Monthly Archives: March 2018

Moving Day Disasters And How To Avoid Them

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Moving house is a great opportunity to make a fresh start somewhere new. It’s an incredibly exciting experience, but, unfortunately, it is also one of the most stressful things you can put yourself through. There is just so much that you need to plan, pack, and remember when you move, and forgetting something or doing something wrong can quickly lead to disaster. Luckily, these disasters can be avoided if you’re in the know and have some time to prepare. Here are nine common moving day disasters and how you can avoid them.

  1. Running Out Of Time

Moving house can be done on a whim, but usually not very well. The main reason for this is that moving house requires a lot of planning and organisation, and this planning and organisation takes a lot of time. If you underestimate how long it’s going to take you to do something, things are bound to go incredibly wrong. You need to write yourself a plan or a schedule and include every single task you have to do on this schedule. You should also give yourself extra time, just in case you’ve forgotten something, something takes longer than planned, or something extra pops up.

  1. Taking Everything With You

Chances are, you have a lot of stuff that you don’t need or use anymore, so the last thing that you should do when you move house is pack everything you own and take it with you. Instead, see the move as an opportunity to have a clear out. Go through all of your belongings, and if there’s anything that you know you definitely don’t need or use then decide whether you should sell it, donate it, or throw it away. If you don’t, you’re just paying to move junk, which really doesn’t make any sense.

  1. Running Out Of Boxes

Another huge disaster that comes from taking too much stuff is running out of boxes. Boxes are essential when you move house, so having enough is incredibly important. If you run out, you have no way of transporting your belongings, unless you go and get more, which you might not have time to do on a busy moving day. To be on the safe side, always get a few more boxes than you think you need; Yes, it will cost you a little bit more money, but it’s a price worth paying for peace of mind.

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  1. Doing Everything Alone

Moving house, even if you live alone somewhere small, is not a one-man job. Packing up your entire house and moving it requires a lot of time and work, which is always best completed with the help of a friend or family member. You also have to arrange your furniture at your new place, which is going to be difficult to do alone. If you can, get a few people over to help, just in case someone can’t make it for one reason or another. If everyone does show, then you’re going to get the work done faster, which is a bonus.

  1. Hiring The Wrong Company

A huge mistake that lots of movers make is believing that all moving companies are created equal; Trust me, they’re not. If you want your move to be as stress-free as possible, you have to take your time finding the right movers for you, rather than just choosing the first company you find, or worse, hiring the cheapest. You can choose a major national company or go with a company that’s local. If you want to go local, just entering something like “local movers Toronto“, or the city or town you live in should bring up a list of local moving companies. Before trusting a company with your precious belongings and money, do your research on them, to find out how credible and reliable they really are. You should also ask the company for testimonies of past customers and proof that they’re insured.

  1. Damaged & Broken Belongings

There is always the possibility that things are going to get broken, but it’s certainly not inevitable. The best way to avoid this fate is to hire professionals who take care and know what they’re doing. These people are also insured, so you’re covered if anything does get broken. If you’re transporting things yourself, make sure they’re secure, and consider spray in truck bed liners if you’re using a truck. You also need to pack everything properly, using bubble wrap on anything fragile.

  1. The Couch Doesn’t Fit

If your couch or another large piece of furniture isn’t fitting through your door, try not to panic right away. After all, you managed to get it in there, so you should be able to get it out. There are lots of things that you can try to make this smoother, such as taking the legs off, removing the door, or trying another door or large window. If you’ve hired professional movers, they will have come across this problem countless times and will know the best way to handle things.

  1. Things Going Missing

When you’re moving all of your things from one house to another, there is always going to be the chance that things go missing. To reduce this possibility, make sure that you use a reputable moving company, rather than a cheap and dishonest one, and only enlist helpers that you know that you can trust. Also, make sure that someone is with the van at all times, so no passers-by try their luck, and check every room of the house before you leave, to make sure you haven’t missed a box.

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  1. Stressed And Nervous Pets

As stressful as moving house may be for you, it is ten times worse for your furry friends. All of the change, noise, and strange people are going to make your pets extremely nervous. To make things a little easier, keep their feeding, walking, and playing routine as similar as you can, and keep them out of the room when things are being moved. Getting someone to look after them for the day is also a great idea.

Moving house can be a nightmare, and lots of things can go wrong. Luckily, forewarned is forearmed, so the advice above should help you to avoid any major disasters.

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Started From The Bottom: Are You Ready To Take Your Career Into Your Own Hands?

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For a lot of people, there is no greater fantasy than that of being able to walk out of their nine-to-five office job for good, telling their boss where to stick it on the way out. Of course, for most people, it remains just that, a fantasy. However, more and more over the last several years, people are beginning to put that kind of thing into practice. Walking out of their jobs working for other people and taking their careers into their own hands. The primary driving force behind this is the internet. Working online allows people to set up their own businesses where they have total control over the way that they work. Of course, that doesn’t mean that any of this is easy. In fact, there are a lot of challenges that you will face starting from the bottom. With that in mind, here are just some of the challenges you will face taking your career into your own hands.

Getting noticed

When you start your own business, unless you’re incredibly lucky, you’re going to be the very smallest fish in a very large pond. This means that getting noticed is not only your number one priority but also your biggest obstacle. You need to do what you can to make your business stand out. This means you need to focus on everything from your web design to the way that you interact with customers on social media to the branding of your business as a whole. Customers should be able to look at your business and know right away what it is that you have to offer them. Life on the internet moves fast, and you need to make an impression as quickly as possible.

Managing yourself

One of the biggest challenges of working for yourself comes on the back of one of the best things about it. When you work for yourself, there’s no one around to tell you what to do, no manager breathing down your neck all day. Now, working from your bed in your pajamas might be fun for the first week or so, but after a while, you will need to start to manage yourself and your time more carefully. Otherwise, you’re going to end up exhausting yourself, and the work that you do will suffer for it. Even when you’re working from home, keeping office hours is a good idea.

Working with others

One of the biggest draws of running your own business is the fact that you have total control of it. However, that doesn’t mean that you can do everything by yourself. In fact, it’s incredibly important that you’re able to reach out to others. There will always be aspects of your business that you need to outsource, and if you can’t work well with others, you’re going to make life incredibly difficult for yourself.

Please don’t think that any of this is some kind of attempt to dissuade you from setting up your own business, far from it. In fact, the more businesses that there are competing out there, the higher quality products for everyone. You simply need to be aware of just how much of a challenge it can be before you start. Otherwise, you’re in for a pretty nasty shock.

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Why You Need A Bathroom Remodel

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Homeowners and home improvement works go hand in hand. From a new kitchen fitting to a change of decor, there are plenty of options to give your home the extra style and glam you need. However, not all improvement works reflect on your interior style. Some renovation projects are necessary and the natural consequences of your situation. Bathroom renovation, as it is often the case, don’t occur for stylish reasons but in fact for practical matters.  Indeed, as the bathroom is one of the first room to show signs of tear and wear in your home, it’s a room that has to evolve regularly to reflect the current needs of your family.

What’s in your ideal bathroom?

Your plumbing system is old

At the best of time, your bathroom gets used three times a day by everyone in your family. More often than not, people use the bathroom an average 6 to 8 times a day. Ultimately, your fittings go through a lot of pressure as you let the water run, flush down or even empty the bathtub precisely why you should make sure that old fittings are replaced at the first sign of leaks, using either manufacturer parts or a 1-to-1 replacement from Custom Fittings Ltd. Leaking and damaged fittings are the first cause of water infiltration in your walls and floors.   

You’ve outgrown your bathroom

Nothing is as fun as a family bathroom, especially when you first decide to decorate the room for your young children. Except that within a few years’ time, the Disney princesses on the wall might have lost their appeal, and your kids now need more storage room for their bathroom kits. If you’ve first renovated the bathroom with young children in the home, it’s time to consider a remodeling project when you live with teenagers. Additionally, if you’re welcoming a new family member, you might want to consider adding more storage facilities for all.

You need to make it more accessible

Everyone gets old, and gradually the body can lose some of its flexibility and mobility. As a result, if you live with elderly people, you will have to consider remodeling your bathroom to address mobility issues. There’s no point to let your parents struggle to get in the bathtub or even off the toilet when you can improve the design to take their problems into account. A bathtub with an entry door might be a practical solution when your parents can’t climb into the tub anymore. Or for additional safety, you can add an alarm cord so that they can raise your attention if they need support.  

You want to add value to your home

If you’re looking to sell your home, a bathroom remodel can significantly improve your chances of attracting buyers and receiving advantageous offers. A freshly fitted bathroom can make your entire home appear modern and appealing, as most buyers look for signs of wear in the bathroom area before making an offer. You don’t need to break the bank on the remodeling project. Buyers prefer a bathroom with a walk-in shower over a tub, making it easy to stick to your budget.

Ultimately, your bathroom has to be practical for your family. Whether you are looking for modern and watertight plumbing system or a child-friendly design, most homeowners consider the needs of their family over their interior decor.

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Fancy a Road Trip This Summer?

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Now that Spring is upon us, many of you will be feeling the excitement and optimism that comes with longer days, warmer weather, and that sense of knowing summer is just around the corner.  What better way to celebrate than planning a fabulous road trip, and if you’re looking for some inspiration, this is the post for you.

That said, before you start planning your trip you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is up to the journey as the last thing you want is to have to curtail your journey or make a detour via an auto repair shop due to your car breaking down en route.

Now, presuming your car is road trip ready, or in the case of travelling internationally and hiring a car that your passport is up-to-date, it’s time to start thinking about locations.  Here’s some top picks from around North America.

  1. CANADA’S COWBOY TRAIL

If you’re looking to get away from it all you can follow the route through Southern Alberta to the lunar landscape of the badlands to where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains.  It’s a breathtakingly beautiful journey with a lot of variety in terms of scenery and activities en-route.

  1. FLORIDA KEYS

The US 1 from Miami to Key West is an ocean focused 150 mile drive that takes in a variety of the keys (little islands) sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.  The most amazing section of this drive is the Seven Mile Bridge.

  1. US ROUTE 20

If you want to travel coast to coast then Route 20 is known for being the longest road in America covering a distance of 3,365 miles from Newport (Oregon) to Boston (Massachusetts).  Going around Yellowstone National Park makes a lovely pit stop but covering 3,365 miles is no small feat.  The route is fast and easy to drive; you should be able to cover it in two to three weeks – but the best way would be to take a little longer, so you can experience the Real America along the way, rather than just sit on the tarmac.

  1. MONUMENT VALLEY

Starting out of Route 17 in Phoenix you can visit Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and cowboy landscapes on the Arizona/Utah border.  Then, progress to Route 191 to enter Winslow using Route 66. The top tip for this trip is to take a Jeep Safari along Diamond Creek Road, as this way you get to drive along the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

  1. ROUTE 66

Perhaps one of the most famous roads in the entire world, Route 66 will soon celebrate its 100th birthday, as one of the first numbered roads in the US.  In reality, whilst beautiful this journey covers a colossal 2,451 miles which means you’re not always going to be in awe of the scenery.  Indeed, even though at times it might feel like you are driving through the set of an old western movie there’s only so much driving one can enjoy in a single trip.  The full route stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica but there are a number of shorter options that pack in the most scenic parts.

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5 Essential Things Everyone Should Keep In The Trunk Of Their Car

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You may think your trunk space is reserved for grocery shopping, but it can actually be a great place to store some useful things. On this list, we have a bunch of essential items that will always come in handy if you find yourself in a sticky situation while driving.

Make sure you always carry a spare. Source

Spare Tire Kit

This is a fairly obvious one to start things off! Everyone needs a spare tire handy just in case one of your original one’s punctures. But, the tire itself isn’t enough, you should also have a full kit to help you replace it on your own. This includes a tire jack and tire iron, to help elevate your car and take the old tire off.

First Aid Kit

Speaking of kits, you should also have a little first aid kit in your trunk for emergency scenarios. You never know when something might happen to you or a passenger, so having some essentials like band aids, bandages, gauzes – and other basic first aid stuff – can help you out.

A filter cleaner helps prevent a filthy filter like this. Credit

Portable Filter Cleaner

Did you know that car engines have a filter built into them that basically keeps all the gunk out? I only knew this recently, and was amazed to see how dirty my air filter was! It’s something that needs to be cleaned quite regularly, which is why you should get yourself an air filter cleaner to keep in your trunk. You’ll know if your filter needs cleaning because your engine may make weird sounds, could take ages to start up, or you’ll have check engine warning on your dash. Simply pop your trunk open, then get your cleaning tool ready.

A Pressure Gauge

Checking the pressure of your tires is one of the key maintenance tasks that all car owners need to do. If you let that pressure drop below a safe limit, then you put your car at risk. Tires are more likely to burst, which can damage your wheels, leading to costly repairs. With a tire pressure gauge in your trunk, you can easily check the pressure whenever you want, wherever you are. This helps you avoid dropping too low, and creating a safety hazard.

Jumper cables will always come in handy. Link

Jumper Cables & Power Bank

Lastly, you need to have a set of jumper cables in your trunk just in case your engine battery dies. A dead battery can be partially revived if you have jumper cables and link them up to another car. Or, you can get small power banks these days that help jump-start your car as well. Get both of these in your trunk, and you’ll be sorted if you’re ever driving and your car shuts down because of a dead battery.

Pack your trunk full of these things, and you should be ready for almost any situation that comes your way. It may seem like quite a lot of stuff, but pretty much everything other than the spare tire kit is relatively small. Either way, it can all easily fit in your trunk and leave you with enough space for your grocery shopping, or anything else you need to put in there.

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Things You Must Check Before You Replace Your Car

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Whether you are shopping for a brand new SUV to take you further than your old wheels, or simply want something more economical than your current vehicle, you might want to check some information on your current and future car, so you get the best deal and make your money go further. Below you will find a few tips on how to make the most out of the value of your old car, and maximize your savings on your purchase. From credit advice to practical tips, you’ll find useful advice.

Image by Scott Webb

Get Multiple Valuations

To work out the value of your current car, you will need to do an internet search first. Go on popular auction sites, such as Ebay to learn how much your current car generally goes for in your area. You need to consider the engine size, transmission, fuel type, condition, and even the color. Some colors are less popular than others, such as orange, green, and yellow in some countries, so they will be harder to sell, and this reflects on the retail price. Once you have an estimated worth, you can ask dealers for valuations, and compare the offers.

Check Trade-In Values

In some cases, selling your car privately is simply too much hassle. You can find a company that advertises with the slogan we buy cars for cash and save a lot of money and time. You might also want to compare the trade in value of your vehicle with the price offered by companies. If you are getting less if you are trading in, you might want to sell your car directly to a dealership or a private buyer and buy your new car with cash. This will also help you secure discounts and extras.  

Compare Insurance Cost

Before you would select the right car for your need, consider how much the insurance will cost. The faster your car will go the higher your monthly fees are likely to be. A sport car, on the other hand, might not be the most convenient solution if you have kids or need to do the shopping, and you might end up higher insurance premiums as well. Always get multiple insurance quotes before you would commit to buy a car to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Estimated Running Costs

Image by Markus Spiske

You will also have to work out how much running the new car will cost you. Once you know the fuel economy rating of the vehicle, and the price of the fuel you need, you can find out the monthly upkeep cost. However, you might have to take it back to the official dealer for checks every year, and this could increase your costs. If you don’t stick to this rule when buying a new car, your warranty might be void.

Taxation

Every motor vehicle road user needs to pay a tax for maintaining the condition of the highways. The heavier and more powerful your new car is, the more tax you’ll end up paying. Before you choose the model, you should ask the dealer about the associated costs, so you can budget ahead, and don’t end up getting into debt or financial difficulties because of the car.

Dealer Incentives

Sometimes you need to choose your dealer carefully, and traveling long miles might pay off. A few brands have nationwide offers, such as free upgrades or discounts, while individual car dealers could also offer guarantees or free servicing, extra features to entice customers. You might want to contact several  dealerships in your area to get the best price on your new car and the right incentive for trading in your old vehicle.

Guarantee

It is always best to buy a car from a dealer that offers a warranty or parts and labor. If you buy the car new, this will be added to the package automatically. However, if your car is a few years old, the guarantee might be limited to some work and a few years. Always discuss this issue with the dealer before signing the dotted line, to avoid disappointment. You will also want to make sure that before you drive off in your new vehicle it is thoroughly checked, tested, and you will not have to carry out emergency repairs a few weeks down the line.

Selling Private or Trading In?

The greatest decision you will need to make is whether you sell your car privately or trade it in when choosing a new car. You might need to spend a few weekends visiting different car buyers and sellers, until you find the right combination. If you buy and sell at the same time, you can save a lot of time and hassle with the paperwork, but might not necessarily get the best deal. Work out whether it is worth running around for an extra few hundred dollars, or use the trade in price given by another company as a bargaining tool.

Do You Need to Buy Brand New?

The sad truth is that once you drive your new car out of the salon for a few miles, its value drops significantly. This is the reason it is important you make the right decision the first time. If you don’t mind getting a used car with a couple of thousand miles on the clock, you could save thousands of dollars. Cars that are still under the warranty and have been regularly serviced can be great alternatives to new vehicles. Once you buy this year’s model, its value drops further when the next year design is released for dealerships.

Whether you’re searching for a family vehicle or want to sell your old car to get your dream wheels, you need to maximize the value you are getting. Compare different trade in and private buyer offers to learn how much your current vehicle is worth. Visit multiple dealerships for the best prices, discounts, care plans, and extras that will keep you smiling for a long time. Ask for an estimated running costs and guarantees, so you don’t end up with a nasty surprise.  

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Rebuilding Your Life After a Serious Injury

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A serious injury can change everything. A split second and suddenly your whole life is set on a new course – and not necessarily one you would have planned for yourself. Rebuilding your life at any time is always going to be a challenge but with time you can create a new life for yourself that will be happy and fulfilled.

After any life-altering accident, the first thing you and your family should be thinking about is getting help. Though there is a lot of work for you to do yourself over time, a law company like Finkelstein, Meirowitz & Eidlisz, LLP will be invaluable to you in getting compensation and making financial arrangements. At such a stressful time, having a professional who can guide you through the necessary processes will make a huge difference.

Once you have someone on your side dealing with the practicalities, you should focus on rebuilding your life. Taking it one day at a time, your main job right now is to recover as best you can and to turn your attention to the future.

Talking to Your Friends and Family

It is no understatement to say that we all rely upon our friends and family. They are there for us through thick and thin, ready to lend an ear to our troubles and do everything they can to make us feel better. This is even more true after an accident and your family are vital to getting you through tough times.

Suddenly suffering a disabling injury can make you feel isolated in your experience. It’s unlikely that your friends and family can completely empathize with what you are going through, but they do know and empathize with you. Talk your troubles through with them, let them be there for you and be honest about how you feel. While putting on a brave face might be easier in the short term, eventually, you are going to have to face your problems sooner or later.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

While you are busy focusing on your physical recovery, it is easy to lose sight of your mental health. Depression is common after suffering a life-altering injury and you should be aware of any significant mood swings or intense emotions. There is never any shame in feeling depressed or anxious, especially in these conditions and it is important that you talk to your doctor about what you are feeling as well as your physical progress.

Over time you are likely to work through the 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Having your family and friends around you as you work through your emotions will help you to get through this difficult time. Talking about how you feel will allow you to understand and reframe issues to find either a solution or a way to accept what has happened. It takes time, but you will get there.

Finding New Meaning

Everyone has existential doubts and for some of us, the anxiety of finding a purpose or meaning in life can be damaging. After an accident, especially one that has had life-altering consequences, it is perfectly normal for you to experience your own bout of existential doubt.

When you have had change forced upon you, it can be difficult to let go of the life you had before and figure out a way of living now.

The good news is that because all humans have this type of doubt at some point, everyone you talk to will understand broadly what you are experiencing. Plus, as doubt tends to force us to rethink our choices and make different decisions, you already have all you need to find a new purpose or meaning in your life, even if it is far from your original idea.

Instead of focusing on what you have lost, try to think about the things you still have and what you can do. It is easy to get sucked into the negative, especially when you are having to learn how to cope with lasting injuries such as amputations or severe damage. Try congratulating yourself on any progress, however small it is and do more of the things that make you happy. Watch movies, listen to music, read books – whatever it is, make happiness your main goal for now and everything else will follow.

Moving On

For a while, the only thing on your mind will be your recovery. You will notice every change, worry about how you may be affected and be consumed with the emotional fall out of your injuries. This is completely normal and given how much change there is for you to process, it makes sense that you will need time to come to terms with your new life.

However, there will come a time, no matter how long it takes, when you will begin to think about other things. Your future won’t seem so scary and you will be able to think more clearly about what you can do with your life. A major part of finding new meaning is figuring out how you want to spend your time. This sounds like a big deal, but it isn’t really. Take things one day at a time, then maybe start planning a little further ahead. Gradually, you won’t think so much about what has happened because you will start thinking more about what is happening now and what going to happen.

In other words, you will move on.

Rebuilding your life will always take time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. You can work towards building a brighter future for yourself with the help of your friends and family, legal professionals who can promote your case, the doctors who will work tirelessly to improve your condition and with your own determination.

You have been the victim of fate, but don’t let that get in the way of who you can be. Remember how lucky you are and be grateful for something every day, even if it is just that it hasn’t rained. You can do it. You know you can.

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Marketing Tips for Niche Businesses

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Marketing is vital for any business, no matter how big or small, or what industry you operate in. Nevertheless, marketing a niche business can present a unique set of challenges. After all, not only do you have to showcase your business as the best, but also often you need to generate the need for consumers to want your products. You need to create your own target base through advertising. With that in mind, read on to discover some great tips for niche businesses.

Embrace sustainable marketing efforts – First and foremost, if you want your business to be here for the long haul, you need to use a marketing method that is here for the long haul as well. You need something that is sustainable and not just a fad. Video is a prime example of this. Video marketing is effective because it connects with viewers, and it can also improve your SEO and social marketing campaigns as well. Plus, if your niche business is a complicated one, video can probably explain it better than written content can.

Don’t forget offline marketing approaches – Nowadays, it is very easy to forget about print marketing and other offline methods. After all, the Internet seems to be at the core of everything we do. However, nothing beats good old-fashioned offline marketing. Print has some benefits that online marketing will never have. Firstly, it is tangible and creates a physical connection between the consumer and the brand. Not only this, but you can target market more effectively with offline methods as well.

One form of direct marketing is to distribute fliers, either door to door or handing them out in areas where lots of people are passing by. As for printing, you can shop locally for a printer or go online and have access to printers all over the country. For instance, a good company that does flier printing in Aurora, CO, can certainly be accessed online, regardless of where you are.

In addition, when considering using print such as ads or fliers, you need to think about the target consumer you are trying to attract, and think of the methods that will be most effective in terms of connecting with them.

Use a specialist marketing service – Most businesses today will outsource their marketing efforts. It is not hard to see why. Marketing makes up such a substantial part of a business’ operations, and it is hard to manage this all in-house, especially if you have a small company. Not only this, but it can be better to tap into the expertise of marketing professionals, and it can work out cheaper in the long run too when you consider ROI. However, you do not need to go for a general marketing agency. Nowadays, there are marketing companies targeted at specific sectors. For example, RubRatings is a specialist marketing service for those involved in the massage industry. You can also get specialist marketing firms catering to just the fitness sector, as well as those providing websites and online advertising services for hotels. Find a service that relates to your niche.

Create meaningful partnerships – This is one of the most effective marketing tips for niche companies in particular. You need to look for other businesses or blogs that are related to your company, yet not in direct competition. By linking up with these businesses, you can both help each other. You could provide guest content for an industry-related blog, for example. If this blog has viewers that are likely to be interested in your product, this is a great way to get your brand out there in front of more people. At the same time, the blogger benefits from interesting and engaging content for their website. Relationships like this can be very beneficial, especially for businesses that have niche audiences. But you always need to remember that it is a two-way stream. You cannot expect everything for nothing. Whenever proposing something, think about what is in it for the other company.

Choose advertising platforms with care – Social media is a good starting point when it comes to this piece of advice. A lot of companies today make the mistake of signing up to each and every social media platform that is available to them. However, this is not the best approach. You need to consider where your audience is going to be. Twitter and Facebook aren’t always going to harvest maximum results for niche products and services, as you may find it incredibly difficult to cut through the noise from other competitors. It is important to remember that you do not need to be everywhere – you just need to be where your customers are most likely to be, and where you can gain the visibility needed to get to those customers.

User-generated content – Last but not least, no matter what type of service you provide or what type of product you sell, you should make the most of content that has been generated by users to show merchandise off without looking overly promotional. Instagram photographs and videos are prime examples of this. There are two ways that user-generated content is beneficial. Firstly, it is free advertising for your business. Secondly, it gives you the chance to build stronger connections with your existing customers. After all, if one thing is better than new customers, it is repeat customers. Plus, other people are going to be more likely to believe positive words about your business if it has come from another customer, as opposed to coming directly from your mouth.

Hopefully, you now feel ready to tackle your company’s marketing campaign. Follow the tips that have been provided, and you can make sure your business stands out from the crowd and starts to make waves both offline and online today. From using a specialist service to partnering with related businesses, use the advice that has been provided and you are bound to notice a positive difference.

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Pre-Flight Checks: Is Your Dog Ready For The Sky?

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When you decide to go on a vacation or trip with your dog, you’re making a very big choice. Opening the doors to loads of work which you may have never done before, this sort of undertaking isn’t as simple as jumping on a plane by yourself and heading around the world. Instead, when you take an animal on a flight, you have to be willing to do some pre-flight checks. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the different things to cover before you head to the airport, along with some of the help you can get to make this process a lot easier.

What They Will Need: Before you can set off, your dog is going to need some credentials, just like you. Strangely, the rules for travelling animals are much stricter than they are for humans. All of the paperwork you bring with you has to be accurate and within date, or you could risk having to leave your furry friend behind. This will be particularly bad in other countries, where you could be forced to leave your dog behind in quarantine if you don’t have the right documents.

 

  • Passport/Visas: Like humans, it’s important for flight companies to keep a solid record of the animals which fly on their planes. To achieve this goal, passports are used, and you will need to talk to the vet about getting one for your pooch. Along with this, you may also need proof of permission from the country you’re visiting if you want to be able to have your dog board on the plane.

 

 

  • Vaccines: When diseases are moved around the world, the afflicted in their new home will often have to deal with something much worse than what you arte used to. This is thanks to immunity, or, in this case, a lack of it. To solve this issue, countries are very strict about vaccines, and will expect your dog to be up to date with them before you travel. The vet will always give you proof of this work being completed.

 

 

  • Other Health Considerations: There are plenty of other health issues impacting dogs which could make it hard for your furry friend to travel. If the employees in the airport spot fleas on your dog, for example, they may give you a hard time about flying. Companies like Pet-Lock can help you out with this, offering easy treatments which will last for a long time. Of course, though, you will need to spot the fleas first.

 

What You Should Look For: Once you have all of the important essentials covered, you can start to think about the issues you might face thanks to your dog’s individual traits. There are loads of different personalities out there, and a lot of dogs will be very different from one another. Below, you can find some examples of the areas you will need to consider the most.

 

  • Fear: Thanks to their level of intelligence, your dog won’t be able to understand why they are flying, but will know enough to be worried when they find themselves in a cage. For some, this will cause intense fear, and could impact your dog for weeks to come. For others, though, there won’t be any issues, making the flight nice and easy. Using your experience of things like car travel with your dog, you will be able to get a good idea of the reaction they might have.

 

 

  • Risk: Along with the way it might make your dog feel, it’s also a good idea to think about the risks you could be putting them under. For an older dog, the fear they feel could simply be too much, and they could get very sick during their flight. Of course, a lot of dogs fly without any issues at all. To make sure that you’re making the right decision here, it will be worth talking to the vet to see what they think.

 

 

  • The End Reward: Finally, as the last consideration to make, it will be worth thinking about what your dog may get from a vacation. They might not enjoy the sun very much, and won’t be able to get anything from visiting monuments or attractions. Instead, they will simply be along for the ride, spending more time with you than usual. This might not be worth the stress it will take to get them there. Of course, though, this will be completely down to you, and your dog may love their time abroad.

 

Keeping The Process Smooth: Working through a process like this is always challenging when you’re doing it for the first time. While this is the case, though, it doesn’t mean that it can’t go smoothly. There are loads of people out there to help you with this sort of work, and you can find their services across the web. Below, there are a couple of examples of the sort of people out there and willing to support you through a doggy flight.

In most cases, the hardest part of this job will be organizing all of the little factors which need to be covered. There will be a lot on your plate, and you will already be busy with vacation planning. To make this easier, taking all of the work off of your shoulders is one of the best ways to handle it. Your travel agent will be able to do a lot of this for you. Along with this, though, it could also be worth getting the help of your vet, as they will understand the important aspects of this process better than anyone else.

Hopefully, this post will leave you feeling inspired to look into the idea of going on holiday with your dog. Over the years, this sort of job has become a lot easier, with new services popping up everywhere which are designed to help you with it. Of course, along with this, the experience has improved for dogs, too, and this makes a real difference for a lot of owners.

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Don’t Mess Up Your Search for a New Car

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Searching for a new car that you feel will serve you well and get you from A to B whenever necessary is a difficult task. There are so many options out there and even more ways in which you can completely mess up the search if you’re not careful. Every year, motorists end up spending money on the wrong car for them because they failed to approach this in the right kind of way.

Luckily for you, we’re here to make sure that you approach it in the right way and eventually find the car that’s right for you. As well as that, it also needs to be found at the right price, without you needlessly throwing money away on things that are simply not important in any way, shape or form. Below, you’ll find details of many of the things that you need to remember because these are the things that car buyers so often get wrong or simply forget about.

Secure Your Financing and Set Your Budget in Advance

Before you even start to think about where to buy from or which car you should buy, you need to make sure that the numbers are sorted. If you don’t have the cash in place, starting your search will only turn out to be a complete waste of time for you. Be sure to apply for your loan early if that’s the source of financing you want to use. That way, you can be clear about how much you have to spend before you start browsing the options. It’s always the best way to go about it.

Compare Dealerships and Inspect Their Trustworthiness

There are so many dealerships you can buy from, so it’s worth doing your research and inspecting the trustworthiness of each of them. As well as considering how trustworthy they are, you should also consider their niche area of expertise. For example, if you really want to buy a Mazda and you know that no other manufacturer is for you, head to somewhere like Park Mazda. If there are lots of dealerships you’re thinking about using, compare them on key metrics that matter to you.

Always Haggle the Price

The lost art of haggling can become very useful when you’re buying a used car. Assuming you’re opting for a used car as most drivers do, you can almost always get a little bit knocked off the price if you’re willing to haggle and push the dealer as far as possible. Some of them will stand their ground, others will be willing to budget a little to push through that sale. Either way, it’s something that’s always worth trying because what do you have to lose?

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Don’t Skip the Test Drive

Choosing to skip the test drive is always a mistake because you can’t truly judge a car until you’ve been behind the wheel and experienced how it drives for yourself. You might find problems or annoyances that you want to avoid when you’ve actually had the chance to drive it. If you skip the test drive, you’ll be in the dark until the cars yours and it’s too late to turn back.

Always be Prepared to Walk Away if the Deal Isn’t Right

Being prepared to walk away from a deal is really important because if a seller feels like you really want the car and you want to do the deal, they’ll be leasing willing to move on the price. That’s why you should make it clear to them that you’re only interested in the deal if it’s right for you, and if it’s not, you’re willing to walk away and find a better deal elsewhere.

Don’t be Fooled Into Buying Unnecessary Extras

Whenever you buy a used car, the dealer will come to you with a long list of added extras that they want to sell you. That’s the way the industry is and it’s hard to find a dealer who eschews these modern norms. But just because you’re being given the hard sell, that doesn’t mean you have to just cave in and pay for things that you don’t really need. That would be madness, so stand for ground.

Sleep on it Before Making Your Final Decision

Rash decision-making is one of the main reasons why so many people end up regretting their car purchase after it has been made. If you let yourself get pushed into a deal that you’re not particularly enthusiastic about, the time will come when you look back and wish you’d done things differently. So, get around this problem by always sleeping on it before signing any agreements. The little extra time for consideration will help you a lot.

Pay Attention to Each Car’s Mileage

How many miles a car has already done on the road will have a direct impact on how it’s able to perform for you over the long-term. If someone else has already pushed it hard and got a lot of miles out of it, it might not be the long-term solution to your motoring needs. That’s why a car’s mileage is something you should always pay very close attention to when you’re browsing used cars you might want to purchase

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Read Reviews

Finally, you need to make sure that you always read reviews of the cars that you’re considering buying. These reviews will give you a clear idea of what the car’s strengths are and what its weaknesses are. And the information will be coming directly from people who have experience using the cars and know what it’s like to actually drive them. The things you learn could help you to make your final decision one way or the other.

Buying a new car is always a huge undertaking, and you really don’t want to get it wrong because that’s when costs can really spiral and you end up wasting a lot of time. Make note of each of the points covered here, and put them into practice when the time comes for you to start the search for your next car.

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