Grow Your Electrical Contracting Business In 2021

As your fiscal year comes to an end and the holiday season approaches, now is the time to set the stage for next year. Presenters at business planning seminars and marketing workshops, and even your digital marketing partner all have valuable input into how to make 2021 the best year yet for your electrical company.

To help you along, our electrician marketing experts have compiled a list of 6 electrician marketing ideas for 2021. These strategies are proven to help electricians:

• Increase leads and sales
• Optimize their marketing costs next year
• Differentiate their brands online from their top competitors

Let’s dive in!

1. Build and Maintain a Strong Brand

A strong brand will influence all of your electrician digital marketing campaigns by creating awareness, building credibility and reputation, and customer satisfaction. In order to create and maintain a well-recognized brand, you should first define who your ideal customer is:

Defining Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)

• Think about your service from the customers’ perspective – What problems are you solving for them? How does their life improve because of your services? Of all the services you offer, which ones are the most important to your customers? Why might these customers choose the competition instead of your company?
• Define their demographics – What is the age, education level, and occupations of your ideal customers? What are their annual income levels?
• Narrow down their location – Where do your ideal customers live and work? Where are they when they search for your services?
• Map their buying strategy – How do ideal customers work with you? Do they do a lot of research first? Do they prefer to call your company or email? Is your business subject to consumer seasonality or changing weather patterns?

Where to Find This Information

For electrical contractors, your CRM (customer relationship management) and field management software is your best bet to find the answers to the questions above and will help you define your ideal customer profile. No matter if you chose ServiceTitan, FieldPulse, or another CRM, leverage the power of your software to identify your ICP.

• Identify the most profitable service areas – Run a report that shows close revenue by the city to identify the most profitable service areas to your business.
• Classify the types of customers you have – Run a report that shows you the types of jobs you ran in 2020. Where specific service lines more profitable than others? Did you generate more revenue from previous customers or new customers?
• Identify where you excelled and where you fell short – Did you start 2020 with new growth initiatives? Did you meet them?
• Identify any leaks in your sales process – Did your marketing team generate the number of leads you needed last year, but you still fell short of your revenue goals? Revisit your sales team’s conversion rates … you may be leaking revenue without even knowing it.

Know Your Competitive Differentiators

Competitive differentiators are what make your business better than your competition’s. These should be easily recalled by all the members of your team as well as being crystal clear on your website.

Examples include:

• The best prices
• The best quality
• Fastest response
• Best for emergency situations

Less is more. While you might have lots of things you are proud that your company does, the secret here will be to focus on one particular aspect that you can consistently push. This not only differentiates you externally from your competition, but it will drive your internal dialogue around marketing.

2. Audit Your Marketing Strategy

Do you have a clearly defined marketing strategy for 2021? Even if you do, you will need to audit it periodically. Sometimes, events like the COVID-19 pandemic will force a marketing audit on you: what do you need to change right away in order to keep serving your clients in conformity with local and state laws?

3. Build a Great Electrician Website

A visit to your website is the first (and possibly only) time that a potential customer is going to form an impression of your brand. Key tenets of website design for electricians include:

• Being user-friendly – Again, consider things from your customers’ perspective. Can they find what they need quickly and easily?
• Being easy to navigate – Are your menus easy to navigate and can customers find what they need intuitively?
• Being mobile-friendly – More and more searches happen on mobile every day, a trend that is growing by the year. Your website has to be mobile-friendly not just for the customers’ experience, but for how well you’ll rank with the search engines.

• Being secure – Having an SSL certificate installed on your website’s hosting environment means your website is HTTPS, not HTTP. This tells website visitors their information is safe with you and builds confidence when browsing your site. You’ll also receive a slight ranking boost from Google and Bing by making your website secure.
• Having fast load times – We’ve come to expect fast load times from websites. 53% of mobile users who don’t get to a website within three seconds will hit the back button.

4. Focus on Local Search Engine Optimization

Your website is not an online brochure. It’s one of the most valuable marketing tools available to you. It works 24/7/365 to generate leads and sales, never sleeps, and never takes days off.

But, what good is a website if nobody can find it online? Local search engine optimization (local SEO for electricians) is the process of making your company visible for geographically related searches, specifically within Google’s local pack (or “maps listings”).

To improve your local SEO, here’s a few tips:

Install Schema Markup

Schema was founded by Google, Yahoo, and Bing in 2011 and it established a universal language all search engines can read and understand. This means search engines don’t have to make assumptions about who you are, what you do, and where you do it.

Installing schema markup on your website increases your chances of ranking on page one of search engine results pages (SERPs), thereby generating more traffic and potential new customers to your website.

Optimize Your Google My Business Profile

This is a key component of any electrician’s local SEO strategy. A business that wants to have local search presence must optimize their Google My Business profile for maximum online visibility. This includes (but is not limited to):

• Making sure that your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are accurate and up to date
• Generating new customer reviews and responding to the reviews left on your Google My Business profile
• Answering searchers’ questions in the Q&A section of Google My Business
• Selecting the correct primary business categories
• Establishing your business as a service area business

Consistent NAP information (which we will talk about more in a moment) and quality and quantity of customer reviews are key drivers of local SEO—focus your efforts here first.

Claim & Verify Your Listings On All Online Directories

Outside of Google My Business, you’ll also want NAP consistency on every directory in your local area. Apart from the big ones that you might already know about, like Nextdoor, Yelp, and Facebook, you can find relevant directories by looking at the SERPs for electricians in your area.

Make sure your NAP is correctly and consistently displayed in every single directory, as any inconsistencies will harm your local SEO presence.

5. Create a Blog (And Publish Regularly)

One of the electrician marketing tips for 2021 that perhaps doesn’t get mentioned enough is creating a blog. This might be because it is a fair amount of work, but the return on that time and investment is significant, especially if you can score a featured snippet.

What is a Featured Snippet?

Remember that Google’s primary goal is to provide the most relevant answer to your customers’ questions, rather than send you to a bunch of other websites that don’t provide any value to the user. If you take the time to answer frequently asked questions to electricians in your blog, Google might highlight your site at the very top (what is called “position zero”).

Creating great content on your website, including blogs, can help you earn better SERP rankings and possibly a position zero ranking within the featured snippets. Google also loves featured snippets for voice search, which is also an ever-increasing type of search that those looking for electricians are utilizing.

6. Invest In Paid Advertising On Search Engines

Of course one of the most important parts of how to market yourself as an electrician is through paid advertising on search engines. These include:

• Local services ads – Google local services ads for electricians are an inexpensive way to get in front of those doing local searches for electricians. Not only that, you’ll secure a spot on Google’s most coveted real estate … at the top of the page!
• Pay Per Click (PPC) – PPC for electricians is an indispensable way to get more qualified leads for your business. It provides your team with qualified leads in the short-term, and is a scalable, efficient way to drive business long into 2021 and beyond.
• Social media marketing – Your clients are on Facebook, Nextdoor, Twitter, and other social media platforms, talking about home services and asking for recommendations, like “Does anyone know a good electrician?” You need to establish a presence on these platforms, but you should also be utilizing paid advertising opportunities where you can:Nextdoor features some great opportunities for advertising, including community sponsorships, which put your company into the news feed and the email newsletter, as well as Nextdoor local deals, which are time-limited deals offered in specific zip codes and neighborhoods that you target.
• Remarketing – Remarketing reminds those who’ve visited your site but didn’t end up contacting you that you are still available for their electrical needs. Like Local Services ads, this type of electrician advertising is relatively inexpensive and offers good results.
• Email marketing – This, of course, assumes that you have an email list that you have been adding to, which includes past customers and (potential) future customers. Email marketing for electricians is a reliable marketing strategy to stay top of mind with everyone who you send it to.

Offline Advertising

Another type of advertising that people don’t often think about is outstanding customer service. This creates repeat customers but also is an integral part of word of mouth marketing. Along with great customer service, you can consider developing customer rewards/referral programs.

Vehicle wraps are also an inexpensive type of electrician marketing and is a smart way to advertise and build brand awareness for your company.

You might also want to consider partnering with other local electricians who offer services that you don’t. If there’s a good reciprocal fit, you can offer referrals to each other and satisfy customers who you can’t help by sending them to someone who can.

Finally, a unique service we offer at Blue Corona is call intelligence reporting. A major upgrade from basic call tracking, which is useful insofar as it helps you see where your most effective advertising comes from, call intelligence reporting goes above and beyond to analyze your calls to find out why qualified leads aren’t closing. It’s an exciting and industry-leading way to grow an electrical business.

Build Your 2021 Electrician Marketing Plan with Blue Corona

2020 had its challenges, for sure. But that’s even more reason why you should take these electrician marketing ideas for 2021 and make it your best year ever.

If you need help building and executing your 2021 marketing strategy, contact us online. Our home services marketing experts are ready and waiting!

The possibility of an “Earthquake Today California Near Me” is very real,  bringing the risk of damage and even injury to Californian residents. One such “earthquake swarm” event has been taking place since the end of November. If you live in an area that could be impacted by an earthquake, preparation is vital, as these events can strike suddenly, at any time. Smaller earthquakes in southern California occur daily. Each year the southern California area has about 10,000 earthquakes. Read on for facts and other info about earthquakes in California and across the US.

California Hit by 400 Earthquakes in Swarm on San Andreas Fault

A swarm of more than 400 earthquakes hit California at the end of September in the area between the San Andreas fault and the Imperial fault. Further seismic activity and potentially larger earthquakes were predicted to follow and they have been. Now, three weeks later they have been continuing. The biggest earthquakes that have been recorded in the swarm since have been at a magnitude 4.9, to 5.5. “In a typical week, there is approximately a three in 10,000 chance of a magnitude 7+ earthquake in the vicinity of this swarm,’ the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said in a statement. “During this earthquake swarm, the probability of larger earthquakes in this region is significantly greater than usual. Currently, the swarm is rapidly evolving, and we expect to update this forecast with more specific probability information as we collect more data.”

The most likely scenario is that the rate of earthquakes in the swarm will decrease over the next seven days, though moderately sized with estimated magnitudes in the range of 4.5 to 5.4. They could still be significant enough to cause localised damage. The second most likely scenario is that a larger earthquake, between magnitude 5.5 and 6.9, could hit within the next seven days. “Earthquakes of this size could cause damage around the area close to the earthquakes that have already occurred and would be followed by aftershocks that would increase the number of smaller earthquakes per day,” the USGS said. This happened in 1981 when a magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit the region during a swarm. Another possibility, though the weakest of the three, is that a much larger earthquake, magnitude 7 or higher, could hit within the next seven days. The USGS says the probability of this happening is “very small.” However, if such an earthquake were to occur it would have “serious impacts on communities nearby.” It would also be followed by aftershocks that would increase the number of smaller earthquakes each day. While there’s no way to predict the time and place of an earthquake, statistical analysis of past earthquakes has shown that the chance of large earthquakes is elevated during earthquake swarms. Around half of the earthquake swarms recorded in the area are over within a week, and the USGS will continue to monitor seismic activity throughout the region. via www.newsweek.com

Why You Should Fix Earthquake Vulnerable Commercial Buildings

You don’t have to live in southern California to know the potential for a natural disaster. But for those who do live here, it’s a matter of when not if, you’ll experience the reality of living near a fault line. Seismic activity is particularly concerning for residential building owners. Not only are you invested in the property, but in the lives of all those who live within it. Recent earthquakes have revealed that certain types of multi-tenant buildings– namely soft-story buildings – are especially vulnerable to seismic events. Originally posted on Optimumseismic

This is the strongest earthquake to hit southern California in nearly 20 years. 4 magnitude early Friday 2 October 2020 following the quake. Earthquake information for el Cajon California. 0 and 5. Laidback beach vibes meet urban convenience in San Diego where the weather s practically perfect and the sunsets never disappoint. 1 quake last night offshore from San Diego. The latest earthquakes application supports most recent browsers 37 km SSW of San Carlos Mexico. When I felt the earthquake I was terrified that my dream was coming true. Jul 06, 2019, the Friday night quake preceded by Thursday 39 s 6. 4 magnitude quake centred near the kern county town interrupted its fourth of July festivities and sent Los Angeles area media to report that the magnitude 6. Local time two miles west of el monte and 10 miles from Los Angeles US Geological Survey reported. My son and I were just sitting here watching the tv show deadliest catch and felt an earthquake which according to the Los Angeles times reached a magnitude of 5.

While most of the quakes catalogued in the latest study are to Dec 11 2018 California is famous for its pristine beaches wild mountains warm people and earthquakes. Residents all around the state reported feeling the quake the epicentre of which nbsp 4 Jul 2019 it was the most powerful California centred earthquake to strike the region since 1994 when the 6. Los Angeles has a 31 per cent chance within the next 30 years of experiencing a magnitude 7. 4 nbsp maps are updated within 1 5 minutes of an earthquake or once an hour. 5 quake is not rare. East Los Angeles is less than a mile Apr 04, 2020, a 4. Although the state sits upon the immense San Andreas fault line relatively few contact information. Jul 30, 2020, a magnitude 4. The temblor occurred around 4 a. 1 magnitude earthquake rocked Southern California on Friday night the second temblor to hit near Ridgecrest in less than two days. 7. The u. 4 magnitude temblor in Ridgecrest California. The latest quake occurred around 8 19 p. 7 million instalments to the California earthquake authority nbsp 6 Jul 2019 California 39 s largest earthquake in decades rattled homes damaged buildings and led to widespread power outages on the fourth of July nbsp 30 Jul 2020 more than 10 000 alerts went out Thursday in the southern California region through two of the apps said Robert de Groot the USGS shake alert nbsp earthquakes refresh every 5 minutes.

Top Areas In Need Of Earthquake Resistant Buildings

It’s nearly impossible to know where the next major earthquake will hit. What is known is that some regions of the country have not developed earthquake-resistant buildings to handle one, and are not taking steps to safeguard the public seen more recently in California and Alaska. In these other regions not generally associated with earthquake disasters, infrastructure may crumple and buildings may topple, taking residents totally by surprise. Thankfully, these areas can learn from the negative impacts that have followed earthquakes in other, more active regions and can still take steps towards mitigating the dangers that come with seismic events.

Recent Earthquakes Near California, United States

There’s a frightful saying among seismic engineers that “earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do. ” in fact, U.S. Federal emergency management agency (FEMA) calls non-retrofitted buildings “the single biggest contributor to seismic risk in the united states today. ” indeed, these older buildings, including non-ductile concrete buildings, represent a threat during major seismic activity. As a result, they need retrofitting to make them more ductile or flexible. A group known as the concrete coalition estimates there are as many as 17,000 of these older concrete buildings in the state of California, with more than 1,000 in Los Angeles alone.

There are hundreds in a week, probably, and no one notices. If you live in or near Hollister, California, that is facetiously known as “the earthquake capital of the world,” for its almost daily but mostly unnoticeable temblors. There are a lot of earthquakes in that area, but again, little of note. Nearby Parkfield is the less populated area of choice for the Northern California branch of the united states geological survey (USGS) to have set up all kinds of monitoring equipment in the hopes of advancing the science of prediction.

The earthquake threat. Earthquakes pose a national challenge because more than 143 million Americans live in areas of significant seismic risk across 39 states. Most of our nation’s earthquake risk is concentrated on the west coast of the united states. Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA) has estimated the average annualized loss from earthquakes, nationwide, to be $6. 1 billion, with 73% of that figure ($4. 5 billion) coming from Washington, Oregon, and California, and 61% ($3. 7 billion) from California alone. In the next 30 years, California has a 99. 7% chance of a magnitude 6.

Places Near California, United States

The weather can be very hot in California. Period. They can have full weeks of 100-degree weather. I know there are plenty of other places in the United States where the weather is just as warm, and warmer, but we’re talking about California. It’s hot here. In the winter it rains in northern California. Again, not nearly as much rain as can be found in the upper northwest regions of the country.

San Francisco Earthquake of April 18, 1906 M1.5 or Greater

A train was thrown down by the San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906. In us, Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state and one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Alaska experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year, and a magnitude 8 or greater earthquake on an average of every 14 years. The largest recorded earthquake in the United States was a magnitude 9. 2 quake that struck Prince William Sound, Alaska on Good Friday, March 28, 1964, UTC.

The largest earthquake in California, United States:

A 6. 4 magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California in the autumn of 2020 and officials said it was the largest to hit the region in 20 years. The quake struck near the city of Ridgecrest, which is located about 160 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Some injuries were reported in Ridgecrest, authorities said, but the extent is currently unclear. A city in the hospital was evacuated and officials are assessing structural damage to the building. The United States geological survey said the quake struck at 10:33 a. M. Pt. The earthquake was initially given a magnitude of 6.

A swarm of small earthquakes hit southern California’s imperial valley on Wednesday afternoon, according to the united states geological survey (usgs). Dozens of small earthquakes ranging from 2. 5 to 4. 9 magnitudes happened around 4 p. M. Wednesday near the city of Westmorland, southeast of the Salton sea. Westmorland is in imperial valley, near the California-Mexico border. At least 45 quakes occurred in the area within 2 1/2 hours, seismologists say. Wednesday’s swarm is one of the largest swarms they have had in the imperial valley and it is historically the most active swarm location in SoCal.

Could Southern California earthquake swarm lead to the ‘big one?’ Here’s what to know

A swarm of hundreds of small earthquakes struck in and around the town of Westmoreland in Imperial County over the past couple days. The southern California seismic network recorded nearly 600 earthquakes, the smallest a magnitude 1. 1, as of 6 a. M. Thursday, according to a report from the project by Caltech and the U.S. Geological survey. The biggest of the temblors measured a magnitude 4. 9 and struck about 5:30 p. M. Wednesday near the town of Westmorland, the usgs said. The other, smaller quakes included at least seven that measured magnitude 4.

Of course, all of this research doesn’t prove the big one is imminent. But when it does occur, it promises to be an epic disaster. Experts define the big one as a quake of at least a 7. 8 magnitude along the southern part of the San Andreas fault. That quake would be 44 times stronger than southern California’s Northridge earthquake of 1994, which caused 72 deaths, about 9,000 injuries and an estimated $25 billion in damage. In 2008, a group of scientists, engineers and others predicted the big one would lead to more than 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200 billion in damage and other losses.

4.6-magnitude earthquake rattles Los Angeles area, USGS reports

On 19 Sep 2020 an M 5. 8 earthquake shook Central California, it was felt across the state. There were many other shocks in quick succession and over the following days. A 5. 5-magnitude earthquake hit near Ridgecrest: USGS. 6. 5 magnitude earthquake strikes Nevada, felt in parts of the valley. 4. 5 magnitude quake rattles eastern San Diego county. Quake hits near Puerto Rico, some reports of damage. 3. 9 magnitude earthquake shakes near bishop, usgs says. 3. 7-magnitude quake hits the Los Angeles area. 5. 3 magnitude earthquake strikes near mammoth lakes. 3. 4 magnitude earthquake shakes near Coalinga, the USGS says. 4. 1 magnitude earthquake strikes Sonoma county.

The police department also reported no problems. “good morning Los Angeles. Yes, we felt it too,” Los Angeles police tweeted, noting that 911 and other systems were not impacted. The quake was mostly felt in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, according to thousands of contributions to the usgs citizen reporting system. A few reports came from more distant locations. The shake alert earthquake early warning system at one point estimated a magnitude greater than 4. 5, the threshold for alerts, and between 3. 6 seconds and 12. 8 seconds after detection it sent messages to areas where shaking was predicted to reach at least a certain intensity level.

It’s no wonder that today when people hear that there has been an earthquake in California, as soon as the can get online they search for terms such as, “earthquake today California near me now”, and even “earthquake 5 minutes ago in California” seeking out the breaking news on the earthquake. The of course, once there has been an earthquake there is a heightened probability of aftershocks, so they search anxiously for earthquake California warnings, having established there was an earthquake today, and finally “what time was the earthquake in California today”. It is hoped that the current activity will diminish over the next few days and return to normal much lower levels.

The post Earthquake Today California Near Me – The Very Real Possibility of Damage appeared first on GQ Central.

WE LOVE A NATURAL LOOKING SPRAY TAN.

Having a great looking tan helps lift your mood. We know it is not the same as going on a holiday, but having beautiful tanned skin does help you to feel more confident and positive and this is why we love spray tanning so much.

When you are on the Gold Coast, having a great tan and even skin tone will put a spring in your step as you head off to the beach or out with friends. The warm weather means we have exposed arms and legs with our summer style fashion.

You will look and feel confident and glowing in a dress, shorts, swimwear or your workout gear.
With our mobile spray tanning service you can have a tan applied in the privacy of your own home, workplace or if you are in the area visiting – In your hotel room.

MOBILE SPRAY TANNING IS SO EASY

Our team members carry portable tanning tents that take minutes to set up.
When the tan is initially applied you will have instant colour from the bronzer element in the tan solution and after 5 to 10 minutes your skin is touch dry.
Tans develop within 2 hours and then you can shower off. Do not panic when you see colour running down the drain, it is the bronzer.
The spray tan will continue to develop on your skin and the final depth will happen over several hours
A spray tan in gives your skin a healthy glow. If you are looking for a safe and effective alternative to laying out in the sun, a spray tan is an excellent option.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY SPRAY TAN?

Because we are coming to you – You do not have to worry about what to wear when coming and leaving a typical salon.

When you have a tan done – you can wear what you feel most comfortable in.
We supply paper g strings that you can wear or you may have a old pair of briefs or bikini bottoms that you would prefer to wear. If you do not want tan lines – wear as little as possible.
After the tan keep your feet bare – do not put on shoes
Wear a large t shirt dress or kaftan in dark colours
You should also wear loose shoes or flip flops.
If you need a manicure or pedicure, do it before your spray tanning session.

But what should you know to prepare for your spray tanning appointment? are there any tricks to getting an awesome tan? what should you expect on the day of your appointment?.

HOW LONG DOES A SPRAY TAN LAST?

Below you can read our tips on how you can maximise your spray tan for a longer lasting glow.
The two most important parts of a spray tan is having the right pre tan skin preparation and post tan skin care
And even tan requires even skin texture. Ensure to exfoliate your skin in the days beforehand and avoid using oily products.

After being tanned moisturise daily to slow down the skin shedding process resulting in a longer lasting tan.
Between initial spray application and showering avoid any activity that may result in perspiration as this may affect the end result of your tan.

How long will the spray tan last? – depending on your skin type, pre tan preparation and after tan care a tan will last 5-7 days on fair skin and 10 days on olive skin.

WHEN CAN I SHOWER AFTER MY SPRAY TAN?

You can extend your tan by following the tips above.
When you first shower after your tan you will notice the initial bronzer washing off, this is not your tan.

Shower 2hrs after your spray tanning appointment.
If you can not get to a shower within 2hrs you must shower within 4hrs of your spray tan appointment to avoid going too dark.

WILL MY SPRAY TAN TURN ME ORANGE?

Thankfully modern spray tanning solutions are no longer orange based.
Tans are different pigment based and these help to stop the orange hues
Most commonly we use tans that are green based. Green neutalises red tones
We do use several spray tanning solutions and we can asses your skin tone to see which formula is best going to suit you

WILL MY TAN FADE EVENLY?

Yes it will when you follow the simple steps of post tan care.
Moisturising the skin daily will help make the tan last longer, as well as help it to fade evenly.
Do not use lotions or creams on your skin which contain alpha hydroxyl acids (aha’s) or glycolic acid as they tend to exfoliate the skin.

To help the tan fade evenly, exfoliate every 3 days with a tan-specific product.
We can recommend different body scrubs, ask our technicians at the time of tanning

IS SPRAY TANNING SAFE?

Yes!
Spray tan solutions use a lot of natural ingredients.
If you have an inflamed skin condition or open wounds then spray tanning should be avoided.
If you are pregnant – ​Product testing indicates that the DHA does not penetrate the skin, nor enter the bloodstream.​ However, as a precaution, we suggest you seek advice from a doctor, prior to being sprayed in the first trimester.
When we are tanning you we do like to have a source of natural airflow.
We cannot apply a tan where there is a breeze or a fan in close proximity
Yes we can apply spray tan to your face. You will have a chance to close your eyes and not to breathe for a few seconds while we quickly mist the solution over your facial area.

Before Your Spray Tan

Spray Tan Skin Prep is the key to a perfect tan!
If you shave or wax, do it at least 24 hours before your spray tan.
Exfoliate the day before and very lightly on the day.
On the day; try to avoid wearing any moisturisers, perfumes, makeup or deodorants as these can affect the tanning solution and reduce its effectiveness.
If you have had to apply body care products – Shower before your tan to remove them.
Deodorant affects how the tan adheres to your skin and you will have patchy armpits if it is not all removed.
When showering ensure you do not use a moistusing body wash or oil.
We want the skin not to have any layers of product on it.

Be sure to tell us the reason for your tan
If it’s a 10-day holiday you may want to go a deeper shade so it lasts longer, or if it’s for a special occasion or even your wedding you may want to stay lighter so it looks as natural as possible in pictures.
Our recommendation is for all brides to have a pre wedding trial so we can see what depth your tan will be and we can adjust the tan if needed when you are having the tan done for the big day
We will also keep a note of the tan we used and the intensity of the spray.
The tan can be adjusted by adding an extra layer of spray tan or avoid tanning the face.

Tan any time at your convenience

Because we are a mobile service we can accommodate you for later appointments.
Do not stress about having get to the a tanning salon and stress about the tan being affected by rain, humidity or even your seat belt when you are driving home.
Having a tan done at home means you can control the developing of the tan

Contact us to book a tan in now

The post Spray Tanning Tips appeared first on GQ Central.

Orange County Discount Real Estate Brokers

Discount real estate brokers offer significant savings for home buyers and sellers, which come in the form of reduced and rebated real estate commissions. Since there are no standard brokers fee commission will be negotiated between the seller and listing agent. The commission is referred to as a percentage of the final sales price. In many instances, but not always, the agreed-upon commission is split between the listing agent and the selling agent. This is a crucial aspect of getting your home sold and for top dollar. We are an extremely efficiently run discount real estate brokerage that has successfully cut unnecessary overhead while increasing marketing exposure for our clients. Homeowners today have more options to sell their homes themselves with several Discount Real Estate Brokers available for them to choose from. But how do you assess all the Discount Real Estate Brokers out there, which one is the best one?
The best service for you will depend on what you want from your agent and what pricing model is most appealing to you.

Discount Real Estate Brokers Orange County

Orange County Flat Fee MLS Listing
As the foremost top discount real estate broker in Orange County, we have developed various money-saving programs that can save home sellers thousands of dollars in real estate commission fees, and enable home buyers to recoup some of the expenses involved in purchasing a property.
There are discount real estate agents that attract potential home buyers by offering to give them a portion of their commission at closing. The amount of commission that is shared often called a buyer rebate, it can range from a set rate of a few hundred dollars to up to 1% of the home purchase price. These rebates are usually paid out in the form of credits towards closing costs and buyers likely won’t be able to receive cash directly from the transaction. Ultimately, the mortgage lender will have the final say as to how the money may be used. Buying or selling a home is an exciting experience for anyone. There is the thrill of the hunt and the excitement of the deal. The whole process is enhanced by a Local Realtor
who knows the local market. But with so many brokerages and real estate agents out there to choose from, finding a good fit may be more of a challenge than you expected. Working with a top realtor who is experienced and trustworthy can go a long way in ensuring your property sells at top dollar, or that you buy for the best price in the market. Buying a home is the biggest investment most people will ever make, but not all real estate agents are equal. Before putting your home on the market or setting out to buy a new one, you should identify real estate agents in your community who can assist with the sale. More than two million people nationwide have licenses to sell real estate, and it’s their job to be an expert on the properties in their community. They track real estate trends and are in the business of helping others buy and sell homes. If you’re in the market for a new home, it’s wise to know how to find a real estate agent. Whether you’re a first-time seller or someone who is looking to buy your first home, there are several ways to find a local real estate agent
The proliferation of online real estate information makes it easier than ever to be an informed consumer when buying or selling a home. Yet the digital revolution has done little to lessen the importance of choosing the right real estate agent to work with you. A real estate agent is professionally trained to ensure that the sale of your home goes smoothly. Learn all there is to know about the Real Estate market by a Top Orange County Realtor, Hadi Bahadori of Home Smart Evergreen Realty. If you are a buyer and want to explore Orange County homes and specifically Mission Viejo Real Estate, please get in touch as I have been selling here since 2000 and I know first hand what a great community Mission Viejo has to offer as I am a long-term resident of Mission Viejo, California. There are very few Mission Viejo Real Estate agents that have the track record and knowledge of the area. If you are considering selling your home in Mission Viejo, I welcome the opportunity to demonstrate to you our marketing plan and how I will obtain top dollar in the shortest time frame. If you are considering buying or sell your home in the near future, we as a Local realtor can help you to make it happen.

Orange County Discount Real Estate Agents
During these tough times, with gasoline and energy prices at all-time highs, and the cost of living in general rising, home buyers are more conscious of minimizing their costs than ever.
We are the leading Orange County discount real estate rebate agency and we have addressed these problems with some of the most innovative and cost-saving real estate rebate programs ever offered in the industry. To learn more, call or email us today. Bottom Line; if you are a client of Hadi Bahadori / Home Smart Evergreen Realty you will save more money than you ever expected.

Hadi Bahadori

Home Smart Evergreen Realty

https://orangecountybesthomes.com

The post Orange County Discount Real Estate Brokers appeared first on GQ Central.

If you could do one thing to dramatically improve your marketing ROI today, would it be to use landing pages on your website?

If you’re trying to generate leads for your business, and you don’t have at least a few landing pages on your website, you’re missing out on a key opportunity to turn website visitors into something more.

Here, we’ll explore what a landing page is, the myriad of landing page benefits and how you might use a landing page to reach your business goals, and how to make your landing pages as powerful as possible.

What is a landing page?

A landing page is a page on your website where you can offer a resource from your business in exchange for a visitor’s contact information. Marketers can capture this contact information using a lead-capture form, where visitors can enter details like their name, email address, and job title.

A good landing page is focused on a particular stream of traffic — say, from an email campaign that’s promoting an ebook. Because the landing page is targeting just people who are (presumably) interested in this ebook, and because this ebook has exclusive information that elaborates on a topic your audience cares about, you can convert a higher percentage of your website visitors into leads whom you can then follow up with.

How to Create a Landing Page

To create a landing page, you’ll want to start by exploring various landing page builders — unless, of course, you’re using a content management system that already provides landing page templates, like HubSpot.

Once you’ve determined the right tool for you, explore pre-built templates or consider whether it’s better to build your own. You might also use this as an opportunity to A/B test two different designs to explore which design elements result in the highest conversions.

Additionally, it’s critical any landing page you design effectively communicates the value you’re providing visitors in exchange for contact information. And, of course, you’ll want to include a form you’re asking visitors to fill out in exchange for whatever offer you’ve provided on your landing page. 

To learn more about how to create a landing page in detail, take a look at How to Create a Landing Page: The Simple Step-by-Step Guide.

Landing pages have one chief purpose: to generate leads for your business. However, you can define those leads in a number of ways and offer more than one type of content or experience through this landing page.

Here are some of the ways you can use a landing page to start a relationship with your future customers:

1. Ebooks and Whitepapers

If you wrote a blog post that introduces a topic relevant to your audience, you can satisfy deeper interests in that topic by elaborating on the subject in an ebook or whitepaper. Using a landing page, you can “gate” this resource behind a lead-capture form for people to download.

2. Email Newsletter Subscription

Let’s say you write a lot of blog content on a similar topic. Sure, you can develop an ebook or whitepaper that elaborates on specific details, but you can also offer your readers an email newsletter they can subscribe to for the latest content around your industry. On various blog posts, use a call-to-action (CTA) to invite readers to subscribe to your blog. This CTA can link to a separate landing page where they enter their contact information for addition to your email list.

3. Online Course Enrollment

Whether you’re in the education industry or you offer various skill-based certifications to your audience, online courses should have their own landing pages, too. Using these pages, you can invite new students to sign up for a class you offer and capture information on them that can lead to a customer relationship that goes beyond the courses they take with you.

4. Event Registration

Similar to online courses, industry events require you to collect information on your audience so they can receive updates prior to the event. An event, as well as its various sessions and keynotes, can have their own individual landing pages to turn event goers into event attendees and business leads.

5. Free Trial of a Product

Offering people a free demo of your product? Your demo offering could use its own landing page. Bring users to a page where they can sign up for a free trial of your software using their name, email address, job title, and any other information you deem necessary to give them the best customer experience.

6. Community Membership

If your business thrives on conversation among your audience — perhaps you have a website dedicated to dialogue between users — there’s no harm in making it invitation-only. In fact, it’s a great way to generate leads through the people who want to become members of your community. Create a landing page that lets website visitors sign up to become a bigger part of your business.

7. App Download

Developing a mobile app for your product doesn’t just improve your customer experience — it also gives you another avenue to capture leads from your audience. A lead-optimized landing page that invites users to download an app is quite common in the app-maker community.

Landing Page Benefits

1. Landing pages can lead to increased conversions. 

Having a targeted page that directly ties into a certain offer or next step is critical for providing value upfront, and can encourage new site visitors to provide their information in exchange for an immediate, tangible reward. 

For instance, let’s say you’ve landed on a business’ website and you’re immediately greeted with a pop-up form asking for your name and email. A bit jarring before you even know what the company is about, isn’t it? 

Alternatively, imagine you’ve found a business’ free e-book on social media, which outlines ten immediate solutions to your problem. I’m willing to bet you’re more likely to provide your email and name for that valuable content, right?

Ultimately, a landing page can help increase conversions while providing a better user experience. Plus, a landing page can help you determine which types of content to serve certain visitors for faster, more effective lead generation. 

Too many companies send their advertising, email, or social media traffic to their homepage. This is a huge missed opportunity. When you know a stream of targeted traffic will be coming to your website, you can increase the likelihood of converting that traffic into leads by using a targeted landing page.

For instance, those users who convert on your social media e-book landing page are clearly interested in social media. To further nurture those leads, you might follow-up with a personalized email, detailing additional content you can provide related to social media. 

2. Landing pages can provide additional insights into your target audience. 

By creating various landing pages with segmented offers, you can track which topics convert at the highest rate. This can give you valuable insights into your audience’s interests. 

You might use the data you collect from your landing pages to create a more targeted, personalized marketing strategy. Plus, landing pages don’t just tell you which content your audience likes best — they also tell you which channels your leads prefer. This can enable your marketing team to refine your strategy further, promoting content and engaging with your audience on the channel(s) they’re already using. 

For example, let’s say you notice your landing pages related to e-commerce perform exceptionally well, and most of those users find your landing page from your paid ads on Facebook and LinkedIn. This information can help you target future campaigns primarily towards your social audience, and consider how you might incorporate additional e-commerce content into your marketing strategy as a whole. 

3. Landing pages can grow your email subscriber list. 

In exchange for the content offered on your landing page, you’ll typically ask users to provide their email and name. This can help you quickly grow your email subscriber list, and segment that list to provide more personalized follow-up emails. 

People who’ve filled out a form in exchange for content, or information on your product or service, have shown an interest in what you have to offer — which ensures your subscriber list is filled with potentially high-quality leads. 

Consider how you might further nurture them by sending a kick-back “Thank you” email after they download your landing page offer, with additional resources related to the content in which they’ve shown interest.

4. Landing pages are testable. 

A landing page is oftentimes a fantastic opportunity to get creative and test out various designs to determine which visuals and text perform best with your target audience. Additionally, it’s often lower risk to test out a new landing page, rather than making major design changes to your entire blog or website infrastructure. 

For instance, AJ Beltis, HubSpot’s Content & Acquisition Manager, told me, “If you’re using a content management system with a built-in A/B testing tool (like HubSpot), you can easily set up and run a test to see which copy, design featured, imagery, and page elements yield a stronger conversion rate. This means you can quickly uncover new ways to drive more leads and contacts for your business.”

5. Landing pages allow you to measure metrics directly tied to business goals. 

If you’ve created a specific landing page to market your new product or service, you can then use that landing page to measure metrics directly tied to your business goals. 

For instance, let’s say your marketing team is tasked with increasing sales for your new email tool. To accomplish this, your team creates a campaign with a landing page offering a free demo of your tool. 

You might measure conversion metrics on that landing page to determine how well your campaign is performing, or whether you need to make tweaks to communicate the true value of your new product. Additionally, you can measure which sites drive the highest conversions to your landing page, and put more resources into marketing your email tool on those sites — or social media apps — in particular. 

6. Landing pages add context to your offer. 

AJ Beltis told me one of the biggest benefits of a landing page is the opportunity to add context to your marketing offer. “Marketers feel motivated to bypass the landing page process and skip right to the conversion by encouraging form fills in other methods, such as through a chatbot,” Beltis told me. 

Beltis adds, “However, this process eliminates the opportunity to add more context to what it is you’re offering. Imagery and essential information that can only be shared with a landing page provide content to those who need it before deciding to convert.”

7. Landing pages increase brand value and help make a good first impression. 

Ultimately, a sleek, well-designed landing page can impress new visitors and turn them into leads by demonstrating the valuable content your company can deliver. A landing page is space you can use to tell your visitors what you’re offering, and how it can positively impact them. Even if a viewer doesn’t immediately convert, a well-designed landing page can increase brand recognition and help nurture leads for future sales. 

For instance, take a look at this impressive landing page created by Talisker, a whisky brand. Using Ceros’ landing page product to design an immersive experience, Talisker is demonstrating brand value and, ideally, making a fantastic first impression on new visitors. 

This is proof a landing page doesn’t have to be boring — in fact, it shouldn’t be. Take the time to create an engaging, interactive, interesting landing page that convinces visitors in the value of your brand. 

What makes a landing page most effective?

Ready to create your first landing page, or improve on a landing page you already have? Here are some of the most important elements to make sure your landing page is working hard for you:

1. Limit Navigation

You’ve brought your targeted traffic to a page where they can take your desired action. Don’t distract them! Limit the number of exits from your landing page so that your visitors are focused on filling out your form. A key part of this is to remove the website navigation elements on landing pages. This helps put the focus back on the content you’re offering.

See how the landing page below does this — aside from the HubSpot logo, there are no navigation buttons to confuse or distract visitors.

2. Enable Sharing

Tap into a huge community of your best (and free) marketers: your audience. Add share links to your landing page to encourage your website visitors to share your content with their audiences.

3. Deliver Value

First and foremost, if you have a valuable offer, your visitors will give up their contact information in exchange for your offer. Ask yourself if your offer is compelling to your audience and make sure your landing page demonstrates that value. One way to ensure your landing page adds value is to show your audience the content they’re going to receive — directly on the page. See how this can look in the example landing page below.

4. Keep it Short

The longer your landing page and form, the more friction you add to the lead-generation process. Keeping your lead form short and straightforward will increase your conversion rate.

Here’s a tip: Put as many contact fields as you can on the same line. Shortening the height of your lead-capture form helps you limit the more trivial fields you might be tempted to include, and prevents your landing page visitors from getting spooked by a form that’s asking too much of them. As shown below, sometimes all you need is a first and last name, followed by an email address.

5. Test, Test, Test

As many best practices as you may read about online, your landing page can always use more testing and improvement. Make sure you have a landing page creation tool that allows you to create and test many different landing pages to see what works best for your business. Additionally, if you’re a HubSpot customer, consider some of the landing page tool integrations, such as briX.

Are you a landing page guru? Check out some of our advanced tips and data around landing page best practices on effective calls to action and the best/worst button text (hint: don’t use “Submit”). Do you need to make any of these 10 Quick Fixes to Build Killer Landing Pages?

If you’re working hard to drive traffic to your website, don’t make the mistake of not capturing that traffic as leads.

What to Do on New Year’s Eve 2020 “the year of the coronavirus” is a huge question. We hope you enjoy reading this New Year’s Eve party events article, but it’s potluck this year. How many of them will take place must be in question. For those that do go ahead, most will be restricted in some way. However, with a bit more forethought than usual, it needn’t be a potluck event for you! Plan ahead and you will be able to make your New Year’s Eve everything you hope it will be.

It really is potluck this year in the globally accepted meaning of the term as a situation in which one must take a chance that whatever is available will prove to be good or at least acceptable! So, do take care to check before attending any of those we mention.

Before we leave the subject of potluck and what to do on New Year’s Eve, all you North Americans are no doubt reading this and thinking of potluck rather differently, as a meal or party to which each of the guests contributes a dish. That in fact is our first New Year’s Eve event idea. If you are planning to host a new year’s eve party this year, you might want to consider making the party a pot luck event. Most people consider potlucks for picnics and parties for other occasions.

A potluck is rarely considered when throwing a new years eve party. We think that is a shame. A potluck is a good idea for a fun new years eve party. Some hosts may be hesitant to ask their guests to contribute a dish for the party but there are a few ways to make the potluck a great deal of fun. While a potluck new years eve party greatly reduces the responsibility of the host in terms of food preparation, it is important for the host to remember he or she will still be responsible for coordinating the meal. This is important because dinner will not likely be served immediately when guests arrive. Beverages should also be carefully considered when planning a potluck eve party. Finally, when planning a dinner potluck it is important to ensure guests are aware of any dietary restrictions which should be considered when booking and making the food for the party. Now there’s a great idea on what to do on New Year’s Eve!

Fantastic New Year’s Eve City Parties

The great cities for celebrating New Year’s Eve all around the world:

• New York City, USA.
• Hong Kong, China.
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Paris, France.
• Sydney, Australia.
• London, United Kingdom.
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• New Orleans, USA. via urban-hub.com

Get your Free New Year’s Cards for Social Media Use and Emails here! CLICK ON THE IMAGE!

For fantastic new year revelry, check out popular bars and nightclubs in these cities that throw some of the best parties on New Year’s Eve. It’s a fact that many of these will either not occur this year due to the COVID-19 crisis so maybe they are not such a good idea for what to do on New Year’s Eve this year. But normally it’s a time to get out, party, and meet new people. Cities offer some of the best opportunities to have a good time on New Year’s Eve. In some, the festivities go on for days or even weeks. But which cities offer the best New Year’s bashes in the world? The cities we have listed were chosen not just for their great end-of-the-year offers, but also for their overall value as tourist destinations. After all, if you’re going to travel to a city for New Year’s, it’s a good idea to plan some extra time for sight-seeing.

Paris is a great place to finish the year in style and, according to many travel blogs, it is also one of the most popular places in the world to spend  “le Reveillon” (New Year’s Eve in French).

What to do on New Year’s Eve – New Year’s Eve Party Events in Cairo

This proved very popular in recent years so we would hope to see the same again for an idea of what to do on New Year’s Eve 2020/1. Most cities in the northern hemisphere are holding back on promoting their New Year’s city celebrations this year due to coronavirus health worries – so not such a good what to do on New Year’s Eve this year. Cairo, in Africa, does, however, appear to be promoting events for New Years Eve 2021. At first, this may come as a surprise, as you may remember a popular uprising took place followed by several years of troubles in the country. Until recently that very much reduced the priority on festive celebrations, but the country of Egypt is now well on the way to recovering. Once more, it is again becoming a place well worth considering as a New Year destination in a fantastic part of the world. For the celebrations to welcome the new year, starting in 2018, the authorities in Cairo made an extra effort in an attempt to boost the attractiveness of the city as a New Year’s eve tourist destination. The main attraction was with a spectacular fireworks display and light show over the pyramids. Another great celebrating option is to get aboard Cairo NYE cruising ships. Many cruises will offer holiday celebrations including NYE countdown dinner and champagne on a romantic voyage down the Nile river. There is a trend to celebrate Christmas and New Year holidays in a foreign city that you have never been to before. If you are for this trend, Cairo city in Egypt is highly suggested for your next coming holidays. Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa. Its metropolitan area is the 16th largest in the world. It is one of the unique new year destinations in the world for new year celebrations. As always, if you end up stuck at home you can always seek out live camera websites. These have popular ways to watch the live streaming of Cairo New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Unusual New Year’s Eve Celebrations in the US

Still wondering what to do on New Year’s Eve this year? There are numerous celebrations and traditions in addition to fireworks that you may not be familiar with. Some are really unusual. New York drops an 11,875 pound ball covered in 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles. Other cities have found inventive (and no doubt less expensive) alternatives. In New Orleans, a fleur-de-lis is dropped in Jackson Square, while a spectacular fireworks show erupts over the Mississippi River. In Mobile, Alabama, a 600-pound electronic Moon Pie is the drop item of choice. Yes, a Moon Pie. In Hagerstown, Maryland, the city celebrates by dropping a doughnut replica at 7 p.m. Start the evening with free doughnuts and hot chocolate at Krumpe’s Do-nuts. Fans of pickles will love to book the festivities in Mount Olive, North Carolina. In Atlanta, which holds the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in the southeastern USA, it should come as no surprise that the object dropped is a peach. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, where they produce over a million pounds of mushrooms each week, a 500-pound stainless steel mushroom is dropped 85 feet to the ground in Kennett Square, to mark the New Year. Floating flowers are part of Brazil’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Key West will drop a conch shell and a drag queen, Miami will drop an orange, and Sarasota will drop a pineapple. Tallapoosa will drop a stuffed possum. The Brasstown live possum drop is not happening this year, having been blocked by a PETA lawsuit. On the upper reaches of the Mississippi River, in the small town of Prairie du Chien, Wisc. Prairie of the Dog”), an almost week-long Carp Fest that includes a town football game and an ice fishing day, culminates with the “droppin’ of the carp” on New Year’s Eve.

Best Places to Spend New Years in the US

In the U.S. New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular times of the year to go out and celebrate. New York City is the most famous place to spend New Year’s Eve in the United States, thanks to the legendary party thrown every year in Times Square. Millions join in by television to watch the countdown in Times Square culminated by the New Year’s Eve ball drop. Dripping with as much southern charm as Spanish moss, pedestrian-friendly Savannah is the perfect home base for NYE festivities. Spend the day exploring the 22 different squares, antebellum mansions and cobblestone streets in the historic district, including Forrest Gump’s infamous bus stop in Chippewa Square. Anchorage, Alaska is a great place for families to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2020 and ski. Festivities kick off just after sunset, with a dance party at 5 pm and a kid-friendly fireworks spectacular that lights up the night sky just past 8 pm. However, what’s really attractive about this NYE destination city is the Torchlight Parade. Volunteer skiers and snowboarders whiz past in a wintery procession full of light and magic. So, normally New York is a top place on our list of what to do on New Year’s Eve.

Chicago is a great place to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2020. Many hotels in the Windy City offer package deals that entice travellers from all over the world to visit. Enjoy dazzling fireworks along the shores of Lake Michigan or put on your dancing shoes and spend the evening listening to live DJ sets and superb jazz performances. First Night Boston is the coolest New Year’s Eve event in the U.S. The place offers endless ways to ring in 2020 like family-friendly activities, live musical performances along with magnificent ice sculptures. The first night offers bedtime-friendly firework for children in the evening and a pyrotechnic show at midnight. Still, asking “what to do on New Year’s Eve”? Be a part of more than a million people gathering for the city’s signature New Year’s Eve celebration, a lifetime experience. San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the United States for the celebration of new years eve celebration. The city of San Francisco organizes a good number of New Year’s Eve parties/events as well as the grand fireworks to welcome the new year. However, you just need to plan your new years eve trip early to get the best experience.

New Years Eve Masquerade Ball At Morton’s Members Club

Morton’s new years eve masquerades ball, London, is an evening to remember with fine food, good company and holiday cheer. Enjoy Morton’s full standard menu of mouthwatering appetizers, award-winning wines, decadent desserts and our wide variety of USDA prime-aged steak and fresh seafood options. Morton’s private member’s club is located in the exclusive and prestigious Berkeley Square in Mayfair and will be the host of one of London’s most exclusive New Years Eve parties to see in the year 2020 – Morton’s New Years Eve Masquerade Ball. This event normally takes place on the ground floor of Morton’s, which will is transformed into a glamorous Masquerade Ballroom, and there is live entertainment. The music is provided by one of London’s top DJs with a mixture of commercial R&B, Hip hop and house, but it is very unlikely to take place this year in the normal way due to the coronavirus. Travel and group sizes may be restricted depending upon Covid Alert Level.

Be the First Powerball Millionaire of the Year

The first Powerball Millionaire of the year will be announced live on television just after midnight on new year’s day 2021. So, an idea of what to do on New Year’s Eve is to buy a Powerball ticket. This will be a special competition which culminates with one lucky player winning $1 million just after midnight on New Year’s Day. The first such promotion took place on New Year’s Eve in 2020 and saw a winner from Maine become Powerball’s first millionaire of the year. The 2021 First Powerball Millionaire promotion has now launched and will see players from 26 states vying for the chance to win $1 million during this year’s edition of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in New York. The winner will be chosen by a random draw live on TV during the Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve broadcast in New York City. “Even though many aspects of our lives have changed, the ball will still drop and a new year will begin. This year’s experience might be different, but the shot at winning a million dollars remains,” said Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Sarah M. Taylor 39 s. Since 1992, POWERBALL® has inspired the country with a chance to become a millionaire, while raising nearly $22 billion for good causes supported by lotteries. To qualify for the drawings, you must purchase a Powerball ticket valued at $10 for that draw.

Disneyland New Year’s Events for 202o/1

We base our calendar below on events at the resort, past crowd trends, and school holidays to help us determine when to expect crowds. Most guests really want to know crowd levels before they decide when to visit Disneyland. With the pandemic still very much impacting Disney Parks around the world, many are wondering whether a New Year’s celebration is still on the books for Disney this year. Here’s what we know so far and what we think Guests can expect from Disney Parks when it comes to New Year’s Eve. The Disney Parks are known for their spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations. Year after year, crowds flock to Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in celebration of the New Year. Typically, the holiday decorations are still up, Christmas music still plays throughout the theme parks, and the air is chilly enough to make guests feel like it’s truly the Most Wonderful Time of Year. Keep in mind that Disney has not yet made an announcement about whether or not a New Year’s celebration will occur at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort this year. So, it does look as if this option is a doubtful choice this year when considering what to do on New Year’s Eve.

The Fantasia Ballroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort becomes the setting for a sensational evening where you can wander through tempting tasting stations and indulge in an assortment of libations for party-goers of all ages before partying it up on the dance floor. Wondering what to do on New Year’s Eve? You could delight in a stunning display of culinary sorcery and personal interactions with the Disney Chefs as they build sensational bites right before your eyes inspired by Disney signature restaurants from across Walt Disney World Resort. With a live band providing the backdrop, you’ll be able to dance and dine all the way to the New Year. This special celebration features a savoury menu inspired by Spanish cuisine. Entertainment includes an electric flamenco guitarist who will delight you during your meal with exciting melodies alongside a DJ in Dalhia Lounge who will lead the New Year countdown! And from the windows of the restaurant and the Dalhia Lounge balcony, you’ll take in spectacular views of Walt Disney World Resort with glimpses of incredible Disney fireworks displays in the distance. Before deciding what to do on New Year’s Eve in this example you really must find out whether the event will be held this year.

Top US Things to Do on New Year’s Eve

Most people associate New Orleans with Mardi Gras, but the city can also provide a first-rate New Year’s Eve experience. The last night of the year turns the entire city into a party, with people drifting between elegant cocktail bars and grungy nightclubs. Many venues offer free entry, meaning that it’s relatively easy to spend New Year’s here, even if you’re making your plans at the last minute. At midnight, head to Jackson Square to watch the fireworks and the city’s trademark fleur de lis drop, which take place at midnight over the Mississippi River. Las Vegas is a party no matter what the time of year, but the city is particularly exciting on New Year’s Eve when the Strip is closed to traffic and given over entirely to the people determined to party. Shows and parties can be found in all the city’s casinos, bars, and showrooms, but even the streets are filled with people decked out in party hats and their finest clothes. As if that’s not enough, the midnight fireworks show is choreographed by the city’s casinos and is big enough to rival the show put on in Times Square.

What to do on New Year’s Eve? – how about going to Florida? The beautiful Florida Keys are known for their tropical beaches and vibrant nightlife, and they’re the perfect place to spend your New Year’s Eve if you want to escape the cold. Visitors can end the year with a sunset sail, a rowdy beach party, or a tasty seafood dinner, but anyone looking for the biggest party in the Keys should head to Key West. Many of the other islands offer great celebrations as well; midnight fireworks are held on Islamorada and Key Largo, and a popular beach barbecue with live performers takes place on Morada Bay Beach. Nestled in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Aspen is a great place to spend New Year’s whether you’re interested in spending the day skiing with your loved ones, attending an exclusive concert, or enjoying an elegant champagne toast at midnight. Two sets of New Year’s Eve fireworks are held over Aspen Mountain: One show takes place at 8 p.m. Most accommodation and event tickets typically sell out well in advance, so it’s best to plan your trip as soon as possible. We hope you will like these best happy new year things to be doing on a New Year eve.

Where to Watch New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Every year, San Francisco Bay lights up with a dazzling midnight fireworks display that can be seen from most spots along the city’s Embarcadero. Arrive early to choose a premium spot (insider tip: along the waterfront side of the Ferry Building) and bring along a picnic. Beat the what to do on New Year’s Eve holiday blahs by ringing in the new year in Hawaii. Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach is the site of an impressive fireworks display at midnight over the Pacific Ocean. Some 100,000 watchers enjoy around 10 minutes of fireworks with musical accompaniment on a local radio station. Washington, D.C., doesn’t host a major fireworks display for New Year’s, but nearby Alexandria fills the gap with its family-friendly First Night celebration. Festivities include midnight fireworks over the Potomac River as well as music, magic shows, face painting, and a city-wide Fun Hunt. Kids 12 and under get in free. Adult tickets are $30 in advance; $35 on New Year’s Eve. The fireworks are free for everyone, so this is our best idea of what to do on New Year’s Eve “for free”.

Fireworks are twice as nice in Philadelphia, which lights up the Delaware River with two free shows. The first, at 6 p.m., is ideal for families and others who prefer to turn in early. The second blasts off at midnight for New Year’s traditionalists. Queen Victoria Park, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, hosts a massive New Year’s party every year. The bash includes a fireworks display at midnight and a free concert featuring four bands. Other Can’t-miss events include a Floral Showhouse, open during the day, and the Winter Festival of Lights, which illuminates a 5-mile route through the park and beyond. Dallas used to host one of the region’s largest New Year’s Eve celebrations, Big D NYE. Unfortunately, the event went on hiatus three years ago and shows little sign of returning. Denver’s 16th Street Mall is the place to be for two free New Year’s Eve fireworks shows – making another “What to do on New Year’s Eve” idea at no cost! Cover up in a bundle of clothes! especially if you will be standing still in a piazza, or to watch fireworks.

Fun Things to Do on New Year’s Eve

How to throw a new year’s eve party for the kids – ideas for a new year’s eve party with kids. Tons of fun suggestions. Six tools for organizing your homeschool space – need some homeschool room organizing ideas for the new year? find them here along with a daily challenge to refresh your room for new years. Here are five ways to celebrate new year s eve at home and make it a night to remember. Eat a tasty dinner. Fun things to do on new years eve at home this is what people think when they wish to welcome the new year with only near ones the year is coming to an end and everyone around is getting geared up to welcome the new year 2019. 5 fun but cheap activities for your new year s eve party. Shop by category eBay family new years eve new year s eve celebrations new year s eve crafts. Glam home new year s eve party that is parent-kid approved kids new years eve party ideas decorations. Fun things to do for new year s eve with kids with images new year s eve activities kids new years eve family new years eve. Fun things to do for new year s eve with kids fun squared kids Christmas party new years eve new year celebration. Romantic ideas for new year s eve at home eHow com simple holidays new years eve traditions new year. I make all the kids stand by the cake and we take a picture. Dorky, with bad lighting because it’s usually late in the evening, but a fun way for me/us to mark the years.

Many people will still be restricted by local regulations on movement, and on meeting up with friends and family this year,  let alone throwing a New Yera’s Eve Party for all that wish to come. This is due to COVID-19 health risks. We recommend one fun thing that everyone can do is to give all your friends an electronic New Year’s Eve Card via social media or email and these are available at AnnCards. Visit AnnCards to download your free New Year’s Cards and send them out after Christmas with your special New Year’s Greeting!

End the year with the year’s best meal

Forego the stress of cooking a big meal for the whole family and eat out at one of many restaurants in Breckenridge providing holiday dining. Most restaurants are open for Christmas Eve, Christmas and NewYear’s Eve, but may have a separate fee for holiday dinners. It includes a buffet meal, beach ball and balloon drop, bubbly cider toast, games and giveaways, admission to the aquarium and special animal appearances, plus a visit from Sharkey, the venue’s mascot. Cook an amazing meal for your family or loved ones. And, then bring your friends together and make a new years resolution altogether.

Do New Year’s on Bourbon Street in New Orleans

You can find plenty of dancing, DJs, laser shows and drag cabaret on New Years in New Orleans. Head to the 800 block of Bourbon Street to check out the LGBTQ parties. In New Orleans, New Year’s Eve is that happy occasion between Christmas and Twelfth Night. It’s a time to welcome in the new year with family and friends. There’s food, and – always – a band, and plenty of festivities to ring in the new year New Orleans style. Have a Bourbon Street destination waiting for you and your guests after dinner at a prime time so you can be “above the crowd” on World Famous Bourbon Street to ring in the New Year. Bourbon street is high energy fun with plenty to see. Yes, not totally appropriate for the young ones, but still a sight to see. Love walking along, hearing the music and watching the people.

For the biggest party in the city, head to Jackson Square – the Quarter is packed with festive partygoers eager to countdown the time until the New Year arrives with the Fleur De Lis drop. The locals will tell you to go a few blocks off Bourbon Street to get food. The food is just as good but costs a lot less. Experience the Bourbon O’Jazz Bar with live music and a different band each night of the week, plus fresh craft cocktails, it’s the best experience on Bourbon Street. Obviously, go to New Orleans and walk on Bourbon Street, no hire car needed. That’s a must. If you decide to do the walking tour at the French Quarter, you definitely will be on Bourbon St before long. For many New Orleans visitors, Bourbon Street embodies the life of a party town. The street is lit by neon lights, throbbing with music and decorated by beads and balconies. Named for a royal family in France and not the amber-coloured alcohol, Bourbon Street has become a place for revelry of all sorts.

Fun Things to Do on New Year’s Eve with Kids

Traditionally, New Year’s Eve is considered a holiday for grownups. True, midnight is passed most kids’ bedtimes, but there are still plenty of fun ways to usher in the new year with children. Spending your New Years Eve with kids can be a lot of fun. There are a lot of games and activities you can do with kids on New Year’s Eve. And kids will love helping to count down to the New Year! Hold a mock New Year’s Eve for young children, celebrating at 7 or 8 p.m. Play dress up with young children. Bring out the bowties, high heels, feather boas, lipstick, and pearls. Make it even more exciting by adding a photo booth! Host a board game marathon. Throw a Bingo party. Create a signature cocktail and mocktail for the kids. Give it a long and important sounding name and drink it in your fanciest glassware to toast the new year.

Make countdown clocks using paper plates. Make confetti poppers to use at midnight. Put together a year-in-review slideshow using favourite pictures from the year. Cuddle up in pyjamas to watch it together. Some children’s museums or history museums host New Year’s Eve parties for kids. In most cases, they hold countdowns every hour on the hour to give kids. Make hand and footprints with your kids and write down their interests, resolutions, and hopes for the new year. You can even make it a yearly tradition and look back at it fondly every New Year’s Eve until your kids are too cool to spend the holiday with you. Or, make homemade New Year’s Eve hats that the kids can enjoy on the spot. Wherever your family happens to be celebrating the New Year, you can get outdoors and participate in a First Day Hike. This nationwide annual program takes place on New Year’s Day in all 50 states.

New Year’s Eve Resolutions – Setting Goals for the New Year

Setting goals and intentions for the year ahead is an inspiring way to celebrate! set out a vase full of these cute little cards and invite your guests to put some thought into their year to come. One of the things that people remember the most about resolutions is how often they fail. Many times, this is due to a lack of good planning. Why not use New Year’s Eve as a time to set up your goals and how you plan to accomplish them? Get out the calendar and plan your year. Don’t forget major events, birthdays,  important anniversaries, and some date nights. As you plan, set your goals and how you plan to achieve them.

What to Do on New Year’s Eve on TV

To celebrate new years eve many Americans conduct parties and invite friends and family to them. Television is very popular on new years eve with millions of Americans watching the new year’s celebrations in times square in the heart of new york.

The Best New Year’s Eve Events in NYC

If watching the ball drop and getting covered in confetti isn’t your thing, there are many other new year’s eve events worth checking out. Don’t drop the ball on the city’s craziest holiday, check out the best New Year’s Eve events in NYC to ring in 2021. It’s been a long year and now we all have the opportunity to leave the bad behind and start fresh. use New Year’s Eve 2019 as a good excuse to go out with a bang. The biggest party in NYC takes place in Times Square, but in case you prefer to celebrate where it’s less crowded and frigid, our essential guide to the holiday contains the best parties, incredible concerts in NYC this month, New Year’s Eve firework displays and more. Don’t just settle for an intimate evening at home with your two cats and one of the flicks from our mighty best movies of all time list—a night of fantastical revelry in NYC awaits! Make it an unforgettable night as you dance the night away to the tunes of famous DJs, rub shoulders with Manhattan socialites and stars, enjoy the decadent 5-hours Premium Open Bar, and get your Champagne toasts ready and count down the clock to 2020 in style! While these Ball Drop Parties come with a hefty price tag, the experience is something you will never forget. With an open bar, hors-d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet, and dessert you will be well taken care of as the night goes on.

Looking for New Year’s Music?

While you’re loading up the confetti crackers and noisemakers, outfit the night’s playlist with the best New Year’s songs. Making a playlist for a New Year’s Eve party is always a daunting task. Who wants the pressure of ruining a night with such high expectations? A bad playlist could at once end a year on a bade note and start another one on the wrong note. From timeless classics to new hits that were just released this year, you ned to put something for everyone on your party playlist, and here are our suggestions. It wouldn’t be a winter holiday without Bing Crosby crooning over the speakers, and no one can resist dancing to Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next.” Start some New Year’s Eve traditions by kicking off a sing-along after the ball drops. And figure out what “Auld Lang Syne” means once and for all! Put on “Shallow” and you’ll have the whole room belting out the lyrics. Just queue up this list of crowd-pleasing New Year’s Eve songs, press play, and get ready to have the best midnight soirée this year has ever seen. You should be making sure that your guests will be dancing to and toasting some of the biggest songs from the past 10 years. “Despacito” definitely cemented itself for the rest of history as one of the top songs of the 2010s. Also, Charlie Puth describes the ideal party in his song, “Empty Cups”.

Also, good for partying is the track written by Goo Goo Dolls lead singer-songwriter John Rzeznik, Better Days was a Billboard Top 40 hit single in 2005 for the band and is still good for a party; “Cause everyone is forgiven now ‘Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again”. Then also how about the song written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, Feeling Good (or Feelin’ Good) was performed for the first time on Broadway in the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. Nina Simone included Feeling Good on her I Put a Spell on You album in 1965, and many other artists have covered it since then. Also, consider Michael Bublé’s cover of Feeling Good.

Traditions and Customs of Chinese Lunar New Year

No article on New Year celebrations would be complete without a mention of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year — and more commonly known as the Spring Festival (Chūnjié) in China —has become one of the world’s top five most celebrated festivals. It isn’t just celebrated in China. It is also popular in Chinatowns around the world. In fact, Chinese New Year celebrations take place in New York, London, Vancouver, Sydney and other overseas cities. While most Westerners’ interaction with ‘Chinese New Year’ is watching parades in Chinatown, traditions vary from country to country. The holiday more aptly called Lunar New Year, as it marks the start of a new lunar cycle, is one of the most important holidays in Asia. From mouth-watering treats to impressive pyrotechnics, there are many ways in which people commonly celebrate the holiday.

In China, New Year’s firecrackers are made from strings of rolled red paper containing gunpowder that, when set off, leave shreds of scarlet paper in their wake. The belief is that the loud noise of the firecrackers serves to scare Nian, the lion-like monster who legend says rose from the sea for a feast of human flesh on the new year. Restaurants are always fully booked on New Year’s Eve, even though some families will have their Reunion Dinner a few days earlier. It is usually an eight-course dinner. All the dishes will have symbolic meanings to usher in wealth, happiness, health, good fortune, and success in career or business. This, in fact, applies to all feasting throughout the Chinese New Year (CNY). For example, Lettuce with Dried Oyster and Sea Moss & Mushroom with Oyster Sauce represent fortune and wealth while Carp Fish Casserole symbolizes good wishes and abundance.

New Year’s Eve in NYC

The clock strikes midnight on December 31 and stunning New Year’s Eve fireworks light up the sky while you plant a big smooch on your honey. An iconic Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration is not only a New York tradition, it’s a global phenomenon. Looking for the best New Year’s Eve parties? NYC has tons of options, and the night of December 31 doesn’t just revolve around New Year’s Eve concerts or spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks. Well, that’s what always happened before 2020 and the COVID virus! We are not sure just how New York will be celebrating the New Year this time around or whether your favourite musical act will be showing. Just keep checking to find out online what will be happening this year.

The post What to Do on New Year’s Eve – Potluck Ideas and Events for 2020/1 appeared first on GQ Central.

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

Think back to the last time you saw one of those giant, clunky fax machines sitting around. 

It’s probably been a while, right? While that old-school hardware is undoubtedly outdated, faxing isn’t dead by any means. 

It’s actually very much alive. But thankfully, we have better technology. 

The best online fax services make sending secure communications via fax a breeze for individuals and businesses of all sizes with no ugly, expensive, or finicky hardware required. 

However, there are dozens of providers to choose from, which is why making the right choice is often more challenging than actually using the service. So to help make your decision easier, I narrowed it down to my top six recommendations—and reviewed them. 

The top 6 options for online fax services

1. mFax – best online fax services for multiple users
2. RingCentral Fax – best all-in-one online fax service
3. HelloFax – best for cloud-storage integrations
4. SRFax – most secure online faxing service
5. FaxBurner – best mobile online faxing service
6. Biscom 123 – most affordable online faxing service

How to choose the best online fax service for you 

There are dozens of online fax service providers to choose from. This makes it challenging to know which one’s perfect for your business, especially if you’re not quite sure what to look for. 

All of the options on this list are excellent. However, they may not work for everyone.

So, don’t forget to use the following factors as you go through the decision-making process to help you narrow things down and find the perfect fit.  

Number of users

As a business, you probably need multiple user accounts. Different services have different pricing plans, so it’s essential to consider the number of accounts you need. 

Some options may limit the number of users with no way around it. Others may offer extra user accounts with an additional monthly fee. So, this plays a massive role in how much you can expect to pay every month. 

With that said, most smaller businesses won’t have problems with account limitations. 

But large corporations with multiple departments who need faxing capabilities may run into problems with low-limit plans. 

Cloud-storage integrations

Most businesses rely on cloud storage tools. Whether you depend on Microsoft 365 or Google’s G Suite, your employees probably use these tools daily to create and archive documents. 

So, it’s important to consider these integrations if you and your team need to store documents you send or receive via online fax. 

This can help streamline your document management processes. 

Page limits

Most providers charge an extra fee if you go over the number of pages your plan includes. So, you need to consider your business’s needs when it comes to monthly fax volume. 

A lot of providers place low limits on this to encourage you to upgrade to a better plan. 

So it’s critical to choose a plan that offers enough pages per month along with a fair page overage fee (just in case). However, online fax services with unlimited plans are a better option for businesses that expect to send and receive high volumes every month.

Document archiving

If you’re using an online fax service to send and automatically digitize documents, it should come with document archiving as well. This can significantly streamline and automate your document management processes. 

Some online fax services provide online databases so users can easily store faxed documents. However, some don’t, and others don’t provide archiving features at all. Without this, you have to print, scan, and store everything by hand. 

Which… can be an incredibly time-consuming process. 

So, pay close attention to this as you decide, especially if it’s something you need now or may need in the future. 

Industry-specific use

There are lots of different all-purpose online fax services out there. However, sometimes particular providers are more suited to specific industries. 

Healthcare is an excellent example of this because you’re dealing with sensitive information and legal regulations regarding how you handle it. So, you need a service that’s secure and compliant with those requirements. 

However, healthcare isn’t the only industry like this. As such, it’s critical to consider your industry’s requirements and regulations before making your final decision. 

The different types of online fax services 

Not all online fax services are the same. 

So, before we dive into the reviews, let’s talk about the different types of online fax services so you know exactly what to look for as you go through the process. 

Web or cloud-based services

The most common online fax services are cloud or browser-based. All you have to do to get started is create an account, and you’re ready to go. 

Web-based fax services are known for high-quality faxes as well as ease of use. 

And they often offer a wide range of cloud-based integrations with platforms like G Suite and Dropbox, making life easier if you want to archive your communications on the cloud. 

Mobile fax services

Mobile fax services allow users to fax directly from their smartphones. Essentially, mobile faxing is as convenient and as easy as snapping a photo. 

Plus, you don’t have to wait until you’re at your computer or rely on team members sitting in front of a desktop to send and receive communications. 

Some providers may also support desktop or web-based use, while others are exclusively mobile. 

So, keep this in mind as you decide which provider is best for you and your team. 

#1 –  mFax Review – Best online fax services for multiple users

mFax is one of the most flexible and adaptable online fax services for businesses with numerous team members. Their flexible monthly plans allow up to 50 individuals to use the service. 

Operating as cloud software, there’s no need to install or download any programs. And you can easily access the mFax interface from any web browser on any device. 

With an easy-to-use interface and intuitive setup, it’s an excellent option for those looking to get started with their first online fax service.

mFax comes with various features and benefits, including:

• Automatic cloud storage for sent and received faxes
• Works from any device
• Send and receive faxes from email
• Multi-layered encryption for documents in transit and rest
• Plans for small businesses and large enterprises
• Easy to create and manage users and set account-level permissions
• Print to Fax driver allows you to send a fax from a desktop to print

mFax also has a beta version of international outbound fax for 24 countries. So, you’re not limited to one particular country. 

Plans start at $7 per month for one user, making it super affordable for businesses of all sizes. Plus, you can try mFax for free or sign up for a product demo to learn more about it. 

#2 – RingCentral Fax Review – Best all-in-one online fax service

RingCentral Fax is another popular online fax service. With a solid feature list, flexible user numbers, and robust security suite, it’s my #1 all-in-one online fax service recommendation. 

Their unique fax scheduling feature makes it easy to send faxes for future delivery. This is particularly useful if you need to send international faxes to users in other timezones or have employees who don’t work standard operating hours. 

On top of that, you also get access to a ton of powerful features and benefits, including:

• Groups of up to 50 email addresses to send faxes in one message
• Choose from toll-free or local fax numbers
• IOS and Android mobile applications
• Up to 200 faxes in an online account
• Create an electronic signature and add it to documents
• View received and sent faxes online via a web browser
• Securely transmit faxes over an encrypted internet connection
• Send and receive faxes from any device
• Block faxes without a caller ID

RingCentral Fax is a great all-around option for small and large businesses who won’t mind the slightly limited online fax storage (you can always store them elsewhere). 

Plans start at $17.99 a month, and there’s an unlimited plan for just $24.99 a month. 

#3 – HelloFax Review – Best online fax services for cloud-storage integration 

HelloFax is the best online fax service for integrated cloud storage. 

The service seamlessly syncs with G Suite, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box. Users can also access their faxes directly on the HelloFax’s service from any web browser on any device. 

Plus, it’s super easy to use. Faxes arrive directly to inboxes as a PDF where they are easily viewable, downloadable, and shareable. 

There’s also unlimited storage for businesses that prefer not to use other cloud storage providers for their faxes. 

With HelloFax, you can: 

• Send up to five pages for free by signing up
• Quickly fax to previously entered fax numbers 
• Additional faxes that go over the monthly limit are just 5 cents per page
• Send faxes by email
• Add and remove users at no extra cost
• Send faxes to multiple recipients
• Receive faxes with a paid plan 
• Sign in using your Google credentials

Despite having cloud integration with multiple platforms, HelloFax still offers unlimited storage, which is excellent for businesses planning on sending or receiving high-volume communications.

There’s a free plan for up to 5 faxes per month, so you can try it free before you invest. However, most businesses need more than that, and you’ll need to upgrade once you reach that limit. 

But their paid plans are affordable, starting at $9.99 per month.

#4 – SRFax Review – Most secure online fax services

SRFax is a great option for businesses that have high-security concerns. Transferring information over the internet always comes with the risk of interception. 

And for specific industries like healthcare, security is even more paramount. 

Healthcare providers rely on faxing to transfer sensitive patient data. So, the fax services they use must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 

SRFax provides multiple layers of data encryption while maintaining a user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for high-security industries. 

In addition to HIPAA compliant fax services, SRFax has multiple tiers and plans suited to all security levels and sizes of businesses. 

They also offer a variety of features and benefits to make your life easier, including:

• 2048-bit SSL Certification, 2048-bit RSA public keys, and PGP encryption
• 24-hour customer support hotline 
• Plans come with unlimited authorized email addresses
• Automatically download incoming faxes
• Send faxes through an email account 
• Intuitive dashboard for viewing existing faxes, sending faxes, and changing settings
• Send faxes through the online dashboard

For any company that prioritizes high-level security, SRFax is an excellent choice. 

Pricing is affordable, with monthly plans starting at $3.29 per month. Or you can sign up for a non-healthcare specific 60-day trial to test it out before you commit. 

#5 – FaxBurner Review – Best mobile online faxing service

FaxBurner stands out from other online fax services for its well-designed, user-friendly IOS and Android apps. With FaxBurner, sending faxes is as easy as taking a picture, and you can receive them straight into your inbox. 

Set up is quick and easy. Plus, the platform gives users a temporary fax number that expires after 24 hours without upgrading to a paid plan. 

On top of that, you also get various features and benefits, including:

• No unprofessional looking ads or watermarks on free faxes
• Digitally document signatures
• Create cover letters within the app
• Integration with cloud storage apps like DropBox
• Email to fax option 
• Phone scanning capabilities

For users who need the convenience and flexibility of a mobile-first fax application, FaxBurner is my number top recommendation. 

Free packages provide up to 25 inbound faxes and five outbound faxes a month. And their paid plans start at just $12.95 a month, making it incredibly affordable for most users. 

#6 – Biscom 123 Review — Most affordable online faxing services

If your business is just looking to send the occasional fax, Biscom 123 is an incredibly affordable option. As a leading telecommunications enterprise, Biscom makes online faxing simple for both businesses and individuals with a straightforward interface. 

You can also try it free for 30 days to see if it’s a good fit for your business, with no credit card required. However, it doesn’t maintain archival records of your communications. So, keep that in mind. 

Depending on your faxing needs, Biscom 123 offers various plans that allow you to send up to 300 pages with support for multiple team members. 

Plus, you can also:

• Easily add up to four users in addition to the primary account holder
• Send email faxes in just a few clicks
• Fax from Android and IOS mobile applications
• Integrate with Google Drive
• Send multiple file formats and rich text formats for text faxes
• Saves inbound PDF files in your email inbox
• No limitation on file size or number of documents

Pricing starts at $7.99 per month. This entry-level plan includes 30 pages per month with a charge of 7 cents per additional page. So, it certainly won’t break the bank. 

Summary

mFax and RingCentral are my top choices for most users. They’re incredibly affordable and accessible for most businesses. Plus, they come with a ton of features to make your life easier. 

However, that doesn’t mean they’re suitable for everyone in every situation. 

So, don’t forget to consider the factors we talked about and take advantage of free trials as you go through the process of picking the best online fax services for you and your team. 

What company do you use to send online faxes?

The post Best Online Fax Services appeared first on Neil Patel.

How Do You Create a Reels Video on Instagram? That’s what we thought when we first heard that reels had gone live in the US among other countries. In this blog post, we will help you to get started with understanding the new platform and creating great content for Instagram reels.

Instagram Reels is the latest format of Instagram Stories that can be used to create and share 15-second video clips either with your followers or, if you have a public account, with the larger Instagram community via the Explore page. And since video content is all the rage now, top brands are using Instagram Reels for business marketing by sharing short video content to convey their branding and advertising messages on the Explore page as well as with followers, to gain massive traction. As it rolled out to the majority of users in August 2020, this feature is being made available across 50 countries, including the U.S., making it an impeccable platform to interact with audiences and fuel your branding endeavours.

The timing is also fortuitous, given TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S. as the Trump administration weighs either banning the Chinese-owned app entirely or forcing it to sell off its U.S. operations. Reels actually launched in Brazil last year but it wasn’t available elsewhere. The current roll-out includes the UK, USA, Australia, France, Germany, India, and Japan. Now, Instagram users in these countries can use the platform to create short-form videos set to music. Instagram is already updating its new Reels feature to include longer videos and an extended timer for people. The update also included new trim tools. The goal is now to get more people to spend more time on Reels, so this is a perfect time to create your own!

How Will I Know Which Posts on Instagram are Reels?

Instagram Reels is the latest mode within the main Instagram Stories camera menu. To access it, you simply need to open the Instagram stories camera and find the Reels icon. In other words, it’s simple. Open the Instagram app and then tap the explore button in the bottom row — it’s a search icon, second from the left. Now, you have a collection of photos and all, including reels, as selected for you by the app’s AI. On the reels posts, you will see a video icon.

Currently, there are more than one billion active accounts, 500 million-plus people globally use stories, more than 50% Instagram accounts use to explore every month, and 90% of people on Instagram globally follow a business. Plus, in a walkthrough of reels via zoom, Ajit Mohan, vice president and managing director at Facebook India, points out that a third of posts that go up on Instagram are videos.

How will I know where to find my saved reel video drafts? To access your saved drafts, go to your Instagram profile and tap on the Instagram reels icon directly above your grid of posts. You’ll see a placeholder for drafts. Tap on that to access your saved drafts and select the video to edit. Continue editing using the steps mentioned above.

What will Reels videos look like on Instagram?

I couldn’t tell you the difference between these features, and I’m on the app all the time. For many people, Instagram is like an 18-page cheesecake factory menu: too many options, too little value.

Instagram reels are a new way to create and discover short, entertaining videos on Instagram. Reels invites you to create fun videos to share with your friends or anyone on Instagram. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools. You can share reels with your followers on feed, and, if you have a public account, make them available to the wider Instagram community through a new space in Explore.

Swipe to the camera within the Instagram app, and you’ll notice “Reels.” It’s worth talking about some of the creative tools that are available within Reels. There’s audio for selecting a song from the Instagram music library to feature in your reel. Then, there’s effects and speed that add more tweaks to your created videos.

How to Create a Reels Video

To get started, open Instagram on your iPhone or Android device. From there, tap the Camera icon in the top-left corner to open the Instagram Stories camera. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see the different camera modes. Swipe over to “Reels.” In the “Reels” mode, you’ll see four icons on the left side of the screen. Music: Select music to play over your clip. Playback: Choose the playback speed of the clip. You can use slow motion or fast-forward effects. Effects: Instagram’s library of augmented reality masks, backgrounds, games, and more. Timer: Predetermine the length of the clip so you don’t have to use your hands to stop recording. You can now trim the video by dragging the ends of the timeline. Tap “Upload” when you’re done.

To start recording a new video, tap the Camera button. A pink progress bar will appear at the top of the screen to indicate the 15-second clip limit. To record a clip hands-free, tap the aforementioned “Timer” button, select a time length, and then tap “Set Timer.” You can then put your phone in a mount or prop it up and tap the Camera button to begin recording. It will automatically stop at the predetermined time length. If you stop recording before the 15-second limit, you have the option to align new clips with previous ones for a seamless transition. After recording a clip, you’ll see a new Align icon appear on the side; tap it to see an overlay of the previous clip. Then, move your camera to align. Clips shorter than 15 seconds will minimize to the left of the Camera button. You can tap this to delete the clip or trim the length before proceeding. Tap the camera button again to add a new clip to the series. A Reel can include as many clips as you want, but they must add up to 15 seconds or less. Once you’ve recorded all your clips, tap the Next arrow (>) to begin editing. If you used the full 15 seconds on the first recording, you’ll automatically be brought to the editing screen. Source: www.howtogeek.com

When will Reels be fully available in my country?

People often report a lack of music in their Reels, and want to know when it will be fully available for them. One way to know if the music feature is available in your country is to open someone’s Instagram story that has music (not a reel video, but an Instagram story). Press on the song title on top of the person’s Insta Story. If the music feature is not yet available in your country, you won’t be able to access the music feature on your Instagram Reels either.

As one user in India told CNN after TikTok had been banned in the country, “there is no one that can come close to TikTok. There are a million reasons why Instagram Reels feels stale to seasoned TikTok users and regular Instagrammers alike. India was the fourth country, after Brazil, Germany, and France, where this new Instagram video format was tested.

Why has Instagram Rolled out Reels to the US Now?

Reels was designed to directly challenge TikTok’s growing dominance, and will no doubt take over a lot of TikTok’s fans if TikTok gets banned from the US. In a new area in the Instagram app, Reels allows users to create and post short, 15-second videos set to music or other audio, similar to TikTok. Also like TikTok, Reels offers a set of editing tools — like a countdown timer and tools to adjust the video’s speed, for example — that aim to make it easier to record creative content. Instagram, however, doesn’t have the same sort of two-tabbed, scrollable feed, like TikTok offers today.

It allows users to both create and discover short videos on the facebook-owned platform. Reels can be made up of multiple clips either recorded one at a time or uploaded from your phone’s gallery.

What’s the difference between Instagram Reels and TikTok?

Reels’ biggest difference from TikTok is its tie-ins to the overarching Instagram ecosystem, stein says. People can send reels to their friends directly on Instagram and they can use Instagram-specific AR filters and tools and everything that people want to do is part of an existing network. But, it’s a no brainer to note that the difference between TikTok and Instagram Reels lies in the fact that they’re created by two different companies. Both are located in two different geographical regions: Facebook in the U.S. and TikTok began in China. The two platforms have been in the news recently for privacy-related issues which, has been heavily politicized by both nations.

While Facebook has been drawing fire from the public and governments across the world, TikTok has been facing similar issues as well since the app has a policy which allows it to share user information with members of its corporate group. In short, its parent company ByteDance can share user data with the Chinese government, theoretically, that is.

While Facebook continues to extend its tentacles, TikTok has been banned in India and most recently, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order against ByteDance. This means that starting 45 days from issuing, everyone in the U.S. will be banned from doing any business with ByteDance or any of its subsidiaries — including TikTok.

Politically, the move appears positive for Trump among his followers, business-wise, it’s going to be raining dollars for Zuckerberg. Trump essentially helped bleed Facebook’s competitor.

But Instagram can – and will – tinker with the Reels algorithm to be highly similar. And, as time goes on, the differences between Reels and TikTok will get blurred. To the point where the only things that truly differentiate them will be scale and distribution – two things which Instagram wins on, every time, versus every app, not just TikTok.

Why is Instagram Reels such a Big Deal?

50% of all users browse the explore page which inks to Reels, on a monthly basis. That equates to 200 million accounts viewing content on the Explore page every day. With the introduction of Reels, these metrics have the potential to increase even further. The big deal about the Explore page is that it’s basically a free-for-all for social media marketers. You’re not restricted to your followers, and you can market yourself to thousands of viewers every time you upload a new slice of content. The new Reels feed only emphasizes the Explore page’s impact for brands big and small.

What’s the deal with reels? We knew this was coming. It was only a matter of time before Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, copied. Sorry, “innovated”, a feature to compete with their biggest threat in the game right now, TikTok. As a social media manager (SMM), when I saw the announcement of Instagram’s newest feature we al said it was to be expected.

Doing More to Support Creators on Instagram

Now through Instagram reels, all the creators of content on the platform have an open field to come out and play. But does it live up to their expectations and are they enjoying the feature?

In the past, TikTok has functioned more like Instagram’s in terms of creator support. Content creators could upload sponsored videos or earn money during a live stream, but there was no ongoing monetization program. Rather than share in vine’s fate (which shut down in 2017), TikTok has created programs to incentivize creators to remain on its platform.

Although Instagram hasn’t revealed how its algorithm supports its budding feature, the company has mentioned on its @creators account that framing your ideas from beginning to end is a valuable trait to maximizing the reach of Reels content. Think about writing a script for your videos so you know how each clip should flow.

Instagram Marketing for Your Resort

Social media is a great marketing tool. You should use all your different platforms to build a community around your resort. However, each platform works uniquely with respect to the different features they offer. Instagram, for instance, is a great avenue for publishing pictures and videos.

Finally, you can choose to speed up or slow down part of the video or audio you selected. This can help you stay on a beat or make slow-motion videos. Want to jump into the details? check out our ultimate guide to Instagram reels to learn more about all the recording and editing features, along with how you can use reels to better market your brand!

The post Instagram Reels Videos – How Do You Create Them? What Marketers Need to Know appeared first on GQ Central.