The growing popularity of chatbots goes without question. We are all familiar with a rule-based chatbot that is quite easy to distinguish from a human being. It demands exact command input to respond, so this form of communication isn’t that new.

However, AI-powered chatbots make a different story. In addition to the information-providing bots, like Echo by Amazon or Apple’s Siri, that has almost no influence on marketing and sales, online stores get their loyal assistants represented by branded chatbots.

These chatbots are taking a firm position in modern marketing. In 2016, a lot of retailers started using chatbots to foster brand awareness and personalize customer experience.

It was the right decision for both sides. Modern clients are less responsive to old marketing techniques; they appreciate advanced approaches to communication.

Why chatbots?

A chatbot is a form of software that’s able to hold a conversation in audio or text format. This is a robot copying human behavior. Due to artificial intelligence, chatbots can imitate real communication with a human being.

Machine learning presupposes that chatbots can study and enrich their knowledge. The more they communicate, the smarter they become. However, it will still depend on who they talk to, as the case with Tay Twitter bot by Microsoft.

Nevertheless, social networks and media, like Facebook and CNN, are still interested in chatbots.

After Mark Zuckerberg had presented the first Facebook-Messenger-based chatbot, brands were very fast to adopt the technology. For instance, 1-800 Flowers gave its customers an opportunity to write a name of a friend in its app to order a bouquet for this person.

Chatbots are easy to set and this feature makes them a perfect tool for e-tailers. The similar personalized approach to promotion is applied to one more popular trend called influence marketing.

What is influence marketing?

Influence marketing is a type of marketing aimed at delivering a brand message via industry leaders. Instead of communicating with your customers directly, you hire an influencer. Thus, the target of such companies is not a whole market but a group of influencers.

The main idea of influence marketing is establishing mutually beneficial relations. Such cooperation brings better reach both for the brand and influencer.

Influence marketing is widely spread on Youtube. There are a lot of popular bloggers working with well-known brands to promote their products.

See Also: How Online Blogging Is Influencing Business Trends

Tarte, for example, organized Trip with Tarte campaign for beauty-bloggers with 1 million+ followers covering all their expenses. The only condition was to shot a video about the trip and share it with the #tripwithtarte hashtag. As a result, millions of internet users learned of the brand. Quite a wide reach, isn’t it?

Takumi made a research showing that brands are interested in working with influencers than with celebrities. But, according to another survey, if an influencer’s post isn’t original enough, it won’t have a strong impact on women.

See Also: 5 Instagram Tools That Can Boost Brand Performance

What will you get by combining these two trends?

The answer is simple- you’ll become a marketing wizard.

At the end of last year, two companies combined efforts to create the first influence chatbot for the American brand Cover Girl. Marketing platform (The Amplify) and chatbot developer (Automat) turned Kalani Hilliker, a Dance Moms’ celebrity and an influencer, into a chatbot. Based on Kik messenger, the chatbot mimics the star’s personality to promote Cover Girl coupons.

What kind of marketing magic happens there?

Engaging

You have only 7 seconds to make the first impression. It concerns not only real-life meetings but also online behavior. People spend on site 10-20 seconds on average so the faster you start reacting, the more chances you get to interest your potential client.

Cost effective

How much time do you spend daily to answer identical questions of your customers? Sooner or later, you’ll get tired of writing the same responses so you hire a person to do this for you or you buy additional equipment for that. Chatbot can do it all for free.

Customized

Imagine an influencer talking to you like a friend who knows all your tastes and needs. Sounds like a dream, but now it’s a reality. Speaking about Kalani’s case, the bot managed to generate 14% higher conversion rate than an average Kalani’s post in social networks with striking 91% of positive feedbacks from its users.

Can I create my personal chatbot?

The easiest way out is to hire somebody to do the job for you. But first, you need to know that AI development is rather expensive. Why so?

The technology is comparatively new and there are not many top-level specialists. Lack of skilled programmers can boost the price of the process. Even hiring a junior AI developer will cost you more than $1000/mo, let alone seniors who will demand at least $8,000/mo. Some forums even suggest addressing development institutes to find a future employee there.

But, do you need to hire a programmer to build a chatbot for your marketing campaign? The answer is no. You can find a lot of various tools for building your own chatbot. Even having no skills in coding won’t stop you from getting one. Platforms like Chatfuel don’t require any programming experience and allow you to create an AI chatbot for Facebook or Telegram.

By combining chatbots and influence marketing, you will discover a wide range of opportunities. You don’t necessarily have to be a developer. The only limit is your imagination, so don’t be afraid of mixing new strategies to become more efficient.

The post How To Boost Your Business with Influence Marketing Chatbots appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2w08UDn

You’ve probably heard it said a million times before: Advancing your career is as much about who you know as it is what you know.

And this is why being an active networker and building business relationships are crucial to long-term success.

Contrary to popular misconception, networking is not about handing out scores of business cards. It is about making a real connection with the people you meet so that they remember you and are motivated to stay in touch with you after the event is over. In order to do this, you must make a lasting impression.

Of course, you are not going to be able to be instant best friends with all the professionals you meet when networking. Despite this, you still need to move beyond the basics of networking and make certain that you get remembered as more than a person who handed out a business card at an event.

At the next event you attend, you can try the following tips to make connections that will pay off:

Be Yourself

You need to relax and be yourself. You are obviously likable, interesting and have a lot to say given the opportunity – just ask your friends. Therefore, instead of getting into a conversation in which you are struggling to find the right words or worrying that you will not be interesting enough, pretend that you are having a conversation with your friends over dinner and be yourself.

It will possibly sound silly, but a great way to feel comfortable being yourself is to always wear clothes that make you feel great. Wearing something you like will help you remain relaxed and comfortable. If you wear something just because social convention dictates that you do so, this could lead to you coming out as buttoned up.

Be Open

Do not be afraid to open up to the people that you have met for only a little bit. Many people tend to put on strictly business faces when they are in a networking environment. Even though it is vital to remain professional, sharing some personal information about yourself is always a great way to start making deeper, lasting connections.

This in itself automatically makes you more memorable and relatable. It opens the door for future interesting conversations.

You need to understand that the moment you reveal something personal about yourself, you have given the other individual consent to do the same. Taking this risk to be vulnerable will draw more people to you as you will seem real.

Be Inquisitive

Even though you want to share personal information about yourself, do not make the conversation all about you. People like talking about themselves and their lives. Therefore, if you happen to be shy, you will need to ask questions that can get other people to open up.

You have to go beyond the basics of “How do you find it working at your current company?” and “What motivated you to get into that field or that career?”.

Even though these are great conversation starters, they will not make you very memorable. Instead, ask questions that can disarm your fellow conversationalists a bit.

A creative way to accomplish this is to be specific in your conversation- even if it means that you have to be random so as to do it. An alternative will be to ask for advice from the people that you are conversing with at the networking events.

You will find that people tend to relax and share more information when you position your networking conversation go-to’s like, “How did you get into the advertising field?”. Such a question solicits the personal advice of the person you are conversing with. He or she will end up providing you with tips that can help you be more successful in your field.

Be Generous

Lastly, a good way to make a connection that will last is to assist where you can. If you can offer some expertise, a piece of advice or make an introduction to a contact, people will always be thrilled. Such individuals will be more likely to stay in touch with you as they know that you can be a great resource.

If there is a way that you can help out, regardless of how small or big it is, do it. Build up your networking karma by being generous and it will return to help you.

See Also: Guide For The Millennial (And Everyone) Who Plans To Be Big

It is true that networking is about getting your face, name and business card out into the world but, in the end, what is important is making real connections. Therefore, you need to relax, be yourself and think about engaging with the people you meet. Do these things instead of focusing what you will say the next time they ask a question and you won’t have a hard time building business relationships.

The post 4 Tricks to Building Business Relationships That Last appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2wABltQ

Feeling anchored down by debt is defeating. You’ll have a hard time setting aside money into savings, purchasing your dream home or embarking on enthralling vacations. Instead of spending decades weighed down by debt, start working toward financial freedom now.

Assess the Situation

To begin, you must know where you are. Personal finances are like a bucket with holes: the money you earn is poured into the bucket and what you spend trickles out the bottom.

While most people know what they make, they are a bit hazier on where that money is going. They often don’t have much wiggle room on how much money is coming in, so the only thing that can be influenced is the flow of money out of that bucket.

Determining what you spend on is key to plugging up the holes. This will give you the freedom to spend that money on what’s more important to you. Little purchases add up very quickly and by assessing your situation, you’ll be able to identify where most of your money is going.

The realization you can get out of this could be both very surprising and enlightening. Many financial institutions can make tracking your spending habits easier through their online banking system. You’ll be able to categorize and filter by type of expenditure.

Create a Budget

Once you know where your money is going, it’s time to analyze. Many people feel that creating a budget is a scary, insurmountable or difficult task. Some of them don’t even know how to make one.

Budgeting is merely creating a plan for how you’d like to spend your money in the future. It’s simply a process of deciding if what you spend is reasonable or superfluous. If there is an area you feel you might be overspending, you can cut back and allocate your financial resources to a different area. Maybe instead of spending so much on entertainment, you’d like to save for a trip.

There are many websites and apps designed to make budgeting easier. Most of these sites and apps are free. Budgets are highly personal and customizable, so make sure to create one that’s workable and sustainable for you and your circumstances. If it’s not, you won’t be able to stick to it and your budget will be pointless.

See Also: 5 Powerful Hacks To Help You Simplify Your Budget

Reassess

After about a month, reassess your spending to see if you are within your budget. Make adjustments to ensure your spending is not keeping you from your financial goals and that your budget is not unnecessarily restricting.

Financial discipline can be challenging, but it should be viewed as a tool to help you ultimately reach your financial goals. Skipping the step of reassessment will result in your budget’s failure. You can end up returning to your previous spending habits and neglecting your finances. You need to keep yourself accountable, but this doesn’t need to be negative.

Many people feel shame or guilt for not being able to stick to their budget, but it doesn’t need to be that way. If there’s a consistently large discrepancy between your spending and your budget, make some adjustments. Personalization is essential for a budget to work.

For example, if you realize that your spending estimate in a certain category, like food or fun, wasn’t very realistic, you can adjust your budget, spending or both. This adjustment is critical to your financial success.

Changing how you spend can be a difficult habit to break and changes usually occur slowly, so don’t get frustrated if it’s taking a while. Continue to reassess every month or two to ensure progress.

Meet with a Professional

Trying to handle a mountain of debt alone might leave you feeling more frustrated than when you began. Many financial institutions offer professional financial counseling with little or no cost to you. They can assist you in creating and sticking to a budget as well as in identifying a course of action that will be helpful for your financial future, such as how to repair or build your credit score. They can also assist you in finding other options you might not be aware of, like refinancing a loan to get a lower interest rate or payment.

Speaking with a professional can help you to gain a heightened understanding of what your specific struggles are and how to overcome them. An outside perspective, especially one from a financial consultant, can help you develop the right approach.

Address Credit Card Usage

While credit cards are not inherently bad, they are also not right for everyone. Some people have difficulty controlling spending with credit cards since a card is so easy to swipe. They can get into the habit of mindless swiping until the card is declined.

Fixing this requires a shift in mindset. You need to restrict yourself to make purchases only if there is sufficient cash available in your bank account to afford the expenditure. Knowing yourself is crucial in developing financial health and if credit cards are too much of a temptation to overspend, then perhaps they are not for you. It might be best to stick to debit cards or cash.

The best way to use credit cards is to pay them off by the due date every month, which prevents a rollover balance the next month. This will avoid interest and late charges. By paying them off monthly, you can basically use the card for free. Automating your payment can make it effortless and ensure you don’t pay extra.

If you still have debt you’re working to pay off, experts recommend paying off the card with the highest balance first. Also worth considering is checking to see if you qualify for a lower interest rate or if you can transfer your balance from a higher interest card to a lower interest card.

However, beware of extra fees that could be charged by doing this and make sure you are aware of all the terms. Keep in mind how your credit score will be affected if you decide to apply for interest rate changes. Ask a professional consultant specific questions about what would be best for you in your current circumstances.

See Also: 4 Ways to Start Building Great Credit

In Summary

Managing finances doesn’t have to be overwhelming or intimidating. Support is available whether through speaking with an expert or utilizing websites and apps. Living within your means and sticking to a budget can allow you to keep your “bucket” full. Much like physical healthy living, financial health and independence require effort, but it pays off and can enable you to live more freely.

The post 5 Easy Steps to Gain Financial Freedom appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2wu47gE

Celebrity endorsements are nothing new. Even as far back as the 1700s, the Royal Family was singing the praises of Josiah Wedgwood’s pottery. To this day, Wedgwood is still a household name.

Building a brand takes a lot of work and until very recently, the best way a brand could build a customer base was by paying a celebrity to endorse a product. This created a shortcut to word-of-mouth advertising as a celebrity served as a stand-in for all the small person-to-person recommendations that would ordinarily be used to build buzz around a brand.

There was a time when people trusted celebrities, but that time has passed. Now people rely on regular people to give them recommendations about goods and services. This has led to a rise in a brand-new phenomenon: the social media influencer.

Social media influencers have a few common traits

• The social media influencer is a person who was not famous initially but may become famous.
• It is a person who built a social media following around a particular topic over time.
• Influencers are typically seen as more authentic and trustworthy than celebrities.
• Influencers are more likely to interact with their audience than celebrities.

Whereas celebrities are handed down from Hollywood and we don’t generally get much choice about which ones become or stay famous, social media has given rise to a new democratic way to decide who gets to become famous. Influencers aren’t made famous by being discovered by Hollywood – they become famous by being genuine and building up a following over time.

This, of course, means that you can set out to become an influencer as a job. That’s right. The next time your mom tells you that you are spending too much time on your phone, you can tell her that you are working on your next career as a social media influencer.

See Also: The Millennials’ Mania Over Social Media

Here’s how to get started

Decide what you are passionate and knowledgeable about and start building your following online within that community. If the community does not yet exist, all the better- that means you get to guide it!

Stay authentic and always interact with others when possible.

Once you have built a significant following on a topic, look for brands in that space that may be open to influencer marketing. Pitch them an idea on how you would market their product on social media.

Of course, it’s not a traditional career path and it is constantly changing. This means you will need to be able to change directions whenever you discover something isn’t working.

When social media influencers first came on the scene a little over a decade ago there were basically no rules. That meant that you could take a payment to say something nice about a brand or a company and never have to disclose it. These days, there are rules in place that prevent that from happening.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to make sure that viewers know when they are seeing an advertisement. This is why when you are scrolling through twitter, you will often see #ad or #sponsored. Influencers must make it clear when they are in a contract with a company or with a brand so that there is no confusion about the fact money has changed hands.

Following the rules is only one part of the equation, though. You also have to remain authentic and believable in order for your services to be viable as a form of advertising. One of the major changes that has taken place over the evolution of social media influencers is that advertisers are no longer moved to write a check based on your follower count – they are looking for actual quantifiable results. That means you will have to be able to turn your Instagram #ad posts into an actual pipeline for sales.

See Also: Five Easy Ways To Make Money From Social Media

As you embark on your new career as a social media influencer, remember to be authentic and to always follow the rules. Nearly three quarters of teens think that YouTubers are more relatable than celebrities, and 88% of people trust online recommendations as much as in person ones. There’s a lot of room for the role of the social media influencer to grow. How will you take advantage of the evolution of the social media influencer ?

The post How To Become A Social Media Influencer appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2vk4wgv

Did you ever lose something that changed you completely? Something that obliterated your expectations, squashed your goals or undermined your existence? Did you ever run out of everything meaningful until you found yourself staring blankly into a void?

This common yet unsettling experience is a disguised blessing that only a few people recognize as such. Why a blessing?

Because it’s only when a slate is wiped clean that you can write on it. It’s only after a bully comes over and shakes your Etch-a-sketch that you start considering what to create next (sorry, 90s kid).

Life is complex, especially in today’s world where we can browse options to the point of paralysis. It’s no wonder that a lot of people find themselves in need of renewal or a serious self-assessment. But, that’s not a moment of failure. It’s a jumping off point for overcoming challenges.

Philosopher Albert Camus uses the Myth of Sisyphus as a metaphor for the human condition. You know Sisyphus, the guy in Greek mythology who was condemned to push a rock up a hill for eternity only to have it roll back down again? Yeah, he’s the one.

Camus refers to Sisyphus as the epitome of an “absurd hero” or a person who experiences, hopes and tries in spite of his undeniable mortality.

A lot of people might think of this “hero” as more of a loser, slaving and living a foolish life in vain. But, that’s a misunderstanding, because a hero has the opportunity to first change himself and then the world. He doesn’t have to be useless or hopeless. Rather, he can grow, learn and thrive against all odds and that makes victory even sweeter.

Sisyphus has a powerful weapon in his arsenal: radical acceptance. The hero understands that he is but a speck in existence with no special significance. He accepts it without a hint of denial and, most importantly, he doesn’t give up after becoming aware of this. He doesn’t give himself away to a “default” life. Simply, he makes the choice to keep himself and all the burdens that come with him.

“The one truly serious philosophical problem is suicide.” – Camus

Sounds morbid? It really isn’t. What it means is that when we’re faced with life-altering events, questions and even despair, that’s when we actually choose life. We suddenly realize what kind of life we want and why. Prior to that, we’re just existing.

So, you might think, “What do all these metaphors really have to do with me?”.

They can serve as a guide in overcoming challenges, handling transitions and going through hardships.

Calling this crazy, rock-pushing fellow Sisyphus a hero shatters every common notion we have about what a hero is. He’s not glamorous, flawless or doing anything remarkable at first glance. He’s not even saving people. So, then why is he (aka. YOU) a hero?

Camus calls him the “Absurd Hero” because of his persistence in the face of absolute struggle. He feels and he doubts, but he continues in spite of the oblivion staring him in the face each day. This concept of a hero is much more realistic than Superman or the Green Lantern.

People aren’t exactly eager to become the Absurd Hero. It’s challenging.

So, when does a plain old person become an “Absurd hero?”.

It could be after a divorce, confusing college years or a long-term job loss. While all are generally unpleasant experiences, all of them have one thing in common- they force you to reassess yourself, your goals and your plan of action. They force you to face major life questions that most people don’t think about often.

It feels something like plunging into a dunk tank after some lucky pitcher finally hits the target. It’s not the asshole target-hitter that you should be focusing on. It’s the plunge.

When everything at the core of you is in question, you find an answer.

I’m talking about moments of total lucidity. That’s when Sisyphus (aka you) is at the top of the hill, pitifully watching his big dumb boulder roll all the way back to the bottom. Feeling helpless and depressed is often unavoidable but contrary to what society tells us, there’s no need to be ashamed of negative feelings. They are catalysts that keep us alive and choosing.

You thought your big dumb boulder (marriage, business, friendship, whatever) meant something. Well, it doesn’t anymore or maybe it never did. Now, you’re dumbfounded.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

No one ever wants to face things like uncertainty, being miserable, or starting over. Yet, these are the exact things that will lead you to clarity because they’ll force you to find it.

Some of us can remember these moments right down to the date they happened while for others, everything just belongs to a blurry time frame. For some, these kinds of moments never happened yet or maybe they never will.

It can be confusing, excruciating, or simply unpleasant. You could spend a moment in it or maybe a few years. Regardless, it ends in choice. Once becoming conscious of a dilemma, some choice is inevitable, even if you choose inaction.

In other words, you have to choose your own rock—your boulder that you’d be willing to push up that giant, eternal hill. This might sound torturous, but it won’t be. Once you’ve found the right thing to push for, you’ll always be fueled.

“The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart.” – Camus

So, how do you find a reason to live when all of the obvious ones were exhausted, didn’t work out or weren’t fulfilling?

Get back to the basics.

Think of the things that you never tire of. The things that always provide you with inspiration and the things you could see yourself helping others with on a broad scale.

There’s your rock. Now start pushing.

See Also: 5 Key Insights For a Happy Life from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations

The post The Absurd Hero: An Inspiration In Overcoming Challenges appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2vJ43YB

Can your house make you sick?

Being sick can derail our life for a short period and depending on what you do for a living, it can really have an impact on your livelihood. It is something we all want to avoid, yet there are many things in our environment that put us at the risk of falling ill.

And some of those things are in our own homes. From dirty door knobs to silverware, a lot of the things we have at home have the potential to become breeding grounds for bacteria.

Here are some of the nastiest items.

Bad Vacuum Cleaner

Problem: If you don’t clean your vacuum filters regularly, you risk microbes and bacteria making their way into your vacuum system. This can put you at risk of allergies and other breathing problems.

Solution: Be sure to clean the filter out often and open the windows when you vacuum.  Consider wearing a mask when you clean. Also think about purchasing a HEPA filter, which gets rid of 99% of the particles in the air.

Heating and Cooling Systems

Problem: If the temperature in your house is not regulated, then your body temperature has to constantly adjust to the hot or cold. This could disrupt the blood supply going to your heart.

The heating system could also affect the natural oil gland in your eyes, which will dry them out. Constant coughing at night is a sign that your lungs are not getting enough moisture.

Solution: If you install a humidifier, this will counteract any irritations you may be having. Also, make sure all your rooms are set to the same temperature.

Bedding Sheets

Problem: Sheets are a prime spot for dust mites. These make it easy for you to catch a cold, worsen allergies or even hay fever. Dust mites tend to accumulate when your bedroom environment is enclosed, such as when your windows are constantly shut.

Solution: You should air out your room daily and wash your sheets regularly. Regular vacuuming of your room is also a must.

Cleaning Products

Problem: Most cleaning products are packed with chemicals that can irritate our skin, damage different parts of our body, and depress the central nervous system. The scary thing is that only a small percentage of companies make the toxicity information of their products available.

Solution: For the cleaners that you have in your home, be sure to use gloves when you are using them. When cleaning, make sure to open the windows for proper ventilation. You can also dilute the products with water to make them less toxic and nasty.

If you are the DIY type of person, look up homemade cleanser recipes on the Internet.

See Also: The Six Best All-Natural Cleaners for Your House

Hidden Mold

Problem: It is easier than ever for mold to build up, especially on surfaces such as drywall, wood and wallpaper because homes are now sealed up to be energy efficient. Any excess moisture can cause mold to form and grow.

Mold buildup can cause reactions in 1 in every 3 people, as well as aggravate asthma in people who already have the condition. However, not all molds are bad. In fact, only 50 out of 100,000 mold species are toxic.

Solution: If there are visible signs of mold, such as discoloration, peeling or water intrusion, you should have your home professionally cleaned. A faint musty smell is another indicator that you should call in an expert.

Refrigerator shelves and drawers

Problem: There are some sneaky things in your fridge that don’t always get cleaned. For instance, if you have a spill in your fridge, that can become moldy and infect your fresh food.

The fruit and vegetable drawers are easy to ignore. They can be harboring bad microorganisms without you even knowing. In your freezer, there is also a metal coil that melts every few hours with the liquid dripping into a little pan. There is dust in that pan and when its water evaporates, the dust gets carried with it and that can cause you to have a cough.

Solution: Be sure to give your refrigerator some TLC by cleaning your shelves and vegetable drawers with warm water and baking soda. Also, be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables before placing them in the refrigerator.

Your Bath Mat

Problem: They can contain mold, dust mites and bacteria. All of which can lead to exasperating allergies and common colds.

Solution: You need to clean your bath mat a couple times a month. Consider drying it off with a towel in the tub/shower so that you aren’t stepping on the mat extremely wet.

Your Blender

Problem: The gadgets at the bottom of your blender can collect spillage and leftover liquids over time. Microorganisms can collect there, causing E.coli and Salmonella to form.

Solution: You should take apart your blender with clean hands and rinse or wash it before you put it away. This should be done after each use.

Pet Fur

Problem: The dander that they leave behind can potentially make you sick. It can cause you to sneeze and sniffle and it can affect people with allergies.

Solution: The best way to prevent flare ups of allergies is to keep pets off of furniture, fabrics and carpets as much as you can. Dust your home and clean it often to prevent dander from piling up.

You can also look up the best dogs for pet owners with allergies.

Shower Head

Problem: Shower heads contain bacteria called mycobacterium avium. If swallowed, they can cause lung infections and pulmonary diseases.

Solution: Clean your shower head regularly and think about replacing it every so often.

The post 10 Things At Home That Are Making You Unwittingly Sick appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2uLsypr

Whenever you have to leave for a trip or a vacation, you don’t want to be worrying about your home. To make sure nothing bad happens, below are 14 ways you can protect your home while you’re away.

Put your kitchen in order

Before leaving, it’s a good idea to clean out the refrigerator. If anything is due to expire while you are gone, throw it out. Remember to empty trash cans, too.

Put dry goods such as cereals, pasta, nuts and other foods in containers that are airtight, if possible. Wash, dry, and put away all dishes.

Clean your house

Put away stray items and vacuum. Toss any fresh flowers or other things that will spoil. Also, change the bedding as well as your linens. When you return home, you’ll find these little things amazingly comforting.

3. Do your laundry

It is not a good idea to come back to piles of old laundry after your vacation. Moreover, clothes, soiled towels and sheets can get smelly and mildewed if left unattended for a long time. So, better to have it washed before leaving.

Water the plants

Give your plants a good watering to ensure that they won’t dry out while you’re gone for the weekend. If you’re going to be gone longer, get an automatic waterer or ask either your neighbor or friend to water your plants.

Spray some insecticide

This is to make sure no bugs will be creeping all over your home while you’re gone. In spraying insecticides, make sure to focus on key areas.

Check your appliances

Go through your home room by room and make sure all your appliances are turned off. Unplug the television, computers and gaming system. If they are on a surge strip, you can turn it off at the switch itself or unplug from the wall socket.

Stop newspaper delivery & arrange to have your mail picked up or held

Newspapers in your drive and mail stacking up in your mailbox are clear signs that you’re not home. Have a friend or neighbor pick up your newspapers and mail each day or have the post office hold it for you.

Put lights on a timer

Nothing tells would-be burglars that you’re not at home faster than a home that is completely dark. Light timers are available for a small fee and can turn off and on lamps for you.

Turn off the thermostat

If your home will be empty including pets, turn off your HVAC unless there’s a chance of freeze. If so, set it to 55 degrees. This will maximize energy savings.

Close the curtains and blinds

Closing blinds and curtains can also save energy and is a good way to prevent people from looking in and seeing what you’ve got inside your home.

Check faucets, fixtures and pipes

Who wants to go on vacation only to be faced with the need for water damage restoration? Be sure to inspect all faucets, pipes and fixtures to ensure that there are no leaks. You can also turn off the water supply for extra insurance. Just don’t forget it when you come back!

Close your garage door and lock it

Burglars are often able to get access to the rest of your house through your garage. Close the garage door and lock it from the inside.

See Also: 7 Common Mistakes Making Your Home Prone to Burglary

Check to make sure all doors and windows are locked

It’s estimated that 30% of all home burglaries occur because someone forgot to lock a window or a door. Be sure to check the windows and doors in each room of your home before leaving. Aso, make sure you don’t have any valuables in sight.

Neighbors or friends should have the required info they need

If they are going to look after your house while you are away, make sure they have the keys to everything, including your phone numbers (or alternative numbers) to reach you if there’s an emergency situation.

Even for small trips, make each of these steps part of your routine. You will feel much safer and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you did the necessary steps to protect your home.

The post 14 Ways To Protect Your Home When Going On A Vacation appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2w5ayG6

Blue light is everywhere. In addition to radiating from the sun, blue light also emanates from those buzzing fluorescent lights in your office, from your computer screen, cell phone and television.

No matter what time of the day it is or what you are doing these days, it seems that you are getting exposed to massive amounts of blue light. But, what’s the big deal?

Blue is a pretty color, right? Sure, but that’s not the point.

What Is Blue Light?

Blue light waves are shorter and emit higher energy levels than all other light in the visible light spectrum. A full third of all visible light is blue light, so there’s a lot of it. Most importantly, it can cause severe medical problems when you get too much exposed to it.

The list includes:

• Headaches
• Cataracts
• Macular Degeneration
• Pterygium
• Sleep Disruptions
• Eye Strain

Flickering lights can cause eye strain and glare. These things can make your eyes work harder.

Apart from that, blue light exposure tells your brain it’s daytime and this can prevent you from being able to sleep. And all that light can deteriorate the physical structures of your eyes. No big deal, right?

See Also: 5 Night Time Mistakes That Will Keep You Awake

People Are Spending Too Much Time Looking At bv Screens

Thanks to the digital revolution, people are spending more time than ever staring at screens. Sure, they simplify our lives, but didn’t humans live for thousands of years without them?

Unfortunately, in this day and age, you won’t be able to get a job without a computer and a cell phone. And if ever you do get a job, you’re very likely to spend a great deal of time staring at both in almost everything you do.

Back in 2014, the average American adult spent 7.4 hours looking at screens. Today, that figure has climbed to well over 10 hours a day. Think about it. You spend all day at work staring at a computer screen, you play games on your phone during your lunch break and then you go home and turn on Netflix. Where’s the downtime for your eyes?

Kids aren’t immune, either. Most parents report that their kids spend over two hours a day in front of a screen. Kids have their own mobile devices, so it’s even harder than it was back when our parents just had to turn off the TV and tell us to go outside.

Despite this and despite the fact that most parents are concerned about the amount of time their kids spend on electronic devices, only 29% of parents take their kids in for their annual eye exams.

Protecting Your Eyes Is Key

Preventing the damage from occurring in the first place is the key to ensuring you won’t suffer severe health problems related to blue light exposure. Over the first twelve years of this century, there was a 25% jump in the number of Americans with severe Macular Degeneration and prevention is the only decent treatment option for that crippling disease, unless you really like getting needles stuck in your eyeballs.

Wearing sunglasses every day protects your eyes from UVA and UVB rays, which is crucial for preventing cataracts. But, blue light can also contribute to many of the same maladies that UVA and UVB light can cause and your sunglasses offer you zero protection against it.

See Also: Eye Safety In The Workplace: Effective Ways To Protect Your Vision

If you wear glasses, consider investing in a blue light blocking coating for your next pair. Even if you don’t wear glasses regularly, you can also invest in computer glasses that will block the light while you stare at your computer screen all day.

Other tips for protecting your eyes from blue light:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen for 20 seconds to a distance of 20 feet.
• Don’t forget to blink! Post a note to your monitor if you need a reminder.
• Adjust the lighting of your surroundings and your computer screen to match. This will help you avoid eye strain.
• Use anti-glare screens for your computer monitor.
• Use a blue light filter setting on your phone and other digital devices whenever possible.
• Avoid screen time for two hours before bedtime.

Learn more about the perils of blue light from this infographic. Are you protecting yourself from its harmful effects?

The post Preventing Blue Light-Related Health Problems appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2weczQ8

Admit it or not, if you want to do business, you’d want to do it with other people- not companies. Putting up a strong personal branding allows you to reach out to your clients more which, in effect, can dramatically boost conversion rates and sales.

But, how exactly do you build a personal brand?

Honestly, there’s no single formula that can make you successful overnight. It will take a lot of hard work and commitment before you can make it big in this kind of business. But, to help you out, below are 10 easy yet proven ways on how to build your personal branding.

Ready?

Get a logo

If you want to build a personal brand people can easily identify, you’ll need a logo. It’ll be the visual representation of your brand so you have to pay close attention to how you’re going to make it. You can go simple or complicated, depending on your style and the people you want to connect with.

Logotypes are highly effective, despite being simple and plain at times. You can create your brand name and print it on your preferred typeface. This choice can save you time and money, especially if you don’t have enough moolah to spend on hiring a good designer.

While designing a logo used to be a costly and time-dependent process, logo makers have come a long way in recent years, and are rapidly overtaking humans as the go-to tools for creating affordable and eye-catching logos.

Be you

In creating a personal brand, it’s understandable why a lot of people work so hard to impress their target audience. After all, the more you impress them, the more they are likely to patronize your brand, right?

Well, that isn’t always the case.

You see, consumers prefer to see the real personality behind a brand. And if you come across as NOT authentic, they are likely to leave you. So, show your true personality. Use social media to bring forth an honest profile your consumers will be able to relate with.

Make friends online

When it comes to personal brands, having influencers around can be one of your greatest assets. These people can share your brand, stories and posts to their respective target audience and this can greatly extend your reach.

Apart from that, you should also be more active online. Join forums that are related to your niche and engage in online conversations that are relevant to your business. Create a personality that people trust. Take advantage of social media in making your presence felt online.

Meet friends offline

Although online influence is essential, you can’t just limit your connections within the boundaries of the Internet. Go out and actually meet people offline. Attend local events within your industry and start building friendships with everyone you meet. Expanding your circle and networking means expanding your influence.

Start a website

If you want to make a name online, there should be a place people can go to if they want to know more about you and your brand. This is where a website plays a major role, particularly the About Me page.

There are tons of tools you can use to create a decent website. You can get them for free or for a fee but make sure to get only what you’ll need. Purchasing complicated tools and not using them will only be a waste of resources.

Provide your consumers with value

Your personal brand should reflect the true you, but it shouldn’t be all about you. Instead, focus on your audience and what they really want. Create content not just to satisfy their needs but to keep them coming back for more.

Make sure to provide them with something unique so you can set yourself apart from your competitors. Research about what your readers are interested in and what products and services they are talking about more. Finding areas of unique perspective will put you one step ahead of the competition.

And don’t forget to be relevant. Be your consumers’ source of information and you’ll easily grow your authority in the industry.

Work consistently

Being consistent can take a lot of work and commitment but it’s one good way to ensure the growth of your personal brand. If you are inconsistent, you’re just likely to confuse and bore your audience to the point that they’ll look for something better.

Be focused

The initial stage of building a personal brand can be discouraging, especially if you only have a few followers. If you want to make it big, don’t focus on the number and pay more attention to your purpose.

Talk as if you are speaking to hundreds of people. Write as if the whole world is reading your content. You’ll be surprised with how this kind of dedication and focus can change your business.

See Also: Finding Out the Best Time for Posting on Social Media Sites

Learn how to say no

In your quest to establish authority, it’s likely that you’ll meet other people and businesses that’ll want to work with you. Before you actually agree, think first. Make sure those people and businesses are in line with your brand, vision, and personality.

Your work, as well as your actions, will reflect your brand so be careful in what you do and what decisions you make.

Just give it a go!

Although preparation is key, too much planning can get in the way of you actually starting. In fact, if you wait too long to get started, you may end up not starting at all.

So, don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you start. With your limited resources, start building authority, reach out to people and be consistent with your job. After all these things, success will surely follow.

In Summary

Building a personal branding isn’t that easy, particularly with so many people aspiring to create their own. If you want to be successful, you have to know exactly what you want to achieve.

Be you in creating your personal brand but remain relevant and focused on your consumers. Take advantage of technology and use tools that can make the process a lot easier. Be consistent and don’t wait too long before getting started.

 

The post 10 Proven Ways To Build Your Personal Branding in 2018 appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2i5O0PE

Imagine yourself on top of a mountain. As you look around, you see the world around you. You know that this is a particularly special moment and that this will not last forever because you’ll have to go down eventually.

Is this the kind of experience you’ll want to relive over and over again in your living room?

If yes, then you’re not alone. A lot of people bring out their cameras or phones to take home with them an experience that they’ll never forget. Some of these people even make a living out of taking pictures of special moments.

They are called photographers.

Being a photographer is a demanding job. Photographers are not always present in elite fashion shows and high-class photo shoots. Sometimes, photographers have to make their way into several fields within in the industry. With this, how exactly can they make money from photography?

We all know that there are a lot of photographers who make a lot of money in the field of fashion and stock photography. Famous fashion photographers include Annie Leibovitz, Todd Anthony Tyler and Mark Getty. These people easily make six-figure incomes or even possibly seven figures.

Now, before you even pick up your camera, know that the field of photography is highly competitive.

It’s extremely difficult for entry-level aspirants who want to make it big in the photography scene or just simply earn an earnest living. However, fashion isn’t the only field in photography. The area is amazingly broad and you can find your niche in one of those specializations.

To get started, here’s how to make money from photography.

The Basics

First off, take photos of people and events.

For example, photographers are always a must when it comes to weddings. If this is your chosen niche, remember that “people” should be your priority if you want to make a living.

Why? Because people will hire you to photograph them and not mountains or landscapes. They want photos of actual living individuals and the events they want to be a part of.

Of course, another thing to take note of is your happiness. Photography is capturing special moments on film. Making money out of something you love is a commodity for most people and that is the reason why a lot of photographers enjoy what they do.

Being more passionate about your “art” can make all the difference between moving on and giving up on your dream.

See Also: 7 Steps On How to Figure Out Your Career

Fine Tuning your Craft

Now that you’ve decided to go more realistic and practical by photographing people, you can try practicing on your portraiture. Most individuals want a photographer to capture the best images of themselves.

With more experience and practice, you’ll be soon mastering your craft which means increasing your reputation. More recognition means more projects and this can mean more income.

Continuing Professional Growth

As mentioned earlier, you have to be happy in what you’re doing to be successful. Unfortunately, sooner or later, you’ll get tired of doing it and it’s perfectly normal to feel that way.

However, those who have a genuine passion for what they’re doing will find any means necessary to keep on perfecting their art. Don’t be afraid to branch out into your chosen field.

There are lots of fields within photography. The important thing in choosing one is that it goes with your heart and happiness.

New Breed of Photographer

Although mainstream and traditional photographers frown on these “new breed” of photographers, there’s no denying that they make a lot of money. These photographers don’t come armed with professional cameras, tripods, lightings or anything like that. Instead, they come with iPhones and selfie sticks.

These people are social media photographers. A relatively new field of photography, a lot of people are engaging in this lucrative practice. These people are being paid to create images and share them with their followers.

Top companies such as Nike, Sony and other corporate giants shell out vast sums of money to encourage more people to choose their products. These companies often provide fare, allowance and time to these people just to do their jobs. They get to travel all over the world and make a buzz on the social media platform they’re in, more preferably, Instagram.

You could say that this job is easy and that they’re living the dream. However, the work that comes with this is also difficult. Gathering a lot of followers in a few months time is extremely difficult and requires superb dedication.

Takeaway

Photographers are unique individuals that get to share and experience the rarest moments in the world. They get to capture it on film and share it with everyone else to see. In a way, photographers are like painters who also rely on skill to deliver their masterpiece.

However, no matter how beautiful your masterpiece is, without any income, you won’t be able to survive. Although there are several ways for people to earn money from photography, it will only get tricky if they’re not happy with what they’re doing.

The post Pictures and Pennies: How To Make Money From Photography? appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

http://ift.tt/2vAfMsi