Ways to Run a Financially Successful University

November 12, 2020

Just like other financial entities, universities are businesses and need to be run in a way that makes them profitable. Top schools work hard to protect their reputations and ensure that they are marketed the right way to attract the maximum number of students. So, if you are involved in the running of your university from a financial standpoint, here are a few top tips that can help you to make it a success.

Get Your Marketing Right

To some extent, the top universities around the world have a lot of their own marketing done for them based on their reputation alone. Therefore, if you run a university that is ranked outside the premier list, you need to work even harder to ensure that it features on the radar of prospective students. As so many people find products and services online these days, you need to ensure that your university ranks highly on search engines, and a university SEO agency service can help in this regard. You also need to ensure that you have an active and interesting social media presence. At the same time, keeping the website updated with fresh content also helps, not to mention having an effective advertising campaign.

Give Employees a Say

The top universities place a high degree of importance on ensuring that they attract and retain the most talented employees. Developing a high-quality reputation means that people actively want to work at the university, and you can be selective about who you hire. When you have the best staff working for you, it makes sense that you ask for their opinion and include them in the process of running the place as much as possible. Ultimately, this should help to create a better atmosphere for the students at the same time too in a virtuous circle that boosts your reputation.

Organize and Structure

The best universities run like well-oiled machines, and this means that they have a clear sense of structure. This also means that you should always be looking for ways that you can make things smoother with the latest technology to help automate tasks that otherwise would have been significantly time-consuming.

Develop a Strong Network

Keeping up a strong relationship with the local community, current students, alumni, and their friends and family can go a long way towards ensuring that you have a new group of students who want to attend the university, as well as people who are willing to make financial donations to the university. Ultimately, a good word of mouth reputation can go a long way towards creating the sort of buzz that you are looking for.

While universities are there to provide an education first and foremost, they also need to be financially viable to ensure that they continue successfully. The above tips give you some idea of how you can create the type of positive financial footing that you can build on, develop a reputation, and create an ever-growing base of students.

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What to Do When Your Business is Facing Insolvency

November 12, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world we live in forever, especially the way that we work. Many people have been furloughed from their jobs, or worse they have been made redundant, and those that still have jobs find themselves working from home, rather than commuting to an office. The virus, however, has not only affected people personally it has also lead to many businesses failing or finding themselves on the brink of collapse. This can be a very upsetting time if you are a business owner because not only do you face the prospect of all your hard going up in smoke, but you also have the worry lingering at the back of your mind that you will be letting down your employees who will lose their jobs.

It needn’t be all bad, though, because if your business is facing insolvency there are still options available to you and it is possible to turn things around despite how things may seem, and there are also various ways of taking your business through the insolvency process which will protect your employees. If you find that your business is in this position, then read on, as we are going to take a look at exactly what you should do if your business faces insolvency.

Contact Your Creditors

Your first port of call when facing insolvency should be your creditors because they are the people that you owe money to, and therefore they can potentially help you out. The majority of creditors will want to help you out because they will not want to face the prospect of not receiving payment from you, which would likely be the case if you went insolvent. Try and re-negotiate payment terms so that you can spread payment over a period of time and always act in an open and honest fashion. If they see that you are really struggling but at the same time you are trying to come up with ways to turn your business around, then they will be much more amenable to changing your payment terms. Obviously, given the current situation, they too could be in a bad position themselves and may not be able to extend credit further, but there is no harm in trying.

Seek Professional Advice

When you are on the brink of insolvency there is no point going it alone as this will get you nowhere. You need to speak to as many people as possible, as every different insight is valuable, and your first stop should be a professional insolvency advisor. Experts from https://antonybatty.com/company-administration/pre-pack-administration/ recommend that an advisor takes a look at your financial position and if it is beyond saving they can help you to enter a pre-pack administration which can keep the majority of your employees in jobs and can keep the company trading. A pre-pack administration will protect the business and the assets and is suitable when you find your business in the situation of having liabilities exceeding assets or are having cash flow problems that mean that you can’t pay your creditors. Despite this, you will face selling some of your business assets or even part of your business to your creditors, but at least your firm will stay trading and your employees will remain in jobs.

Administration

A further option open to your company when it is facing insolvency is what is known as administration. When you start receiving serious threats from your creditors then you are likely to be facing this situation as renegotiating payment terms is off the table, as is entering a pre-pack administration. When you enter full-on administration a licensed insolvency practitioner will take over the day to day running of your business and will look to save the business and will try to stop further deterioration of the company’s financial position.

Effectively you are buying time to try and solve the problems and are putting your faith in experts who have more knowledge about turning around failing businesses than you have. The practitioners may be able to source new finance or will attempt to sell off loss-making parts of the business. If they manage to turn the company profitable again, it will be returned to the directors and you will be left with your business as before, aside from a hefty fee from the insolvency team.

A CVL

A company voluntary liquidation, or CVL, is your last resort. When you and the directors of the firm realize that there is no prospect of you covering your liabilities, then this is the best option. The remaining assets of the firm will be called in and distributed to the creditors in an even manner, and then the firm is closed for good. It will be a sad day, but at least it will prevent you from losing more money.

Don’t Use Your own money

You may have spent years building your business and you may regard it as your baby, however, you should not be tempted under any circumstances to put your hand in your own pocket to bail out the firm, no matter how tempting. The fact that your business is on the brink of insolvency should tell you that all is not right, so there is no point in throwing your hard-earned cash after something that is failing. Much better is to talk to creditors and to advisors about the best steps forward. As long as you own a Limited company you are under absolutely no legal obligation to prop the firm up with your own funds, so don’t do it, or you risk facing personal financial ruin. It will be tough but you have to separate your emotions from the cold hard facts.

As we have learned there are several options open to you if your business faxes insolvency. Your first step should be to talk to your creditors and see if you can extend payment terms, and then you should seek the advice of a professional who may suggest a pre-pack administration, a full-blown administration or even a CVL if your business is beyond help. Remember, however, that you are not personally liable for your businesses’ debts, so don’t be tempted to put your own money in to rescue it, as it will only end in tears.

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5 Ways to Improve Workplace Culture

November 12, 2020

The term “workplace culture” refers to the behavior, values and attitudes followed by employees working within an organization. In simple terms, the workplace culture is the personality of the company. If you own or run a business and you want to know how to improve workplace culture within the organization, then here are some tips to help you:

1. Transparency is Important

Transparency can have a positive impact on all areas of an organization. For example, employees who are trusted with sensitive or important information about a business are much more likely to feel valued and respected.

If you like the idea of making your business more transparent and open, then you will need to make sure that your employees have the correct collaboration and communication tools to do so. Once you have the correct tools in place, you will need to insist on weekly or monthly meetings with your employees. In these meetings you should:

Talk about the successes – start your meetings by sharing and recognizing the successes of the business and the employees who work there.
Talk about any challenges – once you’ve discussed the challenges your business is facing, you will be able to work with your employees to come up with solutions to overcome the challenges.

2. Be Flexible

Workplace flexibility might mean allowing your employees to work from home, or it could mean allowing an employee to have some time off for a special or important occasion e.g. their child’s graduation day.

There are a number of benefits to providing your employees with more flexibility in their work. Not only can it reduce employee turnover, but it can also increase staff morale. Also, when your staff are able to maintain a good work/life balance, it builds trust and commitment, which in turn can boost productivity levels.

3. Prevent Workplace Harassment

If you own a business then it becomes your responsibility to keep check on the unethical activities at the workplace. Your business should have zero tolerance policy to sexual harassment. You should mandate workplace harassment prevention training for all the employees who become part of your organization. This is how sexual harassment can be prevented to happen at the first place. HR compliant procedures should help with this.

It will also give your employees a sense of safety and build self-confidence to tackle such situations. This way employees feel supported and it leads to growth and success of your business.

4. Appreciate Your Employees

Showing your employees that you appreciate them and that you value their hard work can help to improve the culture of the workplace. Simply congratulating your employees for meeting a production target or thanking them for their hard work dealing with customer complaints can make a huge difference.

You could also think about introducing a reward scheme into your company. You could consider giving your employees an appreciation letter, a small cash gift or a material gift when they achieve a goal or when they work particularly hard. All of this can help to improve employee morale in the workplace.

5. Give Regular Feedback

Business owners should ideally be providing their employees with feedback on a regular basis. During these meetings, your employees should also be able to raise any concerns or ask any questions they may have. If employees receive positive feedback, they tend to feel more motivated and appreciated at the same time. If they feel comfortable enough to discuss what they feel could be improved with their line manager, and feel that their opinions are taken on board, it contributes to their personal growth and improves workplace relationships.

Culture is the personality and character of your business. It’s what makes you stand out from your competition and is the sum of its beliefs, traditions, values, attitudes and behaviors. Positive workplace culture drives engagement, attracts new talent, impacts employee and customer happiness and satisfaction, and can have an impact on employee performance too. This is why it’s so important to have a positive workplace culture in your business. If you want to make some improvements to the workplace culture in your business, then follow some of our advice above. Let us know if you notice the difference it makes.

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Prospects for U.S.-China Relations in the Biden Era

November 12, 2020

By Mr. He Jun

The U.S. presidential election which will be held on November 3 is drawing ever closer. As the Trump administration performs poorly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the death toll in the U.S. exceeded 210,000, the election trend appears to be very unfavorable for Donald Trump.

According to a recent poll conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, Joe Biden led Trump by 14 percentage points in the national elections. It is worth noting that retired American generals, who have traditionally been extremely low-key in politics, publicly supported Biden this year, something that is quite rare. On September 24, 489 retired generals and admirals, former national security officials and diplomats signed a joint letter in support of Biden. Among them are Republicans, Democrats, and non-partisans, showing that they have crossed the affiliation, and jointly support Biden to replace Trump. Although the opinion polls do not represent the final election, with the election only being one month away, the widening of the opinion gap is enough to predict the direction of the election.

For the whole world, especially for China, it is necessary to prepare for the advent of the Biden era of the United States. During Trump’s tenure, U.S.-China relations have taken a turn for the worse, and China has been listed as the foremost “long-term strategic competitor” of the United States. This has caused China to have fallen into a difficult situation in the game of geopolitics and geoeconomics and forcing it to readjust its development strategy of opening-up, with China now relies on the “dual-circulation” economy. Therefore, China in particular needs to conduct forward-looking research on the possible Biden era, predict the future direction and development possibilities of U.S.-China relations, and make policy responses in advance.

During Trump’s tenure, U.S.-China relations have taken a turn for the worse, and China has been listed as the foremost “long-term strategic competitor” of the United States.

How will U.S.-China relations develop in the Biden era? To form a more accurate judgment on this question, we must first answer the relevant key question: Will Biden be the same as Trump? What is the difference if there is any?

There is a general view in China that after the Democratic Party comes to power, U.S.-China relations may worsen. The reason is that the Democratic Party places more emphasis on values such as human rights and ideology and is accustomed to using values such as human rights, democracy, and freedom in foreign policies against China. However, as far as U.S.-China relations are concerned, it is too vague to use the simple dichotomic “good” or “bad” to summarize the relationship of the two countries. The relations between these two countries should not be seen from a static perspective as in layman’s view of geopolitics.

ANBOUND’s chief researcher Chan Kung has previously pointed out that what happens today in U.S.-China relations would not be the same as tomorrow. Looking at the election in the United States from this perspective, it is certain that after Biden takes office, his policies will be different from Trump’s. Chan further pointed out that in addition to the traditional political differences between the two parties, an important difference between Biden and Trump is that Biden will follow a certain order and geopolitical discipline to implement his own policies, and he will also seek cooperation with China in certain bottom-line principled arrangements. It should be stressed that it is crucial for China and the United States to reach some principled arrangements in their relations. The so-called principled arrangements are some of the bottom-line principles during the Cold War. If the bottom line is not set, things could very well get out of hand, and the relationship between the two countries might spiral out of control. Chan emphasized that if the United States insists on treating China as an enemy, it is not much of a problem. However, even as an adversary, there are rules, regulations and orders to follow. Judging from the history of the Cold War, there are also communication and channel issues between adversaries, hence it is not something that should be done arbitrarily.

We have noticed that Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State, has also talked about the issue of establishing rules between China and the United States recently. Kissinger, now aged 97, said in a video seminar hosted by the Economic Club of New York a few days ago that China and the United States must establish rules of engagement for the increasingly tense competition between the two countries, otherwise the uncertainty of the global political situation before World War I may repeat itself. He believes that “Our (i.e. U.S.) leaders and their (i.e. Chinese) leaders have to discuss the limits beyond which they will not push threats”. He further stressed that, “they have to find a way of conducting such a policy over an extended period of time.” “the leaders of the two countries must explore beyond which limit they will not further threaten each other, and then they must find a way to implement this policy in a longer period of time.” From the discussion of the ANBOUND to the Kissinger’s concerns, the establishment of bottom-line rules between the United States and China is extremely important, and this is also a major difference between Biden and Trump.

From an economic point of view, we judge that the United States will likely ease its trade policy, which will objectively alleviate China’s trade pressure. Biden has criticized Trump’s trade policies, that Trump identifies products imported from Canada and the European Union as a national security threat, thereby imposing arbitrary and extremely destructive tariffs on them. Biden believes that cutting off the economic impacts between the United States and its partners has weakened the ability of the United States to respond to actual economic threats. It can be expected that the Biden administration may quell the U.S.-China tariff war and adjust punitive tariff policies that lead to “lose-lose” policies. In our opinion, if Biden takes office, he might be more concerned about politics and U.S.-China balance. In terms of trade, although he would continue to stick to the general direction of the past, this would not be the main direction of his governance. Therefore, the U.S.-China trade war could see certain respite and may even stop. In that scenario, China as the largest trading partner of the United States, could hope for the pressures in the trade with the U.S. being reduced.

China must also realize that even if Biden takes power, some key areas of U.S.-China relations will not change, such as the strategic positioning of China as the “long-term strategic competitor” of the United States. This is not something that is decided by the POTUS, but by the national will of the United States, from the strategic judgment of the U.S. decision-making class on the direction of its relations with China. In the current American society, hostility to China has become a social “consensus.” This strategic positioning destined that the future U.S.-China relations will be based on the pattern dominated by geopolitical confrontation. Biden sees that by expanding global influence, promoting its political model, and investing in future technologies, China is engaging a long-term competition with the U.S, and that is the challenge that the United States faces.

Looking back at Trump’s four years in office, it is clear that Trump is basically a person who must have the final say. He does not have a holistic strategic framework, nor a systematic policy system. He basically depends on his individual, personal feeling and the instinct as a businessman to make his decisions and do what he thinks is appropriate. This practice is destructive and does not follow common sense, therefore it cannot be tolerated by the establishment within the U.S. government. Biden has repeatedly stated that he wants to change this position. In fact, he wants to restore the establishment model, not to change the overall direction and trend. Yet, Biden is powerless to do this. For Biden, who turns 77 this year, there is still a lot of uncertainty whether he has time to complete all these within four years. This signifies that we should not be completely pessimistic about the U.S.-China relations, nor should we be overly optimistic about it.

On the whole, if and when Biden takes office, the U.S. government’s domestic and diplomatic practices will be different from those of the Trump administration, although the strategic positioning of China will not change, and neither will it change the U.S.’ general direction of long-term suppression of China’s rise. However, in terms of specific practices, the Biden administration will have its own approaches, and will seek a certain order and geopolitical discipline to implement its policies. He may also seek to reach some bottom-line principled arrangements with China. Under the basic framework, the future U.S.-China relations will undergo changes in many aspects. Instead of the crude “an eye for an eye” rivalry, we will see the return to the traditional systemic competition based on values, alliance interests, and rules. Facing the inevitable changes in U.S.-China relations, China needs to adapt to the new situation, do its due research and make plans early.

Final analysis conclusion:

China must prepare for the upcoming Biden era. The Biden administration’s practices in various areas of internal affairs and diplomacy will be different from those of the Trump administration. Although the confrontation and “hostility” between the United States and China are difficult to change, it is possible to reach a consensus on the rules and bottom lines for the two countries. For the changes that the United States may usher in, China needs to get ready for that as soon as possible.

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About the Author

Mr. He Jun takes the roles as Partner, Director of China Macro-Economic Research Team and Senior Researcher. His research field covers China’s macro-economy, energy industry and public policy.

How to Sell Workout Plans Online

November 12, 2020

4 Steps to Start an Online Personal Training Business

The year 2020 has been a wakeup call to everyone. It has reminded us all that we should always expect the unexpected. Though we are still getting adjusted to our “new normal” life, we must admit that indirectly this pandemic has had a bit of a positive effect on our lifestyle as well. Being under a worldwide lock-down, for as long a period as this one, people now are making time and are trying to compartmentalize their life in a more productive way. People who didn’t even have time to have a proper, healthy- breakfast have started their journey towards a healthier life. They have started preparing their own meals, trying out healthy diets, practicing yoga and other workout formats at home. In short they are utilizing this time to rejuvenate and revive their health quotient.

Now is the right time for you to venture into the World of Fitness Business. There are innumerable online fitness classes out there. And the major drawback in them is that they will not be able to provide one-to-one attention that the customers require. This negative point can be converted into your strength. Instead of joining a gym and being a part of the coaching herd, you could set your own “personal fitness training” class.

To make it possible here is an article in which we have provided you with some of the best possible steps, and procedures that will help you in setting up your online personal training business in the best possible way.

So, how to sell workout programs online? Let’s take it one step at a time.

1. Study your market and identify your niche:

The first step in any field is to study your target audience. You will first have to know-

What are the ongoing trends? and
What are people currently looking for?

You could either choose a general workout module that is suitable for all your customers, or target a particular segment of people. You could categorize them according to both their age, preferences, goals they want to achieve and many others.

The fitness world does not just consist of a set of exercises, they can be subcategorized based on multiple factors and this classification will provide you a clear picture as to what you want to choose as your area of focus.

As mentioned above you have to first choose a parent market. This is what decides which umbrella of the fitness industry you want to focus on. Eg: Weight loss, general health, bodybuilding, sports training etc.

Once you are sure of which market you want to be in, you can choose a sub-market category. Eg: barbell training, high-intensity exercises, and bodyweight exercises etc

Finding the right niche is of utmost importance for you to have a clear vision on what you want to concentrate and gain the required attention towards your business.

2. Start your own website:

The last step in getting your show on the road is the launch of your own website. Though this process might seem very easy there is a lot that happens behind the screen that doesn’t meet the eyes. But before you plan on how and when to launch your website, you need to know what the basic functionalities are and features a fitness website should have.

Here is a list-

Efficient panels for admin, trainers and trainees
Personal profile pages
Multiple login options
Multiple payment options
Workout listing panel with filter, sort and search options
Site Security
Easy Navigation
Review and rating with FAQ
Customer care with chatbots
Loyalty programs and discount coupons

You will need a lot of technical knowledge in order to develop your website from scratch including all the above. This will definitely cost you a considerable amount of time and money. But, there is another solution to this problem. You can buy a turnkey solution which is a white labeled, open sourced, ready-to use software that can be bought and customized to your needs and launched as your very own online platform. Some of the best in this field are- GoTo Meetings, Pinlearn, WizIQ and many more.

3. Procure content:

There are so many types of workout plans out there. You might want to stick with just one type or mix it up a little; everything depends on what the customer wants. There are many diet regimes that are even added to the workout plans to make it more comprehensive. And according to the needs of the customer the plans can be customized to see which suits them the best. Having a fitness club management will help you provide your clients with a superior fitness experience.

Since this is an online class, you will have to decide on whether you will be doing live sessions or pre-recorded ones. Whichever you choose you need to make sure that-

The surroundings are professional
You have the right equipment’s
Lightings and video equipment’s are well set

Set a framework for your videos before starting to record them. They should include,

Order of workout schedule
The schedule for the week
At least two full reps
The demo should at least be up to 20, 25 seconds long

There is no compulsion that your fitness classes should feature only you. You can also hire or include a guest fitness instructor once in a while to train or give a lec-dem etc.

Once you have your fitness sessions recorded, you can plan a schedule of how to release them. I.e you can release them weekly or even daily depending on the demand. However, you need to be consistent with your schedule. And no excuses!

4. Earn followers:

Before you start off with your own fitness business, it is good to always collaborate with others and gain some experience. This not only helps you gain some hands-on knowledge on how to go about conducting classes, handle a crowd or deal with your students, you will also get to know what goes on behind the scenes of conducting a class. This is also one of the ways to gain a loyal customer base.

To expand your territory more, you can also share your knowledge on social media. Social media is without a doubt the most influential online platform in promoting people and their businesses and gaining an audience. This is a very successful option for you to get visibility too.

Apart from the above two you have other ways to market yourself too. These below methods will come in handy even after you set-up your own online fitness platform.

Email Marketing
Influencer Marketing
Share customer testimonies, reviews and ratings
Blogging
Newsletters etc

Hope this article has helped you gain some insight on building your own online fitness coaching center. Get yourself efficient software and kick off your fitness platform.

Don’t forget to drop in a comment or a feedback!

All the best!

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How to Effectively Improve the Security of Your Rental Property

November 11, 2020

As an owner of a rental property, you need to not only provide a roof over your tenants’ heads but also protect them from robberies, unauthorized entries and other unsafe events. In order to keep your renters and your rental property secure, it is one of your biggest priorities to improve the overall security with effective measurements such as adding light sources, enhancing doors and window security, as well as performing intensive tenant screening before leasing.

By protecting your rental property well, you will not only safeguard your property, but also greatly improve your tenants’ overall experience. This in turn will lead to a more sustainable and successful rental business. Managing a rental business like Rentola is not an easy task to do alone, hence for people who want to generate profit from rental properties while also saving time and effort there are many specialized property management companies on the market. These companies will directly deal with prospects and tenants, saving time and worry over marketing your rentals, collecting rent, handling maintenance and repair issues, responding to tenant complaints, and most importantly they will deal with the security of your rentals.

To help all of the landlords out there who are looking to protect their house, here are some effective ways to improve your rental property’s security.

Identify Potential Vulnerable Spots Around Your Rental Property

One of the best ways to actively prevent robberies and illegal entries is to look at your rental property through a burglar’s point of view. For instance, you can try to walk outside and put yourself into a burglar’s shoes to come up with possible points of entry to your rental property. Vulnerable points of a property for break-ins and robberies can be an open skylight or window that is normally left open for ventilation purposes, or an easy-to-break glass panel door. The security experts at https://ccsecurityservices.co.uk/residential-security/ explain that it is often better to have a professional look at possible weaknesses in your securities as they are experienced at identifying potential vulnerabilities. If any are identified, they will then be able to advise you as to the best way to secure these issues to keep your property safe.

Do a Careful Tenant Screening before Leasing

Aside from outsiders with unlawful intentions, there are crimes in rental properties that are caused by the tenants themselves. Therefore, it is best for landlords to carefully screen each potential tenant first before signing a leasing contract. This can decrease the chances of your tenants performing illegal activities such as drug dealing, assault, or robbery at your property. Having a background check on each tenants’ criminal past can give you some information to evaluate your tenant’s level of risks. Remember that as a landlord, it is your responsibility to provide a safe and secure living environment to other tenants that may live in other units of your rental property so screen every single individual thoroughly.

Secure the Entrances to Your Rental Property

Entry points and exit doors at rental properties should be made of heavy-duty, solid materials such as wood and steel to lower the risks of criminals breaking in. Doors with glass panels that are easily broken are not recommended. For example, stainless steel doors are widely used In addition to its steel components, a multi-point locking system and glazed leaf provide increased resistance to damage or interference. A stainless steel door is ideal for buildings where security is paramount, including bin stores, electrical cupboards, safe rooms, and other rooms containing hazardous or confidential documentation. Aside from standard locks, doors should have deadbolt locks to make it more difficult for burglars to break into your rental property. Chain locks on each apartment’s door have been proven to be helpful in providing extra protection to tenants, and you should also install peepholes so they know who is at their door. Steel guttering can also prove effective with these types of risks.

Secure all Windows in Your Rental Property

No matter how well you secure the entry points to your property, your tenants will still be at risk if you don’t pay sufficient attention to securing every window. It is highly recommended that you install working locks on all windows whether it is on the first or third floor. For many rental properties, security bars are installed to add more protection to tenants, particularly on low floors.

Increase Lighting Sources at Your Rental Property

As no burglar wants to be in the spotlight, lighting options such as motion-detecting lights placed at strategic spots including garage doors, entrances and carparks can greatly discourage burglars or other criminals. Remember to install proper lighting not only outside of your rental property but also inside as well. Make sure that all stairwells and hallways are adequately lit so that your tenants feel safe at all times.

Post Emergency Numbers On Common Areas and Inside Tenants’ Rooms

Knowing the correct emergency numbers and having important numbers available are important for all tenants in case of an emergency. Important emergency numbers that you should post for your tenants include the number of the local police department, the security or management firm which oversees the property, and your emergency contact number. Places you can post these numbers include common areas and on the back of apartments’ doors.

As a landlord, property rental is a business that requires you to handle a wide range of responsibilities, of which the safety and security of your tenants are the top priority. Improve the security of your rental property to avoid breaches and ensure your tenants’ experience with our recommendations. Remember that these security measurements can both make your property safer and appeal better to potential tenants as well.

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How can personal data be misused?

November 10, 2020

A lot has been said in recent years about both how personal data is being collected and how it’s used by third parties: particularly given the growing number of data scandals that involve some of the largest companies in the world. But should you be concerned about the way your data is used once it’s been shared with a third party? We explain more about what personal data misuse is, how it works and some examples.

What is data misuse?

To give you some context, let’s first explain what data misuse is. It involves using information in ways the person who provided it never intended. Data protection laws exist to prevent this, built into all kinds of policies and agreements you sign up to, each one promising to use your information only for the reasons given.

While data misuse isn’t the same as data theft, it can lead to a data breach if the information is not given sufficient levels of protection.

What are some examples of data misuse?

The best way to get a clear idea of data misuse is to look at some real world examples. As our lives become more digitally-focused, data usage is more important than ever, with the conduct of several large organisations being put under the spotlight as a result.

Google

Back in April of this year it was revealed by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) that they were investigating Google (whose European head office is located in Dublin) following numerous complaints that location data was being processed without enough concern over data protection.

Amazon

The ecommerce giant was the focus of an in-depth investigation by the EU’s antitrust authority to see if competitively sensitive information collected from marketplace sellers is used to their advantage. This was initially raised in 2019 but a year on it remains unclear whether charges will be formally brought or not.

Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg’s behemoth social media company is no stranger to data misuse allegations. The Cambridge Analytica scandal was hugely significant, but the New York Times also published details that revealed how user’s data was regularly shared with other major tech firms like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Microsoft and more.

Twitter

Towards the end of 2019 Twitter published a statement admitting they had ‘inadvertently’ used personal data, such as email addresses or phone numbers, for advertising purposes. While some praise may be due for owning up to it rather than being exposed, they were unable to confirm how many people it affected, which given there are between 350 and 400 million active accounts, is pretty concerning.

Leave.EU

A lot of speculation was raised about Leave. EU’s use of personal data during their Brexit campaign. Following an investigation, Aaron Banks’ political organisation and his business Eldon Insurance were fined by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for using personal data interchangeably between the two organisations.

Are there any laws that can prevent data misuse?

The fight against data misuse is ongoing, especially in the digital age, with the ICO also conducting a wider investigation into the ways that Advertising Technology (Ad Tech) companies compile and use their data. While we should have confidence that signing an agreement will mean the organisation will honour their side of the deal, unfortunately, this is not always the case.

In the UK we currently adhere to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This replaced the Data Protection Act which was repealed in 2018. Post-Brexit, GDPR will be brought into UK law as ‘UK GDPR’, although additional changes may be implemented at a later date when the transitional period is finished.

What does GDPR cover?

Under GDPR law organisations must clearly state what the collected data is going to be used for. That must also be included in privacy information resources they provide to users. The organisation should regularly review and, if needed, update their processes and associated resources. Most importantly of all, individual consent must be given to secure the data and once again if they wish to use it for something other than what was originally agreed.

How can I see the information stored and/or used by an organisation?

Everyone has the right to ask an organisation whether they are storing or using your personal data. This is known as a subject access request and can be made either verbally or in writing. You can ask what personal data they hold, how it was collected, how it is being used and who it is being shared with.

Where a request is made verbally, it is also a good idea to follow this up with a written request so you have a clear record that can be referred to at a later date if needed.

If you want to know how to make a subject access request, be sure to include the following details:

Title the request using ‘subject access request’
Name
Address
Current date
Name of organisation being contacted
Reference/account number (if applicable)
Your contact details
A full list of all the personal data you are inquiring about
Any additional information that can help source the information
How you would like the data sent to you (digital of physical form)

Some organisations may ask you to complete a standard form, which is also acceptable, although be sure to include all of the key information listed above.

Remember, a subject access request can also be made by someone else on your behalf. If you are comfortable with them having access to your personal data, the following people can submit a request:

Anyone with parental responsibility or guardianship who is requesting on behalf of a child or young person.
Relatives or friends that are allowed by the individual.
Someone given legal permission to manage another person’s affairs.
Solicitors acting on the instruction of their clients.

Where a request is made by any of the above, the organisation will request proof that they have permission to do so. This will involve providing formal evidence such as written authorisation from you.

So there it is, data misuse in a nutshell.

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How the Pandemic Affected the Sports Betting Industry

November 10, 2020

This year has been tough for everybody including many industries and businesses. People were forced to stay in their homes and many businesses had to temporarily shut their doors. There are even businesses that were forced to permanently closed as it just didn’t survive the pandemic. The gambling industry, particularly the sports betting sector was not excused from the negative effects of the pandemic.

It was in March when many sports events have announced the postponement and even cancelation of the scheduled matches to ensure everyone’s safety. From the EPL to the NBA, many major sports events had to push the pause button. It was only around May when the German Bundesliga resumed and in June when the EPL also resumed. Other sports events then followed and announced their return like the Big Bash Australia.

However, the absence of sports for a few months made an impact on the betting industry. No sports events simply mean that bookies did not have odds to offer to their customers. For gambling businesses to survive, they had to figure out ways to keep their customers. This is especially the case for gambling sites that only offer sports betting.

During the times when there weren’t plenty of sports events, bookies started to offer odds on sports that they wouldn’t have odds for. Some bookies resorted to sumo wrestling which was still on-going. Some bookies started to take bets for non-sports events.

Some bookies started to offer odds on other forms of events and entertainment like TV shows and even political events. There were odds on shows like Big Brother and The Voice. Some odds concern President Donald Trump’s speech during the pandemic. The online bookies just had to be creative to make sure that they still offered sports odds to their customers during this period.

It was evident that the pandemic negatively impacted the gambling industry. For the first six months of this year, GVC Holdings that is the parent company of Ladbrokes Coral Grope released a report that they experienced a 50 percent decline in UK retail net gaming revenue or NGR. The IBISWorld also expects that the Gambling and Betting revenue will fall by 27 percent this year, which is amounting to around 11.1 billion pounds.

Aside from political events and other forms of entertainment, many gambling sites also shifted their focus on e-sports. E-sports has been steadily growing in the last few years but it didn’t grow as fast as it did when sports was not that present in a few weeks.

While it sounds like the gambling industry was struggling with the lack of sports events, the casino sector wasn’t experiencing the same thing. There were reports that online casinos experienced a spike in traffic since March when many sports events had to be canceled.

This just showed that people still turned to gamble despite the lack of sports betting. However, since June, many sports events have already resumed and the betting sector of the gambling industry is already starting to recover.

According to the UK Gambling Commission, the remote gambling revenue has increased from 115 percent which is around 217.5 million pounds. This was between May and June. When many sports events returned in June, the UKGC also stated that the bets placed on real-event sports have increased to 146 percent. In May the GGY was at 104 million pounds and in June, it jumped up to 255.4 million pounds. However, there are still reasons to believe that sports betting revenues will grow more if spectators will be once again allowed in races and matches. This is why the government has already announced that they are already working on allowing sports fans to return to stadiums. It’s just likely that a limited number of people will be allowed in and that social distancing will still have to be practiced.

Now, even if sports are back, the e-sports sector is still expected to thrive. It may have been seen as a substitute for sports during the high-time of the pandemic, but even without the pandemic, e-sports has been growing and so the comeback of sports won’t necessarily negatively impact the esports industry.

Overall, we can expect that the sports betting industry will continue to recover as major sports events already found ways to resume the matches. Many people and even the government believe that sports may not exactly be the solution to the pandemic, but it could help uplift the spirits of many during these trying times. With that being said, it’s important to stay safe and practice social distancing while enjoying your favorite sports games. If you need to withdraw cash to place your bets, don’t forget to use a nearby ATM, or checkout PickATM.

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Should You Invest in Bitcoin?

November 10, 2020

Bitcoin is extremely successful for being the first of the many cryptocurrencies available in today’s heavily digitized world, with over 60,000 alternative variants being churned out over time. The digital currencies’ unique features such as anonymity and security are surely tempting, but are they worth the risk to invest?

First, we need to talk about why Bitcoin is so attractive as a form of currency. Unlike paper money used in the real world, the nature of Bitcoin as computerized means no single bank or institution controls your money because the network is formed through the computers and devices that actually mine the coins. This places some relief in people as it ensures that their money is secure and cannot be tampered with, which is especially understandable as Bitcoin originated off the heels of the 2008 financial crisis. Additionally, it is possible to send and receive Bitcoin without any personally identifying information being given out. With this in mind, Bitcoin would appear to be a pretty secure investment for citizens who are worried about the safety of their finances, because of the reassurance that your money is protected by the decentralized nature of the network.

However, Bitcoin is often called a ‘volatile, dangerous creation’ and is therefore seen as a high-risk investment. This can be defined by a multitude of factors; one of which being the fluctuating, unreliable prices of the cryptocurrencies. When investing in Bitcoin, the number one rule is that it is a speculative investment, so the value of your shares can dramatically decrease at any moment and therefore you can’t really guarantee that you will reach even minimum profitability. On the other end of the scale, you could strike gold with your investment and get a pretty hefty return. You can see why cryptocurrency is such a dangerous game to play; there is no sure-fire way to ensure you get a profit. Some Bitcoin investments may even be a scam! This means that when investing in Bitcoin it is important to never invest more than you can lose, as well as being especially careful in what you trust your money to – it is not a conventional investment after all!

And as with all things on the internet, nothing is ever completely safe. Despite the decentralized network being one of the most popular reasons for investing in Bitcoin, it is understated how easy it is to actually steal. It is not uncommon for Bitcoin investors to be victims of computer viruses and hackers, making security one of the top priorities if you ever decide to venture into the world of cryptocurrency. Thankfully, Bitcoin can actually be secured physically even though it is digital. Offline wallets can be created by installing wallet software on a bootable USB or live CDs to protect your bitcoins in analog forms. Like paper money, it must be kept physically secure, maybe in a safe or even a bank vault as these wallets can easily be lost if not careful.

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Healthcare’s Digital Revolution: Key Insights into Digital Therapeutics

November 10, 2020

Health-centric apps are popping up all over app stores. What’s the difference between digital therapeutics and other wellness technologies? And how are digital therapeutic products shaping healthcare’s technological revolution?

Mobile app stores are full of health-related apps. Take Android as an example; the top ten health and fitness apps were downloaded a collective 19.5 million times. That’s impressive, considering that there are thousands of such apps available.

However, not all health apps are digital therapeutics (abbreviated as DTx). The Digital Therapeutics Alliance defines DTx as ‘evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by high-quality software programs to prevent, manage, or treat a broad spectrum of physical, mental, and behavioral conditions. [They] are distinct from pure-play adherence, diagnostic, and telehealth products.’ Examples of digital therapeutics include apps that prevent and treat back pain, help asthma patients track and monitor symptoms, and recommend appropriate insulin doses to diabetics.

Health and wellness apps have a broader definition. According to Innovatemedtec, “Health and wellness apps are mobile application programs that offer health-related services on smartphones, tablet PCs, and other communication devices… [Examples include] fitness activity tracking, weight loss coaching, medical advice and patient community, and menstrual period tracking.”

Both DTx and wellness apps are generating a lot of interest as examples of healthcare’s digital frontier. To understand where this is headed, let’s examine some key insights into the digital therapeutics landscape.

Digital Therapeutics Is A Medical Intervention

All health-related apps have an element of convenience; without it, no one would use them. But digital therapeutics are not simply about convenience; they must be evidence-based and designed to treat or prevent a specific condition. Thus, they are held to a higher standard than wellness apps.

In an interview with The Sidebar, Jessica Shull, European Lead for the Digital Therapeutics Alliance, stated: “DTx are based on evidence, often on several clinical trials, having undergone years of development, refining, testing, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), and always with healthcare professionals and end users (patients) involved in the design. They have a direct effect on the user’s disease or condition, so there must be careful studies done to prove their safety, accuracy, and efficacy.”

In short, DTx are not just hyper-focused health/wellness/lifestyle apps; they are a real pathway for delivering measurable outcomes. This is reflected by their increasing acceptance by regulatory bodies and insurance companies, which make a distinction between fitness-type apps and evidence-based digital therapeutic apps.

DTx Can Be Applied to Multiple Focus Areas

In a comprehensive look at DTx’s impact on digital healthcare, Star Health and Wellness experts discussed the many ways this technology can supplement traditional healthcare. Here are just two focus areas where digital therapeutics have already proven their value:

Pain Management. Talking about the current digital therapeutics landscape, Shrawan Patel, MD and managing director of Strategy Health, noted one valuable advantage to DTx: treatment with fewer side effects. Thus, we see apps like Kaia Health teaching pain management techniques to people with musculoskeletal disorders. We also see digital therapeutics being used to supplement treatments for opioid use disorder with app-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy.
Cognitive and Mental Health. Constant Therapy, an award-winning cognitive training app, helps people deal with the effects of traumatic brain injuries, strokes, dementia, or learning disorders. By giving patients the ability to practice customized exercises whenever and wherever suitable, this app has enabled its users to log an extra four hours of practice each week – and, critically, to achieve measurable improvement in standardized tests.

The Takeaway: Healthcare Needs Digital Therapeutics

Space prohibits exploring the other uses of digital therapeutics, but they are many. Perhaps the most essential insight into DTx is this: they make it possible to deliver quality, affordable healthcare to a wide variety of people – some of whom would be unable to get treatment otherwise.

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