if the list is in your niche, if you’re getting 300,000 names for a good price, or if the list is recent. There are a lot of negatives of buying a list, so you will just want to stick with opt-in email marketing.

When I say “opt-in” email marketing, I mean you are encouraging people to visit your website, and getting them to leave their name and email address to receive a free offer from you. You can offer them a free eBook, a free report, or simply your free email newsletter. This is the best way to go about getting leads. Anyway else is futile.

Marketing with autoresponders and opt-in email lists are 2 very good practices that you should be using in your business today. It’s something that you need to be doing if you want to make money online simply and easily. I’ve been doing email marketing for the past 10 years, and I can assure you that it’s definitely the way to go with your online marketing efforts.

Take these 2 tips and use them to have success online in a short period of time. The more leads you get, the more money you will make, and the more your conversion rates will increase. Get on it right away.

Good luck with using email marketing in your online business today.

Cool Web Hosting Tools for Videos and Website Marketing

Best Practices for Creating Videos for your Website

Cool Web Hosting Tools for Videos and Website Marketing

Use your web hosting account to make a blog or website destination for viewers, then create videos that can serve as traffic builders to your website. You can create professional videos even if you do not have a film background.

YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. By dissecting all the elements that create persuasive videos that move viewers into action, you can increase sales for your business website.

YouTube Video Marketing

There are five important elements of persuasive videos that you can post on YouTube and by following these elements, your videos can better move your viewers into action.

Why Is Video So Important?

At its most basic level, video is a communication tool that can be used in an unlimited number of ways. You can plug-in video into everything that people are teaching you for your business. You can have a video, for example, for testimonials, how to drive traffic to a website, a video that teaches your audience and educates them, even a video that encourages visitors at your website to opt-in to your e-mail list. Making a video is actually simple, quick and efficient that can be used in many ways such as networking on social networking sites. The ultimate goal is to use your web hosting account to create a destination website or blog to which you can drive traffic. Videos can be tremendous traffic builders to your website or blog.

YouTube videos are the most shared form of content inside of Facebook. Videos are a powerful tool to communicate your message. Business owners can use video as a “welcome” when people sign up for your product or service. Screen captures can be used to show people how to do something by implementing screenshots into video. And by physically putting yourself in front of the camera, something special happens. Viewers that watch your videos fell like they know you at a deeper level and a relationship happens. When this occurs with your audience, your subscribers and your visitors, it shifts the game for you. Instead of being a salesperson and constantly pitching your product or service, videos can move your relationship to a level which attracts the type of clients and business that you want. When you connect with people in a face-to-face interaction, it transcends what can happen online. There is something special about that feeling and videos are the closest you can get to that face-to-face contact. You do not have to get in front of the camera, but if you do it is very beneficial because when people watch your videos, there is a singular person out there watching that is connecting to you and receiving your message. It makes a dramatic impact.

Components of Videos that Move People to Action

So many people think that you need to concentrate on which software to use, which equipment, camera and tripod to use. All these things are important but they are secondary to strategy. Keep in mind that what is more important than the equipment you use is strategy. By developing a strategy and plan of action before video production, you can take an ordinary video project into one that is successful, gives value to the audience, and drives traffic back to your website, your community, and build your subscriber list, which generates new sales leads for your business. Be precise and detailed when presenting video content online. Keep your videos synced and avoid rambling.

Prior to Creating your Videos

Sit down and take the time up-front to script your videos. Write out a strategy, an outline, or plan in some way that details exactly what you plan for the video. The clarity improves and the traffic and effectiveness improves dramatically.

Five Elements of a Persuasive Video

Attention Grabber is similar to a headline in an article or blog post. You want people to know exactly what your video is about as quickly as possible. Six to eight seconds is all this phase takes. Don’t even waste time saying, “Hi, my name is Joe”. Instead, jump right into the introduction by saying “In this video we are going to talk about xyz.” or ask a question. Entertain as much as you can. The whole point is that by six to eight seconds, your viewer should have a very good idea of what the video is about. The viewer needs to know what they are going to gain by watching your video. Start your video with providing value for your audience, informing them, and educating them. This is how you will get views. YouTube is not the place for commercials. The attention rate is very low with videos because when a person is watching a video all three their major modalities are engaged: audio, visual and kinesthetic. Videos are like a mini-transformation. Podcasts, on the other hand, give people the opportunity to multi-task such as drive, for example, while listening. You can’t do that with video. With videos you have a much more condensed amount of time to deliver your message and get people’s attention. If you can keep the viewers’ attention, you are connecting with that viewer and engaging them.
Intro Bumper includes you’re branding, your logo, music, telling people what your video is about, what your show is about. As soon as you tell the listener what you have, this is where you can throw in a small commercial. This is the best way to brand your show. Call it a show because it raises your video to a higher level. It legitimizes you. The whole branding package is outlined in the Intro Bumper.
Videoscribe.tv is software that offers an efficient way to create engaging videos. You can create amazing marketing videos, instructional talks, add a visual to your talk or story, bring illustrations to life, show text, logos or photos and keep any audience captivated. An example of this is a video with a hand drawing on the screen that captures the viewer’s attention. This is a great place to put your logo, your tag line and some music.
VideoHive.net is a website that sells royalty-free, pre-made templates ready for you to customize. They can be purchased for $5 to $15 dollars. They are actually just AfterEffects templates.
After Effects is a digital motion graphics and composing software tool published by Adobe Systems. With a template from VideoHive.net, you have a head start with your video. Find someone with basic video experience to whom you can outsource this project and have that person customize your template. You can use
Odesk.com to hire someone without spending a lot of money. Have them customize the template with your logo. For around $10 you can have someone plug-in your logo and tag line. Now, save it and use it again and again as a video template that you can plug into all your future videos. This will save you time and money on every video by adding an introduction that is professional and consistent.
Sparkol.com is another very unique video production tool that allows you to create engaging and animated videos quickly and easily. Engaging is the key. It’s a wow factor. This phase needs to be done in six seconds or less.
Content includes the meat of your video and it’s purpose is to deliver the value that you have promised. If you said at the beginning of the video that your video would provide value, this is where you need to deliver on that promise. You need to tell the viewer why your video is important otherwise the viewer might take your content for granted. You need to do this as fast as possible. Becoming a teacher and a marketer is important in this phase. Tell the viewer why your content is important. You need to sell the viewer on the importance of your content before you provide the actual content. Then, you can show the viewer what you do or the steps of your “how to” video, for example. Give the viewer a line or two about why your video is so valuable, and then provide the content. Make sure that you have conveyed the benefits and the results of your video. What is the end result? What is going to happen after the viewer does what your video outlines? The actual content can include tips, education, entertainment, or you can tell the viewer what to do in the content of your video. A video is a mini-transformation with one enclosed transformation that stands alone. One thing or one topic should be included in the content of your video. Keep your content precise and topic-oriented. Be unique; be entertaining. Re-set the viewers’ attention span. Next, tell the viewer something that is coming up or tell them something that will be at the end of the video. Give the viewer a reason to stay. Teasing the viewer with something that is coming up keeps the viewer engaged and creates a higher perceived value. The call-to-action is critical to include in this phase. Tell the viewer exactly what to do and why they should do it. The last part of the content should include another instance of your call-to action. Tell them what, why, and how to do something. Move someone that is passive to become active. Thank people for watching your video. You can close out this phase of the video by saying something, for example, like “I’ll see you on the next page when you click the link”.
Altro Bumper entails you signing off on your video. End videos the same way you opened them. You can even put the same Intro Bumper in this phase. It ties it all up. The consistent branding is catchy and it sticks. Use text to further enunciate what your call-to-action is. Make your video ‘humanizing’. You can do this by throwing in a few bloopers which demonstrate to people that you are human capable of making mistakes. This does two things: it trains people to stay to the end of your video. The second thing this does is that it shows people that you are human and that you do make mistakes. It builds a rapport and helps the viewer understand you and connect with you. People want to be entertained and this part of the Altro Bumper shows people that when you make mistakes, you laugh it off, which then creates a deeper connection between you and the viewer. After all, this is the ultimate goal of video because we all know that people buy from those who they like, know and trust.
Out Takes include a video directory, such as a simple card that gives people the option of what they want to do next. When the video ends, a video directory can provide a link to your website, the option to watch additional videos, join your opt-in e-mail list, watch more bloopers, subscribe to your YouTube channel, etc. It gives people the opportunity to take the next step and provides options to do so.

By dissecting the principles of video production and defining a strategy before you leap into your next video project, the end result will be a more professional and effective video.

Marketing Your Website with Video

Embed your videos into your blog or web site. Be sure to put your URL and keywords in the video description. Google owns YouTube so keywords in the video’s description will help your SEO efforts.

Connect Twitter to your YouTube channel by logging into your YouTube account and clicking your user name, “settings”, then on the left of the screen, click “sharing”. You can connect Facebook and Twitter accounts into your YouTube channel to further market your videos and increase distribution. From within your YouTube “sharing” screen, you will have choices of activities. Good settings within your “sharing” options are “like” and/ or “favorite”. If you “like” a video, it will automatically post onto your Twitter account that you liked that video and also onto your Facebook profile with the player so people can easily watch the video and hopefully they will like, comment or share your video.

What is the Best Shopping Cart Software For Your Ecommerce Website?

Searching for the best shopping cart software for you ecommerce website can be a daunting task. There are literally hundreds of carts and ecommerce solutions available. How do you know which one is right for you?

You should consider the following factors when you are searching for a shopping cart that fits your needs.

What is a shopping cart?
How much does it cost?
Should I buy or lease a cart?
What Features Should I Look For?
What Kind and How Much Support Does will I get?
Which Payment Gateways Work with the Cart?
What Hosting/Server Platform is Required?
What if I Need Customization?

What is a Shopping Cart?

First, let me define a shopping cart or ecommerce website. In the most basic terms, a shopping cart is software that allows you to list your products on a web site and then automatically collect fees when a customer buys products from your website.

For example, lets say that you sell vitamins from your home, and now you want to start selling them on your website. First, you need shopping ecommerce software. You will also need to have a business bank account and a payment gateway, a service that allows you to automatically process credit cards on your web site.

Once you have the cart software set up on your website, you can add your vitamin products to the website using a web browser. The software allows you to add product images, descriptions, prices, shipping and tax rates, and so on. Once your cart is populated with all of your products, you can start selling them on the web.

Here’s how it works: A customer comes to your web site and adds products to her shopping cart. When she is ready to buy the products, she enters her shipping and credit card information in a form so you know where to ship the product and whom to charge it to. When the customer clicks the button to submit the order, the shopping cart uses your payment gateway (credit-card-processing service) to validate the credit card and then transfer the money from the customer’s credit card to your bank account. Then it’s up to you to ship the product.

You can also use a shopping cart to sell digital, or downloadable products such as electronic books, music, and software.

How Much Do Shopping Carts Cost?

As you might expect, shopping carts come in a wide range of prices, from free to thousands of dollars. Does that mean that the more you spend, the better cart you get? Not necessarily.

There are several free shopping carts that are very powerful and full of features; for example, OSCommerce and ZenCart. Both of these carts are completely free and offer most of the features you would expect in a modern shopping cart: unlimited products, connections to the major payment gateways, credit card payments, real-time shipping prices, discount customer groups, multi language, and more.

Unfortunately, there is a downside to free: free products lack good documentation and support. For example, there is no official support group that you can call when you need help. And there is no official user’s guide to explain how to use the software. You usually have to search through user forums to find answers to your questions.

Free shopping carts are probably not be the best choice if you are new to ecommerce and are trying to do everything yourself.

Fortunately, there are many commercial carts in the range of $100-500 that offer lots of features. The carts in this range usually have some kind of support system to help you with problems, and they usually have documentation to explain how to use their software. X-Cart and Ecommerce Templates are two carts between $150 – $200, and both are very powerful and relatively easy to use.

Should I Buy or Lease a Shopping Cart?

There are two basic models for online shopping carts:

Pay a one time fee for the software and install it on your web server: This can be a daunting task unless you are comfortable working with Linux web servers and configuring web-based software. The good thing about this model is that you don’t have to pay monthly fees, and the software is usually much more customizable than leased shopping carts. If you have the skills to install the software on your server, or if you hire a website designer to install and configure your shopping cart, this method is more economical than leasing.
Pay a monthly or yearly fee to lease the software: This model is easy to implement because you don’t need to install, configure, or maintain any software. If you are going to do it yourself and have little web experience, this is the easiest way to get started. The downside is that leased software is often hard to customize and many ecommerce sites need some customization. Furthermore, it can be very expensive when you add in the cost of leasing over many years.

What Shopping Cart Features Should I Look For?

Most shopping carts come with standard features like unlimited categories and products, web-based administration, easy-to-use product creation screens, and tax and shipping calculation. Unfortunately, not all carts include all the functions YOUR business will need to operate an online store.

The following is a list of features to look for in a shopping cart:

Installation and Design

Easy-to-use web interface: A web interface allows you to administer your shopping cart from any web browser that is connected to the internet.
Shopping Cart Reporting: The ability to get detailed reports about your sales, inventory, states, users, categories, products, destination zones, taxes, shipping rates, orders, membership levels, etc.
Multiple Languages: The ability to display multiple languages in your shopping cart
Customer Support: Most carts usually provide email or forum-based support, but sometimes they provide live phone support.
Upgradeable: Find out if you can get free updates as the software is improved. Usually you can get free updates for 6 to 12 months.
Template-based Design: Tempate-based designs make it easier to customize the look of your website
WYSIWYG Editor for Products: This feature allows you to enter product text and images using a word-processor-like editor.
Content Pages: Does your cart allow you to create content pages? For example, can you create an “About Us” page?
Mini-Cart: A mini cart is a small box that indicates if the user has items in their shopping cart. These are usually located on the top or side of the page. Most carts have this feature.

Customer Features

Newsletter Function: Do you need to ability to send mass emails to your customers? Many carts come with the ability to send emails to customers.
Customer Order / Customer Account / Customer Registration: The ability for your customers to view their account and their order history.
Product Search: A search tool for your products. This function is especially helpful if you have more than 20 or 30 products.
Googlecheckout: Google Checkout is a new service that makes online shopping faster, safer and more convenient. Many carts have been updated so they work with Google Checkout.
Wish list: A “Wish List” allows your customers to save products to a wish list. That way they can come back to your online store at a later date and buy the products in the Wish List.
Send to friend: This feature displays a form that allows customer to enter a name and email address so the can send a link of a product to a friend.
Memberships and special pricing: This feature allows you to create memberships on your store and then give them special prices or discounts.
Printable Invoices: The feature allows your customers to print their invoices.
Multiple Shipping Addresses: The feature allows customers to store multiple shipping addresses. This is a handy feature for customer who often ship gifts to friends and family members.

Store and Products

What Kind and How Much Support Does the Shopping Cart Provide?

Shopping cart software and ecommerce is pretty complex and there are many opportunities for problems. Whatever shopping cart model you choose, be sure to consider amount and type of support offered by the leasing host or the software seller. Because a smooth operation of your website and shopping cart are necessary for financial success, you’ll want to have appropriate support for emergencies.

Which Payment Gateways Work with the Shopping Cart?

If you are going to use a leased shopping cart, or you are going to buy shopping cart software, find out which payment gateways will work with the shopping cart.

Note: Each shopping cart provider builds their own interfaces for payment gateways.

What Hosting/Server Platform is Required?

Will your website and shopping cart be hosted on a Linux / UNIX server or a Windows server? If you are going to use a hosted shopping cart, you probably don’t need to worry about this unless you already have other web-based software applications installed on your current web host.

If you are going to buy shopping cart software, your choice might be limited by your server choice. Currently there are many more shopping carts made for Linux / UNIX than for windows.

What if I Need Customization?

Every shopping cart I have installed, designed, and configured, has required some customization. In most cases, the client wanted to do something the cart did not do. For example, one client wanted the ability to send a custom email with specific products so he could send special instructions whenever a customer ordered a specific product. A few shopping carts have this ability, but most don’t.

The best solution is to first determine your specific requirements and then find a cart that fits your needs. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find a cart that does EVERYTHING you want it to do. If this is the case, you’ll need to have some custom development done to add a new function to the cart.

Keep in mind that many popular shopping carts have dozens of Modifications and Plugins that you can add to the shopping cart software to make it fulfill your requirements.

Note: If you use a leased shopping cart, you will probably not be able to make modifications to the software.

Looking For Employment – Work From Home

Looking for employment? Work from home. Working from home can be one of the most rewarding things in the world. The flexible hours and time close to your kids can be reason enough to take on the challenge. Each year, many people start up home businesses in search of the dream of being free. They want to be free from the corporate grind and free to decide for themselves how much they will work and how much they will make. They want to be responsible to themselves and not have anyone breathing over their shoulder, watching every move they make. People working from home have a great potential for income as well. Many of the wealthiest people are working for themselves.But beware. The very things that attract you to the work at home opportunity can also be your downfall if you’re not careful. In fact, most people can’t handle the lack of structure and the personal responsibility that come with working from home. If you are not very self motivated, working from home can be your worst plan. To be successful, you need to be a self starter. You need to wake up in the morning and get to work, not lay around and waste time. You need to be goal oriented and track your progress with measurable and attainable goals. You need to be able to see the whole picture and know what to do to change it. You need to be structured and devoted with your time. Many people either fool themselves into thinking that they’re working toward their goals when they’re just wasting time, or they work so hard that they ignore their family and friends, basically neglecting their lives. There needs to be a balance somewhere in between.When considering any employment, work from home or otherwise, it is important to take a good, honest look at yourself and see if you are really the kind of person that will be successful with what you are considering. If not, either change yourself or change your plans.

Ideas to Keep You Motivated on Your Off Days With Your Health and Fitness Routine

Sometimes we simply just do not feel like eating healthy, working out, we just plain and simple do not want to do anything that will benefit our health. These are just one of those off days that everyone has now and then. Even the top of health fanatics and fitness experts have some of these days, nobody is perfect. There is nothing wrong with you if you simply just do not feel like being dedicated and sticking to the routine for a day. Your simply just having one of those off days. But just because you are having an off day and just do not feel like doing whatever it is you do to maintain your fitness and health. Dose not mean that you should avoid doing whatever it is you have been doing to benefit your health and fitness. Your health is one of those important things you should stay motivated to better or maintain. So, you need to simply find ways to keep you motivated. And, to especially motivate you on those off days.Ideas that may keep you motivated:
You can make your health important- The bottom line your health is just as important if not more important then anything else. Watching TV, playing on the computer, staying up on your current events, taking a night out on the town, is no where near as important as your health. How can you do all these things, keep doing them, and enjoy doing them for as long as you live if your health is not in the best of shape. Putting your health on the top of your list everyday and reminding yourself of all the things you want to do in life can really push you through one of those off days.
Visualize It- If you picked on a fitness routine to get into shape, change the way you look, lose weight, then you obviously have a goal. Now, nothing can be more rewarding or motivating then taking a nice look in the mirror at your current self if you have not reached your goal yet. Doing this can almost be daunting and it force your butt to get into gear on one of those off days because you do not want to look like that anymore. You started the fitness routine, diet, or whatever it is because you have a goal set in mind. Now after you stare at current self in the mirror and picked at yourself for a bit. Visualize how great you are going to look when you have reached your goal. Not only how great your going to look, but how great your going to feel physically and mentally too.
Reward yourself- Rewarding yourself with something great that you have wanted when you reached a certain goal is great motivation. By having that reward set, whatever it may be, for whatever you may have done ( worked out so many days a week, lost so much weight, controlled your eating habits, there is endless amount of things you can reward yourself for when on a fitness routine or new diet), will definitely get your but into gear. You can not have this reward till you met the goal you have set for yourself and having an off day can set you back further from getting whatever it is you may want. Do not let your off days hold you back from your reward. Take charge and get your routine done on that off day so you can be closer to that reward.
Calling all support- Having a support team, people that stand behind you on whatever you are doing to benefit your health is one of the best things you can have and utilize. When you are having one of these off days you should definitely call on your support team if nothing else works. Having someone else besides yourself to remind you why your doing this and knowing the right words to say to you to get you motivated can be exactly what you need on an off day. So, do not be ashamed of your off day and avoid talking to someone about it. They can be exactly what you need to get you motivated and on track.
Do something- Even if you do not feel like going in 100% on your off day, you should still do something. Something is better then nothing when it comes to your health and fitness. By doing something even if it is a 30 minute stroll around the park you might find yourself rejuvenated and with more energy. This could leave you to still going through with your current fitness routine.

Small Company Marketing Consultants – Why You Need One And How To Select One

Having spent many years working with small and midsized B2B and B2C organizations on their marketing and marketing communications strategies and plans, I believe I’ve got a good sense of the issues facing them. Generally, at the top of the list, is the lack of a real marketing plan. How is it possible that something so basic is missing? My conclusion is that, despite possessing the skill sets that drive their organization’s success, founders and/or management simply do not have:

Time to think about marketing at all, because there is always something “more important or urgent” that needs their attention;

A real understanding of the power of marketing and how it can significantly improve profits and return on investment (ROI);

The resources, budgets and people available – marketing and marketing communications is “unfamiliar and scary”, and there are always other areas that need support first;

The knowledge of how to seek out and evaluate professional marketing help.
These are concerns regardless of the type of organization – start up, early stage or established companies, and even nonprofits for that matter. And, without real planning upfront, many brands are operating with a “Ready, Fire, Aim” reaction to the marketplace.What Will Hiring A Marketing Or Marketing Communications Professional Do For You?In order to accomplish short and long-term objectives you need to develop a meaningful marketing strategy and an integrated marketing communications plan and tactics. At its core, having a professional marketing program will improve a brand’s profitability and ROI. This task is often outsourced, frequently with a part-time Chief Marketing Officer.The process starts with the outside consultant learning about the brand – its strengths and weaknesses, competition, distribution, business plan objectives, existing communication materials, employee involvement. During this learning period, the consultant also avails himself of any pertinent primary or secondary research. Most important, this period is also the time for establishing trust between the organization and the consultant.While some tasks may be completed directly during this learning period, an outside professional would use this knowledge to prepare:1. A marketing and marketing communications strategy, along with a positioning statement. The positioning statement is a succinct description of the core target audience to whom the brand is directed, and a compelling picture of how the marketer wants the audience to view the brand.Sound simple? Take a minute and answer these four questions about your brand:

The target audience, in very specific detail?

The category in which the brand competes, and its relevance to customers?

The brand’s benefit and point of difference?

A reason for the customer to believe – the most compelling proof?
The positioning statement is the credo for the brand to live by. All marketing and marketing communications should flow from this positioning and be understood by all employees, agents, partners and management.2. An integrated and holistic plan with tactical expressions – media programs; creative executions, including new and/or traditional advertising; public relations; content marketing (social media, articles, blogs, white papers, video); packaging; point of purchase; employee engagement; and, events.The use of internal or external staff to create the above will be directed and evaluated by the consultant or, if necessary, specialists may be recommended.3. Recommendations for primary or secondary research when clear cut answers don’t exist on specific subjects. Marketing depends on a complete understanding of the customers’ “wants and needs” as well as how they relate to your brand and competition. Not just what your staff thinks; rather, information. Facts beat opinion every time.4. A procedure of measurement and evaluation of the objectives of the agreed upon plan, as well as the established objectives to be accomplished with each target audience and marketing communication task. Benchmarking and on-going analysis is key to successful marketing programs, allowing for change or refinement as you proceed.5. A format for informing and discussing the reasoning behind the marketing planning, so that everyone in the organization understands why the specific strategies, plans and tactics were developed and implemented. The consultant becomes a “teacher” and the entire organization becomes brand advocates.Marketing consultants have increasingly become members of the C-Suite because of today’s turbulent and rapidly changing environment.What Talents Should A Marketing Consultant Have?Look for a consultant, full or part-time, who is:1. Willing to learn your business from the ground up and doesn’t have a “one size fits all” mentality;2. An established professional, with extensive experience across industries and brands in B2B, B2C and nonprofit organizations, large and small. Expand your horizons and don’t settle for experience in only your niche or industry;3. Media neutral and willing to embrace analytics to develop a variety of programs as well as to measure them. In today’s complicated marketplace, a consultant must understand new and traditional media, the difference between efficiency and effectiveness, “likes” vs. “sales”, the dangers of digital ad fraud, etc., etc.;4. Apolitical and willing to tell it like it is, so candor will flourish in your relationship. Having your consultant free to demonstrate the discipline of marketing and marketing communications will build trust and a meaningful partnership;5. Has an established network of marketing communications specialists who can be called in to provide solutions when necessary.The marketing and marketing communications strategic and tactical challenges of today are growing exponentially. But, as with our uncertain economic and political environment, putting your head in the sand isn’t a viable response. As Will Rogers said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

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