by scienceguy on May 20, 2010
When looking for a car insurance deal, there is a lot of information out there, and it is very easy to get confused by all of the terms, phrases and jargon that it seems hard to get away from. So with this in mind, welcome to the insurance buyers’ glossary, helping to unravel some of the most common terminology that is likely to crop up again and again for anyone looking to buy car insurance.
Firstly, an act of God is an event that causes damage to a vehicle that was not directly caused by someone else, e.g. a tornado or lightening strike. Acts of God may not be covered by the car insurance policy.
When the damage is insurable, an approved repairer, means one that is affiliated to the insurance company. Always check this before arranging for any repairs to be carried out.
The car referred to in the policy documents is the vehicle that is insured. Often additional aspects such as children’s car seats and satellite navigation will be included, so it is always worth checking.
The Certificate of Insurance is the written guarantee issued by the car insurance company as proof that the vehicle is insured. A claim arises when the insured party seeks to recover compensation from their insurance company. Comprehensive insurance gives the policy holder a higher level of cover than the minimum standard available.
The excess is the pre-determined amount to be paid by the policy holder, before the insurance company will settle a claim. Exclusions are particular circumstances not covered by the policy, under which the insurance company will not pay out.
The market value means the average worth of a car of the same age, make and model as the one insured. The car insurance policy is the official document issued by the insurers setting out the details, terms and limits of the contract of insurance. The policy holder is the person named in this contract as the one who is insured.
When a car insurance claim does arise, the settlement occurs when the insurance company makes a final payment so that the matter is resolved. The total amount for which the car is insured is called the sum insured. The term third party means anyone involved in a claim aside from the policy holder and the insurance company.
The term TPO abbreviates Third Party Only, the minimum level of cover required by Irish law for car insurance in Ireland. Uninsured losses are costs which will not be covered by the insurance policy, e.g. paying for an unauthorised hire car.
Car Insurance for Women – Specific car insurance packages for women.
And finally – when a car is a declared a write off after an accident, this means that it is either irreparable or that it would be more cost effective to replace the car than to try and repair it.
by scienceguy on May 14, 2010
Brighton may not be your only choice for a seaside holiday this summer, but it’s definitely one of the best. The city offers a range of great activities and entertainment opportunities, making it a wonderful choice for a fun-filled getaway.
What do you want from a vacation destination? Recreational activities? Natural beauty? Entertainment? Great dining? Fun special events? Brighton has them all!
The coast itself is reason enough to plan your trip. Well-tended and naturally beautiful, it offers all of the recreational activities you’d expect in a resort destination. Try kayaking, sailing, wakeboarding or power boating on Hove Lagoon before making your way to Devil’s Dike to enjoy the spectacular view from the gorge.
When you’re ready to get out of the water and back to the city, you won’t be disappointed. Every night in Brighton features countless shows and entertainment opportunities. Comedians, plays and concerts provide great evening diversions and the seaside area boasts all of the traditional fun options associated with a great summer holiday.
All of that activity is sure to build you appetite and Brighton’s wide assortment of restaurants will be there to satisfy it. The dining options range from well-prepared traditional English fare to Italian dining to traditional Indian favorites. You’ll find gourmet restaurant options, takeaways and family-friendly establishments that will keep your stomach full and a smile on your face.
Brighton also hosts a number of special events that can add another dimension to holiday fun. The Kite Flying Festival is a family favorite, the annual circus is unparalleled and Pride is a massive citywide party like no other. There’s always something special happening in Brighton!
Brighton is a wise choice for anyone planning a summer vacation. Few other destinations offer such a wide range of activities and happenings.
Looking for a great place to stay, check out:
Brighton Hotels with Jurys Inns
Brighton Hotels with TripAdvisor
by scienceguy on April 3, 2010
Article Marketing is one of the best known techniques for building links to a site and is still offered when selecting link building services for your site. It’s a labor intensive task and one that is dwindled in power over the past few years. But there is still value in article marketing, especially if you add a little twist to it.
One thing most sites have in common is they always need good content and if you are the one to provide it, the result can be a lot of links back to your site. But how do you find these sites or know what they are looking for ?
Well first you need to find popular topics to write about in your niche. I am going to show you the quick method of doing this, which costs money. Then a longer version, that is free.
Market Samurai – Paid Option
Market Samurai is a pretty good tool for market research. One of the cool features is the “Find Content” part. Based on a keyword it will search a number of web properties for related content. It will then provide information on how many times an article has been republished. This means it has been picked up by other sites and republished – pretty valuable information.
EzineArticles – Free Option
If I am looking for some quick ideas, I simply go my niche in EzineArticles and look at the most viewed EzineArticles in that category. This would show you the most popular content in your niche (great information). You would then start running some different searches for these on Google, i.e.
intitle: “article title”
intitle: “article title” + “author name”
The above commands will search for the article title in page titles and authors name. You can play around with this a little. It will not only provide you with information on what content is popular but also give you a list of sites that need and republish this content – pretty valuable information.
After this process you should have a list of articles to write (or outsource to be written). Once you have the content written, create Google alerts to track each article. Simply include the whole article title in the “search terms” and deliver to your Google reader. You then wait to see where your content gets picked up. If you find it one some good sites, approach them and offer unique content in exchange for links back to your site.
This method can not only build some great partnerships but can generate a lot of great links.
by scienceguy on April 2, 2010
We’re all struggling with the nature of the economy these days. That’s why it’s more important than ever to mind the details of smart small business operation. When times are good, you might be able to get away with a little sloppiness. In tight times like these, that luxury really isn’t available.
Denise O’Berry has a great video that discusses “ten key strategies you can follow to make your business a success.” None of these are ground-breaking new ideas, but they are the kind of bread and butter things you need to do to keep moving forward. Are You Doing the Right Things to Keep Your Business on Track?” may remind you of a few areas in your business that require attention.
You can check out our business tips resource page for more information
by scienceguy on March 29, 2010
Addy Dugdale at Fast Company tipped off readers to a great little guide to the world of social media from the folks at CMO.com.
It’s a “cheat sheet” that looks at all of the major social media outlets and looks at them in terms of search engine optimization, traffic production and customer communications potential.
If you’re trying to get a grip on this whole social media scene and how you can use it to your business’ advantage, you’ll want to take a look at the easy-to-understand cheat sheet. It’s not going to create a great overall strategy for you, but it might make some aspects of the social media landscape a little more understandable.
by scienceguy on March 18, 2010
Jeff Cornwall of The Entrepreneurial Mind recently reported on a survey of small businesses that revealed some interesting information about what owners are doing during these tough economic times.
The majority, according to the report from Brother International Corporation, are not expanding or making growth their top priority. Instead, they’re lying low and stockpiling cash as a buffer against the rough economy.
Cornwall thinks that’s the right approach. He thinks we’re still a long way from recovery and a cash cushion is a good defense. What do you think? Is this the time to play squirrel, stocking up nuts, or is an aggressive approach wise right now?
by Chris Channing on March 10, 2010
Any business in the game of making money through selling a product will need a reverse logistics operation. This is the side of business that handles returns, fixing defective products, and minimizing costs while doing so. It’s harder than what it seems at first glance, but there will be help along the way.
Small businesses and large businesses alike will need a reverse logistics plan, even if they only sell one product. There are no manufacturers out there that can boast a 100% satisfaction rate with all products. Mistakes happen, and consumers will inevitably have to return the product to get it fixed or ask for a refund. Having a plan to handle these claims will ensure your business isn’t losing money on the returns.
When you can consolidate something, it becomes easily managed. This holds true for reverse logistics as well. Knowing your bounds in returning items to the manufacturer is key at this stage, as you can try to consolidate returns in one single shipment. Otherwise you will find yourself paying invoices for several different shipments, and losing money in the process.
When you refurbish a product, you are simply fixing a problem that the consumer had with the product and returning it. This process requires that you have a team that is able to fix the product in question. If you do, factor in labor costs into the equation of lowering your logistics costs. If not, you should try factoring in the freight costs of getting the items back to the manufacturer instead.
Analyzing your operation is a constant task. You should never stop asking yourself what you could be doing to improve the operations of your reverse logistics. Always be looking for new ways to save money when accepting returns, refurbishing items, and getting better deals from the manufacturer who supplies the products. Spare parts and such should be bought in bulk to save more money on fixing costs.
A broker or third party logistics service will be able to further help you consolidate your efforts, save time, and ultimately save money in the process. A third party logistics service already has experience building a business and maximizing efficiency. Even if you are already doing well, a reverse logistics service could save time by allowing you to outsource the entire operation. You may even find they charge less of a price than the costs you incurred.
Final Thoughts
Don’t forget that business is a long process, of which takes much analyzing and knowledge to master. Over the months and years you will eventually arrive at a better business model, or you can skip the waiting game and ask for help from a logistics company near you.
Learn more on 3PL EDI services and solutions and bubble wrap.
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by scienceguy on March 6, 2010
You want to keep as much of your money as you can and you need to go after the best possible deals you can find. That includes securing the best possible rates for automobile insurance. But what should you do after you turn up a better option? What is the easiest way to change car insurance companies or find cheap car insurance right for you.
The process itself isn’t that intimidating. Here’s a three-step guide to getting things done.
First, read your existing policy and/or contact the insurer to find out what the cancellation provisions are before doing anything else. The procedures are fairly well governed and you’re unlikely to find anything too onerous, but it’s good to get things underway with a clear sense of your rights.
Second, secure the new coverage before cancelling your existing coverage. You don’t want to be uninsured at any point and you don’t want to be left without an insurer if something should happen with your new, cheaper provider. Get things in place with your new provider before dropping your current company.
Third, contact your original insurer and let them know that you’d like to cancel the policy. You can usually initiate this interaction via a telephone call to your agent. In some cases, you may need to go through an 800 number. In any case, make contact right away and cancel the policy. Some companies may require you to put something in writing or to complete a form to effectuate the cancellation. Determine their specific standards and act accordingly.
Fourth, follow up as necessary. If you’ve paid for a period of coverage in advance that you won’t be using, you can expect a pro-rated refund. Check with your previous insurer on a consistent basis until those funds are received. Also, request written verification of your earlier policy’s cancellation. You don’t want to be hit with unnecessary bills or credit history issues associated with their non-payment.
Following these four steps should be the easiest way to change car insurance companies and to start saving on your monthly insurance bill.
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