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Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance

Insurance

Sam Allcock

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5 August 2021

One of the biggest expenses we all take on is owning a vehicle. Not only do we pay thousands on the vehicle, but we invest in the upkeep, maintenance, and fuel to get from here to there. And we have to pay insurance to keep our valuable assets protected, not to mention ourselves and our finances. But insurance doesn’t always come cheap. Here, examine the basics behind your insurance policy and how you can save.

Different types of coverage

Car insurance policies are basically broken into two parts: Bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage. This means your coverage needs to cover your car, another driver’s car, other property, your health, your passengers’ health, and anyone else you may injure. Lowering your coverage means if you get into an accident and/or hurt someone, you’ll have less insurance to cover the expenses.

Here’s the more accurate breakdown of coverage you should have:

· Collision. This is the coverage for any accidents. Your collision coverage is what will pay for auto damages when it’s your fault.

· Uninsured motorists. In the event someone hits you and doesn’t have insurance, or enough insurance to cover damages.

· Bodily injury liability. This insurance covers you, passengers, and others injured at your fault.

· Property damage liability. This covers damages you may have to pay if you hit a building or other structures, along with car repairs.

· Personal injury protection. Beyond traditional medical payments, this type of coverage will also cover lost wages when someone is injured in a car accident, as well as rehab, funeral expenses, and more.

· Comprehensive. This covers your car when something damages it other than another car, such as a hail storm, a tree limb, or vandalism.

Now, insurance agents will tell you to get the highest amount of coverage, “just in case.” But you can make adjustments to reach minimum coverage that will protect you and not cost you hundreds a month.

Minimum requirements

You need to meet your state’s minimum coverage requirements. New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t have any requirements but the rest of the states will have a minimum requirement for bodily injury and property damage.

Add-on insurance

You will find additional coverage options that are not required by your state but can come in handy in saving you money. These include reimbursement for car rentals while your car is in the shop, emergency roadside assistance, broken windshield coverage, and others.

Deductibles

There is the price you pay for your insurance and then there is the deductible you pay when you file a claim. The lower the deductible, the higher the premium. You could pay $100 out of pocket every time you file a claim but most drivers, especially good drivers, choose a higher deductible to save money on monthly premium payments.

Ways to save money

There are several discounts and ways to chip away at premium costs. These include:

· Drive safely. You’ll pay less for your insurance if you have a clean driving record – no accidents or tickets within a certain timeframe, at least two years – with safe driver discounts.

· Paying in full or auto payments. If you pay your premium In full rather than establish monthly payments, you could save as much as 10%. You can also save if you enroll in autopay.

· Have safety features. If your car is equipped with airbags, anti-theft devices, rearview cameras, self-correcting steering, or other features, you can trim off your premium.

· Have good credit. Your credit score affects many important financial decisions and that includes your insurance. If your credit is not good, insurers may think you won’t pay your premiums and are a liability. You’ll save the higher your credit score.

Unfortunately, some things affect your premium that you cannot change, such as:

· Your age. Teenagers have a higher record of accidents, which is why you will pay higher rates until you reach the age of 25.

· Your gender. Men are also more likely to have an accident and drive slower and less likely to drive under the influence so if you are male, you’ll have higher premiums.

· Where you live. Well, you could move but some states have higher premium rates than others, especially with each state having its own regulations and minimums. Some less expensive insurance carriers may not be permitted to operate in some states too.

No two auto insurance providers are the same so it is wise to shop around. To save time, there are free online comparison sites that will give you a side-by-side look at prices based on your needs, state, and background. These sites, such as Gabi, Policygenius and CarInsurance.net, get paid by insurance companies but do provide unbiased rate charts so the cheapest insurers are the cheapest.

The bottom line

Taking the time to work out discounts will help chip away at a hefty insurance premium. There are ways to save if you are careful and seek them out.

Influencer marketing – The latest business strategy

Business

Sam Allcock

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5 August 2021

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Influencer marketing – The latest business strategy

The word influencer is not a new term for us. Especially, Millenials had started this trend on social media. They were once the commoners and have climbed the popularity ladder by showcasing their skills. And where does this process lead to? The person gets more followers from the rest of the public because of their relatability.

It directed an increase in influencer marketing by the companies over the recent period. The general public favours more social media influencers for the product review than any contemporary actor endorsing the same product. The purchasing method has changed with online shopping. As an avid shopper, I would first examine the item & its online reviews and then make the purchase decision.

How does an influencer help in the business world?

They are the new marketing strategy every company wants to invest in, and by comparison, it is way cost-effective and efficient because you know your target audience.

A new approach

There was a time when the companies would print the product & its details in a newspaper were enough to bring awareness to the people for purchase. Things have escalated quickly since then. There is no monopoly left in any industry. Every company has competition in some or another way. Then, how would you distinguish yourself from the rest?

Influencer marketing is the answer. It is customer-centric, and you know your target audience already. An influencer might not be a household name, but he/she is the friend that one would love to have. And when a friend like that recommends merchandise you are likely to purchase it without a second thought.

The return on investment

Influencer marketing is successful when you actually invest in the micro-influencers more than others. They have pretty good control over their niche and the audience. The ROI on this investment is better by a large percentage. So, if your company is investing in the other types of advertisements then stop and give a thought to influencer marketing.

Micro-influencers are impactful. You will get to know your target audience easily and gain an insight into the number of conversion rates. You can reach out to the influencers easily through their official email address. There are great tools available online that can help you to search the contacts easily. GetEmail.io is an efficient email address finder that accesses hundreds of emails at the drop of a hat. It also comes with a chrome extension to your Linkedin account so finding the email address of the contacts becomes easy.

Organic visibility creates organic growth

Social media unlike any other media platform is dynamic and ever-changing. One minute you see cat videos going viral and the very next minute you see brand feuds taking the internet by the storm. In the constantly changing world, influencers will help you in reminding people about your product. However, it also depends upon how you are designing your digital campaign.

While posting blogs and investing in paid search is one thing. And, utilizing the impact of the influencer on their followers is another thing. Their consistent posts about your product on their social feeds will help you stay in the game. By doing so you are not only being benefited by ROI and metrics, but you are also creating a long-lasting relationship with the influencers.

How to distinguish between true and false Ethereum wallets and the correct way to open Ethereum wallets?

Finance

Sam Allcock

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5 August 2021

0

Ethereum wallet refers to the public key and private key that can be used in the exchange and the correspondingly generated address. The function of the Ethereum wallet is to store, receive and send (i.e., transfer) your Ethereum cryptocurrency assets. This article teaches you how to distinguish between true and false Ethereum wallets and how to open the Ethereum wallet correctly and safely?

Distinguish between true and false Ethereum wallets

The easiest way is to check the contract address. As long as we log on to the etherscan website to check the contract address, it will be clear at a glance.

The real Ethereum is called “ether,” the currency issued based on erc-20 will be “eth token.” The name of the token on the Ethereum network cannot be repeated. If there is the same token, its name will be a number symbol at the back as a distinction.

The correct way to open the Ethereum wallet

Recommend a software called Keystore File. This Keystore is stored in the computer and requires a password, which is the one used when generating the wallet.

As for the private key, you can treat her as a kind of backup, just like a mnemonic. Usually, you don’t need to use it because it’s very troublesome to hit the private key. If you copy and paste it, it will save her on your computer or mobile phone. On the other hand, it leaves a security risk. Those power-on passwords and unlock patterns are equal to It’s nothing but the most important thing is that these devices are online. The private key is usually copied by hand or printed out for physical storage. In this way, the Keystore File and the private key form double insurance. As long as one is lost, you can consider changing your wallet.

Of course, there are many storage solutions. In addition to paper copying, it can also be encrypted with AES/DES and stored in a USB flash drive or an encrypted computer that never gets online, or it can be placed in a third party such as a bank safe. In addition to storage, you need to have a way to recover, deal with U disk damage, paper aging, etc. You can use several storage solutions together.

When an account is created in this type of wallet, the wallet will generate a set of mnemonics based on the generated private key file in English or Chinese. The Keystore + password can be calculated in reverse through the mnemonic. The mnemonic phrase is handwritten by the user and stored in a safe place. When a transaction is performed, the mnemonic phrase is entered to sign the transaction and sent. When the mnemonic phrase is lost, it means that the private key is lost, and the wallet generally does not save the user’s private essential information, and the assets will be permanently lost.

The advantage of a decentralized wallet is that there is no need to worry about the platform being stalked by it, and there is no need to worry about the loss of assets caused by the platform being hacked. Still, it requires individuals to have a specific ability to store private keys.

This article introduces distinguishing between true and false Ethereum wallets and the correct way to open Ethereum wallets. In short, the security of Ethereum wallets requires everyone to pay more attention to it. Cryptocurrency has many benefits, but just like actual currencies, you may also face thieves and robbers, so you must take good care of your private key, don’t click on inexplicable website links, and protect your digital assets.

How yard spinner saves your yard from looking boring

Property

Sam Allcock

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5 August 2021

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How yard spinner saves your yard from looking boring

The house is place that makes a great and strong impression about your nature on those who visit it.

Leading psychologists use to say that the way your house looks like is a reflection of your true nature and personality and many people also judge you on the basis of your house.

The back yard of a house is a very important place, you spend a lot of time with your family in the backyard of your house.

So, just like the rooms, kitchen and bathrooms of your house you must always pay a special attention to the maintenance and design of your backyard.

Yard spinners are an essential part of any backyard and are essential to know the direction in which the wind is blowing.

There is no doubt that the actual use of the wind spinner is to find out the direction in which the wind is blowing but they are also used to add colour as well as funkiness to the garden.

They look really amazing when placed alongside the birdbaths as well as urns and the flowers.

For those who live in an apartment and don’t have the luxury of the lawn space like many other people can use the wind spinners as well as small bird houses for decorating the house.

Some of these wind spinners also serve as more than aesthetic decoration piece and serve as a really beneficial practical instrument.

As they are driven by the air flow, they are also known from their second name which is buzzers as they create the buzzing sound as the wind blows.

And this buzzing sound acts as a medium to make the squirrels frighten and ran away saving your precious plants from getting ruined by them.

On the other hand, their beautiful bright colors attracts the buzzing insects and beautiful birds whose chirping heavenly sound is one of the best stress reliefs in the world.

Best for spicing up the landscapes

for those who are tired of boring landscapes and are looking forward to giving an artistic touch to their backyard, the back yard spinners are just the thing for them as they can give their garden a dope look by adding some colourful artistic garden spinners.

There is a wide variety of colourful and stylish yard spinners to choose from and depending of the type some spins in vertical and some in horizontal manner.

The colourful spinners can be used around the flower beds to match the colour of flowers thus further increasing the beauty of the backyard.

All you have to do is to stick them into the ground and they are all set to go. They are very portable and if you feel like they are not spinning due to the lack of air flow you can simply just pull them out and stick them in to the ground where plenty of air flows.

The garden spinners come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are easily available at all the gardening shops as well as different websites like Dhgate also sell them online.

They look really appealing and some of them even look like a flower when spinning rapidly because of the air.

Best thing is that they spin because of the air so no battery or electricity is required they are completely natural and are very cheap.

There are different forms of wind spinners consisting of different metals and plastics. Another commonly type is metal yard spinners.

They are a bit expensive compared to the other spinners but are much beautiful and look more amazing than others when they are spinning.

They are most durable among the all spinners and the fact that they are made of metal means that they can last for several years.

But the downside of metal spinners is that they are prone to rusting and getting jammed due to rust if they are not taken care.

But apart from all this some of the metal spinners are very detailed and artistic that looks stunning and that is why due to their beauty many people like to buy a metal yard spinner for their back yards and gardens.

Budget vs Luxury: Brits’ most popular stores for post-lockdown retail therapy

Fashion

Sam Allcock

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5 August 2021

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Budget vs Luxury: Brits’ most popular stores for post-lockdown retail therapy

The time has come for us to return to stores for some well-deserved retail therapy. It’s been a tough year and being locked up at home didn’t make it any easier. Finally, stores have reopened to the delight of shopaholics everywhere waiting for a good shopping spree.

Shopping experts Opening Times researched the most popular stores for post-lockdown retail therapy by closely analysing Google data. Were we drawn to luxury brands or looking to shop on a budget?

Read on to find out if Brits were ready to splurge on luxury items or if we went for budget retail therapy after the lockdown. We’ve put together the most popular stores for post-lockdown therapy and the areas Brits searched for them most.

What are Brits’ most popular stores for post-lockdown retail therapy?

Brits’ most popular stores for post-lockdown therapy were Primark, IKEA, Matalan, Dunelm, Next, Sports Direct, TK Maxx, John Lewis, Debenhams, and Card Factory.

Brits’ most popular stores are then mainly budget-friendly ones. Only John Lewis and Debenhams are higher-end options in demand for our post-lockdown retail therapy.

Keep on reading to find out how many searches for these stores’ opening times earn them their spots as most popular for post-lockdown retail therapy.

Primark

Primark has received 74,000 searches for its opening times in April. When we first left the lockdown, it was the most popular destination for retail therapy.

Primark’s popularity comes with no surprise. This budget-friendly fashion, beauty, and homeware store was closed throughout lockdown. Since they didn’t offer the option to shop online, we eagerly waited for them to open.

IKEA

Brits Googled IKEA’s opening times 60,500 times in April. Their searches make IKEA the second most popular store for post-lockdown shopping in England.

We couldn’t get enough of IKEA’s affordable homeware. Although Brits could place orders for their staple Scandinavian-style products, there’s nothing like having a browse in store.

Matalan

40,500 searches for Matalan opening times earn its status as one of Brits’ most popular stores for post-lockdown retail therapy.

This family-friendly store got many of us browsing for fashion and homeware in person as soon as it opened to the public. Matalan’s new range made it a popular destination for budget shopping.

Dunelm

Dunelm received 33,100 Google searches for its opening times in April. Dunelm had as many searches as Next, Sports Direct, and TK Maxx. Its popularity shows just how eager Brits were to give their homes an affordable makeover.

Dunelm offered us the chance to go on a home decor spree as soon as the lockdown ended. They have a furniture and garden range made for every taste. So, they were the perfect destination for post-lockdown retail therapy for homeowners.

Next made for a great fashion shopping spree after months spent returning clothes through the post if they didn’t make the cut. Even though they had an online store for Brits’ fashion and homeware needs, Next’s stores were trendy post-lockdown. Their new range came right in time for hot summer days.

Sports Direct

Sports Direct received 33,100 searches for their opening times on Google. This high volume makes it as attractive for post-lockdown retail therapy as Dunelm, Next, and TK Maxx.

Sports Direct was a popular destination for activewear and gear right in time for gyms opening with a range made for our return to healthy routines. Their online stores were open to the public throughout lockdown, but that didn’t mean we weren’t ready for a real-life splurge on sports gear.

TK Maxx

33,100 Google searches for TX Maxx’s opening times post-lockdown places this store up there with Dunelm, Next, and Sports Direct.

There’s something special about a browse through TK Maxx’s range of products. We missed it. So their popularity post-lockdown comes without question. We could shop for affordable fashion, homeware, and kitchen favourites once again.

John Lewis

John Lewis opening times were looked up 14,800 in April by Brits. Their popularity shows that higher-end products were on the mind of Brits even when budget-friendly shopping was more in demand.

A browse through John Lewis’ range of fashion and homeware was well-welcome after the months spent inside. Their new line, ANYDAY, attracted us all to check out what John Lewis had in store for us.

Debenhams

Debenhams received 9,900 searches for its opening times post-lockdown. So did Card Factory, although their products couldn’t be more different.

Debenhams’ popularity skyrocketed right as stores were to close down again. This time, they were closing for good. So Brits took their chance to have one last shopping spree in Debenhams. Their beauty, fashion, and homeware products made for the perfect post-lockdown retail therapy session.

Card Factory

With 9,900 searches for their opening times in April, Card Factory is as successful as Debenhams for post-lockdown shopping.

Card Factory is the perfect destination for gift shopping, and it’s not only because of their cards. Brits could finally go shopping for gifts in person. Their popularity is then a given since hand-picked presents are the most personal gift we could offer.

Where are Brits’ most popular stores’ locations for post-lockdown retail therapy?

Brits’ most popular stores’ locations for post-lockdown retail therapy are IKEA in Croydon and Warrington, Primark in Birmingham, and John Lewis in Cheadle and Kingston.

Since we had a look at Brits’ preferences when it comes to post-lockdown retail therapy, we decided that the most popular stores’ locations also mattered. They show that Brits do like to mix budget shopping with luxury splurges after the lockdown.

Read on to find out how many searches the country’s three most popular post-lockdown retail therapy locations received.

IKEA

IKEA’s stores in England received the most searches in two different locations, IKEA Croydon and IKEA Warrington.

IKEA Croydon opening times were Googled 6,600 times by Brits as soon as the lockdown lifted in April. So were IKEA Warrington opening times, which reached 6,600 searches too. IKEA’s popularity shows how eager Brits were for an affordable home makeover.

Primark

Primark Birmingham was the most popular Primark location in the country. This location is the second most popular post-lockdown retail therapy in England and shares the spotlight with two John Lewis stores.

Primark Birmingham opening times were looked up 1,900 times in April when we were free to go on a shopping spree in person. They’re known for their budget-friendly fashion and homeware, so we’re not surprised.

John Lewis

John Lewis’ stores in Cheadle and Kingston were just as popular as Primark’s store in Birmingham. Their stores complete the country’s top three most popular locations for post-lockdown retail therapy.

John Lewis Cheadle opening times received 1,900 Google searches post-lockdown. So did John Lewis Kingston opening times, which were also looked up 1,900 times by Brits.

Summary

Brits’ shopping trends after the lockdown shows a preference for affordable retail therapy. After all, the lockdown has pushed many of us into career changes and calculated spending. We’ve had to adapt to different budgets. But this doesn’t mean luxury brands are entirely out of our minds. Our most popular stores for post-lockdown retail therapy come in a varied range. They include affordable and higher-end fashion, homeware, and beauty shopping.

7 Major Benefits of Influencer Marketing for Service Business

News

Sam Allcock

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5 August 2021

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7 Major Benefits of Influencer Marketing for Service Business

Today, it’s nearly impossible to scroll through social media without seeing influencers pitch their favourite products and services to their followers. From regular posts or stories to long videos, you’d see how influencer marketing has dominated social platforms.

The great thing about influencer marketing is that it can quickly raise awareness and build your brand online, target your audience, establish win-win partnerships, and most importantly, generate leads and sales.

However, other marketers are hesitant in employing influencer marketing. This is why plenty of businesses and marketers still have questions about what influencer marketing is, how it is done, and its specific benefits to service businesses. After all, problems like fraud and influencer scandals can cause not only reputational damage to influencers but also to the products and services they pitch.

Considering these problems, you might want to ask: Is it worth it for my service business to employ influencer marketing? How can my service business benefit from influencer marketing?

I would definitely argue yes, and the 7 benefits of influencer marketing will prove it. Before that, let me define influencer marketing first.

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influencer marketing is a form of marketing where brands promote their products and services through recommendations or endorsements from content creators or influencers across the internet. These influencers are often found in social media, blogs, and even podcasts. Not only does influencer marketing raise brand awareness but also results in increased conversion and sales.

Why Is Influencer Marketing Best for Your Service Business?

Because it’s not just a trend that would go away. Influencer marketing is getting more popular and will continue to grow over the coming years, which is why now is the best time to use it in your digital marketing tactics.

More people are becoming influencers – as social media platforms grow faster, there are more opportunities for people to become influencers. This means you have better chances of finding an influencer that already has your ideal audience as followers.

More content options – influencers are creating better ways of promoting products and services (using videos to the next level) with the aid of new powerful social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook Live, IGTV, Tiktok, and YouTube.

Influencers show people reality – people love influencers who show their mistakes and bad days. This kind of transparency drives people to trust and follow them. So, when they endorse your service business, followers are more likely to trust their choices.

7 Benefits of Influencer Marketing

Increased Brand Awareness

The immediate benefit of influencer marketing is brand awareness. Most influencers have thousands, even millions of viewers. Based on that, when you partner with influencers (whose niche fits your service business), it will bring you excellent opportunities to reach these potential customers.

When social media users follow an influencer, they are highly exposed to all the products and services the influencer promotes, which means they will get to know more about your service business, your story, your offered solutions, and your overall agenda.

Gains Trust and Credibility

At its most basic, influencers are experts on what they do, which is why they have thousands or millions of followers who trust their opinions and recommendations. Influencer marketing is like having someone who brags about your accomplishments. And, partnering with someone external to your service business (that is highly trusted by your target audience), increases your company’s confidence and credibility.

For instance, when an influencer talks about how weak glutes cause lower back pain and recommends some products or services to alleviate this injury, it instantly establishes trust and credibility for the brand being promoted.

Reaches Your Target Audience

This is a big one. In every business, you need to make sure your service business is placed in front of people who are already interested in your services. With influencer marketing, you don’t have to spend more time to attract your audience – the influencer has already done this for you.

It is also shown that social media users spend plenty of time on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. So, when influencers feature or mention your services, you can connect to these people on the sites where they spend most of their time.

Additionally, influencer marketing expands your reach. You get a chance to market your services to everyone who follows them.

Better Content Strategy

Let’s be real, producing entertaining and fresh content regularly is not simple and easy. Sometimes you get stuck and will run out of ideas. Influencer marketing can help you fill these gaps in your content.

Influencers themselves can provide high-quality and engaging content that will bring significant benefits to your service business. They can create content with their own unique style that allows the audience to see your service business in a fresh light.

Drives Sales and Higher ROI

Research has shown how influencer marketing can provide businesses extremely high ROI. In fact, on average, it generates $6.10 in sales for every $1. This alone can guarantee that your marketing efforts are paid off. One of the reasons why this is possible is because influencer marketing helps drive high demand for the service.

Improves Your SEO

In Toronto, the best SEO agencies use influencer marketing to improve their search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. This is because influencer marketing produces greater prospects to increase visibility across the internet.

It helps your service website build diverse and strong link profiles (through influencers) that will boost your search rankings. Additionally, they can help you create unique and engaging content that is sharable, increasing your online authority.

However, before doing this, ensure your website is optimized to different devices to provide social users with a great experience. If you need some help, there are top-notch web development agencies in Toronto, and other major cities, that can improve your website.

Provides Value

The heart of digital marketing is to produce content that inspires, educates, and solves the problems of your audience. With influencer marketing, this has already been done. Influencers themselves are already in tune to provide for the needs of their followers. With this, you can leverage their content and at the same time give value to your target market.

Influencer Marketing For Your Service Business

Influencer marketing can be extremely beneficial, and service businesses should consider IT consulting in Toronto. Its advantages will always outweigh its costs as long as you get to choose the right influencers, the right audience, and the right content.

When done right, it can boost your visibility, improve lead generation, increase conversion rates, and promote trust and credibility among the target audience.

A Guide to Camping in the Wild

Travel

Sam Allcock

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5 August 2021

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Camping and caravanning is one of the most popular staycations in the UK. In fact, over 9 million trips were made to popular sites across the four nations in 2019, with that figure hopefully getting back to normal once restrictions are eased.

But whilst these trips are made to official campsites and holiday parks, there’s something known as wild camping that’s also a popular pastime for happy campers. It gives people the chance to sit under the stairs in stunning rural locations.

Today we’re going to share an essential guide on what it is, the legal aspects of camping in the wild, and the essentials you need should you decide to discover the great outdoors.

What is wild camping?

Essentially, wild camping is a concept where you set up camp outside of a campsite or caravan park and sleeping in the wilderness. People often camp in the wild if they’re completing a multi-day hike and need somewhere to stay that offers peace and tranquillity.

It can be daunting process if you’ve never done it before, so keep reading below for more information on how to wild camp in the UK.

The legal side

When it comes to the legalities of wild camping, it’s important to remember where you are before you decide to set up pitch. In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, wild camping is technically illegal if you don’t seek permission from the landowner — although there is the odd exception to the rule.

In Scotland, the picture is slightly different. As part of Scotland’s access legislation, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, campers can use most unenclosed land to get their heads down for the night.

Although, there’s a greater level of freedom in Scotland, there’s still areas where you need seek the landowner’s permission or have a permit. Areas of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are subject to wild camping byelaws, meaning that you must use designated campsites due to overuse.

It’s also important to follow these guidelines whether you wild camp, whether that’s in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales:

Use a stove instead of a fire
If you light a fire, keep it small
Leave the area as you found it
Use public toilets where possible
Ask residents if it’s okay to camp near their property
Don’t litter and tidy up after yourself

Most searched for spots

Just like the most popular caravan sites, wild camping has its favourite hotspots amongst keen campers. Based on Google Trends data in 2020, these areas in the UK are the most popular places for wild camping.

Dartmoor wild camping – 2400

Dartmoor is an upland area located in the South of Devon. Its moorland and surrounding land have been protected by National Park status since 1951. Its status as a National Park makes it one of the most popular and stunning places to visit in the UK.

Dartmoor is one of the only spots in England where you can wild camp freely. Just make sure you check which area of the National Park you are in before you set up camp, as some areas are still restricted.

Lake District wild camping – 2400 searches

The Lake District is another area of the UK that’s known for stunning beauty and rural appeal – and holds the title for being the UK’s biggest National Park.

It sits in joint first place for wild camping searches with Dartmoor. You will need to seek permission from the landowner first to go wild camping, but we can see why so many people search for the area.

Peak District wild camping – 1600 searches

Much like the Lake District, the Peak District doesn’t allow wild camping in areas of the National Park without seeking permission from the landowner.

Its central location and beautiful scenery make it such a popular place to visit, so if you do have the green light from the landowner then you’re in for memorable treat.

Brecon beacons wild camping – 880 searches

Third on our list and the third National Park that doesn’t legally allow people to camp freely without seeking permission first.

Located in South Wales, if you do have permission to camp then you’ll get to experience the gorgeous mountain ranges and miles of open green space to walk in. It’s truly a breath-taking area of the UK and one that everyone should experience at least once.

Snowdonia wild camping – 880 searches

Snowdonia makes up our list for the most popular wild camping searches. Much like its counterparts, excluding Dartmoor, you can’t just turn up and pitch your tent, but if you can get permission you’re again in for an experience that will last a lifetime.

It’s the largest National Park in Wales and offers visitors stunning views, long stretches of green space and the challenge of reaching the summit of the largest mountain in Wales.

Don’t forget the essentials

So you’ve picked your spot, sought the landowners permission, and now you’re ready to go wild camping. But what do you take with you? Well, you need somewhere to sleep, so you’ll need a tent, along with a sleeping bag and other sleeping equipment.

When it comes to a tent, it’s practical to have one that’s easy to carry, especially if you’ve found more than one spot to rest your head. Make sure you research the best backpacker tents that suit your needs.

For cooking, it’s important to remember your trusty portable stove. It will allow you to cook all kinds of food and you won’t need to rely on a fire — that could be damaging for the surrounding area.

Don’t forget your supply of bottled gas and eating equipment or you may be left with a hungry belly. You may struggle for signal in rural areas too, so take a map with you. If only to embrace nature instead of technology.

That completes our essential guide to wild camping in the UK. Always remember to stay safe and if you need to, seek permission before you set off on your travels.

Adel Afiouni Announces Digital Transformation Action Plan

World

Claire James

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4 August 2021

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Adel Afiouni Announces Digital Transformation Action Plan

In 2019, Adel Afiouni – the Lebanese Minster of State for Investments and Technology (2019-2020) – launched an ambitious national digital transformation plan to transform Lebanon into a regional hub for innovation and the Knowledge Economy. This plan was published in early 2020.

In his introduction to the plan, Minister Afiouni acknowledged that after spending 31 years working abroad, coming back to Lebanon and diving straight into the waters of the public sector was challenging, conceding that it was difficult at times to weather the storm against the backdrop of a severe economic crisis. Nevertheless, he explained that when he was appointed as the first ever Minister of State for Investments and Technology in January 2019, he was thrilled at the prospect of championing the most vibrant sector of the Lebanese economy.

In this role, Adel Afiouni led a start-up ministry which lacked the benefit of allocated resources and funding. Afiouni explained that although it was a somewhat challenging eight-month journey fraught with difficult circumstances, he found it both enlightening and exciting in many ways, pointing out that it was a unique honour to serve Lebanon even in such challenging times, and pledging his gratitude to those who proposed and supported him throughout his tenure.

Minister Afiouni was tasked with championing the Lebanese tech sector, a duty he described as a huge responsibility and privilege. In a message published by the Minister in 2020, he expressed his gratitude to the spirited youth, successful entrepreneurs, hardworking men and women and bright Lebanese minds he encountered on his journey, describing them as “a true inspiration” and great contributors and partners to the ministry’s efforts.

The Ministry of State for Investments and Technology’s founding vision as defined by Minister Afiouni was to drive digital transformation of the Lebanese economy, turning the country into a regional tech and innovation hub, boosting its impact on the Knowledge Economy and ultimately Lebanon’s GDP and jobs creation.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of the Knowledge Economy, it centres around intellectual capital, creating a system that capitalises on research and scientific discoveries. Today, the Knowledge Economy has come to represent a significant proportion of economic activity in most developed countries, with a significant component of value consisting of intangible assets, such as intellectual property and the expert knowledge of employees.

Minister Afiouni pointed out that as we witness the collapse of the old Lebanese economic model, Lebanon faces an urgent need for a new economy built on solid foundations and relying on productive sectors. With this in mind, the Ministry of Investments and Technology embarked on an ambitious project, putting in place a detailed action plan; essentially a high-impact, actionable roadmap that combines short-term impact initiatives with long-term strategic projects.

The Ministry of State for Investments and Technology was Lebanon’s first ever ministry dedicated to the Knowledge Economy sector. The Ministry set strident goals to transform the country into a Digital Nation, doubling the Knowledge Economy’s contribution to GDP, as well as doubling employment within the sector by 2025.

One of the Ministry of Investments and Technology’s primary responsibilities was to address critical constraints that hindered the investment and expansion of the Knowledge Economy sector, stimulating economic growth and encouraging an outward-looking ethos throughout the sector focussed on attracting foreign investment and supporting exports.

About Adel Afiouni

With 27 years of professional experience as an investment banker in London prior to being appointed Minister for Investments and Technology, Adel Afiouni brought his specialist expertise in emerging markets and global markets to the role and to the cabinet.

Since his appointment as Minister in 2019, Afiouni has lobbied hard for economic and banking reforms in the country to salvage an already desperate situation, authoring numerous articles and speeches on the subject as well as playing an active and vocal role via regional, Arabic and international media, appearing on several TV talk shows to promote his reformist economic and financial views to tackle the severe economic crisis.

6 Trends in the Fintech Industry To Watch Out For

Sam Allcock

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4 August 2021

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6 Trends in the Fintech Industry To Watch Out For

Fintech is one of the most exciting sectors in business. As the world was thrown into turmoil over the last 18 months, specific tech emerged from the chaos to establish itself as a mainstay.

Fintech adoption has been growing incrementally since around 2015. But the sector’s role in rapidly helping retailers create the payment processing infrastructure that meant they survived the pandemic has further cemented fintech’s importance in an increasingly digital world.

Much of fintech adoption during 2020 and 2021 was about businesses getting up to speed with a new world. However, the future of fintech promises to be more customer-focused.

Below are some of the trends to watch in the fintech industry over the coming years.

#1. Improved Digital Platforms

Pandemic lockdowns have accelerated existing trends toward remote working and virtual platforms. The capacity and potential of digital solutions have been tested extensively, and many adherents will continue to choose virtual over physical.

This scenario has led many banks to see the benefits of getting their customers to adopt digital platforms. However, to achieve this transformation, financial institutions will need to develop better platforms for their employees and customers.

Cybersecurity, document management, and robust data security are all elements of consumer finance that will benefit from innovative approaches.

As more work and banking go online, financial institutions will need to evolve or die. Expect to see significant further investment in fintech apps and platforms.

#2. Sustainable Investment

Several recent trends are converging together to suggest that sustainable investing will become a significant trend in the future. Millennials are beginning to assert a more considerable influence in the financial space, and their preference for companies and brands who share their values is clear.

Additionally, since the pandemic, many private investors that have entered the space are interested in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing. Fintech companies are focusing on sustainable investments across a broad range of services, including pensions.

With banks and financial institutions slow to respond to this change in consumer sentiment, innovative fintech companies have an opportunity to serve a more environmentally conscious audience.

#3. Personal Loan Services

Fintech is transforming personal loan services. Terms and interest rates vary between banks and financial institutions, which means consumers often miss out on the best deals. But startups like Axo Finans are disrupting the lending industry by driving a more transparent and efficient approach.

Axo allows consumers to fill out one application but apply for several loans. The application takes just a minute, and then it is forwarded to Axo’s banking partners. The customer receives a quick decision and can take advantage of very favourable interest rates.

The legacy lending process is out-of-date. Modern lenders want quicker loan processing and a more personalized experience. Additionally, by using a mix of lenders, fintech loan services keep offers competitive. These savings are then passed down to the consumer.

#4. AI and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning have perhaps not reached their potential yet. A decade ago, AI was being touted as the revolutionary answer to all the world’s problems. While things haven’t worked out exactly as the experts predicted, AI has made steady, incremental improvements across many sectors.

Healthcare, retail, and marketing have all benefited from embracing AI, and perhaps now it’s fintech’s turn.

There are several applications of machine learning with the fintech space that can disrupt traditional banking. Regulatory compliance is a growing concern for financial institutions. It’s time-consuming work that doesn’t add to the ledger. Automated or intelligent processes would solve this headache.

Additional applications like robot advisers could be used to drive costs down. At the same time, AI-based AML and fraud detection would meet regulatory compliance and help scrutinize documents and loans.

Another exciting area that AI could improve is algorithmic trading. These advances could be automated, but perhaps the best application is a hybrid human-machine model that could make the most of general and specialist intelligence.

#5. Payroll Fintech

As fintech companies compete for customers’ money, the focus has been mainly on payments. This has taken the form of either challenger bank accounts or mobile or online payments. However, there are other areas of the value chain that have been left relatively untapped.

Lately, interest in payroll fintech is increasing. There are several benefits that this approach can offer to both employers and employees. For employees, there are various benefits such as getting money earlier, eliminating banking fees and allowing more flexibility to move money around.

For employers, a reduction in fees could prove attractive. However, one of the most significant changes could be the ability to offer enhanced employee benefits like microloans and so on. Many workers live paycheck to paycheck, and payroll fintech could take the place of high-interest payday loans by providing loans secured by the employer.

#6. Decentralized Finance

Bitcoin has had its usual up and down, volatile year. As it rose to $60,000 per coin in April, evangelists were out in force, declaring it “the future of money”. While cryptocurrency does offer some exciting possibilities, it has many issues. Global governance and market manipulation are just the beginning. Its incredible consumption of energy is another problem.

However, blockchain itself might offer some compelling opportunities. True disruption of the financial institutions could involve operating outside the current system. With governments working to find ways to regulate digital currencies, fintech has an opportunity to find legitimate spaces that traditional institutions might not be able to see.

If fintech startups embrace blockchain, financial institutions’ role as an intermediary could be eliminated. Smart contracts or tokens could instead be used for trading finance.

Some of the other industries that could be disrupted by blockchain in similar ways are insurance, asset management and lending.

The Future Looks Bright

Fintech is set for an exciting future. By embracing other nascent tech like AI, fintech can make a vast impact in the financial world by building software and apps for both consumers and businesses.

Additionally, a greater focus on disrupting the traditional banking sector to make finance work more favourably for consumers is likely to come. Personal loan services and decentralized insurance are just some of the examples of changes that could work for citizens by enforcing transparency upon the industries.

Call Centers Philippines: Why English Skills Matter

Business

Sam Allcock

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4 August 2021

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Call Centers Philippines: Why English Skills Matter

In terms of call centers, no other country stands out as much as the Philippines—in fact, it has become the leading destination for outsourcing in the world. From SMEs to multinational organisations, companies flock to the country and to contact centers that can best cater to their needs.

“The phenomenal growth of the contact center outsourcing industry over the past two decades has been spurred by a key factor: the workforce’s proficiency in English. Because many Filipinos receive much of their education in the language, it has become second nature for them to converse in English, especially when in a professional setting,” says Ralf Ellspermann, CEO of PITON-Global, one of the Philippines’ leading mid-sized call centers.

It is also well known that the Philippine culture has a close affinity to the West. From TV shows to movies to music, food, sports, and fashion, it’s easy to see just how big an influence Western culture has had on Filipinos. These key factors have contributed to the growth and success of call centers in the Philippines. The industry now has over a million workers, who are a mix of call center agents and those performing back-office functions. “The numbers are impressive, but it is also important to note that not all contact centers perform at the same level. If you’re looking for high-quality talent, then make sure you’re looking in the right place,” says Ellspermann.

While most agents are exposed to the English language, not everyone has the same proficiency level. The difference largely depends on their upbringing and location. Unlike in the UK, for example, where it doesn’t matter whether contact centers are in Liverpool, Manchester or in London, the quality of call centers in the Philippines can change significantly depending on where they are located.

The incredible thing about agents who have learned English as their second language is that they may even be better than some agents in the UK. But again Filipinos’ proficiency in English is a matter of their social and educational background. The country’s top talent is usually employed in call centers in Metro Manila. That’s because some of the country’s biggest schools and financial center can be found in the nation’s capital and the area therefore attracts more of the educated, professional population.

Keep in mind too, that English proficiency isn’t solely about one’s ability to speak the language; it’s also about vocabulary, comprehension and the ability to be naturally conversant, which is crucial to the performance of any call center should there be a need to go off-script.

If call centers in the Philippines cannot find the quality talent that clients demand, then their work will be all for naught.

“Of course, quality comes at a price. While labour rates in the Philippines are much lower than those in the UK (by as much as 60 percent), skilled agents who know their worth typically won’t work for anything less than £3-4 per hour. Low-cost vendors that offer their services to clients in the £5-7 per hour range simply can’t afford to hire these premium agents. However, they are essential to make programs work and to deliver a world-class customer experience,” says Ellspermann.

If you run call centers in the Philippines and want your clients to be happy, then you need to prepare to invest in your agents. Be ready to scout out the most talented ones when it comes to English proficiency because at the end of the day, the quality of the service you provide will all come down to your agent’s language skills.

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Summary

About Adel Afiouni

#1. Improved Digital Platforms

#2. Sustainable Investment

#3. Personal Loan Services

#4. AI and Machine Learning

#5. Payroll Fintech

#6. Decentralized Finance

The Future Looks Bright

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