All posts by kThwlsU

Social networks are transforming the relationship between banks and their customers

Given the rise of social networks and technological innovation around the internet, financial institutions are launching initiatives with the aim of attracting and increasing the loyalty of more clients, and making their value chain more efficient.

Private banking, in which personal counseling and customer relations are particularly important, is one of the segments of the financial services market that can benefit the most from the implementation of new practices based on digital technology and networks. social. Continue reading Social networks are transforming the relationship between banks and their customers

Consumers: How are they allowed to influence when buying?

There is no one who resists in the current moment in which everything is being possible here and now … everything is known in real time and is shared in a constant way before a model that is able to segment by interests and needs, a model in which the word continues to hold the greatest power in terms of communication and community building; a model in which security in payment systems is fairly guaranteed and in which costs are considerably reduced. Continue reading Consumers: How are they allowed to influence when buying?

Is Brexit increasing demand for accountants?

The large recruitment firm, Robert Walters, has said that Brexit is boosting demand for lawyers, accountants and IT professionals. The probable cause is that companies are expecting changes in regulation and legislation as Brexit approaches.

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Professional salaries rising

Professional salaries seem to confirm the trend – in the three months to February 2018, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that salaries for this group had risen by 2.8%.

The trend is certainly good business for recruiters, with profits up, and record quarters being achieved. Again, Brexit appears to be the driving force for the increase in business. In fact, Robert Walter released figures showing a yearly increase of 41% in the availability of jobs in finance and accounting. But taking a contrary view, other large recruitment firms, such as Michael Page, ascribe the strong recruitment market simply to a shortage of skilled candidates, and high demand in some areas. They reject the idea that it has anything to do with Brexit. In fact if anything, they see Brexit as weakening confidence levels, driving down demand and keeping wages lower.

Labour market strengthening across the board

However, the ONS says that for the first time in a year, wages generally are up. The labour market is strengthening, with skills shortages, high employment and wages finally rising faster than inflation.

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Accountancy Age says that the rise in demand for accountants is specifically in the areas of tax, audit and advice, and that the regional centres – Reading, Bristol and Birmingham are performing strongly – https://www.accountancyage.com/2018/05/22/why-are-accountants-in-demand-in-2018/.

In Cheltenham accountants https://www.randall-payne.co.uk/ are also busy but tend to plan ahead for peaks and troughs in demand for services, so that clients are never kept waiting.

In the very big London-based accountancy firms, clients are quite likely to meet a contractor rather than an employee of the firm. Cheltenham accountants are more likely to recruit permanent new accountants to supplement their staff, and help the firm to provide a more personal service to clients.

Very large companies, however, find themselves having to use contract accountants, particularly to fill roles in areas such as audit. In some areas of the country, where it is hard to attract staff, non-EU nationals have been employed, and there is now some uncertainty about whether this will be possible after Brexit.

What is dark pattern and what does it mean for you?

Dark pattern is one of the less scrupulous aspects of web design that some sites employ to force users to take an action. Read on to find out more about dark pattern and how it can backfire.

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What is dark pattern?

Dark pattern design relies on deception. It also relies on the fact that there is just so much content on the web. When you visit a website, you are often inundated with text, ads, multimedia content and more, which means users are more likely to skim rather than read every word.

Dark pattern works by slipping in text, tick boxes, buttons and other design elements that ‘trick’ the user into doing something they may not actually want to do, such as signing up for a subscription or adding a product to an existing order. Other examples include making users jump through hoops to close their account, disguising adverts as something else to make people click through or forcing users to share additional private information. Consent notifications can also be a target for dark pattern design.

It is called ‘dark pattern’ because darker text and background colours are often used to make the design elements less prominent.

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What does it mean for you?

On some level, it might be tempting to employ dark pattern design. The idea of getting visitors to your site to do something you want them to do is, of course, appealing; however, if you have worked hard to drive organic traffic to your site with a view to these visitors converting and becoming loyal customers, tricking them into doing something is only going drive them away and negatively impact on your integrity and reputation. Many of us have been caught out by dark pattern deception and we can freely talk about our experiences on social media.

If you use professionals in web design in Yorkshire or elsewhere, such as https://www.etempa.co.uk/, you can be sure your site is set up to be user-friendly and encourages visitors to stick around for all the right reasons.

Overall, the best advice is to think twice before you dabble in the dark arts of dark pattern design. People who enjoy a positive experience on your website are far more likely to return and to praise your business to others.a

The scintillating short life of Jimi Hendrix

James Marshall Hendrix or Jimi as he was known is still regarded as one of the greatest and most talented Guitarist the world has ever seen. And all of this reputation is built on just four years of really mainstream interest in his music. The plaudits for him are endless, modern musicians of Rock and other genres hold him up as the pinnacle of performance and his art.  Guitar Shops Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Scotland, The USA any part of the world that has one will somewhere have a picture to him or a book of his music for you to learn and play. To save time, why not pop along to https://www.guitarsmiths.co.uk/ and see for yourself.

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He was born in Seattle, Washington in 1942. To say that he was of mixed race would be an understatement. His Grandfather was an African American and his Grandmother came from the Cherokee nation.  Seattle was to give us many great rock guitarists over the years but Hendrix was the first of a generation to come out of this Eastern USA city. He began early on the acoustic guitar at aged 15. He was heavily influenced by the blues of Muddy Waters and BB King. Before that he had practiced and pretended with a broom. That’s about the closest we could ever hope to emulate his skill.

His first role was as a paratrooper in the United States army. After being discharged with honour he decided to embark on a career in music. He soon became a popular figure with many big groups as a backing guitarist with the Isley brothers and one of the other greatest Rock and Roll artists Little Richard. He soon tired of being a backing guy and after moving to New York he formed Jimmy James and the Blues Flames who enjoyed some success on the Club scene.

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It was a chance meeting with Keith Richards’s girlfriend Linda Keith who introduced him to producers. Chas Chandler, ex of the Animals, was so impressed with his cover version of the song Hey Joe that he took him to London in 1966 and began to build a band around him to show case his talents. With Noel Redding on Bass and Mitch Mitchell on Drums the Jimi Hendrix experience was born. They were not just a rock band as Hendrix himself defined them “I’d like it to be called, ‘Free Feeling’. It’s a mixture of rock, freak-out, rave and blues”. This heady mix was to explode upon the music scene.  Several landmark albums, Are You experienced? and Electric Lady Land (featuring one of the most controversial album covers ever) and a series of tours and performances (see the link above for one of the most electrifying) that would cement his reputations the greatest.

He died at the stupidly young age of 27. He was burnt out by performance, expectation and also Drugs and Alcohol abuse. His legacy though remains. A man who could play the guitar with his teeth, behind his head and then set fire to it generally does.

Adobe acquires Demdex and brings audience optimization to the online Advertising market

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ADBE) announced that it has acquired the private company Demdex, a leading data management platform company. Global spending on online advertising is a large and growing market and is projected to reach US $ 109 billion by 2013 * when online advertising becomes an increasingly strategic part of the marketing components. The optimization of online audience is a critical factor for advertisers and publishers to maximize their investment in online advertising. The inclusion of Demdex in the Adobe® Online Marketing Suite, driven by Omniture®, offers an audience optimization solution that will allow advertisers and publishers to consistently deliver more relevant digital experiences to their customers. Continue reading Adobe acquires Demdex and brings audience optimization to the online Advertising market

How to maintain a lawn in a heatwave

Hot, dry summers mean brown, dry lawns, right? Well, in most cases this is normally true, however, there will always be those people that for some reason have lush and green lawns throughout the year. Let’s take a look at how they do it and how you can keep your lawn green all year long.

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Mow high

Cutting your lawn too short in the warm summer months is the worst thing you can do for your lawn. The longer the grass, the longer the roots will grow and longer roots are able to reach down for moisture even on the hottest of days. Make sure that you set your mower to the highest setting and you’ll be shocked at the difference such an action can make.

Watering

Watering your grass too frequently encourages short grass roots, which causes the grass to stress during times of drought. This means that you’ll have to water your lawn more frequently. A good rule of thumb is to keep your lawn longer, so that the roots are longer and to water it infrequently and deeply – about an inch of water a week will keep your lawn green during the summer. Just be sure to water early in the morning or late at night to avoid too much evaporation.

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Leave the cuttings

Don’t throw the cuttings away as they can actually be used as a slow releasing fertiliser for your lawn as they decompose. What’s more, they’re free.

Use sharp blades on your mower

Dull blades on mowers tear grass as opposed to cutting it, meaning that the grass actually heals more slowly and can acquire a brown look making it more prone to disease. The sharper the blade the cleaner the cut and the faster the grass will heal. If in doubt, hire professionals who carry out grounds maintenance Gloucestershire, has a good range http://gloucestershiregroundsmaintenance.co.uk, so that the job is done properly.

Aerate in autumn

According to http://time.com/money/2951475/greening-up-the-grass/ the best way to have a green lawn long term is to aerate it by creating hundreds of holes which loosen the soil and then top it with compost as well as grass seeds.

If you repeat this over a number of years you’ll improve not only the soil, but the grass type, giving you a greener lawn that is more drought resistant.

 

Garden Wedding Tips

Have you always dreamed of a garden wedding? Beautiful greenery, flowerbeds and rose bushes providing the backdrop for the most romantic day of your life. If you’re the proud owner of a stunning and highly maintained garden, you might think of holding your wedding reception right there at home. Why splash out on a venue when you have the perfect garden right on your doorstep? Today, couples desire a unique, individual and natural wedding, and that’s why garden reception are becoming increasingly popular. Here are some tips for planning your own garden wedding reception:

  1. Think About Season

This will be the top consideration for any outdoor event. A garden can look very different in April when compared to October. Choose a month where you can feel confident all those wonderful blooms will on display or the colours are just what you’re seeking. You’ll need to consider Mother Nature as your number one spot on the guest list!

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  1. Pests

Any outdoor event can be plagued by the presence of ants, wasps, bees and mosquitos (not all at the same time we hope!). Summer weddings should be prepared with citronella candles and other prevention methods. Always have a first aid kit to hand in case anyone does experience a bite or sting. You don’t want insect gate-crashers ruining your perfect event.

  1. Decorate to Complement Nature

Unlike an indoor venue, there isn’t a huge amount of decoration necessary when Mother Nature is providing the backdrop. A few personal touches will enhance the look, such as chair covers, garden ornaments or fairy lights on trees, for example. You shouldn’t need to include many floral displays! If you’re having caterers but don’t want a family member stuck making drinks all afternoon, why not consider adding Mobile Bar Hire Gloucester from https://www.wearethemoversandshakers.com/mobile-bar-hire-gloucestershire/?

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  1. Prepare for the Weather

Despite your choice of season or what the weather forecast says, British weather can still surprise us. For unseasonably warm weather, make sure you have plenty of shade in the form of a marquee, large parasols or canopies. These will also be useful for unexpected downpours too! If it feels a bit chilly, perhaps consider heat lamps.

  1. Be Creative with the Space

If your garden is more formal, then you might have quite defined spaces for your event to flow, such as patios, hedgerows and decorative trellises. For wilder, country gardens, you could consider creating some definition with partitioning or outdoor rooms. Perhaps an area for lounge furniture, a separate bar space marked out by potted plants and some decking laid for a dancefloor, for example. You can really go to town with your space, including elements like picnic blankets, wooden benches, deckchairs and barbecues.

Three boiler breakdown tips

To prevent the nightmare of a boiler breaking down, it’s best to be prepared and look after your boiler with regular servicing as well as learning a few quick tips to try should the worst happen and your boiler stops working.

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Check for simple solutions

If your boiler has stopped working, try the basics to get it fired back up. Turn it off and on again in case the thermostat or power supply has been accidentally turned off.

If the power supply is still connected but you’re not getting any sign of life in the boiler, check that you’re still getting power to other electrical appliances and if not contact your electricity supplier to see if there’s been a power cut.

Next, look for yоur pilot lіght. If it has gone out, try following the instructions in your manual to reignite it yourself and if it doesn’t come back on check your gas supply. Find out if other gas appliances in your house are working and if they’re not, get in touch with your gas supplier.

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Know when to talk to the experts

A quick call to professionals in boiler installation Bristol can give you advice on how to fix common boiler breakdown issues and arrange a time for an engineer to diagnose the problem in person.

Preventing problems with your boiler

According to Confused.com on average, modern boilers tend to last for 10 to 15 years. If your boiler is older than 15 years, it can be reassuring to install a new boiler to give you peace of mind.

Boilers tend to develop faults over the summer when they are used less frequently and their internal components risk seizing up. Bristol Boiler Service can help you by offering routine servicing so that you can be reassured your boiler is running smoothly, any parts that are broken can be fixed or replaced before they cause more parts to fail, and that any costly breakdowns will be unlikely.

Boiler installation Bristol should be carried out by experts and Gas Safe registered engineers.

Once you’ve invested in a new boiler, it makes sense to keep it in good condition and reduce the risk of it breaking down by getting it serviced annually. This is often a condition of the manufacturer’s warranty.