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Are You Making It Easy for Your Customers to Buy Your Products?

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Something that too few people think about when they’re selling their products is how easy it is they’re making it for their customers. Or rather, they neglect to think about the customer experience and, as a result, they make it difficult or bothersome for their consumers.

For example, have you ever purchased something online that required you to sign up for their services or an account? Have you ever been pestered about joining a club or a membership program just because you bought a single item in a store? These are the types of issues that people regularly face and it can completely ruin your chances of actually making a successful sale.

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Back off and don’t bother your consumers

We should all know that communicating with your customers is important. Whether you’re speaking to them about your products or telling them the details of your latest offers, it’s crucial that you have an open conversation with anyone that is interested in your products. However, there will come a time when you’ll realize that being a bother and constantly pestering your audience can have an adverse effect on your business.

Sadly, the only way to avoid this is to actually just back off and leave your customers be. Although you might have their email and other important contact information, it doesn’t mean you should spam them with offers, discount codes and so on. Allow them to make their own decisions and use other methods of advertisement to help your brand stick in the minds of consumers.

Offer various payment methods to your customers

Another important thing to keep in mind is that you need to offer varying payment methods to your customers. This essentially means offering your customers various ways to pay, finance or subscribe to your services. For example, a good payment method to include nowadays is PayPal. It’s one of the most popular online wallets available and it has integration with many of the e-commerce modules that you probably already use. This makes it versatile, easy to set up and allows you to market your products to a wider audience.

Another good example of additional payment methods is financing. However, this is usually only a good choice for expensive purchases like vehicles. Consider using a service like Consumer Portfolio Services if you operate a car dealership or a similar business that regularly sells expensive items that make sense to be financed. By offering financing options, you make it much more viable for your audience to purchase your more expensive items.

Some final words

Making it easy for your audience to purchase your products or services is always a good thing to keep in mind. Focus on the customer experience and make sure you’re making changes to your business model or website in order to accommodate this. If you’re unsure what changes you should be making, then you may want to consult your audience for feedback via social media or comments on your product pages or website.

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Making Your Business Feel More Like Home

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Making a business feel more like home is sometimes the exact opposite of what we want to do. We go to the office or the lobby or the shop floor to work, and then when we get home again we have the ability to relax in our own space. And it works for most of us! However, when you’re an entrepreneur, and you’ve got your own company on the tab to look after, you’ve got to make sure you want to spend as much time in it as you do your own living room.

When we’re at home, we’re comfortable, and the same should go for our business as well. You see, when we’re comfortable, we make better decisions and do a lot more for ourselves when it comes to succeeding, and that’s important for staying at the top of your game when you’re working for your own company. You need advantages here there and everywhere, and it’s hard to gain such an edge when you’re a small time business in an otherwise big business world. So without further ado, let’s get into some of the techniques.

 

This office looks picturesque and feels very productive at the same time…So why shouldn’t yours? (Source)

 

Start with Your Office Walls

Your office is the place where the bulk of your work gets done, and whether it’s the center of your business or just the backroom off of the main shop, it’s the hub of your company. So it needs to be the place you go to first to make sure you’re doing your best work.

Think on the decorating first, as the colors of the wall and floor of your office are going to have a much bigger impact on how you feel than you think. There’s been a lot of research into how the different primary and secondary colors on the spectrum affect us, and you should use these facts to your advantage to try and make yourself go the extra mile each day. Blue is a prime example here; it does a lot for your mind to make it stay awake and keep chugging through, which is why a lot of social media apps and websites base their color scheme on it.

However, lighter or more saturated colors like that of yellow and orange are the best for making sure you’re happy to keep on going. So mix your color scheme together for better harmony and much more of a balance in your work life. You’re going to need all the tricks you can get to work and constantly be comfortable at the same time with the long hours!

Setting Up Furniture

The furniture comes next on the list, and it’s the next thing you shouldn’t underestimate in your strive to make sure your office is as much a home as your real home. Furniture really completes both the look and the practicality of your working environment, so don’t skimp on any of the prices if you feel one chair or desk would be better than another.

If you’re working on a budget, as small businesses often are, try a second-hand or thrift store first. It’s a great place for someone like you to find a lot of hidden gems at discounted prices, and you don’t have to sacrifice any comfort in your search for the best use out of your office. After all, it can’t be sold in these places unless it’s both been well-loved and still in good use nowadays.

Seeing as you’re going to be behind a desk for most of the day, you need to make sure you’re not putting your health at risk. And that involves keeping your back supported and upright for all the time you’re typing way. That means you need to get a chair with lumbar support, and good ergonomics. Humans weren’t meant to be sedentary after all!

Speaking of, it’d be a good idea to get a standing desk as well, as the height can be adjusted based on whether you feel like sitting down or standing up at the time. When you legs need to be stretched out, and you’ve already been at the computer for a couple of hours already, standing up will be the best thing for you at the time.

Turn to Your Employees

Your employees should be like a mini family to you, and communication between the whole lot of you is essential for a good work environment. And that doesn’t come easily, as a lot of employees don’t know how to talk to their boss and vice versa. So make sure you immediately work on this as soon as you hire one or two people on.

Communication and personalization in the workplace is the best thing for establishing an internal brand, and it’s something a lot of people forget about when all they’re focused on is the external world. This is where your money comes from after all, but you wouldn’t make nearly as much as you do now without the people who work for you. So feel free to customise a uniform to help people feel like they belong in your business, and then do their best work for you. You can click here to shop now for patches to stick onto an employee’s sleeve to help show off what you offer, or you can come up with a sales tactic that always includes the slogan of your business.

People need to be reminded who you are after all, in order to ensure they think of you when they leave the shop. Being exposed to something at least 7 times is what makes people think of you again and again, and this is a great way to give your shopping experience a stronger sense of branding.

Starting to Feel Like Home?

Hopefully this post has shown there’s a lot of good ways to make sure you feel just at home in your own office; a home away from home if you will.

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Pimp Your Ride – For Less

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Buying a new car is one of life’s great moment. The feel, look, and even the smell of a brand new set of wheels is a simple pleasure everyone loves, and almost the start of a new relationship and journey. However, the experience is not without issues. Once you get hold of those keys and drive your new car away, that uniqueness you felt on the test drive might not be markedly different after all.

The truth is that unless you can afford the huge expense of buying an incredible car, you can pretty much guarantee that thousands – maybe even millions – of other people are going to be driving the exact same model. And you might start to feel like you are driving something a little more run-of-the-mill than you first thought.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways of standing out. All it takes is a little customization to personalize your vehicle to your liking, and it won’t cost you a fortune to do it! In today’s guide, I’m going to go through a few of your options and reveal how to pimp your own ride for less.

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Getting started with the basics

First and foremost, let’s talk about personalization. Ultimately, there’s a right way of doing it, and plenty of ways of overdoing it. You want to attract the right kind of attention, of course, but it’s very easy to go too far and end up with a vehicle that is noticeable for all the wrong reasons. As an example, let’s discuss blacked out windows. Sure, your new car is going to look sleek – and also keep the sun’s glare out of your eyes. But in terms of getting noticed, your darkened windows will attract attention from all kinds of people – including law enforcement officers. It’s the same principle for exhausts – the only thing you will be doing is annoy people, and, most probably, attract the attention of the police again. To conclude, be careful! It’s OK to look cool in a car, but be aware that it is all too easy to overdo it.

Personalized license plate

Now, personalized plates are something of a ‘love/hate’ thing. And let’s be clear, they can be incredibly tacky in the wrong hands – not to mention expensive. In fact, something like the A1 or 1A plate could set you back up by millions of dollars. And of course, there are plenty of rude and inappropriate plates that you can buy – which aren’t recommended for public display! But you don’t have to spend a fortune. With a little ingenuity, it’s possible to find a personalized plate that doesn’t cost the earth but also reflects your name or an aspect of your personality. Check out the license plate specialists online and see what you can find.

Painting

Bored of your standard silver? Tired of the boring black paint job on your car? Well, why not take the DIY route, or pop to your local spray center and choose your own color? The reality is that if you want a funky color for your car, it can be expensive – and difficult – to find the perfect shade when buying new. But you don’t have to settle for what you have – you just need to find a professional bodywork shop to spray your ca to perfection. And as for the choice of color, it’s totally down for you. Bright pinks, gun-metal grays, matt blacks – the decision is yours, depending on whether you want to portray an element of fun, gravitas, or whatever you feel suits your personality type.

Sound systems

If you buy a standard car, the chances are that the stereo system that is fitted in the vehicle is pretty average. Car manufacturers just don’t worry about it, and although it might come complete with touchscreen and GPS, the sound quality is often poor. Why? Well, there’s an element of car drivers not being fussed about in-car sound quality, and manufacturers have to cut costs somewhere to make their vehicles affordable. However, if you love music and use it to express your personality, then you will need to upgrade. So, look for a great site for car stereo DIY info and product advice and consider getting that upgrade. Car stereos and speakers can be found for reasonable prices, and you can pump out your tunes of choice to your heart’s content.

Seats, wheels and tires

Your car will also come with standard seats, wheels and tires – unless you are willing to pay a premium. However, it’s possible to find some exceptional deals on all three of these car products when you buy from elsewhere. Whether you want to install alloys, buy some chunky tires with better grips, or upgrade your car seats with racing or heated seats, there is plenty of choices out there to reflect your personality.

Bumper replacement

Here’s one that not many people realize they can do – replace your bumper! Doing this particular task can make an instant impact on the look of your car, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve a sporty or classic look. You can choose between rough-and-ready all-terrain style brackets or super glossy chrome-plated bumpers – ultimately, it’s your choice.

The little things

There’s plenty more you can do with your car, at very little cost. Bumper stickers can be a great way to show off your interests, from the football team you support to a local charity. Antenna toppers are cheaper than a pack of chips and come in a range of styles and colors you can use to complete the look of your car. And even air fresheners can add a nice fragrance to your car, so find a flavor that sings to your nasal senses.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways of upgrading your car that won’t cost the earth. It’s all down to a matter of choice. Ultimately, even if you buy the most popular, mainstream vehicle on the roads these days, there is nothing stopping you from turning it from an average set of wheels to a ‘pimp my ride’ classic.

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Effective Ways To Communicate With Your Customers

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If you want to run a successful and reputable business you need to make sure that the way you communicate is at the forefront of your mind at all times. Communication is one of the most basic human needs and will be instrumental in how you come across to your audience and whether or not you will build those lasting relationships you want. If you want to learn how to communicate to your customers more effectively this year, here are some ways to get your started.

Listen

The easiest way to communicate with your customers better is to make sure you listen to them and what they have to say. As a business owner the most important thing you want to know is what your audience wants and what they like. This is why we conduct market research in order to get to know our customers and know how to sell to them best. Make the effort when talking to your customers to not say too much and let them speak their mind. This could be incredibly important for you and allow you to make great improvements to your business.

Ditch the jargon

People hate it when you use fancy jargon to describe something which is relatively simple. If you are trying to explain how your product works or what your service is: make sure that you use concise sentences and say things plain and simple. There is no point getting technical with people if they won’t know what you mean.

Be professional

As a business professional it is important to remember that you are not simply conversing with your friends at the local pub. You need to always use correct English in your marketing and when you speak to your customers. Think about downloading an app such as Grammarly which will check your work for errors after writing. This will allow you to come across as professional and smart.

Positivity

The way you talk about yourself and your company can have a pretty massive effect on how they perceive you as a whole.  Are sure that when you are selling your product or service, you focus on what problem it can solve. People want to hear what your product can do for them and how it will make their lives much easier: make sure you always focus on this rather than dwelling on what it cannot do for them.

Forms of communication

There are a lot of different ways you can contact your customers these days, and it is crucial that you give them the option of how they would prefer to be contacted. For example, many people might be happy for you to send texts with TextBetter: however some may prefer you to simply email them. Many people are happy with you sending information through the post, and others may like to chat on the phone. Giving your customers the option will allow you to give off a better vibe and build a good reputation as you won’t be seen as pushy.

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Feed the World: How Can We Make More of Our Crops?

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With a growing population of humans, the strain on the land is certainly showing. This means that we need to find new ways to feed ourselves without ruining the environment. In other words, we need to figure out the optimal way to sustain our population long term.

Enter agronomy.

This is the science of figuring out how to produce more food, keep the soil healthy and even develop healthier foods. While you might think that this depends on GM crops, it is actually much more diverse and takes in all kinds of methods such as crop rotation, the best fertilizers and pest control too.

Specialists such as MKC have been working on various agronomy techniques for years and can offer all sorts of valuable advice. You can contact us for more information, but in the meantime, here are a few things you can do yourself to make the most of your land.

Selective Breeding

One of the best ways to produce excellent crops is to select your breeding plants very carefully. Gardeners and farmers have been doing this for hundreds of years and it is quite a simple process. All you need to do is pick your best plants and breed them together, then do the same over and again until you notice the characteristics you are looking for.

If you aren’t comfortable with GM crops, you can use selective pollination to breed the healthiest plants in order to encourage those traits. Over a few generations, you should see some significant differences and be able to produce bigger crops, more resistant crops or even novel, unique crops.

Mixed Cropping

Sometimes when looking for ways to innovate and improve current methods, the past is a good place to look. Planting single crops is a relatively recent idea, but before the industrialization of agriculture, farmers would plant multiple crops in the same field. With the right crops planted together, this can still create the perfect situation for crops to grow. This is called mixed cropping.

Even on a large farm, mixing crops like maize, beans and pumpkins is a great way to improve the way that your crops grow, keeping the soil in good condition and optimizing the yield you get. With the different species of crops, you will also attract different beneficial insects, creating a fabulous biodiversity.

Technological Advances

Though we tend to think of technology as a cause of environmental problems, it is also the best chance we have of understanding the environment and optimizing conditions to improve the situation. In fact, whether you use technology to track changes, control climates or monitor results, you can certainly find a way to put it to good use.

As more and more food is required, it is important that farmers look to every possible way of improving crops and looking after the soil they grow in. Choosing the right crops through selective breeding, planting complementary crops together to create a biodiverse growing area and using technology to track results can all work together to build the future of agricultural practice.

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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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