Jody Hanson, PhD

Promotional merchandise is a cost effective and efficient way of connecting with your consumers, building brand awareness and generating more leads.  Large enterprises often give away freebies so that their potential consumers always remember them and can engage with them. But even small businesses can use promotional merchandise to their advantages.

Set your objective

What is your primary objective? Do you want to increase sales or just increase band awareness? Choose whatever you want, but do come up with KPIs that can help you measure success.  Why is this important? Because your choice of merchandise depends on what your goals are. You get a return on your investment only when you choose correctly.

Select a product

Selecting the right promotional product is vital.  Think about your customers, and get to know them well.  Get all the demographics data that you can about them, and use the information to figure out which kind of products they will value the most. 

Figure out for the duration for which the message should stay with potential consumers. As an example, clothing can be used for a long time.  Whichever product you choose, make sure that its quality is fine and is useful for your targeted audience.

Choose a supplier

Decide three names and then compare each of them using various factors like quality, product range, turnaround time, and cost. While price is important, it still shouldn’t be your only consideration. Other things matter just as much. 

Work out the costs

Promotional merchandise marketing is affordable, but you still you do have choices in terms of suppliers. Your total costs also depend on the product that you select and the volume which you want to produce. Check out all your options, decide a suitable product and volume, and ascertain that the total costs are within your budget.

Come up with a distribution plan

What is the per unit cost of your chosen product? The greater it is, the more targeted your campaign should be. Send out the merchandise to a smaller audience, and then begin tracking your results. 

You can give away these promotional products at meetings, conferences, exhibitions or networking events. Rather than just sending away the gift with the ordered product or mailing them, give it to them face to face for a deeper connection.

If your promotional product isn’t so expensive, then you can just include it with your packaged products or leave it at your kiosk for consumers to pick up.

If you sell your products or services to another business rather than individual consumers, then customgear.com.au can be a good choice.

How Education Can Reduce Crime

Education is an effective way to reduce crime and combat adversity. Instead of harsher laws to prevent crime, individuals can attain productivity in society with training and education. This can reduce the murder and crime rates, decrease the number of inmates in prison, and save both resources and money. 

There have been numerous studies conducted regarding the impact of education on crime. One study concerned children ages three to four, participating for fifteen years in an educational program. The study showed the children not enrolled in the preschool program did not have the same developmental opportunities as the other children. The chances of these kids being arrested before they turned eighteen was seventy percent higher than those who attended preschool. The study proved a child’s early development and education is critical regarding the development of their mental health. This can help prevent these children from committing crimes when they are older. 

The education children receive in the early stages plays a significant role in the development of their mental health. During a child’s first three years of life their behavioral and cognitive traits develop. This development provides the basis for their personalities in the future. One of the most important aspects are the learning skills children are taught during this time. This includes the best way to deal with confrontations and problems. When the child learns in an environment in which they feel safe, their confrontational skills are better developed. When a young child acts out due to difficulties with cooperation, they are taught non-violent and safe ways to handle their feelings in the educational program. There are instructors and teaches to show the child effective ways to channel any negative energy and frustrations into productive actions. The child gains the ability to control their discomfort and anger.

These characteristics and behavioral traits provide the basis for the mental health of the child. As the child grows, the concepts they have learned remain a part of their characteristics. When the child grows in an environment that is violent and abusive, and they do not have educational support available, the odds of becoming a potential criminal or a juvenile delinquent are significantly higher.

When issues regarding preventing crime are talked about in society, reactive measures and retaliation are the most common defense. If a community is experiencing an unusual amount of substance abuse, the immediate reaction is to incorporate harsher penalties and punishments to discourage further abuse. If the stricter punishments do not have any effect, the next step is usually to find a way to make the substances more difficult to attain. This places the focus on the prevention of the actions, but does not take the motivation into consideration. Education can have a much greater effect than punishment.

When education is made the primary goal in a child’s early education, the result is often less interest in committing a crime as the child grows into adulthood. An educational focus enables a more permanent solution to reducing crime due to the shift in mentality provided by the child’s upbringing and education. Role models are necessary to provide a strong moral compass to deter crime. This often comes from educators and teachers who have earned the respect and admiration of the child. This becomes especially important when the child’s parents work, and do not have as much time available to spend with their children. This lack of a role model can play a large role in the child committing a crime in the future.

When the child is attending a daycare program or a preschool, the void is successfully filled. Well planned programs, and educated teachers can teach the importance of morality to the children. The most critical years for these programs are preschool through grade twelve. These are the years the child develops their moral compass, and are given preparation to become a part of the workforce. This is when the life of the child starts to be determined.

Harsher laws have not proven an efficient detriment to prevent individuals from making errors and committing crimes. People can receive encouragement as children to become productive within society by receiving the necessary training and education. One of the major contributors to crime is poverty. When a child receives an education, and the tools needed for success, instead of turning to crime, they have the ability to build a life.

Education is the best way to combat adversity. Education fights against ignorance, and creates a respectful society with an open mind. When funding is placed on education instead of preventative measures, people become productive, contribute to society, and the number of delinquents is decreased.

Scott Groza  is one of the founders of the Groza Learning Center. He uses individualized academic programs to improve the performance of his students. His lengthy career in education has enabled him to achieve outstanding results by providing students with the development of a comphrenisve educational plan.

Starting a business is not a single step task. Time is the must thing with intelligence. Getting the title of the business owner is difficult but not impossible.

Most of the entrepreneurs establish the business because they have some understanding of the business. But only knowledge is not enough for the establishment of the business, for the owner of a successful business you have to read the guidelines to start the business. Try to put these instructions efficiently. Although you may have known about the steps that are important for the progress of the business, you have to focus on the significant points that play the decisive role in your business growth and success.

Consider your competitors as a challenge

When you take a step towards the establishment of the business, you have to focus on your targeted industry. You can conduct the short survey of the market to understand the targeted industry. If you have not enough time to perform the surveys, then you can hire another group of experts who can get the results of the survey.

Through the reviews, you can compete in the market. You will be capable enough to move your business towards the success if you have a challenge. So, your competitor is your challenge and by nature, you will perform the best in your business.

Obey the rules and regulations of the business

Successful and well-reputed business must have rules and regulations of the business. It is undeniable that the business which has strong background will have bright future because they have unique identification in the market. So, as a new entrepreneur, you have to take the proper license of your business and also have to follow the rules of the business. The most necessary rule is that you have to pay all taxes that apply to the business. It’s the way through which background of your business becomes stronger with the passage of the time.

Take expert advice and guideline

You may have some advance knowledge of the business and may you discover latest tactics of the business. Your knowledge and information will not compete with the guidance and advice of the expert person.

Only expert business pupils can cope with the business hurdles so don’t hesitate to take the expert opinion. Experts can save your money, time and enormous energy. Different consultants in different fields are playing their role to provide the guideline to the new ones. Business setup consultants in UAE are playing the positive role to give awareness about the business set up to the new business pupil. As business experts are the members of the different business consultants companies. Most importantly, through expert guideline, you will be able to estimate money for the business.

Understand your targeted customers

Your business will grow effectively if it fulfills the demand, requirement, and needs of the customer. It is because; all business services are for the customers. Customers are the real consumer of the business. So, to give growth to your business, you have to understand the targeted customers. You can estimate your targeted customers through the social platforms. Social platforms are the place where you can enquire different type of information from various people and can generate the list of targeted audience.

Do effective marketing strategy

Once you understand your targeted audience and establish your business under the needs of the customers. The next you have to apply some promotional tactics to give popularity to your business and to present your business as a brand in front of the outside world. For such purpose, you have to use the latest and popular marketing strategy. Like the content marketing, social media marketing, and Email marketing. Don’t ignore the promotional and marketing strategies. So, give your proper time and attention to these strategies to get the best outcomes.

Business set up is a way through which you can earn as much as you want. And of course, if there is a chance to make the business then there is also the chance of the loss of money because the establishment of the business is dependent on the investment. The only thing is that you have to stick with your targeted goals of your business so don’t think although the failure may occur in the path of the success. Keep your focus on success rather than failure.

Author Bio: Jessica Watson has been writing for websites and blogs for three years now. She had a fair share of writing in various niches but her main focus on business, finance, and social media, and technology.

Saving Money While Traveling Around The World

Traveling around the world is a goal for most people. However, traveling can be an expensive undertaking. Even with a lot of money, prudence is required for you to travel as many places as possible. You don’t want your finances to get in your way when it comes to touring the world.

If you decide to hike into the Andes, you want to enjoy the awesomeness of the scenery and the wilderness of the endless jungles without anything pulling you back.

The following steps will ensure that every penny is judiciously spent.

1. 1. Travel off-season

It is called peak season because everyone is trying to go there. Demand for flights, hotels and accommodations, entry tickets, local guides and tours, and basically everything else including food is high. With this crazy demand, the prices shoot to near doubles. Decent hotels charge you an arm and a leg for a suite.

During off-peak, the buzz is no more and even five-star hotels are struggling to get business. You can enjoy extremely good times off-season than you’ll ever imagine you could under any circumstance. At this time, you will not need to find deals; they will be thrown at you at every turn. Which means you will spend as little as possible

2. Keep haggling where possible

If you are an art collector, then you know that it is possible to get a curving for just $5 in some parts of the world. For some, the same curving, they will get it at $50 or even $500. It all depends on your haggling skills. When you travel to less developed worlds, you are likely to be the center of attraction and you will most likely be slapped with impossible prices of curio and souvenirs.

However, you don’t have to pay over the odds just because something looks majestic. Haggle until it becomes apparent that the person cannot go any lower. I prefer to work the math in my head about how much in local currency the person would get from my dollars. I also ask myself what he or she can buy with that. If I am satisfied, I will pay. Haggling is a good way to make friends too.

3. Look out for budget accommodations

They are everywhere. For example, you don’t have to visit the tourist site; most destinations there are expensive. However, if you visit the nearest town, you can still access the tourist attraction and still get quality accommodation on a cheap. Apartments, hostels, and surf-couching are also good for budget accommodation.

4. Use public transport

Trains and buses offer the best value for transport in most places. In most parts of the country, a cab will cost you up to 10 times what a bus would cost you. You will spend almost negligible sums to move for hundreds of kilometers using public transport. Public transport also offers you a chance to interact with the locals. Sometimes you make friends and end up staying with them for a day or two.

5. Use budget airlines and connection flights

Mainstream airlines tend to be a little expensive and somehow crowded compared to new airlines making it into the market. They offer budget-friendly tickets. Another way is to use connection flights. Apart from saving on time, they can be quite cheap. It is always good to book online because most airlines offer coupons and discounts on their online profiles. You don’t want to miss. Especially if you are traveling with your family, bulk tickets can be very cheap.

6. Visit cheap places

It is a no-brainer that if you visit places such as Greece, you are likely to spend less due to the economic downturn. Take advantage of struggling economies to travel there and enjoy while it last. In fact, these countries need you to boost their economy.

7. Avoid the beaten path

If you keep the beaten path, you are getting yourself trapped into a tourist siege. Everything is sold at a tourist premium. Travel elsewhere and discover new attractions.

About the author

Scott Carruthers — http://dscottcarrutherstravel.com/ —  is a travel and food enthusiast. He has toured over 25 countries around the globe. He is also keen on art and photography.

Since 2007, Vietnam has become a member of WTO (World Trade Organization). Vietnam is known as a developing country which received 10.2 million US dollars from FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in 2006, the highest amount since 1997. Countless foreign companies was established in Vietnam because of large market with more than 90 million peoples. English is an international language that should be a second language in Vietnam. Compared to other countries in Asean, such as The Philippine and Malaysia, Vietnamese English command need to follow them.

English learning and teaching have been a contention for years in Vietnam as teacher qualifications and assessment methodologies are blamed for students’ failure to use the language in real life. These two issues are a major problem. This is a good signal that people can recognize the issue, then coming up with solutions.

In 2008 Vietnam issued Government Decision 1400, the goal of which is: “To renovate thoroughly the tasks of teaching and learning foreign languages within the national educational system”. Project 2020 of MoET (Ministry of Education and Training) was created in 2010 to implement this national renovation. Under Project 2020 Vietnam wants most of its students to be able to use a foreign language, especially English, confidently in their study, daily communication, and work by 2020.

Followed by The Guardian, more than 80,000 English language teachers in Vietnam’s state schools are expected to be confident, intermediate-level users of English, and to pass a test to prove it, as part of an ambitious initiative by MoET to ensure that all young people leaving school by 2020 have a good grasp of the language. MoET demands that high school teachers reach the framework’s second-highest skill level (C1), while elementary school teachers must achieve the fourth-highest level (B1) and middle school educators the third-highest (B2). The shocking result of the test was that a mere 3-7 percent made the grade. In Ho Chi Minh City, a paltry 15.5 percent of 1,100 teachers passed the test, even though the southern economic hub has some of the country’s highest academic standards. (Followed by statistics of Tuoitrenews.vn in 2013).

B1, B2, and C1 themselves are not diplomas or certificates, they are just guidelines used to describe language command. Speakers of other languages often take common English tests such as TOEIC, TOEFL, or IELTS and get their scores compared to the framework. In that fashion, Vietnam should design a standardized testing system to assess teachers’ language proficiency like the above tests do. For the time being, TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS or other international equivalents can be utilized pending such a system.

For years Vietnamese schools have focused on English grammar and reading comprehension, so exams have had to be set this way. It is no wonder, then, that pedagogical colleges would train their future teachers in these areas so that they can teach their students to pass the exams. As a result, both students and their teachers are trained to be experts in grammatical structures and vocabulary, but not to utilize these skills as a language. As a result, many students graduated from high school could not basic communicate in English. Thus, the testing format should be transformed to test four skills including reading, listening, speaking and writing that will be the best solution.

Not like in countryside, students merely depend on state schools to learn English. In cities, there are variety choices to learn English. Recent years, we can see English centers grow as mushrooms and the quality upgrade by years. Parents might see how important of English is hence their children would be sent to language centers from the early ages. At centers, methods focus on interaction in English, that means students will learn in active ways such as playing-role games and English camping. There is no better method to learn English but take an English bath daily. Especially, teachers’ quality is a plus at language centers. The teachers have international certificates of English besides holding a pedagogical degree and learning English with native speakers that helps students pronounce correctly as English pronunciation standard. But not many children have an opportunity to study English at centers, that depends on family’s affluence.

Nowadays, the Internet plays a crucial role in studying everything including English. That gives a huge opportunity for everyone no matter where he is, countryside or city, lack of conditions or wealth. There are giant knowledge sources offering for free on the Internet, such as Google and Youtube. All the things people need is merely a proper device can access to the Internet. They can access to Youtube or Google, then search “how to speak like a native speaker”, “how to write an essay” or “how to be good at English pronunciation” and learn English for free of charge. The internet opens a new door of learning for people that enables people take an active choice and arrangement for their future.

Besides two issues should be solved in education system of Vietnam, there are a bright side for studying English for free by the internet. The world is flat for learning knowledge by a huge effect of the internet. The matters are how much your effort is and how your time-management is.

Link — llv.edu.vn