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Chemistry is one of the most challenging majors, but pursuing a chemistry degree is an excellent start for various rewarding careers. While the job market may be competitive, the good news is that the job prospects for chemistry graduates are bright, and there are many fulfilling career paths you can explore upon graduating. 

The following are some of the most exciting careers you may consider after graduating with a chemistry major and acquiring an advanced degree:

Analytical Chemist

As an analytical chemist, you will work in a lab and study and analyze the chemical composition of various substances. Analytical chemistry is most commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry for the development and quality control of drugs and other products, forensic analysis, and more. The typical job functions of an analytical chemist include, but are not limited to:

  • Carrying out research and analysis using various equipment and technologies
  • Developing new methods to conduct chemical analysis with the latest technologies
  • Testing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs before they are made available to the public
  • Working in teams and effectively communicating findings to chemists and other scientists 

Water Chemist 

Water chemists are responsible for examining and maintaining water quality to ensure it is clean and safe for consumption and other uses. They study the presence of potential pollutants like chemicals in the water. 

Water chemists can take on a variety of roles. They perform tasks like ensuring that water processed at filtration plants is safe for use and investigating watershed or surface water contamination. Not only this, but they may evaluate ecosystems and develop or improve processes to get rid of contaminants from water.

Water chemists are also referred to as hydrologists, hydrogeologists, or water purification chemists. They work in the field and laboratories.

Pharmacologist 

Pharmacologists are concerned with researching and developing drugs and analyzing their interaction with the biological systems of humans and animals.

They study the chemical composition of drugs and play a vital role in ensuring that new drugs are safe and effective for use by conducting clinical trials on voluntary patients. After administering the drug, they closely monitor test subjects to determine its efficacy, adverse effects, and effective dosage. 

While their primary role is to find new and safe medicines, they may also be involved in testing the safety and hazards of pesticides, cosmetics, or food additives. Pharmacologists typically work in a lab setting for pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, universities, or government departments.

Geochemist

Geochemists study the earth using geology and chemistry. They collect and analyze samples of the earth’s natural resources, especially soil, rocks, and minerals, and examine their chemical structure. They may also develop plans to remove hazardous waste and improve water quality in natural water sites.

Geochemists typically find employment with oil companies, research institutions, and government and environmental agencies. They are required to travel for fieldwork studies and to visit job sites.

Hazardous Waste Management Specialist

As a chemist in hazardous waste management, you will work in a lab setting using your expertise to identify, monitor, and manage harmful chemical contaminants in the air, water, and soil.

You may be tasked with safely handling and relocating hazardous, highly toxic waste material using appropriate mechanisms to minimize its effects on humans, animals, and the overall environment. 

In addition, you may work to develop strategies for organizations to manage dangerous waste in a better and more efficient way.

There are various employers for which you may work. These include solid waste management departments of local governments or entities that produce large amounts of hazardous waste like industries, hospitals, or utilities.

In Summary

One of the most pertinent concerns for many undergraduate students is deciphering what they can do after graduating. From government departments and research institutes to pharmaceutical companies, a chemistry degree provides a wide range of rewarding employment opportunities across a broad range of sectors.

Posted by Emily Dawson on May 4, 2022 7:12 PM BST

Ecommerce is the rave currently thanks to the recent developments due to the global pandemic. The global marketplace is today driven by the individual on-demand economy that is opening up endless opportunities to create wealth in online entrepreneurship. 

You want to earn some quick money online – what unique business idea or item do you have to solve a potential customer's need? Tender that item online and position it strategically to make money for you with a little enterprise.

Jewelry

Selling assorted jewelry online can make you quick money. However, selling high-value jewelry and especially artificial stones will make you really big money online and turn your little enterprise into an empire. High-value jewelry also attracts assistance from established jewelers that might just have the right customers for your precious items.

Before considering artificial jewelry, learn about the characteristics of lab-made diamonds and get credible information on what it takes to deal in online jewelry from PetraGems. The jewelry market is unisex and growing while offering opportunities for all, has all-year demand, and takes minimal inventory stock. Watches, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, etc., fall in this category of fast-moving items with a fair profit margin.

Beauty products

Do you have a massive social media following? Why not convert this platform into an online business outlet for beauty products and earn some quick cash? Beauty products are easy to showcase on your social media pages and have many more sub-niches to expand into for diversity.

You can source your stock from manufacturers or sell on behalf of the product companies as a sales representative. The latter gives you more latitude in terms of investment cash and delivery logistics. The company can package and deliver directly to your customer as you earn your commissions at no extra cost.

Athleisure and Activewear

Trendy hoodies, sweatshirts, sneakers, and polo shirts are spin-offs from gym wear that have taken on a cultic following in regular use. That there is a market that's not saturating, let alone dying soon and expected to hit a global market value of $546,802 million by 2024. Cloth designs derived from popular sportswear are in constant high demand, and most of this gravy train is moving online.

Find a reputable wholesaler in chic athleisure and activewear to underpin your online business and ensure steady growth. Select a strong brand that can sustain high demand and handsome profit margins.

Phone accessories

Any mobile phone-related accessories are hot sales online today and going forward. You want a slice of these fast-moving highly-in-demand items to earn yourself some quick dollars. What makes this a perpetual goldmine is that new phone models are launching practically every day and require kitting with swanky accessories.

Their small and compact size makes packaging and shipping easy and less costly, allowing for better margins in savings. Shop around for creative designs as you come up with your styles to expand your product catalog. The phone accessories market promises continuity and longevity.

Women’s boutique apparel

An online clothing store presents another great opportunity to earn good money if you know what inventory to select. Women mind what they wear and are always looking for the latest and most trendy outfits in the market. Choose a niche demographic and tend to their desires as you make a quick buck.

The market is assuredly there, but you must stand out of the crowd and make your site unique to attract customers. Go for a strong brand and partner with a reliable wholesaler in the industry to support your venture as you take off. This business requires substantial upfront capital for initial stock.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Mar 26, 2022 4:16 PM GMT

Healthcare tends to change constantly and this is why you need a lifelong commitment to learning and continuous skill development if you want to stay relevant in your nursing job. By capitalizing on factors that impact the healthcare industry, you can continue to progress in your career. 

An aging population and increasing chronic disease

Changing patient demographics are impacting the health industry and with aging populations that suffer from chronic health conditions, the demand for nurses keeps increasing. This trend means that nurses need to build more specialized skill sets as there is a shortage of nurses skilled in emerging technologies

By doing an online master’s degree in health care, you can build the advanced skills you need to place yourself in a strong position to take up leadership and management roles at an earlier stage in your career. There’s a demand for teachers who can train nurses. 

An MSN in nursing education from the University of Texas at Arlington concentrates on the core knowledge you need to develop curricula, advance your teaching skills, and evaluate and develop active strategies to engage students in the classroom.

A focus on collaboration within care delivery teams

Separate silos in healthcare delivery programs are breaking down. Nurses, physicians, labs, and pharmacies are teaming up to share data as this increases the quality of patient care. All health care professionals need a thorough understanding of how healthcare providers work and technical as well as collaborative skills. 

As a nurse practitioner, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and you can discuss and determine the best ways to take care of particular patients and offer them more personalized care. 

The impact of data on delivery and management of health care

Health IT is an emerging field that includes electronic health records (EHRs), health apps, and online patient portals. In simple form, EHRs are digital versions of patient medical charts. Some are more advanced and allow patients to find doctors, make appointments, review test results and include patient-generated data from personal fitness devices and mobile apps.

You will need to know how to work with EHRs, portable monitors and other tools and equipment that offer more efficient patient care if you want to progress in your career. For example, filling in manual patient records takes up time and the potential for inaccuracies due to lost paperwork, illegible handwriting etc. Using EHRs eliminates these problems and helps you to offer better patient care. 

An emphasis on population health initiatives

Providers are more interested today in offering preventative health care and proper rehabilitation. They are educating the public about health and helping them to avoid illness and injuries. 

If you qualify as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), you will focus on a particular population in your training, such as mothers, children, the mentally ill etc. With a shortage of healthcare professionals, you can play a significant role as a Family Nurse Practitioner in these populations. 

A move to preventative health care

In the traditional healthcare model, the focus is on intervention once patients are already ill to offer access to care and treatment. Emerging technologies offer the opportunity to shift the focus to preventative care. People are being empowered to take care of their health and make changes to their lifestyles to prevent them from developing illnesses and diseases. 

As a nurse, you are well placed in the healthcare industry to work with patients who want to actively manage their health. Information from devices like activity trackers can help in discussions between you and patients in your care. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Feb 9, 2022 5:54 AM GMT

Every couple can benefit from pre-marital counselling and those who get married without it may find they’re unprepared for some of the issues they encounter. Pre-marital counselling can ensure couples have a solid foundation on which to build their married life. Facing certain issues head-on before the marriage takes place can reassure couples that they are ready for the next step in their relationship. 

Counsellors know what questions to ask

Counsellors know what questions to ask when working with engaged couples. They may bring out important information that couples did not even think were necessary to discuss. One question they may ask is how a partner visualizes the marriage in 10 or 15 years. Couples often benefit from listening carefully to a partner’s responses to the questions asked. 

Addressing certain issues like money, sex, and having children is essential before getting married. Interactive Counselling has professional counsellors who offer marriage counselling Grand Prairie and will ask all the right questions so they can help couples understand what they hope to get out of the marriage and give them common goals to work towards that they both believe in. 

It builds communication skills

Couples that know how to work through their difficulties and communicate openly are at an advantage. Having a third party to help them build these skills and communicate their individual needs and desires can get them through the tough times they will inevitably face in their marriage relationship. 

Unhealthy marriages often result from a lack of communication. Successfully being able to talk through potential problems instead of arguing about them or ignoring them is an important key to a healthy marriage. Openly expressing feelings and listening to one another can help a relationship to develop that can stand the test of time. 

It can help with financial planning

Couples may go into a marriage without really discussing their future financial plans because they are so busy with their wedding preparations and the excitement of their relationship. They may even be in debt due to financing a wedding they couldn’t really afford. 

Pre-marital counsellors can help them with financial issues like budgeting. They can find out about any loans or outstanding debt partners may have and tackle issues like whether they will have joint bank accounts or not. 

Hidden issues may come out

Hurtful past experiences in relationships, attitudes towards sex and false expectations about marriage may come out in the course of pre-marital counselling. These issues need to be discussed to start the marriage relationship off on a healthy basis. 

It may be surprising to one partner when the other confides about past abuse in relationships or what they expect of the marriage relationship, especially when they thought they knew everything about the person. The more couples know about each other, the more chances they have of a successful marriage. When certain issues only come out once they are married, this can cause real problems. 

It is easy to recreate the dynamics of past relationships and talking about them allows couples to make more conscious choices and relate in healthier ways. 

Develop conflict resolution skills

Couples bring their own history, values and opinions into a relationship and this can inevitably create conflict with a partner when they think differently. A counsellor may ask a couple how they plan to handle conflicts and help them to develop conflict resolution skills. 

For example, it helps if a couple is on the same page when emergencies happen, such as financial troubles or sickness. Discussing parenting styles, decision-making, and gender roles can pre-empt issues from escalating down the road. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Dec 21, 2021 4:24 PM GMT

Streaming services have taken the world by storm and there are a couple of giants of the industry that have produced blockbuster shows for us to binge on. 

Discovery plus is unlike the other streaming subscription services in that they focus on shows that have made the discovery channel so popular. Instead of having a channel to get your fix of natural phenomena, you can binge on everything that nature has to offer and more. Here are the best shows on Discovery plus. 

Planet earth series

When someone mentions the Discovery Channel, their immediate thoughts would likely be some or another show about nature narrated by David Attenborough. In this case, they would be 100% correct. 

The series is visually astounding and makes a great case for the vulnerability and the majesty of the natural world. Attenborough is his best during the narration of the shows and his experience in the field shines like a diamond in the darkness.

Of course, no one likes getting an error before or during streaming their favorite shows. Errorwise knows what you are going through and they have amazing advice for resolving any error you may encounter before you see another epic lion vs. gazelle chase. 

Mythbusters

By now, you should have come across the infamous duo of Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage. There could not be a better job on the planet. Mythbusters had been around for several years and the show was nothing short of superb. 

The lengths that these two will go to to prove or disprove a myth are spectacular. Everything is calculated and scientific and their findings are never mythical. Similar shows are doing the rounds, but none of them have ever come close to achieving the kind of cult following that Hyneman and Savage were about to produce. 

Ghost adventures

If you are a fan of the paranormal and want to binge on some X-files caliber unexplained phenomena, Ghost adventures are the show that will keep you glued to your screen. Zak Bagans and his team are constantly on the lookout for haunted places around the globe. 

A lot of the material they have produced is outright scary and then some episodes border on the mundane. Nevertheless, the team always manages to find something of a paranormal nature and tries to determine whether it is a hoax or the real deal. After watching the show, you might even consider taking up religion. 

90 Day Fiancé 

A more recent entry into the best shows to watch on Discovery Plus is the unscripted reality show 90 Day Fiancé. The show follows couples who intend to get married to obtain their US citizenship. 

According to the K-1 regulations, the couple has to get married within 90 days for the foreign bride to get citizenship. What ensues is a show that is packed with drama, doubt, and a whole lot of romance. There have been spin-offs that have tried to recreate the show, but it dominates in all areas and is still the show about marriage and green cards that you want to see first.

Fixer Upper

When it comes to home renovation shows, Chip and Joanna Gaines lead the best ones. The Waco natives have crept into the hearts of millions of Americans with their sharp banter and seemingly endless pool of creative ideas to spruce up a house. Although they are in the process of launching their own Magnolia network, their full catalog of shows is available on Discovery Plus. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Nov 18, 2021 4:54 AM GMT

People have been using cosmetics since ancient times to enhance their appearance and take care of their bodies. The ancient Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Romans were all familiar with makeup and beauty items and they used them either to protect their skin or to accentuate their features. Fast forward a few thousand years and cosmetics are more popular than ever.

Things changed a lot in the beauty industry over the years. Besides having a much wider variety of cosmetics products available than the ancient Egyptians ever had, probably the most notable transformation is that we’ve eliminated dangerous or potentially deadly substances from the list of ingredients used in these products. And just like that, the cosmetic industry turned into one of the most profitable industries on the planet, with a revenue estimated at billions of dollars each year. 

Creams, lotions, deodorants, shampoos, makeup items are just some of the cosmetic products most of us use on a daily basis. Since we have so many options to choose from, we stock our bathroom cabinets and vanity tables with all sorts of makeup and personal care items that are meant to make us look and feel better.  

People simply love their beauty products, but very few are also interested in what they actually contain. It’s strange to think that so many of us don’t know what we’re putting on our skin. So, we believe it’s time to go behind the scenes and delve into cosmetic chemistry in order to shed some light on this topic.

Makeup artists, take note!

The life of a makeup artist is anything but easy as they have to perfect their makeup skills, staying up to date with the latest makeup techniques and products in the industry, working under pressure or in difficult work settings, etc. 

However, as a makeup artist, great makeup skills are not enough to achieve success in the field. Having a thorough understanding of the products you use on your clients and what they contain is just as important. This can help you choose and mix products properly in order to get the best results. It can also keep unpleasant events at bay – the last thing you want is to deal with product contamination or skin damages caused by the products you used. 

Of course, a good makeup artist insurance can protect you and your business in these situations, but it’s much better to learn how to avoid these issues in the first place. And that’s why a basic knowledge of cosmetic chemistry can come in handy and help you become a much better makeup artist. 

Common ingredients used in cosmetics 

Now, onto the good part, where we finally decipher the mystery and find out what most cosmetic products contain. While there are thousands of cosmetic items on the market at the moment, each of them with their unique blend of chemicals, many of which have long and hard-to-pronounce names, most products have a series of ingredients in common. So, we’re going to focus on listing these ingredients and explaining what their purpose is. 

Water

Water is probably the most common ingredient found in cosmetic products, and that’s why we placed it at the top of our list. Water is used as the basis for many cosmetic products, from creams and cleansers to shampoos and deodorants, so you’ll see it listed as the main ingredient on many product labels. It’s often used as the main solvent to dissolve many of the other ingredients in the product. 

Emulsifiers 

Emulsifiers refer to a category of ingredients that are used to keep other ingredients from separating when formulating a product. Many cosmetic products contain ingredients that don’t mix with each other – like water and oil. That’s where emulsifiers such as Laureth-4, polysorbates, and potassium cetyl sulfate come into play to keep ingredients together and create a homogenous and even consistency. 

Preservatives

Preservatives represent a very important class of ingredients that many people are already familiar with. Their purpose is to extend the shelf-life of cosmetic products as they have anti-microbial properties that prevent the products from going bad. Without preservatives, the shelf-life of many popular cosmetic products would be a lot shorter and we’d have to replace them much more often. 

Thickeners 

Just as the name implies, thickeners are ingredients that have to do with consistency. When formulating a product, the combination of ingredients used doesn’t always result in a pleasant or elegant consistency. That’s why thickeners are used – to correct these issues by enhancing the consistency, volume, and viscosity of cosmetic products. Xanthan gum, gelatin, cetyl alcohol, or silica are common thickeners used in the cosmetic industry. 

Emollients

Emollients are ingredients that have a softening effect on the skin, so you’ll find them in a lot of creams, lotions, and balms. They work by creating a protective film on the skin that traps moisture inside, thus reducing water loss. This makes emollients ideal for restoring and protecting the skin barrier function. Oils, waxes, and silicones all fall into this category. 

Pigments

Have you ever wondered how makeup companies come up with those beautiful shades for their eye palettes, lipsticks, or blushes? Coloring agents and pigments are used to achieve that, and they include a wide variety of powder-based chemicals such as iron oxide, mica flakes, manganese, beet powder, and so on. 

Glitter 

Shiny and glittering makeup products are definitely an eye-catcher, but their chemical composition is pretty basic. There are different substances that can produce this shimmering effect in cosmetic products, the most common ones being mica and bismuth oxychloride. 

Fragrances 

Fragrance in cosmetics usually has the role of making the product more appealing to the consumer. Companies use both naturally occurring substances as well as chemical ingredients to give their products a pleasant smell. There are many chemicals that can hide under the name fragrance since most fragrances are created by using a variety of different ingredients. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Sep 26, 2021 5:44 PM BST

Plunger pumps can be used in a wide variety of applications where high pressure is required. Wherever liquid media, such as water, oils or liquid gases, has to be pumped at high pressure, they provide suitable solutions.

The pumps can vary in flow rates from less than a gallon a minute for misting applications to hundreds of gallons a minute for industrial cleaning. The plunger pump is different from a piston pump as it includes a stationary high-pressure seal and a plunger that slides through it. Here are five small businesses that can benefit from using plunger pumps.

1. Commercial roof washers

The compounds used in soft wash solutions are harsh enough to damage electric pumps, which means they need replacing frequently. Reaching high vertical surfaces with enough coverage means many pumps don’t have enough power and flow. Gas-powered engines can work, but they may create too much noise in residential and commercial settings. 

PumpTec offers businesses the highest quality and efficiency plunger pump available in the marketplace and designs custom solutions for businesses like commercial roof washers. Its plunger pumps won’t be damaged by the chemicals in soft wash solutions, are compact in size, durable, and operate quietly.

2. Hospital disinfectant services

Disinfectant cleaning companies often provide hospitals with their cleaning services and use hospital-grade chemicals. The pumps they use have to be chemically resistant. They also need to operate quietly, efficiently and deliver fast turnaround time. 

A plunger pump can deliver a consistent ultra-fine mist of chemicals and meet all the operating requirements of a disinfectant business. By using a plunger pump, it won’t use excess product and the pump won’t deteriorate quickly because it is designed for chemical product use. A plunger pump delivers the longevity and performance that saves money for such a company over the long term.

3. Pest control services

Most pest control liquids contain chemicals that are not conducive to typical pumps. Another challenge is that some chemicals require medium to high pressure and low volume during application, while others require high volume and low nozzle pressure.

Consistent nozzle pressure and excess flow are a problem when using centrifugal and diaphragm pumps. Providing the right pressure and flow is a challenge but using a customized plunger pump solution can be the answer. This can lower operating costs and increase the precision of applications.

4. Portable watermakers

The customers of portable watermakers are those who live off the grid and travel around. They need to convert water they find into fresh, potable water. One of the most effective methods for doing this is reverse osmosis which is highly effective in treating brackish, surface, and groundwater. Those who want to turn seawater into freshwater have a challenge because seawater is corrosive. 

Portable water makers have to consider factors like compact height and weight restrictions and still generate enough capacity for users. Custom-designed plunger pumps can offer durable reverse osmosis systems suitable for just about any off-the-grid application. 

5. Professional carpet cleaners

On professional carpet cleaning machines, the pump pressure is rated in psi (pounds per square inch). This refers to the pressure at which the cleaning solution is sprayed into the carpet. For professional cleaning results, high pressure is required. Professional carpet cleaners also need to use pumps that are lightweight, easy to operate, and capable of achieving professional results. 

Using a plunger pump means that water pressure does more of the work and fewer passes are needed to clean a carpet. The pump is not affected by the chemicals used and is very reliable and durable. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Sep 14, 2021 3:23 AM BST

When the pandemic hit in 2020, no one could have foreseen the changes it would bring to the workplace, socializing and life in general. It brought with it a new normal and where some people have adjusted, others are struggling to adapt to the new way of doing things. Businesses have been hit the hardest, especially when it comes to health and safety rules. Here is a quick look at the new norms and standards. 

Getting to know the new standards

Employers and employees have an equal stake in the health and safety of the office. However, employers need to initiate the new protocols and ensure that the regulations are implemented and adhered to. To better acquaint themselves with the new rules, they need to find an EHS software package that can assist in developing a new health and safety protocol. 

Regardless of the industry, ETQ has several solutions to ensure that you are compliant with the latest regulations. It all starts with a job safety analysis to determine where the weak spots at the office are. From there, custom solutions can be developed and deployed to ensure the safety of everyone at the office. 

Keeping clean

The pandemic put a new emphasis on cleanliness, especially in business. Health and safety rules now state that there should be visible disinfectant stations throughout the business area. 

All bathrooms need to be fitted with disinfectant spray and every entry and exit point should also have a space where people can sanitize. This is a basic measure that every business now has to budget for to ensure that their staff is always able to sanitize. 

After a day’s work, the entire office or workspace needs to be cleaned and disinfected. Lastly, no one in the office should be able to say that they did not know. Therefore, clear messages, policies, and practical guides should be posted for everyone to boost awareness. 

Having a plan B

After businesses started to open their doors again, everybody quickly realized that how the business operated had changed forever. In the past, it was a given that everyone needed to clock in, in the morning and leave at the end of the day. Now, businesses have to allow staff to work remotely. 

Not only do they need to allow their staff to work remotely, but they have to insist thereon when a staff member shows any symptoms. This means that companies need to be geared to accommodate remote work, whether it is by choice or not. 

Setting new social distance rules

Office space has changed dramatically because of the social distance that workers need to keep from one another. As per the new rules and regulations, a distance of more than one meter should be maintained at all times. 

Co-workers can no longer work with their desks facing each other. Cubicles are out of the question and communal areas may not exist anymore. As far as is possible in a closed business space, staff should keep to their equipment and stationery to minimize the risk of spreading disease. 

Monitoring

A staff member can no longer merely state that he or she was under the weather and could not come into the office. Temperature monitoring and daily symptom questionnaires are but some of how employers need to keep track of the well-being of their staff. 

When someone shows any sign or symptom, then it has to be reported and investigated. This might feel like an invasion of one’s privacy, but for the sake of everyone should be done nonetheless.   

Posted by Emily Dawson on Aug 19, 2021 5:11 PM BST

Costa Rica is a stable country with a tropical climate and a thriving economy. The government makes an effort to encourage foreign investment. Americans wanting a second home in a country with beautiful scenery and amazing beaches are attracted like magnets to Costa Rica. 

The country has one of the lowest crime rates compared to other countries in Central America, the people are welcoming and the cost of living is reasonable.  

Americans can purchase and own property

Citizenship and residence in Costa Rica are not required for property ownership. The Costa Rican constitution guarantees Americans and other foreigners the same ownership rights as Costa Ricans. Americans can buy a property with a tourist status visa. Few physical restrictions apply, besides a 50-meter limit from the beach on oceanfront property. Doing due diligence and working with reputable real estate agents is important. 

Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica offers the widest and highest caliber selection of Costa Rica Real Estate in Guanacaste, from condos and traditional single-family homes to sprawling beachfront villas and homes in gated communities. They deliver a best-in-class experience with their bilingual and local expertise.   

The perfect location

Costa Rica borders the Caribbean in the east and the North Pacific Ocean in the west. It covers about 800 miles of coastline and includes several islands. From the golden sands of Guanacaste to the rainforests in the south, the tiny country offers plenty of adventure, stunning beaches and caters to every kind of lifestyle. 

There are many national parks, protected zones, wetland areas and forest reserves. It has pristine beaches and the weather is sunny and warm almost every day, despite a windy December and a rainy season.     

A valuable investment

With tourists and expats buoying the real estate market, properties have been steadily increasing in value for a couple of decades and this is likely to continue thanks to its endless natural attraction and its friendliness to foreigners. There are definite benefits from investing in an established market with good solid gains.   

 An investment property in Costa Rica can also provide an opportunity for rental income and a good real estate company can help investors to organize this. There is always a demand for rentals as the natural beauty of Costa Rica is an irresistible draw. Buying a condominium may be preferable for absent owners because they have good security and usually have additional amenities that are an advantage if the plan is to rent it out. 

Low taxes

The property taxes in Costa Rica are low – a quarter to 1% annually. The tax can be paid on a quarterly basis or in one payment for the year that gives a small tax break. 

A good incentive for American investors is that Costa Rica has no capital gains tax. The Costa Rican government does not tax sellers on profit from a sale as long as it isn’t undertaken as a means of business. Americans do still have to pay taxes on any declared earnings they bring back to America. 

Convenience

There are direct flights from many major U.S. cities to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica and it is possible to find cheap ones. This makes it easy for Americans to fly back and forth. The locals in Costa Rica generally speak English and have a high literacy rate so there are few language barrier issues. 

Experts predict that Americans from North America are likely to make up about a fourth of Costa Rica’s total population in the future. Their dollars go much further in Costa Rica, where they can enjoy entertainment, dining and accommodation for less. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Aug 17, 2021 3:42 PM BST

With the advent of social media came a whole new era of marketing. What was originally meant to be a social sharing network turned into an advertising mecca. 

The creators of the social media platform saw the potential in advertising and the paid ads were born. These ads are designed to up your revenue, but what happens when the ads do not deliver and increase your sales?

Not having the right account

You could be creating the best copy for your brand and have some of the best-looking abs out there. If your account is not set to be a business account, then you will not be able to place any adverts or promote products or services. 

When this does not solve your problem, then your ads might not be formatted correctly, you might also not be set up as a page admin. Either way, the technical stuff matters, and these are the things that often ruin a good marketing strategy. 

Do yourself a favor and ensure that you have ticked all the boxes. Take some time to get the technical side of things sorted before starting to blame Instagram for dodgy algorithms. 

Get the people on your side

A sure way to increase your sales from the adverts that you place is to get the people to like you. When you are all about the money and never want to show some charity, then people will ignore you. Play around with promotional or free products to get things going. 

To get the work out a bit faster, you could buy Instagram followers so that they can share the ads with their friends. At TechCrunch50.com, you can buy anything from 200 to 5000 real Instagram followers who will act as your promoters for a small fee. Once they get going, your campaign is sure to yield some results. 

Play with frequency

Many beginners who start their marketing campaigns on Instagram fall into the trap of bombardment. Their adverts come across as spam and people delete or ignore the posts before reading a single word. Other people fall over to the other side of the horse and post their adverts sporadically or not frequently enough. 

Somewhere between posting too little and harassing your followers with adverts, there lies a sweet spot. It takes time to find this spot, but once you have the frequency pegged, then you will start to see the desired effects of your posts. 

This is not a sprint

Contrary to what many people believe, an Instagram marketing campaign is not a sprint. People get consumed with the success of major companies and hardly ever do some research to find out that they also had small beginnings. 

Granted, things do move a bit faster nowadays, but you still need to give your campaign some time to have an effect. Being impatient and expecting unrealistic results will only discourage you. Rather, take your time and slowly filter your content through and you will see a gradual rise in your sales. The point is to have an extended campaign at the ready. 

Make your ads mobile-friendly

Instagram is a unique marketing platform due to the mode with which it is accessed. Most people view Instagram posts on their mobile devices. Although you create stunning visuals and jaw-dropping marketing material, it will mean very little if it is not tailored for mobile devices. 

Before posting your adverts on Instagram, make sure that they convert well to a mobile format and that whatever text is used is clearly visible. Also, make sure that the landing pages that your posts lead to are also mobile-friendly.    

Posted by Emily Dawson on Jul 7, 2021 5:48 AM BST
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