Rants and Raves of a Bum: December 2017

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It cannot be denied that the majority of the population nowadays are becoming conscious of their health and wellness more than ever. With all the craze and increasing awareness to healthy living, becoming a personal fitness trainer can be both a challenging and a very rewarding job. However, the growing number of fitness centers and health and wellness groups make it more difficult for beginner personal trainers to keep up with more experienced competitors.

On a positive note, the internet is there to provide aspiring personal trainers an effective means to increase their online presence. Not only can personal trainers benefit from online marketing strategies with high rate of conversions, but having a business website can also help you gain trust from your clients.

Getting good results from online marketing strategies is something that can be done with patience and research. It should not be rushed nor it should lack creativity and innovation. Learn more about the five tips to increase your online presence and become one of the most in-demand personal trainers in your area.

1. Offer new and exciting programs.

One way to make you stand out among other personalized trainers is to offer different programs to your clients that nobody else does. For this, you can research or conduct a small survey among your peers. You can also offer services such as free SMS reminders, scheduler, newsletters, and others.

2. Get on social media.

Setting up social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube will help you provide your clients more options to reach you and enjoy your exclusive contents. Don’t forget to post interesting contents such as exercise of the day and fitness facts every once in a while.

3. Learn about the best time to post.

Depending on the platform that you are using, there are specific hours of the day and days of the week when the number of online users is the highest. On average, 9 AM, 1 PM, and 4 PM every Saturday and Sunday are the time ranges when the volume of online traffic is at the peak. But for fitness related online pages, you may target early morning and late afternoon hours when people spend their time for their daily exercise routines.

4. Maximize using ads.

The best way to make money is to spend a part of your money on marketing wisely. Now, you can customize your ads to target specific audiences. For fitness-related ads, the best setting will be for both genders, older than 21 years old, and within 10 miles around your area. You may still change this setting as needed.

5. Attract clients using promotions.

If you still have some money to spend for marketing purposes, then conducting competitions and promotions should be a great option. For example, you may set up a competition for the best new exercise programs or healthy food recipes and then offer free personal training programs as a reward. Make sure to be creative to get more people involved in the competition.

Online marketing is definitely another job that will require a lot of your time and effort. That is why it is recommended for you to consult with an experienced online marketing strategist first to help you out with your needs. Contact Strength Marketing, a digital marketing agency specialized for personal trainers, and see great results in no time.

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Having a business card is important to any person who wants to excel professionally. Any business would benefit from having cards to distribute to their potential clients. It’s a way to reach out to them. A way to leave an impression. More importantly, it leaves a physical object with information that’s valuable to your prospective clients.

Finding a place to print your business card is incredibly easy nowadays. There are tons of business card printing services that deliver premium output to their customers. This article will help you find the perfect place to have your business cards printed. Here are 4 tips:

1. Search online

Searching online will give an abundance of options on where to have your business card printed. The amazing thing too is that you don’t even have to get up from your chair to do the transaction. From designing to printing, until delivery, everything is done without you having to come over. It’s so easy!

Most business card printing services are this hassle-free especially if they're web-based. You can select a template from their website, pick a type of paper and its thickness, and decide on the finish. Payment is also a breeze as they mostly accept all forms of major credit cards or maybe even Paypal.

2. Learn from friends

Your friends are also one of your greatest assets in looking for a lead. For sure a lot of your entrepreneurial friends have transacted with a business card printing shop before. Let them know you’re on the lookout for reputable print shops and would appreciate a recommendation.

3. Look to the nearest print shop

If you’re not so tech-savvy, perhaps the easiest way to have your cards printed is by going to the nearest print shop around. For sure they offer printing services and would even gladly cut your cards for you. By doing this method you’d most likely have to present them with your own design. Or you can always ask the person in charge if they also offer business card layout services.

4. Do it yourself

If you’d like to get a bit creative, why not do you cards by yourself? A little inspiration and the proper tools could easily get you the card of your dreams. It’s easy, affordable, and it’s quite an accomplishment for you too!

Start with a design you want. Look around online and tag a couple of business card pegs you’d like to imitate. Then it’s just a matter of laying them out same way, using colors of your choice and fonts of your choice too. You can do it in any text editor you want if you’d like to keep it simple. Of if you’re a bit more savvy, you can try Photoshop. Alas, there are also free online business card design generators you can use like Canva and Bizcardmaker to make your life easier. Remember that the standard size for business cards is 3x2 inches. Once you’re done with the design. It’s time to print! Select a paper of your choice and get them printed in seconds. Cutting may be tedious but if you’ve got a paper cutter it should be fun! And that’s it, DIY business cards done!

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When it comes to building our very first house, one cannot help but to be very meticulous and hands-on with the project itself. Of course, since it is our very first home, the shelter where our beloved families and guests will be staying, it goes without saying that everything needs to be perfect.

Designing and building a house is never an easy task. That is why a lot of professional engineers and architects have banded themselves together and formed housing construction companies in order to have the proper set of skills and knowledge in house building. If you are planning on getting a Residential Construction Service to build your dream house, then you will definitely find this article worthwhile. You see, we will be providing you with 4 tips that will surely be able to help you find the best local contractor that will build your dream house for you.

1. Real Experience

First and foremost, the very first thing that you need to look into when hiring a local contractor for your dream house is the amount of experience the company has acquired all over the years. You see, some construction companies may just have been subcontractors over the years, meaning, all they did was to follow the main contractor’s instructions. This kind of companies doesn't have enough experience with actual house building. What you will need is a company that has a solid reputation for building and designing residential houses.

2. Licenses and Certifications

Governments issue licenses and certifications in order for private institutions to do their professional work within their countries. Without the proper rules and regulations guiding these private agencies, they wouldn't be held accountable for any mistakes they commit. Thus, always check and verify the licenses and certifications of the private housing construction company that you are visiting.

3. Equipment and Manpower

Next on the checklist is to see if the potential construction company has the needed equipment and manpower to complete the project on time and of course, with the best results. Construction companies must have the proper and necessary equipment and tools for house construction. Furthermore, they also need to have employees that are skilled and trained to handle the equipment. Without these two factors, designing and building a house will be much more difficult and longer. You can do this via a simple inquiry or better yet, a visit to their equipment room. You can also ask for the credentials of their employees - training certificates, seminar attendances, licenses, all of these can be easily found out as long as you ask. So always ask and confirm, do not be afraid of asking questions or whether you should be skeptic or not. It is your house that they will be building, it is your hard-earned money that will be spent, so better be safe than sorry.

4. Service Warranty

Last but not the least, before you engage and sign a deal with a private house construction company, it is very important that you secure service warranty for yourself. Service warranties are your guarantee that the construction company would either repair any damage to your house, re-do any mistakes in the designs, or refund your money in case they don't deliver what they promised. Warranties are the ultimate protection for your money, so always make sure that you are covered by a warranty with the construction company.

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So you’ve got your festive outfit set and the fancy gift wrapped for your “monito” or “monita”. All that’s left undone is a party season-perfect hairstyle.

The fresh out of the shower look can be seductive yet temporary. Blame it to tropical climate, it can spoil your appearance, besides making you feel sweaty and stale. The heat and humidity brought about by extreme weather condition, likewise, dries out the locks easily and make it more fragile.

Adding damage to your delicate strands are the chemical contents of various products on hand. From shampoo to conditioner and hair treatment, down to styling goods to groom it to your liking, their harsh synthetic materials jeopardize the natural oil and luster of your mane.

Because you are what you eat, the fate of your crowning glory is in the plate. Your diet must have the correct balance of vitamins and minerals to supply hair with all that it needs to become shiny and strong. So don’t overindulge, especially this time of the year when gastronomic feasts are spread almost everywhere you go. Be careful on what you take in, thinking that it’s also what you feed your ‘do.

Even stress can wear off the beauty and health of the tress. And that’s exactly what you should avoid this Yuletide season. Never put pressure on yourself just to please everyone. Just take it easy, let your hair down and party all night long.

In this time of gratitude, NOVUHAIR makes everyday “a good hair day” for its valued patrons like you with its Christmas and Year-End Promo. Get an extra NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo 200 ml. worth P1,040 for FREE if you buy a NOVUHAIR 3-in-1 pack at participating WATSONS stores nationwide (DOH-FDA CCRR Permit No.: 967 s. 2017).

Packed with 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—NOVUHAIR Topical Scalp Lotion does not only help prevent the hair fall malady, but also aids in stimulating hair growth. NOVUHAIR helps prevent hair loss, improve overall appearance, promote nourishment and rejuvenation. It is clinically-tested and proven safe and effective.

Opt for the best with this Christmas and Year-End promo. Whether it’s a luxury gift for your loved ones, or a self-indulgent treat for you, NOVUHAIR has the perfect gift to inspire and keep you party-ready this Holiday season, while providing you with the ultimate styling result.

For inquiries, please call 413-6570 or 0922-8830575. You may also visit www.novuhair.com or Novuhair’s Facebook page – Novuhair Official.

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MANILA, Philippines – Southeast Asia’s leading eCommerce company, Lazada Group, wrapped up its month-long Online Revolution campaign by crushing the region’s online sales record. The 12.12 final sale rang in USD 250 million in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), more than doubling last year’s sale. It also shattered the 11.11 record of USD 123 million, set only a month ago.

The massive sales volume is a clear sign that the month-long Online Revolution campaign, on its 6th year, is Southeast Asia’s biggest shopping phenomenon that has grabbed the attention of millions of consumers and provided them unprecedented access to products they want, love and need. Lazada customers came from all over Southeast Asia – from big cities like Bangkok and Jakarta to far-flung locations like Alabel in the Philippines, Jayapura in Papua Indonesia and Điện Biên province in Vietnam. Due to the spikes in volume, Lazada had to charter flights to Indonesia and Thailand to deliver goods ordered from international merchants. About 50,000 local marketplace sellers also saw massive sales increases.

Lazada constantly pushes the limits to better serve its customers and sellers to win in the region’s crowded eCommerce industry. To feature unique products and offers, it has entered into several exclusive partnerships with world-renowned brands like Apple and Unilever. Furthermore, through the recently launched Taobao Collection service, it is offering a curated selection of international fashion, tech and lifestyle items. By investing heavily in its fulfillment operations, including warehouses and delivery hubs across the region, the company is continuously improving the shopping experience by reducing delivery lead times. Supported by the expertise of Alibaba, Lazada is also deploying cutting-edge technology solutions, that range from search and personalization to logistics optimization, to ultimately benefit both customers and sellers on the platform.

Filipinos Revolutionize Digital

Filipinos have embraced the convenience of shopping online this holiday season. Close to two hundred thousand Online Revolution parcels coming from both brands and merchants get delivered from the Lazada sorting center daily. Cities such as Negros Oriental, Benguet and Laguna recorded the most number of items ordered during the campaign. Interesting to note that aside from the usual tangible buys, the majority of customers bought their prepaid mobile load on Lazada – a clear indicator that Filipinos are more comfortable buying almost anything beyond the realms of the physical store.
The holiday rush and last minute shopping also existed online. Items ordered broke records during the last day of the sale. Over 140,000 fashion items, over 15,000 lipsticks, and over 12,000 automotive gift items were ordered in just one day. Christmas trees of different sizes and home decorations were also top picks of customers.

“Our record-breaking performance during our Online Revolution campaign is a testament to the hard work our team has put in, but also that of our sellers, brands, logistics providers, and other business partners, over the last 6 years,” said Lazada Group Chief Executive Officer, Max Bittner. “The Online Revolution has just begun and it will continue to benefit consumers as well as the entire eCommerce ecosystem” he added.

About Lazada Online Revolution
Online Revolution is the biggest shopping event in Southeast Asia. It was started on 12 December 2012 (12.12) to introduce consumers to the convenience and value of shopping online, sparking a ‘shopping frenzy’ that has grown it into a highly-anticipated annual event. Every year, more and more consumers from capital cities to remote villages shop from a wide range of deals from international and local brands previously not available to them. Last year, shoppers ordered two million items on just the first day of the event. This year, the highlights of Online Revolution will be on 11.11 (11 November) and 12.12 (12 December). Themed ‘Shop the Universe’, shoppers in six countries can look forward to millions of products from around the world – from branded cosmetics, apparel, and fashion accessories, to TVs and other nifty electronics, household essentials, and even pet food – at ‘out-of-this-world’ prices.

About Lazada Group
Launched in 2012, Lazada is the number one online shopping and selling destination in Southeast Asia – present in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. As the pioneer of the eCommerce ecosystem in Southeast Asia, Lazada helps more than 135,000 local and international sellers as well as 3,000 brands serving the 560 million consumers in the region through its marketplace platform, supported by a wide range of tailored marketing, data, and service solutions.

With over 210 million SKUs available, Lazada offers the widest range of products in categories ranging from consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion, sports equipment, and groceries. Focused on delivering an excellent customer experience, it offers multiple payment methods including cash-on-delivery, comprehensive customer care and hassle-free returns through its own first and last mile delivery arm supported by more than 100 logistics partners. Lazada Group is majority owned by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA).

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Lyon is the third largest city in France, it is located in the picturesque Rhône-Alpes region. Its location has determined the main purpose of the city, having made it the gastronomic and cultural capital of France. Did you know that a movie was born in Lyon? It is one of the must-visit places.

Keep this post for the time when you will plan your travel from Paris to Lyon. In addition to the information on how to travel to Lyon from Paris, there is a list of pleasant places where you can go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The article is based on the opinion of traveling Ukrainian girls.

Lyon travel guide: how to get there from Paris

• By train
The most logical option for traveling between cities is the Paris-Lyon train. High-speed trains TGV SNCF will take you from the Gare de Lyon train station to Lyon in 2 hours or so.

• By bus
If you plan a cheap travel to Lyon, choose a direct bus trip from Paris to Lyon. Bus transportation is carried out by Eurolines, Flixbus, Ouibus bus companies.

Eurolines buses traditionally depart from the station at the Metro Gallieni, there are several trips a day. The journey takes about 6 hours. The Eurolines station in Lyon is located at Gare de Lyon-Perrache.

Lyon travel tips: the best places to visit

· Away Hostel & Coffee Shop
If you are looking for a hostel to stay in, then this will be an excellent choice. In any case, such a conclusion can be made on Facebook, location, beautiful hall and the general atmosphere. If you are not interested in hostels, then come here just for coffee because here, it is one of the best in the city.

· Bistrot Harvest
This is a very beautiful and cozy restaurant. You can visit it at least just to drink coffee. In addition to coffee, you can try the dessert "Café gourmand macarons Lautrec," this is coffee with ideal macaroons.

· Le Lautrec
Come here to buy chocolate and macaroons (the ideal ones that are offered in Bistrot Harvest.)

· Jeannine & Suzanne
Here you will find endlessly beautiful and tasty desserts. Besides, it’s pleasant to sit by the big window and relax after a walk.

· Torü
It is a tea find in a very beautiful place. Branches on the weekends, breakfasts, desserts and, most importantly, various types of tea that can be bought as a gift.

· Les Cafetieres
You can take an excellent coffee, and sit on a charming patio in good weather. However, there are many people who want to spend the morning there, you can queue up.

· Francoise Pralus
In Lyon, you should try the main sweetness, brioche with praline. You will see these pink buns in every bakery in the city, but they are the best here. Come in the morning to buy the freshest.

· Bouchon Thomas
It's worth dinning in Bouchon at least once. These are traditional Lyon restaurants where you can taste the real cuisine of the region. Unlike the French nouvelle cuisine, here you will try dishes that are simpler, with lots of meat, potatoes, sausages and other.

· Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
The most famous city market named Paul Bocuse in honor of an outstanding French chef. Here you will find the best products that you can imagine. It is a set of delicacies, tastes, and discoveries. The ideal plan here is to buy delicious gifts for family and friends and to grab lunch in one of the cafes inside the market.

· Le Comptoir de Mathilde
Here you will be able to buy an incredible mustard with honey, mustard with lavender, salted caramel and hazelnut paste. In general, you can spend a lot of time in the store because you can try everything before buying.

· Marche Alimentaire St-Antoine Celestins

It is a magical open market on the river embankment, which runs 6 days a week from the morning to the middle of the day (it is closed on Monday.) Here are the freshest products from all over the region.