Understanding Ceramic Coating
Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer applied to the exterior of a vehicle. Once cured, it forms a chemical bond with the vehicle’s factory paint, creating a durable protective layer. Unlike wax or sealants, ceramic coating offers longer-lasting results and greater resistance to environmental contaminants.

How Does Ceramic Coating Work?
The coating utilizes nanotechnology to fill in microscopic imperfections in the paint. This results in a smooth and hydrophobic surface that repels water, dirt, and grime. The bond it forms with the paint is semi-permanent, meaning it doesn’t wash off or break down as quickly as traditional waxes.

Benefits of Ceramic Coating
Superior Protection
Ceramic coating shields your car from a variety of external threats, including UV rays, oxidation, and chemical stains. This protection helps preserve your car’s paintwork, preventing fading and discoloration over time.

Hydrophobic Properties
One of the standout features of ceramic coating is its water-repellent nature. Water and dirt slide off easily, making your car easier to clean and reducing the frequency of washes.

Enhanced Gloss and Shine
Ceramic coating enhances the depth and clarity of your vehicle’s paint, giving it a showroom-like finish. The glossy appearance is one of the reasons car enthusiasts love this treatment.

Long-Lasting Durability
While traditional waxes last a few weeks or months, ceramic coatings can protect your car for years with proper maintenance. This makes it a cost-effective investment in the long run.

Resistance to Minor Scratches
Ceramic coating adds a layer of hardness to the paint, providing resistance to minor scratches and swirl marks that occur during regular cleaning.

Why Choose Ceramic Coating Over Alternatives?
While alternatives like waxing and paint sealants are more affordable, they don’t offer the same level of durability and protection as ceramic coatings. Wax requires frequent reapplication and can’t withstand harsh environmental conditions. Ceramic coating, on the other hand, offers superior protection and aesthetics, reducing maintenance time and costs.

Additionally, ceramic coating is different from paint protection film (PPF). While PPF provides a thicker, more impact-resistant layer, ceramic coating focuses on long-term gloss and hydrophobic properties. Many car owners choose to use both for maximum protection.

Things to Consider Before Applying Ceramic Coating
Professional Application: While DIY kits are available, professional application ensures the coating bonds correctly and delivers optimal results.
Preparation: The car’s surface must be meticulously cleaned and polished before application to avoid sealing imperfections.
Cost: Ceramic coating is an investment. While the upfront cost may seem high, the long-term benefits make it worthwhile.
Conclusion
Ceramic coating is an excellent choice for car owners who value their vehicle’s appearance and want long-lasting protection. Its ability to repel water, resist scratches, and enhance paintwork makes it a top-tier option for car care. If you’re looking to preserve your car’s beauty while reducing maintenance time, ceramic coating is undoubtedly worth considering.

What Makes a Car Shipping Company the Best?
The best car shipping companies stand out for their reliability, transparency, customer service, and affordability. Here are the essential qualities to look for:

Reputation: Companies with a strong track record and positive customer reviews are more likely to deliver excellent service.
Insurance Coverage: Comprehensive coverage ensures your vehicle is protected during transit.
Wide Service Network: A large service area indicates the company can handle diverse routes and customer needs.
Shipping Options: Look for companies that offer both open and enclosed transport to suit your vehicle’s specific needs.
Transparent Pricing: No one likes surprise fees. A good company provides clear and upfront quotes.
Top Car Shipping Companies in the USA
Here’s a look at some of the best-rated car shipping companies in the country, known for their service quality and reliability:

Montway Auto Transport

Offers door-to-door delivery and 24/7 customer service.
Known for competitive pricing and vast service coverage.
Specializes in both open and enclosed transport.
Sherpa Auto Transport

Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
Features a “Price Lock Promise” to guarantee your quote won’t change.
Provides high levels of customer satisfaction with personalized service.
AmeriFreight

Known for a variety of discounts, including military and student deals.
Excellent insurance options for added peace of mind.
High ratings for customer service and reliable delivery.
Easy Auto Ship

Specializes in expedited services and overseas shipping.
Offers competitive rates for both short and long distances.
Great option for those shipping classic or luxury cars.
uShip

Unique marketplace model where carriers bid for your job, potentially lowering costs.
Provides flexibility for customers seeking budget-friendly options.
Comprehensive tracking tools to monitor your shipment.
How to Choose the Right Company
Evaluate Your Needs: Are you shipping a standard car, a luxury vehicle, or a classic car? Choose a company that specializes in your vehicle type.
Compare Quotes: Request estimates from multiple companies and analyze what’s included.
Check Licensing and Insurance: Verify that the company is registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and has adequate insurance coverage.
Read Reviews: Use platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot to read customer feedback.
Why Work with the Best?
Using one of the best car shipping companies in the USA ensures your vehicle arrives safely and on time. It minimizes the risk of damage, delays, and hidden costs. While these companies might not always offer the lowest rates, the quality of service often justifies the investment.

Conclusion
Choosing the best car shipping company is about balancing cost, service quality, and peace of mind. Companies like Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, and AmeriFreight are trusted names that consistently deliver on these fronts. Whether you’re moving cross-country or need a reliable service for a special vehicle, the right shipping company can make the process seamless and stress-free.

Why Compare Car Shipping Rates?
Car shipping rates vary significantly based on factors such as distance, vehicle type, shipping method, and the time of year. By comparing rates, you can:

Find Competitive Pricing: Avoid overpaying by exploring multiple quotes from reputable companies.
Understand Service Levels: Higher costs might come with added benefits like enclosed transport or expedited shipping.
Prevent Scams: Comparing rates helps you spot suspiciously low prices that might indicate fraudulent services.
Factors Influencing Car Shipping Rates
Distance and Route: Longer distances cost more, but the route’s popularity can affect pricing. Heavily trafficked routes often have lower rates due to higher demand.
Vehicle Size and Weight: Larger or heavier vehicles typically incur higher costs due to space and weight considerations.
Shipping Method: Open carriers are more affordable, while enclosed carriers offer premium protection at a higher price.
Season and Demand: Rates may spike during peak seasons, like summer, when demand for car shipping is higher.
Pickup and Delivery Locations: Urban areas tend to have lower rates compared to remote locations due to accessibility.
Steps to Compare Car Shipping Rates Online
Research Reputable Companies: Use trusted review platforms and industry websites to create a shortlist of companies.
Request Multiple Quotes: Provide accurate information about your vehicle and shipping needs to get precise estimates.
Evaluate Inclusions: Ensure the quotes cover insurance, tracking, and any additional services you might need.
Read Customer Reviews: Past experiences can provide insights into a company’s reliability and service quality.
Beware of Extremely Low Rates: While affordability is important, rates that seem too good to be true may come with hidden costs or poor service.
Top Tips for Getting the Best Deal
Book Early: Last-minute shipping requests often come at a premium. Planning ahead can help you secure better rates.
Be Flexible with Dates: Flexibility in pickup and delivery dates can result in lower costs.
Choose Open Transport: Unless you’re shipping a luxury or classic car, open carriers are a budget-friendly option.
Conclusion
Comparing car shipping rates online is the smartest way to find the ideal balance between cost and quality. By doing your homework, analyzing quotes, and considering the factors affecting pricing, you can ensure a seamless and cost-effective car shipping experience. Take advantage of online tools and resources to make informed decisions and enjoy peace of mind throughout the process.

However, how much thought do you put into your small business data security and protecting client information?

Hopefully a lot, because according to Microsoft: • An attacker resides within a network for an average of 146 days before detection • The average cost of a data breach to a business is $3.8 million • The total cost of cybercrime to the global community in 2016 was $500 billion • 63 percent of attacks are the result of compromised user passwords and usernames

As these threats continue to become more sophisticated, legislation must too. ]

In Canada, many government departments such as the Department of Justice, RCMP, Public Safety Canada and Global Affairs Canada work together with international, federal and provincial law enforcement agencies against cybercrime. That’s great, but you want to stop any potential attacks before your clients’ data security is breached!

And, if you’re thinking that your site is too small to appeal to hackers, think again. Sometimes a cybercriminal’s intention isn’t to gather sensitive content, but to relay spam emails from your server. Let’s use the example of a membership site for these small business cybersecurity tips.

A membership website has specific resources available for members who generally pay a one-time or recurring fee to get content such as videos, eBooks, articles or tutorials. My AMPLiFY! Business Academy is an example of this type of website. Because people are entering sensitive information such as email addresses, passwords and payment information to access my content, we need to be vigilant about how we keep them safe from online threats. (A secure site is also more likely to earn trust, which in turn can increase revenue.) To help safeguard your clients’ data security, I suggest that you:

1. Choose a reputable web host. Don’t just go for the cheapest! I compiled a list of web hosting providers that I recommend; you can view it here.

2. Install an SSL certificate on your site. This means having HTTPS vs. HTTP in the URL. This is the prefix to your web address, and the SSL provides additional security and makes it harder for hackers to access.

You can often add this service to your web hosting package for free, or for a small cost. An added bonus: a secure site can actually rank higher in Google.

3. As soon as you see a new software update, install it. Many membership sites are built in WordPress, which lets you simply click the ‘Update Now’ button. This helps keep cybercriminals from taking advantage of security flaws in older versions. Similarly, look for plugins to help manage online security. 4. Enforce complex passwords. Request or even demand that users create passwords with a combo of upper and lowercase letters, symbols and numbers. This will deter people from using ‘12345’ as a password. You can also install a plugin on your WordPress site that only gives someone a number of tries to log in to before they’re locked out. 5. Approve comments manually. Spammers love unattended comments! They can post links there that a) may drive traffic back to their site and b) may trick Google (however briefly) into thinking that their site has valuable content.

6. Clean up information that’s no longer relevant. Previous members, people who have cancelled, those who have completed your course… get rid of user info and payment info as often as you can. By following these small business cyber security tips, you can minimize the risk that your website is going to be targeted by scammers or cybercriminals.

Don’t cut corners when it comes to protecting client information, and you can create a safe space for loyal fans who feel comfortable handing over their personal and payment info.

Of course, there are many more components to maintaining a secure website. We’re experts at keeping our clients’ data secure so that they can focus on running an effective business.

What happens at an annual general meeting?
During an AGM, a company’s performance is examined and its future strategy is discussed. This is a chance for shareholders to question the board, get answers for unsatisfactory performance, and challenge them in the direction of the company.

• An AGM is a time to praise good returns. • Votes can also be checked during an AGM, allowing shareholders to vote on company decisions, and fill any vacant positions on the board of directors. • Shareholders who prefer not to attend the meeting can normally vote by proxy, which can be made by post or by giving permission for another shareholder to vote on their behalf.

Extension of AGM Date
Due to the widespread of COVID-19 and social distancing measures and significant restrictions, MCA has received several requests to allow companies to extend of AGM date for the financial year ended. The topic was reviewed where MCA published the circular number dated 05.05.2020 concerning holding of AGM through video conferencing. Again MCA published General Circular no. 28/2020 dated 17th August 2020 has published a clarification on the extension of the AGM date for the financial year ended as at 31.03.2020. Know more about the extension of the AGM date in detail.

Over the years thousands of real estate investing tactics have came and went. This market can change on a daily basis but there is always a more successful approach discovered around every investment turn. There are 3 ways listed below that will keep you up to date with the most profitable real estate investing techniques.

1. Find a Mentor

Find a successful investor that is continuously improving his investing craft. Follow or partner with the investor in order to stay in the loop. Hooking up with someone knowledgeable is dire to your future investing dreams, as an expert can give you a second opinion and help you avoid making costly mistakes. If you don not know of an investor that makes real estate his life then join your local REIA. Local REIA’s are filled with successful investors as well as investor hopefuls. If you’re okay to learn over the phone then check out an online real estate investing event usually known as a teleseminar series, which brings me to the number two way to keep up with the most cutting edge REI information.

2. Attend Online Teleseminar Events

Online Teleseminar Events is a series of interviews hosted live on a weekly basis. The host interviews the most successful investors of our time and you can listen in for a very low cost if there is even a charge. Joining a teleseminar event will give you a chance to get a feeling of where you would like to focus in the investing niche. The events discuss all things real estate investing such as foreclosures, lease options, wholesaling, house flipping, business management, tax savings, and more.

3. Join Your Local Real Estate Investment Association

Do a Google search on REIA and you can search for a REIA near you. The association hosts groups all over the US. Attending or joining a group near you is a perfect networking opportunity if you with to hang out with like minded individuals. Most groups host investing experts as occasional guest speakers and many serious investors hang out there as well.

Remember, it is important to use the most up to date information when it comes to investing in the real estate market. The investing niche has big profit potential which means it also comes with big risks. The more up to date you are on your information the less risky this highly gratifying and rewarding industry can be. As long as you find a quality mentor, attend teleseminar events and/or join your local REIA you will be fully equipped to handle anything that comes at you.

1. Lift weights twice a week to increase your muscle mass. This muscle will burn more calories even when you are not exercising. Go to the gym, buy some weights for home, go for a walk with a bottle of water in your ruck sack or go to a weighted workout.

2. Take care of your heart and lungs by staying active for at least 30 minutes each day. This can be split into more than one session, so could mean 2 x 15 minute walks.

3. Eat small amounts of GOOD fats: avocado, oily fish, olive/flax oil, nuts and seeds, these will take care of your cardiovascular system (heart, arteries and veins). Eat less BAD fats: Fried food, meat, cakes, chocolate, crisps, biscuits, butter, these will harm your cardiovascular system, and make you fat. Remove ALL hydrogenated fats from your diet, they are very bad for you and hide in many ready made biscuits, cakes, crisps, puddings, sweets, chocolates. These fats are extremely harmful to your health. Avoiding them will help you avoid foods which are high in fat, sugar and salt and low in nutrients. Check labels.

4. Protein will make you feel full, and will help repair muscle after exercise. Try sourcing protein from skinless chicken, tofu, pulses (beans and peas) and oily fish such as salmon, fresh tuna and mackerel; these also contain other beneficial ingredients and are low in bad saturated fats.

5. Make sure you eat your carbohydrates, they help you to exercise and burn fat, but eat SLOW BURN carbohydrates such as oats (porridge), brown bread instead of white, brown rice, honey instead of sugar, brown pasta, lentils, vegetables, pulses. If you want to loose body fat, then replace half your carbohydrates with steamed vegetables, at your evening meal.

6. Drink more water, often the body sends the same signal for thirst as for hunger. Drink water first thing in the morning and all through the day, especially during and after exercising. Cut down on tea and coffee, avoid fizzy drinks.

7. Eat a piece of fruit and drink water instead of drinking fruit juice which is high in calories, and difficult to digest.

8. Watch out for sports drinks. Unless you are training very hard, a bottle of sports drink may replace all of the calories you have just burned in your activity. Bring a bottle of water instead.

9. Keep an eye on your drinking! Alcohol and mixers are high in calories.

10. Do not get hungry; this will lead to you eating the wrong things. Carry healthy snacks wherever you go; bananas, apples, rice cakes, dried fruit and nuts (go easy on them though). Hunger can be triggered by boredom or lack of stimulation. Go for a walk or wander round the garden, or do the vacuuming. Eat 5 small meals a day rather than 3 big ones.

11. Look at your portion sizes; in general they are larger than they need to be. If a smaller portion will leave you feeling hungry, add a huge spoon of steamed broccoli, cauliflower or other vegetables.

12. Eat your breakfast. In tests people who eat breakfast loose more weight than those who do not. You cannot exercise efficiently and achieve your potential without eating properly.

13. Do not go shopping when you are hungry. When you go, write a list and stick to it, don’t be tempted by special offers on foods that you know are bad for you.

14. Look at the ingredients on everything that you buy. Look at the total amount of fat and what kind of fat- avoid saturated fats and hydrogenated fats as they are linked with developing heart disease. Look at the amount of calories and the amount of salt that you will be eating.

In general the more ingredients on a label, the less goodness is in the food. If you have time to prepare some meals with fresh ingredients you will improve your health, and probably cut down on fat, as most prepared food is high in fats and salt.

15. Beware of reduced fat labels- it only means that there is less fat than in the original thing. (For example reduced fat mayonnaise is still 50g fat per 100g- very high in fat). These foods are still often high in sugars, fat and calories and you may eat more of them because they appear to be healthy. Don’t buy reduced fat biscuits and cakes, just eat something healthier and get used to the fact that life is OK without those things.

16. Don’t fill the house with crisps, biscuits and sweets for the kids, it is no good for them and will encourage you to snack on them too. Try and move the whole family into healthier eating, this will help prevent obesity, heart disease and diabetes in your kids when they are your age, gift them with a long, quality life.

17. Stock up on healthy foods. Write a list of delicious healthy things that you may have forgotten you love, and make sure your cupboards are full of them; cherry tomatoes, baked beans on wholemeal bread, kiwis, mangoes, ryvita and marmite……

18. Make your lunch and take it to work. Buy whole grain rolls and tins of salmon and tuna- it only takes a few minutes to make a sandwich and pick up some fruit. Even a shop sandwich will be full of fat, and low in nutrients. Hold the mayo on the tuna!

19. Watch less TV: it will give you less chance to nibble, more time to exercise or organise yourself for the next day. Organization may be the key to making your lifestyle healthier.

20. Motivate yourself to change your lifestyle and that of your family. Set an example to the kids, that mum and dad are fit and active and healthy. Take them on walks, cycling, walk to the shops, and go swimming. Take them to a local fitness centre for football, dance or basketball. Our children need our help if they are to avoid the growing epidemic of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, as well as other lifestyle-related illness. Change their eating habits; you will only do them good. LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

21. Buy yourself an exercise video to do at home instead of watching TV. Choose yoga or Pilates, aerobics or stability ball. There is a huge range on offer, talk to me for help. Buy yourself a healthy lifestyle magazine for motivation, recipes and exercises to do at home. Four good ones are Zest, Men’s Health, Ultra Fit, and Health and Fitness. Buy yourself a healthy eating or low fat cookbook for ideas.

22. Remember to have some treats and some fun, life is for living, being healthy should be enjoyable too, not a chore.

23. Slow down, stop rushing around, become more organised and make time to enjoy cooking, exercising and life in general.

24. Take some time to relax and unwind. You need to lower stress levels to stay healthy, exercise, Yoga and Pilates can help you do this, and so can a warm bath by candlelight.

25. Make exercise and healthy eating a normal and enjoyable part of every day of your life. You will live longer, protect your children’s health and be a happier, healthier person.

I hope that this gives you some motivation to change your life in small ways and reap large benefits. Until next time,
Vikki.

Do you have any friends and family who could benefit from getting fitter and feeling better? If you do, then treat them to free copy of this newsletter, forward it to them, and get them to e-mail me with a request. E-mail getfitter@yahoo.co.uk subject: newsletter request.

Article marketing tips, the best kept secrets for getting traffic, leads, sales, and new sign ups. A solid marketing plan for network marketing, MLM, or any and all online businesses.

Finding The Right Keywords

One of the most important article marketing tips to remember is the importance of using the right keywords. You must select keywords that are relevant, high traffic keywords, low in competition, and have high commercial value. The best way to accomplish all of these parameters is the use of keyword research tools, either free versions, or paid versions. Free/paid versions of research tools can be found on the Internet by doing a simple search for keyword research tools.

With keyword research you want to get highly targeted traffic, people that are ready to buy, and are searching for the content in your article. You want to choose keywords that also have a fair amount of traffic (no fewer than 100 searches per day) and are not so highly competitive that you can’t compete. The goal is to beat out the competition and get your article on the front page of Google. The front page of Google is the Holy Grail for keyword research.

Finding out whether or not your key word has high commercial value can be as simple as doing a Google search for your keyword and noticing whether or not there are paid ads on the right of the page. The more paid ads on the right of the page the higher commercial value of your keyword. The more paid ads the better.

On Page And Off Page Optimization

Other great article marketing tips. On page optimization is essential to ensure that the search engines can access your article and determine its relevant content. To accomplish this using your keyword in the title of your article is a must, also the first and last paragraph of your article, and several times in between the first and last paragraph in the body copy. Also the keyword should be underlined, italicized, bolded, and put in quotes at least once throughout the length of the article.

Off page optimization can be greatly enhanced by submitting your article to high authority web sites for page rank and getting back links to you article. Some high authority websites are, EzineArticles PR 6, Squidoo PR 8. etc., Submitting to these sites gives you page rank over other article marketers using the same keywords.

For back links to your article, the more sites you submit to, such as blogs, forums, and article directories, the more back links you will get. One of the most important “article marketing tips” is, all other things being equal, he who gets the most back links wins the article marketing game.

Article Marketing Tools

Tools are a must if you don’t want to spend most of your waking hours finding the best keywords, submitting articles, and getting back links, the more tools you have the less work you do to get these back links. You can find quite a few free tools on the net with a simple Google search for the tool that will perform the function which you are trying to achieve. If you have a small budget you can also purchase tools to automate the repetitive work of back linking. I would suggest using the free tools before buying anything. as you need to have the knowledge of what you are looking for in a tool before you lay out your hard earned money. Tools can help you automate most of the repetitive work, and free you up to do the more important work of creating informative, helpful articles that draw people to your site or business.

Be Consistent

One of the last “article marketing tips” is; stay consistent. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see results immediately, expect to have a lag of 2 to 3 weeks before you see results after posting your article. Write and post articles daily, if possible, or at least several times per week. The fruit of your work will multiply over time, and once you are out on the search engines there is a cumulative effect to the amount of leads you will receive. The secret to article marketing is longevity, articles exist in perpetuity, and the great thing is, unlike paid advertising, the cost of these leads is next to nil.

Video is an incredible way to create a strong brand. Visual information is very powerful. When people see something, there is a greater chance that it will be remembered if it is in video. Social Media is about having communications that are fun. Something that is very unusual about social media is that it is an almost contradiction in terms. In old media, material was created by a marketer and sent out to the customer. In social media, it is the customers who create the content and send it out to their friends.

This is why social media is so viral. To understand the viral effect, you have to understand Reed’s Law. The mathematics are involved but if you start with a beginning network of 2, that low number quickly becomes 1,092. Video is a powerful touch point that creates strong conversation “among friends”—customer and brand. It is a strong brand creator, but for it to work, video has to be created properly. If the video is done properly it will have a very negative effect.

To make video that creates a brand for you, the videos have to be able to be uploaded to the Web. To do this you will need a microphone and video camera that is compatible with your computer. You are trying to do a particular thing in your videos. You are trying to create a brand on a social media platform. To achieve this purpose, your videos must be quality, professional looking videos.

Many basic, consumer computers come with microphones and video cameras built in. At the time of purchase, explain to sales person what you have in mind. You want to post video on social media sights. Before you make your purchase, make sure that your machine has the proper equipment. If you desire a higher quality video you can purchase a webcam or digital video camera such as the Flip Video Camera. This camera is inexpensive, portable, and easy to connect to your computer. Keep in mind what you are trying to do. You’re not just trying to make videos—you are trying to create a brand through your videos. For this reason you should invest in better quality microphones, and a high quality video camera that allows you to record in high-definition.

To add music, transitions, and an introduction, and a closing to your video, plus delete mistakes, you will need video-editing software. Some computers have this pre-installed. Other makes of computers have software that can be downloaded. Again, at time of purchase, talk to the salesperson to make sure that you will have the proper equipment and software available to you to make the quality videos that are needed to create a world class brand. If you desire even more advanced movie editing, software companies make available powerful software that makes truly immersive videos. Some research at through search engines can find you the upper level software that you are seeking.

Your goal in doing video is to create a world class brand that begins a “conversation among friends”. To achieve this goal you will need a plan. Decide on the tenor of the video. Is it going to be serious, humorous, dramatic, educational, slice-of-life—-what? You will need to pick a subject that relates to your brand. If you’re trying to create a brand for Rihanna, you could video a concert and put it on a Page. The video can create new touch points for Rihanna’s brand. This video can be seen by her fans, your friends.

This video can then be downloaded so that friends can pass the video around to one another. This is a great strategy, because in contrast to people simply talking about the concert, now they can see the concert, over and over again. This video creates brand for Rihanna. Again, the only way to create a brand is by using quality video. This is why having the proper equipment is a must. If you don’t have the resources, don’t attempt to brand through videos. However, this hard work pays off. Don’t forget the numbers—in social media 2 becomes 1,092.

Videos have to be planned to achieve the success that we are looking for. If you are going to video a concert, make sure that you are in a physical position to make your subject look good. If Rihanna is fuzzy, can’t be seen well, or can’t be heard well, people will not want to listen to the video, and you’re sole purpose in making the video will be lost. The Ford Fiesta is bench mark in individuals creating a brand. In the case of the Ford Fiesta social media project, The Fiesta Movement, Ford allowed the participants of the project a lot of latitude, but the video assignments were structured.

Ford wanted the videos on Facebook to make the Fiesta look like a fun car, but a serious car. Ford did not want low quality, silly videos. Ford did not want the Fiesta to become the object of Jay Leno jokes. Ford wanted videos shot where there were a maximum amount of people, such as festivals, and block parties. To create videos that brand a product, serious planning and supervision must be done. Have an idea of what you are going to do. Have a script, an outline of what you are going to say in the video if there is audio, and adhere to it.

Few videos are perfect without editing. The idea behind the making of this video is to create brand. You want people to look at this video over and over again. To accomplish this, you will need to edit out mistakes and dead space. A nice touch would be to have a consistent opening and closing line.

You have to save your video to a Web-friendly format depending upon the computer that you buy. Saving the video is important in creating brand, so pay serious and close attention to format for your particular computer. The format for cell phones is or.3gp.

You must compress it to meet the restrictions of the site where you plan to upload it. Each video-publishing and sharing site you plan has different requirements and restrictions. You have to know all the restrictions and requirements of the sharing site you plan to use to house your video so that you’re videos are housed and compressed properly.

Naturally, the reason why you made this video is for it to be shared. You will need to upload it to a host that provides a video player, which allows people to view it. The best strategy for the viewing of your video is to put it on multiple distribution points. Some of the more popular and more robust sites are YouTube, Vidder, Vimeo, Dailymotion, blip.tv, and TubeMogul.

Dean Hambleton

dnhambleton@gmail.com

Today, an evolution is occurring that will forever change the relationship between retailers and their customers. This new retail model, known as electronic commerce, consists of

- Mobile commerce supported by mobile devices and tablets

- Emerging social commerce platforms that bring together advertising, shopping and selling in a social media environment (s-commerce)

While the e-commerce piece of retail today is significant and a huge growth engine, the total impact of digital shopping on the retail enterprise today extends to the majority of retail sales. Around 60 percent of retail sales in the US are influenced by digital tools in some way. The influence works both ways. According to a November 2013 survey of US digital shoppers by consulting firm Accenture, 78 percent of respondents reported “webrooming”, or researching online before heading to a store to make purchase. The same Accenture study found that 72 percent of respondents found said “showroom” or digital shopping after seeing a product in a store”. Consumers then, have merged online and offline into a single shopping experience.

Digital shopping doesn’t always lead to an immediate conversion but it does translate to influence throughout the path to purchase.While this may seem like nominal growth, some major retailers have already experienced e-commerce revenues accounting for 14.3 percent of their total revenues as of the second quarter of 2014. The top 43 percent internet retailers in the US reported $24.53 billion in combined e-commerce transactions during the second quarter of 2014, a 19.2 percent increase over the same quarter in 2013.

Indian digital shoppers will spend Rs 54,700 crores buying products from other countries, and that is expected to rise by more than 75 percent in 2016, a report by payment firm Pay Pal said. “The Indian e-commerce space is experiencing an exciting time where innovation is the key. Our research reveals that the advent of technology is slowly diminishing borders form digital shopping. Within the number of digital shoppers set to grow exponentially, it will lead to increase in the number of shoppers who shop from global retailers with online presence, as per managing director of PayPal India.

The emerging trends show that young consumers have developed a strong taste for shopping online. It has also been seen that the primary source of traffic for online shopping and social media activity are young consumers in the age group of 13 to 25. As a result of this, the number of online shopping platforms has increased and expanded dramatically over the last few years.

As per a report out of about a total 10 million online shoppers in India, roughly million online shoppers in India, roughly 3.8 million shop across borders. The average cross border spend is also higher than domestic digital shopping spends. Average spend on cross border transactions by the estimated 3.8 million actions cross border shoppers was estimated to be about Rs 1.42 lakh per cross border shoppers in 2015. A Goldman Sachs report in May 2015, pegged the average transaction size of about Rs 1,800 for the Indian e-commerce industry. In the survey, 62 percent of those surveyed only shopped domestically, 36 percent shopped domestically and cross border while 2 percent shop only cross-border. That number would be higher, but for concerns about shipping and custom duties that would be levied on the products. Trouble returning products that proved defective or not as described also contributed to fewer people buying from foreign countries.And 53 percent of those who bought products in other countries, used the address of a family or a friend in another country.

In 2013, the number of active sellers participating in Amazon’s FBA program rose 65 percent: 73 percent of participants who were surveyed admitted their unit sales on Amazon increased 20 percent since joining the program.

Alibaba – China’s biggest e-commerce company that also held the largest initial public offering in history in 2014 – handled a total of $248 billion in transactions on its online sites during 2014, more than those of eBay and amazon combined. Airplay, Alibaba’s online payment platform, handled more than triple the amount of mobile payment processed by PayPal. Alibaba’s IPO and business operations stirred a great deal of interest among investors but delivered precious few details a bout how they intend to operate in the United States.

Part of their strategy, experts believe, is to reach an estimated 50 million people of Chinese descent living outside their country and to provide Chinese locals with access to the world’s best retail brands. These two factors, they say, are likely to expand Alibaba’s global influence and have a ripple effect across the world’s real estate markets.

Benefits of Digital Shopping

Shopping online is better for many reasons. You don’t have to go out to find what you want, you can avoid traffic, compare prices easily and get better discounts. However all this comes with risk of internet security. We are all familiar with phishing mails and the dangers of transacting on an unsecured site and using public computers or shared wi-fi connections.

Precaution to be taken

while doing digital shopping, people should be careful about the following:-

(a) Beware of devious discounts

You see a 40 percent discount sign and conclude you are getting a good deal. However, check the current market price of the product before clicking on the buy online button. Prices of products, especially electronics, fall within a few months of launch. Many websites, however, give discounts on the original maximum retail price.A simple solution is to compare the price on a site like http://www.junglee.com. Or, check out the price at your neighbourhood store. You may get a better deal there, especially if you go for an exchange offer. Also, find out about the site’s business model. Is it an e-retailer, where the site is the seller, or a trading platform such as http://www.ebay.in/ where the site is just a middleman? In the latter, the guarantee comes from the seller and not the website facilitating the transaction. Similarly, complaints will have to be resolved with the seller, not the site that lists the product.

(b) Check for Coupons

While websites themselves offer discounts and deals, you can end up with an even better deal if you follow certain coupon websites. Few websites list deals and offers across different websites, product categories, even specific products. pick a deal from here before making the payment to save more money.

(c) Avoid direct bank transfers: Pay through official payment service.

Cash on delivery and net banking are the safest ways to transact online.However, if these options are not available, go for a virtual credit card. It is an add-on ‘card’ issued on your primary credit card. All relevant details are available only online. It has a validity of a few months and you can set a credit limit of your choice. A lot of shopping websites are following the marketplace model- they are essentially a platform for sellers to list the products they are selling. The website itself doesn’t stock inventory, it monitors the order till it is delivered to you. A lot of sellers accept payments using credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, cash on delivery, or direct transfers to their bank accounts. Each shopping website has its own payment service through which you can pay using cards and wallets. The websites can then track the order status and help with refunds, if needed. Strictly avoid direct bank transfers, unless you know the seller really well.

(d) Shoddy security and privacy policy

Many websites require you to register before placing an order or even viewing products. The web merchant might ask you to enter personal details such as name and address. This should act as a red alert. Such information can be used to send spam mails. Don’t answer questions that you think are unnecessary for processing the order. Moreover such sites require you to agree to certain terms and conditions. Read through these as you might be giving permission to share your details. E-merchants often share your information with affiliate companies. An easy way to avoid privacy issues is to shop from sites that are members of a ‘seal of approval’ programme that sets voluntary guidelines for privacy-related practices such as TRUSTe http://www.truste.org

(e) Clear your browsing history daily

Have you ever wondered how e-commerce sites show you previous searches when you visit later? Websites use cookies and other technology such as pixel tags and clear gift to capture information to track shopping habits. Some of these cookies are saved on your system and are used to send advertisement banners and mailers, both by the site and third party sites with which the information was shared. You can opt out of this by changing your browser settings to not accept cookies. However, this usually means a poor digital shopping experience as parts of the site inaccessible. The middle path is to clear your browsing history daily.

(f) Don’t forget to check the reliability of Seller

The ratings are good parameters to know the reliability of sellers as they are based on user feedback and how previous orders were executed. Any seller with a higher ranking will be a safer bet than one which has been flagged for wrong order delivery or poor quality products. For example, there may be five sellers on a particular web site selling a particular product. Always compare their ratings and go for the one which has a better past record.

(g) All about apps

Smartphone apps are a rage among shopping websites. Digital shopping sites have apps and some deals are available only through these apps. More so other players are also pushing apps. In essence, you can shop easily using your smart phone but always ensure that you running the latest version of the app. Keep looking for the update notifications whenever a new version is available-install these, because there may be critical security and usability updates.

Though the digital shopping has made the consumers life very easy but there are certain precautions to be taken before making a decision to purchase online. Now since we are completely in the digital world, the use of e-commerce can not be avoided. This is a simple time saving and cost effective way of shopping.