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The Best SEO Services for Attorneys to Grow Your Legal Practice

Sam Allcock
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The Best SEO Services for Attorneys to Grow Your Legal Practice

The Internet has been constant in the daily lives of people. In fact, 4.66 billion or roughly 60% of the world’s population are continually using the Internet since the start of 2021 according to DataReportal. We do a lot of activities online and it’s no wonder businesses have jumped into this bandwagon. Companies implement digital marketing strategies, like SEO, as these are believed to be an effective method of bringing more opportunities to a business. Organizations, like law firms, can also benefit from this strategy. Learn what are the best SEO services for attorneys you can apply to your practice.

What Is Digital Marketing and SEO?

Digital marketing comprises various marketing efforts related to the usage of an electronic device or the Internet. Compared to traditional marketing methods, digital marketing allows businesses to reach a larger audience since more people are always online. Digital marketing has different categories, and one of them is SEO or Search Engine Optimization. 

This process is intended to help a business’s website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) leading it to have increased engine traffic.

The Importance of SEO for Law Firms

96% of people are in need of legal advice begin their search online. That is why, if you want to get a client for your legal practice, start building a well-optimized website. Here’s how SEO for law firm websites can help your organization grow:

Sets a Name in the Industry

Applying the best SEO services for attorneys can help legal practices land a reputable name in the industry. How? People often perceive that results showing in the top SERPs are the most reliable sources related to their search. If you or your law firm ranks high in the search engine results, chances are people will view your practice to be more reliable and trustworthy compared to those firms ranking low.

Targeted Traffic

The risk with traditional marketing is that you don’t know if your ad is successful in reaching your business’s target market. In contrast, SEO can be used to optimize your website so that it becomes available to targeted traffic. One common practice is to incorporate specific keywords in a law firm SEO blog and the entire website to make sure your website will appear when people type these keywords into the search engine.

More Prospective Clients and Conversions

As your website ranks high in SERPs, expect more calls and inquiries coming in. And the more people reach out to you with just landing on your website, the more chances they are to be converted into paying clients. Allowing law firm SEO companies to do the job for you means you get more time to deal with other components of your business. At the end of the day, a well-optimized website can get you not only paying clients but also a good return on investment.

What Are the Best SEO Practices to Apply in an Attorney’s Website?

Check out these best SEO services for attorneys to have a well-optimized website for your practice.

Prioritize Keywords

One of the most essential steps in optimizing your website is listing out all possible keywords you would want your legal practice to rank for. Choose specific and targeted keywords to be sure you’ll attract qualified traffic and leads. Start by including keywords from your main areas of practice. From these, SEO experts will be able to suggest related search terms that will help your practice rise above the SERPs.

Incorporate Keywords Well on Your Website

Now that you have determined the right set of keywords, it’s time to use them on your website. It’s best to put keywords on the home page since this is where most likely web visitors will land first. Add the keywords into the primary elements of the content, such as the headline, the sub-headers that break up topics, and your call-to-action sentences.

Check Out the Competition

Use your set of keywords in search engines and see where you rank in the competition. Then, check the other websites that rank higher. Not that you will copy how their website looks like but inspecting their websites will give you an idea of what they’re doing to be in the higher SERP ranks. Consider factors like the loading speed of their web page or the blogs they post to know how you can adjust your SEO strategies.

Optimize How Your Website Appears in Search Result Pages

Metadata is significant to any website as this information serves as a guide for online users to know the content of a website even before clicking on it. Furthermore, it helps search engine algorithms to get to know what a website is all about. Fill out your title tags and meta descriptions with your targeted keywords to be consistent with your SEO plans.

Keep Your Website Mobile-Friendly

As of January 2021, 92.6% of active Internet users go online through their mobile devices. Most likely, your next client will be searching from mobile. Therefore, you have to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly. Your SEO expert can surely help in applying a responsive web design for your website to achieve this.

Work on Your Website’s Speed

Speed plays a vital role in your website. Do you know that 1 in 4 web visitors will likely opt out of a website if it takes more than 4 seconds to load? If your website has speed issues, you may want to reduce image sizes to around 100KB or minimize HTTP requests. An SEO expert can also apply more techniques to improve your website’s speed.

Create Professional Profiles

You’ll have an edge over other law firms or attorneys if you have profiles set up on lawyer directories like Super Lawyers, Avvo, and Justia. Don’t forget to build a profile on your local state Bar Association website, too. Including information about your practice in these directories will help spread consistent detail about what you do. As a result, taking advantage of these profiles can help in the ranking of your website.

Google My Business

Another professional profile not to miss is Google My Business (GMB). Having a GMB profile can help your practice’s website appear in Google’s Local 3-Pack or the first three listings that appear in the search results. Being included in this top 3 listing increases the visibility of your legal practice making it more accessible to potential clients. Make sure that all details on your profile are accurate. Also, encourage your current and previous clients to leave a review so that your firm stays visible online.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to grow your legal practice, the most efficient way of marketing today is applying SEO for attorneys. With billions of global Internet users, it’s less difficult to attract prospective clients online. The key is to ensure your website and all other online platforms are well-optimized so that you can reach your target market effortlessly.

For more articles about business, technology, and more, visit our website today!

How Social Media Helps Students

Sam Allcock
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How Social Media Helps Students

Many parents and teachers seem to shun social media and automatically classify it as an unproductive tool, but that is not always the case. The recent efforts at social media education have shown that students can actually do more than just cause trouble when they go online.

Here are ways that social media help.

Blog Posts for Essays

Essays are a constant part of a student’s life, so it would not hurt to have a place where they can access free essays on social media. Starting a blog where all work written, submitted, and marked is published could help other students work on their assignments. Writing pieces like those at https://phdessay.com/free-essays-on/social-media/ show how important social media is student’s lives. The idea is to assign a blog post per student with an essay topic that will not only help them improve their writing skills but also enlighten their peers. This could open them up to a career in writing later in their lives.

Networking

Learning in class is great, but you need to know how to interact with people for this education to be valuable. When a student joins a social media group to benefit from sharing information with their peers, they create new connections. They may not seem that important at the beginning since they are only in school, but over time they could prove valuable. Also, being able to make friends is already a skill that will help beyond school. They stay in the know of events happening around them such as marathons, competitions, and even parties. These same networking skills will help them know when opportunities arise later in their lives.

Global Exposure

It starts with creating friends online who are from other countries and then maybe planning to visit each other over the summer holidays. Even if they don’t get to travel physically but with social media resources they still get the chance to learn about other cultures and how people in other countries live. Virtual interaction is one of the ways social media can help you travel. People get to share about culture, food, interests, facts that one may have gotten wrong about the other’s country, and new languages. If it is allowed, they can even share classroom lessons through their phones. This interaction is especially handy when one wants to go to university in a foreign country. It also leads to respect for other cultures as well as firsthand information on a country.

Expressing themselves Creatively

We are gifted differently and there is nowhere better to show this than social media. One can post photos, blog posts, and just about anything else that helps them express their creativity. This deviates from the old way of expression where a person had to physically present their art. With the current trends, these expressions could lead to a career or income-generating side hustle even as a student works their way through college.

Social Media Marketing and Influencing

If you are really good at creating posts that generate lots of interest, you could have a future in social media influencing. This means working with organizations to create content that brings people to their social pages and eventually converting them to customers. Today, young people are making pretty sums of money doing what comes naturally to them – such as entertaining people online. Other ways one can benefit their peers while making a name for themselves online is through a YouTube channel where one could teach their peers hacks that will benefit them.

Job Opportunities

As you advance your education, you will start looking for jobs to practice what you have been learning in school. With a good social media following, you are likely to create more leads for yourself than someone with no presence at all. LinkedIn is yet another social site that allows people to display their skills and academic qualifications so they can get ahead. It is one of the tools that today’s youth cannot afford to ignore when looking for exciting opportunities.

Not all Bad, Right?

Using social media for studentscan help set up a student for success in the future. They will have the avenue to communicate with their peers in a way that comes naturally to them and this may translate to great communication skills after school. As long as it is used for good, a student is likely to benefit more from being socially active than being reclusive.

TOP REGULATED BROKERS FOR YOUR TRADING INVESTMENTS

Sam Allcock
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TOP REGULATED BROKERS FOR YOUR TRADING INVESTMENTS

As a beginner in the world of forex or as someone who wants to commit to making more profit off the market, the need to use the safest means possible cannot be overstated. How else do you get the highest guarantee of safety of your investments than by using the top regulated brokers?

By using the term ‘regulated brokers’, we mean brokers who have been licensed and are duly recognized by the appropriate regulatory bodies. This is the most important way of ensuring that you are not in the company of scammers.

Even among regulated brokers, there are top-regulated brokers. These are brokers who have excelled in one area or the other and have been able to garner wide acceptance over the years. This is an extra assurance that your investments will not be stolen from you and that your affairs are handled by proven or tested hands.

Here are some top regulated brokers you should consider:

FP Markets

FP is a renowned forex broker which is headquartered in Australia. It has spread its tentacles to and gained substantial recognition in fast-growing markets like India where it holds its own among the popular Indian forex brokers, most of whom are subsidiaries of commercial banks. FP offers a demo account, over 10000 trading instruments, runs a minimum deposit of $100, and is regulated by two of the world’s most recognized regulatory bodies – ASIC and CySEC. You can get more information from this FP markets review.

FXTM

Forex Time has grown to become a force to reckon with in the forex trade market. FXTM review is more or less a household name. Over the years, they have maintained an impressive level of consistency in the forex brokerage arena. Headquartered in Cyprus under the CySEC and the ASIC regulations, the multiple award-winning company offers a top-notch demo account, $200 minimum deposit, and runs on Mt4, Mt5, and the FXTM Trader platforms.

FXCM Review

Forex Capital Markets Limited has continued to fly high in the forex brokerage industry since it was founded in 1999. Its longevity and adaptability have given the company a wealth of experience that has helped it maintain a spot at the top. It has the ASIC, FCA, and FSCA regulations and operates a minimum deposit of $50 and 300 Great Britain Pounds (GBP). It is headquartered in the UK and operates a free forex education program.

AVATRADE  

Avatrade is regulated under the Bank of Ireland, ASIC, JFSA, and FSCA. It is widely known for how speedy opening an account on its platform is. It is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and operates a minimum deposit of $100. Avatrade is an award-winning forex broker that has successfully penetrated all the major forex markets in the world.

GO Markets 

Go Markets review is a world-renowned forex broker founded in 2006. It has its headquarters in Australia. It is regulated under the ASIC, and CySEC, runs on the MT4, MT5, and WebTrader platforms, and is one of the leading innovators in the forex brokerage industry.

The top regulated brokers will give you peace of mind and topnotch security for your funds. After all, what else is more important?

The Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration — Everything You Should Know

Sam Allcock
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The Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration — Everything You Should Know

If one of your adventure dreams is going on a safari in Africa, the chances are that a Kenya Migration Safari tops your bucket list. Dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World and the World’s largest overland migration, the Annual Wildebeest Migration across the Masai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is a must-see.

In this post, we take you through everything you need to know about one of the most sought-after experiences, the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Let’s start from the beginning. 

What Exactly is the Great Migration?

Each year, approximately 1.5 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and antelopes make the exhausting and dangerous trip from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The migration herd has to cross the Mara River where deadly crocodiles prey on them. It is believed that the animals migrate in search of lush grazing and breeding grounds and water.

This epic journey which spans about 3000km from north to south, is known as the Annual Wildebeest Migration. The migration is driven by rainfall such that the wildebeest are drawn where it recently rained and the grass is green. 

What to Expect

The Masai Mara Migration offers everything one can anticipate it would be — promising nothing short of adventure packed with some surprises. Being able to witness a migration of this magnitude is nothing short of a sensational experience. 

Interestingly, due to the sheer number of animals, the phenomena can be observed from space. It’s no wonder this awe-inspiring passage comprising millions of wildlife earned its place as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

The Mara river crossings are the most sought-after moments as the wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes dip themselves into the crocodile-infested waters. Watching the migration makes you experience a range of emotions, including anticipation, excitement, and distress.

For the wildebeests that successfully survive the migration, lush green grass plains await them — a grazing sanctuary and a chance to mate with their partners. For the unfortunate wildebeests, they’re either eaten alive by crocodiles or drown in the commotion. Not to mention being preyed upon by the big cats.

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/mara-river-wildebeest-crossing-5730663/ 

The Best Time to See the Migration, From Kenya

Unknown to many, the Great Wildebeest Migration is an all-year-round event. Each time of year offers a unique wildlife experience as the herds constantly move rhythmically in a clockwise direction between Tanzania and Kenya.

That said, the best time to catch the Masai Mara Migration, when the wildebeest are crossing the Mara River, is between July to October.  

Nevertheless, due to the irregular nature of the wildebeest movements, it’s advisable to use the Herdtracker app. The app helps you track real-time wildebeests’ movements so you can effectively plan the safari and not miss out on the action. You can also plan your wildebeest migration safari with Nairobi based travel agencies to help you keep track of the migrating herd.

How to Get There

The Masai Mara Reserve is located in the southwest of Kenya. On arrival in Kenya, you could choose to drive to the reserve, which is 280 km away from Nairobi, depending on your entry point. Alternatively, you can book a flight, which is quicker, private, and more comfortable.

Better yet, you will enjoy scenic, magnificent views of Kenya’s landscape from the sky. Either way, it’s best to partner with a local safari company to ensure you maximize your Kenya Migration Safari experience. 

The Best Places to Stay

Masai mara is endowed with many exceptional camps and luxury lodges, offering the stage for exploring this eye-catching wildlife event. And every option seems like a great one. 

However, some are better than others regarding location, amenities, crowd-free views, activities, and providing front-row seats to the Wildebeest Migration. While many properties offer full board rates, some have additional charges for game drives and other recreational activities such as hot air ballooning.

If traveling with your family, go for family-focused accommodation options with child-friendly activities besides game driving. Couples and honeymooners might opt for something different.

Each property offers a different vibe that’ll shape your safari experience, so depending on your budget, duration of stay, amenities, extra activities, among other factors, choose wisely. The Kenya tour operator you choose to explore Kenya with should help you choose an accommodation package that best suits you.

What to Pack

July through August are the coldest months of the year in Kenya. Temperatures can sometimes drop to well below 10°C. Essentially, early morning game drives will require several layers of clothing. Gloves and hats will be an added advantage.

Afternoon game drives may need lighter clothing, depending on the weather. Sometimes intense winds and unexpected rain can take you by surprise. Apart from clothing, don’t forget your favorite devices. Cameras will be convenient when capturing iconic safari moments. Above all, pack wisely.

How Can You Plan to See the Great Migration?

With the Kenyan government easing travel restrictions, it’s now easier for overseas visitors to travel in the country. Airlines such as Kenya Airways, British Airways, Qatar, KLM, and Emirates offer direct flights into Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

Ensure you link up with experienced safari experts to get the most out of your trip to see the Great Wildebeest Migration. They’ll help you choose a safari package tailored to your needs and budget. Given the high demand for the migration safari spaces in the high season, make sure you book your Masai Mara migration safari in advance — weeks or months before you travel.

Final Thoughts 

No matter how many destinations are on your bucket list, taking a safari to the Masai Mara is a magical experience. The safari provides a fantastic way to immerse yourself in one of mother nature’s most wondrous spectacles and create beautiful memories. Don’t dream of what it could be.  

Click here to see a list of the best travel agencies in Kenya and book your wildebeest migration safari: https://ajkenyasafaris.com/kenya-safari-travel-agencies/

How has PayPal managed to stay relevant all this time?

Sam Allcock
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How has PayPal managed to stay relevant all this time?

Introduction

PayPal is an online compensation company established in mid-1998. In 2002 they became the primary payment option of eBay and today remains a high-quality solution for eBay patrons. PayPal is available in over 202 countries and receives funds in over 100 currencies. It also offers its clients withdrawals in 56 different currencies, making it one of the oldest and top processors globally.

Over the years, PayPal has built a stable and extensive network of consumers and merchants using and accepting their payment services. However, Technology and a sales shift to digital, has made Paypal face an increasing number of threats from newer companies, banks and credit card issuers. Added to this, new Financial Companies are opening up all over the world, so the slice of the pie gets smaller and smaller for Paypal.

In saying this, there are a few factors that give PayPal an advantage over its competitors. Firstly, many online shops worldwide use them as a payment solution and the general public who own a Paypal account can transfer funds from one account to another at a relatively cost.

Secondly, is the fact that banks are encouraging their customers to add their credit cards to PayPal, therefore strengthening their competitive advantage.

The bottom line is that they have an excellent reputation which has taken years to build and have maintained exceptional levels of service and delivery.

Paypal and Online Casinos

As Paypal is such a convenient and easy payment option, it was only a matter of time until UK paypal casinos started integrating them into their payment options. At the moment only online casinos in Europe and the United Kingdom can deposit using Paypal.

Benefits of using PayPal

The point of payment services like PayPal is to ensure a safe, reliable and speedy checkout when shopping online. To that end, PayPal is exceptional as it converts shoppers into paying customers at a rate of 82% higher than all other payment options. Furthermore, it converts 60% better than other digital wallets.

The reason for this increase is due to Paypal providing their users with more options because previously, PayPal forced their users to use their existing balances and defaulted payments to bank accounts. This resulted in lower processing fees than credit cards. In line with staying in the game, PayPal negotiated with a series of payment networks offering users greater flexibility in how customers pay for their online purchases.

As previously mentioned is the fact that credit card issuers want consumers to add their cards to PayPal and issuers have been incentivizing customers to do so with cashback and reward points. PayPal has also infiltrated other digital wallets and partnered with companies like Google and Samsung who now offer it as a payment option in their digital wallets

Key Services offered by PayPal

PayPal has sustained its strong growth through the introduction of various partnerships across commerce and payment space. Some of the critical services PayPal offers its users are:

  • The transfer of money globally
  • Rewards on PayPal debit cards
  • One-Touch Easy checkout

PayPal also created and acquired a suite of products that target different markets. Venmo is its payment product that serves the Millennial market using smartphones and social networks. PayPal was innovative enough to change a primary transaction into a social experience. How may you ask?  Well, it’s simple; your friends can see what you’re doing on your social networks through your Venmo payments.

They also acquired a company called Xoom which gives people the ability to move funds internationally via their mobile phones and costs half of what international remittance providers charge. It’s easier and less expensive, and once again, PayPal is at the forefront of being innovative and continuously looking for the competitive edge.

PayPal’s Strategic Partnerships

To sustain and increase its customer base, PayPal partnered with some top card network incumbents, which include:

  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • Alibaba.com
  • Citi
  • Telcel
  • Vodafone
  • Discover
  • GoPay

They have also entered into partnerships with a multitude of other companies across the eCommerce and payment space which include cybersecurity firms, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram as well as the popular Uber service used throughout the world.

Conclusion

PayPal has seen explosive growth since its inception, and its flexible yet strategic business model has provided a safe and secure way for customers and merchants to benefit and transact online. Further to this, is PayPal’s partnership with various companies such as Uber, Visa, MasterCard, and many more. They have sustained their growth and increased their user base, thus remaining relevant in light of new entrants. They have a legacy of which they can be proud of and will continue to offer top-class service to their customers by remaining one of the most competitive and innovative companies.

The Pros and Cons of Using Affiliate Marketing to Boost Sales

Claire James
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The Pros and Cons of Using Affiliate Marketing to Boost Sales

Affiliate marketing has become mainstream in just about every branch of business, offering a new way to promote your brand, generate income, and connect with your customers. And boy, is business booming right now.

An incredible 84% of business owners are turning to affiliate marketing in search of new opportunities to drive revenue to their sites and opening up various engagement channels with their audience. In fact, the spending for affiliate marketing is expected to reach 8.2 billion dollars by 2022, and that’s only considering data from the US.

But are affiliate programs really all that they are made out to be, or will they do your business more harm than good? 

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model that businesses use as a low-risk and low-cost method of increasing brand recognition, traffic, and revenue. Through advertising a business’s goods and/or services to their audience, a publisher (also known as an affiliate) drives revenue for the publisher on a commission-based structure. 

In most cases, the affiliate supports a product or service by sending traffic to the retailer’s website with a unique link that identifies them as the referrer. Following that, future sales would be counted against the affiliate’s commission. Usually, the commission fees are paid as a percentage share of any sale or as a fixed amount that has been agreed upon in advance. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of implementing affiliate marketing into your business.

The Good

Opens up new revenue streams and boost sales

One of the best parts of setting up an affiliate program is gaining access to a new *untapped* audience. Depending on your company’s size, many of the affiliates you partner with will be introducing your brand to their audience for the first time, which is great exposure for your business. 

Additionally, a good affiliate will increase sales and drive more conversions to your business without requiring you to spend much time or resources on developing your own marketing materials. Even bigger brands such as Lacoste have found massive success with affiliate marketing, as they reportedly obtained a 70 percent higher ROI due to Rakuten’s affiliate strategy.

Minimal upfront cost

Setting up an affiliate program is usually low-cost and relatively straightforward for most companies. It can be as simple as giving a publisher a tracking link to your product and supplying them with a few branded graphics and email templates to help them attract consumers.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go out and find affiliates yourself. Many businesses charge a low subscription fee and give you immediate access to a wide range of publishers that are looking for new work.

High-income potential

Seeing as all of the heavy liftings is being done by the affiliates, it becomes much easier to scale your operation and increase your output if you find a winning formula. It’s simply a matter of finding more affiliates to drive more sales. Remember, publishers are only rewarded if they produce results for your business, so there’s almost no financial risk to scaling this way either.

The Bad

Inconsistent results

Many of the affiliates you work with will be attempting to drive traffic for a number of companies on a daily basis. It’s doubtful they will be focusing solely on your business, making predicting the results of affiliate marketing challenging. Secondly, affiliates are not contracted to your company, so if they decide to move on to a different offer, take a vacation, or find a new job, that leaves you with one less revenue stream overnight. 

Affiliates can damage the reputation of your company

It’s essential to do your due diligence on an affiliate’s marketing activities when you collaborate with them. If they have a history of engaging in unethical practices such as misleading ads, spamming email lists, or failing to comply with GDPR, for example, having your brand name associated with them will be detrimental.

Jesse Willms, who has sold over half a billion dollars worth of products using affiliate marketing strategies encountered a similar problem with his earlier businesses when selling a collection of weight loss products:

“Affiliates would often make false claims in their marketing campaigns before bringing users to our site. These claims would often be in the form of fake news sites, or sometimes even claiming Dr. Oz or Oprah endorsed the product. Affiliates would also sometimes steal credit cards and then purchase on our site. They greatly hurt our reputation.”

This goes to show the importance of recruiting the right affiliates and protecting your brand image. Ensure you take the time to vet your applicants and only accept those with a proven track record and significant experience in the industry. Of course, this may cost you more, but it’s worth it.

Even though affiliate networks have requirements that publishers must follow to become affiliates, this doesn’t always guarantee they are all “above board.” At the end of the day, if there is money to be made, there is always someone who will cut corners and advocate your brand negligently.

Final Word

Despite the apparent drawbacks listed above, affiliate marketing is still a fantastic tool for driving new customers to your business and boosting sales. A good affiliate will help increase your revenue, but they will increase your brand recognition in your industry, which will build authority and trustworthiness. Just make sure you conduct thorough due diligence when selecting who you work with.

Credit Repair: How to Fix Your Bad Credit In 5 Steps

Sam Allcock
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Credit Repair: How to Fix Your Bad Credit In 5 Steps

When applying for financial products such as mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and similar facilities, having a good credit rating gives you an upper hand in getting accepted. Therefore, it is imperative that you first know your credit rating and then work towards improving it.

It doesn’t matter whether you have no credit history at all, or you’ve recently been turned down by a lender, monitoring your credit is part of a personal financial journey that you must be willing to travel. To start you off, here are 5 steps to help you fix your bad credit.

Find Out Your Current Score

The first step to repairing your bad credit is to establish where you stand in terms of your credit score. In the UK, consumers have a statutory right to access a free copy of their credit report annually from at least the three major credit reference agencies (CRA)- Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.

Depending on the CRA you request your report from, the scores will vary. Here is a snapshot of what to expect from each of the agencies.

Experian

Experian scores range from 0-999 and are categorised as follows.

  • 961 – 999: Excellent
  • 881 – 960: Good
  • 721 – 880: Fair
  • 561 – 720: Poor
  • 0 – 560: Very Poor

Equifax

Equifax has categorised its scores ranging from 0-700

  • 466-700: Excellent
  • 420-465: Good
  • 380-419: Fair
  • 280—379: Poor
  • 0—279:  Very poor

TransUnion

Formerly known as Callcredit, TransUnion is the second-largest CRA in the UK. Its scores range from 0-710 and are grouped as follows.

  • 628-710: Excellent
  • 604-627: Good
  • 566-603: Fair
  • 551–565: Poor
  • 0–550: Very poor

You can visit the official websites of the above credit reference agencies and request your credit report. The report will be available almost instantly for you to view online, download or fill an application to have it mailed to you via post.

Check Your Report for Errors

Credit reports are generally considered an accurate reflection of your financial status. Having said that, it is not unheard of to find errors and misinformation. Therefore, you need to go through your report carefully and look out for any of the following typical errors.

  • Personal Information: Check for errors in your name and address. This is especially the case if you’ve moved from your previous address or you’ve changed your name.
  • Account Details: Check that each account appearing on your report is yours. Also, confirm the balances on the accounts and the credit limits for accuracy.
  • Mistaken Accounts: Check that accounts do not appear more than once on the report and that all of them bear your name. You may be a victim of identity theft in which case you need to report such an incident faster for resolution.
  • Account reporting errors: Confirm that no closed accounts are reported as being open or timely payments recorded as late payments.

If you find an error, send a Notice of Correction, a 200-word statement to the credit reference agency stating the error in question and why it should not appear on your report. Once resolved, your score will reflect a higher mark than previously indicated.

Pay Your Bills on Time.

Stop the bleed by ensuring that you pay all bills as they fall due. Scoring models use complex statistical analysis to assign weights to late bill payments thus pulling down your scores. Traditionally, these models considered credit bills such as credit cards and instalment loans.

However, this has changed and now utility bills such as gas, water, and electricity bills are factored in the calculation of your score. It is important to note that not every instance of bill payment delay is reported to CRAs. Generally, utility companies would report delinquent accounts which are amounts that are outstanding 30 days after falling due.

Through innovative products such as Experian Boost, payments like Council Tax payments, rent, digital subscriptions, and utility bills are reported to CRAs. If you make timely payments, this will give you a boost.

Keep Your Credit Utilisation Low

Whether it is credit card debt, auto loan, student loan or mortgage, plan to pay it off bit by bit until you finish it.

As you begin paying off your debt, your credit utilisation limit will gradually go down. Credit utilisation refers to the fraction of your total credit that you are using. After payment history, credit utilisation takes a prominent share of your credit scoring.

As a rule of thumb, you need to keep your utilisation at or below 30%. Research shows a strong correlation between high credit scores-750 and above, and low credit utilisation rate. Finding your credit utilisation rate is as simple as adding your total balance on your cards and dividing by the total credit limit.

For instance, if your card total is £4,000 and your credit limit is £20,000, your credit utilisation rate will be £4,000/ £20,000 which gives you 20%. Beware of the factors that can impact your credit utilisation rate which includes the credit card balance, opening and closing of accounts, and the credit limit on your accounts.

In case you need urgent cash, and your credit utilisation rate is already high, consider applying for instant guarantor loans. These loans are approved within 24 hours, have flexible payments, and you can borrow up to £15,000. Just ensure you get someone to co-sign the loan and you will be good to go!

Check That You Are Not Linked To Someone Else’s History

If a person is registered to vote at your address, they may appear on your credit report. Similarly, if you took a joint loan such as a mortgage with another person, lenders may use the linkage to decide whether to approve your loan application or not.

In case you were linked because of a past obligation and now you no longer have anything tying you with the other person, consider asking the CRA to remove their records from your report. This will improve your score and put you in a much better financial position.

Conclusion

Your credit score plays a key role in how lenders perceive you and paints a picture of your creditworthiness. Therefore, you must monitor your credit and ensure that it accurately reflects your circumstances. Make it a habit to request your report regularly, check it out and file a Notice of Correction where applicable.

Also, ensure you pay your bills on time, keep your credit utilisation low and check that you are not linked to someone else. There are other tips out there but the five discussed above will start you off on a good footing.

How should one operate in a property investment area?

Sam Allcock
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0
How should one operate in a property investment area?

Buying and then having possession of real estate is a type of investment that is both lucrative and satisfying. It is because such type of investments has greater ROI values. That is the reason most people now seek advice to do investment in properties. You have to consider several things whenever you think about investing in properties like the type of property you want, where to invest, how much to invest, tax implications and much more. Properties are the solid asset which has the potential to raise your wealth to considerable margins over the long term. But still, you have to be conscious about the right places to invest as a single mistake can get you lost your money. Such type of hiccups creates stress and anxiety, which give the opposite outcome to what efficacious spending is all about.

So, if you are determined to become a successful property investor, then these guidelines will help you to start your profitable journey by investing in properties as effectively as possible.

Seek Growth Areas

The most substantial factor in property investment is capital growth. So, always watch out for the areas that are not just expanding but also growing in terms of economy, population, demand and infrastructure. Just invest after researching the areas, locations, demographics and capital growth rates as these are all the things that matter.

Wait for ROI

Property investment is not for those whose cash flow is tight. Or even if they want to buy, then they must research about the areas where you don’t go into the red. As there are many markets where capital growth is considerably higher, and they are expensive to buy. So, be sure of yourself to watch out for the rental yield trends when you decide to invest in property.

Forecast the Future

Just to be on the safe side, find out your plans about areas and then determine what will be the consequences in the future. You can also get information about the properties of the local councils or government websites online. This will lead you to keep an eye on the areas that have all the amenities like schools, shopping malls or parks etc. Just look for the properties that require little or no maintenance unless or until you have some plan for renovating the whole property.

See What’s in Demand

Prefer the properties that are appealing to the people who are renting in that area. Demand increases with the number of amenities people get. Like if a society is full of benefits including the wide road, schools, malls, parks and proper maintenance of tangible things. GBG – building and refurbishment contractors are experts in the industry. Most people take risk of quality for the low cost and get the work done by some noobs, causing them to waste all that money and time. They have been doing renovations since 2005 and are the leading and high-end residential contractors in the renovation or refurbishment market. So, be clear about your goals and achieve them with the help of GBG – building contractors.

Just remember that the properties are long-term investments and you should not only rely on these to be on the safer side.

Easy Ways to Get Free AWS Credits

Sam Allcock
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0
Easy Ways to Get Free AWS Credits

AWS credits are simply a way to save on your Amazon Web Service (AWS) bill. These credits work as coupons to help lower your bill. Since these AWS credits help save you money, they are highly sought after. How can you earn these credits? Today, we are going to explain a few simple ways you can start earning AWS credits quickly.

AWS Webinars

If you attend any of the AWS webinars often, you will be given AWS credits. The way you will be given these credits to provide proof that you participated in the webinar. AWS is putting on these webinars and events often, so it would be a good idea to keep an eye on their website to see when the next event is so that you can earn some AWS credits!

Publish AnAlexa Skill

If you have any interest in development, then you’re in luck! For each Alexa skill you publish, you can receive one hundred dollars in AWS. This is a win-win for anyone looking to test their skill set and be rewarded!

AWS Activate

AWS Activate was created to help startup companies by awarding them up to one hundred thousand dollars in AWS credits. AWS activate is a fantastic tool for startups because of how quickly it gives them the resources they need to grow within the AWS infrastructure. There are two variations of AWS Activate, which are AWS Founders and AWS Portfolio.

AWS Activate Founders

The AWS Activate Founders program was created for companies that are bootstrapped or self-funded. If your organization hasn’t raised any funding, such as venture capital, seed, or angel funding, you may be eligible to apply. Not only will you receive the AWS credits, but you will also receive technical and business support.

AWS Activate Portfolio

The AWS Activate Portfolio is different from the founder’s program. This is because these startups have received seed or venture capital funding. The AWS Activate Portfolio will offer your startup up to one hundred thousand dollars in AWS credits. You can choose between two different types of credits. AWS Activate Credits that will help cover the cost of AWS services or AWS Activate Business Support Credits, which will help you, cover the cost of technical support. 

AWS Marketplace

A quick way to earn two hundred dollars in AWS credits is to discover, purchase, and deploy cloud-based networking and solutions offered on the AWS Marketplace. If you do this, you will receive two hundred dollars in AWS credits when you subscribe to one of their qualifying products.

Easy To Earn AWS Credits

As you can see, it’s incredibly easy to earn AWS credits. If you follow the tips provided above, you will be on your way to racking up a ton of credits to help you deploy on AWS. Remember, there are plenty of other methods out there to earn AWS credits, but the methods featured here are what we think are the simplest. Good luck, and go get those credits!

20 Must-Have WordPress Plugins for Business Websites in 2021

Sam Allcock
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0
20 Must-Have WordPress Plugins for Business Websites in 2021

WordPress is one of the best and most popular website development platforms on the internet today. Its versatility and reliability have made it the choice of engine for most website runners, and for good reason.

This engine provides a secure, user-friendly, and wholesome environment for websites, with thousands of plugins and features available. So, if you’re choosing to use WordPress, installing a bunch of its handy plugins is a wise decision.

There are about 60,000 WordPress plugins available on the internet, which help to uplift your website’s functionalities and provide much-needed backup to your system. Any WordPress development company you consult would also advise you to load up on these plugins and get going.

You can opt for plugins to address any and all issues, including security, backup, emails, speed, SEO, analytics, and so on. For every requirement you may have, there are multiple plugins to choose from, both free and paid.

Having the right combination of plugins and tools can help your business grow immensely. It simply transforms your online presence and activities, making most of your work easier and manual load lesser.

If you’re unsure of which plugins to choose, check out our list of the best 20 WordPress plugins that are a must-have for business websites.

Top 20 WordPress Plugins for Business Websites in 2021

Plugins help you achieve a varied range of functions. Judging by your business needs, you can take a call on the set you want.

  1. OptinMonster

This plugin has more than a hundred templates for WordPress popups, announcements, games, slide-ins, and so on. You can use it to optimize conversions and increase sales.

With its opt-in forms and campaign templates, you can customize your website easily and turn visitors into subscribers. OptinMonster also improves your messaging and customer targeting. Opt for its free version as a WordPress plugin.

  1. WPForms

This is a form-builder plugin to help you create contact, subscription, order, and payment forms. You can simply drag-and-drop elements to create customized forms with a few clicks.

Several marketing and payment platforms use this tool as it lets you build forms in seconds. Its features include conversational forms, geolocation tracking, login and user forms, landing page forms, etc. It is reasonably priced and also has a free lite version.

  1. PushEngage

This plugin is the best for push notifications. You can send announcements, deals, and targeted messages to your website visitors using PushEngage. This helps to increase engagement and traffic.

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It works with all browsers, with features like data security, a/b testing, opt-in reminders, tracking and analytics, drip campaigns, etc. It is perfectly suited for eCommerce websites as well, to create alerts and cart notifications.

  1. All in One SEO

Although WordPress is SEO-friendly by itself, it is always useful to have an SEO plugin to make the best out of your content. All in One SEO is one of the best optimization tools, used by millions of websites globally.

It helps improve on-page SEO, like meta tags, keywords, and so on. It also lets you connect to the Google Search Console, generate sitemaps, and perform social media optimization.

  1. SeedProd

This is a drag-and-drop page builder that lets you create customized web designs and page layouts. The best part is, you don’t need to know any coding to work with this tool.

You can build unique landing pages without the help of a developer, by using its numerous templates or custom layouts. There are options for almost all types of web pages you can think of. You can also save color schemes, templates, custom blocks, etc., to be used later.

  1. MonsterInsights

This analytics plugin is used by more than 2 million websites worldwide. You can connect with Google Analytics and measure the performance of your site in detail.

It shows statistics like traffic and revenue on your WordPress dashboard. By analyzing these details, you can optimize your website efficiently for further campaigns.

  1. WordPress Importer

This free plugin lets you import content for WordPress export files. You can import posts, comments, pages, categories, tags, and so on. It makes working on websites and creating demos easier and faster with its quick-import features.

  1. Pretty Links

Pretty Links is an affiliate plugin that lets you shorten your links, organize your WordPress dashboard, and make your URLs and websites look clean. It is mostly useful for affiliate marketing professionals who track links from social media, emails, and other such sources.

This tool also gives a full report about each hit in the link, showing where it came from. You can use its free or pro version, based on your requirements.

  1. WP Product Review

For eCommerce websites and any site which requires regular addition of product reviews, this plugin works wonders. It lets you import the product details and affiliate link directly from Amazon.

It also automatically generates and customizes comparison tables with previous data from reviews. You can get this plugin at a one-time cost or yearly subscription.

  1. Yoast SEO

This is another SEO plugin that is quite popular on WordPress. It is used by more than 5 million websites around the world. This plugin is user-friendly and comes with clear instructions on improving SEO in content.

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It ranks your website content on the basis of keywords. It also helps you add titles, meta descriptions, and images. You can check and improve individual paragraphs as well.

  1. Nextiva

This plugin comes as a business phone service that allows call routing, free unlimited domestic calls, voicemails, emails, texts, online faxes, and much more. You can receive business calls straight to your phone.

With this tool, you can set functional hours, perform online surveys, live chats, and CRM. It has an easy-to-use admin panel that lets businesses manage their communication effectively across platforms.

  1. Wordfence Security

WordPress has in-built security, but can be a target for hackers because of its popularity. With this plugin, you can ensure the security of your website and data. 

Wordfence has automatic security features for general purposes, along with a firewall that protects from fraudulent logins and common cyber attacks. You can also scan for malware and viruses.

  1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an eCommerce plugin that lets you create an online store and sell products. It has its own ecosystem, including hosting, themes, and plugins. You will get access to all features required to build a self-sufficient eCommerce website.

  1. Smash Balloon

This is touted to be the best social media feed tool available on WordPress. It hosts multiple plugins that can handle different social media platforms. With this, you can check SEO, customize feeds, control interaction, and do much more.

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Used by more than a million customers worldwide, Smash Balloon is known for its reliable service and prompt customer care team. It has both paid and free versions.

  1. W3 Total Cache

This free plugin provides speed and agility to your WordPress website. You can clear cache regularly, serve compressed files to visitors, and reduce the load time of your website. It also saves bandwidth and lightens the code load.

  1. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is an email marketing plugin that lets you reach users in your email list. You can send newsletters, marketing content, and much more with its help. And the best part, you don’t need technical expertise or coding knowledge to operate it.

  1. LiveChat

LiveChat Inc enables live chat support for business and commercial websites. You can add it to your website and customize it accordingly. It also has a mobile app for real-time customer support and integrates with your other communication plugins for the best results.

  1. UpDraftPlus

Keeping your website’s backup is a crucial aspect of business. UpDraftPlus lets you do that with automatic backup and storage in a remote location. You can choose among Google Drive, Dropbox, FTP, email, and more. Restoring your website from these backups is super easy.

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  1. Really Simple SSL

SSL certificates are important! With this plugin, you can transition from HTTP to HTTPS easily to avoid Google’s security warnings. It is free, automatic, and user-friendly. It redirects all your old URLs to more secure ones and doesn’t compromise on loading speed.

  1. MemberPress

This plugin allows you to build communities, membership sites, and online courses. With WordPress, you can create subscriptions, control content access, and avail several automation features.

It integrates well with marketing tools, payment platforms, and eCommerce sites. Other features include course management, group memberships, and drip content. Use MemberPress to build professionalism and increase your revenue. If this one isn’t fit for you, you can try another WordPress membership plugin.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a WordPress website might seem intimidating, with so many customization options and plugin choices. But once you know your priorities and requirements, it can be a very smooth process. And if you’re still not sure, never hesitate to consult a WordPress expert.

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