An Easy Guide to Getting a Perfect Credit Score

Do you ever wish school had prepared you more for ‘real life?’ 

I definitely do – and there’s one lesson I really could have used. 

‘How to get a perfect credit score.’ 

For most people, getting a good score is trial and error, and making those mistakes and learning the ropes as you go can really set you back financially. 

Luckily, I’ve put together an easy guide so that you don’t have to lose time and money trying to get it right. 

Let’s start with the basics: 

What Is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a way for financial institutions and lenders to know how good you are with money. 

Think of it like getting a scorecard in school – there are different ‘subjects’ your credit is graded on, and the higher your ‘grades’, the better your chances of getting the things you want in the future. 

Why Do You Need a Good Credit Score?

Well, long story short, a high credit score opens doors, saves you money, and gets you more stuff.

A good credit score can help you with car loans, renting an apartment, getting good credit cards, or securing a loan. 

It’s basically the key to being able to successfully ‘adult’ as you get older. 

Having a good credit score can also save you a ton of money through credit cards or loans. 

The higher your credit score the lower the interest rate you’ll be issued. 

Low credit scores can give you a 12% APY, while higher credit scores can give you an APY as low as 3%.

So now you know how game-changing that perfect credit score could be for you, you’re probably wondering, how do I get one? 

Even if your credit score isn’t perfect right now, there are tried-and-true steps you can take to bring up your score and get back on track.

How to Get a Good Credit Score

Generally, there are 5 categories that credit bureaus use to grade you and generate your score. 

 1 . On-Time Payment History = 35% of Your Credit Score

The biggest part of your credit score is made up of whether or not you make payments on time.

This includes paying back credit cards, bills, loans, or mortgages.

An easy way to make sure that you do this each month without fail is to set up autopay, so you can’t forget. 

With credit cards, you can also technically meet the ‘on-time payment’ requirement by paying back the minimum each month – so if it’s a really tough month,  you can do this without lowering your credit score. 

However, I would seriously recommend paying off your bill in full, every single month (we’ll get on what this means for other sections of your credit score later!) 

Setting up auto-pay where you can and only taking out a few purchases on credit cards (which you pay back right away) is the easiest way to make sure you ALWAYS hit your payments. 

See? Easy, right? 

You’re already 35% of the way to an excellent credit rating. 

2. Credit Utilization = 30% of Your Credit Score

Credit utilization basically means how much of your credit card balance you are using.

To get a good rating for your credit score, you should only be using 10% of your balance. 

Confusing, right? Surely, if you use it all and pay it back it shows the credit bureaus they can trust you? 

But what you actually need to show them is that you are so good with money that you won’t spend it just because it’s there.

You want to look like you don’t rely on credit to make payments, and you’re financially secure, even without the credit. 

You only want to spend 10% of your limit every month – and then you want to pay it back in full (see now why it’s not a great idea to only pay back the minimum each month?) 

Technically, as long as your utilization is below 30%, your score won’t fall, but if you want to hit a good or even an excellent credit score, 10% or under is what you need to stick to.

Remember that as your credit score rises, your credit card limits will also get higher, so as your score improves that 10% will become a bigger number over time. 

3. Length of Credit History – 15% of Your Credit Score

The length of your credit history shows credit bureaus how long you have been building credit. 

It’s easy to think that avoiding credit cards or loans will make life easier and keep you debt-free – but the sooner you start building credit, the better.

Your score is affected by your credit history – and to get an excellent score in this category you need to have been building credit for about 7 years.

It’s advisable to get credit cards and payment contracts as early as you can, so you have a foundation in place to start building credit. 

4. Total Number of Credit Lines – 10% of Your Credit Score

This is the trickiest part of getting a good credit score, because there are pros and cons.

On one hand, having multiple lines of credit means you have more credit available, while still only using 10% of the balance. 

It also means that you can show more on-time payments as you use and pay off each line of credit, which boosts your overall score. 

Having different lines of credit also shows bureaus that you can be trusted to handle different types of loans responsibly. 

On the other hand, each time you open a new line of credit, the average age of your credit history is recalculated and becomes lower, which can lower your overall score.

Opening too many lines of credit at once can also make lenders suspicious, so if you’re thinking it might be a good idea to open 10 when you start so they can all age together, think again. 

It can be hard to navigate this  – but the best way to work around this category is to wait until you NEED a new line of credit and make sure that all the other parts of your credit score are perfect.

You should also aim to use each line of credit to your advantage by utilizing as little as possible (even as low as 1% utilization) to boost the 35% utilization score.  

5. Number of Credit Inquiries – 10% of Your Credit Score

Any time you apply for a line of credit (be it an apartment, a new card, a loan, etc) it’s reported to the credit bureaus and it shows up on your report as an inquiry.

This is commonly referred to as a ‘credit check.’

Now, there are two types of searches – a hard search and a soft search. 

If you have more than 6 hard searches in a year, it raises questions in the credit bureaus as to why you are constantly asking for credit, which can lower your score. 

If you have a hard search done on you, and the results are bad or you are rejected for the credit you’re applying for, this can also limit your score.

Whenever possible, apply with a soft search first. These don’t show up on your record and shouldn’t affect your score. 

Sometimes, though, hard searches are unavoidable, like asking for a mortgage. 

Soft searches should always be used for small things like phone bills or gym memberships. 

If you can’t get a soft search done, the best way to avoid lowering your score here is to stay informed about your credit scores with each bureau, so you know what companies are likely to find if they run a check on you. 

These are the criteria for scoring high on a credit check, and therefore should be your highest priority, but there are still a few extra things you can do to get the best possible score. 

Other Ways to Bring up Your Score

Keep your name, address, and current information up to date in the electoral register

This might sound unrelated – but being registered to vote and having up to date information in the system shows you’re trustworthy.

No one wants to give credit or loans to someone who moves every three months or who doesn’t exist in the system.

Be aware of any financial links you might have to others

Many people don’t think about the fact that you might be being affected by someone other than yourself.

If you’ve been married, have a shared account with someone, or have shared loans or mortgages with someone, and they have poor financial skills, you can be affected.

A great example of this is when couples separate, but still have a mortgage in both names. Even if only one falls into financial hardship, both will be affected.

Stay on top of your finances and make sure that you cut ties with anything (or anyone) who is bringing down your score.

Don’t Use Pay Day Loans

As tempting as they might be, these are a red flag to lenders that you have poor money management.

They also have (and cause) drastically bad interest, with triple-digit annual interest rates that need to be repaid within a few weeks.

Get a secure Credit Card

If you are new to building credit, or you have poor credit that you want to re-build, this is a great option.

A secured credit card is one that you, well, secure with a deposit.

As you’ve deposited money to get the card, it’s really easy to get approved, even if you have bad credit or you’re a newbie.

Once you’ve got the secure card, though, you can use it as you would any other card and start boosting your credit score.

Regularly check your credit record and challenge mistakes

It’s likely to happen to you at one point or another – you’ll get rejected for an application because of a note on your record about a late payment – one that you actually did pay.

You need to challenge all the notes on your file and ask for a notice of correction – you can usually do this by contacting the credit reference agency.

Make sure that you are always on top of everything in your file – mistakes do happen and there’s nothing worse than losing opportunities because of something you didn’t even do.

Be Patient

As hard as it can be to wait, improving your credit score won’t happen overnight.

That’s why it’s so important to always stay on top of your records and current scores, so you’re not left helpless the day before you need to take out a loan.

Some of the steps for getting a high credit score can make a fast difference – like utilization or on time payments.

Others, like credit history, will come with time.

 

So now you know exactly how to get that perfect score – so get out there and do it!

If you know any other tips to get the perfect credit score – leave them in the comments!

Credit cards – DepositPhotos

The post An Easy Guide to Getting a Perfect Credit Score appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/financial-planning/perfect-credit-score-guide

Your Guide to Twitter for Small Business Owners

Campaigning on Twitter is not easy. And there’s not exactly a one-size-fits-all way for every business trying to grow its brand in the platform.

Generally speaking, Twitter’s activity doesn’t rely only on a nonstop picture and video sharing. So the platform to be judged by users as an environment too troubling for brand promotion leads it to be perceived as somewhat absent of big corporations.

However, so be that we find unnoticed tools like Socialsup in the lead to grow awareness on the platform opportunities for the marketing industry, Twitter it’s a wildcard widely underestimated.

So, Does Twitter Works for Small Businesses?

A study published by eMarketer showed that U.S. marketers have planned to doubles its expenses on Twitter video ads in recent years.

Overall, when applied smartly by small brands, employing healthy marketing strategies in Twitter is not an impossible duty.

But how do we distinguish gold from copper? If we always find frauds about this matter.

We’ve have listed a meriting collection of tips to get small businesses on the track of growing in the platform.

1. Find and Use Your Brand Voice

It is the singular personality that your brand takes on social media.

For example, this is the case of swimwear for women clothing stores, which projects the language and tone of a fashion influencer in their 20s. Or the one of an indie music magazine account that projects the witty slang of a chatty hipster.

2. Brand Voices on Twitter

People perceive Twitter as the most genuine social media channel primarily because Twitter is majorly used by both consumers and brands to communicate more continuously and informally. So be that “brand voices” are the authenticity element that let brands be seen as such out of the common crowd’s chatter.

However, this is no coincidence. As Twitter algorithm seems to reward continuousness over this inclination. Put, in other words, constant twitting and buzzing as much as possible is a behavior that the platform actually encourages. 

A fact that is no drag. And therefore, marketing strategies in the platform should focus, unlike Instagram, on building better bridges of participation and spontaneity in their communications.

Twitter is not the place to execute your brand’s official exhibition, but rather for showing your brand in the way it sees the world. Be creative and genuine.

3. Use Twitter Native Media

Twitter’s algorithm encourages its users to share content from internal over external sources. As it favors the display of contents uploaded inside the platform over the ones shared from others like Instagram or Reddit.

Which is the case shown, for example, when talking about Twitter photos and videos, which receives a way larger preview than pictures and videos in links.

4. Twitter Native Video Sharing

It’s a relevant remark that Twitter videos are set by default in the settings to play automatically in the feed. Not only this factor averts native media from the need to be clicked on to start playing but also favors it over YouTube videos shared, which does have to.

Also, and as data shared by Twitter indicates, Twitter videos show to be six times more likely to be retweeted than photos, and three more times than GIFs.

Try to keep your content casting inside Twitter waters as much as you can: Upload your media natively, quote over media from other tweets

5. Re-sharing and Re-using Content

Opposite to what one may expect, posting one content over and over again does work on Twitter.

It’s the case showed by journalism accounts, magazines, and blogs, which publish the link to one story or article during a week or month.

This situation happens because of Twitter’s feed dynamic. Which, prone to constant publication, makes most tweets generally unable to keep afloat that much before sinking in the deeps of the timeline.

6. Keep It Shifty

The opportunity to tweet one content on several occasions over time relieves brands from the duty to source new content at all times.

Especially if you’re brand that focuses heavily on content marketing (Why would you be on Twitter otherwise?), this practice lets you squeeze the most out of your content, enhancing your overall clicks and interactions.

If you mix it with simple scheduling software, you could even queue all the content reuses at one single time.

You’ll only have to worry about making slight adjustments each time, like choosing a different picture, shaking the structure, or altering the copywriting a little bit.

DepositPhotos – twitter

The post Your Guide to Twitter for Small Business Owners appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/twitter/small-business-promotion-guide

Should a Startup Business Offer Discounts?

Everyone who starts a business does so to make money. But what many do not know is when a business will begin turning a profit. That is why most people assume that it is harder to get discounts from startups that are only just getting their name out. The logic for this is sound, because who wants to lose any money? The opposite, however, is true.

A business that is just starting usually has one main goal: attracting clients. Because all customers for startups are new, they have the benefit of solving the repeat customer problem later. Discounts are a great way to encourage people who have never heard of a product before choosing it over a more familiar one they have already been using. This is a tactic often employed because people are just naturally more inclined to lower prices. Consumers are always on the lookout for ways to save and this is the need that startups can use to their advantage.

In a study from Virginia Tech, it is noted that “Consumers perceive a higher level of savings for a product when a higher price discount is provided.” When two items from different brands are compared, people will be more likely to go for the cheaper option. Since they need to buy the item anyway, it makes them feel that they are actually saving money by making the purchase. For this reason, an introductory price is promoted as a way to build brand recognition over competitors. This starting rate is readily understood by consumers to not be the actual price of a product so they can assume that they are hitting a bargain. Companies must not underestimate the genuine fear of missing out experienced by customers. Once they have solidified their place in the market, they can then proceed to offer a similar pricing scheme to the one used by their rivals.  

Even Coca-Cola, one of the most recognizable trademarks in the world, benefited from the use of couponing. Before it became a popular leisure beverage, Coca-Cola had its beginnings as a patent medicine sold over the counter at pharmacies. It was not originally meant to be consumed casually but for a medical purpose. Carbonated water was a novel thing and unsurprisingly, there were a lot of people who didn’t readily jump to the idea. About a year after the company’s founding, they introduced the first known use of a coupon. The handwritten Coca-Cola tickets gave potential customers the opportunity to try a glass of this new drink that was then priced at 5 cents. The rest, they say, is history.

The more capital is invested in a product, the greater the revenue needed to recoup the expenses. Forbes calls this formula the break-even analysis. According to this, businesses need to estimate how much inventory they need to sell so that they can start earning sooner. The bigger the company that has newly entered the market, the higher the likelihood that they will be spending on marketing campaigns to reach their targets. Professional marketing campaigns are usually executed through different phases and discounting is one of the first levels. This is really a better win for consumers because the quality is not usually associated with cheaper prices.

In a huge market like eBay for example, it is tough for any single brand to stand out from the crowd. This is where marketing in the form of discounts can come in. Since people can filter and browse according to their perceived budgets, brands are placed side by side with their competitors. When two products already offer the same price, consumers will then look to promotions that they can apply. People can enter an eBay discount code or take a discount that the brand is offering at the same time. The decision comes down to which brands offer more generous savings. In this way, customers can choose particular startups over others in the same bracket.

Startups are usually borne from the brainstorm of entrepreneurs who obviously want to make this idea well-known. For older businesses, discounts can be offered when monthly targets have been met or when there are still available funds for marketing purposes. Since startups are more inclined to a bigger budget for publicity, they can offer discounts from the get-go. It is more usual to observe this than to see a famous endorser for a brand new product since endorsements can only offer authenticity after a perceived period of use. 

With these in mind, bargain hunters would do well to keep an eye out for new names they haven’t heard of before. The bigger the campaign effort, the more likely that you will encounter discount codes in ads and website banners. These fresh entries in the market might eventually give you more value for your money and introduce you to a new staple in your life.

DepositPhotos – business discount

The post Should a Startup Business Offer Discounts? appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/start-ups/offering-discounts

Do You Need Homeowners Insurance if You Are Working From Home?

Recent events have caused multiple professionals to move their work from the office into the home. At the cusp of quarantine, over 60% of employed Americans worked from home during the crisis. This sudden shift made it impossible for workers to consider insurance implications and whether or not homeowners insurance even covers the day-to-day wear and tear of working from home. 

What Is Homeowners Insurance?

Homeowners insurance covers all or some of the potential events that could occur to you, your home, and the home’s property. To get homeowners insurance, you usually have to obtain a homeowner’s insurance inspection, although that sometimes isn’t the case. If your home is new and wasn’t rebuilt after a fire, you can get homeowners’ insurance in most cases without an inspection. 

Will Working From Home Affect My Homeowner’s Insurance?

It can, because the nature of homeowners insurance is to only protect your personal property for your personal use. Your insurance would cover any loss of these items for replacement cost without a limit based on your deductible. When you use the personal property for business use, there’s a limit to how much the insurance will pay to replace it. 

Even though that’s the case, it doesn’t mean you have to buy business insurance as long as your property is under a specific amount. For example, if you’re working from home with a laptop, stationary, and a printer, you can likely get away with just homeowner’s insurance as most insurances will cover up to $1500 – $2500 of business personal property if lost or damaged.

What About Traveling Equipment?

Sometimes it’s necessary to take your home office equipment back to the office, a coffee shop, or in the car or bus between trips. If your equipment is stolen or damage away from home, you won’t be covered for as much money as you usually would if it was stolen or damaged at your house. 

In fact, the amount you’ll receive is slashed significantly. On average, you’ll receive a few hundred dollars ($100 – $300) for standard homeowners’ insurance. You will either need to buy business insurance, avoid leaving home with expensive equipment, or upgrade homeowners’ insurance so it will cover $500 – $1000 of lost out-of-house office supplies. 

What Extra Insurance Will I Need to Cover Work From Home?

It depends on your job’s nature, but you will want to be fully covered for accidents that happen while working from home. You may be interested in three additional insurance packages, which include public and employer liability and professional indemnity.

Public Liability

Most standard home insurance policies will contain public liability, which covers your business if you have an injured visitor that makes a claim. Public liability also covers accidents that could occur. Even if you think your line of work isn’t treacherous, it’s still possible for visitors to injure themselves by falling down the stairs or tripping on objects.

Professional Indemnity

If you’re a counseling service, an accountant, or a personal trainer, you’ll advise your clients daily. Professional indemnity allows you to provide advice without getting sued if the advice is either incorrect or ill-advised. Financial advisors should absolutely consider this type of insurance as the economy and stocks are out of professional control.

Employer’s Liability

If you employ anyone, even volunteers, you need to cover yourself if they injure themselves or an accident occurs within the home while on the clock. Standard home insurance covers domestic employees like maids or gardeners, but may not protect your own workers. If it doesn’t, the employer’s liability will fill in those gaps.

Damage to Business Property Coverage

Similar to how home insurance policies cover damages incurred to your home and possessions, this extra business coverage will safeguard damages to business property. In the event your equipment is stolen or damaged due to theft, fire, or flooding, business property coverage will reimburse you for your items and running costs.

Business Interruption Coverage

Entrepreneurs often get this coverage while purchasing business property coverage because it protects you and your business income if your company is interrupted due to damages incurred from loss of inventory. Although the insurer won’t pay all costs, they will reimburse you close to the loss of business that resulted from damages.

DepositPhotos – work from home

The post Do You Need Homeowners Insurance if You Are Working From Home? appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/remote-working/homeowners-insurance-requirements

Material Handling Solutions and Systems Explained

Material handling is crucial in every manufacturing and logistics project, and it represents a significant portion of Australia’s economy. Almost all physical commerce products are transported using forklifts, pallet trucks, or hand trolleys. For that reason, it’s important to get familiar with the basics of conducting an efficient material handling project.

But what does material handling involve? Basically, material handling is the process of moving products or items over a short distance inside a warehouse, construction site, or transportation of goods into a vehicle or containers. It includes the use of two main types of equipment – manual and automated. Additionally, it involves the storage in the form of heavy duty shelves and racks, movement, protection, and control of materials. 

Material handling is a crucial operation in the warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, and material waste disposal industries, amongst others. It helps to manage the flow of materials between the activities of production systems efficiently. For instance, if there are two activities close to one another, you can use a heavy duty hand trolley to transport them. However, if the activities are separated, you’ll want more expensive transport trucks to move the loads. A heavy duty hand trolley is a much more affordable solution when compared to industrial trucks, not only due to its price, but also the labor cost of operators and upkeep.

Making sure workplaces that involve material transportation are safe is another growing need across almost all industries. This is due to the high risk of accidents that occur in these facilities, which is why efficient material handling processes are necessary. That being said, besides reducing manual labor and improving worker efficiency, a proper material handling process allows workers to safely and conveniently transport materials across facility floors, help streamline work activities and organize spaces, and reduce accidents where heavy loads and materials are transported. 

As briefly aforementioned, there are two main types of material handling equipment – manual and automated. Here’s what you need to know about both of them:

Manual Material Handling

Manual material handling equipment refers to handling solutions that are moved and operated manually. Workers will lower, lift, fill, carry and empty the trolleys, carts, or containers manually when transporting them to remove some of the strain that comes with doing the same things without manual material handling equipment. 

Common risks and injuries from too much use of manual material handling equipment include strains and sprains in the lower back, shoulders, and upper limbs. However, most modern manual material handling equipment features ergonomic designs that reduce the risk of injury and make the entire process of moving materials and products more convenient and efficient.

Automated Material Handling

This type of equipment is used to reduce the manual handling of materials to a minimum. In fact, most material handling equipment available today is semi-automated, as the human operator needs to load and unload materials and drive, simply because automating these processes is challenging and costly. 

But if your budget allows it, there are so many improvements in machine programming, robotics, and sensing that you can completely automate your material handling operations. Semi-automatic solutions, such as the multi-purpose stacker, are also a viable option, and they generally include minimum operator involvement. 

When assessing the type of material handling equipment that’s best suited for your facility, a physical evaluation is key. Doing so will help you determine how to make the most out of it. You’ll have to consider the specifications, programs, service records, drawings, and spare parts to ensure the equipment meets your specific needs.

The raw materials also play a crucial role in the service organization and manufacturing industry. In fact, in any industry, material handling can be performed in multiple different ways depending on the requirements of the company. Whether you end up going for manual or automated material handling, finding the best equipment and tools is essential. With a competitive and globalized environment, it’s crucial for every business to control costs and reduce time in any material handling operation.

Besides differentiating between the types of material handling solutions, it’s important to understand the principles involved in the processes, which include:

• Planning – Involves assessing available system relationships and evaluation of existing problems and methods, as well as the consideration of your basic needs and contingency planning.
• Systems – Integrating handling and storage activities that can cost-efficiently be integrated into the process.
• Unit Loading – Involves the handling of products through unit loads.
• Space Utilisation – Making sure you utilize your available space as efficiently as possible, such as taking advantage of vertical storage space using racks, heavy duty shelves, etc.
• Standardization – Encourages handling method standardization for improved equipment performance.
• Ergonomics – Recognising the capabilities and human limitations and improving comfort and safety.
• Energy – This principle considers the energy consumption needs of the material handling process.
• Ecology – Ensuring your material handling process has as least impact on the environment as possible.
• Mechanization – Encourages material handling efficiency.
• Flexibility – The utilized methods and equipment should be practical in multiple situations.
• Simplification – Simplified processes are better than complex methods as they remove obsolete movements.

Advantages of Material Handling Systems

The latest advancements in material handling systems support the requirements of various industries that depend on handling equipment. With the material handling processes being complex, having a feasible material handling system in place that can adapt to your business’s and operator’s unique needs can be a great advantage. Here are some of the advantages of using material handling equipment when transporting unit loads or containers from one place to another:

• Save Money
• Save Space
• Increase Safety
• Increase Efficiency
• Increase Capacity
• Increase Flexibility
• Improve Ergonomics
• Improve the Work Environment
• Reduce Downtime
• Reduce Transport Traffic

So, no matter whether you’re a production engineer, assembler, logistic operator, maintenance engineer, logistics engineer, safety engineer, or head of management, material handling trucks, trolleys, and forklifts are the best tools for the job today. Innovative material handling equipment can improve work efficiency and reduce waste generated by careless usage or damage. When materials are handled correctly, the amount of lost or damaged goods is reduced, so you get a safer and cleaner work environment. Many people believe that automated material handling equipment is a risky investment, but with appropriate management, its more beneficial than any other machine or tool used today.

DepositPhotos – handling boxes

The post Material Handling Solutions and Systems Explained appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/solutions-business/material-handling-systems

A Guide to Sourcing the Best Real Estate Agents: All you Need to Know

Whether you are looking to sell and relocate to another state, or you have just taken on a new job and are looking to buy in that area, you will need the services of a real estate agent. This might seem an easy task, a quick Google search will reveal hundreds of websites, yet not all agents offer the same service, even though they will all tell you their service is second to none. We will offer you some information that should help you to find the best real estate agent that covers your region.

Essential Agent Information

The information you need to determine the performance of an agent should include:

• Number of current property listings.
• Average number of days a property is listed until sold or rented.
• Average unit sale price or monthly rental.
• Number of units leased or sold this year.
• The rate of commission charged.

The first step is to create a list of local real estate agents, and Google can help with that – whether looking for real estate agents in Kallangur or anywhere else in Australia – then you can browse, looking for the above agent information.

Selling your Property

If you are looking to put your home on the market, you want an agent that knows how to present a piece of real estate; using industry professionals to create the listing, while also offering home styling advice and a property staging service, which can produce a very quick sale. Look for an agent with fixed fees, or a competitive rate of commission, and when comparing agents, it might be better to pay a little more if that results in a quick sale at the price of asking. Typically, you would be assigned one person, who would be responsible for arranging the listing, and they would make requests when potential buyers wish to view, and this staff member would liaise with you throughout the process. Here is some further reading on sourcing a good real estate agent, which might be useful.

Renting your Property

If you are a rental property owner, look for an agent that focuses on this sector, as they will have the know-how and resources to assist you in many ways. Some agents offer a comprehensive property management service that is specifically designed for the property investor, covering every aspect of rentals, from screening potential tenants to building maintenance and everything in between. They can help with drawing up tenancy agreements, facilitating building repairs and maintenance and they would have a legal department, which you can call on, should the need arise.

Award Winning Agents

This is a great way to find out who the high-performers are, and there are many national and local awards in the real estate agent sector, so do check their website for awards. You can’t find a better indicator of great service than winning an industry award, which is why many homeowners focus on this when looking for a good real estate agent.

Useful Resources

When browsing real estate agent websites, the better agents will have a blog page that is full of useful information, with a first-time buyer’s guide that educates the reader on all aspects of property ownership, including the various forms of home loan that are available. If you are not familiar with the procedure, a friendly staff member would guide you through the process, whether selling or renting your home, and the customer should feel at ease with an agent that has a ‘can do’ attitude.

Free Professional Appraisals

Some real estate agents offer a free property appraisal service for both sellers and landlords, who can find out what the market price is for their property, or the monthly rental they can expect. Many agents have an online chat window, where you can discuss your needs with a staff member, and if it is outside or normal office hours, there would be a message box and someone would be in touch the following morning.

Online Solutions

You can source and browse the many real estate agent websites using Google, and when you are ready to make an enquiry, you can do this via the website. The agent would have a professional property photographer and an appointment would be made for the images to be taken, while a content writer would compose the listing. If the agent feels that the property should be tidied up, they would make recommendations and can even carry out the work if you wish. Click here for some government information on housing and property, which is a must-read for a first-time buyer.

Virtual Property Inspections

Some forward-thinking agents already offer virtual property viewings, which really does help the buyer to experience the property, as they can access all rooms and may even be able to tour the exterior using this technology. You can ask the agent whether or not they offer this service, which is attractive to potential buyers by helping them to shortlist properties for a physical viewing.

If you find a real estate agent with a good track record, your property should be sold or rented in a short time.

The post A Guide to Sourcing the Best Real Estate Agents: All you Need to Know appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/real-estate/best-agents

Smart Personal Finance Moves to Going Forward

Once you settle into your career, it is easy to become complacent with your finances. You have enough to pay your bills and put a little back each month in savings, so it is tempting to allow things to continue on auto-pilot. Not paying attention to your finances can cost you money and peace of mind if you hit a rough patch. Whether it is a personal issue, such as deciding you need to switch jobs or you want to cut your hours back, or there are changes in the workforce or economy that affect your bottom line, surprises can come out of nowhere, and you need to be prepared.

Fully Fund Savings Accounts with a Purpose

You should have between 3 and 6 months of savings set aside in an account that you do not use for any other purpose. The amount you save depends on your comfort level and the security of your job. When you are just starting to fund this account, you may dip into it for unexpected expenses, however, the goal is to have separate savings account for that. This account is to pay your bills and living expenses if you unexpectedly lose your job.

Once you have saved around 3 months’ worth of expenses for your emergency fund, you can transition to setting funds aside for unexpected expenses. Only you can decide on how much you should put in this savings account. Look back over previous years and see how much you end up paying for car and home repairs, veterinary bills, and other expenses that don’t crop up regularly. This can give you an idea of how much you should target for this account. By having an unexpected expenses account, you avoid having to put these on a credit card. Having this cushion not only saves you money but gives you peace of mind. Once you are comfortable with the amount you have saved for unexpected expenses, you can continue to add to your emergency fund.

Keep an Eye on Interest Rates

Interest rates are constantly changing, and you should take advantage of those moves. When interest rates rise, it costs more to borrow money, but it can be a good time to transfer savings into a high-yield savings account or put some excess funds in a certificate of deposit. It can be tough to see these gains evaporate when interest rates drop, but use this time to your benefit as well. It can be a good time to refinance student loans when interest rates are low. This is a quick and easy process and allows you to save money over the life of your loans.

If you own your own home, refinancing your mortgage when interest rates are low can allow you to shorten the term of your mortgage, lower your monthly payments, or both. If you are not a homeowner, this can be a great time to buy. Purchasing a home when interest rates are low can be a stressful and competitive process. While you will be able to afford more home than you would if interest rates were higher, other buyers will be in the market also. This can lead to a cut-throat competition for homes if supplies are limited. It is not unusual for homes to be snatched up at well over the asking price within days, or even hours, of being put on the market. You will have to decide if you want to dive into homeownership at this point or wait until the market cools some.

Keep Paperwork in Order

One sure sign of financial maturity is having your financial paperwork in order. This means having a will drawn up, but there are other steps to take as well. Have your financial documents in order, in a way that makes sense to the person who will have to deal with these matters. Have a beneficiary on all of your accounts. Make sure this information is up to date and accessible to the people who will need to access it. If you have others who depend on your income, you want to be sure that your life insurance will provide what they need going forward. Life insurance should provide a payout for between 7 and 10 times your salary. The amount should be higher if your beneficiaries will have significant debt to repay, and can be lower if there is less debt and your beneficiary is also earning an income.

Maintain Excellent Credit

There is more to a strong credit score than paying your bills on time. You need to have existing credit, use it, and pay it off to maximize your score. You should also keep your usage low on each of your cards to earn a high credit score. Finally, check your credit history at least annually to make sure it is correct. You don’t want to wait until you are ready to take out a mortgage or loan to discover errors that negatively impact your score.

Man holding bill looking worried -DepositPhotos

The post Smart Personal Finance Moves to Going Forward appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/growth/personal-growth/smart-finance-moves

How To Build and Run a Successful Online Coaching or Consulting Business

Thinking of starting an online coaching or consulting business? Perhaps you’ve already started, and you’re looking for effective ways to grow your business, get more clients and continue scaling.

Whatever the case may be, you’ve come to the right place – in this article, we’ll be talking about how to build and run a successful online coaching or consulting business: from picking a profitable niche and building audience personas, to building your website and promoting your business, we’ll be covering every essential step in building a successful coaching/consulting business:

Pick a Profitable Niche

In order to be successful as a coach or consultant, you first need to pick a good niche.

And by good, I mean profitable: a niche that has a large audience and that offers scaling possibilities.

For example, weight loss coaching is an incredibly popular niche and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon as people will always need and want help to improve their weight. That being said, there are numerous popular coaching niches, most notably:

• Life and mindset coaching
• Financial coaching
• Career coaching
• Business coaching

Think of your strengths, your skills, and your own interests to come up with the best coaching options for yourself. Once you’ve got a few options, do a bit of research: find out who the big players are in that niche and how popular they are.

For example, you can use a tool like SEMRush to look up any competitor’s website to see their traffic metrics.

At this stage, it also helps to do some keyword research; mostly, so that you can find out how many people are searching for topics relevant to your niche, which can then give you a better idea of the size of that audience (plus, this exercise will also come in handy when you’re building your website and promoting your business, as you’ll see in a bit).

Once you’ve settled on a niche, you might also consider getting certified as a coach– it’s not mandatory, but it can definitely help you become a better coach as well as give you that social proof you need to show potential clients that you’re the real deal.

Get To Know Your Audience Inside Out

Who exactly forms your audience? Who will you be targeting? Who exactly needs your coaching services and why?

Whatever type of business you start and whatever your niche may be, getting to know your audience will always be an extremely important step of the process.

If you’re a coach, this is especially true; after all, you’re working directly with people, helping them with their problems and pushing them towards success.

Take your time to put together several audience personas that form your target audience. Give them names, interests, jobs – provide as much detail as possible to ensure you have a very clear picture of your target audience.

What’s more, try to understand why they’re your audience: what are their problems? Why do they need coaching? Why do they need your help? How exactly can you help them improve themselves and/or their lives or careers?

Furthermore, this exercise will also come in very handy when you start promoting and marketing your coaching business as you’ll be able to create highly targeted campaigns.

Build Your Business Website

In order to get people to hire you, you need a quality, professional-looking website that inspires trust in your business. This is the place people will go to learn more about you and what you can do for them– here, they can contact you and hopefully hire you for your services.

You don’t necessarily need to pay someone to build your website for you; for this type of business website, it’s quite easy to create it yourself using a platform like WordPress and picking a theme you like.

Apart from that, you’ll also need a few tools to help you monetize your coaching skills and start making money.

For example, one option is to get paid as you chat with your clients, using a tool like Premium.Chat.

You’ll be able to easily add a chat to your website, connect it to your preferred payment method and get paid by the minute or through using flat rates every time a visitor wants to chat with you.

This is a truly easy way to monetize your website and make money every time you speak with a client or potential client.

Another essential tool you’ll need for your website is a good appointment scheduling tool so that your visitors and clients can easily set up appointments with you in a way that makes it as easy as possible both for them and for you.

A great option is Acuity Scheduling, which pretty much does all of the scheduling work for you; simply set your availability, your rates and session durations and your clients will then be able to pick a convenient time themselves.

Once you’ve set it all up, the app will handle all the scheduling and simply tell you when to show up for your meetings. It’s also highly customizable and features several automation options, including one-click rescheduling, auto-adjusting for time zones and automatic reminders for clients before meetings.

Promoting Your Coaching Business

We’ve gone over the easy steps; now comes the more difficult part: promoting your coaching business and getting your first clients on board.

Here are some tips and tactics to help you promote your services:

• Build an email list: create a powerful lead magnet and start collecting leads that you can later turn into clients. Plus, even if your lead-conversion rate is low, this simple strategy will also help you generate more traffic to your site and help you build up your online profile.
• Build a social media following: social media is a must – establish a presence on several (relevant) social networks so that you can generate traffic, leads and even clients. What’s more, if you’re targeting professionals, LinkedIn can be an amazing source of potential clients for your business; plus, LinkedIn features a powerful sales tool – the LinkedIn Sales Navigator – which helps you search for and find leads for your business:
• Start a blog: blogging is an incredibly effective way to build up your traffic and generate leads for your coaching business – especially if you rank for the right keywords on search engines. Use a keyword research tool like Ubersuggest to help you find the right keywords to target and create valuable content that’s highly relevant to your target audience

Conclusion

If you’re thinking of starting a coaching or consulting business, follow the tips outlined in this article to help you build a successful business from the comfort of your own home:

• Start by picking a great niche: a niche that you’re not only comfortable with, but that also has great potential and a large enough audience
• Create audience personas: make sure you know your audience well so that you know exactly who you’re targeting
• Build a website and leverage tools: leverage the right tools to help you monetize your website and increase conversions and sales
• Create a powerful promotional strategy: leverage multiple platforms and marketing strategies to grow your business and get clients
  

Brainstorming process – DepositPhotos

The post How To Build and Run a Successful Online Coaching or Consulting Business appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/marketing-strategy/building-online-coaching-business

5 Essential Tips For Law Firm Business Development

Law Firm Business Development

Developing a law firm in these challenging times is not for the faint of heart. You’ll have to walk the extra mile to become more relevant to your target clients.

This article gives you five tips we believe can help you pick up your lost glory and grow your law firm.

1. Focus More on Engaging With Your Clients

Most law firms want to protect their clients from accessing the services of other attorneys. This has been a norm for ages now and proved helpful to most law firms. However, based on some recent research, it has been established that being protective of your top clients cannot bar them from leaving and seeking law services elsewhere. The secret is in ensuring they are more engaged in your business. Of course, you can retain your client for the longest time if only you provide them quality services they haven’t seen anywhere else. The most decent and effective way to achieve this is by sharing the client’s accountability and knowledge across a dedicated team. Update your e-mail list and segment your clients so that you provide them useful content based on their needs and interest. It would help if you also used all the available tools to reach out to clients and show them your business values.

2. Remind Your Team to Build Relationships With Clients

The only reason your clients will stick with your law firm even during these harsh times is if you created a lasting relationship with them in the past. It takes more to keep a client, and that includes offering them value and utmost trust. You can ensure a lasting relationship with your top clients by training your attorneys to handle and relate with all clients positively.

You may have thousands of contacts on your CRM. However, that should not limit you to creating a mutual relationship with every client. You can begin small by assigning every attorney a list of clients you want them to focus on. Your email list can include some of the top clients, prospects, and Alumni to your company.

3. Sign up for Your Clients’ Newsletter

Sometimes it helps a lot to engage with your clients outside the courtroom. You want to learn more about how the clients interact in the market, and there is no simplified way of doing that like subscribing to their content. When you subscribe to your clients’ newsletter, read their blogs and press releases, you can find out if they face any problems and contemplate solutions. By staying up to date with your clients’ content, you learn more about them than what you get when engaging them in direct conversations. You can also collect valuable information from your clients’ content and use that to improve your conversation with them. This helps you prove to the clients that you understand more about the issues they’re facing, and you are more than willing to help them find reliable solutions.  When you focus more on your client content, you can easily discover what may end up being an issue. You can quickly raise your alarm to solve the issue before it turns out to be a significant problem, even for other clients.

4. Research Before Reaching out to Clients

Information is critical in finding the right solutions to what your clients may be facing. The news lifespan is relatively short today. That means, what may seem relevant today may lose its meaning in a couple of days. Therefore, you want to ensure your research wide and rinse all the sources before you conclude anything. Before you can reach out to your clients, you must gather all useful information concerning the issue you want to address. Whenever there is new legislation the government has released, you want to ensure you are updated with all the details. Find out how the new legislation can affect your clients. Always remain updated with the law industry’s latest developments so that your clients don’t miss anything crucial when you represent them.

5. Up Your Pitch Game

You are aware things are getting tough for your clients financially. That means you should adopt more comprehensive footwork to come up with a fee structure for your services. Revising your fees is also another factor you want to consider when developing your law firm. Set up a close-out fee acceptable to your clients and your business. If you open your ears wide, you’ll realize that most of your clients ask common questions about your fees, services, and new legislation repeatedly. You can build a database of such FAQs and provide definite answers on time. This way, you can easily convert most of your prospects to clients and take your law firm to the next level. Another tip to keep you going; you should have someone in your organization who understands how clients negotiate for fees. Assign them the duty to come up with a fee structure that will ensure you make profits while still offering value to your clients.

Conclusion

When developing a law firm, it’s important to understand that your clients are the key to your success. Therefore, you should enforce the five tips we have shared here to keep your clients intact and attract new prospects to your business.

United States Supreme Court – DepositPhotos

 

The post 5 Essential Tips For Law Firm Business Development appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/management/business-plans/law-firm-development-tips

Best Practices for Secure iOS App Development

Smartphone apps contain a lot of confidential data like banking details, location data, home address, contact details, health information, and personal ID cards. So, losing this sensitive information or getting hacked can have serious implications. App developers can leverage the following best practices for designing apps that ensure complete data security against thefts and leaks.

1. Apple’s App Sandbox

Apple’s App Sandbox is enabled with UNIX to ensure that everything outside the home directory is set-up as read-only and all the system resources remain protected at all times. The APIs keep the apps from escalating privileges to modify iOS or other apps.

This app needs to declare exclusive privileges for performing certain operations and these outstanding entitlements are signed along with the app, so they cannot be modified. Audio input, CarPlay and HealthKit are a few examples of services that need exclusive entitlements for secure access and use.

Apart from special entitlements, apps can also use iOS extensions to give special rights. The OS has several points that can be used by extensions that are bundled with the app. These extensions run in their separate address space but are controlled by the OS.

Plus, iOS offers several ways to avert security bugs. Address space layout randomization assigns random regions for storage memory in every app for every startup, eliminating the possibility of exploitation by corruption bugs.

Additionally, memory pages that are marked with ARM’s Execute Never are non-executable and have the ability to block the implementation of malicious codes.

2. Native SSL Libraries and Certificate Pinning

Always use native SSL libraries instead of third party libraries as they are vulnerable to exploitation and are at an increased risk of man-in-the-middle attacks. You can use Mutual SSL authentication to validate server connection and to ensure that your app is communicating directly to the right server.

HTTPS connections are validated by default and so, the system checks the server certification and domain validity. However, attackers can still execute complex attacks. To prevent these attacks, iOS apps can integrate additional trust verification of server certificates using certificate pinning.

SSL pinning can be easily implemented by integrating valid certifications in the app bundle. With certificate pinning, the app can check if the certificate in use is on the list and only then establish a connection with the server.

3. End-to-End File Encryption

End-to-end encryption allows you to secure messages in a manner that only the sender and the recipient can decrypt the conversation and neither the servers nor Apple can read the cleartext information.

Encryption is not easy to execute and so, it needs in-depth experience and expertise in cryptographic processes. If an inhouse expert is not available, it is recommended to consult a third-party specialist for help with the implementation of end-to-end encryption.

4. Keychain

All iOS apps should leverage the inbuilt security of KeyChain to store sensitive credentials, passwords along with small chunks of confidential information. This hardware-accelerated storage space encrypts all the content and only app developers have access to this space.

The keychain is a secure storage option for NSUserDefaults that have no encryption and should not be used for confidential information. For each keychain item, developers can define exclusive authentication policies for secure access. It can include Face ID, Touch ID or a biometric ID.

Additional functionality of the Keychain is the ability to decide where to store the data in – the local keychain or in the iCloud, which can then be synced across all Apple gadgets.

5. CloudKit

Apple’s Cloudkit is an ideal solution for apps that don’t need a server. CloudKit stores information in iCloud containers so users can use their Apple ID to login to the app. This way, developers don’t need to implement any particular service or login mechanism separately.

Security is at the core of CloudKit and communication is by default encrypted. All the communication between the app and the server can be exchanged on the CloudKit platform. And, even in case of an additional web app, the CloudKit can still be used with its web services and JavaScript.

To take this experience to the next level, CloudKit is free to use up to a specific limit. CloudKit gives you easy access to millions of users without inviting any cost on data storage, traffic or requests.

6. Cryptographic API

The iOS SDK uses API keys for managing standard cryptographic processes. However, it is recommended to use only proven crypto implementations for this purpose instead of reimplementing them from scratch.

Apple’s CryptoKit was recently introduced in iOS 13 to allow low-level APIs to implement security protocols and to perform cryptographic tasks. With CryptoKit, you can also use the SecureEnclave for implementing safe functions to optimize the hardware of the device.

Conclusion

Creating a secure iOS app is challenging, but there are tried and tested ways to make the apps more robust and reliable against attackers. You can follow the practices mentioned above while avoiding common risks like weak encryption, unreliable hosting controls, device fragmentation, insecure data storage frameworks and malicious third-party libraries.

In general, you can use this essential checklist to ensure that all the points are ticked off:

• Write a secure code that cannot be reverse-engineered
• Ensure that the data cannot be decrypted
• Avoid using third-party libraries that you cannot rely on 100%
• Use only authorized APIs
• Use a high-level authentication mechanism
• Have a tamper detection technology in place
• Store confidential data in the Keychain
• Use HTTPs for facilitating communication between client and server
• Do not use third-party SDKs

Even if you follow all of these tips, be sure to have an expert validate your iPhone mobile development approach to be 100% sure. Businesses must ensure that their mobile app strategy is carefully crafted and well designed to avoid unwanted consequences due to lack of security.

Delivering a user-friendly and security-compliant app will not only ensure the security of enterprise and consumer data but also enhance brand identity. The best way to go about this is by consulting an expert iPhone mobile development company with vast experience in deploying seamless and secure mobile apps for businesses across verticals, including retail, healthcare and finance.

Objective C code lines – DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/technology/business-apps/secure-ios-app-development

Using VoIP For Your Video Conferencing Interview

Organizing a conference call was once the preferable choice, primarily because it was cost-effective and efficient. However, as technology advances, businesses are starting to look towards HD video conferencing as a better choice for their needs. The biggest reason for this is because people are more engaged in video conferencing than they are with audio conferencing, meaning that people are taking more away from these meetings. Using VoIP for your business conferencing needs gives your business the more personal interaction that engages the other people in the meeting, or in this case when conducting an interview. By reading on, you can learn some tips that will help you optimize your video conferencing for an interview especially if you are the interviewee.

How VoIP Can Help Conduct Interviews

Conducting interviews by using your business phone system can be a great way to hire the best person for the job, rather than settling for a pool of potential candidates in your area. This allows you to cast your net on someone who may not be local, especially if you are hiring for remote working needs. Video conferencing is so much better than audio conferencing for interviews because you can get a lot more information about your potential candidates. You can read their body language and interact as if you would in an in-person interview.

However, you need to be sure that your VoIP system is working properly in time for these interviews to start because otherwise, it can reflect poorly on your business. If you are the person in the interview, understanding how to properly use their video conferencing program and how to nail your interview.

Plan for the Video Conference

Whether you are having a job interview through video conferencing or some other important meeting, you should plan for this in advance. Start by making sure that you have everything set up that you need to for the interview. Find out the video conferencing software that is being used so that you can set it up and you can familiarise yourself with it. You will also want to be sure that you have a stable internet connection, otherwise, the connection can be dropped and this won’t work out well for you.

It’s also important to learn some basics about the video conference. Who are the other participants? How long is the interview or meeting going to last? These are important questions that can help you better plan for the video conference.

Setup Your Space/Your Attire

When you do an audio conference for a meeting or job interview, you have the ability to wear whatever you want and have the interview anyplace that is quiet. Unfortunately, you don’t have that ability with a video call. You want to make sure that you pick out appropriate attire that can properly represent yourself and a feeling of professionalism.

Then, set up a quiet space in your home. Make sure that you have proper lighting and your camera is working properly to ensure that you get the best look possible. You want the interviewer or audience to be able to see your face and expressions so that they get the more personal feeling that video conferencing offers.

When setting up your space, it’s also important to make sure it looks clean and clutter-free. You don’t want anything to distract you or the other people form the interview. The background should be very minimalist, again to avoid any distractions.

Convey Confidence and the Best Version of Yourself

This is your chance to make an impression, so be sure that you bring the best version of yourself to the interview or meeting. Make sure that you keep your eyes looking at the camera, giving the feeling of constant eye contact with the other people on the video conference call. This eye contact is essential in conveying confidence. Sitting up with great posture in your chair also helps display confidence. Be sure to also smile when appropriate as well.

Conclusion

Video conferencing is the best alternative to in-person meetings and interviews. You get a lot of the same benefits of an in-person meeting, including that personal connection, without having to actually get together. This could make it easier for you if you are making a connection to someone who isn’t local to you or if you are just connecting with local employees who are working from home. Audio conferencing is no longer the best option, especially when you consider the benefits of video conferencing. This includes the ability to see the body language of the other party and better engage with them.

Cropped image of man taking part in webinar with laptop -DepositPhotos

The post Using VoIP For Your Video Conferencing Interview appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/management/hr-and-recruitment/virtual-job-interviews

Drupal 7 Online Store — Overview of Drupal Commerce Modules

Online stores are some of the most popular project types run on the Drupal platform using Commerce (DC) feature set. The initial setting of DC includes several modules. By turning them on and off, you can add various functions to your online store. In this post, we will look at the standard DC modules that come with it right away. You can expand the functionality of your store with the help of additional modules. So if you are developing a site on Drupal or hiring an external agency to help you with the task, then you need to know what plugins to make use of.

1. Commerce

It is a prerequisite for all e-commerce projects run on Drupal. It provides the wizard with access to the basic API and handles the basic functionality that is required to ensure the normal operation of all other modules of the system. Commerce is a module that has no customization. To get started, just turn it on for your Drupal ecommerce on https://gole.ms/services/e-commerce or ask for professional assistance to enable it.

2. Commerce UI

This module allows the wizard to display the main store interface, allowing for its further customization.

3. Cart

This is a module to work with a shopping cart in an online store. When using the solution, you can create a block to display the shopping cart on the sidebar of all pages of the site without exception. It allows the buyer to add or remove items from the cart. The cart views are built using Views, which provides the webmaster with full control over the appearance and functionality of all cart items.

4. Checkout

This module is responsible for the process of ordering items in the store; it displays the order page. As a basic option in DC, the ordering pattern is divided into 4 stages:

• Placing an order — At this stage, the user enters information about his order, as well as his payment information;
• Preview — This stage allows the buyer to double-check the content of his order and “fix” the purchase before paying for the order;
• Payment — making the financial translation;
• Order fulfillment — At this stage, the buyer is provided with the latest clarifications on his order; possible additional instructions are given.

Information that is available to a potential buyer at all the above stages. All the data can be set at your discretion in the site settings.

5. Order UI

This module is responsible for creating, tracking, and managing all orders for each of the customers. For example, a potential buyer can view his orders that are fully completed or access the orders that are not even fully formed yet. At the same time, the module makes it possible to create an order in manual mode.

What Plugin to Pick?

If you have no clue what plugin will work best for your online project, then you need to outline all the tasks, features, and objectives of your online project. Only in this case, you will be able to pick a solution/ solutions that will ensure the functioning of the site you are going to launch.

Drupal logo on smartphone screen placed on laptop keyboard -DepositPhotos

The post Drupal 7 Online Store — Overview of Drupal Commerce Modules appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/websites/drupal-ecommerce-modules

How To Invest in the Share Market During COVID19?

“Most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get invested is when no one else is. You can’t buy what is popular and do well”, said Warren Buffet, the renowned business tycoon, American investor, and owner of Berkshire Hathaway. These words pretty much sum up the entire ideology of stock market investments. The investors who follow the masses are likely to get misled in the crowd. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has highly impacted the world stock market and not just India, potential investors should see it as the right time to start investing.

There were as many as 40.8 million new Demat Account registrations in India in the financial year 2019-20, even amidst nationwide lockdown during the last month of the 2019-20 fiscal year. Not just that, over 1.2 million Demat Account applications have been successfully passed by the CDSL (Central Depository Securities Limited) from March’20 to 30th April’20. The rise in online trading activities is a significant percentage of 53% during the lockdown. It seems like people are passing time during their quarantine period on the online trading platforms. If you too want to invest in shares, click on this link- https://www.indiainfoline.com/about-demat-account/ to open a Demat Account today!

Do not let the temporary pandemic affect the investment portfolio permanently.

The Experts’ Stand: It Is The Good Time

The stock market experts are very positive about investing in the stock market. It is being said that the amount of pessimism that has filled the stock market has induced many investors to sell their potential shareholdings at a low price. As they say, one’s misfortune is another’s opportunity. So, the new investors have a chance to see this as a burning advantage to dive into the sea of share market. This might not be a prevailing thought among everyone but that does not mean the ones who are considering it should fall back.

The value investing legend, Van Den Berg claims that the investors are surrounded by a lot of fear caused by the uncertainty of the market which alleges them to sell off their shares well below its par intrinsic value. And historically speaking, the investors who end up purchasing shares in this bargain end up rewarded when the fog of uncertainty settles down.

The COVID-19 Scenario

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced pessimism on the hopes of millions of investors, the delightful news is that many are still hopeful. The market has registered over 50% of respondent investors who are planning to resume and pace up slowly with the rise in the market conditions while 18.5% of investors are unwilling to make any changes to their Demat Account and portfolio. Only 3% of investors have shown signs of quitting the market while 3.5% are contemplating whether or not to choose equities. Overall 7.5% of investors are indifferent and waiting for the market to recover.

These statistics are enough to reveal that the market conditions are a mix of investors who are presently driven by emotions. This is the time to enter the market and start investing in whichever deal is the most profitable one.

Tips To Follow For Investing During COVID-19

During times like this, all one needs is a ray of hope and knowing how to start the journey in the stock market. Do not fail to find the right Depository Participant to get guidance and help along the way.

Learn Online Trading

Although it is very rare these days that the investors use offline trading methods as the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has regulated the Exchanges to not allow offline trade, some people choose the intermediaries to do their job while they are offline. Maybe this is why the national lockdown has registered many new inventors in the line. However, during the pandemic, it is not possible to reach out to people who can get the job done, it is better to utilize the quarantine period in learning online trading. For beginners, these following advice might be productive.

• Choose a full-time broker for the required accounts (Demat and trading) services as they also help with investment consultation services. The expert team of professionals of the leading brokerage service providers extends help graciously. You can open Demat account with a broker and then continue your investments with them.
• Look for a firm that is offering online applications and web portals with a user-friendly interface and fast technology. It is easy to learn online trading.
• Learn the nitty-gritty of internet surfing if one does not have the basic idea of the same. Since getting stuck at some point during the trading process requires some simple computer skills to continue.

Build a strong investment career graph to earn a good amount of fortune in future.

Open The Online Demat Account And Trading Account

The health advisories are strictly requesting people to maintain social-distancing and do not step out of the house. Thus, an investor has to learn how to top Demat Account online along with the trading account without which it is not possible to trade in the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange). All one needs to follow a few simple steps to complete the procedure.

• Find a Depository Participant that satisfies all the parameters of good online services and technical requirements to carry trade operations.
• Fill up the application forms required to open the accounts. Most of the DPs offer 2-in-1 account service so one needs to fill only one form in this case.
• Submit the scanned copies of all the required documents.
• Complete the e-KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure followed by the e-IPV (In-Person Verification) process.
• Make the e-payment and the possession of both the account will be given within a few working hours.

Choose The Right Stocks

The last of the process is to choose the right stocks keeping all the concepts in mind. There are plenty of options that offer distinct risk exposure and returns. Look out for the cheapest stock items that will value more after the clouds of uncertainty as the market will subside.

Investors can conveniently start online trading by following the aforementioned tips and tricks. The hopeful always end up with the sweetest fruits in hand. However, one has to realize that the stock market is neither a wish-granting factory nor a money-printing machine. One cannot hope to experience the highs without being subjected to the lows of the investment market. Thus, learn and grow during the process while keeping the investment portfolio in check.

Stock market -DepositPhotos

 

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