In the age of professional sports, contact with the fans and getting the word out is of the utmost importance. Back in the day, the only way that sports stars communicated with their fans was through interviews or post-match briefings. 

Social media changed all that and fans have grown to expect more from their heroes. They want to feel as if they are part of the sports star’s life. They want to know more than just how good the game was. With the growing demand of the fans and what they expect, new trends in social media marketing have come to the fore.

Live streaming

Live sports have always been a big pull for the fans and sports viewership continues to increase year over year. Platforms like Facebook and YouTube have started to partner with some of the more traditional broadcasting entities to bring the live-action into the hand of more fans across the world. 

This means more exposure and more money. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Never has there been a better time to be a sports fan as the means for you to watch our team live has never been more diverse and convenient as today. 

Live tweeting

There are so many unforgettable moments in sports, whether you are at the game or watching from a pub with your mates. Social media has enabled fans to connect in ways that have never been imagined before. The stars need to have their fingers on the pulse and the pressure to get the word out is ever-growing. 

Companies like Greenfly enable the players to use sports social media effectively by pooling info and sending it to the fans as it happens. Now the stars can even post a tweet during half time and assure the fans that they are putting it all out there.     

Augmented reality

One of the best technologies to be utilized by sports, in general, is augmented reality. Everything from on-field umpire decisions to advertising is being done with augmented reality. Sports and advertising go hand in hand and many companies are now moving towards interactive marketing campaigns to bolster their revenue. 

These campaigns run throughout a game and fans have the opportunity to interact with the ad instead of watching it statically. The Dallas Cowboys recently had a photo stand where fans could take a picture with their favorite stars in their ‘pose with the pros;’ kiosk.  

eSports

eSports is fast becoming one of the most popular modes of advertising. It is one of the sporting genres that have seen tremendous growth during the last decade or so has been eSports. 

Professional gaming is growing across the globe and companies like Coca-Cola, Red Bull and Nike have seen the potential. They are spending huge amounts of money to drive eSports and endorse players and teams as they provide untapped access to millions of fans across the world. 

One of the reasons why eSports is so lucrative is that the fan base of the athlete is diverse and international. 

Social activism

Depending on your level of popularity, one of the main social media sports marketing trends is social activism. Brands are under pressure to support worthy causes and show their consumers that they also care. It is becoming more and more important for sports stars to use their authority and popularity to support a worthy cause. 

The fans tend to respond well and grow patriotic towards a person and brand when they see that they are tied to a worthy cause. Trends have shown that as soon as a sports personality gets involved in a cause, popularity increases. 

When you work from home, losing weight can be more difficult. It involves good nutrition, drinking enough water, and getting good quality sleep and exercise. It can be hard when you don’t have access to a gym and the food in your grocery cupboard is so close at hand. 

You’re probably spending long hours in front of your computer and you may not be moving much. Here are some tips to encourage you. 

1. You don’t need fancy workout equipment

If you think you don’t have the right equipment to work out at home, you’re mistaken. Many basic exercises don’t need fancy equipment and can be very effective when trying to lose weight. For example, workouts to lose belly fat can effectively increase your fat burn and tone up your abs. Fitwirr gives you exercises you can easily do at home to lose your belly fat and get a flat stomach. 

It helps to designate a specific space in your home for your workouts. You can keep any equipment, such as weights, mat and bands, in the space and everyone in the family will know not to interrupt when you’re in that space. Plan your workouts for the time when you feel most energized. 

2. Be mindful about what you put in your mouth

When you’re concentrating on your work, it’s easy to graze mindlessly on unhealthy snacks, like packets of chips. What will help is to make sure you only have healthy snacks available in your pantry and fridge. 

Make sure it’s just as easy for you to reach for these healthy snacks as it is for those packets of chips. If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit available that can satisfy your sweet cravings. It also helps to have some nutrient-dense meals available to eat during a lunch break. 

3. Small changes can make a difference

Stretch while you make your morning coffee, get up and walk around during conference calls and think of all the other ways you can spend more time moving during the day. Find exercises that you enjoy doing and do them consistently. 

This is often more effective than long sessions doing exercises you don’t enjoy. You’re more likely to stick with your exercise program if it isn’t such a chore. 

4. Drink more water but do it between meals

Experts recommend that adults should drink two liters or eight cups of water per day. If you drink water with your meals, you dilute the digestive juices, so you need to try to drink it between meals. 

If you keep a liter bottle of water next to you while you work and keep taking small sips from it, it makes drinking the required amount easy. When you drink enough water, it can also help you to feel full. 

5. Get the right amount of sleep

You may wonder what having enough sleep has to do with losing weight. Certain studies have found sleep deprivation to be a factor linked to weight gain because it can cause hormonal changes. 

It reduces leptin, the hormone that suppresses appetite and encourages you to expend energy. It increases Ghrelin which triggers feelings of hunger. Sleep deprivation can also make you crave more foods containing fat and sugar. 

When you work from home, the boundaries between work and home are blurred. This can make it more difficult for you to shut down when you want to go to sleep. You need to set some parameters, such as making sure you don’t keep taking business calls well into the evening and that you have time to relax before you go to bed. 

You’ve probably heard the scary stories about companies of varying sizes filing for bankruptcy because of the coronavirus. It can be hard enough to manage a small business without a pandemic that’s drastically affecting the economy. Luckily, there are plenty of tips that can help your small company weather through this crisis. Some of this advice can apply even without the coronavirus. These tips are all about preparing for the future. It’s hard to predict things like a pandemic, but the right preparations can make you ready for almost anything.

Balance Inventory with Sales

This tip requires you to keep track of each item’s sales. The popularity of a product can help you determine how much of it you should keep in supply. If it doesn’t get many sales, then you can stock up less of it. Say you usually obtain 300 of a product, but it doesn’t sell very well. You can acquire less of it next time, maybe 150, depending on how poorly the sales were. The opposite applies when a product is in higher demand.

Create a Financial Strategy for a Set Period

You should come up with a payment plan that will last about three months. Start by separating your critical expenses from unnecessary costs. Essential expenses include various bills, salaries, and other expenditures unique to your industry. Hold off on paying the unnecessary costs. Save the extra money you have for future expenses and emergencies. If you can, work with your property owner and wholesalers on establishing a temporary financial plan.

Keep Your Client Base Strong

It’s crucial to remember that your clients are going through this crisis, as well. A lot of them are probably at home on social media, meaning you can find ways to allow them to engage with your business. Words of encouragement, holding online events, and doing streams or video chats of your services are just a few ways that you and your consumers can interact with each other. Another way to get consumers to look in your direction is to hold a sweepstake where they can win coupons and gift cards. Build a robust community through your social networking. You can take what you’ve learned from this experience, such as learning more details about your target audience, and apply it long after the pandemic has passed.

Small Business Loans

Some businesses won’t be able to survive unless they have some extra financial help. Not everyone is qualified for the monetary aid from the government or won’t receive enough to stay afloat during this crisis. That’s why you can apply for multiple types of small business loans. You can borrow money from a bank or from a lender like Advance Point Capital that provides you with more than one option. You should consider getting this loan if you know you can pay it off. It’s useful if you need some extra money to pay bills, make investments, and much more without going bankrupt.

Many possibilities would allow your small business to survive this crisis. It’s essential that you first consider certain factors, like your budget, the industry your business is in, and your target audience. This pandemic can be a learning experience for how you can help your company prepare for the future. It could help you grow as a business owner. You could even find survival methods unique to your company, like how a toy store can upload videos on their social networking featuring kids playing with some of their most popular products. Most of all, stay optimistic and calm; the state you’re in dramatically affects your company, employees, and clients.

If you’re having a get-together, you can’t go wrong with a sweet and salty snack board. Everyone will find some snacks they like and it is easy to put together. You may have to replenish some of the items during the evening, but otherwise, you are able to enjoy the time together, even when you’re the host. 

To keep things very easy, make a list and order the items online. You can choose a pickup time or rely on home delivery. You can even ask your guests to bring along other snacks to go with your snack board. 

A wooden board or platters

You will need a wooden board or a large platter to stage your snacks. If they don’t fit onto one board, you can always surround a large board with some bowls or plates or use several platters. Customize the size of your display to how many guests you will have at your party. 

Sweet ideas

Chocolate, cookies and fruit all deserve a place on your snack board. Choose fruit like grapes and strawberries or yogurt-covered dates that are easy to pick up and pop in the mouth. You could also add some dried fruit, like apricots. Some candy, like a small bowl of jelly beans and some chocolate-covered peanuts, will satisfy those with a sweet tooth. 

Caramel-coated popcorn offers delectable sweetness to your snack board and you can also choose many other sweet flavors of gourmet, handcrafted popcorn from Proper Popcorn. Adam Johnson, the Head Chef and Manager, says, “We have over 50 flavors for you to choose from. Cookies and Cream is one of our best sellers and our white chocolate with pretzels is a delectable sweet and savory snack.” 

The family-owned and run store in Knoxville, Tennessee, offers six different sized bags of the handcrafted popcorn and you can also choose from various sized tins that contain up to three flavors. They do home delivery and you can also pick up your order in-store. 

Savory ideas

A few varieties of potato chips, chip dip, hummus, popcorn, pita chips, pretzels, crackers and cheese balls are all favorite salty snacks. A variety of different types of nuts, such as almonds, cashews and walnuts are always appreciated. Proper Popcorn also has salty popcorn treats, such as Tex Mex and Pizza. 

Although this is not a cheese board, you can include a few kinds of cheese. Salami is also a good choice and you can add some veggie sticks with a dip to round out your selection. 

Including one or two homemade savory treats will show that you’ve paid some time and attention to your snack board. Of course, one of the easiest savory snacks to make is roasted chickpeas. If you’re never done this before, you will be delighted by the taste. 

All you have to do is drain the can, dry the beans well, and then roast them with olive oil till they’re crunchy. To dry the beans, you can gently roll them between two dishtowels. 

Don’t skimp on the olive oil and when you pull them out of the oven, toss them with spices and seasonings to liven them up. You can also toast nuts like walnuts or cashews in a skillet on your stovetop and sprinkle them with spices of your choice. 

These are just a few ideas and you can get as creative as you like with the sweet and savory items you add. The idea is to keep it simple, however, so you don’t have to spend too much time running to the kitchen and back. 

For many people who hate the daily grind of traffic and office politics, the idea of working from home sounds like a dream come true. This has become a reality for a lot of them over the last couple of months because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.

Why people think that working from home is the best idea ever

From the outside, it seems that working from home has limitless benefits. 

Not only do you avoid spending hours sitting in your car during rush hour, but you also don’t need to dress up for work because no one will know you’re at your desk in your pajamas.  

You can sit in bed, on the couch, or outside in the garden while you work instead of being in a cramped office. There’s also the added advantage of not having anyone looking over your shoulder and observing your every move. 

The reality

Once the novelty of working from home wears off, you’ll find that there are different challenges to face if you want to be productive. 

First, there are endless distractions because it’s easy to find something else you’d prefer to be doing instead of working.  

Then there’s the challenge of staying focused and motivated, not to mention the fact that snacking is easier than ever and you’re probably getting less exercise. For many people, the result is anxiety and depression caused by isolation and the inability to create a healthy work-life balance.

CBD explained

Before that question can be broached, it’s essential to understand what CBD (cannabidiol) is and what it can do. CBD occurs in high concentrations in the leaves of the hemp plant. 

Quality American hemp from wtphemp.com produces some of the best CBD products money can buy.  

CBD is not the same as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is found in significant quantities in marijuana leaves and produces the ‘high’ people associate with cannabis use.  

Unlike THC, CBD does not have psychoactive properties and has not been found to be addictive, especially when produced by reputable manufacturers such as We The People HEMP. According to active research, however, CBD does seem to have several interesting medicinal properties. 

How can CBD help you work from home more effectively?

Scientists are only now starting to unravel the secrets of CBD and how it works in the body. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which consists of neuroreceptors in the brain, immune system, and digestive system.  

The ECS is designed to receive cannabinoids in the body and uses them to regulate several bodily functions, thereby bringing the body into homeostasis, a state of balance.

Here’s how CBD can make working from home easier:

• CBD helps to regulate hormones that affect your sleep patterns and appetite. People who work from home often complain that they start eating more, and their sleep pattern becomes disrupted.  
• By working with neuroreceptors in the brain, CBD can also help to modulate moods, thereby helping to resist feelings of depression and isolation.
• With improved sleep quality and a better sense of overall well-being, people who use CBD are less inclined to feel anxious or demotivated. Putting these feelings aside helps them to work more productively and remain focused on the task at hand. By avoiding distractions, they can get their work done on time. It also gives them more energy to tackle physical activities or undertake exercise programs.
• As CBD regulates leptin and ghrelin, the so-called hunger hormones, the body’s appetite returns to normal, preventing weight gain and unhealthy eating patterns.

Children thrive on routine and stability, and school forms a critical part of this structure. The reason children favor this approach is that it creates a sense of predictability and security for them. This allows them to develop and grow safe in the knowledge that they have a good idea of what each day holds for them.

That’s why a massive upheaval in a child’s life can be very stressful and traumatic. One of the things that will ‘rock their world’ the most is changing schools. However, it might be unavoidable, and you can mitigate the effects by being prepared for your child’s response at an age-appropriate level.

Prepare your child

To get your child ready for the idea of going to a new school, you, as a parent, need to be prepared. Discuss the move with your child so that they feel included in the process. 

You cannot accommodate all their opinions and desires, but you can at least let them feel they were able to offer their input. Be prepared for an emotional response from your child and give them room to express how they’re feeling. 

Find out about the availability of schools in the new area in which you will be settling if you’re moving. Moving is stressful enough, says Kenneth Coffey, owner of Coffey Bros Chicago Movers, so try to have the schooling side sorted out beforehand. If you’re staying put but moving your child to a new school, find out if other children at their existing school are also moving to the same school.

Now you can prepare your child by letting them talk about what they’ll miss about their old school and what they’re looking forward to about their new school. Don’t minimize their feelings of sadness, but maintain an enthusiastic approach.

School communication

During this time, you must remain in communication with staff at the child’s current school and the new school. Make sure that your child’s academic records and transcripts are ready to be sent to the next school. Ask teachers to include all relevant information about your child that they feel educators at the new school should know.

Find out how the new school integrates new attendees when they arrive so that you can discuss this with your child in advance. If you feel that there is enough reason to meet with the child’s teacher ahead of time, ask to schedule an appointment. 

This is especially relevant for parents of children with learning or behavioral difficulties. Individual needs should be recognized as early as possible, so highlighting them for the teacher will help.

Settling in

Once your child starts at their new school, you’re going to need to read their cues to see if they’re settling in and managing. This includes their body language, what they do and don’t tell you, and their overall demeanor. 

You’ll need to be patient as there is no set timetable for settling in at a new school. For some children, it will happen within the first few days, but for others, it could take weeks or even months. 

Make sure your child feels free to talk to you about how they’re feeling. Children sense that their parents are stressed out, and many will tell them everything is okay when it really isn’t. Encourage the child to put their best foot forward and be there with them every step of the way.

Since curriculum implementation may differ from one school to another, there may be some small gaps, such as topics your child’s old school hadn’t covered. Find out about these and ask the teacher for help to fill them.

People who qualify for Medicare Advantage Plans are making use of the opportunity to get their Medicare Part A and B medical benefits from private insurance companies. These companies are approved by Medicare to ensure that members receive their benefits. 

Many people make use of Medicare but, upon doing so, find that there are a lot of additional expenses for which they remain responsible. By using a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will access reduced out-of-pocket expenses than you would on Original Medicare.

Here’s what you need to know about qualifying for a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Plans operate within service areas

A service area is a designated region in which a Medicare Advantage Plan is licensed to offer coverage. The state is responsible for the licensing, and it is subject to Medicare approval. Within this service area, there are networks of healthcare facilities and practitioners responsible for delivering the covered services. 

You need to apply for a Medicare Advantage Plan that operates in the area in which you live. It is also vital that you have a list of the approved facilities and professionals you are authorized to use.

Qualification for Part A and Part B Medicare coverage

An important eligibility factor when it comes to the Medicare Advantage Plan is that you have to qualify for Medicare Part A and B. People over the age of 65 automatically qualify, as do some people who receive certain disability benefits. This rule continues to apply for the Medicare Advantage Plans 2021 will have available.

Part A of Medicare relates to hospitalization, while Part B is medical insurance for non-hospital treatments. Your Medicare Advantage Plan does not replace the coverage Medicare offers. All it does is provide you with an alternative way to access these benefits via a private insurance company that Medicare has approved.

Not only do you need to qualify for Medicare Part A and B coverage, but you also need to remain enrolled for them. If you try to disenroll yourself from Part B, your Medicare Advantage Plan will kick out any claims you make.

The dreaded Part B payment

Even with a Medicare Advantage Plan, you remain responsible for paying the difference between Medicare covers and what the healthcare professional charges. 

This is 20% of the total, and there is no cap on the maximum amount you will need to pay on Original Medicare. Your Medicare Advantage Plan might offer capped out-of-pocket maximums. This can be advantageous in the event of prolonged treatment for a chronic condition.

You are also liable for the monthly Part B premium, regardless of which Medicare Advantage Plan you choose. Find out if you qualify for a Part B premium subsidy from the government. Eligibility is based on your income. 

There are added benefits

Utilizing a Medicare Advantage Plan provides you with some additional services you would otherwise not have access to. These include routine dental and vision costs, wellness programs, and prescription drug costs. You should also find out about other benefits, such as gym memberships.

The price of a Medicare Advantage Plan might pleasantly surprise you. Some companies offer them at a zero premium. Others are competitively priced, with premiums payable monthly. 

Save the date

The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is an important date for Medicare Advantage Plan users to keep in mind. During this time, you can switch service providers or drop your plan and revert to Original Medicare. 

Outside this window of time, you may not make any alterations to your Medicare Advantage Plan. The exception applies to those who might lose their coverage after moving out of the service area. It is called a Special Enrollment Period.

Branding is how you promote your product, service, or company by distinguishing it from that of your competitors. Without your brand, your business will wither away and pass into obscurity, just one of millions that didn’t make it.

If this is a fate you would like to avoid, you need to taking branding seriously and make it a focal point of your business operations. Let’s break branding down into its components:

What is branding?

Branding is the practice of creating a name, a design, or symbol that people associate with your product, service, or company. You need to make an impression on your customers, and it must be a strong impression that they will remember. But it’s about far more than an aesthetically pleasing logo and a catchy slogan. There’s more to branding than that.

Your brand must give customers an indication of what they can expect from you and why they should choose your company over another. So, branding is about creating a perception of your product, service, or company’s superiority. It’s a tall order, especially when you are operating in a fiercely competitive market.

The importance of branding

Your brand should make an impact on the market if you want it to be successful. It gets you the recognition you need to make sure your doors stay open. Your logo is important as it is usually the customer’s first point of departure when they engage with you. It’s what you build onto that logo that will strengthen your branding.

You need to build on your logo with a brand promise that your customers will believe, backed by good customer service and an excellent reputation. This is where Six Sigma comes in, according to Peter Peterka, of the 6Sigma.us website.

The Six Sigma approach to branding

The global Six Sigma approach to marketing and branding is the DMADV process. Broken down, it means this:

D – Defining the need for branding intervention. There must be a reason your branding needs attention. It could be that your market share has declined, or that you haven’t told your customers enough about your product, service, or company. You may not have gotten the foothold you wanted in the market, and it’s time to do something about it.

M – Measuring where you are now and projecting where you would like to be in the future. You’ll be collecting data about your current market share, sales figures, and customer perception. The first two are easily obtained. The third involves market research using surveys, questionnaires, and focus groups to find out where you stand with your clients and suppliers. 

A – Analyzing your current process of meeting customer goals with your branding strategy to evaluate where the gaps or problems lie.

D – Designing the interventions you’ll need to put in place to make your planned interventions successful.

V – Verifying whether the interventions have been a success by comparing measurable data with that collected earlier. The results will inform your next branding decision. If there has been no real change, it will be time to go back to the drawing board and see what else you can try.

How Six Sigma can revolutionize your branding approach

Six Sigma is a methodology that ensures companies are having data-driven conversations when it comes to their branding and marketing strategies. Whereas people assumed in the past that marketing and branding were an art form, the truth is that there is an element of science in them as well, in the form of authentic statistics. 

The success of brands today is largely down to them being able to find the balance between art and science and apply them both as a strategy. Together, they create great potential for outstanding outcomes.

When searching on Google, you’ve probably noticed that you get answers to your questions displayed at the top of the search results page. These answers appear above the results ranked first organically. It’s a coveted position that brings traffic to your website and shows that you’re providing useful answers to the questions users are asking. 

The content that appears in the answer box is regarded by Google as the best answer to the question. It comes mostly from unbiased, trustworthy sites, such as “.edu” sites and “org” sites and may consist of text, images, graphs, maps and videos. 

SEO Subscription is a full-service SEO agency that can help you with Google Answer Box. It develops content strategies for forward-thinking companies. It has a proven track record for improving search engine rankings and a Houston SEO consultant can hone in on what will work for your business and improve your results. 

If you want to appear in the Google Answer Box, you need to ask yourself the following questions.

Have I identified queries in my keyword research that ask a question? 

One way to do this is to identify what language customers are using when asking questions. Talk to colleagues in sales and call centers to find out. You can build a whole keyword list around the phrases your customers are using. You can expand the list by taking note of “searches-related–to” and “people-also-ask” to give you clues. 

Does the current content ranking in the answer box clearly address the user’s question? 

Take your keyword list and type each one into the search bar. Make detailed notes about what’s featured in the box. Look at the format and see if answers are displayed in a bulleted list, paragraph or a table. Note the words and phrases used and the length of the answers. 

If the current answers are lacking in substance or accuracy, you could leapfrog them by providing more accurate, complete or better-formatted answers. 

Did they answer one question but not others readers would find important? If you identify and answer those related questions, Google may find you’re offering a better answer. Use some audience feedback to test different formats that you think would best answer user’s questions. 

Is my content formatted correctly? 

The content in the Google answer box appears in many forms but you need to make sure your content is formatted in such a way that it provides users with what they want. Answers in the box usually have clear steps, definitions, ordered lists and easy to follow instructions. 

Make the question you’re asking an H2 header as a clue for Google to discover it and provide the answer below it. If the preferred format in the answer box is in the form of a paragraph, try it in a paragraph and if it’s in the form of a table, use a table. 

Are my answers accurate? 

Google favors strong, straightforward correct answers. Some information is subjective but Google tends to look at many trusted sites for words, phrases and structured information that match up many times. For example, if the statistics you offer don’t match up with those on many trusted sites, Google will trust your statistics a little less. 

If people are looking for a direct black-and-white answer, they may be satisfied with what they find in the box and not click through to your website. If they’re doing research and want a more detailed answer, they will usually click through. 

In both of these scenarios, you can benefit. Not only will you receive recognition for providing a relevant answer but you will receive clicks and traffic from research-oriented queries.