What’s the Difference Between an Accountant and a CPA?

“What’s the difference between an accountant and a CPA?” might sound like the beginning of a bad joke, but business finances are far from a humorous matter.

While both accountants and CPAs work in the accounting sphere, there are some critical differences between the two.

If you’re looking to forge a career in accounting, or if you need to hire an accountant, you need to know what the difference is between these two roles.

CPAs Are Licensed

The main difference between an accountant and a certified public accountant is the latter must be licensed.

Although it can be beneficial to hold a degree in an accounting-related field of study if you want to become an accountant, you do not have to carry a qualification to work in accounting.

Accountants record and report on business and financial transactions. Non-certified accountants typically perform tasks like bookkeeping, maintaining accounts, and dealing with simple tax-related matters.

They can also provide general advice. For instance, an accountant could point out the benefits of getting a PayPal business account, and becoming eligible for different types of business loans.

So, although any uncertified person can set up as an accountant, you cannot become a CPA without first passing the CPA exam. To become a CPA, you must meet state licensing requirements.

You’ll also usually need to hold a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree and have a good level of experience in accounting before you can take the CPA examination.

There are several CPA exam review courses that prospective CPAs can enroll with, such as the Uniform CPA exam, which is administered by the American Institute of CPAs. This exam consists of four sections, all of which must be completed to gain a CPA certification. The sections are:

·       Regulation

·       Financial Accounting and Reporting

·       Business Environment

·       Auditing

CPAs Are Trustworthy

According to a survey performed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, CPAs are considered some of the most trusted advisors within the world of business.

Also, CPAs are seen to act according to the best interests of their clients, whereas non-CPA accountants are not considered to be fiduciaries to their clients.

CPAs Have Better Tax Knowledge

Although non-CPA accountants can prepare tax returns, a CPA is much more knowledgeable. That knowledge can provide many advantages to businesses.

CPAs learn about tax codes during their rigorous examinations. CPAs are also required to continue their education throughout their careers. That means they are always up-to-date on all the latest procedures and requirements.

Also, a CPA is eligible to represent clients before the IRS, whereas non-CPA accountants are not permitted to do so.

CPAs Have the Highest Standards

As well as passing the CPA exam and continuing their education at regular intervals, CPAs are expected to follow a strict code of ethics and meet the profession’s high standards at all times.

So, if you want to hire the best type of accountant you can, hire a CPA. Or, if you are looking to forge a career in accounting, you can set your sights high and work your way towards becoming a superman or superwoman of the accounting world, as a certified public accountant.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business-process/the-difference-between-an-accountant-and-a-cpa/

Six Ways Artificial Intelligence Could Benefit Your Small Business

Small businesses can have a difficult time competing with larger firms. They require significant resources for marketing, promotions and other processes that ensure increased competitiveness.

However, technology has come to the small business rescue with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI refers to using computer systems to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence.

The tasks include decision-making, language development, prediction of sales and trends during a specified period, and personalizing the customer experience.

Kane Georgiou, financial expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Money Pig claims “A lot of small businesses use AI without even knowing it. And that’s ok, but it definitely needs to be embraced by business owners to stay in with a chance of competing in 2020 and beyond. It’s the future”

While doubts about the role of AI and its potential implications were high during the 1950s, confidence in its use has increased through the decades.

Large companies have used it to increase their market share and emerge at the top of their respective industries. They include giants such as Google, Amazon, the all-time favorite Apple, and the less known but prominent DJI.

The good news is that small businesses can benefit from AI as well without denting their wallets. Here are six ways AI can help your small business grow and develop.

1.    Online Retailing (E-commerce) 

Online retailing involves selling products using online portals. Unless you have been living in the actual Amazon forest during the last three decades, you will have heard of Amazon.com, and most likely used it to shop online.

While online retailing was previously limited to big businesses, AI has increased the potential for small business growth and development through online retailing.

It’s helping small businesses manage their inventories through categorizing and tagging products with the right labels without human assistance.

Also, AI can recommend customers with products that suit their tastes and preferences by automatically tracking their shopping behavior.

Consequently, AI effortlessly provides personalized services to online consumers. It makes them feel valued as a customer by the small business, which is a basic human need.

Unsurprisingly, about 61 percent of shoppers say they prefer to shop online because of personalized shopping. Small businesses can use free time AI has created to engage in other tasks.

Small businesses could decrease the number of people it requires to carry out some tasks and that reduces payroll costs. They could divert the surplus money to other crucial business processes.

Automated Customer Communications or Chatbots allow businesses to run their service and product-based communications with consumers automatically without needing human customer care providers.

For small businesses or startups that cannot afford human operators, Chatbots are a great option. When you think you are talking to a human being on the other end of the chat, it might be a Chatbot.

Nevertheless, you will never notice and neither will the customer. AI is that good.

2.    Marketing 

Most marketing occurs online in the current business environment. Effectively managing marketing budgets could require significant experience and expertise in deep internet domains, which can lead to an escalation in costs.

For small businesses, AI provides an automatic solution to managing different domains through an integrative approach.

Small businesses can use AI platforms such as Acquisio to manage their online multichannel marketing campaigns.

Channels such as Bing, Facebook and Adwords can be difficult to manage effectively without incurring additional costs.

By automating the process, small businesses can manage their multichannel budgets by using AI’s analytical abilities to determine their overall online advertising performance.

Consequently, they can allocate their money to the best-performing channels. The automated process saves costs and increases revenues.

Why use hit or miss solutions when there is a sure bet that you can reach the target market at a bargain? AI provides a level playing field for large and small businesses.

If you have the AI platform to manage your marketing campaign but an efficient marketing strategy is lacking, AI could provide an automated strategy generation option too.

Sentiment analysis algorithms can find out whether customers are engaging with your brand, thereby providing hints on how the company could develop a more effective strategy in the future.

An effective marketing strategy can reduce the cost per click (CPC) costs. Other cost reductions include lower payroll costs because of a reduced need for additional advertising and marketing staff.

AI is all about cost reduction and every small business could use some additional cash in their wallets.

3.    AI-Infused Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Customers are a central element of doing business. Developing an effective relationship with customers should help small businesses acquire repeat and loyal customers.

AI provides an integrated environment that can help in managing interactions with prospective and current customers.

Some of the AI functionalities include the evaluation of consumer feedback, analysis of customer reviews and social media posts and other interactions.

The insights gained from the analysis can indicate consumer sentiment, thereby helping in adjusting current marketing strategies to fit with the prevailing market environment.

The cliché “the customer is always right” does not apply to AI-infused CRM because the business can always know what he or she wants beforehand.

With AI, the business can read the customer’s mind and anticipate what they want to see in marketing strategies, products, and services. The new cliché should be “with AI, the business and the customers always agree.”

4.    Managing Employees   

Employees are the cogs that keep the small business wheel rolling efficiently. AI is applicable in human resource (HR) onboarding and hiring processes, and handling feedback on their efficiency.

They streamline and automate HR to ensure small businesses have the best talent that can push the organization forward.

Compared to large businesses that have an extensive list of potential employees, a large HR department and attractive offers, small businesses have to contend mostly with the breadcrumbs that fall off the corporate HR loaf.

AI can change that for small businesses, helping them identify and recruit diamonds in the ruff that most large companies ignore because of their experience requirements and stringent qualifications.

AI can automatically go through hundreds of potential applications and match the company’s criterion for the job to the employee’s stated qualifications.

AI has proven highly efficient in other areas such as marketing by removing human error.

Because HR is involved in human interactions in a competitive environment, it is the most susceptible to subjective biases, a highly pernicious human error.

AI’s objectivity removes HR subjective bias. Its deployment in HR selection and recruitment processes could ensure small businesses get the best talent while saving on costs and time.

5.    Logistics 

Logistical operations require significant accuracy and precision to ensure that lags in one area of the supply chain do not lead to congestion in other areas.

Also, data such as collection and offload points can be difficult to handle without leading to errors. Logistical errors can damage relationships with consumers.

AI can relieve the logistical headache by putting the logic in logistics. Analytical algorithms in AI can logically sort out and prioritize elements in the supply chain to ensure all products are at their correct location at the right time.

With AI logistics, the only clutter small business operators have to deal with is in their homes.  

There is nothing artificial about the stated six AI benefits to small businesses. They are natural consequences of increasing human efficiency using logical algorithms.

They aid in reducing cost and time spent while increasing the efficiency of business functioning. AI can allow small businesses to compete with larger businesses on a level playing field, potentially increasing innovativeness for all involved.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/small-business/six-ways-artificial-intelligence-could-benefit-your-small-business/

How to Shop for the Best Vape Juice

Vape Juice: A brief definition

Vape Juice is commonly known by a multitude of name colloquially. However, the most common name it is known as electronic cigarette liquid. 

It’s a liquid aerosol consisting of different kinds of flavors, which give away their essences when heated by the atomizer so that the user can enjoy then via the use of vapors or smoke as seen by the naked eye.

Composition of Vape Juice

In all honesty, vape juice is not composed of any definite elements. The reason is quite simple.

Since e-cigarettes are not controlled by a single organization of any major governmental agencies; therefore, there are no specific rules and regulations concerning their composition. 

With the ever-evolving, concoctions in the nature of the e-liquids vary a lot.

However, on further research on various individual levels, the generic constituents in a vape juice are found out to be:

• Glycerin
• Glycol
• Propylene
• Flavorings

While the three ingredients of glycerin, propylene, and glycol constitute 95% of e-liquids, the remaining 5% is taken up by the flavorings

Flavorings: The stipulation of the vape juices

Even though flavorings constitute as little as 5% of the e-liquid composition, it is no secret that the flavors of the vape juices make them different from one another thereby rendering a unique essence to the experience of vaping in general.

The most common flavor of vape juice is that of nicotine since the original concept of an e-cigarette is to replace the original one.

The integral elements of flavorings include:

• Sugars
• Esters
• Menthol
• Pyrazines

Multitudes of other synthetic chemical formulations are used to render the variety of flavors that come in these e-liquids.

Some of the most common flavors that rule the vape juice world are mint, cherry, cinnamon, apple, banana, chocolate and many more.

One must not assume that only artificial chemicals are used for the flavor in vape juice. There are ample natural oils, fruits and herb extracts that are amply used in the manufacture of flavorings as well.

Nicotine Salt: The latest addition to the legion of vape juices

In the discussion, we have understood that the primary target of vape pens and vape juices is to mirror the nicotine consumption experience just like an original cigarette stick.

To achieve this perfection in the world of vapes, the latest component is nicotine salt.

This particular kind of vape juice helps to decrease the pH level of nicotine thereby converting it into the salt with the aid of a component, which is acidic.

This whole process is quite near to the natural nicotine as found in the tobacco leaves. The experience shared by the users of nicotine salt vape juice has been nothing but extraordinary.

Conclusion

The vape juices still contain traces of nicotine, which have proven ill effects on health.

Therefore, children under the legal age of smoke should never be permitted to use them. Pregnant women and sick individuals should be prohibited from their use as well.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/lifestyle/how-to-shop-for-the-best-vape-juice/

The “Payforit” Deposit Method Explained

These days, we have gotten used to the fact that we are in a truly high technology time that allows us to buy whatever we like at any time.

By putting our phone to good use, we can now communicate with people across the globe or even play in online casinos from our mobile.

However, not all of us feel comfortable using our debit or credit card online, especially when signing up for multiple online casinos. Indeed, it pays to be aware of an online casino’s certifications before using them in order to be certain of safety and security measures.

In this article, we will take a more in-depth look at the Payforit casino deposit method and what exactly it is as well as the main reasons you might have for using this service.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the Payforit deposit method, starting with what the service is.

What exactly is the Payforit casino deposit method?

For those who would like to go a step further though, the Payforit casino deposit method gives you the option of making your deposit to play at “payforit” casinos.

It’s extremely simple to use, you simply choose Payforit as your preferred payment option before using the Payforit flow to make a deposit.

Once you have the purchase confirmation sent to your mobile, you’re good to go! Indeed, the Payforit casino deposit method is advocated by a number of the UK’s biggest online casinos as well as a number of verified up and coming sites.

By using this payment method rather than your debit or credit card, gamers can be sure that their account is safe and their funds secure.

Why use the Payforit casino deposit method?

One huge advantage of the Payforit payment type is the fact it’s available on any UK network.

In fact, the way that Payforit works is by the 3G or 4G network on your phone, so you don’t even have to put your number in at payment because the cellular network has already done this for you!

Payforit payments are made by adding the money onto your phone contract or by deducting the amount from your pay as you go balance.

Actually, as credit tends to appear straight away in your casino bank, you can play casino games instantly using Payforit and their super snappy payment method for online casinos.

The ticket you get will display a number and this will be that of the company from you have purchased the content from, in this case, a casino. It really is that easy.

Payforit casino deposit method: The verdict

All things considered, Payforit is an excellent alternative payment method for those seeking to pay their online casino deposit using a style of payment other than debit or credit card.

Due to the fact that the Payforit casino deposit method functions through users’ mobile phones, there is no worry about bank account fraud or any other unseemly activity around your money.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/entertainment/the-payforit-deposit-method-explained/

What to Expect from Your Growing Business

Growing a business is a huge accomplishment but it’s not without its challenges.

Any business owner will tell you that there are numerous problems that you may face as your business expands and while there are solutions for them all, what worked a year ago may no longer be suitable.

This guide will highlight the risks and mistakes businesses may come up against as they grow their brand, and what to do about them.

Stay on Top of New Trends

Market research isn’t a one-time task – it’s something that every business needs to continue doing regularly as they expand, as industry conditions change and evolve all the time.

Without staying up to date with the latest changes to your industry, you could run the risk of making poor business decisions based on out of date information.

Market research and taking the time to talk to your customers and clients can pay off in ensuring you’re staying on top of the market.

Choose the Right Systems

As your business grows, it’s only natural that you and your staff will be dealing with larger quantities of data, from financial records and customer interactions to employee information and regulatory documents.

It can be difficult to maintain without the right systems in place. There are, however, plenty of software options available that can help you as your business grows.

For example, a human resources management system can make the process of finding important information and securely storing data much easier, as well as providing benefits such as a streamlined recruitment process and simplified employee engagement.

Having the right systems will make your business more efficient as it develops.

Problem Solving

New businesses can spend a lot of their time in crisis mode with the host of challenges that need to be faced, and this can be exacerbated by growth.

Problem-solving is key to any successful business in order to reduce risk and to ensure that you’re taking steps to protect your business long-term.

Instead of treating each problem that arises as an individual occurrence, develop systems and strategies to combat them should they come up again in the future.

Highlight Skills and Attitudes

Business owners are the driving force behind growing a business, but they can also be the people who hold it back too.

The abilities you needed to launch a company aren’t the same as the ones you will need to grow it so it’s vital that you recognize the skills you have and those you don’t.

With this in mind, you need to develop your skills and abilities as the business grows, while also investing in the development of your employees as well.

For many entrepreneurs, learning how to listen and accept advice can be a tricky challenge but it’s essential if you’re going to maximize opportunities.

Recognizing your own limitations and when it pays to put someone else in charge of a task in order to succeed will be of paramount importance as the company expands.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/what-to-expect-from-your-growing-business/

Why every industry should invest in online payroll software

When you are investing your money on something then you will definitely expect a good ROI from this investment. Right?

In today’s topic, I will discuss some important points that will help you to decide ‘why you will invest in online payroll software’. But before starting my discussion let me ask you one question. And the question is-

Do you want an accurate progress report of your industry’s annual performance?

Surely you will give a positive answer. Everyone will give a positive answer. And to get this accurate progress report you have to adopt an online payroll software. And remember one thing. Online payroll software and free payroll software are not the same!

Let’s see the discussion to know more about today’s topic

Integration facilities: Online payroll software will give you integration facilities.

You can integrate your account software with your online payroll software. After integration, you can download reports instantly and all the duplicate information will be deleted automatically. As it is online payroll so you can work online and make changes. This is one of the great features.

Self-service facilities of employees: Online payroll software has the most amazing features. Among all of the features, the employee’s self-service feature is one of the most advanced features. By logging into their personal account they can watch their work history about payroll related judgment, they can see their salary status, work performance, and other information.

This feature has smartly reduced the work pressure of the HR department and now employee and authority will be transparent to each other

Time savior:

Payroll software saves time for your HR department. All the reports will be updated automatically and employees can update their own account so the HR team has no extra pressure to organize them. Everything becomes paperless because just a few clicks you will get the result of all the reports. So that you can invest your time in other valuable tasks. Except for some critical issues, the HR team only needs to do is monitoring and follow up on the reports. 

Automation taxation facilities:

For any industry, the tax calculation is a very tough job and HR members need to spend more time calculating tax accurately. For mass people ‘tax’ is just a word but for a company ‘tax’ is the name of extra work pressure. 

Are you confused to hear this line? Why I have introduced ‘tax’ as a working pressure? 

Don’t worry. I will explain my point of view. To run a business, every industry needs to pay a good amount of tax and one business tax rate is different from others. And HR team members need to find out all the old papers. They have to check all the issues like the previous tax-related problem has been solved or not, all the papers are okay or not and so on. In the meantime, they have to do other official works as well.

But the situation can be changed if an industry adopts online payroll software. Because-

• After entering all the information on tax, the software will generate a tax report. So that you can see the current status of tax. 

• All the information will be recorded so that you can easily get those records with just a few clicks.

• Comprehensive online payroll software is able to calculate taxes automatically. It reduced 70% of work pressure on the HR team. All they need to do is ‘monitor’ the software. 

• The software does all the tax calculations accurately.

• You will get Automatic Tax Updates.

• The software will always alert you with your business tax status. 

• You can check the due dates of the tax deposit.

Customizable:

We all know about the benefits of online payroll software. Software companies are working for better features and they always updating it to make it better than before. But for a better result, customized software is best for any kind of company. 

• As all the operations are set based so you don’t need to customize all the functions frequently.

• Audit related documents can be customized ( for all buyers).

• To satisfy your client, you can customize all the reports which will be saved in the software storehouse.

• You will get a customized work report for each department.

Flexible access facilities: 

Online payroll software is designed for flexible access facilities. From the industry’s high official to the HR team, everyone can easily access the software and do their work without any hassle. As the control panel fixed the access option so data will be fixed too.

Better accuracy:

Flaming arrow hitting the center of target

Investing in online payroll software will be a wise decision if you want better accuracy in your calculation. online payroll software gives the accurate results of tax calculation, wages and other normal expenses of industry. Nothing is 100% accurate in this world but the software will give you 99.9% accurate estimations.

No specialized person is needed:

There is a myth that- ‘specialized person is needed to run a payroll software’.

It is a very funny myth that doesn’t even exist. 

Because you can operate the software with limited knowledge as well. The software provider company’s expert team will provide all types of help to implement and explain the instructions to you about software.

Software language is designed by considering all the people in mind so that anyone can operate. As you will take customized software so your HR department knows it functions already, and so you don’t need to recruit another person to operate it.

Time and Attendance:

Employees are an asset and all the industries and companies should treat their employees in a good way. To evaluate your employees, you should invest in online payroll software.

 Why-

• It keeps a record of entry and exit time of the employee

• If a company has any hourly employee or part-time employee or intern then this software is ideal for them. It accurately keeps the record of working hours so you can correctly evaluate their performance and salary.

• The company can check employee’s leave history, overtime history and many more. 

• With online payroll software, there will be no miscommunication and employees will be happy. To keep a good working environment industry can make a list of the best employees and can honor them.

• In the market, you will find many free payroll software. If you have doubts about payroll software’s productivity then you can try free payroll software and see the difference between the manual  and digital approach. Even I will suggest you go for a practical approach. I hope you will see a clear difference.

In my above discussion, I have discussed some important points about the importance of online payroll software. If you are planning to invest in this software, these points will surely help you. I hope by reading this article your confusion about why every industry should invest in online payroll software will be clear.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/accounting-and-payroll/why-every-industry-should-invest-in-online-payroll-software/

Why Chartered Buses & Coaches Are Best For Travelling In Victoria

The choice of transportation is the most important thing while planning any trip, event, or function. The success rate of that particular event is entirely dependent on the management as it plays a significant role in overall execution. There is an endless number of options when it comes to choosing the appropriate and most reliable vehicle. Chartered buses and coaches top this list in Victoria with some sound reasons listed below.

1. No more “Bus mode”:

The new buses of Victoria are with the USB ports, Wi-Fi connection, mp3 and DVD player that means one could even complete their all sorts of urgent piece of work even during travelling.

Even, you don’t have to pay extra for those expensive foodstuffs, which you are provided on flights. Moreover, you are free to carry anything to everything of your choice.

2) Most affordable rates:

In comparison to the trips one travel by flight, travelling on chartered buses and coaches in Victoria has proven to be cheaper and affordable. Even travelling in your vehicle will cost you much more as it will include all the expenditure on gas and petrol. However, you can book chartered buses and coaches from https://buscharterdirect.com.au at affordable prices.

3) Most Hand-free way to travel:

As you don’t need to wait for an extra of 2-3 hours in case of flights, a considerable portion of your time is saved. All you need to do is to reach almost 15 min before departure. Such qualities provide a deep sense of leisure.

4) Safe and secure:

With the property of limited access, there are minimal chances of any unwanted guest or stranger entering the bus. Even the drivers are skilled and trained to ensure proper safety and security of the passengers travelling.

5) Comfortable:

This is the primary concern behind choosing Chartered buses in Victoria. When it’s the only means of transportation you use for your entire trip, it becomes easier to stay connected to it.

You don’t even have to face any turbulence. The wide gap of 31-33 inches makes the journey more comfortable as if you are tall or short, you need not worry about the discomfort caused by the narrow gap between the adjacent seats.

6) Convenient:

The members of the trip depend entirely on the strength of the group of people and not on the bus as the Charter Coaches and buses in Victoria vary greatly depending on your number of people, price range, comfort level, and a lot more. One could even book a party bus and have the pleasure of dancing, and some such coaches also provide you with bars.

7) Best way to move big troops:

You don’t need to be any more responsible for keeping track of everyone in the group, as getting on and off together would help you to lessen this burden.

8) Flexible:

You can adjust the departure and arrival of the bus at your convenience. Now you no more need to take another vehicle to reach your actual or exact destination as this would be your personal means of transport. Even the time of the trip can be altered easily without giving it a second thought.

9) Trustworthiness:

You have a negligible amount of risk as you don’t have to worry if your flight or any other mode is delayed or canceled. Chartered buses and coaches in Victoria are something that is available with any time limits. The coach will be exclusively available for you.

Wrapping Up:

Thus, the best way of travelling in Victoria with completely affordable and satisfactory pleasure is through chartered buses and coaches.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/travel/why-chartered-buses-coaches-are-best-for-travelling-in-victoria/

4 Crucial Components of a Forex Broker

If you want to dive into the world of trading, the retail forex market is one of the most lucrative options available. You can be an active trader, holding positions for a short period of time and adding to your retirement or earning extra income in the process.

Choosing the right broker will be the hardest part of getting started.

The crucial components of choosing a broker are:

1. Start with Security

You need a high level of security. You’ll find that there are a lot of scams and vulnerabilities that hackers are trying to exploit on trading platforms. The high volume of trading and money that passes through these platforms make it a high target for hackers.

Check your country’s regulatory body to ensure that the broker you choose is regulated.

You can better protect yourself by consulting with these regulatory agencies, which include:

• NFA (US)
• CFTC (US)
• FCA (UK)
• PRA (UK)
• ASIC (AUS)
• SFBC (Switzerland)

Any broker you choose should be part of one of the main regulatory bodies. If the broker is not part of these bodies, they have less oversight and security.

2. Strong Underlying Trading Platform

The underlying platform will make a world of difference. You should select Forex & CFD broker with MT5 trading platform. MT5 is the leading platform that brokers use to offer trading. The strong usability, charts and easy usage make MT5 great for beginner and expert traders alike.

Every platform has its own unique features, such as:

• Charting tools
• Charts
• Graphs
• News
• Insights

You may even find a few brokers that provide you with educational resources that can help you learn how to trade in forex.

3. Transactions Eat into Profits

Every time you make a trade, you’ll have to pay a transaction fee. Brokers require transaction fees to make their money. You’ll either have to pay a commission or the spread. You’ll want to sit down and research the rates that the broker charges.

Cheaper rates are obviously the best option, but you may be sacrificing reliability.

You’ll want to pay slightly more for a reliable, trustworthy broker that may have higher costs. A balance between transaction costs and security should be found.

If the transaction costs are too low, you may be dealing with a broker that lacks the security to keep all of your information safe.

4. Hassle-Free Deposits and Withdrawals

Good forex brokers will make depositing and withdrawing money a breeze. A lot of fly-by-night brokers will make withdrawals more difficult or impossible. When a broker will not release your funds, there’s a good chance that you’ve become the victim of a scam.

Reviews and ratings can help immensely when it comes to a broker that holds on to your money or releases it like they should.

Funds should only be held onto when you need to initiate a trade. Withdrawing and depositing funds should be smooth and streamlined.

Forex can be a very profitable way to trade. When you choose a broker, you have to conduct your own due diligence to ensure that the broker is qualified and legitimate.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/4-crucial-components-of-a-forex-broker/

4 Best Hotel Options in Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg is a beautiful mountain resort city in Tennessee, located just outside Knoxville and a few hours from Nashville.

Whether you’re planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains or looking to visit some of the many museums and amusement parks this city offers, there are plenty of activities for all to enjoy.

Of course, the ideal vacation also needs top-notch accommodation. Let’s highlight four of the city’s best hotel options, so that you can book the perfect room for you and your family.

Overall: Margaritaville Resort

Upon walking into the Margaritaville Resort lobby for the first time, you’ll immediately notice the flowery, tropical arrangement. With a live parrot display, a gift shop, a coffee shop, and a bar, there’s enough in the lobby alone to keep you occupied for a while.

Each of the resort’s rooms is equipped with 50” flatscreen TV and soundbar. Most of these rooms have private balconies, and the king rooms even have LED fireplaces. If you’re fortunate to have secured a suite, you’ll enjoy a separate living room and a beautiful porthole window.

The resort offers not only outdoor and indoor pools but also a splash pad for younger children. At St. Somewhere Spa, you’ll have the chance to decompress after a long walk or hike.

The Margaritaville Resort is central to a number of outdoor activities that include hiking, fly-fishing, and tubing. It is located just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was the most visited U.S. national park in 2018, amassing more than 11.4 million visitors.

Of course, the price of a room or suite at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is relative to the luxury you’ll experience during your stay. Nevertheless, you can frequently find price discounts on some of the resort’s rooms, allowing you to live large at a decent rate!

Luxury: The Lodge at Buckberry Creek

Maximize your Smoky Mountain getaway by pairing it with a few nights at The Lodge at Buckberry Creek.

While Gatlinburg’s population only hovers around 4,100, the city center is congested; so this resort, tucked away near the mountains, is an ideal spot for those who seek peace and quiet.

Particularly if you plan to spend your vacation days going for long hikes and treks through the mountains, you’ll enjoy returning to your room at day’s end to collapse into a comfy couch or jacuzzi.

Rooms boast open floor plans that include full kitchens and spacious seating area around the fireplaces. With stunning décor and a gorgeous view of the mountains, you’ll get witness the beauty of a log cabin experience but with the added luxuries of a four-star hotel.

Hospitality at The Lodge is second to none, and the staff makes sure that you are comfortable from the moment you arrive until the moment you depart. While rooms can fall on the expensive side, you’ll find that the experience is worth every penny.

Value: River Edge Inn

The River Edge Inn is a family-friendly hotel that offers great value to its customers. Children stay free, and amenities include breakfast, WIFI, swimming pools, and parking, to name only a few.

This recently renovated hotel offers spacious, non-smoking rooms, many of which have raised ceilings and LED fireplaces. Rooms also feature all of the essentials and perks you would expect from many two-star or three-star hotels, including flatscreen TVs, microwaves, refrigerators, coffee makers, and private balconies.

Located close to the center of the Gatlinburg, the River Edge Inn is positioned so that you’re able to get out and walk to different stores and restaurants fairly easily.

All of these features are included for a very reasonable price. If your family is on a budget but still want exceptional service, consider the River Edge Inn for your time in Gatlinburg.

Location: Edgewater Hotel

Scoring a perfect 100 for walking on Trip Advisor, the Edgewater Hotel gives customers a mountain resort experience with all the convenience in the world.

Located in the middle of Gatlinburg, occupants are within walking distance of many different attractions, restaurants, stores, and landmarks. Local hot spots, such as Ripley’s Aquarium, Fountain Plaza, Zip Gatlinburg, Guinness World Records Adventure, and Gatlin’s Escape Games can all be reached in less than five minutes by foot.

As for the hotel itself, the Edgewater features clean rooms with standard amenities, including a free continental breakfast and internet access. Although rooms may be a little pricier than those of other hotels nearby, you are compensated with convenience, which allows you to get the most out of your time in Gatlinburg.

Whether you’re traveling on a budget or willing to splurge on a weekend getaway, there are plenty of hotel options in the Gatlinburg area. Book your hotel room with confidence, knowing that you’ll have exceptional accommodation!

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/travel/4-best-hotel-options-in-gatlinburg-tn/

Guide to Buy Destiny 2 Ritual weapons

Most of the existing Destiny 2 content will become free-to-play, and will also receive the update later since the separation between Bungie and Activision. Here are all you need to know to buy Destiny 2 Ritual weapons. It includes a new expansion, changes to the operation of the Armor, a new monetization model (yes, that includes a Battle Pass) and a change of platform on PC, from Battle.net to Steam (which you can make through cross-save).

There are a lot of changes, so this Guide to Buy Destiny 2 Ritual weapons will explain what changes for returning players and what the content of New Light is if you simply want to play for free.

On this page you will find:

• When Destiny 2 comes out: Shadow Bastion and New Light in detail
• What is Destiny 2: New Light? All content included in the free version of Destiny 2 and all the details of Shadow Bastion
• A Guide to Buy Destiny 2 Ritual weapons and to all Destiny 2 Year 3 changes with Shadow Bastion and New Light

When Destiny 2 came out: Shadow Bastion and New Light in detail

The Shadow Bastion expansion, the Nueva Luz free-to-play version, and the Destiny 2 migration were simultaneous from October 1, 2019.

What is Destiny 2: New Light? All content included in the free version of Destiny 2 and all the details of Shadow Bastion

Destiny 2: New Light is the free-to-play variant of Destiny 2. In case you want to buy Destiney 2 ritual weapon the short version is that all the launch content of Destiny 2 is free, in addition to some of the things that were introduced in the expansions.

First, here is a list of the current content that is free for all players:

• All history content of Year 1 – includes the base campaign of Destiny 2 and the Red War, Curse of Osiris and Strategist missions
• Access to all Space Patrols (including the Forsaken City of Los Renegados and the Moon of Shadow Bastion)
• The exotic of Year 1, the Ovia and Raids Leviathan, Devourworlds and Star Spire
• The exotic of Year 2, including Lord of Thunder, Arbalesta, Perfected Bud and Mal Yuyu
• Year 2 activities such as Gambit, Supreme Gambit, Black Armory, House of the Fieras and The Decision

These are the novelties of Year 3 to which you will also have free access with Nueva Luz:

• The initial mission of Shadow Bastion
• The moon space patrol
• Two new Shadow Bastion Assaults and three new Crucible maps, two of them from the first Destiny
• All Crucible updates, maps, new modes and events
• The new Armor 2.0 system
• Seasonally themed events, such as Halloween or Christmas
• Access to all free Season Pass rewards, including access to the Season Artifact and free rewards such as the season armor set and an exotic weapon

With this in mind, what is not included in Nueva Luz? This is what gives you the purchase of Shadow Bastion and the Season Pass, which is free for the buyers of the expansion (but the next season passes will have to be purchased separately):

• All Shadow Bastion missions
• A new Raid and Dungeon
• Xenophase aesthetic missions
• Nightmare Hunt (it seems they will be meetings against cooperative bosses, with more difficulties available as the season progresses)
• Access to the Vex Offensive activity (with the Battle Pass)
• New exotic mission (with the Battle Pass)
• Payment rewards for the season (with the Battle Pass)

To be clearer, Nueva Luz (or buy Bastion of Shadows) will not give you access to certain content of The Forsaken and the Annual Pass of the Year 2. This includes the campaign, dungeon, Raids and most exotic elements of Year 2, in addition to the new subclasses (Shadow Bastion does include those subclasses, but not New Light).

A Guide to Buy Destiny 2 Ritual weapons and to all Destiny 2 Year 3 changes with Shadow Bastion and New Light

The change to the free-to-play model of Destiny 2 and the new expansion have been a good excuse for thorough cleaning and modifying some classic systems, from the way cosmetics and shop work to the Armor 2.0 system.

There are a lot of small changes, but here we will summarize the most important:

Each season will have a Battle Pass, a Season Artifact and changes in the progression of the story.

Destiny 2 has had content divided into seasons for a while but now includes new features and rewards.

The headline is that there is now a Battle Pass with 100 reward ranges, in the style of shooters like Fortnite. There are free rewards if you do not buy the Season Pass, while those who do (the first one is included with Shadow Bastion) will receive more.

All this is unlocked with the current XP system, so any activity in which you play will contribute to increasing your level, so in theory, you can arrive playing as you want, go to the Crucible or Raids.

In addition to this, there is a new mechanic known as the Seasonal Artifact, free for everyone. As you play, you will unlock specific seasonal modifications that you can equip in your armor. It will also give you an improvement in the level of Power in addition to the level of your equipment. This improvement is unlimited, so it will be possible to improve the level of Power above usual. It will be interesting to see what this means in practice.

The most important thing is to emphasize that both the Season Artifact and the rewards you receive are reset every season so that Bungie can experiment with the goal through temporary modifications without breaking the game in the long term, and resetting the level of progression gives everyone a new goal every certain month.

Finally, the structure in seasons will allow Bungie to create a narrative that evolves more naturally.

What does this mean? The state of the world will change and seasonal activities will appear, such as the available Vex Offensive that is part of the Season Pass, which will not be available at the end of the season, being replaced by something else.

There will be other changes per season. For example, four maps of the Crucible will not be available in this first season of Year 3, while Bungie touches them before reintroducing them.

The Armor receives a new system of modifications and transmog

Probably the biggest change in practice is the new Destiny 2 Armor 2.0 system. For starters, there is a transmog system (Universal Ornaments) for Legendary and Eververse armor that will allow you to change the look of your equipment keeping the basic statistics and benefits (including the Solstice Heroes armor, for those who got it).

Second, the way statistics work has changed. Your character now has six statistics, which are modified based on the base armor and its modifications.

The Luminous Powder and cosmetic sources are modified

In addition to introducing the Battle Pass of each season and its cosmetic rewards, the way to receive Luminous Powder, the currency of the Eververse Store has been changed (not to be confused with Silver, the payment currency used for purchases of the Pass of Battle among other things).

The Luminous Dust is offered as a reward for completing missions (specifically, the weekly missions and those that can be repeated from the Crucible, Gambit, and Vanguard). Bungie wants people to play to get cosmetics instead of opening Engrams of Eververse and destroying what’s inside.

The Eververso’s store will be accessible from the planet’s Director’s screen, so you won’t have to wait for the Tower’s long loading screen to see what’s on offer (and for Bungie, it’s a less barrier for you to buy, of course).

Other small changes from Destiny 2 Year 3

Other small changes have been introduced and small features have been introduced that may also interest veterans:

• There is a new mechanic called Finishers, which can be activated when the enemy’s health is low enough and can offer bonuses such as getting heavy ammo or extra damage for certain abilities.
• Holders of the Forsaken may play dungeons all the time, not only when the curse of the Dream City is at its peak and can be launched directly from the Director’s screen.
• The Forge of the Nefra Armory is part of the EDZ playlist on the Director’s screen.
• Xur’s weekly inventory now includes the Exotic of Year 2.
• Pinnacle weapons (reward for following difficult/frustrating missions of Vanguard, Criso, and Gambit) have been replaced with Ritual Weapons, which are obtained from the same activities but should be easier to achieve
• The Director’s Crucible zone is modified. Fast and competitive games disappear, replaced by Classic Mix and Survival 3v3 respectively. Control 6v6 and Superviencia only have their own playlists, and there are weekly 6v6 and 4v4 rotating playlists.
• As for the level of Power, everything you have (characters, weapons, and armor) starts at 750, the previous maximum level. The new maximum is 950, with a maximum of 960 pinnacles.
• The maximum of Light has been raised to 250,000 and the way of obtaining Light has been changed: you will get more for Patrol activities (public events, chests) and weekly missions and less for killing things.

With this guide to buy destiny 2 ritual weapon you will be able to and understand what the Destiney 2 ritual is all about and the new features it holds.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/lifestyle/guide-to-buy-destiny-2-ritual-weapons/

Solar Road Lights

Solar roads are created exploitation photovoltaic cells put into road systems. The concept behind these projects is to be ready to melt snow, power street lights and even eliminate the need to paint white or yellow lines on asphalt. Road lighting systems are currently widely accepted as essential for controlling traffic flow during a wide range of applications. In practice, such systems operate well above the road surface and use a variety of standard and widely accepted colors, with lights in particular orientations to create the message to a driver clear and univocal thereby improving the outturn of the road whereas enhancing safety aspects.

The first try at a solar road was within the small village of Tourouvre au Perche in Normandie in 2014. The French plan called “World’s 1st solar road” made by ARS Technica, was strategically placed in a “not-so-sunny-village”. While the project was at the start created to power the village’s street lights, the solar roads weren’t economically viable, and therefore the project was deemed a failure.

Taking a special approach, the Dutch implemented a solar bicycle path known as SolaRoad. Although the project had a rocky begin because of the highest layer of the pathway breaking off during the primary year, the bike lane was replaced with additional durable material. Despite the smaller project, the road was still deemed too expensive and caused a lot of disputation within the country.

There has really been a boost in solar-powered road lights recently as a results of technical developments. In present solar LED street lighting utilize PV panels. The solar panels need to be installed onto the framework or either be connected to the pole in order to run properly. The photovoltaic plates are making power by a rechargeable battery at night. The solar panels can automatically power the outside light with the help of the light controller. Once there’s low daylight energy or isn’t even out there for some days, the solar panels can still be able to provide off the light. There’s a reason people change to solar-powered road lamps recently.

Advantages of Solar Street Lights

The main advantage of solar-powered street light is that they’re entirely independent of the power sector that helps cut back their running value. What this means is the truth that the lights are wireless and aren’t connected to an electrical power company.

The solar street lights depend upon heat which is provided by daylight and the power is regenerate and hold on through the entire day. Moreover, maintenance expenses are clearly less as compared to standard road lights for solar LED street lighting. there’s likewise a lower probability of the lighting being overheated.

The danger of accidents is reduced as well due to the solar cords not using any variety of external wires. normal road lighting typically results in accidents like electrical short-circuit or strangulation, whereas, for solar road lamps, it’s uncommon for such an incident.

Best solar road lights company in China

One of the world’s largest markets for solar road lights is China, and perhaps additional so than any other developed country, China is confronted with the effects of pollution and is therefore establishing large amounts of renewable energy infrastructure – of which the nation’s solar highway is a particularly innovative example. In late-2017, China opened its 1km solar highway within the Shandong province’s capital Jinan, south of  Beijing. Among the various manufacturers of highway solar lights in China, the Luxmanlight Company stands out for its scientific quality management and has accumulated a good reputation in China, Europe, Australia, South America, Southeast Asia and also the Middle East. Company is established in 2010, is focusing on the R & D, production and sales of outside low carbon energy LED lighting product. Luxmanlight boasts a standard assembly line, import, and export priority and also the expertise of management, development, producing and promoting team.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/technology/solar-road-lights/

CEO of Metropolitan Public Strategies, Neal Kwatra, Reveals 8 Critical Components of Personal Brand Development for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are challenged with establishing their own brand as opposed to resting on the laurels of an already-established company. Building your brand is much more complicated than piggybacking on one already developed by those who came before you. However, generating attention for your unique value offering is easier said than done. Below, we take a look at the essential components of personal brand development for entrepreneurs.

Develop a Brand Story

Every entrepreneur has a unique story. Furthermore, every business has its own distinctive past. Take some time to think about the trials and tribulations you and your company have been through. These nuances are the substance of your story. Keep in mind that the story you tell about yourself and your business is also the story your target audience will experience. Zero in on how you and your company have grown, the hurdles you have overcome, and your gradual evolution to generate a meaningful rapport with your target customers.

Be Highly Visible

Visibility is an absolute must for your personal brand to grow. Actively promote your business and yourself through overt and covert (inbound) marketing channels. If you are not active on such channels, it is time to become active by promoting your value offering and story. Be consistent with your self-promotion through advertising channels, social interactions, community involvement, and interviews, and it will be that much easier to get your personal brand in the spotlight.

Be Authentic

Do not attempt to promote yourself as authentic. Rather, be authentic. Authenticity results when actions and words align; be sincere, provide a legitimate value offering, and help others when possible. These actions really will make considerable headway in helping you appear authentic.

Be an Expert in Your Field

Put your expertise on display, and your personal brand will appear that much more legitimate to outsiders. Your knowledge really will keep your audience engaged and possibly even lead to recommendations. You can showcase your expertise across an array of channels ranging from social media to blogging, interviews, and public speeches.

Provide a Coveted Value Offering

Understanding your unique target audience is an essential component of building your personal brand. “If you are not providing something of considerable value for your audience’s money, attention, and time, make some changes,” commented Neal Kwatra, CEO and founder of Metropolitan Public Strategies. Communicate your value offering in a clear and compelling manner, and you will eventually be rewarded in the form of a spike in business.

Separate Yourself from the Pack

Though most of the products and services the average person needs have already been invented, it is a mistake to assume there are no new ideas remaining. Even if your approach is not highly unique, how you frame it can be quite distinct. Distinguish the nuances of your value offering from those provided by others, and people really will be more inclined to pay attention to your growing brand.

Be Consistent in the Presentation of Your Personal Brand

Be consistent in the manner in which you present your brand to the masses. Consistency will help your business emerge from the competition and prove that much more memorable. Everything from a unique logo to using the same image across all channels and nuanced color schemes will make your personal brand that much more consistent.

Encourage Customers to Leave Positive Reviews

How your brand is perceived partially hinges on what others say and write about you. If you do not have any reviews posted to the top online review directories, encourage satisfied customers to leave positive feedback. The stories these customers tell really will go a long way in shaping your personal brand.

 About Neal Kwatra

Neal Kwatra founded Metropolitan Public Strategies (MPS) in 2013 and has since been at the forefront of some of the most fiercely contested political and advocacy campaigns in New York and across the nation. Mr. Kwatra has fought to uphold his ideals with great tenacity and continues to expand the reach of MPS into the strategic management of nationally recognized grassroots and issue advocacy campaigns. 

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business-start-up/ceo-of-metropolitan-public-strategies-neal-kwatra-reveals-8-critical-components-of-personal-brand-development-for-entrepreneurs/

8 Tips for Finding A Reliable Business Partner

Many entrepreneurs start their journey by performing many duties at the time. Of course, this makes sense when you are small and have more time to offer than cash.

However, at some point, having too many responsibilities can start to have a negative effect on the business. This is when it’s best to have another person who can grow the business with you.

If you’re looking for a business partner, here are some tips for finding a suitable one.

1.   Make them a work partner

If you’re unsure about someone, start by working with them if possible. Working with someone gives you a good idea of not only their personality but also their capabilities.

By knowing them personally, you give yourself the best chance to make an informed decision about whether or not they will be a good business partner.

Staying with the same theme of work partners, consider the other people you have worked with as well. Maybe there are some competent people you know from your past that will fit the role perfectly.

2.  Find out their financial situation

Besides looking at their talents, find out how financially stable they are. In a long term commitment like a business partnership you don’t want any surprises down the road.

If you’re uncomfortable asking them directly, start by doing some independent research on the subject. You can do so with a public look up service like Nuwber.

The database allows you to use the person’s name or phone number to find their public records.     

3.  Use the power of online networks to your advantage

Online platforms and networks can help you find suitable candidates that you may not consider otherwise.

There are a variety of online platforms where you can search for candidates: Place an add on a professionals network like LinkedIn, a job board dedicated to your industry, or a group on Facebook or Twitter, or join a professional association in your industry.

Besides these networks, you have various conventional job search sites like Monster, Indeed, etc.           

These sites are frequented by people who are looking to start fresh or switch companies.

And, the best part is that you don’t have to individually search for people if you don’t want to because these sites have options to place your ad in front of the right people.

4.  Find a partner in class

If you have time to take a course related to your industry, then invest some time in that.

Besides improving your skills, you’ll also get a chance to connect with likeminded people and potentially find people who can complement your skills in the business.

Community colleges and universities offer training courses in a variety of fields.

5. Keep your ultimate goal in mind

When choosing a partner, also keep in mind the ultimate goal you want to achieve.

In the beginning, most partners tend to agree on the objectives of the business, but when you become bigger, the paths that two people see for a business can differ from each other.

So be clear about the ultimate goal of the business and discuss important values and objectives so that everyone is on the same page.

6. Find someone who is eager to succeed

Find someone who feels the same way you feel about the business. Notice how that person feels about their work and what drives them to succeed in life.

You would want somebody who is involved in their work beyond what is required of them at work. If they’re passionate about getting involved in the business, then they are more likely to stay committed to it for the long run.

7. Be clear about the pros and cons of the business

It’s also important that you are clear about the business relationship from the beginning. If you know more about the business than they do, then clearly communicate the challenges and opportunities to them.

Also, if you know the person you’re going into business with, then make sure that your personal relationship is also straightened out with them.

If you have any issues with their personality that you’ve been wanting to discuss, make sure you discuss them before going into business with them.

8. Find a partner that’s trustworthy

Trustworthiness is something that is independent of past relationships. If you want to be successful with someone in business then you must be able to trust them with important strategic, management and financial decisions.

Trustworthiness is also why somebody you know from the past or work with closely is a good option. Your experience with them gives you an idea of how they’re going to behave in the future.

Of course, if you have any doubts about the person’s trustworthiness then consider those doubts seriously before engaging them.

Finding a business partner is a lot like finding a life partner. You have to make sure that they are in it for the long run and that do you can depend on them for making sound decisions.

Also, like a personal relationship, you’ll be well served by doing your research in advance so you can avoid setbacks that may happen later.         

Whether you decide to go with someone you know or somebody new who fits the role, make sure that they are aware of the objectives of the business and the long term goal of the business.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/8-tips-for-finding-a-reliable-business-partner/

Best marketing for your business – The Metal business card

The business card is usually something placed at the rear end of your wallet or in your pocket. Deemed as a little inconsequential piece of paper that’s a part of day to day meetings with folks, the business card is seldom considered more than its face worth. However, these cards have a long history and an evolution many people don’t know.

History of business card

Business cards began within the seventeenth century in Europe, where they were used to announce the upcoming arrival of prosperous or aristocratic folks to their native town or perhaps their home. They were formed and sized in a similar way to a playing card and have become a staple of the elite by the middle of the century. In time the cards became engrave with gold and exciting typefaces and by the nineteenth century, the cards were a must-have by anyone who was in the social class circles of the day.

By the eighteenth and also the nineteenth centuries these ‘social cards’ were taken from every woman upon her initial visit to a house. People were offered the card tray upon the opening of the door and had to position their card in it as a matter of rule. This card was then delivered to the woman of the home, who would examine it, in some ways it created the first impression of the person.

These cards were additionally used in the united kingdom for trade purposes. These cards were handed out before or when work was done and included maps to get in contact with the person. Originally created with wood presses, they would have been created with lithography once its creation in 1830.

Modern business card

These days cards should have the name of the cardholder, their title, the corporation, their location, and relevant contact info like address, email, phone and anything you feel the need to add. Cards are typically printed in black ink on white paper, but this varies by country. Standard business cards are two by three-inch rectangles of card stock, although inventive custom card styles have been done employing a variety of materials like wood, plastic, metal, and cloth.

Metal business card

A metal business card makes a strong and distinctive statement regarding who you are and what your business is, and assists you make that statement loud and clear. Metal business cards create a statement in a way that you simply might not have even known was potential. After you hand out a metallic card, you convey a multi-faceted and powerful 1st impression. You’re telling folks that you care about your image and the way you are perceived, that you’re willing to invest in it, and that you and your business stand out amongst the others. Once you wholesale or order metal business cards on-line, you know that you simply are going to create a statement, and JustMetalCards is the metal business cards manufacturer you can trust to assist you to create exactly the kind of statement you wish to make.

JustMetalCards are the leading Chinese metal business card provider with ten years of production experience, and expertly designed and made cards may be found everywhere in the world.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/best-marketing-for-your-business-the-metal-business-card/

The Test Automation Culture of NearShore Technology

Tony Zapata, a NearShore Technology, Project Services Manager, discusses the various implications of developing a Test Automation culture. The first step to a successful transformation involves a commitment to automation across all silos within the organization. In reality, automation testing benefits both developers and testers.

NearShore Technology’s Automation Culture

The testing phase of an implementation project is where DevOps and QA teams truly come together. And, as Mr. Zapata suggests, the NearShore team abides by the words of George, E.P. Box, “Discovering the unexpected is more important than confirming the known.” Everyone needs to be aware of the technology stack and how each piece of the framework affects their roles in the organization. What does this mean for your team? As developers code new environments, tests need to be pulled automatically. Before these reports can be pulled without a human, all teams need to understand the applications and develop their own code, a place to store the code and share the updates with both the DevOps and QA teams.

Corporate Communication

Mr. Zapata explains that to ensure the entire team is on board with a new automation project, he strives to motivate his team with open and direct communication. He takes the time to educate his team on the value added by DevOps. An Automation culture not only drives growth within the company, but it provides new opportunities for engineers to develop new skills while advancing their careers. As NearShore Technology grows, all team members need as much experience as possible. The answer is simple, Tony says, open communication highlights employees’ capabilities, which motivates them to strive for improvement continually.

Any new project has its own list of challenges. As a Project Manager, Mr. Zapata lives by the values of Servant Leadership. He takes the time to work with team members that may have less experience in a specific Automation technology – always emphasizing the need for professionalism in all ways, not just a single project. As the team learns what it truly means to be a consultant, their view of the company may change as they become more eager to grow. Often, valuing attitude over skillset is the key to long term success.

Speed Vs. Quality

When adopting an automation culture, many teams struggle to find a balance between Speed and Quality. NearShore’s team of engineers overcome this challenge by being proactive. Before any project begins, the team meets for a planning meeting in which all team members are educated on key expectations. Not every team needs to be automated, and providing a clear and simple direction for any Automated Testing project, ranked upon importance, allows the team to operate efficiently.

All of the processes we have in place allow our team of engineers to communicate freely while providing our clients with the best software solutions. We believe that by treating people well, everything else falls into place. Technology fuels the passion we have for our work, but our bond as a family is the ingredient that makes it all work. When you join the NearShore Technology family, you stop working in silos and become a part of a selfless mission to make everything around you better – your family, team, and projects.

Who is NearShore Technology? Follow the link to learn more about our mission and our culture.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/technology/the-test-automation-culture-of-nearshore-technology/

Here’s Why Serviced Apartments Are the Best Choice for Business Travelers

Sorting out stay options becomes a crucial aspect of any corporate trip. Established businessmen and young entrepreneurs from across the globe have started shifting towards serviced apartments due to a multitude of reasons.

Serviced apartments are your best pick when it comes to enhancing your stay experience multifold, and this article discusses how.

Comfortable accommodation

Being at least one-third larger in size than a standard hotel room, these apartments offer ample space for relaxation. This available space can also be leveraged when you want to arrange business meetings without cutting corners on the sitting arrangements.

More so, numerous service apartments often come with customized business arenas that can viably serve your needs.

Home-like environment

Serviced apartments entail a series of facilities that aim to make you feel home away from.home.

For instance, you get a personalized kitchen than can also be utilized to reduce overall costs. Read on to know more about making your stay budget-friendly.

Tailored options for cost-saving

You can further save some bucks while staying in a serviced apartment. Following are some handy tips:

• More extended stays (more than 28 days) have a reduced VAT of 4%.
• You can skip the room services and reduce the cost further.
• Cooking your own food can means savoring delicious food while keeping your stay within budget.

However, you must have a well-articulated idea of the duration of stay before commencing your trip. Alongside this, chalk out all the activities so that budget planning can go hand in hand.

Provide you with flexibility

Lastly, serviced apartments offer you a convenient stay with an immense degree of flexibility. This means you can walk in anytime and get things in place without having to be indulged in cumbersome routines.

Moreover, you can customize all the facilities while being proactive about your budget and preferences.

Ensure you can get by comfortably with a reputable provider like Buenos Aires apartments when you want to reap the best stay experience. They have a full-fledged line up of furnished apartments that can ardently fit the need of every businessman on the go.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/heres-why-serviced-apartments-are-the-best-choice-for-business-travelers/

Instagram DM Guide for Mac Users

It’s so nice to be in the Apple ecosystem. Whenever you work on your Mac and you get a phone call, you can answer it from your computer. Your iPhone is away at the moment and getting up to answer would distract you.

You can just pick up from your Mac, quickly get through the conversation, and resume your work. 

But what happens with social media notification? If someone sends you an Instagram direct message, you don’t get it on your Mac by default. 

Instagram was designed to be a mobile app, and it hasn’t evolved towards a Mac app. This shouldn’t be a big problem, right? You can always access Instagram through Safari or any other browser you use. You’ll fill in your break with some scrolling and you’ll return to work. 

Oh, but there’s a problem after all. You can’t see or answer an Instagram DM on Mac. The desktop version doesn’t allow you to do that. There are a few Instagram DM tricks that will help you solve this issue. 

Why Would You Want to See and Answer Instagram Messages on Mac?

People usually use a Mac or a MacBook for work. They leave their phones aside and don’t like to get distracted by using them. When they get a phone, they can easily answer or decline through their computers.

Most people would still like to get notifications from social media and have complete functionality on those platforms. 

Instagram is a marketing tool, too. Many people use it for work. They communicate with followers and influencers through the platform. Getting from your computer to your phone and back would make your working routine a complete mess. 

So yes; there’s an obvious need for accessing Instagram DM on Mac. Since the platform doesn’t give us that option on the desktop site, we need to search for solutions. 

I’m Not Getting Instagram DM on My iPhone. What’s the Problem?

Instagram added the notification feature in 2017, enabling its users to view direct messages on a locked smartphone screen. If you’re not getting these Instagram DM notifications, you’ll only need to enable them in the settings. 

Get your phone.

• Open Instagram and get to your profile page
• Find Settings under the main menu in the upper right corner
• Choose Notifications and go to Direct Messages
• Turn the notifications on

All done. Now you’ll see the notifications on a locked screen. This is the first step towards enabling Instagram messages on Mac, but you have another important thing to do. 

How to Use Instagram DM on Mac

You’ll need to use a trick on your computer or a third-party app. 

Let’s start with the trick. You’ll make Instagram think you’re accessing the platform from a phone, but you’ll be doing it through your Mac. You’ll be able to see Instagram messages on Mac.  

Here’s how to do that:

• Go to Advanced Preferences in Safari
• You’ll see a Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar option. Check that box.
• Find Use Agent under Develop in the top menu bar
• You’ll see a list of iPad and iPhone operating systems. Choose the latest version of iOS for the iPhone. 
• Now, reload Instagram. You’ll see a functional version of the mobile app on your phone.

This little trick enables you to view and send Instagram direct message directly from your browser. You’ll also be able to edit and upload photos and stories, just like you do with your phone app. The only disadvantage is that you can’t upload a video. 

The problem with this method is that the mobile app format is not comfortable to view on your computer. Sometimes Instagram will ask you to rotate your device since it thinks you’re accessing via mobile. You’ll need to narrow down the window to suit the format.

A third-party app might be a better option if you constantly plan to use Instagram on Mac.

Third-Party Apps that Let You Use Instagram DM on Mac

Flume

Flume is a beautiful Mac app that lets you see Instagram as a platform that was specifically designed for macOS. It sends you notifications about a new Instagram DM, and it lets you send messages.

If you use Instagram to communicate with fans, followers, and customers as part of your job, you’ll truly appreciate Flume. 

You get support for translated comments and captions, so you’ll understand what all your followers say. 

The Pro version also lets you edit and upload photos directly from your Mac. It’s better than just tweaking Safari to show the mobile app version since Flume also lets you upload videos.  

The question is: how do you send or access an Instagram direct message through Flume? Easy; you’ll see the same DM icon like the one in your mobile app. You’ll find it in Flume’s menu bar. Click that button to access your inbox.

IM+

IM+ is an app that lets you manage social messaging features from different accounts. If you use Instagram, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, LinkedIn, Gmail, and other tools to communicate with social media followers, you’ll appreciate having all conversations in a single app. 

To access an Instagram DM through this app, you’ll click the same DM icon that you see in your mobile app. 

Use the Full Potential of Your Mac

We love the Apple ecosystem because it connects our devices and we can see everything through a Mac. Instagram makes that difficult, but it’s not impossible to access direct messages through a computer.

Why would you go from one device to another when all you need is on your computer? Instagram makes things difficult for people who like using the platform through a desktop browser.

We can’t post photos, videos, and stories. We can’t even see the inbox through the desktop site. We can only scroll and comment. That’s not enough. 

It’s possible to tweak Safari to show the mobile app version, but you can also use a third-party app to access the fully-featured Instagram on Mac. What option will you choose? 

My Author Bio:

James Dorian is a technical copywriter. He is a tech geek who knows a lot about modern apps that will make your work more productive. James reads tons of online blogs on technology, business, and ways to become a real pro in our modern world of innovations.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/instagram/instagram-dm-guide-for-mac-users/

Top Five Tips For Entrepreneurs

These days, it looks like everyone is hoping to become an entrepreneur. The advantages of owning a startup are obvious: being your own boss, making something from scratch, delivery worth to the people around you and, of course, creating a bit of coin along the way. Sadly, not everybody cut out to be an entrepreneur. To run a decent business you have got to be able to assume the correct role.

Being successful usually means learning from those who have already achieved their goals. Having a mentor is an incredible blessing to an entrepreneur, however, not everybody can find one in person. If you haven’t yet found your personal business guru, here are five tips for entrepreneurs to assist get you started.

Have a good business plan 

Planning plays an important role in any business success. A business plan may be a good place to start out – defining your skills and weaknesses, what you offer, how it’s unique and the way you plan on growing your offering. What’s more, try and prepare yourself mentally and practically for anything that might go wrong and the way you’d deal with it. for instance, what happens if you get injured? What if purchasers pay you a month late? What if a weather disaster affects you? Or a trustworthy provider goes bankrupt?

Prepare for money challenges

Most of the 500+ small businesses said that income was by far their biggest challenge. Deal with income blows by saving for a month’s value of expenses or by getting creative with how you lower your overheads. You may provide purchasers a discount if they pay a deposit or the full quantity upfront, or maybe an incentive (pay 10% less if you deliver your product or service a week earlier). No matter what you do, be very careful of debt – this is one among the largest killers of small business success.

Don’t afraid to ask for help

There are a lot of resources out there for networking, information sharing, and advice. Networking isn’t only for new business opportunities, it can be a wonderful source of support and recent ideas. Attend events like Leaderex and My Biz Expo. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from those around you (such as your intermediary, bank manager, property owner or neighboring businesses), or on-line forums and Facebook community groups in your area.

Must put in the hard work

Starting a business is exponentially tougher than another alternative job. Prosperous entrepreneurs need to operate well across a range of functions: marketing, sales, operations, finance, HR, etc. On top of that, making an enterprise from scratch needs creativeness, persistence and continuous learning.

Listen to Your purchasers

Truly listen and understand with your purchasers. Most are so interested in obtaining their own personal message across, that nobody pauses for a moment to really listen and hear the root of the matter or pain. Trust in listening 80% of the time, clarifying 10% of the time, and responding wholeheartedly and intentionally, is 10% of the time.

Being a successful entrepreneur takes plenty of work, plenty of vision and a lot of perseverance. These five tips, from entrepreneurs who have already found success, can assist you to navigate the path much more easily.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/entrepreneurship/top-five-tips-for-entrepreneurs/

Best Ways to Market Your Law Firm

As a law firm you need good marketing. You must stay on top of the competition and bring new clients to your firm. Here are some top ways that you can market your law firm online.

SEO Matters

Your search engine optimization matters. One of the best marketing tips for law firms is to ensure that people can find you online. You need the right SEO strategy to accomplish this.  You should be using local optimization. For example, if you have a law firm in Dallas, Texas, you want to target people in the Dallas area. You can do this by using keywords that have Dallas, Texas in the phrases such as “Law firm, Dallas Texas,” or “injury lawyer Dallas, TX” and so on. This helps people looking for a lawyer in Dallas find you. Hire an expert to examine your site to help you come up with the best keywords and optimization techniques for your business.

Special Pages

Have a special page for each type of work you do such as personal injury lawyer, divorce lawyer, and so on. People will be searching for specific lawyers when they need one. This will help target the right audience and bring more traffic to your website. Most law firms have several services, so have pages dedicated to each one of them.

Write Law Articles for Others

Make sure you write a lot of law articles. You can ask other sites if they would like a guest post and then write an article for them. Most sites will allow you to link to your own site, and this will bring more traffic toy our law firm. It helps establish your firm as a professional online. You might also open a YouTube account where you discuss law topics.

Have a Webinar

Another one of the best marketing tips for law firms is to hold a webinar. You can use this webinar to have a question and answer period where people ask you questions about the law. Many people are confused about how law works, and you can help alleviate their concerns by hosting a webinar session. You can then offer these on your site for people to download if they missed the session.

Site Content

Just don’t put up a law page and expect results. You need to fill the site with content. For example, you could write content about specific laws and how they apply to the individual. Write about how your law firm can help someone with a specific issue. This will set you ahead of the competition as you’re providing valuable information that a person is looking for before they hire a lawyer.

Reviews and Testimonials

Have a section on your site for reviews and testimonials. When you add this, it establishes trust with your law firm. People have a lot of choices online in terms of law firms, so you want to establish tours as a site that if professional and gets the job done.

Conclusion These are some of the marketing tips for law firms that should help you gain new clients and grow your law firm business to new levels.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/law-and-order/best-ways-to-market-your-law-firm/

Rory Brown, Managing Partner of Nicklaus Brown & Co., Compares Virtual Banking to Virtual Banks?

It would seem that virtual banking and virtual banks are one and the same. After all, you can use a virtual bank to do virtual banking.

What is Virtual Banking?

Virtual banking, or online banking, which didn’t exist 20 years ago, is extremely common today. According to the American Bankers Association, two-thirds of U.S. adults bank online.

Nearly all banks now offer online banking, but simply providing virtual banking as a value-added service doesn’t make you a virtual bank.

What are Virtual Banks?

Virtual banks are financial institutions that have no physical presence other than their online site or their banking app. In contrast to conventional banks that have brick and mortar branches and may have drive-throughs, virtual banks have none of the above. They exist virtually, hence the name.

Virtual banks offer many of the same services as conventional banks, and these services are coming closer to parity all the time. You can open accounts, pay bills, apply for loans and get almost any other service you expect from a bank. The primary difference is that instead of your banking app being an add-on service to standard branch banking, your banking app and the bank’s website are the primary ways to bank.

Why Use a Virtual Bank?

Why would someone choose a virtual bank over a conventional bank? Doesn’t the lack of branches and tellers make banking more difficult?

It’s harder to deposit cash into a virtual bank account, though that is getting easier with the advances in ATM technology. But this minor inconvenience is more than made up for by the benefits you get from working with a virtual bank.

Because virtual banks have no physical locations, their overhead costs are significantly lower, and they pass these savings on to their customers. Virtual banks generally charge much lower fees than conventional banks and generally pay significantly higher interest rates on interest-bearing accounts.

If you’re someone that does the lion’s share of their banking online already, switching to a virtual bank is makes sense. Because virtual banks only exist as mobile banking apps, they put significantly more effort into creating a seamless online experience for their customers.

For additional information about virtual banks, view Rory Brown’s website.

About: Mr. Rory Brown has focused on financial technology and investment management for 30+ years. Rory Brown is currently working on a new app that will help consumers navigate online banking. The app will connect clients with the best virtual banks in the world, where they can get comparisons on rates for home loans, auto loans, and more.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/business/rory-brown-managing-partner-of-nicklaus-brown-co-compares-virtual-banking-to-virtual-banks/