LinkedIn Hopes to Secure More Members with New Technologies

LinkedIn Hopes to Secure More Members with New Technologies

LinkedIn is one of the world’s most popular business networking and online resume sites. As a haven for job seekers and hirers, the social media network recently refined its news feed. Similarly, it has added a myriad of new features – designed to improve the user experience across multiple platforms. Here is a breakdown of some of the newest technologies and how they are affecting new and existing members.

Pipeline Builder

The Pipeline Builder has been refined to search for the right talent automatically. In fact, there are now sponsored updates and recruitment ads targeted to your core, niche, or geo-specific audiences. This feature also taps into a more diverse hiring place, which accounts for 78% of top recruiting trends by talent professionals. The result is a wider pool of potential candidates for you to network, engage and connect with. With diversity continuing to be paramount in 2018, here are some more benefits of the recently enhanced Pipeline Builder feature:

·         Attract talents through personal landing pages, while showcasing your business, services and jobs across the board.

·         This space enables you to engage candidates with the “I’m Interested” feature; a seamlessly integrated click-based portal that allows you to follow-up with potential hires in  a timely and professional manner.

·         The Pipeline Builder enables you to extend your brands’ reach to a wider scope of audiences. Similarly, you receive industry-specific and quality leads in real-time. This saves you time when looking for the right candidates to fill available positions within your business or organization.

·         Increase hiring conversion rates, while effectively pushing top-level candidates through the hiring process in a smooth and time-sensitive manner.

Effectively Source the Right Talent

LinkedIn has also enhanced their artificial intelligence (AI) powered features to help companies source the right talent. In fact, 35% of hiring managers and recruiters believe AI plays a pivotal role in their hiring and sourcing processes. With this in mind, LinkedIn has applied and implemented these new technologies across multiple areas. This includes but is not limited to:

1.    More responsive candidates with Spotlights

The new Spotlights feature helps you identify who you should reach out to first. It also helps improve leads and conversion rates, while saving you time on multi-tasking and screening efforts. With this add-on, LinkedIn analyzes and assesses behavioral data and responsive candidates for recruitment managers. This establishes a continuous flow of candidacy – but with a strong emphasis on precise and concise matches that meet your skills requirements and overall criteria.

2.    Boost engagement with open roles on mobile

LinkedIn is tapping into all the current and burgeoning digital trends. This includes the Jobs tab on mobile, which allows users to effectively digest information across a plethora of devices. For companies, mobile engagements are increasing across the board – and it’s imperative for them to reach wider audiences via mobile, wireless and digital devices. The mobile tab is powered by machine learning, which is resulting in relevant job information and insights for potential candidates. You can also respond to real-time feedback, which too improves future job recommendations and overall candidacy.

With over 50 million LinkedIn members viewing jobs on the platform every month, mobile-friendly and “smart” technologies are essential for talent acquisition specialists. You are sure to see a dramatic increase in the number of interested candidates, and your open roles must revolve around precise descriptions that generate more leads and decrease drop-off rates.

Secure a Competitive Edge

The Performance Summary Report allows you to effectively analyze and assess acquired data. In fact, this feature offers real-time data and measurable results for all organizations. With the right data, you are able to easily share insights, while comparing current engagement rates with departments within your business. Similarly, you can access job slot rates and utilization, as well as hiring – departure rates and followers. This feature even connects you with the latest in industry news, market trends and global networking opportunities.

Sources:

https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/product-updates/2018/15-linkedIn-features-that-help-you-get-ahead-of-this-years-biggest-hiring-trends

https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/marketing/2018/02/the-smart-new-linkedin-feature-you-need-to-know.html

Should You Raise Your Insurance Deductibles? Pros and Cons

Should You Raise Your Insurance Deductibles? Pros and Cons

The insurance industry is turbulent and ever-changing at best. In fact, what might be trendy today may be obsolete tomorrow. One constant remains in the insurance industry, however; raising your insurance deductibles can lower your monthly premiums. Whether for health, car or even life insurance, this unofficial law is still in place across the industry as a whole. Still, with smaller and more affordable monthly payments – your deductibles are sure to be bigger .Similarly, how much can you truly save on monthly payments when you still have to meet a larger deductible?

With this in mind, are some benefits of raising your insurance deductibles:

Save Money on Monthly Payments

As mentioned above, the main reason to increase deductibles is to secure cost-effective monthly payments. This enables you to have better cash flow each month for other bills and expenses. For example: you may be paying $100.00 per month on a $1,000 insurance deductible. Taking out a $2,000 deductible may lower your monthly payments by 50 percent. However, it’s important to know that with any large or small deductible –it must be paid out fully in order for the insurance to kick in.

Save Money to Meet Deductible

By taking out a larger deductible, you can save money each month – which can be used to pay the deductible in whole. Remember, there usually no restrictions or penalties in meeting your deductible via traditional payments. Sadly, most people tend to meet their deductibles due to extensive hospital stays and/or emergency room treatments. Depending on your medical insurance carrier, you should be able to “ pay ahead” without any real monthly restriction. Still, it’s best to consult with your insurance company to see what type of options they offer. It’s also important to know that once your yearly deductible has been, you may quality for even lower monthly payments and higher deductible plans.

Disadvantages of Higher Deductibles

The disadvantage of taking out a higher deductible is the deductible itself. For example: you may be paying lower monthly payments on a $6,000 deductible. However, you will have to pay off the full deductible before the insurance is fully active. With this in mind, suppose you do not have to go to the hospital or ER within a full insurance year? This means you have essentially wasted monthly payments just to keep your insurance policy active. According to industry experts, the solution is to find a 50/50 insurance plan for policy. This allows your plan to “kick in” once 50 percent of the deductible is met, and you will still have cost-effective monthly payments as well.

Introduction of the Ketogenic Diet

What is a Ketogenic Diet?

The Ketogenic Diet – also known as “keto” – is soaring in social media popularity. In fact, Google searches for keto-related diet terms have skyrocketed in recent months. Even celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Tim Tebow have praised this diet for its detoxification benefits. The Ketogenic Diet revolves around the idea of replacing carbs with fats. While this sounds counterproductive – the diet has helped many people effectively shed those unwanted pounds. Folks on the diet are consuming mayonnaise, butter, and whipped cream and even cheese. The diet is also designed to boost metabolism rates, while increasing vital energy levels as well.

Principles of the Ketogenic Diet

While the keto diet sounds too good to be true, it is working for many people across the world. The principles of keto include the following:

•          An eating plan that consists of 80 percent fat and very little carbohydrates.
•         Those on the keto diet can eat fish, eggs, meat, dairy, oils and green vegetables.
•         Carb-based foods – including rice, pasta, potatoes, and grains are strictly prohibited.
•      You cannot consume any fruits on the keto diet.

Usually, the body relies on carbs for energy production and vitality. However, keto changes the way your body turns food into essential energy. This means the body no longer relies on breaking down carbohydrates from verboten foods and snacks. This includes molecules of fructose, along with glucose and galactose. With keto, the body is forced to look for another source of energy. This is due to the carbohydrate induction being lowered or completely stopped during the diet.

The keto diet intentionally places the body in a state of ketosis. This is where fat is released from the cells and converted into ketones. This is the body’s plan B for energy production, and folks are able to lose weight since they are consuming foods – and burning their intake as well.

The health benefits and risks (if any) of a Ketogenic Diet

There are several health benefits associated with the Ketogenic Diet. As mentioned above, this is a low-carb diet, which concentrates on consuming fats to change the body’s energy production origins. According to dieticians and health experts, here are some of the top benefits associated with this popular and growing diet plan:

1.    Low-carb Diet is an Appetite Suppressant

One of the main benefits of keto is that it automatically reduces your appetite. This is due to cutting carbs and consuming more fat and protein. The result is fewer calories being consumed, which ensures more fat being burned and pounds being dropped. Due to the consumption of fat and proteins, however, you will not starve on the keto diet. The keto diet is also comparable with other low-fat diets in the industry. However, the main difference is that the fat itself is what is being used to build energy and lose weight.

2.    The Keto Diet leads to Safe Weight Loss

As mentioned above, cutting carbs is the best way to effectively lose weight. In fact, studies show that people on low-carb diets tend to lose weight faster, than those on low-fat diets. Keto also helps detoxify the system of harmful toxins, as well as chemicals left over from processed foods and carbohydrates.

During the first few days of the keto diet, you will lose a great deal of water from the body. This is usually excess water that has built up in the body for years. Similarly, the kidneys will shed excess sodium – resulting in rapid weight loss during the first two weeks of the diet. Again, you will not be hungry on this diet – and as long as you eat what is recommended – you will lose weight in a timely, safe and monitored manner.

As a popular and trendy low-carb diet, folks have heralded keto for helping them meet their weight loss goals. In fact, many are continuing to use keto for post-diet maintenance, and have lost significant pounds over the last 6 months. Here are some more health benefits of getting on the keto diet to achieve your desired results:

•          In addition to water weight, you will lose actual pounds stemming from the abdominal cavity. This means no more “beer bellies”, and you will also be converting fat into lean, healthy and attractive muscle. As always, you should use keto as part of any existing fitness or diet plan to maximize results.
•          As a carb-cutting diet, your blood triglycerides will significantly be reduced as well. This helps reduce blood sugars in the body, which can lead to stroke, diabetes and heart disease.
•          HDL – “good cholesterol” levels will increase on the keto diet. This too can help prevent heart disease, along with other medical ailments and issues.
•          Folks dealing with blood pressure issues will see a drop in blood pressure to normal levels. As with any diet, however, you must consult with your primary care physician before starting on the ketogenic weight loss plan.

Potential Risk Factors

As part of the introduction of the Ketogenic Diet, we also have to cover any potential risks or issues. While keto is relatively safe, there are certain aspects to keep in mind. For one, we know the diet places the body into “ketosis”, which means little to no carbohydrate intake. One of the main concerns of the diet is putting the weight back on within a year of losing it. This is very common with both low-fat and a low-carb diet; however, maintenance is the key to keeping the pounds off. This means you can resume normal eating but try keeping a good balance of carbs – proteins – and fats in your system. 

Similarly, you must partake in at least 1 hour and 30 minutes of exercise per week. This can include walking, swimming, jogging or other exercises to keep the weight off – and boost metabolism rates. Here are some potential risks of being on the keto plan for new and returning dieters:

•          There is a risk of losing muscle tone, while feeling tired and fatigued. After all, losing weight is a lifestyle change and can impact your body both positively and negatively.
•          Most of the weight you will lose is excess water. This may cause you to feel hydrated – so it is important to consume the right amount of water to avoid these issues.
•          Some health professionals believe keto should only be used by those dealing with extreme obesity. Since it is a short-term diet, chances are those in shape – will put back the pounds they lose due to normal eating and regular activities.
•          Folks with kidney or liver issues should not be on the keto diet. However, they can consult with their doctor – and unless he or she approves it – they should refrain from keto or other low-carb diets.

What to eat and what to avoid on a Ketogenic Diet

The Keto Diet allows you to eat foods that have fats and protein within. This includes fish, eggs, meat and dairy products. You are also allowed to consume all types of cheese, as well as whipped cream and especially yogurt. Other foods permitted in the Ketogenic Diet include:

•          Mayonnaise, butter, and margarine – no marmalade or fruits allowed though.
•          Nuts, cashews, coconut oil and olive oil
• ·        Grass-fed meat is the best way to get your protein while on the keto diet. Too much protein, however, is not good and that too must be curtailed.
•         Leafy green vegetables – fresh or frozen is good.
•          Again, you can eat harder cheeses on the keto diet – milk, evaporate milk, and condensed milk is okay as well.
•          Drink mostly water while on keto – you can enhance the flavor with a little lemon or lime juice if desired.

These are the essentials of the Ketogenic Diet. For more information, simply check Google or speak to you primary care doctor or nutritionist today.