Member Blog

It’s been a busy few weeks at ORCA HQ, not only have we been battling with the joys of business in the new norm of Covid, we have introduced a third human to our POD  It brings me great pleasure to say that my wife gave birth (at home) to a gorgeous healthy baby boy a few weeks ago. So, I think it’s only fair to let you know what this means to OUR Wills 

Before…………Basically my wife and I gave everything to each other if one of us passed; if we both passed together, we split our estate in a variety of ways to a variety of people. It was a very simple Will with no ‘protection’ after death.

Now………….We still wish to give each other the use of the entire estate if one of us was to die, however we now want to add some protection into the Wills to ensure our child benefits from the estate on 2nd death no matter what. How do we do that I hear you ask? Simple……A Life Interest Trust.

What do we want to achieve?

We want to make sure that if one of us dies, the other is left with as few debts and stresses possible, but, we now wish for our child to benefit from the estate on the death of the 2nd person and that our child is looked after and cared for by the people we decide. Ultimately, our main priority and motivation for having a will is to protect our little bundle of pooping joy, if we are not around to do so.

What are we wanting to avoid?

At our age there are a couple of things we want to avoid. The most important thing we want to AVOID are any uncertainties regarding our wishes should we both die. Any uncertainties can cause huge stress on the family and friends we leave behind. With that in mind, the top priority is to state clearly (through a Will) who we want to look after our little man (legal guardianship), but also, who will be responsible for looking after his ‘estate’ until he gets to an age we decide is appropriate. This helps to avoid any he said, she said disputes about the welfare of our child.

This is easy if the scenario means that both my wife and I die at the same time! What happens if I die first, then 5-10 years later my wife dies? If I died yesterday, I would want my wife and child to be happy and carry on living life to the fullest. It may sound strange to say, but I would want my wife to meet someone else and even remarry (if that makes her happy). That being said, I want to AVOID this new fella getting any of my estate! In my job I see this ‘sideways disinheritance’ scenario far too often. Especially when it is easily AVOIDable.

How do we do it?

First things first……WE UPDATE OUR WILLS! But as well as that we have bolstered up our Life Insurances to ensure our mortgage is covered should one of us pass (We can assist you with Life Insurance and Critical Illness if you are sitting here thinking……wow that makes sense!).

Secondly, we add a Life Interest Trust into our Wills which states (in simple terms) ‘the survivor can live in and benefit from the deceased share of the property for their life time, however they cannot do anything to negatively impact the value of the deceased half for the beneficiary (our child).’ Essentially is means that if my wife was to re-marry, she cannot leave my half of the property to her new family; my half will always end up with MY child.

If you have children under the age of 18, you are in a relationship and you own property, you need to be speaking to me about getting the above elements written into your Will. If you are reading this with children under 18 and you DO NOT have a simple Will stating guardianship, you really do need to chat to me about getting a Will in place. I have always been passionate about ensuring young families are protected regarding guardianship within their Wills, but now I am a father, I now feel even more passionate.

The fact I offer free consultations and reviews of Wills for young families really gives you no excuse. Give me a call and let’s talk nappies, insomnia and Wills.

All too often when speaking with small business owners, we hear how Cyber Security is not a major concern.

Cyber Criminals only go for targeted attacks against big organisations with huge assets and valuable data right?

Why should a small business choose to spend any of its valuable and limited time, money and resources on Cyber Security?  Surely it would be better to focus on operating and growing the business, instead of just mitigating a risk that isn’t deemed to be much of a risk in the first place?

Well what if attacks aren’t targeted at all?  What if launching a Cyber Attack against your small business and thousands more like it was only as much ‘bother’ as clicking a button?  What if you don’t fully appreciate what your data is worth? What if the easiest way of attacking big corporations to get at their valuable data is by attacking a smaller business in its supply chain- a small business where Cyber Security is not a major concern??

Unfortunately, this is the reality of the Cyber Threat landscape your business is facing today, and regardless of the size of the organisation you need to make sure that Cyber Security is firmly on your radar.

Not convinced?  Let’s look at some facts.

• Small businesses are typically less protected and less security-aware than larger businesses and therefore ‘low-hanging fruit’ for Cyber Criminals to pick off at will
• Data is where the real value is today (particularly financial data) and every business large or small holds data.  Data for employees, data for customers, data for suppliers… you don’t want to be the ‘weak link’ in any supply chain you may be involved with by letting attackers in
• The majority of Cyber Attacks are not targeted at all.  Most Ransomware and phishing attacks are actually automated ‘scattergun’ attacks, fired indiscriminately at whatever mailing list or list of web domains an attacker decides to choose that day.

Bottom line, you don’t actually need to be a target to be hit with an attack.

Still not convinced?  Okay, well consider this: Cyber Security for small businesses isn’t just about mitigating risk, it’s about gaining a competitive edge.

You can be sure that the majority of larger organisations are fully aware of the Cyber Security risks they face and are fully focussed on mitigating that long list of risks as far as possible.  You can also be sure that near the top of that list is the supply chain.

Big businesses are now more often than not seeking to ensure that Cyber Security is a concern for any company they do business with, no matter the size.  Many are now demanding that existing and potential suppliers prove, and can demonstrate compliance with security standards such as Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001- just to even be considered as a business partner.  This means that a significant deciding factor in retaining contracts, winning tenders and even just building a relationship of trust with clients and suppliers could be down to how Cyber Secure that business is.

Having robust and demonstrable security policies in place show that your business has taken steps to protect not only its own interests but those of clients and suppliers alike- and that is precisely what companies are looking for when choosing partners or suppliers to engage with.  If your business can’t show this consideration then you risk losing out to competitors who can, and if nothing else then surely that is a risk that every business owner can understand.

With this potential loss of business, financial fallout of an attack potentially running into the thousands, loss of confidence in your business and all that potential reputational damage, how long can your business afford to ignore the risk?

It’s best not to wait to find out. The good news is, there is plenty of free information around to help you improve your cyber security position and get ahead of the game (and your competitors).  The NCSC site from the UK government is one good place to start but here are plenty of others, take a look.

Above all, if you own a small business, don’t be one of the reported 60% of business owners who assume they’re not at risk. Don’t bury your head in the sand and don’t miss out on an opportunity to grow your business, and set it apart from the competition.   Doing something is better than doing nothing, and the best time to do something is before your business becomes just another statistic.  So, start today.

We do understand that even with the great free information available from the NCSC and other sources, the time required to read and understand this, and to plan and take the relevant actions is time not spent running your business.  If this is stopping you from protecting your business, we invite you to schedule a 30 minute call with one of our Cyber Security Consultants to help you understand where your key risks and opportunities are, and how we might be able to help.

The way in which people shop has changed a lot over the last few years. Ten years ago, the majority of goods and services were paid for by cash payments. However, nowadays, almost 50% of all payments are made electronically or by card.

While we’re still a long way away from being a completely cashless society, we’re only likely to see the amount of online or card payments increase over the next few years. In actual fact, research has suggested that businesses who don’t accept card payments could actually be turning away more than half of their customers. This can have a huge impact on the success of their business.

This has led to a number of SMEs choosing to invest in card machines in order to provide their customers with the service they want. In the last year, we’ve seen a 12% rise in the number of UK SMEs introducing POS (point of sale) terminals into their businesses. If you’re an SME who doesn’t currently accept card payments, then keep reading below to find out why you should consider investing in this technology and how to go about it.

The Basics Behind Card Payments

• In order to accept card payments in your business, you will need to acquire a terminal. You will also need to find a service provider who offers you a great service at a reasonable price.
• When it comes to processing a transaction, three different organisations need to be involved. Each of these will expect to be paid a fee for their service. The organisations that need to be involved are:
• The scheme (Mastercard, Visa, etc.)
• The card issuer (the financial institution or bank, e.g. Barclaycard or Santander)
• The merchant service provider (they act as the middle man between you and the customer)

Choosing a good card machine service can be tricky, particularly if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Whether you’re looking to take credit or debit card payments, or you’re simply searching for a new provider, the UTP group is a great choice. UTP Group work alongside Barclaycard bank (one of the biggest Financial Institutions in the UK) to provide card machines for businesses in the UK. Knowing that they work alongside a reputable bank means that you are partnered with a business that will continue operating for many years to come.

While most merchant account transactions take up to 5 days to process, UTP group works hard to offer their customers Faster Processing. With this innovation they are able to process all transactions in a 24-hour period, and if needed, they can process transactions within an hour. This can greatly increase your business cash flow.

The Costs Involved

• When it comes to taking card payments, there are a number of fees you will need to consider. These include:
• The merchant service charge – you will have to pay a set amount of money each time you complete a card payment
• The payment gateway fees – you will have to pay a fee for any payments taken over the phone or online

Authorisation fees

There are two main types of charging structures operating in the UK. These include:

The actual cost per transaction – This is usually the cheapest option available to businesses but it’s usually only offered to larger companies. Businesses are expected to pay a certain amount depending on the type of transaction taking place, e.g. if the customer is present during the transaction, the fee is likely to be lower, while fees for a transaction completed online are likely to be higher.

A blended rate – this is usually offered to small or medium-sized businesses. A blended rate means that providers ask for a fixed percentage per transaction. While this may be easier to budget for, it’s likely to cost more money in the long term. Providers are more likely to make calculations in their favour, so don’t assume that this is the best option. Businesses who are high-risk are more likely to expect higher fees and less favourable terms and conditions. High-risk merchants are businesses who are likely to have higher incidents of fraud, e.g. the gambling or travel industry.

The Service

Of course, when it comes to finding a good provider, it’s not just the costs that you need to take into account. You also need to take into account the type of service they offer. Do they upgrade their terminals on a regular basis? How long does it take for a payment to be processed? What are their settlement terms? And do they have a UK based call centre available? You’ll want a service that chooses not to outsource their work to any external organisation. Their employees should be well trained, closely monitored, and experienced in the world of business.

The Risks

These days, over 50% of all payments are made electronically, with cheques now being seen as a thing of the past and cash payments usually only used in over the counter retail sales. Taking card payments is well-known for being riskier than taking cash payments. But there are a few simple things you can do to reduce the chances of problems occurring. Businesses need to make sure that they comply with the correct standards and regulations in order to keep their customers and their business safe. Here are some of our top tips to protect your business:

Make sure that your website is secure

• Make sure that your business complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). The expected requirements will depend on the type and size of business you own and who your card issuer is.
• Consider accepting PayPal and mobile payments. These payments add another layer of security to the process.
• When sending items in the post, make sure you send them with proof of delivery (POD) this will stop your business from being charged chargebacks.

Complete an annual safety audit

Considering the fact that plenty of sensitive data is gathered every day, all business owners have a responsibility to protect their customers from theft or potential data breaches. Complying to the correct standards (including the PCI DSS) will give your customers the reassurance that their card details are safe and secure in your hands. This may also mean that they are more likely to trust your business, which can help you to build a better reputation.

You’re Ready to Take Your First Payment

Once you’ve completed your research and found a service provider who is perfect for you and your business, then you’re ready to get started. Within a week, you’ll be able to join the other 1.4 million SMEs in the UK who don’t turn away 50% of their customers. As we head towards a cashless society, we’re likely to see more and more SMEs accepting card payments. Currently, up to two-thirds of all SMEs in the UK don’t accept card payments. Why is that you may ask? The simple answer is because most business owners don’t realise how simple it is to set up or how much it will benefit their business. Follow our advice above and you’ll be well on your way to improving your customer experience and increasing your sales.

Our soil is sick and we can’t afford to ignore it any longer.

Think about this. 95% of the world’s calorific intake comes from the soil but some scientists warn that because of our mistreatment of it, we only have a number of harvests left. In the UK this is around 100 but in other parts of the world, the number is lower.

I’m going to ask you to read that again.

The source of our food is failing and if we carry on as we are, it’ll be gone, forever.

A world in your hands Pick up a handful of earth and look at it closely. It might contain the odd worm or a few tiny insects. It might crumble in your fingers or clump into clay-like blobs. What you can’t see with the human eye is the world of microorganisms, cohabiting with each other. Their job is to break down organic matter, putting nitrogen, carbon and other vital substances back into the ground. It’s part of a crucial cycle that supports life on our planet.

What other jobs does soil do?

* Soil retains water and can help guard against flooding, it’s also a natural filtration system. * Healthy soil has structure, protecting the landscape from erosion. * It releases carbon into the atmosphere in a controlled manner.

The lie we’ve been fed Farming isn’t new – there’s evidence that grain cultivation goes back as far as 9500BC. What is new is the way that we’re doing it. Growing populations require feeding, and techniques, chemical use and mechanisation have swung in favour of reducing cost while increasing yield.

The soil has paid the price.

There is a common misconception that this kind of farming is necessary to feed hungry nations, but according to the Sustainable Food Trust, the hidden cost of this sprouts up elsewhere. The real price is being “passed on to the public through taxation, lost income due to ill health, and the price of mitigating and adapting to climate change and environmental degradation”. This results in the UK public paying twice for their food, which doesn’t represent much of a saving.

What’s in my food? Non-organic farming gives better yields, so I get more for my money, right?

Think again.

A U.S. study in 2004 compared the nutritional data from 1950 and 1999 of 43 different vegetables and fruits and found ‘reliable declines’ in key nutrients. This is one of those instances where more is less.

According to the Soil Association, UK regulations allow 300 pesticides to be used in non-organic farming and, in 2016, over 16,600 tonnes of it were used to control pests, kill weeds and protect crops from disease. In 2017, government testing found pesticide residues in 47% of British food. In comparison, organic farmers only have 300 pesticides in their arsenal (all derived from natural sources) and must rely on a combination of traditional methods and innovation to keep their crops safe.

Better for everyone We’re told that soil depletion is a by-product of intensive farming, that it’s a necessary evil that we can outrun. Considering it can take 500 to 1,000 years for soil to form from its base material, namely rock, it seems like a foolhardy attitude to have. If we’re this reliant on healthy soil, should we not be taking better care of it? Particularly as the financial case against slower, more considerate farming isn’t really one at all?

Organic agriculture is a frame of mind as much as a methodology. It involves observing and working in harmony with nature, harnessing its mechanisms and respecting its natural cycles. It’s about sustaining that which sustains us – which seems like a far more reasonable idea.

In order to support the soil, rotating crops, using more land to produce less, allowing the soil to rest, and planting trees and other non-cropping plants makes sense. Natural forms of pest control, including breaking lifecycles and bringing in natural predators, takes care of the land while taking care of the nuisance.

It’s not just a financial decision, it’s a moral one. It’s the right thing to do.

Feed the soil, not the plant… One of the basic rules in any kitchen garden handbook. Preparation for next year’s crops starts this autumn, just like the preservation of our precious, fragile soil for future generations has to start now. It’s about understanding the wider picture, respecting the wider cycles and greater power of nature, and making plans accordingly.

Cheap food production has made our food cheap. Although food waste has fallen in recent years, UK households still get rid of 4.5m tonnes a year, the equivalent of £700 for each family with children.

If we valued our food more, would we take better care of it?

I’m sure the soil would thank us. I bet our children will too…

Moving to a new place can be both exciting and scary at the same time. You’ll be looking forward to starting your new life in a new location but at the same time, will have much more on your plate than a local move. Norfolk is one of the most charming places in England with an unspoilt coastline that many like to visit. If you haven’t considered moving to Norfolk, you might want to reconsider.

In this guide, I am going to offer some tips for moving to Norfolk that you might want to take on board. Read on to hear some of my local tips.

Where to Move To

Norfolk is a large place and so you’ll need to decide on where is best to life. Will you opt for Norwich, the inland villages or possibly the Norfolk Broads? Ideally, we would suggest that you opt for the inland villages as there are some truly stunning ones to choose from. They fall within the Norfolk coast AONB and have unspoilt countryside that you’ll fall in love with. Don’t just move to the big towns, consider what is really on offer in Norfolk.

Start Early

Many of the homes in Norfolk are stunning and have a reasonable amount of space but if you have a lot of things, you might find that the move is slightly harder to manage than you might think. For example, if you are travelling from London, the drive will take you more than 2 hours so if you can’t get everything in the moving van, the entire moving process is going to be more difficult. For this reason, I would recommend that you invest in a storage space.This way, you can keep some of your things there and move over a longer period of time.

Make an Effort with Your Neighbours

Another tip that I have for those who are planning on moving to Norfolk is to remember that this is more of a countryside area. The great thing about these areas is that usually, the communities are strong, and neighbours look after each other. That is, of course, if you are friendly and make an effort to become a part of the community. Some people might not appreciate you moving from a big city with large moving vans blocking their roads. Try to make a good first impression and it will get you off to the best possible start.

Get to Know the Place

Finally, I would suggest that you spend some time getting to know the area that you are moving to before you go. You’ll need to know where the best schools are and ensure you have a job that you can commute to. The best schools might not be nearby your new property and so you’ll need to make arrangements for your children to get there every day. Having a car is ideal in this area to get around as public transport isn’t always convenient. There are plenty of guides online that you can use to find out where the best attractions and beauty spots are, so make sure to check them out.

Get Moving

Norfolk is one of the best places that you can move to in England so why not start planning your move today? You should make sure to take on board the tips that I have given you if you want the move to be a successful one. Once you get settled in, you’ll never want to leave these countryside towns.

Have you heard of virtual sports? This sub-niche of the sports betting industry had been here for years now, but it only saw the most significant growth in the past several months when most sporting events and leagues have been either cancelled or postponed. With the sudden absence of real sports to bet on, the presence of virtual sports has suddenly pushed to the spotlight. People needed something to fill the void that the cancellation of sports have made, and it was virtual sports that did the job for that.

Virtual sports have been played for almost a decade now. In fact, you can find several bookmakers that offer the opportunity to bet on virtual sports, long before the event of the pandemic cancellations. You can find out which bookmakers are offering virtual sports betting on the best review sites like Efirbet. Aside from that, you can also read on the best betting tips, bookmaker reviews, and special offers on this website.

Virtual sports is nothing different than the traditional sports betting that you may probably know already. It has the same rules, the same formats, and the same of almost everything–only that there are no real people involved and everything is virtual. If there is one thing that is definite about the world of virtual sports is that it will not go away anytime soon. Experts are looking at it as something that would be “here to stay.”

In an interview with the magazine Gambling Insider, NSoft Company co-CEO Dario Jurcic said that investors should allot more money in investing to thew virtual sports sub-niche, citing the changes the pandemic had brought in the world of online betting. He also added that companies ought to include virtual sports in the services they offer, or they risk eventually getting left behind in the market. To the uninitiated, NSfot is one of the biggest and most popular game software providers for online gaming and betting.

“There was a clear signal, even before the pandemic, that we need to invest more in virtual sports,” said Jurcic. “Our two new games will allow us to target more specific audiences and assure even higher year-on-year growth. Virtual sports will be very beneficial for operators during the pandemic. Companies that do no introduce virtual sports and virtual games, in general, will suffer an even higher decline of business.”

Jurcic also noted that virtual sports might eventually replace sports betting as we know it for several reasons, including the fact that it gets played out faster than real sports. It is available to bet on almost 24/7, if not completely round the clock. These are factors that not even live sports betting can replicate. As interactive and innovative the concept of live betting is, it is still tied to having a real game played out for bettors to have something to watch and bet on. Virtual sports, on the other hand, only needs software running. Also, with football being the most popular sports to bet on, it may very well be the main product that would carry virtual sports to more providers and bookmakers.

“Football is definitely the king of virtual sports,” Jurcic emphasized. “The demand for virtual sports nowadays is astonishing. We have been contacted by so many companies in the industry that are willing to introduce our products, and this is a clear sign that the business is and will continue to grow. The player demand is there, and that’s always the best driver. However, companies that introduced virtual sports before the pandemic will benefit more as they have built a stable player base by now. The ones that just introduced them will see slower growth but still will benefit a lot.”

Is there a time for providers to wait and sit out the adaption of virtual sports to their platforms?

“Now is the time to convert traditional sports betting fans to virtual sports,” Jurcic said.

Are you finding a new hobby to enjoy and get yourself busy with? Or perhaps you are looking to expand your interests and try an entirely new world you’ve never been to before? You can try online sports betting. Sports betting is one of the fastest-growing industries that lets you enjoy sports aside from either playing it or watching it. Sports betting had been an activity for a lot of people for hundreds of for years, and perhaps even older in some parts of the world. Today, through the help of modern technology and even social media, sports betting managed to remain a significant sub-culture through what is called online sports betting.

Online sports betting works the same as the traditional in-person sports betting, with the only difference being everything is done virtually and through the internet. There are still bookmakers, and this time they work through online sports betting apps you can download on your respective application stores, or a website you can visit through a mobile or desktop web browser. In online sports betting, you can also enjoy special offers and other forms of freebies, such as bonuses without a code by Silentbet.

But what makes online sports betting the best choice for your new hobby? Here are some of the top reasons.

You know it already

The chances are that you have at least made a bet on sports once or twice in your life. Or you may even be a regular on betting places for your favorite sports like football, basketball, or horse racing. You probably know what odds are, how they work, and how you can have odds work to your advantage. Either way, you have surely heard or experienced sports betting one way or the other.

Online sports betting is no different. The core elements of sports betting are still there, there is a sport you have to bet on, there are types of bets you can make, there are odds that you have to consider in making a bet, and there is, of course, the bookmaker which you will wager your money through.

Technology made it easier

Back in the day, the only way you can bet in sports is if you got out your way and go to the nearest betting place whenever there is a game going. It can be a hassle and especially if the game is a big one, the queue for the betting itself can be too long. By then, only two things might happen to you: one is you run out of time, and the bookie would close the best with you still far away from the queue, or you risk placing your bets through a shady “bookie” offering shady odds. No matter what happens to you between the two, you will end up losing money.

Online sports betting revolutionized all of these. Now, you can bet anywhere, and any time you want to. Even when on the go, you can check the odds and predictions, as long as you are connected to the internet. No need to go out your way on long nights, or to fall in a long queue just to place your bet. You can do all of these, and actually even more, from the comfort of your own home through your respective devices.

There are always bonuses and special offers

One thing that bookies in an in-person betting place do not offer is bonuses. There is simply no form of bonuses or loyalty rewards here, no matter how long you’ve played under the same bookie.

However, online sports betting bookmakers often provide freebies, discounts, and special offers that not only give you more chances to bet but also entices you to stay longer and bet more under the same bookie.

People have bet on sports since time immemorial. A lot of factors have contributed to the popularity of sports betting, mainly the people’s love for gambling as well as their enthusiasm for sports. However, as time went on, the way of life advanced, eventually making the old ways of sports betting an outdated activity. Thankfully for the internet, online sports betting came.

With that came the rise of online bookmakers. Now, players have access to more people who will facilitate their bets and help them earn winnings. With thousands and thousands of bookmakers available now, you have to make sure that you only play with the best ones. Many review sites exist to help you for winning, one of which Nosatrabet.com that offers valuable tips, recommendations and reviews of the most popular betting apps and websites in current scenario.

Here are the top ways how the internet made sports betting bigger.

It made betting easier

Veteran sports bettors know the struggle of placing a bet in some big games, especially if it is the finals of a league. You have to line up on extremely long queues, and sometimes bookies would close up bets right before you get your turn to place yours.

The rise of online sports betting made all things easier. Now, you can wager your money at the comfort of your own home, and even while you’re on the go. No need to travel to a betting place and personally place your bet there. No more stress. Just grab your device, go to the site or the app, and you are good to go.

More people can now bet on sports

Back in the day, sports betting sued to be a very specific niche, and only targets a very specific group of people. When you ask someone what their expectations of a sports bettor would be, you will get the most common stereotypes–a middle-aged father who had so much extra money to spend or men drinking beer while throwing their money on their favorite sports. 

Through the growing popularity of online sports betting through apps and sites, people who used to have no idea about sports betting are now introduced to this community. Gone are the days where bettors used to be only dads drinking booze while watching a game live. Now, as long as you are of legal age and has access to a legitimate payment method, you can start betting on sports.

Social media

Are you someone who used to have no idea what sports betting is and how it works? However, you are now a regular o multiple online bookies, and you enjoy wagering your money for sports. How did you get here? More often than not, it may be through one of the ads that you saw on a social media platform. Since online sports betting thrives on the internet, bookmakers also use the popularity of social media and the fact that a lot of people spend the majority of their time being exposed to it. They advertise on social media, and they promote their apps and sites on them.

It all pays off at the end. Through social media, more people are attracted to take a look at the world of online sports betting, and while some do not stay for the long term, a lot have kept on playing and now are regular bettors on their chosen bookmakers.

Final thoughts

We should keep in mind that the internet is not a done thing. Technology is still growing. Thus, this also means that online sports betting as you know it now is not yet done–it will even improve through the years. As to what advances and improvements there would be, one can only guess and speculate. Whatever it would be, it will definitely bring the experience of sports betting to yet another new level.

The internet had changed the way we live our lives. From our means of communication to the availability of the information we can easily access, to say that the internet had helped improved our lives would be an understatement. Even in the world of gambling and sports betting, the internet had brought huge innovations and advancements in the way people can bet on sports.

From the wider options of betting to the faster and easier betting system, to the rise of more bookmakers in the market, the internet gave a huge boost to the world of betting, making it more significant than how it is way back in the years.

Even bookmakers benefitted from technology as they can now easily run operations completely on a virtual environment. The best bookies are known to offer not only the best range of betting options but also the most generous offers and bonuses. How to choose the best bookmakers suited for you read more that gives a glimpse of safe betting and making your chances for more winning. 

Here are the ways why online sports betting can be a better betting option for you.

It is easier

If you have been betting on sports in-person in the past, you already know the drill: the bigger the game is, the higher the hype that is around it, and the bigger the odds are for a bet, the longer the lines for the bookies would be. Sometimes, you would be shut out of the bet you wish to make. Sometimes, you would give up queuing in line yourself due to the stressful rush on a brick-and-mortar betting site.

Another thing about traditional land-based sports betting sites is that they are often not very accessible and you have to go out a long way to get to one and start betting. If you are a newbie, starting on your own without a buddy can be hard and confusing.

In online sports betting, you can bet right at the comfort of your home. You can wager anytime and anywhere as long as you are connected to the internet and you have a device with you where you can log in to your bookmaker’s account. No more stressful and long travels, no more long lines just to places your bets, and no more missing out on that good bet you want to wager on. Thanks to technology, sports betting had become, and easier form of hobby and entertainment and more people can now participate in it.

It gives you more freedom

The truth about traditional in-person sports betting is that you have very limited options. One fact is that you can only bet under one bookmaker. While no restrictions are saying you can only bet under one bookie, it is unrealistic and virtually impossible to move from one betting place to another to switch bookies. Another thing is that you have very limited access to the odds and lines, and you can only see what your bookie wants to show you.

In online sports betting, your options can go as far as the number of legit bookies available out there. Switching between bookies can be as easy as switching between apps or tabs of your web browser. Some online bettors even spread their bets across different bookies to maximize the profit they will make, regardless of the outcome of the game.

When it comes to odds, you have higher chances of getting better odds for your bets, since odds from different bookies are publicly available online, you have the freedom to compare odds and see which one is better and would work best for you.

Final thoughts

As long as technology keeps on advancing, so does all the other things affected by it. Thus, while one can only wait for what may come next for the world of sports betting, technology will surely make betting more advanced, if not better, in the future.

Good news!

Phew, we don’t feel like we’ve said that for a while here in the events industry. As of the 1st October, the UK government has now confirmed that events, exhibitions and conferences can go ahead. Good news indeed. However with this date in the calendar, we know there’s still plenty of work to do on building confidence in order to return to these events safely, securely and successfully.

This is why we have created our Reopening Events and Exhibitions Guide for Exhibitors. We’ve been keenly keeping an eye on the incredible efforts across the events industry to plan how we reopen events safely. However, you might not have been quite as keen as us. After all with lockdown and challenges being felt across so many industries, chances are you’ve had your own worries. But with our guide ready for download now, our aim is to make sure that returning to events isn’t a worry. In fact it could be a big win for you and your business. Events offer huge boosts for economies, employment and engage audiences in so many ways.

We know that a little boost to confidence is all it might take to get your planning your next event or exhibition, so take a look at our handy guide and rest assured we’re here to answer your questions as we start our collective recovery, stronger together!

There will be considerable challenges ahead, but we strongly believe that we will recover better together. We remain committed to our extraordinary values and the high quality service you have come to expect. Built around you, we are ready to help you successfully return to events or even successfully re-route your event marketing efforts elsewhere.

Don’t forget to download your handy guide right here

Feel free to get in touch today about your next project!

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Are you transferring data outside of the EEA to the United States or elsewhere? This new ruling means that you will need to make some changes.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that Privacy Sheild is invalid.

Most organisations rely on data transfer agreements known as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) to transfer personal data to countries outside of the European Economic Area (EEA).

The General Data Protection Act (GDPR) data protection law states that appropriate safeguards must be in place if data is transferred out of the EU, to the United States or elsewhere.

The EU-US Privacy Shield replaced the Safe Harbour agreement and governed the transfer of EU citizens’ data to the United States.

On 16th July 2020 the Privacy Shield was struck down and confirmed invalid by the Court of Justice of the European Union. This new ruling will have substantial implications for thousands of businesses across the UK currently sharing data with the US.

I am using Mail Chimp / Other Email Marketing provider outside of the EEA, what should I do?

Now that Privacy Shield has been ruled invalid, these firms will be forced to review and sign standard contractual clauses drawn up by Europe that include all the relevant EU approved clauses that allow for the international transfer of data. You can wait to see what happens and if the US can find a suitable solution to appease the EU, or you can move your data to a provider within the EEA.

The Court of Justice findings are “the requirements of US national security, public interest and law enforcement have primacy, thus condoning interference with the fundamental rights of persons whose data are transferred to that third country”, and that mechanisms in the EU-US Privacy Shield apparently intended to lessen this interference and was therefore not up to the required legal standard of ‘essential equivalence’ with EU law.

Smart Messenger is a UK Based Email Marketing Service and all of our servers are based within the EEA. You can be assured that we will never transfer your data elsewhere.

If you would like to talk to us about your options, please call us on 01603 858250 and speak to one of our friendly team.

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If you are a business owner, you already know how much more competitive the market is right now. The uncertainties affecting the market, new businesses targeting similar market segments, and the changes happening in the market itself are making it more difficult for businesses to edge ahead and draw a clear lead.

That doesn’t mean you cannot still lead the market. In fact, there are more ways to gain a competitive advantage and be more flexible in the market. You just have to be willing to strengthen the fundamentals of your business, especially the basics such as cost management and HR, and we have just the tips and tricks to get you started in this article.

Manage Your Expenses

There are two ways to remain flexible in the market as more competitors aim for your market segment: deliver more value and limit your costs. Boosting the value of your product in the eyes of customers is not always easy or straightforward, but you can always take steps to reduce your expenses and limit direct costs.

Limiting costs allows you to keep your overhead in check, which means you will have more room to compete in terms of pricing. At the same time, you can choose to allocate more resources towards activities such as digital marketing and ads at specific times. You can even run ad-hoc campaigns or utilize other tactics to stay ahead of the market.

Organise Projects Effectively

Most business processes can be seen as tasks that need to be completed to achieve a common objective. This is why project management is now a skill that businesses actively seek when looking for top talents to recruit. The better you are at managing projects seamlessly and efficiently, the more competitive the business will be as a whole.

Fortunately, there are many project management tools that let you implement agile project management not only to the engineering and product development projects but to projects in other areas in the company as well.

Good project management has one additional advantage: better use of resources, including time and money. When you know how projects will be executed, you can be more meticulous with timing expenses, allocating talents, or team members, and keeping up with the challenges you will face along the way.

Effective Marketing Campaigns

The next thing you want to strengthen is your ability to reach your target audience in an engaging way. It is not enough to have social media pages and active digital marketing campaigns; you have to go the extra mile and think about how to best deliver key messages to your potential customers. More importantly, you have to listen to how they react to those messages.

Everyone is using digital marketing right now, so your message needs to cut through more noise. Rather than pouring more money and using brute force to conquer the market, try to have a more refined strategy and really think about personalizing every customer touchpoint. User experience is what matters the most in today’s market.

User Experience

That actually brings us to our next point, which is user experience. Your customers’ experience with your company or brand is not limited to their interactions with your products. From the moment customers start looking for information about your company and what you do, you become a part of their journey.

User experience, just like brand elements and marketing key messages, is something that can be shaped, and the best way to shape your UX or CX is by understanding what the customers really want. Take the time to listen to your customers more, and then craft a user journey that allows customers to feel special and appreciated.

Cash Flow

The most important fundamental to improve, however, is your cash flow. Cash flow powers everything. When you have a healthy cash flow – and can maintain that healthy cash flow over a long period of time – you have the biggest competitive advantage of them all. You can be more adaptive, react to market changes, deal with spikes in demand, and do virtually everything you need to grow the business without skipping a beat. Healthy cash flow also makes you more agile and allows you to react to those market changes faster.

It is also worth noting that having good cash flow lets you save more on business expenses. When you know you can pay vendors in 14 days instead of 20 or 30 days, you have better leverage to negotiate deals and reduce business expenses further.

Strengthen these 5 fundamentals, and your business will not only be more competitive on the market, but more resilient too. The market is only getting more competitive by the day. Don’t wait; start today, improve these fundamentals to support your business, and compete better for a growing market.