Saturday, May 18, 2024
Home Blog Page 426

Laptop Rental: A Great Way to Save Money in Dubai

If you’re on the lookout for a new laptop you should think about laptop rental. There are many advantages to laptop rental when compared to purchasing a new laptop. Not only will you save money but also have the convenience of being able to try different models and brands out without committing to purchase.

Laptop rental provides you with the same level of quality as if you purchased the laptop brand-new.

  • Dell.
  • Acer.
  • Apple
  • Lenovo.
  • HP.
  • Toshiba.
  • Sony.

And other brands offer many laptop rentals.

One World IT Rental Middle East offer laptop rentals. At Renta Centers you can rent laptops, desktop computers and even Sony computers. At Best Buy you can rent laptops, desktop computers, notebooks and even some TVs. At CompUSA you can rent notebooks, televisions, cameras and more.

What you should consider before renting an iPad?

When renting a laptop you should look for one that has the longest warranty available as the life of a computer may be limited by the time the laptop rental center takes the machine back for a new replacement. It is also a good idea to look at how secure the facility is. Some have a much higher level of security than others. Laptop rentals with the best security may cost more but the peace of mind you get is well worth the cost.

Where to find laptop rental deals?

You can also find good deals on laptop rental by visiting the website of the rental company and viewing their online catalog. They will have a virtual catalog that you can browse to find the model, size and price you want. With the online catalog you can also see the technical support that is offered by the companies listed. Technical support is a very important part of owning a computer. Many people mistakenly believe that they can handle technical problems on their own but that is usually not the case and you should have a professional troubleshoot your problem if you find yourself in need of it.

There are some companies that are better than others when it comes to laptop leasing. The better companies will offer the latest models and many of them are actually brand new. They have the best technical support team and they work hard to keep their machines operating and up to par at all times. They also may lease only certain models of laptops, so you know that you are getting the best technology available.

One of the main benefits of renting a laptop is the price.

You can save a lot of money in Dubai over the course of a year by using a laptop rather than purchasing one. Click here to read more about Dubai. Even if you have to replace your laptop every year or two due to constant abuse, you will save so much money in the long run by renting rather than buying.

If you are concerned about performance, you can always rent a laptop rental rather than committing to a model with terrible specifications. The main thing to look for when you rent a laptop is whether or not they have the specific components needed to make your machine work. You can find everything you need to test out your system by simply looking online for a ghz test page.

Conclusion

The most important benefit of laptop rentals is of course the discounted price. You get to test out a computer that may very well be the next gaming wonder and you will be saving a ton of money! You can even pay in cash if you prefer. Online shopping has changed the way we normally shop. Gone are the days when we must rely on a salesperson to recommend the best possible product for us. Now we can test it all out ourselves!

Hard Money Loan Examples

0

Many people wonder what a hard money loan looks like as a financing option for investors. This type of loan is in high demand among investors because it usually comes with many different loan options. The lenders offer quick access to funds for respectable borrowers to close deals and invest in properties. 

Hard money loans are necessary for the current real estate marketplace. Many investors wouldn’t have a chance to enter the market if they didn’t have private money lenders to help them out. The main reason for this is the excessive underwriting requirements from conventional lenders. However, the speed of approval is another significant factor in choosing the right financing option. 

A lender can approve a hard money loan within several days. It allows the investor to close a deal quickly and get the property they want before their competition. Moreover, hard money lenders are willing to invest in properties that need repairs. 

The flexibility of hard money loans is one of their most vital points and an important reason why so many investors choose this type of financing. Investors are interested in buying properties that require serious repairs or need quick refinancing on real estate they’ve already repaired and prepared for rentals. 

Private money loan terms may vary significantly from one lender to another. They also differ geographically, but the average interest rate goes from 7% to 12%. The loan origination fee is usually between 1% and 3% in all regions. 

One doesn’t have to have a brilliant credit score or provide excessive documentation and personal information to apply for a private loan. The property itself backs up the loan and serves as collateral. 

Let’s go through some private money loan examples, so you’ll get an idea of what they are used for and who benefits from them. 

Commercial Loans

Investors who work with commercial real estate always seek the fastest possible closing option. Private loans allow them to buy commercial properties within several days of applying. 

For example, RBI Mortgages is a hard money lender in Miami that offers competitive rates and fast closing. Their essential loan criteria include fixed rates starting at 8,5% with a maximum of 60% LTV. There is no prepayment penalty and you only pay interest in monthly payments. A balloon at maturity and loan amounts anywhere from $100,000 to $10,000,000 attract many investors. 

The property types this type of loan is used for include hotels, offices, multifamily apartment buildings, warehouses, restaurants, and other commercial property types. Several types of commercial loans are available, including purchase, refinance, and cash out.  

Residential Loans 

Also known as bridge loans, residential loans are a perfect solution for secondary homes and investment real estate. The usual borrowers for residential loans are those who need cash to invest in a second home or need fast closing. 

At RBI Mortgages, the loan term for residential loans can be one, two, or three years. The fixed rates start at 7,75%, and just as with commercial loans, there is no prepayment penalty, and the payments include interest only. Loan amounts start from $75,000 and go up to $10,000,000. 

This loan type is suitable for properties like condominiums, multi family homes, single-family residences, buildings that have two to four units, condo-motels, and many others. Three residential loan types are available: cash out, purchase, and refinance. 

Fix and Flip, Fix to Rent 

Investors, both new and experienced, are always on the lookout for the best property on the market. They usually need cash fast, so they buy one as soon as it comes out for sale, especially for residencies good for fix and flips. Investors looking to buy a property to fix and flip or rent find these loans very useful. 

The essential loan criteria include fixed rates that start at 8,5%. The term goes from six months to two years, and the loan consists of an after-repair LTV of up to 70%. 

With loan amounts starting from $75,000 and going up to $10,000,000 and flexible terms, investors find this type of loan extremely useful. Property types for these loans include townhouses, two to four units’ buildings, single-family residences, etc. Cash-out, refinance, and purchase is available as loan variations. 

Getting a Loan

The first step to getting a loan usually includes filling out an online application and waiting for a short time (usually 24 to 48 hours) for a loan processor to get back at you. After they approve the loan, the average closing time is five to ten days on residential loans and ten to fifteen days on Fix and Flip and Fix to Rent Loans. For commercial loans, the approval time depends on environmental conditions, appraisal, and property title. 

Applying for a loan takes a lot less documentation than a traditional loan application would require. It takes less time to get approved and comes with other perks including flexible terms. Those are all valid reasons for real estate investors to choose this financing option. 

Introducing Sahel Majali Sterling BIM Founder

Sahel Majali is an engineering expert with over three decades of experience within the global construction and contracting industry. Majali currently acts as Chairman of the Mid Group, which is the dynamic development, construction and investment company he founded 2014. Part of the Mid Group is Sterling BIM, an in-house multi-disciplinary team comprised of leading consultants, project managers, model managers and design managers. Sahel Majali Sterling BIM founder leads a team that works across all stages of construction projects in multiple sectors. Sterling BIM is based in both London and Amman.

Under the leadership of Sahel Majali Sterling BIM provides clients with a broad range of services in the Building Information Modelling sector. These services can accommodate all stakeholders in any project, creating tailormade solutions that redefine the construction industry. The talented creative team at Sterling BIM delivers streamlined projects, drawing on an array of backgrounds including architectural, infrastructures, MEP and structural.

Sahel Majali and Sterling BIM work to stand out from the crowd by delivering a service that focuses on developing positive partnerships with each client, resulting in the client achieving significantly higher value. The company is flexible, agile and adaptable, meeting challenges head-on to deliver optimum results in the most cost-effective and productive ways possible. Sterling BIM adjusts to all changes in the built environment with ease and meets evolving customer demands through the adoption of new processes, tools and developed services.

Under Sahel Majali Sterling BIM invests in its employees and team members, operating continuous programmes of professional development. These include sending employees and team members on training courses to ensure the entire team is constantly up to date on all the latest trending topics within the industry, both internationally and on a more local basis.

Sahel Majali attended University College in London where he studied for a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Following his graduation in 1984, Majali moved to the US for further study, where he majored in Construction Management at the George Washington University and achieved his M.E.A. in 1985. Since embarking on his career, Majali has established himself as an expert in his field and a qualified, experienced and innovative leader in construction management.

Between 1991 and 2007, Majali worked as Managing Director and Chairman of the first company he founded, Mid Contracting Jordan, which was based in Amman.

What is professional liability insurance?

0

Professional liability insurance is a commercial policy that pays the legal and compensation costs of a business should its client or customer claim work it did caused them financial loss. The loss of earnings could be current or future, and also includes the cost to repair the damage caused by the defendant. 

According to NimbleFins, professional liability insurance, also known as professional indemnity insurance, is commonly used in industries where a mistake or a bad service could cause high costs to the client. These include consultants, accountants, and architects.

It is also used in creative and skills-based industries which are more subjective and so a client may claim a brief has not been adhered to. These include tradesmen, graphic designers and interior designers. 

It provides a financial resource to cover legal fees and damages. And it also prevents a business from absorbing the risk and accounting for a potential claim when negotiating a price for its service, making it more competitive. 

Legal fees and a client’s loss of earnings could run into the thousands or millions of pounds, depending on the damage. Policies provide peace of mind for a relatively small fee compared to the risk of the trade and the business. 

What is the purpose of professional liability insurance?

The purpose of professional liability insurance is to give businesses financial protection against the risks of their professional trade. If a business gives expert advice, or sells its knowledge or skills, there is a chance staff could make a mistake, or badly advise a client. If that client loses money as a result of the business’s work, it can be held liable for what could be thousands or even millions of pounds in some cases. 

If it wasn’t for these policies, many could be put out of business, not just by the compensation claims, but by the hefty legal expenses that come with defending a claim. Legal bills can easily run into thousands of pounds, and tens of thousands of pounds, and without professional liability insurance a business could quickly be put into jeopardy.

Professional liability insurance takes away the risk of damages so the business can trade freely. Without this type of insurance, a financial advisor, for example, may be more hesitant and risk-averse in their investment suggestions, which could make them a poorer expert. Or they may charge astronomical fees over fear a client could launch a claim if their advice turns out to be bad. Professional liability insurance, therefore, makes a business a stronger performer and more competitive. 

What does professional liability insurance cover?

Professional liability insurance covers the legal fees and compensation related to a range of scenarios where a business could be accused of negligence, which could include:

Professional negligence: By giving the wrong advice or incorrect information, or failing to deliver what was promised that leads a customer to lose money. 

Defamation: Where a client accuses the policyholder of libel or slander.

Breach of confidentiality: Such as sharing information without permission. This could be done by a dishonest employee or via the business, for example when taking on a new client in a similar market.

Loss of documents or goods: This includes any loss of equipment or belongings but could also include sensitive data which the client had trusted a policyholder to handle. An example of this could be a policyholder accidentally sends a virus to a client wiping their system and the client must pay thousands of pounds to restore the information.

Acts or mistakes by subcontractors.

Bodily injury: If a customer, their employee or other third party is injured due to a policy holder’s negligence.

How much professional liability insurance do I need?

The amount of professional liability insurance a company needs depends on a range of scenarios such as its size, risk of its profession and the value of the work being done for its clients. 

Businesses working in certain professions will have a minimum requirement for professional liability insurance, should they wish to be a member of a regulatory body. For example, the Financial Conduct Authority insists certain firms have continuous cover from the start of a firm’s authorisation, a specific policy excess, as well as a number of other conditions. They must be covered for €1,250,000 for a single claim and an amount equivalent to 10% of annual income, up to £30million in aggregate.

Some clients also insist a business has a minimum amount of insurance before a contract is signed. 

Commercial insurance products are soaring in price in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Insurance Journal reports. Providers fear a wave of litigation due to decisions made which turned out to cost money due to the volatile economy.

It is wise to be aware that professional indemnity policies are typically written on a ‘claims made’ basis, with a ‘retroactive date’ if changing providers without a gap in cover. These mean a provider will honour claims made against the business before its premium start date, so long as it had continuous cover. It can sometimes take years for a business to realise losses due to advice or a service given to them. 

However, professional liability insurance would only cover a business for the time it was insured continuously. If there was a gap in the policy holder’s insurance they will not be covered for incidents that took place before the gap in cover, even if they had a policy at the time. For example, if a business had professional liability insurance that ran out in January 2021, and wasn’t renewed until March 2021, an incident that took place in December 2020 would not be covered, despite having a policy at that time. However, if a business had continuous cover since 2015, and changed providers in March 2021 to one with a retroactive date clause, the business would be covered for claims as far back as 2015. 

When deciding how much professional liability insurance you need, ask yourself the things that could go wrong, the value of the work being done, the risk of something going wrong, and how much it could cost in compensation if the worst was to happen. 

This can often be difficult for a business to assess and therefore specialist insurance brokers can help make assessments and gather professional liability insurance quotes

Getting People To Click On “Call To Action” Buttons

It’s impossible to get by in the world of business today without a website. People look to the internet when they want to find a product or a service, and if they can’t find you there, you won’t see much in the way of custom. Your potential customers will want to research your company history, check out reviews, and of course, browse through your website before they decide to buy. That means your site needs to look professional, sharp, and current.

However good-looking your website might be, though, it won’t achieve much in the way of results if you don’t have well-placed, well-thought-out “call to action” buttons. For those unfamiliar with the term, a “call to action” button is an on-screen button that your customers interact with to communicate with you. When they’re used properly, they follow the same psychology as call to action marketing. By clicking on a “call to action” button, a potential customer can request contact with you or even immediately buy something you’re trying to sell them.

Because of the purpose they serve, your “call to action” buttons are the most critical pieces of content on your entire website. They can’t be carelessly dropped anywhere on your page, though. There’s a proven methodology when it comes to coaxing people into clicking on them – and we’re going to share that methodology with you now.

Think About Placement

It might sound like stating the obvious to say that your “call to action” buttons have to be prominently placed, but some prominent places work better than others. Psychologists say that people follow an F-shaped pattern when they’re skimming across web pages, and placing your button somewhere in the “F” is your best chance of getting results. The first few lines of content aren’t a good bet because people like to travel a little further down the page before they interact with anything, so forget the “top line” of the F. Think about the right-hand side of the bar across the middle, or maybe even at the foot of where your imaginary “F” would appear.

We appreciate that this sounds counter-intuitive, so we invite you to do a little research. Go and find an online slots website and look where they’ve put all the buttons that allow players to start playing online slots immediately. Websites like that live and die by persuading people to interact with their buttons, so if they don’t get it right, they’ll earn nothing at all. More often than not, you’ll see this ‘F’ formation replayed on online slots IE websites, and that isn’t a coincidence. If it works for them, it will also work for you.

Make Them Pop

Your buttons have to stand out from the rest of the website around them. Leaving a little white space around the borders of your buttons is a good idea, but the color of the buttons is also important. We’ll come back to that in a moment. Experience tells us that rounded or rectangular buttons work better than square ones, and buttons with borders stand out more than buttons without them. Think about the text on your button, too. You don’t have much space to work with, so make it count. Immediacy is good – i.e., “buy now,” and so is a suggestion that you’re doing something for the customer (“get a free consultation.”)

Returning to the theme of color, think about the connotations of color in nature. There is such a thing as color psychology in marketing, and it’s an important field for you to master. We all know the basics – green means “go” and red means “stop,” so your “call to action” buttons should never be read. Color psychology goes beyond that, though. Every color has a meaning even if we’re only subconsciously aware of it – purple, for example, implies prestige. Get to know the connotations of each color and use them appropriately.

Use One Strong Image

Your button shouldn’t “just” be a button. There should be something directly above (never below) the button that reminds the customer what they’re doing when they click the button. If the button buys a product or service, there should be a clear image of that product or service above the button to remind the customer what they’re purchasing. The image helps to create and reinforce desire in the mind of the customer. If the purpose of the button is to solicit contact from you, there should be a picture of you (or someone who represents you) looking friendly and approachable.

The image should be small – no wider than the button – but effective. Simplicity is the best approach. People don’t take the time to read long, complicated words on “call to action” buttons, and they don’t stop to decode complicated images either. Take the “route one” approach.

Think About The Copy Around Your Button

You’ll inevitably want to include some text above, around, or to the site of your button to further re-enforce your “call to action.” Our advice here is to employ the same tactics you’d use when writing headings. Never use more than sixty characters. Avoid words with more than three syllables unless you desperately need to use them. Be direct and inviting.

Phrases that work well in this context include “take the next step” or “take action today.” It doesn’t have to be long or elaborate, and it certainly doesn’t need to be longer than a single sentence.

Get everything we’ve mentioned here right, and we’re confident that you’ll soon be getting better conversions from your website. Get them all right in the process of setting up your business website for the first time, and you’ll have an immediate edge over many of your rivals. Mobile phone apps are great, and social media marketing can still do great things, but ultimately it’s your own website that’s still the best sales tool you have on the internet. Treat it that way, and it will do wonderful things for you.

Thanks for visiting us today and taking the time to read our article. If you found it useful, we have dozens more tips and friendly pieces of advice for you to browse through at your leisure. Happy reading!

What is the importance of Human Resource Management?

0

Human Resource Management (HRM) is a development-oriented corporate process that implements a modern approach to maintaining employees at the workplace. HRM provides space for employee performance, involvement and growth and looks out for any concern of managers of all level.

Besides focusing on development, acquisition, utilisation and maintenance of human resource it is known for it has several other benefits. Let’s take a look at the areas that you can become an expert in if you choose to opt for HR courses in Dublin.

  • Maintain work-life quality

Quality of work life is concerned with the employee’s perception of psychological as well as physical wellbeing at the workplace. This involves the relationship between management and subordinate employee workforce. The primary aim is to maintain work freedom, job recognition, belongingness, task autonomy, and rewards.

  • Increase profit and productivity

Human resource management creates opportunities to motivate and facilitate employees to work hard to meet their personal career goals. It ensures the right quantity and quality of personnel in the workstation, to maximise profit and minimise cost, which can directly influence the productivity of the organisation.

  • Recruit employees who can adapt to change

This refers to regular training and development of employees to keep them updated with the necessary skills. They will, in turn, be better able to adjust to alterations within the company’s structure, environment and technology.

  • Match supply and demand for human resource

This is to identify if the company has an adequate number of employees in the human resource domain. Especial interest is taken in performing activities like selection and recruitment to balance the current requirement, as well as laying-off inefficient employees in case there is an excess of manpower.

  • Motivate employees and retain them to accomplish the company’s goal

Utilising human resource function to provide recruitment, fringe benefits compensation and rewards to the deserving employees. This not just involve retaining employees in the organisation but also in achieving goals effectively.

  • Recognise the contribution and merit of the employee

Human resource management recognises excellent and poor employee performance. Timely appraisals are arranged to reward better workers as a return for their contribution.

  • Create a feeling of team spirit and belongingness for the employee

This includes designing a job on the basis of teamwork demands. This makes every team member contribution feel valued so that employee and those who put in best from their side.

  • Sustain in the business market

This is to make sure that the organisation has the most promising employees who are capable of taking the business ahead. This guarantees to win the race of success and stability.

  • Resolve conflicts ethically

As conflicts are inevitable, human resource management acts as a consultant to it sort out. It promotes the timely conduct of organisational activities.

  • Develop a corporate image

This is to maintain a good public image, emphasising moral and social behaviour.

Nowadays, several companies prefer HRM to personnel support, used traditionally. Apply to a programme in Ireland today and be part of an international HRM platform that plays a vital role in upgrading the quality of a working experts’ team.

What you Need to Know Before Starting an Online Gaming Business

0

In 2020, the video gaming industry in the United Kingdom was valued at GBP 5.3 billion, a significant increase from GBP 4.8 billion in 2019.

The boom in the online sector was largely triggered by COVID-19 restrictions where people were forced to stay home and rely on the internet for entertainment.

Online gaming, particularly online gambling, is one of the most lucrative businesses on the internet. However, putting up one can be a complicated process. There are also policies and legal requirements that you shouldn’t ignore.

If you’re thinking of investing in online gaming, here are the things you should know:

Business Model Canvas

As with any business, the first step to launching an online gaming business is creating a clear plan. A few important things to cover when you make your business model canvas are:

  • Startup and ongoing costs
  • Your target audience
  • Payment methods
  • Your business name
  • Games to be offered

Legal Requirements

The Gambling Act 2005 is the primary legislation that applies to both physical and online gambling industries in the UK.

To comply with all the legal requirements, coordinate with the UK Gambling Commission (formerly Gaming Board for Great Britain).

The Commission has issued codes that online casino operators need to conform to. The most important is the license conditions and codes of practice (LCCP).

A license to operate is usually granted within 16 weeks from the day of application. Note, however, that this license only covers the local market. If you plan to offer gaming services to other countries apart from the UK, you may need to secure a different license, such as the one provided by the Malta Gaming Authority.

Games

The success of your online gaming business will depend largely on the quality of games you offer.

Again, make sure that you’re purchasing software from an accredited game development company by the UK Gambling Commission.

Most online gamblers in the UK prefer slots over other types of casino games. An example is Slots.Ag which offers a variety of slot games for different experience levels.

Gaming Software Provider

There are hundreds of gaming software providers registered in the UK. However, not all were created equal.

Choose the software provider that is equipped with certifications from prestigious licensing institutions.

They should also provide you with a variety of games to keep your customers engaged. Most gaming software developers have focused on slot games because they are the most in-demand. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find a reliable company that provides other games.

Payment Methods

The more payment methods your gaming site offers, the better. Users are more likely to choose a gaming platform where they can make payments fast and easy, and of course – where their information is kept safe and secure.

About 6 in 10 online transactions in the UK are processed through credit or debit cards. So make sure you have this method as an option.

More and more online gamers are also using cryptocurrency as a highly secure way for purchasing game credits.

Market Research

The online gaming industry has a very vast market. Everyone – from kids to middle-aged adults – plays a certain type of online game. However, it’s more strategic if you will focus on a niche market.

A niche market is a segment of a larger market defined by its unique needs, preference, or identity. For example, your target audience could be middle-aged men and women who are high-income earners and consider themselves professional casino players.

Gaming Website

Your platform should reflect the games you offer and who they are for.

After spending a great deal of time creating your business plan, choosing games, finding a reputable gaming software provider, and identifying your target audience, it’s time to build your gaming website.

The following are the essential steps in building a gaming website:

  • Pick a domain name and host,
  • Choose a platform (e.g. website builder or a full-scale content management system),
  • Build and customize your web design,
  • Add relevant content.

Marketing Strategy

When you have everything set, particularly your niche market, it’s time to create a solid marketing plan.

This part is going to require a lot of research. You may need the help of marketing experts in the field of online gaming.

You will also most likely utilize different channels to promote your online gaming business, such as email marketing, mobile marketing, social media, affiliate marketing, and many more.

Starting an online gaming business requires time, work, planning, research, and resources. The steps mentioned above are necessary to build a profitable online gaming business that is likely to flourish and succeed for the years to come.

MAN AND VAN SERVICE

Moving day is coming and it’s time to start planning, packing, and taking care of all the things you have to move. One of the most difficult tasks to do is to find a reliable man and van moving company to help you with your relocation. If you’re lucky enough to find one in your area, your task of finding the best removals service will be made easier. But, if not, you will need to take some time researching for a reliable man and van removals provider. A good move involves a lot of planning and preparation, including choosing the right mover.

Removals are a popular service because they can make moving very convenient and fast. When you use the services of a professional mover, you don’t have to spend a lot of time thinking about how you should pack your items and where to put them when you hire a man and van to do the job. The companies have skilled professionals who know where to put items to maximize their space and load capacity. They can deliver your belongings to any place fast, safely, and easily. These are the major reasons why many people use removals services.

Removals companies have man and van teams that are ready to move your stuff efficiently. The most common problem with moving items in a vehicle is the difficulty in loading and unloading the items inside the vehicle.

As a customer, you can expect quality service at all times. The providers will offer the best loading services to protect your goods. They also ensure that all of your belongings are transported safely and securely.

There are many types of services provided by the man and van removals companies. You can choose the appropriate one for your needs. Whether you want a van or a flatbed trailer to move your belongings in, you can count on a reputable man and van moving service. They are ready to move you into your new home and give you the best service possible. They have trained professionals that can carry out the task with ease and confidence. Therefore, you can trust them to deliver the best man and van services available in the market today.

The most important thing about a man and van removals is making sure that you have everything you need before the move. By having everything ready and prepared before the move you can be sure that everything goes smoothly. Van relocation can be very stressful and time-consuming. If you make sure that everything is ready to go beforehand you will eliminate a lot of stress.

What Is the Best Way to Secure and Finance Your Funeral?

0

Whilst funeral prices are consistently increasing every year, a funeral plan can lock in the price of the Funeral Director’s services and ensure that your funeral wishes are documented. This means that when the time comes, your loved ones are spared from the financial burden and emotional stress of planning a funeral.

Funerals are a topic of conversation that people often shy away from, but it is an inevitability for us all. The cost of a basic funeral is now at £4184 according to the Sunlife (2021) Cost of Dying report, which is a large expenditure which not many think to budget for. Often the financial burden therefore lies with their loved ones at a time when they can be not only mentally and emotionally drained, but unprepared for this expense.

So how can you plan your own funeral?

It is important before planning your funeral that you consider what type of service (or not) you would like. There is of course the traditional funeral service with emphasis on religion, mourners dressed in black and hymns played, but more people are deviating away from the traditions and favoring alternative ceremonies. Celebration of life services are becoming increasingly popular, which can see people dressed in bright colours with an emphasis on the positive impact that someone’s life had. There are many questions to consider when planning your own funeral such as would you like to be buried or cremated? Would you like to include any money as an allowance towards the wake, extra flowers or a specific coffin? Have you given thought to any music that you would like to be played, that would resonate with your loved ones? Therefore to ensure that your funeral is exactly how you would like it is vital to begin these discussions now, so that your loved ones can rest assured that your funeral will be carried out exactly how you would have wanted. 

With the costs of funerals being considerably higher than what a lot of people anticipate,

setting a budget can ensure that you know exactly what you can afford. A pre-paid funeral plan can mean that you can lock-in the price of the services included in the plan and avoid the rising costs, whilst also ensuring that your wishes will be documented and carried out. When the time comes all that it takes is a phone call from the next of kin to the funeral plan provider and they will take it from there. This relieves a lot of stress from loved ones, giving them the time to grieve properly and focus on adding more personal touches to the funeral such as writing a eulogy.

There are many different types of plans on the market, which can also be tailored to ensure that all of your requirements and wishes are met, with some allowing for additional extras such as a motorcycle hearse or a decorative coffin. Funeral plans also allow flexibility with their payment options, many can be paid in full or broken down into monthly instalments which suit your budget.

Taking the next step

By just reading this article you have taken the first step to considering what you can do to make the necessary arrangements for your funeral. From here you can go online and do some more research so that you know what is available and what you can afford. Most funeral planning companies have experienced Funeral Planners who can further help you find the right funeral for both your wishes and budget. Getting your affairs in order gives great peace of mind to you as well as the benefit of not leaving the burden to your loved ones.

Dale W. Wood Shares What Makes a Great Pitch Standout

0

It might take months to practice and prepare for a business pitch that lasts only a few minutes, but those few minutes could prove to be the most valuable in the life of your startup idea. Whether you are pitching to venture capitalists in hopes of securing funding, or presenting your idea to potential customers and partners, relentless preparation, solid public speaking and clear communication will make for a presentation that is not easily overlooked.

Renowned Costa Rican Venture Capitalist Dale W. Wood says, “Ideation is necessary, but execution is far more important.” The concept of backing up a brilliant idea with hustle, hard work and a vision for the future can be applied both in a business plan and in a successful pitch. Wood has helped many entrepreneurs take their startups to the next level by providing both capital and mentorship, and he has only ever invested in those whose pitches prove they understand it takes much more than a groundbreaking idea to take a business to the top.

Wood has been active in the venture capital space for the last 22 years, and is currently in the processes of expanding his global investment firm Dale Ventures. Through the firm, Wood has financed several high-potential startups across the world including Instanda, Huma, Rayo Credit and TechMet, which recently secured a groundbreaking investment from the U.S. government.

At our request, Dale W. Wood has agreed to share insights into what makes an attention-grabbing pitch that is hard for venture capitalists and potential partners to ignore.

1.   Tell a story

“When you open your pitch, do so by narrating a real customer story. Explain how your product has addressed the challenges at hand by giving investors a real-life example of its success,” he said.

Wood strongly stresses that tech talk and buzzwords should be avoided at all costs – real people facing real challenges don’t rely on catchy phrases or cheap tricks to solve their problems. The story you tell should be realistic and to the point.

“People tend to forget the buzzwords but they remember is the story itself,” he added. ”So make sure that you have fascinating, case-study-based stories prepared well in advance to be shared.”

2.   Logically draft the essentials

Dale W. Wood says that he has heard multiple investment pitches that are so full of information, jargon and details that the essentials get lost. People do so because they think every aspect of their business plan has to be shared in one flat pitch but, in reality, this cluttered approach appears nervous, jittery, and fearful.

“I would always like the entrepreneurs to sit back and relax and realize a Shakespearean postulate, ‘Brevity is the soul of wit,’” Wood said. “They should plan the essential part of the pitch, what comes next in priority and with a flow of logic between different components. Cut short the long story to bare essentials, it appears more thoughtful and confident.”

Dale W. Wood Backed Startups Turning Out To Be The “Next Big Thing”

3.   Summarize, summarize, summarize

Wood expects an entrepreneur to be able to cut down his or her comprehensive business model to a single sentence.

He further explains, “A summarized business idea reveals to an investor how it can grow into an economically viable business. The best practice is to be able to communicate the model through a summary example.”

Take a fictitious brand called X-Car, for example, whose business model can be summed up as “A membership-based carpooling platform.” Another example is a hotel-room booking website, whose purpose can be to simply “compare and book hotels online at a small commission.”  

Wood stresses that an idea should be self-explanatory and able to be expressed in short bullet points, giving the investor a chance to see the market fit and ROI. It should answer the essential questions: what is the problem are you solving, who is your target audience and how will this orient in the market?  

4.   Talk about yourself

According to Wood, investors like to invest in people first and ideas second.

“Young entrepreneurs need not be afraid to talk about themselves or their achievements, particularly if those achievements demonstrate they have what it takes to build and scale up an idea,” he said. “Try to convince investors why they should trust you and why you are the right person to get behind. If you don’t show confidence, how do you expect the investors to show confidence in you?”

5. Emphasizing your growth potential

“You must make creative use of market metrics to emphasize how far you can reach. The key to any successful venture capital pitch is the product and market size,” Wood said.

An entrepreneur must break down his or her business idea through a short diagram that makes investors understand the domain and market segment.

“By using market metrics creatively, you can convince investors that you understand your customers, their problems and how to solve them, as well as the difference between your product and those that already exist,” he added.

If the concept is presented without clear recognition of its market —it will not impress the venture capital investor. Moreover, it will make the entrepreneur look as though they don’t know which market segment the business is targeting or how to scale up within the space.

6.   Be enthusiastic

Wood, a venture capital veteran, says it’s important to measure up the entrepreneur’s enthusiasm regarding the product. Faking passion is not possible. Energy levels should grow throughout a pitch and speakers must move out of their comfort zones without obscuring the common sense, honesty, perception and elegance that goes along with any form of successful public speaking.

7.   Anticipate follow-up questions

“If an idea really touches my chord, then I would go ahead and ask more follow-up questions. I would like to see entrepreneurs come prepared,” Wood says.

By practicing clear and concise answers to common follow-up questions, an entrepreneur can easily exhibit his or her attributes and talents.

Before coming in to pitch an idea, Wood encourages entrepreneurs to put themselves in the shoes of a potential investor. No one wants to stake their own livelihood in a poorly thought-out idea, frantic leader or market-unsure startup. Each entrepreneur should come prepared, speak with confidence and speak like someone they themselves would believe in.

“We deeply focus on building great relationships with the leadership of our investment companies, Dale W. Wood said. “The leverage of financial and operational expertise is secondary – we prioritize human relationships. And I am quite hopeful that it is the case across the VC spectrum.”

sakarya escort bayan Eskişehir escort bayan