All Posts by Himanshu Sheth

|In: Marketing|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Up to 95% of buyers consider content as trustworthy when evaluating your brand and its offerings, according to insights from NewsCred. If you’re not producing quality content, you’re missing out on an opportunity to improve your brand’s credibility. With 75% of consumers expecting a consistent experience when engaging with your business – website, social media, mobile and even in person, there’s no doubt that great content helps shape the customer experience.

Image Source – Design

Whether you’re a small business or large corporate looking to improve your brand, understanding the latest trends in content marketing plays a crucial role in helping you create a cohesive omnichannel experience for your customers.

Live-Streaming Content Everywhere

While live-streaming was pretty new in the market when Facebook Live was introduced to the public in 2016, more brands are embracing the ‘live everywhere’ trend. Platforms like JW live allow publishers to harness the power of live streaming for fresh promotional and revenue generating opportunities. With everything from corporate sites to social media networks and mobile web offering outlets for real-time video streaming, revolutionizing your marketing strategy is easier. Live streaming wields a digital influence that any business cannot afford to ignore when it comes to brand engagement and monetization.

To take advantage of this trend, pick a live streaming platform that best suits your marketing strategy. Take into consideration how many followers use the platform and how engaged they have been in the past. When going live, make sure not to miss any opportunity to interact. Respond to any comments, questions or concerns. Use platforms like Twitter’s Periscope, Youtube live streaming, Facebook live video or Tumblr to live stream your promotional content. There has never been a time when original content has been so attainable and accessible in the video community. By establishing new channels for digital content creation, such as live-streaming, you can easily foster engaging and rewarding opportunities for your business.

Content Built for Voice Search

Voice-enabled smart speakers are expected to be in 55% of households by 2022, as noted by TechCrunch. There is no doubt we’re in the age of the voice search revolution. Because of the opportunities that this growing trend offers, content writing agencies and marketers are focused on figuring out exactly how to provide better content value. Businesses across different industries are testing out potential integrations between their content strategies and voice search. To succeed, you need to look beyond functionality alone and embrace voice-search marketing capabilities.

With voice search representing more than 20% of queries on Google’s mobile app, it’s important to know how best to use voice-search marketing to your advantage. After years of adjusting digital content to optimize written search, brands need to re-strategize their SEO. The goal is to provide quick answers that help you drive more traffic to your site. This involves doing more strategic keyword research to identify which keywords in your niche result in a featured snippet. Combined with AI and its impact on consumer purchases, voice search can help you gain more entity authority, ensuring your content ranks higher.

Increased Investment in Mobile Content Strategies

You can’t ignore the power of mobile content marketing. Considering how ingrained mobile devices have become in our lives, optimizing content for mobile is something that every business should have embraced by now. By 2019, mobile content advertising is expected to represent up to 72% of all digital ad spending in the US. Advertisers and marketers are increasing their investment in mobile content strategies to remain competitive. Businesses must look beyond photos, videos, and chat for their content marketing and embrace more modern mobile marketing trends like e-books, live mobile streams, mobile alerts and interactive content.

Being a marketer in today’s evolving business world is no easy work. You need to understand new platforms in the market, their impact on how customers engage with brands and stay on top of new developments. Knowing and implementing some of these latest content marketing trends will help boost brand visibility and win the favor of customers.

|In: HealthCare|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

India, as a country is undergoing a significant change and progressing at a very rapid pace. The GDP [Gross Domestic Product] is showing an upswing and there have been a lot of sectors where India has shown the world that we are no longer ‘just another progressing country’, but we can also be leaders in the fields of technology, sports, entertainment, etc. Though GDP is one way to look at a country’s progress, the other measure could be the amount of money being spent on healthcare.

Image Source – Fitness

Though the socio-economic conditions have improved, problems like obesity, anxiety, Diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. are very common even with Indians who are in their early 30’s. As per a report, India currently represents around 49% of the world’s diabetes burden, expected to almost double to 134 million by 2025. This is a serious matter of concern for a ‘Young India’ that is ready to take on the world with all guns blazing but it could be plagiarized with poor health/fitness.

It is primarily important to maintain a healthy diet which is a combination of nutrition & taste, but in case you are suffering from diabetes/high blood sugar levels, it is always recommended to have the best glucometer available in India. For a diabetic patient, self-testing your blood sugar is important in order to avoid further diabetes complications and this is where the ‘glucose meter’ [glucometer] can be handy to measure sugar level at the comfort of your home. There are a lot of brands that make glucometers, namely Omron, Bayer, Accu Check, One Touch, etc. but you have to make a conscious decision of buying the best glucometer in India that suits your requirements. To use the meter, use the lancet to draw a small amount of blood from your finger, put it onto the strip and then insert the strip in the meter. The results are accurate and the strips are also available at affordable prices.

Though health is considered the real wealth, most of us seem to have forgotten it and tend to follow a laid-back or sedentary lifestyle. There are many who start their day by playing games on their smart-devices whereas the ideal way should be to do some exercise so that it enriches the body and mind. Due to this, many men & women gain weight, which might also negatively impact their confidence & personality.

Physical fitness has become much more important than before; else the cases of obesity, risk to deadly diseases, etc. could plagiarize our generation and the forthcoming generation. If you are someone who is focused on fitness, having a weighing scale always helps as you can also keep a track of your weight while you follow your daily fitness regime. Depending on your budget and requirements, you can opt to purchase a weighing scale online so that you can track weight, along with other important parameters like steps taken, calories burnt, hydration levels, etc. and experience a holistic ‘fitness experience’.

To summarize, let’s make a conscious effort to make the slogan ‘Hum Fit to India Fit‘ a reality!

|In: Funding|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Bombay Shaving Company [BSC], the premium online men’s grooming brand and pioneer in the Direct-To-Consumer [D2C] market in India, has raised an undisclosed amount in series A funding. This investment is from a clutch of investors including Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Limited, a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive based in Hong Kong and existing investors Fireside Ventures. As part of the transaction, Colgate-Palmolive has picked up a minority financial stake in the company.

Image Source – Bombay Shaving Company

Founded in 2016, Bombay Shaving Company has expanded quickly to 80,000+ customers and a portfolio of 30+ products across shaving, bath and body, skin and beard care categories.

Shantanu Deshpande, Chief Executive at BSC and former McKinsey consultant said

We are thrilled to have raised this round from stellar investors focused in the CPG space. All our investors to date have a track record of being patient, supportive, financial backers with learning in-tent. Building a consumer brand in India needs time, capital and long-term vision. After having proven product market fit with promising repeat rates and product response, we are now looking to scale the brand.

Men’s grooming is proving to be a fast-growing category in the FMCG space in India with growth rates estimated at 30% annually. Many young companies have come up in the past 3~4 years and even established brands have upped investing in product launches and marketing efforts.

S Ramadorai, former Vice-Chairman at TCS and a long-term backer of BSC, said

We met with the team from Colgate-Palmolive and were very excited by the synergies across technology, direct-to-consumer distribution and supply chain. The young team at BSC stands to leverage decades of experience in Colgate-Palmolive to grow the BSC brand and reach.

Kanwaljit Singh, founder of Fireside Ventures and board member at BSC, said

India is premiumizing rapidly. Young men in India are demanding more thoughtfully made products and better choice. The BSC team has been able to quickly ramp up its product portfolio and expansion of its online platform. We see BSC building a strong brand with emotional appeal and a compelling product narrative.

The funds will be used to invest in brand building, product development & expanding capabilities in technology and sales.

About Bombay Shaving Company

Bombay Shaving Company is a young men’s consumer care product brand. The company was launched in June 2016 after spotting a clear gap in the shaving space in India. Aside from Deshpande, the founding team includes Raunak Munot who was Director for Social Media at GroupM in New York and Rohit Jaiswal, IIMU alumnus and former Crompton Greaves executive. In two years, the company has acquired 80,000+ customers, expanded into 30 SKUs, seen 100% quarterly growth and is now available in 500 offline shelves.

|In: Finance|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Plastic money provides convenience but many financial experts warn you against misusing your card. When used responsibly, credit cards have several advantages.

Image Source – Credit Cards

Here are 10 reasons when using a card may be a good option.

  1. Sign up bonus

If you have good credit, you may be eligible for a significant signing up bonus. Some card companies may offer reward points that may be redeemed for things.

  1. Reward points

Most credit cards allow you to accumulate reward points for every rupee that you spend. Some companies may provide promotional periods where you accumulate higher reward points. These are redeemable for several items.

  1. Cashback

Some cards offer cashback for certain kinds of purchases. It is recommended that you check the terms and conditions related to such cash-back offers.

  1. Flying miles

If you opt for a frequent flyer card, you may accumulate miles when you use the card to buy an air ticket. These miles may later be redeemed against air tickets.

  1. Security

If someone steals your credit card, you may intimate the card-issuing company in order to prevent fraudulent use.

  1. Sellers’ honesty

When you use your card to pay vendors for certain projects like renovation or repairs, you have the option to resolve any disputes. In case of a dispute, the company withholds payment to ensure your problem is resolved before the money is paid to the vendor.

  1. Grace period

Paying with a debit card means your bank account is immediately debited with the amount. However, when you use plastic money to pay for the purchase, you are able to enjoy a grace period until the next bill payment date.

  1. Insurance

Several cards have several automatic inclusions such as warranties, insurance, and others. These inclusions provide you with safety against your purchases.

  1. Universally accepted

When you travel abroad, making payments for a hotel or car rental is difficult with a debit card. In such instances, using your credit card makes it easier to pay for such purchases.

  1. Building credit history

If you want to improve your credit score or build one, using a credit card is an excellent option. When you make timely payments of your card bills, it is beneficial in building credit. A higher credit score makes you eligible for additional benefits especially if you apply for a loan in the future.

Although there are several reasons to pay using your card, it is not always the best option. It is recommended you use the card responsibly and make timely payments to avoid late fees and finance costs.

|In: Finance|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Car insurance is not a normal product that you buy from the counter. It isn’t a regular service like banking as well where you transact often. Insurance is a unique product/service where the ‘transaction’ comes into the picture when there is a claim raised by the policyholder. This claim is scrutinized and either accepted or rejected by the insurance provider. This is an overview of how the claim process works in a normal scenario. Much of it is dependent upon the type of car insurance policy you hold and its coverage.

Image Source – Car Insurance

You need to follow a step-by-step process in order to successfully complete the claim settlement process. Read ahead to know the steps to follow while dealing with car insurance claim process under a Comprehensive Car Insurance policy.

Step 1 – Inform The Insurer

The claim process begins by informing your insurance company about your car accident. The same can be done via a phone call, mobile App or through email. You shall be allotted a claim number that you can use as a reference for further communication with the insurance company.

Step 2 – Collecting Evidence

You need to click photos and record videos of the accident area. Such photos and videos come in handy as they act as proof that the accident had taken place. It also records the damage caused to your vehicle. If there is another person involved in the accident, that person’s details also need to be noted down.

Step 3 – Towing The Car To Garage

If the car cannot be driven to the garage then it needs to be towed there. Most car insurance companies assist you while towing your car to the garage. The car can be taken to your preferred garage or a garage specified by the insurance company.

Step 4 – First Information Report

You need to register a First Information Report [FIR] in case of car theft. It is also better to visit the nearest police station and register an FIR in case of major accidents. The FIR lends credibility to your claim application.

Step 5 – Coordinating With The Surveyor

The insurance company will assign a surveyor to assess the damage to your car. The surveyor makes a report that determines whether your claim will be accepted or rejected by the insurance company. You need to coordinate well by honestly answering the questions asked. The surveyor can either come directly on the accident spot within minutes or visit the garage to inspect the damaged vehicle.

Step 6 – Documentation

You will have to send the necessary documents to the insurance company in order to proceed with your claim request. These documents include a copy of your car’s Insurance policy, Registration Certificate, FIR if applicable, and your bank details.

Step 7 – Settling The Claim

Upon successful inspection and approval, the insurance company shall move towards car insurance claim settlement. There are two ways of settling claims, cashless or reimbursement. If the garage where your car was repaired is a part of the insurance company’s network of garages, the claim will be settled between them. You just have to pay a nominal amount. If the car was repaired at a garage which is not a part of the insurance company’s network, you have to pay for the repairs and then get a major part of it reimbursed from the insurance company.

Staying Patient

It is important to stay patient throughout each step mentioned above. There is no point hurrying unnecessarily. You need to cooperate with various individuals to get your claim settled successfully and staying patient will help you to do that in an effective manner.

|In: Technology|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

VeriSign, Inc., a global leader in domain names and internet security, announced that approximately 6.0 million domain name registrations were added to the internet in the second quarter of 2018, bringing the total number of domain name registrations to approximately 339.8 million across all Top-Level Domains [TLDs].

Image Source – Domains

The increase of approximately 6.0 million domain name registrations globally equates to a growth rate of 1.8 percent over the first quarter of 2018 1,2. The Domain Name Industry Brief [DNIB] further shows that domain name registrations have grown by approximately 7.9 million, or 2.4 percent, year over year.

Key Highlights

  • The .com and .net TLDs had a combined total of approximately 149.7 million domain name registrations in the domain name base3 at the end of Q2, 2018. This represents an increase of approximately 1.4 million domain name registrations, or 0.9 percent, compared to Q1 2017.
  • As of June 30, 2018, the .com domain name base totaled approximately 135.6 million domain name registrations, while the .net domain name base totaled approximately 14.1 million domain name registrations.
  • The .com and .net TLDs had a combined increase of approximately 5.3 million domain name registrations, or 3.7 percent, Y-O-Y.
  • New .com and .net domain name registrations totaled approximately 9.6 million at the end of Q2 2018, compared to 9.2 million domain name registrations for Q2 2017.
  • Growth of .com and .net domain names redirecting to popular global social media and e-commerce sites compared to Q2 2017 is dominated by Instagram [61%] followed by Etsy [12%] and LinkedIn [9%].
  • Total new gTLD [ngTLD] domain name registrations were approximately 21.8 million at the end of Q2 2018, with an increase of 1.6 million domain name registrations, or 7.9 percent, compared to Q1 2018. ngTLDs decreased by approximately 2.5 million domain name registrations, or 10.4 percent, Y-O-Y.

Verisign publishes the Domain Name Industry Brief to provide statistical and analytical research and data on the domain name industry. The second quarter 2018 Domain Name Industry Brief, as well as previous reports, can be obtained at Verisign.com/DNIB.

References

1. The figure(s) includes domain names in the .tk ccTLD. .tk is a free ccTLD that provides free domain names to individuals and businesses. Revenue is generated by monetizing expired domain names. Domain names no longer in use by the registrant or expired are taken back by the registry and the residual traffic is sold to advertising networks. As such, there are no deleted .tk domain names [Source].

2. The Generic Top-level Domain [gTLD] and ccTLD data cited in this brief: (i) includes ccTLD Internationalized Domain Names, (ii) is an estimate as of the time this brief was developed and (iii) is subject to change as more complete data is received.

3. The domain name base is the active zone plus the number of domain names that are registered but not configured for use in the respective Top-Level Domain zone file plus the number of domain names that are in a client or server hold status.

|In: General|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

It is a known fact that India is a country with diversified culture. There are different varieties of art forms that are not only limited to dance, music; but also extend to the field of painting. Artists from different parts of India come up with different art-forms in the form of Art Deco drawings, Folk drawings, etc. due to which Indian art form in the form of Paintings has become an integral part of our culture. The challenge in finding genuine paintings that would show the real beauty of Indian art is not only difficult, but options are also limited. This is where a platform like gallerist.in is trying to bridge the gap between artists and art lovers/art collectors. It has an extensive collection of more than 15,000+ original paintings and drawings from trusted & verified artists that are registered with the platform.

Image Source – Madhubani

Art for an art collector is more about passion than possession since they have the knack to look into the minutest detail in the art form, whether it is paintings, drawings, etc. When we talk about traditional Indian art form, one form that comes to our minds is Madhubani painting. So, let’s take an in-depth look into Madhubani painting or Mithila painting.

Madhubani: Origin, Style & more

Origin – Madhubani or Mithila painting is a traditional style developed in the Mithila region around Madhubani, Bihar and in Nepal. Madhubani paintings are created with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks, using natural dyes and pigments. The main attraction of the Madhubani painting is that each painting has a beautiful amalgamation of geometrical patterns, animal, & bird motifs, etc. It was earlier done only by women since they wanted to establish their connection with God, but with changing times, even men are involved with Madhubani paintings.

Style – Madhubani art has five distinct styles: Godna, Bharni, Katchni, Tantrik, and Kohbar. The basic style and substance of Madhubani paintings are still maintained and the skills have been passed to the next generation of artists. Madhubani paintings mostly depicted Gods  & Goddesses like Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Sun, Moon, etc.

Traditionally, Madhubani painting was made on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts, but for commercial purposes, Madhubani Painting design is done on paper, cloth etc. These paintings are made from a paste of powdered rice. There are no gaps left in the Madhubani painting as the gaps are filled by paintings of flowers, birds, etc.

Madhubani & Mithila paintings @ Gallerist

For an art collector, genuine Madhubani art would be a great addition to their collection and gallerist.in is one platform where they can find 15,000+ original paintings and drawings, including Madhubani paintings created by 6500+ talented artists worldwide. Some of the Madhubani paintings from gallerist.in are shown below

So, if you are looking for authentic Madhubani paintings online, gallerist.in is where you can buy them from. For an art lover, gallerist.in has a buying guide which they can use in order to choose the best quality artwork/paintings for your home or office walls!

|In: Finance|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

In a few weeks, the festive season will commence with Raksha Bandhan. The importance and history of this festival dates back to thousands of years. Sisters tie ‘Rakhi’ to the brothers’ wrists and pray for their well-being.

Image Source – Raksha Bandhan

Your sister must already be planning for the ‘Rakhi’ but have you thought about her return gift? Here are five financial gifts that are ideal for this festival.

  1. Begin a Systematic Investment Plan [SIP]

To achieve financial goals, you need to invest systematically in a sensible way. Most people consider recurring deposits; however, the rate of interest is lower. Moreover, the income is taxable further reducing the returns. In comparison, an SIP is a mutual fund, which is able to deliver better returns. You may consider an SIP in an equity fund if you do not mind staying invested for the long-term.

  1. Invest in a Fixed Deposit [FD]

You may invest in an FD, which will allow your sister to earn higher returns and give her financial security. Compared to a zero balance savings account, the interest rate on FDs is higher. It is important that you choose a reliable and reputed financial institution to invest in the FD.

  1. Purchase a risk cover

The modern lifestyle poses a big threat to an individual’s health. If you want to ensure financial security for your sister, consider purchasing a health insurance plan for her where you pay the premium on her behalf. Alternatively, you may choose life coverage to provide financial security. A term plan is a pure life cover and it will help indemnify risk.

  1. Invest in paper gold

Gold is a popular investment in India since years and provides security in case of a financial crisis. You may consider purchasing gold for your sister, which provides her with security. However, consider investing in gold Exchange-Traded Funds [ETFs] or gold savings schemes instead of physical gold. Gold ETFs are traded on the exchange and are a convenient way to invest in this precious metal. Gold savings schemes invest the corpus in underlying gold ETFs and benchmark performance against physical gold. Therefore, both these are good options to gift your sister this Raksha Bandhan.

  1. Open a savings account

A zero balance saving account in a well-reputed bank is also a good gifting option for your sister. You may deposit the amount you want to gift her. It will not only allow her to earn some interest but give her the freedom to use the money as per her choice.

The aforementioned gifts are not only thoughtful but also provide her with financial freedom and security. Consider these, this Raksha Bandhan and fulfill the promise of protecting your sister.