Action Life Media

action life media

7 Things to Put in Place Before You Start Your Home Renovation Project

One of the best things about being a homeowner is the freedom to customize your space however you see fit. If you don’t like the outdated kitchen design, you can tear out the whole thing and modernize it. If you don’t like a wall, remove it to open up the floor.

The point is when you buy a house, you can do anything you want to make it match your style and meet your design standards. However, before you dive headfirst into your next home renovation project, there are a few things you need to consider, or put in place to make sure you’re doing things right.

A little prep work can save you time and money, as well as prevent injuries and other disasters. We want to help set you up for success. Keep reading for our pre-renovation to-do list.

1. Your Renovation Budget

Let’s start with your home renovation budget. How much money have you set aside for this project? Are you sure it’s enough?

When it comes to contracting or construction work, it’s always a good idea to have more in your budget than you think you’ll need. You never know when something unexpected is going to come up. Whether you’re taking out a loan or using money from savings, make sure you account for any snafus you might come across during your project.

2. DIY or Professional Hire?

A big part of planning a home renovation project (and budget) is determining whether or not you need to hire a professional contractor. There are several factors that can determine your need for a professional contractor, such as:

  • Your skills and knowledge
  • City coding laws
  • Safety concerns
  • Craftsmanship standards
  • Tools and equipment
  • And more

You can save a tremendous amount of money by doing as much of the work as you can on your own. However, if DIY work will result in poorly executed work, unsafe conditions, or re-dos, it may be worth it to pay for a professional right off the bat.

3. City Coding Knowlege

Before starting a home renovation project, you must familiarize yourself with the city coding laws. Some projects require permits. For example, if you were to renovate a room and do your own electrical work, it could result in fines or major issues if you ever attempt to sell the home.

There are also neighborhood restrictions to consider, which can inhibit:

  • Buiding garages
  • Putting up fences
  • Installing swimming pools
  • Etc.

Violating city coding laws can result in heavy fines and penalties. In some cases, you may be forced to undo the project. The city could make you tear down a shed, fence, shop, etc.

4. The Right Tools and Equipment for the Job

Doing renovation work and remodeling your own home can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, if you don’t have the right tools for the job, the project can quickly become frustrating, if not altogether impossible.

Before jumping into a project, do some research to find out what tools are required. For expensive tools and equipment, consider renting them, rather than buying them. If the job calls for tools and equipment that you don’t know how to use, it may be best to hire a contractor, at least for that part of the project.

5. Safety Precautions

One of the biggest concerns with any construction or contracting project is safety. For this reason alone, many homeowners choose to hire professional contractors who have trained to complete certain jobs as safely as possible. This includes roofing work, electrical work, projects that require heavy lifting, projects that call for power tools or heavy equipment, and more.

While you absolutely should learn new skills and improve your maintenance and renovation knowledge, it may be best to observe a professional first. Picking up a new power tool for the first time without proper instruction can lead to poor craftsmanship, wasted materials, and potential injuries.

This may also mean investing in the appropriate personal protective equipment. For simple renovation projects, this typically means safety glasses, work gloves, and hearing protection (for loud power tools). However, it may also be beneficial to invest in a hard hat and knee pads.

6. Logistics

Setting yourself up for success is key to managing a smooth home renovation project. To do this, you need to think ahead and plan for all of the minor details and logistics. For example, if you or contractors are going to be coming in and out of the house, set down plastic sheeting to protect your floors from heavy workboots, mud, dirt, and other debris.

If you’re doing most of the work yourself, you need to think about how you’re going to buy and transport the materials you need. If you don’t have a truck, you may need to borrow one from a friend. Many home improvement stores also offer shipping options.

Additonally, you need to plan ahead for cleaning up after yourself. Big renovation projects that include tearing out old rooms or appliances create a lot of waste. It’s a good idea to look into different dumpster rental options.

7. A Detailed Plan

Finally, make sure you have a detailed blueprint or plan for your home renovation project. This needs to be complete with drawings, measurements, and the supplies needed.

Your design plan will help you compile a list of materials, supplies, and equipment you need to complete the project. Otherwise, you’ll end up making multiple trips to the home improvement store.

Finally, your plan should include a projected timeline or goal date in which to finish. Big projects can become tedious and some homeowners end up procrastinating.

A lot of people are guilty of finishing 90% of a project and then leaving it. For example, they’ll repaint an entire room but never get around to repainting the trim. To avoid this, give yourself a strict deadline and hold yourself accountable to it.

Are You Ready to Start Your Home Renovation Project?

If you’re itching to get started on your next home improvement project, don’t let us hold you back. However, we highly recommend taking the seven factors listed above into account before diving in. Otherwise, good luck with your project, we hope it turns out great.

And if you’re looking for more home improvement, budgeting, or DIY advice, be sure to take a look at come of our other articles before you go. We offer a wide selection of content with everything from homeownership to business marketing.

4 Tips on Hanging American Flags for New Homeowners

Just bought a new home? If so, one of the many questions that may be on your mind is how to display your flag.

Though hanging American flags is a show of patriotism, it can also be disrespectful. See, the U.S. flag code (established in 1942) has some strict rules on flag etiquette. For example, the most important date to let it fly is Independence Day.

Need a refresher on other flag-hanging guidelines? Here are four tips to help you ensure you’ll treat the national symbol with dignity.

1. Hang It Right

Don’t hang your flag upside down, backward, or in another unfit fashion. The only two proper ways to do it are horizontally and vertically. If you opt for the latter (such as hanging it against a wall), the stars should be on the left.

Regardless of how you hang your flag, don’t let it touch the ground. That said, you don’t have to dispose of the flag if it touches the pavement on accident. Still, make sure that it’s in good condition before you put it on display again.

2. Consider the Weather

If the forecast predicts rain, you’re not supposed to hang the flag. The only exception is if you have an all-weather flag made of nylon or other non-absorbent materials. According to the American Legion, most flags today are all-weather flags.

Another rule about hanging flags outside is to only do it from sunrise to sunset. Again, though, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. If your backyard is well-illuminated, feel free to let the flag hang the entire day.

3. Be Respectful

When it comes to where to hang flags, the American flag should always be above others. If your flags have to be at the same level, place the American flag on the far left. Don’t forget to hoist the Old Glory first and remove it last.

Before you hang your flag, make sure it’s in good condition. If you have a synthetic flag, you can machine wash it in cold water. For older or more fragile flags, use Woolite or similar products. Mending small tears is fine.

4. Know When to Go Half-Staff

The most common time to fly your flag at half-staff is from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day. You should also do it when the nation is in mourning. As the name implies, half-staff refers to the position halfway down the pole.

Before flying the flag at half-staff, hoist it to the peak for a few seconds. Do the same before lowering it for the day. If this often leads to your flag wrapping around the pole, consider getting a rotating flag pole.

More on Hanging American Flags

By following the above tips, you should have no issues with Flag Code violations. One final tip: dispose of your old flags in a respectful, ceremonial manner. Make sure to do it discreetly, as other people could misunderstand your intentions.

Want to more about hanging American flags? Interested in learning the etiquette about displaying flags inside your home? Keep reading our Home & Garden section!

5 Common Facebook Messenger Mistakes to Avoid for Businesses

Do you own your business? If so, then you know marketing your brand is very important in increasing your sales. In this modern digital age, there is no better tool for marketing than social media, with 3.8 million users worldwide you are guaranteed to reach your target audience.

Social media and Facebook Messenger is a reliable marketing tool that you can utilize if you know the right way to use it. Keep reading to learn the common social media and Facebook Messenger mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Posting to Often

When it comes to marketing you should follow the general rule that less is more. Most people will get tired or aggravated if they constantly see the same ad for the same product over and over again. The last thing you want to do when showcasing yourself is to become tiresome and redundant.

Facebook suggests that new brands post once or twice a week on the platform and then see which ads work best for them. A lot of companies will post once a day, but many admit that if they post more often than that, they will have a negative result with engaging their customer.

The average user will “like” five to six new Pages a month which means that your content is constantly fighting to remain interesting and grab attention from your followers. You should focus on posting one really good post each day rather than two or more decent ones.

To stay engaged with your followers daily, you can “like” and respond to customer comments on your posts. This adds a more personalized level of interaction and if you tag the person you are responding to it will encourage them to come back to your Page.

2. Having Monotone Conversations

Of course, when using social media sites you are reaching a lot more customers than you or your staff can keep up with. This means you will have to utilize bots and chatbots to help you manage the traffic. If a customer reaches out to your company using Facebook Messenger then your chatbot will be in charge of holding a conversation with them.

When your customer is reaching out to you the last thing they want is a frustrating and dry conversation with a robot. This is a great opportunity for you to engage with your customer and have a meaningful interaction with them.

Your chatbot should be able to refer to the client individually, offer some ice-breaking statements, and deals that are personalized for them. You should use a Facebook chatbot that can improve conversions for customer service and provide follow-up with your customers.

3. Not Having a Live Agent

Chatbots are great for when you need help handling customers with straightforward questions or scenarios. There may come a time though when your customer has a need that is more complicated than a chatbot can handle. In these situations, you will need your chatbot to be able to refer this customer to a live agent.

When developing the chatbot for your company you should consider all the different scenarios that might happen when a customer is using it. You should identify the different questions, requests, and messages someone might ask and all the appropriate responses that should be given. After the chatbot is rolled out, the conversations and responses should be reviewed now and then for accuracy and updated as needed.

4. Don’t Retain Information

Most users these days realize that when they reach out to a company online through a website or sites like Facebook Messenger they will be talking with a chatbot. They are generally happy with this as long as they can receive the service they need and the information they desire.

However, this system fails when the user is not receiving a certain amount of engagement when talking to the chatbot. This means the bot should be able to retain information from the user such as their name, what their inquiry or problem is, and how to best help them get to the next step.

To keep your customers happy your bot should be able to retain this information for the duration of the conversation and respond accordingly.

5. Taking to Long to Respond

When your customer reaches out to you using Facebook Messenger they should immediately receive an automatic greeting. This way the person knows that their message has been received and help is on the way. You can personalize this message by adding the user’s name in the greeting and perhaps a question asking how they can be helped today.

Once the user has responded, a message replying with thanks or information regarding how they can be helped today should follow. The bot should also determine whether a live agent will be required for further assistance.

If you don’t have an automatic reply set up and the message goes unanswered by your business, then the customer will get frustrated and might not want to continue doing business with you. If you don’t have a chatbot to respond with automatic replies then you need to do your best to get to each query in a timely fashion.

When using Facebook Messenger, the user knows that their message was viewed as soon as you open the chat. If you are not ready to respond then wait to open the message. This will keep the user from thinking that their message was received and is now being ignored.

Learn More About How to Avoid Facebook Messenger Mistakes for Your Business Today

These are some of the most common social media and Facebook Messenger mistakes your business can make when getting started. One of the main things to keep in mind is to avoid posting ads on your Page too often, less is always more.

When using Facebook Messenger to help assist customers, be sure to use a chatbot that has been tested to be engaging with the person. The bot should be able to respond with personalized answers to their questions and should know when to refer the user to a live agent for additional assistance. Also, make sure you are responding to messages in a timely fashion so the customer doesn’t feel as if they are being ignored.

If you would like more business tips or ideas be sure to visit our website daily!

5 Tips on Throwing Your First Pool Party

There’s nothing like going to an awesome pool party on a warm summer day. The only thing better? Having your own pool and throwing the first pool party of the year.

However, if you’re new to hosting pool parties, you may want to hit the brakes to make sure this thing goes off without a hitch. Let’s start with a little planning. After all, if you’ve never done this before (or since last year), it won’t hurt to make some preparations.

We’re here to help. Keep reading for our top five tips on throwing an extraordinary pool party.

1. Make Sure Your Pool is Prepped

First and foremost, you need to focus on the main attraction – the pool. Now that summer’s here, have you made sure the pool is ready?

You need to make sure the pool is clean and has the appropriate amount of chemicals. You’ll also want to double-check that the pump and filter are working properly. For more information, check out this article on how to prepare your pool before summer starts.

2. Invite the Right People

Now that your pool is ready, it’s time to start building your guest list. If this is your first pool party, you may not know how important it is to invite the right people.

It’s a pool party, so you don’t want your entire guest list to be made up of people who are too shy to strip down to their bathing suits to jump in the water. However, you should also avoid inviting people who like to cause problems (like splashing people who aren’t in the pool, pushing others into the water, etc.).

3. Provide Appropriate Summer Foods and Drinks

Next, let’s focus on food and drinks. You want a great summer spread that will help keep people satisfied, fresh, and hydrated. We recommend light foods like fresh fruits, smoothies, etc.

It’s okay to provide alcohol for your guests. However, remember that drunkenness and swimming pools can lead to dangerous situations.

4. Craft Your Pool Party Playlist

Once you’ve established your guest list and have started to get an idea of the feel of your party, you can craft your playlist. For pool parties, you want to keep the mood light and happy. You can also push for a theme, like tropical music, but that may get boring after the first hour or so.

5. Come Up With Entertainment

Finally, strategize about entertainment. Your first pool party budget may be a bit limited, but there’s no reason you can’t ask guests to chip in.

Ask people to bring fun outdoor games like cornhole, horseshoes, etc. You can also come up with fun pool party games like volleyball, Marco Polo, and more.

Getting Ready to Throw Your First Pool Party?

Your first pool party is going to be a blast. Don’t get too hung up on any of the details or you’ll end up stressing out about it. And it’s just as important for you to enjoy your pool party as it is for everyone else.

If you’re looking for more tips on life, take a look at some of our other articles. We have tons of content on everything from throwing parties to climbing the corporate ladder.

10 Travel Essentials When You’re Trying to Kick Bad Habits

Traveling can be one of life’s great joys, but traveling when trying to kick bad habits can be harrowing. The stress of dealing with luggage delays or getting lost on the road is usually outweighed by the fact that you are getting a change of scenery and doing something fun.

However, coupled with the challenge of trying to quit your tobacco use, minor inconveniences turn into unbearable catastrophes. “20 questions” goes from being a fun family road trip game to being a form of inhumane torture; and if you have to listen to Baby Shark on the radio one more time, you may just get out and walk the rest of the thousand miles to Disney World.

No matter what habit you’re trying to eliminate from your life, making sure you pack a few essentials can mean the difference between having a vacation where everyone gets on your nerves, and having the time of your life. Keep reading to learn what you need to have on hand to help you change your habits while creating happy memories.

1. Natural Supplements

Most people don’t think about nutrition when they are on vacation; but getting the vitamins you need will help you stay calm and maintain energy levels throughout the day. Having some green tea on hand will help you relax, and CBD can serve several purposes.

CBD gummies are discreet and you don’t have to worry about the liquid limitations on the plane. You can have them in your carry on and snack on them to help manage flight anxiety. If you’re going to be doing a lot of movement on your trip, CBD can help reduce stiffness and soreness, and the best CBD gummies for pain also help you get a good night’s sleep even if that hotel bed is not as comfy as advertised.

Evn CBD is one of several companies that offer top-quality CBD products at reasonable prices. You just may want to make sure you get in the routine of taking them before you travel, so you know how they make you feel ahead of time.

2. Healthy Snacks

Making sure you have healthy snacks on hand will help you occupy your hands and mouth without packing on the pounds. Nuts are full of protein to give you long lasting energy, but they are high in calories and fats—so you don’t want to overdo it.

Veggies and hummus are great to keep in your cooler on road trips, and popcorn provides a satisfying crunch without loading you down and making you tired. Just make sure to bring enough to share if you are traveling with family.

3. Gum

Many people who have committed to quitting smoking or chewing tobacco, start chewing gum as a replacement. If this describes you, pack plenty of gum for your whole trip, and keep it handy for when the stress starts to close in.

4. Water

Staying hydrated will give you the energy you need to deal with the additional stress of withdrawal from the habit you are trying to kick. It’s refreshing and cooling; and studies show that drinking very cold water through a straw can replace the oral sensation of a cigarette, and it gives you a shot of dopamine as well.

5. A Deck of Cards

A deck of cards will not only give you something to do with your hands, but it will also help you and your travel companions keep from being bored during long flight delays and layovers. Learn a new game or a few card tricks, and you will be the life of the party while you wait for the wings of your next flight to be de-iced.

6. Headphones

Headphones block out the noise that may be driving you crazy when you’re experiencing the anxiety of a craving. Playing some soothing music can help you get to sleep, or you could listen to a guided meditation to relax on a long flight or car ride.

7. A Book

Take a book you’re excited about reading to give yourself something to do with your hands and take your mind off of withdrawal symptoms for a while.

8. Something Indulgent

You’re on vacation, so you should not deprive yourself of treats. Just make sure to keep your consumption at a reasonable level. Dark chocolate can help curb hunger, and who doesn’t love chocolate?

9. A Full Itinerary

When you’re busy (especially in places where smoking is prohibited), you spend less time thinking about whatever habit it is that you’re trying to kick, and more time thinking about the task at hand. Make sure your days have lots of fun activities so that you don’t even want to stop long enough to pay attention to any cravings you have.

10. A Sense of Humor

Let’s face it. Traveling can be stressful, and so can kicking bad habits. But making sure you’re able to let it go and laugh is the best way to guarantee you have a great time on your trip no matter what. So toss your head back and let out a hearty belly laugh to start your journey off right.

 

Top tips for creating a sturdy, damage resistant interior

If you are wondering how to make your home more accident proof, or you are someone who lives in a busy household with pets and children, then this article will give some helpful tips and tricks on how to ensure your furniture will not damage easily and how to eliminate potential hazards within your home.

Make sure your flooring is of high quality

It is important to make sure the flooring within your home is of a high quality, especially if your house hold is large and accident prone. Whilst there are many flooring options available, it is a good idea to rule out the rule of carpet, as carpet can tear, and it can be very difficult to remove stains from this material. If you have pets, carpet isn’t a good idea either, as cats in particular claw soft surfaces. Underfoot Flooring is a good place to start your search for new flooring, as they offer a variation of hard wearing floors with a decent warranty guarantee.

Leather sofas are the best idea

Leather is a very sturdy material, which isn’t prone to wear and tear. If you are looking to invest in a sofa that will last in your home for decades, then leather is the way to go. As explained previously, if you have pets, soft material furnishings are not a good idea and they will not last as long as leather. Children also like to climb and play on sofas, so if you are worried about the potential damage that could be caused, it will be of your benefit to consider using leather.

However, if you like many people are against using leather because it comes from an animal, faux leather works just as well as the real thing and many sofa companies offer their products in this material.

Avoid having glass objects in your home

Glass is a very fragile material and lots of at home disasters happen because of the fragility of glass. The best way to avoid potential mishaps and health hazards with glass is to avoid having glass in your house full stop. This of course doesn’t include glass windows or mirrors, but it isn’t necessary to have glass drinks glasses, vases and tables. Plastic and aluminium items are sturdier alternatives which are far more resistant than glass.

Avoid using a fire place

Fire is probably the worst hazard there is, although fire places served a great purpose in earlier years, there is no longer the need to heat your house by solely using a fire pit. If you don’t need to use fire to heat your home, then it is a good idea to stop lighting the fire as it is a big danger. If you really have to use a fire pit within your home, be sure to use a fire guard if you have pets and children to ensure no one is harmed by the flames.

Don’t wear outdoor shoes in the house

If you want to protect your flooring, the best way to prevent premature wear and tear is to not wear your outdoor shoes in the home. Not only does wearing outdoor shoes inside bring mud and dirt into the home, but shoes can scratch and damage the flooring, so if you want your floor to look great for as long as possible, avoid wearing shoes indoors. If people for instance, tradesman have to wear shoes inside your home, offer them shoe protectors to avoid any potential damages that their shoes may cause.

 

6 Factors to Consider Before Choosing Web Designers

As a small business owner, your website can be a great salesperson for your business or it can be offputting and turn potential clients and customers away. 

For this reason, many business owners opt to hire a professional web designer to ensure their website is designed to be effective and high-performing. While this is a great idea, it’s important to realize that not all designers are created equally. It’s essential to vet your designer to make sure you are choosing the right fit.

Fortunately, choosing web designers can be as simple as following a few tips during your search. If you are looking for a web designer, here are a few factors to consider.

1. Experience

One thing to consider is the web designer’s experience. You want to ensure the designer you choose can create the best site for your company. Ask about the designer’s experience with companies that have similar goals as you do.

2. Expertise

While many people can design a pretty website, you want to choose a designer who has the expertise to create a functioning site. Your designer should know how SEO works, the common reasons why to hire a web designer, and how a website can boost your business. Make sure your designer has the know-how to create a profitable site.

3. Reputation

While the internet is vast, the world of online business owners can be pretty small. For this reason, a quick Google search should give you an idea of a designer’s reputation. Look for trends, such as charging extra, ignoring deadlines, or being difficult to work with in general.

4. Design Process

Every designer has a design process they follow to create and build websites. While no design process is wrong, some may not fit with your working style and expectations. Talk to the designer about their process, to see how long it takes, how involved they expect you to be, and more.

5. Portfolio

One of the best ways to evaluate a potential web designer is to look at their portfolio. While your website should be unique, you can get an idea of what the designer is capable of from their portfolio. If you do not enjoy the style of their work, consider moving on.

6. Testimonials

Asking for references and reviews is a great way to get a first-hand account of how it may be to work with a specific designer. While these are from satisfied customers, you can still learn a lot from these reviews. As for testimonials to help you make your decision.

Consider These Factors When Choosing Web Designers

By following these tips for choosing web designers, you can make sure you will choose the right designer for you and your company.

Make sure you are considering experience, expertise, and reputation. You also want to ask about the designer’s process, portfolio, and testimonials. Most of all, make sure the designer you choose has a communication style that is a good fit for your personality.

Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to an attractive and effective website.

Don’t forget to browse our site for advice on advertising, business, technology, and more.

Start the School Year off Right: How to Find the Right Laptop

In California, there are about 150,000 students that need laptops for school, and across the country, those numbers are even higher.

If you’re trying to find the right laptop for school, you’re definitely not alone.

But what are you supposed to look for when trying to decide on a laptop? With how expensive they are, this is a purchase that you should take your time and research.

Thankfully, we’ve already got some information to help you get started, so keep reading!

Operating System

The most important thing you should consider when trying to find the right laptop is what operating system you want to use. When you buy a laptop, it will most likely come with one of these operating systems: Windows or Mac.

Windows is most commonly used across all kinds of brands, but the Mac operating system only comes with MacBooks and Apple Products.

Windows

Windows might be the most popular and flexible operating system because it runs on more models of PCs. Chances are that you probably used a Windows computer at some point, so you might like it and be familiar with it.

Windows actually makes their own laptops, and they’re good quality too. However, you might have to pay a little bit more in order to get it.

With Windows 10 (their latest update), you’ll be able to use all kinds of interesting features, like Cortana, your personal digital assistant. With that, you can use it to search your email or take down notes very easily.

The Microsoft Suite, like PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and Excel will be able to run easily on Windows computers as well. If you’re going to be writing a lot of papers or giving a presentation, this might be the best option for you.

MacOS

On the other hand, if you’ve grown up with Apple products, you may be more familiar with the Mac operating system.

It functions similarly to Windows 10, but it has a completely different interface and setup. It may take a while to get used to, but it is a very powerful system.

Instead of Cortana to help you, you’ll have Siri, and it will also sync up with any of your other Apple Devices. Because of its sync-ability, you’ll also be able to FaceTime, send texts, or even make Apple payments from your laptop.

However, one of the biggest downsides of a Mac operating system is that it doesn’t have the capability to support touchscreens. So if you want a touch screen to take notes or draw, you’ll either need to get an iPad or a Windows computer.

Storage

Another thing you’ll need to consider is the storage space on your device.

Most newer laptops come with an SSD, which is the amount of storage that you’ll be able to have for your local devices. A computer takes about 2GB to run the basic tasks, and any applications or files you store on there will just take up more space.

Most laptops will come with at least 256GB of SSD, but some of them can hold up to as much as 1TB. When deciding what size to get, you should really decide how much you’re going to need to store on your laptop.

If you’re going to be storing a lot of files on a cloud system, you may be okay with the 256GB.

CPU and RAM

The CPU is basically like the computer’s brain, and it controls how everything operates. Because of that, you need to make sure you choose a good CPU.

The two main CPU providers are AMD and Intel, although Intel is more common. Intel comes out with all kinds of great updates and technology advancements, but AMD also offers cheaper pricing if you’re on a student budget. If you are on a student budget, make sure you check out lenovo.com for all kinds of great pricing and sales!

However, both of them are still effective and will ensure that you can get all your schoolwork done.

Another component to consider is the RAM. This will determine how fast your computer can handle certain tasks. If you’re just using it for basic school needs, you probably only need between 2 to 4 GB of RAM.

However, if you’re a graphic designer or will need to use a lot of apps and programs, you should probably get somewhere between 4GB to 8GB of RAM.

Portability

If you’re going to be going from class to class and walking across campus, you’ll probably want a laptop that’s not going to weigh your backpack down. However, if you’re going to just be taking online classes, you might be okay with getting something a little bit heavier and durable.

If portability is important, you should consider the main different sizes that laptops can come in.

11 to 12 Inches

These are some of the smaller and thinnest laptops that you’ll be able to find. These may not work well if you want to game or run large programs, but they are great if you just need it for simple tasks.

These laptops will normally weigh somewhere between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds, so it will fit perfectly in your backpack.

13 to 14 Inches

These laptops generally weigh under 4 pounds.

While they’re still small, they are normally the perfect balance between having everything you need while also not weighing a whole lot.

15 to 16 Inches

This is probably the most popular and standard size for laptops. However, depending on the brand you get, it could weigh between 4 to 5.5 pounds.

This laptop will have a large screen, but you may not want to get this one if you are planning on carrying it everywhere you go.

It’s also difficult to find Windows laptops that have 16-inch screens. If you want a 16-inch screen, you’ll likely have to purchase a Mac.

17 to 18 Inches

Lastly, you’ll have the larger of the laptops. This size of a laptop will have to stay at your desk all day, so if you’re going to be only taking online classes, this should work perfectly.

These types of laptops normally also have larger computing power, so you’ll be able to enjoy playing video games after all of your schoolwork is done.

Battery Life

If you’re going to be going from class to class, you may not have time to sit down and actually charge your laptop.

Thankfully, there are laptops out there that will last up to twelve hours, which should be enough to get you through the day. However, some of the older laptops will only have a battery that lasts a few hours.

Some of the main things that drain your battery is having a larger screen, a higher resolution, more processing power, or a faster hard drive can all affect your battery life. Make sure you take note that these are all things of what to look for in a laptop.

Budget

You’ll need to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on a laptop because this will help you narrow down which ones to look at.

If you want to buy a used laptop, you can normally find some decent ones between $200 and $500. However, if you’re willing to spend a little bit more, you can get one that is better quality, runs faster, has a good display, and will last you a while.

$350 to $600

If you buy a laptop in this range, you’ll likely be able to get an Intel Core i5 processor, which should be enough to run most programs. You’ll also get between 4 to 8GB of RAM, and at least a 500GB hard drive.

However, these laptops normally won’t have an SSD, but an actual hard drive.

$600 to $900

This is when you’ll be able to start finding the nicer laptops, including ones that have a metal finish instead of a plastic one.

You’ll be able to get an SSD as well, along with better screen quality.

$900+

While this may be a little bit out of your budget, this is where you’ll find some of the best laptops.

They’ll be both powerful and portable, and you’ll have perfect graphics and faster processors. These laptops will last you a lot longer as well, so they’re a great investment.

If you’re going to be spending this much on a laptop, make sure that you look at the particular one and read all the reviews you can about it before deciding.

Learn More About How to Find the Right Laptop for School

These are only a few things to consider when trying to figure out how to find the right laptop for school; however, there are many more specifications to look at.

We know that it can be overwhelming to try and wade through all of the new technology that’s out there, especially when you have so much homework that needs to be done.

That’s why we’re here to help make sense of it for you! If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this one!

How to Build Business Relationships With New Hires: A 5-Step Guide

Experts in Human Resources and talent development agree that professional success is based on your ability to build business relationships. In the case of managers and employees, interpersonal communication and positive interactions can create an atmosphere of trust. It also helps people feel like valued members of a team.

To motivate your team members, learn how to grow professional relationships. This article will provide a five-step process to develop effective and successful connections with your team.

1. Build Business Relationships With New Employees

The best way to ensure employees feel valued is to learn how to build business relationships from the moment they come on board. Establish an understanding of your role and their role. Outline their responsibilities and expectations, and give them a clear picture of how their performance impacts the rest of the team.

With nearly a third of the workforce feeling undervalued, it’s crucial to establish a sense of worth from the beginning.

2. Provide Specific Training

Every company has some type of orientation or onboarding procedure that is appropriate for every team member. But some employees have specialized skills or job expectations that require individualized training.

Salespeople, for example, are the lifeblood of any organization. They are responsible for generating new and ongoing business. Training them to be effective at sales is important, but teaching them to sell your product or service is essential.

Take the time to prepare sales training for new hires now rather than later. Help them understand the need to foster business relationships inside your company and with their clients. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for salespeople to be successful.

3. Show Your Appreciation

Goals and benchmarks are essential to help people understand what they are working to achieve. Equally important is showing appreciation for the effort to attain them and celebrating accomplishments when they exceed them.

Many employees spend more time at work than they do with their families. Show your thanks with notes of encouragement or a check-in meeting to review their successes. This takes very little of your time, but the goodwill it creates will pay dividends in the long-term.

4. Listen to Others

If you want to know how to grow business relationships learn to listen twice as much as you speak. Your employees and colleagues learn to trust you if you actively listen to what they have to say.

Listen to people without trying to finish their sentences or anticipating what they will say next.  Ask questions, when appropriate, to demonstrate you are engaged in the conversation. Allow the other person to speak until they are finished communicating all of their thoughts, ideas, or concerns.

5. Meet Your Deadlines

It’s easy for project timelines to slip or tasks to go undone when the workplace becomes chaotic or overwhelmed with demands. Always keep your commitments and meet your deadlines. If circumstances arise that prevent you from being able to, communicate a plan to achieve a new deadline.

Be a People Person

To build business relationships make personal connections and nurture them over time. It’s critical to make sure people understand their roles and responsibilities and have specific training to help them succeed. Being a good listener and keeping your commitments will endear you to your employees and your customers.

For more insight and advice on business relationships and professional development, explore the rest of our site.

8 Reasons You Need a Great Digital Marketing Strategy

Are you wondering why people aren’t flocking to your business? The question you should be asking yourself is, are you positioning your business to be in front of your customers?

A reported 81% of customers now do product research online before shopping. If you can’t get ahead of these people, they’ll never find your store.

You’re leaving a lot of money on the table if you don’t create a digital marketing strategy. Below are eight reasons why creating a digital marketing strategy is worth the effort.

1. Your Customers Are Searching Online

The number of people who spend their day going to stores and window shopping is coming to an end. People today like to research the products they buy before they make a decision. Why travel to a store when you can find everything you need without leaving the comfort of your home?

You need to be visible to people looking for products when they’re in the research process. Your digital marketing strategies will put your company in front of these people. If you don’t, you’ll lose potential sales to your competition who create a marketing strategy.

2. Learn About Your Customers

If all you’re doing is throwing up a few ads online and hoping for the best, you’re missing the point of online advertising. There is a treasure-trove of information on the internet. You can use this information to learn about your customers.

Learning about the people who buy your products is essential to creating better marketing materials. As you get sales from your ads, you learn about the demographics of your customers. Use this information to hone in your marketing strategy so you can create more targeted ads that get a faster return on your money.

3. Save Money

There is a lot of hesitation when companies venture into new marketing territories. People are afraid of wasting money and getting no value from their efforts. Luckily, that’s not the case with digital marketing.

Like most marketing methods, you likely won’t make money from your first round of ads. Your goal is to generate enough data to figure out what works with your audience online.

Once you can target your ads to the right people, digital marketing becomes a very affordable marketing engine that generates a great return on your money. The costs of digital marketing are worth the value you get once you optimize your ad campaigns.

4. Optimize Your Conversions

Many companies fail to understand that writing compelling ads are only one part of the digital marketing process. If you want to learn how to create a digital marketing strategy, you need to understand the art of conversion optimization.

Conversion optimization is the process of making small changes to your landing pages to see what happens. These changes can be anything from changing one word to changing the color of a button.

The goal isn’t to make sweeping changes. It’s to make small, incremental ones to see what increases your conversion rate. With a good strategy, you can improve your conversion rates by several percent across the board.

5. Interact With Customers

A digital marketing strategy isn’t only a way to get a customer and never hear from them again. Your plan will likely involve building social media channels on the internet. Each of your social media properties is a way for your customers to reach out.

Your marketing strategy will help people connect with your company on a more personal level. They can reach out when they have problems or interact with your business when you produce new content.

Doing this will help people feel more connected with your brand. It makes it more likely that they will think of your business the next time they need to buy a product you sell.

6. Target Mobile Users

You have a lot of options when in digital marketing when you’re a brick and mortar business. You don’t only have the opportunity to target people based on their specific demographics. You can also target people by their location in the real world.

One of the most significant issues for local stores is finding customers who are close to their location. It’s easy to find them when they’re in the comfort of their own home. The problem with this is that they typically aren’t in a buying mood.

Local operations can use geofencing technology to target people when they are out and about during the day. Since someone is already local to your area when they see your message, they will be more likely to visit your store if you send them the right messaging.

7. Retain Your Customers

Attention is everything in the online world. With all the distractions online, it’s hard to keep people’s attention for an extended period. An excellent digital marketing plan will help you do this.

Engaging content is critical if you want to keep people focused on your business. You can do this by creating videos, blogs, and social media content.

Doing this will help build trust with your customers. People will know you as the authority in your industry. It reduces the friction people have when buying from unknown stores.

8. Increase Your Reach

Selling to people outside of your local area might seem out of reach if you’ve never done it before. After all, it’s easy to put a sign in a window and have people walking buy come into your store.

The good news is that you can drastically grow your business online with nothing more than a website. Technology has advanced enough to make it possible for regular people to set up shop online in a few minutes.

Your digital marketing strategy will help you grow your business outside of your local area by sending traffic to your website. Expanding your reach will reduce your risk and help you stay afloat during hard times.

Start Your Digital Marketing Strategy Today

You can’t afford to not market yourself online in today’s world. More people than ever use the internet to search for products. Create a digital marketing strategy today, so you have a way to put your products in front of these people.

If you enjoyed this post, head back to our blog. You’ll find more digital marketing tips that will help you find more customers.

Newsletter

Facebook

Action Life Blog