How to Finance Your Cannabis Business Without Relying on Friends and Family

Looking to raise cash for your startup? With most banks out of the picture, find out what your realistic financing options are.

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How to Create Upsells that Boost Your Sales

Once you've attracted buyers to your site, don't let them get away without trying to increase the sale.

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Empowering Team Members Can Be a Disaster If You Don't Do This

The Situational Leadership Model can be a great tool to help you lead your team.

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'How Many Big Macs Does McDonald's Sell in a Year?' Is the Right Interview Question for Facebook. What's Yours?

These 5 questions may well get you exactly the talent you're looking for.

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Don’t Get Left Behind in the Cryptocurrency Race

Cryptocurrency trading has been around for well over a decade, but for many of us it reached a zenith in December 2017. At its height, Bitcoin traded at $20,000 per unit, before plunging spectacularly. Today, this cryptocurrency trades in a tight range between $8,000 and $10,000. The relative stability of cryptocurrency prices is notable, given the extreme volatility this contrarian investment option is subject to. The total value of the digital currency market is hovering around $400 billion – a far cry from the $800 billion + towards the end of 2017.

Regardless, Bitcoin remains the dominant player in a market now saturated with 1,610 cryptocurrencies. By mid-May, Bitcoin’s dominance remained strong at 36.7%, while the other 1,609 cryptocurrencies made up the remaining 63.3% of all market capitalization. Consider that the top 5 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and EOS account for $281 billion of the $400 billion market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies. That amounts to a whopping 70%. For this reason, traders tend to focus their energy on the top 5 cryptocurrencies as a barometer of what is going on in the virtual currency market.

Back to Basics: What Is Cryptocurrency and Why Is Everyone Interested in It?

The rush to buy Bitcoin and Altcoin is born from a need to invest in a future-oriented technology that has far-reaching implications. Nobody disputes the power of blockchain technology on financial transactions processing, smart contracts, frictionless executions of trades, and the like. There is a little hesitation about regulatory measures and how that will impact cryptocurrency functionality. The core tenets of digital currency trading include anonymity, zero intervention by central banks, and free transfers in double-quick time.

Of course, traditional financial institutions cannot possibly keep up with the technology advanced by Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, or even Bitcoin. As such, there is an opinion that banks are doing everything in their authority to hamstring cryptocurrency exchanges, for fear of losing valuable revenue streams. The authorities are now stepping in to try and regulate cryptocurrency exchanges and provide a framework for trading and investing in this new-age technology.

Leading cryptocurrency trading broker, Wilkins Finance offers a comprehensive Cryptocurrency definition: ‘… A cryptocurrency is a digital asset in the form of virtual money that is transferable between two or more parties over an electronic network…’ This definition provides clarity on what the technology does, and who can use it. Cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin is not only a medium of exchange such as fiat (fiduciary) currency, it is also an investment vehicle. Had you purchased Bitcoin when it was worth fractions of a penny, you would enjoy asset growth valued at thousands of percentage points. Such is the explosive potential of this technology and digital currency that it has been deemed the most volatile financial instrument on the market.

Cryptocurrency exchanges are designed to facilitate trading of cryptocurrency such as BTC, LTC, XRP, BCH and the like. It is imperative to research the type of cryptocurrency under consideration, the merits of that technology, and the growth potential. Once this has been done, it is relatively easy to trade cryptocurrency. Back in the day, people would mine cryptocurrency for hours on end. That type of technology is largely avoided owing to the excessive time and cost constraints involved. Success in cryptocurrency trading is dependent upon research. As more companies like American Express adopt digital currency as their go-to transactions medium, so we will see a move towards stronger fundamentals in this burgeoning new asset class.

The post Don’t Get Left Behind in the Cryptocurrency Race appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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5 Tips to Obtaining a Low Interest Rate in Singapore

A loan can either help you improve your business, or it can be a source of misery. Part of what determines whether a loan will be good for you or not is the interest rate. The higher the rate, the more difficult it becomes to repay it. To help you make the most out of a loan, here are 5 tips to obtaining a low interest rate loan in Singapore.

1. Choose your lender wisely

If you have taken out loans in the past, then you know that not all lenders are the same. That’s why it’s good to do some research before you commit to a lender. The best lenders allow for flexible rates, depending on the needs of the borrower. One such lender is credit thirty3. Credit thirty3 is a top moneylender in Singapore. That’s because they take their time to guide people on the best loans, based on their income and project budget.

2. Improve your credit rating

One of the smartest ways to lower your loan interest rates is by maintaining a healthy credit rating. The better your credit rating, the better your chances of negotiating for lower lending rates. One of the best ways to improve your credit rating is by repaying your loans on time. This gives lenders trust in your ability to repay, and they may lower your risk assessment levels. Higher interest rates are usually a reflection of a borrower’s higher risk profile.

3. Go for short-term loans

Unless it is extremely necessary, go for a short-term loan and repay it within the shortest time possible. Long-term loans may look like they have a lower interest rate, but the duration of the repayment will ultimately lead to a higher cost. Besides, with a long-term loan, things can happen along the way, and you may fail in your repayments. This can ruin your future credit profile, and make your future borrowing costs more expensive.

4. Get a collateralized loan

Online loans that don’t require any security usually attract high-interest rates. That’s because the lender needs to cover the risk, in case of default. As such, it makes sense to go for collateralized loans where you offer some form of security to the lender. These loans attract a lower interest rate because the lender has something to fall back on, in case you default on the loan.

5. Negotiate with the lender

Before you get into a loan agreement, you need to talk to the lender and persuade them to lower the rate for you. You will be surprised at how low they can go, if you have some good negotiating skills. When negotiating for a rate reduction, focus on convincing the lender that you are a low-risk borrower. You can easily do this by providing a clearly defined business plan, if you are borrowing to start a business. You can also show them past records of your business earnings, if you have some good ones. No lender will refuse to cut rates for a low-risk borrower. If you have a bad credit score, you may need to accept the higher rate or search online for lenders willing to take a chance on providing you with a loan to grow your business.

The post 5 Tips to Obtaining a Low Interest Rate in Singapore appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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Why Google Home Is the Perfect Gift for Employees

Are you looking for a gift for one of your employees? Whether to reward employees for great work, keep them happy and motivated, or give gifts for birthdays, this can be a difficult task. The struggle ends with Google Home. In this article, we will discuss some reasons why Google Home is a wonderful present to give to a member of your staff or anyone for any occasion.

Here are some valuable features of Google Home that your valued employee will surely enjoy:

1. It controls your smart home products

Google Assistant supports many smart home products from different brands like LG, GE, Nest and Whirlpool, among many others. You can ask a Google Home to change the temperature, dim the lights, turn on the music, turn on the microwave and many other requests. You can easily control your smart home appliances with this.

2. It reminds you to work out

This product is indeed perfect for those who love to exercise and even those who do not want to exercise as this reminds you when it is time for your workout.

3. It allows you to make hands-free calls

Wouldn’t it be convenient to be able to attend to your calls while doing other things in the house – without even picking up your phone? Well, with Google Home this is possible – you can make hands-free calls at any time.

4. It can set up your daily schedule and remind you about it

This device can arrange your daily schedule and you can ask it to remind you a few hours or minutes before the scheduled time. This is indeed perfect for busy people who have very hectic day-to-day schedules.

5. It can share a story

You can even ask your Google Home to tell a story! This is perfect for a household with children who are always ready to listen to a story.

6. It can speak in various languages

Google Home is capable of speaking different languages including English, French, Italian, Japanese or German. It is versatile! Google Assistant on tablets and phones has even more languages to choose from.

7. It can be your own directory to find local handymen, plumbers or others

Finding local handymen, plumbers or other professionals you need around the house has been made easy with Google Home. You can simply say “Google, find me a plumber” and it will show helpful results within your area. Google has local-business recommendations that have been screened by Google and companies like Porch and HomeAdvisor.

8. It can help you in the kitchen

This device can give you lists of recipes to help you cook or bake. And not only that, you can also ask questions like “how many tablespoons in a cup” or other things about cooking.

9. It can remind you to watch your favourite TV shows

Sometimes you watch so many TV shows, movies, Netflix shows and others that you can no longer keep up with the schedules. Well, Google Home can remind you when it’s time to watch your favourite shows. This way, you are always up-to-date with your shows, avoiding any spoilers when you check out your social media accounts.

10. It plays white noise while you sleep

Another lovely feature of Google Home is that it can play white noise while you sleep, making you feel more relaxed. You can set a timer to ensure that it turns off at a certain time.

With all these features of Google Home, there is no doubt that your employee will love it. So no need to look further; buy Google Home at Harvey Norman now!

The post Why Google Home Is the Perfect Gift for Employees appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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4 Ways to Make Memorable Customer Contact

Introducing your brand and products to a prospective customer gives you a chance to make a sale. The first moment of contact with a prospect is the start of a relationship, including many factors determining the outcome of this dynamic. Understanding prospect behavior during the contact phase of a sales relationship is vital to qualifying your prospect and delivering them a product or service that they need.

Here are 4 tactics you can use to make an excellent first impression and build rapport with your customers in both an online and offline situation.

1. Learn Your Customer’s Name

Greet your customer by their name. Prospects like to hear you mention their name; it makes them feel like you know them and understand their needs. In an offline situation, or on the phone, greet your customer enthusiastically and introduce yourself. Follow this up by asking your prospect their name and then repeating it back to them with a statement of acknowledgment, such as “pleased to meet you, Ms. XYZ.”

This subtle persuasion tactic has a powerful effect on the subconscious mind of your prospect. You can apply it to online sales as well. Use CRM software to send out email campaigns directly addressed to every individual on your list.

2. Personalize Your Service

Adding a personalized touch to your customer contact improves the retail experience for your customers. Use a CRM system to capture all of the vital information about your customer so you can serve them better.

If you notice that your customer enters your store wearing a specific team’s football jersey on game day, that’s critical information you can use to gain a lifelong customer. On the next game day, send them an autographed cap or scarf of their favorite team. You’ll astound your customer with this “WOW experience” and increase their brand loyalty to you.

For online retailers, ask your customers for their social media information. Spend time researching their social accounts and follow them using your official company account. Drop them a personalized Tweet or Instagram mention after you’ve followed them, thanking them for their patronage. This social contact strategy will give you in-depth information on your customer demographics, and allow you to benefit from using this information in your online marketing campaigns.

3. Appreciate Your Customer

What retention strategy are you using? Retaining your customers is as essential as making contact with new prospects. Once you have opened the relationship, it’s up to you to keep the communication going and make it as memorable as possible.

Show your customer that you value their business. Invite established customers to VIP sales days, or offer them a deeper discount to incentivize them to purchase. Provide special shipping rates or an additional service that you can give them as a gift.

Customer appreciation plays a significant role in customer satisfaction and the maintenance of a healthy sales relationship between your company and your customers. Drop them a handwritten note on beautiful company stationary, along with a discount card for their next purchase.

4. Tips for Online Retailers

Brand your unboxing experience with the use of custom mailers when you ship your products. If your customer ordered online, receiving their parcel in the mail is their first physical point of contact with your company and brand. Use this opportunity to impress. Studies show that we establish our first impression within 3 seconds of meeting someone.

The visual cues they present to us help us understand their class, status, personality, and character, all in just 3 seconds. The same principle applies when your customer receives your packaged product. Is your packaging high-quality? Does it represent the values of your brand? What more can you do to add value to the unboxing experience?

The post 4 Ways to Make Memorable Customer Contact appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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Boost Your Internet Experience & Productivity with TRENDnet

Summer is the perfect time to assess all the ways that you can improve productivity and take your business to a whole new level of success. One way to do that is ensuring you have a reliable and quick Internet router for all your online needs. For home business owners looking for way to upgrade their internet experience, TRENDnet’s AC2600 MU-MIMO WiFi Router (TEW-827DRU) is built to perform in a busy, connected house.

Featuring two quad-stream WiFi networks, TRENDnet’s AC2600 MU-MIMO WiFi Router provides sufficient bandwidth for both your home and business networks. It also supports MU-MIMO technology that processes multiple data streams simultaneously. This improves your real-time WiFi performance when multiple devices access the network. The router is the perfect way to ensure you can manage all your business’s and household’s online needs simultaneously and without any hassle.

To enhance network connectivity and high bandwidth streams (like 4K video), you can use the four gigabit ports. Targeted breamforming also directs stronger wireless signals to your home office to amplify real-time performance. The router’s external high gain antennas also maximize wireless coverage so your whole home is connected. It also includes a USB share port so you can share content across the network.

You can even create an isolated network for guests! Easy to set up in minutes, TRENDnet’s AC2600 MU-MIMO WiFi Router also features pre-encrypted wireless with its own unique password for added security. Mompreneurs and dadpreneurs will also appreciate the parental controls that limit their children’s access to specific websites and control connected device access to the network. The router also has file-sharing support management to optimize iTunes server streams. Available for $120.99 at trendnet.com.

Contact: shannahch@gmail.com

The post Boost Your Internet Experience & Productivity with TRENDnet appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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Consumer Reports flips, recommends Tesla Model 3 after braking fix

Only about a week after the independent review publication Consumer Reports determined it couldn't recommend the all-electric Tesla Model 3 sedan, it's flipped.

On Wednesday, CR came out with an updated overview of the newest Tesla, noting it had "big flaws." Now it's recommending the vehicle.

SEE ALSO: Tesla just missed its Model 3 target, but that’s not stopping Musk from setting more aggressive goals

Last week, issues with braking distance and touchscreen controls prevented the review site from recommending the more affordably priced sedan. After Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised "over-the-air" updates to improve braking, CR gave the car another chance. Read more...

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Simone Giertz, creator of 'Shitty Robots,' undergoes surgery to remove brain tumor

Simone Giertz went into brain surgery in the most positive way possible. 

The YouTuber and "Shitty Robot" creator posted a video before her surgery on Wednesday, joking that she couldn't wait to see photos of her brain because she was convinced that it was beautiful. She announced that she had a non-cancerous brain tumor in April. 

SEE ALSO: Simone Giertz, creator of 'Shitty Robots,' reveals she has a brain tumor

"I'm pretty scared," Giertz admitted in the video. "But that's the healthy response to the prospect of having your skull cut open." 

UPDATE: May 30, 2018, 9:02 p.m. PDT A post to Giertz's Twitter account says that she is out of surgery and her doctors are "very pleased" with how the procedure went. In typical Giertz fashion, she apparently also made an inappropriate joke.  Read more...

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Extreme flooding in Maryland is a glimpse into our disaster-filled future

Last weekend, Ellicott City's quaint Main Street, with red, white, and blue decorations draped from storefronts, became a churning brown river. 

While several factors resulted in this Maryland town's second "1,000-year storm" occurring in just the last 22 months, one increasingly significant contribution to the flooding is the amount of water vapor accumulating in Earth's warming atmosphere.

The flooding in Maryland fits within the broader context of how human-caused climate change is altering our atmosphere, making these extreme events more commonplace in the future.

SEE ALSO: 2018's hurricane season will be active, but probably not as bad as last year Read more...

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The Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch look like a dream come true

In a surprise reveal, Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu! and Let's Go Eevee! were introduced to the world Tuesday night among other Pokémon news, and although details are sparse, this looks like the perfect tribute to the original games.

The Pokémon: Let's Go games send players back to Kanto, the region featured in the first Pokémon games, to explore, catch Pokémon, and battle against other trainers, all with a little companion to keep you company along the way. It appears to be a complete remaster of the original games from the '90s, plus some changes, and it seems exactly like the kind of thing that classic Pokémon fans needs. Read more...

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LG has yet another phone for 2018, and it might be the best one yet

It's not déjà vu — LG has yet another new phone, following the release of its flagship LG G7 ThinQ earlier this month and the LG V30s that came out in February. 

The LG V35 ThinQ is the new kid, merging the V30s design with features that we first saw on the G7. 

However, there are three differences between the V35 and the G7. First, you don't get a traditional 6.1 inch QHD+ OLED screen, instead of an edge-to-edge one. Second, a larger 3,300mAh battery is on board. And third, there's more power on the inside thanks to 6GB of RAM. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the 10-year-old drag kid shaping the future of drag youth Read more...

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