Author: Ethan Theo

Abe WalkingBear Sanchez is an International Speaker / Trainer / Consultant on the subject of cash flow / sales enhancement and business knowledge organization and use. Founder and President of www.armg-usa.com, WalkingBear has authored hundreds of business articles, has worked with numerous companies in a wide range of industries since 1982 and has spoken at many venues including the Shakespeare Globe Theater in London.

Finance & Capital

Binary Options Trading: How To Trade Successfully

Post author By Ethan Theo
Post date October 25, 2016

Binary options may not have the best reputation around, but even an average trader can make a decent living trading from home. However, in order for this cool business idea to work, you need to know how to trade binary options successfully. There is no foolproof way of doing this, but employing some sort of strategy can sure go a long way. This is a business, just like any other, and if you treat it as such, you can be a success story yourself.

Binary Options 101

The thing about these options that has made them so popular is that you don’t actually have to own a financial asset like a stock or commodity to make money on them. Instead of spending money on overpriced financial assets, and making a tiny fraction of your investment, why not profit on those same assets, without any liabilities whatsoever?
You need to predict the direction of a price movement of a stock, commodity, index or a currency pair, and place a binary option on that outcome. You do not own any of the underlying financial instruments and are therefore not liable for anything. You invest finite sums of money and your investment is all you could possibly lose. Basically, you’d be making a living off financial instruments you probably could not afford to own in real life. And when you see how much you can earn on them without any liability, you probably wouldn’t want to, anyway. Let’s see how it’s done.

#1 Use analysis – technical, fundamental, or both

Most traders use either fundamental or technical analysis – or preferably both – to predict future price action. Those who rely on fundamental analysis are looking at the big picture. Instead of the stock of a large company, like Apple, they look at the company itself, its value, business plans – the overall situation. If they focus on currencies, like the USD/JPY pair, they look at the US and Japanese economies for clues.

Technical analysis involves analyzing the instrument itself and looking for patterns in price movement. Basically, it involves analyzing charts to predict how the price will act in the future. Normally, this would make little sense, but since all the traders on all the markets are doing this and trading accordingly, if most of them conduct the same analysis on the same numbers, they’ll reach the same conclusion. And once they start trading, the price automatically goes in the same direction.
If the analysis says the price is going to fall, everybody will start selling and it ends up falling anyway; or if it says the price is about to hike, everybody starts buying and the price goes up. With these options, things are even simpler, because your losses are capped and you are trying to predict what these traders might do, so using the same tools as them can go a long way in achieving this. The most common technical analysis tools are the Bollinger Bands and Moving Average.

#2 Use trading algorithms and signals

Instead of analyzing all that data by yourself, you can always rely on other people doing the heavy lifting. Apart from analysts and their predictions, you can also get a good piece of software that would crunch the numbers for you and tell you where the price for a certain instrument will go. Otherwise, there are trading signals that are set to recognize potential trading opportunities and get your attention so you don’t have to sit all day in front of a computer in order to get some good deals. You can and should only trade when it suits you.

#3 Copy someone else’s trades

This is perhaps the easiest way, as many brokers simply allow a feature where you can simply copy the moves from a trader of your choosing. They have a list of professional traders, their win-to-lose ratio, the number of people following them etc. Find the one with the best stats, set the investment amount and check in from time to time to see how things are doing. However, the downside is that sometimes professionals get it wrong, too. When they lose, so will you – but if you don’t know how to trade binary options successfully, you’ll win a lot more this way and from the very start, too.

Final Word

These three approaches to binary options trading may not be the only ones, but are by far the most widely used and most effective. Finding and formulating your own trading strategy is also an option, but this is up to you. In any case, most brokers offer a free demo account so if binary options aren’t your thing, you don’t have to lose any money trying to find out. So what are you waiting for?

Communication Skills

Here’s How to Give a Convincing Pitch to Your Clients

Post author By Ethan Theo
Post date October 20, 2016

Having to come up with a pitch and present it to potential clients has always been a difficult task to do, much less pull off successfully. But it can be incredibly discouraging when you do not get any kind of interest after working for so many hours on your pitch. Do not fret, for all is not lost. All you will have to do is make some adjustments to your presentation style in order to get people more interested in what you are trying to offer them. In this article, we will give you a few tips and tricks on how to capture your audience’s attention and have them listening to you intently from start to finish.

1. Make Sure That You Create a Story for Your Clients

If you have ever been in any type of company meeting, then you may have already witnessed the boring types of presentations. You know the ones: the presenter starts showing you facts and figures, all full of numbers and pie charts and tables and whatnot, all full of details that are prone to making you zone out because those numbers and letters just do not mean anything of significance to you. However, there is another way to get your audience to sit up and listen: try framing your presentation into a story instead. People are much more engaged when you tell them a story. This is because it can arouse emotions in clients. By using emotion, according to PollEverywhere, you can tap into their desires and get them to invest in your offering.

2. Do Not Forget to Use Visuals to Match Your Tale

People remember details much more easily when you present it to them using visuals instead of simply using text. But you should not just put up any drab and boring graphics that you find on the internet, or put up any irrelevant photos that you took during a walk to your office. Instead, you should carefully pick out images that can help explain the abstract idea in your head. Try going for more interesting ones, too. According to a study published in theMalaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, using colorful visuals can help audiences increase their recall of information by up to 77 to 80 percent compared to any data that is given to them in text or sound bites.

3. Try Not to Fill Up All of Your Slides with Walls of Text

Nobody wants to have to spend money on travel and lodging just to attend a presentation where they are expected to stare at the screen for the entire time. In fact, according to some statistics, the average attention span has dropped in the last few years. That is why you need to use images and rely on your speech instead of using the presentation as if they were your note cards.

4. Take Advantage of Your Body Language and Facial Expressions

The way you move can say a lot about your personality, and what you are actually thinking. If you stand too stiffly, you may come across as nervous or robotic. However, if you start waving your arms around too much, you might come across as much too enthusiastic. A smile would really, really help make your onlookers feel like you are trying to make a connection with them. However, smiling too widely might come across the wrong way, making you look a little too eager, or perhaps even a little bit creepy! Try to practice speaking out loud in front of a mirror so that you can see what your face naturally looks like. Then, try to modify your expressions to fit whatever it is you are trying to say.These tips can apply whether you are presenting in front of a small audience, a large audience, or even doing enterprise webcastingby using a system such as BlueJeans.

5. Set Aside Some Time to Study and Practice Your Pitch

Even if you have created the master plan that would put every other presentation to shame, it will be all for naught if you forget your lines when you are actually performing on stage. That is why it is absolutely important for you to rehearse what you want to say at least a few days before you are going to present in front of your audience. If you have stage fright, you may want to ask your family, friends, or co-workers to be your practice audience. Then, ask them for feedback on what you did right, and what parts you could have improved.

Make sure that you try out these tips the next time you have to give a presentation. By the end of it, you should be able to get a lot more interest in your product or service than ever before, all thanks to a wonderfully presented pitch.

Technology

IT Training Today: Top Tips for Finding the Right Computer Certification for You

Post author By Ethan Theo
Post date October 18, 2016

If you are looking for an exciting career and a job you want to get up for every morning, IT is one area where you can enjoy all of that and more.

To get a good job in the IT sector, you can’t just jump into it. You will need the right set of skills, and that means you will have to look into training opportunities.

The type of certification you require will depend on the skills you already possess, along with your specific career goals.

Here are a few tips for finding the most suitable certification for you, starting with some entry-level certifications and moving onto some more specific areas where you can become certified.

Entry-Level Certifications

If you want to start a career in IT, many entry-level positions will require specific certifications to help you get your foot in the door.

Entry positions will involve dealing with software and technical procedures, and you will have to demonstrate to employers that you have at least a basic level of skills to carry out the tasks.

Getting a certification is the best way to not only improve your skills but to demonstrate that you have the right skillset and show what you are capable of. You should therefore seriously consider getting a recognized certification if you want to break into an entry-level IT position.

Some of the most in-demand include the following:

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is an entry-level certification, and it is the perfect place to start if you want to break into the industry. This is more or less the industry standard, and it will demonstrate to employers that you can configure switches and routers and solve basic network problems. You can also specialize in an area like security.

It is a written exam that takes about 90 minutes, and it could help you to get a position as a network administrator or a systems administrator.

The CompTIA A+ Technician certification is another entry-level certification that is a great place for starting a career in IT. It will demonstrate your knowledge of PC maintenance, operating systems, and more, and it consists of two exams. It could help you to get a position as a desktop support technician or another related job.

The CompTIA Network+ is a similar certification for networking, where you will learn about hardware and the OSI model among other things.

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is recognized globally, and it demonstrates competency with information security. It will show employers that you can protect systems from attackers. It demonstrates more extensive skills, and the exam is larger and takes about six hours to complete. It could lead to a job as a security analyst.

The NetApp Certified Data Management Administrator (NCDA) certification is a storage-level certification, and it demonstrate show that you have a very good understanding of the NetApp storage systems.

More Advanced Certifications

If you have already broken into the IT industry and you want to take your career further, you may be interested in taking a more advanced certification.

The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification is a mid-level certification that shows that you can build solutions across a range of technologies. It involves different specializations like data platform, desktop infrastructure, private cloud, and more, and it is a five-step exam. It could lead to a position as a systems administrator or systems engineer.

You could also get certification in data science training online from a course provider, as you can find out from Simplilearn. This will provide you with the certification to prove your expertise in data science, and you will learn predictive analytics techniques and more.

Mobile App Development Certification

Mobile app development is a big and exciting area. It could help you to get a job working for a company, or you could find work on a freelance basis.

You could start by training up to be an Android Certified Application Developer, or get the GIAC GMOB certification.

Database Certification

You’ll always be in demand if you are good with databases, and you could get a job as a database developer, database architect, or data analyst.

Something like the IBM Info Management is a good option, and the ICCP CBIP and MCSA: SQL Server 2012 are also popular.

Cloud Certification

The cloud is another important area. More companies are moving to the cloud and adopting cloud technologies, and there is a lot of interest in this area, so it could be the perfect career path for you.

The AWS-CSA Professional certification is one of the most important, and others include the AWS-CSA Professional and MCSE: Private Cloud certifications.

Launch or Develop Your IT Career

Whether you want to enter the IT industry in an entry-level job, or you want to develop your career and take it further, these certifications all provide you with good options. Have a look at the certifications and decide which one would be most suitable for you right now at this stage in your career.

Then find somewhere you can get certified, which may be at an online course provider, and give your IT career a boost.

About the Author

Eve Howarth is a careers consultant who works mostly with college kids as they plan their futures. She writes about careers in her online articles which appear on education, college and career blogs.

Planning & Management

New Equipment and Machinery: The Top Employee Training Techniques

Post author By Ethan Theo
Post date October 14, 2016

Training new employees can be a daunting task for many businesses. Sometimes, they don’t have a complete training program; other times, they just don’t know exactly how to use the training programs they do have.

The problem is that proper training is one of the most important ways to get the most out of employees for longer periods of time. Well-trained employees are also happier knowing that they are completely competent at their job. Whether you’re company has trouble training new employees from the start, or if they just don’t have the proper training program down for teaching new equipment, here are a few pointers that can help.

Hire the Right People

A good training program begins with the hiring of the right people. Everyone isn’t cut out for every position in a business — some people make better managers, other make better workers — and you need to understand which person will shine where.

This can be difficult, but there are some basic things to look for when hiring. You want to hire someone who seems eager to work with you: it’s very difficult find someone who cares about your company from the outset, so this is a head start. Also, look for someone who is eager to learn. Every job in your company has a learning curve, and someone who looks forward to learning will be easier to train. And, as odd as it may sound, hire someone who is not exactly like you. This will help bring in new ideas and perspectives that may be able to help the company in the long run.

Finally, look for someone who is willing to take responsibility. This is a crucial trait that can sometimes be hard to come by, so when you find someone who possess it, jump at the opportunity to hire them. The training will be much easier.

Have Experts on Hand

Anytime you are training someone, you need to make sure that the person doing the training is the most knowledgeable person you have in that field. Learning new things — especially new pieces of equipment — can be a challenge, so having an expert can eliminate the many misunderstanding that can arise during training.

For example, if you are training someone on new powder coating equipment, like this from Reliant Finishing Systems, it will pay to have someone who has used the machine for years to show them the ropes. New machines are often complicated and can have many steps for operation that can be a challenge to learn. With an expert nearby, you can have them really drill down into the proper way the machine should be run, including the safety concerns and any insight they may have gained by using the machine over the years.

Make it Interesting

Whenever you train anybody on anything, you want to make sure that their full attention is on the task at hand at all times. This will ensure that the proper messages are getting through to them and that you will not waste time by having to repeat simple steps. The best way to do this is to keep the training interesting.

You don’t want to drone on or lecture the trainee. You want to engage them so that they feel like they are a part of the process, which will, in turn, make them want to know more. You can also use humor when training. It’s very difficult for people not to pay attention when they can laugh during a situation.

Always avoid long-winded speeches where the trainee doesn’t have anything to respond do. Keep them focused and entertained and they can learn any piece of equipment in time.

Don’t Go Too Fast

People can get “burned out” pretty quickly if you try to cram too much information into a training session. This will make the training less effective and may even force the trainer to stay on simple topics for longer than needed.

Rather, break training sessions into small chunks. Have a short lecture session followed by a hands-on-training moment, followed by a break. This will allow the trainee to process the information more efficiently than if you had a four-hour training session that seemed to blend together. Giving out too much information for too long will have a negative effect on your training sessions, so always mix it up and look for ways to keep the training session moving at a nice pace.

Training can be difficult, but remember these few tips and you can make each training session more effective.

About the Author:

Kiera Vincent works as a business consultant. With a number of years experience under his belt he is knowledgeable in a range of business needs whether marketing, recruitment, or money management.

Operations

Trends in Corporate Events: Riding the Tides of Change in Décor, Menus and Venues

Post author By Ethan Theo
Post date October 14, 2016

Everywhere you look, events are changing, and this is definitely the case when it comes to corporate ones too. From attendee engagement to décor, unique qualities are being added to help make these types of events even more exciting and engaging for the attendees.

It’s becoming increasingly important for companies to offer their guests a distinguished experience and here are just some of the ways in which the corporate event world is changing:

Finding New Venues

Traditionally, hotels were the most sought after places for corporate events as they were easy to book and ideal for gathering various amounts of people. However, many companies are now trying to find venues that give their gatherings a special edge (see examples at https://poet.co/venues/) opting for things like theme parks, casinos, concert venues and private houses. Some will even bring activities to their events, hosting murder mystery parties, for example.

These are proving successful because it provides more of an impact on the attendees, increasing the growth of attendance and prolonging the longevity of a company’s conferences. With memorable experiences created not only are the attendees impressed but the hosts have some great PR and promotional tools as a result.

Transforming a Venue

A lot of companies are also looking for different ways that they can add to the décor of their venue, adding more than just company banners to bring their branding to the location. Instead, they enlist the help of specialist décor companies who can bring fun games, experiential booths, furniture and linen to create a space that has the wow-factor for guests.

Because a corporate event is a prime marketing activity for any company, getting creative when it comes to the décor can really add to the overall impact. It helps add to the brand loyalty created with these types of events and will also help to engage employees. Plus, the more unique an event can be, the more media attention it will receive.

Getting Attendees Engaged in the Event

Another increasing trend is higher attendee engagement. Rather than letting attendees just sit and listen (and potentially switch off) for hours on end, the attendees are becoming a part of the event. This engagement can be found in things like audience participation through voting systems, video conferencing and live-feeds. Some may even use hashtags, specific apps and workshops.

Getting attendees involved in the event will help to provide them with a better experience. They’re more likely to learn something from the event when they’re involved in it as opposed to just sitting and looking at a presentation.

Going High-Tech

It’s perhaps not a surprise that many event organizers are using high-tech features within their events. Alongside the standard Wi-Fi and presentation tools needed, businesses are also focusing on more intuitive technology that will create a unique experience in their event. These include social media networking that happens whilst guests are attending the event (e.g. hashtags on Twitter), contests and surveys, language translation in real-time, navigation and GPS assistance for getting to the location, apps that feature workshops and presentations, information kiosks, and video feeds that can be watched on demand.

The possibilities really are endless when it comes to incorporating technology at a corporate event and it helps to get all of the guests involved and engaged with the activities. It personalizes the experience whilst allowing the hosts to get in touch with each of their guests, updating them on the event and keeping them in the loop.

Going Organic

As increasing amounts of pressure are put on companies to become sustainable, many corporate events are now using environmentally-friendly products, including food and the materials used in the décor. Some planners are also using their events to promote local produce, presenting themselves as a company that’s responsible and caring.

As a company is on show at an event like this, it’s important that they demonstrate how they’re part of the bigger picture. By showing commitment to local causes and by being responsible when it comes to the environment, they’re showcasing themselves as a company who’s dedicated to making a change. Many attendees will be looking for this, keen to see that a company is supporting other local businesses as well as the environment.

On the whole, corporate events are continuing to change. Gone are the days of traditional, stuffy environments where all attendees are bored to tears with presentations. Instead, companies are providing creative, unique event opportunities that engage attendees and provide a more rewarding experience.

About the Author:

Stephen McKnight works in the business events industry and can be found around the web sharing his tips and thoughts to help startups, as well as already established businesses get noticed.