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Tips for Trading Forex in 2022

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If you are new to trading forex or have been out of the game for a little while, you may not know or have forgotten all the ins and outs of the trading. However, there are a few simple tricks and tips you should remember.

FX trading doesn’t have to be something super complicated, and it doesn’t have to be something that takes up all of your time. Here are a few forex trading tips to help you find success.

Study

Studying and educating yourself on the markets, currency pairs, and trends is one of the best things to do, no matter what you’re trading. While you don’t need to be an expert, there are multiple online courses you can take.

YouTube is also a great source of information, especially to find out the current trends and any hidden gems that one should be aware of.

Start Small

Much like trading stocks, Bitcoin, or any other cryptocurrency, it is essential that you start small and not get too deep into trading too soon. Forex is great for this as you can start with a very small budget.

You can trade with as little as $10, even $5; this gives you the safety net of knowing if you make a mistake, you won’t lose a lot of money.

Pick Your Pair

If you are new to forex trading, pick one trading pair and stick to it for a while. The USD/GBP or the GBP/EUR pairs are some of the most common as they are the biggest and, therefore, the easiest to follow and trade.

Once you have the hang of trading one pair, you can expand into others and possibly some more unique ones that involve the Yen or Yuan.

Trading Plan

Creating a trading plan allows you to have a list of trading objectives and a game plan for if something goes wrong. A trading plan also allows you to stay focused, as one of the biggest mistakes traders make, especially beginners, is putting too many fingers in too many pies.

Don’t Complicate Things

It is too easy to make trading an overly-complicated activity that requires you to look at graphs and data all day. This is another mistake that many traders make that often leads to too much happening and results in losing track of your investments.

You can keep your trades and strategy simple and still be successful. If you find a trading pair or two that you like, there is no reason to expand beyond them if you choose.

Demo Accounts

Don’t underestimate the power of a demo account. If you have never traded before, almost all brokers will offer a demo account. These accounts are filled with fake money that you can use to make trades and use all the trading features on offer.

Demo accounts can also be the best way to test new trading strategies or test any theories you may have about a particular trend, all without any risk to your wallet.

Understand Risk

Understanding the concept of risk vs. reward in the world of trading is essential if you want to be successful and not waste your time. You can learn to identify risks but also learn to identify any patterns that may suggest the risk is worth it.

Identifying risk is a skill that you can learn and get better at, with many expert traders knowing precisely what to look for and forming a plan around it.

Mistakes are Lessons

In trading, the best way to learn what to do and what not to do is to make mistakes. A large parting of trading is trusting your gut and your knowledge, but this requires the knowledge of what is right and what is an error.

While the concept of risk can be scary, it isn’t unavoidable, as there are no sure things in trading. However, experiencing a loss will teach you what to avoid in the future.

Use Leverage

Too many traders are still missing out on the benefits of using leverage. The profits in forex are usually a few cents per Dollar or Pound, meaning the more money you can invest, the bigger the profit.

In simple terms, if your broker offers you 20x leverage and you have $100, you can use the leverage and have $2000 to trade with. While you should definitely familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of using leverage with your broker, it is one of the best ways to maximize your profit-making opportunities.

Disrupt the Process rather than the Product–Product Manager’s role in disruptive market forces

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Nearly three decades after the theory of disruption was introduced in business, entrepreneurs, marketers, and design engineers are still grappling to find the correct definition and implementation for it.

Disruptive innovation is broadly defined as designing a novel product or service that addresses the needs of some niche customers and then is scaled up to challenge the established players in the market. Gartner defines it as, “The process of conceiving, defining, delivering, monitoring and refining products in, and withdrawing products from, a market in order to maximize business results.”

The architect of disruption theory, Clayton M. Christensen, and his co-authors say that if product managers fail to understand the disruption theory and are unsuccessful in applying its tenets correctly to their product, then the whole business strategy of a company or business goes haywire.

manager explaining product description

Disruptive Innovation

What is moot to the whole disruptive debate and the concomitant disruptive innovation is that it is a process. According to Christensen, healthy “disruption” is not confined to end products, but it disrupts the processes that lead to the end product and creates lasting value for the business.

Innovative disruption is routinely used for any situation that disrupts an industry leader’s position in the market. This means that no distinction is made about the innovation’s impact on a particular industry or situation.

What needs to be kept in mind is that industry disruptions are ongoing conditions and not sudden transient happenings that disrupt and disappear.

Organizations that have agile teams have a competitive advantage, and those who don’t, should focus on building one so that they can become resilient and adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

Product Manager’s Role in Changing Processes

Product managers many times fail to use innovations in the correct context. Conventional product management isn’t geared towards seamless experiences for the customers or giving agile holistic solutions for any disruptive market problems.

Today, product managers are expected to leverage their skills across the board of a product life cycle to impact an organization’s development and strategies.

They have evolved from being mere departmental heads to be now known as the “ground level CEOs” involved in driving a company’s core policies.

Transition to this position by enrolling in product management courses in India and honing your skills. Create strategic value and solutions at both the product level and the processes that shape it.

Customer-centric

This highly data-driven field is customer-centric. Product managers keep an eye on the evolving market and changing customer needs. The pandemic has brought about sweeping changes in customer behavior, Pre-Pandemic, there were clear signals about market trends and customer behavior patterns to follow, but the pandemic has been a great disruptor with consumers demanding easier, accessible, cheaper, and faster products. According to research by Accenture, there was a 30 percent increase in disruption levels between 2011 and 2018, in the consumers’ goods, service, and retail sectors. Post-pandemic, this figure is bound to cross 50 percent.

Multi-focus

They need to have in-depth knowledge of the product’s life cycle so that they can immediately adapt and change courses to meet any unexpected market disruptions.

A product manager needs to be fully conversant with design, engineering, sales, customer services, marketing, budgeting, and product compliance needs. It is a collaborative and interdisciplinary process.

He collates and collaborates between various verticals and streamlines processes involved in bringing the product from the research table to the retail shelves or the end-user.

According to the Product Management Trends and Benchmark Report 2020, company profits can increase by 34 percent with a fully optimized product manager.

The Disruptive Process

Product management is an iterative process that depends on making decisions based on data analysis, feedback, and outcomes.

Product managers need to be data-driven to separate fads or transient trends from true disruptions. Data analysis helps to identify and anticipate market conditions or potential value additions for future product success.

The product management approach is about building product road maps for better strategies. It is about taking a holistic approach to a problem by making use of cross-functional teams focused on outcomes. This ensures a solution-focused approach that transforms disruptions into opportunities.

Companies with this approach can afford to build on long-term growth goals without being affected by any sudden upsets in the market.

This is because the roadmap works on building processes that can withstand sudden headwinds and ride the tailwinds in the market.

If you want to be a part of the process and meet the challenge of being a mini CEO, join our product management course.

Online Side Hustles: 10 Tips to Get Started

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Today, many people find it difficult to depend solely on their salary to meet their personal and family needs. With the current cost of living, relying on only one source of income makes you feel like you’re not making any headway.

Aside from that, you may have debts to pay, and a percentage of what you earn is deducted to cater for those loans. For that reason, you’d want to bring in some extra income by starting an online side hustle.

Having a profitable side hustle can assure you of financial security and eliminate the constant fear of job loss. With a bit of creativity and commitment, you’re sure to have additional cash to supplement your current budget. That said, have a look at some of the tips to get started:

girl using laptop in study room

1. Choose A Suitable Online Hustle

For starters, there’s a long list of online side hustles and you need to pick one that suits your line of interest. Have time for self-reflection to establish your outstanding skills or even a hobby. 

For instance, if you like reviewing products, you can spend your free time filling out online paid surveys. Luckily, it’s not difficult to get one since you only need to register and have a profile and portfolio on a reliable platform. Afterward, the operators contact you the moment they find a survey that suits your profile.

Here are some of the benefits of doing paid surveys as a side hustle:

  • They’re entirely free to take part.
  • You can work from the comfort of your home.
  • They pay very well.
  • You have a choice of selecting the type of surveys you prefer.
  • Your opinions count since businesses take them into consideration.

2. Determine Your Start-up Capital

All online hustles have a start-up cost. Thus, it’s wise to draft your budget early enough to get ample time to build up enough savings.

That said, here’s a list of items and expenses to include in your budget:

  • Data or reliable Wi-Fi for internet connection
  • Accounting software for bookkeeping
  • A smartphone and laptop
  • Office equipment, if needed
  • Advertising costs
  • A payroll structure if you require workers to assist you with your hustle

To be safe, try to cut your costs to conserve your starting capital as you grow. For more insight, consider seeking advice from friends running similar gigs. Alternatively, you can get ideas by listening to podcasts, attending online events, and visiting reliable professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn.

2. Plan Your Schedule

Most workers are under pressure in their workplace and might find it challenging to manage a side gig. However, it’d not make sense to have a side hustle that you can’t make time for. Aside from your daily job routine, you have to keep in mind that you have other commitments to attend to.

For that reason, consider having a to-do list and allocate your non-working time to each task. Having such a healthy schedule helps you plan ahead of time and balance the workload. Nevertheless, you’ll prevent unnecessary burnout if you make time for self-care.

4. Know Your Trade

Understanding your market is your best chance of achieving customer satisfaction. People have different tastes and preferences, which is one of the primary things that drives them to settle for a particular item or service. Clearly, you can’t sell a commodity without first finding out your customers’ likes and dislikes. 

For instance, suppose your online side hustle involves website development. Your potential clients typically have some features they want to be integrated into their online platforms. Be sure you know exactly what your client wants before you accept the job.

Besides, if you go ahead and fail to meet their specifications, this might cost you an important client. In addition, you’ll receive negative reviews, which is very bad for business. Therefore, make a point of learning more about your trade to improve your service. 

On top of that, you should communicate constantly and make relevant inquiries to help you identify if something is missing and what needs improvement. This way, you can address your current shortcomings and establish a long-term relationship.

5. Set Practical Goals

Every business person must work hard to attain their daily or weekly objectives. Starting an online side hustle requires commitment for you to earn some extra money aside from your full-time job. Therefore, you should generate a reasonable amount of revenue to cater to your expenses and, at the same time, earn considerable profit. 

For a start, don’t put too much pressure on yourself by targeting a figure so high that you can’t hit it. On the other hand, don’t aim at making a small profit because it may not be feasible in the long run. In other words, you should be smart in setting your goals. 

Aside from the cash aspect, you also need to set goals regarding your work output. For instance, if you’re into proofreading, you can have a work goal of two articles a day. If you stick to your plan, you’ll make handsome profits with time.

7. Make Time For Training

Depending on the nature of the online hustle you intend to take, you may have to consider some formal training to acquire the requisite knowledge.

For instance, if you want to offer online bookkeeping services for clients, you must have a basic knowledge of using accounting software like QuickBooks. Therefore, you can consider enrolling in relevant courses if you’re dealing with such technical side hustle.

Remember, it isn’t mandatory to go for paid courses. Right now, there are dozens of free online tutorials you can take advantage of. This helps you get equipped with relevant skills, experience, and wide-ranging content about your particular industry.

But if your choice of side hustle is a bit complex and there are no free tutorials, make a point of attending a comprehensive online course to get the best training. With a good background and a willingness to grasp new content, you’ll undoubtedly experience quick results.

7. Decide Where To Work From

Online side hustle comes in two categories. You can opt for a passive income remote gig or choose one that offers an active income. The good thing about having a side gig that generates passive income is that it only requires a few hours of your time.

Most people do it for fun and generate some income out of it. On that note, if you prefer this, you shouldn’t be worked up about setting up a workstation. For instance, bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagram influencers can work from the comfort of their homes.

However, online jobs that generate active income are very demanding and might require you to hire a team of professional workers. For this reason, you’ll need to have an office setting to manage your operations effectively. They include:

  • An E-commerce store
  • Animation and video making
  • Web designing

8. Market Yourself

girl recording video on mobile

Marketing is an essential aspect of the business world. If you can’t reach your target audience, you may not do any meaningful business. Since you’re dealing with online activities, you’d want to use online marketing to promote your gig. This way, customers can easily find you and consider your product or service.

Below is a breakdown of ways to market your online hustle:

  • Create a website.
  • Embark on search engine optimization (SEO) for readers to quickly find your site on search engine results pages.
  • Post your product or service on popular social media channels.
  • Develop a good portfolio.
  • Request your current clients for reviews and referrals.
  • Start a blog.

9. Differentiate Yourself

Competition is unavoidable in the business world. Indeed, you’re not the only provider of a product or service in the market. You’ll be positioning your online hustle against a pool of established competitors in the industry.

Nevertheless, most of these players will make a move to try to outmatch your performance. This is common as most existing businesses view entry into the market as a threat. On the other hand, customers always demand the best, and you’ll need to give them a reason to choose your services.

Therefore, to avoid such market frustrations, make a point of having a competitive advantage. Make sure you’re excellent at what you do to provide something unique and outstanding. Here’s an outline of some of the differentiating factors:

  • Pricing Strategy: Charge reasonable prices depending on your market evaluation. Also, don’t reject low-priced contracts because they initially help you get experience.
  • Remarkable Customer Service: Keep your customers coming back by fully satisfying their needs.

10. Prepare For A Challenging Opening Period

Successful businesses don’t take a month or two to build from scratch. The owners most likely invest their resources and time in laying a good foundation. In that regard, it’d be good to be emotionally prepared for such challenges initially.

An online hustle has its share of challenges, especially at the initial stages. Problems are meant to be solved, and like any other businessperson, you need to step up to the task and find a way out of it. You have no reason to quit the moment things take a rough turn.

However, it might take a while before you get your first contract or the right traffic for your channel.  Consider consulting the experts in your field or using the internet to help you find the answers.

Furthermore, be patient enough and give your hustle a growth period for consistent long-term performance. This could potentially be your full-time job in the future.

Conclusion

An online side hustle could be the solution to your limited budget. This is a stepping stone to being your own boss, gaining additional experience, and achieving ultimate financial freedom.

Getting started on one shouldn’t be a complicated process. Make sure to take into consideration the above tips and others to have your online side gig up and running. Besides, make a point of selecting a side hustle that matches your interests and skills.

9 Damaging Side Effects Of A Bad Credit Score

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Credit scores reflect the creditworthiness of a borrower. In other words, they can tell whether a person can pay his loans religiously or not. In most cases, a credit score is the basis of a lender’s granting a loan application. The better a credit score is, the higher the chance a person’s application will be approved.

Suppose you’re planning to apply for a loan. In that case, you may need to know more about credit history, such as a bad credit score. For that purpose, here’s an article to guide you in discovering the damaging side effects of a bad credit score. So, read on!

credit report

1. Loan Disapproval

A deficient credit score can lead to loan disapproval. Bad credit history may also prompt a lender to thoroughly scrutinize a person’s application, longer than borrowers with average to excellent credit scores. Furthermore, borrowers with lower credit scores may also receive worse proceeds than those with better credit history.

To prevent this, you may need to fix your credit score or press the hard reset button for your financial life. Also, people with bad credit health may opt for personal loans for bad credit if the chances of getting approved are low to zero in traditional lenders.

2. Higher Insurance Premiums

Many lenders often link credit delinquency to bad credit scores. This could mean that people with unpleasant credit histories have a higher chance of overdue payments and dormant accounts. Because of these, they may file claims for their credit insurance. This may repeatedly happen until the person’s insurance score is affected.

Your overall credit record may be tainted when this happens, and your future insurance applications may ask for a higher payment. To fix your credit score and avoid penalties, you may need to take care of the following:

  • payment history
  • credit history length
  • outstanding debt balance
  • payment frequency
  • credit mix

3. Higher Interest Rates

Spotless credit history will likely give you better loan offers and discounts. On the other hand, a bad credit score may lend you loans with higher interest rates. The longer you can pay, the worse it may be for your financial status. Because of this, you’ll likely suffer from a repeated cycle of loan payments without much recovery.

Higher interest rates resulting from bad credit history don’t just include loan rates but also credit card rates and mortgages. So, it may be advisable to settle first your credit history before attempting any loan application.

4. Fewer Credit Card Options

The better the credit score, the more credit card options for a person. These choices include but are not limited to the number of credit cards as to brand and type. In many cases, lenders may only approve borrowers with credit cards with the highest interest and fewer advantages.

On the other hand, people with excellent credit history may be offered lower interests and many perks, such as travel freebies, reward points, and pay cuts. If you’re planning to apply for a credit card, you may just restore your credit health and work on your debt and loan management at a young age to be credit-worthy.

5. More Challenging Apartment Application

boy checking credit score

An unhealthy credit score may result in a challenging apartment lease or rental application. Many landlords look for a person’s credit history to determine his capacity to pay. For this purpose, landlords may ask for the receipts of previous payments or credit settlement records.

Often, this is coupled with a set of requirements that shows his source of income and monthly net or take-home pay. If a person has a clean slate in credit, his application could be quicker and may also have a faster rental or lease approval.

6. Higher Number Of Requirements For Loans

Initially, a person having a fresh start in his credit life may only need to sustain his credit score and history to have a fast and high loan removal. The additional requirements could be the debt-to-income ratio that could be analyzed by sifting through the person’s submitted papers, such as salary or wage records.

On the other hand, lenders usually ask people with awful credit scores to submit collateral, such as property or financial securities. These terms are often classified under secured personal loans. Apart from this, lenders may also seek investment accounts and origination fees to process your loan.

7. Unsuccessful Job Applications

Many Human Resource Department professionals typically check a person’s background through his credit history and other essential documents. Many HR pros interpret payment gaps and delays to reflect one’s character. Because of this, people with horrible credit scores may have challenging job applications.

8. Difficulty In Starting A Business

Starting a business can be complicated as applying for a business loan, and business credit cards are likely rejected if one has a bad credit record. Any financial transaction concerning the business may also experience different difficulties and slow progress.

Because of this, you either prepare your funds in your startup to have enough budget to support your business initially or fix your credit score early. You may also ask other startup owners with credit scores like yours to have more ideas about what to do.

9. Slow Career Growth

Whether you’re after a promotion or a higher-paying reassignment, you need reliable credit health to show that you’re financially responsible. If your credit score is bad, the chance of you getting promoted could be slimmer. Until such a time that your credit history is restored, you’ll always have slow career growth.

Wrapping Up

A bad credit score has many side effects that can affect a person’s entire life. Whether this person has an active credit life or not, a bad credit score can dwindle the chances of promotion, loan approval, and better business opportunities. To prevent this from happening, maintaining a good credit score is vital.

Suppose you’re planning to purchase a property or buy a luxury item through credit. In that case, you may need to weigh down your options properly. In addition, you need to monitor your credit score regularly if you’ve reached the limits for your expenses. Seeking the help of a financial consultant could also improve your purchasing decisions and your entire life.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Water Damage

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Accidental overflows and water discharges are two typical circumstances that might result in water damage if you’re a renter. Your renter’s insurance coverage, on the other hand, is unlikely to compensate for damage caused by sewage backups or flooding.

Aside from that, your personal belongings are not covered by renters insurance. Your tenant is responsible for keeping the building, while you are responsible for keeping your living area and personal possessions. This implies that if your plumbing ever breaks, you won’t have to repair any pipes; however, you will be liable for replacing any damaged property that results from the plumbing failure.

Is Water Damage from Ceiling Leaks Covered by Renters Insurance?

Your items are covered by your renter’s insurance if your ceiling leaks. You might, for example, file a claim through your insurer if water dripped onto your leather sofa or television from yet another apartment or the roof and wrecked it.

To maintain the structural integrity of your building, your tenant is responsible for both preventing and addressing leaks. You must notify the building’s owner of any potential problem that might lead to a future loss.

Most rental agreements provide that you are not responsible for damage caused by structural problems if you notify your landlord in writing as soon as you become aware of them. Assuming you weren’t involved in generating the leaks, this includes the ceiling.

Is Water Damage from a Flooded Toilet Covered by my Renter’s Insurance?

Your renter’s insurance policy covers damage to your home caused by a toilet overflow or discharge. However, if you kept the toilet blocked until it spilled and destroyed the floor, your insurer may not pay your charges. Assume that your bathroom unexpectedly becomes clogged, resulting in water damage to some of your possessions. If you file a claim with your renter’s insurance, you can get your damaged possessions replaced.

coins

Even though your renter’s insurance does not cover your personal property, you may still need to submit a liability claim. Your landlord may sue you for the expense of restoring the damage to the floor of your unit if the overflow results in such harm. Even if you lose, your legal fees would be covered by your renter’s insurance in this circumstance. If you were found accountable, it would also cover the costs of any damage you made to the rental property.

Water that backs through sewage or drains is likely to be excluded from your renter’s insurance as well. If your toilet overflows and contaminates your belongings with outside sewage, you’ll have to pay to repair them yourself unless your insurance covers it as an optional extra. On the other hand, seepage from subsurface water is not likely to be covered by your insurance.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Flood Damage?

Personal property damaged by floods is not covered by renters insurance. Renters insurance or your tenant’s policy does not cover significant flooding damage to your personal belongings, or any damage caused by a flood is only covered by a flood addendum or a different flood insurance policy.

Fortunately, your insurance coverage does cover your property against rain & storms under specific situations. Your renter’s insurance may cover you if you suffer water damage from a storm window breaking due to high winds or falling debris.

You’ll be covered for temporary housing costs if a storm destroys your house and you have renters insurance. Even in a massive city around The World or USA, lodging at a hotel might be prohibitively expensive if you do not have insurance. The hotel expenses might be avoided by purchasing renters insurance.

Final Thoughts

Depending on the nature of the loss, specific water damage may be covered by renters insurance.

In most cases, a renter’s insurance policy does not cover flood damage.

If you want to prevent expensive or confusing insurance claims, it’s a good idea to take precautions.

Insurance claims involving water damage to rental properties are subject to considerable uncertainty. Check your insurance to see what risks are specifically included. It’s advisable to tell your landlords as quickly as you detect any problems with the water supply in your rental unit. Waiting too long increases the risk of further harm and the possibility of losing insurance coverage due to carelessness.

Who are Retail Merchant Services and What do they Offer?

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Retail merchant services, what is it? It refers to a reseller offering payment services that are internationally recognized. The offerings of retail merchant services include a virtual terminal to mobile card machines and a payment gateway. They also have arrangements and pieces of equipment to ensure ebt processing.

What does Retail Merchant Services offer?

Retail merchant services are independent sales organizations. It is not some acquiring bank. It connects an organization to merchant account services. The retail merchant services provide hardware and software, including payment gateway, card machines, and virtual terminals.

Card Machines- It is provided by retail merchant services in a wide range and it includes:

  • Portable card machines that connect over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi as a base station and are used in service and hospitality industries.
  • Countertop card machines are in fixed locations and are connected through the Ethernet connection.

Mobile card machines accept transactions from anywhere, even ebt processing. Card machines are available at rental cost. The price depends on the features and model you choose to accept ebt and other debit or credit cards.

Membership Benefits of Retail Merchant Services

Having a membership with retail merchant services, assures you access these:

  • Business legal advice 24/7
  • Discounted business bank accounts
  • Free VAT & Tax investigation insurance
  • Discounted business broadband
  • Discounted business insurance
  • Discounted telephone services

As per the type of Merchant account, the retail merchant services provide technical support round-the-clock. Retail Merchant Services are surely competitive in price. To know their price you have to contact them. Their contracts are for 36 months and they renew them each year. They offer PCI compliance and if you wish to terminate or cancel, there is a charge for it. Canceling without giving proper notice the terminal lease will make you pay in excess.

How to find good merchant services?

Businesses are a riskier proposition and so finding a good merchant services provider is daunting. These providers mostly are connected with various banks and only on receiving approval, they send direct processors. You should maintain a stable account so that the credit, debit card processing is smooth and they accept ebt.

 The merchant services provider suitable for your business comes with low processing rates, a combination of features, favorable contract terms, and reasonable account fees. Providers can offer a good deal to impress merchants, yet it is crucial to look for the best overall value. Concentrate on customer service of high quality, even if it means shelling out some extra amount.

A good merchant services provider is one offering enough resources and payment services. No one wants to overpay. If not, your statement will come with high figures without warning. They will add high-variable account fees, processing rate plans, and surprise incidental fees. If you do not know much about payment processing, assess the pricing information and pick the provider suitable for your business.

Look for retail merchant services offering

  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Interchange-Plus pricing
  • Membership pricing
  • Pay as you go or monthly billing

Signing up with any traditional provider implies a monthly billing plan, as a monthly arrangement, or a long-term contract. On the other hand, payment service providers offer a pay-as-you-go model that costs low. It is the best for seasonal businesses. Monthly billing is ideal for medium-sized or larger businesses as it ensures cost savings.

Why eCommerce merchant services?

Consumers today prefer paying online bills and shopping online. Businesses must offer convenient and secure eCommerce payment processing to ensure sales revenue. Thus, looking for eCommerce merchant services is a must so that you can have an eCommerce merchant account. It allows you to accept ebt, debit, and credit cards on the website.

A merchant account refers to a contract between a credit card processing company and a retailer. This contract ensures you flexible, fast, and secure payment options. The eCommerce merchant account provider receives:

  • Shopping cart featuring integrated functionality
  • Enhanced security for the payment processing with PCI compliance
  • Advanced monitoring capabilities of fraud with customizable parameters

While setting an eCommerce merchant account, you must look for eCommerce merchant services that offer easy-to-use processing solutions. It should integrate with the online software integrations, shopping carts, and online storefronts and maintain alignment with your business.

In case you are already using a CRM, a specific accounting, or some business management software, you may consider a merchant services provider offering integrations with all the platforms. It helps in manual work; there is no need to make manual entries. Thus, save time and preventing errors with data entry. 

Classification of Numbers

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A mathematical object use for counting, measuring, and labeling is known as a number. They can be defined as strings of digits used to represent a quantity. The size of the quantity is indicated by the magnitude of the number. The first type of numbers that we got introduced to were natural numbers starting from 1, 2, 3, and so on. As research progressed further, numbers were further classified into whole numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, etc.

Number words are used to represent numbers in the form of a language. However, conventionally individual numbers are represented by symbols called numerals. It is not possible to memorize individual symbols for each number as the list extends up to infinity; hence, we most commonly use the Hindu – Arabic numeral system, which uses a combination of ten fundamental numeric symbols called digits to represent any numbers.

Types of Numbers

Natural Numbers

The most basic form of numbers that we learned as toddlers were natural numbers or counting numbers. These numbers start from 1 and go up to infinity, such as 1, 2, 3, 4 …. Natural numbers consist of positive integers. The symbol N is used to represent natural numbers.

Whole Numbers

The set of natural numbers, as well as zero, makes up whole numbers. They start from 0 and go up to infinity. 0, 1, 2, 3, …. are all whole numbers. The symbol W is used to represent whole numbers.

Integers

Whole numbers, along with the set of negative natural numbers, form integers. All numbers that lie between negative infinity to positive infinity comprise the set of integers. These numbers could be negative, zero, or positive; however, decimals and fractions are not included in this set. …. -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,……. are examples of integers. In other words, we can say that all whole and natural numbers are integers but the converse does not hold true. The symbol Z is used to represent integers.

Fractions

These numbers represent a part of a whole. They can be written in the form of m/n, where n cannot be equal to 0. They can be further divided into proper fractions, improper fractions, etc.

Rational Numbers

Rational numbers are used to represent the ratio of two integers. If any number can be expressed in the form of p/q, it is called a rational number. p is the numerator can be any integer, q is the denominator which cannot be equal to 0. If q is 1, then the fraction is an integer. ⅖, 0.9, 30/100 are all rational numbers.

Irrational Numbers

Numbers that cannot be represented in the form of p/q are called irrational numbers. These numbers cannot be written as the ratio of two integers. 3, pi (3.14…), are examples of irrational numbers. In decimal form, the digits are non-terminating and non-repeating.

Real Numbers

The set of all rational and irrational numbers, including decimals, fall under real numbers. Alphabet “R” is used to show the set of real numbers.

Imaginary Numbers

Numbers that are not real numbers fall under the category of imaginary or complex numbers. For example,-3 is an irrational number.

Conclusion

Kids must understand the differentiation between the types of numbers. Children should join a reliable coaching class such as Cuemath to build a robust mathematical foundation. The certified math tutors use several resources to teach a lecture. Thus, kids have an enjoyable learning experience as they have a holistic educational environment.

11 Best Practices for Boosting the IoT Security

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There are different kinds of gadgets seeking the home and life of individuals every day which ultimately help in making sure that the overall life of the individuals becomes smarter as well as very much efficient. Hence, it is very much important on the behalf of people to ensure that proper security of all these kinds of connected devices has been paid attention to so that there is no issue with the later stages and nothing is very much vulnerable to risks and threats.

Hence, it is very much important on the behalf of people to have a proper defensive plan in terms of securing the smart home devices based upon the concept of IoT.

It is very much important to secure all the appliances and devices which are connected with the internet to the home network so that there are no opportunities for cyber-criminals. Following are some of the very basic practices on the behalf of people to ensure that there is no issue in the long run;

  1. It is very much important for the people to give the router a proper name and one does not need to stick with the name which the manufacturer has already given. The manufacturer might give a name to the specific kind of model or make to identify it easily. Hence, one must always give a very unusual name to the whole system which is never associated with any kind of Street or overall address. One can give a very different name to the overall concept so that there are no personal identifiers in the whole process.
  2. It is very much important to utilise a stronger method of encryption for the Wi-Fi into the whole set which is connected with the old range of IoT devices. Into the router settings, it is a very great idea to depend upon the stronger encryption methods in one must always go with that particular system which provides proper security to the network and communication areas along with setting up of the Wi-Fi network access.
  3. It is very much important to set up a guest network and one must always keep the Wi-Fi account very much private. The visitors, friends and readers can very easily log on to a separate network that is not connected with the IoT devices.
  4. It is also very much important for the people to change out the default password as well as default username because the cybercriminals normally know all the default password and user names which come with different kinds of IoT-based products. Hence, it is very much important for the people to change all these kinds of things because if not changed properly then it can lead to a path which will provide easy access to the people along with information associated with it. Hence, considering a very different and unique password is very much important in the whole process.
  5. The people concerned in the whole process also need to utilise strong as well as unique password for the Wi-Fi networks and vice accounts so that there is no issue and one must always avoid the common phrases and passwords because they are very easy to guess. Hence, it is very much advisable for people to use unique and complex passwords which are made up of different kinds of letters, numbers and symbols and one must always create that particular password that is based on the management of a security game.
  6. Checking out the settings of devices is also very much important in the whole process and in the cases of IoT devices people should come with that particular setting which comes with default privacy and security settings. Considering the changes of default settings is very much important so that there is no issue in the long run and there are no adverse benefits to the hackers in this particular area.
  7. A very good idea is to disable all the features associated with the IoT devices which people not need. Almost every IoT device comes with a variety of services for example remote access which is normally enabled by default but it is very much important to disable it because enabling that particular feature can lead to different kinds of issues in the long run and some of the features also are based upon utilisation of the location factor.
  8. It is very much important to keep the software up to date because whenever the smartphone manufacturer will send the software update it is very much important to include it. It is very much important on the behalf of people to go with the option of keeping the IOT devices very much up to date in terms of all the things so that there are no issues in the long run and further it is very much advisable to download all the updates and apply them to the devices to stay safe all the time.
  9. Auditing of the IoT devices on the home network is also very much important so that the right kind of upgrades can be easily launched and your models can be taken complete advantage of along with stronger security systems.
  10. Depending upon the two-factor authentication is also a very great idea in the whole system so that every device can be easily secured and this particular type of authentication will always help in keeping the bad guys out of the whole accounting system and will make sure that nothing will be very much vulnerable to threats or risks.
  11. Avoiding the public Wi-Fi networks is also a good idea in the whole system because this will always help in making sure that IoT devices will be very much exclusive and will be implemented perfectly.

No doubt the IoT devices are coming up with a very great angle in the lives of people but further, it is very much important for the people to pay proper attention in terms of IoT security of such devices so that there are no issues in the long run and overall purposes are very easily and efficiently achieved without any kind of hassle and proper monitoring of all the transactions has been carried out. 

Top Promotional Items You Can Choose to Advertise Your Small Business

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Promotional products bring instant brand recognition which can drive customers to your business in an effective way. They also help expand the reach of your services and products to a larger audience. Here are some promotional items that can be used to advertise your small business.

Pens

Despite the arrival of smartphones and computers, you still feel the need for pen and paper to note down things. The pen can be a great promotional product for most businesses. You can offer a good pen to your customers, clients, employees, and almost anyone because it is useful for everyone. To promote your brand, print the logo or company name in large letters for easy recognition. 

Water Bottles

Drinking an adequate amount of water is a necessity to maintain good health. It is common for people to carry their water bottles when they venture out of the home—for example, going to the office, gym, or even market. Most people carry a water bottle so they can stay hydrated throughout the day.

The water bottles can be excellent promotional products for all the right reasons. People are more likely to use them every day. A bottle has ample space to print your company name and logo, which can be visible to others.

Stress balls

Stress balls are in great demand due to increasing stress levels in the general public. These items take away your attention from daily chores and keep your stress levels low. Stress balls can help your customers and employees playfully relieve stress.  You can print your company logo or name on these balls. The branding will be easily visible to the users and people around them.

Backpacks

People are required to carry a few essential items when they venture out of home for any reason; a backpack is one of them. It is an ideal form of bag that can hold most of your items like your laptop, charger, notepad, pen, water bottle, and a few other things. The backpacks can be branded with the name of the company or logo. The branding is visible to you and others every time you use it.

Lip balm

Lip balm is a personal care item loved by both men and women. The skin of the lips does not have any sebaceous glands, and the skin often dries.  Your lips also need love and care. Lip balm contains moisturizing oils that your body does not produce. It keeps your lips moist and hydrated.

A lip balm can be an excellent promotional product as it is a useful item for both sexes. Every time a person uses the lip balm with your branding, he/she will remember the company name.

Chocolates

Most people like receiving chocolates as gifts. Chocolate can create memories of a tradition within family and friendships when given as a gift. Many business organizations give chocolates to their employees on the days of celebration. You can use this opportunity to gift chocolates branded with your company name.  

Chocolates can be effective promotional items as people of all ages love them. Ensure the chocolate’s quality is good and the taste lingers on the person’s mind for days.

Hand Sanitizers

Water is not always available to clean your hands. Hand sanitizers are great personal hygiene products that can keep common illnesses at bay. Most people have a habit of carrying hand sanitizers with them. Hand sanitizers are small in size and easy to carry. Also, people often share them with others. That way, hand sanitizers have the potential to be seen by many. Brand the hand sanitizers with your company logo or name. People tend to be more thankful for the things that care for their health.

To sum up, people love promotional items as most of them are given as gifts. A useful promotional product of any form or size creates a positive and lasting impression of the company in the minds of people who receive it.

How to Prepare General Knowledge (GK) for Competitive Exams?

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Preparing the General Knowledge (GK) portion has been a challenging task for most students preparing for competitive exams. Today, when most of the competitive exams expect you to stay updated with the current affairs going around in the world, a lot of students struggle to find reliable sources to follow the same.

If you are also preparing for competitive exams, here is a detailed guide with reliable sources to help you study current affairs and GK for your preparation.

  1. International Newspapers –

Newspapers are the first and the most important source of information for preparing daily current affairs and staying updated with relevant GK for competitive exams. However, a lot of students don’t know which newspapers they should rely upon for their daily dose of information. Most students are not aware and keep reading news from regional newspapers instead of referring to the international ones.

The most reliable newspapers to study current affairs for competitive exams are The Hindu, Times of India, Indian Express, and LiveMint which provide authentic international information relevant for exams that have current affairs portions as a compulsion.

  1. Year Books –

It is a known fact that the information studied from newspapers is not enough for knowing current affairs. Hence, we all need to supplement our knowledge with relevant books that give us general knowledge and information about current affairs in a more digestible and compact form.

These are mostly yearbooks such as Manorama Yearbook, The Mega YearBook, etc. which comes with compact study notes of current affairs covering the entire year in news structured in the form of interesting charts, diagrams, tables, etc.

  1. Current Affairs Magazines –

Students who like to study current affairs regularly and revise it multiple times to memorize it better often supplement their study with the help of various current affairs magazines which vary from weekly to monthly subscriptions. Some of the most trusted magazines for this purpose are PIB, Pratiyogita Darpan, Competition Success Review, etc.

  1. News and GK Websites and Apps –

The best way to stay updated with current affairs and GK topics is to surround yourself with the information and engage with it during your day-to-day activities. This doesn’t mean that you have to roam around with bulky books or newspapers, it just means that whatever you do throughout the day, you keep updating yourself with information related to current affairs.

You can do this by incorporating some interesting websites and apps into your daily activities, just like you use social media on a daily basis. GK Exams is a website that can help you to achieve this. The website provides you your daily dose of current affairs in a summarised digestible form, along with interesting daily quizzes updated daily on various topics.

You can also find GK quizzes, GK Mock Tests, GK quizzes in Hindi, and many more on this website. Another significant app of this type is the InShorts app.

  1. YouTube Channels for competitive exams –

If you further wish to indulge more in daily current affairs and supplement your daily dose of knowledge, you can subscribe to some reliable YouTube channels that post daily news analysis and important current affairs regularly. You can watch one or two videos daily before going to sleep, or during your lunchtime, or any time of the day when you find spare time.

Such YouTube channels are especially helpful for those who cannot find international newspapers where they live or those who do not find the time and space to carry a newspaper with them and read it on a daily basis.

Watching videos on the phone can be more comfortable and feasible for some people. But while doing this, make sure that you stick to only one reliable YouTube Channel that you find the most suitable for yourself, rather than watching a different one every day. It is a waste of time to watch multiple newspaper analysis covering the same topics on a single day.

  1. Coaching resources –

Last but not the least, if you are seriously preparing for any competitive exams, and have enrolled for the preparation of the same with any online or offline coaching institute, you should always refer to the resources and course material that your coaching institute provides you, whether it is in form of e-notes, e-books, newsletters or in form of physical books.

A lot of coaching institutes ask their tutors to create study material from a mix of various newspapers, magazines, etc. Hence, this material is the most concise and reliable for you to follow, while it is often ignored by students.

If you haven’t enrolled with any coaching institute you can take advantage of some free resources available on the websites of popular Indian institutes such as visionIAS, IASbaba, Law Prep Tutorial, etc.

Most importantly, always remember that the most effective way for preparing current affairs and GK Mock Tests, Question Answers for your competitive exam is to take an actual interest in the subjects and in all the events and issues that are going around in the world. If you don’t have a genuine interest in any of this, you will keep forgetting the facts, no matter how many times you mug them up aimlessly.