Unlocking A Marketing Data-Driven Approach

In the dynamic landscape of modern business, data has emerged as the linchpin of successful marketing campaigns. By harnessing the potential of data, companies can not only comprehend their audience's preferences but also anticipate behaviors and tailor campaigns for maximum resonance. This article delves into the intricate art of using data more effectively in marketing, offering concrete examples and innovative strategies.

Crafting Personalized Experiences Through Segmentation

Data-driven marketing's bedrock lies in segmentation and personalization. By dissecting customer data, businesses can categorize their audience into distinctive groups based on various factors. This allows tailored messages and offers that resonate on a personal level. For instance, an e-commerce entity might categorize customers as "frequent buyers," "occasional shoppers," and "lapsed customers," sending tailored product recommendations and exclusive discounts to each group.

Peering into the Future with Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics empowers companies to foresee customer behavior, making informed decisions and resource allocation possible. Streaming services, for instance, employ predictive analytics to identify users contemplating subscription cancellations. By scrutinizing factors like viewing habits, they offer targeted promotions or content recommendations to retain customers, thereby reducing churn.

Elevating Excellence through A/B Testing and Optimization

Data-driven marketing is about constant evolution. A/B testing enables businesses to compare marketing material variations and pinpoint the most effective elements. For instance, an online travel agency could test two email campaign versions—one emphasizing discounts, the other highlighting booking ease. This data-driven approach helps refine strategies based on open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.

 

Guiding Users Back with Behavioral Retargeting

Harnessing data for retargeting those who displayed interest but didn't complete desired actions is another powerful tool. Potential customers can be prompted to re-engage through relevant ads or reminders. An outdoor gear retailer, for instance, can showcase ads featuring products a user recently viewed on their website, effectively guiding them back to complete their purchase.

Listening to the Pulse of Social Media

The wealth of insight present in social media is a goldmine. By actively monitoring conversations, businesses can gauge sentiment, trends, and customer needs. A cosmetics company, for example, might identify a rising trend in eco-friendly products and launch a campaign centered around their sustainable skincare range.

Case Study: Netflix's Personalization Paradigm

The exemplar of data-driven personalization, Netflix's recommendation engine relies on user behavior data like viewing history and genre preferences. The "Taste Profiles" feature utilizes this data to provide individualized content recommendations. This personalization strategy is credited for enhancing user engagement and retention. The Netflix approach exemplifies the potential of data-driven marketing to transform the user experience.

Innovative Avenues for Data-Driven Marketing

Behavioral Triggers: Automating marketing based on user behavior, such as abandoned cart reminders, enhances engagement and conversions.

Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences: AR technology can offer interactive and personalized experiences, boosting brand engagement.

Emotion Analysis: AI can analyze customer emotions from interactions, enabling tailored campaigns.

Blockchain for Transparency: Blockchain ensures transparent, tamper-proof product information.

Voice Search Optimization: Optimize content for voice search queries, aligning with voice-activated device trends.

Chatbot Assistance: AI chatbots offer instant support while collecting valuable data on customer queries.

Micro-Moments: Deliver real-time, relevant content during critical decision-making moments.

In the end, data-driven marketing thrives on segmentation, personalization, predictive analytics, and innovative strategies. Netflix's personalized approach underscores the impact of data on user engagement. By implementing these strategies and embracing innovation, businesses can unlock data's potential to enhance marketing efforts and drive unprecedented success.

Identifying KPIs to Achieve Social Media and Search Engine Marketing Strategies

 

How to clearly define KPIs, identify data-driven optimizations for user engagement in your social media and search engine marketing strategies?

Scenario: You are managing the digital marketing efforts for a tech startup that offers a unique productivity app. Your goal is to boost user engagement and drive revenue through SMM and SEM.  Here's how you could accomplish this:

Define Clear KPIs: Begin by defining specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to user engagement and revenue. These could include metrics like website traffic, click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, customer acquisition cost (CAC), and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV).

 

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Target Audience Research: Use analytics tools like Facebook Audience Insights or Twitter Analytics to identify your target audience's demographics, interests, and behaviors.

Content Strategy: Develop a content calendar with a mix of informative blog posts, engaging videos, and interactive infographics that resonate with your audience.

Paid Campaigns: Allocate a budget for targeted social media ads. Utilize A/B testing to identify the most effective ad creatives, headlines, and call-to-actions.

Engagement Monitoring: Regularly monitor social media engagement metrics like likes, shares, comments, and click-throughs.

 

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition.

Optimize Landing Pages: Ensure that your app's landing pages are optimized for both user experience and search engines. This includes fast load times, mobile responsiveness, and relevant content.

Google Ads Campaigns: Create targeted Google Ads campaigns based on your keyword research. Continuously optimize ad copy, bidding strategies, and landing page quality score.

Analytics Integration: Set up Google Analytics to track user behavior on your website, including page views, bounce rates, and conversion paths.

 

Analytics and Data-Driven Recommendations

Regular Reporting: Generate weekly or monthly reports that highlight KPI performance across SMM and SEM channels.

A/B Testing: Continuously run A/B tests to compare different strategies and identify what works best.

Conversion Funnel Analysis: Use analytics tools to track how users move through the conversion funnel and identify drop-off points.

Data-Driven Insights: Analyze data to uncover trends and insights. For example, you might find that users from certain demographics engage more with your SMM content.

 

Optimization and Revenue Generation

Iterate and Improve: Based on data-driven insights, make iterative improvements to your SMM and SEM strategies. This might involve adjusting ad spend, refining ad targeting, or fine-tuning content. 

User Personalization: Implement personalization techniques to enhance the user experience. For instance, suggest relevant content or features based on user behavior.

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): Continuously work on improving conversion rates by optimizing landing pages and streamlining the conversion process.

 

By consistently applying SMM and SEM best practices, analyzing data, and making data-driven recommendations, you can achieve the goal of not only tracking KPIs but also optimizing user engagement and generating revenue for your tech startup. This approach combines technology with data-driven marketing strategies, aligning with your holistic interest in technology and vertical markets.

 

Defining Clear KPIs for a Tech Startup

Defining Clear Key Performance Indicators - KPIs

Key Performance Indicators or KPIs are essential for measuring the success and growth of your tech startup, especially when you offer a unique productivity app. These metrics provide valuable insights into how well your app is performing and how it aligns with your business goals. In this essay, we'll explore actionable strategies on how to define clear KPIs for your tech startup offering a one-of-a-kind productivity app.

Before defining KPIs, you must have a clear understanding of your startup's business objectives. Consider what you aim to achieve with your productivity app. Are you looking to increase user engagement, acquire new customers, boost revenue, or improve user satisfaction? Your KPIs should align with these objectives.

Determine the key user actions that drive the success of your productivity app. These actions could include:

✔ Signing up for an account

✔ Daily or weekly active usage

✔ Completing specific tasks or actions within the app

✔ Inviting friends or colleagues to join

✔ Upgrading to premium or paid features

✔ Providing feedback or ratings

✔ Sharing content or accomplishments on social media

 

Building Financial Freedom with Eco-Friendly Online Products

Finding a niche market where one person can generate a consistent online income of $10,000 a month is challenging, but it's certainly possible with the right approach, dedication, and a solid business plan. In this guide, we'll explore a range of eco-friendly products and niches that have the potential for such income.

 

Niche Selection and Business Idea

    Pod Star reusable Coffee Pods

        Addressing the Coffee Capsule Waste Crisis

        Choosing Sustainability, Saving Money, and Customizing Your Brew

    Produce Bags

        Eliminating Plastic Waste in Grocery Shopping

        Reusable Produce Bags: A Green Alternative

    Reusable Bulk Food Bags

        Convenience Meets Sustainability: A Solution for Bulk Shopping

        Ditching Heavy Jars: The Bulk Food Bag Solution

    Reusable Shopping Bags

        The Ongoing Battle Against Single-Use Plastic Bags

        Transforming Grocery Shopping with Reusable Bags

A Guide to Achieving Financial Freedom with a $10K - $20K Monthly Online Income

A Business Plan To Generate $10K Monthly Online Income

Financial freedom is a dream for many, but with careful planning, dedication, and consistent effort, you can turn that dream into reality. In this comprehensive guide, we will outline a step-by-step business plan to help you generate a substantial online income of $10K to $20K per month as a solo entrepreneur. We will also explore various niche markets that have the potential for such income, offering you a range of options to consider for your online venture.

 

Business Idea and Niche Selection:

Choose a niche or industry you are passionate about and that has a proven demand.

Research your competition and identify gaps or underserved segments within your chosen niche.

Market Research:

Conduct thorough market research to understand your target audience's needs, preferences, and pain points.

Identify your target audience's demographics and psychographics.

Business Model:

Decide on a suitable online business model, such as e-commerce, affiliate marketing, freelancing, online courses and coaching, or SaaS.

Ensure your choice aligns with your skills and the niche you've selected.

Monetization Strategy:

Determine how you will make money online, whether it's selling products, earning affiliate commissions, providing services, or using subscription-based models.

 

Website and Online Presence:

Create a professional website to showcase your products or services.
Invest in SEO and content marketing to drive organic traffic.
Build a strong social media presence and engage with your audience regularly.

 

Product/Service Development:

Develop high-quality offerings that provide real value to your target audience.
Ensure your products or services stand out from competitors and address specific problems.

Marketing and Sales Strategy:

Develop a comprehensive marketing plan that includes content marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, and paid advertising.

Create a sales funnel to convert leads into paying customers.

Scaling:

Continuously analyze your business's performance and identify areas for improvement.

Consider expanding your product line, audience reach, or diversifying your income sources.

 

 

Financial Management:

Keep meticulous records of your income and expenses.
Set a budget for marketing and operational costs.
Reinvest profits into the business to facilitate growth.

 

Customer Relationship Management:

Focus on building strong customer relationships through excellent customer service.
Encourage customer feedback and implement improvements based on their input.

 

Analytics and Optimization:

Use analytics tools to track website traffic, conversion rates, and customer behavior.
Continuously optimize your strategies based on data-driven insights.

Persistence and Adaptability:

Be prepared for challenges and setbacks, as success often takes time.

Adapt to changes in the market and technology landscape.

Legal and Compliance:

Ensure you comply with all relevant laws and regulations in your industry and location.

Consider consulting with legal and financial experts if needed.

Time Management:

Manage your time efficiently by prioritizing tasks that directly contribute to revenue.

 

Networking:

Build relationships with others in your industry, as partnerships and collaborations can be beneficial.

Goals and Metrics:

Set clear monthly and yearly income goals.

Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress.

Continuous Learning:

Stay updated with industry trends and new technologies.

Invest in your own education and skills.

Generating a substantial online income of $10K per month is achievable with dedication, persistence, and a solid business plan. While it may take time to reach this income range, your commitment to your long-term goals will be the driving force behind your success. Remember, there are various niche markets to explore, and the key is to deeply understand your target audience, consistently create valuable content, and adapt to changing trends in your chosen industry. Financial freedom is within your reach, and this guide serves as a roadmap to help you get there.

 

Hidden Dangers of Home Fires

Behavior That Can Lead To Home Fires

Teenagers are known to test boundaries and participate in potentially risky behavior, but it can be detrimental to the whole family when it involves fire hazards. What may seem like innocent acts, could have deadly results.

Here are some of the behaviors you should keep an eye out for when it comes to the hidden dangers of home fires:

 Misusing aerosol deodorant. While Axe body spray might seem like a rite of passage for a teenage boy, a recent local ABC news report out of San Diego found that while some boys buy Axe body spray to cover up body odor, others buy it for more nefarious purposes. In fact, “fire departments and burn centers say, boys purchase the product…to turn the highly flammable contents into explosives and miniature flamethrowers.” This misuse of aerosol deodorant can have grave consequences–from charges of arson, to ending up in a hospital with second or third degree burns. 

Charging a phone in bed. Another local ABC news report out of New Hampshire found that the heat generated from charging a phone in bed could set your child’s sheets aflame. The Newton New Hampshire fire department shared a photo of a phone charger that had burned through sheets and a blanket along with a warning against charging your phone in bed. “The likely result is that the pillow/bed will catch fire. This places the child/teen as well as everyone else in the home in great danger.”

 
Fidget spinners gone rogue. While fidget spinners seemed like a harmless distraction for antsy kids, they can have dangerous side effects. Time Magazine reported that two mothers–one in Alabama and one in Michigan–were shocked when their child’s bluetooth-enabled fidget spinner had burst into flames. According to the article, both of “the spinners were plugged into outlets, and when they caught on fire the toys melted and burned the surfaces they were sitting on.”

Keeping Your Children Safe

While you might not be able to stop teenagers from engaging in risky behavior, you can take steps to ensure that their bad decisions won’t result in tragic home fires. The best thing you can do for your family is to invest in monitored Smoke Guardian smoke detectors, which will guarantee timely intervention to home fires before they turn deadly.

In addition to the traditional hazards that lead to home fires, such as candles and hidden cigarettes, older children and teenagers may be exposing your home to hidden fire hazards. As it turns out, they could be exhibiting fire-risky behavior when it comes to where they charge their phones, where they keep their fidget spinners, and even using aerosol deodorant.

The Benefits of Monitored Smoke Detectors

Monitored Smoke Detectors 

With wildfires burning across northern California and devastating whole communities, it’s important to re-examine how prepared your own home is when it comes to fire. The earlier you catch the breakout of a fire, the more likely you are to stop it from spreading, saving both your own life and your belongings. And the best way to do that is with monitored smoke detectors.

 

Monitored smoke detectors are a major upgrade from standard store-bought smoke detectors. They are easy to install, update you when the battery needs to be replaced and provides you with the peace of mind that comes along with 24/7 monitoring.

 

How It Works

Once you’ve installed your monitored smoke detectors throughout your home, you’ll have immediate access to the monitoring service should an emergency occur. Our monitored smoke detectors do not require WiFi or hard-wiring in order to connect to the monitoring center. Instead, if smoke is detected within your home, the smoke detector will automatically trigger a call to the monitoring center, which will alert your local 9-1-1 of the emergency.

Monitored smoke detectors will guarantee that your local fire station will be notified of a fire emergency even if you are not at home when the fire breaks out. Since every second counts when it comes to home fires, monitored smoke detectors can help to ensure that your home, your belongings and your loved ones can remain as safe as possible should a fire break out.

Added Benefits of Monitored Smoke Detectors

Aside from the additional safety net that monitored smoke detectors provide, when you purchase Smoke Guardian smoke detectors you have access to some bonus benefits:
Interactive mobile app with alert notifications. You can arrange to either have email or text notifications sent directly to your computer or phone when your batteries are low, you need to test your detectors, or when there is a real emergency at your home.

Homeowner’s insurance discount. Since monitored smoke detectors help to protect your home from fire, most insurance companies offer discounts of up to 15% off on your bill after you make the purchase.

No long term contracts. Unlike some of our competitors, we don’t require you to sign any long term contracts for our monitoring services.

No credit checks. We don’t think that great credit should be a requirement for protecting your home and loved ones from fire.

So, what are you waiting for? Learn more about monitored smoke detectors today!

 

The Best Microfiber Wiping Towels I've Ever Used For My Car

Microfiber Wiping Towels

It doesn't matter if you just bought a shiny new 2013 Jaguar or you own a 85' Mustang, who doesn't want a nice clean car? No matter how old or what type of car it is, we all want one that looks shiny and new. I prefer to wash my own car rather than take it to a car wash for multiple reasons. I don't want to risk it getting damaged, it's expensive and I take great pride in my car after I'm done working on it. I decided to look for something that could clean it easily, quickly with the best possible results and the least amount of work. I started to search for the the best microfiber car wash towels available. I realized that microfiber car wash towels are ideal for all types of cleaning not just cars but are phenomenal for my vehicle. They are great for drying, leaving no water spots or streaks and are awesome at cleaning off hard to remove dirt. I've come to learn there are multiple reasons why they are great to have around.

The best microfiber car wash towels are practically lint free. They are super absorbent and attract, trap and lift dust away with its electrically static charged fibers and the amazing wiping action microfiber has. These microfiber terry cloth towels have a knitted finish and its nap/pile is medium. They are made out of 70 percent polyester and 30 percent polyamide which I've come to find it is blended that way so they hold large amounts of water but dry super fast also. These car wash towels come in various sizes but the best for drying my car is 16"x27" inches. While I use the larger one to dry the exterior of my car, I also have come to find that using the other specialized ones deliver exceptional results. I used the microfiber glass cloth specifically for cleaning my windows, the microfiber dusting cloth just for the interior of my car and the microfiber suede cloth for polishing my chrome and for one final wipe after I wax. The results are simply amazing, as good as any professional detail job that would have cost me at least a hundred bucks. I also buy them in different colors to know which use each towel was for.

One of the cool things about using the best microfiber car wash towels there are is that they can be washed and reused more than 300 times over. They don't scratch the exterior or interior of the car. I can use less water and car wash cleaning solution than I have to with ordinary towels when cleaning the car, so I'm saving money that way as well. They make removing stubborn, hard to remove dirt, bird do, dead bugs, and dirty water stains easier with less solution. I am so delighted I discovered how easy using the best microfiber car wash towels can make keeping my car looking in great shape. It's a "no brainer" for me. I prefer using my own microfiber car wash towels rather than wasting money time and time again for a car wash. I'm able to keep my car in like new condition within a short amount of time instead of paying a ridiculous amount of money for someone to do it for me.

Rebuttal to Reading Eagle: Canal Street Farm Site Statement

Rebuttal to Reading Eagle Reportings: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=399975  

Canal Street Farm Site Statement

July 19, 2012

Today we lost our Canal Street farm site. It has been ten months since we broke ground last October with an outpouring of community support for our project. As part of our Reading Roots Urban Farm, the Canal St. site was a major—some said impossible—undertaking. The trials and tribulations of urban farming efforts are well-known, but we began inspired by the story of Will Allen and Growing Power as a compelling catalyst for lasting community change.

  

The issues that led up to the revocation of our five-year lease agreement revolved around complaints about the appearance of the site and the methods we were using to begin cultivation. The cardboard and weeds were cited as unsightly, “destroy[ing] the open space” and otherwise degrading the vacant property that had remained an empty expanse of lawn in the 40 years following the 1972 flood.

 

While the effort this Spring suffered a number of setbacks in getting started, including funding limitations, regular vandalism, storage and supply logistics, and heatwave after heatwave, progress was being made. The cardboard was spread across the ground to smother the grass and prepare the garden beds, a common practice called sheet mulching. The several types of “weeds” that were allowed to proliferate, primarily chicory, provided cover for valuable edible plants and bushes from theft, attracted more beneficial insects than ever experienced on the site, and improved the soil by accumulating nutrient concentrations and breaking through the compaction. Much of the overall work was actually done manually, with traditional tools.

 

These methods are central to the discipline of permaculture, whose ethics and principles form the basis of our organization’s mission and values. We knew that such unconventional practices might stir up discontent by passers-by, but underestimated the amount of engagement that would be needed to foster understanding and interest in the neighborhood. For all future projects, especially in urban environments, we’ve learned essential lessons on the social dimension of design.

 

In the weeks leading up to the end of the lease, major developments were in motion to begin the farm operation. A secure shipping container provided all the storage needs for equipment and supplies, and water access and irrigation were being installed. Several large volunteer days were scheduled, including for this weekend, giving our many supporters an opportunity to finally begin digging in. We are forever grateful for our army of volunteers for all the help they’ve already contributed to the site, and will be quickly shifting people to our many other opportunities to get involved.

 

It is important to note that one of the biggest considerations in ending our efforts, even with the steady buildup of momentum, was the ever-present threat of ultimately losing the land to development. Our lease for the land, like most urban farming projects, required us to vacate the property if a developer committed to purchasing the property, which put our investments of time and money in jeopardy even if the land was maintained to neighborhood standards.

 

With our limited resources and an interest in creating more “permanent agriculture” projects, the most responsible thing to do is seek out a more certain situation for our garden sites. We hope that someday soon the Canal Street site will be developed and further improve the South of Penn community, and thank the Redevelopment Authority for the opportunity to explore large-scale site development.

 

So where do we go from here? The Reading Roots Urban Farm is alive and well, including the greenhouse in City Park, our many market plots in the Berks County Conservancy’s community gardens, and our weekly stand at the Penn Street Farmers' Market. We’re still in need of additional space for our perennial nursery and research gardens, and will be reaching out to our partners to explore new opportunities. In the meantime, we plan to discuss the situation with our volunteers and begin cleaning up and moving out of the site.

Since breaking ground last Fall, we’ve experienced a freak snow storm several weeks later, the warmest winter in history, record heat waves, storms, and wildfires, and economically-crippling drought conditions.

 

Permaculture is about creating a future in which we can grow food, build homes, manage water, capture energy, and eliminate waste by working with nature, not against it.

 

With so many of us living in concentrated urban centers, adopting these practices will be critical to building resilient and regenerative human habitats in the face of an increasingly uncertain future. Permacultivate will continue to lead in this effort in the City of Reading and surrounding Berks County and Schuylkill River watershed. We hope you will continue to support us in this critical effort.

 

 

–The Permacultivate Team

Is Technology Terrifying?

Does the New Flying Car Scare You As Much As It Scares Me?

Technology has always been something that terrified me.

Not in the way that you’re thinking. I’m not afraid to use tech. If anything, I’m the first to embrace the newest thing and to marvel at it’s implications. The world is changing faster than is ever has before in human history, and it has been a lot of fun to be present for. I often think about how incredible it must be for the oldest among us who saw the world change from a time when a horse and buggy were the primary forms of transportation to the world as it is today, where transference of information between anywhere in the world is almost instantaneous. I envy how incredible that journey must have been for them, but I’m equally as excited about my own journey and optimistic that I will see something just as incredible, if not more so. I just hope that I live to be old enough to see what the future holds.

Today I saw the video for a new flying car that could potentially be on the market in the next few years, and I am petrified by the thought. See, technology scares me because it changes everything. The internet and the personal computer have completely changed the way the world communicates, and we will never be able to go back to the way it was before. Could a flying car do the same thing for the way we travel? In a few years could we be driving to a sky-way exit instead of a free way exit? Could getting across the country take only a few hours instead of a few days?

The idea of a vehicle we can back out of our drive way, drive to a run way and then take off and fly it where we want is, for me at least, a simultaneously exciting and scary thing. I think about the exciting possibilities of people being able to travel great distances in much shorter spans of time. I think about families who live in different parts of the country and will be able to see each other more often, about business people who will spend less time traveling, about the tourism that could be generated by making a cheap, easy way to travel great distances. All of these things are incredible advances, and surely everyone will benefit from them. What am I afraid of? But then I think about what could disappear from our lives. What will happen to the airline industry? Where will those jobs go? Stewardesses, pilots, airport security personnel, I’m sure the jobs won’t disappear entirely, but I imagine if this flying car thing becomes a consumer level product there certainly wont be as many of them. I even think about the cultural affects.

The thrill of air travel will leave us. What will happen to all of the classic airline food jokes we all love to hate? All of these changes scare me, because I think that the hardest thing to remember about life is that if you stand still you fall behind. I do not want to fall behind, but I’m afraid that I wont be able to keep up.

What do you think? Am I being paranoid? Are flying cars going to be awesome, or are they going to change things for the worse?

 

How to Choose an Emergency Alert System

More than 33 percent of accidents and falls involving people 65 years old and over occur at home, according to the CDC. A caregiver's worries never end, particularly when the elderly parent wants to remain living in their own home – which most seniors would prefer to do for as long as possible. But what if an elderly mother falls, or dad has heart attack, stroke or any medical emergency? What if they are home alone? What if they can't get to a telephone to dial for help?

There are many devices available that will instantly summon help in the event of an emergency. Sometimes called Personal Emergency Response System, Medical Alert, or Medical Emergency Response Systems, all systems work in essentially the same way: When emergency help (medical, fire, or police) is needed, the senior presses the transmitter's button. The elderly person wears the transmitter around their neck, on their wrist, belt buckle or wheelchair. In case of emergency, the senior calls for help by simply pressing the alert button, without needing to reach the telephone.

"A medical alert system provides peace of mind for the caregiver and the elderly parent," says Ken Gross, President of Medical Alert, by Connect America, a leader in the medical alarm industry since 1977. "The senior simply presses a button and help is one the way. The transmitter sends a signal to the speaker box that is connected to the phone. The console has a two-way speaker, so the operator can hear the senior, and the senior can hear the operator. A medical alarm system provides round-the-clock monitoring 24/7."

Emergency Response Systems have three components: a small radio transmitter (a help button carried or worn by the user); a console, or base station, connected to the user's telephone; and an emergency response center that monitors calls. The console automatically dials the Central Monitoring Station. Most systems can dial out even if the phone is in use or off the hook. (This is called "seizing the line.")
In addition to dialing the emergency response center, once notified, the operator will also contact family, friends and neighbors. With so many systems on the market, what should a caregiver look for when purchasing?

To help you shop for an emergency response system, consider the following suggestions, provided by Gross, whose company, Medical Alert was recommended as the best medical alert system by Good Housekeeping magazine in an article titled "Home Alone" (Nov 2005).

Price – Medical alert companies charge a monthly fee for monitoring services. Compare pricing, features and servicing of each system. Also, ask if the price will increase. Some companies raise the monitoring fee every year.

"Our fee is $29.95 per month, for as long as the senior has the system. The price never goes up, so the senior and caregiver, many of whom are on tight budgets, don't have to worry about the cost going up unexpectedly."

Hidden Costs – There should be no up-front costs. Seniors should not have to pay for the transmitter or monitoring console. The systems should be included as part of the monthly fee.

Contracts – Don't sign a long-term contract. Caregivers and their aging parents should be able to cancel at any time. Read the agreement carefully before signing.

Experience – How long has the company been in business? Portability – Can the system be used when the elder is away from home – i.e., is it portable? Some companies offer a small base unit that is the size of an answering machine. "The senior can take the system with them when they travel, and it will work in all 50 states. It's great for snowbirds," Gross says.

Ease of Use –Try out the system and make sure it is easy to use. Is the emergency button large and easy for the senior to see and press? Are there any complicated instructions, buttons on the console or other features that might be troublesome for the elder to operate?

---

Here are more things to look for when buying an emergency response system:

Waterproof – "Most accidents happen in the bathroom," Ken Gross points out. Make sure the emergency button can be worn in the bath or shower.

Trained Operators – Find out what kind of training the monitoring center staff receives. It's all about the service. In the case of an emergency, when every second counts, you will want qualified care specialists to assist you and your parent.

Hours – Make sure the monitoring center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for both emergency monitoring and customer service. What happens if you are having difficulty using the system? Or perhaps you have questions about your service? Make sure to ask if the medical alert company has a 24/7-customer support line available in addition to monitoring service.

Testing – Your emergency response company should test the system on a regular basis to make sure it is functioning properly. Ask what procedures the center uses to test systems in your home. And how often are tests conducted? "Medical Alert receives a silent signal from the home on a weekly basis, to ensure that the customer's medical alert system is connected and functioning," Mr. Gross explains.

Repairs – Make sure your system includes repair and replacement service.

Obtaining the right medical alert system is crucial for your security and peace of mind.

Use these tips to help you make the right decision when choosing the best medical alert provider for you and your aging parents.

4 Healthy Practices That Aren’t Very Healthy

 4 Unhealthy Daily Behaviors

1) Diet Soda 

 

So you’re thirsty, but you’re not much of a water drinker. Man, a Coke would be really good right now wouldn’t it? It would really hit the spot. But Coke has all of that sugar right? And that’s going to send your diet right down the toilet. But what about a Diet Coke? That will be better right?

Oops… 

 

Turns out that artificial sweeteners can actually have negative affects in terms of weight loss. The taste of the sweetener actually make our bodies think we’re getting a dose of sugar, when we are in fact not, and this will in turn put our hunger and weight regulation out of sync. In a recent study rats that were fed artificial sweeteners actually gained weight rather than lost it. In another 7 year study, researchers showed that diet soda may even have a link to obesity, though they are unsure why.

I suggest steering clear of the Diet Coke next time you’re thirsty. How about some Vitamin Water?

2) Vitamin Water

What? Come on! It’s called Vitamin Water? How could it possibly be bad for you? It’s packaged in those nice neat clear bottles and it comes in clear colors so they can’t be filled with that much sugar? It has to be better than a Soda?

Oops…

Well okay, Vitamin Water does have less sugar than you average can of soda, but it’s still got about 32 grams of sugar in each bottle. To put that in perspective, that’s more than your average candy bar.

“Hey, wait a minute”, you’re saying. “I’m looking at the nutrition facts of a vitamin water right now and it says there are only 13 grams of sugar! Liar!” Look at the service size chief, 2.5 servings per container. Are you trying to tell me you were only going to drink about half of that bottle and save the rest for dinner? I didn’t think so.

3) Fast Food Salads

Okay, so you’re about to go to lunch, and you’ve only got about half an hour before your boss would take your head off for taking a long lunch, so fast food is really the only option, right? It’s okay, you’ll get one of the salads, then you’ll still be on your diet.

Oops…

You’d actually be better off eating the cheesburger. The Asian sesame salad from Wendy’s actually has more calories, carbs, sugar and sodium than a double cheeseburger. I mean, you were probably aware that if you were walking into a Wendy’s ordering a salad you weren’t getting the most healthy salad in the world, but I’m sure you at least thought you’d be getting something better than their cheeseburger. Sorry, but if you’re on a diet you’re probably better off steering clear of fast food all together, delicious as it may be.

4) Low-Carb Diets

Okay, you’re thinking, I’ll just really stick to my guns and get on a serious diet that actually works. What about that atkins diet? I’ll cut out all of my carbs and I’ll lose a couple pounds and I will be good to go, right?

Oops…

See, the problem with low-carb diets is that essentially what you’re doing is tricking your body into thinking it’s starving so that it burns off your excess fat and muscle for the glucose it needs. That leads to a number of negative affects. The first of which being most of the weight you lose is going to be water weight and therefore will be gained back just as quickly once you’re off the diet. The other problem is that this process, called ketosis, can cause your kidney’s to overwork, give you headaches, and even cause heart palpitations.

Sorry to break it to you, but there is just no short cut for living a healthy lifestyle. If you want to grow old someday you’re just going to have to get out and stay active. If you’re already older and want to improve your quality of life I recommend the  medical alarms for seniors with mobile options that allow you to get out of the house and remain protected with their personal emergency alarms.