Mohit Tater's Blog, page 553

Running a Solid Business as a Yoga Teacher Means Having Good Insurance

Many people dream of having their own
business. Imagine having the opportunity to wake up every morning knowing that
you can spend your day doing something you truly love to do. In addition,
owning your own business means that you are making money for yourself as
opposed to working long, tiring hours in order to make someone else rich. While
you can find a way to make a successful business out of almost anything you
love to do, a large number of people envision themselves teaching yoga. If you
are one of these individuals, here are some important tips you need to know
about running a successful yoga studio, including the need for good insurance.

Tips for Being a Successful Yoga
Teacher

Obviously, the first thing you need to do as an aspiring yoga teacher is obtain the credentials you need to run your business. This doesn’t just mean that you need to become certified as a yoga instructor, although that is something you should certainly do. It also means getting the required permits and licenses to legally run a business. This is something that can vary a great deal depending on the exact location in which you are planning to open your business. Therefore, you should check with your local municipality where you plan on doing business. It’s also crucial to follow both state and federal laws associated with opening a business. In the case of opening a yoga studio, it’s imperative that you find out which certifications you need to prove that you are qualified to teach others for a fee. All of this might sound a bit daunting but it’s really not as bad as it might seem at first. More importantly, following these guidelines can help you avoid a lot of trouble later on.

Finding the Right Space

Depending on the laws and regulations where
you are teaching, finding the right space to hold a class may be as simple as
advertising a class to be held in a local park. This is a great option as long
as the weather is good and you are sure that you’re not violating any local
laws or ordinances related to operating a business in a public space. If you
prefer to have your own studio, you’ll need to find a suitable place to rent.
Think about the location of the building as well as the amount of space
provided. It’s also important to consider any renovations that may be required,
as such things can increase your start-up costs considerably. If you prefer to
keep costs at a minimum until you develop a solid client base, consider
inquiring about community buildings where you might be able to hold class for a
relatively small fee. Alternatively, you might want to think about providing
one-on-one instruction at clients’ homes. You could even turn a portion of your
own home into a studio if local regulations allow it.

Getting the Right Insurance

Having good insurance is undoubtedly one of the most important things you can do as an aspiring yoga teacher. You may think you can save money by skipping this step but that could end up costing you a great deal in the future. In fact, yoga insurance for yoga teachers is absolutely necessary. If someone claims they were injured while practicing yoga in your studio or in any class you were teaching, they could sue you for damages. If you don’t have your business set up the right way and you fail to have adequate insurance, that lawsuit could include a lot more than just your business. They could go after your home, personal bank accounts, or assets. The risk just isn’t worth it. Go ahead and get the insurance before you even start teaching.

A good first step is making a list of the things you need to run your business safely. If you’ve been dreaming about being a yoga instructor, go ahead and start taking the necessary steps to achieve your dreams today.

The post Running a Solid Business as a Yoga Teacher Means Having Good Insurance appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

5 Common Reasons Life Insurance Won’t Pay Out And What To Do About It

Term life insurance is essentially a gamble between the policyholder and the insurance company. If the policyholder outlives the term of their policy, the insurance company wins because they get to keep the insurance premiums and the policyholder gets nothing in return. If the policyholder dies before the policy expires, then the insurance company loses and must pay the beneficiary more than was paid into the policy.

In order to prevent fraud and abuse, when and how the benefit can be paid out is highly regulated. For example, a term life insurance policy will include clauses called exclusions. Each exclusion describes a situation where the policy does not have to be paid. The exclusions describe things like intentional deaths and deception or fraud by the policy-holder.

If you are a life-insurance beneficiary and the company refuses to pay after an untimely death, they are probably citing one of the policies exceptions as the reason. With the help of a life insurance lawyer, you may be able to reverse their decision without even going to court.

Read on to find out the 5 most likely reasons your life insurance claim would be denied.

1. Lies on an Insurance Application

The most common reason insurers refuse to pay out claims are material misrepresentations on their insurance application. When shopping for a policy, a lot of people will try to get away with little white lies in an attempt to get a lower rate. The most common lies are about drinking, smoking, and body mass. When a little white lie can mean thousands of dollars in savings, some people just can’t resist. And their dishonesty might prevent a claim from being paid or substantially reduce the benefit that is paid.

Life insurance policies have what is called a contestability period. If you die within the first two years of the policy being in force, any misrepresentation you made can be used as grounds to void the policy completely and refuse to pay.

After the two-year contestability period, a policy can only be voided for explicit fraud. Otherwise, the difference between what the deceased actually paid and what he should have paid is taken out of the benefit, and the beneficiary receives whatever is left.

2. Suicide

Term life insurance has a complicated relationship with suicide. In clear-cut cases of suicide, most policies will simply refuse to pay out if it is within the two-year contestability period. After that, most policies will pay out as with any other accidental death.

Many cases border on suicide, but the intent is not always clear cut. A person has an advance directive and gets in a car crash. Life support is removed. Is that a covered cause of death? After surgery, a patient overdoses on narcotic painkillers. Is that suicide or accidental death? In these borderline cases, you may need a lawyer to represent you. A suicide victim’s policy can payout, but the insurer will try their best not to.

3. Death in Combat

Almost all term-life insurance policies have an exception for deaths in a combat zone or as part of broader military service. When a soldier is deployed on active duty they are in an exceptional level of danger compared to a civilian, combat troops even more so. 

Insurance premiums are decided by measuring the risks of an untimely death. Soldiers can buy cheap term-life policies that would cover them in case of an untimely death stateside and while deployed to safe countries like Japan and Germany. But if they die in a training accident or from enemy action, a standard term-life policy won’t pay out. 

Unscrupulous insurance agents might try to deny any claims from a serviceman’s family under this clause, even if the soldier died of unrelated causes, like a car crash or medical emergency.

Soldiers can get term life insurance from several reputable providers, like the Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance program or the Army & Airforce Mutual Aid Association. These warfighter-friendly insurers offer term life and disability insurance. Some even offer special short-term policies for a tour of combat, so that soldiers don’t have to pay higher premiums when they come home.

4. Living Abroad or Travelling

Many less expensive term-life policies are extremely limited in the coverage they provide geographically. Most insurers break the world into risk zones. The kind of risks that scare vacation planners, like destinations with frequent kidnappings or terrorist attacks, also scare insurance companies.

Local health conditions are also of great concern. The developing world still struggles with frequent pandemics like malaria and west-nile virus. Even in places without a high disease risk, parts of the developing world lack modern medical facilities and emergency services.

The kind of activity a policyholder does abroad also contributes to their insurance risk. Germany might be a safe country, but someone who goes skiing in the Harz Mountains is a much greater liability than a businessman working in Munchen.

As a result, many term life policies have strict policies about travel to high-risk locations and participation in adventure sports. If the policyholder was honest about their hobbies and paid a premium, then they should be covered. But if they lied about a risky pastime or hid that they travel to a dangerous country, insurance companies could have a valid reason to deny the claim within the contestability period.

5. Missing or Foreign Paperwork

Even when the policy covers foreign death claims, the paperwork provided (or not provided) by foreign governments can cause problems when making an insurance claim. One of the biggest problems is securing the foreign equivalent of important American documents like coroner’s reports and death certificates.

Policyholders passing away in Mexico often create massive paperwork problems because of Mexican law and legal tradition. Based on old Spanish law, a coroner does not have to actually view the body. As long as a coroner reviews the medical paperwork and there is no suspicion of murder or malpractice, a death certificate can be issued. Even when an autopsy is performed, photos are only taken if there is evidence of a crime like wounds or injuries.

Regardless of whether the country of death has similar legal and documentation systems, the insurance company will need both an original death certificate and a certified translation of the related paperwork. A delay in obtaining documents that satisfy this requirement will delay payment of claims.

Seek the Help of a Professional

If you or a loved one feel you have been cheated out of payment, you may be able to fight for your payout in court. Contact an attorney who specializes in life insurance policy to explore your options. 

Veronica Baxter is a freelance writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The post 5 Common Reasons Life Insurance Won’t Pay Out And What To Do About It appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Finding Housing After Filing Bankruptcy

What’s the largest bill you have every month? If you are like the vast majority of Americans, it’s your rent or mortgage payment. Read on to learn about finding affordable housing after bankruptcy.

What Is Affordable Housing?

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, housing is considered unaffordable when a mortgage or rental payment accounts for more than 30% of a household’s annual income. Unaffordable housing is the leading cause of bankruptcy.

According to HUD, there is not a single market in the United States where a worker making the minimum wage can afford a two-bedroom apartment priced at fair market value, and twelve million households are currently committed to spending 50% or more of their income on housing. 

What Happens When Families Commit to Unaffordable Housing?

The result of this unfortunate economic reality is that millions of families are just one bad month away from default on their mortgages or rents. With no savings, unaffordable housing, and the necessity of an automobile in many rural and suburban parts of the United States, many families rely on credit cards to cover for an empty checking account.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, you know it’s just a matter of time before this catches up with you:

Your car gets repossessed. You get evicted for missed rent. You are sued for unpaid debt. Your accounts get frozen and wages garnished. Your mortgage lender moves to repossess your home.

The solution? File bankruptcy. This freezes any collection actions and lawsuits, and offers a path to discharge your debt. Bankruptcy also entails credit counseling that will help you plan for a healthier financial future.

One of the biggest concerns people have after filing bankruptcy, and one of the great fears that often keep people from filing bankruptcy until far too late, is the availability of housing.

Can I Stay In My Home After Bankruptcy? 

The chance to stay in your home will depend on how and when you file bankruptcy and how much income you have available to spend on housing.

Housing and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires you to surrender all assets above a certain amount. The current federal exemption for your residence is $25,150, or $50,300 if you are married and file jointly for bankruptcy. Any equity you have in your home above that threshold could be liquidated by your bankruptcy trustee. This usually means the home gets sold, you are paid up to the exemption amount, and the remainder goes towards paying creditors.

Housing and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

If you have equity above and beyond the exemption, you may be advised to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 13 reduces debts by creating a modified payment plan, not by selling your assets. If you file Chapter 13, as long as you have the income to make monthly mortgage payments and you are able to make your plan payments, you can keep your home. 

Housing and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Chapter 11 might be an option if you are a high-income individual and your home is particularly valuable. Under Chapter 11, you may be able to renegotiate any mortgages out to a 30-year loan.

All of this is under the assumption, of course, that you are still in your home. If you were evicted prior to filing bankruptcy, most states do not recognize any right of redemption. While filing could freeze an ongoing eviction or sheriff’s sale, your bankruptcy cannot undo a sale or get back a house you have already lost.

How Long After Bankruptcy Before I Can Rent An Apartment?

If you are concerned about finding an apartment after filing bankruptcy, there is no need to be alarmed. Because of the housing bubble and financial crisis of 2008, most landlords have experience renting to recently-bankrupt tenants. As a form of risk mediation, you may be expected to provide:

a larger security deposita guarantor for the first several yearspaystubs or other proof of steady income. 

Admittedly, it’s going to be more difficult for someone who filed for bankruptcy to secure an apartment than someone with perfect credit. But don’t let the fear that you will be locked out of the housing market prevent you from filing bankruptcy if you desperately need to.

Can I Lease a House After Bankruptcy?

It won’t be impossible, but leasing a house after filing bankruptcy will likely more difficult than simply renting an apartment. A recent bankruptcy makes you a financially high-risk tenant, and you should expect to be asked for a hefty security department up-front and be given absolutely no wiggle-room with monthly payments.

If you can afford it, a lease would be a great way to rehabilitate your credit, as the combination of the housing payment, utilities, and the costs of maintaining an independent household would generate far more records than an apartment.

Consider Alternative Housing Options

Unaffordable housing is the largest contributing factor in personal bankruptcies across the United States. If you are in debt because you can’t afford your current housing, perhaps your goal shouldn’t be “How can I find traditional housing again with lousy credit?”  but “How can I find affordable and satisfying housing?”

The answer to that question may lie in non-traditional housing options. Most people think about apartments, rowhomes, and single-family homes as the only options for a stable residence. However, there are a lot of options available that offer affordable, yet still quite livable housing.

Room Shares

One option is to think like a grad student! If you live near any major university, you should be able to find hundreds of room-share possibilities. Sometimes homeowners rent out an unused bedroom to create a revenue stream after their child has left the nest. Other times, young professionals will sublet a room in their apartment to help keep the cost of living. Room shares can offer all the comforts of home, well below market value.

Mobile Homes

If you live in a rural area, you might want to consider mobile homes. Mobile homes have come a long way since the 1950s and the stereotypical airstream trailer on cinder blocks has given way to well-appointed trailers which are nearly indistinguishable from similarly-sized prefab homes and ranchers.

Mobile homes also have the benefit of being classed as a vehicle, not as an improvement on real property. As a result, once you buy the trailer, you will either pay monthly rent or quarterly property tax on a small lot, saving thousands of dollars a year compared with a traditional home of comparable square footage.

Tiny Homes

The Tiny Homes movement focuses on creating fully-functional houses that cover less than 400 square feet. Some are on wheels, others are permanent structures. Also, many rural families have built sustainable homes across the south and midwest from retired missile silos, repurposed shipping containers, and more. These make for excellent options if you are looking to establish a low-cost homestead after bankruptcy.

About the author Veronica Baxter is a writer and legal assistant for bankruptcy attorney David M. Offen, Esq. a Philadelphia native who attended Temple University and Temple University Beasley School of Law. Mr. Offen is admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He has helped over 8500 individuals and families over more than 20 years of practice, preventing home foreclosure, car repossession, IRS tax levies, lawsuits over unpaid debt, and utility shut off.

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Why Are Your Good Employees Quitting?

Do you really want your best employees to leave? You might have thought that attracting the best talent was the hardest thing you could have done at the start, but you’re wrong. The hardest thing is making sure that your best employees don’t leave. Companies spend a lot of money during their recruitment and interviewing period. They do this to make sure that they have the best. 

Employers work hard to make sure that they get the best employees, however, what they forget is that they need to work just as hard to keep them. Why you might ask? Because if you think about it – the better someone is at their job, the more options they have to succeed at somewhere else. The grass is always greener on the other side, so if people get the chance to move to something that seems better then they will. So How do you know if your employee is going to quit? There are a few reasons why your employees might quit, however, it’s up to you as a boss to make sure that this doesn’t happen. Keep on reading to find out why good employees might be quitting on you.

Communication is Poor

One of the main reasons why a good employee might quit is because there is no communication. If there is no communication, then a good relationship between an employer and employee cannot develop. An employee wants to feel valued at work and not just as a resource that is there to just benefit the business. 

If you treat your employees like people and actually get to know them, then they’ll greatly appreciate this. They’ll see you trying to make an effort with them. You might also find that employees really appreciate it when their boss asks about their life outside of work. It shows the employee that the boss has actually taken an interest in them. It’s also best to make sure that you remember what your employee tells you. If they say they are going to a wedding on Saturday, you make sure you ask them how that wedding was the following Monday. 

Limit What They Can Do

Unless they are already at the top making millions, people want to make sure that they can actually progress in their job. If you limit your employee to only one thing then they’ll get bored. People crave a certain degree of freedom, they want to explore, learn new things, experiment etc. The best thing that you can do as an employer is let them. 

Your employees will want to feel like you trust them in their job role, if you micromanage them, instead of just manage them, then they might not like this. If a person is good at their job, then just let them be. Be there for them if they ask for guidance and let them feel comfortable enough to come to you if they need help. You would rather be seen as a coach or a mentor, rather than a clueless boss.

Set a Poor Example

Just because you are the boss, does not mean that you should expect people to bow down to you. You should aim to be a leader, someone who your employees look up to. Great bosses are hard workers and are always there to help when things get tough. They are not afraid of hard work. They wouldn’t ask someone to a job if they wouldn’t do it themselves. By showing your employees that you are hardworking and are there to help them, will help you earn their respect, and this should mean that they don’t leave. Running a business will always have its challenges, however, it’s down to you as the boss to make sure that you can cope with these challenges. If you find that all your employees keep quitting on you, then you need to figure out why that is? Don’t be offended when someone tells you that they are unhappy, instead try and figure out a way to help make things better. If you are interested in learning more about how to keep your employees happy, in order to stop them from quitting, then you could check out this article here about how to improve employee morale.

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Different Types Of Loans: What You Need To Know

Whether you’re an experienced financier or a complete neophyte, chances are you’ve been confused by the often difficult and labyrinthine world of borrowing and lending money. There are so many different kinds of loans out there that it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly where you should start or what kind of loan you need. Well, don’t worry – we’re here to help. Here’s our guide on the different kinds of loans, and what you need to know before you pursue them.

Secured Loans

If you’re taking out a loan, the most common type you’re likely to come across is a secured loan. These loans are set up against something you own – property, valuable possessions, or other collateral. Secured loans tend to be higher in terms of the amount you’ll be allowed to borrow, and the interest rate is often lower too because the bank has secured the loan against whatever collateral it has.

There are several examples of secured loans you’re likely to come across. Mortgages are perhaps the most common. If you’re buying a house, chances are you’ll be doing so with a mortgage, which is essentially a loan secured against the value of your house. There are other kinds; logbook loans are popular with those who own cars and can secure loans against them. You may also encounter savings loans, pawnbroker loans, and more.

Unsecured Loans

As you may have guessed, unsecured loans are amounts of money lent to you without any kind of collateral or security to back them up. This means you’re borrowing money essentially on good faith; if you default on the loan, the lender won’t have anything concrete to hold against you. Of course, there are legal procedures in place if this happens, but unsecured loans tend to be lower as a result.

Many different banks and other financial institutions will offer unsecured loans, but whether you’re approved for one or not will depend largely on your credit score. Naturally, financial institutions will want to make sure you’re solvent and able to pay back what you’ve borrowed before they approve you for a loan. This sort of loan is best if you’re looking to start a home improvement project or pay for a new car or similar.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) loans

You can think of peer-to-peer lending as a form of loan which cuts out the middleman. P2P lending connects individuals who wish to borrow money with institutions and other individuals who are capable of lending it. There’s no go-between to dictate rates and add other stipulations, so contracts are usually drawn up solely between the lender and the person or organisation who’s doing the lending.

This type of loan has its benefits, of course, but also its drawbacks. Individuals can dictate repayment rates and aren’t bound to the kind of rules that cause defaults and unpaid debts, but due to a lack of regulation, P2P lending tends to have higher default rates anyway. It’s also worth bearing in mind that P2P isn’t covered by the UK FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme), which protects savers up to £75,000.

Credit union loans

In order to be a part of a credit union, you’ll need to share something in common with the other members. This could be a shared place of employment, a common residential area, or similar. You won’t be able to join a credit union if you don’t have some kind of special status with other members, though, so don’t pursue this avenue if you’re a lone wolf or if your area doesn’t have a credit union.

The upside to credit unions is that they usually have lower interest rates and are able to help their members through financial difficulties. Credit unions rely on the accumulated savings of their members, and it’s these savings that constitute the pool of money lent to borrowers. These are co-operative organisations which often have better rates than banks but which also have restrictive entry requirements.

Payday (short-term) loans

If you’re hurting for cash right before payday, it can sometimes be a good idea to take out a payday (or short-term) loan. You’re unlikely to get the kind of money you’d be able to borrow from a bank with one of these loans, but you’ll get it quicker and the repayment period will be shorter too. It’s often possible to get short-term loans for amounts as low as £50, making them perfect for those in need of a quick injection.

It’s definitely worth reading up on payday loans before you go for this option. Not every payday lender is scrupulous; some will actively try to rip you off, while others will offer unfavourable rates based on arbitrary conditions. If you find the right payday lender, this can still be a viable option for you, especially in short-term times of financial trouble. Just be aware of a slightly higher risk of untrustworthy merchants.

Consolidation loans

If you see the phrase “consolidation loan” when you’re shopping for loans, be wary. These loans are often simply unsecured or secured loans marketed for the specific purpose of corralling lots of debt into one single repayment. As such, you may simply be applying for a loan without any special terms. This can still help you to make timely repayments, but it may not be what you think you’re signing up for.

A consolidation loan is essentially a way to marshal several different loans and create one single monthly repayment. This can be helpful if you’ve borrowed from several different places and need to keep better track of your financial outgoings. Before you apply for this type of loan, make sure your final monthly outgoing won’t be significantly higher than it was before you applied for the loan, as this will defeat the purpose.

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The Evolution of 3D Technology

Remember in the past where 3D technology was limited to posters or movies? As a kid, having a 3D poster on your bedroom wall was pretty cool as it appeared as if the image was jumping out at you. The same can be said for 3D films as you sat in the movie theatre and gave out screams as the shark seemed to be leaping off the screen right at you. However, 3D technology has evolved much more than just this nowadays. In fact, it soon will be something that we can’t manage to live without.  

3D Printing 

Perhaps nothing might be more impressive for 3D printing than its use in the medical field. As an example, if you dread going to the dentist, join the crowd. If you have ever had to get a cap or crown for your tooth, you know you can be expected to have to go back to the dentist at least three times to get this completed. But as 3D printing evolves more in the dentistry field, now in some practices already you can get a 3D printer to construct your crown in less than an hour. One visit to the dentist instead of three? Count me in! 

3D Scanning 

3D scanning can capture the image and collect data on objects, entire rooms and houses, and even people. You have probably seen video games already where 3D scanning was used to capture the dimensions and physicality of actual people to be used in the game. These scans can be saved, edited, modified, and even used digitally for various purposes. You might even be able to use it in your career right now. To find the best scan 3D, just do a little research and you will have something you enjoy using both in your personal and professional life.  

Design Quickly and Efficiently 

While sketching out drawings on a piece of paper has helped the world for centuries (think of the Wright Brothers), now you can easily create 3D images on the computer that can be modified instead of 2D on paper. In engineering and manufacturing, you can see why 3D technology would be a useful tool that could open up new possibilities. People with even an ounce of creativity will be able to use their imagination for amazing things with 3D tech. With just a little bit of know-how, you may be able to do some great things with this emerging technology.  

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5 Handy Tools to Have Around the House at All Times

As a homeowner, you probably already know how the upkeep of the house can be a bit overwhelming at times. No matter if you think of yourself as handy or not, most of the time it is completely up to you to fix the little things or make small updates to keep your house running along and still looking nice. Here are five tools to keep in a kitchen drawer so you can instantly have access to them without having to hunt them down in the garage.  

Tape Measure 

It is amazing how many times you use a tape measure as a homeowner. Want to hang a picture up on the wall but want it centred correctly? Break out the tape measure. Would you like to move the furniture around in the living room and give it all a fresh new look? Better measure to see if that couch can actually fit along that wall.  

Hammer 

Hammers are not just for hammering nails into wood. If you have a stuck window that needs a bit of an adjustment, carefully hammer away. Plus, when you are out in the yard, you may just need a hammer to knock things into place.  

A Couple Good Knives for Everyday Use 

With the amount of online shopping done nowadays, there is a good chance you have had to open a few boxes a week on average. Make it easy on yourself by purchasing a utility knife that will cut open these boxes in seconds. Simply contact an industrial blade company and you will be able to find a knife that lasts forever.  

A Small Level 

Trying to hang a picture up on the wall can be pretty trying if you don’t have a level to help you out. Rather than spending five minutes making small adjustments here and there, hang the picture perfectly straight in a matter of seconds.  

Super Glue 

Is super glue considered a tool? Not sure. But it is helpful for a variety of reasons around the house. We all break things now and then. Rather than throw them in the garbage, just glue the pieces back together. Plus, you never know when super glue will be able to close a really bad cut that would otherwise need stitches. Super glue is not just for putting broken lamps back together any longer! 

Finally, make sure to have a solid and safe storage solution for all your tools (for children’s safety and overall neatiness!). 

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5 Ways Influencers Can Promote Themselves Behind the Camera

Along with new technology come new career opportunities. Now you can get a lucrative job without even leaving the house. If you’re keeping up with the news on social media, there’s a particular term which you’ve definitely heard of – ‘Influencer.’ It seems like everyone knows who influencers are, yet at the end of the day, everyone you ask will give you a different definition.

Anyone could become an influencer

There’s one simple rule – to have influence,
you need expertise. If you want people to put stock in your opinions, they have
to see you know what you’re talking about. Each of us has a subject we
specialize in. Something that we know more about than any other person around
us. This should be the focus of anyone planning on becoming an influencer. Being
able to provide new and interesting tidbits about a specific topic will take
you a long way.

What it takes to be a good
influencer

Jobs related to content creation and social media are often considered to be the ‘easy’ career path. But the truth is, it takes time to create content of high quality. And then it takes nerves of steel to not crumble under the opinions. Hate speech is prevalent on the internet and even the most popular people have to be prepared for it.

Some people feel more comfortable when
writing. For others, the written word doesn’t feel expressive enough. Choose a
way of communicating with your followers, that you’ll be the most comfortable
with. This way, it’ll be easier for you to voice your opinions. Remember, the
more natural you sound, the more trustworthy you’ll be to those on the other
side of the screen.

How to create engaging video
content for social media

For many of the best-known influencers, videos
are the most effective way of getting their message out into the world. It’s a
great way to share your thoughts organically and interact with members of the
public during live streams. However, each of the available platforms will offer
you different opportunities. That’s why finding out the one best suited to your
needs should be your first step.

Tailor your content to the platform. If you
choose Youtube as your main channel, you can create longer videos. But with
platforms like Instagram or Twitter, videos are not what your audience would
usually expect. So you need to upload something that will instantly grab their
attention and stop them from scrolling down.Interact with your audience. Get to know what
people are interested in. Answer their questions and reply to comments. If your
followers feel noticed and listened to, they’ll be more encouraged to come
back.Use live streaming. Planned videos offer
better quality, but during live streams, you will seem more natural. This can
help break the barrier between you and the public, as they will be able to see
your reactions and hear unscripted opinions.Share the spotlight. You’re not the only
content creator out there. Many of your viewers have their own blogs and
channels, some of them will also send their work to you. Sharing the most
interesting ones will be an interesting addition to your video.Organize contests. It’s not only a great idea
for another video, but also an easy way to make your audience more engaged. You
can give away free products from your sponsors or invite the winner to feature
in your next post. Either way, people love to feel like they are a part of
something.







Managing all your profiles can be difficult

Being a successful
influencer is not just about the knowledge you can share. You also need
business skills to manage all of your channels. Plus, interacting with your
viewers, creating content and merchandise will eat up a lot of time as well.
All these can easily get on top of you. Especially if you don’t have experience
in this department. There’s nothing wrong with looking for assistance in this
situation.

With a platform like fourthwall.com, you can transform your online presence into a profitable business. Since you will be able to manage your profiles and sources of income from one place, you’ll have much more time to create valuable content for your followers. If you think this is a good option for you, subscribe to their mailing list to get notified the moment they start operating.

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Why Do People Love Playing Online Slots so Much?

The online slots market keeps getting bigger and bigger as players around the globe embrace online and mobile slots.

According to some estimates the online gambling industry was worth around $46 billion in 2017, and this figure is set to more than double to $94 billion by 2024. Online slots areamong the biggest and fastest-growing sectors of the online gambling market, alongside online poker, bingo and sports betting.

Why are online slots so popular? In this article, we give not one but four explanations for why people love online slot games.

Entertainment

First and foremost, online slots are a form of entertainment. These days, playing an online slot is as enthralling and immersive as films or gaming. As online slots technology has become more sophisticated, games manufacturers have focused increasingly on bridging the gap between traditional slots and the world of entertainment.

These days, there are slots based on video games, slots based on films, and 3D slots games.In the first half of 2019 alone, we’ve seen slots like Jumanji and the Harry Potter-themed Witchcraft Academy from NetEnt, Microgaming’s Playboy Gold, and the gaming-inspired Castle Builder II. With all these games, it’s the entertainment value that brings players in.

Unpredictability

One of the secrets to the success of not only online slots but all slots machines is the unpredictability. The first slots machines appeared in the late 19th century, but they really became sophisticated during the 20th century when operators deployed random number generators (RNG) as the main technology.

Slots have grown in leaps and bounds in terms of the images and sounds, but the RNG technology is still the main driving force. When a person sits down to play an online and mobile slot, they don’t know what they’re going to get. It’s that unpredictability of not knowing what happens nextthat keeps online gamblers coming back to the wonderful world of slots for more.

Deposit Bonuses

What more could you add to the thrills and excitement of slots games to make them even more enticing? Free stuff, of course. These days there are hundreds (if not thousands) of online and mobile casinos and thousands (if not tens of thousands) of online slots. Most online casino sites offer a range of welcome bonuses, deposit bonuses, and no-deposit bonuses to bring players in the door.

Bonuses vary in size and type but the thing they all have in common is that they reward the player with free playing money. In most cases, there are certain requirements attached to the bonus. For example, most slots bonuses can only be wagered on a specific slot or slots specified by the casino. That’s good enough for the millions of players who take advantage of slots bonuses every day.

Big Prizes

At the end of the day, the main goal of playing an online slot is to win. Obviously, online slots are just like any other form of entertainment in that there’s a cost involved. But what other forms of entertainment offer the potential of thousands or even millions in prizes?

Progressive slots offer potentially millions in prizes. Don’t believe us? Check out this list of the biggest jackpot wins of all time. The biggest slots win in history was won by a 26-year-old soldier from the UK who took home more than £13,209,300 (or more than $20 million at the time) when he won the Mega Moolah slot at Betway Casino in October 2015.

No one has managed to calculate the total all-time winnings from online slot games, but the figure no doubt reaches into the billions.

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Cryptocurrency Predictions For 2019

Starting from the use of copper and bronze coins in 1000 BC to paper currencies that were put in circulation in China almost a thousand years ago, money has certainly come a long way. With the kind of milestones, we have achieved through digitizing almost everything under the sun, the next major overhaul in global economics shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

That we would still be dealing with paper currency in the not so distant future is kind of farfetched. The global statistics on money transactions tell us the story.

A World in Change

In China alone, a mind-boggling $9 trillion worth of transactions are implemented through just mobile payments. In contrast, the US has around $1 trillion worth of transactions in the same sector. Cash accounts have nearly disappeared in Sweden with just a measly 2% of the payment transactions attributed to cash. It’s safe to say that the future everybody predicted is already here.

In the last couple of years, there has been a meteoric rise in alternative payment solutions such as Apple Pay and Venmo. Although they do offer a level of convenience, steep transaction charges, that are not very different from what the credit card companies charge, continue to keep a major chunk of the population away. On the other hand, cryptocurrencies that provide much cheaper options altogether make this transaction system nonviable right off the bat.

Busting the Crypto Bubble

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency campaigns have had a volatile year in 2017. With Bitcoin values shooting to a 1500 percent rise last year, an army of speculating investors jumped in to gain instant economic gratification. Unfortunately, ‘instant’ was never going to happen anyway.  Currently, investing in cryptocurrencies – regardless of whether it’s Bitcoin or any of the new upcoming ‘star’ currencies – is a long term strategy.

2017, especially, experienced a massive proliferation of new currencies. This is quite similar to the dotcom bubble that started forming during the late 90s which eventually burst to result in the wipeout of all sub-standard companies; only the strongest prevailed.

Just like the dotcom bubble, it’s plausible that 2018 will see many of these currencies fading away and even Bitcoin could undergo a strong devaluation.  It’s important to note that even if Bitcoin undergoes 90% deterioration in value, it would still retain the value it had around a year ago. This just goes to show that even in the worst-case scenario, a long term investor in Bitcoin certainly has something positive to look forward to.

It’s when the bubble bursts that you find a stable median value and the real scope for investment starts to materialize. This is the point where the speculative investors drop off the bandwagon and the serious investors, who invested their time to understand the dynamics of the market and the actual potential that cryptocurrency holds, make their move.

It’s Not Just Bitcoin Anymore

Another major trend to be expected in 2018 is the ongoing transition from Bitcoin to other alternative currencies. During the initial wave of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin was the only focus of the conversation.

In the past few years, currencies like Ethereum and Ripple have not only made ground to catch up with Bitcoin but have also left Bitcoin way behind in terms of market value appreciation. As a result, even though Bitcoin may be present in all related conversation, these alternative currencies will show a relatively faster growth curve in comparison to Bitcoin.

The ICO Mirage

ICOs or “initial coin offerings” will continue to be a trend in 2018. This appears to be a takeaway from the IPO concept. As of now, almost every other person with a half baked blockchain-based concept and some reasonable computing skills is seen to be capable of raising millions of dollars of funding for a new cryptocurrency. This is attributed to the fact that any conversation around the topic generates buzz. 

In most scenarios, they turn out to be nothing more than an economic mirage. Raising millions of dollars in initial capital is one thing, and on the other hand, having a rock-solid concept that’s scientifically verified and is capable of actually working as a practical business model to generate long term gains is a whole other story.

The year 2018 will most probably be the sieve for cryptocurrencies. Hundreds of ICOs worth millions of dollars leading to never-never land is going to be something of a common occurrence this year. The competition for the top spot will be interesting to observe.

Bitcoin has a lot of ground to cover in order to level the playing field. One of its major setbacks is that it does not offer the cloak of anonymity as many of its competitors do. 

The Asian Supremacy

Among the global markets, the most interesting trends are expected to arise from the Asian continent. The past year certainly proved to be a windfall for Bitcoin and a great number of relatively new currencies such as Ripple and Ethereum. With the prolific rise of the cryptocurrency market in Asian economic powerhouses such as China, South Korea, and Japan; the governments and regulators in these areas took a measured liberal stance.

China generates more than half of the global hashrate and is accountable for a substantial number of mined coins. While South Korea was little more than a blip on the cryptocurrency radar, today, it is responsible for nearly half of the global Ethereum traffic.

Japan took a major step by accepting Bitcoin as a legal currency and, in the process, facilitated a favorable environment for cryptocurrency agencies or exchanges to function with relative ease. Asia has been on the forefront in terms of promoting cryptocurrency and accounts for the major chunk of blockchain operations around the world. That being said, these countries are still struggling when it comes to setting up a viable and consistent set of regulations.

The popularity that cryptocurrencies enjoy in the East has been explosive to say the least, however, there has been a fair share of scandals that have erupted over the course of time. These incidents were picked up by the media and widely publicized giving cryptocurrency a pretty bad reputation and, essentially, instilling public fear for anything related to them. As a consequence, heavy regulations were set up in response to protect the interests of potential investors.

The Regulation Conundrum

Asian countries like Japan and Korea have definitely set an example with regards to regulations. However, this is an extremely tricky phase and, at the moment, their efforts have been focused on pulling in the negative components and consequences of cryptocurrencies while simultaneously promoting the positive ones. This is no small feat on any scale.

Hopefully, Asian governments will be able to avoid these uneven regulation and policy implementations that contribute to this current state of high volatility. This high volatility would inevitably have a negative impact on their economies in the long term.

Through January and early February of 2017, the People’s Bank of China put forth restraints on implementing cryptocurrency exchange. The heavy regulations continued through the ban of ICOs within Chinese borders and consequently led to the shut down of exchanges entirely.

On the flip side, Japan implemented the official recognition of Bitcoin as a legal tender in April 2017. This led to an unprecedented spike in the cryptocurrency activity of the country. Japan went on to approve eleven other cryptocurrency exchange agencies with a concentrated effort to set up a secure system and to ensure the protection of all involved stakeholders.

The recent CoinCheck catastrophe led to a nearly 530 million dollars of investments vanish down the drain. However, Japan presently holds accountability for over 4000 points of sale that recognize Bitcoin and almost a third of all Bitcoin transactions around the world are represented in Yen.

South Korea started with aggressive tactics, similar to China, to the extent that the government almost placed a complete ban over cryptocurrency exchanges. However, the public response against it was overwhelming and it resulted in the government backtracking on the ban and eventually adopting legalization for trading in cryptocurrency. Having said that, the South Korean government does not tolerate anonymous accounts.

Taking the Middle Road

The cryptocurrency trends in 2018 will be heavily influenced by governments in Asia trying to strike the balance between setting up the necessary regulations  – for an essentially bullish market that is on the road – to extensive correction and absorbing the positive effects of the cutting edge technology that powers cryptocurrency.

Though it could be a possibility in 2018, implementing a blanket ban on cryptocurrency would simply be skirting the obvious issue. In some shape or form, cryptocurrency holds the key to the future. As a result, a viable adoption strategy that serves the common interest is what everybody needs to be working on.

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