Tips on Improving Your Vehicle's Gas Mileage

In today's world, where the cost of a gallon of gas seems to rise and fall for no apparent reason and can (and HAS) gone higher than four bucks, it's just common sense to make our cars as fuel efficient as possible.

Making our cars as fuel efficient as possible is also a responsible way to care for our environment. Alternative fuels are probably somewhere down the road, but for now our cars run on gasoline that's made from fossil fuels, and the emissions are a major contributor to air pollution.

Here are a three simple ways to improve the fuel economy of your car or truck:

1. Drive slower: Yes, I know you're in a hurry, but the fact is that driving 55 miles per hour is considerably more fuel efficient than driving 70 miles per hour, and driving slower will only delay your arrival time by a very few minutes. The faster you drive it, the less fuel efficient your vehicle becomes. Slow down and drive in the slow lane where the smart people are. Cost: Free.

2. Keep your tires at the correct tire pressure: No kidding! Underinflated tires is one of the major causes of bad fuel economy. Tires just lose air pressure over time and the average loss is about 1 psi per month. Cold weather can also contribute to a drop in tire pressure. Tire gauges don't cost much. Buy one and check the air pressure in your tires at least once each month. You'll find the recommended air pressure in your car's user's manual and also on the data plate in the driver's door jamb. Cost: About $6.00.

3. Replace your air filter: Clogged air filters reduce fuel economy. Air filters are easy to check, and they're easy to change. They cost far less than filling your gas tank. Cost: varies by make and model but can be as low as $2.95.

How to Market Your Hedge Fund

With all of the distrust between the financial industry and the general public, marketing a hedge fund is a tricky business. At the same time, there is a great deal of opportunity for private hedge funds with the right hedge fund marketing strategy. Below are some of the best ways that you can start your own boutique hedge fund through the correct marketing techniques that speak to the needs of investors today.

Hedge Fund Marketing Tips

First, make sure the you have a personal connection in your hedge fund marketing materials. People definitely want to see the numbers that you have; however, they also want to know who you are as a person. Much of the distrust between the general public and the mainstream investment community is the fact that management teams do not stay put over the long-term. If you are to build a clientele, people need to know that they can count on you for decades to come.

You can create this kind of hedge fund marketing material by speaking in a language that your clientele can understand. You should also play up all of your long-term relationships. If you have any clients that carried over from previous employment, this is a gold mine for obtaining new clientele.

Second, make sure that your hedge fund marketing materials are directed at the right people.

Currently, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the so-called new audience of hedge funds. In short, hedge funds are trying to appeal to accredited investors in the lower end of the spectrum. Private hedge fund companies are using promotional techniques such as YouTube in order to get in front of an entirely new audience. The results have been staggeringly positive.

As a matter fact, the only hedge funds that are not truly succeeding today are the ones who refuse to take on this new audience. These are the people who need hedge fund consultations the most – they have just enough expendable income to give to an outside professional investor; however, they most likely do not have the time to invest the money themselves. Direct your new marketing efforts at this crowd and watch your clientele build quickly.

Third, use new social media techniques in order to attract the audience that you want.

As mentioned above, many hedge funds are actually using YouTube and other social media in order to connect with the new hedge fund audience. Transparency is the key. Be sure that you always have an opening here to your clientele and your potential clientele. You want to answer questions on Facebook. You may even want to put up an Instagram so that your audience can feel as though they understand you from an insiders' perspective.

In short, do not be afraid to take on new marketing techniques in order to attract the audience that is looking for your services today. Deal with all accredited investors instead of looking for the big fish. Marketing in this manner will give you an audience that is growing and in need of your services.

Advice for Working with a Graphic Design Team

Advertising, social media posts, websites: they all need great graphics to make an impression on your customers. If you are looking to start a business or upgrade the existing graphics that you use for your brand, you will have to find a good graphic design firm to work with. There are a wide range of firms that you can choose from, including ones that specialize in corporate brands and freelancers that can tailor their work to your specific needs.

Before You Choose a Firm

Looking for the right graphic design firm to work with is half the battle. You want to work with a firm that understands your needs, but you may also be looking for a firm that will go above and beyond the traditional to bring something new and exciting for your brand. Th easiest way to find a firm that can provide you with the creativity you are looking for is to browse their portfolios. This will give you an idea of what they are capable of doing.

If cost is a major factor to your graphic design needs, you will also want to get a number of estimates. This will help you weed out the firms that are simply too expensive for your advertising budget. Once the right price and the right experience meet, you can begin working with your graphic design firm team.

After You Choose Professionals to Work With

The graphic design firm you choose to work with will want to know all about your plans for the future. If they are working on a specific advertising campaign, you will need to provide all of the details which may include the length of the campaign, the vehicles used for marketing it, the products or services involved and anything else they may need to know to complete the project.

If you are looking for a creation or overhaul of existing branding efforts, communication between you and your graphic design team is essential. They will need to know what direction you are aiming for, and the will want to discuss in depth what you want to achieve by changing your current designs. This conversation can include everything from color schemes to what type of branding messages will be included in the artwork created for the business.

Even after work begins, it is important to schedule meetings at regular intervals to ensure that the project is staying on track and on budget. Other important discusses that should be held between you and your graphic design team include who owns the rights to the work produced, what the overall and milestone deadlines will be and how the company's message will be conveyed within the work.

Working with a graphic design firm can be a great asset to any business, big or small. As long as you can accurately convey your vision for the brand and get the results you expect from a variety of graphic design projects, you can easily make your brand a memorable one to your customers.

Planning Your Trip to Southampton, New York

Traveling to the Hamptons can provide you with a glorious vacation that you and your family are sure to love. More and more families are traveling to Southampton NY because of all that is available to them there. From the immense shopping to the amazing restaurants, it's great to have a place where you can unwind and relax without having any issues. There are many different ways for you to have a successful trip to the Hamptons if you are going here for a vacation at some point in the near future.

Booking Ahead

Sticking to a budget is something that is a top priority for many travelers. It can be difficult to travel on a budget, but it will be more affordable for those who do not want to spend an arm and a leg just to get to Southampton NY. The best thing you can do before traveling is to book and plan ahead of time. This means making all of your travel arrangements so that you know it is going to fit within your own set budget. You will also want to establish a budget for you to stick to, which allows you to more easily tell if you're going over what you can afford.

Booking and planning ahead simply requires you to do your homework on the Southampton NY area and all that it offers. If you live near to the Hamptons or are several hours away by car ride, you may want to think about saving a little bit of money by taking a car there as opposed to a plane. If you are very far away from the Hamptons, there are a ton of different flights that will take you to the area. If you do not have anyone to pick you up from the airport, you might also want to book a rental car and add the costs into your own budget.

Choosing the Hotel

Choosing the perfect hotel in Southampton NY can mean the difference between having an amazing trip there and not enjoying yourself at all. There are a lot of different types of hotels in the area, and they can range from being very expensive to very affordable. The Internet is a great tool for you to use when you're trying to compare hotel rates and their amenities. You definitely want to look at customer reviews that have been written about these hotels as well, since these will give you a clue as to the quality of the hotel and all that it is offering.

There is nothing better than having a beautiful hotel that offers all that you need when traveling to the Hamptons. This beautiful area can be made so much better when you have a great start and end to the day in a clean and inviting hotel. Many hotels also have restaurants inside of them, and this is ideal for those who may want to get something quick to eat before heading out for the day. Even the restaurant will have reviews written on it on the Internet if you are curious as to its quality as well.

Your next trip to Southampton NY will be a wonderful experience as long as you plan ahead and know what is available to you. Creating a set budget will help you to make the trip affordable for both you and the rest of your family members. There are many different ways for you to be able to enjoy the Hamptons, whether you just want to do a bit of shopping or go to one of the fine restaurants native to the area.

Fact Sheet Design - A Brief Overview

Although there are a variety of ways that business professionals and educators can convey important information to their audiences, the use of a fact sheet can be particularly efficacious. By learning more about fact sheets and basic principles of fact sheet design, you can increase your ability to communicate effectively with other individuals.

Fact Sheets - The Basics

Fact sheets are sheets designed to provide the reader with information regarding any given subject. While there are several principles that are used to determine what constitutes a good fact sheet, one of the most primary concepts is that overloading the reader or listener with too much information is disadvantageous and unnecessary. Additionally, many fact sheet experts agree that fact sheet design plays an important role in determining how the information being examined is received and interpreted.

Fact Sheet Design - A Brief Overview

Although defined broadly, fact sheet design is basically a system of principles used to provide structure to the format and aesthetic component of fact sheets. There are a wide variety of rules and regulations that guide the world of fact sheet design, and some of them include:

• The fact sheet should not exceed one page.
• To ensure that the fact sheet is readable, the font should be at least 12 point.
• The most important information should be located in the fact sheet's first paragraph. (Generally, important information will include things such as what the subject matter is and what type of actions should result from considering the information that has been presented.) 
• The fact sheet presenter should include references the audience can access in order to attain more information about the subject being discussed. In the event that the fact sheet is presented in electronic format, the use of links would be appropriate and advantageous. 
• The use of bullets creates a sense of order and continuity, meaning that their use within the body of the fact sheet is a good idea.
• If you are attempting to emphasize a specific concept or theme, the use of bold letters is appropriate. 
• Graphics can be utilized to create emphasis or simply draw attention to a specific concept, but they should not "steal the thunder" of the fact sheet.
• The fact sheet should be designed in a manner that enables the reader to take any form of action the presenter desires. For example, if the presenter wants his or her audience members to call the governor in response to reading the fact sheet, this individual's number should be located somewhere on the fact sheet. 

Conclusion

As made plain by the information listed above, fact sheets are an incredibly effective way to communicate data with one's audience. To make the most of this form of communication, however, it is important that individuals gain a basic understanding of fact sheet design. In grasping and then utilizing the fact sheet design principles and procedures outlined above, individuals interested in being able to provide their audiences with data in a clear, concise format will be able to do so.

Weight Loss and Having a Healthy Living

One of the most important things any person can do is take proper care of their body, but if you glance around at most of the people you come in contact with on a daily basis, you will find that most people do not exactly do a great job of this; in fact - as difficult as it might be to acknowledge this - there is a good chance that the person you see when you look in the mirror also does not do a great job of this!

Of course, one of the biggest things that stands in the way of staying healthy - and of keeping our bodies at an optimal weight - is that there seems to be so many different opinions out there on exactly what we are supposed to be doing to optimize our health, and to make matters worse, many of these opinions seem to be in direct contrast with other opinions out there! Although this can certainly cause the issue of "trying to stay healthy and lose weight" to become more complicated, however, there are a handful of things you can keep in mind that will make your quest for healthy living and weight loss a whole lot easier.

The first thing you will want to remember is that patience is important; there are a lot of weight loss programs that promise unbelievable fast results - but the reason these results seem so unbelievable is because they truly are! Your best bet, instead, is to find an approach to healthy living and weight loss that will be gradual and permanent.

Another thing to be aware of is the fact that exercise is extremely important - and not just for weight loss, but for healthy living in general; when you keep your body active, you will put your body in a position where it is in line to remain healthy in an effortless manner.

And while most people realize that eating healthy is important if they want to lead a healthy lifestyle, most people are unaware of the fact that they really do not understand what "eating healthy" entails; if you are wanting to lead a healthy lifestyle, you need to know exactly what foods you should be eating, and exactly what these foods are accomplishing!

One of the best things you can do, when it comes to healthy eating, is eat foods that remove toxins from your body (something you can find great information on by visiting http://dsrdist.superfruitdiets.com/, as this site is packed with great info along these lines) - and of course, once you have started to eat healthy and remove toxins from your body, and once you are willing to exercise regularly and have the patience you need, you will soon find that your body is looking as good as you want it to look, and that it is as healthy as you have wanted it to be!

Make A Wise New York Web Design Investment

Making New York web design decisions for your business, you must cover a few bases to make sure your business is well represented online. When you are looking over all the categories listed below, your New York web design options become more clear. Representing your business online requires beautiful artwork, savvy marketing and a URL that helps customers remember how to get back to the site.

#1: Artwork

The artwork coming out of a New York web design firm is beautifully drawn by a professional graphic artist. Some artists draw the artwork by hand before scanning it to a computer. Other artwork and animation is generated by a computer to match the logo or coloring of your website. Your website's first impression comes from the artwork that rests on the homepage, and you must choose the design firm that will give you artwork you truly enjoy.

#2: Content and Articles

The content and articles that appear on your website must be written based on the keywords that best suit the website. The design firm can produce articles that are aligned with your website's purpose, and the design firm can track the effectiveness of the keywords that are used. Also, the content and articles must be current. You can contract a design firm to produce new articles every week. The new articles help to bring your website to the top of search engine results, and you will always have something that makes your website look fresh.

#3: Communication

There are many customers and readers who want to interact with you and your business. However, you can set up contact menus for your customers to communicate with you when they want to. The contact forms will allow people to contact your website with questions or suggestions. Also, you can have communications with people who want to shop with your business or put their items up for sale.

#4: Sales

The sales on your website are led by the online store that you can have designed just for your site. You can use a New York web design firm to create a brand new online store that will sell everything your company carries. You can post the items that you sell from other businesses, and you can list the items that your business produces itself. The sales you garner online can keep your business afloat, and a well designed website will bring customers back every time.

#5: URL

The URL of the website is the most important part of building it. You must have a URL that is easy for your customers to remember. The New York web designers can help you create a URL that is easy for everyone to remember. A more memorable URL makes your website more popular with customers, and you can insert the memorable URL into your marketing.

When you are creating a new website, a New York web design firm will create a website that is beautiful and easy to use. The best thing for your business is making an investment in the finest website design services you can afford.

The 3 Main Types of Hedge Fund Marketing

As with most every other type of financial campaign, hedge fund marketing can be broken down into 2 or 3 distinct methods.

With a type 1 plan, the managers or sponsors of the fund perform all of the marketing tasks without a need for a third party to intervene on their behalf. The business of getting the word out is done entirely in-house in order to keep the strategy lean. In most cases, the leader of the marketing group will have dedicated employees whose sole task is devoted to this process. Many of them may also receive all or part of their compensation in the form of commissions or bonuses as a result of getting customers enrolled into the fund.

In order to use this approach however, the manager of the fund has to be able to obtain a broker dealer-license in the United States. That is so the proper regulations can be maintained. There are stringent standards that must be met before this type of licensure can be obtained.

The second approach calls for sponsors of the fund to have agents or finders in place in order to perform the hedge fund marketing tasks. All of the pre-contact work is done outside of the office and the leads are funneled into the firm for closure. This outsourcing arrangement calls for the agents to receive their compensation through shares of the fund performance from the managers. The drawback to this type of plan is that according to broker-dealer licensing rules, the finders cannot be compensated on a contingent basis. The United States prohibits this type of practice in companies specializing in hedge funds, but it is often how the strategy is set up anyway.

The last kind of hedge fund marketing practice involves major players on Wall Street such as Merrill Lynch or Morgan Stanley for example. The funds and their sponsors actually enter into a formal arrangement with these firms on a contract basis. Under these kinds of terms, the giant enterprises are paid from fees obtained like the agents, but they can also receive additional compensation from a sales charge or placement fee, making it advantageous for them to enter into this type of agreement.

It is not easy to perform hedge fund marketing. There are strict regulations set up in the United States of America for hedge fund marketing and these are enforced through the National Association of Securities Dealers who helped to set up the policies to ensure that fair practices are used to protect investors and their assets.

Simple Tips on Taking Care of Jewelries

You may have inherited yours from a relative. You may have received it as a gift (an engagement or wedding ring is the most prized type, in this case). You may have bought it for yourself. One way or another, you are now the proud owner of a piece of jewellery. To make it shine the way it was supposed to, you are going to need to clean it, because if you wear jewellery, it's going to collect skin flakes and similar grime (and even if you don't wear it, it'll collect dust).

First of all, you need to think what sort of jewellery you have, as different things are cleaned in different ways. Is your piece of jewellery set with harder stones (not just the obvious diamonds, sapphires and rubies, but also cubic zirconia, amethyst, topaz and rhinestones), softer stones (and stone-like substances) such as turquoise, opal, lapis lazuli, coral and amber, or is it a string of pearls? Each of these needs to be cleaned in a different way.

Jewellery involving the harder stones (or no stones) is the easiest to clean. Treat them like you would your teeth: in other words, scrub them with toothpaste using a soft toothbrush. The soft toothbrush prevents any scratching. Diamond, being the hardest of all substances, is unlikely to be scratched by some puny piece of plastic. Gold, however, is pretty soft. A toothbrush can also reach into all the little nooks and crannies - chains, claws, filigree... Toothpaste rinses off in plain water very easily, leaving no residue behind, as well as being an excellent cleaner. Some people like to use an ammonia solution or dishwashing liquid, but toothpaste doesn't have the fumes and is gentler on your skin. The only real precaution you should take when cleaning this type of jewellery is to remember to do it in a bowl rather than in the sink, where the plug lurks like a black hole ready to swallow your precious engagement ring.

Dry your jewellery with a soft cloth. Don't use a paper towel unless you fancy picking bits of paper out of a claw setting.

Jewellery involving the softer stones and stone like substances should not be cleaned with ammonia or soap, and probably shouldn't be cleaned with toothpaste, either. This is because they absorb water and other substances very easily. In case you're not sure which the softer jewels are, here's a quick list: amber, coral, lapis lazuli, malachite, opal (my favourite), turquoise and organic substances like bone and shell. These should be cleaned with a soft damp cloth with just water. The same applies to anything that involves glue. If you have a ring set with any of these gems, you should also remove the rings before doing anything wet or messy. Put the rings in a special dish near the sink - in fact, that's good advice for any ring. Pearls should be cleaned as little as possible. In fact, wearing pearls seems to make them shinier rather than duller - maybe living, breathing human skin works like chamois leather on them. If your pearls really are grubby (or if they've got sweat on them), then use a mild saline (salt) solution. Never spray perfume on pearls or use ammonia - this will stain the pearls.

If in doubt about any piece of jewellery, then ask your jeweller about the best way to clean and care for it. Even if you didn't buy your gems off them (e.g. if you inherited Great Aunt Margaret's emerald earrings), ask anyway - they'll probably be happy to establish a relationship with you, as you may one day need to re-set the jewels - or even buy more.

Dining Out in Southampton This Summer

As the summer approaches, New Yorkers are increasingly making their way to the Hamptons. Some New Yorkers will be lucky enough to take a few weeks off of work to enjoy Southampton, while other busy professionals may only be able to enjoy the occasional weekend in the Hamptons. No matter what your schedule may be, make sure that you take time to check out all of the excellent restaurants Southampton NY has to offer.

Restaurants with Beautiful Scenery

Restaurants Southampton NY may overlook a gorgeous garden or valley. These restaurants offer the perfect setting for a romantic evening out. You may also be able to enjoy a fine wine with your meal. At some restaurants, make sure that you inquire about the portion size. One meal may be enough for you and your date to share. Some restaurants may also offer half-portions if you both wish to try new dishes.

French-Mediterranean Cuisine

One of the benefits of visiting the Hamptons is that you can find unique restaurants unavailable in any other location. Chefs both new and experienced often love to open their own restaurants in the Hamptons to see how patrons enjoy their dishes. Southampton offers a place in which chefs can mix up different types of cuisine to create their own dishes, such as French-Mediterranean entrees. You can find plenty of French-Mediterranean restaurants in Southampton. Imagine being able to sit in a breezy area surrounded by white tablecloths and effortless elegance. These types of restaurants can be found scattered throughout Southampton.

Restaurants on the Beach

Another option that you have for eating out in the Hamptons is to check out restaurants on the beach. Beach restaurants Southampton NY offer a beautiful location to catch up with old friends or to mingle with affluent celebrities. You may dine at a restaurant disguised as a vine-covered beach cottage. Plenty of these "hidden" types of restaurants make dining out in the Hamptons an exciting experience. You can enjoy incredible seafood at the beach restaurants of the Hamptons. Some of the beach restaurants may even feature original artwork by renowned artists like Jackson Pollack or Andy Warhol. There is a growing trend for restaurants in the Hamptons to feature artwork of renowned artists.

Grill Restaurants in the Hamptons

The Hamptons have some of the best steakhouses in the country. If you want to enjoy a steak that is grilled to perfect, you may want to make a reservation at one of the grill restaurants in Montauk or Southampton. While the menu can be a bit pricey at grill houses in the Hamptons, the price is typically worth the splurge. You should try to schedule a reservation ahead of time as these restaurants quickly become packed in the summer months. You should also be aware that some grill houses may be closed in the off season and may only be open during summer months.

Pubs Throughout Sag Harbor

Don't forget to check out the pubs of the Hamptons and Sag Harbor if you want to enjoy some affordable eats. Those who are on a budget may want to check out the deals that Sag Harbor pubs have to offer during happy hour. You may be able to order incredible entrees at half price or more during happy hour.

Schedule Your Next Trip Now

Make this summer an adventurous one by trying out a variety of restaurants Southampton NY. You may be surprised by the variety of eclectic dishes that you can try in this affluent part of New York. It is also possible to dine out in the Hamptons if you are on a budget. There are restaurants available cater to individuals from all types of financial backgrounds.