Running a subscription-based company has many benefits. The biggest benefit is the ability to generate a steady regular income (this can be particularly useful for trades that typically receive seasonal highs and lows). Subscriptions also allow you to build better relationships with customers. Below are just a few examples of subscription-based companies.
Gym
Many gyms require users to sign up as members in which they pay a monthly subscription. This allows members to use a gym’s services as frequently as they desire. A subscription-based service is typically more profitable than a per-visit payment system because it encourages clients to keep coming back to make the most of their membership (and even if a client doesn’t use your gym at all in a month, they still have to pay).
Magazine
Magazines are not as popular as they used to be, however there are still many successful examples. Many magazines allow customers to pay subscriptions in return for always getting the latest issue delivered to their door. A subscription model makes it easier to know how many copies to print and also ensures that your true fans are always able to get a copy - even if the local store runs out of stock.
Subscription box
Subscription boxes are boxes that are delivered to a subscriber’s door every month or every quarter. They typically contain specific themed contents. Examples include meal kits, beer, coffee, craft supplies, flowers, books, cheese and bath bombs. Such subscriptions are fun to curate and market because you can appeal to a specific niche interest (which could be of personal interest).
Software
Most software is subscription based - including various forms of business software, music production software, video production software and mobile apps. Subscription fees can prevent the need to charge clients huge amounts upfront, while also helping to pay for software maintenance fees. You don’t have to be a developer to get into the software industry - there are companies that specialise in SaaS development that can build your dream software for you. Just be wary that software is a very competitive market.
Video content
While services like YouTube allow you to build subscribers, these subscribers don’t pay to follow your content. However, there are ways in which you can turn subscribers into paid subscribers if you have an idea for a video channel. Services like Patreon allow you to build paid members who you can give access to exclusive content. And of course there are other services like OnlyFans (which tends to be for more adult material).
Lawn care
Lawn care service can often suffer in the winter because fewer people want to get their lawn cut. A subscription model can be a way to get around this and can help lawn services keep customers through the winter months. General gardening services can also benefit from such a system.
Pet grooming
You can also set up a subscription-based pet grooming service. This could involve quarterly payments that are accompanied by regular pet grooming sessions. Owners of certain dog breeds are likely to benefit from this most.
Private members clubs
Private members clubs encourage members to pay a fee for exclusive use of their club. In essence, it’s the same model as many private gyms, but instead of a gym the club could include other services like a swimming pool, spa facilities, a bar, pool tables, tennis courts, hotel rooms or even a private cinema.
It is a fact that appliances stop working. And when this happens, you may need to replace them. However, before you do, do some quick checks because there are reasons why this happens. And if you look after your appliances, you can often remedy any damage quickly and easily.
Internal Systems are Overheating
Almost all electrical appliances produce heat. And when heat builds up in a machine, it can cause a malfunction. Fortunately, most electrical appliances are designed to cut out when this happens to avoid an electrical fire. In some cases, it could be that the fan blower that spreads cool air around your device has died for whatever reason. So it could just be a case of replacing this for a fraction of the cost of getting a new machine. Always hire an expert to check for you.
They Need a Good Clean
Pretty much every appliance and the electrical device gets dirty. And it's almost unavoidable. Even in the cleanest homes, dust will get into your electronics. For most appliances, you can easily open them and clean some of the dust from vents and openings. But get an expert to clean deeper if you aren't qualified or comfortable doing this. Also, remember that the things we use to clean need to be cleaned. For instance, use limescale tablets in your washing machine.
Appliances Stop Working when Misused
Technology helps us all. But appliances will malfunction if you use them in ways other than they are intended. So don't use the CD tray to hold your coffee! Seriously though, most appliances are more fragile than they appear, even the heaviest such as fridges and washing machines. For example, if you lean on your washing machine door when loading it, it won't last long and will stop closing properly. So carefully read the manual for correct usage, and just be careful.
They Are Just Getting Old
Of course, some appliances have a lifespan and can only be repaired or upgraded so many times before they eventually die. It can be hard to let some things go. But the time often comes when you need to replace something. And things aren't made as well as they once were. For instance, in the 1950s, electrical devices were expected to last for 40 years. By the 1990s, the average lifespan of an electrical appliance was 4.5 years. Today, it is even less than before.
Constant Electrical Fluctuations
An unstable electrical current will burn out appliances. This can happen over time or instantly. For example, your home's electrical circuit might need repairing if it's old. Or lightning could strike nearby, causing a massive power surge. Either way, your home's appliances and electronics are at risk. Fortunately, a quick and easy way to prevent the worst from happening is to use surge protection devices. These are pretty cheap and will stop extra electricity damage.
Summary
Appliances stop working for various reasons. Some of the most common are that they are overheating, you can misuse them, causing damage, and some will just die of old age.
Fashion and style are often portrayed as a nice extra, something you can indulge in provided you have the disposable income to do so. Of course, this is true, there’s no obligation to wear well-designed clothes. After all, the amount of tech billionaires who wear cargo shorts and the same set of differently-shaded crew necks could fill a large stadium.
However, it’s also true to say that how we dress often reflects back how we feel about ourselves, and how we present ourselves to the world. In other words, dressing helps you look good, it ensures you lean into your best self, and it helps others see the best in you, too.
The secret here is that you don’t need to spend over the odds to dress well and feel great in your threads. A simple wardrobe, well-fitted and put together, can be fantastic. Some even design “capsule wardrobes,” where every item is chosen to match every other item, meaning that your morning outfit-wear won’t condemn you to analysis paralysis.
With that in mind, let’s consider how to lean int your best self through style:
A Statement Piece
A statement piece can feel great to wear, even if that’s only for certain scenarios. For instance, a watch you invest in, one with a good make, a beautiful face, and engineering that could possibly last decades upon decades if well-kept can showcase a real commitment to your image, a form of self-expression that remains enduring for quite some time. Moreover, a statement piece such as this can change with time, be that where you adorn a ring passed down in your family, or how you repair a favorite pair of boots.
A Provision For Every Event
You won’t need to fill your wardrobe to the brim with heavy-hitting stylish garments, only clothes that match the events you’re most used to. A man’s look is often complete when he has a good coat he can rely on, professional wear such as a blazer and smart trousers, and waistcoats and gilets for those semi-formal events. Well-fitted, these options help complete an outfit and prepare you for most events, ensuring you always have something to fall back on.
Culture & Personality Matters
Don’t let others dictate your style for you, infuse your personality and style into the threads you wear. For some, that might involve the culture they hail from, wearing particular garments styles such as robes or hats that work for them and add a degree of authenticity. Personality is often found in the trimmings, from the cufflinks you wear to the simple but effective pattern ties you treat your office colleagues to each day. A little humour can go a long way, as can the kind of accessory that works for you, be that a piercing or a set of balanced accessories that are symmetrically worn.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to lean into your best self through style, through, and through. Over time, this could help you feel freer in fashion, as opposed to tying yourself towards artificial rules.
Whether you run your business working from home or in a collaborative workspace environment, it is important to understand how to keep employees motivated so they can be the most productive. Should you wish to understand how to boost the productivity of your employees, here’s how.
Offer and track training measures Every employee will require proper training before they start working. Deploying the correct training techniques will ensure they understand how to work and how to stay safe at work.
Using lms for business will enable you to deploy and track the training of your employees. Hence, you can ensure every employee is well equipped with training knowledge, so they can be more productive and efficient when working.
Improve the workspace environment Another smart way to boost the productivity of your employees is to improve the workspace environment. Offering a comfortable and airy workspace will enable employees to stay focused and feel happier while working.
For instance, comfier desk chairs and relaxing social space for lunchtime are both beneficial to employee happiness and comfort, which can help them enhance their focus and be as productive as possible.
Optimise meetings
Your home office should be a small room that can hold a desk, computer equipment and some storage. You should also try and make sure that it has a door, so you can shut it to get some essential work done. A lot of people don’t have an unused space, and this is understandable, so they convert a spare room into a dual-purpose space. This is a great way for you to still get the working area you need, but that being said, you also need to take steps to make sure that everything is as perfect as possible for when you go to work.
Ensuring A Good Table Level
You need to ensure that your space has a desk or table accessible at work height. Right now, the industry standard is around 29 inches from the floor. If you are tall then you may want to increase the height even more. If you are short, then a lower height may be what you need. A lot of desks in this day and age come with an adjustable height. This can be done through the feet. That being said, you have to remember that the industry height is dependent on you using a paper and pen. It is not based on you using a keyboard and mouse, and this is why the tray on a computer desk is an inch or two lower. If you have space for a keyboard and mouse, then this is great, but when using it, make sure that your forearms are parallel to the ground and that your wrist is not up or down when you type or use the mouse.
Setting the Right Monitor Height
Get a monitor or two for your home office if you can. Just make sure that you avoid the cheapest monitor around because if you do go for something cheap then this can lead to eyestrain over prolonged use. You may find that you end up with migraines as the result of the fuzziness and that you also have to deal with the lower resolution as well, which can be frustrating. When searching for a monitor for your home office, try and get one that is 4K, QHD or WQHD. Your display connector could well be limiting the screen resolution as well, so try and take note of this if you can. Regarding placement, your monitor should be at the right level, so that if you look right ahead when you are sitting, your eyes are around 30% below the top of the screen. If you do this then you can keep your shoulders level, and this will avoid putting unnecessary strain on your back. If you are using a MAC or if you plan on using a laptop, then it could be worth accounting for the keyboard and screen height as well. If you have a MAC but want to remove the password so other people can access your system then check out this link: https://setapp.com/how-to/remove-password-on-maс.
Choosing a Suitable Office Chair
There are a lot of very bad chairs out there and you may find that they can injure you if you use them for too long. Deck chairs and dining chairs tend to be very bad for you and they are often not at the right height. If you can afford it, it is important that you get an adjustable office chair so you can get the right fit for your body and your workspace. These often go for a small fortune, but they are much better for you overall. If you want to go for a cheaper office chair then at least make sure that you test it out in person, as it is often impossible for you to see if a chair is a good fit for you or not, from a picture on a site.
Great Lighting and Preventing Eyestrain
It’s easy to underestimate the impact of your work environment. Lighting is one area that a lot of people do not give much consideration to. Ideally, you need to make sure that you have enough light to illuminate your workspace. This will allow you to read papers easily and it will also give you the chance to see objects. Overhead lighting is usually the best option here, such as the lighting that comes from a ceiling lamp. Just make sure that you do not place the lamp right next to the monitor because if you do then you will have to deal with competing light sources and even glare. You may need to invest in some additional lamps for lighting and this is fine, but make sure that you place them in a way where they do not create additional glare on the monitor screen and where they are not in your field of vision. It is also important to make sure that your monitor is not too bright and not too dim. If it is, then this can cause eyestrain. A good rule of thumb is that your computer lighting should be a little bit brighter than your ambient lighting. You also need to make the light bright enough so you can read any paper documents without needing to put additional light on. If you can make sure that this is the case, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to get the result you are looking for. If you want to make your home office work for you then this is easy to do when you know which steps to take. If you want to make further changes then it is wise for you to look at the office, you have now and identify your pain points. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier for you to make changes from there. If your office is too distracting because of the window and cars going by, then invest in some blinds so you can still let some natural light in without having to worry about a thing.
Key Takeaways: Technology and Business
Automation is changing the way businesses use employees and accelerating growth
Hybrid working environments are now commonplace thanks to digital workstations
Artificial intelligence is helping businesses to process large quantities of key data
- Cybersecurity is an evolving threat that can be better managed using technology
- It’s important to maintain the regulatory standards in your industry using technology
Task Automation
Businesses are full of repetitive tasks. They take the form of scheduling, content management, payroll processing, and project management. Until now, many of these tasks have been carried out by personnel within the company, but automated software is taking over with many benefits, including streamlined workflows, accurate accounting, and redistribution of employee talents.
Hybrid Working
Telecommuting has been around for some time, but it has become the norm in recent years. The Covid-19 pandemic was responsible for the shift to remote working environments, but many industries were moving in this direction anyway due to the benefits of remote working scenarios. At the same time, new technologies have made it more realistic for people to work from home.
In order for hybrid working environments to operate, technology is essential. It includes cloud computing, digital workstations, analytics technology, conferencing software, and lots more. However, businesses need to strike a balance between on-site and remote workers. Some industries, like catering, need workers to deliver restaurant quality napkins to the hotel site.
Artificial Intelligence
AI and machine learning are changing business like never before. Generative AI and algorithms can understand and process big data much better than humans, improving efficiency, accuracy, and workflow patterns. Businesses can also use AI to improve the customer experience with personalization and targeted ads. AI can be used in collaboration with humans for better results.
Improvements in efficiency and productivity, coupled with a reduction in costs, create new opportunities for growth in many sectors. Although AI offers plenty of benefits to businesses, there are some who believe it will affect workers and lead to unemployment. In reality, AI is used in collaboration with humans to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality of business output.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a primary concern of modern businesses. Phishing scams, malware, and ransomware have the power to ruin a business by stealing large quantities of customer data, creating network disruptions, as well as PR disasters when the company needs to go to court. Cybersecurity comes in different forms, but many of the systemic weaknesses are human.
Software, cloud services, and artificial intelligence all work together to create the best response to cyber threats. Using technology, businesses can reduce the impact of human error and maintain cybersecurity conventions over time. Along with more training for employees, companies can use AI to filter out malicious links and emails before they reach the workers.
Tighten Regulations
Businesses of all kinds need a regulatory framework for the integrity of the business. Compliance is not only necessary from a legal standpoint, but it creates confidence more confidence in customers when they see your business complies with industry standards. Regulations can be tightened and kept updated with efficient data collection and storage.
Technology has improved data collection and storage within a company helping with GDPR regulations and data privacy. Data in the business can also be controlled using technology by creating sign-in systems and digital logs and maintaining privacy for employees and visitors. All of this adds up to more security for the business and more confidence for staff and visitors.
Conclusion
No matter the industry or stage of business development, technology needs to be a part of the conversation. Whether it is analytics for improving the customer experience, artificial intelligence and automation to make your business more efficient and productive, or software to protect you from cybercrime, there is no way to stand still in a quickly evolving technological landscape.
Write, and rewrite, your emails
Create new marketing strategies
Automate repetitive and boring tasks
ChatGPT can also be used to automate repetitive tasks. For example, if you're a developer and want to automate your code testing and deployment process, ChatGPT can help.
To use ChatGPT for this kind of automation:
Set up an integration with the service that you want to automate (e.g., Travis CI)
Create a task in your chatbot that triggers when the service completes its work
ChatGPT is a simple tool that helps you write better emails. The app turns your email drafts into chat conversations so you can communicate more efficiently and save time doing it.
Reduce meetings and meetings attendees
Meetings are time-consuming and inefficient. They’re also expensive, with the average meeting costing £65 per person.
If you use ChatGPT, you can replace meetings with virtual ones—and reduce their number significantly. For example, if there are 10 people in your team who need to talk about something important but don't have time for a physical meeting, they could all participate in an online forum instead. You'd still get all of these benefits from ChatGPT:
Decisions made faster because everyone can see what each other is doing at any given moment (instead of waiting for everyone else to finish their part before moving on)
Reduced travel costs (no more flying out halfway across town for one person's lengthy explanation)
Conduct and automate research
Write a blog post or article in less than an hour.
Working from home is a great way to save money and time, but it comes with some unique challenges. I know that when I first started working from home back in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, my productivity was nowhere near where it needed to be. Here are some tips for becoming more productive when you work at home:
Find your work spot
- A computer with internet access (and preferably one that doesn't use too much electricity)
- A comfortable chair (it should also have good ergonomics)
- Natural light coming through windows that aren't too far away from where they're needed
Make a schedule and stick to it
- Set a routine, whether it's morning, afternoon or evening.
- Be consistent with your daily schedule no matter what time of year you're working from home.
Take breaks
Reduce noise pollution
Conclusion
1. Never miss a service. Your car’s service is very important and should never be skipped. When your car is serviced, a mechanic will check it thoroughly and will find any small issues and correct them before they develop into bigger, and more expensive repairs. Get Fixed Price Servicing at Harwoods.
2. Keep an eye on the fluids. Keep the motor oil, power steering fluid, and coolant topped up as an easy way to maintain the performance of your car. To find out how to check and maintain your fluid levels, check your owner’s manual.
3. Get to know your owner’s manual. Take the time to look over your owner’s manual from time to time. There’s a lot to remember about taking care of a car, and you won’t be able to remember it all. By checking your manual, you can refresh your memory and make sure you know how to do everything properly. If you are buying a second-hand car, make sure you get the manual.
4. Pay attention to warning lights. Cars have a lot of systems of sensors and warning lights that will let you know all kinds of things, from whether you’ve forgotten to replace the gas cap to whether your tires are low on air. Learn what the different warning lights on your car mean and what you should do if one comes on. If you can’t fix the problem yourself, take your car to a mechanic if a light comes on.
5. Check your tire pressure. The right tire pressure is essential for helping your car to handle properly. It also reduces the risk of premature wear and tire failure. Tires lose air every day. Most cars have a tire pressure warning system, but these only come on when the tire pressure drops to a dangerously low level. To stop this from happening, check your tire pressure monthly and add air if needed. Your owner’s manual can tell you how to determine the correct pressure. Never overinflate your tires, as this is just as dangerous as leaving them underinflated.
6. Pay attention to how the car feels. You should know how the car feels to handle when it’s is operating as it should be. Once you can do this, it will be easier to notice when something is wrong. You might notice a vibration, shudder, jerk, bump, or hesitation, which is a sign that something has changed. If you notice anything strange, make a note of the time and conditions when the symptom happens so you can tell your mechanic.
By knowing how to manage basic maintenance on your car, you can keep your car running at it’s best. A well-running car is cheaper and more enjoyable to run.
Your wardrobe should not be a shrine to the latest fashions and trends. In fact, it should be stuffed full of timeless pieces that will make you look smart and well put together, no matter what combination you choose to wear them in. With this in mind, there are a few essential pieces that every gent's wardrobe should hold. Read on to find out what they are.
Overcoat
An overcoat is a very special thing. In fact, if you find just the right one, you will have a piece that will last you for years, and enhance a whole range of different looks. From something more casual such as a shirt and jeans to your best office attire.
Of course, a good mens overcoat will do more than just help you look the part. In fact, it will also keep you warm while you are outside and stop the nip of the wind getting to you as well. Although for it to fulfil all of these essential functions, you do need to choose the type and style carefully.
With that in mind, those of us that are broader in the chest may benefit from a single-breasted coat. While, for those of us with a slimmer build, a double-breasted overcoat is usually the way to go. Although trying some on beforehand is always the best way to see for certain.
Dress Shoes
Casual Slacks
In this post, I thought I’d cover some of the most popular questions I’ve had since getting my hands on Stadia:
Does Stadia actually work?
Short answer - Yes! To get the most out of the service you’re going to need a substantial internet connection as the quality of the stream depends almost entirely on broadband speed. Google recommends anything over 10mb/sec should enable 4K quality but in our area we’re able to access speeds of over 350mb/sec so I’ve had absolutely no issues with input lag or stream quality. My entire experience has felt like I’m playing a new console rather than anything cloud-based. I’ve been playing at home mostly but have taken my PC to my local Starbucks and managed to get a pretty decent connection with only a few blips in quality. You can also use your phone as a hotspot to use mobile data, although unless you have unlimited data i wouldn’t recommend it as Stadia will use around
What’s the deal with Stadia Pro?
Stadia Pro is the subscription element of the platform and what many thought would enable Stadia to become the “Netflix of video games” by offering customers complete access the library of games for one monthly price. In actual fact, the service gives users access to 2 free games a month (chosen by Google) which are accessible as long as you keep your Pro subscription active. Destiny 2 was the main launch title for the Pro service but as soon as you decide to unsubscribe you loose access to the game. It’s nowhere need what people were expecting but for £8.99 it’s actual a pretty good deal given the quality of the games that Google are giving you.
Aside from the Pro service, you can buy access to games in a similar way to the Microsoft and Sony digital stores, with prices on Stadia currently quite competitive. My main concern around Stadia Pro is Google’s ability to keep adding must-have games every single month to keep users subscribed. So far games like Tomb Raider and Farming Simulator have been welcome additions and were probably games I otherwise wouldn’t have picked up had they not been included, but in 2020 Google will need to add some pretty impressive titles to keep users locked into that monthly fee of £8.99.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in any doubt as to whether Google Stadia is for you then I’d recommend waiting for the base version of the experience to launch - currently touted to be sometime in “Early 2020”. This will enable you to give the service a go without investing in any hardware at all so just create an account and purchase whatever games you like to play on PC or Mac. If you’re looking to play through your TV however, you’ll need a controller and a Chromecast Ultra which will currently set you back the best part of £120 as part of the Premiere Edition set up.
The success of Stadia ultimately relies on 2 things - The quality of the games that Google can entice developers to add to the platform, and how well the service copes when thousands more customers sign up early this year when the base version becomes available. Stadia will need the likes of FIFA and Call of Duty to name but a few to join the service if there can be any longevity to the platform. I’m already pretty convinced that Stadia will replace the need for me to upgrade my current console when the new XBOX arrives in December, again assuming that triple A titles make there way onto the service. It makes way more sense to me to pay the £120 to get set up on Stadia and never worry about lack of performance or visual quality than having to pay £400+ every few years for the latest and greatest hardware.
Have you tried out Stadia yet or have any questions about the platform?
Dreaming of buying a second-hand car? When buying a used car from a dealership or a classified ad it may be difficult to make your mind up. With tons of paperwork, hidden extras and fake ads, it's difficult to know where to turn for advice. So we’ve put together a few tips, tricks and expert advice to help you as you take the steps towards car ownership.
There are pros and cons of buying from a reputable dealership or are buying from a private sale, and both can sometimes make buying a secondhand car more hassle than it’s worth. So have a look at our comprehensive car purchasing guide to make you feel more at ease.
Many new cars are not bought outright with cash and are bought using finance or credit. To encourage drivers to take cars on finance; dealerships often incentivise them by offering deals. These deals often expire with three years and therefore this is a very common time for nearly new vehicles to be returned to the dealership in favour of a new model. As mentioned, it's also a great way to protect your wallet from car value depreciation hits as well as costly repairs once the car is more than five years' old. You also save yourself from any large depreciation hits and costly repairs.
The Basics
Make sure that you get the basics right or it might cost you dearly in the long run. You could find yourself shelling out for costly repairs, extortionate insurance and much more. Here are some general tips to consider when choosing and checking that second-hand motor.
Make Sure Your Finances Are In Order
The state of your finances could be the difference between you leaving the dealership with the car of your dreams or going home on the bus. Set aside some time to lay out your planned budget and expenditure and your ideal monthly repayment amount. Try and stick to it as best as you can as you don't want to be left with car payments that you can't afford and a big knock to your credit score. Use the internet to research the best way for you to personally finance your car- there are a multitude of options. From asking friends and family, to taking out a loan or even saving up stacks of cash from your side hustle, there's bound to be a way. Don't forget to include your down payment deposit, insurance and road tax costs in your calculations too.
Know Your Market
One of the easiest ways to keep up to date and knowledgeable about what's happening in the used car market is to get online and have a look. Head online and have a look for a Free Used Car Online Valuation to help you have all the information that you need. Hopefully, you’re now equipped with everything you will need to buy the used car of your dreams.
If you’re a blogger, you’ll be all too aware of how difficult it can be to make money. It takes time to grow your blog enough to make money, let alone an income. However, with consistency and determination, it can be done!
- Sell A Skill
4. Use Cashback Sites Cashback sites are a really simple way to have more money. Simply sign up and use them each time you go to buy something online and you can let the funds build up until you feel like withdrawing them.
5. Consider Matched Betting
Now, stay with me here. It sounds too good to be true, and so people automatically assume that it is. Matched betting can be tough to understand at first, but there are sites like Profit Accumulator that can walk you through it step by step - you can even sign up for free and make some money so you can see for yourself that it isn't a con. Of course there are drawbacks, and you do need to put time and effort into it. However, you can take advantage of free bets and make a decent amount of money when you do it right.
6. Make A YouTube Channel To Go With Your Blog
If you haven’t already got a YouTube channel, this could be a great way to make some money along side your blog. You will need to grow your YouTube channel and make regular videos, but once you monetise them you have the potential to make money from them forever.