Benefits Of Keeping A Blog As A Student

For today’s college students, finding ways to hone their skills and connect with others is essential. You might think of blogging as something that people did back when the internet was less sophisticated. And, you may be turning to more contemporary and popular forms of social media, such as TikTok, to connect and hone ideas.

However, building a blog while a college student still has many benefits. From honing your writing skills to creating a portfolio for specific career paths, here are the reasons college students today should consider having a blog. 

Where To Get Tips On How To Write A Blog 

Before learning some of the potential benefits of keeping a blog as a student, it’s worth noting where you can get help with blog writing and writing in general. Most likely, your school has some sort of writing center that can serve as a valuable resource for basic writing skills. You should utilize this resource whether you’re already a proficient writer or more of a beginner. 

You can also check out notable grammar websites such as Purdue Online Writing lab. And, for learning how to write a blog specifically, check out resources like The Blog Starter. 

Benefit 1: Build Your Writing Skills

Knowing how to write well is a valuable skill regardless of your major. And, if you are in any field where you’ll often communicate ideas, continually working on being a better writer is vital. If you’re majoring in something like English, communications, philosophy, etc., having somewhere to grow as a writer will pay off.

Even for many science and social sciences majors, being able to present ideas logically and thoughtfully will come in handy, both in school and later on in your career.

Benefit 2: Express Yourself With Less Pressure

Even if you want to build an audience as a writer, a blog is often less pressure than keeping up with a social media account. So, you can think of your written blog as a way to find your own voice and express your thoughts and creativity without worrying about being an influencer. 

While you’ll still want to be conscious of how you present yourself online, you can have a little more fun with things without the pressure of posting multiple times a day. 

Benefit 3: It Can Help Your Mental Health

College is often a fun experience, but it’s also highly stressful for many students. It’s common for people in college to deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The prevalence of mental health issues has increased even more since COVID-19. 

While writing a blog is no substitute for mental and psychical health services from professionals, it can still serve as a healthy outlet to work through some feelings. Of course, if you’re going to use a blog more to express your thoughts and feelings, it might be better to keep it more private. However, you can also use a blog to connect with others going through similar struggles and life phases as you. 

Finally, there’s a chance you could make money off of your blog or use it as a jumping-off point for other career tracks. 

Overall, most people probably won’t see a lot of money from their blog at first. This means it can benefit your life and writing skills without the added pressure of turning the blog into a side hustle.

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6 Ways To Make Company Workshops And Conferences More Exciting

One of the indicators of a workshop’s or conference’s success is the degree of engagement from its attendees. Low levels of participation suggest that your audience wasn’t paying attention, and, hence, may have failed to fully absorb the information you presented.

There’s no denying that a large portion of most people’s time at a workshop or conference will be spent listening rather than doing anything productive. In contrast, the most successful events are those that pay close attention to the attendees and work to improve their experience as much as possible.

The ideal approaches to increase the quality of such types of events will be explored here, ranging from incorporating entertainment to using cutting-edge technological solutions.


1. Choose A Presentation Format That Suits Your Audience Needs

The business world has learned that virtual and hybrid events can be fun and exciting, and the same is true for workshops and conferences. It’s possible that a fully online version of such affairs might be more effective.

If you want to engage those who can’t make it to the session in person, a hybrid approach is a good option. However, in-the-flesh sessions, especially if they’re smaller and more personal, can also be a viable choice for your target demographic.

The needs of your audience will determine the best presentation style. Also, keep in mind that the event’s technology requirements will vary depending on whether the event is hybrid, virtual, or in-person.

2.Set Aside A Few Minutes For A Quick Icebreaker

Start the event on the right foot by engaging in some exercises. Aside from making people laugh and think, such activities also put them in the right mood, encouraging them to contribute their own creative input.

The time invested in these quick exercises is certainly worth it. Remote team-building activities or business discussions can be more productive when participants feel comfortable talking to one another and sharing their ideas.

Icebreakers are like a magical on/off switch, igniting everyone’s imagination and encouraging them to work together. Any meeting, call, or brainstorming session will be met with increased energy and passion after a brief 15-minute game has been completed.

3.Use The Right Technology

Participating in a workshop or conference session allows you to meet new people and discuss topics of mutual interest. Thus, no matter where you hold your event, you’ll need a space that’s conducive to effective communication and group work. So, make sure the venue is equipped with all the right tools and equipment.

Incorporate smart and interactive whiteboards, a reliable Wi-Fi connection, mobile event apps, large screen projectors, video conferencing hardware, and screen-sharing software, among others. Having these technological tools in place ensures you have the optimal and most effective setup possible.

Before the session begins, do a brief run-through and make sure everything is working.

4.Hold A Demo

Have a product demo at your next conference or workshop to show attendees how the item might benefit them. Demonstrating your product to an audience won’t only increase their familiarity with it, but it’ll also pique their interest. You should have knowledgeable and competent representatives available to answer inquiries about your product.

A four-to-eight-step interactive demo is ideal. A video demonstration should last one up to four minutes. To prevent boredom or overwhelming the audience, keep the discussions brief and simple.

5.Take Advantage Of Social Media

If you’re selling or launching a new product or service, try integrating your corporate events with your other marketing tactics, such as social media campaigns.

Knowledge of social media platforms isn’t only useful for getting the word out about your event, but also for increasing excitement and participation in the event itself.

Make the workshop or conference more engaging by allowing the audience to ask questions in real time, providing rewards and incentives for sharing information or hashtags, conducting polls, and many more.

You can also create an online event, like in social media groups or online communities, so you can connect with one another before, during, and after the event.

6.Don’t Forget About Post-Event Strategies

In order to keep event attendees engaged, it’s important to keep the conversation going long after the event has ended.

Following up with your attendees can be done in different ways, including the following:

  • Write Thank You Emails. Sending thank you emails is a good way to maintain communication with attendees long after the event has ended. Write emails to the individuals you spoke with, expressing your gratitude for the opportunity to get to know them and their objectives. Just make sure to make every email specific and relevant to the recipient.
  • Send Out Post-Event Surveys. The best way to get feedback from attendees is to send out survey forms after the event and ask them what they think of it.

These questions can be asked after the event has ended, helping improve the quality of future conferences:

  • Did you find this session informative?
  • Is there anything you want to change about the conference?

7.Conclusion

There’s a wide variety of possibilities available for those looking for ideal business workshop and conference event ideas. Quite a few are convenient because they can be held in different settings or conducted online.

Remember to be creative if you want to stand out in a competitive market and leave an everlasting impression on your clients and employees.

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What Nurses Should Know Before Taking CE Courses

When most people talk about CE (continuing education) courses, they’re referring to classes or certifications that are taken on voluntarily. Some professionals take CE courses to keep their heads in the game, while others do it to look more eligible for a promotion. If you’re talking about continuing education for nurses, though, it’s a slightly different story. Continuing Education Units, or CEUs, are mandated for nurses in most states; they’re meant to sharpen the nurses’ knowledge of their craft, and they’re also required in order to keep nurses’ licenses current. Instead of choosing courses solely on the basis of what seems relevant, nurses have to pick from a list of accredited courses. 

There are quite a few more requirements, but those are the main differences between continuing education in general, and CEUs for nurses. Understanding CEU requirements can be tricky the first time around, not only because there’s a lot to learn about them, but also because they vary by state. Some nurses do all the leg-work themselves, while others use services like Nursing CE Central to help them fulfill CEU requirements. If you just want to get the bird’s-eye view, though, keep reading – there’s plenty of helpful information below.

It’s important to keep accurate records

The reasoning here is much the same as why you should keep tax records. You’ll probably never have to pull them out, but if you do need them, it’s essential that everything is in order. The information you should keep track of includes the title of the course, name of the provider, course identification number, date of completion, and number of CEUs awarded. If you don’t want to keep hard copies, it’s recommended to scan them and keep all your copies in a well-organized folder.

Courses can only be taken from approved CEU providers

In each state that mandates CEUs for nurses, there are two authorities that can approve CEU providers: the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center), and the state’s BON (Board of Nursing). This is important for two reasons. First, since each state’s BON approves their own list of providers, each state will have a slightly different list. Second, if a nurse takes a continuing education course that hasn’t been approved, it won’t count towards their CEU requirements.

Just because a course is related to the field of nursing doesn’t mean it’s a CEU

There are plenty of courses that seem like they should be CEUs, but simply aren’t. For example, taking advanced life support classes or attending a nursing-related seminar may add to a nurse’s overall knowledge, but they won’t be recognized as CEUs by the state BON. This isn’t to say that all hands-on training courses or conferences can’t be accredited. Some of them are; it’s just that you have to check beforehand to avoid confusion.

CEU courses can have many different formats

Just because they’re called “courses” doesn’t mean you’ll be spending hours poring over reading materials or taking tests. Here are some examples of CEU courses that take less traditional format:

  • Getting published in a peer-reviewed journal
  • Developing the curriculum for a nursing-related class
  • Teaching a nursing-related class
  • Attending an accredited workshop
  • Attending an accredited seminar or conference
  • Enrolling in online courses that primarily teach through reading materials, webinars, or videos

Some of these types of courses are only accredited in specific states, so you may have to request clarification from the state BON.

If you have a multistate nursing license, CEU requirements will be determined according to your home state

Most states in the US allow registered nurses to practice in multiple states without having to earn additional licenses (this only applies to RN compact states). This allowance makes it easier for nurses to be mobile and work where they’re most needed, but it can also complicate their understanding of CEU requirements. What if a nurse is working in a state with no CEU requirements, but their home state does have those requirements? In that case, the nurse would still have to complete CEUs, even if they’ve been working in another state for years. 

Some states don’t have CEU requirements

If you’re a nurse practicing in one of the following states, you won’t be required to take CEUs:

  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Indiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin

Even if you aren’t strictly required to take CEUs, though, you can still complete them for your own benefit. Continuing education helps nurses stay current on healthcare advancements and recent medical research, and it can even boost a nurse’s career.

CEUs have to be completed before the license renewal period ends

Even though there are many practical benefits to taking CEUs, one of the main purposes is to prevent your nursing license from expiring. Without fulfilling CEU requirements for your state, there could be several consequences. These include losing a job, having your license suspended, or even having to re-take the nurse’s exam as if you’re earning your license for the first time.

Keep in mind that each state sets its own license renewal period. For many of them the interval is two years, but there’s a lot of variation. There are also differing numbers of CEUs required by each state, so that’s another thing to check on before finalizing your studies.

The difference between CEUs and contact hours

These two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but this isn’t accurate. If you look at CEU requirements by state, they’ll typically be written as contact hours rather than continuing education units. The ANCC also adopts the same format, but some CEU course providers measure according to CEUs rather than contact hours. With the two terms being used so often, it’s important to know the difference – 10 contact hours equals one CEU. 

The takeaway

There are plenty of ins and outs when it comes to taking CEU courses, but the steepest part of the learning curve is at the very beginning. Once you’ve gotten better acquainted with how they work you’ll be able to focus on the courses themselves, rather than all the associated regulations.

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4 Problems Businesses are Facing and How to Solve Them

In today’s ever-changing world, running a successful business is increasingly difficult, especially for smaller companies. If you are trying to run a good business, read on to learn about four of the most significant issues you might face and how to solve them!

1. New Hires

Due to sweeping social changes and many jobs becoming automated, many people are not working as much. They find other means of income, such as welfare plans, to take care of themselves. This results in many businesses being short-staffed.

Finding good staff who will work hard is becoming increasingly difficult. However, it is not impossible. One of the best ways to find hard-working staff is by searching online for a “staffing agency near me.” A website like that can not only help you find employees, but it can help you find employees who are professional, experienced, and know what needs they need to fulfill for your business.

2. Staff Retention

Not only are businesses having trouble finding employees, but many are also struggling to keep the employees they already have. The last thing you want for your company is a high turnover rate.

To combat the increasing turnover rate, there are a few things that you can do. The most important thing you can do is pay your employees well. Inflation is rising, and many people are struggling to make ends meet. So, they will often move to different employers based on which one is paying the best.

Also, a pleasant work environment will make staff want to stay longer. A good work environment is the second most important thing to employees behind good wages. People do not want to be miserable every time they go to work.

3. Decreasing Productivity

Another issue facing many companies is a decrease in productivity. Many different things can cause this.

One of the most significant issues causing this might be a lack of training. If your employees are unsure how to do their jobs properly, they will not do the job well.

It could also be because managers are not supervising well. They could not be assigning tasks appropriately, or they may not be keeping employees focused on their work.

Also, a lack of proper equipment may be causing some of this decrease. Technology and equipment are constantly developing. This means that there may be equipment that will make your staff’s job more accessible that they may not have. If you can find and provide your team with the best technology and equipment that your business can afford to get, you may be able to increase your productivity.

4. Preparing for Change

The business world is constantly changing. Popular products come in and out of style. New sales strategies emerge and evolve. Market trends and forces continually shift. If you refuse to be flexible, your business won’t survive these changes.

Sometimes you may have to cut ties with business partners, pick up new ones, or move locations. It is these types of things that you, as a business owner, might have to do to stay in business.

You will also want to understand how the market works. Understanding these trends can help you change your business strategies to keep up with competitors.

Summary

Keeping up with changing times doesn’t have to be a headache. Running a business well is never easy, but you know you’re up to the challenge.

If you can find reliable, long-term staff and embrace changes as they appear, you’ll consistently grow your business and find it a far less stressful task. Best of luck!

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Brighterly – The Best Service for Teaching Children Online

1.Introduction

The number of online training platforms has increased since the COVID -19 pandemic. Children had to study to meet learning requirements even while at home, and so many online startups sprung up to meet that need. One of them is Brighterly, the best online learning platform with professional tutors holding maths classes for kids.

As a company of the 21st century, this online learning platform is changing the education industry by introducing simple and exciting methods like games and hands-on activities to teach kids math. To convince you that Brighterly is the best service for teaching children, here are some reasons that make it stand out:

2. The tutors interact with children

Unlike some learning platforms that focus on a child’s learning through levels, grades, and points, Brighterly.com has tutors wholly invested in a child’s knowledge. Every tutor has a one-on-one interaction with a child and also maintains personal relationships. The educators at Brighterly understand the need to have small talks with students and win their trust before teaching kids math. Due to this approach, kids find lessons exciting and not monotonous.

3. The instructors motivate kids

Understandably, most children can find math challenging and feel like giving up. But the educators at Brighterly take time to help kids understand math. The tutors never use harsh words for students; instead, they always have kind and loving things to say. 

Even when a child seems discouraged because they don’t get answers correctly, the tutors never make them feel bad. Instead, children learn that mistakes only get them closer to the goal of understanding math.

4. There are placement tests for prospective students

Nothing damages a child’s sense of accomplishment and confidence more than learning educational material that is much above their capabilities. The platform can provide your kid with placement tests to understand their level of understanding to avoid these outcomes.

The educators understand that even if a student is in Grade 5, it doesn’t mean they have a perfect understanding of Grade 4 math. So, after the tests, the educators know better what instructional materials are needed to solidify a child’s understanding of math.

5. The educators provide valuable insight into math concepts

Not every educational resource on the internet is beneficial to children. Some students may focus on educational YouTube videos and become passive learners who don’t ask questions in class even when they find math concepts challenging.

To promote active learning, the educators at Brighterly provide students with valuable insights into math concepts. As kids learn, they can interact with tutors and hold discussions that could be helpful in understanding the subject.

6. Brighterly’s developers understand children’s love for gadgets

Brighterly is the best online math platform for teaching children because its educators recognize that children enjoy screen time. So, they introduce kids to online educational games, worksheets, and other resources that can capture their attention for long hours.

Also, kids willingly do some hands-on activities offline without their phones, tabs, or PCs. By exposing kids to online and offline fun learning methods, Brighterly’s tutors do kids a lot of good.

7. The educators use customized teaching methods

The tutors at Brighterly are professional, attentive, and empathic, so they understand how children work. Every child has a distinct way and speed of learning and understanding of math concepts. 

So, the tutors use customizable teaching methods until a child is able to understand math concepts in their entirety. The tutors are willing to take their time to identify what works best for your child.

8. There is an effective feedback system

Feedback is an essential feature for every parent whose child is learning math. Through placement tests, parents know their child’s development trajectory. After that, the tutor can see how much the student has learned.

If there is a need for improvement, a tutor can ascertain how much work still needs to be done. Brighterly’s tutors give parents constant reminders and feedback on the child’s performance, proof that it’s an online learn service that carries the parents along.

9. The teachers work with the flexibility of students’ schedules

The educators at Brighterly understand that kids have their own schedules and daily activities. Thus, the tutors are flexible and tailor each class to your child’s needs. They work together with parents to create personalized timetables for students.

Parents are free to cancel the class for the day and reschedule it to another time in case of emergencies.

10. The educators provide homework help to students

Once, there comes a time in a child’s life when parents can no longer meet the homework requirements. Sometimes, parents are too tired after a long day at work and just want to take a breather. Other times, parents can be at a loss with complex concepts like geometry, trigonometry, logarithm, etc.

No matter the scenario, Brighterly’s instructors are always eager to help out their students.

Conclusion

When you need professionals to care for the children’s educational needs, look no further than a Brighterly’s instructor. Brighterly is the best online math learning platform with professional tutors that can make learning math an exciting experience. The educational requirements of children can be different, and the instructors understand that part clearly.

Also, the tutors provide their students with fun, exciting, and lovable games that can make kids have only the best experiences. With all these benefits listed, what are you waiting for? Register your child on the Brighterly platform today.

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9 Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing a University

University education is the most significant investment people will make in their lifetime and the most important decision they’ll ever make. The wrong choice can lead to years of wasted time and money, while the right choice can set you on the path to a successful and fulfilling career. While many people choose a university based on its reputation or graduation rate, you should consider several other factors when making your decision:

1. Location

The location of a university can have a big impact on your experience. If you want to be in a big city, there are plenty of options. If you’re looking for a more rural setting, you’ll need to narrow your search. Consider whether you want to stay close to home or venture out into the world. There are pros and cons to both choices. Staying close to home can be more affordable and provide support from family and friends, but going away to university can also be an excellent opportunity to meet new people and experience new things.

2. Rankings

Rankings can give you an idea of the quality of an institution and how it compares to other universities. They can also help you to narrow down your choices. There are different ranking systems, such as the QS World Report rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. These rankings account for student satisfaction, graduation rates, and research output. However, university rankings from some platforms may not accurately reflect the institution’s quality. In some cases, they may be biased or based on outdated information. Additionally, rankings can change yearly, so it’s important to look at multiple years’ worth of data to get a more accurate picture of a school’s quality.

3. Courses Offered

The courses offered by a university should be your primary concern when making your decision. You will spend the next few years studying for a degree, so ensure the subjects you are interested in are available. Many universities offer a similar range of courses, but it is still worth doing your research to find out exactly what is on offer. Schools like American International College offer a wide range of academic programs, from engineering and computing to art and science. You are sure to find one that fits your needs. You may also consider whether the university offers any specialized courses that appeal to you. For instance, if you are interested in studying law, check whether the university has a law school. Once you have a list of potential universities, take the time to look at their individual course catalogs and find out what is on offer. 

4. Entrance Prerequisites

Every university has different entrance requirements. It’s important to ensure you meet the criteria for the school you’re interested in. For example, some schools require applicants to have a certain GPA or score on an entrance exam. Others may have specific course requirements that must be met. Be sure to check with the university to determine their entrance requirements. 

Remember meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Many schools receive more applications than they can accept. There’s no guarantee you’ll be admitted even if you meet the requirements, which is why it’s crucial to have a backup plan in case your first choice doesn’t work out.

5. Globalization

With the expansive growth of the internet, globalization has become more common than ever. Businesses are now international, people are more mobile, and knowledge sharing has never been easier. When choosing a university, it is crucial to consider the globalization of the institution. Does the university have students from all over the world? Are there opportunities to study abroad? Is the faculty internationally diverse? A university with a strong global focus can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in today’s economy. Global education will also prepare you to live and work in an increasingly diverse world

6. School Size

The size of a university can have a big impact on your experience. For example, large universities often have more resources and facilities than small schools. They also tend to have a more diverse student body. Additionally, large schools usually have a greater selection of courses and programs. However, large universities can also be overwhelming and impersonal. Smaller schools often have a more intimate and close-knit community feel. And because there are fewer students, you’ll likely get to know your classmates and professors better. 

7. Cost of Education

Universities can be very expensive, and you’ll need to ensure you can afford the tuition and fees. Additionally, remember that other costs are associated with attending university, such as housing, food, books, and transportation. Be sure to factor all of these costs into your decision. There are a few ways to offset the cost of university. You can apply for scholarships and financial aid. Many universities also offer payment plans so you can spread out the cost of tuition over time. Some employers will reimburse employees for their education expenses. If you’re already employed, check with your employer to see if they offer tuition assistance.

8. Accreditation

Accreditation is a process by which a school or program is evaluated against established standards to ensure quality. In the United States, accreditation is voluntary, but choosing a school accredited by a recognized accrediting body is important. Accreditation can guarantee that a university has met high standards for its curriculum, faculty, and facilities. It can also make it easier to transfer credits if you decide to change schools. 

9. Extracurricular Activities

One thing that makes the university so great is the opportunity to get involved in extracurricular activities. These activities can range from sports teams, to student organizations, to on-campus jobs. There are hundreds of different ways to get involved on campus, and it’s a great way to have fun. Additionally, extracurricular activities can help you build important skills that will benefit your future career. For example, joining the campus marketing club would be a great way to gain experience and build your resume if you’re interested in marketing. 

There are many factors to consider when choosing a university, but if you take the time to do your research and ask the right questions, you’ll be able to find the school that’s right for you.

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How to Make Perfect Cover Images for Your Publications

Are you pleased with your social media cover images? Do you want to discover how to enhance them? Remember that a cover photo is the first thing visitors see when they access your channel. 

Therefore, it is essential to make a positive first impression. Here is how you can improve the quality of your cover image.

Assess Dimensions

A large, banner-sized cover image lets you talk about your brand, express your online persona, and inspire action. When designing a cover photo, you need to think more about layout and design than how beautiful the image appears. Irrespective of your platform, using the recommended cover photo size is crucial.

The appropriate sizing ensures the photo works correctly within the space without overlapping other content. You must ensure the photo does not seem cut off or distorted.

Change the Photos Frequently

Changing the cover image is artless, as it only needs a few clicks. It, therefore, makes sense to change the image often so that it highlights or complements your current promotions or upcoming local or season event.

Use Consistent Brand Colors

A cover photo tells a lot about your profile. Due to this, it must seamlessly fit your branding. Your profile will appear disorganized if the cover photo and logo colors don’t match. Most visitors will think you don’t want to entice them.

If possible, create a cohesive, fun photo that matches the modern, comedic style without relinquishing professionalism. Your profile and cover photo should not necessarily match, but they must have a complementary color palette.

Prioritize Space Over Text

Think like a marketer when designing a cover photo, and ask whether the photo can relay your message without adding unnecessary words. If not, look for ways you can add only a few words to the photo.

A cover photo is a place for eye-catching themes and ideas, not to publish content. It’s proven that human brains process pictures faster than text. Thus, using no or minimal text on your cover photos is sensible. Also, use an app to remove background to appear professional.

Maintain a simple design

You should maintain a clean and simple design if you use the cover image for promotional purposes. Try to design a compelling photo with a simple call-to-action (CTA) button and precise content.

Have a Visually Engaging Design

In addition to creating a visually consistent design, you should also make the design visually appealing. After all, your objective when publishing content is to engage and connect with the target audience. You can increase social media engagement by using images that generate humor. 

Still, you can boost customer loyalty by using the latest inventions in the market.

Consider mobile phone users

The high increase in smartphone users means you should consider them when creating a cover photo. A stunning image on a laptop or desktop may not look incredible on a mobile phone. Therefore, you should test it on all gadgets before publication.

What Makes a Great Cover Image?

A good cover photo is readable, eye-catching, and conveys the brand’s message. The best cover photo must include your brand’s name and logo. Most covers include high-quality graphics and photos to create visual interest. 

Regardless of how incredible your publication seems, the last thing you wish to have is a cover photo that resembles your competitors’ cover images.

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3 Ways to Improve Your Growing Business

At some point in time, you will notice that your business is outgrowing your resources. This is a good thing! However, you need to make sure that you know what you are doing to help your business grow.

Read on if you have a growing company and need help knowing what to do.

1. Ensure You Have Enough Staff

As your business grows, you will find that there will be too much work and insufficient staff. This can become an issue because you and the few employees you have will quickly burn out. When you and your team are burned out, it can lead to people quitting and lousy work.

Sadly, there is a significant labor shortage, causing all businesses, no matter the size, to struggle with filling roles. This has many consequences:

  • Customers have to wait longer
  • Work is not getting done on time
  • Employees are being overworked
  • Businesses are stuck trying to figure out how to compensate for this issue

This is why finding a “staffing agency near me” is a critical moment in your company’s life. Finding enough well-trained and well-equipped staff members can be a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, there are plenty of websites and tools to help you find the right employee for your company.

Working closely with an agency can help direct the right people your way. This way, you get in contact with people who are genuinely interested in working for your organization and waste less time scouring through half-hearted cover letters.

2. Use Technology to Your Advantage

Technology is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and it isn’t slowing down. It has been especially useful for businesses of all sizes. With technology being able to do many of the tasks that human employees were able to do, many companies can make up for the labor shortage.

Having the best technology and equipment for you and your team to use is crucial for your business. You want your team to work well and efficiently. It is much easier if you all have the correct tools to complete your work. Whether that means you need the best lawn care machines or the latest and greatest computer software, ensure your team is only working with the best equipment so they can give their best work.

3. Advertise on Social Media

Technology hasn’t only proven helpful in automating complex tasks; technology supports your advertisement design and public relations work through social media.

Apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have greatly helped businesses increase brand visibility and boost the number of eyes on their products. YouTube is an exceptionally engaging way of advertising because you can make a short video advertisement instead of just a poster or photo for your company and products.

Social media platforms make it much easier for your clients to connect, engage, and communicate with you and your team while giving you the potential to reach billions of people.

Making a name for your company and becoming well known are crucial parts of your company’s development. Social media is the newest and best way to do that. Make sure you become well acquainted with all the social media apps and use them to your advantage.

Don’t Hesitate to Improve Your Business

Improving your business can be scary as there is often a considerable amount of risk involved. However, it’s even riskier not to take the steps mentioned above.

By having a solid team, using modern equipment and software, and getting your name out there through social media, you can see tremendous growth for your company.

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Top 8 Reasons Why Stricter ID Verification Is Helpful for Business

A strict ID verification system is important for your business. Strong security, top-notch customer service, and having a reputation as a reliable company help your business grow. We have some tips for you about why business ID verification is essential.

What is ID Verification?

ID verification is an offline or online process to check a person’s identity. Verification is necessary for common transactions such as opening a checking account or IRS tax documentation. Some ways to verify identity are:

Knowledge-Based Authentication

Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) verifies identity with answers to security questions. Additional measures for KBA safety include requirements to answer questions within a time limit. The advantage of using knowledge-based authentication processes is an easy verification method for users to use and understand. A big disadvantage of KBA is it is easy to discover personal information through social media and use this knowledge for identity theft.

Document Scan and QR Code Scan

ID verification is useful when you want to link a document or card with your online account. Banks and other financial institutions often use document scans or QR codes. A QR code is a machine-readable graphic code consisting of black and white squares. These typically store URLs or other information. For ID verification, users scan the QR code with their smartphone camera to unlock the information.

Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication requires users to have personal identification called a token as well as usernames and passwords. A token is a code messaged or emailed to a user. Two-factor authentication has been used for various tasks such as creating accounts and resetting passwords. This ID verification is useful for strong security because authentication takes two security steps. Two-factor authentication is a difficult verification method if users don’t have smartphones or other accounts for the token authentication process.

Biometrics Authentication

Biometrics uses a person’s physical traits to verify identity. The biometrics include fingerprints, voice recognition, retina and iris scans, and facial characteristics.

Benefits of ID Verification Process

Security is essential for your business, and ID verification can help keep your business secure. Among the reasons and benefits for using ID verification are customer experience, hacking, staff security, business reputation, and insurance requirements. Data protection laws, due diligence, and risk management are other benefits of the ID verification process.

1. Customer Experience

Strong security systems like ID verification are vital to retaining customers for your business. Having a reputation as a reliable company helps you know your customer (KYC) and deliver secure customer experiences. Your customers are essential to your business. They need confidence you can keep their data safe when they use your website and give their data to you. Having a strict ID verification system is a good KYC practice that helps protect your customers against fraud. Safeguarding their personal information with the most up-to-date methods assures them your business is reputable.

2. Preventing Crime

Strong ID verification is critical to staying ahead of sophisticated criminals who can steal customer data. Scams and cybercrime are on the increase, ruining customer trust, compromising data protection, and destroying business reputations. Staying ahead of hackers, phishers, and scammers with ID verification is vital to keep your data safe. Using ID verification such as biometrics or two-step authentication can bolster your safety against hacking, phishing, and scammers.

3. Trusted Staff

Stricter ID verification is important to assure your customers you have checked employee backgrounds. If your company provides, for example, repair people, your customers should be comfortable with allowing them in their homes. For those who work onsite, this staff may have access to customer and business records, budgets, personal data, and other information essential to your business. Customer data is vulnerable to attack when employees without ID verification work at a business. You need to know your employees have the correct identification, credentials, and qualifications.

4. Data Reliability

To protect your business, having up-to-date and secure ID verification systems will help your data protection and keep customer data safe. Up-to-date ID verification can help you know your customer and keep track of best KYC practices. Taking time to review your security to keep your technology current will make a positive difference to your business security.

5. Insurance Requirements

Business insurance is a standard requirement, but claims for security breaches are commonplace. Insurance companies are tightening up their clauses for claims when selling you policies. More often, insurance brokers require that businesses have processes for stricter ID checks. Companies without processes or adequate ID verification arrangements could void a policy. Not only should you check the small print and make sure you are covered, but be forward-thinking and have an ID verification policy for your business. 

6. Data Protection Laws

Data protection laws require you to protect customer data and prevent cybercrime. Your staff should have ID verification and be trained in data protection and compliance to keep data secure. For example, data protection laws make it illegal to share data without permission. A serious data breach can lead to legal problems. ID verification can help you hire staff that understands how to manage sensitive data, compliance, and keeps breaches from happening.

7. Anti-money Laundering Compliance

Money laundering is the illegal processing and movement of money to hide its source. With ID verification, you can know your customer and strengthen your anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and processes by proving staff and customers are who they say they are. Your KYC practices can help track their financial data better. Businesses should check the source of their funds with AML compliance and processes and ID verification to retain customer trust. Using a system to detect financial irregularities such as AML compliance can help your customers as well as your business from fraud and financial loss.

8. Managing Risk

ID verification can help you manage risk. Assessing levels of risk is useless without data. Knowing who has access to your data, the competency of those people who have access to your data, and the verifiable status of those who have access to your business data can keep your business free from data breaches and data misuse. Having stricter processes such as ID verification are part of your risk mitigation. With staff training, encryption, and ID verification, you give your customers peace of mind that their data is secure. Working to mitigate data breaches and fraud through ID verification and other processes, you will have the confidence of customers and protect your business from damaging hacks and scams.

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How to Help Your Child Prepare for the SATs

The SAT exam is one of the most important exams a student will take in preparation for college. With a solid SAT score and a robust academic and extracurricular background, your child could have the opportunity to attend almost any university they want.

Much of the responsibility is going to fall on your child. They’re the ones who will have to attend the exam, read the questions, and perform under pressure. But there’s a lot you can do as a parent to support your child in getting higher SAT scores – and help them prepare more effectively.

Get a Baseline Score

Before you do anything else, get a baseline score. You can take a practice test or an iteration of the SAT itself (though a practice test is recommended) to see how your child performs. This is important for several reasons.

First, you’ll get exposure to what the test is like and you’ll learn some of the strengths and weaknesses your child has; are they very familiar with math, while struggling with English? Do they feel confident about the level of knowledge they have, while struggling with performance under pressure?

Second, you’ll have a number you can focus on improving. If your child scores a 1000 on the first SAT exam they take, you can set 1200 or 1300 as a reasonable goal. From then on, you can continue taking practice exams to see how the score improves.

Enroll Your Child in a Prep Course (or Create One of Your Own)

Exam prep courses are excellent tools for teaching students all the knowledge they need to perform better on standardized tests. Consider enrolling your child in one of these preparation courses, so they have accessible materials and individuals to teach them all the fundamentals. If you don’t want to enroll your child in a formal prep course, you can create a preparation course of your own, pulling online studying materials and getting involved in both education and practice.

Help to Manage Timelines

The SAT is available seven times per year in the United States, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to sign up for the exam and plenty of time to study. However, most teenagers aren’t especially good at time management. It’s your responsibility as a parent to help your child manage timelines, making sure they study consistently in the weeks and months leading up to their target exam date.

Set Mini Goals and Milestones

As a parent, you can also help your child by setting smaller goals and milestones. Studying for the SAT can be daunting, especially if you’ve never taken a standardized test before. It’s much easier and much less stressful if you have smaller goals to focus on along the way.

For example:

  •       Reading and studying objectives. Instead of only striving for a specific score on the exam, focus on achieving reading and studying objectives. For example, can you challenge your child to study for one hour each day for a week?
  •       Practice exams. Set dates for practice exams and follow through on them. Can you set an attainable score goal for each of them?
  •       New areas of competency. You can also set goals and milestones for new areas of competency. For example, you can set the goal to learn a new skill or master a certain type of question.

Avoid Adding Too Much Pressure

As a parent who cares about your child’s future, it’s only natural to add some pressure to the situation. But it’s important not to go overboard. Adding too much pressure will add significant stress to your child’s life in an already stressful time.

Here’s how you can better support your child:

  •       Don’t focus too much on objective scores. The average total SAT score for the class of 2021 was 1088, with a 541 in ERW and a 538 in Math. A score of 1350 puts a student into the top 10 percent of test takers. A 1600 is a very rare perfect score. It’s totally fine to understand these scores and strive for a specific score, but it’s often more effective to focus only on improvement.
  •       Watch your child’s emotions and reactions. Pay attention to how your child is feeling and how they react to things. Watch for signs of stress and back off if they’re starting to feel overwhelmed.
  •       Take breaks. Take days off and spend some time doing things other than studying.
  •       Celebrate wins. When your child achieves a breakthrough, take the time to celebrate!

There’s no guarantee that your child is going to get a perfect score on the SAT exam just because you had an effective studying plan. But suffice it to say, students with supportive parents and consistent studying patterns tend to perform better than their counterparts.

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