Co-branded cards are a type of credit card that a retailer of consumer services or goods launches in partnership with a specific debit or prepaid card network or issuer. Often featuring the logos of both the retailer and the credit card company, co-branded cards typically offer points, merchandise discounts, or other forms of rewards or incentives when used for purchases from the sponsored merchant. In addition, co-branded cards can be used anywhere that accepts cards from that network.
Co-branded cards are sponsored by two parties: the retailer, e.g. a department store or airline, and the card or bank network, e.g. American Express, Mastercard, Visa or Discover. They effectively work like any ordinary payment card and can be used anywhere, but they often provide special cashback opportunities or merchandise discounts for specific types of purchase.
Co-branded card partnerships can be structured in various ways, but usually, a retailer or organisation – such as a university or sports operation – partners with a bank or other financial institution. Often, that financial institution is the retailer’s own bank, already processing debit and credit card payments on its behalf. This simplifies the card transaction process, with the relationship relying on the acquiring bank’s network processor. However, in some instances, retailers opt to partner with third-party payment card providers, such as Discover or American Express, which offer unique co-branded card relationships since they have the ability to serve as both the network processor and credit-issuing financial institution.
The earliest examples of co-branded cards date back to the 1980s, when airline companies started joining forces with card issuers and banks to offer air mile reward credit cards. This example remains a popular model today, for example United Airlines’ Visa offered by Chase Bank and American Airlines’ Mastercard available via Barclays Bank. Hotels quickly followed the airlines’ lead. Another type of co-branded card known as affinity group cards subsequently emerged, consisting of cards issued by an institution or organisation, such as the Harvard Alumni Mastercard.
Owned by Edgars Lasmanis, Walletto is a Principal Member of Visa and Mastercard as an Issuer and an Acquirer that enables customers to send and receive money from anywhere, at any time of the day or night. In addition to providing virtual and plastic payment cards, Walletto offers white-label card issuing for business clients, enabling them to quickly and efficiently launch bespoke card programmes.
Walletto customers can make everyday purchases using their MacBook, Apple Watch, iPhone or iPad, paying easily and securely wherever contactless payments are accepted, including Apple Pay. In addition, Walletto is also compatible with Google Pay, enabling users to quickly and conveniently pay for goods and services in different apps, stores, websites and any other place where contactless payments are accepted.
The construction industry in the UK has, in recent years, faced an occasional shortage of insulation materials required to complete construction processes. The shortage can be attributed to various economic factors that have hit both the UK market and the global economy. This article will discuss the various causes of insulation shortage currently experienced in the market today.
Shortage of Lorry Drivers
Insulation boards help reduce carbon emissions and save on the energy used to keep homes heated. This, in turn, aids the UK government in achieving its goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. The supply chain in the UK is always expected to offer timely deliveries by construction industries that highly depend on the daily deliveries by lorries. The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, posed a great challenge to the construction industry because the number of lorry drivers has greatly reduced, making it hard for the construction materials to be distributed in the market evenly. Manufacturers, therefore, find it hard to provide their clients with the essential equipment fast enough. The supply chain breakdown has especially affected the transport of insulation boards and other essential materials.
However, there are reliable suppliers in the UK with fully stocked insulating and other building materials. You can go to Materials Market for a reliable supply of mineral wool, glass wool and insulation materials.
Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Shortage
Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate(MDI) is one of the most important ingredients in the production of the Celotex PIR insulation board. Therefore, if it is experiencing a shortage, then the Celotex PIR insulation boards will not be available in the market. MDI shortage is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lockdown measure during the pandemic resulted in manufacturers’ slowed production rates to avoid overproduction because of the situation back then. After the lockdown, construction workers need more insulation boards, but the production cannot be quick enough to meet the demand.
Manufacturers in the UK have clearly stated their aim in ensuring the increased production of Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate overtime. A positive trend in its production has also been identified and published since the lift on lockdown measures. The global MDI is predicted to increase to USD 48.25 billion by 2026.
Coronavirus
Despite COVID-19 being a contributing factor to a ton of different industrial shortages experienced globally, the pandemic also played a significant role in the shortages in the insulation market today.
During the peak of the global pandemic, many things had to change in various industrial sectors. The number of workers in the production lines had to be reduced while others were getting laid off.
Over the lockdown period, production of insulation materials was greatly reduced, meaning fewer resources were processed and shipped to the market. Shipping took longer than usual, with fewer shipments sent to the market by manufacturers because they produced only that much. The buyer demand for these products also reduced during the pandemic creating an unpredictable trend for the manufacturers.
The end of the lockdown restrictions made many people awake to the reality of being trapped at home in the future as it had happened then. The need for improving their homes came up, and most indulged in home development projects.
Suddenly, development projects created a high demand for building materials with everyone out to make their housing better. There was an increase in orders made for the construction products like insulation products, and many purchases were made. The available materials were quickly cleared from the market, leaving a huge gap for the insulation materials. The production process was quite slow and unable to meet the huge demand in the market.
Competition from Other Sources
The shortages experienced in the insulation market may come from competition from other fields that require similar services to those of insulation markets. The demand for insulation materials in other areas has been witnessed over time, such as in the recreational industry. During the pandemic, demand for better recreational amenities was witnessed, such as boats, pools, and recreational vehicles using insulation materials.
While the insulation used on these recreational products is not the exact one used in home projects, they share some inputs in their production. When recreational insulation products are high in demand, they may affect the production of the insulation markets required in home projects leading to their shortage in the market.
Bottomline
The shortages experienced in the insulation market affect the prices of the materials, causing them to be more expensive than expected. Manufacturers are out to ensure more stable supply chains are maintained in the market to curb the shortages experienced. More people are also expected to join the labor market to ensure that employees are enough to meet the demand in the market for insulation materials.
The government describes the register as intending to ‘flush out corrupt elites laundering money through UK property’
David Hannah, Group Chairman at Cornerstone Tax, discusses the state of the UK property market and the influence of foreign investment
A new register of overseas entities maintained by Companies House came into force yesterdaymeaning that buyers will be forced to declare their ownership of properties and provide details of their beneficial owners. It is being described by experts as being ‘riddled with flaws and loopholes’, though the government has stated the register intends to ‘flush out corrupt elites laundering money through UK property’. The legislation also includes a fine of up to £2,500 a day for failing to comply with the rules. It will be publicly available at Companies House, but it is unclear how significant this new regulation could be and whether it will deter foreign investment in the UK property market.
The UK property market continues its upward trajectory as recent data from Halifax shows that the average house price now stands at £294,845, which represents a 6.8% rise, or £18,849 since the start of the year. This means that house prices have risen every month over the last year as the supply-demand imbalance continues to be the main contributor to this. With inflation in the UK rising to 9.4% in the year to June – marking its highest rate in 40 years, many are expecting a sharp decline in the property market, but the influx of foreign investment for properties in the UK could continue to push house prices higher. Recent research from Benham and Reeves shows that overseas nationals now own almost 250,000 homes across England and Wales – amounting to £90.7 billion worth of property.
London continues to be home to the highest value of foreign-owned homes, with all of the city’s top five property deals in 2021 – worth £20 million or more – involving Chinese billionaires,according to Beauchamp. Following sanctions imposed on Russian investors there were fears that foreign investment would falter, however Chinese investors seem to have picked up the slack. There are now 85,451 properties (amounting to a total value of £45.3 billion) in the capital owned by oversea investors who are able to take advantage of the UK’s thriving market.
The drop in the value of the pound, which has fallen by 11% since the start of the year, seems to be one of the major appealing aspects of buying property in the UK. 61 luxury properties in London – each worth more than £10 million, have been sold in the first six months of 2022 – representing the highest number in a decade.
David Hannah, Group Chairman at Cornerstone Tax, discusses the impact of foreign investors in the UK property market:
“What people must consider is that the UK property market is an international market, meaning it can be affected by geo-political events all over the world. Even if domestic demand cools, I think international demand will increase and the UK market will be affected because of it. I don’t think foreign investment will be overly deterred by the new rules which came into place yesterday with many being concerned that a number of loopholes exist in these plans.
“Property in the UK represents an exciting opportunity for foreign buyers because of the drop in the value of the pound. UK house prices continue to rise at a staggering rate domestically, being pushed higher by factors such as the influx of oversea investors. In the past, factors such as the stamp duty holiday have caused more people to consider buying property. However, due to the increase in average house prices, it has made it more difficult than ever for buyers to purchase their first property.
“There is hope that more available properties will enter the UK housing market and the latest House Price Index shows an increase of 24% in the number of prospective sellers bringing homes to the market – thus causing a more manageable supply and demand level and potentially slowing the rapid rise of property prices.”
According to StockApps.com, in Q2 2022, Youtube’s ad income increased by 4.8% year over year to $7.34 billion. This is far less than Wall Street experts’ prediction that YouTube’s ad revenue would see a 7% YoY increase to US$7.49 billion. In comparison, YouTube’s ad revenue increased by 84% to $7 billion in Q2 2021. But, this figure was somewhat inflated due to Covid-19’s early effects on sales in the first half of 2020.
Commenting on the status, StockApps’ Edith Reads said. “The year over year growth is at its lowest since 2020. However, it was closer to predictions than Q1 when YouTube missed estimates by over US$600 million.”
Alphabet Slightly Missed Estimates
Overall, Alphabet slightly missed earnings estimates. The internet behemoth reported$69.69 billion in sales, up 13%, and $16.0 billion in net income. Wall Street consensus projections were for $69.99 billion in revenue and $1.30/share in earnings.
Besides macroeconomic obstacles like growing inflation, analysts predict that YouTube ad dollars are shrinking due to YouTube Shorts, the platform’s surging TikTok-like short-video feature. Google boasted last month that YouTube Shorts has 1.5 billion monthly logged-in visitors. Yet, it only began testing ads for short clips recently.
Revenue Excludes Subscriptions From YouTube TV and YouTube Premium
Alphabet’s YouTube ad sales estimates do not include YouTube TV and YouTube Premium subscriptions. YouTube TV boasts 5 million members and free trial users, making it the leading internet pay-TV provider in the U.S.The full story and statistics can be found here: YouTube Ad Revenue Growth of 4.8% In Q2 Is the Slowest in More Than 2 Years
The Internet has become a hub for a large amount of digital content, specifically in terms of visual content. However, even though one can listen to these in the form of podcasts, the sound can very often be difficult to hear. This is because there are many different languages and accents and there is the possibility that words and terms can get lost in translation or in conversation. This is where Circle Translations can step in to provide you with a service to provide you with an excellent presentation. The importance is to find the right subtitle translator for your purpose.
What does subtitle translation mean?
Before you decide what the right subtitle translator for your needs is, you need to know why you need one. When you complete your video or presentation, you will always go back, listen, and edit your product. During this time, you will know whether you need to add subtitles.
You might need subtitles for various reasons. The subtitles will either be in English or in the language of your choice. The latter will depend on your audience but also on the product you need to be transcribed. These products include tutorials, classes, and any other product in the form of audiovisual presentations. The subtitles are the added text, taken from the spoken word that appears on the screen while the person is watching the video.
Why do you need subtitles?
You are creating visual content to reach a specific audience. For that reason, you want to make sure that your content reaches your audience in the best possible way. You can do the subtitles yourself, but to be most effective, it would be best to find the right subtitle translator for your needs. Circle Translations could be of service to you.
By making use of a subtitle translator, you can be sure that people will watch most of your videos until the end. In recent times, YouTube also introduced what one might call “silent watching.” You are able to watch the video without sound and follow along with the captions. This further increases the chances that people will watch your videos.
Transcripts, in the form of subtitles, need an excellent translator, especially if you need to have your audiovisuals translated into a different language. The right subtitle translator will be fluent in both languages in order to provide you with the best transcript and subtitles you need. At Circle Translations, we have a wide range of subtitle translators to fit almost any situation. They are able to create a product that will extend your viewership.
Why do you need a subtitle translator?
Creating subtitles might seem easy, but you need to know what you are doing to get the right effect. This is a specific genre and often needs specialized attention. One of the things that are also important is localization. This is the ability of the translator to interpret the content for the viewer to provide the best message to the audience. It is also important for your views.
The right subtitle translator will be able to look at your presentation objectively and not miss the details. The details will include the cultural aspects as well as the variations in a specific language. The subtitle translator will be able to translate, transcribe, coordinate, synchronize, and sequence your audiovisual into a neat package. The package will also contain adaptations so that other cultures can understand the content perfectly.
A company like Circle Translations would have the set standards for performing such a task. They have more than 670 companies worldwide with more than 120 language preferences.
Decide on the right subtitle translator
How would you be able to decide which company will work best for you?
It is important to check in with the company to gain insight into their processing method. In order for you to use the file, the subtitle translator has to create a specific file type – SRT, Web VTT. These files have to be suited to most video platforms. As indicated before the sequences, synchronization, and timing have to be perfect.
The transcripts have to be word-for-word. However, you should check how the translator uses language, punctuation, and spelling.
It is also important to note the layout of the text and how they eliminate text on scene changes – attention to detail is important. The transcript should have distinct sentences for the viewer to follow clearly.
Most importantly, you should note the synchronization.
Furthermore, it is important to note that the translations are not always literally translated, but intended to give clarity and understanding.
A number of companies offer subtitle translator services and it is, therefore, important for you to do your research into finding the right subtitle translator. Circle Translations offer you these services and so much more. You will find that their services will provide you with an excellent audiovisual to reach a global audience.
The popular annual web scraping conference announces agenda and speakers
The digital future is strongly shaped by web scraping – a technology that allows collecting large amounts of public web data to then translate it into business insights. The latest pulse of this game-changing technology will be captured in the industry’s leading conference OxyCon. It will provide an opportunity to hear from the elite web scraping professionals who will dive deep into data gathering systems, architecture, and daily scraping challenges.
A free to register event OxyCon, organized by a leading global provider of public web data gathering solutions Oxylabs, will take place on 7-8 September online. The event’s presentations will fall under three major themes, each representing a different aspect of the data gathering process.
“With this year’s OxyCon, we aim to provide both strategic insights that inspire rethinking one’s approach to public web data collection and easily applicable practical tips. We gathered together a team of A-list speakers – those who either depend on web scraping in their business or solve the development challenges of this technology everyday. Together, they’ll provide a comprehensive view on how the web scraping industry looks today and where it’s heading”, – says Julius Černiauskas, CEO of Oxylabs.
The first section – The World of Public Data Collection for Businesses – will focus on the application of public web data gathering. For example, some of the most pressing questions for data-dependent businesses concern the legalities of web scraping. Alex Reese, Partner at the law firm Farella Braun + Martel, will present the most recent developments on the U.S. scraping law. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion of leading scraping lawyers, moderated by Denas Grybauskas, Head of Legal at Oxylabs.
A practical business case of web scraping in SEO will be presented by Karsten Madsen, a CEO of a fast growing company called Morningscore. Meanwhile, a regular OxyCon speaker and the CEO at The DataWorks Allen O’Neill, promises to provide A Crash Course in Machine Learning for Text Using Web Data.
In the latter part of presentations the speakers will tackle the scraping challenges of developers. From practical application of web scraping techniques, demonstrated by Oxylabs’ Technical Team Lead Eivydas Vilčinskas, to tips on how to scrape the web of tomorrow by Ondra Orban, COO at Apify – this part of the conference will create a discussion platform for like-minded professionals.
Finally, the third major theme of this year’s OxyCon – Scraping infrastructure management and solutions – will revolve around scalability. Glen De Cauwsemaecker from OTA Insight will share his company’s journey from small-scale design to a system capable of handling millions of daily requests. Additionally, Paul Morgan, Data Collection Team Lead at Datasembly will talk about different aspects of the data collection process: orchestration, observability, and introspection. Meanwhile Sarah McKenna, CEO at Sequentum, will talk about ensuring quality and compliance when scraping at scale.
During the two days of the online event, OxyCon will host 12 comprehensive presentations, demonstrations and panel discussions. Free registration is available here.
As you grow older, you must learn the art of footing some of your bills. Teaching yourself some financial basics as soon as possible is incredibly beneficial. It is these skills that you carry along as you graduate into adulthood in successive years. Nevertheless, before getting carried away by complex investment matrices and ideas, some basic skills like learning to play blackjack online help you make handsome profits from your meager pocket change at the school canteen or shop.
You might want to buy some clothes, have fun, or hang out with your buddies, especially at your birthday party. However, affording such things is beyond your financial abilities. Surprisingly, there are some easy tips to earn money as a teenager.
This article takes a deep swipe into these teen-friendly ways to make money. We endeavor to go beyond the common gift cards and parents’ coffers for holidays and birthdays. Below are some lucrative ideas to help you earn extra cash as a teenager.
1. Playing online casino games.
Gambling is a popular activity all around the world. Blackjack is undoubtedly one of the most engaging and popular casino games. Blackjack is a card game that is relatively simple to learn and easy to play. Teenagers who enjoy online gambling can play blackjack online to win high rewards. Gamblers who play this card game have always questioned how consistent winning is possible.
Many people doubt whether you can win money playing online casino games. However, according to Statista, a dependable source of business and consumer data, the value of the worldwide gambling industry was estimated at USD 57.54 billion in 2021 and will surpass USD 92.9 billion by 2023. Therefore, you can make money quickly if you gamble with an intelligent strategy.
Every teen gambler hopes to make money when playing casino games. But given that the casino has an advantage in most games, this is incredibly challenging to execute. Therefore, it would be best if you are looking for strategy games such as blackjack and great techniques that give you a chance to succeed over the long term. You can also increase your winnings by combining skill and luck.
Utilizing bonuses from top online gambling sites is another strategy to profit from blackjack. You can benefit from the real money offers made by online casinos when you sign up for their service. That would be a fantastic method to utilize your new bonus cash to compensate for bad Blackjack luck. Blackjack is a technically strategic game, but with the right tactics, it may be rewarding. Visit the top online casino to play Blackjack and win some money.
2. Become a Blogger and Start a Successful Blog.
Do you love to blog and want to make some extra cash? Blogging is a fantastic technique to start earning money. If done correctly, creating your blog where you share your knowledge and give value to your audience can turn into a highly lucrative approach to making extra money. A blog can be a rewarding method for teenagers to earn money.
You are free to blog on any subject that interests you. Although it’s not simple, blogging is a low-cost business idea with the potential to make thousands of dollars per month. It is a well-known work-from-home position with the potential to earn money online. If you’re just starting, you probably want a blog that’s easy to manage and will make you more money.
As long as you are prepared to put in the effort to set it up correctly, starting a blog is relatively simple. Below are some tips on how to create a successful blog.
Choosing a blogging niche
Select a domain name
Establishing a blog
Creating and sharing helpful content
Getting paid to blog.
Internet connection
Even though it can take several months before your blog posts generate any money, they can be a sizable source of income once they do. Owners of blogs that receive between 10,000 and 100,000 page views per month may often make between 2 and 10 cents from advertising, which equates to $200-$10,000 per month.
Blogging has nearly endless potential. Depending on the audience size, genre, and sponsorship agreement, sponsored articles can cost anywhere from $25 to $750 for each post. Bloggers with a solid following, like Ryan Robinson, who writes a site on blogging, can earn up to $30,000 each month. Just two years after starting his blog as a side hustle in 2019, Adam Enfroy made $1.5 million. He did this by writing about the business of blogging.
3. Offer Babysitting Services.
Everyone requires a reliable babysitter, especially parents of children under 12, during vacations, at work, or on the road. You can find families to babysit for on a long-term basis by developing ties with your neighbors, friends’ parents, or even teachers who have younger kids.
All you need to do to succeed is learn how to keep kids engaged for at least two hours. It can be simple to get into babysitting. Starting your babysitting business through family and friends is a great idea. If you do a good job, they’ll tell everyone in the neighborhood.
How much money you may make as a dependable babysitter may surprise you. At least $20/hour is usually charged, with $5 more for each additional child. Moreover, the majority of parents feed the babysitter. Parent helper work is another possibility similar to babysitting and one of the most acceptable ways to generate money as a teenager.
You can create flyers or even partner with a local daycare to market your babysitting services! Additionally, social media like Facebook can help you connect with clients. There’s a good chance that someone you know will either know someone who needs a babysitter or will be able to recommend someone else to you. Do not be reluctant to ask around.
4. Take Care of Other People’s Pets.
Teenagers can earn money through pet-sitting; it’s fun to do it! For several reasons, a lot of individuals use pet sitting services. Pet owners frequently find it quite challenging to travel with their pets. Often, their only alternative is a pet care facility, which isn’t the best choice because of their anxiety that the pet care facility won’t treat their pet as well as they do.
Additionally, there could not be any such facilities near where they live. In such circumstances, you might propose to “pet sit” their animals and charge a fee based on the days you are required to take care of the animal.
Pet sitting can be exciting work and is usually only temporary, so you don’t need to have a long-term commitment that will take up much of your time. Clients may need someone to watch their pets all week or only take care of them in the afternoon.
Dog owners frequently lack time to walk their pets because of their busy schedules and the limited area in most large cities. You can take this fantastic opportunity to pitch in and take these dogs for a walk. It is also an excellent opportunity to make money and make new furry friends if you love animals.
Pet owners are always ready to spend a considerable amount of money on this service because they understand how crucial it is for their pets to have daily walks. You can locate customers by contacting your neighbors, spreading the word, visiting local veterinary clinics, or browsing websites. If you can connect with three or four of these pet owners, you could make a respectable monthly income.
5. Organize and Photograph Events to Get Money
Help adults plan events by putting your strong leadership qualities to use! You might uncover people who require event planning assistance and get paid. One suggestion is to plan birthday celebrations for young children. Parents with busy schedules and kids with high expectations frequently find it a hassle.
Planning a fantastic birthday party with exciting games and adorable decorations may relieve them of that duty. If even one child attends a tremendous party you organized, they will want the same for their birthday celebration. You can start a business with this idea at that point.
As you organize these events, you can also decide to earn money by offering your photographic services. If you don’t already own a decent camera, you can rent one and enroll in an online photography course. After capturing one event, someone can refer you to start shooting more occasions.
Did you realize that websites allow you to sell your photos? For each download, you will be rewarded. You may therefore post your photographs for sale online and generate passive money if you have a strong eye for photography.
6. Tutoring Other Students.
It is time to put your academic prowess to the test if you have excelled in a particular topic. Many parents look everywhere for a tutor to assist their child in passing a class. You may earn $20 or more per hour as a teacher! Tutoring benefits the student you are teaching, allows you to make money, and helps you perform better. It doesn’t even have to feel like work if you teach a subject you love.
Ask local parents if they require a tutor for their kids. If you want to pique more curiosity, you can also put advertisements all across the city. Make sure to speak with your parents before the meeting when you begin to receive inquiries from possible clients. Online tutoring may also be an option in addition to in-person instruction.
However, if academic tutoring isn’t your thing, you can teach another skill you excel at. For instance, you can share your skills if you have a great voice, can play the guitar, or are a talented dancer. Coding is also a valuable skill. If teaching younger children to code is something you’re good at, you could make a good living doing it. Many parents are ready to spend a fortune teaching their kids this skill.
Whatever you’re extremely good at, there’s probably someone out there who wants to learn how to do it even better. Either look for someone interested in learning a skill you are strong at or promote your lessons. If you become exceptionally adept at conveying that knowledge, you might even create an online course and begin to make a significant amount of money.
7. Sell Your Products and Services.
Are you intelligent and talented in art and design? You may sell many crafts to get money if you enjoy producing them and are creative. Custom designs can be made and applied to jewelry, printables, posters, hats, accessories, and body items. It’s one of the most acceptable paying professions for teens since you can genuinely have fun while earning money.
Additionally, you can draw, paint, bake, knit, or create anything. You can start by creating a Facebook profile, accepting orders when you have time, and earning some money from it. Doing something you are passionate about is a great way to continue making money from your free time while also enjoying it!
Another way to make money is by selling clothes. You can find some cute garments at thrift shops and style them appropriately to make much more money than you paid. Millions of people are currently buying and selling pre-owned clothes. Tailoring is an easy skill to learn. You can design and make your clothes for sale. Reselling your old clothes is also a fantastic way to get extra income while clearing out your closet of old clothing.
Freelancing in any field, including copywriting, translation, graphic design, video editing, software development, or marketing, is a simple way to earn money. Numerous domestic and foreign websites offer teenagers the chance to be compensated for their talents. These comprise, among others, Chegg, Freelance, Freelancer, Upwork, and Fiverr. You can register for a freelancer account and submit your resume and cover letter for open positions.
Freelance writing is another fantastic way to get experience and improve your resume if you have writing talent or plan to pursue it in the future. People are frequently trying to hire freelancers to write blog pieces or even portions of their books. To display samples of your work, you can create your blog.
Bottom Line
While surveys indicate that most teens get money from their parents, learning how to make and manage money as a teenager is crucial. Making money as a teen has benefits, such as giving you valuable work experience and building your confidence.
Google’s algorithms are always changing, and with the most recent update, many websites have seen their search engine rankings plummet. This has caused a great deal of anxiety for webmasters around the world, as they scramble to try and figure out how they can improve their sites to appease Google.
While there is no surefire way to guarantee a top spot in Google’s search results, ecommerce SEO agency Bulldog Digital Media claim that there are certain things you can do to improve your chances. Here are some of the latest changes to Google’s algorithm and what you can do to keep your site from being penalized:
1- Make sure your site is mobile-friendly
With more and more people using their smartphones and tablets to surf the web, it’s important that your website is optimized for these devices. Google has stated that they now take mobile-friendliness into account when determining search rankings.
2- Use social media to your advantage
Google’s algorithm now takes social signals into account when determining rankings. This means that if your website has a strong social media presence, it will likely rank higher than those without. Make sure you are active on platforms like Twitter and Facebook and encourage your visitors to share your content.
3- Produce high-quality content
Google’s ultimate goal is to provide its users with the best possible experience. This means that sites with well-written, informative content are more likely to rank higher than those with thin or duplicate content. Focus on creating helpful, original articles that will serve your readers well.
4- Search Console Insights Brings A Simpler Way To Keep Track Of Your Search Rankings
Google Search Advocate John Mueller talked about emphasizing the advantages of Search Console Insights. Users may produce customized reports and get a different perspective on the data using Search Console data, along with analytics.
He stated, One of the reasons I’m here is to talk about using BigQuery and Data Studio as a means of bringing multiple data sources together and generating really nice reports.
How Can you beat The Google algorithm?
The answer is: you don’t. You can’t game or manipulate the system, because Google’s algorithm is constantly changing. The only way to keep up is to stay informed about the latest changes.
The first major change to Google’s algorithm came in late February, with the introduction of the “mobile-first” index. This means that Google will now index websites based on their mobile version first and foremost. This is a significant change because it shows that Google is prioritizing mobile users over desktop users.
If you want your website to be indexed properly, you need to make sure that your mobile version is up to par. This means having a responsive design, fast loading times, and unique content.
The recruiting process seems pretty simple on the surface; read on to discover what and how to use data and why you can’t afford to.
Finding the right employees in a timely, cost-effective fashion can make all the difference in the success (or lack thereof) of a company. Data can help you achieve just that. However, with the wealth of technological advancements available to us today, it can sometimes appear overwhelming: What data points should I track, and how can I interpret them to create actionable improvements? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how data can and should be used to improve the recruitment process.
Link to the royalty-free image by Nick Fewings here
Data in recruitment and beyond
Finding the right applicant for the job is only part of the process (admittedly a very important part). Afterward, the applicant needs to be onboarded, trained, and integrated. And yet the process doesn’t end there. Throughout the entire span of an employee’s time with the company, he or she needs to be monitored to make sure they stay engaged, meet their targets, and continue forward on the path that is projected for them.
In every step of this process (the duration of an applicant’s, and then employee’s, stay with the company) actions are taken and results are achieved (both positive and negative). Every result yields a data point. The accumulation of data points should then create actionable information to help you identify weaknesses in the recruitment process and beyond.
It is for this reason that when we talk about using data to help in the recruitment process, we are not concerned exclusively with the data points that pertain to the recruitment process only. We need to also take into account the data points accumulated over the entire duration of an applicant/employee’s connection with the company.
Employees who are successful in the company should share commonalities that are either binary or quantifiable. Likewise, employees who are not successful with the company will also share points in common. By tracking these commonalities, you will get a much clearer idea of what to look for in future recruits. Additionally, you will be able to identify any potential lapses or shortcomings in employee engagement, employee performance, and employee retention.
For data to be actionable, it needs to be analyzed. And that is often a field all on its own. Here is a list of analytics terms you should know that can help you get a useful crash course in business intelligence.
Data points to consider in the recruitment process
The Hiring Channel – which platforms or job portals are successful recruits coming from
Motivation Factors – which aspects of the job offer most appeals to successful applicants
Application to Interview Rate – The number of applicants called in for an interview versus the number of candidates who are not can inform you about the quality of your job offer or description and the effectiveness of the portals you post in.
Acceptance Rate – the number of employment offers versus the number of rejections and the reason for rejection
Time-to-Hire – how much time is spent from drafting the job offer to hiring the applicant
Cost per Hire – how much money is spent from drafting the job offer to hiring the applicant
Drop-Off Points– during which steps in the recruitment process are you losing applicants
Data points to consider over the lifespan of the employee
Duration (Employee Retention) – how long the employee stays with the company
Promotions and Bonuses – These are good quantifiable ways to monitor an employee’s success with the company
Attendance and Productivity – how often an employee misses work and how productive they are when they don’t
Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) – to measure an employee’s level of satisfaction; information on methodology, calculation, and tips for improving the eNPS can be found in this guide to the employee net promoter score
Identify the right candidate
Link to the royalty-free image by Cytonn Photography here
Despite the pervading presence of technology in the workplace, recruitment remains a very person-centric process. However, this does not preclude the use and analysis of data. In fact, using the right technology is an important step in improving your human resources department.
While companies across all sectors of activity stand to benefit from more diversity in the workplace, successful employees do still share points in common – past employment history, academic background, soft skills, technical skills, etc.
Identifying which points successful employees share in common will help you identify what criteria future recruits should meet.
Identify where the Good candidates come from
Overwhelmingly, companies tend to recruit online from job seeker portals such as Lensa. As more and more job portals are being developed, the tendency is for them to focus on a particular niche. Others lose their popularity or attract candidates that may not be ideal for your needs.
A good data-driven recruitment strategy will take note of which portals or media the applicants come from. Additionally, it would be wise to take note of where the good candidates come from so as to better target your recruitment.
Reduce wasteful spending
Eliminating the job portals that attract a high number of unqualified or less-than-ideal candidates will help reduce your overall recruitment cost.
Eliminate biases – both explicit (conscious) and implicit (unconscious)
Data – unlike humans – are completely neutral. When it comes to selecting which applicants should be called in for an interview and which applicants should be eliminated from the process, it’s completely normal – even unavoidable – to be influenced by biases you may not even know you have.
For example, if a candidate has the same first name as someone you had a bad experience with, you may have a negative impression of that candidate, which is completely unjustified, unfair, and unlikely to help you to find the right person for the job. This is an example of an implicit bias. And everyone has them. But data points do not.
Using data to filter candidates at the outset is a must. In this stage – when you know little about the candidate but are expected to form a certain idea – is where your biases – conscious and unconscious – are most likely to come into play.
Avoid Being Misled by Your Biases
All humans hold biases that result from past experiences. More often than not, these biases are misleading – not to mention unfair to the applicants. Rely on data, especially in the initial stages, and avoid being misled by biases you may not even know you have.
Identify problematic steps in the recruitment process
Invariably, you will lose a few candidates over the course of the recruitment process. This most likely occurs when a candidate realizes they are not a good match for the company or if they get the impression that the company doesn’t meet the criteria they had in mind.
The impression the candidate has of the recruitment process is known as Candidate Experience. A high rate of candidates dropping out of the process is likely indicative of a problem or weakness in the process. This, in turn, will have a negative effect on candidate experience.
More and more today, job seekers – as well as employees – share their experiences either on job search forums, blogs, or social media. Word gets around quickly. A flawed recruitment process risks earning your company a negative reputation and making it more difficult to attract good candidates in the future.
Improve candidate experience
Monitor where in the recruitment process candidates tend to drop out. You can use surveys to gain feedback on what the candidates think of the process, but this type of data should be used in collaboration with hard data – that is to say data that is not subject to interpretation or feelings.
Stay ahead of the curve – recognizing patterns leads to actionable predictions
There’s an old saying in business that goes: You can only manage what you can measure. The inverse is also true: How can you expect to manage what you don’t bother to measure?
When it comes to recruitment and subsequent employee success – employee engagement, employee performance, and employee retention – all of these elements are measurable. As a consequence, as you strive to recruit candidates who will be successful at the company and will stay with the company for a long time, data can reveal patterns or similarities in a successful employee’s profile.
What kind of background do successful employees tend to have?
How much prior work experience do successful employees tend to have?
What skill sets do successful employees tend to share in common?
How much technical know-how do successful employees tend to have when they start off at your company.
Example #1
It could be that the more experienced candidates – or the ones with more technical know-how – tend to grow bored of the job and don’t stay with the company long enough to be considered a successful hire. When you’re looking over applications, you might be enamored with a particular candidate’s experience or know-how. However, the data suggests that it is unlikely this candidate will turn into a successful hire.
This is an example of the data making a prediction that might otherwise be counterintuitive.
Example #2
It could be that the employees who perform best at the company tend to excel in certain soft skills that might not be immediately apparent to the success of the job. For example, they tend to be good at public speaking. Even though public speaking may not be part of the job description, the data suggest that that particular skill translates to success on the job.
Once the data have suggested this pattern, you may wish to look for candidates who also possess this particular skill.
A large enough collection of data points will reveal patterns that may not otherwise be apparent to the hiring manager. These patterns allow you to make predictions about the future success of a given candidate. These predictions are actionable, helping you to identify elements that should be present in a candidate’s profile so that you can deliberate among them accordingly.
Use data responsibly
While it is undisputable that data can help you to monitor job applicants, there are a few pitfalls you should look out for. Firstly, data can be vulnerable to theft or corruption. As data are important to business, secure your data with the right vulnerability management.
Secondly, data become more reliable the greater the sample size. Conversely, if you do not have a sizeable collection of data points, it is unlikely you will be able to use data to help you to make informed decisions. Be wary of small sample sizes. In these cases, data can often be misleading.
Thirdly, while data may be neutral, the people who interpret or analyze data are not. Be wary of what is called confirmation bias.
Confirmation bias is when we have an idea, belief, or notion about how something works, then, we tend to focus on the data that confirms our beliefs while disregarding the data that refutes them. To avoid confirmation bias, it is best to tally your data before making any kind of hypothesis.
Make sure you don’t rely on only one source of data, especially in regard to how the data is collected. For example, self-reported measurements (asking the survey subject for measurement, i.e. On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you with your job?) are less reliable than direct measurements (taking measures that do not depend on the survey subject’s feedback, i.e. How long did the employee stay with the company?).
In a nutshell
Using data to monitor job applicants can help you to reduce costs, speed up the hiring process, and find even better recruits. The data you collect should reflect the entire duration of an employee’s stay at the company.
Once you’ve accumulated a large enough collection of data points, the data will reveal to you patterns and commonalities that can help you to make better decisions about recruits and the recruitment process as a whole. However, be wary of small sample sizes. And be wary of confirmation bias.
You may have lots of great ideas that can help your business grow but it is difficult to get the word out. One of the most effective ways to do this is through video marketing. Video marketing is something that everyone should be doing in their business because it helps increase brand recognition and attract potential customers.
Why should you create an animated video?
Animated videos are a great way to communicate your message, explain a complex process or idea, show off your product or service, promote your business and increase sales.
Media that is easy to consume
Animated videos are a great choice for those who want to create an effective video. They are easy to consume and understand, which makes them a good fit for your website.
Animated videos are also easy to share: you can upload them on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with ease – they’re perfect for embedding in blog posts as well!
Strengthen your brand recognition
Animated videos are a great marketing tool, as they can be used in many ways. You can post them on your website and social media channels, or share them with potential customers. They’re memorable and shareable—which makes them a powerful tool for strengthening brand awareness.
Animation also allows you to show what your business is all about in a fun way that’s easy for viewers to understand at a glance—and when done right, animation will help attract more customers by offering an engaging experience that keeps people coming back for more!
Create a story
The story you tell can be about a product or service, your business and its services and products, the people who buy from your company, or it could even be about how you fit into the larger industry in which you operate.
In order to do this well, think of yourself as a writer creating characters that have specific roles to play in the narrative. You’ll want these characters (or actors) to convey emotion through words and actions so that viewers see them as real people with complex issues who aren’t just trying to sell something. Your goal is for viewers who see this video on social media or elsewhere online come away feeling like they know something more about what makes your company different than everyone else out there doing what they’re doing–and why they should invest time and money into doing business with YOU over anyone else!
The utilization of a storyboard is also something that must not be ignored and should be prioritized.
You are going to require the use of a script as well as a voice over.
In addition, you need to have a high-quality video camera and microphone at your disposal.
Moreover, you should have access to high-quality editing software in addition to animation software.
Effective whiteboard animation for business
When you’re trying to explain how a complex idea works, business whiteboard animation is a great way to do it. This type of video makes the viewer feel like they have instant access to an expert who can explain everything in plain language that anyone can understand.
This is especially useful for people who work in technology fields or any industry that requires knowing about multiple concepts at once. For example, if your company helps build custom software applications for other businesses using newer programming languages like Ruby on Rails, then this animated video would be perfect for you!
Your video can be a great way to attract attention and show what you are capable of
Animation is an effective way to communicate ideas. It can be used to show how a product works, or even better, it can be used to demonstrate a concept and process. Animation is also great for telling stories that show the journey of something or someone through time and space, as well as showing change over time in your business or organization.
Conclusion
Animated videos have become an increasingly popular way to tell a story and share information. With the many tools available today, anyone can create their own animated video from home.