Amtrak is launching ultralow fares—with some restrictions—for rail travel. | Frommer'sRead More
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Facebook Launches Live Producer and Creator Studio App
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Social Media Marketing Talk Show, a news show for marketers who want to stay on the leading edge of social media. On this week’s Social Media Marketing Talk Show, we explore the full rollout of Facebook’s Live Producer for managing live-stream video and the new Creator Studio app […]
The post Facebook Launches Live Producer and Creator Studio App appeared first on Social Media Marketing | Social Media Examiner.
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Friday, February 28, 2020
Spring Break in the Time of COVID-19: What''s the Responsible Course of Action?
What travelers need to know about COVID-19 before they hit the road for spring travels. | Frommer'sRead More
6 Rules Small Fashion Brands On Instagram Must Follow To Stand Out
We have witnessed over the years fashion brands becoming highly successful on Instagram, the most popular social media platform.
Fashion brands are leading the way in terms of performance on Instagram. They are known to be getting significantly more interactions and followers, and dominate engagement on the platform. Many small fashion brands run entirely out of Instagram, without established stores or sometimes even websites.
It is a known fact that you can generate more interactions and gain an impressive number of followers on Instagram provided you get into the habit of posting exclusive, exquisite, and truly eye-catching content, whether they are videos or photos.
If you are a small fashion brand trying to make your presence felt on Instagram, you must follow some fundamental rules in order to stand out…
Plan your social media posts.
Visually plan your posts. Drag and drop everywhere.
Create your first post>Rule #1: Use Only High-Quality Images
This may sound obvious, but Instagram is the realm of mind-blowing pictures.
Experts believe that photos should have 3 basic elements to prove their quality:
High-Resolution:
You must make sure that you are posting only high-resolution photographs on your Instagram fashion account. You should use DSLR cameras to click the pictures for your Instagram account.
Choose a camera with the right functions so that the quality of the images is unquestionable. High-resolution of pictures is supposed to be everything as no one would like to engage with hazy and low-quality images.
Your small fashion brand could stand out from the rest by posting high-resolution pictures taken by you or even professional photographers using an old-school camera.
Your Photos Must Act as a Vehicle to Convey Your Story:
It is true that a picture could speak volumes. Photos that are successful in conveying a story are getting the maximum engagement on this powerful social media platform. Your pictures must be relevant and relatable!
ll Your Photos Must Complement Your Theme:All smaller fashion brands must use pictures that complement the overall theme of their Instagram account. Your pictures could be treated as separate and distinct pieces but your entire feed must necessarily appear as one single organic outfit.
This implies that all the pictures you post or share on Instagram must flaunt a signature look and should be edited in the same manner. You may consider using tools such as Snapseed, VSCO, etc. You could choose Photoshop, or Lightroom, etc. for editing pictures on the laptop.
Plan & schedule social media ahead of time.
Video, gallery, image & text only posts
Calendar, feed & grid preview
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
START PLANNING YOUR POSTS NOWRule #2: Work With Influencers
Influencer marketing is tremendously prevalent on Instagram and is continuing to grow. You must leverage the power of influencer marketing for your small fashion brand on Instagram.
If top brands do not hesitate to use this kind of marketing, why are you not utilising the worth of influencers in the world of fashion? You must understand ways to go ahead with a successful influencer marketing strategy. You must ensure that the influencer you are choosing along with his precise audience is actually relevant to your brand.
You must try your best to boost engagement but do not chase followers. Today everyone can buy real Instagram likesand followers. You could make sure that an influencer is genuinely an influencer by assessing his engagement rate.
For tips on how to incorporate influencer into your strategy, check out:
The Simple Guide To Instagram Influencer Marketing In 2020Rule #3: Use The Instagram Algorithm
Despite it changing the rules for engagement, it is possible to use the Instagram algorithm to your advantage.
“One thing we know about Instagram’s algorithm is that posts with high engagement rates show up first on followers’ feeds. There are a number of ways to achieve these high rates. It also seems that the longer people look at your posts, the more successful and high-quality Instagram detects them to be.” (Source)
But how could you compel your followers to go on lingering on your Instagram posts for a reasonably long period?
You must compose catchy and truly captivating captions which could be a few lines. Moreover, separate paragraphs using dots for making them more reader-friendly. You may also use carousal posts and videos so time-spent on post is increased.
Rule #4: Make Sure That Your Feed Is Shoppable
Often people are attracted to your display window showcasing some eye-catching designs yet many people simply pass by and do not initiate the shopping process. Instagram would be working in a similar fashion. It is firmly believed that you need to come up with the Shoppable and make your small fashion Instagram account Shoppable right from an initial...
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Title: 6 Rules Small Fashion Brands On Instagram Must Follow To Stand OutSourced From: www.hopperhq.com/blog/small-fashion-brands-instagram/
Published Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:36:28 +0000
How To Use Instagram For Business
Instagram is one of the largest social media networks, with 25 million business profiles and two million advertisers, according to recent Instagram data. Not to mention, 80 percent of active users follow at least one brand.
For many businesses, Instagram represents a valuable opportunity to connect with a global network of potential customers and clients. If you’re to the platform, however, joining Instagram can feel overwhelming, if not impossible.
How do we represent our brand visually? What should our goals be? How can we reach our target audience?
Whether you already have an account or are starting from scratch, use this comprehensive guide to turn Instagram into a valuable marketing tool for your business.
Create Your Instagram Account
The Instagram platform is relatively simple compared to other social networks, like Facebook. When setting up your account (or updating an existing one), there aren’t many boxes to check. However, because Instagram profiles provide minimal room for text or links, you need to make the most of what you have.
Tracy Ring, social media manager for 10x Digital explains: “In reality, you only have one-fifth of a mobile screen to showcase your brand identity. For our clients, we make sure the profile itself is clean and clear. We also use every possible feature to our advantage.”
Consider the most important areas for maximizing branding:
Profile photo:Most companies use their logo. Remember that profile images are small and cropped to a circle, so don’t use complicated imagery. Stick with a simple graphic, like your favicon, especially if your logo is wide.
Account name:This should be your business name, and match your website and other social platforms.
Website:Instagram allows one link in your profile. While you can use this to link to your website, it may be wise to create an expandable link. Jump to Optimize Your Profile and Presence for more on the latter.
Bio:This is where you describe your business in 150 characters or less. You can use emojis, characters, hashtags and spaces to get creative and differentiate. Check out this list of all-star Instagram bios from Adspresso for inspiration.
Finally, make sure your account is set as a business profile, which will require you to connect your facebook account as well. A business profile allows you to have additional contact information like location, phone number, and operating hours and provides access to insights and data.
Create an Instagram Plan
Before posting anything, you need a plan. Since Instagram is a visual platform, start with a visual brand guide, which ensures that your profile represents a consistent and accurate representation of your brand. This also ensures that your audience (and potential customers) recognize your brand when your posts show up in their feed.
As you develop brand guidelines, remember that they don’t have to be complicated. In How to Master Your Social Media Branding, MyCreativeShop shares a simple checklist to follow:
Color palette:Choose one neutral, primary color and 2 to 3 contrasting colors that make your visuals pop.
Fonts:Choose just one primary font, which can be adapted as regular, italic, or bold to allow for different looks. You can include a decorative supplemental font as well.
Formatting and layout:Choose specific layouts for different post formats, I.E. product image versus quote image. This keeps your brand consist but still allows for variety.
Logo:If you have multiple versions of your logo, like a text-based logo, favicon and symbol, specify when you should use each one so anyone designing your assets maintains the same look and feel.
Next comes your strategy. Like any other part of your business, this is critical to getting the most from your Instagram presence. To create a focused Instagram marketing strategy, ask yourself 4 basic questions:
Why do you want to be on Instagram?Who is your target audience?What are you going to share?When are you going to share?Turn the answers to those four questions into a plan. For example, “We plan to reach women in their mid-30’s who are interested in life coaching. We will share inspirational and educational content at the times when our audience is most active, based on research and data for our industry.”
Now it’s time to set social media goals that align with your overall business strategy. To measure the effectiveness, outline the key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics that you’ll be tracking.
According to 2018 State of Social report, engagement is the number one way that businesses measure ROI on social media marketing, so start here. Other metrics include: leads earned, traffic to site, and new followers earned. If you’re still not sure where to start, use these simple social media metrics as a starting place.
Develop a Social Media Calendar
Now you’re ready to create content and start sharing. Use a calendar or Instagram scheduler to make the most of...
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Title: How To Use Instagram For BusinessSourced From: www.hopperhq.com/blog/how-to-use-instagram-for-business/
Published Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2019 10:43:03 +0000
The 2019 Instagram Rich List — Who Earns The Most From Sponsored Posts?
The Instagram Rich List is back for the third year running…
With Instagram continuing to grow, 2019 has seen the highest amount of money for paid Instagram posts to date.
In a recent statistic from Facebook, 83% of Instagram users say they discover new products and services on Instagram, so it’s no wonder the influencer and sponsored post industry is still on the rise.
Just as we did in 2017 and 2018, Hopper HQ have produced the official:
2019 Instagram Rich List!
Based on internal data, agency rate cards and public information, you can now find out just how much your favourite Instagram stars are earning for their #spon posts…
The Top 10
#1 Kylie Jenner
140 million followers
$1,266,000 per post
Kylie Jenner still tops the charts in 2019, having become the youngest self-made billionaire of all time this year according to Forbes.
#2 Ariana Grande
159 million followers
$996,000 per post
Ariana Grande has knocked Selena Gomez from second place since last year.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo
173 million followers
$975,000 per post
While Ronaldo remains the only man in the top 5 and only European in the top 10!
#4 Kim Kardashian
143 million followers
$910,000 per post
Kim Kardashian just keeps growing, having gained 40m more followers in the past year alone.
#5 Selena Gomez
153 million followers
$886,000 per post
#6 Dwayne Johnson
148 million followers
$882,000 per post
Keeping his place at #6, Dwayne Johnson is the only male actor in the top 10.
#7 Beyonce Knowles
129 million followers
$785,000 per post
Beyonce has dropped 2 places since 2018 but is still firmly in the top 10.
#8 Taylor Swift
119 million followers
$748,000 per post
New to the Instagram Rich List this year, Taylor Swift joins the other queens of pop Ariana, Selena and Beyonce in the top 10.
#9 Neymar da Silva Santos Junior
122 million followers
$722,000 per post
Neymar has slipped one spot but remains the only other sports star in the top 10 besides King Ronaldo.
#10 Justin Bieber
115 million followers
$722,000 per post
Justin Bieber has made his way into the top 10 this year, and is the only male musician there.
Plan & schedule social media ahead of time.
Video, gallery, image & text only posts
Calendar, feed & grid preview
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
START PLANNING YOUR POSTS NOWCheck out the full 2019 Instagram Rich List here – featuring the highest earning social media stars across:
Celebrity, Beauty, Fashion, Fitness, Food, Lifestyle, Sport and Travel.
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Title: The 2019 Instagram Rich List — Who Earns The Most From Sponsored Posts?Sourced From: www.hopperhq.com/blog/2019-instagram-rich-list/
Published Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2019 22:20:25 +0000
Big Spend Bonuses, Fly to Hawaii Using Miles, World Sex Laws, Stock Market Freakout
We bring you big spend bonuses, we fly to Hawaii using miles, check out world sex laws, a vicious stock market freakout, some cute videos, languages by number of speakers, some good advice on what to do in this market correction, some overlooked tax breaks, a record of all small and big corrections since the last major stock market crash, catching marathon cheaters at a price, some weird hearing phenomenon I discovered to explain some of my symptoms, weird baby doll collectors, check to see if United’s Mile Play promo is for you, an animal that does not breathe is discovered, light Blog Buzz area as I ran out of gas, I support Mike Bloomberg in case you did not notice and this blog has no advertisers or sponsors or anyone who tells me what to post. I also turn down all bribes too! Thank you for reading and enjoy your weekend!
TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!
Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS and visiting our LINKS!
You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!
Brought to you by the amazing TBB Amazon link! This blog is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Except in major US Holidays. For now…
MILES & POINTS
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: Two new offers on United credit cards, a personal for 60k and a Business one for up to 100k miles. The IHG Rewards Club card offering 140k points too, highest ever. Other credit cards offers that stand out for now are the 100k Southwest Performance Business card, the 100k Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card and of course the 80k Ink Business Preferred. In addition, there are personal and business offers for the 70k Amex Delta Skymiles Gold, 100k Platinum and 100k Reserve credit cards. Available with my links. Lets move on!
Several travel rewards credit cards have spending bonuses, here are some of them: Big-Spend Credit Card Bonuses & Benefits for 2020 Yes, No or Maybe? We get someone to talk about opportunity costs at last. Like they do at The Points Guy, bwahahaha!
If you wanted to go for free: Best Ways to Get to Hawaii Using Points & Miles.
United Airlines keeps having this Mile Play promotion. You get some tasks to do (mostly flying) to earn more miles. I have never been targeted and I think it is because I have not paid for a United ticket in years lol. Check it out to see what you get: Mile Play.
TRAVEL
These will shock you! The strangest sex laws around the world. Apparently, you can’t masturbate in Indonesia without risking jail time and in the UK you can not have sex on a parked motorbike. This means you can have sex while riding (pun intended) on a motorbike, so knock yourself out lol.
One of the cutest videos you will see today. Wait until 0.45. I think it is in Indonesia? What a beautiful setting for a school!
Are you stressed? Take a look at a live camera with pandas!
As more snow has fallen in Michigan and local schools called two snow days in a row to make a bunch of students very happy, many of us are dreaming of beaches. Check out the stones in some beaches, wow!
If you are looking to improve your skills by learning a foreign language, well, maybe this chart will help you: Languages by Speaker Count & Type
PERSONAL FINANCE
Obviously, you may have noticed your 409k is suddenly back down to a 401k. It happens when you are investing for the long term. If you can’t sleep at night, maybe you over rated your risk tolerance like most people? Anyway, here is a really good article that perhaps could help you: Freaked Out by the Stock Market? Take a Deep Breath. Finally we get back to reality as most have been getting way too comfortable looking at the size of their portfolios. I have a standard piece of advice I dish out: “Never fall in love with the highest number in your portfolio”. I have been looking like a moron for repeating myself for so long, not anymore. Hang in there!
Have you filed your taxes yet? Why not? What are you waiting for, a scammer to do it using your Social Security Number? Get on with it! Here is an article that may help you pay less taxes: 10 often overlooked tax breaks.
Ok, lets get serious. More than 10% drop in the stock market in a week is yuge, however you slice it. I remember I was in a financial conference in early 2017 and the speaker was Ian Bremmer. I distinctly remember one question he answered in the Q&A section. He was asked: “What do you fear the most?”. And his answer was: “I am afraid in a big crisis how this President will respond”. We have been pretty lucky so far to avoid one but it looks like we may not escape it all together. And if you cringed every time Trump touted the stock market highs and you shook your head how can anyone do that considering the nature of the beast…yeah. I guess we won’t be seeing any glowing tweets about that.
At the end of the day:
-Nobody knows
-Always Diversify!
-Never ask why you hold bonds again ok?
-Stop looking at stock market tickers & your portfolio every day!
-Don’t open your 401k statements
-Always have some cash
-REBALANCE
-Be grateful
-Wash your hands
-This too shall pass
Let me insert this one here since I referred earlier to the stock market’s nature of the beast…THIS is normal you guys!
ODDZ & ENDZ
Some stories take an unexpected tragic turn. Apparently, many marathon runners cheat. And there is a blogger obsessed with exposing them. And then one runner felt so ashamed he took his own life. Going the Distance (and Beyond) to Catch Marathon Cheaters. I have been accused of being very tough on credit card salesmen masquerading as “expert” miles and points “hobbyists”. But come on, compared to this guy I am an angel!
As I have had some issues with my right ear (tinnitus due to hearing loss) I was fascinated with this article! The Other as Noise – Real Life.
For a while I thought this tendency of mine to be highly irritated by the personal noises others make just made me an asshole, but I recently found out that its common enough a phenomenon to have its own term: misophonia, which was coined by the audiologists Pawel and Margaret Jastreboff in 2003. The condition, which is also known as sound rage or selective sound sensitivity syndrome, has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder, hyperacusia, and Tourettes syndrome. [For me, hearing sounds from cell phone speaker phones and plates touching each other really irritate me! Learned a new term for this, wow! I think this is one of the main reasons I like running outside alone, me and the silence of the nature is very serene…]
One of the most bizarre stories I read recently. Sometimes I shake my head wondering WTF is wrong with some people! ‘People don’t get it’: inside the world of hyper-realistic baby doll collecting.
From Sydney to Manchester, Tokyo to San Jose, its members spend upwards of $20,000 for one doll to add to their nurseries. [Say whaaaat?]
In the more than two decades since Eldred-Smith discovered these dolls, the rise of social media has expanded the number of worldwide collectors by an order of magnitude. Today, more than 30,000 people subscribe to her YouTube channel, where videos of her cuddling, changing and talking about dolls have amassed more than 14,450,000 views. [Here I am whining and moaning to get 10 credit card conversions per month when this lady…Phuck meeeeeee!]
If you were not blown away by the previous link, how about this one? Scientists discover the first-known animal that doesn’t need oxygen to survive. Mind Blown!
Another awesome link with incredible photography: The Winners Of The 2020 Underwater Photographer Of The Year Contest.
BLOG BUZZ
We are now entering BLOG BUZZ, a section for advanced hobbyists and veterans of this fast imploding hobby and also a section where I go on and on about some stuff that happens in my life because it helps me feel better about myself.
Not sure how they came up with the name “corona” by the way. Is this like the hurricanes that are named after first names or something? Can you imagine being the Corona brand marketing chief, the drink? Yikes.
If you feel safer with Pence in charge on how to deal with the corona virus…you never voted for and will never vote for a Democrat lol!
At this point, I doubt my mother will be visiting us in May. Son arrived in Delhi, India after strolling and eating around London during a Heathrow stop. The AA miles have already posted and he has already completed the AA Platinum Pro elite challenge and secured it until January 31, 20121. Hooray!
And I leave you with this…
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.
You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!
Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
The post Big Spend Bonuses, Fly to Hawaii Using Miles, World Sex Laws, Stock Market Freakout appeared first on TravelBloggerBuzz.
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Title: Big Spend Bonuses, Fly to Hawaii Using Miles, World Sex Laws, Stock Market Freakout
Sourced From: travelbloggerbuzz.com/big-spend-bonuses-fly-to-hawaii-using-miles-world-sex-laws-stock-market-freakout/
Published Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:30:49 +0000
How to Rethink Your Way to Business Growth
Do you want to grow your business? Is it time to rethink the way you market and deliver experiences? To explore how to grow your business via innovation, I interview Duncan Wardle on the Social Media Marketing Podcast. Duncan is the former head of innovation & creativity for Disney. He’s also a keynote speaker who […]
The post How to Rethink Your Way to Business Growth appeared first on Social Media Marketing | Social Media Examiner.
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Thursday, February 27, 2020
Growing a Handmade Brand: One Family''s Journey from Etsy to Shopify
Two years ago, the Polders folded their Etsy store and opened shop on Shopify and havent looked back. The switch helped them grow up but also out, increasing conversion, expanding to resale goods, building an email list, and owning their brand story.
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Title: Growing a Handmade Brand: One Family''s Journey from Etsy to ShopifySourced From: www.shopify.com/blog/211686281-moving-from-etsy-to-shopify
Published Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:00:00 +0000
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Sell Pet Products: 5 Ideas for Starting Your Own Pet Business
While the pet business may be subject to the same unpredictable ebb and flow of any industry, theres one certainty you can count on: people will never stop spoiling their pets.Its not easy building a pet store from scratch, but with the right tools and an understanding of how to use themitslikely a lot easier than you think.
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Title: Sell Pet Products: 5 Ideas for Starting Your Own Pet Business
Sourced From: www.shopify.com/blog/pet-business
Published Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 04:30:00 +0000
Arthur Frommer: The New Direction of Richard Bransons Unusual Cruise Ship
The entire cruise industry is watching as Virgin Voyages launches a cruise ship for the youth market. | Frommer's
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Coronavirus and Travel: The Latest News
News and resources relating to how the coronavirus outbreak is affecting travel. Updated frequently. Read More
Ten Random Thoughts on Blogs Selling Out, Amex Clawbacks, Running Records, Viruses and Stuff Like That
It has been a very busy two days for me and here I am in a Tuesday night with no blog post drafted so I will do what I did last Wednesday and just blast ten things off the top of my head again. I think you liked the post last Wednesday so since I have no advertisers or sponsors to please I will just…blog it. I will skip the numbering as it messes up the formatting and takes more time to clean it up in WordPress. So, here we go, buckle up!
Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS and visiting our LINKS!
You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!
Brought to you by the amazing TBB Amazon link! This blog is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Except in major US Holidays. For now…
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: Two new offers on United credit cards, a personal for 60k and a Business one for up to 100k miles. The IHG Rewards Club card offering 140k points too, highest ever. Other credit cards offers that stand out for now are the 100k Southwest Performance Business card, the 100k Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card and of course the 80k Ink Business Preferred. In addition, there are personal and business offers for the 70k Amex Delta Skymiles Gold, 100k Platinum and 100k Reserve credit cards. Available with my links. Lets move on!
The big news in the miles and points blog world is that the trend of having less independent bloggers like myself is continuing. The Points Guy just continues to buy more blogs and hire more writers to sell more travel rewards credit cards to newbies. And it provides a salary and benefits from what I hear so I do not fault bloggers for selling out to them. People got to eat and take care of their own. But please spare me all the BS how you are doing it all for the love of the hobby anymore okay? Anyway, the latest blogger to sell out to TPG is Ariana at Pointchaser. I wish her good luck and never forget that it is always “all about conversions” as her former mentor taught the newer generation of bloggers. A New Chapter. She is not making a lame try to say “I am going to keep my blog up and keep posting” as Drew of Travel Is Free had done and then never posted. RIP Pointchaser. Not going to miss the posts what happens inside her neighborhood WalMarts. I hoped the new chapter included law school. Oh well…
The RATs at American Express are at it again. RAT=Rewards Abuse Team. Just when you thought they were taking a break from abusing us they come back with a vengeance: American Express Claws Back Airline Credits Which Were Refunded by Merchant. This is going to hurt you guys. These guys are good. Now I am wondering if they have been talking to some of us, you know, consultants?
I found this pic at Twisted Sifter. A view of Manhattan from a helicopter, wow!
It has obviously been two very bad days in the stock markets. All the pundits who had been screaming since…2009 to get out of stocks are now back at it. It is ridiculous. I tell my clients anything can happen in the short term, we are going to be fine in the long term. I have been through the tech stock crash and the financial crisis mayhem. This bores me. It is always something and usually something nobody can predict. I do not remember any of those experts saying anything about a virus disrupting us in 2020. Or maybe it is the virus and the prospects of having Bernie Sanders vs. Donald Trump in the November elections. How awful that would be for our country! Anyway, not going to turn it into a political blog. Just going to take my shots here and there, I have no employer to conform to, looking at you Brian Kelly!
As you know I am continuing my running. I have my first race of 2020, the Shamrock 10k race on March 8 in Plymouth, Michigan. And I have a running coach who has been giving me running assignments. So, yesterday my assignment was this: “One mile warmup, run 1 mile at pace 7.30 or better, 1 minute rest, run another mile faster than the first mile, rest 1 mile, run another mile and try to do your best, 1 mile cool down”. I like the long races but I have a few 5k and 10k races coming up so I need to get faster so we have been working at that. My 1 mile PR was 7.11. So, in a not too cold rainy day in a local park I went at it and tied my 7.11 PR in the first mile. Then I ran 7.08 in the next one. And then in the third one…around mile 0.70 I checked my Garmin watch (too tired to expertly insert an Amazon affiliate link in here lol) and saw I may have a chance to go under 7 minutes and then I just went all out and finished it at 6.59. This felt as good as finishing my first full marathon! Then I took a nap in the afternoon, felt sooo good. I highly suggest you find a healthy hobby and prioritize your health. Yes you can be in your 50s and be as fast as me woohoo!
We canceled my wife’s trip on Singapore Airlines Business Class to Singapore, her and her family in Singapore and Malaysia both agreed that it is not a good idea. As these miles expire shortly, I used them to book myself in yet another Singapore Airlines Business class flight back to JFK from Frankfurt. I am taking the same reverse flight also as I need to burn these expiring Singapore Airline miles very soon. This is for my November trip back to Greece to run the Athens Marathon. Shoot, I still have 52k of them in my account and just 8k in my wife’s account. Not sure I can do anything with just 8k, any suggestions? I should go over 1 million miles and points burned in 2020 I think.
I am getting to New York burning 7,500 British Airways Avios points to fly American Airlines to La Guardia from Detroit. And for the first time ever I used the Chase Travel portal and burned 11,872 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to fly direct JFK to Detroit on Delta. This is all for the trip I am doing in November to run the Athens Marathon in Greece. I already have two nights booked at the Athens Hilton, I will need a few more nights in Athens. I have options with my Hyatt and Radisson Rewards points. I just need to find my way Frankfurt to Athens and Thessaloniki to Frankfurt, I have some time to book those. I will again try to spend a night or two at my favorite Thessaloniki Hyatt and I will also need a night in the Frankfurt airport. I am beginning to enjoy burning my miles and points again.
I have been listening to these lately: The 50 Most Drug-Addled Albums in Music History. They are great and the descriptions are just wild. For example:
Butthole Surfers –Locust Abortion Technician (1987)
You never know what you will learn here, I am all over the place. Because variety is the spice of life. Or so they say. Whoever is they. I don’t know what I am talking about, sometimes I think I am losing it. Ok, here we go, I love this and hope you do too and it inspires you to go crazy on my credit card links! Especially now that my portfolio is so down…and if it keeps going down I may be applying for a job at The Points Guy #notreally. The pic below was found HERE.
Ok, you guys. That is 10 paragraphs for you. I think I can do this. We are at 9 conversions this month, one more and Wednesday posts will appear in my blog in March. Of course the Mondays and Friday posts stay. Unless The Points Guy comes to me and offers me a billion dollars. I am laughing and so should you!
And I leave you with this…
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.
You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!
Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
The post Ten Random Thoughts on Blogs Selling Out, Amex Clawbacks, Running Records, Viruses and Stuff Like That appeared first on TravelBloggerBuzz.
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Title: Ten Random Thoughts on Blogs Selling Out, Amex Clawbacks, Running Records, Viruses and Stuff Like That
Sourced From: travelbloggerbuzz.com/ten-random-thoughts-on-blogs-selling-out-amex-clawbacks-running-records-viruses-and-stuff-like-that/
Published Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 11:30:22 +0000
How to Use LinkedIn for Competitor Research
Do you want a competitive edge in your marketplace? Are you using LinkedIn to research your competitors? In this article, you’ll learn how to use LinkedIn to gather valuable insights about your competitors and use what you learn to grow your own business. Why You Should Research Your Competitors on LinkedIn There are many benefits […]
The post How to Use LinkedIn for Competitor Research appeared first on Social Media Marketing | Social Media Examiner.
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The Best Travel Credit Cards for 2020
What do savvy travel bloggers, backpackers, business owners, and all other frequent flyers have in common? A high-earning travel rewards credit card. If you want to fly for free like the pros do, you need to understand that every dollar you spend that isn't earning you rewards is a dollar wasted. Plus, there are huge welcome bonuses to be had just for signing up and hitting the minimum spend with your everyday purchases sometimes as much as $750 worth of points, like with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. That's enough for a free return flight already!
A good travel credit card will also save you money during your trip, charging no foreign transaction fees (often 2.5-3% of every purchase with a regular credit card), and offering perks like car rental insurance, airport lounge access, and premium hotel status.
Without further ado, here are our top choices for the best travel credit cards in 2020.
The Best Travel Credit Cards for 2020
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been our #1 credit card for awhile now and with good reason. This card checks a lot of boxes at a low annual fee: a huge welcome bonus of 60,000 points worth up to $750 in travel, no foreign transaction fees (saving 2.5% on every overseas purchase), included insurance on rental cars, baggage delays, and trip delays, and 2x points per dollar on travel and restaurant purchases worldwide.
Points can be transferred 1:1 with a huge number of airline and hotel points programs. However, redeeming your points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal boosts their value by 25% and you also get a lot more flexibility.
While official airline points programs have blackout dates or limited number of reward seats on each flight, the Chase portal lets you use points on any flight or hotel that would appear on other travel booking sites like Expedia and Kayak. In other words, if a flight or hotel is available, you can book it with points period. It also means that the cheaper a flight or hotel is, the less points required to redeem it. So if you're thrifty like us and keep your eyes peeled for cheap flights and error fares, you'll usually use less points than if you were using an official airline points program.
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers similar perks to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but with a few differences. The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $95 after that. However, the welcome bonus is also lower, at 50,000 miles worth up to $500 in travel when you spend $3,000 on your everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you get no foreign transaction fees, car rental and travel accident insurance, and you can redeem your points for any flight or hotel with no blackout dates.
One unique perk is a $100 credit towards TSA Precheck or Global Entry. These programs allow you to save time at the airport going through security or clearing immigration, and are well worth signing up for if you're a frequent traveler. Don't miss our ultimate guide on using TSA Precheck or Global Entry, saving you hours at the airport.
Overall, we think the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a better choice as you get a larger welcome bonus and 2x points on restaurants and travel, which more than make up for the $95 annual fee. But if you want a second card (and second welcome bonus) or a $0 annual fee in your first year, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is still one of the best travel cards you can get.
3. American Express Platinum Card
If you're serious about points travel and credit card perks, you have to bring in the big guns, and you can't get much bigger than the American Express Platinum Card. It has some of the most impressive benefits of any travel rewards card we've seen but it also comes with a hefty annual fee of $550. Is it worth it? Absolutely but it requires you to be strategic in taking advantage of the benefits, and you should probably be traveling more than once a year. For the hardcore traveler, this card is our #1 choice.
The American Express Platinum Card truly checks all the boxes. A 60,000 points welcome bonus after hitting the minimum spend (which some websites estimate is worth $1,200), 5x the points on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel, no foreign transaction fees, baggage and car rental insurance, and the flexibility to transfer your points to 18 airline and 3 hotel points programs, or to book any flight or hotel through the American Express Travel portal.
On top of that, there are perks and credits galore. You get free access to the Global Lounge Collection, one of the largest airport lounge collections in the world. That's free food and drink, shower access, and strong wifi with every visit to the airport. You also get a $200 airline fee credit per year (which works on baggage fees, now an additional charge on most flights), Uber VIP status with $15 Uber credit per month, up to $100 credit for your Global Entry or TSA Precheck application, and $100 in credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Finally, you get gold status in Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, membership in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred, and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive, and access to AMEX's own Fine Hotel & Resorts program. What does all that mean? Discounts on hotels and cars, free room upgrades, late checkouts, free wi-fi, and an amenity specific to the property worth $100. American Express estimates the benefits of the Fine Hotel & Resorts program alone to be worth an average of $550.
As you can see, if you frequently travel or are strategic in using the card, you can more than make up for the $550 annual fee. Not to mention, the luxury of all these perks is pretty nice too! Learn how to apply.
Other cards to check out
The above 3 cards are our top all-around travel cards for both before and during your trip. But if you're looking for a specific feature, there are a few other cards you can consider checking out.
The Best Business Credit Card for Travel
Own a small business? Get the Ink Business Preferred card from Chase and earn even more points. The perks are even better than our #1 consumer choice, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, for the same annual fee. An 80,000 welcome bonus (worth $1,000 in travel), no foreign transaction fees, flexible rewards with no blackout dates, and 3x the points on even more categories like travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and online ad purchases make this card a solid choice both at home and overseas.
The Best Credit Card with No Annual Fee
Although paying an annual fee can seem scary, it's always worth it, because the benefits on a card with an annual fee are far greater than on cards without, and you'll earn points at a much higher rate. Our #2 card, the Capital One Venture Rewards card, also offers a $0 annual fee for the first year, so that card is our recommendation if you're avoiding annual fees.
But if you never want an annual fee, your best choice is the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card. It's similar to the Venture Rewards card, but the welcome bonus is only 20,000 (worth $200 in travel) instead of 50,000 (worth $500 in travel). You only get 1.25 points per dollar instead of 2, and no TSA Precheck or Global Entry credit. That's a lot less value compared to what you get with the Venture Rewards card, which has a $0 annual fee for the first year anyway, so we think it's a better card for most people.
The Best Credit Card for Travel Insurance
Though most travel cards these days offer a limited amount of insurance on car rentals, lost luggage, and trip cancellations, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of just a few cards offering emergency medical and dental insurance as well. Medical insurance is essential when travelling, and can often cost up to a few hundred dollars, so having this included with your credit card is great value. Other perks on this card are similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but your points are worth 50% more in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, you get access to airport lounges worldwide, and you get a credit towards a Global Entry or TSA Precheck application.
The Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access
The best credit cards for airport lounge access are the previously mentioned American Express Platinum Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but both have high annual fees of $550. These cards have a huge number of benefits, and are definitely worth it if you take advantage of them, but if the annual fee is too steep, we recommend sticking with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a lower annual fee of $95 and 10 airport lounge visits per year, but since your points are locked into the Hilton Honors program, we recommend foregoing the lounge access to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred for the same fee, with the flexibility to book any flight or hotel you want. Plus, there's other ways to get cheap lounge access check out our full guide!
The Best Credit Card for TSA Precheck and Global Entry
Signing up for TSA Precheck or Global Entry can save you hours at the airport over time. The Capital One Venture Rewards Card offers a credit of up to $100 on your statement when you apply for this handy perk.
The Best Credit Card for Active Military Members
If you're an active military member, it's a no-brainer. You get to have the most feature-packed credit card of 2020, the American Express Platinum Card, with no annual fee at all.
The post The Best Travel Credit Cards for 2020 appeared first on Thrifty Nomads.
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By: Ted AveryTitle: The Best Travel Credit Cards for 2020
Sourced From: feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThriftyNomads/~3/uTlVjJRaFnY/
Published Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2020 20:41:12 +0000
6 Ways to Cut Your Travel Carbon Footprint
There's no way around this prickly fact: travel is killing our planet. For globetrotters, this is a bitter pill to swallow. Our world is the most alluring thing to explore, and yet our own explorations are harming it.
Now, nearly every human action humans contributes to environmental harm. The food we consume, the transport we take, the products we buy these all generate carbon output. The good news is, there are ways we can address this.
If you're reading this, then you've taken the first give-a-damn step. Here are six bitesized ways to cut your travel carbon footprint.
Psst: for a much more extensive dive into this topic, check our overarching responsible travel guide here.
1. Fly less
Flying is the fastest means of long distance transport. It's also by far the biggest producer of carbon emissions.
Now that's a real bummer. Still, so long as the planet spins, people will want and need to fly for different reasons. But we need to accept the implications of air travel.
Here are ways to reduce the amount you fly:
Fly direct. Omitting connecting flights means fewer takeoffs (which is when planes consume most of their fuel). Think you can't afford those long-haul flights? Try checking for error fares, racking up travel points, or using the right travel cards to cash out on free direct routes. We've personally used these methods to snag cheap and even free flights, without unnecessary layovers.Take alternative means of transport. Scenic train rides, epic road trips, world-class hikes, and time visiting places that don't require a plane ride are all green ways to change up your next trip. Some of our best travel adventures have been scenic road trips, world class hikes, and incredible train rides.Travel locally. We will cover this more point 3, but squeezing in weekend getaways, local ventures, and discovering yet-to-be hiked nearby trails are all ways to adventure without flights.2. Pressure companies & governments to do their part
You've probably learnt by now that individual behavioural change is but a drop in the climate crisis bucket. Fortunately, thanks to the Internet and social media, it's never been easier to name and shame those with greater influence to make higher impact change.
Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. See an unsustainable travel product? Took a tour with a company that neglected local wildlife? Stayed at a swanky hotel that still relies on disposable plastics? Say something!
Need motivational proof that this works? Big name travel companies and booking sites have fully removed elephant rides from their tours. Tourists have boycotted planes in favour of train travel in Europe. Online petitions gain traction and do have success, namely when gaining the attention of large companies or governments. Doubt not: use your voice. Collectively, we can make a difference.
3. Eat, spend, and explore locally
Whether you're at home or overseas, the more you spend your money close by, the better. Purchasing products that haven't boarded a plane or used slave labour to make your souvenir is an ethical move. Here's how to keep those dollars and distances near:
Buy souvenirs, art, and products made nearby. Seek out secondhand shops, craft stores, and art galleries. In developing countries, charitable craft and art shops and markets are becoming rapidly available.Explore your own backyard. Look up your local tourism board, book a nearby AirBNB for a weekend, or seek out accessible national parks. For the foodies out there, why not try the top restaurants near you? Even Michelin Star spots can be affordable!Avoid chain restaurants and hotels. Chains of all sorts wipe out landscapes, deprive money from locals, and care about earnings over climate. Use your spending power for good on smaller businesses.Look up nearby points of interest on your trip abroad. An overseas trip isn't only fulfilling if you hit checklist cities. Search for lesser known neighbouring towns, national parks, beaches, and more. More tips on that next!4. Travel slowly
Whether wandering for two weeks or five months, this point applies. Besides, how many times have you rushed through a city only to feel, I wish I'd spent more time there? Here's how to pace yourself without compromise:
Tighten your itinerary: Let's compare a two-week trip exploring eight cities versus four. One of these allows greater spontaneity and immersion in local culture, while the other is crammed and offers no buffer for inclement weather, illness, or unexpectedly loving a place. How to narrow down your choices? Hop on tour site like G Adventures and scan their itineraries for highlights, peruse blogs, and ask friends.Go off the beaten path! More miles clocked does not mean richer travel experiences. Taiwan is one such example, where a short train ride in any direction reveals completely different landscapes. A single city or town can have an array of day trips, hikes, attractions, and festivals worth exploring. Challenge yourself to explore close by.Find random nearby gems without the help of guide books. One strategy we use is to search cities and regions of interest on Google Maps and zoom in. Next, we use Google Image to visualize parks, beaches, and town names on the map. We've found a plethora of unique spots this way, from national parks and waterfalls, to scenic lookouts and hiking trails. Give it a go!5. Travel cheaply
Budget travellers rejoice! Stretching those travel bucks is more often than not the greenest way to go. There are a couple exceptions to this, which we'll cover below. Here are thrifty ways to help the planet:
Fly economy.The more (squished) seats on a plane, the more passengers and fewer airplanes in the sky. Consequently, first class and business tickets burn much more fuel and create demand for more flights.Fly budget airlines.Uncomfortable as it is, once again, squished seats means fewer people in transit, and less production of air-bound fossil fuels.Opt for cheaper modes of transport. Walking, biking, public transit, buses, and trains (in that order) are all more eco and wallet friendly ways to explore.Avoid cruise ships and resorts.Cruise ships burn travel bucks, pollute, and damage local economies. Worse yet, cruise ship passengers' CO2 emissions triple onboard compared to on land. Cruises are known to dump waste and not put spending into local economies, whose landscapes they exploit. Similar damage is generated by resorts, whose construction destroys land, food production produces mass emissions, and does not fuel their massive income to native residents.Eat street food & local restaurants.Dining where the locals do is one of the best ways to immerse oneself in a foreign culture. It's also incredibly cheap, and means your food has barely travelled to get to your plate. Worried about getting sick eating abroad? Check our guide to avoiding food poisoning here.Now, there are still harmful budget travel practices. The damaging flight practice of skiplagging (that is, booking a cheaper flight that involves a stopover in your final destination, and skipping the second connecting flight) is awful. Do not do this!
As highlighted earlier, choosing chains over local businesses to dine and sleep in also comes at an environmental cost. By spending just a little bit more, you can put back into the local economy and prevent destruction of natural landscapes.
6. Get involved in climate-saving causes when you travel
First off, the easiest step you can take is bringing garbage bags and picking up rubbish as you travel. Pack reusable bottles, cutlery, straws, decline plastic bags (and bring reusable ones) when shopping, and opt for packaging-free products where possible. Stop using mini hotel plastic toiletries and BYO reusable bottles instead.
Local travel clean-ups are gaining traction worldwide, from organized group efforts to trash-collecting tours like ocean dives & nature walks. A quick Google search should reveal any local clean-up events (whether abroad or at home) and take hardly no time from your trip. For instance, Trash Heroes in Thailand does weekly beach clean-ups, and Ocean Conservancy lists organization in need of volunteers.
The Thrifty Gist
Minimize flying where possible. When you do fly, take direct routes over connections, and choose budget airlines and/or economy seats over first and business classDine, shop, stay, and explore locally where possibleCreate trip itineraries with fewer stops and more thorough nearby explorationsTag, shame, and contact companies, tourism boards, and product companies around damaging practicesSign petitions and become aware of climate issues happening globally and learn how you can helpThe post 6 Ways to Cut Your Travel Carbon Footprint appeared first on Thrifty Nomads.
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By: Jen AveryTitle: 6 Ways to Cut Your Travel Carbon Footprint
Sourced From: feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThriftyNomads/~3/BLHj1Yega0M/
Published Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 01:36:54 +0000
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