How to Test Them Before Investing in Inventory

When you’re holding inventory that isn’t selling, it’s tempting to think that ordering different products might be the key to boosting sales and turning a profit.
But before you make a big investment in more inventory, it’s important to get data and feedback about which products your audience really wants to buy. Luckily, you can do that without a major new product order, and there are even ways to do it without holding any inventory at all. That’s what we’re tackling today in Ask Shopify.

Question:

I realize the formula is different for every shop, but is there a general rule of thumb to follow when it comes to replenishing and expanding the product line when inventory isn't selling through as quickly? The thought of incurring a higher cost of investing in more products in hopes of turning a profit seems counter-intuitive, but maybe that's the only way to breakthrough and make a profit?

Answer:

The bad news is there’s no way to fully predict which product line extensions will resonate with your audience before you add them to your store.
The good news is this is a shared problem, so entrepreneurs have found a number of ways to tackle it successfully. The most important thing to keep in mind is that no one knows what will work best before they launch.
Because your product is live, you already have a data point: You know your existing inventory isn’t selling through as quickly as you’d like. That’s a tangible fact you can use to make decisions about what’s next, and your best next step is to figure out how to get more of those tangible facts for as little upfront investment as possible.
That’s what Marc Weisinger recommended when we sat down to get his take on your question. Marc runs Shopify’s merchant revenue acceleration team, where he helps ecommerce companies test and optimize their ad strategies to grow their businesses—and that testing approach is important whether you’re talking advertising or your product line.

“Your customers ultimately decide what the best product is and what they're interested in,” says Marc. “We might sit in a room and come up with the ‘perfect ad’. But regardless of what we think, there could be an option that performs even better, and we won’t know until we test it.”

So when you’re considering a product line extension to grow your business, it’s important to keep that in mind, and approach the problem with the same testing mentality.

“What you want to do is lower the bar to test something without a huge investment. If you can try something with a very low cost, that’s better than making a big bet with no information. Marketing's all about testing, experimenting, and doing better, right? You can think about products and inventory in a similar way. Get a few products, and see if you can sell them, and go from there.”

So how can you gather more information before you make a big decision about your product line? There are three main ways.

1. Leverage no-inventory-required options
2. Gather audience feedback
3. Test new products in small quantities

Leverage no-inventory-required options

There are ways to test out new products that don’t involve placing big bets or extensive inventory management these days.

“These days you can test stuff at a very low cost, at a very low barrier to entry,” says Marc. “So when you’re trying to figure out your inventory and product line, pick something, give it a go and test it to see if it works. If it does, double down in terms of your time investment, in terms of hiring someone, and marketing dollars. If not, test something else.”

If you’re testing out new designs, you could set them up using a print-on-demand service like Printful or Printify. It’s a quick way to get those products out into the world, and when you see which ones perform well, you can switch to printing them yourself or holding inventory without the risk of pre-ordering all of your original designs.
The same goes for dropshipping with an app like Oberlo, if you’re looking to test out the appeal of entirely new products or product categories.
You can also look into offering pre-orders for a new product you’re considering as a maker. The upfront investment is just a single item to take your product photos, and you can set up your product page and market it from there. This is a great way to gage interest in your ideas before investing the time and money in crafting your inventory.

Gather audience feedback

While there’s no better way to know someone will buy your products than launching and making a sale, there are other ways to gather valuable feedback from your audience.
Specifically, you can ask them for it by running focus groups, surveys, or connecting one-on-one.

“I've seen firsthand how much business owners learn when they run focus groups for different target markets, countries, or audiences. The wealth of knowledge that you get about your audience is really valuable.”

Depending on your brand, you might be able to recruit a focus group, or get your audience to take a survey, in one of a few ways.

“If you’re looking for feedback, give everyone a $20 gift certificate to Starbucks, and ask them questions. Or if you have an audience of people who are really excited about your brand, they might be willing to participate just because you want to talk to them.”

However you set it up, and whichever feedback method you go with, getting your audience’s input and opinions ahead of time can be invaluable when it comes to making your next inventory move. And while you’re thinking about how to gather your audience’s input, you want to make sure you’re planning to hear from multiple sources.

“You’re usually better off gathering more viewpoints or perspectives on anything, rather than fewer. You want to speak to a range of people to get feedback, because not everyone thinks the same way that you do.”

Test new product line extensions in small quantities

Sometimes there’s just no way around it: You need to invest in new product line extensions, and hold them as inventory, in order to get the information you need. But that doesn’t mean your hands are tied and that you need to spend hundreds of dollars on an untested product.
If you do have money to invest in new inventory, it’s best spent on getting a range of new products in, and doubling down on the ones that prove successful—as opposed to taking a big swing on a single product that might not work out.

“If you’re ordering small quantities, you might be paying more per unit, but that’s preferable to writing a check for $20,000 to bring in X amount of the same product if you don't know how well they're going to sell.”

It’s especially important because there are very few situations where you have a perfect data set to make decisions about your next move, so you want to make sure you’re creating conditions to get additional information.

“Having a variety of inventory is important because as entrepreneurs, we almost always have a limited scope and view of the market. Unless there's really good research, or it's not our first time around, we need to provide more options to start with, let the customers decide, and then really capitalize on that information.”

How you do that depends on the results you’re seeing, but Marc was quick to point out that if you see a product is moving quickly, it’s important to double down and give the successful product more prominent placement or more ad spend.

Look before you leap

These days, there are ways you can gather information to make a solid next move for your business without paying for expensive market research. A small investment in learning about your audience and testing new products can help you avoid over-investing in a product that ultimately won’t sell.
When you’re looking at your next steps towards profitability, an experimental mindset will help you approach the problem with as little risk as possible. And while there’s always some risk involved in running a business, managing and mitigating it as much as possible is always a smart approach.

About the Author

Desirae is a content creator at Shopify, and has zero chill when it comes to helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

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Awful Things Husbands Should Stop Doing To Their Wives (Must Read)

Whether we want to accept it or not, many women are victims of wicked men in bad marriages. These women are enduring bad behaviour, philandering, emotional abuse and even physical violence in the hands of men who should love and treat them like queens.

It is sad and heartbreaking that when a woman cries out for help when she can no longer take the treatment she is being subjected to at home by the man she calls her husband, people tell her to zip it. People indirectly blame her for the maltreatment she’s getting from her husband. They send her back heartbroken to her bad marriage.

Men tell her to stop complaining and pray for her husband to change. Women tell her to deal with it because they are going through horrible things at home too. Pastors tell them to go back home and submit more while church mummies tell them to be humble and virtuous so that their husbands can treat them better.

I don’t know why a woman who is going through hell in her marriage will be advised to keep praying for her abuser to change. The ironic thing is that this rule is only applicable to women. I haven’t heard of a man who was told to keep praying for his cheating wife to change. The double standards set for men and women in marriages are just nauseating.

After listening to many women talk about their marriages with so much sadness, I can say that many of them are married to awful husbands. The annoying thing is that these men don’t see anything wrong in treating their wives like animals. They claim that’s how their fathers treated their mothers and they were married for decades. They refuse to be taught how to treat their wives better.

If all you do is criticize your wife, you are a bad husband. She can’t be that bad. If she were that terrible, you wouldn’t have married her. Mr. Man, watch yourself and don’t get caught in the trap of criticizing your wife. Choose to see the good in your wife. Compliment her on all the things she is doing right.

You are not always right. And your beautiful wife is actually very good at making her own decisions and she can make very good decisions too. So stop feeling like you need to control where she’s going, what she’s doing, how much she’s spending and more. Instead of stressing about that, work together as a team, encouraging and supporting each other. Let your wife be her own person, and give her wings to fly.

Dear husband, your wife isn’t an object. She is your wife, your best friend and your queen. She deserves your utmost respect, especially when it comes to s exual intimacy. Always respect her and her body and work on establishing emotional connection and trust before thinking about sharing se xual intimacy with your wife. S ex can be the most unifying, fulfilling and beautiful thing in marriage when you both treat each other respectfully.

Don’t be too busy to call your wife, to text her or recognize her when she walks in the room. The next time you see her, give her a big hug and tell her you love her. Let her know she is your top priority by putting her first – ahead of work, time with your buddies, or watching football matches. Sit on the couch and talk to her. Tell her about your day, your thoughts, your worries, and your funny experiences.

That a woman is your wife doesn’t give you the right to use dirty words on her. Watch your mouth. Cut the swearing habit, and remove crude, rude and dirty language from your vocabulary. If you can’t use those words on strangers, don’t use them on your wife. Your wife deserves to hear words that a gentleman would speak, not that of a street boy.

Comparing your wife to your friend’s wife or the women you meet in the course of doing your job or business is one sure way to ruin your marriage, your life and your future. Simply put, don’t start imagining being the husband of these other women, you won’t see anything good in your wife when you do that. You can only see the things they present to you, you don’t know the real them.

Stop telling your wife that she should dress like your friend’s wife or make her hair the way your female colleague makes hers. That’s insulting and demeaning. The last thing your wife needs to hear is that she doesn’t measure up to your unrealistic expectations. Don’t compare your wife’s body, budgeting skills, or parenting skills to that of other women. Your comparisons will crush her self-esteem over time.

I laugh when some men claim that it is not our culture for them to cook, clean and take care of their children. I don’t know how keeping your home clean is beneath you. You are not doing your wife a favour by cooking for her and the kids and cleaning up after them. It’s your duty to take care of your family, don’t leave it for your wife alone. You will wear her out.

You may bring in half the income or all of it, but that doesn’t mean you can chill on the couch while your wife cleans, tidies and washes dishes day-in and day-out. Kick it up a notch and offer to help out. Clean the toilet, yes, the one you use every day, carry in the groceries and wash your wife’s clothes as well as that of your children. They are your children, not your wife’s alone. You and your wife are a team and ought to work side by side creating the home of your dreams.

If you lose your temper all the time, you are behaving like a child throwing tantrums. You are a grown man, and yelling at your wife is not appropriate, effective or helpful. Rage, lashing out, throwing things and threatening are all forms of abuse. Beating her is a crime. Learn to control your temper. You don’t go about beating your fellow men so why do you think it’s right to beat your wife?

If you think you can sneak off with that babe from work and your wife will never know, then you are kidding yourself and in for a very rude awakening. And honestly, even if your wife never found out, it’s still wrong. Don’t throw away everything that is truly meaningful for a fleeting moment of pleasure. Choose to be honest. Choose to be loyal. Live up to those promises you made to your bride. She deserves all that, and more.

One man said on Facebook last week that it is the norm for men to cheat but it should be done discreetly because they are men but women can’t try that because when the man paid her bride price, he paid for her vagina to be his forever. I truly do not understand this crap. If you want a faithful wife, you have to be a faithful husband. Stop expecting fidelity from the woman you cheat on.

If you are a bad husband, you should change. It doesn’t make you a woman wrapper to be a good husband. Decide to be better man and make changes so that you can enjoy your wife for life.

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The Beginner's Guide To Keyword Research For Ecommerce

If you're new to the world of ecommerce or online marketing in general, you've likely heard about search engine optimization (SEO). In a world where the majority of online traffic stems from a string of text typed into a search box, search engine optimization can be a deciding factor in the fate of your business.

SEO encompasses many tactics but the underlying principal is that you're helping Google and other search engines better understand what your ecommerce site is about and what it sells. This in return increases your visibility by increasing the chance search engines will list your site in the search results when potential customers are looking for the products you sell. 

One of the foundational tactics of SEO is keyword research. Keyword research is the simple art of better understanding the terminology your potential customers are using to find the products you're selling, then matching your website and marketing terminology. 

In this article we'll cover the basics of keyword research for ecommerce. The ultimate goal is to build a relevant list of keywords that you can refer back to and use as you build and optimize your site, write your product descriptions and craft your blog posts.

Over time, you'll help search engines better understand what your site is about so they can better match your store as a result for relevant search terms, leading in increased traffic and sales. 

Why Keyword Research Is Important

Every time someone does a search, the search engine must decide which handful of results to display from hundreds of thousands of possible pages. It's up to the search engine algorithms to determine the best and most relevant matches for every single search. This is why it's so important to choose your keywords carefully, so that the search engines can match and display your site in the search results to the most relevant keywords searches.
Not only is it important to rank on the first page of a search engine results page for relevant search terms, but it's equally important to rank in the top positions of the first page. To understand how big of difference position can make consider the graph below which shows search result position and average traffic share:

Image Source: Chitika
From the graph we learn that the first page of search results receives over 90% of the traffic share and the first three search results receive over 60% of the traffic. Most significantly, the difference between position ten (first page) and position 11 (second page) means a decrease in traffic from that particular search term by over 100%.
In short, the closer you are to the top of Google for relevant search terms the more traffic (and potential sales) you'll receive. Depending on the search term and the volume of searches per month being made for that search term, the difference in just a few positions can represent significant revenue loss in the long term. 

Understanding Keywords

Before you jump into doing keyword research for your online store, there are a few basic terms you'll come across that are important to know and understand.
These terms include: 
Keywords - A keyword(s), in the context of search engine optimization, is a particular word or phrase describing the content of a web page or site. Keywords act as shortcuts to sum up the content of a page or site. Keywords are part of a web page’s metadata that helps search engines match a page to an appropriate search query.
Longtail Keywords - Longtail keywords are simply keywords that contain three or more words. Longtail keywords are important (hence them having their own name) because they make up over 70% of online searches according to SEOMoz and also tend to convert better as they catch people further along in the buying cycle. Someone searching for "hair extensions" is likely in the early information gathering stage, however, someone searching for "20 inch brown hair extensions price" is likely further along the buying cycle and much closer to purchasing.
Search Volume (Avg. Monthly Searches) - Search volume is usually measured in average monthly searches. This is the total number of searches each month for each particular search phrase (keyword). Ideally you're looking for the keywords with the highest search volume. Ranking highly for search terms with higher search volumes means more potential traffic and conversion potential for you and your store.
Unfortunately, there is not a magic number that represents the perfect search volume for everyone. What constitutes the “right” search volume is going to be different for every site.
Competition - Search volume isn't the only thing you need to consider. Competition is equally, if not more important. There's no point in trying to rank for keywords you have no chance of ranking for. Competition refers to the difficulty of ranking for each particular keyword. In an ideal situation, your chosen keywords would have high search volume and low competition, however, these gold nuggets are difficult to find and will require some hard work, patience and maybe a little luck to find.
Keep in mind that the competition in Google's Keyword Planner Tool refers to paid advertising competitiveness of keywords rather than organic search competition, however, this is many times representative of the organic search competition as well. 

Brainstorming Your Initial List

Now that you understand why keyword research is important and some of the basic terminology, it's time to do your own keyword research. To begin, you'll need to brainstorm an initial list of search terms you believe your customers would search for to find your shop and the products you sell. Just grab a pen and paper and begin making a list of search terms you would use. At a minimum your brainstormed list of each keyword should be two words but you'll want to think of longtail keywords as well, up to four to five words or even more. 

The more words you brainstorm upfront, the more you'll have to work with to uncover new search terms so don't give up too easily. Try to build a list with as many relevant keywords as possible.

You may want to ask friends and family for their input as well but avoid asking them directly what they would search for and try to get them in front of a computer and ask them to search for your brand/products. Monitor what they search for and the links they click. This can provide some great, real-world insight into what an average person would search for.

Tools To Expand Your List

After you've done some initial brainstorming, you can consider a few tools to help expand your list. One of the simplest tools is Google's own suggestion feature. To see some of Google's suggestions, simply do a Google search and scroll to the bottom of the page and look at the related suggestions. 

A great tool for help with your brainstorming is Übersuggest. Übersuggest scrapes Google for Google suggestion keywords by taking your keyword and adding every letter of the alphabet from A to Z capturing the most frequently searched permutations.

Don't forget to consider keyword modifiers like “how to” or “where can I” etc. For example, someone may not be looking necessarily for "hair extensions" rather they may be looking for "how to get fuller, longer hair". 

Keyword Research Using The Google Keyword Planner Tool

Now that you have your initial list of brainstormed keywords, you can use these keywords to find more keywords using tools online. There are many tools you can use to conduct your keyword research, paid and free, however, one of the most popular tools for conducting keyword research is Google’s Keyword Planner Tool. The Google Keyword Planner Tool allows you to search for keywords to determine how many searches per month are being made for that term, how much competition there is competing for it and the related search terms.
The related search terms are important because it's going to expose you to other keywords that are similar but may have a greater number of searches, less competition or a combination of both.
To use the Google Keyword Planner Tool, you'll need a Google Adwords account which is free and only take a few minutes to get set up.
Once you have a Google Adwords account you'll need to login to your account and select Tools from the menu at the top, and then select Keyword Planner.
On the next screen, click Search for new keyword and ad group ideas.

Next, enter the keywords you've brainstormed from the previous section, either one at a time or a few at a time by separating each with a comma. We would recommend starting with one at a time to keep things simple.
Double check your settings under Targeting to make sure you're viewing search information that is relevant to you. For example, if you're based and ship to USA and Canada, you should be looking at information results for the USA and Canada.
Under Customize your search and Keyword options, you should turn on Only show ideas closely related to my search terms. This will provide much more relevant keywords, however, if you feel the keywords are too closely related or you wish you expand your search, feel free to try a search with this option turned off.


On the next screen, it will default to the Ad Group Ideas tab. Change that to the tab labelled Keyword Ideas.

The first column will list the original keyword(s) you searched for as well as closely related keywords. The second column shows you the number of searches being performed each month in the geographic area you specified. The third column is the level of competition for each keyword.
It is this information you'll now need to begin sifting through to begin building your keyword list. You can use the Keyword filters on the lefthand side of the screen to only show low and medium competition keywords and filter out the ones that would likely be too difficult to compete for. 

This will leave you with a list of keywords related to your original search that have a low and medium level of competition. As an example, we have colour coded one such query below, the yellow highlighted keywords being medium competition and the green highlighted keywords being low.

With this list you'll want to take the best terms that describe your site, pages and product offering, keeping in mind the search volume and competition, and record them, ideally in a spreadsheet. You'll want to repeat this process for all the brainstormed keywords you came up with.

Refining Your List And Checking It Twice

Now that you've come up with a list of relevant keywords it's time you double check your work. You may have got a little carried away and added in some keywords that were low competition, or high search volume but don't accurately describe your store and offering. In this phase you're going to look at each of your keywords and:
Ask yourself - Is the keyword relevant? If someone searches for that term and lands on an appropriate page on your site, will they find exactly what they are looking for?
Search for the keywords in Google and Bing - You've already looked at the competition strength in Google Keyword Planner but as mentioned prior, those levels represent paid search competition, which doesn't always translate over to organic search. Understanding which websites already rank for your keyword gives you valuable insight into the competition, and also how hard it will be to rank for the given term. If the top results are for major and well established brands, it's going to be more difficult to rank highly for your keyword.
Will all the keyword information you have gathered, you'll now want to really boil your list down. To start, you'll really want to focus on a handful of keywords (5-7) but it's a good idea to keep a bit of a broader list (15-20) to keep your options open and work on long term.

Conclusion

The good news is that after completing your keyword research and slowly implementing your chosen keywords throughout your site, Google should have a better understanding of what your online store is all about so it can better match you to the correct searches.
Keep in mind though that SEO and keyword research is an ongoing process. It takes time and patience to research and implement your keywords and more time for Google to pick up on these changes. Most importantly, over time, SEO changes, search engine algorithms change and the terms your customers use will change so make sure you routinely go over your keyword research to make sure it up-to-date and accurate.
Bonus: For more information on SEO and how to most effectively use your keyword list, check out the Shopify Ecommerce University SEO video series.

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About The Author

Richard Lazazzera is an ecommerce entrepreneur and Content Strategist at Shopify. Get more from Richard on Twitter.
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How To Get Rid Of Back Pain In Just 7 Minutes A Day With Exercise

A surgeon tells how stretching may help you avoid surgery

Of the 30 million Americans who suffer from low back pain, only about 10% of the cases are caused by conditions that require surgery, such as pinched nerves or a slipped disk. For the overwhelming majority of back pain sufferers, the culprit is tight, inflamed muscles.

Surprising: This inflammation usually is not caused by strain on the back muscles themselves, but rather a strain or injury to the spine—in particular, to one of five “motion segments” in the lower back.

Each segment, which is constructed to bend forward and back and side to side, consists of a disk (the spongy cushion between each pair of spinal vertebrae)…the two vertebrae directly above and below it…and the facets (joints) connecting the vertebrae to the disk.

Unfortunately, the segments’ disks or facets can be injured in a variety of ways—by lifting something the wrong way, twisting too far, sitting too long or even sneezing too hard—causing the surrounding muscles to contract in order to protect the spine from further damage. This contraction and the muscle inflammation that it produces is what causes the intense lower back pain that so many Americans are familiar with.

WHEN BACK PAIN STRIKES

Low back pain caused by inflammation usually subsides on its own within three to six weeks. However, the healing process can be accelerated significantly by taking over-the-counter ibuprofen (Motrin) for several days after injury to reduce inflammation if you don’t have an ulcer (follow label instructions)…and getting massage therapy to help loosen knotted muscles and increase healing blood flow to them. (If you suffer from severe back pain or back pain accompanied by fever, incontinence or weakness or numbness in your leg, see a doctor right away to rule out a condition that may require surgery, such as serious damage to disks, ligaments or nerves in the back.)

Also important: Perform the simple stretching routine described in this article. In my more than 16 years of practice as an orthopedic spine surgeon, it is the closest thing I’ve found to act as a “silver bullet” for back pain.

How it works: All of the muscles stretched in this routine attach to the pelvis and work in concert to stabilize the spine. Stretching increases blood flow to these specific muscles, thereby reducing the inflammation that leads to painful, tightened back muscles.

GETTING STARTED

In preparation for the back stretch routine described here, it’s important to learn a simple approach that systematically stimulates and strengthens your core (abdominal, back and pelvic muscles). This is one of the best ways to protect your spine. Although there are many types of exercises that strengthen the core, abdominal contractions are the easiest to perform.

What to do: Pretend that you have to urinate and then stop the flow—a movement known as aKegel exercise. Then while lying on your back, place your hands on your pelvis just above your genitals. Now imagine that someone is about to punch you in the stomach, and feel how your lower abdomen tightens protectively.

To do a full abdominal contraction, combine these two movements, holding the Kegel movement while tightening your lower abdomen. Then, continuously hold the full abdominal contraction during all of the stretches described in this article.

7-MINUTE STRETCHING ROUTINE

Do the following routine daily until your back pain eases (start out slowly and gently if you’re still in acute pain). Then continue doing it several times a week to prevent recurrences. Regularly stretching these muscles makes them stronger, leaving your lower spine less prone to painful, back-tightening strains.

1. Hamstring wall stretch. Lie face-up on a carpeted floor (or on a folded blanket for padding), positioning your body perpendicular inside a doorframe. Bend your right leg and place it through the door opening. Bring your buttocks as close to the wall as possible and place the heel of your left foot up against the wall until it is nearly straight. Next, slide your right leg forward on the floor until it’s straight, feeling a stretch in the back of your left leg. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat twice on each side.

2. Knees to chest stretch. Lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent. Use your hands to pull your right knee to your chest. Next, try to straighten your left leg on the floor. While keeping your right knee held to your chest, continue the stretch for 20 seconds, then switch sides and repeat. Finally, do the stretch by holding both knees to your chest for 10 seconds.

3. Spinal stretch. While on the floor with your left leg extended straight, pull your right knee to your chest (as in exercise #2), then put your right arm out to the side. Next, use your left hand to slowly pull your right knee toward your left side so that your right foot rests on the back of your left knee. Finally, turn your head toward your right side. Hold for 20 seconds, then reverse the movements and repeat.

4. Gluteal (buttocks) stretch. Lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent. Cross your right leg over your left, resting your right ankle on your left knee. Next, grab your left thigh with both hands and bring both legs toward your body. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat.

5. Hip flexor stretch.Kneel on your right knee (use a thin pillow for comfort) with your left leg bent 90º in front of you and your foot flat on the floor. Place your right hand on your waist and your left hand on top of your left leg. Inhale and then, on the exhale, lean forward into your right hip, feeling a stretch in the front of your right hip. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat.

6. Quadriceps stretch. While standing, hold on to the back of a sturdy chair with your left hand for balance. Grasp your right foot with your right hand and gently pull your right leg back and up, with your toes pointing upward. Be sure to keep your right knee close to your left leg. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat.

7. Total back stretch. Stand arm’s length in front of a table or other sturdy object and lean forward with knees slightly bent so that you can grasp the table edge with both hands. Keep your arms straight and your head level with your shoulders. Hold for 10 seconds.

Next, stand up straight with your left hand in front of you. Bring your right arm over your head with elbow bent, then bend your upper body gently to the left. Hold for 10 seconds, then switch sides and repeat.

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Ways To Control Your Spending & Improve Your Finances

You probably spent a lot during the festive period. We are in the New Year, it becomes a necessity for you to control your expenses because of the December expenses.

Hence, it’s time to start thinking about how to put a lid on your spending.

Here are the 5 ways to control your spending & improve your finances.

1. Prepare a budget

You already know this. But we have to keep reiterating as a reminder. Setting up a budget is the first step towards financial order. You can download a budgeting app to keep track of your income and expenses. Do not hesitate to dedicate a few days to this.

2. Set limits for total holiday spending

Give your debit card and your mind a holiday by limiting what you buy to what can safely come out of your bank account. Use the opportunity to create or get your budget into shape, and use it to decide how much money you can afford to spend.

3. Budget based on your own finances

A budget is key to controlled spending. Hence, budget based on the money you earn. This will prevent you from over-budgeting. For example, if you earn N50,000, your budget should not shoot past this amount.

4. Adopt an improved spending habit

Try to embrace or develop a new spending habit. For example, for every naira you spend on gifts, you could find a way to deduct that amount from your regular spending. Around the holidays, you can use those savings to buy presents. So, planning ahead is very important.

5. Organise group volunteering parties

Your friends probably struggle with overspending as much as you do over the holidays. Give them the relief of forgoing buying gifts for you by organising a group volunteer party where everyone brings something edible to the table.

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7 Surprising Health Benefits Of Honey And Milk

Milk and honey can do wonders if consumed individually but when taken together, they are surprisingly beneficial to our health. The health benefits of honey and milk include advantages in skin care and the increase in stamina.

Honey is traditionally used for health because of its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties, as well as its soothing, anti-inflammatory effects on respiratory issues. Milk, on the other hand, has traditionally been praised for its vitamin and mineral content, including vitamin A, B vitamins, and vitamin D, as well as calcium, animal protein, and lactic acid. However, these attributes can combine when milk and honey are taken together, resulting in some unique and desirable benefits.

Health benefits of honey and milk include:

1. Skin Care

Both honey and milk possess antimicrobial and cleansing properties. These properties are enhanced when the two are taken together. Numerous cleansers are prepared using milk and honey because the mixture gives the skin a healthy glow. One can also enjoy a milk and honey bath, by mixing them in equal quantities in the water. The combination is often used in popular spas throughout the world.

2. Aids in Digestion

Honey has long been known as a source of prebiotics, which are nutrients that stimulate the growth and development of probiotics that are beneficial bacteria growing and developing in our intestines and digestive system.

Prebiotics have demonstrated a stimulatory effect on bifidobacteria, a type of probiotic found in milk. The carbohydrates and oligosaccharides in honey promote the healthy and proper function of these beneficial bacteria that are essential for the healthy maintenance and function of the GI tract. When the bacterial balance in the digestive tract is good, it eliminates a number of irritating conditions including constipation, cramps and bloating, and it prevents the development of detrimental bacterial growth.

3. Boosts Stamina

A glass of milk and honey every morning is known to improve a person’s stamina. While milk contains proteins, honey contains the necessary carbohydrates required for an effective stimulus of the metabolism. Milk and honey together provide strength to everyone including children and the elderly.

Animal proteins from milk are broken down into basic amino acids by enzymes and are then reformed to create usable proteins for humans. The excess material in this transformation is then oxidized as usable energy. Proteins are an essential part of the human diet, and honey helps to stimulate their metabolism.

4. Bone Health

As research on honey continues, it is gradually becoming clear that honey acts as a carrier and a transport of nutrients from food throughout the body. Specifically, honey has shown itself to be integral in the body’s uptake of calcium, of which milk is a rich source. Therefore, consuming honey and milk together will not only give your body the necessary nutrient (calcium) to benefit your bone health but also the nutrient to maximize the absorption of it into your body. Proper calcium levels can prevent conditions like osteoporosis and inflammation of the joints as we age.

5. Prevents Insomnia

Honey and milk have both been traditionally used as remedies for insomnia and sleeplessness. Individually, they are both effective, but the effects are strengthened when taken together. Honey is one of the rare sugary foods causing a controlled increase in the amount of insulin being secreted, which also promotes tryptophan to be released into the brain.

Tryptophan is normally converted into serotonin, which induces a feeling of relaxation. Furthermore, serotonin is commonly converted to melatonin, a well-researched sleep aid. Through that rather confusing chemical pathway, honey and milk can be used to reduce sleeplessness.

6. Anti-aging Properties

The combination of milk and honey impacts not only the skin but also the rest of the body, by making it agile and youthful. People in many ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Indians, drank milk and honey to preserve their youth. Since milk and honey can help to ensure long life, the combination was known as “the elixir of life.”

The antioxidant properties that occur when milk and honey are combined are great because antioxidants attack the free radicals which so drastically affect the organ systems. They are also one of the primary causes of skin degradation, wrinkles, blotches, and general failing health of your body’s largest organ, the skin.

7. Antibacterial Properties

Research has shown that milk and honey have a more pronounced effect on staphylococcus bacteria than milk or honey when taken alone. It is also believed that honey, added to warm milk, cures constipation, flatulence, and intestinal disorders. It is also good for treating respiratory disorders such as colds and coughs.

The benefits of honey and milk on the human body are so enormous that the phrase “land of milk and honey,” which means “a place which has plenty” is commonly used. Jerusalem is referred as ‘The land of milk and honey’ in an Old Testament, so they probably enjoy a wealth of health benefits.

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4 Things You Should Consider Before Taking A New Job

Are you interested in changing jobs? If you are, you may already have a dream job in mind. Although it is nice to dream, it is important that you keep reality in mind. (Reality Check… Finding a new job can be difficult, but it is more than possible to do so). However, you do not want to just take any job offer that comes your way just because you are desperate. A few of the things that you should look out for in a new job are outlined below.

Stability
When searching for a new job, you will want to look for those that are intended to be long-term. Long-term positions are ideal if you are looking to quit your current, stable job. They are also ideal if you rely on your income to help support your family. You will want to have and possibly need to have income not only right away, but income that you can rely on for months or years to come. That is why temporary positions may not be in your best interest, as a job that only lasts one or two months may be unable to provide you with the security that you want and need.

Prospects
The ability to advance is another thing that you will want to look for in a new job. If you regularly find yourself setting goals that you would like to achieve, such as higher pay or a position in management, you will want to work for a company where you have the opportunity to advance. You will want to look for those that advertise that they like to promote from within. Promotion from within is what gives you a better chance of advancing. In fact, advancement is something that potential employers like to hear, so be sure to mention your hope for advancement in your job interviews.

Enhanced Package
Good, but realistic pay is something else that you should look for in a new job. Unless you are sure, you may want to try and refrain from taking a pay cut. If you are able to receive additional benefits that you currently do not have, a pay cut may be worth it. But it is advised that you proceed with caution. Before you search for a new job, you may want to create a budget for yourself. A budget can help you determine how much money you need to make. This will ensure that you are able to find a new job that allows you to adequately pay your bills and support your family.

Proximity To Home
Close proximity is another feature that you may want to look for in a new job. Location may not be an issue if you are willing to travel or relocate, but you should take your possible commute into consideration. Jobs that are miles away from home (intercity/state) may require extra travel time, possibly taking you away from your family. You also need to examine the cost of fuel consumption and wear on your vehicle.

So, as they say, look before you leap.Consider the above factors before taking up that new job to avoid a case of “out of the frying pan into the fire”.

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6 Things To Do When You Miss Your Scheduled Flight

Your flight was scheduled for 10 am. But you are still in traffic or held up somewhere as at 9:30 am. You are gasping for breath fearing the worst. You arrived at the airport past 10, low and behold the flight had taken off! What will you do? Well, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, got you covered as we share the things you should do.

Do not panic

Keeping calm can be hard when you miss a flight. What such circumstances really require is logical problem solving, a frame of mind best achieved when you are calm. This will enable you to direct your mind towards fixing the situation.

Ask the airline staff about your options

Depending on the reason why you missed your flight, you should reach out to the airline staff about your options before accepting your fate. You can make your decision based on their advice. But remember that you have favourable options if the reason for missing your flight was not your fault.

Check the departure boards

If your trip is very important that you cannot postpone or reschedule it, you can buy another ticket. Prior to this, check the departure boards to see which available airline is flying to your destination.

Reschedule your flight

After you have done everything humanly possible to travel and there is no solution, it is advisable that you reschedule your flight. This is even cheaper than booking an entirely new flight.

Make the call

Missing a flight is more painful if you are on a business trip. Nonetheless, endeavour to control the situation by letting whomever you are meeting know that you have missed your flight and you will not arrive on the agreed date. Kindly apologise and reschedule the meeting.

Learn from them mistakes

Mistakes do happen. But these same mistakes will happen repeatedly if we do not learn from them. So, whatever the reason for missing your flight may be, endeavour you take pragmatic actions to prevent them from occurring again.

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How to find the way to happiness?

Do you consider yourself to be a happy person?
If so, what makes you happy? Your family, your work, your friends or your religious beliefs? perhaps you maybe looking forward to what will actually make you happy like finishing school, getting a good job or buying a new expensive car.

Many people experience a measure of happiness when they reach a certain goal or obtain a desired item. But how long does the happy mood last? Mostly, you will agree with me that it's only temporary.

What then is happiness? Happiness is described as a state of well-being that is characterized by relative performance, by emotions ranging from more contentment to deep and intense joy in living and by a natural desire for it to continue. Further, as an ongoing state of well-being, happiness has been described, not as a destination or goal but as a journey.

What principles or qualities of life characterize the way of happiness? While some are more important than others, the following play a key role:

CONTENTMENT AND GENEROSITY
PHYSICAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE
LOVE
FORGIVENESS
PURPOSE IN LIFE
HOPE

A highly respected book of wisdom states "Happy are those who are blameless in their way." Let now consider qualities that promote happiness.

CONTENTMENT. "We have brought Nothing into the world and neither can we carry anything out. So, having food and clothing, we Will be content with these things." People who are content are not disposed to complain or grumble and their attitude protects them against envy. And because their desires do not exceed their means, they spare themselves needless anxiety and stress.

GENEROSITY. People who are generous are happy because they try to make other people happy to matter the little they offer which includes time and energy. They often gain in abundance what no amount of money can buy-love, respect and genuine friends, who give generously in return!

PUTTING PEOPLE BEFORE THINGS. " Better is a dish of vegetables where there's love than a fattened bull where there is hatred." The point? Loving relationships with others are more valuable than material riches. And love, as we shall see later, is vital to happiness.

With the above qualities mentioned above You can be happy. There are still other means to have a long lasting happiness. Do you have any other points to share with us? If you do, the comment box below will be happy to get your thoughts published immediately.

Do well to share this posts

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11 Basic Universal Dining Tips For Everyone

There are eating patterns that are peculiar to a certain people. If not, how do you explain using your hands to eat swallow or using chopsticks to eat ramen or using your fork and knife to eat grains? However, we take cognizance of the fact that there are universal proper dining manners that must be obeyed regardless of how you choose to eat and this post will be addressing those tips

Wait for the host to direct you to where to sit. If he doesn’t, table experts advise you sit on the left-hand side.

Do not pull out a seat for someone at the dining. We know it looks cute but that is totally against dinner etiquette (unless of course, he thinks treating you like a princess includes that).

Ensure everyone at the table gets served before you start eating. It is also ideal to wait for the host to give the go-ahead before you start eating.

Unfold your napkin and place it on your laps when you sit. Do this only after the host or hostess has done his. If you will leave the seat for a while, place the napkin on your seat and when you are done, fold it and place it on your left on the table.

Eat Quietly. Slurping an lip smacking can be annoying. Practice eating with your mouth closed.

Avoid placing your elbows on your table. Instead, sit upright and bring the food close to your mouth. If you are afraid that your food might fall, pick your food in small bits. That way, the food dropping is close to one or nothing at all

Stuffing your mouth with food can make you appear uncultured. Put it in your one portion at a time and in little quantities.

Don’t pick food from your partner’s plate. As ladies, we tend to think it is cute if we pick food from our neighbour’s plates especially if it is a guy. A lot of guys do not appreciate this but are only trying to be polite about it.

Don’t stretch your hands to collect something on the table. Politely tell the person close to what you want to pass it across.

Use a floss when you want to pick your teeth. This particular rule is subjective. As a lady, you should pick your teeth when you get to an enclosed area, not a public place.

Danger Alert: Do not eat overboard even if your host doesn’t complain, do not eat overboard.
Practice these tips and in no time, you’d be doing it right.

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