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The Most Active Social Media Platforms in 2018

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Over a billion of people are now using the Internet every day. Even the third-world countries that need some digital upgrading are slowly catching up – such as Africa which has one of the fastest growing rates. Because of this, on top of more affordable smartphone devices today, social media continues to grow rapidly as well.

Social Media by far is the most popular service on the internet today. People do not just use them for personal purposes, brands utilize them as well to advertise their products and spread awareness.

Today, Facebook has two billion monthly active users and continues to be the most popular social network by far. However, due to a number of different trends, Facebook is only the number one social media website in 129 to 137 countries. China, in particular, does not use this medium. In fact, Twitter and Instagram – both owned by Facebook are also blocked in this country.

China is the most populated place on Earth. If you think about it, anything that is popular in this country can statistically overturn any other trends after Facebook. In this country, they use QZone. It is a social media network with 632 million active users as of the year 2017.

After Facebook, Instagram takes the lead of 600 million active users. This is actually the social network that comes in second to Facebook in the United States and most of the Western Europe Countries in the year 2017 as well.

What is the recent update on Social Media Popularity for 2018?

Dreamrow.com has combined multiple reports and data on social media sites, and according to them, Facebook has about 2.2 billion active users as of March 2018, Youtube now stands at 1.8 billion, and Twitter comes in at third place with 336 million active users on the first quarter of this year.

In conclusion, the top three social media platforms for 2018 are Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. So, what makes these three platforms so popular and successful?

Facebook

Some people may beg to differ, but Facebook is remarkably simple to use. Because its creators have made it user-friendly, almost anybody at any age can start using them within hours. Facebook is used to express and share real-life experiences. And because its purpose is very social, people no longer use them for personal use only.

Businesses, brands, and even government organizations have used them to share news, advertise products and market brands. People can easily post their feelings, share emotional videos and recommend various businesses to their Friends List.

Youtube

Youtube is a video platform for content creators. It has a wide plethora of viewing options where people can gain information about beauty and lifestyle tips. This is where people primarily go to find tutorials, reviews, and DIYs. Because the content creators here enjoy all the creative freedom on how they produce their own videos, they establish a more personal relationship with their viewers.

The video blogs or commonly known as “vlogs” give this site an edge over the mainstream media. With billions of channels, people can watch, you can count on that there is always something new to watch.

Twitter

Just like Facebook, Twitter is user-friendly. You just have to input your status or message and hit the update button. Furthermore, its interface is as simple as it can be. You can easily view the tweets of your friends and stay updated with any news outlets that you are following.

Even the leading traditional publications such as the Time Magazine or the New York Times have adopted Twitter as a means to spread the important and relevant news. On top of this, celebrities use Twitter as a medium to reach out to their fans.

In 2018, almost everybody has a profound understanding of what social media is all about. For some, it is a platform to express their own opinion, while others use it for their business advantage. They have definitely changed the way people, and organizations interact with one another.

5 Destinations In India That Won’t Empty Your Pockets

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We all know the cost of traveling and how difficult it is to find cheaper destinations. This prevents us from potentially go to places that we would love to visit. For travelers who need to stay on a budget, it impedes our desires to go to the places we prefer. But with a lot of research and planning, there are affordable culture-rich countries you can visit.

India, as we all know, is one of the oldest civilizations in history. At present time, it is consistently ranked as one of the cheapest travel and budget friendly countries we can visit in the world. And due to the fact it is a multi-cultural country, you will not feel like you have only visited one place!

If you are enticed to wander around without worrying too much about the money you have to spend, here are some of the beautiful destinations in India that will not require to burn your entire savings account.

Goa

Goa has some of the best restaurants, beaches, inns, apartments, and churches in the country. You can find the cheapest accommodation at available inns nearby and renting a bike for your transportation to roam around the place is a great way to get some exercise as well.

You can enjoy your time at the beach and perhaps consume very cheap liquor with friends and family. It is believed that everyone needs to come across Goa at least once in their lifetime.

Varanasi

If you are looking for a travel destination in India that exudes spirituality, Varanasi is the place to visit. Locally known as Benera, it is one of the seven holy cities in Hinduism. Because of its famous name, guesthouses and hotels that range from cheap to luxurious are situated everywhere in the area to attract more visitors.

Food in Varanasi is also incredibly cheap. You can take long walks along the ghats and enjoy the scenery of colorful and vibrant temples.

Amritsar

A place for devout believers, random tourists and ultimate foodies, Amritsar is a city with divine ardaas of the Golden Temple that attracts tourists from all over the globe. To save a little bit on your budget, you can stay at the Golden Temple for free and savor the local dish called langar.

Another dish you can enjoy in Amritsar is curry. Seasoned with spices like chili powder, cayenne, turmeric curcumin, star anise and many more. The spices used in this dish is believed to treat many ailments. One good example of it is how curcumin benefits arthritis and other inflammation related diseases. It is included in the Glucosamine Chondroitin Turmeric supplement that helps remedy soreness and pain in the joints.

You can find a variety of authentic Indian dishes around Jalianwala Bagh or scoff and find restaurants at affordable rates that will surely be budget friendly.

Pondicherry

This place is commonly known as the French Riviera of the East due to its French influences in the Union Territory. Pondicherry is known for its tranquility, beauty, tasty food, pristine beaches, French inspired infrastructures, excellent wine, wonderful Ashrams and rich culture. It is best for you to stay at the Auroville Ashram as their accommodations are priced reasonably well.

Gokarna

for tourists who wish to find a more peaceful place, Gokarna is a faultless beach town located in Karnataka. This area is admired by many tourists and locals for its splendor, serenity and an appealing place of worship and meditation.

You can stay at the guest houses and home stays around this location. They are cheap and very accommodating to their guests. You need not worry about your food as well as most guest houses have their own mini diners where they can serve food to their guests.

Traveling does not need to be a luxury. If you simply take the time to research travel blogs, cheap air fares and travel testimonials, you will have an idea how much money you need to prepare for your trip. If you are well equipped with such information, you would not have any reasons not to travel, in particular to India.

What Is SEO Exactly

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If you are an aspiring blogger, a digital marketer or a business owner, you have probably seen the term SEO thrown around. But what does this three-letter-term exactly mean? SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization. For many entrepreneurs and newbie marketers, learning this concept can feel like a nightmare.

Before you get lost in the complexities, let us first discuss what it is and why it is worth studying.

Everybody who owns a website wants to land a spot on the first page of Google search results. Understanding search engines first will help you grasp the idea of SEO. Think of Google as the library – a place where you can look for information.

Let us pretend that you want to know more information about “farming.” The librarian will most likely ask you the aspect of farming you want to know about. You respond by saying you want to learn how to grow an organic vegetable garden in your backyard.

By giving these specific gardening keywords, your librarian can provide you with the best information you need. But how does your librarian determine the best information, or in this case, data for your need? This is where SEO comes in.

Webmasters, marketers, and bloggers read and learn about search engine optimization to make sure that their site is visible to search engines like Google or Bing. Without it, the sites will remain outdated, and Google will quickly overlook websites that are not optimized.

Because Google is an artificial intelligence machine built on algorithms and learning abilities, it detects properties like content, keywords, links, and much more to determine if your site is worthy to be presented to their users. Here are some basic key terms that you should know.

Optimization stands for the techniques, strategies and tactics used to invite and garner more visitors to your website. In other words, the more you continue to optimize your website for SEO, the more you gain visitors to your site. The amount of visitors, data sent and received by visitors is called traffic.

Another definition you need to familiarize yourself with is the term keyword. This is the key phrase or the sets of words used by the users in Google to find what they are looking for. Popular keywords have, if not hundreds, thousands of monthly searches. So getting a position for one of them will be tough.

As you learn the ropes and apply SEO, you will eventually get there. Furthermore, you will soon be introduced to other terms as you continue to study this subject. Let us now talk about why SEO is essential to every webmaster by citing an example.

One huge aspect of SEO is learning how to strategically and efficiently use keywords. Ranking for a popular keyword or key phrase could bring you as much as 40,000 visitors a month. However, there are other factors to consider here as well.

Let us say that the keyword you used averages 200 searches a month, and you rank number one for this particular search. Even if your profits are low, there is still an enormous potential for high earnings. Regardless of whatever product or service your site offers, ranking on top of these keywords nevertheless equates to high-profit potential.

An important detail to learn is before you start optimizing, you need to strategize appropriately. Some techniques can deliver your site a good reputation, but there are also wrong tactics that can pull your stats down and even get your site penalized. This means for every post you publish, every page you create within your domain, it needs to have its purpose. Here is an excellent article about differentiating whitehat SEO with blackhat SEO.

If you are a business with a marketing budget, you can use an SEO agency to help you develop your brand and get trusted by search engines. If you have established your website, one important detail to remember is to keep it updated by adding quality content. But there are also specific rules to follow when it comes to creating content for SEO. Right now, publishing content for the readers is the essential way to keep your website current.

You have to target your readers’ interests and cater to their informational needs to ensure that they stay engaged with your site. Call-to-action techniques such as downloading an e-book, leaving their emails for discount codes or inviting them to sign up for free trial services can help bring more business in. This is particularly essential for websites who are selling products or services.

You need to remember that when you do not optimize your site, there is very minimal chance of landing that first-page spot on the search engine results page (SERP). And honestly, people rarely check the second page.

SEO helps drive more traffic and valuable leads to your business. If you do not want to spend a lot of money on costly advertising, it is your best choice. Here is a link to the General Guidelines to help Google find, index and rank your site.

Three Yoga Styles Used For Weight Loss

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Whenever we think about weight loss, we usually visualize endless hours of working out in the gym and eating as little as possible. But the typical exercise you get from the gym can become repetitive and boring, causing you to slack off or even quit.

Losing weight is a complex process. But the main concept here is to lessen your calorie intake by exercise and diet. The more energy you use, the more calories you burn.

If you are looking for other ways to lose weight effectively, yoga is another option you can try. This practice is popularly known in promoting mental wellness through meditation and relaxation techniques. However, its reputation does not just stop there. As yoga is also a physical (activity, it is important to pick a style that will work best for you.

There are many styles out there but here are the top three weight loss yoga styles you can try. For more information about yoga classes specifically designed for weight management, check this yoga burn review.

1. Power Yoga (Vinyasa Yoga)

Power yoga is a style in which you constantly shift from one pose to another. The constant movement, on top of the difficulty level of the class will burn calories. It is said that an hour session on Vinyasa yoga can help you burn approximately 450 calories.

This is also a great strength training as the poses in this practice will require you to carry and support your own weight. By doing so, power yoga targets many different muscles that running could not target. It effectively tones your muscles and help you build your strength while losing weight.

Benefits of Power Yoga

Heart Health – Power yoga requires you to shift poses at a quicker pace. This raises your heart rate and gets your heart pumping, making it an effective cardio workout.

Flexibility – The poses in this type of yoga will help stretch your muscles and improve your flexibility. It also targets the muscles that are rarely used when performing other types of work out. Stretching your muscles also reduces the stress on your joints that have built up over the course of your inactive lifestyle.

Strength – As different muscle groups are used and stretched in yoga, this helps develop leaner muscles. When you have lean muscles, you support your entire body better.

2. Hot Yoga (Bikram Yoga)

Hot yoga, or sometimes called as Bikram is definitely the most popular style of weight loss yoga. One important factor that exists in this style is its use of a warm room – set about 105 degrees.

To explain the difference of the two terms, hot yoga is less strict as it usually includes different temperatures and combination of poses. Bikram on the other hand is a lot stricter and follows a more traditional style.

A session of hot yoga lasts about 90 minutes, utilizes 26 different poses and each are performed in every session.

Benefits

Detox – Hot yoga induces a lot of sweating, which is great for expelling toxins from the skin.

Heart Health – This is also a type of yoga that elevates your heart rate.

Breathing Techniques – There are many different breathing techniques involved in this practice. As you utilize the hot room, you will learn more techniques of deep breathing and relaxation.

Flexibility – The heat from the room relaxes your muscles allowing you to perform deeper stretches and improve your flexibility.

3. Ashtanga Yoga

Another style of yoga that promotes weight loss and other health benefits is Ashtanga. This style is different from power yoga as it does not utilize quick shifts of poses. Instead, it is more focused on building leaner muscles and developing a stronger body.

This practice will help you improve your balance and develop a stronger core. An hour session of Ashtanga yoga will burn around 260 calories, depending on your metabolism and weight.

Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga

Heart Health – The poses in Ashtanga yoga will make you sweat and raise your heart rate.

Strength – This type of yoga is qualified as an effective strength training. It focuses on holding your body weight while trying to balance.

Injury Prevention – Ashtanga yoga ultimately targets your strength. When your body is can strongly hold itself up, you reduce your chances of getting injured.

Detox – Sweating helps eliminate toxins from your body and this is one of the styles in yoga that can make your clothes damp.

Strategies to Find Clients Online

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According to Gleanster Research, 50 percent of leads are qualified but not ready to buy, and just 25 percent are legitimate leads that should proceed to sales. The faster you can determine which leads are legit and which are back-burners, the higher your earning potential.

While many of the time-tested methods for assessing lead quality and converting leads—cold calling, personal services and in-person networking—are still relevant, technology can help you identify qualified leads faster and earn more.

Find Clients Through Self-Promotion

Online self-promotion requires you to prepare promotional materials or thought leader pieces (such as blog posts or articles) and sharing them online, and then waiting for these materials to find an audience. As they do, you become a topic expert, and clients in your field see you as a sales expert they want to work with.

Entrepreneur’s Ann Hadley recommends SlideShare for sharing slideshows, webinars, white papers and PDFs. With a Pro membership (which ranges from $19 to 249 per month), you can enable a LeadShare feature that requires viewers to provide their contact information to view your materials. This one-time investment in content preparation and membership can feed you leads on a regular basis without additional effort.

Attract Clients via Social Media

Finding quality leads on social media requires a regular time commitment. Once you figure out what types of content to post and how often to post them, social media can be a rewarding leads channel. The key lies in listening to conversations, making authentic connections and promoting your services at just the right time.

Try identifying interests your clients may have (i.e. fitness, cars or parenting), then listening in on those conversations and engaging the posters (by asking about fitness goals or recommending baby products). Then, slip in your lead in a natural manner, once you’ve made a connection. If you can make the connection that a new baby means it’s time to consider life insurance, you’ll earn a qualified lead. Just promoting life insurance on its own is less likely to foster a lead.

Use a Lead Generator

Lead generators narrow down the “wide Web” for you by sending you qualified leads in your topic area. Targeted leads put you in a better position to engage the possible customer compared to individuals who have not demonstrated an interest. Companies like QuoteWizard, which was listed in Deloitte’s “Technology Fast 500″ as one of the top 500 fastest-growing technology companies in Canada and the U.S., act as an insurance salesman’s customer funnel, saving time and increasing sales performance.

Maintain Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is a viable way to build your network and gain sales leads. To generate leads via LinkedIn, ensure your profile is up to date. Periodically review questions asked and offer answers. Use LinkedIn Groups to connect with other professionals who may need your services. By focusing on offering your product as a solution when it’s truly a good fit, you can generate quality leads and become seen as a topical expert on LinkedIn.

The Best Broadway Shows

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There are dozens of Broadway shows that have been around for years. A lot of these shows are amazing in their unique style, culture, and story. While it is impossible to decide which of these shows are the best, we can name a few that have stood out in the last couple of years.

Here is a list of plays that are considered to be the best of Broadway. Again, choosing the best is like picking a favorite child. Hence, this list does not come in a particular order.

Phantom of the Opera

Known to be the longest-running show ever in Broadway, Phantom of the Opera has been continuously running for the past 21 years. Despite being introduced in 1988, the show has been and is still a favorite with its consistent sell-out tickets.

This classic is about a disfigured man who has been haunting the Opera House in Paris. This dramatic story is how this phantom falls in love with Christine Daae and teaches her to sing beautifully like an angel. It is an all-time favorite because of its timeless story, amazing production, and lovely music.

The Lion King

It is undeniable that the Lion King is one of the best animated movies Disney has ever created. It follows the story of Simba, a little cub who grows up to become the king that he is destined to be. The best thing about this tale is that it is dramatic, but funny at the same time. It incorporates innocence and growth beautifully that the characters are very relatable despite being portrayed in a jungle of animals.

Just like the Phantom of the Opera, the Lion King is one of the longest-running musicals in Broadway. It has won viewers’ choice awards over the years. Many who watch it are perhaps reminiscing their childhood, but the play has done a good job of creating new audience in the younger generations. It is a good play to watch for parents who have seen the movie when they were little and for children who are seeing it for the first time.

Cats

Although this show has left the stage since 2003, it is still known as one of the most recognizable shows in Broadway. So much so that it has been translated into 20 languages and is known all over the world.

With music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and story based on T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the play tells the life stories and adventures of the Jellicle Cats’ and the night they made the Jellical Choice. This choice is about deciding which cat will ascend and come back to a new life.

Les Miserables

Based on the novel written by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is known as the longest running play in London. With music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel in the original French version and Herbert Kretzmer in the English libretto, this musical is known to be one of the most successful plays in the West End and Broadway.

Set in 19th century France, the story revolves around the peasant Jean Valjean and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving child. The story is set during the revolutionary period in France where the idealistic youth were making their last stand.

A Chorus Line

This old classic has been revived due to the demands of the audience who love it. It has won several Tony Awards and is known to be one of the longest-running musicals on Broadway. The story is about seventeen ambitious and hopeful dancers who share their personal lives as they audition to be a part of the chorus line.

These shows are only some of the best and most known productions in Broadway to date. While most of these musicals have been around for a while, they still entice audience from different parts of the world. Next time you drop by Broadway, make sure to catch some of these shows. They are absolutely worth it.

New York Indian Restaurants

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A Taste of India: Top Indian Restaurants in New York

New York City is home to some of the best restaurants and chefs on the planet. It is a cultural melting pot of tastes and traditions that are heavily influenced by the richly varied inhabitants of this city. New York is a place to find amazing cuisine that is prepared and cooked just like in its native country.

In fact, many Indian transplants are able to find the food that their grandmothers made them at their local takeaway store. If food is good enough for those who grew up on the dishes, then you know its authentic. As a result, many flock to the best Indian restaurants in the city to get a taste of the distinct cuisines offered by different regions of India.

The most well known place to go for Indian food is at the aptly named “Curry Hill.” This nickname is a humorous take on the neighborhood’s main drag, Murray Hill, as it is full of Indian restaurants and take out eateries. It is essentially a Little India smacked right in the heart of New York City.

Of course, there are plenty of neighborhoods to find amazing Indian food in this city if you know where to look. The following lists will help you find the best of the best when it comes to getting your fill of spicy curries and other flavorful dishes from India.

Banjara

Banjara is a fabulous pick for those on a budget. Its address at 97 on 1st Avenue puts it a central location. However, its food makes people from all over the city trek to this well kept local secret. You will spend a fraction of the price on a delicious meal for two than what you pluck down for one at a more expensive joint.
Do not let its seemingly average decor fool you because this is Indian food at its finest.

You can choose from an array of meat dishes and curries that will whip your taste-buds into overdrive. Main meals begin at just over ten dollars. Some crowd favorites include the Banjara Baingun, a spicy eggplant dish, and their version of the Onion Bhaji. Just do not be surprised if you become a regular at Banjara thanks to its incredible food at budget friendly prices.

Chutney

Ask any New Yorker in the know, and they will list Chutney one of the landmarks for Indian food in the city. This well loved restaurant has catering to the city’s experts on Indian food for nearly twenty years. It began as an outpost in the Hamptons before it became a local Upper West Side favorite. There are several locations for you to choose from depending on your own preferred neighborhood.

Just be warned: go early or prepare for wait because it can get crowded during lunch and dinner hours. However, its incredibly filling dishes are well worth any waiting time you have to do. Their Thali special is well known all over New York for providing you with a filling meal that includes rice, veggies, soup, naan, and accompanying sauces. Chutney is also famous for its Dosa pastries and sandwiches under ten dollars. Visit Chutney hungry because you will want to save room for all this place has to offer.

Vatan

If you are looking for Indian restaurant that specializes in vegetarian food, then Vatan is your destination. The restaurant’s charming decor will transport you across the world to a private Indian home that severs your lavish meals to share with your dining partners. There are two locations in New York; one is at 409 Third Avenue and the other at 97 First Avenue. The food itself is what you would expect for any great Indian restaurant- plenty of flavor, spices, and choices to keep you satisfied.

Chola

Chola is another great New York Indian restaurant for those with a limited budget. It occupies a colorful and festive place at 232 East 58th Street. The place can get crowded quickly as it has been mentioned in every guide book for great food in New York. However, you will not have to wait long to get a taste of some of the best curry in the city. Of course, you can also get your fill of more traditional lamb and shrimp dishes if you prefer to lay off the heavy spices. Chola is ideal for tourists and locals who want a quick taste of New York Indian cuisine at an affordable price.