Category: Market

Online shopping has caught up as a recent trend. Why not? It has made shopping so much easier as now you can shop from the comfort of your home from your laptop or smart phone without going through the hassle of getting ready and going out. Buy away from the wide range of products available to you in your searched category.

Finding a product is now, easy as you just have to mention the product in the search bar of the website and you will be directed to the product in its sub-category with the similar other products. You can then choose the product that you like the most from the given options.

The products offered are provided with the zoom option to get a proper look of product, its quality, the materials used etc. Plus the images of the products from different angles are also available to know how the product actually comes across from different angles.

The product is provided with its key features, i.e. the attractive features that make the product stand out. The other specifications and details are also mentioned that provide the details of the product that the consumer wants to know. Namely, brands, dimensions, material used, package details etc. The offers regarding the product are also mentioned on the same page with the price it is being sold at including the shipping charges & EMI schemes if any.

You can also find products by their brand names, and can sort them by relevance, price, discounts, ratings, popularity and new arrivals etc. These features have made online shopping so much easier.

The products available on portals are renewed frequently to keep their product portfolio up to date with the ongoing trends and fashion requirements. Almost all of the e-commerce sites have user-friendly interface to enable its customers to interact with the seller and acquire the product of their choice as well as return it if the need arises. Browsing through the portals is so easy that a child can also operate the transaction. Plus the customers can also file or register their grievances with the product or service that they are using.

Customers can pay choosing from the different payment options made available to them by the portal. The payment options normally available to the customers for online shopping are Cash on delivery, cheques, debit cards, credit cards, online payment, gift cards etc.

After placing the order comes the time for delivery of the intended package that can be done by three methods, such as shipping, in store pickup and drop shipping. Shipping means to ship the package directly to the customer with the use of postal system or couriers. In store pickup enables the customer to pick up the package from a location easier for him/her to access. The location is chosen with the use of locator software. Drop shipping includes informing the manufacturer of the product about the order and they deliver the package in question to the customer it is intended for.

It is interesting to note that the customers are attracted to shop online not only because of ease of operation, but also because of competitive prices, broader range of selection and greater access to information.

Online shopping has seen a boom in the industry due to the convenience factor. These portals are available for online shopping 24*7, i.e., the order for shopping can be placed at any time of the day or night as convenient for the customer.

All the above mentioned services and conveniences are available at different shopping portals for the wide range of products to shop in all the categories for your whole family.

When the understanding of a phenomenon is not known misunderstanding and misinterpretation is unavoidable; therefore application will be disjointed and misplaced! The title of this article I believe is the most misconstrued of the cardinal questions related to the marketplace especially by Christians! The reason is not farfetched; Christians go to the wrong sources to look for its definition, therefore, they’d certainly be misinformed which can result to destiny malformation in the marketplace.

Arguably, there are only two dictionaries in the world: The Bible and others. The Bible is the only “Assured” book that contains the express will of God; that’s why it is regarded as the hand book of life, and by extension the handbook of business. This presupposes that if you want to know the express will of God concerning “What is Business” and other related issues that deal with business; the right and definite place to go is the bible.

Sadly, many Christian business professionals and entrepreneurs – nay, would-be Christian business practitioners seem to believe that the bible has nothing or little to say about business, so they invariably gravitate towards secular sources for the definition of business.

So, what is Business?

Let’s first explore first some of the popular definitions of business that has moulded the culture of business practitioners across the world. The Longman dictionary of Contemporary English gives an illusionary definition that had deluded many. It says business is “The activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services.” The WordWeb Dictionary defines business as the “The activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects.”

Human beings are creatures of emotion. Man is driven by his believes and values ingrained in his heart, even though he may sometime not be aware of it. The believe that business is about making money by providing products and/or services is what had been the driving force behind the passion of many business people, which have alienated mankind from the purpose for which God created business. Sadly, this is the bane of many business practitioners. The fruit or product of this kind of worldview is self-conceited and self-serving business people.

If you agree that God is the creator of the earth and the rest of the universe; then you’d also agree that He is solely responsible for the rules that govern the universe! One distinguishing character of God is that He is an intentional God. He created everything (including business) on and for a purpose. In this article, I’ll be spotlighting God’s definition of business. The surest clue to understanding this is in discerning the purpose why He created business. In this follow up article, I’ll explore what business is truly all about.

The starting point to this puzzle is to go to the very beginning; where God established His purpose of business enshrined in his cardinal purpose for man. The purpose of business is divine in nature: business exists to fulfill the Creation Mandate in Genesis 1:28,

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over… “

The cardinal purpose of man is to rule God’s physical universe – known as creation mandate. Given the Creation Mandate as the prime mandate of man, then everything relating to the life of man must find its purpose in this mandate. Therefore business is a tool to enable man to rule. If the purpose of man is to rule God’s physical creation, then all human activity must relate to man’s responsibility to rule. Therefore work is, and must be, a means to rule.

Have to try shopping online? Take a look at the products being promoted in there. Take note that there are a lot of gadgets and fashion items being sold in there. Well, we know very well that the fashion world is one of the fast changing, versatile, and trendy sections in the society. The trends of clothing and accessories vary every season of the year.

There are a lot of businesses and shops around which is in line of fashion trends. Hand bag, for example, is one of the most specific businesses in line with fashion. However, we might wonder about the target market of these hand bag products. Well, we might think there is minimal number of target consumers. However, if you notice the kinds of business in hype today, most of the consumers prefer specific, personalized, and detail-oriented goods. This article will be dealing more about the basic market for hand bags and the prospect market it is trying to penetrate.

Women of all ages are one of the targets. Women are known to have a great inclination to fashion and they think of everything that is color coordinated. What they wear should match with their shoes and their bags. Well, for those who have more in life if they shop for a particular colored dress, they also shop for matching shoes and bags with the same color as the dress so that it will be color-coordinated. The market for hand bag relatively increased as the fashion world busts to the maximum of promotion and advertisements. Thus, keeping your hand bags advertised will really do you good.

If we cannot go directly to the consumers, we can target the distributors and dealers around. We can offer them great discounts and freebies if they will tie up with us. In the same account, they will promote our product, at the same time we promote their product as well. This is one way for us to be known and to have some kinds of connection. At some point, we consider it a healthy competition since there are times where their products are out of stock and they have to get ours, and some of their products are what we need. It is a give and take relationship.

On the other hand, aside from reaching the higher market, we could also target the small scale ones. The masses are also one of the target markets that could bring us maximum profit. It is not just for the elite. The masses can purchase hand bags if they want to. The designs should not be limited to those who have more in life, since everyone has an equal right to purchase any goods or product they want. Masses can be a very huge target market that could expand and expand as long as they are satisfied with the product.

These are just some of the target markets of hand bag business. There are other sectors that can be considered though these are the basic ones who contribute most in the sudden boost of the handbag market.

Start your sailing yacht charter in Croatia here and you won’t be disappointed for sure. This wonderful city will have you mesmerized and loved up in no time. Dubrovnik is bursting at the seams with beauty, variety and a magnetism that is unique to the city. There is a wide range of high quality sailing yachts or power boats. Last not least the prices for boat rental are very competitive.

Setting sail from Dubrovnik – How to get there?

You can easily reach Dubrovnik airport, 15 km from the centre, from mostly all bigger European cities. Or make your way down the Adriatic Highway by car – all the while dreaming of your ideal Dubrovnik charter experience. This famous seaport is located on the Adriatic coast in Dalmatia, at the southern tip of Croatia. Therefore, it is the perfect starting point for a boat charter around the Croatian islands.

Which marinas in Dubrovnik are best suited for bareboat charter yachts?

Marina Gruz can host about 100 yachts of up to 55 m LOA and has several cruise ship terminals too. It lies about 4 km North-West of the Old Town. Already here you have practically everything you might need within walking distance: Shopping mall, supermarkets to get supplies for your Croatian yacht charter, banks, restaurants and bars. If need be, you can pay mostly anywhere at your convenience with Euros or Dollars – the change given back will be Croatian Kuna however. A taxi or shuttle bus will take you the short ride into town. It’s a lovely drive and you will be passing lush greenery and gorgeous villas on the way.

About the same distance to the Old Town is the Yacht Club Orsan to the North-West of the historic centre. It has 250 moorings for vessels of a maximum length of up to 20 m. This port is also very well connected and also offers a wide range of services for yacht charterers.

Finally, the Dubrovnik ACI marina about 6 km from the city centre has 380 berths and fits yachts of up to 60 m. Here you get fantastic infrastructure for sailors. There is a shipyard with dry dock, lots of shops, a swimming pool, tennis courts and much more.

Contrary to belief it is not possible to moor up in the historic harbour of Dubrovnik. But with the above options you have plenty of possibilities to choose from.

What has Dubrovnik got to offer for après sailing?

Before going on a sailing holiday around the Croatian islands you should really pay the Old Town a visit. A tour on top of the huge, up to 6 m thick ramparts can easily mean walking on the biggest, coolest set of city walls you will ever set foot on.

´The pearl of the Adriatic´, as it is also called, is vibrant and alive with street performers, music festivals and concerts. You can shop till you drop or take the cable car far, far up the hill. Here you can savour the breathtaking view over some of the most impressive fortifications in Europe. Admire the sea of red roofs and the distant horizon over the Med full of promises for your personal dream Adriatic yacht charter. Back down with your feet firmly on the ground take in some more of the sights of the UNESCO world heritage site – there are so many to choose from. Strolling down the Stradun, Dubrovnik´s majestic main street, is just one of them. It is a pedestrian zone as is the rest of the historic centre. Maybe sample some Croatian produce as you go along or buy some funky souvenirs and have a chat with one of the local vendors.

When it’s time for sundowners you can make your way up to one of the numerous charming little chill out bars that are perched on the rocks above the sea. Listen to the hypnotic beats, relax and congratulate yourself on being there. Dream away as you watch the sun drop in the Mediterranean Sea. Your own sailing adventure is soon about to begin…

As it gets dark the ´Croatian Athens´ is transformed dramatically into a stunningly romantic backdrop for you to lose track of time. You can enjoy pristine quality seafood fresh from the catch, have a glass of wine and watch the international crowd walk past. Most visitors coming to this town for the first time will have a look of sheer wonder and joy on their faces. Dubrovnik does just that: It makes people happy to be alive and its amazingly intact walls are a sight to behold forever.

Which ones are the best day charter escapes from Dubrovnik?

Very recommendable is a day´s sailing trip around the beautiful Elaphite islands. A skipper will pick you up from Gruz harbour and take you across the clear water. There are plenty of beaches there to discover, or alternatively many beautiful churches and sights dating as far back as the 15th century. Enjoy the lovely view of the orange groves and try the local cuisine before heading back to the city.

Another option is a day trip to the Mljet National Park. This densely wooded island is said to have been the setting for Ulysses being caught in the goddess Calypso´s cave.

Korcula, also nearby, has an absolutely wonderful town worth coming to. Here you can also visit Marco Polo´s alleged birth house.

Last not least you could do an excursion to Montenegro that includes a stop in the beautiful port town of Kotor. The choice is all yours!

The times in my life where, for one reason or another, I was looking for a job, I always found the lure of work at home jobs tempting. The work at home jobs that were most readily available were either scams or they cost more to do than you could make. The best work at home jobs were hard to find or they required skills that I just did not have.

My true passion and calling is church ministry, which in my case has moved me across the country a couple of times. It also, until recently, did not pay at all. That meant I had to find some regular paying job that was flexible enough to let me do my church ministry.

My last move was from California back to my home state of Missouri. That left me in a position where I was not yet being paid by the church, and I still didn’t have a secular job. After a short time of filling out applications, I got tired of it and just looked up the city’s business directory and started calling. I didn’t get very far down the list before I was asked to come in for an interview. After the interview process I was hired. The job I landed was a hourly position at a mystery shopping company.

I have learned a lot about the mystery shopping industry and the problems they face with fake mystery shopping companies. These fake mystery shopping companies will often use the real mystery shopping companies name. They ofter refer to the real companies website to enhance their legitimacy. They sometimes even use the names of the employees at the real mystery shopping company.

This article’s purpose is to teach you how to avoid the fakes and take advantage of the finds by; showing you what to look for in the fakes, where to look for the finds, and the best way to make the real deal profitable. This article should give the person looking for a work at home job with flexible hours the information they need to make mystery shopping a profitable venture.

Beware of checks in the mail! If you receive checks in the mail from a mystery shopping company before you have done anything, chances are they are a fake. They may email you or even call, but if they send you money that has not yet been earned, be afraid. Be very afraid! Some unsuspecting people have called our office asking where their money is. They followed the instructions carefully. They deposited the checks and wired the money, but now their bank account is overdrawn and they are demanding answers. My only answer is they have been duped and we had nothing to do with it. It breaks my heart to tell them that they will probably never see any of that money again. If you have lost money due to one of these scams, you should contact any companies involved and the FBI as well as alert local authorities. Don’t expect any of them to be too reasuring though. Your money is probably in another country right now.

If the checks or money orders are fake, why doesn’t the bank catch them right away? The evil doers that make these fakes are really good at what they do. The only way the banks can know for sure that the checks or money order are real, is to run the transaction. That takes a couple days. Meanwhile your bank account if full of imaginary money. When you pay for something or use money out of your bank account, that money is real. If you wired money to these people or where ever they told you to wire it, that money was real as well. When the imaginary money disappears, the bank holds you responsible for the difference.

There are a plethora of other schemes out there designed to make money off anyone who might be a little to trusting. The general rule is, you don’t give or use money that you couldn’t afford to lose. If you are given money in the form of a check, money order, or even cash, give the bank time to verify it is real. Do not spend the money or send the money until it is verified. Open a separate account so as not to mix the potentially fake money with your real money. Be very careful about giving out personal information.

You might be thinking that you should just avoid everything that comes along with the words “mystery shopping” attached. Please don’t come to the conclusion that mystery shopping is always illegitimate. There are opportunities out there for those that want to shop businesses for money. Businesses rely on mystery shopping to make sure their front line employees are meeting their standard of customer service. Sometimes they do the shops internally, sending in upper management undercover. Sometimes they ask their regular customers to evaluate their service. The most common and most effective mystery shopping programs are done by third party businesses.

Mystery shopping by its very nature is secretive. Companies do not want people or other companies to know about their mystery shopping program and shoppers do not want people to know that they are mystery shoppers. Mystery shopping companies have to be very careful about how they promote their business. They can’t go around saying, “we have shops at McDonalds” to the whole world. They have to be somewhat generic. “We have fast food shops in this city” they might say. These generic advertisements rouse suspicion among those who mystery shopping companies would most like to reach. It is a catch 22.

People who are looking to become shoppers can find a few places where they can be sure the opportunities they are getting are real. One of those places in the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). The MSPA is like the Better Business Bureau, except they deal exclusively with mystery shoppers and mystery shopping companies. Their website is mysteryshop.org. They help connect shoppers with legitimate companies.

You can also find mystery shopping forums where shoppers talk to each other about what companies are the best and worse. Most mystery shopping companies will have somebody out there calling them a scam on these forums, but take those comments with a grain of salt. These shoppers probably did not complete the shop according to the client details specified before they accepted the opportunity. There are always bitter people out there who’s goal in life is to destroy the reputation of businesses they feel cheated them out of a couple dollars. Check and see if everybody is complaining or if it is just one voice in a thousand.

You can also check out the webpage of the company and any of their social media pages. Look specifically for others who have posted on the companies blog or Facebook page. You can tell a lot by how many friends a company has on their social media platforms and how active they are. Keep in mind that shoppers are pretty private people, so you won’t a whole lot of comments on public forums. You will see enough to verify there is some life though.

Legitimate mystery shopping companies will have some sort of sign up process. Some are long and somewhat laborsome. Other companies sign up process is as simple as using a Facebook automatic sign up button. A sample of your writing might be required and other information you. It is not unusual for a mystery shopping company to ask for your Social Security number or EIN. They need this for tax purposes. If you make over $599.00, the company will have to send you a 1099 form. They may also require a W9. If the company does direct deposits they will need some bank information. Asking for any of these thing should not make you think that the company is illigitament. All these things are a necessary part of doing business with you as a independent contractor.

In most cases, unless you are applying for editing, scheduling, sales or some other type of office job, you will not be hired by a mystery shopping company. What I mean is you will not become an employee of the mystery shopping company. If you do mystery shopping you will be doing it as a independent contractor. Congratulations! You are running your own at home business. Mystery shopping companies are how you connect to the clients who need shoppers. They also do all the scheduling and editing for the client. Basically, the mystery shopping company is a liaison between the mystery shopper and the business. Without all the tools that mystery shopping companies have, shoppers would not be able to deliver the kind of reporting that companies require. Without the mystery shopping companies, businesses would spend a lot more time and money on mystery shopping programs. Mystery shopping companies are a valuable asset, both to the businesses who need shoppers and to the shoppers who want to shop for businesses. The important thing to keep in mind for those looking to be shoppers is, you are not an employee. There are benefits to that and drawbacks. but you are your boss and your client is the business. You will probably never have any contact with the person who is really paying you. Strange but true. Mystery shopping is kind of a weird world.

Different mystery shopping companies have their own way of telling you what shops are available. Most mystery shopping companies will give you a login to their website where you can see all the available shops in your area. You accept the shops you want to do and after the shops are awarded, you are responsible to follow the client details for the shops you have accepted.

After completing the shop, you will normally fill out an online survey. When you have completed the survey, some mystery shopping companies will have editors review the survey, and if there are any problems, the editors will return the shop to you to correct those problems. If you fail to follow the client details or fail to complete the survey thoroughly, the editors may reject your shop all together and look for another shopper to complete it. You will not be compensated for time or money spent doing the shop. This is the risk of being an independent contractor. If your work does not meet the agreement when you accepted the project, the client does not have to reward you.

On the other hand, if the survey is filled out thoroughly and all client details were followed, you will receive the agree upon amount of money. You may also receive an agreed upon amount of reimbursement as well for purchases made. The business will pay the mystery shopping company for their services which includes the shopper pay. The mystery’s shopping company will disburse the money owed to the shoppers. The disbursements are made using pay services, paper checks, direct deposit, etc… The day of the disbursement also varies a great deal. It could take up to 90 days to receive the disbursement for your shop. It could be as quick as 15 days from the day of the shop.

There are shops that could earn you large amounts of money or reimbursement in one shot. Normally those shops require a lot of time, a large amount of money up front, and/or some risk. There are shops where you are earning a meal, product, vacation or service completely reimbursed. You will have pay for these things first, but if you do the shop correctly, they will be 100% reimbursed or up to the agreed amount in the client details.

On the other hand, a majority of shops available earn much less money. Shops can earn as little as $2, but most are in the range of $5 to $20. Some shoppers aren’t really doing it for the money and just shop for fun.

Other shoppers develop large routes so they can do as many shops as they can in one day. They can turn $10 each into $100 easily. Many shops are in close proximity and if planned well, can make the shopper a lot of money in one day. To do this they have to sign up for as many mystery shopping companies as possible.

Route shopping takes a lot of organization. You have to be able to work with the schedulers from the different mystery shopping companies and make sure the shops can all be done on the same day. You have to allow enough time to travel between locations and enough time to fill out all the surveys. Some companies require the surveys to be turned in the same day that the shop was completed. You also have to be thorough in your reports or they could be rejected. If you miss due dates or forget about shops, you could get black listed and not be able to do anymore shops for some companies. For those that can plan and organize routes, they have the most potential for making a significant amount of money.

Most locations can be done more than once by the same shopper, there are usually rotation times. Rotation times could be as little as 30 days all the way up to a year. Some shops will only be able to be done one time and will never be able to shop that location again. It just depends on what the client needs.

Mystery shopping companies may also have affiliate programs, where the affiliate is rewarded for referring shoppers to the company. These programs could pay for every person referred that signs up or even for every shop completed by the person who was referred. Some also pay for sub-affiliate activity as well.

Mystery shopping can be a viable, flexible and fun source of income. Even if you have heard horror storys of people being taken advantage of, you can confidently choose legitimate mystery shopping companies to shop for.

Fiverr or Fiverr.com is rocking the world. This web business has become extremely popular since it was launched a few years back. In fact, it has been featured on The Wall Street Journal, NBC, Yahoo Finance, CNN Money, Fox News, Smart Money, and many other places. With every new day, more and more people are signing up and joining the Fiverr gig community.

But what exactly is Fiverr? It is an online marketplace where providers can post services offered for just $5. In other words, buyers can buy gigs that are displayed there and they have to pay just $5 for the service purchased.

The seller gets $4, and the balance is taken by the website as its commission or earning. The provider can withdraw money for services offered to the PayPal account. The services can be posted under several categories such as writing, social marketing, graphics, music & audio, business, technology, programming, and more.

What Makes Fiverr So Special?

The fact is, there is no dearth of marketplaces on the Internet. Most of them work the other way round. In other words, employers would post jobs, and as a service provider, you have to place your bid. You will hardly have any control over what you can offer as you are restricted to what the employer wants. Fiverr is different. Here, you can post the services you can offer, and the employers too can let you know what they are looking for.

The main difference is in the pricing. All services sold at Fiverr are at $5.

So, it can be said that this is a micro gig marketplace. For small jobs, this is just perfect, because at other job boards or marketplaces, the cost is simply too high to justify sales of $5.

So How Can You Make Money At Fiverr?

The website offers a great opportunity to make quick money. First, the membership is free. Just sign-up, give your details, and you can be a member in minutes.

You can start posting the services you offer as soon as you become a member. Just write down what you want to do for $5, select the category where you want your online job advertisement to be displayed, write a description for the service offered, mention the number of days within which you can do it, add an image, write down the tags, and you are done. Your advertisement will be on Fiverr in minutes.

You will begin to see traffic coming in as people view your gig, and if what you are offering interests them, then you will have sales too. You will see the revenue when you deliver the order.

It is essential that you promote your gig because it can lose visibility as more advertisements are posted in the category at Fiverr. With low visibility, your gig will have almost no traffic, and this means, no sales. You can promote your gig through Twitter, by posting the link at Face book, and asking your friends to visit and order, or you can also send your friends an email. Just be imaginative, do some promotions, and orders can soon flow in.

So, you’ve written a great blog article for your business and you want to share it with the world. Why not? Everyone should know about your great product or service, right? While that’s certainly true, let’s take a few steps first to ensure you know how to market your blog articles. After all, you wouldn’t want to put so much time and effort into your blog articles and have it fall flat.

Review Your Blog Article

Is your blog article interesting to others? Do you speak clearly and in a comfortable tone? Do you get to your point quickly and support it with relevant information?

You’ll want your blog article to be interesting to others-and shareable on social media. So, take the time to look at it with a critical eye. And be sure to correct any spelling, grammar, and clarity issues with your copy. You don’t want to be misunderstood or turn someone off because your blog has numerous errors.

Better yet, have a professional review your blog article and proofread/edit it for you. They’ll catch things you may not have, and your blog will be exponentially better for having a professional review it.

(HINT: Spell-check is not your friend. It won’t catch everything, and neither will you. Even proofreaders need proofreaders.)

Know Your Audience

Do some research about your audience, preferably before you start writing. Who are they? What are their dreams, hopes, desires, worries, and fears? What is their problem and how do you solve it? How would they want you to relate to them? Should your copy be casual and conversational or more formal and educational? Create a detailed customer profile, down to what they eat for breakfast, how they sleep and exercise, and what they do for fun. Get to know your audience first, and it will pay off later.

Optimize Your Blog Articles

You can have the greatest blog in the world, but if no one finds it then what does it matter? Before you post your blog, be sure you’re taking every step to optimize it so that it shows up in search engine results. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Choose a longtail key phrase and use it in multiple places. Think about what people type into a search engine. Simply type your subject matter into a search and see what auto populates. This will give you some clues about what people are looking for. (HINT: It’s best to do this before you start writing.) Of course, you can also invest in keyword research for your website and subject matter. That way, you don’t waste time trying to rank for low-volume searches (practically no one is searching for that) or high-competition searches (you’re competing against the big guys here).

When you’ve decided on a key phrase, be sure to use it in the following places:

• Headline (H1)
• First 100 words, ideally first paragraph
• At least one subheading (H2, H3)
• Several times throughout
• Call to Action
• URL (blog page web address)
• Title Tag (page name in search engine results)
• Meta Description (description in search engine results)

Add Imagery

Plan on using one to three royalty-free images for your blog article. You’ll want to designate one as your feature image and, depending on the length of your article, add one or two more to break up long sections of text. Choose images that enhance your writing and add visual interest. Remember that the image may be the first thing people notice before reading your article, so keep it interesting.

Post It, and Don’t Forget about It

Once your article is posted, pay attention to any engagement. If your blog receives comments, take the time to comment back and engage with your followers. They want to feel noticed and valued too. Answer questions and encourage continued communication.

More on How to Market Your Blog Articles

Posting your blog is only the beginning of your marketing efforts. At Precise, we encourage you to create three different social media posts for each blog article. Optimize your post for each channel (e.g., 280 characters or less plus 2 ̶ 3 hashtags for Twitter, additional hashtags for Instagram) and use an image with each post too.

Test and measure each social media post to see which ones perform the best. Take your best performers and continue to schedule these posts on social media in the months to come (on different days and at different times).

Repurpose Your Blog Article Content

Next, make your blog articles work quadruple time for you by repurposing your content. You can take your social media post a few steps further for even more promotion. Here are a few ideas:

• Create graphics using a few key takeaways from your blog
• Create a video short with key points as well
• Record a video of you talking about your blog. Include a few extra tidbits.
• Record a YouTube video version of your blog.
• Record a podcast version of your blog, or chat with another expert on the subject matter.
• Link to other related blogs on your site to keep visitors interested.
• Use your blog in promotional materials.
• Add an email opt-in/sign-up on your blog posts.
• Add social sharing buttons for each blog post.
• Link to your post with a teaser in an e-newsletter.
• Add your profile to your blog. Let people know who you are.
• Create an infographic to go with your blog.
• Submit your blog to an e-zine.
• Submit your post to RSS directories.
• Join a social sharing group.
• And more!

Take action on a half dozen or more of these ideas, and you’re sure to garner attention for your blog article.

Flight delays are stressful especially in a city like Manila. But don’t panic. Just book a room at a hotel in Parañaque City, Philippines, Makati or Pasay. Here, you check out the different sites and attractions south of Manila, which will keep you entertained during a long layover or while waiting for a better-timed flight.

Fortunately, there are many places near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) that you could visit to keep you engaged while you are grounded.

Casino Filipino

This government-owned amusement and gaming center is located just a few minutes from NAIA’s Terminal 1 in Parañaque City.

Aside from the nightly entertainment and gambling, this is also a good place to dine, shop, party, and watch world-class events. Casino Filipino has something for people of all ages and persuasions.

Resorts World Manila

This commercial, residential, and entertainment complex is just a 10 minute-drive from NAIA. Found here are the finest casinos, hotels, and resorts in Parañaque City. This upscale place is mostly visited by the rich and famous, but people from all walks of life can also enjoy the entertainment, dining, and designer shops here. It is also a notable nightspot because of its high-profile clubs and performers.

Villamor Golf Club

Take advantage of the long wait and have fun at Villamor Golf Club. This country club is just a 12-minute ride via cab from the airport. While waiting for things to settle in NAIA, hang out with your friends or family. It has fine facilities, friendly caddies, restaurant, coffee shop, lounges, and even a massage area.

SM Mall Of Asia

Hail a taxi and after a 15 minutes you’d have reached the Philippines’ 2nd-and Asia’s 3rd-largest shopping center. It has a land area of 42 hectares and houses hundreds of stores. Everything that you could wish for in a shopping mall is here: restaurants, shops, cinema, activity centers, entertainment, event, sports arena, and concert halls. During weekends, people are treated to an amazing fireworks display. If you get tired of exploring the 42 hectare-property, you’ll be glad that you’ve booked accommodations in Parañaque City that’s just a cab ride away.

Duty Free Philippines

For people who are stressed out, retail therapy is always a good pick-me-upper. There’s no other place in the city where it’s fun to spend cash on ‘comfort buys’ than the popular Duty Free stores. There is a Duty Free outlet store inside NAIA, but you won’t regret the 9-minute cab ride to the bigger store. It is packed with designer brands and other products and goods that are usually found in the US and Europe. There’s a good chance that you will forget about your traveling woes and extend your stay at your chosen hotel in Parañaque City, Philippines, or other nearby cities when you see how affordable it is to shop here.

Today, buying online is the way to go. You have a great collection of things to buy. Plus, you can bargain. The shipping is fast and security is high. You can even return the products that are damaged. As a matter of fact, shopping is a lot easier today. However, those who are unfamiliar with how the online buying works may be an easy target for cyber criminals who steal money from people through phishing frauds and other tricks. Given below are a few tips to buy online safely. Read on.

1. Use Familiar Websites

If you have never purchased from an online store before, we suggest that you start at an online store that is trusted all over the world. For instance, you can buy at Amazon. This is one of the biggest online stores of the world where you can buy anything. Other good names include Home Depot, Best Buy and Target, just to name a few. Make sure type the correct URL of the site.

2. Look for the SSL Lock

It’s a good idea to stay away from a website that doesn’t have the SSL encryption. For instance, if the website URL begins with HTTPS instead of HTTP, you can buy from it safely. Moreover, the website URL will have a locked padlock in it. Another important thing is that you must never send your credit card information through email.

3. Don’t Give too much information

Reliable online stores never ask for a buyer’s birthday or social security number. If a scammer gets your credit card number and social security number, be ready to suffer a big loss. With this information, it will be a lot easier for them to steal your identity. If possible, make sure you give the least information when buying online.

4. Check Statements

Check your credit card statements on a regular basis. Make sure the statements don’t have any fraudulent charges. If you notice something unusual, make sure you call the bank immediately to get the matter resolved. If you are going to buy with a credit card, make sure the charges are accurate.

5. Scan Your PC

Make sure you have an anti-virus program installed on your computer. This is important if you want protection against malware. The anti-virus should be the most recent version.

6. Use Strong Passwords

Make sure your password is a non-dictionary word. It shouldn’t be an easy to guess term. It is even more important when you are going to buy online. If possible, use a combination of letters and numbers. You passwords should be over 8 letters.

7. Avoid Public Terminals

It’s not a good idea to use a public computer in order to buy something from an online store. But if you have to use a public terminal, make sure you sign out after each session. This is equally important even if you went online just to check your email inbox.

So, if you follow these 7 tips, you will be safe when buying stuff online.

The successful launch of a novel medical device technology requires a coordinated effort between several functional groups within the company. The coalescence of these group’s activities in line with a predetermined project timeline are essential to timely and successful product commercialization. Marketing team members play a vital role in this process beginning with providing market insight during the initial concept development phase through conducting a post-commercialization assessment of launch planning activities and marketing tactics.

A failed product launch can be disastrous from a financial perspective and to the reputation of the product’s brand in the marketplace. Since companies only have one chance to launch a product, it is vital that launch planning and preparedness activities cover the entire scope of known and potentially unknown roadblocks which could affect successful product introduction into the marketplace. As a result of its integral role as a part of the commercialization process, marketing has the primary responsibility for many of these activities.

While providing insight on the full range of marketing activities required for a successful product launch is beyond the scope of this article, the following are four key areas, based on the author’s experience, where good marketing planning and execution can help get the product successfully out the blocks without stumbling.

Obtaining Customer Feedback

From initial concept development through post-launch assessment, customer input into the design and positioning of new medical devices is essential. Attempting to bring a product to market without adequate customer feedback, or even worse, disregarding customer feedback, will ultimately limit product acceptance in the marketplace.

Examples of customer feedback parameters which are commonly obtained as a part of this process include validating market assumptions, assessment of the competitive environment, input on product specifications, determining the product’s value proposition, developing and testing product positioning, and obtaining feedback on the product’s ease of use. It is important to develop a decision making process which can be followed when heeding customer feedback would results in an increase in product development or manufacturing costs, or if implementing changes based on the customer input significantly changes the timeline for product launch.

Developing a Targeting Strategy

Identifying and targeting market segments which will result in a steeper adoption curve is vital to getting a strong start out of the blocks with a new medical device technology. Assessing differing market segments should not only be solely based upon the market potential, but also on the potential barriers to entry which may exist within these segments.

Market segments with the highest number of patients or procedural volumes may not always represent the best “first” markets to approach. These segments are often associated with greater competitive pressures due to the market opportunities they represent, or may be associated with higher visibility within a hospital setting from either a product approval or cost-cutting perspective. Segmenting customers by technology adoption characteristics is also important. Focusing initial launch activities towards early adopters who are quick to understand the potential benefits of the technology and limiting efforts directed at late adopters who require substantial clinical experience and more scientific evidence will maximize resources and drive initial sales growth.

Creating Economic Value

Most hospitals now have policies and procedures in place which require the review of new products prior to their use or purchase by the hospital. This has resulted in an expanded number of individuals who are involved in the decision making process and a greater focus on the cost impact of the technology to the hospital. Having evidence that a new medical technology provides a clinical benefit to patients is often not sufficient to gain entry into the hospital and many hospitals are now requesting cost justification analyses which demonstrate the economic impact of the adoption of the technology at their institution.

In order to demonstrate the economic value associated with a new technology, marketing must provide both the background training and the appropriate tools to empower the sales organization to communicate this type of information to customers. A typical tool is a pro-forma economic model where variables can be inputted based on clinical results associated with the products use and either standardized or customer specific cost data.

Developing a Publication Strategy

A successful product launch necessitates a meticulous plan for effectively communicating the value of a new medical technology along with developing a strategy for addressing anticipated objections from the marketplace. A key component of this strategy is the development and execution of a comprehensive publication plan. The timely execution of an effective publication strategy can accelerate the adoption of a new medical technology.

The sequential development and submission of manuscripts to key journals which target specific customer segments is needed to insure they receive continuous and pertinent information about the product. The overall objective for a publication strategy should be to disseminate clinical and economic information which supports the benefits and the positioning of the Company’s technology.

Conclusion

The development and timely execution of a comprehensive strategic launch plan is a requirement for the successful commercialization of a new medical technology. Proactive marketing leadership as a part of a product development and commercialization team can help to insure that potential hurdles in the marketplace are identified and addressed in advance of a product launch resulting in a greater potential for initial market success.