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Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Heavy Haul

Get to Know Interstate and Intrastate Heavy Haul Transport

Heavy haul fleets offer interstate and intrastate transport choices, and both cover different regulations and protocols. Interstate hauling refers to the trucks that cross state lines in delivering cargo. Intrastate, meanwhile, means the fleet operates locally. Its permit and operational limitations don’t allow it to cross state lines. They also differ in terms of regulations they have to comply with. Regulations Covering Interstate Heavy Haul Fleet: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is the primary agency that oversees and monitors interstate heavy hauling fleets. Trucking companies need to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Hazardous Material Regulations. Of course, each state has its regulations, fees, and permits covering cargo trucks that pass its borders. Regulations Covering Intrastate Heavy Haul Fleet: For intrastate operations, the state has the primary responsibility to ensure that the fleet is following all rules and regulations governing transport. Typically, the rules and regulations are the same as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. But some states, due to the products they move, have stricter quarantine regulations. They also have different rules on the number of hours a truck driver needs to be on the road, the health qualifications, and age limits. What is a DOT number? The Department of Transportation, where the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is attached, assigns different numbers to heavy haul trucks. For instance, there’s a particular number if the truck is transporting hazardous material across state lines. The same goes for the weight of the cargo or if the truck is carrying 9-15 people. For intrastate trucking operations, the regulations vary. Some states don’t require a DOT number and some do. The DOT number should not be confused with the DOT certification. If the fleet is DOT certified, it simply means that the truck driver possesses the competence, skills, and knowledge to drive such a big vehicle across the country. Truckers can’t secure a commercial driver’s license without this DOT certification, and they have to renew their permit every two years. State authorities always check the DOT certification when they flag down delivery trucks and heavy haul fleet. Fees: In terms of fees, it stands to reason that when the fleet routinely crosses state lines, it is subject to much higher fees. To illustrate, their insurance coverage is higher because they are exposed to more risks. The longer the truck driver is on the road, the higher the risks he would be exposed to. Each state also has its fees, surcharges, and levies. For intrastate cargo, the fees, license plate, and insurance coverage are lower. Again, each state has its own rules covering fees, so for the most part, the trucking company only has to worry about those. These regulations are necessary considering that the trucks remain the primary mode of transport for cargo across the US. For example, statistics show that trucks carry 80% of the total cargo that’s shipped around the country. The industry is also worth $726 billion every year. Read Also: Why Times Are Tough For Truckers And Why It Concerns You How Servicing For Your Commercial Boiler Works: A Step-By-Step Guide To The Process

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PVC

Top myths about PVC

Impact of PVC vs non-PVC towards the environment: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or simply as vinyl, is a plastic composed of carbon, chlorine, and hydrogen. It’s a common material found frequently in packaging, wire coatings, furnishing, construction materials, pipes, electrical wires, and also in the graphics industry. The reason that PVC is such a popular material is that it’s incredibly versatile. It’s also resistant to UV rays, chemicals, weathering, and flame resistant. Many people, however, believe that PVC has a negative impact on the environment and avoid using any products that contain this material. It’s true that there are many complaints about PVC and its effect both on people and the environment, so let’s take a look at the main issues, both for and against. 1. The manufacturing process releases highly toxic carcinogenic dioxins into the environment: There are two main pieces of evidence that debunk this belief. First is that over the past 30 years, the production of PVCs has increased 300%, whilst at the same time the amount of dioxins in the environment has reduced. Therefore, if the manufacturing process was the major cause of dioxins in the environment, you would expect that the number of dioxins would have increased accordingly. In fact, if we stopped producing PVC, the levels of dioxins in the environment wouldn’t noticeably diminish. Second, that the main cause of dioxins in the environment is not the inefficient combustion of PVC, it’s mainly due to landfill fires and to a lesser degree, the inefficient combustion of medical and urban waste. 2. When incinerated or burnt in house fires, PVC releases dioxins, chlorine, and other carcinogenic chemicals into the air: First of all, PVC doesn’t burn very well, in fact, if the source of fire is removed, PVC doesn’t continue to burn, because it contains a fire-resistant polymer. Also, many PVC products are treated with additional flame retardants after the manufacturing process and release less smoke and less heat when combusted, compared to other plastics. Second, when PVC is correctly combusted the number of toxins released into the environment is insignificant. In fact, the most harm derives from the release of carbon monoxide, which is released from numerous other materials when burnt. 3. PVC can’t be recycled therefore it accumulates as plastic waste: In most scenarios, PVC is actually highly recyclable and can be recycled many times over without degrading. In fact, many plastic products in use today contain components of recycled vinyl; some proponents believe that due to its high recyclability, PVC is actually a zero-waste material. Also, since PVC lasts longer than other materials, it doesn’t need to be replaced as often and hence, appears in landfills less often than comparable materials. In addition, the durability of PVC has led to it being used to line landfills with no evidence that the vinyl breaks down and releases toxins into the groundwater. In the graphics industry, however, PVC is currently difficult to recycle due to contamination from adhesives, additives, and print. Avery Dennison is looking to overcome this with innovative technology to separate products into raw materials, through their Liner Recycling Program. 4. PVC is expensive to manufacture: PVC is made from chlorine and ethylene, both of which are inexpensive to a source (chlorine comes from salt and ethylene from natural gas), resulting in a very inexpensive manufacturing process. In fact, when you consider that PVC products are very cheap to buy, between the retail cost of the product and the profits made by the manufacturer and reseller, the actual production costs are minimal. The result is that vinyl products consume less energy, generate fewer emissions, and save more energy during the manufacturing process than many other products. Why is PVC popular in the graphics industry? All the benefits of using PVC in the graphics industry have been stated above however, more specifically, PVC is extremely cost-effective when compared to alternative polymers. Its long life, durability, resistance to the elements and flame retardance are also major factors, but for our customers, the lower costs are a huge benefit. One of the most popular applications is for car wraps, where the vinyl provides maximum versatility.  Vehicles can look like a work of art after being wrapped with a vinyl film. The fact that PVC is readily available is another factor that cuts down costs, as well as its versatility because we can manufacture numerous products using the same materials. PVC is also an ideal material for use across all print platforms, both porous and heat stable. In summary, PVC is not the villain that it has been made out to be. Many companies manufacturing it are not only committed to sustainability but focused on using innovative techniques combined with the responsible sourcing of materials, to reduce the impact of their operations and supply chain on the environment. Read Also: Replacement Windows – Benefits Of Vinyl Windows Five Ways To Improve The Air Quality Inside Your Home

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having an ATM

Top Benefits of Owning an ATM for Your Business

If you’re running a shop, hotel, bar, restaurant, gas station, or any other kind of physical merchant shop, having an ATM would benefit you in ways more than one. It's a well-known fact that people use ATM to withdraw money rather than going to a bank. If there are not many ATM around your business location, it becomes all the more reason to have an ATM. It would undoubtedly increase the footfall to your shop, and as per surveys, it always contributes to growing your business revenue. In this article, we would enumerate some of the benefits of having an ATM installed in your business location. Top Benefits of Owning an ATM for Your Business: Increased Revenue: When you have an ATM at your business location, the revenue can climb up drastically. It is because the customers find it convenient to browse through the products on offer and shop without worrying about getting out of cash. The business owner also earns on the transaction fees paid by the customers at the ATM. As per many surveys, the customers who use the ATM installed at a business location always go on to spend a portion of that money at the business location. For example, most of the money withdrawn from an ATM at night club is spent there itself. Enhance Business Reputation: In the world of increasing market competition in just about any sector, every business has to strive to gain customers' loyalty and trust. The best way to gain customer goodwill for physical retail companies is to offer convenience and better services to the customers. Having an ATM installed at your business location by legitimate ATM service companies would provide comfort and convenience to the customers, and it is a way of showing to the customers that you care. A little effort from your end to install an ATM would go a long way in attracting more customers and increasing your business visibility and reputation in the market. Boosts Marketing Efforts: When an ATM is installed at your business premise and is visible from the outside, it is sure to attract many people passing by, who need to withdraw money. As mentioned above, many of these customers would end up buying something from your store. Even if many of these customers never intended to make any purchase or do not belong to your sector would end up buying something and may potentially become a returning customer. ATM at your business enhances the market visibility of your business and becomes a useful marketing tool. Increased Sales: Having an ATM at your store is one of the proven methods to increase your bottom line. The sales would increase after the installation of the ATM as most people using ATM would end up buying something from the store. The location of the ATM also creates a mark in their memory, so whenever they pass through your store and in need of cash, they would stop by to withdraw some money and make some purchases. If you're looking for a way to increase your marketing efforts and revenue, installing an ATM is an ideal solution. It doesn't cost you a lot and in fact, would end up benefitting you in ways more than one. You can hire any of the ATM service companies in case of any issues with the ATM, or if you need assistance with installation. Read Also: Tekmetric: Auto Repair Software And So Much More 7 Growth Hacking Ideas That Will Boost Your Startup

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Buying or Selling Gold

Why Buying or Selling Gold Online is a Wise Move

Buying or selling gold has an element of risk involved, and it does make sense to minimize these risks as much as is practically possible.  Rather than spending half the day driving around looking for gold dealers, the Internet offers a quick and easy way to make contact with a reputable gold dealer and they will help you out there how to buy precious metals. However, you do need to be sure that you can visit the dealer's offices, at least one time, to ensure that they are actually an established gold dealer. Why Buying or Selling Gold Online is a Wise Move: Save Time: Using Google, you can compare the spot price of gold with as many dealers as you wish and that would take you only a few minutes. If you wish to buy & sell gold jewellery in Adelaide, there is a long-established gold bullion dealer with offices in the CBD, where you can visit their offices and carry out the transaction. Once you have found a respectable gold dealer, you can visit their offices any time that you wish to buy or sell gold, safe in the knowledge that you are dealing with a reputable organization. Taking the Best Deal: Gold prices change by the minute and by using the Internet, you can quickly ascertain which dealer is offering the best deal, whether you are buying or selling.  There are some online organizations that offer a seemingly good deal to buy gold, and they ask you to mail it to them using the pre-paid envelope they send you. Some of these are scams and they will accept your gold, then pay you a lot less than it is worth. These organizations are called ‘mail-in gold dealers and they should be avoided, as there is a chance that you will be cheated. You are strongly advised to visit a reputable gold dealer’s office, where you can take possession of the gold you are buying, or receive the right amount of cash for the sale. Credibility: Whether you are buying or selling gold, credibility is something you look for in a gold bullion dealer, and taking a look at their website can help you identify the dealers that are, in fact, reputable. They would obviously display the address and location of their registered office, and this is something you can check on very easily using Google Maps or any other online map application. Taking Physical Possession of your Gold: When buying gold in any format, it is important to take physical possession of the gold at the time of purchase and providing you stick to that rule, you should always be sure that you are getting the purity and the weight that you are expecting. One should always establish that the gold bullion dealer is everything he claims to be. Once you have done that, you can deal with an online gold dealer with the confidence that all is above board. Read Also: Gold: Choose Your Jewellery Carefully Make Your Savings Goals Come True With Gold

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contemporary gowns

Contemporary Gowns for the Contemporary Bride

Today’s weddings have developed and evolved immensely. Churches aren’t standard – the garden wedding is way more popular. Or vows on the beach. Some couples skip the reception to save money, while others may hold it at a restaurant. Even the bridal gowns have shifted and evolved. Many brides still prefer to wear white, but there are cases where they veer towards champagne, blush, or even powder blue. Some brides go all out, with colorful inlays and dress detail. You might even find a bride in pants, and not necessarily at rainbow weddings. A fine example is Sammie, a ball-gown bridal dress by Rebecca Ingram. Its satiny shimmer, deep v-neck, and sleeveless shoulders mean the bride can wear it more than once, glowing at any evening event. No one will know it’s her wedding dress unless they attended her big day. Plus, it has a beaded belt, a deeply risqué back, and pockets, which you’d never find in a vintage wedding gown. Barely their bride Another sample is Mori Lee 6896. It comes in ivory and nude, and you can clearly glimpse her silhouette beneath her dress. This kind of daring is normal in a 21st-century bride, but would never have made it past an 80s mother-in-law. The name alone (nude!) would have called for cleansing prayers. It’s a gorgeous dress though. And illusion lace makes it more alluring. Then there’s Khatira Alina Kloe. This sheath dress would be at home on any red carpet, with its bareback, polo neckline, and trumpet skirt. The sleeveless design shows off the bride’s well-toned shoulders, while the body-hugging silhouette displays her every curve. This dress requires a six-month pre-wedding fitness regime to really do it justice. Meanwhile, for the bride that wears the pants in the house, there’s Maggie Sottero’s Milan. The lacy tulle jumpsuit is soft enough to feel fully feminine. And it comes with a train that attaches at the waist, so if you check out the bride from the back, it looks like a regular wedding dress. The pant legs do give her extra character and confidence on her big day though. Glamour and color Sometimes, the bride wants to dress a little … louder. This could be an A-line black gothic gown that she can wear anywhere. It’s definitely not a one-day-only wedding dress. It has an off-the-shoulder front-lacing corseted bodice over a flowing skirt. It goes up to Aussie Size 28, but it’s available as an online purchase, so you can key in your measurements for custom sizing. The same e-store has a red gothic wedding gown with black lace overlay and cap sleeves. It’s a mermaid silhouette, so it looks amazing on a curvy bride, though you may have to tuck in your bits. For something more demure but still modern, try a romantic, tiered ball gown. It’s white, with flowered shoulder straps and more applique flowers dotted around the dress. Read Also: Mix And Match The Bridesmaid Dresses Like Never Before! Salwar Kameez Styles An Indian Bride Must Have In Her Wedding Trousseau Make Your Pre-Wedding Amazing: 8 Bridal-Shower Planning Ideas

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consulting firm

Understanding How Employee Recognition Can Aid Your Consulting Firm

Throughout the 21st century, there has been a multitude of changes that the world has seen. The large majority of these transformations have come from the rise of the Internet and other web-based technologies. Tech, like smartphones and tablets, as well other entities have allowed society to go through massive changes. The economy is another entity that has been altered immensely by the rise of the Internet and technology. Many new industries have been spawned, and pre-existing fields have adopted these technologies and implemented them into their business models. One industry where technology has greatly modified the field has been consulting. Consultants take a myriad of actions to aid numerous types of companies, and in order to ensure that your consulting firm is running effectively, it is important to recognize the excellent job that your employees perform. Employee recognition is crucial to a successful consulting firm, so it is in your company’s best interest to ensure that your workers know that they are appreciated. Ideas for Consulting Firms to Recognize Employees Whether your employee is a vice president or an entry-level auditor, everyone who works for a consulting agency is an important part of the team. It is crucial to let your employees know that because, in order to motivate your employees, you have to let them know they are imperative to the company’s mission. There are many ideas for recognizing your employees and if you want your company to be successful, it is important that you follow these tips. There are three major keys to meaningful employee recognition. Those include personal recognition, specific recognition, and unexpected recognition. Personal recognition entails personalized thank you notes and verbal thank-yous, specific recognition is when employers tell their employees exactly what they did correctly to warrant recognition, and unexpected recognition is when management acknowledges a job well done when it was least expected. Utilizing all of these types of employee recognitions will allow your consulting firm to have highly motivated employees. Understanding the Benefits of Employee Recognition After learning about how to effectively recognize employees’ efforts, it is crucial to learn about how this will influence your consulting firm. Having highly motivated employees can provide numerous benefits for any business. Employees who are motivated will be less likely to leave your company. Diminishing the amount of turnover is essential to running a successful business, so having employees that feel inspired by their higher-ups’ recognition will certainly benefit your consulting business. Another major benefit is the more comfortable and contented office atmosphere that will be created. When employees feel like their bosses know they have done a great job, they will feel like they matter more to the company, creating a more egalitarian mood throughout the office. Final Thoughts As the consulting industry grows, it will become evident how important it is to have motivated employees. Employee recognition is crucial in any field, but especially in the consulting industry. In such a highly personalized field, employee recognition is incredibly important and will aid your consulting firm to decrease turnover rates and create a better working climate. Read Also: How Power BI Training Can Increase Business Profits? 3 Ways To Boost Employee Engagement In Your Business Victor Mitchell, Serial Entrepreneur On How To Retain Your Top Employees While Growing Your Business

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car care

Car Care for Newbies

Car shows are pretty popular. We love to watch people ‘pimping their rides’ and getting car make-overs. Meanwhile, our own vehicles are lucky if they get a weekly car wash. For many drivers, fuel is the only maintenance their car receives. And even this becomes a problem because they ignore their fuel indicator light until the last possible minute. For the record, you should never dismiss your car’s lights or sounds. They were put there for a reason, and if you’re unclear, you could always Google it. Check your car’s user manual, and if it’s too dry and boring to hold your interest, spend some time on WikiHow and YouTube. You can find some pretty detailed, user-friendly tips for your car model. But what exactly does car maintenance involve? Wash your car two or three times a week, or opt for a deep detail. These are offered by mobile car wash services that will drive right to your door and clean your car without it ever leaving your driveway. These detailers may suggest additional car care options, like defogging lights, deodorising car smells and protecting your paint job. Do a manual check Apart from cleaning the car, you should do a cursory inspection each time you step out of the car. It’s that thing guys do when they squat beside the car, kick the tyres and raise the bonnet, except it’s never quite clear what they’re looking for. Here are some suggestions. Stroll around the car and peek underneath, checking for any water puddles or oil spills. Rev the engine and listen to it. If you’ve been driving the car long enough, you can tell when the engine sounds ‘off’, even if you can’t detect the exact problem. If possible, you can use your phone to record the unsettling sound, then you can text it to your mechanic and see what they think. It may be something simple like loose ball joints, or it could be a worn-out clutch plate! On that note, get your car regularly serviced. It’ll only spend a few hours at the garage, and some mechanics will even give you a substitute vehicle to use in the meantime. Back to your car check, kicking the tyres has two goals. One, you’re assessing tyre pressure, in case you need an air refill. Two, you’re inspecting your tyre treads – it may be time for a new set of wheels. Top up your car fluids Your car does not live on fuel alone. You have lots of other car fluid, such as brake fluid, engine oil, lubricant, radiator water, and steering fluid for automatic cars. These need to be refilled at regular intervals, and your car owner’s manual (or YouTube) can guide you on what to check, where it’s located on the car, and how often you need to top up. This keeps your car running. Think of your car like your body. Some days, you wake up off-kilter. You’re not always sure what’s wrong, but you don’t feel like yourself. Put the same amount of focus on your car. As you drive, pay attention to smooth shifting, strange shudders, squeaks, rumbles, or vibrations. Learn what’s normal and what’s not, so that you know when it’s time to call the garage. Read Also: 7 Important Car Driving Safety Tips You Should Not Skip! Washing Your Car: 7 Dos And Don’ts What Do You Need To Change Car Rims?

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adaptive robots

Are Adaptive Robots The Next Big Thing?

For more than 60 years, industrial robots have been used to automate all types of production lines. Traditional industrial robots are designed to control the position quickly and accurately. For tasks like moving an object, cutting a circle, robots are more efficient than humans in terms of accuracy and speed. During the course of the last few years, robotics engineering has developed many unseen apps. However, it's still easy for individuals to imagine more than a robot can. It is desirable that robots are smarter, more versatile and safer to shorten the cognition divide. Robots And Its Existing Limitations Once recognized only for the manufacturing company, robots are now a component of many workplaces. For this marvel of artificial intelligence, the future is even brighter. However, there are three major limitations that robots have. Limited Achievable Tasks Robots can only finish a limited set of functions in which it requires only a controlled position and a predefined path. Although there are still countless tasks that are too challenging for a robot to accomplish. Deployment Typically, it requires robotic application engineers to program the sequence and trajectory of their desired movement in a specific language to connect robots to the line of products they are working on. Safety Automation can open doors to dangers. It has been found that just placing robots on a factory floor cannot eliminate potential dangers and hazards. It is important to place them under expert supervision so that their movements do not pose a threat to human beings on the floor of the factory. A good practice might be to install protective walls or harnesses that prevent mishaps from happening. What Defines an Adaptive Robot? A robot of the next generation must evolve beyond the concept of collaborative to tackle problems at its origin. Without compromise, it should inherent safety and performance. There are increasing demands to automate such tasks due to labor shortages and harmful working environments. Transferable Intelligence Robots must have the capability to handle a wide variety of tasks similar to human tasks. And it also has to be able to support the rapid redeployment of newly assigned tasks.  Currently, robots have made it easier and cheaper for employers to get the work done. Immense Disturbance Rejection Autonomous robots can maintain their performance, even with unexpected sudden changes in the environment such as floating bases, abrupt vibrations, and even unnecessary human interference. High Tolerance for Various Positions The latest innovation of robots can maintain the task that they’re performing, despite the unpredictability of their new roles such as manufacture or mounting resilience of a workplace, and compiled position errors in the production line. How Robots Become Adaptive With a new generation of robots, a new industrial revolution is underway. Building on new digital technologies, robots now penetrate areas requiring more sophisticated and adaptive skills, such as logistics or even customer-friendly services. We live during an unprecedented speed of technological progress called the digital revolution. Robots, the bridge between digital and physical. And the physical manifestation of this ongoing revolution, powered by new digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots now penetrate areas requiring more sophisticated and adaptive skills, such as logistics or even customer-facing services. Adaptability Unleashes The Power Of Artificial Intelligence Deep learning has evolved exponentially, allowing a computer to perceive and make decisions more complex than ever before. The essence of this methodology, however, always contributes to a trade-off between thorough accuracies such as the precision of an identified item location and the universality of robustness against variation and corner cases. A robot with excellent adaptability can make real use of the strength of state-of-the-art AI technology. Also, good power command capacity offers a sensation of contact and improved dexterity, making it easier for AI to thrive in robotics. Takeaway When speaking about drones taking over animal labor and contributing to unemployment, people may get very worried. It is worth noting, however, that many positions and job settings are physically or emotionally detrimental to employees. At the end of the day, technology should always serve people. While most apps of such sophisticated robotics, such as Big Dog, are aimed at multiple army and science initiatives, they are intrigued about the opportunities they retain for manufacturing's future. Read Also: Robot Vacuum: Why You Should Buy Two Trusted Forex Robots In 2019 And Beyond

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hosted mail service

Hosted Mail Service That Runs on the Cloud

Phishing is still one of the top threats coming from your email. For you who have a business and use email a lot, this could become the source of a big problem for your company. Using anti-phishing software seems enough to deal with it. But the main problem here is the hosted mail service. They didn’t offer enough protection against the phishing attack. So, it’s easy. You can use the mail host that offers that protection. The Safest Mail Hosting Service What kind of hosted email service that can protect your email from attack? You can use many types of hosting service. However, to ensure your email safety, try to use the email service with Cloud server as the data storage platform. When your data/email was sent and save in the Cloud server, it will be protected and encrypted by the protection system of that server. Therefore, it is difficult for the phisher to send the bait for you. Moreover, when the email is sent to the server, it will be scanned so the malicious link and such can be easily found. The Cloud Server Hosted Mail Services Now, which email hosted services that have the best Cloud server for its clients? It is a difficult question to answer because there are many of them. But, if we have to choose, there are at least three services we recommend for you. DuoCircle  This mail host service uses Cloud server for protection, as well as managing your email. It also stated clearly on their website that they also offer phishing protection. This service also has a Smart Quarantine feature that will keep the seems-dangerous email or content that you receive. This feature will also notify you as soon as it detects this attack, so you can take a pre-caution act faster to protect your data. MailHostingService  This service also offers Cloud Reliability feature where your email will be stored in Amazon Web Service S3 server. It is not only safe but it also reliable and durable. Moreover, with their 24/7 365 days of customer support, you can get help anytime you need it. You can find more about their service at mailhostingservice.com. Trend Micro Hosted Email Security You will get full protection against phishing, spam and other malicious threat to your hosted email service with trend micro hosted email security. And, it is compatible with all kinds of hosted mail service, which is a good thing because you don’t need to do too many adjustments to use it. Conclusion A hosted mail service that also supports Cloud server and storage is the best solution you can use. As you can see, this kind of service doesn’t only protect your email from phishing, spam, and other email-based attacks. But they also offer accountability and freedom for its user to manage their email without worrying about the attack. This kind of service is good for a business that uses a large network to acquire information from clients. Moreover, the hosted mail that runs on Cloud like them is necessary if you want to survive in today’s digital era. Read Also: Why Email Marketing Is The BEST Digital Marketing Outreach In Singapore How To Integrate Email Marketing With SEO

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gardener

Looking for a Gardener: 8 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Professional

Many people think that having a small yard doesn’t require that much work to maintain. This could be true, but only if you have enough help and the right outdoor power tools. However, if you have various plants, flowers, and some trees, then it will surely require more work than you have anticipated. If you want your yard to look flawlessly beautiful, you should commit to maintaining it regularly. What if you don’t have the time to spend making your yard beautiful at all times? The best answer is to hire a reliable gardener. It will cost you some but will eventually pay off. With a beautiful yard, you can relax, entertain guests, and bond with your family. However, hiring the right gardener is crucial. Before you avail of their services, make sure you have asked them these questions: 1. What Are The Qualifications of the Gardener? If you’re planning to engage in some special project, then a professional gardener is the one you need. Does the gardener hold horticultural or landscaping certificates? Do they have a license, like a landscaping contractor’s license? These documents will indicate the quality of work the gardener can provide you. Also, ask them about their experience and the clients they have served. This will give you a good idea of the competency of the gardener and whether or not they’re right for your project. Once you are able to assess the experience and qualifications, you will be in a much better position to make a selection. However, if you go for thorough professionals as garden or tree experts like Tree Service Syracuse, you can rest assured that you are hiring the very best. Experts from Tree Service Systems are put through extensive tests and taught the best tips and tricks of the gardening trade. 2. Do They Have References? If your yard requires extensive maintenance, then you’d want references that can share with you their experiences with the gardening company. Did the company meet its expectations? Are they professional when working with you? You can also check the yard of your neighbors. If you see something you like, you can ask them if they hired a gardener to take care of their yard. If yes, then ask for the contact details and discuss to see if they can meet your needs and wants. 3. Can They Manage Your Yard Both Organically and Sustainably? If you are particular about being organic and sustainable, then it’s essential that you talk to the gardener about it. This has a significant effect on how they deal with weeds, fertilization, and pests. However, you must take note that going organic and sustainable costs more than the traditional approach. Also, depending on your location, there are gardeners that are not that knowledgeable about organic and sustainable methods. 4. Do They Grow Vegetables? It’s not common for gardeners or landscapers to grow vegetables for you. However, it’s worth asking as it’s a great way to save your budget for groceries. Today, healthy produce is quite expensive, and growing your own allows you to pick the freshest fruit or vegetable while cutting a huge chunk of your expenses. 5. If You’re Goal Is a Garden Makeover, Do They Provide Permeable Landscaping? Permeable landscaping is a reliable and environment-friendly way of landscaping design. It allows water and air to reach inaccessible soil allowing it to breathe properly. Moreover, it makes more space for cultivation and attracts butterflies and birds, which will make your yard even more beautiful. Soil that is topped with a non-permeable material, such as asphalt and cement, will eventually die. You might want to consider replacing your traditional walkway, driveway, or patio with permeable pavers. These look like traditional paving, except that they allow water to go through the soil. 6. Can They Provide an Itemized List of Expenses? In addition to labor, are you charged with the supplies as well? Do they seem reasonable? These questions are really important as they prevent you from being overcharged. With an itemized list, you will see where your money is spent and if the expenses are accurately calculated. 7. Can They Provide a Time Estimate? A professional gardener with solid experience can complete the project faster. They might cost more but if you consider the amount of time it requires them to finish the job, they are actually cost-efficient. You can also foresee whether they are efficient for the job or not based on the resources they have. If you have a huge yard, do they have enough manpower? Do they have the right tools to stay organized, such as motorized pole saws, lawnmowers, motorized, or cultivators? If the job requires cutting down huge trees and removal of huge stones and other components, then mini wheel dumpers are a huge plus. Having the right resources guarantees you that they can complete the project properly and faster. 8. How Much Will They Charge? If you only require simple yard work, such as lawn mowing, then the charge should not cost much. However, local rates are different depending on where you are located. A great way to make sure that you’re being charged fairly is to ask neighbors, friends, family members, and even colleagues who are also hiring gardeners to care for their yard. Meanwhile, for special projects, such as proper pruning of roses and trees, then the charge will cost more. For larger projects, such as garden makeovers, ask for an estimate and compare it to other gardening companies to get the most cost-effective value. Read Also: How To Arrive At The Perfect Choice Of A Potting Bench For Your Gardening DIY Ways To Control Pests In Your Garden Edmonton Landscape Maintenance Tips

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email marketing

Why Email Marketing is the BEST Digital Marketing Outreach in Singapore

Times have changed. Commerce no longer waits for customers to head into a brick-and-mortar store, but instead takes on a proactive approach. Marketers must rely on various tools to reach out to their consumers, create sales channels, and generate revenue. Gone are the days when newspaper ads and billboards took center stage; with technology, digital marketing outreach becomes a necessity as it can reach a considerable amount of users in the shortest amount of time. Marketers often ask us about the most effective platform they should first choose, and our answer always goes back to good old email marketing. Singaporeans are so comfortable with technology, and the majority of the technologically-savvy generation will check their emails at least once a day. Even though it’s one of the most traditional methods, it’s still used frequently because it simply works. Here’s the tricky part: email marketing has to be implemented correctly. Use it right, and it’ll become an incredibly powerful tool. Use it wrong, and you’ll risk turning away customers, both potential and returning ones. Unconvinced? We’ll give you two reasons why email marketing is the best digital marketing outreach, and how you should use it effectively. Whether you’re on a limited budget or hiring a digital marketing agency in Singapore, it’s important to understand email marketing so you can use it to your advantage, especially after your lead generation agency has delivered new prospects for your business. 1. Email marketing provides endless possibilities. Like we’ve mentioned, email marketing may be one of the oldest forms of digital marketing, yet marketers in most industries still use it today as it’s efficient and cost-effective. It involves sending emails to a target audience’s inbox and gives companies a chance to promote their product or service, create brand loyalty, deliver value to consumers; the possibilities are endless. Since there are so many ways to use email marketing, there is no reason for you to stick to one type. As sending the same emails too frequently may turn consumers away, you should find the right balance to keep your readers interested and hopefully increase sales.  Here are two different types of marketing emails that you can send out to engage your subscribers. Welcome emails are usually the first email a subscriber receives after giving you their email address. As it’s the first connection, it’s essential to not only introduce your brand but also make it a memorable one. There are several ways you can do this: you can either share with them more about your brand’s story, invite them to connect via other means (such as social media) or get to know more about them (such as asking for their birthdays). Since the purpose of welcome emails is to increase your engagement with your subscribers, an excellent way to start would be to give them a gift, either a trial or discount code. Informational emails are a series of emails sent to users to keep them engaged with your brand. There are several ways you can do this, depending on your brand. If sales are your priority, you can send out targeted emails informing your subscribers of promotions, discount codes, and holiday sales. If you’re providing software, and your main goal is to increase brand awareness, you can release a series of tips and tutorials on how to make the best out of it. There are so many ways you can continuously engage your subscribers, but remember to keep a steady pace; you want to provide your readers with value, not flood them with dozens of emails. As there are so many ways to use email marketing, if you’re hiring a digital marketing agency in Singapore, be sure to let them know what you’re trying to achieve. Different goals require different types of emails, and your agency needs to know what you need before they can help you get the results you want. Email marketing lets you personalize your engagement. Although every business has a buyer persona, it may not always be the same. As a brand, you may have a range of audiences that differ based on age, gender, and other demographics. The best way to reach out to different audiences is to cater to them differently, and email marketing helps you do so by segmenting your audiences into categories. The idea is to tailor various emails that will resonate with each audience segment and provide them with something exciting and of value. If you use email marketing correctly, you can not only address your subscribers by name but also provide them with something that they want. For example, you can email your VIP members about an exclusive event or reach out to your teen audience about a back-to-school sale. By targeting each segment differently, you can increase the effectiveness of your emails. This is extremely important as an email can only be successful if your subscribers open it, read it, and appreciate it. We can go on and on about how effective email marketing can be, but the best way for you to find out is to try it yourself. If you’re confused and not sure where to begin, now’s a good time to ask for help. Reach out to a digital marketing agency in Singapore, let them know what you need, and they’ll help you achieve it. Read Also: Why Every Business Holder Should Start Using The Drip Marketing Campaign Snov.Io Review: The Missing Piece Of The Marketing Outreach Strategy Puzzle

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kitchen remodeling

Top Secrets That Slash Your Kitchen Remodeling Bill in Half

Budget is the scary word that bothers you when you undertake the work of kitchen renovation. It is one of the reasons only a few people can go ahead with the work as planned. No one can deny that the condition of the kitchen is a throwback of your living style. The thing that leaves you in dilemma is how to avoid making the project exorbitant in terms of money. Do you know where to indulge and how to mitigate the cost of renovation? Remember that the result of home renovation must not only create a glamorous look but also add value to your property. Unfortunately, it takes very little time for the cost to escalate in the Kitchen Cabinet Renovation project. Do you know that you can get the dream kitchen without splurging? Keep your budget tight and make your kitchen the most favorable area of your home with ease. Keeping the cabinets The renovation or makeover of cabinets is one of the areas where you need to spend a major part of your finances. How about preserving the old cabinets if they are in good condition? You can just coast them with paint or resurface the cabinets to reduce the cost. Consulting with the experts will reveal better results, but having a mind of your own is a better way to ensure a beautiful result in the end. Retaining the layout The kitchen designer you hire may show eagerness to change the layout completely such as making it L-shaped, like a gallery or corridor, making it with a single wall. Unfortunately, the present layout may be perfect. The only thing you need to do during the renovation work is to arrange the things properly so that everything you want becomes readily available. If you leave the shape of the kitchen undisturbed, you can save a lot of money and stay within the budget you have created in the beginning. Discarding the things smartly When it comes to the electrical items in the kitchen, you may not decide to keep a few of them such as the refrigerator, stove, and the chimney. If you decide to sell these items, try to get an estimate from the second-hand shops. You can also take photos of these items and post them in the online selling sites to find out if the option has the potential to fetch more money. If you are lucky enough to sell them at a good price, it can help you to buy a new appliance at half the cost and it is a good option to rely on. Choosing the countertop The material to be used for the countertop can raise a few concerns, especially when you need to stay within the budget. Even though there is a wide range of options available with varying rates, combining two materials can help you to curb the cost. You can replace granite with a laminate that comes with stone-like appearance. Flooring options Kitchen is one of the places where the flooring needs to be considered carefully. When you do not have enough to spend on the renovation work, using a ceramic tile can fulfill your wish. It may not be as attractive as the other options, but it is highly durable. Alternatively, you can install laminate flooring over the current floor for the best results. The vinyl tiles are also cheap, so you may consider this option as well. Buying from the internet People love to shop from the internet nowadays, but that does not mean that you can buy anything online as the variance of prices can be unimaginably high or low. Find out which days are the best when you buy certain items online so that you can grab the discounts easily. You can also buy second-hand items from people you know such as a refrigerator that your friend has hardly used. Having enough time to buy the items you need for kitchen remodeling helps you to go for comparison shopping before you finalize the decision to purchase. There are plenty of options available when you want to reduce the cost of the kitchen items to half. The only thing you need to do is to find the right opportunity. You can try to check the options of kitchen remodeling before going ahead with the project. Try to avoid indulging unnecessarily to make your investment worth the money you spend on a kitchen renovation. Read Also: 9 Feng Shui Tips For A Calmer Kitchen Kitchen Renovations Must Be Done At Regular Intervals

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