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December 22, 2020 by: Miles

How to Use Heatmaps for Website Improvement

How do you know what’s hot and what’s not? Heatmaps! You have 15 seconds from when a user hits your website to when they navigate away if they don’t find what they’re looking for. That’s not a ton of time to capture their attention!

Or is it?

Learn how to use website heatmaps to improve your website and drive new organic traffic straight to your products or services with these key tips.

What Are Website Heatmaps?

Before we dive in, let’s learn a bit more about what heatmaps are and what you can learn from them. There are a few types of heatmaps you can use to review your website. Each is a data visualization tool that shows where your users spend the most time on your site.

There are three types of website heatmap tools:

  • Click Maps: Where are users clicking or tapping most often?
  • Scroll Maps: How far down each page do most users scroll?
  • Movement or Hover Maps: Where do your user’s cursors go?

With these data points, an overlay lights up your pages to show where your site gets the most attention. The red areas are where the most user interaction is and the blue, green, or blank areas are the coldest.

Each of these maps gives you informative data on your users’ behavior. Not only does this help tell you what they respond well to, but also what they don’t like or see on your site.

Website Heatmap Uses

Now that you know how website heatmapping works and where the data comes from, what can you do with that information? There are a few routes to go here.

On the Homepage

If your heatmap shows little click engagement on the homepage, you’ve got a problem. That means most people aren’t landing there and navigating through the site, so one of two things has happened.

1. It’s possible your users find you through content or products instead of the homepage and navigate through those instead.

Or

2. Potential customers see your homepage and are deterred for some reason.

If it’s the latter, don’t fret! That’s actually much easier to fix. Make sure your homepage has engaging copy with actionable wording and interesting graphics or photos, without being too cluttered. Your mission should be obvious from just a couple of seconds on the homepage.

Ultimately, want to make sure that when your homepage comes up, you are what the customer needs. Another way to tackle this is through the world of SEO.

Search Engine Optimization

Let’s say you’re a company that installs green roofs. Super cool! But, if you aren’t using SEO, you might not be what searchers are looking for when they Google, “commercial roofing” or “residential roofing”.

Without search engine optimized pages, Google won’t promote your page to the first page of search results. That affects how much organic traffic you get.

Luckily, with a bit of research and tweaking, you can optimize your site to make it easier for Google to see and make it exactly what customers need when they search certain terms.

Here are some ideas (informed by heatmaps) to improve SEO:

  • Do speed tests to make sure every page loads quickly. Tons of photos and gifs can bog downloading time, which users hate and make them navigate away.
  • Integrate keywords into blog posts. The ideal keyword has a high monthly search and isn’t too difficult to rank for. Try answering the questions your customer has, right in your website’s wording!
  • Keep it clean. Organize your site in an intuitive way so it’s easy to navigate and easy for Google to crawl.

Product Advertising Improvements

Are certain product or services pages or getting a lot of heat on your map and not others? Make sure your formatting and layout for each product is the same. If there isn’t consistency, you’ll lose the trust of the site visitors and they’ll bounce off to a more cohesive site.

Reconsider how consumers navigate between products. Adding sections like “other purchasers have liked” or “this product goes well with X” can help keep people on your site.

Buttons and Calls To Action

The copy used on buttons and within posts plays a significant role in user behavior. For example, “click here” consistently outperforms “submit”. Make sure your calls to action are clear and you’ve done research on the latest trends in conversion rates!

Navigation Improvements

Your heatmaps might show some inconsistencies when it comes to navigating between pages. If you think that might be the case, try to reimagine your navigation bar. Keep it concise with only a few items. That will help consumers find what they need without feeling bogged down.

Use a header format with dropdowns, so that each page has the same navigation bar. This will also help keep people from hitting the back button and ending up off the site. Remember, your main goal is to keep people on the site as long as possible.

Weaknesses of Heatmaps

As expected, there are some disadvantages to using heatmaps to inform your website strategy. In this article, the author mentions that heatmaps can be time-consuming to learn and act on. Eventually, you might spend more time heading in the wrong direction instead of making actual improvements. If that’s the case, trial and error is the best way to go.

It’s also possible to get the wrong type of heatmap. Outdated heatmaps won’t show the intricate level of data needed to inform real changes for your site. Instead, they might just frustrate you and provide outdated information.

Implementing Heatmaps

To get started, try out a website heatmap tool that is well-reviewed. Use that data to make incremental changes and measure the impact of those changes over time.

When done correctly, website heatmaps are useful tools to see your site through the user’s eyes and learn how to think like potential customers. Over time, you’ll automatically design your site in an intuitive manner that keeps eyeballs, clicks, and sales on your own site.

For more on web marketing tips and advertising, check out the rest of our posts.

December 15, 2020 by: Miles

Does immigration status affect your personal injury case

Immigration status does not impact a victim’s personal injury case. Everyone in the United States – regardless of citizenship status – is entitled to protections afforded by civil law, including tort actions for negligence. However, each group’s concerns may be different. While United States citizens are not typically concerned about how a personal injury suit may affect the right to live or work in the U.S., lawful residents and undocumented aliens may be concerned a case could imperil immigration status, or that their status may impact their ability to recover damages.

Tort Liability Explained

Tort liability refers to a type of personal injury case that injured people can file to recover compensation from the person or entity who caused the injury. Everyone in the United States can access state and federal courts to enforce their rights regardless of citizenship status. The plaintiff (the injured party) bears the burden of proof, proving that the defendant was partially or entirely responsible for the injury. The theory behind tort liability is that the right amount of money can compensate the injured party for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses related to or resulting from the injury.

Potential Issues in Bringing a Claim

Within tort liability are numerous subsets of causes of action, including, but not limited to, slip and falls, car accidents, intentional torts, and rideshare injury. However, recovering compensation isn’t as simple as filing a lawsuit, and bringing a claim for injuries may cause additional concerns for immigrants.

Lawsuits are public documents, accessible by anyone, including immigration authorities. Many immigrants express concern that filing a personal injury lawsuit could invite unwanted scrutiny that could impact their ability to remain in the United States.

However, the issues facing lawful and undocumented residents are not the same.

Lawful Residents

Anyone who is lawfully present in the United States can bring a lawsuit to recover damages. Whether or not a lawful resident files a lawsuit will not affect immigration status.

Undocumented Aliens

The situation for undocumented aliens is more complex. While undocumented immigrants have the same rights as citizens and lawful residents to enforce individual rights in the courts, the potential exposure of filing a publicly accessible record could subject them to deportation.

For example, the defendant may discover the plaintiff is undocumented. The parties must engage in “discovery,” which is a legal procedure in which both sides ask each other questions and for documents. If the defendant asks the plaintiff whether or not they are lawfully present in the United States, the plaintiff must answer truthfully. If the defendant learns this information, it could impact settlement negotiations as the undocumented alien may be reluctant to engage in a public trial.

If the case does go trial, a plaintiff attorney should be able to exclude any reference to the plaintiff’s immigration status as it is not relevant as to whether the defendant is liable.

However, immigration status could be relevant in proving damages. For example, if the plaintiff is trying to prove future lost wages, then whether he or she is authorized to work in the U.S. is relevant to that issue. Accordingly, immigration status could be entered into the public record.

December 10, 2020 by: Miles

Types of Birth Injuries

Of every 1,000 babies born in the United States, five will experience some type of injury during childbirth. Birth injuries vary in type and severity. Some injuries are out of the control of doctors and nurses. A significant number of these injuries, however, are the result of medical negligence or malpractice. Some common types of birth injuries include the following.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries, even mild ones, can result in permanent disabilities. Many of these injuries occur because of reckless or negligent behavior by medical professionals. Undiagnosed brain infections and doctors’ errors when using forceps and vacuum extraction are some of the primary causes of these injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries include:

  • Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: HIE involves damage to the brain due to oxygen deprivation.
  • Neonatal seizures: An infant experiences these seizures in his or her first days.
  • Microcephaly: This is often an unpreventable genetic disorder. A head that is too small is a typical sign of this condition.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

The brachial plexus consists of a network of nerves that stretches from the shoulder to the hands. Injuries to these nerves can cause the hand or whole arm to become paralyzed or weak.

Brachial plexus injuries can occur when doctors are pulling on a baby’s head or neck in a difficult delivery or pulling on the feet in a feet-first delivery. The brachial plexus can also be damaged when a baby’s shoulders, head, or neck becomes stuck during delivery.

Facial Paralysis

Excessive pressure on a baby’s face during labor or birth can damage facial nerves and cause paralysis. The use of forceps can also cause this injury. Facial paralysis becomes noticeable when a baby is crying as one or both sides of the face will not move. Facial paralysis usually heals within a few weeks if the nerve was bruised. If the nerve is torn, surgery may be required.

Fractures

Broken bones can occur before or during delivery. Infants may suffer a broken collarbone when being delivered quickly because of fetal distress or hypoxia. It is typically a minor problem that results from preventing a larger problem and usually heals quickly.

Medical negligence can also cause broken bones. Babies can suffer multiple fractures because of birth trauma, undiagnosed metabolic disorders, or vitamin deficiencies.

Birth-Related Infections

A baby can sustain an infection before, during, and soon after delivery. Maternal infections that are not identified and treated properly can travel to the baby and infect the brain (encephalitis), membranes around the spinal cord and brain (meningitis), and the lungs (pneumonia). Unsanitary hospital conditions can also cause birth-related infections.

Warning signs of infections in newborns include:

  • Decreased movement
  • Poor feeding
  • Digestive problems (diarrhea, vomiting)
  • Elevated or decreased body temperature
  • Odd skin color

In many cases, medical practitioners can prevent injuries to newborns. This is achieved by following the proper standards of care, monitoring the status of both mother and child carefully, and addressing suspected issues promptly. Regardless of the type of injury that a baby may have, parents should take the medical condition seriously. It is important for parents to seek a second opinion if it is believed the baby has been injured.

 

December 1, 2020 by: Miles

How To Set Boundaries In Your Relationship: 4 Steps To Do It Right

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding boundaries in our everyday relationships. We assume our friends, family, and romantic partners are supposed to already know the things we want and how we want them. In reality, ALL healthy relationships have boundaries! It’s unfair for us to accommodate other people 24/7, even if they are your significant other. If they respect you, they should respect your boundaries and your ability to make decisions on your own.

Here are five tips to help you set boundaries in your relationship:

  • Talk It Out

Setting boundaries in your relationship can be as easy as having a conversation about wanting to set boundaries in your relationship. Be open and honest with your partner about your comfort level relating to certain things, and you’ll both be on the same page in no time. You should have these conversations periodically, as boundaries change over time.

  • Follow Through

Once you’ve set a boundary with your partner, do NOT budge. When you hypothetically discuss your boundaries but don’t actively uphold them, you are having all of those vulnerable conversations for nothing. Communicating is half of the battle. While it’s your partner’s job to respect your boundaries, it’s your job to constantly enforce them. When you don’t respect your limits, your partner might partake in this behavior.

  • Practice

Learning how to set and enforce boundaries isn’t an easy task, especially if putting yourself first is a new concept for you. This is why you should always start off small! Tell your co-worker you can’t make it for coffee or tell your friend you don’t want them to borrow your favorite dress. These small gestures will give you the confidence to set even bigger boundaries with your partner.

  • Find Support

Setting boundaries is difficult for a lot of people, so it’s only normal to reach out for help if you’re having a particularly hard time with it. The support of a friend or parent can be wonderful on its own, but there are hundreds of other resources available to help you on your terms. Self-help books, Couples Therapy Worksheets, counseling, and even highly personalized relationship coaching apps like Relish! All meant to help you achieve your relationship goals.

December 1, 2020 by: Miles

Navigating Child Custody During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented divorced or separated families with a whole new world of complications. In addition to the complexity of adhering to stay at home orders while honoring visitation agreements, parents are faced with new decisions. Co-parenting during this time requires parents to be on the same page when navigating matters of child safety to an entirely new degree. Parents must consider how socialization, travel, and interaction with the world will be handled. Parents must also come to agreements on school attendance and participation in recreational activities. Each case will have unique circumstances influencing the custody plan. However, the primary concern for any agreement is adhering to the best interests of the child.

Recommendations for Co-parenting During COVID-19

During the initial rise of stay-at-home orders and shutdowns, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers released guidelines to assist co-parents in making custody decisions. Parents are encouraged to continue following present court orders while adhering to all state and local orders. When making visitation decisions, it is recommended that parents consider information gathered from reliable news sources. Open and honest communication is a vital tool for co-parents as they navigate through uncertain times. For parents who struggle to make decisions together, a mediator or child custody lawyer can help to reconcile an agreement. Finally, parents should consider moving to virtual visitation arrangements and coming up with plans to make up for lost time at a later date.

Most courts maintain the recommendation to continue with standing child custody agreements as much as possible. It is crucial that both parents are on the same page regarding mask-wearing, social distancing, and school attendance. All agreements made between parents should be respected and negotiated as conditions change. Documenting established rules and boundaries can be a helpful tool for parents.

Considerations While Co-Parenting in a Pandemic

When negotiating the degree of custody between parents, consideration of each party’s unique circumstance can help to guide in decision making. Some things for parents to consider are:

  • Homeschooling- One parent may be able to provide a more productive learning environment than the other. Factors to consider are internet accessibility, the technology available, workspaces that are conducive for learning, and parental work schedule.
  • Public Contact- Parental career choice and the career choice of other household members are important considerations for child safety. If one household risks more exposure to the public, then it may be wise to limit the child’s time in that environment.
  • Risk Groups- One household may have members that belong to COVID-19 high-risk groups. The child may also be at high risk. A more strict quarantine may be necessary for this circumstance, influencing a visitation plan.
  • Social Opportunities- If one home has other children or safer outdoor play spaces, it may provide a more well-rounded environment to help lessen the impact quarantine has on a child’s social life.

Providing Consistency Amid Uncertainty

For some parents, a nesting situation may be ideal. When filing for divorce, many parents choose to consistently keep the child in one home while alternating time within the home between the two of them. In this circumstance, the parents would typically have a separate residence for living in during his or her “off time.” This provides the children with consistency and allows the parents to ensure that the child has a reduced risk of exposure by limiting travel.

November 20, 2020 by: Miles

7 Benefits of Influencer Marketing That Go a Long Way

A recent study found that 51% of marketing professionals stated influencers as a primary source of acquiring better customers. Although this statistic may be shocking to some, influencer marketing has become a key strategy when developing marketing campaigns.  

The benefits of influencer marketing are catching on and it’s no secret that this will greatly impact how marketers create campaigns in the future.

7 Benefits of Influencer Marketing

This guide outlines seven major advantages of influencer marketing. When forming your next marketing strategy, consider these influencer marketing tips.

1. Influences Purchasing Behaviors

Consumers usually look to influencers when deciding on investing in a product or service. Their opinion has become more important to younger consumers than that of a celebrity or personal contact.

In this respect, influencer marketing benefits your brand by increasing the likelihood of generating more sales from their followers.

2. A Relaxed Approach

This benefit truly showcases the importance of influencer marketing. Influencers promote your brand in a personal tone and at a relaxed pace. It’s a great way to gain exposure without pushing your product on the customer.

In return, the consumer may feel more inclined to check out your product since they feel like it was their choice rather than a strategic product promotion.

3. Provides Value to Your Audience

People who follow influencers generally trust their opinion. Their review is more valuable to your audience than reviews on your website or Google.

For this reason, influencers are a fantastic resource to use when showcasing your company naturally and insightfully.

4. Increases Reach

Influencer marketing helps you increase your reach and visibility amongst your primary target audience. When using outreach tools to help find your ideal influencer, consider their follower count and the type of followers they have.

Selecting the right influencer will help you promote your marketing campaigns to a much larger audience than any other tactic could produce.

5. Builds Long-Term Relationships

Influencer marketing strategies are not only focused on driving revenue- they are aimed at building a long-term relationship with their influencer. Long-term relationships produce lasting results for both your brand and your influencer.

It is recommended that you hire an influencer that you intend to work with for six months or more. This shows consumers that they can benefit from your company since the influencer they trust continues to endorse it.

6. Improves Your SEO

Hiring an influencer with a high domain authority, who regularly links to your site, will help increase your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Their endorsement will help boost your ranking- further increasing your exposure to consumers.

7. Provides a Great ROI

Influencers range in price depending on how large of a following they have however, this is still a fairly cost-effective method of marketing. In fact, many influencers charge less than $200 per post.

By spending less, you can see a massive return on investment (ROI) regardless of their reach. If nothing less, their advertisement gets your brand name out there even if it does not result in a conversion.

Finding the Right Fit

Finding an influencer as unique as your brand may be challenging however, the pay-off you’ll receive will be well worth the effort. These tips, coupled with additional resources on our site, will help you develop a company image that resonates with your customers.

Start building your image today and begin exploring the many benefits of influencer marketing!

November 20, 2020 by: Miles

Eyelash Extensions: Why They’re Great and What to Expect From Them

World-famous Sydney is home to more than 5 million people. The city experiences moderately cold months during winters and warm months in the summers. The popular languages spoken are English, Arabic, and Chinese. Many of the top 100 companies in Australia have headquarters in Sydney. Among these thriving businesses are beauty salons providing all sorts of cosmetic treatments to their clients?

One of the most popular cosmetic services now is the lash extension. This is basically attaching semi-permanent fibres to the natural lashes, making the lash fringe much darker, fuller, and longer. The popularity of Eyelash extensions in Sydney is because of its convenience and also since it is an attractive way to reduce your everyday beauty regime. When it comes to eyelash extensions, most salons offer various curl patterns, tints, and lengths so you can customize your appearance.

What are the benefits?

  • Customizable: It all depends on the look you wish to achieve with your lash extensions, based on how dramatic or natural they are. You only need to decide on the curl and length of the extensions according to your preferences.
  • Waterproof: You can take a bath, swim, sweat, or cry with your lash extensions. But, keep in mind that the longer you keep your lashes dry, the longer they last.
  • Completely Painless: You won’t feel a thing. From beginning to end, the entire process is pain-free.
  • It Is Effective: The primary purpose of eyelash extensions is to enhance the look of your eyes, and it simply works! Every day, you will be waking up with thick, long, and beautiful lashes.

And when you are ready to visit a beauty salon for Eyelash extensions in Sydney, here are the things you can expect:

Evaluation: The technician will go through the benefits and risks involving getting lash extensions. You’ll be asked about your current health conditions that may impact having eyelash extensions. You’ll also be asked to take out your contact lenses if you are wearing any.

Curl strength and extension length: Consider your desired look while choosing the strength and length of your lash extensions. Usually, the eyelash artist may use a few different lengths on your eyes, with shorter ones on your inner corners and longer ones on your outer eyes.

Putting eye gels and tape: The process of applying lash extensions can last for 1 to 2 hours, with your eyes closed for the entire duration. A part of the preparation is applying gel beneath the lash line. This is to prevent the lower lashes from getting in the way. The gel also helps create a contrasting background, making it much easier to see the eyelashes to work against. The medical-grade tape will secure the eye gels on either side of the eye.

Application of the extension: The lash artist uses tweezers to put the semi-permanent lashes one by one. The professional dips the tip of each extension in lash glue and applies. Typically, one extension is added for every natural eyelash. But, if you want a much thicker and voluminous look, the artist will apply multiple extensions to a single natural lash. You will not feel pain during the application despite having tweezers near your eyes.

Drying time: The salon technician may ask you to wait for about 10 minutes after finishing the application. Drying may involve the use of a handheld fan or only air-dry. You still need to close your eyes during the drying process. Once dry, it is time to remove the eye gel and tape. The artist may then brush your new eyelashes with a spoolie, and ask you to open your eyes slowly.

If you wish to have long and full eyelashes and think that your natural lashes cannot give you this, eyelash extensions are a great technique that you must try. You can still enjoy your daily life, but looking extraordinary with your lash extensions!

 

November 4, 2020 by: Miles

How to Create a Happy Workplace

It’s no secret that many Americans hate their workplace. While we all depend on showing up to our workplace for our daily survival, many of us loathe showing up to work.

So what’s the solution? What can business owners do to make life more pleasant for their employees?

The answer is to create a happy workplace. If the workplace is a happy environment you can ensure greater productivity, efficiency, and well — everyone will just be happier to show up! What more can you ask?

Here’s how to create a happy workplace:

1. Recognize and Celebrate Achievements

Many of your employees may feel unappreciated at the workplace. You might want to look at these employee recognition examples to see what you can do.

You want to let your employees know that they are appreciated for their achievements. You can have a Hall of Fame or an Employee of the Month incentive for the workplace. Whatever you do, make sure that your employees know that their hard work is appreciated.

Make sure that you regularly praise your employees for their work. Encourage other senior members in your company to praise their junior colleagues when they deliver great work.

2. Incentives and Perks

If you have a miserable workplace, you are likely to see a decrease in the productivity of your business. You want to make sure that it doesn’t get to a point that your business has to close!

The best way to do this is to offer incentives and perks. This motivates employees to work harder and will make them happier, especially if they qualify for the incentives and perks.

These incentives and perks can range from bonus payments, a pay raise, additional days off, upgraded office equipment, and much more. If you are a small business and cannot afford bonus payments/pay raise, there’s plenty of other perks that your employees will love.

3. Professional Development

Many employees get bored after awhile at their workplace. One of the reasons is that they become complacent and feel that they cannot grow as a professional.

You want to look into offering professional development initiatives at the workplace. For example, if public speaking is a requirement at the workplace you can consider having weekly public speaking workshops such as that of what Toastmasters offers.

If you have space, you can add a bookshelf to your office filled with books on business, self-development, professional development, etc. Or you can offer reimbursement to your employees if they pay for a professional training course, have a Kindle Unlimited or Audible subscription, or subscribe to a trade magazine.

If you invest in your employees and help them with their continued professional growth, you are sure to have a happy workplace.

Create Your Happy Workplace

Now you are ready to create your happy workplace! Make sure to follow these 3 steps and discuss with your management other ways to ensure that the workplace has a positive and welcoming environment.

Be sure to share this guide with other entrepreneurs in your network. You can also read more great content on business and entrepreneurship on our website.

October 31, 2020 by: Miles

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.

October 27, 2020 by: Miles

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!

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About Us

I’m Miles, the editor and creator of this blog. I am a big nerd for anything tech related and I have also developed a big passion for photography and film. I discovered this passion after taking a course in school and ever since I have fallen in love with capturing everything from sports, to travel, to cars, and much more Read More…

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About Us

I’m Miles, the editor and creator of this blog. I am a big nerd for anything tech related and I have also developed a big passion for photography and film. I discovered this passion after taking a course in school and ever since I have fallen in love with capturing everything from sports, to travel, to cars, and much more Read More…

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