milaeryomina's blog

Are word games good for you? As the game developers behind the acclaimed Word Farm Adventure puzzle game, this is one of the questions we have been getting a lot so we thought it would be a good idea to address this in our blog.

Here are the top 5 benefits of word games for adults, kids, students and seniors alike.

VOCABULARY

Word games help you expand your vocabulary whether it is for personal or professional use. They also improve your spelling skills.

STRESS-RELIEF

Crossword and puzzle games are known for their ability to relieve stress helping you relax, which is why they are particularly popular among adults and stay-at-home moms.

COGNITIVE SKILLS

Word games help develop problem-solving, concentration and speed skills, making them a great educational tool for children. In addition, they provide exercise for your memory, which is why they are recommended for seniors.

FUN

Word games are fun for all generations, which should not come as a surprise, seeing they are some of the top downloaded apps on both IOS and Android.

CONVENIENT

While old school crossword books were already easy to carry around, they are now accessible everywhere through mobile phones and tablets.

Looking for a word game that can improve your skills while delivering tons of fun?

Word Farm Adventure was specifically designed to cater to adults and children alike, enhancing your mental abilities while enjoying a great story filled with cute animals where you battle evil forces and build your own farm.

These tips will help you in the boardroom, at a dinner party or in front of a crowd of thousands.

Some people seem to glow when they’re given a microphone and are asked to give a toast or a speech, while others of us would much rather sprint as fast as possible in the opposite direction.

The important lesson here is nervousness is actually perfectly normal, Marjorie L. North, a speech pathologist and lecturer at Harvard University, tells NBC News BETTER. (And that person who looks totally at ease is likely going through — or has at some point previously — felt the same exact way.)

“When your heart starts pounding, you’re sweating, your hands are shaking, your knees are shaking, and you feel like you’re going to pass out — that’s the way everybody feels,” says North, who has been teaching public speaking courses for more than 35 years.

Speaking in front of a large crowd is not a natural activity for anyone; to get better at it, you need to learn how to do it, prepare and practice, she explains. “It’s a skill, not a talent.”

Your personality of course has something to do with how you approach speaking in front of people — whether that’s a crowd of thousands or a boardroom full of your bosses and colleagues. People who are more introverted tend to keep a lot of ideas in their heads and on top of mind to keep their brain from getting bored, rather than relying on other people or activities to keep their minds occupied, Jadzia Jagiellowicz, PhD (Psch), a cognitive psychologist, told NBC — “they have an exciting ‘inner life.’” And that’s why too much stimulation and excitement (for example a full room of people whose eyes and attention are all focused on you) can be overwhelming for people who are more introverted, she says.

The brains of people who are more extroverted work the opposite way. Excitement and stimulation — like engaging in a spirited conversation or giving a presentation — energizes people who are extroverted, rather than being overwhelming, Jagiellowicz says.

It may be more likely that extroverts will feel comfortable in front of a crowd, but it still takes skill and practice to speak effectively in a way that engages your audience, North says. Even in smaller, less formal situations you can train yourself to be a better communicator, she adds.

There’s no one checklist that will turn you into a great public speaker overnight. It takes practice, preparation and it helps to get feedback, North says. But remembering these key principles is a good place to start in terms of becoming a better communicator in any situation.

There’s not a checklist that will turn you into a great public speaker overnight: It takes practice, preparation and feedback.uschools / Getty Images

1. Be OK with being nervous.

Even the biggest extroverts among us get the jitters from time to time, North explains. Feeling shy and nervous are feelings, not personality traits. And we all face such feelings when we find ourselves in situations that make us uncomfortable, North says. (Some research suggests that it’s actually our past experiences — particularly those from our childhoods — that play a much more significant role in whether or not we feel shy in different situations more so than whether we are introverted or extroverted.)

Feeling shy and nervous are feelings, not personality traits.

The trick is recognizing that nerves are normal and not letting them stop you from speaking confidently, North says. “It’s a natural part of the public speaking process.”

2. Put your audience first.

Remember, the point of giving a toast, a presentation or a speech is about communicating your message to your audience. It’s not about you, Carol Fleming, PhD, a San Francisco-based communications coach and author of It's the Way You Say It and The Serious Business of Small Talk, tells NBC.

You have to give yourself to your audience. Any second you spend being self-conscious, you’re not paying attention to your audience, she says. “The good speaker is the one who leans forward and says who are you? What do you need? How can I help you?”

3. Prepare.

Plan ahead. Take the time to figure out the best way to tailor your message to your audience — what approach will keep your listeners attention and resonate with them? North asks. Think of a strong introduction that will grab listeners’ attention. And craft a thoughtful conclusion so listeners leave remembering what the key points you want them to take away.

Preparing for less formal conversation — such as a dinner party with new neighbors, a networking event or a meeting at work — is definitely different from preparing for a formal speech, Fleming adds. But planning ahead can still help. Thinking about points you might want to make about a project at work before a meeting with the higher ups will help you feel more confident when it’s time to voice your opinion. And knowing a little bit about fellow party guests ahead of time can make it easier to land on conversations you’re both engaged in.

4. Outline (don’t script).

If possible, outline what you plan to say rather than write out your speech word-for-word, North adds. “It allows the language you use to be more natural, it allows your voice to be much more natural and eye contact is better.”

Plus, not reading your speech from a script makes you look more competent and confident because it shows that you really know your stuff, North adds. “You’re speaking to them about it. I could get up there and read a script from a paper without knowing anything about it,” she says.

5. Practice.

Winging it doesn’t work for even the best public speaker out there. That’s when the nerves crop up, explains Jim Kohli, an international director of Toastmasters and a principal architect at GE Healthcare. Practice your speech or presentation out loud ahead of time so you feel comfortable with the words you’re saying and the way they sound coming out of your mouth. And if you can get feedback from a friend, family member or colleague, an outside perspective can be really helpful, says Kohli — who, before joining Toastmasters 15 years ago, says he would have described himself as a “wallflower” in situations where he had to speak to a group larger than five to 10 close friends. “It will take patience and time,” he says.

And don’t forget that communicating — to both large and small groups, formally and informally — is like exercising a muscle. The more speeches you give and the more conversations you have, the more confident you’ll feel the next time you’re in that situation, Kohli says. (That’s the principle Toastmasters is based on.) Speaking to smaller audiences and getting feedback is what makes you feel more comfortable speaking to a larger audience, he says. “There’s no quick fix.”

6. Listen.

Whether you’re talking one-on-one or to an audience of a thousand people, communicating is a two-way activity — both parties need to be engaged. When you’re trying to engage listeners in less formal conversations, a good communicator listens to what others are saying before speaking up, North explains. Establish a connection to what they’re saying so you answer questions appropriately and add your own thoughts after that. If you’re trying to make small talk, find a topic you both share an interest in, whether it’s family, hobbies, work, travel or books.

Whether you’re talking one-on-one or to an audience of a thousand people, communicating is a two-way activity — both parties need to be engaged.

And when you’re in front of a larger group of people giving a more formal talk or speech, watch for visual cues from the audience. Are people yawning or rolling their eyes? Does your audience look bored? Maybe that means you might want to skip unnecessary details rather than just plunging ahead, North explains.

7. Make eye contact with your audience.

This is important whether you’re speaking or listening, North says. It communicates to both listener and speaker that you’re engaged and you care. “Your personality comes through much better and you look more competent and confident.”

And if you’re addressing a large crowd, remember good eye contact doesn’t mean just finding the one smiling face to stare down for the duration of your talk, North says. Look at everyone.

8. Stand up straight.

We’re not talking toy soldier straight, but if you’re in front of a crowd (no matter what size) good posture helps support your voice, North says. Plant your feet on the ground and distribute your weight evenly between them. Don’t cross your legs, North adds — “even behind a podium, you can tell.”

And don’t rock, she says. It’s a surefire way to draw attention to what you look like rather than what you’re saying.

9. Be yourself.

If you act confident, listeners won’t notice nerves. They will notice if you’re being fake, North says. (Think of those cheesy smiles four-year-olds are told to plaster on their faces for their first dance recitals. Don’t be that four-year-old.)

Пространство для гемблинга с каждым днем все больше и больше развивается и, как показывает практика, не всегда в положительную сторону. Многие онлайн-казино ведут свою деятельность нечестно, обманывая и наживаясь на своих пользователях. Оценить уровень надежности казино можно по определенным критериям, ознакомится с которыми мы предлагаем в статье.

Интерфейс сайта

Нужно оценить сайт онлайн-казино с точки зрения новичка, который впервые видит гемблинг-площадку. Там информация должна быть разделена по разделам, обязательно иметься страничка с правилами казино и лицензией. Все игры должны быть разделены по категориям, в каждой из которых есть сортировка и возможность поиска по названию игры. Пользователь должен интуитивно понимать структуру сайта и легко разбираться с его функционалом. 

Ассортимент игр

Программное обеспечение игровых автоматов предоставляют официальные поставщики. Софт должен быть лицензированным и вовремя обновляться, чтоб у пользователей не возникало проблем с эксплуатацией сайта.

Самыми популярными разработчиками программного обеспечения для азартных игр являются такие компании, как:

• Play’nGO;

• Novomatic;

• Betsoft;

• Big Time Gaming;

• NetEnt;

• Microgaming;

• Igrosoft и др.

Они дорожат своей репутацией и не будут предоставлять доступ к софту недобросовестным организациям, которые легко могут испортить доверие клиентов. Некоторые онлайн-казино проводят с автоматами мошеннические операции. Они заключаются в замене генератора случайных чисел цифровым кодом, который намеренно снижает отдачу слотов, и пользователь не получит ожидаемого возврата средств. Протестировать отдачу можно в режиме демо-игры, которую предоставляют практически все онлайн-казино. В таком виде можно играть на виртуальные деньги, а статистика не учитывается в общий зачет.

Огромным плюсом в пользу онлайн-казино будет наличие кроме большого количества слотов настольных игр, например, рулетки, блэк джека и т.д. Также особой популярностью пользуются азартные развлечения в виде турниров, квестов, лотерей и т.д. Многие пользователи любят пользоваться услугами live-casino, где игра проходит в режиме реального времени в виде трансляции с живым дилером.

Система лояльности онлайн казино

На большинстве игорных порталов практикуется система лояльности, которая включает в себя:

• Приветственные бонусы;

• Бонусы за пополнение депозита;

• Бонусы за достижения;

• Бесплатные фриспины;

• Кэшбек и другое.

Важно помнить, что перед внесением депозита нужно ознакомится с правилами казино касательно бонусной системы. Многие площадки ставят неадекватно большой коэффициент отыгрыша бонуса, из-за чего пользователю он становиться просто обузой. Оптимальными вариантами вейджера является х35-40. Это значит, что если вы внесли на счет 200 грн и получили бонус 200 грн (100% от суммы депозита), то, чтоб вывести выигранные средства нужно умножить сумму бонуса на значение вейджера. Полученное произведение и будет суммой, которую нужно поставить, чтоб вывести выигрыш.

Если вы подадите заявку о выведении средств не отыграв бонусы, вы рискуете их потерять с частью суммы, которую собирались забрать.

Качество обратной связи

Если вдруг у пользователя возникнут трудности с сайтом, софтом и т.д. он должен иметь возможность обратиться в службу поддержки и получить быструю помощь. Поэтому лучше, что клиент мог связаться с персоналом по как можно большему числу каналов связи, например онлайн-чат, электронная почта, популярные мессенджеры и т.д.

If you’re looking for a plumber on the internet, you’re probably facing problems with your plumbing, such as broken pipes, clogged drains, and other problems.

Fortunately, there are several suggestions and pointers that might help you streamline your search.

Although it will take some effort to choose a reputable one, doing so will save your money, hassles, and unneeded repairs. The greatest professionals are licenced, insured, and have no hidden fees. They also provide a warranty to ensure the quality of their service. When looking for a plumber in your area, keep the following in mind:

Here are some pointers to consider before hiring

Check Whether They’re Licensed:

Only choose licenced plumbers, especially if your city demands it. Only consider those who can show proof of insurance. Inquire about the his experience in the plumbing field. The more the plumber’s or company’s experience, it is better. Only consider him who can show proof of insurance.

Choose an Established Plumbing Company:

Another important factor to consider is the plumbing company’s experience. Consider a well-established firm, such as a plumbing firm that has been providing plumbing services for many years. Even though every business starts somewhere, plumbing might get problematic, or your home’s condition can be jeopardised.

Consider hiring a more experienced organisation for guaranteed outcomes rather than taking a chance with a startup that will only learn from your property’s or home’s failures.

Experience:

Inquire about the experience in the plumbing field. The more the plumber’s or company’s experience, the better. To practice independently, most cities need a professional to be licenced. Though criteria vary by area, most licences require two to five years of experience.

Cost of work:

After the professional examines your plumbing, he or she should be able to offer you an exact estimate of how much it will cost to fix the problem. Most experienced professional provide a free estimate, which means they will visit your home, assess the situation, and provide you with an estimate.

Allowing a plumber to quote you a price over the phone without first seeing the problem is risky, as any estimate given this way is likely to be wrong. After the plumber has had a chance to come out and assess the scope of the repair, he will provide you with an estimate. Some estimates simply factor in the basic cost of materials, implying that the final cost will be far more.

Guarantee of work:

 Inquire about the assurances (your happiness with his or her work) that are included in the pricing estimate, as well as any new components that may be required. As a guarantee for their services, reputable plumbers should provide warranties. While most plumbing equipment come with a manufacturer’s warranty, labour and the quality of services should be guaranteed.

As a result, before choosing a plumber, make sure they give a warranty on their work. A warranty indicates that you’ve hired someone who can provide dependable services and address any problems that may develop. Customer service satisfaction guarantees are also important. Thus, the best company will arrive on time, serve you professionally and complete the work quickly.

Review Their References:

 Before you choose a plumber, request a list of pleased client references and check them out. Plumbers with a good reputation should be prepared to provide references. They’ll be in your house for numerous hours or days, so you’ll want to be confident in their service and knowledge.

You can tell if someone is reliable by looking at their references. One of the greatest methods to find the best person is through referrals from friends, family, and neighbours. If you know someone who has lately had plumbing troubles and was pleased with the service they received, you may ask them for the contact information.

Who Is Doing the Work? :

 Your home’s plumbing may be fixed or maintained by a single plumber or a team. When the plumber comes out to give you a price, inquire about whether he will be completing the work himself. If he replies no, inquire as to who will be performing the task and what expertise or credentials that individual have. If you don’t like the response, don’t feel forced to continue working with him.

How Is the Communication? :

When selecting a plumber, don’t overlook the importance of communication. To avoid costly mistakes, you need a professional who is honest about his job, eager to explain issues and solutions, and willing to answer any questions or remarks. If you can’t reach the plumber before the project begins, there’s a significant chance you won’t be able to reach him during or after the job.

You’ll have a better chance of receiving the best quality and efficiency from your plumber if you examine the simple variables listed above. Maintaining open lines of communication with your plumber and asking the proper questions helps ensure that you get someone who understands what they’re doing, does quality work, and completes the project on time.

Private Car Rental Companies

There are several great benefits associated with hiring a rental vehicle from a private car rental company rather than using public transportation methods for moving around. Here are some of the reasons why you should use this option over other means:

1. You can have total control over the vehicle

You might be familiar with the idea that there are many different types of cars. This isn’t only true but if we further explore this concept then it becomes more clear to us about the various differences in vehicles and how they work and what all they do.

These may seem like very small details but they help a lot when it comes to driving. In the case where you might need to drive across town or even further away from home, having a map or directions handy helps out a lot. If any driver has a car then he would at least know his surroundings well. However, those who use public transports know nothing about their surrounding which makes them vulnerable to accidents.

When it comes to renting a vehicle through a private car rental company, you get to choose the best option for yourself. For instance, if you want something extra special or luxurious, you could go for it. Moreover; you wouldn’t have to worry about how safe the route is because the entire process would be taken care of by the agency.

2. You avoid the long lines of buses and trains

When it comes to traveling, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely going to be getting into a bus or train station to travel back home. Now, imagine walking through miles of buses waiting your turn and listening to endless announcements telling everyone how much time they have left before boarding and how much money you need to pay. Let alone, when you finally make it inside, you probably won’t find a seat. This is just a normal situation that everybody faces every day.

Imagine if you had a private car and you were not obliged to wait in line! What fun that would be right?! We can assure you that renting a vehicle isn’t as expensive as it seems to be. Subskryb can give you the latest rates and deals for renting a car at no extra cost. Having said that, you shouldn’t have a problem making a reservation and paying for it for the rental period.

3. You can save time

Time management skills aren’t our strong suit. So when we think about time management, it basically consists of taking advantage of available free time so that we don’t spend too much time doing useless stuff.

Renting a vehicle is a perfect example of being able to take full advantage of time. By simply calling up a company and picking out a vehicle, you can save hours of wasting time sitting in a bus or train. Another benefit of renting a car is that there are no rules or restrictions. No matter how long the journey is, we can start driving as soon as we’re ready.

4. You avoid getting lost.

When you plan on traveling somewhere, there are certain things you should keep in mind. For example, you should find out where you should park, how much time it will take to reach your destination, whether or not it’s safe to traverse across areas, etc.

This step alone is vital because you never want to risk getting stranded somewhere where you don’t belong. That said, most people tend to get lost once they get out of their familiar surroundings. They usually try to rely on maps only to discover that they’ve gotten themselves into a bad situation.

A car enables its occupants to easily navigate through unfamiliar terrain. Instead of wasting time looking for signs pointing towards where you need to go.

5. You save precious time

On your daily travels, you might need to stop off for fuel, food, rest, bathroom breaks, appointments, etc. Sometimes, you might have to leave your trip mid-way due to scheduling conflicts, unforeseen circumstances, or something else entirely. If you decide to use public transportation, you’ll more than likely face long lines.

Moreover, the chances of experiencing a delay are considerably high since many people share the same route. However, what if you had a car? Your trip would be smooth sailing. 

6. Your privacy is preserved.

If you don’t want anyone to know that you are visiting your friend’s house or perhaps going on a business trip, then why would you allow them to follow along with you or even see where you’re going when you can hire a personal vehicle? Privacy is important, especially when it comes to personal matters.

It makes a lot of sense to preserve your privacy. You are fully capable of driving safely and securely to wherever you need to go. All that needs to be done is to get a sedan that offers full privacy. Don’t let people invade your space whenever they choose. Hire a luxury rental car company today!

7. You enjoy the convenience of 24*7 support.

One thing that most people hate to do is wait in line for extended lengths of time. When you travel, there are always numerous events that require your presence. You probably don’t want to miss any of those occasions just because you were stuck in some sort of line.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of options available nowadays. You can either hire a taxi driver or opt for a private car rental service to get wherever you want to go instantly. With the mobile app, you can also make advance reservations so that you don’t have to stand around indefinitely. 

8. You feel safer.

The last point that we want to mention here actually goes hand-in-hand with number three. Driving around with strangers is scary and risky especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area in question. On top of that, roads can be unpredictable.

Things can happen during the journey such as unexpected traffic jams, road closures, accidents, etc. Since all these scenarios are totally out of our control, it leaves us feeling anxious and worried. But, when you rent a car, you will definitely feel reassured knowing that everything is handled. 

The above list highlights some of the advantages associated with renting a car instead of taking taxis or buses. Since there are literally millions of cars accessible in the market, you shouldn’t struggle too hard trying to figure out which one to select. Choose a well-known brand like Subskryb– we offer exceptional service, quality vehicles, and impeccable customer support with no additional cost. You’ll be guaranteed of having a pleasant experience every single time you rent a vehicle from us.

Over the years, several investors, no matter beginner or experienced, have gained significant profit by planning and investing in stocks.
However, there are investors whose success formula didn't work at all that makes every people think twice before entering the stock market and investing in stocks.
When an investor makes the right and correct decisions, there are higher chances of booking profits from those investments.
After all, stock market is truly unpredictable. However, investing in stocks has several major benefits than other investments.

Ownership Stake in the company (All Benefits will be H2)

An investor who buys a particular company's stock essentially means getting an ownership stake in that specific company. Thus, it will give the investors a feeling of ownership after purchasing stocks.
Having ownership means that they will become shareholders and play a vital role in a company's decision. Investors will also have the power to vote in decisions taken by the company.
They also receive annual learn reports to get detailed insights and learn more about the company. Owning a particular company's stock will be a way to express their loyalty towards a company and the business's success as a whole.

Investors who put their hard-earned money into multiple types of investment, a stock market investment delivers a major advantage by providing diversification.
The investments in the stock market change its value independently of other investments such as bonds and real estate.
Holding stocks for a longer period will help an investor to forecast losses to other investment products. Adding stock in their portfolio creates a greater risk and delivers large and rapid gains that help investors avoid overly conservative investment strategies.

A dividend refers to a reward which the company gives to its investors. In simple words, it is an additional income of the company for investors that is paid yearly by every company.
No matter if the stock has lost its value or representing profit coming from the stock, the dividend payments will arrive.
Dividend income can help an investor to fund a retirement or pay for another investment to grow their portfolio over time.

One of the major benefits of investing in the stock market is that investors get the chance to earn more money. Over time, if the stock market rises in value, the prices of a particular stock can rise or fall.
However, investors who have put their money in stable companies will see profit growth. Likewise, investing in several different stocks will help investors build their wealth by leveraging growth in multiple sectors resulting in a profit.

Stocks are generally known as liquid assets because they can be easily converted to cash that consists of several buyers at any given point in time.
However, when compared to other assets, it’s more difficult to look for a buyer for some assets like property.
However, in the case of stocks, its much easier because the average daily volume of transactions on NSE and BSE is high. It means that there are several buyers and sellers paying attention to a single stock.

The biggest and primary advantage of investing in stocks is that it has the potential to generate high returns in a short period of time compared to other investments roads like Bank FDs.

The stock market of India is regulated by the Stock Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Security Board Exchange of India (SEBI) is majorly responsible for regulating the stock exchanges, their developments and mainly protecting the rights of all the investors.
When an investor puts their money in various financial products on the stock market, their interests are also protected by a regulatory framework laid down by SEBI.
This helps them in reducing the risks of several fraudulent activities by companies.

An investor is looking to enter the stock market can start their small investments in the stock market by purchasing stocks of small-cap or mid-cap companies but in smaller units.
Another major advantage of directly investing in stocks is that investor can buy as per their own choice, and it is not mandatory of investing a specific sum of amount every month.

Corporate earnings usually tend to increase as there is growth in an economy. This is usually due to several factors like increased job creation, leading to an increase in income and sales.
Thus, an investor putting its money in stocks of the businesses influenced by economic growth helps them grow better.

The process of buying and selling in the stock market is simple and easy for all investors. Buying of stocks is done with the help of a broker, financial planner, or online mode.
It takes hardly a few minutes to set up an account and start trading. An investor can also buy and sell stocks easily without going anywhere, and the profit is directly credited into their bank account

The last installment of our Fly Safe, Fly Smart series tells you how to pick between airlines when you don't recognize the names.

American, United, Delta. Yeah, yeah, we can debate, but they're peas in a pod. But if you find a cheap fare on Allegiant, or Porter, or Fly540, what are you supposed to think?

Smaller airlines come and go. Back in 2005, I wrote an article about flying on smaller airlines -- of the 13 companies mentioned, three have gone out of business and one now only flies charters. Meanwhile, new airlines keep cropping up, like Porter in Canada and VivaAerobus in Mexico. With an airline industry permanently in flux, don't worry if you've never heard an airline's name before -- rather, check it out. Here are some tools and tips for giving an airline the once-over.

Check the Blacklists

The U.S. and EU governments both keep lists of airlines they consider unsafe. The U.S. government actually blacklists entire countries based on assessments of the countries' airline-safety standards. The agency offers the results as an Excel spreadsheet with the unsafe nations listed as category 2. Right now, that includes Belize, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Israel, Kiribati, Mexico, Nauru, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Philippines, Serbia, Swaziland, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. Carriers from those countries aren't allowed to set up new service to the U.S. until they improve safety standards, although they can maintain existing service.

The EU keeps a blacklist of individual airlines, which you can find at Air-Valid. These specific airlines aren't allowed to operate in the EU, so you can pretty much assume they're not the best of the global array. The vast majority of the airlines are smaller African and Asian airlines, but there are a few more prominent players on there such as Iran Air and Philippine Airlines.

Ignore the Boards

Don't turn to boards like TripAdvisor or our own forums for good advice on airlines. People on forums tend to draw wild conclusions from single events -- saying, for instance, that you should never fly United Airlines because of one incident involving a rude flight attendant or a poorly-handled cancellation. Every airline has made mistakes, and you need to take a longer view.

How About Awards?

Skytrax, Zagat, Conde Nast and JD Power and Associates all take that longer view. Of the bunch, Skytrax (a UK-based consultant to airlines) has by far the widest range of airlines listed, rating them from one to five stars and giving them sub-ratings based on everything from food quality to "assisting parents with children." Skytrax's set of hundreds of traveler reviews is also a great exception to the "don't pay attention to forums" rule, as their reviews are mostly from experienced road warriors.

According to Skytrax, the finest airlines in the world are Asiana, Cathay Pacific, Kingfisher, Malaysia, Qatar and Singapore. Among the lowest-rated airlines is one very popular European one -- Ryanair -- chosen in large part because of its famously, abysmally poor customer service.

Hedge Bets With Alliances

The major U.S. airlines are members of three alliances: OneWorld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance. If you're flying on a foreign airline that makes you a little nervous -- say, Aeroflot -- see if you can get a seat on that flight using its American partner's code (in this case, Delta's), which makes the American partner partly responsible for getting you to your destination. 

Scope Out Safety

If your airline hasn't won any awards, but it isn't on any blacklists, you might want to scope out the airline's safety record. For more than a decade now, AirSafe has been tracking air crashes and other safety-related incidents. They can tell you the rate of fatal events per million flights, and when the airline had its most recent incident.

You have to be smart about this data. Midwest Airlines, for instance, appears to have a high fatal accident rate -- but that's just because of one accident back in 1985. That said, a combination of a high fatal-event rate plus recent fatal events might give you pause.

Make Note of Fees

Smaller airlines, especially low-cost ones, may have different baggage allowances or fees than larger carriers. If you're assembling a multi-airline itinerary, pay attention to those fees. The most notorious culprit is Europe's Ryanair, which has very low base fares but also very low allowed baggage weights. It doesn't make sense to book an itinerary which would force you to re-pack your baggage when you change planes.

Compare Seats

If you're trying to decide between two airlines which are "just fine," you can easily see which one has comfier seats, better food and in-flight entertainment. Seatguru gives you seating charts and details of in-flight entertainment for many popular airlines and aircraft.

Someone once said, “if you want something done well, do it yourself.” Today, this couldn’t be farther from the truth, especially when it comes to the world of digital marketing. There is no better way for brands to expand their reach than by virtual word-of-mouth through their own affiliate programs. 

Affiliate marketing programs are an effective way for businesses to expand their reach. Who is better at promoting your product than those who love it and know your verticals, after all?

Real talk; by working with affiliate partners, you aren’t “doing it yourself.” And while we’re getting others to sell your products, why not get some help to collect and track every customer interaction and data from all touchpoints?

And why not a bit of hand-holding from marketing tools to turn that data into business growth, too? For all that, look no further than affiliate tracking software! 

What is affiliate tracking software?

Affiliate tracking software helps you manage and track the performance of your programs and partnerships. These platforms streamline the process of monitoring traffic and conversions. Your marketing partners can be bloggers, influencers, or any other content producers. Whichever, you’re kept in control thanks to accurate tracking.

Essential features of any affiliate tracking software include:

•  Affiliate tracking code and link generation
•  Dashboard with analytics and reports
•  Tracking sources of traffic
•  Tracking affiliate performance (clicks, conversions, traffic, lead generation)
•  Fraud detection

The benefits of affiliate tracking softwareMore productive affiliate management

Affiliate tracking platforms make it easy to manage everything from one place. Dashboards give you customized views in real-time with just a few clicks.

Save time with automation

Automation of offers, payments, and much more saves your valuable time. Spend that time elsewhere, like on your other marketing campaigns. Affise’s CPAPI solution saves businesses even more time with automated offer pulling. 

Gain a deeper understanding

Like SEO, affiliate marketing optimization requires lots of data.  Customizable and detailed reporting lets you take a deeper dive into the statistics. You will gain a better understanding of your target audience and ad networks.

Optimize your marketing campaigns

Live reporting and analytics tools boost campaign optimization. And your team will be better equipped to leverage insights and find the right marketing partners.

Save money

Your team will get more done in less time. And automatic fraud detection means you only pay for authentic performance metrics.

Increase revenue

Affiliate tracking tools make it easy for you to get a better ROI. You can discover your best customers and affiliates to streamline your campaign growth.

Must-have features of affiliate tracking software

Affiliate marketers need to use software with the best features.

Variety of trackers

Affiliate tracking software is mainly about, well, tracking! And no matter how new and shiny a piece of tech looks, you don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket! 

Regional compliance and third-party browser tracking protections are here to stay. The best affiliate marketing platforms feature tracking methods like pixels and postback URLs, among others.

Customizable

This should go without saying. Customizability is very important in any partner tracking software. First, this helps you find the right fit for your affiliate program as you hit the ground running. And it also allows for you to tailor your platform as your network grows and becomes more successful. 

Intelligent reports

There’s no point in using an affiliate tracking solution if you can’t have intelligent reporting. Customizable reporting options help your team connect the dots and find hidden gems. 

Fraud detection

Many businesses are blind to the black-hat tactics within the affiliate industry. Using an affiliate platform that cannot detect fraud is the blind paying out of pocket to be led by the blind!

Any affiliate tracking system should have up-to-date fraud detection functionality. Your business cannot afford to be paying out for clicks and views that have no potential ROI. 

Stellar support 

Most affiliate tracking platforms are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. But many times, they require more technical knowledge to set up properly. A business like yours should opt for an affiliate tracking service with a smooth onboarding experience and a 24/7 customer support team.

6 Recommended affiliate tracking software alternatives

There is a sea of options when it comes to affiliate tracking software. Don’t get tossed around by the waves of industry noise and hype. Here are six of the best affiliate tracking solutions available today.

Affise

The Affise platform encompasses a wide range of affiliate marketing software. Affise’s Tracking and Attribution Software product has everything your business needs. From one platform you can manage, track, analyze, and optimize online advertising campaigns in real-time. 

In terms of tracking you get:

• Click tracking – Trace user engagement via tracking URL clicks
• Impression tracking – What visitors view can be leveraged to improve lead generation
• Conversion tracking – Better explore the relationship between offers and campaign performance
• Special pixels and postbacks and promo codes

Affise records attribution at each customer touchpoint and credits the correct sale channel. Choose from a range of models including last-click/last touch and first-click/first touch attribution. But you also get models like probabilistic attribution, which is better suited to measure mobile attribution from iOS. 

Affise has a streamlined onboarding experience with smooth migration. And the automated offer pulling service, CPAPI, makes transitioning even more of a breeze.

Other features include:

• Complete and total control over your affiliate spending limits 
• Alternative cost per action (CPA) commission fees, such as pay per conversion 
• Loads of API integrations including AppFlyer, Adjust, and Kochava
• Extensive targeting options
• Shortlinks
• Excellent 24/7 technical support! 

Affise is perfect for SMEs and larger enterprises looking to level up or get a head start in affiliate marketing programs. Plans start at $499 per month. Contact Affise for plans that include Affise Academy and pain-free migration services.

iDevAffiliate

iDevAffiliate has been a mainstay in partner marketing solutions for over 20 years. Their affiliate plugin is a flexible solution for affiliate tracking and management. 

Source (idevdirect.com)

The iDevAffiliate plugin can help businesses create and launch an affiliate program within an hour. With that being said, maximizing the iDevAffiliate toolset can have a bit of a learning curve, making it a less attractive option to Affise. But subscribers do get access to over 40 hours of video tutorials (if you’ve got time for such things!).

Other features include:

• Dashboard to monitor general leak tracking, affiliate performance, commissions, top referrals
• Social media sharing for Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter
• Several commissioning options including coupon codes and product-specific
• 175+ integrations including Bigcommerce, Magento, WordPress, and Shopify

iDevAffiliate is a decent option for businesses on a tight budget. And for those with good technical knowledge or willing to spend time learning the platform.

Pricing plans range from $39-$79 per month, depending on what options you require. The base package includes unlimited affiliates and commissions. Premium options include larger click-based traffic per month and custom subdomain parking.

OSI Affiliate

OSI Affiliate Software offers a range of tools for affiliate programs. The platform emphasizes customer referral programs as part of your affiliate network.

The customer referral program is driven by website popups, forms, and auto-signups. These features target website visitors and new customers. You can also incentivize brand advocates with a customizable Smart Rewards program.

OSI Affiliate boasts many, but not all, of the must-have tracking features, including:

• Promo code tracking
• Social media sharing – Integrations with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
• One-on-one customer support sessions
• Use your own domains, including custom affiliate links
• Email templates
• Detailed reporting
• Banners and landing page templates
• Discount codes and coupons

OSI Affiliate Software is a fair choice for businesses looking for simplicity and flexibility. And it is useful if you are looking to focus on customer referrals with your affiliate network. The service pricing starts at $47 per month, but you can try it for free with a 15-day trial.

Tapfiliate

Tapfiliate is a service aimed at those dealing principally in ecommerce and SaaS. Tapfiliate focuses a lot on playing well with your existing business applications. The software integrates with your website whether it’s built around Woocommerce, Shopify, WordPress, or 30 other platforms. 

The platform also comes with many tools for affiliate recruitment and ad promotion, including on social media. 

Besides affiliate reporting and tracking, other features included are:

• Branded dashboard and links for your affiliates to use
• Custom signup fields and payout methods
• Six supported affiliated languages
• Support for 37 integrations including Zapier, Mailchimp, and Stripe
• Adjustable, recurring, or lifetime commissions
• Performance bonus options
• Automation of commissions and payment

Tapfiliate is a sensible choice for businesses running on ecommerce or SaaS platforms that want minimal setup. If you have more diverse needs, though, you may need to look elsewhere. Pricing for Tapfiliate starts at $89 but you can try it out with a 14-day risk-free trial. 

Anytrack

Anytrack.io provides an affiliate tracking platform for your existing marketing stack. The platform is essentially a tool to connect your data streams. You will have a consistent and up-to-date view of your affiliate marketing activities and statistics.

With just a few clicks, the platform automatically sends all tracking to Google Analytics. This allows your team to view all types of traffic performance. And they can quickly glean actionable insights. The tracking automation works similarly with the Facebook Conversion API. Having to rely on various different platforms and outlets, though, isn’t exactly intuitive or user-friendly. 

Other features include:

• One tag system for easy automation of all data tracking and synchronization
• AutoTag for funnel tracking and attribution
• More than 60+ integrations with affiliate networks
• Custom audiences
• Connection of traffic and conversion data to your analytics tools

Anytrack is a decent option for larger businesses with a proven marketing stack looking to raise their affiliate game with real-time insights. 

ShareASale

ShareASale has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted performance marketing networks. The network boasts over 225,000 active affiliates. And network publishers include companies like Forbes, Business Insider, and CNN.

ShareASale offers affiliate management software for merchants that streamlines partner marketing. 

Features include an intuitive interface and automation tools for things like marketing emails, as well as: 

• Real-time affiliate tracking for clicks and conversions
• Custom tracking values and scenarios–e.g., new customer acquisition, coupon code usage, mobile
• Audience segmentation 
• Custom commissions rules like PPC, CPA, and more
• Cookieless coupon tracking
• Clickstream reports
• Access to training webinars

ShareASale is an option for those looking to tap into their powerful partner network, but also want an affiliate tracking solution. 

Boost your affiliate marketing with Affise

Effective affiliate tracking is only one part of a greater whole that is your partner marketing program. With Affise, you get robust features to boost your performance marketing across the board.

Multichannel analytics and smart dashboards

Affise Analytics and Business Intelligence tools let you dive deeper into the data. You will gain insights and make more accurate forecasts by relying on an simple interface with an easy-to-use dashboard.

Powerful reporting

Highly granular customizable reports with affiliate reports, customer reports, fraud-related reports, payment reports, and so on. It allows you to make unique correlations with all data viewable on one page. These reports are easily shareable with partners. 

Fraud prevention

Affise includes several options to protect your affiliate marketing campaigns from fraud. It has a complete security system with fraud detection, general internet security, and data privacy; This includes click-level fraud prevention, third-party tools, IP monitoring, and many tracking metrics.

Seamless offer pulling

CPAPI makes it a cinch to transfer offers instantaneously between all sources in your system.

Automation

Affise helps to eliminate the time spent on repetitive tasks. You can automate activities like opening offers to publishers, partner communication, and billing.

Billing and accounting

Besides invoice generation, you can automate partner payouts with Affise. And you can choose from a list of different currencies and payment providers

Customization

Affise provides plenty of connection options with multiple integrations. But the platform has a feature-rich API that also allows you to conduct any needed custom integration yourself to ensure your networks are always perfectly in tune. 

Find out other features to maximize the opportunities that you can find on the Affise ecosystem:

• Easy integration with eCommerce platforms such as BigCommerce, Shopify, PayPal, and other eCommerce products;
• Product feed with imports, edits, and downloads;
• Product level tracking to set commissions on a product level;
• Media Management with the ability to host, import, export, and replace various media types (jpg, png, video banners, text links, HTML5, etc.);
• External Data Integration with Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, etc;
• Key Metrics Tracking and payments on CPA, CPL, CPM, CPC;
• S2S Postbacks to set up postbacks on affiliate accounts directly from the interface.

Conclusion

If you’re not effectively tracking and collating data from your partner program, you’re already losing the battle. You can’t afford to wait any longer. Connect your business affiliate tracking solution today.

With a robust platform like Affise that helps your affiliate program reach for the stars, you gain insights to optimize your campaigns and grow your partner networks like never before.

You can make discovering somewhere new even more exciting in just the right rental car. Find out how to pick your ideal wheels for your next road trip.

It might take months of meticulous planning, but there are essentially only three things you need to guarantee an amazing road trip: the right car, the right route and the right companion/s. Here's how to choose the right car for your road trip – the rest is up to you.

Things to think about before you hire a car 
What size car works for you? 

If you're going on a family holiday, there's no point hiring a two-seater convertible – no matter how tempted you are to leave the kids at the airport after a stressful flight. So, make sure your hire car has enough seats for everyone who'll be travelling (having passengers sat on knees is never an option, even for really small children). 

If you're booking your car online, it should show exactly how many seats the car has – smaller cars tend to have only two seats in the back whereas larger models will have three, for example. If you have passengers in the back, it's worth booking a car with at least four doors, so everyone can get in and out easily.

How big a boot do you need?

Consider how much boot space you're going to need, bearing in mind that everyone's luggage will have to fit in the trunk as roof bars and boxes are rarely, if ever, an option when hiring a car. The only exception to this is if you're going skiing – you can get a rental car fitted with a ski rack. 

Leaving luggage on view on the back seats isn't a good idea either, as it can attract thieves and may compromise your travel insurance. 

Is fuel economy important?

Although the idea of hitting the open road in a V8 gas-guzzler is undoubtedly tempting, you might not want to blow half your holiday budget on fuel. So, working on the assumption that smaller cars are generally more fuel efficient, map out how far you'll be travelling, then calculate roughly how much fuel this will use in your preferred type of car. 

Specific models can't be guaranteed at the rental counter, so think the class of car instead, such as compact, economy, luxury, SUV, etc. Also keep an eye out for the rental car company's fuel policy, a 'full-to-full' fuel policy is the most common, and often the best choice, especially for road-trippers.

Do you need an automatic?

If you're used to driving a car with automatic gears/transmission and want to stick with what you're familiar with, look out for the type of gears each car has when you're booking. It's worth looking out for when you're choosing your rental car, particularly if you're travelling to a country where most cars have manual gears/transmission.

Do you need any extra kit?

If you're travelling with children, check the child seat policy of the country you're travelling to, as it may be different to what you're used to. If you need child seats, it's best to reserve them at the same time you book your hire car, as they won't come as standard. The same goes for GPS/satnav systems. You'll pay for these when you arrive to pick up your car, and rental companies can't usually guarantee them. These extras are charged at a daily rate, so you can save money by taking your own. And, if you're travelling anywhere hot, make sure the car has air conditioning, or your road trip might quickly become too hot to handle.

Is the hire car in your price range?

Upgrading to the bigger or faster model can be very tempting, especially if it looks like it won't add much to the overall cost. But that little extra each day can quickly add up over the course of one, two or three weeks' worth of car hire. And then there are the added fuel costs, bigger security deposit and higher excesses that come with bigger cars. Once you've chosen a model that comfortably ticks all your boxes, you can happily resist hard sell at the rental counter, and stick to your budget.

Then there's just one final thing to bear in mind – not all road trips are created equal, so you'll have to match your car to the type of trip you're taking. Here are our top picks for specific trips: 

Note: The cars below are just examples – you'll find different models available in different countries with different rental companies. And you won't be guaranteed to get the exact model you booked, when you come to collect your car. To find out more, see What does 'or similar' mean in car rental?

What are the best hire cars for city breaks? 

Stressed out drivers, congested roads, and baffling one-way systems mean city driving can be hectic – and that's before you consider everyone might also drive on the wrong side of the road. So, it's probably best to go for a small car that handles well on city streets and is easy to park, possibly an automatic, so you've less to think about in the stop-start traffic. 

Try something in the Mini or Economy group, such as an eminently sensible and reliable VW Golf or Ford Focus, or a Mini Cooper or Fiat 500 if you're after something that's a bit nippier and more fun to drive.

What are the best hire cars for adventure holidays? 

If you're off on an adventure holiday, whether skiing, rock climbing, windsurfing, or whatever you fancy, there's a good chance you'll be lugging a lot of kit around with you, and maybe even driving on some rough roads.

You might be best off choosing an SUV, maybe even a 4X4 model, such as a Skoda Yeti or VW Tiguan, or a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Range Rover Sport if you're looking for a more luxurious off-roader. 

VW Tiguan, Skoda Yeti, Range Rover, Jeep Grand Cherokee

Do check where you're allowed to take your hire car. Many rental companies don't allow their cars to be taken off-road.

All of the SUVs above come with loads of luggage space, and if you hire in snowy or mountainous areas, your car will come fitted with a winter safety kit. It's also worth swotting up on how to drive safely in snow, before you set off.

What are the best hire cars for family holidays? 

When you're travelling together, you'll want to make sure your car is not only safe, comfortable and spacious, with more than enough room for all passengers and luggage, but is also kitted out with any number of cup holders and USB ports.

People carriers are really roomy and ideal for families. Some have sliding doors for easy access – try a Ford Galaxy, a VW Touran, or a Dodge Grand Caravan, for example. There's no guarantee you'll get the exact model you booked, or that the car you get will come with everything you need, of course. For a comfy trip, it's worth keeping your drinks in resealable bottles rather than cups, and taking USB chargers that plug into the car's 12V/lighter socket, to keeps all those devices topped up.

If you can, it's also worth taking your own child seats and satnav/GPS to save money. For more tips on hassle-free family road trips, check out Enjoying family travel.

What are the best hire cars for multi-location holidays?

Road trips are all about driving long-distances and stopping off at places well off the beaten tourist track, which means you could spend large parts of your trip living out of your trunk. If you're embarking on a multi-location odyssey, you'll want a car that is comfortable enough for long hours behind the wheel, has loads of luggage space, and a great fuel economy. We recommend picking an estate car, about the size of a Ford Focus, Skoda Octavia or VW Passat - anything smaller might feel a bit cramped, while larger models might not be as good on the gas.

What are the best hire cars for honeymooners? 

A honeymoon is a time in your life you can enjoy a little luxury and excess, so if you're planning a post-wedding adventure, why not splash out on a luxury car, or convertible? Rental companies offer luxury models like the Porsche Cayman or Mercedes Benz S-Class, or Jaguar F-Type and Mercedes E250 convertibles. Some car hire companies will even guarantee the exact model when it comes to luxury car hire, so if you want to be 100% sure what you'll get rather than go for a lucky dip, check before you book.

The global luxury car rental market is expected to grow from $32.7 billion in 2020 to $38.8 billion by 2028, according to Zion Market Research in a report.

You’ll find that there are many different reasons why people pursue a luxury car rental. In fact, you might be able to relate to at least some of them.

Have you considered renting a luxury vehicle? If so, there’s no better time to do so than now.

Keep on reading to find out seven reasons why you should consider a luxury car rental.

1. Luxury Car Rental Lets You Drive the Car of Your Dreams

Do you want to drive the car of your dreams without having to go to a dealership and haggle with a salesperson? One way is to rent. You won’t have to save up or take on debt.

When you find a reputable luxury car rental company, you’ll get to check out their stable of high-end cars. While renting a luxury car is more expensive than renting a non-luxury car, you get what you paid for.

For a reasonable sum, you’ll be able to drive the car or cars you’ve always wanted. Whether for a day, a weekend, or longer, you’ll have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a vehicle you’ve always wanted to drive.

If you have a bucket list that includes driving something exotic, renting a vehicle will allow you to check that item off of the list. And you don’t have to limit yourself to driving just one luxury car. Check out as many as you want.

2. Test Some Out Before Taking the Plunge and Buying One

Are you interested in one day buying a luxury car? If so, you might not be sure which one to get. You can get the information you need to make a sound decision by renting a luxury car.

You might want to rent one or more over a couple of weekends. By so doing, you’ll have the chance to check out different models. And since renting is relatively inexpensive, you won’t need to spend an arm and a leg to do so.

You could go to a luxury car dealer and go for a test drive. But renting a car for a few days will give you a lot more time to drive it around and check it out.

3. Go Someplace Special in Style

Another reason to consider luxury car rental options is if you have somewhere to go and want to go there in style.

You might, for instance, want to attend a high school reunion, wedding, workplace function, or something else. If you want to make a good impression, try renting a car for the occasion.

4. Try Something New

If you’ve never owned or driven a luxury car before, you can do so by renting a luxury vehicle. There’s nothing wrong with having a regular four-cylinder sedan in the driveway. But why not switch things up by renting a luxury vehicle?

As the old saying goes, “you only live once.” So, it makes sense to check out the stable of luxury vehicles at a luxury car rental company near you. You’ll probably get hooked and want to try out other luxury vehicles.

5. Steer Clear of Maintenance Expenses

One reason many people steer clear of luxury cars is because of the maintenance costs. Sure, high-end cars come at a higher sticker price. But the maintenance expenses aren’t anything to sneeze at, either.

These costs can make it too expensive for many people to own a luxury car. But if you choose a luxury car rental service, you won’t have to worry. Your rental price will spare you from taking on maintenance costs.

You also need to consider the monthly insurance costs you’ll have to shoulder if you buy a luxury car. It can burn a hole in your wallet.

Renting will be a lot cheaper. You’ll get to enjoy the thrill of driving a car that attracts attention for all the right reasons. And you won’t have to worry about the ongoing expenses associated with keeping a luxury car in tip-top shape.

6. Drive Something Hard to Find on Dealership Lots

If you’re a fan of luxury cars, you know that some brands and models are hard to find on dealership lots in the U.S.

But you’ll be able to find some of the most exclusive luxury car models at luxury car rental companies. You can check out their websites to see what they offer. Chances are they have something that interests you.

7. Get Chauffeured Around

If you patronize the right luxury car rental business, you’ll get chauffeured around and about town in a luxury car.

If you have somewhere to go and want a chauffeured luxury car, that’s a good reason to call a luxury car rental company. Ask if the company offers chauffeur services if that’s what you want.