Buying and then having possession of real estate is a type of investment that is both lucrative and satisfying. It is because such type of investments has greater ROI values. That is the reason most people now seek advice to do investment in properties. You have to consider several things whenever you think about investing in properties like the type of property you want, where to invest, how much to invest, tax implications and much more. Properties are the solid asset which has the potential to raise your wealth to considerable margins over the long term. But still, you have to be conscious about the right places to invest as a single mistake can get you lost your money. Such type of hiccups creates stress and anxiety, which give the opposite outcome to what efficacious spending is all about.
So, if you are determined to become a successful property investor, then these guidelines will help you to start your profitable journey by investing in properties as effectively as possible.
Seek Growth Areas
The most substantial factor in property investment is capital growth. So, always watch out for the areas that are not just expanding but also growing in terms of economy, population, demand and infrastructure. Just invest after researching the areas, locations, demographics and capital growth rates as these are all the things that matter.
Wait for ROI
Property investment is not for those whose cash flow is tight. Or even if they want to buy, then they must research about the areas where you don’t go into the red. As there are many markets where capital growth is considerably higher, and they are expensive to buy. So, be sure of yourself to watch out for the rental yield trends when you decide to invest in property.
Forecast the Future
Just to be on the safe side, find out your plans about areas and then determine what will be the consequences in the future. You can also get information about the properties of the local councils or government websites online. This will lead you to keep an eye on the areas that have all the amenities like schools, shopping malls or parks etc. Just look for the properties that require little or no maintenance unless or until you have some plan for renovating the whole property.
See What’s in Demand
Prefer the properties that are appealing to the people who are renting in that area. Demand increases with the number of amenities people get. Like if a society is full of benefits including the wide road, schools, malls, parks and proper maintenance of tangible things. GBG – building and refurbishment contractors are experts in the industry. Most people take risk of quality for the low cost and get the work done by some noobs, causing them to waste all that money and time. They have been doing renovations since 2005 and are the leading and high-end residential contractors in the renovation or refurbishment market. So, be clear about your goals and achieve them with the help of GBG – building contractors.
Just remember that the properties are long-term investments and you should not only rely on these to be on the safer side.
AWS credits are simply a way to save on your Amazon Web Service (AWS) bill. These credits work as coupons to help lower your bill. Since these AWS credits help save you money, they are highly sought after. How can you earn these credits? Today, we are going to explain a few simple ways you can start earning AWS credits quickly.
AWS Webinars
If you attend any of the AWS webinars often, you will be given AWS credits. The way you will be given these credits to provide proof that you participated in the webinar. AWS is putting on these webinars and events often, so it would be a good idea to keep an eye on their website to see when the next event is so that you can earn some AWS credits!
Publish AnAlexa Skill
If you have any interest in development, then you’re in luck! For each Alexa skill you publish, you can receive one hundred dollars in AWS. This is a win-win for anyone looking to test their skill set and be rewarded!
AWS Activate
AWS Activate was created to help startup companies by awarding them up to one hundred thousand dollars in AWS credits. AWS activate is a fantastic tool for startups because of how quickly it gives them the resources they need to grow within the AWS infrastructure. There are two variations of AWS Activate, which are AWS Founders and AWS Portfolio.
AWS Activate Founders
The AWS Activate Founders program was created for companies that are bootstrapped or self-funded. If your organization hasn’t raised any funding, such as venture capital, seed, or angel funding, you may be eligible to apply. Not only will you receive the AWS credits, but you will also receive technical and business support.
AWS Activate Portfolio
The AWS Activate Portfolio is different from the founder’s program. This is because these startups have received seed or venture capital funding. The AWS Activate Portfolio will offer your startup up to one hundred thousand dollars in AWS credits. You can choose between two different types of credits. AWS Activate Credits that will help cover the cost of AWS services or AWS Activate Business Support Credits, which will help you, cover the cost of technical support.
AWS Marketplace
A quick way to earn two hundred dollars in AWS credits is to discover, purchase, and deploy cloud-based networking and solutions offered on the AWS Marketplace. If you do this, you will receive two hundred dollars in AWS credits when you subscribe to one of their qualifying products.
Easy To Earn AWS Credits
As you can see, it’s incredibly easy to earn AWS credits. If you follow the tips provided above, you will be on your way to racking up a ton of credits to help you deploy on AWS. Remember, there are plenty of other methods out there to earn AWS credits, but the methods featured here are what we think are the simplest. Good luck, and go get those credits!
WordPress is one of the best and most popular website development platforms on the internet today. Its versatility and reliability have made it the choice of engine for most website runners, and for good reason.
This engine provides a secure, user-friendly, and wholesome environment for websites, with thousands of plugins and features available. So, if you’re choosing to use WordPress, installing a bunch of its handy plugins is a wise decision.
There are about 60,000 WordPress plugins available on the internet, which help to uplift your website’s functionalities and provide much-needed backup to your system. Any WordPress development company you consult would also advise you to load up on these plugins and get going.
You can opt for plugins to address any and all issues, including security, backup, emails, speed, SEO, analytics, and so on. For every requirement you may have, there are multiple plugins to choose from, both free and paid.
Having the right combination of plugins and tools can help your business grow immensely. It simply transforms your online presence and activities, making most of your work easier and manual load lesser.
If you’re unsure of which plugins to choose, check out our list of the best 20 WordPress plugins that are a must-have for business websites.
Top 20 WordPress Plugins for Business Websites in 2021
Plugins help you achieve a varied range of functions. Judging by your business needs, you can take a call on the set you want.
OptinMonster
This plugin has more than a hundred templates for WordPress popups, announcements, games, slide-ins, and so on. You can use it to optimize conversions and increase sales.
With its opt-in forms and campaign templates, you can customize your website easily and turn visitors into subscribers. OptinMonster also improves your messaging and customer targeting. Opt for its free version as a WordPress plugin.
WPForms
This is a form-builder plugin to help you create contact, subscription, order, and payment forms. You can simply drag-and-drop elements to create customized forms with a few clicks.
Several marketing and payment platforms use this tool as it lets you build forms in seconds. Its features include conversational forms, geolocation tracking, login and user forms, landing page forms, etc. It is reasonably priced and also has a free lite version.
PushEngage
This plugin is the best for push notifications. You can send announcements, deals, and targeted messages to your website visitors using PushEngage. This helps to increase engagement and traffic.
It works with all browsers, with features like data security, a/b testing, opt-in reminders, tracking and analytics, drip campaigns, etc. It is perfectly suited for eCommerce websites as well, to create alerts and cart notifications.
All in One SEO
Although WordPress is SEO-friendly by itself, it is always useful to have an SEO plugin to make the best out of your content. All in One SEO is one of the best optimization tools, used by millions of websites globally.
It helps improve on-page SEO, like meta tags, keywords, and so on. It also lets you connect to the Google Search Console, generate sitemaps, and perform social media optimization.
SeedProd
This is a drag-and-drop page builder that lets you create customized web designs and page layouts. The best part is, you don’t need to know any coding to work with this tool.
You can build unique landing pages without the help of a developer, by using its numerous templates or custom layouts. There are options for almost all types of web pages you can think of. You can also save color schemes, templates, custom blocks, etc., to be used later.
MonsterInsights
This analytics plugin is used by more than 2 million websites worldwide. You can connect with Google Analytics and measure the performance of your site in detail.
It shows statistics like traffic and revenue on your WordPress dashboard. By analyzing these details, you can optimize your website efficiently for further campaigns.
WordPress Importer
This free plugin lets you import content for WordPress export files. You can import posts, comments, pages, categories, tags, and so on. It makes working on websites and creating demos easier and faster with its quick-import features.
Pretty Links
Pretty Links is an affiliate plugin that lets you shorten your links, organize your WordPress dashboard, and make your URLs and websites look clean. It is mostly useful for affiliate marketing professionals who track links from social media, emails, and other such sources.
This tool also gives a full report about each hit in the link, showing where it came from. You can use its free or pro version, based on your requirements.
WP Product Review
For eCommerce websites and any site which requires regular addition of product reviews, this plugin works wonders. It lets you import the product details and affiliate link directly from Amazon.
It also automatically generates and customizes comparison tables with previous data from reviews. You can get this plugin at a one-time cost or yearly subscription.
Yoast SEO
This is another SEO plugin that is quite popular on WordPress. It is used by more than 5 million websites around the world. This plugin is user-friendly and comes with clear instructions on improving SEO in content.
It ranks your website content on the basis of keywords. It also helps you add titles, meta descriptions, and images. You can check and improve individual paragraphs as well.
Nextiva
This plugin comes as a business phone service that allows call routing, free unlimited domestic calls, voicemails, emails, texts, online faxes, and much more. You can receive business calls straight to your phone.
With this tool, you can set functional hours, perform online surveys, live chats, and CRM. It has an easy-to-use admin panel that lets businesses manage their communication effectively across platforms.
Wordfence Security
WordPress has in-built security, but can be a target for hackers because of its popularity. With this plugin, you can ensure the security of your website and data.
Wordfence has automatic security features for general purposes, along with a firewall that protects from fraudulent logins and common cyber attacks. You can also scan for malware and viruses.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an eCommerce plugin that lets you create an online store and sell products. It has its own ecosystem, including hosting, themes, and plugins. You will get access to all features required to build a self-sufficient eCommerce website.
Smash Balloon
This is touted to be the best social media feed tool available on WordPress. It hosts multiple plugins that can handle different social media platforms. With this, you can check SEO, customize feeds, control interaction, and do much more.
Used by more than a million customers worldwide, Smash Balloon is known for its reliable service and prompt customer care team. It has both paid and free versions.
W3 Total Cache
This free plugin provides speed and agility to your WordPress website. You can clear cache regularly, serve compressed files to visitors, and reduce the load time of your website. It also saves bandwidth and lightens the code load.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is an email marketing plugin that lets you reach users in your email list. You can send newsletters, marketing content, and much more with its help. And the best part, you don’t need technical expertise or coding knowledge to operate it.
LiveChat
LiveChat Inc enables live chat support for business and commercial websites. You can add it to your website and customize it accordingly. It also has a mobile app for real-time customer support and integrates with your other communication plugins for the best results.
UpDraftPlus
Keeping your website’s backup is a crucial aspect of business. UpDraftPlus lets you do that with automatic backup and storage in a remote location. You can choose among Google Drive, Dropbox, FTP, email, and more. Restoring your website from these backups is super easy.
SSL certificates are important! With this plugin, you can transition from HTTP to HTTPS easily to avoid Google’s security warnings. It is free, automatic, and user-friendly. It redirects all your old URLs to more secure ones and doesn’t compromise on loading speed.
MemberPress
This plugin allows you to build communities, membership sites, and online courses. With WordPress, you can create subscriptions, control content access, and avail several automation features.
It integrates well with marketing tools, payment platforms, and eCommerce sites. Other features include course management, group memberships, and drip content. Use MemberPress to build professionalism and increase your revenue. If this one isn’t fit for you, you can try another WordPress membership plugin.
Final Thoughts
Setting up a WordPress website might seem intimidating, with so many customization options and plugin choices. But once you know your priorities and requirements, it can be a very smooth process. And if you’re still not sure, never hesitate to consult a WordPress expert.
The pandemic meant that businesses all over the world were forced to adapt and innovate in order to survive in 2020. This brought a lot of success stories, as successful innovations paid out, and there were a number of examples of this across sectors and businesses last year. The sports industry will perhaps be the biggest example of this, given that live sports was virtually shut down globally for months. This had huge implications everywhere, but perhaps nowhere more so in the United States, which had only recently legalized sports betting all over the country. However, the growth of US online sports betting during this time shows that not even a pandemic could slow down the trajectory of this activity.
2020 saw six states launch legal sports betting operations, while five others legalized the activity, but are yet to begin accepting bets through authorized operators. This was the third calendar year where sports betting was legal, and with more states allowing the activity, it was no surprise that betting volumes and revenues were higher than ever before, even after the impact of the pandemic. It is estimated that more than $240 million was earned across all states that allow sports betting, which is nearly double the revenue generated in 2019, and shows how popular the activity has already become.
Over $21.5 billion was wagered legally on sports across the United States in 2020, with gross revenue to sportsbook operators coming to around $1.5 billion, after paying out winning bets. This is truly a staggering rise, and even more so during a year where live sports were not held for a number of months.
One of the most consistent trends that emerged last year was the continued dominance of mobile and online betting. The pandemic meant that retail betting was largely impossible for the majority of the year, which thereby increased the attractiveness of mobile and online betting. States which offered online betting saw much higher revenues than those that did not, while we saw certain states waive requirements for in-person registration due to the pandemic. The popularity of mobile and online betting has meant that it is likely that more states will begin to offer this option to users sooner rather than later.
Three states crossed the $100 million mark in monthly sports betting volumes – Colorado, Illinois and Tennessee. Colorado has the most progressive sports betting laws in the country, with very few restrictions, while Illinois saw explosive growth after it removed in-person registration requirements. Tennessee, on the other hand, is one of the few states which has only online betting, and naturally this proved to be very attractive during a pandemic.
However, New Jersey ended up as the number one state in the USA for sports betting, going ahead of Nevada. This is quite significant, as Nevada is one of the gambling hubs of the country through Las Vegas, and has had decades to build up a legal sports betting industry. It is also interesting to note that New Jersey would have probably moved into number one spot even if there was no pandemic, looking at the numbers from January and February 2020, before a pandemic was declared. Additionally, over 80% of New Jersey’s betting accounts are mobile accounts, which gave it a huge advantage during the pandemic over Nevada, which has much stricter rules for online betting, and relies heavily on Las Vegas for the majority of its gambling and sports betting revenue.
2020 showed that the sports betting market is still quite concentrated in the USA, with the top six states all crossing $1 billion in betting volume, while no other state managed to cross $600 million. The top five states accounted for nearly $82 of every $100 spent on sports betting in the USA in 2020, and this is a trend that needs to change if the USA is to become a global leader in the sports betting market. With more states legalizing the practice, as well as allowing online betting, we expect this to change in the coming years. It must be remembered that the three most populous states – California, Florida and Texas, are yet to legalize the practice, while New York only allows in-person betting – these alone could provide a huge boost to the sports betting ecosystem if they come on board soon. These states also have some of the reigning champions across major sports leagues, which is another reason why any of these coming onto the sports betting bandwagon will be a huge boost to the industry in the United States.
A trading platform is a tool whereby a trader performs trading operations in the financial market. It enables a trader to open charts of the trading assets as needed, analyze them using technical and graphical tools, open and close orders, and test trading strategies.
Most trading platforms features:
Charts on different time-frames and analyses. Several options for displaying the pricing chart.
Ability to work with technical analysis tools.
Availability of market and pending orders and the ability to execute trades with single-click ease.
Manual strategies, support from expert advisors, and testing over a historical timeline. Also, the unloading and analysis of quotes.
Automatic trade copying (social trading).
Relevant online industry news, etc.
Traders Union has selected for you the best trading platforms that are perfect for manual and algorithmic trading in Forex, stock markets, and the binary options markets. You can get acquainted with them by reading the expert review “Best Trading Platforms for 2021”.
Trading platforms types
There are three types of trading platforms:
Desktop — download it from the broker’s website and install it on a computer. This is the fullest version of the platform.
Browser — open from the broker’s website in a browser. They are convenient as they are free of extra functions that often confuse novice traders and do not require installation — you work directly on the broker’s platform.
Mobile — these versions are for Android and iOS. Most often they are used only to control transactions and charts.
Platform type
Advantages
Disadvantages
Desktop
Full version
Quite bulky: uses maximum RAM, has duplicate functions. It may seem complicated to novice traders
Web
The stuff but not the fluff. Doesn’t overload the local computer.
Does not provide for custom tools, has reduced functionality
Mobile
From anywhere, anytime, wherever there is the internet: in transport, on vacation, etc.
Offers minimal functions and there are practically no analysis tools. Inconvenient from a visual point of view
Best trading platforms
One of the trading platform’s limitations is the criterion that determines their functionality. There are also universal platforms that are consistently suitable for both exchange-traded stock markets and Forex CFD trading. They are perfect for traders experienced in those instruments, but not quite professionals yet. Experienced traders should choose platforms tailored for a specific market.
Trading platforms can be classified as follows:
Types of platform ownership:
Owned by developers. For example, MetaQuotes, which develops and maintains the MetaTrader platforms.
Brokers who purchase licenses for MT4 and MT5.
Proprietary development of the broker. It can be either a proprietary platform or a developer’s platform purchased under the White Label scheme.
In terms of markets, there are:
Platforms for trading binary options.
Platforms for Forex.
Platforms for stock markets.
Platforms for social trading.
In terms of experience, there are:
Platforms for novice traders with minimal functions.
Professional platforms with maximal tools and exotic features.
Universal platforms are the golden mean between the first two options.
Forex trading platforms
Forex trading platforms — with their simplified functionality — differ from stock platforms. They are mostly designed for novice traders as they have a minimum of technical analysis tools but have only the basic functions for order management. The emphasis is placed on a user-friendly interface and eye-popping visualizations.
Best platforms for Forex:
МТ4. The most popular Forex trading platform is perfect for traders of any experience. Basic functionalities:
Market and pending orders.
Trading with single-click ease.
Nine timeframes.
Over 60 indicators and shapes.
Three types of charts.
МТ5. Most of its functions are similar to the MT4, but here are its main differences:
Extra timeframes added.
The number of technical indicators has been increased and several proprietary advisors have been added.
Two Pending Orders were added.
The Depth of Market tool allows you to estimate the volume and depth of the market.
Several types of full or partial execution of client orders have been added.
The tester has been improved to allow traders to use computer power to trade within the markets.
CTrader. A platform for manual and algorithmic trading using the C# language. It offers 14 timeframes, 51 technical indicators, and a “2nd-level depth of market”.
Also, many brokers have their proprietary platforms. Their main differences from МetaТrader and CTrader are advanced graphical and technical analysis functionality, integration of Autochartist elements into the platform, and various plugins, etc.
Stock market trading platforms
Stock trading platforms are more complex than Forex platforms. They offer extra tools for VSA analysis (trading by volume), tools for automatic trading with a breakdown of the main volume of the transaction into parts (VWAP, TWAP, POV), etc.
Popular stock market platforms:
Robinhood. Allows you to buy and sell stocks at the best price directly on exchanges through different brokers. It is an exclusive trading application.
Thinkorswim (by TD Ameritrade). This professional platform is designed for trading stocks and derivatives.
Trader Workstation (by Interactive Brokers). This is an analytical platform with dozens of complex trading tools.
How to choose a trading platform?
The trading platform is rarely the main criterion for choosing a broker. Forex brokers mostly offer Metatrader 4 and/or Metatrader 5, and sometimes CTrader and other proprietary platforms.
Criteria for selecting a trading platform:
Purpose. For scalping or long-term trading, for manual or algorithmic trading, for testing advisors, etc. Choose a platform by defining your purpose and type of trading strategy, respectively, based on the set of functions you require.
Functionality. The number of indicators, types of charts, timeframes, pending orders. Extra functionality like alerts, the ability to copy trades of expert traders from other brokers, etc.
Possibility to add additional applications. Installation of custom scripts, indicators, expert advisors, testers, etc.
Interface. The platform should be comfortable to use and view over long periods and have charts, etc., conveniently located on the screen. Also, it is helpful to have a varied selection of color schemes, palettes, and fonts, etc.
If you are not sure which platform to choose, open several transactions using a demo account on different platforms and experience the differences.
Comparison of MT4 and MT5:
Choose MT4 for manual trading. The platform is user-friendly and has overlapping functions. But its main advantage in comparison with MT5 is that thousands of proprietary indicators, scripts, and expert advisors are written in MQL4 and are not available for MT5. Many functions are the same or very similar to programs in MQL5.
Choose MT5 for working with advisors, trading strategies over a historical period, and for effectively trading futures and analysis. MT5 offers an optimized tester, higher operating speed, extra orders, multiple timeframes, and a full-fledged depth of market.
How to open an account on a Trading Platform through the Traders Union
There are two options, depending on the functionality provided by the broker. You can open an account with a broker and then connect it to the Union platform. The second option is to open an account directly on the TU platform if the broker is a TU partner.
To open an account through Traders Union and link it to the platform:
Register on the Traders Union website. This takes just 5 minutes. Specify your email, and then confirm the registration using the link from your mail. It’s free. You will also need to go through verification, but this can be done later when you go through a similar procedure with a broker.
Find an affiliate link on the page of the broker you are interested in. Go to its website.
Open an account following the online instructions.
Download the installation file of the trading platform from the broker’s website and install it. Most brokers offer МetaТrader 4 and/or МetaТrader 5.
Check your email. You will receive the account details such as number, login, password, and server.
In Metatrader, in the top menu, select “File/Connect to a trading account”. Enter the account details (number and password) from the letter received in your email.
If the account is connected, you will see this in the “Navigator” window. Also, you will see the balance amount in the “Terminal” window.
This option for connecting an account is the best since in this case you can link the account to the Traders Union personal account and receive a rebate for trading on it. The second option is similar. You can open the account directly from MT4 using the File/Open Account menu.
Benefits of working with Traders Union
The Traders Union is a community of traders that is useful for everyone. There is a lot of analytical information, market reviews, market news, and indicator descriptions with explanations and ready-made templates. There is a constantly updated independent rating of brokers based on many technical criteria and traders’ feedback. You can discuss questions with professional traders on the forum and get legal support in case of conflicts with a broker.
And it’s All for Free!
The most important advantage of a partnership with Traders Union is its spread compensation regardless of the transaction’s results.
Traders Union Advantages in Figures
The total amount of rebates
Over $10,000,000
Amount of rebates
Up to 100% of partnership remuneration
Number of traders in the community
Over 300.000 traders
Number of brokers verified
Over 200 brokers
Legal support for clients
Free of charge!
Conclusion on the best trading platforms
The trading platform is your principal trading tool. Therefore, it should be comfortable to work with, and its capabilities and tools are important. So, open a trading account with a broker, using the Traders Union’s tips and help, test the platform, its tools, and choose the terminal best for your trading strategy.
The world of e-commerce is witnessing changes every day. Whether it is in privacy laws, marketing trends, or market demands, people in this industry must stay alert to the changes to keep their brand alive and successful.
Many of the changes that occur, and also the ones that bring on the biggest challenges, are related to consumer data. Not adjusting your brand to the latest laws, rules, and demands in terms of consumer data can be the death of it, both in terms of reputation and financially.
Data Protection Today
Take, for example, the latest scandal involving Facebook and the Cambridge Analytica breach. The scandal revolved around the Facebook data of 87 million users that were used for advertising during elections. This prompted mass legal action from almost a million users for misuse of personal information in Wales and England.
Today when highly sensitive data is often misused, handed to third parties, or unlawfully used for purposes such as advertising, the laws change every day to protect consumers. This is why it is recommendable for e-commerce businesses to stay on top of changes in the subject of data protection. Unless you do, you run the danger of breaking some serious laws, enraging consumers, and paying costly fines.
‘’Information that can be used to identify a person and even get in contact with them’’.
This is a very broad definition that can be further explored and expanded – and it definitely is in countries’ regulations and laws that are updated frequently. The things that are considered personal data are defined by the law that governs your business. For an e-commerce business to comply with such regulations and laws, they need to first understand personal data and what it encompasses. Osano has described this quite accurately:
‘’The definition of personal data varies depending on which law you’re reading. But it’s important to know how to recognize which data is considered “personal” under the law that governs your organization.’’
Personal data includes things like IP addresses and other device identifiers, as well as phone numbers that users share when they sign up or order something from your e-commerce store. This also includes things like financial data, health data, credit rating data, and any other information that can be used to facilitate theft or identity fraud. Finally, any information, any at all, collected online from children under the legal age is deemed as sensitive personal data.
Most laws and countries include names of people, government identification, payment method number and details, health insurance data, etc. In some countries, personal data laws also cover things like usernames and passwords for different online accounts.
Laws that protect data are put in place to keep the personal information that people share online safe and secure. At this point, the United States has no nationwide laws covering the exact topic. Some degree of personal data protection is provided under the US Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the Safe Harbor Act. Still, they aren’t very focused on the topic of consumer data protection.
In Europe, an individual can request Google or other search engines to remove news articles about them. This is not as easily done across the Atlantic where the right to free speech or the US first amendment is highly praised and the constitution protects freedom of expression. In the US, people cannot easily remove negative information about them from online search engines, not if they are accurate.
However, the newest EU regulations that were put in place in May of 2018 have also affected other markets to a certain extent. This applies not only to countries within the Union but also to people who sell on the market. So, if you have even one internet user that is based in the European Union, your website has to comply with their data protection regulations.
What does this mean for your e-commerce business?
It means that no matter where you’re based and what legislation you’re operating under, you still need to keep other regulations in mind. Not only are e-commerce businesses expected to comply with the local rules, but they also have to put measures in place to comply with other countries’ regulations (as long as they want to get users and customers from those countries.
By far, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) from the European Union is the most comprehensive law that retailers across the world have faced so far. This regulation defines different kinds of personal data, requests specific action on behalf of retailers, and even sets some consequences for those who break these rules.
Latest changes in data privacy laws across the globe
Naturally, the laws and regulations differ in different parts of the world. 2020 alone brought several big developments in terms of privacy data. In January, the California Consumer Privacy Act or CCPA came into force in the US.
For those e-commerce businesses that skipped this news, disobeying the latest regulations and laws has brought on big troubles already. Not to mention, they started losing their reputation with consumers who weren’t happy with the safety they are offered.
A bit later, the Court of Justice at the EU ruled that the European Commission’s adequacy decision in terms of the Privacy Shield between the EU and US was invalid. This was the so-called Schrems II case and the decision put an end to free data flow between the EU and the US.
As we slowly pace ourselves through 2021, the shadows of these two big developments change the e-commerce business every day. Right now, the CJEu’s Schrems II ruling of last year proves to be a big change. Legitimizing transfers of personal data obtained from the EU these days is more than a paperwork exercise.
Now, let’s move to other parts of the world.
China’s response to the GDPR
While this is happening between different parts of Europe and the US, China is working to adopt its first data protection legislation very soon. The main focus of this omnibus legislation is on cross-border transfers.
In October 2020, China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress published their first draft of the PIPL (Personal Information Protection Law). It was published for public comment and united the existing privacy laws under a single umbrella, as well as included new developments to personal data protection in the country. These include steep fines, the increased need for data protection officers, extraterritorial applicability, etc.
The situation in the UK after the GDPR
The United Kingdom lost its privileges for free data flow in Europe for quite some time there. As soon as the transition period from its exit from the EU came to an end, the country had to adopt changes into the national legislation. The GDPR no longer applied at this point. Still, the requirements were almost instantly adopted through the Data Protection Act of 2018.
Brexit made this a third-party country, so they had to apply for an adequacy decision from the Commission before they could transfer data across borders freely. Right now, the Commission is set to allow free flow of data between the UK and the EU, but only once they confirm that the first offers an adequate level of protection in terms of personal data.
A significant number of new privacy data protection laws are under review or being enforced since the beginning of 2021. In September of 2020, Latin America’s first big data protection law, Brazil’s LGPD, came into force after a long series of delays and setbacks. Singapore also amended its PDPA and introduced increased penalties for those who do not comply with the laws, as well as mandatory data breach notifications, etc.
This year, we expect a review of the Australian Privacy Act of 1988 in response to an Inquiry report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
If the Digital Charter Implementation Act from 17th of November of 2020 is passed in Canada, this will replace the current data protection law for the private sector, PIPEDA.
We have yet to wait for CPRA’s provisions to be enforced, some of which are expected to start in 2023, so the United States is also facing grand changes in the months and years that follow.
Final thoughts
The regularization within the GDPR has changed how the online world operates across the globe, including those immersed in the e-commerce business. In a way, these detailed regulations set by the Union have forced other countries to take steps to further define and protect personal data to keep the data flow running.
In November of 2020, the European Data Protection Board published recommendations for the rules that businesses, including those in e-commerce, should follow to transfer personal data from the EU to other countries. To bring these decisions in line with the GDPR, the Commission released a set of new clauses and a draft that implements such decisions and updates.
Combine this with the ruling in the Schrems II case, and you can expect many international companies to be impacted by these changes. Right now, if you are reaching a target market that goes beyond your legislation’s borders, you need to be extra careful about collecting, processing, and keeping personal information safe.
Demand in the healthcare industry is one the rise. And like every sector in this field, phlebotomists are also required in all healthcare centres, clinics or hospitals. Becoming a phlebotomist has some key requirements. We will explore these requirements in this blog.
Phlebotomist job description
Phlebotomists take blood samples from sufferers used for tests, transfusion, research, and other scientific procedures. Moreover, phlebotomists operate clerical responsibilities, preserve equipment in the lab, and enter records in computers. Phlebotomists are trained to assist sufferers in relaxing for the duration of a blood drawing process. They also provide help to a patient who becomes fearful or has a negative reaction.
How to become a phlebotomist?
Unlike a career as a doctor or a nurse, phlebotomists do not need to go through years of schooling. However, there are still some similarities.
Education
The least level of education you need to start your phlebotomy training is a high school or A-level diploma. However, suppose you possess a Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Support Services, a Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care, or a Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support. In that case, you will be more competitive when applying for a training program.
Training program
After completing high school, you need to sign up for a phlebotomy training program. The study duration can vary depending on the training program and the institute in which you are enrolled. Generally, the training period is less than a year, spanning between 4 to 8 months.
Theoretical training consists of studying anatomy and physiology, while practical training’s primary focus is on venipuncture.
Certification
After the training period has been completed, a candidate needs to pursue their certification in order to be eligible for working as a phlebotomist. Most of the employers prefer a certified phlebotomist.
The certification process consists of passing an exam and demonstrating successful venipuncture.
You will need to renew your certificate once every 2-3 years to maintain your status as a certified phlebotomist.
Starting your career as a certified phlebotomist
Once you have got your certification, it is time for you to start serving as a phlebotomist. There are numerous places where you can work as a phlebotomist.
Hospitals, healthcare centres, doctor’s offices are all in need of phlebotomists.
Preparing the place the blood will be drawn and making sure it is safe
Clean the place after blood is drawn.
Labelling the vials with the patients’ names and the dates after collection blood.
Transferring blood samples to the laboratory for testing.
Checking patients for fitness issues like cholesterol and bacteria. Checking blood pressure and heart rate and monitoring vital signs.
Remaining sympathetic, courteous, and friendly and preserving sufferers calm for the duration of blood collections.
Preparing and cleaning the laboratory area, keeping an inventory, getting ready blood samples for a range of tests and procedures, and perchance centrifuging blood samples.
Primary capabilities
In order to efficiently carry out their duties, a phlebotomist must have:-
a consistent hand and excellent dexterity
a responsible mindset to health, protection and hygiene
good verbal exchange skills
good interpersonal abilities to cope with fearful patients
a cautious approach to detail
teamworking skills
Salary
Working as a phlebotomist has a fantastic salary benefit. An entry-level phlebotomist can earn up to £18K per year.
Career progression
You might get bored by working as a phlebotomist for too long. Luckily, you can be promoted. You can rank up to become a phlebotomy teacher, laboratory supervisor or phlebotomy team leader.
With the industrial sector going through an extended period of volatility in 2020, the main focus moving forward is implementing intelligent and sustainable business practices. It is vital as many businesses are trying to recoup any losses incurred and grow after a period of stagnation. With this in mind, we can understand why a positive return on investment is vital as it provides insight into the investment made.
What is a positive return on investment, why is it important?
ROI is a performance indicator that assesses the efficiency and success of an investment. This philosophy applies to industrial manufacturers who conduct exhaustive research when purchasing their assets and need to be sure that they made the correct investment. For industrial manufacturers, this can be in the form of reliable and efficient machinery.
Industrial corporations attempt to increase their ROI to ensure they are getting the most value out of their investment. Doing this in a sector known for being asset-intensive can be a costly endeavor to undertake. However, this does not need to be the case.
Where does a CMMS system fit in? CMMS is a computerized maintenance management system. These systems are developed to maintain an asset for businesses through functions that make the maintenance process much more efficient.
Through a CMMS system, an asset can be carefully cared for to provide business owners with a positive return on the initial investment.
How do CMMS systems work?
CMMS systems provide a cloud-based platform to communicate work orders, assign resources, store data and develop reports around maintenance activities.
The following are some of the other benefits CMMS provides that result in a positive ROI.
Increased equipment reliability leading to a longer asset lifespan
Industrial factories work at an increasingly fast pace to meet production deadlines. Therefore the possibility of an equipment breakdown is likely. These are known as unforeseen breakdowns that result in reactive maintenance. Reactive maintenance is a costly exercise and detrimental to the lifespan of industrial equipment. CMMS systems address both of these problems.
Previously once equipment broke down, a work order was assigned, usually through email. These generally led to a scramble to procure the right parts and work on the machinery. While simultaneously trying to reduce the amount of downtime that will inevitably be adding up.
CMMS systems can schedule regular maintenance checks on industrial equipment, ensuring that they are operating optimally and reliably when needed and eliminating the possibility of an unforeseen breakdown.
The database provided on a CMMS system also collects valuable information such as the maintenance history, vendor warranties, and required parts allowing employers to be sure that their equipment is repaired correctly.
Preventative maintenance is a vital point in ensuring a positive yield from industrial equipment.
Preventative maintenance coupled with the accurate recording of the equipment information means that corporations can ensure a higher return on investment due to the asset reliability over long periods.
Reduced downtime leading to increased results
The impact downtime can have on an industrial business cannot be understated. The industrial sector is demanding, and downtimes can harm the output and delay a business schedule. Downtime can be avoided, as CMMS systems can develop a preventative maintenance plan allowing the business to be confident that their industrial equipment is running at peak condition.
Another issue that can lead to downtime is poor maintenance scheduling. Scheduling is a problem faced particularly by factories where equipment operates synergistically. Conducting maintenance on specific machines can lead to others not being operable. CMMS systems correct this problem by scheduling maintenance at the most convenient time with help from past reports.
Reduced downtime means that machines are working when they are expected to. This directly provides insight into the returns they provide to the company.
Efficient labor practices
To gain a high return from industrial equipment increased resources should be invested. From an industrial context, this is usually in the form of employee training.
No matter how large an industrial facilitiesfootprint is, employers need access to a database for various tasks. With a CMMS system, this is possible with employees accessing the cloud-based platform of their cellphone.
Employees can now review equipment training manuals and review checklists ensuring that they are operating the equipment correctly rather than damaging the equipment, which harms the ROI.
If a specialized industrial machine breaks down, employers can assign specific employees with a work order to attend to the machinery.
While these look like minor changes employees can adopt, the impact on the ROI can be extremely positive.
Efficient inventory management
Much like efficient handling of labor-management, efficient inventory management will be another cost-saving benefit that gains from a CMMS system.
Industrial machinery is highly specialized and frequently requires unique spare parts that may be difficult to obtain.
With a CMMS system, information stores immediately. This convenient function allows employers to access information such as stock levels. Which can result in a reduction of unnecessary purchases. Investing more money than needed on an asset increases the original investment and should not be done unnecessarily.
CMMS systems can be leveraged in different areas to ensure efficient practices. Between the ability to collate accurate information for reporting and assign resources via the platform, industrial businesses can ensure that they assign the accurate amount of resources to their machinery, being less wasteful and saving costs in the process.
CMMS systemsprovide so many features that have a positive effect on the ROI. From reducing downtime to carefully maintaining the asset to increase its lifespan, these systems are very beneficial for industrial equipment.
These factors all lead to equipment that is well maintained, and as a result, can be used reliably for many years, ensuring that businesses will see a positive upward trend in their ROI.
Today since there are many universities and colleges around the world to serve you, a piece of great information about goods and services is always welcome. Students need to have the best apps to choose the right college for them, and CatEight remains one of their weapons in the battle for the best education they could receive.
Even if you are a novice with computer things, you can still subscribe to CatEight and have all the up-to-date data about the universities close to your region and what kind of educational programs you may follow after you finish high-school.
It would be better now to become more precise and start seeing how other people start to use the CatEight app features in front of the others to the race for the best college they can possibly get.
School Finder Feature remains the best
The CatEight school finderremains one of the few applications that can help high school students find their university preference. As a student, you can set your own criteria before the search begins. You are free to do so since you can pick between the university location, the program requirements, the tuition, the accommodation, and other issues you may face as a freshman.
CatEight has the solutions to all your potential problems. The only thing you need to do would be to ask for their professional advice. One of their colleagues would be pleased to serve you and ask all your questions about the registration process and the admissions procedures that are harsh for some of the country’s top universities.
Even though CatEight can give you directions about where you should go to find the right educational plan for you, it will not give you a decision by itself. You need to be the sole responsible for your decision, being already informed about the data from the colleges and institutions you like to apply to.
There is also a chance to study abroad
However, with CatEight, you also have the chance to apply to foreign universities and study abroad. Using the resources available in the main panel, CatEight can give you a brief introduction about the history of colleges being abroad, the language of studies, and all you need to know about VISAs, tuition, admissions, and accommodation.
CatEight has also calculated and monitored the cost of living in the foreign country you are looking at, making it feasible for you to have a perspective to study abroad. The application may also get you in touch with professors and students from colleges and universities you would like to apply. There you could find precious and updated information about the studies and the semesters, understand better the university function, and have a complete tour of the college infrastructures to become an ideal student.
Conclusion
As you can understand, there is no way you may find your right college if you don’t have access to the CatEight application, which has taken the market by storm. It is easy to access and use, no matter where you live in the world. The app will give you updated information about most of the main universities worldwide and give you the chance to communicate with them and seek even more information. It is the best thing it could happen to you!
When it comes to growing your social media, there are so many services that are available to you online. It won’t take a thorough google search to reveal a multitude of providers, but how can you be sure that the provider you chose is worth it?
With so many services, it’s easy to fall into the trap of putting your money with the wrong business, so this is why we have reviewed UseViral, so you can trust where you put your money.
What Is UseViral?
UseViral is a platform that allows you to grow your social media quickly and effectively, without having to invest in a growth strategy. The best thing about UseViral is that you can see the results in 24 hours.
You simply click on the social media platform you want to grow and then select whether you want likes, follows or views. It is a one-off transaction which is far less expensive than paying a monthly premium for an organic growth service. UseViral is especially effective for people that want to grow their TikTok accounts.
Is UseViral Secure?
One of our main points of concern when we review growth products is whether or not they are safe and secure. There are so many services available that it can be difficult to work out whether or not you are going to be ripped off. UseViral, thankfully, is a safe and secure platform that won’t pass your details over to third parties.
However, whilst UseViral is safe and secure, you will need to exercise your own caution when you use it. When you are purchasing their services, you want to make sure that you are drip feeding the purchases onto your accounts. If you only have a few hundred or a few thousand followers, you don’t want to be doubling the number over a very short space of time.
This can flag algorithms on platforms such as TikTok and get your account banned or shadow banned, so you need to make sure that you are drip feeding your purchases.
Build A Strategy
On platforms such as TikTok, it isn’t just followers that count, likes and views may well actually be more important than followers. Likes and views count toward engagement, which is the key currency that algorithms leverage. It is not worth your time spending your hard-earned money on followers alone, so when you are about to make a purchase, consider whether you are buying a strategy.
Followers will boost one number, but if you buy likes, followers and view count all these works together to build a higher follower to engagement ratio. It is this ratio that platforms use to measure whether or not other people will engage with your content.
Is Useviral Worth The Money?
Useviral is one the most stable and easy to use platforms on the market. When you make a transaction through UseViral you can be sure that you are getting what you pay for. With other services, you can invest the money in followers, have them on your account within 24 hours and then 24 hours later they have gone, which leaves you back where you started.
UseViral won’t do this, so you can be sure that you get what you pay for. They also offer an array of products per network. This way you don’t just have to settle on followers or views, you can switch it between and make sure that you are getting the best from this service.
In comparison to other growth services, UseViral are very well priced and as it is a transaction-by-transaction basis, you can be sure that you can keep an eye on the cost.
Review Wrap Up
UseViral is one of the best growth services out there, but before you dive headfirst into buying followers and likes, make sure that you don’t over purchase.
Over purchasing can result in your account being banned or blocked by the provider, because an instant influx would be seen as unusual behaviour. Make sure that you drip feed your purchases onto your account, to make sure that it looks genuine. UseViral is easy to use, fast and effective but build yourself a strategy around it, rather than just making a single purchase of followers.
All of their products are well rated, so by cross investing in the array of services that they offer can help to stimulate organic growth on your platform. Finally, UseViral is a secure service that won’t sell or pass your details on.
