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How to Sell Workout Plans Online

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

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?

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

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?

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

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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Trump Fired, Biden Hired, What Next?

By Dan Steinbock              

After the tight 2020 election, there’s only one way President-elect Joe Biden can win over both Americans and other nations. He has to deliver in multiple fronts, amid a divided nation and huge challenges.

“Trump has launched ill-advised trade wars, against the United States’ friends and foes alike, that are hurting the American middle class,” President-elect Joe Biden wrote when he set the tone of his 2020 campaign. The next US president will have to “take immediate steps to renew US democracy and alliances, protect the US economic future, and once more have America lead the world.”

Internationally, the hope is that Biden would restore US multilateralism, moderate trade conflicts, alleviate economic damage and push real struggle against the pandemic. Most immediately, Biden will seize a series of executive orders to reverse Trump’s policies and bring an end to “the era of demonization.”

The premise is that the new White House can avoid violence and legal roadblocks during the transition. The legal issues must be cleared by early December when the states must certify their results prior to the meeting of the Electoral College.

But when the Biden administration begins its work, it is expected to deliver. In a nation that’s highly polarized in terms of politics, economy, society, and attitudes toward the “forever wars,” that’s an overwhelming task. If, in addition to the House, Democrats can keep the control of the Senate, the task could be less challenging.

Here’s what’s ahead.

Another $2 trillion stimulus package

According to polls, every third American regards the coronavirus and health care the nation’s most immediate priority. That’s why, as the COVID-19 cases will exceed 10 million in America, President-elect Biden will launch his coronavirus task force.

Americans’ second priority is the economy. Following the 2020 election, the only real winner is campaign finance (in which Biden will seek to marginalize the role of big private money). Despite total campaign costs soaring to $14 billion, legislative ineffectiveness is likely to continue.

Soon political spotlight will shift to Capitol Hill. Senators will return on November 9 and House members a week later for “lame duck” session of Congress. At the top of the agenda will be the third wave of the coronavirus in the US, still another round of coronavirus aid and the contested economic stimulus.

While both Democrats and Republicans agree on the need for a new fiscal package, there’s been great disagreement about the details. In spring, Democrats’ starting bid was $3.5 trillion, as against the Republicans’ $1 trillion. After months of wheeling and dealing, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca) has slimmed her bid to $2.2 trillion, while Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has upped the White House’s offer to $1.9 trillion.

The $2+ trillion compromise will not appeal to the progressive left, which considers it too little too late, or the Republican’s ultra-conservative right, which regards it as too much too soon.

Without new deal, government shutdown

In the past, the Senate’s Republican majority has bitterly fought large stimulus packages. As that majority has diminished, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the pragmatic Washington insider, could prove more flexible.

Before the election, Congress could not pass a single one of the dozen appropriations bills. To avoid a government shutdown, Congress has approved a deal to finance government operations until December 11.

If Congress fails to find a deal by then, a government shutdown will loom after December 12.

Moreover, Capitol Hill is soon expected to witness a series of hearings focusing on financial regulators, particularly on the issue of lending to the ailing small-and-medium size entreprises (SMEs) amid the pandemic.

Furthermore, the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter are expected to testify before the Senate, which is likely to be a prelude to the big tech’s primetime in early 2021.

After 16-month investigation into the anti-competitive conduct by Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, House Democrats say they’re ready to go after America’s monopolistic tech giants.

Economic erosion

As a longer-term objective, Democrats support significant tax legislation, which further divided the divided Congress. With a narrow majority in the Senate, however, the new administration could test increases in the top individual tax rate, corporate tax rate, plus changes to the estate tax, the treatment of capital gains and so on.

But after four years of Trump excesses, economic erosion is the cold reality.

True, until the third coronavirus wave fully kicked in and COVID-19 infection rates soared, retail sales increased 5.4% year-to-year still in September, but thanks to huge government support, low interest rates, and equally low inflation.

Despite four years of misguided tariff wars, the recovery of US exports proved very slow contracting by almost 15% still in August. US real GDP is likely to contract by 4% to 5% in 2020. As a net effect, the trade deficits that Trump pledged to eliminate soared to $80 billion in August.

US consumption-led recovery is leveraged to the hilt It relies far too much on costly fiscal stimuli that’s been necessitated by the failed response to the pandemic, and rapidly-rising debt, which both distort the real role of consumption.

As a share of GDP, US fiscal stimulus packages (13%+) are currently twice as large as those in China (7%). Thanks to Federal Reserve and overactive printing presses, ordinary Americans and foreign investors will end up having to pay much of the bill.

US national debt has soared to an $27.2 trillion, which puts US federal debt-to-GDP ratio at 128%. The ratio is at par with that of Italy amid its recent debt crisis. But unlike Italy, US is one of the world’s anchor economies.

What happens in America will not stay in America.

Old new foreign policies

The Biden administration will seek to present a very different tone, rhetoric and multilateral stance. The substance is a different story.

Last summer, Biden garnered a network of over 2,000 foreign policy advisors. Yet, his narrow inner circle comprises mainly veterans from the Obama and Clinton administrations, including his key adviser Antony Blinken, Hillary Clinton’s Jake Sullivan, as well as old hands Tom Donilon, Nicholas Burns, Kurt Campbell, and Michèle Flournoy, Blinken’s consultancy partner.

Unlike the consensus Democrats, the party’s progressive left remains concerned for the “great horror show” looming ahead: the collusion between liberal interventionists and Republican neoconservatives (who voted Biden rather than Trump).

  • The recent Washington Post op-ed by Blinken and the neoconservative Robert Kagan suggests that the nostalgia for the bygone “American Century” remains persistent, despite its dark track-record of forever wars from Vietnam to Iraq.
  • Nonetheless, America’s “forever wars” could prove more subdued, especially in the Middle East, due to economic limitations.
  • Unlike the Trump White House, the Biden administration is likely to honor the Iran nuclear deal and return to the negotiating table.
  • In the Middle East, Trump’s loss spells great challenges to Israel’s controversial PM Netanyahu and the end to US sponsorship of the Saudis’ Yemen War.
  • In North Korea, Biden will reinforce a more cautious line in nuclear talks.
  • While the old Cold War will continue against Russia, Biden will support more diplomatic initiatives, especially in nuclear weapons issues.
  • In a tactic that’s likely to be framed as an “alliance of democracies,” the Biden White House will try to unite America’s allies to exercise greater pressure against Russia, China and several other nations.
  • In public, Biden will seek distance from Trump’s trade and security hawks. In practice, his administration will coopt those aspects of the tariff wars which are seen as successful, while editing out the excesses.
  • While Biden will try to unite America’s allies to pressure greater concessions from China, he supports global trade and needs China’s cooperation in a number of issues, particularly climate change. The balancing act will be challenging.

President-elect Biden wants to be the president of all Americans.” The real question is whether that’s something all Americans want and whether he can restore US credibility after four years of domestic and international disasters.

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About the Author

Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognized strategist of the multipolar world and the founder of Difference Group. He has served at the India, China and America Institute (USA), Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see https://www.differencegroup.net/

Based on Dr Steinbock’s global briefing on Nov 8, 2020.

Why Republicans and others concerned about the economy have reason to celebrate Biden in the White House

By Dr. William T. Chittenden

On day one, a newly inaugurated President Joe Biden will have to address a devastated economy – much like he and former President Barack Obama did a decade ago.

What can the country expect?

Forecasting how the economy will perform under a new president is generally a fool’s errand. How much or how little credit the person in the White House deserves for the health of the economy is a matter of debate, and no economist can confidently predict how the president’s policies will play out – if they even go into effect – or what challenges might emerge.

Regardless, voters tend to believe it makes a difference. And going into the election, 79% of registered voters – and 88% of Trump supporters – said the economy was their top concern. Given that, historical data suggests that those who are concerned with the economy have reason to be fairly satisfied with the election results: The economy generally fares better under Democratic presidents.

Inheriting a struggling economy

Biden will be inheriting an economy with serious problems. Things have improved markedly since the darkest days – at least, so far – of the pandemic back in the spring, but the economy remains in a dire state.

The latest jobs report shows that 11 million people remain unemployed – a third of whom have been without a job for at least 27 weeks – down from a peak of 23 million in April. Tens of thousands of small businesses and dozens of major retail chains have closed or filed for bankruptcy. Many states, cities and municipal agencies are reeling from the tremendous costs of spring lockdowns. And the economy has contracted 2.8% since the end of 2019.

And that doesn’t include the impact of what some officials – including Biden – have dubbed a “dark winter,” as severe coronavirus outbreaks in many regions of the U.S. prompt new economic restrictions.

Democrats have a better economic track record

In trying to get a sense of what kind of impact the election result will have on the economy, the past is a useful guide.

I study how the economy performs depending on which political party is in charge. Earlier this year, I did an analysis of this question, focusing on 1976 to 2016, and recently updated the data to include 1953 through October of this year.

In general, since President Dwight D. Eisenhower took office in 1953, the economy – as measured by gross domestic product, unemployment, inflation and recessions – has typically performed better with a Democrat in the White House. GDP growth has been significantly higher; inflation – a measure of the change in prices – has been lower; and unemployment has tended to fall.

The stock market tends to perform better with a Democratic president, rising 11% per year on average compared to 6.8% for Republicans. Despite his claims to the contrary, the stock market’s performance under President Donald Trump has been about average.

Perhaps the most striking difference I found is in the number of months the economy was in recession, as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. From 1953 to 2016, Republicans controlled the White House for 432 months, about 23% of which were spent in recession. Democratic presidents held the reins for 336 months in that period, just 4% of which were in recession. The 2020 recession began in March has not been officially declared over.

One suggested explanation for this dramatic difference is that deregulation implemented during Republican administrationsleads to financial crises, which in turn cause recessions. Another is that factors a president does not have any control over, like a sudden increase in oil prices, are the usual causes of recessions. Others suggest that the economy’s better performance under Democrats is simply due to luck.

So even though voters tend to think Republicans do a better job steering the economy, historical data shows otherwise. Whether Biden continues that streak, of course, remains to be seen, especially given he’ll likely have a Republican-controlled Senate, which could frustrate his policy initiatives.

A silver lining in divided government

In my analysis, I also examined the impact of Congress and how having all, part or none of the legislative branch controlled by the president’s party affected the economy’s performance.

Interestingly, the U.S. has not seen Democrats in control of the White House and the House of Representatives with Republicans in charge of the Senate since 1889, when Grover Cleveland was president. So my dataset, going back to 1953, doesn’t shed any light on this particular legislative configuration.

However, I did find that the economy did pretty well when a Democratic president faces either one or both houses of Congress controlled by the opposition. During the 144 months when one of those conditions were true, the U.S. was never in recession. And when Republicans controlled Congress under a Democratic president, average monthly unemployment was the lowest of any condition, at 4.85%.

Of course, this doesn’t mean a divided government will lead to good results today. A pessimistic take is that there will be gridlock, and nothing will get done. In order to pass and sustain major initiatives, bipartisanship will be needed.

How to Take Your Local Business to Global Market

The world has become a global village – not many people truly understand what it means. From a business perspective, it means that the entire world is now your target market. You can earn big profit margins by selling globally and you get to avoid difficult competition.

There is only limited growth you can achieve in a local market. This is the reason why smart businesses reach out to other countries to sell their products and services.

While scaling globally might sound too complex and expensive, it’s actually far easier and doesn’t cost much. You might need some extra investment in the beginning, but it can be easily arranged through services that provide online business loans.  This article explains how you can take your business to the international market.

Narrow Down Your Market

The global market doesn’t mean you can pick any man on the planet and sell him your service or products. You have to identify your target markets and audiences before you take any step. It is also too difficult and risky to launch in multiple countries simultaneously.

Pick one country first and learn everything is to know about the market there. Create a business plan and see if your product or services would sell there. If there is already competition, you will need a plan to stand against them. And if you need professional help to propel your business further, check out the best marketing agency in NH.

Study International Audience

Just because two people would use what you offer doesn’t mean they are the same. It’s crucial to study them before you reach them with your message. Remember, the message you deliver to your prospects decides how they view you.

You wouldn’t want to do anything that could offend them instead of attracting them. Your message should use their pain points and your unique selling points in addition to a call to action. The pain points are only achieved after thorough research and experimentation. However, don’t experiment with something that could end your business before it made its debut.

Leverage Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is one of the reasons why most businesses thought of going global. It’s the change that came with the rise of technology, allowing everyone to network with the rest of the world. The borders no longer matter when you are using the internet.

You can use digital marketing to reach out to a specific audience. You just need to follow the first two steps before you come to this. Define the attributes of your target audience and the advertisement will reach them at the same cost as the local audience.

To take your business global and use digital marketing to promote it, it’s crucial to build a website and pages on other social media channels. If you do SEO right, potential customers from other countries will visit your website and do business if you have delivered the right message. It’s the cheapest and fastest method to launch globally, but you will have to face a big competition here.

Look for Local Experts

As a businessman, you must understand that you can’t do everything yourself. There is always a need for expert professionals that can do the required job better than you. This is the reason why experts of local markets must be hired to help you expand your business.

You can look for distributors who know the local market and how to get your product out. Likewise, it wouldn’t be a bad choice to look for retailers to promote your services. If you try to do everything yourself, you will get diverted from your own job. They might cost extra, but it will pay off if they successfully build a place for your business in that new market.

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How to Start Forex Trading and What to Look Out For

It’s no coincidence that the global forex market has grown on the back of sustained technological advancement, with the amount traded during each 24-hour period having recently peaked at $6.6 trillion.

While the advent of online and mobile trading platforms may have broken down many of the historic barriers to entry and empowered part-time traders across the globe, however, it has also spawned a dramatic increase in the number of rogue operators and created an unhelpful abundance of false information sources online.

Remember, the volatile nature of forex trading can be challenging enough, with between 70% and 90% of all currency investors losing money overall. With this in mind, how can you look to get started in the forex market and what are the key things to look out for?

1. Learning Your Trade and Identifying Viable Sources of Data

Let us start with the basics; you cannot hope to succeed as a forex trader without developing a viable base of knowledge and a keen sense of determinism.

Make no mistake; the former provides a solid foundation on which you can build viable trading strategies, while the latter enables you to understand the underlying laws that govern price fluctuations and avoid emotive trading over time.

You can draw knowledge from various sources, in the form of everything from seminars to paid academic courses. However, it’s imperative that you’re able to access reliable data sources, with the best options often found on market leading forex sites.

In the UK, these entities should be fully licensed and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while they’ll offer direct access to extensive data tools such as real-time charts, breaking news feeds and comprehensive technical indicators.

Such platforms are also home to datasets such as global economic calendars, which enable you to adopt a more proactive approach and hone your trading strategy in line with real-world events and macroeconomic developments.

2. Make the Most of Demo Forex Accounts

When you access data and register for an account at a reputable forex broker such as Oanda, you’ll also be afforded access to a so-called “demo trading account”.

This essentially offers you access to a simulated, real-time marketplace, in which you can encounter accurate market conditions and hone your strategies without being required to community your hard-earned capital.

You can usually use such an account for a period of between three and six months, during which time you’ll develop practical market experience that puts your theoretical knowledge and real-world data into a viable context.

It’s crucial to go through this learning process when accessing the forex market, as it can often make the difference between failed and successful traders.

3. Start Small and Grow Your Venture Organically

When the time does come to start trading for real, it’s absolutely key that you start out small and by trading just one or two strategically selected currency pairings.

Your selection should be based on factors such as your outlook and appetite for risk, with options such as the USD/JPY offering relatively sanctuary and a viable safe-haven in a volatile marketplace.

From here, you can look to scale your forex efforts in line with experience and profitably, as you focus on growing in a way that’s both manageable and viable in the prevailing climate.

Over time, you can also look to diversify your portfolio further and trade alternative assets, so long as you don’t look to rush the process or put your capital at the mercy of huge and disproportionate losses.

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