Tammie's Take~

Things You Should Know Before You Start A Blog

Reviews · June 27, 2018

Blogging can be whatever you wish it to be. It can simply be a fun hobby to fill your spare time, a useful marketing tool to promote your small business, or a small business of its very own to provide your income each month. Nowadays almost anyone can start a blog without too much trouble, but if you want your blog to be a success, then this requires a little more work. To help you set off on the right foot, here are five things you need to know before you start your blog.

You Need To Work Hard

Before you get too carried away, you need to sit down and really think about why you want to start your blog. If you think it’s going to be a useful way to promote your business or that its a fun hobby to fill your time, then great, but if you are simply looking to make money, then you might want to reconsider. There are lots of ways to make money online, and blogging is one of the hardest. Unless you’re willing to put the hours and energy in, it really isn’t for you.

Social Media Is A Must

Whether you like it or not, we live in a time that is utterly obsessed with social media. Because of this, you’re going to have to get a few pages of your very own. Writing and posting your content to your website simply isn’t enough; You also need to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This is one of the best ways to drive traffic to your blog. Just try not to spam your followers, or your efforts will have the opposite effect.

Try To Learn The Basics

These days, we have some pretty powerful blogging platforms, so knowledge of HTML and CSS isn’t always necessary. However, it is always better to read up on web development tips and advice and have a basic understanding of these skills. This way, you’ll be able to fix errors on your blog easily and edit the appearance of your articles. There are plenty of courses, both online and face-to-face, where you can learn these skills.

Search Engine Optimisation Is Essential

Despite what some people claim, search engine optimisation (SEO) is far from dead. In fact, it remains one of the best ways to boost your blog traffic. Because of this, it’s essential that you spend some time optimising your articles and blog for search engines. This can get pretty complicated, but you can easily find tips and basic ways to boost your SEO online. The first step is ensuring that all of your articles are original and include links to relevant content.

Starting a blog is easy, but it isn’t for everyone. If you want your blog to be a success, then you need to be willing to put the time and work in. You’re going to hit some roadblocks along the way, but try not to give up. If this is something that you’re passionate about, then it will be worth it in the end.

Best Merchant Account Services of 2018

Uncategorized · June 20, 2018

Anyone who owns a business knows the importance of being able to accept credit cards and process orders with speed and efficiency. Finding the right merchant account services can be difficult, especially with so many options available to business owners. If you are a business owner, and you are currently in the market for new merchant account services, here is a list of some of the best merchant account services of 2018.

SmartSwipe

SmartSwipe is a point-of-sale system designed for businesses of all types and sizes. It utilizes cloud technology to help users manage inventory, track customers, and accept credit cards with relative ease. SmartSwipe’s strength lies in its intuitive abilities, and users have the ability to accept payments via iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, so you can take orders from customers on the floor and cut long lines in half.

LightSpeed

LightSpeed is a POS solution designed to increase customer satisfaction and employee speed. Restaurant owners will benefit from functions such as table-side ordering while managers and supervisors will enjoy the easy-to-use accounting and reporting functions. It even allows business owners to keep track of their inventories.

Clover

The Clover POS system offers a sleek design and intuitive software. Clover allows business owners to accept EMV chip, swipe, and contactless payments, and the system can be highly customized. It also offers the following features:

Inventory tracking
Timesheet management
Report printing

For business owners on the go, Clover Go and Clover Flex can help them take payments on the go. Users also have the option to download the gift card app and implement reward programs with ease. Clover Go can even attach to iPhones for additional flexibility and versatility.

Finding the Right Merchant Account Services

The right merchant account service can help even the busiest companies keep their customers satisfied and their revenues high. Visit Merchant Account Solutions online today to learn more about our POS and credit card processing products.

Four New Restaurants in Pittsburgh

Reviews · June 20, 2018

Here are some of the newest restaurants in Pittsburgh! This should be a handy list any time you want to elevate your usual dining experience in the area. If you’re looking for a way to ensure your celebration or night out on the town goes smoothly, check out the fleet at Pittsburgh Party Bus. Not only will you be able to avoid dealing with traffic and parking, but you’ll also be able to continue the adventure after eating dinner.

Soju
4923 Penn Avenue
Soju is a Korean American establishment that has been on the scene since March. Some of the favorite dishes are the chicken katsu, kimchi fried rice, and the tuna poke. There’s also a wide variety of cocktails available. The atmosphere is both trendy and comfortable, making it a perfect destination for a night out with friends.

Brugge on North
40 W North Avenue
Having opened in April, Brugge on North is making quite a splash! You’ll definitely want to try their moules frites, cheesecake with lemon curd, tomato based mussels, and their signature kiwi cocktail. It’s in a shared space with the City of Asylum book store, so you can have a great meal after shopping for some literary treasures.

Coughlin’s Law Kitchen and Ale House
10 Virginia Avenue
Comfort food is somehow made even better with the menu at Coughlin’s. How could you go wrong with an appetizer of bacon lollipops? There are also vegan options available here which makes it fitting for groups who have a wide range of preferences. There’s usually quite a wait to get in so be sure to consider looking at their online wait list service before coming in.

Fujiya Ramen
815 S Aiken Avenue
This ramen house has a lot to offer! If you’re not familiar with this dish, it is a flavorful broth with a generous helping of thin noodles and other ingredients like egg, meats, and vegetables. It’s truly authentic, and the flavors are impressive. Their miso ramen is the most ordered plate, but any of the options here are sure to be fresh and delicious. The best way to end a meal here is to order some of their mochi ice cream as a dessert.

The Office Workout

Reviews · June 19, 2018

Making Sure Your Family Is Taken Care Of

Reviews · June 19, 2018

As a parent, your number one priority is taking care of your family—especially your children. A lot of people spend their entire lives looking for somebody to start a family with, so the importance of family can’t be overstated.

There are a number of things you can do to make sure your family is taken care of, including working toward a better career, properly securing your home, purchasing the right car and more. If you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to take care of your family, here are some tips.

Physical Safety

When it comes to caring for your family, physical safety is definitely a priority. Like all people, your family may go through various life-threatening situations, from a burglary to a bad car accident. While there is nothing you can do to avoid these things entirely, you can take steps to make sure they aren’t as impactful.

Making sure you buy a safe car is a big part of having a family. You no longer need to focus on speed and style; once you’ve got a caravan full of kids, it’s time to focus on safety features and IIHS crash test ratings. Look for a car that gets high ratings for its ability to withstand impact from accidents without costing a fortune.

You should also take some steps to secure your home. With the advanced technology available today, you can find relatively affordable security systems which are easy to install. Some systems even provide home monitoring services.

Life Insurance

Although passing away and leaving your family behind is something you never want to think about, it is a real possibility that you need to prepare for. This is why it’s important to purchase a good Pittsburgh life insurance policy, especially if your work or health put you at risk.

Life insurance will help your family take care of funeral expenses and anything they may not be able to pay after you’re gone. This includes anything they need, from a mortgage or gas payment to groceries or new school clothes.

Work Life Balance

Before many people start a family, they pursue a career to make sure they have sufficient income to support a family. However, some people make the mistake of pursuing a career that will ultimately be too demanding. While making good money is an important part of supporting your family, being there is even more important.

From sporting events or concerts at school to simple things your family takes interest in, you need to be around as often as possible. It may be tempting to pick up that extra eight-hour shift at work, but the effects will ultimately be negative when you don’t get to come home on time and sit around the dinner table with your family. Moments like these are integral to your children’s growth and your family’s togetherness.

You may have a lot to do as a parent, but you can manage it. For your hard work, you will be rewarded with the best thing in life: a loving family.