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How to Engage Your Audience on Social Media – 2024 Guide

Source: allpromedia

Thanks to all the new technology every business has a chance to expand and to promote its brand in different ways. We all want the public to notice us and to become recognizable. Luckily, there are a lot of tools and apps that can help us with that goal. One of the most popular, and best ways for us to get more customers is social media. If you create the right posts and the right campaign, then it will be easy for you to get the name of your brand out in the open and potentially gain new customers.

Many people think that they can get people to like their page or to follow their brand with spam posts and telling them about news and updates. That can be helpful in some cases, but more often than not it will drive the audience away and they may hide your page, or even worse block it. You definitely don’t want that to happen and you need to be really careful about what you post on the social media networks.

To help you gain followers faster, and with that promote your business better, we decided to make a guide about engaging your audience on social media. Follow these tips and tricks, be persistent and you will notice the difference in less than a month. However, you should adapt these tips based on your business and on what you want the end result to be. There is no magical equation that will work for everyone. So, be smart and do everything you can to keep your audience happy, and with that promote your business in a subtle way.

Promote the page before you promote your business

Source: radiantmarketingaz

No matter what your business is about, you can find something related that is interesting or engaging. For example, if you work in the medical field, there is a lot of interesting information that you can put on the social media that has nothing to do with your business. Yes, you read it right, you don’t need to mention your brand all the time.

Choose things that have engaging information and something that people will want to read or click on the link. The next thing that is proven to work are memes and jokes. However, be extra careful when choosing them because if the joke is not tasteful and tactful, then it may backfire. Choose memes that people can relate to, no matter what your business is.

The goal for this is not for people to just look at your business posts all the time. You want to make them comment, share or like the post. In that way more people will see your page and chances are, the more people will want to follow it.

Find the right way to show off your brand

Source: bitrebels

After you’ve gained enough followers and when you post enough interesting things for them to check your page up, now is the time to subtly promote your business. This does not mean that you should switch the posts and start talking about your brand only.

Do that in a way that you will connect what you do with what they want. For example, if you are selling hair products you should focus on engaging people about hair problems, information about what they should do about it, funny memes about bad hair days and so on. And now is the right time to mention how your products will help them.

If you are selling a detangling spray, then you can make a combination of how the hair looks when people wake up and that with your product, they can get ready in 15 minutes instead of an hour. The same goes for every other product you may be selling. A popular thing to do in the beauty industry is to create a how-to video and promote it on Instagram. Look up the different Instagram ad sizes (which you can see here), determine your video script, and start shooting. People love to see real products in action!

Spamming is something that may have worked in the past, but Kontentino.com suggests that this has become one of the biggest pet peeves people on social media have. Because of that, you need to find a way to engage the audience and subtly mention your brand without spamming.

Establish your Brand and Make a Website

Source: weddingpronews

If you want to engage your audience on social media, then you have to create unique posts and articles that will make them interested in what you offer. Creating posts is good, they are short and they are something you can share on every network. Images are a great way for you to get your word out and to make people notice your brand. According to A&E, a good way of engaging with the audience could be through influencer marketing!

Before you start doing anything, make sure you have your logo incorporated in every image and post you can. That way people will notice it and when they see it, they will recognize it. We trust the things we recognize, so if they remember your brand from the informational or funny posts you create, they are more likely to trust you when it comes to sales. If they cannot connect your brand with something they know and trust, chances are, they will just ignore the promotional posts.

The best way to combine information with your business is to create a website and a blog. No one on social media reads posts that are more than a few sentences long, but the same does not go when it comes to blogs.

If you combine something informational with the name of your brand and products, people will be more interested. For example, if you are trying to promote your brand that is about wedding decorations, you can create a blog post about the 10 mistakes people make when planning a wedding. Now, most of the text will be about those mistakes only. However, one of the sub-headlines may be about not hiring a professional wedding decorator or about spending too much money on DIY decorations that don’t look good.

Source: bigequation

Mention your products and your business in the article, but do it only once or twice. You can even add a link that will redirect them to your store where they can find exactly what they are looking for.

When you share a post like this on your social media pages, people will not see it as you promoting your business, they will only see it as tips. And when they click the link and read the article, they will learn more about your business and chances are, they will be interested in your product because it is a solution to their problems.

Engaging people on social media is an easy thing to do, just learn about the things they like and avoid things they don’t like. If you are not sure how to do that, you can make poles and ask questions once in a while. That way the public will have their word on what they are interested in and you can use those things to your advantage.

One thing you need to remember is that building a brand takes time. You cannot expect to have thousands of followers in a week, but if you choose the right target audience and the right posts, you can double your followers in a month.

What Does SEO Stand For – 2024 Guide for Beginners

Source: searchenginemagazine

These days, to successfully run a business in the modern world, you need a good website. Without good SEO, a website will not have any kind of impact. The site that you create will be the face of your brand and you will use it to spread awareness about your company. It is the best way to get popularity on the market and to get customers interested in your products.

However, as a beginner in leading a business, you probably have made a good looking website, you have added a payment processing service and your products, but it seems like no one is ever visiting it, let alone buying from it. It is time to question what you have been doing wrong and the changes you can do to start bringing in a profit.

It is actually quite simple. To properly start advertising your brand online, you will need good SEO. But, learning about SEO is not easy. You will need to do a lot of reading on it, practice, and proper implementation so it can be useful to your business. In a scenario, you don’t have the time to learn; you can always hire professionals.
A good SEO company like New York SEO company Search Schematic teaches their clients about the SEO process rather than just working behind closed doors.

To ease you into this subject and what SEO exactly stands for, we have made this short but intricate guide for 2024.

What is SEO?

Source: broonzer

First things first, you first need to understand what SEO exactly means. It means search engine optimization. What does this exactly mean? Well, it basically means that you are optimizing your content for search engines that most people online use. Google is one of the most important search engines on the Internet right now and if you want to show up on its results, you must have a good SEO rating.

This search engine optimization algorithm is constantly changing and you will need to have a good understanding of how it changes and what you will need to do to keep up with it.

How does it work?

Source: Medium

It is important to mention that there is SEO on every other search engine that people use, it is not just Google. Although they do have a bit different algorithms, they essentially work very similarly. If you are well ranked on Google, you will probably be well ranked on Bing and Yahoo! too.

So, how does all of this work? Well, we can’t know exactly how Google’s algorithm works because that is something that they keep private. There is no transparency of their coding and the AI they use, but they do share some of the changes they make from time to time.

With the use of sophisticated machine learning or what many people would call artificial intelligence, they go through the content of millions of websites and then compare it to their ranking factors. For example, how unique are the texts, the quality of the images used in the article, connection to social media such as Facebook or Instagram, the use of keywords, etc.

If you want to understand how SEO really works and the entire logic behind, you should check the podcast on Sirlinksalot.co, as they talk about various aspects of it, including what we just mentioned.

Most important factors

To properly optimize your website for search engines, you will need to understand what affects your ranking the most.

1. Security

Source: Cybera

One of the factors that has the most influence on a search engine’s results, is the site’s security. Google and other SEs are made to provide customers with reliable and safe sites. Webpages that sell information without consent or ones that are filled with malware will probably never even show up on the SE’s results. Even if you went to the last page it won’t show up.

So, what exactly is a secure site? Well, to get a secure site for your brand, you will need to pay for an SSL certificate. The Secure Sockets Layer protocol is used to create a safe link between the clients and the server (your webpage). This is something the SEO will always check, so make sure that you do have an SSL certificate. Keep in mind that this certificate for security can expire after some time, so make sure you keep track of the date since you purchased it.

2. Loading times

Source: Global Cool

Have you ever gotten on a website that takes seconds or sometimes even minutes to load? Most of the time, if it takes more than 5 seconds to load entirely, customers will immediately close it down and look at other results. Since Google is aiming to provide its customers with the best possible experience always, its algorithm pushes all of the slower webpages at the bottom of the result pages while the ones that are quick are on the top.

Fixing the loading speed can be done in two ways. It is either the hosting server that is bottlenecking or your coding. This means that you will either need to invest a bit more dollars into the server hosting services or hire a better web developer that will optimize your webpage for speed.

3. Phone-friendly

Source: Q2C.com

It is no secret that people today are constantly on their phones and it is their preferred devices when surfing the Internet, playing games, or whatever else they want to do. Most of the traffic that you will be getting on your website will be from people that are on their smartphones or tablets.

This is why it is very important that you optimize your webpage for phones too and not just computers. This means that it must resize to fit the screen of smaller devices while still looking good. Larger fonts will need to be implemented, easy access, and a bunch of other things to make your customer’s life easier.

4. Content

Source: Search Engine Watch

Once you have optimized your website for the best viewing experience possible, it is time to cater to the content that you post. This is what most people are looking for and the algorithm will be using it to rank your site too. For example, an automotive parts website would have automotive-specific content published. These things are best left to the experts like automotive seo companies.

You will have to ensure that it is grammatically correct, that you are using the right keywords and that it is relatable to your customers.

After following these four factors to optimize your website, you will certainly get a much better SEO ranking.

6 Reasons You Should Go on a Maasai Mara Safari in 2024

Most of us, being constantly stuck at home during the quarantine, have gotten the urge to once again be free to travel. After spending so much time inside, we could all use a little bit of adventure in our lives.

No need to worry though, because as soon as the quarantine is over, we will all be able to get out there and explore the world once again. If by the end of the year this whole situation clears up, then we can all expect to do more travelling and take care of that need to see the world again.

If staying at home has piqued your interest in travelling again, then why not take a trip to the equator and visit the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Here are a few reasons to visit this beautiful piece of wilderness.

1. The great wildebeest migration

Source: Civitatis

Every year, 1.3 million wildebeest cross the Mara River to get to the Maasai Mara in Kenya. This is a beautiful display of nature that happens every year. It usually occurs from July to November, so, there is still a chance to witness this magnificent event this year, in 2024.

There are many organizations that will take you along on a trip with the wildebeest to view and sort of “follow them along”. There are safaris that will let you gaze on with awe at the countless numbers of animals taking this incredible annual trip through the heart of Africa.

You can read up on this topic and anything else related to the Maasai Mara at masaimara.travel. As with most destinations, you can easily find travel guides and tours online.

2. Take a balloon trip through the reserve

Source: Timeless Africa Safaris

I you would prefer to see the beauty of nature from a bird’s eye view, then you’re in luck. Hot air balloon trips through the reserve are a very common thing in the Maasai Mara. One of the most famous balloon rides, the Governor’s Balloon Safari, is always described as shockingly beautiful. Starting at the very break of dawn, as the sun rises over the majestic plains, your trip begins from a breathtaking launch site. Once in the air, you will surely notice the sheer peaceful serenity of the world beneath you.

Many first-time fliers feel overwhelmed with the absolute beauty they witness while up in the sky. The trip lasts for a few hours, with no specific directions, instead of going in whichever direction the air takes you. If you are into photography, feel free to bring you gear with you and take some of the most incredible pictures you will ever get the chance of taking.

3. The beautiful sunsets

Source: African Safari Tours

One of the most characteristic things about the African plains is the breathtaking sunsets. A truly magnificent sight, the way the landscape is lit by the moving sun in a sight to behold. Whether up on a hill, on the ground in the middle of the grass, or from inside a campsite, the senses are a must see if you choose to visit this wonderful place.

Again, if photography is one of your hobbies, then this would be a great opportunity to taka one of the most unbelievable shots of your career.

Any sight like this is worth seeing and can end up leaving you with a lot of inspiration. It is one of the most beautiful sights on planet Earth and is sure to bring a tear to your eye with its sheer majesty.

4. See the wildlife

Source: Travel Hounds

You might have seen most of the local wildlife from this safari in a zoo. But that come nowhere close to the experience of seeing them living freely in their natural habitat.

Lions, cheetahs, giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, can all be found and observed in the preservation range of the Maasai Mara. It is important to note that due to the high level of professional preservation measures, yours and the animal’s safety is completely assured.

There are many organizations that will take you on a once in a lifetime journey to see all sorts of animals that live in the plains of Kenya.

Other than mammals, there are also over 500 species of birds that can be found in the Maasai Mara.

5. Maasai Village Visits

Photo credit – Sarah Ahearn

Perhaps one of the best things you can do is to visit the traditional villages in the area. These villages are unaffected by the modern world while the visits last approximately 1 hour.

You will have a chance to see what life’s like in these parts of the world, where technology is miles away. Also, you can get familiar with some of the traditions of the people that are kept for centuries.

6. Wind down at the Governors private camp

Source: Cheetah Revolution Safaris

After all the wonderful sights you’ve been seeing while on this vacation, there is no better place to chill out and relax then the Governor’s private camp. It is known for being one of the most comfortable places in the entire reserve. The camp, being positioned near a water source that is popular among many of the animal species that inhabit the reserve, you can expect to see a lot of animals come to enjoy a nice, refreshing drink. Nearby is a forest that houses a variety of bird species.

There are guides in the camp as well, that is there to show you where you can go to see whichever wildlife you are interested in seeing at the moment.

You can book the reserve either for yourself or for a group. The staff are known for being nice and constantly accommodating.

Spend a few wonderfully comfortable days at this top-notch park. Watch the hippos gather with their calves to drink water at the nearby beach.

Top 3 Apps to Help You Watch Over Your Children and Family

Today, it is too difficult to control your children and be maximally informed in their lives. People are staying late at their work, which means less time for everything else. When you add social networks to where all children spend a lot of time, you have the feeling that you are fighting windmills. It doesn’t have to be that way anymore, because there are applications that will help you stay informed. They are fantastic because of the large number of options that help you in this task. Of course, this applies not only to your children but also to the whole family that you can supervise and thus take care of their safety.

However, today there are really too many of them. If you haven’t researched enough about them and don’t have the time to do so, read our observations on these apps. We have selected the top 3 apps that are the most popular today, and you can find their characteristics in the rest of the text. Keep reading and find out what these applications are and why people adore them so much.

1. Spyfone

Source: Children and Family

It is impossible not to find this application in the top 3 apps, considering how enthusiastic people are about its functioning. In the first place, there is the possibility of monitoring all family phones on one account. It is an opportunity to be informed every day where the members are and what they are doing at that time. With all its possibilities, you can be sure of your children’s movements, which is the most important thing, and thus make sure that they stay in a safe place. With this application, you do not have to worry that they will wander into some illegal areas that can be very dangerous for them.

You may also like the most that it is completely free while at the same time being quite a useful spying tool. You can opt for an app that gives you a complete insight into their socializing, daily activities and movements and their contacts. In doing so, you can go back in history or extract the data of the last 24/7 as well as the map of the geographical area. You really don’t have to know much about phones, because this application is very easy to use. We must mention that this is not a hidden application and that the person will know that it is installed on his phone. This is definitely a good thing, because you will not use hidden applications that can undermine their trust when they are discovered. Spyfone even has other features and you can see those features at spyfone.com

2. No Nanny Parental Control

Source: Tom’s Guide

For this application, we can say that it can be the best for iOS. The perfect design makes it easy to use and provides an amazing user experience. Also, great features when it comes to web filters, but there are some things that most people don’t like. This refers to the lack of some options such as call/texting monitoring, but also to the higher price. Regardless of this, people really use it because it covers a lot of it. When we mention higher costs, we actually mean paying for additional functions that you can use, but believe us, it’s worth it. So, these features represent different levels that give you many advantages and better spying.

On the other hand, free levels also allow you to use the app just not for kids. This allows you to edit Family Feed, get parental advice on how to better control children online, but without paid extras you will not be able to really see what children are doing. After payment, it is enough to register and immediately enjoy the premium features that are fantastic. However, if this is too expensive a user experience for you, we would advise you to turn to some free apps like Spyfone and others.

3. Norton Family

Source: Google Play

We present you another app that can connect you with the whole family by getting their contacts and applications on your phone. So the number you can reach when it comes to members is unlimited, you also have access 24/7 to different data. Parents are thrilled with these features because the application almost meets all the requirements of a person who has high standards when it comes to child care. That is why they are very popular in parenting circles, because they provide incredible opportunities to track location, time periods and search history.

It works with most platforms, but the disadvantages are limited iOS features and a higher price if it covers one device. Until recently, this application was free, but lately it has been strictly paid. Of course, it is not a big expense because it costs only a few tens of dollars a year. However, users like it the most because it is not limited when it comes to devices and therefore not a bad investment. The interface may not look the best yet, but you will easily master all the functions. At the top you will have the pros of each child, and you will easily select and manipulate his profile through various categories of applications.

Spy apps

Source: VIATEC

Cyberbullying is a big problem and unfortunately it is getting bigger. The reason is constant technological advances and the popularity of social networks. Of course, the digital platform is above all great for upgrading communication and socialization skills. However, there are people there who do not have good intentions or bring with them bigger problems. They are dangerous to their environment and we can usually recognize them when we meet them on the street or during a live conversation. Keep in mind that even then, it would be harder for your child to notice suspicious behavior, especially when it comes to the social network. Then it is difficult for professionals to catch more serious criminals.

However, such things greatly affect children and expose them to most dangerous situations. So do not allow your child to encounter a potential malicious act. Take advantage of some serious apps that can help you set up properly as a parent. You will also be more familiar with your child’s company, and if you are a parent of a teenager, you know how closed they are and how little they actually tell you. Instead of trying hard, turn to these reliable sources and protect your family from bad influences.

Conclusion:

It is natural to want the best for your family, and you are safest when you are together. However, each member has a fulfilled life and daily obligations that make it impossible for them. That’s why you don’t have to spend hours thinking about their safety, because the applications have made sure that your family is always together. Take advantage of all their benefits and be carefree.

5 Reasons Shangri La is Worth Visiting – 2024 Travel Guide

Traveling is a popular modern-day therapy, and there are a lot of reasons why so many health experts recommend it. Numerous studies point out that those who travel have a much calmer mind, and this is especially true if you are visiting peaceful and exotic locations such as Shangri La.

Not that there’s anything wrong with wanting to be part of the busiest places such as New York or Miami, but if achieving peace is your goal, choosing your destinations can be quite a contributing factor.

In today’s article, we’re going to talk about Shangri La, which you’ve probably guessed already, and we chose this destination because we feel like not many know about it, and it’s worth visiting. If you’ve heard about it before, but you’re still not convinced, we suggest that you keep on reading until the end. Here are the top five reasons why you have to visit Shangri La in 2024.

1. Huge cultural significance

Source: Baolau

If you’re a fan of exploring different cultures and learning more about the lifestyle of those who live in Yunnan, China, you’ll have the time of your life should you ever decide to visit Shangri La. This place is located about three kilometers northwest of Yunnan, and it is surrounded by three famous rivers, Yangzi, Salouen, and the Mekong. It’s a paradise for those who want unique and exotic locations.

We strongly believe that in just a couple of days of staying here you’ll learn a lot about the culture, and since this is such an exotic location, you’ll also be served some of the most unique meals, meaning that you’ll experience the traditional cuisine as well. All of this is part of a culture that can leave anyone breathless, especially those who enjoy exploring this side a little bit more.

2. Breathtaking landscapes

As we mentioned above, there are different types of people who like to travel regularly. Some of them enjoy the busy streets and the urban culture, while others want breathtaking landscapes and quiet yet beautiful locations. Shangri La offers the latter, meaning that if you decide to visit here with the goal to rest and fill yourself up with positive energy, you’ll achieve that.

This place sees a lot of frequent visits from professional photographers and painters. If you happen to be someone who needs inspiration from untouched nature and beautiful, clear skies, this is the right destination for you. You’ll be able to take photographs or paint something based on what you see, and there’s so much to see for sure.

3. Well-organized tours

Source: Buxton

Sometimes we feel less motivated to visit a certain place because of how complicated and expensive certain tours are. Even if we end up paying a lot for them, nobody guarantees that we’ll have a great time. This is especially true with those destinations that are visited so frequently, the guides feel like they’re not doing anything special, and so the entire experience drops in quality. With places such as Shangri La, it’s an entirely different story. Tours are not so frequent compared to some other urban destinations, but they always have something very special to offer.

Besides, here you’ll find top-notch accommodation and a lot of warm people. If you are interested but you don’t know where to start, a great first step would be to check out the Shangri La Yunnan tours at cielyunnan.com.

There’s no doubt that after returning from this unique place, a lot of your friends and family members will be eager to visit, so it’s just a matter of time until this destination becomes popular.

4. Not so expensive

Source: Computer Guys

We can deny it all day long, but the truth is that money is a very important factor nowadays, and we cannot afford to blow all of our savings for a certain trip and cause a huge economic imbalance. This is why most of us choose to put affordable places on our travel list, but that doesn’t mean that we’re getting less quality.

If you want to visit the most popular and commercialized destinations that you hear about everywhere these days, there’s nothing wrong with that, but we should give a chance to the “underdogs” as well. Shangri La is somewhere in the middle between an underrated destination and something that’s going to become well-known in a short period.

It’s also a known fact that you can have the time of your life at Shangri La without spending all of your savings, so if you are looking for a place like this for your upcoming holiday period, definitely give it a try.

5. Something for every season

Source: WallHere

Now we’ve finally come to the part that makes Shangri La so special, and that’s the fact that this destination is beautiful throughout the entire years. So, no matter when you decide to visit, there are a lot of things that you can see and do during your stay.

If you want to save some money, and perhaps visit during the winter, it’s still a viable option because the landscapes are amazing during this season as well. Some of the activities will not be available, such as hiking and taking long walks by the rivers, but there will be other new things that you can do.

Visiting during summer or spring is probably the best idea because nature is in full bloom and you’ll be speechless and charmed by its beauty. We’re not sure how much of a difference in price there will be when it comes to tours in different seasons, but you’ll most likely be able to save some money and still have a wonderful time.

Conclusion

Shangri La is a place that’s very rich both culture-wise and in every other aspect, but the accent drops mainly on nature and the breathtaking landscapes. If you decide to visit, you’ll be able to learn some more about the unique lifestyles and the culture of those who live in Yunnan. If you happen to be a food-lover as well, many specialties are waiting for you to try them. Overall, it’s a wonderful destination and we wholeheartedly suggest it.

8 Fashion Trends for Summer 2024

Does the idea of “summer fashion” confuse you right now because you haven’t taken your sweatpants off in days? Due to the Coronavirus, many people are practicing social distancing and staying at home as much as possible. For many of us, these days, getting dressed is changing into daytime pyjamas from nighttime pyjamas every morning.

However, this virus isn’t going to last forever. Summer is here, and although some activities may remain limited, soon we’ll be able to enjoy the outside — even if it’s just from our balconies! And, working from home is no excuse not to embrace summer fashion trends.

To get you excited for what’s ahead (and to create a little distraction from what’s been happening in the world), we’ve compiled a list of the best upcoming summer 2024 fashions for everyone.

1. Customized T-shirts

Source: Pinterest

What’s a trend that will never go out of style and can be worn stylishly regardless of what you’re doing? The answer, of course, is the custom-printed t-shirt!

The t-shirt has been a wardrobe staple for decades, and it’s even better with a personal design or slogan. Impress your friends and colleagues with customized, screen-printed clothing from Printscanada.com — a company that offers a free online estimate, onsite graphic designers, and a vast selection of t-shirt brands and styles.

Did you design a meme and want the world to know how funny it is? Get it printed on a t-shirt! There are so many graphic design options to put on a shirt. If you have the idea, all you need is the right printing company.

Another fun idea is to order shirts for your entire team at work. By now, the idea of having to drag yourself to another Zoom or Skype meeting might be losing its novelty. However, imagine if you and your coworkers all had the same funny outfit on during the conference call? It might sound a little cheesy, but you’d be surprised at how simple gestures can boost morale in a challenging time like this. People will quickly get into the idea, and they’ll slip into work mode with a smile on their face.

2. Fancy Bermuda Shorts

Source: MEYER Hosen

You know those shorts your dad used to wear — to the knees and a little slouchy, sometimes with pleats? The ones you probably made fun of him for wearing? Well, you might want to swallow your harsh words because those shorts are back with a vengeance this season.

More commonly known as the Bermudas, they’re a little looser than your average pair of shorts, and they fall just above the knee. They pair perfectly with a t-shirt (maybe one that is custom-designed!) and a blazer.

We said “fancy” because designers such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton have made beautiful silhouettes with elegant, unique prints and patterns. They look great with a pair of high-heeled sandals or a chunky sneaker.

3. Sporty Drawstrings

Source: pickmyboutique

You’ll find drawstrings everywhere this season, from t-shirts to a pair of culottes. They’re not your conventional drawstrings — located in a hoodie or a pair of sweatpants — these drawstrings are cleverly placed all over your clothes and on all different styles.

This summer, add detail to a plain top or linen dress with a drawstring at the waist or the side of a pair of shorts.

You’ll also find them in unusual places such as the midriff or the small of your back in tops and dresses. They add a little spice to any outfit.

4. Cropped T-shirts with Drawstrings

Source: FE CLOTHING – Storenvy

OK, so the t-shirt will never go out of style and drawstrings are making an appearance this summer, so why not combine the two?

If you love cropped tops, then you’ll love this new 2024 trend. Don’t you hate it when you wear a cropped top that doesn’t fit perfectly to your body, and you can’t help but feel paranoid that you’re going to flash everyone?

A cropped top with drawstrings at the waist will alleviate any of that worry because it won’t fly up. And, not only is it practical, it’s a cute look that you can sport all summer long.

5. Pink and Orange

Source: giglio.com

This summer, show off your true colours. Orange and pink are a match made in heaven because they’re both loud, yet at the same time, feminine and soft. They look great on any skin tone and brighten up anyone’s day.

You’ll find pink and orange on everything this summer: dresses, suit jackets, ties, skirts, gym clothes, handbags, and, even on sandals. This colour combo would make anyone feel bliss. They’re naturally radiant and enhance that beautiful summer glow — even when you haven’t reached your full tan potential.

6. Butter Yellow

Source: SurfStitch

Another trendy colour this season is soft, butter yellow. Butter yellow isn’t quite a pastel or a golden variety of the sunny hue. It’s more of a middle-of-the-road shade, and it dominated the 2024 spring and summer runways.

It’s versatile and looks great dressed up or down. Look for butter yellow accessories such as sunglasses, a dramatic hair scrunchie, or watch straps.

7. Side Cutouts

Source: Shein

Side cutouts are a sneaky way to show a little skin because they’re not overly aggressive. They’re also useful on hot days because they allow air to flow through your clothing!

This season, watch out for side cutouts in bathing suits, one-piece jumpsuits, tuxedos, maxi dresses, and tops. They add the perfect amount of sexy to any summer look.

8. Satin for Men

Source: FanFreakz

Everyone should wear satin because it’s luxurious fabric and feels great. This season, however, menswear designers have taken the material and have included it in almost every type of garment.

This summer, you’ll find sleek satin shirts, harem pants, jackets, and you guessed it — Bermuda shorts. For inspiration, think of your favourite classic Hollywood star, lounging in a stunning, satin smoking jacket and a luscious pair of velvet slippers.

It’s safe to say that so far, 2024 doesn’t have a great track record for being anything other than taxing and unpredictable. Luckily, even in the most challenging times, fashion will always be around to cheer us up. It’s already summer, so start planning your wardrobe now — it’s something to look forward to!

From “Sell My House” to Profitable Houston Real Estate Investing in 2024

Source: medium.com

Do you see those signs about I buy houses or sell your house all over your neighborhood? I know I have.

How is it that those people buy all those houses? Are they sitting on tons and tons of money that they can just buy every house that they see? What do they do with all these houses they buy?

My name is Eric Wargo, and I’m going to teach you what those signs are all about and why you should have your own sign advertising the same thing.

The goal is Financial Freedom

Source: Funender.com

What is Financial Freedom? Financial Freedom is the ability to live off of the money your investments produce.

How do you get to Financial Freedom? You get to Financial Freedom by learning how to get paid on your willingness to risk and not by how many hours you can work.

If you have ever had to sell your house quickly because it was about to get foreclosed on, the idea of Financial Freedom might sound unachievable, really really is.

Even if, after a couple of years of work, you still haven’t reached Financial Freedom, that’s fine, you will be in such a better place than you were before.

It all starts with the mindset

Source: Finastra

Years ago, I lived in the Dominican Republic, and I saw poverty in a whole new light. I also spent time in Haiti, and I saw the exact same thing there. The people are incredible. I can’t speak more highly of both countries. I would consider moving back. The hard part was that I found poverty not necessarily to be a financial situation but a mentality. Not that anyone chose this but that society as a whole influences us all, and society pushed the idea that people can’t ever get ahead.

Through my time of living in developing nations, I watched people struggle just for the basic necessities of life. I would talk with them and noticed there was no real hope for a better future. The people were not disgruntled or hated life, or despairing, but that you work till you die. The goal is just to enjoy life in the here and now. To be fully alive. This is why many cultures are so relational. In my opinion, relationships trump’s productivity because productivity is not the ultimate goal.

But what does that have to do with real estate investing?

Source: The Real Estate Bakery

Honestly, everything. If your mentality says, “I can never get ahead, and I’m stuck with the cards I have been dealt”, chances are you are stuck. But if you have a living Hope inside you that says I can do things differently, I can change the way I think. I can move towards Financial Freedom, and I believe you can get there.

It’s not an easy thing to do, it is scary, contains risk, and it can be stressful, but it’s so worth it. No one that I know who climbed to the top of any mountain ever looks back and says, “I wish I wouldn’t have climbed that.”.

Real estate investing is no different. You can start out in real estate investing today. Here are some ideas on how to make this happen.

There are a few main things you can do with real estate. This isn’t everything, but these are the main ones.

1. Flip a house

Source: Forbes
  • This consists of buying a house at a really good deal.
  • Fixing up that house so somebody would want to buy it.
  • And then selling that house (and keeping the profit :).

2. Rent out a house

Source: Brazen Real Estate Agents
  • Buy a house at a really good deal.
  • Fixing up that house so somebody would want to buy it.
  • Option based on the load: Refinance it into a long-term mortgage.
  • Rent it out and enjoy the monthly profit.

Here is the breakdown:

Source: PropertyGuru Malaysia
  • Buy a house at a really good deal

In my opinion, this is the absolute hardest part. This is why you see the signs all over that say “I Buy House.” These are investors trying to get people to call and sell their house at a low price. You might say, “but even if I found a great deal, how do I pay for it?” The answer is hard money loans.

Hard money loans are super easy to come by, super easy. The interest is the highest of all loans but plans for it, and it doesn’t matter.

It works like any other loan-they pay for the house, and then you make monthly payments. You can even add in the money to fix up the house. If you Google “hard money lender” you’ll find plenty of them. There is so much money available for real estate; it’s incredible. Most hard money lenders don’t care about your credit or your job or anything else like that because as long as you’re getting a good deal. They know that if you can’t pay, they will take back the house and sell it to another investor. You can borrow $100k for a home and $40k to rehab the house from the same hard money lender.

  • Fixing up that house so somebody would want to buy it

Source: Yahoo Finance

If you go to Lowe’s or Home Depot, you can take out a credit card with them and not pay interest for 6 months or maybe not even have to pay the first payment for a certain amount of months, so use this to buy your material.

You might say, “I don’t know what in the world I would need to buy?” Not a problem, Google the term, turn-key house rehab, and you will find companies that work specifically with investors to rehab a house. They will give you a quote for absolutely all the work needed. That quote includes all costs, labor, and materials. You don’t even have to be there to monitor the progress since they have people whose job it is just to make sure their workers are doing exactly what was agreed upon.

If you want to rehab it yourself, go for it! You can always do that to save money!

  • Optional

Source: Next Avenue

If you’re planning on renting out the house, you might need to refinance a long-term loan. This happens all the time, so hard money lenders expect this is a possibility. They might even be capable of taking your loan and converting it to a long-term loan, and you don’t have to do a ton more paperwork.

At this point now, you have a finished house ready for someone to live in it.

  • Rent or Sell it

Source: Spanish Legal Services

If you want to rent the house out, put up a “For Rent by Owner” sign and make sure it has your phone number on it. Chances are you’ll get a call pretty quickly if you have a house in an area that people will want to rent in. The best houses to rent out are 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1800 square feet, and one story. That’s pretty much the magic sauce that will rent. If you don’t know how much to charge, I can give you an idea.

It needs to make money, so figure out how much money you need to cover your mortgage. After the mortgage, set aside an amount to cover repairs. After the mortgage and repairs, set aside some of the rent to cover vacancies, as in if you have to hold it for a month or 2 without someone living in it. If you are going to have it managed, then you need to take out for that, but if you manage it yourself, then you don’t need to set aside anything for management fees. Once you add up all those, you know what you need to break even. So if you rent out a house for $1600, but all your items add up to $1300, you will have a positive cash flow of $300 a month. These are exactly what my numbers were on my first rental.

Alternatively, you can sell the house

Source: The Irish Times

Find a realtor in your area. Chances are you know one, or you know somebody who’s related to one. Tell them what you want to make on the house and see what they think about it. Have them list this house on the MLS. Get all the info from the realtor that you need so you feel like you understand what’s going on. When I first started, I called a realtor friend of mine, and he told him if he listed my house and sold it, I would pay him a 1% fee versus the 3%, which he said was fine with him. I recommend never paying over 1% to a realtor to have them list your house. To sell a house is not that much work inside for a realtor. They just have access to certain things to list houses that you don’t, and you need a license to do that, so it’s worth something to them, but it’s not worth 3% of your profit. However, if a realtor is helping you BUY a house, then let them earn the 3% (I can say from experience that helping people buy a house is a lot of work).

Once the house is rented or sold now, you’re an investor. You invested some money. You took a risk. Hopefully, that risk had a good payoff, and you also learned how to do it all. I’ll be honest, though, on your first house if you don’t make anything, it’s still a huge win for you because you just entered into something that most people in the world would never do and you saw it through to the end.

Help me get this going

The company 77 Realty Solutions is there for any help. They had someone to hold your hand through every step of this process, from finding a deal to bringing in contractors, and the advice was priceless to me, and I even made about $8,000 on my first one.

You can do this! Invest in real estate!

Top 4 Electric Shavers for Black Men – 2024 Buying Guide

Black men all know how tough it can be to shave the black skin. The main reason for that is the structure of their hair. All Afro-Americans have fuller and thicker hair compared to others. Because of that, they need to find the right electric shaver for them.

So, What Should I Look for?

Before we start with current models, there is something we would want to explain. Some men can use the most simple razor and their skin won’t be irritated at all. However, things are different when we talk about black men. We already mentioned the main reason why this is a complex task. Because of that, let’s see together what you should look for exactly.

Source: The Prince

Sharp Blade and Fast Motor

Pulling and tagging during a shaving session is not a comfortable “activity”. However, this only happens when you use not so good razor. If your razor is quality, you won’t need to apply a lot of pressure during shaving. Despite that, the razor will never become warm.

If you want to avoid all these potential issues, your electric shaver needs to have a fast motor and sharp blade. This type of tool will provide you smooth and fast shaves. Logically, do not forget to change foils and blades regularly. This especially counts when we talk about black men with sensitive skin.

Suitable for Lying and Curly Hair

Finding a razor with this feature should be at the top of the list of your priorities. The blade must be sharp enough. In this way, you will easily ensure a close cut or shave. A high level of sharpness will allow black men to easily cut curly and fiat-lying hair.

There is one important thing that you should know. Most shavers won’t allow you to cut the hair from all the angles. Because of that, most men have a problem with ingrown hair. This may lead to different types of skin irritations which bothers a huge number of men.

These two things are a “must” when we talk about electric shavers. Still, which ones have this sort of feature? Well, you came to the right place to find out the top electric shavers for black men.

Enough talking, let’s find them out together!

1. Braun Series 7 790cc

Source: Getarazor

This model of electric shaver is popular because of various reasons. The good news is that you won’t get a shaver with any additional tools. Every user will get, a cleaning solution, a travel pouch, and a charger. You will get the opportunity to disinfect the blades with an alcohol-based solution. It is great when you get this type of cleaner together with the product.

The function of the shaver is based on autosensing technology. Thanks to this feature, users can easily adjust the power of the razor. People with thicker hair won’t invest a lot of effort to make cuts. We already said this is one of the main issues that black men have.

Despite this feature, there are two more of them that we would like to recommend. Wet and dry shaving are both available to you with this item. In other words, the electric shaver is waterproof. Despite that, there is also an LCD indicator. You can check it in every moment to see the status of the battery.

2. Wahl Professional 5-Star Series

Source: Shop – Rota Store

Shavers and trimmers are the main reason why black people often decide on this shaver. “Wahl” brand only designs the products for black men because they understand their concerns. In other words, curly hair will no longer be a problem with this shaver. You will also get two the charging cord and the shaver unit when purchasing the product.

The powerful motor allows you to accomplish your cut smoothly. Despite that, the close shave will ensure that you do not leave any bumps. Still, there are certain disadvantages that we need to mention here. This device is not waterproof and you need to be extra careful when shaving. In other words, wet shaving is not possible with the Wahl Professional 5-star series. You can find this trimer on this website.

3. Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 9700

Source: philips.com

This model is not just famous because of its quality. Many additional accessories come together with the shaver. The entire packaging comes with the cleaning and charging base, a trimmer, a power cable, etc. You will also get the shaving unit and the smart click brush. All these accessories can make shaving even more entertaining and easier.

Just like previous shavers, there is also an LCD screen where you can see the status of your battery. It can be quite annoying when you are in a hurry and the battery of your shaver is empty. The cleaning and charging base is also a strong alcohol-based solution. You can clean it each time after the shave and ensure safeness for your skin.

Well, there are certain disadvantages that we need to highlight as well. First of all, this model is not cheap. Keep in mind that Philips is a reliable brand that operates on the market for a long time. Logically, they succeeded to defeat competitors because of quality products. However, you will need to split a bit more money to get this tool. Hopefully, you are not going to regret it.

4. Panasonic Arc 5/ ES-LV65-S

Source: Best Buy

Before we say “goodbye” to each other, we need to mention one more famous brand. Panasonic works for a long time and makes people’s lives easier. This especially counts when we talk about black men and their shaving. If you choose this product, you will also get a linear motor. The linear motor is the most powerful one developed by Panasonic so far.

Despite that, there is a 5-blade shaving arrangement that allows 30-degree angle shaving. As we previously said, the right angel allows a closer shave.

In the end, the functionality of the electric shaver is based on smart technology. The power will automatically increase when something like that is necessary. Despite that, the shaver will adjust its power when shaving different parts of the face. For instance, it will adjust the power when you shave chin, neck, and jawline.

Conclusion

Okay, we highlighted a couple of models that deserve your attention. Fortunately, they are not the only ones. Because of that, we suggest you do not stop your research here. If you want to get more information about different models, we recommend you click here.

How Adult Toys Form a Bridge Between Fantasy and Reality

Fantasy is a very important aspect of intimate life. It is a sublime dream world where you have a whole dream sequence of what you want to do with your partner and what you want to be done unto you. But there have been many research pieces in the field connecting intimate relationships and psychology, which gave the result that out of 5 couples, there is only one who has tried out the fantasies in their intimate sessions. The rest four have thought about it, but they haven’t tried to bring their fantasies to life. This somewhere goes to prove that these four couples are not fully satisfied in their intimate relations, and there are somethings that they would like to try out. This absence of full satisfaction may have adverse effects on their relationship.

Source: Swipe Life – Tinder

Why is Fantasy Important in Intimate Relationships?

The world views fantasy in a very narrow perspective, and they do not understand the whole concept of it and play an important part in negating its importance. What young couples need to understand is that fantasy is there in every intimate act. You think, hence you act and what you don’t realise is that the thinking part is the fantasy. It has the power to change the dynamics of intimate acts and bring about wonderful changes in your relationship and help to have new experiences.

Many prominent researchers and psychologists believe that fantasy plays an important role in fat tracking emotions and arousal, which leads to reaching orgasm at a faster pace. The brain is the seat of imagination and the control to the whole body, and what the young couples don’t realise that they can think their way to climax. The issue is that people usually do not think along the same lines, and thus fantasy is a tool that gets their thoughts in sync towards the benefit of each other.

Fantasies let you explore and push the envelope in your relationship and safely experiment. What it does is that it stretches our understanding of the world and helps us develop emotionally as well. It makes you realise that intimate acts are not mere physical acts but deep emotional ones. A naughty thought can lead to better performance and enhance your experience with your partner, all the while helping you develop a deep bond with him/her because he/she is with you in your fantasy.

Source: Health Magazine

Research on the Importance of Fantasy

Research done by the Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment at the University of Granada revealed that a comprehensive education with an emphasis on fantasies is important to have a better result during intimate acts and relationships that experience low chances of dysfunction. The study also revealed the use of fantasies in therapy to reduce anxiety levels to restore the natural flow of intimate acts. The therapy is quite helpful, provided there is no organic shortcoming with regard to the hormonal or endocrinal disorder.

Source: The Conversation

How do Fantasies help with Issue like Anxiety?

Fantasies are better than drugs to fight issues like internal conflict, anxiety, irritation and a general feeling of dejection. People usually take drugs like valium because they want to stop feeling anxious, yet they want to remain upset or feel sad. It doesn’t happen that way. If you want out of the state of anxiety, you would have to address the problem itself, not the symptom. Fantasy is the best tool that helps you achieve it. A good fantasy brings a smile to your face and releases a concoction of endorphins which reduce anxiety or stress-causing hormones. Fantasies also release a considerable amount of adrenaline which causes changes in anxiety and stress into excitement and an increase in the heartbeat, which shifts your thought away from the stressors. The most positive aspect of fantasies is that they put you into a driving seat and the whole world of your fantasy is yours to control.

Source: Romantic Depot

Do fantasies enhance our connection with others?

Fantasies do deepen our connections during intimate acts, but prior to that, fantasies play an important role in bringing people together. For example, if a person wants a dominating partner, then he/she is more likely to find out a company with confident people who have dominating personalities and work towards a similar partner, or if a person has a fantasy of a charming prince rescuing her, then she would most likely fall for someone who had supported her in arguments or stood by her. These are small cues that inexplicably bring people close. Apart from this, fantasies during or relating to an intimate act, when realised, executed or explored, releases oxytocin, and it develops a strong emotional bond towards the person with whom you had shared those moments.

Source: VO Fab Adult Hub

How are Adult Toys Crucial in Bringing These Fantasies into Reality?

Bridging the gap between fantasy and reality all depends upon communication as it the first and the most important part where you convey your thoughts and dreamworld to your partner and get them aboard the idea of trying it out and exploring it further. However, talking about the fantasy and executing it, in reality, are totally different things. Here in this context, adult toys play an essential role because of their versatility and flexibility. Among the various adult toys available on websites like Adultproductsindia.com, you will notice this benefit.

Many people have the fantasy of getting new experiences, and these adult toys help you explore your bodies better and get those new experiences, new sensations. With your partner’s help, these toys help you figure out new combinations that you and your patner find exciting. These toys greatly diversify your intimate life and add a lot more excitement, a lot more spice to it. Various people have the fantasy of reaching the climax together, and various toys help you and your partner with stimulation which aid greatly in reaching the target together.  Apart from these, various toys can be moulded to serve your fantasy and help you bring that fantasy to life.

4 Greatest Places to Live in the World – 2024 Guide

The world is full of beautiful places with magnificent landscapes and well-designed architecture. To live in a new place, you need more than just a beautiful home to stay in. Some people may think that tourist attractions, local culture, and the city’s past must all combine in a perfect place to create a truly fantastic place to live in. However, that’s not always the case. When it comes to choosing a place to start your new life, there are many factors that you need to consider the weather, mode of transportation, crime rates, and a handful of reasons. To figure out where you should live for your future, there’s plenty of resources available online, ranking the world’s best cities to live in. Some use survey methods to know which place lands at the number one spot while others base their ranking on data provided by each country or city depending on their way of living. But international agencies want to create a more comprehensive way of ranking these places. Their goal is to create a broader view of the site and give people the idea about the country’s stability, healthcare, culture, education, and infrastructure and not just about tourism, business, and a way of living.

Besides the essential idea of having easy access to food and transportation, planning your housing is necessary as it will be your first step in looking for a new place to live in. According to coastalneighborhoods.com, buying a house or an apartment is often the largest and most important financial transaction of everyone’s life. Whether you are going to stay there for a year or an indefinite period of time, once you are done looking for a place to stay, check the country’s economy in terms of crime rates from petty to a more vicious act. Know if the state receives frequent terrorist threats and if there is a military conflict with another country that can spark an attack and if it safe for citizens and ex-pats to live there. Include on your checklist the availability and the quality of healthcare given and also the education system for both the public and private sectors. It is also good to know the quality of road networks and public transport. And lastly, the level of corruption and the freedom of censorship.

Although it’s hard to find a perfect match, very few selected cities have perfect combinations of these factors, making them the most livable places in the world. Read on to see the four beautiful locations ideal for staying in.

1. Munich, Germany

Source: The Crazy Tourist

Munich has been named by various agencies as one of the great places to live in the world. Munich is a perfect example of good work and life balance. The city’s public transportation is undeniably comfortable and clean, the streets are safe to walk to even at night and well maintained to the point you will not see any litter to all of its covered areas, and its airport which is vast and open to hundreds of international flights. About Munich’s economic status, it just shines brightly compared to other cities in Germany. The city’s unemployment rate is meager, with four percent on average. Although the properties in Munich are quite high among Germany, it’s still quite affordable compared to places like New York and Hong Kong. It is also home for affordable universities attracting foreign students from all over the world.

2. Copenhagen, Denmark

Source: International School Advisor

It’s not the first time for Copenhagen to rank as one of the top places to live in the world. They are considering that the city has a relatively high cost of living. Nonetheless, citizens and expats still enjoy a beautiful education system. Copenhagen was awarded as the Green Capital of the European Union, because of its well thought off urban design and planning. The city aims to become the world’s most cycling-friendly city. You’ll see people cycling their way to work or to school. Copenhagen’s goal is to have fifty percent of its population use cycling as a mode of transportation by the end of the decade. The place also offers many parks and gardens where locals and tourists can go for a walk, relax, or just catch up with friends. Copenhagen also has the highest Michelin Guide award with 16 of Copenhagen’s restaurants with almost 20 stars. Really food heaven among European countries.

3. Zurich, Switzerland

Source: The Crazy Tourist

Zurich has excellent surrounding areas and offers a beautiful range of properties for both its citizens and ex-pats. The cost of living in this city comes with a hefty price tag, a fast food meal can cost $15 U.S. dollars, and renting an apartment with a two-bedroom unit can go as high as $4,000 U.S dollars. Splurging that significant amount of money would be a good investment as a return if you live in Zurich. Although with the high price that comes with living in this city, it has excellent schools, high quality of life, easy integration, and low crime rates. It is, indeed, Zurich knows how to juggle business and pleasure. Today, the city has more than 400,000 residents with different cultures, religions, and languages and if you are lucky enough to be given a chance to live and work here and earn an estimated monthly salary of 7,000 Swiss francs, you might actually shove some money to splurge or save.

4. Vienna, Austria

Source: pexels.com

Vienna was named again as the most livable city in the world for the second time around from the 2019 survey result made by various agencies who want to know the places where the quality of living at its peak. Vienna provides the perfect blend of adventure, affordability, comfort of living, and safety. The city government of Vienna allocates more of its budget and available resources to infrastructure and housing, having excellent public services, the cost of living in this city is far less expensive than other European cities. Not only that, but the city is also rich in culture with its mix of Medieval and Baroque architecture, from its imperial sights and cozy taverns to historic music and art scene. The urban life set up in Vienna is truly the best.

Many people will probably start to think of starting a new life and for many, that may mean finding a new place to live in. Just don’t forget that it’s not always about how good the tourist attractions are but rather how good the country or a city runs its course.

Why Saudi Arabia is Becoming the Next Big Destination for Entrepreneurs

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Saudi Arabia is quickly emerging as a hotspot for entrepreneurs. With groundbreaking reforms and a rapidly evolving economy, it’s an exciting place to launch...