Transform Your Business Through Blogging

Many business owners often make the mistake of underestimating the power of the written content. They think most contents or blogs do not generate money. They are just a waste of time, effort, and the company’s resources. Well, times have definitely changed because words mean so much more and they certainly can bring in all the bucks. With the advent of the World Wide Web, a lot of things have gone digital and have been automated. Your business doesn’t stop simply because the sun is down and the moon is up and your store doesn’t necessarily have to be open 24/7 for it to keep on making money. It may sound like a sorcery in previous decades but this is the reality of our modern times. You can keep growing your business, making sales, and reaching out to your target customers any time of the day as long as you establish and maintain your online presence.

Smart technology enabled individuals and businesses alike to stay connected to the world on their fingertips regardless of time and distance. It is a new frontier that is proving highly beneficial to those who have the foresight to comprehend what all these changes mean to the global economy. And blogging plays a more pivotal role than ever in any institution or company because it communicates their message to the public at all times without fail as long as they are able to capture the words (and the message) they want to convey.

If you are marketing to businesses or consumers, you need to have blog posts in your arsenal. Yes, you will leverage other content marketing channels and communication mediums, but blogging should rank high on your list of content assets to develop.

Need some ammo to make the case? Let me give you three.

1. Stats don’t lie.

In a survey delivered to B2B marketers, respondents revealed that blogging (65%), social media (64%) and case studies (64%) were the top three marketing content and formats utilized. In fact, 80% of B2B marketers and 75% of B2C marketers say they include blogging among their current techniques.

On top of that, data shows companies that published 16-plus blog posts per month got about 4.5 times the leads than companies publishing zero to four monthly posts. And 53% of marketers say blog content creation is their top inbound marketing priority.

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2017/12/07/dont-give-up-blogging-your-business-is-counting-on-it/#69fbaa4fd35a)

Remember that a big majority of the population is so active on social media these days. You can devise your blogs or contents to be posted on your company’s social media channels or provide a link that directs the customer to your website where they can see for themselves what your company is all about and read about all the things that you can offer on the table. You don’t have to be there all the time to answer customer questions. Just whip up some really helpful contents that will guide your readers (and hopefully, future customers) on just about every aspect of your business. You’ll be surprised how many of these curious onlookers were converted to actual sales because they found what they need through your blog or the amazing content you provide on your own site or social media account. By using the right words, you also make your site stand out among the web traffic and among the first ones that the public sees during regular browser searches.

If you’re also not yet sold on the idea, here are five reasons why you should seriously consider blogging for your business:

Show the personality behind your business

Because your customers buy into the 1% that makes your business different rather than the 99% that makes you the same as every other competitor, a blog can give you the chance to showcase your uniqueness in the way you write and the topics you choose to write about. By writing blog pieces that are related to what your business and employees are most passionate about, you can ‘humanise’ your brand, making it more relatable and ultimately more likeable too.

Connect with your customers

Your blog can add great value to the lives of your customers, and it can do so by addressing topical issues or sharing solutions to the problems they are faced with. Not only will it give you the opportunity to engage in discussions with your current customers, but it can also serve as a source for reaching and forming new relationships with potential prospects. The transparency and authority you show on certain subjects is synonymous with fostering trust and credibility in the eyes of your customers.

(Via: https://themediaonline.co.za/2017/11/humanising-the-brand-the-benefits-of-blogging-for-your-business/)

If you have the flair for writing, take advantage of it and showcase to the world what sets your business apart from the rest. If you are not that savvy with words, hire someone who is to convey the message you want to share with others and attract the kind of traffic that you want. Of course, you should always make it a point that all your materials are related to your business or the niche you are in and should be timely and relevant as well. Spice things up with seasonal contents that share the sentiments of the public or gain your authority in the filed by publishing contents that talks about your mastery of the product or service you are offering. Learn to strategize with the type of content you post and over time, people will flock to your site and your business because you provide them real value for their money, which is what makes a lasting impression to the public.

Transform Your Business Through Blogging See more on: The Pod Blaze Blog

source https://www.podblaze.com/transform-your-business-through-blogging/

Technology Saves The Day: Special Needs No More

We may have a love-hate relationship with technology at times. We love how it made our lives convenient and colorful and virtually erased the word boredom in our dictionary. You’ll never run out of things to do with a smartphone in hand. You don’t even have to go anywhere outside of your room but still stay up-to-day on all the latest happenings and even be able to communicate to family and friends who are thousands of miles away from us. Yet, that is indeed the power of technological innovations. It is simply mind-boggling. Yet no matter how awesome it is, it has its drawbacks and probably just as many as its niceties. First of all, they cost money – a whole lot of it. They are high-maintenance as well. Upkeep and repair costs can seriously endanger your wallet. Electricity consumption likewise rises not to mention all of the dangers it poses to the environment. People get lazier too. We, as a whole, tend to rely on these tech contrivances to do things for us, hence we forget many important life skills that the young ones aren’t familiar with as well.

However, there is one group that also greatly benefited from the rise of technology – those with special needs. Back in the days, communication, (medical) care, transportation, etc. of the differently abled are almost next to impossible. If they are doable, they may come at a high expense. Fortunately, technology has solved many of these problems for them and made their lives just as comfortable and safe as the rest of the population who are perfectly normal and with no physical limitations. It has allowed them to communicate to the world alongside the rest of us and made way for safe travels and differently abled-friendly establishments both private and public. They are no longer highly dependent on other people to do things for them because they can now do it for themselves with little to no help at all since technology is always there to lend a helping hand. Many of them can even hold jobs to support their needs and finally become a part of the productive workforce.

“When you make way for the specially-abled, you automatically make for way others and create opportunities for revenue generation as well.”

Reiterating the important role of technology in enabling differently-abled people, Moses, who is visually-impaired, said, “Technological solutions have been a gamechanger in our lives, giving us control of our own lives. They have opened up job opportunities for people from the differently-abled community, opportunities that were not viable earlier.”

Adding to the discussion, Arun Cherian said,

“Technology has indeed been a tool that enabled many special-abled. However, the need of the hour is to provide high-quality, innovative, and helpful technologies at cost-effective rates. It is essential to ensure that there is a healthy ecosystem (through policies, subsidies, and CSR efforts) that sustains and helps these kinds of technologies roll out into the market.”

(Via: https://yourstory.com/2017/12/technology-specially-abled/)

We all love technology. Who doesn’t, right? You can spend hours loon in your smartphone watching one video after the other without a care in the world or what time it is already. However, price remains to be an issue even if competition is healthy in the market especially for highly-specialized gadgets that the differently abled needs to help them enjoy normal lives. That persists to be a major challenge for these people and will probably be until the next few years. The industry is still budding and far from perfect but that means there are also lots of room for improvement and other areas the expert can look into and build innovative devices that will address perennial needs of those with handicaps.

Special Needs

Special needs have for years been a critical issue in learning. The traditional classroom has in the past been unable to take care of students who have special needs. The rigid and highly standardized procedures that teachers and students must go through neglect learners with special needs. The accessible and interactive nature of online learning creates an enabling environment for students with special needs to have an equal opportunity at learning. Teachers can also use the various applications availed by technology to assist learners with special needs.

Technology has been able to transform and support education in numerous ways. The internet has made learning affordable and accessible to almost everyone who is willing to learn. Technology has allowed students to access world-class education to help them thrive in the 21st-century’s global economy.

(Via: https://ctovision.com/technology-transformed-education-21st-century/)

Aside from providing better and a more widespread access to learning by improving transportation for those with special needs, they also have the option not to leave their homes and take classes in front of their computers instead. With that, they can enroll in different modules or courses without the added hassle of everyday travel or commute. Online learning platforms even cater to different needs and the technology is still improving as of this time.

Whatever your limitation is, experts continue to find solutions to meeting your needs and providing you with an opportunity to be of equal footing to those with perfectly-abled bodies by harnessing the technology they need to break out of their limitations and make the most of their remaining senses to function as an individual. Whether it is in education or in the global workforce, those with special needs find more and more opportunities to develop to their fullest potential and not be hindered by whatever physical limitation they have.

Technology Saves The Day: Special Needs No More See more on: PodBlaze.com Blog

source https://www.podblaze.com/technology-saves-the-day-special-needs-no-more/

Poverty Persists In These Modern Times

Unequal wealth distribution had always been an issue in our lives. Since time immemorial, there had always been conflicts and misunderstanding because some people had more than they’ll ever need while many suffer from hunger and poverty. Don’t be misled to believe that those times are way behind us now. We may live in a world full of technological innovations and advancements but poverty still lingers all around you. Some can afford to buy all those lavish and sophisticated gadgets while one family spends the night in the cold and without food to qualm their hungry stomach. If one thing is true, it is that wealth inequality is more apparent now more than ever since you can easily tell from the material things a person possess how well or badly they are doing in life. It really feels like a smack in the face when you see privileged individuals waste money on nonsense things and luxurious whims and fancies when a big majority of the world’s population can’t even afford to feed themselves and their family or put a roof above their heads. And you don’t even have to live in third-world countries to witness this first-hand as poverty is also a lingering problem in many progressive nations.

Whether it is in the US or in some parts of Europe, you can see homeless people begging for money and food but still the government seems is not doing anything about it. The economy is performing poorly. That is understandable and many people went out of work but to see a glaring number of people who are out of work and unable to provide for themselves keep on growing higher over the years is just plain grim. Perhaps things are more expensive now and other people feel the impact of basic commodities rising but it should not be an acceptable reason to justify the growing poverty line even in rich and powerful nations. Poverty is just the tip of the iceberg because along comes with it a myriad of other problems involving health, safety, and many others because people do drastic things during desperate times. (more…)

The following article Poverty Persists In These Modern Times was first seen on PB

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The Unexpected Benefits Of The Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana had always been stigmatized for the longest time. Back in the days, people will frown out at you if they ever heard you were smoking weed because that’s what most Hippies do. We all know it as the plant that gives you an unnatural high and has been the subject of countless arguments in the past but recent studies of weed are showing us a different side of it. Of course, innovation played a big part as a different breed of the plant is not being cultivated for its medicinal properties and not just a pick-me-upper that it was of yesteryears. The growing popularity of cannabis in the medical circle definitely caught the attention of both those who are pro and con for the marijuana legalization. People claim it has helped them battle chronic illnesses the modern pharmacology and science weren’t able to alleviate and address.

Studies have also been popping here and there giving us factual information on the bright side of marijuana and why it deserves to be legalized and offered to individuals who can find a good use for it in improving their health and prolonging their lives. Even recreational marijuana is not to be left behind and is passed by legislators in various states all over the country. However, the marijuana legalization also has other benefits that weren’t highlighted in talks involving this humble plant. As more people discover marijuana, the lower the numbers of those individuals engaging in prohibited drug use and even that of teens taking marijuana behind everyone’s back. Maybe its legalization showed them not to do it anymore in hiding and get it from legit sellers or pay a visit to their doctors to find out if they are eligible for medical marijuana, for instance. And if they don’t, then they just don’t have access to it anymore. That’s it.

Following legalization, the rate of adolescent marijuana use in Colorado has fallen to its lowest level in nearly a decade, according to new federal survey data.

State-level numbers from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that a little more than 9 percent of Colorado teens age 12 to 17 used marijuana monthly in 2015 and 2016, a statistically significant drop from the prior period. That's the lowest rate of monthly marijuana use in the state since 2007 and 2008.

And it's not just marijuana: Rates of teen alcohol, tobacco and heroin use are down sharply in the state, as well.

(Via: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/11/following-marijuana-legalization-teen-drug-use-is-down-in-colorado/?utm_term=.d225a80918f4)

Why take drugs and marijuana illegally when it is now legal, after all. The probable reasoning behind it may also be that there are fewer sellers now in the black market than there was in the past when they can openly open a marijuana business without having any trouble with the authorities. It makes sense when you look at it that way. You no longer have to inconvenience yourself devising various schemes because you can safely sell weed right under the authorities’ noses and nobody will ever question you for it. And as a result, teens and other under-aged minors no longer have resources where they can buy weed illegally and thus had to stop the habit unless they can secure means in which to buy it legally.

While legalization opponents have long argued that ending prohibition would lead to skyrocketing use by young people, that doesn’t seem to be happening.

Advocates, on the other hand, have maintained that regulating and controlling the cannabis market and instituting strict age restrictions would actually give teens less access to marijuana than they had when it was illegal and there were no checks for age at the point of sale.

In a Facebook post, cannabis consulting firm Freedman and Koski, Inc, which is run by Colorado’s former top marijuana official, said that the drop in teen use in the state “coincides with an increase in funding prevention programs from cannabis taxes.”

(Via: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/teen-marijuana-use-legalized-states-federal-data-says/)

At least, pro-marijuana legalization can add this little detail to strengthen their argument why cannabis should be legalized in more US states from now on. Whether it is for medical or recreational use, making it legal is a great way to monitor the market and discourage people from buying it illegally when they can purchase one in broad daylight if they pass all the eligibilities. And this move is a big boost to the economy especially now that the government can collect taxes from marijuana growers and sellers and businessmen selling marijuana-related accessories like dab pipes and oil rigs when before they couldn’t since it was sold underground. The growth spurt in this market has also opened up employment and livelihood opportunities to many people and thus allow them to earn an honest and decent living knowing that marijuana isn’t that bad after all.

The Unexpected Benefits Of The Marijuana Legalization was first seen on podblaze.com

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Special Needs Met By UberASSIST

Not all of us have the same needs. While there are general necessities we all require to live, some require even more than the average Joe. It is unfortunate that some people have to be born with a disability and cripple them for life but there are those who get injured and disabled in the course of their lifetime. Living life is a bit harder for them as they don’t have all the senses normal people have to help them get through life. They can somehow manage when they are at home but it is an entirely different story when they are out of the house.

The stigma associated with any disability aside from seeing the raised eyebrows of the people around them aren’t just the only hurdles these people face. Moving around is actually one of the biggest problems since many establishments do not yet have the facility to accommodate them. Fortunately, this issue is continuously being addressed over the years. Now, Uber is presenting those with handicaps a better way to travel with UberASSIST.

UberASSIST was launched in a partnership with Transportation For All (T4A), an organisation that provides disability equality training for Uber's drivers on how to assist those with different access needs. 

Those drivers would be equipped with better skills to assist passengers with physical, hearing and visual impairments as well as those who need assistance during their rides. For riders, uberASSIST would be just a button tap away. The price will be the same as a regular uberX ride, according to a press release from the app-based private hire company and pioneer in the "sharing economy".

Siripa Jungsawat, general manager of Uber Thailand, said that uberASSIST showcases how innovative ideas benefit society and provide passengers with greater choice and control in their day to day activities. With uberASSIST, passengers with access needs would enjoy greater independence and opportunities.

(Via: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Startup_and_IT/30328924)

While this initiative has only been launched in Bangkok, Thailand, it is baby steps to helping those with disabilities a stress-free way of traveling and going about their day without having to worry about commuting or traveling in a crowd especially in a country that is not as progressive as Thailand and commuting can be such a hassle even for a normal person. With the help of UberASSIST, Uber drivers will get trained on how to respond to the various special needs of individuals with disabilities without any markup on the price of the ride. Perhaps that’s the best news of all for everyone especially those with disabilities.

Uber's technology allows passengers to know their driver and vehicle details, estimate their arrival time, view their estimated fares before taking a trip, and allow them to stay in contact with their families throughout the ride through the "share my trip function". UberASSIST is not an ambulance service but is a new choice for passengers in need of assistance during their daily travels, whether they have special needs or are elderly passengers. There are 1.8 million people with disabilities and 12 million elderly people in Thailand. In market terms, this is a huge segment to capture.

(Via: https://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/local-news/1340535/assisting-those-in-need)

No man is an island. It’s like a cliché as old as time. So, we can’t just stay cooped up at home and not interact with the rest of the world. We all go out and make our days productive. The same thing applies to people with special needs. Some of them may be blind, deaf, mute, or physically have other types of disabilities but that does not mean they can’t enjoy whatever the world has to offer that many of us take for granted on a daily basis.

Let’s give a big shout out to Uber for going the extra mile and finding ways to make transportation safer and more efficient for those with handicaps because not all transportation companies will do that. Pressure on key associations will help. Maybe Uber will also implement this project in other countries and make an even bigger positive difference to this world because we can all live with a little less hate and more love, understanding, and tolerance of each other’s differences.

The following blog article Special Needs Met By UberASSIST is republished from PB

source https://www.podblaze.com/special-needs-met-by-uberassist/

Merry Christmas Or Happy Holidays???

The leaves are falling and the wind is colder, it only tells us one thing: Winter is fast approaching. If there is one more thing many of us look forward the most come winter season is not only the arrival of snow (which is usually nice a first until you have to get rid of them so you can get out of the house or experience getting stranded in a blizzard) but Christmastime. Unlike the general notion that Christmas is just for the kids, even adults actually look forward to the coming of Christmas. Gift-giving, making memories with the people you love over delicious home-cooked meals, and no work/school, what more can you ask for?

Yet people actually see this time of the year differently depending on your religious affiliations. And in a country like America that is a melting pot of all race and religions, many things are interpreted differently that can create issues when there shouldn’t have been in the first place when we should all be respecting other people’s rights to what they want in life. The most recent one that caught the public’s attention is the remark of President Donald Trump during the Values Voter Summit Friday last week when he said something that was taken out of context or probably not?

President Trump has once again turned a holiday greeting into a political football.

At the Values Voter Summit on Friday, as evidence of his defense of “Judeo-Christian values,” the president promised to roaring cheers from the crowd that “we will be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again.” The onslaught of politically correct secularism will be stemmed, he suggested, and those wishing people “Happy Holidays” will be rebuffed as the godless elites they really are.

In a way, the president is right: Christmas is political. But not in the way he thinks.

(Via: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/10/16/how-trump-botches-the-politics-of-merry-christmas/?utm_term=.80b9132f9176)

So, should we really be saying “Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays” instead? We don’t want to create a big divide as if we as a nation is not already that divided. We may only have two main political parties but our political beliefs have put a big wall among others who do not share the same belief as us. And with a president that is known to be notorious with his words and rather social media savvy (Yeah, he loves Twitter), he said something again that caused an uproar and painted a different picture to the incoming holidays.

Like, you can worship any god you want to in America. But there’s not one single religion that runs the country — or one single God we all believe in. Yes, that can get confusing sometimes considering the Pledge of Allegiance and the message on our dollar bills. But ultimately, our country was founded with the promise of ensuring religious freedom. So one person on Twitter decided to clear things up for the president by tweeting this perfect gem.

Trump doesn’t seem to understand that in America, you’re allowed to practice whatever religion you want. And despite his claim to the crowd at the Values Voter Summit, full of conservatives who don’t think health care should cover birth control or that same sex marriage is a constitutional right, “Judeo-Christian values” aren’t under attack. But Trump felt the need to lie anyway, in the name of getting some cheers and applause. Because of course he did.

(Via: https://hellogiggles.com/news/politics/trump-message-values-voter-summit/)

He may want to portray himself as a president unlike previous leaders the country had but his radical ways always put him in a bad light and show just who he really is deep down. First of all, he should stop tweeting already using his personal account. As a public official and the highest elected leader in the nation, there is an official channel where he can communicate with the people. Second, he may want to filter his thoughts and think first before uttering something especially write something online because the whole world is watching his every move and will dissect his every statement. He better leave speaking his mind on religious issues out as there is a supposed separation of the state and the church. It’s not only for the best interest of the country and himself but to avoid fuelling the public to scrutinize and oppose one another.

The blog article Merry Christmas Or Happy Holidays??? See more on: podblaze.com

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Food And Facebook Is Life

Who does not like food? Many of us only think about food on most days. It is a basic need and we don’t like starving ourselves, don’t we? Then, there is social media, the online craze that took over our lives for good. Can you still remember what life is like before Facebook came? For most young people, their memories are vague and they can’t really relate to life in the 80s, 90s and early 2000 when life was simpler and less complicated but may be considered a bit boring too by today's standards. With the advent of the web came exciting and novel opportunities that we never thought possible.

Not only did the Internet and social media improved communication lines but it also created a buzz that continues to keep buzzing until now. The life that we used to know vanished and was replaced by something more dynamic and continually innovating. New trends come and go but some surprisingly stay for such a long time. We are constantly surprised with new discoveries that set the pace of life. Social media has a lot to do with it as most people consider their smartphones as one of their most prized possessions. Imagine that. Hence, no wonder entrepreneurs now take their business online, because that is where everybody is. They change strategies because they’ll be left behind if they don’t adapt soon. Now, who would’ve thought we can also order our food through Facebook, one of the most powerful and influential social media platform in the planet?

Facebook users in the US can now order food using the social network’s site and app.

The company has been testing the functionality since 2016, and has now brought it to all users in the US, across iOS, Android and the desktop.

It’s an unusual new feature that’s designed to keep people on Facebook for longer, and it wouldn’t be hugely surprising to see it come to the UK in the future.

You can order a takeaway through Facebook by visiting the Order Food section in the Explore menu, browsing the options and hitting Start Order once you know what you want.

(Via: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-food-delivery-order-takeaway-app-desktop-papa-johns-chipotle-five-guys-a8003606.html)

You no longer have to drag yourself out of bed to get, make or buy something to eat. Simply ordering through Facebook can get you through one meal and spare yourself from doing the extra effort that cooking or ordering outside often entails. But since it is a new concept, your options may be limited for now but if you aren’t a picky eater you can always survive one meal at a time without even getting out of bed. You’ll be able to see which restaurants are available depending on your location and know details about their menu and hours of operation for maximum convenience.

Starting Friday, Facebook users can order food directly from the iOS or Android app, or the desktop site.

For its new ordering service, Facebook has partnered with delivery companies ChowNow, Delivery.com, DoorDash, EatStreet, GrubHub, Olo, Slice, and Zuppler, as well as restaurant chains Chipotle, Denny’s, El Pollo Loco, Five Guys, Jack in the Box, Jimmy John’s, Panera, Papa John's, TGI Friday's, and Wingstop.

Seamless, one of the largest food delivery services in the U.S., is not one of Facebook’s launch partners for food ordering. And not every restaurant with a Facebook page offers delivery, so you might still need to go pick up your order.

Look for your dining options by going to the Explore menu (the three-line hamburger menu on the lower right corner of the screen on the app) or on Facebook.com and choosing the Order Food option.

(Via: http://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/facebook-food-ordering)

Nothing spells comfort and convenience like this. Food and Facebook is definitely a great match and has made our lives so much easier. There is a big catch, though. It only works for US residents as of now. So, just keep on dreaming for everyone who does not live on US land. But once this plan works, it will likely be used in other countries as well. Consider this as the alpha and beta stages. And this will probably be a big hit as many people are addicted to Facebook, and of course, we can’t live without food. Facebook is projecting a one-stop-shop image for its brand by providing users everything they can ever need and we can surely expect more great things (original or not) from them in the years to come.

The following blog post Food And Facebook Is Life was initially seen on https://www.podblaze.com/

source https://www.podblaze.com/food-and-facebook-is-life/