Tours Travel

What you can expect to pay a Playa del Carmen real estate agent

Paying someone else for a job, even if they have done a good job, is never something to hope for. The same goes for the Realtors of Playa del Carmen. Real estate agent fees are considered by some to be a necessary evil. Some simply cannot waste the time and resources to sell their home or buy it on their own. Most real estate agents work hard for their commission; even so, it is difficult to see thousands of dollars slip out of your hands and into the pockets of your Realtor.

Most real estate agents are paid through a commission plan that, in most cases, ends up being a percentage of the home’s sale / purchase price. Commission rate percentages will vary from one real estate agency to another, but most neighboring agents will have comparable rates. A common real estate agent fee is 5 to 7% of the sales price.

Once you do the math, you’ll find that 5-7% is a lot of money (in fact, enough for people to make their own purchases and sales despite the difficulty). However, it may be comforting to know that the real estate agent is not the recipient of the full commission amount. After paying your Playa del Carmen real estate agent the agreed-upon percentage, the real estate agent must split his earnings with the agency he works for. If there are other brokers involved in the purchase or sale, these brokers will also get a share of the sale. The agency the broker splits his commission with (usually paying 50%) receives compensation for the real estate agent’s work space, marketing, support, and other resources needed to assist in the sale.

While it is possible to find rates lower than 5% in Playa del Carmen, it can be difficult, especially in markets with a lot of real estate business and little competition between agencies (the absence of competition means little incentive to have a competitive price). Some agencies are open to negotiate prices. Here are two tips for lowering your real estate agent’s fees.

1. Agents who don’t have to give as much money to the agencies they work for have more flexibility in negotiating the price with you. When a real estate agent works for a company that requires 50% commission, it puts the real estate agent in a difficult position of having to compromise the small percentage that they will actually end up with. Some real estate agents are only required to pay 15% to their agencies. These are the types of real estate agents that are most likely to offer you some type of discounted price.

2. There are real estate agent services you can opt out of to save money. Marketing methods like newspaper ads are rarely the ones that end up selling a home. Telling your agent that you are not interested in such underperforming expenses saves the agency money that can then be passed on to you.

If you are still not satisfied with what you can expect to pay a real estate agent in Playa del Carmen, consider all the costs that you would incur if you had chosen not to hire a real estate agent. Remember that when you sell your house on your own you are responsible for paying for all forms of advertising, you pay for your house to appear on the list with a service, you pay for legal advice, you pay for copies, stationery and documentation. You sacrifice money and time that you could save if you hadn’t had to spend so much time selling your property or looking for a new property. Consider time lost from work and time lost with family and friends because you are responsible for being present at open houses, meeting potential buyers, reviewing inspectors, etc. If you don’t follow all the laws and present the proper documents, you could also have to pay a large amount of money in a lawsuit. All costs add up quickly.

Arts Entertainments

TV Critics Reviews "Heroes of Higglytown"

As the aunt of a preschooler and aspiring voice actress (I knew all those hours of watching Bugs Bunny would come in handy), I know every kid’s show, as well as every kid’s DVD out there.

In my opinion, there is no better way for celebrities to win back their outrageous salaries than to entertain and sometimes educate children. And They Might Be Giants gets a “cooler than Elvis” vote for singing the title track of one of Playhouse Disney’s newest hits, “Higglytown Heroes,” which is also on their children’s CD / DVD, “Here Come the A B C s”.

For those of you who are not familiar with all things Higgly (an adjective that is used both as “Smurf” but not, thanks to Higgles, as a verb), the series focuses on a small town and four children named Eubie, Kip and brothers Wayne and Twinkle. Think “South Park” with better art and no bad language. The loudest language is “Aw, pickles”, usually uttered by Twinkle (pinker than Trista Rehn Sutter!) After his fantastic ideas for solving children’s dilemmas are drilled gently by Fran, a friendly squirrel with the voice by Edie McClurg.

In each two half-hour episode show, the Higgly Kids experience common and innocent childhood events, such as finding a caterpillar, throwing a TV party for the Happy Hairy Higgly Monster Primetime Special, losing a tooth, Kip’s grandfather locked in the bathroom. or taking care of an unhappy bird. Children try to solve their problems, guided by Fran, who is the voice of reason, helped by their loving families and the ever-enthusiastic Bill and Ted-ish Pizza Guy … plus someone special. Then comes the inevitable song …

“Someone special, who could it be?

This job is too big for you and me.

We need help!

But never fear

Looks like a job for a … Hero of Higglytown!

A Hero of Higglytown! “

Some of the heroes are natural choices, especially after 9/11: policewoman, firefighter, etc. But how many of us think of sanitation workers, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, postmen (voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford), and farmers as heroes? Or a telephone operator (with the voice of Cyndi Lauper)? Although heroes have celebrity voices, the Higgly Kids discover that the real stars around them are the people who solve problems every day.

Some of the dilemmas get a bit ridiculous from an adult perspective. For example, when Kip climbs a tree to save a beloved neighborhood cat and her kittens, his friends help him. Why, when you get stuck, can’t they help you back up? Ahem … when was the last time you tripped and panicked? You need help in your own life every day without thinking about it.

The beauty of “Higglytown Heroes” is that it celebrates working together, “having fun together,” and the Higgly Kids, as well as their families, never take the Heroes in their lives for granted. The electrician (Lance Bass) is invited to participate in the “Higgly Monsters” TV party after repairing the circuits at Kip’s house. The firefighter (Donald Faison) who pulls Kip out of the tree shares a birthday party for the neighborhood cat. How many of us make an effort to thank the people who make our lives easier? Sometimes we forget to see them as people with needs and feelings.

We even forget to see our own families as heroes. Kip’s grandmother (voiced by “Golden Girl” Betty White, with Rose Nylund hairdo) knits the boys’ sweaters. Kip’s real estate agent Mom Bitty acts like the lifeblood of 1950s domestic life, but is rewarded when Kip and his friends gift her a card to get her back on track. Wayne’s mom Plunkie shows the kids a caterpillar and takes them to the beach, while Wayne and Twinkle’s Uncle Lemmo cook breakfast for them in their restaurant and, in the Christmas special, she takes Wayne and Twinkle. on his sleigh.

Interestingly, Higgly’s families aren’t always nuclear families, something Disney portrays as normal without drawing attention to it. Kip’s family is the proverbial nuclear family, with twin sisters, a little sister, a mom and dad, Fripp (who operates a hot dog cart), and two grandparents who live in or constantly visit Kip’s big house. Twinkle and Wayne’s mother appears to be a single dad (although they are all African American, no one has yelled racism yet), and Eubie is apparently being raised by her Aunt Mellie and Uncle Zooter with a southern accent, with visits from her southern accent. Grandpop Crank (a farmer).

In many ways, Higglytown is idealized. Nobody seems to care about work, money, or status. People go to the library, and a librarian is a Higglytown hero! Kids “work really hard” and take responsibility (gasp) by thinking of ways to help themselves and their families, and in each episode there are little moral lessons and tips (take care of your pets, don’t use too much electricity, make them smile someone) to show children how they can become … Heroes of Higglytown!

Cynics and naysayers will scoff at this like a childish pablum. I call it a refreshing dose of reality and a tribute to the heroes around us. Disney animators are Higglytown Heroes for creating this show.

Author’s Note: After this review originally went online, actor Rory Thost, who voices “Kip,” was kind enough to be a “Higglytown hero” and brighten my day by telling me how much he and the cast I liked the review. For all those who think our children are real troublemakers, Young Master Rory Thost is thirteen years old: http://imdb.com/name/nm1191277/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfbH9yef9ye. His career in show business is already longer than mine! More importantly, in a world where celebrity misbehavior is sadly the norm, this young man remains polite, mature, well-mannered, and well-grounded.

Author’s Note II: This series just keeps getting better. The continuity is on par with most primetime shows. Kip has adopted a dog named “Shadow” who makes guest appearances; we meet Fran’s parents after seeing them at the Christmas special; Eubie’s grandfather becomes a Higglytown hero; Flappy, Eubie’s bird, makes appearances from time to time. The fireman is back. The electrician proposes to the teacher, and Pizza Guy and Fran become Higglytown heroes!

Author’s Note III: Disney has created Higglytown Heroes Toys. This series has legs!

Technology

Facebook keeps crashing my PC! How to fix this problem forever

Facebook may keep crashing your system for all kinds of reasons, including the likes of your PC’s web browser not working properly, your system has some kind of error with its settings, and Windows is out of date. If you are experiencing errors with the Facebook website on your PC, you should be able to repair any of the potential problems that may have caused the crashes to occur, which can be done by following the steps outlined on this page.

Why will Facebook crash your PC?

The reason why Facebook will block your system is basically because of the way this site works. It uses a technology called “JavaScript” and “Ajax”; Both are described as client-side programs that work by installing themselves on your computer and then linking to the Facebook server to continually update various data on the page. This is why your Facebook page can update so quickly, because it uses these Javascript and Ajax technologies … but the downside to this is that your PC’s memory and settings take a huge hit with the amount of processing power required. so that the Facebook page updates itself every few seconds.

The bottom line is that for many computers, Facebook’s technology is consuming too many resources and consequently will make your system run much slower and often crash. To get around this problem, luckily there are a few things you can do to make it run much more smoothly.

How to fix Facebook crashes

The first thing to do to fix Facebook crashes is to first make sure that you can fix any potential problems that the web browser you are trying to use may have. To do this, you must reinstall the web browser, which can be done by clicking “Start” and then selecting “Control Panel”, before selecting “Uninstall a program.” This will allow you to uninstall the web browser you are using, after which you can download and install the browser again. This will not only allow your computer to read the web browser correctly again, but it will also ensure the smooth running of your computer.

The second thing to do is use a “Registry Cleaner” program to scan your computer and fix any potential problems that Windows may have inside. A registry cleaning tool is a program that has been specifically designed to fix errors and problems within the Windows system, and it is a tool that can be used to fix Facebook crashes. One of the main causes of crashes will be the way that many of your computer’s “registry settings” will not be able to be read by your system, leading to the formation of a large number of errors. This will often cause registry errors to appear, so it is vital that you can use a registry cleaner to fix any potential problems the database may have, increasing the speed and reliability of Windows as a result.

Home Kitchen

Combining vintage style with urban chic creates a modern retro look

Mixing vintage styles with newer styles is very “cool” and a popular decorating style today. In some circles phrases like “Urban Chic” or “Fresh Vintage” are used instead of “retro”. It’s still “retro,” but a different take on the past when shoppers combine “edgy” vintage collectibles with contemporary-style furnishings and decor. Others understand “Urban Chic” a little differently and refer to the rise in popularity of collectors looking for metal furniture and industrial styles compatible with city life. Of course, this is also a throwback to earlier times. Metal fixtures and furniture dominated mid-century homes and were used for magazine racks, phone stands, ashtrays, seating, serving pieces, etc.

Today urbanites like to buy antique steel industrial shelving, antique metal desks and chairs, antique commercial desk accessories, and lots of factory finds to decorate lofts, apartments, and houses. This opens up a whole new market for sellers who are starting to look for items in unusual places. Suburban homes feature high-tech kitchen surfaces and lots of stainless steel. Buyers now love vintage metal canisters from the 1950s that seem to fit perfectly in today’s stylish kitchens. The “metro-retro” style is often combined with collectibles from the 50s, 60s and 70s to create eclectic interiors that are unusual, quirky and affordable.

If the industrial look isn’t your thing, there are other directions to consider. I have put in many younger collectors who gravitate towards the “bohemian style”. “Bohemian style” is what happens when your flea market pickup is out of control but in a good way. Somehow, collectors get the look together with unifying color schemes, themes, patterns, or rhythms that organize collections. Once again, collectors mix and match different eras, styles, textures, wall coverings, etc. And as seasoned decorators, bohemian collectors tell us “it works.” This style is difficult to explain, so I might suggest reading Elizabeth Wilhide’s Bohemian Style, a post by Watson Guptill. While collectibles from the ’60s and’ 70s have moved more slowly in physical stores than those of earlier periods, “fashion collectibles” are gaining momentum as department stores are emphasizing these styles. Designers are taking greater risks than in the past and it seems that buyers are once again being encouraged to experiment with home interiors, products and materials.

Let me remind you of what they said years ago “let it hang out.” In fact, both manufacturers of new products and collectors of old products are “doing their thing.” Numerous online businesses are growing with “hairy sixties” websites catering to shoppers who love pink, brown, and lime green palettes, as well as cheesy stripes, polka dots, and swirl patterns. In fact, there are web designers who specialize only in this style.

While shoppers in their “twenties and thirties” enjoy ordering new home and apparel items inspired by “psychedelic” colors and designs, mature collectors

They want the originals and are active buyers at flea markets, stores, and shows. Once a thrift store staple, colorful toasters and fondue sets are now “cool” finds for serious collectors and casual shoppers jumping on the “retro” bandwagon alike. The next time you lift your nose at a set of mushroom-patterned kitchen canisters, think again, you may be overlooking a true “retro” gem that even the Pottery Barn is keeping an eye on.

Auto

“Give me freedom or give me death”, but in current textbooks the context of these words is removed

Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Orthodox and deeply committed Christians? The other three believed in the Bible as divine truth, the God of Scripture and His personal intervention.

It is the same congress that formed the American Bible Society. Immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase and import 20,000 copies of deeds for the people of this nation.

Patrick Henry, who is called the puppet of the American Revolution, is still remembered for his words, “Give me freedom or give me death.” But in current textbooks the context of these words is removed.

This is what he said: “A call to arms and to the God of armies is all that remains for us. But we will not fight our battle alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of the nations. The battle, sir, is not only of the strong. Is life so expensive or peace so sweet as to be bought at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. I don’t know which way the others will take, but as far as I’m concerned, give me freedom, or give me death. ”
These phrases have been deleted from our textbooks.

Was Patrick Henry a Christian? The following year, 1776, he wrote the following: “It cannot be emphasized too much or too often that this great nation was founded not by religious, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone. , here freedom of worship has been granted to people of other religions “.

Consider these words that Thomas Jefferson wrote on the cover of his worn Bible: “I am a Christian, that is, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have no doubt that our entire country will soon join the unity of our Creator and , I hope, also to the pure doctrine of Jesus “.

Consider these words from George Washington, the father of our nation, in his farewell address on September 19, 1796:
“It is impossible to rule the world without God and the Bible. Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are the indispensable supporters. Let us cautiously allow the assumption that morality can be maintained without religion. Both the reason and experience prohibit us from expecting that our national morals can prevail excluding religious principles. “

Was George Washington a Christian? Consider these words from your personal prayer book: “O eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and deeds. Wash my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb and purify my heart by the Holy Spirit. Each day, inform me more and more in the likeness of your son, Jesus Christ, that living in your fear and dying in your favor, may in your appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified to eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the entire human race and may the world be filled with the knowledge of your son Jesus Christ. “

Consider these words from John Adams, our second president, who also served as president of the American Bible Society.

In a speech to military leaders, he said: “We do not have a government armed with the power capable of fighting human passions, unbridled by morality and true religion. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is totally inappropriate for the government of any other. ”
How about our first court judge, John Jay?

He said that when we select our national leaders, if we want to preserve our Nation, we must select Christians. “Providence has given our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, was the sixth president of the United States.
He was also president of the American Bible Society, which he considered his highest and most important role. On July 4, 1821, President Adams said, “The greatest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in an indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”

Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President of the United States, reaffirmed this truth when he wrote: “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings ceased.” be practically universal in our country. “

In 1782, the United States Congress passed this resolution: “The United States Congress recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.”

William Holmes McGuffey is the author of the McGuffey Reader, which was used for over 100 years in our public schools with over 125 million copies sold until it was stopped in 1963. President Lincoln called him the “nation’s school teacher. “.

Listen to these words of Mr. McGuffey: “The Christian religion is the religion of our country.> From it derive our notions about the character of God, about the great moral Governor of the universe. The peculiarities of our institutions are based on its doctrines From no source has the author drawn more conspicuously than from the Holy Scriptures. From all these extracts from the Bible I do not apologize. “

Of the first 108 universities founded in the United States, 106 were clearly Christian, including the first.

Harvard University, established in 1636. In rule number 1 of the original Harvard Student Manual, students seeking entry must know Latin and Greek in order to study the Scriptures:
“That every student be instructed with clarity and be seriously pressured to consider well, the main objective of their life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, who is eternal life, John 17: 3; and therefore, put to Jesus Christ as the only foundation of all healthy knowledge and scholarship. And seeing that the Lord only gives wisdom, that each one seriously intends, through secret prayer, to seek it in him (Proverbs 2: 3) “.

For more than 100 years, more than 50% of all Harvard graduates were pastors!
It is clear from history that the Bible and the Christian faith were central to our educational and judicial system. However, in 1947, there was a radical change of direction in the Supreme Court.

Here is the sentence that was banished:

“Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence on You. We beg Your blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country.
Amen.”

In 1963, the Supreme Court ruled that reading the Bible was prohibited as unconstitutional in the public school system. The court offered this justification: “If parts of the New Testament were read without explanation, they could have been psychologically harmful to the children.”
Reading the Bible was now unconstitutional, although the Bible was cited 94 percent of the time by those who wrote our constitution and shaped our Nation and its system of education, justice, and government.

In 1965, the courts denied as unconstitutional the rights of a student in the public school cafeteria to bow his head and pray audibly for his food. In 1980, Stone vs. Graham banned the Ten Commandments from our public schools.

The Supreme Court said as follows: “If published copies of the Ten Commandments had any effect, it would be to induce schoolchildren to read them. And if they read them, meditate on them, and perhaps worship and observe them, this is not a allowable target “.
Isn’t it an allowable goal to allow our children to follow the moral principles of the Ten Commandments?

James Madison, the lead author of the United States Constitution, had this to say: “We have staked the entire future of our new nation, not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions on the ability of each of us to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments. ”
Today we ask God to bless America. But how can he bless a nation that has strayed so far from him?

Most of what you read in this article has been erased from our textbooks. The revisionists have rewritten history to eliminate the truth about our country’s Christian roots. I encourage everyone who reads and agrees with the words in this document to share them with others so that the truth of our nation’s history can be told.

Digital Marketing

Trademark protection in cyberspace

Facebook has more than 350 million users, Twitter has 32.1 million, and MySpace attracts more than 115 million to its site each month. The number of people using social media makes trademark infringement and brand confusion as easy as creating a username and password.

In Dallas alone, where we are located, more than 700,000 businesses in the area have a Facebook page, which are customizable mini-sites aimed at organizations, products or public figures. By reaching their target demographics, these companies allow users, or “fans” of the page, to post comments, view news and information, and basically have a voice about that company. With tools like these open to the public, how can companies protect their brands and trademarks in a world run by social media?

There are some proactive ways to beat counterfeiters and imposters. On the one hand, it can be beneficial for some third-party employees or contractors to regularly check social media sites for unauthorized use of your brand, bad press, trademark infringement, and the sale of counterfeit products. Of course, the best defense is a good offense, so join the online community and create your own positive buzz. It is a relatively inexpensive way to advertise and reach consumers, who are not always reached with traditional methods.

Also be sure to register your business or brand on key social media sites. This can be a simple process and probably the easiest way to ensure your company’s reputation on social media sites. When registering you name or brand, no one else can. The problem is when someone else has already secured your name. If that happens, there are several steps you can take to ensure that your social media presence is yours.

For one thing, be sure to take advantage of “terms of use policies” to protect your rights. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have procedures to help rights owners handle infringements. It’s important to take full advantage of these security measures to protect your brand. Many sites require an official company representative to control the page or username, but others, such as Twitter, do not. Typical guidelines include rules against spoofing others that mislead, mislead, or mislead the general public, or has the intention of doing so.

Other options may include calling your in-house or litigation attorney, but before taking any kind of action, first analyze the seriousness of the crime. Taking a tough stance against a fairly harmless offender can backfire and cause negative pressure (or, in some cases, benefit the offending party). Sometimes it is more effective to send a letter explaining the situation and asking the party at fault to fix the problem.

There are regulations and organizations to remedy the infringement when the lyrics and niceties don’t work. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) can be helpful in copyright infringement cases because many social media websites have guidelines that reflect the requirements of the DMCA. The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) is an official trade association representing the interests of the social media industry, with a code of ethics that requires members to adhere to certain guidelines, such as identity disclosure, genuine honesty in communication and media compliance. -specific rules.

Social media and social media law has not only opened up new avenues for brand marketing and communications, it has also added entirely new ways to violate those efforts. Making sure your brand and business are protected in cyberspace is not only important; it is an integral part of 21st century communications.

Business

Marketing and Marketing Communications for Small and Medium Businesses: Important Forecasts for 2017

2016 ended with Americans exhausted by emotionally harrowing politics, stories of foreign entanglements and violence at home. Companies have also struggled with modest economic growth and a turbulent stock market. As we begin 2017, everyone – consumers and organizations alike – faces uncertainty in a variety of areas.

Against this backdrop, companies have yet to develop, plan and execute strategies for profitable growth. After speaking with various colleagues and clients, and reading feedback from various experts and forecasters, here is my take on what awaits small and medium-sized B2B and B2C businesses in the coming year:

one. A significant number of marketers, both large and small, will conduct agency reviews in 2017. The current Advertiser Insights report (based on 420 marketers representing about 90 percent of the top 100 US advertisers) reveals a staggering number of planned reviews:

ยท 66% Creative Agency Review Plan;

65% plan to check search agencies;

64% plan to review media agencies;

61% plan to review digital agencies.

Why? Beyond the lack of trust in the authorities of society as a whole, trust has also been lost, rightly or wrongly, between marketers and their agencies. So if you are feeling concerned about your agency relationship, acknowledge that you are not alone.

two. There will be significant increases in the number of companies hiring “temporary workers”, that is, freelance contract workers and freelance specialists. Faced with minimum wage increases, increases in health care costs, and rising payroll taxes, companies are obviously doing everything they can to reduce their fixed labor costs. But the ability to hire top-tier talent in the short or long term is also a practice that’s gaining a lot of momentum. In fact, a recent Deloitte University Press survey showed a “significant 7 percent increase” plus a “44 percent increase” in planning to hire casual workers in the next few years.

Keep in mind that these “outsiders” bring fresh energy and ideas to any type of organization and, at the same time, can provide some savings to your bottom line.

3. Media fraud and ad blocking will increase in 2017. Much was uncovered by the National Advertisers Association’s eight-month investigation into undisclosed refunds flowing from digital media companies to agencies. However, there is an incentive for scammers to keep doing what they are doing due to the ability to bypass fraud detection systems. This widespread practice can influence agencies’ media recommendations (and bottom line), although it obviously does not serve the best interests of clients.

Perhaps most importantly, the staggering growth of ad blocking in the markets poses a huge threat to digital media. At least 419 million people around the world are blocking ads on their smartphones, almost double the number blocked on desktop computers. That’s 22 percent of the world’s 1.9 billion smartphone users (PageFair – Ad Blocking Goes Mobile).

Digital and mobile media won’t go away, but using them effectively is challenging. Find professionals you trust to make sure you get what you expected.

Four. Since customers and followers are the lifeblood of any business or nonprofit organization, organizations will need to significantly increase their efforts to better understand their real-world wants and needs. A recent McKinsey & Co. study of about 700 top executives found that: 1) only 6 percent of companies felt they understood their customers’ needs very well; and 2) seventy-two percent considered the knowledge-of-the-client budgets inadequate.

There has been an explosion in the amount of customer data available, with new software programs mining all kinds of purchase and opinion information, including social media. To be competitive, organizations will need to continue expanding their knowledge using this new information. It just doesn’t seem smart to even consider developing a specific strategy or plan without knowing your customers, so make sure you have the skills to obtain and interpret the correct information.

5. Developing and maintaining a positive customer experience will become the new king of marketing. Distrust of institutions appears to be rampant: products are withdrawn from the market, passwords are stolen, online tweets have as much credibility as government agencies. Starting with employees, make sure they have the knowledge and tools to provide better customer service, create a positive experience, and promote repeat buying and customer referrals.

Confidence is the new black. All aspects of a brand’s life must convey reliability, delivered consistently and credibly, at every point of contact.

6. The acceptance and use of direct mail by millennials will continue to explode. Yes, millennials. And yes, traditional mail. This demographic is the one most likely to open and read direct mail. In fact, 63% reported that they made a purchase based on a direct mail article that they opened in the last 3 months (Direct Marketing Information Trends Study in the US).

Perhaps their flood of spam, disrupted advertising, and meaningless content will leave you tired of staring at screens and searching for a “new” medium. After all, it’s not about technology; it’s about efficiency.

7. While internet media spending will be tied to television for the biggest spending in 2017, more marketers will acknowledge that the majority of top media spending is still accounted for by traditional media (65%). Spending on television will increase by 1 percent, away from home by 4 percent, as radio will remain unchanged and only magazines and newspapers will show decreases (by 5 and 9 percent, respectively). Additionally, the Marketing Services category will increase by 2.8 percent to $ 237 billion, led by sales promotion, telemarketing, direct mail, and event sponsorships. (Age of advertising)

It goes without saying that determining where to spend your money on marketing communications is becoming increasingly complex. The key to doing this successfully is understanding the difference between selecting the newest “efficient” tactical tool and selecting the most “effective” one. This becomes increasingly important for small businesses, which cannot afford costly mistakes.

8. Much more time and smart thinking will be spent developing marketing strategy, positioning, and planning for marketing and marketing communications. A study of “Significant Brands” conducted by Havas in 2015 reported that most people wouldn’t mind if three-quarters of all brands disappeared forever. Also, most brands haven’t updated their strategies to satisfy today’s internet shoppers. These buyers have access to a wealth of information and have a wealth of purchasing options at their fingertips. It is more vital than ever that, to survive, you must continue to keep your brand meaningful to its constituents.

Both for-profit and non-profit brands must make absolutely clear how they differ from the competition and make their value proposition completely credible at every opportunity. Once your plan is implemented, you also need to know what is working and measure everything.

Marketing Communications and Value Marketing Consultants

2017 brings a considerable number of unknowns and concerns facing your customers, prospects, and even your employees. Clearly, they are more cautious about what to believe and who to trust for the next year. All organizations are faced with these problems and the dilemma of how to run a successful business in this climate.

Many small and medium-sized organizations are partnering with established and independent senior consultants to assist them with marketing communications and marketing plans and budgets, evaluating, developing, refining and, if applicable, implementing. If this is something you might consider, look for people with extensive experience in B2B, B2C, and nonprofits across all industries and brands. Look for consultants who are media neutral and don’t sell a particular discipline. And make sure they are passionate about analyzing the results and willing to “tell it like us” so that candor can flourish.

Improving the ROI of profitable sales and marketing communications is a daunting task. Finding the right consultant to partner with can take a bit of searching, but as Yogi Berra said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Relationship

We’re "Sitting" Ourselves to death?

A new study has appeared in the American Journal of Epidemiology that concludes that free time spent sitting can shorten our lives. This study joins a multitude of other similar studies that have concluded the same thing: sitting on the couch watching television or in front of a computer for hours on end will have devastating effects on our health and longevity …

Researchers from the American Cancer Society conducted a large prospective study of American adults to examine free time sitting and physical activity in relation to mortality. The results showed that longer sitting time is related to a higher risk of mortality, especially in women. According to reports, women who sat for more than six hours a day were 37% more likely to die during the period considered than women who sat for less than 3 hours a day. As for men, those who sat for more than 6 hours a day were 18% more likely to die than those who sat for less than 3 hours a day.

Another recent study from Australia apparently reached the same conclusion and suggests that television addicts live shorter lives. The study followed 8,800 adults 25 and older for 6.5 years and found that each daily hour of television viewed as associated with an 18% increase in deaths from heart disease and an 11% increase in overall mortality.

Those who watched television four hours or more a day were 80% more likely to die from heart disease than those who watched two hours or less and 46% more likely to die from any cause. And the surprise? It didn’t matter if they were overweight.

While the benefits of physical activity have been well studied. Researchers are beginning to really look at the effects of being completely sedentary, as these studies show.

For many people, on a daily basis, they simply go from the car seat to the office seat, back to the car seat and then to the sofa and then to the bed.

Researchers are also beginning to see the difference between two types of physical activity. One is exercise: running, walking, swimming, and lifting weights. The other is a non-exercise activity, which may include moving, walking, tapping with the feet or fingers, standing instead of sitting, etc. We all know certain guys who can never “sit still.” People think that these people have magical metabolisms, but they are the ones that move and move. Lean people have a habit of burning hundreds of more calories a day while standing rather than sitting down and constantly moving their body. All this movement adds up over the days and years.

All of this can be disturbing news for those of us who sit around a lot at work. The answer is to add as much exercise as possible before and after work. For those who sit all day and don’t exercise either? Their risk of dying increased to 94% for women and 45% for men.

To counter this, there has been a recent increase in “offices without a president.” In fact, you have a podium where you stand instead of sitting in front of the computer. Schedule “walk-ins” where, as it says, you walk while conducting your meeting. While that may seem extreme, it is clear that many of us are seeing the need to change and are trying different approaches. Bottom line? We need to change the way we’ve been doing things!

What are some things you can do if you find yourself sitting many hours a day at your desk? Start by taking a brisk walk in the morning before work and after work as well, if possible. Also consider adopting these exercises to do at work:

  1. Trade in your desk chair for an exercise ball. Balancing on one of these helps your core muscles
  2. DON’T take that elevator! Using stairs whenever possible is a perfect way to add activity to your day. You could potentially go up in the morning, up and down at lunch, and down at the end of the day.
  3. Write the alphabet with your feet. Work on each letter by flexing and pointing your toes and rotating your ankles.
  4. If you have an hour for lunch, use half for walking. Consider bringing your iPod.
  5. Look online for more exercises and stretches to do while in your chair or standing at your desk.
Gaming

Five strategies that will inspire your students to learn in a virtual classroom

The shift to e-learning that occurred in 2020 may have changed higher education in profound ways, even after the crisis that caused the transition is finally resolved. Students who have never taken an online class now find that they can learn this way. However, many educators who have never taught in this environment understand that teaching online is no easier than teaching in a traditional classroom. The lack of visual and verbal cues presents an immediate learning curve for anyone starting to teach online. Furthermore, the learning management system alone cannot be relied upon as the reason that students succeed in this type of environment. However, virtual learning has already established a proven track record of meeting student needs.

One of the challenges educators must learn to address is engaging students who cannot see in the learning process. Even the most seasoned online educators can find it difficult to do so at times, especially for students who do not respond to outreach attempts. I think about this same theme every time I start a new term and I am always re-evaluating how to evolve and inspire students in new ways. As an example, the current time period was an important factor in my thought process when I set up my new classes and recorded the videos for the first week. He knew that the choice of words and tone could have a considerable impact on students during a time of intense emotions. Over time, and with practice, I have developed strategies to inspire my students that I believe will also be helpful.

What creates a virtual classroom?

Do you consider what your students feel or experience when they first log into the classroom? What is the classroom for them? Some learning management systems are fairly easy to use and some are not. The discussion forum is generally the heart of the classroom and where most of the activity takes place. There are probably many places for you to look for course materials and information. Are students frustrated because they can’t find what they need?

I asked those questions to get you to think about your students and then consider what you can do to help them better navigate through the required technology. Maybe you can post an ad or create a short guide. I create Weekly Prep Guides to help students with the next week of the course, while also sharing additional resources and my perspective on the course topics for the week. I also post a weekly course announcement with a to-do list to help students stay organized. This can also help you and your students.

Five strategies you can implement to inspire your students

If you were to detail the strategies you use now to help engage students in a virtual learning process, which would you consider to be the most inspiring? What strategies help you feel more connected to your students as you interact with them? The following five methods may encourage you to try a new approach or reevaluate how you work with your students online now. I learned these strategies from my own online teaching practice, along with time spent working on teacher development.

Strategy n. # 1: Actively Engage With Your Students

Discussions are the heart of any virtual classroom and this is where you can add incredible value and meaning for students. Consider how they approach the question (s) assigned for the week. Your students will try to read, understand and interpret the required topics. They may post a substantive response, something that explores the concepts and encourages others to engage with them, while demonstrating what they have learned.

More often, however, the initial posts are a good attempt to address the requirements, with a bit of reflection on assigned course materials and general opinion statements infused into what is written. There may be some improvement in the writing level as students move from undergraduate to graduate courses, however, I have seen the same writing patterns continue in all degree programs.

This is why your participation becomes critical to learning and how you can inspire your students to engage in discussions at a much deeper level. While your initial response may be more reactive in nature, your posts can encourage them to think more, through the use of probing questions, while also providing information and context for the topics being studied. You likely have the experience and knowledge to share with them, to give them a real-world perspective that they may not have considered, and they may also have experiences that you can encourage them to provide. When you provide substantive and engaging posts, you are setting a standard for your students to follow and validating their effort or attempt to address the assigned question. I found that validation is necessary for many to keep trying or go ahead with a follow-up post.

Strategy n. 2: direct participation required

There are many words that are used to describe an online educator. The essence of the work you do in a classroom is that of an educator. When you interact with your students, you could consider yourself a teacher as you address specific topics, along with improving academic skills. The word facilitator is also used to denote participation in processes and procedures. I believe that the words that involve educating and teaching students are the most appropriate as both are indicators of the active participation of anyone who is involved in this role. Not only am I involved in helping educate and teach students, I am also a coach and mentor.

Regardless of the words used to define yourself, direct participation in a virtual classroom is required. In my experience, you cannot register two or three times a week, answer questions, complete the minimally required feedback, post the minimally required discussion responses, and hope that this will inspire your students to become very involved in the learning process. If they observe that you are minimally involved in the class, what do they perceive to be your attitude and how are they likely to respond in return? As an example, my goal is to post a response for each student at least once for each discussion. I want to make sure that I have helped each student to continue their original post in some way.

Strategy n. # 3: create comments that connect with your students

There are two forms of feedback. The first type of feedback meets the basic requirement of telling students how points were earned. This may include some comments and / or a rubric that is returned when the gradebook is updated. Students get minimal value from this type of feedback as it does not teach them or address their developmental needs.

The feedback I recommend is deeper. For a written assignment, the first step I take is to download a copy of the student’s work. I then use my comments as a teaching opportunity by inserting comments that include my knowledge, suggestions, and questions. Then when I return the document, I will also include a rubric to support the comments provided in the document. For discussions, I make sure to avoid canned comments and try to personalize them. As an example, I will provide video comments to connect with students directly. I want you to feel like you are having a conversation with them, even if it is a one-way conversation, since they can see and hear me. This also encourages them to contact me after reviewing it for further discussion.

Strategy n. 4: create a person in the virtual classroom

As an online educator, you want to create some kind of persona or develop an online identity in which you have a visible personality. If you can upload a photo of yourself to your profile, a professional photo will be of great help so that your students see you as a real person. Next, consider how you want to be portrayed or perceived by students in the classroom.

While you want to remain professional and academic in nature, can you afford to share something of a personal nature? For example, in my introduction I will share something about my favorite hobbies, TV shows, and movies, along with my professional accomplishments and accomplishments. I find this helps me connect with students and creates a positive image online.

Strategy n. # 5: use words to represent it carefully and carefully

Any educator who “works” or “teaches” in a virtual environment quickly learns the challenge of communicating in this type of classroom. You are using written words instead of verbal communication, and those words can be easily misinterpreted as you are not there to explain what was meant, in case students do not understand your message. Also, they are likely to be online and working at different times than you, given the accessible nature of most learning management systems.

This means that you have to think about every message posted and email or message sent. If you feel any emotional reaction to what you are writing, test what I am doing and create what you want to communicate first in a Word document. Then, if you need time to think more about the message, put it aside and allow a short period of time to focus and feel good about sending it. If you are not sure how to respond, the best solution might be to ask the student to call you. The more careful you are when sending your communication, the more you will continue to develop productive relationships with your students, and in turn, this will inspire them to stay involved in class.

Virtual learning should never feel distant

When students are first assigned to your class, and they have never been assigned to one of your classes before, they know nothing about you. The way they get to know you is through perceptual cues, which include posts and messages they read. An inherent challenge that makes meeting an instructor even more difficult is the separating factor. At the beginning of a class, students may feel separated, until there are signs that their instructor will be easily accessible and available to them. Using welcome videos at my school is a very helpful strategy to bridge the virtual gap at the beginning of a class. I also set Office Hours and provide a direct contact phone number for students to call. For classes that involve complex course projects, I share an appointment scheduling link, making it easy to find a convenient time for your schedule to make an individual appointment.

Regardless of which approach you use, every instructional strategy you implement must be done with the purpose of closing the virtual gap. I found that students who feel connected to their instructor, due to the instructor’s responsiveness, meaningful comments, engaging discussion posts, thoughtful communication, and ease of access, are the ones who will be most involved in the process of learning. When they feel challenged by the class, they will be more likely to reach out and ask questions because of the report developed. A bond is created and a feeling that the instructor cares about their continued development. If you haven’t taught in this environment before, I can tell you this: You must earn your students’ commitment in a different way. When you achieve this goal, it becomes extremely rewarding and personally satisfying to affirm: You are an online educator.

Health Fitness

Weight loss and CLA side effects

Does Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Have Negative Side Effects? Does it work for weight loss? CLA has been sold for many years as a fat loss supplement based on the weight loss and changes in body composition (i.e., losing fat and gaining muscle) seen in studies with mice and rats. Does it work in humans? More recent research in humans has shown that it can be used to increase fat loss. In this article we will look at some of the benefits of CLA, as well as some of the possible side effects. In addition to weight loss studies, countless studies have been (and currently exist) looking at the effects of this fatty acid in reducing inflammation, fighting cancer, and treating other conditions.

Since 2007, there has been an increase in the use of CLA as a fat burner. This is due to the publication of a meta-analysis (basically a review of several scientific studies) published in the May 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which concluded that 3.2 g / d of CLA can induce weight loss moderate in humans. CLA is an attractive weight loss supplement and many people use conjugated linoleic acid as part of a fat loss supplement stack (i.e. a group of compounds and herbs taken together to maximize effects) because Unlike many other weight loss supplements, it is not a stimulant and you do not suffer the unpleasant side effects of nervousness, increased heart rate, or worse, increased blood pressure. This is especially since there aren’t many effective non-stimulant fat burning options on the market.

Let’s now look at two more studies involving people taking supplemental CLA. The first study was published again in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers found that when people supplemented with 3.2 g / d of CLA (this is generally the recommended dose for weight loss) they burned more fat, and more specifically, they burned more fat when they slept!

This is true.

Not only did the CLA subjects burn more fat when they slept, the fat they burned was NOT fat they had recently eaten; in reality, what they burned was stored body fat. This study is further improved when researchers reported that people who took CLA had decreased protein losses in their urine. In other words, the CLA group had improved protein retention when they slept. These are really interesting finds. If I owned a supplement company that sold large doses of CLA, my new title would be “CLA – Scientifically proven to burn more body fat and build muscle while you sleep.”

So CLA may work for weight loss, but are there any side effects? Again in 2007, another study was published looking at the effects of CLA on weight loss, this time in obese people. In this study, participants received CLA doses of 0, 3.2, or 6.4 grams / day. At the end of the study, the group that received 6.4 g / d of CLA experienced a significant increase in a compound called C-reactive protein, or CRP for short. C-reactive protein is a protein that is released from the liver. It is commonly used in the medical field as a general marker of the level of inflammation in your body; a higher CRP means more inflammation.

While there was an increase in CRP, it was not really clinically significant as CRP levels remained below what is considered normal (normal CRP levels are 3 mg / dL). It is also important to realize that the people in the study who had increased CRP as a result of taking a CLA supplement were taking twice the ‘recommended’ dose for weight loss and also that obese people typically have higher levels of PCR (this could have also come into play here). The group that only took 3.2 grams per day had no increase in their CRP levels.

Based on the findings from the studies I mentioned above and the review of the article’s studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it appears that 3.2 g / d of CLA can be taken safely to enhance weight loss.

The next question you should ask is …

What do you do with these findings? Not much at the moment … CLA is a good supplement to a fat loss program, but “supplement” is the keyword. CLA is perfect for building up nutrients, as combining these effects with a supplement such as green tea extract (which has also been shown to increase weight loss), increased physical activity without exercise, and multiple meals at the same time. throughout the day will surely increase your fat loss. If you’re not getting your nutrition right, training with weights 3 times a week and doing 3 interval sessions a week, don’t waste time with CLA and focus on the things that matter most.