#including key players to watch out for and tactical insights. So

[dmdigitalmarketingagency]

Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Live Score Updates, Highlights, and Lineups

Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Live Score Updates, Highlights, and Lineups Preview of the Match: Arsenal will take on Bournemouth in the latest round of the English Football League Cup. This match is expected to be an exciting clash between two talented teams, and fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome. Arsenal, who have a strong record in this competition, will be looking to continue their winning…

[gibsonperkins94]

Mastering the Art of Conquest: A Deep Dive into Paper.io 2

In the ever-evolving landscape of online gaming, there are particular titles that have the ability to capture the attention and fascination of players worldwide. One such game which has made its mark is Paper.io 2. With its simple yet addictive gameplay, this multiplayer sensation has garnered a significant following. In this blog post, we will explore the intricacies of Paper.io 2, unravel its mechanics, and provide valuable tips to help you become a formidable conqueror in this digital realm. The Basics: Understanding the Gameplay: Paper.io 2 is a strategic multiplayer game where players navigate a virtual paper world, aiming to expand their territory while simultaneously defending it against rivals. The objective is to outmaneuver opponents and claim just as much space as possible on the game board. The Art of Conquest: Key Strategies for Success: 2.1. Patience and Timing: In Paper.io 2, patience is really a virtue. Rushing into uncharted territory can often result in disaster. Instead, adopt a calculated approach by claiming small areas near your initial position. As paper.io 2 unblocked expand your presence, you can then venture into more perilous regions with caution. Timing your movements strategically and seizing opportunities to capture unprotected territory could possibly be the key to victory.

2.2. Defensive Maneuvers: While offense is vital for expansion, neglecting your defenses can lead to swift defeat. Safeguarding your territory requires vigilance and foresight. Always keep an eye on your borders and swiftly close any gaps left by opponents. Remember, a solid defense not merely protects your territory but also forces rivals to believe twice before trying an invasion. 2.3. The Art of Ambush: The element of surprise could be a powerful tool in Paper.io 2. Lure opponents into a false sense of security by leaving a tempting trail of unclaimed space. As adversaries venture into your trap, swiftly encircle them, cutting off their escape routes. Ambushes can turn the tide of the overall game and provide a significant advantage. Power-ups and Special Abilities: Paper.io 2 offers a selection of power-ups and special abilities that may significantly impact gameplay. These enhancements include speed boosts, shields, and temporary invincibility. Use them strategically to outmaneuver opponents or create advantageous situations. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each power-up gives you an edge in intense encounters. Multiplayer Mayhem: Online Competition: Competing against players from all over the world is a thrilling aspect of Paper.io 2. The game's multiplayer mode allows you to test thoroughly your skills against formidable opponents. As you climb the ranks, you will come across players with diverse strategies and playstyles. Observe their tactics, adapt your approach, and continually refine your skills to remain one step ahead in the competitive landscape. Continuous Improvement: Mastering the overall game: Learning to be a true master of Paper.io 2 requires dedication and a willingness to learn from both victories and defeats. Analyze your gameplay, identify regions of improvement, and test out different strategies. Watch replays of your matches to gain insights into your opponents' moves and develop counter-strategies. By honing your skills and evolving your playstyle, you can ascend to the most notable of the leaderboard. Conclusion: Paper.io 2 is an engaging and addictive multiplayer game that challenges players to expand their territory while defending it against cunning opponents. By employing a blend of patience, strategic thinking, and adaptability, you can master the art of conquest in this digital realm. With practice and determination, you can turn into a formidable player, dominating the colorful world of Paper.io 2. So, grab your virtual paper and embark on an exciting journey filled up with conquest and endless possibilities.

[mystart11]

Master the Game: Dominating Fantasy Cricket and Football with Mystart11's Pro Tips

Fantasy sports have revolutionized the way fans engage with their favorite games, offering an immersive experience that combines strategy, competition, and excitement. At Mystart11, we understand the thrill of crafting the perfect lineup and watching your team soar to victory. That's why we're committed to providing players with the tools and knowledge they need to dominate fantasy cricket and football like never before.

With Mystart11's Pro Tips, players can gain invaluable insights and strategies from seasoned experts to take their gameplay to the next level. Whether you're a novice looking to improve your skills or a seasoned veteran seeking a competitive edge, Mystart11's Pro Tips offer something for everyone.

In the world of fantasy cricket, success often hinges on understanding player statistics, match dynamics, and strategic team selection. Mystart11's Pro Tips delve into these key areas, providing players with insider knowledge and analysis to help them make informed decisions and maximize their chances of success. From identifying sleeper picks to navigating player injuries and form fluctuations, Mystart11's Pro Tips empower players to build winning teams and compete at the highest level.

Similarly, in fantasy football, mastering the art of team management and player selection is essential for success. Mystart11's Pro Tips cover a wide range of topics, including drafting strategies, lineup optimization, and in-game tactics, giving players the tools they need to outsmart their opponents and secure victory. Whether you're participating in a head-to-head matchup or a season-long league, Mystart11's Pro Tips provide invaluable guidance to help you navigate the complexities of fantasy football and come out on top.

But Mystart11's Pro Tips go beyond just strategy and analysis—they also offer advice on bankroll management, contest selection, and maximizing bonus opportunities. By following Mystart11's Pro Tips, players can not only improve their gameplay but also enhance their overall fantasy sports experience, ensuring that every match is an opportunity to win big and have fun.

In conclusion, Mystart11's Pro Tips are a game-changer for fantasy sports enthusiasts, offering expert guidance and strategies to help players dominate fantasy cricket and football. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, gain a competitive edge, or simply have more fun playing fantasy sports, Mystart11's Pro Tips are your ticket to success. So why wait? Dive into the world of fantasy sports with Mystart11's Pro Tips and unleash your full potential today! https://www.mystart11.com/

[footyware]

Top-Notch Indoor Soccer Tournaments in 2022-2023

Are you a fan of indoor soccer? Do you love the fast-paced, high-scoring, and skillful nature of the game? Are you eager to watch some of the best players and teams from around the world compete in thrilling tournaments? If so, you're in luck, because the next year promises to offer a wide range of indoor soccer tournaments that will satisfy your passion and curiosity.

In this article, we'll highlight some of the top-notch indoor soccer tournaments that you should watch out for in 2022-2023. We'll provide you with key information such as dates, venues, participants, and formats, as well as insights into the players and teams that are likely to make an impact. We'll also share some tips on how to prepare for these tournaments, how to follow them online or on TV, and how to enjoy them to the fullest.

The State of Indoor Soccer Tournaments

Before we dive into the specific tournaments, let's take a quick look at the state of indoor soccer tournaments in general. Indoor soccer, also known as futsal, is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller field with fewer players, a smaller ball, and different rules. It originated in South America and Europe in the 1930s and 1940s and has since spread to other continents and countries.

Indoor soccer tournaments can be national, regional, or international in scope, and can feature amateur, semi-professional, or professional players and teams. Some of the most prestigious indoor soccer tournaments include the FIFA Futsal World Cup, the UEFA Futsal Championship, the AFC Futsal Championship, the CONMEBOL Futsal Copa America, and the CONCACAF Futsal Championship. These tournaments attract millions of viewers and generate considerable excitement and buzz.

However, indoor soccer tournaments face some challenges and opportunities in the current landscape. On the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many tournaments and caused cancellations, postponements, or changes in format or location. On the other hand, the popularity and accessibility of streaming and online platforms have opened up new avenues for fans and sponsors to engage with the tournaments and the players.

Top-Notch Indoor Soccer Tournaments in 2022-2023

Without further ado, let's jump into the top-notch indoor soccer tournaments that you should mark in your calendar for 2022-2023.

FIFA Futsal World Cup

The FIFA Futsal World Cup is the most prestigious and widely watched indoor soccer tournament in the world. It is organized by FIFA, the governing body of football, and features national teams from six continents. The tournament was first held in 1989 and has been held every four years since then, except for a five-year gap between 2008 and 2012. The next edition of the tournament will take place in Lithuania from September 12 to October 3, 2021, and will feature 24 teams.

The FIFA Futsal World Cup offers a thrilling mix of skill, tactics, and drama, as the best national teams compete for the ultimate title. Some of the top teams to watch out for in the upcoming edition include Brazil, the reigning champion and most successful team in the history of the tournament with five titles; Spain, the runner-up in 2000 and 2008 and the winner of two European championships; Argentina, the runner-up in 2016 and the winner of five Copa Americas; Portugal, the winner of the 2018 UEFA Futsal Euro; and Italy, the winner of two UEFA Futsal.

Read more:

#tournament

#footyware

#bestindoorsoccershoes

#soccershoes

#outdoors

#futsalskills

#indoorplay

#footwear

#bestindoorsoccershoes

[laocommunity]

Score Big with Our Expert Predictions and Insane Odds for San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas MLS Clash on May 27!

Score Big with Our Expert Predictions and Insane Odds for San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas MLS Clash on May 27! Score Big with Our Expert Predictions and Insane Odds for San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas MLS Clash on May 27! Article Outline Article I. Introduction As the MLS season heats up, fans and bettors alike are eagerly anticipating the upcoming showdown between the San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas on May 27. With both teams boasting top-tier talent and a burning desire to secure a win, this match is sure to offer up plenty of excitement and drama. In this article, we'll dive deep into the odds and predictions for this highly-anticipated clash, giving you all the insights you need to make informed betting decisions. II. Team Overviews San Jose Earthquakes Led by head coach Matias Almeyda, the San Jose Earthquakes have been a formidable force to be reckoned with in the MLS as of late. With a strong squad featuring talents such as Chris Wondolowski and Magnus Eriksson, the Earthquakes have been able to consistently challenge even the toughest opponents. FC Dallas On the other side of the pitch, FC Dallas has been making waves in the MLS with their tactical prowess and skilled lineup. Coached by Luchi Gonzalez, this team boasts an impressive roster including the likes of Ryan Hollingshead and Andres Ricuarte, both of whom have proven to be key players in recent matches. III. Recent Form and Performance San Jose Earthquakes The San Jose Earthquakes have been on a hot streak as of late, winning three out of their last five matches. With a strong focus on teamwork and communication, this group has been able to successfully execute their game plans and make swift strides up the MLS ranks. FC Dallas FC Dallas has also been performing quite well recently, winning four out of their last five matches. With a solid defensive lineup and a strong offensive presence, this team has been able to secure key victories and cement their place as one of the most formidable squads in the league. IV. Head-to-Head Record San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas Looking at the head-to-head record between these two teams, it's a fairly even match-up. Over the course of their last five matches, they've each won two games, with one ending in a draw. This makes for an exciting and unpredictable showdown on May 27. V. Betting Odds and Predictions Betting Odds As of this writing, the odds for this match are quite close, with both teams sitting at around +150 to win. This indicates that the experts are expecting a very tight game with lots of potential for upsets and surprises. Predictions Based on recent form and overall team performance, it's tough to say which team will come out on top in this clash. The San Jose Earthquakes have been playing very well lately, but FC Dallas has been a consistently strong presence all season long. Ultimately, we predict a close match with a final score of 1-1, though anything could happen in this exciting showdown. VI. Conclusion In conclusion, the upcoming San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match on May 27 is sure to be a must-see event for all soccer fans and bettors alike. With both teams bringing their best players and tactics to the field, this is shaping up to be a very unpredictable and exciting game. Make sure to keep a close eye on the odds and predictions leading up to this match, and betting safely and responsibly. VII. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What time is the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? The match is scheduled to take place on May 27, though the exact start time may vary depending on your location and time zone. 2. Where can I watch the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? The match will be broadcast on various sports channels depending on your location, so check your local listings to find out where to watch. 3. Can I bet on the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? Yes, you can place bets on this match through a variety of sports betting platforms and sites. Just be sure to bet responsibly and within your means. 4. Who are the key players to watch in the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? For the San Jose Earthquakes, keep an eye on talents such as Chris Wondolowski and Magnus Eriksson. On FC Dallas, players like Ryan Hollingshead and Andres Ricuarte will likely be key in securing a win. 5. What are the odds for the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? As of this writing, the odds are approximately +150 for both teams to win, indicating a very close and unpredictable game. #SPORT Read the full article

[outbythehighwind]

Tifa’s Fighting Style

One of the things that impressed me most about FF7R is Tifa Lockhart’s combat. Her mechanics were dazzling. Her combos left me awed. Her style was so realistic, but... what was it? Naturally, I did some digging, and happened to stumble across a blog where most of the work had already been done. So this post is courtesy of Flowerslightning, with thoughts and elaboration on my part. THANKS AND CREDIT TO THIS WONDERFULLY INSIGHTFUL BLOGGER (do check out her tumblr for more fantastic content).

First, let’s note that Tifa’s combat design is very much in the field of fighting games. To some degree at least, developers take inspiration from real-life arts. The style of Tekken’s Lei Wulong, for instance, is based on the Drunken First. Street Fighter’s Chun Li uses the model of Chinese Kenpo.

The FFVII devs - to my knowledge - have revealed nothing on Tifa’s inspired martial arts background. She adopted the monk style (the fisticuffs of FF-verse) from a traveler named Zangan. That’s all we know. She trained (obviously very hard) as his pupil for the 2 years between Cloud leaving Nibelheim and Sephiroth burning the town. Zangan then brought her to Midgar and continued his travels. The only path for discerning real-arts inspiration is through observing Tifa’s fights - though even such attempt is limited. Her style is not as straightforward as Lei’s or Chun Li’s. She seems to employ a mix of martial arts, specializing in the offense and using speed and dexterity to her advantage.

Here are the main styles that Flowerslightning deduced, supported by some of Tifa’s abilities.

1. Muay Thai [demonstrated by Somersault].

This is the known as the “Art of Eight Limbs” and is commonly referred to as “Thai boxing”. It differs from traditional kickboxing (which has its roots in Japan) most notably in being an 8-point instead of 4-point striking system. In other words, Muay Thai employs elbow and shin strikes in addition to kicks and punches. Tifa’s kicks, I would say, are actually more akin to kickboxing, for Muay Thai places emphasis on heavy kicks involving the shin bone. Yet her acrobatic style is very akin to the latter.

In addition to the key boxing techniques of both the Thai and Japanese art, Tifa’s elbow maneuvers provide further evidence for the former. This is most evident during her fight with Loz, where she uses her elbows for offense and defense. One could say she expanded her Thai-based skills during in the 2 years that followed saving the world.

Running a new bar and raising two under-10-year-olds would have left at least a... smidgen of free time, right?

2. Muay Thai [demonstrated by Refocus].

Some may suggest this move of Tifa’s is a Taekwondo technique (we’ll get to that lovable sport soon, don’t you worry), but I agree with Flowerslightning in that her jumping style is more Muay Thai. Almost all Muay Thai techniques use movement of the entire body, rotating the hip with each kick, punch, elbow and block. This to me is the obvious discerning factor. Tifa exquisitely throws her whole body into the majority of her combos and limit breaks, ground and aerial alike. Specifically through that neat hip rotation. Refocus is but one example of many.

PS. Don’t you just love her boots? The gloves are really something but, those red boots... Just look at them.

3. Taekwondo [shown in Overpower].

Literally the “Way of the Hand and Foot”, this is a Korean martial art set apart by its emphasis on kicks. Head-height kicks, jump spin kicks, swift kicks, the list goes on. (But of course, there’s plenty of hand blocking and take-downs too.) Did you know that Taekwondo is part of South Korea’s military training program as well as their national sport? Its skillset is heavy in self-defense.

Tifa is mostly an offensive attacker (and wow, do her strikes deal devastating damage). Yet her aerial maneuvers and acrobatic footwork certainly have elements of Taekwondo. What makes the Taekwondo kick-style unique is its elaborate, advanced forms. Xtreme 720s, for instance, are underpinned by precise technical soundness and accuracy.

Yes, these are literal 720° mid-air turns with a SERIES of kicks timed in utmost precision. They require extraordinary strength. Something Tifa deceptively pulls off with ease, no?

4. Hēi-Hǔ-Quán [displayed in Starshower].

Flowerslightning deduces this ATB ability to be a Boxing combo. Though to me it looks more like Hēi-Hǔ-Quán (lit. ‘Black Tiger Fist’, a Shaolin striking art from China). Watch her hands closely: the thumbs are curled like the fingers rather than wrapped around them to form a fist. Tifa’s wide stances and acrostic kicks are a little less tiger-esque than Hēi-Hǔ-Quán, but there is definitely resemblance of the style there too.

All in all, she seems to employ a mixture of Shaolin arts and Boxing. Her finger-positions for fast jabs (as in Starshower and the Loz fight) are predominantly of the Tiger Fist. Her more powerful strikes, meanwhile, include Boxing crosses, hooks and uppercuts. The sewer cutscene demonstrates this clearly, when Tifa & Cloud encounter the Sahagin.

And damn, do we love the back-to-back Cloti in that scene. Surely I’m not just speaking for myself here.

5. Boxing [displayed in Unbridled Strength].

Tifa’s aforementioned fist moves and powerful finishing punches are no doubt reminiscent of boxing. Also, she always enters a fight with her fists closed in a boxing stance (whether she will employ Shaolin or other hand techniques is irrelevant). Take her cutscene against the Whispers where she, Cloud and Aerith arrive at Sector 7. She begins with a cross and follows with a rotated hook - one of the most basic boxing combos.

BONUS FACT: Rather than orthodox, Tifa always employs a southpaw stance (right hand and right foot forward). This is the preferred stance of a left-hand fighter. Is Tifa left-handed? Considering her fighting alone, yes is the plausible assumption. Here are a few examples:

     - Unbridled Strength has her delivering a finishing blow with her left hand. We would expect such a move to be done with the power hand.

     - Her single strike that hurls Loz across the church is also with the left hand. This punch is not part of a combo; she could have used either hand.

     - In guard position, her left is the rear hand, to both attack and protect herself.

     - And of course, in southpaw stance, she always begins with a left-hand strike.

However, all of Tifa’s general actions (to my observance) - like bartending, catching Aerith in the sewer, carrying the Buster Sword into Corneo’s quarters, etc. - suggest that she is right-handed. So why use the left, the weaker, as her dominant hand in fighting? Could she actually be ambidextrous? That is a possibility. But weighing up the evidence in addition to Tifa's ingenuity, this could well be out of fighting strategy.

Southpaw can give Tifa a strategic advantage, you see, because of the tactical and cognitive difficulties her enemies would have of coping with a fighter who moves in a mirror-reverse of the norm. In other words, she takes advantage of the fact that most fighters lack experience against lefties. Doing this:

     - opens up chance for a variety of surprise combos;

     - puts her human enemies in danger of KOs by what would otherwise be ordinary strikes; and

     - enables her to trick her opponents should she unexpectedly convert to orthodox during fights.

Pretty damn awesome, huh?

6. Gymnastics [dodging maneuvers].

Gymnastics, like fighting arts, enhances balance, strength, flexibility and agility - the four areas Tifa excels at. Now, we’ve talked a lot about her strong points. But what of her weaknesses? Players will have noticed immediately that Tifa has a major setback. She can accurately be described as a glass cannon, due to her low HP and defenses that counter-balance her speed and dexterity. That is precisely what makes playing as her so compelling; you get that sense of life or death intensity. The fight feels REAL. She is the least OP character in the party, in addition to by far being the most difficult to master. Utilized properly, she can be the strongest of them all. And wow, is that rewarding or what?

Because of her weak defenses, Tifa must constantly remain on the move, and gymnastics is the quintessential means in doing so. Hand springs, aerial cartwheels - you name it, she’s got it. As if those kicks and uppercuts don’t scream epic enough already. Doesn’t it just make her even MORE amazing?

So I’ve added Hēi-Hǔ-Quán to Flowerslightning’s conclusion: that Tifa’s combat is Mixed Martial Arts, with her dominant skills as Kickboxing, Taekwondo and Muay Thai. And of course, the interweaving of Gymnastics, which adds an elegance to her epic kickassery.

Tifa lost her teacher after just two years, and spent the last five managing & running a bar, serving as AVALANCHE’s funder & treasurer, and effectively solo-raising Barret’s little daughter. Add two more years, and we have a completely absent Barret, a very sick child in addition to the one she is (now permanently) raising, and a depressed, distant Cloud who has left her to struggle as a solo barkeep, full-time nurse and single mother. How on earth did she find the time and will to master her fighting techniques?

Yes, we are talking about fiction, but this woman is nothing short of incredible. Not simply as a fighter - that isn’t even the start of it. Tifa is, to me, the character who has had it the hardest. Yet she perseveres. And not only that, but she gives. She gives and gives, and doesn’t give up, even when everyone else around her has. In addition, she is the only ‘ordinary’ member of the party: Cloud, on top of military training, had his senses enhanced with Mako & Jenova cells; Barret literally has a gun for an arm; and Aerith as the last Cetra possesses exceedingly strong magic. Tifa, like with everything she does, worked hard to hone her skills. And that, to me, is incontestably admirable.

As Flowerslightning put it, she was “ready to go through hell and yet still remain soft”. And those virtues she held to, where most people would have quit. Compassion and perseverance to the end, the two traits that uphold her - to me - as the most inspiring hero of fiction.

[hillh2lasalle]

Haleigh Hill’s Blog: Marketing Insights

https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/nike-you-cant-be-stopped-ad/

YOU CAN’T BE STOPPED. NIKE CAMPAIGN 

Nike has had many advertisements and ad campaigns over the years. I expected Nike’s 2021 campaign to be good but not this good. In this campaign Nike used a technique that used some of Swoosh’s  most elite athletes. Serena Williams, Lebron James, Naomi Osaka, and Kevin Durant are just some of the top athletes used. 

The ad above speaks directly to the viewer, telling them that their mindset is the key to achieving your goals. Giving the circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic Nike wanted to try and give people a better, healthier  and more positive 2021. 

As I watched the 2021 campaign I wondered to myself “how much of impact does Nike really have on our country?” 

Well, in 2018 Nike made a campaign that included start football player Colin Kaepernick. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/03/sports/kaepernick-nike.html

Colin Kaepernick’s Nike campaign keeps NFL anthem Kneeling in the spotlight. In this campaign he inspired  a player protest movement with Nike’s Just Do It campaign. He showed his activism against racism and social injustices through one of the countries most powerful sports leagues. 

The picture ad is very powerful and uplifting and brings so much awareness to large problem. The up close and personal picture of Kaepernick shows his eyes and how serious he is about the movement. The picture is in black white to give that since of emotion and an old time feeling. The picture being in black and white also shows that this situation racial and social injustice is also black and white. 

I like how Nike did this whole campaign because it reaches such a broad audience. After this campaign Nike was able to generate $6 billion since the ad was published to the internet through social media and television commercials. 

https://news.nike.com/featured_video/dream-crazier

In my opinion this is one of the best campaigns Nike has ever done. They did a Dream Crazier commercial where the voiceover was done by pro-champion tennis athlete, Serena Williams. This commercial was all about women empowerment and females who haven broken down barriers. This ad was a celebration of women sports and inspired many generations of athletes to chase after their dreams. 

https://news.nike.com/featured_video/lebron-james-just-do-it-film

Lebron James used his platform and also did an advertisement where he too inspired individuals to be the best they can be. Because James has such a huge fanbase he is able to use his large platform to inspire young kids and adults to do the right thing and make something with their lives. 

TRUTH: https://www.thetruth.com/

“This isn't an About Us. IT'S AN ABOUT YOU.”

“Because ultimately, we exist to give you the facts and tools to make change. From exposing Big Tobacco’s lies and manipulation, to battling the Vaping and Opioid epidemics, we stand with you to fight against addiction and forces that fuel it.”

Truth is a national campaign that is targeted to eliminate teen smoking in the United States. Truth is America’s largest non-profit organization that is dedicated to a future where tobacco and nicotine addictions are a thing of the past. Their top mission is to achieve a culture where young people reject smoking, vaping, and nicotine. 

Truth Initiative: 

Truth partnered with Black community members and activist to launch a campaign; Read Between the Lines. This campaign comes at a time when African Americans have higher death rates from tobacco- related causes compared to other racial and ethnic groups. I find it very surprising that over 39,000 die from tobacco related products. Nearly 90% of Black smokers use menthol cigarets, meaning they are harder to quit. This decade uses very aggressive marketing tactics; these include placing more advertising in predominantly black neighborhoods and in places that are popular with Black audiences. Towards the end of 2019, research showed that 17.7% of students in high schools and about 9% of African American students in middle school currently used e-cigarettes. Interestingly, people who have ever used electronic cigarettes are 7 times more likely to test positive for COVID19. They believe that if they expose the truth between tobacco then it will bring awareness to the communities in hope of reducing nicotine and tobacco usage in black communities. 

https://truthinitiative.org/press/press-release/young-black-voices-expose-predatory-tobacco-industry-tactics-new-truth

THINK WITH GOOGLE: Insights. Ideas. and Inspirations

With the current pandemic going on Google Company has been boosting the market with the ease and convenience of their website. Personally, I find it crazy, yet interesting, yet at the same time kind of creepy that Google can know exactly where you are and what you are doing at all times. This is mostly because we have our smartphones everywhere we go. Google is able to find many trends and even “read your thoughts” to make advertisements pop up on your computer screens or smartphones and even on advertisements on our favorite streaming networks. 

As shown in the picture above, People’s routines, needs, and priorities are changing almost daily. And marketers are feeling the effects as their plans are being thrown out the window. Switching to an unscripted marketing model calls for more insight into the shifting consumer mindset.

Living Off Schedule: 

Consumers are now experiencing fluid dayparts. Play is blending into work and weeks are spilling into weekends. Without a structured schedule, people are searching for and engaging with content differently.

People are trying to find new ways of filling their time and fighting off boredom.

 In order for Google to move forward they must consider the audience, stay on top of relevant trends, and embrace novelty. Even though new trends are arising not everyone has the same experiences due to the differences in geography. It is crazy how things happen. According to Google, if you make a list of trends and insights and they will eventually evolve in the months ahead. 

[cutebutstillsingle]

Boof.  A hard one to admit for SO many people.  This was/is totally me.  This is likely so many people I know who remain single or divorced into their 30s and beyond. 

Even though you operate in an adult’s body, you can be hella old, and still operating with the heart of the childhood you or the heart of twenty- something you, who still was relationally immature. If you are watching your fertile window come and go while remaining single, ladies, you may be relationally immature.   If you’re still in your 30s, gents, and are not yet in that mainframe of desiring to settle down, you are probably relationally immature.  

If you are struggling to sustain romantic relationships, I would even go so far as to say that your perpetual singledom is like a firetruck siren of a signal from your heart that you have some therapeutic work that may need to do.

Relational immaturity specifically addresses the “relationships” slice of your overall maturity birthday cake. You might be doing just fine living in your own dwelling.  You might be killing’ it at your job.  You might know how to boil some water and do your taxes.  Maybe you have traveled the world.  But that doesn’t mean you have mastered relational maturity.  If there are other aspects of your life that you can reflect upon as “not yet in an ideal state”, those other incomplete areas of your life may be linked to your relational maturity.  

It is worth mentioning that relationships must be mature across multiple relationship arenas: with your own body, mind and heart.  With God if you are spiritual, with your family, with your friends, and with your professional colleagues at school or work.  These relationships all fall under “relational maturity”.  

 And then of course, your romantic relationships will be impacted by your relational maturity even more so, because these tend to be the most emotionally intimate and vulnerable.  Unlike your family or your job, your romantic interest or partner is under zero obligations and is not incentivized by any business perks to stay with you.  All of your relationships will be somewhat interconnected, believe it or not.  You can’t show up as an outstanding business partner at work if you are trashing yourself by not eating well, not sleeping enough, and if your brain is pumping with negative self-talk.  If you’re having drama with a friend you may not be as clearheaded at work or in your romantic partnership.   If you have struggles or drama in your family, you may not show up in your romantic relationship as your best self.  Etc.  So it’s all kind of comprehensive.  

For me (takes a deep breath because this is about to be very vulnerable), I noticed myself struggling in professional settings, essentially struggling over and over to get along peacefully with anyone who failed to meet my mind’s expectations of that role, and they disappointed me in any way.  Even if my expectations were 100% reasonable, because perhaps anyone hired in that role should probably be able to do X, Y, or Z in order to even be considered for hire, if that person disappointed me in any way and failed to do X, Y, or Z, it put us on the fast track to our relationship either dissolving or hitting a major bump in the road. 

I observed myself in over a five year long pattern of job hopping and struggles with professional relationships.  I would say yes to a job, then discover that certain key players at the job majorly sucked to work with, all my favorite colleagues would quit, or that some seriously shady secrets would come to light about how that company operated.  

Then I would begin the hunt for a new job for the following year in the same industry, hoping that maybe, somewhere out there, not all companies in this industry sucked.  Five plus years later, I think it’s safe to say that yes, maybe they all actually DO suck in that particular industry.  Because they were all shady after at least three tries to find a good job. Once, and it could be a one off.  Twice, and you start to wonder, and it may not be a coincidence.  Three times, and it is no longer a coincidence-- it is a pattern.  And yet,  I was the one failing to pivot and adjust my approach to finding job satisfaction.  

There are some definite parallels to romantic satisfaction here, so read on if you have time... 

I would wonder things like, “Why do I keep choosing these professional positions where the people constantly display shadiness or appalling levels of incompetence?  Why don’t any of the best professionals at the job stay hired, but all the crappier employees stay hired for like, decades?  Should I also keep it moving?  [the answer was “yes”!  But I was too naive to realize it].  

Why wasn’t I able to learn after the first, or maybe the first two disappointments, and adjust course out of this entire field if they all seem to display these relational patterns I don’t thrive under?”. There were some colleagues and bosses that I had amazing professional rapport with amidst all of this, but the (pardon my french) f*ckery of the people in key decision-making roles usually drove all the best employees out the door. 

I also wondered, “ Why were  certain people able to tolerate or even thrive in what I considered and knew in my heart to be toxic work cultures, while I was deeply troubled by them?  Why did my job dick me around so ruthlessly, but if I looked at other colleagues, the job would never dare to do the same shady things to them?”.  

Sometimes I observed that the very same boss was like a gracious, generous angel to specific colleagues, and then full on illegally shafting me or others, in the very next breath.  Why was this the case?  Further more, the most puzzling question of all: Why was I able to have phenomenal professional relationships with some of my colleagues, that lasted long after we both left the job and which I am able to maintain to this very day? But with other colleagues who couldn't meet my standards professionally, or who were outright shady, unethical and unscrupulous to me,  the connection for even a basic “we don’t even have to be friends whatsoever outside of this building, but let’s get this work done on a respectable and amicable level”  was impossible.  

It took a lot of therapy to figure this all out.  Yes, the issues were likely rooted in my dysfunctional childhood.  Yes, the issues were probably exacerbated by a couple of highly unusual and definitely relationship-related traumas that I faced in my early adulthood.  And yes, the issues were not helped by these blind spots I had about how to have relational discernment and tactical knowledge for how to approach these types of relational situations.  In a nutshell, relational immaturity manifested in my professional life.  Because other people would fully have no problems navigating these situations. But I did.  And I see the exact same patterns and struggles romantically.  

I hope that I have since developed an awareness around my issues; and that I now know enough to avoid or overcome these situations next time I’m in a promising romantic relationship, and in my professional relationships moving forward.  

If you sense that you might benefit from therapy, I strongly encourage you to seek it out.  Just the ability to admit to yourself “I might need help from a trained professional to figure out the root of these emotional struggles” is you, becoming more mature as an adult.  Because it takes courage and insight to realize when we need more help than we are able to find on our own.  

If you think you can’t afford therapy, it would surprise you to discover that there are ways to make it affordable.  For example, many college campuses give the students free personal counseling by default.  So take advantage of that in your twenties or during grad school.  Christian churches and other organizations offer personal counseling with bona fide therapists-in-training, who just need to get their hours completed under the supervision of a licensed therapist before they can officially get licensed themselves, and fly solo.  There is therapy online.  Your basic medical health coverage may cover therapy, unbeknownst to you.  Even free governement-issued health coverage may still include personal counseling.  

If the thought of talking to a therapist absolutely horrifies you, because it is too “mental” and you can’t even handle the thought that you have “mind problems”, I would encourage you to reframe what “therapy” can be.  The words “therapy”, and “mental health” completely turn me off. I don’t even want to begin to suggest that I possess, or to have anyone else label me as having “mental issues” when I know myself; and I know my mind is perfectly intact.  I’m just struggling in certain areas of my own personal success.  

Rather than defining this type of help as “mental health”, or even “therapy” that isn’t physical therapy, I would encourage you to choose to reframe it as “emotional intelligence training” and “self development”, under the umbrella of “personal counseling”.  I am WAY more comfortable with the title of “personal counseling” than I am with the labels of “therapy” and “mental health”.  Just because you are seeking personal counseling for issues that are not related to  your physical body, and you may need a little more help for problems that may be rooted in your past or in your emotional wellbeing, it does not mean you have a mental health problem. 

 I severely wish all personal counseling services everywhere would step into 2020 and re-label themselves under a much-needed umbrella of “social-emotional wellness services”.  This would totally strip the taboo for people to seek out these highly beneficial services; and encourage all wellbeing practitioners to practice under this umbrella.  Things like yoga, meditation, mental illness, personal counseling, couples counseling, family counseling, postpartum depression and anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse-- all of this kind of stuff should be considered "social-emotional wellness services”, because they are all social-emotional issues. They are matters of the heart, mind, emotions, and relationship.  

If you’re like “yeah f*ck reframing-- I am not down with therapy at all, sorry”, there are a lot of beneficial podcasts on relationships that can begin to help you tap into your emotional core in private, and maybe help you get some insight on any past relationship traumas or relationship patterns.  There are amazing life coaches with free youtube videos that can help people.  

Some of my absolute favorites are: 

- “Stephan Speaks”

- heart of dating podcast (christian)

- Mark Manson

- Zen Habits

- Amy Chan / Renew Breakup Bootcamp

- Matthew Hussey (I would recommend more of his recent stuff, and less of his gamey, ‘how to get the guy’ manipulative kinda stuff).  

I have another resource that is absolutely phenomenal; but not everyone is ready for that level of truth.  And it does come from a christian man.  If you’re intrigued by that,  willing to be vulnerable, willing to hear harder truths, and especially if you consider yourself a Christian man or woman, send me a direct message  on tumblr and I’ll send you the name of one of the most transformative relationship coaches I have ever found.  

[margdarsanme]

NCERT Class 12 Entrepreneurship Chapter 1 Entrepreneurial Opportunity

NCERT Class 12 Entrepreneurship Solutions

Chapter-1 Entrepreneurial Opportunity

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED : A.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. What is a business opportunity?

Ans. It refers to an attractive and accessable economic idea which could be implemented to create a business, earn maximum profit, and leads to further growth. National Career Service (NCS) aims to bridge the gap between those who need jobs and those who want to hire them. Q2. What factors are involved in the process of sensing an entrepreneurial opportunity?

Ans. Q3. Define the term environment scanning.

Ans. Environment scanning refers to careful monitoring of an organization’s internal and external environments for detecting early signs of opportunities and threats that may influence its current and future plans. Q4. List the environmental factors affecting external environment.

Ans. Climate, technology, social, economy, ecological, political, legal, competition, media and fashion.

Q5. What is the meaning of trend spotting?

Ans. It is an immediate identification of new trends like fashions, activities, designs, assumptions, etc. Q6. What is required to convert an idea into opportunity?

Ans. Sensing entrepreneurial opportunities is only a process of converting an idea into an opportunity and then into an enterprise. Q7. What is Idea Generation?

Ans. The process of creating, developing, and communicating ideas which are in an abstract, concrete, or visual form. It includes the process of constructing through the idea, innovating the concept, developing the process, and bringing the concept to reality. B. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS-I

Q1. What is the purpose to scan the environment?

Ans. The main purpose of environmental scanning is to know the rapid changes occurring in the environment by which organizations gather information on changing conditions and incorporate those observations into a process where necessary changes can be made. Q2. What are the factors involved in sensing opportunities?

Ans. The most important factors involved in the process are: (i) Ability to perceive and preserve basic ideas which could be used commercially, (ii) Ability to harness different sources of information, (iii) Vision and creativity. Q3. Draw the enterprise process diagram.

Ans. Q4. What is PESTEL model? Explain it.

Ans. “PESTEL model involves the collection and portrayal of information about external factors which have, or may have, an impact on business.” It is an analysis of the political, economic, social and technological factors in the external environment of an organization, which can affect its activities and performance.

C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS-II

Q1. Enlist the various sources which lead to the emergence of basic ideas. Or Explain any three sources which lead to the emergence of basic ideas.[CBSE Sample Paper 2016]

Ans. The various sources which lead to the emergence of basic ideas.

(i) Problems: When a problem exists, an idea leads to a solution to resolve that problem, emerges as a business opportunity.

(ii) Change: A change in social, legal, technological aspects etc. leads to new opportunities to start a business.

(iii) Inventions: New products or services leads to new business opportunities.

(iv) Competition: Competition often results in emergence of new and better ideas that result in new business opportunities.

(v) Innovation: Creating new things of value as well as new and creative processes that add value to the existing products or services. For example, computers to tablets. Q2. Write the meaning of product identification in terms of business opportunity.

Ans. So the first step is to obtain a concept of the product or service suggested bone idea. We should also see whether this product is already available in the market or not. If it is, then we should identify the reason for introducing the same product or service in the market. For example, innovating a new pen drive especially for teachers which will have a built in antivirus and which can be worn like a watch. So, it minimises the problem of losing the pen drive. Q3. What are the factors an entrepreneur has to keep in mind while assessing the market? Or Give the details of market assessment.

Ans. 

(i) Demand: The demand assessment will be based on the size of market being targeted and also involve a study of the groups of consumers, their preferences, tastes, etc.

(ii) Supply and nature of competition: It is a study supply position what is meant is the complete picture of quantities of the product made available in the market by all the existing players including future supplies.

(iii) Cost and price of product: To determine what will be the actual cost price and preferable selling price. This will influence the delivery mechanism of the identified product or service.

(iv) Project innovation and change:Market assessment will require a study of prevailing innovations and changes being carried out by existing entrepreneurs using technological advancements in the field. Q4. What are the various ways in which an entrepreneur spot trends?

Ans. 

(i) Read trends: (a) Entrepreneurs regularly read the leading publications and websites affecting their business. (b) Publications include industry publications, trade association sites, major newspapers, key business magazines, thought leaders and influential bloggers.

(c) They scan information from a wide variety of sources : From international news on down to niche bloggers focused on specific aspects of their industry. Obviously, there is a sunami of information available. They use tech-tools like RSS feeds, e-mail newsletters or websites and forums to keep on top out of all and get the information they want. They understand quickly which sources are valuable and which should be avoided.

(ii) Talk trends: (a) Talking to people is an equally important trend-spotting tactic. They get involved in specific industry’s trade association and attending events both online and offline.

(b) From social networking tools like social network websites and forums.

(c )They even start or join groups on the networks and see what people are buzzing about the latest trends to customers regarding what customers thinking, buying, doing, etc. what customers are saying about the business, but what they’re saying about the competitor’s business.

(iii) Watch trends: (a) Watching and observing the customers in the market place. (b) If the customers are teenagers, in the local mall. (c) If they are business class people, it might be restaurant or office park restaurant center.

(d) The entrepreneur spends some time simply watching and observing, what people are eating, doing, wearing, using.

(iv) Think trends: (a) As an entrepreneur begins gathering all these information regularly, they will start to develop a “trend-spotter mind.”

(b) They collect from what they read, heard and observed, and they start to making connections and observations that will lead to business-boosting insights. D. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. “An opportunity may be derived from the needs and problems of the society.” Comment.

Ans. “An opportunity may be derived from the needs and problems of the society”. Yes, it is a correct statement.

An entrepreneur is one who perceive opportunities, synthesize the available information and analyse emerging patterns that escape the attention of other people. It is the first step of an entrepreneur to grab the opportunity and setup a business enterprise to offer the solution of various problems and needs that exist.

This involves awareness about the surrounding environment, determining and evaluating the needs of people, problems faced by the people in their day-to-day life related with any type of goods or services, etc.

A rational entrepreneur with a vision senses the opportunities present in the environment and finds creative solution to the problems coming in between him and the success through analysis and observation.

Entrepreneurs see and craft opportunities that other people miss, even though the opportunity manifests themselves. He uses his sharpened skills of observation, analysis and synthesis to identify an opening.

For example:

(i) Detergent Nirma captured the market by introducing a low priced detergent. Here the entrepreneur sensed the need of low priced product in the society.

(ii) With the increase in number of murders and other crimes taking place in big cities entrepreneurs can tap the niche of households for installing security systems like alarms, CCTVs, cameras and other safety gadgets, etc. Q2. “Sensitivity to environmental factors is essential for an entrepreneur.” In light of above statement explain the importance of environment scanning.

Ans. 

Importance of Environment: Sensitivity to environmental factors is crucial for an entrepreneur. If a company is able to adapt to its environment, it would succeed in the long run. For example, Sony is failing to understand the changing trends in mobile phones and therefore losing its market share.

The benefits of understanding the relevant environment of business are:

(i) Identification of opportunities to get first mover advantage: An entrepreneur must be keen and alert and must be aware of all the changes in the external environment, so that he can identify opportunities and find strategies to capitalise on the opportunities at the earliest.

For example : Volvo, the Swedish brand, has 74% share in the luxury bus segment as it had entered India earlier.

(ii) Formulation of strategies and policies: An entrepreneur must be capable of formulation of strategies and policies which is really going to help in identifying threats and opportunities in the market.

(iii) Tapping useful resources: If an entrepreneur has complete and a thorough knowledge of the external environment, then easily he can tap raw materials, technology and even financial resources from the market at economical prices, at the right time.

(iv) Better performance: Proper understanding of the various elements of the external environment is necessary to take timely action to deal with threats and avail opportunities for the purpose of improvement in the performance of the firm.

(v) Sensitisation of entrepreneurs to cope up with rapid changes: A keen watch on the trends in the environment would help sensitise the entrepreneur to changing technology, competition, government policies and changing needs and taste of the customers. For example, trends in clothing, outdoor celebration of family events. Showing more interest in fast food, changing fitness trend.

(vi) Image building: If a company is sensitive to the external environment, it will come out with new products and services to meet the requirements of the customers. This would build the image or reputation of the firm in the eyes of the general public.

For example: Call-radio taxis with additional features like GPS systems, online booking, etc. Q3. Entrepreneurship does not emerge and grow spontaneously. Rather it is dependent upon several various environmental factors. Explain them.

Ans. Yes,itiscorrecttosaythat“Entrepreneurship does not emerge and grow spontaneously.” It is dependent upon several factors , like economic, social, political, legal and other factors.

The basic PESTEL analysis includes four factors: Political factors are basically to what degree the government intervenes in the economy. Various political factors include areas are:

(i) Taxation Policy, Trade Regulations, Tariffs policy, Policy regarding export and import.

(ii) Government Affairs: Government in power, attitude of government towards different groups of the societies, Government Stability, Policy changes implemented by changed government, Labour laws, Unemployment policy.

(iii) Goods and services which the government wants to produce and how much quantity to be produced.

(iv) It also influences the health, education, and infrastructure of a nation.

Economic factors:

(i) Gross domestic product, Income level at national level and per capita income, economic growth.

(ii) Profit earning rate, interest rate, exchange rate, inflation rate, fiscal and monetary policy of the government. For example, interest rates will affect the cost of debt and, potentially, the cost of equity, e.g. when interest rates increase the cost of debt increases, which increases the firms cost of capital to what extent a business grows and expands.

(iii) Exchange rates affect the costs of exporting goods and the supply and price of imported goods in an economy.

(iv) It includes the close study of important variables like supply and demand. Details of consumer trends, economic preference, costing, discounting, etc. are all economic decisions.

(v) Economic details will also help the entrepreneur in determining the size of the project and the reasons of finance and have major impacts on how businesses operate and make decisions.

Social factors:

(i) Social factors include the cultural aspects and include health conscious¬ness, population growth rate, age distribution, career attitudes and emphasis on safety.

(ii) Trends in social factors affect the demand for a company’s products and how that company operates.

(iii) For example, an aging population may imply a smaller and less-willing workforce (thus increasing the cost of labour).

(iv) Furthermore, companies may change various management strategies to adapt to these social trends (such as recruiting older workers).

Technological factors:

(i) An entrepreneur must be aware of importance of technological development for the firm and how it is to be resolved.

(ii) He should show complete knowledge of technology required to produce the product?

(iii) Availability of training at a local area or can outsource it.

(iv) What would be the position of supply of plant and machinery for such a technology?

(v) It also includes technological aspects such as resources and development activity, automation, technology incentives and the rate of technological change.

(vi) Influence various decision for better and latest technology, costs, quality, and lead to innovation.

Environmental factors :

(i) It includes ecological and environmental aspects such as weather, climate, and climate change, which may especially affect industries such as tourism, farming, and insurance.

(ii) Growing awareness of the potential impacts of climate change is affecting how companies operate and the products they offer, both creating new markets and diminishing or destroying existing ones.

Legal factors: (i) It includes discrimination law, consumer law, antitrust law, employment law, and health and safety law.

(ii) These factors can affect how a company operates, its costs, and the demand for its products. Q4. Explain creative process.

Ans. Creativity means bring something new into existence. Creativity is the ability. Creativity is a process leads to evolution of idea. Those ideas are further enhanced and developed by the entrepreneurs. It consists of five stages:

Idea Germination: (i) It is the first stage or seeding stage of new idea.

(ii) In this stage an entrepreneur recognises that an opportunity exists in an environment.

(iii) The first stage takes a shape only when an entrepreneur shows an interest and curiosity according to which opportunity is explored and exploited to its best potential.

(iv) Creative idea germinates on the basis of needs and problems of people and according to the area of study.

For example, Mansukhbhai Prajapati, who thought of a non-stick pan made from clay and a clay refrigerator that works without electricity. He wanted to explore the idea of making the refrigerator which will be eco-friendly. He conceived this idea in 2001, but the final product could take shape only in 2004.

Preparation: (i) More interest and curiosity, the need is adjudged by the entrepreneur and he starts looking for the answer to implement the idea.

(ii) Again market research is to be conducted, if the idea is to launch a new product or service.

(iii) Market research helps an entrepreneur to foresee the future of the product. For example, in the aforesaid story of Mansukhbhai since his wife could not afford to buy a non-stick TAYA (pan). Mansukhbhai’s brain stormed immediately that, not only his wife but other housewives are also in need of a nonstick-TAVA. And he decided to go ahead.

Incubation:

(i) This is the subconscious assimilation of information.

(ii) It is also considered as the transition period (Change of one stage to another stage).

(iii) The entrepreneur starts thinking about the idea, imaginating and thinking about implementation in his sub-conscious mind.

For example, Manshukhbhai went through the process of studying the pros and cons of manufacturing the product before he had launched it.

Illumination: In this period of illumination the idea re-surfaces in realistic way and entrepreneur comes out with viable plan to give practical shape by collecting raw-material, arranging funds, policy-making for the implementation of idea.

In this case of Mansukhbhai it was important to have enough of funds in hand to buy and keep in store enough raw-material.

Verification: Also called the validation or testing stage. This is where the idea is verified to prove that it has value. This is the most difficult phase of creativity as obstacles begin to appear. This is the developing stage in which knowledge is developed into application. Q5. What is Innovation and explain the elements of innovation process?

Ans. Innovation: It is the process of entrepreneurship which involves the translation of a useful idea into an application which has commercial value. It takes persistent effort on work out analytically on the details of the enterprise or service, to develop marketing strategies, to organize finances and strategize operations.

(i) Analytical Planning: Identifying the important features, its design and the resources required for the selected product or services.

(ii) Resource Organization: Arranging and obtaining the required resources, materials, technology, human or capital resources.

(iii) Implementation: Utilization of the resources in order to accomplish the plans and delivering results and objectives. Or converting the input into output.

(iv)Commercial Application: The provision of value to customers, reward employees, and satisfy the stake holders.

E.VERY LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. Elaborate the factors involved in sensing opportunities.

Ans. To sense an entrepreneurial opportunity, an entrepreneur employs his sharpened skills of observation, analysis and synthesis to identify an opening.

The most important factors involved in the process are: (i) Ability to perceive and preserve basic ideas which could be used commercially. (ii) Ability to harness different sources of information. (iii) Vision and creativity.

(i) Ability to perceive and preserve basic ideas: Basic ideas emerge from various sources. These ideas can be categorized as follows:

(ii) Ability to harness different sources of knowledge and information: The information gathered from different sources has to be analyzed and utilized for identification of the right opportunity. Various sources like magazines, journals, books, seminars, trade shows, family members, customers, friends, etc. help in getting information that results in evolution of basic ideas. Bring together various sources of information and knowledge, and analyze it to the best possible extent. The analysis helps in the identification of the right opportunity to start a new business.

(iii) Vision and Creativity: Creativity is the most striking behavioural characteristics of an entrepreneur. He should be able to develop an idea through a process of creativity and build something of value to solve a generated problem. Once the solution is identified their vision to convert the solution into business opportunity help them to move forward, overcoming all the obstacles. They constantly: (a)overcome the adversity (b) are able to exercise control over the business (c) are capable of making significant difference.

Vision and Creativity: e.g. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology to common man. Introducing WhatsApp free messaging, text, pictures. Q2. Examine the sources from where business ideas emerge.

Ans. Basic ideas emerge from various sources. These ideas can be categorized as follows:

Q3. Discuss the steps involved in the investigation of ideas. Or Explain the steps involved in idea and opportunity assessment.

Ans. 

(i) Product Identification: (a) To select a product or services which is in demand and an entrepreneur can sell easily. (b) To check with the product whether it is available in the market or not. (c) If it is, then he should identify the reason for introducing the same product or service in the market. (d) Take further step to further improvisation of the product. For example, entrepreneur selected pen drive but it is already available in the market but he improvised V the same by innovating a new pen drive especially for teachers which will have a built in anti-virus and which can be worn like a watch so it minimises the problem of losing the pen drive.

(ii) Application and Use: (a) Ideas should be examined for their real life use and application. (b) If it already exists in the market then finding out its present use, improvisation of the product, modifying it for better use. (c) For example, the new pen drive especially for teachers which will have a built in antivirus and which can be worn like a watch. This example of pen drive and watch is an already existing product produced by many companies but according to new trend an entrepreneur has innovated a new type of pen drive especially for teachers which will have a inbuilt antivirus which shows improvisation and modifying a product for a better use.

(iii) Level of Operation: (a) This is a crucial test for product/ service identification. (b) Depending on the nature of the enterprise, the production is undertaken, the enterprise can be cottage industry, small scale, medium scale or large scale industry. (c) Quantity of production is considered. (d)Requirement of labour, technical experts, skilled labour, etc. all are to be considered. (iv) Cost: (а) An entrepreneur first finds out the cost price of the product and then ultimately decides the sale price. (b) Every entrepreneur must answer the following questions before deciding the selling price of the product:

What is the per unit cost of the product at particular level of operation?

Whether this cost is comparable with that of other competitive products?

For example, a large manufacturing unit would be expected to have a lower cost per unit of output than a smaller unit, all other factors being equal, while a company with many facilities should have a cost advantage over a competitor with fewer.

(v) Competition: (а) The extent, intensity and trends in competition are to be analysed. This has direct impact on production capacity and supply. (b) Any product or service will face market competition at some stage. (c) An entrepreneur should be assessed through a study of the trends in demand and supply.

(vi) Technical Complexity: 

What type of technology is required to produce the product? Whether training and application of such technology will be locally available or will it have to be supported from other places? What would be the position of supply of plant and machinery for such a technology? These are important issues that have to be resolved.

(vii) Annual turnover and profit margin: (a) An entrepreneur has to examine the basis of expected annual turnover. It refers the total sales of the year. (b) This will also indicate the market share or profit margin of the product or service. (c) Once the entrepreneur has assessed the opportunities on these basis he should go ahead and assess the market also. Q4. What do you understand by Trend Spotting? What are the ways by which entrepreneurs can spot trends?

Ans. Trend spotting refers to identification of new trends which helps an entrepreneur to understand the market and produce goods or provide services in sync with the market trends. (i) Read trends: (a) Entrepreneurs regularly read the leading publications and websites affecting their business. (b) Publications include industry publications, trade association sites, major newspapers, key business magazines, thought leaders and influential bloggers. (c) They scan information from a wide variety of sources – from international news on down to niche bloggers focused on specific aspects of their industry. Obviously, there’s a tsunami of information available. They use tech-tools like RSS feeds, e-mail, newsletters or websites and forums to keep on top out of all and get the information they want. They understand quickly which sources are valuable and which should be avoided.

(ii) Talk trends: (a) Talking to people is an equally important trend-spotting tactic. They get involved in specific industry’s trade association and attending events both online and offline. (b) From social networking tools like social network websites and forums. (c) They even start or join groups on the networks and see what people are buzzing about the latest trends. To customers regarding what customers thinking, buying, doing, etc. What customers are saying about the business, but what they’re saying about the competitor’s business.

(iii) Watch trends: (а) Watching and observing the customers in the market place. (b) If the customers are teenagers, in the local mall. (c) If they are business class people, it might be restaurant or office park restaurant center. (d) The entrepreneur spends some time simply watching and observing what people are eating, doing, wearing, using.

(iv) Think trends: (а) As an entrepreneur begins gathering all these information regularly, they will start to develop a “trend-spotter mind.” (b) They collect from what they read, heard and observed, and they start to making connections and observations that will lead to business-boosting insights. Q5. Explain in detail Idea Fields.

Ans. Idea fields are well defined frames of reference that guide the generation of ideas. Various idea fields are examined below: (i) Natural resources: The idea for a product or service can be derived from the available natural resources like (a) Agricultural (b) Breeding and Caring of animals (animal husbandry) (c) Cultivation or Horticulture (d) Human (e) Mineral or Soil (f) Solar (g) Tidal (h) Wind

Entirely new products or service related ideas can be generated from these resources or ideas to supplement these natural resources can be derived.

(ii) Current products or services: It requires careful analysis of the existing products or services and put the expertise and imagination to improve the current products or services. The demand for a product or service or the need to tackle the competition will also help in origination of a new idea. As the value addition to the existing product or service is as good as inventing a new product, the existing products or services also act as a good source of new ideas.

(iii) Demand or Market: Conducting a research in the market to procure the information relation to the gap between demand and supply, changing consumer preferences, trends, technology helps in the generation of new ideas for products or services. The data gathered is analyzed using business intelligence and helps as a good sources of new ideas.

In addition to this, the demand prevailing in the market will also help in generation of new ideas. The analysis of the products and services offered by the competitors will also act as a valuable source for generating a new idea.

(iv) Trade: As the globalization has expanded the scope of business to the entire world, a careful analyis of the prevailing trades and methods will act as a good source of idea generation. Earlier the trading was limited to local distribution network or grocery stores. However the trade has expanded from the local market to import and export of goods. The most recent revolution in the trade is e-commerce and has broadened the scope of trading globally and is not time bound. Thus it became a valuable, most effective, less risk prone area for originating new ideas.

(v) Service sector: As the society is becoming more educated and as there is tremendous growth in information and technology, it opened up new challenges and opportunities and became a great source for generation of new ideas in various entrepreneurial sectors. Few of the sources are in the (a) Service of home appliances (b) Automobile servicing (c) Fast food (d) Cool drink outlets (e)Ice cream outlets (f) Tourism (g) Personal grooming (h) Career counseling (i) Emigration services

(vi) Creativity: Creativity being one of the most important competency of an entrepreneur plays a vital role in getting an idea for a new product or service or improving an existing product or service. Most often it is noticed that the need to solve a problem triggers creativity to come up with new ideas. It helps in (a) Adding additional value to an existing product or service (b) Innovate a new product or service (c) Innovate a new methodology or material to produce a product (d) Expand the demand and market for the current product or service (e) Expand the usability of an existing product or service F. HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS

Q1. Aditi started her boutique business near an industrial area and she was not getting clients as she had expected. What are the factors which have been ignored before starting the boutique? Suggest the various factors that she has to look into before venturing into business.

Ans. Aditi started her boutique business near an industrial area and she was not getting clients as she had expected because selection of a product or service will depend upon many factors. They are: (i) Demand (ii) Supply and Nature of Competition (iii) Cost and Price of Product (iv) Project Innovation and Change Here, the main factor which had been ignored before starting the boutique is DEMAND of the product. It is to be suggested to Aditi that while assessing the market, an entrepreneur has to prepare details on the following lines:

(i) Demandl: (a) The demand assessment will be based on the size of market being targeted. (b) The different types of markets are local markets, market at state level or national/international market. (c) It involves a detailed study of the target groups of consumers, their preferences, tastes and other related variables.

(ii) Supply and nature of competition: (a) Supply position refers to the complete picture of quantities of the product made available in the market by all the existing players. (b) It should take into account future supplies from possible entrants in the field.

(iii) Cost and price of product: (a) It is important to determine the cost of the product and its comparison with available products in the market. (b) Cost variable of competitors in terms of transportation delays, wastage, storage etc., have to be studied to spot cost advantage. This will influence the delivery mechanism of the identified product or service.

(iv) Project innovation and change: 

(a) Market assessment will require a study of prevailing innovations and changes being carried out by existing entrepreneurs.

(b) Technological advancements in the field have to be analysed because they may change the quality and influence the cost and price ultimately. Q2. Mr. Raghav had always wanted to manufacture an innovative, energy efficient fan. He was looking into various options and has finally narrowed it down to one option. He understands that the entire idea would have to follow a process. Identify and explain the process.

Ans. The process is idea and opportunity assessment. (i) Product identification: An idea should lead the entrepreneur to a definite product/service which he can sell. So the first step is to obtain a concept of the product or service suggested by one idea. We should also see whether this product is already available in the market or not. If it is, then we should identify the reason for introducing the same product or service in the market. For example, innovating a new pen drive especially for teachers which will have a built in antivirus and which can be worn like a watch so it minimises the problem of losing the pen drive.

(ii) Application and use: Ideas should be examined for their real life use and application. If it already exists in the market we will have to find out its present use, then we may think of modifying it for better use. In the above mentioned example, we can clearly see that even though there are lot of companies manufacturing pen drives, the latest will be in consonance with the upcoming trends.

(iii) Level of operation: This is a crucial test for product/service identification. Depending on the use of the product/ service the entrepreneur will produce it in a cottage industry or a small scale industry or a large scale industry.

(iv) Cost: What is the per unit cost of the product at particular level of operation? Whether this cost is comparable with that of other competitive products? These are some of the questions that have to be answered. This will ultimately decide the sale price.

(v) Competition: Any product or service will face market competition at some stage. So market competition should be assessed through a study of the trends in demand and supply.

(vi) Technical complexity: What type of technology is required to produce the product? Whether training and application of such technology will be locally available or will it have to be supported from other places? What would be the position of supply of plant and machinery for such a technology? These are important issues that have to be resolved.

(vii) Annual turnover and profit margin: Ideas should also have to be examined on the basis of expected annual turnover. This will also indicate the market share of the product or service. Once the entrepreneur has assessed the opportunities on these basis he should go ahead and assess the market also. Q3. These are convenient frames of reference for streamlining the process of generation of ideas. Identify them and explain any three briefly.

Ans.

(i) Natural resources: Ideas can be generated based on natural resources. A product/service may be desired from forest resources, agriculture, horticulture, mineral marine, or aqua mineral, animal husbandry, wind, sun and human resources. A further exercise with a field may generate many useful products ideas. For example:

If we are getting ideas in the field of forest resources, we think wood- based product, bio-fertilizers, etc. Solar energy is used for many purpose like cooking, electricity consumption and water heater.

(ii) Existing Products/Services: Existing products and services can general number of ideas to improvise the product, to come up with cheaper substitution or sometimes by reducing the price of the product.

There is a constant and consistent effort on the part of all entrepreneurs to improve the product/services already existing in the market. This can be improved by using old techniques with more care or using newly developed technology. So, thinking about existing product/ services he can generate number of ideas to improve them.

For example: (a) Thinking of introducing Laser Printer in place of Dot Matrix Printers. (b) In an area, where automobiles are being made, there is a scope of starting a small unit of spare parts.

(iii) Service Sector Ideas: (a) Service sector field is the most growing field these days all over the world. It emerges knowledge to societies doing advance research in information technology.

(b) An entrepreneur identifies new opportunities and by understanding it he links services to develop various business activities.

(c) Various service base units in an enterprise are transport, security, catering, recruitment, training and communication, health care centres.

(d) It serves the purpose of helping enterprise to satisfy their day-to-day needs like bill collection, water tank cleaning, travel arrangement, etc.

(e) For example: Cyber cafe (internet facilities), ATM Facilities and other banking services, Metro trains, etc. In Amongst the most interesting ones in the food sector are the following:

Indian fast food chains: McDonald’s and Pizza Hut can be the role models in terms of efficiency of service, hygiene, quality, and overall value.

Family dinner: Nirula’s offering Indian style “Plated or Combo” meals with table service and overall good price-value equation.

Ice-cream and Juice/Beverage Parlours, (Indian “desserts” and “snack food” chains).

Lastly, in the genre of food and food service chains, one of the biggest opportunities remains in starting national or at least regional chains offering Indian mithai, namkeen/ farsaans, and snack-foods such as pakodas and samosas. Haldiram’s success should certainly put any doubt on this opportunity to rest.

(iv) Market driven or demand driven ideas: (a) For an entrepreneur market is the only place where he can carry out or generate maximum ideas. Such a study yields valuable data about trends of supply, demand and consumer taste and preferences.

(b) Market research is any organized effort to gather information about target markets or customers as it is one of the important component of business strategy.

(c) Market research is a key factor to maintain competitiveness over competitors and it provides important information to identify and analyze the market need, market size and competition.

(d) It also includes social and opinion research by systematic gathering and interpretation of information about individuals or organizations using statistical and analytical methods and techniques of the applied social sciences to gain insight or support decision-making.

(e) Idea generation develops from knowledge of the consumer, the market, the technology and the general environment, and it creates newness in product, production and marketing. It systematically develops product ideas to satisfy the aim of the project and therefore the business strategy.

(v) Trading related ideas: (a) Trade in simple terms is buying goods and services and selling them to consumers at a profit. One big advantage that trading has over other types of businesses is that it is easier to launch and less risky.

(b) Trading these days is not limited to ordinary grocer or distributor outlets. With increasing consumerism, the scope and nature of trade has enlarged; local trade, import and export, e-commerce are all making trading a very wide area of enterprise. It is however, necessary for a prospective trader to be aware of the trends in an economy.

(c) With the opening of the market to International Companies, large size departmental stores, chain shops and umbrella markets have become omnipresent; competition has become intense and to survive in the market new entrants will have to acquire skills, competencies and knowledge required to launch, manage and expand business opportunities. Q4. Varun decided to start his own venture and was looking into various ideas. Explain to him various sources from where he can get some good business ideas.

Ans. Varun decided to start his own venture and was looking into various ideas. The process of generation of ideas can be streamlined by developing an awareness for different idea fields. This will help the Varun in enlarging the scope of thinking, at the same time structuring the ideas according to convenient frames of reference. By following different ways for generating ideas Varun collects a number of good business ideas. G. EVALUATION AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY QUESTIONS

Q1. ‘Environmental factors exert influence upon each other and do not operate in isolation’. Discuss.

Ans. Yes, it is true. All environmental factors are interrelated and exert the influence upon each other. Political Factor: Political factor is the outcome of a combination of various ideologies advocated by different political parties. The rules and regulations and the laws that monitor and regulate the market forces are framed and promulgated by the Government.

The policies of the Government in power have to be reckoned and implemented: (i) for taking a business decision, (ii) growth of trade industry and commerce, (iii) aims at improving infrastructural facilities which encourage new business ventures, (iv) relaxation of import-export policies, Example: Taxation Policy, Trade regulations, Governmental stability, Unemployment Policy, etc.

Socio-cultural Factor: (i) Business is born and develops in society and in it various social factors exist. (ii) It involves a close study of the life styles, beliefs, customs, conventions, practices, etc. Expectations of individuals their preferences on the basis of their family background, age group and education will also form a part of this study. (iii) This is a crucial process for the simple reason that the product or service that the entrepreneur envisages will have to satisfy the need of these individuals.

Example: An entrepreneur wants to open a showroom of branded foot wears.

Economic Factor: It includes the close study of important variables like supply and demand. Details of consumer trends, economic preference, costing, discounting etc. are all economic decisions. Inflation rate, growth in spending power, economic details will also help the entrepreneur in determining the size of the project and the reasons of finance.

(i) Legal: Legal scanning of the environment demands analyzing the legal requirements in the establishment of a project. Managing of the project and also in getting assistance from different sources, e.g. welfare of employees, safety, simple contracts entered into with suppliers of raw materials financer’s, health and safety.

(ii) Product Safety: Advertising regulations, product labeling, labour laws etc., real estate owners., etc. require legal assistance.

Technical Factor: It is influenced by government spending on research, new discoveries and development, Internet, E-commerce, Social Media, Electronic Media, Research and Development, Rate of technological change government and industry focus employment law.

Value points: (i) Truthfulness (ii) Universal (iii) Faithful justice (iv) Discipline (v) Helpfulness (vi)Readiness to cooperate. Q2. “If you don’t adapt, you don’t endure”. Evaluate the validity of the statement.

Ans. Yes, it is correct. The business environment is increasingly becoming uncertain and complex due to political realignments, economic crises, terrorism threats, technological innovations and natural disasters.

In rapidly changing environments, one rule of thumb applies: If you don’t adapt, you don’t endure. It is the core idea behind environmental scanning, which refers to the means by which organizations gather information on changing conditions and incorporate those observations into a process where necessary changes are made.

The right information, combined with the right adaptations, can determine an organization’s future viability. Environmental scanning can help you identify the trends that are most likely to directly affect the organisation and product. Then an entrepreneur can craft a strategy that will help him take advantage of various changes occurring and get through the success and at the same time if he is not aware of what the environment surrounding his business he is sure to fail.

(i) E.g., HMT watches lost its market to Titan; (ii) Sony failing to understand the changing trends in mobile phones and therefore losing it’s market share.

Value Points: (i) Spirit of Enquiry (ii) Services to others (iii) Initiative (iv) Self-existent (v) Awareness of responsibility of citizenship (vi) Social service (vii) Endurance (viii) Tolerance (ix) To protect national property. H.APPLICATION-BASED QUESTION

Q1. Vinay was a young entrepreneur who wanted to start a new business with an initial investment of 25 lakhs. He was not sure of what business he has to undertake. His friend suggested seeking the help of professionals who would spot the latest trends in the market and give him an idea, but Vinay decided to do it by himself. Suggest the various ways by which he can do it.

Ans. Vinay is a young entrepreneur and wanted to start a new business with some initial investment, accordingly he can follow different sources of business idea ways for generating ideas.

Sources of business ideas: (i) Vinay must examine his own skill set for business ideas (ii) Keep up with current events and be ready to take advantage of business opportunities (iii) Invent a new product or service (iv) Add value to an existing product (v) Investigate others markets (vi) Improve an existing product or service (vii) Get on the band wagon.

I. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. What is the basic test for a successful entrepreneur?

Ans. The basic test of a successful entrepreneur is the identification of business opportunity in the environment and initiating steps to produce and sell goods and services to make use of the opportunity. Q2. How Peter F. Drucker defined the word entrepreneur?

Ans. Peter F. Drucker defined entrepreneur as one who has always searches for an opportunity. Q3. What do you understand by the word ‘Scan’?

Ans. The word ‘scan’ – means to examine closely especially in search of something. Q4. How scanning of environment is beneficial to an entrepreneurs?

Ans. Scanning of environment is always beneficial to an entrepreneur to know the present situation in the market, the various changes occurring in the economy as new trends, issues and expectations of people due to changes in the environment. Q5. Who said, “Entrepreneur as one who always searches for an opportunity”.

Ans. Peter F. Druker. Q6. Define Entrepreneurship Environment.

Ans. Entrepreneurship environment refers to the various forces within which various small, medium and large enterprises operate. These factors exert influence upon each other and do not operate in isolation. Q7. Name two levels of external environment.

Ans. The two levels of external environment: (a) Micro environment (b) Macro environment Q8. State the components of micro environment.

Ans.

Q9. State the components of macro environment.

Ans.

Q10. What do you mean by product line?

Ans. It refers to a series of different products which form a group, all made by the same company. Or it is a set of sequential operations established in a factory whereby materials are put through a refining process to produce an end-product that is suitable for onward consumption; or components are assembled to make a finished article. Q11. What is problem identification?

Ans.A problem is a road block in a situation, something that sets up a conflict and forces you to find a solution. When an entrepreneur identifies such a road block he is said to have identified the problem. Q12. How an entrepreneur is different from others?

Ans. The entrepreneurs perceive opportunities, synthesize the available information and analyse emerging patterns that escape the attention of other people. They are people with vision, capable of persuading others such as customers, partners, employees and suppliers to see the opportunity, share and support it. Q13. From where does a business opportunity or ideas comes from? Give one example.

Ans. A business idea or opportunity comes from day-to-day problems of people and an entrepreneur is the person who solves it and fulfils it by providing product or services to people. Q14. State some sources of information which helps an entrepreneur to get information that results in evolution of basic ideas.

Ans. Some sources of information are: Magazines, journals, books, seminars, trade shows, family members, customers, friends, competitors. Q15. Why an entrepreneur should be able to creatively identify an idea?

Ans. The entrepreneur should be able to creatively identify an idea so that he can easily generate a valuable solution to a problem. Q16. Once the solution is identified by an entrepreneur how it helps him?

Ans. Once the solution is identified their vision to convert the solution into business opportunity help them to move forward, overcoming all the obstacles. Q17. What is the key component of the talents and abilities needed for an entrepreneur.

Ans. Creativity is an important key component of the talents and abilities needed for an entrepreneur. Q18. What are born as a result of problem solving?

Ans. Creative products and services are born as results of problem solving. Q19. A prospective entrepreneur find opportunity?

Ans. For a prospective entrepreneur an opportunity may be derived from the needs and problems of the society. Q20. Give one advantage that trading has over other types of businesses.

Ans. One big advantage that trading has over other types of businesses is that it is easier to launch and less risky. Q21. State few cost variable of competitors which have to be studied to spot cost advantage.

Ans. Cost variable of competitors in terms of transportation delays, wastage, storage, etc., have to be studied to spot cost advantage. Q22. How trend spotting will helps an entrepreneur?

Ans. Trend spotting will helps the entrepreneur to understand the market and produce goods or provide services in collaborate and integrate with the market trends, changing habits, consumers taste and preferences, etc. Q23. Who are called Professional trend-spotters?

Ans. Professional trend-spotters are some entrepreneurs who spot the trends themselves and charge big money for reports and industry trend updates. Q24. Who is a trend spotter?

Ans. A trend spotter refers to someone who specializes in identifying new market trends and make the changes possible. He is a keen observer, alert and notices on new fashions, changing habits, activities in the market. He can be forecaster, business leader, politician, stock analysist, futurist who identify trends and talk about the future to transmit a story into value for others. In short, the role of a trend spotter is to tell persuasive stories about the present and the future to influence others. Q25. “A trend is a description of a change taking place in the long term or short term”. Comment. Or What do you understand by the term trend?

Ans. Atrend can be short term manifestations, e.g. a fashion, design, assumption. A trend can also be a long term mega trends, which typically has a minimum of 30-50 years relevance, e.g. globalization, individualization, digitalization. Q26. Give one example of each “Trends can be invisible and visible”.

Ans. Trends can be visible e.g. change in the gender roles; Trends can be visible, e.g. Gadgets Q27. Why creativity is important to entreprneurs?

Ans. Creativity is important to entrepreneurs because it is the first stage in the process of innovation, providing the stimulus for opportunity discovery and new venture creation. Q28. When is the illumination period starts for an entrepreneur?

Ans. Illumination starts when an entrepreneur re-surfaces the idea in realistic way and entrepreneur comes out with viable plan to give practical shape and implement an idea. Q29. What should an entrepreneur do, “if the opportunity looks promising”?

Ans. When the opportunity looks promising, an entrepreneur should look into the environmental factors before choosing the best opportunity. Q30. Kartik wants to start a new ready made garments shop in his colony. He knows that it is the best opportunity for him and it is going to give him high rate of promising returns. How do you agree with Kartik that he has selected a right opportunity?

Ans. Kartik should look into various factors before deciding on the opportunity. Even if the opportunity looks promising, he must took into the environmental factors (PESTEL) before choosing the best opportunity. Q31. What do you understand by supply position?

Ans. Supply position is the complete picture of quantities of the product made available in the market by all the existing players. Q32. From what do entrepreneurs spot business opportunities?

Ans. Entrepreneurs spot business opportunities from problems and needs that exist in the environment. Q33. State two main objectives of environment study by an entrepreneur.

Ans. (i) To get familiar with environment (ii)To get .stability in the environment Q34. What develops an idea into viable and successful project?

Ans. Entrepreneurs vision and creativity develop an idea in a viable and successful business. Q35. What do you understand by market research?

Ans. Market research is a process of working on various trends in market, it gives an organized effort to gathering information about target markets or customers. Marketing research is the means by which the necessary information necessary to run a business is obtained. It is the gathering, recording, and analysis of all facts about problems relating to the transfer and sale of goods and services from producer to consumer. Q36. Give two examples of Service-sector idea fields.

Ans. Transportation, communication, banking, courier services, event management, etc. Q37. What is an opportunity?

Ans. It may be a chance to do something new. When a problem is solved by an entrepreneur in a challenging way, they find opportunities. Q38. What do you understand by created opportunities?

Ans. Opportunity lies in our surroundings. Successful entrepreneurs are always looking for opportunities to help others by providing creative solutions to their problems and needs. In business, entrepreneur always look for new ways to market our business, reach to target market and he creates opportunities by attending networking events, conferences, twitter chats, etc. for potential clients, meeting new people to refer business to or to grow our community. Q 39. Give examples of created opportunities.

Ans. Invention of radio, telephone, etc. Q 40. Name one important component of business strategy.

Ans. Market research is one of the important component of business strategy. Q 41. Give the alternative name used for verification stage.

Ans. The alternative given for verification stage is validation stage or testing stage. Q 42. Name the factor which relate to rules and regulations.

Ans. Political Factors. Q 43. Give one example showing that both economic and social factors can affect business idea together.

Ans. Selling of flowers during festive season. Here, festival is a social factor whereas demand for flowers is a economic factor. Q 44. How does market research help in generating ideas?

Ans. By market research an entrepreneur collects valuable information related to trends of demand, supply, consumers tastes and preferences and market, as it help in generation of ideas. Q 45. What is an idea?

Ans. It is a thought or collection of thoughts that generate in the mind of an individual. Q 46. Give the meaning of‘Legal Environment’.[CBSE Delhi 2015]

Ans. It covers all such areas such as taxation, employment, law monopoly, legislation and environmental protection laws. Q 47. Give the meaning of ‘Ecological Environment’. [All India 2015]

Ans. ‘Ecological Environment’ considers the ways in which the organisation can produce its goods or services with minimum environmental damage. Q 48. Since her college days Mehak, loved the thrill of adventure sports. She was an avid reader which helped her to keep track of various new adventure sports taken up all around the world. She had recently read an article on increasing trend towards ‘space tourism and adventurous holidays’. Using her personal experiences and her passion for adventure sports she decided to start a company called ‘YOLO’. For the same purpose she also decided to collect statistics to see how much of these sports were accepted in our country. Identify the ways in which she was able to spot the trend. [CBSE Sample Paper 2016]

Ans. Following are the ways by which she can able to spot the trend: (a) Entrepreneurs regularly read the leading publications and websites affecting their business. (b) Publications include industry publications, trade association sites, major newspapers, key business magazines, thought leaders and influential bloggers. (c) They scan information from a wide variety of sources – from international news on down to niche bloggers focused on specific aspects of their industry. Obviously, there’s a tsunami of information available. They use tech-tools like RSS feeds, e-mail, newsletters or websites and forums to keep on top out of all and get the information they want. They understand quickly which sources are valuable and which should be avoided. Q 49. ‘ For a viable venture to be born, a entrepreneur is required to apply his knowledge strategically to market’. Identify the requirement to be complied with by these factors for successful processing of an idea into opportunity.[CBSE Sample Paper 2016]

Ans. Strategic positioning is the positioning of an organization in the future, while taking into account the changing environment, plus the systematic realization of that positioning. Q 50. Although not mandatory, some entrepre¬neurs may file part I of entrepreneurs memorandum district Industries Centre. Why? [CBSE Sample Paper 2016]

Ans.This may be necessary for claiming certain incentives/subsidies and for certain formalities at the state level. Q 51. Balwant Singh of Bikaner thought of air- conditioned houses which do not require electricity. He wanted to explore the idea of construction of such eco-friendly houses which will remain cool in summers and warm in winters. He conceived the idea in 2010 but the final product could take shape in 2014. name the stage in ‘The Creative Process’ described in the above lines. [All India 2016]

Ans. Idea germination stage of ‘The Creative Process’ is described in the above lines. II.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 

Q1. “Sensitivity to environmental factors is crucial for an entrepreneur.” Do you agree?

Ans. Sensitivity to environmental factors is crucial for an entrepreneur. If a company is able to adapt to its environment, it would succeed in the long run. E.g., Sony failing to understand the changing trends in mobile phones and therefore losing it’s market share. Q2. Why is environment an important factor for entrepreneurship?

Ans. Environment means surroundings. Environment of a business means forces (economic, social, political technological), etc. and institution (suppliers, customers, competitors, etc.) Outside the firm with which an entrepreneur must deal to achieve its goal. Q3. Define Environment.

Ans. A term used by A. Marshall as an alternative to conjunction, to indicate the condition that makes it possible for a person to enjoy consumer’s surplus.

Q4. Enumerate two important points that an entrepreneur has to ensure before selecting an opportunity.

Ans. Before selecting an opportunity, the entrepreneur has to ensure two things: (i) There should be a good market for the product he is going to introduce/ produce. (ii) The rate of return on the investment should be maximum and attractive and can be accepted by him. Q5. Can all ideas be converted into opportunities? Give reason.

Ans. No, all ideas may not be converted, into opportunities because if an entrepreneur conceive an idea and start its business without even analysing the market and as per the needs and problems of the people and only try to satisfy his own ego, then the result/outcome of launching a business and a product will end with only few customers. Q6. How an entrepreneur perceive an opportunity? Or How is entrepreneurs different from others in perceiving opportunities?

Ans. The entrepreneurs perceive opportunities, synthesize the available information and analyse emerging patterns that escape the attention of other people. They are people with vision, capable of persuading others such as customers, partners, employees and suppliers to see the opportunity, share and support it. Q7. “Many times creative products and services are born as results of problem solving”. Give examples.

Ans. (i) Problem was over tightening of screwdriver and the solution came in the form of a self-adjusting screwdriver which prevented over tightening.

(ii) Problem was when doctors found monitoring of dosage of medicine to be administered to patients on a regular basis through traditional methods using a syringe cumbersome and a solution was a pharmaceutical firm developed a new process of implanting the required medicine in the patient for constant discharge of regulated and required dosage in to the blood stream. Q8. Why do we need to scan our environment?

Ans. In rapidly changing environments, one rule of thumb applies: If you don’t adapt, you don’t endure. That’s the core idea behind environmental scanning. Definitions of the term abound, but in essence it refers to the means by which organizations gather information on changing conditions and incorporate those observations into a process where necessary changes are made. The right information, combined with the right adaptations, can determine an organization’s future viability. If an entrepreneur is not aware of what the environment surrounding his business he is sure to fail. E.g., HMT watches lost its market to Titan. Q9. What do you mean by environment analysis?

Ans. Environment analysis is the process of monitoring the economic and non-economic environment to determine the opportunities and threats to an organisation. Q10. State the factors involved in environment analysis.

Ans. Such an analysis involves data collection, information processing and forecasting to provide a rational basis for developing goals and strategies for business survival and growth. Q11. What do you mean by scanning of environment?

Ans. Scanning of environment refers to a close examination of the environment so that it can develop an understanding between all the environmental factors like sociocultural, economic, political and other developmental factors in order to ensure that the perceived entrepreneurial opportunity is compatible with them. Q12. “Creativity is a continuous activity for the entrepreneur”. Explain.

Ans. As creativity is a continuous activity for the entrepreneurs they keep on disturbing markets and keeps on challenging large established businesses. Entrepreneurs always see new ways of doing things with little concern. Creativity in the entrepreneur is a mixture of ability to innovate, to take the idea and make it work in practice. Once the project is accomplished, the entrepreneur look for new venture. Q13. “Often times, a company will improve or change their existing products”. Give reasons.

Ans. Improvisation or change in the existing product can: (i) Make a substantial difference in the success of the company, (ii) Take a firm/company as a whole new direction by increasing sales. Q14. State any two pros to changing or improving your existing product line by an entrepreneur.

Ans. (i) keep up with the competition (ii) increase sales Q15. Mention any two important variables, which are considered under economic factors.

Ans. The economic environment includes interest rates, inflation, business cycles, etc. Q16. What do you mean by market driven idea or demand driven ideas?

Ans. If the idea is generated through the market research. Such studies gives an entrepreneur information about trends of demand, supply consumer taste and preferences. Q17. Explain the importance of creativity for an entrepreneur.

Ans. Creativity is important to entrepreneurs because it is the first stage in the process of innovation, providing the stimulus for opportunity discovery and new venture creation. Q18. How do hobbies help in generating business idea?

Ans. If any individual is master/talented in any skills (hobbies) and are ready to teach others with passion then he can easily convert his/her hobbies into business idea. For example, teaching piano lessons (any other instrumental classes),teaching cooking classes, or teaching another language, spoken English and personality classes, coaching classes, selling handmade confectioneries, bakery items, handmade handicrafts, own small restaurant, etc. Example: “Mahila Griiha Udyog Lijjat Papad” hobbies converted into business. Q19. What is the basic function of the process of environment scanning?

Ans. Spotting and generating ideas is the most important function in the process of environment scanning. Q20. What will be the level of operation for metal-based handicraft item?

Ans. Small cottage industries. Q21. What will be the level of operation for automobile spare parts?

Ans. Small scale industries. Q22. Enumerate the main objectives of problem identification.

Ans. Objectives of problem identification: (i) State the problem (ii) The target group who is facing the problem (iii) Market acceptability of the solution for the problem. Q23. What is the difference between creativity and innovation?

Ans.

Q24. How marketing research helps an entrepreneur?

Ans. It helps an entrepreneur to take decisions related to: (i) The type of product, (ii) The pricing policy, (iii) The channel of distribution, (iv) And sales promotion techniques can be made rightly with the help of marketing information at the right time.

For example, the owner of a food court (small restaurant) should find out what all services are needed to satisfy its customers. Q25. Explain the process of analysis of environment with the help of chart.

Ans. The flow chart shows that an opportunity received by the entrepreneur should be tested against important environmental parameters to arrive at a sound business choice. This interface is an evaluative process leading to a judgement. Is it a viable idea? Does it make sound business sense? If yes, the entrepreneur can proceed to the next stage of product or service identification.

Q26. State some service sector based ideas related to commercial establishment.

Ans. Following are few of the service sector based ideas related to commercial establishment: (i) Speciality tourism (ii) Indian fast food. (iii) Personal grooming salons (iv) Career counselling centres (v) Chain of repair and maintenance services for electrical/electronic products. Q27. Describe Perceiving and Sensing Opportunities.

Ans. Entrepreneurs perceive opportunities, synthesize the available information from various sources. They analyse changing and emerging patterns that other people fail to note. Entrepreneurs are people with vision, capable of persuading others to see the opportunity, share and support it.

Q28. Why does an entrepreneur need to scan environment? Explain.[CBSE Sample Paper 2016]

Ans. The right information combined with the right adaptations can determine an organization future viability. If an entrepreneur is not aware of the environment surrounding his or her business, he/she will not succeed. III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. How business environment can be classified into different categories?

Ans. Business environment can be classified into two major categories:

Q2. How an environment offers the firm/ entrepreneur numerous opportunities in changing the needs of customers and market? Give two examples.

Ans. (i) Examples: (a)When an entrepreneur notices that the people in the neighbourhood are complaining about : the lack of availability of chemist shop.

So he opens a chemical shop. As we know that entrepreneur search for an opportunity in an environment, and he converts it into a reality.

(b) The growing demand of AC has attracted many new comers (GE Godrej and LG Electronics). It is the environment that decides his choice of business venture. An entrepreneur keeps constant interaction between human factors and other developmental factors prevailing in the environment at any given time that why a study of environment factor become important for entrepreneurship. Q3. ‘The process diagram shows different stages environment means surroundings’. State the difference.

Ans. When an entrepreneur looks outside for business idea he often sees that business opportunities exist in the environment. First Stage: Spotting an opportunity by analyzing the needs and problems that exist in the environment.

(i) Busy life work schedules, frequent corporate travelling created the need for fast banking services and hence the ATM, credit card, debit card and telephone banking came in popularity.

(ii) With the increase in number of murders and other crimes taking place in big cities entrepreneurs can tap the niche of households for installing security systems like alarms, CCTVs, cameras and other safety gadgets, etc.

Second Stage: Evaluating the ideas received from different sources to find a creative solution. Third Stage: After evaluating each ideas received, selecting the best ideas to start a business venture. Fourth Stage: Setting up a project and nurturing success. Q4. Why is scanning of environment considered as interface between spotting and product identification? Support your answer with at least one example.

Ans. An entrepreneur spots an opportunity to know the demand for the product and sustainable and profitable. He has to scan an environment by which the entrepreneur first identifies the key elements and characteristics. In the absence of environment scan, an entrepreneur can bear loss in business because lack of knowledge about the customers and its demand about the product.

For example, in the form of electricity shortage or more demand of electricity, the entrepreneur spot opportunity. He, then scans the environment in order to know the need of electricity. Customers to produce a substitute of electricity would be a viable or not could only be sensed. After scanning an environment, he can move on to the identification of the product i.e. whether to produce invertors or candles can be the substitute.

Q5. State five elements of business opportunity.

Ans.A business opportunity has five elements which are as follows:

Q6. What are the five ways in which creative ideas can be generated?

Ans. Creativity is an important and key component of the talents and abilities needed for an entrepreneur. Creativity can be applied to develop new products and services. There are basically five ways as given below:

(i) Develop a new product or service. (ii) Improve an existing product or service. (iii) Find a new use for a product or service. (iv) Find a new process or resource for manufacturing a product. (v) Find new markets for existing products or services. Q7. Explain the stages of enterprises model with the help of a diagram. Or Explain Enterprise Process diagram.

Ans.

This diagram shows the following stages: (i) Opportunity spotting by analysing the needs and problems that exist in the environment. (ii) Evaluating the ideas received from different sources to find a creative solution. (iii) Identifying a product or service through innovation. (iv) Setting up a new venture and nurturing it to success. Q8. Enumerate the sources from which information for environmental scanning can be collected by an entrepreneur.

Ans. Information for environmental scanning can be collected from several sources. These include: (i) Verbal communication and time to time information from: customers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, consultants., stakeholders, etc. (ii) Complete records of companies. (iii) Government publications and information. (iv) Publications by various financial institutions and related organisations. (v) Formal studies conducted by strategic planners. Q9. How the uses of problem identification helps an entrepreneur?

Ans. (i) It helps an entrepreneur to bring out new products in the market. (ii) It helps him to understand the problems and needs of the market. (iii) Helps the entrepreneur to be creative. (iv) Increase in employment generation. (v) Increase in national income of the country. For example, Instant noodles, Ready to eat food, Easy to drink. Q10.“ Creative products and services are born as results of problem solving”. Explain with the help of an example.

Ans. Creativity is an important key component of the talents and abilities needed for an entrepreneur. Often he can apply it to develop new products and services and creative products and services are born as results of problem solving. 

For example:

(i) Someone found that while tightening screws, over tightening often resulted in damage to the fixtures. Here was a problem and the solution came in the form of a self-adjusting screwdriver which prevented over tightening.

(ii) When doctors found monitoring of dosage of medicine to be given to patients on a regular basis by using traditional methods using a syringe cumbersome, by looking into a problem of most of the patients a pharmaceutical firm developed a new process of implanting the dosage of medicine required the patient for even discharge of in time and required dosage into the blood stream. Q11. What is the difference between basic idea and post-scanning ideas?

Ans. The difference between basic idea and post-scanning ideas are as follows: Q12. State the various sources of idea generation.

Ans. Q13. What is meant by ‘Problem Identification’? State its any two objectives and also give an : example of‘Problem Identification’. [All India 2015]

Ans. Problem Identification: A problem is a roadblock in a situation, something that sets up a conflict and forces you to find a solution. Objectives of Problem Identification are: (i) It should clearly state the problem. (ii) Identify target group facing the problem. (iii) Identify the market acceptability of solution to the problem.

Example of Problem Identification: Ready to eat foods for the younger career oriented generation. Q14. The first step in the creative process is ‘Idea Germination’. State the other steps of this process. [All India 2015]

Ans. Following are the other three steps: (i) Preparation: On the basis of the idea, interest and curiosity an entrepreneur starts looking for an answer to implement the idea. (ii) Incubation: This is an sub-conscious assimilation of information. (iii) Illumination: The idea resurfaces in a realistic way in the form of a viable plan. (iv) Verification: The idea is verified to prove that it has value. Q15. Shahida, a student of School of Rug Weaving Institute, Turkey, visited her grandparents in Kashmir for the first time. Breathtaking mountain scenery, clear lakes, lush vegetation and magnificent forests mesmerized her. The valley is home to a rich biodiversity including a large number of bird species, many of which are unique to Kashmir, it is home to Yak and sheep that are taken care of by Nomads. Kashmiri lifestyle is essentially slow paced and reflects religious diversity. Kashmiris are known to enjoy their music in its various local forms, and the traditional dress of both genders is often quite colourful. Tulip, Saffron, dry fruits and artistic woodwork are its hallmark.

She also observed that the government was stable and all the tourist places were well guarded by the army.

She found it to be an ideal place to start a unit for carpet weaving and employ local people to preserve the ethnic touch. After the devastating floods a considerable population was rendered jobless, her unit would help to revive their economic condition. She started scanning and screening the environment and collected the following information. (i) Help her categorize the information making use of PESTEL MODEL. (ii) Also state a value communicated by Shahida. [CBSE Sample Paper 2016]

Ans. 

(i) (a) Political: The political environment includes taxation policy, govern¬ment stability and foreign trade regulations.

(b) Economic: The economic environment includes interest rates, inflation, business cycles, unemployment, disposable, income, energy, availability and cost.

(c) Social: The social/cultural environment includes population demographics, social mobility, income distribution, lifestyle changes, attitudes to work and leisure, levels of education and consumerism.

(ii) Sharing and compassion. Q16. Explain the factors that help an entrepreneur to identify a product.[CBSE Sample Paper 2016]

Ans. The factors that help an entrepreneur to identify a product are:

(i) Application and use: Ideas should be examined for their real life use and application. If it already exists in the market, we will have to find out its present use, then we may think of modifying it for better use.

(ii) Level of operation: This is a crucial test for product/service identification. Depending on the use of the product/ service the entrepreneur will produce it in a cottage industry or a small scale- industry or a large-scale industry.

(iii) Cost: What is the per unit cost of the product at particular level of operation? Whether this cost is comparable with that of other competitive products? These are some of the questions that have to be answered. This will ultimately decide the sale price.

(iv) Competition: Any product or service will face market competition at some stage. So market competition should be assessed through a study of the trends in demand and supply. IV. VERYLONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. Explain how the process of a basic idea becoming an opportunity? Or Explain the transformation of ideas into opportunity.

Ans. The given diagram shows how the process of a basic idea becoming an opportunity:

The above given diagram explains that it is just a process of conversion of basic idea into opportunity. Business idea arises from an opportunity in the market. It originates from any need or wants of any product or services that an entrepreneur can identify. In this process all basic ideas have to undergo a vigorous process of close examination, evaluation, analysis and synthesis to become viable opportunities. This diagram explains an entrepreneur utilize the skills, knowledge, creative thinking and competency needed to develop an idea which is backed up by various political economical, social, technological, ecological and legal factors in the existing competitive market. By this process an entrepreneur convert ideas into viable business opportunities. Q2. How environmental scanning is helpful for an entrepreneur?

Ans. 

(i) Environmental scanning will be helpful to an entrepreneur/firm to understand the actual happening in an organisation (inside and outside).

(ii) It is necessary because of rapid changes taking place in the environment that has a great impact on the working of the business firm.

(iii) Analysis of business environment helps to identify strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. So that the enterprise can survive and grow,for longer time.

(iv) It is helpful to frame out different plans and policies for the establishment and further development. (a)It act as a tool in understanding, for casting and decision making in all situation of the business enterprise.

(vi) Study of environmental analyses enables the firm to select the best option for the success and growth of the firm.

(vii) It helps an entrepreneur to act quickly, take advantage of all environmental opportunities before others take a chance andimmediate respond to reduce damage

(a) take advantage of opportunities before competitors do (b) respond to environmental threats before significant damage is done. Q3. How many levels are there in external environment? Explain.

Ans. The external environment consists of two levels, i.e. micro environment and macro environment.

Producer/Seller: The goals, objectives, policies, strategies, etc. of the organization are the foremost forces which govern the market. Successful companies are those that can recognize and respond profitably to unmet needs and trends in the society.

Customers: Consumer satisfaction is the foundation stone of a successful business. Business has to produce goods according to the needs,taste and preferences of the customers. Enterprises have to take into consideration the following features to create, maintain and retain this force: Tradition, customs, beliefs, values of society, lifestyle, standard of living, consuming, habit, thinking behaviour, income level, demographic characteristics, etc.

Competitors: Competitors are such factors in the micro environment that provide similar offerings for goods and services. To remain competitive, an enterprise must consider who their biggest competitors are.

Suppliers: Suppliers are another key component in the core system of market. Any manufacturing unit uses necessary resources for the conversion of input (material,machines labour and funds) into output for that the necessary resources are generally obtained by the supplier.

The companies growth depends upon the production and production depends upon the regular supply of resources therefore working of the various supply markets depends upon maintaining good relations with suppliers. Lack or non-availability of suppliers can ruin the market for a product.

Marketing Intermediaries: Marketing intermediaries are institutions that facilitate the flow of goods and services between the company and its final markets. They include resellers (i.e. wholesalers, retailers, agents, and brokers), transporters, warehouses, banks and promoting agencies.

These all institutions come into being to facilitate the work of consummating exchanges in the market. They perform a great deal of work in bringing about transactions between the buyers and sellers, market cannot survive without these intermediaries.

Macro Environment includes: Political factor: Political factors is the outcome of a combination of various ideologies advocated by different political parties. The rules and regulations and the laws that monitor and regulate the market forces are framed and promulgated by the government. This include the political factor. These policies generated aims at improving infrastructural facilities which encourage new business ventures. For example, after relaxation of import-export policies, an entrepreneur who exported textile material used its earning to import heavy industrial machines.

Economic factor: It includes the close study of important variables like supply and demand. Details of consumer trends, economic preference, costing, discounting, etc. are all economic decisions. Economic details will also help the entrepreneur in determining the size of the project and the reasons of finance. 

Socio-Cultural factor: Business is born and develops in society and in it various social factors exists. It involves a close study of the life styles, beliefs, customs, conventions, practices, etc. Expectations of individuals their preferences on the basis of their family background, age group and education will also form a part of this study. The main aim of an entrepreneur is to satisfy the need of all individuals of a society.For example, an entrepreneur wants to open a showroom of branded footwears. Hence, he will target the high income group of society.

Technological factors: It is influenced by government spending on research, new discoveries and development, government and industry focus of technological effort, speed of technological transfer and rates of obsolescence. Ecological factors: It considers the ways in which the organisation can produce its goods or services with minimum environmental damage.

Legal and finance factors: Legal scanning of the environment demands analyzing the legal requirements in the establishment of a project. Managing of the project and also in getting assistance from different sources. For example, welfare of employees, safety, simple contracts entered into with suppliers of raw materials financer’s, real estate owners, etc. require legal assistance. Q4. Explain the benefits of understanding the relevant environment of business.

Ans. The benefits of understanding the relevant environment of business are:

(i) Identification of opportunities to get first mover advantage: By keeping in touch with the changes in the external environment, an enterprise can identify opportunities and find strategies to capitalise on the opportunities at the earliest. For Example, Volvo, the Swedish brand has 74% share in the luxury bus segment as it had entered India earlier.

(ii) Formulation of strategies and policies: It helps in identifying threats and opportunities in the market. These can serve as the basis of formulation of strategies to counter threats and capitalise on opportunities in the market.

(iii) Tapping useful resources: If the company has a thorough knowledge of the external environment, it can tap raw materials, technology and even financial resources from the market at economical prices at the right time.

(iv) Better performance: Proper understanding of the various elements of the external environment is necessary to take timely action to deal with the threats and avail opportunities for the purpose of improvement in the performance of the firm.

(v) Sensitisation of entrepreneurs to cope up with rapid changes: A keen watch on the trends in environment would help to sensitise the entrepreneur to the changing technology, competition, government policies and changing needs of the customers. E.g., changing trends in clothing. Q5. Explain the various environmental factors crucial for an entrepreneur.

Ans. Some environmental factors crucial for an entrepreneur are:

Political factor: Political factors is the outcome of a combination of various ideologies advocated by different political parties. The rules and regulations and the laws that monitor and regulate the market forces are framed and promulgated by the government. This include the political factor. These policies generated aims at improving infrastructural facilities which encourage new business ventures. For example, After relaxation of import-export policies, an entrepreneur who exported textile material used its earning to import heavy industrial machines. Socio-Cultural factor: Business is bom and develops in society and in it various social factor exists. It involves a close study of the life styles, beliefs, customs, conventions, practices, etc. Expectations of individuals their preferences on the basis of their family background, age group and education will also form a part of this study. The main of an entrepreneur is to satisfy the need of all individuals of a society.

Ex. An entrepreneur wants to open a showroom of branded footwears. Hence, he will target the high income group of society.

Economic factor: It includes the close study of important variables like supply and demand. Details of consumer trends, economic preference, costing, discounting, etc. are all economic decisions. Economic details will also help the entrepreneur in determining the size of the project and the reasons of finance. Legal and Finance factors: Legal scanning of the environment demands analyzing the legal requirements in the establishment of a project. Managing of the project and also in getting assistance from different sources, e.g. welfare of employees, safety, simple contracts entered into with suppliers of raw materials financer’s, real estate owners, etc. require legal assistance. Q6. ‘Information for environmental scanning can be collected from several sources.’ State any four such sources.[CBSE Delhi 2015]

Ans. Following are the sources for collecting the information for environmental scanning: (i) The sources can be obtained by analyzing the verbal information from customers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, consultants, etc. (ii)The record of the companies is also analyzed. (iii)Various sources can be obtained by analyzing the various government publications. (iv)The sources can be obtained by the publications of various financial institutions. Q7. ‘The process of generation of ideas’ can be streamlined by developing an awareness about it and these work as the convenient frames of references for this. [CBSE Delhi 2015] (i) Identify the concept stated in the above lines. (ii) Explain any three sources of the concept identified which are used by an Entrepreneur.

Ans. 

(i) Idea fields (ii) (a) Natural resources: Ideas can be generated based on natural resources. Aproduct or service may be desired from forest resources, agriculture, horticulture, mineral, animal husbandry, wind, sun, and human resource.

(b) Existing products or service: A business opportunity or idea often comes from everyday problems that someone solves. Successful businesses find a need and fill it by providing a service or product. Entrepreneurs who look at ways to make an existing product or service better can be as successful as those who create or invent products.

(c) Market driven or demand driven: Market research is any organized effort to gather information about target markets or customers. Ideas can be generated based on existing demand in the market. It is a very important component of business strategy. Q8. Lalita Devi did her post-graduation from Manipur University, Imphal. She had offers to joi^ eputed firms in metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Instead of ^joining any of these firms she decided to do some creative work in Imphal. She observed that a special type of chilli is grown by the farmers of most of the villages around Imphal. This chilli has a distinct flavour and the pickle made from it has a taste that may be liked by many people in other parts of the country. But the farmers were neither trained in the farming of this kind of chilli on a large scale nor was there a secured market for their produce. Lalita Devi met eighteen like-minded women of the area and formed an organization for doing the business of pickle manufacturing. Each of them contributed ? 2,00,000 towards its capital and were equally responsible for its management. On one hand they assured the farmers to purchase the chilli produced by them and on the other hand, the organization with the help of the local agriculture department arranged for the training of the farmers. They also employed 10 local unemployed graduate girls for doing the various operations of pickle manufacturing. [All India 2015] ,(i) Name the process that helped Lalita Devi in ‘converting an idea into an opportunity’. (ii) Identify the kind of organization that Lalita Devi had decided to set up. (iii) State any two values which Lahta Devi wants to communicate to the society.

Ans. (i) The process that helped Lalitha Devi is Sensing entrepreneurial opportunities. (ii) Partnership form of business organi¬zation was formed by Lalitha Devi. (iii) Values involved are Courtesy; fostering respect for differences; sensitivity to environment, good behaviour in human interaction; sharing, compassion, empathy; discipline; responsibility; respect for law and order; conflict resolution; team work; honesty and integrity. Q9. ‘ One of the keys to business success is to anticipate what the market will want or need.’ Since it is not possible for an entrepreneur to see into the future, there is one best way. This ‘best way’will help the entrepreneur to understand the market and produce goods or provide services accordingly. (i) Identify the concept discussed in the above lines. (ii) Explain any three ways in which an entrepreneur can perform the activities related to the concept identified.

Ans. (i) Concept stated in the above lines is Trend spotting. (ii) Following are the ways in which an entrepreneur can perform activities relating to the trend spoting:

1. Real Trends:

Entrepreneurs regularly read the leading publications and websites affecting their business.

Publications include industry publications, trade association sites, major newspapers, key business magazines, thought leaders and influential bloggers.

They scan information from a wide variety of sources — from international news on down to niche bloggers focused on specific aspects of their industry. Obviously, there is a sunami of information available. They use tech-tools like RSS feeds, e-mail newsletters or websites and forums to keep on top out of all and get the information they want. They understand quickly which sources are valuable and which should be avoided.

2. Talk Trends:

Talking to people is an equally important trend-spotting tactic. They get involved in specific industry’s trade association and attending events both online and offline.

From social networking tools like social network websites and forums.

They even start or join groups on the networks and see what people are buzzing about and about the latest trends. To customers regarding what customers thinking, buying, doing etc.

what customers are saying about the business, but what they’re saying about the competitor’s business.

3. Watch Trends:

Watching and observing the customers in the market place.

If the customers are teenagers, in the local mall.

If they are Business class people, it might be restaurant or office park restaurant center.

The entrepreneur spends some time simply watching and observing, what people are eating, doing, wearing, using.

4. Think Trends:

As an entrepreneur begins gathering all these information regularly, they will start to develop a “trend-spotter mind.”

They collect from what they read, heard and observed, and they start to making connections and observations that will lead to business-boosting insights.

V. VALUE BASED QUESTIONS

Q1. Sonam, a dropout from 10th class is forced by her mother to start working as a domestic help. Sonam agrees on the condition to do only if every day she is allowed to cook at home and in 2-3 houses as she was fond of cooking. One family turns out to be Punjabi, other Gujarati and the third one is Rajasthani. She cooked their kind of food for an year and to everyone’s surprise, she expressed her desire to open up a small eating joint of her own. All alone, determined, she finally opens “Apna Bhoj”, a small eating joint with her savings and it became a hot spot because of the fusion food platter being offered. Do you think Sonam is an entrepreneur? Give reasons for your answers. Give two value points related.

Ans. Yes, Sonam is an entrepreneur. (i) Sonam’s one year occupational experience provides her confidence to start her own business. (ii) It converted her hobbies into reality by sheer hard-w v and application of mind. (iii) Her desire to work independently and potential efforts, helped her to reduce the element of uncertainity. (iv) She is innovative as she created new idea and new market to start business. (iv) Understanding of the area/market in which she is going to start her business.

She is a creative entrepreneur as, she has taken initiative and created an opportunity for innovation, experimentation and production.

Her competitiveness which means willingness to compete honestly with others and providing quality product and services and reduction in price.

She is an innovator of ideas, products, practices, services to meet the perceived opportunity, a lot of effort has done by Sonam to convert her dream into reality.

Value points: Initiative, resourcefulness, service to others, social service, unwillingness to hurt others.

via Blogger https://ift.tt/3aB1DOw

[thesevenseraphs]

Bungie Weekly Update - 8/24/17

This week at Bungie, we’re exploring a new European destination.

It’s a busy time at Bungie, and abroad. Earlier this week, our Bungie away team boarded planes and trains to travel to Köln, Germany for gamescom. They’ll be there all week spreading the news about Destiny 2 and celebrating DeeJ’s birthday.

Earlier this morning, Pacific Time anyway, we showed off some of the new fun, exploration, and adventures to be had in one of Destiny 2’s new destinations, the European Dead Zone. Devrim Kay VIII is on hand to give you a quick tour of the EDZ and to show you what to expect when you start exploring on September 6th. There will be new loot to discover, enemy forces to dispatch, Lost Sectors with hidden treasures to find, and much, much more.

Take a look for yourself.

This wasn’t the only thing we showed off this week. Under the shadow of the moon, as it hogged the spotlight from the daystar for a few hours, we put out a brand new action packed Launch Trailer. If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch it now. We’ll wait for you.

We’re still not done. This week we’re also shedding new and renewed light on Destiny 2’s cast of characters. First up is Cayde-6, a favorite that many of you already know and love.

Next is a mysterious renegade named Hawthorne that you’ll meet in the wild.

Ok, now we’re done… for today at least. If you want to check out some direct feed EDZ gameplay and impressions, make sure to check out all of the videos and coverage coming out of gamescom this week.

PC Beta Imminent 

Only 4 more sleeps until you can play Destiny for the first time on your own personal computer. For players with early access (via pre-order or code), the ability to pre-install the Beta begins on Friday, August 25 at 10 AM Pacific Time. To pre-install, you must go to Blizzard’s Battle.net app and click the big “Install” button. If you pre-ordered at retail, take the Bungie code you got from your retailer and go to wwbungie.net/redeem to get your PC Beta early access code.

Before you jump in, you might want to take some time to get familiar with how you’ll control your Guardian and let loose your wide arsenal of weapons and abilities on any enemies foolish enough to stand in your way. To get you started early, we’ve created a quick image to show the default controls for Mouse and Keyboard on the PC. 

The PC Key-mappings are customizable, so you can map them out to fit your personal play style.

In the PC Beta, you will also have text chat available for sending tactical callouts and witty banter to other players in your Fireteam(/f). You can even whisper(/w) “why does Kyle keeping falling off the edge” or “hey, come run Inverted Spire with me!” to someone on your friends list. There are multiple text chat visual modes you can cycle through(T). After beta, but in time for launch, we plan on adding a Team channel (similar to team voice chat) and the ability to whisper to Clan members.

This Beta is a Test! We will learn a lot to help support the full PC release on October 24. We want to know what you think! We have a Feedback Forum set up and ready. If you think you might have found a bug, let us know in our Game Issues forum. Thank you for helping test the PC game and our servers!

PAX Facts

Starting on Friday, September 1, we’ll be taking over the Paramount Theatre to bring Destiny 2 to PAX West. We have a whole lot of fun planned for everyone who attends, and this will be your last chance to play Destiny 2 early before we push it out to everyone on September 6.  All you need is a PAX badge and you’re good to go.

Balcony seating is reserved for panel discussions. We aren’t revealing big Destiny 2 news, but we do have some fun topics to discuss for those looking to get insight from our studio and the community we serve.

Noon – FRIDAY – September 1

Leading the Destiny Community

Bungie Community Managers are not the only voices that serve the player. The Destiny Community benefits from a network of leaders with audiences all their own. Learn all about the challenges that content creators face as they spin up videos, podcasts, and streams that entertain gamers when they’re away from their controllers. Hear war stories from the front lines of the Internet. Score some tips on how you can begin that adventure yourself.

3PM – FRIDAY – September 1

Bringing the Guardians of Destiny to Life

Cosplayers take the act of becoming legend quite literally. PAX always brings some of the finest costume creators into the spotlight. Watch them strut their stuff in suits of armor (and capes) of their own creation. Meet the artists behind the masks. Cheer for your favorite heroes from the world of Destiny. This is not a contest. Every Guardian who represents the Cosplay Community will be a winner.

Noon – SATURDAY – September 2

Forging a New Destiny Weapon

Before a weapon makes it into your hands, it passes through many of ours. It takes many creative disciplines at Bungie to fill the gun rack. See the creation of Destiny weapons from the first vision to the final tuning. Learn how Concept Artists, 3D Modelers, Animators, and Designers forge weapons that are worthy of heroes. Come and meet the gunsmiths at Bungie that keep your vaults filled with wonderful armaments. Witness a creative regression for some of the most iconic weapons in Destiny’s brief history.

3PM – SATURDAY – September 2

Building Better Worlds in Destiny

Before you explore the worlds of Destiny, they are built from the ground up to reflect an artistic vision. Learn how Concept Artists and Environment Artists work hand in hand to create the places where your characters fight for their survival. See some of the earliest visions of the worlds you’ve come to know, and how they influenced every step of our creative process. Get a glimpse at the tools we use to build better worlds. 1PM – SUNDAY – September 3 

Destiny PlayTest War Stories

Before Guardians can face each other in competition, we wage countless wars against each other at Bungie. Our playtest labs are arenas where studio heroes are born and the games you play evolve. Learn from the combatants about how the battle for the best idea rages inside our walls. When shots are fired, everything is up for grabs: The maps you know, the modes you master, and the way every Character and Weapon is powerful.

As you can see we have a good mix of Bungie and community lined up to share stories and experiences with you. Join us to ask some questions or to tell some stories all your own. We can’t wait to see you there!

As you can see we have a good mix of Bungie and community lined up to share stories and experiences with you. Join us to ask some questions or to tell some stories all your own. We can’t wait to see you there!

Custom Service

You have “Q”s, they have the “A”s. Destiny Player Support are working hard to make sure you have the info you need for everything Destiny 2.

This is their report.

Early Access for the Destiny 2 PC Beta begins at 10 AM Pacific on August 28, 2017. The following is a list of confirmed issues that may impact gameplay:

Players may encounter issues when playing the Destiny 2 Beta with drivers that are out of date. Updating drivers to the latest version grants the best experience when playing Destiny 2 on PC.

The Destiny 2 Beta may not run when installed to a folder with some localized character types in its name (e.g. Greek, Cyrillic, Kanji, etc.). Players should ensure that they install the Beta to a path that does not include these character types, or use the default install location.

Players may encounter issues when joining the Fireteam of another player on their same local area network. Players who encounter this issue should ensure that they have UPnP enabled in their network settings.

MSAA is still under development. As such, players may encounter various issues including visual artifacts and performance degradation when using MSAA.

Multi-GPU support is still in development. Players may encounter issues including visual artifacts and performance impacts when using NVIDIA SLI. AMD Crossfire support is not available in the Destiny 2 PC Beta.

The Destiny 2 Beta must be launched from Blizzard’s Battle.net app. If players launch the Beta client directly from the executable, they may receive an error message or the Destiny 2 Beta client may become unresponsive. Players who encounter this issue should close the Beta client through the user interface or by pressing Alt+F4, and proceed to launch the Destiny 2 Beta using the “Play” button in the Destiny 2 tab of the Blizzard app.

GeForce GTX: If players wish to have the optimum experience in the Destiny 2 PC Beta, they can download and install NVIDIA’s new Destiny 2 Beta Game Ready Driver. Simply download and launch NVIDIA's GeForce Experience, then proceed to click the "Drivers" tab to download the update, or download it from the NVIDIA website here.

Bungie.net Update: Profile Recovery

Players now have a means to recover a previously made Bungie.net profile that no longer has any authentication methods linked for sign-in. If a player wishes to recover their account, they may proceed through the following steps:

Identify the authentication method used to create the Bungie.net profile that was closed or lost

Ensure the authentication method has been unlinked from any active Bungie.net profiles

Click "Create a new account" and use the account credentials that were originally linked to the desired account

Select "Recover" next to the desired Bungie.net profile and complete the account reclamation process, which may be identified by profile membership ID's or Bungie.net join dates

Please note the following:

For a Bungie.net profile to be recovered, it cannot be linked to any active authentication methods. If linked, it will not be presented to the player during the account recovery flow.

Players will have up to 90 days to recover lost or closed Bungie.net profiles. After 90 days, this process will be unavailable.

For additional information concerning Bungie.net Profile recovery, creation, or linking, please see this Help Article. Additionally, we are actively investigating issues impacting various features on Bungie.net, including Groups and Clans. If you encounter any issues after the most recent update to Bungie.net, please post a report to the #Help forum. Stay tuned to @BungieHelp on for the latest updates on our investigation.

[eastbridge-sb]

Serie A Player Analysis: Lazio’s Carlos Joaquín Correa

The Striker Wizard Joaquin Correa

Joaquin Correa’s followed on from his positive first season at Lazio, where he played 44 times in all competitions on his way to notching nine goals and six assists, as he’s now firmly established himself as one of the stars of Serie A.

Already on seven goals and four assists from his 21 games, Correa’s been instrumental towards Lazio’s amazing start to the season, that sees them sit third in the league having not lost in 12 matches and won the Italian Super Cup over Juventus in style.

Forming an absolutely formidable attacking force with partner in crime upfront, Ciro Immobile, and midfielders Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto, the skillful Argentine’s relishing playing within Simone Inzaghi’s attacking framework.

Growing with every passing week, Inzgahi certainly deserves credit for how masterfully he’s managing his team and getting the best out of them, with Correa unquestionably being a key beneficiary.

Technically gifted and elite with the ball at his feet, he’s used his quality here in a multitude of ways to hurt opponents. His wizardry on the dribble is a great place to start, as he possesses a tidy repertoire of skills, including stepovers, shoulder drops, feints and nifty changes of pace and direction, to either beat his man, win fouls in dangerous areas or buy time as he assesses his options. Accompany the afore with his superb ball control, first touch and electric acceleration, and it’s easy to understand what a weapon he is, both in confined areas and when carrying the ball forward on the counter, where time and space are aplenty.

As his assist tally shows, Correa’s a very useful passer too. Quick to identify a colleague’s run and to oblige it with a neat through ball, this is another important string to his bow. Moreover, his one touch combination play in and around the box, slick cutbacks from wider areas, neat array of flicks and layoffs and ability to break the lines from deeper areas offer further upside.

His finishing also deserves mention, with him demonstrating a good level of accuracy on both feet, as he’s struck some clinical 1v1 finishes, shown how he can round the keeper coolly, hit some powerful blasts to beat the keeper and shown his striking instincts with some quality close range and short back lift efforts.

Tying everything together with his astute movement, this compartment of his game elevates his game to another level. Boasting a brilliant, complementary relationship with his fellow attackers, Correa and co dovetail superbly to create space for one another by manipulating their adversaries incisively. They predominantly do so with some wicked rotations and opposite movements, plus by positioning themselves on different heights when receiving in the final third and when crosses are fired into the box, as Inzaghi’s tactics to create confusion for opposing marking schemes bears fruit relentlessly.

Correa’s exposing the space within the Udinese backline with a wicked run

On an individual level, Correa’s movement has been a tremendous weapon for Lazio. Timing, curving and directing his runs sharply in behind, down the channels and into the box, he reads when the ball holder has their head up and begins his runs accordingly.

Correa’s starting his run nicely before Luis Alberto receives the ball

A master at exploiting the channels and taking advantage of gaps between defenders and when a teammate draws markers to generate room, he targets these gaps expertly to place himself in promising attacking locations.

Correa’s cleverly exploiting the channel space that’s open between defenders

Correa’s well timed out to in run in behind

Correa’s wonderful depth run to get in behind

Immobile making room for Correa’s run in behind

Correa’s quick to repay the favour, for he constantly pins and draws markers out of shape to free up space for colleagues in the final third.

The way he works with Immobile especially has been intriguing to watch, for whenever one drops deep, one will usually always stay high and maintain depth and act as an advanced target. This consequently stops the opposition backline from stepping up, with this frequently generating room between the lines for a colleague to utilise to impact proceedings.

Correa staying high and pinning two markers while Immobile drops deep

The way Correa smartly drops deep into midfield to help the Eagles progress upfield has been another positive, for he times his checks towards the ball in order to achieve ideal 4v3, 4v2 or 3v2 overloads.

Correa’s nicely finding space between the lines

Correa’s good positioning to find space while generating a 4v2

Correa’s helping form a 4v3 in midfield by dropping deep effectively

Another thing that warrants praise is his head scanning, which gives him an updated mental imagery of his surroundings so he knows whether he can turn while receiving, protect the ball or play a quick pass. In addition, it lets him know where teammates, opponents and vacant spaces are located nearby to enhance the quality of his actions.

Correa’s good head scanning as he prepares to receive between the lines

Elusive, hard to read and a massive menace on the offensive end, Correa’s remarkable form has helped propel Lazio to Serie A title challengers, which is something his numbers back up. Ranking fourth in the league for Expected Goals and assists on 10.52, fifth for XG on 8.51, 15th for attempted dribbles on 89, sixth for touches inside the box on 81, fourth for deep completions with 37, joint 22nd for progressive runs and equal 22nd for key passes on nine, his stats demonstrate his class.

About to enter his prime and playing some of the best football of his career, Lazio have smartly extended the 25-year-old’s contract, for he’s justifiably attracting the interest of many elite teams across Europe.

Looking right at home in Rome in his second season at Lazio, Correa would be wise to stay in an environment where he’s thriving and forged such marvellous relationships with his teammates. Having already won a Coppa Italia and an Italian Super Cup with the Eagles, there’s a strong chance more silverware could follow if he remains at this magnificently drilled, ultra competitive Lazio outfit.

Preview by: EdwardStratmann

For more analyses, highlights, features, match previews and more, visit Eastbridge’s insights page and get the latest on sports.

New to sports trading? Try VOdds or bet via Skype now.

The post Serie A Player Analysis: Lazio’s Carlos Joaquín Correa appeared first on Eastbridge.

source https://eastbridge-sb.com/serie-a-league-player-analysis-lazio-joaquin-correa-8119/

[digitalmark18-blog]

How the pros use social media...

New Post has been published on https://britishdigitalmarketingnews.com/how-the-pros-use-social-media/

How the pros use social media...

Sydney Swans Digital Media Manager Shane Potter has shared his tips on how to get the best out of social media, with a focus on Twitter.

Key for him is to be able to take fans behind the scenes and show them not just the highs and lows of life at the club – but even some of the stuff that might seem routine to insiders…but is fascinating for fans.

What is your role within the Sydney Swans? Digital Media Manager – I oversee the digital strategy across the business and the day to day content strategy across all Sydney Swans digital platforms.

How is the Sydney Swans engaging fans across the season? We continually provide fans with different ways to engage with the club both through our digital channels and in person, during the week and on game day. We use content on our digital media platforms and our consumer business offerings which includes membership and merchandise. On game day we do some very innovative activations to ensure fans remain engaged while at the game.

Why is Twitter an important platform for sports teams to engage fans around Australia? All Australians are passionate about sport, it is ingrained within our culture. Twitter is where a lot of fans go in order to receive not only the latest news and behind the scenes content but also an opportunity to interact with the AFL community at large. This forum gives our fans a way to interact with our players, the club and other fans on a daily basis, giving them the chance to feel even closer to the club than ever before.

On Game Day we see plenty of fans sharing their experience with us as it unfolds at the SCG, and then when fans are in front of the TV they use Twitter for a second screen experience to share their passions as they watch the game unfold.

Have you seen an increase in engagement on Twitter between 2017/18 seasons? If so, what would you attribute the increase in support to? We have definitely seen our Twitter audience interacting more strongly with our content throughout the 2018 season. We’ve made a more concerted effort to increase our video output, in particular behind-the-scenes content, and give our fans the insights they may not be able to get anywhere else.

Do you have any tips/tricks for other sporting organisations looking to engage fans? Give fans a unique experience when they come to follow you on Twitter. This does not always have to be insights into tactics or meetings, but just the little things around the organisation that you may see on a daily basis that the general fan in the street would not have access to. Tailor your digital content to be what cannot be consumed anywhere else on other digital channels or through other platforms. 

What types of content work best on Twitter? Players celebrating the wins in the room after the game with family and friends always gets heavy engagement with our audience. They also enjoy video content that takes them behind closed doors so that might be a player finding out they are making their debut or a warm up ahead of training or the match. Another piece of content that resonates well with our fans is using historical video of classic moments, not just from years gone by but reflecting on the season just gone. This is something we have done particularly during the finals series to build up excitement ahead of finals.

How have you used hashtags to support your Twitter campaigns? The consistent hashtag that our club uses across its social channels is #ProudlySydney to ensure that whenever anyone is talking about the club they are able to show their passion for the club. On each game day we also use #goswans as an opportunity for fans to further engage with the on field happenings on game day.

Are there any athletes on your team doing particularly good work on Twitter? Sam Naismith @samnaismith35 is great at having some fun to show his personality through his Twitter account. 

Do you see Twitter as a good way for at-home fans to connect with the Swans community? Twitter is a great way for fans to be able to have a second screen experience when watching the footy from home. The application also allows for the interaction of like minded fans to be able to join in the conversation as the on field action is unfolding.

Source: https://www.insidesport.com.au/news/how-the-pros-use-social-media-512313

[samuelpboswell]

32 Top Social Media Marketing Influencers To Follow

The social media marketing industry is bursting with innovative professionals — people who push the boundaries of existing social platforms, embrace new ones, and ditch low-performers. With so many fine social media marketers, how do you find new innovators to follow on Twitter and learn from? We've put together a list of 32 top social media marketers that includes a number of fantastic folks who may not already be on your Twitter "following" list, in addition to some industry stalwarts who those new to social media marketing would be wise to follow. We've added a quote, tip, or short lesson from each to help inspire your own social media marketing efforts. List Methodology: For this list we utilize the Traackr influencer marketing platform plus additional criteria including the relevance of the individuals to the topic, the degree to which their networks engage, the size of their networks, along with numerous other factors including online data pulled from blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, SlideShare, other platforms. Many thanks to all the industry professionals who are actively sharing knowledge about social media marketing by engaging and helping others with helpful opinions, insights and expertise on the social web. This brief list is only a starting point to help expand your social media marketing universe.

32 Social Media Marketing Influencers to Follow on Twitter

Beverly W. Jackson @BevJack Corporate VP of Social Marketing, MGM Resorts [bctt tweet="“The most important lesson I’ve learned about leadership is that no one leads alone.” @BevJack" username="toprank"] Brian G Peters @Brian_G_Peters Strategic Partnerships, Shopify [bctt tweet="“The wonderful thing about social media video is that if you do it right, the videos can produce results for your business long after they’ve been posted.” @Brian_G_Peters" username="toprank"] Amy (Schmittauer) Landino @Schmittastic Co-Founder & Owner, Aftermarq [bctt tweet="“True focus comes from believing in yourself. When you are unsure, you welcome distractions. Trust that you’re on the right path.” @Schmittastic" username="toprank"] Amisha Gandhi @AmishaGandhi VP, Marketing & Communications, SAP Ariba and SAP Fieldglass [bctt tweet="“If we want to connect with the people we want to influence, we need to dial back the business speak and communicate more simply and directly.” @AmishaGandhi" username="toprank"] Marcus Sheridan @TheSalesLion Owner & Partner, IMPACT [bctt tweet="“Whether it's views, shares, watch time, or more — it's the little things that make the biggest difference.” @TheSalesLion" username="toprank"] Caitlin Angeloff @caitlinangeloff Social Strategy Director, Providence St. Joseph Health [bctt tweet="“With unprecedented targeting via the social media platforms, it is essential brands and media companies not take a one size fits all approach with their social video strategy.” @caitlinangeloff" username="toprank"] Tim Schmoyer @timschmoyer Video Strategist, VideoCreators [bctt tweet="“When you find someone who understands your journey and your heart, get together, swap stories, and encourage each other.” @timschmoyer" username="toprank"] Konstanze Alex @Konstanze Global Digital Storytelling, Cisco [bctt tweet="“Co-creating content with influential industry experts is one way for brands to unlock powerful, authentic storytelling that results in valuable brand experiences for customers.” @Konstanze" username="toprank"] Rob Walch @podcast411 VP of Podcaster Relations, Libsyn [bctt tweet="“The biggest shows out there did nothing to promote their show, they let their audience do it.” @podcast411" username="toprank"] Alison J. Herzog @alisonjherzog Senior Director of Brand and Digital, Visa [bctt tweet="“Brands need to manage experience across the entire company. Each person and department owns a piece of the overall #CX.” @alisonjherzog" username="toprank"] Dan Gingiss @dgingiss Chief Experience Officer, The Experience Maker [bctt tweet="“Remember, when customers are reaching out with suggestions on how to improve your product or service, generally it means that they really care and that they're brand loyal.” @dgingiss" username="toprank"] Zontee Hou @ZonteeHo President & Chief Strategist, Media Volery [bctt tweet="“To build trust, you have to understand human motivations.” @ZonteeHo" username="toprank"] Andrew Pickering & Pete Gartland @AndrewAndPete Co-Founders, Andrew and Pete [bctt tweet="“Social media is a tool we use to keep connected with the people in our lives. It’s a way to strengthen relationships and to make new ones.” @AndrewAndPete" username="toprank"] Jenn Herman @jenns_trends Social Media Strategist, Jenn's Trends [bctt tweet="“I'm a BIG proponent of a clear strategy for content, posting frequency, messaging, and branding. Keeping it clearly focused on your target audience is the key.” @jenns_trends" username="toprank"] Jon Loomer @jonloomer Facebook Marketing Strategist, Jon Loomer Digital [bctt tweet="“Keep experimenting and trying different things. You never know what the perfect combination is for you — there really is no one formula that works for everyone.” @jonloomer" username="toprank"] Sandy Carter @sandy_carter VP, Amazon Web Services [bctt tweet="“Data is at the heart of EVERY major tech trend in the coming decade.” @sandy_carter" username="toprank"] Justin Levy @justinlevy Director of Social Marketing, ServiceNow [bctt tweet="“You have to move from looking at marketing tactically to looking at it strategically.” @justinlevy" username="toprank"] Scott Monty @ScottMonty CEO & Principal, Scott Monty Strategies [bctt tweet="“There's so much focus on the latest platform, trend or technology. But true storytellers know that the medium isn't the message.” @ScottMonty" username="toprank"] Brian Fanzo @iSocialFanz Digital Futurist & Founder, iSocialFanz [bctt tweet="“Stop talking with a logo, start talking with your employees.” @iSocialFanz" username="toprank"] Shannon Paul @ShannonPaul Vice President, Digital Line of Business Marketing Director, Fifth Third Bank [bctt tweet="“A key driver in any successful strategy is going to be organizational and operational alignments.” @ShannonPaul" username="toprank"] Larry Kim @larrykim CEO, MobileMonkey [bctt tweet="“The ability to be a team player is one of the most important employee skills of 2020.” @larrykim" username="toprank"] Heidi Cohen @heidicohen Chief Content Officer, Actionable Marketing Guide [bctt tweet="“As a key element of your marketing strategy your blog supports content marketing, social media, search and audience and customer acquisition.” @heidicohen" username="toprank"] Donna Moritz @SociallySorted Founder, Socially Sorted [bctt tweet="“More than ever, it's important to survey your audience to find out what they need and how you can help them.” @SociallySorted" username="toprank"] Mari Smith @MariSmith Facebook Marketing Expert, Mari Smith International [bctt tweet="“Those first few seconds of your video are gold. Make sure you're following a strategy that keeps people watching.” [bctt tweet="“Those first few seconds of your video are gold. Make sure you're following a strategy that keeps people watching.” @MariSmith" username="toprank"] Ian Anderson Gray @iagdotme Founder, Ian Anderson Gray [bctt tweet="“The Internet is a sea of helpful tools, and with so many options, it can feel like you’re drowning.” @iagdotme" username="toprank"] Ann Handley @MarketingProfs Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs [bctt tweet="“It’s incumbent on all of us in B2B marketing, whether you are a writer, or a marketer, or whatever role you play to take some risks and just get out of the box and throw an ax at that target.” @MarketingProfs" username="toprank"] John Lee Dumas @johnleedumas Host, Entrepreneurs on Fire [bctt tweet="“It’s not always about doing as much as you possibly can - it’s about choosing the right things and going all-in on those.” @johnleedumas" username="toprank"] Mark Schaefer @markwschaefer Executive Director, Schaefer Marketing Solutions [bctt tweet="“Good enough today isn't good enough tomorrow if you want to keep growing.” @markwschaefer" username="toprank"] Jay Baer @jaybaer Founder, Convince & Convert [bctt tweet="“Customer experience is not only about removing friction and minimizing mistakes and calamities but also about delivering something the customer didn’t see coming.” @jaybaer" username="toprank"] LaSandra Brill @LaSandraBrill Head of Integrated Digital Planning, NVIDIA [bctt tweet="“Don’t say no. Instead tell me how you get to yes. Being able to identify and communicate the tradeoffs is 'strategic thinking.'” @LaSandraBrill" username="toprank"] John Hunt @Smead_JohnH Senior Manager of Digital Marketing, Corporate Brand Communications and eCommerce Content, Smead Manufacturing Inc. [bctt tweet="“Today there are no more secrets. You've got to prove you can help, and not just say it.'” @Smead_JohnH" username="toprank"]

Piece Together Your Social Media Marketing Knowledge & Execution

Statistical analysis, no matter how well-researched and deep, can only go so far in surfacing people you’ll find the most helpful and influential in your daily professional marketing lives, which is why we’d be delighted if you would share the name of social media marketers that influence you most in out comments section below. We hope that you've found at least a few new-to-you social media marketing influencers on this list, and gained a smattering of inspiration from their quotes. To further your own social media marketing expertise, here is a bonus list of our best relevant recent articles:

13 Top B2B Social Media Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2020

How B2B Marketers Can Build Their Personal Brands on Social Media

Our 10 Top Social Media Marketing Posts

Social Media Secrets: 5 Under-the-Radar LinkedIn Features for Marketers

Spotlighting Organic Social Media Video Success: Your Guide to Metrics and Specs

Finally, there's no better way to meet new B2B social media marketers than attending industry events, and you can catch our CEO Lee Odden at an array of upcoming in-person and streaming online conferences and webinars: March 9, 2020 Webinar Panel Are you ready to transform your B2B marketing? Featuring Joel Harrison for B2B Marketing, Doug Kessler from Velocity Partners, Lee Odden, and Mark Bornstein from ON24 Registration info here March 19, 2020 Convergence Summit Minneapolis Lunch Keynote: In Search of Trust: How Authentic Content Drives Customer Experience Agenda and registration info March 24, 2020 Pubcon Florida B2B Influencer Marketing Workshop Register here March 25, 2020 Webinar Top B2B Marketing Challenges, Trends and Best Practices for 2020 Register here April 22, 2020 - ContentTECH Summit How to Optimize Content Performance with Influence  Session info and register here April 23rd, 2020 - Content Marketing Conference How to Optimize Customer Experience with SEO and Influence Conference info and register here May 13 - 14, 2020 - Ceros Experience Matters How to Optimize for Customer Experience with Interactive Content Event and registration info here May 27-28, 2020 - B2B Ignite USA Keynote - In Marketing We Trust: How to build influence with the C-Suite and on the street Conference agenda and registration info here

The post 32 Top Social Media Marketing Influencers To Follow appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

from The SEO Advantages http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OnlineMarketingSEOBlog/~3/bnyOUYfuxZo/

[ralphlayton]

32 Top Social Media Marketing Influencers To Follow

The social media marketing industry is bursting with innovative professionals — people who push the boundaries of existing social platforms, embrace new ones, and ditch low-performers. With so many fine social media marketers, how do you find new innovators to follow on Twitter and learn from? We've put together a list of 32 top social media marketers that includes a number of fantastic folks who may not already be on your Twitter "following" list, in addition to some industry stalwarts who those new to social media marketing would be wise to follow. We've added a quote, tip, or short lesson from each to help inspire your own social media marketing efforts. List Methodology: For this list we utilize the Traackr influencer marketing platform plus additional criteria including the relevance of the individuals to the topic, the degree to which their networks engage, the size of their networks, along with numerous other factors including online data pulled from blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, SlideShare, other platforms. Many thanks to all the industry professionals who are actively sharing knowledge about social media marketing by engaging and helping others with helpful opinions, insights and expertise on the social web. This brief list is only a starting point to help expand your social media marketing universe.

32 Social Media Marketing Influencers to Follow on Twitter

Beverly W. Jackson @BevJack Corporate VP of Social Marketing, MGM Resorts [bctt tweet="“The most important lesson I’ve learned about leadership is that no one leads alone.” @BevJack" username="toprank"] Brian G Peters @Brian_G_Peters Strategic Partnerships, Shopify [bctt tweet="“The wonderful thing about social media video is that if you do it right, the videos can produce results for your business long after they’ve been posted.” @Brian_G_Peters" username="toprank"] Amy (Schmittauer) Landino @Schmittastic Co-Founder & Owner, Aftermarq [bctt tweet="“True focus comes from believing in yourself. When you are unsure, you welcome distractions. Trust that you’re on the right path.” @Schmittastic" username="toprank"] Amisha Gandhi @AmishaGandhi VP, Marketing & Communications, SAP Ariba and SAP Fieldglass [bctt tweet="“If we want to connect with the people we want to influence, we need to dial back the business speak and communicate more simply and directly.” @AmishaGandhi" username="toprank"] Marcus Sheridan @TheSalesLion Owner & Partner, IMPACT [bctt tweet="“Whether it's views, shares, watch time, or more — it's the little things that make the biggest difference.” @TheSalesLion" username="toprank"] Caitlin Angeloff @caitlinangeloff Social Strategy Director, Providence St. Joseph Health [bctt tweet="“With unprecedented targeting via the social media platforms, it is essential brands and media companies not take a one size fits all approach with their social video strategy.” @caitlinangeloff" username="toprank"] Tim Schmoyer @timschmoyer Video Strategist, VideoCreators [bctt tweet="“When you find someone who understands your journey and your heart, get together, swap stories, and encourage each other.” @timschmoyer" username="toprank"] Konstanze Alex @Konstanze Global Digital Storytelling, Cisco [bctt tweet="“Co-creating content with influential industry experts is one way for brands to unlock powerful, authentic storytelling that results in valuable brand experiences for customers.” @Konstanze" username="toprank"] Rob Walch @podcast411 VP of Podcaster Relations, Libsyn [bctt tweet="“The biggest shows out there did nothing to promote their show, they let their audience do it.” @podcast411" username="toprank"] Alison J. Herzog @alisonjherzog Senior Director of Brand and Digital, Visa [bctt tweet="“Brands need to manage experience across the entire company. Each person and department owns a piece of the overall #CX.” @alisonjherzog" username="toprank"] Dan Gingiss @dgingiss Chief Experience Officer, The Experience Maker [bctt tweet="“Remember, when customers are reaching out with suggestions on how to improve your product or service, generally it means that they really care and that they're brand loyal.” @dgingiss" username="toprank"] Zontee Hou @ZonteeHo President & Chief Strategist, Media Volery [bctt tweet="“To build trust, you have to understand human motivations.” @ZonteeHo" username="toprank"] Andrew Pickering & Pete Gartland @AndrewAndPete Co-Founders, Andrew and Pete [bctt tweet="“Social media is a tool we use to keep connected with the people in our lives. It’s a way to strengthen relationships and to make new ones.” @AndrewAndPete" username="toprank"] Jenn Herman @jenns_trends Social Media Strategist, Jenn's Trends [bctt tweet="“I'm a BIG proponent of a clear strategy for content, posting frequency, messaging, and branding. Keeping it clearly focused on your target audience is the key.” @jenns_trends" username="toprank"] Jon Loomer @jonloomer Facebook Marketing Strategist, Jon Loomer Digital [bctt tweet="“Keep experimenting and trying different things. You never know what the perfect combination is for you — there really is no one formula that works for everyone.” @jonloomer" username="toprank"] Sandy Carter @sandy_carter VP, Amazon Web Services [bctt tweet="“Data is at the heart of EVERY major tech trend in the coming decade.” @sandy_carter" username="toprank"] Justin Levy @justinlevy Director of Social Marketing, ServiceNow [bctt tweet="“You have to move from looking at marketing tactically to looking at it strategically.” @justinlevy" username="toprank"] Scott Monty @ScottMonty CEO & Principal, Scott Monty Strategies [bctt tweet="“There's so much focus on the latest platform, trend or technology. But true storytellers know that the medium isn't the message.” @ScottMonty" username="toprank"] Brian Fanzo @iSocialFanz Digital Futurist & Founder, iSocialFanz [bctt tweet="“Stop talking with a logo, start talking with your employees.” @iSocialFanz" username="toprank"] Shannon Paul @ShannonPaul Vice President, Digital Line of Business Marketing Director, Fifth Third Bank [bctt tweet="“A key driver in any successful strategy is going to be organizational and operational alignments.” @ShannonPaul" username="toprank"] Larry Kim @larrykim CEO, MobileMonkey [bctt tweet="“The ability to be a team player is one of the most important employee skills of 2020.” @larrykim" username="toprank"] Heidi Cohen @heidicohen Chief Content Officer, Actionable Marketing Guide [bctt tweet="“As a key element of your marketing strategy your blog supports content marketing, social media, search and audience and customer acquisition.” @heidicohen" username="toprank"] Donna Moritz @SociallySorted Founder, Socially Sorted [bctt tweet="“More than ever, it's important to survey your audience to find out what they need and how you can help them.” @SociallySorted" username="toprank"] Mari Smith @MariSmith Facebook Marketing Expert, Mari Smith International [bctt tweet="“Those first few seconds of your video are gold. Make sure you're following a strategy that keeps people watching.” [bctt tweet="“Those first few seconds of your video are gold. Make sure you're following a strategy that keeps people watching.” @MariSmith" username="toprank"] Ian Anderson Gray @iagdotme Founder, Ian Anderson Gray [bctt tweet="“The Internet is a sea of helpful tools, and with so many options, it can feel like you’re drowning.” @iagdotme" username="toprank"] Ann Handley @MarketingProfs Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs [bctt tweet="“It’s incumbent on all of us in B2B marketing, whether you are a writer, or a marketer, or whatever role you play to take some risks and just get out of the box and throw an ax at that target.” @MarketingProfs" username="toprank"] John Lee Dumas @johnleedumas Host, Entrepreneurs on Fire [bctt tweet="“It’s not always about doing as much as you possibly can - it’s about choosing the right things and going all-in on those.” @johnleedumas" username="toprank"] Mark Schaefer @markwschaefer Executive Director, Schaefer Marketing Solutions [bctt tweet="“Good enough today isn't good enough tomorrow if you want to keep growing.” @markwschaefer" username="toprank"] Jay Baer @jaybaer Founder, Convince & Convert [bctt tweet="“Customer experience is not only about removing friction and minimizing mistakes and calamities but also about delivering something the customer didn’t see coming.” @jaybaer" username="toprank"] LaSandra Brill @LaSandraBrill Head of Integrated Digital Planning, NVIDIA [bctt tweet="“Don’t say no. Instead tell me how you get to yes. Being able to identify and communicate the tradeoffs is 'strategic thinking.'” @LaSandraBrill" username="toprank"] John Hunt @Smead_JohnH Senior Manager of Digital Marketing, Corporate Brand Communications and eCommerce Content, Smead Manufacturing Inc. [bctt tweet="“Today there are no more secrets. You've got to prove you can help, and not just say it.'” @Smead_JohnH" username="toprank"]

Piece Together Your Social Media Marketing Knowledge & Execution

Statistical analysis, no matter how well-researched and deep, can only go so far in surfacing people you’ll find the most helpful and influential in your daily professional marketing lives, which is why we’d be delighted if you would share the name of social media marketers that influence you most in out comments section below. We hope that you've found at least a few new-to-you social media marketing influencers on this list, and gained a smattering of inspiration from their quotes. To further your own social media marketing expertise, here is a bonus list of our best relevant recent articles:

13 Top B2B Social Media Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2020

How B2B Marketers Can Build Their Personal Brands on Social Media

Our 10 Top Social Media Marketing Posts

Social Media Secrets: 5 Under-the-Radar LinkedIn Features for Marketers

Spotlighting Organic Social Media Video Success: Your Guide to Metrics and Specs

Finally, there's no better way to meet new B2B social media marketers than attending industry events, and you can catch our CEO Lee Odden at an array of upcoming in-person and streaming online conferences and webinars: March 9, 2020 Webinar Panel Are you ready to transform your B2B marketing? Featuring Joel Harrison for B2B Marketing, Doug Kessler from Velocity Partners, Lee Odden, and Mark Bornstein from ON24 Registration info here March 19, 2020 Convergence Summit Minneapolis Lunch Keynote: In Search of Trust: How Authentic Content Drives Customer Experience Agenda and registration info March 24, 2020 Pubcon Florida B2B Influencer Marketing Workshop Register here March 25, 2020 Webinar Top B2B Marketing Challenges, Trends and Best Practices for 2020 Register here April 22, 2020 - ContentTECH Summit How to Optimize Content Performance with Influence  Session info and register here April 23rd, 2020 - Content Marketing Conference How to Optimize Customer Experience with SEO and Influence Conference info and register here May 13 - 14, 2020 - Ceros Experience Matters How to Optimize for Customer Experience with Interactive Content Event and registration info here May 27-28, 2020 - B2B Ignite USA Keynote - In Marketing We Trust: How to build influence with the C-Suite and on the street Conference agenda and registration info here

The post 32 Top Social Media Marketing Influencers To Follow appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

32 Top Social Media Marketing Influencers To Follow published first on yhttps://improfitninja.blogspot.com/

[williamlwolf89]

17 Google Search Ranking Factors That Go Beyond Keywords

In the past, SEO was as simple as picking a keyword and creating content for it.

Today, such a single-minded focus on keywords won’t get you very far. It may even result in a penalty from Google.

If keywords aren’t the be-all, end-all of SEO anymore, what else do you need to pay attention to? There’s plenty of choices. Google’s algorithm famously uses more than 200 factors to decide on SEO search ranking.

Focusing on all 200+ Google search ranking factors is a difficult, if not impossible, task. Instead of stretching yourself thin, pay attention to these 17 factors and watch your SEO soar.

1. Accessibility is Climbing the Ranks

The movement to make the Web more accessible gained a major win in a case against the University of California, Berkeley. The university was ordered to make sure their site was accessible.

In the judgment, the court recommended the World Wide Web Consortium’s accessibility guidelines. Accessibility may soon be a legal concern for more website owners.

In the meantime, it pays to make your site more accessible for a different reason. Google measures a site’s accessibility when determining its search ranking.

Why? The answer is simple. A more accessible website delivers a better user experience for more people.

Since Google is in the business of helping more people find better answers, it only makes sense they’d focus on accessible sites.

2. Content is Still King of Google Search Ranking Factors

Accessibility is a relatively new player in Google’s ranking algorithm. Content has always been a cornerstone of any good SEO strategy.

That said, the way Google evaluates content has evolved by leaps and bounds. For example, Google measures how long your content is and tries to determine how in-depth your discussion of a given topic is.

Google favors longer content since it’s more likely to cover a topic in-depth. Likewise, it prioritizes in-depth content.

Longer, in-depth content is more likely to answer a user’s question.

3. Gain Points for Site Security

Google wants to ensure its users have a good experience when they click search results. To that end, the search engine giant doesn’t want to send anyone to a shady site.

Security features have become more important in Google’s algorithm as a result. Chrome recently stopped allowing access to sites that don’t use SSL encryption.

Adding an SSL certificate is just the first step to improving site security. Updates and other strategies can help you protect your users and your SEO rankings.

4. Speed up Your Page

Much like users demand secure sites, they also want sites to load quickly. Google stresses page loading speed as one of its SEO search ranking factors.

Just how quickly does a site need to load? Users will navigate away in a matter of seconds, so it’s important to load as fast as possible.

Most sites are still too slow. Google reported the average loading speed was seven seconds in 2018. That’s still a far cry from its preference for two seconds or less.

That’s still good news, though. The average has been halved from a few years ago when pages took an average of 14 seconds to load.

5. Optimize Your Images

Speeding up your site is clearly important. If you want your site to load faster, you should take a look at your images and videos.

Google’s looking at them too. Optimized images and videos play a role in determining your SEO ranking as a result. Compressed images will load faster.

Alt-descriptions and other factors also help with image optimization. They may also help improve your site’s accessibility.

6. Linking Strategies Are so Important to SEO

The subject of linking for SEO purposes is complex. Companies develop entire linking strategies to improve this aspect of SEO.

There are three major components you need to pay attention to:

Internal links

External links

Backlinks

Most people are familiar with backlinks. When another site links back to your page, that’s a backlink.

Backlinks connect your site to other domains. They may have greater authority, and your site becomes more trustworthy by proxy. If Buzzfeed News links to you, Google will give your site more credibility.

Backlinking can hurt your site if you don’t do it correctly. If sites in “bad neighborhoods” are linking to you, Google may penalize you. Some linking schemes, such as buying or trading links, can also land you in SEO jail.

Internal links are a measure of how many other pages on your own site point to a particular asset. The more links, the easier the page is to index. Google may also consider it more important.

External links are outbound links you place that direct to another domain. If you link to high-quality content, Google is more likely to see your site as offering trustworthy information.

7. Building Authority and Trust for Your Domain

There’s a running theme in many of the Google search ranking factors. Google wants reasons to trust your site. It’s not going to direct users to a site it doesn’t think is trustworthy.

Domain authority and trust play into this. Domain authority can be tricky to build. It relies somewhat on factors like how long you’ve had the domain and where your servers are located.

8. Show Google How to Get Around

If you haven’t added a sitemap, it’s time to do so. Your users may not care so much about the sitemap, but Google does.

Why?

A sitemap helps Google’s crawlers index your site with ease. Using the sitemap, they can see where content is and how it connects to other pages.

9. Catering to Mobile Users

The importance of catering to the mobile experience cannot be understated. Google started rolling out mobile-first indexing a while ago. Some sites still don’t offer a great mobile experience.

Why is it so important? First, more of your audience is browsing on mobile. That number is only going to continue to rise.

In turn, Google will continue to focus on the mobile experience. If you’re not delivering a great mobile experience, your site will continue to struggle.

More important is how many other factors the “mobile experience” actually includes. Accessibility is one. Page speed and image optimization are others.

In short, by thinking about the mobile experience, you can boost a whole host of Google’s search ranking factors.

10. Think about Freshness

Google says it doesn’t use “publishing frequency” as a factor in ranking pages. Others speculate that there’s a certain “freshness” factor.

The thought is that publishing new content acts as a refresher for the site. It invites Google’s crawlers back to the site to index the new content. In turn, Google may put more emphasis on pages that are publishing regularly.

If the user experience is the concern, this might make sense. Sites that publish new content regularly are likely to have more up-to-date information, and they’re more likely to be secure. In short, they may deliver a better user experience.

11. Content Formatting and Reading Level

You know that content length, depth, and relevancy are important factors in determining your SEO ranking. Other aspects of content sometimes get overlooked.

Formatting and reading level are two of those. Reading level measures the ease with which a reader can understand your content. A very high reading level may mean the content isn’t easily understood by most people.

That, in turn, can hurt your ranking.

Formatting often goes hand in hand with reading levels. Breaking up large chunks of text with headings can help make content easier to read. Special formatting, such as bulleted and numbered lists, can also make content easier to understand.

12. Using Other Google Products Can Influence SEO

Google’s algorithm isn’t entirely neutral. It’s not surprising that integrating other Google products with your site can give your SEO a boost.

Chances are you want to use products like Google Analytics anyway. This tool is freely available and gives you key insights about your site and traffic.

More surprising, you can use YouTube videos to improve your SEO. Since Google owns YouTube, it tends to favor videos from this source. Integrate videos from your YouTube channel to your site.

13. Reviews and Reputation

As mentioned, Google puts a good deal of emphasis on trustworthiness. Sometimes, though, a link from another site isn’t the kind of “proof” the search engine wants.

Reviews and recommendations are also important for anyone hoping to improve their SEO. Reviews act as a kind of social proof, allowing customers to tell other people about a site or business.

Reviews are important to your customers. They want to know if your service is good or a product really does what you say it will. By considering reviews, Google can address users’ concerns and make better recommendations.

14. Bounce Rate Could Influence Rankings

Another controversial factor is the bounce rate. This metric measures how many people leave your site immediately after landing on a page.

Why would Google care about that? A low bounce rate is a sign that the algorithm is working. When people spend time on a site after clicking the link, it means the content was likely helpful to them.

By contrast, a high bounce rate indicates an irrelevant search result.

Of course, people leave sites quickly for other reasons. Poor design and bad user experiences are some of the most common factors. You can reduce your bounce rate by improving relevancy, design, and the quality of your copy.

15. Increase Dwell Time to Improve Ranking

Dwell time is somewhat like a bounce rate. Instead of measuring how many people leave quickly, dwell time measures how long a user spends on a page or site after clicking the link.

Like the bounce rate, this signals to Google that the algorithm worked. If you click a link, then spend several minutes reading the content, it was likely relevant to your search. With luck, it answered your initial question and several more.

Unlike bounce rate, Google has confirmed it does indeed measure dwell time. The tactics used to decrease bounce rates can also be used to increase dwell time.

16. Send Some Social Signals

There’s some debate about just how much Google cares about social shares and comments when it comes to ranking factors. The answer seems to be somewhere between “not at all” and “a lot.”

Social signals, such as the number of comments, likes, and shares, do seem to influence SEO. Even good social media seems to play a role in boosting SEO.

Even if they didn’t add much to your SEO, creating shareable content and encouraging your audience to interact with your content are still great goals.

17. Direct Traffic Plays a Role in SEO

It’s almost counter-intuitive, but you want to focus on driving direct traffic to your site to boost your SEO.

You might be wondering how that works. Aren’t you supposed to be using SEO to boost your traffic? When most people start their Internet browsing sessions with a search query, you might wonder how they’re supposed to find your site if not through Google.

Google keeps track of your direct traffic as well as repeat visitors. Once someone has visited your site once, they may return directly.

Sites that people visit directly are often authoritative. That’s why Google takes direct traffic as a sign of trustworthiness.

To boost your SEO ranking, then, you’ll need to look beyond search engine traffic. Make sure you get the word out about your website, by putting it on receipts, flyers, and more.

Rise through the Rankings

Obviously, this isn’t the full list of Google search ranking factors. These 17 factors are important, and they do overlap with many of the other factors in the algorithm. By focusing on them, you can improve your SEO.

Not sure where to start? Get in touch with the experts. With the right help and advice, a better SEO strategy is just a few clicks away.

from https://riserr.com/17-google-search-ranking-factors-that-go-beyond-keywords/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=17-google-search-ranking-factors-that-go-beyond-keywords

from Riserr - Blog https://riserr.weebly.com/blog/17-google-search-ranking-factors-that-go-beyond-keywords