Benefits

5 Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Dancing as an Adult

There are few things in the world that are as distinct to humans as dancing. While some animals react to music in a variety of ways, dancing is a beautiful form of expression unique to our species.

The health and mental benefits of dance are numerous, and there are seemingly endless types to choose from.

If you can only think of ballroom dancing or salsa as an option, it’s time to reimagine the world of dance.

Once you explore and find the perfect dancing class or studio for your interests, you too can begin to experience the benefits of dance.

Read on to learn five of the top dance benefits, and how this fun activity can promote both mental and physical health as an adult.

Top Five Physical and Mental Dance Benefits

While nearly all forms of exercise are clearly beneficial for mood, health, and wellness, dancing is one that can motivate you to keep up with it because it’s so fun!

Moreover, there are specific benefits in jiving to your favorite song that extends beyond what other activities provide.

Find out more below on why dancing can change your entire life through its combination of positive outcomes.

1. Improve Coordination

The tasks of every day – walking, sitting, stairs, and even common workouts – tend to focus on the same muscle groups.

Dancing pushes your body to use different combinations of muscle and body parts that can both improve their strength and coordination.

If becoming a more physically balanced person sounds good to you, dancing is the perfect way to do it.

2. Boost Confidence

It isn’t unusual to feel insecure about your dancing skills. Everyone remembers what it was like at school dances as an adolescent.

Dancing as an adult can challenge you to overcome that insecurity you feel, and empower you to be confident in yourself and your body in a new and exciting way.

3. Promote Cardiovascular Health

As a form of cardio in one of it’s truest forms, dancing can greatly benefit your heart health.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, adults should aim for a minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes each week of high-intensity aerobic physical activity.

Dancing is the perfect way to fulfill your fitness goals for your cardiovascular and whole-body health.

4. Increase Mental Agility

There are several studies that not only suggest that learning to dance can promote mental health, but also mental agility. 

Cognitive performance has shown to improve in both adults and children who dance, possibly related brain stimulation through physical activity, according to a researcher at Harvard Medical School.

5. Manage Weight

Last but not least, dancing can be a great way to maintain a healthy weight. By promoting calorie use in a fun, and social way, it can help you not only like that number on the scale in the short-term, but the long-term as well.

Dance for the Health of It

Dance benefits far extend the list above, and they can include everything from the mental, physical, emotional, and social influences that the activity can have.

Many dancers, new and seasoned, report immediate improvement in their lives, one way or another.

Ready to get started? Find a studio that is ready to help you become your best self that will help you learn to dance, or pick the habit back up.

8 Essential Benefits of Having a Data Catalog in a Data Drive World

Big data is all the talk in business these days, and it doesn’t look like it’s just a fad. An estimated 97.2% of companies are starting to invest in big data technology.

The question is, how can you take advantage of data for your business? After all, it’s hard to find a way to store and access all the information out there.

That’s where a data catalog comes into play. It’s your single point of reference when you need to make data-driven decisions for your business.

So what are the ways a data catalog can help? Keep reading to learn eight benefits of having a data catalog.

1. Convenience

Of all the benefits of a data catalog, convenience is the most significant benefit. After all, maintaining large amounts of data sources on your own is a lot of work.

With a data catalog, you can automate this process. Instead of having your staff input data manually, your data catalog can connect to your data source to import data on its own. This automation frees up time for your workforce to concentrate on more critical tasks.

You also have the convenience of having all your data in one place. Instead of putting together reports from different websites, you can log into your data catalog and immediately find what you’re looking for.

2. Security

Internet security is a hot topic today. While technology has made things more accessible, it’s also created more risk. The 2018 FBI internet crime report found that cybercrime is at an all-time high.

If your data isn’t protected, then you’re opening yourself up to trouble. A data catalog will help you protect your data.

Reputable data catalog providers work with government and regulatory agencies to ensure their technology will stand up to attacks. By trusting your data to them, you’ll be able to protect sensitive data.

With the regulatory changes happening today, this is more important than ever. Europe has the GDPR, and the United States has numerous healthcare and financial regulations that you need to follow. Working with a company can save you time and money that would be spent doing everything yourself.

3. Source Verification

Your data is only as good as where you get it from. If you have a lot of unknown sources in your data, how do you know if you can trust the reports you get from your catalog?

Luckily, you can track this with data catalogs. You can track the source of data and how old it is. You won’t be asking yourself if data is trustworthy and current anymore.

4. Human and Machine Collaboration

Information isn’t worth anything if you don’t know how to use it. This is where machine learning comes into play.

For example, what would your business decisions be like if you could better predict user behavior? Instead of guessing, track what your users do and store it in your data catalog.

Your AI algorithms will analyze this data and begin predicting how users will behave in the future. You can use this data to make better business decisions, which will increase the profitability of your company.

5. Easier Data Consumption

It isn’t easy to create a system that’s easy to use for people who aren’t good at tech. Traditionally, you would need a staff of people to fulfill the requests of users.

You can’t overlook the importance of a data catalog in this case. Instead of waiting for your support staff to generate the data and reports you need, you can log into a data catalog and search for what you’re looking for.

The first benefit is through the use of saved queries. If there is a search that comes up often, a data catalog can store it to pull the data up instantly. If you’re pulling up a complex query, this can save a lot of time.

The second is through search. In traditional databases, this involves writing database queries to find what you’re looking for. Most people don’t know how to do that.

A data catalog search engine can perform plain text searches to find the data you need. You won’t need to be technical to search for data.

6. Maintainability

Have you ever taken a close look at all the places you store data?

You have spreadsheets, databases, online services, and third-party providers. Keeping all of this maintained can be a nightmare if you have a lot of data.

Keeping your data maintained is more straightforward with a data catalog. Your data is kept in one place and can be automatically updated on its own.

7. Collaboration

Having all your data in different locations isn’t only hard to maintain. It also makes it harder to collaborate.

A central database isn’t quite as bad, but what about documents? If you have people that maintain their own spreadsheets, then it can be hard keeping everyone up to date with the latest data.

A data catalog solves this problem by putting all data in a central location. This means everyone has access to the latest information and won’t have to track down the person who maintains the data to get an update.

8. More Metadata

Metadata is essential if you want to find the data you’re looking for quickly. It’s what categorizes and describes your data.

The good thing is that as your data catalog grows, metadata will be created automatically. Much of this information is tags that never existed before.

Your new metadata allows you to look at your data in new ways. This will give you new insights that will help your business.

Your metadata can also help you filter information that you don’t need. If you have a staff member that finds a set of data useful and can’t use all of it, metadata can allow you to filter out what you don’t need.

You only need to do this once. Then every person in your organization can take advantage of it.

Invest in a Data Catalog Today

Data is everything for business today. If you don’t invest in technology that makes it easy to use, then you’re going to fall behind. A data catalog can give this to your business, so invest in setting one up today.

Data catalogs aren’t the only technology available to you. Keep browsing our blog to learn more about how technology can help your business.

5 Benefits of Using Company Brochures for Your Small Business

Companies in the United States spend approximately $207 billion in marketing every year. They spend most of the money on televised ads, product events, and online promotion.

When searching for effective marketing materials, look no further than company brochures. Brochures offer a myriad of marketing benefits to your small business.

Here are five important reasons why you want to use brochures for your small business.

1. Brochures Are Easy to Distribute

Unlike newsletters, distributing brochures is easy. They are light enough to place in a variety of locations within a building.

You can bundle tangibles such as t-shirts with brochures to market your business.

Many people appreciate handling information in small packages such as brochures. Resources such as newsletters and company journals can be overwhelming.

2. Brochures Are Cost-Effective for Small Businesses

Most print shops will not turn away your business due to budget. In most cases, they will adjust their work to fit the bill.

You will also realize these cost savings using brochure templates, which help save time. There is a wide range of free and paid templates available on the internet.

There are numerous web resources available used to design marketing material. This will allow your small business save costs even more.

You should be aware that high-quality professional designs don’t come cheap.

3. Company Brochures Personalize Communication

Using a brochure gives you an opportunity to communicate with your audience easily and quickly. Personalized messages are more effective than those meant for a larger audience.

As your small company grows, adjusting the message on a brochure will be quite easy.

Many small companies have limited resources until they become profitable. Additionally, clients perceive brochures as professional tools common in established businesses providing quality products or services.

4. Business Brochures Are Effective for Marketing Purposes

Brochures will allow you to distribute important news about your products or services.

You can print a map on a brochure to direct potential customers to your business location.

A small business can use brochures to announce upcoming events such as sales and expos. This works if your business deals with niche products or services. The method is cheap and convenient for any small business.

The adage goes that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Any well-designed brochure will prove this point. Many businesses use charts in brochures to announce important news to potential customers.

5. Brochures Provide Consistent Branding

Whenever an ad is out of sight, it’ll be out of mind. This applies to both televised and online marketing platforms.

Businesses that use brochures don’t face such a problem because the target audience carries them home or places of work. This is an important aspect of creating a brand identity.

Get Started!

Often, all the information that can lead to a sale is well-summarized in a standard brochure. A small business can rely on these tools to generate engagement through such a tool.

Brochures are versatile tools which are necessary for every small business. Company brochures will supplement your small business efforts allowing it to grow. Contact us today and learn more.

Life-Changing Benefits of Not Drinking Alcohol for 1 Month

What happens when you stop drinking alcohol for a month? Quitting alcohol is an important goal for those that are addicted to it.

If you’re concerned about the negative long-term side effects, you might be encouraged to change your alcoholic lifestyle. Breaking free from alcoholism is a positive change that gives you the freedom to live a better life.

You can achieve many benefits of not drinking alcohol. Here are the key advantages you achieve when you commit to no alcohol for a month.

Mental Health Benefits of Not Drinking Alcohol

Living an alcohol-free month is the best choice you can make to improve your mental health. It is common knowledge that alcohol is a dangerous substance that harms the brain. Making the effort to give up on alcohol helps to relieve stress and makes you feel better about yourself.

When you quit drinking, your brain functions at optimal levels. The elimination of alcohol from your life begins with a visit to a coastal recovery center. These professionals can help you commit to your goals and helping you to lower your alcohol intake.

Liver Health

The liver is the most important organ in the body to remove toxins. Consuming large amounts of alcohol is harmful to the liver and leads to serious health issues. Some common liver disorders include hepatitis and cirrhosis. 

The liver also repairs itself when necessary. If you decide to give up on booze, the liver will regenerate itself to fix existing problems. Freeing yourself from alcohol prevents the liver from getting worse.

Sleep Improvement

Eliminating alcohol improves your sleep habits. Some people are unaware that drinking too much alcohol prevents them from entering into a deep sleep cycle. Daily drinking can also lead to severe cases of insomnia.

As a sober person, you have a better chance of being more healthy by improving the quality of your sleep. 

Prevent Heart Attacks

Quitting alcohol helps in the prevention of heart attacks, heart disease, heart failure, and other related problems. If you’re dedicated to your sobriety for one month, you can achieve cardiovascular health.

Alcohol affects the function of the heart because it increases your triglycerides, which causes an increase in high cholesterol levels. Too much alcohol also interferes with blood circulation throughout the body. Therefore, quitting alcohol improves the function of your heart and helps you to live a longer life.

Weight Loss

Weight loss is a wonderful benefit when you quit drinking alcohol. Alcoholics gain weight because of alcohol is stored in the body as sugar. It is this storage that converts to fat.

If you focus on losing weight, you can achieve your weight loss goals by not drinking. You have a chance of shedding pounds when you quit beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.

An Alcohol-Free Month Improves Your Health

Are you ready to reap the benefits of not drinking alcohol? When you give up on drinking, you have the peace of mind that your overall health will return to its normal function.

To read more informative content, visit our site.

The Benefits of Applying for No Credit Check Personal Loans Online

Did you know that the average American has about $38,000 in personal debt? 

That’s a $1,000 increase compared to the previous year, and it doesn’t even include home mortgages. Also, fewer people carry no debt anymore, a drop from 27% to 23%.

If you also experience problems with your finances, you might want to consider no credit check personal loans online. It’s the type of loan that’s becoming more popular than traditional loans. The main reason is due to its speed, convenience, and higher rates of approval.

Are you ready to learn how no credit check personal loans can benefit you? Read on and find out more.

The Benefits of No Credit Check Personal Loans Online

A common misconception is that only banks can become a trusted source of loans. But the good news is that over the years, a lot of people now put their trust in online loans. There are a lot of reasons to trust no credit check personal loans online, and here are some:

1. Convenience

This reason is one of the major benefits you can get when you try to get online personal loans. Unlike bank loans, you can apply for a personal loan from the comfort of your own home. These loan websites will let you fill in online forms that get your loans approved faster than any bank.

The best part is that all your dealings with the lender will happen in an online landscape. That means it’s much more convenient if you have a tight schedule. It’s also the best solution when you’re not the type of person that would want some extra trips to the bank.

The reason for this convenience is that online lenders aim to disrupt traditional banking. It’s due to the fact that most big banks won’t give quick access to capital when needed. They also have no streamlined processes that they can do from anywhere.

2. Lower Rates

Direct payday lenders won’t need any form of physical offices. That means their operating costs go down and they can offer lower rates and fees. Without any need for physical locations, they can also offer fixed interest rates.

You won’t have to worry about any fluctuations in the interest rates through your loan’s life cycle. It’s a beneficial option when you’re doing what you could to consolidate your loans. Paying off your student loans first using the money from this online source helps you pay less interest over time.

There are a lot of online loan providers out there that report to the credit bureaus. Loaning and paying on time using these lenders will help you improve your credit score. It’s a natural and legitimate way of raising your credit score instead of using credit repair companies.

But you need to remember that it will take some time. To make the most out of it, you need to pay all your bills on time each month.

3. Easier Access

It’s an accepted fact that banks are pick when they’re trying to lend money to people. They’re only likely to pick people with good credit scores and financial standings. In contrast, online loan services aren’t as meticulous with their set of requirements.

You’re more likely going to get an approval when you apply for online loans. In some cases, you won’t even need to have a good credit score since they won’t check. For example, some peer-to-peer lending sites will pitch out loans to individual investors.

If you’re lucky enough to get someone who’s willing to take your debt, you can get approval. It doesn’t matter whether you have a low credit score. This will help you get financing when you need it the most.

4. Partial Loans

Banks will always ask you to get approval for an entire loan. Depending on the type of online loan you’re getting, you might get the loan even in partiality. For example, a lot of peer-to-peer online lending services enable you to take the money even when only about 60-70% of it got funded by investors.

A peer-to-peer online lending platform has individual investors that will bid on the part of your loan. In some cases, they might even end up funding the full amount. Regardless, if you try this kind of service, portions of your loan get funded by any number of people.

This will give you some sort of peace of mind. After all, even when you don’t get approved for the entire loan, you still have a chance of getting a partial amount. This is necessary when you need to at least pay a certain portion of your debt each month.

5. Different Criteria

Bank lenders, regardless of whether it’s brick-and-mortar or online, will need you to have a good credit score. If you have bad credit, you won’t have any means of getting an unsecured personal loan from them. This isn’t the case with a lot of online lenders, especially those who don’t check your credit.

Some online lenders won’t take your credit history into account since they’ll look at other factors. They’ll check financial health markers like your employment history and monthly earnings. Traditional banks will do the same, but they’re more likely to loan to people with excellent credit scores either way.

6. More Features

Online lenders have stiff competition for the best customers. That’s why you’ll often see a lot of them offering different perks to their potential customers. For example, some lenders will have some sort of unemployment protection that puts your loan on hold if you lose your job due to unfavorable circumstances.

Try No Credit Check Personal Loans Online Today!

There are a lot of no credit check personal loans online but it’s important to do your research first before you try them out. There are unscrupulous lenders out there—stay vigilant and pick reputable lenders to ensure you get the most out of your loan.

Why stop here? If you’re in need of more guides, read more of our posts and discover more financial tips and tricks.

Getting Fit, Bit by Bit: The Top Benefits of a Fitbit

Believe it or not, only 23 percent of Americans get enough exercise each day to stay healthy. Between work and social obligations, finding the time to go to the gym or even take a walk is almost impossible.

But fitness trackers, like the Fitbit, help you stay active and monitor your exercise habits more accurately. Though they’ve been around for a while, a lot of people are hesitant to embrace their use.

Fitbits aren’t out to make your life harder—they’re designed to make your life easier. Read on to learn about the benefits of a Fitbit and see how they can help you reach your goals.

You’ll Move More and More Often

Fitbits track your movements throughout the day. No, not your physical location (though you can enable that on some models). They track your steps, your exercise, and your general activity.

And every time you move, your step count shows up clearly and conveniently on the screen.

When you can see how many or few steps you’ve taken throughout the day, you’ll find yourself motivated to move more. And the more you move, the more exercise you get.

Remember, exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous to count or to improve your health. And if you find yourself struggling to remember to get up and take a few steps, you can set an hourly reminder.

Lets You Customize Your Goals

Everyone has different fitness goals. And those goals can and will change over time. As you exercise more, you’ll want to reach new levels and push yourself harder.

If you don’t have a way to keep track of those goals, staying motivated can be tough. Fitbit allows you to customize your goals every step of the way.

Start with a lower daily step count goal to help you get moving consistently. As you go, you can increase that goal, set bigger exercise goals, and monitor your progress.

You can even set goals to help you monitor your water and food consumption throughout the day!

There Are Tons of Models to Choose From

Unlike many other smartwatches, Fitbit offers multiple models at different price points. This makes it easy for you to choose a model that fits your needs and your budget.

Choose a simple fitness tracker without a built-in display if you’re looking for the most affordable option. Or go with a smartwatch-style Fitbit that allows you to read texts, play music, and even use popular payment apps on the go.

There’s a model that will work for you. You just need to think about what you want your fitness tracker to do.

You Can Tailor the Look to Your Style

You don’t have to settle for the boring band included in the box. You can add personality and flair to your wrist by changing the band out.

Swap your band on your Fitbit Charge 2 or other models for something you’re comfortable wearing to work. And change it back to the one it came with when you feel like hitting the gym.

No matter what type of Fitbit you have, the straps are easy to remove. This makes it simple to clean the display and change your look based on your mood.

They Give You Insight Into Your Sleep Patterns

Unlike many fitness trackers, Fitbits help you monitor your sleep patterns. They record your heart rate and track how much you move throughout the night.

This allows their software to assess your sleep stages and show you how long you actually slept. If you’ve struggled with insomnia or have difficulty getting to sleep, this can give you and your doctor extra information.

Though it’s not a substitute for a sleep study, it can help you figure out which behaviors contribute to those sleepless nights.

Fitbit Are Rechargeable

Have you ever tried to replace the battery in a wristwatch on your own? It’s tough, to say the least.

You have to find a small enough screwdriver to remove the backing. And then you have to maneuver the battery into a tiny spot without dropping it or losing it.

When you invest in a Fitbit, you get the same time-telling convenience of a standard watch without the hassle of battery changes.

Fitbits are rechargeable through a custom USB cord. That means you won’t ever have to worry about changing the battery. Just pay attention to the battery level every time you sync the device.

When it gets low, charge your fitness tracker when you’re not planning on being active. This way you won’t miss out on steps.

Makes Exercise Social

Your journey to better fitness can feel lonely. And it’s especially true if you’re working out at home or getting into the zone on a treadmill.

And over time, keeping yourself accountable gets hard. You need that added motivation that social interaction can give you.

Fitbits allow you to make exercise a social competition. Compete with your friends who own Fitbits or compete with complete strangers.

The app allows you to interact and participate in unique challenges designed to get you moving every day. And if you need some time to yourself, they offer plenty of solo challenges to keep you motivated.

Experience the Benefits of a Fitbit Yourself

Fitness trackers are a great way to improve your health and get you moving every day. But Fitbit trackers offer a unique experience not provided by other brands. See the benefits of a Fitbit for yourself and take control of your fitness.

Looking for more helpful tips and strategies to improve your fitness even when you work a desk job? Check out our most recent posts!

Refurbished vs Pre-Owned: The Biggest Benefits of Buying Used Telecommunications Equipment

Worldwide, the information technology (IT) industry is estimated to reach $5 trillion in 2019.

IT is a vast and complex industry. It’s composed of equipment, software, personnel, and other components that constantly need upgrading. When it’s time to upgrade your IT, choosing refurbished vs pre-owned is important.

Used or refurbished network equipment is good for a new business or one that’s well-established. Some businesses equate refurbished and used with unreliable or faulty. We’re going to explain why that line of thinking is incorrect.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of buying refurbished.

Access to Better Tech

Some business owners assume that refurbished and used network equipment is faulty. In fact, many businesses offload IT that’s reliable and even new. Businesses sell perfectly fine IT equipment for a  number of reasons, including:

• making a small profit from surplus
• service level agreements with suppliers that require new equipment according to a contract
• the nature of some businesses requires them to have the latest equipment
• some businesses just have larger budgets that need to be exhausted

Often times, this used equipment will come with warranty coverage. In the case it doesn’t, used equipment gives you access to great tech at more cost-effective prices.

Access to Hard-to-Find Tech

Older equipment still has its uses. Especially when you have a tried-and-true piece of technology that you can’t part with.

In those cases, having a replacement and spare parts can come in handy. The majority of the parts in used and refurbished equipment is 100% salvageable.

Having older equipment on hand saves you precious downtime. You won’t have to go searching for a part that’s hard to find.

You’ll also save money on parts. This is because harder-to-find parts tend to be more expensive.

You pay premium prices for old parts because the supply doesn’t meet the demand. By having those on hand, you’ll save yourself from having to pay premium prices when something stops working.

Save Money

Used vs refurbished equipment is beneficial for established businesses and new businesses. Business both large and small can also benefit from purchasing used.

Of course, used IT equipment is the most cost-effective option and a great way to keep your costs low. Used IT gives you access to great equipment as well as pieces that are hard to find.

This is why refurbished and used network equipment is a smart alternative to buying new. And that’s especially true when you’re trying new technology with no proven track record.

Buying new doesn’t just mean paying premium prices for your equipment. Purchasing new equipment includes all the hidden costs you don’t see. This includes the costs for materials, production, research and development, and the wages that the manufacturer pays its workers.

When you’re looking refurbished and used the equipment, those costs are already covered and there might even be an opportunity to negotiate on price. For some of the best prices on IT equipment, shop our hardware.

Convenience

Large, expensive orders of new equipment can cause a headache. Whether ordering online or directly from a supplier, refurbished and used network equipment is a lot more convenient.

In many cases, suppliers of IT equipment don’t carry or stock the equipment that they sell because of the cost of the overhead. Instead, they order your equipment from another provider, who ships to them before it’s shipped to you. This can cause huge delays in getting your IT infrastructure setup.

But used and refurbished equipment are, by their nature, stocked by their suppliers. That means you don’t have to worry about delays. In many cases, you can have the product shipped right to your door for the ultimate in a convenient option.

Environmental Responsibility

When you throw away your old IT equipment and electronics, you’re contributing to pollution. Electronics contains heavy metals that pollute landfills and contaminate soil and groundwater. They’re also made of plastics that take hundreds of years to breakdown in a landfill.

Not only is the equipment itself a pollutant when it’s sent to the landfill, but the production methods for making that equipment is also harmful to the environment. It takes burning fossil fuels and consuming natural resources to produce these products, and reducing our reliance both is important for the future of the environment.

By purchasing used and refurbished products, you save them from ending up in a landfill. Those efforts can be used in Corporate Social Responsibility reporting, for press releases, and for community outreach – all of which can contribute to a better reputation for your business as well.

Buying Local

The ‘buy local’ movement has been spreading across the US for some time now. The concept behind this movement is that purchasing from local, independently owned business makes a positive impact on the local community and economy. And purchasing used and refurbished equipment can help you be part of this movement.

Purchasing your used and refurbished equipment from a local supplier or from a local company offloading their surplus keeps investments within your community. In addition, it can help you save on expensive shipping charges and make pickup or delivery more convenient. 

Refurbished vs Pre-Owned

Whether you’re buying refurbished vs pre-owned IT equipment, you’re doing the environment and your local community service. But more than that, you’re keeping your costs low while gaining access to reliable equipment. You might also consider buying refurbished or used network equipment to keep on hand for those times that your tried-and-true technology fails and you need a solution that’s both fast and cost-effective.

While some people wrongly assume that used and refurbished purchases are second-grade, that’s simply untrue. Your business stands to benefit from this option as long as you’re buying from a trustworthy and reputable supplier.

5 Benefits of Social Media Marketing

There are over 3 billion people with social media accounts worldwide. With numbers that massive, it is impossible to ignore the role that social media plays in our lives. If you run a business today and your company is not on social media, you need to get on it immediately.

Still not convinced? Read on, and we will show you the biggest benefits of social media marketing.

1. Increase Brand Recognition

If nothing else, the benefits of social media marketing allow you to get your company’s name out there. As your brand becomes more recognizable and more popular, it will be seen as more trustworthy and will stick in people’s minds for longer periods of time.

By using tools like hashtags, you can make sure that your posts will be filtered into like-minded timelines and news feeds. This can help you reach a more specific demographic simply by using the right keywords.

On Twitter, you can check out the trending bar to see what people are talking about. This lets you know what is popular at the moment and you can use these trending tags to reach even more people. By having a presence on multiple networks (you should be on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at a minimum), even apathetic social media users will start to recognize your brand.

All companies can benefit from increased brand recognition on social media. Whether you are a global, corporate juggernaut like Coca-Cola or this trusted company operating out of Palm Harbor, FL, social media can be a boon for your business.

2. More Chances for Conversion

At its essence, the point of all marketing is conversion. Conversion is when someone who is exposed to your marketing message performs the desired action, usually making a purchase.

And every post that your social media team makes is an opportunity for a customer to convert. Social media makes it very easy for users to react to posts. With just a tap of the finger or click of a key, users can like, comment, or repost your message. With each reaction comes a new opportunity for someone to visit your site which only increases your chances for conversion.

Obviously, not every reaction is going to lead to conversion. But as you rack up positive reactions, you are setting yourself up for a possible conversion windfall later on down the line.

Social media also increases your chances of conversion because it has the opportunity to humanize your company. Unlike other forms of marketing, social media marketing allows businesses to directly interact with customers and also make posts as a regular person would.

Customers more often than not respond positively to this. The most popular and viral corporate tweets and posts tend to not sound very corporate at all.

3. Lower Marketing Costs

According to a recent survey, over 84% of social marketers found that they experienced increased traffic when they put in as little as six hours of effort per week. That’s less than one hour per day. This statistic speaks to the power of a good social media strategy and emphasizes the old adage – work smart, not hard.

By putting in only one hour per day, you can experience some, if not dramatic, increases in your traffic. Start small and see what does and doesn’t work as you hone your social voice.

4. Target Specific Demographics with Facebook Ads

Facebook advertisements are among the most seen content on the internet right now. The beauty of Facebook Ads is that you have the option to filter who will see your ads based on information such as interests, age, relationship status, and more.

Plus, when you use Facebook Pixel, you are able to track all of the users who come to your site via your Facebook Ads. This, in turn, allows you to make custom ad campaigns specifically targeted to those who have already visited your site.

5. More Personal Customer Experience

Nowadays, people love getting notifications on their social media accounts. When someone reacts positively to your social media post, consider giving them a mention. This will make the user feel special and foster a stronger relationship between them and your brand.

Also, if a customer complains about your service or product on social media, take proactive measures. Reach out to that person either publicly or through private messaging and get to the bottom of the issue. By apologizing publicly, people who see the disparaging post are reminded that there is a human behind your social media team and that you care about your service and your customers.

People today don’t just want to buy from brands with quality products. They also want a brand that is going to treat their customers with respect. You want as little enemies as possible on social media. No company enjoys having their timeline clogged up with disparaging remarks from upset customers.

Reaping the Benefits of Social Media Marketing for Your Business

After looking at the benefits of social media marketing listed above, it is easy to see just how great this medium can be. As you start to dip your toes into the world of social media, remember to always be honest and treat your customers with respect.

Try to start out small and just have a presence on the major social media platforms. After you get the hang of it, consider branching out and getting creative on the smaller and more niche sites.

Looking for more informative marketing articles? Check out our blog today!

Going With the Pros: The Top Benefits of Hiring a Professional Graphic Designer

If your pipes fail, you bring in a plumber. If you break your leg, you call up a doctor. If you decide it’s high time your company updated its logo, are you sure you want to try to take on that task on your own?

There are specific tasks that we’re better off leaving to the pros. And, graphic design is one of those jobs.

A lot of business owners see graphic design as a luxury expense. After all, how hard can it be to draw up a compelling ad for your latest marketing campaign?

The truth is, there’s a lot more to graphic design than doodling logos. And, whether you’re looking to create a new website or engaging packaging for your store, a graphic designer can help you get the job done.

Still not convinced?

Here are a few of the top reasons why you should hire a professional graphic designer.

Time Is Money

As a business owner, your day to day life is probably already busy enough as is.

By hiring a professional graphic designer, you won’t have to worry about dedicating a lot of time trying to design your new website yourself.

And, on top of that, by bringing in a professional, you can make sure that the job gets done right and on time, saving you and your company plenty of time.

A Fresh Perspective

A professional graphic designer has years of experience in figuring out what works and what doesn’t. And, on top of all their design expertise, they can bring to the table one thing you’ll never be able to get from your in house team: an outsider’s opinion.

A designer will work with you to figure out what you’re looking for while introducing fresh ideas that could help take your brand to the next level.

Boost Your Brand

Every successful business owner knows that branding is everything.

Bringing on a professional graphic designer can help you take control of your company’s branding.

A designer won’t just create the perfect logo to represent your business. They’ll also be able to create everything from color palates to design schemes that can make your company look more professional.

Get It Done Right the First Time

Finally, as we said before if you want a job done right, you need to hire someone with the right tools and expertise.

A professional graphic designer doesn’t just come with experience. They also will already have all the design tools needed to get the job done.

Graphic design companies will be able to work with you to ensure that you get the best people for your specific task and that the job gets done on schedule.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Graphic Designer

Now that you know why you should bring in a professional graphic designer, it’s time to get to work.

Are you looking for more ways to boost your business? We can help!

Check out our other articles for more information on everything from how to master social media marketing to how to design the perfect logo.

Crack the Internet Code: 7 SEO benefits for any Industry

With the average small business now spending around $75,000 on digital marketing, it costs a lot to stay competitive. If you want to get ahead without spending money, just about every industry can see what SEO benefits are available to them. By adjusting your keywords and updating your site often enough, you’ll end up a notch ahead of everyone else.

Here are seven benefits to look out for.

1. It’s The Cheapest Thing Going

While hiring staff to handle your SEO isn’t going to be free of cost, the day to day maintenance of performing SEO has very little overhead. Compared to what you end up paying when you’re investing in print marketing, SEO is a much cheaper way to get the word out than just about anything else.

Since the whole point of search engine optimization is to get the most out of “organic search” your most authentic and sincere voice counts the most.

When you have users searching for something online, they’re already invested in the concepts around what they’re searching for. You’re not selling when you’re doing SEO right. You’re using your platform to respond to the needs of your potential clients and offering your services as one of the answers to their questions.

2. SEO Makes Traffic Explode

When you’re doing SEO right, you’re drawing traffic into your site like a magnet. Using snippets and short descriptions of what users can expect when they click your link, you can get more people excited about your content.

In just 160 characters, you have to win those clicks with a little bit of content engaging to users. It takes a lot of research but with so few sites taking advantage of this tool, you can get a lead on your competitors this way.

Rather than letting them move on to the next result, use your snippets to guide them to the link. Use the most pertinent keywords in your industry that are relevant to the link. Give them a chance to see what’s beyond that link and you’ll end up getting your visits to explode.

3. Make a Strong First Impression

The whole point of SEO is to massage that first impression that visitors get when they come across your company online. By putting your best photos out front, optimizing them, and scrutinizing your copy down to the letter, you get the chance to be clear and to the point. You’ll give them a taste of what you’re about quickly and easily.

By showing a short summary with a thumbnail of the main image on the page they’re about to click, you build trust before they even click. Because they can put an image with your content, they’ll be very interested in the information you give them by the time they click the link.

4. It’s a Competitive Sport

When you’re working on your SEO, you’re able to test your strategy against the other companies or brands in your market. You need to be using keywords that are relevant to your clients and essential to your industry. When you pair those keywords with information about where you’re located or what area you service, you’ll get a more accurate set of clicks to your site.

Take the time to analyze how your competitors are doing things. Run a few searches trying to get to your site without mentioning the name of your brand. See how you stack up in comparison to the other companies in your field and figure out which keywords they’re beating you with.

Add those keywords and improve upon them to get your own leg up. You’d be surprised just how competitive SEO for plumbers can be, for example.

5. Build Trust and Brand Awareness

When you’re at the top of your game in the SEO world, you get to be on the first page of Google results. This means a lot to users as far as how trustworthy and verifiable your information is. When you’re in the top three results, it means a lot more statistically than being at the next three.

Things drop off precipitously. Some SEO experts even joke that the best place to hide a dead body is on the second page of Google search results. While this is a morbid thought, it’s nonetheless true when it comes to building a name for yourself through your ability to rank highly in search results.

6. It’s An Investment at Little to No Cost

When you compare the work that you have to do to the returns that you get, there’s little doubt that working on an SEO campaign is worthwhile. The exposure that your site gets with a strong SEO campaign is on par with paid exposure you get from pay per click advertising. You’ll end up getting trustworthy exposure that your customers will appreciate.

At the same time, all you’re doing is using the keywords that are most likely to attract your audience. Because you’re not spending money on advertising and strategy, you can implement this with nothing more than access to your website and social media.

7. You Can Verify Success

When you use SEO, you’re able to measure your success or failure. With the help of tools provided by Google, you’re able to analyze just how well your site is doing.

You should check in with their webmaster tools and analytics software on a regular basis to see how your site has performed. Mark when you make changes so that you can tell home much of an impact you’ve had as you adjust your keywords.

SEO Benefits Are Powerful and Inexpensive

When you take advantage of SEO benefits, you’re preparing for the future. As search engines adjust for more natural question asking, your writing can be more straightforward, relaxed, and honest. As you get more sincere, your SEO is going to improve.

Next, you should check out our guide to make the most of content marketing for your business.