Gambling was prevalent for many millennia before the advent of the Internet. Today everyone can play pokies online at any convenient time, regardless of territorial location. Today everyone can play online casino games here and earn some decent cash daily!
Fans of gambling today with convenience and comfort run their backs while sitting at their PC. While in the land-based empty gambling halls, the mechanical “one-armed bandits” are slowly covered with a layer of dust. So why are online video slots in such high demand, and why are online casinos so remarkable and exciting for players?
Online gaming establishments: play online casino games here 24/7
Both novice players and regular customers receive various rewards for performing a variety of actions – from registering on the site to replenishing the deposit.
Even if such rewards are sometimes insignificant but very pleasant. High-quality online casinos value all their players and visitors, without exception. In most cases, new customers receive a 100% first deposit bonus or no deposit bonus for their early registration. Just imagine, twice as much money for the game – twice as many chances to win!
Online casinos also offer a wide range of:
Video slots;
Roulette;
Poker;
Table and card games.
Just try to imagine what size a ground-based facility should be to accommodate everything presented in an online casino. Online you can find both classic legendary slot machines made based on the most popular mechanical “one-armed bandits” and ultramodern news equipped with innovative three-dimensional graphics.
Another interesting point. Try to remember at least one land-based gambling establishment with the possibility of a free game! At the same time, the sphere of online gambling provides everyone with the opportunity to play free, and for this, they do not even need to register on the site. You won’t be able to win real money playing without a deposit. But you can fully enjoy the high-quality gameplay, beautiful animation effects, the original storyline, etc.
One of the essential advantages of online casinos is, of course, maximum security. Nobody bothers you to play calmly, and no one stands above your soul and does not breathe in the back, unlike real gaming halls. Reliable online establishments guarantee customers complete anonymity and confidentiality of all provided personal data. In particular, you can be sure that information about your winnings will not be disclosed to third parties under any circumstances.
When it comes to mobile apps, one thing is for certain: in recent years, they’ve really taken off! Very few people who have mobile phones or tablet computers are unaware of the importance of the app to the functioning and value of a smartphone. But even fewer position apps in their important cultural contexts. This article will look at some app genres as diverse as gambling apps to social media ones, and attempt to answer questions about why certain apps are popular in certain jurisdictions and points in time due to underlying cultural trends.
Gambling and gaming
Since the striking down of the federal law which banned sports betting, the rise in popularity of offers including a Borgata online promo code has gone to show how popular betting has become. But the rise in the sort of apps which offer gambling opportunities is a new phenomenon in America, and an indicator of how the range of apps available are an effect of cultural trends – not just a cause of them.
This is especially true in comparison to other major Western economies, especially those in which
Britain, for example, has had gambling apps for many years now – and that’s down in large part to the cultural place which gambling occupies in the British psyche. Betting on the outcome of Premier League football games is common practice for fans, and a walk down a British high street will reveal many “betting shops” in which wagers can be bought and placed just like any other product.
As the rise in gambling continues in the US in the post-PASPA era, it’s highly likely that this sort of proliferation will occur at least in the digital world in the years to come. While the cultural decline in the important of Main Street to American economies is unlikely to lead to the opening of many betting stores, it’s certainly likely that gambling apps will embed themselves in the national psyche in one way or another.
Social media
Social media is another largely app-based phenomenon, and many people access platforms like Twitter through their mobile applications rather than on a web browser or other similar device. The blame for many social and cultural ills is often laid at the door of social media sites, and it’s easy to see why.
Social media services such as Facebook and Instagram allow people to create their own stories about their lives and then star in them using photos, text and video. This is nothing new: in fact, it can be traced back to artist Andy Warhol’s supposed 1968 claim that in the future, everyone will have their “fifteen minutes of fame”.
It can also be linked to cultural trends which are more recent, such as the arrival of shows like those of Jerry Springer and Oprah Winfrey that heralded an age in which the telling of personal stories was culturally accepted and promoted. So next time someone claims to you that social media apps are the cause of all kinds of problems, don’t forget to remind that they’re also a consequence of prior cultural changes.
News and weather
Many people also use their phone’s apps to find out the latest information on news and weather. What this means is that information is much more instantly available than it was, say, 50 years ago – and people now find out major slices of information moments after they happen through news alerts and notifications. But this is not new, either.
Just ten years ago or so, the same was being said about 24-hour rolling news channels on cable – and, indeed, many of the most recent major news stories, like 9/11, have been published to the nation at large in what is essentially real-time. For instant alert news and weather apps the cultural framework has always been there.
Apps don’t exist in a vacuum, as this article has shown, the cultural basis of a mobile phone or similar app is often established long before the app arrives on the scene. Whether it’s the phenomenon of betting apps in the wager-friendly environment of the UK or simply news apps which exist in the wake of CNN and other major rolling news channels, the cause and effect order is never quite as simple as it seems.
Mobile apps are slowly but surely becoming an integral part of our modern lives. So much so that it’s getting harder to get by without them.
Just think back around five or seven years ago. How many of the applications that you have installed on your phone today were simply not available no matter how hard you looked? Quite a lot right?
And that doesn’t go saying that everything needs an application, but the fact is that almost everything has it regardless.
The question that remains to be answered though, is whether everything needs an app in the first place. The simple answer to this is, no. But is it handy that everything does have an app regardless? Yes, it’s quite handy.
Why don’t we take a look at some of the essential apps that you need to have on the phone, and some that are completely situational?
Essential apps
Essential apps are not hard to identify, and as I go listing them, it’s obvious that they are a very subjective bunch. However, I will try my best to give you a general picture of what is most useful and what the majority of the population can use.
A map
Applications for maps are more than we can ask for. For example, if you try to find an app that’s tailor-made for your own city, you’ll most likely find quite a detailed one, but still, most people opt for Google Maps as they’re usually the integral part of any Android phone.
As for iOS, there is very little you can do with Apple Maps as they’re not on the same level as Google Maps. It’s very hard to outline but, it’s still a common understanding that the difference in quality is huge.
A messenger
A well-made messenger app is absolutely essential both for casual conversations as well as business discussions and etc.
There are so many types that it’s hard to choose, but we have generally outlined the difference between messengers for regular conversations versus for business discussions.
For business discussions, there are things like Telegram, Hangouts, WhatsApp and Slack, while for casual conversations things like Facebook Messenger are much more prioritized.
Carpooling
Ever since plastic cards became a thing, people had been dreaming of ways they could pay their cab fairs with them as the idea of cash was getting less and less common.
Then came in the carpooling apps such as Uber in almost all over the world and Yandex in the Russian Speaking world.
Almost every country has its own variation, and they’re all pretty much invaluable for an enjoyable transportation experience.
Online banking
Although online banking is quite situational, it’s always helpful to have this application whenever there is an emergency transaction, or at least a double-check that you need to make as soon as possible.
Furthermore, some banks even require their clients to download the application as purely mobile-based financial institutions are becoming more and more common, and they tend to have the best service over others.
Non-essential apps
Although the list of essentials was quite small, it’s important to note that this is the reason they’re called essentials. There are very few apps considered as essentials that can make the smartphone worthwhile in a sense.
But let’s now take a look at some of the most common non-essential apps that people download on a regular basis.
News applications
News applications are becoming more and more popular, especially since big brands have started to “appify” their products. But in most cases, people believe these apps are extremely situational and don’t require custom applications, simply due to the fact that every news source has its take on a specific event, or has a niche in a specific industry.
We have one example of the type of “news apps” that are common in a specific area. The Nordics, which are comprised of countries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland have a particular love for apps about odds. The more particularly interested apps are Norwegian betting odds pages that people download on a weekly basis, as it gives them insight about future sports games that are so popular in these countries.
Games and puzzles
Games and puzzles are the second on the non-essentials list as they are an amazing way to pass time while one is riding on the subway or any type of public transportation.
In fact, if we don’t categorize games at all through genre and capabilities, it’s easy to say that they are the most commonly downloaded apps in the 21st century. But this is not considering just how many of them are available on the app stores.
Fitness apps
Fitness applications come last in this list, which isn’t really based on any kind of ranking system, to be honest.
If it’s based on anything, then it’s usefulness over everything else. When it comes to Fitness apps though, they’re also very situational as they’re usually designed to measure the steps or the time taken for workouts.
The other variation we can find for them is just calorie measurements where its up to the users to indicate their food intake for the day.
Overall, that’s pretty much the end of the list. Yes, there are much more complicated and detailed applications available for users on a daily basis, but the ones listed here are some of the most common ones anyone can find with a simple search.
The National Broadband Network or NBN is the next generation of infrastructure, providing fast internet access for the entire continent. Here are the top 5 ways to make use of the NBN in your small business.
Take Advantage of Video Conferencing
One of the biggest benefits of the NBN is the speed. Finally, an internet connection which allows you to enjoy clear, clean and almost delay-free video when making video calls. For many people, they’ll be able to feel like they’re talking to friends and family face to face. Businesses can take advantage of the same technology to roll out video conferencing to everyone who needs it. Problem-free.
Start Utilising Streaming Media
For private individuals, one of biggest benefits of NBN is its ability to stream media. Now users will be able to listen to music, watch movies and television content when they want it. For businesses, the ability to stream business conferences and connect employees with online educational resources is a value-added proposition.
Move to the Cloud
One of the biggest impacts of NBN for small businesses is that it makes cloud computing available and affordable to everyone. You can use cloud computing services to access accounting, CRM and other business software you couldn’t otherwise afford for your small business.
You’ll also be able to back-up your critical business information to the cloud. This protects the lifeblood of your business — your data — in case the local data repository is damaged or corrupted. This may allow your business to continue operating if your office space is unavailable and/or enable employees to work from home.
Switch to VOIP
We’ve already brought up how the NBN enables VOIP, voice over IP or voice calls over the internet. This has several benefits for small businesses. You can give people a set phone number, and they can use it and receive calls to it no matter what device they’re using for VOIP calling.
Your business can set up new employees with an assigned phone number they can use instantly; you don’t have to wait for phone lines to be strung to their office. Voicemail goes to a server that people can call into from anywhere, and the information can be saved along with other automatic backups. International calling and long-distance calling won’t cost you more with most VOIP services. To compare NBN plans and how they can replace your existing telecommunications services, go to iSelect.
Start Working Anywhere
The NBN can give you access to your data anywhere and anytime, while cloud computing allows you to access business software from your device. This means that you and your employees can work almost anywhere. Let sales people sell items at conventions and present contracts for review to clients in their offices.
Allow financial and other administrative staff to work from home once in a while. You probably can’t let the mechanic or custodian work from home, but many of those who come into the office could do the same work from home. Allowing people to do this part or full time is a great recruiting tool. It can also minimise absenteeism. If their car has broken down or they’re too sick to come into work, they may still be able to get work done.
Just recently Amazon has been on a big hiring spree. This is mainly with a focus on finding staff for Amazon Game Studios, which currently has an offer over 100 different positions on the Amazon job’s website. For the online giant, the decision to get some video game action was not purely about getting a slice of that $100 billion game industry. It was also largely about getting developers on board who need cloud storage for connecting players in their multiplayer games.
Statistics show that in 2016 Americans spent more time on average on a mobile game than they did on streaming video services like Netflix. So, Amazon decided to get in on the action and created its own game engine called Amazon Lumberyard. This game engine allows game designers to create their games already integrated with Twitch for live game broadcasts and Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud hosting. Amazon Game Studios has also been developing games on Lumberyard as a way of self-promoting what it can do.
The package is attractive to developers because of it, as is, allows a new game to capture an established audience right out of the bag. And with Amazon seeing the gaming industry as becoming the next largest form of entertainment, it only stands to reason that they’ll be investing heavily in this area.
Prime members are already beginning to see these changes and in September 2016 Twitch Prime was launched – a premium service for Twitch users but free for Amazon Prime members. Prime members can now download free game content and watch ad-free streaming on Twitch as part of their package.
Amazon purchased Twitch back in 2014 for $970 million, and it’s now becoming clear why that was. Not only does it give users a great game-streaming experience, but it gives AWS a competitive advantage as cloud-storage demand increases. It’s estimated that nearly 385 million people will be involved in e-sports and e-casino sites like casino777 Belgien by the end of 2020 and 500 million by 2020.
Already Twitch has more than 100 million users with nearly 10 million of those being daily users. The video game industry will keep expanding and is estimated to be worth around $132 billion by 2021, which is an increase of over $30 billion from now. And with Twitch now under Amazon’s belt, the company is set to take a big piece of the action. Watch this space!
The blockchain industry has been evolving rapidly over the past decade. There have been many companies coming up and changing the way people do business. The new startups that have been introduced in the past few years have especially given light on just how dynamic blockchain can be. The technology has been touted to reduce costs at the business place by up to 30%. The financial, health, transportation and many other industries are set to experience great change because of blockchain companies. Let us look at some of the main companies that are coming up with new solutions that will potentially change the world.
YottaChain
YottaChain has big prospects for the future. This company has already won many accolades for its work in the public realm. The startup aims to build a shared network of resources using proprietary technology to make it easier for people to use efficient technology. By connecting storage and processing resources and distributing them to the average computer user, the company will enable people connected to the network to leverage resources that they wouldn’t be able to access. The company does this by making resources decentralized using blockchain technology.
Bitconch
Bitconch aims to transform the business realm through fast technologies. Aptly named after bitcoin – the first cryptocurrency – this startup aims to become a leader in its own right. Bitconch is supported and developed by engineers who have previously worked for big tech companies in the world. The startup has a beta network that is developed to enable up to 100,000 transactions per second. This is a number that is currently unheard of and which would be revolutionary. The company already has a working development model where a combination of POS, POW, and POA reputation systems would be used. The three systems have been previously applied in other blockchain realms.
HeroToken
The financial realm has seen a huge number of blockchain startups. HeroToken, which is a continued success from PawnHero, aims to change the lending and borrowing market. This company aims to make it easy for borrowers and lenders to connect. The company will do this by having a common marketplace where individual lenders and borrowers and meet and exchange services. The startup is benefitting from the strong tech background of its founder as well as a team of experts. According to David Margendorff, the founder, HeroToken is set to change the financial possibilities of the billions of unbanked people globally.
4. LiteLink
This company connects the financial and logistics realm. LiteLink already has a logistics platform that is built on blockchain. This platform allows for easy tracking of goods. The service is efficient and it provides real-time tracking. With this service, the company has proven that it can be possible to achieve unrivaled transparency in the logistics realm. Spending on blockchain is expected to top $11 billion by 2022. Companies like LiteLink are hoping to tap into this industry.
MetaHash
The team behind MetaHash has reimagined modern networks. By using blockchain technology as the foundation, MetaHash has managed to become a self-sustaining network. There are already hundreds of servers that power this network and the transactions performed reach 50,000 per second. MetaHash has even bigger goals for the future. The company hopes to expand to the rest of the world and bring dependable solutions anchored on decentralization.
Advanced Blockchain AG
Advanced Blockchain AG (ABAG), is a publicly listed company founded in Germany. This company is built for the business world. The company focuses on bringing sustainable solutions to big corporations. It has already served major companies in the auto world and it has greater prospects for the future. The company is considered to be a major player in the blockchain world as it has a solid team of innovators behind it. ABAG has already targeted the US market and the next goal is to expand to the rest of the world.
The blockchain technology continues to inspire and excite the world. In recent years, it has been reported that up to 90% of banks in America and Europe have explored the technology. People in the tech world and even outside it are fully behind the new solutions that are coming as a result of blockchain. With decentralization being at the core of the technology, many benefits are expected. The above companies are some of the many that are bringing change and revolution in various industries by using blockchain.
Achieving higher productivity and profitability in the process is not rocket science. As a punch and die manufacturer, you just need to do some simple things on a consistent basis to leverage the benefits.
To ensure continuous progress towards optimum results, you must start analyzing your punching tools and evaluate the operation extensively. Once you start doing the right things in the right manner, success is inevitable.
Proper Tooling Design
The progressive tooling design consists of 4 important components – the punch, stripper, die, and the tool holder system. The tooling supplier starts the success of punching operation with the inbuilt features of these components.
Punch: The punch experiences both compressive and tensile forces during the punching process. The punch tip uses the pressure to the workpiece and as a result, the workpiece material starts scraping the punch’s flanks.
A good punch and die manufacturer uses high-quality tool steels with metallurgical properties that are designed to resist any wear on cutting edges. Also, a small back taper is recommended to reduce the pressure on the punch flank.
Stripper: Stripper has two important tasks to accomplish. During the punching process, it holds the workpiece material in the right place against the die when it punches or pulls back from it. It also holds the punch tip tight when the punch tip punches the hole in the workpiece.
Die: Effective punching can be achieved from the right fit between the punch and die. Concentric and angular die alignment with a good punch ensures that the punch can enter the die without scraping the sides of it.
Tool holder: The main function of a tool holder system is to guide the punch tip to the die’s center while holding the workpiece tight against it. Some of the vital features of a tool holder system are reliability, accuracy, and repeatability.
Optimum Die Clearance
For a punching process to be successful a punch and die manufacturer should consider optimizing the die clearance. A large clearance will result in producing parts with large burrs and poor part quality, whereas a tight clearance will result in poor edge quality. It also incurs damage to the tool while leading to frequent replacement of tool components.
Understanding the punching process enables a manufacturer to achieve the optimal die clearance without much difficulty. The type and thickness of the workpiece material determine the die clearance.
The optimal amount of die clearance in the progressive tooling ensures that the shear cracks join. Achieving optimal die clearance not only improves the tool life, but it also enhances the quality of the part while reducing cost per hit.
Simple Tool Maintenance
Proper maintenance of tooling is needed to ensure maximum longevity. This includes lubrication of parts as per the recommendations, sharpening using the grinding equipment designed for the job, and consistent maintenance of the punch press to maintain alignment.
The punch and die manufacturer needs to design the tooling that will mitigate punching forces and ensure longer intervals between sharpenings. Usage of high-quality tool steels, a back taper, and near-polished punch flanks can help to maximize the intervals between regrinds while increasing machine uptime and improving the quality of parts produced.
Also, the manufacturer needs to ensure that the tools are easy to disassemble, adjust and grind as this will encourage the operators to perform regular maintenance without any glitch.
Conclusion
Performing the above steps in the right way will help to ensure assured success for every punch and die manufacturer. Analyzing the tooling and examining the process not only help the manufacturer to achieve productivity and efficiency but also helps them to maintain success.
The online casino industry is one of the largest industries thanks to advanced technologies that make it possible to play all kinds of games on smartphones, tablets, computers, game consoles, and VR equipment. Augmented reality (AR) is one of the most interesting technologies we have today and can be considered to be the technology of the future. It has already created opportunities for gamers and can be used for everyday uses. Modern-day smartphones use advanced technology and AR apps are quite popular nowadays. Let’s find out how AR emerged, how it works, and its application in the online gaming industry.
The History of Augmented Reality
AR is relatively a new technology, but the term has been around for more than 2 decades. Its origins are not clear, but it’s associated with the works of Professor Caudell from Boeing Computer services. In an attempt to develop a better manufacturing process, Caudell used technology and developed a complex computer program to overlay the positions of objects in the building process. However, the U.S Air Force is believed to be the first to use an operational AR system known as Virtual Fixtures.
The newly discovered technology underwent several changes over the years, but AR was not widely used until 1999. The ARToolKit by Hirokazu Kato was probably the first significant breakthrough. The software allowed users to combine virtual objects with real-world actions with the help of a simple handheld device. Another significant breakthrough can be attributed to Bruce Thomas who demonstrated the world’s first outdoor mobile AR video game. The game was called ARQuake and players only needed gyroscopes and a computer backpack.
In 2008, smartphone users were able to use AR technology following the development of the first AR app for Android devices. The iPhone app was launched soon after. Today, AR technology presents numerous opportunities in various areas including video and online gaming.
How Augmented Reality Works
Augmented reality is a type of technology that allows users to superimpose virtual images on real-world objects. If you have ever played Pokémon GO, then you already know how AR works. When using AR technology, the overlay is executed simultaneously with images captured using a device such as a camera or smart glasses. It could be your phone’s camera or a webcam connected to your PC. The superimposed virtual images create an illusion that they exist in the real world and effectively engage the user in a virtual environment.
The Use of Augmented Reality in Online Casinos
Gambling has been around for a long time and many gamblers have shifted from brick-and-mortar casinos to online casino sites. Today, gamblers have access to thousands of online casino sites which allow them to play all kinds of games including online slots/pokies, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and other games. Those interested in online slots can find and play them on reputable sites like Australian Pokies Site for real money. The bottom line is that the online casino industry has plenty of opportunities for online gamers as well as gamblers. Whether you are using a PC, smartphone or tablet, almost all modern online casinos have designed their websites to support your device. You can now play your favorite casino games on the go.
What about using augmented reality technology in the online casino industry? The truth is that it’s possible to use AR in the online gambling world. Players might love live dealers, but AR technology will take live casino gaming to the next level. With AR, players will be able to visualize the entire online casino and have the same experience as someone playing in a traditional casino. It’s expected that hardware developers will come up with AR eyewear with speakers that offer virtual sounds and microphones that allow users to use audio commands. The modern-day computer games will be nothing compared to what AR will offer to online gamblers in the future. However, we might wait for some years before AR for online gaming sites becomes a reality.
So, what is preventing modern online casinos from using AR? Well, one of the reasons why casinos are unable to adopt AR is that players have to invest in expensive devices like headsets and glasses. These devices are relatively expensive and a large percentage of online gamblers may not afford it at the moment. Another significant challenge is that online casinos need to obtain AR software from developers, so they have to spend money. Lastly, it’s hard to tell how most gambler will react to AR technology, so it might take some years before AR for online casinos becomes fully operational.
Overall, AR technology has a place in the online casino world and the iGaming industry at large. It’s just a matter of time before online gamblers start using the technology to place their wagers and enjoy gambling like never before.
There is no doubt that influencer marketing plays a huge role in public relations nowadays. Business tends to pay more attention to this marketing form every year, and this trend won’t go away anytime soon.
Influencer marketing is an extremely effective way to generate sales, increase brand visibility, or simply introduce yourself to a new audience. It seems to be a perfect marketing niche where nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong – it can go bad if you don’t know how to execute an influencer marketing campaign correctly.
It’s important to examine all the pros and cons of influencer marketing before actually investing your money into it. Also, the complete guide to getting started with influencer marketing by Oberlo is definitely worth your attention. You will get some great insights on the most important features of influencer marketing.
The Bright Side of Influencer Marketing
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Let’s start with an impressive number – influencer marketing is usually converting twice as good as regular paid advertisements. Obviously, influencer marketing campaign needs to be executed correctly to achieve this, but the potential is there.
It’s also worth mentioning that influencer marketing lasts way longer. You see, those social media celebrities have an ability to create a special bond with their audience, so products promoted by them look a lot more appealing compared to something that can be seen on online advertisement. People usually treat influencers as their friends, so an influencer promoting a product is similar to a friend praising something. That helps to build long-lasting relationships with new customers.
And new customers or audience is probably the biggest advantage of influencer marketing. The most important thing is to select the right people to cooperate with. Since influencers usually have a very targeted audience that is interested in some particular things, you can promote your brand only to those people who are likely to be your clients one day.
Another thing that makes influencer marketing so great is the ease to start off. If you plan to establish a strong presence of your business on one of the social media platforms, you will need to put a lot of time and effort into it. I.e., if you want to create a profile page for your business and build a fanbase, it will cost a lot, and the success rate is very low. Influencer marketing lets you dive right into this game without any hard work preparing for it.
So to sum it up, influencer marketing saves time. And time is money, right? You don’t have to produce your own content or spend time building an audience. Sure, paying a couple of thousands of dollars to an influencer that is not even an A-class celebrity might look like too much, but when you consider all the pros and cons – it’s definitely worth it.
The Dark Side of Influencer Marketing
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We have mentioned, that influencer marketing is much less time consuming than establishing your own profile on social media. However, it still requires some preparation, and only money alone won’t deliver the right results. You have to invest your time in figuring out the vision of your campaign, reaching out to potential influencers that could be ambassadors of your brand, and managing the ongoing campaign. Or you can simply pay to some advertising agency that could do that for you. Needless to say, that will cost additionally.
Probably the biggest downside of influencer marketing is taking the risk for the person you are working it. You must have heard of Logan Paul (a guy with millions of followers), who posted a video of suicide forest in Japan last year and the impact it had on his career and public image. Just imagine what kind of impact it would have on your business if an influencer promoting your brand would do something similar? That’s why selecting the right people to work with is crucial.
Last but not least, you have to always track the performance of your campaign because it might not work. There might be a lot of reasons why influencer marketing is not returning desired results, so you got to keep an eye on that. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – promoting the brand only with influencer marketing is a big mistake.
Finding Right Influencers
Regardless if you want to focus on the negative or positive side of influencers marketing, there is simply no denying that they have a massive effect on your business. After all, they are called influencers for a good reason.
One of the biggest struggles that newcomers face is finding the right influencer. It is quite easy to get lost in a sea of people who are self-proclaimed experts and have spent a lot of time on marketing themselves. Thus, keep in mind that the first results to pop up in search engines are not necessarily right.
So how does one find that perfect influencer? The whole process takes a lot of time. But once again, the benefits are well worth the investment.
Understanding Your Audience
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You are creating a business with plenty of things in mind. One of those is the audience which is going to buy from you. For example, if you are looking to sell video games, your ideal targets should be young males. Meanwhile, beauty products are more likely to succeed among women, and the age for this one is not as important. Both young and old want to look their best.
Why is any of this important? Well, the answer is quite clear. Your targeted audience should be identical or at least similar to that of the influencer. Otherwise, the whole thing will end up as a complete waste of resources.
Remember that even if blogs or social media accounts advertise themselves as being in a particular niche, you should still make sure that they are relevant to you. If you are selling hockey gear, do not bother with general sports groups because it would be difficult to appeal to them.
Another thing to consider is whether your business is local or you are offering products and services which are available for everyone. In other words, the more you narrow your options, the better your situation will be.
Competition Research
It is worth to spend some time analyzing your potential competition. Finding similar businesses on the internet is not a problem. If you stumble upon an idea like yours, it is not something bad. Instead, you should think of it in terms of “somebody is also turning this into reality”, which means that if they can do it, so can you.
Brand growth is where influencers excel at, and if you are sure that there will be a place for yours, it becomes much easier to work toward the goal.
Understanding the Influencer
There will be more than a couple of choices when you are looking to strike a partnership with an influencer. You will have to evaluate your potential candidates and judge them by quite a few parameters.
Reach is the first thing that comes to mind. In other words, how many followers they have on social media and how many unique visitors go to their website every day or so. Of course, it is quite easy to blow these numbers out of proportion.
To avoid anyone who has fake followers, look at their engagement rate. Engagement shows how many people are actively participating. The number of likes, comments, shares, views, etc. These statistics are the most important of the lot.
For example, if an influencer has hundred-thousand followers but only one thousand of them engage, it is not a very good indication. On the other hand, a social media profile with ten-thousand followers and an engagement rate of about five-hundred is great. Not to mention the fact that you would have to pay less for someone with fewer followers.
Authenticity should also be taken into consideration. Look at their post history. If you believe that their content is nothing but paid advertisements and the history does not look natural at all, it is highly likely that you would be better off picking someone else.
Personality also tends to be overlooked. Of course, finding someone whose style aligns with your brand values is extremely difficult. Nevertheless, if you feel like you are willing to take that extra mile, go for it.
Finally, the niche. Even if you are having a hard time, remember to make sure that the influencer is not someone random, but one within the same industry as you.
Where to Look for Them?
As per usual these days, social media is the answer. That is more or less the ideal choice as virtually every influencer has a presence on these platforms, no matter how big or small it might be.
Popular Platforms
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There are a plethora of platforms to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones:
Facebook. It will be difficult to find someone who is not using this one. Despite what you might hear, the popularity of Facebook continues to grow, and so does the number of influencers who find themselves relying on it as a source of income.
Twitter. Another big social media website, though it might be a bit difficult to find the right influencer here. Consider it as an alternative and a way to introduce a little variety once things start to pick up.
Instagram. Perhaps the most popular choice among both businesses and influencers. If you have been on Instagram, you have definitely seen sponsored posts where big accounts give shoutouts. It is one of the most common methods to influence, and despite what you might think, it is quite effective.
YouTube. If you feel like video format is the best way to advertise your services or products, nothing beats YouTube.
Twitch TV. Might be a long shot, but like gamers could also be a good audience to target. Contact streamers and give them an offer. They should be more than happy to work with you.
Those who do not feel like spending time browsing these websites randomly can always make use of special tools. One of the most popular is HypeAuditor, Discover.ly, Tweetdeck, Clout, and Buzzsumo. It helps if you want to narrow down your search. And keep in mind that there are plenty of other tools, developed for specific platforms.
Contacting Influencers
Once you have a list of potential candidates, you will have to contact them. Some people like to take the direct approach and send them a message on social media. However, this is not always the best option.
If you can find an email address, make sure to send them a proposal using that. Everything will seem more natural and professional. After all, they have this contact information available for a reason.
As for the email itself, the content should consist of the main points. Introductions, your expectations, why you are choosing to work with this particular influencer, how much you are willing to pay, and so on. There are plenty of templates for writing such emails online. In case you are struggling to come up with everything yourself, look for some help.
Increase Your Odds
When you find an influencer you are particularly interested in, you can increase the odds of working with him or her by engaging on their content first. In other words, you need to get noticed.
Share their posts, leave relevant comments, and so on. And make sure to use a business account, not a personal one. Who knows, they might be the ones to contact you, not the other way around.
Maintaining the Relationship
When you start the cooperation, make sure that you are in a good relationship with the influencer. It can be a pain to find a replacement. Consequently, working with someone for a long term shows that you are capable of maintaining relationships. Having such a trait will only strengthen your brand.
So in a word, it should become clear that influencer marketing is no walk in the park. It takes effort, and there will be bumps along the way, especially if you have no or very little experience with this method of marketing. But then again, when all things are considered, nobody can deny that influencers are extremely beneficial to your brand, and their presence as a whole will continue to grow in the world of digital marketing.
Arc flash is one of the scariest kinds of accidents that can happen when working with electrical equipment. It occurs when electricity moves between different voltages through an unintended path and causes a dangerous explosion.
Here’s more on some of the most common reasons for arc flash, as well as some preventative measures.
Human Error
Unfortunately, human error is consistently cited as one of the most common reasons for arc flash. This can come from a few sources. In certain scenarios, people are simply too careless and make a mistake that leads to arc flash. But fatigue is also a major contributor when human error is at play.
When you’re exhausted at the end of a long shift, you’re more susceptible to making mistakes. In some professions, it’s easy to correct those things. There’s a lot more at stake when working with electrical circuitry, as arc flash can cause serious harm to people and equipment.
Faulty Equipment
Issues with equipment is another common factor that can lead to arc flash. There are many things that can be wrong with electrical equipment that might lead to critical issues like arc flash. This can include exposed or improperly installed wires or parts, degraded insulation, poorly maintained breakers and disconnect panels, and a variety of other issues. No amount of care on the worker’s part can protect them against equipment malfunction.
There’s no situation where it makes sense to cut corners with equipment. If something needs to be updated or replaced—do it. Companies like Schneider Electric have a full lineup of electrical components that can help safeguard against the dangers of arc flash.
Water Near Equipment
Most people know that water and electricity don’t mix well. This is certainly true when it comes to protecting against arc flash. Any water or liquid near circuitry can be a potential hazard.
Incorrect Compliance and Working Conditions
There are a few things that need to happen for companies to be in alignment with proper working conditions and electrical system compliance. It’s essential the workspace is constructed with OSHA-approved equipment and all OSHA and NFPA 70E standards are upheld. Any hazards or potential impediments to worker safety need to be removed immediately.
How Dangerous Is Arc Flash?
Many people underestimate the severity of arc flash. This kind of accident can cause severe injuries, or even death. The temperature element of arc flash alone is enough to cause horrible burns. It’s possible for an arc flash explosion to create temperatures in the tens of thousands of degrees Fahrenheit. For reference, the surface of the sun is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
But this isn’t the only danger of arc flash. Other risks include hot gases exuding from the incident, liquified metal, and pressure and sound waves. These can also cause major burns or fatalities. The shrapnel effect of the explosion can injure people in a significant radius. Additionally, arc flash can lead to hearing loss, brain damage, or psychological issues.
It’s estimated that up to 10 arc flash incidents happen every day in the United States, which makes this one of the most prevalent types of electrical accidents.
How Can You Protect Against Arc Flash?
Clearly, you need to take precaution and do whatever you can to avoid arc flash incidents. These are a few practices you can implement to lower the likelihood of arc flash:
Educate workers on arc flash. Make sure people who are working on your premises understand arc flash, and how to avoid it. There are many educational courses out there for improving worker safety.
Ensure all equipment is up-to-date and complies with all standards. Immediately address issues when components are showing critical wear or faults.
Provide all workers with proper clothing to protect them against arc flash. While this won’t necessarily prevent an accident, it can save someone’s life.
Continually refine and update protocol to create the safest possible work environment.
Arc Flash is a very real concern that needs to be taken seriously. Anyone who experiences this massive force knows just how destructive it can be to people and machinery.
