7:28 PM
Today we are discussing about the systems of roof gardening. For green building and green environment roof gardening is a good thinking. Basically there are three types of gardening we are discussing here. That's are accept international gardening system.For waterproofing your roof or complete solution or any other chemicals related suggestion you can easily contact with me.Because you are always welcome to my channel and my door/office.
Thanks
Regards
Engr. Bikash Das
Email: bdas1113@gmail.com
Cell: +880 1701 745954
Thanks
Regards
Engr. Bikash Das
Email: bdas1113@gmail.com
Cell: +880 1701 745954
Today we are discussing about concrete cancer. Concrete cancer is also
called as spalling. Its basically occurs or starts from Basement or from
roof slab. Because this places have so much possibility of water
penetrating.
For more information please fell free to contact with me.
Thanks
Regards
Engr. Bikash Das
Email: bdas1113@gmail.com
Contact: +8801701-745954
For more information please fell free to contact with me.
Thanks
Regards
Engr. Bikash Das
Email: bdas1113@gmail.com
Contact: +8801701-745954
Here we are discussing about the Benefits to waterproofing in your
commercial Roof. What is the main reasons for waterproofing of your
building. And how much you can save money and structure lifetime that's
are shown here.
Here total top six benefits are shown.
For more information please fell free to contact with me.
Thanks
Regards
Engr. Bikash Das
Email: bdas1113@gmail.com
Contact: +8801701-745954
For more information please fell free to contact with me.
Thanks
Regards
Engr. Bikash Das
Email: bdas1113@gmail.com
Contact: +8801701-745954
1. Cat-Cow Stretch
This sequence is made up of poses that will improve your core strength and help flatten your abs. While doing yoga is not the best way to get a six-pack, you can expect to significantly tone and strengthen your belly. Strengthening your core can also help relieve back pain and improve your posture (nothing makes your belly look bigger than slouching!). Many of the poses recommended below are balances, which are a great way to work the core.
1. Let's get started by coming onto all fours with your knees underneath your hips and your wrists underneath your shoulders.
2. Do a few Cat-Cow Stretches to warm up, arching your back on your inhalations and rounding your spine on your exhalations. Remember to keep your belly hugging in throughout both motions.
2. Hands and Knees Balance
1. Return to your hands and knees with your spine in a neutral position.
2. Lift your right leg and straighten it, holding it parallel to the floor. Flex your right foot strongly.
3. When you feel stable, raise your left arm, also parallel to the floor.
Stay in Hands and Knees Balance for 5 breaths.
Repeat with the left leg and right arm raised.
Challenge Variation: If you need an extra challenge, bend the right knee and reach around your back with your left arm to hold your right ankle.
3. Down Dog Splits
1. Come back onto all fours. Curl your toes under and draw your hips back as you straighten your legs into Downward Facing Dog. Keep your belly hugging in towards your spine.
2. On an inhale, raise your right leg until it is roughly parallel to the floor, coming to a Down Dog Split. It's OK to lift your leg higher if you can do so while keeping your hips squared towards the floor.
Hold for 5 breaths.
Repeat with the left leg lifted.
Challenge Variation: Slowly take your extended leg in three big clockwise circles. Follow up with three big counter-clockwise circles.
4. Plank Pose
1. Come forward into Plank Pose.
2. Remember that the distance between your hands and your feet should be the same in Plank as in Down Dog. Pay attention to the position of your hips. You don't want your butt to stick up or sag down.
Hold 3-5 breaths.
Challenge Variation: When you come forward from your Down Dog Split, keep your leg raised off the floor. Return to Down Dog Split, switch legs and then do Plank again.
5. Side Plank Pose - Vasisthasana
1. From Plank, shift your weight onto your right arm as you roll onto the outside of your right foot.
2. Keep both of your legs straight as you stack your left foot on top of the right. You can also stagger the feet one behind the other if that's a better fit.
3. Lift your left arm up towards the ceiling and your gaze to the left fingertips, coming into Side Plank.
After 3-5 breaths, roll back to the center and do the other side, resting in Downward Facing Dog between the two sides if you like.
Beginners' Variation: If the balance is too difficult, try these supported variations.
Challenge Variation: Lift your left foot, hovering it above the right.
6. High Lunge
1. Come back to Downward Facing Dog and rest for five breaths.
2. Bring your right foot forward next to your right hand.
3. Bend your right knee and align it over your right ankle so that your right thigh is parallel to the floor.
4. Raise both arms up towards the ceiling, coming into a High Lunge.
Stay for 5 breaths.
(Don't worry, we'll do the other side in a minute.)
Beginners' Variation: Place your hands on your hips.
Challenge Variation: On an inhale, straighten the right leg. Exhale and bend the right knee back over the ankle. Continue for five breath cycles.
7. Half Moon Pose - Ardha Chandrasana
1. From High Lunge, bring the left hand to your waist.
2. Place your right fingertips 12-18 inches in front of your right foot and straighten your right leg as you lift your left leg parallel to the mat, coming into Ardha Chandrasana.
Hold 3-5 breaths.
Beginners' Variation: Take a block under your right hand if necessary.
Challenge Variation: Bend your left knee and reach your left hand around to grab your left ankle. This variation is called Sugarcane Pose.
8. Awkward Chair Pose - Utkatasana
1. From Ardha Chandrasana, drop the left foot down next to your right foot.
2. Bring both arms up and bend your knees, coming into Awkward Chair Pose.
Hold 5 breaths.
9. Eagle Pose - Garudasana
1. From Awkward Chair, shift your weight into your right leg.
2. Lift the left foot off the floor, then wrap the left leg around the right. Hook your left toes on your right calf, if possible.
3. Take your arms out to the sides and wrap the left arm over the right, bringing the palms together.
Balance in Eagle Pose for 3-5 breaths.
4. Unwrap your arms and legs, bring your palms to the floor and hop or step back to Downward Dog.
Rest here five breaths before repeating the previous four poses on the left side.
Challenge Variation: On each exhale, bring your elbows to your knees. On each inhale, return to your starting position.
10. Boat Pose - Navasana
1. Come to sit on your mat.
2. Bring the legs straight up to a 45-degree angle, coming into Boat Pose. The torso will naturally fall back, but do not let the spine collapse.
3. Make a "V" shape with the body.
4. Bring the arms out straight in line with the shoulders.
Beginners' Variation: Bend your knees, bringing your shins parallel to the floor. This is called Half Boat. If this is tough to maintain, you can hold on to the backs of your thighs.
Challenge Variation: Once you have established the pose, release the legs and torso simultaneously down towards the floor and hover there. Come back up into the pose like a sit-up. Do this as many times as you can.
Come to lie on the back for a well-deserved rest!
This sequence is made up of poses that will improve your core strength and help flatten your abs. While doing yoga is not the best way to get a six-pack, you can expect to significantly tone and strengthen your belly. Strengthening your core can also help relieve back pain and improve your posture (nothing makes your belly look bigger than slouching!). Many of the poses recommended below are balances, which are a great way to work the core.
1. Let's get started by coming onto all fours with your knees underneath your hips and your wrists underneath your shoulders.
2. Do a few Cat-Cow Stretches to warm up, arching your back on your inhalations and rounding your spine on your exhalations. Remember to keep your belly hugging in throughout both motions.
2. Hands and Knees Balance
1. Return to your hands and knees with your spine in a neutral position.
2. Lift your right leg and straighten it, holding it parallel to the floor. Flex your right foot strongly.
3. When you feel stable, raise your left arm, also parallel to the floor.
Stay in Hands and Knees Balance for 5 breaths.
Repeat with the left leg and right arm raised.
Challenge Variation: If you need an extra challenge, bend the right knee and reach around your back with your left arm to hold your right ankle.
3. Down Dog Splits
1. Come back onto all fours. Curl your toes under and draw your hips back as you straighten your legs into Downward Facing Dog. Keep your belly hugging in towards your spine.
2. On an inhale, raise your right leg until it is roughly parallel to the floor, coming to a Down Dog Split. It's OK to lift your leg higher if you can do so while keeping your hips squared towards the floor.
Hold for 5 breaths.
Repeat with the left leg lifted.
Challenge Variation: Slowly take your extended leg in three big clockwise circles. Follow up with three big counter-clockwise circles.
4. Plank Pose
1. Come forward into Plank Pose.
2. Remember that the distance between your hands and your feet should be the same in Plank as in Down Dog. Pay attention to the position of your hips. You don't want your butt to stick up or sag down.
Hold 3-5 breaths.
Challenge Variation: When you come forward from your Down Dog Split, keep your leg raised off the floor. Return to Down Dog Split, switch legs and then do Plank again.
5. Side Plank Pose - Vasisthasana
1. From Plank, shift your weight onto your right arm as you roll onto the outside of your right foot.
2. Keep both of your legs straight as you stack your left foot on top of the right. You can also stagger the feet one behind the other if that's a better fit.
3. Lift your left arm up towards the ceiling and your gaze to the left fingertips, coming into Side Plank.
After 3-5 breaths, roll back to the center and do the other side, resting in Downward Facing Dog between the two sides if you like.
Beginners' Variation: If the balance is too difficult, try these supported variations.
Challenge Variation: Lift your left foot, hovering it above the right.
6. High Lunge
1. Come back to Downward Facing Dog and rest for five breaths.
2. Bring your right foot forward next to your right hand.
3. Bend your right knee and align it over your right ankle so that your right thigh is parallel to the floor.
4. Raise both arms up towards the ceiling, coming into a High Lunge.
Stay for 5 breaths.
(Don't worry, we'll do the other side in a minute.)
Beginners' Variation: Place your hands on your hips.
Challenge Variation: On an inhale, straighten the right leg. Exhale and bend the right knee back over the ankle. Continue for five breath cycles.
7. Half Moon Pose - Ardha Chandrasana
1. From High Lunge, bring the left hand to your waist.
2. Place your right fingertips 12-18 inches in front of your right foot and straighten your right leg as you lift your left leg parallel to the mat, coming into Ardha Chandrasana.
Hold 3-5 breaths.
Beginners' Variation: Take a block under your right hand if necessary.
Challenge Variation: Bend your left knee and reach your left hand around to grab your left ankle. This variation is called Sugarcane Pose.
8. Awkward Chair Pose - Utkatasana
1. From Ardha Chandrasana, drop the left foot down next to your right foot.
2. Bring both arms up and bend your knees, coming into Awkward Chair Pose.
Hold 5 breaths.
9. Eagle Pose - Garudasana
1. From Awkward Chair, shift your weight into your right leg.
2. Lift the left foot off the floor, then wrap the left leg around the right. Hook your left toes on your right calf, if possible.
3. Take your arms out to the sides and wrap the left arm over the right, bringing the palms together.
Balance in Eagle Pose for 3-5 breaths.
4. Unwrap your arms and legs, bring your palms to the floor and hop or step back to Downward Dog.
Rest here five breaths before repeating the previous four poses on the left side.
Challenge Variation: On each exhale, bring your elbows to your knees. On each inhale, return to your starting position.
10. Boat Pose - Navasana
1. Come to sit on your mat.
2. Bring the legs straight up to a 45-degree angle, coming into Boat Pose. The torso will naturally fall back, but do not let the spine collapse.
3. Make a "V" shape with the body.
4. Bring the arms out straight in line with the shoulders.
Beginners' Variation: Bend your knees, bringing your shins parallel to the floor. This is called Half Boat. If this is tough to maintain, you can hold on to the backs of your thighs.
Challenge Variation: Once you have established the pose, release the legs and torso simultaneously down towards the floor and hover there. Come back up into the pose like a sit-up. Do this as many times as you can.
Come to lie on the back for a well-deserved rest!
Question 1. Tell me about yourself. This is the first question you could be asked in any interview. This may sound simple but if you are unprepared you could be in big problem. So just prepare yourself for this simple yet difficult question Start with one two lines about yourself, who you are ? a brief 1 line about your family [ this depends on what kind of interview you are going through] and lastly why are you the best suited person for this job. Tell about your achievements but never sound too proud of your achievements, highlight yourself but with decency. Remember the golden rule
“First Impression is the last impression.”
Question 2: What are your greatest strengths?
This question is to judge how you present yourself, are you the person who talks too much, are you arrogant or are you the one who just do what others say and thus never realized your strengths.
The answer to this question should be linked with facts and figures if possible. If you had any previous achievements say you lead a team which did wonderful and thus you are a team leader and all. Highlight yourself, tell your strengths but be sure it is well supported and you just don’t start sayings just to impress. Remember the HR person will grill you if he even finds an iota of doubt in what you are saying. Some points on which you could support your answer could be – honesty, leadership, tech savvy, confident, good communication skills, positive attitude, motivational and inspirational leader etc.
So just prepare yourself for this question, make a mental note of all your achievements.
Question 3: What are your greatest weaknesses?
Now this is the question which could either end your interview or could just get you the job. Don’t mince with words, at the same time just don’t be too blunt. Tell your weakness but also tell what you are doing to over come it. Never say I can not do this. Instead say, I have never done this but I am eager to learn and am sure if our company needs it I will do it.
Note – Never say your company or what would be my position in your company, use our company. Some HR people might ask you why you are saying our before selection then do say – its because I am confident that I am the best person for this vacancy.
Question 4: Tell me about something you did – or failed to do – that you now feel a little ashamed of.
This question is just to see how you react to embarrassing situations. Of course you just can not say “SKIP THIS PLEASE.” So better prepare yourself. Take your time to reply to this one, at first say I am really finding it very hard to find any such situation as I believe the best way to avoid shame is never do such things.
Most of the interviewers just will proceed to another question but if he or she insists to elaborate then give any appropriate reply but be sure it should not sound that you are so regretful that it still has a mental impact on you. Remember
”Life must go on….no matter what”
Question 5: Why are you leaving (or did you leave) this position?
By asking this question, the interviewer just wishes to see how much respect you give to your management, colleagues etc. So never say bad words about any of your earlier employers or management. Remember – Never talk bad about any one even if he or she has been the worst boss.
There can be two situation –
First is when you already have one job – In this situation tell truthfully that you see a bright future or this work profile suits you more than current one or so. Never say – I am joining you because you pay more. If you say so, 99% chances are you would be thrown out of interview.
Secondly when you are a fresher or you don’t have any job
If you have been fired, then tell them why you were fired, what you have learnt from that incident and what are you doing to make sure this would never happen again in life. Don’t hide the facts, companies do check each and every individual so even if you don’t tell them, they know it.
If you are a fresher then you just say I am fresher and you are done with this question
Question 6: Why should I hire you?
The most commonly asked question but the question which is most difficult to answer. Before you enter any interview make sure you have read about the company, job profile and all. As soon as this question is asked, start matching your personality traits with the job requirements. Show how you are the best suited person for this job.
For example – If you are going for a job which involves marketing, then convince the interview that you have a personality which is best suited for this job.
The bottom line is – Match yourself with what the job profile is and thus the interviewer should feel that you are the best person for the job.
Question 7 : Where do you see yourself five years from now?
This question is usually asked to see how much ambitious you are and what is your actual reason for joining the company. If you say I see myself as one of the richest manager in town – forget about the job and leave. You need to show that you are a person with focused aims and you are willing to work to fulfill your dreams. Don’t be over ambitious and say I want to be in board of directors in next 5 years. Of course that is not possible unless lady luck stays with you 24*7 for all 5 years.
During an interview I said – I want to see me at your post and you in top management and believe me, the interviewer had a very good laugh and said that was really clever. I don’t suggest you to say this every time but yes if you feel the person has a jolly nature you can say so
Question 8: Why do you want to work at our company?
This question is asked to check whether you know about the company and work profile or it was just that you got a call from your friend and you walked in the interview.
So do your homework and check annual reports of company, browse website or any relevant data. See the areas where company is growing and match your skills with it. Show the interviewer how you could add to the overall profit of company.
Question 9: What are your hobbies?
This question is asked to judge your personality. I have seen hundreds of resume which say –
Hobbies – reading books, listening songs, browsing internet , sleeping.
For god sake don’t copy it from other’s resume and use it. Write what you actually do. Don’t write I have a hobby of reading books when you could not even name 1 book if asked for. Never be fake, tell them truthfully what you do.
Mention some hobbies which are directly or indirectly linked with job. But make sure you have that hobby. If not then say what you actually do. Different people have different hobbies, so there is nothing to be ashamed
The things you have to know before you start outsourcing business tasks and setting up a remote team.Remote teams are no longer just the domain of small businesses. Even large companies such as United Health, Xerox, American Express and Deutsche Bank are integrating remote teams in their workforce.
Remote teams contribute to the profitability of the business because it reduces cost of operation, increases productivity and lowers the employee turnover. But setting up an effective remote team needs time, effort, strategy and execution.
Here are some of the essentials needed to set up a remote team:
1. Determine the purpose of the remote team
Before you launch a venture or undertake a new activity, you must always establish the purpose first. The purpose answers the “why” of your business. Purpose sets the ball rolling and charts the course to where your business wants to go.
Defining your purpose is essential before building your remote team because it will guide you in the entire pre- operating stage. You will know who to hire and what to look for in candidates. It will give you clarity in what you want to achieve and most importantly, cultivate the ideal culture of productivity in your organization.
2. Prioritize the project manager or team leader
Once you’ve decided on setting up a remote team, the first position you have to hire is the project manager. Often referred to as the team leader, the project manager is the person in charge of the remote team.
He will be your set of eyes and ears in the remote team. In the organizational hierarchy, everything flows through the project manager. You will consult with him, and he will report directly to you. His primary responsibility is to make sure the remote team is on schedule in accomplishing the identified objectives.
3. Set up the frameworks
When you are working with virtual teams, especially with virtual assistants who come from remote locations where cultural, social differences and time zone differentials are prevalent, it is absolutely important to set up frameworks.
Frameworks act to stabilize operation. The different areas of responsibilities are defined, and the respective tasks are summarized for everyone’s information.
Create the organizational chart to give everyone an idea on where they are in the enterprise. This reduces confusion and prevents team members from over- stepping their boundaries.
4. Establish the workflows
A workflow is a schematic on how work moves along an operational funnel. Each area of responsibility has its specific workflow. The purpose of a workflow is to make work more efficient by defining the process itself.
For example, a workflow for an accounting project could look like this:
Client uploads files to CRM > Account Officer downloads file > Assigns to encoders > Head Auditor reviews work > Head Auditor transfers files to Account Officer > Account Officer uploads files and notifies client > Client downloads file from CRM
5. Create the operational guidelines
The only difference between running a business in a brick-and-mortar establishment and in the virtual world is purely logistical. You still have to ensure the mechanisms that lend organization and efficiency in a brick-and-mortar establishment are in place in the virtual world.
The usual reference guide is the Operational Guidelines. This documents not just the various workflows and descriptions of the frameworks but also the rules and regulations of the organization.
All the Frequently Asked Questions must be answered by your set of guidelines. If a team member has questions or concerns, he should be able to find his answers in the Guidelines.
Make sure everyone on the team has read it then dedicate one half-day to discuss its provisions in full.
6. Recruit right- fit talent
Selecting candidates for your remote team can become a tricky proposition. There is so much talent everywhere in the world. It is hard to measure up the accomplishments of one candidate to another because conditions are different.
This is why instead of focusing too much on the candidate’s resume and his technical and fundamental expertise, you should shift your focus to his behavioral profile.
Remember that your remote team may be composed of people from different nationalities, each with their own unique set of cultural practices and social traditions. It is very important that everyone on the remote team gets along.
Here are a few ways you can assess the candidate’s behavioral profile:
Create a set of three short essay questions that will force the candidate to initiate a deep- dive into his own consciousness. For example: Your ship capsized and there was room for one more person on the lifeboat. Who would you save: Your child or your mother?
Ask the candidate to list down his five non- negotiable core values and ask him why he chose those.
Give each candidate a task to perform with the group then measure success based on the level of completion.
It’s very important to assemble a team of people who can work with each other and accept each other’s social and cultural nuances. Conflict will always arise within an organization but people who understand each other will work to find immediate resolution.
7. Set up the technological profile
Once you’ve set up the frameworks and the workflows, you now should design the technological profile.
The technological profile is a summary of programs and hardware that you will need to support operations. It is usually divided into the following:
Collaboration
File Sharing
File Security
Communication
Repair/ Maintenance
Everyone on the team must have the programs installed in their computers. All hardware must be in fine- working condition to avoid work stoppage and further delays.
8. Design an evaluation process
The only way you can assess the performance of the team is by conducting a regular evaluation.
Create a performance formula to grade the quality of work rendered by each team member. For example, if you are running a lead generation campaign a sample evaluation process would be:
Accuracy; ability to procure accurate information = 50%
Statistics; volume of contacts connected = 40%
Work ethics; attitude, general conduct, time- keeping = 10%
Compile the data on a weekly basis and provide your team members a copy of the month end evaluation. This will be used as the parameter for gauging their performance for the succeeding month.
9. Schedule weekly meetings
Communication is one of the most important qualities to have in an organization. Efficient communication channels prevent careless mistakes from happening, reduces the probability of over- sights and incidents of misunderstandings.
This is the value of having meetings scheduled every week. You have the venue to update the team of developments and address pending issues and concerns. End-of-week meetings are important for setting the stage for the following work week.
It is also an opportunity for you to solidify your relationship with your team. This further improves the channels of communication and fosters trust, transparency and respect.
Setting up a remote team has its set of challenges to deal with. But as long as you establish the ground rules and the guidelines for building the team that you want, you will be able to assemble a group of people you can build your business with.
It's true, even more so today than in the previous 20 years. The reason—social media, which is primarily a text-based way to communicate. And as more brands take to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and blogs, words will become even more important.
The question is, which words?
Well, the psychology department at Yale University studied many words in the English language and discovered the following to be the most powerful, especially when trying to sell or persuade.
Here then are the 10 words you should always consider using in your campaigns; and if you've been paying close attention, you'll realize three of them are actually in the headline and subhead of this article. Oh, and there are a few words missing from this list that may surprise you.
10: NEW
We all want new, even if it's not really all that new in reality. We want the next new phone model (which is why lines for the latest iPhone (see Trends in Mobile) span the block, despite having very few upgrades). We want new cars, new clothes, new shoes, new tastes, new smells, and we're willing to pay for it.
9: SAVE
Hands up if you don't want to save time or money. Exactly. Saving money is something that 99% of us want to do. Even the richest of the rich want deals, they just get them on more expensive purchases. If you can genuinely promise to save someone some money, you'd be foolish not to point this out.
Of course, HOW you talk about it is just as important as what you're talking about. Do it wrong, and you will come across as either a pile-it-high-sell-it-cheap merchant, or untrustworthy. And as for saving time, well, time is money, which brings us right back to something we all want to save.
8: SAFETY (or SAFE)
A viscous Nazi, played so well by Sir Laurence Olivier in the movie Marathon Man, asks over and over—"is it safe?" We demand safety from our products.
We want to know that our investment is safe, or that our children are playing with toys that meet the highest safety standards. We want food that has been inspected, and we want safe choices in clothing and shoes. Now, the question then becomes how to talk about safety. Sometimes, it will be something that naturally comes up, such as baby products or items that are designed to provide safety. But sometimes saying the word "safe" can be negative, as it brings up an issue that is considered a no-brainer. For instance, "our burgers are 100% safe to eat." Well, why wouldn't they be? What's the deal? What are you saying? So, be careful with its usage.
7: PROVEN
When you have a brand new product, not a new version of an existing product, there's a hump that you need to get over. It's basically "buyer beware," because the customer is dealing with an unknown. They can wait to see what the reviews on the product or service are, or they can ask friends and relatives. But one way to get over this hump is to provide the proof yourself.
For instance, a famous cat food brand often used "8 out of 10 cat owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred it." Wow, 8 out of 10. Must be good, it's proven. I'll try it. As Seen On TV products also do this well, with product demonstrations that prove a point. So, don't just say it, prove it.
6: LOVE
This one has multiple meanings. You can be "in love" with something (like new shoes) or you can "love" how well something works or performs—"I love how white it gets my whites." Either way, love is a strong word. Of course, you must be judicious in its use. It's one thing to say "you're going to love the way it smells" when talking about a perfume. It's quite another to say "you will instantly fall in love with our toilet cleaner." Really? No one falls in love with a toilet cleaner (unless, of course, it's part of a very tongue-in-cheek campaign). Remember, love may work well, but don't lay it on too thick. That's the power of love.
5: DISCOVER
Did you notice this one in the headline? Maybe you did, maybe you didn't. But it's a prompt that advertisers use to say, "you're going to get something out of this, it's worth your time to keep reading." Or when it comes to product packaging, it's worth trying. Discover is a promise of something more to come. Like unwrapping a gift on your birthday, discoveries always bring a sense of excitement and adventure. And any time you evoke those fond childhood feelings, you're on a winner.
4. GUARANTEE
This word is a safety net. Just think of the way you use it in everyday life, and you'll see it's power. "I guarantee I will be home by 5pm" is your way of removing any doubt. "I guarantee to pay you back tomorrow" is an unbreakable promise to make (even though it doesn't always work that way." In advertising, a guarantee is a promise made by a corporation to a consumer, and it's seen as solid. Whatever you do, only use it if you can absolutely back up that guarantee, or your credibility is done. Money-back guarantees are particularly powerful because you remove the risk from trying a new product. And if you're worried about going broke, don't be. Invariably, only a very small percentage of people are so annoyed by a product that they will ask for a refund; and the time it takes to mail off the information is usually too much trouble for them.
3. HEALTH
This is used a lot these days, and not just when talking about physical health. Perhaps the most commonly-used variation is "improve your financial health," and it works because we all know what good health is. If you can make a promise of good health, be it in a food, service or something else, you are doing well. But again, don't abuse the word. KFC did this when promising their "healthy" Kitchen Fresh Chicken. The consumer is gullible sometimes, but not often, and not to that degree.
2. RESULTS
Another word used in the headline of this piece, results is a word that also means success. And this word is powerful because it's a promise that helps you rationalize the purchase. "Oh, well if this gets results, it must be worth it." If you "guarantee results" you've just upped the ante. We all want results, whether it's from a household cleaner, our bank manager or the President of the USA. If they deliver, you feel satisfied. If they don't, well, don't expect re-election.
1. YOU
Still number one after all these years, and with good reason, YOU is the most powerful word in advertising for a reason—it's personal. Let's talk about you. You are interesting, and you find yourself interesting. Let's be honest, when it comes to you, you're all ears. If I make a promise to make people rich, you may be interested. If I promise to make YOU rich, that's a different story. You is a word that must be used when talking to your customers, because that's who you're addressing. And when you do that, you're talking about a person's favorite subject. It's so powerful, many writers (especially in direct response) will not use a headline unless it has you in the title. I wouldn't go that far, but you is definitely something that YOU should always consider.
And the missing words? FREE and SEX.
They are still considered to be two of the most powerful words in the English language, but when it comes to advertising, they have been abused so much that they have fallen out of favor with consumers. After all, when was the last time you saw FREE and it really meant FREE? Isn't is usually followed by an asterisk and about ten pages of terms and conditions? And as for SEX, well, it may prompt you to read an article or watch a movie, but in advertising it's far better to use sex appeal, and sexual imagery, than the actual word.
The question is, which words?
Well, the psychology department at Yale University studied many words in the English language and discovered the following to be the most powerful, especially when trying to sell or persuade.
Here then are the 10 words you should always consider using in your campaigns; and if you've been paying close attention, you'll realize three of them are actually in the headline and subhead of this article. Oh, and there are a few words missing from this list that may surprise you.
10: NEW
We all want new, even if it's not really all that new in reality. We want the next new phone model (which is why lines for the latest iPhone (see Trends in Mobile) span the block, despite having very few upgrades). We want new cars, new clothes, new shoes, new tastes, new smells, and we're willing to pay for it.
9: SAVE
Hands up if you don't want to save time or money. Exactly. Saving money is something that 99% of us want to do. Even the richest of the rich want deals, they just get them on more expensive purchases. If you can genuinely promise to save someone some money, you'd be foolish not to point this out.
Of course, HOW you talk about it is just as important as what you're talking about. Do it wrong, and you will come across as either a pile-it-high-sell-it-cheap merchant, or untrustworthy. And as for saving time, well, time is money, which brings us right back to something we all want to save.
8: SAFETY (or SAFE)
A viscous Nazi, played so well by Sir Laurence Olivier in the movie Marathon Man, asks over and over—"is it safe?" We demand safety from our products.
We want to know that our investment is safe, or that our children are playing with toys that meet the highest safety standards. We want food that has been inspected, and we want safe choices in clothing and shoes. Now, the question then becomes how to talk about safety. Sometimes, it will be something that naturally comes up, such as baby products or items that are designed to provide safety. But sometimes saying the word "safe" can be negative, as it brings up an issue that is considered a no-brainer. For instance, "our burgers are 100% safe to eat." Well, why wouldn't they be? What's the deal? What are you saying? So, be careful with its usage.
7: PROVEN
When you have a brand new product, not a new version of an existing product, there's a hump that you need to get over. It's basically "buyer beware," because the customer is dealing with an unknown. They can wait to see what the reviews on the product or service are, or they can ask friends and relatives. But one way to get over this hump is to provide the proof yourself.
For instance, a famous cat food brand often used "8 out of 10 cat owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred it." Wow, 8 out of 10. Must be good, it's proven. I'll try it. As Seen On TV products also do this well, with product demonstrations that prove a point. So, don't just say it, prove it.
6: LOVE
This one has multiple meanings. You can be "in love" with something (like new shoes) or you can "love" how well something works or performs—"I love how white it gets my whites." Either way, love is a strong word. Of course, you must be judicious in its use. It's one thing to say "you're going to love the way it smells" when talking about a perfume. It's quite another to say "you will instantly fall in love with our toilet cleaner." Really? No one falls in love with a toilet cleaner (unless, of course, it's part of a very tongue-in-cheek campaign). Remember, love may work well, but don't lay it on too thick. That's the power of love.
5: DISCOVER
Did you notice this one in the headline? Maybe you did, maybe you didn't. But it's a prompt that advertisers use to say, "you're going to get something out of this, it's worth your time to keep reading." Or when it comes to product packaging, it's worth trying. Discover is a promise of something more to come. Like unwrapping a gift on your birthday, discoveries always bring a sense of excitement and adventure. And any time you evoke those fond childhood feelings, you're on a winner.
4. GUARANTEE
This word is a safety net. Just think of the way you use it in everyday life, and you'll see it's power. "I guarantee I will be home by 5pm" is your way of removing any doubt. "I guarantee to pay you back tomorrow" is an unbreakable promise to make (even though it doesn't always work that way." In advertising, a guarantee is a promise made by a corporation to a consumer, and it's seen as solid. Whatever you do, only use it if you can absolutely back up that guarantee, or your credibility is done. Money-back guarantees are particularly powerful because you remove the risk from trying a new product. And if you're worried about going broke, don't be. Invariably, only a very small percentage of people are so annoyed by a product that they will ask for a refund; and the time it takes to mail off the information is usually too much trouble for them.
3. HEALTH
This is used a lot these days, and not just when talking about physical health. Perhaps the most commonly-used variation is "improve your financial health," and it works because we all know what good health is. If you can make a promise of good health, be it in a food, service or something else, you are doing well. But again, don't abuse the word. KFC did this when promising their "healthy" Kitchen Fresh Chicken. The consumer is gullible sometimes, but not often, and not to that degree.
2. RESULTS
Another word used in the headline of this piece, results is a word that also means success. And this word is powerful because it's a promise that helps you rationalize the purchase. "Oh, well if this gets results, it must be worth it." If you "guarantee results" you've just upped the ante. We all want results, whether it's from a household cleaner, our bank manager or the President of the USA. If they deliver, you feel satisfied. If they don't, well, don't expect re-election.
1. YOU
Still number one after all these years, and with good reason, YOU is the most powerful word in advertising for a reason—it's personal. Let's talk about you. You are interesting, and you find yourself interesting. Let's be honest, when it comes to you, you're all ears. If I make a promise to make people rich, you may be interested. If I promise to make YOU rich, that's a different story. You is a word that must be used when talking to your customers, because that's who you're addressing. And when you do that, you're talking about a person's favorite subject. It's so powerful, many writers (especially in direct response) will not use a headline unless it has you in the title. I wouldn't go that far, but you is definitely something that YOU should always consider.
And the missing words? FREE and SEX.
They are still considered to be two of the most powerful words in the English language, but when it comes to advertising, they have been abused so much that they have fallen out of favor with consumers. After all, when was the last time you saw FREE and it really meant FREE? Isn't is usually followed by an asterisk and about ten pages of terms and conditions? And as for SEX, well, it may prompt you to read an article or watch a movie, but in advertising it's far better to use sex appeal, and sexual imagery, than the actual word.
It's the ultimate chicken-and-egg conundrum: Sleep can help give you energy, repair your muscles, balance your hormones, fuel your workout and get you through the day, while working out can help improve your sleep, boost your energy, enhance your mood and bolster your metabolism. So if you only have 30 extra minutes to dedicate to sleep or exercise, which do you choose?
Discover 10 science-backed sleep aids to improve performance >>
First, I'd like to point out, this is probably not a real question, at least for most people on most days. The reality is, most people do, in fact, have time for the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night plus enough time for a 30 to 60 minute workout on most days. (If you don't, it might be time to read this article.) But just for argument's sake, I posed the question to Dr. Robert S. Rosenberg, Board Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist and author of Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day.
Can you guess his response?
While it might come as a surprise, the sleep doctor recommends prioritizing... sleep! And I have to say, the fitness expert in me agrees with Dr. Rosenberg's assessment:
"I would have to say sleep first. Lack of exercise can certainly result in obesity and cardiovascular disease; however, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to myriad problems such as heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. When we get insufficient sleep, our body releases inflammatory mediators such as CRP (c reactive protein), as well as excessive cortisol and adrenaline. We need sleep to clean out the toxins that build up in our brains during the day, such as beta amyloid and TAU protein, the building blocks of Alzheimer's disease."
Don't get me wrong - it's important to exercise regularly to live a long and healthy life, but on those days you can barely hold your eyes open, you shouldn't feel guilty about skipping the gym and hitting the hay. Sleep can, in fact, be one of the best workouts you give your body, enabling it to rest and recover enough to hit the gym better and stronger the next day.
If you want to make your sleep routine even stronger, follow these suggestions from the good doctor:
1. Avoid Blue Light from Electronics
"Electronics that emit blue light, such as computers, cell phones, iPads and televisions are major problems. People don't realize that the blue light shuts down the production of the hormone melatonin."
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body that typically begins to rise in mid- to late-afternoon to help encourage sleep. Blue light-emitting electronics that shut down the production of melatonin basically shut down this natural sleep aid. By putting away the gizmos and picking up a book a couple hours before bed, you can naturally increase your body's ability to sleep soundly.
Check out these blue light-blocking glasses >>
2. Eat Healthfully, Especially Before Bed
"People need to realize that eating foods with a high glycemic index sets off a roller coaster reaction of excessive insulin production followed by cortisol and adrenaline to counteract the low blood sugar. When your stress system is activated at night, it makes it almost impossible to fall or stay asleep."
In other words, avoid caffeine, alcohol and high-sugar, high-carbohydrate foods in the hours before bed. While alcohol and comfort foods may help induce sleep, their metabolism induces the stress response which could make you wake up - and remain wakeful - during the wee hours of the night.
This food can actually help you sleep >>
3. Consider a High-Quality Mattress
"Several good studies have shown that sleep number beds and memory foam improve sleep quality versus the old box spring."
Good beds are often expensive, but when we're talking about health... particularly about how you feel every single day - your energy level, your ability to take on the tasks you want to accomplish effectively - a high-quality mattress is worth the expense. This is particularly true if you're an active individual. Sleep is when your body rests, recovers and recuperates. It's when your muscles rebuild and repair. It's when your brain and body assimilate the information you've fed to them all day, creating new neural pathways and connections.
In fact, in a study conducted by the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory, the Stanford basketball team's skills were put to the test based on extended sleep patterns. After a period of normal sleep, the players went through a multi-week sleep extension period. At the end of the sleep extension period, shooting accuracy and sprint times improved significantly, as did overall feelings of mental and physical well-being.
Given the research in this area, it comes as no surprise that some mattress companies are targeting the fitness and sports markets to enhance sleep quality for the specific purpose of improving athletic performance. Essentia, for example, created a custom ProCor bed using a proprietary process called Essentia ID to develop mattresses specifically for the individual purchasing the bed. They frequently work with athletes and teams to offer custom recuperation for athletes during sleep.
Granted, mot everyone can afford a custom mattress (ProCor beds range in price from $5,000 to almost $10,000, depending on size), but even a high-quality pillow can help. Consider the Essentia Wholebody Pillow with natural memory foam if you need a nightly whole-body hug ($489), or a Performance Pillow from Bedgear ($72 to $180, depending on pillow). Bedgear's pillows are specifically designed for body types and sleeping styles, and feature high-tech components that increase airflow in and around the pillow to help regulate body temperature and wick away moisture to improve nightly sleep.
4. Apply Lavender Essential Oil
"Lavender oils have actually been studied in an ICU setting and in nursing homes and have proven to be effective in increasing sleep."
All it takes is a few drops of essential oil to make a difference.
Learn how to apply lavender essential oil >>
5. Consider Supplements With Caution
"Be cautious with supplements, as few good studies have been done. However, a recent study in the UK did demonstrate increased sleep in children who were given omega-3 fish oil. Also, melatonin has been found to help induce sleep in older patients and patients on beta-blocker drugs, which tend to inhibit the natural production of the hormone."
If you do decide to turn to supplements to enhance your sleep, research them thoroughly and make sure there have been third-party studies done to support the supplement's claims.
Discover 10 science-backed sleep aids to improve performance >>
First, I'd like to point out, this is probably not a real question, at least for most people on most days. The reality is, most people do, in fact, have time for the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night plus enough time for a 30 to 60 minute workout on most days. (If you don't, it might be time to read this article.) But just for argument's sake, I posed the question to Dr. Robert S. Rosenberg, Board Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist and author of Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day.
Can you guess his response?
While it might come as a surprise, the sleep doctor recommends prioritizing... sleep! And I have to say, the fitness expert in me agrees with Dr. Rosenberg's assessment:
"I would have to say sleep first. Lack of exercise can certainly result in obesity and cardiovascular disease; however, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to myriad problems such as heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. When we get insufficient sleep, our body releases inflammatory mediators such as CRP (c reactive protein), as well as excessive cortisol and adrenaline. We need sleep to clean out the toxins that build up in our brains during the day, such as beta amyloid and TAU protein, the building blocks of Alzheimer's disease."
Don't get me wrong - it's important to exercise regularly to live a long and healthy life, but on those days you can barely hold your eyes open, you shouldn't feel guilty about skipping the gym and hitting the hay. Sleep can, in fact, be one of the best workouts you give your body, enabling it to rest and recover enough to hit the gym better and stronger the next day.
If you want to make your sleep routine even stronger, follow these suggestions from the good doctor:
1. Avoid Blue Light from Electronics
"Electronics that emit blue light, such as computers, cell phones, iPads and televisions are major problems. People don't realize that the blue light shuts down the production of the hormone melatonin."
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body that typically begins to rise in mid- to late-afternoon to help encourage sleep. Blue light-emitting electronics that shut down the production of melatonin basically shut down this natural sleep aid. By putting away the gizmos and picking up a book a couple hours before bed, you can naturally increase your body's ability to sleep soundly.
Check out these blue light-blocking glasses >>
2. Eat Healthfully, Especially Before Bed
"People need to realize that eating foods with a high glycemic index sets off a roller coaster reaction of excessive insulin production followed by cortisol and adrenaline to counteract the low blood sugar. When your stress system is activated at night, it makes it almost impossible to fall or stay asleep."
In other words, avoid caffeine, alcohol and high-sugar, high-carbohydrate foods in the hours before bed. While alcohol and comfort foods may help induce sleep, their metabolism induces the stress response which could make you wake up - and remain wakeful - during the wee hours of the night.
This food can actually help you sleep >>
3. Consider a High-Quality Mattress
"Several good studies have shown that sleep number beds and memory foam improve sleep quality versus the old box spring."
Good beds are often expensive, but when we're talking about health... particularly about how you feel every single day - your energy level, your ability to take on the tasks you want to accomplish effectively - a high-quality mattress is worth the expense. This is particularly true if you're an active individual. Sleep is when your body rests, recovers and recuperates. It's when your muscles rebuild and repair. It's when your brain and body assimilate the information you've fed to them all day, creating new neural pathways and connections.
In fact, in a study conducted by the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory, the Stanford basketball team's skills were put to the test based on extended sleep patterns. After a period of normal sleep, the players went through a multi-week sleep extension period. At the end of the sleep extension period, shooting accuracy and sprint times improved significantly, as did overall feelings of mental and physical well-being.
Given the research in this area, it comes as no surprise that some mattress companies are targeting the fitness and sports markets to enhance sleep quality for the specific purpose of improving athletic performance. Essentia, for example, created a custom ProCor bed using a proprietary process called Essentia ID to develop mattresses specifically for the individual purchasing the bed. They frequently work with athletes and teams to offer custom recuperation for athletes during sleep.
Granted, mot everyone can afford a custom mattress (ProCor beds range in price from $5,000 to almost $10,000, depending on size), but even a high-quality pillow can help. Consider the Essentia Wholebody Pillow with natural memory foam if you need a nightly whole-body hug ($489), or a Performance Pillow from Bedgear ($72 to $180, depending on pillow). Bedgear's pillows are specifically designed for body types and sleeping styles, and feature high-tech components that increase airflow in and around the pillow to help regulate body temperature and wick away moisture to improve nightly sleep.
4. Apply Lavender Essential Oil
"Lavender oils have actually been studied in an ICU setting and in nursing homes and have proven to be effective in increasing sleep."
All it takes is a few drops of essential oil to make a difference.
Learn how to apply lavender essential oil >>
5. Consider Supplements With Caution
"Be cautious with supplements, as few good studies have been done. However, a recent study in the UK did demonstrate increased sleep in children who were given omega-3 fish oil. Also, melatonin has been found to help induce sleep in older patients and patients on beta-blocker drugs, which tend to inhibit the natural production of the hormone."
If you do decide to turn to supplements to enhance your sleep, research them thoroughly and make sure there have been third-party studies done to support the supplement's claims.
While there are many creative ways to stock up on frequent flyer miles, I go about collecting them in two pretty common ways: purchasing plane tickets and signing up for rewards credit cards. But one of the best, alternative ways to add miles to your account is to buy your frequent flyer miles.
For many people, buying frequent flyer miles is something they’d never consider. Why pay for something you can get for free? But for many collectors, there are times when it makes perfectly good sense to buy. Yes, there is a small outlay of cash involved but the benefits --both to your lifestyle and finances-- are more than worth it.
Here are a few scenarios for when it’s best to buy, as well as a few tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of each of your purchases.
To top off your account
Purchasing frequent flyer miles can be done directly on your loyalty program’s website by look for the “Buy, Gift & Transfer” tab. The price of a mile varies from airline to airline, but on average the cost is about 2.5 to 3.5 cents per mile.
If you’ve got your eye on a reward, are close to redeeming but are not quite there yet, considering topping up your account with a quick purchase. Buy enough to reach your goal, redeem and enjoy your reward. That’s what loyalty is about.
To keep your points from expiring
It happens to the best of us and can be one of the most demoralizing events for collectors. We save up enough miles for a free flight, but wait too long to redeem them for that much needed vacation. Many frequent flyer programs expire with inactivity, so for a quick and easy solution, buy extra miles to keep your account active and use them before you lose them.
To take advantage of discounts on mileage
Many airlines routinely offer deals where you can purchase discounted miles or will give you bonuses when you purchase within a certain time frame. Depending on the airline or the deal, these bonuses can significantly decrease the price per mile, making it a great time to buy a handful to fill up your account. For example, American Airlines recently celebrated its 35th anniversary and offered A Advantage members 35 percent off any purchased or gifted miles. The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers members a discount of 35 percent or more when they buy miles as they’re booking an upcoming Alaska Airlines flight. And IHG Rewards Club recently launched a buy points campaign offering 100% purchase bonus at all levels for 96 hours, giving members the opportunity to literally double their rewards. I always keep an eye out for these kinds of deals, especially when I’m getting close to reaching my redemption goal.
Before purchasing your miles, here are a few things to consider:
1. Get out your calculator
Before you purchase a mile, calculate how much each one will cost you . For a simple formula, subtract the total amount you’ll have to spend on your purchased miles from the dollar value of your ticket, and divide that by the number of non-purchased rewards you’re redeeming. Also be sure to take into account taxes and fees on the flight, as fees especially can vary significantly from airline to airline.
2. Make sure awards seats are available
If you’re redeeming a flight with airline miles, your flight options might be limited, as there are only so many reward seats available on each flight. And keep in mind that availability changes quickly: available reward seats that are available this morning might not be there tomorrow, or even this afternoon. Also remember that when you purchase miles, it can take up to 72 hours to get into your account, so plan accordingly, or available rewards seats might be booked before the miles are processed and added to your account.
3. Purchase miles with your rewards credit card
If you’ve done all the math and it’s worthwhile to buy miles rather than earn them, be sure to purchase the miles with your rewards credit card. That way, in addition to adding those purchase miles to your portfolio, you’ll be rewarded with even more miles for your purchase.
For many people, buying frequent flyer miles is something they’d never consider. Why pay for something you can get for free? But for many collectors, there are times when it makes perfectly good sense to buy. Yes, there is a small outlay of cash involved but the benefits --both to your lifestyle and finances-- are more than worth it.
Here are a few scenarios for when it’s best to buy, as well as a few tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of each of your purchases.
To top off your account
Purchasing frequent flyer miles can be done directly on your loyalty program’s website by look for the “Buy, Gift & Transfer” tab. The price of a mile varies from airline to airline, but on average the cost is about 2.5 to 3.5 cents per mile.
If you’ve got your eye on a reward, are close to redeeming but are not quite there yet, considering topping up your account with a quick purchase. Buy enough to reach your goal, redeem and enjoy your reward. That’s what loyalty is about.
To keep your points from expiring
It happens to the best of us and can be one of the most demoralizing events for collectors. We save up enough miles for a free flight, but wait too long to redeem them for that much needed vacation. Many frequent flyer programs expire with inactivity, so for a quick and easy solution, buy extra miles to keep your account active and use them before you lose them.
To take advantage of discounts on mileage
Many airlines routinely offer deals where you can purchase discounted miles or will give you bonuses when you purchase within a certain time frame. Depending on the airline or the deal, these bonuses can significantly decrease the price per mile, making it a great time to buy a handful to fill up your account. For example, American Airlines recently celebrated its 35th anniversary and offered A Advantage members 35 percent off any purchased or gifted miles. The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers members a discount of 35 percent or more when they buy miles as they’re booking an upcoming Alaska Airlines flight. And IHG Rewards Club recently launched a buy points campaign offering 100% purchase bonus at all levels for 96 hours, giving members the opportunity to literally double their rewards. I always keep an eye out for these kinds of deals, especially when I’m getting close to reaching my redemption goal.
Before purchasing your miles, here are a few things to consider:
1. Get out your calculator
Before you purchase a mile, calculate how much each one will cost you . For a simple formula, subtract the total amount you’ll have to spend on your purchased miles from the dollar value of your ticket, and divide that by the number of non-purchased rewards you’re redeeming. Also be sure to take into account taxes and fees on the flight, as fees especially can vary significantly from airline to airline.
2. Make sure awards seats are available
If you’re redeeming a flight with airline miles, your flight options might be limited, as there are only so many reward seats available on each flight. And keep in mind that availability changes quickly: available reward seats that are available this morning might not be there tomorrow, or even this afternoon. Also remember that when you purchase miles, it can take up to 72 hours to get into your account, so plan accordingly, or available rewards seats might be booked before the miles are processed and added to your account.
3. Purchase miles with your rewards credit card
If you’ve done all the math and it’s worthwhile to buy miles rather than earn them, be sure to purchase the miles with your rewards credit card. That way, in addition to adding those purchase miles to your portfolio, you’ll be rewarded with even more miles for your purchase.
One of my favorite parts of traveling is sharing photos with friends and family who couldn’t tag along for the ride. I’m posting on Facebook or Instagram, sharing the best pictures and videos of my trip. From old friends to my Mom, everyone is always excited to see where I’ve been. But once I get a chance to tell them all about my latest trip, the same question always seems to pop up, “How can I earn enough points and miles to take vacations like that?”
With referral programs from travel rewards credit cards, loyalty programs and even banks, you and your loved ones can begin to rack up points and miles in no time.
Signing up for a travel rewards credit card
Not only are travel rewards credit cards perfect for racking up points and miles on everyday purchases, they also feature some of the best referral programs out there. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card holders can earn 2,500 bonus miles for each friend or family member who signs up and is approved for the card.
The best part? There’s no limit to the number of people you can refer. Just remember to send new cardholders a referral link to ensure the miles are credited to your loyalty account.
For those with the Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express, many of the same benefits are up for grabs. Cardholders can receive a bonus of 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each approved referral. While the annual referral bonus is capped at 75,000 points, that’s more than enough to plan a weekend getaway or two. From sliding around a ski resort to visiting some of the best theme parks the U.S. has to offer, you can use your points and miles for more than just airfare or a free hotel stay.
Joining a loyalty program
Earning points and miles can be as simple as telling friends and family members which loyalty programs you enjoy most. For example, members of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club are awarded 2,000 miles when a referral embarks on their first round trip flight in economy. Although an extra 2,000 miles is nice, you may want to spend a few minutes trying to convince your friends to indulge in some of Virgin Atlantic’s more luxurious seating options. The 2,000-mile referral bonus jumps to 5,000 when friends or family members choose premium economy for their first round trip flight. Better yet, earn 10,000 miles from those who ride in first class.
Need an extra incentive to get them to sign on the dotted line? Don’t forget to mention that Flying Club members who you refer also earn up to 3,000 bonus miles after taking their first flight. Taking advantage of these benefits is as easy as logging into your account and sending your referral an email. As soon as he or she becomes a Flying Club member and takes flight, you’ll both receive bonus miles.
Opening a bank account
Saving a few dollars each week is not exactly what I would call exciting, but it’s something most of us need to do in order to visit our top vacation destinations. By opening a BankDirect Mileage Checking with Interest Account or a Mileage Money Market Account, both you and your referral can save money for an upcoming trip while also earning loyalty miles.
As the first internet-based bank to offer customers the benefits of the American Airlines AAdvantage miles program, BankDirect has now made it possible for you to earn up to 1,000 AAdvantage miles for referring a friend or family member who opens a checking or money market account. Not only will you reap the rewards of sharing a potential savings opportunity, but the person who you refer will also earn 1,000 miles of their own.
I enjoy telling my friends and family about ways they can collect points and miles for a dream vacation. And with referral programs from travel rewards credit cards, loyalty programs and online banks, I can earn a few extra points and miles for spreading the word about my top loyalty tips and tricks!
With referral programs from travel rewards credit cards, loyalty programs and even banks, you and your loved ones can begin to rack up points and miles in no time.
Signing up for a travel rewards credit card
Not only are travel rewards credit cards perfect for racking up points and miles on everyday purchases, they also feature some of the best referral programs out there. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card holders can earn 2,500 bonus miles for each friend or family member who signs up and is approved for the card.
The best part? There’s no limit to the number of people you can refer. Just remember to send new cardholders a referral link to ensure the miles are credited to your loyalty account.
For those with the Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express, many of the same benefits are up for grabs. Cardholders can receive a bonus of 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each approved referral. While the annual referral bonus is capped at 75,000 points, that’s more than enough to plan a weekend getaway or two. From sliding around a ski resort to visiting some of the best theme parks the U.S. has to offer, you can use your points and miles for more than just airfare or a free hotel stay.
Joining a loyalty program
Earning points and miles can be as simple as telling friends and family members which loyalty programs you enjoy most. For example, members of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club are awarded 2,000 miles when a referral embarks on their first round trip flight in economy. Although an extra 2,000 miles is nice, you may want to spend a few minutes trying to convince your friends to indulge in some of Virgin Atlantic’s more luxurious seating options. The 2,000-mile referral bonus jumps to 5,000 when friends or family members choose premium economy for their first round trip flight. Better yet, earn 10,000 miles from those who ride in first class.
Need an extra incentive to get them to sign on the dotted line? Don’t forget to mention that Flying Club members who you refer also earn up to 3,000 bonus miles after taking their first flight. Taking advantage of these benefits is as easy as logging into your account and sending your referral an email. As soon as he or she becomes a Flying Club member and takes flight, you’ll both receive bonus miles.
Opening a bank account
Saving a few dollars each week is not exactly what I would call exciting, but it’s something most of us need to do in order to visit our top vacation destinations. By opening a BankDirect Mileage Checking with Interest Account or a Mileage Money Market Account, both you and your referral can save money for an upcoming trip while also earning loyalty miles.
As the first internet-based bank to offer customers the benefits of the American Airlines AAdvantage miles program, BankDirect has now made it possible for you to earn up to 1,000 AAdvantage miles for referring a friend or family member who opens a checking or money market account. Not only will you reap the rewards of sharing a potential savings opportunity, but the person who you refer will also earn 1,000 miles of their own.
I enjoy telling my friends and family about ways they can collect points and miles for a dream vacation. And with referral programs from travel rewards credit cards, loyalty programs and online banks, I can earn a few extra points and miles for spreading the word about my top loyalty tips and tricks!
While scientists have yet to determine how to fully prevent Alzheimer’s disease, they have done some research that demonstrates that keeping our brains active throughout our lives can delay symptoms. Some research has even shown a delay in symptoms of up to five years. If you could delay Alzheimer’s and have those extra years to enjoy your family and friends, wouldn’t you want that? So, get ready to stretch your mind and try the following 12 activities, starting with physical exercise.Several studies have shown the cognitive benefits of physical exercise. Scientists have often linked a healthy body with a healthy mind. Stretch out before beginning your routine, and make sure your doctor has approved your exercise regimen, whether it consists of a walk three times a week, an exercise DVD, Wii Fit, or a class at your local Y.
Learn Another Language:
Research has demonstrated a significant delay in Alzheimer’s symptoms in individuals who are bilingual. It’s not yet understood how or why this occurs. One possible explanation is that somehow the brains of bilinguals are able to compensate for the deficits caused by Alzheimer’s, causing these individuals to function as if their brains had less damage than they actually do. Although some of the research tested those who spoke another language most or all of their lives, it’s never too late to learn a new language. You can take a community education class, go to your local library or find resources online for new language learners.
Play a Musical Instrument:
Do you play an instrument or have you always wanted to learn? For years, research has indicated that music uses a different section of the brain than speaking or writing. For example, individuals who have experienced a stroke and have difficulty speaking have been known to sing complete songs.
Although using different parts of your brain doesn't guarantee protection against Alzheimer’s or other dementias, research has shown that people with dementia tend to respond well to music. And, at the very least, music is an enjoyable way to spend time.
Memorization:
Do you have a favorite book, poem, or proverb? Set a goal to memorize a couple of verses or phrases a week. Choose something that will be helpful to have stuck in your mind. For example, someone I know chose to memorize some favorite verses. She felt that in addition to exercising her brain, those words would also encourage her throughout the day.
Play Games:
Try strategy games. You can play with others in person or online by yourself. Fun games include Scrabble, euchre, chess, bridge, and more elaborate games like Agricola and Cities & Knights. Games that require more strategy, as opposed to the luck of the draw, may be more effective in challenging your brain.
Read a Book:
Books are everywhere. Now that there’s so much available online, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home. If you enjoy reading, try something that’s a bit different from your typical genre. For example, if you enjoy romance books, try reading a book about gardening or a how-to article on financial planning. You can also consider joining a book club if you need encouragement and accountability to continue reading.
Do Puzzles:
Crosswords, Sudoku, and jumble puzzles are all ways to keep your brain active. Think of it as your daily walk around the block for your brain.
Travel:
If a picture is worth a thousand words, seeing something in person could be priceless. New experiences and unfamiliar situations can be a good workout for your mind. While I'm not aware of any specific studies directly connecting traveling with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, traveling might be helpful for reducing your stress level, which has been connected with dementia risk.
A word of caution, however: Ensure that you’re in good physical and mental health before embarking on your adventure.
Calculate Math Problems:
Rather than use your calculator or an online program to balance your checkbook, do it the old-fashioned way. Brushing up on your math skills can be part of your weekly routine, and it won’t take much time. Have grandchildren or know others who are learning their math facts? Spending a little time helping them learn multiplication could benefit both of you.
Take a Class:
Have you always been interested in painting? Take an art class. Is fixing things your gift? Develop a new skill through a community class. Maybe you’d like to get an advanced degree. There’s no age limit on schooling, so give it a try. You can also use these six strategies to help you remember what you're learning.
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