10 Best Furniture Brands to Shop Online

One can’t deny how much we spend so much of our time shopping online. It has become our usual way of shopping because we don’t even need to leave our homes’ comfort to buy our wants and needs. This habit is true not only for clothes, make-up, and grocery but now, even home furniture and décor are delivered straight to our doorstep.

Shopping for furniture online is quicker. We can search for exactly what style or piece we like. We can also decide much easier since customer reviews, price comparison, dimension, and even a list of materials are there. Here’s our top 10 list of the best and most stylish online furniture brands where you can buy anything with just a click to get you started. 

IKEA  

Among hundreds of furniture brands out there, this list won’t be complete without Ikea in it. Apart from missing out on their famous Swedish Meatballs, shopping IKEA online is a much better choice because you won’t need to walk a lot looking for what Scandinavian desk or storage shelves you want to assemble next. 

With their wide range of furniture selection, type in what you’re looking for, and you can filter it according to your preference like price, color, shape, etc. Another benefit of going online is you will find new items and discounted bargains all on one page.

Wayfair

One thing about Wayfair that we love is that it can cater to any taste and style you want for your space. It doesn’t come as a surprise as they have over 7 million furniture, decors, dividers, and all home essentials all in one website.  As they say, you can find anything at Wayfair. Plus, one more thing, all these come at an affordable price range. 

Apt2B

If you want to have stylish sofas, couches, and seats without breaking your bank, then Apt2B is a must-visit website you need to bookmark now. They have a wide range of fabric selection for your made-to-order furniture, and if you can’t decide which one to choose, the site also has decorating guides you can browse. 

Apt2B also has the most user-friendly interface from searching to check out. They also give you 100 days for returns, which is long compared to other online furniture shops. Oh, and did I forget to mention, their shipping is free? 

Amazon

Amazon is on the list with its myriad of different brands to choose from. From classic to modern, minimalist to bohemian, you can find any brand to satisfy your taste. Most of them are eligible for fast shipping if you have an Amazon Prime account. You can have your dream piece of décor or furniture in as little as two days.  

Bob’s Discount Furniture

When shopping, buying anything at a discounted price always feels like an accomplishment for most of us. The go-to shop for the best furniture deals is Bob’s Discount Furniture. This store is all about offering affordable home furnishings but not undermining quality. So, if you have a strict budget to stick to, you’ll have your money’s worth here. 

CB2

Think of this shop as a younger brother of Crate and Barrel that is hipper and has more flair. You may have seen several CB2 shops popping around different locations, but you can also shop for their great selection of mid-century, modern, and minimalist furniture and décor online. Once in awhile, you’ll also encounter collaborated pieces from well-known designers. 

CB2 can help you design your space through their customized 3D room designs and mood boards. If that is partial to convince you, they also have design consultations online thru video chat free, which is extra helpful if it’s your first time to decorate your space. 

World Market

If you want to bring unique pieces of furniture and décor from all corners of the world to your home without the hassle of carrying it on your own or worrying if it arrives or not, you must check out World Market. They offer precisely what I mentioned, plus a little more like international food and drinks. A must-visit for unique home décor, you’ll find nowhere else. 

Anthropologie

Browsing Anthropologie’s selection can quickly become a rabbit hole one can get lost into. Though it’s not on the affordable side, you cannot resist but purchase their unique, colorful, and standout décor. If you want a corner of your home to become Pinterest or Instagram-worthy, then this is the perfect shop for you. 

Living Spaces

With over 120 upholstery choices to alter your furniture, Living Spaces is ideal for those who are picky about what shade of blue or pink matches well with their wall or flooring. You have countless ways to customize your piece with no extra charge. Expect to get your personalized order in two to three weeks. 

West Elm

Last but not least is the West Elm. This one is a brand of Williams-Sonoma that offers modern décor at affordable prices. But apart from that, West Elm mainly focuses on getting furniture and decors that use recycled, organic, and sustainably sourced materials. They also prefer to carry furniture that is hand-crafted by local makers.

If you have a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle, you will find what you need here. West Elm is also devoted to making their products accessible to their customers wherever they may be, so they also offer international shipping to over 90 countries worldwide.

Takeaway

Through shopping online, you can get all the pieces of furniture and décor you need to complete your dream home, just using your fingertips. This way can save you a lot of time and even money with online stores that offer discount deals and free shipping. Each shop even has added features where they help you choose the perfect product to match your lifestyle.

How to Pick Your Next HDD

When buying a new laptop or desktop computer, we always have a checklist of what we need according to the work we will use these devices for. First, we look at our budget. How much can we spend? It all depends on the device’s specifications.

If you’re purchasing your second device, you already know what you need to look out for, such as the processor, RAM (computer memory), graphics, computer software, and, most notably, the data storage device, which people need to replace after a few years. We come up with a checklist for your first-time hard drive purchase.

What is a Hard Drive?

A hard drive does several processes in your computer and laptop devices, but its primary function is to store information and find it later. There are two types of hard drives: hard disk drive (HDD) and solid-state drive (SSD).

An SSD works similarly to a USB drive or SD Card, while an HDD uses mechanical platters and a moving read/write head to access your saved data. Though people prefer SSD for its fast loading time, most laptop and desktop computers, even the ones used for heavy graphics and gaming, still have an HDD storage device in them. 

HDD still prevails in the market since it still offers the largest storage compared. Unlike the SSDs, you don’t need to purchase a new storage device for storing software programs. But if your work eats a lot of your storage, you might need to have a back-up HDD.

The Checklist

Whether you’re replacing your old hard drive, in need of a new one, or building your first PC, picking the right storage is vital to improve your system’s performance. Don’t let the salesperson hustle his or her way to your ears. Here are things you need to consider in purchasing a new hard disk drive.

Storage

Computers today come with 250GB and 750GB storage, but you have to choose the best ones with a higher capacity if you’re working on several massive files. There are several HDDs on the market that offer several storage capacities like the 500Gb and 1TB types. 500 GB is enough for saving simple files while the 1TB is for high-quality images and files.

Durability and Warranty

HDDs usually last up to four years. If maintained and used correctly, it can last more than the study suggests. Sometimes failures can occur unexpectedly, especially with constant writing and rewriting of massive files. Always buy from a trusted brand and take into consideration the warranty it provides.

Security

Several HDDs available in the market now have hardware encryption, which offers the best security than software encryption. Why is it important to consider this? If your HDD falls into the hands of a stranger, your sensitive files may be used. That’s something you don’t want to happen.

Speed Of Transfer

The last thing you should check is the speed of data transfer. HDDs with USB 3.0 offer the fastest speed of the transfer process. USB 3.0 is considered one of the fastest ports for transferring data from storage to your desktop computer or laptop.

Get to Know Your Hard Disk Drives

With the checklist we have given above, have you found which type of HDD you consider buying. There are three types of HDDs based on their interfaces. Let’s get to know some of them, so you will determine what kind of HDD you will need for your PC and laptop.

Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA)

This HDD is also called Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE). In the earlier motherboard versions and first computers, drives usually use the PATA interface. It can transfer data at a speed of 133 MBs/second. Since it has been widely used before, it is the most compatible drive in most motherboards.

PATA drives stored information using a rotating disk using magnetism to read-write any data stored. Motherboards in the earlier years can store up to four PATAs. However, this HDD is obsolete and upgraded into a Serial ATA drive, which we will learn about in the next item.

Serial ATA (SATA)

This type of hard drive is commonly used in laptops and desktop computers these days. They are also used in gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Like the STA, it can work on any motherboard and operating system, making it perfect for all work types you will do on your computer device.

Aside from compatibility pros, it also offers many perks, such as efficiency in performance, readily available in most stores, and affordable. Anyone on a tight budget can always learn on SATA.

It can go up to 600MBs per second, and it can be connected to any motherboard with a single data cable. In terms of size, it offers variations. The SATA drive for desktop computers is usually 3.5, while for laptops, it’s 2.7 inches. 

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

This drive is one of the oldest HDD interfaces created. It uses a 50-pin flat ribbon connector to link the hard disk drives to other peripherals. SCSI was famously called Scuzzy. Similar to PATA, it is also obsolete. You wouldn’t find this HDD in the market, and it is not recommended for use with the latest computers.

However, you could still find this hard drive interface in low-end computers. It has a data transmission rate of 80MB per second. In the 1970s it was the best HDD! If you happen to work on computers using this drive, retrieving data may be challenging since this drive’s data cables are difficult to find.

Takeaway

Choosing your next hard drive is like purchasing your first computer or smartphone device. It would be best to consider what you are using for your budget and other specifications. With the tips we have given you, you are not set to purchase your first hard drive!

Converting PPT Slides To PDF: Free & Easy with PDFBear

As traditional as it is, Microsoft Powerpoint isn’t the only platform you can use to share your presentations. There are times wherein the system does not support an MS PPT file. However, you can always convert your Powerpoint file and your slides into a PDF. Convert your PPT to PDF to avoid any troublesome scenarios that involve compatibility and support.

An excellent online tool that you can use to convert PPT to PDF is PDFBear. PDFBear offers this PPT to PDF conversion efficiently and effectively. You will convert any PPT file into an accurate PDF document within a single minute. By converting it to PDF, you can now use the other PDF conversion tools that PDFBear if you deem it necessary.

PPT to PDF With A Few Clicks

PDFBear will only need a few clicks from you to successfully convert any ppt to pdf. And the entire PPT to PDF conversion should only take about a minute. Within this one-minute PPT to PDF conversion, expect that PDFBear will take care of everything regarding your PPT to PDF needs. Quality is one aspect that PDFBear ensures and the accuracy of the PPT to PDF conversion.

PDFBear also equipped this PPT to PDF converter with all the values and settings that should lead to a successful conversion. You do not need to change or change any of the settings of this converter upon using it. As we said, the converter will only require a few clicks from the user. By using this PDFBear PPT to PDF converter, you can have a successful and accurately-converted PPT to PDF document in no time.

Some competitor online tools offer this PDF conversion. However, most convert PPT to PDF, most inefficiently and inaccurately. There have been reports of a tradeoff in terms of the quality of the conversion. With this PDFBear tool, you can assure yourself that the quality of your PPT file will be similar when you convert it to a PDF format.

PPT to PDF Within Four Easy Steps

The process for PPT to PDF is relatively quick and easy to follow. Anyone who wants to avail of this PDFBear service only needs to follow four easy steps to convert any PPT file into a PDF successfully. Following this four-step process should be a breeze, as you only need a few clicks to convert PPT to PDF. This four-step PPT to PDF conversion will take as short as a minute before you can download an accurately formatted PDF!

The PPT to PDF process begins through a single upload of the MS PowerPoint file you wish to convert. Then, a process-bar will then appear that will signal the progress of the upload and conversion. Moving on, you can choose between the options if you want to modify the file.

If everything about the options checks out, then you can click on “Download” and save the file to your computer or any device. You can also share the PDF document to your Dropbox or Google Drive.

PPT and PPTX Support

There’s a substantial chance that you have not only a PPT file in your possession. You do not have to worry as this PPT to PDF converter can perfectly handle PPTX formats. Converting PPTX to PDF should be the same. Expect the same swift PPT to PDF conversion and an accurate and high-quality result.

Cloud Conversion For PPT

All PPT to PDF conversions happen in the PDFBear Cloud. Therefore, using PDFBear to convert PPT to PDF will not use up any of your CPU or GPU bandwidth. The same goes for your system memory. Overall, the system you are using will not be in any heavy load while converting PPT to PDF using PDFBear.

Microsoft PPT files are recognizable around the world. Therefore, uploading any PPT file and converting them to PDF is possible through the PDFBear Cloud. All you need is to access this PPT to PDF converter on the PDFBear portal. And, typically, with just a few clicks, you can convert any PPT to PDF successfully through the Cloud.

The Cloud Conversion tool should be perfect for those who are always on the go. Converting PPT to PDF or PPTX to PDF has never been this easy thanks to PDFBear and this PPT to PDF tool.

Universal Operating Systems

You will not have any compatibility issues or support troubles in using this PPT to PDF tool. PDFBear is compatible with all the operating systems used today. Using a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system will not be an issue in accessing and using this PPT to PDF converter on PDFBear. No matter which platform you use in converting PPT to PDF, the same four-step process will occur.

PDFBear and this PPT to PDF tool are also compatible and supported on mobile operating systems. If you have a smartphone, as most of us have, then you can quickly and conveniently convert any PPT file to PDF from your device. But you will need a stable web connection to access PDFBear and convert PPT to PDF using the PDFBear Cloud.

Takeaway

Converting PPT to PDF has never been this quick and convenient. This PPT to PDF converter gives any user the flexibility and accuracy they need to convert PPT to PDF. And it allows users to avail of this PDF conversion service for free. PDFBear makes sure that this PDF conversion is accessible and is a process that continually yields high-quality and accurate results.

6 Most Commonly Used Emojis You Can Send To Your Friends

Emojis are somehow similar to emoticons or “smileys.” They are commonly used in different communication channels, such as emails, text messages, or social media platforms. You can choose from various emojis, which typically include facial expressions, food, animals, objects, transportation, and even weather type.  The term emoji originally comes from the word “pictograph.”

In Japanese,  the “e” in emoji means “picture”, and “moji” or “character”.  Communicating doesn’t have to be just “words” all the time. Depending on their custom,  history, and even the circumstance, people communicate in a lot of ways. Now that we’re in the modern age, people use emojis to interact with one another.  Here are some commonly used emojis of 2020

The Nerd Emoji 

To convey how we feel when words don’t seem to bring what we’d like to say, we use various emojis. Certainly, emojis have enhanced how we connect and transmit entertaining messages to everyone we speak to. This latest way of connecting with others has made our experience more comfortable, and when we can’t find the correct terms, we don’t have to tinker with our thoughts, which is an advantage for us.

The nerd emoji has a yellow grinning face with black-rimmed, thick eyeglasses and buck teeth that’s showing. It is modeled after a stereotypical geek with buck teeth, a derogatory illustration that historically ridiculed East Asians. The glasses and smile vary among different platforms. Some features even show white-glasses instead of the typical black ones. 

Meaning depends, but mostly used as a pleasant but self-deprecating means of expressing or showing someone is a geek, I.e., incredibly technical, intelligent, or thrilled regarding something from school to sports to fashion. It is also used to portray eyeglasses or anyone who commonly wears them.

The Red Heart Emoji 

The red heart emoji is the best one whenever you want to express love and support to your spouse or dear ones. This is also used whenever you want to transmit a sweet text message or email to somebody close to you, whether it be a family member or a friend. 

Besides this, whenever we like to write about something, an event, or food that makes you feel good, we can also use the red heart emoji.  When you create a long love message for your spouse, we highly recommend you use this emoji. 

This would undoubtedly make them feel happy and loved because the heart has always been a symbol of affection. In any communication network, this emoji is proven the best to use. 

Dizzy Face Emoji

This emoji portrays a face with pupils that are “X” or swirling, depending on the device or platform you use. Usually, this emoji doesn’t necessarily mean you feel nauseous or dizzy, but if it fits the situation, you could also use this emoji for such a purpose. 

Individuals use this emoji to show their dissatisfaction over something else or when they can’t understand what a person is saying.  It may imply that the situation you are in is causing you discomfort or that you could be in a situation difficult to manage. You may also use this emoji to express a drunk or “hangover” feeling. 

The Smiling Eyes With Kissing Face Emoji  

This emoji features a yellow round face with a puckered kiss on the lips and bright smiling eyes. Ideas of affection and love are widely shared. This emoji is often believed to represent whistling, especially with the musical note, like an individual whose hands are comfortably whistling and hands in his pocket after misconduct.  

This emoji can also be used when you want to kiss someone in particular.  You can also use this when you find the person you’re talking to adorable, or they may have said something sweet. There are several ways to use this emoji and reasons to send them to your friends or family.  

The Sparkles Emoji

This emoji shows a burst of glittering sparkles. It is usually represented as triple four-point gold stars, with one large spark and two small stars to the left and right sides. It is frequently used to denote various positive emotions, such as affection, happiness, beauty, appreciation, and enthusiasm. It can be used to show imagination or cleanliness too. When you want to show off some charm and “sass,” this emoji is excellent to use. 

The Flushed Emoji 

This flushed emoji is sometimes related to the “embarrassed emoji,” one of the most widely utilized by all individuals. With its eyes open wide and brows furrowed, this emoji is portrayed as a blushing face. This emoji is also used to express remorse or be shy over something. When we are trying to depict someone who is embarrassed over something that has happened or even about a particular person, we could also use this.

There is no question that Emojis helped us interact with the people around us better. Now that we’ve got emojis, We’re seeing them everywhere on social networks, messages, or even newsletters. It’s there! 

Takeaway 

Humans have created the trend of using emojis to communicate with one another, and it’s been proven that it has made it simpler and easier to connect with others around you.  Check these emojis out and have a great time with your loved ones. We hope our article helped you in knowing more about the best emojis you can use for your conversation.

5 Endearing Emoticons for Kids

Children usually have an easy time in virtual and modern communication. Emoticons help navigate and express how we truly feel. Kids nowadays are creative and artistic socially. No matter the distance and the situation, it is good to convey messages and emotions through emoticons. It is a convenient tool for good communication.

Here are some fun and bright emojis for kids to incorporate on their next chats and social media posts. With these emoticons, we can avoid confusion and add more flair to dull and usual messages. We are fortunate enough to have these emojis handy. Let us take advantage of every opportunity and spread positivity and light on to others starting today!

House Emoji

Kids first learn to appreciate the environment that they grew up in and discover many things at home. The house is where a child’s curiosity and love develops. The house emoji is perfect for everyone to relive their beautiful childhood memories. Kids can send their playmates the house emoticon as an invitation to their lovely homes. Who would not want to have a good slumber party on the weekends, right?

We all had experienced playing house during our younger years. The house emoticon is an excellent reminder to let the inner child in us foster. Reminiscing on memories can be a stress reliever during difficult times. The house emoji has endless meaning and possibilities. Parents and kids can enjoy playing house to form stronger bonds and learn from each other. Go on and prepare the blankets and pillows to create a playhouse with the kids. 

Piñata Emoji

What is a children’s party without a piñata? Every birthday celebration, we see and get to play with one. Piñatas’ colorful history came from the beautiful country of Mexico. We often see Piñatas during parlor games, and they make all celebrations more exciting and fun. The Piñata emoji is a good reminder not to forget to include this game during any parties. We all need to let loose and release our stress by playing this game. 

The prizes and candies inside the Piñatas are amusing. The joy and excitement on childrens’ faces are priceless, and the parents during celebrations also get to play and have their fun. The Piñata emoji is useful to incorporate on birthday greetings and celebrations. They add pleasure and entertainment to both messages and parties. Invite everyone to play and feel the rush to fill up your baskets and bags with yummy snacks and irresistible sweet treats! 

Teddy Bear Emoji

Who would not love an adorable and huggable teddy bear? Every child has one that they sleep beside every night. The teddy bear emoji is the cutest of all emoticons out there. Teddy bears are essential to a child growing up. Every cuddle of these delightful bears improves mental health. It is fascinating how this single emoticon can bring so many good benefits to a kid. They act as a security blanket and an object of comfort to the owner.

Sending the teddy bear emoticon can also mean that you want a bear as a gift. The receiver instantly knows that you want something to embrace during the night. You can also give a teddy bear on anniversaries to your significant other. It marks the time you enjoyed together, and the bonus part is that she gets to hug it forever. They say that you need to appreciate and enjoy the little things in life because you will look back and realize that they were big things one day.

Magic Wand Emoji

Magic tricks during children’s parties are also a hit. It is the most entertaining and fun part of the program. Sending the magic wand emoji lets you think of that magical feeling you experience during those shows. They say magic is believing in yourself, and if you do that, you can make anything happen. 

The magic wand emoticon is a reminder to keep the magic in you alive. Do not let anyone dim that light in you. You are your magic, and we should appreciate ourselves more. We can create big things if we believe in our dreams and goals. This emoticon inspires and motivates, especially the young ones. As they say, the world is full of magic; it is up to us to spark and grow it.

Roller Coaster Emoji

The roller coaster is the best emoticon for kids. They say that Disney is the happiest place on earth. We can all agree that it is because of the fun rides they offer. A roller coaster emoticon reminds you to plan your next visit to theme parks and wild rides. Roller coasters can help you forget your problem even just for a short while. 

Roller coasters help you fight off your fear of heights. By riding, you feel more confident, and you overcome phobias that you might have. The adrenaline rush that kids feel during the rides is the best. They patiently wait in long lines to experience the thrill. Have the time of your life and send the roller coaster emoticon to your friends!

Express What You Feel With Emojis 

These five emoticons can make your child’s heart happy. We all need constant inspiration now and then. These emojis help us attain genuine happiness that money cannot buy. You are doing the right thing the moment you add these fun emoticons to your messages. They say it is good to honor your inner child by losing yourself and enjoying simple pleasures.

Emojiguide: 6 Comforting Emojis During This Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic greatly affected everything that we do and cared about. Many have experienced the sorrow of losing a loved one because of the virus. Thousands of people worldwide are forcefully ejected from employment because of the economic damages caused by the virus. The primary platform for communication nowadays is online. 

Although technological advancements such as video calls and online chat improved online communication’s sensual connection, we tend to use online chat more due to time constraints. To make your chats more personal, add these comforting emojis when chatting with the people you love. 

Coffee Emoji

Since we cannot easily go out to coffee shops and hang out with our friends like usual, you can use the coffee emoji and invite your friend for a cup or two despite being far from one another. What we all need is a strong emotional connection from the people we hold most dear. As mentioned earlier, text messaging or online chatting becomes the main bridge for communication. Several people from different parts of the world are battling depression right now. Social distancing is a barrier to comfort one another in these arduous times sincerely. 

The key to creating a flavorful, sensual, comforting, and exciting conversation is by using emojis. Coffee is one of the best signatures for hanging out and chill.  You can both take a break and have coffee while being in your own houses. You can continue to communicate online and send selfies while having coffee. Although the pandemic has cost us quite enough, we must not let negativities sink in our minds and vanquish all we had worked hard for. Consider maintaining a healthy work and life balance. 

Soft Ice Cream Emoji

The emoji speaks for itself; ice cream is one of the best comfort foods! It’s pretty apparent how sending an ice cream emoji can comfort your friend or colleague that needs a shoulder to lean on. The ice cream need not be on your hands as you send this emoji. You can both use your imagination and feel a caring friend’s comfort by bringing up one’s favorite. 

If you live in a country that is not strict with the social distancing policies, you can send the ice cream emoji as a straightforward invitation. You can keep yourself from the hassle of typing numerous words to invite; just send the ice cream emoji, and you can both meet and enjoy each other’s company. Who doesn’t love ice cream, right? 

Beer Mug Emoji

One of the trends in today’s hang out sessions is virtually drinking beers together. We can even see celebrities having their group sessions through online platforms like Zoom. You can initiate these types of gatherings to your group chats just by sending dozens of the beer mug emoji! 

Beer is beer; this pandemic can’t stop beer lovers despite being distant from one another. Even for countries that implemented a liquor ban, many people still pop out from their boxes and do all they can just to get a taste of their beloved beers. Of course, you must drink moderately and responsibly! 

Clinking Glasses Emoji

If your best friend just got pregnant, or a job promotion, or has successfully endeavored a challenge, then you can use the clinking glasses emoji. This emoji signifies a call for celebration; it comprises two champagne flutes with three rays to emphasize the clink. While many battle hardships, we must never forget to celebrate the positive outcomes. 

Quite lonesome, some are being left in the shadows and seemed to be forgotten. We must not overlook our sorrowful friends and catch up with them despite battling hardships on your own; this is healthy for both parties. Also, we must not forget to celebrate others’ success, as many people also lack appreciation. 

Doughnut Emoji

Using the doughnut and coffee emoji together is an excellent combination to lure your friend out for a chill. Since we are all recommended to stay home, you can still continue to enjoy quality time apart from each other by snacking on doughnuts while sipping a cup of coffee. We must face these challenging times with optimism and companionship. 

Although you can use the doughnut emoji for neat and pure purposes, it can also denote a kinky emoji. You have to be mindful of using the doughnut emoji as it can also mean interest for anal sex. Unless you are actually discussing kinky matters, at least you now know when to use what. The doughnut emoji is two-faced. 

Hugging Face Emoji

Not all people have the same coping mechanism; we must also adjust and adapt to others’ emotional incapacity and guide them to keep their sanity intact. Since we can’t hug other people we love, the next best thing we can do is send the hugging face emoji to let them know that we miss them. 

The hugging face emoji can be the most comforting emoji, especially in this pandemic situation. The least we could do is to send virtual hugs, which is more than enough for other people. 

In A Nutshell

Issues involving emotional instability or disrupted mental health should not be taken lightly. As humans as we are, we all need support from each other, especially with these pandemic damages. We must learn to optimize the online tools and platforms that we have to support one another. These emojis can cheer up the people you love when you use them in chats. 

6 Best Microsoft Word Add-ins for Your Business Documents

Microsoft Word is synonymous with business tools, but you can give it superpowers with some of the best add-ins for business documents. Improve the rhetoric within your documents, achieve error-free edits, close deals without leaving your chair, and build your reputation as a business by deploying these add-ins to Microsoft Word.

Grammarly

Grammarly

This is powered by AI, so it can do much more than an ordinary spell check. For those whose first language isn’t English, a writing assistant like Grammarly can make all the difference. Even for people who are proficient with the language, the add-in saves time. To err is human, but you can easily identify common mistakes in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and much more.

DocuSign 

DocuSign 

Deals can be closed quickly without leaving your chair or even Microsoft Word. Create documents and have them routed to the right person for signing. This is what every business needs to have for ensuring better productivity. Docusign app enables users to have documents signed on the go without downloading or installing another app. It is very efficient in today’s fast-paced world.

Windward

Adopt the power to determine how everyone within the organization creates business documents. Documents that influence your brand or legal compliance need to be taken seriously but you cannot always physically monitor what everyone does. Use Windward to provide approved document templates for important documents like contracts, quotes, and proposals. Templates are easy to use and save time while providing the ability for anyone to create critical business documents with consistent quality and at amazing speeds.

Lucidchart Diagrams

Lucidchart Diagrams

Creating process flows, diagram rich presentations, mapping and more can be done by organizations right in MS Word to impress prospective clients and to give a better understanding of products. Lucidchart is just what you need to come up with stunning charts. It is the king of the diagrams. With this add-in, you can gain access to a fully stocked library of templates to come up with just about any imaginable presentation. It also allows you to collaborate with Microsoft Teams. It also gets a thumbs up for ease of use and access.

Wikipedia 

Wikipedia 

While working on a document, you do not need to leave Word to fact check information or confirm dates. The Wikipedia add-in can improve the accuracy of your documents. It works together with the Word research tool to provide accurate information within the page you are working on. You save time since you do not have to keep switching tabs.

Read My Document

Sometimes it is easier to edit a document if someone reads it out to you, it also gives you the ability to do other things as you review the document. Read My Document add-in will read out your document at normal speed so that you get a feel of what it sounds like and you can know how long it takes to read through. Caution however should be taken when dealing with confidential documents since the app shares information over the internet.

Branding For Beginners – Everything you Need to Know

Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business whether that be large or small and will give you a major edge in increasingly competitive market sectors. We want to help everyone understand what effective branding means and how it can affect start-up businesses for the better. 

In a sentence, your brand is a promise to your customer and lets them know what they can expect from your products, services and what makes you different to your competitors. Your brand is an insight into who you are and where you want to be in the future. The foundation of your branding will be your logo followed by the rest of your business stationery which will follow suit in regard to the colour scheme, font, and more. 

Where Do I Start?  

Your brand is usually defined as a combination of elements that define your business. These elements usually include a slogan, logo, business ethos and motto the first step in defining a brand is to decide on a name. If you are struggling to come up with a name, you might find that you will come up with one once the creative process starts. 

Defining Your Brand 

Defining your brand is like a journey of discovering your business’s identity. You should start by asking yourself a couple of questions: 

  • What is your company’s mission? 
  • What are the benefits and features of your products or services?
  • What do your customers and prospects already think of your company?
  • What qualities do you want them to associate with your company? 

Your branding is who you are as a company; it’s your values and your mission, the way to treat your customers, the look and feel of your visual assets. So, before you start budgeting for a designer you need to take time to get on who you are and what you’re about, the more you can infuse that identity into your branding and the more your brand will stand out and grab customers attention as a result. 

Every successful brand has a powerful purpose behind it and you should use these ideas to inform the foundation of your branding. nce you have found the perfect name for your business, you will need to think about how you can best visually represent your brand, namely your colours and typography. Choosing all of this will be perfect when you start to make your own website.

Who Is Your Customer?

So many businesses focus on what they are selling that they forget to pay attention to who their product may be for. When you know who your target customer is, you can use it to guide your branding strategy and identity – and the end result will be a brand that truly connects with the customers you want to work with most. 

If you are a new company with little to no sales data, you can always have a look at competitors and make educated assumptions on who your audience may be.

If you are an existing business, it’s important to gather an understanding of who you are already helping with your product or service. It is important to find out who your product or service is helping to continue to target those people.

Applying Your Branding Across Your Business

Applying your branding across your business will give you a cohesive brand story. Your brand story will represent who your business is and what it stands for. Branding sets the stage for every interaction customers have your brand whether that be in-store or online. 

If your business has a story it is so important to share it because it can help your customers feel connected and reassured your business is right for them. When writing your business story you should ask yourself what motivated you to start your business?, why does the company exist?, how do we contribute to the world? And what is the story behind my business which my customers should know.

Evolve Your Brand As You Grow

 

Building your brand doesn’t stop with creating a logo and slogans, or even your brand launch. Your brand needs to remain consistent throughout your marketing materials and how you package and ship your products. 

You should also think about shaping and evolving your brand as you expose more customers to it and learn more about who your customers are and how you speak to them. It is really important however to appreciate that you will never have complete control over how people perceive your brand. 

Things To Know About Landlords’ Insurance

Things To Know About Landlords’ Insurance

The job of the landlord can always go wrong so it is very important to be protected. This is a business that can quickly become really expensive. Without the right coverage, a lot of money can be lost. 

Is Landlords’ Insurance Needed?

The short answer to this is yes. A very good landlords’ insurance policy includes countless very useful features, like accidental damage coverage, building insurance, and even financial protection when rent is lost. While it is not mandatory from a legal point of view, having one from a good provider like Deacon can offer a huge protection level that you simply cannot have without it. 

In order to properly understand why, here are some of the policies that are normally included in a landlords’ insurance policy. 

Building Insurance

This is the main coverage that the landlord needs. It is very important because of the fact that it protects the property’s bricks and mortar. As an example, in the event that the property is damaged by fire or flooding, this insurance covers rebuilding costs. 

At times, the policy can include bathroom suites and kitchen units and some policies even cover garages, sheds, or other outbuildings. Just look at the rebuilding cost of the property and you can easily figure out how important the policy is. 

Contents Insurance

When the property is rented with a part-furnished or fully-furnished deal, this insurance becomes vital since it protects sofas, carpets, beds, and basically all possessions you own from damage and theft. 

Extra coverage can be added if you want to also be covered in the event that accidental damage happens. This includes everything from coffee stains on rugs to smashed mirrors. 

As a landlord, try to find a policy that replaces belongings and that uses the “new for old” system. This means that possessions end up replaced with new ones when claims happen. 

Liability Insurance

You can add liability insurance to most plans, including landlords’ insurance. In some times, it can even be a requirement, like when you offer social housing or student housing. 

Such insurance is going to protect you against the tenants that will sue you when an accident happens on the property you own. It practically covers countless unexpected possible situations in which an accident leads to the death or the injury of a person while on your property. 

Legal Expenses Insurance

Another policy that you want to consider is this one because it helps you to get coverage for legal costs that appear because of tenant disputes. This includes repossessing property and evicting squatters. In addition, the policy can cover the costs of having to defend yourself against criminal actions. 

The policy can be extended in order to recover all the legal costs associated with recovering outstanding rent owned. This is definitely a little extra that you should consider and check to see if the insurance provider offers it. 

On the whole, landlords’ insurance is always necessary but policies can vary a lot from one provider to the other. This is why shopping around is a very good idea. 

How To Take Care Of Your Indoor Plants – A Quick Guide

Indoor plants have to be nurtured and you need to take care of them in a much different way than outdoor plants. This includes watering and so much more. People are used to watering their indoor plants just once per week and that is fine if you choose a plant that can work with this. If not, you will have to choose something else. 

One of the most important things is definitely watering. Fortunately, you can invest in a really good hydroponics system. Just look at Progrow and you can easily find everything that you need, including lights. 

When it comes to watering, most indoor plants just need your care one time per week. During winter and autumn, you can even reduce the frequency to around 2 to 3 times per 2 months. 

Obviously, you will also need to feed your plants. The best option is a quality controlled-release fertilizer under a granule form. Make sure that you pick off all the older leaves so that you can allow brand new ones to grow. A seaweed solution can also help to maintain optimum health. 

Dealing With Pests

When the plant is stressed (not fed or watered correctly), insect attacks can happen. With indoor plants, we have fewer pests to worry about but this does not mean they do not exist. Usually, the one that you have to worry about is the mealy bug. This is a hairy insect. It is white and around 3 mm long. When there are just a few of them present, you can just manually remove them. However, if the infestation is larger, you will need to use a natural pest control solution. 

You may also want to deal with scales, which are smaller insects. PestOil is enough for the affected leaves. 

Keep Indoor Plants Alive With These Simple Tips:

  • When it is time to re-pot, make sure that the potting mix you use is of the best possible quality. 
  • When you clean the leaves, just create a solution of 50:50 water and milk. This keeps your leaves free of dust, healthy, and glossy. 
  • Consider fiberglass pots because they are very easy to move whenever you decide to decorate. 
  • Be careful with the plants that are close to windows, especially during summer. This is because stronger sun can easily burn indoor plant leaves. 
  • If you notice brown tips on the leaves, it is usually because of watering problems. Sometimes there is too little water and in other cases, there is too much water. 
  • Make sure that plants are not left near the heaters during the winter. They will end up being too hot and leaves can burn. 
  • If the saucer of the pot is full of water, remove it as soon as possible. Such a water-filled environment makes the plant rot. 
  • The number of plants that can deal with air conditioning is limited. Be particularly careful when you have such an indoor condition. 
  • Water crystals can be added to your potting mix in order to help the plants deal with longer periods without exposure to water.