Wednesday 1 March 2017

Consider This Before Starting a Multi-Level or Network Marketing Business

At some point in life, you will have been heard of some multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing business opportunity.
Although incentives vary between companies, it usually offers the chance to ditch your 9-5, fire your boss, sell products you believe in, establish your own business, make lots of money, upgrade your lifestyle, potentially win a car or free trips, and make new friends in the process. And who doesn't want these?
People like MLM because its low barriers to entrepreneurship. You'll access training, an established system, support, and ample encouragement along the way. And the overheads are low with no large capital requirements or specialist qualifications required. Being a home-based business can also provide tax advantages.
Sounds exciting, right? But like any investment of time, money, and energy, you need to be aware of what you're getting into and do your homework.
How MLM works
A sponsor or mentor will teach you how to sell the product and earn a small commission from your sales. MLM compensates you for the sales you make, and the sales of others you recruit-this creates a "downline" of distributors and a hierarchy of compensation levels. So, the more people you recruit, the more commission you make.
Why do companies choose the MLM structure?
1. No advertising. It's challenging for companies to get their products and services "above the noise" using traditional, expensive advertising. MLM distributors sell the product through word-of-mouth to friends, neighbours, colleagues, and others online.
2. No staff benefits. Distributors are a sales force that work without benefits-for example, superannuation and health insurance. And of course No retail outlets and overhead costs.
Four success tips
1. Keep your current job while slowly making the MLM transition. MLM is not a get rich quick scheme and success is not easy. You need to embed success habits like discipline, hard work, organisation, self-motivation, and daily actions like hard sales. Treat it like a business and listen to those who've succeeded.
2. Believe in the product. Don't just do it for the money or the chance to create a business. It's unsustainable. Ask yourself these questions:
  • Do you have a passion for this product or service? Has it genuinely made a difference to your life?
  • Is the product superior to a cheaper but comparable retail product?
  • Can you talk about this product in your daily life such as picnics, the hairdressers, barbeques, and even when you're tired?
  • Are you comfortable mixing business with friendship? People may not want to hang out if they think you're always going to pitch them. (My website is positioned to attract people who are interested in my offer. I try to build trust and give value by providing high-quality free information. So I don't feel the pressure to pitch people at social events.)
  • Are you comfortable with the long game? Many MLM companies promote a three-to-five year plan towards financial freedom. But it could take ten years. And success is not guaranteed. Are you comfortable with that?
3. Have the time and focus on it. MLM won't work if you're busy with young children, already busy with another business or a demanding career. MLM is ideally suited to someone without a job or who wants a career change, but has been unsuccessful in finding alternative work.4. Running more than one business is not a good idea. The old proverb says, "If you chase two rabbits, you'll catch none." Unless you're Richard Branson-who has a huge team of support specialists-success normally comes from doing less but better. The difference with Branson is that he has the funds to invest in strong teams throughout each business.
Buyer beware
1. Before entering an MLM scheme, seek answers to these questions:
  • Can you make a sustainable profit from just selling the product without having to recruit anyone? (If they prefer you to recruit distributors above new customers, this indicates that products are not driving the MLM company profits.)
  • How quickly will you make money and how many distributors do you need to recruit to make money?
  • What's the average compensation and failure rate for part-time/full-time involvement?
  • What's the average expense of running the MLM company and does it exceed the average compensation?
2. Be aware of ulterior motives. Few people like being "sold to" so the MLM pitch is often dressed up as "customer service" or "sharing your enthusiasm" (like recommending a movie). But when money is involved, it's not innocent enthusiasm. Be honest with yourself and be clear on your ethics.3. There are significant upfront fees. Ever heard of a job that you have to pay a fee to start working? You'll probably pay significant upfront up-front fees for education and training. Ensure you're ready to commit or accept the possibility of losing your investment.
4. Expensive products. MLM companies often sell decent products, but they're usually expensive (to pay for the hierarchy of distributors) and require you to sell them aggressively to family and friends.
5. Don't mix with your existing business. Introducing MLM to an existing business client base is usually a bad idea. It can make people think you're not interested in your normal offering. You'll lose focus on what you're probably good at (remember what happens when you chase two rabbits). You'll also lose some friends and clients in the process, regardless of your success.
6. You'll probably lose money. Most people who join an MLM scheme, only a few earn more money than they spend.
7. The tax advantages are overstated. Many people wrongly assume that losses can be offset against other income in Australia. The ATO generally only lets you use these losses to offset future business profits-not other income such as salaries and wages.
In summary
Hundreds of MLMs exist-some good, some bad. So do your research, find an MLM company with quality products, and a sustainable, fair compensation plan.

New Designs for a New Bedroom or Living Room

Nowadays many people have included couches and utilize the room as a hideaway where they can sit in front of the television, listen to music or read a decent book and it's all are the design ideas for bedrooms.
It is along these lines essential that any interior design bedroom projects must be well thoroughly considered in light of the fact that even something as straightforward as relocating a bed or changing the way the bed faces can possibly bring about numerous sleepless nights and issues down the track. A designer specializing in living room Interior design ideas get you the details of this.
A similar impact can be created with a bedroom; a new arrangement of duvet cover and bed sheets, some new pillows and cushions and perhaps some new drapes and you quickly have the makings of an aggregate new look. Clearly these kinds of cosmetic changes are not significant interior design bedroom projects but rather they can absolutely help have an effect and make the room start to look outstanding without having to outlay a considerable measure of money.
Take Care When Choosing Your Color Scheme
When you start to plan your interior design bedroom project you might need to redecorate and change the color scheme to more hip and soft colors. Keep in mind the basic role of the room is for you to appreciate great sleep and this can regularly be troublesome in the event that you select striking or bright colors as a major aspect of your decorations. Many paint manufacturers have created enormous color ranges for you to choose from, regularly they may have up to at least 10 unique shades for a similar color. So make a beeline for your neighborhood paint retailer and see what they have on offer.
In the event that you are not by any means too beyond any doubt in the matter of what color scheme you must run with in your bedroom then it could be helpful to visit one of the show home villages close you for a little motivation - along these lines you can look at the most recent trends and see which colors are popular. Going online and browsing interior design websites may likewise give you the understanding into what options you have available.
Bear in mind that once you have short listed a couple colors then it is a smart thought little to get samples of every color and trial them on the bedroom dividers to check whether you can think of an awesome scheme. Do this before you really need to buy the required amounts as it is never simple attempting to return paint if it sometimes falls short for your room.

Why Do You Need to Choose Mobile Websites Over Mobile Apps?

In the world leading to technologies, there are many mobile users over the desktop and it is important for the organizations to knock the door of mobile platforms. However, the biggest concern is to decide whether to make a mobile website or to launch a mobile app. The decision completely depends on upon the nature of business and purpose to choose one of them or perhaps both.
To make a rational decision, you are required to understand the meaning of both at first. Mobile websites are similar to any other website which consist browser-based HTML pages linked together and accessed over the internet (for mobile Wi-Fi or 3G or 4G connections).
Mobile websites also display content, information, graphics and data like other standard websites. They have added features like click to call and location-based mapping.
On the other hand, mobile apps are the actual applications which are required to download and install on your mobile to use them. The users have to go through the mobile apps store to download the app where the downloading may fetch data and information from the internet.
The mobile websites are considered better due to some additional benefits. These are the following advantages to opt for websites:
  • Availability: The sites are available instantly as you enter the URL in the browser while applications take time and data to download and install first.
  • Compatibility: A website is the best way to reach all the users. Whether they are using android or IOS or window, WWW is for the whole world. Apps are limited to the different operating systems.
  • Upgradability: When the owner of the site updates any changes, the users can enjoy the updated version with an ease while, updating an app is a hectic task for users.
  • Sharing: The sharing of a URL is convenient while sharing an app requires another specific app. Instead, sharing a link on any social media platform is one click task.
  • Time and Money: The mobile website development is considerably better money and time saver than development of an application, particularly if you need to make a presence on various platforms.
  • Further steps: Launching an application on the stores is not enough to make a presence on platforms. It requires compatibility issues, ongoing development, upgrades and testing which is more expensive than launching an app.
Applications are only considerable for interactive games, regular usage or personalization and moreover when it doesn't require internet connection for usage.

3 Ways to Grow Any Business

Let me ask you something... Aside from the dead give-away coming from the title, how many ways do you, or did you, think there was to grow a business? Any business.
1? 3? 10? 150?
When ever I ask this to an audience I get countless people shouting out a variety of answers ranging from 1 to, well, unlimited.
It's true... People actually think there are "unlimited" ways to grow a business!
Truth be told, there are only three ways to grow and business.
THREE?! Have you lost your mind?
Nope, and I welcome you to challenge that.
There are only THREE ways to grow ANY business.
Here they are:
First, you can increase the amount of clients you have.
Second, you can increase the size of the transaction.
And third, you can increase the amount of transactions that occur per year.
When you apply pressure or focus on all three of these ways to grow your business, you can grow GEOMETRICALLY, anything is linear and limiting.
Let me explain...
The sad truth is that most people focus primarily on number 1, growing the client base, without realizing that this is by far the slowest, most expensive and time consuming method there is, and is very linear.
Often, the cost to constantly acquire new clients is high, and usually doesn't become incrementally MORE profitable as the business grows because, unless the business is under-performing, typically the overhead goes up alongside with the increase in clients. If you had 10 clients and running at max capacity, and you add 10 new clients, you need more staff, products, staff, etc.
Let's play this out...
Let's say you had 100 clients, and those 100 clients purchase once per year, and they spend 100 bucks. (Just to keep the math easy!)
100 clients x 1 per year x $100 = $ 10 000
So 100 clients spend 100 bucks with you once a year, you're bringing in 10K.
Now let's say you bust your butt and generate a 10% increase in your client base, so now you have 110 clients. Of course, for this example we'll assume you didn't lose any of those original 100. (a joke, I know, but that's okay)
Now your business is doing...
110 clients x $100 x 1 year = $11 000
10% increase right? Seems pretty good?
But that's a hard, slow approach. And expensive. I mean, when your business is new, just starting off and still in its infantile stages, 10% increase may not seem that tough, but that's because a new business picks off the easy, low hanging fruit. Once all the easy clients have come and (hopefully not all) gone, that's when we find out what it really cost to bring in a new client.
So bringing in new clients is by far the most expensive method of growth. (and there's nothing wrong with that... )
But what if we took that same 10% and applied it across the board. What if you not only increased your client base by 10%, but you added a 10% increase to each transaction (you can raise your prices, bundle in related product or services, etc.). And let's be honest, most people can raise their prices 10%. (more on that later)
So now we have...
110 clients x $110 per person, x 1/year = $12 100
That's an extra $2000 a year without any extra effort.
But let's take this even further...
What if you convinced them to make a purchase twice a year as oppose to once per year...
110 clients x $110 per person x 2/year = $24 200
Now we're talking.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not naive enough to say it's that easy. I get that this is just math and there are a million and one things that could change this formula and it's success. BUT, to discount the fact that most people only focus on growing the client base and nothing else would be foolish.
It all boils down to what kind of lifestyle you want...
If you want to spend every day going out and getting new clients, and that makes you happy, go nuts.
Or, if you're like some of my clients who, maybe for personal or family time, want to work LESS, there's lots you can do! For example, I've had clients RAISE their prices by 80, 100, 250% (Yes!), lose half their clients which means less overhead, less work, less time, and end up making MORE money.
The beauty of business is that you CAN choose and design life on your terms.
Of course there are a million ways to increase your client base, there are a million ways to increase the size of each transaction, there are a million ways to increase the amount of times they transact business with you, but at the end of the day all of business boils down to three basic things: clients, size of purchase, purchases per year.
Clearly, we're always talking average, or even below average figures to be conservative (it's always better to be surprised on the upside not downside), but what if...
If you own a restaurant, you have 100 clients spending 50 bucks a meal coming in twice a year... and you got those same clients to spend a few bucks more each time, or come in two extra times?
If you own a fitness studio and you got your clients to invest in an added, specialty program and running it twice per year above their regular membership.
If you own a hair dresser and your clients come in on average once every 3 months but you got them to come in every 2.5 months instead, and upsold them a wash or color or product each time.
If you're an independent sales rep and had 100 clients ordering twice per year, you can spend all day trying to get new clients, or give your existing clients reasons to buy three times per year.
I could go on and on...
One of the easiest things I do when I first come into a new clients business (and it makes me look like I've got some sort of secret) is find ethical reasons to get more dollars per transaction, and more transactions per year.
Remember, three ways. 3. Not 5. Not 50. Not 100.
Focus on all three and grow your business geometrically and you'll be well on your way

Modified Yoga Relieves Leg Pain

So many people have severe leg pain which interrupts their lives. Nobody wants to move when they are in pain. I think that's part of the problem. A catch 22. Once a person has severe pain; they become more sedentary. It's because of the pain, that they don't want to move too much. It's completely understandable. Seniors who have fallen and broken a hip or leg, are then told by physician not to move too much. After they heal, many people are still in the mind-set of not moving. Sciatica, knee and hip pain, burning sensations, numb legs, and cramping are other severe leg pains. The challenge is, that the leg pains sort of get all mixed up.
Modified yoga is actually a really good remedy for leg pain. Many of my clients have hip replacements, knee replacement, sciatica, and at least one has a broken pelvis that has been mending for a year now, severe leg cramps, and blood clots. Modified yoga assist the client at his or her pace of healing. People can stop when the pain is intense, or change the pose if its too much for them. No one has exactly the same time to heal. Some heal in a relatively short time; 4 weeks or so, and others with a more severe injury could take a whole year or more.
People are actually surprised when their bodies take quite a long time to heal. Somehow, it's prized when people heal quickly, like they are some super human. I just say, "It will take the time that it does." Another problem is that doctors don't fully understand the stretching and benefits of modified yoga, so they tell a patient don't move! If people continue to stretch, their hips, thighs and calves, and do everything slowly, they'll get the blood circulating, which aids healing. They would start to improve over time. As soon as someone feels a twinge of pain, they retreat, instead of giving themselves moments to let it pass, and just take a small rest. They go immerse themselves in being sedentary again.
Also when a client comes to my class, I want to understand what kind of life they are living at home. I want to know what they are eating, and what they are not eating. Besides giving them a modified yoga lesson, I may suggest that they eat cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts. Due to their beneficial properties. If they are experiencing leg cramps, I might suggest that they drink a glass of Tomato juice daily, which is filled with potassium to help their leg cramps.
I ask how they sleep. Do they stack their legs one on top of the other, do they jam one of their heels against the calf muscle? A simple change of sleeping habit and their leg pain clears up. I also find out what kind of shoes they wear, and to describe the leg pain. If they describe foot, heel, and lower leg pain, I would suggest that they buy new shoes, due to lack of shoe support.
If they are dealing with sciatica, we do stretches that are quite specific to stretch the back, hip and thigh. If they are dealing with a knee injury, we do leg strengthening and stretches to assist the knee in recovery. I notice right away if a person locks their knee when they walk, and I would immediately instruct them to be more aware of the knee lock. If they can change the leg position to a slightly bent knee, the knee pain would subside.
Throughout the modified yoga class, the knee has to be bent, to protect the knee, and release the stress on the back. The tailbone and pelvic bone, needs to be rolled towards the navel, which relieves back pressure, and just that little adjustment, may be enough to release sciatica strain. Modified yoga does work on most pain, but people just have to have a little patience.
A yoga class is not a pain pill that just covers the symptoms. We really discover what is going on with a person's lower back, legs, hips, and feet. All of this doesn't happen immediately, because the client is learning about his or her own body. Each change of positioning, and subtly of the stretches, starts to make them feel a whole lot better. Then each client has to continue at his or her home. To keep the legs slightly bent, to do strengthen exercises, to protect the knees. To be careful about where they place their feet so that they don't fall and re-injure the legs, knees ankles or feet.
It's more like a lifestyle. Modified yoga is not just a class, it's the body mechanics that go along with it. How can a person move their body in a gently way that frees their body, and permanently release body strain.

What Is Responsive Web Design and How to Test It?

Nowadays almost each person, a child or an adult, has different devices: smartphones, iPads, iPods, and so on. All information and resources which are available on the big PC's monitor should be correctly displayed on the small mobile screen as well.
Technologies change very fast along with people wants and needs. Thus, favorite websites should obligatory have their mobile versions in order the user may visit it wherever he is. Unfortunately, not all of the internet sources are geared towards portative devices properly. In this case, a tester's task is to perform thorough web design testing.
Opening the source, the server should recognize the "m" domain in order to redirect the user to phone-optimized version. Today it is of great importance to personalize the company's website design, considering its resolution. But it is quite challenging to create a certain version for all devices and each resolution. There is a solution.
The so-called responsive web design (RWD) - a type of advanced web design which is able to adapt and change its features according to the desired mobile phone and screen resolution. An idea is that all visual components, such as photos/images, buttons, tabs or icons, should be modified, depending on the type of device.
There is an opinion that content is like water: whether you poured it out, it became an inherent part of the recipient. That is exactly about RWD.
What Should We Know About RWD?
  • Usability is at the first place - developers, writing the code of the future system, should pay special attention to its design, load, content, and performance.
  • Breakpoints - in order to define the layout, developers utilize the breakpoints for a certain design.
  • HTML/CSS - to auto-resize images and resolutions, HTML and CSS features are applied.
  • Frameworks - JS, PHP, .Net, and many others are used under the RWD development.
In order to successfully check responsive web design, the testers should execute software testing of a website on the various devices. Actually, it is a rather complex task to be purely fulfilled. A tester would need a great number of devices. Likely, there is a way out - write test scenarios, according to which the system will change the size of the browser window.
What Conditions Should Be Considered When Writing Test Scenarios for Responsive Website Checking?
  1. There is a certain image for one specified resolution type.
  2. There is only one URL for all devices in all browsers.
  3. There is a dynamic feature in the content when resizing.

Tips for Planning the Perfect Road Trip

Planning for a road trip comes naturally to me since I have been on the road for a few years now, on and off. If this is that time of the year when you are ready for the next big road trip of your life, a little planning can help you avoid mishaps later on. The idea of heading for a road trip in a car is exciting but it comes with a downside of planning and packing. Don't worry, we are here to help. Here are a few planning tips that you can keep in mind to plan your road trip.
Plan for the route you want to take: You sure know where you wish to go, but planning for the route and stops in advance can take away the hassle. Nobody likes being stuck in a car for long with unhappy passengers for long hours. So before you consider your trip, check GPS before leaving to avoid chances of getting stuck in traffic jams. There are many other applications that can help you plan your routes.
Set a budget: Driving to your destination is going to cost you less than flying. But still there are going to be other expenses such as tolls, lodging, dining, etc. You need to calculate your expenses and hidden expenses beforehand so that you are not left out with no money. You can even use a travel budget calculator to do the same.
Look where you can save money: Even after setting your budget, you can manage to save a bit. There are a few things that can be done about saving money. First, tank up your car so as to have a solid start. Make sure you pack light and keep your cargo weight in check. Lighter car means easier drive. It is best to look for gas stations where multiple fast food chains are located as the price of fuel is going to be less. Stick to the speed limit so as to be safe while you drive and get good average. Avoid road rage and don't drink and drive.
The best way to save on your expenses is by packing some food on the go.
Make sure your car is in good shape and is packed like a pro: It is important to ensure that the vehicle you are going to drive on your road trip is in primo condition. You would never want your vehicle to break down in the middle of the road, leaving you clueless about what to do next. Also, while packing stuff in your car, make sure you place the items you need the most on the top and the least useful things in the bottom. Be organized when packing your car for road trip.
With these tips at tow, you'll be able to reduce the stress of planning for a road trip.

9 Ways to Minimize Sewer and Water Repairs

As homeowners, there are many things that we must be aware of regarding the home's systems. From ensuring that the HVAC system works correctly to the electrical or plumbing system there are many elements that need to be checked often. By taking time to do maintenance, there is no more important system than the status of the water and sewer system.
This particular system, if not maintained, can cause significant damage to other aspects of your home so it is vital that you do your part to ensure that the water and sewer system in your home is maintained, through proactive measures.
Tips to Keeping the Water and Sewer System Working Properly
1. Use liquid drain cleaners rather than the crystal ones which can solidify in your pipes thus doing more harm than help.
2. Never use a chemical drain cleaner to fix a total blockage. Rather, you should use a sewer jetter. You may also want to use a hydrostatic line tester to determine the status of the lines.
3. Once a month, pour 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar down each drain in the house. This will cause a chemical reaction that will clean away most buildup. Wait one hour, then flush the pipes with warm water.
4. Note any toilet leaks and correct them sooner, not later. Many times, the leak is a result of a bad flush valve. These can be purchased at any hardware store. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
5. Do not use chemical drain cleaners on a clogged toilet.
6. If you have a garbage disposal, be sure to use it properly. Never put stringy food such as banana skins, celery, rhubarb and others into the disposal. Also, always run the water when using the disposal as this will help move items along. To keep it smelling good, be sure to use lemon peels it from time to time
7. From time to time, do a system cleanout by ensuring that traps are full of water, and that the caps are on and secure. Should you notice any smells, pour a small amount of bleach into the drain.
8. Never pour items such as grease down the drain or toilet as it clings to the pipes and will build up - thus causing clogs - over time.
9. Other items that should never be flushed are sticks, rags, paper towels, household hazardous waste, or any other paper products not designed to be flushed. In fact, many sewer and plumbing specialist say that even items such as flushable wipes should never be flushed either as they do not break down as well as touted.
Using these proactive measures will go a long way towards minimizing the need for water and sewer repair. If you have questions about your home's water and sewer system talk to a local plumbing company or your municipalities to learn what you can do.

Top 10 Best-Selling Motorcycle Brands

In addition to the Japanese Big Four (Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha), the list of top-selling motorcycle manufacturers includes companies based in Italy, the U.S., Austria, and the UK.
Honda
Honda's motorcycle division sells more than 15 million motorcycles annually, which makes it world's leading manufacturer. One of the factors driving the company's sales is its popularity in Asian markets. Yet Honda also dominates in North America.
Ducati
The Italian brand headquartered in Bologna manufactures motorcycles since 1935. Ducati is known for its powerful sport bikes. The company has a long and successful racing history, which started in 1951. Today it spends over 7% of its revenues on racing business. The brand belongs to Audi through its subsidiary Lamborghini.
Harley-Davidson
Great 20th-21st century history and exhilarating riding experience give Harley-Davidson the status of the legend bike company. This brand is familiar almost to everybody, even those who have never ridden a bike in their lives.
Yamaha
Yamaha bikes are known for excellent performance, ride quality and comparatively easy handling. Yamaha is almost as successful as another famous Japanese manufacturer, Honda. Moreover, the number of dirt bikes it sells exceeds Honda and Yamaha combined.
Kawasaki
The Motorcycle & Engine division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries gained recognition as a manufacturer of a wide range of bikes, from very small to sport ones. These motorcycles are loved all over the world for their powerful and reliable engines, capable of developing great speed. There are production sites in Japan, North America, Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Suzuki
One more representative of the Japanese Big Four. The GSXR 750 and the DR 400 are among the most popular Suzuki motorcycles. The company has over 35 production facilities in more than 20 countries.
KTM
During its first years the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer specialized in 2-stroke and 4-stroke off-road motorcycles, but in the course of time its product range grew wider. In addition to dirt bikes, it now includes street motorcycles and sports cars. The brand belongs to CROSS Industries AG and Bajaj Auto Limited.
BMW Motorrad
BMW is one of the oldest motorcycles manufacturers. The company's first bike was made in 1923. BMW Motorrad is famous for its road bikes, sports-touring bikes and sport bikes. Some of the most well-known models are the GS Adventure, the S 1000 REFRIGERATORS, and the K1600.
Triumph
The largest motorcycle maker in the UK, Triumph specializes in road bikes that belong to the cruiser, naked, and sport classes. The Triumph brand is owned by BMW.
Victory
Victory is a comparatively new brand, it started production of motorcycles in 1998. Its large-displacement cruisers are famous all over the world. The company based in the U.S. has its final assembly facility in Iowa.